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“It is our collective and individual responsibility to preserve and tend to the world in which we all live.” the time I read this quote that was said by Dalai Lama, I remember the 7th ecological principle that states that we are the stewards of God’s creation. We are responsible in taking good care of the environment and we are assigned to look after His creation. However, being the custodian of the environment, comes with different challenges and trials. We are challenged in a way that we need to maintain equilibrium in the environment and be responsible with our actions and decisions. By that being said, with the numerous tasks and responsibilities we have in the society, we slowly forget about our role and the environment. Now, due to our abandonment-- the state of our environment becomes grievous.
As a part of the Environmental Education Class for almost 2 years, I am already aware of these simulations such as determining your footprint by answering the questions truthfully stated in the footprint calculator. Last year, we calculated our carbon footprint and this time we calculated our water footprint and performed the climate change activity. These simulations relate to our society in such a way that it reflects on our ignorance of the issues and problems that are evident nowadays. We are not fully aware of how much we contribute to the destruction of our environment and we are not entirely conscious that our daily activities actually affect the environment. Moreover, these simulations are pertinent to such degree that it can “wake people up” to the sad reality of our environment. Personally, it helps me reflect about my daily routines and everyday activities. I am actually shocked about the information I have gained through the process like, the food I eat affects my water footprint. With the results I received after answering and performing the simulations, made me feel guilty and regretful with my actions.
Climate Change, for me, is really a serious topic. It should be tackled with seriousness and with commitment. Since, it’s a kind of topic that should be addressed immediately in order to lessen the effects and impacts that may probably affect us, our surroundings and the future.
Furthermore, as a class, we listed down our monthly consumption of water. As with the results, the highest among all of us is 98 cu.m. of water and that is about 25,888.9 gallons of water while the lowest is 10 cu.m. of water and that is about 2,641.72 gallons of water. I asked them the reasons how come they consume that much water, well, obviously, because of the number of people in their household. Most of us, our water provider is Maynilad and they get our water from Ipo Dam. That’s why when a typhoon hits our country, our water is greatly affected like what just happened this year-- there is a discoloration of water and that causes the low water supply all over Manila.
There are many reasons why these situations happen and one of them is that Climate Change. Why? Due to the changes in our environment, the bipolar attitude of our climate and the increase of the temperature of the Earth causes the sudden drastic “attitude” or impact of these natural occurring disasters such as typhoon, hurricane, tsunamis and many more.
I believe that sooner or later we will make our home a better place to live in. Together, let us vow to uphold our role as a steward of God’s Creation. This is for our future!
