Discussion of the view that most natural disasters are caused by human activity.
What are natural disasters? According to a largely recognized English dictionary, a natural disaster is,” A negatively catastrophic event caused by natural phenomenon.”
Some examples of natural disasters include tsunamis, hurricane, floods and earthquakes.
What turns something into a disaster? – the loss of lives.
In today’s world, news of constant affliction by man to nature bombards our ears. We hear about Man’s callous disregard for Mother Earth and wonder about the effects that these actions will have on us. When the problem is studied, it gives rise to the question – are these natural disasters really natural? If so why have they become prevalent only now, coincidentally with a high rate of environmental degradation?
When the problem is studied, in many cases these so-called natural disasters can be directly and/or indirectly linked to human activities. The largest and most prevalent source of man’s detrimental attitude to nature is his unreserved and insatiable use of petroleum and its products. This practice results in grave consequences that are both short-term such as the high prevalence of lung-related disease and long-term, exemplified by rising global temperatures. Global rising has many grave negative consequences such as melting of the ice-caps at the poles. This is particularly detrimental, not only causing a rise in global sea-levels but also adversely affecting one of the world’s last untouched ecological frontiers. Many low-lying countries like Guyana would be adversely affected. Deforestation is another activity that results in many indirect negative consequences. This process causes the release of excessive carbon into the atmosphere, also hindering the carbon dioxide to oxygen process necessary for the existence of life. The hungering developmental practices that are unsustainable have resulted in many visible natural disasters such as rivers...