WRITTEN BY ALEXANDRA CRISTE As each day passes, humanity moves one step closer to the destruction of the Earth. Many are aware of the devastating state the environment is in, yet most still fail to take action to save it. People continue to produce products that harm the Earth in exchange for temporary pleasure and luxury. Many also fail to realize that the things they do are at the expense of one’s life: the life that is most important to them all; the life of the earth. Despite the environment’s current condition, it is never too late to take action. However, we must act quickly. Start through simple and personal actions that could result in a greater change, as no action is too small. As a Paulinian, participate in the Student Coordinating Team’s project SHIFT. The simple act of utilizing reusable utensils and containers can already create a great impact on our environment, as it reduces the amount of plastic waste produced by the school. Most Paulinians do their part and participate in SCT’s project SHIFT. However, going through the school canteen during break times, it is evident that there are still quite a number of students who make use of plastic sporks, chopsticks, and other non-reusable materials. If you are one of those students, this is a reminder for you to take action and make a little sacrifice for the Earth. Do not be selfish and remain ignorant. Instead, be aware of your surroundings, as your personal actions affect the lives of others, too. Using reusable containers may be unusual, but making small sacrifices for the Earth will always pay off. The pain and suffering of the Earth is ours as well. Keep in mind that there is limited time left to save our environment, and we must make use of this time wisely to make our Earth beautiful again for a brighter tomorrow.
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Inferno. The world as we know it is burning. Earth is well on its way to becoming that fiery inferno if humans continue to remain negligent. The abundance of toxic fumes and harmful gases emitted by the burning of fossil fuels, combined with excessive deforestation, has placed the planet in a state of crisis, leaving us with a mere 18 months to take immediate action to save our home. According to Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, founder and director emeritus of the Potsdam Climate Institute, “The climate math is brutally clear: While the world can’t be healed within the next few years, it may be fatally wounded by negligence until 2020,” emphasizing the crucial need for action by the people. Climate change continues to be more evident through environmental catastrophes, both natural and incurred by human activity. Incidents including the Amazon Rainforest Blaze, or the heat spikes and abnormalities in weather experienced by countries, have been globally rampant. In line with this, individuals, especially the youth, have continued to express distress over the world that they are to inherit, and outrage about the lack of concern shown and action taken by governments and leaders around the world. Youth environmental activists like 16-year old Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, continue to lead the fight for our planet, urging people to act as individuals and as one, for each person is directly affected by the consequences of this phenomenon. “Knowing that we might be the last generation who can reverse the devastating effects of our changing climate, I can sense people around me becoming more active in our society, doing their best to become the eco-friendly citizens our predecessors failed to be. We are rising, exemplified as the generation of imminent change, taking our stands, and working even harder in our studies,” says Alex Punsalan, a tenth grader at SPCP when questioned about her take on the current environmental crisis. The actions being taken by SPCP, in particular, in response to this include waste segregation, encouragement in the use of recycled paper, and the Student Coordinating Team’s Project SHIFT, which entails the use of reusable or metal utensils, brought by the students themselves. SPCP is a mere microcosm of the power held by the movements of the youth around the world, reflecting the eager desire of this new generation to stand up, face, and correct the errors of its predecessors--to create a better world not just for the present, but for the future that they continue to fight for.
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