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The warming of the earth’s atmosphere is known as the Greenhouse
effect. The phrase Greenhouse effect was coined by Swedish scientist
Svante Arrhenius and was first predicted way back in 1827 by French
mathematician Joseph Fourier (1768-1830).
Radiation from the Sun enters the atmosphere, but is prevented from
escaping back into space by gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur
dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, produced by burning fossil fuels,
deforestation, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide from vehicle
exhausts, chlorofluorocarbons from aerosols and refrigerators, methane
from decomposition etc. as these gases build up in the atmosphere, the
earth’s temperature rises.
The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that world
temperatures and sea levels will rise, low lying areas and entire
countries would be threatened by flooding, as is happening today,
resulting in crops being effected.
At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, it was agreed that
countries should reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but with economic
development in countries such as India and China taking center stage,
the main increase is expected to be from transport - the aviation
industry in particular.
Many a global collective effort is being made to protect the
environment viz: -
The Green Movement
The movement comprises civic minded citizens who have formed
organisations such as friends of the earth and Green Peace.
The British Green Party
Formed in 1973 as the Ecology Party, aiming to preserve the planet
and its people subsequent to which the Green parties sprang up in
Western Europe in the 1970s and in Eastern Europe since 1988.
Greenpeace
Founded in 1971, with a policy of non-violent action, backed by
scientific research
Green agriculture
A change in methods of arable farming, albeit a reliance in chemicals
and machinery.
Green tax
A tax levied against companies and individuals responsible for
causing pollution. The philosophy behind this being moral
responsibility.
Green computing
Computer Companies have incorporated energy saving measures in the
design of systems and hardware. ‘Sleep technology’ was one such feature,
which shuts down most of the power consuming features of a computer, if
it is unused for any length of time.
Green consumerism
A marketing term in the 1980s, when consumers became increasingly
concerned about the environment labels such as Eco-friendly became a
common marketing tool as producers attempted to project an image in the
eyes of the public that their products had no negative effect on the
environment.
Green accounting
The idea first arose in the 1980s, when financial factors, in
particular, profitability was the main tool used in evaluating progress.
Whaling to appease mainly Japanese appetites, destroying tropical
rainforests for housing etc. made economic sense.
However, if the future value of these resources were included in the
final analysis, so that tourism protection of biodiversity and ecosystem
stability were given an economic values, it is obvious that even in
terms of profitability, it makes no sense to destroy habitats or hunt
animals to extinction.
Green audit
Inspection of a manufacturing establishment to assess the total
environmental impact of production, including energy consumption and raw
materials used, which may cause pollution and other hazards, waste
disposal and the potential for recycling etc.
We must be conscious of the fact that we’ve not inherited this earth
from our parents.
On the contrary, we’ve borrowed it from our children, and as with all
things borrowed, it should be returned in the same or better condition.
I reminisce a song sung in days of yore, when I was a schoolboy, viz
“Greenfields are gone now, scorched by the sun,
Gone with the valleys where rivers used to run...”
I hope, on behalf of all mankind, that seeds of these efforts, sown
in the wake of the calamities which have occurred and which are likely
to occur, would yield a harvest of ‘greenery’ for future generations to
enjoy.
WASANTHKUMAR PERERA
- Ja-Ela
I write as the father of a medical doctor, who passed out from one of
the leading Medical Colleges in the Middle East. The degree was
conferred after completion of a 12 month Internship posting in
Government administered hospitals.
Furthermore, the College is recognised by the WHO and by the Sri
Lanka Medical Council (SLMC). As such, I was confident that on return to
Sri Lanka, it would simply be a case of passing the ‘Act 16 examination’
as required by the SLMC as a precursor to registration as a medical
practitioner in Sri Lanka. However, I now find that the examination that
was to be held on January 7 has been postponed indefinitely.
Furthermore, the examination has also been re-structured in such a
manner as to make it an attempt at elimination rather than at assessing
the depth of knowledge of the candidates. The recognition of a college
ought to mean that its standards of education and training have been
assessed as being compliant with the standards set by the institution.
For what purpose then is such a gruelling examination being conduced?
It is further pertinet I believe, to mention that my ward’s
colleagues who were Indian citizens have already passed the qualifying
examination held by the Indian Medical authorities and are now
practising doctors. Should we not take a cue from India - a country that
is now accepted as one that upholds very high standards of medicine.
I would like to mention that my ward was educated entirely out of my
foreign earnings and not at the cost of the Sri Lankan tax payer.
I served abroad for almost 25 years, and all my savings including my
retirement benefits were remitted to Sri Lanka. I have thus contributed,
though in small measure; towards the education of the local medical
students, whose entire education and training is funded by the
Government.
Mine is not an isolated case. There are many whose circumstances are
similar. I would thus appeal to the SLMC to exert every effort to ensure
that the foreign medical graduates are brought into the local medical
stream, without putting them through an ‘elimination process’ and
allowed to practise their profession, in the service of their
Motherland.
A CONCERNED PARENT
Global warming is fast taking its toll on the world and dark clouds
are gathering on the horizon. We should take measures to minimise an
impending disaster. Man has only got himself to blame as his unending
quest for more comforts and luxuries will ultimately end in dire
consequences for the world.
We should not wait till Governments take precautionary actions.
As individuals, we too can contribute something to minimise the
dangers of global warming in a small way. We should grow trees in our
gardens which should be done in a meaningful manner. Just growing trees
is not enough. We should be selective. It’s better to grow jak, mango,
tamarind and other trees which bear edible fruits.
They serve several purposes. I suppose we must start today to face
the threat of global warming.
CONCERNED CITIZEN
I was witnessing a comical scene of a serious nature opposite Royal
College, Colombo, a few days ago where the Traffic Police abruptly
stopped vehicles entering Reid Avenue from Rajakeeya Mawatha around 11
a.m.
A gentleman in another vehicle was frantically trying to turn his
vehicle and go back and the police officer shouted ‘It is one-way’.
In fact, although I was not in a hurry the other vehicle was supposed
to be carrying alms to Monks and appeared to be in a bit of a hurry. It
definitely demonstrated the ‘Stupidity of the Sri Lanka Police’.
The authorities concerned should have displayed a sign-board at the
entrance to Rajakeeya Mawatha stating ‘No thoroughfare - Road closure
ahead’, in which case the particular vehicle with alms to Monks could
have used an alternative route.
C.P.
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