A Tale Once Told: May 2009

Earth and Space Science is a course which studies the mystery that is the universe, from the 156 billion light years to a relatively minuscule planet called Earth, which is our only home. In the Solar System unit, we learned about how our solar system formed from the leftovers of a nebula. That’s how the only planet known by humans to have carbon based life, was created; through space dust. Then we learned that there were many requirements for life to form on a planet, such as the right distance from the sun, the right size for not only the planet, but the sun as well, the right amount of tilt, and even the right area and type of galaxy. These along with many other requirements are needed for a planet to be able to form life, as we know it. In this huge universe, some scientist managed to calculate that there were 10 000 planets with the possibility of meeting all the requirements to form a planet suitable for life. Assuming that these 10 000 planets do have life, it makes our planet a very rare occurrence in the universe, because we’re one of 10 000, in billions of planets. This made me think about how important it was that we not destroy our only home. Think about it, we can’t keep living on this planet as if we have another one to just go to when we’re done with this one. Life sustainable planets are rare and should be sustained and should not be exploited. But that is exactly what humans are doing; they are using all the materials of the earth, not taking into account how long it takes for those materials to form, or that fact that they are not a renewable source. Humans also ignore the effects that moving earth materials into the atmosphere or water will do. As far as we know, we have only one planet, we do not have the technology to move to Mars and live there, and the earth cannot reproduce certain materials quickly enough because of how fast we consume it. Take for example, the amount of natural gases we use; we do not have an endless supply of it and it take millions of years to return these gases into the ground. Humans also use natural materials such as rocks and minerals extensively. I’ve learned that the rock cycle is a slow process and takes time to happen, so we’re bound to run out soon. All of this knowledge simply goes to show that humans are taking more and more advantage of earth and its materials, so much that earth will not be so hospitable to our future generations. I’m president of the Students Towards Environmental Protection here at FMSS., and what I’ve learned is that Earth has gone through many periods of geological change and continues to do so. Life forms have learned to adapt to changing climate and environment, and the ones who couldn’t were wiped out. The question for us is not how to protect earth and sustain it, mother earth is strong will survive, the question is whether humans will evolve to adapt, or be wiped out. I personally think that it is beneficial for us to simply sustain the planet the way it is right now. Yes, change will occur, but that doesn’t mean that change will have to be so harsh that humans cannot survive. If we don’t do something about the high temperature and even higher sea levels, there will come a time when it’s so hot that humans cannot survive on the planet! There is a fine equilibrium at work on planet earth which has been disrupted rather greatly by the arrival of human beings. Instead of the gradual and inevitable change that earth has proceeded through for billions of years, that rate has accelerated and now it is as if earth is running through change. I’ve decided that I don’t care if other people want to destroy their home. I plan to live long, and I plan to enjoy my life on earth, why should I have to suffer acid rain and soaring temperatures because my parents and grandparents couldn’t control their self-indulgent characteristics? Because they couldn’t walk that drive to the nearby store, or open the windows than blast the air conditioning? Why should my children and I suffer? I don’t care if the elder generation won’t do anything, their time is almost up and we’re the ones rising to write a whole new history, one that will be filled with shift and turmoil. The youth of today will stand up, we will make a difference, it’s our home now, and I refuse to say that I’ve inherited it from you, its more like you’ve stolen it from us, we won’t enjoy the comfort of cooler weather, calmer climate or the lack of the natural disasters that you did, but it’s not too late. I think we can still make a difference, and I think that if everyone sits around waiting for the David Suzuki of our generation to rise up and lead us, nothing will happen, and we’ll be even worse that our ancestors who exploited our only home. So I think if no one else will, then I will. I came into this course with a determination that I would become an oncologist and find the cure for cancer. I could help thousands of people from suffering if I do so. The environment has always been a passion of mine and though I knew I wouldn’t be getting involved in it as a career, I knew it would be there. However, after learning all these things in Earth and Space science, it is clear that I am much more interested in keeping our planet suitable for our needs, because earth will go on orbiting the sun for many millennia, whether we’re still living on it or not. There is no point in finding the cure for cancer if we all die anyways. Now I’m not saying that I’m giving up on medicine here, but I’ll definitely be more involved in Environmental Awareness and Protection, because it is a very important role and it is our duty to do so. In light of my new discovery, I will be taking a double major, if possible in Medicine and Environmental Studies.