Warmest Sea on Record

As reported by Sydney Morning Herald:
" For as long as people have taken temperature of the sea, they have never been so warm. Global Ocean surface temperatures for June were the highest since records began, in 1880, breaking the record set in 2005. The average sea temperature for June was 0.59 degrees above the 20th century average of 16.4 degrees."

What this would do is lead to warmer temperatures over the adjoining areas as well. It is being projected that global temperautres next year could near those of 1998, the hottest year on record ( as if the temperature this year is any less). Moreover, higher is the sea surface temperature, higher are the chances of development of a cyclone or a hurricane. Bangladesh and parts of North India have already experienced one cyclone this year, namely AILA.

If you would think deeply, you would realize that somewhere down the line, we are also to be blamed for such a scenario. We can still control this and save our future or we can simply say, " Kya Farak Padta Hai". As we say, MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE!

We may survive, our kids won’t

The State Environment Report India, 2009 is out and one look at it testifies the comment made in the topic of the post. Just consider these facts and you will know it for yourself:

1. 70% of Indian rivers are polluted
2. Underground water in 19 states of India is contaminated and not safe for drinking
3. 50 million cubic meters of untreated sewage (enough to fill entire Delhi) is released into our water bodies every year. This is an increase of 30% over 1995. This is also affecting the aquatic life in our rivers and oceans.
4. RSPM levels of 90% of Indian cities is rising. In 2000, RSPM levels in Delhi, Mumbai were 150 ug/m3 and 80ug/m3 whereas in 2008 the figures are at 192 ug/m3 and 110ug/m3 respectively

The state of water pollution is very much evident from the above mentioned points. As a matter of fact, 500,000 children under the age of 5 die every year due to diarrhoea. 80% of all illness in Uttar Pradesh happens because of water pollution in Ganga and Yamuna.

If you are wondering what is RSPM, please understand that not all pollutants which come out from our vehicles and industries are equally harmful to us. All the particles coming out from vehicles and industries can be classified on the basis of size. Our body at all places provides us natural immunity against a number of pollution causing particles. The largest sized particles are stopped by our nose itself. There are then medium sized particles which are stopped by our wind pipe. However, there are a large number of smaller sized particles called suspended particulate matter and respiratory suspended particulate matter (RSPM) which cannot be stopped by our body systems and they end up reaching our lungs. They are so small in size and so large in number that they are difficult to detect and monitor. It is these particles which cause extensive damage to our body and are responsible for majority of the respiratory diseases.

The reason RSPM is increasing in most of our cities is due to rising number of vehicles. In 1991, India had 2 crore vehicles whereas in 2008, the number of vehicles has increased to 8.6 crore. Delhi alone has 56 lakhs vehicles which is more than the number of vehicles in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkatta taken together. A record says that around 1000 vehicles are added to Delhi’s roads daily.

Now, please do not stand back and say “Kya Farak Padta Hai”. As we say, Make your own choices. And you can make a choice to use more of public transport. But before that our government would need to make a choice to improve the public transport system. The logic is very simple, if cities, towns and villages will have excellent public transport system, people would automatically begin to use them, thereby bringing down the level of pollution and making this planet a safe place even for our kids.