Nation’s Call for Action: Solution to Pollution

Pollution has been a problem for decades. In fact the problem is so common that it almost seems insignificant compared to other issues our country and fellow Filipinos are currently facing. Yet when looked at closely, it has direct impacts on the environment, human health, livelihood and tourism.

One of the most evident manifestation of pollution in our country is dirty rivers and other bodies of water. These waters which were once full of marine life has mostly turned into depositories of wastes. Without proper action, the rest of our marine biodiversity are also in danger.

Water pollution and its effects

Aside from the obvious defacing of our planet, polluting waters can lead to loss of marine life and could greatly impact our marine ecosystems. Dirty waters further have negative effects on human health. Swimming in it even worse, drinking unclean water can lead to cholera, E. coli infections, hepatitis and typhoid fever (http://www.whatiswaterpollution.org/the-negative-effects-of-water-pollution-to-human-health/) to name a few. Most of our countrymen are also dependent on bodies of water for their everyday living as a source of income. As polluted waters harm aquatic plants and animals, the livelihood of our fishermen are adversely affected. Furthermore, being known in the world as a country with one of the most stunning marine biodiversity, destruction of our waters would also affect marine tourism.

Possible solution?

In an article detailing how pollution impacts coral reefs (view article here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131126092656.htm), researchers found that ceasing to pollute our waters with insufficiently-managed water wastes and fertilizer residues can reverse the coral diseases they originally caused. Being a country surrounded with bodies of water, this research is of significant value to Filipinos especially because our waters are home to some of the world’s most beautiful coral reefs. 

(image from http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6800098985_fca0fb5743_z.jpg)

Allowing such wonders to die is simply unacceptable. I think that we should pay more attention to issues such as these, and be one in protecting these coral reefs as well as other marine lives.

Let us not wait until every water in our beloved country turns black. Don’t let such magnificence die! Act now, for us and for future generations’ sake.