Citizens for Change #17

APRIL - JUNE 2024

Welcome to the new issue of Citizens for Change #17. The first message on environment that I remember, addressed me from a “Nash Svet” calendar; an interesting, informative and educational reading for primary school students. There were photographs of various birds on each of the pages, and the message was “Save Us, because of Yourselves”! At those times, in the primary schools, as well as out of them, there was not much talk about the environment, but the editors of the magazine seem to have been one step ahead of the others.

In the quarter that we left behind us we marked the International Environment Day. Although the events this year were dedicated to fighting desertification, this is a good opportunity to also touch upon all other aspects of protecting the planet which is for now the only known home to humanity as we know it. The forests, waters, air, soil, all living being that inhabit the plant, the whole ecosystem deserves our daily attention and care; as we, the people, are the only ones responsible for its permanent destruction.

This is not a radical conclusion. This is shown by various scientific research that pertains to the disappearance of certain species, drying out of water sources, continuous increase of the average temperature, etc. For example, the analysis made by the Centre for Climate Change (CCC) when it comes to the changes in temperatures in the coming 40 years show that it is expected that the average temperature during the summer periods will be 6˚C higher compared to now. The temperature increase if expected to cause more frequent temperature differences, extreme weather events, such as storms, hail, intense rains and floods as a result of the huge amounts of rain over short time periods, but also winds of bigger intensity. We could say that the future is our present.

Parallel to the concerning data on the destruction of the planet which are a result of our irresponsible behaviour, we witness various theories that are nothing else but an alibi for the current state of affairs. You would hear that it is a natural process that has nothing to do with people, that climate changes are invented and that the planet would find a way to deal with this situation.

This conscious closing of one’s eyes and mind when facing such obvious problems that concern us all is everything but a feature of the most aware species that inhabits the planet.

It is time that we asked ourselves which group we belong to: the one that is concerned about the crimes against the environment, the one of the so-called conspirators or the one of silent observers of the events. It is time that we asked ourselves what we do personally on this issue and it ends with social networks posts. No, I am not saying that it is bad, only that it is not enough, not any more.

CSOs are among the loudest when it comes to asking for responsibility, in raising the awareness of the whole public and offering solutions to the problems with the environment. However, we should move a step forward, we should take the personal, individual responsibility and lead with a personal example. We should ask ourselves, what do I do to decrease the bad influence, give personal example to others? Do I select waste, do I influence the others to do this, do I alarm when I notice a landfill, do I report, is there a reaction to my reporting, what if there is none, do I give up or do I continue? We can take numerous actions alone, on daily basis, together with the others or together with the neighbours from the community in which we live or broader.

Let us protect the environment because of us. Let is make a step forward, let us be the example that is worth following!

Have a pleasant reading!