Reflected in Tomorrow

You can not see the
Fish, splashing in the clear
Water, reflecting the color of the
Sky, blue above the
Grass, green beneath your toes

Inherit the wind
My child
I leave you a memory of yesterday
For my mistakes are
Reflected in tomorrow

~*~*~*~*~*~

LAND:

Deforestation cause habitat destruction, loss of CO2 sink, erosion, and increased flooding. Mono-agriculture depletes the soil, uses fertilizers produced by burning fossil fuel which run off into streams and cause over nutrification. Mining for oil and coal create wastelands; oil spills decimate wildlife.

WATER:

To control flooding, we build dams, channelize streams, which destroy habitat and block fish from migration routes. Pesticide runoff from agriculture is integrated into the food chain through biomagnification, which can poison and kill fish, birds, humans, etc. Over nutrfication of streams cause algae blooms, depletes oxygen, kills fish.

Water shortage will lead to wars.

AIR:

Green house gases from cars and industrial emissions cause global warming. Car emissions cause anthropogenic ozone that can cause emphysema. Sulfur emissions from burning coal cause acid rain, erode infrastructures, and kills forests.

LIFE:

Yet we continue to over fish, bleach coral reefs, destroy ecosystems. Habitat destruction is causing mass extinction. Polar bears are now an endangered species due to the melting ice caps caused by global warming. Every second, a slice of rainforest the size of a football field is mowed down. Undiscovered plants that have the potential to cure cancer might be extinct before we even know it.

The diversity of life we have today must be protected for tomorrow. We must use our resources wisely. That means turn off the water tap when you're brushing your teeth. Those who don't waste about 3 gallons of water per day, water that could have saved the lives of others suffering from drought. Take a bus, carpool, bike, walk, do what you can (exercising is good for you too). Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Put on a jacket when you're cold, don't resort to a heater.

The little things we do today can make a big difference in tomorrow. Whether it's a good or bad difference is up to you.