Environmental Degradation: The Cost of Science

Undoubtedly, scientific discoveries and their applications have improved humanity. From medicine to engineering and then, to agriculture, the reach of science is impressive, breathing a new lease of life to how we do things. Like, whenever I think about those that lived at a time when science and technology weren't this influential I can't help but pity them. It must have been somewhat challenging.

Science is wonderful, its byproducts are great. However, for every degree of success science presents, it always leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. And one part of this planet that has suffered more than most is our immediate environment in the form of degradation. Though unintended, depletion of resources, destruction of ecosystems, and pollution are some of how science has deteriorated the natural environment. That is environmental degradation.

Recently I was in a gathering where people were praying fervently and thanking God for keeping our environment safe from natural disasters. As the prayer raged on my mind wouldn't let me rest with a series of thoughts. And the question that keeps on coming to my mind is "Are we safe from natural disasters because we pray fervently to God? Are those experiencing it not praying to God also?"

Look, one of the reasons why developed countries are the ones struggling with earthquakes, earth tremors and landslides is because of the level of industrialization science has afforded them. In this environment, the natural ecosystem has been altered so badly beyond recognition. A lot of things are now artificial, not natural. That's why we now see nongovernmental and governmental organizations begging people to plant trees to preserve the ecosystem. If we didn't mess it up in the first place would we need to preserve it?

A few years back I visited a gas power plant in my state. A few minutes into the visit my impromptu tour guide proudly showed me a river passing through the compound. He talked about how they redirected that river from its natural lane to where it now flows. It sounded interesting, but it sounded dangerous too. What happens when the river decides to claim its course? Anarchy.

Today the Ogoni tribe is still reeling from the aftereffects of oil spillage on their lands during oil exploration. They are naturally fishermen and farmers, but oil spillage destroyed the aquatic life in their waters, seeped onto the land and made their lands barren and unfit for agricultural purposes. Funnily enough, despite the brilliant revenue the country gets from oil the areas where the oils are gotten from still look like places from the Stone Age. They are not enjoying any dividend of what their land provides.

Finally, I can talk repeatedly about how science has wrecked the environment. Though it sounded like a fair price to pay for the wonderful gadgets and developments we now have, however, the fact some people are already considering relocating to another planet speaks volumes. If we are not careful, the planet Earth will eventually be the price to be paid for the advancement of science. When that time comes, I hope I'm far gone from these parts. It will be pure anarchy.

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