Beauty of Life

As part of my new year resolutions I decided that I want to develop an aesthetic appreciation of art and nature and  as part of this process I will be writing on my thoughts on pictures  and paintings that I find online and find them interesting. This is my first picture.

From this picture I decided to call it the ‘beauty of life’. I like the blue colour on grey and greenish colours of the stones. And the perfect contrast with the orange of the butterfly. The smooth curves of the rocks add to the beauty of the scene. When I look at the picture the interpretation that i have  is that there is beauty in life. For me, in the picture the buttefly stands out not because of its different colour but rather because its alive. The rocks no matter how colourful they can never be alive like the buttefly. Life is delicate and must be treasured and apreciated and above all protected.

We live in a time of global environmental crisis. Many animal species are at the brink of extinction Our oceans are polluted and our trees are dwindling at alarming rates creating deserts. Global warming is taking its toll causing floods and threatening small islands. These are real problems that we face and most devastating fact is that we are the culprits of this destruction to our own peril.

The status quo needs to be challenged. Its time we take responsibility to protect all forms of life both plant and animal life. There is need for seriousness on Global Policy to cut on greenhouse emissions with real commitment from the Global Powers such as USA, Russia and China. At national level there is need to enact laws that preserve the fauna and flora, making stiff penalties to offenders.

Innovation also plays a critical role in protecting the environment, support by governments should be made available for emerging green innovations and research on environmentally friendly technologies.

Over the past 30 years, 30% of the world’s natural environment has been destroyed, populations of freshwater animal and plant species have been halved and natural forests have declined by 10%. Part of the problem can be traced to unsustainable rates of consumption in rich countries that are creating climate change and ozone depletion, as well as using up resources and producing toxic waste products -Source WHO

Another critical key in the protection of the environment is povert reduction. Research evidence suggests that in countries where there is more protracted and pronounced poverty, the environment is worst affected. This is because of lack of access to clean energy, the result is usually deforestation and poaching both for substinance as well as for income purposes. Poor countries are also more likely to compromise on environmental standards than risk loosing investors, and this has devastating consequences on the environment. One such example is the use of Frakking in oil extraction industries in Mexico which affects the environment. Whilst poverty reduction in itself is complex being related to the prevailing political and economic atmosphere it is key variable in the environmental sustainability equation. Education systems should inculcate within learners with a culture of protecting our environment through integration of environmental education.

Everyone has a role to play in preserving all life forms But perhaps the first step is for everyone it to first appreciate the beauty of life in itself.