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Natural resources are an asset on which every civilisation evolves
and develops without which it is impossible for any living being to
survive in the world.
That vitality itself infers the careful usage of natural resources
lest human civilisation would suffer the lack of resources for its own
sustenance.
Resources are limited whether they are natural or man-made. So the
effective usage of resources has to be the main emphasis for the present
and for the future.
Even man-made resources are derived from nature. Inherently natural
resources are the main components which leads the whole human
civilisation and the existence of any other living beings.
To take into account, water as a natural resource, it is the main
cause for life in this world or the other in the universe. That is why
scientists who find life beyond Earth believe life is possible where
water is available. In this world also life came into being in the water
billions of years ago.
Though one says he has any amount of water and use it carelessly, it
is a limited resource unless it is dealt with carefully.
It will come to an end one day. One should notice that though water
seems to be abundance salt water cannot be used for many purposes but
the amount of pure drinking water is limited and should be managed
meticulously.
Another essential element for life from the nature is Oxygen which is
the breathing air for all animals including dominant species on Earth.
Oxygen is produced by trees absorbing Carbon Dioxide.
Therefore trees are very important for life, for which purpose
forests have to be conserved, which inturn offer Oxygen, water, various
minerals and many other natural resources.
Energy are produced mainly harnessing natural resources.
Hydro-electric power is generated using water. Earlier, charcoal was
used as a major fuel.
Gradually, fossil fuels such as petrol, diesel were the main energy
sources that are formed with the huge continual contraction on the
remains of plants and animals between rock layers over millions of
years.
These fossil fuels are being overused all over the world and stocks
are running out. Demand for the fuels is also very high due to the
industrialisation of many Third World countries.
This challenge should be met with proper management of fuel resources
and their maximum usage reducing the side effects for the environment.
However, these are only a few natural resources mentioned here.
Natural resources are not instant components that appear haphazardly
here and there in the world. But it takes a long process and time to
develop to such a level that one can use them for the benefit of himself
or the other, eg: The forest.
It is not an instant appearance. To appear as a tropical rain forest,
it has undergone an amazing development from small plants to very high
tropical rain forest plants for millions of years.
Therefore, if this generation is misusing the natural resources the
next still unborn generation has to pay the price for their forefathers'
over indulgence. In addition to the lack of resources, it will make an
uninhabitable environment with all the poisonous gases and terrific
results of global warming for the coming generation to live in.
Man has begun his own way tampering and damaging nature that cannot
be assessed for money. Ad hoc industrialisation without genuine
assessment on the effects on nature has played havoc on nature itself.
Poisonous gas emissions increased, excessive use of natural
resources, industrial wastage, nuclear wastage have made the world a
polluted place. That is the clear indication of the promiscuous use of
natural resources which should have been addressed watchfully.
Attitudinal change sans mercinary expectations should be forthwith
brought about to change the pace in wearing out of natural resources.
Many summits are there to mitigate the negative effects and many sermans
are made about sustainable development but so far they have been several
rounds of talks without putting decisions into practice.
Now we have arrived at a bifurcation where we have to decide, if we
are going to redress the loopholes we were carrying out in utilising
natural resources or resort to the same lucrative tactics that we
applied so far and perish.
DAMITH JAYASEKARA
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