We are living in an age of denial, despite also being more than a decade into the age of information and technology. There are mountains of studies and data piling up to highlight the ill-effects of global warming, but we seem to be much happier putting off taking any drastic steps in order to deal with more short-term problems. Perhaps the most damning statistic was released this week, showing the effects of Pollution on the most helpless members of our society, and it is not pretty.
Killer skies
According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), Children under the age of five years are one of the worst affected by the rise in pollution levels.
The fatality levels have risen so steeply now, that one of four deaths caused in children under five years is due to pollution levels; that is nearly 1.7 million deaths annually.
In order to better explain the culminating reasons behind the dangers of pollution, Dr. Margaret Chan who is the director-general of the WHO made the following statement: “A polluted environment is a deadly one — particularly for young children. Their developing organs and immune systems, and smaller bodies and airways make them especially vulnerable to dirty air and water."
Break-down of the annual tragedy
During our transition from adolescence to adulthood, our body tends to work extra hard in order to provide us with essentials we require.
This means that we tend to eat, drink and breathe a lot more comparatively as children than we do as adults. This is why children are so gravely affected when environmental conditions around them are degrading.
According to the WHO report, over 500,000 children died in 2012 due to respiratory infections. The same year also witnessed over 250,000 premature deaths due to poor living conditions, over 200,000 deaths due to malaria alone, and over 200,000 deaths due to unplanned eco-tragedies like poisoning.
Acknowledging danger
It is truly shameful that we, the most advanced and conscious species on our planet, are having a difficult time acknowledging even the gravity of our environment problems, let alone taking the necessary actions to fight the crisis. Even when our children, the future of our planet, are taking such major losses, we are refusing to budge from our current stance.
It is down to our world leaders to grow a conscience and take the necessary steps before thing get any direr than they already are.
