Global Warming

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Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans.

This article is to make Sikhs and other people aware of the environmental issues.

You may be happy to know that Guru Har Rai Ji Seventh gurus of Sikhs planted many trees during his lifetime.

You May be Happy to know too that 6 Harat were installed by Guru Arjun Dev at Amritsar for flow of water for crops to maintain Greenery and help people economically.

Trees are important to sikhs, where sikhs are saving trees related to Gurus History (Tahli Sahib, Garna Sahib, Beri Sahib) they are also helping in destroying trees related to nature. Go and See Harian Belan and it's location they prevent trees and greenery.

For construction

Sikhs like other people around the world cut trees especially at construction sites. Sikhs all too often when building new gurdwaras cut down all the trees but do not plant them again. Today people prefer to surround gurdwaras with circumambulatory verandahs of marble, instead of preserving greenery that would require more maintainance. We have huge campuses for gurdwaras but not a single place in campus to plant trees.

Gursikh if can't plant a sapling, should not cut tree at least. It's not only for gursikh, but as it is thought that gursikhs are very responsible for other people and saving the mother nature is one of responsibility of gursikh too.

If you have to cut a tree at least plant a tree. Your one tree can help mother nature.

Nature is after all god's gift and other are man made why don't we care nature, remember if we will not care for god gift of nature then god will take revenge from us.

Plant more Trees SAVE GLOBAL WARMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All Punjabis should sow trees of "Bohar"(Banyan), "Pippal" and "Neem", which are essential to our eco-system. Bhagat Puran Singh

Trees cause problems too

But their benefits far exceed the problems they cause.

In hot weather, trees release volatile organic hydrocarbons including terpenes and isoprenes - two molecules linked to photochemical smog. In very hot weather, the production of these begins to accelerate.

America's Great Smoky Mountains are take their name from the photochemical smog released by millions of hectares of hardwoods.

This week Natural Environment Research Council scientists warned that as summer temperatures rise in the UK, the isoprene output from trees could make a small but noticeable contribution to human discomfort. Isoprene serves as a catalyst, driving the rate at which sunlight breaks down oxides of nitrogen - mostly from agriculture and cars - to produce atmospheric ozone. (www.guardian.co.uk/science)

How are you helping in Global Warming

  • As said, the major cause of global warming is the emission of green house gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide etc into the atmosphere.

Gasoline Causing Global Warming.

  • The major source of carbon dioxide is the power plants. These power plants emit large amounts of carbon dioxide produced from burning of fossil fuels for the purpose of electricity generation.
  • About twenty percent of carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere comes from burning of gasoline in the engines of vehicles. This is true for most of the developed countries. Buildings, both commercial and residential represent a larger source of global warming pollution than cars and trucks.
  • Building of these structures require a lot of fuel to be burnt which emits a large amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
  • Methane is more than 20 times as effectual as CO2 at entrapping heat in the atmosphere.
  • Methane is obtained from resources such as rice paddies, bovine flatulence, bacteria in bogs and fossil fuel manufacture.
  • When fields are flooded, anaerobic situation build up and the organic matter in the soil decays, releasing methane to the atmosphere.
  • The main sources of nitrous oxide include nylon and nitric acid production, cars with catalytic converters, the use of fertilizers in agriculture and the burning of organic matter.
  • Another cause of global warming is deforestation that is caused by cutting and burning of forests to open space for housing and commercial development and industrialization. Large portions of wild animal habitat are being destroyed in Africa has human population increases and around the world forests are being clear cut for profit, i.e. the Swat valley in Pakistan and Haiti where deforestation is so bad that hurricanes threaten tremendous mud slides that can bury whole villages. One country in South America even recently threatened to cut one of the world's great rain forests if Europe didn't pay them several billion dollars.

Impact of Global Warming

Though the world's scientists are still arguing about global warming being just part of nature, trees also put of pollutants, and its causes, we can all become more aware. Below are some things to be aware of.

  • A rise in earth’s temperatures can in turn lead to other alterations in the ecology, including an increasingly higher sea level and modifying the quantity and pattern of rainfall.
  • These modifications may boost the occurrence and concentration of severe climate events, such as floods, famines, heat waves, tornados, and twisters.
  • Other consequences may produce higher or lower agricultural outputs, glacier melting, lesser summer stream flows, genus extinctions and rise in the ranges of disease vectors.
  • As an effect of global warming species like golden toad, harlequin frog of Costa Rica has already become extinct.
  • There are numbers of species that are threated with disappearing soon, as an effect of global warming.
  • As an effect of global warming various new diseases have emerged lately. These diseases are occurring frequently due to the increase in the earth's average temperature, since bacteria can survive better in elevated temperatures and even multiplies faster when the conditions are favorable.
  • Global warming is extending the distribution of mosquitoes due to the increase in humidity levels and their increased growth in warmer temperatures. Various diseases, such as ebola, hanta and machupo virus are expected to proliferate due to warmer climates.
  • Marine life is also very sensitive to the increase in temperatures. The effect of global warming will definitely be seen on some species in the water. A survey was made in which the marine life reacted significantly to the changes in water temperatures.
  • It is expected that many species will die off or become extinct due to the increase in the temperatures of the water, whereas various other less beneficial species, which prefer warmer waters, will increase tremendously.
  • Perhaps the most disturbing changes are expected in the coral reefs that are expected to die off as an effect of global warming. Global warming is expected to cause irreversible changes in the ecosystem and the behavior of animals.

Environmentalist Sikh Figures

  • Bhagat Puran Singh, an early advocate of what we today refer to as the 'Green Revolution', was spreading awareness about environmental pollution, and warning of increasing soil erosion long before concerns over these things became popular. Pamphlets with his writings on various subjects, such as environmental awareness, were printed on re-used paper and freely distributed. He was truly a mature environmentalist and visionary. He initiated tree plantation drives, organised talks and lectures on various issues concerning the environment and social life, and also wrote a large number of books regarding the same. Some of his famous works include "Education of Man", "Righteousness alone exalts a Nation", "Plant or Perish", "The Way," "The Increasing Population" and many others. He distributed free pamphlets and books to make people aware of the impending dangers to the environment and society through his Pingalwara Society.
  • Balbir Singh Seechewal has become recognised as Punjab's most famous eco-activist, spearheading an anti-river pollution campaign. By combining his assiduously cultivated self-help philosophy with the environmental essence of Gurbani, Baba ji has resurrected the 110-miles long Lali Bein rivulet. Seechewal lays stress on understanding the importance of river water. "Water is water. Be it of Punjab's white Bein or Kali Bein, or be it of rivers such as the Satluj, Ganga, Yamuna and Godavari.

References