environmental issues

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Matters relating to the damaging effects of human activity on the biosphere, their causes, and the search for possible solutions. The political movement that supports protection of the environment is the green movement. Since the Industrial Revolution, the demands made by both the industrialized and developing nations on the Earth's natural resources are increasingly affecting the balance of the Earth's resources. Over a period of time, some of these resources are renewable – trees can be replanted, soil nutrients can be replenished – but many resources, such as minerals and fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), are non-renewable and in danger of eventual exhaustion. In addition, humans are creating many other problems that may endanger not only their own survival, but also that of other species. For instance, deforestation and air pollution are not only damaging and radically altering many natural environments, they are also affecting the Earth's climate by adding to the greenhouse effect and global warming, while water pollution is seriously affecting aquatic life, including fish populations, as well as human health.

Environmental pollution is normally taken to mean harm done to the natural environment by human activity. In fact, some environmental pollution can have natural sources, for example volcanic activity, which can cause major air pollution or water pollution and destroy flora and fauna. In terms of environmental issues, however, environmental pollution relates to human actions, especially in connection with energy resources. The demands of the industrialized nations for energy to power machines, provide light, heat, and so on are constantly increasing. The most versatile form of energy is electricity, which can be produced from a wide variety of other energy sources, such as the fossil fuels and nuclear power (produced from uranium). These are all non-renewable resources and, in addition, their extraction, transportation, utilization, and waste products all give rise to pollutants of one form or another. The effects of these pollutants can have consequences not only for the local environment, but also at a global level.

Black stands for the African people. White symbolizes peace. Black, red, and green, the ‘black liberation’ colours, denote Africa's rebirth. Red represents the blood common to all people. Green recalls the fertile land. Effective date: 12 December 1963. >>