For the past few days, many of us in Sarawak have been reminded of something we often take for granted: the air we breathe.
The haze has affected many communities. Schools have been closed, outdoor activities have been disrupted, and many families have had to be more careful about their health.
For a moment, something as ordinary as breathing becomes something we consciously think about.
Perhaps nature is reminding us of something.
We cannot take our environment for granted.
We often think of the environment as something outside of our forests, rivers, land and oceans. But the truth is much simpler:
The environment is part of us.
The air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat all come from the environment.
When the environment suffers, eventually, we suffer too.
The haze also teaches us another important lesson: environmental problems do not respect borders.
Smoke may originate somewhere else, but the consequences can reach communities far away. What happens in one place can affect people in another.
That is why protecting the environment cannot be the responsibility of one country, one government or one organisation alone.
It is everyone’s responsibility.
We may not be able to control what happens across the border. But we can control what we do in our own homes, communities and workplaces.
We can avoid open burning.
We can reduce waste.
We can protect our rivers.
We can plant trees.
We can keep our surroundings clean.
We can teach our children to respect nature.
And, when the air becomes unhealthy, we must also take care of our health.
Sometimes we are so busy making a living that we forget to protect the very thing that allows us to live.
No business, position, wealth or achievement is more important than our health.
Perhaps the haze should make us ask ourselves a simple question:
What kind of environment are we leaving behind for the next generation?
We often ask what kind of world we will leave for our children.
Perhaps we should also ask:
What kind of air will they have to breathe?
The environment does not belong only to us.
We are merely its temporary custodians.
Let us take care of the earth not only because it is our responsibility, but because the environment we protect today may be
the very environment our children depend on tomorrow.
And perhaps that is the lesson nature is giving us today:
Take care of the environment, and take care of your health because ultimately, we all breathe the same air.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at alimimpira@yahoo.com.
