by Belinda Long

Created on: August 01, 2010

Is it too late to save the earth? Maybe. Maybe not.

We are more conscious of the damage we do on a daily basis to the planet. Is that enough? Probably not. How many people live on this planet? What are the odds of all of them simultaneously deciding to be more environmentally friendly? That isn't to say none of us should make the effort. It simply makes the point that to "save" the earth, we would have to reverse all the damage that has been done to it first. Then we would have to refrain from doing any damage. Every human being would have to be on the same page at the same time.

Can the damage we've already done be reversed? Landfills all around the world filled with garbage that will never break down and disappear, make me believe that we cannot undo the damage we have already done. On the other hand, science is amazing. Maybe someday, scientists will find a way to eliminate all the trash that will not eliminate itself. But then we still have a hole in the ozone, greenhouse gases and melting polar icecaps.

Human beings have been ignorant for far too long. We have abused this planet and destroyed valuable resources.  We have become a race that needs convenience more than we care about the damage our conveniences do. And still this does not completely answer the question. Perhaps the earth can be saved, but will the human race be around to see the day it is? While we destroy our planet, we destroy ourselves. Not merely with technology or pollution, but also with wars, famine and hatred. We kill each other off with no regard for human life. We destroy animals and their habitats. We are not only destroying the planet but ourselves with it.

If there is a chance that the earth can be saved, we probably won't be around to see it happen. It most likely won't be because of some scientific breakthrough. More realistically, we can slow down the process. We might be able to give ourselves more time on the planet. Perhaps we have started down the right road, with many of us being kinder to the earth and understanding the damage we are doing. But what if the earth is destined to expire? What if, as history has shown, natural disasters wipe everything out and life starts all over again? What if we don't have to save the earth? Perhaps history does repeat itself and earth instinctively saves itself every so often.

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