Introduction
As the population of individuals from different parts of the globe increases radically, it is more apparent that there is need to devise systems of protecting the environment. Failure to protect the environment might lead to a severe environmental crisis that will result in the disappearance of the globe one day. As the earth becomes more and more stable, there is a gradual increase in the number of individuals too. Some people have a tendency of cutting down trees in an effort to increase the areas of survival. Individuals who cut down trees in large numbers are not aware of the long-term impacts of these actions to the environment. This leads to the depletion of the lung of the earth day by day.
Globalization has resulted in an effective supply of needs to the living individuals from factories. However, there is no place for deposition of unprocessed wastes. Unquestionably, the earth is dying gradually due to the depletion of the ozone layer. Global warming is also apparent leading to floods, droughts and other miseries. These tragedies are usually caused by pollution of the environment by human beings. It is evident that global warming has virtually affected the entire world, from the Northern Pole to countries in the tropics such as Vietnam (McCargo 150). This paper will focus on possible solutions to the environmental crisis in Vietnam.
The status of the environment globally
In 2009, a strange case was experienced in Hanoi. The highest temperature in the summer season was about 42-45 degrees for four days. The temperature then dropped to 30 degrees for the subsequent days. This phenomenon has never been experienced before. Therefore, the impacts of global warming are very impulsive. Global warming can also cause serious damages to the peoples’ lives and the environment. Nevertheless, it is the right time to save our planet through actions that will be aimed at protecting the environment. In comparison to the previous years, there have been some changes in the status of the global environment. Several conferences have been held yearly to confer and establish solutions for the environmental crisis (McCormick 88).
Several policies have been adopted each year to help eradicate the environmental issues. It is apparent that the globe is being damaged drastically. Some of the issues that are influencing the environmental crisis are high growth rates of human beings, expansion in farming as well as high rates of immigration. The increase in the rates of growth and the impulsive extension of people’s practices into forested lands has lead to forest degradation. The degradation in the forests has been attributed to the increase in agricultural practices leading to deforestation.
Greenhouse gases in Vietnam have been staying in the atmosphere for years arraying from decades to thousands of years. Basically, the depletion of the ozone layer has been the main cause of global warming (Royte 65). Global warming can also be acknowledged as climate change. This clearly accounts for the high temperatures that were experienced in Vietnam in 2009. Droughts have also been experienced in Vietnam as a result of global warming. Vegetations have withered leading to the death of animals. Water has also been a problem in Vietnam. This is accountable for the various conflicts and wars in the country. Basing on the research in the national environmental report of 2007 regarding the Vietnam Environment Administration, the main issue of Vietnam at present is air pollution. Among the major causes of air pollution, is the augmentation in the number of motor vehicles, particularly motorbikes. Initially, Pedi cabs and bicycles were the most common means of transport in Hanoi (capital city of Vietnam). Presently, the approximate number of used motorbikes in Hanoi is 1,800,000 (Schnaiberg 74). These motorbikes have been the major culprits of noise and air pollution. Motorbikes in motion usually release sulphur dioxide and benzene into the environment.
Additionally, Vietnam has a problem of water pollution. This was attested after the death of 104 individuals from cancer. Most of the populace in Vietnam relies on poisoned water that has been polluted by chemicals from Lam Thao and other small industrial units. Untreated wastes from factories in Vietnam are usually channeled into small lakes, which are the chief sources of water to the populace. Another example of water pollution is the company of Vedan that channels its poisonous wastes into Thi Vai River in Dong Nai province. As a matter of fact, Bullard attests that “each factory of Vedan dumps wastes into the environment from 50 cubic meters to 5,000 cubic meters per day and the realistic polluted figures are over a thousand times higher than the allowed standard” (30). Convincingly, Thi Vai River is fatally polluted. According to the policies in Vietnam, factories of Vedan have to recompense not less than 5 million USD for their wrong deeds to the people’s health and surroundings (Stauber 110).
A variety of solutions has been given to eradicate the environmental crisis in Vietnam. First of all, individuals should use alternative sources to produce energy. Due to the fact that burning of fossil fuels impacts the environment negatively by causing pollution, individuals should use renewable sources of energy. These sources of energy are acknowledged as being clean to the environment. Such sources of energy include solar, wave and wind power. In most cases, electricity is wasted by most people whenever they leave on unused lights, TV sets and other electrical appliances. The use of solar power for production of energy in homes is among the best alternative for most of the individuals. Solar power should be used by harnessing the energy from the sun to heat the homes and run various electrical devices.
The installation of solar power is not only cheap but also friendly to the environment. Energy form the sun can also be significant in the generation of hot water. Essentially, the installation of solar technology uses a solar panel. A solar panel uses photons in the generation of electricity (Light 99). The photovoltaic-enabled panels can be left on the outside of the house in order to harness solar energy. They can also be set on a roof depending on the position and type of the roof. Such a solution is economical and easy to install. Installation of this system is also accompanied with a variety of benefits that will help in resolving the environmental crisis.
The status of the environment in Vietnam
Individuals in Vietnam should use other forms of transport that are friendly to the environment. They should prefer to use public means of transport instead of private means. This is because, this practice helps in the reducing the amount of pollution that will released to the environment. As a matter of fact, public means of transport are friendly to the environment. This is because; trains and buses are designed to carry large groups of people at the same time while cars usually carry a single person. There is need to encourage car pools as this will help in reducing the numbers of cars on public roads. The big car corporate bodies should also work on fabricating new engine technologies to ensure that the cars operate on fuels that are friendly to the environment for instance hydrogen in preference to petrol (Leung 18). It is also healthier for individuals going on shorter journeys to cycle. Special cycle lanes should be developed on roads to enhance cycling as an alternative to driving cars.
In an attempt to conserve the environment, individuals in Vietnam should purchase green products. Such products include organic foods that are manufactured without applying pesticides. Researchers have confirmed that both pesticides and chemicals in food are harmful to the environment. These chemicals are also dangerous to the living individuals within the environment. Basically, it is important for the owners of various households to come up with small backyards for planting organic vegetables. Girdner designates that “there are numerous kinds of vegetables that are easy to grow for shorter durations and are also good for people’s health and environment” (56).
This garden should serve as alternative provisions of wood. Consequently, other forests can be conserved for future generations. Individuals can also use bamboo as a replacement for wood in their day to day necessities. Plastic bags have an impact of polluting the environment. Therefore, the government of Vietnam should encourage the use of green bags in place of plastic bags. A good example of a green bag is a paper bag. In fact, paper bags can be recycled whilst plastic bags cannot. This practice will be aimed at reducing the number of plastic bags that will be dumped into the surrounding. This will lessen the pressure of throwing things on the environment.
The government of Vietnam should encourage its citizens to avoid the dumping of wastes into the environment. There is also need to recycle wastes that have already been dumped into the environment. Salvaging of the wastes has turned out to be the best resolution for the remaining dissipations (Klíma 32). Such actions must be done by each and every household in Vietnam in an attempt to protect and conserve the environment. Basically, three R’s should be used. These are reducing reuse and recycle. While collecting the wastes, they should be placed in separate boxes basing on the type. This is aimed at facilitating the recycling processes to fabricate new items. Each form of waste entails its recycling procedures. Recycling of the entire wastes will result in a significant reduction in the number of wastes. Individuals may collect the wastes and then vend them to their respective recycling industrial units. Their salary will be determined by the number of wastes they would have collected. This practice will not only protect the environment but also create employment to unemployed individuals within the society.
Nearly all individuals from different parts of the globe cherish travelling. Individuals in Vietnam should be encouraged to take vacations to hot spots around the globe for touring and travelling. As a matter of fact, ecotourism is among the best ways of resolving environmental crises. Majority of individuals prefer resort, health spas and other modes of fresh entertainment. If individuals tour such places in large numbers, a lot of pressure will be imparted on the environment. Seemingly, ecotourism is an efficient way of conserving the environment. These activities help in providing education to the travelers regarding environmental conservation. Ecotourism helps in educating individuals regarding the provision of funds for protecting the environment. This education benefits the economy of a country, helps in empowering the regional masses and promotes respect for diverse cultures.
A conscientious ecotourism entails activities that lessen the negative impacts of traditional tourism on the surroundings. Its programs should also promote the cultural integrity of regional individuals (Keller, 77). Apart from appraising the cultural and ecological factors, a conscientious ecotourism has an obligation of promoting recycling and encouraging water preservation. Essentially, ecotourism emphasizes on energy efficiency as well as the creation of economically related activities for the regional masses. Instead of living in five star hotels, travelers for the purpose of tourism can reside in the villagers’ homesteads. The tourists will have an opportunity of learning the various ways of conserving the environment. Most of the activities that should be done by the villagers include planting rice, grass and various green plants.
Solutions to the environmental crisis in Vietnam
All of the solutions provided above will be in vain if individuals do not recognize the importance of conserving the environment. There is need to educate the citizens of Vietnam on the fundamental role of the environment. Individuals must be aware of the ecological alarm and take more obligations to resolve the environmental crisis. In fact, education is one of the best resolutions to the environmental issues. The members of the public can be educated in a variety of ways. One may organize a number of contests for instance, drawings regarding the state of the environment (Hollander 127). A group of individuals may also come up with demonstrations to recycle the wastes. A lot of ideas regarding environmental conservation might be accrued from such contests. Individuals may also come up with short films exhibiting the various ways of protecting the environment. These video clips could then be shown on TV. This will be a more attractive mode of studying the environment.
Obstacles standing in the way of comprehensive resolutions to environmental crises
There are a number of obstacles that stand in the way of comprehensive resolutions to the environmental crisis. These obstacles may be divided into social, political and economic obstacles. Taking an example of ecotourism as a way of resolving environmental crisis, the industry may lack effective leaders to facilitate these activities. This is a political obstacle. In provision of education to the masses regarding environmental conservation, cases of language barrier may arise among individuals. This is a social obstacle. Economically, the government may not release the funds for facilitating learning activities on environmental conservation (Wolff 16).
Conclusion
Conclusively, this planet is diminishing. The environment is also obliterating. Unquestionably, diverse individuals are facing fatal impacts of environmental crisis brought forth by them. This planet is getting damaged by the reckless and uninformed actions of the masses. Various solutions and policies have been developed daily in an attempt to tackle the environmental issues. However, the main solution is humans. The citizens of various states should be aware of what they do and make affirmative practices to their environment (Harper 36). They should know that their life is determined by their actions. Individuals from different parts of the world should take obligations to avert the environmental crises. The formulated policies will not work unless human beings chip in.
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