Season Greetings From Daily Democrat

‘Let’s celebrate to

save the environment’

The Christmas festivity

is a joyous and thanks giving occasion that takes many forms and shapes

depending on one’s sociocultural and religious background.

One critical issue always

relegated to the background is the environment. With this short period of the

celebration,

energy consumption will rise while different gasses will be released into the

atmosphere.

In Ghana where a lot

of burning takes place; talking of burning wood for cooking, burning of refuse

at homes and lastly but not the least burning of car tyres, especially by the

youth to usher in the new year.

In the last decade or

so, the act of burning tyres to usher in the New Year has replaced bonfires,

which also have its own ramifications. But tyre burning takes it to a whole new

level where the ash of the burnt tyre takes years to wash.

Indeed, Christmas is

time for fun, but we must have fun responsibly because the damage we cause the

environment and the very air that sustain living on this dear earth by our

actions are irreversible.

The earth’s

atmosphere, which incidentally is the only reason why humans are still living

on this rock is getting polluted every day, meaning the quality of air for this

world is reducing by the day.

Usually, we disregard

our own little actions that contribute to this pollution and turn attention on

industrial countries as the cause of all atmospheric pollution and global

warming.

Admittedly, these

countries contribute the major green house gasses polluting the earth’s

atmosphere but the simple act of burning ten car tyres each by youth groups

should not be overlooked as minute contribution to environmental pollution.

The effects of global

warming and other environmental pollutions have been felt by all, here in Ghana

and across the world.

Devastations caused

by flood waters have been on our TV screens continuously while in Ghana, the

devastation of the last flood is yet to be removed.

Indeed, there are

trillions of other planets inhabiting the universe, however, the rock called

Earth is the only one that has a blanket of air that can support life.

It is estimated that

over 3million people die annually from air pollution-related diseases, children

and women being the worst affected.

While we worry about

air pollution we tend to forget that the tons of refuse we generate also

pollute the land and render once fertile lands into barren lands.

The management and

staff of the Daily Democrat therefore wish all Ghanaians especially our

cherished vendors, readers, customers, clients and the leadership of all

political parties a merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.

It is our fervent hope

that activities during the occasion will be in harmony with the environment, which

we are holding in trust for the unborn generation. Our lives and very our existence

depend on the survival of the environment.

May the Good Lord continue

to shower his blessings on his children.