A Discussion of Environmental Issues as a Moral Concern - Article Example

A Discussion of Environmental Issues As A Moral Concern A Discussion of Environmental Issues as a Moral Concern Thepurpose of this paper is to discuss the environmental issues as a moral concern. Herein, it should be noted that the environmental issues are being generated due to the inappropriate human activities. Humans are the largest contributors themselves to the growing problem of environment around the world. We are not alone on this planet though, but we are creating problems for the other species that have been living here even before us. We are polluting whatever we have and whatever we can reach and take our hands on to. It is the reason due to which every country is going through the environmental problems. Among many environmental issues, one of the most increasing environmental problems is violation of animal rights and. The inappropriate human activities are causing problems to the animals and violating the animal rights. Animals are losing their shelters houses and being abused due to the growing needs of the humans. It is destroying the important ecological habitats and number of animals is losing their lives. A lot of known species are extinct now, and a large number is on the verge of being extinct due to change in climate, geological changes, and human intervention. Environment is a heavy word that includes a lot of things. It includes our surroundings, climate, air, water, mineral balance in the land, greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, and survival and diversity of species in a region (Linzey & Paul Barry, 2013). Human beings the most dominant species on the planet own the sole responsibility of taking care of this planet and its environment. It is mandatory for human beings to look after the needs of animals and provide them with food, water and shelters, and stop the violation of animal rights. In addition, they must do something that they find it hard to do it on their own because of the environmental changes brought upon them by humans. There is a serious need to put focus on this issue, as humans have grown in numbers, and an average human now leaves a bigger footprint in his life than ever before. Thus, the consumption of carbon has increased and with that the pollutant gasses have increased in the atmosphere as well. There is a severe degradation of the ozone layer as well that is affecting not only the lives of humans but also of plants and animals. With that temperatures have also changed, and the general vegetation of the planet is also affected (Buckingham & Turner, 2008). Human are the only species that kill and hurt solely for ambition, and the most affected of our nature are the innocent animals, which have been living on this planet way before us. But the animals have their rights that are not entertained by people in this world. Some the most common human activities that are violating the animal rights are drug testing and experiments on animals. For this purpose majority of animals are brought out from the forests and wildlife for the drugs testing (Watson, 2009). Different experiments on animals for drug testing are destroying the wildlife of forests and different habitats from this planet. There is also a major issue of carbon emission in the atmosphere, which is changing the climate worldwide. In addition, creating problems for the animals and birds, they are forced to migrate more frequently and they do not find sufficient food and suitable weather for their survival. Humans also have an ever-increasing need for land for the residential and commercial use (Pearson, 2011). It is destroying the forest, which serves as a home and shelter for the animals. Our cities are ever increasing at an uncontrollable pace, which is also resulting in animal loss and migration. It is also a matter of fact that we are dependent on animals for food and few other needs like clothes and medicine. However, it is not like we do not have other options for meeting our requirements. Humans are technologically advanced enough and have synthetic alternatives of everything (Yount, 2008). The key is to keep a balance between the two but unfortunately like other natural resources humans are not bothered by their endangerment. Moreover, we just know how to consume for the technology advancements, and we also use for medical science researches where animals are being used for experiments. Scientists for the sake of medical advancements and drugs testing are using the animals. For this, different types of habitats are being used, for example, doctors are using animals for the dissection purpose, and scientists test their medicines and injections are carried on animals for testing purpose. It is taking several lives of animals and with this speed forests are vanishing and wildlife is also affected (Linzey & Paul Barry, 2013). It is also a matter of fact that there are some countries that do not consider animal rights at all. In those countries, animals are not getting food, water and shelters as per their needs. The animal rights violation is reported on a large scale. Cruelty to animals is considered as wrong according to the animal rights. Although, animal rights are important, however, it is not as important as human rights. It is the reason due to which a majority is neglecting animal rights. Herein, it should also be noticed that animal rights do not stop the killing of the animal for food purpose. Animals are killed for religion celebration purposes, wearable products, drugs testing and experiments (Pearson, 2011) The animal rights law does not prevent these acts of cruelty to the animals. It is the reason due to which humans do not consider the animal rights law and violate these laws. Moreover, the animal abuse is increasing, and the animals’ needs are neglected. There are some organizations around the world like PETA. It is working hard to create awareness and stop the mistreatment of animals around the world by industries and individuals. However, there are many who simply neglect the importance of protecting other species and their living space and do whatever it takes to earn profits and increase productivity (Linzey & Paul Barry, 2013) World is changing, and industrialization has been the major trend in the world since a long time, everything is now developed at the industrial level and productivities have increased with it. However, this has been a curse for the environment and other species, the land the air and the water everything has gone out of balance and pollution has increased than ever. Animal living space is narrowed, and their migration is forced which has caused many extinct due to unavailability of natural resources and ideal survival conditions due to change in environment and human interference. Globally everyone now recognizes this effect yet no significant measures have been taken by the government to reduce the loss and improve the conditions (Buckingham & Turner, 2008) Overall it can be concluded that there are few steps taken by the governments around the world. For example, establishment of national parks, ban on hunting many endangered animal species and protection of few forests. However, these are not enough, and only a few countries have practically enforced these laws and regulations. Moreover, most of the countries are still not focusing on this as a serious matter. Balance of ecosystem and life cycle is disturbed, and animals are affected the most. The world environment has changed drastically over the time of past few decades, and more and more animal species are endangered now, but there is no international campaign to raise the awareness for this noble cause. We are the prime polluters, and we simply do not care for animals and their future, which is strictly bonded to the future. References List Buckingham, S., & Turner, M. (2008). Understanding Environmental Issues. New York: SAGE. Linzey, A., & Paul Barry, C. (2013). Animal Rights: A Historical Anthology. New York: Columbia University Press. Pearson, S. J. (2011). The Rights of the Defenseless: Protecting Animals and Children in Gilded Age. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Watson, S. (2009). Animal Testing: Issues and Ethics. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group. Yount, L. (2008). Animal Rights. New York: Infobase Publishing. Read More