Earth's Future: It's in Our Hands

The pressure-filled slogan “the future is in our hands” can be daunting to our generation. We constantly hear about the threats of global warming and how mega companies are continuously destroying our rivers and oceans. We hear about epidemics of disease in countries that have been previously rid of them and massive violent outbreaks tearing countries apart. These problems seem so incredibly paramount that we are perplexed as to how we can even begin to approach these issues.

There is another saying “out of sight, out of mind” that I believe explains perhaps why there have not been monumental strives in saving our environment. I for one have fallen victim to this predicament. It was not until studying abroad in Australia that I became aware of just how bad things were. I got the opportunity to stay in Heron Island which is an island on the Great Barrier Reef. I remember being thrilled to swim among beautiful coral and vibrant reef fish. My friends and I went snorkeling almost every day in Heron Island, and what I saw was not at all comparable to the picture books of the Great Barrier Reef I read back in elementary school. What I thought would be a magical experience had to my surprise saddened me. The majority of the coral colonies were algae ridden and bleached beyond belief. I could not fathom how the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef, was dying right before my eyes. To hone it in even further, my biology course at the time watched a documentary called “Chasing Coral”. The documentary emphasized the dramatic effect and strain global warming has on our reefs. Before visiting Australia, I had obviously heard of the effects of global warming and the devastation of coral bleaching and felt a sense of sadness. But as the saying goes, it was out of sight, out of mind, and the feeling of sadness faded as I continued on with my life.

It took seeing the Great Barrier Reef, of all things, to get me to finally understand the magnitude of this issue. Our reefs not only provide habitats for all kinds of species, but it also provides a livelihood for tons of people living in coastal areas. Once I saw for myself how the planet we live in was deteriorating, I was overwhelmed by fear and panic. I thought to myself, is it too late to save our reefs? What can I possibly do to help once I am all the way back home in Georgia? Distraught by this idea, I felt like a failure once I realized that there was no overnight cure to restore our reefs. More pathetically, I felt as if my actions would be trivial in comparison to all other people.

My mindset then altered once I began changing my everyday habits. I tried to use less plastic, take faster showers, and to speak up when someone is hurting our environment. For example, I recently went on a snorkel expedition during my time in Fiji. There was a Ukranian man who was stepping on the coral reef that we were at, and while this immensely bothered me, I struggled with whether or not I should say anything. I was the youngest person in our group and did not want to overstep any boundaries. I eventually worked up the courage to kindly ask him to not step on the reefs, and it actually sparked a productive conversation on humans’ negative impacts on coral reefs. I left the conversation content knowing that I spoke up for something I strongly cared about and believed in. I noticed later in the day another group member stepping on the reefs, and I was shocked to see the Ukranian man asking for the person to politely respect the coral reef and swim around the coral. It was at that moment that I realized how small actions can spiral into a domino effect. It has since inspired me to continue on with my small, but important, conservation efforts.

The optimistic slogan “the future is in our hands” has fueled a drive within our generation. It has created a new era of engineers from all backgrounds, empowered environmental movements, promoted women in STEM, but most importantly, it has given us a voice. It has enabled us to speak our truths and to step up to the plate when problems arise. It reminds us that no matter our age or background, our opinions will not be mitigated. With this wave inspiration, comes a newfound hope that we can protect this planet we call home. This will not be accomplished by one person alone, but by the collective effort fulfilled by everyone. Now, when we hear “the future is in our hands”, we will not feel anguish, but a feeling of empowerment.