World Environment Day

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 and is hosted every year by a different city and commemorated with an international exposition through the week of June 5th. The U.N. uses this event to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and public action.

As our world evolves and human population expands, it is vital that we become ever more in-tuned with the environment from which we inhabit and draw our resources from. It is a fact that our planet's resources are limited and there are ways to manage them for sustainable future. Our surroundings is a place that we share with other human beings, animals and plants and by polluting it, we are destroying our habitat as well as theirs.

As individuals, people tend to think that such issues are beyond their control and the onus of the politicians but this mentality is flawed. But the truth is everyone is responsible for the environment in which we live, breathe, eat, play and work. There are many ways, big and small, that we can contribute. For example, we can do our part by supporting recycling programmes and discourage wasteful practices. We can even participate in groups that advocate nature conservation and promote awareness.

In fact, sometimes it's the little things that matter more. Many people are culprits of littering, especially some Singaporeans who expect hired cleaners to pick after them. Some do not even bother to dispose toxic materials in a proper manner and all these serve to pollute and damage our environment.

We need to educate the public of their moral obligations and inculcate them with genuine love and care for this place we all call home.