Page 4 - The Lotus (Nov-Dec 2020)
P. 4
Social Awareness
the Environment and the Pandemic
by Jade da Silva
Over the last few decades, lockdown. However, joint form of plastic waste. The
India has experienced research led by scientists wearing of face coverings
unprecedented economic from China and U.S. has become mandatory,
growth. But beneath the estimated that nitrogen leading to a spike in sale of
shiny promise of oxides emissions, which single-use, disposable
infrastructure, decreased by 50% in East masks. But disposable
development and growth, China during the lockdown surgical masks contain
there has been a different (23 January to 9 February plastic that cannot be
kind of debt piling up – the 2020) in comparison to the recycled. N-95 masks
debt we owe to the beginning of January, later shouldn’t be used by
environment. The increased by 26% from 10 people unless they are
lockdown was quiet, it was February (back-to-work vulnerable, high risk or in
serene and we all heard day) to 12 March 2020, a medical setting. Leave
stories about the improving indicating that increasing the N-95s for those who
air quality and all the socioeconomic activities as actually need them folks!
animals finally coming out countries open up are The World Health
to enjoy THEIR habitat, likely to cause pollution to Organisation recommends
which we otherwise revert to its original levels, the general public use
encroached upon. The term thus making improved air three-layer fabric masks.
coined for it was quality all but a refreshing While single-use personal
‘Anthropause’ which break rather than a protective equipment
means a global reduction sustainable change. (PPE) is vital to help curb
in human activity. It’s the the spread of Covid-19 in
word used when we take a In Venice, shortly after medical environments,
break from destroying the quarantine began in March people do not need to use
very planet which sustains and April 2020, water in them in their daily lives.
us. the canals cleared and There is some waste that
experienced greater water we cannot but create. The
Let’s start with the air flow. The increase in water safety of medical
quality. Lockdowns clarity was due to the professionals and those
imposed in various settling of sediment that is choosing to persevere and
countries halted air travel disturbed by boat traffic expose themselves to the
and hit the pause button on and mentioned the virus is of top priority, but
industrial activity. The decrease in air pollution at the same time, we do not
National Center for along the waterways. need to create unnecessary
Biotechnology Information waste. We are all morally
(US) observed that in Where wildlife is obligated to do the best we
metro cities like Delhi, as concerned, the lockdown can for the environment.
the energy foot print was has seen a decline in Pandemic or not, we must
high, the lockdown has fishing, which means that always unite to be as
improved the air the fish biomass will sustainable as possible.
quality. Studies on air increase after over-fishing Some waste cannot be
quality of the four selected almost depleted it. Apart avoided, but it is our duty
stone crushing clusters at from that, animals have to swap single use items
Dwarka river basin of been spotted moving about for re-usable items
Eastern India noticed freely where once they wherever and whenever
reduction of PM would not dare to go. possible. The pandemic
concentration from 189– However, the pandemic will eventually go away,
278 μg/m3* to 50– has also brought along but plastic waste won't. It's
60 μg/m3 after 18 days of with it some environmental here forever.
commencement of baggage, mostly in the
Photograph: Mithil Anup * Micrograms (one-millionth of a gram) per cubic
meter air
