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Let The Earth Breathe: An International Protest to Call for a Change 

Written by: Rolan Avellano  In Collaboration with: KC Jimenez and Ari Labatorio

Humanity has experienced vast changes in climates around the world. Some countries have experienced a more severe heat during summer than usual, some encountered strange temperature shifts during the winter or rainy season, while others are facing more disastrous catastrophes.

As we face the upcoming changes due to climate change, people have observed the adverse signals of the impending irreversible events if the awareness of conservation and protection continues to decrease over time.

Foreseeing those events marked as a warning to the future generations, as the possibility of living through a harsher environment became more apparent, the sudden changes are not still in full effect, facing the worst quality of living across social groups

This April, the #LetTheEarthBreathe became a major world trend as multiple personalities, local accounts, foreign climate groups, and individuals called for help to provide attention to arrest scientists, who are currently protesting for ‘what is coming’ based on their studies and predictions. This call for awareness emanates from an emotional speech given in front of JPMorgan Chase Company in Los Angeles, in which one of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California's scientists, Mr. Peter Kalmus, urges people to listen to his warnings about climate change.

“We’ve been trying to warn you guys for so many decades,” Kalmus says, with a trembling voice. “The scientists of the world have been being ignored. And it’s gotta stop." He added. 

He emphasized “We’re going to lose everything” and “We are not joking, nor lying and exaggerating”. According to studies, JPMorgan Chase is the largest financier of fossil fuels of any bank in the world from 2016 through 2021, providing $382bn over those six years, according to a report from a consortium of NGOs. This appeal for help was successful as it was able to reach multiple countries around the world.

To add an idea about this, fossil fuels are decomposed carbon-based organisms that died millions of years ago. These fossil fuels are burned to generate heat, which is then collected and utilized to produce steam that would be used to make electricity. However, when fossil fuels are used, masses of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases are released. It's important to keep in mind that these products typically trap heat in the atmosphere, causing the temperature to rise even higher. This temperature increase can be neglected; yet, its tremendous threat to humanity's survival should not be ignored.

According to Sky News, if the World Temperature continues to rise by two degrees, mountain glaciers and rivers will start to disappear and mountainous regions will see more landslides because the permafrost that bonds the soil together will melt away. In addition to that, because of the melting of glaciers and other ice reserves of our world from different poles, the sea levels could also rise overtaking some of our lands by submerging them. 

Because of these threats, the ecosystem will also collapse and the extinction of some animals will also begin. Plants will also start to struggle in growing resulting in further addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. To avert catastrophic climate effects, the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's new report warned that rapid and profound reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are essential by 2025.

 How can we help?

During protests last week, scientists from around the world raised similar concerns and called on their governments to take immediate action to address climate change. We, Filipinos, can also do the same. 

The weather here in the Philippines has never been more erratic and unpredictable. Our country is threatened by climate change occurrences such as increasing sea levels, increased frequency of tropical storms, rising temperatures, and heavy rainfall. This is attributed to the country's susceptibility to natural disasters like typhoons and droughts, reliance on weather patterns, natural resources, and extensive coastline, which houses the country's major cities and the majority of the people.

Healing the planet starts with us, we may begin with a small number of individuals within our community, assessing our way of living and considering how we may live more sustainably without having to damage our nature. Our actions greatly affect our surroundings without us knowing it, it completely mirrors our attitude towards our nature. 

 Here are some simple, helpful ways that each of us can make a difference:

  Begin telling what you can change with a small number of individuals within your community. 

Assess your way of living and consider how you may live more sustainably. 

Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Stay informed about the climate catastrophe and be vocal about it. Make use of any platform you have at your disposal. You must speak up and use your voice! 

Support groups in the Philippines that work to safeguard the environment. 

As a result, this leads by example can encourage others. Moreover, having a good initiator and someone who prioritizes environmental protection, such as those who are open to converting to renewable energy sources and supporting indigenous tribes is also a must, due to the fact that individuals often get confused about what to do or where to start. We are the only hope for our beautiful planet's survival. 

 Proofread and Fact Checked by: KC Jimenez and Ari Labatorio  Pubmat by Precious Villamor

References:

Freedman (14, April 2022) / We’ve been trying to     warn you for so many decades: Nasa Climate Scientist Breaks down in tears     at Protest / Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/nasa-scientist-protest-extinction-rebellion-b2057563.html e

Sky News (08, October 2018) / What will happen as     the world gets warmer /Retrieved from https://news.sky.com/story/what-will-happen-as-the-world-gets-warmer-10336299#:~:text=If%20the%20world%20temperature%20rises,10%25%20of%20the%20world's%20population.

Client Earth (18, February 2022) / Fossil Fuels     and Climate Change: The Facts / Retrieved from https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/stories/fossil-fuels-and-climate-change-the-facts/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20link%20between,temperature%20has%20increased%20by%201C.

Jordans & Borenstein (05 April 2022) / UN     warns Earth ‘firmly on track toward an unlivable world’ / Retrieved     from .com/article/climate-united-nations-paris-europe-berlin-802ae4475c9047fb6d82ac88b37a690e

Buis (09 March 2022) / Too Hot to Handle: How     Climate Change May Make Some Places Too Hot to Live / Retrieve from https://climate.nasa.gov/ask-nasa-climate/3151/too-hot-to-handle-how-climate-change-may-make-some-places-too-hot-to-live/