COUNTDOWN TO DETONATION

 Eons ago was the age of giant, majestic beings called dinosaurs. They roamed the earth in its breadth and wildness. We have seen their remains, so we cannot deny that they have once existed. Theories of their extinction have been postulated, most notable of them being the giant meteor that slammed the earth thousands of millennia ago causing such apocalyptic change in the earth’s climate as to wipe out the dinosaurs and their cousins. We know that entire races of humanity have been wiped out. We also know that the world will inevitably come to an end. What we have failed to realize is that before the end finally comes, things can get a lot worse. Living can become unbearable, and there may come a time when the people alive will envy those in the graves.

Indeed today is not the age of dinosaurs, and there is no imminent threat of a meteor slamming into earth. But what is imminent and dangerous, and boasts an existential threat on par with the meteor of the dinosaur age is global warming. Over the past two and half centuries, industrialization has released carbon into the atmosphere in unprecedented amounts. Carbon IV oxide, CO₂ and other green house gases trap the heat from the sun causing a gradual unabating rise in the temperature of our atmosphere. Over millions of years, the planet has sequestered carbon within its earthly layers, buried deep keeping the environment and our atmosphere free of excess carbon. Remains of ancient forests and creatures of eons ago have been kept within the earth. In a barely two and half centuries, we have reversed a process of several million years, releasing the carbon the earth has kept sequestered in form of coal and other fossil fuels. Every year, we release a hundred times more carbon than is released by all the earth’s volcanoes combined (A Perfect Planet; Sir David Attenborough).

At the polar regions, rising atmospheric temperature has caused melting of polar ice releasing million tons of fresh water into the world’s oceans in matter of minutes. For the polar creatures, this means starvation and loss of homes with shrinkage of their habitats. For the world oceans, it means rising sea levels, water expansion and disruption of the salinity balance that is essential to the survival of our ocean’s fishes and ecological habitat. Our aquatic life is gravely endangered.

In the world’s deserts, the heat has become more severe, the winds lashing and slashing and the cold more bitter that ever. The dunes enjoy increasing population due to desert expansion and encroachment while our forests wither away. The problem has been further compounded by deforestation. The brave animals of the wilderness cannot brave the effects of climate change; many lives have been lost in search for water and vegetation.

Inland, water bodies are drying up fast. Over the last half century, Lake Chad; a lake that serves about 30 million people across 8 countries of the Subsahara has dried up by more than 90%. The Lake which has served farmers, animal herders, fishermen et cetera from time immemorial is now a mere pond. Little wonder that Nigeria has witnessed an influx of Fulani herdsmen who in search for a new home and pasture for their charges are wretching havoc on our vegetation, claiming lands, lives and properties of our farmers and rural dwellers.

The planet’s weather has become erratic and unpredictable. Droughts, frequent floods, hurricanes and wildfires have become the mainstay. During the increasing dry seasons, our forests are tinder boxes ready to burst into flames. There is a seething cauldron of discontent among farmers who despite failed harvests, droughts and wildfires cannot rely on the rains to be fair and merciful when eventually the rainy season comes.

The detonator’s timer echoes the dirge of our cataclysmic extinction. The effects of global warming and climate change is palpable. Turning a blind eye is both immoral and unjust. We must no longer live irresponsibly as we once did. We have created a giant meteor of carbon and signed the warrant to our own extinction. Luckily, we can uncreate it. We may decide to do nothing and wait for the inevitable end, but know that the journey to that end is a painful and difficult one. Why should we leave tomorrow to chance when we can make it better today? The planet will only heal itself if we lend a hand. What shall it be? Will you lend a hand?

Written: 7/11/2021

Abdulmalik Ayodele