The Phrase 'Sneeze of Mother Nature' is often used metaphorically to describe a natural event or phenomenon with far-reaching consequences. It indicates that the event is powerful, unprecedented, and capable of causing a widespread impact.
Much like a sneeze from a person can spread germs and affect those around them. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, climate change, and other environmental events are 'sneezes of mother nature' due to their sudden and destructive nature.
These disasters cause loss of lives, displacements of communities, and destruction of infrastructure, among other long-term negative impacts. These events serve as reminders of the immense power and unpredictability of Earth's natural processes.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature and weather conditions, primarily caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and other industrial and domestic processes that release greenhouse gases.
NASA highlights the harmful effects of Climate change. Such as; rising global temperatures, ice caps, and glaciers will begin to melt, sea-level rise and extreme weather conditions will cause changes in ecosystems. These causes reveal that mother nature has stepped out of its traditional role of silent onlooker.
Mother nature has its own set of laws and processes that are interconnected and interdependent which contributes to shaping human lives profoundly.
Nature plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. For example, forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps to maintain human-friendly temperatures.
Nature and humans share fundamental similarities. For instance, humans consume food to gain energy for bodily functions, while plants use sunlight through photosynthesis to convert it into chemical energy. Additionally, both nature and humans undergo processes such as respiration, excretion, and reproduction. Thus, we cannot easily disregard environmental rights and thereby emphasizes the need for responsible stewardship of the environment.
Some countries have already recognized the intrinsic values and rights of natural entities.
Ecuador was the first country that granted legal rights to nature through its constitution, ensuring its protection. In the Indian case of A. Periakaruppan vs. the Principal Secretary, Court deemed that nature is a person that needs protection based on the reasoning, ‘she’ (nature) is grasping for breath, therefore should be accorded Constitutional rights that can be invoked by a person. Fuhe Guardian newspaper also has published about granting of legal personality to New Zealand’s Whanganui River, granting it the same rights as a human.
Therefore, for every drop of water you drink, for every breath you breathe, you have a reciprocal duty to save Mother Nature, since nature is the basis of human existence on Earth. Humans should be the caretakers of nature.
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