For over 22 years as an environmentalist, I have grappled with defining the term “Environmental Pollution.” I’ve tirelessly sought its true source and a lasting solution. My journey has led me to one clear definition, one evident source, and one true solution.
What is Environmental Pollution?
Environmental Pollution is the inability of our environment to absorb the byproducts of reckless human activities done in the name of development.
The Root Cause of Environmental Pollution
The true source of environmental pollution lies in human insensitivity toward the world around us and our failure to understand nature’s fundamental law of interdependence—the law of collective existence.
Most other definitions of pollution focus on human discomfort or downplay the damage caused by our actions. Whether it’s polluted water entering freshwater bodies, noise from loudspeakers, or natural events like volcanic eruptions, we label anything that causes us discomfort as a pollutant. But every definition of pollution, including my own, centers around our privileged human perspective.
The Path to a Solution
To solve the problem of environmental pollution, we first need to correct our understanding of the world. We must realize that the Earth wasn’t created solely for human comfort, that we are just one small part of the vast web of life, and that we don’t own the planet—the planet owns us. Nature has the ultimate say in which species thrive. Once we accept these truths, the solutions to environmental pollution will become clear.
A Call to Action
It’s not enough to simply raise awareness about the causes and solutions of environmental pollution; we must also work to awaken our human consciousness and understand the deeper truth.
We’ve been searching for answers in the wrong places and knocking on the wrong doors.
“The permanent solution to environmental pollution lies in the purification of human conscience, not just the purification of the environment.”
