Environmental journalism

Assignment; the survival of the planet is the survival of man Discuss! (10 marks)

By; Nadege Umukundwa

Earth our home planet is a world unlike any other. The third planet from the
sun, Earth is the only place in the known universe confirmed to host life.  Earth
is the fifth largest planet in our solar system, and it's the only one known for
sure to have liquid water on its surface. Which means man can not survive on
any other planets
Survival is defined as the state, act or fact of continuing to live or exist, often
despite the difficulty or danger.
The survival of the planet is indeed the survival of man as planet earth can only
provide what man needs to survive as stated bellow;
 
 Air or the atmosphere. It is invisible, yet this element is of profound
importance. We all know that without oxygen life is unsustainable. But the
atmosphere has other lesser-known attributes. Without it, the Earth would not
experience weather events or have the moderate temperatures that enable
liquid water, and life, to exist in the first place. Nor would we have protection
against extra-terrestrial dangers, like meteors or the sun’s lethal ultraviolet
radiation.
This layer forms a living space in its own right. At first glance it may seem
relatively empty, but it is home to a wide variety of creatures, the most
obvious of which are birds – albatrosses (known as double eagle), sea birds like
puffins that all stay on the wing for inordinate lengths of time.
But there are more than feathers flying up there. A relatively new branch of
science, Agroecology is now being used to learn about minute life forms that
are active at different altitudes.
Our atmosphere is not just a habitat, but also a conduit for communication.
Without the medium of air there would hardly be any sounds or noises. All the
different acoustic signals that animals use to ‘speak’ to one another would be
inaudible.

Land Our Earth, the land beneath our feet, is in a state of perpetual change
and unrest, as demonstrated by countless volcanoes and hot springs around
the globe. The tectonic plates of our planet are in constant motion. When they
collide and grind against each other, earthquakes or tsunamis may result.
Paradoxically, the destructive forces below ground are also a source of new
life. Over millions of years, volcanic eruptions at the bottom of the sea have
created new islands. Settlement begins when plant seeds are transported by
the wind to the pristine new islands. The plants are joined by insects and birds
that are able to fly long distances across the sea. Reptiles and mammals might
be carried to the newly formed shores on floating debris which also serve as
meals to Man.
Soil provides many raw materials, food, water, dwellings, shelter and other
natural resources that have been utilised by mankind for tens of thousands of
year.
Clay from the land is also used to construct entire buildings and tools to use in
everyday life like pots and utensils as well as artistic pottery that serve human in
some ways
Our planet’s land masses also harbour an invisible treasure that benefits a
particularly successful group of organisms – plants. Nutrients in the soil enable
them to sprout, blossom, and thrive as man can not survive without food.

Medicine: earth’s nature is our greatest medicine cabinet: to date it has

provided humankind with a multitude of life-saving medicines from quinine to
aspirin, and from morphine to numerous cancer and HIV-fighting drugs. There
is no question that additionally important medications—perhaps even miracle
cures—lie untapped in the world’s ecosystems. In fact, researchers estimate
that less than 1% of the world’s known species have been fully examined for
their medicinal value. However, the ecosystems that have yielded some of the
world’s most important and promising drugs—such as rainforests, peat
swamps, and coral reefs—are also among the most endangered. Preserving
ecosystems and species today may benefit, or even save, millions of lives
tomorrow
Water: It’s ironic that we should call our planet ‘Earth’, when two thirds of its
surface is covered by water! The human body about our body 60% is water. As
for the brain 75% of it is water, blood 83% , heart 79%, liver 85% and kidneys
83% water to name the few.
Water is very important to human’s life as used in every cell of human’s body,
it travels throughout your body carrying nutrients, oxygen, and wastes too
from the cells and organs. Water keeps our bodies cool as part of your body’s
temperature regulating system. Water acts as a lubricant and cushions to the
joints, and protects our tissues and organs from shock and damage. Water acts
as a lubricant for man’s mouth and digestive system in saliva, and in the nose,
throat, eyes, and stomach as part of mucus. water also aids in digestion and
absorption of food, as well as in the removal of wastes from your body.
The oceans, with their fluctuating water temperatures and global currents, also
act as a driving force for local weather phenomena and global climate change.
In addition, they provide an immense habitat for a countless variety of species.