It seems that human beings, who are always regarding themselves as the dominant species because of their cleverness and inventiveness, are pushing the earth into a danger zone. Human-induced environmental issues are not new. The problem of deforestation, desertification, water pollution, climate change and the extinction of species have been present throughout the antiquity. However, with today’s advanced science and technology, people can do greater damages to the nature and do it more quickly. The impacts are further compounded. On the other hand, due to population growth, humans are prompted more than ever to exploit natural resources to meet the demands of the blooming population.
But most of all, the effect of human-created environmental modifications are no longer restricted to a local or regional level, but are extending through the whole planet. The cause of environmental degradation is deeply rooted in human culture. Through hundreds of years of industrialization and exploitation of natural resources, humans are acting on the assumption that we are the dominant species on earth. because of our cleverness, science and power and the pursuit for materialism has deprived human of due reverence to nature. In a world emphatically and unabashedly upholding materialistic standard, people are motivated to exploit more natural resources, since personal wealth is becoming the ultimate measure of success in the eye of society.
