THE illegal dumping of toxic chemicals into Sungai Kim Kim in Johor is reprehensible and irresponsible on the part of the perpetrators as it has endangered the lives of many, particularly children.

Schools have to be closed and the children’s education is interrupted by the misdeed of a few. The poisonous fumes also affect the lives of people in the vicinity.

It is a heinous act indicative of a worldview among certain quarters that the sanctity of the environment as well as human life to some extent can and should be disregarded at the altar of corporate profits.

The toxic dumping also represents a callous and unethical attitude as well as a misplaced notion of convenience of some members of the public as regards throwing their rubbish that they no longer want.

Hence, we bear witness to environmental destruction caused by, for instance, deforestation of virgin forests that promises immense profits from timber sale to greedy corporations.

It is said that this is one of the major causes of climate change, the dismal effect of which will be greatly felt by future generations.

Equally disastrous is the lackadaisical throwing of things, particularly non-biodegradable items, into the drains, rivers and eventually seas. The consequence of which gets back to us through our food chain.

For instance, we eat fish that contains micro-plastics that are detrimental to our health, the survival of our future generations and food security.

In this regard, it is commendable that our government has embarked on a concerted campaign to reduce the use of plastics, particularly plastic bags, that are often found strewn in drains, rivers and alongside our shores, which in turn affects marine life.

However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. For, this points to a larger problem of wastefulness in our so-called consumerist lifestyle that generally embraces a throw-away culture.

Just look at the quantity and size of our landfills.

The overconsumption of things in our daily lives cannot simply be redeemed by mere promise and even concrete initiative of materials recycling.

If anything, recycling, although a commendable strategy, can be abused by some only to give a lame excuse to wasteful lifestyle.

The fashion industry is a clear example where you are made to feel inadequate if you do not change your wardrobe seasonally. You are urged to change into, for example, pre-torn jeans rather than wearing jeans until it is worn out over a long period of time.

Planned obsolescence is a concept that is factored into the making of many things so that it necessitates buying more things.

There are cars, washing machines and televisions, for example, that are made in such a way that they can only function effectively or satisfactorily for a stipulated time period.

Or at the very least, they are made to appear too old fashioned to be used in future, therefore deserving of a rubbish graveyard.

An economic system that prioritises excessive profits and consumerist lifestyle put a strain on natural resources as well as the environment.

These two factors also suggest that some adults, be they corporate moguls, manufacturers, politicians and wasteful lifestyle-seekers, can be so greedy and selfish to the point of subjecting their children and others who would later inherit the earth to a future that may not be worth waiting for, given the scale of destruction that they would have inflicted.  

From an Islamic perspective, human beings, as God’s vicegerents who have been entrusted to take care of our only planet, have failed in their duty.

Given that the future generations are the beneficiaries of such a troubled world, it is no wonder that some teenagers in the world, who speak without sugar-coating words, are up in arms to pressure adults in government and corporate sectors to view seriously the global climate crisis as an urgent matter.

Concerned Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg has inspired many other teenagers in more than 30 countries to skip class on Fridays as part of their School Strike 4 Climate campaign.

This Friday, is yet another strike to demand the attention and action of the powers-that-be.

Our future generations deserve a better world, a legacy that we all ought to be proud of. – March 13, 2019