Source: http://www.cartoonstock.com/search.asp?x=a&keyword=environment&Category=Not+Selected&Boolean=Or&Artist=Not+Selected

My reflections:
This cartoon is that of a man, with a cigar in his hand, squeezing the Earth like an orange, dispensing all the available “juices”. It depicts the cloudiness of man’s once-serene relationship with the environment, which is now being replaced by man’s utter exploitation of available resources. The human hand in the cartoon hints that man has gone through the scientific revolution, since the appearance of the cigar is more a modern one. It is reminiscent of a business man squeezing the blue and green “orange” and the droplets of “juice” which are acquired speak of our natural resources. Half of the Earth’s resources are depleted, upon man’s incessant exploitation. With only the other half of the globe left, it implies potential survival crisis associated to this depletion of resources- that only half of the pollution may survive in future. Unremitting utilization of the Earth’s resources holds man’s survival hostage.

Globalization attained through countries facing a common global problem fortifies the bonds between nations as a whole. The Earth is likened to a photography exhibition, where this human-existent residence displays the potential economic and technological traits of its resources. Ever since man realized the prospects which these natural resources could fetch, the trek on a more industrialized society begins. This led to the rise of international business corporations and global economic growth, where the people’ standards of living improve remarkably. The portrayal of natural resources as a globe in this cartoon illustrates global recognition of this issue and the support that it requires from every nation. (See source: http://www.nationmaster.com/red/graph/ene_coa_con-energy-coal-consumption ) The table in the above source shows the approximate coal consumptions of countries. Here, every country, as long as living beings are existent, generates energy using fossil fuels and there is no single one that is wholly responsible for the depletion of resources. Take China for instance, it consumes 1,310,000,000 tons of coal per year and is the largest contributor to Environment destruction, on the basis of resource exploitation. However, it is not the only country that is culpable for depletion of the Earth’s resources; countries such as Ghana, who consumes 3000 tons of coal annually, manifest its supremacy over the vulnerable Earth too. Exhaustion of the Earth’s resources is a issue brought by all countries and the responsibility as to solving this problem should be held on a global scale too.

(See source: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/solutions )
Solutions to environmental issues arising from drainage of the Earth’s resources pull nations together, allowing them to work as a single force to improve the environmental condition. For example, the latest report from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) advocates the government to participate in the energy revolution, switching from a world powered by nuclear and fossil fuels to one running on renewable energy. Alternatives such as wind, solar, bioenergy and hydroelectric and misleading myths proposed by vested interests aiming to cease the clean energy revolution were provided in the report, in a bid for successful ushering into a new era of energy. International organizations such as Greenpeace, allow for unity and bondage of nations through recommending the adoption of renewable energy. Countries can participate and play significant roles in environmental protection. Developing countries, albeit consuming lesser energy, are also involved in the discussions held by Greenpeace, attenuating the economic differences between nations. I am glad that the Greenpeace is proactively helping to mend the disparities between developing and developed countries because this problem has been the objectives of several international organizations such as World Trade Organization, Red Cross and FIFA. Only with coalition of thoughts and help from the nations, then can we unite to solve this environmental problem.

The cartoon showing a business man squeezing the world dry on an orange juicer presents a global issue which strengthens the connecting bonds between countries, uniting them in both the process of facing and solving this universal problem.

Done By: Sharon (Evironmental and Health Expert)