Secrets of life. By destroying nature, man will destroy himself! Ordinary items fatally dangerous to nature

In the modern world, there is a point of view that a person, through his activity, harms the environment, extracting minerals, polluting and destroying the world around him. People have appeared who are openly fighting human activity, denying the benefits of civilization in favor of living in "harmony with nature." At the same time, these people enjoy these benefits no less than others, but consider it possible to consider themselves good. The other side is people who mine, build, produce. They give mankind the opportunity to live in the industrial world, but from this point of view they are considered rapists on nature ... But lately I have been learning more and more about another point of view regarding what is happening in the world.

The statement that a person harms nature is, firstly, very selfish and does not pursue the goal of improving the state of nature, but solely the interests of the person who says it. Secondly, this statement is based on the opinion that man is not a part of nature. Let's consider this concept in more detail.

man over nature

Therefore, a person begins to oppose nature, to separate from it. As a result of industrialization, people began to believe that they should use nature for their own purposes: “We cannot wait for favors from nature, it is our task to take them from her” (I. V. Michurin). This phrase has become a symbol of the consumer attitude to nature.

Such people began to be opposed by others who shouted that it was impossible to kill animals, it was impossible to pollute the environment, it was impossible to extract fossil remains. they are finite. In 100 years, oil, gas, coal will end and people will come to an energy crisis. Such people blame others for making life worse on the planet, but what they themselves have done to improve the situation.

A familiar person who studies water says “I hate people. They are polluting the Earth." But what did he do about it? He just kindled aggression in people, which will be directed at him. He, like everyone else, enjoys the benefits of civilization. He didn’t improve the lives of others in any way, he didn’t figure out how to improve the conditions of life on earth ... But he hates it.

At the same time, in reality, everyone pursues only their own goals. Some are mining. Others spend public money to imitate environmental improvement activities. This state of affairs is beneficial to everyone ... except humanity.

Man is part of nature

Throughout the history of the development of the Earth, many times there were periods in which thousands of species of living beings were destroyed. There were also creatures that also significantly influenced the world around them. And they died too. Life on earth has been constantly evolving, and now the crown of the creation of evolution on Earth is man.

However, evolution continues. The activity of any creature, including man, is exactly what was given by nature. It is nature (or, one might say, planet Earth) that strives to constantly develop. It is now striving to go beyond one planet and spread further into space. And it is man who now drives the development of nature with his activity.

Let's think about what minerals are ... For the last millions of years, life has been in full swing on the surface of the Earth. And dying, living organisms (animals, plants, microorganisms) turned into soil. This process went on continuously, and gradually this layer grew and grew. Substances were removed from the cycle of life and deposited in the Earth. Gradually, all this turned into those fossil substances that people now extract.

With his activity, a person again extracts what was buried millions of years ago and introduces it into the circulation of substances. What is the meaning of nature from meaninglessly lying substances. There is nothing useless in nature, and through human activity, the Earth shakes up all its resources, striving to develop further.

The statement that man's activity harms the Earth is not true. He only harms himself. As a result of this activity, in the near future he will use up the materials he thought of. If he cannot come up with something new and dies out, then this is only the problem of a species that could not adapt and develop. The earth was as it was before, and so it will be in the future. It will seek to enable other species to go further where man has failed.

By polluting the environment, a person only worsens the conditions of his life. Chernobyl is now one of the cleanest places in Ukraine, except for radiation. There is clean air, many animals, many plants. For some 25 years, the Earth has already begun to forget about the presence of people there. The same thing will happen if a person cannot cope with his brain and figure out how to destroy himself. It means a defective look, and it is necessary to develop differently.

So there is no need to think about how to take care of nature, it will take care of itself. There will be a nuclear war. In a million years, life will flourish again on Earth, but without people. And some other species will begin to dominate and develop, and maybe go further than humans. 60 million years ago, 99% of the species of terrestrial living creatures, including dinosaurs, died out, and mammals began to dominate. They lived before that, but dinosaurs did not give them the opportunity to develop. Now they have this opportunity. Everything in the world happens purposefully, and if a person does not live up to the expectations of evolution, then he will be forced to leave in favor of others.

Future

The difference here is that in the first understanding of the world there are two types of activity: one of them worsens the conditions of human life (pollutes the environment, affects water, food, etc.), and the other tries to improve (purifies). It's like bending an iron bar in different directions. Sooner or later you can break it. This is similar to how a person drinks a lot of coffee, and then immediately valocardin so that the heart survives this portion of coffee. But by both actions, a person only worsens his condition.

People who are fighting human activity (industry) are fighting themselves. They come out with banners and call for something, but in reality they only contribute to it.

In the second understanding of the world, there is the idea that it is necessary not to fight against activity, but to put human activity for the benefit of mankind. Those. it is necessary not to fight factories that emit waste into the air, but to come up with ways to replace these factories with something new, more progressive, which will not have such a detrimental effect on a person, but rather improve his well-being. Instead of words about saving endangered species (that is, activities directed against evolution), it is necessary to save the main dominant species on the planet - humans. Only when human activity is directed to the benefit of humanity itself, only then will a person have a chance to continue his evolutionary development.

Pollution is the introduction of pollutants into the natural environment that cause adverse changes. Pollution can take the form of chemicals or energy such as noise, heat or light. Pollution components can be either foreign substances/energy or natural pollutants.

The main types and causes of environmental pollution:

Air pollution

Coniferous forest after acid rain

Smoke from chimneys, factories, vehicles, or from burning wood and coal makes the air toxic. The effects of air pollution are also obvious. The release of sulfur dioxide and dangerous gases into the atmosphere causes global warming and acid rain, which in turn increase temperatures, causing excessive rainfall or droughts around the world, and making life difficult. We also breathe every polluted particle in the air and as a result, the risk of asthma and lung cancer increases.

Water pollution

It caused the loss of many species of flora and fauna of the Earth. This was due to the fact that industrial wastes dumped into rivers and other water bodies cause an imbalance in the aquatic environment, which leads to serious pollution and death of aquatic animals and plants.

In addition, spraying insecticides, pesticides (such as DDT) on plants pollute the groundwater system. Oil spills in the oceans have caused significant damage to water bodies.

Eutrophication in the Potomac River, USA

Eutrophication is another important cause of water pollution. Occurs due to untreated sewage and fertilizer runoff from the soil into lakes, ponds or rivers, due to which chemicals enter the water and prevent the penetration of sunlight, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen and making the reservoir uninhabitable.

Pollution of water resources harms not only individual aquatic organisms, but the whole, and seriously affects people who depend on them. In some countries of the world, due to water pollution, outbreaks of cholera and diarrhea are observed.

Soil pollution

soil erosion

This type of pollution occurs when harmful chemical elements enter the soil, usually caused by human activities. Insecticides and pesticides absorb nitrogen compounds from the soil, after which it becomes unsuitable for plant growth. Industrial waste, and also adversely affect the soil. Because plants cannot grow as they should, they are unable to hold the soil, resulting in erosion.

Noise pollution

This pollution occurs when unpleasant (loud) sounds from the environment affect a person's hearing and lead to psychological problems, including tension, high blood pressure, hearing loss, etc. It can be caused by industrial equipment, aircraft, cars, etc.

Nuclear pollution

This is a very dangerous type of pollution, it occurs due to failures in the operation of nuclear power plants, improper storage of nuclear waste, accidents, etc. Radioactive contamination can cause cancer, infertility, loss of vision, birth defects; it can make the soil infertile, and also adversely affects the air and water.

light pollution

Light pollution of planet earth

Occurs due to noticeable over-illumination of the area. It is common, as a rule, in large cities, especially from billboards, in gyms or entertainment venues at night. In residential areas, light pollution greatly affects people's lives. It also interferes with astronomical observations by making the stars almost invisible.

Thermal/thermal pollution

Thermal pollution is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes the temperature of the surrounding water. The main cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a refrigerant by power plants and industrial plants. When water used as a refrigerant is returned to the natural environment at a higher temperature, the change in temperature reduces the supply of oxygen and affects the composition. Fish and other organisms adapted to a certain temperature range can be killed by sudden changes in water temperature (or rapid increases or decreases).

Thermal pollution is caused by excess heat in the environment creating unwanted changes over long periods of time. This is due to the huge number of industrial enterprises, deforestation and air pollution. Thermal pollution increases the Earth's temperature, causing drastic climate change and extinction of wildlife species.

Visual pollution

Visual pollution, Philippines

Visual pollution is an aesthetic problem and refers to the effects of pollution that impair the ability to enjoy the outside world. It includes: billboards, open dumps, antennas, electrical wires, buildings, cars, etc.

Overcrowding of the territory with a large number of objects causes visual pollution. Such pollution contributes to distraction, eye fatigue, loss of identity, and so on.

plastic pollution

Plastic pollution, India

Includes the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that have adverse effects on wildlife, animal or human habitats. Plastic products are inexpensive and durable, which has made them very popular among people. However, this material decomposes very slowly. Plastic pollution can adversely affect soil, lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Living organisms, especially marine animals, become entangled in plastic waste or are affected by chemicals in plastic that cause interruptions in biological function. People are also affected by plastic pollution, causing a hormonal imbalance.

Objects of pollution

The main objects of environmental pollution are such as air (atmosphere), water resources (streams, rivers, lakes, seas, oceans), soil, etc.

Pollutants (sources or subjects of pollution) of the environment

Pollutants are chemical, biological, physical or mechanical elements (or processes) that harm the environment.

They can be harmful both in the short and long term. Pollutants originate from natural resources or are produced by humans.

Many pollutants have a toxic effect on living organisms. Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) is an example of a substance that harms humans. This compound is taken up by the body instead of oxygen, causing shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, and in severe cases can lead to serious poisoning, and even death.

Some pollutants become hazardous when they react with other naturally occurring compounds. Nitrogen and sulfur oxides are released from impurities in fossil fuels during combustion. They react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form acid rain. Acid rain adversely affects aquatic ecosystems and leads to the death of aquatic animals, plants, and other living organisms. Terrestrial ecosystems also suffer from acid rain.

Classification of pollution sources

According to the type of occurrence, environmental pollution is divided into:

Anthropogenic (artificial) pollution

Deforestation

Anthropogenic pollution is the impact on the environment caused by the activities of mankind. The main sources of artificial pollution are:

• industrialization;
• the invention of automobiles;
• the growth of the world's population;
• deforestation: destruction of natural habitats;
• nuclear explosions;
• overexploitation of natural resources;
• construction of buildings, roads, dams;
• the creation of explosive substances that are used during military operations;
• use of fertilizers and pesticides;
• mining.

Natural (natural) pollution

Eruption

Natural pollution is caused and occurs naturally, without human intervention. It can affect the environment for a certain period of time, but it can be regenerated. Sources of natural pollution include:

• volcanic eruptions, with the release of gases, ash and magma;
• forest fires emit smoke and gas impurities;
• sandstorms raise dust and sand;
• decomposition of organic matter, during which gases are released.

Consequences of pollution:

environmental degradation

Left photo: Beijing after the rain. Right photo: smog in Beijing

The environment is the first victim of atmospheric pollution. An increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere leads to smog, which can prevent sunlight from reaching the earth's surface. As a result, it becomes much more difficult. Gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide can cause acid rain. Water pollution in terms of an oil spill can lead to the death of several species of wild animals and plants.

Human health

Lung cancer

Decreased air quality leads to some respiratory problems, including asthma or lung cancer. Chest pain, sore throat, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease can be caused by air pollution. Water pollution can create skin problems, including irritation and rashes. Similarly, noise pollution leads to hearing loss, stress and sleep disturbance.

Global warming

Male, the capital of the Maldives, is one of the cities facing the prospect of being flooded by the ocean in the 21st century.

The release of greenhouse gases, especially CO2, leads to global warming. Every day new industries are created, new cars appear on the roads, and the number of trees is reduced to make room for new homes. All these factors, directly or indirectly, lead to an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere. Rising CO2 causes the polar ice caps to melt, which increases sea levels and endangers people living near coastal areas.

Ozone layer depletion

The ozone layer is a thin shield high in the sky that prevents ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth. As a result of human activity, chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons are released into the atmosphere, which contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Badlands

Due to the constant use of insecticides and pesticides, the soil can become infertile. Various types of chemicals from industrial waste end up in water, which also affects soil quality.

Protection (protection) of the environment from pollution:

International protection

Many of them are particularly vulnerable as they are subject to human influence in many countries. As a result, some states unite and develop agreements aimed at preventing damage or managing human impact on natural resources. They include agreements that affect the protection of the climate, oceans, rivers and air from pollution. These international environmental treaties are sometimes binding instruments that have legal consequences in case of non-compliance, and in other situations are used as codes of conduct. The most famous include:

• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), approved in June 1972, provides for the protection of nature for the present generation of people and their descendants.
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed in May 1992. The main goal of this agreement is "stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
• The Kyoto Protocol provides for the reduction or stabilization of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. It was signed in Japan at the end of 1997.

State protection

The discussion of environmental issues often focuses on the level of government, legislation and law enforcement. However, in the broadest sense, the protection of the environment can be seen as the responsibility of the whole people, and not just the government. Decisions that affect the environment will ideally include a wide range of stakeholders, including industrial sites, indigenous groups, representatives of environmental groups and communities. Decision-making processes in the field of environmental protection are constantly evolving and becoming more active in different countries.

Many constitutions recognize the fundamental right to protect the environment. In addition, in various countries there are organizations and institutions dealing with environmental issues.

While protecting the environment is not just the responsibility of government agencies, most people consider these organizations paramount in creating and maintaining basic standards that protect the environment and the people who interact with it.

How to protect the environment yourself?

Population and technological advances based on fossil fuels have seriously affected our natural environment. Therefore, now we need to do our part to eliminate the consequences of degradation so that humanity continues to live in an ecologically safe environment.

There are 3 main principles that are still relevant and important more than ever:

• use less;
• reuse;
• convert.

• Create a compost heap in your garden. This helps to recycle food waste and other biodegradable materials.
• When shopping, use your eco-bags and try to avoid plastic bags as much as possible.
• Plant as many trees as you can.
• Think about how you can reduce the number of trips you make with your car.
• Reduce car emissions by walking or cycling. These are not just great alternatives to driving, but also health benefits.
• Use public transport whenever you can for your daily commute.
• Bottles, paper, waste oil, old batteries and used tires must be properly disposed of; All this causes serious pollution.
• Do not pour chemicals and used oil onto the ground or down drains leading to waterways.
• If possible, recycle selected biodegradable waste, and work to reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste used.
• Reduce the amount of meat you consume or consider a vegetarian diet.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

The AiF project "Explaining What's Happening" is dedicated to clarifying simple and at the same time complex issues about the life of Voronezh residents in society. The project is being implemented within the framework of the program “Improving media coverage of the problems of socially oriented NGOs and social (charitable) projects of representatives of the real sector of the economy (including support for NGOs)”.

From April 15 to June 5, All-Russian days of protection from environmental hazards are held. The correspondent of the AiF spoke with Victoria Labzukova, head of the department of activities in the field of ecology and nature management of the Regional Public Organization "Center for Environmental Policy", and learned shocking facts. An average family generates an average of 1.5 kg of garbage per day, about 10 kg per week and 40 kg per month. Now remember the arithmetic and multiply this figure by the number of families living in your high-rise building. And then on the number of high-rise buildings in the city. And then on the number of cities on the planet ...

Victoria Labzukova spoke about the Center's project - environmental classes "Lesson of Water", "Lesson of Cleanliness", "Environmental Problems of the City" - shared how communication with schoolchildren can help the environment in the future.

trash can pest

“Throwing another plastic bottle or piece of paper into the trash, few people think, but where does it end up? When you look at photographs of huge landfills for the disposal of household waste, you begin to come to a simple thought. If we do not collect waste separately, the number of landfills will increase, - says Victoria Labzukova. - Why not donate paper and plastic bottle separately? Plastic takes about 200 years to decompose, although it is possible that a bottle will not decompose during this period. Who knows? Anything that can be handed in separately must be handed over. Another problem is used batteries and mercury lamps, which many residents throw away with household waste. But these wastes are considered hazardous and cause irreparable harm to the environment, ending up at a waste disposal site.”

When he removed it himself, the next time you think about whether to throw a piece of paper or not. Photo: Center for Environmental Policy

- How to properly handle household waste?

In our opinion, one of the most competent ways of waste management is their separate collection. In large cities, this is easier - there are points that accept recyclables. You can donate glass, cardboard, waste paper, textiles, plastic bottles, polyethylene. It is desirable that such points be within walking distance for any resident of our city and region.

- What to do if you do not live in the regional center and want to hand over waste separately?

We do everything in our power. We leave for the districts of the Voronezh region, agree with the heads of municipalities on holding a campaign to collect secondary material resources. In advance, the participants of the action - the population, educational institutions, business entities - begin to collect waste paper, plastic bottles. On the day of the action, all waste collected separately is transferred to specialized organizations. For this purpose, such organizations specially go to the area on the day of the action. During the action, waste batteries are also collected - batteries, accumulators from mobile devices.

- What happens to the batteries that we sell at promotions?

Collected waste batteries are transferred for disposal. The only plant in Russia that recycles used batteries is located in Chelyabinsk. Few people know that you have to pay money for the disposal of batteries. Last year, the cost of this service was 110 rubles per 1 kg of batteries. In 2015, together with the Department of Ecology, a collection of used batteries was organized. For this, containers for collecting batteries were installed in all district administrations, as well as in universities, schools, and libraries. About 500 kg of batteries were collected. In carrying out the campaign, we were supported by partner organizations that paid for the transfer of batteries for disposal.

If you think that building near your home, dumping or cutting down trees is illegal, you can contact the Center for Environmental Policy for help.

- What to do with waste mercury lamps?

By decree of the Voronezh administration, companies that manage apartment buildings must accept used mercury lamps from residents of these buildings. You can take your used light bulb to your management company or homeowners association. There is, however, one requirement - the light bulb must be in the package so that it does not break. And management companies must transfer waste mercury lamps to specialized organizations licensed to collect this type of waste. If your management company has refused you, you can report this to the administration of the city district of Voronezh or contact us.

If you live in the private sector, the mercury bulb must be transferred directly to a specialized organization. The problem is that such organizations, as a rule, are located in the industrial zone, where it is not very convenient to get to. But if you throw away a mercury bulb with household waste, it will go to a landfill. During the burial process, the light bulb is likely to break, thereby the mercury compounds will enter the soil and water, causing great harm to nature.

Children's lessons for adults

Schoolchildren are taught rational environmental management and waste management rules. Photo: Center for Environmental Policy

- Is it possible to develop this habit in society - to think about what you throw away?

Every person must start with himself. Now each of us can, for example, stop using plastic bags and use paper or buy cloth bags. Paper bags can be handed over with waste paper, and fabric bags last much longer than a regular bag.

Automatic machines for receiving plastic and aluminum containers have long appeared in Moscow. Perhaps we will have them too. Solving issues in the waste management system requires an integrated approach, and here we cannot do without the support of our government. Now the legislation in the field of waste management is changing a lot. Soon, I hope, we will come to a more civilized approach. For our part, our organization is doing a lot of educational work in this direction.

- How can you tell the whole city about the ecological lifestyle?

The Center for Environmental Policy organizes and conducts various environmental events and actions, both in the city and in the region. For example, timed to coincide with significant environmental dates - Water Day, Earth Day, Bird Day, Forest Day, etc. We invite people of all ages to participate, but most of the events are aimed at working with the younger generation. We conduct environmental lessons "Lesson of Water", "Lesson of Cleanliness", "Ecological problems of the city". All meetings are held in an interesting game form. The children learn the rational use of natural resources, the rules of waste management, the rules of behavior in nature. We also organize excursions for school students to enterprises that collect secondary material resources.

- Why do you focus on the lessons for children?

It is easier to communicate with children, they perceive new information with interest and try to apply the acquired knowledge in everyday life. Children tell their parents and relatives about what they learned during the classes. Again, students who take part in subbotniks develop a more careful attitude towards nature. When he removed it himself, the next time you think about whether to throw a piece of paper or not. Yes, and relatives will have the thought: “My child cleaned here, I won’t litter here.”

eco-active lifestyle

Taking care of the environment is easy - you can not use plastic bags or start making birdhouses. Photo: Center for Environmental Policy

- Where do you go if you want to become an eco-activist?

There are initiative groups of citizens and movements that are not indifferent to environmental issues. They create their pages in various social networks, for example, VKontakte, and inform about their events there. The Center for Environmental Policy is ready to share its experience. We have prepared presentations, handouts. We need volunteers who could carry out the environmental events we have developed.

And there are people who, without waiting for help, are trying to do something themselves in order to improve the environmental situation. So, in Voronezh, an active group of citizens appeared who bought containers for collecting plastic bottles and installed them in the courtyards of apartment buildings. The containers were labeled with phone numbers to call when they were full. This initiative has found a great response from the townspeople, calls are received several times a day. From this we can conclude that Voronezh residents are ready to collect waste separately. Such initiatives, of course, must be supported by the government of our region.

- What to do if you notice illegal dumping or felling of trees?

You see some kind of violation. For example, you think that construction near your house is illegal, or you find a garbage dump, or you notice that work is underway to cut down trees. You can contact our organization, call by phone, write an e-mail or leave information in the VKontakte group. To do this, you must indicate the exact address where, in your opinion, an environmental violation occurs, leave your coordinates, it is advisable to record the fact of the violation and send it to us. It happens that they call anonymously, report that something is happening somewhere and hang up. It is important to leave your contacts so that we have the opportunity to contact and clarify the necessary information. In turn, we send an appeal to the executive authorities, whose competence includes resolving these issues.

If you need to cut down trees in the city, you can contact the environmental department directly. There you will be answered whether there is a permit for felling or not. If there is no permission, the necessary measures will be taken to prevent this fact.

Our organization cooperates with social movements, initiative groups of citizens who are not indifferent to the problems related to environmental protection, and we also actively cooperate with the authorities to solve these problems.

Do not forget that harm to nature is caused not only by harmful production emissions, mountains of garbage, pollution of rivers and seas, deforestation, destruction of animals and plants, but also by our weekend trips to barbecue or mushroom picking. Naturally, the harm to the environment caused by the bonfire we have lit is incommensurable with what the chemical plant or the landfill for household waste “gives” nature, but it is still noticeable.

Have you ever noticed how a mother, walking with a child in the park, suddenly with an exclamation of “fu, how disgusting!” something diligently presses with a foot? The child is receptive and quickly learns that a butterfly fluttering in a clearing is cute and beautiful, and what crawls underfoot is disgusting and not worthy of life. The lesson learned in childhood will remain for life: "I myself determine what and who are worthy to live and grow on this earth."

Recently, nature has increasingly let us know that it is offended by our stupid activities: either snow will fall where it has never been seen - in Africa or southern Asia, then rains will flood Europe, then drought will leave vast regions without harvest.

Recently, more and more people are beginning to understand that we must learn to live in harmony with nature, to obey the laws of ecology - the science of our common home.

The term "ecology" was proposed in 1866 by the German scientist Ernst Haeckel, who defined it as the science of the relationship of all living things to the environment. In Greek, "oikos" is a dwelling, house, residence, and "logos" is a word, teaching.

We will not delve into the scientific jungle, the essence of ecology can be formulated in one short phrase: "Man, do no harm." But, unfortunately, we harm a lot and subtly, causing irreparable harm to nature. We are already used to the fact that every summer television shows a lot of fires that destroy thousands of hectares of forests. And most of the fires are the work of man.

An unextinguished cigarette butt or coal, a bottle of transparent glass, thrown on dry grass (magnifying glass effect) in dry windy weather, can turn a calm green forest into a fiery hell in a few minutes, in which a lot of living things will perish.

Scientists have calculated that 1 hectare of forest absorbs at least 5 tons of carbon dioxide per year, releasing 10 tons of oxygen during the same time. For example: in one hour, a hectare of forest will absorb all the carbon dioxide released during the breathing of 200 people.

Convincing numbers, right? And there are many such examples.

Do not forget that in city parks and squares there are perhaps not much fewer living creatures than in a wild forest, but they are much more vulnerable and completely dependent on human whims. Our ancestors long ago formulated the basic principles of human behavior in relation to nature. Let's go and follow them.

Try not to keep wild animals at home. Turning them into home in most cases will not work. Most often, your inept "care" is disastrous for them. If you decide to help a wild animal, consider whether you can do it without harming it.

In no case should you bring grown chicks or young animals from the forest. In the vast majority of cases, they are not abandoned by their parents, the parents are simply busy looking for food.

You should not approach animal burrows and bird nests if there are young growth in them, which usually gives itself out by squeaking.

If your dog is poorly educated, in spring and early summer, do not let him off the leash in the park, forest, wasteland, where there may be bird nests or young wild animals. Try not to create unnecessary noise during this period, which scares away birds and animals. Cubs that do not have time to run away after adults may get lost and die.

Take care of the smallest inhabitants of the forest. Don't break webs, just bypass them. Do not destroy anthills and do not step on ant trails.

Unnecessarily, do not turn over stones, snags, old logs, do not break mossy stumps. Under them and in them lives a large number of living beings. If you want to make sure of this, sit down for a while on the sidelines. The anxiety caused by your steps will subside, and lizards will crawl out on the stumps, centipedes will rush about their business, bugs will appear, birds will fuss, a mouse will crawl out of the mink - the forest will begin to live its usual life.

For nature, all living beings are important and necessary, all have their own niche and complex relationships with others. There are no “vile and nasty” among them, so there is no need to put pressure on anyone, to step on anyone. Scary-looking hairy caterpillar tomorrow will turn into a beautiful butterfly and will pollinate flowers.

Try not to disturb the forest soil unnecessarily. Do not forget that a passing car compacts it with its wheels, leading to the death of many living beings. Exhaust gases do not bring benefits to the forest either. It is advisable to walk through the forest along existing paths, without laying new ones unnecessarily. If you go off-road, try not to break or trample the plants.

There is no need to pluck the plants just to admire them. To do this, it is enough to lean towards the flower, which in its natural environment will always look better than in your hands. If there is a need to pluck the plants - for example, when collecting medicinal herbs, do not arrange "total weeding", pluck them a little in different places, trying not to harm other plants.

When collecting mushrooms, berries, nuts, try not to cause unnecessary harm to nature. Do not destroy everything around to get to the coveted mushroom or berry brush. Do not pick all the berries and nuts to the last - besides you, there are still many who have views on them. Do not forget that in nature all plants are needed, this applies to fly agaric, and to pale grebes, and to various tinder fungi.

By the way, collecting our favorite birch sap is by no means harmless to trees. It is difficult to refuse this delicacy, but do not overdo it, and be sure to cover the wounds on birch trees, best of all with garden pitch, you can also use ordinary plasticine.

It is clear that the harm that a particular tourist, hunter or mushroom picker can cause to nature is usually small, but if possible, one should try to minimize it to the limit. Nature generously shares its gifts with us, but also expects careful attitude and care. Don't forget the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery:

"We are all... on the same planet - we are all crew of the same ship."

To the question How does a person harm nature? given by the author Victoria Okun the best answer is Well, firstly, a person destroys virgin nature, turning all its large areas into anthropogenic, as it is called in the social environment, creating a "second nature" .... this naturally violates the level of oxygen release into the atmosphere, since valuable trees and other plants are also destroyed by man ... secondly, this situation is aggravated by inventions in industry. With the development of various industries, new ways of manufacturing goods, etc., appear, which negatively affects nature, since as production progresses, a huge amount of hazardous gases are released into the atmosphere, and even modern filters installed on the pipes of factories do not save from harm and pollution... thirdly, from the above problem follows the problem with garbage, which appears in large quantities after consuming the same industrial products... water bodies are polluted by irresponsible factories that throw industrial waste directly into the seas and lakes, without thinking about their future ... again, a person exterminates many species of innocent animals for the sake of daily money and just for his own pleasure ... in fact, there are many such negative human influences on nature, you can even say that they are at every turn ...

Answer from flush[guru]
Dumps waste into rivers, lakes. Drains swamps, cuts down forests, exhaust gases into the atmosphere, creation of artificial reserves,
destruction of animals

Answer from Alla Mikhailets[newbie]
roman bitch

Answer from grow up[newbie]
1. Man is so constituted that he seeks to consciously change nature, adjust it to his needs, and this is the main harm that he does to her. A man builds huge factories that poison the atmosphere and hydrosphere with toxic emissions, a man cuts down forests, plows up fields, extracts underground natural resources, leaving voids underground and mountains of ugly rock on the surface, disturbing the ecological balance. Man has destroyed and is destroying various species of animals and plants. Man builds cities, lays roads, makes fires, litters. Sometimes it seems that the very presence of man is causing harm to nature.
But a person is still a rational being, and in recent years he began to think about the harm that he brings, and about how it can be corrected. If he acts consistently in this undertaking, soon the damage to nature can be significantly reduced.
2. As a conscious and more organized being, man causes great damage to nature (paradoxical as it may seem). Let's start with the banal garbage. Picnics in the spring in nature, after which, as a rule. garbage is not removed. The fire is not really extinguished. For example, plastic bags and bottles are not subject to decay and decay. And that means polyethylene hell. if this is not recycled, not far off. Exhaust gases from cars, a great attachment to cleaning chemicals that only cause harm, cutting down trees and destroying animals ... And this is only a small part of the harm that a person can bring ...

Answer from marriage[newbie]
1.Irrational use of water
Everyone knows that water in the water supply comes from natural sources. Now imagine the morning, the population of a large city and in each apartment, the shower and tap are turned on. Now just think how much water flows away in just one morning. And this is only the beginning of the day, how many times during the day the tap will open and water will flow. For example, all Muscovites taken together spend on average from 200 liters of water to 4 million cubic meters a day. A few years ago there was even a question of water shortages. And such a situation is quite possible, because the resources of the earth are not endless.
2. Toothpaste and hygiene products
Let's talk about water. Whatever you flush down the sink or toilet ends up in the wastewater. Today, a system for cleaning them has been developed, but it only concerns the central sewer. That is, before draining the wastewater into the reservoir, it undergoes several stages of purification. However, she cannot completely cope with the chemical components of hygiene products. The same toothpaste contains fluorine, which, like chlorine, interacts with organic substances and forms dangerous chemical compounds. What can we say about hygiene products that contain various dangerous flavors, surfactants, polymer molecules. All these components, one way or another, penetrate the environment.
3. Car
Everything about the car seems clear. Exhaust gases from a single car emit over ten thousand pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Due to the large number of vehicles, Moscow and St. Petersburg are considered one of the dirtiest cities in the country. Unfortunately, so far the share of alternative eco-mobiles accounts for only a small part.
4.Smoking
In addition to the fact that during smoking harmful substances enter the air, in order to dry tobacco, almost five million hectares of forest are destroyed every year.
5. Improper waste disposal
We have repeatedly written about the fact that improper waste disposal harms the environment. You can read about it on our website here and here.
6. Perfume
Musk is often used in perfumery compositions, it is he who causes the greatest concern among environmentalists. It can penetrate into the adipose tissue of aquatic species. Imagine you are on vacation, scented with your favorite fragrance (which, by the way, may contain a number of chemicals hazardous to health and nature) and plunged into the sea. Congratulations, all the harmful substances along with the musk got into the pond. You may want to have fresh fish for dinner afterwards. There is a chance that you will not only inhale all the harmful components of your perfume, but also eat them.
7. Home cleaning and laundry products
We also wrote about the dangers of such funds. Read this text.
8. Funds for the repair of premises
Today, there are environmental alternatives to unsafe paints, adhesives, varnishes and other repair products that contain hazardous ingredients. True, such funds are more expensive. If you resort to economical repairs, be prepared for the fact that your home will harm nature and your health.
9. Carcinogens from frying food
Craving fried meatballs for dinner? Stop. Think again and steam them, because frying produces a dangerous carcinogen that can cause cancer in humans and animals.