Ingabe Lempi Iyanqotshwa?

“YINAKEKELENI leplanethi, iyona kuphela esinayo.” Lesi kwakuyisicelo esishukumisayo seNkosan’uPhilip yaseBrithani, umongameli we-World Wide Fund for Nature.

Eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane ngaphambili, umhubi wabhala: “Izulu liyizulu likaJehova, kepha umhlaba wawunika abantwana babantu.” (IHubo 115:16) UNkulunkulu usinikeze umhlaba njengekhaya lethu, futhi kufanele siwunakekele. Yilokho okushiwo isayensi yezinto eziphilayo nendawo yazo ezungezile.

Ngokwezwi nezwi igama elithi “ecology” (isayensi yezinto eziphilayo nendawo yazo ezungezile) lisho “ukutadisha ikhaya.”a Enye incazelo enikezwa i-American Heritage Dictionary ithi “ukutadisha ngemiphumela elimazayo yempucuko yanamuhla endaweni ezungezile, ngenjongo yokuvimbela noma yokubuyisela ngokulondoloza.” Ngamafuphi, isayensi yezinto eziphilayo nendawo yazo ezungezile isho ukuthola ukuthi imuphi umonakalo umuntu awenzile nokuthola izindlela zokuwulungisa. Kokubili lokhu akulula.

Amaqiniso Amathathu Angenakuphikiswa Esayensi Yezinto Eziphilayo Nendawo Yazo Ezungezile

Encwadini yakhe ethi Making Peace With the Planet, uBarry Commoner, isazi sesayensi yezinto eziphilayo, usikisela imithetho emithathu eyisisekelo yesayensi yezinto eziphilayo nendawo yazo ezungezile esiza ekuchazeni isizathu sokuba umhlaba uchayeke ekuxhashazweni kangaka.

Yonke into ihlobene nenye. Njengoba izinyo elibuhlungu lingawuthinta wonke umzimba wethu, kanjalo umonakalo emthonjeni othile ongokwemvelo ungabangela uchungechunge lwezinkinga endaweni ezungezile.

Ngokwesibonelo, phakathi neminyaka engu-40 edlule, amaphesenti angu-50 amahlathi aseHimalaya eNepal aye agawulwa ukuze kubaswe noma kwenziwe imikhiqizo yamapulangwe. Lapho ingasenazihlahla, inhlabathi yasemithambekeni yezintaba ngokushesha yaguguleka lapho kufika izimvula ezinamandla. Njengoba inhlabathi engaphezulu ingasekho, izihlahla ezintsha zazingasahlumi, futhi izintaba eziningi zaba izingwadule. Ngenxa yokugawulwa kwamahlathi, iNepal seyilahlekelwa amathani ayizigidigidi enhlabathi engaphezulu minyaka yonke. Futhi lezi zinkinga azikho eNepal kuphela.

Umvimbi eBangladesh, owawuvame ukumuncwa izihlahla, ugeleza ngokukhululekile ezintabeni eziwugwadule uye ngasogwini, lapho ubangela khona izikhukhula eziyinhlekelele. Ezikhathini ezidlule, iBangladesh yayiba nezikhukhula eziyingozi kanye eminyakeni engu-50; manje ziba khona njalo eminyakeni emine noma ngaphansi.

Kwezinye izingxenye zomhlaba, ukugawulwa kwamahlathi kuye kwabangela izingwadule nezinguquko esimweni sezulu sendawo. Amahlathi angomunye wemithombo engokwemvelo umuntu ayixhaphazayo. Njengoba izazi zesayensi yezinto eziphilayo nendawo yazo ezungezile zazi okuncane ngezingxenye ezihlobene zendawo yethu enkulu enezinto eziphilayo, inkinga ingase ingabonakali kuze kube yilapho sekwenzeke umonakalo omkhulu. Lokhu kuyiqiniso endabeni yokulahlwa kwemfucumfucu, okuwucacisa kahle umthetho wesibili wesayensi yezinto eziphilayo nendawo yazo ezungezile.

Yonke into kumelwe iphelele endaweni ethile. Ake ucabange ukuthi ikhaya elivamile belingaba njani ukuba beyingekho indawo yokulahla imfucumfucu. Iplanethi yethu iyisimiso esingenayo indawo yokulahla imfucumfucu—yonke imfucumfucu yethu kumelwe iphelele endaweni ethile kuleli khaya eliwumhlaba. Ukubhujiswa ngokwengxenye kongqimba lwe-ozone kubonisa ukuthi ngisho namagesi okubonakala engenangozi, njengama-chlorofluorocarbon (ama-CFC), awamane nje anyamalale emoyeni. Ama-CFC angezinye nje zezinto ezingamakhulukhulu eziyingozi ezikhishelwa esibhakabhakeni, emifuleni, nasezilwandle.

Yiqiniso, eminye imikhiqizo—okuthiwa “iyabola”—ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ingabola futhi ibe ingxenye yezinqubo ezingokwemvelo, kodwa eminye ngeke. Amabhishi omhlaba angcoliswa ngezitsha zepulasitiki eziyogingqika lapho amashumi eminyaka azayo. Okungabonakali imfucumfucu yezimboni enobuthi, ngokuvamile egqitshwa endaweni ethile. Nakuba ingabonakali, asikho isiqinisekiso sokuthi iyohlala ingabonakali. Isengazika emanzini angaphansi komhlaba futhi ibangele izingozi ezinkulu zempilo kumuntu nasezilwaneni. “Asazi ukuthi senzenjani ngawo wonke amakhemikhali akhiqizwa izimboni zanamuhla,” kuvuma usosayensi othile waseHungary we-Institute of Hydrology yaseBudapest. “Asikwazi ngisho nokuthola umkhondo wawo.”

Imfucumfucu ewusongo kakhulu imfucumfucu ekhipha imisebe, ewumkhiqizo wezikhungo zenuzi. Izinkulungwane zamathani emfucumfucu yenuzi zigcinwa ezindaweni zesikhashana, nakuba ezinye kakade sezilahlwe ezilwandle. Naphezu kweminyaka eminingi yokucwaninga okungokwesayensi, alitholakali ikhambi lendawo elondekile, ehlala njalo yokugcina noma yokulahla imfucumfucu, futhi alikho elizotholakala. Akekho owaziyo ukuthi lamabhomu acushiwe asongela indawo yezinto eziphilayo ayoqhuma nini. Ngokuqinisekile lenkinga ayinakuphela—lemfucumfucu iyokhipha imisebe amakhulu noma izinkulungwane zeminyaka, noma kuze kube yilapho uNkulunkulu ethatha isinyathelo. (IsAmbulo 11:18) Ukungakunaki komuntu ukulahlwa kwemfucumfucu kuyisikhumbuzo somthetho wesithathu wesayensi yezinto eziphilayo nendawo yazo ezungezile.

Vumela imvelo izenzele umsebenzi wayo. Ngamanye amazwi, umuntu kudingeka abambisane nezimiso ezingokwemvelo kunokuba azame ukuzishaya indiva ngokusebenzisa acabanga ukuthi kungcono. Izibulala-zinambuzane ezithile ziyisibonelo. Lapho ziqala ukusetshenziswa, zasiza abalimi bakwazi ukulawula ukhula futhi baziqeda ngokoqobo izinambuzane ezibhubhisayo. Kwabonakala kuqinisekwa ngezivuno ezinkulu. Kodwa-ke izinto zonakala. Ukhula nezinambuzane kwabonakala kumelana nazo zonke izibulala-zinambuzane, futhi kwaba sobala ukuthi lezi zibulala-zinambuzane zazifaka ubuthi ezilwaneni zasendle ezidla izinambuzane, ngisho nakumuntu ngokwakhe. Mhlawumbe uye waba isisulu sobuthi bezibulala-zinambuzane. Khona-ke ungomunye wezisulu okungenani eziyisigidi emhlabeni wonke.

Indida enkulu ubufakazi obandayo bokuthi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi izibulala-zinambuzane zingase zingasandisi ngisho nokusandisa isivuno. E-United States, izinambuzane manje zidla ingxenye enkulu yesivuno kunaleyo ezaziyidla ngaphambi kokwenziwa kwezibulala-zinambuzane. Ngokufanayo, i-International Rice Research Institute, ezinze ePhilippines, iye yathola ukuthi izibulala-zinambuzane azisazithuthukisi izivuno zelayisi eNingizimu-mpumalanga ye-Asia. Eqinisweni, uhlelo lwase-Indonesia oluxhaswe uhulumeni olungathembele kakhulu kuzibulala-zinambuzane luye lwaba nokwanda okungamaphesenti angu-15 emkhiqizweni welayisi kusukela ngo-1987 naphezu kokuncishiswa kokusetshenziswa kwezibulala-zinambuzane ngamaphesenti angu-65. Noma kunjalo, minyaka yonke abalimi bomhlaba basazisebenzisa kakhulu izibulala-zinambuzane.

Imithetho emithathu yesayensi yezinto eziphilayo nendawo yazo ezungezile enikezwe ngenhla isiza ekuchazeni isizathu esenza izinto zingahambi kahle. Eminye imibuzo ebalulekile ithi, Ungakanani umonakalo osewenziwe kakade, futhi ingabe ungalungiswa?

Ungakanani Umonakalo Owenziwe?

Ibalazwe lomhlaba elihambisana nalesi sihloko (bheka amakhasi 8-9) liqokomisa ezinye zezinkinga eziyinhloko zendawo ezungezile nokuthi kukuphi lapho ziyingozi khona kakhulu. Ngokusobala, lapho ukuphela kwendawo noma ezinye izici kubangela ukuqothulwa kohlobo oluthile lwesitshalo noma lwesilwane, umuntu akanakuwulungisa umonakalo. Omunye umonakalo—njengokuwohloka kongqimba lwe-ozone—sewenziwe kakade. Kuthiwani ngokuwohloka okuqhubekayo kwendawo ezungezile? Ingabe kunentuthuko eyenziwayo yokukunqanda noma okungenani yokukunciphisa?

Izilinganiso ezimbili ezibaluleke kakhulu zomonakalo wendawo yezinto eziphilayo ezolimo nokudotshwa kwezinhlanzi. Ngani? Ngoba ukukhiqiza kwazo kuxhomeke endaweni ezungezile enempilo futhi ukuphila kwethu kuxhomeke emthonjeni wokudla onokwethenjelwa.

Zombili lezi zingxenye zibonisa izimpawu zokuwohloka. I-United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization iye yalinganisela ukuthi amaviyo emikhumbi yokudoba izinhlanzi emhlabeni awanakubamba amathani ezinhlanzi angaphezu kwezigidi eziyikhulu ngaphandle kokusongela imithombo yazo. Leyo ngqikithi yaba nkulu ngo-1989, futhi njengoba kwakulindelekile, ngonyaka olandelayo inani lezinhlanzi ezabanjwa emhlabeni wonke lehla ngamathani ayizigidi ezine. Ezinye izindawo zokudoba izinhlanzi ziye zancipha ngokuphawulekayo. Ngokwesibonelo, enyakatho-mpumalanga ye-Atlantic, izinhlanzi ezibanjwayo ziye zehla ngamaphesenti angu-32 eminyakeni engu-20 edlule. Izinkinga eziyinhloko ukudoba ngokweqile, ukungcoliswa kwezilwandle, nokubhujiswa kwezindawo lapho kuzalela khona izinhlanzi.

Lesi sehlakalo esishaqisayo sibonakala emkhiqizweni wezilimo. Phakathi kwawo-1960 nawo-1970, izivuno ezithuthukile kanye nokunisela ngenkasa nokusetshenziswa kabanzi kwamakhemikhali ayizibulala-zinambuzane nomanyolo kwawuthuthukisa ngokuphawulekayo umkhiqizo womhlaba wonke wokudla okusanhlamvu. Manje, izibulala-zinambuzane nomanyolo akusasebenzi, futhi ukuntuleka kwamanzi nokungcola nakho kunengxenye ezivunweni ezingezinhle.

Nakuba kunabantu abengeziwe abangaba izigidi eziyikhulu abadinga ukudla unyaka ngamunye, phakathi neshumi leminyaka elidlule kuye kwaba nokwehla kwengqikithi yendawo elinywayo. Futhi lendawo ekufanelekele ukulinywa iphelelwa ukuvunda kwayo. I-Worldwatch Institute ilinganisela ukuthi ukuguguleka kwenhlabathi kuye kwalahlekisela abalimi amathani ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-500 enhlabathi engaphezulu phakathi neminyaka engu-20 edlule. Ngokungenakugwenywa, umkhiqizo wokudla uye waqala ukuncipha. Umbiko i-State of the World 1993 uphawula ukuthi “ukuncipha ngamaphesenti angu-6 komkhiqizo wokudla okusanhlamvu kumuntu ngamunye phakathi kuka-1984 no-1992 mhlawumbe kuyisimo sezomnotho esishaqisa kunazo zonke emhlabeni namuhla.”

Ngokusobala, ukuphila kwezigidi zabantu kusengozini kakade ngenxa yokungayinaki komuntu indawo ezungezile.

Ingabe Umuntu Angazisingatha Lezi Zinkinga?

Nakuba umuntu eseqonda ukuthi yini engalungile, akulula ukuyilungisa. Ubunzima bokuqala ukuthi kungadinga imali eshisiwe—okungenani amaRandi ayizigidi zezigidi ezimbili ngonyaka—ukusebenzisa iziphakamiso ezinkulu ezavezwa eNgqungqutheleni Yomhlaba ngo-1992. Kungadingeka nokuzidela kwangempela—ukuzidela okunjengokungasaphazi futhi kuphinde kusetshenziswe izinto ngokwengeziwe, ukulondoloza amanzi namandla, ukusebenzisa izinto zokuhamba zomphakathi kunokusebenzisa ezomuntu siqu, futhi, okunzima kunakho konke, ukucabangela iplanethi kunokucabangela izithakazelo zomuntu siqu. UJohn Cairns, Jr., usihlalo wekomiti yase-United States yokuvuselela izindawo zezinto eziphilayo zasemanzini, wayibeka ngamafuphi lenkinga: “Nginethemba ngalokho esingakwenza. Anginalo ngalokho esizokwenza.”

Izindleko zokuhlanza zinkulu kangangokuthi amazwe amaningi akhetha ukuhlehlisa isikhathi sokukwenza. Esikhathini sesimo esibucayi sezomnotho, izinyathelo zendawo ezungezile zibhekwa njengosongo emsebenzini noma njengesithiyo kwezomnotho. Ayingangamlomo. Incwadi ethi Caring for the Earth ichaza ukusabela kuze kube manje ngokuthi kufana “nokuqeqebula kokuduma kwezulu okulandelwa isomiso.” Kodwa naphezu kwalokhu kuzindela, ingabe ubuchwepheshe obusha—uma bunikezwa isikhathi—bebungeke yini buthole ikhambi elingabangeli izinhlungu lokugula kwaleplanethi? Ngokusobala bebungeke.

I-U.S. National Academy of Sciences ne-Royal Society yaseLondon zavuma ngokungagunci ngazwilinye: “Uma izibikezelo zanamuhla ngokwanda kwenani labantu zinembile futhi izimiso zokusebenza kwabantu kuleplanethi zingashintshi, isayensi nobuchwepheshe kungase kungakwazi ukuvimbela ukuwohloka kwendawo ezungezile okunganqandeki noma ubumpofu obuqhubekayo engxenyeni enkulu yomhlaba.”

Inkinga esabekayo yemfucumfucu yenuzi engenandawo engalahlwa kuyo iyisikhumbuzo sokuthi isayensi ayinawo amandla onke. Sekuyiminyaka engu-40 ososayensi befuna indawo ephephile abangagcina kuyo unomphela imfucumfucu ekhipha imisebe enamandla. Lokhu kufuna kunzima kangangokuthi amanye amazwe, njenge-Italy ne-Argentina, aye aphetha ngokuthi ngeke abe nayo indawo kuze kube okungenani ngonyaka ka-2040. IJalimane, izwe elinethemba kunawo wonke kulomkhakha, inethemba lokuthi izoqeda amalungiselelo ngonyaka ka-2008.

Kungani imfucumfucu yenuzi iyinkinga kangaka? “Akekho usosayensi noma unjiniyela onganikeza isiqinisekiso sokuthi imfucumfucu ekhipha imisebe ngeke ngelinye ilanga ivuze ibe ingozi ngisho nasezinqolobaneni zezinga eliphezulu,” kuchaza isazi sesayensi yokwakheka komhlaba uKonrad Krauskopf. Kodwa naphezu kwezixwayiso zangaphambili ngobunzima bokulahlwa kwemfucumfucu, ohulumeni nezimboni zenuzi baqhubekela phambili ngokunganaki, becabanga ukuthi ubuchwepheshe besikhathi esizayo babuyoqhamuka nekhambi. Leso sikhathi esizayo asizange sifike.

Uma ubuchwepheshe bungenalo ikhambi elisheshayo lenhlekelele yendawo ezungezile, iziphi ezinye izindlela ezingasetshenziswa? Ingabe izimo ekugcineni ziyophoqelela amazwe ukuba asebenze ndawonye ukuze avikele leplanethi?

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 7]

Ukufuna Imithombo Yamandla Angaphinde Asetshenziswe

Iningi lethu liwathatha kalula amandla—kuze kube yilapho kucisha izibani noma kwenyuka intengo kawoyela. Nokho, ukusetshenziswa kwamandla kungenye yezimbangela ezinkulu zokungcola. Amandla amaningi asetshenziswayo avela ekubasweni kwezinkuni noma ezintweni zokubasa, inqubo ekhiphela izigidi zamathani esikhutha emoyeni osemkhathini futhi ebhubhisa amahlathi omhlaba.

Enye indlela, amandla enuzi, ayisathandeki ngenxa yokuba ingozi nobunzima bokugcina imfucumfucu ekhipha imisebe. Ezinye izindlela zaziwa njengemithombo yamandla angaphinda asetshenziswe, njengoba zisebenzisa imithombo yamandla emvelo atholakala mahhala. Kunezinhlobo ezinhlanu eziyinhloko.

Amandla elanga. Angasetshenziswa kalula ukuze afudumeze, futhi kwamanye amazwe, njengakwa-Israel, izindlu eziningi zinama-solar panel okushisisa amanzi. Ukusebenzisa ilanga ekukhiqizeni ugesi kunzima kakhulu, kodwa amabhethri anamuhla e-photovoltaic kakade asephehla ugesi emaphandleni futhi onga ngokwengeziwe.

Amandla omoya. Imishini emikhulu yokudonsa amanzi ithe chithi-saka ezingxenyeni eziningana zomhlaba ezinomoya. Ugesi okhiqizwa yilamandla omoya, uye waba oshibhile futhi manje ubiza kancane kwezinye izindawo kunamandla avamile kagesi.

Ugesi wamanzi. Kakade amaphesenti angu-20 kagesi emhlabeni avela ezikhungweni zamanzi zokuphehla ugesi, kodwa ngeshwa iningi lezindawo ebezingase zisetshenziswe emazweni asathuthuka seziwohloziwe kakade. Amadamu amakhulu nawo angenza umonakalo omkhulu endaweni enezinto eziphilayo. Ithemba elingcono, ikakhulukazi emazweni asathuthuka, kubonakala kuwukwakha izikhungo zamanzi eziningi ezincane zokuphehla ugesi.

Amandla okushisisa angaphansi komhlaba. Amanye amazwe, ikakhulukazi i-Iceland neNew Zealand, aye akwazi ukuxhuma “esimisweni samanzi ashisayo” esingaphansi komhlaba. Ukuqhuma kwentaba-mlilo ngaphansi komhlaba kushisisa amanzi, angasetshenziswa ekufudumezeni izindlu nasekuphehleni ugesi. E-Italy, eJapane, eMexico, ePhilippines, nase-United States nakhona sekusetshenziswa lomthombo wamandla angokwemvelo ngokwezinga elithile.

Amandla amagagasi. Amagagasi olwandle ayasetshenziswa kwamanye amazwe, njengaseBrithani, eFrance, naseRussia, ukuze kuphehlwe ugesi. Nokho, kunezindawo ezimbalwa emhlabeni ezingenza lomthombo wamandla utholakale ngezindleko eziphansi.

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 8, 9]

Ezinye Zezinkinga Ezinkulu Emhlabeni Zendawo Ezungezile

Ukubhujiswa kwamahlathi. Izingxenye ezintathu kwezine zamahlathi emvula asezindaweni ezithokomele nengxenye yamahlathi asezindaweni ezishisayo emhlabeni kakade sezilahlekile, futhi izinga lokugawulwa kwamahlathi liye landa ngokushaqisayo kuleli shumi leminyaka elidlule. Izilinganiso zamuva zithi ukubhujiswa kwamahlathi asezindaweni ezishisayo kuphakathi kwamakhilomitha-skwele angu-150 000 nangu-200 000 minyaka yonke, okucishe kulingane nobukhulu be-Uruguay.

Imfucumfucu enobuthi. Ingxenye yamakhemikhali angu-70 000 enziwayo namuhla kuthiwa inobuthi. I-United States kuphela ikhiqiza amathani ayizigidi ezingu-240 emfucumfucu enobuthi minyaka yonke. Ukuntuleka kokwaziswa kwenza kungabi nokwenzeka ukubala ingqikithi yomhlaba wonke. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngonyaka ka-2000, kuyobe kunamathani angaba ngu-200 000 emfucumfucu ekhipha imisebe agcinwe ezinqolobaneni zesikhashana.

Ukuwohloka komhlaba. Ingxenye eyodwa kwezintathu yezwe isongelwa ukwanda kwezingwadule. Kwezinye izingxenye ze-Afrika, iSahara Desert seyande ngamakhilomitha angu-350 eminyakeni nje engu-20. Kakade ukuphila kwabantu abayizigidi sekuyasongelwa.

Ukuswelakala kwamanzi. Abantu abangaba izigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili bahlala ezindaweni lapho kuhlala kuswelakala khona amanzi. Okwandisa lokhu kuswelakala kwawo ukusha kwemithombo yamanzi eminingi abathembele kuyo.

Izinhlobo zokuphila ezisengozini yokuqothulwa. Nakuba lezi zibalo zicatshangelwa, ososayensi balinganisela ukuthi izinhlobo zezilwane, izitshalo, nezinambuzane eziphakathi kuka-500 000 no-1000 000 ziyobe seziqothuliwe ngonyaka ka-2000.

Ukungcoliswa komoya osemkhathini. Ukuhlola okuthile kweZizwe Ezihlangene ekuqaleni kwawo-1980 kwathola ukuthi abantu abayizigidi eziyinkulungwane baphila ezindaweni zasemadolobheni ezichayeke ezinhlayiyeni zomule ezisongela impilo noma emagesini anobuthi nsuku zonke, njenge-sulfur dioxide, i-nitrogen dioxide, ne-carbon monoxide. Ngokungangabazeki ukwanda ngokushesha kwamadolobha eshumini leminyaka elidlule kuye kwayenza yadlulela lenkinga. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kukhishelwa emoyeni osemkhathini amathani esikhutha ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-24 minyaka yonke, futhi kwesatshwa ukuthi “legesi eshisisa umhlaba” ingase ibangele ukufudumala kwembulunga yonke.

[Ibalazwe]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Ukugawulwa kwamahlathi

Imfucumfucu enobuthi

Ukungcoliswa komoya osemkhathini

Ukuswelakala kwamanzi

Izinhlobo zokuphila ezisengozini

Ukuwohloka komhlaba

[Imithombo]

Mountain High Maps™ copyright© 1993 Digital Wisdom, Inc.

Photo: Hutchings, Godo-Foto

Photo: Mora, Godo-Foto