“It’s pretty terrific. What a relief it worked.” This statement was uttered from one of the crewman of the Enola Gray, a B-29 U.S. bomber, when seeing the effect of the atom bomb they had dropped on Hiroshima. To many people, this historical moment was not terrific. Before the detonation of the bomb, Hiroshima contained 90,000 buildings, 200 doctors, 1,780 nurses, and hundreds of schoolgirls clearing fire lanes within the city in the event of incendiary bomb attacks. After the detonation of the bomb Hiroshima contained 28,000 buildings left intact, 20 doctors alive or able to work, 150 nurses to tend to the sick and dying, 80,000 people killed directly because of the blast, more than 60,000 killed indirectly because of the blast within the coming year, and 35,000 injured. This was one such result of humanities progress and control of nature. This was not a terrific time; It was a tragedy.

Throughout history we have been inspired by nature and have tried to learn from nature and imitate it in order to keep each other healthy and happy. Recently however, humanity has taken a turn for the worst. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, three centuries ago, humans have taken technology and improvement to a whole new level. Now forests, plants, and animals are all being endangered by the so-called human progress. What most people do not realize however is that humans are also part of nature. Endangering nature also endangers us. Our responsibility toward nature now is to prevent pollution and to keep nature healthy for other generations to experience.

Pollution today not only caused by the huge international companies such as Williams Energy, Northrop Grumman, and General Electric. Now even the average American family contributes by producing more than 170,000 pounds of just air pollution through car emissions, air conditioning, and overuse of electricity. Through emissions from industry and manufacture, burning fossil fuels, and farming chemicals companies and industries also add to air pollution. They not only contribute in polluting the air but they also pollute lakes, rivers, forests, and land. This is because of the lack of policies to control pollution, unplanned industrial growth, and inefficient waste disposal while individuals pollute during their everyday life.

Pollution control policies are rather lacking these days. This is the result of the stubborn defiance by large companies as switching to environment friendly products would consume millions of dollars. Including the poor enforcement where many companies area able to squirm their way out of paying fines for polluting or just being punished, many industries are able to bypass most of the policies set up by the pollution control board. General Electric is one such example. For several years GE has been polluting the Hudson River and it is only now after 30 years of protest and opposition that the Environmental Protection Agency is finally cracking down on it.

As human progress expands industries have spurts of unplanned industrial growth. As companies grow or get lucky like in finding a new oil well, a new product, or mine an industry boom occurs which opens many jobs. Workers attract money, money attracts expansions within the company. Thus, an unplanned industrial growth occurs allowing companies to expand and build new factories, gas stations, processors, etc. and regrettably create more pollution.

Successful businesses save money wherever they can. Most companies find that an easy way to save money is through inefficient waste disposal. By not effectively cleaning up after themselves they do not have to worry about buying filters, landfills, and scrubbers, which for example are used to filter out factory smoke. This could cost millions. However not doing this means that the toxic waste has to be deposited somewhere else, usually in the nearest river or forest. These polluted rivers and forests cause the wildlife to become sick and eventually it causes the humans living near the river or forest to also become sick.

Many of these environmental problems would be resolved if the government not only enforced its regulations and policies but also created more efficient and effective regulations and policies. In order to reduce pollution, companies instead of looking for new oil wells, mines, or new environmentally destructive products, companies should instead focus on improving their environmental healthy products and looking for new ways to obtain clean energy. Finally each individual could help prevent pollution and keep nature healthy for new generations to experience by using less electricity, buying environmentally friendly products, car-pooling, using solar panels, etc. If everyone contributed we would have a much healthier world.

Leviticus 25:23-24 states, “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.” God gave humans the possession of earth. Humans do not own it but instead live alongside God’s many creatures. It is time we take responsibility for our mistakes. Our job is to show responsibility and respect. Let us keep the earth clean to honor those who came before us, those who live with us, and to pave the way for those ahead.