The world is making a 6-year-old named Henry Marr cry. Henry is quickly becoming known as the Emotional Environmentalist after a video in which he cries as he tells his mother about environmental destruction went viral.
As Henry plainly puts it, “people are just being rude to [the planet].” And he makes some good points.
Littering: “they throw trash on the ground”
Litter isn’t just unsightly -- it’s bad for the environment!
Humans generate a lot of trash, and that trash needs to be reduced, reused, and recycled. When it really can’t be, it needs to be properly disposed of. Litter on the streets can clog up drains and irrigation systems leading to flooding or increase the danger associated with flooding like in Ghana.
In New York City, litter contributed to over 300 track fires in one year. Garbage ends up in landfills, where it releases any chemicals or toxins into the ground, emitting greenhouse gases as it decays.
Much of our trash, particularly plastic, finds its way into the ocean and bodies of water -- contaminating water sources and food supplies. And not just our food supply. Each year, more than 100,000 marine mammals and 1 million seabirds die from ingesting or getting caught in plastic. Frequently, they wash up to shore dead or in danger with bellies full of plastic.
Sperm Whales Found Dead In Germany, Stomachs Full Of Plastic And Car Parts https://t.co/THuefsI8Rupic.twitter.com/ts3fbd0kJp
— Before It's News (@beforeitsnews) April 25, 2016
Deforestation: “they cut down trees...they make forests into … roads”
Cutting down trees (aka logging) is a major cause of deforestation and tends to have a rippling effect. Logging is the process by which we harvest the timber often used as flooring and to make furniture. But it is also a process by which we strip animals of their habitat. Deforestation due to logging in places like Russian forests (home to the small population of the world’s only remaining wild Siberian tigers) is threatening endangered populations. The tigers need large forest areas to survive and prey on deer and wild boars, who feed on the acorns and pines the trees produce.
Deforestation also poses a risk to indigenous communities. Many indigenous communities continue to live in forest communities where they fish, hunt, and farm. Clearing land, logging, and mining destroys homes, diminishes food sources, and can interfere with indigenous peoples’ livelihoods.
On top of that, deforestation advances climate change. The deep roots of trees can prevent erosion, while the trees themselves produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.
Impact on animals: “baby animals, oh my gosh! they eat the garbage”
It’s not just marine life that might accidentally eat your trash. Land animals might swallow your garbage too. Trash can be damaging to their digestive systems and cause them to fall ill. And just like marine animals, land mammals and other creatures can get stuck or trapped in litter.
But it’s not a lost cause. There are many ways to improve the situation. Recycling, making sure our garbage is properly managed, planting trees, and being a conscientious consumer all help.
Henry’s passion just goes to show that you’re never too young, never too early nor too late to take action. He wants to do more to solve the problem when he’s an adult, but for now you can find him patrolling Little Mountain Park for litter.