Global Q&A: ‘Do you think there’s hope for the environment?’

Alberto Rioseco, Santiago, Chile.

On a global scale, with awareness and with coordinated efforts from polluting countries there is hope for the environment. This is what Epoch Times reporters from Santiago to Queens, New York, discovered when they asked locals: “Do you think there’s hope for the environment?”

Santiago, Chile Alberto Rioseco, 94, Professor Emeritus, University of Chile I cannot imagine today’s world not holding an intense fight against pollution in all fields. Not only in terms of fuel, but in all businesses and even private homes, where a huge number of elements, harmful to humans, is emitted. But … only with coordinated action by all countries, especially the polluting ones such as China, India, and the United States, which has a smaller population but makes its economic activities likely to cause harm to humanity. We must put emphasis on new types of clean fuels and renewable sources such as solar, wind, tide, geothermal, and others.

Stockholm, Sweden Olivier Pessot, 45, Director of Sustainable Enterprise First of all, even modestly, we can all make a difference. Is there hope? Yes. Why do we vote, for example? Do we really think that our vote will make any difference to democracy? Yes we do! I think that every one of us has something to say about the environment. I often like to ask people “What do you do?” When I begin to understand, I look with them for first practical solutions that they could implement. There are many good examples of simple actions out there with positive impacts on the environment. Think of it as a game where everybody can play and win.

Medellin, Colombia Daniela Ochoa Hoyos, 21, Student There is no doubt that the deterioration that the environment has been suffering over the years is a serious problem that is having more impact every day. … It seems necessary to explain that my concept about the deterioration of the environment is focused on the problems with which every generation must survive, that is, each individual must create and solve problems. We have this difficulty now and so we are suffering for this issue, but future generations will suffer their own problems and must solve them too. Consistent with my belief I think that the environment has hope.

Lima, Peru Bruno Nizon, 29, Businessman I see that people don’t realize yet that soon the environmental situation will get worse. As a means of transport they are still throwing fumes that pollute the environment; and the government does not supervise the cars that continue to emanate exhaust fumes. People say that soon we will have no water if we do not take necessary measures. We hope everything will get better.

Santa Brigida (Canary Islands), Spain Jorge Ramón Lopez, 44, Computer Expert Yes, I think so, if we are conscious that if we take care of it, it will last longer. We must make use of environmentally friendly energy sources (energy from the wind, sun and sea, …) and we must recycle and manage waste.

Sunshine Coast, Australia Helen Clancy, 18, Business Student I honestly think that in the last couple of years we’ve come so far in our knowledge and understanding of how the environment works and how we affect it. Fifty years ago we would not have had any idea. … From a younger age people are becoming more educated about the environment and their impact. Even recently, the government talking about the carbon emissions trading scheme, it’s a debatable topic so people are more aware. As long as there is awareness out there, there is more hope.

Queens, New York, U.S.A. David Hom, 33, Sales Yes, but it’s getting less and less every day. [There is] the hope that our government—or more specifically, the Republican Party—can wise up and see that we’re taking a downturn. Instead of creating war against other people, we should create war against the things hurting our environment.       Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “What would be your dream Job?”