Beacons of Hope

By: Saira Thomas, UAE

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the countless environmental issues we face, like trying to outrun an avalanche? When you see images of sea animals tangled in plastic waste, their fragile bodies pierced by our pollution, have you felt helpless? Have you ever longed for a sign, a reassurance that if we tried hard enough, we could make a difference? Hold onto that feeling as I guide you through two separate challenges—one from life below water, and another from life on land.

A few months ago, while strolling along the beach near my home, I stumbled upon some unusual white stones. Upon closer look, I realised they were corals. This puzzled me, as I remembered coral reefs being beautifully vibrant, not pale and lifeless. My curiosity led me to research, where I uncovered the harsh truth about coral bleaching—a consequence of pollution and rising ocean temperatures caused by global warming. Bleached reefs suffer from slower growth, diminished reproduction, and often die, much like the ones I had found. This past year, coral bleaching has accelerated at an alarming rate, and experts predict that by 2050, up to 90% of the world’s reef ecosystems could die unless drastic steps are taken to reverse global warming (Rolls, 2021).

Let me lift our thoughts from the weight of a daunting future by sharing the inspiring story of the Arabian Oryx. Once roaming the Arabian desert freely, these majestic creatures were nearly wiped out by excessive hunting for their horns, skin, and meat and by the early 1970s, they were declared extinct in the wild (Gross, 2022). Thankfully, a few were rescued, and through dedicated captive breeding, their population began to recover. After years of effort, they were reintroduced to their natural habitat. In 2011, the Arabian Oryx made history as the first species to revert from the status of extinct in the wild to vulnerable (Gross, 2022). The Oryx will forever remain a symbol of atonement, resilience, and hope for nature lovers everywhere.

Despite the grim statistics and warnings, there are many such positive examples that inspire hope. The overwhelming response to Harmony is a testament to the new generation of sustainability warriors making a difference around the world. These individuals are beacons of hope, strengthening our resolve and guiding us toward a better, brighter, and more sustainable future. Together, we can correct the mistakes of the past and build a path forward.

References

‌Gross, M. (2022). Desert revival. Current Biology, 32(9), R399–R401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.051

Rolls, L. (2021, November 12). Why are coral reefs dying? UNEP. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/why-are-coral-reefs-dying