At the beginning of the 21st century, global warming is becoming more and more serious, leading to rising sea levels and frequent extreme weather. Against this backdrop, environmental changes have been particularly pronounced in some areas, particularly in island areas. China's Long Island in Shandong Province and Luodousha Island in Guangdong Province are epitomaries of this global problem. Long Island, once a tourist destination, is now facing the dual dilemma of sinking and population loss; On the other hand, the area of Luodousha Island has decreased dramatically due to uninhabited and man-made destruction. These two cases reflect the contradiction between environmental problems and local development, and also expose the powerlessness and challenges of human beings in the face of natural forces.
As the warm morning sun shone on the coastline of Long Island, Uncle Wang, an old fisherman on the island, got up early and prepared to go to sea. He is one of the few residents of the island who still clings to the traditional way of life. As far back as he remembers, Long Island was once a thriving fishing and tourist destination, attracting thousands of tourists every year.
"Uncle, the sea looks good today." He was greeted by Xiao Li, a young man from the island, who was one of the island's most recent founders to open a water sports club.
"yes, I hope there's a good harvest." Uncle Wang responded, with a hint of worry in his eyes.
The two went to the beach together, and Xiao Li noticed that the erosion on the shore was getting worse and worse, and the sea almost submerged the beach where people once rested. "Uncle Wang, do you think the island is really sinking?" Xiao Li couldn't help but ask.
Uncle Wang sighed, "The sea has been rising for many years, and the area of our island is indeed shrinking, especially in recent years. Global warming, melting icebergs, rising sea levels, it's all inevitable. ”
The fishing boat slowly sailed out of the port, and Uncle Wang began to set up nets to catch fish, while Xiao Li recorded the changes on the sidelines. "There used to be an abundance of fish, but now there are fewer and fewer fish. Climate change is affecting the oceans, and our incomes are much lower than they used to be. Uncle Wang said while operating.
With this on the far-flung island of Luodousha in Guangdong, the situation is even worse. The uninhabited island has been drastically reduced in size due to illegal sand mining. Once a birdwatcher's paradise for its colorful eggs, there are now very few. Seabirds migrate due to habitat loss, and the ecological balance of the islands is severely disrupted.
"Look at these, the latest satellite images of Rodoosa Island." Xiao Zhang, a volunteer from an environmental group, showed a comparison chart during the webinar, "The sandy land here makes up almost 80% of the island, and the rest of the ecological environment is precarious. ”
The conversation between Uncle Wang and Xiao Li on Long Island, and Xiao Zhang's speech at the environmental seminar, revealed a profound problem: whether it is natural or man-made factors, the survival of the islands is in jeopardy.
Over time, Long Island's ecological and human environment has continued to deteriorate. The number of tourists has dropped dramatically, and young people have left the island in search of better life opportunities, while older generations of residents have difficulty leaving due to habits and emotions. One of them is Uncle Wang's son, who left the island a few years ago to work in a big city and rarely returns.
"Every time I called, he persuaded me to get out of here." Uncle Wang revealed to Xiao Li, "But I can't bear it, there are our roots here, and there are memories of me and his mother." ”
The changes on Long Island are not just the decline of the natural environment, but also the loss of culture. The natural landscapes such as the Jiuzhang Cliff and Half Moon Bay have gradually been eroded by the sea, and the cultural and historical memories of the island have also been blurred.
Although the situation of Latosha Island is not directly affected by the residents, the ecological deterioration is a wake-up call for the environmental protection of the entire region. The activities of environmental groups have strengthened the regulation of illegal sand mining, but the chances of the islands returning to their original state are already very small.
A few years later, the changes on Long Island were even more pronounced. Many of the former attractions are no longer there, and the number of inhabitants on the island has been reduced to the extreme. Uncle Wang finally followed his son's advice and moved away from Long Island with his wife, ending his lifelong career as a fisherman.
The situation on Lotosha Island has not fundamentally improved. Although illegal sand mining has been brought under control, the islands have been transformed beyond recognition, and the ecosystem is almost impossible to recover.
The story of these two islands is a microcosm of many similar stories in the face of global change. They remind us that environmental protection is not only about the beauty of nature, but also about the inheritance of culture and the survival of human beings. We are facing a common problem that requires the joint efforts of all humankind. In this process, every small action is an investment in the future. As Uncle Wang said at the end: "Although we can't change the whole world, we can protect our one-third of an acre of land and leave a blue sky for our descendants." "This is not only a regrettable farewell, but also a kind of inheritance of responsibility.