Umhlaba Wethu Ocekelwa Phansi—Ukuhlasela Kugadla Zonke Izindawo
NGO-JUNE wangonyaka odlule, uMhlangano Womhlaba Wezikhulu Zikahulumeni ophathelene nendawo ezungezile waba seRio de Janeiro, eBrazil. Ukuze kuhambisane nawo, ngayo leyonyanga, i-India Today yanyathelisa uhlu lomhleli ngomhleli wayo oyiphini uRaj Chengappa. Lwalunesihloko esithi “Umhlaba Onamanxeba.” Izigaba zalo zokuqala zakha umbono ocacile:
“Ngo-1971 lapho uEdgar Mitchell endiza eya enyangeni egibele i-Apollo 14, lokho akubona ngokujeqeza umhlaba okokuqala esemkhathini kwamenza wasangana yinjabulo. Ejabule kakhulu wathumela umbiko eHouston ngamaza omsakazo, ‘Ubukeka njengetshe eliyigugu elicwebezela ngokuluhlaza nangokumhlophe . . . Uhlotshiswe ngamaveyili amhlophe anyakaza kancane . . . Njengeparele elincane elisolwandle olushubile olumnyama bhuqe oluyisimangaliso.’
“Iminyaka engamashumi amabili nanye kamuva, uma uMitchell wayengathunyelwa futhi emkhathini, kulokhu enezibuko zamehlo ezikhethekile ezimenza akwazi ukubona amagesi angabonakali esibhakabhaka somhlaba, ubeyohlangatshezwa isimo esihluke kakhulu. Ubeyobona izimbobo ezinkulu kuyi-ozone evikelayo ephezu kweAntarctica neNyakatho Melika. Esikhundleni setshe eliyigugu elicwebezela ngokuluhlaza nangokumhlophe ubeyobona umhlaba othuntubele, ongcolile ogcwele amafu amnyama, anyakazayo ama-dioxide e-carbon ne-sulphur.
“Ukuba uMitchell wathatha izithombe zehlathi elimboze umhlaba futhi waziqhathanisa nalezo azithatha ngawo-1971, wayezomangala ukuthi selinciphe kangaka. Futhi ukuba wavula isibonakude sakhe esikhethekile ukuze simsize ahlole ukungcola okusemanzini omhlaba, wayeyobona imidwebo yoshevu imazombezombe ezweni kanye namabhola amnyama etiyela eligcwele indawo ephansi enkulu yolwandle. ‘UHouston,’ wayeyothumela umbiko ngomsakazo, ‘yini ngempela esiyenzile emhlabeni?’
“Empeleni, akudingeki siye emkhathini ongamakhilomitha angu-36 000 ukuze sazi lokho esiye sakwenza. Namuhla, siyakuphuza, sikuphefumule, sikuhogele futhi sikubone ukungcola. Phakathi nekhulu leminyaka, futhi ikakhulukazi eminyakeni engu-30 edlule, abantu baye baletha umhlaba onqenqemeni lwenhlekelele. Ngokukhipha amagesi asesilinganisweni eseqile agcina ukushisa esibhakabhakeni sibangela izinguquko zesimo sezulu ezonakalisayo. Amagesi asetshenziswa iziqandisi zethu kanye nama-air-conditioner manje yiwona anecala lokunciphisa ungqimba lwe-ozone, asenze singavikeleki esifweni somdlavuza wesikhumba futhi ashintshe ukwakheka kwezakhi zofuzo ezilwaneni ezincane. Nakuba kunjalo, siye sonakalisa izinkalo ezinkulu zezwe, sabhubhisa amahlathi ngokwezinga lokuzibhubhisa, saqulela emifuleni ngokungakhethi amathani oshevu futhi sathela amakhemikhali anoshevu ezilwandle zethu.
“Manje ngaphezu kwanoma yini enye usongo esintwini lubangelwa ukubhujiswa kwendawo ezungezile yomhlaba. Futhi idinga ushintsho lwembulunga yonke kanye nezimo zengqondo ukuze kunqandwe lesibhicongo.”
Ngemva kokubala izinkinga eziningi eziphathelene nendawo ezungezile izizwe okufanele zigxile ekuzixazululeni, uRaj Chengappa uphetha uhlu lwakhe lomhleli ngalamazwi: “Konke lokhu kufanele kwenziwe ngokushesha. Ngoba usongo aluselona nje olwekusasa labantwana bakho. Lumanje. Futhi lukhona.”
Ngakho odokotela bomhlaba bayahlangana. Kubanjwa imihlangano, kusikiselwe amakhambi, kodwa abavumelani. Bayaphikisana. Abanye bathi, ‘awuguli ngempela.’ Abanye bayakhala bathi, ‘ususokhukhweni lokufa!’ Ubuciko bokukhuluma buyanda, kunamakhambi amaningi, odokotela bahlehlisa izinto, kuyilapho isiguli siwohloka. Akukho okwenziwayo. Kudingeka benze ukuhlola okwengeziwe. Babhala iziqondiso ezingafezwa. Kuyamangalisa, okuningi kwakho kumanje nje kuyicebo elibambezelayo lokuvumela ukungcolisa ukuba kuqhubeke futhi izinzuzo zinqwabelane. Isiguli asilokothi sithole umuthi, ukugula kwaso kuyanda, inhlekelele iyajula, kanye nokucekelwa phansi komhlaba kuyanda.
Umhlaba kanye nokuphila okukuwo kuyinkimbinkimbi kakhulu, kuhlangene ngendlela engenakuhlukaniseka. Izigidi zezidalwa eziphilayo ezihlobene kuye kwabhekiselwa kuzo ngokuthi isimiso sokuphila esiwuchungechunge sokusekelana. Sika umucu owodwa, futhi isimiso esiwuchungechunge singase siqale ukonakala. Bhuntshisa isenzakalo esisodwa, futhi ezinye eziningi ngeke ziphumelele. Ukugawulwa kwamahlathi emvula asezindaweni ezishisayo kuyakubonisa lokhu.
Nge-photosynthesis ihlathi lemvula lifaka kulo i-carbon dioxide esemoyeni bese libuyisela umoya-mpilo emoyeni. Limunca izilinganiso ezinkulu zamanzi emvula kodwa lisebenzisa amancane kakhulu ekwakheni ukudla kwalo. Amaningi awo aphindiselwa emjikelezweni abuyele esibhakabhakeni njengomhwamuko. Lapho lakha amafu amasha emvula ukuze kube khona imvula eyengeziwe edingekayo ehlathini lemvula nasezigidini zezitshalo eziphilayo kanye nezilwane elizondlayo ngaphansi kompheme walo oluhlaza.
Khona-ke ihlathi lemvula liyagawulwa. I-carbon dioxide iba sesithubeni njengengubo ebamba ukushisa kwelanga. Mncane umoya-mpilo owenezelwa emoyeni ukuze kuzuze izilwane. Incane imvula ephindiselwa emjikelezweni ukuze kube khona imvula eyengeziwe. Kunalokho, noma iyiphi imvula enayo igeleza phezu kwenhlabathi iye emifuleni, igugule inhlabathi ephezulu edingekayo ekukhuleni kabusha kwezitshalo. Imifula namachibi kugcwele udaka, izinhlanzi ziyafa. Udaka olunenhlese yenhlabathi luya ezilwandlekazini futhi lwemboze amadwala asezindaweni ezishisayo, abese eyafa. Izigidi zezitshalo kanye nezilwane ezake zaba ziningi ngaphansi kompheme oluhlaza ziyanyamalala, izimvula ezinamandla ezake zanisela izwe ziyancipha, futhi inqubo ende ethatha isikhathi eside yokuba kwendawo ugwadule iyaqala. Khumbula, uGwadule olukhulu lwaseAfrika iSahara lwake lwaba luhlaza, kodwa manje lendawo enkulu yesihlabathi esemhlabeni isingenela nasezingxenyeni zaseYurophu.
EMhlanganweni Womhlaba Wezikhulu Zikahulumeni, iUnited States kanye namanye amazwe acebile asebenzisa ukucindezela ukuze azame ukwenza iBrazil kanye namanye amazwe athuthukayo ukuba ayeke ukugawula amahlathi awo emvula. “IUnited States iphikisa ngokuthi,” ngokombiko wezindaba we-New York Times, “amahlathi ikakhulukazi amahlathi asezindaweni ezishisayo, onakaliswa ngezinga elishaqisayo emazweni asathuthuka nanokuthi iplanethi iyonke iyona ezoba sesimweni esibucayi. Iphikisa ngokuthi amahlathi ayifa lembulunga yonke asiza ekulawuleni isimo sezulu ngokumunca i-carbon dioxide ebamba ukushisa futhi ayindawo ecebile egcine ingxenye enkulu yezinhlobonhlobo zezinto eziphilayo zomhlaba.”
Izizwe ezisathuthuka azizange zipholise maseko ekuyimangaleleni ngobuzenzisi. Ngokwe-New York Times, “ziyakuzonda lokho ezikubheka njengomzamo obeka umbuso wazo ebunzimeni owenziwa amazwe lawo ayigawula kudala imithi yawo ngenxa yenzuzo kodwa manje afuna ukubeka umthwalo oyinhloko wokulondoloza amahlathi embulunga yonke phezu kwamazwe alwela ukusinda ngokwezomnotho.” Umxhumanisi wamazwe waseMalaysia ulimisa ngesihloko: “Ngokuqinisekile amahlathi ethu asiwalondolozeli labo abaye babhubhisa awabo futhi manje abazama ukufuna awethu njengayingxenye yefa lesintu.” EPacific eseNyakatho ntshonalanga, iUnited States inamaphesenti ayishumi nje kuphela amahlathi ayo emvula amadala asasele, futhi asagawulwa, kodwa ifuna ukuba iBrazil, esenamaphesenti angu-90 amahlathi ayo aseAmazon, iyeke ukuwagawula.
Labo abashumayela kwabanye ukuthi, ‘Ningawabhubhisi amahlathi enu,’ ngisho nalapho bona bewabhubhisa awabo, bayefana nalabo okukhulunywa ngabo kwabaseRoma 2:21-23: “Wena-ke ofundisa omunye awuzifundisi wena na? Wena oshumayela ukuthi akungebiwa uyeba na? Wena othi akungaphingwa uyaphinga na? Wena owenyanya isithombe uphanga ithempeli na? Wena ozibonga ngomthetho udumaza uNkulunkulu ngokweqa umthetho na?” Noma uma sikhuluma ngendawo ezungezile, ‘ingabe wena, oshumayela ukuthi, “Londolozani amahlathi enu,” uyawagawula awakho?’
Okuhlobene eduze nokubhujiswa kwamahlathi ukukhathazeka ngokufudumala kwembulunga yonke. Izinguquko ezibangelwa amakhemikhali kanye nokushisa ziyadida, kodwa ukukhathazeka kugxile ngokuyinhloko ekhemikhalini eyodwa esemoyeni, i-carbon dioxide. Iyisici esikhulu ekushiseni komhlaba. Abacwaningi be-Byrd Polar Research Center ngonyaka odlule babika ukuthi “izinguzunga zeqhwa eziphakathi nendawo neziphansi ezintabeni manje ziyancibilika futhi ziyaphela—ezinye zazo ngokushesha kakhulu—nokuthi umlando weqhwa okulezinguzunga zeqhwa ubonisa ukuthi eminyakeni engu-50 edlule bezifudumele kakhudlwana kunanoma iyiphi enye inkathi eyiminyaka engu-50” egcinwe emlandweni. Uma i-carbon dioxide incane kakhulu ingenza ukuba isimo sezulu sibande kakhudlwana; eningi ingenza ukuba kuncibilike izinhlonhlo zeqhwa nezinguzunga zeqhwa ezisezindaweni ezibandayo futhi kukhukhuleke namadolobha aseduze nogu.
Ngokuphathelene ne-carbon dioxide i-India Today yathi:
“Ingaba ingxenyana nje yamagesi asesibhakabhakeni: amaphesenti angu-0,03 engqikithi. Kodwa uma ingekho i-carbon dioxide, iplanethi yethu ingabanda njengenyanga. Ngokubamba ukushisa okuphuma phansi emhlabeni, ilawula amazinga okushisa embulunga yonke abe sezingeni elisekela ukuphila elingu-15 degrees celsius. Kodwa uma inani layo linyuka, umhlaba ungaba uhhavini oshisa ngendlela eyisimanga.
“Uma izikhungo eziqondisa isimo sezulu sembulunga yonke zinikeza ukwaziswa okungathenjelwa, kuyaphuthuma ngempela ukuba kwenziwe okuthile. Iminyaka yawo-1980 yaba nezikhathi eziyisithupha kweziyisikhombisa zehlobo elishisa kunawo wonke kusukela isimo sezulu saqala ukurekhodwa cishe eminyakeni engu-150 edlule. Imbangela esobala: ukwanda kwesilinganiso se-carbon dioxide esibhakabhakeni ngamaphesenti angu-26 kunangenkathi engaphambi kwenguquko engokomnotho yokusebenzisa kwezimboni imishini.”
Kucatshangelwa ukuthi umthombo wako ungamathani ayizigidi zezigidi ezingu-1,8 ze-carbon dioxide ekhishwa minyaka yonke izivuthela-mlilo zemivubukulo eshayo. Isivumelwano okwakwethenjwa ukuthi sizokulawula ngokwengeziwe ukukhishwa kwe-carbon dioxide sanyathelelwa phansi eMhlanganweni Womhlaba Wezikhulu Zikahulumeni wamuva kangangokuba kubikwa ukuthi “waphakamisa amazinga okushisa” ezazi zesimo sezulu ezazilapho. Esinye sazo safudumala kangangokuba sathi: “Asinakuqhubeka njengokungathi yonke into ihamba kahle. Kuyiqiniso elingenakuphikwa ukuthi i-akhawunti yasebhange yamagesi embulunga yonke ayisekho esilinganisweni esifanayo. Kufanele kwenziwe okuthile uma kungenjalo sizoba nezigidi zababaleki bendawo ezungezile.” Wayebhekisele kulabo ababeyobaleka emakhaya abo anezikhukhula asemaphandleni.
Enye impikiswano ephuthumayo iphathelene nalokho okuthiwa izimbobo ezivela ongqimbeni lwe-ozone ezivikela umhlaba emisebeni ye-ultraviolet ebangela umdlavuza. Imbangela eyinhloko yalokhu ama-CFC (chlorofluorocarbons). Asetshenziswa eziqandisini, ama-air-conditioner kanye nasezintweni ezincibilikayo zokukhuculula ukungcola nanjengezinto ezivuthela umoya ekwakheni amapulasitiki akhukhumalisiwe. Emazweni amaningi asakhishwa izifutho ze-aerosol. Lapho efinyelela ku-stratosphere, imisebe yelanga ye-ultraviolet iyawahlakaza, bese kuphuma i-chlorine engaxutshwe nalutho, iathomu yayo ngayinye engabhubhisa okungenani ama-molecule angu-100 000 e-ozone. Izimbobo, izindawo ezinamazinga anciphe kakhulu e-ozone, zisala ongqimbeni lwe-ozone, kokubili eAntarctica nasemazingeni okuphakama ahlukahlukene eNyakatho, okusho ukuthi imisebe eyengeziwe ye-ultraviolet ifinyelela umhlaba.
Lemisebe ibulala izitshalo zasemanzini ne-krill, okuyikona okusekuqaleni eketangeni lokuphila kwezinto zasolwandle. Kudaleka izinguquko kuma-molecule eDNA aqukethe iziyalezo zezakhi zofuzo zokuphila. Izivuno ziyathinteka. Imisebe ibangela umthuqu esweni kanye nomdlavuza wesikhumba ebantwini. Lapho abacwaningi beNASA bethola izilinganiso eziphakeme ze-chlorine monoxide phezu kwezifunda zasenyakatho yeUnited States, eCanada, eYurophu, naseRussia, omunye wabacwaningi wathi: “Wonke umuntu kufanele axwayiswe ngalokhu. Kubi kakhulu kunalokho ebesikucabanga.” ULester Brown, umongameli we-Worldwatch Institute, wabika: “Izazi zesayensi zilinganisela ukuthi ukuncipha kongqimba lwe-ozone ngesivinini enhla nenkabazwe kuzobangela okunye ukufa kwabantu abangu-200 000 eUS kuphela ngenxa yomdlavuza wesikhumba phakathi neminyaka engu-50 ezayo. Emhlabeni wonke, izigidi zabantu abaphilayo zisengozini.”
Izinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zezinto eziphilayo, ukugcina izitshalo kanye nezilwane eziningi ngangokunokwenzeka kuphila ezindaweni zazo ezingokwemvelo, kungokunye okukhathazekwe ngakho manje. Umagazini i-Discover wakhipha ingcaphuno eyayithathwe encwadini yamuva yesazi sesayensi yezinto eziphilayo uEdward O. Wilson i-Diversity of Life, lapho abala khona ukuqothulwa kwezinkulungwane zezinhlobo zezinyoni, izinhlanzi, nezinambuzane, kanye nezinhlobo zezinto eziphilayo ngokuvamile ezinganakwa njengezingabalulekile: “Eziningi zezinhlobo ezinyamalele ama-mycorrhizal fungus, izinhlobo zezitshalo ezizuzisanayo ezithuthukisa ukumunca kwezimpande zezitshalo izakhi ezisemhlabathini. Sekuyisikhathi eside izazi ze-ecology zizibuza ukuthi yini engenzeka esimisweni sokuphila ngokuzuzisana kwezinto eziphilayo uma lama-fungus ebengasuswa, futhi ngokushesha sizoyithola impendulo.”
Kuleyoncwadi uWilson wabuza futhi wabe esewuphendula lombuzo ophathelene nokulondoloza izinhlobo zezinto eziphilayo:
“Kwenza muphi umehluko uma izinhlobo ezithile zezinto eziphilayo zibhujiswa, uma kunyamalala ngisho nengxenye yazo zonke izinhlobo eziphilayo eMhlabeni? Ake ngizibale lezindlela. Imithombo emisha yokwaziswa okungokwesayensi ngeke isaba khona. Ingcebo enkulu yamandla ezinto eziphilayo izobhujiswa. Imithi engakathuthukiswa, izivuno, imilaliso yokwelapha, ukhuni, izindwangu, i-pulp, izitshalo ezivuselela inhlabathi, izinto ezisetshenziswa esikhundleni se-petroleum, kanye neminye imikhiqizo nezinye izinto eziwusizo ngeke kusatholakala. Kuwumkhuba ngabanye abantu ukuzichilizela eceleni njengezingabalulekile izilokazane kanye nokhula okuncane nokunganakekile, bekhohlwa ukuthi ibhu elinganakekile laseLatin America lasindisa amadlelo aseAustralia ekwembozweni umdolofiya, ukuthi i-periwinkle ebomvana yanikeza ikhambi lesifo sikaHodgkin kanye nesifo sezingane i-lymphocytic leukemia, ukuthi igxolo le-Pacific yew linikeza ithemba ngezisulu zomdlavuza wesibeletho nowamabele, ukuthi ikhemikhali esematheni ama-leech incibilikisa amahluli egazi phakathi nesikhathi sokuhlinza, futhi uhlu oselulude kakade nolumangalisayo luqhubeka njalo naphezu kokuba kukuncane ukucwaninga okwenziwayo kukho.
“Ekudidekeni kwengqondo kulula futhi ukungazinaki izinkonzo isintu esizinikezwa izimiso zokuphila ngokuzuzisana kwezinto eziphilayo. Zivundisa inhlabathi futhi zakhe wona kanye umoya esiwuphefumulayo. Ngaphandle kwalezinto eziwusizo ukuphila kohlanga lwesintu emhlabeni bekungeke kujabulise futhi bekungaba kufushane.”
Njengoba isisho sesiNgisi sisho—esesaba esivamile ngokusetshenziswa ngokuphindaphindiwe ngoba sifaneleka kahle—okungenhla kumane nje kuyingxenyana yenguzunga yeqhwa. Kuyophela nini lokhu kucekelwa phansi komhlaba? Futhi ubani oyokuqeda? Isihloko esilandelayo sinikeza izimpendulo.
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 4]
UGwadule olukhulu lwaseAfrika iSahara lwake lwaba luhlaza
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 5]
‘Ingabe wena, oshumayeza abanye ukuthi, “Londolozani amahlathi enu,” uyawagawula awakho?’
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 5]
Uma i-carbon dioxide incane kakhulu—kuba nesimo sezulu esibanda kakhudlwana
Uma iningi kakhulu—izinguzunga zeqhwa ziyancibilika
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 6]
“Kwenza muphi umehluko uma ezinye izinhlobo zibhujiswa?”
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 6]
Ngaphandle kwezilokazane ezincane, ukuphila kohlanga lwesintu kungaba kufushane futhi kungajabulisi
[Izithombe ekhasini 7]
Ihlathi lemvula eAmazon, ngabo bonke ubuhle balo obungonakalisiwe
Elinye ihlathi lemvula, ngemva kokuba licekelwe phansi umuntu
[Imithombo]
Abril Imagens/João Ramid
F4/R. Azoury/Sipa
[Isithombe ekhasini 8]
Imfucumfucu yamakhemikhali anoshevu ingcolisa umoya, amanzi, kanye nenhlabathi
[Umthombo]
Feig/Sipa