Summary

Elvie Lins discusses the environmental impact of human activities on nature, particularly in travel and tourism, emphasizing the need for responsible behavior to preserve the planet for future generations.

Abstract

The article by Elvie Lins is a poignant reflection on the detrimental effects of human actions on the environment, with a focus on the pollution of natural landscapes and water bodies. Through personal anecdotes from travels in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, Lins illustrates the careless attitudes of tourists and locals alike towards littering and the use of harmful chemicals. The author expresses deep concern over the destruction of ecosystems, urging readers to reconnect with nature and adopt eco-friendly practices. Lins also shares insights from other authors on the benefits of engaging with nature, such as the health advantages of walking barefoot, known as earthing. The piece concludes with a call to action for preserving the environment, encapsulated in a poem that encourages taking only photographs and leaving only footprints when exploring nature.

Opinions

Lins is critical of the environmental damage caused by tourists, citing examples of polluted water at a resort and littering on public transportation.
The author feels guilty about contributing to environmental harm and emphasizes the collective responsibility to protect natural habitats.
There is a strong opinion that current human behavior is inhumane and spoiling the Earth's natural beauty, including its trees, oceans, lakes, rivers, and seas.
Lins advocates for stricter regulations, similar to Singapore's anti-littering laws, to deter environmentally harmful actions.
The article suggests that reconnecting with nature can restore inner balance and offers health benefits, as indicated by the practice of earthing.
Lins promotes the concept of leaving no trace, suggesting that the wilderness should be left pristine and untouched for future generations to enjoy.
The author encourages readers to support each other in environmental conservation efforts, as demonstrated by the collaborative writing challenge mentioned at the end of the article.

Travel | Nature Photography | Writing Challenge

Travel the World and Take Nothing But Pictures

We take nature for granted. Our planet is slowly dying because of the abuse humans are inflicting on it.

In many places I have traveled, I notice that many travelers harm the environment, especially in the corners of Asian countries like the Philippines and Malaysia.

As an example, I was in the Philippines at a beautiful resort with blue clear water and a white sandy beach.

The resort is not those 3 or 5 start facilities like in a hotel. But because this is a remote location not easy to reach by many travelers. It is more like a camping resort. It has decent common shower rooms and toilets outdoor.

I was shocked by what I saw

I was taking pictures when I noticed that the shower room water was flowing back to the sea. All those people who have taken showers were using all sorts of soaps and these go back to poison the fresh living things in the ocean.

The water below the shower rooms starts to change color into green.

I felt guilty as I just had a shower the night before. As I walk towards the back of the resort, I saw junks of plastic floating right at the back. There were tons of them.

The image I have taken at the back of the resort where plastic bottles were floating.

There was a time I took a Jeepney in my hometown (Davao City). A decent lady that sat opposite me finished her water that was in a bottle and drop the empty plastic under her seat. So I could not bear what just happen as I saw it. I ask her to please drop the empty plastic in the bin. She refuses to do and looks away. I have to pick up the empty plastic bottle that she just had dropped on the bus floor and I bin it into the bucket as I stared at her.

In Singapore, there is a heavy fine for littering. Though you still see some people do drop rubbish anywhere but are much-limited compared to the ones in the Philippines and Malaysia.

I have read an article from Dr. Preeti Singh that gave me one sleepless night after reading it. Nature wants you to reconnect with it.

Nature Wants You To Reconnect With It

Lessons from nature to restore your inner balance

medium.com

How could humans be so inhuman and spoiled this nature of trees, ocean, lakes, rivers, and the sea?

The Earth is a beautiful place, and humans are treating it very poorly. We are polluting the air, water, and land, and we are ruining the environment. Trees, oceans, lakes, rivers, and the sea are all suffering because of our actions. We need to start caring for the Earth and its inhabitants, or we will all be ruined.

This is nature in Austria during Winter time. Image by Elvie Lins

There is another interesting article I’ve read today about Nature from Yana Bostongirl and pocket dessert. The article mentions about walking barefoot is called earthing and it has many health benefits.

Surrender and Flow: Go Outside Barefoot, Reconnect to Balance

Life Newsletter №14

medium.com

Here is a poem to all nature lovers and photographers

“Take Nothing But Pictures, Leave Nothing but Footprints”

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints Do not harm the environment, it’s our only home We’re just visitors here, and we should take care Of the planet, we live on, so future generations can too.

When you go out to explore Nature’s beauty, treasures to find Please take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints So that the wilderness can stay pristine and wild It’s a special place we all should share So please be respectful and leave it there.

This is my thirteenth article for the 60-day writing and reading challenge with Alain Polo, Brendan - Coaching Apprentice, Judy Derby, Indigo, Frank Sarpong, Pierre. My stories are my life. Celeste Wilson, Jason Edmunds, Heather Cooper, Cristina Cattai, Harmony S, Belcairn, Elizabeth Emerald, Kerrie Gutierrez-Diaz, Gustavo Gallina, Daria Haller, Catherine Ware, Rajeeb Ghosh, Grace Bianco, Jennifer Thompson, Bob Merckel, Deb Palmer, Amanda Laughtland, Leonora Watkins, Carmelita.

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