On 7th June 2021, Kuen Cheng High School Environmental Society organized a themed webinar titled “How the Covid-19 Pandemic Impacted the Environment”. The two main speakers of the webinar were members of the Society: Sim Chong You from Jr2Z(3) and Chuan Dick Yee from Jr3S(6). The webinar was split into three parts, with each part having an objective of its own: 1) explaining the positive impacts of Covid-19 on the environment; 2) explaining the negative impacts of Covid-19 on the environment; 3) introducing the possible measures or efforts to be mobilised in our daily lives in preserving the environment.
First off, the Covid-19 pandemic undeniably led to several positive changes in the environment. During the talk, speaker Chuan Dick Yee explained how the reduction of human activities largely decreased the air pollution index around the globe in China and several countries in Europe. She also utilized maps, graphs and videos to further exemplify her point. Another positive change was none other than the miraculously increased sightings of wild animals, such as the wild mountain goats in Llandudno, England, the peacocks in Mumbai, India and the pumas in Santiago, Chile. However, the speaker also shared several gruesome images and explanations of wild animals suffering at the hands of humans, which included whales being knocked dead by large ships and birds colliding into glass windows. She reminded us of the importance of compassion for animals, as well as the necessity of preserving their habitats.
Next came the inevitable recap of damages inflicted upon the environment by the Covid-19 pandemic. The speakers briefed on the first damage, which came in the form of excessive solid wastes. These solid wastes largely consisted of disposable gloves, facemasks and food packages in order to curb the spread of the pandemic, therefore leading to air and water pollution. Furthermore, the burning of Covid-19 patients’ corpses in India led to detrimental pollution of the surrounding area, rendering the air less suitable for respiratory purposes. Another negative impact was none other than the growingly rampant deforestation around the globe, which could potentially expedite the rate of global warming.
Last came the explanation of possible measures to be taken in preserving the environment. Speaker Sim Chong You briefed on the ways of reducing air pollution; firstly, taking public transportations and inhibiting the combustion of toxic substances. We should also limit our daily meat intake to decrease the levels of greenhouse gases in the air. Next, he explained the various methods of protecting wild animals from extinction, such as refraining from a set of activities like eating wild animals’ meat, purchasing products made from animal parts and feeding wild animals excessively. After that, he also explained the multitudinous ways of conserving water supply around the earth, which included several measures such as disposing of rubbish systematically and using water with a thrifty mindset.
The speakers concluded the webinar by giving additional tips on preserving the environment: recycling and reusing wastes, using unleaded gasoline for vehicles, as well as refraining from the excessive utilization of disposable products. The preservation of the Earth’s environment is every human being’s inherent responsibility. Therefore, it is only right that we reap the maximum amount of knowledge from the webinar and implement the methods introduced, and of course, with our hearts and souls open wide with compassion for our most beloved Mother Earth.
