Let's start with the centerpiece of the discussion ― the Earth.

Did you know that Earth is unique in the universe? How many planets in the universe can boast of harboring life? As you know, we don't know of any others at the moment except our own. The chances of finding a planet that harbors life are extremely rare.

It’s as difficult as winning the lottery, and even then, it remains very unlikely. And when we talk about harboring life, we’re not referring to just bacteria, but to plants and animals, as on our planet. We may need several hundred more years to even find one, if we find one at all.

And if we do find a planet teeming with life in the universe, what are the chances that it has intelligent life? Consider this: the probability of finding a planet with life forms, and additionally, one that also harbors intelligent life, is extremely low.

Earth has been evolving for 4 to 5 billion years, and intelligent beings have only appeared relatively recently in this vast timeframe. Moreover, we are not immune to natural extinction events like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs; a massive meteorite could still strike Earth again.

The source of all this life on our planet is water. Without water, there would be no animals, no plants. Earth would likely resemble a barren rock with an atmosphere similar to Mars or Venus. It is water that has made life possible on our planet. Everything that lives here needs water to survive.

The planet functions like a living organism: it needs water to survive, as well as an atmosphere and stability. This stability is comparable to the human circulatory system (heart). It moves the oceans through warm equatorial currents (such as the Gulf Stream) towards the poles, where they are then cooled (North Atlantic) and flow back towards the equator. This process helps sustain life in the oceans, much like how an aquarium operates.

If the poles fail to regulate the planet effectively, the temperature of the planet's waters will rise, and the circulation of cold currents will diminish. As a result, this slowdown will cause weaker water movement, leading to stagnation in areas with no water movement. The heat absorbed by the oceans (like a swimming pool) will continue to warm the atmosphere, which is already heating up due to greenhouse gases. Consequently, the planet's overall temperature will keep rising, leading to significant environmental changes.

We must not forget that human-induced pollution through consumption is driving these environmental changes and causing the extinction of species across the planet. This pollution will irreversibly alter life on Earth if we do nothing, all for our comfort and profit. Our planet is fragile, as we are witnessing right now. We must act before the damage becomes irreversible. Our children deserve a better future, and what we do now will make a difference for the years to come.

Precious Earth