We asked young people in Macao to reflect on our role and relationship with nature.
All winning essays were published into a book and made available online so readers from around the world can read about read about their ideas, thoughts, and vision in this essay collection as we work together for a better tomorrow.
The summer of 2023 found me on icy shores in Svalbard, with my face graced by the soft touch of a biting Arctic wind. Leading a scientific survey, the initial excitement gradually got replaced with a sense of revelation.
“Hurray!” As the news spread rapidly through WeChat groups, informing us that schools were closed, my friends and classmates burst with joy. But the reason for the closures, the hoisting of a No.8 typhoon signal, caused me consternation as this was the third school closure in just 40 days because of typhoon or rainstorm.
Nature plays an important role in our lives, shaping our existence and providing us with the resources that are necessary for survival. However, our daily activities often strain this relationship, leading to environmental degradation and unsustainable practices.
Globally, approximately 2.7 million tons of pesticides were reportedly applied to agricultural land in 2020. Pesticides were designed to prevent yield losses; however, not only have they been given rise to new environmental issues, but also backfired on humans, significantly impeding progress towards achieving The 2023 Agenda’s socio-environmental goals.
In the distant past, the relationship between humans and nature was harmonious and intimate. During that time, we revered and respected nature as the bedrock and wellspring of our existence. The connection between humans and nature is also intricate and interwoven.
There is an interesting phenomenon that when people run out of topics to discuss, they will instinctively look up at the skies and discuss the weather. Most people consider this phenomenon as an amusing anecdote, but if we ponder deeply, it becomes evident that the weather and the environment immensely affect everyone living on the planet.
I never felt as calm and balanced as I did on the 1st of May when my mother and I went to the Luyang Lake Wetland Park. Early in the day, a light drizzle threatened to destroy our plans, but try as it did, it could not tear down the anticipation we had built up for the trip. Indeed, the rain was refreshing.
Ever since I can remember from my childhood, nature has been an integral part of my life. Due to my father’s work as a Macao Customs officer, which involved frequent contact with the sea, I have been exposed to many stories of marine life that he has witnessed firsthand.
Million years ago, our ancestors foraged wild plants and hunted wild animals. Everything was kept simple. However, as technology advances over centuries, humans have introduced an uncountable number of inventions into life, some of which, for example, plastic bags, may contribute to the destruction of the environment. This is a price we pay for the modern livelihood.
Under humanity’s stewardship, we have fortuitously unearthed the concept of sustainable development on this naturally beautiful planet. This concept presents a future vision where prosperity and growth harmoniously coexist with preserving our irreplaceable natural environment.
We mature through time and experiences, forests grow with ample resources; we live our life in cycles—to wake in the morning and rest through the night, nature regulates itself through cycles—water shifts between different states as it circulates the world; we are rich in a wide array of cultures, beliefs, values, and abilities, and strengthen as a society when embracing it, nature is rich in a plethora of different species, its biodiversity vital to building the resilience of an ecosystem.
Nature holds a deep significance in our lives, providing us with nourishment, awe-inspiring beauty, and a profound sense of peace. As a high school student, I’ve come to realize just how important our connection with nature is, especially within the context of The 2030 Agenda.
Nature is the source of all life, the cradle of human existence, and the wellspring of our spiritual nourishment. It is the foundation upon which our lives are built, and it is the canvas upon which our stories are painted.
The natural world encompasses a remarkable diversity of ecosystems, with each inextricably linked to the other. Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, once said: “Only by obeying nature can we control nature.”
My palette has always been blue, yellow, and green, but I inevitably notice them shading into black, white and grey.
How can we create a future in which both nature and we can thrive? Look around us. The dying ecosystem is screaming for attention, the biodiversity is fading, the acidifying oceans are running out of breath, the choking smoke and rising sea levels are suffocating us, and the desertification of land and extreme weather events are threatening our lives.
In my fuzzy childhood memories lies pictures painted with blossoming flowers and verdant landscape. My brother would be sprinting through the woods, playing hide and seek with me, all while indulging in the beauty of nature.
