Climate Change Remarkably Felt In My Country

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In the tropics, climate change has not been so apparent because tropical countries have a very dynamic weather system. Today might be rainy while tomorrow may be sunny. Also, geographical features do not easily show signs of the effects of global warming. This is different from nations of the northern or southern hemisphere where there are glaciers. Undeniably, glaciers size reductions are what most scientists commonly look at to track down the effects of global temperature changes. However, today, the weather system here in the tropics has deviated at a considerable degree. Winds during storms have become stronger. Rainfall has become heavier and longer. Flooding has become more frequent. And, wildlife behaviors has been changing dramatically. Nowadays, winds have been recorded to be stronger and unpredictable compared to the past decades. Weather forecasts now are not able to accurately predict wind speeds and directional changes. This has become a problem because this poses a great risk in promoting and signaling preparedness for the citizens. And because people are not used to these weather changes, they tend to continue their activities of daily living without important regard to possible dangers caused by the weather. Rainfall, also, has become so strangely heavier and with durations that are remarkably longer. Usually, during Monsoons, winds are strong and rainfall is not that long. Alert levels for dangers it may cause is not usually risen during these seasons. However, today, even monsoons have become destructive. For example, during the recent monsoon, or the HABAGAT as it is locally known here in the Philippines, the rainfall lasted for more than a week with varying diurnal gravity. People went mum about it because Filipinos are used to this natural weather system when rains pour down and winds are strong. But, Habagat was different that time, it was unexpectedly strong and the rain caused floods high enough to destroy residences and kill people. Weather forecast institutions were also surprised by the turn of events. These incidents were all blamed to the effects of climate change. Wildlife is also greatly affected. Before, migratory birds have very predictable patterns of migration going to and fro the Philippines. Birds regularly visit the country to look for a better place to temporarily inhabit and forage food while their home habitat is undergoing seasonal changes. However, today, the pattern of these migrations has changed. Some group of birds don't visit the same places anymore because marshlands have become dry or too high in water level which made it unsuitable as a convenient migration point. Wildlife behaviors tend to change when their habitat changes. This is an occurrence considerably noticed by conservationists all over the world. Livestock and poultry are also greatly affected according to farmers. Incidents of heat stroke have become rampant. Also, in some fisheries, many species of fish die because of heat and at times, because of flooding that bring in unwanted chemicals into their pens. These events in turn, lowered down the production of fish, poultry and livestock in the local and international markets. Climate change is really occurring today. This is quite evidenced by the various phenomena that happen in the global weather system and the effects it causes to the flora and fauna. We cannot blame nature for this because nature only responds to how we take care of it. As they say, nature retaliates in a thousand folds. This is why we have to really and seriously start acting now. Climate Change is here and there is no turning back. All we have to do is to preserve what we still have today and revive those that we have destroyed. WE can all do this if we work hand in hand in a global scale. I appreciate so much the current efforts of our government in banning the use of plastic bags in stores. This is just one simple move but it will surely bring about big benefits to our nature. I hope our citizens learn the value of discipline in this matter especially in proper waste segregation and disposal that I think, have never been strictly followed ever since laws were implemented. Pant a tree at your backyard. If every family does this, how many trees in total can we grow? Surely, it will be equivalent to a forest already. In Davao City, smoking has been seriously regulated. What if other cities/towns implement this as well? See, all we have to do is make rules, implement them, discipline our citizens, provide useful information and everything else will follow. Let's not wait for another disaster to come. Let's not wait for another life to be taken away. Let's not wait for famine and hunger. Let's not wait for an ugly fate. Let's start NOW. and I really mean- NOW!