Pollution is an ongoing problem that continues to negatively impact the Earth. By letting this atrocity happen, we are betraying the hand that feeds us for complacency. Activists worldwide are calling out wealthy corporations and nations that are contributors to this problem, while asking them to help combat pollution.

Pollution goes hand in hand with climate change, where both are destroying the planet. Pollution damages the stratosphere, which then allows more UV rays to hit the planet. According to the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment, “human activities… are increasing the concentrations of greenhouse gases,” which then makes Earth warm up.

This column will cover the effects big companies and nations have on the environment as well as cover the damaging effects pollution and climate change has on the environment.

Our Earth’s pain can come from a variety of occasions, including oil spills. On October 2, 2021, Amplify Energy, a small independent company, spilled 126,000 gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean in the state of California. Authorities immediately sent ships to clean up the mess, declaring a state of emergency almost two days later. On the following Monday, 4,158 gallons were removed from the ocean. Tar balls from the spill were raked up by workers in hazmat suits. Legal charges are being pressed onto the company for failing to ensure that the oil rig was safe and ready to operate. The cause of the breaking pipeline is unknown.

There is no telling if a ship was in the area, which might’ve caused the pipeline to break. Wildlife is greatly threaten by any oil spill. Dead animals such as fish and birds have been reported to be washing up on shore with clumps of black oil. “These are wetlands that we’ve been working with the Army Corps of Engineers, with (a local) land trust, with all the community wildlife partners to make sure to create this beautiful, natural habitat for decades. And now in just a day, it’s completely destroyed,” said Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley.

The environment will continue to suffer, if nothing is done. The collective needs to set their foot down and take immediate action.