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Tazkia International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS), again, held an Inpirational Talk for female high school students of class 11 by the theme "Living Greens Teenagers" (20/11). The session presented Ir.  Wardah Alkatiri, Ph.D, a Human Ecologist, as the main speaker.  Students will be invited to look further about the current earth condition and environmental problems from various perspectives. Therefore, they would become environmentally literate generation and play an active role in resolving existing environmental problems.

Wardah emphasised that as Muslim generation, loving and caring for nature, is part of obedience to Allah SWT.  Islam is a religion spreading compassion to all nature, not only humans, but also plants and animals.  If humans interfere with the natural system, there will be chaos everywhere.

"Today, we need to realise three things, first, to realise that we are the caliphs of Allah.  The second is aware that the earth is seriously ill, and the third is aware that there are dangers affecting our health," she said.

To be aware of the first, people should initially see nature as living object. The youth, mainly, should notice it. Love of nature, ideally, should be grown since childhood.  The current problem is the older generation does not understand the significance of protecting nature. Thus, they tend to ignore and make decisions that destroy it.

"The number of animals enter residential areas because forest clearing ignores animals and plants.  In the past, when living freely in nature, they were independent without human help.  Now, when humans take over the forest, they are in trouble," she explained.

In addition to the exhaustion of forests, the pandemic of covid-19 is a result of chaos in natural systems. Based on research, 75% of new diseases are animal diseases that attack humans, or zoonotic.  However, Wardah revealed that the pandemic, hitting for almost a year, has succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which previously had increased constantly.

Greenhouse gas emission accumulation in the atmosphere has been the main cause of global warming phenomenon, namely increasing global earth temperature.  It has raised significantly after the industrialisation era, which causes frequent flooding and drought in numerous areas.

"One solution is that we have to start braking the pace of industry and using green business concept and switch to renewable energy.  If countries are unwilling to change, more virulent viruses might emerge in the future," she said.

Personally, Wardah conveyed several ways can be done to help save nature.  First, choose a minimalist, simple, and non-consumptive lifestyle.  Second, start building a relationship with nature such as planting trees, loving animals, learning to make compost and so on.  Those activities will connect to stronger awareness and attachment to realm. Third, reduce plastic waste.  Fourth, do not smoke.

Finally, Wardah told that when someone is aware of the impact of nature's damage on their health, they will start to spread knowledge about it.  They will also help to tackle health threats that may not seem overwhelming but are very impactful.  Such as air, water, and soil pollution, even radiation and hazardous chemical pollution.

"Let us be environmentally literate generation. Do not think of it as burdensome. In fact, there will be benefits. We can use science as a tool to help people as worship to Allah SWT, " she ordered.  (lil / nai)