Achieving A Sustainable Preservation Of The Ozone Layer

March 12,2010
Achieving A Sustainable Preservation Of The Ozone Layer
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The annual commemoration of the Preservation of Ozone Layer that falls on Sept. 16 should served as a reminder for us the need to continually sustain the mandate of the Montreal Protocol signed by the leaders of nations on Sept.16,1987. This kind of treaty enjoins all leaders of the world to gradually phase out in a certain period of time the production of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) in particular. The scientists believed that CFC is the cause of the disastrous damage in the depletion of ozone layer which serves as the protective mantle of the earth.
The main function of this element/substance is to diffuse the ultraviolet rays from the sun’s light needed by the animals, plants, humans and other forms of life on Planet Earth, which if excessive, will ensue an ominous
effect to all living things if remain unchecked.
Sometime in the 1980s, a group of scientists have discovered a huge hole in the Antarctic region of our planet that has raised alarm in the scientific communities. The phenomenon has created a wave of shocks
and fear by the experts and ordinary citizens. This finding has led in the gathering of all leaders to sign the abovementioned treaty.
It is now almost 23 years since that historic event. Did the gradual reduction in the manufacturing of CFC has a prevailing effect in the healing of the wounded ozone layer? The facts I’ve gathered revealed that as of NASA’s 2006 report the big hole was 11.5 million square miles. However, NASA’S latest report indicates that
the hole has shrunk to 9.7 million square miles, a 16 percent decrease from that in 2006 report.
This disclosure is a significant development despite of the fact that the hole is still as big as North America, it was disclosed. Still large enough to cause disastrous effect to all life on earth.
Based on the information that I have gathered, there’s a continuing necessity to seriously and religiously implement all the provisions and guidelines under the Montreal Protocol. All the leaders of the world must possess the political will to commit themselves relentlessly to realize the objective in achieving a full recovery of the damaged ozone layer.
This kind of undertakings manifested by leadership by example from among conscientious, persistent and determined govermment officials and NGO leaders should prod and inspire future leaders and the next from generations to generations to also implement and devotedly apply the Montreal Protocol to the letter.
Nevertheless, I have the suspicion that other substances/compounds created by some chemists worldwide of various specializations possessed some contributory characteristics which is potential to the destruction of the ozone layer. This cover substances/compounds that inherently possessed pungent and excruciating odors. There’s also the need to examine the different brands and classification of chemicals by our experts and scientists worldwide to determine if really these man-made chemicals that pollutes our environment are equally disastrous to the ozone layer. If after some in-depth research and experimentations, proofs would surface that some of the available chemicals and compounds in the market also cause to the destruction of the ozone layer, then such kind of chemicals must be stopped from its production.
When all nations of the world will reach the target of achieving a full recovery of the ozone layer in the coming years after NASA’s space survey, man’s temptive tendency for the restoration in the production of CFCs and other harmful chemicals that damage the earth’s protective mantle, must be resisted and prevented.
Bitter lessons learned out of man’s carefree, abusive attitude and ignorance in the caring, conserving and protecting our environment which resulted to its destruction cannot be overemphasized. The kind of implementation that will achieve the objective by the current leaders of nations in attaining a strongly sustainable preservation of the ozone layer must be seriously and religiously followed from generations to generations of mankind.( Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)