Overpopulation, depleting resources, increasing pollution etc. are some of our favorite topics  for an “intellectual” conversation over drinks. But similar to the buzz of the alcohol, our sympathy and “love” for Mother Nature also fades as the night passes and the topic dies on the dinner table. Sadly, the real problems don’t die as easily. Our activities have led to serious degradation of our environment and natural resources.
Let’s have a look at some of the most shocking photographs from around the world that shows the extent to which we have degraded our environment.
1. A thick blanket of smog ( Fog mixed with smoke and other pollutants) covering our National capital
2. Aftermath of Black Sea oil spill, 2014
3. Our sacred Yamuna River
4. Fake Hong Kong skyline for tourists to take photographs, as the real skyline cannot be seen clearly due to heavy air pollution
5. Accumulated garbage on the banks of Yangtze River, China
6. We didn’t even leave the highest mountain on earth, a person collecting leftover garbage on Mt. Everest
7. World’s most polluted river, Citarum river, Indonesia
8. Mountains of garbage in a dumping ground, Mumbai
9. Our holy Ganges
10. A large amount of toxic nuclear waste leaked into the water sources after Fukushima nuclear power plant tragedy, 2011
Many of these photographs were taken a few years back, the condition might have worsened since then. Who should we blame for bringing on this impending doom? Government? Industries? Ourselves? It doesn’t matter who you blame, the problem isn’t going to solve itself. The only solution lies with us, the people. The real question is what are we going to do about it?