Coimbatore activist Ashok’s organization ran an awareness campaign, which has thrown a bomb of an allegation at us. The campaign alleges that Coronavirus could have very much resulted from global warming.
Coimbatore: Ashok Srinithi has been one of the vocal proponents of environmental degradation and has been a persistent voice against the ills of red soil mining, a practice that keeps robbing the mineral richness in many fertile areas in and around Coimbatore. Ashok who is the State Youth Wing Deputy Secretary of PMK has come out with several protests and campaign videos against this.
Ashok’s organization ran an awareness campaign, which has thrown a bomb of an allegation at us. The campaign alleges that Coronavirus could have very much resulted from global warming. Ashok and his team was seen carrying placards, condemning powers-be that ignore such vital issues and turn a blind eye towards environmental malpractices, stood at various landmarks in the city so as to create awareness.
Speaking to Simplicity, Ashok Srinithi said, “While the average global temperature has increased by 1 degree Celsius it could very well be a 3 or even 4-degree rise in Coimbatore." He said he misses the yesteryears of Coimbatore that used to be climatically pleasant and lush with trees and vegetation.
He lamented, “This global warming is causing melting of permafrost, ice masses, the rise of sea levels and major alterations in regional precipitation patterns, resulting in unprecedented and extreme weather conditions such as heatwaves, wildfires, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and snow-storms. These natural calamities are leading to deaths, diseases, malnutrition and mental health issues. Extreme temperatures are causing heat strokes, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The changes in our environment even kill our precious flora and fauna.”
He said that like how thawing of the permafrost in Siberia a few years ago was alleged to have reawakened anthrax, the alarming rate at which global warming is on the up, could have caused the outbreak of COVID-19. He issued a clarion call to the legislators in the district to raise their voices against the projects that contribute to environmental deterioration and the public to be more responsible.
Noteworthy is an observation made by Professor Adewale Sedarae from Federal University of Technology, Nigeria, “There is still no scientific evidence linking the two, but we can deduce something from the fact that the pandemic is raging in this dry season.” Professor Samuel Tetsopgang from The University of Bamenda, Cameroon almost mirrors his Nigerian counterpart's thoughts. He says, "If climate change has a negative impact on human health, then a link may exist between climate change and the spread of coronavirus."
