What a time, and how fast the world is changing. It's raining on Christmas day; the climate is indeed changing. A very rare occurrence or event. Please kindly read through what I have to say. Yesterday, I was watching a movie called "The War between the Land and the Sea," proudly sponsored by the BBC. It speaks volumes about how humans pollute all water sources – the oceans, rivers, seas, lakes, and others, thereby endangering native aquatic organisms. This pollution arises as a result of our activities and how we dispose of our waste indiscriminately into water bodies.

It's very common for people to dispose of their solid waste into water bodies, but in recent events, sullage and sewage are being channelled directly into water bodies. There are reports that in Lagos State, the ministry assigned to regulate liquid waste has apprehended several individuals trying to discharge their sullage into public drains or water bodies. People in riverine areas are also fond of using conventional sewerage systems directed into water bodies. A majority of non-biodegradable items are being deposited into our water bodies, and some are already accumulated in our drains, which prevents the free flow of water. A lot of toxic pollutants are introduced into water bodies.

In Osun State, gold mining activity has led to the generation of particulates with other constituents, and this has altered the physical and chemical characteristics of the Osun River, which could solely affect aquatic organisms in the water. The movie showcases the deleterious effects of our continued pollution of water bodies. While we're talking about finding lasting solutions to ozone layer depletion as a result of toxic substances being introduced into the air, we're yet to begin to consider what could happen as we continue to pollute water bodies.

The drama is an eye-opener to all and sundry, and probably, as environmentalists, we should brace up and plan ahead. According to the fictional analysis posited in the movie, a 50% reduction and maintenance in plastic pollution or water pollution can only be achieved in 2065, and further additional development would occur later on, but as fictional as it was. Is this even sustainable or attainable? This is the same question envisaged in the movie as well.

Ken Saro-Wiwa – an environmental activist from the Niger-Delta region, who continually wrote about the dangers of toxic pollutants being introduced into water bodies as a result of petrochemical mining activities around their environment. Despite his calls for a referendum for change in that context, we all know what later happened to the Ogoni people. Most water sources in that region till date remain undrinkable and inaccessible; people in the environment need to find alternatives to access potable water to drink and continue to labour to get water for their day-to-day activities. If care is not taken, we might have a prevalence of water-related diseases, and when they occur, the epidemics might be fatal.

The impact of water pollution extends beyond environmental degradation – it affects livelihoods, health, and economies. Communities relying on rivers for fishing, farming, or drinking water face dire consequences when pollution spikes. For example, the Ogoni region's struggles with clean water access persist decades after Ken Saro-Wiwa's activism.

Governments and corporations must step up with stricter regulations and sustainable practices. But individual actions count too – reducing plastic use, supporting clean water initiatives, and spreading awareness can drive change. Every bottle recycled, every beach cleaned, and every policy supported adds up.

We humans need to do better and not let our advancements create multiple problems whose consequences would be disastrous to us and other species.