Interview with an evironmental - oriented geologist:)

Maciej Tyszko: Good Evening, Mr. Chachaj. What can we, in your opinion, do in our homes regarding environment al protection?

Jacek Chachaj, (my neighbor, a geologist): Good evening. Well, we can do really much but we cannot be too ascetic, e.g. not buying this or that washing powder because of micro-improvement in this case. We live in modern age world and shouldn’t be radicals on either side, we learnt from history that it leads to no good. However, environmental thinking is of outmost importance to get all people known with cases like rain-forests’ cut down or global water pollution. I think we should make our point on educating the society, which will benefit in the future. Back to U Thant’s ONZ leading, when in 1968 he appealed to all countries that we are killing our planet up to now the knowledge about environmental issues has improved. Of course it makes me aware of, for example, my sons’ showers two times a day. I see it now as water waste, while without environmental education I probably would not bother. I also can’t imagine throwing toxic pollution into open waters.

M.T.:                     How did it look like in your childhood compared to today’s living?

J.Ch.:                     There was no actual awareness, environmental awareness. However we couldn’t waste water because of drainage and had not such comfort as today, with plenty water all the time ready-to-use. What is more, My parents always told me to turn off the lights to avoid energy wastes. Not that it cost much but it was waste of energy. We didn’t sort the wastes, nobody thought of such things. But I think those times we had not such toxic wastes as today. From plastic bags to Atomic wastes we have plenty of awful substances created! We were leaving along with nature, especially when I take myself back to my holidays at woj. Lubelskie in forests, we were happy and nature – related.

M.T.:                     How do you regard environmental issues in your work?

J.Ch.:                     As geologist, I, partly because of my function, partly because of my nature, try to keep and think of balance and harmony of our world. Doing publications about our environment I hope I improve general knowledge concerning those things. Interesting things like no open clean water remaining on earth or how much oxygen produces one hectare of lawn. I can advise some people not to cover lawns with asphalt and open their eyes on hottest problems of earth. My work is tightly bound to ecology.

M.T.                      Reassuming, where do you see chance for our world? Do you feel… ‘rage against the machines’?

J.Ch.:                     The most important part in our lives is to keep awareness of environment if we want to keep earth “healthy” for our future offspring. Knowledge of what’s going on and how to stay against that, what is bad, is essential. We MUST get involved in peaceful fight against pollution and mindless rainforests cutting. Is it rage against the machines? I don’t think so. They can help us. Mankind must just learn how to use all the power it has in good means.

M.T.                      Thank you for answering at length, was very interesting to talk with you, since you have got great knowledge about those issues.

J.Ch.:                     I just hope it will be used for better future.