Divorce And Environmental Disaster

By Author: James Walsh
Total Articles: 68
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Yet, the greatness of Newton's theory of universal gravitation (inspired by the falling apple) lies in the fact that it connected the heavens above to the Earth beneath, by the theoretical conclusion that a common force (i.e. gravitation) acted not just on apples but also on the heavenly bodies. Two vastly distinct and unconnected remote objects were threaded together by the theory of a common occurrence.

In a similar vein, divorce and the natural environment, appear as two disparate items. One is an act and the other is a physical entity. How can the remote act of divorce be so surely interconnected to the physical entity of environment, so much so that it exercises influence on the other? It is our duty as caring human beings, to believe that the connection exists, if we are to protect our environment for the benefit of all life forms.

The connection does exist. A two-decade study was conducted by professors at the Michigan State University. This was the first time that a study of this kind was conducted wherein it integrated the social sciences with its impact on environment. To put it plainly, it was seeking ...
... to find out if any social reasons were also contributing to the ‘global warming' effect. The results speak for themselves.

Between 1998 and 2002, divorce created 7.4 million additional households in just 12 countries.

In 2005 alone, separated households, arising out of divorce (in the United States alone) consumed 73 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and 627 billion gallons of water.

Divorced households spent more, because of the obvious reason that, post-divorce, two of everything was required, especially in single parent homes. Moreover, surveys indicated that divorced couples tend to remain single for a long time before venturing into marriage again.

These real findings are bad news for our planet, because natural resources are exhaustible and the demand for energy is spiralling upward. The indirect result of divorce on the environment is the increased exploitation of natural resources and the energy requirements to sustain the split households, thereby directly contributing to the disastrous and widespread phenomenon of global warming. Two refrigerators, two microwave ovens, two televisions, and two heating systems were the bare minimum needed for the divorced couple instead of the single number that was being used by them when they were living together.

The study conducted at Michigan University, does not bolster the concept of marriage, but points out that Mother Earth would be a better place to live in, if there were fewer divorced households and if single parents moved in with an existing household to cut the resource consumption by half.

An entire household consisting of a lone occupant competing for scarce resources, with a family, is unfair on the other inhabitants of this planet. Animals, birds and plants which make our existence possible in this fragile ecosystem lose out on their right to a peaceful co-existence, due to the cruel, inconsiderate behaviour of mankind. Depleting migratory lands, grazing grounds or water holes have led to the extinction of entire species. Increasingly hot summers and extreme winters catch the adaptive mechanism of these creatures, unawares and there is nothing that they can do about it except perish.

Divorce not only distorts the economies of scale for households, but also contributes to morose individuals who have the least care for the well-being of society. Such individuals cast away considerations like sharing their homes or existence with others and are so caught up in inward thoughts of self-pity or depression that they generally do not make an effort to conserve the environment or for the preservation of social norms. Cohabiting does not come easy for them nor are they considered as favourable prospects to cohabit with.

The environment is a durable reason and should be given serious thought by the couple who wish to undergo divorce. The legal system should also factor in the negative effects of divorce on our life-sustaining medium and enforce appropriate conditions for redress.

James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you want to find out more about a solicitor managed divorce see http://www.managed-divorce.co.uk