Deserts have a harsh environment and our ancestors had led a simple and difficult life. They had limited basic resources with which they managed to survive. In fact, survival of the fittest was the law because infant mortality rate was very high due to extremely hot climatic conditions, and epidemic diseases which in no way could be controlled by the then authorities. Water, the most precious resource behind the existence of all living things, was scarce – as so is the case in deserts. Hence, it was used with utmost care, avoiding any type of wastage. However, some parts of the Arabian peninsula were blessed with mild and pleasant environment, which fostered the growth of fruits, nuts and palm trees. Inhabitants would sell their items to travelers or merchandise in different regions of the country. In short, life was simple but hard. However, the wildlife and the environment of all the regions were intact. Today, things are different. With the passage of time, the barren deserts have now been converted into modern towns and cities thanks to the discovery of the world's most valuable resource – petroleum, which strengthened the economy and furnished the country with the state-of-the-art developments in every field. The lifestyle and behavior of the people changed; luxury, once considered a dream, became attainable. For countries to progress, industrial and technological revolution became the mainstay of their economy. Amid all the developments, the natural environment comprising biodiversity of flora and fauna drastically became affected. People paid no heed to nature or non-renewable resources, they just exploited the earth's valuables mercilessly for money and comfort. However, now a few have realized the importance of nature and they know that if nothing is done now to save the earth, the future generations will have to pay heavily for their ancestors' deeds. The public and the private sector along with non-governmental organizations and other international entities in the Kingdom are finding ways to protect the earth. Some immediate issues which need attention, as they are in the interest of the general public, are air, water, pollution, waste, among others. With the help of media and other entities that care for the earth, we can help spread awareness about the fast depleting resources, and work together toward building a healthy green nation with eco-friendly products. Air pollution is caused by hazardous smoke emitted from automobiles, desalination plants, electric power plants, refineries, petrochemicals factories, industrial cities and others. In order to overcome this problem, a few quick solutions could be to implement strict regulations on wasting and excessively utilizing non-renewable resources that are polluting the air. Heavy fines could be imposed if the rules are found to be violated. In the long run, implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be adopted for projects, regardless of the factories being new or old. The ground water is also being contaminated by sewage water, pesticides and fertilizers, and harmful liquid discharged from slaughter houses and industrial plants. Some short term solutions are: Suspend the license of all those who fail to reduce their plants' waste by giving them a deadline: all living quarters should have sewage treatment plants that are available locally at reasonable costs; farmers should be encouraged to use natural compost and natural biological method for pest control. However, for the future national plans should be designed to solve this issue, and deadlines should be set for its implementation. Some solutions to make the drinking water safe for inhabitants are periodic cleaning of water tanks; water quality monitoring; using alternative methods for purifying the water apart from chlorine; storing of water in plastic or other unsafe containers. To protect the rich coastline and marine life, discharge of sewage water or other such liquid or solid waste should be stopped immediately. To control noise pollution, operating hours for heavy vehicles should be preset. Nuclear power plants should be set up on the outskirts of the city, so incase of a mishap residents are not immediately affected by it. To ensure safety of food items, all products should be tested in laboratories for determining the level of adulteration, if any, and workers at the factories should adhere to strict hygienic rules.
