Our Planet Our Health

United Arab Emirates8 October 1990Draft

There are two faces to the ever increasing development that has taken place in the second lalf of this century; the growing riches of nations and individuals as opposed to environmental dangers of factories and various means of transportation. Not only does the quality of life depend on safeguarding our planet but also the very survival if the species in the long run. Global environmental pollution seems to be one of the biggest problems facing the world today. The world population has already exceeded 5000 million most of whom live under deprived conditions where lack of adequate sanitation and safe water supply has resulted in a host of disease problems. The direct link between quality of environment and public health is now more clear to the public mind. Acid rain caused by sulpher diaoxide for example is already leading to death of trees and pollution of lakes. Global warming and depletion of the ozone layer could be the worst ever climatic change to affect our planet, leading to flooding of coastal areas by rising sea levels as well as an increase in skin cancer due to the effects of ultraviolet rays passing through the damaged ozon layer, to mention just a few complications. "We must act together to save our ourselves and our future generations." Size: 30 x 40 mm in sheets of 50 stamps.