GREAT BARRIER REEF LESS OF A SPECTACLE

AFTER arriving in Australia about 12 months ago, I finally got the opportunity to travel to a location I’ve always dreamt about … the Great Barrier Reef.

Before leaving, one of my friends who has been to the reef, sent me a picture which she took five years ago.

The picture was full of colourful corals and fish.

The fish had brilliant colours, the corals were as bright as the stars, and all these images from the picture were telling me how beautiful this adventure will be.

As we journeyed out to the reef I felt pleased that I chose Australia as the country for furthering my university studies.

I jumped into the water and felt myself gliding down as though flying through air.

I took many photos with my underwater camera and after returning to the boat, transferred the photos to my phone, sending the best one to my friend.

However, my friend replied to me, “Is your camera faulty? The Great Barrier Reef has lost its colour.”

Upon comparing my picture to my friend’s it was obvious mine was not as colourful. It must be my camera; perhaps it is inferior to hers?

I realise now the lack of colours in my photo of the Barrier Reef were not due to a faulty camera.

That unique environment is not as tough as we thought; the reef is slowly dying.

When will politicians learn that short term economic profit is not compatible with a sustainable and environmentally friendly future?

We are destroying the environment that we rely upon to survive, and soon nature’s marvels will be gone along with the gains of those short-term profits.

There is a saying that nature is the best teacher in the world. However, for our next generation, will the “best teacher” also be gone? Karmin Chan, Belmont