THERE is a lightness in the air as the birds chirp, the first lawnmower has been heard and little flowers are popping up three months earlier than scheduled. So why is everyone so worried?

Over Christmas the news headlines created a ripple of discussion on the greatest threat to humankind and the animal kingdom.

Far more terrifying than terrorism, global warming is wiping out many species and is a danger to all inhabitants of planet earth.

The main concern over the last couple of years has been for a certain furry white bear.

Scientists predict that- if the current rate of global warming continues- most, if not all of the summer sea ice, will be gone by 2100.

As a result, the world's polar bears could face global extinction by the end of this century.

We solemnly shake our heads when we see these large mammals desperately searching land to walk, hunt and breed upon.

It has already had devastating affects on ringed seals in the Arctic and Antarctic penguins, too.

So why can we not seem to just give up our selfish comforts, choose the bike over the car, read by candlelight, grow our own vegetables and find other means to exist- still contentedly?

Every time environmental issues crop up in a conversation, there is at least one doom-merchant who will say: "But even if I do cut down my driving, what difference will a single person make in the world?"

We need to STOP using this as an excuse and actively practice what we preach.

It is only due to laziness and expense that we continue our bad habits.

As one of the richest countries in the world, we are in a prime position of responsibility to save ourselves from the disastrous fix that we have created.