From time immemorial to the present-day, there has been such a huge passage of time and no one really knows exactly how old the earth is hence people can only speculate. COLUMN BY PETER MAKWANYA How old the earth is may not be the bone of contention right now. What is critical is that, while the earth has managed to withstand the test of time, history and space, through its tenacity and resilience, this time its holding capacity appears threatened than ever before. Thousands of years have gone by, despite shocks, tremors and irregular movements, the earth still looks like what it was before, just one earth, abundantly productive and habitable. Topical these days is how the world is succumbing to the changing climate and it has become a cause for concern worldwide. Climate scientists and experts always attribute these worrying scenarios and changes to human activities, driven by socio-economic factors, developmental, expansion and human interests. These include the desire to change and conquer the world, exporting one’s ideologies, dominance, standpoints and hegemony around the world. As many scientists, researchers, experts and the layperson communities, seem to be worried about the accelerating change in the atmosphere, its warming potential and impacts on the global environment, the majority of stakeholders appear to be forgetful of the amount of weight being exerted on the earth’s surface by population density, materials, equipment, crops, plants, bushes, forests, livestock and wild animals. The earth carries the baggage and burden of an assortment of buildings which include multi-storey houses, multi-purpose buildings, factories and industries, including millions of houses, schools, clinics, hospitals, churches, shops and supermarkets dotted around the planet. Nothing much has been attributed to road and rail transport, carrying goods and passengers as it cruises making the earth tremble and vibrate from its enormous weight, every minute. Because of these unfolding scenarios, the earth seems to be showing signs of succumbing hence its climate might also be changing underground. Telling signs may include earthquakes, tremors, emerging of hot gases or ash, among others. Exarcebated by the emission cycles and atmospheric pressure against the background of enormous weight on its surface exerted by constructions these may be making the earth undergo painful experiences. Many physical features — boulders, rocks, hills, mountains and forests, including bushes and grasslands — are natural wonders which clothe the earth and give it a magnificent outlook, serenity and natural design. The human mind also designed all sorts of technologies, enterprising and harmful at the same time, to make life on earth fast and easier to manage, at the same time spewing harmful e-waste and radioactive gases, which accelerate global warming. Minerals were discovered, mined and continue to be mined using sustainable and unsustainable ways. The minerals include iron-ore for iron and steel, light and heavy products, used for heavy and laboriou