It is astounding that so many humans believe they do not have an impact on the environment in which they live. What is not often mentioned is that humans are harming their living environment more than they are harming the planet. Earth survived for billions of years before humans emerged, and will survive long after they are gone. Earth is a living being, and if it detects that it is sick, it will use its immune system to fight the sickness. To Earth, the humans may only be an annoyance like fleas are to a dog, and if the fleas become too annoying, it will scratch the itch. The environment in which humans need to survive is very delicate, which is why humans have only persisted for a very short time. In the grand scheme of things, humans are not doing much harm to Earth; they are only harming themselves.