A very close friend of mine doesn’t usually switches off her room lights whenever she goes put because she believes that switching off her lights results in increased movements of lizard in her room (this is her personal observation). I tried telling her that lizards move in broad daylight also, but in vain.
Another friend of mine never switches off her room lights, toilet lights, kitchen lights and even her laptop charger which is always powered on using the AC voltage. When asked why, she says she just forgets.
Do I need to give more examples to drive the issue home?
Well, we all are very much aware of the environmental concerns that are being touted as the current hot topic of discussion among the biggest politicos in the conference rooms around the world and even at your neighborhood chaiwallah. The depleting natural resources, the drying up of river beds (even the ones that are considered perennial), the ozone layer cracking up, numerous cases of skin cancer and sun burns, the recent volcano eruption that left half of Europe stranded and of course, the BP oil spill.
So what can I do? I, as an individual, cannot really stop this. Right?
WRONG!!
Firstly, I tried inducting a few habits in my friends, like switching off lights when not in room, putting your computer to hibernate mode rather than stand by, turning off the taps when not using them, get a leaky tap immediately repaired, discontinue the use of plastics or at least reduce its usage, etc. through coercion techniques but to no avail. They do it when I insist, but once I am gone, they revert back to their normal behavior.
So it got me thinking exactly why we blame government for not doing anything? Why we trust and wait that the organizations around the world will champion the cause of the ENVIRONMENT?
The people I live with are from well educated families and themselves are doing their MBA’s. They are supposed to run organizations but what about mother Earth? What about the Ecosystem which is an organization in itself of whose we are all shareholders? If this earth goes down like Enron or Satyam did, everybody will go down with it. And God forbid that day comes, it would be worse than the Great Depression of 1930s or the Recession of 2008.
A recent report suggested the Ganges will dry up in by 2050 if preventive and corrective measures are not taken now. So what are we waiting for? Forty years is not a very long time frame. Most of us would be in our early 60’s then. So we are not exactly going to die and we still will have to worry about our milk and water consumption which would be costlier than ever. So are we listening to our conscience? We must take our cue from the cosmetic giant Garnier – TAKE CARE!!
hi,
ReplyDeletereal nice thought, and well put forth too
@amal: thank you
ReplyDeletenice post. I also have an incident to share. A few days back my neighbours were getting their house renovated. After the renovation they have some plastic sheds left as garbage. Their kids started playing with the sheds and ultimately they set them on fire and all this in front of their parents. Just in a few moments the whole neighbourhood was filled with that foul smell and black smoke. I really felt like there is no use of education for these people, instead of setting an example for their children and telling them about the ill effects of plastics, they let them burn it.
ReplyDeleteI feel there is still not enough awareness amongst the people about global warming and its ill effects. Perhaps media needs to play a role in it. Instead of showing the crap all the time, the Hindi News channels should also do some meaningful programs related to the environment. I really don't watch television much, but sometimes when I do change channels, there is only crap,(Discovery and NatGeo are exceptions).
Sorry dear I am starting with criticism. A mistake "they revert back to their normal behavior". When you use 'revert' use of 'back' is not required because revert itself means (returning/ taking back).
ReplyDeleteNow towards your thought, well written. Good initiative. Even when i think that who is reason behind all these, i find myself first because start any initiative first form yourself, then motivate others. This is a call for all who even don't spare a moment to give a little thought to save this mother Earth.We will have to think, else this nature will itself start SARVANASH because nature knows how to take revenge, if not taken care of. I will urge all readers to start from yourself,then spread to all for saving anything. I have found two kind of people : those who only speak and those perform along with speaking. Second type of people are very useful for the society to name a few - Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi etc.So, bring a change in your thoughts and be a reason for others to change. This is what i beleive.
"I, as an individual"
ReplyDeleteA lot of what comprises of a careless attitude in India comes from the fact that they resign to the fact that their individual effort cannot make a difference.
"Humare akele ka krne se kucch nahin hone waale"
Common lines.Unfortunately.
Really,if only we decide to change a little at individual level ( & stop citing about how the other is wasting );we can prevent the coming generations from being deprived of the planet's beauty.
hats off
ReplyDeleteMother Nature is neither the outcome of our good habits nor can it be destroyed by our bad habits!! something that is born has to die one day...The Hangman can never be blamed for killing the accused if he ws handed capital punishment...someone has to become a tool..and so we are..
ReplyDeleteNeithr am a sadist nor a masochist.But definitely we need not awaken d conscience of people for the sake of environment..keep doing our bit as an individual and God is always there.
Lectures n summits on global warming make me dizzy now..Environment problem s getting commercialised..The Biggies are already playing it Big!!!
But yes..This environmental problem has brought the countries close togethr..atleast now they meet up on the conference table to share snacks n some smiles...I feel this makes d mission accomplished!!;-) May be all the problem is just a HEADFAKE to get the ppl togethr!!Never know!!
@shagun: its not about lecturing or giving gyaan to people.. its just about being grateful to somebody for what they have given to u.. and it should be our duty to protect our near and dear ones.. if u think all the summit is for having snacks, u r rite. the leaders are actually doing that.. but we, the common people need to do something.. whatever is born has to die is the principle but if u can just delay the death by sometime, it makes u happy, doesnt it?
ReplyDeleteHa ha!! I wish we could stop being selfish all the time..Saving environment for "near and dear ones" for being "happy"..isnt dis selfishness! Let evrything selfish on this Earth perish..In my opinion Our thoughts. words n actions should strictly be restricted to self...you know arousal of any kind is temporary..Its enlightenment dats permanent!! so...it will come wid time! I repeat do your bit n God will take care of the rest..
ReplyDeleteGreat work, I am glad that there are people aware of the issues and care about our planet and its resources. I hope this will inspire other people to save our resources.
ReplyDeleteSaumya!!
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't everybody think like you? Why not me? Why not him and why not her?What made us so ungrateful to mother earth?Is this the outcome of our frustration from day to day life?Have we really forgotten that we were born as human beings after a number of births?Do we really need someone to make us aware by his/her writings?Is the dumbness we are suffering from so severe that we can't make out things ourselves? Answering these questions still won't help.You realized yourself,tried your best to make your message clear.I hope everybody who went through this article will make this count, he will start on his part of thanksgiving to Mother Nature.
And finally,grand salute to you girl.This should be the purpose of a blog other than Sher-o-shayri.God Bless you.Loved each line.keep writing and keep waking us up. :)