Environment

Our Path to thinking Nature

One thing is great, that we are living in an age where thinking individualistic is promoted. At least we can find our path. Data is missing on how many are finding that path actually. After so much of formal education it should have become easier to know reality about our environment, but yet the youth is confused. Our environment, yes it is changing. In fact, we have achieved 10/10 in Environmental Sciences. Yet this over costly education is not helping us to actually act. (Why? Is a subject for another day). 

It is the need for every person to do something today, every day, positive, impactful for the environment. If we do not do so? Not much will happen really. Just that the average global temperature will increase by 2 degrees, some coastal nations would drown, we would miss the tastes of some foods as they would not grow anywhere in the world, some animals would go extinct, including some undiscovered ones too, our children will travel in oxygen enhanced air-conditioned cars, and we would have to work more, to earn more (not to buy a bungalow, car or fun around) for a ticket to Earth 2. 

Seeming farfetched? Nothing what a human mind can imagine, is impossible! Make a list of things which you definitely need in your life to live happily. Is healthy environment anywhere in it? Just close your eyes and think that nothing exists. Now again think about your to do list! Eureka! You need environment! So, my friends, we as humans (with brains) need to bring Environment conservation in our daily life. 

The problem for not taking environmental deterioration seriously is the allergy towards thinking long term. Before the advent of academically intelligent people promoting progress, our practically intelligent forefathers/mothers worshipped environment daily. We thought, progress will give us everything and solve the problems faced by our ancestors. But alas! men will be men and women will be women (same about LGBTQ!) A gun does not teach us how to use it. Our brain does. Gun can be used to protect as well as to kill. So, gun is a technology and the brain is us. Technology will not solve our problems if we are not well educated to use it rightly. We will not be well equipped to understand its right use if we are not in control of our brains.

We need to handle our brains, otherwise technology and progress will keep our brains engaged and we will miss the bus to conservation. We need to understand that Environmental conservation is not a topic for intellectual satisfaction. It is to be acted upon by each one of us. It is our duty. It is true progress. It is actually cool to go on a fort built by our beloved Chhatrapati Shivaji and clean it up. It is satisfying to go in a nearby eco-zone and take a deep breath. That cool air has a kick too. It is constructive to create or save such an eco-zone around us if there isn’t one.  

It is of no use if the education which we get and the money which we make does not support mother earth. It is of no use if we are distracted in entertaining ourselves through weekends while our mother is being hurt day by day. Our spine should shiver at the thought of this destruction. Our brain should wake up, sit tight, think and revisit our choices. What are you doing this weekend? Nurture a tree. Then, sab changa si!

Co-founder @ 51A, Partner @ Pethe Shrotri Legal. Being a student of Philosophy and Environment, I believe in eternal exploration of self and the world and am using the way of thought and action to do so.

One Comment

  • Sandhya bhide

    Very touchy write up. But our condition is कळतं पण वळत नाही . Retired people moving to villages and breathing fresh air by planting more trees there can be a small solution. There is no space left in crowded cities even if one wishes to plant trees. Decreasing vehicular pollution by using electrical vehicles is not without problems. It will take another 5 to 7 years for us to adopt them fully. We all need to wake up and find our own solutions to save our green earth.’ संघम शरणं गच्छामि ‘ good team work is required to motivate each other. Anay I must congratulate you for your thought provoking work!