Enjoy Luxuries, But Spare a Thought For the Environment

It is a little ironical but necessary that we observe certain days of the year for factors that protect us from harm throughout our lives- Earth Day, World Environment Day and World Ozone Day. But then if you think of it, that if there were no such days, there would be even less awareness and activity about these life-giving and life-saving entities in the universe. Today being the World Environmental Day is imperative that we not only talk about it but also promise ourselves to own up to the responsibility of the upkeep of environment pure and making this planet a more liveable place for us and future generations. These days, with pace of development, the human beings have been facing a lot of environmental problems such as global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rain, famines, droughts, flood, scarcity of fuel, firewood, fodder, pollution of air and water problems from hazardous chemicals and radiation. Growth of population is significantly influencing resource depletion and environment pollution. Air pollution in cities and urban centres is due to the deterioration of the quality of air caused by population increase and industrialisation. Utilization of coal as fuel and incomplete combustion of it pump out soot, sulphur and other components into the atmosphere. Thermal power stations, iron and steel foundries, fertilizer plants, copper and industries release harmful chemicals into the air. Air is polluted by six basic sources i.e. automobiles, electric power plants, industrial processors, heating plants, transportation and indiscriminate use of biocides. The Centre of Science and Environment has pointed out that one person dies every hour in Delhi because of air pollution. We have been polluting our rivers,, lakes and oceans. Subsequently, we are slowly but surely harming our planet to the point where organisms are dying at a very alarming rate. In addition to innocent organisms dying off our drinking water has become greatly affected, as is our ability to use water for recreational purposes. Use of plastic, especially plastic bags, pollutes the environment. After using plastic bags, when they are thrown away, they create many environmental problems. In India, plastic bags are thrown into the sea, especially in tourist centres like beaches and cause immeasurable harm to marine life. Streams and stretches of rivers are affected by plastic bags. Yamuna in Delhi as well as downstream, receives hundreds of poly bags every day with flowers wrapped up in them as offering to the Almighty. Some plastic bags contain toxic dyes. When the plastic bags are used for packing the foodstuffs, the toxic dyes can leak into foodstuffs, endangering consumer health. In the major roads of urban areas, sounds of automobiles make a person physically and psychologically ill. The love for extravagance is the root-cause of environmental degradation. We have love for amazing cars with powerful engines and huge exhausts and half a kilometre of unleaded petrol per litre, air cons anytime everywhere, huge houses, lots of servants, expensive furniture, real leather, fur, mink and what not. Let us ask ourselves how much water is wasted when we brush our teeth due to the non-stop flow from the tap? Flushing the toilet sometimes excessively when just two mugs of water are sufficient is another cause of environment degradation. The main threat to the environment comes from the rapid change in lifestyles and the increase in urbanisation, industrial growth and consequent need for power, minerals, ports and transportation. The booming trade in rhino horns, elephant tusks, tiger parts, soft shell turtles and many more species is a grim reminder of the immense perils that wildlife and their habitats are facing today. Our growing urban centres are producing millions of tonnes of solid waste. According to a recent Assocham study, Indian cities annually produce 95 million tonnes of solid wastes, which is likely to increase to 150 million tonnes in the next seven years. A large part of this waste is dumped on land and contains potentially hazardous material that contaminates ground water. But it is irony that we all would like to see a green world, a clean world, one where you see natural beauty everywhere you turn, where breathing is a healthy and pleasing thing to do, rather than a necessity you would avoid if you could. Is it possible to achieve both? Not, at all if we continue the present lifestyle. Now question arises how do we achieve that elusive balance between extravagance and environmental-friendly living. How do we enjoy our luxuries without feeling guilty, or wondering whether we are contributing to global warming? By being aware, of course you want to buy that car? That incredibly expensive car that people will stare at every time you take it out. Go ahead, then, buy it. But also include walking in your routine. Sure, if you want to zip on the highway, that car makes perfect sense. Sure, if you want to show off to your gym buddies, take it there. But to the grocery store, I am pretty sure those people at the grocery store could not care less about the car you come into buy milk. Walk to your grocery store. In fact, why do you not chart a mental map? Walk to all those places that are 10-15 minute walk from your house. When you go shopping, try parking your car five minutes away from the mall and walk. Save that much petrol, and stop that much pollution. Five minutes cannot kill you. And even if you have heavy bags to carry, you could always come back and drive your car to the entrance to take them in, or ask the shop boys to help you. If for no other reason, they will help you for ten bucks out of your pockets. Cannot be bothered to turn off all lights and fans when you are not using them? All right, don’t. Can you turn one light off? By turning off that one light, you save that much energy. Too lazy to find a dustbin on the road? All right, don’t. But as you are walking or driving, you will come across garbage heaps on the roadside. Throw your garbage there at least. That way, you are still some civic sense, aren’t you? Oh yes, go ahead and spend all the money you have on all the luxuries you can buy. Just make sure that you save wherever you can. That is all you need to do. So stop feeling guilty about all the harm you are causing society, and get involved in some any planet-saving activity. Prof. Mithilesh Kumar Sinha Finance Officer Nagaland University, Lumami