summary of ailing planet class 11
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This is an article written by Nani Palkhivala and published in The Indian Express on 24 November 1994. The issues that he raised regarding the declining health of the earth continue to have relevance. The green revolution started in 1972. First green party was formed in New Zealand 25 years ago.
The author explains the change in perception of people from materialistic view to comprehensive and ecological view of the world. This means people are now getting concerned about environment. In this view our earth is considered as a living organism. It is considered as a having its own metabolic processes as all living being have.
Then he explains the concept of Sustainable development of 1987. “Meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”, i.e., we should utilize our natural resources in such a way that we fulfill our present needs as well as conserve them for our future generations. Now the perception is that we consider ourselves as partner and not as a dominant member of this planet. We are partner with millions of species of the planet.
Mr. Lester R. Brown’s thoughtful book, The Global Economic Prospect, points out that the earth’s principal biological systems are four fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands. These contain virtually all raw materials of industries now a days running. An unsustainable utilization of these resources is taking place. This has caused loss of fisheries due to our protein conscious world, creation of barren lands, and crop lands deteriorate.
Then the author is concerned about reduction of forest land. It has been well said that forests precede mankind; deserts follow. The dung which should be used as natural fertilizer is mostly used for fuel. Thus soil is not getting natural fertilizer. Fivefold rate of planting of trees is required to meet the future demand of woods as fuel.
Then author has referred to Article 48A of the Constitution of India were it is stated state should protect and improve forest and wildlife. But as many other laws this is also not enforced properly. Then author has referred to a Parliamentary committee report which states decline of forest at the rate of 3.7 million acres per year. United Nations, warns that the environment has deteriorated so badly that it is ‘critical’ in many of the eighty-eight countries investigated.
Human population has been rising at very higher rate. Development is the most appropriate solution of human beings day to day problems, but with such a high rate of population, development is difficult to take place. It is thinking between poor uneducated populations that more children more hands to work. Because of such thoughts poor are getting poorer. A proper family planning is required to cope up the situation. There is a need to go for population control. Author at this point again repeat the positive change in view regarding ecology among people. Industries also need to take responsibility for a good ecosystem and should be good at environmental performances. All we have is a life tenancy. We need to preserve it for our future generations.
Our Earth is an enormous living organism, of which we are parts. This is our planet, its destruction will make us all homeless. We are dependent on Earth and not the other way round. However, the thankless creature, man, is unconcerned about the dangers that pose threats to our survival. The article by Nani Palkhivala deals with the concerns of the environmentalists at this eleventh hour and talks about the new awareness that has dawned upon our race. A holistic and ecological view of the world has been brought into consideration. The Green Movement launched in 1972 has never looked back. There is a growing need of sustainable development, which was popularised by World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987.
Man is the most dangerous creature, as it was declared by a Zoo in Lusaka, Zambia. Human beings are taking too much time to realize the need of the hour. One of the members of Brandt Commission, Mr.L.K.Jha, raised a vital question, are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes, and ailing environment? Mr. Lester R. Brown expressed his worry over the fact that our four biological systems are reaching an unsustainable level. The tropical forests, the powerhouse of evolution, as Dr. Meyers called them, are being destroyed causing the extinction of several species.
The fear hovers, what if the words, forests precede mankind and deserts follow, come true. And the reality is that India is losing its forests at the rate of 3.7 million acres a year. The Article 48A of the Indian Constitution provides that the State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forest and wildlife of the country. To conserve the environment and to bring down the population of the world, which is 5.7 billion, Palkhivala suggests that development is the only solution. Fertility falls as the income rises, education spreads, and health improves. Nani supports compulsory sterilization and defends it by saying that there is no other alternative but coercion.
The population of India today is 920 million, which is more than the entire population of Africa and South America. What is happening today is that rich are getting richer and poor are begetting children, which begets them to remain poor. Now the folks have realized what endangers our race. It is not about the survival of human race but the survival of the planet Earth.
It is an Era of Responsibility. The industrialists have to understand the present concern with most consideration. The view of the Chairman of Du Pont, Mr. Edgar S. Woolard is much appreciable, our continued existence as a leading manufacturer requires that we excel in environmental performance. Let us be grateful to mother nature and keep Margaret Thatcher’s felicitous words, No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have is a life tenancy with a full repairing lease. In the words of Mr. Lester Brown, We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children.