summary of ailing planet in short
Answers
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.
In this chapter, the writer raises an issue towards the deteriorating health of the earth. As human beings have been exploiting natural resources from decades, presently the condition has made the environment critical. In 1972, the Green Movement helped environmentalists to raise awareness about the harmful condition of the earth and since then there has been no looking back as the movement has been successfully educating people about the conservation of the environment.
Earth is like a patient whose health is declining and it is our duty to improve it. In 1987, the term Sustainable Development was used by the World Commission on Environment and Development. A zoo in Lukasa, Zambia has a cage in which a sign reads ‘The World’s most dangerous animal’ and inside there is a mirror. It gives a message that human beings are the most dangerous animals. Brandt Commission raised a question “Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes and ailing environment?”
There are four principal biological systems that form the foundation of the global economic system - fisheries, grasslands, forests, and croplands. These four systems also provide food and raw materials for industries except for minerals and synthetics. With these systems becoming unsustainable, fisheries will collapse, the forest will slowly disappear, grasslands will turn into a barren wasteland and croplands will become worse.
In poor countries, forests are being cut down for fuelwood which is used for cooking purposes. There are some areas where the cost of fuelwood is more than the cost of food. It is leading to deforestation at an alarming rate.
One of the reasons for the exploitation of the environment is the increasing population. It is observed that about one million population is increasing in every four days. This is not a good sign. There is an urgent need to control overpopulation in the world. Development is the best contraceptive for this problem as it will help in reduction in fertility, increase in education and income and improvement in health.
We must see the world as a whole and not as dissociated parts. It is a holistic and ecological view. According to Lester brown, we have not inherited the earth from our forefathers but we have borrowed it from our future generations.