In a gentle way you can shake the world. So let us pledge to make a difference
Can you imagine a world without humans? Well, I certainly can, especially after experiencing the pandemic-induced lockdown, which showed us a glimpse of humanity zipping themselves into hibernation, trying to weather the storm that killed many and sickened several more. An unplanned grand incident changed our planet for good in terms of restoring our ecosystem, albeit temporarily. The sad truth is: As people across the globe stayed home to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, the Earth became cleaner and wilder. This simply hints at — once the humans get out of the picture, the outlook starts to get a lot better. The lockdown gave us an extraordinary insight into just how much of a mess we humans are making of our majestic planet.
Well, on the occasion of World Environment Day, we talk to experts and understand what the celebration of this day means in the current times. And what it should mean if we want to survive.
For environmental activist Jai Dhar Gupta, CEO of Nirvana Being, celebrating the day is yet another reminder to turn the tide, to switch paths. He says, “We’ve clearly upset the carbon cycle of the planet, and this day is yet another reminder to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels (oil, wood, coal), and reduce our overall waste, emissions and carbon footprint. It’s clear that we’ve tipped the scales enough that nature is fighting back.”
Harish Vasudevan, a green activist and an expert in environmental law, feels that ‘One Planet, One Health’ is an approach we need to take. “Ecosystem on earth has its own importance and only by keeping its health can we maintain our health. A wholesome approach to protect the ecosystem, other than the mechanical following of environmental norms on papers is the need of the hour. The economic loss due to this pandemic is enormous. We are paying this loss against the ecosystem destruction that humanity collectively did. Each virus is a norm in its ecosystem whereas a threat outside its ecosystem. Just like we keep a safe distance to avoid accidents in traffic rules, we need to keep a safe distance from wildlife habitats whose nature is unknown to us. Climate change is not an academic issue anymore. Red alerts have become a new normal in coastal districts of the country. Carbon emission has created so much damage that it has led to climate change. This is more capitalocentric than anthropocentric (regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence). How to build a less carbon-emitting community is a thought to be shared seriously among us,” says Vasudevan, who is also a practising lawyer at the Green Tribunal.
Akshat Bhatt, principal architect at Architecture Discipline, believes in a sustainable future. He hopes that this pandemic will spark a push towards a lifestyle of minimal resource consumption and sustainable living. He says, “Celebrations like ‘Environment Day’ should remind us of the need to reduce and change our patterns of consumption as it is the first step towards a sustainable future. I think this time has taught us to be more critical; we must be more appropriate in what we build and not just build for the sake of it. It also makes us realise how little we really need to coexist happily. Design is about reduction and optimisation; we need to be more appropriate in what we build and start removing all the unnecessary embellishments that result in waste and clutter. We need to champion the cause of the built environment, and we must do so in an appropriate manner. This is going to be the century of recuperation. So, let’s not destroy space, forests, and consume more water. Treating our own waste and generating our own energy and reducing consumption are the miracles we need to save our planet.”
Another architect, Shaon Sikta Sengupta, Director at Edifice Consultants, tells us, “While our actions should prioritise safeguarding our environment on every occasion and at all times, World Environment Day allows us to amplify our efforts and thoughts to ensure that the message reaches one and all; once again. The current pandemic has taught us that we either live together or perish together. The world has been forced to realise that guarding individual interests will not bring results; the efforts must be collective. The same principle applies to safeguarding our planet and its restoration. The preservation of this planet has to be a collaborative effort with all hands on deck.”
Producer and entrepreneur Deepshikha Deshmukh often channels the green wisdom of mother Earth to find solutions for sustainable living and believes that we cannot achieve wellness if we are making the planet unwell. She initiated her beauty brand, Love Organically, in 2016 and makes sure that every creation in her cruelty-free products is devoid of parabens, silicons and harsh chemicals. She also uses biodegradable and sustainable packaging as much as possible. Her production house, Pooja Entertainment, made sure to distribute metal bottles on the sets of Coolie No.1. She also frequently uses her social media to speak about the importance of wildlife conservation, sustainable farming practices and afforestation.
Recently, actress Juhi Chawla filed a suit against the implementation of 5G in India. She said that while she is not against technology and uses it as well, it’s important to address the problems it causes to the environment. Her argument revolved around the belief that if the telecommunications industry’s plans for 5G come to fruition, no person, no animal, no bird, no insect and no plant on Earth will be able to avoid exposure, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to levels of RF radiation that are 10x to 100x times greater than what exists today. These 5G plans threaten to provoke serious, irreversible effects on humans and permanent damage to all of the planet’s ecosystems.
Actor, producer, environment ambassador and UN Secretary General’s SDG advocate Dia Mirza feels that it is time to be cognisant of the link between unsustainable development and the pandemic. And to do all we can to protect and restore the environment. “Unless we adhere to sustainable development and stop environmental degradation at every level, climate change will impact each one of us. It already is. Somehow, environmental activism is not taken seriously enough even though we are living through a pandemic caused by the inability of humans to respect nature’s laws. Climate issues also seem overwhelming to many even though everyone can start somewhere. Just do something for the earth today. Plant a sapling, start segregating your waste, cut out single use plastic from your life, use natural cleaning products and biodegradable hygiene products. Do what you can because it is better than looking away from the problem,” she says.
Let’s use this crisis to do things differently and understand the power and change that one person can bring about. Don’t let another pandemic enlighten you about the importance of a greener world. Remember: A planet doesn’t need you to flourish, rather you need it for your survival.