By Dr Surjeet Singh Khaira
Before reading this article, we must pause for a minute to think, what have we done to protect the environment in the past one year? At least have we made any resolution to do something for the next one year?
Today is ‘World Environment Day’. Should it simply pass like other several days of the year, or should we focus on various burning issues of environment and bring our resolution into action? The need of the hour is to come together and make a collective effort to save the environment from degradation we are all familiar with. The environment in which we breathe and live is very precious to us.
What is desired today is to transform our society into one which people live in with true harmony – harmony with nature. Nature exists for all of Earth species, not just for us, and we are not apart from the rest of nature. Choosing a new direction is the vital demand for sustainable environmental living. This is possible and beneficial only by changing our habits and cultivating nature-based lifestyles as far as possible. We have taken our surroundings for granted, but we must mold our thinking towards ‘Back to nature’ meaning tracing the footsteps of nature and reconnecting our belief with natural environment. According to Sir Francis Bacon, ‘We cannot command nature except by obeying her’.
There are numerous steps to improve our invaluable environment. Let us adopt some steps and adopt a green way of life.
First, share your knowledge on environment and its significance with kids.
Make a habit of bicycling over a small distance. It is also the best exercise to keep you fit and healthy.
Participate in or initiate clean up campaigns.
Make excursions to nature sites.
Watch films on Environment and Nature.
Gift saplings on various occasions to friends and relatives.
Join NGO groups. Lobby local authorities to adopt sound environmental policies.
Adopt reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink policies.
The monsoon is around the corner, plant trees and also think of rainwater harvesting. Remember, trees are the factories of oxygen!
Switch off all gadgets and appliances when not in use.
Water is the elixir of life and has no substitute, so save water.
Carry your own shopping bags -Jute bag or basket.
Remember this is a day to encourage and inspire others too.
Let’s reflect our beliefs in the future of the home planet.
Don’t support any action that steals from this generation or future generation.
Love and respect the diversity of nature, environment and earth.
Finally, foster a desire to make the world a better place and to act on this desire.
Do the little things based on thinking globally and acting locally. Environment is our surrounding from our feet to the horizon. Air, water and land are the main constituents of the environment. Do we have clean air to breathe? Do we have pure water to drink? Are our surroundings aesthetically pleasant? Remember, Earth is our home planet and we by default are bound to take care of it.
