Well, most of us must be introduced to these terms one way or the other and if you belong to a corporate world (which is why you are seeing this blog), you must know by now that Green is everywhere so much that if you dont introduce green and ecological sustenance in any topic, its not complete. I remember seeing ads and notices on TV, infact doordarshan to be specific atleast almost two decades back asking not to waste electricity or water. Somehow suddenly everyone wakes up - may be due to the huge hue and cry and join the wagon without probably not knowing where it is headed to or why should you be there in the first place.
The key words are green house effect, global warming and abrupt climate change
Note:
Please leave your version of the defintion of these terms (ofcourse without googling it). It will probably share our own perspectives on these seemingly most important words.
The reason for putting up this post was - first it was green house effect leading to global warming, to glaciers melting and doomsday of earth consumed by water body. Sounded very scary and convincing. Then started the reports of how the glaciers are growing - Check out the newspapers next to you or google or blackle . (for sample, check this or this ). By the way many of the glaciers are growing and scientists are coming up with “n” different answers all the time. Oh ok, seems like increased CO2 by human activities alone is not a convincing answer. Devoid of any explanation of this contradicting observation to the concept of global warming, we resorted to the next in the list - abrupt climate change. Its easy to associate that we are responsible…ah, atleast one thing that we as humans take responsibility for. Its also true to a extent that many of the inferences that are reported are based on climate simulations based on our predicting system. There doesnt seem to be (atleast whatever links I have read so far) much real world scientic data recorded on the field and those that have been recorded are inconsistent not helping much in drawing conclusions.
Ofcourse weather is a complex system and there is every possibility that we are undergoing a climate change because of various reasons. May be WE ARE one among the reasons. May be volcanic activities all around the world, even under antartic could add on to the reason, May be tsunamis add up to0. But to credit ourselves to be the only reason for it and to think of the fact that we can control it ourselves is a little too much of ourselves. The offshoot of which now appears to be the recent buzz word green technology and ecological sustainability.
I’m not against these words or people promoting it. I think they are an important aspect for a better life but reacting so strongly doesnt gel well with me. The more imminent thing to look at is recycling. (I understand its part of ecological sustainability).If we have to start about conservation, I’m not sure where would we start and where would we end. What would we stop and what would we acceptably continue? Look at our daily life, is it possible to forego atleast 10% of it? Look at the number of mineral ores we extract - should we or can we stop all this? What we make is what we take from here. Yes, it is necessary to be judicious in usage, but with the numbers we have and motives we have as individuals, is it possible?
We come here, we use the resources to live and we leave this place. There is nothing thats gonna change that fundamental equation of life. And so is climate, it has changed, is changing and will change. And there probably would be a time when the molecule that made the world will reduce / increase in its availability in the atmosphere….and there would be changes that atleast I wont be aware of. Till then, I will do what it takes to be a human - show compassion for other living things and try to exist in harmony with them, if not help them, atleast not harm them and deprive them of their chance to get a shot at life- That probably is what Ecological sustainability is all about for me !
DISCLAIMER
Some of the links in this post may seem outdated. It is upto the reader to have their own opinions (which I think most bloggers anyways do). Its only a certain chain of thoughts and any subsequent discussion on the topic is always welcome.
Some links that I read are
http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/briefs/shindell_04/
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change
http://www.greenlearning.ca/climate/science/human-influence
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
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2 comments:
How many times have we talked about ecology, the environment and being green since we've known each other?
A gazillion!
What I find interesting about it is that even tho we've talked bout it so many times we can still give it a different twist, or at least u can :P I usually just learn from them, heh.
And yeah, I -as a blogger also- do have an opinion. Just not quite sure what it is yet :P
I wanted to add another point, the frenzy of corporate world around 'Green' world, is more to do with 'upcoming business' due to Carbon footprint requirements. So balance sheet is the reason for the sudden surge in Green consciousness.
Having said this and agreeing that WE rank our self too high in being the cause and the cure..., I am happy there is so much of talk about it. To an extent, it increases the reach.
With the current situation of inflation, draught, natural disasters (480 till June 2008, this year alone), fuel price, wars, conflicts, we will be pushed towards managing resources 'efficiently'. Reasons for it might be selfish, but is good on the whole...
We use the resource when on earth and leave, but the resource does not increase. So controlling is still better coz lot many of us are insensitive towards 'Consumption' style! Facts, promotions, scary predictions, if it can bring about an iota of change in such attitude, I consider it good.
btw, happy that u r back... to blogging!
-SB
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