As all roads and flights in the last fortnight led to Copenhagen for the climate summit, ordinary citizens of the world wondered what could possibly alter the already northbound climate change. The decisions taken at the summit may or may not alter the worsening situation, but if we are able to think ahead and put mother earth ahead of us, for the sake of posterity, we will have the satisfaction of doing our bit! For that, we will have to think of human beings and living beings first, Indian second and then Marathis, Malayalees or Timbuktoos. Considering the situation we are in, this seems to be a big ask, with even Sachin Tendulkar not spared. Any small step in the right direction will definitely be a giant leap for the mankind.
Can we decide to switch off the refrigerators in our house for one hour a day? Can we make a conscious effort to make the maximum use of sunlight by switching off lights during the day? Can we sacrifice the air-conditioners in the car for at least two days a week (excluding Saturday/Sunday)? Can we walk when we can walk and not drive? Could we be nice enough to ask our neighbour to pool car for work? Can we be bold enough to use the public conveyance for work once a week? Can we stick to the good old landline telephone and use mobiles only when absolutely necessary?
Can we keep the same mobiles for longer years, thereby reducing e-waste? Can we switch off the computer, when we leave the table? Can we use desktop more often than laptop, so that we need not charge them often? Can we replace the chandeliers at home with ordinary lights? Can we sacrifice watching TV throughout the telecast of cricket matches, of which there is no dearth of supply?
The U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, goes without food for one day, because he cares for the hungry. How about you and me? Are we ready to sacrifice smaller pleasures? Are we capable of weaning away our children from junk foods? Once a month, can we visit a poor peoples’ home and offer any little help that we can? Can we stop smoking? Can we sacrifice exorbitantly-priced liquors at parties or otherwise? Can we stop chewing pan? Are we bold enough to stop lip service to charity and do something real? Can we plant more trees at home? Can we care for the trees and plants? Are we capable of stopping the plundering of nature, in our neighbourhood?
Can we stop wasting paper? Can we fill our buckets 75 per cent while bathing? Can we stop construction and use of the bathtub? Can we harvest rain water for watering our plants and trees at home? Can we stop constructing houses without solar panels? Can we distinguish biodegradable waste from others?
The list could go on… but, the question is whether we can. If you cannot, please do not expect anything to happen at Copenhagen. If you cannot, do not participate in the go-green campaign by giving sms or emails. If you cannot, do not participate in a public debate on environment. If you cannot, don’t tell your children you care for them.
Should we do? If one person moves, nothing happens, but if a billion people act, the earth will move in the right direction! Come, let us try.
