Fw: [IHRO] environment

 

4 June 2010 Earth and the World Tradition, Modernity And The Environmental Crisis Mahasweta Chaudhury THE price of modern development is high, and we have had to pay for it by sacrificing Nature. Those who are concerned over environmental degradation often blame it on science and modern technology. The anguish is turned into an apathy towards advancement and often seeks a turnaround towards traditional ways that are more tolerant towards natural resources than modern consumerist technology. The traditional respect for Nature helped conservation. Nature was respected as divine. If there was extraction, it was minimal and largely for sustenance. Such extractions were meant only for personal needs and not for profit-making commercial ventures. Indeed, Nature was perceived as a symbiotic whole with all its organic and inorganic segments.  The stature of divinity that was accorded to Nature helped conservation. The record of forests and protection of wild life was better in the pre-technology era than in the last hundred years. Despite the custom of hunting, conservation of wild life in India is better than in most Western countries. The advent of modern technology has ruined wild life. During the season of hunting, Nature was exploited only to the extent of survival. The natural food-chain helped maintain eco-diversity. With the development of agriculture and small-scale industries, the minimal invasive methods were used to meet various needs. For example, the land was not cultivated for sometime after one crop; cows were not milked for sometime  so that the soil got back its nutrients. These traditional mores helped the environment in a natural way. Modern commercial agriculture and the dairy industry have resulted in barrenness. Destructive technology SUCH customs as yajna and animal sacrifice have damaged the environment. But such practices are only aesthetically and morally unacceptable, not as destructive as the powerful technology of today. Religious rituals, such as jalasamadhi of humans have polluted the rivers. But these pollutants are at least bio-degradable, and not as powerful as the harm caused by chemicals and other toxic residues, including nuclear waste. Synthetic packaging is another menace. The Bhopal gas tragedy symbolises technological devastation. Mobile towers are gradually destroying the palm and date yields, and the natural habitat of birds. The depletion in the ozone layer and the disappearance of fossil fuel made us look for alternatives in science and technology. Development projects are launched to change the traditional way of life. But as these are primarily profit-making ventures, conservation is sacrificed despite the regulations that are in place. Some of the adverse manifestations are climatic change, the greenhouse effect, frequent sea-storms, tornados and earthquakes. The recent volcanic eruption from the Iceland glaciers made Europe sit up largely because of the disruption of flights. It signalled a natural  turmoil because of technological interference with Nature. This particular development made headlines but there are many instances of animals, birds, plants/crops and trees being affected by development projects. They are either extinct or endangered. Natural calamities have another dimension; the worst affected are the poor who live nearest to Nature. The fruits of development hardly reach them, but they are the worst affected by storms, drought, floods or earthquakes. Since the 1970s, there has been a worldwide official effort to minimize carbon emission and other hazardous effluents / wastes to make technology more eco-friendly. But the effort has been inadequate; at the end of the day the burden of restrictions is shifted to the developing countries such as India and China. It is true that industrially developed America and Europe consume more; but strict environmental laws are in place there. Manchester and Birmingham have checked  industrial pollution. But we often hear that toxic industrial wastes of developed countries are dumped into the sea/ or near poorer countries. The scenario in India is dismal.  There has been remarkable technological development on the one hand; at another remove, the majority still lives in very primitive conditions. They have to bear the brunt of the development projects without being able to enjoy the benefits. Many environmentalists have opposed  development projects, favouring traditional options instead. But can we ignore modern science and technology to solve our problems? This could lead to regression. Modern development entails destruction of nature and atmospheric pollution. But strict adherence to ecological norms set by scientific research and implementation of environmental laws can to an extent counteract the negative effects.  India has to cope with two major impediments. The first is the population explosion. The second is the lack of awareness among the ignorant and a general apathy towards future planning. The people can do a lot to combat pollution and conserve energy, water and make the environment clean and green. But the people do not care for public hygiene and aesthetics. Still less do they abide by rules. Science and technology are merely cognitive tools, manipulated by the human will and particularly powerful people. We cannot reverse the historical reality of modernity but can at least transform its nature with the help of traditional wisdom which is more tolerant and less drastic. Modern scientific research can transform older ideas and methods to more effective ones, and yet retain the traditional respect for conservation. For example, the scientific study of traditional, less aggressive methods of agricultural science, fishery and building material, natural manures, cotton and natural fibres to avoid non-biodegradable plastic and synthetic materials.  There is a limit to recycling and the process is hazardous. So is the land filling process which ultimately harms the soil. Even chemical manure is hazardous, considering the plight of the victims of Punjab's Green Revolution. The much hyped genetically modified crops are dubious. The traditional method of digging a pond and then using the soil as a building material can be transformed by modern technology. Non-conventional methods OTHER methods are non-conventional sources of power, daylight saving, rain water harvesting etc. In India, "t sun" (the free source of vitamin D) has traditionally been used for various purposes ~ from preservation, disinfection to cooking, heating and of course as a source of light. Water, air and bio-fuel can be used to minimize the dependence on fossil-fuel. Herbal preventives and medicines  can reduce our dependence on expensive medicine except for serious and emergency cases. One simple example: yoga shows the way to a healthy body and mind by using one's own energy while modern commerce has invented gadgets that cost money.  History is witness to ecological change. Mira Ben, an ardent Gandhian, had warned us against overuse of Nature by citing the example of the desert in the Middle East, the outcome of excessive exploitation of the soil by indiscriminate agriculture. That ignorance has been checked. Scientific knowledge helps 'green technology'. Science can help if we really abide by it. There must be a political will to conform. The policy on science is determined by political powers, and not by the scientists. The scientists can acquaint us with the state of affairs and technology can show us the way to solve some practical problems. But ultimately the political will prevails. Both Rabindranath and Gandhi had visualized the impact of consumerism ~ a chasm between the rich and the poor, one that is destructive of Nature. The two basic principles of rational ecology ~ 'maximum diversity' and 'minimum interference' ~ are violated every day by the demands of modernity. But then as Gandhi had said: 'There is enough in the world for your need but not enough for your greed!' Science is trying to grasp the environmental problems and technology is trying to solve them. But they can help conservation only if freed from commerce. The writer is formerly of Calcutta University and a UGC Emeritus Fellow

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