As the entire world celebrates “World Environment Day” on June 5 every year to create and cultivate global awareness and action for environmental protection, there is still a lot, which needs to be done to take the cause forward by one and all.
This year the theme for World Environment day is “Connecting People to Nature”. As the community of Environmentalist, NGO’s are working hard towards spreading the message about conserving environment, the biggest question remains “Are we doing enough to stave off global warming and save the planet for future generations?”
Arun Krishnamurthy an Indian Environmental Activist, has initiated a campaign of cleaning lakes across India. The Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) he has founded in 2011, he has spread the message of environmental conservation, people's responsibility towards making this planet a better place to live in.
Arun has been instrumental in cleaning up and renovating at least 17 lakes in the country. He had to quit a lucrative job to pursue his passion. SimpliCity caught up with him and here are excerpts from the interview.
How far human beings have contributed to environmental degradation?
I don’t look at it as environmental degradation, its Mankind’s degradation. We surmise that environment is an external element and we humans are part of it. At the end of the day it’s we humans, who are breathing polluted air, it’s we humans, who are eating chemically treated food, it’s we humans, drinking polluted water.
It’s our lives that is getting degraded. So it’s mankind way of progressing towards doom. It’s very simple the planet do not needs us. But we need the planet to live, and somehow, we have failed to understand this fact, and that’s the reason we are in this mess today.
Even though, Tamil Nadu state has witnessed flood, cyclone and massive drought still we are talking about movies, politics and other things... All the rivers are polluted to the last drop and imagine what are we are going to leave behind for our future.
Could you tell us about the ill- effects of increasing vehicle pollution?
Our modern day life is surrounded by vehicles. The world has a huge population, and vehicle movement for such huge population is bound to increase We have only recently migrated to vehicles with BS3 engines, whereas other countries have already moved to BS6 and BS7.Its high time we should start looking at renewable energy and cleaner energy with cleaner technology as that is the only way forward to curb vehicle emissions and the resultant pollution.
Trees have been axed down mercilessly in the name of urbanization. And, there have been instances of people transplanting trees. Is this the right way forward?
Tree transplantation is a welcoming thing as this act of some of the NGOs shows that people indeed care for trees and Nature. Rampant urbanization has caused this scenario. When trees are transplanted in an ethical way we should support it .And if it’s done scientifically and logically it is a very good initiative.
In the name of urbanization trees are being cut down but what do we mean by urbanization we need to direct our mind towards it. Are we looking for broader roads with more cars or looking for roads with shades for people to walk. Lack of trees has contributed to drastic reduction in pedestal activity to certain extent. We lack pedestal - friendly city, cycle -friendly city. We are heading towards building cities for cars and not for people.
How far the environmental awareness has spread and how it is contributing to make this planet a better place to live?
We could not say people do not have awareness. They are very much aware but it’s our modern day arrogance which is killing our awareness. People now a days have an attitude, what if I use polythene, and plastics. I will pollute rivers but Nature should not punish me. This mindset has to go. It’s rightly said that it’s not mine, it’s not yours. It’s ours, so protect the environment which nourishes us".
When we look back, people who lived in the past seemed to be lacking in environmental education. But today there are more number of people discussing and doing something about it. You’re taken on it?
I do not comply by that. If we say once upon time people were responsible we wouldn’t have faced this situation right now. We should not be talking what great people did in past but we should be worried what are we going to do for our future. Talking about past is not going to do anything but its making a difference to our present which is the need for the hour. Worry about future not about what happened in past.
What in your view is the Responsibility of people towards environment?
It’s very simple… if people do not want to die a painful death, do not want to face Nature’s fury, one should start working towards making the planet a better place. Just look into the eyes of your kid or your grand kid and ask yourself one simple question what you are leaving behind for your children or grandchildren. Do you wish to leave asthma, cancer, dreadful disease or a make leave a planet as a better place for them. First step towards it is life style change. Just put apart cast, creed, religion, ego and everything apart and give priority to environment and work towards its betterment.
Your Message to people on this World Environment day?
Only one simple message to everyone one out there. All of us should get involved in preservation of Nature: participate, cooperate and do something for the environment and the causes of Conservation. It is our collective responsibility and Collective Future.