It was Y2K some years ago, and then it was financial crisis. This time it is, “SAVE OUR PLANET”, “GO GREEN” and the sudden panic.
Everyone is speaking, writing, reading about it and suddenly it seems like the world has just woken up from a nightmare and they are in a hurry to do something that could stop the nightmare from becoming a reality.
But, stop. Did everyone have the same nightmare? How do you prove the nightmares are going to be real? Some showed the melting ice in their refrigerator, some showed the bathroom shower from which the water doesn’t come out even though it’s on.
Some are busy painting the world green, and others are counting their foot prints. Suddenly, the world seems to have been infected by a crazy virus and that’s green as well.
But hey, what’s that? A group of elite rich are partying over there. The Mercedes, BMW and the private jets are parked next to them. I can hear the AC growling at its full speed. Why are they not counting foot prints like others? They are all in white, red and blue. I don’t see any green in them. Didn’t they have any nightmares like others?
The other green bunch of people is suggesting things. Things like sharing and reducing. Sharing bikes, cars, buses and cycles (not money). Cutting down the consumption of power, switching to renewable source of energy and so on. They are going crazy over the idea. It feels like third world war and the world is united in fighting. Fighting against their own ill doings. Fighting for the survival of their race.
Is it really united? How about the other bunch which is not in green?
One of the green guy calculates it to the last decimal point of currency and sacrifices his bike ride and takes the bus. I like the green guy’s idea. However, I can’t agree without a debate. Do I sound like an anti-slogan guy? Oh, I just want to know both the green and not so green bunch of people.
Is it feasible? What do I lose? The reality check. The colorless guys mind.
The time is 1pm. The sun is at its best. Sweating is second to breathing in the city. the colorless guy needs to go to office because he works in odd shift. He walks 1.5 km to reach the so called shared auto (yes he shares as well). Energy meter displays 75%. amber. Gets down and waits for the public bus. (Oh yes he shares as well). The public bus never comes. Sometimes he feels that the bus simply makes a vanishing act between his stop and appears at the next stop. After 2 hours of sweating and cursing, the ultra modern 1940 bus arrives with all its glory. After 30 minutes of awesome travel, he lands at a bus stop which is again 1km from office. All buses don’t stop near his office. Again marathons walk and by the time he is on his seat on 5th floor, then energy meter which is now flooded with sweat displays, 10 %., ready to sleep. Of course he is no more colorless. Thanks to Sun God, he is kind of red. Loads of emails to respond to and meetings and work. He is as fresh as a daisy now, you see.
The colorless guy had a nightmare. He has to follow the same routine while leaving to home.
The carbon rating and footings sounds so good, sophisticated and awesome.
The reality checks again. Is it feasible?
The developed nations have good infrastructure, we are still behind in terms of public transport. We need to fix that first. The G8 nations speak about stopping the funding to the developing nations which don’t meet the proposed standards to curb the environmental change. However, i believe that this kind of black mailing won’t help anyone. In fact they should set aside a part of the aid to the developing nations to assist them in cutting down carbon footprints or whatever it is.
I strongly support our Prime minister who said, “They (the developed world) bear the biggest responsibility for what has happened and must bear the greatest responsibility for correcting the damage. But we too have to take action. I believe our response must be proactive and based on our finding feasible and practical solutions to the real and potential threats we face”
It’s the time and effort involved in taking public transports that hurts me the colorless guy. The actions should be proactive and based on the feasibility. For example, the tissue papers are back in the rest rooms because the hygiene seems to be the top priority (read H1N1). We need to differentiate the threats as ‘real’ and ‘potential’. The solutions to real threat should be immediate. How do you confirm that the threat is real? Just because the glacier is melting or the drastic change of climate or some experiment conducted by the super brainy scientist or some powerful guy has said so?
Are we aware of the fact that earth too has a cycle of change? There are theories which explain ice age and so on. What do you believe in?
Ok, let’s assume that it’s a potential threat. So, do we sacrifice our basic needs to happiness to save earth? How do you know for sure that it will save earth?
Certainly the colorless guy believes in hope. But the solution should be feasible. You can’t simply take a boat to another country instead of aero plane because it will cut down carbon foot prints.
The colorless guy’s theory is simple. Don’t preach the world about carbon footprints and glaciers melting. The guy on the street doesnt care about it. It is similar to the media scaring people with H1N1 and the mask makers striking gold( as well as the doctors and pharmaceuticals). We need green, because it produces oxygen and it’s necessary for clean air. We need to use renewable source of energy because the other sources may not remain for long ( i.e. until we find another planet). We go green because it cuts a lot of waste and cost, thereby helping the system to perform at its peak efficiency. So make the best use of resources available. But before you see the ice melting check if the refrigerator is switched on and before you switch on the shower, check if the tank has got any water.
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