June 5th; The day worth remember

Another day just passed with out making much noise, barely noticed or with zero efforts from to make it noted. In this part of the world where I live these days, it was a lazy weekend when June the 5th fall on a Saturday. It was with out much expected media hype from the local bodies, the world environment day was celebrated. Many people planted “Trees for tomorrow” where-ever they lived; not even looking at the fertility of the place where the “trees” were planted.

I had noticed the significance of this day when I read something on world environment day a few days back and planned of taking my nephew to somewhere this day was colorfully celebrated. I being an absent minded hid it behind the easier cover of forgetfulness and to make it the most unfortunate for the day, Nandu was down with Coxsackievirus infection. Fever was appearing fluctuated reaching highs and lows through day and night.

I had been enlightened about the day only when I saw one of the regional news channels broadcast, Smt. Sugathakumari teacher planting a small tree somewhere in kerala and the news lead to a long debate on environmental conservation and preservation.

It is undoubtedly clear, the necessity of preserving Mother Nature from further damages. I was reading on one of the internet message boards, that the theme for the year 2010 on world environment day was “Many Species. One Planet. One Future”; which gives the correct meaning, but goes seldom noticed. We do not need any particular studies to reveal the fact that only the human being- the greediest and the mightiest species on the face of the earth- caters most to the environmental hazards. Ranging from the corporate giants, to the common man take their part and act their roll more prudent than required when it comes to contaminations. His genes only look for His biological economic survival. I hear a catastrophe hissing behind my ears and so do a lot many but pretending to have un-noticed as I did.

If you look to the terrain of India, the discussions of environmental preservations, arguments, debates, will take so many names to us, Plachimada, mavoists, various industrial giants, other corporate black magicians and tainted state governments.

These debates make a lot of noises, unbearable and they themselves become a deadly pollution. Now it’s time for us think and act, not just to debate and then to forget it for next 364 days. On the 364th evening the mobile phones ring a reminder alarm or the inbox calendars pop up an appointment information or a ‘to-do note’ to remind you again about a june 5th on the next day. I remember a story scribbled by one of my friends in his surplus thoughts that on a June 5th, he and his friend, being a part of the young scouts’ activity “ Khari-Kamai” (real earning with dignity and self-respect) they went to a near by home to do some work and earn some money for the scouts fund (?). A lonely man was living in that huge bungalow,beautifully gardened and well settled. When the man opened the door they showed their scouts’ cards to him . With impending amusement, the man welcomed them to the inside and gave them a long lecture. After a long time, the house owner told them that he didn’t have them any work to give but imparted them the significance of june 5th. He was said to have offered the boys Rs. 50 and handed two Gulmohar plants. The money was given to them with a condition to come there every evening after school and water the plants for next few days. Eying the Rs. 50/- bill they said “yes” and planted the trees. To the best of his own memories, he affirms not to have passed by that house for years afterwards. To his musings, he happened to pass by that place almost two decades later the event, and the beautifully red flowered gulmohar waved to him bringing colorful reminiscence of the past childhood.

Let’s leave the story think about the significance of June the 5th. As a lay man for me this day is as important as it is as Aug 15th for all Indians, July 4th for Americans, Oct 5th for the French, Nov 1st for me myself, etc.

The inevitable is happening. Natural calamities outburst when a small rain pours in claiming lots of lives, storms are common during monsoon and sun storms in summers. Sun-stroke and sun-burns make so many people lose their lives. Greeneries turn to deserts, wells and ponds dry off. Drinking water becomes dream. It is time to act. To act What??
It has been identified that the major issue to be addressed immediately is the emission green house gases. How to control the emissions? The major CO2 emission is by the vehicles. We can not touch industries. Because they are the livelihood for millions and they themselves has certain vested interests too.
Why you need a 4 wheel drive inefficient car to take a single person to the office which is just a few mins walk away down the lane of a metro station? What if you can use a public transport when want move around alone? Why not a bicycle to your destination just a mile away? Let’s ask our governments to provide easier public transport amenities. Let’s request our managers to arrange pick n drop to n fro office. Lot many have already started!! It seems there are practical problems but is there any problem with out solution?
Merely planting a tree on a june 5th as my friend did will not make it work. I know I have scribbled a lot of boring stuff.

Let’s stop over exploiting our nature? Let’s conserve the biodiversity as it is. The question arising in my heart is that “what did I do on this day? What am I planning to do on the coming days?”
The UNEP has lined up a guideline sort of message to protect the biodiversity. It is just a start up. Now we have to take it forward adding new things, newer activities, lessening the pollution.
Click here to get UNEP Biodiversity educative.


One again “Many Species. One Planet. One Future”