By Pooja Solanki:
Leaving carbon footprints everywhere have set the temperature soaring. The outcome is the constant heating of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, termed as Global warming. The fervour continues, leading to the melting of glaciers and ice caps and a huge Tsunami is awaited! How many of us are actually aware of the continuous degradation of environment? Do we dare to care? But fortunately India is a home to few environmenalistst- conscious people who have taken a step forward to restore the environmental beauty of the country. Here are two of them:
Rajendra K. Pachauri
R. K. Pachauri is one of the vital environmentalists of India, taking into consideration the international exposure he has. Serving as the Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), he has garnered a Nobel Peace Prize for the panel during his tenure. His comprehensive talks on Climate Change has grabbed him much limelight. He once said, “What is happening, and what is likely to happen, convinces that the world must be really ambitious and very determined at moving toward a 350 target.” Here, 350 refers to the level in parts per million of carbon dioxide, which is regarded as a safe upper limit in order to avoid a climate tipping point. The major cause he has undertaken is ‘Lighting a Billion Lives Initiative’ in the year 2005. It was basically meant to light up the energy-deprived rural areas of India through solar energy. The project took solar energy to remote places like Sunderbans, West Bengal and Thar Desert, Rajasthan.
Medha Patkar
This gutsy and gritty lady had taken the whole country by storm by actively participating in the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’. She has gone all the way to voice herself and make the government meet her demands. Being a social activist, she engages the common people in various movements, ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ being one of them where her activism can be seen. Fasting, chanting slogans are very much part of her activities in protecting the environment, basically, raising her voice against the cynical government projects. She has also signed a public interest petition against Lavasa in the Bombay High Court, along with other members of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM). She has been conferred upon the Goldman Environment Prize and Green Ribbon Award for Best International Political Campaigner by BBC for her environment protection feat.
Well, it’s difficult for all of us to do what they have done. They are the experts in it. But a minute step matters too. Being alert of the surroundings is very crucial. It’s not that the temperature rise in a day! It’s all because of the emission of greenhouse gases which is a by-product of human activities. Several things we do for our pleasures, bothering the least about the ever-degrading environment. The environment is bleeding, weeping and is pleading to us to give a thought about it. All the little things you could do to ensure the safety of environment, don’t mind going ahead with one. Otherwise, if the world comes to an end due to our negligent and ignorant nature towards environment, we need to start life from the grass-root level!