Can our civilisation lead an eco-friendly lifestyle…

Author – Sangeetha Muralidharan

“After one look at this planet, any visitor from outer space would say, ‘I want to see the manager.” A striking quote by William S. Burroughs makes us ponder over we have really done to our Mother Earth. This planet has served us selflessly for centuries and we in return have tried to destroy it in as many innovative ways as possible in the name of development, or term it “economic development” to be precise.

We stand as a solid proof for Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest, destroying everything that comes in our way, just to ensure us a comfortable survival. No other living being has contributed to the environment as much as we have. We must be feeling proud of ourselves.

Look at our achievements that cannot be matched by any other animal species that has ever existed!

• Our comfortable lifestyle comes at the cost of destroying the homes of thousands of rare creatures
• We have dirtied our surroundings, polluted the air and water and dumped unimaginable volumes of garbage in the ocean.
• We have caused massive destruction of forests across all the continents where we live. The Amazon basin, the Congo river, the Western Ghats have borne the brunt of our greed.
• We have disrupted the natural functioning of the eco-system. We don’t care for fellow living creatures.
• Burning a hole in the ozone layer that protects us from the harmful ultraviolet rays several kilometres away from the earth’s surface is no easy task. And how do we do it? By continually enjoying the luxuries of air-conditioners and fridges that release harmful chloro-flouro-carbons.
• What’s even funnier is that we don’t really care for our children either! The water they would consume, the air they would inhale, are becoming poisonous and all the natural resources are being excessively used.

Living in harmony with the environment comes at a price of sacrificing our comforts. Now, assume that we are living a lifestyle similar to that of a forest tribal community. They are the people who respect their environment who do not disrupt its natural balance. Ironically, tribals are the ones termed “uncivilized”. We of course are much more above all that. Aren’t we? We deserve a better lifestyle!

“We do not inherit from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” Somewhere between all the development and modern ways of living, we are destroying our environment and destabilising our earth. This is the only place habitable planet available for us to live. Planets that sustain life are hard to find. What we are doing to nature is a reflection of what we are doing to ourselves. A lot of irreversible damage has already been done. If we do not wake up and take steps at least now, it would be too late to make amends.

Let’s start with small acts such as switching to energy-saving bulbs and carrying durable bags when we shop. Here is a list of things we can do to save the environment and in turn save ourselves:

1. Wear eco-friendly fashion accessories and apparel which don’t use toxic dyes and synthetic fabric
2. Ensure that household waste is segregated so that durable material can be recycled
3. Build a kitchen garden on your terrace or balcony to grow vegetables
4. Use Alternatives such as jute or cloth bags instead of plastic bags for shopping
5. Ensure that your office building is energy efficient and reduces waste
6. Choose green gadgets that are recyclable and utilise toxic-free chemicals and less energy
7. Instead of using chemical pesticides to kill insects, choose Biopesticides 
8. Choose eco-friendly gifts for your friends and relatives
9. Use better interior design to ensure your home is energy efficient
10. Wear eco-friendly footwear this summer

The key to a greener planet is in our hands. If we want to go on living on the earth, we have to take responsibility for sustainable development. Live gently upon this earth. Go green. Heal the damage that we are guilty of. For when we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.

This summer we at Caleidoscope are doing our bit to build awareness about living an eco-friendly lifestyle by compiling all the best green innovations made in India. Our sister site, Ecoideaz.com will serve as a repository for innovative green ideas both from the investor and consumer perspective. The site focuses on building a comprehensive portfolio of all eco-friendly ideas developed in India, along with a database of all Indian companies working on renewable energy and clean technologies.
Do check it out and give your valuable feedback.