Do we have the right priorities ?

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:

Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, who becomes alive when they are both alone, are world's greatest philosophers in my opinion. He has rightly expressed the irony of life that we adults go through, we do not appreciate the things that are really good for us, such as nature and natural beauty. And the effects are there for us all to see! That is why even though I live in a city that even though cosmopolitan, is blessed with hilly ranges surrounding it. So I make it a point to take my son as often as I can to the hills close by and teach him how to appreciate simple things in nature.

Absolutely Kalyani ! I recollect an incident - I had gone to Kodaikanal for a week last month and at the resort we were staying we happened to meet a family who had come from Mumbai. The husband was all for going for a walk round the lake during the morning and climbing a small hill behind the resort etc etc because they never get to do these things in Mumbai since they were busy through the week and weekends too...The wife and their teenager daughter were both  bored by the second day and wanted to go out and shop. She kept telling , what can we do here for 4 days other than keep looking at the lake and the mountains and the shops have nothing at all..So unless we teach youngsters and probably ourselves too about Nature , we will be lost in a material world that will swallow us ..

usha manohar wrote:

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:

Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, who becomes alive when they are both alone, are world's greatest philosophers in my opinion. He has rightly expressed the irony of life that we adults go through, we do not appreciate the things that are really good for us, such as nature and natural beauty. And the effects are there for us all to see! That is why even though I live in a city that even though cosmopolitan, is blessed with hilly ranges surrounding it. So I make it a point to take my son as often as I can to the hills close by and teach him how to appreciate simple things in nature.

Absolutely Kalyani ! I recollect an incident - I had gone to Kodaikanal for a week last month and at the resort we were staying we happened to meet a family who had come from Mumbai. The husband was all for going for a walk round the lake during the morning and climbing a small hill behind the resort etc etc because they never get to do these things in Mumbai since they were busy through the week and weekends too...The wife and their teenager daughter were both  bored by the second day and wanted to go out and shop. She kept telling , what can we do here for 4 days other than keep looking at the lake and the mountains and the shops have nothing at all..So unless we teach youngsters and probably ourselves too about Nature , we will be lost in a material world that will swallow us ..

 

I know the type Usha. I know some like that, mothers who don't let their children play in mud at all and wring their noses in distaste at ladies who allow their children to play in mud and rain and get dirty in the soils. Nature actually has a lot to offer us but it depends on us whether we want to take it or not. I think it is our moral and fundamental duty to introduce our kids to the joys of nature and teach them to explore and appreciate it. But then, what can one do, and when they realise the follies of their thoughts, it will be too late.

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:

usha manohar wrote:

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:

Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, who becomes alive when they are both alone, are world's greatest philosophers in my opinion. He has rightly expressed the irony of life that we adults go through, we do not appreciate the things that are really good for us, such as nature and natural beauty. And the effects are there for us all to see! That is why even though I live in a city that even though cosmopolitan, is blessed with hilly ranges surrounding it. So I make it a point to take my son as often as I can to the hills close by and teach him how to appreciate simple things in nature.

Absolutely Kalyani ! I recollect an incident - I had gone to Kodaikanal for a week last month and at the resort we were staying we happened to meet a family who had come from Mumbai. The husband was all for going for a walk round the lake during the morning and climbing a small hill behind the resort etc etc because they never get to do these things in Mumbai since they were busy through the week and weekends too...The wife and their teenager daughter were both  bored by the second day and wanted to go out and shop. She kept telling , what can we do here for 4 days other than keep looking at the lake and the mountains and the shops have nothing at all..So unless we teach youngsters and probably ourselves too about Nature , we will be lost in a material world that will swallow us ..

 

I know the type Usha. I know some like that, mothers who don't let their children play in mud at all and wring their noses in distaste at ladies who allow their children to play in mud and rain and get dirty in the soils. Nature actually has a lot to offer us but it depends on us whether we want to take it or not. I think it is our moral and fundamental duty to introduce our kids to the joys of nature and teach them to explore and appreciate it. But then, what can one do, and when they realise the follies of their thoughts, it will be too late.

 

Such people do not realise that they are missing out on the most heavenly experiences of life ...I see many houses here with windows shut all the time instead of letting in fresh air, sunlight and the natural beauty of their surroundings..

Examples of such foolish deeds are seen everywhere in India including rich with well built Mansions. They are under the impression that they are entitled for privacy.

Our problems of not conserving nature and wild life is because of a growing population and very shortly we will overtake China. There is thus pressure on land.The Lion was once available all over India and now is confined to a small puny reserve in Gujarat. So hit the nail on the head. Control population, but easier said than done with one community not believing in birth control

Of course population growth is the main reason that stalls the development and makes our plans topsy -  turvy.

rambabu wrote:

Of course population growth is the main reason that stalls the development and makes our plans topsy -  turvy.

 

population control, living space, ecology, animal habitat  and nature are all linked together

 

MG Singh wrote:

rambabu wrote:

Of course population growth is the main reason that stalls the development and makes our plans topsy -  turvy.

 

population control, living space, ecology, animal habitat  and nature are all linked together

 

True. One evil leads to another. Population growth leads to more mouths to feed and less food to feed.

 

 

It becomes the responsibility of each individual to maintain the eco balance and make sure that we dont destroy plant and animal life mindlessly for our own selfish wants. Here in my city we have been seeing soil erosion during monsoons on the coastline since a long time which to a certain extent is a natural process. But when people start building houses and buildings close to the sea front, the soil underneath gets disturbed and becomes loose resulting in the collapse of the entire side rather than a gradual erosion...Although these buildings are illegal, they claim compensation for their loss which runs in crores ...I wish the concerned authorities make sure that all the illegal dwellings are cleared and the coast line left natural..

Coastal regions are vulnerable for erosion. I have seen During Hudhud, how my otherwise beautiful Vizag has been reduced to rambles. But, we did not learn the lessons. After the cyclone people vowed to see such things would nit repeat. But that was a momentary outburst. Again the same feverish building activity resumed in all it's glory.

rambabu wrote:

Coastal regions are vulnerable for erosion. I have seen During Hudhud, how my otherwise beautiful Vizag has been reduced to rambles. But, we did not learn the lessons. After the cyclone people vowed to see such things would nit repeat. But that was a momentary outburst. Again the same feverish building activity resumed in all it's glory.

 

Destruction of natural mangrove plantations and other coastal trees is the result that coastal areas are now suffering maximum damage during cyclones. Last year, if you remember I had posted a topic about how an entire village Malin in Maharashtra had been wiped away overnight due to major landslide, consequences of cutting down forests to make way for windmills. This year in June, during the two weeks that it rained in Maharashtra, we have seen almost 14 major landslides on different highways with the maximum occurring on Mumbai-Pune expressway, again a result of destroying the Sahyadri ranges. So many examples we keep seeing, but no one wakes up.

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:

rambabu wrote:

Coastal regions are vulnerable for erosion. I have seen During Hudhud, how my otherwise beautiful Vizag has been reduced to rambles. But, we did not learn the lessons. After the cyclone people vowed to see such things would nit repeat. But that was a momentary outburst. Again the same feverish building activity resumed in all it's glory.

 

Destruction of natural mangrove plantations and other coastal trees is the result that coastal areas are now suffering maximum damage during cyclones. Last year, if you remember I had posted a topic about how an entire village Malin in Maharashtra had been wiped away overnight due to major landslide, consequences of cutting down forests to make way for windmills. This year in June, during the two weeks that it rained in Maharashtra, we have seen almost 14 major landslides on different highways with the maximum occurring on Mumbai-Pune expressway, again a result of destroying the Sahyadri ranges. So many examples we keep seeing, but no one wakes up.

 

I very much remember the post you posted on landslides in which an entire village was wiped away. The same fate was met by many coastal regions in AP during Hudhud cyclone in Vizag which was the epicenterof the cyclone.

After the cyclone there wasmuch Sloganeering and millions of plants were planted, which dried up due to lack of maintenance now. This is the condition of awareness towards environment.

Much noise for few days and silence afterwards. What did we learn?

We also need to reduce noise pollution which has reached its zenith now...I find that drivers cannot drive without blaring horns at the slightest provocation and people speak at the top of their voice everywhere , in the bus, in the offices , banks even at home.Why dont we tone down, this has to be done consciously and children should be trained to speak softly and slowly without getting excited ..

And you can add our noisy festivals to the list. The devotees think that God is deaf. Which is why they vie with each other to sing Bhajans at the top of their voices in the festivals.

usha manohar wrote:

We also need to reduce noise pollution which has reached its zenith now...I find that drivers cannot drive without blaring horns at the slightest provocation and people speak at the top of their voice everywhere , in the bus, in the offices , banks even at home.Why dont we tone down, this has to be done consciously and children should be trained to speak softly and slowly without getting excited ..

By nature, Indians are very loudmouthed and loquacious and I think time is not far away when Indians, by rules of evolution, develop larger ears because of all the noise we hear everywhere! I am already dreading the Ganpati festival in another two months when our precious sleep and peace would be robbed by loud noise of DJs and sound systems everywhere.

In fact, the entire festival season which starts with Ganapati Puja is going to be a nightmare for me. The entire neighborhood will be reverberating with with Vulgar movie songs and devotees' ear piercing Bhajans. Thankfully in AP these noise polluting activities were restricted by the city authorities and Police department. All these noise polluting activities will be closed after 10 Pm..

rambabu wrote:

In fact, the entire festival season which starts with Ganapati Puja is going to be a nightmare for me. The entire neighborhood will be reverberating with with Vulgar movie songs and devotees' ear piercing Bhajans. Thankfully in AP these noise polluting activities were restricted by the city authorities and Police department. All these noise polluting activities will be closed after 10 Pm..

 

 Even in Maharashtra the noise is restricted after 10 pm but these people have found a way around it. They do not play electronic or cinema music, they use dhols played by large groups of 20 or more people, saying it is traditional music. The noise is simply terrifying!

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:

rambabu wrote:

In fact, the entire festival season which starts with Ganapati Puja is going to be a nightmare for me. The entire neighborhood will be reverberating with with Vulgar movie songs and devotees' ear piercing Bhajans. Thankfully in AP these noise polluting activities were restricted by the city authorities and Police department. All these noise polluting activities will be closed after 10 Pm..

 

 Even in Maharashtra the noise is restricted after 10 pm but these people have found a way around it. They do not play electronic or cinema music, they use dhols played by large groups of 20 or more people, saying it is traditional music. The noise is simply terrifying!

 

Very true Kalyani law violators have many tricks up to their sleeve. Crime walks two steps ahead of the law and order.

But, if the law and order is strict in implementing its curbs, by going for surprise checks after 10 Pm around the city,  i think this noise pollution can be brought into control.

 

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:

usha manohar wrote:

We also need to reduce noise pollution which has reached its zenith now...I find that drivers cannot drive without blaring horns at the slightest provocation and people speak at the top of their voice everywhere , in the bus, in the offices , banks even at home.Why dont we tone down, this has to be done consciously and children should be trained to speak softly and slowly without getting excited ..

By nature, Indians are very loudmouthed and loquacious and I think time is not far away when Indians, by rules of evolution, develop larger ears because of all the noise we hear everywhere! I am already dreading the Ganpati festival in another two months when our precious sleep and peace would be robbed by loud noise of DJs and sound systems everywhere.

That is an added disadvantage that we have now...N festivity is complete without a DJ and some performance by the local groups totally non connected but with thunderous noise making sure that the entire city remains awake half the night..

usha manohar wrote:

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:

usha manohar wrote:

We also need to reduce noise pollution which has reached its zenith now...I find that drivers cannot drive without blaring horns at the slightest provocation and people speak at the top of their voice everywhere , in the bus, in the offices , banks even at home.Why dont we tone down, this has to be done consciously and children should be trained to speak softly and slowly without getting excited ..

By nature, Indians are very loudmouthed and loquacious and I think time is not far away when Indians, by rules of evolution, develop larger ears because of all the noise we hear everywhere! I am already dreading the Ganpati festival in another two months when our precious sleep and peace would be robbed by loud noise of DJs and sound systems everywhere.

That is an added disadvantage that we have now...N festivity is complete without a DJ and some performance by the local groups totally non connected but with thunderous noise making sure that the entire city remains awake half the night..

True Usha... and it is also the worst during the marriage season with people lighting loud crackers right into midnight as part of festivities. I wonder when the day will come when the well-educated brides and grooms themselves refuse such things. I am not much aware of the rest of India apart from, of course, Northern states, in Maharashtra it has become the regular norm to burn anything between the ranges of rs 20,000 to a whopping one lakh rupees, sometimes even more, on a single night of burning firecrackers!