Perspective of World Days : A Fashion Trend or Genuine Cause of Concern

Wetlands are important. Photo by author

It is incumbent upon us to save Mother nature for ourselves and future generations. World Days should be taken in its right spirit, not for fashion. 

On 22-March-2021, the world observed World Water Day. It was the fourth consecutive occasion of March dedicated to Mother Nature; World Wildlife Day, World Sparrow Day, followed by World Forest Day and World Water Day. 

Declared by UNO for the awareness and program implementation by countries of the world, these occurrences seem to have become a ritual. They have created a class of their own. Certain people, eager to grab eyeballs and camera flashlights, always eye for a platform that could establish them as Messiah of public cause. Ostensible concern about Nature and its causes, including water, is one of them. Mushrooming of organizations and NGOs, especially by the influential people claiming to work for it and other such concerns, has been seen in the recent past. Most of them get money as donations. 

Computer-based information technology has augmented this trend. Social media platforms become inundated with hashtag messages about these causes. It appears like a renaissance - an awakening. People are now more aware and informed about the natural causes and concerns, but for some it is vogue. They feel elevated to post something or the other on such occasions. Social media platforms become flooded with forwarded and reforwarded messages, pictures, memes or video-clips. No one wants to be left out. They are seen sending greetings, goodies et cetera, without the application of prudence. 

 

Deep cogitation is needed. The causes and cure of the depletion of forests, dwindling wildlife, vanishing population of vultures and sparrows ought to be thought about and discussed. It is no more the domain of elites, intellectuals or specialists only. It is a common cause that relates to all. Public outcry is justified and should be appreciated, but as the diverted track leads a train to go to the inappropriate place, the cause may also be distracted. This has to be observed. 

Picture by Author

A blessed country, India is endowed with natural bounties. We have contrasting terrains like rain-fed areas, drought-prone areas, degraded land, deserts and dense forests teeming with wildlife and a myriad of flora and fauna. The country is reeling under the heavy pressure of a burgeoning population which is both an asset and a burden. The upside of the huge population is that it is a big consumer market plus the largest intellectual bank besides being a big labour force. The downside, however, is the daunting task of management and catering requirement of such a huge population. Excellent infrastructure, health services, good education, housing, agro-farming, agriculture, industries and other economic activities essential not only for survival but for a decent human life are needed. They cannot be ignored. The increasing demand has put tremendous pressure on land and natural resources that in turn pressurized our natural resources as well. It is engulfing forests, causing habitat destruction and heavy ecological imbalances after swallowing degraded lands and farmlands. 

Fast urbanization has added its share too. The increasing population density in metro cities has caused their further expansion, giving rise to numerous satellite cities and conglomerates like NCR. The mounting pressure on demand is exponentially increasing pressure on natural resources; overuse has drained them a lot, causing heavy environmental degradation on one hand and polluting it on the other. The water bodies, rivers and wetlands are either getting heavily polluted or being dried up and over-exploitation of groundwater is causing the emptying of aquifers to lower its level. 

Water is a valuable natural gift. It cannot be manufactured. We get water from a natural cycle filled in the bowels of the earth. Water from the ocean evaporates, rises and condense into clouds. Forests and trees act as natural barriers to stop nimbus clouds and cause them to precipitate. The rainwater feeds the earth surface, and percolating down the earth surface gets stored in aquifers as groundwater. The cycle is responsible for the continuous freshwater supply for the living organisms to survive. 

Despite that about 71 per cent of the earth surface is covered with water, out of which 98 per cent is held in oceans, people face the brunt of water scarcity. There are places where people die of thirst, crops destroyed and their cattle perish because of water unavailability. Womenfolks in some areas, especially those of Chattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and arid Rajasthan use to saunter several kilometres to fetch water for domestic use carrying heavy headloads. Row and fighting over water acquisition have also figured in media reports. It is why the former Prime Minister of India late Sri Atal Behari Vajpayee, while addressing the scientific community, had said, "India is amongst the wettest countries in the world, yet desert-like conditions are now prevalent in many parts of the country. We are fast plunging into a water emergency era." 

The depletion of forest cover from the earth surface causes fast water run-away, low water absorption by the earth and erosion. The denuded slopes increment the soil erosion and silt deposition in the river bed, causing recurring deluge and wastage of water besides the widespread loss to crops and property during monsoons. The work is being done to fight against the inimical situation by the technique of water harvesting, making check dams and plantation activities but humanity would be benefitted substantially from wide sensitization and active people participation.  

Making hashtags of ' save water ', ' world water day ' or ' world forest day ' has become trendy and vogue. The purpose of observing days was to think about the problem, chalk out programmes and involving people with the cause, not that mere rhetoric and celebration. It is an opportunity to work diligently for the cause of saving the environment and its components. Our environment is our primary house. Its constituents are vital links to a large but important food chain through which energy flows. Thus the life goes on. Disturbance in it is fatal to the very survival of not only biotic and abiotic components of the whole ecosystem but mankind itself. Saving forests would help conserving and proliferation of water resources. Clean drinking water is the basic need of a human being and it is his right as well. It is incumbent upon us to save Mother nature for ourselves and future generations. World Days should be taken in its right spirit, not for fashion. 

Thick verdure is soothing to the eyes and helps trap nimbus clouds to precipitate. 
Picture by Author