President’s Message
Dear Friends,
Very warm greetings.
An area that has evoked keen global interest is environment protection and sustainable growth. This is, indeed, an area of deep concern the world over with extreme weather patterns, drought and increasing instances of seawater carrying traces of micro plastic residue, pesticide residues in fruits, vegetables and milk.
Human progress over the past several years has had the unintended consequence of adversely impacting our environment which provides the basic conditions for life on earth to exist. Our excessive use of certain chemicals has depleted the ozone layer which protects us from harmful radiation.
Pollution and water scarcity seem to be the most critical issues of today. We all know about Delhi’s extreme pollution levels and danger to its residents. Mumbai may be some shades better but, still, very polluted.
Access to potable water is witnessing a critical decline – there are no systems in place for the regular supply of water; for example, in urban slums, seasonal unavailability of water for certain sections of society and rural areas where people depend on natural sources of drinking water that are fast becoming inaccessible because of pollution and environmental changes.
While technology has its very many advantages and can help us cope with the environmental stresses being faced by human society, our tech-centred orientation is also one of the primary causes of our alienation from nature, leading to complex issues like climate change.
Another question we may ask ourselves is whether we need to redefine our needs, and address issues arising out of increasingly consumeristic lifestyles across the globe which are unintentionally causing environmental imbalances. We must ponder how human “need” impacts the earth’s finite resources. It is time for introspection by one and all. Let not our needs and aspirations leave the needs of other sections of society unfulfilled.
Environment and climate change are the most serious issues today and unless we recognise and accept that these serious health hazards will soon result in being killers, we will end up choking our home city.
Preeti Mehta
President