Friday, September 30, 2011

Just wanted to share the wisdom I got by looking around me. Hope it will make a difference.

The whole world is trying to analyze how to overcome the energy crisis and all the other problems associated with it – global warming, climate change, exhausting fuels, carbon emission, etc. which form a rather vicious circle. A lot of knowledge base (colorful PowerPoint presentations) has been developed and alternative energy sources and technology have been patronized like never before. Many huge multi-billion dollar investments are at stake, for large scale power production using renewables, subsidies, policy-changes, phew...
Yes, all this is now quite passé. Old news, rotten bread…
Indeed, every second sees development of magnitudes, by far unknown to man. Exponential !!
Yet, all these efforts are like the proverbial ‘single step’ that begins a journey of thousand miles. But in the midst of all this, it has been also observed that, centralized system of anything is not a very effective cure-all.
DECENTRALIZATION is the key of sorts. Thinkers world over have started realizing this and efforts are on to reach out at a much smaller level.
So, what can actually be called the smaller level? What kind of sample population are we looking at…
It, according to my understanding goes right to the very fundamental subset of any population – an Individual element.
Or to say, a single person or even a group of two and three…
How? Every element should actually belong to the set right? Similarly, the idea of sustainability and conservation should be understood and accepted by all.
Utilization is the best way of conservation. Just like it is said that, money that is saved is as good as money earned, utilizing anything and everything fully is the key to conservation.
Not an epiphany good enough right?
Well, here are some of my observations and what kind of things could probably help. Trust me it is at a very very basic level.
1. Use paper cups but crush it fully while throwing it in the dustbin.

Reflection: you have anyways wasted a paper cup. Atleast do it in such a way that, unlike an uncrushed cup, a crushed cup takes up more space and can hold more trash. So, one trash bin in the place of two will do.

2. This is especially for some – please don’t take it rudely.
Try first not to actually throw your litter FRIVOLOUSLY. There is a place where it should go. Leave alone separating trash based on nature of stuff. First, develop the mentality of SERIOUSLY throwing them where they should be thrown.


Reflection: It is absolutely disheartening to see even the Gen Nxt not doing this.
But, why???
Because, they grew up seeing their previous generation doing something else of throwing it as it is and they have learnt to do that too.
Agreed. No blames on you.
But then, You just DON’T do the same thing and spoil even your Gen Next. Atleast let them live better.

Just simply DON’T put litter away like that, at least when there are kids around you. Apparently you can’t keep glancing back to see whether there are and so don’t do it by default.

3. As long as you can help it, never lose your pen. That is by far easily the most produced and wasted without even having been used fully.

Reflection: I mean, try to not buy a new pen when you can still use refills on your old one. Or for that matter fully use your old one. The humble white and blue reusable Reynolds I would say is like the Ambassador car - has stayed through all its glamorous and stylish counterparts. Use and throw is not ours… nah

4. When you can actually go out and play, then just go out and play.

Reflection: Why think about being virtually present when you can physically be. And when you are at it, SHUT DOWN your comp, disconnect your internet and turn off the lights.

5. Do tailor shops generate a lot of extra waste by gathering all the cut pieces of cloth?
Can’t we improvise?


Reflection: By gathering all of it to make cushion/ pillow/ soft-toy stuffing, instead of foam/ sponge stuffing? Kabaad se Jugaad has been our practice for like ages right?

So, the question is, do you as an element, belong to the set?

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