Hey You! Stop Killing My Planet

It's been a hot summer, one of the hottest ever in this Island city of Mumbai. Now this is news because this city was considered immune to the climatic changes. No extreme weather here. Mumbai's proximity to the sea always ensured equable climate. Even when the whole of India reeled under heat or cold waves, the people of Mumbai would be happily running about their daily routine. But the last few years have seen a very disturbing trend. Winters have become colder, the rains have been harsher and the summers have become unbearable. This year finally, the summer temperatures touched the extreme scale.

The last few years have seen some rampant dumping of cement in and around Mumbai under the pretext of infrastructure development. Every unoccupied piece of land sees a tower standing on it within a year. These monstrous housing complexes have sprung up everywhere, on playgrounds, on market places, on gardens and even on cemeteries! The roads have been cemented to reduce maintenance costs. There is cement everywhere.

Air conditioners or ACs have always been machines of comfort rather than necessity. But again the last few years have seen ACs being installed in every home in high rises. Tough ACs keep the temperature within very cool and affable, they let out hot air on the outside. More houses with ACs, more the hot air that is pumped outside. There are other serious consequences of course but I prefer to leave that to the environmentalists.

And why have I been ranting on about cement and ACs? Because they are killing me, my city and my planet. And it is you, the ordinary ignorant folk who are doing it. You are using cement to burn my city and ACs to keep it burning. Is it so difficult to understand that there has been a change in the weather? We are all complaining about it, but somehow always blame God or the government. It does not take a scientist to feel the hot air blowing out of the back of an air conditioner. It does not take an environmentalist to tell the difference in walking on a concrete and walking on mud. But we are happily ignorant.

Why own a house with more space than is needed? Why own ACs solely for comfort? Isn't it time we started caring about the Earth as well? If this is how it is now, how will it be a decade hence? It time for some harsh measures.

1. Green buildings:

Green building techniques efficiently manage the natural resources so as to minimize eco waste and consume less electricity. They may cost a tad more but green technology is the future. Be a part of the future.

2. Fans:

The human body is capable of enduring extreme heat and cold. The body generates sweat in its attempt to cool itself down. Strategically placed fans and exhausts can aid this process.

There is still time to think about it before it is too late. It's time to think and act. Comfort can never be a reason good enough to kill the planet. Before we reach the Stone Age again, stop!!