Lights Off in Mumbai: Learning to Live With Less

On March 31, 2007, Sydney, the largest city of Australia switched off lights from 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. This was a total success, as not only the individual residents, but also small businesses, large corporate and government offices co-operated fully. The idea was mooted by World Wildlife Fund, to spread awareness about the impending global warming, which is caused by reckless lifestyles and a very casual approach being taken towards this issue. The world has not graduated beyond debate, to action on the ground. The people of Sydney need to be congratulated, as this was in total contrast to the strong views held by their then Prime Minister Howard, who had refused to even sign the Kyoto Protocol, on gas emissions. His defeat could partly be attributed to the issue of lack of environmental sensitivity having become a political election plank.

A group of inspired youngsters of Mumbai also need to be congratulated, for having managed to pull off 'Batti Bandh' or 'Lights Off', in their city on 15.12.2007, albeit with mixed response. By and large the common man co-operated. The residences of the Governor and the mayor were blacked out. But shockingly, the homes of the ministers, including the Chief Minister and the offices of the Municipal Corporation and the hoardings along the roads were as usual brightly lit. Nevertheless, this did make the common man aware of the need to use electricity sparingly. All scattered initiatives by individuals and NGOs need to be applauded and encouraged. But if we look at the big picture, these attempts will make only a marginal difference, unless at every level the 'hows and whys' of pollution and global warming are widely understood. If tackled right from the school level, it may take at least 20 years to rear a generation, which knows and practices eco-sensible living. So much more needs to be done at the level of the governmental policy making, to make an overall global impact.

First of all, we need to recognize that pollution and global warming do not recognize political boundaries of any nation. Negligent coal washeries, along the Ganges in India, cause serious arsenic poisoning of thousands of unsuspecting Bangladeshis, downstream. So, can we debate whether the alarming receding of the Himalayan glaciers is due to the profligacy of the Chinese, the Indians or the Americans? Indians should not be satisfied, that though our total emissions may be high, our per capita emissions are low, because of our being a developing nation. We have to do the best we can. For a start, we need an integrated national policy on Power, Industry, Transport and Fuels. All these subjects are interrelated. No ministry can work these out in isolation, but at the apex level a holistic approach has to bring about the integration. If one looks at the working of our Ministry of Environment, one can be excused if one believes that it exists to protect the industry and the rich, and not the environment and the poor. The secretive manner, in which the draft of the National Environment Policy was notified, made it difficult for most knowledgeable parties and persons to participate. The notice given was also too short.

Next to the national policy on the above themes, the present technologies and buildings and all products need to be made more efficient and less material- and energy-intensive. More funds need to be pumped into production of cleaner and renewable energy, to make them economically viable. Pollution and global warming are a very telling metaphor of our lack of respect for Nature and its gift to us of natural resources. Mankind has milked Mother Earth to such an extent, that it does not have enough rest and time to renew itself. It touches our activities in all walks of life. While this may appear as a wooly headed pipe dream, one day mankind will have to come to terms, through understanding or by force of circumstances, to live sparingly and heed the Gandhian dictum - "There is enough for every ones need, but not enough for every ones greed". When at home, water supply is short; we do not take the wasteful shower, but bathe ourselves taking water from the bucket, mug by mug. This we may have to become the rule, rather than an exception!