Civilization is under threat; we need to alter course -- fast!

A recent New Scientist article carried an alarming warning about the implications of global warming for the world and humanity, in much more clearer terms than anything I have read till now. It also included a link to an interactive map. The article says "Bangladesh, south India and Pakistan will be largely abandoned, though isolated communities will remain".

I feel bad that this ancient land will become a desert soon (there is a big 'if' here as many scientists still think these are alarmist views), but can't understand how we can avoid this unless we do something to change the competitive conspicous consumption and self aggrandizement that is sweeping the world. Many intervention techniques are being discussed by scientists all over the world to slow down and roll back global warming but I think they could invite disaster on the planet as they still do not understand the dynamics of this phenomenon and, more important, they are not trying to address the basic triggers -- human greed and ego -- that have brought this calamity on. 

I think while attempts to slow down global warming are welcome the main thrust of any effort to save the planet and civilization should be at changing the way humanity think and works, from a narrow, self-centred perspective to a broader all-inclusive one. Only such a back-to-nature approach is going to make any serious difference and help us prosper without endangering the very existence of future generations.

I believe it is the right time to start some kind of a worldwide movement that will work at the level of human consciousness to change the collective consciousness and impel humanity to go back to a lifestyle closer to nature. My dreams of an Vedic educational movement center around this but I am not sure if I am prepared enough to start on this. My fervent hope is that Himalayan sages are not unaware of this impending calamity and would be planning something drastic to keep the human civilization and life on earth from being thrown back to the stone ages.

But before any work at the level of consciousness can take effect, I guess the material scientists should be first given an opportunity to try and fail spectaculary in their efforts. Then and only then will the masses start to think of an alternative approach to life that is more harmonious than the current 'I can conquer nature' one that has been created and nurtured by modern science and education.

The educational initiative I dream of should be strong enough to take over from where Science failed and move humanity to a higher level of understanding,  or there is a great danger humanity could fall into the grip of ignorance and fall back to superstition and helplessness. I am still dreaming and trying to tap into my inner powers using the key that Panditji recently provided me. Hope I will be ready soon to start on this initiative.

Carbon: From Life Giver To Villain

Today I was reading about how plastic bottles are good for the environment. Sounds counterintuitive? But this is about wine bottles, and the story says transporting wine in glass bottles emits more carbon and, hence, plastic bottles are a better proposition. Well, the talk now everywhere is about reducing your carbon footprint. Imagine, suddenly an element that is the building block of life on earth and a gas that has helped keep the earth's atmosphere warm enough for life on earth to flourish are being looked upon as life's worst enemies! The irony here is that however much we hate carbon and carbon dioxide, they are really needed for life to survive on this planet. The current cause of this crisis is human activity, nay, greed. And unless we learn to cut back on competitive consumption and greed I see no end to this crisis.
You can introduce more energy efficient technologies, better alternative fuels, and a lot more, but they will all serve only up to a certain extent. Human greed will soon find even the slack afforded by such technologies and fuels aren't enough - we will soon be back on square one as far as global warming is concerned.
In this context I remember what Mahatma Gandhi had said about how earth has enough resources to fulfil the needs of everyone but not enough to fulfil the greed of everyone - or words to that effect. So that is it: if we don't cut back on our greed, all our policies and emission limits will soon come to naught.
And putting limits on our greed is not something that is easy to implement. I cannot foresee our governments and leaders calling to the people on earth to limit their luxuries and greedy lifestyles. How will they, when their very survival as power wielders depend on fostering such greedy ambitions of the masses?
It will all boil down to changing our leaders, and for that we need to change our own outlook on life. So the ball is back in our court; each individual will have to take responsibility for global warming. That is a tough ask. But once it happens, I guess most of our problems will be solved as well - including that of global warming!

Green collar jobs are OK, but will it be enough?

New York Times has been talking about Green Collar Jobs. I am sure as the need to go 'green' becomes more and more pressing newer green jobs will open up. But there is one question which I have been pondering over. Will all the carbon emissions saved be enough as long as we have fuel guzzling cars and a fuel guzzling lifestyle?
Even if you generate all the power needed for your home from the Sun, you are also doing a lot of things which will add up to the emissions. Plus, the industrialisation and construction activity that is going on is going to add more carbon to the atmosphere than what all the people on earth would save from going for alternative energy.
The only option before humanity is, weird as it may seem, go for radical lifestyle changes. And I believe if we don't do it fast, Nature will take it upon itself to do it in a far more violent manner.

Reducing our carbon footprints

Reducing our carbon footprint: It seems the world is slowly coming to the agreement that that is what we need to do if we need to ensure that the earth is habitable for living being after 60-100 years. Right now the ideas about reducing carbon emissions are still being bandied about, without much effective action being taken.
I think we as individuals can do a lot to reduce our carbon footprints. For those interested in this subject the Internet throws of plenty of action plans, such as reducing their food miles, using public transport more often, etc. I think even by simply changing the way we eat can contribute a lot to reducing our carbon footprints.
Over the centuries we have become habituated to eating over-cooked food that is zapped of its vitality and nutrients. At the same time, ancient Yoga treatises say we need to eat more raw food, such a fruits and vegetables. Imagine that: if the whole population of this crowded planet decides to switch to raw fruits and vegetables from today, I think we could solve a lot of our global warming problems, plus a lot of our health and living ones, too.
But that is easier said than done. For those who would like to try this path, one word of caution: don't just start on raw food from tomorrow. You need to make the switch slowly, starting from semi-boiled vegetables and fruits to a completely raw and fresh diet.
It sounds a daunting task, and maybe even a 'tasteless' one; still it is worth trying.
More so because I believe it can guarantee all of us a better life, and a more 'liveable' planet!

For once, let us respect the humble farmer

So, as a civilisation, we are going back to where we started from. Our current way of life simply cannot be sustained in the long run, and we will need to go back to how we lived. It may sound terrifying to some who are accustomed to the conveniences of our modern urban civilisation. But it needn't be. We may not have to go back to the way our ancestors lived probably 500 years ago; but we will have to learn to live in a more sustainable, closer-to-nature way.

And I realise, as we try to get closer to nature, the thankless task our ancestors did for a living - farming - would be much in demand. And for once, the humble farmer would be recognized and rewarded. Yes, rewarded. And in more ways than one.

I am talking about carbon trading. I am trying to find out right now if there is any mechanism already in existence by which individual farmers can be get money for their contribution to reducing carbon emissions. If any of you reading this blog know of any, please do write in. As of now, I haven't found any.