This article has been written for Techkriti Blog for a Cause Contest. The topic was: “We Do Not Inherit the Earth from Our Ancestors; We Borrow It from Our Children.” Keeping this philosophy into account how can we make sustainable development in the world For more information visit: http://www.socialscribblers.in/techkriti-blog-cause/

1. We Do Not Inherit the Earth from Our Ancestors;
We Borrow It from Our Children
A few days back while watching television I saw an advertisement starring
Ram Kapoor promoting "Save Fuel". In the evening my seven year old
nephew came to see us. With that short but strong ad still on my mind I
asked what he wants to do in life. The answer was "Same as my dad"(he
was a civil engineer) and I wondered aren't there enough buildings, roads
and bridges already? Will we keep encroaching like this and never plan
land use?? Dismissing these thoughts as he was expecting a reply I
proceeded "What would it be if not this?" After a long pause he blurted "I
will make cars" and again I cursed thinking of the innumerable cars of
various sizes, shapes and colors all consuming the limited resources like
petrol or diesel and polluting the environment. Awaiting for a better
answer I continued "What else can it be?" Sensing the interrogation is not
over he gave a prompt reply "I will make a website like Facebook". I was
stunned because he knew what Facebook was and although useful in
some ways but we all end up wasting our time and electricity. I kept

2. digging deeper but wasn’t satisfied with any of his responses. Suddenly it
occurred that it wasn’t his fault but ours. He was just planning to do
things we are busy doing. We have been so narcissist that today the
environment is at stake.
Usually the things which are always there for us are taken for granted.
These sometimes include our family which is always there to support us,
friends who are invariably kind and gracious and many other things. In
recent years our benevolent environment has moved into this list too and
we can't turn a Nelson's eye to the upshot. Giving a second thought about
the quality before drinking water, inhaling polluted air, insecticide
penetrated food are the evident consequences of reckless construction of
industries and use of too much chemicals. Besides we have been
proliferate in the use of umpteen resources which are gradually becoming
non-renewable. The law of karma applies here too. What we have done
to the environment has eventually come to us.
An important point to notice is that the deterioration of the environment
is not done in one day or by one person. It has been going on around
since quite some time making our ancestors and everyone of us
responsible in a way or the other. If we keep procrastinating to take a
step, the day is not far when we would wake up one morning and realize
our children are wearing masks while playing outside. Indeed, it won't be
a very pleasant sight.
The only thing pulling us back from moving forward is that we all want
initiative to be taken but by someone else. We want our surroundings

3. clean without getting our hands dirty. It is astonishing how we buy a new
gadget without any delay if our neighbor has one but we don't even pay
attention if the same neighbor is planting trees. We all are still waiting for
a magic wand in vain to make things better.
The ball is still in our court if we stop complaining and start co-operating.
It’s time to take the onus of responsibility. Our attitude and efforts can
make a phenomenal change. Stop blaming government for everything
and be a torchbearer. Rediscover the importance of environment and
switch to greener lifestyles. To harness the resources, devise ways which
does not harm the nature. We may have different professions but we
have to be an environmentalist first. Just bear in mind no matter how
small role or part we play it will make a bigger change. Let’s make
"environment unfriendly' an outmoded thinking and assure that our
future generations won't feel homeless on their own planet.
- Sucheta Gune