Today we are the brink of runaway climate change. We have studied about Global Warming, ice caps melting and life threatening consequences from it, we perennially hear about the ever increasing list of endangered species. Yes, we are aware. We do realize. And as informed citizens, what do we do?Nothing! Not until we are pushed by inspiring and motivating social campaigns.
My family was a part of the Earth Hour Campaign. We stayed up, lit some candles, shared stories and ate popcorn. A miniscule effort from one family yet we felt great. I can proudly say that I am a part of an astronomical campaign… and I have contributed rightly in the making of future. And of course from larger perspective these draw the country’s attention to climate change concerns which otherwise languish under the pile of political, financial or rat race issues. Some may criticize Earth Hour of it’s ambitious goals and call it unrealistic since power cut is anyway a part of our daily routine.
However, they miss the point. The catch is, two million people simultaneously and voluntarily switch off their lights. Imagine the extent to which we are able to conserve and reduce the burden on our natural resources by a small gesture.
This is where contribution of every individual is counted. When for a minute an individual is able to the focus above the vicious cycle of home-work home gig ….. he/she becomes a part of a life saving mission.
My recent shift to WWF has helped me move out of the circuit of hustle bustle, cut throat competition and for once value small yet intriguing things in life. The office has a unique system of switching off the ACs during lunch time and exactly at 5.30 pm when the office hours are over. While on day one I thought ‘Wow, they really want us to leave now’, but on a real tip it actually means Conserve Electricity! Plus for anyone who comes from a corporate world may find it a luxury to work for exactly 8 hours.
My family was a part of the Earth Hour Campaign. We stayed up, lit some candles, shared stories and ate popcorn. A miniscule effort from one family yet we felt great. I can proudly say that I am a part of an astronomical campaign… and I have contributed rightly in the making of future. And of course from larger perspective these draw the country’s attention to climate change concerns which otherwise languish under the pile of political, financial or rat race issues. Some may criticize Earth Hour of it’s ambitious goals and call it unrealistic since power cut is anyway a part of our daily routine.
However, they miss the point. The catch is, two million people simultaneously and voluntarily switch off their lights. Imagine the extent to which we are able to conserve and reduce the burden on our natural resources by a small gesture.
This is where contribution of every individual is counted. When for a minute an individual is able to the focus above the vicious cycle of home-work home gig ….. he/she becomes a part of a life saving mission.
My recent shift to WWF has helped me move out of the circuit of hustle bustle, cut throat competition and for once value small yet intriguing things in life. The office has a unique system of switching off the ACs during lunch time and exactly at 5.30 pm when the office hours are over. While on day one I thought ‘Wow, they really want us to leave now’, but on a real tip it actually means Conserve Electricity! Plus for anyone who comes from a corporate world may find it a luxury to work for exactly 8 hours.
Recently as a part of the Tiger Conservation Volunteer Programme I was sent to Kanha
for a field visit and understand the nitty-gritty of grass root level activities. We travelled for almost 24 hours to reach the Mandla office which is the site office for WWF. Volunteer from across India were invited to join in. People from various occupational backgrounds, ages pitched in from across India. It is probably their enthusiasm and participation that keeps us going.
It was a total bliss to spot the Magnificent beast in the core of Kanha on day one. The Tiger was radio collared. We tracked him for almost an hour. Looks like this enchanting beast enjoyed the celebrity status as he walked past our jeep into a pond. We were all in awe and mesmerized by it’s sight.
We also visited Self Help Groups in Magadwari. It has a population of only 100 people and equal ratio of men and women where almost all of them were literate. They gave us a grand welcome with Folk Dance and Music. Unlike typical metropolitan belief that villages are cumbersome, unhygienic and lack the luxuries of city life , these villagers are self-content , complacent with several Government Schemes and high on mahua!The Programme Coordinator who arranged for the entire trip is a PhD in Vulture Behavior! He is literally worshipped by the villagers who reside in the buffer zone of Kanha and from their behaviour I won’t shy away from saying that WWF India is considered above the Government.
The Livelihoods of these tribal villagers is of utmost importance to conserve the forests since
most of them are Ex-poachers who now work as Forest Guards. Educating them is a key to resolve Human-Animal Conflict and Poaching.
Government and MNCs have been supportive in terms of policies and fund raising respectively.
Electric Poles have been erected finally though the supply is yet to happen. Some private
companies like Tata BP Solar etc have come forward and donated Solar Lanterns, Water Heaters etc.
While a lot is being done for the emancipation of the Self Help Groups, there is a long way to go. The recent Save Our Tigers Campaign is probably one of the most popular social media campaigns on air. It was assumed that if Rs.10 was contributed by every Indian citizen then a fund of Rs.10 million would have been raised. Had the corporates come forward then another Rs.5 million (these figures are just assumptions).It could be in terms of a lumpsum or Pay-Roll etc.
As opposed to these assumptions the appalling part is that the fund raised is much lower.
We Indians love to debate, discuss, deliberate but when it comes to actions it is just on papers
and nothing substantial. Or at least we think too much before we act upon and the opportunities slither away.
Thanks to the various awareness campaigns that now we talk green, we appreciate models painted as animals in cages for ads, we join ‘Save Tiger’ facebook groups. And then?
Well now the responsibility lies in your hands to act upon and take it a step further. Join,
Contribute, Volunteer. Make your date with Future!
