Only One Earth

Three words, but lot of meaning.

Only one earth- the theme of World Environment Day 2022. It focuses on living sustainably in harmony with Nature. Ghumakkad would like to add our age old saying from the Upanishad in Sanskrit वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम 'Vasudhaiv Kutukbakam' meaning 'The whole world is one family'. The message is the same. As we care for the family, we must care for the world. But as mankind, do we really care? Or, are we degrading the environment beyond restoration? 

On this World Environment Day, we are posing more questions through our pictures below.

Will the butterflies enthrall us in the morning?

Reimagine, Recreate, Restore

This was the theme of the Environment Day 2021. Through our story Reimagine Recreate Restore, we had shared some positive stories and steps to save the environment. An example is the successful recreation and adoption of the nesting sites by Spot-Billed Pelicans in Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh which has shrunk almost 50% in last 30 years. See the pictures of the nesting platforms in the middle of the lake below.

Interested readers may browse the story to do a fact-check and perhaps make some more practical suggestions beyond lofty slogans and hyperbole. There are many more live examples of successful restoration of the environment in the story.

Each one of us can make a difference. Small steps like keeping the surroundings clean and green, no plastics, home composting etc will go a long way. Just do it!

Let us remember that 'Environment is an asset we have borrowed from our children. We have no right to degrade it.' Ghumakkad had said this the first time in 1995 while setting up Prakriti an Environment Club at College of Defence Management, Secunderabad. It continues to hold valid even after 27 years!

Let us hand over the environment to our children in a better shape. One step at a time like the snail- let's do it! We end with few lines by Akanksha our daughter about the Snail:

The climb may be tough

But it will all be worth it

When you give it your best

With true grit

Happy Environment Day 2022 and beyond.

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/ World Environment Day/ 5th June 2022

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