Environment.................what is it?

Do we know what environment is??

A word that is taking rounds across the national and international dailies, and is the top agenda on international forums working out development strategies, seems to be the least understood term by common man. You can try this for yourself, ask at random, anyone as to what environment is?? And you will get variety of interesting answers.

Environment…ummmmmmmmm….trees…………emmmmmmm…water………….ahhhhhh…animals…and………climate change…


Some words partially correct but delivered with great uncertainty!! None of them is able to explain the meaning of environment in its complete sense. Infact each of these things is a part of environment but not environment singly.


In such a situation where people are unaware about the complete meaning of the term environment, expecting them to protect and conserve it remains far from reality. This is the most basic reason the global efforts to conserve the environment doesn’t reach the determined results.


Environment in reality is not just one thing out of these various things but environment is anything living or non- living that surrounds a centre of focus. The centre of focus, here is humans, considering their ability to instigate change in their surroundings. In the same sense, the protection of environment today is also relative to human survival and needs.


We define environment based on our immediate needs and requirement, at best we include natural actors visible to us in defining our environment. For example, water from the tap, sofa we sit on, plate in which we eat food, my pet dog, my house form part of my environment and I strive hard to keep it at best. But what we forget is our innate relationship with the far and wide spread environment inclusive of natural environment and man- made environment.


Thus, each individual has an immediate environment and an extended environment which may not be directly visible but forms the basis of immediate environment. Like we can’t see the river but water from the tap is essential for our survival and forms an important part of our immediate environment. By way of this water we are connected to the river and hence equally impacted by river pollution and responsible for water conservation. However, there is disconnect between our immediate and extended environment, borne in our short- sightedness.


You can easily draw the connections between immediate and natural environment, just by taking a closer and deeper look at your material comforts, all be it your couch or your bed or your car is drawn or driven on a resource provided from the natural environment.

This latent disconnect between material environment and natural environment, leaves the centre of focus- the human being ignorant of his actions on the natural environment, thereby letting loose the very cord of his own survival.


Hence we gradually work for the betterment of our immediate environment, our so- called “comfort zone” and a simultaneously contribute to decay of our natural environment owing to our ignorance.


Thus, to ensure conservation of environment, the first and the most essential step is to make each individual understand what exactly environment is?. Only after which he/ she can draw the connections between his/ her immediate/ material environment and extended/ natural environment. Only then can he head towards conservation and protection of the same.


So know your environment to protect it!!

Story of Environmental Crisis Part I- Human Malfunction

Earth is home to over 1.5 million species. These diverse species are webbed together intricately within the laws of nature to sustain the cycle of life. Waste of one kingdom is food for another, resources of nature a positioned in a manner to sustain and satiate the distinct and vital needs of each species. Today this innate balance of life has been disrupted by single most powerful species on this earth – The Humans. Resources which were once abundant and sufficient for sustaining all forms of life are now delimited by increasing human demand. Consequently, humanity today is faced by serious water crisis, ever growing air pollution, massive deforestation, an overall ecosystem disruption and encompassing issues like climate change.

Not only this, the human created systems which form yardsticks of development also stand vulnerable as a consequence of disruption of natural systems and limiting resources.

Though we may not acknowledge, the impact of these disruptions on our daily living but certainly each of us is at the receiving end of these environmental disruptions. However, a linkage more vital than this is, the causal influence of human action that has lead humanity to this day. Humans have shared a close relationship with nature since time immemorial, sometimes, getting influenced by nature and at the same time influencing it in turn. Over the years this relationship has underwent a dramatic change from a symbiotic to that of an exploitative, consequence being the fading harmony and balance between human systems and natural systems.

The systems which we have evolved and the development which we take pride in are built upon the extensive services drawn from natural ecosystems. The questions which we have reached in this ignorant process of resource consumption, find answers in our actions. Self – centered and consumerist approach of man has led to an unprecedented resource crunch which can lead to complete devastation of life. We have proven our ability to change the face of earth, though in a negative sense, in the past and today again we need to bring a change in our own attitude and actions to see a conducive, sustainable change.

The human malfunction and its consequences can only reach a positive end if we the humans awaken to our responsibility to take care of our very own planet.

Only we can make a difference!