| It is bad enough for humankind to be sitting on | | | | with them. And when the bill for the entire |
| one ticking time bomb. But the situation becomes | | | | evening is presented, the developed countries ask |
| alarming when we realize that there are multiple | | | | them to pay, not only for their share of the |
| time bombs with their fuzes burning rapidly that | | | | coffee, but for the entire meal. Differences such |
| threaten the very survival of the human race and | | | | as these, in perceptions and interests are |
| our planet today. For a long time the stupor of | | | | preventing an substantial move forward in curbing |
| indifference has been made even worse by | | | | environmental loot and plunder. |
| active degeneration of the situation which has | | | | The second issue relates to the 'clash of |
| accelerated over the last few decades. Vested | | | | civilisations' or the extreme hatred that is being |
| interests, lobbies of various businesses or political | | | | fostered by a section of vested interests in the |
| groupings, and the extreme hatred that is being | | | | name of religion, ethnicity and regions. The curse |
| spread in the name of religion across the length | | | | of terrorism that is affecting a major part of the |
| and breadth of the world are fast bringing the | | | | world, and the wars undertaken against this are |
| situation to a climax. | | | | causing loss of many lives every day. Bomb |
| The first crisis relates to the plundering of our | | | | blasts and terrorist attacks are taking place with |
| environmental resources. Things have come to a | | | | alarming regularity, with even some of the so |
| point where the glaciers and icecaps are melting | | | | called civilized countries providing open or hidden |
| rapidly, threatening to raise the levels of the seas | | | | support to terrorist organisations. Ironically, as we |
| across the world at an alarming rate. Global | | | | are witnessing in our neighbourhood, the fire |
| warming has been made worse by the depletion | | | | started by our neighbour to destroy our house |
| of the ozone layer, the protective coating of our | | | | has started burning their own house down now. |
| earth which has saved the earth and its | | | | Although no religion in the world teaches mindless |
| inhabitants from the harmful Ultraviolet rays of | | | | violence, religions are being used as a shelter to |
| the sun. Gaping holes in this layer lead to more | | | | cause mindless violence. The attackers get bolder |
| Ultraviolet rays bombarding the earth and its | | | | and bolder, more and more imaginative. There is |
| inhabitants. Amongst the ill effects of this are the | | | | also a danger of these terrorist organisations |
| increasing incidence of skin related diseases | | | | getting hold of Weapons of Mass Destruction such |
| including skin cancer. To stop the depletion of this | | | | as nuclear, biological or chemical weapons. One |
| layer, we need to replace the harmful gases being | | | | shudders to even imagine the consequence of |
| used in the refrigeration and air conditioning | | | | such a disaster. But despite the best efforts by |
| industry with harmless gases. | | | | majority of the nations, this threat does not |
| We need to rein in polluting industries which are | | | | seem to be getting any lesser as the days pass. |
| constantly spewing out harmful gases into the | | | | It is clear that the choices that we make today |
| atmosphere. The forest coverage on the earth's | | | | will decide whether we survive in the future or |
| surface is also declining at an alarming pace. | | | | not. It is up to us, whether we want to choose |
| Human hunger for paper, timber and other | | | | pollution or a clean environment, even if it means |
| products based on trees is causing this. Despite | | | | some inconveniences in the way we are used to |
| the fact that computerisation and electronic | | | | living our life. We can contribute to a cleaner |
| means of communications and data storage, the | | | | environment in so many small small ways - we |
| consumption of paper has only marginally reduced. | | | | can shut of lights and fans which are not being |
| The overall availability of potable water in the | | | | used. We can stop wastage of water. We can |
| world is on the decline. The lowering of the water | | | | stop using polluting materials such as polythene |
| table and the pollution of ground water may lead | | | | bags. We can encourage our elders to do the |
| to a situation where we have to ration the water | | | | same, and to reduce the usage of vehicles by |
| we need to drink and carry out other chores. The | | | | walking to close by places or sharing transport or |
| sad part is that although the world is aware of all | | | | using public transport. We need to stop wasting |
| these dangers, but very little action is being taken | | | | paper, make maximum usage of all available |
| to do something substantial about them. | | | | pieces of paper. We must recycle as much as we |
| There are world conferences on climate change | | | | can. We need to plant more trees, and stop |
| participated in by leaders of all the countries, but | | | | uncontrolled cutting of trees. |
| they all end up blaming each other and urging each | | | | We also need to promote more understanding |
| other to take steps, while refusing to make | | | | and tolerance for each other's point of view and |
| concrete commitments on their own part to do | | | | religions. Our leaders need to take daring initiatives |
| so. The developing world feels that the developed | | | | to stop the spreading cancer of terrorism, and |
| countries are responsible for the large share of | | | | not necessarily by the use of force. The use of |
| pollution and environmental degradation carried out | | | | force may only make matters worse, as peace |
| so far, so therefore they should play a larger role | | | | can never come from the barrel of a gun. There |
| in curbing it now. They, on the other hand, feel | | | | must be a genuine effort to initiate dialogue |
| that the developing countries must be equal | | | | between the different parties in this clash of |
| contributors in this. One writer has compared this | | | | civilisation, and each must be made to understand |
| attitude with as if the developing countries joined | | | | that it has an equal stake in the survival of the |
| the dinner table after the developed countries had | | | | world. |
| finished their meal, and shared a cup of coffee | | | | |