सभ्यता और संस्कृति : कालगत अजस्र प्रवाह
Summary
The article reflects on the meaning of "parivesh" (environment), which originally signifies something that surrounds and protects us. It argues that this protective environment is now being severely damaged. Referencing global environmental conferences from the 1972 Stockholm summit to the 2009 Copenhagen summit, the text notes a growing helplessness. By the time of the Copenhagen conference, nations had begun to treat the very element that protects us—the climate—as a commodity for trade, focusing on carbon emission deals rather than concrete solutions. The author recalls reports from the Copenhagen summit by colleague Om Thanvi, which highlighted the failure to reach effective decisions. A large poster at the summit quoting Mahatma Gandhi—"If you want to change the world, change yourself"—went unheeded. The article identifies the root cause as a consumerist culture, now global rather than solely Western, where even those with limited means prioritize unchecked consumption. It cites the Jain teaching that desires are infinite like the sky, yet this wisdom has been ignored by both individuals and wealthy nations. Instead of reducing emissions, developed countries sought to buy emission rights from developing nations, turning the climate crisis into a market commodity. The solution, the article asserts, lies in controlling consumption and adopting a culture of restraint. It calls for rethinking market culture, science, and technology, which currently fuel desires. The piece concludes by noting that June contains three significant days—the death anniversary of Acharya Tulsi (who advocated restraint), the birth anniversary of Acharya Mahapragya, and World Environment Day—all conveying the same message: control over luxury and consumerism is essential for protecting our environment.
Conclusion
The document underscores a critical paradox: while global conferences like Stockholm 1972 and Copenhagen 2009 have repeatedly highlighted environmental crises, meaningful action remains elusive. The author argues that the core issue is not a lack of awareness but a deep-rooted consumerist culture that has commodified even climate solutions, with wealthy nations trading carbon emissions rather than reducing them. The implications are stark—without a fundamental shift toward restraint and mindful consumption, as advocated by thinkers like Mahatma Gandhi and Acharya Mahapragya, environmental degradation will continue unabated. The outcome depends on whether societies can move beyond treating sustainability as a market transaction and instead embrace self-discipline as a collective ethic. Ultimately, the document calls for a cultural transformation where controlling desires, not fueling them, becomes the foundation for protecting our shared environment.