What Does it Mean to be an Environmentalist?

“I am an Environmentalist,are You?” this question seems to be very natural in the current scenario ,hemmed in by a plethora of Environmental disasters which culminates into a universal call for going in for 'Nature’. 

The term Environmentalist,itself has changed in its perspective in a quantum manner. From a person connecting science with environment issues to a person Caring for environment by utilizing not just the mind but also putting into service the heart. Even low-key villagers can be an ‘Environmentalist' if ,say they work towards restoring their ancient forests or stand against the mining industry for their rights over their Environment Though they are lacking in technical knowledge connected with the environment but they still understand and ‘Feel’ the call for them to act as a Human being and act to protect their mother. 

As a college student as a worthy citizen or better still as being a human, we can endeavor to restore our local environment to its former state by simply applying a three pronged approach: 

• To develop reason for the need to stand for Environment
• To Identify ways which could actually ease the situation
• To sensitize our minds to act accordingly.


These three steps would lead to us being called as ‘Young Environmentalist’. No doubt scientific perception is needed to apprehend any Environmental issue, that's actually what an environmentalist does’ But more than what is need the psychological mindset to give up something for the better of not just our Environment but also ensure a promising future. 

To consider the issue at a much detailed manner lets consider the chronology of global Industrial Development. It all begins with man realizing the potential of utilizing natural resources for fulfillment of his ever increasing desires. This resulted in the so-called Industrial Revolution which took over the entire human civilization. Man 'progressed’ and also digressed nature & its significance in his life. This ignorance proved to be of dangerous consequences which are surfacing slowly but steadily now. All through this time there were a group of people understanding the link between Science and the Environment, whom the world termed Environmentalists. 

Scrambling over the sudden change of global environmental conditions the section was given huge impetus by the corporate giants, possibly to save their own business. This gave rise to a global uprising towards environmental issues which took into the loop not just the people connected with science but any person having a sense of belonging towards his/her environmental assets,fearing to lose them to the exponential curve of development. 


It is worth noting that the tribals treating their natural assets with reverence are actually ‘Environmentalists' since eternity. So similarly the entire society joined in the 'Green-Wave' turning out to be crusaders for their environment .This marked the beginning of a new era Environmentalism. 

It can be easily noticed that there has been an upheaval in the people standing for the environment they 'belong’ to. Be it the residents protesting trees being uprooted for mere road widening operations, stir against pollution of natural artifacts and the like. All these societal components are thus re-defining the title to work for one's environment. Taking a cue from our lives, for an urban individual going the extra mile to cut down on his/her resource consumption, giving up some luxuries for prolonged well being, is environmentalism. 


For a child, consuming paper rationally, treating food as a resource and not just as a right, saying not to inclusion of charming fire-crackers in the festivities is the meaning of Turning to nature for the good.

For an industrialist investing an extra pie to make his production unit 'Greener’, up scaling eco activities on his CSR layout, is caring for environment. 

For a villager saying NO to open defecation as it ruins the landscape, giving traditional crop varieties an edge over the genetic agriculture, showing a sense of responsibility and attachment towards his inherited flora fauna is the definition the thus discussed term. 

This just hints at just one thing that 

“it doesn't take much to be an Environmentalist!” 

Hey Look! The Green-Economy's getting you.

' My nation’s economy includes me.'

Very obvious, no?
Now, in the light of the subtle-if not severe-environmental shifts lets restate this as:                                         

'The planet includes us.'

Obviously it does! So what's the whole point?

Why I did state the above in a similar fashion is to bring to light the frequently missed but yet inevitable fusion of  Human advancement and Pro-planet movements. It may be cleverly pictured as decades of Environmental activism getting imbibed into Business, Technology and Governance. All striving towards a better planet.

To begin with,let me take you on a mental odyssey. Picture a farmer pitching for organic agriculture, non-profits based around turning trash-to-cash, people zooming beside you in e-bikes and now coming to you.
Perhaps a decade down the line you may be a different person altogether,owning up a Green-home, doing well at a job to care for the planet and perhaps monitor your lifestyle for possible planet un-friendly acts.
Now come back to the present. Seems too good to be true? Probably not. What you just saw was nothing but a fusion of our life, our markets, our economy and of the pro-planet movements. Feel free to call it the Green Economy.

I am pretty sure that you know what you ought to do for the planet. Don't worry! I wouldn't load you with a list of do's and don'ts. But what I would surely like to do is to introduce to you some forward looking ideas which could elevate our planet from the burden of our mindless activities. Let's move then.

Service Economy. Yes! Service sector is set to swamp the entire industrial arena if we want a an immediate solution to our wasteful consumption trends. See it like this, isn’t the idea of giving in our soiled clothes for laundry for a regular sum much better than owning up a washing machine per se (which turns obsolete when a new product floods in)? Many would certainly agree. 

Let’s see how this works for you & the planet. Now since you have the option to switch easily between he service-providers (which you couldn’t have done easily if you bought the products) you would be spurring development of better performance products. Couple this with the rising environmental awareness in consumers and voila! You transform an industry,marketing products to one providing services & in turn generate the willingness to invest in efficient products. Also, in the end it would save you and the industry some dollars & the planet from being dumped with remnants of our Use-and-Throw lifestyle.

Now imagine everything you use-your Car,Television,Furniture is all updated with the latest standards without you having to empty your pockets to buy the latest in the shelf. Great, isn’t it? Move an inch ahead and you could see the neediest of the people getting access to water, energy and shelter through the very same mechanism,Pay-as you-go.  Pay-per-month solar lanterns and gallon based pricing for filtered water is already a reality in India. It’s not just the social progress that these innovations offer but also the advantage of effectively weaning people away from the environmental destruction,they have been forced to commit for the very need of survival.

The next big revolution could be Frugal Innovation. Gone are the days when technological solutions came only from the labs. And why so? Being planet friendly doesn't simply mean installing sensors to automate your home lighting to say: Yes! We are energy conscious. No! really, turning to tech for the simplest of the jobs drags us into a vicious circle which makes us believe that ‘Better tech = Greener Planet.’ Hey! I am not intending to go back to the forests (No way!) but the point I wish to make is simply that:

The Environment needs Innovations derived from Itself.

Let me enlarge on this. Would you be surprised if I tell you that a husk(outer covering of rice kernel) based electricity plant running on indigenous technology is spreading faster in rural India than the universal solar energy? Or If a village (Ralegan Siddhi,India)made a crossover from a ecological disaster to an object of international appreciation all through independent efforts? Probably yes. What it means for you?

Let me share a personal story on this. In my goody childhood days I often wondered upon ideas to cool down my room at our home against the sweltering hot winds coming from the window. I certainly dint want to install an air-conditioner! What I did was to tie an old bed-cloth across the window from the outside and use the water trickling down from the air-conditioner on the first floor to keep it moist & cool the winds.Isn't it giving you a hint that to go green,we need to look around first before emptying our wallets!
I believe this is probably how YOU can include the GREEN ECONOMY within yourself before it catches up with you,eventually.

In sum the world and its economy is set to go Green(or just perish,sorry!) : creating Jobs to cater to the Planet,giving rise to new kind Businesses,transforming our Lifestyle and the list just goes on.Truly! Its We,You and Me who only could spark and support this revolution.

Though in this race we cannot afford to muss the Right of All(I know you got my point) to Progress.
Let me close down with some food for your Green-thumb:

"Every Act Small or Big Counts Not Just By Its Impact But By The Inspiration It Generates."