Learn to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness and that's what is Dharma - Doing the right thing!

It was sad that while I was planting some trees on this environment day I saw trees being felled in my neighbour's farm. When I confronted the guy (who probably lives on money made by cutting trees and selling the wood) his immediate response was that there are millions of trees that are being cut around the world and that he is not the only one who is doing it. It was very disturbing. We need to change the mindset of such people. This guy definitely understands that trees are renewable since he pointed me to other saplings and mentioned that they would grow back. The sad part is he is leaving it to nature for re-planting while he should be the one making the effort. On this environment day I cannot but emphasize the 3As philosophy of Sunderlal Bahuguna: Austerity (‘‘we should consume less’’), Alternatives (‘‘every problem has a solution and it’s near you. So fulfill basic needs from your surroundings’’) and of course, Afforestation (‘‘tree farming will solve many problems’’). I want to take this opportunity to drive the point home of the Story of Stuff. We cannot continue a linear system of growth (population and consumption) indefinitely on planet earth with limited resources. We need to go back to the basics and rethink and redesign our lifestyle to a more sustainable one.

Most recently when we camped at Greenacres we were sleeping in our tent and it was as though we were in a jungle. We could hear the cat like sounds of a bunch of peacocks and peahens very close to our tent. It was pitch dark outside so we couldn't see anything. But I got up early in the morning and scanned the area for them and sure enough I could spot a couple of them in the fields. It was simply exciting to see these wild and wonderful birds from such close quarters in nature. It was a great feeling but it only lasted a short while. These elusive birds are amazingly fast to disappear into the bushes.

It has been a month since I have blogged last. I have been following the news articles and media on topics related to climate change and things leading to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this month. I have not seen anything concrete coming out of the big nations but I am hopeful that leaders will make the right choices for their people and the planet. In the mean time I have come across this beautiful website that explained all that I have been trying to say in a very simple video. It is a MUST SEE for everyone. Here's the website The Story of Stuff and here is a list of 10 things you can do to help promote sustainable living.

Let's find solutions to save the planet and the environment. Let's stop the blame game and finger pointing. Both India and China have a major role to play to save the planet and I hope sensibility prevails during the climate summit in Copenhagen. US, EU and the industrialized nations have to help both technologically and financially to make this happen.

Over the next two weeks, millions are expected to flock to theaters to see the King of Pop's final concert. Besides catching a terrific film, they'll also get a glimpse of Jackson's eco-activism. By Gerri Miller Thu, Oct 29 2009 at 10:31 AM EST Source: Mother Nature Network

The buzz about This is It is not hype: the movie capturing Michael Jackson rehearsing for his comeback concert tour is as phenomenal as you’ve heard it is, a fitting posthumous tribute to the incomparable talents of the late King of Pop. Taken from more than 100 hours of footage from the rehearsals and behind-the-scenes preparations for a massive production that was to mark Jackson’s return to the stage after a 10-year hiatus, the film also gives a glimpse of Jackson the perfectionist, the person, and a man concerned about the planet.   The 50 sold-out London shows would have included Jackson blockbusters like Billie Jean, Bad, Thriller, Man in the Mirror and the Jackson 5 hits I Want You Back, The Love You Save, and I’ll Be There, but also the less familiar Earth Song from HIStory and Heal the World, reflecting what director-producer Kenny Ortega calls Jackson’s “deep concerns about the health and future of our planet — he felt the messages in his songs were more important than ever.”   Jackson’s co-choreographer Travis Payne believes the singer wanted to use the performances “as a vehicle to continue to convey the messages in his music and visuals: the condition of the planet and how, as humanity, we’ve lost sight of so many things that are important to survive,” and the filmed piece created for Earth Song -- which, like numerous other specially shot segments, would have played onscreen during the performances -- articulates it beautifully.   Having opened Tuesday at midnight, This is It is already a box office hit. Demand for tickets is high, a fact that might extend its theatrical release beyond the designated two weeks. In any case, it’s worth seeing on the big screen.  

I get a bad feeling when I read the newspaper articles these days on the climate change debate and the UN Climate Summit due in December in Copenhagen. The arguments by Indian politicians that India will never go past the per capita carbon footprint of developed nations so it does not have to pay the price now may sound justified but does not make a lot of sense.

Thanks to our ancestors and our value system that we still have this beautiful planet to live on otherwise a billion plus population from both China and India would have long sucked the planet dry if they were to consume the natural resources at the same rate at which the western nations consume today.

Civilisations of the east especially India far out lived some of the western civilisations simply because these civilisations knew how to co-exist with other living and non-living things and balance the planet's eco-system. It is unfortuanate that both India and China are now in a race to compete with the western nations for an increasing per captia energy consumption in the name of development. I am not saying development is a bad thing but we should figure out a sustainable development model. 

In India we have rich culture in human development such as Yoga, Ayurveda and many such things. Instead of practicing them and improving the well being of the people we are just aping the west for material development. It is my personal belief that people were a lot happier before we had all this technology. Don't you agree? So, I feel instead of using tit-for-tat tactics with the western world we should encourage simple living and also teach the rest of the world how to do the same.