Many of you must have heard in your schools and colleges that June 5 is World Environment Day. Some might be enthusiastically taking part in student action, awareness camps, river clean up drives, and even debates and quizzes on topics related to environment. For some others, it would be “just another day” of life!

Many of us who work on environmental issues sometimes wonder what designating one day a year environment day would mean. Does it mean that we will be environmentally conscious on only that day? Or would we remind ourselves good and sound practices of no plastics, conserving water and energy? Maybe, engaging in organised activities like cleaning up of the Yamuna river that happens around June 5 quite predictably in a city like Delhi. Then what? Do we continue to be environmentally conscious all the year round?

It is around this time every year; I am reminded of countless communities all over the world whose lives are intricately linked with nature. The forest dependant communities who go to the forests to collect non-timber forest produce; the traditional fisherfolk who use ecologically friendly fishing practices and so on. I also think of the world of so many species other than human beings; some we know little about and many who we have yet not discovered. The birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and zillions of micro-organisms all so deeply connected with their natural habitats. Their existence is clearly linked to the health of the environment. For all of them each day is environment day!

And at a deeper level begin understanding what is causing environmental destruction around us? Is our favourite shopping mall guzzling up lots of electricity for which a forest would need to be submerged somewhere? Is the cement tiling of the pavements around our house needed and are they responsible for bringing down hillock courtesy quarrying?

This environment day on June 5 let’s resolve to bring each day of our lives close to nature, in our minds and in our practice.

(The author is a member of Kalpavriksh Environment Action Group)

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jun52007/panorama200706045671.asp