Change lifestyles, save environment, says Modi

The Economic Times , Tuesday, April 07, 2015
Correspondent : Vishwa Mohan
NEW DELHI: Emphasizing that the threat of climate change can be countered by making lifestyle changes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday suggested some energy-saving practices like switching off street lights on full-moon nights and using bicycles at least once a week.

The PM suggested that the option of switching off streetlights on moonlit nights could be explored after taking "people into confidence". He said steps like using bicycles once a week, like on Sundays, could go a long way in saving energy and the climate.

While suggesting the options at a conference of state environment ministers, the PM took a dig at possible critics of his ideas, saying they would accuse him of being an "agent of cycle manufacturers".

He even told the audience that many people in 'English-influenced' urban societies would laugh at such suggestions and would "entertain you for another 48 hours (through TV debate or general discussions) as they are people of a different mindset".

While not discounting the modern technological methods to reduce carbon emissions, Modi stressed on the traditional means to save energy, including recycling practices.

Elaborating on some traditional practices, the PM referred to the tradition in villages where grandmothers would teach grandchildren how to thread a needle on full-moon nights. He said the present generation remains cut off from such practices.

The PM urged urban bodies to revive such traditional practices and use full moon nights to switch off street lights. The thread-needle practice could be celebrated as "festival" on 'Purnima'.

"You can imagine how much energy can be saved by switching off street lights on full moon nights. If you present this idea in terms of cutting 'carbon emission', the so-called learned people would call it a new idea," said Modi.

Blaming lifestyle changes as the reason for environmental degradation, he said increasing consumerism was at the root of climate crisis. "I have said it many times that we are making all the rules to curb carbon emissions ... but we are not willing to change our lifestyle. In the root of the problem is that the humanity kept increasing its consumption and the nature is harmed most where consumption is maximum," he said.

He emphasized on use of recycling of waste water and other materials including old clothes and said how the "culture of recycle and re-use" was not new for India. The country knew how to fight the threats of climate change at a time when the world was looking at various options.

"So long as we do not focus on our lifestyle and bring it at the centre of the global attention, we cannot succeed despite all attempts... But it is difficult to make developed countries understand it," he said.

The environment ministry on the occasion also released a booklet on 'low-carbon lifestyles', enlisting a number of well-established 'dos and don'ts' on reducing carbon footprints.

 
SOURCE : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/environment/global-warming/change-lifestyles-save-environment-says-modi/articleshow/46830775.cms?prtpage=1
 


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