The recently concluded Copenhagen summit may not have met with all the expectations, but it has ignited the minds of all in thinking about the Earth. The Hollywood movie “2012” graphically presented the vision of total destruction, if and when it happens. Whether or not every one of us is responsible for bringing such devastating effect on the earth, each one of us is going to be affected. Hence, each one of us carries responsibility of saving the earth.
It has now been established that our rampant use of the limited natural resources is the major cause of such dreadful future of the earth. Our lives today are controlled by a variety of gadgets, such as cars, computers, iPhones, Blackberries, Nanos, etc. Further, we change them faster than our clothes. Production and disposal of these gadgets add much more green-house gas and carbon to the atmosphere than while we simply use them. Therefore, the longer we use a gadget; the cleaner will be our environment.
I remember from my childhood in 1960’s when people used to buy a product with an eye on its longevity, besides its fitness-for-use. It used to be a matter of pride to keep using a product for a long time, often attached with some sentimental values. Those who could afford foreign stuff almost always preferred ‘Made in Germany’ over other makes mainly because of their longevity. Then, Japan entered the market subtly through the toy industry offering cheap and attractive toys which didn’t last long. Soon this trend covered other products. Recently while discussing this topic, a colleague coined the phrase “planned and perceived obsolescence”. In the last two decades or so, manufacturers have started planning fast obsolescence in the design of their products. Simultaneously, clever marketing has created a perception of quick obsolescence in the minds of consumers. Consequently, the consumers, especially the younger lot, cannot think of using the same product beyond a short time period.
We need to question this trend of fast disposable products – especially those whose production and disposal harms the environment. We need to look into our ‘needs’ more than our ‘greeds’. Mahatma Gandhi has rightly said, “Earth has plenty to satisfy everyone’s needs. But it cannot fulfil the greeds of even a few.”
