It’s not without reasons why the old proverbial saying ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ comes repetitively relevant. May be, the globally omnipresent coronavirus and the resultant lockdowns are tormenting nearly 70 % of world population and there are efforts and prayers now for its early banishment. But, who can deny the fact that these prolonged lockdowns which have put the shutters down over nearly all human activities including manufacturing have made the air, water and overall environment comparatively cleaner in respect to pre-Covid days? That which nations after nations have so far failed out of economic compulsions or due to deliberate negligence in some degrees or the other, which is to clean up the environment has been accomplished by a virus! This must be a telling realisation today as the world observes the World Environment Day.
Without discounting the high relevance of the day for the world as a composite living entity, still, there will be examples aplenty which will incite disgust over the ways a few nations behave habitually for the rest 364 days. The quantum of responsibilities that are being discharged to save the degrading global environment is far from that which is actually warranted. Industrial progress and economic prosperity have historically remained the first priority of nations, rich and poor alike and the duty of looking after the environment with clinical care has been faintly attended. Besides the endless numbers of baneful after-effects which have their origins in the reckless pursuit of attaining ‘enviable GDPs’, the most diabolical must be the phenomenon of global warming. A major part of the Amazon rain forests in Brazil were deliberately destroyed last year and it is a chilling reality that with it, the world has perhaps for ever lost one of its most effective tools in minimising global warming, the most active component that leads to climate change. But there are several ‘Amazons’ under destruction to be found all across the world and their cumulative impact is unnerving many nations. There are plenty of examples of the end-effects of global warming and the immediate ones must be the cyclones ‘Amphan’ which ripped apart Bengal on May 20 and last Wednesday’s ‘Nisarga’ which although of a lesser intensity, wreaked havoc in Western Indian coastal areas. Ocean temperatures are increasing as a result of climate change which have directly caused a frightening increase in the observed intensity and increasing occurrence of these violent storms- that’s the long and short of the current actualities of world environment.
It will be a folly to predict when the global realisation that it’s ‘slipping out of hand’ will dawn. High-decibel wake-up calls have so far been futile. Another WED has arrived. Hope, there are attempts to decode its true meaning.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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