Ajay: Hi Paul, what are you reading?
Paul: The news from Chennai is terrible! Water everywhere but not a drop to drink! How does this happen so often, I dont understand!
Ajay: Yes, its very distressing so many people affected. Some time back it was Uttarakhand and Kerala, now it is Tamil Nadu. We are going about development the wrong way.
Paul: Hows that? After all we need development places for people to live, food, transport
Ajay: Of course, we do! But there is a difference between development and sustainable development. Let me explain.
When industrialization started, the benefits were huge. But no one understood or even felt the need to check if that was harming the environment. The worlds population was much less then and trade and commerce was limited. But all that has changed.
Especially in the past few decades, we have clearly understood that there can be irreversible damage to the environment if we dont change our ways. We need to learn to coexist with other beings simply because it is for our own good!
What we are doing is indiscriminate. Of course, floods and earthquakes and mudslides are natural phenomena, but the higher scale and frequency is a man made phenomenon.
Paul: Then whats the way out? We cant give up everything and live in the forest
Ajay: Ha ha ha! That would be hilarious! I dont think I will survive for even 2 days! Yes, you are right; we cant give up, but we can certainly change
Paul: How can we change? Its too late I think.
Ajay: Dont lose heart, young man! Look, we know whats wrong, we also know what to do to fix it. Now the only thing left to do is actually fix it!
Paul: Thats true. Its time to walk the talk.
Ajay: And then Chennai will be famous not for annual floods but for Chennai Music Season, sabhas and silk sarees!