YOU ARE WORTH IT

Global warming has become hot headlines for some time and world Environment Day June 5th has come and gone

Paddu read aloud, “what’s your CQ?” Well, she had heard of 1Q but CQ.? As she read what that meant she thought aloud.

“Both had to be combined to get the CSQ(Common sense Q).! Specially for the US. They were the largest pollutants and being a developed country it was their responsibility to curb green house emissions instead of warning the developing countries like India and China”.

Paddu wondered how with only 4% of the world’s population they could be responsible for 25% of GHG (green house gas)emissions. Really, US could do with loads of CSQ, definitely! She sighed. US or no the fact that stared her in the face was climate change was here, global warming, threat of floods and rise in temperature was no longer a horror story or sci-fi, it was real. And everyone had to do their bit to save the Environment.
She called up her daughter in Sydney- “Hey, what are u folks doing to save the Earth’’? Saumya was an environmentalist and had worked under Suresh Hebelikar but had left him when she felt that he turned commercial. She cared a lot for conservation of forests and wildlife.
She said “Momma, Ozzies don’t care for the environment, they are only bothered about controlling forest fires. They are crazy about 4 wheel driving and boating”

Paddu sighed – It was true .Each and everyone cared only for their life. Well, but Ozzies were strict about wasting water. Gardens could be hosed only twice a week and that too before 10am and after 4pm. Water patrol would fine anyone who did not comply with the rules . Good for Australia.At least water wasn’t wasted. They had to be careful as there were chances of Aus becoming a desert in the near future.

Now India. Paddu wondered what she could do to save the planet. Mother Earth, Bhoomi, Jahanvi. She picked up the paper again. The Times had done a thorough research on the subject.

a) Do not use plastic

Goodness , did plastic actually take a million years to disintegrate ? Apart from choking cattle and fish? Touba touba. And her house was full of plastic,in one form or the other. She had to stop its use and from today.A full stop to plastic bags from the supermarket and if her husband shamelessly asked for an extra shopping bag from any shop she shouldn’t forget to knock him senseless.!!

b) switch off all fans and lights when not in use.

Oh dear, her kitchen and fish tank light was always on. Chop, chop….. Indian idol, stir fry….. kyunki saans……The servant also switched on all fans after swabbing. “To dry faster amma”, she would say . Paddu was sure that she left most of the corners unswabbed and wanted to cover up.!

c)Never put comp on standby mode.

Thank God she didn’t do that as she wasn’t comp savvy!

d) Switch off charger of mobile.

Well, she was guilty on this count too as she removed the mobile and left the wire plugged in. Her husband too. But then if he had his way he would live in full diwali splendour, if he didn’t it was becoz she followed him around like a lamb shutting everything after him …..

e)Shut off tap while brushing and shaving.

Yes, they left the tap running while she brushed and he shaved. In between he would be answering phone calls too. How many gallons of water did they , a single family waste in a day? Just down the drain?She hid her face in shame. She didn’t dare to read any further but a peek told her that she was guilty on many issues.

I t made her sit up and think. Her friends would be doing the same things even more so as they were more affluent than she. But if this situation continued there would be no tomorrow for the children. No earth to live in. And to think all the years of slogging and penny pinching by parents so that the children have a good life… a stable future which no parent can deny them.

But if the earth itself collapsed …..Whoa ….hold on…

She had to make a start. First the garbage to be sorted wet and dry. Then switch off all electrical appliances. The outside light had to go, no burning all night to ward off thieves. Thankfully she insisted on CFL bulbs and not the incandescent ones ( sorry James Watt) And sorry God the light burning in your room also has to go. A start had been made.

Now to call up her friends and tell them to do the same. Before she could pick up the phone it rang, It was Shailaja.

“ Paddu, we have to do something about global warming….”.Paddu’s heart warmed . Her friends were also alert and aware. And if every citizen felt the same the earth would continue to be the green earth of whom we are all proud. Because we need the earth for our sustenance and not the other way round. And to quote an ad ‘Mother earth, you are worth it!!!’