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Short Summary of the Chapter : The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role
The chapter The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role is written by Nani Palkhivala. It talks about how our Earth is getting sick. The author says that the Green Movement started about 25 years ago and it made people think about saving the planet. People have now started seeing the Earth not just as land, but as a living being with its own needs.
In 1972, New Zealand started the first Green Party. Slowly, the idea spread. People now feel that they must protect the Earth for future generations. A new idea called sustainable development came in 1987. It means we should use things in a way that does not harm the future.
In Zambia, there is a zoo where a mirror is kept in a cage. It shows that humans are the most dangerous animals, as we are the ones hurting the Earth.
The writer talks about four main systems that give us food and materials — fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands. But people are using them too much. Forests are cut, fish are over-caught, and land is becoming useless.
The Brandt Commission asked a serious question — do we want to leave a dead planet for our children? Mr Lester Brown also warned that the way we are using nature is very risky. In poor countries, people cut trees just to get firewood. Forests are vanishing fast — around 40 to 50 million acres are lost every year.
India is also facing this problem. Though our Constitution (Article 48A) says to protect forests and animals, rules are not followed. India loses about 3.7 million acres of forest every year. Some forests are almost gone.
The chapter also talks about population growth. The world had 1 billion people in 1800, but now it is more than 5.7 billion. India has around 920 million people. Too many people cause poverty and damage to nature. So, family planning is very important.
In the end, the writer says this is the Era of Responsibility. We must act now. Big companies must also help. We must remember that we have not inherited the Earth from our parents — we have borrowed it from our children.
Detailed Summary of the Chapter :The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role
1. A New Way of Thinking :The chapter is written by Nani Palkhivala. He talks about how people now see the Earth in a new way. Earlier, people saw it as a machine to use. Now, they see it as a living being. This change is called a holistic and ecological view. It means we should think of Earth as one big family, where everything is connected.
2. The Green Movement :The Green Movement started 25 years ago. The first Green Party was started in New Zealand in 1972. It made people more aware about saving the planet. Slowly, people started to realise that we must take care of the Earth like we take care of a sick person.
3. The Earth Is Sick :The writer says that the Earth is not healthy now. Its signs show that it is not doing well. People now understand that they must save nature for future generations. We are only caretakers, not owners of this Earth.
4. What Is Sustainable Development?
In 1987, a big world group called the World Commission on Environment and Development gave a new idea. It was called sustainable development. It means we should use Earth’s resources, but also leave enough for our children. We should not finish everything now.
5. A Warning in a Zoo :In Lusaka Zoo in Zambia, there is a strange cage. Inside, there is only a mirror. The board says, “The world’s most dangerous animal.” When people look into the mirror, they see themselves. It means humans are harming the Earth the most.
6. Losing Trees and Animals :Scientists say we have counted 1.4 million species, but many more are still unknown. Trees are being cut, and animals are losing their homes. Poor people cut forests to get firewood. In some places, the wood used to cook is more costly than the food itself!
7. The Four Main Biological Systems :Mr Lester R. Brown, in his book The Global Economic Prospect, says Earth depends on four biological systems — fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands. These give us food and materials. But now, they are being used too much. Fisheries are collapsing, forests are disappearing, and land is becoming barren.
8. India’s Problem :Our Indian Constitution (Article 48A) says that we must protect forests and wildlife. But in real life, rules are not followed. India is losing about 3.7 million acres of forest every year. Some areas called “forest land” are already empty. Reports say the real loss is eight times more than what the government says.
9. Population Growth :The chapter also tells how fast the world’s population is growing. In 1800, there were 1 billion people. By 1900, there were 2 billion. Now, the number is more than 5.7 billion. Every four days, 1 million people are added.
In India, the population is about 920 million. That is more than all of Africa and South America put together! The writer says that we cannot end poverty if we do not control the population.
10. A Time to Take Responsibility :Now is the time for all of us to act. This is called the Era of Responsibility. People and big companies must help. One company head, Mr Edgar S. Woolard, even called himself “Chief Environmental Officer” to show how much he cared.
At the end, the writer reminds us that we have borrowed the Earth from our children. We must give it back to them in good shape.
Pointwise Summary of the Chapter :The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role
1. Green Movement began 25 years ago, with the first Green Party formed in New Zealand in 1972.
2. People now see the Earth as a living being, not just land to use.
3. The idea of sustainable development came in 1987, meaning we should use resources wisely and save them for the future.
4. A zoo in Lusaka, Zambia shows a mirror in a cage, calling humans the world’s most dangerous animals.
5. Earth’s four main systems — forests, fisheries, grasslands, and croplands — are getting damaged due to overuse.
6. Forests are being cut for firewood, and many species may die because their homes are destroyed.
7. India loses 3.7 million acres of forest each year, and some forest lands are already treeless.
8. World population was 1 billion in 1800, and it grew to over 5.7 billion now, rising by 1 million every 4 days.
9. The chapter says family planning is needed to reduce poverty and protect the environment.
10. We must all act in this Era of Responsibility because we have borrowed the Earth from our children.