TECHNOLOGY, URBANISATION AND CONSUMERISM
(Modern Dynosaurs)
 
                          Somewhere ( in Green Life ) on this web site, it is stated that ‘green cities’ and ‘green life’ are the solutions for all present problems caused by population increase, industrialization, pollutions, climate change, erratic weathers etc. Some methods of actions are highlighted . These solutions are mainly at government and administrative levels. At individuals’ level citizens have to nurture integrity, good health, honesty ,order etc. in day-to-day life. After narrating ( in Learn From Nature) fundamental qualities of natural life, 12 natural values (in Green Values) were stated for all humans, including urbans. But what are the present situations in many urban areas? Many urban areas have changed much with industries, pollutions, consumerism etc., so that no natural and healthy ways of life can be lived.
 
                          Take first of the 12 green values. ‘Live naturally to the extent possible in environment friendly ways’. The cities ‘de-evolved’ as a result of misuses of technology, causing pollutions, mass productions for profiteering, consumerism etc (see appendix also). Most essential things needed for healthy and environment friendly living are, (1) many open spaces, gardens etc., (2) industries without pollutions, (3) clean transport systems and (4) ordered society without corruption. Many urban areas do not have any or many of these baseline conditions. Healthy life has become ‘dream-like’. Consider the fourth green value. ‘Do not accumulate wealth beyond one’s needs’. Presenly many urban areas are places wherein anybody can try to make any amount of wealth in any way! All are hurrying or mad/bad after money, jobs, stocks, shares etc. All governments are mis-governments and failures, in one way or other. Urbanization, industrialization and consumerism together have become the modern ‘DYNOSAURS’ (see last paragraph for sixth extinction) which swallow most of natural and human resources. Independent and self-sufficient rural people have become submissive to urbanism, making them service providers, suppliers and servants.
 
                          It is shown in ‘green life’ that public health should be the first priority of governments for ensuring balanced national growth. Presently, many or all governments give more importance to industrialization (any type including polluting) and urbanization for icreasing GDP and consumption. Urbanization and population increase have become unwieldly and threaten to weaken and destroy rural, agricultural lives and green habitats. The rich and powerful citizens and their various establishments influence and control politicians and government policies in many right and wrong ways. For example, about 100 years back, India was ruled by foreign colonialists whereas now, India is ruled by rich, urban Indians who want to make the resourceful rural areas their colonies with mines and factories. What happens to the rural people, farms and agriculture? The large number of suicides reported among farmers are due to sickening influences of urbanization.
 
                          At present more than 50% of global population live in urban and semiurban areas and follow urban ‘views and ways’ or life styles. It is an alarming situation. It is necessary to reduce the rate of urbanization and pollution to ensure health of environments and people. But rich and powerful governments have decided to let the atmosphere warm by 2.0C or more – a step not justified by any scientific , healthcare and environmental principles, but only by greed, consumerism and luxuries.The billions who suffer due to climate changes, droughts, storms, famines, diseases etc. are not taken into consideration. It was a decision taken by representatives of nations for benefits of their rich citizens and industrial establishments !
 
                          What is the most fundamental reason for aforesaid serious problems of modern cities? To my basic thinking, it is misuse or abuse of science and technology by rich persons, industrialists and governments. Look back a little to see what were the situations before mega-industries, ships, railways, big power plants etc. All human activities were based on natural resources. There was no mass production, consumerism and waste. Pollutions and related aberrations were unheard. With the use of fossil fuels like petroleum and coal, pollution, global warming, loss of habitats, diseases etc (see appendix for some details) became widespread and unmanageable. The most serious thing is that small amounts of Carbon Dioxide and other chemicals from vehicles,factories, power plants, motors etc. go on accumulating, affecting atmosphere, rains, rivers, oceans, biosphere etc. By about 1995, CO2 concentrations increased to more than 350 ppm. (Pre-industrial CO2 levels were about 280 ppm). Presently CO2 concentrations are above 400 ppm and is increasing at 2 ppm/yr (www.350.org etc.). If the present trends continue, by 2040 – 2050, the Earth’s atmosphere, environments, seas, freshwaters and other land resources can face catastrophic changes which can take many decades to rectify or recoup. Some say that humans are causing another (sixth) ‘mass extiction’ ( see last paragraph for experts’ comments) of lives on the planet which might take many millions of years to recoup or reach equilibrium situations which is healthy for life to flourish. Are these hints of disintegration and distruction of present industrial, urban and consumerist establishments enough for the rich and powerful to reevaluate their views on global changes? If they do not understand, they are blinded by their greed and luxuries.
 
                          The most disturbing aspects of global warming and other changes is the differences among naturalists, scientists, industrialists,statesmen etc. on their causes and intensities and in fixing responsibilities of remedial actions. The socio-economic , governmental and international mess, as seen at present, is confusing and this mess delays remedial actions! These differences can be narrowed down by accepting results of scientific studies and following experts and specialists (without bias) on global changes. Governments, administrators and industrialists should accept the conclusions of specialists and/or groups of experts. Global changes are symptoms of Earth’s (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and cryosphere) ill-health which would affect all, irrespective of wealth, armies and international alliances. Nations and governments should narrow down their differences on various aspects of global changes to arrive at global solutions. Never in history the planet experienced (and will be experiencing) this type of widespread, and out- of- control changes due to human activities and interferences with natural and balanced (e.g., ecological balance) process. Humans are perhaps late by 15-20 years to take remedial actions?
 
                          All above problems are caused by misuses or abuses of science and technology by rich and powerful. It is technology which caused the formation of big cities and urban regions with many industries of all types, progressive, polluting, consumerist etc. Industrialisation was once panacea for all human problems. Agrarian countries jumped on to the bandwagon of industrialization. For sometime it was beneficial and progressive. (Nobody at that time could think of the poisonous, disintegrative cities which are seen in many countries). Even now, at this late hours, many leaders of governments , industries and companies are living in their own cocoons of narrow or biased minds as frogs-in-well, unable to take note of possible destructions waiting to come.
 
                          There is a common sense level answer for the present enigmatic situations; ‘ if humans do not learn from nature, nature will teach a lesson ‘. It is global climatic equilibrium which caused the evolutionary progress from forests to agricultural communities over thousands of years. Scientific and technological advances resulting in new inventions and manufacturing process caused cities and urban cultures. The global climatic equilibrium is partially destroyed by misuses of technology during the past 6-8 decades and this destruction is continuing. The consequences are clear; many imbalances, disintegration, loss of habitats, diseases and destruction. If the present trends continue for another 20-30 years, the Earth will react back through her (she is more than 4 billions years old and wise!) feedbacks to restore balances and equilibrium; at what costs and for how many decades are difficult and awesome to imagine! A recently published article (www.advances.sciencemag.org) warns of a sixth mass extinction which would take a few centuries to wipe-out lives on Earth and millions of years to come back to equilibrium (similar to what existed 200-300 years back. Paul R. Ehrlich and Gerardo Ceballos write, “ avoiding a true sixth mass extinction will require rapid, greatly intensified efforts to conserve already threatened species, and to alleviate pressures on their populations – notably habitat loss, over-exploitation for economic gain and climate change”. Humans are late by about 2 decades .
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Appendix:
Global warming due to emissions from factories, vehicles etc., ozone holes in upper
atmosphere, warming of seas and oceans, erratic weathers affecting agriculture, industries
etc., sea level risings and coastal flodings, acidification of of ocean waters, loss of lives and
habitats in lands and oceans, atmospheric pollutions by different chemicals, fresh water
pollutions, contamination or changes in soils affecting fertility, contamination of vegetables,
fruits and other foods, diseases due to chemicals, over- population and lack of resources,
urbanization, corruption, over-productions, consumerism and disintegrative luxuries,
sensual life styles, many indirect disruptions of healthy lives