Reduce.. Recycle.. Reuse!!!

Not more than one and half decades ago, I had learnt in school that my nation India is the Farmers Country blessed by nature with three seasons - Summer, Monsoon and Winter. As a kid, I believed the theory of three seasons because I lived it.

The summer used to bring more joy than any other season; for it brought the summer vacation - wherein the schools offered a two months long holiday and the students could take a break from studies. Under the sun at temperature about 35 to 37 degrees Celsius, the play grounds used to be filled with kids playing leaving little space to hit the ball(s) and for the fielders to chase. Then with the onset of monsoon, the schools used to re-open in the second fortnight of June and the kids enjoyed the shopping for new academic year, the raincoats, gum boots, etc. And finally December brought winter – the healthiest season with sports, gatherings, picnics, etc. In its ideal situation each season occupied a quarter of the year and lasted for three months with a week more or less.

However, as I grew up, I realized that the theory of a week more or less per season was changing.

With global warming causing an alarm; the 35 degrees temperature of summer has now changed to more than 45 degrees. The play grounds which were occupied with kids all day long; now go deserted during day time. The monsoon which was supposed to arrive in June second fortnight, knocks in at May end and then calls a strike in the entire June; and returns with a big bang in July second fortnight. And the bang is so huge that it brings the Shanghai of India, Mumbai at a stand still. The trains are delayed indefinitely, the roads waterlogged and the economical capital of India halts. For the third season of winter; a special squad should be appointed to investigate if it still exists. The sweaters that were once trendy are useless now. Most of the years, this season does not occur at all; and once in blue moon if it occurs, it brings down the city in a temperature that cannot be counted in more than a single digit.

With so much pride is it said, it has been the first time in last century that the mercury has raised so high or the other breaking news Flooded Mumbai has been facing more rainfall than any other city.

One thought, is it really something that can be said with pride about Mumbai that the temperature doesn’t fall and the rain doesn’t stop?

With heavy rainfall on the city, citizens crib of water logging on the streets; and gear up to leave for a safe place before the city stops. The fake promises made by the Government of a flood-proof Mumbai block every Mumbaikars mind. But is cribbing all that should be done?

Just one question to ask the inner soul; is Government the sole body responsible for this?

As a civilian, citizen or resident; isn't it the responsibility of every individual to help the nation come out of this?

Everyone in the city is afraid of the Terror of Nature; but is it the law "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction" forgotten?

Under the name of civilization, the mankind has cut down the mountains into planes, the forests are converted to concrete jungles and the rivers are nothing more than drainage channels.

What the mankind has snatched from the nature, the nature is taking it back - the floods are an outcome of the same law.

It is impossible to return completely what has been snatched from nature; but to an extent, may be its possible!

It is impossible to build back those mountains and redevelop those forests; but isn’t it possible to plant a tree? With the dense population that we are; even a single plant nurtured per person can make a difference!

It may be difficult to widen the rivers, but is it impossible to keep the drainage system clean? Most of the drainage outlets are blocked due to the indecomposable dirt like plastics and polythene. Is it so important to use plastic?

The solution is known to every individual and is easy!

Take up a resolution per week, fortnight or month. Plant a tree, use paper/cloth bags instead of plastic, use cycles or walk to cover short distances, switch off the lights when not in use, avoid keeping television running in background when no one is watching it, use car pooling, save water.

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse...

The resolutions we undertake are going to save our money as well as our Nature...

Let us try that when the young generation learns about seasons in India, they learn about all the three seasons each covering a quarter...