There is a growing awareness all over the world that we are facing an ecological crisis. The manifestations of this crisis are many and varied: toxic waste from factories and polluting emissions from vehicles have made our air unfit to breathe. Drinking water has become scarce. Reckless felling of forests has contributed to global warming.
It is easy to identify the causes of the ecological crisis we are facing; the unbridled efforts for economic growth without regard for its natural and social costs, development and application of megatechnology which is often beyond all human control and the rapid growth of unabashed consumerism.
Human greed and selfishness, both individual and collective, as well as a singularly materialistic attitude towards nature lie at the root of the ecological crisis.
We do not have the luxury of choosing between economic development and ecological balance. We need both. But pursuit of the former at the expense of the latter will be catastrophic.
Rotary places the environment high among its areas of service. Let us Rotarians spread the message that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” Let us ‘think globally and act locally’ to save our environment.
Safeguarding our environment is a must. It is a debt we owe to our future generations.