No Planet B

HH Punya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji cautions us about the dangers of unconscious consumerism and how we can make a difference through eco-friendly choices

There is a beautiful saying which is used frequently by those who spend time in the forests, “Take only memories and leave only footprints.” The Earth is here to sustain our life, not for us to extinguish hers. Yet—the way we are polluting the air, the water, and the ground—that is exactly what we are doing. Everything we use which is not biodegradable (each container, each garment) will someday end up occupying precious space in our Earth’s landfills.

Furthermore, the manufacturing of everything we use generates a huge amount of waste. We may think that a small styrofoam cup filled with tea won’t have that big an effect on the Earth. However, only when we trace back its genesis to the totality of resources used in its manufacture, transportation, and sale can we grasp its global impact.