“The Best Time To Plant A Tree Was 20 Years Ago. The Next Best Time Is Now”
A morning walk, a night stroll, an afternoon glimpse, from dawn to dusk in stressful moments we often take refuge in nature. It could be that little wind stroke, or the little shade on a bright sunny day, nature gives us enough reasons to smile and find peace around us. The smell of trees fills our soul, and in the most fulfilling way we experience solace. Of the million things that we buy for ourselves, did you know one tree produces 118 KGs of oxygen every year for free and that one out of four ingredients in a medicine is from rainforest plants? In big cities where the temperature shoots to sky levels during summers it is sinful to not be in air conditioned rooms. But, did you know the net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day and that 1 oak tree has about 284 species of insects. Well honestly even I didn’t. We are often awakened by sensing an imbalance around us. We think our little world as a part of the world at large, but when you see the macro view you will know that 50% of the species on earth live in a forest and that, forests cover 30% of the earth’s land. But what is the point of stating these facts?
In India, where some states like Maharashtra are battling with drought, states like Tamil Nadu and Assam have to save themselves from floods. It is said that by 2025 India will have to import water and that the water crisis if not attended can pose great socio-economic threats to the growth of the nation.
During weekdays we somehow drag ourselves to work amidst the fossil fuel emissions, but we want to find an escape from the city life as soon as the weekend comes. How long will we run? And how far can we go? How about caring and protecting the environment that is already around us. The environment is an extension of our own ‘self’. Why is that we feel so good after leaving cities, it’s because we take energy from nature and return happy. Today on World environment day, we need to keep the environment happy for us to be happy. Happiness is an inborn quality in us, but somehow during the course of our growing up and education we seem to be losing it somewhere. Like we need to restore the environment, we need to restore our happiness which has been so natural to us. And it’s all interconnected, as the world is only a reflection of who we are. Time to reconnect with our source, as you will discover when you give a little, you get a lot. We need to come together and take a little time to give back. All you need is a little intention and lot of love. Start from your own house or office space. Volunteer to Plant One Tree and also save the existing trees. Your one plant can make the difference.
Restore. Recycle. Reuse. Reduce. Reconnect
Blog by Srishti Jhawar
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