ID :
84840
Fri, 10/16/2009 - 21:16
Auther :

Turn to Mahatma for climate change solutions: Pachauri



New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) Mahatama Gandhi's philosophy of
simplicity and equality is extremely relevant in the present
context of the dangerous impact of global warming, noted
climate change expert R K Pachauri has said.

Ahead of the Copenhagen meet on climate change in
December, he said, "It is an opportune moment for world
leaders to be guided by Gandhiji's writings and thoughts for
achieving a lasting solution at Conference of Parties 15."

The Energy Research Institute (TERI) which is headed by
Pachauri has brought out with a series of publications on
"Mahatma Gandhi and the Environment: Analysing Gandhian
environmental thought" focussing on the creative synthesis
between rural development under a local government and
industrial development at a macro-level.

The first publication of the series was presented to
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, a statement said here.

The chairman of United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC), which won the Nobel peace prize in
2007, pointed out that Gandhi has influenced many by his
philosophy of simplicity and equality.

In this reference, he noted that when asked recently with
whom he would love to have dinner, US President Barack Obama
had said "Gandhiji of course." Obama is reported to have added
that he knew that the meal -- as well as the attire for the
evening -- would be "so simple," Pachauri said.

Referring to Gandhiji's simple lifestyle, Pachauri said
"flawed models of development" encourages migration from rural
areas to the cities.
Recalling Gandhiji's prophetic words that "the earth
provides enough to satisfy every man's needs but not every
man's greed," Pachauri deplored the belief that only one
pattern of development was good.

"This tunnel vision has to go if we are to get on to the
path of sustainable development," he stressed.

Pachuari referred to the "subtle but often unstated views
of Mahatma Gandhi in the field of human ecology," and
described the apostle of peace as "a profound environmentalist
who rejected the idea of blindly following western
industrialism without regard to its attendant environmental,
social and economic problems."

Gandhiji, said Pachauri, foresaw all this and recommended
protecting earth's environment and natural resources to
safeguard the future of the human race and all species on this
planet. PTI AJ
DDC


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