Essay, Paragraph or Speech on “Ecological Considerations Need Not Hamper Progress” Complete Essay, Speech for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Ecological Considerations Need Not Hamper Progress

“All development is destructive” is a sweeping statement. It seeks to convey the impression that he protection and preservation of ecology is the fad of a few, freak elitist groups, who are out to run down development as the root cause of all our ills and irritations. Industrial development is often blamed for the destruction of ecology as it causes pollution—whether through the smoke being belched out by chimneys in the various factories, etc., or through effluents being constantly dumped into rivers. We must not forget the fact that our civilization has traversed through several stages to reach its present position. Progress has not been achieved only at the cost of ecology. There have been several other factors contributing to the modern scientific civilization.

The various benefits brought to us by science and technology may be likened to Alladin’s Lamp. Our day-to-day life has become smoother, more comfortable and more efficient. The world has shrunk in size and dimensions owing to rapid communications and trade links. Life has become specialized today. Things unimaginable a few decades earlier have become the facts of daily life today.

But material affluence, whether in India or the West, has its drawbacks. It vitiates human relationships and leads to environmental degradation that damages the ecological balance for the simple reason that most pollutants spread far beyond their points of emission. This Alladin’s Lamp, therefore, tends to take the shape of a Pandoras Box, if not handled with care and wisdom. Industries so vital for the health and well-being of man also posses the potential of causing irretrievable damage to our greatest assets, viz., land, air and water.

The threat to the human race on account of environmental degradation is as great as the one from a nuclear holocaust. It is, therefore, not surprising that people all over the world are deeply concerned with the preservation and protection of the environment and quite often the question arises whether ecological considerations should be given an equal importance while planning for progress.

Economists argue that environmentalists should not ignore development needs and thus hinder the process of modernization. Industrialization, procurement of wood and other forest produce, stone quarrying and harnessing of water resources are bound to disturb the ecological balance. The ultimate objective is to benefit the masses through higher incomes and more job opportunities. On the other hand, the questions put up by. Environmentalists are equally important, economic benefit for whom—and at what cost ? Who are the beneficiaries of these so-called development projects? What are the benefits to the locals whose resources are exploited and ecology degraded? The poor inhabitants of these areas are left with little or no life-support systems, which are being increasingly destroyed in the name of progress and economic development. These ecological considerations must stop for the very survival of these people.

Pure environment means our long-term survival. We must-not, therefore, ignore facts. Mass poverty and ecological degradation are mutually reinforcing in our country. Environment and economic developmental goals must consequently go hand in hand. After all it is the biosphere, i.e., the air and the water encasing our earth, besides the green cover and the wild life that sustain life on this planet. In chemical terms, it is the mixture and fine balance of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapour that is vital for life. These are operated and maintained by multiple biological processes. For centuries, man has taken for granted the bounties of nature. According to him these are inexhaustible and get renewed automatically. Both these assumptions have been proved wrong.

The struggle is now on for preservation and adequate renewal of these resources. Attempts are being made to check the reckless destruction of our precious environment. Scientists have warned that mankind may have to return to the much-dreaded Ice Age if reckless destruction of trees, other greenery and natural resources continues at the present pace associated with progress, especially in industry. Mahatma Gandhi’s saying that the future of India is not in mass production but in production by the masses may have meaning for the West as well. Human tragedies resulting from unemployment may lead the industrial societies to rediscover that, except for the dullest, most repetitive and painful tasks, human beings are better than machines—and certainly more creative.

Dams over rivers and construction of large power houses to harness the energy sources enable the economy to grow and flourish. These can be made available only by sacrificing most of our greenery. According to a World Bank report, big dams the world over have displaced a billion people, including 16 million in India. Similarly, an ILO report warns that “tribal’s in Asia and elsewhere in the world face a submergence under the onslaught of development”. If the building of large dams and power houses is to be halted in response to the environmentalists’ agitations, where are the additional food grains, irrigation facilities and uninterrupted power supply for industry to come from?

 In today’s competitive world, no nation would like to be isolated from the new technology by not using it and exploiting its resources to the fullest to become an advocate of ecology and environment. Ecological considerations are a worldwide issue: It would be futile to stop or slow down the wheels of progress in the name of ecological considerations. Efforts should be made instead to develop such techniques to optimize the output through frugal utilization of inputs. A uniform code to conducts must be formulated and implemented by all industries as a basic point of reference to corporate action. Wastes must be recycled in the form of some other products. There must be sustainable development in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investment, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony, thus enhancing both the correct and the future potential to meet all human needs and aspirations.