The Ailing Planet : The Green Movement's Role(HS FIRST YEAR)

 Q. When was the green movement started and where was it found?

Ans : The green movement started in 1972 and the first group was found in New Zealand. 

Q. What does the author mean by sustainable development in the essay? In which year did the concept become popular?

Ans : According to the author sustainable development means development which caters the needs of the present without affecting the ability of the future generation to fulfil their needs. 

           The concept was popularized in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development. 

Q. Why is the earth called a patient?

Ans : In the chapter 'The Ailing Planet' Nani Palkhivala writes, "The earth's vital signs reveal a patient in declining health." The earth is suffering from many diseases like global warming, ozone layer depletion etc. The productivity of the four principal biological systems fisheries, forest, grassland and croplands is being impaired. Fisheries collapse, forests disappear, grasslands are converted into barren wasteland and croplands deteriorate. That's why, the earth is called a patient. 

Q. What does the notice " The world's most dangerous animal" at a cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia signify?

Ans : In a zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, there is a cage where a noticeboard is displayed which reads, 'the world's most dangerous animal'. Inside the cage, there is no animal but a mirror where one sees one's own reflection. This notice signifies that our planet is in an ailing state and facing the most potential threat from mankind rather from any other animal.

Q. How is the earth's principal biological systems being depleted?

Ans : The four principal biological systems of earth , i.e. fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands form the foundation of the global economic system. In addition to supplying our food, these four systems provide all the raw material for almost all the industries. But in large areas these systems are reaching an unsustainable level, a point where their productivity is being impaired. When this happens, fisheries collapse, forests disappear, grasslands are converted into barren wastelands and croplands deteriorate. Thus, the earth's principal biological systems are being depleted. 

Q. Why does the author agree that the growth of world population is one of the strongest factors distorting the future of human society?

Ans : According to the author there is no doubt that the growth of world population is one of the strongest factors distorting the future of human society. At an alarming rate the global population is increasing. More population will require more food , more resources. Due to excessive human claims the principal biological systems of earth have reached an unsustainable level , a point where their productivity is being impaired. If the world population goes on increasing with the present rate it will bring poverty, unemployment etc. 

Q. What are the principal biological systems of earth? Why do we need them?

Ans : The four principal biological systems of earth are fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. They form the foundation of the global economic system. In addition to supplying our food, these four systems provide all the raw material for almost all the industries.

Q. What is the 'power house of evolution' according to Dr. Myers?

Ans : Tropical forests are the 'power house of evolution' according to Dr. Myers.

Q. According to Dr. Myers why several species have faced extinction?

Ans : According to Dr. Myers several species have faced extinction as a result of the destruction of forests.

Q. Who was James Speth?

Ans : James Speth was the president of the World Resources Institute. 

Q. What is written in Article 48A of the constitution?

Ans : In Article 48A of the Indian constitution it is written that "the state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country."

Q. What has become a 'transcending concern' of people?

Ans : The survival not just of the people but of the planet has become a 'transcending concern' of people. 

Q. What is the 'holistic view' or 'ecological view' the writer has mentioned?

Ans : The 'holistic view' or the 'ecology view' that the writer has mentioned in the chapter is that we should see the world as an integrated whole rather than seeing it as a dissociated collection of parts.

Q.Who declared himself as the ' Chief Environmental Officer' of his company?

Ans : Mr. Edgar S. Woolard , the chairperson of Du Pont declared himself as the ' Chief Environmental Officer' of his company. 

Q. Who said "No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have a life tenancy"

Ans : Margaret Thatcher, the Prime Minister of Britain said "No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have a life tenancy"

Q. " We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children" -- who said this line?

Ans : Mr. Lester Brown said " We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children"

Q. Explain the line " what goes under the pot now costs more than what goes inside it"

Ans : According to Nani Palkhivala, trees are being cut down so rapidly to meet the demand of firewood. In many countries the cost of firewood has become so expensive that the cost of food, the people of those countries eat is less than the cost of the fuel used for cooking it. This is what the line means. 

Q. Explain the line " We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers, we have borrowed it from our children".

Ans : This famous quote is from the chapter, The Ailing Planet by Nani Palkhiwals. This quote is of Lester Brown. Mr. Brown is appealing to the people of the world to take care of the health of our planet and treat it respectfully so that it can be bequeathed to the coming generations in good condition. By this quote he means we are the responsible trustees of the world and have to hand it over to the coming generations in a very good condition – not as a degraded and polluted planet. The author says that the natural resources of the earth are valuable and limited too. To meet our own demands we can't destroy the whole resources that the earth has given us. We are destroying forests, fisheries, grasslands, croplands etc and as a result the earth has lost its ecological balance. We should treat the resources as assets we have borrowed from our future generations and in days to come we have to return them the resources. 

Q. Which biological system is destroyed the most by the human beings and how?

Ans : It is the forests which are destroyed rapidly by human beings. Trees are being cut down to make houses and furniture.