East Or West, Earth Is Best
By Abdul Basit
03 November, 2009
Countercurrents.org
The dispute that is going on between nation states over implementing mandatory limits on emissions has reduced the chances of preventing the catastrophic climate change and the prospect of successful conclusion of Copenhagen Climate conference. The confrontation between western countries like US and eastern countries like India and China to safeguard their national interests has created uncertainty over the future of humanity.
These nations have seldom realised that they are playing with fate of humanity as a whole and the habitability of earth as we know it. This earth with its beautiful landscapes and favourable climates enabled our forefathers to build great civilizations and also for diverse cultures to flourish.
For centuries, the earth has been bearing the brunt of conflicts between nation states, whether these conflicts were based on racial, ideological, cultural, geographical, nationalistic or religious foundation. The boundaries of these nation states were drawn and redrawn depending on the course of these wars and conflicts. The earth was able to sustain these scribbling of borders and coped with the impact of these nation states to conquer and dominate other nations. Along with humanitarian and psychological consequences, these wars of domination also severely damaged the environment and negatively affected its habitability. The short-sighted leaders and dictators played a major role in igniting these unwarranted wars and the results of these wars was devastation for not only conquerors and the conquered, but for humanity as a whole.
So, now we have reached a situation where the existence of humanity as a whole is at stake and our destiny is tied together. Hence if we have to overcome this crisis of climate change, we have to think beyond the confines of manmade boundaries of nation states. So along with being patriotic to our respective nations, which have sometimes supported its citizens generously, we also have to give due consideration to the protection and safety of the earth and the environment, which has been supporting all these nation states to flourish and prosper.
Let the materialistic west and the spiritualistic east blend together to build a balanced and sustainable global community that will safeguard the environment along with ensuring equitable distribution of wealth.
Let us create a united world with noble values of unity, cooperation, compassion and mutual understanding.
Let us all proclaim with one voice “EAST OR WEST, EARTH IS BEST”