Your Planet Needs You

It is amazing how humans evolved as the rulers over the ages and how 99% of all the species that have ever lived are now extinct. Survival of the fittest, guess Darwin was right. It comes as no surprise as evolution is one of the inexplicably balanced phenomena of nature. What arrives as a problem is when this occurs unnaturally or is induced in the normal cycles, which as we all now is mostly attributed to the human interventions. According to a 1998 survey of 400 biologists conducted by New York's American Museum of Natural History, nearly 70 percent believed that they are currently in the early stages of a human-caused mass extinction, known as the Holocene extinction event. Studies have shown that global warming may drive one quarter of all land animals and plants to extinction by 2050.

One of the major challenges that the survival of species faces is the threat by mankind's insatiable demand for resources. The private sector has a huge impact on biodiversity through its use of natural resources, such as timber, soil and water, and extracted resources, such as minerals, oils and gas. Consumption is also being driven by our sheer numbers: the global population has more than tripled in 50 years to over 6.5 billion resulting in new businesses that are using up raw materials far more quickly than the planet can replenish them – having devastating impacts on species and ecosystems around the world.

There should be awareness in industries about creating great inroads into supply chains across entire business sectors, helping consumers to speak their minds through their purses. The solution lies in looking for alternative resources which do not portray going green as “hindrance to development”. The world needs a “Green New Deal” focused on investing in renewable sources of energy, eco-friendly infrastructure and energy efficiency. This will not only create jobs and spur recovery but also help tackle global warming. If we invest even part of the substantial new economic stimulus packages in the green economy, we can turn today’s crisis into tomorrow’s sustainable growth. Businesses also stand to gain from getting serious about sustainability, through boosting their competitiveness, increasing their profits and improving their reputation. Also, some thought should be given to establishment of sustainable societies designed to focus on issues such as balanced harvesting, poverty, deforestation, degraded soils, polluted water, disease and environmental crisis.

Mother earth is as much a home to the innumerous species as it is to humans. The impact that the depleting resources and extincting species will have on the balanced ecosystems is unfathomable. Humans have to find the thin line between consumption and conservation for their own good. As I always say, until we are able to live in Mars this is the only planet we have and somewhere the thought that “You need the planet” should inspire all of us to create sustainable businesses and work towards the theme of this year’s World Environment Day (June 5th, 2009) – “Your Planet needs you”.

World for All

India, the largest democracy in the world, the second largest populated nation, plethora of cultures and religions and also the house of Asia’s largest slum. With 42% of the Indian population below the poverty line, India is still standing large and strong with optimism for a greater nation beyond social, cultural and more importantly economical barriers and yet envisioning a religious balance and equality to be known to the global community as “truly secular”. Too far fletched a dream? In a world where everything is explored from inside of an atom to what lies beyond milky way, from cure to weirdly named diseases to solution for wrinkles, there should be enough room for innovations to further the goal of “World for All”. Leaving behind the religious harmony which entirely is dependent on the mindset of people, the economic stability is something where there is a need for great practical visionaries.

Clearly, capitalism or communism is not the solution. Distribution of wealth is rather a strain on the existing balance as these concepts “force” but not further the cause and which almost always leads to fear and ultimately rebelliousness as proved by the history. Creation of wealth should be the goal rather than distribution. The solution lies in change “from the people – for the people”. Few examples of exceptional innovations are applications of microfinance, microcredit and social business. All these systems harness the power of free market to solve the problems of poverty, hunger and inequality.

Microfinance and microcredit as we all know is the provision of financial services to low-income and self-employed clients. Microcredit is an excellent paragon of tweaking a conservative system, in this case – Capitalism, to the benefit of people. The lending of micro loans without collateral has helped many self sustained small businesses to create their own world of opportunities. It would be unfair not to mention the contributions of Muhammed Yunus, Founder of the Grameen Bank, while discussing a “poverty free world”. He pioneered microcredit, the innovative banking program that provides poor people, mainly woman an opportunity to launch businesses and create a sustainable source of income. In the past thirty years, microcredit has spread to every continent and has benefited over 100 million needy families.

Social business, on the other hand is a completely new way to use the creative vibrancy of business to tackle social problems from poverty to pollution to inadequate health care and lack of education. A business designed to meet the social cause. Businesses continue to grow, global trade is booming, multinational corporations are spreading like never before – in between all the corporate money making why anyone would consider a low profit business in developing and third world nations which are potentially a threat to development? What does social business provide to them in terms of profits? The answer lies in the question if strategically looked for. Expansions and cross-continental presence is a key to success for a business in the globalizing world. More and more businesses have started realizing this potential as a great way to market them which in turn adds greatly to their reputation. The results of this win-win situation are more apparent in a product based business. Group Danone, a French based food products company has greatly benefitted from introducing a social element to its business. Danone has infused in most of the developing nations and promises low cost and high nutrition foods to the needy. Its products have bought more profit than ever even in the developed nations like the US due to its reputation of a ‘social business’.

Applications of social business in service sector are not left behind. Although not as huge as Danone, www.babajob.com, founded by Sean Blagsvedt, a previous Microsoft employee, is a small attempt to improving the conditions of vocational workers at the same time benefitting from the venture. Currently focused in Bangalore, the site aims at providing a streamlined job search engine for the tertiary worker class like maids, drivers etc. The site includes no fee from the job seekers but charges the employers instead who look for domestic services which is otherwise a highly luck based effort.

I am sure there are a lot of unheard examples out there like Group Danone and Sean Blagsvedt. This is where exactly the young India is needed in bringing about the change by introducing novel ways into the system.

Global Warming - A myth?

I am sure we all must have read or heard about the dire effects of global warming. At the same time, it is not surprising that we hear controversial statements about it all being a huge shallow myth.

The most respected scientific bodies across the world have stated unequivocally that global warming might be the next war for mankind if necessary precautions are not taken. There is no debate among the scientists about the basic facts of global warming’s cause and effects. There are many ‘irreversible’ effects observed by the research communities like climate change, glacier retreat and disappearance, sea level rise, acidification, oxygen depletion among many others, which in turn impact the many bio layers. Unchecked global warming affects the terrestrial eco-regions and the stable ways in which nature acts. In the coming centuries, it is predicted that global warming can trigger a mass extinction of about 50% of the current flora and fauna on earth. Global warming can particularly have a harsh effect on the socio economic conditions of people and countries. The likely severe impacts included increased hunger and disease due to decreased rainfall and severe weather events. No wonder that there is an increased awareness and urge regarding this matter in
all parts of the world.

Does it sound like exaggeration? How can everyday phenomenon have such drastic and huge effects? It is not surprising that many people think that it’s nothing more than a huge swindle. Earth has through centuries, gone through so much more and has yet been able to survive. The climate changes, disappearing species, submerging islands are not something new. The same science which talks about the adversities of global warming also talks about the good effects it has in maintaining the stability of the nature like infusion of increased methane and the belief of many economists that the warming produces a net benefit of increased income and better standards of living. It takes a lot more to implement green practices in terms of energy and economics to justify global warming’s effects. Supporters of this argument state that if the cause of warming is mostly natural, which in fact it is, then there is little we can do about it.

As quoted by Blaise Pascal “The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble”, I personally believe in simple logic of nature. Any minute disturbance shakes a stable system to some extent which has long term effects over a large period of time, good or bad. In the case of global warming, I believe that the consequences are greatly bad. As a part of this system, I feel responsible too. Even if the whole issue is controversial; the whole essence is that we should protect the space we live in. May be the effects are exaggerated, or the consequences too small to have gained such great attention but it is something we should be concerned of and as said, prevention is better than cure. I staunchly believe that it is the right time to act. We all in spite of the varied thinking agree to the fact that this is the only earth we got.

Man has been bestowed with the best in the life possible, the ability to think, the virtue of creation and unfortunately the power to destruct.

Cultural shock or plain ignorance!

Clarification : This blog is not a recipe guide and has nothing to do whatsoever with cooking or food or appetite.

Now that I have cleared most of your doubts about what the posts are going to be, I will get back to the usual 'anecdote' posting stuff. Like every blogger who has migrated to a different country... here are my(well not exactly mine) 2 cents to the classic American experience.

--> So its been just two days you are here and damn!! you learnt English so fast!!
--> Two of my fellow Indian friends tagged on facebook which read

" Eating their first ice-cream ever"

--> I had to argue with my manager that 'learnt' is indeed a word and that I did not misspell it :O
--> So.. do you commute by camels in India?
--> Nice costume! (its a dress :x not a halloween costume!!!)

--> well it turns out.. it indeed is a Halloween costume.. I was in one of the Halloween marches and found that 30% people were dressed like indians. 

Thinking of it sometimes, all of us are not so unaware of the life in the US..even back home. May be its just that we made an effort  to know for obvious reasons of flying dreams. This would probably provide an explanation to the two bizzarre ways of thinking, one fully aware and the other.. well as it is supposed to be.

Its just hard to understand if all this is plain ignorance or just a part of the cultural shock. I believe, we are going to ponder on that note for a long long time!!.  Till then... enjoy them!.