Vinter Metanoia

Edit - I know its been wayy over 11 August but the deadline is extended so we can still take actions. Cheers! On March 2020, the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change revised the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). In a situation we find ourselves in- a climate crisis- this might seem like a good move. ‘Revised’ usually and is supposed to mean ‘Improved” or the like. But this isn’t true. EIA 2020 is worse for the environment. 1.  Environmental clearance is something like a permit given to anyone undertaking activities that interfere with the natural environment, from a large hydroelectric power-station to something as close to home like, well, homes. It makes sense to start the construction work after getting the permit after weighing all the pros and cons, right? But according to EIA 2020, it is legal to start projects before receiving the environmental clearance. 2.    A public hearing to consider the opinions of the locals is important to weigh th...

Homo sapiens  have the privilege of bearing the weight of the most developed brain in all of evolution's story. But we keep using this perk of ours in ways that are anti-intelligent. Here's what humans have done as an effect of nurturing the myth that they are the most important things ever. 1. Environmental destruction.  The most pressing problem today is climate change. But are we going anywhere near solving this problem? It's one of those problems whose solutions are out there in the open but we've closed our minds into believing that it's impossible to find a cure just because the cure requires us to redesign huge parts of our lifestyle. 2. Speciesism. Not many practically are willing to accept that humans are also animals. The only time they do, they probably are in a conversation with scientific grounds. Just because humans have the most evolved brain does not mean we are less animal. With the same logic, it can be said that blue whales are the largest animals...

Humans have done so much with the motive of "leaving behind their marks on Earth." One of them is the introduction and application of the concept of "countries" and therefore, borders . I remember those few moments of silence while the term "CAA" was mentioned. Not the guilty silence, but the silence fuelled with ignorance.  What is a country ? According to Wikipedia, " The term  country  refers to a political state or nation or its territory." Why countries? - Humans have evolved as tribes with self-sufficient, complacent, and competitive lifestyles. This instinct holds true even now despite many being disconnected from this system. -Humans have used their most evolved brains to tie themselves to labels depending on race, religion, creed, and whatever else that has no basis to be factors of separation. Why I feel the concept of "countries" is facing its worst now (administrative units are better). Hatred. Stereotypes. Insensitivity. Wa...