Women & Children should be put on the front line of the battle to save the planet under an eleven point program to combat climate change spelt out by Dr Madhav Mehra, President, World Council for Corporate Governance in his main address in the meeting of Environment Scientists, Municipal Councilors, NGOs, College and School Principals and members of Welfare and Environment Protection Forum of Palampur last night at S M Convention Centre at the pre launch of June Convention. He said there could be no gain without pain. India today is joining the category of biggest polluters alongside USA and China. Unless we change our growth model from excessive consumerism to conservationism we could lose as much as 20% of our GDP by 2050. We have to opt for minimalism and move society away from acquisitional mode to experiential mode. This means changing habits, changing life styles, changing consumption patterns & production processes. For this Climate Change and global warming need to be put at the heart of school agenda and part of every child's curriculum. 

Referring to proactivate, an acronym for the eleven point program, Dr Mehra says that we have to price natural capital in our balance sheets, followed by radically increasing energy efficiency, opting for minimal lifestyle, adopting zero waste and close loop systems, capturing CO2 by planting trees, turning to renewable like bio-fuels, solar energy and wind energy. We must invest in green issues, vigorously purse market mechanisms that punish polluters and reward those who cut the emissions through carbon trading, activate women and children to drive the change, training every one to eco innovate and focus on Execution. Women have been recognized as the drivers of change worldwide and with their protective instinct can be the saviours of our planet. 

Commenting on the SEZs Dr. Mehra told that SEZs are further going to damage the ecological balance. Instead, our focus should be on using technology to radically improve the Agricultural output and generate exports of farm fresh organic vegetables for which there is insatiable demand. He added that the saving grace of poverty is that India only uses 6 tones per person per year of natural resources while the average for US and Europe is 72 tones per person per year. Emulating the western growth model could spell an ecological disaster for India. Exporting Vegetables and promoting rural tourism can create more wealth and job opportunities than digging up the planet by mining or concreting. SEZs should only be permitted on wasteland and companies should be asked to negotiate directly with landowners with offers of equity in the enterprises set up on those lands.

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Comments (1)

	1. 03-05-2007 05:54
	Women and children should be protected at any cost. This is an age old practise. Dopamine are found in your brain. Both women and men - seniors or kids , all has certain level of dopamine in their brain. During menstrual cycle , dopamine will either increase hectically or decrease to a very low level. High level of dopamine in the brain is the main reason for mental disorders like depression , phobias , and schizophrenia - hearing voices / seeing visions or in some cases seeing ghosts. Where else , low level of dopamine will lead to headache , coordination disturbances , and blur / double visions Guest Report

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