Everytime I fell ill - cold, cough, headache or anything - my dad would say, 'This is a warning from your body, don't abuse it and don't ignore it.' It might sound silly and of course, I'm also full of the arrogant ingredient that young people have - I don't care, but. But, I know that there's truth to it. There's always some truth to what daddys and mommys say, and some lesson to learn. So, heed my body's warning or not, there is another parallel I must draw.
The Global Warning.
Its getting hot. And not because of hip-hop culture. I'm writing this blog not out of scientific enlightenment. I'm writing it because I can't bear the heat. And I wonder, its only April. It's going to get much worse this summer. And what will it be like next year? And the year after? Will we be able to step out into the sunlight? Or will we be 'dangerously' prone to skin cancers and other horrors if we basked in the sun?
How soon before the water runs out? And how soon before the oceans rise? This issue is now bothering our political leaders, or well, at least visionaries. The Times of India thought enough to print a first page article about it. Al Gore made a film about and dramatically warned The White House. Apocalypse is coming.
What I'm scared about is, in whose hands lie the important decisions? Who can save us now? Can we all make a difference? Or is it really too late?
Jane Goodall visited Google Hyderabad a few months ago. Her talk was incredibly inspiring. She's living the life of those we read about. The One Man Army. Woman, I mean. She goes around the world, touching lives, writing books, making speeches. She inspires young people to start doing something. And kids from around the world have responded.
Jane Goodall told us about Roots and Shoots. Her little program that allows volunteers from anywhere in the world to start their own little Roots and Shoots in their city, town, school, home. Each Roots and Shoots group takes up 3 projects. Community level, environmental level, urban, rural or natural levels. Anything their want to make an effort towards, that becomes their project. And there's no compulsion. No monitoring. Just your own will to do something.
It's not too late. Jane Goodall came here a few months ago. I wanted to do something then. That little fire in my belly died out easily. But a little guilty spark remains. Tomorrow, Jeetu and I will start our little Root and Shoot.
More soon.
