المنتدى العالمي المعني بالأمن الغذائي والتغذية

Friends,

Let us begin by admitting that we (world citizens) have collectively been extremely sluggish, casual, irresponsible in acknowledging the serious nature of the implications of climate change for us as well as for the planet. Doing too little too late; countries and their leaders still consider economic indicators as an universal remedy for wellbeing, progress, advancement, development.

Currently India, in particular, is riding on a seemingly unstoppable juggernaut of economic gratification at the cost of everything else. Only time will tell how this will play out in short, medium and long term repercussions and damage; benefits and advantages.

Global statistics in all key areas from energy to economics to ecology to human wellbeing don’t portray a pleasant picture from any angle such that one may at the end of the day rest well; look forward to a pleasant morrow.

If at all, one may find a few answers to the woes of our times in:

• Redefining the smallest social unit to be a community/ neighbourhood rather than a family by which definition we continue while dealing with matters of policy and practice.
• Rebuilding community for self reliance, self sufficiency, self governance
• Adopting an ecosystem approach in all spheres of human activity
• Creating systems that ensure our primary source of energy is the Sun and the photosynthetic process; and renewables.
• Abandon wasteful expenditure on territorial defense  
• Work towards Global fellowship.
• Rebuild the soil, recreate forests, revisit indigenous wisdom, restore biodiversity, rejuvenate water bodies, clean up the air.
• Think and live human scale.
• Adopt an integrated approach in dealing with all issues.

If localized efforts  are initiated in one or more of these areas, we may collectively  hope for a relatively smooth transition through these challenging times.

I am well aware that this may all seem far fetched and out of context at first reading. The world having run out of ideas (obvious from what we have brought upon ourselves), there is only scope for dreaming left.