Environment 12Feb05 at CHRL.pps
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Transcript of Environment 12Feb05 at CHRL.pps
EnvironmentEnvironment
Dr. P R ArunIndia Centre for Human Rights and Law
Human Rights & EnvironmentHuman Rights & EnvironmentRights inherent in our nature as human beings and without which we
cannot live as human beings First Generation
– Political and Civil Second Generation
– Social, Economic and Cultural Third Generation -
– Development– Environment– Peace– Access to Resources, information
What is EnvironmentWhat is Environment
Your environment is the sum total of Your environment is the sum total of everything outside you everything outside you
((Internal environment ?).It includes – Living and nonliving things – Natural and unnatural/artificial– Physical, Biological, Psychological
Environmental Damage Today Environmental Damage Today We are losing
– 300 km2 of rainforest, (1 acre / second)– 186 km2 land due to desertification, – 40 to 100 species
And we are adding– 250,000 people– 2,700 tons of CFC (chlorofluorocarbons)– 15 million tons of carbon. Tonight the Earth will be a little hotter, its waters more
acidic, and the fabric of life more threadbare."
Global Ecological foot printsGlobal Ecological foot prints
Importance of EnvironmentImportance of Environment
– Natural Environment is Responsible for life on earth Evolved through millions of years of evolution Provides Invaluable Ecosystem services
Ecosystem servicesEcosystem services
– Oxygen and water– Detoxification and decomposition of wastes – Conserve soils and their fertility – Pollination of flowers & Dispersal of seeds – Protection from the ultraviolet rays – Maintenance of biodiversity – Moderation of weather extremes and their impacts – Provision of aesthetic beauty and intellectual and
spiritual stimulation for the human spirit
Threats to EnvironmentThreats to Environment
Severest threat is from us, humans– Pollution
Air, water, Soil, ..– Destroy Natural Habitats
Deforestation, Hunting, reclamation, – Alter the Environment
Green house Gases, Ozone depleting substances
Natural calamities– Earth Quakes, Forest fires, Volcanoes, Cyclones, ….
Residues & Wastes from Residues & Wastes from HumansHumans
Factors contributing – urbanization– industrialization– human population growth– production and use of disposable products
Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste
Management– Secured landfill - least expensive– Deep well injection– Incineration of Hazardous waste– Hazardous Waste Recycling and Neutralization– Source Reduction
AgricultureAgriculture
Traditional Modern
Productivity Low High
Labour High Less
Environmental Pollution Low High
Genetic Diversity High Low
Sustainability High Low
Scale of Operation Small/medium Large
One of the largest environmental Damage over the last 10,000 years
PollutionPollutionAir/ Atmosphere
– CO2, SO2, NO, CFC, Water
– Industrial effluents, Sewage, Pesticides, Fertilizers,
Soil– Solid wastes, Effluents, sewage, …
Noise pollution, Radiation
Pollution & Damage to LifePollution & Damage to Life
Natural Flora and Fauna– Forests, Wildlife
Human beings, domestic animals, plants
Health impacts– Physical, Mental, Social, Spiritual
Trade in tiger bone– Major factor that threatens survival– Used for thousands of years in Asian
medicine for treatment of rheumatismIvory trade
– Decimated Indian Elephant populations and skewed sex ratio
Tiger bone wine
Hunting/ PoachingHunting/ Poaching
Shrinking rangesShrinking ranges
Siberian TigerBengal Tiger
Asian Elephant
Endangered Indian WildlifeEndangered Indian Wildlife
Therapeutic pollutionTherapeutic pollution
RadiationRadiationDanger
– Roentgen equivalent man - REMS– damage cells & tissues
Policy– USDE– Nuclear waste disposal is highly
controversial
Noise PollutionNoise Pollution
Measure by annoyance factor Frequency
– cycles per second– hertz– vibrations per second
Amplitude– decibels (dB)
Noise abatement– Policy - Noise Control Act of 1972– Education programs– Environmental changes
Environmental RightsEnvironmental Rights
Environmental Damages – Caused by the Rich and Powerful
Rich/developed Nations, Corporates, Industries– Affect the poor and Marginalised
Developing countries, laborers, tribals, Environmental services and ill-effects are
disproportionately distributed
Environmental LawsEnvironmental Laws
Indian Forest Act 1927 Wildlife protection Act 1972 Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1977 Forest Conservation Act 1980 Environmental Protection Act 1986
– CRZ Rules 1992– EIA Notification 1994
Article 51(A)g of the Constitution
Tradition of ConservationTradition of Conservation Animal worship
– Snake, Peacock, Rat, Cow, Sacred groves
– Sthala Vruksha Concept,– Sacred flowers, leaves etc for Pooja
Bishnoy Community– Known to lay down lives for plants/wildlife
Budhism and Gandhism & Universal Brotherhood concepts
Emperor Ashoka established Animal Hospitals in 3rd Century BC
Man-Animal ConflictsMan-Animal Conflicts
Examples– Leopard menace at Sanjay Gandhi National
Park, Borivili our interference with the wildlife habitats
– Crop raiding by elephants Destruction of Wildlife Corridors
Bharatpur (Keoladeo National Park) Wrong conservation decisions avoiding people
Myth and RealityMyth and Reality
““Nature conservation is Against developmentNature conservation is Against development ?” ?”Truth
– Ultimately no development is sustainable without taking care of Nature,
– On the other hand people participation is vitalSustainable Development
– “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”*
*World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) Our Common Future
How can we help EnvironmentHow can we help Environment– Avoid Wildlife products
Avoid Ivory, Fur, leather, etc, – Minimise the use of wooden/paper materials. – Plant trees/plants – Participate in decision making through EIAs– Respond positively to conservation efforts– Join hands with concerned organizations which are working
for Environment– Visit Natural forests and Sanctuaries and feel the
Environment at its natural state– Recognize everyone's right to have equal share of
environmental resources and risks
Thank YouThank You