The Environment and Economic Development

In this age of rapidly increasing technology and automation the impression is we have made great advanced and are now in a far better position than the "primitive" civilizations of the past.

Despite the promises of increased leisure time and an improved quality of life, the majority of people are not receiving these benefits. In our "advanced" cities the majority of people spend most of their waking hours traveling to and from and working at jobs they don't enjoy to pay for the consumer goods they have been convinced will bring them the "good life". There are also many unemployed. They can't play this game and thus consider themselves most unfortunate.

It is ironical that most of the environmental damage, which is now a great concern to many people, is primarily a by-product of manufacturing consumer goods.

The securing of raw materials, the waste and pollution produced by factories and the disposal of consumer goods at the end of their useful lives account for a large percentage of the environmental problems we are facing. We have seen, in recent years, manufacturers of consumer goods become outwardly very concerned about the environment. It's only a skin-deep concern however. They may package their product in recycled packaging but they are not making significant changes to the impact they are having on the environment.

To "develop" the economy companies are continually trying to introduce new products and trying to increase their customer base by developing the "undeveloped" countries. This "economic development" is at the cost of the environment. The raw materials have to come from somewhere, that means damaging the environment, there has to be more nasty polluting factories and the products themselves, at the end of their useful lives, will add to the huge waste disposal problem faced by the worlds "developed" nations.

There can be no solution to the environmental problem unless the production and marketing of the unlimited range of consumer products is nationalized. These products can only be produced by exploiting valuable natural resources so increasing their production and protecting the environment simultaneously is not possible.

• Our Sick Planet:

  In the West we have spent decades living extravagantly by exploiting the environment. Now the Asian countries are fast catching up with us and Japan has overtaken us. We are consuming finite resources at an incredible rate. We are not in a situation of sustainable growth. We are using resources now with little concern for the future.

  In the last fifty years the destruction and havoc caused to the environment by the push for ever increasing economic development is astounding. Most of the natural forest and wilderness has been lost and with it many species of plants and animals are now extinct or in danger of becoming extinct. So many rivers, lakes and the oceans have been contaminated with toxic wastes and in many places no longer are able to support life.

  This style of living has not left us unscarred either. Now we are facing more and more disease; anxiety, stress and violence are increasing alarmingly; and we don't feel safe any more. Now one has to think twice before going out on the street at night almost anywhere in the world...

• Does Science Have the Answer?

  The finite resources we have consumed to fuel the huge economic growth we have experienced over the past decades cannot be replaced by any amount of scientific endeavor.

  The so-called "advances" made by modern science are now being seen in a different light. We have paid a very high price for a relatively short period of material prosperity. Over the past decades scientists have been practically worshipped as the saviors of mankind as their work has made possible so many new consumer products promising to free us from tiresome chores and make life more pleasant. We can now drive comfortably through the big cities of the world in our motorcars, but we can't breathe the air! Instead of saving mankind this technology may well do just the opposite.

• Development Means Destruction

  When we develop something in one place we have to destroy something in another place. We cannot create something from nothing. While we are creating in one place we have to destroy somewhere else to get the raw materials. We can create chemicals which may do something amazing but the production process also generates toxic wastes and what to do with them? We can create so many things from paper and cardboard but we have to cut down the forests to get the raw materials.

  Economic development means working very hard to create something in one place and to destroy something in another place. If we stand back and look at the "big picture" we might well ask if is worth all the trouble.

  If we instead live a simple life in harmony with nature depending on the land, agriculture and the cows for our necessities many of our problems would vanish.

• The Solution

  This document presents timeless solutions from the ancient Vedic texts from India. The knowledge presented here is perfect and is relevant for all times. It is not a result of mundane research or mental speculation but rather it is knowledge descending from a higher, spiritual platform.

  It is possible to be happy and comfortable on this planet and to live in harmony with nature and all other living entities. This science is presented in books such as Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.

  There is a solution but it requires a change of consciousness. My request is that you seriously consider the contents of this document and then make the necessary changes in your life.

NEXT: Karma and Consciousness

Changing the Face of the Earth
The Changing the Face of the Earth campaign is a world-wide program to bring about a solution to the problems currently faced by this planet and her inhabitants.

The Environment and Economic Development
In this age of rapidly increasing technology and automation the impression is we have made great advanced and are now in a far better position than the "primitive" civilisations of the past.

Karma and Consciousness
The law of karma describes the universe as an interconnected network in which every action causes a reaction to occur in the future. Material scientists understand the gross manifestation of this law in the form of physics, however, they have no idea of the workings of the same law on a more subtle platform.

Vegetarianism and Cow Protection
People are generally unaware of the importance of cows. Cows produce, in large quantities, the miracle food, milk. Milk is produced from the blood of the cow, however she is happy to give her blood transformed in a peaceful, non-violent way in the form of milk.

Plain Living and High Thinking
It is possible to live a comfortable, simple life in harmony with nature. All that is required is some land, cows and food grains. With these three necessities we can obtain everything required for a simple life.

The Varnasrama Social System
There is a natural system of social organisation which can bring about a peaceful society where everyone is happy. This system is described in the timeless Vedic literature of India and it is called Varnasrama dharma.

The Golden Age
This age is called Kali-yuga, or the dark iron age of quarrel and hypocrisy. It is considered a very unfortunate age as spiritual knowledge is covered and almost the entire population of the planet is performing inunlimited sinful activities.

The Science of Mantra Meditation
Sparks are beautiful as long as they are in the fire. Similarly, we have to remain in the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and always engage in devotional service, for then we shall always be brilliant and illuminating.