Modify lifestyle to save the planet: President Droupadi Murmu

New Delhi: Recognising global warming and climate change as the “most pressing” global challenges, President Droupadi Murmu today called for a look at the ancient traditions with a “new perspective” so as to maintain the balance between development and the environment. She invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s name and said he was a true prophet who foresaw the calamities of indiscriminate industrialization and cautioned the world to mend its ways. She also referred to the rise in global temperatures and incidents of extreme weather and pointed out that “unfortunately”, the poor bear the brunt of global warming more than others.

The President stressed the need to modify lifestyle, “if we want our children to live happily on this fragile planet”, she said in her address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day.  

Murmu called the people to reconsider the basic priorities for rekindling respect for nature and humility before the “vast” universe.

Mentioning that India’s interventions in various world forums was now making a positive difference, she said the world has started to look at India with a new sense of respect. “The respect that India has earned on the world stage has resulted in new opportunities as well as responsibilities,” she said.

Referring to India’s presidency of G20, she assured that under India’s leadership, G20 will be able to further enhance its efforts to build a more equitable and sustainable world order. “As G20 represents about two-thirds of the world population and around 85 per cent of global GDP, it is an ideal forum to discuss and find solutions for global challenges,” she said.

Murmu also referred to the declaration of the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets by the United Nations at the suggestion of India.

“Millets were essential ingredients of our diet and they are making a comeback among sections of society. Coarse grains like millets are eco-friendly as they require less water to grow and yet they provide high levels of nutrition. If more and more people turn to millets, it will help conserve ecology and also improve health,” she said.

She also lauded India’s “commendable lead” in giving a policy push to electric vehicles and popularising alternative sources of energy such as solar energy, to tackle the issues of climate change and global warming. “At the global level, however, emerging economies need a helping hand from advanced nations in the form of technology transfer and financial support,” she said.

Referring to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said with it the world had changed within a matter of days. “It has been a time of unprecedented change… During these three years, whenever we feel that we have finally put the virus behind us, it raises its ugly head. However, there is no need to panic because we have learned in this period that our leadership, our scientists and doctors, our administrators and ‘Corona Warriors’ will make every possible effort to meet any situation. At the same time, each of us has also learned not to let our guard down and remain alert,” she said.

– global bihari bureau