Environmental Concern: An Overview

Introduction Environment and environmental concern have become essential part of modern world. Global warming due to green house effect and associated problems are potential threats for the survival of life. In this book authors of various disciplines have explored the environmental issues. At first, Problems relating to pollution due to our irresponsible life style in the name of civilization have been explored. Scientific approaches to minimize or to reduce environmental pollutions have been outlined next. And finally a philosophical and broad approach has taken to address the fundamental issues relating to present day environmental crisis.

Toxic effects of chemicals of disposed batteries and some measures to reduce this potential threat have been explored. The problem of Arsenic pollution in thirteen districts in West Bengal, India, has been pointed out in a paper. According to the author, Ganga-Brahmaputra belts in India and Padma-Meghna belts in Bangladesh jointly comprise the most extensive arsenic affected areas in the world. In a paper entitled -Impact of Use of Chemical Pesticides on Environment and Human Health' the author warns us about the toxicity in vegetation, soil and water due to pesticides affecting human health such as reproductive abnormalities, genetic mutations and carcinogenicity. Man made air pollutants affects the pulmonary functions and causes various respiratory diseases. Over 3 million children per year under age 5 suffer health problem due to smoke and chemicals. One of the authors indicated the pollution of water bodies in lakes, rivers and coastal areas due to Eutrophication caused by the chemical phosphorous in a paper entitled-'Laundry detergent.

In a paper entitled Ecological crisis and Indian Ethics' the writer stresses upon the fact that western Christian approach and modern western scientific perspective can't solve ecological problem, whereas Indian ethical approach can solve it. In Indian culture environment is looked as something which has its own consciousness, which is to worship rather than exploited. So there ecological crisis should not arise. The sacred book Gita says-`God exists equally in all beings'-, so proper appreciation of Indian approach has the patentability of putting an end to ecological crisis. In the same line another author advocates that the epic `Mahabharata' contains integrating concept of environment and man and other inferior creatures of the world. In another paper entitled-`Nature or Culture? Convergence or disagreement' the author states that the dichotomy between nature and culture had been a serious problem reflecting deep-rooted anthropocentrism, which virtually has made the planet, stand on a abyss of extinction. In a direct approach, another author in a paper entitled -live and let live', explains that everything in nature has the right to develop and sustain itself. Thus in order to live happily we should leave nature in its utmost purity, provided it does not become unavoidable disastrous for existence of human being.

We think, the book will be beneficial to all students, research scholars, and those who are concerned with environmental crisis. We expect and invite comments, suggestions and advise from experts as well as students for the betterment of the book.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages