The Ailing Planet Objectives Green Movement Sustainable development Zoo at Zambia Brandt Commission Four Principal biological

systems Article 48 of Indian Constitution Population Explosion Era of Responsibility 2 marks 1. Locate the lines in the text that support the title The Ailing Planet. The following lines in the text support the title The Ailing Planet Are we to leave our successors a scorched Planet of advancing deserts,impoverished landscapes and ailing environment. A three years study using satellites and aerial photography conducted by theUnited Nations warns that the environment has deteriorated so badly that it is criticalin many of the 88 countries investigated.

2. What does the notice The Worlds most dangerous animal at a cage in thezoo at Lusaka, Zambia? Signify.

The notice signifies that there is depletion of resources and deterioration of environment. Man is responsible for this and his own survival is threatened.

3. Why does the author agree that the growth of world population is one of thestrongest factors distorting the future of human society? The population of India was estimated to be 920 million in 1994. Overpopulationupsets all plans of development and puts a severe strain on the earths principalbiological systems. This leads to poverty and unemployment and development ishampered.

4. What causes endless anguish to common man? The endless anguish is caused to common man, when laws are constituted but arenever enforced or respected in our country. Evils like casteism, untouchability, andbonded labour still exist and need to be abolished by strict laws.

5. What are the unusually alarming statistics about the population that theauthor talks about?

The author says that the population explosion has distorted the future of humansociety. Mankind took a million years to reach the first billion. The second billion wasadded in just another 100 years and the twentieth century has added 3.7 billion more.The present population is over 5.7 billion. Every four days the population increases byone million.

6. Why is the Green Revolution important? The Green Revolution is important as the signs of the earth which are connected withlife shows the earth as a patient. We have moral obligations. We must become goodstewards of the planet and act as responsible trustees of the legacy for futuregenerations.

7.What is the concept of sustainable development? Sustainable development is that progress which is made to meet the needs of thepresent and takes care not to endanger the future. This means we must not deprive theworld of its resources and protect our endangered species.

8. What is the role of industry in the new era of responsibility? Industry is the main source of environmental pollution. In the new era of responsibility, the industrialists must become conscious of their responsibility towardsenvironment. They

should remain environmental friendly even when they exist asleading manufacturers.

9. Justify the title of the essay. The author has depicted the planet earth as someone who is suffering from a disease.The green movement takes a holistic view of the situation and seeks to maintain andconserve the environment and maintain it.

10. What is the holistic and ecological view of the world that has emerged inrecent times? The view about the world in the recent times is that it is an organism which hasbecome ailing and needs looking after. It also has metabolic needs and vital processeswhich have to be nurtured and preserved. We have to save the earth for our successors.

11. What is the concept of sustainable development? The concept of sustainable development means that the development which is meantto meet the demands of the present generation keeping in mind the fact that theenvironment and resources have to be preserved and conserved for future generations.

12. What is the status of the earths forest systems? The earths forest systems are rapidly depleting. We are eroding our tropical forests atan alarming rate of 40-50 million acres in a year. We lose one and a half acre of forests per second.

13. Explain the statement forests precede mankind; deserts follow. Forests have helped to nurture mankind from times immemorial but man hasdestroyed these forests ruthlessly and deserts have taken their place. Man isdestroying himself by destroying forests.

14. Has the growth of world population contributed to the bad environmentsituation today? Yes, the growth of population has led to a degradation of environment. Naturalresources are rapidly depleting due to growing demands. The forests and fuels are decreasing.

15. What is the role of industries in the preservation of environment? Industries and industrialists have to exercise control in use of natural resources. Thetop officials need to become the guardians of our environment if we have to think about our future generations.

16. What did Mrs. Thatcher say about mans lifespan on the earth? She says that a human life is like a life tenancy on the earth and not a free holdpossession. Therefore, the need arises for controlled actions and the necessity to look after the earth in order to prolong its life span.

17. What are the four principal biological systems that the author refers to? The author refers to fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands as they form thefoundation of the global economic system. They provide raw materials for industry.

18. How are the earths principal biological systems being depleted? Earths principal biological systems are being depleted by excessive use. Over fishingis quite common. Forests are being destroyed to obtain firewood for cooking.Grasslands are turning into deserts and produce from croplands is decreasing.

10 marks 19. How has the growth of world population affected the environment? Supportyour answer with suitable arguments? The author Nani Palkhivala enumerates some alarming statistics to suggest how thegrowth of world population has tremendously affected the environment. Thepopulation which took a million years to reach the first billion took just another hundred years to reach the second billion. Another century passed it and reached thealarming figure of 3.7 million. Presently it is over 6 million and there is a hugedemand on resources, natural or man made. The resources worldwide are under a lotof stress and pressure.The four principal biological systems i.e. fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplandswhich form the foundation of the global economic system and provide raw materialsto the industry are facing a lot of stress. The human demands on these systems areincreasing at a rapid speed. Hence, sustainability and productivity are both hampered.When this happens, fisheries collapse, forests disappear, grasslands becomewastelands and croplands deteriorate.The need of the hour is to become sensitive towards the needs of the environment toget affected; we will leave behind nothing but an ailing planet for our futuregenerations.

20. We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed itfrom our children. Discuss. Earths resources are limited and will not last for ever. In the twentieth century, therehas been a revolutionary change in

human perception. We cannot take the planet for granted. We are mere custodians. We have to take a holistic view of the very basis of our existence. The earth is a living organism of which we are parts. It has its ownmetabolic needs to stay alive and must be respected and preserved for the futuregeneration.What is required is sustainable development that meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the destiny of future generation. There are four biologicalsystems, namely fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. They form thefoundation of the global economic system. They supply us food and raw materials for industry. In larger areas of the world, these systems are reaching unsustainable levels.Their productivity is being damaged.The growth of world population is another factor distorting the future of our children.Development is not possible if population increases. In this era of responsibilitytowards our future generation, population must be controlled. Industries must becomeenvironmental friendly. Now many industrialists, politicians and writers have realizedtheir responsibility in preserving the non renewable natural resources for the future generation.