Environmental Ethics

Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Industrial onslaught :
After agriculture came the industrial revolution which further ruined the environmental conditions. In addition to direct pollution of environment by industrial emissions of poisonons gases into atmosphere and toxic effluents into water systems and soil the most harmful impact of industrialisation is that it is triggering consumerison more and more and to meet the increasing demands, more and more industries are coming up which further triggers consumerism and the vicious cycle is going on. Before industrialisation it was only increasing number of people that was adversely affecting the environment. Now it is double edged sword i.e. of population increase and consumerism that is cutting ruthlessly the very fabric of environmental safety.
Earlier the requirements for food, clothing and shelter were very limited and so also the energy requirements. Most of the items whether food, cloth, houses, implements were hand made. It was cottage industry of almost every household that supplied all requirements. This provided employment to most of the people both males and females. Cottage industry is almost in doldrums because of more and more mechanisation and automation in industries. Even small scale industries are unable to compete with the big ones owned by corporate giants. The technology used and quality of goods produced by cottage industry were quite superior. The fabulous fineness of Dhaka muslin is well authenticated in factual historical records. The iron pillar of Delhi, its stainless quality is still puzzling the scientists. The temple architecture of Hindu period and Mugal architecture of red fort and of fairy wonder in marble of Taj are envy of even most modern architectural technology. The point is that technologies should be such that they are harmless and benevolent for short as well as long terms and for all people for all time i.e. present and future generations. The destructive technologies such as that of atom bombs, biological and chemical weapons should be discarded. Energy intensive technologies based on fossil fuels should be
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