________________
116
MEDIEVAL IANISM:CULTUREAND ENVIRONMENT
devastation than nature normally would. One should not overlook the fact than an animal, especially bred for its flesh, needs a much larger area of land for its food than a human being. Vegetarianism is put forward as a solution to food problems caused by rapidly increasing population.
Ecology
Ecology is a study of Nature dealing with the maintenance of environmental balance. The connection Vegetarianism has with ecology is on the basis of 'live and let live' instead of utilizing the means on earth for conquest of Nature by destroying all forms of life.
Today, the conflict between Man and Nature, has reached disastrous proportions. Man is making war against Nature. Chemicals have been created for use in killing insects and other pests. Farms, gardens, forests vegetables and fruits are sprayed with insecticides and pesticides. Is it insecticides or biocides?
We are today in the midst of pollution. We destroy the earth with chemicals and poison the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. Every year hundreds of millions of tonnes of chemically active substances harmful to every living being, are discharged into the earth's atmosphere. It has also been observed in the context of the rise in world-wide industrial output a trend towards increase in the discharge of production waste into the biosphere. This is already adversely affecting the plant and animal kingdoms as well as the people's health. In fact, we destroy any form of life.
Is there no way cut? It is difficult to resolve the problems of the preservation of the environment without international co-operation because pollution of the atmosphere and of rivers and seas is not limited to
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
