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CULTURAL STRATEGIES FOR
POLLUTION CONTROL
Suresh C. Jain
Culture, a product of the interaction of man and environment, consists of inherited artificies, goods, technical proce-ses, ideas, habits and values. It is an expression of its people's ideals, temperament, religion, climate and outlook of life, Love, respect and even worship of life is the basic socio-cultural aspect of our cultures. Ahimsā is a way of life and attitude towards all forms of living beings as towards ones ownsolf. It requires one to be alert in thought, speech and action and helps in enhancing ethical moral, social, spiritual evolution of all forms of life including human. Man should have a discriminatory power in utilising energy for promoting human values. Constant alertness and thoughtful practice of Ahimsa is the highest code of conduct and does not require any label of religion or ism For practicing a Ahimsak (non-violent) way of life the feeling of 'me' has to the eliminated, which is responsible for generating vices like lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego. Our national, social and personal life has to be planned in such a way so as to minimise the disturbances in the life of other livings, called Sravkācåra method of living in Jain religion. The present day emphasis on appropriate environmental ethics from dominance to respect for all living creatures & things in our teacbing is a similar move.
The movement of man away from established values under the influence of technology and mechanical automation is generating animality in which the violence is the law. The uncontrolled technological development in the modern age is a serious threat to ecological balance including acid rain and violence in society. It has been further enhanced by heavy killing of animals for human consumption, deforestation and unnatural technological developments including exploitation of natural resources.
It is therefore necessary to establish a triangular relationship among man, animal and plants based on Indian cultures, so as to establish a New World Order of Peace, Purity and Prosperity.
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