Dharma for this millennium - Seven

7. INVEST PROFITABLY IN THE PLANET PRACTISING DHARMA

MOTHER NATURE’S biggest gift to all live beings is the Green Growth on Planet Earth on which all of us live, besides the domestic animals, forested wild animals, birds, bats, insects, bees, ants, pests, marine life in the sea, life in Icey and glacial conditions,  marine botanical life, moss, sea weeds, butterflies, crickets, wasps, glowing insects like fire flies, night flyers like bats; earthworms, several other forms of crawling insects, snakes (land & water & sea), coral wealth, etc. The gift is beyond the comprehension of common human beings. According to Historic Information of Vedas there are as many as 8,400,000 live forms on the Planet. All this wealth, is the true wealth brought to existence by the creator, whoever it be, and there is no harm in calling the creator as GOD; and it is immaterial it is agreed or disagreed, since these are realities and unquestionable known facts. Because of constant intervention by humans and abnormal and indiscriminate exploitation of the riches of the planet, quite a few species disappeared and are extinct from the surface of the earth, and some others are being threatened to be extinct, before long.

Dharma does not dispute such real facts. On the other hand welcomes the facts, encourages the growth, survival, coexistence, preservation and propagation; believing in the right for survival, as well as the dependence on other forms of life, as well the need for equanimity and environmental balance to sustain the natural environmental conditions brought forward in the evolutionary process of the Earth from its state of Gondwanaland status to the Growth of Continents and Glaciers, and the formation of Mid-ocean Ridges, Innumerable Islands, and lagoons.  The increasing salinity of the landmass adjoining oceans is posing problems to the habitat in different countries by way of saltiness of drinking water, and aridness of the agricultural land affecting the crops and crop patterns. There are no options than to accept them. Dharma also believes the usefulness and necessity of the naturally occurring evolutionary processes beneficial to all life be accepted, adjusting to the changes brought forward, and not confronting, or with ideas of controlling. Preparing to live with evolutionary changes with a change in attitude to accept and coexist to live enable happy living conditions. Whereas, confrontation and brooding makes living intolerable. This realism itself is practicing dharma in its true sense.

In the light of the above information, ‘Investment in the Planet’ is the necessary need of the millennium to sustain the Natural Conditions of Planet Earth, and in particular the greenery blessed and gifted by way of grasses, meadows, plants, forests, rain forests, and the balancing sustainability and Equanimeous States attained between the landmass, glacier mass, and water mass; and which are necessary for the sustenance and maintenance of existing Environmental and Atmospheric States of the different positions of the planet, and to contain the alarming Global Warming conditions threatening life and live beings. Scientists and scientific research have been warning through published works supported by collected information from various scientific labs, environmental agencies, atmospheric studies, weather monitoring agencies, thermal conditions on solid mass and the oceanic belt surrounding the earth.

Frequency of Natural Calamities by way of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, tsunamis, landslides, cyclonic storms, floods, glacier movements being on upswing there is  every cause for worry, and more so as the mitigation is not in human hands.

It is appropriate to quote for some statistical figures, Nellie S Huang and John Waggoner, “Invest in the Planet, from ‘Kiplinger’s, page 21, April 2020 –

“Modern Life is worrying about Environmental Calamity: Millions of tons of garbage in the ocean, dwindling resources, and horrendous natural disasters brought on by rising global temperatures. We all want to save the world, and we all have different thoughts on what the danger is and how to fix it.

In 2019, the planet recorded its second-warmest year since modern record-keeping began in 1880, according to two independent studies by scientists at NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (the warmest was 2016). In Australia, extreme heat and high winds fueled gargantuan brush fires that killed at least 24 people and devastated wildlife, with the final economic toll yet to come.

Meanwhile, according to the insurance giant Aon, flash floods in the U.S., China, India, and Iran accounted for some of the priciest disasters in 2019, tallying combined losses of $53 billion. All told, 2019 closed the costliest decade for natural catastrophes yet. Earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones, flooding, wildfires, droughts, and extreme temperatures contributed to $2.98 trillion in economic damages and losses, $1.1 trillion more than in the previous decade. 

These costs will keep rising and could impede the rate of economic growth in this century unless we grapple with climate change now, says the U.S. Global Change Research program, a congressionally mandated group. Certainly, more investors are addressing the issue through their portfolios. “Call it a tipping point if you want, but concern about climate change is top of mind for all investors,” says Morningstar’s Hale.”

Investment in the planet can be in various forms.

Afforestation is one of the means. With the global awareness of the depleting greenery, indiscriminate exploitation of forest wealth, the reduction of rain forests, and glaciated mass, participation by all the nations to increase rapidly and maintaining the forest wealth as an asset is in accordance with the recognition of the Rishis and dharma; and these when implemented could impact to improve the extreme weather patterns and restoration of tolerable limits to sustain life. Certain plants like Casuarinas, Eucalyptus, Sublabels, considered as relatively fast growing plants should be encouraged to grow on a large scale, along coastal belts, interior arid lands; as well as in Social Forestry Zones, initiating measures to improve upon the existing greenery of the planet.   

Social Forestry can be another area that could be taken up on a very large scale, side by side to the investment to developmental activities globally, and these should improve considerably the greenery in living areas and industrial belts; and all nations should realize and put in practice. All infrastructure projects like roadways, highways, railroads, housing, industry, hotels and tourism etc. should be encouraged and insisted upon the laying of parallel social forestry, or greenbelts in a big way.

Changeover from coal based, or diesel based electricity generation to solar, wind, hydro, and alternate energy sources should go a long way to arrest or reduce the heat source contamination of the atmosphere, as well as contribute to the reduction of pollution levels.

Scientific Research to tap the enormous accumulating heat of volcanos and volcanic belts could be helpful to sustain human requirements; and could also help to mitigate the extreme conditions that are faced by the people living in the proximity of the volcanos.

By far the easiest investment for one and all could be the Investment in PLANTS, and plant growth and maintenance. The young and old alike could participate freely and contribute to the common cause of universal concern for the increasing pollution levels, and the urgent need for the reduction of the levels associated with towns and cities, where the density of the population level is already and tending to go up further. It should not be difficult for each person living on the planet to recognize the need to plant at least one plant, its growth and care, and this in itself should go a long way of meeting the common global cause of reducing pollution. Those who are not able to plant trees could also participate in this effort by taking to pot culture, and Bonsai plant growth to derive satisfaction and working for the common cause, and abiding by dharma.

Recognition of the maintenance of forest belts, cyclical growth of agricultural products with changing crop patterns, reuse of green waste, full utilization of animal waste, use of agriproducts for pest control, minimal use of chemical sprays, manuring, recycling of the available resources inclusive of the green plant waste and animal waste. Utilizing natural waste matter from plants, grains, oil seeds, vegetables, have been in vogue from ancient times of rishis, the originators of dharma. Realization is dawning on these recognized means for the security and conservation of the available planetary resources and usage and keeping the survival and the needs of future generations. The changeover is evidenced by the increase in ‘Organic Foods’ on the shelves of Shopping Areas, a very encouraging factor that people are aware and are preferring such goods, becoming part of the efforts to improve life and healthy life, thereby respecting the environment, in their own way.

ABCs of Investing in the Planet through Plants

Ayurveda, the medical science using only herbs, roots, bark, leaves, flowers, seeds, extracts of plants, originated due to the Ancient Rishis and the medicines, tonics, powders and gels were made following Dharma to protect and help the mankind through service.

Balms treating pain, swelling, insect bites originated from plant produce due to Ayurveda. Bottling plants and growing them is become an art of a few.

Colors and color spectrum giving captivating color combinations originating from plants and nature. Cactus plants also captivate some and have their end uses. Coleus plants displaying varying colors and mixed color combo will be appealing to catch any eye.  So are Croutons that survive indoors and outdoors. Creepers too have their appeal giving good cover and privacy. Culture based plant breeding for commercial use has come into vogue thanks to science and research.

Dwarfing of plants giving rise to Bonsai plants presenting their charm interest some and are good for land starved and space starved people.

Eucalyptus plants grow fast and require little maintenance. Therefore, such plants could be extensively used for reforestation.

Fragrance begins with flowers and certain plant parts, and they form the basis for the scents manufacture and which have a commercial market. Fruits offer the best food in the natural state. Orchard growing and fruit canning are profitable when grown on a commercial scale, offering the best and readily absorbing and energizing food with variety.

Gardening is a good hobby and a relaxing exercise of convenience with ensuring and satisfying results. One who takes to gardening and plants growing does not face time as problematic even in old age.

Hanging garden culture has its own appeal and beauty. Hothouse Gardening has come to stay for domestic and commercial usage. Housing without plants is unthinkable.

Indoor plant growing and rearing catch the eye of visitors instantly and are a pride of the owners.

Jungles offer wide variety of food and shelter to humans and wild life. Forest Produce is wide ranging offering fruits, nuts, bamboo, herbs, fire wood, sufficient wood for house construction, poles for electrical distribution, cellulose for paper, ropes etc.

Kanas plants display varying colors and mixed colors and grow fast. Being of tropical climatic origin they flower during summer times.

Lawns are a feast to any eye, and vegetation starts with them. Lilies of different types with and without fragrance captivate many.  

Modern gardens are well laid out, offering employment opportunities for planning, execution and maintenance. Medicinal plants and the growing of such plants has come to commercial levels because of the demands of the medical needs and also the cosmetics industry requirements.

Net culture to rear plants of different geometrical shapes, mazes, and of animals of different sizes is a specialty, but loved by one and all.

Orchids are special and difficult to grow, although they grow in the wild in jungles. Some nurseries are successful in growing them.

Pot growing plants can be had by everyone, and rearing them   should be relatively easy, but call for change in soil once six to twelve months. Similarly plants can be grown in pots of varying sizes depending on the nature of the plant.

Quality of life of humans begins with plants and plant life.

Range of plants growing in the wild on Hillocks and valleys in the natural state offer a feast to the eyes of onlookers, but little studied and occasionally photographed.

Soils, Soil Studies are important for plants and plant growth; and are equally important for Housing and Infrastructure activities.

Tubers culturing in sandy soils, marshy soils, hill slopes, is a specialty. So also, Tanks and Ponds growing different varieties of water based plants induce some people. Terrace gardens which a feast to the eye could be encouraged, wherever possible

Uprooting is a praiseworthy innovation for large trees, yielding, non-yielding, showy, ready fencing, ready bordering plants, tall plants like palms, dates etc. their rearing in large pots, transportation, replanting with guaranteed transplantation by trained technicians has developed as an art, specialized scientifically by a few has come to stay, and in demand. The work of ‘Moon Valley Nurseries, Gilroy, CA 95020’, in this area is impressive.

Village development with side by side emphasis on commercial crop growing, nursery development, fruit orchards, flower growing to cater the requirements nearby towns and cities; and if excess for exports have come to stay and to meet the demands.

Water plants, grasses, weeds, flowering and non-flowering; once considered waste are finding uses this millennium.

X-ray, Gamma ray irradiation tools for treatment of seeds to increase shelf life of seeds, preventing rotting due to pests has helped the distribution and export of good seeds calling for more efforts.

Young children are the hope of any nation as its future citizens. As such, they should be inculcated to interest themselves in plants and plant growth to protect the Planet.

Zoological growth activity to safeguard endangered species should go hand In hand with the pace of plant growth and preservation from encroachments are necessary for posterity’s sake and the future of the Planet.

Thus, the scope for participation of all people, from all sectors of activity commercial and noncommercial is possible. Growing plants is one of the best ways to be with nature to derive satisfaction, utilize leisure time usefully, and enjoy the beauty offered by them, and to tap the produce and to share with others practicing dharma and dharmic principles.

The alphabetical order illustrates existing and possible Investments in the Planet with coordinated inputs.

Suffice it to say, dharma is part of all such efforts and programs beneficial to Nature and Humans on the Planet.

Dharmo Rakshati Rakshati: Let Dharma Rule to Preserve the Planet.

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