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Life Style and Life Style and Global WarmingGlobal Warming Dr. Renuka RajasekaranDr. Renuka Rajasekaran

Aug 2009Aug 2009 RenukaRenuka

Did You know?Did You know?

Global Warming is Global Warming is linked to life-style of linked to life-style of human individuals.human individuals.


What is Global Warming?What is Global Warming?

Global warmingGlobal warming refers to an refers to an increase in the increase in the Earth’s average Earth’s average surface air surface air temperature. temperature. Picture Picture courtesycourtesy

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Global warmingGlobal warming

Global warming Global warming and cooling in and cooling in themselves are not themselves are not necessarily bad, necessarily bad, since the Earth has since the Earth has gone through gone through cycles of cycles of temperature temperature change many change many times in its 4.5 times in its 4.5 billion years. billion years.


Global warmingGlobal warming

However, as used However, as used today, global today, global warming usually warming usually means a fast, means a fast, unnatural increase unnatural increase that is enough to that is enough to cause the expected cause the expected climate conditions to climate conditions to change rapidly and change rapidly and often cataclysmically.often cataclysmically.


Before we deal with this Before we deal with this issue, firstissue, first

Let us see some Let us see some facts about global facts about global warmingwarming

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When did Global When did Global Warming start?Warming start?

Global warming, Global warming, although only recently although only recently recognized as a major recognized as a major ecological issue, ecological issue, probably began near the probably began near the end of the nineteenth end of the nineteenth century when carbon century when carbon dioxide emissions from dioxide emissions from burning coal, gas, and oil burning coal, gas, and oil were spewing into our were spewing into our atmosphere at high atmosphere at high rates. rates.

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Why does the globe Why does the globe warm?warm?

The carbon, which The carbon, which remains in the remains in the atmosphere for 100 atmosphere for 100 years or more, traps years or more, traps more and more heat more and more heat from the sun, creating a from the sun, creating a “greenhouse effect.” “greenhouse effect.” Subsequently, the Subsequently, the earth’s temperatures earth’s temperatures rise, directly resulting in rise, directly resulting in serious changes to our serious changes to our environment .environment .


Witness the effects of Witness the effects of Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Already the effects of Already the effects of Global Warming on Global Warming on wildlife are alarming.wildlife are alarming.

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Climate changes are Climate changes are sharply felt in arctic sharply felt in arctic regions as ice floes regions as ice floes melt away, reducing melt away, reducing hunting options for hunting options for polar bears, and polar bears, and bringing grisly bears bringing grisly bears further northward. further northward.

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Creatures in all Creatures in all regions of the earth regions of the earth are affected as their are affected as their habitats are altered habitats are altered by rising by rising temperatures. temperatures.

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Warmer ocean Warmer ocean temperatures have temperatures have already caused already caused catastrophic shifts in catastrophic shifts in weather patterns weather patterns causing more causing more category 4 and 5 category 4 and 5 hurricanes, drought, hurricanes, drought, and increased and increased coastal flooding.coastal flooding.

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Sea Level Rise: Look at the Sea Level Rise: Look at the Headlines (Headlines (Science DailyScience Daily))

Sea Level Rise Of One Meter Within 100 YearsSea Level Rise Of One Meter Within 100 Years (Jan. 11, 2009) — New research indicates that (Jan. 11, 2009) — New research indicates that the ocean could rise in the next 100 years to a meter higher than the current sea level -- which the ocean could rise in the next 100 years to a meter higher than the current sea level -- which is three times higher than predictions from the UN's Intergovernmental ... > is three times higher than predictions from the UN's Intergovernmental ... > read moreread more

Carbon Dioxide Role In Past Climate RevealedCarbon Dioxide Role In Past Climate Revealed (Apr. 25, 2005) — Researchers at the British (Apr. 25, 2005) — Researchers at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the University of California, Santa Cruz have discovered that Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the University of California, Santa Cruz have discovered that Earth's last great global warming period, 3 million years ago, may have been caused ... > Earth's last great global warming period, 3 million years ago, may have been caused ... > read moreread more

Sea Level Rise Due To Global Warming Poses Threat To New York CitySea Level Rise Due To Global Warming Poses Threat To New York City (Mar. 16, 2009) — (Mar. 16, 2009) — Global warming is expected to cause the sea level along the northeastern US coast to rise Global warming is expected to cause the sea level along the northeastern US coast to rise almost twice as fast as global sea levels during this century, putting New York City at greater almost twice as fast as global sea levels during this century, putting New York City at greater risk for ... > risk for ... > read moreread more

Secrets Of The Deep May Hold Clue To Ancient Global WarmingSecrets Of The Deep May Hold Clue To Ancient Global Warming (Feb. 26, 2006) — Global (Feb. 26, 2006) — Global warming events 420 million years ago, comparable to those currently beginning to affect our warming events 420 million years ago, comparable to those currently beginning to affect our planet, may have caused catastrophic environmental changes in an ancient ocean, planet, may have caused catastrophic environmental changes in an ancient ocean, threatening the life ... > threatening the life ... > read moreread more

NASA Study Finds World Warmth Edging Ancient LevelsNASA Study Finds World Warmth Edging Ancient Levels (Sep. 26, 2006) — A new study by (Sep. 26, 2006) — A new study by NASA climatologists finds that the world's temperature is reaching a level that has not been NASA climatologists finds that the world's temperature is reaching a level that has not been seen in thousands of ... > seen in thousands of ... > read moreread more


Future is at stakeFuture is at stake

Future Future consequences of the consequences of the greenhouse effect greenhouse effect could include could include considerable considerable environmental environmental destruction and destruction and major health risks. major health risks.

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Global warming can be Global warming can be traced directly to human traced directly to human activitiesactivities

combustion of fossil combustion of fossil fuelsfuels

various industrial various industrial processesprocesses

deforestation, and deforestation, and other changes in other changes in

land use. land use.


Individuals matter moreIndividuals matter more

Checking excessive Checking excessive global warming is a global warming is a complex issue that complex issue that requires a multi pronged requires a multi pronged approach from policy approach from policy makers, heads of makers, heads of institutions, and institutions, and

a participation from a participation from every human being who every human being who inhabits planet Earth. inhabits planet Earth.


Did you know?Did you know?

Different countries Different countries contribute differently contribute differently to global warmingto global warming

This means that This means that Global warming has Global warming has a link to the lifestyles a link to the lifestyles of peoples of peoples


For instanceFor instance

The United States The United States constitutes 4 per cent of constitutes 4 per cent of the world population. It is the world population. It is responsible for a quarter responsible for a quarter of all carbon dioxide of all carbon dioxide emissions - an average emissions - an average of 40,000 pounds of of 40,000 pounds of carbon dioxide is carbon dioxide is released by each US released by each US citizen every year - the citizen every year - the highest of any country in highest of any country in the world, and more than the world, and more than China, India and Japan China, India and Japan combinedcombined


Exploitation without Exploitation without inputsinputs

““Man has been endowed with Man has been endowed with reason, with the power to reason, with the power to create, so that he can add to create, so that he can add to what he's been given. But up what he's been given. But up to now he hasn't been a to now he hasn't been a creator, only a destroyer. creator, only a destroyer. Forests keep disappearing, Forests keep disappearing, rivers dry up, wild life's rivers dry up, wild life's become extinct, the climate's become extinct, the climate's ruined and the land grows ruined and the land grows poorer and uglier every day.” poorer and uglier every day.” [[Uncle VanyaUncle Vanya, 1897], 1897]


For ExampleFor Example

Despite having just 2Despite having just 2

per cent of known oilper cent of known oil

reserves, the USreserves, the US

consumes 25 per centconsumes 25 per cent

of the world's oilof the world's oil

production production


Ecosystem and CultureEcosystem and Culture

It is now increasingly It is now increasingly being recognized that being recognized that nature and its rich nature and its rich biodiversity still support, biodiversity still support, and in turn, are and in turn, are maintained by a great maintained by a great diversity of ecosystem diversity of ecosystem people and their cultures people and their cultures the world over (Gadgil, the world over (Gadgil, 1995; McNeely, 1995). 1995; McNeely, 1995).


Ecosystem and human Ecosystem and human beingsbeings

The hunter-gatherers The hunter-gatherers and shifting cultivators and shifting cultivators throughout the world throughout the world typically possessed a typically possessed a 'weltanschauung' in 'weltanschauung' in which man is considered which man is considered an integral part of the an integral part of the ecosystem. ecosystem.

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What is Life-Style?What is Life-Style?

Way of living of individuals, Way of living of individuals, families (households), and families (households), and societies, which they societies, which they manifest in coping with their manifest in coping with their physical, psychological, physical, psychological, social, and economic social, and economic environments on a day-to-day environments on a day-to-day basis. Lifestyle is expressed basis. Lifestyle is expressed in both work and leisure in both work and leisure behavior patterns and (on an behavior patterns and (on an individual basis) in activities, individual basis) in activities, attitudes, interests, opinions, attitudes, interests, opinions, and allocation of income. and allocation of income.

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What is life style?What is life style?

Life style also Life style also reflects people's self reflects people's self image or self image or self concept; the way concept; the way they see themselves they see themselves and believe they are and believe they are seen by the others.seen by the others.

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Lifestyle is…Lifestyle is…

Lifestyle is a Lifestyle is a composite of composite of motivations, needs, motivations, needs, and wants and is and wants and is influenced by factors influenced by factors such as culture,, such as culture,, family, reference family, reference groups, and social groups, and social class.class.

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Western Philosophical Western Philosophical ThoughtsThoughts

Contrast to the Contrast to the traditional concept of traditional concept of man as an integral part man as an integral part of nature, of nature,

Man-nature dualism, is Man-nature dualism, is emphasized in the emphasized in the western philosophical western philosophical thoughts of Descartes, thoughts of Descartes, Bacon, Liebnitz, and Bacon, Liebnitz, and many others. many others.



The East – West ContrastThe East – West Contrast

Many Western Many Western philosophers generally philosophers generally assume as a given that assume as a given that the individual is the individual is something distinct from something distinct from the entire universe, and the entire universe, and many Western many Western philosophers philosophers

attempt to describe and attempt to describe and categorize the universe categorize the universe from a detached, from a detached, objective viewpoint.objective viewpoint.

Many Eastern religions, on Many Eastern religions, on the other hand, typically hold the other hand, typically hold that people are an intrinsic that people are an intrinsic and inseparable part of the and inseparable part of the universe, and that attempts to universe, and that attempts to discuss the universe from an discuss the universe from an objective viewpoint as though objective viewpoint as though the individual speaking was the individual speaking was something separate and something separate and detached from the whole are detached from the whole are inherently absurd. inherently absurd.

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There lies the key There lies the key differencedifference

The east – west cultural-The east – west cultural-philosophical contrast and the philosophical contrast and the concomitant life-style concomitant life-style differences determine the differences determine the approach toward nature.approach toward nature.

By and large, Eastern life By and large, Eastern life style targets prudential use of style targets prudential use of natural resources while natural resources while conserving themconserving them

By and large, Western life By and large, Western life style targets liberal use of style targets liberal use of natural resources as a matter natural resources as a matter of right of human individuals of right of human individuals as a consumeras a consumer

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Psychographics tells usPsychographics tells us

The analysis of The analysis of consumer life styles consumer life styles (called (called psychographicspsychographics) ) tells us that today tells us that today consumer world is consumer world is dominated by chemical dominated by chemical and other artificial and other artificial products, that sustain products, that sustain and develop industries and develop industries aggravating global aggravating global warming warming



Indigenous peoplesIndigenous peoples

In the exploration of In the exploration of environmental ethics and environmental ethics and religion toward an religion toward an ecologically sustainable ecologically sustainable society, indigenous society, indigenous peoples and traditional peoples and traditional ecological knowledge ecological knowledge have attracted have attracted considerable attention considerable attention from both scholars and from both scholars and popular movements. popular movements.

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Indigenous SocietiesIndigenous Societies

The 'organic The 'organic cosmology' of the cosmology' of the indigenous societies indigenous societies shaped an ecological shaped an ecological ethic that stresses ethic that stresses the importance of the importance of saving the planet saving the planet earth.earth.



Traditional ecological Traditional ecological knowledgeknowledge

Traditional ecological Traditional ecological knowledge includes the knowledge includes the worldview or religious worldview or religious traditions of a society. It traditions of a society. It is both cumulative and is both cumulative and dynamic, building on dynamic, building on experience and adapting experience and adapting to change, as societies to change, as societies constantly redefine what constantly redefine what is considered is considered "traditional.“"traditional.“

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Traditional knowledge Traditional knowledge and Market-oriented and Market-oriented CultureCulture

However, the ecological However, the ecological ethic of indigenous ethic of indigenous societies is undermined societies is undermined by western science and by western science and market-oriented culture market-oriented culture (Merchant, 1980; (Merchant, 1980; Nelson, 1993).Nelson, 1993).

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We need to change We need to change

In today’s difficult times, In today’s difficult times, it is important for us to it is important for us to look back at where we look back at where we started, how we went started, how we went astray,astray,

and how well and how and how well and how soon can we adapt soon can we adapt ourselves to a nature-ourselves to a nature-benign life.benign life.

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Indigenous CulturesIndigenous Cultures

Nevertheless, those Nevertheless, those indigenous cultures that indigenous cultures that are still surviving retain are still surviving retain their traditional their traditional ecological ethic, which ecological ethic, which now seems to have now seems to have profound conservation profound conservation implications (Gadgil and implications (Gadgil and Guha, 1992). Guha, 1992).



Tribal and indigenous Tribal and indigenous peoples' lifestylespeoples' lifestyles

Tribal and indigenous Tribal and indigenous peoples' . . . lifestyles peoples' . . . lifestyles can offer modern can offer modern societies societies

many lessons in the many lessons in the management of management of resources in complex resources in complex forest, mountain, and forest, mountain, and dry-land ecosystems.dry-land ecosystems.

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Indigenous SocietiesIndigenous Societies

There are traditions There are traditions of ecological of ecological knowledge in various knowledge in various indigenous societies indigenous societies in South America, in South America, Australia, and parts Australia, and parts of Africa and Asia. of Africa and Asia.



Indigenous Peoples’ Life Indigenous Peoples’ Life stylestyle

Culturally transmitted, Culturally transmitted, cumulative, cumulative, multigenerational multigenerational knowledge is held also knowledge is held also by some groups that by some groups that have European have European backgrounds, such as backgrounds, such as Newfoundland fishers Newfoundland fishers and Swiss Alpine people. and Swiss Alpine people.



Indigenous PeoplesIndigenous Peoples

Their perceptions Their perceptions and knowledge have and knowledge have in part been shaped in part been shaped by their values, by their values, worldviews, and worldviews, and environmental ethics environmental ethics - religion in the - religion in the broader sense. broader sense.



Indigenous Mechanisms of Indigenous Mechanisms of Conservation of Conservation of Environmental HealthEnvironmental Health

Establishment and Establishment and maintenance of sacred maintenance of sacred groves.groves.

Tree worshipTree worship Plant worshipPlant worship Animal worshipAnimal worship Taboos in the harvesting Taboos in the harvesting

and consumption of and consumption of plants plants

Taboos in the hunting Taboos in the hunting and consumption of and consumption of animalsanimals

Rejection of use of food Rejection of use of food and other materials of and other materials of foreign origin in customs foreign origin in customs and ritualsand rituals

Environmental ethics in Environmental ethics in folklores and ritualsfolklores and rituals


God in the East-West God in the East-West perspectivesperspectives

A common thread that often A common thread that often differentiates Eastern differentiates Eastern philosophy from Western is philosophy from Western is the belief regarding the the belief regarding the relationship between God or relationship between God or the gods and the universe. the gods and the universe. Some Western philosophies Some Western philosophies typically either disavow the typically either disavow the existence of God, or else hold existence of God, or else hold that God or the gods are that God or the gods are something separate and something separate and distinct from the universe. distinct from the universe.



The respect and fear for The respect and fear for GodGod

Several Several environmental environmental concerns and concerns and protective measures protective measures are associated with are associated with fear of God and fear fear of God and fear of sinsof sins


Ecology of worshipEcology of worship

A large number of A large number of plants are being plants are being protected in the protected in the name of God and name of God and religious and culturalreligious and cultural

beliefs and customsbeliefs and customs


Ecology of worshipEcology of worship

A large number of A large number of animals are being animals are being protected in the protected in the name of God and name of God and religious and culturalreligious and cultural

beliefs and customsbeliefs and customs


ValidationValidation

Although, one cannot Although, one cannot physically vindicate physically vindicate the presence of God the presence of God or the impact of sin, or the impact of sin,

In terms of In terms of environmental environmental protection, such protection, such belief systems do belief systems do benefit a great dealbenefit a great deal


Example: Eating in Example: Eating in Banana LeavesBanana Leaves

There are several There are several benign practices in benign practices in vogue even today.vogue even today.

Let us all recognize Let us all recognize them, document them, document them, and cherish them, and cherish themthem


For Example: Clay Vessels instead For Example: Clay Vessels instead of Plastic; native medicines instead of Plastic; native medicines instead

of chemical-based pharmaceuticalsof chemical-based pharmaceuticals


There are innumerable There are innumerable benign practicesbenign practices

Let us all join in Let us all join in following them, to following them, to save our future save our future generations from the generations from the devastating effects of devastating effects of global warming and global warming and environmental environmental degradationdegradation

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Let us Salute and Follow the Let us Salute and Follow the Indigenous CommunitiesIndigenous Communities

Indigenous communities are Indigenous communities are the repositories of vast the repositories of vast accumulations of traditional accumulations of traditional knowledge and experience knowledge and experience that link humanity with its that link humanity with its ancient origins. Their ancient origins. Their disappearance is a loss for disappearance is a loss for the larger society, which the larger society, which could learn a great deal from could learn a great deal from their traditional skills in their traditional skills in sustainably managing very sustainably managing very complex ecological systems complex ecological systems



ReferencesReferences

Gadgil, M. 1995. Prudence and profligacy: a human ecological Gadgil, M. 1995. Prudence and profligacy: a human ecological perspective. In: perspective. In: The Economics and Ecology of Biodiversity.The Economics and Ecology of Biodiversity. Decline (Ed. T.M. Swanson), pp. 99-110. Cambridge University Decline (Ed. T.M. Swanson), pp. 99-110. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Press, Cambridge.Gadgil, M. and Guha, R. 1992. Gadgil, M. and Guha, R. 1992. This Fissured LandThis Fissured Land. Oxford . Oxford University Press. Delhi. University Press. Delhi.

Merchant, C. 1980. Merchant, C. 1980. The Death of the Nature: Women, Ecology The Death of the Nature: Women, Ecology and the Scientific Revolutionand the Scientific Revolution. Harper and Row, New York.. Harper and Row, New York.Nelson, R. 1993. Searching for the lost arrow: physical and Nelson, R. 1993. Searching for the lost arrow: physical and spiritual ecology in the hunter's world. In: spiritual ecology in the hunter's world. In: The Biophilia The Biophilia Hypothesis.Hypothesis. (Eds. S.R. Killert and E.O. Wilson), pp. 201-228. (Eds. S.R. Killert and E.O. Wilson), pp. 201-228.

Island Press, Washington, D.C. Island Press, Washington, D.C. Uncle VanyaUncle Vanya, 1897, 1897

United Nations World Commission on Environment and United Nations World Commission on Environment and

Development m Our Common Future Development m Our Common Future 1987: 12,114-151987: 12,114-15

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global warming global

global warming events

global warmingrefers

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ancient global warmingfeb