I have already mentioned in previous posts that the consequences of our actions go well beyond the immediate. I recently read this phrase ‘unconscious capacity’ in an article and I thought it as another apt title for this subject. With our actions we demonstrate our capacity instantly to the ones near us. That is our conscious capacity. The implications of our actions go beyond that.
It may be in our capacity to buy wooden wardrobe from the neighbourhood store, but what we don’t know is our capacity to cause deforestation, soil erosion, climate change, loss of endangered species through the same action.
By ‘implied consent’ I refer to the agreement on the part of the person buying the wardrobe to deforestation and the other phenomena. A person who eats non-vegetarian food in today’s world consents to factory farming, rearing of animals in terrible conditions, reckless handling and transportation of these animals and finally their painful killing through mechanized means.
Of course, for the consent to be implied, the consumer of the product should have adequate knowledge and awareness; which is always not the case. In fact it is very rarely the case. The usual thought is ‘if it is in a shop, it is meant to be bought’. The concept of implied consent and unconscious capacity will only be applicable only when environmental consciousness becomes common sense.
The challenge is to bring out awareness and raise consciousness. What can be done practically is awareness building. The rising of the consciousness, I feel, is more of an individual phenomenon. Several times people don’t take to the reasoning. Why is that?
Communicating environmental message is a matter of great responsibility. The manner, the content, the medium and the occasion have to all be appropriate for effective communication and maximum effect. Sometimes it is scientific fact that does the trick and sometimes it is just bringing the audience face to face with reality. For example there are people who give up non-vegetarian food when they learn about how the animals are treated.
In this era where people don’t have time for themselves (time wasted is money lost) and where society defines success the way it does, is there a possibility to expect people to stop, look and listen? The only thing left to do for the likes of me is to continue working and stay positive.
