Air
Give me Some Fresh Air to Breathe and Clean Water to Drink
12 months ago
In His wisdom, He created everything that humans would ever need; critical for their survival and pleasure. When the hustling bustling city life suffocates, people run for an escapade in the woods. Away from the clutter and chaos! The moment they land in a valley with green fields, surrounded by mountains and fresh clean water running through the streams, they once again feel alive. While the natural resources undisturbed by mankind became the perfect vacation spot for some, there were people who thought of ways to exploit them and make money. The entire focus was on opportunities rather than challenges that we may expose ourselves to if proper management is not done.
Pakistan is one of the richest countries in terms of natural resources. We are blessed with vast agricultural land, natural fuel reserves, copper, gold and salt mines, forests, lakes and sea More >
What is more damaging to the Environment, Poverty or Affluence? Part 1
05 months ago
Although affluent and poor share the same planet but both have their own ways of depending on the environment. The poor directly consume the natural resources for food or livelihood. On the other hand, rich not just consume them they also govern them. This has given both groups a different attitude towards their natural environment.
Here, I have tried to give shape to this debate that who is actually putting more pressure on the environment.
First! What is Poverty and Affluence?
Poverty has always been defined with respect to income and consumption; however, World Development Report 2001 found out that for people poverty means material needs, safety and freedom of choice; and food was well below their priorities. Affluence gives an economically favorable position to an individual or a group over others on the basis of class, race, education or profession. More >
Carbon Obesity: Language around Climate Change
15 months ago
With the talks happening in Durban, there seems to be one troubling issue that people can’t seem to get past – how to talk about climate change? There is so many groups trying to introduce new words, new concepts and new ideas that they claim are solutions for climate change. Here are a few of those concepts and the truth behind their claims.
Carbon Market AKA Carbon Economy AKA Cap and Trade: If we have learnt anything from the collapsing global markets, we know that they can be abused. Cap and trade is no different. Check out Annie Leonard’s take on Carbon Credit. Cap and Trade is a way for companies to buy and sell Carbon credits, make false claims about reducing carbon emissions, and then earn money from this. The Rampur hydrodam is a case point example of such abuses. The idea seems virtuous enough: reward groups More >
Pictorial view of the Canal Road
17 months ago
As you all must be aware that the trees on the canal road are being cut, even though the local government is in breach of the Supreme Court’s orders as explained in the post here.
Here is a pictorial view of what is going on. Anyone who has passed through that area must have felt that you no more feel that coolness, which was a trademark of the canal even in the most excruciating heat of Lahore. Not to mention that the entire area is not yet cleared out, so we can imagine what will happen then.
For those who think that it is going to help the traffic, well what improvement have we seen in the traffic due to the Kalima chowk flyover? As far as my observation goes, it was just wastage of our already scarce resources which could have More >
Urban Development or Urban Disaster?
11 year ago
One of the main causes of this issue that faces Lahore today is the lack of awareness or, for the most part, any inclination to incorporate sustainability into urban development.
One such case in point is regarding the proposed development plans for the Canal. Widening the canal is not the solution to the problem but is aggravating it in fact. More like a cortisone drug. It will alleviate the problem for a little while. Then make it worse.
Keeping in view the ever increasing annual rate of import of cars, and if widened, will only entice more drivers to use it, which actually means making the traffic congestion problem more grave and not less so.
Widening the canal will lead to dramatic environmental degradation causing the noise, water and air pollution levels to rise significantly. Losing about 50% of More >
