My project to create positive change in my environment. How can I foster sustainable development in my community?
(Original)

Ashmita Dhakal
(Age 13, Nepal)
Eureka High School

“Introduction”

The world Commission on Environment and Development that is popular by the name of Brundtland Commission defined sustainable development as “Sustainable development is a process in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investment and the orientation of technological development and institutional change meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”

Environment is the representative of physical component of earth where man is the important factor influencing his environment. Thus from above statements we can conclude that environment refers to all physical, chemicals, biological, cultural, aspects of the Nature. There is close relationship between sustainable development and environment. The world development states their relation as “The relationship between the sustainable developments will be weaker without the conservation of the environment and without development there will be scarcity of the resources for the investment and in turn the conservation of the environment will be a failure.

Today is 21st century .The world has reach to its highest peak for the development of technology .Due to the development of technology man life has become more comfortable and play prominent role for the development of human mankind. The triumph of development is seen everywhere in life .According  to world survey ,technology has change the force of the earth and the world has changed more during the last 150 years than during 4000 years prior to that .Modernizations is due to transportation ,communication and energy .The achievement of technological development has spanned the sky ,measured the ocean and wrested from nature many other hidden treasure .It has annihilated  time and space and made communication and contact  with the world easier & quicker, it has enabled us to fight against natural calamities & to revolutionize the industrial & agricultural process. There are satellites, which provide us with information about all the parts of the earth & even that of the universe.
With the advancement in the study of technology, human civilization has stepped up from the stone age of computers which matter of glory.

ENVIRONMENT DISASTER, POLLUTION & DIFFICULTIES

Though the technological developments are boon to us but due to mishandle of that it also becomes a curse. They create various disturbances in the environment resulting to the environment pollution too. Pollution is an undesirable in air and health, to change in physical, chemical and water that may or will harmfully affect human life. Pollution may be classified broadly on the basis of medium. These are: - Air pollution, Land pollution, Noise pollution and food pollution .My society also cannot remain aloof from these types of pollution. Not only that there are also various disturbances like Ozone layer depletion, Global warming, Reduction in fertility soil and so on. All of these types of pollution are created by three main developmental activities of human beings: industrialization urbanization and motorization.

 Social problem

In the name of modernization, my community is facing following types of social problem
a) Drug addiction b) Girl’s trafficking
c) Gender inequity d) racial discrimination
e) Child labour

Economical Problems

 In the absence of sustainable development, there is imbalance in the economics and social development activities. It may develop wider gap between rich and poor that further deteriorate the environment. There are also greater differences between the developed and developing countries in terms of their economic development.

Cultural problems

The achievement of technology has turned the whole world into a small room. So, the people of my community enjoy hip-hop, punk’s music rather than pure Nepalese folk. Not only that they are also losing their own identity in the name of westernization. Due to the influence of westernization, our country is losing its identity, people are very happy to celebrate Christmas night, international New Year rather than their own festivals.

My Plans and Solution to the Problems

 “This is the age of Youth. Youth can play key role for the positive change in the environment. For the conservation of environment, Youth participation is a prominent factor. This is our time to turn the page on policies of the past. A strong mechanism is required to co-ordinate and implements the policy.” All projects to be executed in the energy and other sector should be subjected to environmental impact assessment.

My plan for the positive change in my environment is listed below:-

*As we know that our country is rich in water resources next to Brazil, but we people of Nepal are facing load shedding. So, I give my topmost priority on hydropower which does not harm environment.

*The present world as well as my nation too is facing energy crisis. In order to get rid of energy crisis, I will create awareness program in the society to consume alternative source of energy rather than conventional source of energy.

*I also give my attention towards the use of solar energy as well as the use of wind energy.

* The sewage and drainage that comes from hospital pollute the river for example the holy river “Bagmati”

*It is also necessary for the establishment of natural health homes, civic should be provided with health education.

*The concept of principle of sustainable development should be practical enough to get rid of economic problem.

*The concept of re-use and re-cycle of waste materials should be applied in practical life.

*Consciousness towards the culture and awareness among the people may reduce social as well as cultural problem in some extent.

*Knowledge should be provided to the civic regarding the principle of sustainable development.

*Nevertheless, women empowerment is also necessary for the positive in the environment.

*The laws that are formulated by the government of the respective country towards the conservation of the environment should practical, and it should represent the needs of the local people.

*Agro-based industry should be established in the rural areas of our country to meet the basic needs of respective people.

*Air pollution is one of the serious problems of Katmandu which is due to the increase in vehicles as well as valley centric industrialization. Proper attention must be given in order to reduce air pollution by shifting industries far away from the settlement zones.

Last but not the least, my own private vision regarding the minimization of the problem in the world would be:-

“Education for all the children
Employment for all the young people
Woman empowerment and awareness is solution
For the minimization of the pollution.”

Conclusion

So their control is almost impossible in the present way of life and development but we can minimize it to a limit at which we can survive or feel comfortable. The vision that I have presented in my plan will also be milestone for the positive change as well as for the fostering of sustainable development in my society.