Q. What do you understand by the concept of ‘sustainable development’ as explained in ‘The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role’? (3marks) (2015/2018)
-> Sustainable development means development which meets the need of the present without harm to the ability of the future generations to fulfil their needs. The concept of “Sustainable development” was brought to high by the world brought to high by the world commission on Environment and Development.
The author says that the concept called sustainable development means development which caters to the needs of the present without affecting the ability of the future generation to fulfil their needs.
. What are the principal biological systems of the earth? (2marks) (2018/2019)
-> The four principal biological systems of the earth are fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. In addition to supplying our food, these four systems provide virtually all the raw materials for industry except minerals and petroleum derived synthetics.
Q. ‘We have not inherited this Earth from our forefathers: we have borrowed it from our children’ Justify this statement. (6marks) (2015/2016/2018)
-> The author says that the natural resources of the earth are valuable and limited also. We must preserve them, we cannot destroy them today, and we are exerting too much pressure on the planet to fulfil our needs. We are destroying forests, lands, fisheries, water life etc. which has killed many species of wildlife. This has destroyed the ecological balance of the environment creating endless problems for life on earth- both for living beings and also for the planet itself. The author says that the earth is not our patrimony to be used and exhausted as we wish. It is rather an asset which we have borrowed from our future generations and we must reform it to suit them in good condition. They must be something left for our children to and from the earth.
Q. Discuss why it has been pertinently said that “forests precede mankind; deserts follow”. (6marks) (2019)
-> The chapter ‘Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role’ by Nani Palkhiwala is an enlightening treatise on environment degradation, the causes behind, and the solutions needed to be implemented to save our ailing planet. The line from the chapter ‘Forests precede mankind deserts follow’ has been written to bring people’s attention to the fact how crucial trees are for mankind. This line means before God put man on earth, he put trees on it to create wholesome and hospitable conditions for him and his posterities; however, man in his recklessness destroys trees and makes lands barren like deserts; in such conditions mankind also disappears. To sum up, the line means trees are indispensable for mankind to survive; in their absence, mankind will dwindle away.
