l New Delhi, September 30 (PTI): Effects of Covid-19 lockdown on Earth may have reached the moon, as lunar temperatures were found to have dipped abnormally during the April-May 2020, according to a study. Maximum temperatures of the Earth’s natural satellite fell in this period, while nights were found to be cooler by 8-10 degrees Celsius. The Moon, thus, could possibly serve as a “stable platform” to study climate change on Earth, K. Durga Prasad and G. Ambily, researchers at the Physical Research Laboratory-Ahmedabad, said in a study published in the journal ‘Monthly Notices’ of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. l Pithoragarh, October 3 (PTI): Pilgrims on Thursday had the first-ever view of the sacred Kailash peak of the Himalayas, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, from the Old Lipulekh pass deep inside the Indian territory, in Vyas Valley in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, carrying an immense religious importance. Earlier, pilgrims had to travel to the Tibet Autonomous Region for a view of the Kailash peak. This viewing of the sacred peak, thus, proves to be the first-ever from inside the Indian territory.

 

THE two news snippets have a clear message to us all: You still have the hope of revival of good old times when environs were much cleaner and cooler and finer and better for healthy human living. Of course, many such evidences keep coming up universally to remind us of our basic duty to keeping our surroundings clean and healthy and proper for longevity of the Earth as our happy home. Unfortunately, though, the human community the world over has refused to see sense in such indications, pointers and warnings. Unfortunately, the human community around the globe has refused to slow down in its pursuit of technology that often seeks to replace the creative human component -- in the name of saving human labour. As a result, the Kailash peak gets lost in the environmental haze even in a place as environmentally clean as the Himalayas.

 

Also as a result, even the Moon -- over 4 lakh kilometers away in space -- gets affected by illogically high rise of earthen temperatures. Unfortunately, the promoters of technology as the ultimate answer to every problem do realise that they are endangering the very existence of the human race in not-so-distant a future. Unfortunately, most governments on the planet are being controlled by elements that do not see sense in the thought that favours protection of environment at any cost -- even of technological freeze. Unfortunately, nobody in power ever admits to this stark reality of the terrible double-standards the human community has come to adopt as regards environmental protection and preservation. That is why on one hand the world has countless conferences and summits on climate change and control propounding newer definitions and standards of emission and usage of natural resources. But, on the other hand, the same people go back to their respective countries and start making overly and even thoughtless use of technology to achieve what they call ‘economic prosperity reaching the last man’. This official cheating has fossilised emotions of human community as regards Nature. Countless pointers to this global double standard are available all over the world -- from the United States to India, from Australia to Canada, from Mexico to Mongolia -- mostly in haloed chambers of rulers and glorified corridors of power. Their lip-service to cause of environment apart, most rulers are proving to be liars on account of their so-called commitment to protecting and preserving environment’s natural sanctity.

 

Most of them claim that their countries have achieved their environmental goals -- but enough evidence is available to prove that those political boastings are lies to the hilt (no matter the statistical “proofs” they offer to support their claims. Everybody realises that combating the assault on environment and Nature is going to a strenuous process, all right. But that also does not mean that the progress on that count should be so excruciatingly slow. It is easy to understand that when the Himalayan air is clear of the haze (caused mainly due to pollution), the Kailash peak can be seen from far -- which, otherwise, is not possible.

 

It is also easy to know why the Moon enjoys drop in its temperatures when there is a lock-down on the Earth over 400,000 kilometers away. But these pieces of good evidence in favour of environmental pollution control by human effort are mostly treated only as pleasant news and are forgotten the moment those are read or heard or seen. That is so because the common man everywhere in the world knows that such so-called “good” news items appear only to heighten a feel-good factor. Beyond that, all is quiet on all fronts -- as if as part of a universal agreement that some issues are to be collectively overlooked.