By: Neerja Caprihan
Let’s not make light of the matter of our planet’s growing problems. A dark future does stare us in the face if we do so.
The phenomenon of last-chance tourism has lately been quite popular. It’s the trend that involves people flocking to see places on Earth that are ecologically or climatically threatened. The thought behind this tourism is that this might be the last chance to visit sites that may not be around for much longer. The places on such an itinerary already range from the polar regions and glacial landforms, to exotic beaches and marine spots. It’s a list that could get much longer very soon as more experiences and natural wonders bear the brunt of human negligence. Eventually, the list would get shorter as the listed entries completely vanish from the face of the Earth.
Growing up, it was a special feeling to visit a place or come face to face with something that one had hitherto only seen pictures of. That has been down to the beauty of our unique planet, brimming with stunning fauna and flora that is typical of continents and climates. Where the British strawberries and Indian mangoes looked even prettier in reality and tasted even better than the books told us. Where the majestic redwood trees in the United States felt taller than tall only once you stood next to them, and not just in a picture. Where the African lions and giraffes seen in their natural habitat inspired awe that their visuals in storybooks just couldn’t. And when climbing the pristine Alps and Himalayas evoked just as much emotion as diving into the spectacular sites of the Great Barrier Reef.
If the planet were to lose such pleasures, pity would be a massive understatement. It would be an indisputable loss and a collective disaster for future generations. It’s one thing to go to a museum to see dinosaur fossils and watch documentaries envisaging the ice ages, it will be quite another to have to see glaciers and reefs in museums in the future. It is indeed time to start worrying when zoos and pet shops need to disguise dogs1 as pandas or tigers.
An experience in nature is way more than the sum of its parts. Human apathy is already casting a shadow on the future prospects for vast marvels of nature. No book, or video, or multidimensional theater, can ever meaningfully replicate a natural experience with artificially produced sights, smells and sounds. For the generations that will live to tell the tale, such presentations will be mere ghostly replicas of a beautiful lost world, once full of light and life.
There is celebration in the air in various parts of the world with the upcoming festivals that invite prosperity and cast away dark shadows. The end of October will bring Diwali, a festival of lights and Halloween, that wards off ghosts and spirits. As everyone dresses up and decks up their spaces to celebrate, let’s also clean up our act, and our planet with it. Here are some socially responsible investing ideas to help you begin the celebrations.
Best wishes of the season from Interactive Advisors.
PHOTO CREDITS:
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VIA SHUTTERSTOCK
FOOTNOTES:
1 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/20/travel/guangdong-china-panda-dog-zoo-intl-hnk/index.html
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