he Ailing Planet: Notes for

Revision
The Ailing Planet Objectives

Green Movement
Sustainable development
Zoo at Zambia
Brandt Commission
Four Principal biological systems
Article 48 of Indian Constitution
Population Explosion (consequences, the best contraceptive etc.)
Era of Responsibility
Notes
1. Locate the lines in the text that support the title The Ailing Planet.
The following lines in the text support the title The Ailing Planet:

Are we to leave our successors a scorched Planet of advancing deserts,

impoverished landscapes and ailing environment.
A three years study using satellites and aerial photography conducted by the
United Nations warns that the environment has deteriorated so badly that it is
critical in many of the 88 countries investigated.
2. Significance of The Worlds most dangerous animal at a cage in the zoo
at Lusaka, Zambia:
The notice signifies that there is depletion of resources and deterioration of
environment. Man is responsible for this and his own survival is threatened.
3. Why does the author agree that the growth of world population is one of
the strongest factors distorting the future of human society?
The population of India was estimated to be 920 million in 1994.
Overpopulation upsets all plans of development and puts a severe strain on
the earths principal biological systems. This leads to poverty and
unemployment and development is hampered.

4. The causes for endless anguish to common man are:

The endless anguish is caused to common man, when laws are constituted but
are never enforced or respected in our country. Evils like casteism,
untouchability, and bonded labour still exist and need to be abolished by strict
laws.
5. The unusually alarming statistics about the population that the author
talks about are:
The author says that the population explosion has distorted the future of
human society. Mankind took a million years to reach the first billion. The
second billion was added in just another 100 years and the twentieth century
has added 3.7 billion more.
The present population is over 5.7 billion. Every four days the population
increases by one million.
6. Importance of Green Revolution:
The Green Revolution is important as the signs of the earth which are
connected with life shows the earth as a patient. We have moral obligations.
We must become good stewards of the planet and act as responsible trustees
of the legacy for future generations.
7. Concept of sustainable development:
Sustainable development is that progress which is made to meet the needs of
the present and takes care not to endanger the future. This means we must not
deprive the world of its resources and protect our endangered species.
8. Role of industry in the new era of responsibility:
Industry is the main source of environmental pollution. In the new era of
responsibility, the industrialists must become conscious of their responsibility
towards environment. They should remain environmental friendly even when
they exist as leading manufacturers.
9. Justify the title of the essay.

The author has depicted the planet earth as someone who is suffering from a
disease. The green movement takes a holistic view of the situation and seeks
to maintain and conserve the environment and maintain it.
10. What is the holistic and ecological view of the world that has emerged
in recent times?
The view about the world in the recent times is that it is an organism which
has become ailing and needs looking after. It also has metabolic needs and
vital processes which have to be nurtured and preserved. We have to save the
earth for our successors.
11. Explain the statement forests precede mankind; deserts follow.
Forests have helped to nurture mankind from times immemorial but man has
destroyed these forests ruthlessly and deserts have taken their place. Man is
destroying himself by destroying forests.
12. Role of industries in the preservation of environment:
Industries and industrialists have to exercise control in use of natural
resources. The top officials need to become the guardians of our environment
if we have to think about our future generations.
13. What are the four principal biological systems that the author refers to?
The author refers to fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands as they form
the foundation of the global economic system. They provide raw materials for
industry.
14. How are the earths principal biological systems being depleted?
Earths principal biological systems are being depleted by excessive use. Over
fishing is quite common. Forests are being destroyed to obtain firewood for
cooking.
Grasslands are turning into deserts and produce from croplands is decreasing.
15.How has the growth of world population affected the environment?
Support your answer with suitable arguments?

The author Nani Palkhivala enumerates some alarming statistics to suggest

how the growth of world population has tremendously affected the
environment. The population which took a million years to reach the first
billion took just another hundred years to reach the second billion. Another
century passed it and reached the alarming figure of 3.7 million. Presently it is
over 6 million and there is a huge demand on resources, natural or man made.
The resources worldwide are under a lot of stress and pressure. The four
principal biological systems i.e. fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands
which form the foundation of the global economic system and provide raw
materials to the industry are facing a lot of stress. The human demands on
these systems are increasing at a rapid speed. Hence, sustainability and
productivity are both hampered. When this happens, fisheries collapse, forests
disappear, grasslands become wastelands and croplands deteriorate. The need
of the hour is to become sensitive towards the needs of the environment to get
affected; we will leave behind nothing but an ailing planet for our future
generations.
16. We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed
it from our children. Discuss.
Earths resources are limited and will not last for ever. In the twentieth
century, there has been a revolutionary change in human perception. We
cannot take the planet for granted. We are mere custodians. We have to take a
holistic view of the very basis of our existence. The earth is a living organism
of which we are parts. It has its own metabolic needs to stay alive and must be
respected and preserved for the future generation. What is required is
sustainable development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the destiny of future generation. There are four biological
systems, namely fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. They form the
foundation of the global economic system. They supply us food and raw
materials for industry. In larger areas of the world, these systems are reaching
unsustainable levels. Their productivity is being damaged. The growth of
world population is another factor distorting the future of our children.
Development is not possible if population increases. In this era of
responsibility towards our future generation, population must be controlled.
Industries must become environmental friendly. Now many industrialists,

politicians and writers have realized their responsibility in preserving the non
renewable natural resources for the future generation.