Less wasteful mining methods and the recycling of materials will help
conserve mineral resources. In Japan, for example, car manufacturers recycle
many raw materials used in making automobiles. In the United States, nearly
one-third of the iron produced comes from recycled automobiles.
Conservation- A vital concern
“The interest in conservation is not a sentimental one but the discovery
of a truth well known to our ancient sages. The Indian tradition teaches us
that all forms of life - human, animal and plant are so closelyinter-linked
that disturbance of one gives rise to imbalance in the other”. (By Srimati
Indira Gandhi, while launching the world conservation strategy in India on
6th March 1980).
In the 1960s most countries lived within their ecological resources.
But the latest figure shows that today three-quarters of the human
population live in countries which consume more than they can replenish.
The issue of replenishment is large yet we have our individual roles.
Small steps could become great efforts at conservation. What does
the Kothapally experience tell us about step towards management and
conservation?
You may have already come across the four R’s to save the environment.
They are Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover.
1. Reduce: We can save water by repairing leaky taps and avoiding a shower or switching off unnecessary lights and fans.
Think of other things that you could reduce usage of.
Do you think it is necessary to have a lot of lighting for decoration during celebrations?
2. Reuse: things that you often tend to throw away, like paper and
wrapping papers. This would save plants and minimise pollution.
What other things could you reuse to save our resources?