They say, people with inspiring
personalities are contagious with their positive vibrations. Cannot be summed better!
Such was the case when I was
seated honorably on a vast stage in a world-class hall, at the closing plenary
of a prolific international event on Environmental Conservation held last month, seating over a
thousand capable individuals- environmentalists, government representatives,
leaders , journalists- and beside me sat an inspiring personality, radiant with
humbleness, gratitude and a magnanimous determination to transform
the world (something that she has very well done in her own capacities):
Dr. Vandana Shiva!
My colleague from the United
States, also among the audience, aptly described:
"On
the stage sat three people, a spokesperson for the conference, a young
gentleman (Ali Shahbaz) and a woman (Vandana Shiva) situated between
them in a green sari with gold brocade trim and a light that radiated off her
far more powerful than any stage light."
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| Dr.Vandana Shiva ref: facebook fanpage |
Dr.Vandana Shiva is an enthusiastic environmentalist, a trained physicist,
a PhD researcher in Philosophy. Having authored over 20 books,
she masters in the context of nature-conservation, concepts of
globalization , and has a peculiar focus on agricultural issues, and food
security. Amongst the vast plethora of knowledge and experience, she
honored us all at having spared time out of her schedule and discuss
the essentiality of Environmental Education (another synonym
for "Sustainable Thinking!") as a toolkit to Rural-urban
livelihood.
Sitting on her right, as a youth representative, I was awe-inspired at her
meticulous eloquence, and the complex dimensionalities of her rational thinking.
However, something that distinguished her from a usual key-note speaker was her
warmth, spirituality, and the distinct ability to extend a wave of comfort and
hospitality in a hall accommodating over a thousand people, and grasping
attention as if she was conversing with each one of us at a "tea
table!"
Her heart: It echoed.
She spoke with her inner-self, which became a bridge and a connection
with us, mesmerizing the audience with each and every word of wisdom she
uttered with absolute bliss and grace.
As for the content of her hour-long speech (which was ostensibly less
than a minute!) was thought-provoking and questioned the dynamics of our
societal structures, in an effort to stimulate awareness in a logical trance.
Her words were pivoted on our agricultural architecture, and pointed out the
dire need for realization that our primary sectors need to be protected.
Ms.Shiva highlighted the linkage of this sector with the frenzy of rural and
urban landscapes. She juxtaposed pertinent notions of food security,
inter-weaving them with the inherent necessity of Environmental Education.
Being in a strong opposition to GMOs and genetically modified
crops, Ms.Shiva protested to the plight of both producers and consumers
due to these 'artificial, plastic foods.' Her words stimulated us to
re-think: what are our patterns of consumption? How do we judge the quality,
let alone safety of our food? Ms.Shiva recalled her own experience in
Europe where uniformity, and exact congruency in the size, shape, colour
and texture of a fruit or vegetable was the sole criteria for it being sold in
a super-market, and rightly so?
She questioned. And we answered in affirmative, unaware of our false
perceptions. What was to follow: a shift in paradigm- Ms.Vandana expressed that
these ideas are long obsolete! She convinced us to ponder for once as to what
happens to the tonnes vegetables and fruits around the globe which do not pass
the aforementioned futile criteria of uniformity, and exact similarity in
appearance? A cucumber that is an inch longer than the standard size: dump it!
A tomato that is of a slightly lighter shade of red: discard it! An apple not
as ‘shiny’ as the consumer would want: throw it away! This is absurd. With all
these famines, food scarcities, and malnutrition as recognized issues globally,
are we suppose to ignore these disastrous patterns of thinking?
What she stated was enough to act!
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| At the Royal Dinner-From Left: Dr.Vandana Shiva; Her Royal Highness, the Princess; Ali Shahbaz(Me); Maathai of the Green Belt |
Further, Ms.Vandana Shiva re-emphasized the significance of a minute mass of
organic material that gives birth to life and is the origin of all livelihoods
on this earth: A seed! According to her, a seed remains by far the most
encompassing reality that proves Mother Nature, the "Gaya" as the
master of all creativity. A seed, she reiterated, is symbolic of a
transformatory phase of growth, elation and environmental harmony. Respecting
'the seed' will reciprocate the respect of nature, she quoted. Thus, experimenting
and mutilating the genetic structure of this 'gift from nature' is a violation
of the laws of conservation. Never has anyone had such an impact on me.
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| Highlights of Ms.Shiva's speech ref:www.peacxpeace.org |
Ms.Shiva discussed later a theme, which I refer to as 'The Operational
Principles of Community Enterprise Approach,' underlying the implied efforts
for mobilization and utilization of local resources, social capital, and
participatory reformation, to empower the sectors of a community. Community engagement,
and convenient governance, she pointed, is fundamental to institutional
partnerships paving roads for confidence-building, capacity inculcation and
empowerment for farmers, women, youth and the indigenous.
Even more, I am sincerely impressed at her sense of pride when it comes to the concept of cultural heritage, and traditions. She narrated avidly the incidents from her home-country, India's history that reflected the high status of local produce in the status quo, highlighting incidents such as Gandhi's Salt March, the Cotton-wheel as the national symbol, among other examples, and I as a proud Pakistani, having shared my history with India, am so delighted to explore similar commonalities in our roots and heritage! She instilled in me a feeling of unity and wholeness that remains unparalleled thus far- period.
Two thumbs up for her genuine approach!
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH...
At a concluding stage, I as a Global Youth Representative was given the
prime opportunity to interview Dr.Vandana Shiva particularly concerning the
role of youth in the global movements for sustainability and how she feels that
the youth can act as ambassadors of social justice and agents of sustainable
development. My questions were rounded on the thematic niche of the global
evolution of humans, the fact that we are in a process of realizing the need of
time that this is the 11th hour and we need to bring ourselves in a united
globule of mass-consciousness. I inquired as to how our contributions can prove
effective to further the cause of justice and environmental conservation.
Curious to answer, she articulately summed up in a comprehensive reply
explaining that the "young generations are like dinosaurs, on the brink of
extinction and that only YOUth themselves can shift the circumstances in the
right way." She reasoned that it is time to create a vision for ourselves
and to bring the power of Inter-Generational Justice in lime-light, to THINK sustainably,
and carve ourselves into catalysts of change. She further responded, 'the
youth are not a lost-generation. They are a new generation with a new
perspective!" Having heard these words from Vandana Shiva, a realist, was an
inherently accelerating motivation to my cause: youth advocacy.
Lastly, her words echoed in the hall when she sternly said:" Whatever
we do , we must bear in our consciousness the repercussions our acts could have up
till our 7th generations; if consequences are adverse, do not consider this act
as worthy for execution."
Be the Change you want to see in this world!"
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| Great to be in contact with Dr.Vandana Shiva @Twitter |
This insightful meeting (read: rendezvous) with the fine lady was much more
than a revelation.
I wish her all the best in her development ventures around the globe!
P.S: Should you want to directly get in contact with Dr.Shiva, feel free to write to me- I may be of assistance.
Follow me on Twitter@ Aalishahbaz
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