“Our society is like a tree and
stem of that tree is our economic structure. The branches that originate from
stem are our laws, legislations and rules etc. required to run the society.
While, small branches and leaves are our philosophy, religion, social norms,
customs, culture etc. So, to crown all, whatever we do within a society, it all
depends upon the economy of a society just like the whole tree depends upon stem
for its existence”
(Karl Marks)
With respect to Karl Marks, the forefather of Communism, I will add a slight to
his theory, that economy as well as education both is backbones for any society.
Because, education imparts us how to live and economy makes us to live in that
particular manner. So, Education and Economy are two determinants that specify
our collective or social behavior within a society.
The 3Es (economy, education and environment) are three basic concepts, seems to
be diverse and self-standing but they are not separate from each other. They are
all interlinked to one other, for instance, our environmental health is a
driving force for our property values and economy. We cannot fund environmental
restoration desired to sustain and enhance our marine industry, tourism and even
our real estate market, if our economy is not strong. Food, Shelter and Clothes
are first priorities of every human and without satisfying these needs of a
society to the maximum, we can’t turn their attentions or concerns towards their
environment. So, the simple and first question that comes in mind is that a
person, who have nothing in hands and worried what they will eat tomorrow, can
pay their attention to the environment?
History explains us that societies that were superior in education ruled the
world. Philosophy was the first ever subject instigated in Greece about 500 BC.
That’s why philosophy is called the mother of all disciplines, so due to
supremacy in education Greeks ruled the whole world at that time, then Romans,
Muslims, French, Germans, British and now Americans are ruling the world.
Education is much imperative for economic growth for a society, in turn,
education and economics, both are of vital concerns for restoring and improving
the environmental qualities. Educated societies can understand the bond between
environment and humans and act according to it. They know what they will pay for
environment today, will get in any other way tomorrow. So, their conduct is much
more environmental friendly than other developing and under-developing countries
like Pakistan. For instance, what will be the more environmental friendly than
bicycle? It is considered a transportation of the poor people but poor nations
like Pakistan feel humiliated of using this in their daily life. Materialistic
set of mind has become a part of our flesh. Top economies of the world use more
bicycles than poor countries like Pakistan. For instance, Netherland is in top
of world economies, where among 15 million total population, 14.59 million,
about 99% people use bicycle in their daily life. Denmark is on no. 2, where
among 5.5 million populations, about 4.46 million, more than 80% people use
bicycle daily. 3rd is Germany, biggest economy of the Europe, where 75 people
use bicycle in their daily life. Although, Germany produce maximum number of
cars in the world but use less cars and more bicycles. Sweden is on no. 4, where
family is considered prestigious who has bicycle in his home, Norway on 5,
Finland on 6, Japan on 7, Switzerland on 8, Belgium on no. 9 and China is on no.
ten in this list, who use most bicycles in the world. These countries are
leading world economies, then why they use regularly bicycles instead of cars?
The humble answer is that they are much more concerned with their environment,
economic issues and feasibility of bicycles in this perspective. On the other
hand, developing countries like Pakistan feel embarrassed of using bicycle and
spend billions of Dollars every year on importing cars. So, awareness is must to
make the people concerned to their environment and awareness comes through
education. So, we can do nothing, in my point of view, for our environment
without strengthening the quality and quantity of our economy and education.
That’s very miserable that according to a recent global literacy report,
Pakistan is on no. 113 in education among 120 countries, having literacy rate of
just 58% and they also include people who can just write their names and simple
statements.
Pakistan is lagging behind in economy, in education and as a result, in
environmental quality as well. So, after discussing all forces and alternatives,
we are left with just two possibilities;
First, is to sit and wait until economy and education of Pakistan become so
strong and literacy rate become so high that people get awareness about their
environment and react according to it or spread the awareness through the
social, electronic and print media. This, I think, will not work until
strengthening the economy and per capita income as well.
Second, is to impose the fines/green tax on extra waste generated by every home,
every shop by government or departmental authorities. People of Pakistan have
become so obdurate that awareness will not work, in my opinion, in this society;
it is just enforcement, which may give better results. So, impose, impose,
impose is the only option left, if we really want to do something for the
environment.