The Ailing Planet: The Green Movements Role By Nani Palkhivala [AHSEC Class 11 English Notes for 2025 Exam]

THE AILING PLANET

 By Nani Palkhivala

[AHSEC Class 11 English Notes for 2025 Exam]

About The Chapter

This newspaper article is a sad commentary on the gradual deterioration of Earth’s environment. Our planet is no longer a pleasant place to live in. Fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands need to be preserved and protected. The article suggests that we should try to limit the rise in population and stop the perpetuation of poverty. The Green Movement, started in 1972, is the only hope for the survival of this planet as well as that of the human race.

SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER

The Green Movement

The Green Movement, which started in 1972, is one of the most important movements that captivated the imagination of the entire human race. At that time, the world’s first nationwide Green party was founded in New Zealand.

The movement has been a great success since then. A revolutionary change has come in the perception of human beings, bringing in a holistic and ecological view of the world. There has been a shift from the understanding developed by Copernicus.

Copernicus stated in the sixteenth century that the earth and the other planets revolved round the sun. For the first time, there is a growing worldwide realization that the earth itself is a living organism. It has its own metabolic needs and fundamental processes which need to be respected and preserved. The earth’s vital signs reveal a patient in declining health. Humans have realized their ethical obligations to protect and preserve the needs of the planet.

The Concept of Sustainable Development

The concept of sustainable development was popularized in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development. It defined the idea as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It means that we should pursue development for our present needs but we should be careful about the needs of the future generations as well.

Man and the Other Living Species

Man has been considered as the most dangerous being on the planet. In the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, there is a cage where the notice reads, ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’.

Inside the cage, there is no animal but a mirror in which we see our reflection. With continuous and sustained efforts of a number of agencies in different countries, human beings are realizing that they should not dominate Earth but respect it as a partner.

Man is thus learning to live in harmony with the other living species on the planet. Man’s existence is shifting from the system of domination to that of partnership.

There are about 1.4 million living species on Earth that have been listed. Biologists think that there are about three million to a hundred million other living species that are still unknown.

Earth’s Principal Biological System

The Brandt Commission was one of the first international commissions which dealt with the question of ecology and environment. An Indian Mr. LK Jha, was a member of this commission. The First Brandt Report raised the question that whether we want to leave behind a scorched and a sick environment for our coming generations.

Mr. Lester R Brown, in his book, ‘The Global Economic Prospect’, points our Earth’s four major biological systems that are fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. These four are the foundation of the global economic system. Besides providing us food, they provide nearly all the raw materials for industries except minerals and petroleum derived synthetics. The demand of human beings on these systems is increasing to such an unsustainable extent that the productivity of these systems is being hampered.

The excessive demand has resulted in deterioration and depletion of resources leading to the breakdown of fisheries disappearance of forests, deterioration of croplands and turning of grasslands into barren lands. In a protein-conscious and protein-hungry world, over-fishing is common. In poor countries, local forests are destroyed to obtain fuel for cooking.

Mankind Destroys Forests

The ancient inheritance of tropical forests is now eroding at the rate of 40 to 50 million acres per year. The growing use of dung for combustion deprives the soil of an important natural fertilizer.

The World Bank estimates that a five-fold increase in the rate of forest planting is needed to cope with the expected fuel wood demand in the year 2000.

James Speth, the President of the World Resources Institute, revealed the very alarming statistic that we are losing the forests at an acre-and-a-half a second.

Article 48A of the Indian constitution states that it is the duty of the states to make efforts to improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. Unfortunately, the laws are neither respected nor enforced in India. Over the last four decades ‘India’s forests have reached disastrous exhaustion’. India is losing its forests at the rate of 3.7 million acres a year. Large areas, officially designated as forest land, are virtually treeless.

The Menace of Overpopulation

The growth of world population is one of the strongest factors distorting the future of human society. Mankind reached the first billion mark in more than a million years of its existence. That was the world population in the year 1800. By the year 1900, a second billion was added. The twentieth century has added another 3.7 billion. Every four days, the world population increases by one million.

Fertility falls as income rises, education spreads and health improves. Development is the best method to limit the population. However, development may not be possible if population goes on increasing at this rate. The population of India was estimated to be 920 million in 1994.

The population of India is more than the entire population of Africa and South America together. More children do not mean more workers; it merely means more people without work.

The only solution to this is voluntary family planning Population and poverty is directly proportional to each other. Thus, control of the population should be our topmost priority.

Also Read: AHSEC Class 11 Chapter wise notes  (Prose & Poetry 30 Marks)

Era of Responsibility

Slowly but steadily, people are understanding the concept that the entire world should be treated as an integrated whole rather than a collection of separate parts.

For sustainable development of world, everyone has to play one’s role, even the industries.

Margaret Thatcher and Lester Brown suggested that Earth is not our property. It passes on from one generation to another with the hope that each generation will take care of it so as to pass it on to the next with its resources intact.

The chapter concludes with the beautiful lines of Mr. Lester R Brown, “We have not inherited this Earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children.”

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

Ø  In 1972, the Green Movement started with the first nationwide Green party being established in New Zealand.

Ø  For the first time in human history, there was a realization that the planet is a living organism in declining health due to the impact of human activities on its natural resources. The World Commission on Environment and Development popularized the concept of sustainable development in 1987.

Ø  Man has realized the wisdom of shifting from a system based on domination to one based on partnership. Biologists think that we may never discover many unknown species if we do not conserve their habitats.

Ø  Mr. LK Jha in the Brandt Commission Report raised the question whether we wanted to leave behind a scorched sick environment for our coming generations.

Ø  Lester R Brown’s book, ‘The Global Economic Prospect’ identifies the principal biological systems of the earth as fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. They provide food supply and raw material for our survival. According to the World Bank, we need to increase the rate of forest painting by five times to cope with the expected fuel wood demand.

Ø  Though Article 48A of the Constitution of India provides that the state shall try to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country, this has not been implemented properly. Growing population is one of the strongest factors changing the future of human society.

Ø  As incomes rise and education spreads, the rate of population increase will decrease. This will improve health as well. Thus, development is the best way to check population.

Ø  The author claims that industry must join the cause and work towards becoming eco-friendly just as Du Point under the leadership of Edgar S Woolard.

Ø  Margaret Thatcher also expressed her concern saying that no generation has a freehold on this earth. We live a life like tenants who have a full repairing rental contract.

Ø  Mr. Lester R Brown says that we have not inherited this Earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children.

Question-Answers

1. What does the notice ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’ of a cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia signify?

Ans. In a zoo in Lusaka there is a mirror kept in one of the cages that is said to be the cage of the most dangerous animal in the world. The visitors sees his own face in the mirror ands realizes that he is that most dangerous animal. It signifies that man is the most dangerous animal who is responsible for our ailing planet. Thus, the message conveyed here is a warning to the most dangerous animal to come in terms with the earth.

2. What is the significance of Green Movement in the modern world?

Or

What is the Green Movement? Explain briefly.         2012

or

What is the Green Movement and what are its aims?           2016

Ans. The Green Movement that was found in New Zealand in the year 1972 brought a great awareness to the humanity. It taught us that we are just partners on the earth having equal rights to inhabit this planet as any other living organism. Having learnt this, human beings worldwide stopped large amount of destruction that it used caused upon the earth. People realized that the earth’s existence was threatened and began to do whatever was possible by each individual and each notion. Its aim is to create a holistic approach to safe guard the plants from further degradation.

3. Why is it said that forest precedes mankind?

Ans. No animal on the planet earth ever caused damage to it but humans have been causing serious destruction upon the earth ever since he had evolved. By cutting down trees for his survival and development humans have established their monopoly over the other species. Thus, with the coming of humans, the existence of forest was threatened.

4. When was the Green Movement started and where was it founded?

Ans. The Green Movement was started in 1972 and the first group was founded in New Zealand.

5. Why is the earth said to be an ailing planet?

Ans. Due to insensitive exploitation by humans for its survival and development the earth has lost almost all its vital resource. The present condition of the earth is really miserable. The health of the earth is not at all satisfactory. The earth is now breathing hard for its survival and thus it is an ailing planet.

safe guard the plants from further degradation.

6. How is man the most dangerous animal in this world?         2016

Or

What does the notice ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’ at the cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, signify?          2017

Ans. In a zoo in Lusaka there is a mirror kept in one of the cages that is said to be the cage of the most dangerous animal in the world. The visitor sees his own face in the mirror and realized that he is that most dangerous animal.

Man is the most dangerous animal in the world because they are the one who is responsible for our ailing planet. With their constant exploitation, man has brought degradation to the environment.

7. What do you understand by the concept of ‘sustainable development’ as explained in ‘The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role’?

Ans. Sustainable development is the kind of developmental activities that meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This kind of development is expected to be undertaken without stripping the natural world of resources that the future generations would need.

8. What is the role of industries in the preservation of the environment?

Ans. Industries can play a crucial role in the preservation of the environment simply by implying the sustainable use as well as management of resources. The business man must Mr. Edgar share the view of the chairman of DuPont who declared himself as a “Chief Environment officer”. As per him we must excel in environmental performance. The role of industries is significant in the environment preservation.

9. What did the most dangerous animal on the earth learn in the recent time?

Ans. The most dangerous animal, man has learnt in the recent years a new lesson that he is not the master of the planet but just one among the rest of the animals and trees, plants and insects who should live like a partner in survival, the safeguard, trustee of the earth.

10. Why is it said that forest precedes mankind?

Ans. No animal on the planet earth ever caused damage to it but humans have been causing serious destruction upon the earth ever since he had evolved. By cutting down trees for his survival and development humans have established their monopoly over the other species. Thus, with the coming of humans, the existence of forest was threatened.

11. How is human population explosion the biggest threat to the existence of the ailing earth?

Ans. Human population is the biggest threat to the existence of the earth. Though it reached a billion in a million years, another billion was added to the world population in just another hundred years. Every four or five days the world population increases by one million. The effects of this dangerous increase in the world population are endless yet the most catastrophic one is our present struggle for existence.

12. What does the empty cage and the board in the zoo in Lusaka mean?

Ans. In a zoo in Lusaka there is a mirror kept in one of the cages that is said to be the cage of the most dangerous animal in the world. The visitor sees his own face in the mirror and realized that he is that most dangerous animal. The board message conveyed is a warning to the most dangerous animal to come in terms with the earth.

13. What are the four principal biological systems? How are they the foundation of the global economic system?

Or

What are the principal biological systems of the earth?         2018

Or

How are the Earth’s principal biological systems useful to us?          2019

Ans. The four principal biological systems of the earth are fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. In addition to supplying our food, these four systems provide virtually all the raw materials for industry except minerals and petroleum derived synthetics.

14. How is the population responsible for the environment degradation?

Ans. With rising population, space that nature assigned for forests and animals is decreasing. More population means less forests and animals. Unfortunately man’s first choice is nature and it is sadly vulnerable and an easy prey. With cities and industries occupying major part of the earth, the part assigned for animals and forest are cut down for this purpose. For it, the ecological balance is said to be lost and degrading the environment.

15. How do you explain the concept of sustainable development?     2015     2018

Ans. Sustainable development is the kind of developmental activities that meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This kind of development is expected to be undertaken without stripping the natural world of resources that the future generations would need.

16. What was the question raised by first Brandt Commission?

Ans. The first Brandt Commission raised a very serious question to the humanity regarding its obligations to the ailing planet. It asked if we are to leave our successor a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes and ailing planet.

17. “What goes under the pot now costs more than what goes inside it”. Explain.

Ans. With a growing population and the pace of the global developments taking wings the cost of food touched a new height, all time high. Amazingly, the costs of cooking gas overtook that of food grains, fish meat and vegetables. Thus the fuel to cook-gas, firewood and electricity now costs more than the raw food.

18. Margaret Thatcher says, ‘No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have is a life tenancy with full repairing lease.’ How is this statement significant today?

Ans. Everyone says, ‘It is my land’ and ‘that is your land’. People fight for other territories and encroach the neighbour’s land. It is here what British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s observation gains importance we are not supposed to occupy the earth. Considering that the planet belongs to us and that we can exploit the planet anyway we like. We, on the contrary have to extract the resources so carefully that the generation that comes after us will have a better land and sea, a less dense forest, clear water and cleared sky.

19. “In a protein-conscious and protein hungry world, over fishing is common every day.”

Ans. The line has been taken from the essay “The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement Role’ by Nami Palkhivala. He talks of the loss of fisheries in the world. The author talks about the extinction of fisheries, forests, other resources etc. He says that today’s world is hungry for protein as people are conscious of the needs of the generations. To meet this demands they eat fish every day and the over-fishing has led to the extinction of this resource. Thus, he rightly remarks that the demand for protein has made our fisheries depleted.

20. How are the earth’s principal biological systems being depleted?(N)          2014

Ans: There are four principal biological systems of the Earth - (1) fisheries (2) forests (3) grasslands (4) croplands, as pointed by Mr Lester R Brown. The author talks of the loss of fisheries in the world. The author talks about the extinction of fisheries, forests, other resources etc. He says that today’s world is hungry for protein as people are conscious of the needs of the generations. To meet this demands they eat fish every day and the over-fishing has led to the extinction of this resource. Thus, he rightly remarks that the demand for protein has made our fisheries depleted.

21.“We have not inherited this Earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children”. Justify this statement.          2016   2018                         6

Ans. Man suffers from many misconceptions. He considers himself to be the lord of this world. Perhaps he doesn’t know that his actions are leading to the degradation and destruction of this Earth. He thinks that he has a freehold on this Earth.

The hungry world has ruined fishing. Forests are disappearing at the rate of an acre and a half every second. Grasslands and croplands are being converted into wastelands and deserts. Man’s greed and claims have made this earth a scorched planet of advancing deserts and an ailing environment.

Man should remember that he has to hand over this planet to the coming generations. He is only the trustee and not the master. It is the duty of every living being to leave this Earth in good health and good shape. According to Margaret Thatcher, we have only a life tenancy and not the ownership. Nor have we inherited this world from our forefathers. We have borrowed it from our children. At any cost, we have to maintain sustainable development in order to meet our present needs without harming the interests and needs of the future generations

22. “The earth’s vital signs reveal a patient in declining health.” Elucidate.    2017          6

Ans:-  It is true that the earth looks like a patients in declining health. It is we human beings who, for our comforts, modern life-style and technological advancements have greately destroyed the natural resources of our planet. Forests, fisheries, cultivated lands, air, croplands- everything has been polluted and diluted by our population explosion and modern eating habits and life style. Forests are destroyed for firewood, furniture and paper production, fisheries are depleted as we are a protein hungry generation. Croplands are dying and losing fertility owing to excessive use of fertilizers.

Because of these factors the earth is facing problems. There are abnormal climatic changes and many diseases have come to us like respiratory problems, high blood pressure, cancer, etc.

23.Discuss why it has been pertinently said that “forests precede mankind; deserts follow”. 2019

Ans. Forests are one of the principal biological systems of Earth. They form the foundation of the global economic system. It is true that if forests disappear, deserts will replace them.

Forests were in existence much before the coming of man on this planet. Local forests are disappearing to provide firewood and timber. The world is losing 40 to 50 million acres of forests a year. If this process continues, nothing will be left except deserts and wastelands.

Exam Questions from 2011 to 2024

1.          What is the Green Movement? Explain briefly.         2012

2.     What do you understand by the concept of ‘sustainable development’ as explained in ‘The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role’?         2015  2018         ( 3 marks)

3.         What is the Green Movement and what are its aims?           2016

4.         How is man the most dangerous animal is this world?         2016

5.       “We have not inherited this Earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children”. Justify this statement.          2016          2018

6.       What does the notice ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’ at the cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, signify?          2017

7.       What are the principal biological systems of the earth?         2018

8.       “The earth’s vital signs reveal a patient in declining health.” Elucidate          2017

9.       Discuss why it has been pertinently said that “forests precede mankind; deserts follow”.