What’s so special when Barack Obama, the President of United States of America said that his ideal dinner guest would be Mahatma Gandhi? He added, "It would probably be a really small meal. He's somebody I find a lot of inspiration in," Obama said. "He inspired Dr. (Martin Luther) King with his message of nonviolence. He ended up doing so much and changed the world just by the power of his ethics."
Is it possible by a shift in the attitude of a small group of Ritchie Rich (read richest) people can contribute positively to the world that they share with the rest of The Tramps (read, not so rich and poor people)?
Attitude is the base for our (career) ambitions. We get role models from the ‘successful rich’ people. What if they start behaving in a socially equitable and environmentally sustainable lifestyle? Unfortunately this group, whether they are in developed country or developing country, are the major cause for various problems faced commonly by the societies across the world. Let it be war, drugs, human rights violations, environmental pollution or climate change; these people and their lifestyles are the major cause for issues.
When there are industries thriving on the making of weapons, the logical solution for the marketing of their products would cause lack of peace among neighbouring countries or within a country by civilian conflicts.
When there is an oil based economy thriving on the exploitation of petroleum products and supported by a strong automobile industry, their existence would be smoother when there is more number of cars on the road.
When Obama was awarded with the Nobel peace prize, within a year of his presidency of USA, these are the two industries which were targeted by his policies and vision statements. Incidentally weapon industry and oil economy are also diagonally opposing to the largest industry in the world – travel and tourism. People would travel when there is a peaceful atmosphere in the host country and when they can also experience the natural, historical and cultural heritage of the land. This in turn means, we should support lifestyles that are non-confronting with the basic idea of travelling. This is possible only when we demonstrate as individuals and as a society that we “care” for the travellers and their basic feelings. That, we care for world peace and for a healthier environment.
With this background, let’s redefine our personal attitudes and change our goals in life. Are you ready to think differently?
First, let’s have our basic needs – food, cloths and shelter – without affecting the environment adversely or ethical to the society we live in. Can we aspire for organic food, made locally, traded in a fair manner reaching our dining tables? Can we also dream of a clean cuisine with items that are not Genetically Modified through Bio Technology innovations?
Are we not rich enough with ample supply of natural fibres such as cotton, silk, wool, linen and jute to supplement our clothing requirements instead of synthetic yarns? Is it not fashionable to dress up with handmade or handloom clothing?
Then comes shelter, where we could easily choose to stay in a structure that is built with Green Building Codes – minimum resources used, maximum natural ventilation and temperature control, energy efficient and conversion of recycled materials.
In the case of personal automobile, if that satisfies more than public transport systems, why not Prius Hybrid or Reva Electric Car or Telsa Roadster or the one that gives more than 20 kms per litre to be our aspiration?
Why not Citizen Eco Drive nor a solar charged cell phone in our list of desirable items?
Sailing instead of Yachting, scuba diving to replace water scooter, hot air balloon or gliding to replace the pride derived from private jet.
Even if the exotic lifestyles of the richest are not changed, those of us who are aware the consequences of personal attitude and consumption pattern should change it – for the earth, for peace and for a better future for our children.
While declaring the Nobel Peace Prize to Obama, the committee sited ‘his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.’
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