By Dr Vandana Shiva – Scroll.in, 31 May 2016

Source: http://scroll.in/article/808855/clash-of-civilisations-how-our-ancient-love-for-nature-is-losing-ground-to-modern-disregrard-for-it

Drought, malnutrition and the agrarian crisis are symptomatic of a culture that’s letting commercial interest take precedence over environmental concerns.

wnagqsbfbv-1464618620There are two conflicting paradigms that have been co-existing in the contemporary history of our country.

The first is based on the ancient Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the Earth as one family – which makes it an imperative to live on this planet by respecting the rights of all species and cultures. This paradigm is the foundation of peace, justice and sustainability. It is one that has sustained India for more than 10,000 years and has made us a biodiversity-based economy and democracy. As Rabindranath Tagore wrote in his essay Tapovan, Indian civilisation grew from the forest and learnt its principles of democracy and diversity from it.

The second is a 500-year-old paradigm exemplified by the invasion of the Americas by Columbus and other colonisers, which is based on the assumption that the powerful can grab the resources of others, plunder the Earth and accumulate limitless wealth.

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