I can't save tigers, I'll wear leather and fur, and certainly won't use a bicycle to commute to work. It's insane. Campaigns that intend to sensitise us are such a waste of time.
I can't save tigers, I'll wear leather and fur, and certainly won't use a bicycle to commute to work. It's insane.
Campaigns that intend to sensitise us are such a waste of time.
I don't doubt their intention but their ideology and approach. In Delhi, the rent-a-bicycle initiative has been operating for months now, but rarely do I see anyone at the hiring point.
Even after six months, the cycles are new, plastic packing intact. Why will anyone leave the comfort of a speedy, comfortable and air-conditioned car for a risky, slow and physically-challenging bicycle, in 47-degree heat?
The problem with our campaigns is we waste time on awareness instead of ground work and, at times, the vision makes no sense
Even carpools don't seem to work at large, due to erratic shift timings. Instead, why don't we ask four-wheeler users who're single to take up motorbikes, which are fuel efficient and fast, and create loads of space on the road?
They even make a style statement, if they're 200cc plus. Also, a shift from a car to motorcycle is far less radical that shifting straight to a bicycle.
Now for the wildlife bit. What's happening to it surely puts me to shame, and for once, when I saw these Save The Tigers billboards, I, for once, believed that something positive was on its way.
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But the hype is dead, and so is the hope. There are signature campaigns to increase awareness, and that's it.
Awareness doesn't happen in months, it often it takes a lifetime. But who doesn't understand that tigers shouldn't be killed? Even those who kill animals don't hunt them down for fun, but for money. If I'm a killer, I'll kill because that's my bread and butter.
If we really want to save tigers, we really need to give these poachers a mode to earn neat, not meat money. And spread awareness in forest areas, not in a swank city mall where the listeners are aware but numb.
In a recent fashion week in the capital, I met a leather designer, and he told me that it's not necessary that leather designers get animals killed. He sourced the raw material from butcher shops, where the hide anyway goes waste.
u00a0If everyone turns vegetarian, what will happen to the food chain? From where will we bring extra land and hands to cultivate extra crop? Green leafy vegetables cost so much. Chicken farming is so much easy.u00a0u00a0
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The problem with our campaigns is that they try to find short-term solutions to long-term problems, waste time on awareness instead of groundwork and at times, the vision in itself makes no sense.
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Campaigners should learn from responsible voting and gay pride initiatives to change their modus operandi.
Kumar Sauravu00a0 is Senior Reporter Cum Sub-Editor, MiD DAY Delhi
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