Living on our planet

 There are certain people for whose existence you feel grateful, whether you are personally acquainted with them or not. To those who value our environment, David Attenborough is certainly one among them. This is a man who has dedicated his life to understanding the natural world and more importantly, making the world aware about its beauty as well as vulnerability for more than half a century now. He has consistently committed himself to use the resources at his disposal to document nature in all its expanse, variety and ability to sustain entire ecosystems. Truly marvellous, if you take time to really observe and appreciate its different facets. But, enough of praise. I need to draw your attention to his latest documentary, or more accurately, his witness statement  - A Life on our Planet (2020). 

In lucid language coupled with stunning visuals and searing facts, Sir David lays before us the immensity of the natural world, whose beauty and bounty we have so relentlessly destroyed over the past century. Rather than resorting to jargon, cynicism or pointed accusations, like a loving grandparent, Sir David explains to us in the simplest terms how expertly nature has preserved its species over millenia and how imperative it is for us to act collectively beginning right now, if we are to preserve what remains of it. That, I would say, is the fact that truly deserves respect, coming from someone who has witnessed nature unravelling at an alarming rate in his lifetime. We have needlessly plundered natural sources at a rate unprecendented in the history of the planet. Please, devote some time to watch this documentary. We have all seen nature reclaiming itself during the lockdown, but that will not continue if we return to our unsustainable ways once normal life resumes. Concerted efforts at the national, international and individual levels are the only way forward to bring back wilderness spaces. Yes, it is still achievable. As Sir David so aptly put it, we need only take care of nature for nature to take care of us. 

Update (26 June 2021): Sir David recently turned 95. Sharing a video by the BBC marking this milestone here. May he live long!

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It is common knowledge how nature, even when viewed through a screen, can soothe and uplift us. But did you know natural forms inform human design as well? Yes, it's called 'bio-mimicry' whereby biologists are called in to come up with sustainable design solutions :

The world is poorly designed. But copying nature helps.