This refers to Sunita Narain's column "Ozone-smart, climate cool" (Down to Earth, October 13). The advent of technology has always had a detrimental effect on nature - be it aviation, manufacturing, air-conditioning, telecommunications, automobiles, locomotives, cooking and so on. Everything we do for our comfort has made us perpetually "uncomfortable".
We are so busy searching for human comfort that the word "nature" now sounds alien. Nothing is natural now, not even human beings. The fact is that replacing chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) with hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) was thought to be a relief at one point of time. And now, hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), having revealed its damaging qualities, is now compelling us to look for other alternatives. But as Narain rightly pointed out, the substitute (hydrofluoro-olefins or HFOs) is energy inefficient and hence, will be a potential threat for climate change.
We have made nature our foe - constantly trying to escape it by inventing technological advancements, only to realise that we are stuck in a vicious circle? From "profit or planet" we are now worried about "comfort or survival".
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We are so busy searching for human comfort that the word "nature" now sounds alien. Nothing is natural now, not even human beings. The fact is that replacing chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) with hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) was thought to be a relief at one point of time. And now, hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), having revealed its damaging qualities, is now compelling us to look for other alternatives. But as Narain rightly pointed out, the substitute (hydrofluoro-olefins or HFOs) is energy inefficient and hence, will be a potential threat for climate change.
We have made nature our foe - constantly trying to escape it by inventing technological advancements, only to realise that we are stuck in a vicious circle? From "profit or planet" we are now worried about "comfort or survival".
Ashok Chakrabarty Kolkata
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number