I wonder if it has a special significance — the World Environment Day being in June, I mean.

For isn’t it in the same month we see the sun god at its cruelest in most parts of the world? Or in some cases, such as the Uttarakhand flashfloods of 2013, the rains at their worst. Was it always like this, however? The answer is a resounding no. While the world has not been immune to natural calamities, there are enough indications these natural disasters are being triggered more and more by human existence.

According to the Environment Protection Agency, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the US alone. Dams are being constructed not only in seismically sensitive areas, but also by flouting all considerations for the environment; in fact, some of these are being called the greatest planned environmental disasters. Did you know rainforests are being razed to the ground at the speed of one football field per second? All in the name of development?

No, I am not against development — in fact, I am all for it. What is disturbing is the total apathy towards ethos. I recently heard Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech while he was addressing the nation from Japan. He said he remembered how as a young boy, his mother told him to ask Mother Earth for forgiveness every morning, for having stepped on her. That is the ethos I am talking about.

It’s time we hear the call of Mother Nature to stop the atrocities against her. She has been giving us grim reminders for a while now. Untimely snowstorms in the US, the UK experiencing summers like it hasn’t in years, not to forget the tragedy that struck our neighbor Nepal. Are these disasters an impending reminder from Mother Nature to stop and think?

For thinking, reasoning and taking action will ultimately bring change. A reason why we have Dr Swati Piramal on the cover. Not only has the Piramal Group looked seriously at some great innovations, but has also been an environmentally and socially responsible conglomerate. As Director of the Piramal Foundation, Dr Piramal helps promote health in rural India with HMRI — a mobile health service, women’s empowerment projects, and supporting community education that creates young leaders.

And while we are talking of environment, do read our Good Karma section. The Forest Reserve Institute (FRI) shows what it takes to make a difference. As per the guidelines of the World Bank Project, the FRI, along with the Bagwan Gramodyog Samiti, has adopted Shyampur, a small village on the outskirts of the Dehradun. Over the past few years, this has drastically improved the socio-economic status of the villages.

Small steps can make the big journey easy. Let’s all do our bit.