Class 11 English - KERALA

The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement Role

The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement's Role, written by Nani Palkhivala, is an article that originally appeared in The Indian Express. It discusses the declining health of the earth and highlights the growing worldwide consciousness towards the Green Movement, which started in 1972. The chapter emphasizes that humanity must shift from a system of domination to one of partnership with nature. It focuses on the concepts of sustainable development, the depletion of the earth's principal biological systems—fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands—and the alarming growth of human population. For Kerala SCERT board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing comprehension, critical thinking, and essay-writing skills regarding environmental issues.

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Key Concepts

The Green Movement

A worldwide ecological movement that began in 1972 with the foundation of the world's first green party in New Zealand, fundamentally changing how humans view their relationship with the earth.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, a term popularized by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987.

Four Principal Biological Systems

The foundations of the global economic system identified by Lester R. Brown: fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands, which supply our food and almost all raw materials.

The World's Most Dangerous Animal

A notice in a zoo in Lusaka, Zambia, featuring a mirror inside a cage, reflecting that human beings are the primary threat to the survival of the planet.

Concept of Stewardship

The idea that humans are not the masters of the earth, but caretakers or trustees who have a moral responsibility to pass on a healthy planet to future generations.

Important Formulas

Green Movement founded: 1972
Article 48A of the Indian Constitution: Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife
World Population milestone mentioned in the text: Crossed the 1 billion mark around 1800, reached 3.7 billion by 20th century, and growing rapidly

Board Exam Info

In the Kerala (SCERT) Class 11 English examinations, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 10 marks. Questions frequently include short-answer questions, paragraph-length analytical questions, and essay questions focusing on environmental degradation, population growth, and the responsibilities of the youth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What message does the zoo in Lusaka convey to visitors?

The zoo has a cage where the notice reads 'The world's most dangerous animal,' and inside is a mirror. This reflects that human beings are the greatest threat to the earth's survival and wildlife.

What are the four principal biological systems of the earth?

The four systems are fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands. They form the foundation of the global economic system by providing food and raw materials.

Why does the author call the earth an 'ailing planet'?

The earth is called an ailing planet because its vital signs—forests, fisheries, grasslands, and croplands—are declining due to overexploitation, pollution, and unchecked human population growth.

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