'Be a sport, save the Earth'

After scoring a century of centuries, Sachin Tendulkar has now taken up the task of saving the environment by becoming the national ambassador for Earth Hour 2012. In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, the little master explains how he has adopted energy efficiency in his own life.

Updated on: Mar 31, 2012, 02:17:25 IST

Hindustan Times | By Chetan Chauhan

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After scoring a century of centuries, Sachin Tendulkar has now taken up the task of saving the environment by becoming the national ambassador for Earth Hour 2012. In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, the little master explains how he has adopted energy efficiency in his own life.

Why do you think Earth Hour is important?
A simple act of switching off lights as a symbolic show of support makes for a powerful statement. Centred around conservation of resources, the campaign is an innovative way of showing that we care. It involves people from all walks of life and across cities big and small.

Considering that you have a large house, have you installed energy-saving devices there? What is your experience in this regard?
At our home, conservation of energy is practised by all of us. And yes, we have installed these devices. More than anything else, they are also cost effective over a period of time, and hence, there is a good case for going for such devices. They consume less, and cost less too.

What do you think is good and bad for the environment?

It’s the stress on natural resources that is taking the planet to the point of no return. Pollution of water bodies, over-exploitation of resources and mindless development is bad for us, and for our environment. However, the good thing is that despite so much stress, nature still has a way of balancing its scales, and we continue to experience the bounties of nature.

What would be your message to young Indians with regard to protecting the environment?
India is on the world map today. Our youth have taken the lead in several walks of life. Wherever you go in the world, you see high-performing Indians. Caring for the environment and the world we live in should be a way of life. I would appeal to the youth to be sensitive to issues that concern the world today. Young Indians are the custodians of the future, and it’s important for them to realise the value of a secure future, which comes from the right kind of development. But not everyone has to be an environmentalist. Sometimes a simple thought, a show of support, is all it takes.

Do you find a link between cricket and saving the earth from the impact of climate change?
There is always a link between ideas, where we give in our best and maintain discipline to ensure the best. I give my best to cricket and if, through this medium, I am able to raise awareness on the impact of climate change, then I would very much like to use this opportunity to reach out to my fans and ignite the fire in them to strive towards a better planet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chetan Chauhan
Chetan Chauhan is the National Affairs Editor looking into all aspects of news and features from across India. A Chevening scholar with over three decades of experience in reporting and news management, Chetan has extensively covered all important aspects of the social sector, political economy, environment and climate change nationally and internationally. He did a journalism course at the Reuters Institute of Journalism in Oxford and Digital Media training at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He started as a reporter with The Statesman in 1996 and joined the Hindustan Times in 2000 in the metro bureau covering environment, crime and Delhi politics. He covered hot local news, from the Jessica Lal murder case to the rebellion of Delhi Congress MLAs against then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, to the replacement of toxic vehicle fuel with cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG) in the national capital. Some of his stories on air pollution became part of the Supreme Court’s landmark MC Mehta versus Government of India case in the National Capital Region (NCR), forcing the government to take corrective measures. As part of the national political bureau since 2004, he covered important central sectors such as environment, education, social justice, labour, rural development, water resources, renewable energy, agriculture, broadcasting and the Planning Commission for more than a decade producing several exclusive and investigative breaking stories. His specialisation is the environment, having covered at least a dozen United Nations global conferences on climate change, biodiversity and wildlife including climate summits in Paris, Copenhagen and Bali. He also covered India’s two five-year plans ---11th and 12th and reported on drafting and execution of right based laws such as Right to Education, Right to Information and rural job guarantee law, MG-NREGA, now being introduced in new format as VG-RAM-G Act. He has in-depth knowledge of social sector issues. He was one of the first to report on tigers vanishing from Sariska and Panna wildlife reserves in 2004 and 2008, respectively, leading to the setting up of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the introduction of stringent penal provisions for poaching. He has written extensively on the rising human-animal conflict in India and the degradation of India’s biodiversity hotspots because of mining and other activities. Since 2004, Chetan has covered Parliament comprehensively and participated in training on the nuanced coverage of Parliament proceedings. He has travelled extensively across India to cover national and provincial elections since 1998, especially in the Hindi heartland states, considered India’s road to power. He writes a regular column for Hindustan Times, Ecostani, on important national politics, economy, Himalayan ecology and environmental issues. His other responsibilities include providing inputs for edits and edit page articles for the publication, apart from managing news flow from across India.Read More

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