News Desk, News Nation 360 : During the "Green Earth" session, which focused on climate change, on the second day of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, renowned environmental writer and artist Louise Fowler Smith, as well as environmentalist and ornithologist Tara Gandhi, had a conversation with writer and activist Bittu Sahgal. The Australian Consulate-General honorary in Kolkata provided support for the session. The panel covered the fundamental threat that deforestation poses to ecological sustainability and the survival of life on Earth. Author Louise Fowler Smith reaffirmed in her book the reasons behind stopping deforestation to reach NET ZERO, a goal shared by all nations. Her travels through regions of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, and Orissa allowed her to witness the long-standing Indian custom of worshipping, decorating, and ornamenting trees—a practice that has greatly contributed to
environmental protection. During the discussion, ornithologist, environmentalist, founder and life trustee of WTI, Tara Gandhi, rightly stated that to stop the effects on the planet, it is imperative that everyone takes a stand as activists and address environmental issues immediately. Children used to have a poignant curiosity to identify or point out a bird that they had noticed when she was a child. However, these days it's rare to even spot sparrows in urban areas, much less become interested in learning about them—a pastime that Dr. Salim Ali introduced to us with his book "The Book of Indian Birds." The conversation delved deeply into the points where their respective fields intersected, examining important environmental issues from fresh angles. Louise Fowler Smith enthralled the audience during the session with her book "Sacred Trees of India: Adornment and Adorations an Alternative to the Commodification of Nature," which featured breathtaking pictures of trees that are revered in far-flung regions of the nation.
Pic - Courtesy
