The ultimate environmental and social tragedy of our age is that industrial technology could, if properly designed and applied, provide for every human being s physical needs. Despite the record of disaster, environmental concepts and groups in many Third World countries are still met with skepticism and even anger. They are called romantics or crackpots who love blue skies and butterflies. But environmental consciousness is still growing rapidly in many parts of the Third World. It is just too obvious that environmental degradation and increasing poverty go hand in hand.
Environmental issues are no longer a luxury but matters of life and death.
In Brazil, several groups are trying to stop the cultural massacre of Indians as the Amazon forest is opened up. In India, dozens of organizations have sprung up, including the Chipko Movement to save trees, the People s Science Movement and groups emerging out of the Bhopal disaster. And there are growing demonstrations against nuclear power in India. In Thailand 100,000 people infuriated by the setting up of a plant producing radioactive material burnt down the factory in Phuket in 1986. In the Philippines, environmental protests have persuaded the Aquino Government to mothball the Bataan nuclear plant.