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What have we done!

On our recent trip to India, visited Elephanta caves, they are on an island, just a short ferry ride off Mumbai. Several ferries leave for the island daily, all day long at about 5-10 minutes interval. There were ferries in front of us, back of us and the scene everywhere was pretty much the same. Besides the smog, there were plenty of seagulls hovering over these ferries. The hawkers were selling chips/Cheetos and people were in turn feeding them to the seagulls. Their behavior is so altered that we didn't see even one seagull diving for a fish but all of them circling the ferries, travelling the entire distance with them looking for Cheetos, just like the squirrels at Zion national park. We talked to one of the vendors, he said Kya Kare (what to do), he is very aware of what he is doing, how it is not good for the birds, the environment; however selling Cheetos is the only thing which puts food on his table, he has no other means of making money, he has no education. It was heartbreaking. I am all for saving the environment but selling all these cheap plastic goods, straws, water bottles or toys is the only livelihood for some people. What are they supposed to do if we ban them? Just my rambling for this Friday, food for thought.

P.S. And oh, this particular vendor said he was scared of the look I kept giving him; now he will think of me every time his hand is out there feeding those birds. I, on the other hand, was feeling guilty, for adding to the pollution by being on that boat. If only....

 



     



                   








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