Environment and Development Defined

Caring for the Environment has become a by word – such that we have “environmental” related shows, articles and what not where ever we go.

Today we relate the word ENVIRONMENT to planting trees, protecting sea turtles, global warming, La Niña – El Niño, and solid waste management. Being “Environmental” in a sense has come to mean caring for planet earth and nature.

So being an Environmentalist automatically means some one who cares for nature. As popularly defined, “Environmentalists” are people who desire to protect and preserve nature to ensure that future generations get to enjoy the benefits that nature has bestowed on us today.

Environment as commonly translated into Cebuano is “Kinaiyahan”, in Pilipino – “Kalikasan”. The way the word is translated into our very own language connotes the “natural physical environment”.

These common translations –Kinaiyahan and Kalikasan - have narrowed the usage of the word Environment to the natural environment.

Since we see only see the natural environment that surround us, we attempt to come up with measures to preserve and protect the natural environment, to maintain its current status or to bring it back to what is used to be in the past.

Conflicts arise when protection, preservation, conservation; of the natural physical environment; gets sidelined by “Development”.

The word “development” is popularly translated in Cebuano as “Asenso” and “Pag-angat” in Pilipino, implying betterment of living situations through increased incomes.

A least used synonym of environment is surroundings. This is translated as “Palibot in Cebuano and Kapaligiran in Tagalog”. When we use “Palibot – Kapaligiran” as our translation of “Environment” our awareness and understanding of the natural environment gets a broader perspective.

The use of surroundings would then have an effect on the definition of development.

Development would then mean – an improvement on quality of life and not just an increase in income.

When we look into the quality of life as a definition for development, our actions on how we increase our incomes become more meaningful. The way we treat our surroundings becomes more integrative and wholistic in its approach.

So “asenso nga kinabuhi” – improved quality of life would mean a “haruhay nga palibot” –harmonious surroundings.

While “matahum nga kinaiyahan” – beautiful surroundings, would imply “makanunayong pag-asenso” – continuous development.

Now the question – How do we attain continuous development while maintaining beautiful surroundings?

I’m no Jungle Ape, so I don’t have the “experiential” exposure to preserving and protecting lush forests and jungle while at the same time having that quality of life humans envy so much – like sleeping on a tree all day, without any worry at all.

I’m an Urban Ape. I’ve been exposed to so much “development”.

But I might have learned a few lessons from my Jungle cousins, so keep me company. I might just share a few tricks on how to attain “development” from a Jungle Apes perspective.