“The world has enough for everyone's needs, but not for everyone's greed. “The Industrial Revolution changed the way people lived: automation and the growth of science and technology led to a better standard of living for the general population. But what was the cost of this development? Can the planet support the incessant exploitation of nature to satisfy ever-increasing consumption? The problem is recognized worldwide and a major step was taken by 193 countries in 2015 by endorsing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with targets set for 2030. Looking back in time to the first half of the 20th century , there was a fragile, unpretentious man who understood the concept of sustainable development very well. Say no to plagiarism. Get Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original EssayThis visionary was Mahatma Gandhi and explained the concept in his book “The Hind Swaraj”. It is generally believed that Gandhiji was against machinery. But as Gandhiji explains in his book “What I object to is the craze for machines, and not machines as such.” And this subtle difference is the foundation of sustainable development. The sustainable view is that people should use machines to provide the essential things of life. Once humanity goes overboard, it becomes enslaved and slowly but surely destroys the delicate balance that nature has provided. The advent of modern living also saw people flock to cities for a seemingly “better” life. Gandhiji, however, believed in 'swadeshi' and encouraged villages to be self-sufficient. This is a simple but powerful way to avoid overburdening already exploited natural resources. “Swadeshi” encouraged people to consume products locally, which helped generate local jobs and prevent mass migration to cities. This principle is still true today and can lead to a sustainable and environmentally friendly development model. Gandhiji, in his book “The Keys to Health”, talks about the five elements that make up the human body: earth, water, void, light and air. He emphasized the importance of “clean” air and water and how essential they are for civilization. The issue of poverty is closely linked to the issue of sustainable development. Gandhiji, dealt with this subject in “The Hind Swaraj”. Gandhiji advocated a “simple life” where one would set a limit to indulgences. And this measure would have a dual objective: to ensure that people have all the basic necessities and to preserve the environment. This may be linked to the current debate between “developing” and “developed” countries. “Developed” countries have had unlimited access to fossil energy and used it to improve their lifestyle. However, today, with growing concern over environmental issues, 'developed' countries are reportedly shifting the burden onto 'developing' countries to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. The idea of ​​“simple living” might be one of the most effective solutions. most powerful themes for sustainable development today. Closer to home, it would be relevant to look at the example of the Australian Aborigines. Aboriginal people view the relationship with the land in a spiritual way and believe that the land belongs to them. This contrasts with non-Indigenous peoples who view land as a commodity and believe they own it. Professor David H. Bennett, in his article“Cinderella Syndrome,” describes how the Aborigines can teach us restraint and ecological competence. While Aboriginal people lived on the land between 40,000 and 80,000 years ago, they have caused less damage to the land than non-Aboriginal inhabitants over the past 200 years. This supports the need to balance the needs of man versus nature. Equally important is the idea of ​​cooperating and integrating with nature instead of dominating it. Gandhiji emphasized the spiritual connection with nature, like the aborigines, as noted above. Today's society would do well to understand the above-mentioned connection with the environment and not test nature's endurance to the extreme. (Creative Spirits, nd) “I oppose violence because when it seems to do good, the good is only temporary; the harm he does is permanent. “In 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first bilateral visit to Australia and unveiled a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhiji in Brisbane. Prime Minister Modi, in his speech at the event, said, “The world is grappling with two major challenges – terrorism and global warming – and these issues are causing anxiety. . . If we look at the life of Gandhiji and his teachings, then we can find solutions to the problems that the world is facing today. » (The Indian Express, 2014). And indeed, Gandhiji's approach to violence and terrorism remains relevant today. Amartya Sen describes Gandhiji's idea of ​​violence prevention that encompasses social institutions and public priorities, as well as individual beliefs and commitments. One of Gandhiji's main lessons is that the loss of one's own moral stature gives immense strength to one's violent adversaries. The war on terror cannot be won by using power amorally. “. . The bad behavior of those who claim to fight for democracy and human rights has been used by terrorists to attract more recruits and some sympathy from the general public, which might have surprised military strategists sitting in Washington or London , but they are completely in line with what Mahatma Gandhiji was. trying to teach the world. » (Sen, nd). Gandhiji believed that violence led to more violence and terror led to more terror. This can lead to an endless vicious cycle of escalating violence. A manifestation of the same can be seen in the current surge in terrorist activities across the world. This is why ways to combat violence must be carefully considered. There is a sacred connection between the end (sadhya) and the means (sadhan). “The means may be compared to a seed, the end to a tree; and there exists between the means and the end the same inviolable bond that exists between the seed and the tree. » (Hind Swaraj, 1997). “Remember the face of the poorest and weakest man you have seen and ask yourself whether this course you are considering will be of any use to him. “The richest 1% on the planet own half of the world’s wealth. At the other end of the spectrum, the poorest 3.5 billion adults, who make up 70% of the world's working-age population, account for just 2.7% of global wealth (Neate, 2017). As the figures above show, there is a large disparity across the world. Gandhiji espoused 'sarvodaya', which essentially motivated welfare measures for all, especially the underprivileged class. He questioned unfair business models, for example the grabbing of agricultural land by governments and corporations. Over the, 2015).