Saturday, June 5, 2010

Save Trees to keep Cricket alive…

Jeremy Ruggles from JS Wright & Sons holding an impressive piece of willow

This World Environment Day help save Mother Earth.

As responsible citizens of the world there is a long list of things that cricketers can do to save Earth. Are cricketers doing justice to the publicity they get? They are worshipped everywhere but are they worth worshipping? Just being a responsible cricketer does no good to the world. A cricketer must also understand his social responsibilities.

Indian Premier League [IPL] might have made a lot of money and might have been in news for all the wrong reasons off late. But today let’s take notice of the good deeds IPL has undertaken. IPL has a long term partnership with United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP] to generate awareness about environment. IPL with its popularity has managed to promote UNEP. To reduce carbon footprint is one among the many projects of UNEP.

Cricketers no doubt have wide spread followers. Their hair-do, their dressing style, their accent, everything they do is copied. So cricketers have an opportunity to do good to the society. They are role models to many emergent youth. Many cricketers have made use of their status to give back to the society. It would be nicer if all cricketers make an effort to support a social cause. Steve Waugh, Sachin Tendulkar and Glenn McGrath set best examples. Steve Waugh has a charity foundation in New Delhi. He has raised funds to the underprivileged in Kolkata after being inspired by Mother Teresa.

Sachin Tendulkar has also done loads of charity work silently, away from the media glare. I wonder why! When people get to know that a Godly person like Sachin is doing charity there are more chances than not for people to follow the footsteps of their hero. I don’t get the point of doing all the good work without wanting anyone to take notice of it. This time I can’t help but disagree with the God himself. It’s important to let the world know that you are working for a noble cause. At least then people might derive inspiration to help the needy.

Cricketers with their profile and influence can do the world of good to the environment. But they have to take the initiative and spread the word to save environment.

I can’t imagine a world without trees. No trees means no bats. No bats means no cricket. No cricket means no writing for me. Having said that, I further wonder if cricketers are saving the environment or ruining it! The bats they use are made of fine willow. Hundreds of trees are cut down to manufacture bats. Is there no alternative to the present day bat? Aluminum bat might be the answer. But choosing aluminum bat over willow bat is a topic of discussion for some other day. Until then save the environment, save trees! You don’t want cricket to suffer, do you?

No comments:

Post a Comment