Adventures in Aipotu: Episode 10, Part 2
Bisakha turned back to Damini. "This land used to be fertile. It has been
destroyed over time. Our people have pledged to rejuvenate our land even if
it costs us our lives. We were inspired by the Bishnois who lay down their
lives for the trees. The environment is important and we know that Aipotu
will be destroyed if the environment is destroyed. It is our way of telling
all on Aipotu that we are closely connected with the environment. Some
decades ago, the city that is a few hundred miles away began to bring toxic
solid waste generated within the city and dumping it here. Look how they
have piled highly toxic chemicals all around us. We became even more
determined that we must rejuvenate this land. We have been working on it
since. Filo has also been helping us."
"Aw c'mon auntie", Maya said to Bisakha. "What is the point of this? We will
die if we continue to stay here. Don't you understand this? What is the
point of the ideology? We could go and live in the city like everyone else.
We could then live with regular supply of water from our taps. Not only
that, we shall have electricity, and cars, and movies and not bear this
drudgery."
"Don't you see Maya, that not only we but everything on Aipotu will cease to
exist if we move?", Bisakha shot back. "There are substantial questions
here. Is water a property to be owned by a company or is water a shared
resource that people may use? Can someone own the water flowing in a river
next to your house and prevent you from drinking out of it? Will they own
the water in our wells? Do we have to pay for the water our plants use to
grow? And if they own the water, will they pay us rent when their water
falls our roof tops or fills up our wells? Who has right to water? What is
the priority use of water to use it to survive or for use in making
products for sale? Will we allow first use of water to entities that use
millions of gallons to make and sell beverages or people who need to live?
Should we let a rich farmer drill deep bore wells in a dry region and use up
water to grow sugarcane while the rest die from thirst and hunger? These are
questions that have to be debated and answered and if we walk away, there
will be no debate."
"Auntie, you are so passé", Maya shot back. "We do not get clean water now.
These companies will provide us clean water. We have major shortage of
water. These companies will ensure a regular supply of water. Clearly, they
will help solve the water problem around the world. What is wrong if they
make some money off it? Clearly, they deserve that fee."
The group watched as aunt and niece argued passionately. Damini was reminded
of Sharad's arguments with her parents at home and she smiled. She noticed
that Bisakha stopped from shooting back at Maya's personal barb with one of
her own. Controlling herself, she said, "Dear Maya, that is not the whole
story, is it? Who has caused the pollution of water? These companies first
pollute water and then want to clean it up for a fee? In fact, they should
be made to clean up their mess as well as pay us for the inconvenience. And
please do not tell me that companies will solve our water crisis while we
cannot. Remember that there have been people living in the driest of regions
in Sahara for centuries, managing their water and keeping it clean. We
certainly do not need someone to come and take away our rights to water."
"Bisakha has a point there, Maya", Filo said walking in. Maya made a face at
him for taking her Aunt's side and Filo laughed. "Do you think that millions
of people around the world can pay even the most nominal amount for water?
Besides, would you rather give up all your rights and live as a slave, or
perhaps like a house dog whose every need is taken care of", Filo continued.
"It may not, however, not run around without a leash, not bark when it wants
to, not play when it wants to. Freedom is the cost. Do you think that the
dog is living a good life or do you think it is exploited?"
"On the same grounds, once you give up your rights over water or over any
other natural resource, you are open to being exploited. Those who control
that resource will initially give you water but soon will begin to exploit
in exchange for water. Why should not someone get a pound of flesh from you
for something he has that you desperately need?"
"Besides", the old woman in the green dress shot back, "who gave them the
right over that water? Are they more equal than we are? Are they more human
than we are? Water is part of nature. We have as much right on water as they
do."
"Whatever, auntie", Maya said exasperated. "You will continue to live in
drudgery and I do not care to. What do I get from this environment that I
should care to sacrifice my life for it? Bah. The day I can, I will leave."
With that she got up and left the group.
Bisakha smiled wryly. "It is difficult", she said to Filo. "Yes, I know",
Filo replied. "It is difficult to see why we must stick to saving the
environment and why we must keep fighting for our rights when it seems that
the alternative is so much rosier."
"As your saying goes", Filo reminded Bisakha, "if we do not worry about how
our actions impact seven generations after us, we will be destroyed."
Bisakha nodded her head but her face had a blank look as if a conflict raged
within. Filo, Damini and Bisakha had begun to walk out of the courtyard.
After a short while, Bisakha asked, "Have you men decided what you want to
do about those drums?"
Filo sighed. "It means that another round of intense protests will have to
begin again. We cannot have them dumping radioactive wastes in our
neighborhood. I think they are doing it to force us to leave this place. We
have to begin to plan our demonstrations. They should begin in a few days.
We will make sure they are peaceful. We must go and tell our brothers and
sisters who live in cities about the radioactive wastes their city is
dumping in our neighborhood and the results of those wastes."
"But what about those drums that have already been thrown there?", Damini
asked.
Filo became quiet for a while. Then he turned to Damini and said, "I will
need your help in that my friend. I do not want to but there is no other
way."
Bisakha was curious to know how this little girl could help where the others
could not but the look in Filo's green eyes told her that she better not
ask. So she decided that she must leave these two to do what must be done.
"All right, dear girl", Bisakha said, holding Damini's hand warmly, "I must
go now. Take care." She hugged Filo and then turned around and walked back
towards the courtyard.
Damini turned to Filo with a questioning look. What could she do, she
wondered. Filo did not reply but kept walking. When they reached the rim, he
sat down on a large stone and turned to Damini.
"Dear friend", he said. "I must ask you for a favor. If you refuse, I will
understand. You see, we live here. This is our real world. If we were
exposed to the radioactive waste, it would affect us." With that, Filo
paused.
Damini immediately caught on. With a smile she said, "and I am in a dream
world. So anything I do here does not affect me."
Filo smiled back. You are one smart young woman.
"I will do it", Damini replied. "But what do I need to do?"
Filo stood up and walked along the rim, picked up some sheets and came back.
Handing them to Damini, he said, "These sheets can insulate the radioactive
wastes. I will wrap myself in one of these sheets and with the others form
bags that can be used to wrap up those drums. Once I wrap myself up, I
cannot see. Those drums are heavy and I will need some help. We do not have
enough sheets for another individual and I do not wish to expose anyone else
to radiation. If you come and help me, we can make temporary containers for
those drums. These containers will be all right for about a month and
hopefully by then, we will have solved this problem."
"That sounds easy", Damini replied. "I can do it. I wish my parents could
see me now. They would not think that I was irresponsible", Damini added
smiling.
Filo patted her back and said, "You are more responsible than any other
person of your age that I have met. And if you remember that a cat has nine
lives, you will realize that I have meet quite a large number of young
people."
The two of them walked towards the drum one in a crudely made radioactive
suit and the other in jeans. It took them a while but at the end of their
efforts all the drums had been sealed within these sheets. The sheets looked
flimsy but Filo was confident that they would hold for a month at least. It
would prevent the leaking radioactive fluid from getting into the earth and
the water.
"We should be heading back to our hut", Filo said. "Sophie might be
wondering where we have disappeared. She too was expecting to meet you, you
know. She has many things to tell you", he added with a smile.
