“I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I woke up and saw that life is service.”
– Rabindranath Tagore
Vandana Shiva (1953-present)
Indian philosopher, environmental activist, and author of several books, including “Water Wars” and “Biopiracy,” which have been translated into Croatian. She obtained her PhD in physics in Canada, and her interest in environmental conservation began in her childhood in the mountain forests near the Indian city of Dehradun, where she often accompanied her father, who was a forester. The ideas of nonviolence by Mahatma Gandhi and the Chipko movement in the 1970s inspired her. In the Chipko movement, women formed a living wall around trees to prevent them from being cut down. Chipko taught me that those of us with doctorates don’t necessarily know everything! There is so much knowledge in our communities and among our grandmothers… From the village women, I learned that the forest provides fuel, food for animals, medicinal plants, and rich knowledge,” says Vandana.
She is the founder of a research foundation for science, technology, and ecology, which aims to promote biodiversity and environmental sustainability. Vandana Shiva’s activism led to the establishment of the Navdanya network for seed and organic agriculture conservation. Navdanya initiated the creation of 54 native seed banks in India and educated over half a million farmers through volunteer efforts. They also passionately advocate for the ban on GMOs and sterile seeds.
Her message to advocates of sustainable development is as follows: The “Green Revolution” promoted by corporate funds deepens rather than solves the problem. When money starts flowing, the destruction of land begins… Additionally, the agriculture promoted by the “Green Revolution” requires ten times more water due to the use of large quantities of chemicals, necessitating flood irrigation. On the other hand, organic agriculture itself requires less water, and the addition of organic matter to the soil increases its water retention capacity. Therefore, Vandana Shiva advocates for small farmers to practice organic agriculture as a measure to ensure the production of healthy food and a dignified life. The life of small farmers.