Dia Mirza has been juggling her duties as an actress, activist and UN Environment's Goodwill Ambassador for India. In 2021, the actress added a new role to the mix when she became a mother to two children Avyaan and Samaira. On the occasion of World Earth Day, the star, who has been leading the fight against climate change and promoting conservational efforts in the country, opened up to ETimes about how embracing motherhood has changed her perspective towards mother Earth. From talking about her personal efforts to live a sustainable lifestyle to sharing the pressing environmental issues faced by the country today, and even opening up about her message of hope for a better future, here's all she had to say. Excerpts:
On World Earth Day, what is your message of hope to everyone, especially now that you understand what it is to be a mother?
It is a difficult question to answer. When people described the earth as a mother, they did it so that people would truly recognise the extent of love. We may put price tags on resources, but the fact is that mother earth provides it all for free. Unfortunately, our broken relationship with the planet and nature, and pushing it to what we describe as a triple planetary crisis - pollution, biodiversity loss and extinction and climate change.
There are many times when confronted with the truth of the enormity of the problems we are living through right now, it makes one feel very despondent and helpless. In times like these, the only solace I find is in the fact that there are many young people across the world who have stepped up to do something about it and not let this crisis continue. As a parent, I hope that I can not only fulfil my duties to the planet in my consumption pattern and lifestyle choices, I hope to inculcate in both my children the love for nature and its importance.
You are an actress and a new mom, what is the most challenging thing you face as an active environmentalist?
I was very clear when I had my child Avyaan, that when the time came, I would make every sustainable choice possible, and I have. Thankfully the products are available in the market. They aren't easily available, but they are more accessible than before. For Avyaan, we use diapers made from natural materials with no plastic in them. We've managed to identify and bring home glass bottles and everything else we use has no chemicals. Even the clothes we use are from sustainable brands. In some time, we will make a switch to cloth diapers when he is potty trained. We have also not bought any plastic toys whatsoever. Everything he has is made with cloth, crochet or wood. We also asked our friends and families not to give him things that contain the materials that we don't allow. Thankfully, they have respected our wishes and hopefully, they will continue.
So you are raising an environmentally conscious baby, that's almost a superpower in today's world...
It is so important, right? One of the things I make it a point to do is make him spend time in nature. Take him to the garden to give him a sensory feel. Make him stand on the wet grass, and touch the leaves and flowers, he enjoys watching birds and watching the sunset with me. I hope this contributes to the abiding love that I hope he can form with the natural world. This is something I had read many years ago and I am now trying to inculcate it in my children.
Tell us about your role as an environment goodwill ambassador and what prompted you to become a warrior for mother Earth? What are some of the values and little lessons you try to imbibe in your kids - Avyaan and Samaira?
There are three parts to this answer. Firstly, I was very fortunate to be raised in an environment that fostered the understanding that everything we need comes from nature and we must respect that. And we must think of the things we discard and if they are harming the environment in any way. Very early in life, I was taught never to use plastic, which my mom and I follow even today. My mom hated plastic, so I was following by example. I was taught not to be wasteful and was of the understanding that everything I have, came from nature.
One of the people who helped me reconnect with nature was Bittu Saigal. It was during the time I spent with him in the forest that I learned the magnitude of the problem. Subsequently, I became an advocate and began work for the UN where science and data became available to me. All of that knowledge helped me reevaluate the way I lived my life. Of course, there are many more things I wish I could do because it becomes hard when you are living an urban life, there are only so many things you can control and change.
For Samaira, I can't control the exposure she has had until now, but she has been studying environmental issues in school. At home, she watches me work, the way I speak and the choices I make. All of that is making her more conscious. Has she given up the usual things she plays with entirely or changed her consumption patterns? Not entirely, but I hope we can get there someday. That will be a personal triumph for me. With Avyaan, it is the march of the penguin or so they say, so hopefully, he will see, learn and inculcate.
How big a role does sustainable fashion play in helping the planet?
The fact of the matter is that we live in a capitalist world where consumerism is taught to us. Something or the other is asking you to consume it. I lived through a phase where I earned money and got to buy many things. This was until I learnt the significant difference between need and greed. It is really our greed that is destroying our planet. This can best be seen in the way piles and piles of clothes have been disposed off in landfills because people trash fast fashion because it is so inexpensive. As I've become older, I have found the need to keep a check on my own consumption patterns, if I really wanted to save wildlife and nature.
What is the kind of world you hope for your kids? Your son was born during the pandemic, in the middle of the lockdown. What were your fears or hopes?
More than fear, it is hope. I feel a great sense of hope and optimism because I see these young people taking up the challenge, seeking solutions and demanding change. I really believe that this generation, born during this pandemic lockdowns, will be more caring and compassionate in the way they live their lives.
How do you hope the country moves towards conservation and sustainability?
There are some significant commitments that the government of India has made at a global level. The first was signing the Paris agreement, adopting sustainable development goals, our Prime Minister has made a commitment to the World Solar Alliance about the significant amount of solar power he hopes India will generate. I do understand that there is concern over shifting entirely to renewable energy. Promises are being made for 2050 which I feel may be too late, but I understand that the private sector will play a very big part and hopefully deliver the promise of change from fossil fuel to renewable energy. There are many organisations working hard on establishing alternate solutions and driving the changes we need.
What do you have to say about the depleting forest cover?
India occupies 2.3% of the global landmass, plus we also have the world's second-largest population, which puts pressure on all of our natural resources. That makes it even more imperative for us to protect and conserve all of our forests. As we try to increase our forest cover, the definition of forest cannot be diluted. We must ensure that when we say forest, it includes biodiversity and indigenous trees. You can't call a plantation a forest. We need to protect what is left of our forest and keep adding to that forest. Less than 5% of the forest is what we have in the country and that has to change. That 5% is what is taking care of us and regulating our climate and providing water. There's a lot more work to be done. I keep wondering why our private sector hasn't already allocated a definite amount of CSR for environmental protection.
What can you share about the efforts people can take to protect animals and their natural habitats?
Everyone should also abide by our Wildlife Protection Act. Our laws are very strong, and we just need to see them through. Extended Producer Responsibility makes every industry contributing to the plastic pollution, responsible for the waste they generate - whether it is a chocolate wrapper or milk packet - the people who manufacture goods and provide them in plastics should be made accountable.
While on one hand, the government is signing sustainable development agreements and across states, forests are being cut down in the name of development. What are your thoughts on that?
It is happening across the country. This has unfortunately become a big problem. People perceive environmentalism as obstructionism. Every time civil society has protested the so-called development - widening roads, building highways or coastal roads. When people have objected to these projects, it has been perceived as 'obstruction'. The fact of the matter is that the devastating loss that these so-called 'developmental projects' are causing, is significant and it's high time they work in tandem with each other and climate action becomes the centre of the focus. Look at the devastation that Uttarakhand has experienced and still we continue to cut into the Himalayas. That is nothing short of foolish. Nature is showing you repeatedly that you cannot show disregard for the balance she requires.
Can you tell us about a book, show or movie you saw recently that gave out a strong message on the environment?
'Kiss The Ground' was a fantastic documentary I watched that really blew my mind. I recommend it to everybody.
There is a book, 'The Last Child In The Woods'. It explores a nature-deficit disorder that is becoming rampant in children in urban sectors. Where, their complete lack of interaction with nature, leads to all kinds of issues, including mental health. It is only for the betterment of our children that we need to do these things.
With summer holidays around the corner, would you say that ecotourism should be promoted over flying out to popular destinations?
I would just advise people to head to one of India's many forests. There are so many to experience. Please make time to go and interact with nature and spend your holidays interacting with elephants, rhinos, lions or even black panthers. Choose any part of India and have fun.
