Present day urbanisation is misunderstood to mean the creation of a consumer-oriented elite society. Production and recycling of resources do not form part of a conscious planning process.

We should understand that nature sustains itself on self-sustaining principles. Everything in nature is recycled. Planet earth is still alive because of recycling. But now, human consumerism and greed has put a question mark on the earth’s survival. We may say that the earth will automatically come out of the crisis. But we should understand that the earth is but a dot in the cosmic phenomenon. If earth gets deserted of life it won’t matter much to the cosmos. Life may be born at some other place where favourable circumstances prevail. But if man wants to enjoy the fruits of life, he must understand the cycle of nature.

It is necessary to adopt a lifestyle in which everything is recycled.

I consider the energy crisis, which has come about due to the oil embargo by the Arab countries, as the greatest boon for human civilization. No amount of rational thinking could have awakened the blundering mankind from the folly of following a destructive path toward extinction as did the sudden shock of deprivation of the oil. Man began to think of the alternative to oil. But with that arose some fundamental questions: (1) Do we have unlimited resources? (2) What is wasteful expenditure? (3) How should we conserve our resources? (4) Can we build a stable civilization on consumerism? (5) Do we have responsibility towards the coming generations?

It is because such questions are being asked, and answers found, that I consider that the oil crisis or energy crisis was the greatest boon for human civilization. Although the title of the paper wishes us to examine the pattern of human settlements only in the so-called developing countries, I feel the matter is fundamental and is applicable to all countries—developing, developed, or under-developed. It is the key to survival which is the primary condition to progress. The special relevance for developing countries is that they should not repeat the mistakes which the developed countries have made in committing themselves to indiscriminate consumption of energy.

All forms of life sustain on renewal. Energy also sustains because it is constantly being re-furnished. But the cities of man are the biggest producers of “waste.” We thought we had hit the jackpot when the water carriage system of the flush system and sewage system for the disposal of human waste was introduced in the cities. Travelling through the small sewers, then to bigger sewers, and through huge sewers, where does this waste go? Either into our rivers—polluting them—or into the open land surrounding the cities. That there are sewage disposal plants—which is essentially oxidation of the waste matter and allowing the so-called fowl air to escape into the atmosphere—does not change the fact that waste is looked upon as undesirable mater and should be got rid of.

Every city spends a lot on waste disposal—having refuse damps, collection by trucks and then disposal on the outskirts. As the boundaries of cities increase, the distance of disposal increases, and so does the nuisance of the collection and movement of wastes through the cities. Needless to say that these systems of waste disposal frequently break down, resulting in huge dumps of waste collected within the cities causing pollution, nuisance, and disease.

I have already said that grass which is grown in the lawns of the cities is burned, so are the leaves fallen from the trees. The wastes in the fruit and vegetable markets of the cities are other big problems of disposal. All these things are a problem because they are conceived wrongly. EACH ITEM OF ORGANIC WASTE IS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF ENERGY; it is either a food for someone else, or is convertible into useful manure and fuel. Waste, therefore, should be “scientifically” handled with this in mind.

So far, industrial production has been a linear principle, which means that raw materials are converted into saleable materials, and all the byproducts are considered waste if they are not competitively saleable. Thus, disposal of industrial wastes has been a great problem. Rivers, lakes, open ground around industrial areas have been polluted by industrial wastes. Around sugar factories one smelled molasses for miles until commercial use was found for molasses by converting it into spirit. Smoke is still a very great problem. Of late, considerable work is being done to convert industrial wastes into useful products. This work should be done more vigorously. No industry should be allowed to be established until it is developed on a cyclic principle. Progress should not be misunderstood as blindfold plunge into exploitation of whatever comes in our way. Progress is created by judicial choice of the activities which are useful to mankind.