“Stay Married – Save the planet!”

Is this a tagline for a family-friendly version of Heroes or did an environmentalist just marry a Catholic? According to Aussie lawmaker Steve Fielding, this is the right answer to a healthier, wealthier Earth.

“Staying married is better for the planet because divorce leads the newly single to live more wasteful lifestyles” reported The Economic Times quoting Senator Fielding who addressed a senate hearing in Canberra on February 24, 2009.

The news article reported that divorcees amplified their carbon footprint since they needed more rooms, more water and more electricity. Apparently matrimonial freedom now has a heavier cost than mere emotional baggage. Mom was right all along, eh?

I cannot help but wonder who came up Fielding’s mantra for the good earth, and what research, if any, was conducted. If I were a cartoonist, I’d sketch in a hormonally-charged geek wearing a Star Wars T-shirt, with a light bulb over his head, hard at work at his computer, typing the words “Single lifestyle paves way for interplanetary doom.” 

When we Earthlings finally start taking the third rock seriously, I can’t help but marvel at the possible repercussions when living together — and staying that way — becomes a social dictate: the responsible and the heroic thing to do.

Will Polygamy make a comeback? Life = Reruns of Days of our Mormon Lives

Will Marwari moms now use this excuse to cajole their daughters into marriage? “Beta, living alone isn’t the answer. If not your father and me, think of the Earth.”

Will our superheroes need a makeover? After all, who needs Spiderman when we have the Millionaire Matchmaker?

Will the stats for live-in relationships reach a new zenith? The new idols for Gen X will be the together-but-not-married Brangelina and Bips n’ John—saving the planet, one rebel at a time!

Will the big G too, need another avatar? “Cupid replaces Zeus as the most worshipped deity” scream Yahoo news headlines!

Tickles apart, the inveterate dialogue on politics and divorce has recently featured in India’s eastern frontier.  On 20^th of February, Mizoram’s divorce law was changed from tribal law to Mizoram Divorce Ordinance. Then: A simple utterance of three words “Ka Ma Che” by the husband commanded the wife to leave home immediately with just the clothes on her back. Now: A more legalized form of divorce, which entitles the wife to property and child rights. The law has made the breakage of marital ties a little harder, simultaneously affording much needed gender equality to Mizo women. To read more on Mizo law, click here: 

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2009/02/20/stories/2009022050080300.htm

Therefore girls and boys, think and think hard before you “put a ring on it” and work harder to keep it there!