Save your Planet, Save Yourself

Vacancy Of Environment Trainer at i-dream

2011-05-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

Job Title: Environment Trainer – Schools
Reporting to: Head, Environment Education Division – Schools
Job Purpose Summary: To train the young generation of our country to become environmentally responsible and a smart decision maker
Key Responsibilities:
· Understand the environment education content developed by the research team at i-dream
· Deliver the content to the school children from classes VI to X in an interesting, interactive and disciplined manner
· Evaluation of students on the content taught to them
· Maintain relationship with the school authorities especially the Head Mistress and Principals
· Provide regular feedback to the research and design team at i-dream about the impact of the content on the students

Key Points to be noted:
· The work timings would be from 7:30AM to 2:00PM on weekdays
· Work timings on Saturday would be from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and would be reserved for internal training of the personnel and feedback by i-dream team
· The personnel would need to adhere to the dress code as prescribed by the respective school authorities

Key Requirements:
· M.Sc in Environment Science from a prestigious university. Freshers can apply. OR
· Graduate/Post Graduate in any science stream with a passion for the environment
· B.Ed is preferable but not mandatory
· Ability to work well with the school students of age group 10-16 years
· Excellent presentation, communication and public speaking skills

Why is this role important for i-dream? :
i-dream is a two year old start-up and is now gearing for the next phase of growth. Currently, we are a three member team managing all the operations in the organization. Anyone who joins us now will be the fourth pillar of the organization and hence it is extremely important for the individual to be passionate and be very sincere and disciplined towards the task at hand. The next individual who joins our start-up team will help us push for the growth and surge ahead at a brisk speed.

Location: Delhi/NCR. Few of our key schools which the personnel would manage is in North Delhi area of Shalimar Bagh

Joining Date: 23rd June, 2011.
One week will be spent on internal training and One week of on-grounds training during 1st week of July.

Remuneration: Rs. 15,000 per month during probation period of 2 months. Post which the salary would be revised up to a maximum of Rs. 20,000 per month depending on the performance of the candidate

What does i-dream offer? :
· With i-dream , you get to experience and work in a dynamic environment of a start-up company
· i-dream provides you with a platform to unleash your potential, showcase all that you have got and make an impression in this fast growing environment industry
· If you do a good job, you play a pivotal role in changing the mindsets of the young generation of India

Internship Oppotunities at i-dream

2011-05-05T03:34:00.000-07:00

Are you a DREAMER or do you want to be one? If the answer to any of the two questions is a YES, then welcome aboard. Check the link below for internship opportunities at i-dream.

http://blog.internshala.com/2011/05/internship-with-i-dream-marketing-and-design-delhi-india/

Send us your updated resume at info@simplygreens.com.

50 Days......5000 Pledges

2011-03-02T22:52:00.000-08:00

i-dream in association with its NGO Partner Sarthak Prayas collaborates with Centre for Environment Education and Earth Day Network for a worldwide campaign titles " A Billion Acts of Green".

You can log onto http://act.earthday.org/ for more details.

Help us reach a figure of 5,000 pledges in the next 50 days. Take it as an opportunity to either start or continue your journey towards building a better tomorrow. It only takes 2 minutes to pledge for happiness of a lifetime.

All you need to do is visit our facebook page www.facebook.com/simplygreens and leave your pledge with the following information:

My Green Pledge:

Name:

Email id:

School/College/Corporate Name:

After receiving your Pledge, we will be sending you a digital certificate.

So, get going now. Don't wait for anyone else.

Feature on Deccan Chronicle

2010-06-21T02:01:00.000-07:00

i-dream was today featured on Deccan Chronicle edition of Bangalore and Chennai. Here's the link http://www.deccanchronicle.com/supplementary/be-your-own-boss-169.

Gujarat is showing the way. Let us atleast follow!

2010-06-15T02:26:00.000-07:00

That India is on the verge of a serious water crisis is a foregone conclusion. So much so that the possibility of water riots in the future can't be ruled out. And it's not that the farmers of Vidarbha in Maharashtra or Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh are the only casualties of depleting groundwater level. In satellite townships like Gurgaon and state capitals like Hyderabad, the situation is much worse than the rest of the country. And the blame doesn't go to bad monsoons alone.

More than indifferent monsoons, this scarcity of water has been caused by over exploitation of groundwater and lack of water conservation measures at the micro level. The answer to this monumental challenge that stares at an otherwise resurgent India comes from Gujarat. The state shows the way in the form of a unique government-people partnership model for water conservation. The results are here to see.

In 2004, the water table of 112 tehsils of the total 225 tehsils in Gujarat was in semi-critical to over-exploited condition. But a satellite based survey done last year by the Central Ground Water Board (NGWB) found that as many as 60 of these 112 tehsils have regained their normal water table. What's more, the water table is rising further in many of these tehsils. Most of these tehsils are in Saurashtra and Kutch where the farmers and the government together have started a unique check dam revolution.

In the mid-90s, large parts of Saurashtra used to get water through train tankers from water-abundant areas of central and south Gujarat. Today it is a thing of the past. Earlier, many small rivers and rivulets in this region used to go dry by the end of monsoon. Now they have become almost perennial and several villages have become self-sufficient in water.

In the past 10 years, 1,05,000 check dams costing Rs 1,480 crore have been built in Gujarat under the government-people scheme. The villagers have contributed between 10 and 15 per cent of the cost in the form of labour while the Government has done the rest. Around 70,000 of these dams have been piloted by the state irrigation department and the rest by the state rural development department. These dams have a cap of Rs 15 lakh in terms of investment.

The mechanism for these check dam scheme is very simple. As and when a village committee wants to make a dam, it takes the local irrigation engineer to the selected spot. After seeing the spot, the engineer helps them select one of the six technical designs for a check dam. The six designs are finalised by the Government depending on the local geological conditions. Once that is done the department releases funds and the work on the dam begins.

The changes are less evident in north Gujarat where the topography for building check dams is not as conducive and the farmers here are also not very enthusiastic. But in this region also the water level, barring some tehsils where it is falling due to local factors, has been rising for the past two years. Says R.C. Jain, Regional Director of the cgwb and in-charge of Gujarat, "Gujarat has shown that where there is a will there is always a way. This experiment can inspire people in many water starved areas of India."

Interestingly, the check dam revolution was triggered in 1999 by Mansukh Suvagiya, a Rajkot-based social worker in Jhamka village of Junagadh where the villagers collected money and constructed 52 check dams in a span of two months on small rivulets in and around the village. Today, Jhamka is a symbol of water and agro self-sufficiency.

To get something from mother earth you have to give something back. If you don't, it will stop giving you. It's not a one-way cycle.- Narendra Modi, Chief Minister, Gujarat.

In the same year, the Saurashtra Jaldhara Trust, an NGO run by diamond magnate by Mathurbhai Savani built 213 check dams on rivulets in and around Khopala near Bhavnagar to turn the village's fortune. As the success of this experiment travelled to other areas of Saurashtra with the trust's help, the then chief minister Keshubhai Patel took interest in it and launched the ambitious Sardar Patel Water Recharging Programme in 2000 to build check dams in partnership with the people.

When Chief Minister Narendra Modi took over in 2001, he laid emphasis on creating farm ponds in areas like north and central Gujarat where building check dams was not very feasible. As a result 1,81,00,000 farm ponds have been built till date at a cost of Rs 181 crore. Farm ponds are built in that part of a farm where rain water collection happens in natural course.

In 2003, the Gujarat Government launched the Gujarat Green Revolution Company to propagate sprinkler and drip irrigation technology among farmers by giving them hefty incentives. Rated as the best in the country by the Union Agriculture Ministry for last three years, this initiative is one of the reasons why the groundwater level is getting recharged in the state.

But it was not easy for the Government to convince the farmers, who were agitating for more power, to participate in the project. The agitating farmers were told to take to water conserving farming techniques and tapping surface water through indigenous methods which could end their dependence on power. "To get something from mother earth you have to give something back. If you don't, it will stop giving you. It can't be a one-way cycle," Modi told the farmers. The agitators understood the logic of his appeal and the rest is history.

Then there are other big irrigation schemes which have helped in enhancing the water table in Gujarat. For example, in north and central Gujarat, the mud canal of the Sujalam Sufalam Yojana played a key role in bringing up the water level. The project targeted at pumping 'excess' water from the Kadana canal into north Gujarat dams by laying pipelines; building an unlined canal across 21 rivers in north Gujarat, and building two lakh farm-ponds. In another initiative, the state government has partnered with NGOs to build over 40 bigger-sized check dams costing up to Rs 1 crore.

Besides these long-term projects, certain short-term initiatives have also worked wonders. Last year, Gujarat had a bad monsoon but when the Government realised that rains could hit the state in the last leg of monsoon, it launched a quick water conservation drive by building boribunds (very small dams made by blocking small rivulets with the help of sand bags). In 20 days, over 2,50,000 boribunds came up as a result of a joint effort by the departments of rural development and forest management, NGOs and village committees.

When the rains did come, these boribunds conserved a lot of water. Says Ram Kumar, CEO of the State Watershed Management Agency: "Our resolve is to ensure that not a single drop of water is wasted." The success has not resulted in complacency in the Government which launched another innovative scheme three months ago to tap surface water on the hilly slopes of the tribal regions of south, north and east Gujarat by making terrace talavis-small ponds dug on hill slopes.

In 2009, Gujarat registered 9.06 per cent agricultural growth rate while the nation's growth rate was less than three per cent. The total cultivable area in Gujarat has increased by a phenomenal 15 per cent in the past 10 years. During that period, Gujarat's agro production has jumped from Rs 18,000 crore to Rs 49,000 crore. The state increased its cotton yield six-fold from 175 kg per hectare to 798 kg, more than the world average of 787 kg.

"Gujarat has set the finest example of groundwater management through indigenous and modern methods and through people's participation," says Tushaar Shah, senior fellow at the International Water Management Institute. When Jhamka and Khopala did it, the rest of Gujarat wondered why not they. It's time the rest of the country asked the same question.
By Uday Mahurkar

Reproduced From India Today.

Let's Do It

2010-05-13T05:34:00.000-07:00

Delhi city produces around 8,000 MT of solid waste. If you are wondering if this is an annual figure, please hold your breath and then proceed to read the next few words : "Delhi produces 8,000 MT of solid waste DAILY". Also note that 1 MT = 1,000 kg. I do not want to even get into multuplying this figure by no. of days in a year and arriving at an annual figure, for my counting abilities are only so limited. Out of this, only 60% of the waste is collected and remaining is dumped on the Delhi roads.

However, if you are reading this, you would react in one of the following ways,

a) Oh My GOD! So much waste, we must do something about it

b) Oh My GOD! So much waste. But why should only I do something about it

c) Oh My GOD! So much waste. But even if I do my bit, how much difference is it going to make

d) Kya Farak Padta Hai yaar, kaun sa ye kooda mere ghar mein aa raha hai

If you choose 1, I can proudly say that you are amongst those few who believe in the idea of a healthy future. To them I would say, keep doing the good work friends, this is just the beginning of a journey. However, if you choose any of the remaining three options, CONGRATULATIONS because you are not alone. You are joined by millions of people across the city/country who think the same. The only thing which these people do not realize is that if all these million souls choose to think positively for the environment, their collective thoughts and the corresponding actions will reverse all the environmental impacts within a span of a few days.

Any journey however needs a captain. For the journey towards a clean city, I have certainly found one in Let's Do It Delhi initiative by Anita Bhargava and team. Lets Do It Delhi is a people's initiative and its objective is to achieve a unified action involving all the citizens of this wonderful city resulting in cleaning Delhi of its entire mess. i-dream was proud to collaborate with Lets Do It Delhi in organizing School Clean Up Day on 7 May, 2010. Students from New State Academy, Pitam Pura, Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh were amongst the 5,000 students who participated in the campaign.

The skeptics might say how much difference it would have made to the city. It may not be much when it comes to calculating the amount of waste collected but the impact in terms of sensitizing the young generation was extremely significant. Also, through these young kids, we were able to reach out to even larger number of people with the message of Litter free Delhi.

Students from Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh cleaning the school boundary

Students from New State Academy, Pitam Pura cleaning a local park

However, this is just the beginning. Over the period of the year 2010, Lets Do It Delhi will take this drive to even larger places in Delhi and involve more and more number of people. I urge all of you to take the Anti Litter Pledge by logging onto http://www.letsdoitdelhi.org/ and help make this city a world class city. Cmon, I am sure none of you wants to live in a filthy, stinky society. Go ahead and the MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

April Fool Banaya

2010-04-02T00:06:00.000-07:00

I dread 1 April, for every year on this day I live under the fear that someone somewhere may discover my trick through which I have been successfully fooling billions of people across the world. However, not even one intelligent soul has emerged in so many years to understand what a fool I have been making of the entire humanity.

Dull, barrena and empty thats what I am today. I am questioning my own existence nowadays and pondering that why has my beauty withered , why is my face looking pale. I no longer have my charming exuberance. The doctor says that I am suffering from dehydration. I consider myself highly unfortunate that I am unable to support even my children who can merely be mute spectators to the entire catastrophe. I wish I could once again take you in my arms and give you all the love I have my dear son. I am so sorry but I have been rendered helpless.

However, I must tell you all that I am not sitting silent. I am busy fooling the entire humanity into destruction. As they continue to trouble me and my beautiful children, I am also trying to show them how foolish they are to not understand ever what I can do to them. I am killing them slowly and therefore fooling them, for none can realize what would happen to them 20 years from now. They are all dying a slow death, their lungs, their brains, their eyes, their ears, each part of their body is slowly and gradually undergoing a change. If I would wish, I can also destroy them in a single moment. But with them, even I would cease to exist. Therefore, I am fooling them into slow death thereby also giving them a chance to redeem themselves. Only if one of them could be smart enough to understand my trick.

And I also do not need any one particular day to play tricks with humans as I play with them all year long, every day, every moment (read -floods, droughts, tsunami, cyclones etc). But on this April Fools Day, people become extra cautious and I wonder if one of them from somewhere would be smart enough to figure out my trick. Till then Happy Fools Day.

PS: I may drive some happiness by fooling the humanity but deep within I am sad and I want the humans to redeem themselves for in their happiness lies my prosperity and vice versa.
PPS: If you have still not figured out who I am, I reveal myself as Planet Earth.

with inputs from my dear friend Harshita Mittal.

Green IPL or just a show off

2010-03-25T00:19:00.000-07:00

Indian Premier League, a phenomenon which has caught the attention of one and all has tied up with UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) with an idea to make the games green. This as the wesbite claims they are doing by calculating their carbon footprints (amount of carbon emissions happening because of the games), by making team captains take a pledge to reduce their team's environmental impact, by asking players, sponsors and partners to be more mindful of their footprints and by creating awareness amongst the general public through " Tip of the day" which the commentator announces just before the toss for every match.

Let us look at the above initiatives and some other aspects of games to understand if IPL is really going green.

I have been following the tip of the day since a few matches and this is what some of the tips are like:

1. Save electricity by switching off electrical appliances
2. Save water by closing your taps
3. Reduce, reuse and recycle

Now, even if we have someone who is totally against the idea of working for environment and we ask him/her to tell us three ways to protect the environment, he/she with a very high degree of probability might give out the above three points . If we ask students in school about three ways to save environment, they might as well tell us the above mentioned ways. The point is that these tips are so basic and regular that they neither enhance the knowledge of the spectators nor add any value to them. If at all IPL had to include the section of "Tip of the day", they could have been more specific in guiding people on how they can adopt green lifestyle habits and make a contribution to the environment.

Similarly loose is the initiative of asking captains, players and sponsors to take a pledge to reduce their carbon emissions. A pledge turning into an action is a very rare possibility. Rather it would have been better to provide green options to our players and make them choose the same. This is so because in a number of cases it has been observed that people want to contribute to environment but they don't know how. This is a similar situtation as well, wherein players might be willing to help the environment but if we will not provide them options or solutions to choose from, they will be unable to do so on their own.

The initiative to calculate the carbon footprints is certainly a step in the right direction. But I do hope that this is just not another exercise to showcase to the world that IPL is going green when the reality may be far from it. If we look at the existing scenario there are a number of situations/actions which might be resulting in excessive carbon emissions. Some of the actions are mentioned hereunder:

1. Travelling of players across cities though air planes
2. Travelling of players from their hotels to the stadium and back
3. Travelling of spectators from their homes/offices to the stadium and back
4. Loud music being played in the stadium
5. Firecracker show at the end of every match (sometimes even in between)
6. Unhealthy food being provided at the venues in the form of burgers, patties, cold drinks, alcohol etc
7. Waste leftover by spectators and players after the match
8. After match parties which extend to early hours of the next morning
9. Players residing in 5 start hotels

Now, I am not someone who is against the games neither am I saying that above activities should not happen. I am thoroughly enjoying watching all the matches and also fully supporting Delhi Darevevills (who unlike last time are not doing so well in this edition). All that I am trying to say that if we take a close look especially with the intention of making the games green, some of these activities could be totally avoided (like the firecracker show), some could be toned down (like the number of times the loud music is played can be reduced, post match parties can end a little early) and in some cases people can be provided several green options to choose from. Some of the green options can be:

1. Using electric vehicles to move the players from hotels to stadiums and back
2. Improve public transport facility and stop parking of private vehicles near the stadium. This can be achieved asking the local goverment for support and also hiring a few buses to enable people to travel together
3. Provide healthy/organic food inside the stadiums
4. Set up a proper mechanism of waste collection and recycling post the match
5. Ask the 5 star hotels to comply to some basic environment standards so that minimum usage and wastage of energy happens (Players staying in 5 start hotels is infact resulting in highest carbon emissions)

Because environment has become such a hot topic of discussion these days, it is being used by individuals and corporates to project a certain image of themselves which is inclined towards a critical social cause. IPL seems like no exception as is clear from the above analysis.

Making a difference to the environment is all about making the right choices. And if you would make the right choices, the results would show automatically and you wouldn't have to indulge in showoff.

World Water Day - Do we need this?

2010-03-22T03:18:00.001-07:00

22 March is celebrated worldover as World Water Day. Water Pollution and providing access to good quality drinking water are one of most serious challenges being faced by countries worldover especially the developing countries like India.

We, living in urban cities are lucky to get water which at most times is sufficient to fufill our daily water requirements. However, how many of us really thank God for this. I say so, because there are still so many people in our country including small kids who are dying just because they do not have access to clean drinking water. We, humans can still survive without food for a certain number of days, however if you are left with no water for 2-3hours in the hot weather conditions which exist today you would find it difficult to survive.

Let us look at various areas where water is used by people in urban centres:

1. Drinking
2. Bathing
3. Brushing
4. Shaving (for men)
5. Washing clothes
6. Cleaning floors
7. Cleaning Cars/vehicles
8. Cleaning Utensils
9. Flushing
10. Watering of plants

I am sure there must be other uses of water as well, please help me out in compiling an even comprehensive list. The point that I want to make is we are lucky to get and thereby use water for so many things which we feel are essential for our daily survival. Whereas on the other hand, there are people who do not even get enough water to satisfy their requirement of point no. 1 in the list above. Now, few of you might say, "Kya Farak Padta Hai" and some of you my dear friends may say, so what can we do sitting at our home.

Well, the least anyone can do is to save and recycle water. Use only that much water you feel will be sufficient for your bathing/shaving/cleaning purposes. Trust me, you do not need a bucketfull of water to clean your car, howsoever big it may be. All you need is one bottle of water (1 litre or even less). Next time you go out to clean your car, carry only one bottle of water and you would see it for yourself how almost magically your car will appear like new with that much water only. There are just some of the pointers which I am suggesting. I am sure most of you would be smart enough to know how you can save water at home/school/office.

Only thing we need is to get away from our conventional mindset which often tells us " What would happen only through my actions". We need to understand that there are millions of people out there who are also thinking the same and therefore so is the condition of our water bodies and we are facing acute water shortage. However, if all these millions of people start thinking "I can also make a change and my own individual actions do matter", it would not take us even a week to solve the problem of water crisis.

World Water Day stands for nothing else but only calls out to everyone to change their mindset and Make their own Choices. The choices which can ensure that no one in any part of the world at any time dies because he/she could not get clean and healthy water to drink. AMEN!

Chidiya Udi Udi Udi...phurrrrrrrrrrrrrr

2010-03-16T04:37:00.000-07:00

Every year from far across the various corners of the world, a number of migratory birds visit Delhi and make Yamuna river basin their home for a few months. It is a wonderful scene to look at these birds of different colours and sizes enjoying the river water and playing with each other. However, the Asian Water Bird Census - 2010 has revealed some very saddening facts for the bird lovers in Delhi and also its residents. The findings are summarized hereunder:

112 bar-headed geese came this year compared to 212 in 2009
Number of gadwal was down to 72 from 302
Northern Shoveler to 484 from 854
Norther Pintail to 172 from 272
Only 231 common coot were spotted in place of 355 in 2009
The mixed flock of brown headed and black headed gull dropped to 345 from 877
Number of common pochard fell drastically to 28 from 320 in 2009
Somebirds which gave Delhi a miss this year includes avocet, bar-headed and black - tailed godwits, cob ducks and garganey
Grey - leg geese remained constant at 411 insteas of 416 in 2009
Number of Eurasian spoonbills increased from 16 to 6
Common teal increased from 78 to 184 in 2009

Is there anyone saying "Yayyyyy", there are three species of birds whose numbers have gone up? This is how a typical climate skeptic or someone with "Kya Farak Padta Hai" attitude problem would react to the above information. I can still understand someone if he/she is wondering what impact does the above findings have.

To understand this, we must appreciate that if the number of birds are going down there must be some reason behind the same. One reason which is very apparent is the deteriorating condition of our river Yamuna. With 52% of Delhi's sewage being dumped into the river, the city's lifeline is turning into a "ganda nala", to which even birds have now refused to inhabit. The other factors which affect the migration of these birds are temperature and change of weather. These two factors are also self explanatory. The temperature is rising every year (2009 was the second most warmest year in the recorded history) and the change in weather is becoming as unpredictable as the mood of my girlfriend (if I would have have one). It is clear that summers are becoming longer and winters are not only becoming shorter but are also arriving late.

It is therefore easy to establish that climate change and increasing pollution in the city (both air and water) is contributing to the decreasing number of birds visiting our city. And hence, it is also correct to say that the above findings are an indication to we humans that something terribly wrong is happening to our city.

For a detailed analysis of other factors responsible for the above mentioned state, you can log on to http://yamunajiyeabhiyaan.blogspot.com/2010/03/migratory-bird-count-falls-sharply-in.html.

It is upto us to do some action else Delhi's winters will slowly and gradually lose their charm and romanticism. It is all about "Making your own choices"

Inputs : report published on The Hindu on March 08, 2010

Paani

2010-03-08T09:28:00.000-08:00

Economic Times has reported that in 20 years from now, our country India will face acute groundwater shortage. Let us look at what their report says through following bullet points:

Groundwater supports approximately 60% of irrigated agriculture and more than 80% of rural and urban water supplies
India is the largest user of groundwater in the world with an estimated use of 230 cubic kms of groundwater every year - more than a quarter of the global total
Out of a total of 5, 723 groundwater blocks in the country, 1,615 are classified as semi-critical or over exploited
Today, 29% of groundwater blocks are semi-critical, critical or over exploited
By 2025, 60% of India's groundwater blocks will be in critical condition
Almost 54% of the groundwater blocks in Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu fall in these categories

So, what does this mean for all us. Should we stop using ground water completely? Only a fool would say Yes to that question. Point is, groundwater like any other resource exists to be used by humans and animals for their survival. The key word however is survival. Unfortunately, the trend today is that people are using it for greed and not mere survival.

Only if we could put some restraint on the usage of groundwater, only if we could choose to use our resources cautiously, we could definitely avoid the situation of deep crisis as mentioned in the report above. We cannot even afford to display our Kya Farak Padta Hai attitude to this because there is absolutely no rocket science in understanding that "Paani" is the most critical thing required for our survival. We all would cease to exist without "Paani".

All I would say is Make your own Choices.

Key Green Features of Budget 2010-11

2010-03-04T21:28:00.001-08:00

Key Green Features of Budget 2010-11

Posted using ShareThis

Do me a favour...let's play Holi

2010-02-26T23:15:00.000-08:00

The subject line is a very famous Holi song shot on Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra. However, if I were to tweak the song a little, it might help convey a very important environment friendly message,

" Do me a favour, let's play organic holi"

You may ask me, why is there so much hulla bulla about organic colors because since so many years we have been using the regular colors and nothing seems to happen to us. The answer is simple but complicated to understand because we only believe in what we see as an immediate action and lack the ability to understand the long term impact. The truth however is that the regular colors are toxic and slowly and gradually these are causing damage to our skin, hair and even lungs. Look at the following facts about different colors used in holi:

Green: The copper sulphate used can cause temporary blindness and eye allergies

Silver: It may include aluminium bromide, a carcinogenic

Red: It may contain mercury sulphate, which can cause skin cancer, mental retardation or even paralysis

Purple: It may contain chromium iodide that can lead to various allergies and asthma

(source - Times of India)

When we look at the above facts, some of us may prefer to stay indoors and let this festival pass away. However, Holi is supposed to be a festival of joy, fun and happiness and we should not deprive ourselves from the good times. So, what can we do so as to avoid the usage of such harmful colors and yet make the festival memorable. The answer lies in using organic colors.

Organic colors are made from flowers and materials which are natural and therefore environment friendly and cause no damage to our body parts. Yes, we can make them at home as well. But through this blog post, I will not tell you how to make them at home because it is a tedious job and would require good amount of dedication and time of yours. And in our practical day to day life, now we even do not have enough time to make gujias at home, so making colors is a far fetched dream. However, if someone is up to the challenge, you can log on to http://www.holifestival.org/holi-natural-colors.html and learn about how to make colors at home.

For the rest of you (which would obviously be a majority of you), you can buy such colors from the market. If you cannot find them still, you can contact the Kriti team at 26027845 /26033088 or mail them at space.kriti@gmail.com or visit them at S-35 Tara Aptts, Alaknanda, New Delhi 19. The Kriti team is selling Rangdular colors which are completely chemical free. For more details, please log on to http://krititeam.blogspot.com/2010/02/celebrate-holi-with-natural-colours.html.

Another important contribution which you can make on this holi is to save water. By choosing to play holi with natural color, you would end up saving water automatically. The rationale is very easy to understand. When you use chemicals on your skin, you end up using much more water than required to clean your skin and body thereby leading to wastage. But when you use natural colors, they can go away with just a simple bath. So, without making any significant effort, you end up contributing to your environment. Also, use water balloons and water canon cautiously. I am not asking you not to use them, but may be there usage can just be a little minimized.

All said and done, it is your attitude and choices you make that would decide whether you contribute positively or negatively to the environment on this holi. So, go on and Make your own Choices.

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-16T01:22:00.000-08:00

Love is an elixir of life and transcends beyond all boundaries. When we are in love, we are ready to go to any extremes to ensure a smile on the beautiful face of our partner. Love is the wilful intent to serve the well being of another (your partner). And as SRK puts it, love knows no conditions. Love is all about giving.

But at the same time, love is successful and one is happy only when one gets love in return. At this stage, I recall SRKs dialogue from Mohabbatein when he says, "pyaar mein koi shartein nahin hoti. Ye zaroori nahin ki jisse main pyaar karun, wo bhi mujhse pyaar karein." But I feel this is a complete idealistic scenario and in real life whenever we find love, the feeling has to flows in both the directions. Mark Twain sums it all, " Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired".

When human civilization started billions of years ago, the first entity to love us was our nature, our environment, our planet earth. And this love has been so strong that it has sustained its feelings over a period of all these years. It knows no boundaries and is beyond sex, religion, region, caste and all other factors which divide the humanity today. This feeling comes straight out of SRK's romantic films which make one-sided love immortal. The love exhibited by our planet towards humans knows no conditions and expects absolutely nothing in return. And as ideal as it may sound, it is also immune to the human actions. Our beloved earth provides us with unconditional access to all the resources required for our survival and also protects us from all bad things happening in our universe. It goes out to all extreme to ensure that its lover (we humans) are always happy and content with their life.

But as expressed earlier, we are now living in practical times. Unlike so many things that have transformed all around us, love also has undergone a sea change. A certain element of expectation has crept into the feeling of love. Complete harmony, peace and happiness can only happen when we get love in return of our love. The earth expects humans to love it back. But the reality is that the earth is not getting back what it desires. The rising temperatures, more floods and droughts, increasing cases of cyclones and hurricanes are just some ways of letting the humans know that their darling is angry. If our lover is annoyed with us, it is extremely critical for the other partner to pacify the lover and win the love back. For if it does not happen, a break-up or a divorce can have even catastrophic impacts in our lives. I cannot wait for a break-up and thereby ruin my life. I am off to find ways to win back my lover. As for you, you can make your own choices.

Workshop on Climate Change

2010-02-15T23:07:00.000-08:00

A workshop on Global Warming and Climate Actionability was organized at Rukmini Devi Public School on 16 February 2010. The workshop was attended by over 100 students of class VIII and a few teachers. This workshop was organized as a part of Green 2010 campaign started by i-dream. Under the same campaign, several workshops have also been organized in schools like Kalka Public School, GK-1 and Mount. Abu Public School, Rohini.

Through the workshop series, we are reaching out to young students and creating awareness on Global Warming, its impacts and how can individuals contribute to work for a greener tomorrow.

We hope that the student community would be sensitized through these workshops and strive to work in a positive manner for the environment.

Ms. Nidhi Narayan, teacher Rukmini Devi introducing the speaker of the day, Rohit Prakash

Students attending the workshop

A reality show to award Green Warriors

2010-02-11T22:41:00.000-08:00

Green Kerela Express is one of a kind initiative which would award prizes to villages which are going green. The show will be aired on Doordarshan and will be aired in Kerela to begin with. The show which starts from 1 March has already 250 entries working on sustainable development.

Among the contestants is a village which has adopted organic farming, another competitor is a household that is converting bio degradable waste into bio-fuel. The program's anchors will travel on bicycles covering a number of villages in Kerela to shoot its 105 episodes. All the participants will be judged by an expert committee using the flimed documentation of their project. Selected participants will then face questions from judges in the studio and viewers will also get an opportunity to choose the best entry by sending sms which would be added to the score given by the judges. The winning entry will pocket a cool amount of $213, 000 which would be funded by the state government.

An initiative like this would certainly encourage a large number of people to work on ideas and projects aimed at sustainable development. With time, such a concept should be taken to other states and cities as well as this would ensure creating a pool of people working on sustainable development ideas and knowledge sharing between states which would further bolster this movement of environment revolution.

For anyone reading this blog, if you have a green idea and you wish to take it to the stage of implementation, please write to us at info@simplygreens.com.

i-dream campaign on Youtube

2010-02-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

Just in case if you missed catching up any action on Green 2010 - Delhi for a green beginning campaign, you can now watch a small video presentation on the same on Youtube at the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qD6YxuKcco

Please do leave your comments.

2010-02-01T02:29:00.000-08:00

Students displaying their banners and poster to audience members

Lamp Lighting Ceremony

Ms. Sangeeta Saxena, Principal Aadharshila Vidyapeeth giving the Welcome Address

Guest of Honour Shri Anoop Kumar addressing the students about the need to indianize our carbon mitigation steps

The next generation performing on Jai Ho and giving out a strong message

Schools receiving Certificate of Participation award

Winners of the painting competition receiving medals and certificates

Mata Jai Kaur Public School - Winners of the Adopt Green Life Drive

Aadharshila Vidyapeeth - Winners of Adopt Green Life drive

i-dream founder Rohit Prakash giving a thank you note

Painting Competition @ Dilli Haat on 23 Jan

2010-01-26T22:45:00.000-08:00

Students in sunshine @ Dilli Haat, Pitam Pura

The message is loud and clear - Adopt recycling

Delhi Metro connects the entire Delhi - vision 2010

Sheroo and commonwealth games - Hope we can do it......

First Prize winner from Modern Public School

Painting Competition @ IHC, 16 Jan

2010-01-26T21:33:00.000-08:00

Theme - Delhi in the Commonwealth Year

School students registering for the painting competition

Students participating in the competition

Painting in the shade.....

Amity International, Pushp Vihar

Creation of Aadharshila Vidyapeeth

Sheroo and Delhi metro - Delhi in 2010

New Green Fields Public School

Students from Kalka Public School with their creation

Young students with their interpretation on Delhi in the commonwealth year

Grand Finale - Green 2010

2010-01-23T07:44:00.000-08:00

The blog could not be updated since last one week as so much action was happening within the i-dream team as well as on the streets of Delhi. But just to summarize, we hosted two painting competitions, one at IHC on 16 Jan and the other at Dilli Haat, Pitam Pura on 23 Jan besides continuing with our road campaigns in Lajpat Nagar, South Ex, and Lotus Temple. The pictures will be uploaded soon.

However, the big day is finally here. 25 January,2010 would mark the end of our month long campaign on creating awareness on Green lifestyle habits. The event is happening as per the schedule mentioned hereunder:

Date - 25 January, 2010

Time - 9:30 AM onwards

Venue - Aadharshila Vidyapeeth, CD Block, Pitam Pura

Our guest of honour is Mr. Anoop Kumar, IAS who has a distinguished record of working for sustainable environment development.

Anyone who reads this blog is invited to attend the finale ceremony and be a part of Green 2010. It has been a great effort and we hope that through our efforts we might have succeeded in mobilizing all the school children plus a significant number of Delhiites to think and most importantly act in a positive manner towards our environment.

Green 2010 @ Janakpuri

2010-01-16T07:37:00.000-08:00

Students being briefed about the campaign

Students at District Centre, Janak Puri

Students in interaction with Anushree

Young students distributing green tips leaflets to people in the parking lot

Students doing a march on the road

1000 trees in 7 Days

2010-01-16T03:01:00.000-08:00

Under Green 2010, i-dream has taken up a tough target of planting 1000 trees in 7 days. Through our Own a tree campaign, we want to reach out to 1000 people in Delhi /NCR and register them for the campaign. By paying only Rs. 250, citizens of Delhi/NCR can become proud owners of a tree in their own city. The amount would be used for planting of the trees and for maintaining the same for a period of one year.

The event would be held as per the details mentioned hereunder:

Date - 24 Jan,2010

Time - 9 AM Onwards

Venue - Forest Cover, MG Road

We only have 7 days. If you wish to bring down your carbon footprints and contribute to your environment, then please register for the campaign and make it a huge success.

It is time to Make your own Choice.

Green 2010 @ Inder Lok

2010-01-15T06:53:00.000-08:00

Maharaja Agrasain School, Ashok Vihar participating in Green 2010

i-dream's Green India Member School New State Academy

This can be Delhi's future in 2047. Are we ready for this??????

Students standing guard on the road educating people in Delhi about Green lifestyle habits

Girls from New State Academy

The message is loud and clear.....

Aadharshila Vidyapeeth at its enthusiastic best

Green 2010 @ Deepali Chowk, Rohini -2

2010-01-14T09:52:00.001-08:00

Students got onto the road during red light and interacted with people about green lifestyles and distributed green tips leaflets

A man on the bike reading the green tips leaflet

Students requesting people to switch off their engines during red light

Police personnel providing security to the students and participating in the campaign

Green 2010 @ Deepali Chowk, Rohini - 1

2010-01-14T09:03:00.000-08:00

Students from Mata Jai Kaur Public School

Aadharshila Vidyapeeth at its best like always

Vikas Bharti Publi School, Rohini participating in Green 2010

Students being briefed by i-dream co-founder Rohit

Band fromMata Jai Kaur attracted the attention of the people

Students participating in the signature / message campaign

Environment expert Mr. Veer Kumar writing a message. He was there to encourage the students and support us in our endeavour

Green 2010 @ Power House, Pitam Pura

2010-01-12T06:46:00.000-08:00

After covering central Delhi, Green 2010 moves towards north with the first location being Power House in Pitam Pura. Around 40 students from 2 schools namely New State Academy and Aadharshila Vidyapeeth participated in today's campaign.

Students from Aadharshila Vidyapeeth with their banners and posters

Students from New State Academy with their banners and posters

Students writing their messages for the signature campaign

Students distributing i-dream's Green tips and interacting with people during traffic light and giving them green message

Students interacting people on the roadside and educating them about harmful effects of burning leaves and wood

Teachers from Aadharshila Vidyapeeth participating in the campaign

i-dream Team member Rohan distributing Green Tips and educating people on the road

Mansi from i-dream in discussion with students from New State Academy

i-dream co-founder Anushree interacting with students from Aadharshila Vidyapeeth

Green 2010 @ Kashmere Gate

2010-01-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

As one moves further up on the road ahead of the Kashmere Gate Metro Station, one begins to wonder if one is still in Delhi or has crossed the border to be in some other land. Such a stark contrast between areas of south Delhi and these areas in the northern region of Delhi is so noticeable that we need to question the existing disparity in development. We talk about making Delhi a worldclass city in the year of commonwealth, but we must also understand that the development needs to be uniform and spread throughout the city rather than concentrating only on select few areas.

The road leading to the Kashmere Gate market and the Police Station is full of litter spread on both the sides. You can see people spitting and throwing waste on the road. People stopping by the side and loosening their bladder is a common sight. This inspite of the fact that there is a well maintained Sulabh Toilet right besides the metro station. The condition was so bad and filthy that our team did not event want to take any pictures. We happen to speak to a police officer on duty and the entire discussion with him can be summarized by this statement which he made, " Ye Dilli hai Sir, iska kuch nahin ho sakta". Even though he was an honest policeman and wanted to create a difference to our society, however he had absolutely no hopes of transforming the mindset of people of this city.

The first question we need to ask ourselves before we set out to rectify the situation is why has the situation deteriorated to such an extent? The government is to be blamed certainly for it has failed to provide basic facilities to the people. There is no single dustbin in the entire area thereby providing no options to the people. Even though there is one toilet, there are no directions to it informing people of the same. So, someone who is new to the area or even otherwise might not be able to locate the toilet at all. Secondly, people living in the area and those visiting also need to be blamed for the situation. This is because they have become so habitual of the dirty surroundings that it now seems natural to them. Neither do they want to make any special efforts to rectify the situation nor do they stop someone else from further contrubuting to the chaos. Like always it is both the government and the community that needs to blamed and therefore it is these two entities only who would need to come together to make a difference.

But a start needs to made somewhere. Someone needs to come up and show the people that an option does exist wherein they can live in clean and healthy surroundings. The need of the hour is to run a campaign which would not only educate the people there about the importance of clean environment but also through concrete actions show them how to achieve and maintain healthy surroundings. I am confident that if we provide green options to the common people, they would be most happy to take them up and live in a healthy environment.

The big question is, who would do all that discussed in the last paragraph. One answer, " Can i-dream do it?" It is most certainly our vision to take steps which can create some difference in our society and make our country a better place to live. And for this to happen, we have to reach out to as many students and youngsters as possible, fight against the KFP mindset and form a more responsible citizens force which can contribute to sustainable development at all levels.

Green 2010 @ Pragati Maidan

2010-01-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

Team i-dream setting up at Pragati Maidan

Team i-dream interacting with people at the stall and educating them about Green Lifestyles

A visitor reading various Green Tips

i-dream Member interacting with people on the streets

People reading the Green Tips leaflet handed over to them

i-dream co-founder Anushree interacting with a news reporter

Green 2010 is creating awarenss amongst large number of Delhiites about how they can preserve their own city. From central Delhi, Green 2010 moves towards North Delhi.

Day 1 Action in Pictures (contd...)

2010-01-05T09:06:00.001-08:00

Students spreading awareness on the Delhi streets

If not for us, we must act now to ensure a healthy planet for our future generation. Look at their hopeful eyes.

Students receiving cards made from recycled paper

Day 1 Action in Pictures

2010-01-05T06:09:00.000-08:00

Students being briefed about the campaign by Team i-dream

Students of Aadharshila Vidyapeeth and Dr. Radhakrishna standing at Janpath

Students from Dr. Radhakrishna International School holding the i-dream banner on green lifestyle

Students of Aadharshila Vidyapeeth were very enthusiastic and proved to be excellent environment warriors

Green 2010 - Day 1

2010-01-04T01:51:00.000-08:00

9 AM on a January morning - extremely cold and very windy. Large number of people would still be buried under their quilt or would be beating the Monday morning blues to reach their office place. However, Team i-dream along with students and teachers from two Delhi schools namely Aadharshila Vidyapeeth and Dr. Radhakrishna International were out on the streets with a message for the Delhiites, which could very well shape the future of our city. Two young school kids cut the ribbon and inaugurated Green 2010, a month long campaign on green lifestyles.

Post the ribbon cutting ceremony, students formed a human chain along the iconic Jantar Mantar and tried their best to educate people about green lifestyles and how they can contribute to a safe environment. Number of students and several teachers registered their green messages for the Delhiites urging everyone to take care of the environment and ensure a healthy and a green future.

This is just a start of the journey.From here, we move to 14 different locations in Delhi and over the period of next one month, with the help of several schools, we will attempt to education more than 2 Lakh people on green lifestyle and inspire them to work for a green future.

As said earlier, we do not want the next generation to have Kya Farak Padta Hai attitude problem. For the rest, it is all about Making your own choice.

PS: Keep watching this space for pictures of the campaign. If you want pictures to be mailed to you, kindly write to us at blog@simplygreens.com with your name and school name.

Happy Green Year

2010-01-01T09:12:00.000-08:00

A famous hindi quote goes like this," beeti tahe bisaat de aage ki kar soch" which means that let the bygones be bygones, think of what lies ahead. With the advent of new year, it is time to leave the horrors of last year including the biggest of them all, The Copenhagen Summit behind us and to make a fresh start. In the year 2010, let us all pledge to take our first steps towards adopting green lifestyles and do our bit to ensure we and our future generations have a green and a healthy future.

With this thought, i-dream is proud to announce its first solo event Green 2010 - Delhi for a green beginning. The objective of the event to begin a new year on a green note and to create awareness on green lifestyles so as to neutralize the carbon emissions before, during and after the commonwealth games scheduled to be held in Delhi in 2010. The event is scheduled to take place from 4 Jan to 25 Jan 2010. Under the event, we are having two events:

1. Adopt Green drives by school students at 14 different locations in Delhi

2. Painting competition on the theme of " Delhi in the Commonwealth year"

20 schools from across Delhi have already registered to be a part of the campaign and many more are to expected to register once the school reopens after the winter vacation in the second week of January. At i-dream we plan to create Green 2010 an ideal platform which would pave the way to build the first step towards making people change their mindset, adjust to green lifestyles and adopt the idea of sustainable development.

For more detaails about the event, please log on to http://simplygreens.com/events.html. To register your school for the campaign please contact Rohit at 9971033119 or Anushree at 9654506716. Let us all come together, brave the cold of January and the traffic jams of Delhi to make people shed the Kya Farak Padta Hai attitude and offer them choices which would not only be beneficial for them at their individual level but also at a much wider level, that of our own planet.

Keep watching this space for daily updates on Green 2010.

Kaun Banega Paryavaran Ambassador (KBPA)

2009-12-09T07:45:00.000-08:00

KBPA was a nation wide Climate Change campaign initiated by Ministry of Environment and Forests in the year 2008 and implemented by Centre for Environment Education in parternship with Arcelor Mittal. i-dream was proud to be present during the fecilitation ceremony.

The objective of the campaign was to create awareness on climate change and picking up right habits to preserve our environment. But most importantly, it was search of for a paryavaran ambassador, search for someone who can inspire people from all walks of life esp the younger generation to work positively for the environment and ensure a green future.

The campaign was conducted across 2 Lakh schools and the students were asked to nominate one name of their choice. Gladly, as Mr. Jairam Ramesh pointed out during the fecilitation ceremony, the choice was unanimously Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and not any film star or sportsperson.

Dr. Kalam has been one of the best Presidents India has ever had and he has significant influence over the young students. Nomination of Dr. Kalam as India's first paryavaran ambassador is certainly a step in the right direction and also at the right time. If Dr. Kalam can work the same magic as he did during his days at DRDO while designing India's missile program or during his presidentship, I am confident that we can inspire our young generation to act as change agents and not take environment preservation as a compulsion.

Time for action is now and I am sure Dr. Kalam would understand that his role as a paryavaran ambassador will be very critical in inspiring a youth movement because we do not want another generation to have the Kya Farak Padta Hai attitude.

A girl and a plate of aaloo chaat

2009-11-25T02:10:00.000-08:00

1:30PM - The school had just ended and the girl was really excited to get back home into her mother's lap. The girl was a regular 14 year old Delhi girl studying in class X at one of the reputed schools in Delhi. She was wearing her school uniform with a blue shirt, grey skirt and navy blue blazer to beat the cold.

Before she hopped on to the rickshaw, she and her friend decided to indulge themselves to a plate of aaloo chaat. Quickly, they turned around and ran towards a road side vendor and ordered for one plate of one of the most popular and common snacks enjoyed by Delhiites irrespective of the time of the day. The two girls relished it, enjoyed every piece of potato (aaloo) and just as they were finishing the last bite, the rickshaw puller yelled out for the girls to join the others for the journey back home. The girl finished the last piece, threw the thermocol plate (on which she was served the aaloo chat) on the road and rushed towards the rickshaw.

This looks like a very regular incident happening outside most of the schools and provides for a nice read. However, if one re-reads the last three lines, the entire incident turns out to be a shocking read. Without even caring for where she was standing, without even considering if anyone else was standing besides her and without even looking for a dustbin in the close vicinity, the girl just threw the thermocol plate on the road. For her, it was as if a very normal thing to do. Her face expressions wore a very casual look. She was a perfect description of what I refer to as Kya Farak Padta Hai attitude problem.

Now consider the fact that the girl is currently just 14 years old and will therefore be a part of our future generation. But with this attitude at this early age, she would most certainly grow into an environmentally irresponsible citizen. She would therefore cascade down the same mindset into her brother/sister, husband, kids and her colleagues. And therefore one individual suffering from a negative mindset will end up impacting the mindset of so many individuals over her lifetime.

The question is, what can we do so as to avoid such a mishappening? One simple way is that we should take it as our responsibility to teach young students about environmental issues / problems and make them aware about healthy environment habits and green lifestyle. These young students can act as change masters and influence our future. Only if they wish, I am sure we can still ensure a green and healthy tomorrow. We talk and discuss endlessly about climate change and other environment issues but we end up neglecting the genesis of the problem. We must ensure that our young students get the right set of education and values which would sensitize them to consider environment preservation as a default activity rather than a choice. At the end of the day, it's all about Making your own choice.

PS: The incident is a real life incident which was observed by the author on 25 November, 2009 at 1:30 PM outside a prominent school in Pitam Pura, Delhi

Mosquitoes in Himalayas

2009-11-10T22:36:00.000-08:00

According to a recent report published in the New York Times,

" There are other signs of climate change in the Himalayas. Flies can can now be found at Mount Everest base camps. Mountain populations nearly 3,500 meters above sea level are reporting mosquitoes for the first time. In the past, cooler temperatures protected populations from these disease-carrying bugs”

Strange as it may sound, one may wonder the relationship between mosquitoes and melting of Himalayas. However, the breaking link between the two lies in a phenomenon called the Climate Change.

In order to understand climate change, , it is important to understand the paradox associated with it. In one state it can result in floods and at the same time it can also result in droughts in the neighbouring states. Similarly, at one place it can result in extinction of few species, at the other place it can also result in proliferation of certain other species. And it is this paradox only, which is resulting in major catastrophe, with our entire country in the grip of one or the other problem and the reason to all of them being one, Climate Change.

Coming back to mosquitoes and Climate change, a number of cities across the world were set up above a certain height which we refer to as Mosquito Line. The idea behind the concept was that the mosquitoes need warmer temperatures to breed and increase in number. And as we go above the sea level, the temperature begins to drop and above a certain standard height, the mosquitoes cease to exist. Therefore a number of cities were set up at a certain height above the sea level with the assumption that since the conditions at this height do not suit the mosquitoes, they would be forever secure from the terror of these disease causing bugs.

However, with the rise in average temperature of earth because of climate change, the mosquito line if shifting upwards. . As a result, the conditions are becoming hospitable for mosquitoes even at those heights which were earlier considered safe. Because of which, the occurrence of diseases like malaria, dengue fever is bound to increase much more in the times to come. This rise in mosquito line has resulted in the presence of mosquitoes even at the Himalayas as reported by the New York Times.

An example closer home is a recent warning issued by the Delhi government to be careful of dengue fever. Presence of mosquitoes in the month of November is not a regular phenomenon in Delhi because temperature by this time of the year is usually low enough to support any mosquito breeding. However, warmer temperatures in November as a result of climate change are resulting in Delhiites asking for cover from these menacing mosquitoes.

The government is doing its bit through awareness campaigns, health camps etc but at the same time it is also the duty of all of us to take steps to combat the problem of climate change. We can no longer afford to maintain our “Kya Farak Padta Hai” attitude to the presence of mosquitoes in Himalayas. We must act and Make our own Choices.

Yamuna Vigil Campaign, Sept’09

2009-10-02T07:10:00.000-07:00

From 1 Sept, 2009 to 30 Sept, 2009, over a period of an entire month Yamuna Vigil Campaign was organized under Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan by Peace Institute in collaboration with Centre for Environment Education (MoEF). i-dream was also a proud partner of the campaign.

A very common behaviour exhibited by Delhites is throwing of puja samagri and other household stuff into the river Yamuna through any of the bridges over the river. People consider this as an act of virtue in accordance with their religious sentiments. This contributes significantly to the pollution in the river which is anyways suffering significantly from the burden to city’s industrial and domestic waste. The most polluted bridges are those at ITO, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Wazirabad and DND. Except DND, the other three bridges have barricades constructed by the PWD (MCD). However, people have made big holes in those barricades to facilitate throwing of stuff into the river.

Openings on the bridge made by people

Under the Yamuna Vigil Campaign, the Hazrat Nizamuddin bridge was chosen for the campaign being one of the most crowded and it was covered with our posters, banners informing people about the kind of damage being done to the river. The various organizers along with a number of volunteers and school students from several schools in Delhi used to stand daily covering the entire length on both sides of the bridge.

Our banners covering the openings on the bridge

School Students standing on the bridge

Several collections points were also set up along the bridge so as to encourage people not to throw the material into the river but deposit the same at those points. At the end of the day, the entire waste was segregated into plastic, paper and other organic material. All the organic material was sent for composting, the plastic was sent for recycling with CEE whereas for paper recycling, there was a tie-up with the Development Alternatives.

A man depositing his offering at the collection centre

Collections made during the day at one of the collection centres

Plastic waste sent for recycling

As a result of our month long campaign, PWD relented and they managed to send in their workers to repair the bridge. During the last day of the campaign, an experiment was conducted wherein none of our representatives were made to stand at the bridge or at any of the collection centres. It was heartening to see that 1 in every 4 Delhiite deposited their offering at the collection centre voluntarily. This clearly means that if given a choice, some people are certainly ready to contribute to not polluting the river.

However, at the same time it is also very sad to see the attitude of other people who consider throwing material into the river as a pious act. They fail to understand a very simple logic that the river Yamuna was given the godly status so that people will protect it and not make it dirty. But there are people who still think otherwise.

Though the campaign was just a small drop in the ocean, it certainly has made some impact into the minds of thousands of people passing the bridge daily. More so, it is also now clear that if we desire, we can actually take steps so as to protect our river. The learnings from the month long campaign would be compiled and send to Lt. Governor of Delhi and MCD and we certainly hope that in the times to come, steps would be taken to revive the river.

Most important thing, are we ready to shed our "Kya Farak Padta Hai" attitude. If yes, half of the problems would be solved automatically. As we say, Make your own Choice.

The Real Truth of River Yamuna

2009-09-19T02:49:00.000-07:00

The water present in almost the entire stretch of river Yamuna in the city of Delhi does not actually belong to the river. It is nothing but sewage, both domestic and industrial, which is dumped into the river flow from all parts of the city. However, that does not mean that there is no water in the river. The water is in plenty but the truth lies somewhere else.

The Yamuna River before entering into the capital city passes through Hathnikund Barrage. The amount of water in the river till this point is around 82 cumesec (cubic meter per second, representing the flow of the river). From this point onwards, the river is divided into three portions:

Western Yamuna Canal (which takes away 67.5 cumesec water)
Eastern Yamuna Canal (which takes away 12 cumesec water)
The actual river flow which is left with only 2.5 cumesec water)

The water taken away through the two canals is used to provide water and electricity to the states of Haryana, UP and Delhi. But in doing so, the river is left with absolutely no water of its own. In fact, several escapes have been built along the canals so as to allow some water to come back into the river but unfortunately none of the escapes are today operational. No river along the duration of its entire course would ever appear steady. The Yamuna in Delhi however is left to become a stagnant pond of sewage and waste coming from households and industries.

Supreme Court in 1996 had ordered that a minimum of 10 cumesec of flow be maintained in the river at all times. However, it’s been 13 years and nothing has yet been done in this direction. All the money which is being used under Yamuna Action Plan will go down the drain unless the river gets back some if its original water. This is because even if through some miracle, authorities are able to clean the river, the sewage will anyways return back into the river because no mechanism would have been made to either divert the sewage or treat it before being dumped into the river.

It is also not that we do not have Sewage Treatment Plants. We have them but their efficiencies have always been questionable. As unfortunate as it can happen with the river, Yamuna forms a borderline between three states of UP, Haryana and Delhi and so all the three states want to take all the benefits of the river but none wants to take on the responsibility to preserve it. This is a perfect case of “Tragedy of Commons” wherein a common resource is being perished owing to the greed of few individuals who are benefitting from it. The Kya Farak Padta Hai attitude exhibited by all the officials sitting on the boards of numerous institutions and bodies constituted to preserve the river continues to bring about the downfall of our lifeline.

It is extremely difficult to change someone’s mindset but let us all at least make an effort to do that. There are several policy suggestions which can be made to improve the situation (some of which will be the point of discussion in our next blog) but on our front, all we need to do are two simple things, Save Water and Do not dump waste into the river (whatever little of it exists in our city). As we say, Make your Own Choice.

Green India Student Club Member Contribution

2009-09-15T04:32:00.000-07:00

What's Water For?

Water's for drinking and making tea
For helping plants grow
and washing me and my brother
and making him run...

Water's for fish
that swim about fast
For boats that move
With sail and tall mast

Water's for kingfisher
red, white and blue
Water's just great
Do you like it too?

- As contributed by, Priyanka Kansal, Class: VII-D, New State Academy School, Pitam Pura, Delhi.

She also says in that, " If we will not save water,, one time will come when their will be no water in Future!!"

A small child can think so highly of our environment. Can you or do you still say, " Kya Farak Padta Hai"? Make your own Choice.

Warmest Sea on Record

2009-08-20T03:23:00.000-07:00

As reported by Sydney Morning Herald:
" For as long as people have taken temperature of the sea, they have never been so warm. Global Ocean surface temperatures for June were the highest since records began, in 1880, breaking the record set in 2005. The average sea temperature for June was 0.59 degrees above the 20th century average of 16.4 degrees."

What this would do is lead to warmer temperatures over the adjoining areas as well. It is being projected that global temperautres next year could near those of 1998, the hottest year on record ( as if the temperature this year is any less). Moreover, higher is the sea surface temperature, higher are the chances of development of a cyclone or a hurricane. Bangladesh and parts of North India have already experienced one cyclone this year, namely AILA.

If you would think deeply, you would realize that somewhere down the line, we are also to be blamed for such a scenario. We can still control this and save our future or we can simply say, " Kya Farak Padta Hai". As we say, MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE!

We may survive, our kids won’t

2009-08-11T23:17:00.000-07:00

The State Environment Report India, 2009 is out and one look at it testifies the comment made in the topic of the post. Just consider these facts and you will know it for yourself:

1. 70% of Indian rivers are polluted
2. Underground water in 19 states of India is contaminated and not safe for drinking
3. 50 million cubic meters of untreated sewage (enough to fill entire Delhi) is released into our water bodies every year. This is an increase of 30% over 1995. This is also affecting the aquatic life in our rivers and oceans.
4. RSPM levels of 90% of Indian cities is rising. In 2000, RSPM levels in Delhi, Mumbai were 150 ug/m3 and 80ug/m3 whereas in 2008 the figures are at 192 ug/m3 and 110ug/m3 respectively

The state of water pollution is very much evident from the above mentioned points. As a matter of fact, 500,000 children under the age of 5 die every year due to diarrhoea. 80% of all illness in Uttar Pradesh happens because of water pollution in Ganga and Yamuna.

If you are wondering what is RSPM, please understand that not all pollutants which come out from our vehicles and industries are equally harmful to us. All the particles coming out from vehicles and industries can be classified on the basis of size. Our body at all places provides us natural immunity against a number of pollution causing particles. The largest sized particles are stopped by our nose itself. There are then medium sized particles which are stopped by our wind pipe. However, there are a large number of smaller sized particles called suspended particulate matter and respiratory suspended particulate matter (RSPM) which cannot be stopped by our body systems and they end up reaching our lungs. They are so small in size and so large in number that they are difficult to detect and monitor. It is these particles which cause extensive damage to our body and are responsible for majority of the respiratory diseases.

The reason RSPM is increasing in most of our cities is due to rising number of vehicles. In 1991, India had 2 crore vehicles whereas in 2008, the number of vehicles has increased to 8.6 crore. Delhi alone has 56 lakhs vehicles which is more than the number of vehicles in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkatta taken together. A record says that around 1000 vehicles are added to Delhi’s roads daily.

Now, please do not stand back and say “Kya Farak Padta Hai”. As we say, Make your own choices. And you can make a choice to use more of public transport. But before that our government would need to make a choice to improve the public transport system. The logic is very simple, if cities, towns and villages will have excellent public transport system, people would automatically begin to use them, thereby bringing down the level of pollution and making this planet a safe place even for our kids.

History and Now - Is Climate Change Real

2009-07-23T05:16:00.000-07:00

Throughout Earth’s History, ice caps and glaciers have grown and melted in response to changes in the Earth’s energy balance, what we refer to as ice age cycles. To understand more simply, ice or glaciers melt in summers and regain some or all of the loss during winters. The current melting of glaciers can therefore also be attributed to a natural phenomenon with no human involvement. However, unfortunately such is not the case.

As reported by Extreme Ice Survey, the difference between the summertime loss and the winter growth is negative and therefore most glaciers in the world are retreating. Simply put, the loss in ice during summers is much more than the gain in winters. Scientists in fact predict that by 2035 all of central and eastern Himalayas would be gone. The largest glaciers in the world are found in Antarctica and Greenland. If the Greenland ice sheet melted, the sea level worldwide would rise to 20 feet and in case of ice sheets melting in Antarctica, the sea level rise would be 200 feet thereby drowning the entire world.

Wilfried Haeberli, Director at World Glacier Monitoring Service claims that the average melting rate of mountain glaciers appears to have doubled after the turn of the millennium in comparison with the already accelerated melting rates observed in the two decades before. The previous record loss in the year 1998 has already been exceeded three times i.e. in the years 2003, 2004 and 2006 with the losses in 2004 and 2006 being almost twice as high as the previous 1998 record loss.

Have a look at the graph below:

Source : Extreme Ice Survey

In 2004, the carbon emissions stood at 8000 million metric tonnes which is equivalent to 30, 000 million metric tonnes of Carbon dioxide (a green house gas). Oceans can absorb only 30% of the total CO2, which is therefore also affecting the properties of the ocean water by acidifying it more thereby endangering the aquatic animals. With so much of CO2 in our atmosphere, the temperature of the earth is bound to increase, which would lead to faster melting of glaciers thereby increasing the rate of rise in temperature. It is a cyclical process of which we have become a part now.

Our glaciers are the most visible impact of global warming, however, we sitting in our comfortable offices and homes, far from the melting glaciers fail to realize this. Majority of us end up saying, “KYA FARAK PADTA HAI”. As we say, MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE.

Climate Change and Action Sports

2009-07-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

Jammu and Kashmir’s Sonmarg district organises an annual white Water Rafting Event. After the stupendous success of the first edition, 2009 was supposed to be the second edition of the Kashmir Cup. The event is organized every year in the month of July. However, this year the event has been postponed to August from the earlier schedule of July 12-19. AND THIS HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. The connection seems strange but if you look closely, it is very much apparent.

According to International Rafting Body, for any rafting event of international repute to take place, a minimum of Grade III rapids need to be formed. In the Sonmarg district, usually one can find Grade IV and Grade V rapids at this time of the year, but this year not even Grade III rapids have developed so far. This is happening because of less snowfall in the region and a delayed monsoon. Even India’s favourite rafting location near Rishikesh has received lesser than normal rainfall which is affecting the industry there leading to economic losses for the locals.

The climate change phenomenon has a certain paradox attached to it. On one hand it can cause excessive rainfall in a region, on the other it can also lead to little or no rainfall in the neighbouring region. This year as we can see, some parts of India have received some rain; the northern part of our country has received almost no rain. The reasons can be easily traced down to climate change or global warming.

The event which was supposed to happen in J&K invites participation from countries such as Brazil, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Slovakia and Canada. This year, it was all the more important to hold a good show as next year India would be hosting the water rafting world cup. This means more tourists coming to J&K bringing in more income for the people in the state. However, if the current state of events continue, it might just be difficult to hold such events in future.

Now, did anyone say, “Let J&K suffer, “KYA FARAK PADTA HAI”. As we say, MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE.

Mayawati and Climate Change

2009-07-17T03:51:00.000-07:00

In the heart of Noida, is being constructed a Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Memorial and Museum with a total budget of Rs. 187 crore. The project is spread over 33 acres of land and as reported by HT, it is threatening the inhabitants of Okhla Bird Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. This fact is supported by a study conducted by Bombay Natural History Society which reports that that bird population in the park has fallen from 24,166 in March 2007 to 21,272 in March 2009 which is a significant difference of 2, 900 birds.

6, 003 trees have been cut for the project which would obviously affect the birds as they use these very trees for inhabitation and nesting. Permanent illumination system has been installed all around the construction site so as to aid construction at night and also to enhance the beauty of the museum once it is constructed. This is bound to affect the breeding cycle and the general behaviour of the birds because bright light through the day will make it difficult for them to distinguish between day and night. This is very similar to you travelling from India to USA and suffering a jet lag due to time difference. Moreover, the current construction work is resulting in an increase of temperature and emission of particles which are also harming not only the birds but also the human population living in the vicinity of the construction site.

Please note that this blog is not against construction or infrastructure development as it is extremely critical for a developing economy like India. However, we need to question the reasons for every construction. If the Bhim Rao Ambedkar Memorial and Museum would have added some value into the lives of people living in Noida, it would have still made sense. But as we see it, the museum is not expected to contribute in any manner to the infrastructural or social/cultural development of Noida and therefore our country. Rs. 187 crore could have been easily spent on fighting more grave issues in Uttar Pradesh such as poverty, education etc.

And even if Mayawati ji feels that it is extremely important to construct the museum, at least it should have obtained environmental impact assessment certificate. All the 6,003 trees as reported earlier were cut without permission. Ministry of Environment and Forests has made it mandatory for any construction project to get an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) done before going ahead with the construction. However, as it happens with majority of government schemes, the implementation in this case is also questionable. The criticism is not directed only at Mayawati but towards all those people who continue to defy the law and bribe their ways to obtain the certificates.

The government must tighten the norms because as mentioned in one of the previous posts, we must work towards the development of our economy in a green way. We should not stop any of the construction projects but at the same time ensure that the projects obtain EIA certificates. For if, Mayawati would have done a proper EIA, it would have been possible to not only construct the museum but also protect the Okhla bird park with the help of suggestions and recommendations coming out of the EIA report.

Now, did anyone say, “ Kya Farak Padta Hai.” But as we say, MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE. Mayawati made hers.

Climate Change : G8 Summit & India

2009-07-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

In the recently concluded G8 Summit held in Italy, one of the agendas was the world’s struggle against Climate Change. To keep climate change as the agenda of such an important summit is certainly appreciable but if it was kept just to show that world governments are concerned about climate change, then maybe it was not worth it. It would have been better for the G8 nations to focus energies on issues for which they seriously seek accountability and actionability.

The reason we say this, is because there is a significant divide between the developed and the developing countries on sharing the responsibilities to control green house emissions. In a decision which can put immense pressure on countries like India, G8 has called for the developing nations with much lower per capita emissions to undertake specific emission cuts. India’s per capita emission is 20 times less than that of the US which makes the call by G8 countries quite unfair.

It needs to be understood that there is a direct relationship between GDP growth and green house emissions. Since, India is a developing economy, as it grows; India’s per capita emission is bound to increase. This however does not mean that we make the transition to being a developed economy irresponsibly. We must as a nation take all the necessary steps to ensure that our per capita emission stays within the safe limit and we must develop our country in a green way.

What is more disheartening is that even though G8 countries have verbally assured to reduce their emissions by 80% by the year 2050, they have failed to define a specific roadmap on how to do it with no mention on any immediate or short term goals. This makes us believe that what G8 countries intend to do is to continue on their path of growth and put all the blame of global warming on the developing countries. This is very similar to their attitude towards nuclear weapons. “We can keep it but we have issues when someone else develops the same technology because we support world peace.”

In Copenhagen this December, all nations will meet to define a roadmap to a low-carbon world. US agreeing to attend the meet is a good sign, but if such an attitude as mentioned above continues to prevail, global warming would continue to threaten the entire world.

“It is mentioned in the blog that India’s per Capita emissions are lower compared to developed nations, however please do not take this as a sign to become careless and stop working for environment preservation. Even if someone does not wish to, let us not move away from our responsibilities.” Did you say, “ Kya Farak Padta hai”????

Water coolers v/s AC

2009-07-07T00:28:00.000-07:00

If you have experienced the usage of water cooler in your home, you would agree with the fact that when it comes to cooling the entire house during those hot dry days, there is nothing that can beat a simple water cooler.

However, coolers work best when the levels of humidity are low. This is because when humidity goes up, the rate of evaporation goes down. And since evaporation causes cooling, high humid seasons make coolers less effective. And it is in these conditions that ACs work best.

Traditionally, May and June are ideal cooler months and as monsoon begins to come down during late parts of June and July, it is the ACs which begins to become more effective to fight the heat.

So, an ideal scenario would be to have one cooler and one AC at homes. Use the cooler during complete dry days and switch on the AC as and when the monsoon arrives. Moreover, people should try sharing the rooms thereby saving significant amount of energy. Unfortunately, such is never the case. Both people and the changing pattern of our climate are responsible for this. More so since, climate change is also a result of irresponsible human activities, ultimately it is only we humans who are responsible for wasting energy and in turn jeopardizing our future.

Let us look at what is happening to the weather pattern particularly with regards to the humidity levels. Have a look at the following table (source: TOI) which plots rainfall and relative humidity patterns for May and June for Delhi.

It is easy to observe that in almost all the years, the level of humidity for both May and June are above the normal relative humidity levels. As explained above, higher levels of humidity means low evaporation which means that water takes a lot more time to evaporate. What this phenomenon is doing is to make water / desert coolers less effective. People are therefore shifting to ACs and their usage is on the rise. These are dangerous signs.

It must be noted that an AC can only cool a particular room in which it is operating. So, if someone wishes to replace his one cooler, he would usually replace it with not one but two ACs. This therefore increases the amount of energy consumed which is also reflected in the monthly electricity bills.

Moreover, a cooler can run for an entire day and still consume less energy compared to an AC running for 8 hours.

Even if need of the hour is to use ACs, we need to see to it that we are using one responsibly. It is always advisable to set the temperature at 25-26 degrees so as to optimize the energy consumption. Also, while sleeping one should set the timer to about 5-6 hours thereby avoiding the unnecessary wastage. People should also try to share rooms while operating the AC. This would again help save energy. An ideal scenario as mentioned above is to use one cooler and one AC as and when required and with a lot more responsibility. This way one can help prevent a further rise in temperature due to global warming and within their own individual capacity contribute to the task of environment protection.

Did anyone say, “ Main do nahin teen teen AC lagwaonga, KYA FARAK PADTA HAI YAAR”

As, we say, MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE.

What we need to do?

2009-07-03T23:32:00.000-07:00

United Nations Conference on Climate Change is going to be held this year in Copenhagen, Denmark from Dec 7 – Dec 18. The conference is a sequel to the Kyoto Protocol which runs out in 2012. The new agreement which would therefore be a successor to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol aims to cut down the green house gas emissions by between 25-40 % from the 1990 levels starting 2012 to 2020.

27 countries in EU have already agreed to cut down their CO2 emissions by 20% of 1990 levels by 2020 which they claim may go up to 30% if other countries start to contribute as well.

The USA which moved away from the Kyoto Protocol is now shifting directions and beginning to move towards a Green world under the leadership of President Barack Obama. On 26 June, 2009 itself, House of Representatives approved of a bill which aims to cut green house gas emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020. Though it is still not a very high figure considering significant contribution of USA to green house gas emission, it is nonetheless, a step in the right direction and indicates a positive change in the mindset of the people, both in the government and the industry.

However, experts claim that even though developed economies have promised emission cuts, it would still reach only two-thirds of the target and the world would miss the minus 25% mark by a significant margin. It therefore means that it is extremely important for countries like China, India, South Africa, Brazil etc which were exempted under the Kyoto Protocol to start contributing to the task of environment protection.

The need of the hour is to define a framework under which emission cuts are planned out ensuring the involvement of all the parties involved including the government, the industry and the common people. As India makes a transition from being a developing country to a developed one, it is important that we do not commit the mistakes as done by the developed economies like USA or countries under EU. We should rather choose the Green way and set a benchmark for the rest of the world.

However, we cannot achieve this unless each one of us realizes the importance of going green, unless environment protection becomes a choice for all of us and not a compulsion.
As we write this, we see someone there saying, “United Nations conference on Climate Change..huh! Kya farak padta hai, It is not happening in my home”.

As we say, MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE

Terrorism and Climate Change

2009-06-29T02:47:00.000-07:00

As the levels of Carbon Dioxide increase in the atmosphere, the phenomenon of global warming will begin to become more and more powerful. And so, when temperature will rise due to global warming, our glaciers and mountains will begin to melt. They are in fact already melting. Specifically, for the Himalayas, scientists claim that by 2035, they will cease to exist. And therefore, in the times to come, the threat from terrorism is also bound to increase.

Now, one may question, how are climate change and terrorism, two entirely different yet equally serious issues are inter-related? There is no rocket science to it and the relationship is rather very simple to understand. Consider this:

When the temperature rises due to climate change, the snow in the glaciers will start melting. This melting would therefore make it much easier for people to trek across these mountains. And it is not very difficult to guess that the major transition of people will be unofficial and from across the bordering nations who are known to support terrorism. This would therefore have a serious impact on the security of our nation and for the rest of the world.

If we continue to waste water, our rivers will soon dry out thereby making Mumbai like attacks a lot easier for terrorists to carry out.

Forget the politicians, the army, the police, the NSGs etc, we in our own individual capacity can also contribute significantly to the security of our nation. All we need to do is work consciously to bring down the levels of carbon dioxide, bring down the level of air pollution and try and save a little of water.

The good point is that all of us have a choice, if we want, we can actually make our nation and the world a lot more secure. All it comes down to is what choices we make.

MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE AND SAVE YOUR WORLD.

Ab kya hoga re....

2009-06-24T02:42:00.000-07:00

Maximum temperature in Delhi today is 43 degree C and the projected temperature for the next two days is 44 degree C while for even the next two days is again 43 degree C. By now, it is very much clear that the monsoons all over the country have been delayed. Moreover, with the mercury rising, the demand for electricity is also going up completely in disproportionate terms compared to the supply.

In the Bhakra Nangal Dam, water level is receding by 2 feet daily. At such a rate all irrigation and power generation from the dam will come to a halt in the coming days. In HP, apple production is likely to fall by 30-35% which may rise further if the dry spell continues. In Gujarat, all cash crops such as sugarcane, banana, groundnut and cotton are expected to get affected. The Hirakud Dam in Orissa is losing its water which would have serious impact on the rice production in the state.

These are just some of the examples; the situation is same across the country. Such dramatic changes are going to have serious impact on we humans.
- High temperatures and continuous heat waves can have a serious impact on human health leading to deaths as well in many cases. In AP in 2002, record death toll was observed due to heat waves
- Frequent power cuts of uncertain durations will have a serious impact on your daily life and schedule. Power cuts in the night can affect your sleep and lack of sleep in such weather can have damaging impacts on your fitness as well
- With crops being affected due to lack of monsoons, the prices of vegetables and fruits would go up in the coming times. In these times of recession, this would mean a further bigger hole in your already over burdened pockets

Now, coming to the most important question of who is to be blamed for all this? Is it just the nature or is it much more than that? The Delhi government is blaming the states, the weather, weak infrastructure and just about everything else but itself. People have come all out blaming government, getting frustrated talking about demand - supply issue and some even suggesting that we should have even more power plants. There would also be large number of people who would say “ Kya farak Padta hai”, "ye to har saal ka natak hai, sarkaar kuch karti hi nahin hain”.

What people do not realize is that all of it is actually in our hands as well. When people drive cars irresponsibly and pollute the air, they do not think about the repercussions. Majority people do not think about the impact when they waste electricity. They take pride in the fact that every member of their family has an individual AC to them. To have many ACs is not such a bad thing, but to use them all at the same time certainly is.

We are a family of four members with two ACs, but when we sleep in the night, we ensure that only one AC is on and all of us try and adjust accordingly. It is just about being a little conscious of what we are doing and making small changes.

So, let’s not blame anyone else for what is happening right now, but let’s work together to bring about a change. Remember it’s all about MAKING THE CHOICE.

Cyclone AILA: Another Cyclone or just another Human created disaster

2009-06-08T09:15:00.001-07:00

Pic: Satellite Image of Cyclone AILA

On May 27, 2009, headlines across most national daily read about 200 people being dead in Bangladesh and eastern India with India alone accounting for 82 of those deaths. The reason behind the sudden catastrophe was not another terrorist attack but Cyclone AILA, a threat bigger than any terrorist organization can ever be. As per Associated Press, more than 2.3 million people have been affected by the cyclone. More than the human loss, large areas of crops have also been affected in both the countries. Many farmers have lost their rice just ready to be harvested.

Forest wardens in the Sunderbans fear that the flooding across the mangrove forests might have killed at least a dozen of the highly endangered Bengal Tigers. As per the last census, there were only 265 tigers left. Some tigers have sneaked into the nearby villages and are creating problems for the local residents.

And as the cyclone water would recede the death toll is only expected to rise due to spread of epidemics like cholera, diarrhoea etc.

However, majority of the people would look at those facts and say, “ Kya Farak Padta Hai”. This is just another cyclone, a natural tragedy and no one can do anything to prevent it. And this is exactly where one needs to understand that this is not a natural tragedy but an event which is created by humans and could have certainly been averted.

If you look at the basic physics of cyclones, it is very simple to understand. A storm gets its potential energy from the oceans and the warmer the ocean is, the more energy the storm should be able to draw in. Climate Scientist, Kerry Emanuel from MIT published a report stating that warming ocean temperatures are making hurricanes more powerful.

The data from 1855 to 2005 throws some very interesting results. If you look at the data during this period you can clearly see that the number of cyclones per year have doubled in that time from an average of 6 to an average of 14 over the past decade. And going forward, with increasing temperatures, scientists are estimating an average of at least 15 storms every year.

More importantly, globally, the areas of warmer oceans have nearly tripled in size since the beginning of the 20th century from roughly 17 million square miles to more than 46 million square miles. There has been an average of one additional cyclone for each 0.1 degree Celsius increase in sea surface temperature and one hurricane for each 0.2 degree Celsius rise.

The current average temperature of earth is around 14 degree Celsius and in the coming times it is expected to go up to 18 degree Celsius. And who is to be blamed for all that. Certainly not the nature alone. If we want, we can bring the temperature down and with it bring down the number of cyclones, hurricanes affecting us and ultimately bring down the number of so many innocent deaths around the world. MAKE YOUR CHOICE NOW!

Welcome

2009-06-05T02:22:00.000-07:00

This blog is a medium for us to reach out to as many people as we can throughout the world and make them realize the power of an individual when it comes to environment preservation.

Yes, even you can save your planet, your earth, your home. All it takes is to MAKE A CHOICE.

This blog will posts latest events, news and happenings from around the world, events and activities of i-dream and a lot of interesting content. We are trying to change this world and our JOURNEY HAS ALREADY BEGUN.

You can also join us by posting comments and if you have something very interesting to tell us, please write in to us at blog@simplygreens.com.

" MAKE YOUR CHOICE NOW"