Environment

Let us make this Earth a beautiful place!

It was once said by a great thinker & philosopher that you are nothing but trustees of this planet.

I agree with this totally & believe that it is our duty to keep our planet as beautiful & serene as it was when created by God.

In the past few centuries, we have grown by leaps & bounds in terms of industrial development & communication. But at what cost? We have exploited our natural resources endlessly.

We are only 1 of the lakhs of species on Planet Earth. But we have crowned ourselves Kings & Queens of this planet. We behave as if everything is made only for us.

If we continue to do so, there would be nothing left for the future generations. There will be no life other than human beings & what kind of life it would be?

Doesn’t look very good, does it?

But this is not an era of despair & disappointment!

All is not lost yet!!

We need not wear tree leaves & go & live in the jungle. What we need to do is take few small steps.

We are lucky to have information at our finger tips. There are articles, books, magazines, websites – all to show what we can do.

Some of the things we can do:

1. Avoid wastage, especially of water. Check that none of the taps at your home / office are leaking. Always close the tap fully.

2.Have bucket bath instead of showers.

3.Do not litter.

4.Plant a tree in your compound so that you can watch over it.

5.Use public transport whenever possible.

6.Think before you hit the print button. Always preview whatever you are going to print.

7.Use Cloth bags. You can design them & get it stitched by your local tailor. Trendy & Environment Friendly!

8.Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.

9.Whenever you are not using, always switch off your appliances. Do not keep them in Stand by mode.

10.Do not buy products which are made by killing animals, especially endangered species.

11.Do not take undue advantage of resources freely available.

Just choose one thing & stick to it. Take a pledge.

Be Aware & Spread The Awareness.

And together we shall make our Earth a beautiful planet to live in – for us & for our children!!!

 

Go Green Ganesh!

Tomorrow our beloved Ganapati Bappa will be visiting our homes!

Many of us are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Lord Ganesh, the God of wisdom, prosperity & auspiciousness.

On Ganesh Chaturthi, we will bring Lord Ganesh with lots of fanfare to our homes or public mandals. Whilst the Lord is staying with us, we will be taking good care of him, offer him delicious sweets, decorate the place with fragrant flowers & incense sticks.

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We will also say good bye to the Lord in a pompous manner.

But what after the idol is immersed in water? Does anyone think about that?

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Just look at these snaps! Do they evoke respect? Or do they evoke DISGUST???

It is time we show some sensitivity. Towards our lord and towards our planet!

It is time to

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Get only Eco Friendly Idols for your home / mandals. You can easily get information regarding this on the internet.

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Pledge to make the Ganesh Festival a Pollution Free Festival.

Spread Awareness amongst your friends & family & show your true devotion!!!

And Lord Ganesh will bless you with prosperity 🙂

 

The virtue of cleanliness

The dictionary defines cleanliness as a state of being free from dirt.

As individuals we are obsessed with cleanliness. We shower twice a day* (atleast once where there is a water shortage), we wash our hands before and after eating meals, we sweep our homes and mop it with water. We do not allow even a trace of chocolate wrapper on the floor at our home.

This is the keyword. Home. We keep our home and ourselves spic and span. It would be an insult to us if someone were to visit our house and say it resembled a pigsty. (Not that I know how a pigsty looks) Anyway, the point here is, cleanliness is often restricted to self or home or rather where we get credit to keep everything neat and clean.

Once the responsibility ceases, we stop being the cleanliness freaks. We throw waste papers, wrappers & fruit skins out of the vehicle we are travelling in, we spit anywhere we please (to keep walls spit free, we need to put up pictures of God), we even pee and poop in public places without a care. Inspite of dustbins available easily, we have a tendency to through garbage where it is convenient to us. It seems like there is a challenge as to who throws garbage the least number of times in the trash can.

And then enters the Swachh Bharat Mission. I am principally against this mission. It is a sign of good citizen to keep his / her surroundings clean. But if we clean up the mess others did, for free, when would they take up responsibility for their actions?

The number of paid professionals to do this task as compared to the population is very less. We can reduce their burden by using the trash cans wisely and not go littering around. It is not that difficult either. We just need to be alert of our actions.

True cleanliness won’t be achieved unless people don’t wait for credit to not litter / not create a mess. It will be achieved when people realise their responsibilities. People need to clean their thoughts before they are expected to clean their cities.

A awareness to the need for overall cleanliness would lead to be a Godly experience for everyone for sure!

 

*necessity of living in a tropical country

Hariyali ki taraf rasta!

  • Forests are the renewable sources of nature
  • They are home to living creatures,
  • They contribute in maintaining biodiversity
  • They regulate the climate
  • They provide industrial timber and fuel,
  • They prevent and mitigate sudden freshets that lead to flooding

Afforestation is a proven method which contributes to environmental conservation, less-polluted industrial development and healthy community activation!!

Hariyali in Thane (near Mumbai), is one of the rare organisations in India which takes up this activity!

In 2008, we formed a Go Green committee at work. This committee consisted of members who were passionate about the environment & wanted to do something about conserving the same.

Initially we started sending emails about awareness & also arranged a small presentation. However, we wanted to do more! One of the members of the committee came across this NGO Hariyali. The chief founders of this NGO are Senior Citizens who were passionate just like us about environment but are actively involved in making this planet a little more greener.

Apart from other activities, they were also involved in Afforestation of an area in Bhavale, near Thane Nasik Highway. We planned to check it out one Saturday. The plantation activity was being done by NSS students & other corporate employees. We were amazed at the enthusiasm of the founders. Their agility in climbing up the hill ashamed us & made us realize how unfit we were.

We started with the plantation work after a short briefing. The Saplings had to be carried to the top of the hill, where they would be planted. At the end of the task, we were satisfied & decided to involve more colleagues in to this activity.

Initial Planter

Saplings being planted

 

Pilot Batch

The Proud Pilot Batch!

Since then, every year we manage to go there once. The plantation is done in monsoon, it drizzles most of the time & this activity became fun for all of us!

Planting saplings is not enough. We also need to protect the plants & see to it that they are growing properly. We also need water conservation so that plants don’t wilt during summers. Constructing bunds, ponds, etc is a part of the post plantation activity.

This year, post the tree plantation activity, we came to know about the hurdles the NGO is facing, especially shortage of volunteers & we decided to contribute more than once a year.

In the second visit of the year, we helped in digging up a pond & some of the members were also involved in creating saplings & sowing seeds. 15 Saplings were made by 6 year old daughter of a colleague! Catching them young, we are 😉

Weed Uprooters

Uprooting Weed

Pond Diggers

Digging Pond!

Seeds N Saplings

Sowing seeds & managing saplings!

 

All this is due to encouragement of our senior management. Without their support, it wouldn’t have been possible to sustain this activity for so many years.

After 6 years, the place has metamorphosed from a barren land to lush forest. We also feel proud that the forest contains some of the trees planted by us. Just like we are enjoying fruits of someone else’s labour, someone else will be enjoying fruits of our labour. It also feels great to give something back to nature!

Barren Land

In 2008 – The land was almost barren!

Lush Forest

In 2014 – It’s a lush forest!

Jungle Jungle Baat Chali Hai..

 

Once upon a time they used to live in the jungle. Their home was surrounded with luscious green treas, with brooks playing hide n seek.

They had plenty of neighbours, of varied species. The air was healthy & there was no shortage of food.

Climbing_through_the_lush_forest_(6441606157)

Humans used to come to visit to enjoy the beauty & natural ruggedness. It would be fun to eat the food they brought with them. And more fun when they got scared.

But the humans were not to underestimate. In revenge, they brought Deforestation! They build homes & resorts for themselves with artificial pools. Gone were the luscious green trees. Instead they built large golf courses. Gone were most of the neighbours. They could not survive the change. The survivors got a new home! It was now called the Zoo!

Jungle Jungle Baat chali hai pata chala hai..

Jungle to ab Concrete ka ban gaya hai!!!

concrete1

 

How near to the Third World War?

My childhood was spent in an area which faced acute water shortage. The water we got from the municipality would only be available for drinking & cooking purposes. For washing & other purposes, we had to get water from nearby wells / tube wells. And it was not possible to get water from these sources daily / frequently. Mom did all the rationing of the water. We bathed only once in two days, shampoo was obviously once a week. Clothes were also washed on alternate days. There was no question of playing holi. Just imagine how much water would be required to play & wash later! Guests coming at home would always be stressful for mom!

Now, the situation is not that bad. But the horrors of past have made us cautious while using water. People who get water 24*7 at their place will never understand this. One advise of playing Dry Holi & there is tremendous outrage!

“Are we going to send this water to drought stricken areas?”

“Playing Holi without water is like  celebrating tomatino without tomatoes” so on & so forth.

But stop & think. What if the water you saved by playing Dry Holi actually reached the Drought stricken areas.. Will you be willing to avoid using water to play holi? And Holi is supposed to be festival of colours. What is important Colour or Water?

Can we not empathise with our fellow citizens? Just imagine not being able to get drinking water for couple of hours, let alone for days..

No one is putting a ban on Fun. But can we have fun sensibly? Can we not waste water not only during holi, but even otherwise? If the consumption is less, won’t we able to share the water with the underprivileged ones?

Can we take a pledge on this World Water Day:

1. To get the leaking taps repaired as soon as noticed

2. To collect the water from AC & use it to water plants / wash cars

3. Cut down on leisurely showers / shaves

4. Not to let the water keep running while brushing teeth

5. Implement rainwater harvesting systems to collect rain water and use it in future

6. Use Minimum water when playing holi

Remember!!!

 

everydropbig

 

 

Colour Your World Green!!!

 

We all love our parents, our special ones..still we need one day to celebrate the love through Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, etc. We not only show our love on this day but also pledge to do more, care more & love more!!!

Similarly we need to do more, care more & love more for Mother Earth as well!

So friends lets pledge our support on Environment Day!

Lets pledge to make this earth Greener & keep it Greener!!! Remove the Black Prints one at a time!!!

Q. Do I need to become an activist?

Ans. No, if it means taking out morchas, etc..

Yes, if it means being aware & creating awareness!!!

Q. I already am swamped with my work & home duties..Where is the time??

Ans. Incorporate some activities in your routine..No need to do anything extra..

Maybe couple minutes more, but as all say, “No pain, No GAIN!!!”

Q. What kind of activities I can incorporate in my routine?

Ans. There are more than thousands of activities. Choose some. Stick to all.

1. Ensure that there are no leaking taps in your home or office. Get it repaired ASAP.

2. Always turn off the switch of charger once your phone is charged.

3. Always turn off the main switch of TV / PC at home / office. Dont keep it on standby mode.

4. Switch off the monitors when logging off for a short while.

5. Do not litter.

6. Use cloth bags for shopping.

7. Preview before taking prints.

8. Turn off unneeded lights.

9. Purchase appliances with the Energy Star Label.

10. Use CFL Bulbs.

11. Reuse & Recycle.

All these tips not only help save environment but also help reduce your electricity bill. Try this & see the results..You will Surprise yourself!!!!

Remember, YOU CAN DO IT!!!