Happy Earth Day

Tree planting sessions, ‘Save earth, save yourself’ slogans, interactive programmes on environment protection, and much more.

Such was the scene a few days backs. And that was to celebrate Earth Day. Earth Day is an event which is celebrated on 22nd April to demonstrate support for environmental protection every year. And this year was no different. The same fervor was felt across the country and it filled us with the urge to plant more trees, throw less garbage and save more energy.

While celebrating one particular day where we think and do something about it is good, there is no denying the fact that this urge should be present every day. This urge should erupt whenever you see anyone throwing garbage on the street or spitting here and there or pissing on the walls or harming the environment in any possible way. This urge should be there to save the Planet Earth all day, every day.

Singing slogans, criticising others, holding interactive sessions on environment protection one day and forgetting all about it the other day won’t lead us anywhere. We need the instinct and the sense of responsibility towards our environment. And that sense of responsibility is the reason enough to be a change that we want to see around.

Keeping this thought in mind, let’s pay our homage to Mother Earth and follow this ‘Ode to Joy’ that is the official ‘Earth Day Anthem’. And we mean it word for word.

Joyful joyful we adore our Earth in all its wonderment
Simple gifts of nature that all join into a paradise
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love throughout all time
With our gentle hand and touch
We make our home a newborn world
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love throughout all time
With our gentle hand and touch
We make our home a newborn world

Happy Earth Day!

Stop Littering, Pissing And Spitting On The Roads

A common sight on Indian streets is the random littering, pissing and spitting. It seems like a brazen disregard to the civic rules and basic etiquette’s. But, most of the people don’t really seem to mind it. When spitting and littering doesn’t come out much of an embarrassing affair, pissing in public obviously is an embarrassing deed. But sadly we are not affected by it.

It seems to be as common, as acceptable, as ordinary as whistling. And that’s a shame in itself. Even the educated middle class doesn’t mind using the streets for sanitation purposes. So it rules out the role of lack of education here.

Then what else… blame it all on the common mindset of people and lack of strict laws for cleanliness. It’s an irony in itself. While we are talking about the advanced technologies and how modern India is turning out to be, we see the sudden stop to modernity and find ourselves at the abrupt beginning of a city full of piss and spit. Even the high class people are found throwing the litter out of their car windows on the road. That doesn’t sound modern at all.

Not only this, it somehow affects our tourism department as well. The first thing that a visitor would notice about the city in India is the strong urine stench, the stained walls and the random garbage on the streets. Not quite a pleasant sight! But, what can be done to curb this thing? Coming up with a cleanliness squad is ok but the foremost thing is to recognize our responsibility and be actually sensitive to uncleanliness.

As India continues its journey into modern world, we also need to embrace modernity and be a tad more responsible towards our duties. It’s we who will have to change to bring a change in the society.

What do you think about it?

Let’s Celebrate Eco-Friendly Holi

In the idyllic years, Holi was meant to celebrate the arrival of spring with colours depicting the various hues of the spring season. It was a confluence of music, delicacies and dance. But in the modern times it does not stand for all things beautiful. Like various other festivals, Holi too has become ruthlessly commercial and yet another source of environmental degradation.

There needs to be generated awareness amongst people about the various harmful effects around Holi celebrations and encourage people to celebrate eco-friendly Holi!

There are three main environment concerns around Holi:

The use of toxic chemical colors
The use of wood for burning Holi fires
The wasteful use of water during Holi

1. Harmful Effects of Chemical Colours
In earlier times Holi colours were prepared from the flowers that blossomed during spring, such as the Indian Coral Tree (Parijaat) and the Flame of the Forest (Kesu), both of which have bright red flowers. These and several other blossoms provided the raw material from which the different colours of Holi were made. Most of these trees also had medicinal properties and Holi colours prepared from them were actually beneficial to the skin. Now, they have been replaced by industrial dyes manufactured through chemical processes which can cause as deadly diseases as dermatitis, renal failure, and cancer.

2. The Holi Bonfire
The burning of fuel wood to create the bonfire for Holika Dahan presents another serious environmental problem. According to a news article, studies done in the state of Gujarat reveal that each bonfire uses around 100 kg of wood, and considering that approximately 30,000 bonfires are lit in the state of Gujarat alone for Holika Dahan , this leads to a wastage of a staggering amount of wood.

Groups such as Sadvichar Parivar are now advocating one symbolic community fire, rather than several smaller bonfires across the city as a way to reduce wood consumption. Others are also suggesting that these fires be lit using waste material rather than wood.

3. A Dry Holi?
In the current situation, when most cities in India are facing acute water scarcity, the wasteful use of water during Holi is also being questioned. It is common for people to douse each other with buckets of water during Holi, and children often resort to throwing water balloons at each other. The idea of a dry Holi seems alien at first, especially as the climate becomes warmer around Holi. However, considering that in some urban areas, citizens can go without water for several days, it seems wasteful to use so much water in one day.

There are various adaptations of Holi and the way it is traditionally supposed to be celebrated across India. For example, in Punjab traditionally Holi is celebrated with men performing mock sword fights and bare-back horse stunts. This is followed by music and poetry competition. After this elaborate celebration, religious lectures are held. The state of west Bengal historically performs its celebration of Holi in a very dignified and elegant manner. The focus of celebration is songs, dances and chanting of hymns.

In this day and age when life is so fast in urban setups, the occasion of Holi which marks the change of season gives us a great opportunity to connect with nature. On a typical Holi morning we can find the sunlight glazing green leaves and flowers in full bloom. It’s a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with the ones that matter to you the most, something that in true sense is what a celebration is meant for. Let’s ensure that this celebration does not harm the environment.

Do You Run an Eco-friendly or Sustainable Business?

In recent times, the terms like ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘go green’ have become the buzz word everywhere. So much that they have made it to the business world too. According to Wikipedia, a Sustainable Business is defined as a business that strives to meet the ‘triple bottom line’. By triple bottom line, it means people, planet and profit. Thus such a business, carries out it operations taking care of all these three pillars.

Being an eco-friendly business is not just ‘in’, it also pays you off in the long run. The concept is not at odds with profitability. In fact it can help you build your brand in a way that can benefit you tremendously.

Let’s see how it can benefit you:

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: A profitable business is when the cost price is comparatively lower than the selling price. These ‘3 Rs’ can actually lower the cost involved, resulting in more profit.

Good practice attracts customers: Promoting your eco-friendly methods can set you apart from your competitors. The new customers also get attracted towards the eco-friendly businesses.

Advertisement: You can always advertise your products on the ground of ethical business. The move will always be appreciated. By making environmentally responsible choices and making these choices public, you give consumers something to make an emotional connection with.

Improve sustainability: Going eco-friendly can help you improve the sustainability of your business. If you are less dependent on natural resources than your competitors and have ways to deal with rising costs due to climate change, your business will have a greater chance of long-term success.

Following these methods can definitely lead you to long term business gains. So, is your business already eco-friendly or on the way ahead to being so?

Eco-Friendliness Starts At Home

Like charity, eco-friendliness starts at home. Going green is a concept that everyone talks about in public. But do we literally follow it? Yes, we do talk about how we should be concerned about pollution and all, but the question is how ‘green’ are we actually? And here going green just doesn’t mean reducing litter and planting trees. It includes everything that makes us an eco-friendly society.

Let’s see how we can go about it:

Switch all the bulbs with CFL’s: The first and the foremost thing you can do to make your home eco-friendly is to replace all the bulbs of your house with CFLs. By doing so, you’ll not just do good to the environment, but also reduce your electricity bill.

Save energy: One of the biggest energy consuming parts of your home is your kitchen. Simple and small changes in the kitchen can make you save much energy. Take a few cues from here:
1. The fridge is the single biggest energy-consuming appliance in most households. The point here is to use it judiciously. Avoid opening it unnecessarily.
2. Generally people think that cooking with a microwave uses less energy than cooking on a stove but actually it’s not always the case. It depends on what you’re cooking. Microwaves are most efficient at cooking small portions and for defrosting.

Make eco-friendly purchases: Every time you make a new purchase, be it anything, always make it a point to go for sustainable products.

Go for ‘Green’ appliances: Whenever purchasing electrical appliances, make sure you’re buying the one with an ‘Energy Star’ rating. Your energy-efficient purchase, however costly it is, gives you long-term savings and is easier on the environment.

Conserve water: Cutting down on undue water use can also make a home more eco-friendly. The most important thing that all of us need to follow is to avoid leaving the water running. And sometimes instead of fresh water you can reuse grey water (water discharges from shower, washing machine, dishwashers) for gardening, cleaning corridors, flushing the toilet etc.

A few changes in your daily habits can help you go a long way in making your home efficient lot more eco friendly. Though small and simple, these tips can prove to be energy as well as money saving in the long run. So, inculcate these habits today for a better tomorrow.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Getting Back to the Basics

‘Protect the environment’ has always been a mantra hailed by many. Numerous initiatives by government, people, NGO’s and other autonomous bodies are taken from time to time to make it happen. While the new ideas on sustainability hold good, it’s never healthy to ignore the basics.And the basics say, ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.’

Reduce: The first in the series and the most important one. Reduce waste by avoiding creating it in the first place. If unavoidable, cut down on the amount of energy you use and the amount of waste you create.

Buy products in bulk: Instead of going for small packages, go for the big ones so that you don’t need to buy again and again. Larger, economy-size products or ones in concentrated form use less packaging and usually cost less per ounce.
Make wise ‘package’ selection: You can reduce waste by selecting a product that is less wasteful. Fancy and fun packaging does attract, but it adds to the waste. So, the wise decision would be to avoid it.
Avoid ‘store’ bags: Start refusing the store bags they give you while shopping. Instead, carry your own shopping bag that you can reuse.
Use ‘cloth’ instead of ‘paper’: It seems convenient to use tissue/paper napkins instead of cloth napkins but for the sake of environment, start using cloth.
Avoid printing: Unless there’s a need, don’t print. Also, instead of paper statements, opt for electronic display in ATMs.

Reuse: It comes second in the series. Reusing directly ‘reduces’ the waste you were about to create. Let’s see how you can go about it in daily life:

Repair and reuse: It’s always a great idea to reuse your old stuff instead of throwing it away. Repair it if it’s broken.
Say no to replacing: If it’s not broke, don’t replace it. Go by this phrase, literally. Don’t replace any electronic appliance or anything else if there’s no need.
Buy second-hand products: Whenever you go for second-hand products while shopping, you’re indirectly reusing that stuff.

Recycle: Last but not the least, recycle. Here are a few points on how you can help the environment through this:

Buy recycled products: Always look for recycling symbol. It means either you can recycle the product or the product is made up of recycled materials.
Residential recycling: Always check collection centres and sell them whatever they accept.

Follow these three R’s and you would really be making a difference to the environment.

Delhi – Enroute Green Urbanisation

Delhi is amongst the top metropolitan cities in India. Metro, skyscrapers, shopping malls and cyber technology… the capital city promises an all-in-one package for a prosperous future. In tune with its ongoing progress, let’s turn around to see the pace of naturalisation in Delhi. Are we really following the path of eco-friendly urbanisation? Here are a few things that reflect Delhi’s environmental growth over the years.

1. Eco-City or Sustainable City

The latest residential and commercial projects in Delhi-NCR greatly focus on the concept of sustainable development. ‘Eco cities’ or ‘sustainable cities’ are such cities that are specifically designed to have negligible impact on the environment. These cities limit their waste output, water use and CO₂ production. Pedestrianisation is made a way of life in such colonies.

2. Adoption of Green Technology

Delhi has recorded a growth of eco-friendly projects in recent times. It is gradually adopting new green technology. Under this technology, the cities incorporate nature-friendly processes like energy efficient electric equipment, domestic waste management, use of bio-technology for domestic use and judicious use of water, air, electricity and land.

3. Emphasis on Renewable Resources of Energy

To shape the completion of sustainable city model, a variety of techniques have been adopted in Delhi, Greater Noida and Gurgaon region. These techniques deploy renewable sources of energy for routine processes. Some of these involve rainwater harvesting, planting green roofs, using solar and wind energy for power requirements and use of eco-friendly building materials. Similarly, most of the new apartments are oriented such that they consume less energy. They are constructed in such a way that they optimise the use of natural light and ventilation.

4. Better and less polluting commutation/Transportation

Delhi metro and e-rickshaws are the latest means of transport that have facilitated better connectivity and less pollution. Metro trains specifically work on the principle of ‘optimum density’ and ‘less resources intensiveness’. Similarly, e-rickshaw, popular as ‘ummeed ki electric rickshaw’ is an eco-friendly, light transport vehicle that has boosted the drive to travel in sync with our environment. Commutation, thus, has turned simpler, faster and above all, less polluting.

In the light of such improvements, it is heartening to see Delhi stride on the path of green urbanisation.

Eco-Friendly Tips That Could Be a Part of Our Daily Routine

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead.

As population increases, pollution soars even higher, and preservation goes for a toss. No doubt, nature has been replenishing its stock since centuries, but it’s high time that we take a step towards practicing a healthier and eco-friendly routine. This way, we can not only control pollution and unnecessary wastage of resources, but also preserve nature for a balanced growth.

Eco-friendly habits do not require any special course or unsettling change in life. By following these easy tips in our daily routine, we can gradually build a society that’s well-balanced and nature-friendly. Every single effort will multiply itself and contribute towards changing the city, on the whole.

Let’s take a look:

Reduce water wastage. Most people use about 50 gallons of water while showering for 10 minutes. Similarly, leaving the water on while brushing your teeth can waste 2 gallon of water per minute. Make sure that you use water as per your need.

Get energy-efficient appliances and electronics. Whenever possible, avoid unnecessary use of power. For instance, you can sit in the sun during winter afternoon instead of using room heaters. Also, turn off the lights when not in use.

Lesser litter = Greener city. Try to not litter public areas and make use of trash bins to dispose the waste.

Minimise littering over a period of time. Switch to composting vegetable and fruit peels.

Keep different trash cans for plastic and paper products so that it’s easier to dispose biodegradable and non-biodegradable products separately.

Prefer public transportation whenever possible. You can also walk or ride your bike for shorter distances instead of driving. Try to combine multiple errands in a single trip.

Practice using reusable bags at the grocery store. Similarly, use reusable containers at home.

Opt for paperless billing. Pay your bills electronically. Print documents only when avoidable.

Reduce food waste. Donate items you don’t use or need anymore.

Say ‘no’ to using plastic bags.

Make a habit of planting trees. If not every day, at least once a week. You can also contribute to local/community garden.

Minimise dependence on “one-time use items” like disposable razors, plastic ware, etc.

Conduct a home energy audit to map your energy consumption and ensure timely conservation.

Unplug at least once a day so that you can enjoy nature around you. This will also build environmental sensitivity in you.

Easy to follow, all these tips can encourage eco-friendly habits in community as well. Over a period of time, it will surely help make Delhi greener, cleaner and better.

Interesting Laws on Cleanliness from Around the World

Cleanliness is a national concern. Although each one of us wants to live in a healthy and clean environment, the present scenario reflects a contrasting picture. Can stricter laws help improve this state? While you ponder over this question, let’s take a look at some of the world’s strangest laws on cleanliness:

1) Singapore

A few unbelievable laws have been enforced in Singapore to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. Firstly, chewing and selling bubblegum is completely banned here. And secondly, people, who fail to flush toilets, are punished under the law.

2) Britain

Britain has a very interesting ‘Anti Foul Law’. It makes it a mandate for every pet-owner to clear up any pet foul left behind. If one fails to clean up, he can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice, or if the case goes to court a fine of up to £1,000. In addition to this law, Britain has also made abandoning of vehicles illegal as its dangerous and it can ruin the appearance of ones neighbourhood. People are advised to report the same.

3) Pennsylvania

There is a stringent law for litter and waste droppings in Pennsylvania. Under it, litter thrown or deposited from a vehicle onto a road is considered an offense. It leads to imposition of a fine of upto $900, depending on where the dumping occured (public or private property).

4) Dublin

This city has been popular for its mandatory street sweeping since 1960’s. Business and public cooperate in generating awareness and preventing litter. Today, a modern fleet of cleaning vehicles, technology and equipment are used. This helps provide a highly efficient and flexible standard of service.

5) Iowa

Iowa is one of the 10 states that have a bottle bill, along with Connecticut, California, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Michigan, New York and Hawaii. This state law requires people to pay a 5-cent deposit on bottles and cans for all carbonated and alcoholic beverages including beer, soft drinks, wine and liquor. That money is returned if people later return the empty containers to a grocery store or redemption center.

6) Georgia

Smokers in Georgia, who throw away their cigarette butts on the beaches, could face a $1,000 fine under a revised city ordinance.

Besides anti-litter laws, there are many other nations which are famous for their cleanliness. These include Arkansas, Tennessee, Denmark, Switzerland, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and Norway. Do you think India too needs such laws to stay clean? Let us know what you think.

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