:: Delhi Greens ::

The North East Center for Environment Education & Research (NECEER), Imphal in association with Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi Greens and World Institute of Nature, Pune invite concerned citizens to the Enviro Lecture Series, a quarterly lecture series starting from September 2010 in Delhi. Academicians, scientists, researchers and experts/activists will deliver lectures on different issues of Environment and Biodiversity of the country especially with respect to Northeast India.

Northeast India is the most biodiversity rich region in the country and comprises eight states, viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. It occupies 7.7% of India’s total geographical area supporting 50% of the flora (approx 8000 species), of which 31.58% (approx 2526 species) is endemic. Due to this presence of large number of endangered and endemic species, the region is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot.

The region is yet to be explored thoroughly and efforts need to be made to  connect it with the rest of the country. Time has come to create a platform where Northeast India can showcase its diversity and for the rest of the country to know Northeast India. Enviro Lecture Series is thus one such initiative in the right direction. The lecture series will highlight the biodiversity richness of the region, characterize the ecotourism potential of the region and the spell out the threats due to the changing climate in the region. The participants will get an opportunity to know in details the mystical and enchanting land of Northeast India.

Know North East India

Date: 19th September, 2010 (Sunday)
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Venue: Auditorium, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Registration Form | Last date of registration: 5th September 2010

• All participants will receive participation certificate and NECEER’s new publication BioDiverse.
• 100 participants will be selected for the September lecture (from registered candidates).

The topics for the September Lecture Series include Wildlife of NE India, Plant Diversity of NE India, GIS and RS in Wildlife Conservation, Biodiversity Conservation & Political instability in NE, Climate Change and Northeast India and Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity of NE.

For further information, contact: neceer.imp(at)gmail.com

Image courtesy NECEER

Previously on Delhi Greens:

• Save Loktak Lake Campaign Begins in Delhi and Imphal
• March 7th, 2010: Save Loktak Lake Campaign

The Asian Citizens Assembly (ACA) 2010 concluded recently in the South Indian city of Bengaluru and succeeded in bringing together citizens from across Asia to share and discuss the challenges, hopes and aspirations of the people inhabiting the largest landmass on the face of the Planet. The ACA was themed on the 5 Es of Ethics, Equity, Economy, Education and Ecology and included workshops on these to spell out the contemporary status of these indicators and the need for action for peace and sustainable development in the region.

Citizens’ Assemblies gather women and men, association and organizations that would want to participate in renewing democracy and act in significant changes in their society and at global level. The Assemblies are not a kind of new parliaments or new institutions. The citizens’ assemblies are a result of challenges and mutations of the 21st Century: globalization, intensity of inter-dependencies from domestic level to a global one, a multiform crisis of the democracy, development and production models which have become predators and non-sustainable.

The rise of Asia in the 21st century with the booming economic growth of the two giants, China and India in addition to the economic growth of Japan, and military modernization of South Korea among other developments is only one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is alarming and the challenges of a scale never experienced before. Today, lasting peace remains elusive as armed conflicts based on religion, nationalism, ethnicity, land and natural resources wage ceaselessly across the continent, killing thousands and capturing millions more in the tentacles of poverty and hunger in the process.

Illiteracy and lack of quality education throughout Asia is undermining the ability of people to avail gainful employment, and from achieving a satisfactorily good standard of living. Lack of access to basic services is causing immense suffering, especially amongst marginalized populations and poor people, while ineffective, disorganized  and non participatory governance and political institutions are further impeding development. Environmental degradation is reaching epic proportions, with pollution and emissions of greenhouse gases constantly on the rise, deforestation occurring faster than ever before, and natural resources being plundered relentlessly.

With participation from countries stretching the length and breadth of Asia including Iran, Jordan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka,  Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan to name a few and led by the Global Citizens for Sustainable Development, the ACA 2010 was more of an experiment set in space and time. Organized in collaboration with Delhi Greens, the assembly also marked the International Year of Youth by beginning the ACA with a two days Asian Youth Assembly. The Asian Youth Assembly encouraged young people to dedicate themselves to fostering progress, including the attainment of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to slash a host of social ills, ranging from extreme poverty and hunger to maternal and infant mortality to lack of access to education and health care, all by 2015.

Throughout the ACA, a parallel Silk Route Art and Culture Festival hosted a range of manifestations in culture and art related both to the quickly advancing modernity and the firmly rooted cultural traditions of Asia. The festival was an attempt to create a forum where cultures, religions and ideas meet with the overarching theme of Peace, and acted as a meeting place for interesting artists and arts management experts and also as a platform for participants to dialogue using the medium of art and culture during the Assembly. The participating delegates took back a better understanding of cultures and cultural affinities of Asia and a network of committed youth and adults all of whom having the will to act.

Previously on Delhi Greens:

• Essay Competition: Towards a United, Peaceful and Sustainable Asia

India Cyclothon 2010 is a mass participation cycling event for professional, amateur and casual bikers. The event intends to promote the cause of cycling and its various benefits, namely heightened environment consciousness and health. BSA Hercules India Cyclothon is the only excuse you need to get up and go have fun on your bike!

Whether it’s traffic-free mass participation rides through our cities or cycling as a competitive sport to encourage excellence among the best in the country, Sport18’s India Cyclothon presents opportunities for elite and amateur cyclists, for beginners, children, families and even institutions to express their solidarity for a cause by saddling up and cycling in traffic-free mass participation rides in urban areas.

Date: Sunday, 29th August 2010

Venue: Free Church, Sansad Marg

Junior Ride: 07:30 hours
FICCI Corporate Ride 07:45 hours
Amateur Ride: 07:55 Hours
LG Green Ride: 08:10 Hours

Now in its third edition, after a successful run in Bengaluru (5867 attendants) and Mumbai (6271), the Cyclothon’s, as it is popularly called, Delhi leg is scheduled for Sunday, 29th August 2010. The event has four categories: LG Green Ride, FICCI Corporate Ride, FICCI Amateur Ride and Junior Ride.

We all are aware of the increasing traffic and congestion problem that leads to pollution and needs some quick fix solutions. A high consumption pattern in big cities is also leading to and promoting the climate change phenomenon. Clean, green and realistic efforts towards a cleaner and greener future in the people-planet-profit mode is the urgent need of the hour.

Answering this call and working towards greener future is the world’s well known car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki which has over time proved to have the distinction of introducing a host of environment friendly programmes ahead of government regulations and the industry. THe company took the lead in implementing End of Life Vehicle (ELV) programme where harmful elements like Lead, Cadmium, Chromium and Mercury are no longer used in making vehicles. Maruti Suzuki produced the first BS-IV and E-10 compliant engines much ahead of regulations coming to force in the country.

Adding one more feather to their green cap, Maruti Suzuki has launched five factory-fitted CNG models across segments to contribute to a clean environment. The country’s largest car maker recently presented its flagship CNG engine technology, ‘intelligent-Gas Port Injection’ or i-GPI. The five models are SX4, Eeco, WagonR, Estilo and Alto. Promising that i-GPI technology is safe, reliable, clean, responsive and environment friendly, the car company also hopes to utilized this step towards keeping low cost of ownership for their customers.

Applauding the initiative, Mr Jairam Ramesh, the Union Environment and Forest minister assured that the Government of India has committed to developing the infrastructure and network of CNG stations across the country. This is in line with government’s aim to reduce the dependence on import of fossil fuels. With the discovery of large gas reserves in the country the network of CNG supplies is set to expand rapidly in near future. Maruti Suzuki’s launch of CNG technology vehicles will help create the ecosystem for use of a clean and cost effective fuel in India.

Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director & CEO Maruti Suzuki India said, “The development is significant on multiple counts. This is the first instance when a car manufacturer has developed and launched factory-fitted technologically superior CNG engines in India. Compressed Natural Gas is environment friendly and also reduces country’s dependence on imported fuels. Maruti Suzuki’s big ticket entry into CNG fuel segment augurs well for the environment.”

On the world platform, far from the home land on August 16, 2010 in Genève, Solar-Prize winner Louis Palmer has flagged off the Zero Around-the-World in 80 Days Race where four teams of emission-less vehicles viz. Trev, Australia, Zerotracer, Switzerland, Vectrix, Germany and Powerplaza, South Korea will travel across the world and end the first leg of their journey at UN’s Climate Conference in Cancun, Mexico, during November and December.

Supported by the world organisation’s Environment Programme, the race after 80 days of travel over 30,000 km through 16 countries with stops in 150 cities, the Zero Race will end where it began, in Geneva, in January 2011. The challenge is to show to the 7 billion people on this planet that we need renewable energy and clean mobility. Renewable energy from the sun, the wind or other sources must be used to power the vehicles. It also requires judgment about vehicle reliability; energy efficiency; design and safety and utility for everyday life.

No doubt the world is struggling and taking the issue of greener future on a serious note and many corporates are running the race parallel to the government. Since vehicles running on fossil fuel fall in the list of world’s best polluters, the initiatives such as the one taken up Maruti Suzuki calls for a big applause from people. Consumers who want to go green without compromising much of their existing lifestyle have now options and the responsibility to utilize the offer in a very economical manner. After all it’s ‘our common environment’ that is at stake and no stone should be left unturned to safeguard it.

Captured on August 16, 2010, the Commonwealth Express (CWG) train which was flagged off from Delhi June 24 stands at the Secunderabad Railway Station.

The train aims at spreading the spirit of the Games and motivates youth across the country to participate in various sports. The exhibition train comprises 11 coaches. While five coaches feature rare CWG memorabilia, the remaining six are devoted to showcasing Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Secunderabad, which is the twin city of Hyderabad, is the 26th stop-over for the train, During its 101-day journey, the special train will travel through 21 states and three union territories, stopping at 49 major stations before returning to Delhi on October 2, well on time before the scheduled start off date of October 3, 2010.

I-dream is an environment education initiative for schools and school students. Set up in 2008, I-dream works in the field of environment education, energy conservation and waste management. The organisation is currently looking for an environment trainer to conduct environment education courses with students of class VI to X in schools in Delhi. The details are as hereunder:

1. Understand the content developed by I-Dream team
2. Deliver workshops/ sessions in schools as per the time table for students of classes VI to X
3. Manage and handle various environment initiatives happening in the schools

1. The trainer would be handling two schools located in Delhi (North-West Delhi)
2. The time of work would be from 7:30 AM till 2:00 PM

• Need to have a passion for working towards a cause of social relevance
• Prior experience of teaching or conducting workshops would be beneficial
• Sincerity and discipline are very essential

The monsoon has been surprising the capital with its on and off fall, and yet the people are fully drained in its relieving delight. Delhi is geared up to enjoy the monsoon with a special festival known to many Indians as ‘Teej’. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion especially by the women in India. Celebrated at the outbreak of the monsoon season, Teej is also known as the ‘Sawan festival’.

Teej is dedicated to the divine couple – Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The festival symbolizes reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Teej teaches us the sacrifice of the wife to win the heart of her husband. During this festival women follow certain rituals and customs seeking the blessings by Goddess Parvati. Applying mehendi to one’s hands and feet is a special and most beautiful tradition followed during the Teej festival.

Organized from August 7 to August 12, 2010 at Dilli Haat, the Delhi Tourism Department has given the city a monsoonal treat during Teej. A blissful and colourful festival is being hosted here with different cultural events and a range of Rajasthani cuisines. Women also had the privilege of selecting from a variety of designs of mehendi from across North India. Women were seen selecting special designs to match the mood of the festival. It is believed that the darker the henna on a girl;’s hands, the more will she be loved by her husband and in-laws.

Another important ritual related to the festival is the worship of Nyagrodha tree or Vat Vriksha. The tree is considered highly auspicious with its hanging branches reflecting knowledge. Women tie swings to the Vat Vriksha and dance while enjoying the showers of rain. Dilli Haat presented the visitors with artificially wood craved swings that became one of the most sought after element of the festival for many. Cultural programs were organized by Sahitya Kala Parishad in the evening hours. Free saplings were distributed to the visitors during the festival. Dance and music throughout the evening entertained as well as promoted the rich Indian cultural heritage.

The University Community for Democracy (UCD), an independent forum setup to speak out against the shrinking democratic space has initiating a relay hunger strike from 9 am to 9 pm, starting 12th August, 2010. This is taking place at  Arts Faculty Main gate (Opp. Science Faculty), North Campus. Each day there will be five people (teachers, students and researchers) who will be on a hunger strike, as well as many others who will sit in solidarity with them.

The UCD has been challenging a number of decisions taken by both Delhi University and the Delhi Government with regard to the Commonwealth Games 2010 for over a month now. The Forum is deeply concerned by the gross violations of rights that the city has witnessed in the name of the Games and condemns the irresponsible manner in which Delhi is being prepared for this mega- event.

For the organization of the CWG 2010 in October, the University of Delhi authorities has had the university hostels vacated for using as guest rooms during the Games. The hostels are now being renovated for the Games and are out of bound for students. This has caused immense worry and discomfort for the students, especially the girl candidates for whom its not just about finding alternate suitable accommodation but also their safety and security.

The issue is even more intense for the fact that the Games have come with a lot of controversy, scams and irresponsibility. There is no other bright side that we are now looking forward to. There is no pride left in sacrificing for the country for the success of the Games, for there is nothing left to feel proud of. On the contrary, the Games have become the most embarrassing international incidence for the country, that came just a week before India’s Independence Day.

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra along with Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, Prannoy Roy and Dr. R.K. Pachauri

As the Independence Day comes closer, many Indians are joining the green pledge to make India’s future green. Joining in the green wagon is Bollywood sizzling actress Priyanka Chopra, who has agreed to become the national green ambassador for initiating eco-friendly campaigns across the country. The announcement came from our die-hard Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh during a recent conference in the capital.

A day after the announcement, Priyanka Chopra launched her official website with some green touch. “Finally launching iampriyankachopra.com! It’s my official website which is totally interactive and everything me”, said the actress with excitement and hopefully she will use this platform to interact and share green initiatives, tips and information with her fans and friends alike.

The Filmfare award winner actress has been actively involved in promoting green cause as the green ambassador for NDTV-Toyota’s environment campaign Greenathon. She informed that the film fraternity in Mumbai has also become environment-conscious. Earlier, film crew used to litter the sets with plastic mugs and napkins but now they dump it in bags that are then sent for recycling. Ms. Chopra urged people not to be complacent about the issue. “People might think that our country is dirty in any case, if they throw one waste paper out on the street how does it matter? But even the smallest act contributes.”

In addition to Priyanka Chopra, actor Aamir Khan has been roped in by the Union Tourism Ministry in order to reinforce the image of “Incredible India especially ahead of the Commonwealth Games. The actor can be seen on TV imparting lessons in hospitality and civic sense in line with the age old phrase ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. Since environment and social campaigns like these need people with credibility, someone who people look up to and listen to, hence our Bollywood actors and actresses make excellent candidates for the cause.

From the environmental fraternity, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) chief Dr. R.K. Pachauri tried his best to encourage Priyanka and told her,  ”You must be a part of the national movement for river cleaning, so that one day we can swim in the Ganga without any pollution.” Well, as a concerned citizen of this country I believe many will like to join and be a part of such a great initiative which could eventually revive a dying river like Ganga and other rivers in the country. Can you imagine swimming in the Yamuna that flows right across the capital city?

The recently concluded The Future of the Bengal Tiger, a conference hosted by the Sanctuary Asia, brought together over 150 delegates, speakers and other participants from all walks of life. Held on 6th August 2010 at the Teen Murti House auditorium, the participants were a blend of wildlife conservationist, researchers, media persons, bureaucrats, foresters and many school students and laypersons. Though students represented the majority, the blend of participants reflected the growing interest in tiger conservation among the general public.

The conferences entailed talks by the forest department officials, military personnel, politicians, wildlife biologists and journalists. The sessions also dealt with issues like corruption, conflicting mandates among the different bureaucracies, political will towards conservation and other biological, social and political imperatives and challenges of tiger conservation in India. The entire discussion was holistically facilitated by the enchanting and forever enthusiastic Mr. Bittu Sahgal of Sanctuary Asia.

The inaugural session saw introductory speeches by some key people influencing tiger conservation in India. The Hon’ble Minister for Environment & Forests Shri Jairam Ramesh, Dr. Karan Singh, former chairperson of Tiger Task Force 1972 and a staunch conservationist began the day with their thought provoking facts and key challenges. Valmik Thapar’s stimulating talk drew attention of the audience and speakers to the grave situation of tigers in India. He spoke at length about bringing reforms in the selection, recruitment, training of the Indian Forest Service officials. He expressed concern towards the precarious state of forest department, staff and stressed on the need of good cadre-building through proper training, remuneration and strengthening them with facilities and arms to improve protection of the reserves. Other speakers in this session included Meera Sanyal RBS, Hemedra Kothari and Dr. Vandana Shiva.

The second session was chaired by Ms. Belinda Wright of Wildlife Protection Society of India, Mr. P. K Sen, former director Project Tiger, Ms. Prerna Bindra, the renowned wildlife journalist, and Mr. Biswasjit Mohanty of Simlipal Tiger Reserve. The session included discussions on the protection status of Tiger Reserves, threats posed by poaching and left wing extremism to tiger habitats. Mr. Sen shed light on the inter-departmental conflicts between Indian Forest Service and Indian Administrative Service which is hampering tiger conservation presently. He recalled several instances when forested lands were mindlessly diverted to development projects and other activities by the revenue department that has led to the reduction of forest wealth in India.

Ms. Bindra spoke about the rising wildlife crime and vulnerability of the protected areas to different kinds of criminal activities such as Naxalism, underworld, drugs and wildlife trade. The interactive session following the discussions was dominated by the questions raised by the students of various schools in the NCR. The students echoed their sentiments by asking the experts about what they can do to save tigers in India.

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