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Post reserved for Synposis/Images of The Oceanic Group’s Climate Change Seminar.
Archive for October, 2007
‘Meeting the Challenge - River Pollution’ CSE’s Short-term Course
CSE’s Short-term training programme on
Meeting the Challenge:
River Pollution
November 13-16, 2007
New Delhi
Indian rivers are under serious threat from spiralling urbanisation and industrialisation. This situation has arisen despite the huge investments made by subsequent governments in cleaning them up. As a result, our survival - and that of rivers - is at stake.
Numerous questions come to the mind in such a scenario: Why are India’s rivers dying? Why haven’t river cleaning programmes worked? How will urban development plans like Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission impact rivers? Have common effluent treatment plants been able to address the issue of industrial wastewater management? Can our rivers be cleaned? As citizens, do we possess the right to have clean rivers?
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) invites applications and nominations for its training programme ‘Meeting the challenge: River pollution’, which attempts to answer these and other related questions. All in the course of four action-packed days.
The enormous challenge of water pollution caused primarily by human waste. also needs to be addressed There is an urgent need to switch from the current paradigm of capital, water and material intensive processes of waste management to a more cost effective, non-sewerage paradigm of human waste disposal.
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WHO CAN/SHOULD ATTEND?
Activists, NGO representatives, researchers, writers and communicators, policy makers, students, citizens… in short, anyone interested in fighting for our rivers.
THE COURSE WILL HELP PARTICIPANTS:
- Understand river pollution in India: how unclean are our rivers, why, and what is their present state doing to us? What has been the impact of the national river cleaning programme?
- Recognise the impact of urbanisation and urban development programmes on rivers — learn to critically assess city development plans.
- Gain an insight into the ‘political economy’ of water and sewage.
- Understand water quality monitoring and assessment.
Gauge the performance of common effluent treatment plants for industrial wastewater management. - Learn about the laws, regulations and judicial interventions for fighting river pollution and polluters in courts.
Develop effective research and communication strategies for your work on rivers. - Prepare alternate strategies and methods for river pollution control — water-efficient homes, decentralised wastewater systems, safe reuse of treated effluents, etc.
- Plan and design wastewater treatment units at the colony/residence levels.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Classroom lectures by noted river pollution experts from CSE and other institutions/organisations
- Comprehensive reading and reference material
- Access to CSE’s state-of-the-art resource centre and library
- Site visits, river yatras and boat rides
- Practicals and do-it-yourself sessions
- Film screenings
- Communication workshops
A certificate of participation will be awarded to all at the end of the course.
COURSE FEES
Industry and Government: Rs 8,800/- per participant
50 % discount for NGOs: Rs 4,400/-
Special discounted fees for students: Rs 1,100/-
DATE: November 13-16, 2007
VENUE: Anil Agarwal Green Centre, 38,Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi 110062
CONTACT PERSON:
S V Suresh Babu
River Pollution Unit
CSE, 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi-62
Phone: +91-11-29955124/125, 29956394
Extension: 267 or 236
Mobile: 098189 97999
Fax: +91 (011) 29955879
E-mail: svsuresh@cseindia.org
Tree cut at DU without permission
A tree was chopped down at University of Delhi’s Mansarowar Hostel (Opp. Khalsa College) this Thursday. When the alert students rushed to stop the maali from doing so, they were informed - much to their shock and disgust - that the tree is being removed for the beautification of the hostel and that he had been ordered by the higher authorities to do the job.
On finding out that no prior permission had been obtained for cutting the tree, the students forcibly brought the mindless task to an end but enough damage had been done by then.
ALL THAT COULD BE SAVED.
“ONCE IN ITS FULL GLORY, THE TREE HAS BEEN CHOPPED OFF ALL ITS LUSH GREEN BRANCHES. IT IS SHAMEFUL”
– A Student
The police was informed and the authorities only rushed to the scene when the incident received some media attention. The gravity of the situation has still not dawned onto many of the hostel authorities who think nothing wrong has been done and that its just another issue that some of the students - who have been asked to vacate the hostel premises - are raising.
WHAT WAS ONCE A GLORIOUS TREE…IS INTO PIECES TODAY
Amidst all of that, students fear that the entire blame might be thrust upon the maali - who, under pressure may accept and be framed for no fault of his.
Hindustan, 5th October 2007 (Page 4)
CLICK ON NEWS CLIPPING TO ENLARGE AND READ
Snake in the City!
As the Dept. of Environment, Govt. of Delhi begins wrapping up the celebrations of the not-so-popular Wildlife Week - Faiyaz A. Khudsar - a wildlife biologist at the Yamuna Biodiversity Park examines a snake sighted at the Yamuna Biodiversity Park (YBP)!
Sending it…back into the Wilderness of the Yamuna Biodiversity Park!
Nature - The Greatest Magician!
NATURE’S LITTLE MAGIC TRICKS
We feel so surprised and thrilled,
When a magician brings back a woman, he just killed.
And when he takes out a rabbit, from an empty hat,
We just adore him and our senses lay flat.
Why then are we not amazed!?
To the magic, which we have always gazed.
For, even if they are not, what every theatre picks.
But they are still, ‘nature’s little magic tricks.’
The sun rises every morning, from the east as they say.
And touches almost everything, with its each single ray.
To the other end it reaches by travelling all day.
And after slowly descending, it finally sinks in the bay.
A little seed which we see fallen around.
If picked by somebody and sown in the ground.
Would eventually come out, grow and become a tree.
But we’ll not even wink our eye, at this strange mystery.
Is it not unfair to the poor nature’s magic show?
For no one ever applauds for it,
neither friend nor foe.
And when nature’s shows its strangest magic.
Which, called death, is less amusing and more tragic.
Everyone starts hating nature, thinking it of no worth.
Not realizing, that they never loved it,
on or after their birth.
Invitation - Seminar on Climate Change
The Oceanic Group (TOG) - a non profit society with special focus on awareness building on Environment & Health issues invites all concerned citizens for the third edition of its Bimonthly Interactive Seminar Series on Climate Change.
Topic: Energy Conservation & Renewable Energy
Venue: Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Center, Lodi Road, New Delhi
Date: 8th October (Monday), 2007
Time: 6.30 PM
Mr. Surya P Sethi, Principal Advisor (Energy) Planning Commission is the chairperson & Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General; Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Statutory body under Ministry of Power, Government of India) is the Distinguished Speaker for the 3rd Seminar which focuses on Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy.
Mr Ravi Capoor, Executive Director; Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) will deliver the Concluding Address cum Future Action Plan. This will be followed by Discussion/Q&A session.
Tawang Township!
At a distance several hundred kilometeres from the Greens of Delhi, a dream destination that few are fortunate to visit! They (have come to) say -
“Heaven is a place on Earth”-TaWang is what this means….
Tawang Township - birds eyeview!
Tawang Monastery!
Madhuri Falls! (named after…..you got it right!!)
All images belong to Delhi Greens and can be used for any socially useful purpose. Please cite source.
Gandhi Jayanthi Greetings!
DelhiGreens wishes the Father of our Nation - a very Happy Birthday!
From spinning the wheel to rotating the turbine - each and every Indian policy has taken a 180 degree turn - since Independence.
However, his teachings and his lifestyle are more relevant today than ever before. Mahatama Gandhi was no doubt an excellent political leader but he was also one of the greatest environmentalist to have walked the earth. “The Earth has enough for man’s need but not enough for man’s greed” is what this great visionary had to say - much before the concepts of sustainable development, etc. were even thought of.
His concept of non-violence, simple living and high thinking, decentralization, local governance, etc. etc. are still the need of the hour and required if we have to even think towards making India shine!
