:: Delhi Greens ::

After decades of repression, the Tibetan people are crying out to the world for change. The Olympic spotlight is now on China, and Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama is calling to end all riots and violence through restraint and dialogue.

China’s hardliners are lashing out publicly at the Dalai Lama – but many Chinese leaders believe dialogue is the best hope for stability in Tibet. The government is right now considering a crucial choice between repression and dialogue that could determine Tibet’s – and China’s – future.

We can affect this historic choice – President Hu Jintao values China’s reputation, and he needs to hear from us that the ‘Made in China’ brand and the upcoming Olympics in Beijing will succeed only if he chooses dialogue over the hardliners’ repression. An avalanche of global people power is moving to get his attention.

In just one week, over 1 million people have signed the petition, which will be delivered in rallies at Chinese embassies worldwide on Monday – click here to join the global outcry, and then forward this email to friends and family right away.

In just 7 days over 1 million of us have signed the petition calling for human rights and dialogue in Tibet–the fastest growing internet petition in history. As the crisis continues, it’s time to deliver our petition and make sure Chinese President Hu Jintao hears our voices.

An International Day of Action has been declared for Monday, March 31st. On Monday, thousands of people in cities across the world will march to Chinese embassies and consulates, and stack hundreds of boxes containing this petition outside them. 1 million signatures makes a mountain of boxes – it will send a powerful global message. 2 millions would be even more powerful.

Courtesy: Avaaz, an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organisation.

For further involvement, please get in touch with Ms. Aprajita Sarcar

“We’re on our 8th day of fasting,” said one of the students from Calicut University, Kerela. “We don’t want nuclear to be a part of our future.” Several students including Abdul Rehman, Saji Mathew, Ramziya Rehmat, Tomy Jecob, Krupa and Divya, inspired by one of their Professors came all the way from Kerela up to the seat of power in Delhi to voice their concerns regarding the long-pending Indo-US nuclear power deal. They are members of the Students Against Nuclear Power (SANP) group and have been protesting at Jantar Mantar.

The Indo-US Nuclear deal, also known as the “1, 2, 3 Deal” has been controversial ever since its inception. Though first started by the NDA government in the late 90s and early 2000, it has reached its final stages under the current UPA-led coalition. The deal is significant for many reasons but mostly for its implications of India finally being deemed a “responsible nuclear power” status by the US–bringing the country out of official isolation on the subject. It is important to note that India has not signed the non-proliferation treaty.

The deal is being mooted crucial for India in terms of energy security as the nation currently imports 70% of its oil, which is expected to go up to 90% by mid-century if not sooner. India currently lacks supplies of uranium and the deal would allow technology sharing and the ability to buy uranium from the global market for the very first time. India’s plans are to utilize home grown technology, particularly the fast-breeder closed cycle process which involves enriching some thorium (of which India has some 30-odd percent of the global supply) with uranium to start the closed cycle. If India is to maintain its economic boom, it is expected that it will have to increase its energy production from the 125 gigawatts today to over 250 gigawatts by 2016. It is debatable however, how much of this will actually be achieved by boosting nuclear energy generation. Critics state that nuclear will still play a very small role in the over all energy mix.

Energy aside, controversy also exists around the fact that the agreement might compromise India’s sovereignty over the rights to its own weapons program which technically is a separate entity all together. Regardless, the question of the hour is should India push through the nuclear deal without much debate (as the current administration plans to do especially before President Bush is out of office), will it herald yet another missed opportunity for India to follow a more genuine path towards carbon-neutral growth? Can a population of 1.03 billion people with really high density accept any form of nuclear melt down like 3-mile island or the one that happened in Japan more recently? Furthermore is nuclear the way we solve our climate challenge?

For the students, the purpose was clear: give the different movements against nuclear from around the country a rallying point. I think they did just that. Many have come out in support. It was on the 8th day of fasting that I finally visited these brave youth. Leading leftist politicians arrived at the scene pleading them to stop the fast in assurance that they would carry forth the battle in Parliament. “Now that we have had our voices heard and helped unite the movement, we are going back and will carry on our struggle from Kerela,” stated the professor leading the students. I only hope that it is not too late.

First posted by Kartikeya Singh on the What’s with the Climate? Blog – Voices of a sub-continent grappling with climate change.

The Oceanic Group, a not-for-profit society organised a seminar on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Climate Change (CC) last month.

Mr. J.K. Dadoo, Secretary, Environment, Forest & Wildlife, Govt. of N.C.T. of Delhi and Chairperson of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) chaired the seminar while Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director-General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Mr. Ramesh Menon, an environmental journalist were the distinguished speakers for the event.

The seminar began with Mr. Dadoo welcoming everyone followed by the screening of “Global Warning”, a 20 minute film which focuses on the impact of climate change on Kolkata, coastal areas in Orissa and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the threats faced by these regions.

The stage was then honoured by the presence and an excellent presentation on the topic of the day, by Mr. J.K. Dadoo. Mr. Dadoo began the presentation by defining and explaining the very essence of CSR. He informed that Corporate Social responsibility is best defined by the World Business Council as “The continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development, while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large”.

Based on the impact of their activities on  customers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment, for all aspects of their operations, CSR is a concept whereby organizations should consider the interests of the society. Mr. Dadoo further engaged the audience by talking about the Global scenario and the Indian scenario of CSR before coming to the important and much awaited topic of CSR and Delhi!

Mr. Dadoo did not waste much time in explaining the situation of Delhi’s environment or even in all the good work being done for a better environment for the fact that he was keen to promote more such good work. With a heading as direct as “Priority areas for CSR in respect of Environment Sector in Delhi”, he categorically listed the need of the hour in very simple and straightforward bullets.

His audience capturing presentation was followed by a talk by Dr. Ajay Mathur who started with emphasizing on the need of corporate houses to understand CSR, Environmental Management Systems, Energy Audits, etc. as not just an add-on but an integral part of their working. His talk covered the issues of energy costs and conservation and he seemed surprised at the fact that a lot of new corporate office complexes are now using more glass on the outside than ever before! After being reminded by Mr. Dadoo, Mr Mathur also talked about his bureau’s promotion of the compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and the facilitation of the phase out of the incandescent bulb.

The stage was then handed over to Mr. Ramesh Menon who did not wish to speak much for he maintained that his film had done all the talking on his behalf. He explained the need to communicate environment to business houses and to create an atmosphere for this today lest we may irreversibly damage the atmosphere above us tomorrow. He concluded with talking about individual responsibility of citizens towards maintaining a cleaner, greener city and a more promising planet.

The stage was finally opened for the audience which was now enlightened and full of questions and comments. A lot of people wanted to find out how they could actually run the projects mentioned by Mr. Dadoo in his presentation. To this, Mr. Dadoo pointed out to Ms. Usha Srinivasan of Development Alternatives who has successfully worked on such projects with the support from Dept. of Environment, Govt. of N.C.T of Delhi.

Ms. Bahar Dutt of CNN-IBN and Ms. Madhur Motwani of YouthReach raised the issue of the tree fellings taking place in the city owing to the massive construction work. Both of them were particularly concerned with the ineffective transplantation of trees. Ms. Motwani explained the transplantation of a tree as aborting of a child and putting it somewhere else. Mr. Dadoo responded with stating that he understood the complexities involved in such a situation very well and that permissions to transplant trees were given least priority by his Department. 

Further, Mr. Ranmal Jhala inquired about what the Government was doing to promote cycles in the city. He was informed that within its capacity the Government had plans to promote cycles but that it was first important to promote the use of Metro that had been brought into the city at a huge cost and that though popular, a lot of Delhi’s population still prefers to use cars, etc. to reach places.

With this Mr. Ajit Kumar thanked Mr. Dadoo, Mr. Mathur, Mr. Menon and the audience and concluded the seminar. The audience still wanted more and an extensive discussion followed the event.

Also Read:

• Ban the Bulb: Gandhigiri, Greenpeace style!

 Previously on DelhiGreens:

• Invitation: TOG Seminar on CSR and Climate Change

  THE VIGYAN VIJAY FOUNDATION

  World Water Day - 22nd March 2008

On this 22nd day of March, 2008, Delhi Greens and the Vigyan Vijay Foundation wish everyone a clean and fresh World Water Day!

Water saving tips in Communities:

• Use 4 R s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recharge
• Close the taps tightly after use & arrest all leaks
• Don’t let the tap running while brushing or shaving
• Avoid flushing toilets unnecessarily, use less water
• Report & rectify all significant water losses (broken pipes, abandoned free-flowing taps etc.) to the property owners or local authorities & NGOs
• Don’t waste water just because someone else is paying the bill & reduce water consumption always
• Never pour water down the drains when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden or cleaning around your home
• Encourage your community to develop and promote water conservation ethics among youth & adults
• Encourage your friends and neighbors to be more water conscious & reduce water foot-print
• Remember that every drop of water saved will make future generations feel more water-secure

 Youth for Water:

• Encourage every youth to work for water conservation
• Follow water saving principles & practices for a better tomorrow

LET US ASPIRE TO WORK LOCALLY & CONTRIBUTE GLOBALLY

Eco-Water Literary Project:

A Black Kite ’shot’ by the morning sun by Mr. Anil Lyall at Maurice Nagar, Delhi!

Niyamgiri Hills, named after the Niyamraja, the main deity of the Donagria Kondhs, are one of last untouched wildernesses of Orissa. Rising to a height of more than four thousand feet, it is the source of Vamshadhara river as well as major tributaries of Nagaveli rivers. Niyamgiris form a distinct phytogeographical zone because of its height and its highly precipitous topography . It has some of the most pristine forests in Orissa. Niyamgiri flora is of ‘great phyto-geographical importance’ as the hilltops harbor high altitude plants with Himalayan/North Indian and Nilgiri/South Indian elements.

The Niyamgiri Hill is very sacred to the Dongaria Kondhs, a unique primitive tribal group found only in the Niyamgiri Hills. This tribe which is no less important that the endangered Jarawas of the Andamans is on the brink of extinction since the 2001 census reveals a total population of around 7,500 only. They consider the mountaintop of the Niyamgiri as inviolate and protect the forests on the top as “Kaman” forests, where their god Niyamraja Penu resides.

Source  

However, The Supreme Court of India, after a case lasting over three years, is now about to give clearance to Sterlite/Vedanta to mine bauxite on the summit of Niyamgiri in the state of Orissa based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) as well as Government of Orissa. If mining is permitted there, two of India’s strongest Constitutional guarantees will be overturned: the right of a “primitive tribal group” to their territorial integrity and to decide on their own path of development (Schedule V of the Indian Constitution); and the right to religious practices and beliefs (Article 25 of the Constitution), since the summit of this mountain is sacred place of worship to the Dongria Kondh’s supreme deity Niyam Raja. In addition, the country will lose an important biodiverse region.

Click here to sign a petition to the Indian Primte Minister and the Indian National Congress Party Chief to draw their attention on the matter and safeguard the interests of the Kondh Adivasis and our biodiversity.

No tribal development or afforestation package can address the loss.

Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (Teen Murti Bhawan) invites all interested citizens to a discussion on Nandini Bhattacharyya-Panda’s book “Appropriation and Invention of Tradition: The East India Company and Hindu Law in Early Colonial India” at Teen Murti Bhawan on 20th March 2008 at 1600 Hours.

 Download Invitation

“Give us things that will help us run engines with local resources. Diesel and petrol prices are killing us farmers,” said Ram Karan. I sat listening intently to him at his farm on the very fringes of Ranthambore National Park. The majority of farmers here who do not have access to electricity spend anywhere between Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 1 lakh on diesel to run generators to irrigate their farm lands. Imagine that amount of money instead being put towards a decentralized renewable energy source to sustain their livelihoods. “Give us solar, we are willing to pay!” he said. “I know that there are even solar powered pumps out there.” Solar pumps have been questioned for their efficacy especially where ground water levels have dropped severely—and they have in this part of Rajasthan. I was doing a survey on the local biogas plant dissemination project by a local NGO, the Prakratik Society. Though a technology around since the 1970s and considering one of the most abundant decentralized resources available to rural India being livestock, it is unfortunate that not much more research and development has gone towards its advancement. My survey revealed more than just a drastic reduction in fuel-wood consumed by villagers owning the biogas plants (50-100% drop by 100% of the households surveyed): some of the villagers are fueling some of their ambitions in rather unique ways with this old technology.

On this morning, Ram Karan was running his tractor engine with a mix of diesel and the gas generated by his biogas plant. The two cylinder tractor engine used to run the pump usually consumes 2.5 liters of diesel in one hour, but with a mix of biogas, it consumes diesel at a rate of 1.5 to 1.75 liters an hour. The only draw back was the limited amount of gas generated by the 3 cubic meter biogas plant being sucked out more quickly by the hungry engine. Still, it reveals the scope of larger sized biogas plants in meeting additional needs of villagers beyond cooking. The problem with larger plants (those with greater width and depth) being the higher likelihood of cracks developing in the tank—which render plants completely useless. “If we could get enough gas to run an 8-10 horse power engine to pump water, and perhaps some for additional electricity generation, we would be all set!” He touted. Further down the road, a dhaba had been set up near the roadside. “I opened up this dhaba soon after getting my biogas plant,” stated Janki Lal. “Business has been good [as was visible during my short chai break] and it is so much easier to operate using gas as opposed to wood. But I want my lamp as well!” He was referring to the gas lamps the Prakratik Society used to disseminate with the plants earlier on which failed because of lack of proper infrastructure in place for replacement parts.

One of my final stops was at Ameen’s house. He had a large family and ambitions to match the size. “I want to have several biogas plants, or perhaps a few large ones. I will get nearly 10 artificially inseminated hybrid cows [scaling up from the 2 he had currently]. I am going to stop farming and start a dairy,” he stated confidently. His cattle will be stall fed by the fodder he will be planting instead. It will including the “sul babul” tree which grows quite well in this climate and grows rapidly. The native cows are artificially inseminated with the semen of high-milk yielding Jersey cows with help of Prakratik Society. With nearly 50% of the respondents (from 7 different villages surrounding the park) claiming they would be willing to take on bank loans to finance more biogas plants, perhaps its time the advancement of this technology take precedence to meet the ambitions of the people. “The jungle is disappearing, so you need to make these plants everywhere,” stated Ram Karan—revealing a true grasp of the human-wildlife conflict that is plaguing the country.

Original Post at:  whatswiththeclimate.org (voice of the Indian Youth Climate Network)

Chat on 18th March 2008

Log in to IndianWildlifeclub.com for an online chat on “Genetically Modified Crops and Biodiversity” between 7.30 PM (IST) and 8.30 PM (IST) on 18th March 2008.

The chat will be moderated by Ms Saraswati Kavula, who is is a documentary Film Maker from Andhra Pradesh.

Click Here to reach the chat room on the said day and time, after registering as a member.

You can also click HERE to see transcripts of the earlier chat sessions.

Previously on DelhiGreens:

• “Taking responsibility of one’s Carbon emissions”, IWC’s Monthly Online Chat

After having retired from advertising and marketing field, Mohan Pai is now working to generate awareness and sensitivity towards wildlife and environment. Based in Bangalore, he has also authored several books, viz. The Western Ghats, Mahadayi/Mandovi River Valley, Flight of the Gods – Hindu Temples & Shrines of Goa and The Elderly (published in 2002).

Whither the Wilderness

There was a time when meadow, grove and stream
The earth and every common sight
To me did seem Apparell’d in celestial light,
The glory and freshness of a dream.

It is not now as it had been of yore,
Turn whereso’er I may,
By night or day, the things which I have
Seen I now can see no more.”

- William Wordsworth

I am tempted to quote here an extract from Civil Original Jurisdiction I.A.No.670 of 2001. In Writ Petition (C) No.202/1995 [K.M. Chinnappa (Applicant) in T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad (Petitioner) Versus Union of India and Others (Respondents):

About one and half century ago, in 1854, as the famous story goes, the wise Indian Chief Seattle replied to the offer of the great White Chief in Washington to buy their land. The reply is profound. It is beautiful. It is timeless. It contains the wisdom of the ages. It is the first ever and the most understanding statement on environment. The whole of it is worth quoting as any extract from it is to destroy its beauty.

“How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?

Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people. The sap which courses through the trees carries the memories of the red man.”

The wilderness scene is getting murkier and murkier. We have a billion population and even if an iota of this great mass could see the consequences of our rash attitude towards nature and its destruction and consequences, may be we will live in a better world. But nature is treated as a gold mine to be exploited for enriching the few.

To quote Valmik Thapar, “Forests in India are a treasure house. Everyone wants to grab a bit. There is the timber mafia; I know thousands of cases where tribal people were employed to cut down trees. There is the land mafia, out to grab forest land and encroach. There are miners – mining for marble, uranium, diamonds, whatever available. It is in their interest to have forest land denotified”.

TRIBAL BILL

Now the Tribal Bill is hanging over the country’s ecological future like the Democles’s Sword. The Bill is a politically motivated and ecologically suicidal proposal. It will mandate that each nuclear family of a forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribe receive up to 2.5 ha of forest land. This would really harm the Adivasis rather than helping them. Much of India’s remaining forests, protected areas, and wildlife would be highly decimated. This will have serious effect on country’s water sources as nearly 600 rivers originate from our forested regions. Much of India’s remaining forests will end up in the hands of land mafia and industrial companies with short-term financial gains. The Bill also proposes to reverse current laws. It would override the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980 and the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972. Enforcement power would rest with Gram Sabhas (Adivasi Community Leaders) and not with MoEF. The JPC has recommended that the Act be placed in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution, which would make it immune to judicial scrutiny and review.

GLOBAL WARMING

The effects of Global Warming on the Wilderness are quite unpredictable but with the rapid melting of the Himalayan Glaciers which will first increase the volume of water in rivers, causing widespread flooding. But in a few decades this situation will change and the water levels in rivers will decline causing massive eco and environmental problems in northern India. Apart from human miseries, the effect of it on vegetation, forests and wildlife will be very drastic.

As a result of sea level rise, the massive flooding and submergence of the coastal areas will also mean submergence of vegetation and forests of the coastal areas. The unpredictable weather patterns will also see erratic Monsoons affecting the whole subcontinent and its ecology.

DECIMATION OF THE WILDERNESS – A brief history

The protection of wildlife has a long tradition in Indian History. Wise use of natural resources was a prerequisite for many hunter-gatherer societies which dates back to at least 6,000 B.C. Emperor Ahoka’s edicts of the third century B.C. depicts one of the earliest conservation laws.

Centuries later, the Mogul emperors, sportsmen, men of action and born observers that they were, displayed a deep interest in the animal life of the country. The ethos of conservation and reverence for nature and wildlife as reflected in some of the exquisite images depicted in Indian art, painting, sculpture and architecture and use of animal fables from early literature like Panchatantra and Hitopa-desha are more relevant today than they were centuries ago.

Pre-colonial rules had set up hunting reserves in man parts of India. In later years some fine sanctuaries were established in what was then British India, and in a few of the princely states. Well known examples are Bandipur in Karnataka, Corbett Park in Uttar Pradesh, Vedanthangal in Tamil Nadu. But for the protection given to the Lion in Junagadh State and to the Great Indian Rhinoceros in Nepal and Assam, these two animals would have been exterminated long ago…..Click here to read the rest of this article.