:: Delhi Greens ::

Toxics Link and India International Centre (IIC) invite entries from green film makers for “Quotes from the Earth”, an environmental film festival. Its time again for green filmmakers to show that they care for the environment, want and will make a difference! The Environment Film Festival, 2010 will be held on 4th-5th Dec 2010 at India International Centre, New Delhi. The films should be in and around the environmental milieu and be able to bring to the fore a subject/issue/concern on it. The films should preferably be recent, however a film from the past not gained much public attention but deserves it is an amiss. Of the entries, the films to be screened will be selected by a panel that includes experts from the field.

Quotes from the earth is a discursive platform to highlight the environmental challenges at the national and international level through films which happen to be one of the most powerful medium of communication and discussion. Since 2004, “Quotes from the Earth” has been an attempt to highlight the environmental challenges faced by people not only in India but also at the international diaspora,with a focus on water, hunger, survival, climate change, livelihood and so forth. With a plethora of films screened and thematic discussions gathering eminent academicians, vibrant activists and dedicated filmmakers the focus of the film festival since its inception has been to generate awareness and it is strictly non-commercial.

Interested Film makers should in your entries with the completed application form latest by 1st of September 2010. For further information and to download the application form, click here to visit Quotes for the Earth 2010 website.

Previously on Delhi Greens:

• Quotes from the Earth 2008: Environmental Film Festival
  

Advit Foundation invites the citizens of Delhi and Gurgaon to come together and join hands in support of the carbon offsetting plantation programme carried out with the Delhi Metro near MG Road Metro Station, Gurgaon. The programme is meant to develop and enhance the green belt under the Gurgaon Metro track.

Date: 8th August, 2010 (Sunday)
Time: 8 am
Venue: MG Road Metro Station (in front of City Center Mall)

While the green cover of Delhi has reportedly enhanced in the past decade, rampant urbanization and urban sprawl in the satellite towns has led to a considerable decrease in number and diversity of trees there. However, in order to sustain a healthy NCR, it is critical to address this issue at the earliest and promote the development of city parks and forests in the NCR in line with the pace of green work in the NCT.

For more information and to participate, contact mathangi@advit.org or 9868202906.

The Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG) in collaboration with Bremen Overseas Research & Development Association (BORDA), Germany has been promoting environmental friendly Decentralised Renewable Energy Systems (DERES) for the past 20 years in the Western Himalayas. So far 57 Community-based Micro Hydro Power Units (CMHPU) have been installed by LEDeG in extreme and isolated mountainous regions.

Micro Hydro Power has tremendous potential to solve the rural electrication problems in India in a decentralized manner. However, at present not many organizations in India have the capacity and necessary skills for implementation, installation and management of community based Micro Hydro Power Units. LEDeG, in collaboration with Consortium of DEWATS Dissemination (CDD) Society, Bangalore and Bremen Overseas Research Development Association (BORDA), Germany, for the second time is organizing a 7 days residential training programme to transfer skills necessary for planning, implementation and management of community based micro hydro power units.

Date(s): 30th August 2010 to 5th September 2010
Venue: LEDeG Campus at Leh

The training aims at systematic transfer of knowledge and skills required for planning, implementation and management of successful community based Micro Hydro Power Units. The training involves lectures, presentations, practical workshops, and site visits. Medium of teaching is English though Hindi can be incorporated if necessary.

• Download Application Form
• LEDeG Brochure on the Training

Fees: The course fee is Rs. 12,000/- (Rupees Twelve Thousand only/-). The course fee includes the local travel expenses within Ladakh, accommodation, lunch, dinner, refreshments, and course materials. This does not include participants travel expenses to/ from the venue.

Last Date for Applying: 15th August, 2010

For further information, please contact:

Pranai Thapa
Project Coordinator for Renewable Energy Promotions
Ladakh Ecological Development Group Karzoo, Leh (Ladakh) – 194101
INDIA Phone:  +91. 1982. 253221 / 252284
E-mail: mail@ledeg.org, pranai@ledeg.org
Website: www.ledeg.org

Previously on Delhi Greens:

• International Training on Micro Hydro Power Units in Ladakh & Kargil

It is raining debates and discussions in the parliament since the Monsoon Session of the Rajya Sabha rolled off. The hottest topic so far has been the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2010 and price hike. The opposition has built strong arguments around CWG and the ongoing constructions have flushed away many a foundations of the UPA Government. Adding to this, what seems like the voice of the ‘aam aadmi’ is the declaration of the Congrees’ own Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar that he would be happy if the “Games are spoilt”. Coming out of the Monsoon Session, Mr. Aiyar told the media, “I am very happy with the rains, firstly because it will ensure a good agriculture for the country and secondly because it will ensure that the Commonwealth Games are spoilt”.

Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar seems to have given the Monsoon a bigger responsibility of putting the wrong doers to task -to spoil the CWG and punish the culprits who took up the initiative neglecting social development and several environmental of what may be the worst colonial hangover. The age old struggles of the Indian farmers who live on the mercy of the monsoon has now entered the urban arena. It will be easier for many decision makers of the state and nation to finally understand the name of the game and the fight to win the favours of the Monsoon.

While the House heats up to the ongoing debates, and the ruling party makes attempt to make it more productive, the city outside slogs under the endless construction works as the countdown for CWG 2010 comes closer. Opposition party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar also shared his concerns with reporters outside parliament, “It is sad the way the projects have been delayed, pushing the expenditure up. Even the preparation is not upto the mark and concerns are being raised internationally”.

It is now known that several projects including the CP Parking lots will not meet the Games deadline. All the three multi-level parking lot projects at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Baba Khadak Singh Marg and Shivaji Stadium will not be ready during CWG 2010. According to the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), only three of the nine subways in CP will be ready for the Games. Media has been raising concerns over sinking ranges, flooded warm-up zones, leaking ceilings, bursting water-pipes and seepage everywhere. With just less than 70 days to go for the Games’ opening ceremony on October 3, the full-bore shooting range at Kadarpur in Gurgaon, an official Games venue, has “collapsed”.

Every year when the monsoon strikes Delhi, the city’s only river  body get cleansed and reclaims its encroached territories. This year the Games village constructed on the floodplains of Yamuna will be one of such territory the river will try to reclaim. A fresh flow of debate and concerns could well be raised on this issue for the city’s future and fortune rather than just this one time sport event. And even as we discuss this, the Delhiites are being prepared to welcome the CWG with much dignity and show. One such drill worth mentioning is the crash course in English and etiquette for the city’s bus crew. An English language course in basic words and expressions is being conducted through a colourful booklet, complete with pictures and expressions like ‘Any problem sir?’ Have a good day’ and ‘You are welcome’ all with their meanings in Hindi transcribed underneath.

The booklet has been distributed among the 2,500 Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) drivers and conductors who will be ferrying the athletes and tourists to the various Games venues. A special fleet of 574 air-conditioned buses is being deploying for the purpose. Wonder if the bus crew ever raised the question in “hindi” why they were only taught and polished now, when such etiquette is an essential part of their job. Hope when some of them will raise the question, to which an answer in “english” might very well be expected.

It is sure going to be one big fat Indian wedding of east-west. With little time left at hand, all one can do is to keep fingers crossed and say a little prayer for the bridegroom to be ready on time and not to have a Runaway Bride!!!

Image by Deepak Gupta Courtesy Flickr

Studies over the last 60 years show an alarmingly high rate of coronary heart disease and premature heart disease among Indians. The trend was first observed in the late 1950s, but unfortunately little has been done since then to reverse it. We are now witnessing the spread of an epidemic across the South Asian region and India is right in the middle of it.

It is estimated that Indians are nearly four times more susceptible to heart attacks than Caucasians, with 25% of attacks happening to people under the age of 40, unheard of in other populations. Among urban Indians, incidence of heart problems is 12%, while it’s just 5% in the US, even though we know we’ve always known them to eat more “fast-food”!

So, what have we done to deserve this? Is it the lack of regular physical activity? Poor blood cholesterol levels? Stress? Poor eating habits? No body really knows. There are many possibilities. One of them could even be our genetic predisposition to heart diseases. Perhaps then, it is in our genes. However, one thing is for sure. Whatever it may be, the much more pronounced cases in urban India is surely a result of unhealthy living, exposure to pollution, stress at work in the paced up urban lifestyle and indulgence in bad habits like smoking, etc. All that is certainly aggravating the tendency of our body to fall ill and prey to this deadly disease. However still, we may be born with the problem, but we certainly do not have to live with it.

Apollo Hospitals and The Times of India have been running the Billion Hearts Beating campaign, in an attempt to raise awareness on the issue and motivate people to take the pledge for a healthy lifestyle. They’ve zeroed on seven risk factors which, if addressed, can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease – even reverse it! These are: Smoking, Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Sedentary Lifestyle, Unhealthy eating, Stress. A majority of these are urban lifestyle induced problems that can be tackled with conscious attempts.

Thousands have taken the pledge and have vowed to exercise more, quit smoking, check what they eat and so on. A more progressive and healthy India is only possible with healthy individuals, all “good at heart”! Take the pledge! Click here so you can contribute better for India’s development.

With an objective of mobilizing the Delhi youth and involving them under the existing Bhagidari scheme of the Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Chief Minister Shiela Dixit recently launched YouthPortal.in. With “connect for change” as its punchline, the portal is a socio-entrepreneurial venture aiming to connect young ideas for social change through the Internet.

The Bhagidari initiative, started by Hon’ble Chief Minister has constantly endeavored to promote citizen’s partnership in governance. It has over the years grown from 20 Citizen Groups to more than 2300 as of today. With the launch of the portal, in partnership with The Electronic Youth Media Group, the CM believes that, “the city’s youth can collaborate their ideas online for enabling change on ground and continuously work towards improving our surroundings. The power of digital media is immense and this time we will use it to mobilize youth to work on some key issues.”

The portal will host an E-NGO for Bhagidari on which there will be Action Groups on the CM’s 10 point agenda for the city and youth. These are:

1. Eradicating the use of Plastic Bags
2. Promote use of Solar Energy
3. Harvest water
4. Recycling water and paper
5. Segregate wet and dry waste
6. Create Car Pool Network
7. Stop sticking posters in public
8. Stop wastage of Energy and Water
9. Protect Greens and Trees
10. Ensure Road Safety

While elaborating on her key 10 points and motivating the youth already active on facebook and other online platforms to get involved, the Hon’ble CM also added an extra pointer as a token of shagun significance. Explaining the significance of the new 3 R’s, as against the ‘older’ 3 R’s, the CM explained how in her school days they were told to understand the significance of Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic. However, today’s generation also needs to remember Reduce, Recycle and Reuse and that is the 11th pointer the CM added in her agenda for the youth.

“Awareness and collaboration is fundamental to bringing about sustainable change. We have tied up with various campuses and youth organizations to ensure on-ground action,” Samyak S. Chakrabarty, M.D., Electronic Youth Media Group summer up the portal’s significance. The Portal enables users to float their own E-NGOs, Action Groups and Square Tables. A young citizens reporting network called YP-Pulse has also a part of the portal.

Shortly after the launch at the Delhi Secretariat, the media surrounded the CM not so much for queries on youth and action but more so for CM’s comments and feedback on the ongoing preparations for the Commonwealth Games 2010. Indeed the first few action projects on the portal may well be around the CWG and its relationship with Delhi city.

Young Ecologists Talk & Interact (YETI) is a first-of-its-kind conference for students and researchers working in the discipline of ecology in India. YETI is unique in being organized entirely by student volunteers from across the country. The event is meant to serve as a friendly, inspiring platform for early-career ecologists to present and discuss their work, exchange ideas and strike up collaborations with contemporaries from across the country.

Following the success of first YETI last year, the 2010 YETI (Second Conference) is also being organized in Bangalore and it is hoped that the YETI conference will travel to other parts of the country.

Date of Conference: 5 – 7th October, 2010
Venue: Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Who can participate: Researchers pursuing a Ph.D./Masters degree/Post-Doc/working as project assistants or affiliates at institutions, universities, non-government and other organizations involved in ecological research across India are invited to participate in YETI by presenting their work either through talks, speed talk-cum-posters or posters. Anyone interested in ecology is also welcome to attend YETI.

Registration fees: Registered participants will be requested to pay a sum of Rs. 500/- at the venue during the event. Only outstation registered participants who are presenting their work at YETI will be provided accommodation free of cost.

Abstract submission deadline: 15th August, 2010.
Participation and registration deadline: 1st October, 2010.

Click here for futher details and to apply.

As part of the National Awareness Campaign on Energy Conservation 2010, the Ministry of Power has announced a painting competition for school students at the State as well as National level. Inviting school children studying in 4^th , 5^th & 6^th standard, the competition is a step towards generating awareness among the children on the need to conserve energy and will indirectly involve their parents.

The competition is being held at the School, State and National Level and has cash prizes worth Rs 33,000 per State/UT. The themes for the painting competition include the following – 1) More stars, more savings, 2) Today’s energy wastage is tomorrow’s energy shortage and 3) Energy saved is future saved. At the state level, the participating schools’ principals will select tw0 best paintings and send them along with information on number of students participated at the Nodal Official address of their respective State/UT by 12th October, 2010.

The first, second and third prize winners from each State/UT will be invited to Delhi to participate in the National Level Painting competition of two hours duration on 12th December 2010. Out of these, the best paintings will be selected for First Prize (1 no) of Rs. 1, 00,000/-, Second Prize (4 nos) of Rs.  50,000/-, Third Prize (8 nos) of Rs. 25,000/- and consolation Prize (10 nos) of Rs. 10,000/- each. National level winners will be given the cash prizes on National Energy Conservation day, 14^th December,2010 .

The Ministry has announced to include CBSE schools located outside India as well. The paintings received from these schools will be considered under a separate category and the Certificate of Appreciation will be sent under the signature of Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency. It is requested that they send two best paintings directly with all requisite details at the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) office address at Sewa Bhawan, R.K.Puram, Sector-1, New Delhi-110066 (INDIA).

Within the country, paintings are to be sent only at the address of respective Nodal Official of the State/UT and not on the addresses of Ministry of Power and Bureau of Energy Efficiency. For Delhi, contact details of the nodal official is given below:

Sh. Om Prakash, Sr. Manager (PR)
Power Finance Corporation Limited , URJANIDHI
1, Barakhamba Lane, Connaught Place
New Delhi-110 001
Tel: (O) 011 -23456726, (M) 09868549144
Fax: 011 -23456781, 23456726
Email: omprakash@pfcindia.com, omprakashpfc@gmail.com

Click here for more details of the competition

Though FOOD is a basic, integral part of our life by which we seek to keep ourselves alive, it is something that we hardly give any deep thought to – how is food being produced, by what technologies and with what implications, who is controlling decisions around food production and consumption with what reasons, what role can we play etc., are all questions that we hardly mull over! These are global questions faced by every person who lives on this Planet.

Are we walking into neatly laid traps where we cannot exercise democratic choices of knowing and deciding on what we are eating, how food will get produced and what food will get produced and how it will finally reach us? Is this trap a part of the profiteering plans of large multi-national corporations and are we willingly walking into the trap? Are “modern agricultural technologies” even able to sustain the lives of the millions of farmers feeding us and helping them stay alive? Are there no alternatives to the current ways of producing and consuming food?

Through a 3 day ‘Filmy Feast’ festival being hosted by the India Habitat Centre in collaboration with Youth for Safe Food, all concerned citizens are invited to get some food for thought! on the politics of food production and agri-technologies. You would also be able to meet experts on the subject and film makers during the film festival.

Date: 29th, 30th and 31st July, 2010
Time: 7 pm (two films slotted for screening each day evening)
Venue: India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

Download: Filmy Feast Festival Invitation

Some of the emerging issues around Food include food safety, a citizen’s Right To Informed Choice and Right To Know what s/he is consuming which could be violated by the entry of technologies like Genetic Engineering in our food and farming systems.

Previously on Delhi Greens:

• Invite: Indian People Tribunal on GM and Bt Brinjal
• 30th January: A Nation wide Fast to Protect Our Food Sovereignty

There is one being-Indian-thing, which spans the urban-rural and the rich-poor divide: our annual watch and wait for the monsoon. It begins every year, without fail as heat climbs and the monsoon advances. The farmers wait desperately because they need the rain at the right time to sow their crops. The city managers wait because by the beginning of each monsoon period, the reservoirs that supply water to cities are precariously low. All of us wait, in spite of our air-conditioned living, for the relief rain brings to the scorching heat and dust. This is perhaps the only time when the entire country is one in desperation. It cannot exhale till it rains.

But even as I write this several questions come to my mind. How much do we really know about this phenomenon so important in every Indian’s life? Do we know why it rains? Do we know that scientists are still squabbling about the definition of monsoon? The only one they have is seasonal winds, which have regular directions, and they get flummoxed when this changes. Do we know our monsoon is a truly globalised phenomenon. It is integrated and linked to the ocean current in the faraway Pacific, the temperature of the Tibetan plateau, the Eurasian snow and even the freshwater content in the Bay of Bengal. Do we even know who the monsoon scientists are in India and how they are desperately learning to chase this unpredictable and variable event better? We don’t. We have been taught some of the science in school, but never in real life. It is not part of the usable knowledge, what we think we need to know to survive our world of today. But we are wrong.

The grand old man of the Indian monsoon, the late P R Pisharoty, would have told you that this annual event brings us rain in just about 100 hours in the 8,765-hour year, which means it is our challenge to manage it well. Environmentalist Anil Agarwal would have explained the monsoon shows how nature uses weak forces rather than concentrated forces to do its work. Just think: it takes a very small temperature difference to carry as much as 40,000 billion tonnes of water from the oceans across thousands of miles to dump it as rainfall over India. This lack of knowledge of nature’s ways is at the core of the environmental crisis, he would say.

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