How CUBA survived oil crisis ?

How CUBA survived oil crisis ?

The greatest consumer of oil in Cuba was the agricultural sector. As a result of the sudden collapse of oil imports, food production was effectively paralysed and signs of malnutrition appeared. The crisis was termed "the Special Period".

Before the Special Period, Cuba relied on food imports to feed its people. It is only since the collapse of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and with that Cuba's forced transition to permaculture and organic agriculture, that the country has really achieved food security. The transition has also provided innumerable health benefits for the Cuban people.

The Power of Community explains Cuba's transition from large farms or plantations and reliance on fossil-fuel-based pesticides and fertilizers, to small organic farms and urban gardens. Cuba has undergone a transition from a highly industrial society to an ecologically sustainable one — a transition confronting us all as peak oil approaches.

The power of community (How cuba survived oil crisis)  Click here to watch the video

Rays meet

It was a fabulous experience meeting K.Babu Rao garu (a retd Scientist , IICT) .  He is currently associated with Peoples Movement for a sustainable Movement and also a Resource Person for IYCN.  We discussed about various issues ranging from education and empowerment , energy efficiency , waste management , community involvement  to climate change and its impact on our economy. 

Celebrate an Eco-friendly Holi

Ideally, the joyous festival of Holi is meant to celebrate the arrival of Spring while the colors used in Holi are to reflect of the various hues of spring season. But unfortunately, in modern times Holi does not stand for all things beautiful. Like various other festivals, Holi too has become ruthlessly commercialized, boisterous and yet another source of environmental degradation.

Harmful Chemicals in Holi Paste type colors
According to their researched fact sheet on Holi, the pastes contain very toxic chemicals that can have severe health effects. Please check the table below to know about the chemical used in various Holi colors and their harmful effects on human body.

Color

Chemical

Health Effects

Black	Lead oxide	Renal Failure
Green	Copper Sulphate	Eye Allergy, Puffiness and temporary blindness
Silver	Aluminium Bromide	Carcinogenic
Blue	Prussian Blue	Contract Dermatitis
Red	Mercury Sulphite	Highly toxic can cause skin cancer

Make your own Holi colours
Holi festival lovers will be thrilled to know that it is possible to make simple natural colors in one’s own kitchen.

Here is a simple and quick way of making some eco-friendly colours for Holi.

• Put some pieces of beet-root in boiling water and let it stay overnight. Amazing coloured water will be ready to be used for Holi in the morning.
  
  
• Take some black grapes and amla and cut them in fine pieces. Put the pieces in boiling water and let the water cool down to get a nice black colour for Holi.
  
  
• Dry petals of marigold flower in shadow and grind them in a mixer; a yellow is ready for you. You can also use turmeric powder as yellow colour. Turmeric powder is very good for skin
  
  
• Prepare green colour by putting spinach, mint and neem leaves in hot water and let it stay for some time. You can also make dry green colour by grinding dried leaves of spinach, mint and neem leaves.
  
  

Carpooling for the planet

Carpooling (also known as car-sharing, ride-sharing, lift-sharing and covoiturage), is the sharing of car journeys so that more than one person travels in a car.
By having more people using one vehicle, carpooling reduces each person's travel costs such as,toll, and the stress of driving. Carpooling is also seen as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way to travel as sharing journeys reduces carbon emission, traffic congestion on the roads, and the need for parking spaces. Authorities often encourage carpooling, especially during high pollution periods and high fuel prices.

How it works ?

Drivers and passengers offer and search for journeys through one of the several mediums available. After finding a match they contact each other to arrange any details for the journey(s). Costs, meeting points and other details like space for luggage are discussed and agreed on. They then meet and carry out their shared car journey(s) as planned.

Carpooling is commonly implemented for commuting but is also popular for longer one-off journeys, with the formality and regularity of arrangements varying between schemes and journeys.

Forms of Carpooling

Carpooling also exists in other forms:

• Slugging is a form of ad-hoc, informal carpooling between strangers. No money changes hands, but a mutual benefit still exists between the driver and passenger(s) making the practice worthwhile.

• Flexible Carpooling expands the idea of ad-hoc carpooling by designating formal locations for travelers to join carpools.

• Real-time ride sharing allows people to arrange ad-hoc rides on very short notice, through the use of smartphone applications or the internet. Passengers are simply picked up at their current location.

What fools indeed we morals are
To lavish care upon a Car,
With ne'er a bit of time to see
About our own machinery!

Carpooling is slightly inconvenient, but it saves tremendously on transportation costs, fuel prices and a good way to spend time with friends.

Eco friendly Ganesh Chaturti

Ganesh Chaturthi is here... Enjoy a safe Ganesh Chaturthi without harming the environment. Read to find out how.

Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the fourth day of the waxing moon according to the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. Devout Hindus eagerly await the onset of this auspicious time for the popular elephant-headed god, Ganesh, to grace their homes. The festival is a great unifier, as it brings together not only Hindus, but also members of other religious communities. The celebrations reach a climax with the immersion of the idol in a body of water. The immersion and dissolution of the idol in water represents the cycle of creation and dissolution in Nature.


The Problem :

Traditionally, clay was used to make Ganesh idols. Over the years however, plaster of Paris (POP), which is lighter and cheaper, has become the favoured material to mould these idols. POP contains chemicals such as gypsum, sulphur, phosphorus, and magnesium. The dyes used to colour these idols contain mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead, and carbon. Plastic and thermocol accessories are used to decorate these idols. Such materials are not biodegradable, hence are toxic. Also, while earlier the idols were quite small, today a spirit of competitiveness pervades the celebrations, so that the idols are becoming increasingly colossal. The immersion of idols made from non-biodegradable or toxic materials has the following environmental repercussions:

With the immersion of these idols in the sea or inland water bodies such as lakes and streams, the chemicals in these idols dissolve in the water. POP dissolves slowly, gradually releasing its harmful components. The water experiences a rise in acidity as well as traces of heavy metal. The toxic waste kills plant and animal life in the water. In Mumbai, for instance, dead fish washed ashore after the immersion is a common occurrence.

Plastic and thermocol waste, including polythene bags containing offerings, is usually immersed with the idols. Because it is non-biodegradable—meaning that it does not decompose—this waste simply keeps adding up. It also obstructs the flow of streams, leading to flooding during the rains. Running water, when obstructed, turns stagnant. This can become a breeding ground for diseases and is a major health hazard for a locality.

People who use water polluted by these immersions experience a host of health problems such as infections of the lungs, and diseases of the skin, blood, and eyes.



There are ways to reduce the environmental damage from Ganpati celebrations:

Avoid the use of idols made from POP. Always go for those made of unbaked natural clay, natural fibre, or even recycled paper. Ensure that the dyes used to colour the idols are organic or vegetable in origin. Some years ago, natural clay idols were not always easy to get and had to be specially ordered. Today, however, many volunteer organisations make and sell these environmentally safe idols and encourage people to use them.

Do not use thermocol or plastic as decorations or accessories for your Ganpati idol. Instead, use cloth, wood, paper, and other natural materials that are safer when immersed in water.

If there is an artificial tank in your area specifically created for immersion purposes, use this instead of a natural source of water such as a lake or a stream.

Some people use a metal or stone idol. They symbolically immerse this in a bucket of water, or even carry it in procession to the sea or lake, hold it under the water, and then bring it back home.

Collect offerings of flowers and other organic material and put them in a compost pit. These can be used to fertilise your garden. If you must immerse them, wrap them in newspapers instead of polythene bags.

Song and dance are an integral part of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. However, ear-splitting decibels are not just disturbing, but a major health hazard. Moderation is the key to a safe and enjoyable Ganesh Chaturthi.

BE THE CHANGE , YOU WANT TO SEE !!!

http://vimeo.com/22132070

Is GHMC Plastic ban a hit ?

The ban on plastic carry bags below 40 microns thickness came into effect from last friday ie 1st of july . The civic body is likely to go slow against retail commercial establishments, particularly tiffin centres eateries & restaurants in the first week as the management of a majority of retail shops, showrooms & kirana stores in city had complained that their shops had not been supplied with above 40 micron plastic carry bags by their distributors despite repeated requests.

The general secretary of Hyderabad Secunderabad retailers association said about 600 shop members who are members of the association have displayed banners and posters in front of their shops in support of plastic carry bags " We are requesting our customers to bring their own cloth bags until we get supply of above 40-micron plastic carry bags" he said

However petty traders running small establishments in lanes are not even aware of the ban.

BE THE CHANGE , YOU WANT TO SEE !!!

CHANGE THE NOTION NO ONE ELSE IS DOING IT , SO WHY SHOULD I ?' REMEMBER THAT EVERY DROP COUNTS & WE WILL HAVE TO START PAMPERING OUR MOTHER EARTH. ON THIS ENVIRONMENT DAY (JUNE 5th) , MAKE A GREEN STATEMENT FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW AND SEND OUT THE MESSAGE TO SAVE THE NATURE LOUD & CLEAR

PLANT ONE SAPPLING

Make a rappot with nature on this day.

Already many trees have been axed for the comfort of man.

So letz all plant atleast one tree on this day and make the Earth lush green

WATER THE PLANTS

Plants and trees are the only way of saving the environment and just like human beings plants too need food . Water the plants at your house & celebrate this day

USE ME

Have patience there will be dustbins in the market to throw the garbage. Even if you are in a vehicle hold on the empty packets or bottles unless you find a dustbin

WALK A SMALL DISTANCE

Avoid taking out your scooter or a car to travel a small distances. Try walking out the distance that will decrease the traffic and will keep you healthy

USE CLOTH BAGS

In good old days people used to carry cloth bags to the market and bring goods. These days you have many fashionable cloth bags that will help you make a style statement as well.

USE LESS PAPER

Try & reuse envelops & folders. Print on both sides of the sheet and try & do work on computer. SAVE PAPER

MAKE LESS NOISE

The car in front of you is not ready to budge? Do not keep hanking. There might not be another vehicle or a signal. Wait for the way to get cleared

LET YOUR T-SHIRT DO THE TALK

When you will have somethng written like "One & only Earth care & share" people will get the message clear. Tell others what is on your mind

SAVE WATER

How about using a bucket for water rather than a shower? Wiping your vehicle with a wet cloth rather than washing it with a water pipe? These small things will help increasing the ground water level

SHUN THE CAR

How many of you have not yet tried the orange red & green buses ? :P Let environment day be a reason to give your car rest for one day. Use public transport...

20 Environment Slogans that will get you thinking !!!

So let’s get going, here are the 20 environment slogans we think we’ll get you thinking.

20. You Must Be the Change You Wish to See in the World – That shouldn’t surprise anyone.

19. Every Time History Repeats Itself the Price Goes Up. - Oil anyone?

18. Where Do You Think the Environment Is? – That will sure get smart people think. What is it? Does it need help? How can we help it?

17. What Would Nature Do? – James Bond style. What would James Bond do to save the animals, to reduce pollution? He’d sure do something brilliant. Right?

16. I Object to NOT Saving our Planet – I do, too.

15. Can You Hear the Eco? – Many don’t. Maybe we can teach them.

14. Hear the Trees Falling? – Not really, but we see forests disappearing.

13. Ignore It And It Will Go Away – Extinct is the word. Ignore the needs and we’ll be space history.

12. What Will Your Children Breathe? – Well don’t be smart with us. It’s going to be air (O2) but unless we do something it’s going to be filled with all sorts of poisons.

11. What Will Your Children Drink? - Sure hope it doesn’t need any more explanations.

10. See Green, See Life – Most of the time if it’s green it has life in it. And no don’t give me the Green Hummer example. We’re talking about plants, nature.

9. Melting Ice – A Hot Topic! – I think it was the World Environment Day slogan selected for 2007. And they have a point. Ever thought what will happen if ice melts. What about the polar bears and their habitat?

8. Delivering Environmental Innovation Through Sustainable Practices. – Intel

7. Kick the CO2 Habit – That was used for the 2008 World Environment Day and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said it may be easier than you think.

6. Green. That’s how we’d like the world to be. – Toyota … you and me both.

5. Good Golly, Go Green Girl – More like eco club stuff, targeting young students, right?

4. It’s Cool to Be an Eco-school – It sure is. If you really believe in what you do, and your students understand that being eco is not just to be fashionable, we’re good.

3. Green for Bikes – My fellow friend came up with an interesting slogan to make authorities aware that cycling is a solution to a city’s high traffic. The results have been incredible. Lots of bikers.

2. Reduce, Reuse & Recycle – Doesn’t need any explanation, I bet.

1. Will Work for Trees – Simply amazing. Kudos to the one who thought of it....

Say No to Crackers .... Have a safe, Green Diwali !!!

Every year the festival of lights sees the bursting of tonnes of crackers resulting in a spike in pollution levels in the City's already worsening Air quality...

So folks i urge you all ...

Have a pollution free , Noise free diwali ...

Say "No" 2 Crackers ...

Have a Safe , Green Diwali !!!