Profile for Maggie.wink
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India
Kendriya Vidyalaya (Central School)
we live on one planet. we oughta be living off on that ONE PLANET :)
All Messages
High On Green in Natural Habitats and Wildlife
Posted on Jun 20 2008 at 07:15PM by Maggie.wink
Theme: Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Global Warming, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 6670
Winner: BEST MONTHLY ENTRY - 2008 competition
Did you know you can do your bit to avoid drastic effects of Global Warming by just turning vegetarian/vegan? Or at lest ATTEMPTING at it? Lester Brown, perhaps one of the most influential environmentalists in the world, recently made a trip to India to launch the Hindi Version of his new book. In connection with this, there was a newspaper report about his views on environmental degradation and on how we can save the planet. He said and I quote, “Business-as-usual, is no longer a viable option, it’s time for Plan B”. So what’s Plan B? A thoroughgoing and concentrated retort to climate change, at a dizzying pace. The report continued to say that the thinker found carbon emissions to be the most threatening. Most of us know that right? So we switch to keeping our motors in good condition with regular emission checks, using public transport or carpooling and even switching to hybrids or battery-operated vehicles. We recycle and avoid keeping the TV and our PCs on standby. We’ve gone in for solar heaters if we can afford. Thumbs up for that. But did you know that combined with carbon dioxide, we also need to reduce emissions of methane and nitrous oxide. Why? Because methane has the capacity to trap 20 times more heat than CO2. And Nitrous oxide is heady of causing global warming, 300 times than that of sneaky old CO2. So how are you emitting these gases? Remember that pound of Turkey your family had for Thanksgiving? Experts say you would rather drive your car for about 80km. Others say that going vegan is 50% more effective than even switching to a hybrid car to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A 2006 UN report cites the livestock industry providing meat, egg and dairy products as one of the TOP THREE contributors to the most serious environmental problems ranging from a local scale to global level. That’s scary! Since many countries are now focusing on bio fuels from corn and palm tree plantations so extensively, the resultant global food crisis pressures on the cattle farm to produce more meat, more eggs and more milk. For this extensive breeding, we need bigger ranches and poultry farms which subsequently encroach into forest land. This not only brings down trees but also tears down the domiciles of various creatures living there, thereby harming biodiversity. Due to deforestation, land degradation can also occur along side soil erosion, since the loose top soil will get washed away in the absence of roots. The Amazon, as per wide knowledge, is slashed and burnt every year by the acres to provide grazing lands for these animals. So if intrusion into woodland area is to be avoided, but produce levels are to grow, these farm animals will have to cram into smaller sheds and barns than they will require to be spaciously comfortable in. Throughout their digestion process and the subsequent deposits of poop which amount to more than 2 million pounds, of antibiotics and hormones pumped into these animals during the course of their rearing, will emit a huge magnitude of methane. This methane if not properly tapped, (generally it isn’t harnessed optimally) is let out into the atmosphere. The rest is as you know… air pollution, heat getting trapped by the greenhouse gases, global warming. Comparative study states that it takes 16 pounds of grain just to produce 1 pound of juicy animal flesh. In the news report, Lester Brown himself points out that a plant-based diet requires about one-fourth as much energy as a diet rich in red meat. The grain used to feed these animals also uses up the water that can be used to reimburse in areas around the world where water shortage is acute. They say if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and ate a vegetarian diet instead, it would save up as much on emission as by taking about 500,000 cars off the road. Imagine if other countrymen joined in too! Moreover, take time to reflect on the degree of cruelty we express to animals to butcher them for our own greed. Slaughter them after fattening them up. All this, when we can conveniently eat a vegetarian diet with gained satisfaction. By just one person switching to vegetarian or vegan diet, you can save 100 animals from being botched. You can start by being vegetarian for at least one week every month and slowly progress. Me? I thank my lucky stars. Being born into a family that practices Hinduism, we’re natural vegetarians. Though I’ve tried a hand or should I say tongue at meat, I didn’t quite like it. Kidney beans is much better than kidney itself. *lol*
Read more on this topic »High On Green in Low Impact Living
Posted on Jun 20 2008 at 07:15PM by Maggie.wink
Theme: Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Global Warming, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 6670
Winner: BEST MONTHLY ENTRY - 2008 competition
Did you know you can do your bit to avoid drastic effects of Global Warming by just turning vegetarian/vegan? Or at lest ATTEMPTING at it? Lester Brown, perhaps one of the most influential environmentalists in the world, recently made a trip to India to launch the Hindi Version of his new book. In connection with this, there was a newspaper report about his views on environmental degradation and on how we can save the planet. He said and I quote, “Business-as-usual, is no longer a viable option, it’s time for Plan B”. So what’s Plan B? A thoroughgoing and concentrated retort to climate change, at a dizzying pace. The report continued to say that the thinker found carbon emissions to be the most threatening. Most of us know that right? So we switch to keeping our motors in good condition with regular emission checks, using public transport or carpooling and even switching to hybrids or battery-operated vehicles. We recycle and avoid keeping the TV and our PCs on standby. We’ve gone in for solar heaters if we can afford. Thumbs up for that. But did you know that combined with carbon dioxide, we also need to reduce emissions of methane and nitrous oxide. Why? Because methane has the capacity to trap 20 times more heat than CO2. And Nitrous oxide is heady of causing global warming, 300 times than that of sneaky old CO2. So how are you emitting these gases? Remember that pound of Turkey your family had for Thanksgiving? Experts say you would rather drive your car for about 80km. Others say that going vegan is 50% more effective than even switching to a hybrid car to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A 2006 UN report cites the livestock industry providing meat, egg and dairy products as one of the TOP THREE contributors to the most serious environmental problems ranging from a local scale to global level. That’s scary! Since many countries are now focusing on bio fuels from corn and palm tree plantations so extensively, the resultant global food crisis pressures on the cattle farm to produce more meat, more eggs and more milk. For this extensive breeding, we need bigger ranches and poultry farms which subsequently encroach into forest land. This not only brings down trees but also tears down the domiciles of various creatures living there, thereby harming biodiversity. Due to deforestation, land degradation can also occur along side soil erosion, since the loose top soil will get washed away in the absence of roots. The Amazon, as per wide knowledge, is slashed and burnt every year by the acres to provide grazing lands for these animals. So if intrusion into woodland area is to be avoided, but produce levels are to grow, these farm animals will have to cram into smaller sheds and barns than they will require to be spaciously comfortable in. Throughout their digestion process and the subsequent deposits of poop which amount to more than 2 million pounds, of antibiotics and hormones pumped into these animals during the course of their rearing, will emit a huge magnitude of methane. This methane if not properly tapped, (generally it isn’t harnessed optimally) is let out into the atmosphere. The rest is as you know… air pollution, heat getting trapped by the greenhouse gases, global warming. Comparative study states that it takes 16 pounds of grain just to produce 1 pound of juicy animal flesh. In the news report, Lester Brown himself points out that a plant-based diet requires about one-fourth as much energy as a diet rich in red meat. The grain used to feed these animals also uses up the water that can be used to reimburse in areas around the world where water shortage is acute. They say if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and ate a vegetarian diet instead, it would save up as much on emission as by taking about 500,000 cars off the road. Imagine if other countrymen joined in too! Moreover, take time to reflect on the degree of cruelty we express to animals to butcher them for our own greed. Slaughter them after fattening them up. All this, when we can conveniently eat a vegetarian diet with gained satisfaction. By just one person switching to vegetarian or vegan diet, you can save 100 animals from being botched. You can start by being vegetarian for at least one week every month and slowly progress. Me? I thank my lucky stars. Being born into a family that practices Hinduism, we’re natural vegetarians. Though I’ve tried a hand or should I say tongue at meat, I didn’t quite like it. Kidney beans is much better than kidney itself. *lol*
Read more on this topic »High On Green in My Opinion
Posted on Jun 20 2008 at 07:15PM by Maggie.wink
Theme: Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Global Warming, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 6670
Winner: BEST MONTHLY ENTRY - 2008 competition
Did you know you can do your bit to avoid drastic effects of Global Warming by just turning vegetarian/vegan? Or at lest ATTEMPTING at it? Lester Brown, perhaps one of the most influential environmentalists in the world, recently made a trip to India to launch the Hindi Version of his new book. In connection with this, there was a newspaper report about his views on environmental degradation and on how we can save the planet. He said and I quote, “Business-as-usual, is no longer a viable option, it’s time for Plan B”. So what’s Plan B? A thoroughgoing and concentrated retort to climate change, at a dizzying pace. The report continued to say that the thinker found carbon emissions to be the most threatening. Most of us know that right? So we switch to keeping our motors in good condition with regular emission checks, using public transport or carpooling and even switching to hybrids or battery-operated vehicles. We recycle and avoid keeping the TV and our PCs on standby. We’ve gone in for solar heaters if we can afford. Thumbs up for that. But did you know that combined with carbon dioxide, we also need to reduce emissions of methane and nitrous oxide. Why? Because methane has the capacity to trap 20 times more heat than CO2. And Nitrous oxide is heady of causing global warming, 300 times than that of sneaky old CO2. So how are you emitting these gases? Remember that pound of Turkey your family had for Thanksgiving? Experts say you would rather drive your car for about 80km. Others say that going vegan is 50% more effective than even switching to a hybrid car to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A 2006 UN report cites the livestock industry providing meat, egg and dairy products as one of the TOP THREE contributors to the most serious environmental problems ranging from a local scale to global level. That’s scary! Since many countries are now focusing on bio fuels from corn and palm tree plantations so extensively, the resultant global food crisis pressures on the cattle farm to produce more meat, more eggs and more milk. For this extensive breeding, we need bigger ranches and poultry farms which subsequently encroach into forest land. This not only brings down trees but also tears down the domiciles of various creatures living there, thereby harming biodiversity. Due to deforestation, land degradation can also occur along side soil erosion, since the loose top soil will get washed away in the absence of roots. The Amazon, as per wide knowledge, is slashed and burnt every year by the acres to provide grazing lands for these animals. So if intrusion into woodland area is to be avoided, but produce levels are to grow, these farm animals will have to cram into smaller sheds and barns than they will require to be spaciously comfortable in. Throughout their digestion process and the subsequent deposits of poop which amount to more than 2 million pounds, of antibiotics and hormones pumped into these animals during the course of their rearing, will emit a huge magnitude of methane. This methane if not properly tapped, (generally it isn’t harnessed optimally) is let out into the atmosphere. The rest is as you know… air pollution, heat getting trapped by the greenhouse gases, global warming. Comparative study states that it takes 16 pounds of grain just to produce 1 pound of juicy animal flesh. In the news report, Lester Brown himself points out that a plant-based diet requires about one-fourth as much energy as a diet rich in red meat. The grain used to feed these animals also uses up the water that can be used to reimburse in areas around the world where water shortage is acute. They say if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and ate a vegetarian diet instead, it would save up as much on emission as by taking about 500,000 cars off the road. Imagine if other countrymen joined in too! Moreover, take time to reflect on the degree of cruelty we express to animals to butcher them for our own greed. Slaughter them after fattening them up. All this, when we can conveniently eat a vegetarian diet with gained satisfaction. By just one person switching to vegetarian or vegan diet, you can save 100 animals from being botched. You can start by being vegetarian for at least one week every month and slowly progress. Me? I thank my lucky stars. Being born into a family that practices Hinduism, we’re natural vegetarians. Though I’ve tried a hand or should I say tongue at meat, I didn’t quite like it. Kidney beans is much better than kidney itself. *lol*
Read more on this topic »High On Green in Global Warming
Posted on Jun 20 2008 at 07:15PM by Maggie.wink
Theme: Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Global Warming, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 6670
Winner: BEST MONTHLY ENTRY - 2008 competition
Did you know you can do your bit to avoid drastic effects of Global Warming by just turning vegetarian/vegan? Or at lest ATTEMPTING at it? Lester Brown, perhaps one of the most influential environmentalists in the world, recently made a trip to India to launch the Hindi Version of his new book. In connection with this, there was a newspaper report about his views on environmental degradation and on how we can save the planet. He said and I quote, “Business-as-usual, is no longer a viable option, it’s time for Plan B”. So what’s Plan B? A thoroughgoing and concentrated retort to climate change, at a dizzying pace. The report continued to say that the thinker found carbon emissions to be the most threatening. Most of us know that right? So we switch to keeping our motors in good condition with regular emission checks, using public transport or carpooling and even switching to hybrids or battery-operated vehicles. We recycle and avoid keeping the TV and our PCs on standby. We’ve gone in for solar heaters if we can afford. Thumbs up for that. But did you know that combined with carbon dioxide, we also need to reduce emissions of methane and nitrous oxide. Why? Because methane has the capacity to trap 20 times more heat than CO2. And Nitrous oxide is heady of causing global warming, 300 times than that of sneaky old CO2. So how are you emitting these gases? Remember that pound of Turkey your family had for Thanksgiving? Experts say you would rather drive your car for about 80km. Others say that going vegan is 50% more effective than even switching to a hybrid car to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A 2006 UN report cites the livestock industry providing meat, egg and dairy products as one of the TOP THREE contributors to the most serious environmental problems ranging from a local scale to global level. That’s scary! Since many countries are now focusing on bio fuels from corn and palm tree plantations so extensively, the resultant global food crisis pressures on the cattle farm to produce more meat, more eggs and more milk. For this extensive breeding, we need bigger ranches and poultry farms which subsequently encroach into forest land. This not only brings down trees but also tears down the domiciles of various creatures living there, thereby harming biodiversity. Due to deforestation, land degradation can also occur along side soil erosion, since the loose top soil will get washed away in the absence of roots. The Amazon, as per wide knowledge, is slashed and burnt every year by the acres to provide grazing lands for these animals. So if intrusion into woodland area is to be avoided, but produce levels are to grow, these farm animals will have to cram into smaller sheds and barns than they will require to be spaciously comfortable in. Throughout their digestion process and the subsequent deposits of poop which amount to more than 2 million pounds, of antibiotics and hormones pumped into these animals during the course of their rearing, will emit a huge magnitude of methane. This methane if not properly tapped, (generally it isn’t harnessed optimally) is let out into the atmosphere. The rest is as you know… air pollution, heat getting trapped by the greenhouse gases, global warming. Comparative study states that it takes 16 pounds of grain just to produce 1 pound of juicy animal flesh. In the news report, Lester Brown himself points out that a plant-based diet requires about one-fourth as much energy as a diet rich in red meat. The grain used to feed these animals also uses up the water that can be used to reimburse in areas around the world where water shortage is acute. They say if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and ate a vegetarian diet instead, it would save up as much on emission as by taking about 500,000 cars off the road. Imagine if other countrymen joined in too! Moreover, take time to reflect on the degree of cruelty we express to animals to butcher them for our own greed. Slaughter them after fattening them up. All this, when we can conveniently eat a vegetarian diet with gained satisfaction. By just one person switching to vegetarian or vegan diet, you can save 100 animals from being botched. You can start by being vegetarian for at least one week every month and slowly progress. Me? I thank my lucky stars. Being born into a family that practices Hinduism, we’re natural vegetarians. Though I’ve tried a hand or should I say tongue at meat, I didn’t quite like it. Kidney beans is much better than kidney itself. *lol*
Read more on this topic »High On Green in Local and Sustainable Food
Posted on Jun 20 2008 at 07:15PM by Maggie.wink
Theme: Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Global Warming, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 6670
Winner: BEST MONTHLY ENTRY - 2008 competition
Did you know you can do your bit to avoid drastic effects of Global Warming by just turning vegetarian/vegan? Or at lest ATTEMPTING at it? Lester Brown, perhaps one of the most influential environmentalists in the world, recently made a trip to India to launch the Hindi Version of his new book. In connection with this, there was a newspaper report about his views on environmental degradation and on how we can save the planet. He said and I quote, “Business-as-usual, is no longer a viable option, it’s time for Plan B”. So what’s Plan B? A thoroughgoing and concentrated retort to climate change, at a dizzying pace. The report continued to say that the thinker found carbon emissions to be the most threatening. Most of us know that right? So we switch to keeping our motors in good condition with regular emission checks, using public transport or carpooling and even switching to hybrids or battery-operated vehicles. We recycle and avoid keeping the TV and our PCs on standby. We’ve gone in for solar heaters if we can afford. Thumbs up for that. But did you know that combined with carbon dioxide, we also need to reduce emissions of methane and nitrous oxide. Why? Because methane has the capacity to trap 20 times more heat than CO2. And Nitrous oxide is heady of causing global warming, 300 times than that of sneaky old CO2. So how are you emitting these gases? Remember that pound of Turkey your family had for Thanksgiving? Experts say you would rather drive your car for about 80km. Others say that going vegan is 50% more effective than even switching to a hybrid car to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A 2006 UN report cites the livestock industry providing meat, egg and dairy products as one of the TOP THREE contributors to the most serious environmental problems ranging from a local scale to global level. That’s scary! Since many countries are now focusing on bio fuels from corn and palm tree plantations so extensively, the resultant global food crisis pressures on the cattle farm to produce more meat, more eggs and more milk. For this extensive breeding, we need bigger ranches and poultry farms which subsequently encroach into forest land. This not only brings down trees but also tears down the domiciles of various creatures living there, thereby harming biodiversity. Due to deforestation, land degradation can also occur along side soil erosion, since the loose top soil will get washed away in the absence of roots. The Amazon, as per wide knowledge, is slashed and burnt every year by the acres to provide grazing lands for these animals. So if intrusion into woodland area is to be avoided, but produce levels are to grow, these farm animals will have to cram into smaller sheds and barns than they will require to be spaciously comfortable in. Throughout their digestion process and the subsequent deposits of poop which amount to more than 2 million pounds, of antibiotics and hormones pumped into these animals during the course of their rearing, will emit a huge magnitude of methane. This methane if not properly tapped, (generally it isn’t harnessed optimally) is let out into the atmosphere. The rest is as you know… air pollution, heat getting trapped by the greenhouse gases, global warming. Comparative study states that it takes 16 pounds of grain just to produce 1 pound of juicy animal flesh. In the news report, Lester Brown himself points out that a plant-based diet requires about one-fourth as much energy as a diet rich in red meat. The grain used to feed these animals also uses up the water that can be used to reimburse in areas around the world where water shortage is acute. They say if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and ate a vegetarian diet instead, it would save up as much on emission as by taking about 500,000 cars off the road. Imagine if other countrymen joined in too! Moreover, take time to reflect on the degree of cruelty we express to animals to butcher them for our own greed. Slaughter them after fattening them up. All this, when we can conveniently eat a vegetarian diet with gained satisfaction. By just one person switching to vegetarian or vegan diet, you can save 100 animals from being botched. You can start by being vegetarian for at least one week every month and slowly progress. Me? I thank my lucky stars. Being born into a family that practices Hinduism, we’re natural vegetarians. Though I’ve tried a hand or should I say tongue at meat, I didn’t quite like it. Kidney beans is much better than kidney itself. *lol*
Read more on this topic »it's simple math in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 17 2010 at 07:24PM by Maggie.wink
if you could imagine a simple, non-complex bank account where the principal amount that you've deposited is say about 100$ with an annual interest of 10$, then as a prudent citizen, you'd not play it too foolhardy and would try to live off the interest without groping in for the principal amount, saving it for a rainy day maybe. when you do take a swipe and the principal amount, the private debt ratio swings in your disfavor.
similarly, when it comes to the fossil fuel resources of the planet, we use only as much as the earth can replenish in a sustainable manner. but we began using up the 'principal amount' of these resources since 1980, throwing the geological clock out of balance. not only are we not allowing any more carbon to be sequestered and subsequently compressed and cooled into fossil fuel over a million-year process, we've been combusting it and insulating the planet within our atmosphere. heating it up!
now if any child understood this simple math, he'd know the importance of a socially and environmentally responsible business concern. the short-term goals are profit. the long term goal is sustainable development. and we all know what happens when we focus on only the short term- a bubble economy which is good news today, bad news the next (when it bursts).
politicians or leaders? in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 17 2010 at 07:33PM by Maggie.wink
it is terribly ironic isn't it- how democracies work today? we've forgotten that the power ultimately does not lie in the few big guys who can fund the campaign but the masses and the bourgeois who can vote for the right party, the right candidate.
also when such a candidate is elected to office, it is his duty not to just listen to the guy who funded the campaign, rather the masses who ultimately got him into the office.
we as the people, the ones who supposedly hold the reins to the democracy, are to realize and actually steer it the right way.
petition the member who is representing you in the parliament. tell him, that you need alternative resources. tell him that the factory that is not following safety measures and is polluting up your groundwater better be shut down. if not, he shall not return to enjoy your trust in the next elections.
tell them what they're in for in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 17 2010 at 07:46PM by Maggie.wink
necessity is the mother of all invention. the trick lies in not just sending out the message that climate change is approaching and it's not good news. it is not in telling them about how they could tackle it- sustainable living: living within your means; population control, etc... but it is in telling them what they're in for.
i once read an imminent personality of our times say, " a man's common sense is only prone to use when his income (livelihood) depends upon it."
so you better tell the people the magnitude of the situation if it gets worse. tell them that their crops are going to be destroyed by swarms of pests that breed faster and better in a hotter climate. tell them that their children are more susceptible to cholera and such fatal diseases as groundwater tables dry out and their access to fresh, potable water is strained. tell them that their neighborhood, their simple, normal lives will be thrown out of harmony and they might all have to live as a generation of climate refugees.
and now tell them, that either that or...
the ways of sustainable living.
Read more on this topic »yes, awareness. but more... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 17 2010 at 07:56PM by Maggie.wink
awareness and the reach of information about climate change and it's implications is definitely the key. but then, i can look around myself and my peers, my colleagues, my compatriots. many of them ARE aware that a disaster of supposedly forbearing consequences is headed our way.
but what we need is that spark. we need to not just stop with teaching them about it. we need to show them the ways.
we need organisations at the grassroots. i see my friends with much interest and enthusiasm. they ask- what can i do?
they're frantically looking for outlets for their concerns.
there has to be a grassroots movement. a door-to-door thing, just like the businessmen did marketing to introduce us to the consumerist lifestyle that most of live in today, we need a all-out method to introduce everyone to the environmental way of living.
shouldn't our concern branch out for those who are the least of the causes? in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 17 2010 at 08:47PM by Maggie.wink
our focus has definitely been on us and our own well-being. and by us, i do
not collectively refer to the human species. i mean, just us- the urbane. the
ones with access to the ballot, convenience stores and the newspapers.
I recently read
that not only is global warming and deforestation affecting the indigenous
tribes that live in silent sanctuaries in remote areas all over the world, but
also the moves that are being made protesting against climate change are having
similar implications on their lives and their very existence.
for example- the
sudden popularity of hydroelectric power. dams are being constructed over
various rivers and water bodies to tap their current into energy to power our
lives the eco-friendly way. but a lot of these dams are affecting these tribes.
for instance, in my motherland,
the Sardar Sarovar Dam is being built over the
river. People are protesting saying that it delivers more social and
environmental injustice than benefits. the members of the tribal settlements
around the dam were never asked permission nor informed, but for the offer of
rehabilitation. these tribes that have known no other world outside their
relatively primitive and safer hamlets are being driven away from their homes,
for the project to become a reality.
(The 'Narmada
Bacaho Andolan' NGO has been peacefully protesting through human chains and
fasts, led by Medha Patkar against the construction of the dam without
clarifying the questionable statement of the benefits outweighing the cons)
biofuels too have
become quite the rage as the miraculous alternative to our
motor/automobile-loving lifestyle in the urban areas. but where are these
grown? much earlier, i'd read about how palm oil came from Indonesian ground
that was previously home to acres of rainforest. rainforests that had been
slashed and burnt. this completely wrecked the habitat of the countless, and
splendid variety of biodiversity that existed there as in all rainforests. the
orangutans of Borneo and
confronted with danger. the tribes, if any, which lived there must have been
terrified and driven away. Similarly, many large scale plantation, sources of
bio fuels, have been on forest land. and more often than not, these crops act
as less-efficient carbon sinks than the vegetation that existed there before
and was destroyed.
is it in anyway a
forthright, honest, pragmatic solution to torment those beings who have done
the least to cause climate change?
living the sustainable way in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 18 2010 at 05:02AM by Maggie.wink
i think we've all heard about how the refrigerator is the biggest emitter of CHCs and among the more prominent energy-gobbling appliances in our homes.
i read that if your refrigerator is over 5 years old, it might not be as energy efficient as the latest ones, which when compared to the older models can save over 40% electricity, thereby saving your money and reducing your carbon footprint by some thousand pounds a year.
now i know a refrigerator might be quite an investment for some of us, so you can-
a. check often if the door has been left unclosed. because when the door isn't properly closed, which might happen often due to carelessness, the cold air slips out-rendering it quite inefficient. also, you can conduct this test on how tight your door seal is. leave a piece of paper and close the door on it. try tugging at the paper. if it comes out easily, then there is room enough for the cold air to run out too. i read that silicone spray is a good way out. but it is better to check for replacement for the door seal.
b. whenever there are dust-bunnies forming on the coils at the back of the fridge, unplug it, and dust them away. helps cool down the machine a bit and make heat transfer more efficient. in the same breath, don't stick these coils to the wall. leave them some space for the heat to go out.
c. basic- keep it in a cool place. not next to a window, dishwasher, OTG or under direct sunlight. warmer the place, the more energy needed to keep things cool.
d. a full fridge means efficient usage. if it isn't, maybe a downgrade is good for both the energy used and your wallet?
e. defrost your fridge as soon as you see it building up. it keeps the refrigerator efficient.
f. also we were advised to stick an inch-foam-sheeting to either of the sides of the fridge to up it's efficiency. my mom tells me it's working.
e. also let hot food cool before you keep it in the fridge and cover liquid items before they go in.
f. the thermostat compartment is best between 36'F and 38'F while the freezer between 0'F and 5'F.
g. unless you might have very noticeable condensation on the outer walls of the fridge, most refrigerators' power-saver switches can be turned off. this turns off the heater in the walls, which prevent condensation on them. it does affect the working of the fridge and does not harm it in any manner.
oh yes definitely nbsp small things ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 18 2010 at 05:11AM by Maggie.wink
oh yes, definitely.
small things can be done by all of us in our own homes. but what i meant is, there needs to be some sort of public opening for everyone to live that way too.
for example- public transport systems need to be upgraded and be made customer-friendly, especially for the physically disabled and children; frequency of buses, strict regulations on crowding and proper seating etc. in many a developing country, buses are just creaky boxes of iron on wheels, with rash drivers.
but i came across an awesome idea if you find travelling by public transit the whole ways as implausible. drive halfway and take the bus or subway from where you find it convenient.
also, there can be some regulations on the architecture in commercial areas. like making rainwater harvesting compulsory for commercial strucutres, efficient cooling systems, etc.
personal changes at home are something all of us can definitely do. but, i guess we need that sort of thing on a larger scale like making the government and business houses realize about what they can do and help us for a healthier, sustainable living.
Read more on this topic »wonderfully said in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 18 2010 at 05:20AM by Maggie.wink
absolutely true. we don't need people getting harried and frantic. we need to get them thinking.
definitely. along with informing them about the consequences and what they might face, we have got to tell them about a few ways to tackle them and the ways that shouldn't be applied.
environment tax plus a subsidy? in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 19 2010 at 11:20AM by Maggie.wink
that's a good idea. but instead of just lowering the tax on people who're buying hybrid/electric vehicles- they could be given a subsidy instead right? like i once heard, i'm not sure though, that in the state of california, USA, electric vehicles were tax-free and they could charge them through public electricity portals without having to pay a penny.
the governments of various countries definitely need to be more pro-active. also, the rich always manage to evade tax... so care must be taken to plug any possible loopholes in such a taxation system :)
green architecture: the need of the hour in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 20 2010 at 08:21PM by Maggie.wink
there's a lot of energy that goes into the construction of a building and a good green architect will need to anticipate the energy required, not only in terms of ongoing construction but also energy that each construction material requires in it's own production.
for example i once read that steel requires over 20 times more energy in production than wood.
i think though some basic steps like these can be taken. they're very logical and do not add any cost at all. for instance, the positioning of the structure can be done strategically. if you live in a place with harsh winters, you can construct your house turning away from the direction of winds. or if you live in the tropics, the house can be build in a direction where the wind can be tapped for natural ventilation. and windows and such openings in a manner so as to allow natural lighting. it's almost the same way as providing a sunshade where the sunshine is the harshest :)
i once read this man who had tried to go green with building his house and he showed how easily sprinklers can be replaced by a rain runoff. quite the same as rainwater harvesting except instead of a pit, the water percolates your lawn-area.
Geothermal heating and cooling systems are an easy way to cut some major energy consumption costs. i'd read in the newspaper that some skyscrapers in new york city proposed this as not only and eco-friendlier option but to also cut some expenditure. a loop of pipes is embedded deep into the ground wherein the temperature stays more or less the same throughout the year. when in need of cooling, through a refrigerant, the building heat is transferred into the earth and during winter heat is extracted from the earth.
but if one is looking into futuristic designs for architecture then i can think of no other inspirational quote for stirring architectural creativity than the one from the documentary- 'The 11th Hour': "If we think about the tree as a design,” says William McDonough, "it's something that makes oxygen, sequesters carbon, fixes nitrogen, distills water, provides a habitat for hundreds of species, accrues solar energy, makes complex sugars and food, creates micro-climates, self replicates. So what would it be like to design a building like a tree? What would it be like to design a city like a forest?”
what a wonderful vision!
it's ironic actually as to how ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 31 2010 at 04:26PM by Maggie.wink
it's ironic actually as to how we call ourselves the smartest generation yet to populate the planet but it is us who've put ourselves into perhaps the most perilous situation to confront us.
the irony extends to the fact that we do have the resources, we have the ideas, but we fall short of improvising it...
i don't deny it. we ARE the smartest mankind has ever been... but it's time we stop sitting around with our hands tied while politicians and corporate conglomerates toy with our future...
the rich-poor divide in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 31 2010 at 04:39PM by Maggie.wink
the allocation of resources is very random. the people of some countries have access to so much information, infrastructure, recreation and entertainment, influence, communication, development, luxuries, etc... while the developing bloc in Asia, Africa are barely holding on. In the last week of the Copenhagen conference, the G-77 complained that there is no tough politically-binding deal to limit the emission of the developed countries...On the other hand, fast-developing countries like China and India are among the largest emitters of carbon dioxide too who treat emissions like the key to progress. but as one of my friends told me, development in its true sense must be sustainable. any progress that might harm the planet's tender system and balance is definitely not sustainable in the plainest sense. it is like cutting out chunks of wood off your own home to use as firewood and called it a 'comfortable living'.
While developed countries must of course take initiative, developing countries who have just spurned their own industrial revolution must look into investing in green jobs, renewable energy sector, reforestation and ecological-restoration works, just so that all this progress at breakneck speed does not end up in a fatal mishap.
i'd read in an editorial maybe ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 31 2010 at 04:41PM by Maggie.wink
i'd read in an editorial maybe a year ago that readers like kindle are indeed ecologically less straining than books. also one can have access to a wider variety of knowledge through use of internet, instead of limiting resources in the form of physically available books and editorials...
Read more on this topic »the erratic weather patterns apparently caused ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 31 2010 at 04:45PM by Maggie.wink
the erratic weather patterns apparently caused due to climate change effect not only a country's foodstock, but also the farmer's livelihood. especially in poorer countries where the sources of irrigation are still rainfall... where they arent' aware of pesticides but pests swarm over their crops as the summers get sultrier... if there's not goin to be a bottom up revolution, the calamity will also strike bottom-up, sad as it is.... because the rich have resources and contacts to keep afloat.
Read more on this topic »how true... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 31 2010 at 04:46PM by Maggie.wink
as benjamin franklin said, 'hear reason or she'll make you feel her'
Read more on this topic »that is so wonderfully thoughtful nbsp ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 31 2010 at 04:52PM by Maggie.wink
that is so wonderfully thoughtful.
we've this agricultural practise in india. they're called bunds. farmers plant trees around the boundary of their farm lands... when it rains, if the water is in excess the trees absorb them. this is in case of farms being destroyed by floods. flash floods are also a result of climate change.
Carbon footprint and Eco-Audits. in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 31 2010 at 04:55PM by Maggie.wink
i think including carbon footprint calculation in of course a more advanced, well-researched format should be used for eco-audits on large scale industries and factories especially those prone to polluting or causing harm to near-by habitat, ecosystems, water bodies...
Read more on this topic »ok now i'm not sure which ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 01 2010 at 02:38PM by Maggie.wink
ok now i'm not sure which side of the debate to take.... the carbon footprint generated by internet searches regarding the use of electricity can be worked out to be eco-friendlier by investing in alternate sources of energy, but this reminded of an article i read over a year ago on a highly-credible scientific magazine.
when you 'google' something, your request activates one or more data centers... data centers that are just more computers running on electricity, which means burning more fossil fuels which is the main source of electricity around the world.
because of this, search engines around the world emit as much greenhouse gases as the airlines industry.
the digital age is not without carbon footprint.
it is only smart that companies like google and yahoo shift to smart, alternative sources of energy. many industrialists have also admitted that 'a windmill in the backyard' has brought their operating costs down.
solar energy, wind and tidal power may be more expensive now, as compared to burning fossil fuels, but in the long run they're the ones that are going to cheaper as compared to the expensive ecological repairs or worse, the state of beyond repair.
yes the industrial revolution was amongst ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 01 2010 at 02:45PM by Maggie.wink
yes the industrial revolution was amongst the darker ages even though it was brought in to alleviate the 'dark ages'. it not only triggered pollution but also imperialism and colonialism.
we live in a free world today, and we have a deeper knowledge of sciences.
the effects on nature have revealed themselves to us- they were not as evident to them.
we may not be wholly responsible but we share a great part in it.
the resources have exploited beyond the point of replenishment only since the early 1980s.
deforestation is growing at an alarming rate.
species are going extinct.
but we've the resources.
let's be the generation that is remembered to have saved the world.
let our children not look back at us the way we look back at imperialists and the lives of serbs.
IPCC, scandal and the opinion on climate change in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 01 2010 at 05:20PM by Maggie.wink
recently, a scandal erupted involving the Nobel Peace Prize-winning UN-organ, IPCC about inflated numbers and cooked figures. In such time, what environmentalism and the planet hardly needs are such controversies and accusations alongside new-sprung group that claim climate change is a sham created through private funding.
some of my friends asked me, following this, to clarify my stand. i reminded them of the controversy of Mitch Snyder, an advocate for the homeless in the 80s. he had admitted to inflating the number of homeless to catch attention to the growing problem. He claimed that 3 million Americans were homeless, and also apparently said 45 homeless people die every second (which would round up to about 1.45 billion people every year!!)
even though it is not ethical for an activist to cook up figures, this does not mean that the problem of homelessness especially for women and children, does not exist. People living in 'developed economies' (the condition is worser off in developing countries) living without basic shelter, hygiene, prone to disease and involvement in street gunfights and brawls, human trafficking, etc...
similarly, the himalayan glaciers may not have dried up by 2050 but it is definitely receding. so instead of waiting for a confirmed jeopardy of a freshwater source that feeds over 40% of the world's population, it is time to start working on it NOW.
what is so evil about trying to clean up the planet anyway???
P.S.: we'd all, in our fight against climate change (technically all of humankind, and every flora, fauna species), greatly benefit if a 'credible, lauded' organisation like IPCC does not publish and advocate hearsay and personal opinions without full-on research into the matter.
this is definitely the age of ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 02 2010 at 04:50PM by Maggie.wink
this is definitely the age of the metrosexual. everyone loves shopping. looking out for new trends, reading behind the products cover, what's healthy, what's not, what's green, what's in,, what's out, etc... etc... for a long while now i've been reading about 'green shopping habits' but it still surprises how few people realize how much they contribute by it. 1. number uno on the list just has to be replacing polythene bags! no doubt, plastic is cheaper, stronger, lighter, it is also non-biodegradable, chokes up our drains, and maybe when archaeologists, a millennium from now, dig up- instead of pot pourri, paintings, figurines, etc... they'd find yards of dirty plastic. replace plastic with cloth bags. keep one in your vehicle for whenever you might need it. school children can make 5 paper bags each from newspaper and give it around to shops for use if they don't already. 2. ranging from 1% to 8% of the entire garbage disposed by any country, is estimated to be packaging from the different goods we buy. if we could cut down even half as much, isn't it worth a try? you might even take along a tupperware container for a slice of cheese or meat (if you must) instead of buying processed, packed stuff. not only are they not good for your health due to addition of preservatives, but also the disposable packing material is just another sources of waste. in the same breath, avoid individually wrapped stuff like cubes of butter or sugar sachets... they might look attractive but what's the point, really? you can also help save on packaging material by buying a bigger pack of whatever you want. for instance, 5 pounds of sugar instead of individual packs of 2. you'll also be saving on the price. also, you could also buy cola which come in glass bottles for which you deposit a certain amount and when you return it, you get back that deposit. this instead of buying plastic pet jars. 3. go for rechargable batteries.. some of them can be reused upto a hundred times. that's quite a good return on your invstment too. 4. certain countries have much of what is stored in their larder from their own backyards. a tiny vegetable patch is so useful and can be fun once you get involved in its maintenance. start by growing easier ones like basil and maybe coriander... soon you could probably be growing pumpkins and watermelons!! with internet today, it's so easy to get gardening tips. this way you will be saving on your grocery expenditure too. maybe you can even give a little extra produce to your neighbors! in my backyard we grow bananas, coconuts and basil. one of my friends grows the sweetest guavas with the pink insides. yet another has a few aloe vera plants which can be used for skin treatments. use your backyard to not just plant any tree but maybe something you could use. Read more on this topic »
sustainable living- green architecture in housing in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 04 2010 at 01:15PM by Maggie.wink
i checked out those URLs and ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 06 2010 at 11:11AM by Maggie.wink
i checked out those URLs and i realize what an ecological pleasure it must be to go to work in the WWF Netherlands office as well as to live in Masdar City where the carbon footprint you'd leave behind is not just minimal but possibly negligible. this is definitely a step in the right direction because it sends out the message that such a lifestyle IS POSSIBLE.
I'm really intrigued by architectural innovation especially in the housing sector which are ecological feasible and yet do not really mean living amidst reeking, half-way-there compost, or leading a less-than-luxurious lifestyle, because an environmentalist must come to terms with the reality that we live in a consumerist society and i've talked to many of my friends who are willing to help the fight against climate change but not on the same level willing to give up their 'basic luxuries'.
One cannot expect all millionaires to forego their humongous air conditioning/heating systems, kingsize bathrooms with fixtures that some of us could only imagine. it's not like they don't want to help and it's not our place to give sermon on how they ought to be spending their money. but we COULD deliver by putting forth simple yet effective and cogent innovations that compel acceptance.
one such technique that i've been try to spread the word around about is rainwater harvesting. it is almost, dare i say, a no-brainer. it is a way of collecting water that quite technically would have gone down the drain and tapping it into alternative uses. they collect the water from large, flat surfaces like roofs, terraces, driveways, etc... this water can either be put to specific uses like using it for flushing toilets, in the sprinklers in the garden, etc... or can be left to percolate and replenish the groundwater table.
the water collected can be anywhere between 60 to 100 metre cube worth of wonder liquid depending upon the rainfall in your area. but this is a wise usage as it can help you save water for the not-so-rainy day.
in case of low rainfall, it is not a cause for worry, because it is only a supplement to metered water supply from the mains.
financial savings could depend upon factors like the cost of metered water in your locality, which means, rainwater harvesting could be particularly useful in business establishments.
i think the fight for sustainable ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 06 2010 at 11:21AM by Maggie.wink
i think the fight for sustainable growth and lifestyle against fatal climate change is not past the point of no return and is still on. we have so many opportunities and alternatives in our hands, but implementation is where we seem to be falling short.
ultimately adapting to the impacts of global warming is not feasible and is terrible expensive. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change has declared that it will cost us anywhere between 40-170 billion US $ a year- the same cost as organizing THREE Olympic Games. But private observers have said that this is an underestimation and the real deal could cost us much more.
this would be not only the ultimate economic depression in the industrialized world, but would also virtually sound the death knell for the underdeveloped economies. it would be a fight for survival. it might be worse.
development the way it is now ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 06 2010 at 11:26AM by Maggie.wink
development the way it is now might just be paving the way to more economic bubbles. these bubbles burst as has happened in the very recent past triggering economic recessions.
Sustainable development is as the term suggests- sustainable. it is a long term approach. it is humane and logical.
slow and steady may test the patience, but it does win the race after all :)
it is absolutely inspiring to know ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 06 2010 at 11:37AM by Maggie.wink
it is absolutely inspiring to know that there ARE people who take it in their stride and take it seriously- the fight against climate change. i guess we ought see this not just as trouble as a result of past mistakes, but an opportunity to learn how to make things right again. we're just reinforcing one of the critical life skills that i recall being taught at my school's adolescent education programme- problem solving.
and the more you get harried, the more tedious the solution would seem i guess. so instead of dreaming of far-fetched theories like carbon sequestration and all that, we could all start just by living a sustainable life like how peter is doing.
have you heard of Willaim Kamkwamba? in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 10 2010 at 06:19PM by Maggie.wink
forced to quit school by the age of 14, because his family could not afford the fees, William Kamkwamba is a true climate warrior who fought against all odds and educated himself at the local library.
he dreamed about bringing electricity and running water to his village in Malawi and built a windmill by himself from scraps found from scourging through the dumps.
if a self-taught Malawi teenager, with his simple knowledge and scientific acumen and absolutely no funds could work it out, you think it is too big an investment or issue for our "leaders" to pass legislations and start enforcing renewable energy production on a large scale??
even though i believe that non ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 21 2010 at 06:36PM by Maggie.wink
even though i believe that non-vegetarian food habits are responsible for a lot of carbon emission i also know how hard it is for people, like my best friend, to give up eating meat.
Even though i myself have never tasted it, people have told me that my taste buds are missing out on a lot. But still others who are culinary experts have told me that what makes non-veg so sumptuous are the spices and how beautifully the meat absorbs them when cooked.
So even if we can't manage give up on the meat entirely, we sure can lower our consumption of it by replacing it with innovative vegetarian and vegan dishes. i came across this one blogspot which wonderfully explains how one could do so..http://earthvegan.blogspot.com/
now talking about sustainable seafood, it is not only good for the planet, but better for your health too. seafood that is not sustainable is said to be highly-contaminated by mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls which are found to be very harmful and perhaps even fatal to our nervous system. it can also cause overfishing and eventually THAT might be the ironic cause for the wipeout of the coastal fishing communities.
so here are a few quick tips to help you find and stick to sustainable seafood-
- eat lower on the food chain, that is, the smaller fish. they are plenty and more abundant and also contain lesser mercury. for instance, sardines, oysters, etc...
- it's better if you catch your own fish than go for farmed fish. not only are they processed making it less-good for your health, but also more energy into it before it reaches your plates.
- look for authentication, like the Marine Stewardship Council, Friend of the Sea, etc...
- on the next level, you could push for some better legislation regarding more stringent and stricter fishing and farming standards.
well like gandhiji said there is ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 21 2010 at 06:49PM by Maggie.wink
well like gandhiji said, "there is enough for every man's need, but not for every man's greed" it is indeed true that somehow man has assumed his right to own the planet's resources. human race must realize that this world is a home for everyone. and it is only smart if we find a way to live with our means AND our dreams, accomodating every other living organism, protecting the biodiversity in all it's health. the current way of lifestyle is mindless, squandering and harmful to every aspect of anthropology. and every aspect of this wonderful planet. Read more on this topic »
the littlest things that we take ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 21 2010 at 07:07PM by Maggie.wink
the littlest things that we take for granted can be done gracefully, in a more eco-friendly manner and in the process we could save on so much energy, and lower waste.
for instance, wanna make an eco-frndly cuppa? well, it's now possible.
- Buy organic coffee
This one is probably the most obvious. Organic coffee is better for your body, and better for the Earth. Its grown without chemical pesticides or fertilizer. If you are interesting in supporting coffee suppliers that treat the environment with respect, try buying from one of these online coffee stores. Besides organic coffee, shade-grown coffee is also good for the environment as it is grown without the clear-cutting of the forest.
-Don't use paper filters
You can either use a reusable filter for your coffee maker, or choose a method of brewing that doesn't require a filter in the first place
-Reuse those coffee grounds
Don't dump those coffee grounds out into the trash when you are done with your brewing. You can compost them, or use them in your garden for fertilizer or as an ant repellent.
-Don't use bottled water
Tap water isn't always the best choice for brewing coffee, but try to resist using bottled water. Even though the bottles are recyclable, they are still wasteful. Use another water filter system to get fresh pure water for your coffee.
-Brew your own coffee, rather!
If your local coffee shop serves coffee in reusable mugs or those "matkas" that are used in West Bengal, India- they are made outta mud, then it's not so bad. But if you usually get a coffee on the go, that comes in a disposable paper cup, then you might want to change your habits. Making coffee or espresso at home saves on paper cups, and will also save you money in the long run.
how true many amongst us still ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 21 2010 at 07:15PM by Maggie.wink
how true! many amongst us, still aware of the possibly fatal consequences of the current rate of climate change (some of them in our own lifetime) are mute spectators hoping that diplomats and legislators would do the job.
But of course as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, "Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do." We must put in conscious efforts OURSELVES, because one-by-one we make the human-chain of this race.
GM poison? in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 24 2010 at 04:12PM by Maggie.wink
in the quest to feed the growing population, many governments around the world are considering genetically-modified food. but there are countless arguments against GM food. the ones concerning the environment are myriad in nature. we've learnt that every action concerning any aspect of the planet's balance may draw into a vicious circle and GM food is one such potential problem.
Not only does is it harmful for the human health, but also it is harmful for the environment in the following possible ways-
- the secrets of genetic sciences are not fully known by man. so what is meant to help feed our growing population might actually end up harming it, leading to irreparable consequences. the gene may persist even after the crop has been harvested and it could cause permanent damage to soil by causing damage to soil microorganisms. this could result in a long-term loss of soil fertility, therefore resulting in possibly large dustbowls where lush fields were meant to be.
- there is also a possibility that it may fatally affect organisms which are not intended to be. for instance, earthworms. earthworms are key players in organic farming and in maintaining soil-health. another example, bees. in case bees consume pollen which might contain some sort of genetic modification, we do not know what mutation it might result in. and as Albert Einstein apparently said, 4 years following the extinction of bees, humanrace would face extinction too.
-there might be chemical reactions which have not been anticipated and may give rise to unknown new viruses which might be infectious and may pose problems not only for human health but also damage existing viruses that help maintain a certain level of balance in the environment.
-as population grows, investment in GM food crops is bound to grow if found useful. this could ultimately lead to larger-than-ever deforestation levels and heavy loss of diversity.
-in argentina, in a plantation of GM-soya, the genes and herbicides were found to have drifted over to neighboring plantations of other crops causing huge losses.
tampering with nature, must really be our last option...
Read more on this topic »that is truly inspirational it feels ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 24 2010 at 04:26PM by Maggie.wink
that is truly inspirational! it feels absolutely wonderful knowing that! in fact after seeing the multitudes of people who interact and show solidarity about fighting climate change on connect2earth and all over the internet, it has given me only more hope and strength for committing to action. these days, in case i see someone littering or leaving the tap open or keeping their cell phone chargers on for the whole night, i politely go and explain how this is not environment-friendly and tell them that this planet is all the home they've got and it is only wise that we treat it well. i definitely have received some glares that say 'mind your own business' but i've also had some people come up to me and say that they are glad to see me stand up to what i believe in and not just preach.
if all of us make slight conscious changes in our lifestyles, we'll be unconsciously covering by leaps and bounds towards our goal in reviving our home. our planet.
i agree it just requires baby ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 27 2010 at 02:26AM by Maggie.wink
i agree... it just requires baby steps to go green.
how much of our precious time and energy could it take to fold a cloth bag into our cars? but it could actually effectively prevent 200-plastic bags from being thrown away and that'd mean less-choked drains, less energy spent on garbage disposal, recycling, and ensuring that a millennium from now, archaeologists don't find don't dig to find polythene where we found pot pourrie and artefacts.
yes biofuel sources today are not ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 27 2010 at 02:32AM by Maggie.wink
yes, biofuel sources today are not sustainable. not only could the water, energy and landspace be used to grow food crops that could feed so many who go to bed hungry everyday but also biofuel plantations today have crept into forest-area. trees are being cut down to give more acres of land where palm oil or jatropha could be grown and thereby more profit could be earned. most recent example- borneo.
Read more on this topic »the most common steps which have been repeated over and over in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 27 2010 at 02:51AM by Maggie.wink
replace the bulbs you use most frequently with CFLs.
unplug your TV when not in use. a tv and set-top box on standby apparently uses about 1/4th of the energy as when they are running.
wipe away grease with vinegar and a few drops of lemon juice.
dig a tiny pit in your vegetable patch and dump in your kitchen waste like fruit and vegetable peels into it, along with some water and cover it up with mud. they'll naturally degrade into humus and protect soil fertility.
carry a handkerchief to dry your hands on after you wash them. you're saving more than a tissue paper OR a hand-dryer.
wear one more sweater in winter if you must. explain to your boss how wearing semi-casual clothes to work could save money spent on keeping the office cool in summers.
fill a 1-litre bottle with sand, screw on the cap tightly and drop it into your flush system to save water. your toilet will never know the difference.
install a low-flow shower-head with a shut-off valve instead of conventional ones. an average middle-class family could save upto 20,000 litres of hot water every year and so much of our energy costs.
if just 10,000 of us would do this, it could ensure powering more than 300 new homes and reducing so much carbon emission.
Read more on this topic »in today's consumerist world you can ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 27 2010 at 02:57AM by Maggie.wink
in today's consumerist world, you can get a man listening raptly only when it has something to do with his income. in a world where corporates are lobbying against social responsibility and creating tar sands, introducing effluents into water bodies, and letting gaseous emissions into the air that could enter our children's lungs, this cree indian proverb has always stood out and made sense to me...
"Only when the last tree is cut; only when the last river is polluted; only when the last fish is caught; only then will they (we) realize that you cannot eat money."
i once came across this very ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 27 2010 at 03:05AM by Maggie.wink
i once came across this very lucid explanation about how overpopulation has caused pollution and so much harm to the environment.
a river runs through 2 village settlements which are at a distance of about 40 miles from each other. when the 1st village, which is higher on the river bank uses water for any purpose, the river leaves the place filthier than before. but before the water reaches that of the second village, it is clean for use again. this is because of two reasons- a) it is flowing water.
b) the act of microorganisms.
but with overpopulation, more villages tend to spring up on the river banks in between these two villages as the land is highly fertile and access to water for irrigation is easy.
in this event, the water when leaving the first village is still filthy before it reaches the new one that sprung up in the vicinity. this adds pressure to the action of microorganisms and is not necessarily as clean as it was before when it travelled 40-miles before it was used again. with increasing population, there will be more pressure on the water body and with cities cropping up and untreated factory effluents being released into it, the water becomes corrupt and the river is polluted.
the power of solar in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 27 2010 at 04:01AM by Maggie.wink
about 100 square miles of solar panels is said to have the latent to power the current largest emitter of carbon- United States of America, that is keeping in mind the growth of demand of the near future.
about 700 square miles of solar panels could generate enough energy to power the entire world's energy needs. imagine, 1000 square miles of solar panel could probably help light reach the books of those for whom nightfall still means darkness while we tap away at our computer keyboards and watch browse through a variety of entertainment on our televisions.
with the reach of electricity, we could annihilate illiteracy as the light could help a child be the first in his family to be able to read the alphabets of a language. we could provide irrigation to the farmer whose own kids live with malnutrition. we could make the power of learning and spreading information to those who face hardships every day. we could make governments more effective and far-reaching.
all of this could be done if we decided invest a small portion of the billions of dollars we spend on everything from jumbo jets and luxury cruises to new shoes or plastic bags, and instead demand installation of these many solar panels. the area would barely account for 1% of the grand Sahara desert which is arid, the best source for sunlight and today's wasteland that could be put to optimal use.
this could cut upto 80% of the carbon emitted from electricity generation through conventional resources like coal today and the world could be100 times a better place...
Videos/images by Maggie.wink
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