Expressions August by icare-India

the doon i know & love ARC H AN A PU RAN SI NG H

face to face with I SH I T A KH ANNA

agents for a beautiful tomorrow V I N EET A BH ARD WAJ

expressions AUGUST 2010

LETTERS to THE EDITOR F E E D B AC K

Congratulations to team ‘icare’ on the successful launch of Expressions, July edition of their e-magazine. The cover page is really catchy and the articles are thought provoking. Good job done friends and keep up the good work. Wish you all the success in your endeavours. Let’s make Doon a better place environmentally, socially and culturally. Let the youth brigade of yours lead the way. God Bless you all. via web

Wg Cdr Himanshu Chauhan, Indian Air Force

CON TA C T U S

Expressions July Issue Aims at the Future with the youth by the youth and it does hit the bull’s eye. The articles, stories, pictures succeed to bring many environmental issues of Today to the forefront. It’s a success to see many young minds working together for that first step “awareness” to bring the revolution and the Change tomorrow. My heartiest congratulations to the entire team for being so thoughtful for our future..Expressions Is Indeed Global..!!!! via web Vineeta Bhardwaj

Write to us at Expressions 51-A Subhash Road Adj. Damama Super Mart Dehradun – 248001 Uttarkhand

Congratulations for yet another milestone, the July issue has come out very good. The articles and photographs are really superb, hats-off to the entire team.

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Dear Yudhishter,

via web Amar Barwal

SMS I CARE to +919411114921 First and foremost persuasion pays. You have an uncanny never say die attitude Call +919760614317 which will take you places and always ensure you reach the shores. Fax: 011-66173614

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Corrections and Clarifications ___________________________ The word ‘Photograph’ has been misspelt as photgraph on pages 22, 23 and 24 in the July Issue

July edition of Expressions: has delightful pictorial features, enhancing the reading experience are mind expanding graphical backgrounds and I must say the font and presentation are all par excellence. A commendable effort and product. I foresee the talent in you and your team are far reaching and your out of the box topics are poignant and educating. Thanks for sharing the euphoria with me. Dehradun is certainly a city you are born into or you chance upon to acquire living time here, it is only if your previous births have granted you positive karmas. I can only say we are blessed to be in dehradun and if we share and believe that this is the thruth then we must treasure, conserve and showcase our pride. The city has abundant character and now as sons of the soil we must also ensure to always be avid ambassadors to exhibit that abundant character in us so that there is no mistaking us from our rooting. Yes, we will participate in all Icare events to restore any lost nature’s glory in dehradun Thank you and wishing you good luck via email Tarit Mohan, Director IMSI India Pvt. Ltd

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expressions AUGUST 2010

Cover Story

founder & editor

Yudhishter Puran Singh

16 Women: Agents for a beautiful tomorrow Vineeta Bhardwaj

guest editor

Archana Puran Singh

Features

assistant editor

6 Appreciating Nature Aanie Singh

Pooja Bhatt

7 The Doon I Know & Love Archana Puran Singh

creative editor

14 Face to Face with Ishita Khanna

photo editor

20 Expressions’ Coffee with Radha Raturi 24 This is what it turns out to be ! Sneha Pande 26 Women & Their Power Anuvansh Sharma

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3 Letters to the Editor Feedback 10 Eco-Feminism Yudhishter Puran Singh

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12 Photo Story Abhay Nawani 22 Ways to Photograph Doon Sandip Puran Singh 27 Green Tips Shilpy Goel Agarwal 28 In the news icare

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ALL EDITORIAL QUERIES MUST BE DIRECTED TO The Editor, Expressions, 51-A Subhash Road, Dehradun 248140, Uttarakhand, India M: +919411114921, Fax: 011-66173614

Views and opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Expressions., its publisher and/or editors. We at Expressions do our best to verify the information published but do not take any responsibility for the absolute accuracy of the information.

expressions AUGUST 2010

from THE editor’s desk “A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform” -Diane Mariechild The August issue is exclusively dedicated to women and it begins with reminiscing thoughts by the guest editor Mrs. Archana Puran Singh who grew up in the valley and to quote her “a place of green hedges and grey hair” which has now conveniently shriveled to a place not recognizable.’THE DOON I KNOW AND LOVE’ is not exactly against development, but concerned about the atrocious cost paid for such growth which promises very little in return indeed! It’s a lovely article which seems to have been written with utmost simplicity but is ever so appealing. The cover story ‘AGENTS FOR A BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW’, has quite beautifully illustrated the role that women have played in their “commitment towards the present and the future” towards the environment, accenting the plethora of areas where women have made their mark, one can find women throughout history in their silent but sturdy involvement in saving the environment. This issue actually relates to the key points and the innate edge that the women need to realize to bring about a change. Our Editor, in his striking article highlights ‘ECO-FEMINISM’ the term, even though started in the year 1974, will be a new and interesting concept to know and read about. Feminine power cannot be underestimated especially in today’s world. Women play a major role in making their families adopt a green lifestyle and I am sure all of us will agree they are the real home makers as well as change makers. Mrs. Annie Singh in her beautifully crafted article ‘APPRECIATING NATURE’ – shares with us how the reins of young minds rest in the hands of the teacher whose role is paramount and should never be undermined as he’s the artist who paints on the minds of his/her students and leaves indelible marks on these canvases. Finally, from this issue onwards we are introducing ‘THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN HANDBAG’ about a vivacious girl next door, who discovers her green side. It’s meant for chilled-out youngsters who would rise up from their fantasies if need be, but in their regular lives, promise to be best friends with the environment. Hope you enjoy these stories – plus a lot more in this edition!

Best,

Pooja Bhatt

Asst. Editor Expressions

expressions AUGUST 2010

APPRECIATING

he ‘Sylvan Wye’ of Tintern Abbey which haunted the celebrated poet William Wordsworth, the rustling leaves and calling birds which inspired the short stories of Rabindranath Tagore and the nostalgic moments that Ruskin Bond yet writes about our Dehra full of litchi trees, ring no bell in the minds of the students why? Simply because they have grown up where the sounds of honking horns are music to the ears rather than the melodious tune of a koel and leisure time means computer or television rather than cycling through the countryside or climbing trees in the neighbor’s garden to eat unripe mangoes. Is this the future we envisage for the coming generations where there would be no breathtaking views to capture in the camera, no soul stirring picturesque scenery to paint on canvas? As teachers we too have a responsibility towards the youth. Children can be taught to love and respect Nature through teachers of literature, geography and science. As a class teacher one can encourage a plastic free zone in the class and school, encourage hobbies like gardening, bird watching, conduct debates on topics related to the environment and even put up dramas to depict the degradation of the environment due to mindless behavior of the people. Certain habits can be inculcated like switching off the lights and fans when not in use and reusing old cards and gift-wrapping paper for handicraft work. Simple basic things like two dustbins should be kept in each class, one for paper and other waste which can be recycled and a separate bin for plastic goods that cannot be recycled. As part of S.U.P.W they can be encouraged to make paper bags from newspapers or other used paper and distribute them to the layman in the market to create awareness. Children can be taken for nature study trips on weekends to places in and around Doon such as Assan Barrage. An enthusiastic teacher can arouse the same in his/her students. Essay, poetry writing based on Nature as its theme can be encouraged by recognition for the best written pieces. Charity begins at home, a child should be taught to be sensitive to the needs of fellow mates. If a

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child’s human side is developed it will never take pleasure in harming any creature be it a small ant. Of course, prayer and belief in a divine spirit is of utmost importance. To accept that some universal spirit exists and connects all living organisms to one another is a way of developing appreciation for others. If teachers took time out of their mad rush to complete the syllabus and gave a little ‘dose’ each day, it would have a great impact on the growing child. The teacher is the potter who moulds the wet clay. They must realize that they have the power to touch lives which make this profession a powerful one in comparison to others.

“O, lord help us Guide and direct us and open THEIR HEARTS” Children are likely to learn more by observation rather than lecture. As a teacher, who shows sensitivity in her attitude towards other creatures and appreciates nature in all its forms will develop a positive attitude towards the environment in the students as well. Young, creative minds need to be inspired and guided to learn how to keep their environment clean and green. We all have to sit up and think seriously on this or else a time may come when birds will sing about rivers drying to a trickle and vast haunted desert land.

Mrs. Annie Singh Teacher and counselor CJM Dehradun

akshay madan

THE DOON I KNOW & LOVE

ehra Dun,a beautiful name for a beautiTower. I love the way we use the term going ‘up’ ful valley.....once known as the city of towards Saluja,and coming ‘down’ towards Clock “green hedges and grey hair”. Well, Tower! the green hedges have long given way to ugly sounding and looking boundary walls. Is And yes Eucalyptus Road, my favourite shortcut this my Doon, the Doon I was born in, grew to from Lytton Road to Rajpur Road! Oh, it is much love? Not really, and yet it is. I remember Parade broader now and has not a single pothole. But no Ground, big and open, even green! Yes grass actu- tall, graceful Eucalyptus trees grow by its sides ally grew on the wide open uncluttered expanse either. And last but by no means the least, symthat once was “Parade Ground”. A circus would bolic of the dying of the Doon I knew and loved, occasionally come and camp on it. Every year the covering up of the ‘Canal’ on East Canal Road. we would go with the entire family, servants and If I had but known it would happen, I would have all, to watch in fascinated terror the annual big loved to have gone down that lovely road one last event of Ramlila held there. The first time I learnt time, the way it was, with its gushing canal, its to drive was in Parade Ground, where my Dad occasional culverts, and the periodic circular juncthought it was safe to hand over the wheel to his tions where, fascinated, as a child I would watch teenage daughter.......and there I went turning any the water eddy and swirl(once it wickedly sucked which way without fear or danger of ramming my sandal in!) into--what do we have there today?...water tanks, concrete structures, parked buses, and many Well alas, like my long lost sandal, much of the other such “occupying bodies of mostly permaold Doon is also gone. On occasion when I have nent nature”! driven up to good old Mussoorie, the drying up shriveled waterfalls on the way cause me a pang. Astley Hall was almost like a mall road where On the way to Doodhli, the black tarrish water (its people came to see, and be seen! A wide open actual sewage!) of the once mighty and gorgeous road flanked by those gravel paths, and then Suswa River gives me a jolt. I have memories of the high columned ‘verandahs’ of Astley Hall, all bathing in these waterfalls, of drinking the crystal made it my preferred stroll of the day! The gravel clear and sweet tasting water of Suswa. Oh yes, paths and the verandahs of Astley Hall thankfully I have many memories that our children will not are pretty much still there, but walking along them have. is now impossible. Maybe it’s time to stop blaming others and start And of course taking responsibility for the legacy we are choosno day could ing to leave behind for our children. Maybe it’s go without the time to start doing something constructive and mandatory trip to ‘being’ the change we want in others and around “Elloras”(it was us. Maybe it’s time to make a new set of priorities a single shop where “I” decide not only what material wealth then, as was its my child will inherit, but I will also ensure that noneighbour Jugal body’s callousness will deprive him of his rightful Kishore)! Today inheritance. This beautiful and natural world we it is difficult to inhabit. spot many of the old estabArchana Puran Singh lishments on Actor the roadside, as hundreds(though they seem like thousands!)of shops now line the © EXPRESSIONS 2010 road from Saluja Book House right down to Clock

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I’m Esha Ved a.k.a. ‘The Girl with the Green Handbag’. Funny, absurd name right? Oh well, I get caught up in these strange obsessions at times, but something’s changed and turned into a perpetual obsession I believe. I’ll tell you all about it. I’m 19 years of age and I’m doing my B.A. honours in Spanish from Delhi University. I love to shop and I LOVE clothes, accessories, shoes, chocolates, food, music, movies and all the things that makes one feel good. I am one ‘party freak’ you’d find all over the place. I love my friends too much and like hanging out with them now and then, now don’t get the wrong picture, I’m not a complete wacko case but I feel I’m in control and can strike a fine balance between my academics, leisure time and pleasure time activities. But I admit all the beautiful things do make me exceedingly happy. Like the latest pair of those dazzling shoes or the amazing aviator shades I bought last Sunday. At one point I had a huge hair obsession, couldn’t step out of my place without looking perfectly decent and my aunt often gifted me these cool hair products from Europe which I can’t part with even now, so all my possessions including my family, friends, clothes, beauty-care products, my phone, my i-pod are simply an indispensable part of me! “What a self obsessed girl?” might be the question popping up in your head right about now. But honestly, I don’t think I belong to that category and it’s wrong to stereotype anyway, I just like to dress up and well that’s not a bad thing at all… (Evil grin) I’m basically a very friendly, non-judgmental, supportive, fun-loving and extroverted personality. But there’s one friend of mine I met this summer and she changed my life, as in not completely, I still am what I used to be and continue to like all of those things, but I have certainly acquired a broader perspective about life and that is a brilliant thing. Her name is Mitali and she’s the kind of bookworm I would have never cared to notice but it so happened that we ended up being roommates in the hostel. If you compare personality distinctiveness, we’re way too opposite to be in proximity of each other but she’s sincere as hell and used to help me out in ‘every’ assignment, that’s when I realized what a ‘bright light’ she is and

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I soon ended up loving her. But I didn’t like the whole nagging bit about what to do, and what products not to use and what not to eat, I really wasn’t keen to have a mother figure around because I really like my freedom, and detest being pestered, but if I talk about irony then this is the biggest one, I ended up getting influenced by her ‘a lot’. I turned ‘GREEN’. Oh wait, but there’s a prelude to it.

Flashback I was the only child of my parents and resided in my ancestral house in Rajpur, in the celebrated Doon Valley, nestled in the great Himalayas. I lost my father when I was five in a terrible road accident and after that I grew to be a sort of frenzied wayward child who took pride and pleasure in mindless destruction. Now, I didn’t cut off trees with a chainsaw mind you, but just cherished the idea of chaos somehow, (don’t ask me why, it was my father’s death probably) Anyway, my mother grew exceptionally concerned and said time and again “A girl your age must be cheery and amicable honey, you on the other hand love throwing things around. Have something against the world?” Well, maybe I thought but my mother took it as her personal mission to rectify my problem so every other day she used to take me out for a walk in the tree clad region near my place or a drive halfway up to Mussoorie in order to sensitize me so that I grow out of my pain and inhibition. She used to tell me with a deep sense of pride about my dad’s active involvement in the Chipko Movement during the 70s in the Garwhal Himalayan region which was a widespread initiative to protect the trees from massive deforestation by hugging them. Back then, it didn’t make so much sense to me when she often repeated Einstein’s words for me “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” She made me appreciate the joy of living in one of the most incredible parts of the world and I love her for it. That amazing song by the Beatles’ in George Harrison’s voice titled Dehradun comes to mind, (it was officially unreleased though I think you can find it on the internet). It goes like

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN HANDBAG “Dehra Dehra Dun Dehra Dun Dun (8) Many roads can take you there, many different ways, one direction takes you years another takes you days. Many people on the roads looking at the sights, Many others with their troubles looking for their rights. See them move along the road in search of life divine ...beggars in a goldmine Dehra Dehra Dun…” So, that was me in childhood, but I changed after I grew up in this materialistic world I became a happy child or let’s say grew up to be a normal girl too dependent on things, but it was my mother who brought me so close to nature, I still feel connected, when I mess up at times, I like to go for a quiet walk or just listen to the birds sing. But that’s not always, and I don’t expect myself or anyone to go hug trees to help lessen deforestation in this day and age. Today’s generation is programmed for a fast life. We don’t have the time or we simply don’t care to look or think beyond ourselves. We cling on to our gadgets devotedly and are extremely techno-savvy and I don’t blame us for it, it’s a necessity to be in-sync with modern times. But the point I’m trying to make is that we should not be enslaved, what we can do is make our existence more significant, and I don’t mean to hint at letting go of our current lifestyles, not at all BUT let me tell you very frankly, it doesn’t take the slightest bit of effort to incorporate green-consciousness into our busy lives. If a girl like me can do it, it’s a piece of cake for you. However intricate it may seem, it’s quite undemanding. I just try to make sure that whatever I do does not waste energy, or disrupt the environment or wildlife. The single most important thing here is “RESPECT” and everyone is capable of respecting the animate and the inanimate likewise. Well, let me make things clear to you first, I’m not here to build some sort of a youth crusade pleading in front of people to do the right thing or campaign against the evils in society or plain boring lecture you about it. It’s a mere realization and the earlier the better. I just try to ‘do the right thing’ myself and urge my friends to do the same. Well, it’s their choice obviously, but why not be discerning and unanimously do what is right if it eases the planet to endure the yoke of the present times. If each one starts, the word shall spread and in due course lead to something constructive. It lies within us, the power to lead! And leading for a righteous cause calls for more than just thoughts like

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“We must do this, or they mustn’t do that” It requires grit and devotion. It calls for immediate and continual ACTION. Simply saying it won’t help! (But that’s the first step I agree, awareness is exceedingly crucial) and once you know it, and then well, don’t stare at me like a wimp. Just go out there and start-off with little things and move on to bigger things! Trust me on that, listen to the green call and do whatever you can as an individual - ultimately you will create an IMPACT which is our collective goal. And if we reach that goal, I’d be the happiest person alive and I’d party till I fall down you bet. I’m still proud of who I am and won’t change for anyone but for something that helps the world, I most certainly would and so I did! So now since you’ve managed to read up till here, you must be well acquainted with who I am and what I’m babbling over here. Each month, I shall come and tell you more about my crazy life and my experiences and green adventures as I may call it and that surely makes my life and surroundings better in a million ways. My nerdy mate Mitali is with me every time or if not, then some how drives my whole plan and inspires me to improve and the best thing is that she’s stopped nagging now, seeing how responsible I’ve developed into towards the environment. What a funny thing! I’m loving life. :) In conclusion, like Aristotle once said “If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is Nature’s way.” Stay green until next time. Love, Esha.

Pooja Bhatt Asst. Editor, Expressions

ECO FEMINISM

Saluting the Women

cofeminism emerged somewhere in the 1970s with an increasing awareness of the relationship between women and nature. The term, “eco-feminisme,” was coined in the year 1974 by a famous French writer Francoise d’Eaubonne who urged women to lead an ecological revolution to preserve the planet.’ Such an ecological revolution would entail new gender relations between women and men and between humans and nature. Women have a greater concern for the environment than men but they are often perceived as less active in the over-all environmental movement. In a way this is justifiable, because women’s levels of political participation around environmentalism are comparatively lower than men’s in some of the areas at least. Though we cannot deny the fact that this is because women’s environmental action is focused on personal environmental practices, such as “green consumerism,” or on local environmental efforts, both of which are invariably overlooked by the media, the public, and environmental leaders. It is known by all that women are more likely than men to practice environmentalism through non-political means. One area in which women’s environmentalism goes largely unnoticed is in their “green” lifestyle and consumption choices. Women and especially women with children, are invariably more likely to act in environmentally responsible ways inside their homes, by buying eco friendly products, recycling, reducing water consumption and moderating energy usage. This may result, in part, from women’s greater responsibility for household duties particularly more so in our country INDIA, which definitely gives those more opportunities to engage in small-scale personal environmentalism. While all this may not be often recognized as environmental activism, these private behaviors directly have an impact on the environment and have the potential to create measurable and concrete change if widespread. There are countless examples of what women have done towards environment conservation starting back in the 1970s, an organized resistance to the destruction of forests spread throughout India and which later on came to be known as the Chipko movement. Similarly in Canada, women have taken to the streets to initiate signature campaign opposing uranium processing near their towns. Not to forget in the United States, housewives have decided

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to clean up the hazardous waste sites by involving the local support from communities around. Women of the Green Belt movement have decided to initiate a massive large scale plantation drive in the arid degraded lands in Kenya and top it up with in Sweden; feminists have prepared jam from berries and then sprayed some herbicides and offered a taste to members of parliament: they refuse. All these are just some of the examples of a worldwide movement, increasingly being known as “ecofeminism,” dedicated solely to the preservation of our planet. There are many women who come to my mind when we talk about eco-feminism especially in our country from Dr. Vandana Shiva who herself was from Dehradun to the young and vibrant Ishita Khanna, an ex-welhamite whose doing wonders back in Spiti. In my views the real problem of conserving our environment can’t be solved by the involvement of a few selected groups of women, it surely requires a global involvement of the entire community of womenfolk who need to understand their roles and thereby actively participate together in ensuring a brighter tomorrow. I have tried to put down a few ways how a woman can participate and thereby contribute towards conservation of the environment.

Mother is the first teacher Mother is the first teacher. It is she who plays a vital role towards the development of the personality of her child. She has the power to instill in future generations a respect for environment and the need to value bio-diversity. Thus developing good habits in the child becomes really crucial: 1 To throw garbage in separate bins; 2 To respect and love the nature for what it gives us; 3 Develop a habit planting a tree each year on his/ her birthday; 4 Children have a tendency of wasting paper, thereby it becomes vital to inculcate amongst children not to waste the paper – the children are usually in habit of tearing away papers from their note books, a mother can keep a check on this bad habit of the child. She can make them understand that for paper production, the wood is used and deforestation can bring unhappiness by disturbing the eco-system.

ECO FEMINISM Reducing the wastage of Electricity

above all our surrounding environment will also become tidy and healthy.

Light pollution is next on the radar. I don’t know how many of you are aware that the sodium lights used for electrifying our streets are harmful for our eyes and body. Thus we must ensure minimum use of light, only when it is needed. Data collected through various surveys have revealed that a single unit of saving of electricity is equivalent to 1.25 unit of electricity generation. Our women thereby have quite an important role to play in avoiding misuse of electricity as they are the managers of their family.

Adoption of Small Family Norm

Use of Garbage Box Invariably, we all are in habit of throwing the garbage and the waste after cutting the vegetables, graining, wiping and cleaning the floor, on the road, just outside our houses, we do not realize that this creates quite serious problems since it gives birth to mosquitoes and malaria or other viral fever. The use of garbage box must be advocated in each household which can be used to collect garbage and then later these can be thrown at the bins provided by the local municipality. This is one such habit if developed, we will not only be able to keep our houses clean but, at the same time the colony, the city and

Today, you do not have to be a rocket scientist to realize that the greatest problem which the world community is confronting is the problem of population explosion. It is invariably the root cause of all other problems. If we follow the small family norm, we will thereby be able to keep a check on the environment pollution also. I would like to quote Late. Smt. Indira Gandhi,”‘It’s our paramount duty to educate our rural masses, about the value and the benefit of family planning, so that we may put a check on population explosion and may lead a better healthy, hygienic and peaceful life”. Our woman must shoulder this responsibility as well. Men have separated themselves from the ecosystem. Five hundred years of global pillage in the pretext of development and civilization have brought us to a situation which is quite scary and we all are very much aware of the same. Women in the past have had no voices, but eco-feminism is a new and radical language. In my views Women must provide the moral energy and determination since they have it in them to make a difference. They are the future and hope in the struggle over life.

In the end I would like to quote Rachel Carson, “we stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost’s familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy; a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lays disaster. The other fork of the road -- the one less traveled by -- offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the earth.

Yudhishter Puran Singh

21 year old graduate from Mumbai University, a young entrepreneur who loves to devote whatever time he can towards creating awareness about the need for preserving environment

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PHOTO STORY THE

TURNER

EFFECT

A s a 1 6 y e a r s t u de n t I am p a ss ionate abo ut nature and w ildlife a nd alwa y s w a n t i n g t o c a p t u r e t h e v iv id fo rm s of nature in m y cam e ra . Join me i n sec u r i n g a b r i g h t e r to m o rrow . Feel free to contact m e a t nawa n i .a b h ay @ g m a i l . c o m

A B H A Y N AW AN I

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PHOTO STORY

Pitch Report Simply Majestic

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FACE TO FACE with Ishita Khanna

shita Khanna, 29, is a spirited development professional who was born and raised in Dehra Dun. She completed her schooling from Welham Girls School and did her masters in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Striving to improve life in remote Himalayan villages by building a green economy, Ishita is the founder of Ecosphere an organization which has facilitated sustainable development and eco livelihoods in the Spiti Valley for many years. She was the winner of the 2008 Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism Award and also won the famous Sierra Club’s inaugural “Green Energy & Green Livelihoods Achievement Award” in India for 2009. She was also one of the eight finalists of the Pepsi MTV Youth Icons for 2008. Expressions presents, a tête-à-tête with the lovely lady about her passion for the environment and her invaluable contribution through her arduous and courageous work in Himachal Pradesh.

EXPRESSIONS (E): Back when you were in school, did you always think of becoming a social and environmental activist? How did you go about it? Ishita Khanna (IK): I always had an interest in the environment though had no clue that I would take up and work on issues that I am currently working on. I also wouldn’t call myself a social or environmental activist. (E) What brought you to Himachal Pradesh and what were the challenges that you faced initially? (IK) My first job took me to Himachal and I worked briefly for the Himachal Government. My tryst with Spiti began in 2000 when a friend and I biked it to spiti valley. The challenges we faced initially was the remoteness of the area and the lack of communication facilities – for even the slightest of issues one had to undertake the 10 hour long journey to Manali. (E) What were the major problems in Spiti and how did you address them? (IK) When we first began working in Spiti we felt that the major need was to develop alternate and sustainable livelihood avenues for the local communities that responsibly use available local resources (natural & cultural) and protect the environment. Ecosphere hence focused most of its efforts on developing options that tap the local surpluses and unique attributes of Spiti. One such surplus identified was Seabuckthorn (a wild berry with high medicinal value). The other high potential livelihood avenue that emerged was responsible eco-tourism. Moreover by developing markets for indigenous crops such as barley and black peas, Ecosphere is attempting to promote and thereby revive the cultivation of indigenous crops which are more suitable to the areas geo-climatic conditions as well as protect the organic practices of the region. Spiti being a Trans-Himalayan cold desert, witnesses 6 month long winters where the temperatures fall down to as low as -30 degrees centigrade. Moreover, due to its high altitude (the average altitude is 4500 mts asl) and extreme winter climate, vegetation especially trees are sparse. Therefore, during the winter the inhabitants of Spiti burn coal, wood, dung and other bushes to cook and warm their houses. Although Spiti is extremely cold in the winters, it has an abundance of sunny days. Simple solar technologies, based on passive solar concepts with the usage of local material, are being used to minimize fuel wood consumption of the local communities (E) What are the things that define eco-friendly development and how did you achieve that in Spiti? (IK) Well, I still feel there’s a long way to go but some of our initiatives promoting the use of solar energy are:Improved Green Houses One of the critical issues within the Spiti valley is the availability of green vegetables throughout the year, especially in the winters. Due to harsh climatic conditions in the 6 month long winter (temperature go as low as -30 degree centigrade) it is practically impossible to grow anything. Most of the vegetables that are available during the winters are

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FACE TO FACE centred around the urban areas and not accessible to villagers in remoter areas. The other issue pertains to the high costs of these vegetables as they require long distance transportation. Based on a simple concept, the improved green houses are well adapted to the geographic and socio-economic context of cold desert areas such as Spiti. Since these green houses enable vegetable cultivation in harsh climatic conditions, they not only contribute in providing additional income to the locals but also contribute to the improvement of daily nutritional intake.

Energy Efficient Buildings An energy efficient building is south facing and integrates passive solar architecture to gain heat and thermal insulation to retain heat inside the building. The techniques are based on local materials (dung, straw, mud, and brick) to improve access to reliable, sustainable and affordable energy. Studies which have been undertaken on energy efficient houses have shown that fuel consumption is reduced by 60%, temperatures of rooms are always above 10°C and the inner air is smokeless. Cold-related illnesses are reduced and households are able to take on income generating activities such as handicrafts and double their production. Moreover 3.5 tons of CO2 per household is yearly saved, which contributes to mitigating global warming. Solar Bathing Facilities Bathing in these high altitude cold desert villages is difficult due to the limited availability of fuel wood to heat water, more so for the women, as there are no designated bathing areas in the houses. Using solar geysers to heat water, Ecosphere has set up community bathing facilities in villagers which are now being used by both the villagers and tourists visiting these villages and staying in locally run Homestays. This is hence providing not only an additional income generating opportunity to them but has also worked towards increasing levels of hygiene of especially the women and children. (E) Do you feel the government promoted your developmental activities (IK) The government did provide some support for the replication of our Seabuck-

in Spiti? thorn initiative.

(E) Tell us about ECOSPHERE. (IK) Ecosphere is a social enterprise that is a collaborative effort of the local community of Spiti and professionals from diverse backgrounds. Ecosphere’s work in Spiti, aims at the sustainable development of the Spiti valley by working on the triple bottom line linkage of economic empowerment, conservation and development. Ecosphere strongly believes conservation will only be possible if there is some economic linkage and incentive attached to it. (E) What was the defining moment of your career and how does it feel to have been honoured with a number of awards in such a short period of time? (IK) Well its hard to pin-point on one defining moment – there have been many and there are bound to be many more in the years to come. The awards are for the work that Ecosphere has done in Spiti – I am just a small part of the team. (E) Being young and dynamic, you have achieved great feats that inspire the youth of our country, what is your message to them? (IK) Unfortunately our educational systems and the social conditioning of our times forces the majority to flow in one pre-determined direction. I would urge the youth to take time off --- to explore nature, to discover themselves, to understand the intricate linkages that sustain life and to experience the beauty of nature and its ever selfless qualities in contrast to the increasingly consumptive and self centered society we currently live in. (E) Last of all, what do you think is the ‘role of a woman’ towards the conservation of environment? (IK) I think woman and men both have a crucial role to play in environment conservation –and everyone must make a concerted effort to bring about a change in their lifestyles and their surroundings that can positively contribute to the environment. © EXPRESSIONS 2010

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agents for a beautiful tomorrow

WOMEN +

“When you start working with the environment seriously, the whole arena comes: human rights, women rights environmental rights, children’s right, you know, everybody’s rights.Once you start making these linkage, you can no longer do just tree-planting.” Wangari Maathai

his article includes an introduction to the history of women’s involvement in the struggle for a sustainable livelihood – at individual and community level. Worldwide, women have manifested themselves as agents of change for environment and sustainable development. Since the start of human history, women have contributed essentially to the conservation, use and management of natural resources.The role of woman-the gatherer was more important for food and security than that of man-the-hunter. Around the globe they play distinct roles from men: in managing agricultural lands, plants, animals and forests, in collecting water and fodder

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for domestic use and income generation, in the collection and use of firewood and other biofuels. By doing so, they contribute time, energy, skills and personal visions to family and community development. Their extensive experiences make them an invaluable source of knowledge and expertise on environmental management and appropriate actions. This makes these so called illiterate woman as excellent human resource managers, having very strong environmental awareness. The first documented expression of a woman, who gave her life to safeguarding the environment, goes back more than three hundred years ago. The Maharaja of Jodphur, Rajasthan (India), wanted to build a new palace and required wood for it. His men went to the area around the village of Jalnadi to fell the khejri trees. When Amrita Devi, member of the Bishnois community, saw this, she rushed out to prevent the men and she hugged the first tree. But the axe fell on her and she died on the spot. People from 83 surrounding villages rushed to prevent the men from felling the trees and by the end of the day more than 350 had lost their lives. When the king heard about this, he apologized and promised the villagers that they would never again be asked to provide timber. With that event the recorded history of the Chipko movement started. In Seventees, Under the leadership of Gaura Devi, a 50-year old illiterate woman, women rushed from their homes to hug the trees (‘chipko’ means hugging) and prevent them from being cut. A four-day standoff ended in victory for the villagers. The actions of the

COVER STORY women of Reni were repeated in several other places in the region, as hill women demonstrated their power as non-violent activists. In Japan, in the 1950s, the Nakabaru Women’s Society and Sanroku Women’s Society protested loudly against pollution from industries and power plants in the Tobata region. This resulted in major pollution prevention measures taken by the local government and corporations. Another well-known example of women’s longlasting involvement in environment is the Greenbelt Movement, Kenya. Launched on Earth Day 1977 by the National Council of Women, this environmental campaign resulted in the mobilization of thousands of women planting indigenous trees. The Movement has created a national network of 6,000 village nurseries, The 50,000 women members of the Movement have planted about 20 million trees.

Individual women have played crucial roles in enhancing public awareness and political will for environmental protection and conservation: Rachel Carson, Donella Meadows, Gauri Devi, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Jane Goodall, Wangari Maathai, Anita Roddick, Bella Abzug and Noreena Hertz, just to mention a few.

The commitment, courage, resilience and patience of millions of individual and organized women, - scientists, activists and local rural and urban women - in sustaining the environment is amazing. Day after day they perform their communities’ productive and reproductive tasks, or inform the world community about the need for environmental conservation. They sustain the interface between the human and physical environment, thereby demonstrating a deep understanding and technical knowledge about the ecological characteristics In Eastern Europe it of their environment: is primarily the pollution of the environment and its impacts on human If we only look in the field of biodiversity, numerous examples are available about women’s health that has fuelled women’s environmental activism. Ecofeminism is seen as the connection knowledge of local ecosystems and species, and of the environmental movement and the feminism their commitment and practices to conserve these. Particularly indigenous women, in all removement. gions of the world, are custodians of local biodiversity. Organized women’s groups are fighting against deforestation, pollution and other forms of enviTheir extensive experiences ronmental degradation. There are also an inmake them an invaluable source creasing number of women’s groups and unique self-help projects regenerating the environment. of knowledge and expertise on Often a woman takes the lead in such campaigns. environmental management and And Woman leaders often become a source of appropriate actions. inspiration for a wide range of women.

“

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agents for a beautiful tomorrow Professional women’s organizations have also been established, such as the Women Leaders for the Environment consisting of women environment ministers from around the world, and the recently established WOCAN network of professional Women in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management. In November 2004 more than 150 professional women and activists came together in Nairobi for the first ‘WAVE conference: Women as the Voice for the Environment’, hosted by UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme).

What drives women? Taking into account the above developments, a relevant question is: Why are women interested in becoming change agents in the environmental

area? And: is their contribution to environmental conservation different from men? Women’s reproductive and productive tasks and roles enhance their profound relationship and commitment towards the present and future wellbeing of their children, families and communities. A sense of motherhood and sisterhood generates a powerful commitment to resist any developments that threaten the subjects of that feeling. Therefore environmental degradation and pollution not only affects women’s personal work burdens, health and quality of life negatively and limit their access to and control over resources, but are also strong physical, mental and emotional drivers for action.

So, these physical, physiological or emotional factors make Woman an important and a powerful agent to fight against deterioration of environment & thus

an agent of change for a healthy environment.

Ms. Vineeta Bhardwaj

The writer has done her masters in Ecology and Environment and is also a member of ISSRM & IUFRO(International Forum for environment & Forests. Presently working as HOD Environment Science in Col. Brown School, Dehradun and can be reached at vinvin44@gmail.com

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PHOTO STORY

A Ray Of Hope The answer my friend is blowing in the wind

A B H A Y N AW AN I

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expressions’ COFFEE

with Radha Raturi

The dynamic Radha Raturi is an IAS officer, Secretary finance, chief election officer and tax commissioner, govt. of Uttarakhand. She did her BA history hons from Bombay university, MA in personnel management from Osmania university and a diploma in mass communication from Sophia polytechnic Bombay. She was also posted as the DM Fatehpur (UP), DM Tehri-Garwal and DM Dehradun. Expressions got in touch with her to know her views on various environmental issues.

EXPRESSIONS (E):WHAT ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT YOU LIKE ABOUT DEHRADUN? RADHA RATURI (RR): Climate, Greenery & Culture. E: WHAT ARE THE CHANGES THAT YOU HAVE OBSERVED IN THE CITY AND WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE CHANGES? RR: Increase in traffic, air pollution, multi-storeyed buildings, water logging etc. These changes will gradually affect the climate of Dehradun. E: WHAT DO YOU THINK WERE THE REASONS FOR THE ABOVE? RR: Since Dehradun became the temporary capital of Uttarakhand, there was a sudden increase in population, offices, vehicles etc. E: SHOULD THE DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY BE AN ECONOMIC PRIORITY? RR: Yes, we should try to develop solar energy, wind energy and launch a people’s movement for rain water harvesting and recycling of waste water. E: DO THINK GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL? CAN YOU SITE SOME EXAMPLES WITH REGARDS TO DEHRADUN? RR: Yes, because gradually the summers in Dehradun are becoming warmer- ACs are being used in places where they were not required earlier. E: HOW CAN WE PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND AT THE SAME TIME IMPROVE PEOPLE’S STANDARD OF LIVING? RR: We need a balance between development and ecology. E: WHAT DO YOU FEEL ARE THE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN DEHRADUN AND HOW CAN THEY BE DEALT WITH? RR: Air pollution, improper garbage disposal, polythene bags, choking drains, burning of garbage near roots of trees etc. To reduce air pollution, we need to check vehicle emissions and reduce number of vehicles, solid waste management by the local body and residents is necessary for proper garbage disposal. E: ARE THERE ANY ACTIONS BEING TAKING TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT IN DEHRADUN? RR: Each citizen of Dehradun should try to ensure that no garbage is thrown on the roads or pavements,

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expressions’ COFFEE say no to polythene carry bags, segregate household waste into bio-degradable and non-bio-degradable. E: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR. PLEASE COMMENT. RR:Yes, for sustainable development all of us have to ensure that we do not waste water and electricity. We should try to conserve water through rain water harvesting and make maximum use of solar energy through various implements such as solar cooker, solar lights, solar water heaters etc. We should also try to plant trees on all vacant land in Dehradun. E: THE MOST APPALLING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE IS ...? RR: Global Warming and Ozone depletion. E: WHO’S YOUR FAVOURITE ENVIRONMENTALIST AND WHY? RR: Gaura Devi, for launching the Chipko Movement to protect trees. E: DO YOU FEEL THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS SHOULD BE PROHIBITED? RR: Plastic bags should be re-cycled and their use should be minimized as much as possible. E: DEFORESTATION WOULD REDUCE CONSIDERABLY IF THERE IS SEVERE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW. PLEASE COMMENT. RR: A people’s movement should be launched to reduce deforestation. E: WHAT ROLE CAN WOMEN PLAY IN CONSERVATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT? RR: Women already play an important role in conserving the environment. What we require is to sensitize the men also towards conservation of environment. E: WHAT IS YOUR OPINION CONCERNING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS? HOW CAN IT BE MADE MORE EFFECTIVE? RR: Environmental education in schools should not be a theoretical subject, where children study from a book and give exams. It should be used to sensitize children towards sustainable development and conservation of our natural resources through practical work. E: ONE MESSAGE YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO OUR YOUNG READERS. RR: Please do not waste electricity at home or in your school and remember to switch off all lights, fans, ACs, electrical appliances when they are not being used.

EX PR ES SIO NS

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WAYS TO PHOToGRAPH D oon valley

FEATURING THE SKY The sky needs to be considered carefully in landscape photography as it can either make a very positive contribution to the impact of an image or seriously detract from it and in Doon the sky has a lot to offer a photographer round the year. An empty, white sky is best avoided in most circumstances as it can have a very negative effect on the image by drawing attention away from the landscape and, in many cases, weakening the colour and contrast of the remainder of the image

sandip puran singh

a farm hand ’S shanty in D udh ly

spotted this rundown small farmhouse while driving along a quiet country road in the Suswa valley south of the city of Dehra. I was attracted by its tumbledown state and by the arrangement of the building and the surrounding trees, which I thought were quintessential Doon

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with corrugated cement sheet roof and the ubiquitous black plastic sheet. I also liked the ‘amrood’ trees for fruit in front, the ‘tun’ for shade at the back of the house along with the lone poplar for cash and not to miss the ‘ghudal’ as the hibiscus is called by the local people on the far right of the shanty, for its dark crimson blossoms and as the monsoon

had just ended you can see the tufts of basmati rice in the paddy at the bottom of the picture. In normal circumstances, I would probably have thought of these as a distraction, but here they seemed to contribute to the mood of the scene. But it was the large white cloud that clinched it for me, and I doubt I would have shot the picture had it been blue.

sandip puran singh

WAYS TO PHOToGRAPH D oon valley

C a m el ’ s Back Clouds During the monsoon the road to Mussoorie provides one of the most thrilling drives you can have, and is particularly rich in opportunities for photographs because after the first few showers the dust and haze of the summer is gone replaced by lucid views of the valley often with rolling cumulous clouds stretching over the horizon. Some of the more noticeable features are the ridges and valleys which, in many places, have dense forests covering them. I thought there was some potential in this mountain range but could not find any other features with which to make a composition. As I drove up the car park behind ‘Picture Palace’ it was late in the evening with ‘end-of-the-monsoons’ feel in the air and some small, nicely

expressions AUGUST 2010

shaped clouds began to put up a show to on the horizon. Panning the view it occurred to me that by including the cute cottage set in a thicket of Deodars next to the Christian cemetery on Camel’s Back could provide the other element the image needed. I then found a viewpoint (below a ‘hawa-ghar’) where I was able to include an interesting section of the range together with the rolling clouds and the cottage. I used a polarizing filter to make the clouds stand out in strong relief. This had the effect of making the blue sky at the top of the frame darker than I would have liked, so I used the graduated mask in the Photoshop to make it a bit lighter, you can also use ‘Graduated Tint’ in Google Picasa under Effects just as well which

is perhaps more intuitive and simpler to use. It is often possible to simply frame the image in a way that excludes any blank sky, and this can improve both the quality and impact of the landscape. A plain blue sky does not have the same negative effect as a white sky but it rarely adds much to the image. As a general rule, it’s best to frame the image to include as little sky as possible, or even to exclude it altogether. But when the sky has interesting clouds which Doon has round the year including some of it can often produce more powerful and atmospheric photography

Sandip Puran Singh seemasandeepsingh @gmail.com

THIS IS WHAT IT TURNS OUT TO BE !

od patiently takes time and pictures everything with perfection. He makes it beautiful enough to let us fall in love with it by just a glance…but what we humans do? We try our level best to dismantle God’s mesmerizing construction , we destroy things and call it rebuilding something better. Humans , the so called self made builders of the society are today proving to be even worse than that man who lived millions of years ago. Let me brief you with the amount of changes noticed as man evolved , let me compare that man who was no less than an ape to the today’s modern intellectual, self made, successful ape whose a devastator in disguise !

trees, cause intentional forest fires, change a wetland to a complete barren land and shut it all up by saying, ‘we are taking the society to a better tomorrow’. We plunge extreme amount of pollution in the air, harness the normal growth of plants n tress, build unnecessary skyscrapers without even following the basic code of construction. Moreover, as man competes to increase his lot, the twin rivals – Poverty and Illiteracy are well set against their progenitor. It’s clearly understandable that where poverty lurks and illiteracy proliferates, the sense of cleanliness (personal or public) fails to get the spotlight – Family planning and other noble initiatives still await mass-acceptance.

The early man was always in search of food, he The problems as stated above do not eclipse the miwandered from place to place to let himself stay nor responsibilities of the citizens. Undeniably, they alive, he ate whatever he got, he did kill animals but observe public hygiene, and their social well-bred that was so that he could survive, he had no per-ness prohibits them from giving a road show to the manent shelter, he stayed in caves, huts made from calls of their GUT. But they litter in their ‘wandering whatever little he could gather.He was a gatherer, spirit’. In the process, ‘shreds of detachment’ (in the a wanderer, a hunter, form of skinned fruits and vegearly man did things to let yet a lover of nature.He etables, tatters etc) and ‘slush of the ends meet, whereas the worshipped nature and sentiments’ (squeezed lemons, knew its value, he actuwatermelons and many more), modern man does things to ally considered nature find their way out in the open. end the means.” his mother in true sense Consequence – Roads and pavebecause nature nurtured ments become the ‘alimentary him. canal’ in hyperactivity.

“

Modern man is no exception. He does absolutely the same things that the early man did but the only and rather the major difference between the two was that, the early man did things “to let the ends meet” whereas the modern man does things “to end the means”.

Some state Governments in a sincere attempt to combat this problem have tried to give it the ‘International Onyx treatment’. Bins in green uniform and apron-ed personnel do their daily job of collection. But in spite of these efforts garbage is seen free flowing. Does this looming shadow, shadow all possible solutions?

We move from place to place, not with the aim of doing something constructive to the nature rather No. ‘Mt Garbage’ may stand mighty but it’s not we cause destruction wherever we go! We turn good invincible. farmlands, grasslands to untamed land of soil, cut

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THIS IS WHAT IT TURNS OUT TO BE ! The so called “modern” man is completely disillusioned by the idea of what progress and evolution is! He is a bit too ignorant towards all that is going on around him, we want all the luxuries of life, we want ourselves to be extremely satisfied, we will throw our garbage anywhere and give an excuse,’oh! Please, who cares about others? I should be clean and presentable’.

I do not want to be polite or modest and say that ‘its an advice’ rather I’ll be a little more direct and state that ‘it’s a red alert! A warning!’. Comprehend and interpret it properly before we or our future generations land up saying,

“Oh yes, petroleum once existed.”

We kill animals not to survive but to make

“Mum, what was the black and orange striped

more and more money. Accept the fact that we

animal called? Was it the tiger?”

are the materialistic lot. We have forgotten that

“Is it really true that once there existed a few

we live in a society and hence we’re not just

places categorized as Hill Stations?”

limited to “I , me, myself and my family”, it is a

“Are there really 6 seasons in a year or it was

bit more than that.

always this hot?”

This all might sound a bit exaggerated but this is what we are heading towards, wake up people and don’t let your follies pile up to such an extent that it becomes increasingly difficult to correct them. Strict rules and regulations, un-politicized and a role model chosen by us, will lead to its collapse /downfall, giving nature the much wanted Refresh! The choice lies in your hands…what do you want? A beautiful tomorrow or a destructive, black, sooty future…??

Sneha Pande

expressions AUGUST 2010

women and their GREEN power

nvironmental history books have mostly focused on men’s roles, and generally women’s involvement with nature has been ignored but even historical texts have been deficient in writing about women participation in environmentalist actions. The Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO), an international U.S. based non-governmental organization that advocates women’s equality in global policy. It was founded in 1990 by Bella Abzug and Mim Kelber to take action in the United Nations and other international policymaking forums. Its early successes included achieving gender equality in the final documents of Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration. In 2006, the organization was named as an international Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme. Agenda 21 is a programme run by the United Nations (UN) related to sustainable development and was the planet’s first summit to discuss global warming related issues. Rio Declaration was a short document produced at the 1992 United Nations “Conference on Environment and Development” (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit. It consisted of 27 principles intended to guide future sustainable development around the world.

akshay madan

One of the outstanding women environmentalists is Rachel Carson. She was a scientist, writer, and ecologist. After being inspired by her biology teacher she switched her major from English to Biology. Carson focused on effects of chemicals and pesticides on the environment. That is when she wrote her book about environment, Silent Spring. The book was about what man has done to the nature and eventually to himself, and started a modern environmental movement. Carson believed that human and nature are mutually dependent on each other. She argued that industrial activities such as pesticides use can damages the earth ecosystem and will have far-reaching ecological consequences such as future human health problems. Today, scientific studies have demonstrated these consequences. One of the first environmentalist movement which was inspired by women Gaura Devi, the head of the village Mahila Mangal Dal, at Reni village.

Gaura Devi led 27 women of Reni village, reached the site where labourers arrived a truckload to start the logging operations and confronted them. When all talking failed, and instead loggers started shouting and abusing the women, threatening them with guns, the women resorted to hugging the trees to stop the them from being axed and this was the beginning of the Chipko movement in the 1970’s.The movement was an act of defiance against the state government’s permission given to a corporation for commercial logging. The Chipko movement adopted the slogan “Ecology Is Permanent Economy.” The women embracing the trees did not tag their action as feminist activism; however, as a movement that demonstrated resistance against oppression, it had all the markings of such.” Another movement, which is one of the biggest in women and environmental history, is the Green Belt movement. Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai founded this movement on The World Environment Day in June 1977. The starting ceremony was very simple; few women planted seven trees in Maathai’s backyard. By 2005, 30 million trees had been planted by participants in the Green Belt movement on public and private lands. The Green Belt movement aims to bring environmental restoration along with society’s economic growth. This movement led by Maathai focused on restoration of Kenya’s rapidly diminishing forests as well as empowering the rural women through environmental preservation, with a special emphasis on planting indigenous trees. Women are considered to be more sensitive towards the environment. So as one can observe the contribution of women in the field of environment. It turns out to be our responsibility to give the women, as well as the environment, the revere they truly deserve.

Anuvansh Sharma

20 year old, pursuing B.Tech (Applied Petroleum Engineering)

expressions AUGUST 2010

gogreentips

ow can we live prudently on the Earth and save money at the same time? Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone’s “going green.” We’re glad you want to take action, too. Luckily, there are many of the steps we can take to stop climate change and make our lives delightfully better. Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more sustainably. Let’s not wait for tomorrow and start now. Dear readers in this issue, we specially focus on our women readers, how a common house wife or a working lady can take steps from her very own house for going green.

‘Go Green • Take a cloth or fabric bag to the store for shopping! If you visit grocery shop once a week, in 5 years you’ll have kept 250 to 1,000 grocery bags out of the landfill. When a ton of plastic bags are reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil is saved!!!!Plastic carry bag is the main culprit. Use alternatives such as cloth bag/jute bag/paper bag. • Pick eco-friendly toys for toddlers. There has been a lot of concern over the materials used in making children’s toys, particularly PVC Plastics. Chemicals that are added to plastic to soften toys include phthatles, which are considered a carcinogen (A carcinogen is a substance that is capable of causing cancer in humans or animals) by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency,USA). Shop wisely; Don’t accept plastic bags from shops. Carry your own bag. • Think out of the box when washing clothes. Using the smallest amount of soap or detergent will save money and natural resources. Washing clothes in cold water saves energy and colours. • Only Rain in the Drain! Do not dump yard waste in storm drains or natural waterways. Storm drains lead directly into our streams and rivers without treatment. It decomposes, releases foul odours and leads to poor water quality • Purchase rechargeable batteries for all your electronic gifts instead of regular alkaline ones. It is high time we start saving the Earth’s precious resources for the future generations along with saving money and assets for them. How many of us agree with this thought? So why throw away things that could be recycled or reused? To read these facts on recycling, it only takes a few minutes but to actually put it in practice would also take some judicious thinking and only a few minutes in a day. It is believed that a ton of paper that is recycled saves 7000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil and as much electricity to electrify an average household for 6 months. One aluminium can recycling can save electricity needed to run a TV for 6 hours. Recycling one glass bottle saves as much electricity as to power a 100-watts bulb for 4 hours, so calculate the amount of energy one would save by using an energy saving bulb. So now, let’s vouch together to make this Earth a better and clean place to live. The above mentioned points are those that affect common households, it’s something all around you. Just look carefully and you will certainly find these tips useful at home.

Shilpy Goel Agarwal

A management graduate from Symbiosis. Having been brought up in the beautiful valley of Doon, which holds a special place in my heart. © EXPRESSIONS 2010

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IN THE NEWS Green warrior Dolly Dhillon Gujral believes in involving masses in her tree plantation drive Monsoon ki masti lo, choo na sake patjhar aisa lo ashirwad…are the lines out of a poem that, as a blessing, Dolly Dhillon Gujral ties to each sapling she plants. This dedicated environmentalist recently got an appreciation award for planting as many as 1,800 trees during the last monsoon. “We use trees from the beginning of our life till our last rites. Each human being in a lifespan consumes close to 100 trees, be it for the purpose of fruits, medicines or wood. Isn’t it our duty to give back to nature?” she questions. As for her, she is giving back for sure. From roadsides to schools, mosques, gurdwaras, mandirs, gaushala, parking places and city markets, Dolly has planted trees everywhere. “As a housewife I planted trees, say 10-12 a season. It was only last year that it took form of passion,” she shares the journey. So, Dolly along with one of her housemaids went wherever they found a spot, dug a pit and planted a sapling. But the job was not done with just planting. “Wherever I plant, I make sure to take a pledge from whosoever stays nearby to look after the plant like a baby,” she says. And she herself makes sure to check out how they are doing. No wonder, of the 1800 saplings, near about all have survived a year and in fact doing pretty well. “When I plant in schools, I generally give responsibility of tending a plant to students because I feel its children and youth who need to be sensitised,” she says. Her enthusiasm is certainly matched by young, bubbly kids who have named their young plants with much love-Ayushman, Drishti and Sukhman. Having so many babies (literally) has kept Dolly on her toes the year around. “When I planed at the sides of roads, officials did tell me maintaining them is going to be difficult but I had faith in myself,” she shares. It did turn to be difficult to water roadside plants. “I took cans in our car to water the plants,” she says beaming with pride. Her religious streak finds place as she chants Gayatri Mantra and Mul Mantra from Jap Ji Sahib before planting each sapling and with love ties her poem Jeevant Paudhe as a mark of blessing.

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And, she makes sure to check on how her tribe

is growing. “Sometimes I have this desire to see some tree planted somewhere, I just pick up the car and go to see,’ she shares. Inspired? Well, the lady who has green fingers has a message for you, “Just tell me what plant you want to have, I will get it and plant wherever you want. I turn, just promise me take care of it and a permission to check on it from time to time.”

Source

Mona Singh TRIBUNE - Dehradun Plus

IN THE NEWS G reen Bat on r e a c h e s T o u c h w o o d S c h o o l , D e h r a d un Dehradun, 2nd August Team iCARE as part of its month long ‘Plant for the Future campaign’, celebrated Van Mahotsav with students of TOUCHWOOD SCHOOL, in their premises here today. Plant for the Future campaign is an ambitious project undertaken by iCARE which is basically a program wherein our members will reach out to various schools, colleges, private institutions, govt. offices in and around Doon valley. So far in the first leg of our campaign we have already visited Sunrise Academy, Apollo International school, Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV Bhel) Haridwar, Shemrock, Cherry Field and have successfully planted trees and conducted ‘Green Conference’ with an objective of promoting not only low carbon practice but also encompassing the community of the valley to inculcate the need for preserving the environment. Our aim is to reach out to everyone and thereby create a network of enthusiastic citizens who wish to make an effort in making our planet a better place to live”. Since its inception in 1986, TOUCHWOOD school has become a name synonymous with value based education situated in the mystic ambience of lush green hills, it is a scholars paradise. Here the inherent potential of children is recognized and empowered with personal and professional skills to become dynamic individuals who are socially aware and environmentally conscious. MEENAKSHI SAXENA (PRINCIPAL) “An encouraging eco-friendly drive not only initiated well but also executed with utmost sincerity. iCARE volunteers need our special appreciation for their social awareness and love for our country, India. I wish them success in all their endeavors.”

AANCHAL TAMTA Class XII “I always feel myself very close to the nature and today’s tree plantation event really made my day. It was undoubtedly a wonderful experience. I am very thankful to iCARE for giving me an opportunity to be a part of your event. I am highly obliged. And I wish you success in your program.”

ISHAN PANT Class XII “In my opinion this organization is doing a great job as they’re bringing people together from various parts of our city and have started an initiative to make our town DEHRADUN greener. I would love to be a part of this organization. The initiative to plant trees in schools by bringing children together is a great idea towards sustainable development.”

The Green Baton will soon be travelling across Dehradun in the month of August.

So you never know maybe you’re next. Thank you all for your support.

expressions AUGUST 2010

CONTEST QUESTION Now wrack your brains and answer this in 100 - 150 words.

YOUTH ACTIVISM IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR because ..... The best entry will not only win a prize but will also be featured in the September issue.

ECO SPACE Have a passion for drawing, painting, sketching, photography.....??? This is your chance to be featured in EXPRESSIONS’ september issue, and you stand to win a surPRIZE.

Theme - WILDLIFE Send in your entries latest by 25th August, 2010 at beautifuldehradun@gmail.com

log on to

www.icarefordoon.org expressions AUGUST 2010

CONGRATULATIONS How Can Environmental Studies Be Made More Enjoyable? Environment is not just a subject to study and just a mere definition of “The combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, and survival of organisms” doesn’t mean we know about environment or we are studying environment. Studying environment doesn’t mean that we learn a few definitions and copy the in the exam paper and get full marks. NO. That is not studying environment that is just reading it for the sake of exams. A person whether it is an adult or a child cannot learn about the environment until and unless he sees it as a living organism. Environment not only just problems like pollution, population, natural disasters, global warming, ozone depletion, contamination etc like every child is taught these days but environment consists of many small things, many small pleasures. Like watching a small tiny bird take its first flight, a caterpillar changing into a colorful butterfly, a tiny kitten looking at you with its huge innocent eyes, a bee trying to get to a flowers nectar all of these makes our environment but in our narrow mined perspective we forget all these pleasures and happiness that our environment gives us and instead concentrate on burdening the innocent small mind of a child with the problems and words which a child cannot even start to understand. The best and the most enjoyable way to teach a child or any person the actual environment is by making him interact with the actual living beings of this wonderful and exotic environment. Let the child observe each and every thing and the bigger picture, the bigger problems will by itself fall into place in its mind. Teaching is important about these subjects but e should start at the basic ABC of the subject. First let the child observe, interact and absorb with the environment. The main thing is interaction, if the child himself sees the dirt roads and plastic bags everywhere and then the teacher tells the child what will happen if those plastic bags will remain there only then will a child understand the problem along with its solution. In the end I would only like to say “teach the child to interact and he will understand everything himself”

Apoorva Goyal Graphic Era University Of Technology

Abhinav Kapruvan Hilton School, Dehradun

Urvashi Rawat Beverly Hills, Dehradun

ECO SPACE WINNERS We would like to congratulate you all. You can collect your gift vouchers from our city office: 51-A Subhash Road, Dehradun. For any confusion feel free to call us at +919760614317 Keep the entries coming in. Lots of prizes to be won.

expressions AUGUST 2010