|
|
It has been a long time since I wrote something on Rediff iLand, now I think it is time to come back and be with everyone. Started in 2006 and it has been a great journey ever since, meeting people from across the globe, sharing of information, ideas, room for growing up, accepting people with different thought processes, it all made me evolve over the past five years. I confess that I did take a break from 2009 onwards, it is because I have been experimenting with some other projects related to environment. I am still with it, trying to make things work out as it should be, but it is tough I must say. As usual I would like to start off with some environmental stuff as usual, this time some questions, you may want to answer or dwell upon. Or maybe I am just trying to throw some light upon these issues in daily life…..
Points to ponder upon:
1. Waste disposal- do you have the facility to segregate the
waste? (plastic/ paper/ glass/ kitchen waste) how often do you dispose
garbage and who collects it? are you concerned about it?
2. Vehicle emission- does it affect you? how often do you drive?
does the emission smother you? are you prone to any respiratory
diseases as a result? how many litres of fuel does your vehicle consume
per month? (diesel/ petrol).
3. Intensive farming/ monoculture- do you come across farms where
they practice intensive culture to meet the demands (for eg: poultry
farms- meat and egg production, cattle farms- meat, milk production,
aquaculture- whereby only one type of fish is being cultured to meet
the demand, pesticide pollution from agricultural lands during monsoon
(endosulfan pollution). Do they use draught power from animals or is it
mechanised farming?
4. Landuse- do you see urban sprawl in your area, do they destroy
the habitat? do they meet any EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment
norms)? Do they revive the area with trees/ vegetation once they finish
the project? (Lawns and other decorations do not include under revival).
5. Electromagnetic radiation- does it cross your mind that we are
subject to some kind of radiation all the time? how aware are you? do
you switch off your mobile/ TV/ laptop/ other electrical devices at
night? Just citing a few ailments caused by radiation recorded by WHO
(World Health Organisation)- These include childhood cancers, cancers
in adults, depression, suicide, cardiovascular disorders, reproductive
dysfunction, developmental disorders, immunological modifications,
neurobehavioural effects and neurodegenerative disease, DNA
fragmentation- A 2009 study at the University of Basel in Switzerland
found that intermittent (but not continuous) exposure of human cells to
a 50 Hz electromagnetic field at a flux density of 10 G (G- Gauss is
cgs unit of measurement for magnetic field) induced a slight but
significant increase of DNA fragmentation.
6. Genetic food contamination- how aware are you? do you know
about Bt. Crops? did you know that a vegetarian cannot be a vegetarian
as long as we don’t stop genetic food pollution (human manipulation of
an organism’s genome- contamination/ injecting an animal genome into a
crop variety to produce a new variety that maybe beneficial for short
term benefits as in monetary terms- for eg: these modified crops might
need very less pesticides and can withstand extreme weather
patterns….etc).
7. E-waste- do you recycle your old electronic products before you
purchase a new one? do you have disposal points near to your area where
you can recycle CD’s, batteries, old mobile phones, laptops/ computers?
8. Consumerism capitalism- are you a victim of consumerism? (
Consumerism- consumer demand is manipulated through a deliberate and
co-ordinated way through mass marketing techniques which would
ultimately benefit the sellers). how often do you shop apart from your
food shopping?!! Don’t think of shopping as a stress relief
please….that is another psycho manipulation!!!
9. Have you come across any nature parks/ reserves in your area?
Would you create one if you do not have one? This would a great
platform to discuss/ evaluate/ find solution to the problems in your
area through community participation and involvement.
You can respond to this via email if you wish…
email: amordj08@gmail.com
I remember I used to get a lot of response through blogging, right now I don’t know how free one would be to respond to blogs as the World has moved on ever since, yes I am referring to microblogging, which I do not support that much. Maybe it is good for a particular group of people who are in the fast lane and do not have much time!
Hope to hear from all of you!
Have a great week ahead…..
Hi all  I am back with a bang! or with my big stick …..lol…. Urging everyone to make changes in their daily lives to combat global warming……let us make this very day a new beginning……for the future generations….or just think of your own child. For we do not know if their progeny would have to visit a museum to see a polar bear or a penguin! Let us start our stint in making this World a safer place For those who do not believe in global warming and climate change, then at least think of the economic sense  you can fill your pockets Cheers! amor
The rate of raw material consumption has rocketed over the last decade as in direct proportion to the rate of increase in consumption and population. But how come such a civilized bunch of people have no control over sustainability and welfare of the environment? Then what is the difference between a bushman and a civilized man? Both are the same I presume, or at least the Bushmen do not destroy the environment! Even if he does, it would be out of his ignorance and lack of knowledge, what about the civilized world? I always remember the saying: a Short term benefit is a pathway or bed of roses to the farthest loss or deep pit! A portable radio can be purchased for a fiver these days, at the same time, ten years ago the same product would have cost a tenner. This is when externalities jump in and save the consumer. As the age old theory of economics states: the demand and supply curve, when demand is higher, the supply is higher (directly proportional), when the demand is higher, the prices are lower (inversely proportional). So the seller would obviously search for avenues where he can manufacture the product at a minimum cost to reap the maximum benefit. The solution is, shifting of factories to places where labour cost and raw material cost would be cheaper. Low tax rates, and lack of environmental laws which are other reasons why big corporations like the US, UK, Australia, Russia have an eye on these developing nations for the windfall profits they are looking for. In other words they are jumping into these nations to reap the short term benefits. Globalisation is the norm of the century, where nations do not exist. This is liberation of companies from national obligation to exploit the benefits of the new global economy. The doors are open for trade and the World is seen as One. But why not the environmental laws? Why not execute environmental laws that would apply to any country irrespective of their economy. Prices for iron, copper, tin, silver, gold, molybdenum (hard metal used in steel) have all increased by 300 to 500 % over the past decade. Of course it is good news that it provides income and employment to that nation, but in terms of sustainability nothing is being done. Legal miners can be monitored and managed to a sustainable level, but what about the illegal miners? Miners from the developing countries like Indonesia have been reported blasting river banks with pressure hoses, thereby destroying the ecosystem, contaminating the water body and poisoning the life in rivers, resulting in scarcity of drinking water and unemployment to the fishermen who thrive on these waters for their daily sustenance. The next issue is waste disposal after mining which consists of harmful chemicals like cyanide and manganese, often disposed off deep in the forests, which would eventually reach the rivers during the monsoon season. So where do we stand? What are these big NGO’s like Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth doing at all? I just wonder!!!! I have spoken already about seeing the world as one in terms of trade and economy…. Some guidelines to seeing the world as One in terms of environment…….. This is were receiving nations have to be subjected to higher standards and environmental laws to take anything out of the donating nation. Therefore anything illegal can be controlled. Strict laws, management measures and regimes have to be implemented to attain the goal of sustainability. Only renewable resources should be made allowable to use. Providing alternative employment to illegal miners who obviously come under lower income groups, this is where the Government has to step in and provide income support, from the huge amount of tax that they collect from the working class! So the Government has to stop gulping in all the taxes and make use of it! The big bad wolf needs some taming, I am talking about the Government!! This is where celebrities or personalities of great power for eg: business men, should come forward and influence the Government. Or in other words, social work and concern for people and environment has to be our duty in the 21st century
The Plastic bag issue…. I hope I have mentioned previously that I refuse plastic bags wherever I go….sometimes I have my clothbags/ used plastic bags, handy with me. Yesterday I went into a shop to buy a pair of shoes, the till operator scanned the item to purchase and started to pack up…..when I interrupted her and said ‘no thanks I don’t need a bag’ and she went ok…and then I said ‘I don’t need the box at all…just the shoes please’…and then she started… ise di se ur e reliogione ? I was like ‘what??!!!’ from her accent I could guess she was from eastern Europe. But why drag religion into environment? Does it mean that refusing plastic bags is some kind of religious belief? I was really aggravated by her question, but I controlled myself. Then what the hell is our job? haha…..but sometimes people get on my nerves! I must say that. People are so ignorant in this world, all they know is to work and shop and eat!! Gawdsake! ise dise ure reliogione? Sorry I’m just taking away my frustration!
Hi Friends, I am back with a starter!!! Hope you’ll enjoy the video and the message! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM-mfEMssy8# cheers! elamor:)
As you all know June 5th is World Environment Day, I guess I should be doing something, rather than wait for things to happen! I would want to urge everyone to stop using 'PLASTIC BAGS', I know many of you would be responding by saying "What?", its hard and I am not asking you to stop using them all of a sudden, anything and everything takes time to happen. Options are: ~ Cloth cotton/ jute bags- for those who drive, this is not a problem at all, tucking it in your boot. ~ Reuse the plastic bags you have at home, instead of chucking them in the bin. ~ Buy a bag for life, which indeed lasts for a life time. In my case: I have stopped using plastic bags since December 2006, it was difficult I admit, I get one or two bags once in a while and reuse them until its impossible to carry anything in it!!! I have my cloth bags with me always, whilst going to work I carry them with me and normally I do my food shopping during the weekdays on my way back home, not a weekend shopper, coz I hate queuing up!! I have people looking at me when I take my cloth bags out for packing and I ignore all that, I always believe in having the guts to do what is right! 1. Plastic bags end up in land fills and takes up to 500 years to degrade, unless scientists should discover some sort of artificial degradation methods, which I believe will take years. 2. Plastic bags get washed out into the sea through sewage pipes and end up destroying the underwater life, eg; clogging coral reefs, smothering the respiratory and digestive system of dolphins and turtles as they mistake it for food and therefore leading to a slow and silent death.
3. Plastic bags are being incinerated in some parts of the world which inturn emits obnoxious and toxic gases that leads to respiratory diseases amongst human beings in that area. We human beings behave as if it's none of our business, what difference is it going to make if I stop using them? I can see my neighbours still using them, why do I bother? A thousand questions cross your mind, I know, but take the initiative by yourself with the aim of making a difference. How would you feel if someone throws a bag full of rubbish at your table whilst you are having your dinner? This is exactly what we are doing; a million dinner tables and lives are being attacked underwater, to support our luxurious lifestyle or in other words robotic lifestyle! Have a thought and make a difference from today! Please give me your feedback, any issues can be discussed.
Would you give up plastic bags? That’s my question to start with. This is what the turtle has to say: I feel ill….my tummy is aching and I can’t breathe properly…….. would you still use plastic bags? have the guts to say: no thanks I have my own cloth bag/ I’m re-using my bag/ I have a bag for life. LET’S SAVE THE UNDERWATER CREATURES! amor
When I was writing the blog ‘what I’ve done’ my mind was so distressed, telling me something is coming….something really bad……for people reading this might think….what’s wrong with you! But I guess I have the sixth sense. Yes, I’m talking about Burma……yet another natural disaster……or you may call it the rage of ‘Kaliyug’. Telling us again and again “I can’t take this anymore”. My heart goes out to the families who have lost their dear ones, to the people struggling for their daily sustenance, to the injured, to the homeless…..put yourself in their shoes…… Let’s join our hands and say a little Prayer to help those people cope through this test from the “Creator”. Amor Peace Harmony
The world is moving towards reaping short-term benefits. Let me start with a simple example battery eggs; did you ever imagine that the consumers would turn to the real life-story of these poor souls crammed up in cages just for the profit of its owner? These days nobody wants battery eggs, instead free-range eggs is the norm. Back to basics huh? Like farming your own crop within your own land. How wonderful would that be? What were the scientists/ innovators across the world doing with regards to long- term benefits? Do we classify them as profit hunters as well? Because all they do is create a cluster of books and research papers stack up the libraries and they earn millions for their so called "Discovery". Risk assessments and the whatnots existed, but did anyone give a damn? Population explosion, cheap air tickets, car loans, genetically modified crops etc are some of the dire aspects that we have to deal with today. Population explosion (which stands at 6 billion today) could have been avoided if proper measures were adopted to educate the unknown, i.e.; considering the number of doctors across the world. For e.g.; my father was awarded with some certificate and gold medal for his achievements as a project leader in family planning when he was young (I wasn't around at that time!!). By the time you move on people get sedentary selfish and forget about what's happening around and snuggle up to their own comforts. Now he's far away from social service! My point is that if people were to get into social service at least for a few hours a week during the weekend, it could make a huge difference upon any aspect in the long-run. Cheap air-tickets which were not there a decade ago, now you can fly to any destination in Europe with a few quid and the internet has made it even cheaper! But then again, no long term goals. Now the environmentalists are out to fight it out, against the CO2 emissions smothering the European skies! Car loans, cheaper car insurance, making it easier for anyone to purchase a car and again adding up to the CO2 emissions day after day. So does anyone, the so called "intellectuals" think about the long term goals? Or is it human nature? I don't know! 67 million hectares of crops cultivated worldwide are genetically modified, of which 60% are in the US. I have already written about GM foods previously (you can look up on top 10 posts). The labelling regulations for these foods do not require disclosure of ingredients which is how they existed until now. What a con .eh? Profit hunters! Mutual understanding I presume! And we consumers stand the biggest fools! Next time when you are having that pre-packed food, milk shake, ice-cream ..beware! Dairy products are the biggest target. You must be wondering, then 'what will I eat?' The answer is "Organic Food". Again back to basics. Farming and cultivating your own food! Intelligence and moral conscience has to go hand in hand ..that's what I think, I could be wrong. I just don't give a damn if you are a scientist/ doctor/ astronaut/ techie/ business person, unless moral conscience and un-selfish motives are there in you. Do you think these short- term benefits are inevitable? Or is it time for mankind to switch to "back to basics". Or do we just carry on as if its none-of-my-business? What do you think? Expecting your valuable comments as usual. Hope it wasn't boring!! Even my mind would wander ..in terms of short-term benefits!!! My hard core decision making skills, my negotiating skills, my quick thinking, my forward thinking, would all be put to test!!!
|
|
