Honey Bees - RIP

Back from a refreshing short break.

It is great to just step out of the urban jungle and be closer to nature.  Increasingly tempted to get-away from P-T-P's, pollution (all kinds, incl noise), trash & plastic !! But then there is no escape from P-T-P's, anywhere in India.
Maha Sivaratri night was also noisy, instead of silent contemplation of Lord. A group was playing volleyball during night, to stay awake ! It was surely better than playing cards, and gossiping. But, we are a bit low on empathy when it comes to the impact of noise pollution we create and its impact on people and animals/birds around.

Mom showed with joy formation of a honey-bee-comb on our balcony. The last time, a huge one, was taken off during our absence - for a few ML of honey? If as the residents we had no problem to co-existence with the bees, what problem should others have ?!

Resumed my morning walks, 'break-ke-baad'!
But was shocked to find many honey-bees lying dead in our complex. Few were fighting death. Perhaps the impact of efforts to keep the area mosquito-free. It seem to be killing more honey-bees, rather than mosquitoes. A toddler, waiting for school bus with his mom, was surprised.
Wonder, what lessons we are imparting to the kids? It is one matter to kill mosquitoes and other harmful insects (prevention still better), but something else to kill harmless honey-bees, so critical to our environment.

Pls check out why they are important:

1. http://www.organic-food-for-everyone.com/missing-bees.html
2. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071005142530AAIabeh

What have we done to our environment ?

Tried a new 'route', outside the concrete area within our compound, for a morning walk. Had heard about this stretch from others, hence had planned to try...

Just 'five minutes' away (here we measure distance based on commuting time!), civilisation ends! Till then, it was a combination of habitation and potential habitation, with a few complexes under construction. The construction workers indeed start the day very early... Along the short stretch, there was garbage, and lot of plastics. Some trash were burnt off, again not a healthy way to dispose plastic & garbage. We need to urgently #Deplastify our environment. We should have a rule to segregation & safe-disposal of trash. The new rape law should include the environment also. 

Once out of the clutter and pollution, I thought the stretch would be clear, clean & green. Saw a few people already walking. My expectation only went up, as a stretch which is preferred by morning-walkers will be a very 'healthy' environment. But I was shocked to find, pockets of unauthorised garbage disposals, loads of construction waste and massive de-forestation!

Saw two majestic trees. Felt glad there at least few huge, majestic trees, with eagles and other birds. As I moved closer, I saw they were right in the middle of a grave-yard. The grave-yard seem to be greener. The rest of the area were proving to be 'grave yard for the trees & plants'!! Construction debris were littered around the graveyard too! Real estate boom is killing our environment.

As I headed home, Sun rose with all splendor and light. Offered a silent salutation. We were part of a culture which worshipped nature. Now we are doing the opposite to Nature :(

 

I got home, not refreshed from a morning walk. Washed face. Then had quick shower. Did my meditation. But the mind is still agitated.... What have we done to our environment!!

Midwayfilm Must Watch

Got this from couple of friends... 

This video is about an island in the ocean at 2000 km from any other coast line.Nobody lives there, only birds and yet ...............You will not believe your eyes!!!!!!! This film should be seen by the entire world, please don't throw anything into the sea. Unbelievable, just look at the consequences!!!!! 

http://www.midwayfilm.com/

Must watch...

I have shared with virtually all my contacts, on multiple platforms... Hope & pray many get to watch it & share. We have a choice... to make a difference or just ignore the issue. But, eventually it will come to haunt us & future generations.

In fact to cut down on plastic was one of my new year resolutions, as part of my effort to 'GO Green'. Now it becomes a priority. I can not limit my love for animals ( birds/fish/plants Etc) just to pampering our own dog. It should extend to the world... Let us make a choice.

World Tourism Day Greetings from Goa

Today is World Tourism Day!! And, I am at Goa, one of India’s best tourist spots. And, in my own, small way, I am trying to be a responsible tourist, as always, by avoiding wastage or water/power, sensitive to flora & fauna, minimise plastcis, etc. (afterall, 'boond, boond...')

Going up the corporate-ladder, very early in my carrier, I fancied my opportunity to get into a league where I could stay top 5 Star hotels. To enjoy the the basic facilities only, not to experience the luxury, often unnecessary freebies for a business traveler. But when I reached there, I was very conscious about environment & my responsibility, holistically. So, one of the things I looked forward at top hotels, bath-tubs, became a strict no-no :( But, not regrets at all. Afterall, it was a personal choice and felt good to be environmentally-sensitive. 

This morning, as I stepped out for my morning walk, I was surprised to observe no earthworm on the concrete path! I thought they had 'conspired' to prevent me the opportunity to save them J

As I went for a longer stretch, I reached the south-eastern corner of the property, where I found few on the road. But, that stretch was not concrete and less frequented, so less threatening to their lives.  Sadly I discovered I was actually hurting some earthworms while trying to save them :(

May be hotel should take up the project to save earth-worms, just as they manage the plants so well. 

Go Organic

Previous post was on 'salt & pepper', a mallu movie.

This is a lot more serious stuff !

Check out http://news.consumerreports.org/health/2012/09/dont-give-up-on-organic-food-our-experts-urge.html

Several media-reports have appeared on this research-findings, comments varying, with their own judgements (I am not being judgemental here !) . But in Indian context, it is better to go organic, just to avoid the health hazards due to excess use of pesticides & fertilizers.
More importantly, when we go organic, there is a subtle shift in our mindset... which less religious, but more spiritual...
Try it!

Bengaluru Green

Bengaluru beautiful, during the day !

World Environment Day 2012

The theme for 2012 is GREEN ECONOMY. 

The UN Environment Programme defines the Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. ( http://www.unep.org/wed/theme/ )

We all have a big role to play...


Let us take responsibility to save water, energy & ensure we are responsible to the environment.


Let us make it part of our lifestyle, value-system, get our kids to be more aware...

3000 Itallians flee city to become shepherds

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-30/3-000-italians-flee-city-to-become-shepherds

• Some are doing it for passion... : that is great... back to nature!

• some, out of necessity ! ... that is sad :(

GO Green in GCC

Came across this simple study of why we are not really 'GOing GREEN' !

http://www.kippreport.com/2012/05/unimpressed-exclusive-research-shows-why-residents-uae-and-saudi-arabia-dont-give-a-leafy-cabbage-about-going-green/comment-page-1/#comment-89637



It is all due to the low level of awareness.
Everyone cares...surely
Incentive helps, but that alone is not the reason.
While educational institutions, government agencies and other related agencies can play a big role, ultimately all those who believe in it should proactively practise it.

PS : I feel across G20 countries, some of the basic initiatives should be mandatory - for example, segregation of garbage & re-cycling.

For all the hue & cry on the rising petro prices in India, no one talks about improving public transport !!

Green Audit

Time to take into account environment impact too Go Green!!

Believe it not, we are driving less, says a report

According to a report in The Age, 'Peak car use - which is measured as vehicle kilometres travelled per capita - had occurred in all major Australian cities in 2004 in line with the world trend, the authors noted. In 2004, Melbourne's car use peaked at 12,410 passenger kilometres per capita. In 2009, that had dropped to 11,050'
 

That is quite 'GO Green' !!

http://www.theage.com.au/national/believe-it-or-not-were-driving-less-than-ever-20110709-1h7zq.html

IBM's "Next Five in Five"

It was interesting to note the Next Five...

1. Beaming up your friends in 3D - which means we will spend more time on-line ==> less time off line, more obesity, et al... !
2. Batteries that breathe air to power devices - we desperately need better battery technology to minimise the pollution 
3. Computers helping energising cities
4. commutes that are personalised... 
5. but what caught my attention was ORDINARY PEOPLE SAVING THE PLANET

This is most urgent need of the hour. If we depend on orgns, governments or media to dictate the pace ( or lack of it) implementation, we may need to migrate to another planet sooner than we imagined. The common man has to take the responsibility and the initiative. Each one of holds the future of our planet. 

gulfnews : Cadillac working on luxury electric car

gulfnews : Cadillac working on luxury electric car