Hypocrisy turned green in Britain last week. Prince Charles and Prime Minister Gordon Brown came in for media criticism for taking separate, private aircraft to Copenhagen for the global environment meet. By using private planes, both produced more carbon emissions — blamed for global warming — than would have been generated by taking commercial flights. Venkata Vemuri writes more.
When India fought the First War of Independence in 1857, and Bahadur Shah ‘Zafar’ was installed as emperor by the Hindus in Delhi for a brief period, his Hindu Prime Minister, on the emperor’s proclamation, made the killing of cow a capital offence. Earlier in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s kingdom, the only crime that had capital punishment was cow slaughter. Subramanian Swamy writes more.
A few years back, people were wondering what the actual impact of climate change would be on water utilities. The answers were vague – no one really knew. But everyone knew about rising temperatures, melting glaciers, floods, droughts, extreme weather conditions, and encroaching seas. Homilies about the need to be more resilient to climate change were put forward in power point presentations. But for most water utilities, especially the ones in Asia, it was just business as usual.Sahana Singh writes more.
Diwali is the one festival in India which is celebrated by all, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Diwali is celebrated to acknowledge the victory of good over evil. And the lighting of earthen lamps or diyas on a moonless night signifies a new beginning of enlightenment and the end of darkness of ignorance. The very concept of Diwali has hardly anything to do with the fireworks. Here’s some ways to celebrate an “eco-friendly” Diwali…
Do we walk? Do we drive? Couldn’t there be a space for both? Shana Maria Varghese looks at some ideas at the recent Habitat Summit for Alternative Urban Futures for India
“Trees make effective sound barriers: Trees muffle urban noise almost as effectively as stone walls. Trees, planted at strategic points in a neighbourhood or around your house, can abate major noises from freeways and airports.” says Arthur Plotnik.
It’s time our conservation policies factor in the need for professional arborists to maintain and renew our green cover, says Ananda Banerjee
