Top Green Lighting Tips

1. CFL: The better bulb

Compact florescent bulbs (CFLs) are those swirley little guys that look like soft-serve ice cream cones. Actually, they come in a myriad of different shapes, sizes, and colors of light. Economically speaking, they’re a great deal, too. CFLs cost a bit more than an incandescent, but use about a quarter as much energy and last many times longer (usually around 10,000 hours). It is estimated that a CFL pays for its higher price after about 500 hours of use. After that, it’s money in your pocket. Also, because CFLs release less heat, not only are they safer, but your cooling load is less in the summer. CFLs aren’t hard to find anymore, and many cities will give them away for free. Wal-Mart has plans to sell 100 million of them.

2. Get the LEDs out

LEDs are a definite TreeHugger favorite. LEDs, or light emitting diodes, are a technology that allows for extremely energy efficient and extremely long-lasting light bulbs. LEDs are just starting to hit the consumer market in a big (read affordable) way and still cost quite a bit more than even CFLs, but use even less energy and last even longer. An LED light bulb can reduce energy consumption by 80-90% and last around 100,000 hours. They even light up faster than regular bulbs (which could save your life it there are LEDs in the brake lights of your car). They are almost always more expensive presently, but we have seen the cost go down steadily. It’s no coincidence that the Millennium Technology Prize went to the inventor of the LED.

Most LED lamps on the market have the bulbs built into them, so you buy the whole unit. For screw-in bulbs, check out Ledtronics, Mule, and Enlux. For desk lamps, check out a few affordable ones from Sylvania and Koncept. For more designer models, look at LEDs from Herman Miller and Knoll. Vessel rechargeable accent lamps represent some of the interesting new things LEDs can do as well.

3. Materials

Light isn’t all about the bulbs, though. Having eco-friendly lamps and light fixtures is key to greening your lighting. When scouting for new gear, keep your eyes out for lamps made with natural, recycled, or reused materials. Lights made from recycled materials include metal, glass, or plastic, and natural materials can include felt, cloth or wood. Interesting lamps that use reclaimed materials include these made from traffic signal lenses, and these made from wine bottles. Also, don’t be shy about borrowing ideas for reuse in your own projects (see DIY).

4. Disposabulb

Fluorescents last a long time, but when they’re dead, they have to be properly disposed of. CFLs, like all florescent bulbs, do contain a small amount of mercury, which means they definitely can’t be thrown in the trash. Every city has different services for recycling, so you’ll need to see what’s offered in your area. LEDs, to our knowledge, do not contain mercury, but the jury may still be out on how to best recycle them.

5. Wall warts

Power adaptors, or “wall warts” as they’re affectionately called, are those clunky things you find on many electrical cords, including those attached to lamps and some light fixtures. You’ll notice that they stay warm even when their device is turned off. This is because they in fact draw energy from the wall all the time. One way to green your lighting is to unplug their wall warts when not in use, attached lights to a power strip and turn off the whole switch when not in use, or get your hands on a “smart” power strip that knows when the devise is off.

6. DaylightingBy far, the best source of light we know is (yes, you guessed it) the sun, which gives off free, full-spectrum light all day. Make the most of daylight by keeping your blinds open (sounds obvious but you might be surprised). If you want to go a little farther, put in some skylights, or, of you are designing a home or doing a renovation, put as many windows on the south-facing side of the house as possible (or north-facing if you live in the southern hemisphere). To take it even further, sunlight can be “piped” inside via fiber optics and other light channeling technologies.

How to Go Green: Lighting

How we light up the places we live and work makes a big impact on how we feel. It also makes a big impact on the environment. The kind of bulbs, the kind of fixtures, the kind of power, and the habits we keep can all add up to a very significant greening. Start with the fact that a conventional incandescent bulb turns only around five to ten percent of its consumed energy into light, the rest goes out as heat. From there, there's no limit to how green your lighting can be.

Facts and Figures

• The first types of packaging were made from natural materials – dried animal skins were used to contain water, and reeds or wicker were weaved into simple baskets.
• Every pound spent on packaging protects at least £9 worth of food and goods.
• Over 60% of all packaging is for food.

How Do We Reduce Packaging?

Packaging stops goods from going to waste, but it also ends up as waste itself. We need to try to reduce the amount of packaging we throw away by:
1.Looking for packaging that is made from recycled materials.This way, you know that the packaging was made using the least amount of natural resources and energy possible.
2.Looking for packaging that can be recycled.This way, you can continue the recycling loop.
3.Choosing products carefully and make sure that things are packaged in the way that best suits how we are going to use them.This way, we don't use more packaging than necessary.

THE BIGGEST SINGLE STEP

The United States Can Take to Curb Global
Warming and Save Oil is to Raise the Fuel
Economy of Our Cars and Light Trucks.


By making our cars,pickup trucks,and SUVs go farther on a gallon of gas,Americans can
save billions of dollars, curb global warming pollution, and slash our dependence on oil
— making our nation safer and more secure.



In 1975, Congress enacted Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, doubling the fuel economy of new vehicles. By enacting these standards, the US saves approximately 3 million barrels of oil per day,
making it the most successful energy-saving measure ever adopted. However, despite breakthroughs in gas-saving technology, the government has allowed fuel economy standards to stagnate and auto companies have hawked inefficient SUVs and other trucks for nearly 20 years. As a result, the fuel economy of today’s new vehicles has fallen to the lowest level in over two decades. It doesn’t have to be this way. By using innovative and
cost-effective technology to increase our fuel economy,we can protect the environment,create jobs, and make America safer and more secure.

Cars and light trucks account for 40% of U.S. oil consumption and emit 20% of the nation’s carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution, the heat-trapping gas that causes global warming. Because each gallon of gasoline burned pumps 28 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere, the average car emits about 63 tons of CO2 over its lifetime — and the average SUV or pickup emits around 82 tons. In comparison:America’s automobiles produce more global warming pollution than all the vehicles, power plants, and factories in Great Britain combined.

If all of the vehicles in the U.S. averaged 40 miles per gallon (mpg) we would save over 3 million barrels of oil each day; that is more oil than the United States currently imports from the Persian Gulf and could ever extract from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, combined.Getting 40 mpg would cut global warming pollution by 600 million tons a year and save consumers more than $45 billion each year at the gas pump. The U.S. is the
world’s largest global warming polluter — we must take the lead in reducing this pollution.

Ten things you can do to help curb Global Warming

Responsible Choices

The choices we make and the products we buy test our commitment to maintain a healthy planet. When we burn fossil fuels—such as oil, coal, and natural gas—to run our cars and light our homes, we pump carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air. This thickens the heat-trapping blanket that surrounds the planet, causing global warming.
Choosing modern technology can reduce our use of fossil fuels and help protect the planet. These ten steps will help curb global warming, save you money, and create a safer environment for the future.

1.Drive Smart!
A well-tuned car with properly inflated tires burns less gasoline—cutting pollution and saving you money at the pump. If you have two cars, drive the one with better gas mileage whenever possible. Better yet, skip the drive and take public transit, walk, or bicycle when you can.

2.Buy Local and Organic
Did you know the average American meal travels more than 1,500 miles from the farm to your plate? Think of all the energy wasted and pollution added to the atmosphere—not to mention all the pesticides and chemicals used to grow most produce! So go to your local organic farmer to get your fruits and veggies.

3.Support clean, renewable energy.
Renewable energy solutions, such as wind and solar power, can reduce our reliance on coal-burning power plants, the largest source of global warming pollution in the United States. Call your local utility and sign up for renewable energy. If they don't offer it, ask them why not?

4.Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Especially those that burn the longest each day. Compact fluorescents produce the same amount of light as normal bulbs, but use about a quarter of the electricity and last ten times as long. Each switch you make helps clean the air today, curb global warming, and save you money on your electricity bill.

5.Saving energy at home is good for the environment and for your wallet.
Start with caulking and weather-stripping on doorways and windows. Then adjust your thermostat and start saving. For each degree you lower your thermostat in the winter, you can cut your energy bills by three percent. Finally, ask your utility company to do a free energy audit of your home to show you how to save even more money.

6.Become a smart water consumer.
Install low-flow showerheads and faucets and you'll use half the water without decreasing performance. Then turn your hot water heater down to 120°F and see hot-water costs go down by as much as 50 percent.

7.Buy energy-efficient electronics and appliances.
Replacing an old refrigerator or an air conditioner with an energy-efficient model will save you money on your electricity bill and cut global warming pollution. Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances or visit their website at www.energystar.gov to find the most energy-efficient products.

8.Plant a Tree, protect a forest.
Protecting forests is a big step on the road to curbing global warming. Trees "breathe in" carbon dioxide, but slash-and-burn farming practices, intensive livestock production, and logging have destroyed 90 percent of the native forests in the United States. And you can take action in your own backyard—planting shade trees around your house will absorb CO2, and slash your summer air-conditioning bills.

9.Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!
Producing new paper, glass, and metal products from recycled materials saves 70 to 90 percent of the energy and pollution, including CO2, that would result if the product came from virgin materials. Recycling a stack of newspapers only four feet high will save a good-sized tree. Please... buy recycled products!

10.Mount a local campaign against global warming.
Educate your community about how it can cut global warming pollution. Support measures at the national, state, and local level that:

Make automobiles go further on a gallon of gas;
Accelerate the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind;
Increase energy efficiency and conservation; and
Preserve forests around the world.

Global Warming Solutions

Fighting global warming is a daunting task, but there are many steps we can all take to help curb it. The Sierra Club believes that we can save our planet while preserving our way of life; that instead of falling into despair, we should look to this challenge as an opportunity. Now is the time for a bold shift to a safer, cleaner energy future built on clean power and energy-saving technology. To learn more about the ways to fight global warming, see the options below.

Way 1Global Warming Policy Solutions

We already have the clean energy technology to tackle the pressing issue of global warming. The Sierra Club believes that in order to safely and effectively mitigate the effects of climate change, comprehensive global warming legislation must accomplish the following:


(1.)Reduce emissions to avoid dangerous global warming: Scientists tell us that we must cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 2º C over pre-industrial averages. Not only must global warming policy require such emissions reductions, but it must also ensure the U.S. adheres to this mandate by requiring periodic scientific review of progress toward sufficient emission reductions that will meet this goal. Legislation should direct EPA to adjust its regulatory process based on future scientific study and review of climate change to ensure that we meet measurable, intermittent emission reduction benchmarks between now and 2050 that will prevent a rise in global temperatures above dangerous levels.


(2.)Transition America to a clean energy economy in a just and equitable way: Global warming is among the greatest challenges of our time, but also presents extraordinary opportunities to harness home-grown clean energy sources and encourage technological innovation. These bold shifts toward a clean energy future can create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and generate billions of dollars in capital investment. But in order to maximize these benefits across all sectors of our society, comprehensive global warming legislation must auction emission allowances to polluters and use these public assets for public benefit programs.

Such programs include financial assistance to help low and moderate-income consumers and workers offset higher energy costs as well as programs that assist with adaptation efforts in communities vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Revenue generated from emissions allowances should also aid the expansion of renewable and efficient energy technologies that quickly, cleanly, cheaply, and safely reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and curb global warming. Lastly, it is absolutely vital that comprehensive global warming legislation not preempt state authority to cut greenhouse gas emissions more aggressively than mandated by federal legislation.


(3.)Aid communities and ecosystems vulnerable to harm from global warming: Global warming has already negatively affected vulnerable communities and eco-systems, the vast majority of which have contributed least to global greenhouse gas emissions. These include states, localities and tribes that will require financial assistance to adapt infrastructure to respond to climate change, developing countries and small island states that are vulnerable to sea level rises and already suffer from heat waves, water shortages and food and water-borne disease, as well as wildlife and ecosystems that will require assistance to preserve natural habitats and prevent wildfires.

As the world's leading emitter of greenhouse gas pollution, the U.S. has an obligation to assist communities and regions that are suffering the consequences of our carbon dioxide emissions.

In addition to passing comprehensive global warming legislation, the Sierra Club believes in federal energy policy that will transition us away from our dirty, fossil-fuel past toward a clean energy future. Learn more about the energy bills in Congress we support. We are also conducting local campaigns across the country to conserve our energy use and use cleaner energy. Our priorities include:


Encouraging more states to adopt energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and goals. Twenty five states now require local utility companies to derive a specified percentage of energy from renewable sources. Our goal is to have more states and ultimately the entire country to adopt a renewable electricity standard (RES) of at least 20 percent by 2020 and to increase electric efficiency by at least 2 percent per year.

Stopping the coal rush by opposing as many new polluting coal plants as possible and cleaning up existing plants. We also want states and the federal government to cut mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants by 90 percent. Learn more about our coal campaign

Pushing for "Clean Car" laws in more states. Thirteen U.S. states and Canada require the auto industry to produce cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks than federal standards dictate. Adding more states will force the auto industry to make all cars sold in the U.S. and Canada meet these standards. Learn more about the clean cars campaign.

Protecting the Arctic Refuge, coastal waters, and other sensitive lands from coal, oil, and gas development. Learn more about our wild legacy program.

Expanding the "Cool Cities" campaign. More than 900 "Cool Cities" have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and pledged to reduce global warming pollution. The campaign aims to help these cities fulfill their pledges through energy efficiency and renewable energy, and encourages more cities to become "cool." Learn more about Cool Cities.

Conducting on-the-ground education campaigns to let people know how they can reduce their own carbon footprints. Check out our personal global warming solutions pages for reducing your energy consumption and transportation emissions.


Way 2Personal Global Warming Solutions

The world's scientists agree: global warming is real, here, and happening faster than anyone predicted. But scientists also say we can curb global warming and its consequences -- if we take bold, comprehensive action now that adds up to an 80 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2050, or an average of 2 percent a year. Learn more about how to be part of the Two Percent Solution!

U.S. carbon emissions primarily come from transportation and power plants. You can take the following steps to reduce your own carbon emissions from these sectors:

Transportation

Every gallon of gasoline we burn emits 28 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, so the less you drive the more we thrive! Of course, driving less is often easier said than done.

Power Plants

The best way to do your part to reduce power plant emissions is to use less electricity! This has the added bonus of keeping more money in your pocket.

Why Green Revolution

The world's worst recorded food disaster happened in 1943 in British-ruled India. Known as the Bengal Famine, an estimated four million people died of hunger that year alone in eastern India (that included today's Bangladesh). The initial theory put forward to 'explain' that catastrophe was that there as an acute shortfall in food production in the area. However, Indian economist Amartya Sen (recipient of the Nobel Prize for Economics, 1998) has established that while food shortage was a contributor to the problem, a more potent factor was the result of hysteria related to World War II which made food supply a low priority for the British rulers. The hysteria was further exploited by Indian traders who hoarded food in order to sell at higher prices.

Nevertheless, when the British left India four years later in 1947, India continued to be haunted by memories of the Bengal Famine. It was therefore natural that food security was a paramount item on free India's agenda. This awareness led, on one hand, to the Green Revolution in India and, on the other, legislative measures to ensure that businessmen would never again be able to hoard food for reasons of profit.


However, the term "Green Revolution" is applied to the period from 1967 to 1978. Between 1947 and 1967, efforts at achieving food self-sufficiency were not entirely successful. Efforts until 1967 largely concentrated on expanding the farming areas. But starvation deaths were still being reported in the newspapers. In a perfect case of Malthusian economics, population was growing at a much faster rate than food production. This called for drastic action to increase yield. The action came in the form of the Green Revolution.


The term "Green Revolution" is a general one that is applied to successful agricultural experiments in many Third World countries. It is NOT specific to India. But it was most successful in India.

There were three basic elements in the method of the Green Revolution:
(1) Continued expansion of farming areas;

(2) Double-cropping existing farmland;

(3) Using seeds with improved genetics.

Continued expansion of farming areas

As mentioned above, the area of land under cultivation was being increased right from 1947. But this was not enough in meeting with rising demand. Other methods were required. Yet, the expansion of cultivable land also had to continue. So, the Green Revolution continued with this quantitative expansion of farmlands. However, this is NOT the most striking feature of the Revolution.

Double-cropping existing farmland

Double-cropping was a primary feature of the Green Revolution. Instead of one crop season per year, the decision was made to have two crop seasons per year. The one-season-per-year practice was based on the fact that there is only natural monsoon per year. This was correct. So, there had to be two "monsoons" per year. One would be the natural monsoon and the other an artificial 'monsoon.'

The artificial monsoon came in the form of huge irrigation facilities. Dams were built to arrest large volumes of natural monsoon water which were earlier being wasted. Simple irrigation techniques were also adopted.

Using seeds with superior genetics

This was the scientific aspect of the Green Revolution. The Indian Council for Agricultural Research (which was established by the British in 1929 but was not known to have done any significant research) was re-organized in 1965 and then again in 1973. It developed new strains of high yield value (HYV) seeds, mainly wheat and rice but also millet and corn. The most noteworthy HYV seed was the K68 variety for wheat. The credit for developing this strain goes to Dr. M.P. Singh who is also regarded as the hero of India's Green revolution.

Statistical Results of the Green Revolution

(1) The Green Revolution resulted in a record grain output of 131 million tons in 1978-79. This established India as one of the world's biggest agricultural producers. No other country in the world which attempted the Green Revolution recorded such level of success. India also became an exporter of food grains around that time.

(2) Yield per unit of farmland improved by more than 30 per cent between 1947 (when India gained political independence) and 1979 when the Green Revolution was considered to have delivered its goods.

(3) The crop area under HYV varieties grew from seven per cent to 22 per cent of the total cultivated area during the 10 years of the Green Revolution. More than 70 per cent of the wheat crop area, 35 per cent of the rice crop area and 20 per cent of the millet and corn crop area, used the HYV seeds.

Economic results of the Green Revolution

(1) Crop areas under high-yield varieties needed more water, more fertilizer, more pesticides, fungicides and certain other chemicals. This spurred the growth of the local manufacturing sector. Such industrial growth created new jobs and contributed to the country's GDP.

(2) The increase in irrigation created need for new dams to harness monsoon water. The water stored was used to create hydro-electric power. This in turn boosted industrial growth, created jobs and improved the quality of life of the people in villages.

(3) India paid back all loans it had taken from the World Bank and its affiliates for the purpose of the Green Revolution. This improved India's creditworthiness in the eyes of the lending agencies.

(4) Some developed countries, especially Canada, which were facing a shortage in agricultural labour, were so impressed by the results of India's Green Revolution that they asked the Indian government to supply them with farmers experienced in the methods of the Green Revolution. Many farmers from Punjab and Haryana states in northern India were thus sent to Canada where they settled (That's why Canada today has many Punjabi-speaking citizens of Indian origin). These people remitted part of their incomes to their relatives in India. This not only helped the relatives but also added, albeit modestly, to India's foreign exchange earnings.

Sociological results of the Green Revolution

The Green Revolution created plenty of jobs not only for agricultural workers but also industrial workers by the creation of lateral facilities such as factories and hydro-electric power stations as explained above.

Political results of the Green Revolution

(1) India transformed itself from a starving nation to an exporter of food. This earned admiration for India in the comity of nations, especially in the Third World.

(2) The Green Revolution was one factor that made Mrs. Indira Gandhi (1917-84) and her party, the Indian National Congress, a very powerful political force in India (it would however be wrong to say that it was the only reason).

Limitations of the Green Revolution

(1) Even today, India's agricultural output sometimes falls short of demand. The Green Revolution, howsoever impressive, has thus NOT succeeded in making India totally and permanently self-sufficient in food. In 1979 and 1987, India faced severe drought conditions due to poor monsoon; this raised questions about the whether the Green Revolution was really a long-term achievement. In 1998, India had to import onions. Last year, India imported sugar.
However, in today's globalised economic scenario, 100 per cent self-sufficiency is not considered as vital a target as it was when the world political climate was more dangerous due to the Cold War.

(2) India has failed to extend the concept of high-yield value seeds to all crops or all regions. In terms of crops, it remain largely confined to foodgrains only, not to all kinds of agricultural produce. In regional terms, only Punjab and Haryana states showed the best results of the Green Revolution. The eastern plains of the River Ganges in West Bengal state also showed reasonably good results. But results were less impressive in other parts of India.

(3) Nothing like the Bengal Famine can happen in India again. But it is disturbing to note that even today, there are places like Kalahandi (in India's eastern state of Orissa) where famine-like conditions have been existing for many years and where some starvation deaths have also been reported. Of course, this is due to reasons other than availability of food in India, but the very fact that some people are still starving in India (whatever the reason may be), brings into question whether the Green Revolution has failed in its overall social objectives though it has been a resounding success in terms of agricultural production.

(4) The Green Revolution cannot therefore be considered to be a 100 percent success.

ADOPT-A-SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM

The Adopt-A-Bus program provides funding to N. C. school districts to purchase emission control devices.
The exhaust from diesel fuel which powers most school buses on the road today has been shown to cause or exacerbate a host of health problems, including asthma and other respiratory ailments. Diesel exhaust has been linked to cancer and premature death.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the harmful impacts of air pollution because they are outdoors for longer periods and breathe at higher rates than adults. As they wait on the curb, play near idling buses or even ride safely inside school buses, children may be exposed to noxious substances every school day.

Older school buses emit clouds of harmful soot and pollution - fumes that can adversely impact the health of our children.

EPA has certified affordable retro-fit devices that help reduce emissions from older school buses.

10 things kids can do

100 Ways to Save The Environment

In Your Home – Conserve Energy

1.Clean or replace air filters on your air conditioning unit at least once a month.
2.If you have central air conditioning, do not close vents in unused rooms.
3.Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120.
4.Wrap your water heater in an insulated blanket.
5.Turn down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for extended periods.
6.Turn off unneeded lights even when leaving a room for a short time.
7.Set your refrigerator temperature at 36 to 38 and your freezer at 0 to 5 .
8.When using an oven, minimize door opening while it is in use; it reduces oven temperature by 25 to 30 every time you open the door.
9.Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load so that it uses less energy.
10.Unplug seldom used appliances.
11.Use a microwave when- ever you can instead of a conventional oven or stove.
12.Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.
13.Reverse your indoor ceiling fans for summer and winter operations as recommended.
14.Turn off lights, computers and other appliances when not in use.
15.Purchase appliances and office equipment with the Energy Star Label; old refridgerators, for example, use up to 50 more electricity than newer models.
16.Only use electric appliances when you need them.
17.Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy.
18.Keep your thermostat at 68 in winter and 78 in summer.
19.Keep your thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter when you are away
20.Insulate your home as best as you can.
21.Install weather stripping around all doors and windows.
22.Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
23.Plant trees to shade your home.
24.Shade outside air conditioning units by trees or other means.
25.Replace old windows with energy efficient ones.
26.Use cold water instead of warm or hot water when possible.
27.Connect your outdoor lights to a timer.
28.Buy green electricity - electricity produced by low - or even zero-pollution facilities (NC Greenpower for North Carolina - www.ncgreenpower.org). In your home-reduce toxicity.

In Your Home – Reduce Toxicity

29.Eliminate mercury from your home by purchasing items without mercury, and dispose of items containing mercury at an appropriate drop-off facility when necessary (e.g. old thermometers).
30.Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals.
31.Buy the right amount of paint for the job.
32.Review labels of household cleaners you use. Consider alternatives like baking soda, scouring pads, water or a little more elbow grease.
33.When no good alternatives exist to a toxic item, find the least amount required for an effective, sanitary result.
34.If you have an older home, have paint in your home tested for lead. If you have lead-based paint, cover it with wall paper or other material instead of sanding it or burning it off.
35.Use traps instead of rat and mouse poisons and insect killers.
36.Have your home tested for radon.
37.Use cedar chips or aromatic herbs instead of mothballs.

In Your Yard

38.Avoid using leaf blowers and other dust-producing equipment.
39.Use an electric lawn- mower instead of a gas-powered one.
40.Leave grass clippings on the yard-they decompose and return nutrients to the soil.
41.Use recycled wood chips as mulch to keep weeds down, retain moisture and prevent erosion.
42.Use only the required amount of fertilizer.
43.Minimize pesticide use.
44.Create a wildlife habitat in your yard.
45.Water grass early in the morning.
46.Rent or borrow items like ladders, chain saws, party decorations and others that are seldom used.
47.Take actions that use non hazardous components (e.g., to ward off pests, plant marigolds in a garden instead of using pesticide).
48.Put leaves in a compost heap instead of burning them or throwing them away. Yard debris too large for your compost bin should be taken to a yard-debris recycler.

In Your Office

49.Copy and print on both sides of paper.
50.Reuse items like envelopes, folders and paper clips.
51.Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.
52.Set up a bulletin board for memos instead of sending a copy to each employee.
53.Use e-mail instead of paper correspondence.
54.Use recycled paper.
55.Use discarded paper for scrap paper.
56.Encourage your school and/or company to print documents with soy-based inks, which are less toxic.
57.Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of a disposable cup.

Ways To Protect Our Air

58.Ask your employer to consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting.
59.Recycle printer cartridges.
60.Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
61.Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency.
62.Don't use your wood stove or fireplace when air quality is poor.
63.Avoid slow-burning, smoldering fires. They produce the largest amount of pollution.
64.Burn seasoned wood - it burns cleaner than green wood.
65.Use solar power for home and water heating.
66.Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers.
67.Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle.
68.Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions.
69.Ignite charcoal barbecues with an electric probe or other alternative to lighter fluid.
70.If you use a wood stove, use one sold after 1990. They are required to meet federal emissions standards and are more efficient and cleaner burning.
71.Walk or ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible.
72.Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work.

Ways to Use Less Water

73.Check and fix any water leaks.
74.Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets.
75.Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously.
76.Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
77.Follow your community's water use restrictions or guidelines.
78.Install a low-flow shower head.
79.Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.
80.Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks.

Ways to Protect Our Water

81.Revegetate or mulch disturbed soil as soon as possible.
82.Never dump anything down a storm drain.
83.Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly.
84.Check your car for oil or other leaks, and recycle motor oil.
85.Take your car to a car wash instead of washing it in the driveway.
86.Learn about your watershed.

Create Less Trash

87.Buy items in bulk from loose bins when possible to reduce the packaging wasted.
88.Avoid products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient. About 33 of what we throw away is packaging.
89.Buy products that you can reuse.
90.Maintain and repair durable products instead of buying new ones.
91.Check reports for products that are easily repaired and have low breakdown rates.
92.Reuse items like bags and containers when possible.
93.Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
94.Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.
95.Use reusable containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and cling wrap.
96.Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags.
97.Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.
98.Reuse packaging cartons and shipping materials. Old newspapers make great packaging material.
99.Compost your vegetable scraps.
100.Buy used furniture - there is a surplus of it, and it is much cheaper than new furniture.

TERI - The Energy and Resource Institute

Celebrations to mark 25 years of TERI’s presence in New Delhi
commenced in the year 2006–07.It is thus quite an experience that we’ve been given a privileged insight into where this great institution began. This period, since 1982, has been a remarkable
quarter century not only in the life of TERI, but in the history of India as a nation. When TERI began its presence in Delhi, few would have expected that an institute external to the government would be able to move into areas of activity that have such influence on
society. The record, of course, indicates that the activities and achievements of TERI reach far beyond what could have been predictable at that stage. If there has been any success in TERI’s activities,the reason lies entirely within the framework of changes that have taken place in India as a country and Indians as a society. The eagerness to emerge as a society that can make a difference on the global stage has created within Indians an openness of spirit and a hunger for knowledge that has provided
the raison d’etre for an institution like TERI to be at the anguard of change.If there is one single attribute that has propelled TERI forward, it is the ability to focus on the future.
Another important element that has defined TERI’s existence in the last 25 years is its emphasis on young people.Indian society today is dominated by the youth, and there is considerable talent,
knowledge, and the will to succeed among the young. TERI has greatly
benefited by acquiring and nurturing human capital that embodies the youth,and therefore, a vision of India’s tomorrow.This, in a nutshell, is a perspective on TERI’s journey and its performance
since inception.
TERI has had massive impact in shaping climate-change-related policies of the Government of India. At the national level, TERI has provided continuous advice and involvement in the multilateral
negotiations on climate change under the Kyoto Protocol and the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change. A major upshot of policy analysis and advocacy by TERI has been the establishment of an expert committee on climate change under the chairmanship of the principal scientific adviser to the government and another high-level committee chaired by the prime minister,known as the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on Climate Change.Under the latter Council, TERI has been asked to prepare a roadmap for a sustainable energy path and a plan dealing with climate change policy, which
will be considered by the Council in October 2007.
A major area of progress has been the development and dissemination of technologies ranging from the development and manufacture of customized solar torches and solar lanterns to the installation of various models of biomass gasifiers of different sizes and the
use of several microbial technologies for which markets are being developed worldwide. A major programme titled ‘Lighting a Million Lives’, to promote the use of solar torches and solar lanterns,
is due to be launched too.
TERI has intensified its efforts in bringing about desirable results through the implementation of field activities both at the rural as well as urban levels.Efforts are now being made to expand
technological interventions and to develop local institutions in rural areas for their all round technological upgradation.
This includes establishing IT (information technology) kiosks in selected locations. At another level, over a year ago, TERI initiated a programme of energy efficiency for Delhi through
analysis and advocacy with the chief minister of Delhi. This programme is making substantial headway and can become a forerunner to similar activities in other parts of the country and possibly in other countries as well.

UNEP

Mission
To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring,informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.


Milestones

• 1972 - UN Conference on the Human Environment recommends
creation of UN environmental organisation
• 1972 - UNEP created by UN General Assembly
• 1973 - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES)
• 1975 - Mediterranean Action Plan first UNEP-brokered Regional
Seas agreement
• 1979 - Bonn Convention on Migratory Species
• 1985 - Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
• 1987 - Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer
• 1988 - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
• 1989 - Basel Convention on the Trans-boundary Movement of
Hazardous Wastes
• 1992 - UN Conference on Environment and Development (Earth
Summit) publishes Agenda 21, a blueprint for sustainable
development
• 1992 - Convention on Biological Diversity
• 1995 - Global Programme of Action (GPA) launched to protect
marine environment from land-based sources of pollution
• 1997 - Nairobi Declaration redefines and strengthens UNEP's
role and mandate
• 1998 - Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent
• 2000 - Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety adopted to address
issue of genetically modified organisms
• 2000 - Malmö Declaration - first Global Ministerial Forum on the
Environment calls for strengthened international environmental
governance
• 2000 - Millennium Declaration - environmental sustainability
included as one of eight Millennium Development Goals
• 2001 - Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
(POPs)
• 2002 - World Summit on Sustainable Development
• 2004 - Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity
Building
• 2005 - Millennium Ecosystem Assessment highlights the
importance of ecosystems to human well-being, and the extent
of ecosystem decline
• 2005 - World Summit outcome document highlights key role of
environment in sustainable development

The UN Environment Programme (or UNEP) coordinates United Nations environmental activities,assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and encourages sustainable development through sound environmental practices. It
was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP also has six regional offices and various country offices.
UNEP is the designated authority of the United Nations system in environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing merging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The mandate and objectives of UNEP emanate from United Nations General Assembly resolution 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972 and subsequent amendments adopted at UNCED in 1992, the Nairobi Declaration on the Role and Mandate of UNEP, adopted at the Nineteenth Session of the UNEP Governing Council, and the Malmö Ministerial Declaration of 31 May, 2000.

Its activities cover a wide range of issues regarding the atmosphere,marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It has played a significant role in developing international environmental conventions, promoting environmental science and information and illustrating the way those can work in conjunction with policy, working on the development and implementation of policy with national governments and regional institution and working in conjunction with environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). UNEP has also been active in funding and implementing environmentally related development projects.
UNEP has aided in the development of guidelines and treaties on issues such as the international trade in potentially harmful chemicals, trans-boundary air pollution, and contamination of international waterways.
The World Meteorological Organization and the UNEP
established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) in 1988. UNEP is also one of several Implementing
Agencies for the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The billion tree campaign enters a second wave
Together, let’s plant 7 billion trees by the end of 2009!

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a major worldwide tree planting campaign. Under the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, people, communities, business and industry, civil society organizations and governments are encouraged to enter tree planting pledges online with the objective of planting at least one billion trees worldwide each year. In a call to further individual and collective action, UNEP has set a new goal of planting 7 billion trees by the end of 2009.

What is an endangered species?

Endangered means danger of the species becoming extinct or dying out.

Tigers are facing major population losses & extinction. Tigers are killed for sport, skins & body parts. The 1950S saw extinction of the Caspian tiger. The Bali and Java tiger are also extinct. The last Bali tiger was killed in 1937; the last Javan tiger was seen in 1972. India today has the largest number of tigers, with between 3,600 to 4,000. The South China tiger (20-30 are remaining), is nearly extinct in the wild.

Reasons for the Endangered Status

The Bengal tiger is endangered because it is poached for its body parts to cater to an illegal market. Another reason is habitat loss due to depletion of forest cover, interference of humans, and encroachment of forest land by people causing fragmentation. At the turn of the century, there were almost reportedly 40,000 tigers in India, but now only around 4,000 remain in the wild.

Why save tigers?

Tigers are symbols of wilderness and symptomatic of the well-being of the ecosystem. By conserving and saving tigers the entire wilderness ecosystem is conserved. In nature, barring human beings, the rest of the ecosystem is wild. Hence conserving wilderness is important and crucial to maintain our life support system. So saving the tiger amounts to saving the ecosystem which is crucial for man's own survival.

What individuals can do?

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
• Protest against deforestation, Protect, plant and nurture trees in urban areas. Monocultures do not combat climate change, plant for diversity.
• Use solar energy as much as possible - for heating water,it works brilliantly. If you have a terrace, try cooking with solar cookers, the food is tastier. Switch to energy-saving appliances.
• Turn computers off when not in use. Ditto for all other electricity items, including the TV Switch off from the mains, not just on the appliance.
• Save water. Don't let taps run, install showers and toilets that use less water.
• Recycle - newspapers, bottles,everything, anything.
• Use public transport, switch to cleaner, and alternate fuels.Walk to nearby places, instead of using the car.
• Is taking the flight really necessary? If a train will do, make the choice.
• If building your dream home, think green. There are specialised architects that design houses and buildings that optimise the use of energy.
• Educate others. Say no to plastics-urge neighbourhood-wide and city-wide bans on plastic bags. Turning vegetarian is a green choice, too. And halt mindless consumerism-buying "green" products still contributes to global warming.

What can India do?

• Voluntarily announce carbon reduction targets and demand no-cost technology transfers from the industrial north.
• Prevent deforestation, which contributes to over 20 per cent of the greenhouse gasses worldwide. Natural infrastructures that help moderate the climate and act as carbon sinks such as forests, wetlands,coasts, estuaries and grasslands must be zealously protected and not sacrificed for dams, mines, coal-fired thermal plants or surface transport systems.
• Develop new and alternate energy-efficient technologies (wind, solar and tidal), and alter policies - fiscal, regulatory, environmental- so that they are geared to combat global warming. We need to learn how to profit from low-carbon energy
options and services.
• Gain efficiency in power generation and distribution, emphasising clean energies, pollution control and conservation of water.
• Develop sophisticated scientific projects of the impact of climate
change so as to understand its extent and intensity, and also the regional variations to develop regional-specific solutions.
• Reduce human population and invest in education, health and sustainable transport options.
• Create financial incentive structures to encourage carbon storage.
• Play a greater role in the international community in demanding that all industrial nations tow the line and cut back sharply on. their carbon emissions.

Some Facts

• Himalayan glaciers are melting at a rate of 33 to 49 ft. (10 to 15 m.) annually, and could be completely gone by 2035. The melting will initially cause the glacier-fed rivers of northern India, the Indus, Ganges and others, to swell and flood and then shrink to dangerouslv low levels. water levels are expected to drop by two-thirds and this will affect up to 500 million people living downstream.
• If greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, by 2080, India will experience a rise in temperature of up to 70C, a decline in precipitation of up to three millimetres per day, and reduction in annual river runoff of up to 75 per cent.
• The per capita availability of water is expected to decline by over 30 per cent in the next four decades.
• India could lose 125 million tonnes of cereal crops, with a drop of over 25 per cent in wheat, particularly affecting north India. Rice yields could fall by 40 per cent and sowing seasons will be affected.
• Incidence of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and cholera will rise.
• Sea levels are expected to rise by 40 cm. by the turn of the century, flooding the homes of millions living in low-lying areas. In the event of a one metre sea-level rise, 5/764 sq. km. of/and in coastal areas of India is projected to be lost/ displacing approximately 7.1 million people by the end of the 21st century.
• India could lose 30 per cent of her flora and fauna including the
snow leopard/ Himalayan brown bear, lynx, Gangetic dolphin, and dugong among many others. Coral reefs will be wiped out. The deficit in soil moisture in deciduous forests such as Kanha and Pench will lead to a shift towards tropical dry forests and will affect the last remaining tigers. The flooding of mangrove forests such as the Sundarbans will also affect the royal Bengal tiger. Altered migratory patterns and increased forest fires would affect hundreds of species.
• The economic costs of global warming will be monumental- by some estimates India's GDP could drop by nine per cent/ largely due to submergence of low-lying coastal areas.
• Economic loss in urban areas such as Mumbai and Chennai would be phenomenal. Mumbai alone could lose up to 48 billion U.S. dollars due to potential submergence. Floods and droughts could spark unprecedented human migration towards cities, leading to greater pressure on the infrastructure and more urban sprawl.
• India is expected to have shorter monsoons and more intense downpours/ further increasing the likelihood of damaging floods especially as the intensity and frequency of cyclones in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal will increase.

National Indicators

At the national level, our local green projects started through green teachers' initiatives will assist the overall community and business leaders with development of local and regional indicators that measure progress. These green teachers will be given every kind of support to enrich their work at the school level, the community level, the national level. Tie up with CEE at the city level to train yourself as a green teacher endorsing a green movement.
There are many simple ways to reduce the footprint you leave on the planet. Learn how to reduce your footprint in each consumption category-carbon, food, housing, and goods and services-but don't stop there. Amplify your impact by encouraging others to follow your lead. Engage your friends and community with local and global movements for social change, or start your own movement today!

LETS TAKE A GREEN VOW.... NOW!

NOBODY MADE A GREATER MISTAKE THAN HE WHO DID NOTHING BECAUSE HE COULD ONLY DO A LITTLE.
*Edmund Burke

Hence the need for a green pledge... and The need to redefine progress... Just recollecting a snatch of Country singer Jim Reeves' song "This world is not my home I'm just a passerby..." stirs a deep nostalgia for a bygone era... so poignantly portrayed in Richard Llewellyn's saga of a Welsh coal-mining town in How Greens My Valley. For me the story always struck a deep chord jogging my school-girl memories of the serene and verdant Chotanagpur valley of small-town-Ranchi, which has over the course of the last three decades transmogrified from a lush dell to a loud and discordant icon of industrial progress. Christened the capital city of Jharkhand, a state carved out from the parent state of Bihar, Ranchi presents a microcosmic bird's eye view of what we have done to our environment.
My childhood reminiscence is not merely a school-girlish nostalgic trip down memory lane nor is our envi-ronment merely limited to the natural world of oceans and forests. It extends to where we live, work, play, and wor¬ship. It includes the air that we breathe and the resources available to our com¬munities, as well as the health hazards caused by environmental toxins and degradation. What we have done to the world around us will come back to us. It is the law of nature: as you sow so shall you reap.
However, I do believe persistence pays. "Drops of water hollow out a stone; a ring is worn away by use." So said Ovid, a Roman poet who lived between 43 BC-17 AD. The world of nature gifts us the quintessence of life itself. A million dollars stashed away in a bank are redundant if I as a human being am forced to breathe in foul air or am forced to drink filthy water. Cli¬ched though it may sound the truth of the statement that the best things in life are free cannot be refuted. William Blake (1757-1827) British poet, painter, engraver, and mystic in 1803 perhaps may have wondered deeply about natures gifts when he wrote in Auguries of Innocence",

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hourOur loss of a green and clean, environment is a 'logical' corollary to our failure to fathom beauty, of our capacity to wonder, to dream and to marvel at the manifold gifts of nature whicb we debase and devalue daily. The quetion each one of us must ask ourselves is: Quo Vadis? Where are we heading?
A few days ago I read the news that in the busy suburbs of London flower fragrances are on the wane due to air pollution and a high SPM factor in the air. The result is that bees which were earlier attracted by flower fragrances leading to pollination are unable to one find nectar and two cross-pollinate. Over a period of time one can visualize the further consequence-dwindling bee populations and loss of bio-diversi¬ty as certain species of flowering plants die away. Neither does the daily news bulletin bombarding us with depressive capsules of man-made disasters offer any reprieve. Sample this:

Huge Texas sinkhole's appetite
decreasing, officials say .
By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press Writer Thu May 8, 8:21 PM ET
DAISETTA, Texas - Geologists said a 260-foot-deep sinkhole that grew to the length of three football fields over just two days seemed to be slowing down Thursday, but that it could take months before it's clear whether surrounding areas are stable.
The 900-foot-long sinkhole, with crumbling dirt around its edges resembling sharp teeth, has swallowed up oil tanks and barrels, tires, telephone poles and several vehicles in Daisetta, a once¬booming oil town of about 1,000 residents about 60 miles northeast of Houston.

Our Story
A long, long time ago and a very long time ago that must have been-the Homo sapiens race had no notion or ownership of land or property, ,no sense of comunity, no tool for buying and selling, no socially binding fabric of either kinship, fellowship, neighbourhood, or nationhood. Man led a nomad's existence wandering in search of food and shelter. Men roamed free. Fear and insecurity guided human instinct. Survival must have been tough-a daily struggle in fact. From hunter-gatherer to agriculturist to technocrat-we have come a long, long way. Let us plunge further back on this imaginary journey back in time.. .
Stretch your imagination. Leave hu¬man civilization behind. Close your eyes and imagine a unified land mass, a single super continent, Pangaeia. All the continents of the world united into a single huge landmass called Pangaeia, here in the Permian Period, 260 million years distant from the world you know now. The convergence of the continents has changed ocean currents, reduced coastline area, and resulted in endless stretches of inland desert. Welcome to the beginning of a journey through past eternities.

Now voyage back further. Welcome to the coal swamps of the Carbonifer- I
ous age, 350 million years in the past. Some day in the unimaginably distant future, their remains will fuel the insatiable greed of humankind, but right now these tree-fern forests are still whole and pure, inhabited by amphibians and giant dragonflies. To visit the amphibians ancestors, we will have to reverse in time... further

You fall into the depths of the warm oceans, because here is where you will find the prevaiiing life of the planet in this day and age-the Devonian Period, the Age of Fishes, 380 million years back. These oceans are ruled by Dinich¬thys, the "terrible fish"-and by immense primitive sharks. One day only their relics-their teeth will remain. But life is already out on land too, and to witness its emergence, let us go still farther back in time... to its very beginning... imagine the spectacle

Back to the Future Now

Open your eyes now. Look around you again. Surprise of surprises... you are back in the Holocene, in the modern world. What survives and what does not, is at least in part up to you now. The Holocene Epoch, the present epoch on the geologic time scale, which began 10,000 years ago is the most recent period in geologic time. The HoloceneGreek for "wholly recent"-Epoch began 11,500 years ago and continues into the present. It is also called the Recent Epoch.
Geologists roughly mark the bound¬ary between the earlier Pleistocene Epoch and the Holocene Epoch with a climatic moderation that accompanied the melting of huge ice sheets that cov¬ered more than one-fourth of the earth's land area during the Pleistocene. The ice sheets retreated at different times in different places, so their disappearance is only an approximate boundary. The universal boundary for the Holocene is 11,500 years before the present, as mea¬sured in calendar years.
The earth has experienced radical natural changes throughout its history. Even during the last 20,000 years, climate and sea levels have changed dramatically. However, human activity has had an appreciable effect on the earth only in the last few centuries. People have modified the earth's vege¬tation patterns, created conditions that led to the loss of soil in many parts of the world, and devastated entire ecosystems.
Signs of human alteration of the planet's atmosphere are evident in car¬bon dioxide levels recorded in ice cores over the past 250,000 years. During ice ages natural carbon dioxide levels were 200 parts per million (ppm) by volume. During warm stages, such as the Holocene Epoch, the carbon dioxide levels were 280 ppm. When humans began to use vast quantities of fossil fuels to power machines, the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere began to rise. The atmospheric level of carbon dioxide is now 379 ppm, a rise that equals the full natural fluctuation between an ice age and a warm period. According to one theory, the buildup of carbon dioxide and other gases released from fossil fuels into the atmosphere has caused a warming of the planet. If warming continues, it could lead to a rise in sea level, melting of permafrost (perma¬nently frozen earth) and glaciers at high altitudes, changes in temperature and precipitation extremes, and new animal migration patterns and habitat changes.

Progress has taken its toll. Everyday we are bombarded with facts-global warming, ozone depletion, silting of water bodies, Holocene extinction, coral bleaching, loss of bio-diversity and so much more. I confess with absolute honesty that I have a superficial knowledge at most about facts. However I do know that as a child my play area was green whereas my children who have more of gadgets and gizmos are living a straitened poverty-stricken life without open spaces to wander in and explore a life of wonder.
Today as we totter and teeter on the brink of a dangerous precipice threatening our very survival - just like that Texas sinkhole - forecasts of doom have acquired urgency as never before. We may croon "One Earth One Heart let's get together and feel alright but pay lip service respect to Mother Gaiea. I do agree love of one's family, community or country is an excellent thing - but why should that love stop at the margins? Why can't we think of love as an emotion encompassing all of us on planet Earth? Why can't science and scripture be wedded in our daily life? We must take robust action or choose to fade away like the dino dons of the Jurassic Age for those who can more easily adapt to changing conditions, of course, have a bit of an edge in the survival game.
Deep contemplation brings me to a reflection on the oldest literature of the Rig Vedic Scriptures, as also to the much latter-day story of Biblical Genesis. Questioning of theology leads to an understanding: "God's book is never closed". Let us redeem our pledge and promise to live a green life.

Green Life

Ponder over these questions-What is a green life? What is a sacrifice? It means giving up something we like. Sometimes we do this with the idea of getting something better for it; that is a sort of bargain. Sometimes we do it with a better motive-because we love God, or another person, and want to make him happy and occasionally we even feel like giving up all we have. The entire history of Hindu religion can be seen in this way. It began in a bargaining spirit, with the early people offering into the fire in hope of reward. In later centuries God himself was born to us in several forms, and, as in the Gita, taught us to work unselfishly, sacrificing self¬ish hopes and interests and to love God for His own sake. Many centuries later we learned further, from Vivekananda and Gandhi, a new kind of sacrifice¬sacrifice for the sake of the nation.

The Seers of Truth
Among the Vedic Aryans a tradition of nature worship arose when prosperity also bred fear-the fear of the loss of it all. However, here and there, in pockets, dissension grew. A few people grew tired of the everyday round of fires and chants offered in the hope of propitiating the Gods to bless them with a hundred sons and healthy head of cattle. They went off alone into the forests skirting the valley of the Ganges. Fear-less seekers of truth, bold questioners of rituals, they gave up their secure settled existence to embrace a life of indefatigable struggle.
Living on nature's bounty they thought deep within themselves about life, the world, God and man. Who made the universe and how? What makes us breathe and hear and think? These were India's first philosophers. Slowly answers came, schools of thought grew, and certain men and women were recognized whose meditation had been long and deep.
Rishis they were called-seers, because they claimed they had seen the truth, and that they were eternal truths, revealed to men anew in every cycle of creation. Then Gurukul ashra¬mas or forest schools grew where the people of the great valley could have their children taught, by living with the seer, serving him and sitting beside him for instruction.

Embracing a green life means a thorough overhaul in the way we think and act and achieve. It means taking onus. It implies a sacrifice. It involves a deeper loving. It entails a painful choice. It necessitates uncompromising action. Are we ready to give up our cocoon of comfort to espouse a green life?

What can we do? Let's assess. . .
Equipped with the knowledge that a clean environment for all is a human right we must combat environmental injustice effectively and environmental equity must become a guiding principle in measuring human progress.
What could we do if we were forti¬fied with a knowledge that it is impossible to fail in our mission to go green? Building a diverse, consensus-based group of students, teachers and parents at the local school level is something we can all surely do. While hi falutin stuff on environmental justice, climate justice, religious policy, and advocacy are movements we could show solidarity for it is at the personal and family level that we really need to bring in change before we decide on a green agenda to represent hundreds of communities across the country or even the world. That reminds me of another song-we are the world/we are the children/we are the ones who wil/lllake a brighter day/So let's start givillglit's a choice we're making of
saving our OWl! lives... Music never fails to stir the depths of my being. Even as we sing the Takshila song at every as¬sembly let us also pledge to honour in letter and spirit the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutulllbakalll.. .
To educate our young people about the science of climate change, and train them to become activists in their communities will be a life-long agenda in our schools. While we affirm a green agenda we know that going green is not going to be an overnight change. It requires a deeper reflection, a redefinition of progress, a refining of our lifestyle. While we have become familiar with the symbol of the three chasing arrows denoting the idea Recycle, Re¬use and Recharge our real aim in school must be to teach ourselves to think Reflect, Redefine, Refine. Real progress develops creative men and women capable of developing economic policies that strengthen the community and the world while protecting the environment and promoting social equity.
Global warming impacts human lives-particularly low-income communities. It compromises their health, causes unjust financial burdens and social and cultural disruptions. Moreover, those who are most affected are least responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions that cause the problem both globally and within our country.

Practice Sustainable Economics

Sustainability indicators provide a road-map for sanity. The choice of indicators reflects how a given community defines progress. Traditional indicators, like gross domestic product (GDP) or corporate profits, reflect a faith in growth and efficiency as the primary mechanisms for improving public welfare.
However, we believe that progress is not measured by the quantity of goods we consume, how fast our market is growing, or how much wealth is being amassed. We believe progress is measured by how well we:
• Equitably distribute wealth, income,and access to cultural amenities-Ninad, Rang Veethi, Prasallg, Jashn-e-Bachpall, Dharohar-the cultural initiatives TES endorses as also by doing volunteer teaching.

• Protect and restore local or native ecosystems-take care of your local water bodies-ponds, lakes, rivers-spread the word on eco-friendly religious worship
• Advance social, economic, and environmental sustainability issues and projects- Project Sajag -sow the seeds of change and be aware how you do it

In and through our schools let us work at the local, state, and national levels to define indicators of genuine progress in these areas.


What are Genuine Progress Indicators?

At the national level, NGO fora such as CEE, CSE, TERl and CPREEC highlight and publish periodic updates on genuine progress indicators, an alternative to GDP that takes inequality, environmental degradation, and natural debt into account as well as the benefits associated with housework, parenting, volunteering, and higher education. As aware adults let us keep ourselves abreast with updates on the environment and spread the green word in the community.

Community Indicators

Our three schools in Patna, Pune and Ludhiana provide us a platform not just to talk about the environment but build a partnership with the local community to design change in small ways... after all little drops of water make the mighty ocean.