The editor wishes to apologise for posting this issue late. This issue of Making India Green is a special on sustainable and traditional building, with a focus on earthquake-resistant structures. Please feel free to forward this issue to anyone you know who might benefit from the information. «°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»«°»^«°»^«°» M A K I N G I N D I A G R E E N Vol. 1, No.3 «°» March 1, 2001 Priya Shah, Editor, mailto:Priya@makingindiagreen.com «°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»«°»^«°»^«°» Privacy Policy: Our subscriber list is confidential and we respect your privacy. This newsletter is distributed by subscription only. All subscription and unsubscription information can be found at the end of this issue. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» In This Issue: «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «» Editorial «» News Digest «» Your Green Recipe «» Feature article: Wrath of Vasuki - How do we cope? «» Guest article: The art of building a *bhonga* «» Green Tips: How to get rid of cockroaches - the nontoxic way «» Contact Details «» Subscribe/Unsubscribe «» Recommended resources «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» The Indian festival of Holi marks the arrival of spring. It was traditionally celebrated using natural coloured extracts from seasonal herbs. However gradually, these natural herbs were replaced by synthetic dyes, most of which contain a plethora of toxic chemicals. Learn how you can celebrate Holi in safer, greener ways at: http://www.geocities.com/priyaflorence/holi.htm «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Editorial «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Home is where the earth is Earth. One of the most widely used construction materials on....earth. More than a third of humankind lives in homes built with it. Besides being plentiful and non-polluting, it is also one of the most sustainable building materials, the energy requirement for raw mud construction being almost nil. An earth house also consumes much less energy for its use, as the hydrothermic properties of the soil keep the mud dwellings cold in summer and hot in winter. More significantly, as a recent news report (See article "Only mud huts withstood quake": http://rediff.com/news/2001/feb/26quak.htm) on the Gujarat earthquake shows, mud has proved to be an excellent building material for housing in earthquake prone areas. Structures of beaten earth, timber or bamboo in hot humid climates or earthquake zones, continue to be rebuilt using designs and methods proven by time, culture, custom and ritual. Why muddy our hands, one might ask, when we have more modern options to choose from? Because sometimes mud is the only thing left standing in an earthquake ravaged area. In fact, when everything else collapsed in the quake-hit Kutch district in Gujarat, the traditional round *bhongas* (mud huts) stood firm. These few magnificent *bhongas* that remained in the marshy Banni area, after its residents opted for *modern* houses, are now being looked upon as *engineering wonders*, says the report. The circular wall plastered with a steely mesh of mud, twigs and dung, is what makes the *bhongas* resist wind pressure and quakes, according to the Aga Khan award winning architect Balakrishna Doshi. The finding has convinced the villagers to go back to traditional housing. Often thought of as the poor man's building material, earth architecture has been developed in India by many research organizations, like CBRI (Roorkee), ASTRA (Bangalore) and Development Alternatives (New Delhi), and in Auroville. Through actual applications, these institutes have tried to demonstrate that the technology can be used for public buildings as well as schools, multi-storey buildings, big or small houses, social projects. The articles in this issue explore the subject of appropriate building methods in quake prone areas of India, with an emphasis on traditional and sustainable architecture. The guest article is a report by a group of architects and designers from Israel who visited the Bhuj area for 25 days, in April-May 2000, to research and build a bhonga and mud furniture. Since the time of the earthquake they have learnt that most of the bhongas, even those very close to the epicenter, remain unhurt. With the pressing need for cost-effective and appropriate reconstruction efforts in the quake-ravaged areas of Gujarat, it would indeed be criminal for the architects of rehabilitation to ignore these findings and spurn these traditional building methods that have stood the test of time and nature's fury. Traditional architecture not only represents technologies and practices best suited to local conditions, but is also in tune with the values intrinsic to the human condition: a concern for life, for beauty, for community. Here India has an embarrassment of riches, from the decorated mud villages of Kutch and Rajasthan to the desert city of Jaisalmer to the fishing villages of Kerala. Isn't it time we began to draw upon this wealth of architectural knowledge, instead of succumbing to the soulless, prosaic (and often, dangerous) edifices that epitomise modern living? Or must we wait for an architectural renaissance to prevent the recurrence of that tragic loss of human lives and destruction of property? «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Every Minute... 570 people are driven from their homes by global warming, deforestation and other human-caused environmental degradation. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» The Earth Shop, the online source for Earth Friendly Gifts & Nature-Themed Products. http://www.commission-junction.com/track/track.dll?AID=55172&PID=657121&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2EtheEarthShop%2Ecom «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» News Digest «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» INDIA NEEDS TO IMPOSE GREEN TAXES.... "Pay if you pollute." That is the principle being applied in advanced countries to control vehicular pollution. Our government is still to wake up to such effective fiscal measures, says a report in the latest issue of Down to Earth. Pay for the damage if you pollute. Pay more if you pollute more. This, in simple terms, is the polluter pays principle. European nations are designing fiscal instruments to develop a sustainable transport policy. The fiscal instruments include taxes on fuel, vehicles and infrastructure use. However, the Indian government chooses to ignore the message that makers and users of vehicles must pay the full cost of damage to environment from transportation. Full text: http://www.cseindia.org/html/dte/dte20010131/dte_srep.htm .... NOT TAX GREEN FUELS: CSE Even though traffic congestion and bad air today marks almost every Indian city and town, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha has presented a budget which taxes clean fuel like CNG, and grants a tax rebate to all private vehicles like scooters and cars. The Centre for Science and Environment, one of India's leading environmental NGOS, has called these moves reprehensible. The very idea of taxing CNG at a time when the Supreme Court is making a brave attempt to ensure that CNG is used in commercial vehicles in Delhi in order to clean up its air, almost amounts to a contempt of the Supreme Court by the political leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, says a press release by the CSE. By giving a tax rebate given to all private vehicles like scooters and cars, Yashwant Sinha has wasted an excellent opportunity to push manufacturers towards cleaner air. The near total neglect of the rural sector means that Yashwant Sinha's budget has failed to provide programmes and schemes that will help to create more rural livelihoods. "This is a disastrous budget. It only represents a very narrow industrial interests and does not help to secure a better quality of life for Indians. The man on the street has been literally crowded out in this budget," said Agarwal. Lashing out against the railway budget, CSE said that railways are a much more environment-friendly form of transport than road transport and yet through its mismanagement of the railway system, the government of India has driven down the quality of rail transport in the country and, in the process, has allowed road transport to grow. Full text: http://www.cseindia.org/html/au/au4_20010301.htm SMUGGLING NETWORKS TARGET INDIAN HERBS While tiger parts, ivory and sandalwood smuggling continue to attract all the public attention, India is losing its medicinal wealth to well-organised smuggling networks run by thousands of Veerappans all across the country, says a report in a recent issue of Down to Earth, India's leading environmental magazine. Overexploitation and unscientific harvesting of medicinal plants have led to the virtual decimation of several valuable species in the wild. Habitat degradation, illegal trade and loss of regeneration potential of degraded forests have further accelerated the rate of extinction. This has critically affected traditional Indian systems of medicine (ISM) such as ayurveda, siddha and Unani, which rely on medicinal plants. Government policies that seem to have a blind eye for domestic trade have only made things easier for the smugglers. The only way to arrest further loss of medicinal plant species and ensure survival of these centuries-old practices of healing would be to encourage sustainable harvesting of plants from the wild and cultivation, especially by small farmers and communities who have been involved in herb gathering traditionally, says the report. Full text: http://www.cseindia.org/html/dte/dte20010131/dte_analy.htm EARTHQUAKES MEASURED IN HUMAN, ECONOMIC TERMS In the scientific world, earthquakes are measured by the amount of energy they release. The greater the tremor, the greater the magnitude they register on the Richter scale. U.S. Geological Survey scientist David Howell has a different means of assessing the natural disasters. "The way I view it, the consequences of an earthquake are equal to the hazard of the earthquake times the value of human and economic loss," Howell said. That assessment is especially poignant when you consider the recent earthquake in Gujarat, India, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. India's recent disaster was a worst-case scenario by any standard. High-density living coupled with poor building construction contributed to the large death toll. While forecasting exactly where and when an earthquake will occur is nearly impossible, it is easy to predict that large numbers of people congregated in areas with poor construction portends great devastation in the case of natural disasters. A 1991 report found that at least 54 percent of India's buildings are extremely vulnerable to earthquakes. In many cities throughout India and the developing world, there are no building standards that take earthquakes into consideration. India's capital city, New Delhi, is located in an earth quake-prone area. Home to 10 million people, the city is expected to double in population in 20 years. "Often the international community has picked up the pieces after the disaster has struck. If you plan for it now, it will be less costly in the future," Howell said. Full text: http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/02/02022001/indiaquake_41737.asp?site=email ORGANIC COTTON FARMING IN INDIA GOING TO SEED Demand for organic cotton is growing in various parts of the world. But lack of support from government agencies in India may impede its growth, says a recent report in Down to Earth. An overuse of hazardous insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and synthetic fertilisers on cotton, has led to pest resistance, failed crops, debt-trap for poor farmers and farmer suicides in India. Organic cotton, on the other hand, is environment friendly as it relies on non-chemical inputs and uses bio-control agents for pest management that have no harmful effects. Besides, the use of on-farm resources makes it cost-effective. "It not only helps to reduce the input cost drastically, it also improves the agro-ecological condition of the soil," says Manohar Parchure, an organic farming expert from Nagpur, Maharashtra. Some farmers have already started cultivating organic cotton. Vidharba and Amaravati Organic Farmers Associations (VOFA) in Maharashtra are producing organic cotton for export. It is also grown in Khargone and Badwani districts of Madhya Pradesh and in some parts of Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Full text: http://www.cseindia.org/html/dte/dte20010215/dte_srep.htm SEE AND HEAR THE STORY BEHIND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTS A poppy bed linen collection inspired by a centuries old summer carpet that once adorned India's Mughal courts, and is now part of the collection at the Museum's of Fine Arts, Boston, is the subject of an interactive digital documentary entitled 'Flower of India,' available at www.mfa.org/poppy. The documentary utilises the Visible Commerce(TM) Platform developed by Viatru (TM), a unique digital media services company that enables retailers to identify, authenticate and sell products created in socially responsible ways. Through the experience of Visible Commerce(TM), arts patrons and customers will be able to step into the artisans village in India and learn about the process and techniques used to create these exquisite linens as well as see first hand the positive impact their purchases will have on that community. The documentary covers issues such as community impact, health and safety issues, protecting children and environmental concerns as well as the beauty and history of India's culture. Through "Flowers of India," visitors can see how these linens begin with the artists carving intricate designs out of wooden blocks and then hand printing each piece of material to create a wonderfully unique product. Full text: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Feb01/14Feb0101.html GLOBALIZATION THREATENS WORLD'S LANGUAGES, NATURAL LINKS Native farmers in parts of West and East Africa, such as the Fulbe of Benin and tribes in Tanzania, find and encourage termite mounds to boost the fertility and moisture content of the soil. The Turkana tribe of Kenya plan crop planting around an intimate knowledge of the behaviour of frogs and birds, which are revered as "prophets of rain". Native farmers of the Andean mountains practice a system that helps the farmers cope with temperature extremes. The system of terraces, canals and raised fields, known as waru-waru, developed at nearly 4000 metres up in the Andes, has allowed the native peoples there to produce crops like potatoes and quinoa in the face of floods, droughts and severe frosts. But nature's secrets, locked away in the songs, stories, art and handicrafts of indigenous people such as these, may be lost forever as a result of growing globalization, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is warning. A new study shows that many indigenous languages and cultures are already teetering on the brink of extinction in the face of globalization. The report also links a profusion of languages with a wealth of wildlife underscoring how native peoples have thrived on a rich natural environment and managed it for the benefit of animals and plants. Encroachment by Western-style civilization and its farming methods means that many crop varieties, encouraged by tribal and native people, are fast disappearing along with their genetic diversity. New sources of medicines may also be being lost as a result of the decline of indigenous languages, cultures and traditions. Full text: http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=3363 "GROWING UP GREEN" - HOW TO RAISE HAPPY, HEALTHY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SAVVY CHILDREN From diapers to laundry detergent, juice boxes to water shortages, 21st century parents face a world of complex decisions that impact not only our environment, but how a new generation learns about the precious resources that surround us."Growing up green" is a new series started by the Environmental News Network (ENN) that will feature the best ideas about how to raise happy, healthy and environmentally savvy children. In this series, the ENN will answer one or more questions about how to make the right choices for your family and honor the environment at the same time. Parents will hear from experts in environmental education as well as experienced parents who have spent years protecting the environment and encouraging their children to do the same. It will also feature what most matters to kids and parents, and how to make the biggest impact not only at home, but in the community. Comments, questions and "Growing up green" story ideas should be sent to mailto:jerry@enn.com Full text: http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/02/02152001/parenting_41935.asp?site=email ASIA JOINS WEST AS MAJOR AIR POLLUTER A one million sq km plume of pollution now covers much of the Northern Indian Ocean every winter, taking Asia into the major league of air polluters. The giant pall of soot and toxic gas is largely caused by agricultural and domestic fires, says a new study by the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX), reported in 9 February's edition of Science. Researchers from INDOEX, an international field experiment in the Indian Ocean, which aims to investigate the severity of air pollution from Asia, says that the study suggests that Asia is moving up to join its western neighbours in the big league of global air polluters. Some parts of Asia, especially India, may have to worry about carbon monoxide too. "Low temperature combustion produces large amounts of carbon monoxide," Lelieveld said. Besides its own toxic effect, carbon monoxide also removes air-cleaning hydroxyl radicals from the atmosphere. Without these, air pollution can persist for much longer, exacerbating its effects. The World Health Organization recently said that in India, where 80% of households use solid fuel, there are estimates that half a million children die annually from indoor air pollution, especially from acute respiratory infections. Full text: http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/3831.html NEW DELHI BEING BURIED UNDER MOUNTAINS OF GARBAGE India's capital, New Delhi, is heading for an environmental disaster as mountains of garbage pile up in the city's once green open swathes, environmental experts warn. Garbage dumps in many parts of the city are overflowing and huge stretches of land near Delhi's many slums are filled with heaps of discarded plastic, shreds of cloth, metal scraps and animal carcasses. Delhi, one of the dirtiest cities in the world, produces nearly 8000 tonnes of waste per day but the city of nearly 13 million people does not have an adequate waste management system in place, experts say. According to a Central Pollution Control Board study, the gap between waste generation and management will increase to 64 percent by 2021 from the current level of 40 percent if the current population growth and lifestyle remain unchanged. Full text: http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9875 HOW MANY GENES ARE ENCODED IN HUMAN DNA? Only about 30,000, scientists have found. In a particularly humbling development for the human race, human genome researchers have learned that the human genome contains not all that many more genes than in a fruit fly. The research also confirmed that males can take the blame -- or credit -- for creating most inherited genetic mutations. Scientists have also learned that the genetic differences between any two people are relatively small. The estimate of fewer than 35,000 genes is surprisingly low, say the scientists. The number expected was near 100,000 - three times as much. The low number of genes indicates that the gene might not always have the last word in determining what ultimately makes a human being. Proteins that act on genes might play a much more important role than was previously thought. Full text: http://www.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/02/12/humangenome/index.html HUMAN CLONING QUEST BEGINS IN EARNEST Although cloning humans is banned in 23 countries, two scientists, University of Kentucky professor, Panayiotis Zavos and Italian fertility clinic doctor, Severino Antinori, recently announced that they would clone a human at facilities in an unnamed Mediterranean country. Dr. Zavos has indicated that the two could be ready to implant a cloned embryo in a woman within the next 18 months. In March, they plan to hold a meeting in Rome to jump-start one of the most controversial projects researchers have ever proposed: to clone whole human beings as a way to help infertile couples have children. Though not the first to publicly declare their intention to clone humans, the two doctors represent what some say is the most credible challenge yet to a consensus in most countries that cloning humans should be banned. Many scientists believe that there is no moral justification to clone human beings, and there are worries that in the long term, cloning will become a tool for engineering "improved" humans as well. Technical challenges that can make the process dangerous to cloned offspring, and the mother, include fetuses that are larger than normal and a low survival rate. Some ethicists note that cloning is another example of scientific developments outstripping society's timetable for weighing the implications of those developments. Others believe that it's better that it is done in the open than underground. Full text: http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/2001/02/07/p1s1.htm US CONSUMERS OUTRAGED THAT GE PRODUCT CHOICES AREN'T CLEAR, FDA REPORTS US consumers want mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods and feel "outrage" when they learn how many supermarket products already are produced through biotechnology, according to a Food and Drug Administration report. The internal report, which was commissioned by the agency to gauge sentiment about its proposals for voluntary labeling, said that consumers are concerned about possible long-term environmental and health effects of genetically modifed foods. The labeling of products made through bioengineering has become a contentious issue, with activists arguing that consumers need and deserve the information. In the focus group report, consumers voiced great surprise and concern over the way that bioengineered foods have been introduced, and how widely they are now used. "The typical reaction of participants was not one of great concern about the immediate health and safety effects of unknowingly eating bioengineered foods, but rather outrage that such a change in the food supply could happen without them knowing about it," the report said. Full text: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60737-2001Feb12.html GO-AHEAD FOR GM INSECT RELEASE The first release of a genetically modified insect is expected to take place in the United States this summer. A moth has been engineered to contain a gene from a jellyfish in the first stage of a genetic experiment designed to eradicate the pink bollworm from the wild. The bollworm is a major pest of cotton worldwide. A total of 3600 of the moths will be set free under a cage within a three-acre cotton field in Arizona. The researchers say there is "minimal" risk of the genetically modified insects escaping, and that the insects have been sterilized, so there's no chance of them breeding. However, the experiment is likely to raise concern among environmental groups. The field trials could pave the way for the first attempt to eradicate insects from the wild by releasing genetically modified laboratory strains. By inserting an inherited lethal trait into the moth the scientists believe they might be able to "get rid of the pink bollworm" from the US altogether. Similar research is focusing on the disease-carrying mosquito, by researchers who hope GM insects would supplant infected natural populations, helping in the fight against human disease. Full text: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1150000/1150796.stm CARS AND CROPS COMPETING FOR LAND: WORLDWATCH As the new century begins, the competition between cars and crops for cropland is intensifying, says a new report by the Worldwatch Institute. More and more farmland is being sacrificed in developing countries with hungry populations, calling into question the future role of the car. This means that the war between cars and crops is being waged over wheat fields and rice paddies in countries where hunger is common. The outcome of this conflict in China and India, two countries that together contain 38 percent of the world's people, will affect food security everywhere. While India has more than 1 billion people, it now has 8 million motor vehicles. Its fast-growing villages and cities are already encroaching on its cropland. Add to this the land paved for the automobile, and India, too, will be facing a heavy loss of cropland. A country projected to add 515 million more people by 2050 cannot afford to cover valuable cropland with asphalt for roads and parking lots. There is not enough land in China, India, and other densely populated countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, and Mexico to support automobile-centered transportation systems and to feed their people. Future food security now depends on restructuring transportation budgets-- investing less in highway infrastructure and more in rail and bicycle infrastructure. Full text: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Feb01/14Feb0107.html INTENSIVE FARMING METHODS RISK WORLD FOOD PRODUCTION How will the world feed an extra 1.5 billion people over the next two decades when current farming methods have already jeopardized world food production? That is the question posed in a report called "Pilot Analysis of Global Ecosystems (PAGE): Agroecosystems," released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI). The report concludes that the world's ability to feed itself is at risk from farming methods that have degraded soils, parched aquifers, polluted waters, and caused the loss of animal and plant species. . The PAGE report found that soil degradation, including nutrient depletion, erosion, and salinization, is widespread. Twenty to 30 percent of the world's forests have been converted to agriculture, resulting in extensive species and habitat loss, said the report, which added that agriculture is encroaching on many national parks and other protected areas. Agriculture consumes 70 percent of the freshwater withdrawn annually by humans and irrigation is draining more water than is being replenished by rainfall, causing water tables to fall. To make matters worse, many water sources are being polluted by excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, said the report. Full text: http://ens.lycos.com/ens/feb2001/2001L-02-14-11.html TOUCHING WILD PLANTS MAY BE HARMFUL TO THEIR HEALTH In the 1970s, people were fascinated by the thought that talking to houseplants could increase their growth. Now, a team of ecologists has discovered that touching plants in the field may alter the chance that insects will feed upon the plants' leaves. The scientists noticed that plants they had marked for study were experiencing extremely high rates of attack by insects, and hypothesised that they were somehow causing this to occur. Further studies conducted by handling the plants, to mimic what occurs when scientists typically take repeated measurements of plants in field studies, confirmed these observations. More than a novelty, this study may change the way future ecological studies are conducted, as the findings disprove the long-standing assumption that field researchers are benign observers, and that the very act of conducting an experiment can alter experimental results. The researchers hypothesise that touch-activated plant responses may be the cause of some of the effects experienced by the plants in the study. These responses, which have long been documented by ecologists, can include many physical and chemical reactions to handling. Full text: http://ens-news.com/ens/feb2001/2001L-02-06-06.html TOWARDS A GREENER COMPUTER CHIP Scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have invented a new technology for the manufacture of computer chips that, they predict, will all but eliminate the use of hazardous corrosives and the production of wastewater. The new technology focuses on one particular step in the chip manufacture process, 'photoresist removal', in which high intensity light combined with strong acids and corrosives are used to alter the topography of a silicone wafer, requiring considerable quantities of ultra-pure water to wash away the solvents. Currently, it is estimated that on an average day at a chip-making plant, four million gallons of wastewater are produced, and thousands of gallons of corrosive hazardous materials, such as hydrochloric and sulphuric acids, are used, say the Los Alamos team. Instead of using these chemicals, the new technology uses a form of liquified carbon dioxide - termed supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) - which acts like a solvent.The SCCO2 process has the potential to save hundreds of millions of gallons of water every year even if it were installed in just one factory, making it not only a very important technological advance, but an environmental advance, as well. Full text: http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/3837.html UNEP.NET TO BE A GLOBAL DATABASE ON ENVIRONMENT The 21st session of the UNEP's Governing Council, in Nairobi, Kenya, witnessed the launch of a new website on the state of the environment and the effects of degradation globally. The 'one stop' service provides the most up-to-date environmental information on every country and territory in the world, together with satellite maps, making it the probably the most comprehensive global environmental database on the internet. Full text: http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/3829.html GREEN BUILDINGS CATCHING ON Few people would know a "green" building if they set foot in one. Among their many environmental benefits, green buildings use energy and water efficiently, incorporate recycled materials, and have healthy indoor air. From a business standpoint, however, green buildings can add dollars to the bottom line through lower costs, greater productivity, and higher income potential. Interest in green building design appears to be on the rise, with a growing number of contractors are opting to incorporate more eco-friendly materials and building designs. (Full text: http://news.statesmanjournal.com/single_article.cfm?i=20222) A guide to designing and constructing green buildings has been published by the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC), a non-profit organization that works collaboratively with business, government, and other sectors to promote preventive approaches to environmentaL protection. The guide is on line now at http://www.pprc.org/pprc/pubs/topics/greencon/toc.htm Full text: http://www.nrglink.com/pressreleases/pr020301pprc.html THIRD WORLD PESTICIDES THREATEN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT Two United Nations agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), have warned that around 30% of pesticides marketed in developing countries "are posing a serious threat to human health and the environment." In developing countries, pesticides are mainly used for agriculture, but also for public health, such as insecticides like the notoriously harmful DDT used for controlling insects spreading malaria. Often the label, the only source of product information that can guarantee a safe and effective use of the chemical, is vaguely-worded, failing to provide the consumer with data on the active ingredient, application, date of manufacture and safe handling of the chemical. The problem of poor-quality pesticides is particularly widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, where quality control is generally weak. The agencies urged governments and international organisations to adopt the worldwide accepted FAO/WHO pesticide specifications to ensure the production and trade of good quality products and to make these voluntary standards legally binding. Full text: http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/3819.html CSE DOCUMENTS PESTICIDE POISONING OF KERALA VILLAGERS For 10 years, a doctor struggled to understand it. Why were so many people - children in particular - in his Kerala village suffering from disorders of the central nervous system? Cerebral palsy, congenital anomalies and mental retardation, among other disorders. Then, one day in December 2000, he asked: Could it be the pesticide endosulfan? The effects of this toxin on human body are quite similar to the maladies he was seeing. The Plantation Corporation of Kerala has been spraying endosulfan for years in its neighbouring cashew plantations. The Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, got samples from Kerala analysed at its recently set up Environment Monitoring Laboratory. The amount of endosulfan was unbelievably high in all the samples. Blood, milk, water, soil, food...The amount of endosulfan in one woman's blood is 900 times the limit set for water. Full text: http://www.cseindia.org/html/extra/invikerala.htm LIVING NEAR AREAS OF PESTICIDES USE MAY BOOST MISCARRIAGE A new study by the US University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) indicates that living close to areas where agricultural pesticides are applied may boost the risk of foetal death due to birth defects by up to 120 percent. The study, which involved almost 700 women in 10 California counties, showed an increased risk of death among developing babies, ranging from 40 percent to 120 percent among those whose mothers lived near farms where certain pesticides were sprayed. The largest risks for foetal death due to birth defects were from pesticide exposure during the third week to the eighth week of pregnancy. The researchers have stressed however, that their findings suggest a hazard, but do not necessarily prove it. Full text: http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/3874.html WHY ARE GIRLS GROWING UP FASTER? Chemicals in the environment are contributing to the onset of early puberty in girls, a panel of scientific experts report. A groundbreaking 1997 study by Marcia Herman-Giddens Herman-Giddens made scientists and doctors aware that young girls are reaching puberty at a younger age. A new report published in the journal Pediatrics, found that the initial signs of puberty are occurring earlier than previously recorded - up to a year earlier in white girls and two years earlier in African-American girls. By age 8, 48 percent of African-American girls and 15 percent of white girls have started developing breast and/or public hair, Herman-Giddens noted. Some girls begin the process as young as age 2. Yet the causes of the hormonal fast-forward have been the subject of increasing debate. According to Pete Myers, the author of "Our Stolen Future," a combination of modern-day influences is responsible. Obesity, genetics, low birth weight and social surroundings are among the contributing factors that he and other experts have associated with early puberty. The chemical industry has fiercely objected to the idea that common chemicals such as those found in plastics are contributing to the phenomenon. Full text: http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/02/02152001/earlypuberty_41939.asp?site=email HOUSEHOLD CHEMICAL PRODUCTS TARGET OF FRIENDS OF THE EARTH CAMPAIGN It is now known that human bodies are contaminated with over 300 man-made chemicals. Researchers suggest that these chemicals may be responsible for increases in testicular cancer, prostrate cancer, falling sperm counts and girls entering puberty earlier. The Anglo-Welsh branch of Friends of the Earth (FoE) has launched a new campaign to mobilise mothers of babies & young children to fight for new controls on risky chemicals in household products. The campaign is aimed at forcing leading companies into unilateral actions and the government to introduce tougher controls. As part of the campaign a free parents guide has been produced and sent to over 4000 mothers. Children are subjected to risky chemicals in their homes, says Friends of the Earth. FoE believes that retailers should take a lead on identifying and removing risky chemicals from the products they sell. This campaign singles out leading pharmacy chain Boots Chemists for their lack of action in removing particular chemicals of concern from their products. A new website - including a spoof on Boots' own site - has been launched as part of the campaign at: http://www.foe.co.uk/safer_chemicals. Full text: http://ens-news.com/ens/feb2001/2001L-02-19-03.html and: http://www.foe.co.uk/pubsinfo/infoteam/pressrel/2001/20010219085146.html SWEDEN AIMS FOR A "NON-TOXIC ENVIRONMENT" Current European Union presidency-holder, Sweden, has proposed radical controls in a bid to achieve a "non-toxic environment". The new proposals are part of the drive to tighten chemicals control, a principal aim during the country's six-month presidency of the EU. Central to the Swedish program is a series of phase-outs for substances and substance categories. By 2007, new products for sale to consumers will be "as free as possible" from substances which are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction. Bans will be introduced by 2005 on new organic bioaccumulative and persistent substances, by 2010 on other organic substances which are "very persistent and very bioaccumulative," and by 2015 on other organic persistent and bioaccumulative substances. The Swedish plan includes a ban in products containing mercury from 2003, and on cadmium and lead from 2010. Full text: http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/3808.html DRAINING THE SEAS TO FEED THE FISH FARMS Many people expect aquaculture to relieve pressure on the ocean's overfished fish stocks. Paradoxically, a new global study, "Farming Up Marine Food Webs," by Dr. Daniel Pauly of the University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre, shows that the increasing trend toward farming carnivorous fish means that many types of aquaculture are pushing us towards a worldwide collapse of wild fisheries. Production of a single pound of fish-eating species such as shrimp, salmon, tuna or cod demands 2 to 5 lbs. of wild caught fish that is processed into meal and oil for feeds. "The new trend in aquaculture is to drain the seas to feed the farms," says Pauly. Consumer markets ultimately dictate the type of fish farming that farmers will employ. Consumers should look for vegetarian fish that feed low on the food web including catfish, tilapia, oysters and other shellfish. Aquaculture also needs new policies that will reward the aquaculture industry for engaging in best sustainable practices. Full text: http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=3452 DEVELOPING NATIONS' BECOMING MORE POPULOUS Developing nations will account for a vast and growing majority of the global population in 2050, while industrial countries will stay about the same size, U.N. demographers reported. The world's population, which stood at 6.1 billion in mid-2000, will likely reach 9.3 billion in 2050, although it could be as high as 10.9 billion or as low as 7.9 billion, the U.N. Population Division said in its latest update of "World Population Prospects." "Particularly rapid growth is expected among the group of 48 countries classified as least developed," the report said. That is primarily because of the higher starting point for fertility rates in the least-developed nations and because of upward revisions in projected fertility rates for Bangladesh, India and Nigeria, some of the world's most populous and fastest-growing nations, the report said. Full text: http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/02/02282001/reu_population_42274.asp PRESERVING KHAJURAHO: THE VIEW FROM THE SKY Delhi-based NGO, Development Alternatives, has used advanced remote sensing techniques to develop a model for the sustainable development of the world heritage site of Khajuraho in central India. The project initially conceptualized to address the issue of deterioration of the temples but other issues also need to be addressed like the cultural zones that need to be within which the temples are located, assessment of the social and natural resources etc. The study was done at three levels: architecturally looking at the cultural and heritage issues, Development Alternatives looking at the assessment of the natural resources, issues of human well being, local economy and infrastructure facilities. The action programme broadly consists of three integrated components i.e. Integrated heritage management; sustainable tourism development; and integrated community development. The project also laid down the outline for implementation of the action oriented programmes in three phases of six years. Full text: http://www.devalt.org/da/esb/geomatic/active.htm##2 NOT IN MY BACKYARD "The growth in uncontrolled trans-boundary movements of domestically prohibited goods (DPGs), hazardous wastes and dirty technologies is a serious threat to the environment and health of people in most of the developing countries," states a recent study by CUTS Centre for International Trade Economics and Environment (CITEE). The study, "DPGs, Toxic Waste and Technology Transfer: Issues and Developments", highlights concerns about the rich, industrialised countries exporting or dumping such substances and technologies to the poor, developing countries that are not capable of disposing off or recycling these substances safely and protecting their people from health and environmental hazards. DPGs are the products that are either banned or have severe restriction on their use in the country of origin for instance, certain pesticides, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, but they are freely exported to other countries. Another contentious issue is shifting of dirty industries from the industrialised to the developing countries. The CUTS study looks at the "push and pull factors" drawn from international experiences and concludes that while developing countries are also responsible for the situation, "the push factors are more significant". The rich are guided by the Not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) syndrome, while the poor by the Welcome-in-my-backyard (WIMBY) syndrome. Full text: http://www.cuts.org/Report-DPG.htm FIFTY CITIES, A MILLION IN EACH By the middle of this century, nearly half of India's huge population will be living in urban areas. However will municipalities cope? Nearly 50 cities in India would have a population of more than a million in 2001, and nearly half the Indian population would be residing in urban areas by the middle of this century. The services being provided by municipal bodies cover the most basic human needs: drinking water, sanitation, waste management, street lighting, housing, roads, and health care. However, rising urban population and rising income levels put tremendous pressures on urban infrastructure and lead to a severe deterioration in the quality of the urban environment. We need municipal bodies under greater public scrutiny, says the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI). Full text: http://www.teriin.org/features/art88.htm AMBITIOUS BID LAUNCHED FOR WORLDWIDE MARINE CENSUS The International Census of Marine Life, an ambitious $1 billion international attempt to record all life in the world's oceans, is being led by US groups, and could settle once and for all whether fabled animals such as Jules Verne's giant squid populate the uncharted ocean depths. Only around five percent of the world's oceans have been surveyed for marine life - mostly in coastal regions. The international census, expected to take 10 years, is being promoted by Jesse Ausubel of the US-based Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a private philanthropic organisation that fosters scientific programmes. The census will be conducted through multi-scanning technologies which can map the acoustic signatures of a wide range of sea life. Subsequent physical sampling of selected areas would then produce data to be fed into super computers, which would create models to produce fairly accurate estimates of most major forms of marine life. Full text: http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9885 WWF LISTS TOP 10 MOST VULNERABLE FORESTS The World Wildlife Fund has achieved its objective of protecting 10 percent of the world's forests, but has listed 10 forests still lacking protection or management. WWF's new data shows most of the threatened forests are in the world's poorest nations. Many of these nations are economically the least able to take care of their own natural resources and most in need of the resources and income these forests provide, said the WWF. The top 10 are as follows: The Southern Pacific Islands, including American Samoa Naga Manapuri Chin Hills in Southeast Asia Solomons Vanuatu Bismarck moist forests in the southwest Pacific Ocean Cameroon Highlands in West Africa Gulf of Guinea mangroves in Northwest Africa Madagascar mangroves Palawan moist forests in the Philippines Philippines moist forests Southern Mexican dry forests East African mangroves Full text: http://ens.lycos.com/ens/feb2001/2001L-02-22-11.html DAMS PUTTING PEOPLE AND NATURE IN DANGER WWF, has warned that the third of the world's rivers that remain relatively intact will be destroyed and up to ten million people could be displaced in the next decade, unless the World Commission on Dams (WCD) Consultative Forum adopts tangible steps for members to take. Up to 1700 dams are in the pipeline around the world, mostly in India, China and Turkey. Proceeding with these projects will mean up to ten million people being displaced, thousands of small farmers losing their jobs, a widening economic gap favouring the rich, increasing social conflict over water, and more species going extinct than we already know. WWF listed a series of recommendations to the Forum and actions for all stakeholders to ensure that there is no further displacement of populations and loss of habitat and natural resources due to dams. WWF believes that financiers and development aid agencies such as the World Bank must commit to a code of practice so that where one funder rejects a proposal that fails to meet sound criteria, another does not step in to fund the project. By the same token, WWF wants OECD countries to refrain from building more large dams (over 15 metres high) at least for the next two decades and also wants a moratorium on megadams (over 100 metres high). Full text: http://panda.org/news/press/news.cfm?id=2205 ORANGUTAN MAY BE EXTINCT IN TEN YEARS Unless poaching and habitat destruction are stopped the world's largest natural orangutan population will be extinct in about a decade. That is the finding of research funded by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), based at the Bronx Zoo. The situation is worst in the Leuser Ecosystem in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, where logging is rampant and the number of orangutans living has fallen from 12,000 in 1993 to about 6000 last year. The alarming decline implies that the world's largest natural orangutan population will be extinct in a decade or so, unless the current trend is stopped, says the study's lead author, Dr. Carel van Schaik, a WCS research associate from Duke University. In Borneo, the only other island where orangutans are found, political instability, is increasing pressure on the island's rainforest. The WCS is calling for a moratorium on logging in old growth forests until the political situation has stabilized. Full text: http://ens.lycos.com/ens/feb2001/2001L-02-26-12.html 2001 HONDA CIVIC GX IS FIRST EVER NEAR-ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE The natural gas-powered 2001 Honda Civic GX has become the first vehicle ever certified as an "Advanced Technology" near-zero emission vehicle and the first to achieve nationwide SULEV status. California's Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle requirements (SULEV) are the most rigorous in the world. The Civic GX's "Advanced Technology P-ZEV" certification from the California Air Resources Board is the result of near-zero total vehicle emissions combined with the exceptionally low fuel cycle emissions of natural gas. During Civic GX testing, hydrocarbon emissions were so low they were virtually immeasurable with conventional laboratory instruments. The Civic GX recently was recognized by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) along with the Honda Insight hybrid vehicle, as having the best overall score in the annual ACEEE Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks. Full text: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Feb01/26Feb0101.html GRAINS OF DELUSION Rice does not normally contain vitamin A or its precursor, beta-carotene. But a group of European scientists have spent the last decade trying to engineer a beta-carotene pathway into Taipei 309, a japonica rice variety. In August 1999, they unveiled the fruit of their research and named it "golden rice." The biotech lobby is now selling the idea that genetically engineered (GE) crops, starting with golden rice, will solve problems of malnutrition. The malnutrition agenda is drawing in support from every major agricultural biotech company, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and its main funder, the Rockefeller Foundation. But at the end of the day, the main agenda for golden rice is not malnutrition but garnering greater support and acceptance for genetic engineering amongst the public, the scientific community and funding agencies. Given this reality, the promise of golden rice should be taken with a pinch of salt. Full text: http://www.grain.org/publications/reports/delusion.htm FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT: GLOBAL WARMING IN THE NEWS Global warming became headline news this month with the release of a U.N. report that spelled out in no uncertain terms the full extent of the potentially devastating effects of climate change. The report was a summary of research into "Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability," conducted by some 700 scientists. (http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/02/19/un.globalwarming.02/index.html) The new report was a follow-up from last month's Inter- Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which forecast that air temperatures could rise by as much as 5.8 degrees Centigrade over the next 100 years, with predicting that the physical and biological impacts of climate change will be felt everywhere on Earth. (http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/3872.html) Next month in Accra, Ghana, the IPCC is to issue a third report looking at what can be done to slow the process and help life on earth adapt to changes that are already irreversible. The IPCC will propose that by protecting existing forests and planting new ones, countries could blunt warming by sopping up 10 to 20 percent of the heat- trapping carbon dioxide that is expected to be released by smokestacks and tailpipes over the next 50 years. These two strategies for curtailing global warming that have been major points of contention between the United States and Europe in efforts to complete a climate treaty. (http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/10/science/10CLIM.html) In September, the final report will bring together the conclusions and recommendations in one major document which the scientists and environmentalists - as well as insurance companies and new, clean energy industries - will prod governments into action. Climate change costs are expected to top $300 billion annually. (http://ens-news.com/ens/feb2001/2001L-02-05-02.html) Poor countries will bear the brunt of the devastating changes, warns the report. Floods, famine, disease epidemics and other disasters could hit rich and poor countries around the world in coming decades if the current rate of global warming persists, the scientists warned. (http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9860) But the rich will not be immune, with southern Europe subjected to harsher droughts and higher temperatures and U.S. coastal regions, particularly Florida and much of the Atlantic coast, vulnerable to rising sea levels and more severe storms. (http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=3330) Scientists are also warning that warmer oceans and thermal expansion will be the largest cause of sea level rise during this century.(http://www.gnet.org/Coldfusion/News_Page2.cfm?NewsID=14786) But sea level rises will not be uniform around the globe. Assumptions that the melting of the polar ice caps due to climate change is causing an even rise in sea levels across the globe are incorrect, according to research by US scientists. (http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/3877.html) Once triggered, projected climate changes during the 21st century may continue for centuries, long after greenhouse gas concentrations are stabilised, and cause irreversible impacts on ice sheets, global ocean circulation and sea-rise. Climate change in polar regions is expected to be among the greatest of any region on the Earth. The IPCC and other reports also outline the changes around the world that are already attributable to global warming. As well as the widely reported shrinking of both the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice over past years, (http://www.oneworld.org/ips2/feb01/23_19_073.html and:http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9890) the consequences of global warming includes the fact that ice on lakes and rivers in mid to northern latitudes now lasting for two weeks less per winter than 150 years ago. The Arctic's permafrost is melting in places, causing soil that is no longer frozen to release greenhouse gases and potentially speed global warming. The implications could be huge for the planet -- about 14 percent of the world's carbon is stored in the frozen soil. Soot, the black dust emitted from fireplaces, diesel engines and jet engines, is also a major cause of global warming, American scientists say. (http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/02/02082001/reu_soot_41859.asp) In 20 years time, Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania has lost 82 percent of its ice cap since it was first mapped in 1912. (http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/19/science/19MELT.html) Africa - with its already severe economic and social problems - would be most vulnerable to the effects of warming in coming years. Disease levels could shoot up, especially in crowded cities, which are mostly along the continent's coasts, and could also face inundation as sea levels rise. (http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=3458) In Asia, it said, mangrove forests that protect river and sea banks could be swamped, especially in Bangladesh. Forest fires could become more frequent and warmer conditions could increase the potential for infectious disease. The melting of glaciers in the Himalayas, which feed river systems providing water to around 500 million people, could first cause huge flooding and then massive water shortages. World-renowned wildlife - like the the polar bear, penguins, the Bengal tiger and the central African mountain gorilla, and the Central American quetzal bird - could disappear. While India emits less than one tonne of greenhouse gases per capita per year, the US, emitting 20 tonnes remains at the top. (http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/feb/24green.htm) United Nations officials and environmental bodies have urged governments to act quickly to slow global warming by shaping meaningful international pacts to reduce carbon emissions. Heads of UN agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) issued their appeals in the wake of a report by an influential panel of scientists warning that rising temperatures were pushing the world towards potential catastrophe. NGOs have pointed the finger firmly at richer countries, and especially the United States, as the main culprits for warming. (http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9862) Greenpeace said the report revealed a "climate emergency" which the world's richest nations needed to tackle urgently. (http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9863) Senior United Nations officials are calling on governments to recognize the economic and competitive benefits of making an early transition to climate-friendly economies. For their part, developing countries will need access to climate- friendly technologies if they are to establish a low-emissions industrial infrastructure. (http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=3543) The climate change talks were to be resumed in May, but the newly elected administration of George W. Bush requested more time to study the issues. (http://ens-news.com/ens/feb2001/2001L-02-08-02.html) International negotiations to work out exactly how greenhouse gas emissions will be limited to avert global warming are set to resume this summer. (http://ens-news.com/ens/feb2001/2001L-02-13-01.html) As a personal contribution to decreased emissions we could stop letting our cars idle, a recent study says as idling cars contribute significantly to greenhouse gases. (http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/02/02082001/caridle_41796.asp?site=email) «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Take action to curb Global Warming! Sign the US Congress 'Global Warming and Climate Change' Petition Want to know more about how you can make a difference? Visit the Campaigns page at http://www.makingindiagreen.com For more news, events and announcements visit the News page of our website: http://www.makingindiagreen.com «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» FREE Download! Trash that old photo album & grab THE ONE that Rocks! *FLIPALBUM* creates wicked 3D page-flipping digital albums that are outta this world! Store,locate and annotate your photos in a snap! All fun, no hassles. *FREE* phonecard with your download! Grab it now! http://www.sponsorships.net/perl/c.cgi?a=11067&p=394 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Your Green Recipe «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» [This is your space. Please send in your questions, ideas or views on practices that make you angry, or that you feel are unsafe or harmful to the environment. It should be accompanied either with your own suggestions or ideas for solutions /alternatives to the problem, or you could have other readers answer your query. Alternatives/solutions to everyday problems that plague us all are particularly welcome. Submissions should be about 50-100 words in length, and should include your contact information (phone number, postal address, e-mail).] «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Feature article: Wrath of Vasuki - How do we cope? Author: Narayan Sarma «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» This article was first published in the Development Alternatives Newsletter of January 1996, and is being reprinted with permission from the Eco-Building Advisory Unit, Development Alternatives. The article complete with illustrations can be viewed at http://www.devalt.org/da/tsb/equake.htm Earthquakes are sudden geologic movements - tremors that create shaking at the surface. Earthquakes have been objects of great superstitions and awe throughout recorded history. The severe quakes wreak catastrophic havoc in the human community because of destruction of structures - houses and buildings, bridges, roads, railways and uprooting of transmission towers. Death comes in a violent form - at times to hundreds and thousands. Earthquakes occur in all continents - in Mediterranean Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, Indian sub-continent, East Asia, the Americas and even part of Australia. Everything happens suddenly - without warning. The first distressing factor is collapse of dwelling units. Although measuring instruments at the Seismological Laboratories are able to measure the geologic disturbances, nothing has been invented that can forecast an "earthquake" as we understand it. Human knowledge has yet to cross this frontier. But death and destruction can be prevented or vastly minimised if the houses are structurally sound. In a poor country such as India, which is struck by severe earthquakes every now and then - the last two major destructive ones bring in Uttarkashi region of Uttar Pradesh and Latur district of Maharashtra-the problem of appropriate 'safe' housing must receive adequate attention from architects, engineer, builders, and owners of property. Presently India is tentatively divided into six seismic zones. Each place finds itself in one of these six zones, which represent increasing probabilities of earthquakes of hazardous magnitudes. This division, however, does not rule out possibilities of major earthquakes in "safe zones" also - for example Latur was in 'low risk' region when it hit the headlines. In such cases only the map is modified, thus bringing Latur from Zone 2 to Zone 5. Earthquakes being so unpredictable and so dangerous necessitate precautions even in so called "safe" zones. There are no earthquake-proof houses Another misconception commonly shared is that some houses could be made earthquake proof. The reality however is that by taking precautions, the earthquake resistance of the house is increased finitely, to make them resist quakes of specific magnitudes. These houses, too, may fail once they face quakes having more intensity than their design took care of. A recent earthquake in Japan could cause so much destruction in an otherwise 'prepared' Japan because the quake had a vast component of unprecedented magnitude thus making most structures vulnerable. The movement within the earth's crust manifests itself in the form of waves that reach earth's surface and cause vibrations in structures. The structures fail and collapse under the action of these vibrations. These vibrations may be in horizontal direction, in vertical direction or combination of both, which generally is the case. The vertical component of seismic force creates repeated changes in the weight of structures while the horizontal component induces. These forces get commanded in each cycle. Houses collapse as a result of these inertial forces. Under the action of earthquake the lower portions of the structures, which are in direct contact with the ground, tend to vibrate more; whereas due to inertia, the upper portions of the structures tend to remain static. The resultant stresses build up fast with the increased frequency of vibrations leading to failure of the structures. The Latur disaster came about when huge stone masonry walls gave way under the earthquake, bringing down with them the roofs that were overlaid with thick clay. The walls and roofs were heavy; the masonry was badly made with round stones. The houses were not 'engineered' units, but more an assemblage of materials. The mud mortar used was weak and could not provide enough cohesion to sustain the walls on that fateful night. The huge mass of construction material led to a massive disaster. The magnitude of the inertial forces increase as directly as the weight of the houses. The heavier the house, heavier is the destructive force. One important consideration in making a house more earthquake resistant is to reduce its mass and making it as light as possible.Traditional poor man's houses in the tropics have mostly wattle and daub walls with thatched roofs - these houses consume little material, and are light by weight. The inherent limitations of the houses do not permit higher storeys. Additional advantage these houses afford is that due to their lightness, the houses, even if they collapse, may not kill people. Another way of improving earthquake resistance is by way of making the houses rigid, viz, making sure that the houses vibrate together as one unit. This prevents unnecessary absorption of energy by the structural members and improves the quake resistance of buildings. Schematically, in such houses the top portions of the houses are so joined to the bottom that all movements are transferred immediately from lower levels to the entire building and the entire house vibrates as one rigid body. Consequently no disharmonious stresses are set up and the house remains safe. The bamboo construction in North-East India follows this principle of Rigid house. Bamboo being light gives added natural advantage. In these houses rigidity is achieved by means of cross bracing and triangulation. All joints are strengthened by means of cross members that can transmit earthquake forces directly to the remaining portions of the house. Reinforced concrete 'frames' are rigid by design and their rigidity can be improved further by small increases in steel used. The 'framework' of such beams and columns can be made to resist earthquake-induced vibrations of considerable magnitudes. Almost all the multi-storeyed buildings in towns and cities are framed, thus the structure finds great support. It must be noted here that though the RCC frames take care of major portions of earthquake induced forces, the forces generated in the non-load bearing walls could still lead to damages byway of wall collapses. In places like rural India where concrete technology has little reach, masonry in brick and / or in stone takes major share in the form of load bearing walls. The strength of masonry depends to a great extent on the strength of the mortar joining them to distribute the earthquake-induced forces equally throughout. One modern method 'Foamed Concrete' construction combines principles of structural masonry together with the advantages of light-weight foam concrete. Foam concrete is prepared by aerating the concrete profusely as it is mixed to create a highly fluffy, lightweight substance. Building blocks and units made out of this material lead however to centralisation and are subject presently to patent laws. Masonry when properly constructed, possesses good resistance to seismic forces. Bad construction, however, means disastrous consequences. Improving the rigidity of load bearing masonry by way of three RCC bands one each at plinth, lintel and roof levels, is the most common technique employed in a country's earthquake resistant housing programmes today. These houses, when constructed under supervision can resist earthquakes of moderate intensities quite efficiently. Creating better resistance to earthquake today involves access to steel and cement concrete if not to ultra modern aerated concrete blocks. There have been several attempts at local levels to make use of bamboo and mud instead. These attempts have not all stood the test of time; most of them have not got the chance to face further quakes of high magnitudes - but these attempts have always met with criticism by the scientific fraternity. In our rural housing, local materials have to play an important role. Even poor man's materials can be used to provide extra strength to a dwelling unit with incorporation of a few simple engineering principles. Total safety cannot be assured even by use of high-technology - but all dwelling houses, big and small, can be made safer «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Visit our website http://www.makingindiagreen for more resources and information on sustainable building. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» Purchase handmade fine art and home decor from Indian and international artisans. NOVICA gives artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=BPSMFgFP/MM&offerid=24808&type=3&subid=0 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Guest Article: The art of building a *bhonga* «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» In April 2000 a group of architects designers & photographers from Israel came to the village of Tunda Vand in Mundra Taluka, Kutch, Gujarat, to participate in a project of building a *bhonga* - the famous mud hut of the Kutch desert. The idea was to learn the special technology & to renew the bhonga building -- which has proved to be the most suitable to this area. When thousands of cement and bricks building collapsed, the bhongas stayed solid in the earthquake of 26 January this year. The first cement building in the village was a temple, built eight years before, in 1993, after long exertions of the village elders and a few rituals to satisfy the village goddess. The seeds of project took root when we read the book *Mud, Mirror & Thread* by Judy Frater, an anthropologist who live in Kutch & documented the Rabari's life for years. 10 years ago Judy started a trust called "KalaRaksha" which helps to preserve the traditional art and craft of villages in the area, Those activities made as think "if you can preserve arts like embroidery or leather work why cant you preserve the art of bhonga building or mud furniture building which are so special to this area and were forgotten for eight years". In 22 days with the guidance of Rajabahi, Lachiben, their family and friends and of course, the contacts and translation of Judy Frater we had a bhonga built the same way it was built hundreds of years ago. In the next bhonga, we practiced the decoration of the famous rabari furniture made out of mud and donkey dung and decorated with reliefs of village life, geometric shapes and mirrors like in their well-known embroideries. The entire process was documented by photographer's stills and video, the result is a research contains 4000 slides, 28 video hours and dozens of drafts, text pages and pictures documenting the process of the bhonga and furniture building. The building starts with the breaking of a coconut and drinking its milk as a good luck blessing. Then we draw a 5.20 m diameter circle on the ground (the nail that used for the center is used later as a mark for the center pole) then we start building layers of wet black mud brought from the creek nearby to make the building easier and quicker. Rajabahi suggested we use chunks of mud covered with mud dough, which we mixed nearby. Usually it is the woman who builds the entire structure. This time men were allowed to work, but only in certain jobs and places. During the building of the walls (which were 60 cm thick) we inserted two windows (in opposite directions, one directed to the wind and the other is near the stove) one door, kitchen cabinet and cantilevered shelves. Half of the bhonga outline was built with a low mud podium for the furniture. After building for seven days and till about 185 cm high (which were measured by holding the palm over the head and circling the bhonga ) the bhonga was ready for the special stucco made from 2/3 sand & 1/3 black mud, the process which was taught by two experts. The work is done with bare hands, which create beautiful patterns on the inner and outer walls. The last layer is white mud - Caulin - brought from a distant place & mixed with water to give the bhonga a white bright look. Building the roof started with a trip to the next town Mandvi, to purchase wood beams, central pole and about 5000 palm branches for the roof cover. In another place, we purchased the final grass cover, which was to be the last layer of the roof. On returning to the village, the carpenter (from Tunda) was waiting to place the central pole and to connect the eight circular beams to the centerpiece made by him earlier. The next four days were the men's days for putting the roof together, first by tying an inner and outer spiral of young palm branches and then inserting between them the other branches. The end layers are grass to prevent water from entering. After 22 days of building and knowing the people of Kutch we left for Ahmedabad and then returned home. Nine months later we heard about the horrible disaster in Kutch. As we were trying to get information about the people and places we found out that most of the bhongas survived even when the nearby *pukka* houses collapsed. Now a month and a half later we believe it is time to think of the future of using more neutral, strong and flexible materials in the new houses of villages in Kutch. Perhaps a combination between traditional methods with modern knowledge and techniques will prove to be the best nature-preserving solution. The KalaRaksha trust is putting together a project of rehabilitation of six villages of the trust artists. The project combines adoption of villages by outside groups conducting planning research and funding and work done by the villagers in building and continues with art work which will be sold in the U.S.A. and Europe by KalaRaksha to finance the entire project. The project was sponsored and executed by: Lavie-Amir, Architects, Israel mailto:main@architecteam.co.il Tal Bashan, Environmental designer mailto:talgidy@hotmail.com Rami Arnold, Photographer mailto:ramiarno@isdn.net.il Dalit Ziv, Director - Tel Avivflorence Amnon Zelayet, Video photographer mailto:amnonyael@hotmail.com «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» The authors are a group of architects and designers from Israel involved (among other things) in projects of sustainable and traditional architecture in Israel and around the world. They have offered their expertise and cooperation to anyone who plans to rebuild villages or houses in the area. They now plan a 40 unit village in the desert of Israel. In the middle of the open area they have built a cultural & community center, constructed by the community itself from mud, wood & palm branches. They can be contacted at mailto:Yuval@architecteam.co.il A slide show of the actual process of building a bhonga can be viewed at their website http://www.architecteam.co.il (Click on the *Environment* link and then on *Mud hut*). «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Search and Save the Planet: EcologyFund's Search makes it possible to save over 1,000 square feet of rainforest every day. Search for friends, businesses, sports, or news and protect rainforest and wilderness land. If you search multiple times, the donations increase, so it is possible to protect over an acre per day just by searching! http://www.ecologyfund.com/registry/ecology/donate_search.html «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» Sustainability Source Shopping Engine: Search and shop from more than 20,000 products and services from 1100 socially and environmentally responsible suppliers and manufacturers. http://tracker.clicktrade.com/tracker/tracker.dll?to='http://www.sustainabilitysource.com/'&ad=132378.1&lp=424274 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Green Tips: How to get rid of cockroaches - the nontoxic way «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Cockroaches are considered by most homeowners and entomologists to be one of the worst household pests. Many individuals develop allergies to these insects. However, the methods we use to get rid of them often involve the use of extremely toxic chemicals. If you have pets or childern around the house,the danger of accidental poisoning with these toxins is high. Try these nontoxic methods to rid them from your household. 1. Wipe off your kitchen counters and dining room table (or any other place where you eat) after every meal. 2. Don’t leave dirty dishes on the kitchen counter overnight. 3. Garbage and compost should be kept in containers with lids, and disposed of as often as possible. 4. If your bathroom has a fan, use it after every bath or shower to reduce humidity. 5. Sliced or crushed cucumbers keep cockroaches away from food. 6. Spray the cockroaches' favorite places with the mixture of 1 ounce each of tea-tree oil, rosemary oil and citronella oil. 7. Combine equal amounts of sugar, shortening, flour, and baking soda, and then add chopped onion. Add enough water to be able to make small balls of dough. Place in roach-infested areas. When eaten, the bait creates gas in the roaches and they explode. Source: Verde Media, Inc «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Contact Details «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Priya F. Shah, Editor mailto:Priya@makingindiagreen.com http://www.makingindiagreen.com Plot No 45, Lane G, Sector 8, Vashi, Navi Mumbai - 400 703, Maharastra, India 9122-7826746 «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Subscriptions to this ezine are free. Making India Green is published on the first of every month. Feel free to forward this ezine to anyone you think might enjoy it. Subscribe: mailto:makingindiagreen-subscribe@listbot.com or join online at:http://makingindiagreen.listbot.com/ Unsubscribe: mailto:makingindiagreen-unsubscribe@listbot.com Join the Making India Green discussion forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/makingindiagreen/join We welcome article submissions on topics relevant to the theme of this newsletter. For information on article submissions, send mailto:Priya@makingindiagreen.com with "Article Info" in the subject line. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°^«°»^«° Some of the best things in life are free. Now you can get some of the hottest "free stuff" offers available on the net! Free samples, trial offers, sweepstakes, software, catalogs, and much more! http://ezfreebies.com/cgi-bin/f.cgi?11067m «°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«° «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Recommended resources «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» The Alternative Building Sourcebook : Traditional, Natural and Sustainable Building Products and Services by Steve K. Chappell (Editor), Steve Chapell (Editor), James J. Marks Environmental Building News, April 1998: The SOURCEBOOK is unique among green building guides in its exclusive focus on natural building methods, such as strawbale, clay infill, cob, thatch and timber framing. Useful information on associated products, services, and tools is also provided. For builders, architects, and lay people interested in natural building, The Alternative Building Sourcebook makes an excellent reference. Buy this book from Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1889269018/makingindiagreen Buy this book from FirstandSecond.com - India's biggest book stop http://firstandsecond.com/associates/alliance.asp?associate=priyashah&bookid=439304 Find more books on Green Building at the Making India Green bookstore http://www.geocities.com/priyaflorence/book6.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Thanks for reading this issue. For more resources and information on sustainable living, visit us online: http://www.makingindiagreen.com