«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»«°»^«°» M A K I N G I N D I A G R E E N Vol. 1, No. 8 «°» August 2001 Priya Shah, Editor, mailto:makingindiagreen-owner@yahoogroups.com «°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»«°»^«°» Privacy Policy: Our subscriber list is confidential and we respect your privacy. This newsletter is distributed by subscription only. Details on subscribing or unsubscribing can be found at the end of this issue. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» In This Issue: «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «» Leader «» News Digest «» Take Action: Support people's water rights in Rajasthan «» Feature: The Green Bazaar Author: Padma Rajagopal «» Guest Article: How Green is your Detergent? Authors: Mr S. K. Mathur and Mr H. Wadhwa «» Green Tips: Greening your Laundry «» Contact Details «» Subscribe/Unsubscribe «» Recommended resources: «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Save the Planet with a Click of your Mouse! Your click can make a difference at our 'Click to Save' page. Click here: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/clicktosave.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» GET YOUR FREE ISO 14001 ASSESSMENT ONLINE The isotop TimeSaver CD provides fully integrated ISO 14001 documentation, including all the required management procedures, forms and an environment manual to coordinate the system. Visit: http://clik.to/iso14001 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Leader «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» TECHNOLOGY IS NO SILVER BULLET *Hunger is not caused by a scarcity of food but by a scarcity of democracy,* wrote noted author and hunger expert Frances Moore Lappe in the L.A. Times. (People, Not Technology, Are the Key to Ending Hunger; June 27, 2001) *Thus it can never be solved by new technologies, even if they were to be proved 'safe.' It can only be solved as citizens build democracies in which government is accountable to them, not private corporate entities.* It aptly sums up a tragedy being played out on the world stage, with the UN playing the role of biotech advocate in its recent Human Development Report (HDR) 2001. Devinder Sharma, who recently won the first Chaudhary Charan Singh Award for Excellence in Journalism for the year 2000, considers the report and cares for the reasons for the *paradox of plenty,* in the article *Biotechnology will bypass the hungry* at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/devinder.htm *Over 60 million tons of excess food grain - unsold - because the hungry are too poor to buy it - rotted in India last year, while farmers in desperation burnt the crops they could not sell, and resorted to selling their body parts like kidneys or committing suicide, to end the cycle of poverty,* writes Anuradha Mittal of Food First. *A higher, genetically engineered crop yield would have done nothing for them. If the poor in India cannot buy two meals a day, how will they purchase nutritionally rich crops such as rice engineered to contain Vitamin A? No technological fix can help change the situation. Only political commitment can.* Unfortunately, its not a prescription that the biotech industry can stomach or the HDR 2001 recommends. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Voice your opinion or start a discussion on this topic at: mailto:makingindiagreen@yahoogroups.com TAKE A GREEN POLL! Tell us what you think about issues like Genetic Engineering and Plastic Recycling at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/polls.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» News Digest «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» HOT CROSSED BONN The world welcomed the birth of a new arrival in Bonn, Germany, after a long and worrisome night of painful labour that followed months of tortuous debate about its viability. The coup was pulled off by a team of 180, who against all odds, and facing dissent from a very senior member, managed to agree on the details of the delivery. The long-awaited issue weighs less than expected and may face some adjustment problems. But well-wishers are optimistic about its potential to thrive. The world has expressed hope and relief on the successful delivery of the Bonn agreement over climate change. Read more about the birth of the new treaty at: FACTBOX - Science on global warming behind Kyoto pact http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=11583 FACTBOX - What is the Kyoto protocol? http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=11547 FACTBOX - Where do the countries stand on Kyoto? http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=11548 The Guardian Climate Change Special Report http://www.guardian.co.uk/globalwarming/0,7368,395145,00.html Being practical about global warming http://www.oneworld.net/campaigns/climatechange/front.shtml US isolation on climate change http://www.teriin.org/features/art114.htm More climate change newslinks at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/newsclimate.htm Take action on climate change at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/camclimate.htm ************************************************************* CELL OF CONTENTION For the first time, researchers at a Virginia medical school have created human embryos specifically to harvest stem cells for scientific investigations. A stem cell is the biological mother lode - an immature cell that can develop into any kind of body tissue. In theory, it can be used to regenerate a wide range of tissues, and hence cure a range of illesses involving tissue damage, such as heart disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, and perhaps even regenerate severed spinal cords. Stem cells are extremely hard to come by, and although they can be harvested from adult bone marrow, spinal fluid and umbilical cord blood of newborns, the most useful (meaning immature) ones come from embryos. Previously, researchers collected stem cells from unused embryos remaining at fertility centers. In IVF clinics around the world, unused embryos created as a result of fertility treatment, are routinely *flushed down the drain,* as a prominent Mumbai- based IVF specialist puts it. President Bush is currently under pressure from patient groups that favor the research and from opponents who feel the work is inherently unethical. Opponents of the research equate it with genocide, urging US lawmakers to oppose government funding for it. What do YOU think? Would it be wrong to use these embryos for research? Is it unethical to create or clone new embryos just to harvest their cells? Who should decide these issues? Voice your opinion. Post your messages to: mailto:makingindiagreen@yahoogroups.com See a video of how embryonic stem cells are harvested http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/stemcell/ Sources: Donors give eggs, sperm for stem cells http://www.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/07/11/stem.cells/index.html TIME.com: The stem cell debate http://www.time.com/time/2001/stemcells/ TIME.com: When politics and science collide http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/08/24/embryo8_23.a.tm.tm/ Embryonic ethics http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/bioethics/9906/embryonic.ethics/ Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Understanding stem cell research http://www.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/07/11/gupta.debrief.otsc/index.html For Bush, No Easy Solution to Stem Cell http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/A53642-2001Jul12.html The Embryo Taboos http://partners.nytimes.com/2001/07/15/opinion/15SUN1.html?todaysheadlines ************************************************************* E(D)GG-ING OUT DADDY Who needs men, says the headline. Its another defeat for sperm (and the male ego). In Australia, researchers have created mice embryos using only chemicals - no sperm were necessary. In the Australian method, a donated adult cell was chemically stimulated to jettison one of its sets of chromosomes before it was joined with an egg. The result was an egg with two sets of chromosomes, just as happens with natural fertilization. Theoretically it is now possible that a human cell from any part of the body, including that of another woman, could be used to fertilise a woman's eggs. The real advantage of the technique is for men who cannot produce sperm, allowing them to father a child instead of having to use donated sperm, according to the researcher. The discovery has already prompted debate in the international scientific community and raised fears that it could result in genetic abnormalities. Sources: Who needs men http://cbsnews.com/now/story/0%2C1597%2C301086-412%2C00.shtml In future, men may have no role in making babies http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/jul/11babies.htm More news on biotechnology at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/newsbiotech.htm ************************************************************* FRYING FIEND If you think too much oil is bad for you, your non-stick pan may be worse - for you and the environment. Researchers found that Teflon emits trifluoracetate (TFA) when heated to extremely high temperatures. Once released, TFA seems to collect in wetlands. Scientists speculate that TFA may pose a problem to plants as levels of the pollutant build up over time. DuPont, which makes Teflon, said it wasn't normally heated to the temperatures the researchers studied. Sources: Teflon frying pans release host of chemicals - study http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=11640 Are non-stick frying pans polluting our towns and cities? http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991036 Nonstick cookware emits toxic chemicals http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/07/07232001/cookware_44371.asp More news on toxics and pollution at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/newstoxics.htm ************************************************************* SAFELY DOES IT A United Nations commission has agreed on the first global principles for assessing the safety of genetically modified foods. Back home, the Times of India reported that Union agriculture minister Nitish Kumar asked scientists to get on with research in biotechnology and genetically-modified organisms but cautioned them that people's concerns would have to be allayed before this new technology was accepted. *Without removing fears, we shouldn't just open the doors,* he is reported to have said. Sources: UN agencies call for safety testing of biotech foods http://ens.lycos.com/ens/jul2001/2001L-07-09-07.html World guideline for pre-market GM testing agreed http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=11473 More news on agriculture and biotechnology at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/newsbiotech.htm Read about the Campaign against GM crops in India: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/camgefood.htm ************************************************************* BAS ITNA SA KHWAB When the villagers of Lava ka Baas, a water-scarce village in Rajasthan, were facing drought for a third year, its residents built an age-old device to harvest rainwater - a check dam, with the guidance of the Tarun Bhagat Sangh (TBS), an organisation that has done pioneering work in water management. But what the vilagers sought to do to ensure their survival, a blinkered and backward-looking bureacracy sought to undo. That is, until the New Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment stepped in with a campaign to save the structure. The campaign recently got a boost when Rajendra Singh of the TBS was named the winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership, 2001. Sources: Villagers stand up to government bullying in India http://www.oneworld.org/cse/html/extra/dam/index_history.htm Indian wins Magsaysay award http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/jul/30mag.htm Find out how you can support the campaign at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/waterpetition.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Get your daily dose of environmental news at: http://www.makingindiagreen.com/ «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Take Action: Support people's water rights in Rajasthan «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» The ultimate tyranny: The government claims it owns the rain. THEREFORE, RAINWATER HARVESTING IS ILLEGAL What do you say when the state declares that it has a right over every drop of rain? That every nallah (drain), dry or otherwise belongs to the state? That you can be arrested without a warrant if you so much as capture a raindrop that may fall in the catchment of a nallah? IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE STATE CANNOT GIVE YOU WATER. YOU, HOWEVER, HAVE NO RIGHT TO HELP YOUSELF. UNBELIEVABLE? Read more here: http://www.cseindia.org/html/extra/dam/index.htm Read the Text of the Petition at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/waterpetition.htm Show your support for the villagers of Lava ka Baas by signing this petition. It takes 30 seconds and will really help. Please follow this link to sign the petition: -------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/564192748 -------------------------------------------------------------- «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» Madhubani paintings. Dhurrie and Grass mats from India's best weavers. Folk and Tribal Handmade Art & Craft. Get them now at Shalincraft. http://www.qksrv.net/click-657121-2331737 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Feature: The Green Bazaar Author: Padma Rajagopal «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» What is it like being an organic farmer in India? Padma Rajagopal tells us about a unique market for organic produce in Srirangapatna. Read about the Green Bazaar at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/bazaar.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Padma Rajagopal is programme coordinator for SEED (Skills and Environmental Education) Trust, based at her small farm near Mysore city. She may be contacted at: mailto:poumai@eth.net Web: http://www.nice2people.com/organizations/seed-trust.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» GET A FREE, SHORT WEB ADDRESS FOR LIFE Have a website? Get a short address like the one below. Multiple ".to" names to choose from. Register for FREE to get your Fast URL and other great website resources at: http://join.at/fasturl «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Guest Article: How Green is your Detergent? Authors: Mr S.K. Mathur and Mr H. Wadhwa «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Reprinted with permission from CONSUMER VOICE Detergents, used by almost every urban household, have the distinction of being one of the most successful income generating products for the companies who manufacture them. Their penetration into rural areas is also increasing at an accelerated pace. The Indian consumer organisation, VOICE (Voluntary Organisation in the Interest of Consumers Education), conducted a nation-wide survey on leading brands, ranging in price from Rupees 16 per kg to Rupees 130 per kg, and followed it up by testing 14 of them. The tests conducted included parameters for performance and eco-friendliness, based on biodegradibility and phosphate content. Which detergent was the greenest? Find out at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/detergent.htm Download the report from: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/detergent.zip [pdf file] «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Mr S.K.Mathur is Project Consultant, Ex.Director - Chemicals, Bureau of Indian Standards, and Mr H.Wadhwa is the Project Incharge, VOICE. They wrote this article for the March-April 2001 issue of CONSUMER VOICE, the magazine of the consumer organisation, VOICE. For more information, contact: VOICE, F-71, Lajpat Nagar-II, New Delhi - 110 024, India Tel: 011-6918969, 6315375 Fax: 011-4620455 E-mail: mailto:cvoice@vsnl.net Web: http://www.consumer-voice.org/ «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» Click Here and get $5 just for Signing Up. A-Moola Pays you to Read E-mail. There's Lots-a Moola with every Click-a. http://our.affiliatetracking.net/ahmoola/af.cgi?25454 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Green Tip: Greening your Laundry «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» *Real* soaps made from animal fat or vegetable oil are an order of magnitude less toxic for us and the environment. If possible, use laundry soap in place of detergents and use 1/2 cup washing or baking soda in the final rinse as a fabric softener. Use phosphate-free detergents or those with the least amount of phosphates. [See: How Green is your Detergent? http://www.makingindiagreen.org/detergent.htm ] Avoid detergents with added bleaches or softeners. Using detergents that contain chlorine in the dishwasher or clothes washer can pollute the air in your home. [http://www.seventhgen.com/html/facts_about_chlorine___dioxin.htm] Soak heavily soiled items in cool water (hot water sets the stain) before you throw them into the washing machine to avoid using harsh chlorine bleaches that can pollute water. If you must use bleach, use a hydrogen-peroxide based bleach or 1/4 cup of borax in 2 cups of water. If washing by hand, use a bar of soap and small amounts of washing soda dissolved in hot water. To brighten yellowed cotton or linen, boil for an hour in a baking soda/salt solution. Detergents were designed to react less with hard water. Vinegar is the anecdote for a number of hard water problems, including graying laundry. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse water. SPOT REMOVERS All work best when applied to fresh stains. Try one of the following solutions: All purpose: Make a paste of water and baking soda or washing soda. Soak the stain and let dry prior to washing as usual. Check for colorfastness first. Blood: Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide solution directly on the stain, before rinsing with water. Then wash as usual. Stubborn stains are easily washed off with bath soap and a bit of elbow grease (scrubbing). For stains on colour-fast fabric, use full-strength vinegar. [If you have any tips to share, please send them with your name and e-mail address to: mailto:makingindiagreen-owner@yahoogroups.com] «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Contact Details «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Priya F. Shah, Editor Email: mailto:Priya@makingindiagreen.com Web: http://www.makingindiagreen.com Plot No 45, Lane G, Sector 8, Vashi, Navi Mumbai - 400 703, Maharastra, India Tel: 022-7826746 «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Subscriptions to this newsletter are free. Making India Green is published monthly. Subscribe by e-mail: mailto:makingindiagreen-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Subscribe online at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/makingindiagreen/join Unsubscribe: mailto:makingindiagreen-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Archives of this newsletter: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/archives.htm Send us your feedback at: mailto:makingindiagreen-owner@yahoogroups.com Like this newsletter? Tell a friend and you could win $10,000! http://recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=854129 Get a free listing on our website. Event/Announcements: mailto:addevent@makingindiagreen.com Green products, services, resources or educational courses: mailto:listsite@makingindiagreen.com Submit your articles: mailto:articles@makingindiagreen.com «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» Internet costs too high? Get paid for everything you do online. Great resources to promote your programs too. All programs are international and free to join. Visit: http://wakeup.to/showmethemoney «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Recommended resources: «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001: Making New Technology Work For Human Development The 2001 Human Development Report commissioned by the UNDP focuses on *Making New Technologies Work for Human Development,* and ranks countries according to a Technological Achievement Index. The report is already coming under criticism http://www.undp.org/hdr2001/ Download the complete document as a PDF file (3.3MB) at: http://www.undp.org/hdr2001/completenew.pdf INDIA'S NEW BIODIVERSITY BILL The Biological Diversity Bill 2000 http://envfor.nic.in/legis/others/biobill.html GREEN GOVERNANCE Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), India, has launched a new journal titled *International Journal of Regulation and Governance.* To be published twice a year, the journal aims to bring up-front the issues of regulatory reforms and governance by widening the opportunity to publish analytical research and practical knowledge. Inaugural issue available online at: http://www.teriin.org/online/ijrg/ GREEN ENERGY NEWS Read Green Energy News on the Web at: http://www.nrglink.com/ Subscribe to the free ENERGIES newsletter and stay updated on the latest developments about renewable energy worldwide. To subscribe, contact mailto:bmulliken@nrglink.com «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Thanks for reading this issue. For more resources and information on sustainable living, visit us online at: http://www.makingindiagreen.com