Note from the Editor: MIG has been in publication for six months. Thanks to all our subscribers for supporting us by subscribing to this newsletter. In this short period, our website has even managed to win a couple of awards and was featured on the May 2001 CD of DIGIT (formerly CHIP magazine). You can see what they had to say about Making India Green at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/awards.htm We will continue to improve the website, provide more resources and information, and expand our database on sustainable living in India. We hope that you have found the website useful and request your feedback and suggestions in maintaining its quality and usefulness. Please do not hit the reply button. You may contact the editor using the e-mail address below. «°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»«°»^«°»^«°» M A K I N G I N D I A G R E E N Vol. 1, No.6 «°» June 5, 2001 World Environment Day 2001 Special 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. Details on subscribing or unsubscribing can be found at the end of this issue. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» In This Issue: «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «» Editorial «» News Digest «» Take Action: Say no to Genetically Engineered Crops «» Feature: Ecotourism is common sense Author: Nirmal Ghosh «» Guest Article: Ludiya - Partnering with People Author: Vastu-Shilpa Foundation «» Green Tips: Non-toxic Household Cleaning «» Contact Details «» Subscribe/Unsubscribe «» Recommended resources «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» MAKING INDIA GREEN CELEBRATES WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2001 Today is World Environment Day. The theme this year is: *Connect with the World Wide Web of Life* Find out all about it at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/wed.htm «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Quote of the month: White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer on the fact that President Bush would not urge Americans to conserve energy: "That's a big no. The president believes that it's an American way of life, and that it should be the goal of policy-makers to protect the American way of life. The American way of life is a blessed one." «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Editorial «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» RUBBISHING RECYCLING Garbage is in the news again. And no, I don't mean the pop band. A recent article by Goa-based environmental journalist, Frederick Noronha, [See: *Plastic Waste Plagues Goa, India's Tourist Jewel* http://www.ens.lycos.com/ens/may2001/2001L-05-09-03.html ] reports on an issue that plagues most of the country - the plastic waste menace. In Goa, the problem is exacerbated by the throwaway culture prevalent in most of India's tourist spots. (Later in this issue, wildlifer and environmentalist, Nirmal Ghosh, analyses the problem of plastic waste within the larger concept of eco-tourism in India) As legislation and even well-meaning campaigns fail to make a dent in the mountains of plastic waste accumulating all over the country, it has become obvious that we need new solutions to this problem. One concept that is gaining popularity in Europe and Japan is the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). As environmentalist Neil Tangri explains, Extended Producer Responsibility is a concept that is being increasingly applied to both packaging (like plastic water bottles) and toxics, to encourage their collection, but more importantly, to encourage the redesign of materials so that fewer resources go into packaging and toxic products. In the US, a small deposit is charged in many states for the bottles. This way, even if some individuals litter, there is an incentive for others to pick up the bottles and return them. Buy back schemes are not new to India, where for years we have been paying a small deposit on glass bottles and returning them to the neighbourhood baniya for a refund. Could the buy-back scheme be applied to plastic bottles as well, as Goa's campaigners have suggested? *Plastic bottles form a big part of Goa's plastic problem, because so many thousands of tourists provide themselves with bottled drinking water. They leave large numbers of non-biodegradable plastic water bottles behind as waste,* writes Frederick Noronha. And what about the ubiquitous plastic carry bag? Will making thicker and thicker plastic bags mandatory solve the root problem? That of us Indians absorbing a throwaway culture that does little to encourage responsible practices. (Where are the cultural police when you need them?) Recycling comes with its own set of problems as downcycled plastics have few takers and even fewer uses. So should we force manufacturers to go back to using glass bottles. Will it be so hard to turn back the clock and go back to our old environmentally-sound ways? Do we even want to? These are questions that we, as consumers must answer if we don't wish to be buried under mountains of plastic that no one wants. To quote a recent article [See *Design for disassembly - Vital to green manufacturing http://www.hindubusinessline.com/stories/04236702.htm], *India, for various reasons, has traditionally displayed a high level of native ingenuity in recycling its waste, the indifference of the government and large business establishments to this critical activity notwithstanding. But this ingenuity cannot be expected to stretch indefinitely to cope with the progress, however slow, that the country is making in manufacturing. In the circumstances, the Central and State governments would do well to study the legislative initiatives of the various European governments in ensuring the use of back-used products in the manufacture of a vast variety of goods ranging from cars to telephones.* Not only should we, as consumers, become more conscious of the environmental impacts of our lifestyle choices, but we must also force manufacturers to take responsibility for the waste they generate. Unfortunately, it looks like manufacturers in India will have to be dragged, kicking and screaming to court, before they take any initiative in this direction. Now, its up to the citizens and the government to see that they do. [Read more about the plastic problem in our new article: *The Plastic Devil: Ecological Menace* at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/plastic.htm ] «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Comment on this editorial, or start a discussion on this topic. Join the Making India Green discussion forum at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/makingindiagreen/join TAKE A GREEN POLL! Tell us what you think about issues like Genetic Engineering and Plastic Recycling at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/polls.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» GET A FREE SHORT WEB ADDRESS Get a shory address like "clik.to/john". Multiple ".to" names to choose from. Fast URL is the fastest redirection service on the Net. Get your Fast URL along with other great website resources when you register for FREE at: http://join.at/fasturl «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» News Digest «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» SAY HELLO TO THE WORLD'S FIRST DESIGNER BABIES Scientists in the United States have reported the first cases of human germline genetic modification resulting in the births of normal healthy children. *Germline* refers to the genes a person will pass on to his or her children. The technique known as ooplasmic transfer, involved taking involved taking the contents of a donor egg from a fertile female and injecting it into the infertile woman's egg along with the fertilizing sperm from her mate. Scientists have condemned the process because the method can add genes -- mitochondrial DNA -- from the female donor's egg into the mix of genetic material from the mother and father. Tests have confirmed that two of the 15 babies produced by the technique at the institute were carrying genes from the birth mother, the father and the donor female. There are fears that genetic engineering may be used by athletes, hoping to engineer the human body to achieve physically impossible tasks. Sources: First cases of human germline genetic modification announced http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/322/7295/1144 Babies Born in Experiments Have Genes From 3 People http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/05/health/05DNA.html World's first genetically altered babies born http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/science/05/05/US.genes/index.html Genetically engineered children: they're already with us http://www.newscientist.com/newsletter/news.jsp?id=ns229059 Getting the Athletic Edge May Mean Altering Genes http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/11/sports/11GENE.html ROUND AND ROUND ON THE BIOTECH CAROUSEL Environmental NGOs in India have called on the government to ban imports of genetically modified crops. Their views are being endorsed by scientists who believe that the human food supply is in danger of being contaminated by crops genetically modified to create better drugs and industrial chemicals. In an interesting turn of events, the pesticide industry in India has joined environmentalists in voicing resistance to GM crops, its sudden bout of social consciousness spurred no doubt, by the prospect of diminishing profits, if GM crops gain acceptance. Sources: Greenpeace, NGOs call for GM import ban http://just-food.com/news_detail.asp?art=32664&app=1 Samanvaya takes a comprehensive look at Golden Rice http://www.indiatogether.org/reports/goldenrice.htm Scientists fear biotech will harm food supply http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/01-05-06a.htm Pesticide makers caution on GM tech adoption http://www.indiaserver.com/businessline/2001/05/25/stories/072548v2.htm After conducting large-scale field trials of its controversial Bt or *Bollgard* cotton in India, Monsanto is now seeking to introduce its equally high-profile *Roundup -resistant* transgenic soyabean into the country. Reliance on the Monsanto herbicide, Roundup, to kill weeds in fields of genetically engineered Roundup Ready soybeans has already led to increased herbicide use because the weeds have become herbicide resistant, according to a new study. Sources: http://ens-news.com/ens/may2001/2001L-05-04-04.html Biotech to drive chemicals sales, report says http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10926 New study finds Monsanto soya means more pesticides in the environment http://www.greenpeace.org/%7Egeneng/highlights/gmo/monsanto_may4.htm Abroad, genetically-modified foodstuffs are increasingly being removed from supermarket shelves in response to consumer demand. Thailand and Sri Lanka have already banned GM crops. Monsanto and Aventis are unable to market their GE sugar beet seeds in the US because of environmental and consumer group concerns. Even countries like Ecuador, who require food aid have shunned biotech crops. More than 60 environmental and fishermen's groups have asked the Food and Drug Administration for a moratorium on the approval of any genetically modified fish, arguing that the environmental and health risks have not been adequately studied. Sources: http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10985 US criticises Sri Lankan ban on GM foods http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10779 Refiners Shun Bioengineered Sugar Beets, Frustrating Plans for Monsanto, Aventis http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/01-04-27e.htm Ecuador asks US food aid contain no biotech crops http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10848 Groups Ask for Moratorium on Alteration of Salmon http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/09/science/09FISH.html How far the agri-business has extended its tentacles into the political and regulatory mechanism of the US is obvious from the fact that President Bush has named a Monsanto executive for the second-ranking job at the Environmental Protection Agency. Sources: http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10683> Monsanto executive named for senior EPA job http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/05/05022001/reu_monsanto_43338.asp *More allegations of Monsanto's illegal activities worldwide. The issue of Bt Cotton is not merely one of science, but it also has to address whether we should allow a known offender loose in India,* states Nityanand Jayaraman, Greenpeace India campaigner, commenting on the fact that illegal GE Monsanto corn was detected in Argentina, knowledge of which has been vehemently denied by the accused, Monsanto. Benedikt Haerlin of Greenpeace International said that the company did not play by the rules, but pursued a ruthless global strategy of legal and illegal contamination with GE seeds. Sources: http://www.greenpeace.org/~geneng/highlights/gmo/monsanto_may11.htm Monsanto denies sale of illegal seed - May 10 http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10774 With accusations and counter-accusations flying thick and fast, the UN has finally stepped in to explore the ethical issues of bio-engineered organisms. Genetically modified organisms such as foods and vaccines are not inherently good or bad, but can be used for good or ill, says Jacques Diouf, director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Source: http://ens-news.com/ens/may2001/2001L-05-07-01.html ORGANIC GOES THE INDUSTRIAL WAY The organic movement has become a 7.7 billion dollar business, and is now attracting the attention of the very agribusiness corporations to which it once presented a radical alternative. It is redefining the very concept of organic. Source: The Organic-Industrial Complex http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/13/magazine/13ORGANIC.html In a breakthrough for the European organic movement, agriculture ministers from 12 European countries have called for creation within two years of a European action plan for the development of organic farming and food. Source: European Ag ministers support organic farming http://ens-news.com/ens/may2001/2001L-05-14-05.html But organic farming is no longer something recommended by First World retailers for Third World tillers.In India, organic cotton, grown without using synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or defoliants, is being touted as an ecofriendly alternative to insecticide-intensive cotton farming. Source: Organic Cotton http://www.cseindia.org/html/dte/dte20010515/dte_stati.htm Meanwhile, a Cornell University ecologist has suggested a tax on foods that are the least sustainable and have the worst environmental impact, as a way of bringing more sustainability to agriculture. Source: Ecologist Says Unsustainable Food Should Be Taxed http://www.gnet.org/Coldfusion/News_Page2.cfm?NewsID=16031 According to a new study, increasing agricultural production by even a small amount can have an enormous impact on biodiversity. *Eco-agriculture* may help solve the dilemma of protecting biodiversity without sacrificing agricultural production. Source: Eco-agriculture: stewardship of the land http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/05/05112001/ecoagriculture_43449.asp BUSH IN THE DOGHOUSE Environmentalists, public interest groups and most Democrats are giving the president a thorough tongue-lashing for the host of environmental rollbacks Bush has made in his first weeks in office. Actions taken by the Bush administration that involve the environment have stirred up concerns among Americans who feel the White House is *on the wrong track,* according to a nationwide poll. Sources: President Bush Rates Poorly in 100 Day Review http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-30-06.html Poll: US worried about environment http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/05/05012001/upi_poll_43323.asp CHERNOBYL PLUS 15 It's 15 years since the Chernobyl disaster! Planet Ark has 226 archived news stories about the disaster and the impact that it's had on the environment. Check them out at: http://www.planetark.org/chernobyl/ PURER LEAVES YOU AND ENVIRONMENT POORER Bottled water is no safer than tap water, but it can cost as much as 1000 times more, according to a WWF study, that found no significant difference between the two types of water. The 1.5 millions tons of plastic used to bottle water each year, pose a threat to the environment at both the manufacturing and the disposal stage. Furthermore, as around a quarter of the 90 billion litres of bottled water drunk each year was consumed outside the country of origin, the transport involved added significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, it said. Sources: Bottled water drinkers may pour money down drain http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10688 Tap versus bottled water debate boils over http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2001/2001L-05-03-12.html BAYGON AND THE PESTICIDE-CANCER LINK Though scientists and researchers have been researching the lymphoma-pesticides connection for over two decades, individual studies have received little attention. But now, with this report of collected evidence, the correlation between lymphoma and pesticides is hard to ignore. The report is the first-ever comprehensive review of worldwide research studies on the subject of lymphoma and pesticides. Source: Pesticides linked to Lymphoma http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/01-05-14a.htm Infant leukaemia has been linked to commonly-used pesticides, and in particular to a substance called Baygon, which comes from the carbamate family of chemicals and is used in mosquito repellent. The scientists have advised pregnant women to keep away from carbamate pesticides Source: Scientists link Bayer's Baygon to child leukemia http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/01-05-02.htm DISASTER RELIEF AND REHABILITATION Its what the May issue of Humanscape magazine focused on, with articles covering specific areas of medical relief, relief for the aged and reconstruction of settlement. It also touched upon the more general attitude towards relief operations and lessons to be learnt by other agencies of relief.Visit Humanscape at http://www.humanscapeindia.org *GENTLE GIANT* OF THE SEA GRANTED PROTECTION The Union government has issued the formal notification extending the shelter of the Wildlife Protection Act to the largest fish, the whale shark, a blue-grey giant shark, that feeds on nothing bigger than plankton and avoids any confrontation. This is the first time a fish species has been put in Schedule I of the Act. It will now be an offence to capture or kill the whale shark. Sources: Whale shark - threatened by excessive fishing http://www.timesofindia.com/050501/05hlth12.htm Whale shark notified as protected species http://www.timesofindia.com/today/31indi10.htm AMERICA, THE BLESSED The White House's energy plan that got a standing ovation from the nuclear industry, got only brickbats from environmentalists and world leaders. The proposed policy will expand the role of nuclear power, open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration, limit toxic emissions from power plants and offer new tax incentives for the development of renewable energy. The Bush administration is ignoring the most modern and sensible ways of supplying America's energy needs, says a coalition of energy businesses and industry trade associations. Jan Pronk, the head of U.N. talks on climate change and the Dutch environment minister, described the plan as a *disastrous development* that would *undoubtedly* lead to more greenhouse gas emissions. A press release issued by Friends of the Earth in the U.K. was titled *Bush to Planet Earth: Drop Dead.* Greenpeace dumped several tons of coal outside Vice President Dick Cheney's residence and blocked an entrance with empty oil barrels. Former President Carter wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post accusing the Bush administration of using *misinformation and scare tactics* to justify attacks on the environment. A coalition of national environmental groups released more than 20 fact sheets to debunk energy myths ahead of the release of the Bush-Cheney energy plan. All of the fact sheets are available on the EMS website. http://www.ems.org/energy_policy/fact_sheets.html Sources: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64665-2001May8.html http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/09/politics/09CHEN.html Energy trade coalition to Bush: Get a clue http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/05/05172001/trade_43531.asp US green groups say W.House energy plan ignores conservation http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10757 Energy Plan Urges New Drilling, Conservation and Nuclear Power Review http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/17/politics/17POWE.html> Misinformation and Scare Tactics http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37159-2001May16.html Greenpeace dumps coal outside Cheney home http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10859 Environmentalists say US energy plans disastrous http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10852 Bush plan 'disastrous' for climate - UN climate chief http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10858 BABY, PLEASE DON'T LIGHT THAT FIRE Toxic fumes from incinerators could be having alarming effects on the sexual development of children, according to medical research published in The Lancet, a UK-based medical journal. Teenagers living near incinerators were found to have smaller sexual organs than those in rural areas. Greenpeace has asked the British government to ban rubbish incinerators and abandon plans for up to 100 new plants. Sources: New research shows incinerator plants could damage fertility of children http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/contentlookup.cfm?ucidparam=20010529151107&bannerparam=nav_med The Lancet Article (pdf): http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/Multimedia/Live/FullReport/3799.pdf COMPUTER KABADIWALAS Electronic recycling laws are tightening their grip in Europe and Japan. Japanese consumers will now have to pay to recycle that old refrigerator or washing machine. Under the new law, manufacturers must recycle four types of appliances -- washing machines, televisions, refrigerators and air conditioners -- accounting for around 80 percent of all appliances produced in Japan. But consumers will also have to pay the cost of transporting the appliances from the manufacturers' shops to recycling plants. The European Parliament has called for major changes to proposed European Union laws on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and restrictions on hazardous substances. Established electrical and electronic goods manufacturers will be forced to pay for recycling "orphan" waste equipment produced by untraceable companies. In the U.S., consumers have had to bear the burden of figuring out how to recycle electronic items. Now electronics recycling in the U.S. is beginning to take off as state and local governments, as well as some companies, launch collection programs to make the process easier. Sources: High-tech hardware makers try to blunt EU scrap law http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10822 EU assembly toughens up waste electronics law http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10837 European lawmakers want electronics producers to handle orphan scrap http://ens-news.com/ens/may2001/2001L-05-30-03.html Don't junk that PC http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/2001/05/14/p18s1.htm INDIA SAVES TAMARIND, LOSES ASHWAGANDHA Scientists at the National Chemical Laboratory in Pune, have set an example for others wishing to develop products from plants and trees traditionally used in India for food and medicine. They have developed a process for the recovery of value added products from tamarind, to ensure that it does not go the neem way. NCL has filed four patents based on the know-how developed and has already been awarded a US patent. Source: http://www.economictimes.com/today/01econ03.htm However, in another loss for Indian traditional knowledge, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), used for years in the Ayurvedic system as an aphrodisiac, diuretic and for restoring loss of memory, has become the target of patents by American and Japanese companies. Seven American and four Japanese companies have filed or have been granted patents on formulations containing Ashwagandha or extracts of the plant according to the patent facilitating cell of the DST. Source: After neem, turmeric, foreign firms patent Ashwagandha http://www.rediff.com/money/2001/may/15patent.htm Precious little has been done to protect the holders of traditional knowledge systems from the exploitation that they face in the market place. This is crudely evident in the length of time it is taking for the process of formalisation of the biodiversity Bill. Source: The problem of biopiracy http://www.economictimes.com/today/01edit04.htm BUILDING GREEN IN INDIA A new book "Energy-efficient buildings in India," published by the Ministry for Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) and the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), covers 41 projects from various climatic zones in India, providing thorough insights into the context, techniques, and benefits of energy -efficient buildings. The projects highlight design responses to varied climatic conditions, appropriate materials and construction methods, implementation of energy-efficient systems, and effective utilization of renewable energy to reduce pressure on grid power. A booklet that provides synopsis of 15 representative projects can be downloaded as a PDF file from the web site. Source: http://www.teriin.org/pub/books/eebuild.htm For more books on Green Building, visit: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/book6.htm NURTURING RURAL EDISONS Hundreds, if not thousands of inventors and gadgeteers from the fields and villages of rural India, gather together under the auspices of an organisation called the Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Innovation; *Sristi* for short, the Sanskrit for *creation.* Prof.Anil Gupta of the IIM (Ahmedabad) started the Honey Bee Network, based around a magazine describing these innovations in eight different languages. The organisation now has 10,000 ideas on a computer database - local lore and the inventions of dozens of village boffins available to inquirers, and to companies who want to licence the ideas and pay for them. Source: India's bank of ideas http://www.diehardindian.com/news/2001May/11.htm#bank Read more about this in a previous issue of this newsletter at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/0104mig.txt Read the article *Reinventing the Inventors* at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/cooler.htm BIODEGRADABLE CAR? SMOKIN! Australian researchers believe that within a decade, cars could be made of hemp - the cannabis plant - as backyards and dumps overflow with rusty metal hulks and vehicle makers turn to biodegradable materials for car bodies. Alan Crosky of the University of New South Wales says hemp is the most viable biodegradable material to use for car bodies, beating out coconuts and banana trees in early studies. Crosky thinks car owners will soon save money if their car frames are eco- friendly. Sources: Oh man, that car is really smoking! http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/05/05212001/reu_hempcar_43639.asp?site=email Aussie boffins work on cannabis cars http://www.iol.co.za/html/frame_news.php?click_id=143&art_id=qw990419821724B252 PENGUIN COUTURE Tiny hand-knit wool jerseys from around the world, will be all the rage among the fairy penguins on the Australian island state of Tasmania this winter. Meant to help the penguins cope with oil spills, the specially knit outfits will stop oil- coated penguins from preening themselves and ingesting the poisonous oil. The Tasmanian Conservation Trust asked locals to pitch in and help knit jerseys after oil slicks reached the island's coast earlier this year, but requests for the jersey pattern have come from places as far away as New York and Japan. Source: Knitters rise to penguin pullover challenge http://www.iol.co.za/html/frame_news.php?click_id=143&art_id=qw990167102626B223 DIRTY MONEY The next time you say to your toddler, "Don't put that money in your mouth - it's dirty," you'll have scientists supporting you. A new study has reported that paper currency is commonly contaminated with bacteria, some of which can cause infection in otherwise healthy people. Source: http://www.gnet.org/Coldfusion/News_Page2.cfm?NewsID=16258 NOISE HARMFUL TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH If you have kids and live near a busy traffic intersection, you might want to consider moving. Researchers in the United States, Germany and Austria have found that continuous, low-level traffic noise is a pollutant that can cause health and motivational problems in children, increase levels of stress hormones, and raise blood pressure and heart rate. Sources: Noisy neighborhoods harmful to childrens' health http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/05/05242001/noisekid_43685.asp Chronic noise pollution harms the health and well-being of children http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/4234.cfm POP GOES THE TREATY The international Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) has taken place banning the production, import, export, disposal, and use of the most toxic chemicals ever created. Russia, however, outraged environmentalists worldwide by refusing to sign the Treaty. Sources: (The St. Petersburg Times, May 25, 2001) World ban for dirty dozen POPs http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/4244.cfm World bans the dirty dozen most dangerous chemicals http://ens-news.com/ens/may2001/2001L-05-22-04.html INDIA DOWN THERE WITH THE WORST OF THEM Pollution, which covers the quality of air and water, noise levels and traffic congestion, has been singled out as the biggest complaint among expatriates living in Asia, according to the latest survey by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd (PERC). India emerged the worst overall with a score of 8.31. It was followed by China with 8.03, Vietnam with 7.63, the Philippines with 7.55, Indonesia with 7.33 and Hong Kong with 7.28. India's major cities have among the highest levels of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, the survey said. (The Times of India, May 28, 2001) «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Get your daily dose of news on the environment: http://www.makingindiagreen.com/ To list an event or announcement, send details to: mailto:addevent@makingindiagreen.com «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» Get reacquainted with some of India's best loved tales with Amar Chitra Katha - 7 great collections at 15 % off http://www.fabmart.com/stores/Books/promos/amck/amck.asp?ltype=2&affid=1280 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Take Action: Say no to Genetically Engineered Crops «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Why all the fuss about Genetic Engineering? GE as a technology is not bad. No technology is bad or good - its how and why we apply it that causes problems. Similarly, the problems with GE are with the applications, in crops, in animals and possibly sooner than we expect, in humans. The problem is that we don't seem to have a say in where this technology is heading, because the scientists and corporations who apply it don't believe they are accountable to society. The result of this arrogance is inadequate safety testing for GE-food, inadequate assessment of the ecological risks and the monopolisation of the world's agriculture and food supply by a few large corporations. The result is a disregard for ethics, for consumer opinion, and even the law. These corporations have been feeding GM-food to an unsuspecting American public for the last six years, without bothering to inform them about it. Even if GE-food and crops prove to be safe in the long-term, our experience with DDT and other chemicals once thought to be safe has made us believe that the *precautionary principle* should be followed as far as new technologies are concerned, especially those with far-reaching consequences as GE. Last month, we started a signature campaign to let the Indian Government know about our objections to GE Crops. Michelle Chawla, Greenpeace India's Anti-GE Campaigner reported the outcome of the campaign. Read her message here: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/michelle.htm TAKE ACTION! Visit our GE campaign page to learn more: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/camgefood.htm You can still lend your support by signing Greenpeace's Petition to Halt the Entry of Genetically Engineered Crops into India. The link below will allow you to send an instant e-mail to our decision-makers in Parliament. http://makingindiagreen.actionize.com/view.php?action=600 Visit our Campaign Pages regularly for news and updates. http://www.makingindiagreen.org/campaign.htm At Making India Green, we show you how you CAN make a difference. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» CLICK TO SAVE THE RAINFOREST! DESTRUCTION OF AMAZON JUNGLE HITS 5-YEAR HIGH (News headline of May 16, 2001) Care2's Race for the Rain Forest is a quick, easy way to help save rain forest with a simple point and click. Click on the "Save the Rain Forest" button on their site up to once per day. Each click generates a donation, paid by advertising sponsors, to The Nature Conservancy's Adopt An Acre program. Each sponsor has agreed to donate approximately $0.005 per click. 100% of the money you generate will be donated to The Nature Conservancy. Registering free with Care2 will make a donation to DOUBLE the land you save on your first click, and track how much land you've helped preserve. When you spread the word, you'll get credit for your friends' participation, and their referral's participation. Click NOW: Tell all your friends so they can help too. Visit for many more links to save habitat and wildlife. «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Feature: Ecotourism is common sense Author: Nirmal Ghosh «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Ecotourism is a term very liberally used, but with shallow understanding and little real implementation. In the 1980s many debated on how to define the concept; I sat in on a number of conferences in which speaker after speaker said the same things in different ways. In the end, it doesn't matter how you define ecotourism. What is important is that you actually practice it. Ecotourism is not merely taking people into an unspoilt wilderness. It is low impact tourism. It is an attitude. It is a sense of respect, a sense of responsibility, and a sense of discipline. Most hotels, lodges and so forth around wilderness areas will call their activities ecotourism. Yet how many, to take one example, would provide water canteens to their guests on modest payment, filling them up from a large mineral water dispenser for every excursion, instead of travelling with a vehicle full of plastic bottles? I haven't come across a single one. The canteen idea came from Bittu Sahgal via an email in response to a news item I had circulated on a World Wide Fund for Nature study. [Bittu Sahgal's (editor of Sanctuary magazine) comment follows:"All tourist facilities should offer canteens for trips into the forests and water sources that guarantee filtered and purified water. This would probably be safer than blindly relying on bottled water, which, according to one survey conducted, is refilled, particularly in smaller towns, railway stations and airports, using the most contaminted water sources imaginable.....As of now, you can go to Corbett, Melghat, Wandoor, Ranthmbhore, or for that matter almost any of our best wildernesses and behind the rest house you will see a whole stream of plastic garbage thrown out by the chowkidar (no doubt soon after politically correct tourists disposed it carefully in gaudy dustbins in their rooms!)] I quote from the study, starting with my own note: "This issue of 'mineral' water bottles has been bothering me lately, perhaps a little more than usual because now that summer's here and bottled water is so ubiquitous, I see discarded bottles everywhere, including in wilderness areas. Perhaps the MOEF should look into nudging forest departments to evolve a code of conduct for tourism operators, in which they only use pumped water from a local source for drinking. It just has to be rendered safe, and that can be done in the system itself in many cases. Something like this would definitely, to my mind, make a difference to the load on the local wilderness ecosystem in places where there are significant gatherings of tourists. I have regularly drunk from forest and mountain streams, yet I too find myself sometimes being lured by bottled water, often merely because of its presence with me, and in spite of being within yards of a stream with drinkable water!" "According to the study, Bottled Water: Understanding a social phenomenon, commissioned by WWF, bottled water may be no safer, or healthier than tap water in many countries while selling for up to 1000 times the price. Yet, it is the fastest growing drinks industry in the world and is estimated to be worth US dollars 22 billion annually. The study acknowledges that while bottled water has the advantage of being generally safer in areas where tap water may be contaminated, boiling or filtering local water renders it safe at a much lower cost for people on a low income. However, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in terms of nutritional value, bottled water is no better than tap water. It may contain small amounts of minerals but so does tap water from many public municipal water supplies. The study also finds that every year 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water. Toxic chemicals can be released into the environment during the manufacture and disposal of the bottles. Furthermore, a quarter of the 89 billion litres of water bottled worldwide annually are consumed outside their country of origin. Emissions of the green house gas carbon dioxide, caused by transporting bottled water within and between countries, contribute to the global problem of climate change." There is not much point in taking all your plastic mineral water bottles back from a jeep ride in a tiger reserve, when the "resort" you are staying at outside the reserve will just pitch them over the back wall. I have visited many forest rest houses with plastic debris lining the periphery of the compound - a sign sometimes of a lazy chowkidar, but more often of irresponsible visitors. Plastic waste is a huge and growing problem. Goa has a problem with it; so does Mussoorie, where a gentleman called Vipin Kumar has been on a cleaning crusade involving local ragpickers; a model that could easily be replicated elsewhere given the determination. The notion of post-consumer waste management is still in its infancy : manufacturers will probably resist to the last any law forcing them to take back their packaging waste and reuse or recycle it. Ecotourism doesn't need conferences, it needs common sense. It is an attitude. It means not playing loud music in the wilderness; not leaving litter behind; not disturbing, shouting at, crowding around, chasing wildlife or interfering with wildlife; not interfering with local people and customs; not taking anything material away or damaging the local ecosystem; supporting local industries. It means not exceeding carrying capacity. Ecotourism means respect for the wilderness, both aesthetically and biologically. Ecotourism means preserving the wilderness experience, not turning it into a Sunday picnic. My own view, as I mentioned briefly in my note on the WWF study, is that the forest department in India, which controls most wilderness areas, should evolve a code of conduct for tourism operators using their resource, under which the operators will observe certain norms in terms of plastic and waste disposal, local resource use, and behaviour. Ideally this should be backed up by scientific monitoring of water quality particularly in the area around tourist concentrations, which can easily be done by the local college's biology students, even if they have to come in by bus from a town far away. Local tourism operators should also designate one or two days a year for a cleanup drive in any area that needs it. There is no point, for instance, in encouraging a code of conduct among tourist resorts and camps on the Ramnagar-Ranikhet road (the entrance to Corbett National Park) if upstream of them, pilgrims at the Girija Devi temple leave a huge rotting film of garbage in their wake on the Kosi river. Sariska, both at Pandupol and at Bandipul where there is mercifully just a small mandir, have a huge garbage problem. Priests from local mandirs must be educated as well; tourism operators must join forces with the forest department and local students to do this. Those who sign the code should be given a green sticker as a mark of recognition. With growing awareness among tourists - especially those from abroad - it will be more difficult for tourist operations to paper over their environmentally irresponsible practices. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Nirmal Ghosh may be contacted at mailto:tigerfire@yahoo.com http://www.indianjungles.com Trustee, The Corbett Foundation 1/12 Shanti Niketan, New Delhi 110021 Tel : 011 410 4868; Fax : 011 410 4816 «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» FAST FACT: If less than 0.1 per cent of the renewable energy within the oceans of the world could be converted into electricity, it would satisfy the present world demand for energy more than five times over. (Source: The Scotsman; May 24, 2001) «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» GET PAID TO BE ONLINE. Over 80 of the best programs listed that pay you to surf, receive e-mail and visit websites. All International and absolutely FREE to join. Visit: http://wakeup.to/showmethemoney «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Guest Article: Ludiya - Partnering with People Author: Vastu-Shilpa Foundation «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» This report describes a model of participatory redevelopment in the earthquake-hit village of Ludiya in Kutch. It outlines the methods used by the non-governmental organisation, Manav Sadhana, in guiding the villagers' of Ludiya in rebuilding their homes and community, while helping to preserve the traditional architecture (bhungas) and lifestyle of the village. ...The earthquake of January 26, 2001, that left most parts of Kutch devastated and in ruins, came at a time when the villagers had begun to give up the traditional building form in favour of the *pucca8 houses in stone masonry, an influence from the urban centers signifying a more *permanent* and 'prestigious' habitat. The fact that very few of the traditional dwelling types were affected severely by the quake, while almost all of the so-called *permanent* dwellings were more or less razed to the ground, brought to the fore the wisdom of the ancients once again. This accidental but practical test, allayed the fears of the villagers, made them realise the sense behind the *bhunga* and became the opportunity to convince them of their inheritance and the need to conserve it, at the same time not having to compromise on their aspirations.... The complete report with pictures can be viewed at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/ludiya.htm It is also available for download as a rather large (1.4 Mb) PDF file at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/Ludiya.pdf «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Do you have a green product or service to promote? Post a FREE advertisement on our classifieds page: http://pub48.bravenet.com/classified/show.php?usernum=4120542254&cpv=1 For a FREE listing on our site: mailto:listsite@makingindiagreen.com (Note: All submissions should contain an e-mail address and/or a website URL) «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» GET YOUR FREE ISO14001 ASSESSMENT ONLINE Download of Route to ISO 14000 and *isotop* software DEMO. *isotop* has environmental management documentation software with Implementation Guide, Environment Manual, complete Procedures and Record templates. 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 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Green Tip: Non-toxic Household Cleaning «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Say no to Harpic and Sanifresh! Stop using expensive and toxic tile and toliet bowl cleaners. A safe, non-toxic and inexpensive alternative is sitting right there on your kitchen shelf. Vinegar and soda bicarbonate! Yes, its as simple as that. And it really works. Use it like you would your usual cleaner (make sure the room is well ventilated and don't overdo the vinegar because acetic acid has quite a strong odour). Brush the bowl and you'll have a sparkling clean and disinfected (vinegar also kills germs) toliet bowl. Read a selection of articles on Green Cleaning at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/articles.htm [If you have any tips to share, please send them with your name and e-mail address to: mailto:Priya@makingindiagreen.com] «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» Get that book you've always wanted - at a Fab-ulous price! A full 50 percent off on the Book of the Day at Fabmart. http://www.fabmart.com/stores/Books/promos/justtoday/justtoday.asp?ltype=2&affid=1280 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» 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. Subscribe: mailto:makingindiagreen-subscribe@listbot.com or join online at:http://makingindiagreen.listbot.com/ Unsubscribe: mailto:makingindiagreen-unsubscribe@listbot.com Read past issues of this newsletter at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/archives.htm If you like this newsletter, tell a friend and you could win $10,000! http://recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=854129 Review/rate this newsletter: http://www.INFOJUMP.com/cat/Environment_and_Nature/9536-review.html We value your feedback! To send it,mailto:Priya@makingindiagreen.com Send details of announcements or events to: mailto:addevent@makingindiagreen.com To list your green product, service or website: mailto:listsite@makingindiagreen.com Join the Making India Green discussion forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/makingindiagreen/join Chat with other Green Indians at the Green Indians Club: http://in.clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/greenindians We welcome article submissions on topics relevant to the theme of this newsletter. For information on article submissions, send mailto:articles@makingindiagreen.com «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°^«°»^«° GET $5.00 INSTANTLY! Download the DeltaBar NOW and start enjoying a new and rewarding way to surf the Net. Find what you need fast and get paid for doing it!! http://www.qksrv.net/click-657121-1203628 «°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«° «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Recommended resources «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists by Michael Brower, Union of Concerned Scientists, Warren Leon Paper or plastic? Cloth or disposable? Regular or organic? Every day, environmentally conscious consumers are faced with the overwhelming catch-22 of a capitalist society--reconciling the harm we do by consuming, while still providing ourselves and our families with the goods and services we need. It's enough to make a city dweller crazy. Fret no more! The Union of Concerned Scientists has put together a well-researched and eminently practical guide to the decisions that matter. The authors hope that the book will help you set priorities, stop worrying about insignificant things, and understand the real environmental impacts of household decisions. For instance, you may be surprised to learn that buying and eating meat and poultry is much more harmful to the environment than the packaging the meat is wrapped in, even if it's Styrofoam. This guide takes on both sides of the consumer-impact argument, goring sacred cows of the environmentalist movement (like the strident emphasis on recycling) and the industrialist perspective (like the relentless message to buy more, more, more). If you're confused and overwhelmed by all the environmental decision-making in the modern world, you'll find new inspiration in this book. -- Therese Littleton Buy this book at FirstandSecond.com http://firstandsecond.com/associates/alliance.asp?associate=priyashah&bookid=309636 Buy this book at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/060980281X/makingindiagreen «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Thanks for reading this issue. For more resources and information on sustainable living, visit us online at: http://www.makingindiagreen.com