The National Green Corps (NGC) is a programme of the Ministry for Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India. It is a remarkable initiative in the Environment Education field where school children form the crux of the initiative which works through an extensive network of over 1.2 lakh Eco-clubs across the country. This is one of the largest programme of schools for the environment. Paryavaran Mitra taps in on NGC's massive network of schools to reach its target of 2 lakh schools in over
15 languages to create 2 crore Paryavaran Mitras.
NGC celebrates 10 years since its inception in 2000, this year, and is commemorating this milestone with this publication titled, 'Young in Green Action-Inspiring stories from the National Green Corps'. It is a compilation of 100 case studies in various themes representing the achievements of the Eco Clubs carrying out Handprint actions to increase their positive impact on this planet.
The case studies in the book are categorized in the following themes:
- Conserving our water resources
- Protecting Bio-diversity
- Sourcing Energy
- Greening the land
- Managing Waste
- Tradition, Culture & Conservation
- Propagating Health & Sanitation
- Towards Sustainable Agriculture
- Climate Concerns
- Actions for diverse issues
The case studies may be downloaded from
http://www.paryavaranmitra.in/NGCcasestudy.htm
Earth Charter and Gandhi: Towards a sustainable world
Compiled by Kartikeya Sarabhai, Meena Raghunathan and Amishal Modi, Foreword by Steven Rockefeller
The central concepts of sustainability like freedom, respect for all life, using resources wisely and within limits, eradication of poverty, empowerment, non violence, truth, consciousness of ends and means and trusteeship were principles that Mahatma Gandhi advocated and practiced. Gandhi considered humanity as one large family, he believed that dignity of work was as important as creating employment, and that conflict could not be solved by violence. He insisted that the spinning of khadi was as much about dignity of labour and decentralization of production as it was a means of employment. The principles of the Earth Charter correspond with those advocated by Gandhi over half a century ago.
Steven Rockefeller, co-president of the Earth Charter International Council says “Gandhi's life and thought influenced the writing of the Earth Charter, which is a declaration of global interdependence and universal responsibility with fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful world.”
The book, Earth Charter and Gandhi, lists quotations from Gandhi that speak to every principle of the Earth Charter.
In the words of Rockefeller, the book “provides Earth Charter activists and proponents of sustainable development with an opportunity to reflect on how Gandhi's wisdom and nonviolent approach to social change can illuminate the way forward in the face of today's formidable environmental, economic and social challenges.”
The hope is that it will lead to a further interest in Gandhi and the Earth Charter, and discussions about our path of development.
Published by Centre for Environment Education, November 2010, 69 pages, Price: INR 50 (postage extra)
Write to:
Edutech, Centre for Environment Education
Thaltej Tekra, Ahmedabad 380054
Email: edutech@ceeindia.org
Methane and Climate Change
Edited by Dave Reay, Pete Smith and Andre van Amstel
May 2010 • 272 pages • 240 x 170mm
ISBN 9781844078233
Methane is, after carbon di oxide, the second most important green house gas affected by human activities. Though methane has a relatively short life time in the atmosphere, it has a high global warming potential. Editors, Dave Reay, Pete Smith and Andre van Amstel, of Methane and Climate Change, suggest that significant reductions of methane emissions due to human activities can have a considerable effect in reduced climate forcing in a few decades, and that it is technically and economically feasible to do so.
The book begins with an overview of the global methane budget. The second chapter explains the production of methane by microbial action. The various sources of methane and the changes in status of these sources are dealt with in detail in individual chapters on wetlands, geological methane, termites, vegetation, biomass burning, rice cultivation, ruminants, waste-water, landfills, and fossil energy. The editors' summary highlights the challenges in developing methane inventories, not least because biological processes are involved in the production and release of methane, such as from soils and wetlands.
The chapter on options for methane control provides an overview of a number of options for control of emissions and recovery, suggesting that it is both technically possible and cost-effective in many cases.
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