gem ppt

1. E-Newsletter-7/3
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
25% of Fish Sold at Markets Contain Plastic
or Man-Made Debris
University of California, Davis | September 30, 2015
Marcus Eriksen, co-founder of 5 Gyres Institute, caught this fish from the bank of the
Mississippi River, which had particles of plastic in its stomach. Photo credit: Marcus Eriksen
Roughly a quarter of the fish sampled from fish markets in California and Indonesia contained
man-made debris—plastic or fibrous material—in their guts, according to a study from the
University of California, Davis and Hasanuddin University in Indonesia. The study, published
last week in the journal Scientific Reports, is one of the first to directly link plastic and man-
made debris to the fish on consumers’ dinner plates. “It’s interesting that there isn’t a big
difference in the amount of debris in the fish from each location, but in the type—plastic or
fiber,” said lead author Chelsea Rochman, a David H. Smith postdoctoral fellow in the Aquatic
Health Program at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. “We think the type of debris in
the fish is driven by differences in local waste management.”
“Waiter, There’s Some Plastic in My Fish”
The researchers sampled 76 fish from markets in Makassar, Indonesia and 64 from Half Moon
Bay and Princeton in California. All of the fragments recovered from fish in Indonesia were
plastic. In contrast, 80 percent of the debris found in California fish was fibers, whereas not a
single strand of fiber was found in Indonesian fish. Indonesia has little in the way of landfills,
waste collection or recycling and large amounts of plastic are tossed onto the beaches and into
the ocean. The problem is made worse by a lack of purified drinking water that forces its
residents to drink bottled water.

2. “Indonesia has some of the highest marine life richness and biodiversity on Earth and its coastal
regions—mangroves, coral reefs and their beaches—are just awash in debris,” said co-author
Susan Williams, a professor with the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory who has worked on
projects in Indonesia for the past several years. “You have the best and the worst situation right
in front of you in Indonesia.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. has highly advanced systems for collecting and recycling plastics. However,
most Californians wash their clothing in washing machines, the water from which empties into
more than 200 wastewater treatment plants offshore California. The authors theorize that fibers
remaining in sewage effluent from washing machines were ingested by fish sampled in the state.
“To mitigate the issue in each location, it helps to think about local sources and differences in
waste management strategies,” Rochman said.
It Takes Guts
The scientists emphasize that the plastic and fibers are found in the fishes’ guts. That means
humans are likely to ingest the debris only if the fish is eaten whole, as it is in Indonesia or such
as with sardines and anchovies, rather than filleted. However, researchers are still studying
whether chemicals in plastic can transfer into the meat. The study was funded by a UC Davis
Outreach and International Program SEED Grant, the National Science Foundation’s Graduate
K-12 and IGERT programs and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’
Superfund Research Program.
Coming soon!
BEST TREE CONTEST
Organised by
GEM
And INFANT JESUS HIGH SCHOOL,
Jogeshwari-East.
For further details refer to the attached PPT
Niyamgiri adivasis' victory against Vedanta is a landmark
for land rights in India
Shobha R, Daily O

3. Despite the atmosphere of intimidation and fear, the tribals have preserved their
resilience and love for nature.
I visited the Niyamgiri hills last year and witnessed the Dongria Kondh and other adivasi community’s
annual celebration of their forests and hills, which they worship as the most important part of their lives.
The lessons that these communities have to offer to the world, about sustainable living and respecting
nature, needs to be experienced to be understood. Vedanta Limited, a British MNC, has invested Rs 5,000
crore to set up an alumina refinery with a capacity of one million tonnes a year at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi
district of Odisha. The refinery planned to source its minerals from the Niyamgiri hills in Rayagada and
Kalahandi districts.
Projects like these have little consideration for environmental impact, social impact assessment and legal
rights of people who own these lands, and disregard provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, and Panchayats (Extension to
Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, which are safeguards at least to some extent, for thousands of communities
living in natural resource-richhabitats, which they have protectedand preserved over generations.
Given the potential strength of these laws, it comes as no surprise that governments, toeing the line of
greedy corporates, make all possible efforts to dilute these laws and create an environment that is easy to
exploit, with no regard for local communities and their rights.
The forest clearance for the proposed project at Niyamgiri was rejectedfollowing a directive of the Union
ministry of environment and forests in August 2010. The Odisha Mining Corporation challenged this in
the Supreme Court. Following this, the Supreme Court ordered the state government to organise gram
sabhas under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, to take a final decision on the issue based on public opinion.
Gram sabhas were held in 12 villages of the Niyamgiri hills between July and August of 2013. The
proceedings of the gram sabhas, as specified in the court order, were attended by a district judge,
nominated by the chief justice of the Orissa High Court.
Despite the fact that the proceedings were held under strict scrutiny by the state, it did not leave any doubt
that the people did not want the project in their hills. While scores of women and men came forward and
articulated their love, worship and respect for their hills and forests which is their home and asserted their
legal rights over the entire expanse of the Niyamgiri hills, it was a huge defeat for Vedanta and the Odisha
Mining Corporation. Meanwhile, there were instances of adivasi people from the Niyamgiri hills being
accused under various cases and arrested. The people alleged that these were pressure tactics to silence
them and their struggle to preserve their forests.
Haribandhu Kadraka, a tribal leader was arrested in October 2014. Drika Kadraka, who had represented
the struggle and resilience of the people of the Niyamgiri hills in many public fora, was intimidated by the
police and picked up without any charges being filed. Soon after, he managed to get back to his village
and committed suicide in November 2015. People say that it was because of the trauma that he was
subjected to while in custody. There have allegedly been many more cases of false encounters and
intimidation, which have hardly been reported or acted upon. Dasru Kadraka, another active youth leader
who was at the forefront of the pepole's movement to protect Niyamgiri was arrested in April 2016.

4. The progress of these cases hardly interests the national media. Despite the atmosphere of intimidation
and fear, the people of Niyamgiri stand tall, with their resilience and love for nature, which cannot be
quelled. Their resolve to safeguard their homes, not just for themselves but for generations to come, is as
strong as ever. Their belief in constitutional and legal forms of struggle is evident in their persistent
efforts.
The Odisha Mining Corporation, in an effort to undermine the rights of the adivasi communities residing
in Niyamgiri, once again, filed a petition challenging the 2013 resolutions of the gram sabhas. The
Supreme Court scrapped the petition on May 6, 2016.
The people of Niyamgiri have won again and they continue to inspire thousands of such struggles across
the country for assertion of people's rights over their resources. Hopefully, this will be a lesson well learnt
by corporates and entities that look at ways to undermine people’s rights in their lust for profit.
Or is it still a far way off? Meanwhile, let's hope there is more solidarity for people's struggles across the
country and we have the courage to stand up and speak, despite all odds.
More power for citizens against coastal rd
plan
Mumbai, TIMES NEWS NETWORK, 20/5/2016
Number Of Groups Demanding That The Project Be Scrapped Rises By 12 In
2 Days
Metrosand Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) on arterialroadsarethe alternatives to the
proposed Rs12,000 crore coastal road.
Apna Mumbai Abhiyan, a coalition of citizens' groups across the city whose numbers in the last
48 hours has gone up from 15 to 27 associations supporting the cause, has demanded scrapping
of the project as it would only promote private transport and not cater to the majority in the city.
The Abhiyan in a press release said that the Metro Line III from Colaba through Bandra to
SEEPZ in Andheri will accommodate most of the traffic on the southern section of the north-
south axis. Metro Line II, said the press release, will cover the northern section from Charkop
through Bandra to Mankhurd. The two Metro Lines, said the Abhiyan, covers the entire length of
the coastal road.

5. The BRTS with reserved bus lanes should be built along arterial roads as is the practice globally .
“Restrict cars to make way for public transport by levying higher parking fees which are
telescopic. Charge for on-street and night parking. Once cars don't hog the roads, buses, taxis
and autorickshaws will ply more easily,“ said the press release. Citizens are agitated at the civic
corporation's unwillingness to hold public consultation on the coastal road. “The coastal road is
for private transport. I belong to the category of people who use private transport and I oppose
it. I want better mobility on existing roads,“ said D M Sukhtankar, former municipal
commissioner and state chief secretary who is also the convenor of Action for Good Governance
and Networ king in India. The Abhiyan held a press conference at the Press Club on Thursday to
highlight its opposition to the project.
Sukhtankar said the Abhiyan is contemplating filing a PIL besides meeting elected
representatives to stop the project. Husain Indorewala, faculty member at the Kamla Raheja
Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture, Juhu, said the government on one hand demolishes homes
of the poor built in the mangroves as it violates the environment but on the other hand it will
destroy 27 hectares of mangroves for the project and without public consultation. “There hasn't
been one public consultation on the project. The BMC put up the Detailed Project Report online.
It is a technical document and highly inco-mprehensible. It cannot be a substitute for a public
hearing,“ he said.
Hema Shankar, member of the Gulmohar Area Societies Welfare Group said the BMC's plan was
opaque. “One does not know what the coastal road would look like. The BMC is yet to reveal the
full alignment,“ said Shankar.
Activists' initiative spurs CM into action
A day after TOI reported the setting-up of Apna Mumbai Abhiyan, CM Devendra Fadnavis
deputed BJP MLA Amit Satam to meet citizen activists to understand their concerns.
“We're holding a presentation for Satam on all four issues -coastal road, metro car shed at Aarey,
overhead metro Line II and the draft development plan at Juhu on Friday,“ said Pandit.
BMC marks 46% of Mumbai as ‘Green Zones’
in new DP; environmentalists debunk claims
Wednesday, 18 May 2016 - 6:00pm IST | Kunal Chonkar | Edited by: Anesha George
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s move of earmarking around 46% of the city-space as
environment rich zones in the Development Plan (DP), has left environmentalists bewildered. This
accounts for around 22, 000 hectares of land, which according to the civic body is Mumbai’s green cover.
The BMC has also gone on to claim that in the past two years there has been a 20% rise in the green

6. spaces in the city. "These details and observations must be of some other city, but not Mumbai. Growing
green cover and biodiversity in this city is a joke! Every day the city is losing its greenery to urbanisation
and the DP above all reports should have made it evident," said environmentalist Abba Ranaware.
The DP formulated by the municipal corporation was spiked, last year, by the state government on the
basis of various errors in the survey report. The BMC in its revised report carried out a new survey, which
seems to be contradicting its earlier findings. According to, the Existing Land Survey (ELS) of 2012 -
there was only 11, 303 hectares of land with rich flora and fauna in the city. Thus, current numbers
suggest that construction activities and deforestation has been stalled for the last four years across the city,
which is far from true.
While the ELS considers only rich biodiversity areas in its survey, the DP has included Coastal
Regulation Zone (CRZ) 1 and 2, beaches, nullahs, rivers and saltpan lands as well - terming them as
'Green Zones'. By including all these zones in the DP and by tagging them under single term of 'Green
Zone', they are trying to depict a considerable rise in biodiversity," explained Congress corporator
Devendra Amberkar.
He alleged that, by presenting the incorrect DP, Sena wants to add this to its civic poll achievements in
Mumbai. Similar sentiments were expressed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) group leader Manoj Kotak,
who criticized the municipal body for reportedly making 'deliberate' errors, while compiling the report.
Mayor Snehal Ambekar was unavailable to comment on the bizzare finding of the corporation.
“The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and
more like an immense pile of filth. In many parts of
the planet, the elderly lament that once beautiful
landscapes are now covered with rubbish.”—Pope
Francis, Papal encyclical, Vatican City, May 24, 2015.
If we want to change this situation, we need
the help of the younger generation.

7. For the frequently asked questions of Infant
Jesus Jogeshwari church
SCC ECO KIDS CLUBS visit
www.infantjeusujogeshwari.in
go to GEM section
and click
PPTs and read PPT
KIDS ECO CLUBS
Frequently asked questions
Jamshedpur Will Soon Be India’s First “Zero
Sewerage Discharge City”. Here’s What It Means.
Nishi Malhotra, May 20, 2016
Jamshedpur is well on track to becoming the first city in the country to be a “zero sewerage
discharge city.” In order to achieve this, the city will use a Zero Liquid Discharge System, which
prevents sewerage water from entering the city’s waterways. The initiative to recycle and reuse
100% waste water has already begun, Deputy General Manager (Water Management) Rabindra
Kumar Singh of Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company Limited, a subsidiary of Tata Steel,
was reported as saying by ndtv.com.
He also added that JUSCO had been making efforts to minimize water leakage and reuse the
sewerage water after being recycled at its two treatment plants at Bistupur and Bara. The waste
water treatment plant currently operational has a capacity of 10 million litres per day. The Bara
treatment plant can treat up to 30 million litres of sewerage water every day.

8. In the next one year, it is possible that JUSCO could reuse the 40 million litres recycled water
per day for industrial and gardening purposes in the city.
Civic bodies will have to treat sewage
Mumbai, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
The state government will make it compulsory for all corporations in the Mumbai metropolitan
region (MMR) to treat sewage and supply that water for industrial use. Chief minister Devendra
Fadnavis said that considering demand for water was increasing, there was a need to look at
different methods. He said the state government was relooking at testing desalination
technologies so that treatment cost can be cut and projects can be implemented in cities close
to the coast.
“We are looking at developing a business model and considering partly funding sewage
treatment projects so that they can be used by industries and water can be saved for drinking
purposes,“ said Fadnavis. Fadnavis was replying to a calling attention motion by legislative
council members over a water shortage in areas like MiraBhayander, Thane and Kalyan.
Members said the government should look at starting water projects in these areas as the
increase in population was higher than expected. “Houses in these areas are sold without the
developer telling buyers that water availability is poor. The government should make
arrangements to reduce building projects till the situation is sorted out,“ said Jogendra Kawade
(People's Republican Party).
Fadnavis added that all new townships will have to start constructions only after they can show
long-lasting water sources
10 of world’s 20 most polluted cities in india,
Gwalior No. 2
Times Network
Delhi Drops From Number 1 To 11, Mumbai At 147 Delhi got rid of its `most polluted city' tag in the
latest World Health Organisation urban air quality database released on Thursday, but 10 out of 20 cities
across the globe listed as the worst in fine, respirable particulate matter (PM2.5) were from India. Gwalior
was named the world's second most polluted city after Zabol in Iran in terms of annual mean PM2.5
levels. It was followed by Allahabad in third position, Patna in sixth and Raipur seventh. WHO's 2016
database considered 3,000 cities across 103 countries, 1,400 more than the previous list brought out in
2014. Mumbai was at No. 39 among Indian cities and 147 globally.Delhi was ranked 11th globally, with
its annual PM2.5 levels having improved from 153 in the last report to 122. The improvement, however,
was mainly because WHO took data from five more stations this time.

9. The report considered data from 2013-2014, though the AAP government said the fall in pol lution was a
result of a `collective effort' of the government and citizens. Delhi remains the most polluted megacity
(over 14 million population) followed by Cairo, Dhaka and Kolkata. Mumbai is at No. 5 on the list. In
WHO's 2014 report, 13 out of 20 most polluted cities were in India. This time two Chinese cities--
Baoding and Xingtai have figured in the top 10, so have two Saudi Arabian cities--Riyadh and Al Jubail.
In 2014, Riyadh, Al Jubail and Xingtai were not monitored.
While the report raises fresh concern over air quality in northern Indian cities, experts questioned some of
the data and advised against comparing Indian cities with each other simply because many places are not
adequately monitored. For instance, in Gwalior, Allahabad and Raipur, the PM2.5 figures in the WHO
report have been extrapolated from PM10 data, which could have a higher error margin.Despite these
questions, Gwalior will now be considered India's most polluted city. Its geography , bordering dry and
dusty Rajasthan, contributes to its pollution, said environmentalist Gunwant Joshi.“Dust storms from
Rajasthan, particularly in summers, hit Gwalior often. Biomass burning and diesel vehicles are other main
causes of pollution,“ he added.
Other cities high on the list, such as Allahabad, Patna, Ludhiana, Kanpur, Khanna and Lucknow, fall in
the Gangetic plains where winter pollution is high and confluence of winds transports pollutants from
other regions. These apart, pollution monitoring within these cities remain weak and diesel vehicles form
a bulk of the public transport.
Global trends since 2008 show air pollution levels have gone up by 8% despite improvements in many
cities. WHO in its statement also said urban air pollution levels were lowest in high-income countries,
with lower levels most prevalent in Europe, the Americas, and the western Pacific region but highest in
lowand middle-income countries in eastern Mediterranean and south-east Asia regions, with annual mean
levels often exceeding 5-10 times WHO limits.“Urban air pollution continues to rise at an alarming rate,
wreaking havoc on human health,“ said Maria Neira, WHO director, department of public health,
environmental and social determinants of health.
Sand mining shaves 10ft of Alibaug beach
Yogesh Naik TWEETS @yogeshMIRROR
NGO, residents urge government to take action; tahsildar feigns ignorance
Following a drop of 10 feet in the elevation of a stretch of beach between Alibaug's Kihim and
Awas due to illegal sand mining, an NGO has taken up the cause of saving the beach by
approaching all and sundry with pictures as evidence of the fall in beach profile.
Sumaira Abdulali of the Awaaz Foundation has already written to Sheetal Ugale, the collector of
Raigad district, urging her to take immediate action. She sent pictures to the collector that
showed how sand was stolen from Kihim and Awas beaches.“Extensive sand mining takes
place at these two locations every morning, resulting in drastic changes to the topography of the

10. area,“ Abdulali said. She also sent photographs of land reclamation on the opposite side of the
creek. Erosion caused by sand mining and illegal reclamation has resulted in a drop of nearly 10
feet in the height of the beach as well as loss of land. A number of trees, including coconut trees
and others, have fallen.
The change in tidal patterns, spurred by the massive amounts of sand being illegally removed
from the area, have had harmful effects at Kihim and are posing a threat to local properties,
Abdulali alleged. She urged the collector to station police in the area and to take note of satellite
images to hold any change in landscape along the beach accountable.
An Alibag resident backed Abdulai's claim and said, “Illegal sand mining is happening along the
entire stretch from Kihim to Mandwa bunder. I have my place at Digodi, where 70 per cent of the
sand has been removed, leaving only rocks and debris. This administration just talks and
gobbles money to protect the culprits who are politically strong.Mumbai's rich people are also at
fault as they are building huge mansions at the cost of chopping huge trees and mango
orchards without any care for CRZ regulations or the environment.“
However, Alibag Tahsildar Prashant Sakpal said that he was not aware of sand theft in the area.
“I will check on it on Thursday,“ he said.
For an educational Power PowerPoint Presentation on SAND
MINING visit - www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in - go to GEM section
click PPTs and read PPT No. 36 – SAND MINING
LET US CREATE A GREEN WAVE ALL OVER!!!
LET US PROTECT OUR FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT.
For Green Earth Movement (GEM) E-Newsletters, PowerPoint
Presentations and other resource materials
Visit our website
www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in

11. INVITING
The schools, colleges, Housing societies, neigbourhoods, NGOs,
religious groups etc to make use of these resource materials
LET US CREATE A GREEN WAVE
LET US PROTECT OUR FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT
Following is the list GEM PowerPoint Presentations on various
educational and awareness topics on environmental issues.
1. Twenty Simple Tips
2. Solar Energy
3. Junk Food
4. Plastic – a boon or bane?
5. Green Passion
6. Zero Garbage
7. Soft drink – A Health Hazard
8. Waste to energy
9. Rain Water Harvesting
10. Eco-friendly Religions
11. Happy Green Diwali
12. Climate Change
13. The future of Biodiversity
14. Genetically Modified Foods
15. Waste Water Treatment
16. Body, Organ, Tissue Donation
17. Organic Farming
18. Waste to cooking gas
19. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
20. Protect Mangroves
21. Say NO to Bottled water
22. Save Lakes and Ponds
23. Forests are green lungs
24. Coal Mining and Ecology
25. Sin of Food Waste
26. Climate change and Poverty
27. Stop Water Pollution
28. Carbon Footprints
29. Parks and Open Spaces
30. Rising Sea Levels
31. Laudato Si – Pope’s Encyclical
32.Air Pollution
33. Life Style Changes
34. Laudato Si – Fr Gerard
35. Water Pollution
36. Sand Mining
37. Bees and Environment

12. Centre moves NGT against five municipal bodies on
pollution norms
Vishwa Mohan| TNN | May 18, 2016
NEW DELHI: In the first such action against civic bodies for non-compliance on anti-pollution
measures, the environment ministry has moved the National Green Tribunal( NGT ) against five
municipal bodies of Uttar Pradesh — Mirzapur, Chunar, Bhadoi, Fatehpur and Hastinapur —
seeking directions to the erring officials who have not taken measures on sewage treatment
issues. Environment minister Prakash Javadekar informed this on Wednesday to the gathering
of representatives of the state pollution control boards during a workshop here, seeking to
sensitise them about provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and how the non-
compliance may put erring officials in trouble. The NGT will take up the case next week.
Javadekar also proposed to set up an air pollution research institute to study the impact of
pollution in the country. "We need to do some research on air pollution as we do in other fields.
So, we have thought of creating a new air pollution research institute ... It will provide added
information to the people and to the government, which will help us in better governance,"
Javadekar said.
Stating that the government wants to provide 'ease of doing responsible business' without
compromising on pollution-related challenges, he said that a discussion on the concept of
development without destruction, sustainable development; discussion on air pollution, industrial
pollution, sand mining, pollution of rivers and waste managetrement was a good development,
as it increases awareness in the society.
Asking states to tighten the noose around municipal corporations for not complying with
environment rules, Javadekar said, "We can close the industry if it does not comply. Though we
have the powers to take action against the municipalities (erring officials of the civic bodies)
also, if they violate rules, but we cannot do that in public interest. So, the environment ministry
has filed a complaint in the NGT against five such violating municipal bodies."
Punjab Gets World's Largest Single Rooftop
Solar Plant
PTI
Posted: 18/05/2016

13. BEAS, Amritsar -- Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today dedicated the 'Single
Rooftop Solar Power Plant' with capacity of 11.5 MW to the state here at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh
of Radha Soami Sect. Badal along with New and Renewable Energy Resources Minister Bikram
Singh Majithia inaugurated ₹ 139 crore project, spread over 82 acres of rooftop in single campus
on multiple roofs. The Chief Minister appreciated the feat of Punjab Energy Development
Agency (PEDA) to usher in a solar power revolution in the state.
He said Punjab s immense contribution to tap enormous power potential from various
renewable energy resources was evident from the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi
awarded Punjab for being one of the best performing states for capacity addition of solar energy
during 'Re-Invest-2015'. Lauding the role of PEDA in making state self-sufficient in power
generation through solar energy, Badal said that this project installed by the Radha Soami
Satsang Beas Educational and Environmental Society (RSSBEES) with technical collaboration of
PEDA would go a long way to motivate the other states for replication of such projects to provide
clean and green energy to the consumers. He reiterated his government's commitment to
emerge Punjab as a front runner state in the solar generation in the near future.
Expressing gratitude to the revered Head, Radha Soami Satsang Beas Baba Gurinder Singh
Dhillon for taking personal initiative to bring Punjab on the World s map of solar energy through
this solar power plant, Majithia said that Punjab, which was acclaimed as a harbinger of green
revolution in India, was now on the threshold of bringing Solar Power Revolution. Highlighting
the significance of this solar power project at Dera Beas, Majithia said this project with
enormous environmental friendly benefits would be instrumental in abatement of 4 lakh tonnes
of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the next 25 years, which was equivalent to planting nearly 2 lakh
trees.
He said that this project would generate clean and green energy sufficient to power
approximately 8,000 homes. Besides, this project would also go a long way in creating
awareness about the eco-friendly solar power amongst the general public as one crore devotees
visits the Dera Baba Jaimal Singh annually. Majithia pointed out that the Centre has set a target
of power generation of 40,000 MW from different resources of renewable energy to be achieved
by 2022 and this project would be a role model to encourage other states to replicate such large
rooftops on the building/sheds.
Palghar dam set to eat up 445 hectares of forest
land
Courtesy: Mumbai Mirror

14. Irrigation project will feed Vasai and Virar; environmentalists decry loss of land
Palghar is all set to lose 445 hectares of forest land. An upcoming medium sized irrigation
project in Vikramgad that has been approved will help feed the increasing urbanisation of Vasai
and Virar. The project is being executed by the Raigad division of the irrigation department. Four
hundred and forty five acres will be submerged when the dam is constructed, but the forest
department has been paid to plant another 890 acres of forest land.
The Chief Conservator of Forests (Mantralaya) Virendra Tiwari issued an order on April 1
diverting the 445.29 hectares of land for the project. Forest officials said that the original
proposal was to divert 531.186 hectares of land, but the government asked them to divert fewer
hectares of land.
However, urban development department sources said that the local politicians who own the
tanker mafia fleece the middle class and that water supply projects are important but the forest
that will get submerged has a good population of panthers. Forest officials said that when the
middle Vaitarna Hydroelectric Project was constructed for Mumbai, nearly 7 lakh trees were lost
and a lot of panthers lost their habitat.
Environmentalist D Stalin of the NGO Vanashakti said, “There seems to be no end to the
continuous destruction of forests under the guise of development. The union environment
minister Prakash Javadekar promised to increase the forest cover, in reality the opposite is
happening. Vasai-Virar is an unplanned city and there is unsustainable development. Forests
are paying a price for this. When permissions are given for building why is the availability of
drinking water not checked?''
Chief Engineer K H Ansari of Irrigation department's Konkan division said, “Deharji was
envisaged as an irrigation project. But now Deharji will feed the Vasai-Virar region which is
facing water problems. Deharji is located 50 kms from the Vasai Virar satellite city and water will
be lifted via barrage. It will supply 200 million litres of water per day and the total costs will cross
Rs 250 crore. We have already paid the forest department for afforestation.'' Ansari said the
project will take nearly four years to complete. Vasai-Virar is supplied water from Surya Dam
and since real estate prices in Mumbai are shooting up, the middle class has been forced to shift
to satellite towns.
Organic farming to be encouraged in Sri Lankan
parishes
Motivated by Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato si'', more Catholics are learning to
grow healthy food

15. This Sri Lankan Catholic woman has learnt how to best grow organic vegetables and fruit thanks
to a program run by Caritas. (Photo by ucanews.com)
Catholics in Sri Lanka are preparing to promote organic farming methods in parishes across the
island nation. Inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si', Caritas Colombo recently
sponsored a workshop on organic farming where the National Catholic Association of Home
Gardener was also established. "We want to also organize workshops on organic farming in
every parish," said Thilina Alahakon, from the local Catholic newspaper Gnanrtha
Pradeepaya who conducted the workshop attended by 80 parish leaders.
"We are planning to further educate parishes on Laudato si'," said Alahakon in reference to the
pope's encyclical that calls upon mankind to care for God's creation. "We will get the assistance
of Caritas at the parish level," he said and stated that the Catholic development aid
agency already has a network of groups trained in organic farming methods. Caritas has ongoing
projects in three districts: Colombo, Kaluthara and Gampaha that promote organic gardens in
homes.
Titus Wimalasiri, executive manager of Caritas Colombo, said that the idea of organic farming is
becoming popular because people are concerned about toxic poisons being present in their food.
"There are diseases that have an unknown origin and this has made people rethink about what
they are eating and how it is produced," said Wimalasiri. In other parishes steps are being taken
to help parishioners learn more about organic farming.
Peter Marasigha, a civil engineer from the parish of Wattala, Colombo North, plans to create a
model farm in his garden and wants to help create a committee of organic farmers in his parish
so to help motivate others. "We have planned to add a special team to promote organics," said
Marasigha adding that the goal is to motivate parishioners to cultivate their own healthy
vegetables at home.
MP: This IIT prof quit job to work for downtrodden
tribals
Shruti Tomar, Hindustan Times, Bhopal
Updated: May 11, 2016
At a time when media is inundated with mudslinging over the qualification of leaders, the story of
a former IIT Delhi professor who has spent the last 32 years in service of the downtrodden in
Madhya Pradesh is a breath of fresh air. Alok Sagar, a resident of New Delhi, did his bachelor in
electrical engineering from the prestigious IIT Delhi and got his masters degree from the institute
in 1973. He went on to complete his PhD at Houston University in Texas, US, before returning to
India to become a professor at his alma mater. However, it later dawned on him that he would
be able to better contribute to the growth of the country and its people by working on the ground.

16. So, in 1982, Sagar resigned as professor and began working with the tribals in Betul and
Hoshangabad districts, helping save the environment — one tree at a time.
He has planted more than 50,000 trees in Betul district. And in association with the Shramik
Adiwasi Sangathan, Sagar works for the welfare of tribals. Today, he can be seen riding bicycle,
in line with his green endeavour, collecting and distributing seeds among tribals at a reasonable
rate. Over the more than three decades, the memory of his degrees faded, and no one would
have ever known of the great mind in their midst had it not been for the election in the district’s
Ghoradongari assembly constituency.
Unable to trace his background, the Betul district administration grew suspicious of Sagar and
ordered him to leave, citing security reasons. It was only then that the former professor revealed
his enviable qualifications. “Unlike the baseless fight over degrees of politicians, Sagar has set
an example of being a true social worker,” said Anurag Modi, an activist who works with Sagar.
During his time as a professor in the 1980s at IIT Delhi, he taught Raghuram Rajan, the present
governor of the Reserve Bank of India, but Sagar says he doesn’t need a degree to serve
people, only will power. “In India, people are facing so many problems, but people are busy
proving their intelligence by showing their degrees than serving people,” he said.
Susegad Goenkar'
By Infancio Pires, sdb, Heraldo
Whenever I introduce myself as a Goan, the words muttered or whispered by those around me
are, "Wow! cheap alcohol, feni, urrak, happy go lucky people, pubs & discos, drugs, ..." .& many
more such things. I feel disgusted at such times. Is this what Goa is all about ? What about our
hospitality, welcoming spirit, the kindness that overflows from our large hearts ? We cannot
allow a few negative factors to overshadow our immensity of good things. I have seen what Goa
was like when I was little. ...it was picturesque & blissful. It is good even now but not as
mesmerising as it was then.

17. Goa is beautiful ! No doubt about that. Some people would even say that it is like the Garden of
Eden. This may not be literally true, we have no way to prove it. Thousands to tourists flock to
our beautiful Goa everyday. Is it only because of all those unsavoury things happening there ? Is
it because Goa is an exceptional place, endowed with silver sand beaches, lush green fields
,rolling hills, tall standing churches, sacred temples, & above all kind large hearted native
Goans, who will invariably give you a glimpse of exquisite hospitality.
However Goa is not the way it used to be. Hills have turned into plateaus or hollow valleys. The
places where fields once existed are now occupied by huge buildings. The churches & temples
seem to be loosing their peaceful ambience, reverence & serenity thanks to the increase in
decibel levels. With innumerable shaks & rampant drug dealing the silver sands of our beaches
seem to be turning brown & grey. The people are still large hearted, but are taken advantage of,
bullied & robbed, as a result they seem to be loosing trust in people. Goa was known for the tall,
singing coconut trees but now it is known as the land where coconuts grow on grass ! Dosen't it
sound to you like a contradiction when it is said by some that the coconut tree is not a tree, but
grass ? There is an attempt to strike it off the list of category of trees, so it does not fall under
'Save a Tree Campaign'.
Goa was & hopefully still is , a place where Hindus, Muslims, Christians & others lived in peace
& harmony. Whether one was a Hindu, Muslim or Christian, one took pride in visiting &
appreciating Christmas cribs, Ganesh idols, & the customs & practices of one another. I never
believed that religion divides. Different religions add variety & richness to our lives.
People call us 'Susegad Goeankar' & many of us seem to enjoy the label, but "Sesegad' has the
connotation of the stereotype of one who is slow, careless, lazy & happy go lucky. 'Susegad' for
me would mean relaxed, peaceful, contented, & optimistic, a term referring to people who tackle
problems & life challenges as & when they arise. So dear friend the next time somebody calls
you 'Susegad Goenkar' you will know how to receive it & interpret it.
"Live in Goa & Love Goa !!"
Vatican to Buddhists: We Agree ‘Eco-Crisis’
Is an ‘Ego-Crisis’
Vatican Sends Message for Buddhist Feast of Vesakh
Praising Mutual Commitment to Protect Planet
MAY 6, 2016 DEBORAH CASTELLANO LUBOVVATICAN DICASTERIES/DIPLOMACY
This feast is the most important holiday for Buddhists, for it commemorates the
principal events of the life of Buddha, and is celebrated on different dates,
according to different traditions, in the various countries of Buddhist culture. This
year, the festival is celebrated in some countries on May 14, while in others
between 20 and 21 May. On the occasion, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious
Dialogue sent Buddhists a message today, which calls for both religions to work
together to protect the planet.

18. This year’s message was inspired by His Holiness Pope Francis’s Encyclical
Letter, Laudato Sì, On the Care for Our Common Home, the interfaith council
writes, noting how Buddhists have likewise expressed concern about the
degradation of the environment in the documents The Time to Act is Now: A
Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change and Buddhist Climate Change Statement to
World Leaders.
These documents, the dicastery points out, demonstrate a shared understanding
that at the center of the eco-crisis is, “an ego-crisis, expressed by human greed,
anxiety, arrogance and ignorance.” “Our lifestyles and expectations, therefore, must
change in order overcome the deterioration of our surroundings,” it notes.
Working Together
“As the crisis of climate change is contributed to by human activity, we, Christians
and Buddhists, must work together to confront it with an ecological spirituality.” An
interreligious cooperation and education in environmental responsibility, it
continues, is urgent due to the acceleration of global environmental problems. The
message concludes, praying both religions cooperate together “in liberating
humanity from the suffering brought about by climate change, and contribute to the
care of our common home.”
WANTED HELPING HANDS- Courtesy: Daijiworld.com
For more appeals visit – www.daijiworld.com - charity
Baby Bala Anirudh (4 months) Nandis Apts 403,Agamaiah Nagar
Colony,Hyderabad
Friday, April 29, 2016
Baby Bala Anirudh(4 months), S/o Anthony Kumar, is suffering from a heart problem. He is
diagnosed to have CHD, Large Muscular VSD with L-R shunt, Dilated RA/RV, Good BVF, Severe
PAH and the plan of surgery is VSD Closure.He is undergoing treatment at Care Hospitals in

19. Hyderabad. The hospitalization and surgery on the infant will cost Rs. 3 lacs approximately.
The parents are poor and are in tension of gathering money from available sources. Anthony
Kumar, the father of the child is a daily labourer. Doctors have told the child may die if not
operated urgently. The child is becoming weak day by day. The family situation is in very
pathetic condition. They have pleaded for monetary help from kind hearted individuals and social
organizations so that they may save the baby.
Your kind remittances may please be sent to their following bank account:
Bank Account No. 62415061542
Name of the Account Holder: Madanu Lourdu Mary
Bank: State Bank of Hyderabad, Miriyalaguda,
Sagar Road Branch, Hyderabad
Bank IFSC Code: SBHY0021381
Telephone No.: 91 91006 86389 / 89780 12443
Baby Seema D'Souza (7 months),Kalanji Road House,Padangady
Post,Kannadikatte
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Baby Seema D'Souza (7 months),D/o Steevan D' Souza, is suffering from myelomenigocoele with
hydrocephalus. She is under treatment at Father Muller Medical College Hospital and will need
Neurosurgical procedure for CSF diversion. The total cost of her treatment will be approximately
Rs.2,00,000 (Rs Two lacs) excluding diet.
The parents of the child are poor and do not have that kind of money.Steevan is working as a
daily wage earner in a rice mill and Monthi is a house wife. Therefore they have requested for
monetary help from kind hearted individuals, philanthropic groups and institutions so that the
parents can save the life of the child.
Your kind remittances may please be sent to their following bank account:
Bank Account No.: 01832200150469
Name of the Account Holder: Monthi D' Souza
Bank: Syndicate Bank,
Guruvayanakere, Karthik Nilaya 574217
Bank IFSC Code: SYNB0000183
Telephone No.: 91 99809 47103
Published by Fr Felix Rebello
c/o Infant Jesus Church, Jogeshwari
Mob. 9819688630, Email:frfelixrebello@gmail.com, gemenewsletter@gmail.com
website: www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in
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