Go green this Christmas!

By Shilpi Aggarwal

Christmas is all about fostering peace, love and harmony in our lives and in the lives of people around us. Such festivities call for extensive celebration and merry making that every time leave our surroundings littered with lot of garbage and waste. In the present times when our planet is already struggling with various environmental problems, let’s try to smoothen the impact of our festivities by slightly molding our habits.

Here are the tips on how you can make your Christmas greener and environment friendly:

• Christmas is the festival of lights. Decorate your home and Christmas dinner with candles instead of electric lights. Use your creativity in adorning your Christmas tree with sparkling and shimmering decorative material rather than light bulbs. It will dramatically bring down the country’s electricity usage and also your electricity bill.

• Go for real Christmas tree instead of artificial one. Artificial one consumes a lot of non-renewable energy in its making and also has disposable problem. Moreover, nothing can beat the charm and fragrance of real tree. You can place the tree in your interior during Christmas and plant it in your area after the festivities. Or, if you don’t have space for tree, you can also donate to neighbourhood school or charity organization.
  This Christmas, bring nature to your home and make this Christmas stylish! Give romantic yet pleasing ambience to your interior by using natural things like sprigs, holly, mistletoes, ivy, pine cones, berries. You can also prepare a gingerbread man from organic food.

• During festival time, gift wrappers cause most of the waste in the country. Try to avoid excessive packaged gifts.

• Go for paper wrappers to dress up your gifts. Fluorescent plastic papers that are commonly used these days are non-disposable and extremely hazardous for the environment.

• Use already used gift wrappers of this season for next Christmas instead of throwing them in bin.

• If you are gifting electronic items, go for those items that run on chargeable batteries instead of disposable ones. Authorities are having tough time in disposing disposable batteries and also they don’t last longer.

• You can also give your friends green and eco-friendly gifts items that are made from the recycled material. There are various options available in market. Delhites can check out dilli haat, and Connaught place market for such innovative products. Supporting these gift items you are greatly helping in reducing the waste to the city as well as sending out a positive and noble message to your friends.

• Plastic bags are the big nuisance to the surroundings. Wherever possible, don’t accept plastic bags. Minimize your use of plastic bag. While going out for grocery shopping or any other shopping spree, make sure you carry hand made bags or paper bags with you.

• Send e-cards or cards made of recycled paper to your friends instead of traditional cards.

Recycle Paper at home

• Shred the waste paper (a minimum of 2 kg of paper is needed) and soak it overnight in water.
• Blend it in a mixer-grinder with a paste of fenugreek (methi) seeds. For colour, add natural colouring agents like Kumkum, Turmeric powder (Haldi), etc.
• Put water in a pan with a wire- mesh (roughly made net of waste wires) inside.
• Pour a cup of the blended paper pulp over the mesh and spread it evenly.
• Lift the mesh and drain the water.
• Place the mesh on one side of an open newspaper and close the newspaper.
• Carefully flip the newspaper so that the mesh is on top of the pulp.
• Press a flat wooden board on the newspaper to squeeze out water.
• Open the newspaper and take out the mesh.
• Keep the newspaper open for drying. You can decorate it with dried leaves or flower petals or other waste material like demin pieces and cotton rags to make a funky greeting. These leaves and petals can be spread on the sheet while it is wet.
• Once dried, peel off the sheet from the newspaper.
• Lightly iron the sheet under a piece of moist muslin cloth. It will make the paper flat and removes crush.

This way you can make colorful, crushed and unique gift papers, greetings and paper bags. You can also make moulded paper containers by soaking shredded paper in water mixed with any adhesive (diluted). The soaked paper pieces can be placed around a vessel and dried. The vessel can be removed to get the moulded paper containers. So try this and add volume to your craft collection...

By Shilpy Arora

Research says

• If each child saves one sheet of paper a day, then 40,000 trees are saved per year by students alone!
• If you take 1 hour break in office per day and switch off your monitor everytime you leave your desk, it would save 150 W-h (or 0.15 "units") of energy, which is enough to light a small lamp for 10 hours! So you can probably save electricity for five families
• Screen savers save computer screens, not energy. Start-ups and shutdowns do not use any extra energy, nor are they hard on your computer components. In fact, shutting computers down when you are finished using them actually reduces system wear - and saves energy
• Dirty tube lights and bulbs reflect less light and can absorb 50 percent of the light. So dust your tube lights and lamps regularly
• Save energy by reducing the amount of time refrigerator's door remains open
• Switching off your refrigerator when you go on holidays is a best way to save energy. To avoid smell, you can spread newspapers in it.
• Adopting light coloured walls and ceilings is an easy way to reduce energy consumption
• If you need to warm up or defrost small amounts of food, use a microwave instead of the stove to save energy. Microwave ovens use around 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens do. For large meals, however, the stove is usually more efficient.
• Drying clothes in sun instead of using auto-dryer of washing machine saves large amount of energy
• Using cotton napkins for every day use is better than the dispoable paper subtitutes
• The Gangotari glacier is retreating at a speed of about 30 metres every year. If warming continues, it will melt rapidly, releasing large volumes of water but once this source begins drying, there may be dry periods with very little water flowing in the river
• A 1-metre rise in sea level would displace about 7 million people in India
• And last but not the least, tell your friend to save energy and adopt the above measures

“Our planet has enough to meet everyone's need but not everyone's greed”- Mahatma Gandhi

OUR PLANET

I do know
It’s drowning
I do know
It’s burning
I do know
It’s losing

But I do know it’s not late
Its green cover is not yet vanished
Its lands are not yet deserted
Its rivers are not yet flooded

I love my planet
Despite all its calamities
Despite all its blemishes
Despite all the human predictions

Because I know
It can be saved
Because I know
I am son of its soil
Because I know
We all will join hands
And make it a new land

I love my planet
if I have to give my meaningless development for it
I will give it with a smile
because I do know
It is mine!

By Shilpy Arora

Man vs. Wild

Hi I am Junaib. I am nine years old and live with my parents in a small village of Chattisgarh. From my early childhood, I wanted to visit ‘Jungle’ (forest) which is very close to my village. Yesterday, when I was going to school I saw few men bringing something like deer’s horns from Jungle. “How come it is possible? How can anybody stay in Jungle? Because there is ‘sher- jungle ka raja’ (Lion- The King of forest)”, I asked my friend, Salima. She laughed and replied, no darling, my dad says now there is nothing left in this ‘jungle’ ‘Sivaye ghass-phus ke’ (except few plants). “You mean there is no lion in the Jungle” I said. “Yes, no lion, no tiger, even deers are hardly seen” she replied.

Amazing that means now I can go to Jungle. I came to home and requested my mother to allow me to visit Jungle because Salima’s dad says there is nothing left in jungle ‘Sivaye ghass-phus ke’ (except few plants). My mum allowed me to visit jungle with my uncle who works in the forest department as a guide.

Next morning, I woke up at 6.00 in the morning. My uncle came at 9.00 to pick me up. I was very excited but for him, it was a routine work, showing wild animals to the tourists. He works tirelessly 15 hours a day and is familiar with each and every corner of the forest. My mother packed some ‘puris’ and fruits for us but I wanted to cook fresh rabbit in jungle as I feel it would add to the charm of forest visit and also because I never tasted rabbit and I heard that it is very yummy.. But when I told this to my uncle, he laughed and said “you know only few lucky tourists could have glimpse of rabbit in forest, you can see them once in a month and that too, if you are lucky. So forget about cooking rabbit and don’t you know that rabbit is an endangered animal, you can’t kill it”

“Hmmm! really’ I replied and we headed towards jungle. We sat on elephant back and started our journey to beautiful green dream place. Even at 2.00 we were able to see couple of deers and few elephants enjoying their morning shower on the bank of river. I found it totally different from whatever I read about forest in my school books and whatever I heard from my mum in her stories. Forget about rabbit, that I was planning to cook, I didn’t even see deers properly. Whenever we tried to go closer to the herd of deers or to some ducks, they ran away. I asked my uncle “Why they are afraid of us? I want to touch them; I want to show my love for them”. He replied, “Because they are afraid of humans’. “But, why, do you know uncle, I was afraid of lion that is why I didn’t visit this jungle before because there were lions. Am I as dangerous as lion”, I said. “No child, man is more dangerous than lion”, he replied. “Oh! really, Is this the reason all lions have disappeared. Man has killed them”. He said “Perhaps, yes”.

I came back with tears in my eyes. I wanted to see different jungle that I had read in the books and imagine in the stories. I had made a very beautiful image of jungle in my mind.

But now, nothing is left ‘sivaye ghass-phus ke” (except few plants). Oh! no, that means, my children would not even see the “ghass-Phus” (plants). Then, I regret that why I had been to jungle. If I would not have gone to this place, the image of green, beautiful and wild jungle would have remained in my mind. It is very easy to live in the dream world but reality is harsh and painful. I think everybody should visit jungle at least once in their lifetime so that they can understand and feel the pains and pleasures of the animals. Why animals are limited to our school books and our dreams? Visit forest and see how much has been changed and how much man has been changed? Earlier, when we were illiterate, when we were tribals, but animals were part of our life. At that time, man killed animals for food but now man kills animals for pleasure. Earlier, we were needy but now we are greedy. And, it has lead to destruction of our beautiful green and wild jungles that we should have preserved for our future generations. But, it is not over yet. We can save “Ghass-Phus” at least. Yes, I will save it and wouldn’t let anybody kill these trees and even small plants because these plants somewhere hold the hope of bringing back our wildlife. I will not let anybody destroy this green cover that is home of our precious wildlife. “If I can’t bring back ‘raja’ (lion) to the jungle, I can at least protect his family.”

By Shilpy Arora

Celebrate Diwali with Different Spirit

Diwali has always been a festival of colorful flaunting extravaganza of light and sparkles for Indians. Couple of years back I was no different – a die-hard fan of rambunctious diwali. Lots of crackers – ‘phooljhadis’, fountain-like ‘annars’, thunderous sound of bombs and rockets were essential part of my diwali celebration. Little I had ever given a thought what impact such a diwali could have on living creatures of this beautiful planet until I had my share of experience.

My father gifted me a cute little two months old puppy - scissor on my birthday. He was the most adorable pup I had ever seen. He was loving and lazy for most of the part. I suppose, you become more involved with your pet especially when he is young – he is just like your child; he acts just the way you teach him to do. Most of the visitors of our house instantly fell in love with him and I felt proud when they say they envy of me for having such a sweet pet. He was soooo tempting that I could not stop myself loving and cuddling him.

That year, the effect diwali celebration had on my little pet changed the way I looked at the ominous festival. There is still the flashes of his terrified face somewhere back in my mind. He became so numb with fear that he stopped doing all those stuffs, which he used to take relish in. His appetite went down. He grew restless. On that diwali night, he slipped inside the bed to take shelter and refused to come out. I forcibly took him out and cuddled in my lap. I still can feel the fear in his eyes. I still cannot get over from that experience. That day, that old proverb, I read in my school days was resounding in my ears – “The earth is a beautiful planet but it has got with one disease – Man”.

I started realizing the tumultuous fear and pain of the animals and birds that we, human being, pestered on them. May be, that incident did not changed my whole perspective but yes, it had some effect on me. I began to see things in new light. The month followed by diwali, around new year, when I was coming back to home after a late night party, I saw a poor guy sitting on the pavement near the road. That guy was shirtless - wearing nothing. He was sitting beside the bonfire to warm himself and shivering in a cold. And, I was wearing loads of clothes – a thermal, a sweater and an over-coat and still I was trembling and wishing to reach home early and wrapped up in a warm and cozy quilt. I could not imagine that how this guy was surviving in such a sharp penetrating cold wind. I desperately wanted to help him out…though I came home and was not able to take that out from my mind. I was wondering how I could help him.

Few days later, I was sitting with my friend in a café and, telling him my stint with that poor guy and how badly I felt for him. But my friend, simply shoved away the whole issue saying it’s their destiny and he too felt bad for them but find himself unable to do anything as there are many poor people in the world. But I was not ready sweep my feeling with the fact that I cannot do anything…….I was feeling, I surely can do something……may be a try to make a slight difference in their lives. My mind went back to the statement my neighbour (he was a member of some social group) made many years ago to me, when people did ask him what he could achieve by his street plays; would he think he will change the society and the general notion of public through his transient silly plays. He used to reply; he is doing his bit to bring awareness among the people what is happening wrong in society, encouraging them to stand up and make an effort, the world will definitely change if every person starts doing what they can do regardless of how small that effort may be.

That day, I began to see changes in me. I was started growing out of whole concept of diwali. I decided to use the money that I used to spend on crackers for helping poor people, feeling comfortable in the fact that I am also doing something for the animals and the environment that have as much right to live on the earth as we have. Many of you may not be agree with me but I am satisfied and contented that at least, I am doing my bit.

And, this is also the reason to start this blog to bring those people who want to do something under one umbrella.

By Shilpi Aggarwal

6 Simple ways to Celebrate Green Diwali

Everybody talks about Green Diwali....but few of us read about this topic because we all are fond of celebrating Diwali with crackers. In fact, word ‘Diwali’ reminds us the display of colorful fireworks in the dark sky.

Here, I’m not going to count on the affects of crackers on environment or its ill-effects on your health. Instead, I will tell you the ways of celebrating healthy diwali by taking simple measures:

Let’s start with diwali gifts that you purchase for your near and dear ones to cheer them up. If possible, pack the gift with recycled paper which is easily available in market. You can also use gift papers made up of newspaper. Newspapers, Na.. You are talking old stuff buddy. NO its not outdated, Let me tell you a simple way to make beautiful gift paper with Newspaper:

1. Take a cardboard. Cut it into the shape of your gift-its surface (if gift’s surface is rectangular, like most of the chocolate boxes, then, make it rectangular or if it is circular then cut cardboard into a circle)
2. Take Newspaper and crush it.
3. Cover the entire piece of cardboard (cut in desired shape) with crushed newspaper.
4. Use tape and paste it on the cardboard.
5. Now apply glue on newspaper and paste 2-3 layers of tissue papers. You will find a hard surface now. It appears like a stone.
6. Color it with Acrylic colors. You can also use water colors but remember Acrylic colors are shinny and perfect for gift items.
7. Cover the other five sides of gift (if it is rectangular) with colored newspaper (you can color double piece of newspaper with any acrylic color. Sides would not look ugly because sides will be covered by the big surface made up of crushed newspapers.

This way you can make very different and trendy gift paper and showcase your creativity as well. In fact, it would not take much time. Another good idea is to use old cotton cloth. Stretch it and cover your gift. Then, use your creativity and decorate it with colors.

Not only gift papers, you can also decorate diyaas which add a lot to the pollution level. Do you know, Diyaas lit by oil release harmful gases. So, it is advisable to use wax diyaas.
But at the same time, it is important to use earthen Diyaas because they are bio-degradable.

Best way to prepare wax diyas is to:

1. Take earthen diyaas which are easily available in the market and that too at reasonably price.
2. Take wax. You can purchase it from the market or you can start collecting it from the candles that you use when there are long power cuts in your area, especially in summer.
3. Take the collected wax in a pan. Heat it and melt.
4. Pour it into Earthen Diyaas. Let it dry.
5. Now you can decorate it with anything ranging from acrylic colors to golden paper or silver stars made up of recycled stuff.

But, don’t use wax made up of chemicals because that also adds to the air pollution. So, best practice is to use beeswax.

For rangoli that adds colorful charm to this festival, you can use colored rice or pulses, flower petals or colored sand instead of synthetic colors. Colored sand would make your rangoli extraordinarily beautiful and different. You can spray little water on sand Rangoli to avoid blowing.

For lightning that consumes almost half of the city’s electricity in Diwali season, go for ‘aakash kandeel’ or paper lanterns made up of handmade paper. Hang them in you balcony to reduce the consumption of electricity. The easiest way to make a paper lantern at home is to take a stylish paper bag and then place candle in it. You can also use old and crushed paper bags as they look more classy. You can use any thing to hold the candle in between the bag. Say, for instance, you can use the other side of ‘Agarbatti’ holder. Bamboo sticks, clothes or ice-cream sticks are best options to give your ‘Kandeel’ a funky shapes.

Don’t throw the ‘Pooja Samagri’ or flowers, colors and other material used in Diwali poojan in rivers or ponds. Dustbins are better option in fact.

It is better to carry jute or paper bags when you go out for diwali shopping. Otherwise, you will buy a stock of plastic bags and they would finally add up to plastic consumption.

Hope more and more readers go through the above content and put in little effort to protect our planet...

By Shilpy Arora