Story About Stuff

The story of the everyday stuff that we use - where it comes from, how it gets processed, reaches us and what we do with it. Taking resources, rather irrationally, from the Earth for our needs is not a very prudent thing to do. They are not going to last forever. While the resources are fast disappearing, we are forgetting that we, as a species, will (or rather might) continue to live. Ever stopped to wonder what you are leaving behind for the next generation(s)? A garbage bin called "Earth" or a livable planet called "Earth" ?

'The Earth has enough for every man's needs, but not enough for his greed!' - M. Gandhi.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBbo85arTN0


Let's try to do our bit to save the planet before there is nothing left for the next generation!!!

There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. (Elie Wiesel)

Water Crisis - A reality in India

Be aware of how your actions can affect other people and the environment. Fun and luxury come at someone's cost :

50000 more trees are listed to be cut in Bangalore...

Yes! That's right. The zeroes in that statement are correct. Already more than 2 Lakhs trees have been cut in and around Bangalore in the name of "development" ..

A tree mafia is operating in the city. Every tree that is cut down, brings in only Rs. 3000 to the BBMP (officially). The contractor who pays 3k to the BBMP and cuts the tree, sells the timber for lakhs of rupees, depending on the type and size of the tree. This is all in the name of "development". It's not a lie ... Read some of the news articles on the same:
Time of India reports -- Report on Timber Mafia :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1138045441.cms
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1219777
http://bangalorebuzz.blogspot.com/2008/12/timber-mafia-behind-axing-of-trees.html
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug72007/spectrum2007080617516.asp
read about it in wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafia_Raj#Timber_Mafias

The city now sees extreme climates - shorter, severe winters and early summer onsets and to think that this was a no-fan-zone city till about 15-20 years back!!! Its time to act now, else the next generation may not have any breathing space left in this fast growing concrete jungle. It is no longer suited for the title of the "Garden City of India".
The Hindu -
Report on the pollution situation in Bangalore: http://www.hindu.com/pp/2007/12/22/stories/2007122250540200.htm
Times of India -
Report on Bangalore's drastic climate changes: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/The_heat_is_on_and_it_is_just_February/articleshow/4146529.cms
Report on Bangalore's tree cover loss and dried up lakes: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/HC_warning_on_Bangalore_warming/articleshow/4145981.cms
Diseases : http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bangalore/Diseases-rising-with-change-in-temperature/articleshow/4102060.cms

Recent updates of the extent of apathy towards trees and environmental issues in and around Bangalore by BBMP/and other agencies:
-- Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park - a part of these beautiful places is going to be lost forever, thanks to the new suggestion to take over the land for a Metro station.
-- A whole lot of roads that are going to go from being tree-lined avenues to barren wide roads, with absolutely no shade for pedestrians and cyclists.

What can we do?

As the saying goes:
"All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in this world is for enough good men to do nothing.(Edmund Burke)"!

Try and create awareness among people about the adverse effects of this mad drive in the name of development and mass murders of the very trees that defined this city.

A group of environmentalists that is fighting the cause is Hasiru Usiru : http://www.hasiruusiru.org/. About them:

"Hasiru Usiru is a network of concerned citizens of Bangalore who want Banglaore to live up to its "Garden City" epithet. Our charter is to ensure that Bangalore devleops its infrastructure in a holistic and sustainable manner, keeping its people in mind, and ensuring a green and healthy future for its residents. Since 1998, Hasiru Usiru has provided citizens a forum to critique the path of development that Bangalore has adopted, and engage constructively with the civic administration. Hasiru Usiru has helped organize public consultations, workshops, peaceful protests, and has submitted alternative traffic management plans to the authorities, which if implemented would go a long way in preventing the rampant environmental desctruction that this city is witnessing. In December 2005, the High Court of Karnataka ruled that tree felling projects conducted by the administration must be executed in consultation with Hasiru Usiru. "

They also have a yahoo group called HasiruUsiru. Please join to find out more ways to help save our city.

The least we can do is to create awareness of this issue, and join hands to save this city. Help spread the word around.

Please do remember that -
"We have not inherited the Air, the Water and the Earth from our parents, but we have merely borrowed it from our children".