[Agri Alert-122] Let us do our bit to save the earth.

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Agri-Alert 122 23.04.07

Let us grow foOd, not money

Let us work towards a Green Orissa.

Contents:

1. Many Small Steps Can Save The Planet.

Comments: Must we always look towards others for

succor? Most of us blame the government, the society, the leaders for all the

evils that plague us today. It does not strike us to make an effort and initiate

measures on our own however small or insignificant that it may seem to be. I

remember a young couple who come all the way from Germany to Puri at least once

a year to clean a part of the beach. They involve the children of the local

fishermen and try to inculcate the habit in them.

The enclosed article lists some steps we all can adopt.

What do we do at our end? We try to save power, restrict the use of plastic,

concentrate on and regulate our basic needs, try to live as simply as possible,

get involved and be informed. We also respect nature and its inhabitants. There

are many groups in Orissa who try and organise cleaning drives. If you take a

stroll in the early morning hours towards the Old Town of Bhubaneswar you can

see one such group, broomsticks in hand, and garbage cans on their heads,

cleaning the Temples and the lakes. We admire their tenacity.

This planet is ours. It depends on us as much as we on it. If we help each other

we can restore the entire system. The most important factor behind the crisis

that faces us today is greed and the desire to dominate. If we can control these

forces and work with nature instead of against it, we can catch the road to

Paradise.

Please send us your articles and feedback at livingfarms(at)gmail.com. Kindly

also introduce Agri Alert to your friends. Send us their email addresses after

taking their consent and we will mail it to them. We have already grown a lot,

thanks to your help and interest.

Many small steps can save planet

By LOIS LEGGE Features Writer

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/667691.html

The scenarios are scary — spiking temperatures, drought, rising sea levels that

wipe away coastlines.

It's little wonder the spectre of global warming frightens many into feeling

powerless.

But environmental groups say doomsday can be delayed, perhaps even avoided, one

step at a time.

Clean Nova Scotia suggests using non-toxic household cleaning products, backyard

composters and solar hot water heating systems as ways to ease the earth's ills.

Drive Wiser, which means everything from regularly inflating tires to driving

the speed limit as methods of reducing fuel consumption and there-fore the

carbon dioxide emissions that lead to global warming.

" Right now, it's pretty established that there are going to be effects, " from

global warming that's already happened, says Charlene Boyce Young, " But I get

really annoyed when people try to downplay the impact that individual actions

can have, " she says.

Individual actions, from shutting off dripping taps to more ecological

transportation choices, are also supported too by Ecology Action Centre which

suggests the following 10 environmentally-friendly options:•Buy local and

organic food. " It reduces the miles that your food travels if you get it local, "

therefore lowering fuel consumption, says Boardman, noting organic products are

also pesticide-free.

•Bike or bus to work. If you do drive, car pool or make your car more efficient.

Keep your tires well inflated for instance, to reduce fuel consumption.

•Focus on home energy efficiency. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact

fluorescent bulbs, which use a lot less energy. Shut off computers and other

electronic devices when they're not being used since " standby modes " still eat

up energy. Consider too a home energy audit to help cut costs and carbon

emissions. Go to gov.ns.ca/energy and click on " smart energy choices " for more

information.

•Garden wisely. Choose native plants, which are better for local animals and

insects, while requiring less water to thrive. Try letting your land revert to a

more natural state, rather than resorting to extra water or pesticides to

maintain a lawn.

•Conserve water. " There are things you can do, from small things like turning

off the tap when you're brushing teeth and applying your shampoo in the shower

to installing low-flow shower heads and dual flush toilets, which can save a lot

of water a year, " Boardman says.

•Buy recycled or reusable material , which means foresters have used

environmentally responsible practices such as selective harvesting instead of

clearcutting, says Boardman, who also suggests using " 100 per cent post-consumer

recycled paper " or council-certified paper. The centre also advises against

using pressure-treated wood, which may contain arsenic.

•Be responsible outside. " On beaches, stay clear of dune vegetation because it

provides important animal habitat and it prevents erosion, " says Boardman. Don't

leave litter in the sand or other outdoor areas, either. Go to

www.leavenotrace.ca for more tips about responsible outdoor recreation.

• Reduce overall consumption. " Buy second-hand wherever it's possible, like for

clothes and furniture, " Boardman says. " Don't throw things away. Donate old

clothes and toys and furniture to charity. Give homemade presents and wrap them

in reused material like newspapers or give a gift wrapped in a cloth bag or a

tea towel, and that becomes part of the gift. And buy things with less packaging

and bring bags to the store so you don't bring a plastic bag home. "

•Get involved. Boardman suggests joining or volunteering for an environmental

group, writing politicians or newspapers, as ways of being heard.

•Stay informed. " Read the newspaper or see Al Gore's film, An Inconvenient

Truth, or Monbiot's book, Heat (How to Stop the Planet Burning), "

Boardman suggests. " If they're not sure what to do, they can always contact an

environmental organization like the Ecology Action Centre (

info@...) (and) ask questions. "

( llegge@...)

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Living Farms ( regional resource center of DRCSC )

Plot No.1181 / 2146

Ratnakarbag-2 , Tankapani Road

Bhubaneswar - 751018

Orissa

www.drcsc.org

Ph - 0674-2430176

Mob:9938582616

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