Life in a 'Metro'...

If you were on Jangli Maharaj Road on Sunday evening, you would have seen a group of people of all ages participating in a protest march. Greeny was there too, with some friends. The protest march was organized to draw people's attention towards a critical issue that would impact Pune for at least the next 100 years, if not more.

The problem of traffic congestion has been growing at an alarming pace in the past few years. As the number of vehicles keeps increasing, the city's infrastructure of roads is finding it difficult to cope. I am sure you have faced a situation where you spent 15 minutes just looking for parking to do a task that itself took less than 10 minutes.
Opinions and plans have flown thick and fast from all corners of society to resolve this situation. More bridges got built across the river, roads were widened where possible, one-way traffic was enforced (then cancelled, then reinforced again!) new roads were built, and so on. But the pace of these changes has always been insufficient to catch up with the pace of the growing problem.
One option amongst these is construction of a metro rail system in Pune. A metro has been operational in Kolkata for many years. The Delhi Metro is getting built at a furious pace and Mumbai is getting its metro too.

Now, a metro does not come about just like that. It requires careful planning and efficient execution.
The Pune Metro seems to be going in a direction where the word 'careful' has been omitted from planning.
This issue is going to become bigger by every passing day and surely this will not be the only post on this issue here. Greeny believes that a Metro will help solve Pune's traffic woes, but NOT in the way it is being envisaged.
There are several points to ponder about. You can actually download a presentation from here to study all the points in detail.
One would expect a metro to be underground, right? But Greeny read that the entire 14-odd kilometers of the metro from Vanaz on Paud road to Ramwadi is going to be ELEVATED. This will surely cause bigger problems than the ones it promises to solve.

Greeny is concerned. PMC has already shown how it can implement a project haphazardly. The one-way system of Ferguson and JM road was badly managed. A road was constructed along the river bed, but its approach roads are extremely narrow. Widening and concreting of Paud Road has been going on for three years and has no end in sight. Most of all, the biggest example of this ineptitude is the BRTS).

Greeny invites you to join the Pune Metro Jagruti Abhiyan. Its main aims are

• Make this particular DPR as public as possible so that citizens of Pune can make an informed decision.
• Undertake a mass signature campaign to oppose the current form of the proposal.
• Make representations to the city and state authorities.
• Connect with and work in solidarity with like-minded citizen groups, technical bodies, NGOs and other active groups to reach out to as many Puneites as possible because the actual users/ stakeholders in this project.
• Seek print and electronic media’s support in creating mass awareness.
• Explore possibilities of a legal recourse.

Google goes Green!

Did you check the Google home page today? The page that has often been described as the 'most expensive real estate on the internet', has never had a single advertisement. Google only changes the image on this page to acknowledge an important event.

If you check www.google.com today, you will see a lush green forest. Its Google's way of reminding us about Earth Day, telling us to take good care of our precious home. Here's a preview.

Source - www.google.com

What did you do today to renew your pledge towards this cause?

Greeny met this friend who was going out to buy provisions. The shop is not very far away and yet this friend was about to mount his bike. Greeny reminded him that it would be nice to walk and save some fuel. The friend smiled and walked to the shop and back. What's more, he had a nice talk with Greeny all the way.

It's Earth Day!

Image courtesy http://www.stpaulcathedral.org

It is Earth Day folks! Greeny feels a sense of gratitude and immense respect for the Earth that it has come from. On this special day, Greeny wishes to remind all its friends again of a fact (even if it is rather obvious and has been repeated several times over) - we have ONLY ONE EARTH.

Image courtesy Wikipedia

 

As the Earth Day rolls across the globe, Greeny looks at the smoking Eyjafjallajokull. The volcano in Iceland that erupted a few days ago. Hundreds of flights in and out of the isles got disrupted. Millions of dollars and pounds and euros and rupees worth of loss was incurred by businesses across the globe.

Greeny wishes that we all remember this fact. We can take years to abuse the Mother Earth, but it takes a few seconds of disruption in the heart of ONE montain that can cause such huge damage to our lives.

Is it a backlash of nature? Is it just a matter of fate? Or something else? Whatever it is, lets not forget that the forces of nature and the forces contained within the Mother Earth are far too large to comprehend for us mortals.

As we wake up to yet another Earth Day, let's not lose sight of this fact. Do something for Earth today. Something. Any little thing to start with.

1. Plant a tree

2. Reduce pollution

3. Save energy

4. So many more ethings that you could do...

Wishing you all a very meaningful Earth Day!

 

How much plastic are you adding everyday?

Just yesterday evening, Greeny met a friend while he was buying fruits. Greeny was happy to see that the friend had carried a bag for shopping. But then, the vegetable vendor put the fruits in a plastic bag and the friend put THAT bag inside his own! He looked and Greeny and said sheepishly, "I just got the backpack. I should have brought a plastic bag also. I will do that from next time.

Later Greeny went to his friend's place and both of them together counted how many plastic bags he had accumulated over the days. And had added one to the count!

They counted as many as 64 plastic bags, of all shapes and sizes. All perfectly suited for bringing vegetables, fruits, eggs, whatever. Don't believe it? See for yourself.

So this friend has now committed to Greeny that he will see to it that no new plastic bag comes into home at least for the next 64 days.

You think you can do this too? Count how many carrybags you may already stored away. Make a commitment to the environment around you. 

Do tell Greeny - how many plastic bags did you count?

What can you do? Here's what!

Greeny likes this!
Just the other day, Greeny wandered across a blog by Shirish and Vanaja. Their occupation makes interesting reading - it says "Any work that we like and enjoy and does not harm others" The concept of sutainable development couldn't have been described better. That's OK, you would say. But what do they do? Lot of things, and to use their own words, "This includes trying to grow our own food and creating a conscious kitchen at our home".

Now - how many times have you heard anyone describing their kitchen as 'conscious'? Wow. Just what Greeny wants to see happen across many more homes in our cities.

What Shirish and Vanaja are doing is not rocket science. In fact, they take pride in calling themselves 'Unenlightened first-time farmers'. Nice.

You could follow their example surely. All you need is patience and inclination. So first of all, visit their blog at "From urban culture to agriculture"

Don't forget to compliment them on their good work. It is so simple to say "great work!" by posting a comment on the blog. If you come across any more such examples of people taking initiative to adopt a green lifestyle, do write to Greeny.

Happy Farming!

Don't ignore the warning

Guess what this is? That's the TV, music system or some other appliance that you supposedly switched off before going to sleep last night. Surprised?
We often switch off these appliances using a remote rather than switching off from the mains. That consumes electricity all the time. Lots of it, if you total up the number of appliances that all the homes in a typical city like Pune would have.
The little red light that remains ON even after we have pressed that remote button should warn all of us of an impending energy crisis unless we take urgent steps to save energy. Start by taking small steps within your home.
Tonight, do get up and switch off the TV from the mains. Don't just use the remote.

Join Earth Hour. Two days to go !

I hope you all remember about Earth Hour? If not, let me remind you. Earth Hour is observed on the last Saturday of March every year. People are urged to switch off the lights and other electrical appliances in their homes for one hour, from 8.30 to 9.30 pm.
In 2009, it is estimated that Indians saved 1000 MW of electricity in that one hour. Now, you might argue whether this is a practical way of saving energy. That is not the point.
The purpose of Earth Hour is to create world-wide awareness about the impending energy crisis. It is not just a symbolic gesture, but it is a wake-up call to realize that our future depends on the careful use of energy.
So Greeny is going to do it. Are you?
And don't just be content by observing Earth Hour once in a year. Start thinking about how you can start energy in your homes.

1. When you switch off your TVs, do you simply press the remote button or do you also switch off the mains? That little red light that keeps glowing if you don't switch off the mains is consuming precious power. So - get up from your couch and make sure you reach out to the switch, not just the remote.
2. What setting do you use on your AC, if you have one? Is it something like 18 deg? Ask yourself whether that is really necessary. Would something like 24 deg not serve the purpose?
3. If you go into your bedroom (or kitchen, or any other room for that matter) just for a short time, do you still switch on the fan? Why? Could you stay without a fan for those 5 minutes?
4. Do you really need ALL those lights on in your drawing room from evening till midnight?

Think. And join Greeny in spreading the word.
Just a reminder - Earth Hour is just about two days away...
To learn more about Earth Hour, you could read this.

Switch over to CFL lamps

Are you still using incandescent bulbs in your home or office?

The most common reason we keep hearing for people not using CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) is that they are costly. But if you consider the savings that they bring about in your electricity bills over time, they are undoubtedly a better alternative.

Yes, a CFL does cost more than a traditional bulb. But remember that a 15W CFL will give you the same amount of light as a 60W incandescent bulb. So that's a straightforward reduction in 45W of electricity per hour.

What's more, CFLs last much longer than conventional bulbs. They also do not heat up like the bulbs do.

Greeny says - when are you changing?

Greeny Word Power

A for Apple, B for Bat, C for Cat...

OK, haven't we all learnt it in the same old manner? How about making it more relevant to the need today? We must learn a new vocabulary to adopt a new Eco-friendly lifestyle. After years of abuse, we must learn to respect our Environment. There is a huge gap between what we got in our childhood & what we are passing on to our children. Let’s learn by-heart this new vocabulary for a safe & happy future of our next generation. And don't forget that learning with Greeny can be so much fun!
Watch how Greeny is teaching us the new alphabets with his acrobatics....

Write to us greenythegreat@gmail.com if this sounds interesting, and we would gladly send you a high resolution file for this chart.

Recycled!! Animation Clip