Pushing carbon emissions bAcKwArDs and celebrating Earth Day

Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22, a day where we remind ourselves that we have precious resources to protect; the ground, sky, water and everything above, between and below are reasons why we have been able to come so far in such a short period. This is a day where we remember what we are standing on - The Earth.

Earth Day was celebrated in Bangalore on April 21 2012 with much pomp, song and believe it or not pushing two-wheelers backwards by 200 college students from B.N.M Institute of Technology on a hot Saturday afternoon. Centre for Social Markets and BNM decided that its high time the present gen is reminded about issues of carbon belching, fuel drinking, noisy two-wheelers or just about anything that comes with an engine and how sustainable transport can replace the motor world.

So why two-wheelers? And why pushed backwards which takes a lot of effort? So Bangalore stands no. 1 (and not proudly) of holding the most number of two-wheelers in Bangalore - 26 lakhs. This pretty much outstrips all the rest (stats here) accounting for the increase in carbon emissions, pollution rise and high temperatures which the city has been witnessed in the last few years. Also Bangalore stands no. 3 (very proud here) of holding a young population who rather opt for bikes and scooty peps than cycles. With the number of two-wheelers + 20 somethings in the city this campaign was perfect to encourage our 'push backwards for an earth cause' campaign.

Pushing backwards was an effort to create an awareness of emissions levels caused by two-wheelers ridden by youngsters. We were telling the public become sustainable in your transport pick a cycle, walk or use public transportation, learn to curb those emissions. Learn to protect your environment for your own sake. 

We pushed for 2 kilometers in Banashakari area from the college to the main road, passed the post office, reached the BDA Complex and back to the college. Going downhill at one point threatened all the bikes plummeting into one another, but with 5 people to one engine the students controlled the entire operation beautifully. With the drum beating to various tunes, some youngsters started dancing tapori style - almost like a festival procession. And it was! A festival celebrating the earth, celebrating our home, the air, water and ground which we depend upon. 


An operation which involved top environmental organisations - Sanctuary Asia, Earth Day Network and Greenpeace who were our supporters and stood like pillars throughout the rally. Our media partner Namma Bengaluru Foundation gave us the media action in Bangalore.

The day ended with Greenpeace creating a human chain of a bicycle and a pledge taken by the 200 students promising to save 100,000 km of carbon emissions till the next Earth Day April 22, 2012.

What a perfect Earth Day celebration in Bangalore, and a milestone for me as an enthusiastic person wishing to make a difference. I will be doing much more.

Media coverage and support:

TCKTCKTCK

Sanctuary Asia

The Hindu

DNA

Bangalore Mirror

The New Indian Express

My Expectations from RIO and the Future I Want

It has been an eye-opener in all these years on the various climate conferences, COP and leader summits taken place in addressing the biggest challenge on this planet - Climate Change & Sustainable Development. Yet, there has been very little action has been taken.

The question that arises is that will RIO+20 be any different? The conference has already opened opinion poles asking individuals on what they want to be different, what does sustainability mean to them in The Future We Want 20 years from now. Social media like Facebook has played a massive role in reaching out to millions across the globe, connecting young minds who wish to make a change and aggressively asking people what they want the world to look like two decades from now.

Personally the future I want is where sustainable development is at its prime which means anchored in offices, industries, schools, institutions and residences across the world. Politics and government treat sustainable business and development as the top priority in the world, there is a complete balance over human activities and the natural environment, Strict regulations, laws, wildlife protection and natural resource capital has the tightest security. CFL/ LED light bulbs in everyone's homes are made from plastic bottles, rainwater harvesting is on every persons roof and recycling water takes place in every home, commercial establishment and industry.

I want to see a future where we learn the value of water, air and earth. Where green spaces are common in every establishment, where compressed natural gas (CNG) is the order in transportation, the waste to wealth concept is a business opportunity in cities and bio fuel is the largest petrol and oil industry. Harnessing the power of water, sun, air and the earth is the biggest development and making huge turnovers. Our coral reefs, forests, water, wildlife, mountains, ice caps and natural things exist in real life and growing.

The poor are affected by environmental and social issues the most and we cannot address the topic of sustainable development without addressing poverty which is the biggest polluter today as Indira Gandhi so rightly said. Fighting against poverty needs to be a worldwide struggle, in every continent, country, state, town and city. NGOs and government working together , people need to understand that they are responsible for their actions and taught that caring and making a difference goes a long way. Equity development is the most crucial part of sustainable development, south countries of the world need to realise this. The 'I don't care attitude' is not going to get you anywhere.

This is just a small entity of the problems out there. In a planet where Emerging Countries (like India) are still fighting over presidency and draft issues on the upcoming RIO summit and refuse to submit to the European carbon tax plans if there is no definite plan of where we are heading nationally then what about on a global front?

RIO+20 needs to look at each country, draw an accountability of whats done, involve women - they are the biggest change agents in agriculture and rich indigenous knowledge, social enterprise, equity + poverty = human sustainable development. There must be a pattern where both men and women understand this cycle.

Join the dots and start an action plan before generations after us start questioning why we dint do what we should when there was time.

I want more and expect more from RIO this year.