Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
· Killer Pesticides and Cancer· GEM Inspirational series
· Readers’ Letters
· Fr Joseph and his biogas unit
· Community Renewable Fund
· Mumbai: Piling waste forces BMC to consider mini-dumps
· 'Karnala sanctuary faces threat from fibre plant'
· BMC backpedals, allows unlimited Ganesh banners· Kalyan kids take on their parents for a playground
· Senior bureaucrats hauled up for flouting green tribunal orders
· Dr. APJ KALAM's House becomes ‘SOLAR HOUSE'
· Agriculturist takes up sandalwood farming to conserve species· Power that ruined Uttarakhand
· Why only blame government for a disaster when people too are responsible?
/ · Bangalore: Siddaramaiah says no to felicitations, favour-seekers· No quota, no vote: say Dalit Christians
· A letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra· BJP Government in M.P, is all set violate Constitution of India
· Mumbai: Left to die, Mira Road ‘viklangs’ turn angels for the abandoned
· Yoga passes secularism test in US
· Mulund pool’s new star: Swimmer George· Pope Francis inspires Colombian priest to sell his Mercedes
· Jacobite Church introduces pension scheme for clergymen
· GEM PLUS – appeals, job vacancies etc· GEM PLUS LAUGH TIME
For Christian readers
BIBLE FOR THE SIMPLE (with Bible Quest 3)
AUG. 2013 issue
(please open the other attachment)
Thought for the week
'If you find a seminarian, priest, nun, with a long, sad face, if it seems as if in their life someone threw a wet blanket over them,'' then one should conclude `'it's a psychiatric problem, they can leave - `buenos dias’". And he highlighted the fact that he wasn't talking about superficial joy - `'the thrill of a moment doesn't really make us happy,'' warning against the temptation to seek `'the joy of the world in the latest smartphone, the fastest car.'' "It hurts my heart when I see a priest or a nun with the latest model of car" he said. And Francis continued saying "cars are necessary. But take a more humble one. Think of how many children die of hunger' and dedicate the savings to them". Pope Francis told future nuns and priests and consecrated laypeople to keep "freshness" and "joy" in their lives
Killer Pesticides and Cancer
By Dr Lavina Noronha
Courtesy: Daijiworld.com
Pesticides, by their very nature, are designed to kill living organisms. They include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and biocides. A number of studies have clearly demonstrated a direct link between chemical pesticides and the development of cancer. Two kinds of chemical pesticides have been found to be directly related to the incidence of cancer all over the world.
Some of the commonly used pesticides like organochorines, creosote and sulfallate are described as ‘carcinogenic’ (cancer-causing) while dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), lindane and chlordane have been identified as ‘tumor promoters’. They are also known to disrupt hormonal balance in the body and disturb the immune system.
The predominant sources of exposure to these pesticides are air, water and food. Inhalation, oral ingestion, dermal absorption are the common routes which then carry the chemicals throughout the body. International Agency for Research on Cancer has even classified some arsenic compounds and occupational insecticides as cancer-causing. Soft tissue sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma, melanoma, breast, prostate, skin, stomach, lung and esophageal cancers are ascribed to long-term direct as well as indirect exposure to these killer chemicals.
Who are at a higher risk?
Higher exposure to pesticides among farmers, applicators, manufacturers, and crop dusters has been identified as one of the main causes of lung, stomach, esophagus and blood cancers in this population. This does not mean that the general public is spared from pesticide exposure. Low doses of pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables from the open market or from supermarkets; use of contaminated ground water can also be damaging over the years. Insecticides and fungicides used in household fumigation are not safe either.
It is a fact that these killer chemicals are in our blood stream, in our kidneys and even in the air that we exhale. Many scientific studies have demonstrated this. For example, the traces of / pesticides found in breast-milk and the amniotic fluid have proved that a child’s risk of developing cancer increases if the mother-to-be is exposed to them. Girls who were exposed to DDT before they reach puberty are five times more likely to develop breast cancer in middle age.
Endosulfan sulphate is a “kill on contact” pesticide sprayed on crops like coffee, tea, cashew, tobacco, fruits and vegetables. Breathing the air where it is sprayed, eating fruits and vegetables laced with it or drinking water contaminated by endosulfan is reportedly hazardous to humans and animals.
Apart from congenital birth defects, neurological anomalies, and miscarriages, endosulfan is responsible for a number of respiratory and digestive tract cancers. The application of this pesticide has been reportedly discontinued in the last few years but thousands of people are still suffering the long-term effects of this killer pesticide in south India especially in Karnataka and Kerala.
In the developed countries like the U.S.A, U.K. and the European Union, systematic measures have been put in place to protect the environment from these toxic chemicals and in turn safeguard the interests of the public. In the developing countries however, despite the growing body of evidence about the health risks associated with pesticides there is an increase in the manufacture and use of these killer chemicals.
Prevention is better than cure!
Yes, the best solution is to popularize and promote non-chemical alternatives to chemical pest control.
Protective gear like gloves, masks, body suits may prevent direct exposure in high risk occupations like farming and manufacture. It is important to follow application and storage directions.
For the consumers, it is possible to remove the final layer of pesticide application by soaking the fruits and vegetables in salt water for 15 minutes and then washing the same with running water before using them.
Household insecticides like Ant, roach, termite, mosquito repellants are not safe either. Make it a point to read the fine print on the labels and know the chemical composition on each pack before you buy them or use them.
A regulatory system needs to be in place similar to EPA (Environment Protection Agency) in the U.S. to minimize the health hazards of pesticides and insecticides.
Proactive measures like awareness and education will go a long way in saving the lives of both the consumers as well as producers of these pesticides.
GEM INSPIRATIONAL SERIES
INDIA : From the mosque, a sermon of different kind By J. S. Ifthekhar (The Hindu via CNUA) The faithful listened with rapt attention to the importance of skill development, spoken English and the employability factor at the Masjide Azizia in Humayun Nagar The twain shall never meet – the celestial and the mundane. Worldly talk is a strict no-no in mosques. That’s the general perception. But the Masjide Azizia in Humayun Nagar begs to differ. The faithful were in for a surprise on Friday when they saw speakers waxing eloquent about the changing trends in education. Devotees listened with rapt attention to the importance of skill development, spoken English and the employability factor. "There is no difference between the spiritual and worldly knowledge. If the latter is acquired with the intention of benefiting mankind, it also amounts to fulfilling the religious obligation," says Aijaz Mohiuddin Waseem, Khateeb, Masjide Azizia. With the academic year having just begun, the Students Islamic Organisation of India, Hyderabad chapter, organised a symposium on Our approach towards education for the / benefit of Muslim youth. "The general trend is to memorise some answers just before the exams and somehow pass. We want to instil the real concept of education," says Farhan Sumbul of the SIO. "Masjid is not just a place of worship but also a centre for looking into the general well-being of the community," remarked Abdul Majeed, a parent, welcoming the initiative. Moulana Waseem, who is all for striking a balance between religion and worldly affairs, feels students can succeed only if they imbibed the 3 Ds – discipline, determination and devotion. Quoting Quranic verses, he said reflecting in the creation of skies and earth is worship but the inquisitive spirit is lacking today. Telangana University Vice-Chancellor Akber Ali Khan gave tips to the youth to increase their employability quotient. "Being on the Facebook is not enough. You ought to have the right communication and behavioural skills, whatever degree you may hold," he advised. "Be a job-giver rather than a job-seeker," he told the youth. The Masjide Azizia plans to open a regular career guidance cell after Ramzan. - http://www.thehindu.com
READERS’ LETTERS
FROM,
Iris Misquitta <>
Hi Fr. Felix,Thanks for you latest mail titled, Ecological Sin. I enjoy reading the articles that you send me. From your articles, I guess you are a lover of nature. I too, love nature and its beauty which no one can give us except God. Are you connected to any body that works for preserving natural beauty? If so, I would like to help in any way within my capacity.
Best wishes to you
Iris
FROM,
poojacj patna <>
Very very helpful information Father Felix. I hope to be able to use the information to spread the same good news as best as I can.
Sr. Pooja
FROM,
IIBM Patna: <
Honble sir, great work! i am with u and team. i have been promoting awareness campaign since 1985 and established indian institute of ecology and environment at patna and new delhi. great persons like u alone can change the mindset of common people and our so called policy makers. only capables in all respect are resonsible for all such disasters. let us join hands with god to our mother earth.with warmest regards,
prof u k singh, pro chancellor,the global open university, nagaland
FROM,
Canute Barboza:<
Dear Fr FelixI thank you sincerely for your thought provoking thoughts and ideas sent through email. May God bless your selfless and generous efforts.
Canute
FROM,
sudha pillai<
The Green Thing……..Thought you might appreciate this!
Checking out at the supermarket, the young cashier suggested to the older shopper that they should bring their own shopping bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
The shopper apologised and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my youth."
The cashier responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."
She was right - our generation didn't have the green thing in its day. In the old days we returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the shop. The shop sent them back to the factory to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.
But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every shop and office building. We walked to the grocery shop and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two streets away.
But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
In those days we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Our children got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.
But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the county of Yorkshire. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the post, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.
But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.
We drank water from a fountain or a tap when we were thirsty instead of demanding a plastic bottle flown in from another country. We accepted that a lot of food was seasonal and didn’t expect that to be bucked by flying it thousands of air miles around the world. We actually cooked food that didn’t come out of a packet, tin or plastic wrap and we could even wash our own vegetables and chop our own salad.
But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the tram or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerised gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza place.
Isn't it sad that the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?
Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart arsed young person.
Remember: Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to stir us up.
Dr. Leo Rebello :