Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
· ORGANIC FARMING – NEED OF THE HOUR
· Readers’ Letters
· GEM Inspirational series
· School students’ bid to restore green cover
· Sobo’s drains to smell roses
· Report vindicates anti-mining activists
· Ready for talk with church officials
· Conference on Hospital Waste Management
· Issue of ban on plastic dominates MCC meeting· DC lauds city’s cleanliness
· Greenland losing 200 million tons ice every year /
· Kerala Church concerned over Tiger scare
· Tribals want to dismantle Vedanta plant
· MCGM invites public comments on the existing land use maps
· MP awards nun’s Aids Care Centre
· Where should these people go?
· Rupees 600 is enough to feed a family of five says Shiela Dixit
· Modern day Noah has 19 cats 3 dogs
· Speakers stress on harmony, peace in all religion meeting
· Jayalalitha credits Christian schools for her progress
· Cardinal releases Kandhamal stories in Malayalam
· Human rights necessary for democracy
· Latest update: Kandivli/Malad church/Cemetery issue
· Vatican disclose Pope’s Twitter handle: @pontifex
· Life style and cancer
· GEM PLUSThought for the week …
We've lost touch and allowed technology to take precedence over organic nature. But let's not forget that those microchips in our computers came from elements of the earth. Emilio Estevez
Satyamev Jayate: Organic farming, need of the hour
Ritu V Singh, IBNLive.comNew Delhi: Did you know that there are 67 types of pesticides which are banned all over the world, but are still used by Indian farmers. Everyday through fruits and vegetables, we consume 400-500 % more pesticides than the permissible limit. Aamir Khan Highlighted the bad effects of chemical farming during the eight episode of his television Show ‘Satyameva Jayate’. He spoke to doctors, agricultural scientists,
farmers and others during the episode.
To increase productivity, farmers have been using pesticides for agricultural purposes from years now. Because of this, the nutrition value of the crop goes down. Now, these pesticides have become a part of our food chain. According to a study by Dr Rashmi Sanghi, even breast milk contains 400-800% more pesticides than the permissible limits. During the show, many farmers confessed that they do not use these pesticides for the fruits and vegetables they separately grow for their own consumption.
Jurnail Singh a farmer from Jajjal, Punjab claims that access use of pesticides started after the Green Revolution. He said that 45 people from his village have died of cancer in past few years. A train from Bhatinda to Bikaner is called ‘Cancer Train’ by the local people. The number of patients travelling to the cancer hospital in Bikaner is increasing fast. Rajju Shroff is the managing director and chairman of India’s biggest pesticides company. Aamir was surprised to see his reaction on the show. He said, “People exaggerate about the bad effects of chemical farming to gain publicity. Non-pesticides users have worse health state. If done in limit, pesticides cause no health problems. The productivity will highly suffer if we stop using pesticides and the farmers will commit suicide.” He also said that DDT is completely harmless.
Aamir tried to highlight the benefits of organic farming and alternate ways of killing insects during the show. From many years, agricultural scientist Dr GV Ramanjaneyulu has been working with the farmers in Andhra Pradesh to teach them cheap and safe ways of getting rid of the insects. He said, “Not pests, but pesticides are a bigger problem for the farmers. On an average, a village spends nearly Rs 50 lakh every year on pesticides.”
Aamir Khan also spoke to Pawan Chamling, chief minister of Sikkim on the show. Chamling has banned all pesticides in the state and is promoting organic farming. He aims to make Sikkim an organic state by 2015. It is not possible for all the states to switch to organic farming overnight, but taking some steps to save people’s life is essential now.
Through his show, Aamir urged audiences to opt for organic products. He also said that there should be a regulating body to monitor the usage of pesticides by the farmers. As reports claim, the TRPs of ‘Satyamev Jayate’ have started dropping. Is this an indication that Indian audiences only prefer entertainment on small screen? Share your comments on the eighth episode of ‘Satyamev Jayate’.
READERS’ LETTERS
From,
Dear Fr. Felix
Thank you very much for really good and informative presentation on climate change. I am sending it to all schools in the state.
Regards.
Sincerely yours,
Dr B N Patil
From,
Hello Fr. Felix,
Thank you for the newsletters that keep us in touch with our Motherland and makes us feel proud to be Indians. I commend the excellent work that you do and pray that God blesses you in all your endeavors.
With fond regards,
Mrs. Arlene Joy
From,
In our "Twilight Years", we would come closer to nature, and put in our efforts to preserve it. I thought some of us would be interested in this newsletter which is always current, covers controversial issues, andnevershies from the truth and justice, and calling a spade a spade.
Happy reading.
Angelo
From,
Dear Fr. Felix
It is wonderful to read through GEM news. I regularly get it and some important news pertaining to students and teenagers are used for my training programmes. I admire your work and congratulate you for your good work.
I work for YCS/YSM India and I miss interacting with the students of Mumbai since it doesn't exist there. I would like to revive this movement in Mumbai provided I get support from the Youth Directors. It will be a wonderful experience to work with the young coz they will be the change agents of today and tomorrow.
God bless you and your team,
Fr. Charles Menezes
National Director - YCS/YSM India
YCS/YSM National Office
66 (old 151), Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai - 600004
email: ,
website: www.ycsysmindia.com
From,
Hello,
I like to thank Gem for the wonderful work of creating on going awareness. More strength to teams hands. The initiative planned by Godfrey Pimenta, ofthewatchdog.in. is an excellent idea.
A pressure group is so important to make our powers that be to show accountability in any way. Looking forward to using this forum to improve quality of daily life.
Thanks in advance,
Lawrence Dsouza.
From
Respected Father Rebello,
Attached is a concept which does not conform to objectives of yourmagazine. Still you may find it interesting enough to carry it.
With warm regards,
Devendra Goyal
Achieving 100% Employment
In India 38.5 Million people were unemployed in 2006-07 as per Planning Commission data. The numbers may have increased now. It is possible to achieve 100% employment rate in India.
If one has a cake and 10 people to feed, most of us will cut it in 10 pieces and feed one piece to each. The same principle can be applied in jobs to achieve 100% employment rate. A job which is given for lifetime can be cut into 12 pieces of 3 years contract duration each. The employee is paid INR 5000 per month for sustenance. The balance of salary is paid out in lump sum at the end of three years contract period along with the accrued interest to employee. The employee is provided with all information for self employment avenues in micro business opportunities during the three years contract period.
Where are the opportunities? Driver and LDC/UDC cadres of Government of India and State Governments are potential source of additional employment generation. The Government of India and all State Governments combined have approximately 0.3 Million people in Driver cadre and 3.2 Million people in LDC/UDC cadre. Service span of employees in these cadres is 36 years plus. A new category of Contract Employee with service span of 3 years will generate additional jobs. (We already have the concept of Short Service Commission in Armed Forces wherein the officers are commissioned for 7 years only.) Over a period of time, all drivers are hired on contract for 3 years and a ratio of 1:3 in LDC/UDC cadre is achieved for Regular Employee v/s Contract Employee. The ratio of 1:3 will enable the Governments to maintain required efficiency and service standards for functions discharged by LDC/UDC cadre. The reduction of service span to 3 years for Contract Employee will generate an additional vacancy every 3 years as against once in 36 years plus. This amounts to 11additional vacancies in block of 36 years. It will be a perpetual source of employment to that many additional people, year after year.
LDC/UDC will set up Micro Enterprise business ventures on completion of service contract. They will need people to operate their business enterprise. A probable scenario of LDC/UDC Micro Enterprise is visualized in table below.
EMPLOYMENT GENERATION IN LDC/UDC BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
LDC/UDC BUSINESS CAPABILITY / PERCENTAGE / EMPLOYMENT GENERATION / TOTAL
HIGH / 20% / 5 EACH / 100%
AVERAGE / 50% / 2 EACH / 100%
BELOW AVERAGE / 30% / NIL / 0
TOTAL / 200%
SSC/Primary pass people will find employment opportunities in business ventures of LDC/UDC. LDC/UDC with below average entrepreneurship capability can temporarily invest their payout in fixed deposit. This will enable them to earn interest at prevailing market rate to sustain life.
The Driver and LDC/UDC cadre grow in narrow band when they are in government service for lifetime. The concept of contract for 3 years make them self employed at an early age of 22 – 25 years and subsequently sky is the limit for those who have the capability.
Systematic implementation of concept with periodic review and corrective measures will result in meeting the goal of 100% employment to Graduate and HSSC pass students in 6 – 7 years time frame. The employment of SSC and below education people will significantly increase after 9 years.
Thank you.
Sqn Ldr (Retd.) Devendra Goyal,
140, IEHCS Layout, Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore 560097
Cell: +91-9845364203; E – Mail:
GEM INSPIRATIONAL SERIES
VERY MEANINGFUL - A REMINDERIf we focus only on Christmas, we might lose sight of Christ.
True Meaning of Christmas…
Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I had just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room, and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out.
"What are you doing?" I started to ask.
The words choked up in my throat, and I saw that he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement: "TEACH THE CHILDREN!"
I was puzzled, what did he mean?
He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children. Teach them the real meaning of Christmas. The meaning of Christmas that nowadays has been forgotten."
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. Teach the children that the pure green colour of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point Heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward Heaven.
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. Teach the children that the star was the Heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of the fulfilment of His promise.
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light, we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love Christ showed for us. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.
He then pulled from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF. Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December.
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Saviour. The red holly berries represent the blood that He shed for us.
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy Babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men.
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring strayed sheep back to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper.
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded the glorious news of the Saviour's birth. The angels sang "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will."