dioxide emission, terms unheard of five decades ago, are now familiar to even kindergarten kids. Trees and hills, once lush and green, are cut down randomly to facilitate concrete jungles to crop up at a pace like never before. Industrialisation, which is progressing at maddening speed in today’s highly competitive market, is contributing towards depleting the resources of our planet. It is shocking but true that the amount of pollution caused in the last fifty years far exceeds the pollution combined in the last two thousand years. If this trend remains unchecked, parts of the earth will turn into desert or submerge under water. A recent Italian study shows that just three days of exposure to polluted air can damage human DNA, which can lead to cancer and various hereditary disorders. This and similar alarming results strongly emphasize the need to stop our earth from bleeding further.‘Go Green’ is a small, yet essential initiative which can go a long way towards ensuring a greener future. It is an attempt to minimise man-made devastation - even if it is impossible to eliminate it. All these years, environmental organisations were crying hoarse to make their voices heard, as were pro-Nature groups which were fighting to save forest resources and animal lives. Championing the environmental issue was former Vice President of US, Al Gore, who remained unheard for very long, till his documentary won the Oscar and brought his cause into the limelight. One of his great followers is actor Cameron Diaz. Other Hollywood stars, too, have been supporting the green cause and natural resource conservation to alternative energy for long. Brad Pitt generously contributes for Greener Springfield, and Leonardo Di Caprio, Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, George Clooney and Robert Redford are all very passionate about this cause. Other celebrity champions include Oprah Winfrey, Alanis Morissette, Jon Bon Jovi, Pearl Jam and, of course, billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, who is famous for his carbon capture competition. President Obama’s commitment to reduce auto emission down to 42MPG by 2016, is worth mentioning. Obama also supports organic farming with a fund of $50 million. It is common knowledge that the US is the greatest contributor to global pollution, of which the worst affected are the Third World countries like Bangladesh, which have become victims of devastating floods every year.
It is high time individuals, educational institutions, corporate section, industries and manufacturers, voluntary societies do their bit for a more habitable world. ‘Go Green’ initiatives often include small changes in lifestyle, combined with a bit of willingness. It can start with a few small steps that one can adopt in our every day lives. Indian oil giants have for quite some time been propagating the need for fuel conservation, along with helpful tips to increase fuel or gas efficiency. In the corporate sector, IT players like IBM have been vigorously emphasizing greener technologies, greener workplace and a greener world. Small and medium companies, too, are following suit. In the other industries, too, it is the international players who are setting the Go Green trend that is adopted by their smaller counterparts. Banks, too, are Going Green with online payment, phone banking and internet banking, instead of cheque or cash. Some of the popular steps that businesses can embrace are:
• Adopt Tele Conference/ Web Conference/ Video Conference.
• Purchase energy saving computers, printers, bulbs, etc.
• Switch off computers, monitors, lights, etc., before leaving.
• Donate old computers to charity organisations instead of increasing landfills.
• Use internet and e-mail instead of printing on paper.
• Reduce paper consumption by printing on both sides.
• Purchase recycled paper, recyclable ink cartridges and toner.
• Replace paper cups/ glasses and disposable plastic utensils with re-useable glass or metal cups, glasses and dishes.
• Use bio-degradable cups and utensils for party times.
• Stop using paper towels.
• Build Green buildings that utilise daylight, thereby avoiding artificial light.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with power efficient Compact Florescent Lamp (CFL).
• Use organic/recyclable/ re-manufacturable products.
• Use green office furniture made of bamboo (because it grows quickly) or from commercially grown wood.
• Use public transport/carpooling/bicycle to work whenever possible.
• Grow potted plants and shrubs (they will absorb indoor toxins).
• Adopt green environmentally friendly marketing tools, like e-newsletters and e-magazines, instead of printed ones.
• Replace electric pencil sharpeners and staplers with manual ones.
Adopting these measures can help save energy, resources and money. Indeed, statistics reveal that not turning off the business computers can lead to a waste of billions of dollars of electricity every year. Most people are also unaware that recycling an aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television set for three hours. Using a more eco-friendly mode of transportation is a much-needed change, as idling of vehicles in parking lots contributes to high levels of emission in the atmosphere. Carpooling, biking, walking or taking public transport ought to be strongly advocated. Having a green office environment is as much essential as having a green home, since today, we spend as much of our time in the office as we do at home.
Pollutants, both indoor and outdoor, causes health hazards through toxins and chemicals which create cancer, asthma, allergies and respiratory illnesses. Even at home, a few green steps can bring about significant changes, while simultaneously saving money and preserving resources for future generations. All that is required is a bit of innovativeness and eagerness to build a green home.
• Buy products and cleaning agents that are low in chemicals, toxins and harsh ingredients. (They make the house look sparkling, but is bad for health).
• Recycle, to reduce waste.
• Go organic.
• Compost kitchen and garden waste.
• Dispose garbage properly.
• Use power-efficient appliances, lights and rechargeable batteries.
• Adopt methods to reduce wastage of gas/fuel.
• Purchase local fresh products, instead of processed items.
• Cultivate a kitchen/balcony/terrace/hanging garden (it boosts your sense of wellness and joy).
• Grow sacred and medicinal plants like Neem, Tulsi – they are great purifiers.
• Harvest rain water.
• Use cloth bags for grocery shopping, avoid plastic.
• Use cloth towels, not paper towels in the kitchen.
• Avoid plastic containers, bottles and plastic cling wraps. Use metal or glass.
• Discontinue junk mail and unwanted catalogues.
Substitute diapers for traditional cloth diapers.
All these small changes in lifestyle will help save money and save space in the landfill. However, it is not true that paper bags are a better alternative to plastic bags, despite being easily degradable. In the US alone, over 10 billion paper bags are used each year, which approximates to about 14 million trees. Given these, it is best to resort to reusable bags, preferably cloth.
Air conditioners and heating systems - a must for both office and home – leave their footprints in global warming and in depleting the ozone layer. Refrigerators and air conditioners release hydro-fleuron carbons that affect the ozone layer. This makes us more vulnerable to the harmful ultra-violet rays of the sun, which cause skin cancers like malignant melanoma, etc. Hence, maintain a steady temperature in summer. Wear some warm clothes in winter and keep the thermostat a few degrees lower; it is easy on the pocket and on the environment. History tells us that native Americans, Indians, Chinese and Greeks resorted to natural sources to heat and cool their houses. It is essential that we soon relinquish the sources of non-renewable energy with renewable sources like solar, wind, ocean, tidal and wave energy.
Water conservation, although seldom discussed, is an integral part of building a Green Planet. Shocking but true, that worldwide 6.8 million gallons of water are flushed down the toilet every day. So, adopting dual flush or low flow toilets ought to be made mandatory in homes and offices, a step that US has rightly initiated. Simultaneously, river pollution should be checked with immediate effect. This implies treating all sewage before discharging them into the river. The pollution of the Ganges is too well-known to be retold here. River pollution, if left uncontrolled, can be most devastating to health, especially in Third World countries, where the poor masses cannot avail of clean drinking water. River pollution today poses a serious threat, with rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, which produces ever-increasing amounts of waste.
Going Green involves going organic. It is also about going back to ayurvedic medicines; once again, revive the use of medicinal and herbal plants whose beneficial effects our forefathers were fluent with, but a knowledge which is rapidly fading away. Festivals like Vanmahotsav, where over 5000 saplings are distributed free of cost, ought to be encouraged.
Of late, a popular Go Green trend is to adopt eco-friendly clothing. These are made of bamboo, which in itself is highly versatile. Interestingly, bamboo can be processed to produce fine silk like yarn that is soft, durable and perfect for linen, towels, socks, even innerwear and clothes. This fibre is hypo allergenic and naturally anti-bacterial. Another fashionable green trend is to Go Green with gifts. An instance is solar powered watches and other recyclable, re-useable gifts. Potted plants, re-useable cloth, shopping bags, handmade creative items and even pets can make great gifts. Replacing paper wrappers with cloth wrappers can be innovative and refreshing.
However, all these changes will happen only by generating awareness. Perhaps the first thing about Going Green is to educate ourselves, which alone can change the mindset. And what better place than a school to inculcate such sense of responsibility and realisation! It is heartening to know that the young generations in some parts of the world are donning the role of environmental police. They take their role very seriously and dispense their responsibility with passion. They strongly advocate against the waste of resources, including water to an extent, where they consider taking a bath twice a day not a necessity, but a luxury. At home and in society, they are against unnecessary use of artificial lights. They are the Green Soldiers with a mission to involve the community to make a Green Planet.
Go Green for a Green Planet. For this, just some awareness, a bit of common sense and a step in the right direction is all that about we need to make. It can surely bring around a world of difference…
Dr Malabika Mitra