SCIENCE is nothing but developed perception, interpreted intent, common sense rounded out and minutely articulated, noted the philosopher George Santayana, musing on modernity and progress. That was then, when the ill-effects of fossilfuel usage, consequent emission of gaseous carbon and resultant global warming was not quite apparent.
India may have recently vowed to slash carbon emissions by 20-25 per cent but Mumbai's new electrical suburban trains are already speeding ahead of this target. These local trains curb carbon emissions by 40 per cent and save 30 per cent more electricity than a normal train. The saving is made through the regenerative braking system, which reuses electricity for other trains on the same line.
Self help groups in Uttarakhand have launched a campaign to banish polythene bags by replacing them with paper bags and providing them to shop keepers at lucrative prices.
"Pahal" is one such group that has been training women to make paper bags from old newspapers. Women in this group are now earning anything between Rs 300 to Rs 4,000 per month from their own homes.
Hyderabad, Nov. 8: The Andhra Pradesh environmental connect that includes officials and activists has asked the Exhibition Society in Hyderabad to impose ban on plastic this year at the popular Numaish. The APEC has asked people to get their own jute or other non-plastic bags instead.
As hundreds of idols of Goddess Durga hit the Yamuna river today as part of immersion rituals, green activists had reason to breathe easy. Unlike earlier, many idols were made of natural colours and environment friendly clay!
The government failed yet again to provide Delhiites with special enclosures for immersions this Dussehra and, consequently, the river was ravaged with hundreds of idols and tonnes of pooja samagri and flowers. Delhi Pollution Control Board had released a list of 13 spots where immersions could be carried out but people were seen flinging their puja packets from almost all bridges in the city.
