All the litter we dump!

I keep venting my anger on global warming and going green and keep suggesting everyone, including my folks and most recently my colleagues and boss, to stop using plastic. They keep asking me why, although it is pretty simple and clear, I have to explain the same thing again and again. Well, if you did not know either, here is a quick something to read:

Yeah, may be an average home or an individual cannot do much or is confused enough to do anything about global warming (hopefully the new government will do more than just talk), but we could sure stop all of the plastic, metal, and even battery toxic litter, more than 2Kg per day, according to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ending up in the landfills and now in the oceans. Wonder who sorts and filters our litter when we dump our trash bags and flush the toilets each day?

Like other pieces of junk, some of the Trillions of plastic bags used each year (EPA) end up as litter. Once in the environment, it takes hundreds of years for plastic bags to breakdown. As they decompose, tiny toxic bits seep into soils, lakes, rivers, and the oceans and it is estimated that they may also be washed up in Antarctica within the decade. The plastic bags are so inexpensive that in the stores no one treats them as of Any Worth, but at what expense to our Earth? Sure, we are all busy, but yes, We can do our 1% by making minor changes in our ways of living, by reducing this litter by going green and doing our part. Also by recycling most of our daily products such as plastic, paper, aluminium tins and cans, and glass in the order of usage, we save as much as 80% on energy and of course almost 100% on the raw materials.

Frankly, I could not think of a better gift when I give these re-usable cotton or plastic bags to others. The plastic bags I give always come with a warning that if they threw these reusable thick plastic bags they are throwing as many as a couple of hundred normal grocery plastic bags. Thanks for being part of this and sharing the spirit of "reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever possible" with others to show our respect for our dear Earth!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy a new year
Radha Krishna

And of course my references: How Much Litter

Why we should solve it!

Watch 'The Inconvenient Truth first' and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idlJDcr669o
than some ....

Haven't we exploited our Earth every single way, every single day, digging out resources from the deep and leave them behind in the open air. All the graphs for the last couple of decades of industrial revolution and what we are witnessing right now only points to a catastrophe. And even when all has been proved, some of our dear politicians shamelessly yell, lets dig and dig everywhere, baby!

First, we still have a big number of people, the lazy disbelievers, believing they are busy enough to accept a change, are waiting for their chance, waiting to be hit by a more powerful flood, tornado, hurricane, a new disease, may be drought and what not and then expect the government to take an action or blame it as a natural cycle! Take a look at this, these scientists were probably funded by the very oil companies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io-Tb7vTamY

A solution to such a big problem is not effective when a bunch of non-lazy people saving miniscule energy/carbon foot print by skipping driving their car, turning off idle electronics - plugging them off, or using recyclable and reduced number of plastic bags, just to name a few. A solution that is the need of the hour resides at a much higher level, something that requires changes with/by the government, its policies, its research to be more educated and finding solutions, only then by enforcing rules, regulations and whose actions show that they understand the cause and by believing in prevention better than cure!

Unfortunately, the current research shows not so strong evidence on the assumption that global temperatures and global warming is mostly man made. Even the believers end up in so much confusion when it comes to making a green choice, for example, a simple thing such as buying something that you use for more than a decade, a car, with least environmental damage is still mixed with so much confusion!

As Gore keeps saying, the green solutions do way more than solve the climate crisis, they create more opportunities, jobs wise and research work wise, making countries repower themselves and solve both economic and environmental damages at the same time!

and yes, together, we SHOULD solve it!

http://www.climateark.org/blog/
http://illconsidered.blogspot.com/
http://www.realclimate.org/
http://www.desmogblog.com/

NASA Observatory updates from 2005 to 2007 on Global Warming - DRAFT

NASA Observatory updates on Global Warming effects at Antarctica:
2005: GLACIERS FROM ANTARCTIC PENINSULA IN WIDESPREAD RETREAT, SCIENCE STUDY SAYS
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/MediaAlerts/2005/2005042118836.html
People thought that its just normal...

2006: RAPID TEMPERATURE INCREASES ABOVE THE ANTARCTIC
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/MediaAlerts/2006/2006033022004.html

2007: Large area of Antarctica Melted, Re-Froze in 2005 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17661

Some potential effects of Global Warming:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/GlobalWarmingUpdate/global_warming_update6.html

Well heres something that will let you know how you are responsible and make you think how you could help change.
http://sciencepoliticsclimatechange.blogspot.com/2006/08/is-todays-warming-man-made.html

A must read for somone thinking of purchasing a new vehicle/automobile

DRAFT

In the era of global warming rather a global warNing, however, all of the energy efficient standards and options aren't being employed. For something like purchasing a new vehicle, which is going to stay with you for a real long time and in use almost every day, here are a couple of links/notes that will make me/you atleast appear environment/energy savvy. These quite a recent updates are important when purchasing a green vehicle. And as is, it is up to the the goverment/rules which has to research/learn and enforce the law that will allow people follow the right way. After reading any of these articles though, we cannot do without commuting atleast hours a day avoiding polluting our quota, because of the vast distances to our offices, huh! ; then what are our motives. My motive is only to put forth and understand my self about planning the right thing and knowing what can be done to save our planet.

Hybrids are supposed to be environment friendly atleast in the suburbs where the travelling speeds are lower and because they are efficient at speeds around 30 mph. Also, because you break and start off at lower speeds quiet a few times, times when you need the most energy I believe.

Reports from rather new people, CNW research in 2007 states that cost wise from Manufacturing to its disposal, they rather call it the 'Dust to Dust Energy cost estimates of the vehicle'. What they stressed on are the vehicular average lifetime usages and costs to society over the vehicles lifetime. However I don't understand the fuel economy and lower emissions that I am interested in, as the cost is no longer a factor over global warming, isn't it.
http://cnwmr.com/nss-folder/automotiveenergy/
And where are the results though??? Heres one of them that I found online. Unfortunately no results are officially in the news.
http://www.acarisnotarefrigerator.com/Article_Alan_165_20070215.htm
Alan states that people who are environmental friendly will no longer think about Toyota Prius anymore and the CNW study also puts Prius in between, so what cars are best then, forget about the $$.

Good response from Toyota over their row over usage of Nickel in making hybrid' batteries:
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=417227&in_page_id=1770

The truth I believe is again the Prius is better over a Hummer:
http://www.truedelta.com/blog/?p=48
They put it well as a Anti-Hyprid drive... which I agree as they use a wrong estimate of average lifetime of Prius, about 100k miles whereas they use 300k miles for a hummer putting it above Prius in environment friendly standards.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/03/08/hummer-vs-prius-redux-this-time-to-hummer-i-dont-think-so/

As the words say,
spread the word - save the world
'Nobody tells you that travelling by any means of air transport results much much more CO2 emissions rather than travel by recent vehicles which are almost in line with the emission standards'

After melting glaciers its now melting antarctic, all due to the global warming

http://www.livescience.com/environment/070515_antarctic_melt.html

For those who thought global warming was just a fad, heres more news on melting in the antarctic region after the melting glaciers.

Beyond saving fuel, reducing pollution and stopping usage of paper and plastic, and taking time off to plant a sapling, heres a quick trivia on going green:
http://www.livescience.com/triviagreenerfuture/

Asking what else may happen.. If you have missed Al gores 'The Inconvenient Truth' released two years ago, heres something that was not discussed in the movie but is predicted :
http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,2078954,00.html

Fw: [auroranbuddies] Please do read this everybody.

Speech by the ex-president Abdul Kalam:

I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is.

She replied: I want to live in a developed India.

For her, you and I will have to build this developed India. You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.

Do you have 10 minutes? Allow me to come back with a vengeance.

Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read; otherwise, choice is yours.

YOU say that our government is inefficient.

YOU say that our laws are too old.

YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.

YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke,

The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.

You say that our country has bee n fed to! the dogs and is the absolute pits.

YOU say, say and say.

What do YOU do about it?

Take a person on his way to Singapore.

Give him a name?

YOURS.

Give him a face?

YOURS.

YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best.

- In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores.
- YOU are as proud of their Underground Links as they are.
- You pay $5 (approx. Rs.60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM.
- YOU comeback to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over-stayed, identity.

In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU?

- YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai.
- YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah.
- YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchan ge in London at 10 pounds (Rs.650! ) a month to, "see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else."
- YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic
cop, "Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost."
- YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand.

Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo?

Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston?????

We are still talking of the same YOU.

YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground.

If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why can not you be the same here in India?

Once in an interview, the ! famous Ex-municipal Commissioner of Bombay, Mr.Tinaikar, had a point to make.

"Rich people"s dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place," he said. "And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with a broom
every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels?

In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job.
Same in Japan. Will the Indian citizen do that here?"

He's right.

We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.

We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stra! y piece of
paper and throw it in the bin.

We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.

We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity. This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public.

When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse?

"It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my son's rights to a dowry."

So who's going to change the system? What does a system consist of?
Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government.

But definitely not me and YOU.
When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr. Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away.

- Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system.

- When New York becomes insecure we run to England.

- When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf.

- When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government.

Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country.

Nobody thinks of feeding the system.

Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians, the article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too! ?..

I am echoing J.F. Kennedy's words to his fellow American to relate to Indians?.

"ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA
WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY "

Lets do what India needs from us.

Forward this mail to each Indian for a change instead of sending Jokes
or junk mails.

Thank You,

Dr. Abdul Kalaam

Reuse and recycle everything possible.. thats the only motto to save the environment I say

http://www.keepoceansclean.org/home/

Water did exist so pure originally.

Poor aqua fauna flora will seize to exist if the current rate of pollutants and trash continue to be emptied into the vast oceans....

Please do take a look at the website to learn simple things you could do keep the environment clean.

Scroll through the simple animations that even a kid would understand but a current generation adult would simply hate or fail to follow.

The animal rights video Earthlings is online in its entirely here:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3251419433163515470

"Joaquin Phoenix narrates this thought-provoking documentary, exposing mankind's unnecessary and cruel dependence on animals as food, clothing, entertainment, and experimentation. "Earthlings" is the most comprehensive documentary ever produced on the correlation between humankind, nature, and animals and human economic interests. Using hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, "Earthlings" chronicles the day-to-day practices of some of the largest animal-dependent industries in the world."

EARTHLINGS is a feature length documentary about humanity's absolute dependence on animals (for pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and ... all » scientific research) but also illustrates our complete disrespect for these so-called "non-human providers." The film is narrated by Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix (GLADIATOR) and features music by the critically acclaimed platinum artist Moby.

With an in-depth study into pet stores, puppy mills and animals shelters, as well as factory farms, the leather and fur trades, sports and entertainment industries, and finally the medical and scientific profession, EARTHLINGS uses hidden cameras and never before seen footage to chronicle the day-to-day practices of some of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit. Powerful, informative and thought-provoking, EARTHLINGS is by far the most comprehensive documentary ever produced on the correlation between nature, animals, and human economic interests. There are many worthy animal rights films available, but this one transcends the setting. EARTHLINGS cries to be seen. Highly recommended!

Download it at http://veg-tv.info/Earthlings

Fw: [auroraece03] Kitna Badal gaya Insaan!!! from vijay sundaram

Fw: [auroraece03] FACTS ABOUT LIFE !!!!!! from Krishna Sudheer

Isn't it strange how a 20 rupee note seems like such a large amount when

you donate it to temple, but
such a small amount

when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when
you're at Temple, and how
short they seem when you're
watching a good movie?




Isn't it strange that you can't
find a word to say when
you're praying,
but you have no trouble
thinking what to talk about
with a friend?






Isn't it strange how difficult
and boring it is to read
one chapter
of the Bhagwad Gita, but how easy
it is to read 100 pages of
a popular novel ?








Isn't it strange how everyone
wants front-row-tickets
to concerts or
games, but they do whatever
is possible to sit at the last
row in Jagran?







Isn't it strange how we need to
know about an event for
Temple 2-3
weeks before the day so we can
include it in our agenda, but we can
adjust it for other events in
the last minute?





Isn't it strange how difficult it
is to learn a fact about God to share it
with others, but how easy
it is to learn, understand,
extend and repeat gossip?







Isn't it strange how we
believe everything
that magazines and newspapers
say, but we question the words in the
Bhagwad Gita?







Isn't it strange how everyone
wants a place in
heaven, but they don't want
to believe, do, or say anything
to get there?



Isn't it strange how we send
jokes in e-mails
and they are forwarded
right away,
but when we are going to send
messages about God, we think
about it twice before we share
it with others?

IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT?


Forward this to anybody that you
consider a friend, family member or even foe. You need to know, and so do they.....