New Innovation to tackle Carbon "Black"Mail: "Green is Free!!"

[I use the phrase "developed world" to indicate a certain group of countries but it does not imply my subscription to the notion of them being so!]

Green is now more than the color of envy, it is the color of Environment,color of conflict twixt so called developed and developing world; color of future labels on Walmart stuff and of course Shrek!!

The idea of forcing commitments from India on green house reduction is a two edged sword for developed world (Why? Maybe later blog on that one). We have been harping on "lowest per capita carbon (and energy/resources etc)" in the world which is possibly true as well. I dont see any other region where Raddi / Kabadi trade is a legitimate way of earning livlihood. A whole strata of society survives as rag pickers from garbage dumps (no I am not proud of this fact). The problem is we don't effectively document and showcase our own strangely unique characteristics till someone comes along and does the job for us.It would then suddenly turn into a cool thing to do like case-study on Mumbai Dabbawalas and B-Schools would tag along for their own PR. Additionally, we thrive on destroying our ancient heritage in the name of progres. Countless old monuments were demolished in Delhi to make way for builder flats, shops and other concrete junk (more on that in later blog I guess).

However, I see the trend shifting. Since many "developed" nations would transition to greener technologies, thereby increasing the cost of production; manufacturing would move to other countries leading to equitable distribution of industrialization benefits. Just that "developed" nations managed to develop themselves and pollute the world before the concept of Green became a buzz word and now they want to deny others an opportunity under the guise of being morally correct. Maybe there is a bit of genuine concern as well. At least perpetual underdogs like me are rooting for some more green initiatives to emerge out of this.

The underlying assumption in all our arguments has been that employing Greener and natural means of doing something increases its costs. This may not be necessarily true. We need to look for ways where it is both Green and cheap. Earlier, same view was held for Quality and Costs by the automobile manufacturers till Toyota came along and shattered the Myth. Green needs another Toyota to come and prove us wrong.

As goes an old joke, while some spent millions developing a "zero gravity pen" that could be used by Astronauts in Space, Cosmonauts used a pencil instead!!

Section 49 (O) debate solved

Before every election, I get a similar note as below but this time I decided to investigate...

1. There is no Section 49 O in our constitution. Section 49 deals with Preservation of architectural structures and monuments or something

HOWEVER

there is a Rule 49 (O) in THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS RULES, 1961 which says exactly the same thing as below as per this National Informatics Council Website of Law ministry

http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/cer1.htm

So now I can rest in peace (unless Lawmin was hacked) .... the idea and motion is correct even though citation is wrong...

and in case you are wondering.... yes I do get free time to waste often on mindless pursuits :))

Cheers :-)
L

THE ACTUAL MESSAGE ---->

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kavita Verma
Date: 2009/3/3
Subject: Let us Vote For Better India
To: sunil.seth@gmail.com



I VOTE NOBODY
Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the 1969 act, in section "49-O" that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn`t want to vote for anyone!
Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these leaders have never disclosed it.
This is called "49-O".
Why should you go and say "I VOTE NOBODY" because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received "49-O" votes more than 123, then that polling will be cancelled and will have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them.

This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way; of our whole political system. it is seemingly surprising why the election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public.
Please spread this news to as many as you know.
Seems to be a wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India ... show your power, expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful than voting... so don`t miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49-O)
Use your voting right for a better INDIA!

List of birds I had seen

I used to be an amateur ornithologist once... and I had compiled a list of birds and behaviours that I had observed. Found that old notebook again and before I lose it, this is my effort to preserve my past. I realise that the taxonomy has changed behind my back so this is the 80's way of naming them

1. Brown rock Chat
2. Chiff Chaff
3. Pariah Kite
4. Whitebacked Vulture
5. Domestic Duck
6. Grey Wagtail
7. Plain Wren Warbler
8. Tailor Bird
9. House Swift
10. Wiretailed Swallow
11. Common Swallow
12. Black winged Stilt
13. Common Peafowl
14. White Throated Munia
15. Indian Robin
16. Magpie Robin
17. Shikra
18. Ring Dove
19. Little Brown Dove
20. Crow Pheasent
21. Purple Sunbird
22. White Eye
23. Large Green Barbet
24. Crimson Breasted Barbet
25. Yellow Eyed Babbler
26. Large Grey Babbler
27. Jungle Babbler
28. Common Babbler
29. Cattle Egret
30. Black Drongo
31. India Pippit
32. Baybacked Shrike
33. Rufusbacked Shrike
34. Crested Lark
35. Paddy Bird
36. Blue Rock Pigeon
37. Yellow Legged Green Pigeon
38. Koel
39. Pied Crested Cuckoo
40. White Fantail Pigeon
41. Redvented Bulbul
42. Redwhiskered Bulbul
43. Blossom Headed Parakeet
44. Roseringed Parakeet
45. Jungle Crow
46. House Crow
47. Spotted Owlet
48. Black Redstart
49. Red Munia
50. Brahmini Myna
51. Bank Myna
52. Pied Myna
53. Indian Myna
54. Hoopoe
55. White Wagtail
56. Yellow Wattled Lapwing
57. Red Wattled Lapwing
58. White Breatsed Waterhen
59. Indian Moorhen
60. White eared Bulbul
61. House Sparrow
62. Grey Hornbill
63. Lesser Goldenbacked Woodpecker
64. White Breatsed Kingfisher
65. Golden Oriole
66. Ashy's Wren warbler
67. Small Green Bee eater
68. Common Sandpiper
69. Grey Partridge
70. Wood Sandpiper
71. Long Tailed Minivet
72. Baya weaver Bird
73. Pied Wagtail
74. Yellow Wagtail
75. Rosefinch
76. Painted Storks
77. Black Ibis
78. Indian Tree Pie
79. Blue Jay
80. Black Drongo
81. Little Cormorant
82. Darter or Snake Bird
83. House Swift

Carbon Footprint of a Close Relationship

I always think.. one should encourage ones' close buddies to tie the knot for the sake of Carbon efficiency [Warning : check out the legal ramificaions of gender marriages before doing anything drastic]. Not only its better that they would know each other quite well, its Eco - friendly too....

Q: Why should you play cupid between your good friends?
A : Because its Carbon efficient in the long run. In case they do get hitched up,
1. You just need to travel to one place and meet them both. Saves fuel.
2. You can get away with buying one gift. Again saves effort and fuel.
3. You need to send them just one common invitation card. Saves trees.
4. One phone call at the appropriate time and you can speak with both.. energy eficient.
For the two of them, it becomes C - Eff as well
1. Energy savings in terms of electricity and dwelling costs. [a high chance this would happen]
2. They become natural car poolers to office and common parties which otherwise they would individually travel to..

Q : Then why dont you implement your preachings?
A : In case things dont work out between your best buddies, it will get messy and you would have to choose loyalities. Things get complicated over a period of time. But as always, my clinching argument is... Too much effort & I am lazy.

The Element C

There has been a lot of talk in recent times of Carbon Footprint, Carbon Audits and like which set my train of thought towards the decision we make in life. Can we use the overall Carbon impact to guide us in our personal choices or is it something limited to weird consultant world!!!

Q : Why are you a Vegetarian?
A : Being a Vegetarian is more Carbon efficient on an average. If we assume that the C - Efficiency of an average living being is 60% (includes Plants, Chicken.. maybe humans) then the farther up you dine in the food chain, the less carbon efficient your food habits become e.g. - If you eat chicken; then for 100 gm-energy equivalent of C absorbed by the Maize, you get 60 gm-E inside the chicken and you get only 36 gm-E from it. If you directly ate maize, you got 60 gm-E which is better. This is gross oversimplification but you get the idea!

Q : So why are you Non - Vegetarian then?
A : If you answer the above Q purely on energy basis, it does not give a full picture. The higher node you gobble from the food pyramid, the more processed food becomes. So if I live in Iceland where plants are few and maybe none edible, I will eat fish/ animals who in turn eat those plants and make them palatable. Alternatively, if I need Omega 3 fatty acids from fish! The clinching argument being I like the taste of Non -Veg fare...

..... This argument will continue with more Q n A