Sometimes, its amazing how good things work..well, this is an account of what just happened yesterday when I was visiting the City International School for my lecture and session on climate change...

City International School:
My visit to this place is filled with good memories. CiS is probably one of the few places where you get an opportunity to involve and work with students who are really concerned and passionate about climate change. Apart from me going to this school and educate them on the topic, it was a learning experience for me to get acquainted with these bright students. A big reason being that my various sessions had never had me try taking this issue up with the smaller age group, and so, it was fun and pretty challenging for me to balance not only the teaching part but also try and to keep their attention going.
The one and a half hour fluid talk between me and those children was something that forced me to think out of the box. In fact, I was amazed to see such a buzzing batch, who was more than just an audience. It all began with a short movie (by me) on climate change followed by a briefing regarding the amazing and captivating journey - “The Cape Farewell Expedition”. Following this was booming voicing and a volley of questions by the students regarding the voyage which was not only fun to answer but refreshing as it acted as a reminder of that place.
By mid-session I went forward with m presentation solely dedicated for the students to not only review their climate concepts but also get headway with how one can work for it. This part was short and crisp and actually got more out of me than the previous talks. By now, I was so much into the thing that I went on with long exchanges with the students who always had a question left unanswered. And last of all, I got 57 great students to officially register themselves as “ Ground Crew: CiS”, who are not only going to work in their school regarding climate change, but will also work in accordance with me and other schools in order to help take the initiative on. So, it was now time for the elected representatives of the “Crew” to sit down, plan their goals for the first quarter, get on with their own blog, specialize themselves into different groups and… get a move on. After lots of heated discussions and intense brainstorming, the students on the basis of their interests were divided into different wings namely photography, art, creative writing and computers/blogging. These people would thus work in coordination, decide their projects and work hand in hand towards the completion of their proposed projects.
The meeting was concluded and as everyone posed for the group photography session. And as I was walking out of the school gates with children waving behind, I saw myself walking down an unending road…. but with a content heart. And that’s because the journey has just begun.

THE EXHIBIT

The exhibition on Saturday 08th November 2008 marked the beginning of the two day long Founder’s day fiesta at Seth M.R Jaipuria School. The annual function was well received by students and visitors alike, who were happy to see each student’s remarkable abilities to put up a beautiful show in the school. But what remained the foci of attraction was the special exhibit put up by my Green Team and other volunteers who have recently been working on awareness campaigns and programs concerning the issue of climate change. The exhibit termed as “Climatology” was indeed a blend of subject and technology to create an interesting show for the visitors. Sketched up with images, articles and interesting conversations; the hall buzzed of an arctic environment in itself. Adding on to it was an amphitheatre which comes as a tool to voice an educative and interactive appeal to the on looking parents and visitors. Apart from that, the intricate compilation of the schools infrastructure was translated into a map screening each nook and corner of the school and elaborating on the buildings efficiency, advantages and disadvantages in terms of quality, ecology and planning. Not only that, this huge map was also supported by a complete 3-D map of the school which made studying the place even more interesting.

The exhibit came across as a wonderful place for the students who were inquisitive and imbibing a lot from it. Climatology was also registering students and adults alike to be a part of the “Ground crew”. The ground crew is an initiative by me to get people coming and become a part of an organized community to voice their views on climate change. Each member is armed with the amazing capacity to help and share his/her ideology. The group hopes to work on a planned curriculum and set up certain target to achieve. What attracted people and impressed them was how members were being provided with an opportunity and a platform to do so.

All in all the part was well played by to have successfully come out with an initiative for the people and by the people. GO GREEN!!!

LIFE ON THIN ICE...

This voyage is credited to build a part of personality and change the rest of it. Today, I tell you a story that begun the very day I set my foot on the Chattrapati Shivaji airport to fly for Toronto. That was, as I call it, the beginning of my expedition. What follows on is a series of unexpected events about which I could write for hours together… but I will be kind to all my readers.


The Cape Farewell expedition, as many of you would be aware of is an undertaking of the British Council Canada to help people across the globe to become aware and take the issue of climate change education through a new upbringing. The man behind this project was David Buckland, who believed that if we lock up people from diverse fields regions and generations together and introduce them to an environment under threat from climate change; what would result is a scientific and cultural response towards climate change. And the perfect place to invoke such a passion in human nature would undoubtedly be the arctic. The 2008 expedition was an even bigger investment; as it involved students from across 7 countries interact with an amazing team of renowned scientists, scholars, authors and artists who together would set forth towards the arctic soil.

The meeting very strongly reminded me of the time we spent in the TERI Resort with all the fellow champs. However this one was in Toronto at the lake St. George Reservation Centre. The three days in Toronto were jam-packed. Each morning after breakfast, we would be running around this huge campus (under the Canadian government’s protection) towards our scheduled training sessions, seminars, science classes, video shoots, blogging, photography and…… lunch. Apart from that we would be traveling a lot to places like the Ontario Science Centre (site where the official media launch took place), the CN Towers (to a luncheon), the town hall for a meeting with the governor, our sponsors like Render Conservation or Rare where we hiked the best trail I can imagine and ended up having one big barbeque session.
But the best part of it all was Mars (and I don’t mean the planet) where we met the kings of frolic --“The Treehouse Group” and learnt even loads.

What amazed us the most was not what we were presently going through but the fact that the journey had still not begun- or had it?
Our next stop was Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. After a long tiring flight we arrived in a country which held surprises for us. Iceland is probably one the few places which brings in a feeling of deep rooted love for the gifts of nature. Reason being that she is deprived of many. Iceland is interesting, and I must say, funny in many aspects. It is the land of volcanoes, tundra vegetation, rare species of birds and …cold air. And yes it a delight. We were overawed by the game the clouds and light would play, not only giving us moments to capture its glory but also drool in its beauty. And talking about funny, well if you have the tourist’s map of Iceland, you would not question me. But I like questions, and for an example take this – to be regarded as a true Icelander, one must jump into the ocean naked with a torch in one hand and sing the countries national anthem!!
Our first visit in Iceland was the Soil Reservation institute of Iceland, the oldest organization to have been working on soil conservation (precisely a 100 yrs! old)

On our last day in Iceland, we spent the day at the Blue Lagoon: which is a manmade heated lagoon working ion geothermal energy and is one of the world’s most expensive luxury spa centers. And what awaited us now was that big moment. We set off for the dock where the Russian vessel “Akademic Shokalisky” lay. It was truly a redefining moment for me. As we made the ship our home, it was now one big family. The journey of a lifetime had begun…

Life in the arctic is special. Special because many of us here are not well aware of the arctic biota its considerable impact on the globe and the visible dangers it is facing at rapid scale. Talking about each detail out there would probably be a voluminous job (perhaps I shall write a book on it someday). I would therefore summarize it a bit.

The beauty of the Arctic is unimaginable. And the most mysterious art of this beauty is the marine life. Not visible from the sky, the depths of the ocean stored the many bounties of nature. From the planktons to the whales, each one we observed got us even more intrigued. It was lucky for us to watch the fin whales, the humpback whales, dolphins, seals, jelly fishes and numerous other species. What people believe to be a land simply covered by ice is not the complete truth. Though not dense, the arctic is also a multicolored painting with mosses, flowers, berries, willows and birches (sometimes 8 ft tall) this cold desert is also home to numerous insects too. Being and breathing in such a mystic landscape is godlike. And when you observe and understand how swiftly the land is posed to destruction is heart rendering. Glaciers receding at a much rapid rate, animal communities declining, harder lifestyle for native villagers and hunters, overexploitation of resources, more storms and cyclones….. all these examples indicate but one cause The Arctic is in danger, the alarm for awakening rung and this is the time for us to make choices. Indeed the time has come to draw the line.



During the expedition, we were introduced to something I would regard as special: visit people from communities and villages isolated from what we call habitation. As they dwell in harmony with nature and cope up with human advancements in technology, what hurts the most is that even though they have a negligible carbon footprint and sustainably use resources, they are the ones who are first experiencing the atrocities of the global thaw.
And when we stood there talking, interacting, teaching and playing with the kids and the adults; somewhere inside there developed a tinge of guilt which held me responsible for their misery. But it is from them that I and all the others gained a new force to help them and many others from what they are going through today.
During our field visits on virgin arctic soil, we worked as a part of specific scientific groups to collect data and understand what exactly is happening in the land. For my part, I was in geomorphology. Everyday, as we worked as different groups there was still a string of unity that bound us all. And that is what made the difference. By the end of the day, we would not only work on our measurements, observations and deductions, but also understand and understand what advances the other groups make on different subjects so as to collaborate what we learnt. Secondly, we would be working on our art projects, which was both inspiring and indicative. It was a totally different experience when you are working with the maestros themselves, and doing forms of art you have never witnessed yourself doing. To give you an insight into the matter, we worked with everything from algae to shells to a dead seal skeleton on the shores of an uninhabited land site to create a beautiful piece of land art. I was the one directing the staff to students on the project and by the time we were done, I was even assigned a new name- Dictator. Plus there would be video shoots, lots and lots of activities, presentations by Jamie, an ecologist and researcher on climate change (Someone whom all of us should meet), movies varying from deeply emotional documentaries to the Casino Royale.

Well, the journey went on and we had fantastic memories to share with each other. Being a bunch of 28 different people from different parts of the globe, it was more than pure excitement. There were a lot of wacky things we did during our time out there but I would like to share these two amazing parts from our journey which happen to occur on the same day:



It was our last day on sea. The next day, we were to land in Iqualuit and soon fly down to Ottawa. During the course of the journey, we had seen and experienced every sort of flora and fauna. But there was sheer disappointment still, reason being that we had yet not felt the majestic presence of the polar bear. The day begun as usual, with sleepy eyes on the dining table and soft whispers saturating the atmosphere. Hardly had someone started to eat that excited voice from the speakers filled the room and cried ‘There has been a polar bear sighting not too far on land. The dir…….’ We did not wait for more. There was a sudden rush for the door. We rushed to our cabins, put on as much clothing required, collected our cameras and dashed out for the deck of the ship. Every single soul on board was present, their powerful binoculars stuck on their faces. I took hold of mine and instructed by the voice from the radio control searched the land. And much to my joy, I saw the impressive beast devouring flesh from a dead whale. But that was not it. Throughout the day, during our excursions, during the zodiac cruise, during our sessions on the ship we saw a new one every time and the count ended at 7. We learnt and observed much interesting things about these bears. What was surprising was that so many of them were living in such small vicinity for they usually don’t. And I reached my bed and snuggled inside, I felt complete. Our quest for the beast was finally over.



How many people can claim doing something that is extravagantly mad? Well, credits to the voyagers as we were daring enough to do the great polar dip. Sub zero temperature, strong winds, bone chilling waters and clothes shed off, we were prepared for this one great event. We had still not touched the waters but our body was all numb, and everyone was shouting their lungs out, cursing the wind. Nevertheless, we ran as hard as we could, never caring about what would happen and plunged…… IT WAS COOOOLD. We could feel our insides split and the chill down our spine. For a second we felt we were dead. What felt like hours, we sprinted towards the beach, unable to bear the sensation any longer. The crew rushed to our aid and quickly wrapped us up in warm towels, (though they didn’t make much of a difference) and made our way towards the ship. Strictly ordered not to take hot showers, we sat in our cabins drying ourselves and wearing warm layers over our body and drinking in the amazing feat we had just performed. Later, with the sense of touch regained, all of us ran to the showers and then the sauna.


Time may have passed by and today we are all not together, but what we took from there was an imprint of each one in our souls and that will always be a part of our lives in this world and the world to come.

DHRUV SENGAR

ASKING MYSELF

1. The first thing that came to your mind when you reached Arctic.

I always felt special after that very first interaction with the arctic environment, and what is presently happening in that land disturbed me. So, I invented a term to describe it in a nutshell:
a.r.c.t.i.c = A reason climate today is changing

The arctic is like a treasure chest, an object whose thirst drives a thousand heads towards it. Sometimes I am posed with the question of explaining how exactly you felt out there and truly, however much I try, I cannot find words for it. The beauty of the Arctic is unimaginable. And the most mysterious art of this beauty is the marine life. Not visible from the sky, the depths of the ocean stored the many bounties of nature. From the planktons to the whales, each one we observed got us even more intrigued. It was lucky for us to watch the fin whales, the humpback whales, dolphins, seals, jelly fishes and numerous other species. What people believe to be a land simply covered by ice is not the complete truth. Though not dense, the arctic is also a multicolored painting with mosses, flowers, berries, willows and birches (sometimes 8 ft tall) this cold desert is also home to numerous insects too. Being and breathing in such a mystic landscape is godlike. And when you observe and understand how swiftly the land is posed to destruction is heart rendering. Glaciers receding at a much rapid rate, animal communities declining, harder lifestyle for native villagers and hunters, overexploitation of resources, more storms and cyclones….. All these examples indicate but one cause The Arctic is in danger, the alarm for awakening rung and this is the time for us to make choices. Indeed the time has come to draw the line.


2. What are your future plans?

Primarily I would like to complete my education in the field of engineering and constantly stay involved with the issue of climate change. Plus I have certain goals and plans laid ahead in front of me in order to make a huge contribution towards this field



3. Anything you have planned special for city ie Lucknow (can be an awareness campaign on environment, constituting an youth club for the same or any other thing )

Oh yes. Apart from the awareness campaign and sessions and seminars planned to be conducted at various schools and institutes. Moreover I am working towards organizations and schools to work in the field of improving their infrastructure and energy efficiency of their buildings. Being engaged with the British Council as an Indian climate champion, I am also involved with certain projects on climate change. One interesting event coming up is on the 8th of December (which is also the global day of action) when all the voyagers (on the arctic expedition) from across the world would organize something and raise the call for climate change on that very day, thus making it one big event. Not only that, our aim would be to get as many schools as possible to join us on that day and make even better.
To help me with my initiative I have organized a green team (who have been extremely supportive and involved with the Cape Farewell Expedition to the Arctic) as well as the ground crew in order to implement my long term goals towards initiating a qualitative and cultural response towards climate change.




4. Was there any fear in your mind while you were on your way to Arctic?(fear/nervousness etc)

Rather than using the word fear, I would say I was quite apprehensive in my views before I set foot on that land. And those doubts probably boosted a sense of excitement in me rather than fear, rousing my curiosity to the epitome of interest.

5. What's your ultimate goal?
My job doesn’t end trying to spread the message of climate change across. What today happens in the arctic is not exclusivity but a bare fact, an insight to the near future which would speak of that one human error nature shall never forgive. And not only is this my goal, but a humble request to all. Get up, act now and be the change you want to see.

A QUICK REWIEW

The year 2008 has and had surprises for us. Here are a few updates on what all has been going on ........

13 July, 2008

Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapse 'Imminent'
By Geoffrey Lean

Scientists are warning that an Antarctic ice shelf the size of Northern Ireland is on the verge of disintegration, even though it is now the middle of the southern hemisphere's winter.The European Space Agency says new satellite pictures show that the Wilkins shelf – the largest to be threatened so far – is "hanging by its last thread". Extending for approximately 5,600 square miles, it has been held in place by a thin ice bridge connecting it to an island, but this is now fracturing

Russian Ice Camp In Rapid Shrink
By David Shukman

The Russians had set up research station "North Pole 35" on the floe last September when it measured a safe five kilometres long and three kilometres wide, and their original plan was to stay on it until this September. But after enduring the permanent night of the Arctic winter and surviving the threat of polar bears, the scientists now find that their temporary home has shrunk to just 600m by 300m and faces complete break-up as it drifts towards a current known to contain relatively warm waters

11 July, 2008

Questioning EU Policies On
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
By Dr.Peter Custers

Debate and public opinion building on climate change should, amongst others, seriously question the existing policies of the European Union. Forceful demands need to be formulated and canvassed for internationally, stating that the EU move beyond the limited targets which its institutions and most Europe-based environmental organisations have so far set

01 July, 2008

The World’s Will To Tackle Climate Change
Is Irresistible
By Rajendra Pachauri

Far from stymying the environmental cause, the downturn in the world’s economies highlights just how pressing it is

27 June, 2008

No Ice At The North Pole
By Steve Connor

It seems unthinkable, but for the first time in human history, ice is on course to disappear entirely from the North Pole this year. The disappearance of the Arctic sea ice, making it possible to reach the Pole sailing in a boat through open water, would be one of the most dramatic – and worrying – examples of the impact of global warming on the planet. Scientists say the ice at 90 degrees north may well have melted away by the summer

26 June, 2008

Humanity's Melt Down
By Mike Davis

Our world, our old world that we have inhabited for the last 12,000 years, has ended, even if no newspaper in North America or Europe has yet printed its scientific obituary

25 June, 2008

Twenty Years Later: Tipping Points
Near On Global Warming
By James Hansen

Democracy works, but sometimes churns slowly. Time is short. The 2008 election is critical for the planet. If Americans turn out to pasture the most brontosaurian congressmen, if Washington adapts to address climate change, our children and grandchildren can still hold great expectations

24 June, 2008

Climate Chaos Is Inevitable.
We Can Only Avert Oblivion
By Mark Lynas

At best we will limit the extent of global warming, but Kyoto barely helps. Does humanity have the foresight to save itself?

11 June, 2008

Permafrost Threatened By Rapid Retreat Of
Arctic Sea Ice, NCAR Study Finds
By NCAR

The rate of climate warming over northern Alaska, Canada, and Russia could more than triple during periods of rapid sea ice loss, according to a new study led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The findings raise concerns about the thawing of permafrost, or permanently frozen soil, and the potential consequences for sensitive ecosystems, human infrastructure, and the release of additional greenhouse gases

29 May, 2008

Case Against Climate Change
Discredited By Study
By Steve Connor

A difference in the way British and American ships measured the temperature of the ocean during the 1940s may explain why the world appeared to undergo a period of sudden cooling immediately after the Second World War

15 May, 2008

A Last Chance For Civilization
By Bill McKibben

All of a sudden it isn't morning in America, it's dusk on planet Earth. There's a number -- a new number -- that makes this point most powerfully. It may now be the most important number on Earth: 350. As in parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

30 April, 2008

Another American War–Look Out Earth
By Jim Miles

Without a greater awareness of all the relationships between global warming as a symptom, and environmental over-consumption and over population as the underlying cause, an American “war on global warming” is sure to be another fiasco

29 April, 2008

Climate Change Could Force One Billion
From Their Homes By 2050
By Nigel Morris

As many as one billion people could lose their homes by 2050 because of the devastating impact of global warming, scientists and political leaders will be warned today. They will hear that the steady rise in temperatures across the planet could trigger mass migration on unprecedented levels

18 April, 2008

Hansen's Climate Change And
The Mobilization Solution
By Bill Henderson

Mobilization nationally and globally. And practically such mobilization governance innovation must begin and be led by the US, the world's foremost economic and political power. This essay will explore this possible solution: this radical but compelling vision of all of our futures, our immediate futures. Mobilization first and foremost to get us below 350 ppm before the polar ice melts completely

15 April, 2008

Jim Hansen, The Big Ice Melt
And The Mainstream Media
By Bill Henderson

Thousands of mainstream media articles and commentaries on TV, in newspapers and magazines, inform about climate change Scenario A, but there has been minimal, almost nonexistent mainstream coverage of Scenario B even though its main proponents - James Hansen and his NASA climate science team - have released several papers explaining this nonlinear vision of climate change focusing upon the unpredicted rapid melting of the polar ice caps

04 April, 2008

Wanted - Homes For Small Island People
By Marwaan Macan-Markar

A rapidly warming planet may soon create a new class of refugees -- those fleeing climate change in their homelands

28 March, 2008

Lights Out, Action! It’s Earth Hour
By Stephen de Tarczynski

Organisers of Earth Hour 2008 estimate that in excess of 30 million people worldwide will take action on Saturday to raise awareness of how small changes can make big differences when it comes to climate change

26 March, 2008

Antarctic Shelf 'Hangs By Thread'
By Helen Briggs

A chunk of ice the size of the Isle of Man has started to break away from Antarctica in what scientists say is further evidence of a warming climate. Satellite images suggest that part of the ice shelf is disintegrating, and will soon crumble away

21 March, 2008

Climate Change Deepening World Water Crisis
By Thalif Deen

When U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last January, his primary focus was not on the impending global economic recession but on the world’s growing water crisis

Climate Change Requires Herculean Effort
By Karen Mccall

Having just returned from an alternative energy/climate change symposium presented by the Wallace Stegner Center for Land Resources and the Environment at the University of Utah, I find myself reeling with the most current information concerning the precipitous decline of climate stability and the magnitude of effort required to prevent the planet from being knocked any further off kilter by human perturbation of the Earth's climate

19 March, 2008

Arctic Losing Long-Term Ice Cover
By Richard Black

The Arctic is losing its old, thick ice faster than in previous years, according to satellite data. The loss has continued since the end of the Arctic summer, despite cold weather across the northern hemisphere. The warm 2007 summer saw the smallest area of ice ever recorded in the region, and scientists say 2008 could follow a similar pattern

18 March, 2008

A Glacial Vanishing Act
By Stephen Leahy

Glaciers, the world's freshwater towers, continue their record-breaking meltdown, a new U.N. report shows. The average rate of thinning and melting more than doubled between 2004 and 2006, reports the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS), a centre based at the University of Zurich in Switzerland

28 February, 2008

The Global Water Crisis And The Coming
Battle For The Right To Water
By Maude Barlow

The three water crises – dwindling freshwater supplies, inequitable access to water and the corporate control of water – pose the greatest threat of our time to the planet and to our survival. Together with impending climate change from fossil fuel emissions, the water crises impose some life-or-death decisions on us all. Unless we collectively change our behavior, we are heading toward a world of deepening conflict and potential wars over the dwindling supplies of freshwater

21 February, 2008

The Recession's Human And Environmental Impacts
By Emily Spence

The coalescence of a recession, mounting population, peak oil, mass extinction, urgent water shortages, climate change and other disastrous environmental impacts challenge us to take immediate action. Our doing so need not be disastrous if we collectively begin to make the essential changes on the scale needed. If we do not, the results could likely be catastrophic on a scope barely imagined by any of us. With firm resolve, let us all begin to undertake the critical modifications at once

Climate Code Red - The New Denial
And The Failure Of Democracy
By Bill Henderson

A new report based upon state of the art science argues convincingly that climate change is a much more serious and immediate problem than previously perceived by even informed publics - climate change is an emergency that requires urgent mitigation measures not presently possible in our political and economic systems. No major media outlet acknowledges let alone critiques or comments upon or otherwise covers the report

12 February, 2008

Global Warming Contrarians Exposed -
Must See Free Video
By Denny Burbeck

An extremely informative, in-depth account of four of the major global warming "confusionists" is available free-online

11 February, 2008

Huge Polar Ice Loss Demands Global
Declaration Of Climate Emergency
By Dr Gideon Polya

The World urgently needs a Declaration of Climate Emergency to meet the huge threat from accelerating and catastrophic polar ice melting. Climate scientists have recently discovered that the rate of polar ice loss is accelerating unexpectedly and that the current atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) has reached a tipping point for complete loss of Arctic sea ice in as little as 5 years

Climate Code Red And The Crucial 08 Election
By Bill Henderson

Climate Code Red is a pdf that takes about an hour to read. More important than Stern, more up to date than last years IPCC reports, it should be front page news globally, but of course it isn't because, heretically, it is brutally honest about the scale of mitigation necessary and the need to escape BAU. What can we do? This is an emergenc

08 February, 2008

Biofuels Make Climate Change Worse
By Steve Connor

Scientists have produced damning evidence to suggest that biofuels could be one of the biggest environmental con-tricks because they actually make global warming worse by adding to the man-made emissions of carbon dioxide that they are supposed to curb. Two separate studies published in the journal Science show that a range of biofuel crops now being grown to produce "green" alternatives to oil-based fossil fuels release far more carbon dioxide into the air than can be absorbed by the growing plants

21 January, 2008

Global Warming - Stop Arguing - Take Action Now
By Ron Campbell

As mankind faces the most dramatic natural disaster in history we are squabbling instead of taking action. We need to stop arguing, come up with a plan and take action NOW

18 January, 2008

Tourism At The End Of The World
By Stephen Leahy

Hurry! Hurry! See the polar bears, penguins, Arctic glaciers, small pacific islands before they disappear forever due to global warming.Tourism companies are now using climate change as a marketing tool

14 January, 2008

Economic Collapse And Global Ecology
By Dr. Glen Barry

Given widespread failure to pursue policies sufficient to reverse deterioration of the biosphere and avoid ecological collapse, the best we can hope for may be that the growth-based economic system crashes sooner rather than later

Loss Of Antarctic Ice Has Soared
By 75 Per Cent In Just 10 Years
By Steve Connor

Parts of the ice sheets covering Antarctica are melting faster than predicted, with the net loss of ice probably accelerating in recent years because of global warming, a study has found

Enemies From Within: Big Enviro Groups
Holding Back Anti-Warming Movement
By Megan Tady

The heat is on environmental groups and politicians to churn out proposals for stabilizing the planet’s rising temperatures, but some environmentalists say existing plans to cool climate change are timid. Their criticism reveals a rift between two approaches: preserving the American way of life at the expense of quicker solutions, or changing the structure of U.S. society to counter an unprecedented threat

10 January, 2008

The Antarctic Ice Sheet Is Growing?
By Denny Burbeck

The Antarctic ice sheet is growing in height in the central region, but making just that one point is very misleading and quite dishonest

07 January, 2008

Disappearing World: The Village Falling Into The Sea
By Mark Hughes

Skipsea is disappearing fast. It sits on the fastest-eroding coastline in Europe and every year the sea swallows another chunk of land. Mark Hughes visits the people living on the edge

05 January, 2008

Time To Stop The Greenwashing
By Glen Barry

Global ecological sustainability depends upon identifying and acting upon ambitious, sufficient eco-policies now; and rejecting misleading, exploitative and inadequate reformist pandering

02 January, 2008

The 08 Challenge
By Bill Henderson

If you understand that climate change is an emergency then the challenge in 08 becomes winning a mandate for almost impossible systemic change in a United States still in ideological thrall to failing markets

DHRUV SENGAR

WELCOME FRIENDS

Hello Friends. Before I start telling you about me, I would like to make one thing very clear....... No, it’s not about George Clooney having another crush or Britney Spears heading for a two month holiday package to rehab. It’s something that involves more than me to it. Apart from this blog being a window to channelise my thoughts and views, to be put on a platter and served for you to churn upon, this blog will be a window to visualize the future……… A future saturated with people who have lost hope in the world, in themselves; those who shall scorn at the very basis of humanity itself. Let us all hope that such a case does not arise.
But hope alone will never bring us results. Saying this, I believe that all of you shall join me with what I seek…….as I speak thousands die, weep and burn within for being torn apart from their homelands for something they were never destined for. Indeed climate change has evolved as one of the most critical problem mankind is facing today, and will continue to do so if we don’t take it very seriously.
Well, apart from this, expect my blog to give you more than the maximum. And hey, don’t forget to check out these links down here. So, go on and explore my space a bit, and I guarantee you some real eye openers. Keep watching this place.

THE BITTER TRUTH

We live in a world where emissions from our refrigerators have caused the ozone layer to evaporate and we’ll get skin cancer if we sunbathe. If that not a science fiction scenario, I don’t know what is……….
Those with a taste of irony would find these words aptly fitting the current status of drastically changing climatic patterns our country is witnessing. Pollution is the epidemic that has affected life on a global scale.
Scientific evidence is clear with surface temperatures on earth warming at a pace that signals a decisive shift in the global climate, one expects to witness variations in the cycles of cooling and warming more rapidly than before.
India’s main environmental concern is its growing population, which is expected to increase TO 1.8 billion by the year 2050. In order to feed so large a population, more ground water resources will be needed to irrigate crops, increasing the risk of poor soil quality due to salinization. In recent times, several studies across the globe have shown that changing climatic patterns would have a deep impact on the existing fresh water resource availability.
But demands for resources do not end here; from increasing demands for fuel wood, food and clothing, the list seems endless. And this ultimately results in exceeding pressure on the existing and exploited resources.
In order to meet such demands, our natural forest cover is at stake. A survey done by the Central Government of India clearly shows that the farmers of our country would at least have to double their productive outcome so as to meet the rising demands. As assumed, this would again lead to excessive use of fertilizers and clearing of forest. Expanding agrarian population has also affected wild life.
Thousands of plant species, both rare and useful are on the verge of extinction. Wetlands cover about 18% of our land cover, but most of them are under rice-paddy cultivation.
Another environmental issue that has gained heat is global worming. And one of the greatest reasons for its birth is humanity itself. Earth is hospitable to life because its atmosphere works like a green house, retaining enough of Sun’s heat to allow plants and animals to exist. This natural climate system depends upon the presence of certain gases- most importantly Carbon dioxide. However, the system’s stability has been jolted. Hiked atmospheric carbon dioxide has broken all records, taking shape of a crisis.
Even a future cut of emissions would witness a rise in the temperature by approximately 2 degree Celsius over the next century. If carbon dioxide emissions are not reduced, temperature could increase by 5 degree Celsius or more.
Effects of global warming are prevalent all over India. Increasing precipitation in high latitude regions, frequent flooding, increasing draught and declining water supply are all symptoms of this phenomenon.
Lakshwadeep, comprising tiny low lying islands are at the risk of being inundated by sea level rises associated with global warming. Increase cyclonic activity, and changes in ambient temperature and precipitation have impacted or are projected to impact India.
Ongoing sea level rises have lead to submerging several portions of the Sunder bans. Temperature rises on the Tibetan Plateau are causing Himalayan Glaciers to retreat, thus reducing the flow of the Ganges, Bhramaputra, Yamuna and other rivers. According to a 2007 WWF Report, the river Indus would soon dry off. “So is the case with Ganga”, say Glaciologist in Delhi.
Climate changed has also affected the Indian economy. The Indira Gandhi Institute of Development and Research claim that if the predictions relating to global warming come to fruiting, climate related factors could cause India’s GDP to decline by up to 9%. Contributing to this would be shifting global seasons for major crops such as rice, production of which could fall by 40%.
Changes in the hydrological cycle accompanied by coral bleaching has reduced the effectively of ocean carbon dioxide sinks by about 15%.
What would accompany the tropic and sub tropical regions of India in the coming decades is increased illness and death rate, followed by an epidemic spread of malaria (guarantees WHO).
The best way to avoid all such problems would be to create a general awareness among the people belonging to various strata of the society.
For such an awareness we need to stress upon educating and employing this knowledge on a qualitative pattern even if the quantitative outlook is ignored to some extent. What would be most helpful is a Hand on Environmental learning programme targeted mainly for the youth of today so that they can learn about scientific protocol and perform environmental learning activities which they have already been introduced to in theory.
Formation of Eco Clubs by various non governmental organizations to promote environmental protection and public health is needed. Most importantly one must stress upon an effective database taken from time to time which would help us to understand an exponentially increase our success rate for growth potential.
Moreover, on an individual level for proper management of resources, one must follow the formula of the four R’s i.e. Refuse, Reuse, Recycle and Reduce production of waste.
Scientist are warning that if we fail to cut emissions, the future will be hard for people who live in areas like Jagatsingpur, Anantapur, Jhalavar and Raipur; were one lives on the margins.
They did not cause the climate problem- but they are likely to suffer the most from it. We must act fast or all that would remain for us would be concrete and tyres.

ARISE AND AWAKE

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DEEP WITHIN