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
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.
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.
