Earth Hour 2013 Official Video

Earth Hour News: A message from our Global Ambassador Miranda Kerr

Earth Hour News: A message from our Global Ambassador Miranda Kerr: "I am pleased to have been asked to be the global ambassador for Earth Hour 2011. Each of us has a responsibility for the sustainability of..."

1billionhungry.org

Dear GREEN Friends, join your hands against hunger. Thanks. 1billionhungry.org

'They can bend me, but they can't break me'- Hindustan Times

'They can bend me, but they can't break me'- Hindustan Times

GRASSLAND

Grasses possess "KRANTZ ANATOMY" in their leaves and have "C-4 CARBON FIXATION CYCLE". C-4 cycle is environment friendly coz unlike C-3 cycle, C-4 cycle RE-FIX the carbon di-oxide. In this way grasslands are able to cope with CLIMATE CHANGE. THUS, WE MUST PRESERVE THESE LANDS.

Glacier melt date hot air, Pachauri faces the heat

PLEASE SHARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE. Glacier melt date hot air, Pachauri faces the heat

GIFT DONATIONS TO "GREEN BELT MOVEMENT" FOR EARTH'S SAFETY.

GREEN BELT MOVEMENT is an important movement for the safety of environment( www.greenbeltmovement.org ). This movement is run by great environmentalist and Nobel prize winner MADAM WANGARI MAATHAI. Her devotion and dedication towards NATURE is EXCELLENT. This is our duty to support this great movement. WORLD CITIZENS must come forward to support this movement and gift donations to this NGO for the cause of survival of life on BLUE PLANET.

One Day With Nature: Climate Change. http://www.blogactionday.org

http://www.twitter.com/prabhatmisra

One Day With Nature: Climate Change. http://www.blogactionday.org

www.blogactionday.org

Climate Change. http://www.blogactionday.org

This article is in relation to "Blog Action Day". Climate change is the fluctuations in the patterns of climate over long periods of time. The evidences like fossil records, topography, history, meteorology and geology shows changes in the climate of 'blue planet'.
The current problem of 'climate change' is due to GLOBAL WARMING which in turn is the result of our past discovery of 'STEAM POWER' and 'FOSSIL FUELS' at the advent of INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. At that time, the policy makers, scientists and engineers did not judge the fate and impact of that industrial revolution. Now, the current generation of flora and fauna are facing the survival problem due to harmfull impact of GHG's.
UNIPCC2007 report has predicted dark future of the earth. The EARTH POLES will become more warmer which will result into rise in sea water level. Due to rise in sea water level, the massive human and economic dislocation in low-lying areas around the world will result. In tropical regions desertification and drought will increase while in temperate regions more rainfall is expected. Thus, global cropping pattern will change and will result into fall in agriculture production.
The main GHG responsible for climate change is carbon dioxide. The life time of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is more than 100 years. The other gases responsible for climate change are: methane, nitrous oxide and chloro-flouro-carbon. The high concentration of these gases trap more infra-red radiation and remitted back to earth's surface resulting in global warming.
Developed countries are the most emitter of GHG's and developing nations are the least emitter. All the countries of the world community are facing the same climate change and global warming problem, whether least emitter or most emitter nations. Whole world community wants the solution of climate change. Here are few suggestions, which needed urgent attention. These are:1. There should be a WORLD COMMISSION FOR SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT for promoting the researches and developmental works which have zero to low carbon emission.2. There should a compulsory constitutional amendment to make ENVIRONMENTAL WAY OF LIFESTYLE a compulsory duty.3. Our investment in R & D should be more on the forthcoming areas like solar, tidal, wind and water energies apart from on lowering carbon emission.4. There should be a big role for N.G.Os. in implementing the plans & projects of government.5. There should be effective programmes, at grass root level to save the environment from degradation, such as RED TAPE and GREEN VILLAGE .6. This should be the primary duty of DEVELOPED nations to provide financial help and green technology transfer to help DEVELOPING nations in phasing-out the fossil fuels.7. Carbon caping should not be the one way legislation programme against developing nations; this may cause economic recession in developing world.If we will consider the above points in COPENHAGEN SUMMIT09, then it will be better for the formation of a low carbon society.
Finally, we should remember the words from the speech of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then P.M. of India, said at UN conference on environment on June, 1972 at Stockholm. She said," MODERN MAN MUST RE-ESTABLISH AN UNBROKEN LINK WITH NATURE AND WITH LIFE." [ Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India. ]

Norman Borlaug- Father of Green Revolution

On 12th September 2009, the Great International Scientist NORMAN BORLAUG died due to cancer in USA. He was a true definition of PEACE and HUMANITY on this planet. He saved lives of hundreds of millions of people from hunger. This great scientist was born on 25.03.1914 in USA. He done his Ph. D. in plant pathology under Dr. Elvin Stakman, from Minnesota University, USA, in 1942. In 1964 he developed the semi-dwarf high-yielding, disease resistant wheat varieties in Mexico which SAVED lives of hundreds of millions of people from hunger. He came India on the invitation of government of India and started green revolution program from Punjab province. This 'FATHER OF GREEN REVOLUTION' was awarded NOBEL PEACE PRIZE on 10th December 1970 [ the ONLY agricultural scientist ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize ]. He saved more humal lives than any other person in world history. In 1986 he established 'WORLD FOOD PRIZE' and the FIRST prize was awarded to the 'Father of Green Revolution in India' Dr. M.S. Swaminathan. On 17th July 2007 the USA's highest civilian award, the CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL, was awarded to him. He is no more with us but his GREAT research works will always play the important role in saving the life of poors; HE WAS THE HUMAN GOD FOR THE POORS and HUNGRY PEOPLE. [ Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India ]

ARTIFICIAL TREES: to decarbonise the global economy

Green trees convert 1%-5% of the solar energy reaching the ground into chemical energy; it is in turn used in building up the plant body, in their metabolism and in gaining their organic biomass. This is done with the help of unique phenomenon of PHOTOSYNTHESIS. It is this process which is NATURALLY controlling the GLOBAL WARMING. But due to continuous cutting of trees and uncontrolled URBANISATION and INDUSTRIALISATION the problem of global warming become very serious. Many scientists calculated that the problem will be inevitable after few decades, if no immediate effective actions are taken. To tackle with this problem the scientists are developing the prototype of 'ARTIFICIAL TREES' by using geo-engineering technologies. Such artificial trees will have the size of a shipping container and will remove thousands of times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than an equivalent sized real tree; this may contain 'algae based photobioreactors'. So, these will be our future trees to save our future. [Prabhat Misra]

Road To Low Carbon Society In Copenhagen

There are less than hundred days remaining for the Copenhagen Summit, to be held in December 2009 at Copenhagen. Much has been written to low carbon footprinting but the excellent article is by Mr. David Miliband, [Foreign Secretary, U.K.] on his FCO Blog [ http://www.blogs.fco.gov.uk/miliband/act_on_copenhagen ]. Another great effort is from Mr. Ed Miliband. Now the question arises that what more can be done for the future to reduce the carbon emission. Here are few suggestions, which needed urgent attention. These are:
1. There should be a WORLD COMMISSION FOR SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT for promoting the researches and developmental works which have zero to low carbon emission.
2. There should a compulsory constitutional amendment to make ENVIRONMENTAL WAY OF LIFESTYLE a compulsory duty.
3. Our investment in R & D should be more on the forthcoming areas like solar, tidal, wind and water energies apart from on lowering carbon emission.
4. There should be a big role for N.G.Os. in implementing the plans & projects of government.
5. There should be effective programmes, at grass root level to save the environment from degradation, such as RED TAPE and GREEN VILLAGE [ http://www.blogs.fco.gov.uk/miliband/act_on_copenhagen ].
6. This should be the primary duty of DEVELOPED nations to provide financial help and green technology transfer to help DEVELOPING nations in phasing-out the fossil fuels.
7. Carbon caping should not be the one way legislation programme against developing nations; this may cause economic recession in developing world.
If we will consider the above points in COPENHAGEN SUMMIT09, then it will be better for the formation of a low carbon society. [Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India]

Green Cement: thanks to NOVACEM.

A British start-up company, NOVACEM, has developed a cement which has low carbon footprint [ Reuters.com , dated06.08.09 ] . This cement has negative carbon footprint of 0.6 tonnes per tonne of standard cement. The conventional Portland cement is responsible for an estimated 5 percent of global carbon di-oxide emissions; this is more than the aviation industry.
In conventional method, the essential costituents of cement are the limestone, silica and alumina. During manufacturing process when reactions take place in rotary kiln, in average temperature zone [ 800-1000 degree Celsius ], the limestone, decomposes into lime and carbon di-oxide. Thus, this stage is the main emitter of carbon di-oxide. Novacem used a new technique; this is, to make cement from magnesium silicates rather than limestone coz this material does not emit carbon di-oxide in manufacture and absorbs the carbon di-oxide as it ages. Novacem estimates that for every ton of Portland cement replaced by its product, around three-quarters of a ton of carbon di-oxide is saved. This technology breakthrough by Novacem will definately turn the cement industry to a big absorber of carbon from a big emitter. Thank you NOVACEM. [ Prabhat Misra ]

Superbug: solution to the oil pollution.

Over 10 million metric tons of petro-pollutants enter the sea ecosystem each year and killing birds, shell fish, fishes, invertibrates and other sea animals and planktons. This poses more adverse effect on marine life and food chain.

To solve the problem of sea petro-pollution, the Indian-born American scientist, Dr. Anand Mohan Chakravarty succeded in producing a microbacterial SUPERBUG by genetically engineered strain of Pseudomonas putida. It is capable of utilising complex chemical compounds like hydrocarbons. It is also called oil eating bug.

Petro-products, including oils, genrally contains octane, xylene, camphor and naphthalene. No single strain of P. putida is able to digest all these four petro-chemical; for this needed four strains of P. putida with four different plasmid DNA's. Dr. Anand introduced four plasmid DNA's from four different strains into one single cell of Pseudomonas putida and formed a SUPERBUG.

Pseudomonas is an aerobic and gram-negative bacterium belongs to Pseudomonadaceae family of bacteria. P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescens are fluorescent pigment forming bacteria.

This superbug utilise a number of toxic chemicals like chlorobenzenes, 2.4-D, 2.4.5-T, and petro-chemicals like octane, camphor, etc. This discovery of superbug really open the door for checking oil-pollution in seas. [ Prabhat Misra ].

Thanks for accepting my comment.

Thanks Mr. Miliband Sir, for accepting my comment on your blog's article ' Some Good News ' at address: http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/miliband/entry/some_good_news . [ Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India ].

Global Warming- is there any remedy?

Global warming is the result of ' green house effect ' due to release of industrial gases into the atmosphere. Most of the gases are the result of combustion of carbon based fuels. These gases are mainly, carbon di-oxide, methane, CFC, ozone and nitrous oxide. Among these gases carbon di-oxide is the biggest contributor in global warming. These gases trap the solar energy as well as infra-red radiation which in return increase the earth temperature.
With the advent of industrial revolution in 19th century and population explosion the problem of global warming has taken the alarming position. Due to exponential growth of Homo sapiens, the world ecosystems are dangerously changing. Due to urbanisation, deforestation and industrialisation the problem of global warming is increasing day by day.
Today we are planning to stop green house gases emission and not planning to boost R & D for natural energy sources like solar, wind and tidal. Only by stopping fossil fuel gases, we can not check global warming upto required level. For checking global warming, we need to phase out carbon based energy by natural energy sources. [ Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India ]

Thanks to HELVETA.

The British company, HELVETA, has developed a BARCODING technology for the trees [ Reuters, 10.07.2009 ] . The barcodes to the trees will help in the fight against deforestation, illegal lodging, corruption and global warming. According to the company, every tree above a certain size in a plantation is given an individual barcode. When a tree is cut down, another barcode is attached to the stump. This barcoding is totally computer based so when the wood move through the supply chain, the government authorities can track woods and view computerised maps of forests on the database.
Such barcoding technology can help countries to stop billion of dollars illegal lodging and will save world forests as a part of the fight against global warming. World citizens should welcome this technology and thankful to the company for such environmentally friendly technology. [ Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India. ]

Deforestation of PHANEROPHYTES: alarm to the future.

Great ecologist Prof. C. Raunkaier, in his book, " The Life Form of Plants and Statistical Plant Geography [1934] " classified plants into six broad life-form categories, on the basis of the position of perennating buds on plants and degree of their protection during adverse conditions. These are:
1- Epiphytes- air plants;
2- Phanerophytes- aerial plants;
3- Chamaephytes- surface plants;
4- Hemi-cryptophytes- tussock plants;
5- Cryptophytes or Geophytes- earth plants;
6- Therophytes- annuals.
The majority of species which are governing the biodiversity, rain, human lives and earth's carbon balance are belonging to phanerophytes. They are prominent in tropical forests whereas therophytes belongs to deserts and alpine areas. It is said that a medium size phanerophyte absorb average one ton of carbon dioxide in its life. So, deforestation of these plants will be directly proportional to the global warming and biodiversity degradation. Increasing population density, urbanisation, industrialisation and per capita consumption are the main causes of deforestation. According to the data's from US department of energy, in 2004, G-8 nations are releasing maximum carbon dioxide in comparison to the developing nations. USA's per capita emission of carbon dioxide was 20.4 metric tonnes, Canada's 20 metric tonnes and between 6 to 10.5 metric tonnes for remaining G-8 nations. While India's per capita emission of carbon dioxide was 1.2 metric tonnes.
Due to this GLOBAL WARMING is increasing. This is resulting into disruption of monsoons and melting of Himalayan, Antarctic and Arctic glaciers. It has been warned by scientists that many glaciers of rivers including Ganga may melt before the end of 21st century. This will affects the lives of billions of people.
If we want to protect our biodiversity, glaciers, earth from warming, rivers and lives of billions of people then we should do afforestation of phanerophytes coz they absorb maximum carbon dioxide. [ Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, India ]

GODDESS YAMUNA OR POLLUTED YAMUNA

Yamuna river is worshiped as GODDESS by Indians since the beginning of human civilization on Indian continent. Yamuna is giving life to about 50 million people living along river banks. Yamuna has religious and historical importance.
But this river has become increasingly polluted in recent years. Sewage and industrial effluents discharged into the river without any proper treatment, are the main causes of pollution. It has been reported by Centre for Science and Environment [ 2007 ] that the Delhi area of the river is nearly dead and is overloaded by Coliform bacteria. Central Pollution Control Board [ CPCB ] has reported [ 2008 ] that the Biochemical Oxygen Denand [ B.O.D. ] load has increased by 13 percent over last year.
Yamuna pollution starts from the Tajewala area of Haryana. When Yamuna passes through the areas of Yamuna Nagar, Karnal and Panipat, it receive industrial and domestic effluents. This result into a major increase in B.O.D. to 17 mg/lt. The acceptable B.O.D. level for raw water meant for treatment is 3 g/lt.
Haryana's vast agricultural areas are also significant contributors of pollution coz this river passes through agricultural areas that uses pesticides in high amount. This makes leaching from these areas the serious source of pollution dangerous to the aquatic life.
From Haryana, Yamuna enters Delhi at Palla village. Delhi generates about 1900 million litre per day of sewage and industrial effluents. The other cities, apart from Delhi, contributing pollution in Yamuna are Mathura and Agra.
The industrial effluents discharging industries include paper, sugar, chemical, leather, distillery and pharmaceuticals etc.
In this way, the entire Yamuna river, right from its entry into Haryana to confluence with the Ganga river at Sangam in Allahabad, is subject to HUMAN ACTIVITIES. This has resulted into a polluted Yamuna fro Goddess Yamuna.
This polluted water of Yamuna is also the BIG SOURCE of pollution FOR GANGA river when high B.O.D. water of Yamuna CONFLUENCE with Ganga at Sangam.
Now, the question arises that what can we do to check the pollution in Yamuna river. The answer is NOT simple and easy but ther are some suggestions, which should be followed. These are :
- check pollution at its primary source by installing water treatment plants into polluting industrial units as well as in municipalities, before final discharge of effluents into Yamuna.
- regular peoples participation programmes, as a mission, to check the pollution and management of pollutants.
- protecting the catchment areas from chemical contamination by shifting to organic and biological farming methods and checking the use of pesticides.

Finally, we should remember the words from the speech of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then P.M. of India, said at UN coference on environment on June, 1972 at Stockholm. She said," MODERN MAN MUST RE-ESTABLISH AN UNBROKEN LINK WITH NATURE AND WITH LIFE." [ Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India. ]

Save Trees Save Life.

Due to continuous human activities, the HABITAT DESTRUCTION and POLLUTION are causing species extinctions, reduction in sizes of species and biodiversity. This is our environmental duty to make aware people about the forthcoming environmental dangers like oxygen and water scarcities, forests depletion, species extinctions and equally important GLOBAL WARMING. Only BROAD LEAVES TREES can save our future life coz these evolve maximum OXYGEN and absorb maximum CARBON DI OXIDE. They are also responsible for maximum rains and biodiversity. So, we should try to save our existing trees and making plantation for future forests. For saving existing trees, an unique mission has been launched in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh in India by me with the help of an N.G.O. named ' Swami Vivekanand Seva Sansthan', Etawah. The name of the mission is ' RED TAPE MOVEMENT'. Under this mission we go to the villages on SUNDAY and then we aware the villagers about the importance of trees and then with villagers we tie tree stems with RED TAPE to give the message that to cut a tree is dangerous for our survival. Such types of missions/ movements can bring change and make our future a brighter future.
Prabhat Misra
District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India

One Day With Nature

Dear friends,
This is my first blog. All of you are hearty welcome, here. This blog is for those who love NATURE and are doing scientific activities to CONSERVE the NATURE and it's DIVERSITY. Your ONE DAY WITH NATURE can change the polluted world in to SAFER WORLD.
THANKS
Prabhat Misra
District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India