Beat the Plastic Pollution- World Env Day 2023

#BeatPlasticPollution is the theme for World Environment Day 2023. Steered by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the theme changes every year and addresses a topical issue concerning the environment.

Plastics are harmful and take hundreds of years to degrade in a landfill. According to Biodiversity.org, "Unfortunately, the bags don't break down completely but instead photo-degrade, becoming microplastics that absorb toxins and continue to pollute the environment." 

Plastics contain toxic chemicals. According to Geneva Environment Network, "These include endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are linked to infertility, obesity, diabetes, prostate or breast cancer, thyroid problems and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, among others." And the list of diseases goes on.

So another World Environment Day is here. Once again we urge every citizen to take care of the environment around you. Be it your home, school, college, residential complex or the trees and plants in your neighbourhood. If we keep the environment clean and green, half the battle is won. Otherwise, we will loose the species that make up the environment. We will only see the birds or animals in the books! 

We pose the following questions to provoke us.

The above pictures are also available as a short 1min 30 sec video.

Ghumakkad has been writing regularly to preserve the environment. Some of our stories are listed below. Just click the link to browse.

Only One Earth - World Env Day 2022

Reimagine, Recreate Restore - How to restore the environment? World Env Day 2021

Mutualism by Nature - how few species are dependent upon one another

Shrinking Urban Lakes- Impending Disaster

What Can We Do? - Practical things to do by individuals

As we said above, 'Together We Can!' Let us do our bit to save the environment. Every drop counts in this effort. The above links provide practical ways what each of us can do to save the environment. The readers may also visit www.jaagore.com for an excellent video message on climate change. 

We reproduce a PQ based on Ratan Tata's famous line 'I've often felt that the Indian Tiger has not been unleashed.'

Thanks for browsing.

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/ Secunderabad/ 5th June 2023

#worldenvironmentday #environment #earth #pollution #deforestation #lakes #trees #plants #birds #animals #responsiblehumanbeings #humangreed #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb #beatplasticpollution #jaagore #climatechange #unep

Even Plants Avoid Plastics

Are the plants and creepers more intelligent than us human beings?
Do they care more about the environment? 
Do creepers know how to avoid plastics?
The answer to all is yes.

Ghumakkad made this observation in his yard. To let the Karela करेला (Bitter Gourd) creeper climb up, we tied a small twine made of plastic. The creeper initially used the plastic twine to take a grip, albeit slowly and probably reluctantly. As it grew further, it bent sideways to find a natural grip of a branch or a leaf. And it succeeded. One step at a time. Read the picture story below.

If only we humans could be as discerning and intelligent as tiny plants and creepers, we could save our planet from ecological abuse and degradation.

Karela creeper had figured earlier in another story titled Jewel Bug. You may browse to marvel at Nature's another marvel. The bug had settled on a Karela leaf as shown below.

Nature continues to fascinate Ghumakkad. Does it fascinate you too?

Thanks for browsing.

     -  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 28th March 2019

#nature #ecology #plants #creepers #plastics #environment #degradation #karela #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #jewelbug

World Earth Day 2013

_________________________ World Earth Day 2013 __________________________

Today is 22nd April, World Earth Day. To generate awareness about our environment and the need to preserve it.

My take is that environment is an asset which we have borrowed from our children. We have no right to degrade it. We should hand it over back to them in a better shape than what we inherited. Are we doing so? The answer is an emphatic no! We have denuded forests, polluted the rivers/lakes, discharged poison into the soil, killed tigers/ other animals and caused global warming!

What can we do? Many many small things like:

• Avoid use of plastics
• Recycle paper and kitchen waste (gives you vermi compost at home)
• Let rain water re-charge soil around your house/apartment.
• Use solar energy for water heating and emergency lighting

These measures do not require big investment. Just do it!

Take a pledge.

Remember, every person counts. So, get going.

We can count on you!

  Ghumakkad Harsh/ 22nd April 2013

__________________ Let us preserve the environment _______________________