Sunday 30 March 2014

EARTH HOUR: Celebrating Darkness for Future Brightness


                                                                                   
Now-a-days it has become quite a trend to discuss about Environmental issues. Be it technical, social, academic, and even commercial and economical, fraternity from all the above spheres and more are coerced not only to consider the issues of Environment, but to act towards solving those issues. Environment has now taken the centre stage amongst the masses. And it arouses both concern and a sense of responsibility amongst the public notion. Rightly so too, because our Environment has never been so gravely threatened as it is now. It’s not simply about air pollution, water pollution; Environmental issues have now crossed International boundaries. Be it Global Warming or frequent climate disparages. Threat to environment is now considered a threat to not only humans and animals but a threat to Life.
            
Many concerned people are actively participating in invoking steps to safeguard our Environment. People from all social strata and all hemispheres are joining hands against saving our Earth from destruction.  Many innovative steps are being taken to spread awareness amongst masses regarding environment. One such step is Earth Hour.
            
Earth Hour’s was first celebrated on 31st March 2007 in Sydney Australia. It was started by WWF-Australia with the aim to spread a message amongst masses that even a small change in our day-to-day lifestyle may bring about a lot change in the environment. Many time, people are flabbergasted by the enormity of the issues related to environment, to some it may even sound almost impossible to follow measures to safeguard environment. In order to make the notion of safeguarding environment simpler, and to reach to maximum people to contribute, Earth Hour seems to be an effective step. And from its inception in 2007, Earth Hour has become a really successful annual event. In 2013 only, more than 154 countries and 7002 cities pledged to switch off as many unwanted lights. The list goes on if we actually keep a tab. Many may ask how switching off light for only one hour can can contribute to environment. In 2013 only, India switching off light in 54 cities in Earth Hour saved 1000MW of electricity. To produce 1000 MW electricity,   approximately 3000 ton of fuel is burnt to vaporize 5096 liters of water. This is just a gross estimate; the actual value can actually increase. So we can guess how a small step of switching off light for 60minute can be helpful for the environment.
            
Earth hour doesn’t mean complete black out. It’s more a symbolic step, which seeks to bring about awareness among the masses that even a small step like switching off the light of a room before exiting, can actually impact on the environment. This event’s all about the awareness amongst people which is much required because safeguarding our environment is not a mammoth task, all it requires is a genuine will and step by step action towards issues in micro level. It is as much the responsibility of individuals as it is the responsibility of big industries and corporate houses.
            
If you really want to contribute to safeguard the Environment, start from your own house or office. Save energy, save water, save papers, save trees. These small contributions do matter for our Environment. Earth Hour represents this philosophy. Let’s turn the inspiration of an hour to action for our every hour. Switch Off your lights and enjoy the darkness!!!


 By: Debasis Ray 
1st Year M.Sc.(Tech)

Saturday 29 March 2014

Earth Hour celebration in RGSC,BHU by Students and Members of Eco1 BHU Club

                         
Students during Earth Hour Celebration
Earth Hour 2014 was celebrated in the Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Banaras Hindu University (RGSC, BHU) with much zealous and pompous way. Students gladly participated in celebrating this hour (8:30PM - 9:30PM). They gladly switched of all the lights of their room. Even though exams lurking before them, students didn't hesitate to participate.

Lights in all hostels of RGSC BHU were switched off. Students went out of their rooms and gathered in front of their hostels to show their unity and willingness to participate and celebrate the earth hour. During this, students taken oath of doing this in future for saving energy.

Oath ceremony for Earth Hour 


This step of the students of RGSC BHU only reaffirms their pledge to make their campus not only Zero Waste, Clean Campus but also Energy Efficient Campus. The events were initiated and coordinated by members of Eco1 BHU club. In making this campaign successful, all students from different departments of RGSC BHU taken part enthusiastically.  




Thursday 20 March 2014

Students of RGSC sent Petition to Ministry of Enviornment and Forests against proposed Thermal Power Plant near the campus

The concerns regarding the impact of proposed thermal power plant by M/s Welspun Energy from the Rajiv Gandhi South Campus is now becoming larger. After the Registrar, Banaras Hindu University wrote to Ministry of Environment and Forests in September, 2013 - more than 550 students of the South campus sent a petition alleging the company on issues as follows:

1. The Public Hearing was not communicated to us and hence, we could not register our objections.


2. The EIA report has no mention about the BHU South Campus despite the fact that it lies within 10 Km of the project site and no impacts of the project on the university campus is been discussed.

3. Whereas, the Upper Khajuri dam is to be used and 40,00,000 liters of water is to be pumped, there is no mention of the river Khajuri and the impacts on this river due to the proposed thermal power plant. Company has also mentioned about filling up the Upper Khajuri dam with water from Ganges. There is no doubt that all these activities will danger the existence and water quality of the river but the Lower Khajuri dam is also under great danger as our drinking water supply is from Lower Khajuri dam. Wyndham fall and Kharanja fall are integral part of the River Khajuri and Upper Khajuri dam is the source of the river, impact on which finds no mention in the EIA report.

Apart from being a tourist place-Khajuri River, Wyndham fall and Kharanja fall is an important part of the culture and life of the students of BHU South Campus. We visit the places very frequently and has been taking care of these water falls including its cleanliness with Forest Department. Hence, we won't tolerate any kind of alteration to the river source and its quality.

Official email was sent on March 10th, 2014 and the hard copy was being submitted at Ministry's office in Delhi today. Following is the receipt of the letter:






The petition can be downloaded from the following link

For all EIA related documents, representations and reports regarding the proposed thermal power plant one can download them from www.vindhyabachao.org/welspun

Saturday 8 March 2014

ECOMANIA 2014

The last date of submission of your entries has been extended to 10th March, 2014.

SHOW THE CREATIVITY INSIDE YOU!

It is to inform that there would be several competitions to be organized by Eco One which are described as follows:

1. POWER OF WORDS (Slogan Writing)

2. DRISHYA DISHA (PAINTING/SKETCHING Competition)

3. SHOOT IT! (Free Photography Competition)

4. KABAAD SE JUGAAD (Best Out of Waste Competition)

5. SCRIBBLE YOUR THOUGHTS (ARTICLE/POETRY Competition)

The entries for Painting/Sketching and Best Out of Waste shall be submitted to Hostel Ambassadors. For the contact list of Hostel Ambassadors please visit the 'Reach Us' page. 


Sunday 2 March 2014

ECOMANIA 2014

ECOMANIA 2014

SHOW THE CREATIVITY INSIDE YOU!

It is to inform that there would be several competitions to be organized by Eco One which are described as follows:

1. POWER OF WORDS (Slogan Writing)

2. DRISHYA DISHA (PAINTING/SKETCHING Competition)

3. SHOOT IT! (Free Photography Competition)

4. KABAAD SE JUGAAD (Best Out of Waste Competition)

5. SCRIBBLE YOUR THOUGHTS (ARTICLE/POETRY Competition)

The entries for Painting/Sketching and Best Out of Waste shall be submitted to Hostel Ambassadors. For the contact list of Hostel Ambassadors please visit the 'Reach Us' page. 

The last date to submit your entries is 8th March, 2014.



Judgement

The judgement for best entries would be done by a committee constituting Wardens, Teaching staff and any other persons appointed by Eco One Management Council. The decision of judges would be final. The entries once submitted to Eco One would be property of Eco One and can be used for useful purposes giving due credit.