POTPOURRI

Kathmandu, Nepal (CNN) -- Nepal's cabinet met at the base of Everest on Friday to highlight the impact of climate change on the Himalayas and adopted a 10-point Everest Declaration.

"The Himalayas are important not only for the people of Nepal but for 1.3 billion people who depend on waters from the mountains for their livelihoods," said Nepal's Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal at the cabinet meeting broadcast live by state-owned Nepal Television.

Wearing oxygen masks and warm jackets, the cabinet met for about half an hour at Kala Patthar at an altitude of 5,242 meters surrounded by the world's highest mountains and glaciers.

The ministers flew in to Lukla, in the Everest region where the nearest airstrip is, a day earlier to acclimatize to the rarefied atmosphere of Kala Patthar. The cabinet met out in the open where tables had been set up. The ministers spoke through microphones because it was difficult to hear even over a short distance with the wind blowing.

Of the 27 cabinet ministers, 24 were present at the meeting and they were wearing blue sashes that said "Save the Himalayas."

The sun was shining bright during the meeting in the morning but in the afternoon fog descended and the wind grew fiercer.

Before they were airlifted by helicopters to Kala Patthar the ministers' health was checked to ensure they could withstand the high altitude and not suffer from acute mountain sickness because of the low amount of oxygen in the atmosphere at that altitude.

"This is a very important and historic meeting," Prime Minister Nepal said. The meeting comes ahead of the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen next week.

The Himalayas have an important role in the world's environmental balance, he added.

The melting of the glaciers in the mountains due to global warming would bring about a scarcity of water in the river systems in South Asia, affecting more than a billion people in Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China, according to various experts.

"But there has not been enough study to say exactly how much of the river water comes from the melting of the snow and ice in the mountains," said Ajay Dixit, a climate change expert from the Institute of Social and Environment Transition, a Kathmandu-based think tank. "Estimates vary between four to 10 percent."

Dixit, however, added that in specific areas in the mountains where people depend on the melting of specific glaciers for irrigation, the change in the snow system will affect livelihoods.

There has been an annual increase of temperature by 0.06 degrees Celsius over the past decade, according to a study conducted earlier this year by Dixit together with Oxford University. It it estimated that the temperature in Nepal could rise by as much as two Celsius by 2030.

Rainfall patterns have also been erratic and this affects the livelihoods of almost two thirds of Nepal's population of 28 million who depend on rain-fed agriculture.

"Various global circulation models show that precipitation could go down by 14 percent or increase by as much as 40 percent by 2030," Dixit told CNN.

Although the contribution of Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world, to carbon emissions is negligible, the poor and the marginalized bear the brunt of climate change, Prime Minister Nepal said at a press conference after the cabinet meeting.

The 10-point Everest Declaration the cabinet adopted includes increasing the protected area of Nepal's land from 20 percent to 25 percent, developing communities' capacity to cope with climate change and working together with other countries to mitigate the impact of global warming.

The declaration also supported developed countries' plans to contribute 1.5 percent of GDP to a climate fund and bring down greenhouse gases to pre-industrialization levels.

"The earth is our common abode," said Prime Minister Nepal. "To save the earth the biggest sacrifice is needed from nations producing large amounts of carbon."

COPENHAGEN CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT KICKSTARTS

Delegations from 192 countries are descending on Copenhagen for two weeks of talks aimed at paving the way for a new global treaty on climate change . 
The global average temperature has already risen by about 0.7C since pre-industrial times . The Greenhouse gases release is also on the high . Largely , the world is moving nowhere towards undoing the damage . 
Though a few attempts have been made to set things right but the outcome is ubiquitously unconcealed . Kyoto Protocol , for instance , extends to only a small set of countries and is set to receive a premature death in 2012 . This makes the Copenhagen Summit even the more important.
The reason this treaty is quintessential is that though some countries have already made the commitments but richer developing countries would be asked to restrain emission as a strategy embarking this treaty . Moreover developing countries will be discussing more economically viable ways of development . 
 BASIC ( Brazil, South Africa, India and China ) have put forward their expected set of protocols in the agreement . Other group of discordant countries have also held meets prior to the summit to even out their differences before the real deal gets underway .
UN is incessantly iterating that the head of the respective countries have never been as resolved as this time around about securing the deal . However so : How the resolve is going to be formulated is still to be seen . 

FIRST SOLAR POWERED PLANE TAKES-OFF.....

'SOLAR IMPULSE'  ,the first solar powered plane , takes off . The advancement in the technology field is warmly welcomed by environmentalists . It is being considered as a 'quick silver' initiative from the plane makers.

 The plane took-off in Duebendorf airport near Zurich . It is actually a prototype of 'Solar Impulse' , a pioneering bid to fly around the world on solar power  . The single-seater plane was powered by battery . It made a controlled 400 metre flight about one metre above the runway . Despite its wingspan of 63.40 metres it only weighs 1600 kilo-grammes . 

PROBING INTO THE PROBITY OF OUR G(REEN) QUOTIENT

Almost everyone seems to have a view about well-nigh everything . However what goes unquestioned is the self conscience . How often do we find ourselves indulged in an absurd or counterproductive discussion ? However still we are unwilling to address the thought necessisating issues even once . We say some politician is corrupt and some sportsman doper and some actor junkie but when do we put ourselves under scanner ?. Perhaps we are too interested  in minding other's business than ours . Not to mention our convenience's child policy adaption ; our direction only to be determined by the flow . We choose to find a convenient fall guy for a debacle's short term resolve rather than to fix it by allocating a remedial measure ; and at display is our short-sightedness in tackling problems for larger good . It's a DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD . Copy-n-Paste seems to be the perfect mantra as we drag ourselves onto this drama stage called 'world'. Acquired Taste philosophy is another attribute to our feather that is worth commending satirically , so as to say .

All said and done the one and only thing that gives us the edge is : "WE ARE STILL ALIVE" ; and there's absolutely no shying away from the fact . However the facts are only to be registered among the historical evidence , that once existed , later down the timeline. In order to make sure that we do not entirely become a part of this timeline and that we live a little longer , it's time to act now .

It's time when we stop complaining and start taking the accountability at least for our own actions. Surely ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY is not the right attitude in this precariously destined-to-be-doomed world , where each one of us is as associated as a DNA strand to the genes .

It will still be a 'lesson learnt in time' if resurrection is taken as an option , especially when it is the only option or rather the only-way-out .  Our hopes are pinned on our own choice ; this is something that luck does not make available too often . We have to make the choice of our SURVIVAL or EXTINCTION .
However it's not as simple as it seems . It would require a severe introspection , to go deep within and analyze the roots , from each one of us . For it we'll have to probe into the probity of our G(reen) Quotient and come up with a GREENNOVATING plan of action .

Those Who Did It And Are Still Very Much In The Game.....

Considering the suggestions posted by the blog readers , that the blog must have a word of encouragement and also , that the need for the positive note to be addressed , this post is dedicated to those who have done their bit in restoring environment :

Mohammad Nasheed
In May 2009, Nasheed was presented with Coral Cultivation Initiative Award by Huvafen Fushi Resort and Underwater Spa, Maldives in recognition of his active participation in cultivating coral in the resort’s nursery as well as for his efforts in creating greater awareness on the impact of climate change in the Maldives.
In the September of 2009, at the global premier of the "Age of Stupid" Nasheed was presented with a "Not Stupid" Award for his efforts to tackle climate change and for the Maldives' announcement to become the first carbon neutral country in the world.^[16] In the same month,Time magazine named Nasheed #1 in the "Leaders & Visionaries" category within its annual list of "Heroes of the Environment (2009)".Recently there was an underwater meeting with the sole aim of grabbing the eyeballs but for the good.The meeting was headed by the President Mohamed Nasheed.The meeting took place at a depth as low as 6 meters (20 feet) not to mention under water.

Rachel Louise Carson (May 27, 1907 – April 14, 1964) was an American marine biologistand nature writer whose writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement.Though no more,yet her immortal writings continue to inspire us.


Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. is the former 45th Vice President of the United States who served from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He is currently an author, businessperson, and American environmental activist who starred in the 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth, which won an Academy Award in 2007. Gore also wrote the book An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It, which won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in February 2009.

Sunderlal Bahuguna

Being an Indian,who does not know him?He is a noted environmentalist, Chipko movement leader and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of Non-violence and Satyagraha. For year has fought for the preservation of forests in the Himalayas, first as a member of the Chipko movement in 1970s, and later spearheaded the Anti-Tehri Dam movement starting 1980s, to early 2004. He was one of the early environmentalists of India, and later he and people associated with the Chipko movement later started taking up environmental issues, like against large dams, mining and deforestation, across the country.

He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, on January 26, 2009 and padma award on April 14, 2009.

Medha Patkar  is an Indian social activist. She is known for her role in Narmada Bachao Andolan.Medha Patkar is one of the recipients of Right Livelihood Award for the year 1991. She received the 1999 M.A.Thomas National Human Rights Award from Vigil India Movement. She has also received numerous other awards, including the Deena Nath Mangeshkar Award,Mahatma Phule Award, Goldman Environment Prize, Green Ribbon Award for Best International Political Campaigner by BBC, and the Human Rights Defender's Award from Amnesty International. She was also a Commissioner to the World Commission on Dams.

Feeling Inspired???.................Don't just feel it , materialize it into something worth emulating.

Well said.....(a mockery)

The UN Climate summit becomes a mock as blame game comes to the fore.However the most worth noting statement was :
"The global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible co-operation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions."

A stand-off between a pair of adversaries at the UN Climate talk in Barcelona.

Learn More about issue.

UN OFFICIALS HUDDLE UP FOR THE FINAL ROUND OF CLIMATE TALKS.

BBC gives the complete insight into the matter.

PM makes a welcome call for restoring Himalyan Eco-system.

India has finally made an appeal to all stakeholder nations for saving the fast-degrading Himalayan Eco-system from being further depleted . PM urged the countries , sharing the mystic Himalayan range , for the need of a more co-ordinated and channelized action plan to counter the aggravating issue .

Dr Manmohan Singh has often been criticized for being a pretty inactive member of his cadre . His initiative , hence , is uncharacterstic though a pleasing gesture and is sure to make ammends as far as his public image goes .

However it's still an issue of contention so as to regard the longevity and efficacy of his plans . It'd be interesting to see whether the plans gather no moss or metamorphose into something daunting and sumptuous enough . May be PM would like to add more specifications regarding carrying out his agenda .

Let's not just be the bystanders , hoping for others to take charge , but be the flag-bearers by flaming the torch aka greening our surroundings .

Another Government FALLOUT : Now LAKE PUSHKAR dries up

THEN

NOW

Government Of India , in its bid to give Pushkar ( Rajasthan ) a facelift , actually renders it lake-less and that too , all of this , in less than a year .

If anything , the lake has to make do with bath-tub-like pools in parts of lake which are filled with water daily basis . Ironically , the Pushkar Lake has run dry credit to the Rs 48.52 crore government project which was supposed to clean and deepen the water body . The project surely did half its job splendidly , that of cleaning the lake ; by cleaning it entirely off the surface .

Being the statistician : the lake had at least 5 feet water in 2007 before launch of the project , 4 feet 3 inch water at the commencement of the project .

UIT (Urban Infrastructure Trust) , a branch of Rajasthan Urban Development Department , is the nodal authority for the so called "beautification project " .

Rainwater is the primary source for the Pushkar Lake and the authorities did little in sync with this information . The "beautification project" continued with its desilting work , increasing the lake's depth from 15 feet to 25 feet and widening its cross-section too , as a consequence of which , the lake could not conserve rain water even for a week .

The 48.52 crore project was to ensure adequate water storage , check water disposal and regulate sanitation . What better sanitation when there is nothing , at all , left to santize!

Now they sermonize as they always do that the initial work has been done and .................. they are hopeful for a plentiful rainfall in the desert out of the blue . It costs nothing to dream !

To worsen the cause , Pushkar fair , the economy booster for the region , is just round the corner and Karthik Purnima , when a visit to Pushkar is even more important for a dip-in, is all set to receive its pilgrims water-void unless , ofcourse , it pours down too soon .

A grim yet probable future...

In what could be touted as quite a unique and splashing venue for a meeting , to say the least , Maldives Cabinet went under water rather satirically to discuss several threats posed by global heating and rising aqua level to the low lying country.
The meeting was headed by the President Mohamed Nasheed.The meeting took place at a depth as low as 6 meters (20 feet) not to mention under water.
The meeting clearly had an objective approach.There were no lengthy speeches being delivered or any diplomatic agendas.As a matter of fact , the mode of communication was simple hand gestures.Evidently it was an apprehension of what could be a nightmarish future standings.
The catchy feat has certainly caught enough notice.But the million dollar question is : How far it goes in achieving its intent?

A Tour To The Initiative

Hey guys,

This is not yet another initiation intended to slow down and to be given a gruesomely gradual death.

This ain't no void show of heavy duty promises only to be shattered away at the cruel hands of reality.

But it's a beginning...a commencement...a dawn...a kickstart...a takeoff...a blastoff...an opening...AN INITIATION in its truest , crudest and barest form.

The blog aims to 'give-n-take' what it really takes to make our world a befitting place to dwell in.

REDEEM,RECYCLE,REUSE,REDUCE,RESPECT is be the five point program that would take the centrestage around which this blog entails.

It would have been an imposter of me had i called it to be a fairly new concept.Admittedly it's a pretty tried concept.It would be an understatement to say that it has raised some concerns of quite a few individuals under the given circumstances , that has taken us all to our nimblest self , that our Earth is doomed to destruction.

However just being nimble and not channelizing our resources is as good as being a fireman rushing towards the building on fire without the proper firefighting kit or even worse : a Government promising higher GDP with the least of awareness about the country's soaring Inflation Rate.

Well the actuality is that the problem lies at the root level.So the REDEMPTION has has to begin from the scratch.RECYCLE REUSE REDUCE

has already been an accepted concept the world over.The concept almost has in it to be the near perfect recipe of a pure(e) BIG BLUE MARBLE.But what the world really otherwise needs is a tinge of RESPECT from everyone for his animate/inanimate neighbor , just the stimulus needed to tip the balance in favor of G(REEN)-TERRA FIRMA.This defines the USP of our process 'GREEN GAMBIT...AN INITIATION'.This is what makes us stand apart from any other organization of equivalent purpose.

So let's don the G-Cap and be a part of the change itself..........What are you waiting for???