Development as understood through economic progress is important for the prosperity of societies. But this blogger strongly believes that environmental sustainability is an important element of prosperity (the above pic is of centuries old banyan tree on outskirts of Bangalore, this blogger happen to visit few weeks back). To widen the roads and reduce congestion trees will have to be cut and this blogger has seen hundreds of trees cut around where I stay. But we need also to ponder how a tree that has been growing at a spot for decades comes in the path of development. What steps has the government taken to reduce congestion other than the easy option of widening and ruthlessly cutting trees?. Yes mass transport is being modernized; also metro is to start but steps need be taken to create cells to monitor traffic as also creating smart traffic signals (London city is quite advanced in these, I saw a program on TV yesterday). If Bangalore prides itself as some kind of technological hub (this blogger though mostly see squalor side everyday) then it will have to have policies and investment on technological savvy solution that keeps in mind the local conditions. Unfortunately Karnataka government has been quite primitive and the kind of roads they have created by cutting some huge trees is appalling to say the least. This blogger invites readers to visit this road they have created: it is one of the worst roads I have seen for a long time (people behind this sh
ould be tried for corruption), it is very unsafe to drive through this road. The uneven new road has even started to disintegrate. It is an amazing example of incompetence. And it is in heart of Bangalore city. Please visit this new road to experience modern Bangalore the new international city. They even had audacity to transplant green grass and new equally atrocious “freedom park”, it is a piece of dubai. The city planners lack even a minimal understanding of aesthetics. It is shocking. It pains me every time I pass this road so mostly try to avoid. When Mr Obama keeps referring to Bangalore in his speech, it gives the impression of some modern hi-tech city- a city of synergy of modern and past. This blogger though is ashamed of what the city is metamorphosising into. Clearly the leaders or professionals attempting to modernize Bangalore lack the basic competence. It is a painful realization that most new roads and flyovers are substandard, the zeal to modernize seems lacking in competence.Why trees?
The trees cut could also
be transplanted, I am sure many would be ready to contribute to the expense, that though is the least thought when trying to replicate New York or Dubai. Trees don’t grow in few months so the excuse of afforestation is rather crude. Many trees in big Indian cities exist because religion (specifically proto Hinduism) has saved them otherwise they would have easily cut and destroyed!!. This tree was saved recently while hundreds were cut has to thank this ancient temple.
Trees, like all plants, sequester (absorb and store) carbon dioxide as part of the process of photosynthesis, which enables them to grow. Through this process, carbon dioxide is converted into stored carbon, and this is why trees are sometimes referred to as 'carbon sinks'. By taking this carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, trees clean the air, reduce temperature
s, and counteract our polluting lifestyles. Tree planting in urban areas is a great way to give something back to the environment. Trees are highly 'carbon smart' and, as well as absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide, can help mitigate against climate change in a number of ways: a) Trees can also save as much as 10% of annual energy consumption around buildings by moderating the local climate keeping it cool in summer and warmer in winter. b)Tree canopies reduce rainstorm impact and provide a natural alternative to resource-heavy flood control systems that depend on hard engineering. c) Trees help to filter harmful pollutants from the air, making areas with many trees healthier places to be than areas without trees. d) Trees create vital wildlife habitats, enabling more species to thrive in their surroundings (the placard is taken from mysore zoo) .
In addition to their positive physical differences to the environment, trees also add beauty to the urban landscape, and tree planting is a wonderful way of bringing different communities together around a shared goal ( the above is taken from Net at Trees for cities).
Meet Wangari Maathai: this lady from African subcontinent (Kenya to be specific) was the one who brought to the focus of the
world the issue of environmental degradation with issues of human rights and democracy. In announcing the award in 2004, the Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee said, “Peace on Earth depends on our ability to secure our living environment.”
“Through the Green Belt Movement, thousands of ordinary citizens were mobilized and empowered to take action and effect change,” Maathai said in her December 2004 Nobel address. “They learned to overcome fear and a sense of helplessness and moved to defend democratic rights.”
Maathai didn’t necessarily see these connections when she started her work. In the beginning, planting trees was simply a direct way of meeting the needs of rural women — the primary caretakers of their families — for firewood, extra income, prevention of erosion, clean drinking water, and better crop yields. Similarly, deforestation causes rivers to dry up and rainfall patterns to shift.
But there was another, equally important, and long-term result, according to Maathai. These women, she says, “are often the first to become aware of environmental damage as resources become scarce and incapable of sustaining their families.”
Environmental concerns are linked to broader issues of good governance and protection of human rights. During her campaign Wangari Maathai has been arrested, imprisoned, and beaten when her grassroot campaign took on endemic corruption in the government — especially over plans to build an office tower in the middle of Nairobi’s Uhuru Park. In her Nobel address, Maathai said that although the Green Belt Movement didn’t initially address political issues, “It soon became clear that responsible governance of the environment was impossible without democratic space. Therefore, the tree became a symbol for the democratic struggle in Kenya. ... In time, the tree also became a symbol for peace and conflict resolution.”
You can visit Wangari Maathai website through the link herein in the blog…
The snap below is taken from very close to where I stay. The owner of this building could have easily cut the tree, that was the easiest option, as they have in done in west. But our man has different understanding of life and surrounding and also development. If ordinary people are ready to spend extra few rupees to save their surrounding then why can’t the planners. It is astounding the lack of application of mind. I am sure housing colonies would be ready to spend few thousand rupees to transplant trees, that are chopped, to their localities. Has the government thought about these ideas, or is it cut cut and cut for aggressive growth?. Incidentally when the monsoon was delayed policy makers started to sweat, although this blogger hopes there are no droughts but would like to see one. That should jolt them out of the stupor. Under the economic understanding of growth monsoon is a factor. And this factor is expected to be constant also referred to as normal monsoon as if rain happens because they are meant for economic growth because economist want it!!. Under this understanding clouds brings rain and so it rains (like stork bring babies!). From what I have studied trees have an important contribution on rain, ground water, ecosystem. So tomorrow if there are no rains and no drinking water don’t show surprise. Geez where the clouds with water gone?!!. They are supposed to come aren’t they?
The trees cut could also
be transplanted, I am sure many would be ready to contribute to the expense, that though is the least thought when trying to replicate New York or Dubai. Trees don’t grow in few months so the excuse of afforestation is rather crude. Many trees in big Indian cities exist because religion (specifically proto Hinduism) has saved them otherwise they would have easily cut and destroyed!!. This tree was saved recently while hundreds were cut has to thank this ancient temple.Trees, like all plants, sequester (absorb and store) carbon dioxide as part of the process of photosynthesis, which enables them to grow. Through this process, carbon dioxide is converted into stored carbon, and this is why trees are sometimes referred to as 'carbon sinks'. By taking this carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, trees clean the air, reduce temperature
s, and counteract our polluting lifestyles. Tree planting in urban areas is a great way to give something back to the environment. Trees are highly 'carbon smart' and, as well as absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide, can help mitigate against climate change in a number of ways: a) Trees can also save as much as 10% of annual energy consumption around buildings by moderating the local climate keeping it cool in summer and warmer in winter. b)Tree canopies reduce rainstorm impact and provide a natural alternative to resource-heavy flood control systems that depend on hard engineering. c) Trees help to filter harmful pollutants from the air, making areas with many trees healthier places to be than areas without trees. d) Trees create vital wildlife habitats, enabling more species to thrive in their surroundings (the placard is taken from mysore zoo) .In addition to their positive physical differences to the environment, trees also add beauty to the urban landscape, and tree planting is a wonderful way of bringing different communities together around a shared goal ( the above is taken from Net at Trees for cities).
Meet Wangari Maathai: this lady from African subcontinent (Kenya to be specific) was the one who brought to the focus of the
world the issue of environmental degradation with issues of human rights and democracy. In announcing the award in 2004, the Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee said, “Peace on Earth depends on our ability to secure our living environment.”“Through the Green Belt Movement, thousands of ordinary citizens were mobilized and empowered to take action and effect change,” Maathai said in her December 2004 Nobel address. “They learned to overcome fear and a sense of helplessness and moved to defend democratic rights.”
Maathai didn’t necessarily see these connections when she started her work. In the beginning, planting trees was simply a direct way of meeting the needs of rural women — the primary caretakers of their families — for firewood, extra income, prevention of erosion, clean drinking water, and better crop yields. Similarly, deforestation causes rivers to dry up and rainfall patterns to shift.
But there was another, equally important, and long-term result, according to Maathai. These women, she says, “are often the first to become aware of environmental damage as resources become scarce and incapable of sustaining their families.”
Environmental concerns are linked to broader issues of good governance and protection of human rights. During her campaign Wangari Maathai has been arrested, imprisoned, and beaten when her grassroot campaign took on endemic corruption in the government — especially over plans to build an office tower in the middle of Nairobi’s Uhuru Park. In her Nobel address, Maathai said that although the Green Belt Movement didn’t initially address political issues, “It soon became clear that responsible governance of the environment was impossible without democratic space. Therefore, the tree became a symbol for the democratic struggle in Kenya. ... In time, the tree also became a symbol for peace and conflict resolution.”
You can visit Wangari Maathai website through the link herein in the blog…
The snap below is taken from very close to where I stay. The owner of this building could have easily cut the tree, that was the easiest option, as they have in done in west. But our man has different understanding of life and surrounding and also development. If ordinary people are ready to spend extra few rupees to save their surrounding then why can’t the planners. It is astounding the lack of application of mind. I am sure housing colonies would be ready to spend few thousand rupees to transplant trees, that are chopped, to their localities. Has the government thought about these ideas, or is it cut cut and cut for aggressive growth?. Incidentally when the monsoon was delayed policy makers started to sweat, although this blogger hopes there are no droughts but would like to see one. That should jolt them out of the stupor. Under the economic understanding of growth monsoon is a factor. And this factor is expected to be constant also referred to as normal monsoon as if rain happens because they are meant for economic growth because economist want it!!. Under this understanding clouds brings rain and so it rains (like stork bring babies!). From what I have studied trees have an important contribution on rain, ground water, ecosystem. So tomorrow if there are no rains and no drinking water don’t show surprise. Geez where the clouds with water gone?!!. They are supposed to come aren’t they?
