Newsletter - December 2019
Adoption of the SDGs
By Dr.Sanjay Banerji
Founder Director/Dean of Amrita School of Business
Dear Friends,
A special Sustainable Development summit of the United Nations was held between 25 – 27th September 2015, coinciding with the seventieth anniversary of the UN at New York. All 193 member states of the UN agreed to adopt the 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to be implemented over the next 15 years from 2016 through 2030. Its title is: “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Administrator of the UNDP said, “Ours is the last generation which can head off the worst effects of climate change and the first generation with the wealth and knowledge to eradicate poverty. For this, fearless leadership from us all is needed.”
TirthaYatra, Pilgrimage to Holy Places
By C.Rangarajan, Chennai
- In the Matsyapurana, it was declared by Vayu-deva that there are 35 million of Tirthas in the sky, in the atmosphere and on the earth. They are all centered around Mother Ganga.
- As per Vamanapurana, there are 35 million of Lingas
- As per Brahmapurana, more than 100 years are required to enumerate the number of Tirthas, since they are in the realm of countless
Solid Waste Management
Herbal Garden (Muligai Vanam)
Periwinkle
By C.P.R.Environmental Education Center, Chennai
Distribution and Habitat
Palm Seeds plantation:
Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer) is the state tree of Tamil Nadu. Palmyrah trees had been an integral part of Tamil life. With changes in cultural and social milieu, they lost their importance. In realty and industrial agriculture, they were considered worthless and axed, resulting in significant loss in tree count.
Revival and Renovation of Traditional
Water Bodies (Teerthas) - Vali Teertham
By Vivekananda Kendra - Nardep
Promoting Eco Tourism - Pamban Road Bridge
By Shri.Sridhar
Green Rameswaram Trust
Social Capital
Shri.Karthikeyan Nagarajan
Green Rameswaram Trust
Enhancing Community Engagement for Resilience through YouTube, a Social Media Tool
Community engagement:
Green Rameswaram Trust’s approach for development primarily emphasises on community ownership and management. The Trust has integrated the action of building social capital as the key strategy for promoting a balanced ecosystem. Social capital implies that there are aspects of social structure and organization that act as resources for individuals, allowing them to realize their personal aims and interests.