Newsletter - January 2020
Dear Friends,
In a report on Tuesday, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) laid out the enormous scale of the challenge to meet the target of holding temperature rises to 1.5°C by the end of the century, following a decade when emissions have on average grown by 1.5 per cent a year.
“We haven’t succeeded in bending the global emissions curve,” says Anne Olhoff at the Technical University of Denmark, one of the report’s lead authors.
We the workers of Green Rameswaram project believes in the dictum “Think Globally and Act Locally”. In our own small way like a Rama’s squirrel, we are trying to address the sustainable development goals at Rameswaram.
This month’s newsletter has the following highlights:
- Dr. Sanjay Banerji in his blog writes about Sustainable Development Goal - 1
- Shri.C.Rangarajan writes on Tirtha Yatra - Pilgrimage to Holy Places.
- Regular awareness programmes by Hand in Hand Inclusive Development Services, Chennai.
- Shir.Venkatachalam, Project Officer of C.P.R. Environmental Educational Center writes about the herbal plant – Malabar catmint (Peimiradi)
- Plantation of trees as a part of ‘Landscaping and beautification’ by GR team
- Revival and Renovation of Traditional Water bodies – photo gallery of Vali Teertham
- Regular events of Social capital and finally a power point presentation on Eco-tourism by Shri.Sridhar.
With best wishes,
Editorial TeamGreen Rameswaram Project
Mahabeer Dharmasala
Rameswaram - 623526
Tamilnadu.
Ph: 04573 - 222296(office)
E-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.greenrameswaram.org
Sustainable Development Goal – 1
(End to Poverty)
By Dr.Sanjay Banerji
Founder Director/Dean of Amrita School of Business
Dear Friends,
Hope the first month of the New Year and the Pongal festivities have nourished you into new vigour to take on life as it unfolds under the dark clouds of yet another war near home. However, keeping ourselves on track with the Sustainable Development Goals, we are going to undertake every goal, one every month and answer the following:
- What it is and why is this relevant
- What are its indicators
- What are the targets
- Where do we stand in India?
- What can we do to support the goal?
Tirtha Yatra - Pilgrimage to Holy Places
By C.Rangarajan, Chennai
Continuing the importance of Svadharma/Svakarma Vis-à-vis Tirthayatra
- A person who has to undergo an expiation (for a sin) or who is a widower or who is a vana-prasthi may resort to pilgrimages
- One may go to holy places with his Vedic fires or with his spouse; They become free from all sins and secures the best goal
- One who wants to go pilgrimage should pay off their three debts, should provide maintenance for their wards and should consign his wife to their care
Solid Waste Management
By Hand in Hand, Chennai
Thai Ammavasai festival:
Thai Ammavasai festival, an annual congregation in Rameswaram was celebrated with reverence at Rameswaram on 24th January 2020. Around 100,000 pilgrims visited the holy town and the temple during the festival. The MSWM team handled 20 tons of waste generated surrounding the temple and the beach during the festival by engaging 100 Green Friends.
Herbal Garden (Muligai Vanam)
Anisomeles malabarica
Project Officer
C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre
Chennai
Description and Habitat
Landscaping and Beautification
By Green Rameswaram Trust
Tree plantation:
1) Taluk Office staff members took part in the plantation of the trees on January 11, 2020 in their own campus. Around 10 new saplings were planted in the campus with the support of Green Rameswaram.
2) On 9th January 2020 Dhanalakshmi Bank marking their 96th year planted 96 trees in Rameswaram. We took part in an event where 16 species were planted and Tree Guards were arranged by Green Rameswaram. Planting took place at Kondalar Madam in Rameswaram and the math people have committed to maintain the plants.
Revival and Renovation of Traditional Water Bodies (Teerthas)
Vali Teertham – Photo Gallery
By Green Rameswaram Trust
Promoting Eco Tourism – Dhanushkodi Railway Station
By Shri. Sridhar
Green Rameswaram Trust
Social Capital
By Green Rameswaram Trust
Teertha Poojas
Rangoli Competition on Environment
On 17 January 2020 a Rangoli Competition was organized with the concept of Environment by Green Rameswaram with the media support of Dinamalar. Programme was organized in the Ramco Marriage hall inside Sri Ramanathasamy Temple. 32 Participants took part in the event. 3 winners were announced as 1st prize, 5 as second prize, 3 as third prize and the balance participants were given consolation prizes. Shri. Magesh, DSP, Rameswaram took part in the event and gave the prizes to the participants.