Newsletter - March 2022

Read Coverting Letter - Rama’s squirrel calling …..
March 2022, Vol.7;  No.01

Dear Friends,

Eric Roston writes on 5th April 2022 ……..

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its latest 3,000-page look at how humanity can avoid compounding catastrophe if nations take sufficient action to do so. So far humanity hasn’t, the report concludes. Left unchanged, the world’s current emissions trend could result in warming of more than twice the target limit set forth in the 2015 Paris Agreement of no more than 1.5° Celsius (2.7° Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

The report five top takeaways are as follows:
  1. 1.5°C is almost out of reach
  2. We know what to do and have the tools to do it
  3. Carbon removal is “unavoidable” to reach net zero
  4. Behavior matters and
  5. Politics shape the process

The Green Rameswaram project team believes in the dictum – “Think Globally – Act Locally”. We, on our part trying to promote Green Resilient Rameswaram by advocating and implementing Green Technologies in our own small way.

This month’s newsletter has the following highlights:

  • Dr.Sanjay Banerji in his blog writes on – Marine Sector with reference to SDGs
  • Solid waste management work by - Hand in Hand Inclusive Development Services, Chennai
  • Dr.A.Abirami, Programme Officer of the C.P.R. Environmental Educational Center writes about the herbal plant –  Sweet Basil (Barbari)
  • Landscaping and Beautification – Jasmine plantation at Nandavanam
  • Livelihood Opportunities covers SHG cluster formations
  • Revival and Renovation of Traditional Water Bodies – Veera Teertham
  • In Social capital - Teertha Poojas, Deepa Pooja, Award to Sis.Saraswathi etc. and finally 'Green Rameswaram newsletter’ by the students and for the students of Rameswaram

With best wishes,

Editorial Team
Green 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
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Marine Sector

By
Dr.Sanjay Banerji
Founder Director/Dean of Amrita School of Business
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Dear Friends,

This month we shall discuss shipping in the context of the Paris Agreement. As you may recall, emissions from shipping and aviation could not be assigned to a country, and therefore, these were left out, though not completely, of the Paris Agreement. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a global UN specialized agency, set up in 1948. [1]   The UNFCCC tasked the IMO to devise ways and means to mitigate emissions from shipping. Beginning 2009, IMO has submitted their reports regularly to UNFCCC [2].

Shipping causes environmental pollution as ships dispose engine room waste, garbage, sewage etc. and emits GHGs. Accidental oil spills add to this problem. The Torrey Canyon accident drew global attention as it spilled 120,000 tonnes of oil in 1967.
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Solid Waste Management

By
Hand in Hand Inclusive Development and Services, Chennai
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Source Segregation Demonstration Programmes:

Six Source Segregation Demonstration programmes were organized on 8th, 13th, 16th, 17th, 21st and 29th of March at Kattu Pillaiyar Kovil Street (Ward -2), KalavaiStreet (Ward -6), Kondeshwarar Madam (Ward – 9), Bharathi Nagar (Ward – 8), Maravar Street (Ward– 6), MK Nagar (Ward – 10).

Through this progaramme, our Staff and Green friends give awareness to households in each ward on the type of waste, segregation of waste and the importance and benefits of recycling. A live demonstration on Source Segregation was organized to the public.

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Herbal Garden (Muligai Vanam)
Sweet Basil

By Dr.A.Abirami
C.P.R. Environmental Education Center, Chennai
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Distribution and Habitat

Ocimum basilicum (L.) commonly known as Sweet basil is one of the most economically important aromatic herbs of the Lamiaceae family. It is considered to have originated in the warmer parts of the Indo-Malayan regions, is abundantly found in tropical and hotter parts of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. It is a medium size herb with strong scent and smooth or velvety touch. Leaves 3-5 cm long, toothed, opposite; simple; entire and ovate. Flowers 8-12 mm long in cluster-like circles of 6-10. The petals are white, pink or purplish. It grows in habitats like wastelands and on hills and due to its ornamental and therapeutic significance it is also grown in houses.
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Landscaping and Beautification

By
Green Rameswaram Trust
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Jasmine Plantation in Nandavanam of Sri Ramanathasamy Temple

Shri.Saravanan of Thangatchimadam donated 500 Jasmine plants to HR&CE. Green Rameswaram volunteers along with temple workers planted all the 500 Jasmine saplings on 5th  March 2022 in the temple premises.
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“Livelihood Opportunities”

By
Green Rameswaram Trust
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Status of SHGs

Total Groups 120 – no new groups were formed in the month of March

Total members 1483

This month we concentrated on Cluster formation. Cluster is nothing but a set of 8 – 15 SHGs from same geographical locations. Purposes for promoting cluster association were as follows:

  1. Building effective governance
  2. Building ownership
  3. Promotion of leadership from the community
  4. Self regulation for sustainability
  5. Identifying and communicating field problems
  6. Managing the collaboration with Banks and SHGs
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“Revival and Renovation of
Traditional Water Bodies” Veera Teertham

By
Vivekananda Kendra - Nardep
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Veera Teertham renovation work started on 9th March 2022 after performing the traditional Bhumi pooja. A few local stakeholders from the village were present. Unfortunately, the nearby land owner was not happy in spite of our explaining to him and went on complaining that the land belongs to him. Subsequently, we took the support of Revenue department for clarifying the matter and convinced him and other villagers. Thus the matter settled amicably.
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Social Capital

By
Green Rameswaram Trust
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1. Teertha poojas

2. Committee Formation for cleaning Kapi Teertham

A regular cleaning and maintenance of Kapi Teertham is planned by Hindu Paripalana Sabha during their meeting on 31 March 2022.

The Sabha also requested the representative of Green Rameswaram project, Sis.Saraswati to carry out renovation of  Bhairava Teertham site and providing proper steps at Bhairava Teertham (Open sea).

3. Deepa Pooja in Nambu Nayaki Temple

A regular Deepa pooja was organized on the occasion of full moon day – 17th March. Six ladies attended the programme.
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Green Rameswaram newsletter (Tamil)

For students….
From students ..

19th issue – March 2022
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