Newsletter - April 2024
Dear Friends,
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by Earthday.Org including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics." 2025 will be the 55th anniversary of Earth Day. Incidentally, last year, Green Rameswaram team prepared a detailed project report (DPR) on plastic pollution in the “Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve” along with our partner Hand in Hand India.
- Dr.Sanjay Banerji in his blog updates us about ‘Novel Entities’ with reference to Planetary Boundaries framework
- Shri.Rangarajan continues to translate a few shlokas from the rare book on Ramanathaswami Temple
- Usual work carried out by Hand in Hand Inclusive Development Services in “Solid waste management
- Dr. A.Abirami, Programme Officer of the C.P.R. Environmental Educational Center, Chennai writes on the herbal plant – Musumusukkai (Paripushkara)
- In Social capital - Teertha Poojas, Deepa pooja, Green transport, Webinars, Shrandhanjali Sabha and finally newsletter by the students and for the students of Rameswaram
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
Novel Entities Update - 2
Dear Friends,
Please recall that the September 2023 update of the Planetary Boundaries has set a boundary for Novel Entities at zero. Last month, we had briefly introduced the topic of managing the production and use of chemicals globally. As promised, this month we shall present the major milestones on this journey.
A Rare book - Dhevaiula
on Ramanathaswami
This classical work on Sri Ramanatha Swami of Rameswaram was composed by “Palapattadai Chokkanatha Pillai”. This work was discovered by Sri U.Ve. Saminatha Iyer after comparing multiple versions. He also wrote a commentary on this rare text.
With the blessings of Lord Ramanatha Swami, Mother Parvathavardhini and Lord Rama, here is an attempt to provide a reasonable translation of this work, in English. Any error can be ascribed to me.
Solid Waste Management
Source Segregation Demonstration Programmes:
Eight Source Segregation Demonstration programmes have been organized on 1th, 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 1th, 14th, 16th, 20th during the month of April 2024 in the locations of Sathya Nagar (Ward No:1), Sriram Nagar (Ward No:2), Sallimalai (Ward No:3), Sivagami Nagar (Ward No:9), Semmamadam (Ward No:11) and Thittakudi Street (Ward No:14). These efforts are being made to educate communities about the issues and encourage positive behavioural change.
Herbal Garden (Muligai Vanam)
Musumusukkai
Distribution and Habitat
C. maderaspatanus belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceae. It is found in India and Sri Lanka, mainly in Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and commonly seen in plain lands and in deciduous forests.
It is a soft spiny, hairy, climbing herb. Stem succulent and green, covered with thin, white hairs making the plant look prickly and rough. Leaves heart-shaped, 3-9 cm long. Flowers small, yellow about 1-3 mm long, grows from leaf axils placed right above the leaf. Fruits, berry scarlet, globose, green when young and turn red when ripe. Seeds grey or light black, compressed, wrinkled. It is globally distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics.
Social Capital
Green Rameswaram Trust
Teertha Pooja
Our work of involving community in doing Teertha poojas is going on smoothly. SHG members and E-auto drivers are trying to take the ownership of the programme. In this month, we could carry out Teertha poojas at 20 Traditional water bodies with 234 volunteers participating in the activity.
