Here’s a message from a friend, about a meeting I consider it important to attend:

There will be a meeting at Environment Support Group (ESG) at 3.30 pm tomorrow (Sat. 5th), to discuss and strategise on two very important issues concerning the city.

1)The BBMP has touted a road-widening program on 91 roads ( to be extended to 123) of Bangalore. Since the announcement of the scheme, ESG and Hasiru Usiru have been opposing the project, as it is irrational and against all basic principles of design and planning.

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I was in Jayanagar yesterday and saw this signboard, put up by Smt G Sharada Ramaswamy, a senior citizen:

I was very impressed that the lady cared enough about her city to have this sign up, exhorting her fellow-citizens to keep this city (”this is your own”) clean and green.

If each one of us could just follow this advice….what a benefit all of us would get in return!

The Dr M H Marigowda Environment and Horticulture Development Foundation, which has been in existence for the past 15 years as the Dr M H Marigowda Environment and Horticulture Educational Research Trust, is a body set up by the family of the famous horticulturalist, Dr M H Marigowda, who put Karnataka on the botanical, agricultural, and horticultural map of India and the world.

The Foundation invited some concerned citizens for an informal gathering at the beautiful Mahadevi Marigowda Mansion.

The Chairman of the Trust, Dr T Prabhu, who is the son-in-law of Dr Marigowda, welcomed the informal gathering that had been invited to brainstorm about the objectives that should be pursued by the new foundation that has absorbed the old trust.

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Clean and Green is a group of volunteers who are trying to actively manage plastic waste and ensure that it gets collected and well-used, at at least one tourist location near Bangalore.

Read my article about them

click here

A simple agenda for improving our environment…I am very impressed with the way Clean and Green functions.

I have been involved with Environment Support Group and can vouch for the work that they have been doing on the environmental and ecological fronts in Bangalore. I would like to pass on their announcement regarding a workshop they are conducting:

Environment Support Group, Bangalore announces a Summer Workshop for students in the age group of 13-16 years, from 19th -21st May 2008.

The three-day workshop aims at sensitizing children to the environment- development debate, with a special focus on analyzing the changing urban environment of Bangalore. A Pedagogy of experiential learning has been followed in the Workshop Design.

The workshop will be held at S-3, Rajashree Apartments, 18/57, 1st Main Road, S.R.K Gardens, Bannerghatta Road, Jayanagar Bangalore-41.

For further details and registration, contact Divya Ravindranath or Nandini Chami at 26531339/22441977

Or, email

bhargavi@esgindia.org

More details at

www.esgindia.org

I have gone for workshops at PfA and have done some voluntary work for them, and been impressed with this animal shelter and the work they are doing for distressed animals. So I am happy to post an announcement from Ranjan Chacko of PfA. Do participate if you can (though I cannot understand why a marathon event should be scheduled at the height of summer) and make the event a success!

Click on this for one of my previous postings about PfA

Here’s a marathon to bring together the City of Bangalore, to create a platform where its people can gather to show that they truly
care. PFA (People for Animals) Bangalore takes this opportunity to unite Bangaloreans in also spreading the message of conservation through protection of urban wildlife.

PFA, recognised by the Karnataka Forest Department, is an organisation where we believe and work towards being committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of urban wildlife. Through the shelter in Kengeri, the members of PFA and its volunteers have been successful in giving over 7000 avian, mammals and reptiles, a new lease on life.

The marathon, organised by PROCAM, is also a way of being the voice for the voiceless. And this can be achieved through your participation and commitment.

PFA is an officially listed NGO in the marathon and participants can choose to run as an individual or as a corporate team for the organisation. Please remember to select PFA (People for Animals) in the registration form as the NGO you wish to support.

For more information on the same please contact me on 98452-09623; the event helpline: 080 23161416 or email me at ranjanchacko@rediffmail.com

Forms are also available at various branch offices of Standard Chartered, Manipal Cure and Care outlets, Nike Outlets, Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Radio Mirchi office and The Windsor Manor, Bangalore. Those interested can also register online at www.sunfeastworld10k.indiatimes.com

Please pass this email on to your friends and spread the word.

Regards

Ranjan and everyone at PFA.

JSS-Advanced Jewellery Design Centre is conducting a free job-oriented training programme in Computer-Aided Jewellery Design from May 5,2008, the duration being 6 weeks. The programme is sponsored by Devaraj Urs Backward Communtiy Development Corporation, Bangalore.

Candidates should have passed their 10th Standard exams, and should be economically backward as per government norms. The age group is 18-35 years.

Last date for application is May 3, 2008.

Please pass the word around to those around you who are not well off and could use this opportunity. Jewellery design can be a satisfying, well-paying career.

Candidates should contact:

Executive Director, JSS-AJDTC, JTSSATE
Campus Srinivasapura, Uttarahalli, Kengeri Main Raod, Bangalore 560060.

Ph. 2271 8579, 98447 11592, 98457 18366, and 98800 12344.

Association for People wiwth Disability (APD) had recently organized a five-day painting workshop, along with the Ken School of Art, for the differently abled. The workshop was held at Janapada Loka, and the work of the participants was exhibited at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, under the banner, “Kala Sourabha”.

APD can be contacted at 2547 5861, or 2547 5165.

Now, starting from April 28, a ten-day art camp for deaf children, and those affected by polio, has been organized at Hampi, Pattadkal, Aihole, and Koodala Sangama. For details on this, contact: 94487 60744.

I had written some time ago about Clean and Green , the group of concerned volunteers which has been making periodic trips to various spots on the outskirts of Bangalore, and making an effort to pick up the plastic trash and get it recycled.

My earlier note about them was at

this post

I am glad to say that Clean and Green have continued with their efforts and since they found the local residents, the Forest Department, and Jungle Lodges and Resorts more responsive to their efforts, they are concentrating on the Muthathi and Sangam areas of the banks of the Kaveri river.

They are now involved in tapping corporate resources for several things: getting in more volunteers for the cleanups, who will also spread the message of anti-litter; using the funds that corporates can spare, to provide bins at the picnic spots, and efforts at sensitizing the visitors and the villagers on the benefits (and indeed, necessity) of keeping the area as plastic-free as possible.

Tomorrow, 26th of April 2008, with the help of Sun Microsystems , they are undertaking a cleanup of the Sangam area. There are to be about 65 volunteers this time around.

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We are having a Car-Free Week initiative this whole week, where each of us tries, on one day, at least, not to use a car, but a cycle, or public transport, instead….

The SMS should be to: 99801 53695

The week’s efforts culminates in a Cycling Rally on April 27th.

For registering, go to

http://www.gocycle.in/Join-Car-free-day.html