E-Weekly-6/2
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
Sweden Runs Out Of
Garbage:
Only 1% Ends Up In
Landfills
November 26, 2014 by Alanna Ketler
Something incredible has been taking place in
Sweden over the past several years,
somewhat of a “recycling revolution,” if you will.
Currently less than one percent of the garbage
produced in Swedish homes ends up in the
landfill today, with the other ninety-nine percent
being recycled or composted.
this is about 136 million tons of garbage in
total. According to the New York Times there
are some trash burning facilities in the United
States, but only a small portion of the waste is
burned, and most of that burned waste ends
up in landfills anyways.
What About The Environmental Effects?
Of course there is some controversy over this
method of waste management and energy
production. There are fumes that are produced
that are toxic, but many argue that this is still a
much better alternative to the typical landfills
that we see more often in America. On
average, more than forty percent of the world’s
trash is burned and mostly in open air, this is
much different from the regulated, lowemission process that has been adopted by
Sweden. This makes Sweden’s method a lot
more eco-friendly.
It is unfortunate that at this time the options are
to either pollute the air, or pollute the Earth
because we are producing so much garbage
and it doesn’t just simply disappear without
leaving its mark. It doesn’t look like
manufacturers are going to stop making
products that can’t be recycled anytime soon,
Sweden has been known for years now for the
so it is up to us to be more conscious with what
amazing and resourceful waste management
we are consuming. We need to stop the
system that they have had in place for some
problem at the source.
time. They have 32 waste-to-energy (WTE)
plants and this burned waste powers 20
How Can We All Be A Bit More Like The
percent of Sweden’s district heating as well as
Swedish?
electricity for about 250,000 Swedish homes.
Sweden is an excellent example of a nation of
In fact, Sweden has become so good at
citizens that care for their environment and
recycling their waste; the country now has to
their ecological footprint. If the Swedish are
import 800,000 tons of trash each year from
able to recycle 99% of their waste, why can’t
the U.K., Italy, Ireland and Norway to keep
we? Well we certainly can, however it does
their WTE plants up and running.
take a bit more effort. I believe that it is truly
worth the effort, soon it will become so natural
According to Swedish Waste Management
to us that it won’t even feel effortful, we just
communications director Anna-Carin Gripwell,
have to start taking that step!
“Waste today is a commodity in a different way
than it has been. It’s not only waste, it’s a
There are many people now that are striving to
business.”
produce zero or at least very minimal waste.
You can read one of those stories here, check
This is pretty impressive especially when
out the supermarket in Germany that produces
compared to Americans who recycled just
zero waste here and read about the American
thirty-four percent of their waste in 2010 and
restaurant that managed to not produce any
according to the Environmental Protection
waste in two years and counting here to get
Agency more than fifty percent of the average
inspired on how you to can begin to implement
U.S. household waste ended up in landfills,
a minimal waste, minimal footprint lifestyle.
Page 2
Available
Educational PowerPoint Presentations (PPTs) on
ZERO GARBAGE
KITCHEN WASTE TO COOKING GAS
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Download this PPT from our website:
www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM PPT section
Meet Earth Hero Jadav Mulai Payeng
By: Narayani Ganesh, TOI, Apr 21, 2015
What Jadav Mulai Payeng has accomplished single-handedly is extraordinary, even
unbelievable. He has created, from scratch, a 550-acre forest -- that is now home to wild
elephants, tigers, rhinos, deer, butterflies and many other species – on a sand bank by the
Brahmaputra at Aruna Chapori. The lush forest was discovered happenstance by a local
journalist, Jitu Kalita, in 2008 – nearly thirty years after Payeng began planting trees.
Payeng’s spouse Binita is also from the Mising
tribe and the couple and their three children
continue the good work. Peyang says he
married late as he was already in love
with Nature but when he met Binita, “phir se,
love ho gaya!” Following media coverage of
Mulai Kathoni – the forest he created is named
after him -- two documentary films on Mulai
Kathoni went on to win several awards. And
now the Indian government has honoured him
with a Padmashri. Peyang was conferred with
an honorary doctorate from Guwahati
University recently.
Peyang’s message: “Please
teach primary school children
environment science. Let them
plant two trees each and
nurture them throughout
their school days. That will
take care of India’s
afforestation!
“Awards are not important; greening of the country is what is important,” says the humble ‘forest
man’ whose parents raised livestock and sold milk at Aruna Sapori. Peyang continues the
family tradition in Jorhat district, Assam. Once the milk is sold and the day’s business is done,
he sets off to another sandbank across the river to continue recreating lost habitats for species
rendered homeless by human exploitation. And he returns to his modest home on stilts at dusk
as he has been doing for over three decades.
It all began when he witnessed mass deaths of animals, birds and reptiles. Their bodies were
washed ashore by the Brahmaputra during the 1979 floods. The traumatised 16 year-old learnt it
was due to habitat destruction. The only way to save these species was to restore lost forest
cover. It was shock-inspiration that propelled him to a mission to grow a forest so animals could
have a safe home.
Page 3
“I learnt a lot about trees from Gadunath Bezbaruah, scientist in the agriculture department, and
more from the Deoris, an ethnic tribal community, who advised me to plant bamboo and other
tall grass and gave me seeds and saplings, teaching me how to plant and nurture them. They
assured me that soon snakes, animals and birds would come and they would not die”.
Raj Phukan of Green Guard, an Assam-based NGO, nominated Peyang for the Maharana
Mewar Foundation’s environment award that was given to Peyang recently by Shriji Arvind
Singh Mewar in Udaipur. “The 550-acre forest that Peyang created is now history; what he is not
even talking about is that he has been quietly creating another forest on Mekahi Island –
perhaps the world’s largest manmade forest -- that now measures nearly 2,000 acres,” reveals
Phukan. Peyang smiles shyly and nods his head almost reluctantly, perhaps in the forest’s best
interest. He is doing what he does simply because he is full of compassion for all species and
earnestly wishes to give habitats back to them.
Does faith in God keep him going? “The only Bhagwan I have seen is in the trees and my
parents,” he says. “They left me with Prakriti (Nature) so Prakriti is my God and I hope to die in
the lap of Nature… How did we learn to clothe ourselves for protection? The trees taught us,”
he says, referring to their protective bark. “The birds taught us to fly. Everywhere, we learn from
Nature.”
Peyang’s message: “Please teach primary school children environment science. Let them plant
two trees each and nurture them throughout their school days. That will take care of India’s
afforestation!
IT’S OUR TURN TO LEAD! (Reflections by a Jesuit on
April 22nd 2015) - by Fr. Cedric Prakash sj
It is Earth Day once again and on this 45th anniversary when the focus of every citizen is on what are we
doing to Mother Earth, the theme that is suggested is “it’s our turn to lead”. The publicity material speaks
about “the most exciting year in environmental history. The year in which economic growth and
sustainability join hands. The year in which world leaders finally pass a binding climate change treaty.
The year in which citizens and organisations divest from fossil fuels and put their money into renewable
energy solutions. These are tough issues but we know what’s at stake is the future of our planet and the
survival of life on earth. On Earth Day we need you to take a stand so that together, we can show the
world a new direction. It’s our turn to lead. So our world leaders can follow by example.”
So it’s our turn to lead! India is a classic example of how sustainable development is thrown to the winds:
the ‘corporatisation’ of the country; the anti-small farmer land acquisition ordinance; a ‘development’
model which caters to the rich and the powerful; the desperation to further nuclearize the country; the total
insensitivity to the environment and to ecological concerns - are all powerful indicators to show that it is
the ordinary citizen who needs to come out on the streets and to lead the country on issues that may have
serious repercussions for future generations.
The lead article in today’s ‘Times of India’ (ed. Ahmedabad page 1) speaks about how the Gujarat
Government is pressuring the Central Government to lift the moratorium on some of the country’s
critically polluted industrial clusters – Ankleshwar, Vatva (in Ahmedabad) and Vapi - which was a
decision of the previous UPA Government in 2010; besides, the National Green Tribunal on the basis of a
petition filed by Trupti Shah and others has sent a notice to the Government of Gujarat regarding the
Statue of Unity Project on the Narmada River which is bound to create serious ecological problems for the
whole State.
Page 4
Significantly, April 22nd is also the day on which the Jesuits celebrate the feast of Mary, the Mother of
the Society of Jesus. It was on this day in 1541, exactly seven months after the approval of the Society of
Jesus and two weeks after Ignatius of Loyola was elected its first Superior General that he celebrated
Mass with his other companions at the altar of Our Lady in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls in
Rome, during which they also made their solemn vows.
The care of the earth has been a consistent concern in the way of proceeding of the Jesuits since the last
several years. In 1999, this concern was highlighted in a document ‘We live in a Broken World’ and this
was furthered with an even greater commitment in 2011 with a path-breaking document ‘Healing a
Broken World’.
The General Congregation 35 of the Jesuits emphasises that “Our response to environmental and
ecological concerns is therefore a mission: our apostolic response. “As servants of Christ’s mission we
are invited to assist him as he sets right our relationships with God, with other human beings, and with
creation.” (D3#18)
It is more than just a coincidence that ‘Earth Day’ and the feast of Mary, the Mother of the Society of
Jesus’ are observed today: April 22nd. It is a powerful reminder that “the care of the environment...touches
the core of our faith in and love for God.” (GC35. D3 #32); while any activity, however cosmetic, is
certainly welcome.... we are indeed called to do much more!It’s our turn to lead!
(* Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is the Director of PRASHANT, the Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human
Rights, Justice and Peace.)
UNIQUE XAVERIAN
EARTH DAY
CELEBRATIONS
At St Xavier’s College and St Xavier’s
College of Management and Technology,
Digha Ghat, the entire month of April 2015
was dedicated to Earth Day and the unified
theme of environment, beginning with the
National Seminar-Knowledge Society for
Sustainable Development on 11th and 12th
April. This was followed by the Principal Dr.
(Fr) Nishaant S.J flagging off the battery
operated e-rickshaw on 15th April, which will
regularly ferry students to and fro from
Digha More to the college canteen.
newspapers, pins and waste material to
drape a student in the team as a new
creative insect. The judges Dr (Fr) Raymond
S.J, Dr Marie D’Cruze and Mr Animesh
graded the students on creativity and
originality of thematic presentation and
grilled them on the utility value of their new
invention. “Imaginations ran riot, there was
much learning and fun as well”, quipped
Manish BCA II, Cabinet member. Betel
Eater, Balbagaur, Termantis, Ausroach,
Evanid Firefly, Polyupa were some of the
new insects they invented. Insect Stinger
team led by Ritika BCA I bagged the 1st
Prize, followed by the 1st Runner-up Insect
Khoonka Rakshak team, led by Amarjeet
BCA II, while Insect Plighter team led by
Atul B.Com (P) II was the 2nd Runner-up.
Rajeev BBE I, a shy student opined, “I
enjoyed creating a new insect.
It tickled my grey cells to think and brought
out the best in our group. It was great fun!”
while Ashish BMC I student remarked, “I
laughed my guts out. The answers were so
hilarious. I feel thoroughly relaxed”. The
acting Principal Dr (Fr) Sushil Bilung S. J
gave the vote of thanks applauding all the
participants for their very intelligent
creations. He said, “We need to have an
An Economic Quiz organized by faculty
Earth
Day
Celebration
before
every
member Ms Kalpana Kumari also sensitized
students to make eco-friendly choices in life. examination.” The students were finally
blessed with a tikka of Mother Earth on their
On the penultimate day-21st April, faculty
foreheads with the words, “You are a
members Ms. Archana Jha and Dr. (Sr)
of the Earth. HAPPY EARTH
Mudita Sodder RSCJ organized an ingenious daughter/son
nd April 2015.
DAY-22
group competition entitled “Invent your own
Imaginary Insect”. The entire campus was
Reported by Dr (Sr) Mudita Sodder RSCJ
transformed into a humming and throbbing
hive of exciting activity with 14 teams of 10 For St Xavier’s Colleges,
Digha Ghat, Patna, Bihar.
students each participating. They used old
Page 5
HC Takes Govt to Task
Over Pollution
Indian Express, 24-4-2015
BENGALURU: Warning the state government
that it is liable for prosecution if it does not
comply with the directions of the Karnataka
State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the
High Court on Thursday ordered it to submit an
action plan on compliance with the KSPCB
directions issued in August 2014. Observing
that all residential areas must be declared as
silent zones, a division bench of Chief Justice
D H Waghela and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy
directed the authorities to submit a list of
declared silent zones in the city. The bench,
which adjourned hearing on the suo motu PIL
to April 29, wondered why many directions of
KSPCB, including on restriction of registration
of new vehicles, have not been complied with.
Transport Commissioner Ramegowda, who
was present, informed the court that since the
Motor Vehicles Act is a central legislation, a
letter was addressed to the Centre seeking
changes to the Act. The Centre, in turn, has
sought details of the pollution levels in the city.
Ramegowda also briefed the court about the
action taken by the transport department to
bring down pollution levels.
He told the court that Rs 56 lakh has been
collected in penalties after booking cases
against 12,000 vehicles of the 12 lakh vehicles
checked for noise and air pollution in 2014-15.
In the first 22 days of the current financial year,
Rs 12.30 lakh was collected in fines after
booking cases against 3,300 of the 58,000
vehicles checked, he said. The bench
observed that vehicular emissions cause
respiratory diseases and cancer. “The KSPCB
has been inactive for the last 30 years. This
inaction is violation of right to life as ruled by
the Supreme Court. We will treat it,” the bench
said.
While questioning the authorities concerned
about the progress in converting all public
transport buses to CNG, the bench observed
that pollution can be reduced by half if all
BMTC buses run on CNG.
Additional Chief Secretary and Nodal Officer
for Traffic Control and Pollution Issues, M
Madan Gopal, informed the bench that they
have taken many short-term measures and
proposed some long-term measures to tackle
air and noise pollution in city. However, the
division bench observed that writing letters
cannot be considered as implementation. It
may be noted that KSPCB had also
recommended ban on entry of heavy motor
vehicles (HMV) within Outer Ring Road limits,
autorickshaws in the central business district in
a phased manner, use of HMVs over 15 years
old within city and also use of two-stroke
vehicles within BBMP limits.
Tackle illegal dumping of garbage on lake bund, say
residents
Niveditha Jain , Bengaluru: April 21, 2015, DHNS:
Even as the Bengaluru Urban district administration is carrying out an anti-encroachment drive at
Sarakki Lake, another issue which needs to be dealt with by the authorities immediately is the
dumping of garbage at the vast waterbody, residents and lake activists have said.
The residents complained that about 10-15 Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)
trucks unload the garbage at the lake bund during morning hours every day. While this is not the
end, lorries carrying construction debris too enter the lake, they added. "The unloading of
garbage and sorting out the waste are taking place since two to three years. They segregate
Page 6
and dump the unwanted things at the lake bund itself. We have raised this issue with the
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the Palike’s higher officials. But none of
them are interested in solving the problem. Since fencing of the lake is incomplete, miscreants
easily snug inside," a member from Sarakki Lake Area Improvement Trust said.
Kshitij Urs, one of the leaders of the People's Campaign for Right to Water, said the
organisation has filed a public interest petition at High Court about the illegal garbage dumping.
He added: “The garbage was being thrown directly into the lake earlier. Now, the builders and
miscreants make their way through the breached fence and dump (the garbage).”
Retired High Court judge Michael F Saldanha said the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board
(KSPCB) has powers to prosecute the people who pollute or dump the garbage into the lakes.
But the KSPCB is not exercising its authority to deal with the issue, he added. “Dumping the
litter at waterbodies is against the Environment Pollution Law and is a crime. BBMP can find
alternative venues for unloading and segregating the waste,” Justice Saldanha said. Also on the
same radar are other lakes such as Kacharakanahalli lake, Begur lake, Rampura lake,
Subramanyapura lake and others where authorised dumping has become rampant.
BBMP Joint Commissioner (Health) Yathish Kumar said they will issue a circular stating that
garbage should not be dumped into or near the water bodies. He added that it is the duty of the
Zonal Joint Commissioners to take action against those who pollute the lakes.
Why no CNG in govt
vehicles, asks HC
Bengaluru, April 23, 2015, DHNS:
on the same and that he has forwarded a
letter to the central government. The Centre
had in turn sought details about the air and
noise pollution in the City.
The bench directed the Additional Chief
Secretary M Madan Gopal, Secretary from
Ministry of Environment and Forests to come
up with short and long term plans to control
pollution. The bench sought details about
what various departments have done so far
and what they propose to do in future.
The High Court on Thursday asked the
State government why it has not
introduced CNG (compressed natural
gas) in government mass transport
vehicles in the City.
While hearing a suo motu PIL with regard to
air and noise pollution in the City, a division
bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela
and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy pulled up the
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board for
being inactive in controlling the noise and
air pollution and observed that the Board
has been inactive for the past 30 years.
During the hearing, the bench asked why
KSPCB’s order on not registering new
vehicles cannot be implemented. The
Transport Commissioner Ramalinga Gowda
said he was not competent to take decision
The traffic department made a submission
with regard to the steps taken by it to
control air pollution from April 1 to 22
stating that it has checked 29,810 vehicles,
booked 1,854 cases and collected Rs
6,56,259 as fine. With regard to sound
pollution, 29,912 vehicles were checked,
1,517 cases booked and Rs 5,87,700 was
collected as fine. Over 1,095 shrill horns
were also seized. The bench asked whether
they have seized diesel vehicles which are
more than 10 years old and if they have
conducted frequent emission tests on public
transport buses.
BBMP in its submission said the model
roads, Cubbon Road, Race Course Road and
Sankey Road will be ready by April 28 and
they have laid proper footpath for nearly
250 kms of the 1,450 kms of footpaths in
the City. The bench directed the
government department to come up with a
plan to control pollution levels in the City
and adjourned the next hearing to April 29.
Page 7
Only 50 villages in
Western Ghat of Goa ecosensitive: Report
PTI | Apr 26, 2015, 10.58PM IST
the talukas of Sattari, Sanguem and Canacona
can be marked as "eco-sensitive".
"As far as rest of the areas are concerned, only
certain parts of these villages in the proximity
of protected areas like wildlife sanctuaries can
be included as eco-sensitive," he said. The
government will send the report to MoEF by
June 15, which will be considered for final
notification of the eco-sensitive zones.
Earlier, the high-level working group of MoEF
headed by Dr Kasturirangan Committee on
Western Ghat had identified 1,461 sq km area,
covering 99 villages (entire villages) in three
talukas — Sattari (56), Sanguem (38) and
Canacona (five) — as eco-sensitive. Then chief
PANAJI: In a relief to over 40 villages of Goa,
minister Manohar Parrikar had refused to
the state government-appointed committee has accept the report stating that the ESAs were
said only 50 villages fall under eco-sensitive
declared keeping the state in dark.
areas (ESA) of the Western Ghats and not 99
as stated by Dr K Kasturirangan Committee.
Fears were raised that such a demarcation of
ESAs would affect local inhabitants. After
The state government panel's report comes
objection registered by several states, MoEF
after Dr Kasturirangan Committee, constituted had directed seven states in the Western ghat
by the ministry of environment and forest
to have physical demarcation of eco-sensitive
(MoEF), had marked 99 villages as ecoboundaries and submit the report for fresh
sensitive zones in Goa, ceasing development
consideration.
works in those areas.
The final date for submission was April 15. The
A senior state environment ministry official
Goa government, however, sought additional
told PTI on Sunday that only 50 villages from
time till June.
Green Tribunal sees red in sewage entering
Cooum river
DC | S. V. Krishna Chaitanya | April 28, 2015
Chennai: The southern zone of National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday directed
Chennai River Restoration Trust (CRRT) to arrest 101 ‘identified’ sewage outfalls on priority
to save Cooum from further degradation. The court has posted the next hearing to May 26.
The first Bench, comprising judicial member Justice M. Chockalingam and expert member
P.S. Rao was hearing the PIL filed by P. Edwin Wilson. The Bench observed that the CRRT
should first stop sewage entering Cooum before taking-up cleaning activity.
The Bench expressed disappointment over the affidavit filed by the Chennai Corporation,
wherein the civic body washed-off its hands from Cooum restoration. Justice Chockalingam
also expressed concern over the fast deteriorating health of Cooum river and inaction of
state government in the regard. Special government pleader Abdul Saleem submitted a
status and detailed project report of the Cooum River Improvement Project worth Rs
604.77 crore. However, Justice Chockalingam was critical and said, “things may look rosy
on paper, but what is critical is the good that happen on the ground”.
The Bench has asked CRRT to submit a chart on department-wise funds allocation, amount
Page 8
spent and the status of various projects undertaken in the next hearing. It has also
ordered the representatives of Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board and Chennai Metro Water
Supply and Sewage Board to be present during the next hearing without fail. “Major chunk
of funds are allocated to the Slum Clearance Board for eviction and resettlement of people
affected, but there is no information what the Board is doing on it,” Justice Chockalingam
told government pleader Abdul Saleem when the court was pleaded to order for eviction of
encroachers.
Just a foul and noisome cesspool:
The historic Cooum river, which was once a lifeline to Old Madras, has become a subject of
joke today. Whenever state governments come out with a new project to restore Cooum,
whose monetary allocation understandably runs into crores of rupees for obvious reasons,
people just say to themselves ‘not again’. Public at large no longer foresee a ‘clean’
Cooum. The last two generations have lived with the foul and noisome cesspool.
There are no proper records available on how much of tax payers’ money has drained into
Cooum so far. All successive governments make tall promises and come out with new
ideas and proposals to restore Cooum, but none of those projects is effective or probably
not intended to be effective.
Once used as a source for drinking water, transportation and navigation under the British,
the Cooum lost its well-being after harbor was built in Chennai in late 19th century,
affecting its natural flow and getting filled-up with sand leading to stagnation. Of course,
the constant pollution over the decades has literally choked it to death.
Rs 605 crore clean-up plan hinges on treatment plants:
According to rough estimates, every day 25-30 million litres of untreated sewage enters
Cooum. The culprits include metro water and several local panchayats along its 70 km
stretch who illegally let out untreated sewage and at times bring the waste in septic tanks
into Cooum, says noted environmentalist Nityanand Jayaraman.
The problem did not crop up recently. The industry, residents and successive government
have been abusing the river for ages, doing nothing. Now, the problem has grown to such
magnitude that whatever project that is envisaged is proving to be a utter waste of money
and time.
Available
Educational PowerPoint Presentations (PPTs) on
STOP WATER POLLUTION
SAVE PONDS AND LAKES
Download this PPT from our website:
www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM PPT section
Musi Among Most Polluted Rivers in Country: CPCB
Indian Express, April 27, 2015
Page 9
HYDERABAD: A recent report from the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that has listed
the Musi river stretch among the most polluted
rivers in the country and its water most
dangerous, has taken the State Pollution
Control Board by surprise. The Telangana
PCB disagrees with the report and has decided
to come up with its own ‘validated’ report.
The CPCB is monitoring water quality in India
under the National Water Quality Monitoring
Programme. The water quality data from
various monitoring locations are analysed and
based on the Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD) levels, the risk levels are identified.
BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen
needed by aerobic biological organisms in
water to break down organic material.
levels is nothing short of a blow to the State
government and its pollution board.
The BOD level in Musi near Nagole was 34
mg/l and in Hyderabad 23 mg/l. Similarly, near
Bachagudem in Medak district, the BOD level
was as high as 50 mg/l. The BOD levels, more
than 3 mg/l, means it does not meet the
desired water quality criteria. Water bodies
having BOD more than 6 mg/l are considered
polluted and identified for remedial action.
According to Raveendhar, Musi is
contaminated only for about 80 kms between
Nagole in Ranga Reddy and Rudraveli at the
Nalgonda border. “Quality of water is certainly
good after a certain stretch between Bapughat
to Pillayapalli. Almost 50 per cent of water is
treated. That is around 700 MLD. There are
“They have not got it right. We have raised our treatment plants at Amberpet, Nagole and
apprehensions and will soon come out with our Nallacharuvu. The Attapur plant is under
report. In fact, those are figures for up to 2012 construction,” he explained.
that they have released now,” said N
Raveendhar, senior environmental scientist,
Manjira river’s Gowdicharla stretch features on
TSPCB. Musi is one of the 42 rivers in the
the list of rivers with BOD levels between 20
country chosen under the National River
and 30 mg/l. River Krishna’s Wadepally stretch
Conservation Programme (NRCP). The
and Thangadi stretch in Mahbubnagar,
department of municipal administration and
Godavari’s Rajahmundry stretch, Maneru’s
urban development (MAUD) is the nodal
Warangal stretch, Tungabhadra’s
agency for NRCP on Musi, whereas,
Manthralayam stretch in Kurnool, and Pennar’s
HMWSSB and HMDA are the implementing
Puspagini stretch have all recorded water of
agencies. The latest report on Musi’s pollution undesirable quality.
that the college is situated inside the
Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.
Anand Engg College
situated inside bird
sanctuary: MoEF
Aditya Dev, TNN | Apr 23, 2015
The college has been under NGT's
scanner for violating environment and
wildlife norms after a petition was
submitted in October last year by DK
Joshi, a member of the Supreme Court
monitoring committee, claiming that the
college carried out illegal construction
work within the national bird sanctuary.
The NGT has issued a notice to the
Sharda Group, which owns the college,
and the six other respondents including
the Union ministry of environment,
forest and climate change, the UP
government, State Level Environment
AGRA: In a major blow to Anand
Impact Assessment Authority, Uttar
Engineering College, the Union ministry
Pradesh Pollution Control Board, UP
of environment and forest has accepted
forest department and Agra district
before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) magistrate.
Available
Educational PowerPoint Presentations (PPTs) on
THE FUTURE OF BIODIVERSITY
Download this PPT from our website:
www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM PPT section
Page 10
NGT directs pollution
control body to inspect
industries in Greater Noida
Indain Express
industries in the Greater Noida.
The NGT’s direction came after a plea was filed by
Greater Noida resident Yogesh Nagar, alleging that
extensive industrial activity was taking place in a
“clandestine manner”. This had led to large scale
pollution and contamination of groundwater in the
area. He also claimed that the industries were
extracting groundwater without permission,
resulting in a fall in the groundwater table.
The NGT bench directed the two bodies to “inspect
the area referred in the application and initiate
action in accordance with law against the industries
which have been particularly identified therein as
operating without permission”.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed
the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and
the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to
inspect and initiate action against polluting
Maharashtra government to
promote eco-tourism in
forested areas
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Fancy falling for the allure of the dark and deep woods
by going for a holiday there? The state government may
soon make this possible for you, with its plans to
promote eco-tourism in forested areas. This will also
help locals and tribals gain employment, thus improving
the quality of their lives.
The NGT directed the pollution watchdogs to place
their action report by the next day of hearing on
May 11.
conserving biodiversity and providing access to
employment for locals.
"We will develop different sites in the state. With a little
developmental work, they can offer avenues for people
to enjoy pure air," said Mungantiwar, adding that the
state will identify such locations, build motorable roads
and ensure proper sanitation.
In 2010, the Forest Development Corporation of
Maharashtra (FDCM) and Maharashtra Tourism
Development Corporation (MTDC) inked a MOU for
development of eco-tourism. The FDCM has begun
home-stay arrangements at some sites where they had
begun work, developed nature trails, trained local youth
to act as guides and for catering and house keeping and
also installed solar power equipment and bio-digestors
to treat sewage.
"Unfortunately, this (eco-tourism) has not caught up in
Maharashtra, development, if any, has been too far and
few," admitted Mungantiwar.
Maharashtra finance and forests ministerSudhir
Mungantiwar told dna: "We will develop eco-tourism
linked with forests." He added that apart from providing
an avenue to tourists to roam these pristine areas, this
will also boost employment for locals and tribals, who
can act as guides. Adventure sports facilities can also be
developed, he said.
Maharashtra's green cover
Maharashtra has a 61,734 sq km forest area, down from
63,544 sq km in 1960-61. The state has 8% of India's
forested area of 7,71,821 sq km. The area under forests
in Maharashtra is 52.07 lakh hectare or 16.9% of the
total 307.58 lakh hectare geographical area, making it
the second-largest land use after agriculture. The state
has six national parks, 47 wildlife sanctuaries and four
In his maiden budget presented in the state legislature,
conservation reserves with a tiger population of around
Mungantiwar had announced the establishment of a
'Nisarg Paryatan Vikas Mandal' (Eco-tourism promotion 190. Of the total forests in the state, 16% falls in the
dense category, 7% in scrub, 39% in open and 38%
board) for developing tourism in forest areas,
moderately dense.
Available
Educational PowerPoint Presentations (PPTs) on
FORESTS ARE GREEN LUNGS
Download this PPT from our website:
www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM PPT section
Page 11
Does it pay to be a farmer
in India?
RUKMINI S, THE HINDU
procurement agency, a minority report having
got the Minimum Support Price for their
produce.
Farmers often talk about the high – and rising
– costs of inputs, including water, seeds and
pesticides. So how does the output they earn
compare with the inputs they put into the
land?
Input costs work out to nearly 30 per cent of
the total output an average farm household
gets from a crop. mong inputs, fertilizers are
the most expensive, followed by labour.
Does this income get the family through the
month? For this, I compared income and
consumption expenditure for farm households
by the size of their landholdings.
How profitable is farming? The answer to this
most fundamental question about Indian
agriculture can be found in the National
Sample Survey Office’s new survey of India’s
agricultural households.
The average farm household makes Rs 6,426
per month. Where does this money come
from? Farm households do a mix of jobs. How
much exactly does growing a crop earn a
household? Sugarcane is by far the most
profitable crop to grow, while paddy (or wheat
in the first half of the year) brings a household
around Rs 30,000 for a six month season.
Who are most farmers selling their crops to?
First of all, over half of wheat and rice grown is
not sold at all, and is purely for the farm
household’s consumption. Of what is sold, the
vast majority is sold to the private trader, and
not the state-run mandi or procurement
agency. Among those who sell to the
A farm household needs to have at least 1
hectare of land to make ends meet every
month. But given that over 65 per cent of
households have less than one hectare of land,
this means that two out of three farm
households are simply not able to make ends
meet.
Unsurprisingly, what this translates into is
debt. Over half of all agricultural households
are indebted, and these are not small debts; the
average loan amount outstanding for a farm
household in India today is Rs. 47,000. For
marginal farmers, making under Rs 4,000 per
month, which doesn’t even cover their
consumption, loans of over Rs 30,000 must be
extremely heavy burdens. The southern states
stand out for their level of indebtedness.
Who are farmers borrowing from? Marginal
farmers rely chiefly on moneylenders, while
those with bigger landholdings go to banks.
From
Devinder Sharma, facebook
My article in Dainik Bhaskar today -- Successive Governments have ensured that farmers
remain impoverished. This has been done to ensure that your food remains cheap as well as the
industry gets its raw material cheap. Let me illustrate: In 1970, the minimum support price for
wheat was Rs 76 per quintal. Forty five years later, in 2015, wheat procurement price is Rs 1450
per quintal. In other words, in 45 years, wheat price has been raised by approximately 19 times.
Let’s compare this increase in wheat prices for farmers with the increase in salaries for different
sections. The average salary of central government employees has risen by 110 to 120 times; of
school teachers by 280 to 320 times; of college/university teachers by 150 to 170 times; and of
mid to high class corporate sector employees by 350 to 1000 times. In the same period, school
fees have increased by 200 to 300 times; medical treatment cost has gone up again by 200 to
300 per cent; and average house rent in cities has risen by 350 times. Now, imagine if you were
a farmer. Would you have been able to survive all these
years??http://epaper.bhaskar.com/detail/…
Page 12
Mangaluru: Traffic jam in city? Good Samaritan Abdul
Rauf to the rescue
Courtesy: Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Apr 22: While most of us scowl and shout and complain about traffic density
in the city, especially at peak hours, here's a man, a Good Samaritan, who has taken the
intiative to act and do something about it. Meet Abdul Rauf, popularly known as Rauf Bhai,
a traffic volunteer who has been clearing traffic jams across the city from the past twoand-a-half years. He has not only won the hearts of many locals but has also been
applauded by the traffic police for his dedicated service to the city.
Many of us may have seen him in action on a daily basis, but I was curious to know what
motivated him to undertake this weary job.
Rauf was born in Mahakali Padpu, Mangaluru, on February 7, 1972 as the third child of the
late J Abbas and Zubaida. He completed education only upto 8th standard from Cascia
High School. Rauf said that his favorite teacher was the late Nirmala, who taught Kannada,
and added that he was the only student who was never punished by the teachers.
His father passed away when he was in the 3rd standard. Though he managed to study till
8th standard, the situation at home did not allow him to continue his education any
further, as his mother alone could not fulfill the needs of the entire family. He had to
shoulder the responsibility of all his sisters, their education, and marriage.
After dropping out of school, he started to work in a Bolar provision store for a monthly
salary of Rs 4,000. This was not sufficient to meet the expenses of the family, so he
decided to work on his weekly off and during his free time. Rauf used to sell onions and
get 25 paise per sack as commission. He was paid Re 1 for selling one kilo of newspaper in
the morning and also Rs 5 for selling boxes of oil. Through such hard labour, he used to
earn another Rs 800 per month.
Rauf was just 13 when he dropped out of school, and he worked in the provision store for
18 years. In 1998, he joined MCC as a drainage pump operator on a contract basis and
used to earn a salary of Rs 4,200 per month. He served the MCC till 2012. In between,
from 1998, he worked as an agent undertaking jobs related to passports and ration cards,
driving license, etc.
The turning point came on a fateful Friday in 2012, when he went to a mosque for prayers,
and happened to witness a fight between the traffic police and the public. He intervened
and tried to stop the fight. Determined to prevent such fights from repeating, he took the
initiative to park the vehicles from the very next Friday onwards. The first three Fridays he
had to listen to comments from the public, but he knew exactly what he was doing and so
continued the work in spite of lack of cooperation from the people. From then on, he
dedicated himself to clearing traffic jams and wherever there was a gridlock, he would
volunteer and resolve the traffic.
Rauf rides a bicycle and on Mondays, he stations himself at Pumpwell, on Tuesdays near
Unity Hospital, on Wednesdays near PVS Circle, on Thursdays near Milagres and Town Hall,
on Fridays at the mosque behind the police commissioner's building, and on Saturdays at
Page 13
Kodialbail. "This is my daily schedule, but if necessary I wear the jacket which is always in
bag and clear traffic jams whenever I come across them."
Rauf is immensely grateful to assistant commissioner of police (ACP) traffic Uday Naik for
appreciating his efforts. He does not allow people to park vehicles in 'no parking' zones,
and makes sure that there is free flow of traffic. Uday Naik has promised him a job in the
traffic department and he will soon join the TWS (Traffic Warden Squad). Rauf is very
happy on receiving the uniform and says, "I am eager to start the work officially."
But survival is not easy for this Good Samaritan. Rauf is married to Zeenath and the
couple has three children - Abbas Hussain, Fathima Rahila, and Mohammed Raif. He says,
"I do volunteer jobs on all days of the week, but this does not help me look after my
family, so on Sundays when weddings are held in places like Bolar Shadi Mahal or Milagres,
I charge Rs 1,000 for managing traffic. Those who organize events call me and ask my
help to manage the traffic and this way I get income to run the family."
He says many asked him why, despite having so much knowledge about the functioning of
the MCC, he did not try to join local politics. He says, "I listen to my mother and she does
not wish me to join politics, and I respect her words. My wife is my inspiration."
Interestingly, three persons in the family - Rauf, his mother, and his son - all share the
same birth date - February 7. His mother was born on February 7, 1955, Rauf on February
7, 1972 and his son on February 7, 2006. Not only that, Rauf says he purchased his bicycle
on February 7, 1988. Needless to say, this date is very special to him.
His belief: "Life is like a bubble on water; it is not permanent, I don’t believe in religious
differences. The blood of all human beings is red. I don’t see whether it is a temple,
mosque or church - wherever there is a traffic jam I wear my jacket and clear the traffic.
Where there is traffic, you will find me."
Mangaluru: 22 Ursuline Franciscan Sisters profess vows
Media Release, courtesy:daijiword.com
Mangaluru, Apr 26: It was a special day in the life of 22 Sisters of Ursuline Franciscan
Sisters as they professed three vows namely chastity, poverty and obedience in the
presence of Sr Doreen D’Souza, Superior General during the solemn Eucharistic
celebration at St Vincent De Ferrer Church, Valencia recently. The Mass was officiated by
Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Bishop of Mangalore and was concelebrated by about 65
Priests and was witnessed by a large number of Sisters, Parents and relatives of the
Sisters and well wishers. These Sisters were felicitated after the Mass. Sr Doreen
D’Souza in her felicitation message asked the Sisters to see the face of Christ in the
deprived sections of the society, to stand by the Christian values with no compromise
whatsoever and to hold on to Christ to live their consecrated life for the mission of the
Church. This year 35 Ursuline Franciscan Sisters are making their Perpetual Profession in
four places - 22 Sisters in Mangaluru, 9 in Mysuru, 3 in Lucknow and 1 in Nagaland.
Page 14
A dramatic welcome for BJP
president, Amit Shah in
Meghalaya
TNT NEWS
‘We love beef and riots too’, ‘“Amit Shah, Go
back to Jail’.
The protest led by a pressure group Thma U
Rangli-Juki (TUR) was staged to oppose the
BJP for their ideals, religious politics and spate
of discriminating activities that occurred in the
country against the minority communities. The
‘beef party’ was held near the State BJP office,
wherein issues pertaining to the attack by
Sangh Parivar outfits on democratic and
secular ideals were discussed besides a hearty
lunch served with beef on the road outside the
Raj Bhavan.
“We are peaceful people and we don’t like these
‘Ambassadors of Hate’ coming to our town and
SHILLONG: Empty streets, ridiculing songs,
the protest is to show that we are against all of
angry media persons and a fickle weather
their hate campaigns. The protest was
greeted the national president of BJP, Amit
specifically held today as Amit Shah symbolises
Shah during his maiden visit to Meghalaya.
BJP,” TUR convener Angela Ryngad said
Topping the list, the ‘Beef party’ became a
adding that they will not tolerate any of their
catchy headline not only for the print and
anti-people policies, ‘And in Meghalaya, it is
electronic media, but also the common people
very important for us to show that we do not
of the state. What looked like a peaceful, joyous
welcome such criminals,’ she added.
demonstration, the beef party was however,
In the meantime, Shah attended a meeting
filled with songs like ‘Our message to you
with the party members of the state unit of BJP
Modi!!!’, which ridiculed the BJP for its alleged
and held another meeting with the state
anti-minority ideals along with placards and
religious leaders and NGOs in Shillong here on
banners that read ‘Pick one, ban culture or
Wednesday.
bandh culture’, ‘Made in India, BJP fascism’,
Puthige Swamiji addresses UN meet on tolerance, emphasizes
respect for all faiths
United Nations, Apr 23 (IANS): As sectarian violence tears apart societies and
atrocities are promoted in the name of faith, religious leaders gathered here for a highlevel meeting on tolerance and countering extremism raised their voice for reconciliation
and peace through education. "Building a peaceful and inclusive society" requires
"respecting each and every religion and honoring each and every faith," said Sri
Sugunendra Theertha, the head of the Udupi Shree Puthige Math. He was one of the
speakers Wednesday at a High-level Thematic Debate on "Promoting Tolerance and
Reconciliation: Fostering Peaceful, Inclusive Societies and Countering Violent Extremism"
that was convened by General Assembly President Sam Kutesa. He said Hindu philosophers
Page 15
and teachers over the millennia have taught people to respect other religions and this
attitude was needed to bring peace.
He recounted the experience of Acharaya Madhava, the 13th century founder of the
Dvaita school of Hindu philosophy to whom his Math, or seat of religious learning, traces
its lineage. On a pilgrimage to the north of India, Madhava was confronted by the army of
a king "of another faith," he said. Madhava went up to him respectfully and held a dialogue
with him. The king was touched by this action of peace and openess and gave him a share of
his kingdom, Sugunendra Theertha said.
In dealing with extremism, he said, a baffling problem was that "using violence to counter
violence results in more violence and aggression. Instead, he said, "education was a
peaceful weapon" to counter extremism. He suggested that all schools should teach the
Bible, the Koran, the Granth and the Vedas. "Act like a bee, which collects honey from all
flowers," he said. "Collect the best from all religions and distribute love and peace."
Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, the chairman of the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha in
Birmingham, Britain, spoke of the need for reconciliation in a time of sectarian strife.
"Reconciliation is inextricably linked to compassion and forgiveness for ensuring
sustainable peace," Ahluwalia said. Some people were quoting isolated passages from
religious texts to promote extremism in the name of faith, he said. To counter this,
religious scholars need to work to clear misquotations of religious texts for extremism, he
said. "It is only through empowering the mind of the individual through good values and
virtues is it possible to foster a peaceful and inclusive society," he said.
Speaking at Wednesday's session, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said, "Religion does not
cause violence; people do.""Violent extremism is not a North-South or East-West issue," he
said. "It is not confined to a particular region or religion. It transcends borders and exists
across the world." To counter the attraction of extremism to young people, Ban said, "We
must show them another way, a better way. That includes working to end poverty,
inequality and lack of opportunity".
To get the full flavor of an herb, it must be pressed between the
fingers, so it is the same with the Scriptures; the more familiar
they become, the more they reveal their hidden treasures and yield
their indescribable riches.
— John Chrysostom, A.D. 347-407
Here is an opportunity for you to get more and more familiar with
the scriptures by studying Bible. For simple, short and reader
friendly articles on Bible Study. Visit our website
www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in
go to BIBLE QUEST section
click – Bible Study part 1, part 2 and part 3 documents
Page 16
Up the aisle and then to
file....
By Adv Aileen Marques
As an advocate practicing in the Courts in Mumbai
over the past so many years, there is one aspect of
human relationships that strikes me the most. The From name to a house and then a home... it is all
aspect of knot and unknot is what I am talking new. With empowerment has come the funda of
about here.
adding your husband's surname after your maiden
surname. Doesn't this lead to a new identity in
Till some time ago... many youngsters I met during itself? Isn’t it a facade? For men, it is the addition
workshops would say they would get married at to his family, another woman to care for him,
Bandra Court if their parents didn’t agree to the another mouth to feed etc etc. Weddings are
marriage. And I would get back and say “but expensive these days -more with a theme wedding
weddings do not happen in Bandra Court, they and a destination wedding. The wedding is that one
happen at the Office of the Sub-Registrar situated in day of bliss and joy which should pave the way for
the Mhada office in Bandra”. This was a new a happy married life. However the couple is bogged
learning for many, who have been mobbed by down with the anxiety of wedding planning,
lawyers outside Bandra court. Ofcourse now the expenses and customs and marriage takes a
office is shifted to Khar!!
backseat while the wedding becomes the focus.
Few steps away from the Mhada office is the
Family court, where on an average 60-70 cases are
on the daily board of each of the 7 courts - most of
them for divorce. Many of the couples are young;
married for about 2-4 years and now seeking a
divorce. There are couples who courted/dated and
then married and then there are those who had a
phat mangni and phat shaadi. Incompatibility,
temperamental
issues,
finances,
cultural
differences, violence etc. are some of the issues that
people mention as reasons for divorce.
And that's where I see the problem. Instead of
focusing on the wedding day, I think couples
should focus on the days, months and years that
follow the wedding day. They should talk and share
about the married life they intend to have, the
responsibilities that they are willing to share and
adjustments that they are willing to make.
Communication and personal sharing is the key
here. I see this as a major issue among young
couples these days. It is all taken for granted.
Up the aisle and then soon to file is a difficult
situation. The law has its parameters so you cannot
hurry with a divorce. The wedding loans are still
being paid and now a new expense for divorce.
Knots have to be unknotted and it takes an
emotional toll on the couple and their families leave
alone the time spent in court rooms and court
corridors and at the lawyer's office. So make an
informed decision about your choice of partner.
Take time to interact with each other and
communicate your fears, anxieties and dreams. Do
not hurry into a marriage...hurry can be a
A marriage is a life time decision. For the woman disadvantage.
she lets go of her old identity and adopts a new one.
I often wonder if, when people hurry into a
marriage for various reasons, are they even aware
that divorce will be a long drawn battle. Guess
most of the times, it is inauspicious to think about
divorce at the time of marriage. I am of the opinion
that if some time is taken to know, understand and
inquire about the person, the family, the educational
and professional background and finances, the
cases of divorces may reduce. An informed
decision is what I highly recommend.
Pashupatinath stands tall amid Nepal earthquake
destruction
Bella Jaisinghani,TNN | Apr 28, 2015
Page 17
MUMBAI: Saturday's earthquake in Nepal
shares an astounding similarity with the flash
floods that hit Uttarakhand in June 2013. Just
as the Kedarnath temple stood firm when all
around it collapsed, the shrine of
Pashupatinath remains intact although
structures in the same complex have crumbled.
Both Kedarnath and Pashupatinath are
signature temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in
their respective hilly regions. Shiva is both
creator and destroyer of the Universe.
Religious experts are overawed at this
miraculous coincidence.
Spiritual guru Mukesh Trivedi from Borivli
says the fact that both Kedarnath and
Pashupatinath stand tall can be partly
attributed to their sturdy and scientific
construction centuries ago. "Our forefathers
prepared the temple layout with vast
boundaries so that many square yards around
the shrine were left undisturbed. Now new
constructions have encroached upon this
territory without a care for environmental
balance," he says.
Acharya Avdhesh Kumar Pandey of Birla
Mandir, New Delhi, says, "Natural calamities
become a time for man to introspect. It is
humbling to see Kedarnath and Pashupatinath
both remain untouched. The intent behind the
construction of a temple matters greatly. These
days, large trusts build grand temples and
install donation boxes with a view to
generating wealth. It shocks me to see that
even the idol is sometimes installed without
'pran pratishtha' (consecration). Some sell
tickets even to enter, and charge money for
boarding and lodging. In olden days temple
trusts welcomed sages and saints with grace,
and made provision for langar and
dharamshalas for visitors. Now they build
factories with temple collections."
Ramesh Gandhi, spokesman of Mumbai's
Babulnath temple, says, "Both Kedarnath and
Pashupatinath are 'akhand' (indestructible)
because these are considered the holy seat of
Lord Shiva."
Mukeshbhai says the warnings contained in
the Uttarakhand floods have gone unheeded.
"Shrines cannot be treated like picnic spots.
Excess tourism and commercialization is
detrimental to the peace of these temple towns.
Lodges and roads are built on fragile rocky
ground. Instead of reopening the shrines
within months of the disaster to resume
earning revenue, the government should
regulate visitors and allow online darshan," he
says.
Where Is God in Nepal?
Rabbi Evan Moffic, www.huffingtonpost.com
The death toll from the earthquake in Nepal continues to climb. Hundreds of thousands of
people have lost their homes. The future looks bleak.
What should we do? Our first responsibility is to help. We can give our support to those who are
building hospitals, providing food, offering shelter. Here's one way to do so.
We may also find ourselves wondering what kind of God allows such a tragedy to happen. In the
Bible God splits the Red Sea. God topples the walls of Jericho. God heals the sick and frees the
captive. How can such a God not stop a devastating earthquake?
The Easy Answers
Traditional religious theology gives us two possible answers. The first is that God's ways are
mysterious. We do not know why God acts or does not act. To think we can know is hubris and
oversteps our limits as human beings. This is the message God gives near the conclusion of the
biblical Book of Job.
Page 18
The other answer is to believe God has an overarching plan we cannot know. Everything
happens for a reason, so this argument goes, and we will only know it in the afterlife.
The problem with both these answers is the way they see God. They view God as a Zeus-like
supernatural being who can stop an earthquake with the snap of the divine fingers. They assume
God is either all-powerful or nothing at all.
God is not a Cosmic Magician
Judaism offers a different perspective. God is not a cosmic magician. God is the ground of being.
God is the power that fuels the world. And the existence of the world depends on freedom. We
rarely hear biologists or cosmologists ask why God could allow earthquakes or tsunamis to
happen. That is not because they lack faith. Francis Collins, the director of the Human Genome
project, is an evangelical Christian.
The reason is they know a degree of freedom and randomness in our world is a precondition for
human life. If the world was totally predictable, we would not have genetic mutations, natural
selection and change. Without freedom we would not have life. Without earthquakes we would
not have an inhabitable planet.
This perspective may seem cruel. It means we have to accept tragedy and pain as a part of life.
But it also means God is with us through such tragedy and pain. And it means God beckons us to
continue to grow and change.
God's Hands are Our Hands
Because we are free, we can find new ways to save lives. We can build better early warning
systems and more effective structures for getting aid to people in need. We can honor the dead
by finding ways to help those who live. We can use our God-given minds to bring the world as it
is closer to the world as it ought to be.
God is not absent in Nepal. God is in tears of survivors who reach out in pain to comfort one
another. God is in the hearts linking us to those suffering around the world. And God is in the
hands reaching out in love to help, heal and rebuild.
WANTED HELPING HANDS- Courtesy: Daijiworld.com
For more appeals visit – www.daijiworld.com - charity
Jovita Fernandes(15),H No.2-111-1,Kedalakere Road, Alangar574227
Monday, April 20, 2015
Jovita Fernandes(15),D/o Jerome Richard Fernandes, was admitted to KMC hospital Mangaluru,
with history of fever, unwell and bruises. She was previously well and active. On examination she
was noted to be pale,and has had hepatosphlenomegaly, bruises and petichial rashes. The full
blood count showed low hemoglobin 9.5, white cell count 15000 with platelet count of 21000 and
abnormal cells on the peripheral smear. The bone marrow morphology, flow cytometry are
suggestive of Pre B type of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
Her medical treatment was started as per UKALL 2003 guidelines. The intended treatment will last
for 3 years. It is delivered in phases like Induction (5 weeks), Consolidation (6 weeks), Interim
maintenance (8 weeks), delayed intensification (7 weeks) and maintenance phases (2.5 years).
She will also need regular lumbar puncture and intrathecal methotrexate administration as per the
protocol.
The cehmotherapy drugs included in the treatment are Vincristine, Peg Asparaginase,
Page 19
Daunorubicin, Dexamethasone, Cytarabine,Cyclophosphamide and Methotrexate. Apart from this
she needs to undergo multiple lumbar punctures with intrathecal methotrexate administrations,
frequent presentation to the hospital for medications, blood tests, blood transfusion,
infections(febrile
neutropenia).
Jovita will require around Rs 8 lacs rupees to complete the treatment.
Her father has studied up to 4th standard and working as Attender in Indian school, Oman. Her
mother is a home maker. Jovita's 19 years old brother has borderline intelligence and is unable to
do a steady job.He has not been able to complete SSLC.
The family has exhausted all the savings and also borrowed from friends and well wishers. They
have requested donors to help them in their predicament. Your donations may please be sent to
the following bank account.
Bank Account No.: 016700101014732
Account Holder: Jovita Fernandes
Corporation Bank,
167, Alangar, Post Box 3,
Moodbidri 574227.
IFSC Code: CORP0000167
Mobile No. Celine (Aunt) 91 95388 40251, Dony (Uncle) 91 94801 58180
U P Moideen Kunhi (52),K C Nagar, U G Gate,Talapady, Mangaluru575024
Saturday, April 11, 2015
U P Moideen Kunhi (52), is suffering from end stage renal disease. He requires lifelong renal
replacement therapy in the form of hemodialysis twice a week. The cost of this procedure is
approximately Rs 2,40,000/- per year excluding medicines and investigations.
He has two daughters and a son. His wife is rolling beedies but the income is not sufficient for the
household expenses and the medical treatment of Moideen Kunhi. He has requested kind hearted
people to remit donations to his bank
account to meet his medical treatment. He says that he will pray to the Almighty for the donors
and their families.
Remittances may please be sent to his following bank account:
Bank Account No.: 120501011001977
Name of the Account Holder: Moidin Kunhi U P
Bank: Vijaya Bank, Sri Ram Prasad Building
Ferry Road, Talapady, Mangaluru -575024
IFSC Code: VIJB0001205
Telephone No. 91 99026 98486
Published by Fr Felix Rebello
c/o St Francis Xavier Church, Panvel
Tel: 2745 5556, Email:panvelchurch@gmail.com, gemenewsletter@gmail.com
website: www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in
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