E-Weekly-3/48
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice.
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
 Why you can never find garbage
in Sweden
 GEM Inspirational series
 GEM Readers’ Letters
 From July, failure to segregate
waste could land you in jail
 First step to solve the garbage
problem
 Committed to use God’s energy
for the betterment of people
 Mumbai uses less water for Holi as
Maharashtra hit by drought
 Over 680 trees in city to face the
axe
 Church helps civic body dispose ewaste
 Reuse that bag!
 Sparrows lose homes in urban
jungle
 Water, My Resourceful Friend,
Under Threat
 Vidarbha gets its first generic
medicines shop
 Pope Francis meets with 6,000
Journalists
 Pope Francis washes women’s
feet on Maundy Thursday
 Letter to Pope from the forests of
India
 Jesuits discuss social justice in
changing India
 Workers demand Easter holiday
 Bishop Gerald aims to make
Udupi a model diocese
 Reverend opens his church doors
to Muslims so they can have place
to worship
 For Holi, Hindus and Muslims
come together in UP
 GEM PLUS- appeals etc
 GEM LAUGH TIME
Thought for the week
Please, I would like to ask all those who have positions of
responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men
and women of goodwill: let us be “protectors” of creation,
protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one
another and of the environment. Let us not allow omens of
destruction and death to accompany the advance of this world!
Pope Francis
Why you can never find
garbage in Sweden
Even as Indian cities like Bangalore
slowly transform into one huge garbage
dump thanks to faulty civic planning,
Sweden finds itself with a unique
problem on its hands: there's no
garbage left in the country. The
Scandinavian
nation
has
been
'importing' trash from neighbouring
Norway to feed its waste-to-energy
programme that provides, through
incineration, heat and electricity to
thousands of households in the country
with a population of 9.5 million.
products and product packaging.
Sweden has encouraged heavy recycling
by combining economic incentives, such
as garbage collection fees, with easy
access to recycling stations and public
awareness campaigns, says the Toronto
Star report. In 2005, Sweden made it
illegal to landfill organic waste.
The story first broke on the American Instead, the waste is biologically
public radio organization Public Radio treated to make compost, biogas and
International and has since been picked fertilizer.
up by a number of green blogs and
websites. Sweden's superefficient waste However, the bulk of the waste is
into
energy
through
segregation and recycling systems have converted
made sure only about 4% of the processes that have been refined over
country's waste ends up in landfills. the years to be as clean and
environmentally sustainable as possible.
So how did Sweden get so good at In fact, Sweden claims that the damage
waste management, and what can other to the environment caused by the
countries learn from it? Firstly , Sweden release of dioxins, harmful chemicals
started putting effective systems in released when waste is incinerated, is
place from the early 1990s and took a less than the damage caused by the
holistic approach, through policy burning of fossil fuels.
changes, engagement with industry and
awareness programmes , to reach out Thanks to these proactive measures ,
to all stakeholders of Swedish society. landfilling of household waste fell from
Producers were made responsible for 1,380,000 tonnes in 1994 to 380,000
dealing with several categories of tonnes in 2004. Around 1.3 million
waste. Landfill bans and taxes were tonnes of materials and 5.7 TWh
introduced , and targets set set for (terawatt hour) of energy in the form of
increased recycling. More than 90% of heat and electricity were recovered
household waste in Sweden is recycled , from household waste in 2004: an
increase of 140% and 70%, respectively,
reused or recovered.
since 1994. Surely, Sweden is showing
By law, companies are responsible for Asia's growing cities how to make a
collecting the entire waste-stream clean sweep.
stemming from their products, either
on their own or through public or pri.org; naturvardsverket.se
Source - Times of India
private contractors, writes Magnus Sector - Recycle / Reuse / Reduce
Schonning in the Toronto Star. There is
Read later : From July, failure to segregate
a strong economic incentive for
waste could land you in jail
companies to produce less waste from
GEM INSPIRATIONAL SERIES
Stress-free Formula For A Happy Life
By: Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, Speaking Tree, TOI
On a visit to the USA I happened to meet an Asian immigrant, let’s call him SA. I found that he
was a man with a difference. At all times he was in a happy mood. His colleagues also affirm
that he is quite different from other people. In the course of a conversation, I asked him how he
was such a stress-free person, while others were living in stress. He smiled and said: “God
Almighty made me and threw the mould away.”
It was then my good fortune to be invited by SA to stay with him for a few days. Accepting this
offer allowed me to discover the secret of his different personality. My stay with him helped me
discover the formula for his happy, stress-free life. When I was with him at his home, one of his
relatives came to him in an angry mood. He said, “Mr. So-and-So is trying to distort your
image. He is engaged in negative propaganda against you.” The visitor continued in this way,
but SA listened to him dispassionately. Finally the man said in annoyance, “I am telling you
something as serious as this, and you are not responding.” SA said in an unruffled way: “Yeh
unka problem hai, mera problem to nahin.” -- It is his problem, and not mine!
The next day we had planned a sight-seeing trip to a number of places, but for some reason at
the eleventh hour, I said, “I’m not in a mood to go out. Let’s stay at home.” SA replied very
calmly: “Chalo, yeh bhi theek hai” -- No problem, this is also okay. During my stay with SA, I
discovered these two formulas for his happiness. I think these are applicable to every man and
woman. Everyone can adopt these formulas, achieve a stress-free life and live in happiness. The
first principle, “It is his problem, not mine” can described as the art of problem management. In
life there are always problems, and the best formula is to try to manage them rather than try
to eliminate them. You have to learn the art of problem management, and then you can have
a life where there is no stress or tension.
The second principle, “No problem, this is also okay”, can be described as: If you don’t get the
first good, be content with the second good. It is a fact that in every situation there is always
something that can be called the “second good”. All that is required is to accept the second
good and forget the first good. According to psychological studies, every problem begins in the
mind, and it is also in the mind where problems can be solved. So it is like changing your
intellectual gear. If you are able to do that, then you have found the super-formula for destressing.
You are more precious than everything else. So always try to save yourself. If in any situation,
you have lost something, even then you have something, and that is yourself. So forget what is
lost and take that which still exists for you. This is the best formula for attaining a happy life. A
happy life can often only be achieved in unhappy conditions. Life is the art of management.
You cannot change the world, but you can manage yourself in order to find a happy place for
yourself in the world. This is the only workable formula for happiness in this world.
READERS’ LETTERS
From,
rose.celinebs@gmail.com
Your articles are informative and motivators for a better living. Thanks.
Happy Easter to you. May we preserve and promote new life given to us by
Christ
Rose Celine BS
From,
joesj_7@yahoo.com
Congrats and keep up your Peace Pact movement in union with Pope Francis
1!
Fr. Joe D'Abreo.S.J.
From,
mkmyeow@pacificinsurance.com.my
Dear Sir,
I find your newsletters very inspiration and interesting!!! Kindly also re forward
this newsletter to my personal email. Thanks and God Bless you!
Regards,
Michael KM Yeow, OSt.J
From,
venita.s.j.f@gmail.com
Many thanks for the emails sent. They are very interesting and are for the good
of Mother Earth.
God bless you.
sr. venita
From
triveni.2com@gmail.com
Food for thought:
http://henrikvaleur.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/the-horrendous-costs-ofmotorized-transportation-in-indian-cities/
ecofriendly detergent for your washing machine
http://www.dailydump.org/products/harmless-home.
We just have to find the cost and see if sourcing can be done at a cheaper
price.
kussh
From,
ohazra <ohazra@aol.com>
here is more on gm foods . Someone has sent you a message from Nation of
Change
Orla
Monsanto’s Death Grip on Your Food
By Fritz Kreiss
Monsanto’s near-monopoly gives the company the right to control access to a staple food
item that is found in a wide range of consumer products. Monsanto has yet another case
pending in the court system, this time before the U.S. Supreme Court on the exclusivity
of its genetically modified seed patents. Narrowly at issue is whether Monsanto retains
patent rights on soybeans that have been replanted after showing up in generic stocks
rather than being sold specifically as seeds, or whether those patent rights are
“exhausted” after the initial planting.
But more broadly the case also raises implications regarding control of the food supply
and the patenting of life—questions that current patent laws are ill-equipped to
meaningfully address. On the specific legal issues, Monsanto is likely to win the case
(they almost always do). The extant facts make this a relatively poor platform to serve
as a test case of Monsanto’s right to exert such expansive powers. The farmer in this
situation had previously purchased Monsanto soybeans for planting (back in 1999), and in
this instance bought previously harvested soybeans with the intention of planting them –
even spraying Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide on them in the hopes that at least some of
the generic stock would be of the so-called “Roundup Ready” variety.
Despite this unfortunate posture, the case does provide another opportunity for critical
inquiry regarding the unprecedented and perverse level of control Monsanto is asserting
over the food supply. It is estimated that 90 percent of the soybeans in the U.S. are
genetically modified and thus subject to potential patents. A random handful of
soybeans procured anywhere is likely to contain at least some Monsanto-altered beans.
Such a near-monopoly effectively gives Monsanto the right to control access to a staple
food item that is found in a wide range of consumer products. Other variations on this
theme include pollen from Monsanto corn (similarly dominant in the U.S. market)
pollinating a farmer’s crop, or seeds from Monsanto-engineered grains being
distributed by animals, winds, or waterways and commingling with non-GMO plantings.
In each case, Monsanto could have a cause of action against an unwitting farmer by
claiming patent infringement.
More broadly, and unlikely to be addressed in the instant case, is whether Monsanto
(or any other company) should be able to patent seeds – the core of global food
supplies, and thus of sustenance for billions of people—in the first place. Activists will
decry the fact that Monsanto is patenting life, and this is indeed an Orwellian (or
perhaps a Huxleyan) prospect, to be sure. Yet I would submit that Monsanto is actually
patenting death, which is potentially even more disconcerting. Consider that by
exerting this level of control over the food supply, Monsanto is rapidly creating a world
in which people have to pay fealty to the corporation in order to grow food and/or
consume it. In this sense, Monsanto gains enormous power to determine who is allowed
to eat – and thus who lives or dies.
Consider further that Monsanto’s patents also include technologies in which seeds are
sold that cannot propagate themselves, resulting in plants terminating rather than
perpetuating, requiring farmers to have to go back to the “company store” in order to
replant their fields.
In the case currently before the Court, shades of the latter issue are present, with the
question being whether the seeds of the seeds of Monsanto creations retain their
exclusive patent rights—possibly in perpetuity. This sort of argument might give us
cause to wonder whether an animal (or even a human being, someday?) who consumes
these proprietary foods could be implicated in such assertions if they are somehow
genetically altered in the process. Perverse slippery slopes aside, the permeation of
patentable materials throughout the food chain is by now a clear and present danger.
These are troubling trends indeed. Monsanto wants the right to exert perpetual
control, and with it the power to make decisions about who/what lives or dies. In
addition to seed patents, their corporate creations include herbicides, pesticides, and
biocides that toxify soils and poison waters. Genetically modified foods increasingly
dominate the U.S. food supply (and supplies elsewhere, at least where they haven’t
been explicitly banned) despite insufficient testing and concerns about their health
impacts. The ability of corporations like Monsanto to continue plying such products
with little oversight constitutes a de facto consumer beta test on a mass level, the full
effects of which may not be known for decades, if ever.
Taking all of this together, it increasingly appears that Monsanto is patenting death,
perhaps even more so than life. Their patent rights should not trump the rights of
people to procure safe, healthy, living foods. Whatever the result in the Supreme
Court case, we should roundly deem Monsanto a loser in the court of public opinion,
and strive to loosen their death grip on our food supply.
A version of this article originally appeared on Alternet
AVAILABLE
Educational PowerPoint Presentation
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
Download it from our website:
www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM section
From July, failure to segregate waste could
land you in jail
By Bhavika Jain, TNN | Feb 9, 2013,
MUMBAI: In an unprecedented attempt to enforce 100% door-to-door segregation and
collection of waste, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to
aggressively prosecute defaulters. Other than a fine of up to Rs 50,000, the punishment
for repeated non-compliance could even include imprisonment for office-bearers of the
defaulting society or the flat owners. Jail term would be decided by court. The civic
authority will make segregation of dry and wet waste at source compulsory from July.
The circular, issued by deputy municipal commissioner ( solid waste management)
Prakash Patil, states that by July, the BMC will make available all the infrastructure
needed for the initiative. It will purchase additional collection compactors and upgrade
segregation centres. The BMC will stop accepting mixed waste.
The civic body will issue a notice to any society that fails to segregate waste and initiate
prosecution proceedings in accordance with the Municipal Solid Waste Rules 2000. There
is a provision for a minimum penalty of Rs 1,000. The society will be given a notice period
of 30 days before it is fined. If a society fails to comply with the rules after three notices,
the BMC could file a case in a metropolitan court.
Civic officials added that societies will be sent a special notice listing guidelines on how to
go about segregating waste. They will be allowed to engage a rag-picker for their dry
waste; this could earn them revenue. In case a society cannot find a rag-picker on its own,
the BMC will give it a list of NGOs in an area and the society can choose from them.
Currently, the BMC collects door-to-door waste from 30-40% households; less than 2%
waste is being segregated.
This time, the BMC will have to meet the target as it is one of the service level
benchmarks prescribed by the Union ministry of urban development. Failure will make
the BMC ineligible for Central funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewal
Mission (JNNURM). The 100% collection has to be achieved by March 2014 and
segregation by 2015. Similar initiatives were undertaken earlier but due to lack of
infrastructure for collection, transportation and disposal, the practice did not take off.
First step to solve the garbage
problem is
SEGREGATION OF GARBAGE AT SOURCE,
i.e. every household segregates the waste produced at their home
INTO DRY AND WET. EXAMPLE
DRY GARBAGE
i.e. Non-organic,
Recyclable,
Reusable or miscellaneous
Waste includes-
Plastics, Metal
Coconut shell
Thermacol, foam
Rexene, Battery cells, Paper,
Cloth
Rubber, Bulbs….etc
WET GARBAGE
i.e. Organic or Natural
waste includes
Vegetable waste
Food waste
Garden waste
Wood pieces
Hair/nails
Egg shells
Bones, flesh, used cotton… etc
TRANSFORMING GARBAGE INTO
FERITLE MANURE IN A SIMPLE WAY
HOME COMPOSTING – STEP BY
STEP
Keep two bins/buckets in your kitchen, one for wet garbage and other for dry garbage.
All dry items (papers, metals, glass pieces, plastic etc) put it in the bin meant for dry
garbage.
All kitchen waste (left out food, vegetable/fruit peels, used tea powder, fish/meat bones etc)
put it in the bin meant for wet garbage.
 Daily shift the contents of wet garbage to a bigger vessel kept on the terrace, balcony,
garden, courtyard etc. This vessel must have a few outlets at the bottom (or a tap) for the
watery substance to flow out.
 Day by day the waste keeps decomposing reducing its volume
When the first drum gets nearly filled, use the second drum to put the fresh garbage
produced and so on
 When the garbage of the previous vessel turns blackish, it may be used for your garden.
 Liquids also may be sprayed for faster decomposition and prevention of foul smell
[in a village set up the wet waste is simply buried in the soil. A good example of nature’s
wealth going back to nature]
Note:
Mentioned above is the simple method which can be followed by individual
households. To handle the wet waste in a bigger scale, say housing society level,
there are experts who can give professional training on composting.
HERE ARE SOME OF COMPANIES, NGOs & INDIVIDUALS FROM
VARIOUS INDIAN CITIES WHO MAY BE CONTACTED FOR
TRAINING/GUIDANCE ON WASTE MANAGEMENT (list not
exhaustive)
Bangalore
Bhopal
Gujarat
Goa
Kerala
Mumbai
and
Navi
Mumbai
Noida
Pune
Tamilnadu
►Waste Wise Trust,C/O Mythri Sarva Seva Samithi,51/2, 5th Main, 3rd 'A' Cross,
OMBR Layout, Lal Bahadur Nagar, Bengaluru - 560 043,INDIA. Phone:91 80 2545
9363 / 64, Website: www.wwt.co.in, Email: wastewisetrust@gmail.com
►Poonam Kasturi: dailydumpcompost@gmail.com
►Devendra Goyal - +91-9845364203; email – janusisolutions@yahoo.com
►International Institute of Waste Management (IIWM),Samaj Sewa Nyas Building,
E-8,Extension, Arera Colony, Bhopal,Tel:0755-2422360, Email:
iiwmbpl@gmail.com,iiwmmpl@iiwm.in
►Narendra Jindal – Mob. 09869461942; email: narendrajindal48@yahoo.co.in
Urban Management Centre (UMC), 3rd Floor, AUDA Building, Usmanpura, Ashram
Road, Ahmedabad 380 014.Gujarat; 079-27546403/ 5303/ 1599, Email:
info@umcasia.org
Green Goa Works, Letcia Apartments, Khorlim, Mapuca, Goa. Tel: 2255217.
BIOTECH HEAD OFFICE – Thiruvananthapuram. (location)
PB No. 520, MP Appan Road, Vazhuthacaud, Thycad P.O, Thiruvananthapuram
(Dist). PIN – 695014, Kerala, +91-471-2331909, 2321909, 2332179 Fax :-91-4712332179, Email : biotechindia@eth.net
►Bandra: Denzil Rego +91 9221472472, www.helm.org.in
►Chembur: Stree Mukti Sanghatana (SMS). Chembur: 25297198,
email:smsmum@vsnl.com
►Dadar: Stree Mukti Sanghatana (SMS). Tel. No. 24174381 (Dadar),
email:smsmum@vsnl.com
►Govandi: Stree Mukti Sanghatana (SMS). Govandi: 65745835/65745840,
email:smsmum@vsnl.com
►Kandivli: GARBAGE CONCERN: Email – francinpinto@gmail.com,
Tel.02228680636/9820702096/9892027518.
►Mahim: Dr Emmanuel D’Silva, Environmental Scientist: Email –
ehdsilva@yahoo.com
►Mumbai BMC: Subhash Patil, Officer on Special Duty: 9322835712; Seema
Redkar, Community Development Officer, BMC: 9820165156; Raj Kumar Sharma:
9820989310 ; Email - almanac.rks@gmail.com
►Navi Mumbai: Vani S. Karnik – Email – sridharkarnik@gmail.com, Tel. 27526668,
9819934022; GEM Resource Team – Douglas Menezes – Mob. 9004082825; Vidip
Jatia – Email – vidipjatia@hotmail.com
Ecowise Waste Management Pvt Ltd, C-27/98, Sec. 41, Noida, UP
Tel: 0120-2500614, 9811177864,9953644092; Email: info@eco-wise.info
Website: www.eco-wise.info
►ARTI’ web site: http://www.arti-india.org/ EMAIL : contact@arti-india.org:
TELEPHONES: 91-20-24390348 / 24392284, 91-20-24390348
►Devendra Goyal – janusisolutions@yahoo.com
►Mr. G.Vasudeo, Secretary, Vivekananda Kendra – NARDEP, Kanyakumari – 629
702, Tamil Nadu, email: vknardep@gmail.com, website: vknardep.org, phone
04652- 246296 (office).
►JDR Ecoclean Pvt Ltd, 326 patel road, Coimbatore 641009, Tamil Nadu, Tel:
04223296558; Fax: 04224379459, http://www.ecoclean.in
water security are two of the major challenges
Mumbai: Committed to use
God’s energy for the
betterment of people - Dr
Farooq Abdulla
By Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
before the nation. In this connection, he said
that solar energy is the future of the nation.
The governor called upon government
organisations and corporate to switch on to
solar power wherever possible. The governor
announced that solar power projects will also
be commissioned in the Raj Bhavans in Pune
and Nagpur. Minister of state for Non
Conventional energy D P Sawant informed
that the University of Pune will be offering
courses in renewable energy.
Director general of Maharashtra Energy
Development Agency Anand Limaye in his
presentation said that Maharashtra has
installed capacity of 4387 MW of grid
connected renewable energy projects till
February 2013. He said Maharashtra has
retained its second position in the country in
this respect. He said Maharashtra has the
largest installation of Solar Water Heating
Systems having achieved 7.13 lac sq km
collector area.
Mumbai, Mar 21: Union Minister for New and
Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdulla
Wednesday called for making extensive use of
new and renewable sources of energy such as
solar power and wind power to reduce the
country’s dependence on conventional
sources of fuel such as coal, petroleum, gas,
etc. In this connection, the minister remarked
that a nation of the size of India cannot do
without nuclear power.
Limaye informed that apart from Raj Bhavan,
Mumbai, - MEDA (Mahaurja) is implementing
the Solar Energy Project in the famous Vitthal
Rukmini Temple in Pandharpur, Tulja Bhavani
Temple in Tuljapur, Yogeshwari Devaasthan
in Ambejogai, Sidhivinayak Temple and other
important places. Under the Raj Bhavan Solar
Power Project, some of the important buildings
in the Raj Bhavan complex, street lights, tube
lights, fans and office computers have been
powered by solar energy. The solar power
project installed by the Maharashtra Energy
Development Agency (MEDA) at a cost of Rs
76.60 lac is expected to generate 43,800 units
of power every year. Considering the
electricity rate of Rs 6 per unit, the project is
expected to save Rs 2,62,800 every year.
Dr Abdulla was speaking after commissioning
the 40 Kwp solar power project installed at Raj
Bhavan, Mumbai on Wednesday March 20.
Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan
presided over the programme. Dr Abdulla said
the nation is spending large amount of money
on importing coal, petrol, diesel and gas from
various countries. Mentioning that India is
blessed with lots of sunlight and clean air, he The Solar Power Project was started under
said the country must make use of the God’s the Special Area Demonstration Project
Scheme of the ministry of New and
energy for the betterment of people.
Renewable Energy of Government of India.
“We must make use of God’s energy for the The ministry had provided financial assistance
betterment of God’s people,” he said. The of Rs 1 cr to Raj Bhavan for the purpose. The
union minister informed that the government of scheme is also implemented by the ministry in
India is exploring the possibility of generating other public places visited by people, tourist
power from the sea wind. Lamenting on the places, places of pilgrimage, etc. The
poor maintenance of solar power equipments objective of the project is to create awareness
in the country, he expressed the need to about renewable energy technologies and to
involve the youth in maintaining solar power popularize its use among citizens. Minister for
excise
and
non-conventional
energy
systems.
government of Maharashtra Ganesh Naik also
Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan spoke on the occasion
said that meeting the energy security and
Mumbai uses less water for
Holi as Maharashtra hit by
drought
TNN | Mar 28, 2013,
The city seems to have responded to
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
appeals to use water sparingly for Rang
Panchami. Bonfires and 'eco-friendly' colours
marked the spring festival over Tuesday and
Wednesday. The civic disaster management
cell said there were no complaints of treecutting, while only two complaints of water
wastage were registered. "We received a
complaint each from R-South (Kandivli) and
R-Central (Borivli) wards on wastage of water
for Holi. We immediately informed control
rooms of these wards so that prompt action
could be taken," an official of the cell said.
The BMC had urged citizens on the eve of the
festival not to cut trees and use water
sparingly considering the severe drought in
parts of the state. "Though Mumbai has
enough water to last an entire summer,
citizens showed solidarity towards their state's
friends by curbing the use of water," said chief
hydraulic engineer Ramesh Bamble. Earlier
this month, Shiv Sena corporators had decided
to contribute their one month's salary towards
the drought relief fund. In a letter to the
mayor, leader of the House Yashodhar Phanse
promised that all the 84 Sena corporators
would donate the money to help farmers,
through the drought relief fund founded by
the party.
Anandini Thakoor, chairperson, H (west)
Citizens' Trust, said they celebrated Holi with
flowers and did not use colours or water in
Bandra. "Many societies on 16th and 17th Road
didn't throw colours on the road. We wrote to
30 schools in our area. Podar World School
had placards imploring people not to waste
water. There was not a single incident of
bursting balloons," Thakoor said.
Housing societies in Borivli, Andheri, Bandra as
well as Mulund, Ghatkopar and Chembur
used dried and fallen branches for 'Holika
dahan'. But consumers are now asking if the
'eco-friendly' colours flooding the market are
indeed organic. "The label ensures that
'organic' colour costs more but given the
abundant availability and the fact that there
is no way to differentiate between the two,
buyers are being misled," said Asheesh Mehta
of Borivli, who stuck to regular gulal as it has
"never caused trouble".
The Mumbai police renewed its drive against
unauthorized hawkers in the western suburbs
but only stalls selling puja items for Holi were
allowed to operate. The police van parked at
Four Bungalows market in Andheri on
Tuesday evening made allowances for women
vendors selling cakes of dried cow dung and
new ears of paddy that are offered to the holy
bonfire. Holi signifies the arrival of the rabi
harvest. The film industry as well as business
community use Holi Milan parties to
strengthen their network with the fraternity.
Mohit Kamboj, the youngest president of the
Bombay Bullion Association, has invited his
guests to enjoy Benarasi thandai and jalebi at
the NSCI on Saturday.
Sweets, bhang and thandai saw brisk sales on
Wednesday. An outlet in Chowpatty threw in
one free litre of thandai for every five-litre
purchase costing Rs 1,200. Sindhi housewife
Sakshi Raheja, who arrived to purchase the
traditional 'gear' on the morning of the
festival, rued the fact that in recent years, this
age-old fat jalebi has evolved into a
fashionable, crispy avatar. "Until eight to 10
years ago we enjoyed the way the syrup
would drip once we bit into the 'gear'. Now it
is hardly thick or juicy," she said. The
salesperson said the change was due to
"consumer demand".
"People say the thick, syrupy 'gear' gets soggy
after a few hours. They want it crisp, so we use
thin strings of maida batter," he said.Anandini
Thakoor, chairperson, H (west) Citizens' Trust,
said they celebrated Holi with flowers and did
not use colours or water. The Bandra Hindu
Association and NGOs met at Patwardhan
Park and showered petals on each other,
instead of water. Thakoor said, "It was an
environment-friendly Holi. We are happy that
people didn't waste water. It was a quiet Holi
too. Society residents gathered and had lunch
together."
Over 680 trees in city to face the axe
The impact on the city’s green cover will be much bigger as around 1,000 trees will
be relocated, a conservation approach activists say rarely succeeds
Pandurang Mhaske and Chaitanya Marpakwar
The city administration’s tree authority on Thursday approved the chopping of 688
trees to make way for public and private projects. The impact on Mumbai’s green
cover is likely to be much bigger as nearly 1,000 trees will be uprooted and
relocated - a conservation approach activists say fails in most cases. Colaba will be
the worst affected as 1,000 trees will be removed (cut or replanted) to enable
expansion of a pumping station in the area. The BMC’s Mumbai Sewerage Disposal
Project department had sought permission for removing these trees.
Mumbai Mirror had reported that the tree authority would consider 29 proposals
from government agencies and private developers to chop trees. While many
applicants had sought nod to cut trees for private redevelopment projects, some
proposals requested for permission to chop whole clusters of trees for
infrastructure projects. Activists termed the proposals an attempt to wipe out a
mini-forest within the city.
246 Trees spared in Borivali
Of the 29 applications, only one was rejected on Thursday. Cable Corporation of
India had sought the nod to cut 246 trees in Borivali East to build a mall and a
multiplex. “We have suggested to the municipal commissioner to visit spots in cases
where 100 trees could face the axe. The commissioner, however, didn’t conduct any
visits,” said Amit Satam, a member of the tree authority. He added that in Colaba
alone, a major tree cluster would be removed.
‘Replanted trees don’t survive’
Tree activist Niranjan Shetty said that relocating trees was a bad idea. “In most
cases, replanted trees do not survive. Despite the poor survival rate, officials give
developers the permission,” he said.
Church helps civic body dispose e-waste
The new system will be launched on March 26.
Kochi: A church-run organization has extended a
helping hand to Kochi’s civic body to solve the
hazardous e-waste problem in the city. The
corporation has now teamed up with an NGO - the
Kothamangalam Social Service Society (KSSS),
the official social development wing of
Kothamangalam diocese- to remove e-waste from
city limits. The NGO is currently, holding talks
with various churches in the city to finalize
collection points. The new system will be launched
on March 26.
Fr Paul Choorathotty, the director of KSSS, said
that the final list of churches participating in the
program would be finalized this week. The civic
body is hoping the system would help to dispose ewaste generated at homes and workplaces. Citizens
would take e-waste to collection facilities set up by
churches located across 22 health circles of the
Kochi corporation, special trucks have been
arranged to collect the hazardous waste and
transport it to recycling units or processing centres
outside the state.
Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant.
Electronic equipments contain harmful substances
such as mercury. "Special licence is required to
handle e-waste and other such hazardous
substances. The corporation with the help of the
NGO has identified private agencies which have
these licenses. The waste will then be taken to
other states that have e-waste recycling units,"
Health standing committee chairman T K Asharaf
said.
Since NGO is funding the whole program, the
corporation will not have any financial liability or
commitments. The waste will be collected from the
people free of cost. The NGO has already
experimented with a similar program in association
with the Thodupuzha municipality and is set to
launch the project in Muvattupuzha municipality
on March 23. "In both places, we have the support
of local churches. This is a sustainable program
and it can become successful with the cooperation
of people, institutions and local bodies in the
particular
area,"
said
Fr.
Choorathotty.
The initiative would bring down dumping of plastic Source: times of india
and other hazardous substances at the
Reuse that bag!
http://www.reusethisbag.com/why.asp
FACT: The largest opposition to the ban of plastic bags comes from the petroleum and plastics
industries and of course, consumers that don’t want to change their habits.
FACT: Effective July 1, 2010. Los Angeles County Shoppers can either bring their own bags or pay 25
cents for a paper or biodegradable bag
FACT: Ireland imposed a tax on plastic grocery bags in 2002, San Francisco became the first U.S. city
to ban conventional plastic grocery bags, in 2007, and Los Angeles followed suit in 2010
FACT: plastic is the largest source of ocean litter. The second most abundant ocean pollution, is
cigarettes.
FACT: Ocean debris worldwide kills at least 1 million sea birds and 100,000 mammals each year, the
U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association has estimated. The litter is most severe in the East
Asian seas region, which includes countries such as China with a population 1.3 billion people and
where, according to UN figures, almost 60 percent of men smoke.
FACT: 4 trillion to 5 trillion: Number of non-degradable plastic bags used worldwide annually.
FACT: About 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year
FACT: Australians were using nearly 7 billion bags a year, and nearly 1.2 billion bags a year were being
passed out free in Ireland before government restrictions, according to government estimates.
FACT: Plastic industry trade associations were unable to provide estimates of plastic bag use in the
United States. However, based on studies of plastic bag use in other nations, the environmental group
Californians Against Waste estimates Americans use 84 billion plastic bags annually.
FACT: The first plastic sandwich bags were introduced in 1957. Department stores started using plastic
bags in the late 1970s and supermarket chains introduced the bags in the early 1980s.
FACT: About 100,000 whales, seals, turtles and other marine animals are killed by plastic bags each
year worldwide, according to Planet Ark, an international environmental group.
FACT: Last September, more than 354,000 bags -- most of them plastic -- were collected during an
international cleanup of costal areas in the United States and 100 other countries, according to the Ocean
Conservancy
The facts are staggering and we could go on and on as to why it is so imperative that you stop using
paper and plastic bags now.
• Reusable bags save trees
• Reusable bags save water
• Reusable bags save gas and oil
• Reusable bags help air pollution
• Reusable bags help our oceans
• Reusable bags help our sea creatures
• Reusable bags save 700+ bags over the span of their lifetime!
Tallulah D'Silva,
www.missiongreengoa.blogspot.com
www.environmentallywrite.blogspot.com
www.architecturert.com
AVAILABLE
Educational PowerPoint Presentation
PLASTIC – A BOON OR BANE?
Download it from our website:
www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM section
Sparrows lose homes in urban
jungle
Chinmayi Shalya, TNN | Mar 21, 2013,
MUMBAI: Sparrows seems to be flying out
in search of another habitat. The house
sparrows, the most commonly sighted bird
in the country, is gradually losing its
presence in the urban landscape. According
to the Common Bird Monitoring of India
(CBMI), a year-old initiative of environment
organization Nature Forever Society, the
sparrow is now the fourth most common
bird in the country.
The CBMI identified 794 locations in the
country where rock pigeons are found, 822
locations where crows were often spotted,
743 where the common myna were spotted,
and only 494 locations where the house
sparrow were seen in the last one year.
CBMI observations also showed that
Mumbai has the highest number of pigeons
and crows in the country, while the
presence of sparrows is almost half of their
numbers.
The observations can be extended to major
cities, including Mumbai, where the
population of more resilient birds like
pigeons and crows has grown despite rapid
urbanization, but small birds, like sparrows,
have
faced
a
loss
of
habitat.
On World Sparrow Day ,on Wednesday,
ecologists and nature lovers lament this
change. Others feel that the bird's stint
with humans might be over now.
"The city has many kabutarkhanas where
abundance of grain has given an artificial
boost to the number of pigeons. And, the
open garbage provides a lot of food for the
crows. Pigeons can subsist on grain and
produce pigeon milk to feed their young
ones. But it is not the same with sparrows,"
said Mohammed Dilawar from the Nature
Forever Society. Sparrows feed insects to
their young. But the loss of green cover and
open grounds in the city has modified the
ecology and led to a decline in number of
insects on which young sparrows feed.
Also, sparrows need nests, unlike pigeons.
Sparrows require sheltered corners and
trees to make a home. "There has been a
fall in the number of nesting sites and loss
of small prey due to loss of green patches.
We must remember that Until sparrows and
other small birds have little green patches,
even derelict and overgrown little corners,
where they can catch insects, it would be
difficult for them to survive," said
naturalist, writer and photographer Sunjoy
Monga.
Ecologists believe that the sparrows
represented a different world where
houses were more open, and there were
many nooks, crevices and green patches
which made it easy for sparrows to co-habit
with humans. The change in urban
architecture, characterized by small
enclosed houses, wire meshed windows and
lack of green space has left very little
shelter for sparrows to nest. "I feel the
sparrow may have reached the peak of
having made the most of its association and
commensalism on humanity and will possibly
stabilise to a different level under a
different set of conditions now,"added
Monga. He added that we cannot re-create
the situations of the past.
On World Sparrow Day, the Nature Forever
Society launched a campaign where people
can observe sparrows in their area for 15
minutes and report it on their website.
People can also report if they do not spot
the bird.
Water, My Resourceful Friend, Under
Threat
March 22, 2013
(World Water Day)
By Lancy Fernandes, courtesy: Daijiworld.com
Blue is a colour of life. Our planet, earth, is called the blue planet because from outer space the dominance of
water colours it all. Water is a rich resource, the most valuable commodity for sustaining life just second to air.
Every living thing has to surrender to its presence. Can we imagine life without it? If it were to vanish, it would
be just like a patient in the ICU without an oxygen mask or a man trying to live without an adequate gear in the
polar regions of the globe.
This year is christened the Year of Water to make all of us conscious of the grave need to appreciate and love its
presence. On earth’s surface, water is found as river, lake, sea, spring etc. Below the earth’s surface too we
obtain it as in wells. At times it is the rain water that seeps through the earth, resulting in the water table which
benefits us through bore wells. It is also present in the atmosphere as dew, water vapour, cloud, mist and fog.
Besides, it is a rich reservoir of salts.
About 80% of the earth’s surface is covered with water. Only a miniscule of it is fresh water, and the rest is sea
water or is found locked in polar regions as ice. Water also surrenders itself to be manipulated in a way so as to
benefit the most as solid (ice) or gaseous forms (steam) as we meddle with temperature. W. Oswald, a chemist,
says, “Water is the elixir of life, since it is the liquid that we use in our day to day life to dissolve all substances
that we come across.” Yes, it is a life giving source to plants, animals and human beings. Every function of the
cell of every living creature requires moisture. Every particle of soil thirsts for its warmth. The industrial sector
and agriculture depend solely on water for all processes.
Our human body too, 75% of it, consists of water. Water symbolizes presence of life. In our body it helps us in
the transportation of nutrients, removal of wastes and regulation of body temperature. What a blessing it is to
have a phenomenon called water cycle which keeps the water on earth’s surface in perfect balance! How can my
friend who is a life-giver be under threat and I am least bothered about having a master plan to save it?
Statistical Proof of its Grandeur and Rule:
In our day-to-day life, millions of generations have lived, thanks to its bounty. Yet it still continues to nourish us.
On an average each of us uses 1,734 litres of water a day. It is found that 9% of its usage is in homes, 20% in
industry and 71% in agriculture.
Approximately, a person uses water as below:
Brushing of teeth – 2.5 litres (with tap off), 5 litres (with tap on)
Toilet flush – 5 to 20 litres
Shower – 22 litres/min
Washing machine – 120 litres
Bath – 170 litres
Washing car – 200 litres
Watering Garden (1hr) – 600 to 1500 litres
Cooking – 4-5 litres
Drinking – 4-5 litres
Do we need to individually use so much water? What will be the state of it over the earth if most human beings
waste water recklessly this way?
Two P’s – A Challenge
Population and Pollution are the two things that are getting crazy among Indians. Pollution is increasing
exponentially in urban areas. The present day water needs have grown a lot in cities due to the changing
lifestyles and the number of people per sq ft. Most of us depend on local water bodies in villages and local states
bodies in cities. Concreting of land has prevented water seepage. Only 3% of rain water remains. Thus there is a
decrease in the formation of water tables.
Today there may be more bore wells in Bangalore and other metropolitan cities than TV sets. Today pure water
is under threat. Nobody thinks of recharging of bore wells. Water has become a means for waste management.
Physical, biological and chemical agents have polluted water. This has disturbed the rhythm of life on land, air
and water. Numerous life systems in these sectors have been threatened. Today there are apartments with 500 1000 or even 2000 families. Imagine the amount of water that one apartment requires. Constructions works are
in full swing in major cities to develop IT hubs.
We have created several kinds of waste and have happily classified it – industrial, domestic, household
detergents, agricultural. If there is 75% of polluted water, we are able to treat only 25% of it regularly. Meantime
another 80% of polluted water is created.
We have so far not considered water as a resourceful friend who shares his life-giving spirit with us. We have
assumed it to be an entity that just helps us. Every litre of water saved each day can help in saving water to a
small extent individually. We have devised a method to treat water but not to prevent water pollution. If the state
governments do not bring in clear regulations and restriction in urban areas, the water crisis will persist even
when it is not summer season.
Measures that count?
Lawns in houses and bungalows require huge amount of water for maintenance. Does not our lifestyle need some
change of attitude? Rainwater harvesting, avoiding shower bath, avoiding brushing of teeth in running water and
avoiding washing vessels in flowing water can save water in our own little way. Several countries like Bermuda
and Virgin Islands in US have laws regarding rain water harvesting. More pavements, more malls and buildings
only reduce space for water seeping.
Mumbai, is reported to be receiving about 2,000 mm of rainfall annually and this can generate about 8,78,000
million litres of water. According to experts, even if residents just resort to rooftop rainwater harvesting there
would be enough water to satisfy everyone’s need.
For instance, Bangalore has about 85 lakh population and an estimated 500 million litres of water is wasted out
of 1,500 million litres that is supplied to the city everyday in the form of open pipe lines or damaged ones. It is
found that the city uses three times more water than it can recharge. “Seeping of rainwater has decreased to 2%
in Bangalore,” says K C Subhash Chandra, Hydrologist, and ground water expert. Most rainwater goes wasted as
it gets drained along with sewage water. About 22 lakh people are facing water scarcity in Bangalore. Catch
every drop is a NGO which is conscientizing people about conservation of water. Ground water quality too needs
to be attended to.
Aditi Mishra gives a few suggestions to listen to the cry of our troubled friend. He has devised simple measures.
Attaching shower head to your tap to wash utensils.
Foot tap sinks are available to prevent wastage. The water flow is controlled using ones foot.
Using of mulch (a layer of dry leaves or wood chips) for water retention in our garden, instead of daily watering.
Using kitchen wash water for our gardens.
Filling drinking water in water bottle, so that you save water required to wash the glass.
Wearing dark coloured clothes. They require less detergent, thereby less water for wash.
Conclusion:
Imagine what would happen if there was no more fresh water around us. Isn’t water a resource that symbolizes
selfless generosity for the well-being of nature? Isn’t it teaching us lessons on purity? Does it not give us a
chance to cleanse ourselves and other materials daily?
Have we begun to face the hard truth of having to live on salt water? Due to the endless pollution, natural rains
seem to have reduced, adversely affecting water returning to the earth as pure drops. Has it not comforted us
every day by quenching the thirst of millions for so many centuries? Has it not nourished our lives through and
through?
World Water Day on March 22 must be an opportunity and a reminder to reflect on the way we use and misuse
water. Let us harvest water. Let’s renew our bond of friendship. Let us save the blueness of our planet. Let us
reap fruits of life giving spirit from saving our friend. Let us desire to decrease our hold on nature to let the
resource increase.
Vidarbha gets its first
generic medicines
shop
Aparna Pallavi, courtesy: Down to Earth
Challenge to popularising these
stores is to get doctors to
prescribe low-cost generic drugs
Nagaur district in Rajasthan has a number of generic drugs
stores which are giving private shops a run for their money
(photo by Ankur Paliwal)
Vidarbha region got its first generic
medicine shop this month thanks to the
efforts of the Nagpur-based consumer
forum, Janmanch. The shop, inaugurated in
Yadav Nagar area in eastern Nagpur on
November 11, is receiving a large number of
queries from patients from all over the city
and outside, informs Janmanch secretary
Rajeev Jagtap.
The idea of such a shop, says Jagtap, arose
from a 2009 article by noted health activist
from Pune, Anant Phadke of Centre for
Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes
(CEHAT). “We found that Maharashtra
state does not have a single government-run
generic medicine store,” says Jagtap. “We
also found that the price difference
between generics and branded drugs is
immense. For instance, the monthly cost of
medicines for serious conditions like cancer,
heart or kidney, which can go up to Rs 1 to
1.5 lakh in branded medicines, can be
brought down to as little as Rs 7,000 to Rs
7,500.”
The shop has been started by Janmanch
with donations from the public, and will be
run on a strictly no-profit basis. “We will
give discounts on the MRP of the generic
drugs, too, so that maximum benefit can
reach patients,” says Jagtap.
However, the greatest challenge to such an
endeavour, says he, is cooperation from
doctors. “At present, we are receiving many
queries from patients who have been
prescribed branded drugs, and want to find
out if corresponding generics are available.
What we are doing is providing information
regarding generics to patients and telling
them to get the prescriptions changed. We
can’t change the drug at our end, because
we may be blamed for anything that goes
wrong.”
The forum, says Jagtap, has been working
with doctors, requesting them to prescribe
generics, at least to poor patients who are
not able to afford branded drugs. “We also
have plans to have the services of a medical
practitioner in the shop itself for advice
Jagtap says there is an urgent need to raise regarding generics, and are asking city
awareness regarding generic drugs. “Many a doctors to volunteer for this job.”
time, the price difference can confuse
patients. Many patients go for costly The forum is making efforts to start more
branded drugs they can’t afford because such shops across the Vidarbha region. “Our
they fear that the cheaper generics may be final goal is that generic drugs should be
fake. In fact, there is no difference available in all medical shops,” says Jagtap.
between the two, as both have the same “Once the trend catches on and people are
aware, maybe more shops will start keeping
FDA certification.”
generics.”
Pope Francis meets with 6,000 Journalists
Seek to know more the Church's true nature and the spiritual
motivations that guide her.
The Holy Father greeted more than 6,000 journalists and Holy See media staff for the first
time on March 16, 2013 in the Paul VI Audience Hall
Dear friends, I am pleased, at the beginning of my ministry to meet with you who have
worked here in Rome at this very intense period that began with the surprising
announcement of my venerated predecessor Benedict XVI, this past 11 February. I warmly
greet each of you. The role of the mass media has been continuously growing in recent
times, so much so that it has become essential to narrate the events of contemporary history
to the world. I therefore especially thank you for your distinguished service these past few
days.
When the eyes of the Catholic world were turned toward the Eternal City, that has St Peter’s
tomb as its focal point you’ve had a chance to talk about the Holy See, the Church, her rites
and traditions, her faith, and, in particular, the role of the Pope and his ministry. A heartfelt thanks goes to those who have been able to observe and present these events in the
Church’s history while keeping in mind the right perspective in which they must be read,
that of faith.
Ecclesial events are certainly not more complicated than political or economic ones. But
they have one particularly fundamental characteristic: they do not answer worldly
categories, and this is precisely why it is not easy to interpret and communicate them to a
wide and varied audience. In fact, the Church, although it is certainly also a human,
historical institution with all that that entails, does not have a political nature but is
essentially spiritual: it is the people of God, the holy people of God who walk toward the
encounter with Jesus Christ. Only by putting oneself in this perspective can one fully explain
how the Catholic Church works.
Christ is the Church’s Shepherd, but His presence in history moves through human freedom.
Among these, one is chosen to serve as his Vicar, Successor of the Apostle Peter, but Christ is
the centre, the fundamental reference, the heart of the Church! Without Him, neither Peter
nor the Church would exist or have a reason for being. As Benedict XVI repeated often, Christ
is present and leads His Church. In everything that has happened, the protagonist is,
ultimately, the Holy Spirit. He has inspired Benedict XVI’s decision for the good of the
Church; He has guided the cardinals in their prayers and in their election.
Dear friends, it is important to take due account of this interpretive horizon, this
hermeneutic, to bring the heart of the events of these days into focus. From this is born, an
invitation to always seek to know more the Church’s true nature and the spiritual
motivations that guide her. Rest assured that the Church, for her part, is very attentive to
your precious work. You have the ability to gather and express the expectations and needs of
our times, to provide the elements necessary to read reality. Like many other professions,
your job requires study, sensitivity, and experience but it bears with it a particular attention
to truth, goodness, and beauty.
This makes us particularly close because the Church exists to communicate Truth, Goodness,
and Beauty ‘in person’, and not ourselves.
Some people didn’t know why the Bishop of Rome wanted to call himself ‘Francis’. Some
though of Francis Xavier, Francis de Sales, even Francis of Assisi. I will tell you the story. At
the election I had the archbishop emeritus of Sao Paulo next to me. He is also prefect
emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes [OFM]: a dear, dear
friend. When things were getting a little ‘dangerous’, he comforted me. And then, when the
votes reached the two-thirds, there was the usual applause because the Pope had been
elected. He hugged me and said: ‘Do not forget the poor.’ Then, immediately in relation to
the poor I thought of Francis of Assisi. For me he is the man of poverty, the man of peace,
the man who loves and safeguards Creation. In this moment when our relationship with
Creation is not so good, right? – He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor
man. Oh, how I wish for a Church that is poor and for the poor!
I thank you for everything that you have done. I wish you to work fruitfully and with serenity
and to always know better the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the reality of the Church. I entrust
you to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of evangelization. I wish the best for
you and your families, for each of your families, and I wholeheartedly impart to all of you
the blessing.”
After personally greeting some of the journalists present, he concluded: “Many of you don’t
belong to the Catholic Church, others are not believers. From my heart I impart this blessing,
in silence, to each of you, respecting the conscience of each one, but knowing that each of
you is a child of God: May God bless you.”
Source: VIS
Pope Francis washes women's feet in break with church law
Rome, Mar 29 (AP): In his most significant break with tradition yet, Pope Francis washed
and kissed the feet of two young women at a juvenile detention centre - a surprising
departure from church rules that restrict the Holy Thursday ritual to men. No pope has ever
washed the feet of a woman before, and Francis' gesture sparked a debate among some
conservatives and liturgical purists, who lamented he had set a "questionable example."
Liberals welcomed the move as a sign of greater inclusiveness in the church.
Speaking to the young offenders, including Muslims and Orthodox Christians, Francis said
that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion in a gesture of love
and service. "This is a symbol, it is a sign. Washing your feet means I am at your service,"
Francis told the group, aged 14 to 21, at the Casal del Marmo detention facility in Rome.
"Help one another. This is what Jesus teaches us," the pope said. "This is what I do. And I do
it with my heart. I do this with my heart because it is my duty. As a priest and bishop, I
must be at your service."
In a video released by the Vatican, the 76year-old Francis was shown kneeling on the
stone floor as he poured water from a silver
chalice over the feet of a dozen youths:
black, white, male, female, even feet with
tattoos. Then, after drying each one with a
cotton towel, he bent over and kissed it.
Previous popes carried out the Holy Thursday
rite in Rome's grand St. John Lateran
basilica, choosing 12 priests to represent the
12 apostles whose feet Christ washed during
the Last Supper before his crucifixion.
Before he became pope, as archbishop of
Buenos Aires, the former Cardinal Jorge
Mario Bergoglio celebrated the ritual footwashing in jails, hospitals or hospices - part
of his ministry to the poorest and most
marginalized of society. He often involved
women. Photographs show him washing the
feet of a woman holding her newborn child in
her arms. That Francis would include women
in his inaugural Holy Thursday Mass as pope
was remarkable, however, given that current
liturgical rules exclude women.
Canon lawyer Edward Peters, who is an
adviser to the Holy See's top court, noted in
a blog that the Congregation for Divine
Worship sent a letter to bishops in 1988
making clear that "the washing of the feet of
chosen men ... represents the service and
charity of Christ, who came 'not to be
served, but to serve.'" While bishops have
successfully petitioned Rome over the years
for an exemption to allow women to
participate, the rules on the issue are clear,
Peters said. "By disregarding his own law in
this matter, Francis violates, of course, no
divine directive," Peters wrote. "What he
does do, I fear, is set a questionable
example."
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico
Lombardi, said he didn't want to wade into a
canonical dispute over the matter. However,
he noted that in a "grand solemn celebration"
of the rite, only men are included because
Christ washed the feet of his 12 apostles, all
of whom were male. "Here, the rite was for a
small, unique community made up also of
women," Lombardi wrote in an email.
"Excluding the girls would have been
inopportune in light of the simple aim of
communicating a message of love to all, in a
group that certainly didn't include experts on
liturgical rules." Others on the more liberal
side of the debate welcomed the example
Francis set.
"The pope's washing the feet of women is
hugely significant because including women in
this part of the Holy Thursday Mass has been
frowned on - and even banned - in some
dioceses," said the Rev. James Martin, a
Jesuit priest and author of "The Jesuit
Guide." "It shows the all-embracing love of
Christ, who ministered to all he met: man or
woman, slave or free, Jew or Gentile."
For some, restricting the rite to men is in line
with the church's restriction on ordaining
women priests. Church teaching holds that
only men should be ordained because Christ's
apostles were male. "This is about the
ordination of women, not about their feet,"
wrote the Rev.
John Zuhlsdorf, a
traditionalist blogger. Liberals "only care
about the washing of the feet of women,
because ultimately they want women to do
the washing."
Still, Francis has made clear he doesn't
favour ordaining women. In his 2011 book, "On
Heaven and Earth," then-Cardinal Bergoglio
said there were solid theological reasons why
the priesthood was reserved to men:
"Because Jesus was a man." On this Holy
Thursday, however, Francis had a simple
message for the young inmates, whom he
greeted one-by-one after the Mass, giving
each an Easter egg. "Don't lose hope," Francis
said. "Understand? With hope you can always
go on."
One young man then asked why he had come
to visit them. Francis responded that it was
to "help me to be humble, as a bishop should
be." The gesture, he said, came "from my
heart. Things from the heart don't have an
explanation."
From,
DR. LEO REBELLO
leorebello@hathway.com
Dear Pope Francis
From the deep forests of India where Adivasis (tribals) live and 70% of them are Christians, I have
received the following message (edited by me) from one of the young/educated Adivasis (who
wants to remain anon).
These Adivasis have high Hope in you and hence I am sending this to you, for immediate
reformation of the Indian Church leaders who are now ensconced in luxury rather than serve with
dedication like the Jesuits of yore did.
Namaste and with warm regards,
Prof. Dr. Leo Rebello
World Peace Envoy
Address: 28/552 Samata Nagar, Kandivali East, Bombay 400101, India.
Tel.No. 91-22-28872741.
Skype: drleorebello
Email: prof.leorebello@gmail.com / leorebello@hathway.com
Website: www.healthwisdom.org
CHRISTIAN ADIVASIS OF INDIA HOPE THAT THE NEW POPE WILL IMPROVE THE CHRISTIAN
CHURCH IN INDIA.
Pope Francis has given a ray of hope to the Catholic community world over. But the joy has not
reached the ‘Christian Adivasis’ of India.
Adivasi women and girls of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and
Assam have been migrating in large numbers to the metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai, since last 63
years. Many of these Christian Tribals (adivasis) are forcibly trafficked by the agents. In Delhi/NCR,
almost 92% Christian women and girls are working as domestic helpers where they are being
exploited.
Out of total Adivasi population, 70% families of Christian Adivasis are in the villages of Chhotanagpur.
They are not getting concrete help from their parishes and dioceses. Actually, the Church authorities
are not letting ‘the light of heavenly Father’ reach these downtrodden and exploited people. The
Church management and the system of the rural society is out of control. Tribals are not getting
economic and educational help in the rural areas from their Catholic heads and authorities of the
Church. Mass migration will mean that the Adivasi majority will be reduced to minority, statistically
speaking.
Now-a-days huge schools, colleges, hospitals and other institutions are built by the Church in India. But
they are used to cater to upper section of Christians, while the poor adivasis remain in pathetic
conditions. There are no hostels, no self-help groups, no old age homes for the poor adivasis.
The Adivasi women are misused by the rich and upper class people. In the late cold night, they are
washing utensils and taking care of others’ children and sending their hard earned moneys to their
families back home. The girls are humiliated physically, mentally and socially at their work place.
Many times they are raped and killed.
The Adivasi young men perforce join Maoism for their livelihood. They hide from the police and paramilitary forces. There is no guarantee of their future life but their parents are drawn into major
problems due to the situation of their children and families. In this situation, there is no joy in the
‘Christian Adivasi’ families. Now-a-days the whole tribal community is fighting against land
acquisition by multinational corporations. But the Church is not supporting them in their struggles and
not coming forth to guide them, when 70%
Adivasis are Christians.
The Indian Church has totally failed. If the Church leaders had served the poor tribals, today many of
them would have risen to become IAS, IPS, Doctors, Engineers, Advocates and Ambassadors thanks
to some of the schemes of the Indian Govt. Earlier, missionaries worked hard for educational
development in India. But now the work of missionaries is not satisfactory. Neither they are serious
about the Tribals’ problems nor in their socio-economic and
educational upliftment.
We hope that the new Pope Francis will come to our rescue and change the system from top to
bottom in the Indian Church.
Submitted with Prayers and High Hopes through Dr. Leo Rebello, Human Rights Activist, Mumbai.
Jesuits discuss social
justice in changing India
The deliberation was to identify
areas and methodologies for
effective interventions.
By Bijay Kumar Minj, courtesy:ucannews
three day colloquium March-15-17 at Indian
Social Institute, New Delhi. They discussed the
theme “Our commitment to the nation in the
making”.
Fr. Edward Mudavassery, Provincial of South
Asia, said the region "is changing very quickly
and we need to respond promptly and
appropriately to provide social action ministry
in the Assistancy with a frame work to make
suitable responses to the current challenges."
The worst affected are the Dalits, tribals,
farmers, the nomadic tribes, the rural landless
and the urban slum dwellers, said Fr Alex Ekka,
a tribal himself. While women have suffered
much among the marginalised communities,
their statement said.
"The increasing gulf between the rich and the
poor has overwhelmed development and
justice. Evictions and displacements have
caused havoc. The criminal justice delivery
system has failed to address the security
concerns of the minorities," the statement said.
State power has been manifested through nonconstitutional acts like Armed Forces Special
Power Act and anti-terrorism laws in several
parts of the country to subdue legitimate
protests and silence entire communities. There
is an increase in state-organized violence, the
statement said.
New Delhi: Jesuits working for social justice
across India met along with their collaborators
in New Delhi to plan out their work in the
changing socio-economic situation of the
nation. “We find that the market has
transformed the welfare state into corporatized
governance. Communalism has eroded the
secular fabric of the nation and people’s
sovereignty
has
been
mortgaged
to Fr Sannybhai said unable to bear the hostile
multinationals,” Fr. Stanislaus Jebamalai told economic, social, political and cultural
ucanindia.in.
environment these communities have responded
Fr Jebamalai, also known as Sannybhai and with assertion and resistance for their rights,
who is the secretary of Jesuits in Social Action identity and entitlements. As part of strategy,
(JESA) said the deliberation was to identify JESA will forge alliances, build networks and
areas and methodologies for effective join coalitions with secular forces. They will
interventions
and
collaboration
with support mass action to draw attention of and
institutions, movements, citizens and civil bring pressure on the political governance
society. Thirty Jesuits along with some of their system. The action plan also includes
collaborators and lay leaders attended the developing a system to monitor state
institutions for transparency and accountability
in performance.
Workers demand Easter holiday
Discrimination against Christians alleged
ucanews.com reporter, Lahore, Pakistan
Sanitation workers in Lahore
Hundreds of Christians protested in Lahore yesterday against alleged discrimination and
demanded Easter holidays. Chanting anti-government slogans, sanitation workers demanded
Good Friday and Easter Monday off. They also want to be recognized as permanent, full time
workers.
“The companies must respect our holy week. We are already deprived of worship services, since
Sunday became a working day," said Mushtaq Asi, president of the Sweeper’ Union. "These are
all attempts to aggravate religious hatred."
Last year the Punjab government launched a new solid waste management system in the
provincial metropolis of about 10 million people. According to the union, 7,486 Christian
sanitary workers in Lahore earn 300 rupees (US$3) a day. “There are no holidays at all," Asi
said.
"We are a poor community, yet our salary is deducted if we arrive a few minutes late. Also there
are many sweepers from minorities working on daily wages even after more than a decade of
service. The Muslim workers, on the other hand, enjoy all allowances and benefits," he
said. Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, managing director of the Lahore Waste Management Company,
denied the allegations of discrimination.
“They are a bunch of retired workers with no affiliation with the company any more," he said.
"The decision of making an employee permanent comes from the government; we cannot do
that. “We know they are poor and pay them if they are needed on a public holiday," he said.
Bishop Gerald aims to make Udupi a model diocese
By Rev Fr Baptist Menezes, Vicar General, Diocese of Udupi,
Udupi, Mar 19, 2013, courtesy: daijiworld
“All beginnings are hard but well begun is half done” is an eternal saying in
the English language fits well with the new born Diocese of Udupi. We began
well, rather very well with the historical and most memorable, solemn
Establishment of the New Diocese of Udupi, Installation of the Most Rev. Dr
Gerald Isaac Lobo as its first Bishop in a glittering but sacred ceremony on
15th October, 2012 at the Milagres Cathedral
Grounds with an unprecedented participation of
people over 14thousand and the ‘Purapravesha’
accorded to Bishop Gerald by the Parishioners of
the Mother of Sorrows Church at Udupi on 17th
October, 2012, welcoming the new Bishop to take
residence on the first floor of the former St Mary’s
School in the Church campus.
Dust has now settled on the much talked about,
discussed and media covered inauguration of the
Diocese of Udupi and after the initial euphoria of
joy, celebration and reception, the reality has now
struck us all of the magnitude of responsibility
before us of building the new Diocese
infrastructurally so that the spiritual mission of the
Church: “Proclamation of the Good News of Jesus
christ” as enunciated in the Gospel of Luke
Chapter 4:18-19 may truly be translated in action
in the days to come. That’s why I said, “All
beginnings are hard but well begun is half done.”
But the consoling side of the task or encouraging
aspect of the responsibility before the new Diocese
and the first Bishop is the vision of the People of
God themselves and their different dreams for
Udupi.
Bishop Gerald took no time to rest and sit but
opened his doors first to meet whoever knocked
on it throughout the day and spoke freely and
candidly to whosoever called him over phone
enquiring about the Diocese and his plans for it;
he visited all 48 parishes within a week in
October 2012 itself, addressed all priests of five
deaneries, deanery-wise and now is busy
officially visiting every parish and addressing
the Finance Committee members, the Parish
Pastoral Council, Presidents and Secretaries of
all official Parish organizations like the Catholic
Sabha, Vincent de Paul Society, ICYM, YCS,
Women Association, etc. spending half a day
each time with them to know their mind and
vision for the new Diocese of Udupi which, will
be concluded by Palm Sunday, i.e. 24th March
2013.
Bishop Gerald has convinced himself of the fact
that unless the Catholic Faithful of his Diocese are
taken into confidence regarding what their plans
and projects are for the new Diocese of Udupi, no
matter what is planned and implemented from
above, it would be a futile exercise. He has lost no
time in consulting all sections of people in the
Diocese and the following is what People of Udupi
Diocese have proposed that they would like to have
for themselves and the future generation, thereby
making Udupi Diocese not just one of the best but
the best and model Diocese to respond to the
needs, aspirations and vision of the People of God:
Accordingly, following are therefore the
immediate needs of the Diocese of Udupi as
enumerated by the Catholic Laity themselves to
Bishop Gerald during his visit to various
Parishes:1. Pastoral Institute:
2. Diocese of Udupi Social Development
Organization (DUSDO):
3. Medical Relief Fund:
4. Education Fund:
5. Hospital:
6. Minor Seminary:
7. Retired Priests’ Home:
8. Bishop’s House
On the basis of the requests made to us from
several quarters, i. e. people within this Diocese
and outside, especially abroad, to speak our mind
out in writing as to the immediate
need/requirements of the new Diocese of Udupi, I
have placed before you in all frankness the
infrastructural needs and two projects (funds for
education and medical relief) both for information
and financial assistance. The Diocese has
registered itself as a Charitable Trust and as a
Religious Trust.
The Diocese of Mangalore will certainly play its
role within its means available. It has already
provided the Bishop with a temporary residence
and will meet the office expenditure up to March
2013.
However, building a new Diocese from ground
zero is surely the responsibility of all of us, men
and
women of goodwill of this Diocese along with the
Bishop, Clergy and the Religious. The total cost of
nos. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 as above is beyond anyone’s
guess as it would involve huge amount. Whereas
projects nos. 3 and 4 being funds, would be
ongoing.
Your generous contribution either specifying
any of the above infrastructural needs and
projects may please be sent to:
ORIENTAL BANK OF COMMERCE
S.B A/c No. 1439219 1008501
IFS CODE : ORBC 0101439
Contact : 91 820 2531908, 91 94825 79084
Email id : - udupidiocese@gmail.com
If land could be made available freely for the
purpose of a hospital, medical college, college of
nursing etc. would also be a most welcome
gesture for perpetual memory of the new
Diocese of Udupi.
Reverend opens his church doors to Muslims so
they can have place to worship
THE remarkable union came after the Reverend Isaac Poobalan saw his Muslim neighbours
worshipping in the street. THE sound of people worshipping in the kirk had a distinctly
different tone. In place of the usual hymn-singing was the reverberating echo of the
imam’s call to prayer as a Scottish church became the first in the world to open its doors
to Muslims. The remarkable union at St John’s Episcopal Church in Aberdeen came after
the Reverend Isaac Poobalan saw his Muslim neighbours – who had outgrown their Crown
Street Mosque – worshipping in the street.
Mr Poobalan, 50, said: “We are all worshipping the same God. In Islam, in its call to
prayer, there is one God. We also believe there is only one God. “I told my congregation,
and especially the church council, I’d seen people sitting on the pavement in the sleet and
I thought we should do something.” The Right Reverend Dr Robert Gillies, the
Episcopalian Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, said: “Internationally the news speaks of
tension and struggles between Islam and Christianity. “Yet here in Aberdeen a mosque and
a church have built bonds of affection and friendship.
“Mutual hospitality and goodwill exists. Cooperation is there aplenty. Laughter can be
heard as humour links people.” Chief Imam Amed Magghabri said: “What happens here is
special and there should be no problem repeating this across the country. The relationship
is friendly and respectful.” Muslims in the city centre are now looking forward to taking
up a lease on part of the church, formerly St John’s primary school, which is being
renovated at their expense.
After prayers yesterday, Jaffar Mohammed, 27, who works as a train engineer with
ScotRail, said: “We are grateful to our brother Isaac for giving us the chance to pray
here. “Friday is an important day for us, as Sunday is for the Christian community, and we
do not like to miss prayers between 12.30pm and 1.30pm. “Muslims would come from
throughout the city centre to the mosque. Often we’d find ourselves putting a prayer mat
on the street until St John’s took us in.”
Mozahid Sufiwan, 35, a project engineer with BP, said: “What’s happening is really
wonderful. I haven’t seen anything like this. “We tend to pray at different times from the
St John’s congregation but sometimes we meet. There is no tension – the people of
Aberdeen are great.”
For Holi, Hindus and Muslims
come together in UP
Lucknow, Mar 27 (IANS): For a state that saw 34
small and big communal riots in the last one year,
Hindus and Muslims came together in this Uttar
Pradesh capital Wednesday to celebrate Holi. The
octagenarian Mohd Ahmad Khan, residing in
Lucknow's old city, is a glaring example of how
religion holds no bar for celebrating Gate, is equally ecstatic about the
the happiness and traditions of festival of colours. His participation,
others.Khan not only partakes in the his friends say, is unparalleled. He not
Holi festivities as the head of the only enjoys the festival "to the hilt"
Aminabad Holi Mahotsava Sangh but but also showers everyone passing
also lights up the traditional Holika or through the historic gate with water,
holy fire in Aminabad, a busy colour and flower petals. At the 'holi
thoroughfare in the capital. Talking to mandap' in front of the Haji Baraji
IANS, the ageing Khan recalled how mosque in Udaiganj, Muslimpontiffs
this tradition of a Holi "celebrated by also take part in Holi festival.
all" came into being at the start of
"This has been our way of playing Holi
the 20th century, thanks mainly to his
for years," says Syed Abbas, a
freedom fighter father Basheer Khan.
resident. Some people of the area
Khan senior asked the traders and his distribute 'sharbat' to Holi revellers.
neighbours to enjoy the festival in the Others play Shehnai on the occasion,
spirit of communal harmony. Ever he says. In other parts of the state
since, Khan junior says, generations of capital too Holi reminisced of old
people in the locality have played Holi times. The Khatu Shyam temple on the
together. Adding to the festivities is banks of the river Gomti near New
the 'flower decoration' competition Hyderabad Wednesday staged a 'tesu
that began in 1978 and has since ke phool ki holi' where people only
become a craze for youngsters. used dry colour and flowers to smear
Dinesh Ahuja, one of the organisers each other.
of the competition, told IANS that
In Bareilly, a Ram Leela is held every
not only was it a symbol of love and
Holi. "This is one of the strange things
affection for every one's traditions,
to happen on Holi. What is heartening
it also "made the society close knit in
is that many people from other
today's testing times".
religions also participate in the
Omar, a middle-aged trader at Akbari celebrations," said Sanjay Sharma, a
resident.
GEM PLUS
BOMBAY YMCA COUNSELLING CENTRE & TRAINING INSTITUTE
YMCA NAVI MUMBAI BRANCH, YMCA ROAD, SECTOR-8, CBD BELAPUR, NAVI MUMBAI
PH: 022- 27576154, MOB: 9869328859. EMAIL: - ymcacounselling@gmail.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We are happy to inform you that the Bombay YMCA Counselling Centre and
Training Institute is conducting an ‘Advanced Biblical Counselling’ Level-1
training programme for one week from 22nd to 28th April 2013 at YMCA CBD
Belapur. This course is accredited by the Association of Christian Counselors
South Asia.
This Course is aimed to equip individuals with skills required to work with people
who have problems in coping with the inner hurts and stresses resulting from our
fast changing social environment through a caring and professional counselling
process. The subsidized fee for the course is 3000/- per head which will
include Course material, Lunch and Tea. You are requested to kindly encourage
your Church members and pastors to take benefit of this Seminar which will in
turn benefit their family, the church and society at large.
The participants need to note that attending all the sessions, including the
devotions is mandatory. The Certificate carries 50 credit hours. Please note that
100%attendance is compulsory for receiving the certificate. The course begins at
8:30 are and end at 6:00 pm daily except for Sundays where the timings will be
11:00am to 6pm. All the sessions will be held at the A/C conference hall.
Dates: 22nd to 28th April 2013,
-CBD
Venue: YMCA, Navi Mumbai Branch, Belapur
Our aim is to train Christian counsellors to meet the emerging need of the hour.
If you have any queries please feel free to contact Rev Shaji Varghese, the
coordinator. We humbly request you to send few of your Pastors/Coworkers/ lay
leaders/ Sisters/ house wives / retired persons who have a passion for
counselling.
Yours in Christ,
Sebastian Paul
Sr. Secretary
APPEAL FOR MEDICAL HELP
Courtesy: daijiworld.com
Keerthi H S (10), Gawrammana Beedhi,
Chennagiri, Davanagere, Karnataka
Naveen Aranha (32), Hoovinahithlu House,
Post Bola, Karkala taluk,
Keerthi H S (10), son of Siddaramappa H S and
Geetha, residing at Gawrammana Beedhi,
Chennagiri, Davanagere,
Naveen Aranha (32), son of Thomas Aranha and
Dulseen Aranha, residing at Hoovinahithlu House,
Post Bola,
Karnataka, and a fourth standard student, has been
suffering from blood cancer (acute lymphoblastic
leukemia). He is undergoing chemotherapy for the
same at KMC Hospital, Attavar, Mangalore.
Karkala taluk, Udupi district, was admitted into
Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, with a history of
fever, jaundice, decreased urine output and altered
sensorium during August 2012. He was diagnosed
with Falciparum Malaria with severe hepatitis and
acute renal failure, apart from pneumonia and
epileptic seizures.
The hospital has certified that the expenses
incurred so far for the patient’s treatment have
been around Rs 1,50,000 and another Rs 4,00,000
will be required to continue the treatment and
complete the same. The parents of the student work
as coolies on daily wage basis, and are not left with
any alternative to arrange for the funds required for
further treatments. As such, they have requested
the willing donors to extend possible help.
Bank account details:
SB account number: 0572101058819
Keerthi H S
Canara Bank, first floor, Jyothi Nilaya,
Nrupathunga Road,
Channagiri – 577 213 (Davanagere district).
IFS code: CNRB0000572
Phone: 91 99011 16997
Naveen was working in a hotel. KMC Hospital has
certified that the expenses there till October 11,
2012, amounted to about Rs 5,00,000. Thomas
Aranha works as a coolie, and he borrowed heavily
from various sources to arrange funds for the
treatment of his son. Being desirous of continuing
with his son’s treatment, and finding no other
source to fall back on, he has requested the willing
donors to extend possible help.
Bank account details:
SB account number: 0868101005550
Thomas Aranha B (father)
Canara Bank, Kedinje branch,
Padubidri-Karkala road, Kedinje,
Karkala taluk, Udupi district – 574 110.
IFS code: CNRB0000868.
Phone: 91 94498 24713.
GEM PLUS - LAUGH TIME
Changing advice of Moms to their sons over the
years.............
1959 ........ Beta, Apne caste ki ladki se hi shaadi karna
1969 ........ Apne religion ki ladki se hi shaadi karna
1979 ........ Apne level ki ladki se hi shaadi karna
1989 ........ Apne desh ki ladki se hi shaadi karna
1999 ......... Apni umar ki ladki se hi shaadi karna
And Now......... Koi bhi ho, par LADKIi se hi Karna!!!
__._,_.___
e-forward from: triveni.2com@gmail.com
Cartoons: courtesy: internet
Published by St Xavier’s Community Centre, Panvel,
Editor: Fr Felix Rebello
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website: www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in
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