Need we say more?

If anyone had doubts on the effects of Global Warming, I think this picture says it all. Find more pics on www.treehugger.com

Green Mantra

I have just come back after a refreshing trip to Matheran. Cannot ask for a “greener” start to the year than staying in a little town that allows no vehicles at all, not even a bicycle! That monkey in the picture, sat on the roof of our hotel for a good hour studying us closely with an expression that almost seemed to say "Humph! Humans!" and then as if to drown his sorrows he downed half a bottle of Pepsi left behind by a careless guest!!

Don't even get me started on plastic waste thrown around by tourists! I don't want to start the year complaining!

“When you pray, Move your feet” says the old African proverb, and time for action it is!

First up, please put on your creative hats and give me catchy green slogans that can go on T-shirts and Bags. (Thank you all for so wonderfully sharing your Green and Not-green lists, its so inspiring to know the little efforts all of us are making)

My personal goal is to ensure that my neighborhood is plastic bag free. I intend to work closely with local associations, shopkeepers and residents to ensure the message gets across. Please do give me advice/ideas on how I could proceed and if any measures taken in your locality have succeeded. In fact it would be great if we each adopt this task for our own neighborhood and compare notes on progress.

Legislation obviously does not work. Education hopefully will. Why not reward shopkeepers who do not keep plastic bags at the store? Why not celebrate stores that give out only cloth bags, even if customers have to pay a little extra for it? To start with, I intend to get every shop in my neighborhood to at least put up a poster showing the ill effects of plastic bags. (All my friends in the creative and design fields: HELP!!)

Right now, I am doing something I never thought I would do: designing grocery bags (with go green slogans) that are useful and smart to carry around! Wish me luck!!

New Year Wishes!

To see a World in a Grain of Sand,
And Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
-William Blake

May the simple pleasures of life light up your New Year. A very happy 2009 to all of you.