EVS, green business, green consumption, major environmental movements in india

Roll No: 21

SYNOPSIS

1. Introduction

2. The different Environmental Movements in India

3. Green Consumption

4. Green Business

5. Twenty-one Green Tips

INTRODUCTION

Environmental and ecological movements- collective actions of

several social groups

Protection of environment and maintenance of ecological

balance

Definition: The environmental movement, a term that includes

the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social,

and political movement for addressing environmental issues.

Environmental Movement is generally used to describe and

understand different types of local struggles and conflicts

concerned with livelihood issues and ecological security.

Mahatma Gandhi’s role in The Freedom movement:

The Environmental movement in India is a legacy of Mahatma

Gandhi.

Environmentalists in India in 1989 – around 700

The Activities of the Environmental groups can be broadly categorized

as follows :

• Creation of environmental awareness and dissemination of

information.

• Campaigns and public interest litigations to oppose projects

detrimental to the environment.

• Field projects to develop innovative and participatory models

of natural resource management.

• Policy research and lobbying with policy-makers and

• Support for field and action groups

CHIPKO MOVEMENT

CHIPKO= To stick

Started in 1731 by the Bishnoi community in Khejarli, Jodhpur

district of Rajasthan.

Led by Amrita Devi

Modern Chipko movement

Started in 1970’s in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand.

Based on the Gandhian philosophy.

Locally it is called as Angwal.

Decentralized and autonomous initiatives of locals.

Village women lead the movement to save their means of

subsistence.

Chipko slogans: ‘Ecology is a permanent economy’

“ What do the forest bear? Soil, water and pure air.”

AIM: TO PREVENT CUTTING OF TREES

Feature by UNEP:

‘In effect the Chipko people are working a

socio-economic revolution by winning control of

their forest resources from the hands of distant

bureaucracy which is concerned with selling the

forest for making urban - oriented products’

Achievements of Chipko movement

o Activists succeeded in stopping the felling of trees.

o Forced the Government and industry to become more

sensitive.

o Disadvantaged villagers can raise their voice against

rampant

environmental destruction and succeed.

o Chipko movement demonstrated - human life and ecology

are

balanced - highlighted the dangers.

o A satellite remote sensing study by the Space Application

Centre- Forest cover which was lost due to commercial

felling between 1959-69 was regained in the sensitive

catchment area of the Upper Alaknanda river.

Prominent figures:

Chandi Prasad Bhatt: Founder of Chipko Movement,

Dasoli Gram Swarajya Sangh’(DGSS)

“Let them know we will not allow the

felling of a single tree. When their

men raise their axes, we will

embrace the trees to protect them.”

- Chandi Prasad Bhatt

Sunderlal Bahaguna: A Gandhian activist and

philosopher

Dhoom Singh Negi: First person to save trees by

hugging them along with Bachni Devi

Bachni Devi: First women to hug

trees and saving them in Chipko

Embrace

Surviving participants of the first all women Chipko

Action at Reni Village in 1974 on reassembled thirty

years later.

Mr. Ghanshyam Raturi: Chipko poet, whose songs

echoed the during the movement describing the method of

embracing the trees to save them from felling.

‘Embrace the trees and save

them from being felled;

The property of our hills, save

them from being looted.’

“Our movement goes beyond the erosion of the land, to the

erosion of human values. The center of all this is

humankind. If we are not in a good relationship with the

environment, the environment will be destroyed, and we

will lose our ground. But if you halt the erosion of

humankind, humankind will halt the erosion of the soil.”

-Chandi Prasad Bhatt

NARMADA BACHAO

ANDOLAN (NBA)

THE NARMADA

RIVER

Narmada means ‘ever-delightful’, one of the holiest rivers in the

country of India “they say that even the site of the river will

cleanse all of your sins”

It is the most powerful mass movement, started in 1985,against

the construction of huge dam on the Narmada river.

Focus of the movement-saving the trees and the fauna,

rehabilitation of the poor people living around the area

Movement started in 1986 when the World Bank lent India

$450 million for the Sardar Sarovar Project

the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted by the

Government of India on October 6, 1969 to adjudicate over the

water disputes.

As per the Tribunal's decision, 30 major, 135 medium, and3000

small dams, were granted approval for construction including

raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam.

Medha Patkar

Started the NGO Narmada Bachao Andolan.

She mobilized tribal people, Adivasis, environmentalist,

and human rights activists against the Sardar Sarovar

Dam being built across the Narmada river in Gujarat.

Mode of campaign.

Events:

Save the Narmada Movement Established in 1989

Sept 1989 - 60,000 people rally against destructive

development.

Jan 1990 – 5,000 people marched on the Narmada

Valley Development authority offices forcing them to

close.

March 1990 – 10,000 protesters blocked the highway

from

Bombay for two days.

May 1990 – 2,000 people staged a sit-in outside the

prime ministers house in Delhi.

Other groups:

Arch Vahini -ARCHD (Guj)

Narmada Asargrastha Samiti (Guj)

Narmada Nirman Samiti (MP)

Narmada Dharangrastha Samiti (Mah)

All the above groups joined hands with NBA

with a non violent approach

Believed in the need for fair rehabilitation plans for the

people who vehemently opposed dam construction despite

a resettlement policy

Aamir Khan

Baba Amte

Arundhati Roy

Ladhenge Jeetenge,

Narmada bachao, Manav bachao

SAVE THE SILENT VALLEY CAMPAIGN

The campaign was started by Kerala Sastra Sahitya

Parishad

It was a social movement aimed at the protection of Silent

valley, an evergreen tropical forest in the Palakkad district

of Kerala, India.

In the 1960’s the state government began planning a dam

to generate hydroelectricity as the basis for regional

economic development.

The government eventually abandoned the project in 1983

and the valley was declared as in Silent Valley National

Park 1985.

Lion tailed Macaque

Save the Taj

Campaign

Main reasons why is the Taj Mahal affected:

1. Industrialization.

2. Transport.

3. Garbage.

4. Yamuna river.

5. Human inhabitance

6. Acid rain

Professor J. M. Dave, Dean of

Environmental sciences at JNU in New

Delhi first raised the grave doubts about

the impact of Mathura Oil Refinery

Campaign

Mitti Bachao Abhiyan

Launched in 1977

Against the water logging and salinity caused by the

Tawa dam in Madhya Pradesh

THAL VAISHET CAMPAIGN

Development of worlds biggest urea plant 50kms from Mumbai

Mumbai Environmental Action Group

BEDTHI CAMPAIGN

Second after Silent Valley

Arecanut, Cardamom and pepper

B

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D

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I

R

I

V

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STOP BHOPAL PATNAM-INCHAMPALLI DAMS

Protested by Jungle Bachao, Manav Bachao Andolan

DOON MININGPIL filed by Rural Litigation and Environment Kendra in

Dehradun.

SC ordered the closure of the mines on grounds on

environmental destruction.

PROTECT KARNATAKA

COMMONS

Opposed by Samaj Parivartana Samudaya.

Filed a petition in SC contended that people’s access to government forest land is

crucial for survival.

Afforestation affects right to live.

KAIGA CAMPAIGNOpposed by local groups, betel nut growers, fisher folks,

journalists and writers

GANDHAMARDHAN BAUXITE MINING

Opposed by local tribals

SAVE THE WESTERN GHATS

MARCH

Organised by environmental groups in 1988.

March crossed states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala

SAVE WATER SAVE

LIFEPadyatra organised by

the Natural

Fishermen’s Forum.

Padyatra was to draw

attention to the

problems of water

pollution & over

exploitation of

fisheries by trawlers

TEHRI DAM CAMPAIGNProtested by environmentalists & Tehri Bandh Virodhi

Sangharsh Samiti

Other Campaigns

Chilka Bachao Andolan

Green Consumption is a practice of using environmentally

friendly products that do not cause risk to human health

and do not threaten the function and diversity of natural

“ecosystems”

Green Consumption is the most cost effective approach

for implementing cleaner production efforts.

As a citizen of the earth, we need to

Sustainable Consumption is a collective responsibility.

Importance of Green Consumption

1. Responsibility of the industry to maintain

environmental quality and comply with

environmental regulations and standards - prevent

wastes - prevent development of environmental

harmful products.

2. Concept of cleaner production.

Cleaner production

Reduction of pollutants &

wastes

Prevention of development of

environment harmful products

4. Cleaner production strategies rely on product life cycle

Upstream environmental impacts wit raw

material selection &

product consumption

Impact from production

process

Effects related to product

distribution, consumption, recycling & disposal.

5. Consumption of products, energy & natural

resources

growing steadily .

6. Co-operation between consumers, communities

&

society.

Considering impacts of use & consumption at

Local,

national and global level.

7. Issue of green consumption.

8. Barriers to green consumption.

9. Change in consumption pattern.

How to start Green Consumption?

The best way to begin a green consumption programme is

to organize a group to collect, analyze, and distribute

reliable information on the environmental impacts of

products to all sectors of the society.

Product labeling

Information on unfriendly harmful products.

Roles of different sectors:

I. Role of government:Examine policies for improving environmental

performance of industry and encourage the production &

consumption of green products

II. Role of Industry and Business: Important factor in designing and manufacturing

Employment of green production technique through:

a) More efficient use of resource and energy.

b) Production of cleaner products & technology.

c) More efficient and competitive manufacturing.

d) Improved recycling and recovery.

e) Safer storage, shipping and handling of materials.

III. Role of NGO’s: Assist and work with government and industries to

collect, analyze and compile information eco labeling

programmes by NGOs

III. Role of general public: Public should accept the green consumption concept

by:

a) Modifying their lifestyle and consuming habits,

for

purchasing and consuming green products.

b) To save materials and energy uses and reducing

generation of wastes at home and workplace

.

“Solution to pollution is dilution”

Global pollution, resource depletion, loss of biological diversity,

global climate change, etc. suggest that a change is essential.

For a better future of a business, its necessary to redesign the

system and processes.

Eco-efficiency, clean production, pollution prevention, industrial

ecology, natural capitalism, restorative technology,

environmentally preferable products, designing the environment

and the next industrial revolution shows the encouraging

pathway to achieve environmental protection and social

welfare.

Green business is a part of green consumption

It is a co-operative effort.

Certified green businesses,

Green logo,

Marketing of the logo to make customers aware of the

product.

More awareness can lead to more purchasing power and

thus motivating business to GO GREEN

The Green Business programme motivates business

participation by:

i. Develop a positive proactive relationship

ii. Co-ordinating inspections

iii. Businesses at a public ceremony

iv. Promoting the programme and logo

v. Unity in assissting businesses

vi. In green Business, products are manufactured of

standard ISO 14000

Future of Green Business depends on the following aspects:

i. Be energy efficient

ii. Use renewable materials

iii. Be durable and reusable, non polluting material

throughout their life-cycle

iv. Protect biological and social diversity

v. Provide meaningful and sustainable livelihood.

vi. Use minimum packaging made from reusable or

recyclable material.

21 GREEN TIPS1. Recycle newspaper

2. Use energy efficient bulbs

3. Use recyclable bottles

4. Reuse jars

5. Use cold water for laundries

6. Make electronic shopping lists

7. Use paper bags

8. Use rechargeable batteries

9. Recycle plastic

10.Use bucket for bathing and Not Showers

11.Use carpooling

12.Use a bicycle

13.Use public transport

14.Minimize use of electricity

15.Plant trees

16.Use biodegradable bags for pet waste

17.Turn off the tap when not in use

18.Run a full load in washing machine