Greenitiatives
For us Indians, the situation 'ideally' should not have arrived at all because India - historically - has been a very 'Green' country. The residents of this nation since times immemorial have been known to worship Nature and it's elements in all forms and have protected them - in more ways than one - even in modern times. (Remember the picture in Hindustan Times, of a Bishnoi woman of Rajasthan who was suckling a black buck fawn? or for that matter, the reverance of the trees like Peepal and Bur and other symbolic gestures towards Nature).
But unfortunately, we the modern day mixed up breed of Indians have lost our sense of direction and have been misguided by elements best known to have come from outside the sphere of influence that this subcontinent had way back when.
Now we are all very much focused on producing the most garbage, producing the most number of human beings and producing the most number of consumers of all kinds on this planet. This has led the 'Green' nation to turn 'brown' with muck. Yuck!!!!
It sucks but it's the fact of life today.
In this scenario, the most noticeable movement that takes place is the privatization of country management. the nation is getting privatised from all angles. Hence the onus of running this brown nation is in the hands of more private players today than there were earlier.
Earlier the government was the target of criticism full on. Even today it is, but the light and stage is being shared by private companies too.
Going by the government's track record, everyone knows what to expect from them.
Hence what will make the ultimate difference is the private companies whose initiatives, though motivated by commercial interests for sure, will also be motivated by the fact of survival amongst competition.
And here, the initiative to ~ Go Green ~ not just in principal, but heavily so in practice, will pay in the long run - that is if the run lasts that long.
Companies have to start urging their employees to make those smart switches in lifestyles that will add value to the company's image.
Tomorrow there will be incentives for companies that will reduce their carbon footprint. These initiatives, earlier the corporates take, the better it will be for them to reduce this footprint and emission faster and manage the processes better.
So if a company internally encourages it's employees to switch to -
~ car-pooling,~ using company buses or pooled transportation,
~ energy conservation methods life turning off lights, PCs, ACs,
~ telecommuting,
~ using lesser number of plastic stirrers at the coffee vending machines, less number of plastic hermocol cups/glasses,
~ using water very judiciously at work locations and at home too,
~ using canteen facilities in a way not to waste food, drink
Follow the following R~s for survival along with the 3 R~s for education - Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic
~ Refuse - plastic, anything else that can be environmentally unfit; ---- ----
~ Revive - use of some very effective traditional means and ways (bicycle, ash/wood dust to wash utensils, using less chemicals to wash clothes, organic products for consumption, Yoga for health, etc.); More importantly, revive tree plantation for more green cover in your areas ---- ~ Reuse - everything that can be including e-waste, which calls for careful use in the first place so that shelf life is prolonged; ---- ~ Recycle - all that can be recycled safely. ---- ~ Green Project Management - The benefits that the company can generate in terms of it's soft-power/good-will and reduced carbon emission can contribute towards making the employees feel a great deal of satisfaction in doing something constructive through the company and will improve other aspects like team work, employee morale, productivity etc. Greenitiatives should lead to changing the way we have worked and lived since globalization stepped in, for it is the survival in the real sense that will be at stake with the current lifestyles and practices. Going back to the basics is what is warranted for to make suttle differences now for a better life later. And if implemented with sufficient policy changes by groups like HR, FMG, RMG, and practiced from the top down, the positive impact is conceivably for everyone to imagine and see materialising in the near future, provided there is sufficient maturity shown by industries and government across the spectrum of this nation. If people take up the initiatives, and change their lifestyles at their individual levels, the media can pack the punch using campaigns like what the Times of India has done here in Bombay for the mangroves, or for that matter, the Teach India movement. These will empower people to come forward and make that valuable difference that they have been wanting to do, waiting for a chance to do. Greenitiatives from the corporate world in India is a MUST for making India take lead in this new world economy - the Green Economy - that is going to be pivoted around the sustainability and conservation of resources. Greenitiatives has to be the beginning of the second Green Revolution in India and this time it has to be coming from Corporate India. Do you want to add your positive bit to it? If you do, take the greenitiative and change your lifestyle bit-by-bit first and in parallel, spread the message of your change for others to join you; each growing with the other's help in this positive direction.
Check freecycle for sharing/giving away things you don't need and want to discard for others who might have use for them.
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