Tag Archive | "Environment"

The “American Dream” Invades India

Thursday, February 19, 2009

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In the ancient civilization of India, sustainability and moderation in consumption has always been a way of life. This pattern has been respected and left largely undisturbed by Indian consumers who consider themselves a part of the cycle of nature. An interactive relationship with nature and the natural environment is a part of every Indian’s [...]

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At home in the forest

Friday, January 23, 2009

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Van Vadi — a collective of city folks who have chosen to move to a forest and live in harmony with nature. The broad agreed aim of the owners was to “live close to the land in an ethical and sustainable manner”   Van vasis: Guests prepare and savour food grown organically at Van Vadi.  Surekha Kadapa-Bose Van Vadi is a [...]

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Bhutan’s balancing act: Happiness vs. development

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

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Bhutan’s dilemma: how to reconcile conservation, economic development and happiness in a modern world. Bhutan puts the happiness of its people before development. Landlocked in the eastern Himalayas, the tiny country of Bhutan seems almost untouched by globalisation. Its icy peaks, deep green gorges, sparkling rivers and quaint buildings with multi-tiered sloping roofs strengthen the feeling of a [...]

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Water of Life

Monday, November 3, 2008

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Water of Life

Rainwater harvesting means catching and holding rain where it falls and using it. It can be stored in tanks or used to recharge groundwater. From this seemingly simple idea, India is learning some great lessons. If you search for the term on Google, the Internet throws up around 64,000 links. Out of these as many as [...]

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The Free Tree & Bio-Piracy of the West

Friday, October 31, 2008

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The “Free Tree” of India  The neem is evergreen. It grows fast and in any kind of soil, good or bad. It can soar 25 metres high and can live for 200 to 300 years – that is if it is not cut down. It is one of the most tolerant trees. It is not scared of [...]

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The Striped Environmentalist

Saturday, October 18, 2008

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The Striped Environmentalist

The majesty of the Bengal tiger although considered a threat to their existence by the locals in Sunderbans, is in effect a direct check on the wilful onslaught of nature by unconcerned people. Consider it this way; the threat of the tiger in the jungle and the Crocs in the river has been the major discouragement for the [...]

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The Great Indian Migration

Sunday, October 5, 2008

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CITIES ARE centres of opportunities, of all types: entertainment, employment, education, healthcare and so on. When it is a matter of development, it is true that everything new comes to the city first. But sometimes it takes ages for a particular technological innovation find its way to the fringes of rural India. By the time [...]

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Learning Conservation from the Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh

Friday, September 26, 2008

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Learning Conservation from the Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh, a mysterious, magical and mystical land tucked away in the north eastern tip of India is one of the most compelling holiday destinations in India. Arunachal has 26 major tribes and many sub-tribes living in 3649 scattered villages. Although a number of tribal groups constitue the total population, the density of population is very [...]

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Irresponsible tourism in Paradise

Monday, September 22, 2008

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Irresponsible tourism in Paradise

This is what the western media says: “India has always been a difficult place to do business – excessive bureaucracy, endemic corruption and poor infrastructure are the most common problems – but now it seems Hindu gods must be added to the list. Plans for what would have been India’s first international ski resort in the [...]

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Cleanest village in Asia

Monday, September 15, 2008

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Cleanest village in Asia

MAWLYNNONG,nestled in the pristine hill state of Meghalaya, is along the Indo-Bangla border. This cute and colourful little village is known for its cleanliness. The village is a picture perfect painting. The village is situated about 75 kilometres from Shillong. The main occupation of the villagers is agriculture. They mostly grow betel nut. About 82 [...]

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