My clutter,My life.

Guest Post - My interaction with Doctors, Diabetologist

2013-01-14T11:19:00.000+05:30

Life is full of surprises,blogging life is more so. It brings you to connect with bloggers riding the same wave length as you, giving immense satisfaction to your otherwise unnoticed feelings.

When I started blogging, I had little hope of anyone ever reading it, or commenting. My innate faith in connecting with people seemed to have played a part, and I had the good fortune to interact with humble people highly regarded in their fields of specialty.

One such blogger ,Dr.Riyaz, Consultant diabetologist , was kind enough to seek a guest post on my experiences as a patient with medical professionals. A chance I would not miss , since I went through being hopeful, contemptuous,and wary of the doctors I had consulted in my life.

Dear readers, here is - Guest Post - My interaction with Doctors.

P.S. All images in the posts are courtesy Google

Effect of Gluten rich grain on Type 2 Diabetes

2012-12-06T19:35:00.000+05:30

Though I don't write often on this topic, believe me , readers, I keep writing them in my head. I understand , how my fellow travellers with type 2 Diabetes , want to cope and live and enjoy life without the harmful blood glucose level rising.

In my rush for collecting as much information from the Internet, I have bookmarked scores of links which need to be read, sorted and linked. I read a lot, understood some, followed a few.

Out of this sea of information, I had stumbled upon Greenmedinfo.com. I subscribe to the newsletter and get lots of information . One such useful link is about gluten free foods.

I am sure many of you are aware of this problem stuff found in most grains, mainly in wheat. Now wheat is consumed a lot in India too, though rice plays a major part. When we are sharing our problem of Type 2 diabetes, general advice from our social circles is " Don't eat rice, eat Chapatis". Many of them also declare triumphantly that they eat only chapatis.

Courtesy Google

My experiment with monitoring blood glucose , led me to the conclusion that for me rice or chapati or many of the grains are not helpful at all. they only raised my Blood glucose levels alarmingly and gave me dire warnings to behave. I stopped consuming most of the grains, and found that it helped.

courtesy Google

http://www.the-gluten-free-chef.com/foods-containing-gluten.html This link lists the foods that might have gluten. Have a look.

Therefore , I would like to share this link for the benefit of understanding what this is all about.Please share your observations on the topic for the benefit of fellow sufferers.

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/gluten-punishment-whole-grain-assault-health?utm_source=www.GreenMedInfo.com&utm_campaign=9f84c02050-Greenmedinfo&utm_medium=email

Tilling the Earthwoman: Friday Thoughts: Flowerman of Rourkela

2012-11-24T20:04:00.001+05:30

A man, a love, a private mission, how some men choose to love nature:... Read on from my friend's blog..

Tilling the Earthwoman: Friday Thoughts: Flowerman of Rourkela: You may wonder what is so special about this photograph--just a bunch of trees. Well, true except all these trees were grown by a single m...

I laugh, I write: In The Name Of Religion, Culture, And Crap

2012-11-21T23:23:00.001+05:30

A young Indian and his rage against the unfair practices.

I laugh, I write: In The Name Of Religion, Culture, And Crap: I live in East Delhi, close to a naala, and there’s nothing to hide about that fact. That naala is apparently some tributary of a river...

To burst or not is the question -Diwali

2012-11-11T21:04:00.000+05:30

I received a mail from Girigaru, member of a social service group, which prompted this post.

Girigaru was kind enough to permit me to use his mail here

"1. Do we know why do we fire crackers on Diwali? If we really have to fire crackers, what kind and why those kind? Or do we just have to light lamps (deepams)? Have the crackers become replacement for deepams?
2. Why is Diwali celebrated next day after Naraka Chaturdhashi?
3. What is the association of Goddess Lakshmi on the day? It looks we are rather making her scared with a Bomb named after her in our homes (Lakshmi Bomb)! There is a saying that with all the lights and deepams we welcome Goddess Lakshmi comes to our homes during Diwali (Deepavali). If so why do we need to make so much noises and fires with less light. I am sure Deepams are lit with more light and for long time than any other crackers we fire. Don't you all agree? But why do we still fall behind the crackers, which not only do lot of pollution (environment and sound).
4. Last but not the least, are we not encouraging the child labor (children still getting paid Rs. 40 a day) at Siva Kasi, major fire works manufacturer, which is still also a most fire accident prone place and the children suffer with all kind of skin and lung diseases after breathing in chemicals which were used for making those crackers (phohsporus, sulphur and what not).

Without know answers to all those, is it really making sense to do things what we are still doing during these festivals? I am not saying we should not to what we are doing, but I think we should find the answers to all these questions and make sure we do not harm ourselves, others and environment. There must be a reasons for all these, I am sure none of these reasons say that we should harm ourselves. There is a limit and we should realize this. Why can't we all just fire crackers together, may be just one big set of them for entire colony or town, may be just the way USA celebrates its Independence day. I am sure we can make much better fireworks that way than these small ones individually. This also brings on discipline and oneness among people as Anil said, and reduce the pollution and noise. Why can't we just stick to deepams (small lights lit with cotton in oil) and I think this is exactly what Deepavali means.

Just my two additions here.

Giri "

This mail set me thinking:

How much do we know about fire crackers,except that in younger days, used to look forward with so much excitement, brag about the purchase, dry them in the sun, keep all the stuff ready, get set for the day and blassssst. Again brag about the blasting for next several days.

Later when we started questioning the very concept , we gradually got out of that,and only lighted a few flower pots.

Will Diwali be a festival if we have silent fire crackers or environmentally friendly ones? Will we appreciate such celebration, comparing ourselves with the neighbors who are crating such ruckus throughout the day and night? Is there any way to celebrate without causing pollution?

If you are living in a neighborhood where Tamils, Telugus, Marwaris and other north Indians are co-existing, the noise levels start reaching the sky from morning 5 a.m. and goes on through the day. by night 10 p.m., you might think it is over , but no.. we see someone in the colony showing off at 11.30 p.m. on, In the next colony another one wants to celebrate only at 00.30 a.m. of the next day! so we are sleepless till 1.30 a.m. All in the name of Diwali where we are forced to shut of our door and console our pet,with each burst,feel sad for the screeching birds. No one cares, it is Diwali see.

I was confused , and wanted to get the opinion of a cross section of people I know, and here is what I found.

There are people who confess, that once they became aware of the noise pollution and environment decay,they celebrated Diwali with lights and have stopped bursting big crackers, resulting in peace of mind.

And there are some who feel that the world is changing and our efforts to maintain the eco system and reduce global warming is abysmal. Therefore one should not add to the already existing problems by bursting crackers and wasting precious money . Instead people should share with the haven't and spread the joy of the festival.

There are some people, who have lived for two scores and ten, who scoff at the idea of bursting , and wastage . The comparisons are between what was the cracker industry then, wherein only small chakras and other stuff was sold, with a few bombs which were made of palm leaves. The chemicals used too were not so hazardous. Now a days one doesn't even know how many kinds of metallic stuff is released in to atmosphere, and how much of it is inhaled by those poor children who are into the job day in and out.

Why do we burst crackers? To celebrate the triumph of good over evil it seems. But when we are bursting those bombs with so much of poisonous toxins into the air, is any good coming out of such an act? It is only causing harm and pain to others.

The cost of firecrackers , almost 250 crores they say, and the cost of lives of of those children who make them.. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.299717560057122.89179.199447453417467&type=3..

Accident at Sivakasi

There is a campaign http://www.bba.org.in/campaigns/afcc.php, have a look at "Some Heart-Rending facts" to understand the plight.
They say
"Just a couple of days before Diwali, organise a public gathering of like-minded persons to demonstrate symbolic boycott of crackers by immersing them in water. Celebrate Diwali by lighting lamps, not by blasting childhood."

Some people also cared about the unpleasant feelings it causes to old people, pets,and patients,. The question that if it is Diwali, is it necessary to make the loudest noise and show the world we are great, is lurking in their minds.

Many people I talked to agreed , that traditions need to be accepted. But tradition is followed only on convenience. Why not stop this tradition , and light the diyas to feel good?

Why are the bombs that are sold are not levied with max. tax, to keep it beyond the reach of common man?. The units manufacturing those noise bombs and toxic crackers need to pay more tax, and the people need to pay more to buy them. This will prevent massive misuse?

Now festival season starts from Ganesha Chaturthi. The business community goes all out to promote and offer products to sell . The revelers want to maximize their share , by showing off the height of the idols to the time it takes to block the roads , noise pollute and choke the lakes and sea. the eco pollution and time waste is not considered at all, since it is tradition!. Then it is Diwali again , a tradition to fire and blast. Many are in dread of this season!

In a country where the people below poverty line are struggling for one meal a day, is it tradition to make them starve,and, the rest show off? Are there no better ways to celebrate?

What can be role of the Government in this case?
The government can examine , whether the crackers have toxins that are not good for environment?.
Why , the bombs that are sold , can not be levied with max. tax, to keep it beyond the reach of common man?. The units manufacturing those noise bombs and toxic crackers need to pay more tax, and the people need to pay more to buy them. This might prevent massive misuse?
Can people be not made to understand by publicity that , the tradition of firing loud crackers and polluting the atmosphere need to be changed, and people need to share the joy of festival with those who can not afford celebrate?

And we, the people can begin with our own homes!

Meanwhile some answers will be welcome for Girigaru's questions.

All images courtesy Google.

ARCHETYPES INDIA: Shankar Kanade's Architecture: Lohithashwa's House...

2012-10-14T15:22:00.001+05:30

ARCHETYPES INDIA: Shankar Kanade's Architecture: Lohithashwa's House...: Shankar Kanade's Architecture: Lohithashwa's House Unique Event – Interior in Action By Remigius de Souza Architecture is fi...

BEEHIVE IN GONDWANA: In the Urban Wilderness

2012-10-14T15:20:00.001+05:30

BEEHIVE IN GONDWANA: In the Urban Wilderness: Illustration: Stuffed Crested Lark in a natural history museum In the Urban Wilderness Perhaps I could sing words of birds ...

Subho's Jejune Diet: What's Love Got To Do With It?

2012-10-08T14:49:00.001+05:30

Subho's Jejune Diet: What's Love Got To Do With It?: There is no conflict that cannot be resolved through dialog. This belief of my mentor is at the heart of what I try to do with my life – in ...

Tale of a terrace gardener and rice husk

2012-10-07T19:30:00.000+05:30

Being active on Facebook has become a time consuming job. I have neglected my blogs, neglected my readings and am only showing off my collections, which are not much anyway. But I learnt a lot of techniques , and being the newbie gardener that I am, I am eager to try it all out and get a (self)pat on my back, with a bounty harvest. When one has garden friends, achieving bountiful harvest by using Panchgavya or Jeevamrithum, or whatever else, one wants to try , organic of course, and prove to oneself ( and to other friends ) that one can activate nature to offer a basketful. I learnt to use cocopeat, and other stuff, and have a terrace garden and called myself organic terrace Gardener. Felt good. All that changed recently.

I stumbled on to a FB group of knowledgeable, qualified and inspiring gardeners, who are harvesting such magnificent capsicums and lettuce, gourds, and cucumbers. I got hooked. Though the language was different, I scanned for days, to see the English versions too, embedded somewhere in conversations. They were growing it all by themselves, without relying on those chemical fertilisers. I saw in awe , the rows of neatly arranged platforms of grow bottles with special growing medium, full of greenery. I learnt that it contained soil, compost and some pig/chicken manure etc., most of which was not in my reach.

As I dug deep into their conversations, I was drawn more and more into their style of raising vegetables, which could feed a family of twenty at least. Rows and rows of recycled plastic containers, used in innovative ways, inspired me. I already knew how to cut a Coca-Cola bottle and put growing medium. I had raised some greens and felt very pleased. Here I saw the bottles were pretty big. That set me thinking, to find where in my dear city I am going to get those. I started looking at scrap shops, wherein the guy used to look at me strangely asking for impossible sizes of soft drink / or any other used bottles. ( I have not located any so far).

After scrolling through pages and pages of conversation , I figured that they were using some rice hull. I know what the stuff is. After all, I grew up on my grandfather’s land holdings and seen them stack those stuff in summer. But to get rice hull in Hyderabad area seemed remote. I searched the Ice depots, requesting for information. I re-read the FB conversations. I Googled. All pointed out to the one thing that I must procure, to improve my growing medium and, and the yield.

Meanwhile, I noticed that another young garden enthusiast( Mr.X), had already procured some rice hull and was kind enough to share the photograph with the other FB friends. He was also generous to share the location where he procured it, a remote place from where I lived. Luckily another equally enthusiastic, experiment minded, excited gardener too wanted a look at that magic ingredient. That made two of us, trying to travel to the outskirts of our city, to add a special ingredient to our plants,resulting in good yield.:-).

We both were, busy ladies, who are needed at home, our absence will be felt if it was more than two hours.

It took us weeks to plan the visit,contemplating how to get to that unknown area where paddy was being de-husked and hull was strewn about. We also bombarded the person who already bought it.

Finally , the trip was in place,but it was raining heavily, next, it was threatening to rain, and another day, a forecast that it might rain. We waited. We were also worried that the roads may be lonely. It might not be safe for ladies to go that far, in an auto, to an unknown area.

What can stop determined gardeners?

One fine sunny evening, we did make the trip. It was a long drive, luckily on the main roads. We had to ask a few people on the way, and found the place, pretty easy.( after almost an hour’s journey by auto).The auto driver was very nice and helpful , and patient with two ladies and a child, trying to reach this rice mill. When he understood, he was smiling wryly. ( madcaps?).

Added to that we also caused mild sensation ,to the helpers in that place, who were delighted that two well-dressed people came all the way from city, for the hull. We were asked to shovel them in the bags, ourselves, and we did that. (Gardening makes you do strange things). We came back, mighty pleased with ourselves, and a lighter purse due to the racy meter, and exorbitant auto fares. Never mind, we had the satisfaction of getting what we sought.

Well, this is not end of the story.There is another procedure to this. One is supposed to carbonate the hulls to add strength to the growing medium. Our enthusiastic Mr.X has already demonstrated how to do that, on the social web sites. Now you know , readers, it is not fair on our part to leave job incomplete with the damp hull. We need to learn to carbonate. That will be another long story…

All pictures except the first one is Courtesy Google.

Reblogged from here , due to Indigblogger connectivity difficulties.

Vilnius Daily Photo: Nida Sunset

2012-10-03T19:52:00.001+05:30

Vilnius Daily Photo: Nida Sunset: It was 700 km and 4 days of the most pleasant trip to Nida town via Baltic Sea's coastline and I believe that such a scenic picture is a g...

the orchestra of life: Bare Reality

2012-10-02T21:21:00.001+05:30

the orchestra of life: Bare Reality

WITHER INDIAN YOUTH?

2012-09-29T18:23:00.000+05:30

This is a post from one of my good friends from the Internet. I would like to promote this post , for the issues it raises.

The link here

WITHER INDIAN YOUTH?

Some disturbing trends proliferating in society catch your attention and you can’t help mulling over them. My observation in two states in the span of a few months has convinced me that a particular malaise is widespread and a telling symptom of the moral collapse of the youth of our country. How our youth is increasingly being misguided into a self destructive mode, is a point worth pondering! There seems to be a complete erosion of values which guided all of us in the past.

The case in point is the increasing inclination towards irresponsible drinking habits amongst our young population. A few days back we were on our daily walking regime in the park, when I saw some littered stuff near a bench. On closure inspection, it became evident that some people had a drinking session in the safe twilight hour. There were plastic tumblers, left over of snacks and small liquor bottles scattered there. On enquiry it was revealed by the residents who have their residences around, that some boys invaded the peace at night, guzzled alcohol and were forced to leave by some brave hearts with a warning.

However such elements roam freely, indulge in questionable behaviour and pose a danger to the peace loving citizens. These are the ones who violate laws, snatch chains, commit day light robberies, and take part in kidnapping to make easy money. They indulge in drunken driving, cause accidents and take innocent lives. One can imagine the fate of their families suffering in silence. But can they absolve themselves of the blame? There are many such worrying examples reported in the press day in and day out.

A similar scenario, confronted me inHimachal Pradesh. One day, while enjoying a morning walk on Nahan road, we saw card board cases of branded liquor bottles, eatables and glasses thrown indiscriminately by the side of the newly constructed parapets. At many places empty bottles and food stuff containers are seen littered on the road itself. What impressions are created in the vulnerable minds of children, who pass by such scenes on their way to school? Once I saw stray dogs licking left out liquor in the abandoned glasses

The disillusioned youth take recourse to wrong choices and naively think that such actions make them trendy, in sync with the fickle world of movies. Most of the movies are harbingers of negative aspirations among the youth. They try to relate themselves to the larger than life images shown on celluloid and get a jolt, when these acts land them into trouble and public censure. For example drinking, sex and nudity are integrated in the screen play for its own sake, to titillate the youth who constitutes the large chunk of film goers.

Drinking has become a fashion these days even among highly educated and respectable families. There is always a danger of social drinking leading to alcoholism which has ruined many families. Murders, rapes, suicides and other forms of violence under the influence of liquor are daily occurrences these days. Women and Children are the worst victims of such episodes.

Since the excise duty on alcoholic drinks is high and also Governments earn huge amounts as revenue in the auctioning process of liquor joints, the ruinous effects of drinking are sidelined for the sake of taxes which get generated to fill the empty state coffers. Mushrooming of vends selling this stuff is evident every where, when you drive through the highways.

The easy availability of alcohol without any checks emboldens our youth, too young to gauge the consequences of their dangerous forays. A few months back(as reported in the newspaper) a couple of school girls, accompanied by boys, skipped their tuition classes and went in for experimenting with drinking and were found vomiting in a park by the police. In ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ and ‘Rock Star’ the heroines drink liquor neat and I’m sure, that was the inspiration for these girls to copy the act. These poor girls didn’t know perhaps that it was part of acting, at the most with coke filled bottles. One can imagine the stigma and lifelong mental scars which the girls and their families will have to suffer in a society which slanders rather than supports.

Many parents in their pursuit of glitzy possessions remain oblivious of the activities of their wards thinking that they’ve discharged their duty if they stuff their children’s pockets with moolah. Such an attitude of indifference and neglect results in the undoing of the children. Avoidable tragedies happen and the families are doomed for the rest of their lives.

Here are a few suggestions:

Parents must monitor their wards' lives to the extent possible. They should be weaned away from excessive use of addictive phone applications and virtual cyber world, which isolates them from the real world resulting in psychosomatic problems, which can wreak their lives.

Parents’ and teachers should always keep the communication channels open with the children and teens, creating a comfort zone where they can discuss their problems with them freely.

A provision of counselling for all kids should be there in the school curriculum, where such habits take birth.

The teachers must encourage children to frequent libraries and help them choose good motivational books.

Taking part in sports should be compulsory for youngsters to canalize their energies in healthy pursuits

T.V. viewing should be monitored and time limit put in place.

Rich parents in place of spoiling their kids with expensive gifts should take interest in their lives and imbibe in them the spirit of giving to the less fortunate.

Vocational education for teaching employable skills should be introduced from lower levels to ward off frustrations. All children are not made for higher education.

Elders should lead by example rather than by precept.

The Police must take stringent action against violators of law and judiciary must ensure speedy justice with deterrent sentence.

Members of civil society should not look the other way when they see teens indulging in unlawful acts. Concerted efforts by all sections of society are needed to steer the youth towards the right path.

*****

Please feel free to share your comments on the link in Ms.Uppal's blog post.

Idiot box not idiot anymore

2012-09-28T20:23:00.001+05:30

Idiot box not idiot anymore

Colours in my garden on a overcast day

2012-09-04T19:29:00.000+05:30

It is raining almost all over the country. Yesterday was wettest in Hyderabad, I think. It was pouring throughout, the dampness is all-pervading., it is dark, even in the day time. Toady is little better, but still the sun-god has not appeared. I have been coughing since days, the weather not helping at all.

Today I feel a little better , and am awake by 5 a.m. It is pitch dark outside. By 6.a.m. it is still dark, clouds hanging over the sky. I am eager to see my plants in the aftermath of leeching by incessant rains. I tip toe to the terrace, with a cup of coffee..

The sky is gray, but the plants .. I gasp. They are bathed in rain drops, but the colors.. my.. worth writing a blog about.. Please enlarge and view the Pyramid :-)

My Pyramid!

My Tomjal

My calcutta paan

The Seethaphals are the major attractions for the birds, and the Kabhootars.

Hey forgot to show off my new nursery plants.. all from Vanastri.. More on the in the next post. Happy gardening.

Friends, the Indiblogger is refusing to accept my original post from here . Therefore I had to re-post for my friends from Indiblogger. Apologies.

For clearer picture Updates, please view here

Trees, Plants & more: Water conservation

2012-08-17T18:54:00.001+05:30

Trees, Plants & more: Water conservation

Water and a City- Bangalore

2012-08-11T19:39:00.003+05:30

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/festival/play/5453/Water-and-a-City/VmtaV1JrOVdRbEpRVkRBOStF

All those friends, who are interested in water conservation, might like to have a look at this.

Wish all the cities in India make rainwater harvesting a reality and benefit. Is anyone listening out there?

Lalbagh Flower show, a kind of scoop, Pattu's Terrace Garden

2012-08-11T11:22:00.000+05:30

This season, when you are in Bangalore, you are amazed at the cool and moisture laden air. In Hyderabad, though it is pleasant, once the rain stops, we are back to our dry weather and hot climate. You are also attracted the idea of going out often, as living in the city connects easily the various places by friendly autowallahs, though heavy on the purse.

I anyway wanted to scout in Lalbagh for some Edward roses , and cajoled the hubby to accompany me to visit Lalbagh. And there we went, by 11.30 A.M. on Tuesday.

What greets us.. Surprise Surprise. the Flower show! Well.. not exactly...only the arrangements and various trucks and props, and flower plants being unloaded, and workers busy , with the Glass house cordoned off. It seems the show is to kick off on 8th or 9th, and we missed the actual show by a whisker.

Other places were teeming with screaming school kids, otherwise, it was pleasant and balmy. The gardens appealed to me , and as usual, I could not help comparing it with our very own Public Gardens, which has so much space, and so much official apathy.

Anyway, I turned on corner to go the Nurseryman Society , and saw first hand what will be displayed in the vegetable sections during the show. If this is not Scoop... What else is ?:-)

Let me share with you, with pride, the container grown veggies , some of which I captured in my Cell phone.

I am sure all of you will agree that I can't help admiring those container grown gourds,

( which keep failing me ), and share them with you , in admiration.

While I was browsing through, I found more pictures, and have added them to the post, later, updated.

THIS POST IS FROM "PATTU'S TERRACE GARDEN" re posted here due to Indivine problems. Thanks for bearing with me.

Sunbyanyname: BORN FREE? SATYAMEV JAYATE? LETS WORK TOWARDS IT

2012-07-30T14:40:00.001+05:30

Sunbyanyname: BORN FREE? SATYAMEV JAYATE? LETS WORK TOWARDS IT: In my last article in Philosophy section of the blog, I wrote about 'How Unbiased Or Innocent Can We Become? The article had this quote ...

Crossing 10,000 A landmark for me

2012-07-26T23:22:00.001+05:30

(Google courtesy)
I revived this blog with a view to air my pet peeves ,without any expectations that anyone will peep into it. It was all about my own grumblings and grouses against the general apathy I find in my daily life.

The gradual outcome slowly encouraged me to add more about writing what upset or enthralled me.I almost forced my increasing readership to accept my likes and tolerate me .

Today, I find that I have crossed 10,000 hits,which is a pleasant surprise and gives a mild shock. I know it is no great shakes, but at 60+, I can't ask for more from my esteemed readers who encouraged me to write openly about my feelings.

I feel very good and am grateful to all of you who visited these simple pages. Do continue , and give your valuable feedback to humour a humble blogger.

Bright and cheerful in the morning

2012-07-20T13:41:00.000+05:30

At the break of dawn, when the sky is spreading light, I climb the steps to the second floor terrace, to look at the sky, the clouds,birds chirping and enjoy the cool breeze on my face. During the last week, this daily routine was pleasantly distracted by a welcome sight on the parapet wall, which comes into view, as I ascend the steps. I could see this cheerful yellow greeting me at the same angle , past few days..

Saving Petrol/pollution?

2012-06-14T21:47:00.002+05:30

(Image courtesy Google)
Using SmartMumbaikar You can share auto-rick,taxi,car,bike with your facebook friends & friends of friends!
Save money even if Petrol price, autorickshaw and bus fare are hiked!,Reduce traffic jam & pollution in Mumbai!

http://smartmumbaikar.com/

I found this to be a very good initiative. Wish other cities, also will take it up soon.
And my dear Hyderabadis will adopt it too, for my convenience and saving the petrol/diesel.

Hope this succeeds.

Disposal of Garbage, the waste we generate

2012-06-08T10:32:00.003+05:30

http://www.gobartimes.org/content/public-waste-private-enterprise

I am struck by this page.

Read, circulate; let us realise, relate and deal with it suitably.

This is our Environment.

Will anyone listen , I wonder.

2012-05-27T20:58:00.003+05:30

Yesterday we had a unique experience.

We have an open ground in front where the road ends in a cul-de-sac and the ground starts. The ground hugs our colony periphery on the south eastern side.

It has been a vacant lot for ever, and the greenery is soothing. A place for birds, and all other small animals. We don't complain, since it gives a lovely mini forest canopy. There was a huge well, where children used to play, fish and swim. But 15 years back some high rise was built on the well and a few Eucalyptus trees were planted in their compound.

There is a nala flowing between our colony, and the high rise .In fact the forest cover gives a respite from the nala overflow and also the stench.

It is needless to say, the high rise residents find it convenient to throw their garbage into the mini forest, and choke the nala from time to time.

Three days back, while I was on the terrace watering the plants, I heard a loud noise, and to my amusement saw one tree, breaking up and falling over some compound walls, over the nala, and lay sprawling on our part of the road.

People who were out running, hearing the bang, were sympathetic, to find a big tree sprawled across. It was also occupying major portion of the road, and vehicles could not pass...

I saw the huge canopy and I requested my domestic help to collect the leaves as much as possible for use in the garden as mulch, and went about my work.

The owners of the tree immediately arranged for cutting the debris and disposing it. It took them almost a day to cut the branches and clean up the road, and workers were quick to finish, by disposing it in the nala!

The normal process could have been, to summon the lorry from Cantonment Office for collecting the tree debris. That would have involved some expenditure.

By chance I heard some noise, and peeped out. To my horror, smoke and flames were leaping out of the forest ground. The flames were some 15 feet high and making cracking noise. I rushed out and saw that, couple of workers were watching the fire, smoking, and chatting on cell-phones.

Hearing the commotion, the neighbours came out rushing. The fire was spreading to the dry twigs and branches. Though it was in the direction away from our houses, there was a danger of it coming towards our homes due to some heavy winds. So much commotion was going on, but no one from the high rise came forward.

They might have been watching from their closed windows and balconies, but they did not respond. I had to shout above the din of noise, that I am calling the fire department and the police.

The workers got panicky when we all shouted, and they started throwing some water. I was shocked that in the wake of water being bought for 1000 per lorry, how can anyone think of disposing a tree by kindling a forest fire?

They started getting some more pipes and some small bucket to pour over the fire. Meanwhile the green trees were fast catching the fire.

I threatened one of the workers that we are going to catch him and hand over to the police for starting such a fire in summer, which prompted others into action. They stared jumping nearer to the fire area and pouring water collected from the nala!

We were also asking, who gave them advice to dispose of such a huge tree into the drainage nala, they pointed out at the high rise"sir".

Once it came to some semblance of control, the man from the high rise in charge of such mighty operation appeared. We lost no time in asking at his plan of setting the neighbourhood on fire, jeopardizing our homes and trees. He coolly defended himself by saying he never told the workers do such thing, and he only asked them to clean.

Clean? By throwing the tree in the nala and chocking it? In case of next rain, our colony will get all the mucky water! He had no answer, but to mumble something else. I had to show restraint, and call for his good senses and educated status(is he really educated ?), to refrain from such careless clean ups such things. The worst is , he did not even apologise!

I found the workers were more responsible and doused the fire and apologised for what happened.

Finally, it irked me that, this is not the first time it happened. Six months back, we were all carrying buckets of water from our homes and dousing the fire. for almost one hour!!We did not know then, who had lit such a fire, now we know who thinks of easy disposals!!!

Just because, we alerted and no loss took place, does it mean we can brush it aside?. I wish people were more responsible and realise how a small careless thoughtless act, might develop into a disaster. And learn to avoid unnecessary loss.

Will anyone listen, I wonder.

ரத்த க்ளூகோஸ் மானிடரும், என் தடுமாற்றமும்

2012-05-24T10:29:00.001+05:30

தமிழில் படிக்க இங்கே http://vetrimagal.blogspot.in/2012/05/blog-post.html

நன்றி.

Friends,

This post in linked to my Tamizh post .

http://vetrimagal.blogspot.in/2012/05/blog-post.html

Where in I have written about my tryst with One touch Ultra 2.

I could not upload to Indi blogger. Therefore, I am posting it here.

Kinldy bear with me.

For the English version kindly view here http://dreamspaces.blogspot.in/2012/01/my-experiment-with-gadgets.html

Thanks.

Melbourne Fresh Daily: EAGLE SCULPTURE

2012-05-12T12:47:00.000+05:30

Melbourne Fresh Daily: EAGLE SCULPTURE: "Eagle" is a beautiful sculpture standing 25 metres or about seven storeys high. It is by Bruce Armstrong, one of the most important sculpto...

This site if a great one for anyone appreciating the armchair travelling habit. My appreciations always go to the administrators of Melbourne City.
Most of the suburbs of Melbourne has been covered by Blogger friend Nick. His enthusiasm in sharing his city specials is amazing.

While I saw this sculpture and the narrative, I was wondering about our own cities/skylines of towns, beaches. Apart from installing huge idols of garishly painted , badly done up images of Gods/leaders, we have no appreciation of contemporary art.