www.life365.in
AN
UR HEART O Y S E H C U Y T H AT T O L I A D G N I INSPIR
Vol. 1 No. 3 Pages 16 PUNE, THURSDAY APRIL 26, 2012 Rs.4
WEATHER
MODERN-DAY VALMIKIS
Sunrise .....................06:10 Sunset ......................18:55 Moonrise .................09:44 Moonset ..................23:08 Temperature Min ...........................25 0c Max ...........................36 0c
IPL’S X FACTOR TOR Take a look at phenomenon of IPL’s popularity which has boosted our interest >> P9
A musical performance of Tagore’s famous opera >> P2
HITLER & VOLKSWAGEN Unravelling the legacy of the people’s car >>P14
E-WASTE
Know where to dump your e-waste A comprehensive guide on what electronic waste is all about
Asia’s
SAMARTH GOYAL What is E-waste?
Simply put, e-waste includes all dysfunctional or malfunctioning commercial or domestic electronic appliances.
cleanest
Hazardous elements in E-waste
Mercury: Found in fluorescent tubes (numerous applications), tilt switches (mechanical doorbells, thermostats), and flat screen monitors. Health side-effects include sensory impairment, dermatitis, memory loss, and muscle weakness. Sulphur: Commonly used in lead-acid batteries. Long-term health impairments include liver damage, kidney damage, heart damage, eye and throat irritation. Uncontrolled release of sulphur in the environment can lead to the formation of sulphuric acid. Cadmium: Found in light-sensitive resistors, corrosionresistant alloys for marine and aviation, and nickel-cadmium batteries. When not properly recycled, it can leach into the soil, harming micro-organisms and disrupting the soil ecosystem. Exposure is caused by proximity to hazardous waste sites and factories and workers in the metal refining industry. The inhalation of cadmium can cause severe damage to the lungs and kidney. Lead: The toxic element is used for solder, CRT monitor glass, lead-acid batteries, PVC formulation. Beryllium oxide: Filler in some thermal interface material such as thermal grease, used on heat sinks for CPUs and power transistors, magnetrons, X-ray-transparent ceramic windows, heat transfer fins in vacuum tubes.
What the fuss is about
The controversy over the owners of electronic manufacturing companies allegedly dumping e-waste rampantly in developing countries in the name of donations, continues to rage on. As a result, developing countries are becoming big dump yards of e-waste. Proponents of international trade point to the success of fair trade programs in other industries, where cooperation has led to the creation of sustainable jobs, and can bring affordable technology in countries where repair and reuse rates are higher. Yet, thousands of men, women, and children continue to be employed in highly polluting, primitive recycling technologies, extracting the metals, toners, and plastics from computers and other electronic waste.
Ill-effects of e-waste e
Uncontrolled burning, disassembly sembly and disposal of e-waste causes: Groundwater contamination, atmospheric pollution, water pollution either by immediate mediate discharge or due to surface runoff (especially near coastal areas) s) Health problems including occupational onal safety and health hazards.
Pune and E-waste
According to a study conducted on E-waste assessment in the MumbaiPune area by the Maharashtra ra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) CB) in 2007, only a very small amount mount of e-waste dismantling activity ty occurs in the Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad region. >> Continued on n Page 5
EXTRAA In case you want to discard ard your e-waste, contact: Sanjay Saxena email: sanjay.saxena@simsmm.com smm.com or call on (020) 6652-1000 000
What is your
LIFE 365 daily all about?
village
Take a trip to Asia’s cleanest village, Meghalaya’s Mawlynnong, which teaches the world a lesson or two on sustainable living SUCHISMITA PAI
H
ave you ever been inside a fairytale, complete with a tree house more than 20ft up in the air? Welcome to Mawlynnong, nestled in the east Khasi hills of Meghalaya, where the sounds of rain provide a musical score almost the year through. Green clean and serene, the villagers ensure it stays that way. From the stylish bamboo dustbins at every corner to the clean well maintained black tarmac and the spotless front-yards and sidewalks of the bamboo stilt houses, and even the public toilets, the villagers maintain everything themselves. Everyone takes part in the ritual weeding, sweeping and cleaning of the common areas, gardens and roads every evening and there are separate compost pits in various pockets of the village for organic and inorganic wastes. Everyone knows to keep their surroundings clean and any odd piece of garbage is picked up and disposed of appropriately, by whoever spies it. An efficient localised water supply and sanitation system completes the picture For the child in you, the tree house comes complete with machan and a bamboo walkway. Another fairy tale structure, the sky tower, a brainchild of a local school teacher, Rishot Khongthohrem, has been conceptualised and constructed entirely by the local residents.
Just like Pune is a city that still respects values, welcomes ideas and supports genuine efforts, Life 365 is more than just a daily. Going beyond news that has already been done to death, Life 365 rejects negativity,
Rising over 60 feet up in the clouds, it is perched on the branches of the highest tree in the forest and is just the place to get a lay of the land as you imagine rushing off to rescue a prince or princess. From up there you have an uninhibited view of Meghalaya’s forests and the plains of Bangladesh stretching below. Trees morphing into bridges right before your eyes are not the stuff of Harry Potter films alone. Just outside Mawlynnong, you have the amazing living bridge which has been fashioned by a centuries-old tradition of coaxing tree branches and roots to form natural bridges! It is over 200 years old and was constructed by tying the roots of two trees and coaxing them to get entangled into a natural bridge. Add to all this an ecofriendly and sustainable life style, and everything becomes even more magical. What the local residents know and practice about rain water harvesting
sensationalism and superficiality in its columns. We are here to promote good values, good people and good work. As a cosmopolitan, commercial hub, the city today abounds with enlightened individuals, talented
and composting would put many sophisticated urban dwellers to shame? “There is a fine for littering and cutting trees, but what works best is fear of humiliation and embarrassment,” says headman Thomlin Khongthohrem. Mawlynnong's reputation for being clean and green has been well documented. Experts say Mawlynnong, like the rest of Meghalaya, has a very effective local governance system. The society is matrilineal — meaning that land is passed down through the female side of families — making women economically more powerful. Lessons in hygiene are inculcated from a very young age, more by making them a part of the daily routine. Khasi tribal inhabitants are known to be nature worshippers and this is seen by some as an effective way of preserving the forest cover. Thambor Lyngdoh, in charge of a sacred community forest in an another village, says that
while it is true that many Khasi people are ‘nature worshippers’ the drive for cleanliness and education is not about faith alone. "Even today we are very strict about how the forest can be used," he says. “People are allowed to take only whatever they need from the forest for their own use.” Driven entirely by local initiative, the village has adopted several ideas like pay and use toilets. Polythene use is completely banned and so is smoking. Little wonder it has been labeled ‘The cleanest village in Asia’ by BBC, National Geographic and Discover India was the one to, well, discover it! With just an occasional dusty bus that trundles through the village as transport and only one weekly market to stock up on supplies, this little village in the misty hills with a 100% literacy rate and strong social bonds shows the way to a model sustainable life.
EXTRAA By road, Mawlynnong is 90 kms from Shillong and 92 kms from Cherrapunjee. The nearest airport is Shillong. From here, take a taxi till Khasi Hills at Bara Bazaar market. From here cabs take you to Mawlynnong. Some hotels in Shillong Ri Kynjai, Royal Heritage Tripura Castle, Hotel Polo Towers and Hotel Centre Point (check their respective websites)
creators and innovators, genuine activists and social groups. All inspired and inspiring citizens. Life 365 will strive to capture the mixed ethos of it all. We promise to function as a responsible and
responsive member of the Fourth Estate. We believe it is doable. All we need is for you to believe in us… editorlife365@gmail.com Call 020-25534888/25538835 or 8806 365 365