Farmers' organizations, environmentalists, and the RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch oppose the approval granted to genetically modified mustard and have urged the Prime Minister and Environment Minister to reject it. They argue that GM mustard was approved hastily and only benefits large agrochemical companies, while farmers say it has no utility and is against their economic interests. Critics claim GM crops do not increase yields as claimed and are harmful to health and the environment.

1. E-Newsletter-8/3
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
Farmer bodies, environmentalists oppose
approval to GM Mustard
RSS affliate writes to PM, Environment Minister; wants application rejected
Vibha Sharma, Tribune News Service, New Delhi, May 12
Strongly condemning GEAC’s approval to Genetically Modified (GM) Herbicide Tolerant (HT)
Mustard developed by the Delhi University for commercial cultivation, farmers' associations,
environmentalists and BJP's ideological fountainhead RSS’ affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch on
Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave
reject the application.
Although the regulator — which comes under the Environment Ministry — has cleared the
application seeking approval for commercial use of what could be India's first GM food crop, the
final decision lies with Environment Minister Dave. While SJM is planning to register its
objections with the Prime Minister, representatives of farmers' unions from across the country
have already conveyed to Dave their "deep dismay and disappointed" over GEAC's
recommendation to GM herbicide tolerant (HT) mustard.
Urging Dave to reject the application, farmers' unions said the GM HT mustard had no utility to
farmers and was "in fact against our economic interests". "This GM mustard engineered with
herbicide tolerance trait will only benefit the large agro-chemical corporations like Bayer, which
are seeking to expand markets for their poisonous chemicals (glufosinate herbicide in this case),
and lock us into the package of external seed supply with associated pesticides," they said.
Environmentalist Vandana Shiva also condemned the decision to allow herbicide tolerant
Bayer’s GM Mustard.

2. SJM’s national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan was equally scathing in his criticism of the GEAC,
whose approval, he said, had no meaning given that the matter was pending in the Supreme
Court. Mahajan said: "Even the Prime Minister would not be interested in promoting something
which is as detrimental to health and environment as GM crops are". This despite the recent
backing by the government's top think- tank—the Niti Ayog—to indigenously developed
transgenic varieties. Questioning the "haste" with which the Genetic Engineering Appraisal
Committee (GEAC) had given nod to cultivation of "indigenously developed GM mustard",
Mahajan claimed it proved the "desperation of the regulator manned by interested parties”.
Whenever the matter is sub-judice, the government and its associated bodies do not take any
decision on it.
"The GEAC decision amounts to interference in the court proceedings. They are trying to
influence Supreme Court' proceedings and verdict. It shows that some GEAC' members were
under tremendious pressure and may also have conflict of interest. The GEAC decision has no
meaning, it is for the Environment Minister to take the final call," he said.
GM Mustard will be destructive to environment and health and destroy associated trades like
bee-keeping. Even the claims about its increased productivity are not true. The fact is that
productivity of GM mustard is much less than domestically produced non-GM seeds. And the
difference is not small but as huge as 25 per cent.”
Mahajan claimed GM Mustard variety had characteristics distinct to leading seed multinational
companies, but were made to look like an indigenous one.
In India, the only commercialised GM crop was Bt Cotton. Critics of genetically modified crops
claim that contrary to the industry and the government claims that it led to an increase in
production and decrease in the cultivation' cost, they only added to woes of cotton farmers.
WHY ‘ZERO GARBAGE’?
Editorial
About a few decades ago, we may not have spoken or heard much about terms like ‘Waste Management’
or ‘Zero Garbage’ ‘Zero Waste’ ‘Solid Waste Management’ etc. In the olden times, the generation of
waste was minimal as people lived in tune with nature, using minimum material things. But in the last few
decades, as the world progressed, human beings began to live more affluent and techno-oriented lives
generating various kind of waste like package materials, plastics, thermacol, e-waste, bio-medical waste
etc. In the modern times, the increasing waste generation has adversely affected the environment. In fact,
in his recent encyclical on environment “Laudato Si” Pope Francis says, “The Earth, our home, is
beginning to look like an immense pile of filth.”

3. In our own country, everyday thousands of tonnes of waste is generated. Mumbai alone generates more
than 8000 tonnes of garbage. This garbage includes garbage generated by individual households,
commercial and industrial establishments, charitable and educational institutions and so on. Most of the
waste produced by households and commercial establishments is ferriedto the dumping grounds by
municipal vehicles or private trucks engaged by local govt bodies like Panchayats, town/city
municipalities, municipal corporations and so on.
Unless we handle this mounting waste in a scientific way, we are going to doom. Unscientific handling of
waste has various negative repercussions on environment and quality of life. The untreated garbage
creates various kinds avoidable environmental problems. Example:
1. AIR POLLUTION:
During the decomposition stage, the wet garbage releases gases like methane, carbon dioxide etc.
Therefore unscientifically handled garbage lying in our housing societypremises, street bins, dumping
grounds etc releases these gases and contaminate the air we breath. The first victims of this air pollution
are the residents residing near the dumping grounds. However, air pollution doesn’t restrict only to the
neigbouring residents of dumping grounds, as air has no jurisdiction. It affects all.
2. SOIL POLLUTION
The poisonous and harmful contents of this waste lying at huge dumping grounds and other places
gradually percolate in the soil, especially during the rainy season. This makes the soil of the surrounding
areas unfertile.
3. GROUND WATER POLLUTION
Soil pollution also causes water pollution. When the poisonous and harmful contents of waste percolate
deep inside the soil, it affects the ground water. In many places people staying close to the dumping
grounds, who depend on wells and bore wells are facing drinking water problems, because their well
water turned out be saline and unfit for consumption.
4. POLLUTION OF RIVERS, LAKES AND OTHER WATER BODIES
The huge amount of garbage spread in hundreds of acres of dumping grounds causes water pollution in
various water bodies. Especially, during the rainy season, the garbage contents are carried away by the
rain water to the streams, rivers, lakes and finally to the seas. Due to the contamination of water in various
water bodies, the quality and quantity of fish has affected. In fact, certain species of fish has become
extinct. Due to the poor catch of fish, the earning of the fisher folk has been declining.
5. HEALTH OF WORKERS: When the garbage is handled unscientifically, the immediate victims are
waste handling workers, including those who work in the residential societies and municipal workers.
First of all, day in and day out they have to bear the foul smell emanating from the untreated mixed waste.
Often times these workers pick up useful, recyclable things like plastic, metal items etc from the mixed
waste in their bare hands to earn some money. Handling the waste in this unhygienic way affects the
health of these workers.
6. DANGER OF FLOODING: When the mixed waste is simply dumped in the roadside garbage bins, or
simply thrown away at the street corners, during the rainy season they may create havoc. The
biodegradable items like plastic can obstruct the smooth flow of water blocking the drains causing floods.
7. DOG, MOSQUITO, RODENT MENACE: The piled garbage at the garbage bins and street corners
becomes the fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes which can cause various deceases like dengue,
Chikungunya etc. Also, the garbage lying at the street corners can create lot of dog menace as the dogs
survive and keep increasing their population with the food items thrown in the dustbins.

4. 8. THE LOSS OF LAND: When the garbage is sent to the dumping grounds by residents and commercial
establishments, it has to be dumped somewhere. This dumping consumes swathes of precious land, which
could have been used for other productive purposes.
9. FUEL AND VEHICLE MAINTENANCE: The garbage produced by thickly populated areas has to be
carried to the remote areas where there are fewer or no residents at all. This means, the thousands of
tonnes of garbage produced each day has to be ferriedhundreds of kilometers away by hundreds of
vehicles. Imagine the cost of fuel, salary to drivers, the maintenance cost of these vehicles etc, besides the
pollution created by the garbage carrying vehicles.
10. WEALTH FROM WASTE IS LOST: In addition to the above negative impact of unscientific
handling of waste, there are also opportunities lost. When the waste generated is scientifically and
efficiently handled, the waste can generate wealth. The wet waste can be used for various productive
purposes like compost for garden and agricultural purpose, biogas, electricityetc. and, recyclable and
reusable waste can help improve economy of a country.
Above are a few visible and local repercussions of unscientific handling of garbage. But if we neglect and
continue to behave irresponsibly, it will have long term and universal repercussions for our planet. To
conclude with a quote of St Pope John Paul II who said, "In the past, it was possible to destroy a village, a
town, a region, even a country. Now it is the whole planet that has come under threat. This fact should
compel everyone to face a basic moral consideration; from now on, it is only through a conscious choice
and then deliberate policy that humanity will survive."
BE A TRENDSETTER. MAKE YOUR HOUSING SOCIETY A ZERO GARBAGE SOCIETY. For
a STEP-BY-STEP segregation methodology, go to website – www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in, GEM
section.
BE A TREND SETTER
Do you know from May 1, 2017 onwards the Devendra Fadnavis government will make it compulsory to
start ZERO GARBAGE. Why wait someone to force you to do something good for Mother Earth which
has given so much for you?
You may be a Managing Committee member or an ordinary resident of your Housing Society, here is an
opportunity to be a TREND SETTER. Being a TREND SETTER, you can show to the world that, you
are a responsible citizen and can do something noble for environment without having to force it on you.
Following is a simple STEP-BY-STEP plan you can propose to your Managing Committee to start the
ZERO GARBAGE PROJECT in your housing society.

5. Step 1-AWARENESS AND EDUCATION: Today, in spite of so much information available on any
subject just by a click of button, there are so many who are still ignorant on the issue of Waste
Management. Perhaps, they have not felt the need of knowing about this subject. As a first step in
launching ZERO GARBAGE PROJECT, residents need to be made aware of the seriousness of this issue
and motivate them to do something about it. In this regard, you can take a bold step to contact your
housing society office bearers to call a meeting of society members to bring awareness on ZERO
GARBAGE. Today lot of material is available in the internet. Besides, regular ads are given on TV.
STEP 2-CIRCULAR TO FAMILIES/FLATS: This circular, preferably signed by the housing society
office bearers can contain the dates to begin the segregation, instructions to families to keep 2 bins in the
kitchen for wet and dry waste, list of wet waste and dry waste, method/timings of collectingthe waste by
the housing societyworkers etc etc. WET WASTE consists of bio-degradable waste which decomposes
easily and can used as compost for plants and trees like vegetable waste, fish/meat bones, left out food,
used tea powder, garden waste etc. DRY WASTE is the one which does not decompose at all, or takes
long time to decompose. This waste consists of materials made up of metal, plastic, glass, paper,
electronic items etc.
STEP 3: PROVIDE 2 BINS: It is a great motivation, if society office bearers use some society funds to
buy 2 waste bins for each household/flat of different colours for wet and dry waste, and gift it to each
family. If societyis not ready/willing to gift a set of waste bins, each family can make their own
arrangement to buy two bins. Forcing to buy two bins of their own money (though it doesn’t cost much)
may create some uneasiness amongst the residents.
STEP 4 – TRIAL SEGREGATION: As initially families may not be well acquainted with dry and wet
waste, there can be a trial segregation for few days. Based on the circular issued (list of dry and wet
waste), the residents may be given a few days, say 1 or 2 weeks for trial segregation. At this stage, the
societyworkers would make door to door collectionof waste in 2 separate bigger bins. The wet waste
handed over by each family is collectedin the WET WASTE BIN and all the dry waste of each household
is collectedin a big DRY WASTE BIN. After each days collection, the Monitoring Committee can
correct the residents wrongly segregating (mixing dry waste with wet or vice versa), and improve the
quality of segregation.
STEP 5: EVALUATION: The office bearers/Monitoring Committee can have an evaluation of the
response by the residents, and the quality of segregation done by the families. Results of the evaluation of
segregation can be communicated to all the families with any corrections needed to be done.
STEP 6: FINAL SEGREGATION: At this step another circular can be issued giving the details on final
segregation. At this stage segregation system has to be followed strictly. The monitoring committee will
continue to monitor if the segregation is properly done by each family.
STEP 7: COMPOSTING PITS/WET WASTE HANDLING: Success in convincing the residents to
segregate the garbage is like half the battle won. If societyhas some place for compost pits, the advance
planning can be done for composting of the wet waste. If no space available at the societycompound,
possibility can be explored to start the composting process on the building terrace There are professional
NGOs like Stree Mukti Sanghatana who take up this project on contract basis. If for some reasons
composting of wet waste is not possible, the wet waste will go to the BMC vans as usual. At least your
societyis succeeded in the first step of segregating the garbage.
STEP 8: DRY WASTE HANDLING: As said in the STEP 4, when all the families segregate the waste
into dry and wet, all the waste collectedby the housing workers is accumulated in two separate big bins at
the societypremises or on the terrace. The wet waste goes for composting purpose. What is left out is dry
waste. Now, after successful segregation process, the dry waste is free from all kind of smell as smelling

6. items like veg. waste, fish/meat bones, food waste is already taken out for composting purpose. Now, the
dry waste can be sold to the scrape dealers, or alternatively, societyworkers can segregate and pickup the
reusable and recyclable items like metals, plastic, papers etc easily. This can be sold as a scrape and earn
some money. This money can be used as per the decision made by the Managing Committee. Managing
committee can decide to give a part of the proceeds sold to the societyworkers as an incentive for their
extra work. This will be a motivation for them to further improve the segregation as better segregation
means more money.
DRY 9: PROPAGATE: Once your society/institution succeeds in starting the ZERO GARBAGE
PROJECT, start publicizing and help your neigbouring societies to follow suit.
SO WHY WAIT SOMEONE TO FORCE YOU TO START ZERO GARBAGE, AND KEEP YOUR
OWN PREMISES CLEAN AND HEALTHY? FEEL PROUD TO SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR MOTHER
EARTH, AND BE A TREND SETTER BY STARTING THE ZERO GARBAGE IN YOUR HOUSING
SOCIETY OR INSTITUTION.
Fr Felix Rebello
Infant Jesus church
Jogeshwari-East
Letter from reader
Dear Fr Felix,
Thank you for your informative and formative newsletters. i am now placed in
one of our missions in Mozambique, Africa. Here i am in-charge of a new
mission station with 109 sub centers. we have no house of our own. we are
staying in the Grass roofed house here. It is quite difficult for me to cover all
the mission stations with the lack of vehicle. Now i am in the look out for
generating funds for buying a car which will be conducive for our journey in
the jungle and sandy areas. And i have been writing letters to many of my
friends and it is in this process i am writing this letter to you dear father. In
what ever small scale you can help our mission we would be very happy to do
our mission fully..Hoping for your reply with prayers i remain.
with love
Fr Antomsfs
antomsfs@gmail.com
TWO HUNDRED QUESTIONS
· If there is a Nobel prize for dirt which country will get it?
· Broadly speaking how many ways of rainwater harvesting?
· Every year, how many million acres of forests are cut down?
· Which pollution is one of the largest sources of pollution that damages
ecology?

7. · Why honeybees are important for environment?
· Excessive TV watching leads to which disease?
For these, and similar 200 interesting quiz questions on environment click the
following link MEGA ECO QUIZ-SET 1.
✔ You can easily use these questions to educate children, youth and others to
create a GREEN FUTURE as envisaged by Pope Francis in his encyclical
‘Laudato Si’.
http://infantjesusjogeshwari.in/category/mega-eco-quiz-set-1/
Children won’t get pizza, burgers, vada pav in
Maharashtra school canteens
Hindusthan Times
Fried foods, pizzas, burgers, carbonated drinks and all kinds of sweets, which have been freely
available in schools so far, will now be prohibited. Students in city schools will not be able to
indulge in deep-fried vada pavs or cheesy burgers anymore. In a first, the Maharashtra
government on Monday imposed an official ban over selling and serving foods high in fats, sugar
and salt (HFSS) in school canteens. Fried foods, pizzas, burgers, carbonated drinks and all kinds
of sweets, which have been freely available in schools so far, will now be prohibited. But this
does not stop children from carrying junk food in their lunch boxes.
Although the Delhi high court and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had curbed
junk food in schools in 2015 and 2016, no such regulations or guidelines were in place in
Maharashtra until now. But health concerns and poor eating habits of students prompted the
state school education department to come up with the ban, which was recommended by a
working group formed in 2015, under the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad. This
group was formed on the suggestion of the ministry of women and child development.
According to a government resolution (GR) issued by the department on Monday, junk food is
any eatables containing high amounts of fat, salt and sugar, lacking nutrition, fibre, or causing
obesity, cardiovascular disorders, or tooth decay. “Such foods lack life-enhancing substances and
nutrition, lead to obesity and other illnesses among children and affects their academic
abilities,” read the GR.

8. Responsibility that such products are not available in their premises will be on the school
management and principal, states the GR. But schools said lunch boxes, too, need to be
regulated. “Even if we stick to the ban, parents will send unhealthy food items in the dabba,” said
Anil Bornare, teacher, Swami Muktananda School, Chembur. The list of banned foods includes
fast food such as noodles, burgers along with deep-fried chips, pani puri, locally prepared ice
gola, carbonated and non-carbonated cold drinks. All types of sweets and chocolates including
rasgulla, gulab jamun, kala kand and pedha have also been restricted.
Additionally, schools will have to create awareness about healthy food stuffs that can be
consumed by the children and their benefits. Schools have been asked to add items such as
whole grain, home-made, rotis, parathas, rice, dal, chickpeas, kidney beans, milk and sugar-free
dairy products.
Although HFSS food pose myriad health risks for children, schools store it because they are
cheap, said nutritionists. “When schools plan their menus, vendors push for foods containing
hydrogenated fats or transfats because they are cheaper and reduce costs,” said Chandni
Kagalwalla, nutrition counsellor. Adding that consumption of junk food causes hyperactivity and
other lifestyle diseases, Kagalwalla said, “It is important to educate kids about what they are
eating, especially about hidden substances which can be detrimental to their growth and
development.”
This Couple’s Quest for Natural Living Has Resulted in
a Mini Forest and an Energy Efficient Home
The Better India
They live in a house that needs no fans, even when it is a blistering 40 degrees outside. They let
their land bloom and bear like a forest, without any interference. They created a life for
themselves that is close to nature. And the best benefit? They haven’t had to take any medicines
in the last 17 years!
When Hari and Asha married, they made their wedding a gathering for fellow environmentalists.
Every guest was served a fruit and a bowl of Kerala’s traditional payasam. They wouldn’t
celebrate it any other way! Hari is an employee of the local water authority in Kannur and Asha
is part of a community that helps farmers practise natural farming. They both love nature and
this is reflected in every aspect of their lives.

9. When they decided to build a house, Hari and Asha wanted it to be energy efficient, deeply
connected to nature and sustainable. An architect friend joined them in making such a house a
reality. The 960 square feet house sits amidst 34 cents of land in a little town in Kannur District,
Kerala. What makes it unique in our times is that its walls are made of mud, an inspiration
drawn from how the tribals of Kerala built their mud houses. These mud walls are alive and they
breathe – in and out.
The walls let the warmth of the sun into the house slowly during the day. By the time the air
within the house is warm, it’s evening. The house stays warm until around 11 at night. Then it’s
time for the cool air to permeate. This movement of air makes a fan completely redundant for
the house, whatever the temperature outside. The roof of the house is made from a combination
of concrete and corrugated tiles. The concrete was advised because of the heavy rains the region
gets, otherwise the couple would not have included it in the structure.
The usage of electricity is minimal and there are very few light points in the house. The architect
for the home specialises in space management – he structured the house in such a way that it
gets ample natural light. Lights are placed in such a way thata single lamp can light up a large area.
Hari and Asha decided they do not need a fridge, primarily because most of the food they
consume comes directly from their land. Still, in order to create some kind of cool storage area,
they dug up a square space in the kitchen, lined it with bricks and placed a mud pot inside. By
filling sand around the pot and keeping it damp, the mud pot stays cool and keeps things fresh
for a at least a week. They also use solar panels and their kitchen runs on biogas.
All waste generated from the house, including latrine waste, is converted to biogas. Their power
consumption from the grid is as low as 4 units per month, while an average household uses a
minimum of 50 units a month! “This doesn’t mean we live a primitive life,” says Hari. They have
a TV, mixer grinder, computer, and other appliances like many normal urban households –
they’ve just figured out smarter ways to generate and use energy. Hari and Asha’s home sits in the
middle of a mini forest thatthey have created.It is now home to birds, butterflies andanimals.
The land produces fruits and vegetables, which they believe should grow naturally; they do not
till the land. The only time they use a tool like a shovel is while planting. Natural manure is used
and that too very judiciously, without overfeeding the land with nutrients. Natural living has also
benefited their health, the couple believes. They haven’t taken any medicines for the past 17
years. Good food and a policy of not interfering with the body, have kept diseases at bay, apart
from the occasional cold and fever. “With some rest, liquids and fasting the body bounces back
to full vigour,” Hari beams.
While we can’t all create a forest like Hari and Asha, there is perhaps still a lesson or two in this
story for us – of adopting simpler lifestyles that are gentle on the environment and unclutter our
own existence too.
You can write to Hari and Asha at: ashaharinanav@gmail.com.
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect
with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).

10. Rare birds in India’s Western Ghats under
greater threat than thought: Study
A new study has said IUCN “greatly underestimates threat levels of endemic
birds in the Western Ghats” by over estimating the geographic range of the
habitat of birds resulting in underestimating threat.
www.hindustantimes.com/.
At least ten birds endemic to the Western Ghats – a biodiversity hotspot – are more under threat than
previously thought, an international study has found. At least ten birds endemic to the Western Ghats – a
biodiversity hotspot – are more under threat than previously thought, an international study has found.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) draws up a Red List that assigns a threat
status – from critically endangered to least concern – to various species which results in countries taking
efforts towards their conservation. Now a new study has said IUCN “greatly underestimates threat levels
of endemic birds in the Western Ghats” by over estimating the geographic range of the habitat of birds
resulting in underestimating threat. Assessing 18 endemic bird species of the Western Ghats the study has
revealed that threat status for at least 10 birds needs to be up-listed, and range maps of 17 birds has been
over estimated to a large extent.
IUCN releases it classification of threat levels for birds based upon range maps prepared by BirdLife
International (BLI), a global partnership of conservation organisations. Species found in larger areas are
deemed less threatened than species found in smaller areas. The study found that more than half of the
species were not found in over 60% of the areas mapped by BLI. For instance, the Nilgiri pipit should be
classified as ‘endangered’ from the IUCN status as ‘vulnerable’. Even its geographical range has been
over estimated – it has a range of less than 1392 sqkms as compared to BLI’s range of 11,000 sqkms.
Similarly, the Wynaad laughingthrush should be up-listed from its present ‘least concern’ category to
‘near threatened’ with its range over estimated by 85% - BLI’s range is 1, 54, 095 sqkms as against
24,557 sqkms as estimated in the study.
“There are many areas where birds don’t occur today. Areas where there are townships and
developmental projects have been considered as part of the BLI range,” Vijay Ramesh, lead author, a
spatial and computational ecologist at the US-based Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies told HT in an
email interview. Columbia University, Cornell University, and Duke University were also part of the
study.
Researchers said that unlike BLI that does not consider environmental information that drive the
distribution of the species, their study has considered temperature, precipitation, elevation, land cover and
environmental features. “Upon comparison, we realized that most of these ranges are inaccurate and the
true ranges for these birds are much smaller than previously thought,” said Ramesh. “Such a study is
important because we need to know where these birds are actually found today so that we can conserve
these natural habitats for the future. In a landscape like the Western Ghats, which has undergone rapid

11. transformation, it is important that we conserve crucial habitats for the future.” The four-member team
prepared maps for the 18 endemic birds based on data from eBird, the online birding checklist started by
the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that based on sightings by millions of citizen scientists and compared
them with maps used by IUCN
Co-author Trisha Gopalakrishna, who was at Duke University at the time of the study said this new
approach to range modelling could have broad-reaching implications for multiple stakeholders. “With
accurate ranges, scientists will be able to better study the effects of human disturbance and climate change
on bird habitat,” said Gopalakrishna. “Conservation planners can have greater confidence in the areas that
they are managing. In the policy arena, our findings could inform future delineation of parks, high-value
conservation areas, and community forests.”
Plastic bottles are a recycling disaster. Coca-
Cola should have known better
Bart Elmore, https://www.theguardian.com
The Coca-Cola Company produced more than 100bn plastic bottles in 2016, Greenpeace
claimed last month. This is troubling news, considering how much of the waste ends up
outside plastic recycling systems. Separately it has been estimated that, on current trends, by
2050 the plastic in our oceans may weigh more than all the fish.
In this debate about waste, Coca-Cola has long been the target of environmentalists. After all,
it has a massive ecological footprint that few companies can match – and packaging is just
part of the story. Beyondthe billions of plastic bottles, Coke places heavy demands on the
Earth. As early as the 1920s, the company boasted that it was the largest consumerof sugar
cane on the planet. It also soon claimed to be the world’s biggest buyer of processed caffeine.
Today, at its bottling plants it uses more than 300bn litres of water a year. Its total water
footprint, needed to grow sugar cane and all the other ingredients, is 100 times greater.
Considering this appetite for natural resources, it’s easy to understand why organisations
such as Greenpeace have seen Coca-Cola as an ecological bogeyman. But hidden in the
company’s history are some useful lessons. Take the history of Coke packaging. In the past
several decades, Coca-Cola has fought hard to prevent communities aroundthe world
implementing deposit systems that would require drinks firms to add a charge to the price of
their products, to be refunded when customers returned the packaging to the distributor or
retailer.
Deposit systems began to spread in the US in the 1970s, as throwaway steel and aluminium
cans replaced the returnable glass bottles that once dominated the beer and soft drink

12. industries. This switch to throwaways, which started with brewers in the 1930s and matured
in the soft drinks industry in the 1960s, was in part driven by a consumerculture that craved
convenience. It was also driven by economics, as big beverage companies sought to achieve
economies of scale by consolidating their bottling networks, and realised they could save
money if they didn’t have to truck returnable bottles back to factories.
But those companies did not like deposit systems because they believed government-
imposed price hikes could hit sales. Coke, Pepsi and others organised to counterdeposit
laws. Their campaign was successful, largely because of a promise they brought to debates:
kerbside recycling. In federal and state government hearings, Coca-Cola and others argued
that municipal recycling systems, if funded and supported by government agencies, would
eliminate the need for deposits. By the mid-80s, this argument had won the day. After 1986,
Hawaii was the only state to pass a deposit law, bringing the number of states with such
legislation to just 10.
The ecological cost of not putting a price on packaging waste loomed large in America.
Despite promises that more kerbside infrastructure would greatly increase recycling, huge
quantities of waste remained. Plastic bottles, which emerged in the soft drink industry in the
1970s, were particularly problematic. Coca-Cola claims its packaging is “recyclable”. Yes,
plastic containers can be recycled, but current systems of reclamation are failing to capture
the vast majority of this waste, largely because there are few fiscal incentives.
Coca-Cola shouldhave known this would be the outcome. In the early 20th century, industry
journals chastised soft drink bottlers that did not put deposits on their returnable bottles. In
1905, for example, the Southern Carbonator and Bottler proclaimed: “The only sane, logical
and lasting solution of the bottle question is the deposit system.” Roughly 80% of Coca-Cola
bottlers surveyedin 1929 had deposit systems in place, and studies of that period showed
that bottles did dozens of trips back and forth between consumerand distributor. This was a
re-use system that truly reclaimed natural resources, and private industry was its biggest
promoter.
How did this system stack up against the alternatives, considering the full ecological impact
of reclaiming returnable glass bottles, including washing them? In 1969 Coca-Cola attempted
to answer that question by asking the Midwest Research Institute to conduct a life-cycle
analysis of packaging. The firm looked at various types of throwaway containers, and
compared them with returnable glass bottles on almost every measure: energy expenditure,
waste generation, water pollution, air emissions and more.
This study, which the investigators reproduced for the US Environmental Protection Agency
in 1974, concluded that no throwaway “container will be improved to match or surpass that
of [the 10-trip returnable glass bottle] in the near future”. Coca-Cola nevertheless placed its
future in the plastic bottle. Paul Austin, then company president, explained this was because
Coca-Cola believed recycling systems would allow the company to reclaim much of the
plastic it used.
The beauty of history is that we can look back and see if Austin’s bet paid off. Using the US as
a case study, the message is clear: failure to offer financial incentives has resulted in a
wasteful recycling system. Over 25 years since kerbside recycling began, 70% of plastic
containers are never reclaimed. Just 30% end up being recycled.

13. The good news is that Coca-Cola is considering changing course. Recently, the company
announcedit would consider approving a deposit system in Scotland. If this happens,
Scotland will probably see elevated recycling rates, much like Germany and othernations
that have passed measures to put a price on pollution. Yet even if this is the start of a new era
of environmental responsibility for Coca-Cola, the company faces an even bigger challenge
than plastic packaging: what critics call the “junk” inside.
With nations aroundthe world facing alarming obesity rates (over 35% among American
adults), Coke is likely to face increased scrutiny of its 330ml cans containing roughly nine
teaspoons of sugar – no matter what container it chooses to put them in.
Germany Breaks A Solar Record — Gets 85%
Of Electricity From Renewables
May 8th, 2017 by Steve Hanley cleantechnica.com
On April 30, Germany established a new national record for renewable energy use. Part of that
day (during the long May 1 weekend), 85% of all the electricity consumed in Germany was being
produced from renewables such as wind, solar, biomass, and hydroelectric power. Patrick
Graichen of Agora Energiewende Initiative says a combination of breezy and sunny weather in
the north and warm weather in the south saw Germany’s May 1 holiday weekend powered
almost exclusively by renewable resources. [Note: This paragraph has been updated to correct
an error.]
“Most of Germany’s coal-fired power stations were not even operating on Sunday, April 30th,
with renewable sources accounting for 85 per cent of electricity across the country,” he said.
“Nuclear power sources, which are planned to be completely phased out by 2022, were also
severely reduced.” Graichen says days like April 30 will become “completely normal” by 2030, as
the federal government’s Energiewende, or energy revolution, begins to really reap the benefits
of the investments made in renewable energy resources since 2010. German energy policies have
been the subject of frequent attacks in the media, mostly from fossil fuel interests who would be
only too happy to see it fail. However, chancellor Angela Merkel is a staunch supporter of the
initiative and the German public is firmly behind it as well.
Just a few weeks ago, an energy auction for the rights to produce electricity from wind turbines
off the coast of Germany startled most observers when it resulted in record low prices despite
the fact that no energy subsidies were involved in the tender. Critics of renewables like to harp
on the fact that many renewable energy projects are partially funded by government incentives,
conveniently forgetting that those same governments have been giving away taxpayer money to

14. fossil fuel companies for a century. This most recent auction gives the lie to assertions that
renewables cannot survive without government assistance.
As it turns out, wind and solar energy are often cheaper than fossil fuels and nuclear
energy these days, even ignoring the many negative effects fossil fuels create for society.
ON BIBLE QUEST
Pope Francis says “I would like so much for all Christians to
be able to comprehend ‘the surpassing worth of knowing
Jesus Christ’ through the diligent reading of the Word of
God, for the sacred text is the nourishment of the soul and
the pure and perennial source of the spiritual life of all of
us.”
We all agree that the BIBLE IS THE GREATEST book ever written on earth, respected and revered byall
irrespective of religious and geographicalboundaries,a book inspired millions through the ages,a book
which can never become old,outdated orirrelevant till the end of time. Though we agree this, do we read it
regularly and getinspired by it?
As a small and a humble step to encourage ourparishioners to read this greatest book on earth, ourparish
has been regularlyconducting the monthly BIBLE QUEST. Perhaps following FAQs may inspire you to start
this kind of bible quiz in your parish or institution.
Q 1: Whatis the origin of this idea of Bible Quest?
Ans: The idea of Bible Questoriginated at my first parish at St Joseph Church,Vikhroli.I received by post
some Bible Questcontest material conducted atthe all India level. Since the format of this questions was
simple and interesting, I thoughtwhy notadaptand start a similar questat parish level.
Q 2: How did you proceed further?
Ans: The above said bible quiz is on a full book of the Bible and conducted once a year consisting of 300
objective type questions.Instead, I started a similar quiz of just 50 questions on 10 chapters each month
throughoutthe year.
Q3: Why only 10 chapters and all through the year?
Ans: If the portion is limited, participants can read and understand the contents thoroughly. Besides,
conducting this quiz throughoutthe year motivates the people to read the Bible regularly not few days in a
year.

15. Q4: But every Sundaypeople listen to the Bible reading in the church? Whyagain personalreading?
Ans: No doubtpeople listen to the reading every Sunday. But from ourown experience we know,whatis
heard during the Sundaymass reading is forgotten in no time. But reading personally,at least for the sake of
preparing for the quiz gives an opportunity to read the passages given thoroughly,and rememberthem.
Q5: Why do you think people should read the Bible thoroughly?
Ans: Bible has got so much wealth and wisdom not only to become good Christians,but also better human
beings.If we do notread the Bible thoroughly, we simply let go waste this wealth and wisdom of the Bible. It
is like accumulating a lot of money in ourbank accountand dying without using this wealth!
Q 6: Any other reasons whypeople should be encouragedto read the Bible?
Ans: Firstly, Bible teaches us howto attain salvation after ourdeath. Besides this spiritual reason,Bible has
so much teaching how to live a happylife here on earth. In this modern age,world gives us confusing
messages abouthappiness,butBible gives us perfect message howto be truly happyin this life and life
after.
Q7: Now some practical questions – For howlong you have been conducting BIBLE QUEST?
Ans: As I said above,the BQ was started in my first parish, about23 years ago.From then onwards every
parish I went (Pokhran,Panvel and nowat Jogeshwari)BQwas conducted.
Q8: How was the response from the parishioners forthe BQ conducted in these parishes?
Ans: It is really happyto knowthe interest of the lay people in the Bible. In every parish,people
enthusiastically participated in the Bible Quest.
Q9: Whatmethodologyis normally followed?
Ans: When BQ began,it was conducted exam type. On a particular Sundayof the month after the mass,
participants would occupythe schoolclass rooms.Each one is given a question and answerset. They have
to just tick the answer,a,b or c. A few volunteers would supervise the classrooms.After answering,
participants will handoverthe answersheetto the supervisorand the question set can be taken home to
cross-check with the Bible as to howthey have performed.Many would go through the bible again as they
are curious to knowtheir performance.
Q10:If the participation is in big nos,howwould you arrange to correctthe answers?
Ans: To make it easyto correctthe answers,a team of volunteers would help in the correction of papers
immediately after the BQ. To make it simple, one would read the answers,the other volunteers would correct
the answers.In 1/2 hours the result is ready. The results are put up on the notice board (nowadays they are
posted in the parish WhatsApp group).
Q11:Any other methodologyis followed?
Ans: As I said earlier, initially, the BQ was conducted individually. As in any other activity, in the beginning
there is big response,butgradually nos would decrease.Therefore,the methodologyis changed to SCC
wise participation. Each SCC group is asked to send 10 participants. This method has been followed in the
last 2 parishes is very successful.
Q12:Why do you think the SCC wise participation has better response?
Ans: It is said that, Word Builds the Community. When members participate as a team, there is a kind of
solidarity between members.As a team they wantto do well, they motivate each otherand help the weaker

16. members to prepare well. To get a clearpicture of the collective performance,the individual scores ofall 10
participants of each SCC group are added.Total scored by each communityis published in the WhatsApp
group,and the few top SCCs are rewarded with cash prizes.
Q13:As the Bible Quest is conducted in English, whataboutthe vernacularlanguage people who are
interested to participate?
Ans: There are practical difficulties to conductthe BQ in vernacularlanguage like printing question sets. But
cities like Mumbai,common language is English,and hence easierto conductBQ in English. No doubt,
vernacularpeople cannotparticipate in English BQ. But I have come across,even if people are not very
good in English,if they knowlittle bit knowledge,they try and participate, and some do well.
Q14:Whataboutdifferent age groups? Is the same question sets are used for children,youth and elders?
Ans: From my experience ofconducting BQ for pastmany years, irrespective of their age group,all take part
in the same BQ. Beginning from children as young as 4th/5th std students till the seniorcitizens in their 60s
equally enjoy answering the BQ. Even the teenagers and youngsters participate in good numbers.
Q15:In the infantjesus website howmany readyto use BQs are available?
Ans: There are totally 43 sets of BQs consisting of 50 questions each are available in ourwebsite, outof
which 19 sets are from the NT (New Testament), and 24 sets are from the OT (Old Testament). This means,
the full Bible Quest(OT/NT) consists of 2150 questions (43x50).
Q16:How many books ofthe Bible are covered in the Bible Quest?
Ans: As far as possible,efforts have been made to coverall the books of the bible in the sequence ofindex
given in the Bible. As some books are notsuitable for BQ type of questions,they could not be included in the
Bible Quest.
Q17:As you have both OT and NT BQs, in whatsequence the BQs are conducted?
Ans: As perthe BQ methodology, Bible Questin OT and NT is conducted on alternative months.For
example – If you start BQ 1-Gen.1 to 10 in the month of June,BQ 2 will be in NT Matthew 1 to 10 in July,
BQ 3 in the OT Gen. 11 to 20, BQ 4 will be in NT Matthew 11 to 20 in Augustand so on.
Q18:How many BQs are held during the year, and how long it takes to complete all the 43 BQs?
Ans: During the year, 10 BQs are held,June to March.Due to summervacation, April and May no BQ is
held.If each year, 10 BQs are held,you can cover all the BQs in about4 year cycle.
Q19:Since the Bible Questquestion/answers sets are available in the public domain on your website, is
there a chance ofmalpractice?
Ans: I agree,as the BQ sets are available with answers,participants may cheatby copying the answers.But
since it is a bible quiz,most participants may not like to cheat, but there is possibility of cheating for the sake
of winning prize. There are a few ideas to overcome this problem.The second,anothersetof BQ will be
shortly uploaded in the website. You have to choose anyone set. The participants will notknowwhich set
you are going to choose.Alot of questions in both the sets are differ. Alternatively, one who conducts the BQ
may change ortwist a few questions at random.These tactics may encourage the participantto read the
bible thoroughly, if he/she wants to do well.
Q20:Can you tell whatkind of prizes are given to the winners?
Ans: It is not important howmuch or whatprize you give to the winners.Normally, participants want only to
be appreciated.Even if you can just publicly appreciate or putthe results on the notice board,participants

17. are happy. However, as a gesture of goodwill, it will be also nice to give some prize in cash or kind.As far as
my presentparish is concerned,the top 3 or 5 SCC groups who scored aggregate highestare given a cash
prize of Rs 500/- which goes to the SCC fund for the SCC activities.
Q21:Earlier you said, presently BQ is conducted SCCgroup wise 10 members from each SCC. Why only
ten?
Ans: The no restriction arises only when BQ is conducted SCCgroup wise. If it is individual quiz, this
problem doesn’tarise. The 10 nos are decided to make justice to smallerand biggerSCC groups.As the
numberoffamilies vary in each community, if you keep it open,some SCCs there may be 20 members want
to participate, and anotheronly 5. In that case,their total marks cannotbe compared.It is felt that, 10 is a
reasonable no.where smalland big SCCs can participate. But if more than 10 from a particular SCC wants
to participate, they are allowed.Forpurpose ofresults, only top ten are counted.
Q22:How many SCC groups/total members participate on an average atthe Infant Jesus church monthly
BQ?
Ans: In ourparish, there are 18 SCC groups.Outof these, members from 15 SCCs participate on a regular
basis,some with full 10 participants and others less. On an average 110 to 125 parishioners participate
every month in the MONTHLY BIBLE QUEST.
Q23:Who takes the responsibility of coordinating the BQ projectand how?
Ans: Since I have been doing it earlier parishes,it is easierfor me to coordinate the monthly BQ project. The
SCC coordinators/PPCmembers enlistthe no. of participants on whatsapp from their respective SCC each
month in advance so that answer/question sheets are keptready for the day. Some
volunteers/sisters/seminarians doing their pastoral work supervise the BQ. Immediately after the BQ some
volunteers who participated in the BQ volunteer to correctthe papers.Within a day or2 results are senton
parish group whatsapp.
Q24:If other parishes wantto start BQ, whatis your suggestion?
Ans: If one of the priests accepts to coordinate BQ project, it is ideal. Even if priests are busy, Sunday
Catechists, youth group orBible Cell etc can take up this projectwith the blessing and supportof the priests’
team. You need the classrooms/somechurch venue,and also some investmentfor prizes etc.
Parish/institution can easily take care of these needs.
Q25:WhataboutBIBLE STUDY QUIZ and when to conductit?
Ans: In the infantjesus website, there are more than 50 BIBLE STUDY articles that are available in the BIBLE
STUDY section. To encourage BQparticipants to read these articles on bible, a similar quiz is prepared.
There are 3 parts in the BIBLE STUDY articles. For each part, there is a Bible Study Quiz (BSQ). From time
to time, say twice a year, you can take the BSQ in the place of BQ. This will help the participants, to getmore
knowledge on Bible.
Q26:Any final message?
Ans: As I said earlier, encouraging laypeople to read the Bible regularly is a noble and holy work. You will
not only enjoy doing this work,but also will be blessed.To conclude with the words of St Paul “Let the
messageof Christdwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all
wisdomthrough psalms, hymns, and songs fromtheSpirit, singing to God with gratitude in your
hearts. (Col. 3:16)

18. Visit website
www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in
BIBLE QUEST – SET 1 AND SET 2
BIBLE STUDY ARTICLES and BSQ parts 1, part 2 and
part 3
Go to the RESOURCES section
WANTED HELPING HANDS- Courtesy: Daijiworld.com
For more appeals visit – www.daijiworld.com - charity
Lucy Carlo (54), 338, Karmbaro,Thenkakaranddoru post,Karambaru,Karnataka
574217.
Sat, Apr 15
Lucy Carlo (54),a widow was working as a daily wage worker to support herself and her young
son. However, she is suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease and is on dialysis.
As she is very poor, and unable to work now due to her illness, she needs monetary help for her
medical treatment and living.
Please send your kind and generous remittances to her following bank account:
Bank Account No.: +91 89053229299
Name of the Account Holder: Lucy Carlo
Bank: Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank,
Aladangady, Belthangady 574217
Bank IFSC Code: KVGB0005104
Telephone No.: 87622 56929
Prakash L Bhandary(47), Arali Bettu, Kumragoodu,Handady,Bennekudru,Udupi -
576210
Tue, May 2
Prakash L Bhandary(47), Arali Bettu,is suffering from Diabetes Millitus Type II, Hypertension
with Chronic Renal Failure. The approximate expenditure for his treatment may be around Rs
5,00,000.

19. He was working as a driver. The illness has shattered him. He is unable to spend for his medical
treatment. Therefore, he has requested for monetary help from kind hearted individuals and
philanthropists.
Please remit your contributions to his following bank account.
Bank Account No.: 3747101002331
Name of the Account Holder: Prakash Poojary
Bank: Canara Bank, The Palace,
Commercial Plaza, Car Street,
Kachur, Udupi 576210
Bank IFSC Code: CNRB0003747
Published by Fr Felix Rebello
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