Wednesday, July 1, 2015

The “Paperless” Workplace. Not as Green as You Think?

It’s Time to Go Paperless…Wait a Minute

I saw an article here on LinkedIn the other day that really caught my attention. In it, Phil Riebel, the president of Two Sides North America, provides some very thoughtful insights about paper and its role in environmental sustainability. I found them intriguing, and wanted to share them with you.

We have all heard a great deal about our increasingly paperless society and the benefits it would appear to hold for the preservation of our forests and other natural resources. But the key word here is “appear” – because in his article, Reibel demonstrates that when all the relevant factors are considered, doing everything electronically may not be the right path toward protecting our ecosystems.

It’s Time to Go Paperless…It’s Time to Get the Facts

The article is based on a commentary by Fred Bercovitch, a wildlife conservation biologist at Kyoto University. According to Bercovitch, the paperless society is a long way from impact-free. Those desktop computers, laptops, tablets, cell phones and data transmission networks that, in one way or another, “replace” paper all come with their own huge ecological footprint.

First of all, they require vast amounts of energy to produce and operate; and we as a society replace those items quite frequently. According to estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average person replaces his or her cell phone, for example, every 18 months. Since 10% or fewer of all cell phones are ever recycled, you can see how many of them simply become electronic waste in landfills.

In addition, each of those electronic devices require rare earth elements (REEs) to operate. There are no synthetic alternatives, and the extraction and use of those elements devastate the environment. While only small amounts of these elements, (with names like neodymium, europium, terbium and yttrium) are used in each product, the total required for electronic devices worldwide is staggering: nearly 150,000 tons.

Further, these REEs are found in small deposits in nature, encrusted in rock and other geological materials. They are retrieved through the practice of deep open-pit mining, which exacts a large cost in fossil fuels, and leaves in its wake increased air and water pollution. More energy is then used transporting the mined material to an extraction location, where the REEs are separated through the use of water, solvents, chemicals, and toxic metals which can, themselves, leave behind a scarred and polluted landscape.

It’s Time to Go Paperless…The Bottom Line

The bottom line here is not to throw all modern electronics under the bus. I use them and depend on them, and don’t want to sound like a dinosaur here. It’s just that we can only make good environmental decisions if we really understand what we’re doing, and can see accurately the effects of those decisions. As we use better, more powerful electronic devices, let’s realize we are, in the process, driving demand for more REEs, more electricity, and more potential environmental impact as a result.

In doing a bit more digging on this topic, I found a strong point of view on the issue from Don Carli, writing for greenbiz.com.

Proponents of going paperless have waged an effective rhetorical assault on paper-based media that selectively uses “facts” to depict digital media as green and print media as a major cause of deforestation, despite the fact that the ravenous energy demands of cell phones, game consoles, computers, telecommunication networks and data-centers can be linked to some of the most egregious deforestation, environmental destruction and human costs in the United States.

Now let’s take a quick look at what’s involved in producing the paper that all these devices are supposedly replacing. No one would suggest that the production of paper has no implications for the environment. But fairness and intelligent analysis requires that we appreciate the sustainable aspects of paper that the electronic alternatives simply don’t and can’t offer.

The first and most obvious is that for paper, the raw materials are trees – a natural and renewable resource that can be harvested, re-planted, and relied upon indefinitely with proper management. But there are other features that give paper unique advantages.
Paper is among the most successfully recycled commodities in the world; in North America, it is recovered at a rate of over 65%. And the (re)cycle repeats itself, since paper can be recycled five to seven times into new paper products.
In addition, the production process for paper is an environmental success story, with over 65% of the required energy coming from renewable sources such as biomass facilities.
Well managed forests help provide ongoing benefits in many ways, such as helping protect air and water, and serving to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
There is no question that the world is changing, and that’s a good thing. But this article really struck a chord with me. As we hear about the demise of “snail mail” in favor of e-mail, the barrage of electronic newsletters replacing printed versions, and even fund transfers replacing paper checks, we need to think a little bit more deeply so that we understand just how “green” those changes really are, or are not.

Electronics Aren’t Going Anywhere. Neither is paper

With effective forest management, the most important consideration in assessing the benefits of our new paperless society isn’t the paper that is being “saved” but the additional energy being used and environmental damage being done. The way I see it, this isn’t really an either/or debate.  Electronics aren’t going anywhere, and neither is paper. The challenge – and the opportunity – is in using both as efficiently as possible.

At Superior Business Solutions, printing efficiency has been our strongest point of difference for many years. Our services enhance that efficiency in many different ways, including:

Targeting that makes your printed pieces work more efficiently; our print-on-demand capabilities allow you to customize your information to targets more precisely based on their specific interests, with greater return and less waste.
Print production management that allows us to match your project’s needs with the right choice from among 2800 pre-qualified printers and vendors.
Our Corporate Kiosk that allows businesses to smoothly generate stationery, business forms, marketing materials, corporate identity, and hundreds of other elements through a controlled portal that standardizes quality and streamlines management.
If you’d like any information about how we can help you get more value and efficiency out of the paper your office does use, or just to share your opinion about this interesting topic

Friday, June 5, 2015

Why World Environment Day is Celebrated

Environment Day

World environment day is also known as the Environment Day, Eco Day or short form WED. It has been one of the great annual events for years which is being celebrated worldwide by the people aiming to protect the unique and life nurturing Nature on every 5th June.

World Environment Day 2015

World environment day 2015 would be celebrated by the people all across the world on 5th of June, at Friday.

World Environment Day History

World Environment Day (also called as WED) has been started celebrating as an annual event on every 5th of June since 1973 in order to raise the global awareness about the importance of the healthy and green environment in the human lives, to solve the environmental issues by implementing some positive environmental actions as well as to make aware common public worldwide that everyone is responsible for saving his environment and not only somebody, government or organizations working for it.World environment day was first established to be celebrated every year by running some effective campaigns by the United Nations General Assembly and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the conference on Human Environment began from 5th to 16th of June at United Nations in 1972. It was first time celebrated in 1973 with the particular theme “Only one Earth”. Since 1974, the celebration campaign of the world environment day is hosted in different cities of the world.It is a big annual celebration started by the United Nations General Assembly to engage millions of people from different countries across the globe as well as draw attention of political and health organizations to implement some effective actions.

Why World Environment Day is Celebrated

World environment day annual celebration campaign was started to address the huge environmental issues like wastage and losses of food, deforestation, increasing global warming and so many. Every year celebration is planned according to the particular theme and slogan of the year to bring effectiveness in the campaign all through the world.It is celebrated to successfully get carbon neutrality, focusing on the forest management, reducing greenhouse effects, promoting bio-fuels production by planting on degraded lands, use of hydro-power to enhance electricity production, encourage common public to use solar water heaters, energy production through solar sources, developing new drainage systems, promoting coral reefs and mangroves restoration in order to get prevented from flooding and erosion including other ways of environmental preservation. Some of the objectives of the world environment day campaign are mentioned below:It is celebrated to make aware the common public about the environmental issues.Encourage common people from different society and communities to actively participate in the celebration as well as become an active agent in developing environmental safety measures.Let them know that community people are very essential to inhibit negative changes towards the environmental issues.Encourage people to make their nearby surroundings safe and clean to enjoy safer, cleaner and more prosperous future.

World Environment Day Activities

Variety of activities are planned to celebrate this great event in different countries to encourage more people towards the celebration. Various news channels take part very actively in the celebration to cover the news and distribute messages about the celebration among common public through their news publications to bring effective and positive changes towards the environment to solve all the environmental issues. Some of the national and international level activities include street rallies, tree plantation, garbage recycling, surrounding areas clean-up, parades and so many activities in order to draw people attention towards wide range of environmental issues as well as bring difference.People of all age groups actively involve during the celebration to save their planet in original form as gifted by the nature. Especially modern day youths hugely take part in the celebration through many activities such as clean up campaigns, art exhibitions, motivating people for tree-planting, dance activities, recycling garbage, film festivals, community events, essays writing, poster competitions, social media campaigns and lot more. Many awareness campaigns are also run at schools, colleges and other educational institutions to motivate students towards their environmental safety. The celebration takes place at national and international level by organizing various activities in the public places to aware common public about the real causes of environment status degradation as well as let them know what steps should be taken to solve such environmental issues.

World Environment Day Theme and Slogan

Each year celebration of the World Environment Day is based on the particular theme decided by the United Nations to make the celebration more effective by encouraging mass people worldwide to hugely take part in addressing environmental issues on global scale. Year wise list of the themes and slogans of world environment day are mentioned below:

The theme of the year 2015 would be “One World, One Environment”.
The theme of the year 2014 was “small island developing states” or “SIDS” and “Raise your voice, not the sea level”.
The theme of the year 2013 was “Think. Eat. Save.” And slogan was “Reduce Your Foodprint”.
The theme of the year 2012 was “Green Economy: Does it include you?”.
The theme of the year 2011 was “Forests: Nature at your Service”.
The theme of the year 2010 was “Many Species. One Planet. One Future”.
The theme of the year 2009 was “Your Planet Needs You – Unite to Combat Climate Change”.
The theme and slogan of the year 2008 was “CO2, Kick the Habit – Towards a Low Carbon Economy”.
The theme of the year 2007 was “Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?”.
The theme of the year 2006 was “Deserts and Desertification” and slogan was “Don’t Desert Drylands!.”
The theme of the year 2005 was “Green Cities” and slogan was “Plan for the Planet!”.
The theme of the year 2004 was “Wanted! Seas and Oceans” and slogan was “Dead or Alive?”.
The theme of the year 2003 was “Water” and slogan was “Two Billion People are Dying for It!”.
The theme of the year 2002 was “Give Earth a Chance”.
The theme of the year 2001 was “Connect with the World Wide Web of Life”.
The theme of the year 2000 was “The Environment Millennium” and slogan was “Time to Act”.
The theme of the year 1999 was “Our Earth – Our Future” and slogan was “Just Save It!”.
The theme of the year 1998 was “For Life on Earth and slogan was “Save Our Seas”.
The theme of the year 1997 was “For Life on Earth”.
The theme of the year 1996 was “Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home”.
The theme of the year 1995 was “We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment”.
The theme of the year 1994 was “One Earth One Family”.
The theme of the year 1993 was “Poverty and the Environment and slogan was “Breaking the Vicious Circle”.
The theme of the year 1992 was “Only One Earth, Care and Share”.
The theme of the year 1991 was “Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership”.
The theme of the year 1990 was “Children and the Environment”.
The theme of the year 1989 was “Global Warming; Global Warning”.
The theme of the year 1988 was “When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last”.
The theme of the year 1987 was “Environment and Shelter: More Than A Roof”.
The theme of the year 1986 was “A Tree for Peace”.
The theme of the year 1985 was “Youth: Population and the Environment”.
The theme of the year 1984 was “Desertification”.
The theme of the year 1983 was “Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste: Acid Rain and Energy”.
The theme of the year 1982 was “Ten Years after Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns)”.
The theme of the year 1981 was “Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains”.
The theme of the year 1980 was “A New Challenge for the New Decade: Development without Destruction”.
The theme of the year 1979 was “Only One Future for Our Children and slogan was “Development without Destruction”.
The theme of the year 1978 was “Development without Destruction”.
The theme of the year 1977 was “Ozone Layer Environmental Concern; Lands Loss and Soil Degradation”.
The theme of the year 1976 was “Water: Vital Resource for Life”.
The theme of the year 1975 was “Human Settlements”.
The theme of the year 1974 was “Only one Earth during Expo ’74”.
The theme of the year 1973 was “Only one Earth”.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Kerala Elephants Conservation issues

Habitat loss and conflict with humans: 

Steady inroads into elephant habitat to meet the needs of an increasing human population and economic development have resulted in significant loss and fragmentation of elephant habitat. Furthermore, anthropogenic pressures have also contributed to extreme degradation of large parts of the elephant habitat. Consequently, human-elephant conflicts are becoming increasingly common leading to death and injury of human beings and retaliatory killings of elephants. At present, this is amongst the biggest threats to the survival of Asian elephants in the wild. As the forest cover becomes fragmented and degraded, elephants raid plantations and crop fields in their quest for food or in the course of moving between forest patches. A single elephant can devastate a small farmer’s crop holding in one feeding raid, thereby bringing them in direct conflict with farmers living in and around elephant habitats. 

Poaching: Even where suitable habitat exists, poaching remains a threat to elephants. Since only males have tusks, poaching has resulted in highly skewed male-female sex ratio in many areas. Poaching for meat and other products like tail hair also pose threats to populations, especially in northeast India. In 1989, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned the international trade in ivory. However, there are still some thriving but unmonitored domestic ivory markets in a number of Asian and other countries which fuel the illegal international trade in ivory.

Other challenges: Challenges on the ground include securing habitat and corridors, management of human-elephant conflict (HEC) and retaliatory killing of elephants, stopping poaching and reducing accidental deaths due to trains, electrocution and falls into deep pits, wells and trenches.





Sunday, February 15, 2015

Save Animals Initiative: Couple have converted it into a beautiful forest of over 300 acres.

THE COUPLE WHO BOUGHT BARREN LAND IN 1991 AND TRANSFORMED IT INTO A 300 ACRE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY 

[Pamela and Anil Malhotra bought 55 acres of land 23 years ago, and today they have converted it into a beautiful forest of over 300 acres.]

"THEIR KEY TO SUCCESS : PLEASE READ LAST LINE"
Wouldn’t it be great to wake up to the sound of chirping birds, with fresh air and splendid scenery around? In the busy lives of our cities when even house sparrows are fast disappearing, this seems like a dream. But a couple has converted this dream into a reality by creating a wildlife sanctuary of their own. The couple, passionate about wildlife and nature conservation, bought 55 acres of land to plant native trees and protect the environment. Today, they are responsible for creating over 300 acres of wild life sanctuary that hosts animals like Bengal Tigers, Asian Elephants, Hyena, Wild Boar, Leopards, Sambhar, etc.
Dr. A.K. Malhotra and Pamela Malhotra, the NRI duo behind this amazing SAI (Save Animals Initiative) Sanctuary Trust first went to the Himalayas, but as the laws in the Northern part of the country have a land ceiling of 12 acres, they came down South to give shape to their dreams of preservation and protection of nature and wildlife.
“The problem is, we expect the government to do everything. Like-minded people, NGOs and other agencies should purchase land and do their own bit to conserve the wildlife,” says Pamela.
They bought around 55 acres of unused and abandoned land from the farmers who were not using it due to excess of rainfall in Kodagu district of Karnataka. “We chose Kodagu because it is the micro hotspot of bio diversity in the entire planet,” Pamela says. The passion to expand the green cover grew stronger and they kept buying lands from farmers who weren’t using them. This way the land was used and also farmers got money to repay their debts as the land was anyway lying idle. Gradually the 55 acre forest cover became larger and today covers 300 acres of the land. There were a lot of native trees that already existed there. The couple decided to retain those and follow three important rules: no chopping down of any tree, no human interference and no poachers.
And with this thought, the efforts to make a wildlife sanctuary started in 1991. After 23 years, their unmatched passion for wildlife and nature has helped them transform the 55 acres of barren land in 1991 into a one-of-its-kind wildlife sanctuary spread over 300 acres, probably the only private sanctuary in the country! The sanctuary also has a beautiful river in the middle that is home to several aquatic species like fishes and snakes, including the King Cobra. The huge trees and thick forest has also helped several birds like hornbill find their homes. There are over 305 species of birds that visit this sanctuary regularly. “We make sure that we don’t interfere with these animals. Elephants are very important for regeneration of the forests as they swallow the seed completely without breaking it, unlike other species. Around 30 species of trees totally depend upon elephants for regeneration,” says Pamela.
Several cameras are installed across the sanctuary to identify new animals and keep a track on poachers. “People think that animals need the forest. But the truth is, the forest needs the animals equally. While the forest helps animals in providing shelter and food, animals help forests in regeneration – they are both inter-dependent and we should make efforts to preserve both,” says Dr. Anil. “A few days ago, I saw in the camera recording that a family of wild dogs and seven small puppies from that family were trying to attack a Sambhar just in front of my house gate. They were born a few days back and now had grown up. So, the fact that each puppy survived is commendable. That means the sanctuary is a good host to all these wild animals,” says Pamela.

When the Malhotra couple purchased the land, there were already native species of cardamom and other trees that were planted. They decided not to disturb those and planted more native trees around the existing ones. As the green cover expanded, the animal and bird species increased too. The flora of this sanctuary includes hundreds of varieties of indigenous trees, many of which are of medicinal value.
“Our aim is to preserve the flora and fauna, especially the rainforests, for the future generation. We believe that when we die we should give back the same (if not better) Earth which we got from our ancestors to the next generation,” says Dr. Anil. The duo makes sure that they do not interfere or disturb the existing eco-system. “Even the dead wood provides nutrition to the soil,” says Pamela.

The couple has grown 10-12 acres of coffee and around 15 acres of cardamom on the land. They are also involved in organic farming on the same land. The sanctuary, which offers a unique experience to the visitors, runs completely on solar and alternate energy. For days of heavy rainfall in the monsoon, the three small windmills meet the needs of providing enough electricity to the sanctuary. “We also make sure that people who visit here are responsible tourists. We only take those people who are actually interested in exploring the beauty of nature. Smoking and drinking is not allowed as it disturbs the animals and the overall air which is so pure,” says Pamela. When Malhotra couple started this sanctuary, they invested their own money. Now they are a registered not-for-profit trust which runs on donations which get tax exemptions.
Apart from funds, another challenge comes while patrolling the sanctuary. As the area is very large it is hard to keep track of the poachers. To counter this, they spread awareness about preserving wildlife and nature in schools and nearby villages. “To avoid any mishap, we don’t allow people to walk alone here. There is always a guide or we accompany the visitors ourselves,” says Pamela. 
The sanctuary also won the “Wildlife and Tourism Initiative Of The Year” award by Sanctuary Asia in conjunction with Tour Operators for Tigers in 2014. In conclusion, Pamela has a thought she’d like to leave us with, “Overcome your fear and respect the animals’ power. The animal might not understand our words but they do understand our feelings.” Pamela and Anil also advice people to be careful about the lifestyle they follow. Eating organic food, recycling things, using more energy-efficient devices are some of the basic things they advise everyone to follow.
“When I carried buckets of water in the Himalayas, I realized how precious it is. We should not waste it. It is only when we face problems we realize importance of things,” she says. 
“For anyone who wants to bring a change, we advise them to set one single goal and believe that they can achieve it,” says the couple.












Photos From :Chandrashekar Kalyanasundaram

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Elephants' excellent memory helps their survival

It’s a common saying that elephants never forget. But the more we learn about elephants, the more it appears that their impressive memory is only one aspect of an incredible intelligence that makes them some of the most social, creative, and benevolent creatures on Earth. Alex Gendler takes us into the incredible, unforgettable mind of an elephant.