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Tag: environment

Meet 10 Indian Champions Who are Fighting to Save the Planet

Posted on by Penguin India

In 10 Indian Champions Who are Fighting to Save the Planet, by Bijal Vachharajani and Radha Rangarajan, we are introduced to ten people who are contributing toward the well-being of the planet. A champion is a person who vigorously supports or defends another, or a cause. Those are the sort of champions you will meet in this book—and their cause is to save this planet. Through their work—writing, researching, drawing, challenging, protecting—they make the Earth a better place for all of its denizens.

Let’s get introduced to them!

ROMULUS WHITAKER: THE SNAKE MAN OF INDIA

Attempting to save the planet by championing reptiles:

Romulus Whitaker has been researching and protecting snakes and crocodiles, and busting myths and stereotypes about reptiles.

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PARINEETA DANDEKAR

Attempting to save the planet by keeping conversations about water flowing: Parineeta Dandekar strives to protect rivers and water bodies through her writing and research, and acts as a bridge between policymakers, ecologists, scientists and people.

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ROHAN ARTHUR

Attempting to save the planet by deep diving into coral reef systems: Rohan Arthur studies how climate change affects the denizens of coral reefs, and brings the world’s attention to what is happening under water.

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VIDYA ATHREYA

Attempting to save the planet by researching human- animal conflict: Vidya Athreya studies leopard ecology when they live among humans in agricultural landscapes, and helps citizen initiatives around the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai to spread awareness on living with leopards.

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APARAJITA DATTA

Attempting to save the planet by studying and conserving hornbills: In her work in Arunachal Pradesh, Aparajita Datta ensures a safe space for the species and works with indigenous communities.

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JAY MAZOOMDAAR

Attempting to save the planet by reporting on environment and conservation: Jay Mazoomdaar unearthed the disappearance of tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, and other wildlife crimes, and makes sure that wildlife continues to get space in the media.

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MINAL PATHAK

Attempting to save the planet by making the science of climate change accessible to all: Minal Pathak is part of teams that write reports on climate change that tell the world what our future holds for us.

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ROHAN CHAKRAVARTY

Attempting to save the planet by drawing funny comics about the environment: Rohan Chakravarty draws attention to climate change, wildlife threats and the splendours of nature with generous doses of humour and gorgeous art.

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KAVITHA KURUGANTI

Attempting to save the planet by starting conversations about farming and food security: Kavitha Kuruganti helps amplify the voices of farmers to get them better prices and respect for their hard work. She works to ensure safe food
is grown in India, campaigns against genetically modified privatized seeds and champions sustainable farm livelihoods and farmer rights.

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LAXMI KAMBLE AND DHARAVI ROCKS

Attempting to save the planet making music out of waste: Dharavi Rocks creates awareness about waste management and recycling. Working with Laxmi Kamble, the band uses reclaimed plastic in and around Dharavi and encourages those working in recycling waste to speak out and find new career and creative options.

For every problem, there are thousands of eco-champions who work tirelessly to find solutions, protect and conserve, research and document, fight and negotiate to save the last remaining frontiers of the natural world. Read more about them here!

 

5 Things Which Give you a Glimpse of Ecological Reality of India

Posted on by Penguin India

Prerna Singh Bindra is one of India’s leading wildlife conservationist and writer. In her latest book, The Vanishing, she ponders on the crisis that the flora and fauna of India are facing today. She also asks some pertinent questions such as “Is development inimical to ecological security?” Furthermore, she talks about the steps India has taken towards safeguarding its forests and wildlife.
Here are 5 realities which give an insight into the current status of ecology in India.
Many times, environment sacrifices its elements to make way for development.
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India despite a 1.3 billion population, harbours over 60 per cent of the world’s remaining wild tigers.
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All contained in just over two per cent of the global land mass.
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India’s increasingly battered forests still harbour secrets—and species we thought had vanished, or did not even know existed.
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India’s people are remarkably accepting of predators in their midst.
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Did the facts leave you appalled? Tell us what are you doing to save the environment.
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Worried About the Environment? Five Reads to Enlighten and Educate!

Posted on by Penguin India

“What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” Henry David Thoreau remarked once.
This World Environment Day, here are five of the best reads  on environment.
The Great Derangement by Amitav Ghosh
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One of India’s greatest writers, Amitav Ghosh, argues that future generations may well think that we are deranged. How else can we explain our imaginative failure in the face of global warming? In this groundbreaking return to non-fiction, Ghosh examines our inability at the level of literature, history and politics to grasp the scale and impact  of climate change.
Environmentalism: A Global History by Ramachandra Guha
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An acclaimed historian of the environment, Ramachandra Guha in this book draws on many years of research in three continents. He details the major trends, ideas, campaigns and thinkers within the environmental movement worldwide. Among the thinkers he profiles are John Muir, Mahatma Gandhi, Rachel Carson and Octavia Hill; among the movements, the Chipko Andolan and the German Greens.
The Vanishing: India’s Wildlife Crisis by Prerna Singh Bindra
The Vanishing
With the high-decibel development versus environment debate dominating headlines, this book reveals how the ‘development at all costs’ model threatens our ecological and economic security. The author travels to far-flung forests to give an eyewitness account, and an insider’s view of India’s vanishing natural heritage. The Vanishing is a sharp and stirring read about today’s desperate scenarios, and the quest for hope for a wild India.
Rage of the River by Hridayesh Joshi
Rage of the River
Rage of the River is a riveting commentary on the socio-environmental landscape of Uttarakhand and is filled with vivid imagery of the calamity. Woven into this haunting narrative is also the remarkable history of the ordinary people’s struggle to save the state’s ecology.
Green Poems by Gulzar
Green Poems
One of the country’s best-loved poets and lyricists, Gulzar is renowned for his inimitable way of seeing things, his witty expressions, his quirky turns of phrase. All these creative talents come into play in delightful, unexpected ways in his  bilingual collection Green Poems, which celebrates his innate connection with nature.
Fascinated by the list? What is your observation of nature around you? Do you have environmental issues to bring to the fore? Tell us, we are all ears!

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Let Chhota Bheem Turn Your Child into a Reader

Posted on by Penguin India

Is your little bundle of joy going to start school soon? Have you been looking for books that will ease them into this new phase of life? The Chhota Bheem series by DK Books, is where your search ends. The series is a set of four books, ideal for kids between 4-6 years. It aims to enrich your kid’s general knowledge and also inculcate a fondness for reading.
Here are 5 ways in which your child can enjoy the series:
Easy-To-Read Text
The book series aims to educate and entertain your little one through illustrations and easy-to-read-text. Combining familiarity of the much loved characters with educational content adds to your tot’s understanding.
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Increase General Awareness
The series covers topics such as types of transport, animals, seasons, and the concept of party. Like the TV series, the books will make your little one aware of things which they see around them every day. The storytelling format in the books will let them have as much fun as they have while watching an episode.
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Engage in Fun Activities
Learning becomes easier when you’re having fun! The books also contain activities like crafting a paper boat or making lemonade which incorporate fun learning for your child, thereby increasing their attention span and enabling them to fare better at school.
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Improve Cognitive Skills
Apart from helping children develop the habit of reading, the books focus on improving their thinking and analytical skills, achieving this through word search, spot the difference, solve the maze, etc. The analytical skills come into play when your kid is learning subjects like mathematics and science.
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Respect for the Environment
In the light of the on-going climate change, the series aims to make the children aware of their surroundings. The books cover topics such as climate change and endangerment of animals. These topics will help you instill in your child, respect for the environment and its gifts.
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Are you ready to see your kid set off on an exciting journey of learning? Tell us what they think of the books.
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