Following the e-waste trail-(YFS-RIT.)

Greenpeace has been investigating the immoral and illegal e-waste dumping in developing countries since 2002. After China, India, Pakistan and Ghana, this is the story of how one very broken TV managed to avoid being tested and recycled according to EU regulations and instead ended up in Nigeria as "second hand goods".
By taking out the toxic chemicals from the products and securing global recycling schemes, electronics manufacturers can ensure that countries like Nigeria do not end up with Europe's toxic e-waste. Take action now and find out how you can make sure our electronics devices do not end up polluting the poor...
©Greenpeace/Kristtian Buus

Waiting for the World to Change

Music has always been my inspiration.

This song by John Mayer brings the current state of our society...How we all tend to resist to make our contribution...How we silently perceive that solution of our helplessness will come along eventually...Lets be more proactive and do our bit...Its our world...Its our lives...Its our change...

Thankyou note to British Council and TERI

Many Thanks To British Council and TERI for giving me the opportunity to present my ideas at the International Climate Champions (ICC) West Zone round that was held at Mumbai, India.

Sincerely,

Rohit Vishwakarma

Unknown Heroes of the Environment

We all tend to be indifferent for our environment... we exploit resources and do not think about the consequences resulting from it.

In my locality, I see people with very limited material resources... They use and reuse every bit in every form that can be imagined: WOOD and METAL for shelter; CLOTH for clothes... then again clothes... then smaller clothes...then as scrap for cleaning; PAPER for reading...then for wrapping and protection.

Bless the Raddiwalas of our locality who can stock anything for reuse.

All I can say is that people are thankful for everything they have and want to realize the best of everything they can without being wasteful.

They do not know about Climate Change and the hovering vulnerability it imposes on their shanty rickety houses and their lives. What they do know is that resources are precious and should be respected.

Let the learned and knowledgeable not ruin the lives of the poor through mindless wasteful and resource intensive ways of leading lives.

Can we ignore this...

Mumbai city...
A vast concrete jungle...
Ignored environment...
Ignored spaces...
Ignored faces...

About the photo compilation: The development around my locality (Samtanagar). The insufficient waste-management in the locality imposes health hazards, which are on an increase due to climate extreme events such as floods and heat waves.

smoking is banned.

Killing the Climate is not ???

The Human Impact

We deprive the earth of its rightful source of Oxygen...
We burden it with carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases through our resource intensive activities...

Recycling, Energy Efficiency and Livelihoods (REEL) Project at Samatanagar

Dense urban settlement of Samatanagar is seen in the circled area (Source: Google)

Recycling, Energy Efficiency and Livelihoods (REEL) Project at Samatanagar
Project proposal for sustainable urban habitats in Mumbai

Proposed Outfit: REEL campaign (Hindi name: Yuva Se Seva campaign)
Youth Project Lead: Rohit (Rit) Vishwakarma
Project Team: Rajesh and Samatanagar YFS youth (a team who wants to make a difference)

Abstract:
Samatanagar is a residential area of about 2000 one-tier informal settlements (Source: District Office). These habitats are known as "Slums" in the western world or "Chawls" in the city of Mumbai. Most households are struggling to climb up the economic ladder of the society and are not aware of the impacts of climate change and the vulnerability it imposes on the urban poor. In our social order, we need to bring a mass change in people’s thinking but creating awareness about this global issue. This project proposal is a social venture that will be undertaken by the youth of Samatanagar to mitigate and adapt to climate change in their own small way. This social venture will include awareness and promotion of energy efficiency devices and importance of recycling. It will also include a clean-up drive where our team will consult with local experts towards better waste management of our society. Depending on funding and local support, a crucial part of this project will be to promote better livelihood opportunities for the residents of Samatanagar. This is envisioned by establishing a small job kiosk that will be run by earthkeepers.

If you are interested in supporting us, advising us and/or learning more about this project please email me at rit.vishwakarma [at] gmail.com.

International Climate Champions 2009

International Climate Champions 2009...
an initiative of the British Council in partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

The west-zone presentations
http://www.britishcouncil.org/india-projects-icc-westindia.pdf