Dhangharwadi, a small village in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra (India) has set a fine example of self-empowerment by reviving their water channels and boosting their agricultural produce. The district known to be a drought–prone area had reported highest number of farmer’s suicide owning to perpetual lack of rains. One of the villages here, Dhangharwadi is now lush green once again thanks to the initiatives taken by the farmer’s along with the efforts of Dilasa- a local NGO. Earlier the villagers could hardly produce agricultural yield enough to feed their own families. Today, they are enjoying the fruits of a bumper crop. Two years ago, villagers in association with Dilasa had built two check dams with the objective of harvesting water from a near-by percolation tank (useless since 1972). While Yavatmal district has no dearth of tanks meant for storing rain water, their underutilization, poor maintenance by the authorities and lack of water transport structures has contributed to the drought conditions. Determined to change their situation, the villagers along with the support of NGO, built two check dams and resurrected the practice of local lift irrigation. Further, to facilitate transport of water to the interiors of village, a network of shallow canals called fuds was created. Such a network flows along the contours of land and checks soil erosion by slowing down the speed of water. It also helps in percolation of water during rainy season.
Improvement in agricultural situation has positively affected other spheres of these villagers, who belong to sheep-rearing nomadic community. Thus, one step taken towards self – empowerment has brought happiness in the lives of these people. Dhangharwadi’s example, is just one of many such instances where, the poor farmers and villagers have come out of their shells and taken the matter into their hands. Thus, giving out a strong message to lazy officials that, given guidance and resources, villagers can become effective perpetrators of the participatory development approach.

Via DownToEarth

Giampiero Maracchi, director of ‘Institute of Biometeorology CNR, during the conference on climate, energy and environmental challenges of which we talked a few days ago, told of how the biometereologico institute has calculated that only vestendosi in a more wise and lowering of two degrees heating in homes during the winter, was already at 20% of the effort needed to respect the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol.

Until 50 years ago people used clothes heavier the current rating to protect themselves from the cold. To make the concept a numerically head of clothing of our grandfathers weighed on average 550 grams per square meter, while one of those who use us about 200. Today most of the tissues that we use and ‘import, whereas until a few decades ago was used Italian wool and other fibers such as hemp and obviously, the textile industry was born and closed locally.

Today 95% of wool that is tosata in Italy ends in landfills as waste special. That remaining 5% is used in construction, insulation, or somewhere that the craftsman infeltrisce to make handbags and hats. Certainly, the sheep wool and cashmere, ‘a little’ softer and layout of our clothes where work is cheaper can earn much, but throughout this speech should include the environmental costs of transport that, for now, producers they do travel unload their goods on the community.

In Japan, a young primary school pupil Hinagiku of Moriyama, has found a rare example of a two-headed turtle while playing in the garden. He immediately christened Takara, same name as a model toy turtle on the market for 1300 yen, about 8 euros.

Not realised of having in hand a rarity of nature, a finding similar has happened in Cuba. Fortunately is not a mutation pollution but rather a strange animal in the world.

It is Australian, has a beautiful body and strips for magazines: Kobe Kaige, Miss Penthouse 2008, but has the soul rave and decided to support Peta and animals. Followed in the footsteps of Jenna Jameson has argued that Peta already in the past? Anyway Kobe Kaige has decided to pose naked for a campaign against fur.

You will pay Italy for the issue dirt bell. A few hours after the resumption of the emergency, as reported in piccolosocrate post below, we know you will pay the nation, just as, for the inability of local administrators, national, ordinary and extraordinary commissioners to bring order in the chain waste disposal . The formal transition takes place tomorrow, May 6, to give enough time to Brussels to inform Rome on referral of the European Court of Justice.

While today also decides whether to open a new procedure on the case plan for the management of hazardous waste in Lazio, after the Court has already condemned Italy. Coming in the near future, therefore salatissime fines for the whole country for a matter not yet resolved. It is a certainty: in Italy we do not know, we do not want, there “agrees” manage waste.

For Brussels “the key factor is the apparent failure of the waste directive and regional plan on waste management in Campania in 1997 - and especially - stress - were not given an indication of the timing of implementation on the effective functioning of Rdf plants (Refuse Derived Fuel, or termovalorizzatori), incinerators and landfills. ” “We can conclude - reads at the end of the document - that the elements to implement an effective waste management system are still far from being completed, and then proposed to refer the matter to the Court of Justice against Italy.

Photos | Flickr

We take inspiration from the post of Polisblog on the first 100 days of the Berlusconi government to express our environmental proposals. We have read the interesting comments after the disappearance of the Greens by Parliament. We of Ecoblog’m glad that everyone has been able to express their opinions in a civil and exchange views despite the heat of the moment after elections.

We then continue with the political discourse, in this case by looking forward and leaving behind what has been. The problems we know all: between the stagnant economy and the need to work and safety, fit environmental issues. Who takes the environment is often accused of not having serious proposals if not those of “no”. We try then to dispel this commonplace.

If you had the possibility of sending a series of proposals for the new government, what do concrete, feasible immediately, rather immediatissimo? For example, as risolvereste emergency in Campania waste? How ridurreste pollution of the city? How favorireste public transport? To you the floor.

Photos | Flickr

This week I will talk about environmental education concrete with Paolo Donati, that I was able to contact the Book Fair for children of Bologna while trying experience “book”. Paul works at the Foundation Villa Ghigi, which is a Centre for Environmental Education in Bologna.

Paul, you can tell us something about your school gardens?

The project “my garden school”, that you had the documentation, was a particularly articulate which involved the administration of Casalecchio di Reno, some centres of environmental education, many teachers and especially teachers, pupils , Parents and support staff of two primary schools in the municipality who have decided to rethink their green space making it more interesting and stimulating.

The work in each of the two schools has developed in several phases: a moment training for teachers and technicians; a design phase in which the various schools have activated pathways design shared with pupils and parents, a series of workshops in classes related to the study and knowledge of green space available (naturalistic studies, maps, historical collection of wishes, etc.), a phase related to implementation (which involved municipal engineers, teachers, parents and children) and, Finally, a phase of the garden maintenance done in the first place by a group of parents coordinated by a teacher.

This draft school garden and ‘party during the 2001-2002 school year with great enthusiasm and participation of parents. Now imagine that almost all children who participated in the initial work are now some schools averages. It ‘been a problem continually change people?

Despite several years now since this experience remains particularly vital as it is periodically renewed Operations Group (teachers and parents) who are responsible not only maintenance but also the progressive enrichment spaces, for example with respect all’opuscolo documentation, the garden of schools Ciari in recent years have been added to a pond, a small orchard and a pergola of lives.

Keep reading: Orti Bolognese school, an example of environmental education

Remember the post of Viviana on protest against Greenpaeace Where for cutting the Indonesian rainforest in order to obtain the palm oil? Well, the activists of Greenpaeace bring home a beautiful victory: Unilever dietrofront ago.

Patrick Cescau, CEO of Unilever, in a speech in London agreed to a request by Greenpeace to stop a definitive destruction of Indonesian rainforests el’impianto palm oil requesting a moratorium. Cescau has also promised that all the palm oil used by Unilever come from sustainable production by 2015.

The destruction of forests in Indonesia, according to Greenpeace, accounts for 4 per cent to global emissions of greenhouse gases. The association is fighting now, so that other large multinationals that use palm oil and the members of RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), including Procter & Gamble, Kraft, Nestle and Ferrero, join forces together Unilever to ask for their suppliers of palm oil to support the moratorium to stop the destruction under way. “The commitment of Unilever for a sustainable palm oil - said the head of Greenpeace forests campaign Clare Champion - will have no meaning if its suppliers do not stop destroying the Indonesian rainforests. And ‘why the moratorium is so important, and also other companies that use palm oil - ends - must support it. “

It is on sale until May 31 on the pages of Ebay also will be a little ‘difficult to take it home: the ozone hole is starting from a basic auction of 10 thousand U.S. dollars and with the favourable exchange perhaps someone could accaparrarselo. This is not a buffalo because the shaft is certified by Ebay Giving Works, the organization for the nonprofit of Ebay.

In reality, not just sell the ozone hole, but a banner space on the pages of The Ozone Hole, the most comprehensive site for information concerning the world of ozone hole. On the site, sliding beyond the first image that shows the development of the hole in recent years, there are a lot of information and many simple diagrams that explain the (terrifying) development of the hole, to complete the work we are all images sent by ‘Esa and Nasa. A bell’investimento, right? For those interested the number of auction is 28022227042.

Even his grandmother knows that the shower is a good saving water and energy to warm compared to the bathroom, but under the shower if we are 30 minutes is almost a futile effort. Ideal for the mind, body, for their wallets and the environment would be the navy-shower, bath or made according to the rigid dictates into force in the ships of the U.S. Navy, but if the morning we do not want to start evil the day we can follow these simple.

1.Use a timer shower that will tell us how long we are under water and (in more advanced models) how much water we consumed. Those who wish may enjoy to buy the timer shower online.

2.Use a soap 2 in 1, for the hair and body together. For the gentle sex, there is a 2 in 1 shampoo and balm for, right?

3. As an alternative to 1 point, bring a small stereo (ol’Ipod connected to speakers) and heard part of your favorite playlist, which you can certainly know the duration.

4. Avoid sliding the water too long before entering or while v’insaponate.

5. Set immediately the temperature you like and not variatela.

6. Avoid the triple insaponatura rinse with continuous, you will be clean and fragrant even after the first if well done.

7. Try to follow any advice of Navy shower.