gem ppt

1. E-Newsletter-7/8
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
Space-starved churches push for shroud burials
instead of coffins
Clara Lewis| TNN | Jul 31, 2016, 03.11 AM IST
MUMBAI: Space constraint is forcing churches in Mumbai to opt for green solutions for
disposing of the dead. In the last six months, the St Blaise Church, Amboli, has had at least 15
shroud burials (body wrapped in cloth and lowered into the grave). The coffin was not used by
families voluntarily. Father Franklin Mathias, parish priest, said space constraint, the
environmental benefits and economics of a burial without a coffin prompted them to encourage
shroud burial. He said the success of such burials depends entirely on the parishioners. "This
year is being observed by the church as the Year of Mercy. Burial is an act of mercy, and we
decided to go back to the old way of doing it. Jesus was buried in a shroud. It will save wood and
for the poor, it brings down the cost of a burial significantly. Today a coffin costs at least Rs
10,000," he said.
St Blaise Church, Amboli, has organised a talk next week on shroud burial for its parish pastoral
council (PPC) — a committee of lay people who represent different sectors within the church's
jurisdiction, to understand the concept and encourage more people to opt for the shroud burial,
said Merlyn Coutinho, secretary, PPC.
At Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Orlem, Malad (W), written instructions have been issued to the
parish undertaker to use very ordinary wood for the coffin frame; the lining also has to be
ordinary cloth, and the coffin is to be covered with a cloth and not wood. For all of last year the
Orlem church, which has one of the largest congregations in Mumbai, had to shut down its
graveyard as the soil had turned alkaline and decomposition of bodies had become a problem.
Embalming of bodies and coffins delayed the disintegration process. The church now fills the
open coffin with soil and flowers before burial. "If people want to use expensive wood we have

2. told them they will have to use the Oshiwara cemetery, which is for all, as they will not be
allowed to bury their dead in the church graveyard," said Father Gilbert de Lima, the parish
priest.
"We introduced good-quality soil, added nutrients and have planted flowering plants on all the
365 temporary graves. In case of family graves too, which are about 100, we have asked people to
opt for plants instead of putting marble slabs on the graves," he said. Father de Lima said the
space is insufficient for the large parish and hence the move towards a more green and
environment-friendly burial. Most Christians prefer to bury their loved ones in the church
graveyard rather than the one run by the BMC.
The St Blaise church, Amboli, too had faced a similar problem three years ago when it had to
shut down its graveyard.
Father Allwyn D'Silva, head of the environment department of the archdiocese, had first
proposed the shroud burial. He is now parish priest of St John the Baptist Church, Thane, and
said the practice was introduced last year in the parish, and in the last six months they have had
ten shroud burials. "It is ecologically friendly and for the poor it is a huge relief. It should be
encouraged in all churches," he said. The problem of space is so acute that the St Anthony of
Padua Church, Kalwa, that was using one of the two graveyards at St John the Baptist, last
fortnight was told to take its dead to Sion for burial as the graveyard needs to be revitalised. "The
bodies are now being treated with nutrients so that they decompose faster. Once a few graves
become free, we will restart the use of the graveyard," said Father D'Silva.
Father Nigel Barrett, spokesperson for the archdiocese, said the use of a coffin is an offset of the
rich in Europe and does not have its roots in Christianity. In fact, Canon law only requires that
the body is treated with dignity and respect.
Father Barrett said even cremation is allowed as per the revised 1983 Canon law, and quite a few
Catholics have opted for it. Father D'Silva said it is time the church has its own electric
crematorium.
WASTE TO ENERGY PLANT SET UP IN
SANTACRUZ
IE, 12/8/2016
THE Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set up a bio-mechanization plant in Santacruz
(East) which will process wet waste to generate electricity. “The plant has the capacity to process one
metric tonne wet waste a day. The work has started since June. Since there were no street lights on
Windsor lane, we have installed around 40 such poles, which will be functional in two days. Then, the
area will be well lit,” said Prashant Gaikwad, assistant commissioner of H (E) ward office. Gaikwad
added that a library, which would be developed on an adjoining plot of the plant, will also be given
the electricity from the plant.

3. Officials say the project will help to reduce the civic body’s cost of transporting the garbage to the
dumping ground and save the electricity cost. The plant was installed in June on a plot along the
Windsor lane on CST road in Santacruz (E). Dheeraj Bangar, an official from the solid waste
management team at the H (E) ward office, said the company which has set up the plant has agreed to
undertake the work free of cost initially for six months. “The plant will generate 175 units of
electricity which will make the area self-sufficient,” said Bangar.
Another official said the civic body is planning to make the plant permanent. “The area has several
companies’ offices including a few multinationals. We have approached them with a view to convert
this temporary plant into the permanent one from the corporate social responsibility funds. A couple
of companies have given a positive response,” said an official.
The Organic Recycling Systems Pvt Ltd has set up the plant using the indigenous technology called
‘DRYAD’. “The unique point of the plant is that it is portable. It can be shifted to community places,
residential and commercial complexes,” said Yash Bhand, a representative from the company.
He added that they have set up plants with 400 metric tonne capacity in Solapur and a 100 metric
tonne plant in Varanasi.
WEBSITE AT YOUR SERVICE
Now, www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in
our church website is fully operational. The website
contains various resource materials including:
 GEM E-Newsletters
 GEM PPTs
 ECO quiz
 Monthly Bible Quest.
 Bible Study articles
 Faith and Liturgy articles/quizzes
 Puzzles for Kids
 Group games
 Quiz for all
 Jokes and stories
 Parish events and so on.

4. SLOW DOWN, GET AN ‘EAR’FUL AT THIS
GARDEN
By Chaitanya Marpakwar, Mumbai Mirror | Aug 15, 2016, 10.24 AM IST
A walk down the Vasant Parbhu garden in Dadar is all set to become more blissful from tomorrow. The
BMC has converted the open space at Balewadi into a musical park where citizens will be treated to the
works of legendary artist Vasant Prabhu. The garden, the first of its kind in the city, has been fittedwith a
high-end surround sound system to provide acoustic delight to visitors. It also has several installations in
the shapes of musical instruments. Local MNS corporator Sudhir Jadhav, the brain behind the project,
said the recreationpoint has generated huge excitement among the locals. It will be inaugurated by his
party chief Raj Thackeray, he said.
"Whenever you press the button on an installation, it will play the sound of that instrument. People will be
able to enjoy music while walking and jogging. All popular compositions of Vasant Prabhuji will be
played every morning and evening." The musical garden apart, Thackeray will also inaugurate two more
theme-based open spaces in Dadar - Dinanath Dalal (painter) and Keshavrao Date (dramatist) gardens on
Agashe Road - on Tuesday. The three projects have come up at the cost of Rs 2.5 crore, said Jadhav.
"In the Dinanath Dalal garden, we have installed tiles with projections that will act as acupuncture. At
night, the gardens will be converted into study rooms for kids. So the spaces will have multiple uses too.
These gardens are the best open spaces in the entire ward," said Jadhav who heads the G-North ward
committee. BMC officials said it took them over eight months to build the three gardens. The plans were
finalised by the civic body's garden cell. The Dalal garden features several paintings by the noted painter
and will also serve as a workshop for amateur artists. All the recreation points will have CCTV coverage
to ensure safety of walkers and dissuade miscreants from stealing or damaging the surround sound
system, said Jadhav.
"Themed gardens are a welcome development. It's good to see that the gardens are interactive. There is
something for senior citizens and the kids too. Noted artists are also being honoured at the same time.
However, we hope that the gardens are maintained well," said Deepa Padhye, who stays on Dadar's
Bhavani Shankar Road.
The BMC has plans to create 35 such gardens and has identified plots for the projects. Of these, eight will
be developed as theme parks. As part of its plan, the civic body has already built a Samyukta
Maharashtra-themed garden in Dadar and a fort-themed park at Priyadarshani Garden in Chembur.
Goregaon residents curb open defecation on
neighbouring plot within 45 days
Bella Jaisinghani| TNN | Aug 14, 2016, 02.30 PM IST

5. MUMBAI: Visitors to Mumbai dread landing at the airport during the morning hours. They are
appalled at the sight and stench caused by rows of slum dwellers who are seen defecating in the
open. Most Mumbaikars dismiss it as an inevitable fallout of mass migration. However, women
residents of Ankur housing society in Goregaon West have showed rare determination and
managed to stop neighbouring slum dwellers from open defecation on a nearby ground. They
achieved their goal within a span of 45 days.
Blogger Pulkit Mathur spearheaded the initiative. She said, "Ours is a society of 80 flats located
near Hypercity Mall. It overlooks a vast ground that was used as a virtual open air toilet by the
slumdwellers of Prem Nagar. For 15 years we could not open our windows in the morning. One
day in April we saw some civic workers conducting a Swachh Bharat awareness drive at the spot
with posters and banners against open defecation. We realised this campaign could provide the
solution to our problem." Ankur residents quickly founded what they call the Swachh Ankur
Group. "Every morning from 6.00-8.30am we began to maintain vigil upon the ground by
rotation in groups of two and three. We did so for 45 days, pleading with men who came with
buckets and pails to use public toilets instead," Mathur said.
Civic authorities also posted women from their affiliate mahila mandals to guard the site
alongside residents. It was these social workers who noticed that the men were embarrassed by
the pleas of women. "Had male residents or officers confronted them, they would have turned
combative," they said. Interestingly, the group found support from women of the slum who had
to endure indignity as well. Children of Prem Nagar were impressed by a powerpoint
presentation on the llifecycle of flies that the Ankur Group prepared. Young upwardly mobile
slumdwellers who work as salesmen in neighbouring malls also agreed that open defecation was
wrong.
BMC officials and the local corporator helped by freeing up ten women's toilets for men during
morning hours. Prem Nagar has a large population of single males who are migrants working as
rickshaw drivers and handymen. Earlier, long queues would form outside men's washrooms
while those for women were near vacant. This small step of conversion allowed more men to
access this utility.
Tree-cutting violations by BMC
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
By Sonali Telang
Amidst the garnered flak for the improper tree-cutting drive, The Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC) is again in the spotlight for its dubious Tree Authority Board. A Public
Interest Litigation (PIL) against the Tree Authority Board was listed before Justice Oka and
Justice Sayed in the Bombay High Court on Tuesday. The petitioner, Raghunath Kottary alleged

6. that the Tree Authority Board of BMC grants permission to anyone for cutting trees without
proper scrutiny.
The PIL pointed out that the civic body allowed cutting of trees to anyone who seeks, with a
condition of planting trees equal to thrice the number chopped. But the BMC is yet to inspect
A PIL against the BMC's Tree Authority Board goes to court again today. Yesterday the
BMC failed to appear with complete documents. The story continues?
whether the new trees have been planted. “The BMC has no systemin place to verify if the new
trees are indeed planted, or to check whether they are maintained,” said Zoru Bhathena, a
vehement supporter of the PIL.
However, the petition also points out a major flaw in the system of tree-cutting in Mumbai. Zoru
Bhathena added, “We also pointed out that the BMC grants permissions to cut trees in, say,
Santacruz and then replants the trees in, say, Borivali National Park. This is some silly system
with a TDR like concept.” In such cases, the area which is already green and flourishing would
be made greener, but at the stake of making a scarce area less greener.
The PIL also mentioned that the Tree Authority Board was wrongly constituted, which include
politicians instead of horticulturists and knowledgeable people on the concerned matter. During
the last hearing, Justice Oka had stated that if this is the case, then the Board would be
dissolved and it has to put a halt to all tree-cutting permissions. He also asked the statutory
body to produce the original records and registers today. The BMC asked to delegate them
more time to bring the documents. Suspecting that BMC may tamper with the records, the
judges denied them their request.
Despite this, three officials of the BMC appeared today in the court with incomplete documents.
They stayed mute on queries related to inspection of replanted trees. The Judge postponed the
hearing and directed the BMC to produce the Principal Officer of the fore-stated authority before
the court tomorrow.
Young kids learn to 'WASh4life' to ensure healthy
sanitation
Tuesday, August 16, 2016, AD
By Priyanka Bhatt

7. Save the Children on the occasion of World Youth Day on August 12, inaugurated 'WASH4Life'
campaign, for creating awareness on water, sanitation and hygiene practices in our daily lives.
The function exhibited photographs taken by the children, who were a part of this initiative and
are residents of slums. Their photographs showed the need for improved sanitation and hygiene
practices in our country.
The event, held at Sree Narayana Guru College in Chembur was attended by more than 100
students and also the 20 kids who part of the initiative. The heroes of the event were the child
champions and photographers who inaugurated the photo exhibition that will now travel to
different parts of Maharashtra, encouraging youth to follow safer water, sanitation and hygiene
practises. The young kids were given training about how to maintain sanitation and also go to
various slums and teach everyone about maintaining basic hygiene.
The children in their teens and pre-teens, come from an underprivileged background, but were
taught to photograph various events of their lives and the conditions that they live in. The
campaign, that lasted for a month, aimed to reach all anganwadi workers, panchayats, health
associations & institutions and other bilateral organisations.
Yusuf, a student of standard 12 is a resident of Govandi was a part of Wash 4 Life. He spoke to
ADC and said that he was grateful to be a part of such an exercise. “I got to be a leader and
spread awareness about the problems we and thousands other in this city face. We were taken
to Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and taught how to keep surroundings clean. The
experience was one of its kind and I would love to do more such activities because through
awareness alone most health hazards ca be avoided,” Yusuf said.
Kshitij Pipleshwar, Founder & Director of ICSA Innovations that connects various social causes
and communicates the message for social causes, was also instrumental in making a difference
in this campaign. “We always aim at spreading more and more awareness. The kids who were a
part of this, learnt not only implement hygiene themselves, but also went to various places and
spread the message. Kids make most of the difference in the world, and therefore were effective
to convince people to maintain hygiene,” Pipleshwar said.
Environment minister for roping in kids
Vishwa Mohan| TNN | Aug 16, 2016
NEW DELHI: Union environment minister Anil Madhav Dave has expressed concern over the way horns
and loudspeakers are being misused in cities. He has appealed to people to use the horn only when it is
badly needed. He also wants people to adhere strictly to the rules for using loudspeakers. Speaking to TOI
on noise pollution as part of its `No Honking Drive', Dave said his ministry would also like to launch an
awareness programme to sensitise people about the ill-effects of honking and undisciplined use of
loudspeakers. "Supreme Court too has come forward (with certain dos and don'ts as far as noise pollution

8. is concerned). But I think instead of regulation, if the societyitself starts making efforts through
disciplined use of horns and the public address system, it will show encouraging results in due course."
Pitching for an awareness programme, the minister sought to make children ambassadors of such a drive.
"Children are our future. They need to be sensitisedabout ill-effects of honking and noise pollution. They
are the ones who can ask their parents not to use horns unnecessarily . This will also prepare them for the
future." At present, noise generating sources are being regulated under the Noise Pollution (Regulation
and Control) Rules, 2000 as per the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It deals with
ambient noise levels which are specified for vehicles at the manufacturing stage, firecrack ers,
loudspeakers PA systems, generator sets, pressure horns, air-conditioners, refrigerators and certain types
of construction equipment.
Asked whether the rules were not being enforced by the states, the minister said, "We are concerned and
we have been in touch with the transport ministry and local civic authorities...I think, the automobile
sector (vehicle users and auto parts manufacturers) and people using PA systems need to be disciplined."
"I have travelled across the world and not found such undisciplined use of motor horns and public
address systems anywhere, be it USA, west Asian countries, Indonesia, Britain or any European country
. We really need to make people aware of such facts and sensitise them towards concerns of other
people," said Dave,who took over as environment minister last month.
WE PLEDGE
Pope Francissays "Together, wepledge our commitment
to raising awarenessabout thestewardship ofcreation".
(LaudatoSi - Encyclicalon Environment).
Awarenesscan bring changeinour attitudetowards
variousenvironmentalissues plaguing our Mother Earth,
and motivateusto act.
Here is an opportunityfor you to bring thisawarenessto
variousgroups, especially for the youngsters. For simple
and interactive PowerPointPresentationsonECO
AWARENESS SESSIONS, suitablefor SCC ECO KIDS
CLUBS of your parish, Sundayschool or your school
students.
These PPTsare:
1] OUR WORLD, OUR FUTURE
2] IMPORTANCEOF BIO-DIVERSITY
Visit www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in and go to GEM PPT
section.

9. AOL event 'completely destroyed' Yamuna floodplains,
NGT told
New Delhi, Aug 17 (PTI): The ‘World Culture Festival’ extravaganza organised by Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar’s Art of Living (AOL) on Yamuna has “completely destroyed” the riverbed, an expert committee
has told by the National Green Tribunal.
“The committee observes that entire floodplain area used for the main event site i.e. between DND
flyover and the Barapulla drain (on the right bank of river Yamuna) has been completely destroyed, not
simply damaged. The ground is now totally levelled, compacted and hardened and is totally devoid of
waterbodies or depressions and almost completely devoid of any vegetation.
“The area where the grand stage was erected (and the area immediately behind it) is heavily consolidated
– most likely with a different kind of external material used to level the ground and compress it. Huge
amount of earth and debris have been dumped to construct the ramps for access from the DND flyover
and from the two pontoon bridges across the Barapulla drain,” the expert committee, set up by the NGT,
told a bench headed by Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.
The tribunal had directed the seven-member expert committee headed by Shashi Shekhar, Secretary of
Ministry of Water Resources, and senior scientists and experts from National Environmental Engineering
Research Institute, IIT, Delhi and other agencies to inspect the site of the World Culture Festival was held
this year.
The committee, in its 47-page report, has said that due to the three-day event, the floodplain has lost
“almost all its natural vegetation” like trees, shrubs, tall grasses, aquatic vegetation including water
hyacinth which provides habitat to large number of animals, insects and mud-dwelling organisms. “These
organisms were rendered homeless, driven away by intense activity and many were consigned to graves
under the debris. This is invisible loss of biodiversity which cannot be easily assessed and most may never
be able to return. Far more significant changes are expected in the micro-organisms which are critical to
ecosystem functioning,” it said. The report further states that construction of ramps and roads, alteration
of water bodies and flattening of the ground has completely damaged the diversity of habitats.
“The physical damage in the floodplain and its wetlands include a change in topography which has a
direct bearing on the diversity of habitats. Construction of ramps and roads, filling up of waterbodies and
levelling of the ground together with compaction have almost completely eliminated the natural physical
features and the diversity of habitats,” the report said.

10. No adequate land to develop solar power: Goa
power minister
Bindiya Chari| TNN | Aug 11, 2016, 09.26 PM IST
PANAJI: Minister for power Milind Naik told Goa Legislative Assembly on Thursday that Goa
has limitations in developing solar energy. Goa does not have large tracks of flat land that is
needed for developing solar power. "The problem is the availability of land," said power minister
while replying to a query by BJP legislator Kiran Kandolkar.
To a question if any measures have been taken by the government to boost use of non-
conventional energy in the State, the power minister said, "The government has started
distributing three LED bulbs to each consumer plus replacement of existing street lights with
LED lights which would be taken up soon will help reduce consumption of power."
When asked if the option of using solar energy was tried, Naik said, "Solar energy is purchased
by the government to the extent of 31 mega watt from Solar Corporation of India and NTPC
Vidyut Nigam Ltd, to meet Renewable Power Obligation (RPO) set by Joint Electricity
Regulatory Commission (JREC)."
Bovine deaths spur war against polythene bags
TNN | Aug 15, 2016, 09.43 AM IST
Jaipur: The district administration has renewed its drive against plastic carry bags on a war footing after
the city reported a large number of bovine deaths due to consumption of synthetic bags. The campaign
was launched last Monday to seize plastic bags from different parts of the city. An appeal has been made
to people not to use plastic bags as it affects the soil and results in deaths of animals.
Over the past few days, authorities seized hundreds of kg of plastic bags. According to the district
administration, over 5,500kg of plastic carry bags were seized on August 8, the first day of the campaign,
700kg on August 9, and over 5,000kg on August 11 from various parts of the city.

11. Jaipur district collector Siddharth Mahajan said that 883kg of carry bags were seized from Muhana
Mandi, Sanganer, Ramganj, Surajpole, Choti Chaupar and various others places on Saturday.
From March this year, the administration had conducted the drive from time to time. Figures show that
from March 1 to August 11, more than 20,800kg of plastic bags have already been seized.
The state government imposed a complete ban on manufacture, storage, import, sale and transport of
plastic carry bags on August 1, 2010.
Five teams have been constituted specifically for the purpose. JMC has been directed to carry out public
awareness campaigns using posters, banners and fluorescent signboards.
350 crores spent on Swachh Bharat Mission
advertisements, RTI reveals
Posted on 14 Aug 2016 by Admin, courtesy: thepoliticalfunda.com
As per a RTI filed by an Ahmadabad based activist, thetotalamount spent by
Government of India for creating awarenessand promotion of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
has comeout to be staggering 350 Crores. The reply says: The amount spent for creating
awarenesson Swach Bharat Mission("TV, News-Paper, Print mediaetc) comesunder the
IEC information, Educationaland Communicationheads. Thetotal expenditureincurred
by centralgovernment on the IEC heads are given below.
a) FY 2014-15 - 121.22 crores
b) FY 2015-16 - 162.50 crores
c) FY 2016-17 - 66 crores
The totalexpense comes out to be nearly 350 croreson just advertisements. The
informationregarding thenumber of toiletsbuilt and thenumber of dustbinsdistributed
were also demanded, which the authoritydid not give the satifactoryresponses. Here is a
copy of theorigionalreply attached.
Indians prefer bottled water over carbonated
drinks, says research
BI INDIA BUREAU, BUSINESS INSIDER

12. There is a global trend showing the preference for bottled water over carbonated drinks, and the
trend can also be seen in the Indian market. This means that Indian consumers are going off
sugary beverages, says a research from Euromonitor. As per the research, packaged water grew
23-25% in year to March, which was more than twice the rate at which carbonated drinks and
sodas grew.
"Globally, cola carbonates has received a lot of negative publicity due to high sugar content and
its lack of nutritional value," Euromonitor India Country Manager Janaki Padmanabhan told
ET. "The trend is
also now evident in India. With increasing health awareness, consumers are looking for
something that adds to their nutritional intake."
This year, bottled water sales are expected to bring down soda sales in absolute terms, for the
first time in the US. Talking in details, PepsiCo's water business in the US grew by double digits
in 2016 Q1, while its carbonated soft-drink volume declined 2% and health concerns is the
primary reason for this.
However, this is not the exact case in India, not in the near future at least. As per industry
sources, soda sales stood close to Rs 14,000 crore in the year to 2016, while water was still a Rs
3,000 crore market (excluding bulk packaged water). However, things are changing, with more
people preferring bottled water over soda drinks. One reason behind this could be the quest for
clean drinking water, which is not available in tap or municipal water.
Talking of non-cola carbonates, also known as fruit-based carbonates, they are getting more and
more popular with younger consumers. "Thanks to new product development along with new
flavours, consumers now (can) accommodate other drinks," said Padmanabhan. "This, along
with the move away from carbonates, will result in bottled water and juices benefitting."
SAY NO TO BOTTLED WATER
Read GEM PPT NO. 21
Visit www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in, go to GEM PPT
section

13. T.N. ryots oppose GM mustard
Updated: August 16, 2016 13:33 IST | Sangeetha Kandavel, The Hindu
Citizen groups and unions representing farmers have urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to
write to the Centre against approving genetically modified (GM) mustard in India. The GM mustard is
like a Trojan horse waiting to attack, they said. The Government of India plans to approve GM mustard
(three different types) developed by the Delhi University. The application for approval is at an advanced
stage of processing by the Indian regulators.
“The mustard sowing season is fast approaching and the central regulators could take a decision on the
matter any day soon. So we urge the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to look into this. The AIADMK
government in its manifesto highlighted that it would not permit GM foods,” said Kavitha Kuruganti,
Convenor, Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture. According to Ms. Kavitha, even
neighbouring States should say no to GM mustard or it would enter the Tamil Nadu market.
Dhanapal, president of the Cauvery Delta Farmers Association, said that every family in Tamil Nadu
consumes a minimum of 5 gm. of mustard per day. “So one should be cautious about what they eat. GM
mustard would not only impact people but also spoil the soil,” he added. T. Vellaiyan, president of the
Tamil Nadu Traders Association, asked: “When we have ample mustard what is the need for the GM
version.”
Members of the various associations expressed concern that the Centre is processing an application for a
GM crop that is herbicide tolerant. According to them, “This will increase chemical usage in our farming
in addition to displacing poor agricultural labourers from employment. This has direct implications for all
consumers with greater toxic residues in our food. It is all the more shocking as the matter is pending in
the Supreme Court of India.” They also said allowing transgenic mustard will open the flood gates for
dozens of other similar crops and jeopardise farmer livelihoods and bio diversity.
Mustard is mainly grown in the North-West parts. Rajasthan, U.P. are the major producing States. The
Rajasthan output is highly monsoon-dependent. The other important producers are M.P., Haryana,
Gujarat, West Bengal and Assam.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
Why it is environmentally harmful?
Read GEM PPT NO. 14
Visit www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in, go to GEM PPT section

14. Plastic, quarries banned in Wayanad
TNN | Aug 17, 2016, 09.13 AM IST
KOZHIKODE: In a significant green push before demitting office, Wayanad district collector Keshvendra
Kumar imposed a complete ban on use and sale of plastic carry bags, disposable plastic, thermocol plates
and plastic serving glasses in the district from October 2 onwards.
The order issued by the collector said that apart from causing direct toxicity, plastics act as carcinogen
and can cause endocrine disruption. "In addition, plastic carry bags and disposable plates causes blockage
in sewage systems/ water streams/ rivers etc," the order said.
Also, in another pro- environment order issued just days before his tenure ended on Monday, Kumar also
banned quarrying and mining activity in the picturesque and geologically rare rock formations of Phatom
Rock, Arattupara and Kolagappara located in the Krishnagiri and Ambalavayal villages in the district.
The order was issued after the district disaster management authority (DDMA) chaired by the collector
found the three areas vulnerable to land slide due to the quarrying activity. Tnn
‘Air pollution can affect child’s
brain development’
Express News Service,Pune
A study published in the journal ‘Pediatrics’ shows a clear association between mothers’
exposure to high levels of environmental pollutants during pregnancy to a four-point drop in
children’s IQ scores by the age of five.
A slew of recent studies reiterate the fact that air pollution not only causes respiratory problems,
but can also affect the brain development of children, including those in their mother’s womb. A
study published in the journal ‘Pediatrics’ shows a clear association between mothers’ exposure

15. to high levels of environmental pollutants during pregnancy to a four-point drop in children’s IQ
scores by the age of five.
Dr. Parag Khatavkar, senior consultant and pulmonologist at KEM Hospital, Pune, said, “Air
pollution is one such health hazard which silently enters our body and incapacitates us from
inside. Even indoor air quality is equally or more dangerous than outdoor air pollution. Since we
spend more time indoors, naturally the risk associated with indoor air pollution is more.
Burning incense sticks could increase the concentration of particulate matter (PM) by about 15
times more than permitted levels.”
A new report published in the journal ‘Environmental Health Perspectives’ found that the
presence of some toxic chemicals in the environment can interfere with normal hormone
activity. The disruptive thyroid hormone in pregnant women can interfere with the healthy brain
development of the fetus. Indoor plants, proper ventilation, clean floors and surfaces and air
purifiers can be very effective in reducing levels of airborne pollutants in the environment.
Philippines suspends two more mines in
environmental clampdown
By Enrico Dela Cruz | MANILA,
COURTESY:INDIA ENVIRONMENTAL PORTAL
The Philippine government has suspended operations at two more mines due to environmental violations
in an ongoing audit of the country's mining sector, officials said on Thursday. The move raises the number
of suspended mines to 10 - eight of them nickel ore producers - since the Southeast Asian nation launched
a review of all mines on July 8. The closures and the threat of more mines getting hit in the world's top
nickel ore supplier lifted prices of the metal to a one-year high of $11,030 a tonne on Wednesday.
[MET/L]
The latest suspended mines are operated by Emir Mineral Resources Corp, which produced 150,000
tonnes of nickel ore last year, and Mt. Sinai Mineral Exploration Corp, which extracted 50,000 tonnes of
chromite, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Leo Jasareno told a media briefing. Both mines
are privately owned and located in the central Samar province, primarily supplying China. The audit
found that operations at the Emir Mineral and Mt. Sinai mines have caused silt build-up in coastal waters
and deforestation, said Jasareno. "All suspension orders are indefinite," he said.
Excluding Emir Mineral, Jasareno said the seven suspended nickel mines accounted for about 8 percent of
the Philippines' output of the metal last year. The Philippines is the top nickel ore supplier to China,
shipping 34 million tonnes in 2015.
TAMPAKAN SNAG

16. Separately, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Lopez said the $5.9 billion Tampakan
gold-copper project in the southern island of Mindanao should not have been given a clearance that would
allow it to proceed. "That project should never have been given an ECC (environmental compliance
certificate)," Lopez said. Tampakan is the Philippines' biggest stalled mining venture and a cancellation of
its environmental permit - granted in 2013 - could further delay it or end it completely.
Commodities giant Glencore Plc quit the project last year following the delays that have hampered its
development since the province where it is located banned open-pit mining in 2010. The planned mine
would cover an area the size of 700 football fields in what otherwise would be agricultural land, said
Lopez. "You can't have mining in the food basket of Mindanao," she said. The government will give
Sagittarius Mines Inc, which runs Tampakan, a week to explain why its environmental permit should not
be revoked, said Lopez.
Sagittarius Mines officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lopez said her agency
has also asked top domestic coal miner Semirara Mining & Power Corp to explain environmental
violations including siltation of nearby waters and air pollution. But it would be hard to just shut
Semirara's operations, she said, because that might lead to power outages given the Philippines' heavy
reliance on coal-fired generators.
Semirara said in a stock exchange filing that it has yet to receive any order from the mining agency, but
that it has been compliant with all relevant laws.
Practicing yoga changed my temperament; 11 year old
trainer
HT correspondent, HT, Chandigarh
For 11-year-old Khushi, one of the youngest yoga trainers working with Isha Foundation in Chandigarh,
practising upa yoga came as a blessing in disguise. “I used to get irritated easily but ever since I started
practising upa yoga, I noticed a change in my temper,” she said. A student of Carmel Convent School,
Sector 9, Khushi has been training not only youngsters but also senior citizens in upa yoga. “I feel calmer
and more peaceful since I started practising upa yoga in April this year. It really feels nice while imparting
yoga training to others,” added the young trainer.
Khushi had learnt some basic yoga asanas such as surya namaskar about few years ago but upa yoga
attracted her more. Elaborating the genre, Khushi said, “It has about seven asanas. Hand and neck
exercises are my favourite as they help in stretching your body and are easy to perform.” Khushi was
inspired to do yoga by her mother Bhawna Garg, an IAS officer posted with the UT administration. Her
father Ajoy Sharma is also an IAS officer.
Khushi said, “My mother learnt yoga from the Isha Foundation. When she used to perform asanas, I
would wonder as how they help in one’s life. Then my mother asked me to join yoga in April this year. I

17. attended a workshop and I have been training others soon after that.” Khushi had recently conducted a
sessionfor 80 students in Snehalaya. Khushi says that she holds yoga classes for schoolchildren, corporate
employees and residents.
She says that children should do yoga as it helps one in their daily routine. Upa yoga is good for all age
groups, especially children as it helps in improving concentration. Neelam Chander, a volunteer with the
Isha Foundation, said, “I remember that Khushi had come with her mother to attend a four-hour session
and inquisitively asked several questions about the benefits of upa yoga.”
“She was curious to know the benefits of yoga and eventually started doing it. Now, she has been
regularly performing yoga asanas,” her mother Bhawna Garg said.
Made in Heaven
A get-together for eligibles looking out for life partners in marriage was held on 14th August at
Infant Jesus Church, Jogeshwari.
For pictures visit website www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in go to Gallery section.
Following is the link for video clips of Made in Heaven click.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0-Efk8SLOMQNUx5Q3BCZG1ndG8&usp=sharing
Next Made in Heaven get-together will be held in Nov. 2016 will be in Hindi, especially meant for
eligibles of lower income group residing in chawls, slums etc. Youngsters of lower income group
and socially marginalised afraid to venture into marriage because of the cost involved in the
celebration.
During the 'Made in Heaven' programme they will motivated to celebrate low budget, eco-
friendly weddings.
Further details of next Made in Heaven will be uploaded on the above website.
Your encouragement for such youngsters to attend this get-together will help them to start a
happy and stable family life as envisaged by Pope Francis in his last Synod on Family.
Fr Felix
I LOVE MY OLD BIBLE, Pope Francis.
BIBLE STUDY
ARTICLES
AVILABLE IN THE
BBLE STUDY
SECTION
Pope Francis says, “You could buy me a new Bible for
$1,000,but I would not want it. I love my old Bible,which
has accompanied me half my life. It has been with me
in my times of joy and times of tears. It is my most
precious treasure. I live out of it, and I wouldn’t give

18.  What is Bible?
 Why there are different
versions of the Bible?
 Who wrote the Bible?
 Is everything said in the
Bible is facts?
 How to interpret Bible?
 The Bible, the Sole Rule
of Faith?
 What is theory of
inspiration?
 Bible history based on
various figures
And so on..
anything in the world for it”.
Read the complete article on ‘Pope and Bible’.
Visit www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in go to the BIBLE
QUEST SECTION,page 4, article 3 in the website.
Following Pope’s example,can our parishes encourage
the parishioners to read the bible more frequently?
Conducting monthly bible quiz is one of the best ways to
encourage people to read the Bible throughout the year.
For further details on organising monthly BIBLE QUEST
visit the same website and read ‘Introduction to Bible
Quest’ article 1, in the same section.Conducting monthly
BIBLE QUEST is a good opportunity to revive the PARISH
BIBLE CELLSof our parishes.
43 sets of ready to use BIBLE QUIZZES(with answers)
are available in the BIBLE QUEST sectionof the above
website. BIBLE QUEST is successfullyconducted in the
Infant Jesus church, Jogeshwari for the last one year and
continuing this year.
JUST READ 10 CHAPTERS PER MONTH. FOR
METHODOLOGY OF CONDUCTIONG THE BIBLE
QUEST VISIT BIBLE QUEST SECTION.
WANTED HELPING HANDS- Courtesy: Daijiworld.com
For more appeals visit – www.daijiworld.com - charity
Baby Grishmitha (3 years),Sulse,Katbelthur - 576230
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Baby Grishmitha (3 years),D/o Madhukar Poojary, is suffering from Thalassemia Major.Only
curative option is bone marrow transplant. She does not have any sibling. Family is been to
undergo transplant using either matched unrelated donor or haploidentical donor (either parent)
using TCR alpha/Beta depletion.The cost of this transplant will range from Rs 25,00,000 to Rs
35,00,000 (Rupees twenty five lacs to Rupees thirty five lacs) in the absence of any major
complications.
The family is very poor and is unable to spend that kind of money.Therefore, they have requested
for monetary help from kind hearted donors and philanthropists so that they can save the life of
their little child.
Please send your kind donations to their following bank account:

19. Bank Account No. 20335955644
Name of the Account Holder: Grishmitha M (Minor) FNG Madhukar P
Bank: State Bank of India,
Doddakallasandra,Behind Manjunatha Kalyan Mantap,
Kanakapura Road, Bengaluru 560062
Bank IFSC Code: SBIN0017650
Telephone No.: 99459 78437, 78994 42729
Flavia Jacintha D' Souza(47),Neerude House,Niddodi Village,Mangaluru taluk
574144
Tuesday, August 09, 2016
Flavia Jacintha D'Souza(47), W/o Paul D'Souza, Neerude House,Niddodi Village, Mangaluru taluk
574144 is known to suffer from Ca (L) Breast T2 No Mo. She underwent masectomy Auxiliary
clearance on March 3, 2016 for the same. She needs treatment plain 6xFEC (Chemotherapy)
followed by HT-Hormone treatment. The estimated cost of the treatment is more than Rs six lacs
which involves further course of treatment.
The family is very poor. One of their daughter also is mentally dull.The family is helpless due to
poverty. Please send your kind remittances to their following bank account for their medical
treatment.
Bank Account No. 297400101001670
Name of the Account Holder: Flavia Jecintha D' Souza
Bank: Corporation Bank, 2974 Neerude,
J B D' Souza Complex, Neerude
post, Mangaluru taluk
Bank IFSC Code: CORP0002974
Telephone No.: 9731528513
Published by Fr Felix Rebello
c/o Infant Jesus Church, Jogeshwari
Mob. 9819688630, Email:frfelixrebello@gmail.com, gemenewsletter@gmail.com
website: www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in
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