gem

1. E-Newsletter-7/9
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
SOLAR ENERGY UPDATE : Residential solar rooftop fails
to shine: Despite a determined push by the government,
rooftop solar panel installations in residential areas have
not managed to take off in India
Moderator’s note: Dear Members, We are pleased to share: Residential solar
rooftop fails to shine: Despite a determined push by the government, rooftop
solar panel installations in residential areas have not managed to take off in
India. The article is available at :
http://indiaclimatedialogue.net/2016/09/05/residential-solar-rooftop-fails-shine/ .
Dear Members,
With over 300 million houses in India, over 300 days of sunshine, an ambitious target of 40 GW
of rooftop solar by 2020 and various states formulating rooftop solar policies, there should have
been a solar revolution in Indian homes. Yet, the situation on the ground is quite different.
In the building sector, solar panels are primarily finding their way on the roofs of commercial,
government and institutional buildings. Unfortunately, there has not been any major
breakthrough in the residential sector. There are only a handful that has opted for rooftop solar
energy in the cities despite high environmental awareness and access to technology and support.
In December 2015, the Indian government rolled out INR 50 billion (USD 750 million) funding
for 30% capital subsidy for rooftop solar installations to create a total capacity of 4.2 GW by
2020. But that has not made the power of natural light attractive enough for consumers or even
for solar developers, who are largely focusing on the commercial buildings and institutions.
Currently, there are two ways through which an individual can install a rooftop solar system.
(S)he can choose the capital expenditure model by making an upfront payment. For those
unwilling or unable to put up the money, there is the RESCO (Renewable Energy Servicing

2. Company) model in which a terrace owner allows a solar developer to install a plant on the roof.
The plant is installed, owned and run by the company or investor and the consumer pays for the
cheaper power at around Rs 6-7 per unit compared with some Rs 9-10 per unit for conventional
supply.
The RESCO model has the potential to bring about a solar rooftop revolution because it can tap
into the terraces of owners who don’t have the required capital. RESCO is popular among
commercial buildings where business owners prefer to invest in the businesses instead of solar
photovoltaic units.
Private homes unattractive
Currently solar developers prefer investing in commercial buildings instead of private homes
due to a number of reasons. The foremost is lack of space. A 10 KW solar plant that can power
three air-conditioners and is sufficient for a three-bedroom apartment needs around 1,000 sq
feet of terrace area. Unlike in Europe and America, houses in India don’t have standardised
roofs and getting the required shade-free area is a big challenge. Besides, solar companies and
financers don’t want to invest in plants less than 10 KW capacity under the RESCO model
because it doesn’t generate enough power to make profits.
Apart from this, most residents don’t want to block their rooftops. They use the terraces for
various purposes such as drying clothes, installing water tanks and split ACs.
To make rooftop space available, the solar plant can be installed on raised frames. For this, the
Delhi government for instance relaxed building norms in its rooftop solar policy, exempting
people from taxes they would otherwise pay for raising a building’s height above the permissible
limit. Read: Big Delhi push to rooftop solar
However, raising structures inflates costs, making it less attractive to the investors. The Delhi
government in its policy has tried to promote grouping of various houses, offices and
commercial units to tackle both the lack of space and scarcity of net meters (that help consumers
to sell excess power to the grid as an incentive), but solar power companies don’t want to get into
complexities of dealing with multiple residents or stakeholders for every power plant, unlike
commercial units owned by a single company or individual.
In residential buildings, the ownership of the roof is also a knotty issue. It is often not clear if the
terrace rights belong to the builder, the homeowner or the tenant. Many find dealing with
Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) challenging because, unlike private companies, many
RWAs don’t maintain balance sheets and therefore don’t qualify as subsidized consumers.
Financial insecurity
In the midst of all this, solar power developers have to worry about financial security when it
comes to residences.
“I don’t see it (rooftop solar) happening in the next five years at least. The question is, who will
pay for the power? Where is the financial security for a developer when it comes to residential
solar rooftops? What happens in a case where we install solar on a rooftop and say after a year
the resident refuses to pay? They are anyway getting power from the grid and what if they say
you can uninstall and take back your system? How do you recover money in that? People can
always change their minds,” Ved Prakash Goyal, an advisor to Applied Solar Power Management
Pvt Ltd, which is part of the ENGIE group, the largest utility company in the world,
toldindiaclimatedialogue.net. “What if a new owner comes who doesn’t want to pay for solar.”

3. “The financial security should be provided to solar developers by the state-owned utilities. There
is no mention of this in any of the solar policies notified by various state governments,” Goyal
pointed out. “It is a question of changing mind-sets of people as well. Many have a fixed idea
about how a façade of a building should look like and are not enthusiastic about installing solar
panels.”
“In the residential sector, the large rooftops are the low hanging fruits. While there is a lot of
potential, it needs a long-term clarity on how the electricity generated will be sent to the grid and
how the home buyers will get the incentives,” Arunabha Ghosh, chief executive of Delhi-based
think tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), told indiaclimatedialogue.net.
In both the capital expenditure and RESCO models, the excess solar power generated on
rooftops is supposed to be fed into the grid and purchased by state utilities. However, doubts are
often raised on this because most power distribution companies in India are making losses.
“I don’t see it (rooftop solar) becoming a people’s movement yet, at least not in the near future.
Even under RESCO model, solar developers put lots of riders and conditions when they
approach individuals. For instance, they don’t invest in plants less than 10 KW or 15 KW because
otherwise they won’t make profits,” Ashutosh Dixit, chief executive of URJA (United RWAs
Joint Action), an association of around 2,500 RWAs in Delhi, told indiaclimatedialogue.net. “We
can sensitise all the RWAs about rooftop solar so that it can be taken up on individual level but
then the government needs to help us with the resources to conduct these meetings.”
Silver lining
Despite the hurdles, there is a silver lining. According to Neeraj Kuldeep, research analyst at
CEEW, while the capital expenditure model is dominating in the rooftop segment with almost
85% of total solar installations, the RESCO model in the rooftop solar segment in India, with
positive rooftop policy support across many states, is getting traction and showing a year on year
growth of 150%.
There is a handful of rooftop solar developers catering to the residential sector under the RESCO
model. One of them is Jaipur-based Ray Power Infrastructure, which has installed 55-60 KW of
solar rooftop power in the residential sector, but this amounts to only six homes in Jaipur. It’s
adding two homes in Delhi. Another company, 8Minutes, has installed rooftop solar plants in
10-15 Delhi homes.
“It (rooftop solar) is very doable. Often solar developers go for big-ticket projects in the
commercial sector but this is where we are trying to fill the gap. Often we find that people who
have spaces don’t have the money, while those who have the money, don’t have adequate space.
So we try to find solutions to help them go solar. Also, we have seen the cost of power drop down
by 90% through rooftop solar installed in homes. And this is a huge saving on power bills,” Arjun
SriHari, a founding member of 8Minutes, toldindiaclimatedialogue.net. “It is all about
sensitising people.”
Thanks & Best Regards,
Joydeep Gupta
New Delhi
Pollution kills as many people as cancer does, UN’s new
environment chief warns
www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=54796

4. 30 August 2016 – The new head of the United Nations environment agency today laid out key issues
facing the international community on environmental issues, including pollution as well as the linkages
among the environment, wars and conflicts, and migration.
“The World Health Organisation has estimated that seven million people on the planet are dying from
pollution – that is more or less the same number of people dying from cancer,” the Executive Director of
the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Erik Solheim, told reporters in Geneva. In his remarks, the
former Norwegian politician and diplomat flagged the role that partnerships could play in UNEP’s
mission, noting that “at the very minimum we will be ready to go into partnerships with companies who
either behave well or are ready to change,” and citing a recent agreement in Addis Ababa to look into a
partnership with Ethiopian Airlines to find ways to assist the company in achieving the maximum fuel
efficiency.
The second issue is “to look into the crossroads between environment and wars and conflicts and
migration,” said Mr. Solheim. To bring greater focus to these priorities, he said, it is necessary to reach
out to more people and change narratives to get closer to people’s hearts. As a first step, he is considering
changing the organisation’s name from “UNEP” to “UN Environment.” Mr. Solheim also highlighted
how his past experience would help inform him in his new role. As a negotiator of the peace process in Sri
Lanka between 1998 to 2005, Mr. Solheim said he had gained valuable lessons, including the importance
of dialogue and compromise.
“In my view you should always try to talk even with political leaders as well as guerrilla leaders or
terrorists leaders who do not seem to be amendable to compromise – let’s try talking,” he said.
Mr. Solheim was elected to the UNEP position for a four-year term by the General Assembly on 13 May
this year, succeeding Achim Steiner of Germany, who led the agency for the past 10 years.
Reducing your eco footprints
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/health-lifestyle/Reducing-your-eco-
footprint/articleshow/52962694.cms
In nine steps, make the world a greener space and do your bit for the environment.
It's easy to forget Mumbai's sweltering summers while revelling in the first heavy spell of rain.
But Mumbai touched 40.8 degrees this year. Global temperatures have been on a steady rise,
and rising sea levels can no longer be ignored.
Aware of these facts, Mumbai based agriculturist, Dilip Shah, started his annual campaign of
distributing one lakh saplings each year for free. It's been 17 years since the campaign started
and Shah continues to keep the tradition alive. He gives us nine tips on how an individual can

5. make a difference to the environment, in his/her small way.
♦ DON'T UNDERESTIMATE HOUSE PLANTS
Your humble houseplant can decrease the CO2 levels in your house substantially. They are easier
to maintain — especially considering cramped Mumbai houses — and they fit easily into balcony
grills and windows. One can also plant kitchen herbs like basil, rosemary, chillies and so on.
Creepers are also a great idea. The grill gives them ample support and it also beautifies the flat.
♦ TERRACE IS THE WAY TO GO
Mumbai has long since abandoned the idea of lawns and gardens. Blame it on buildings
encroaching on green, open spaces and the city's teeming millions. Terraces are the only
available spaces, thus making terrace gardens a necessity. They also go a long way in making the
city green. One can start with small plants and then accordingly expand. Check with your
building society office to collaborate on this.
♦ OPEN THOSE DOORS AND WINDOWS
Switch off the AC for an hour at least. Open those doors and windows to help ventilate the work
space better. Even at home, don't switch on the AC immediately when you get home as our body
acclimatises to the temperature. Air conditioners consume a lot of electricity and also generate a
lot of heat.
♦ OPT FOR ELECTRIC CREMATION
Mumbai disposes about 100 bodies a month, and most people opt for the traditional funeral pyre
to cremate bodies. To accommodate that need, about 50,000 trees are cut in Mumbai annually.
People should opt for electric or LPG gas cremation. This will help preserve the forest cover in
and around the city.
♦ PROTECT OUR WATER BODIES
Think twice before immersing an idol in the sea after a religious procession or celebration. They
not only pollute the sea, but also harm the marine flora and fauna.
♦ DITCH THE CAR
Assign one day in the week as a 'nocar day'. Use public transport, or hitch a ride to work with a

6. colleague. Better still, invest in a bicycle. It will also keep you healthy.
♦ DEPEND LESS ON ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Appliances like microwaves, induction cook tops, washing machines and dryers consume huge
amounts of electricity. Limit your dependence on them. Instead, use alternate methods of
cooking. Heat your food on the gas stove, instead of nuking it in the microwave. Rely on
sunshine to dry your clothes naturally, instead of opting for the dryer.
♦ REDUCE-REUSE-RECYCLE
Though old, this one is really effective. Reduce your dependence on plastic. If you are forced to
use it, then make sure you recycle and reuse it. Buy bigger bottles of shampoos, detergents and
similar household products. Also, carry a jute/canvas/cloth bag with you when out shopping.
♦ SPREAD AWARENESS TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION
Inculcate love and respect for Mother Nature in children at a young age. The sooner they make
nature a part of their normal life, the sooner they will preserve and protect it. Engage your
children with nature — make them walk barefoot on the grass and take them for hikes and treks.
WE PLEDGE
Pope Francis says "Together, we pledge our commitment to raising
awareness about the stewardship of creation".(Laudato Si encyclical
on Environment). Awareness can bring change in our attitude
towards various environmental issues plaguing our Mother Earth, and
motivate us to act.
Here is an opportunity for you to bring this awareness to various
groups, especially for the youngsters by organising ECO QUIZES.
For a set of 50 questions on environmental issues
Visit www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in and go to GEM section ECO
QUIZ.

7. From,
Iris Misquitta
iris_misquitta@hotmail.com
Hi Fr Rebello, This is Iris Misquitta replying to your mail about, the joy of gardening. According
to me, it is a very relaxing and joyful pastime. At the start, one needs to get prepared for it but,
when the plants grow, bloom and give us flowers or fruit, we feel a great sense of joy to watch the
buds bloom into flowers and fruit trees giving out tiny flowers which, slowly bloom into fruit.
This experience is something words cannot fully explain because, each of us goes through a
different experience, depending upon our knowledge and effort put into the process of growing a
plant. Lastly, whenever we sow a seed, we look forward to seeing a masterpiece which we cannot
define because, our Creator knows best and, if we put our trust in Him, all will go well.
Iris
For PowerPoint Presentation on JOY OF GARDENING visit the website
www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in go to RESOURCES and PPT section.
Visit also the above site for various educational and awareness PPTs on environmental
issues.
1. Twenty Simple Tips
2. Solar Energy
3. Junk Food
4. Plastic – a boon or bane?
5. Green Passion
6. Zero Garbage
7. Soft drink – A Health Hazard
8. Waste to energy
9. Rain Water Harvesting
10. Eco-friendly Religions
11. Happy Green Diwali
12. Climate Change
13. The future of Biodiversity
14. Genetically Modified Foods
15. Waste Water Treatment
16. Body, Organ, Tissue Donation
17. Organic Farming
18. Waste to cooking gas
19. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
20. Protect Mangroves
21. Say NO to Bottled water
22. Save Lakes and Ponds
23. Forests are green lungs
24. Coal Mining and Ecology
25. Sin of Food Waste
26. Climate change and Poverty
27. Stop Water Pollution
28. Carbon Footprints
29. Parks and Open Spaces
30. Rising Sea Levels
31. Laudato Si – Pope’s Encyclical
32. Air Pollution
33. Life Style Changes
34. Water Pollution
35. Sand Mining
36. Bees and Environment
37. Joy of Gardening

8. Mumbai: Their collective efforts ensure your waste does
not go
http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/their-collective-efforts-ensure-your-waste-does-not-go-
waste/story-fSf0B2qowz6yPcnBKbiViM.html
Women ragpickers employed with the NGO Stree Mukti Sanghatana as part of the Parisar Bhagini
Vikas Sangh project. (HT Photo)
While the civic body struggles to dispose of 10,600 metric tonnes (MT) of waste generated in the city
every day, a cooperative of 1,000 women ragpickers has been collecting, segregating and recycling 20
MT of wet waste every day for the past 12 years. In an attempt to empower women to provide a better
future for their children, Mumbai-based NGO Stree Mukti Sanghatana launched Parisar Bhagini Vikas
Sangh (PBVS), a project for women ragpickers, in 2004.
As part of the project, 1,000 women from across Mumbai have been trained to segregate and recycle dry
waste. They have also been taught to convert biodegradable waste collectedfrom housing societies,
hotels, restaurants, schools, colleges and corporate offices into compost. Currently, the NGO is training
another 1,500 women to carry out similar endeavours. “After conducting a survey in 2003, we found that
a large number of women ragpickers’ miserable working conditions were affecting their children’s
education,” said Sushila Sable, founder, PBVS and a former ragpicker who represented India at the 2012
Rio +20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. “We enrolled women who were willing
to learn under the leadership development programme and also told them about the benefits from such a
model,” said Sable.
Following the implementation of the training programme, women working over the last 10 years have
been earning a wage of Rs200 a day at housing complexes, Rs300 a day at educational institutions, Rs400
a day at research facilities and hospitals and Rs500 a day at office complexes and dumping grounds
through individual efforts. “At each of these locations, all safety equipment such as protective masks,
gloves and head cover, have been provided,” said Nisha Bandekar, coordinator, PBVS. “The efforts of the
NGO and the women employed are commendable. Their efforts have ensured that fewer dumper trucks
head to the landfills,” said Pallavi Darade, additional municipal commissioner, solid waste management
department, BMC.
“Other NGOs should also carry out similar efforts keeping in mind the safety and economic security of
these women,” said Darade.

9. 300MW power generated at city’s first green
waste recycling plant
HT, Mumbai
The BMC converts garden waste such as grass, leaves into fuel pellets inits first-of-its-kindfacility
on a 4,000-sqft plot near Damodar Park, off LBS Road. (HT Photo)
Around 3,500 metric tonnes of garden waste have generated 300 megawatt (MW), almost a tenth of the
city’s daily electricityneeds, at a waste recycling plant in Ghatkopar in the past two years. The city’s
electricitydemand is between 3,500MW and 3,100MW a day, according to a report by the union
environment ministry and Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga. The Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC) converts garden waste such as grass, leaves and hedge trimmings into fuel pellets in
its first-of-its-kindfacility on a 4,000-sqft plot near Damodar Park, off LBS Road.
“Earlier, a large quantity of horticultural waste from the garden department was being sent to dumping
grounds. Leaves and tree branches were a major cause of recurring fires. So the solid waste management
(SWM) department has decided to process the waste and reuse it,” said Praful Jadhav, assistant engineer,
SWM, N-ward, and incharge of the project. “We wanted to keep the project low key [for two years] to
ensure its successful implementation.” In 2014, the BMC appointed a team of engineers from the CIPL
Resurge Private Limited (CRPL) as contractors to carry out the work. CRPL said close to 30 tonnes of
garden waste from across Mumbai is brought to the plant daily by municipal dumpers. The organic waste
is converted into cylindrical 10 millimetre (mm) pellets and 90mm briquettes – a mix of garden waste,
sawdust, wood chips, peat, or paper – by four machines.
“Combustible biomass material such as fuel briquettes work as an alternative to firewood, wood pellets
and charcoal,” said Viral Mehta, plant manager, CRPL. “Close to 8 tonnes of these 90mm briquettes are
collectedevery two days. We send it to various tyre companies, beverage factories and ceramic industries
at Bhandup, where the briquettes are dissolved in large boilers and converted into steam that further helps
in moving turbines to generate electricity.” Around 12 tonnes of briquettes are needed to produce 1 MW
of electricity. A pilot 135-KW plant is being set up at the Ghatkopar facility for its in-house needs.
Mehta said CRPL is in the process of acquiring a patent for generation of this form of renewable energy,
which has previously been done across the US, Europe. The total cost of setting up the project was Rs2
crore. “It will help replace furnace oil that was earlier being used by industries to generate electricity,” he
said.
Although the briquettes have a lower calorific (heat-producing) value than oil, they cost only Rs 5 a kg,
much lower than Rs30 a litre for furnace oil.

10. Maharashtra gives reserved forests status to
mangroves
DTE Staff
Tuesday 23 August 2016
Maharashtra has notified 15,087.6 hectaresof mangroves across the state as reservedforest, becomingthe
first state inthe country to do so. The notification, however, comes over a decade after Bombay High Court
asked the state government to declare mangroves as forests in2005. The HC judgement asked for a total
freeze onthe destructionand cutting of mangroves in entire Maharashtra "with immediate effect". The court
had also said that garbage cannot be dumped into mangroves, and there can be no construction50 metres on
each side of a mangrove belt.
The state’s notificationputs the forest department directlyincharge of conservationand protectionof
mangrove land. Currently, only mangroves on government land are a part of the reservedforest notification.
Over 10,000 hectares of mangrove land that is privately owned is yet to be awarded the reservedstatus, said
media reports. Around 1,471 hectares mangrove land in Navi Mumbai was declared as “reserved” in 2014.
As per a Forest Survey of India report of 2013, mangroves constitute around462,800 hectares or 0.14per
cent of India’s land area, with Sundarbans in West Bengal accounting for almost half of it. As per the report,
six of Maharashtra’s districts have mangrove cover: Mumbai city, Mumbai suburbs, Raigarh, Ratnagiri,
Sindhudurg and Thane. Raigarh has the largest mangrove cover at 6,200 hectares.
Mangroves are a salt-tolerant plant community found in tropical and sub-tropical regions that receive high
rainfall. Increasing industrial activity in coastal areas are negatively affectingmangrove forests, making their
conservationessential, said a Forest Survey of India report.
Mangaluru: Electronic Waste Management units
inaugurated in city
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Aug 26: District in charge minister B Ramanath Rai inaugurated Electronic
Waste Handling Units and a Workshop on Electronic Waste Management in Mangaluru City
Corporation here on Friday August 26. B Ramanath Rai said that Electronic waste management
is essential at present. “It should be a priority.
People have very less awareness on electronic waste management. Environment and Climate
change is a global issue. There should be knowledge to protect the environment. Declining
forests is also a reason for climate change. We should realize the importance of E Waste
management and each individual should take precautions”, he said.

11. MLC Ivan D' Souza speaking on the occasion said that Karnataka is in 7th place in the country in
producing E waste. “Solid waste management is a challenge in present scenario. We should
effectively manage E waste", he said.
NITK professor Lokesh who was present on the occasion said that electronic waste should be
properly disposed as that may be dangerous. “Metals like led and mercury are hazardous for
living creatures and those may adversely affect human health”, he said.
E Waste units will be placed at MCC, City Center and in Surthkal MCC Sub office.
MLA Moideen Bava, Mayor Harinath, Standing Committee president Kavitha Sanil, MCC
commissioner Mohammed Nazeer and others were present.
Improves Heart Health
Donating blood improves your overall cardio vascular health. Increased level of iron in the blood
raises the chance of heart diseases. Regularly donating blood helps males in particular to
reduce the amount of iron in the blood. This can reduce the chance of heart attack by 88%.
Additionally, regular blood donation can lower the risk of severe cardio vascular events such as
stroke by 33%.
Burns calories
Donating blood on a regular basis can also improve fitness. Donating one pint of blood (450ml)
burns 650 calories in donor’s body.
Enhances feeling of well being in elderly people
Many elderly people who are in good health have reported feeling invigorated and re-energized
by giving blood on a regular basis.
Reduces the risk of cancer
Give blood to help lower your risk of cancer. According to the Miller- keystone blood center,
consistent blood donation is associated with lowered risks of cancers, including liver, lung,
colon, stomach and throat cancers. Risk levels drop in correlation with how often participants
donate blood.

12. Saves lives
By donating blood, many lives are saved and hope is given to many whose situation may
otherwise be hopeless. Blood donors give such patients a second chance of life.
Free health screening done
In addition to all of these benefits, a donor receives a free prior health screening plus mini blood
test. There will be an Hb (Haemoglobin) level test as well as a blood pressure and body check.
Blood is also tested for some major diseases and the donor is immediately informed in strict
confidentiality if any of these tests show positive results.
Bring joy to many
When you donate blood, your help not only the patient whose life may depend on your donation,
but also all those who depend on that patient. The entire community will benefit from the spirit of
generosity.
Blood donation is service to humankind
By donating blood you help the needy and save precious lives.
‘Amaravati will be greener and more modern
than Singapore’
SUSHIL RAO| Sep 13, 2016, 07.10 AM IST
SINGAPORE: The 6.84-sq km start-up area, which will be the heart of Amaravati, the capital ofAndhra
Pradesh, will be better, greener and more modern than the famed Singapore city-state itself. "That is how
it has been planned. We have also given master plans for development of two cities in China. However,
Amaravati will be the best," Koh Lin Ji, group director, International Development Group of Building and
Construction Authority of Singapore, told TOI in Singapore.
Singapore's Surbana Jurong Private Limited provided the three-part master plan for the development of
Amaravati. During the International Green Building Conference (IGBC) 2016, organised by BCA from
September 6 to 9, Koh Lin Ji said, it, however, is not yet clear as to whether Singapore will be selectedin
the bidding for development of Amaravati. "Two companies of Singapore have submitted bids and we
understand there are others who are also interested. Quite naturally, since the master plan has been given
by us, if we get selectedin the bids, we will surely make Amaravati the most modern city," Koh Lin Ji
said.
Modern planning, in Singapore parlance, does not mean grandeur and pomp but means making the best
use of natural resources, reducing energy consumption, giving utmost importance to reducing pollution
and making a city liveable for the next generations. This precisely was the discussion during the
conference which was attended by 1,000 participants from 30 countries. The participants included thought
leaders, real estate developers, urban planners, architects, engineers, builders and other industry

13. professionals. The theme of their discussions during various sessions was: 'Build green: The next decade'.
In fact, since the 'green building' movement began in Singapore a decade ago, one-third of all buildings in
Singapore have been constructed as energy-efficient structures. "The facade is the most important aspect
of a building. While the outer glass provides natural light to come into the building complexes, the inner
glass ensures that heat does not enter the building. This way, power consumption is reduced by a great
deal for both lighting and air-conditioning," said Dr John Keung, chief executive officer, BCA.
The "BCA Green Mark" is given to buildings that adhere to all green norms. "We also provide incentives
to encourage the private sector to adopt green building technologies and get the BCA Green Mark
certification," he said. The cost factor, however, comes in the way of builders' green thinking as the
expenditure is more.
'Pune Green tribunal has a role in striking balance
between development and environment'
Justice Rahim was addressing a workshop on `Role of NGT in environment protection' organised by
Bharati Vidyapeeth's New Law College in Pune recently.Vishwas Kothari | TNN | Sep 11, 2016,
PUNE: Judicial member of National Green Tribunal's (NGT) western region bench in Pune has
said that the green tribunal has a mission to strike a fine balance in India's struggle between
development and protection of environment by securing apt justice for environment litigations.
Justice Rahim was addressing a workshop on `Role of NGT in environment protection'
organised by Bharati Vidyapeeth's New Law College in Pune recently. Dean of Bharati
Vidyapeeth's law faculty Mukund Sarda and senior lawyer F M Mesquita from Goa Coastal Zone
Management Authority were on the dais.
The NGT, with its principal bench in New Delhi headed by a former Supreme Court chief justice
and regional benches in Kolkata, Pune, Bhopal and Chennai, was established by way of the
NGT Act passed by the Indian Parliament on October 18, 2010 for expeditious disposal of
environmental cases.
The Supreme Court in its landmark judgment in the M C Mehta Vs Union of India case had
called for setting up of such environmental courts to ensure speedy and effective disposal of
cases relating to environment protection, conservation of forests and seeking compensation for
damages caused to people or property due to violation of environmental laws and permissions.
Justice Rahim elaborated on various provisions under the NGT Act that are aimed at bridging
the gap between the common man and the judicial process, settlement of disputes and the
original and appellate jurisdictions of the tribunal. The tribunal possesses the authority to
dispose of all civil disputes in relation to environment issues and to provide a new dimension to
environment adjudication by curtailing delays and ensuring objectivity, he said.

14. He said, "Unlike other environmental protection acts, the NGT Act empowers the tribunal to
award compensation and ensure compliance of its orders with provisions for penalty including
imprisonment up to three years or fine up to Rs 10 crore in case of non-compliance. In case of
companies, the monetary penalty can go even up to Rs 25 crore in case of non-compliance of
orders."
Justice Rahim observed that a rightful implementation of the laws relating to the environment
and the green tribunal would usher the country towards the path of sustainable development
and guarantee a harmonious relationship between environment and society.
Cuba has 30.6% Forest Coverage Due to Reforestation
Program
www.telesurtv.net/.../Cuba-has-30.6-Forest-Coverage-Due-to-Reforestation-Program
Forests in Cuba now make up 30.6 percent of the country’s land area, thanks to a reforestation
initiative carried out by the socialist government, according to a report.
RELATED:
Titled, “Environmental Outlook: Cuba 2015,” from the National Officer of Statistics and
Information, the report details recent improvement in Cuba’s forests, up from 27.6 percent in
2010. Cuba started the reforestation program in 1998 and is part of a select group of developing
countries that have been able to maintain sustained forest growth. A report from the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2011 said that Cuba has the highest
proportion of its forest designated for protective functions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The province of Pinar del Rio had the highest reforestation, with 47 percent, closely followed by
Guantanamo with 46.7 percent. Other provinces with healthy coverage included: Matanzas, 39.1
percent; Holguin, 38.3 percent; Santiago de Cuba, 33 percent; and Granman, 26.7 percent.
ANALYSIS:
The Isle of Youth Special Municipality had the highest rate of forest coverage area with 65.2
percent and Las Tunas had the lowest at 19 percent. Before Spanish colonization of the island,
Cuba was estimated to have forest coverage of 90 percent of its total land area. At the time of the
Cuban Revolution in 1959, only 14 percent of Cuba was thought to be covered in forest. Both the
foreign-owned timber and sugarcane industries played significant roles in destroying much of
Cuba’s lush forest areas.

15. Increased forest coverage has been proven to help fight against pollution, improve air quality
and health for humans and animals. Deforestation is a major contributor to increased
greenhouse gas emissions
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.
Popularity of pilgrimage site is 'ruining' nature
reserve
Environmentalist group in Sri Lanka have even complained about the issue to
the pope
Ucannews
Sri Lankan environmentalists are concerned that the popularity of a historical Catholic church is ruining a
nature reserve. St. Anthony's Church in Pallekandal is located within Wilpattu National Park, South Asia's
second oldest national forest that is home to rare elephant families. Rukshan Jayawardana, president of the
Wildlife and Nature ProtectionSociety (WNPS), says that the church has become too popular with
pilgrims. Nearly 30,000 devotees swamped the reserve for the feast of St. Anthony on June 13.
Jayawardana is also concerned that proposed expansions of church property threatens the nature reserve.
"What we object to is the physical expansion of the building and the church premises as well as the
frequency and volume of visits to this shrine," said Jayawardana. "The church is trying to turn what was
once a small festival into a much larger event," he said. WNPS has complained to the Sri Lankan bishops'
conference and even to the pope through the Papal Nuncio in Colombo.

16. "Pope Francis would stand by [our wish] to uphold the environment rather than destroying it," said
Jayawardana who stressedhis complaint is not about being anti-Catholic, but was instead about
environmental conservation. "The environment belongs to all of us and it is for [all our] future,"
Jayawardana emphasized. After Sri Lanka's long-running civil war ended in 2009, the small, temporary
shrine at Pallekandal was expanded. Additional buildings and facilities were added to cater for an influx
of pilgrims that peaks during the annual feast when 1,500 buses arrive at the national park. The massive
crowds neglect park rules and walk freely through the reserve, according to Jayawardene.
He added that there are obvious plans to extend the church with notices asking Catholics to donate money
for building materials for future expansion. Jayawardene said that if WNPS were unable to find a solution
with the church they would take the matter to court. "We cannot let one group of people damage [the
park] and if we have to go to the highest courts in the land we will do so."
Wardani Karunaratne, a legal consultant for the Environmental Foundation Ltd., said that the once a
national forest is declared by law it overrides all individual ownership. "I myself am a good Catholic but
the religion should not be used as a shield to break the law," she said. St. Anthony's Church issued a
detailed statement in response to the allegations where they stated that the church has been a place of
worship for pilgrims irrespective of their religion and ethnicity for hundreds of years. The government
only included it in the national park in 1972. When the land was acquired by the government, the church
agreed not to claim compensation for the 58 hectares it owned even though it had been a popular
pilgrimage site since the 17th century.
During the civil war from 1983 to 2009 pilgrims were unable to visit the site. Since the war's end,
pilgrimage has become a way for Sinhalese and Tamils to reconcile and worship together, according to
the church. Prasad Fernando, a Catholic who has been visiting St. Anthony's since 2010, said the church is
famous for miracles and he believes it's a blessing to visit it.
"During the war for a long period we were deprived of worshiping here," he said. "We should be allowed
practice our religion the way we want."
Pakistan jail opens chapel for Christian prisoners
Longstanding wish to have a separate place for worship finally fulfilled
Zahid Hussain, Karachi, Pakistan, courtesy: ucanews
A chapel has been inaugurated at Landhi Jail in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi for Christian inmates.
Christian social activists and jail authorities jointly opened the chapel Aug. 5, built with the help of a non-
government organization. There are currently 100 Christians out of 4,500 inmates in the city jail. They are
either awaiting trial or serving sentences for various crimes.

17. The chapel was built just a few meters from the prison mosque. Muhammad Hassan, a senior prison
official, said all inmates are free to practice their religions. "There is no bar whatsoever on non-Muslim
inmates worshiping," he said. Ishtiaq Awan, Police Assistant Superintendent, said that, although Christian
inmates are normally kept together with Muslims for most of the year, on special occasions like
Christmas, Easter and Eid, they are given separate barracks to celebrate their festivals.
A pastor conducts Sunday prayers for Christian inmates at the newly constructed chapel inside Landhi Jail
in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi. (Photo by Angel Patient Welfare Services)
Naqash Yousuf, 26, a Catholic, who is awaiting trial in a murder case, was thrilled at the inauguration.
"Some 40 to 50 Christian prisoners now visit the chapel and attend Sunday prayers,'" he said, adding that
the pastor, who is one of the inmates, leads the service. It was our longstanding wish to have a separate
place of worship and thankfully the authorities have fulfilled it,” he added. Samina Nawab, chairperson of
Angel Patient Care Services, the NGO that arranged the funds for the construction of the chapel, had
praise for the provincial chief.
"We are grateful to Inspector-General of Sindh Prison Nusrat Hussain Mangan for his continuous support
and cooperation during the construction work and our other initiatives," Nawab told ucanews.com.
"Our teams frequently visit jails and provide healthcare services to inmates irrespective of their faith," she
said. "I visited Landhi Jail and met some Christian inmates, who requested our help in the construction of
the chapel."
"My family members and pastors made generous contributions to make it possible. "Last week, we set up
a medical camp at Hyderabad Prison and found out some inmates needed immediate surgery," she said,
adding that her charity was now focused on arranging funds to meet their medical needs.
Islam is the official religion in Pakistan, and although it allows its citizens to worship other religions,
prayer halls, churches, chapels and community centers for those of other religions are normally not
allowed on government property.
Udupi : Venisha - Jenisha (16) - Born together, leave in
gap of four months...
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 23 : Venisha and Jenisha Fernandes, twin children of Janet and Valerian Fernandes from
Mukamar near Padubidri, had turned lives of their parents into a series of celebrations. Both were born on
July 17, 2000, and lived like other children till they reached 30 months of age, after which they were
diagnosed with Thalassemia, a disease for which so far no cure has been found. The parents of these twins
did not lose their hearts. They were determined to bring up their wonderful daughters like angels and did

18. everything to live up to this dream. Their daughters looked like angels and seemed determined to turn this
dream into a reality.
Both Venisha and Jenisha had to be admitted into KMC Hospital, Attavar, Mangaluru often for treatment.
The girls radiated with energy and exuberance, thanks to the hospital and generous friends who kept
donating blood as and when needed. The little bundles of joy were good at studies although their growth
was a little on the slower side. They kept making good progress in their school, Laxmi Janardhana School,
Kedjinje, where they reached ninth standard when fate planned to rob happiness of the parents.
Thalassemia got the better of Venisha on April 4, 2016, and for the parents, it looked like the earth under
their feet suddenly caved in.
Venisha's demise shattered her parents, friends and relatives alike. They however fervently hoped that
Jenisha will continue to lighten up the lives of her parents and close ones. They had every right to nurture
this hope because Jenisha was very active, smart, and brilliant in studies. The parents, friends and others
tried hard to forget the grief of having lost Venisha by filling and feasting their eyes on bright and radiant
Jenisha, who shone like a star. They were hoping against hope by reposing faith on the mercy of the
Almighty that Jenisha will live on normally, have a bright future, backed by her dogged determination and
bravery.
Jenisha too left for the heavenly abode on Monday, August 22, 2016. "We never dreamt that we would be
dealt such a cruel blow by the fate. Both the children were absolutely normal, and their lively faces,
smiles and graceful appearances would make everyone happy. No one knows why God takes away His
bright and beautiful creations. We find it impossible to digest the fact that both the children are not with
us today. This realization not only hurts us in the depths of our hearts but it is a fact of life which we find
it hard to digest or believe," said a relative upon learning about this terrible news.
Another family member living in Mukamar says that Jenisha was leading a normal life, always bright and
active. Couple of days back she complained of chest pain. Her mother, believing it to be routine, admitted
her into KMC Hospital, Attavar, Mangaluru. "Jenisha continued to speak animatedly with her mother till
the last. She was active as ever, but the Almighty decided to invite her into his palace. She left her
parents, friends, and relatives all of a sudden. Her departure created a void in the lives of her parents, who
were shaken by the second jolt, because the couple was left without any issues," the relative explained.
Another family member, also from Mukamar, said that the death came as a bolt from the blue and has
been too hard to believe or come to terms with.
The girl's father, Valerian Fernandes, who lives in Saudi Arabia, is leaving for Mangaluru on Tuesday,
and the funeral is expected to take place on Wednesday or Thursday depending on the arrival of father.
Both girls, in fact angels, came to this world as beautiful daughters, they gave lots of happiness to their
parents, but when they were diagnosed with decease, their parents did not lose hope. The girls, like
blossoming flowers, lived for about 15 years happily, of course taking the pains which came their way in

19. their stride. Today, the parents have lost both of them, leaving everything in Almighty's hand.
May this misery not befall anyone else, may the souls of these angels rest in peace.
Venisha and Jenisha, both of you are angles, you inspire each and everyone of us....those who know you
and also those who do not. Everyone surely loves you from the depths of his or her hearts, and pray for
your souls to rest in peace.
I LOVE MY OLD BIBLE, Pope Francis.
BIBLE STUDY
ARTICLES
AVILABLE IN
THE BIBLE
STUDY SECTION
 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..
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 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 CELLS of our parishes.
43 sets of ready to use BIBLE QUIZZES (with answers)
are available in the BIBLE QUEST section of the above
website. BIBLE QUEST is successfully conducted 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.

20. 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:
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

21. 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
GEM E-Newsletter Facebook Link
http://www.facebook.com/gemenewsletter