Latest news with #LiFE
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
On World Environment Day, MC embarks on ‘Plastic-Mukt Chandigarh' mission
The municipal corporation (MC) on Thursday launched a special campaign 'Plastic Mukt Chandigarh' on the occasion of World Environment Day. The campaign was officially launched by city mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla and municipal commissioner Amit Kumar at the Sector 26 Grain Market. The highlight was the introduction of an innovative initiative called the 'Cloth Bag ATM'. Installed by the NGO 'I Hate Polythene', the machine dispenses eco-friendly cloth bags at a nominal cost of ₹10, which is fully refundable upon return. The mayor said this initiative aims to offer a practical alternative to single-use plastic bags and promote sustainable consumption practices. She added that Vikalp Stores will be established across local markets, serving as designated return points for the used cloth bags. This system will encourage a circular model of use, return and reuse to curb waste and promote environmental responsibility among citizens. Kumar applauded the efforts of the NGO and directed it to include a QR code payment option to make the process more convenient for users. He emphasised the importance of adopting eco-friendly alternatives and said this campaign would go a long way in changing the attitude of the public towards plastic. Area councillor Dalip Sharma said the reduction of plastic from daily life is only possible with the active cooperation and participation of the public. The mayor and commissioner urged all citizens to come forward and support the initiative, making a collective effort towards building a sustainable and plastic-free city. Pollution control committee organises cleanliness drive A cleanliness drive on the theme 'Beat plastic pollution' was organised by the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) in collaboration with the administration's department of forest and wildlife, and Panjab University's Centre for Public Health, on Thursday. Aligned with this year's theme 'Ending plastic pollution globally', the initiative was a call to action under the Union government's Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) movement. The campaign was conducted along the Sukhna Choe drain in the areas of Bapudham and Kishangarh, mobilising around 70–80 volunteers, including students, environmentalists and citizens. Kataria leads green initiative at PGGCG-42 Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria led a green initiative by planting a sapling of the sacred Kalpavriksha at the Post Graduate Government College for Girls (PGGCG), Sector 42, Chandigarh, on Thursday. The governor also honoured 21 'Eco Warriors' — students, teachers and gardeners from seven government schools in Chandigarh — who have collectively been working to build green campuses and instil a culture of environmental consciousness. They were recognised for their efforts in promoting biodiversity, waste management and eco-friendly practices in their respective school communities. BSF holds tree plantation drive The Western Command of the Border Security Force (BSF) organised a tree plantation campaign and an environmental awareness programme at its Lakhnaur campus in Mohali on Thursday. The day-long event witnessed participation from over 200 BSF personnel, officers and their families, who collectively planted hundreds of saplings, including medicinal plants, on the command headquarter premises. Pramod Kumar Yadav, inspector general (HR and logistics), led the plantation drive and announced that the command would institutionalise monthly environmental activities and establish green protocols for all administrative functions. The initiative involved personnel from special director general headquarter and 101 Battalion headquarter who pledged to reduce single-use plastic consumption, implement water conservation measures and adopt sustainable practices in their daily activities.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Chandigarh observes World Environment Day with cleanliness drive to beat plastic pollution
Chandigarh: In observance of , a was organised on Thursday by the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) in collaboration with the department of forest & wildlife, Chandigarh, and the Centre for Public Health, Panjab University. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Aligned with this year's global theme, 'Ending Plastic Pollution Globally', the initiative was a powerful call to action under the govt of India's Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) movement. Centred around the slogan 'Beat Plastic Pollution', the drive focused on spreading awareness about the dangers of plastic waste, the importance of sustainable alternatives, and effective waste management. The cleanliness campaign was conducted along the Sukhna Choe drain in the areas of Bapudham and Kishangarh, mobilising around 70–80 volunteers, including students, environmentalists, and concerned citizens. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation, as volunteers rolled up their sleeves to clear plastic waste from the drain areas while pledging to adopt eco-friendly habits and reduce reliance on single-use plastics. Addressing the gathering, Mr Anup Soni, conservator of forests, department of forest & wildlife, Chandigarh, stressed the invisible yet growing threat of microplastics. He explained how plastic particles infiltrate ecosystems and even human bodies through contaminated food and water, posing long-term health hazards. Highlighting innovative solutions, he shared a successful example from Bangalore where plastic waste is being effectively used in road construction, thereby extending road durability and offering an environmentally sound use of plastic refuse. He encouraged participants to embrace sustainable alternatives in daily life and emphasised the critical role of collective responsibility. "Integrated efforts between govt agencies, academic institutions, and the public are essential if we are to ensure a cleaner and healthier Chandigarh," he said.
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Those who protect nature, nature protects them": PM Modi on World Environment Day
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): On World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of preserving the balance of nature. On Thursday, PM Modi shared a video message on his official X account urging people to deepen their efforts to protect the planet and overcome environmental challenges. In the caption of the video, PM Modi wrote: This #WorldEnvironmentDay, let's deepen our efforts towards protecting our planet and overcoming the challenges we face. I also compliment all those working at the grassroots to make our environment greener and better. In the video message, PM Modi said, 'Prakriti Rakshati Rakshita', those who protect nature, nature protects them.' The Prime Minister highlighted India's ancient tradition of environmental balance, 'Balance in the environment has always been a part of our ancient tradition. It is said in our culture, 'Yat pinde tat brahmande', meaning, what exists in the body also exists in the universe. Whatever we do for ourselves directly impacts our environment.' PM Modi stressed that individual actions directly impact the environment and called for collective action to protect the world's climate. 'To protect the world's climate, it is essential that every country rises above self-interest and thinks collectively.', the video stated. PM Modi praised India's efforts to reduce plastic usage, adding that the country has been working on this initiative for the past 4-5 years. 'This year's Environment Day theme is the campaign for freedom from plastic, and I am glad that what the world is now beginning to talk about, India has already been working on continuously for the past 4-5 years.' The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that 'Mission LiFE' (Lifestyle for Environment) is gaining momentum on a global scale. PM Modi further stated that millions of people are adopting the mantra of reduce, reuse, and recycle in their daily lives. 'Personally, it gives me great satisfaction that Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is now turning into a public movement across the globe. Millions of people have embraced the mantra of reduce, reuse, and recycle in their daily lives. Every step taken toward Mission LiFE will become a strong shield for the environment across the world in the times to come.' PM Modi said. At the end of the video, PM Modi extended his heartfelt wishes to everyone on World Environment Day: 'Once again, my heartfelt wishes to everyone on World Environment Day.' Mission LiFE is an India-led global movement to nudge individuals to take simple yet effective, environment-friendly actions in their daily lives. The event will highlight how the youth can inspire behavioural change that leads to individual and collective action towards an environmentally conscious lifestyle. The LiFE themes are to conserve energy and water, reduce waste, adopt sustainable food systems and healthy lifestyles, and say no to single-use plastic. Some examples of LiFE actions are using bicycles for short commutes, turning off running taps when not in active use, consuming locally available foods, using natural or organic products, planting trees, reducing waste, and segregating wet and dry waste at home. (ANI)
United News of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Odisha: Pradhan urges Yadav to develop Industrial, coal, heat-affected areas as urban forests
Bhubaneswar, May 28 (UNI) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, to take immediate steps to develop urban forests under the 'Nagar Van Yojana' (NBY) in Odisha's industrial, coal mining, and heat-affected regions. During a meeting with Yadav in New Delhi on Wednesday, Pradhan proposed the development of urban forests in the industrial belt of Sambalpur–Jharsuguda–Brajrajnagar, the coal mining areas of Angul–Dhenkanal, and the heat-prone regions of Titilagarh and Balangir under the NBY initiative. Pradhan also sought Yadav's personal intervention to develop the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary as part of a tiger reserve, alongside the proposed expansion of the Sambalpur Zoo. In his letter to the Environment Minister, Pradhan noted that the above-mentioned regions are experiencing extreme heat as a result of climate change, which is adversely impacting public health. He praised the Ministry's Urban Forest Scheme, designed to support the development of green spaces in areas managed by municipal corporations, councils, and urban local bodies (ULBs). Aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'One Earth, Many Efforts' vision, Pradhan emphasised that the establishment of urban forests would significantly contribute to environmental sustainability and the overall well-being of communities. Highlighting the Prime Minister's call for "Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)", Pradhan reiterated the importance of both individual and collective action in addressing climate challenges. He also proposed the launch of a massive public awareness campaign to encourage community participation in tree plantation drives and environmental education, timed with World Environment Day on June 5. According to Pradhan, this initiative would act as a catalyst for widespread implementation of the Urban Forest Scheme in Odisha's vulnerable regions. He urged Yadav to prioritise the creation of urban forests in the identified clusters to provide a sustainable and natural solution to combat the intensifying heat waves through large-scale afforestation. UNI DP ARN
Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Opinion Three beautiful consequences of Trump's tariff game
During his election campaign last year, Donald Trump was unequivocal in expressing his love for tariffs. In a rally, he said, 'I always say that 'tariffs' is the most beautiful word to me….' That the new administration was serious about using tariffs to address a range of perceived and real ills was clear as early as January 20 with the release of the presidential memorandum on the 'America First Trade Policy'. Rapid-fire moves have followed since, with tariffs being slapped on friends and foes, bracketed with exemptions, escalated, selectively paused, and more. Target states have responded in different ways: Some with recriminations and retaliations, some with stoic disapproval but no counter-measures, and others with pre-emptive tariff cuts and negotiation offers. Commentary in Western media outlets, think tanks and research institutions has tended towards a mix of outrage and ridicule. Some describe Trump's tariffs as an 'own goal' for the US, while others decry their adverse impact on poorer countries. Not all criticism coming from an outspoken global elite is wrong. For instance, regardless of the framing, there is little 'reciprocal' about the levies. There will almost certainly be increased costs for American consumers and producers in the short run; whether the administration will be able to counter these costs in the medium run remains to be seen. The scale and on-and-off nature of the tariffs have injected a new level of uncertainty into the global economy — this in itself generates costs. But amidst the general denunciation and hand-wringing, some important considerations are being missed. There are three beautiful and (mostly) unintended consequences of the Trump's tariff game, which deserve to be harnessed. First, Trump's actions provide a perfect context for ardent free-traders to liberalise their respective economies. Unilateral reduction of tariffs used to be the mantra of neoliberal economists — a silver bullet to address almost all that ailed the world, especially the developing world. Trump's tariffs have now handed not just the hyper-globalists, but also circumspect governments with a pro-liberalisation bent, an opportunity: They can free themselves of the vested interests that had stymied the processes of economic reform. A few governments, including the Indian one, are accordingly using the challenge posed by Trump to lower some of their own tariffs; several countries in the West would do well to learn from these examples. Second, amidst the global economic slowdown that is expected from the trade wars, we have an unprecedented opportunity to adapt our preferences and lifestyles towards sustainability and planetary welfare. India led the way on this by advancing the concept of LiFE (Lifestyle for the Environment) as part of its G20 presidency; even a small decline in trade now could go a long way to encourage countries and peoples to embrace and implement choices — of production and consumption — that align with the concept of a circular economy. Some decrease in global trade and reordered consumer preferences, if mindfully managed, could end up promoting a kinder and safer model of globalisation. For instance, if less trade can result in a decline in/ ban on the export and import of live animals (transported in horrifying conditions, only to be slaughtered after traumatising long journeys) and restrictions on live markets, that may be no bad thing for the more-than-humans with whom we share this planet, as well as pandemic prevention. Third, while many mourn the decline of the old rules-based multilateral trading system — a decline that Trump 2.0 is only accelerating — a reboot of the system has been long overdue. Member countries were (just about) muddling through the maze of international organisations with agendas that are either still rooted in the post-World War II order that was set up by the US and the Europeans, or new creations led by authoritarian China with its own, alternative view of global order. The trade war between the US and China can provide the necessary push for third parties to stop relying on systems of global governance that no longer serve their purpose, and either fundamentally update the World Trade Organisation or build new institutions with like-minded democracies (which recognise that sometimes, trade-offs will have to be made between national security and prosperity, and allow states to enact necessary measures that their electorates support). In other words, Trump's wrecking ball could inadvertently trigger the making of a new system of global economic governance that is savvier in balancing different national priorities, and also more accountable to people on the ground. To be clear, credit for the positive aspects highlighted here cannot and should not go to the 'drill, baby, drill' President of the US. They are possible and unintended consequences of his policies, which could work to the advantage of people and the planet, depending on how we react. This is not a time for complacency; without concrete action coming from the world's democracies, China is likely to step into the vacuum that the US exit from global governance is creating. To ensure that some of these positive developments transpire, responsible governments and other actors will have to be proactive in building new alliances with like-minded partners, and trade deals that respect animal welfare and animal rights. Amidst all the fuss surrounding Trump's tariffs and counter-measures, it is too easy to forget an important and empowering idea — tariffs, ultimately, are what we make of them.
