Green Days and Weeks
Is it already that time of the year when magnolia's
perfume the air?
Tapi and I went on a long enjoyable walk last night. The walks at night are usually less conversational. It is then that the hustling noises of everyday life are muffled by a symphony of sounds orchestrated by the wind into an elaborate musical composition. The rustling of trees, the songs of crickets are never so obvious in daylight. I used to think the chirping of crickets and katydids came from the stars twinkling at night because they always seemed to happen at the same time. Only, occasionally a frog would croak and break that illusion. I would then pretend that the croaking sound was the stars clearing their throats before the next performance.
The only time Tapi and I talked was when he found me looking at people's houses through their windows. I said it was unfair that people can look out their window into where we were, but it was impolite for us to look in through that same window to where they were. He said it is because they bought themselves that privilege! We then went back to our quiet walk until a little after midnight.
Yesterday was the first day that I noticed that the sun refused to set. It was nice and warm outside, and the slight chill in the breeze felt more suggestive of winter's departure. The magnolias have already begun trumpeting the beginning of spring. I can see daffodils starting to flower. The weeping willows have budded their downy sprigs. Soon, they will dance gently to welcome the cherry blossoms. Then the cherry blossoms will have woken up the city and festivities will enliven the season. There will be walks to suit every ability, stories to appeal to every taste, parades and shows to entertain every age, food fests to tickle every palate...
This is also the time of the year when everyone is more environmentally aware. This is when people realize that the green that is growing abundantly around them is exquisite. And then, they notice the bright sunshine, the beautiful rivers, the stars in the sky, and want to proclaim that all of this is truly worth saving. That's how the commemorative Days and Weeks set in motion. Last year, we cleaned the river, planted trees, built sustainable houses, and celebrated with thousands of like-minded environment lovers while walking the walk(s) and talked the talk(s) :)
I am going to follow the motto of creating a list for the sake of celebrating the list and catalog all the upcoming environmental Days and Weeks.
March 18th was the National Biodiesel day, which went uncelebrated. I briefly contemplated wishing Rudolph Diesel a Happy Birthday on twitter. But, I realized it would be better spent reading about vegetable oil-based fuel than just benightedly wishing him. In a 1912 speech, Diesel said “the use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal tar products of the present time.” I thought about what it meant that he made this statement almost 100 years ago. I wondered if we are in the kind of dystopian future that he prophesied. But then, I read about the Vegetable oil economy and couldn't help marveling at how far we have come since Diesel's comment. Our present and future isn't all that dystopian. We are making good progress and I am very hopeful :)
March 22nd is the World Day for Water. Last year the ICRC called on governments to address the need to improve the quality of water especially in conflict zones. During the time of war, water supply and purification systems are destroyed, reserves become dangerous to access, or become dangerously displaced! I find that in 2010, we are still continuing to address the quality of water. I am all for a reinforcement of commitment. :)
March 27th the world will go dark for an hour on Earth Hour. I remember the Ayn Rand Institute saying it is ludicrous to turn off the lights for a measly 60 minutes. "Try spending a month shivering in the dark without heating, electricity, refrigeration; without power plants or generators; without any of the labor-saving, time-saving, and therefore life-saving products that industrial energy makes possible." I sure hope our world doesn't have to suffer that fate! And as a symbolic gesture to demonstrate my hope, we will turn off the lights this year as well (for the third consecutive time).
Between April 17-24th, which is the week of the new moon, the lights will go out again. It is the National Dark-Sky week, where we celebrate the night sky without light pollution. "The night sky is a gift of such tremendous beauty that should not be hidden under a blanket of wasted light. It should be visible so that future generations do not lose touch with the wonder of our universe." I wonder if there is a nice place we can go to to look at the skies. I also wonder what it means that we have to drive several miles to get to where I can appreciate the wonder of our universe!
There are at least 32 countries celebrating Arbor Day in April. India is not in the list. Our Arbor day (Van Mahotsav) is celebrated in July. The only time I remember planting trees on Van Mahotsav is as a guide or girl scout in school. I highly doubt that those trees survived beyond a few days, but it is the thought that counts, isn't it? In the US, the National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April (April 30th). It is the day when people are encouraged to plant and care for trees.
May 3rd is the International Migratory day. This is not the day when birds migrate (tee hee) :) It is to celebrate the migration of birds between their summer and winter homes. Seeing as I am bird crazy in my own little way, I decided to add this to my list of spectacular things to celebrate.
A day before I leave for India, is the International Day for Biological Diversity. I think it's wonderful that I get to go on my vacation with thoughts about the rich variety of life on Earth.
In my home country the UN and I will celebrate World Environment Day (June 5th) and World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (June 17). I finally help alleviate population in India, by leaving the country on World Population Day (July 11th)!
Am I ready for spring yet? Today, I am off on my first trail which promises the regions best wildflower displays. I am looking forward to it. Snorty and I also get to learn about clouds. :)
Tapi and I went on a long enjoyable walk last night. The walks at night are usually less conversational. It is then that the hustling noises of everyday life are muffled by a symphony of sounds orchestrated by the wind into an elaborate musical composition. The rustling of trees, the songs of crickets are never so obvious in daylight. I used to think the chirping of crickets and katydids came from the stars twinkling at night because they always seemed to happen at the same time. Only, occasionally a frog would croak and break that illusion. I would then pretend that the croaking sound was the stars clearing their throats before the next performance.
The only time Tapi and I talked was when he found me looking at people's houses through their windows. I said it was unfair that people can look out their window into where we were, but it was impolite for us to look in through that same window to where they were. He said it is because they bought themselves that privilege! We then went back to our quiet walk until a little after midnight.
Yesterday was the first day that I noticed that the sun refused to set. It was nice and warm outside, and the slight chill in the breeze felt more suggestive of winter's departure. The magnolias have already begun trumpeting the beginning of spring. I can see daffodils starting to flower. The weeping willows have budded their downy sprigs. Soon, they will dance gently to welcome the cherry blossoms. Then the cherry blossoms will have woken up the city and festivities will enliven the season. There will be walks to suit every ability, stories to appeal to every taste, parades and shows to entertain every age, food fests to tickle every palate...
This is also the time of the year when everyone is more environmentally aware. This is when people realize that the green that is growing abundantly around them is exquisite. And then, they notice the bright sunshine, the beautiful rivers, the stars in the sky, and want to proclaim that all of this is truly worth saving. That's how the commemorative Days and Weeks set in motion. Last year, we cleaned the river, planted trees, built sustainable houses, and celebrated with thousands of like-minded environment lovers while walking the walk(s) and talked the talk(s) :)
I am going to follow the motto of creating a list for the sake of celebrating the list and catalog all the upcoming environmental Days and Weeks.
March 18th was the National Biodiesel day, which went uncelebrated. I briefly contemplated wishing Rudolph Diesel a Happy Birthday on twitter. But, I realized it would be better spent reading about vegetable oil-based fuel than just benightedly wishing him. In a 1912 speech, Diesel said “the use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal tar products of the present time.” I thought about what it meant that he made this statement almost 100 years ago. I wondered if we are in the kind of dystopian future that he prophesied. But then, I read about the Vegetable oil economy and couldn't help marveling at how far we have come since Diesel's comment. Our present and future isn't all that dystopian. We are making good progress and I am very hopeful :)
March 22nd is the World Day for Water. Last year the ICRC called on governments to address the need to improve the quality of water especially in conflict zones. During the time of war, water supply and purification systems are destroyed, reserves become dangerous to access, or become dangerously displaced! I find that in 2010, we are still continuing to address the quality of water. I am all for a reinforcement of commitment. :)
March 27th the world will go dark for an hour on Earth Hour. I remember the Ayn Rand Institute saying it is ludicrous to turn off the lights for a measly 60 minutes. "Try spending a month shivering in the dark without heating, electricity, refrigeration; without power plants or generators; without any of the labor-saving, time-saving, and therefore life-saving products that industrial energy makes possible." I sure hope our world doesn't have to suffer that fate! And as a symbolic gesture to demonstrate my hope, we will turn off the lights this year as well (for the third consecutive time).
Between April 17-24th, which is the week of the new moon, the lights will go out again. It is the National Dark-Sky week, where we celebrate the night sky without light pollution. "The night sky is a gift of such tremendous beauty that should not be hidden under a blanket of wasted light. It should be visible so that future generations do not lose touch with the wonder of our universe." I wonder if there is a nice place we can go to to look at the skies. I also wonder what it means that we have to drive several miles to get to where I can appreciate the wonder of our universe!
There are at least 32 countries celebrating Arbor Day in April. India is not in the list. Our Arbor day (Van Mahotsav) is celebrated in July. The only time I remember planting trees on Van Mahotsav is as a guide or girl scout in school. I highly doubt that those trees survived beyond a few days, but it is the thought that counts, isn't it? In the US, the National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April (April 30th). It is the day when people are encouraged to plant and care for trees.
May 3rd is the International Migratory day. This is not the day when birds migrate (tee hee) :) It is to celebrate the migration of birds between their summer and winter homes. Seeing as I am bird crazy in my own little way, I decided to add this to my list of spectacular things to celebrate.
A day before I leave for India, is the International Day for Biological Diversity. I think it's wonderful that I get to go on my vacation with thoughts about the rich variety of life on Earth.
In my home country the UN and I will celebrate World Environment Day (June 5th) and World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (June 17). I finally help alleviate population in India, by leaving the country on World Population Day (July 11th)!
Am I ready for spring yet? Today, I am off on my first trail which promises the regions best wildflower displays. I am looking forward to it. Snorty and I also get to learn about clouds. :)
