Echoes of Eco. Green Rameshwaram: Bio-Diversity. Homage to Atman. October, 2014 Vivekananda Kendra- nardep Newsletter Vol:6 No:8.

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1 Echoes of Eco October, 2014 Vivekananda Kendra- nardep Newsletter Vol:6 No:8 Green Rameshwaram: Bio-Diversity In this issue: Green Rameshwaram: Bio- Diversity Third Brain-Storming Session: Green Rameshwaram The Happenings-I The Happenings-II From our Publications Visions of Wisdom: Accepting Change I-Thou vs. I-It Ecological Economics Homage to Atman From Rameshwaram to Tuticorin spread over the sea area of 140 kilometres there are coral reefs about 108 types. Just a little bit below the sea level these coral reef grow at the rate of 2.5 cm per annum. They have been there for millions of years. There are many marine organisms which are dependent on these coral reefs. Starting from Rameshwaram spread over to the Gulf of Mannar. The pollution that we make in the sea, global warming - all these are affecting and destroying the coral organisms. The coral reef that has been formed over the millennia in the region was instrumental in saving the population and area from the 2004-Tsunami. That which is neither conscious nor unconscious, which is invisible, impalpable, indefinable, unthinkable, unnameable, whose very essence consists of the experience of its own self, which absorbs all diversity, is tranquil and benign, without a second, which is what they call the fourth state-that is the atman. This it is which should be known. -Mandukya Upanishad Service to humanity is the highest form of worship Swami Vivekananda

2 Both social ethics and mystical spirituality become the earlier and later phases of one continuum of the spiritual education for the human soul. There is not and there can never be any conflict between them. This two fold Dharma has in view the true social welfare and spiritual emancipation of all living beings. Swami Ranganathananda Green Rameshwaram : III Brain Storming Session : 11-Oct-2014 The third brain storming session for Green Rameshwaram has been organized by VK-nardep at Hotel Tamil Nadu, Rameshwaram on 11th October The welcome address was made by Sis.Saraswathi. The guests from outside were introduced by S.Aravindan. The programme started at 11:00 am with universal prayer. The programme was attended by important dignitaries from different branches of science. The highlight of the third brainstorming session was the participation of local people representatives of special interest groups such as Auto drivers, guides, hoteliers etc., local social activists, educationists, entrepreneurs and media persons. They were introduced by Sis.Saraswathi. An introduction to the genesis of the project was done by S.Aravindan. A review of the progress done so far was presented by Er.V.Ramakrishnan. He pointed out that two bio-methanation plants have been already installed and many more have been demanded in the island. The project is funded by BrahMos Aerospace. The following dignitaries attended the programme. a Sri. Nanthakumar, IAS, District Collector, Ramnad district Sri. Ravi Sam, Project Chairman, Green Rameshwaram Sri.Arjunan, Municipal Chairman, Rameshwaram Sri.Picchai, District Forest Officer Dr.Deepak,District, Wildlife Warden Sri.G.Vasudeo, Secretary, VK-nardep Dr. Sathyamurthi, Retd. Director, Dept. of Archeology, Kerala Dr.Ramarathnam, Green energy expert, Chennai Dr.Vaibav Mantri, Chief-Scientist, Algal Research Station, Mandapam Com. Manzeal Ade, Indian Coastguard, Mandapam Sri.K.Sriraman, Hand in Hand, Chennai To know more about Green Rameshwaram Project contact: Secretary, Vivekananda Kendra - Nardep, Vivekanandapuram, Kanyakumari ; Phone: , vknardep@gmail.com Supported by BrahMos Aerospace as part of Green Rameshwaram - a project catalyzed by VK-nardep. Echoes of Eco - Newsletter, Vivekananda Kendra nardep, October 2014 Vol. 6 No: 8

3 Know therefore thy body to be a knot in Matter and thy mind to be a whirl in universal Mind and thy life to be an eddy of life that is forever. Know thy force to be every other being s force and thy knowledge to be glimmer from the light that belongs to no man and thy work to be made for thee and be delivered from the error of the personality. Sri Aurobindo Remarks by the Project Chairman Chairman Sri.Ravi Sam who came specially from Coimbatore informed that how he was impressed by the traditional water body renovation work done by Vivekananda Kendra. He promised all help from his side but insisted that ultimately everything depends on the local participation. He informed that he in his capacity as the chairman of Tamil Nadu chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), had already taken the issue of declaration of Rameshwaram as a heritage island with the appropriate central minister. He also promised to take up the issue once again with the minister. Local Contributions and Inputs Sri.Arjunan, the chairman of Rameshwaram municipality, commended the good work being done by Green Rameshwaram project. He promised his complete cooperation. He declared that he would take up the issue of additional ten wards to be given to Hand in Hand for solid waste management at the earliest. The local representatives, special interest group people, teachers and hoteliers came to the podium and gave ideas as to how they could help in the Green Rameshwaram in their own way. Inputs from District Administration After this District Forest Officer explained the various government schemes of planting tree saplings that are being implemented in the island from Pamban to Rameshwaram. Then the district collector spoke about how collective action from the local community is vital for the success of the project. He wanted each one of the attendees to start with themselves by not using plastic bags and he wanted that the renovated traditional water bodies should be free from the encroachment and it is the duty of the local community to see to it. Special Presentations by experts Biodiversity: After the lunch Dr.Deepak, district wildlife warden made a detailed presentation about the biodiversity of the Gulf of Mannar region and its importance to local livelihood. He also promised to help the Green Rameshwaram project in its outreach programmes with educational institutions and also by installing a few boards from Pamban to Rameshwaram before the year end. Sri.Vasudeo suggested that these could be stone based paintings as in the case of ECR from Chennai to Puthucherry. District collector said we could look at various possibilities within the limit of the budget of Rs 50 lakhs. Solar Technology: Dr.Ramarathnam, energy expert from Chennai spoke at length about the installation of efficient green energy solutions at various levels. District Collector wanted him to make a pilot project before November end at the Vivekananda Kendra building and based on the performance both in terms of energy efficiency as well as economics, Dr.Ramarathnam would be asked to replicate the installations wherever possible in all government buildings in the island. Dr.Ramarathnam stated that he would come up with green-energy packages for different income groups in the island thus increasing its energy self-reliance. Algae based Livelihood: Dr.Vaibhav Mantri, Senior Scientist from Marine Algal Research Station, Mandapam gave a presentation on sea weeds. He spoke about creating value-added products like greeting cards from sea weed by training local SHG. District collector was enthusiastic about this livelihood creation scheme and wanted Dr. Mantri to create some samples and show him. Dr.Mantri also assured that his institution would help in the creation of awareness about the sea weed resources in the island for the coming tourists as well as the residing population through exhibits etc. [ to be continued in the next newsletter]

4 This new paradigm marks the entrance into an era that seeks synergy, instead of discord, and attempts to put the pieces together into a greater whole in preference to breaking things into individual parts. We can thus transition from an age of separation into an age of integration. - Theresa Bullard (Physicist) Happenings this month: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Happenings this month: VK-nardep activities done with DST core support Happenings this month: Water Management Exposure Visit of Farmers for learning Green-Farming technologies: Training and Exposure visit of NABARD farmers was organized by Pasumai Uzhavar Mantram, Perumpathy, Pollachi, Coimbatore Dist. at the TRC, Kalluvilaion the 1 st of this month. 23 farmers attended and the resource Person was Dr.P.Kamalasanan Pillai and his team. Training programme on Wonder Fern - Azolla was conducted under the DST, Core Support at TRC, Kalluvilaion 25 th of this month for 6 persons and Dr.Kamalasanan Pillai was the resource person. Workshops on Construction technology Training programme on Compressed Earth Block with DST, Core Support was done at the Rural Building Center, Kalluvilai from 24 th to 26 th of this month. 12 students attended it and the Resource Person was Er.V.Ramakrishnan Tested water from 14 wells in Kanyakumari Dist. as a part of the programme of Central Ground Water Board, Chennai. Happenings this month: Green Health Green Rameshwaram Green Health Camp under the auspices of UNICEF, Chennai and Green Rameshwaram initiative was held at Chinapalam on 27 th of this month. 155 people in and around the village participated in the camp. Training Programme for NABARD farmers Green Health camp for Green Rameshwaram Green Construction Technology being demonstrated to the participants of the workshop: Compressed Earth blocks demonstration. To know more about Green Rameshwaram Pilgrimage Project contact: Secretary, Vivekananda Kendra - Nardep, Vivekanandapuram, Kanyakumari ; Phone: , vknardep@gmail.com Green Health Home of VK-nardep functioned for 7 days and treated 192 patients.

5 The ability of a cell to sense these broken ends, to direct them towards each other, and then to unite them so that the union of the two DNA strands is correctly oriented, is a particularly revealing example of the sensitivity of cells to all that is going on within them. They make wise decisions and act on them.. -Barbara McClintock Renewable Energy this month: Networking Activities this month: Happenings this month: Networking In the News: Training Programme on Bio-methanation 200 Farmers visited Gramodaya Park plant was held To at TRC know Kallivillai more about on 25 th Renovation and and of learnt Rameshwaram different Teerthams cost effective Project contact: Dina Thanthi Secretary, a popular Tamil news 1 person attended the Vivekananda programme. Er. Kendra technologies - Nardep, Vivekanandapuram, including live model Kanyakumari ; Rain paper reported the resolve of the Ramakrishnan was the resource Phone: , person. water harvesting structure vknardep@gmail.com on 13 th of this Ramanathapuram district month. The exposure visit was organized by Dist. Watershed Development Agency, Virudhunagar. Training Programme on Energy Conservation was conducted for 58 students of Govt. Polytechnic College, Konam on 15 th of this month. The resource Person was Shri.V.Ramakrishnan Dr.Kamalasannan Pillai was the resource person. administration to remove Prosopis juliflora on 12-Oct This is an invasive thorny bushy plant that spreads throughout the island. Removal of Prosopis Juliflora in the island given top priority. Greening of Rameshwaram initiative by district collector: planting of trees. Eco Awareness Programme sponsored by UNICEF, Chennai was conducted on the 11 th of this month. 51 persons attended the programme. Construction of Shakthi-Surabhi Plants this Month: Fixed 1 cum 1 Portable 1 cum - 1 Portable 0.25 cum - 1 District Collector speaking at the Green Rameshwaram Meeting.11-Oct- 2014

6 Even the structure of the atom has been found by the mind. Therefore the mind is subtler than the atom. That which is behind the mind, namely the individual soul, is subtler than the mind. If the ego does not rise, the Self alone exists and there is no second (nothing external). -Ramana Maharishi From our Publications It is our misunderstanding and partial understanding of the nature of the world fragmentation that has led the world to the brink. Our eco-toons bring this out. About one billion adults cannot read or write. More than one billion people in absolute poverty. They are a fifth of humanity.

7 In every figure he hath been the mode: this is his only form for us to look on. Indra moves multiform by his illusions; for his Bay Steeds are yoked, ten times a hundred. -Rig Veda 6:47:18 Accepting Change I-Thou vs. I-It Ecological Economics Our old ways of strife, strife against our fellow human beings, against nature and the environment, against what we know deep inside to be true, will not yield anything except the likely outcome of global disaster. We are not isolated tribes anymore. Everything humanity does matters to the whole of existence on this planet. The Earth is too small, a mere speck of dust in the infinite expanse of space and time, yet it is our only home as we wander through the universe. Right living not just for ourselves as individuals but for everything and everyone around us that sustains us. The centerpiece of moving forward as we embrace change also lies in true and honest dialogues. And it starts in the true and open dialogue between science and spirituality, between the best in rational thought with the best in the human experience and spirit. The dialogue is crucial. And in carrying out the dialogue, we will realize that what binds everything together and allows these diverse ways of thinking and living is the underlying consciousness of all. It is the foundation of both science and spirituality, of science and philosophy, of science and religion, of thought and ethos. For us, as individuals and collectively, as citizens of the world, as curators of life on Earth, the message is simple: Embrace change, enable dialogue. - Menas Kafatos Physicist It appears that traditional societies are characterized by a number of conditions conducive to the evolution of a "community of beings" world-view: small community size, the presence of extended kin groups, repeated social interactions, and a geographically welldefined resource base. However, many other non-industrial societies also show many or most of these characteristics. In fact, many rural societies of the contemporary world do this as well. In general, these beliefs go back to the pantheistic tradition dominant before the rise of monotheistic religions. If the "community of beings" world-view can be characterized as an "I thou" relationship between humans and nature, the "dominion over nature" world-view is characterized as an "I it" relationship. Nature is viewed as clockwork and is considered to exist separately from humans. It can be studied by taking it apart and by asking systematic, testable questions. It can be brought under control and made to yield human benefits. Economic growth is seen as a consequence of somehow freeing these limitless resources. Productive activity, therefore, is seen as a process of overcoming environmental constraints. -Madav Gadgil Ecologist The primary objective of the ecological economists is to enlarge the framework of the neoclassical economic paradigm to include scientifically valid measures of the environmental costs of economic activities. Scholarship in this discipline is replete with carefully developed and well documented reasons why the mathematical theories used by mainstream economists should include these costs and numerous demonstrations of how this could be accomplished. But the fact that there has been virtually no dialogue between ecological economists and mainstream economists clearly indicates that the former is saying something that the latter simply does not wish to entertain or understand. Part of what mainstream economists clearly do not wish to confront is that there is no basis for assuming that the mathematical theories used in their profession are scientific. There is, however, a much more fundamental reason why neoclassical economists have been unwilling to engage in this dialogue. Because ecological economists are normally familiar with research done in environmental science, they know that assumptions about economic reality in neoclassical economics are anything but sacrosanct. Robert Nadeau Historian of Science Vivekananda Kendra nardep, Kanyakumari Phone: