• Planting seeds of hope | Seshu Ratnala, Swetcha Foundation |
    Jul 17 2024
    “A plant after every heart” - Swetcha foundation is working towards building an ecosystem that could achieve the dream of planting and nourishing 10 lakh trees in 10 years across the country.

    Meet Seshu Babu Ratnala, environmentalist and founder of Swetcha foundation. Seshu and his friends wanted to give back to their hometown when they revisited one summer, and it kickstarted into an environmental education initiative in schools, where children planted saplings and took stewardship of them. It is about the freedom to do the right thing.

    Contact Seshu Babu Ratnala
    Ph - 9742488899
    Email - ratnalaseshubabu@gmail.com
    Insta - @ratnalaseshubabu


    #plantaftereveryheart #plantingtrees #seedsofhope #seedsofchange #afforestation #swetcha #freedomtodotherightthing #environmentaleducation #environmentcampaign #socialchange #eco #vanmahotsav #harithaharam #Betterindia
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    44 mins
  • Joy of Volunteering | Plog Raj |
    Jun 5 2024
    Join us as we delve into the journey of G Nagaraj, affectionately known as Plog Raj, the Plogman of India. Nagaraj's story began with a simple yet powerful observation shared by a fellow being: "Places which are clean…people tend to keep it clean. If a place is dirty, people feel like littering…”

    Determined to be part of the solution, Nagaraj introduced and popularized plogging in India, turning the simple act of picking up trash while jogging or walking into a nationwide movement. In this episode, you'll discover how Nagaraj's innovative approach makes volunteering fun and impactful. Hear firsthand about his creative use of waste to create funny and catchy posters that raise awareness about waste management.

    Learn about his work as a robin with the RobinHood Army, where he helps collect surplus food, clothing, and electronic devices to support underprivileged communities, spreading smiles and giving new life to good things otherwise headed to the landfill.

    He is also known as Cupman for his work in enabling sustainable menstruation - “If we can have a spiderman, why not a cupman?”

    Highlights of this episode include practical tips on how you can start plogging, organize a drive, and get involved in volunteer work. Nagaraj shares his advice for newcomers, addresses common misconceptions about volunteering, and offers an inspiring message on the importance of taking action for a greener, more sustainable world but while having lots of fun!

    Tune in to this episode to be motivated, informed, and ready to make a difference in your community!

    Journaling prompt and activity
    Reflect on what do you enjoy doing, that can help the earth or a fellow being…try out different things, explore, have fun with it!

    Connect with Plog Raj on Instagram and learn about volunteering opportunities you may enjoy @theindianplogman @theindianploggersarmy

    For some eco humour and memes by Plog Raj and team, follow @sakkathwastefellows

    Follow us on social media @gogreenguruss. Write to us at contact@gogreenguru.com. volunteer

    #volunteering #worldenvironmentday #swachhbharat #swachhbharatabhiyaan #cleanliness #bengaluru #citizen #everydayheroes


    So, do you like to volunteer? What does volunteering mean to you? What do you enjoy or not enjoy about it? #letschat
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    52 mins
  • Unpacking Sustainable menstruation | Dr Lata Ghanshamnani | RNisarg Foundation |
    Apr 27 2024
    What if there was a way we could menstruate using products that are healthy, safe and comfortable and do not add to the landfills? What if we could empower ourselves to make a choice that works for us?

    Join us in demystifying sustainable menstruation in this warm and friendly conversation with Dr Lata Ghanshamnani, co-founder, RNisarg Foundation and host Ananya Sangameshwar. We explore the what, why and how of sustainable menstruation, discuss menstrual cups and cloth pads and address fears, doubts and concerns in an open and empathetic way. Listen to the story of RNisarg Foundation and Project Sakhi, to empower women with the right knowledge.

    Resources
    Subscribe to and explore resources on menstrual hygiene and menstrual cups, with simple, science and practice-backed explanations https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBCtrYQ-HPP4qMJMur6O1xg

    Choosing a menstrual cup - a collaborative compilation of menstrual cup reviews from real users https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l97nAMSRhoHiEe3RBlitOYzMwdP_VZErGDw3oORDUug/edit

    Register here to take up a free short training course to be certified as a menstrual educator with Project Sakhi with AMOGS (You may also sign up for waste-management related trainings here) https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4QuLkCIF69Eaj57lJyrtVdZQ8WScidQTczK8Vk8KuNLVk9g/viewform

    About our guest
    Dr Lata Kamal Ghanshamnani is a practising opthalmologist and eye surgeon with more than 2 decades of experience. Over the years, she became concerned about the amount of waste generated at home, work and her city - Thane and how it was not managed effectively, leading to piling unsanitary landfills. Thus she co-founded RNisarg Foundation with fellow medical practitioners who resonated with her cause. She has been actively involved with environmental awareness and community engagement. She is a recipient of multiple prestigious awards and fellowships including Woman of Substance Award from Know your Thane, Covid warrior award, Swachhta Saarthi fellowship under Wealth to Waste initiative and is a Women4Climate Mumbai 2021 cohort member.

    About RNisarg Foundation
    RNisarg Foundation is a dynamic non-profit organization committed to environmental sustainability and social impact. Founded by Dr. Lata Kamal Ghanshamnani, Dr Leena Kelshikar and Mrs Veena Angadi, RNisarg Foundation operates at the intersection of climate change and waste management, with a particular focus on addressing critical issues related to menstrual waste, pharmaceutical waste, and biomedical waste.

    Driven by the belief that sustainable solutions are essential for safeguarding the planet and promoting community well-being, RNisarg Foundation implements innovative programs and initiatives aimed at raising awareness, driving behavioral change, and fostering sustainable practices. Through strategic partnerships, education, and outreach efforts, RNisarg Foundation empowers individuals and communities to take meaningful action towards building a more sustainable and resilient future for generations to come.

    To learn more about RNisarg Foundation and join the movement towards environmental stewardship, visit www.rnisargfoundation.com.
    Connect with RNisarg Foundation - support@rnisargfoundation.com
    Volunteer with RNisarg Foundation - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFCiSi7p2hbNbmokI55Zb6dCp9BoqNglNYhdruJZ6VQdwrMQ/viewform
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    45 mins
  • Empowering youth towards active citizenship | Story of HaiJalo | Bombil Ruth
    Apr 7 2024
    How can we answer that call to service and grow as a person?
    How can we stir that fire and put it to good use?
    What if we could have a space to be more human together?
    HaiJalo, which means, "we will find a way", in Kumaoni, is finding a way to make this happen…

    Volunteer cultivator, mother of ideas, youth mobiliser, toilet cleaner - Bombil Ruth does what needs doing at HaiJalo, the community service collective she runs along with local Pahadi youth in Champawat district of Uttarakhand.

    This conversation, with some deep stuff and some light-hearted stuff is for those wild souls, who are bursting with questions and are on the path of seeking, of rethinking ideas and lifestyles we take for granted. If you are on this path of exploration towards more conscious and centred living, this episode may have a little something for you.

    Connect with Team HaiJalo
    https://haijalo.org/ - Explore volunteering and financial supporting options here
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hai.jalo/
    Email - haijalo.bal@gmail.com
    Connect with Bombil Ruth - 9769955596
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Rainwater Harvesting 101: Water Resilience for our Communities | ft. Vishwanath S, Biome |
    Mar 22 2024
    How do we combat water scarcity on one hand and floods on the other? The solution is the same - integrated, inclusive water management, with rainwater harvesting. As citizens and communities, this is a simple, economical and effective practice we can adopt to ensure we have water for our needs, today and in the time to come.

    This World Water Day, reimagine the way you think about water. In conversation with Vishwanathan S, founder-trustee Biome Environmental Trust, we discuss the why and how of rainwater harvesting, understand the approach we can take and the design and implementation of rainwater harvesting systems at a home and community level. We address some questions and concerns citizens may have on this journey. Along the way, we reflect on water from the lens of individual, community, need, livelihood, gender, culture, economics, equity, justice, policy, practice and more.

    Activity shared by Vishwanath
    Go to a nearby lake or well and spend time there; look at the ecology and the livelihoods. Participate in a cleanup activity. You will start to build a sense of ownership with the water body.

    Biome Environmental Trust, a thoughtful do-tank based in Bengaluru, is doing phenomenal work with ecological architecture, water management and community engagement. Through their multi-stakeholder approach, they bridge the gap between practice and policy, driving real change in land use and water management. Their Million Wells campaign was awarded the Transformative Cities Award in 2022.

    Visit biometrust.org and urbanwaters.in for contacts, case studies, comics and resources on water management and communicating with people about water.
    Follow @biometrust

    Vishwanath S is the founder of Rainwater Club, Director of Biome Environmental Solutions, and Trustee of Biome Environmental Trust. He is a Civil Engineer from Mysore University and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from CEPT, Ahmedabad. He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Urban Environmental Management from Rotterdam in the Netherlands. A member of the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance, he is also an Ex-Secretary General of the International Rainwater Catchment Systems Association. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at Azim Premji University, and has been a columnist at the Hindu since May 2007 (‘Waterwise’ in Property Plus on Saturdays).

    Connect with Vishwanath - @zenrainman

    Connect with GoGreenGuru - @gogreenguruss or contact@gogreenguru.com
    Connect with host Ananya Sangameshwar - @ananyagscreations

    Additional resource for understanding groundwater patterns and aquifers across India - https://cgwb.gov.in/
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    49 mins
  • Citizens unite to save the Banyans of Chevella | Nature Lovers of Hyderabad
    Mar 12 2024
    Could the collective power of citizens be the key to safeguarding our natural world?

    The movement to save the Banyans of Chevella in Hyderabad, is a story of hope. Citizens from diverse walks of life, came together with one shared love for nature, to save 900 heritage banyans and thousands of other trees from being chopped or translocated for a highway expansion project. They asked, can we find a way to build the road without disturbing these trees and their thriving ecosystems?

    For years, they fought tirelessly through campaigns and legal battles. A breakthrough: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) offered a refreshing judgement in favour of the Banyans of Chevella -paving the way for the first-ever Environment Impact Assessment for roadside trees!

    Join host Ananya Guru Sangameshwar in conversation with Sadhana Ramchander, Kobita Dass Kolli and Tejah Balantrapu, from the Nature Lovers of Hyderabad group, to uncover the story of the campaign and why it matters.
    ...
    Deepen your connection with nature: Activities for you!
    1. Listen. Listen intently to any sounds from the natural world. Listen to what they tell you and make you wonder.
    2. Hyderabad and other metro cities are made up of migrants. But humans are not the only migrants. Can you imagine trees as migrants too?
    3. Explore and observe. Go to the same space at different points in time and notice how there are so many changes within that space, how it all unfolds.
    ...
    Connect with the Chevella Banyans campaign
    Sign the petition on Change.org

    Website - https://www.savechevellabanyans.in/

    Facebook - / savebanyansofchevella

    Instagram, X - @chevellabanyans
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • A Zero Waste Journey that Works for You | Mrudula Joshi |
    Feb 29 2024
    How can we really adopt green habits that last and work towards a sustainable lifestyle with ease?Our guest, Mrudula Joshi, zero-waste practitioner, guide and entrepreneur, candidly shares stories, insights and practical eco-friendly tips from her 4+ years of experience transitioning to a low-waste lifestyle and helping other people on their journey.This episode is for you if you are a beginner on the zero-waste path, or if you are attempting this lifestyle, but are struggling with eco-anxiety and other challenges that people don’t really talk about openly. Be it the social struggle to say no to single use disposables, or the nagging feeling that you are not doing it perfectly - we have your back.We hope you find a shift in your approach to sustainability and feel more empowered to build eco habits in a way that feels joyful and natural to you.Actionable Challenge #WatchYourWaste Collect your cleaned dry waste items like wrappers and boxes in a bag for a week. Then examine your waste and reflect on it, using the prompt shared below. Hand in your collected dry waste for reuse or recycling at a kabadi/recycling centre. Check out the resources shared towards the end.Journaling prompt When using or buying anything, try to question - Where does this come from and where will it go? How much value is it really adding to my life? What else could I do with it after its use rather than throwing it away?This will be a great baby step to start thinking in a zero-waste way. Have fun!Share your experience with us. Connect with us at gogreenguruss on Instagram/Facebook or email us at contact@gogreenguru.com.About our guest Mrudula Joshi:Mrudula Joshi, a fashion designer by training, stumbled upon the concepts of minimalism and zero-waste living, finding practical and financial sense in adopting these habits as a young adult. Inspired by her journey, she launched ullisu.official on Instagram, an authentic and relatable journal chronicling her transition to zero waste living, which blossomed into a supportive community hub. Mrudula curates resources and workshops on circularity and a zero waste mindset. She launched ullisu.com, an online marketplace supporting eco-conscious brands. As Strategic Partner at Wasted360, Bengaluru, Mrudula champions circular waste solutions and the thriving second-hand economy.Connect with Mrudula Joshi on Instagram - @ullisu.official Visit ullisu.com - for curated resources and media recommendations for helping you think zero waste. Kindly note that the Ullisu store is not functional now.Access the Package Free Map - https://ullisu.com/pages/the-map-project - a community resource with zero waste stores, recyclers, repair services pinned. Mail your location contributions to volunteer.ullisu@gmail.com.Utilise Wasted360 services to start off a pickup drive in your community, school or office for old items and dry waste.Visit indiawasted.com and follow indiawasted on Instagram.Contact Wasted360 Bangalore - +91 9376776795, Chennai - +91 9751755522Follow rebirth.blr (Bangalore)/ therebirthcollective (Chennai) on Instagram for shopping thrifted itemsMore resources for recycling and donating old items https://crapbin.com/ (Hyderabad & Secunderabad)https://goodeebag.in/about/ (Hyderabad)https://saahaszerowaste.com/https://www.be-responsible.in/ (for e-waste; Bangalore)https://goonj.org/dropping-centres/ (for donating usable items)
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    56 mins