Archive for the ‘Ideas we ♥’ Category

The Wise Quest

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

Clean Planet and KeyBunch are rewarding wisdom nuggets with a  Clean Planet Wise Tote.

The KeyBunch is the result of two delightful design devotees Sharon and Rekha who decided to turn their passion for interiors and design into a blog.

Head to the KeyBunch to know more about the Wise Quest..

p.s – do bookmark KeyBunch for an eclectic and inspiring dose on decor , products , people and spaces.


The starfish and you

Monday, September 20th, 2010

One morning an elderly man was walking on a nearly deserted beach. He came upon a boy surrounded by thousands and thousands of starfish. As eagerly as he could, the youngster was picking them up and throwing them back into the ocean.

Puzzled, the older man looked at the young boy and asked, “Little boy, what are you doing?”

The youth responded without looking up, “I’m trying to save these starfish, sir.”

The old man chuckled aloud, and queried, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”

Holding a starfish in his hand, the boy turned to the man and, gently tossing the starfish into the water, said, “It will make a difference to that one!”

It makes a difference that you carry a reusable bag daily and thereby reduce usage of plastic bags.

It makes a difference that you smile and and add to the joy quotient of the universe.

Your star fishes are waiting for you..

Green Roofs in Copenhagen

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

Copenhagen is now the first Scandinavian city to put a mandatory green roof policy into action. The new policy requires vegetation and soil to be a mandatory part in architectural planning; in particular, it covers all roofs with a slope less than 30 degrees, plus the refurbishment of older roofs. By putting this new green roof policy into action, it pushes the great Danish city one step closer to reaching their carbon neutral goal by 2025.

Now, as far as the green roofs go, there is a list of specific requirements to consider. Buildings with green roofs must be able to meet at least 2 of the following requirements:

  • The roof must absorb 50-80% of the precipitation that falls on the roof.
  • The roof must provide a cooling and insulating effect of the building and reduce reflection.
  • The roof must help make the city greener, reducing the urban heat island effect, counteracting the increased temperatures in the city.
  • The roof must contribute to a visual and aesthetic architectural variation that has a positive effect on the quality of life.
  • The roof must double the roof life of the roofing membrane by protecting it against UV rays, etc.

Superb initiative by Copenhagen. The green consequences of this requirement are several..

- Architects will have to learn about green roofs to incorporate them in their plans. The knowledge base in green roofing will shoot up.

- Innovation in green roofing (in Copenhagen to begin with ) will increase

- It would inspire architects and city planners in other parts of the planet to look at green roofs and other innovative eco ideas.

Thank You

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

A heart-felt Thank You to everyone who participated in the ‘Awesome Feedback‘ campaign . It was beautiful to see Clean Planet through your perspective. We’re delighted, impressed, inspired by the breadth and depth of the feedback received.We loved several of the suggestions. It catalyzed a whole lot of discussion which will soon be presented as new initiatives.

Clean Planet is a labor of love . To stay true to our vision we’ve made tough choices – big and small . Several of which will probably never be visible (or at least discussed by us ) or so we thought. We were quite amazed by some of the feedback.

Clean Planet is about enabling an inspired community that takes consistent action towards a more sustainable , equitable and joyous world. It’s our way of honoring and giving back to the world we are privileged to be a part of.

The planet needs consistent , thoughtful action – small and big. While no one can do everything . Everyone can do something.Let’s also remember that this is our home. Your voice – more importantly – your action matters.

Going forward you will see a whole range of initiatives ranging from new products to change-inspiring campaigns. Do participate,reflect , share , spread the word , take action.

Thank you for being part of the Clean Planet Community.

p.s – 15 of you have won a Clean Planet Tote. We’re certain it will be your companion in the journey to making a Clean(er) Planet. Each bag comes fitted with some special attachment that will keep reminding you to use it !

p.s – all the winners have been notified via email.

Awesome totes for awesome feedback

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Wise folk counseled (euphemism for insisted ) that since this is the first time you guys are offering bags you must extend the opportunity. And we happily did..The offer is now extended to the 15th of Sep 2010 . By the stroke of midnight 15 stylish Clean Planet bags will be destined to the 15 lucky winners.

p.s – we’ve love the feedback that’s been pouring in. It’s such a delight to open the mail box every morning and see the wonderful mails. We run the risk of being addicted to doing this more often.

Share your feedback in words , images , sing a song , make a video . We’d love to hear what you have to say about Clean Planet.

And hey , join the Clean Planet Community on Face Book.

Nutrition is a bigger problem than hunger

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Incisive article by Swaminathan Aiyer.

…The big problem is malnutrition, not hunger. A recent survey revealed anaemia rates of 51-74% in women and small children. Of children under three, 47% were underweight and 45% stunted by global standards. Protein deficiency is a culprit.

How do we focus on nutrition rather than presumed hunger? Not through ever-rising subsidies on food. Sonia Gandhi wants subsidized grain even for better-off folk. This aims to provide electoral security for Sonia. Don’t confuse it with food security..

..Ajai Shankar, former industry secretary, has an excellent suggestion for self-targeting in food — mix wheat flour (atta) with soya flour, raising its protein content but making it less palatable. Richer folk will not eat this, but poor people will. Such protein fortification of atta could help reduce protein deficiency in pregnant women and children. Ajai Shankar also suggests offering brown, unpolished rice, which has more nutrition but is less palatable than white rice, and so will be self-targeted at the poor.

I would fortify atta with not only soya but iron (to combat anaemia), iodine (to combat goitre) and Vitamin A (to combat night blindness). This will cost very little extra, yet combat serious nutritional deficiencies. It’s not a silver bullet: other nutritional programmes need overhaul and strengthening too.

Brown rice has two drawbacks. First, it can be resold by shopkeepers to mills at a huge profit, so the PDS incentive for massive diversion will remain. Atta mixed with soya cannot be unmixed, and so eliminates diversion.

A bigger objection should be to rice in any form. Rice is the most expensive cereal, and guzzles the most water. It requires 22 irrigations per crop against eight for wheat. Rice cultivation is sustainable in high rainfall areas, but is environmentally disastrous in moderate-rainfall areas (Punjab, Haryana). It lowers the water table precipitously, so drinking-water wells and shallow tubewells of small farmers run dry, and some of them commit suicide.

Any food entitlements should be for basic food, not for the most expensive cereal. A right to rice is conceptually like Marie Antoinette’s right to cake. For centuries, poor Indians have eaten coarse grain (bajra, jowar) costing half as much as rice. If necessary, India can export rice to finance imports of twice as much coarse grain, which can then be fortified with nutritional supplements for the PDS. It will be self-targeting: richer folk will not buy it..

Sound suggestions . Will a govt that allows millions of tonnes of food grains to rot have the will to do something meaningful for the poor ?

Bag a cool Clean Planet bag

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

We’re in the mood for some serious flattery and honest feedback !

Tell us what you LOVE about Clean Planet.

Feedback may be posted here or on Clean Planet Facebook page or mailed to teamcleanplanet@gmail.com

On 7 Sep 2010 – 7 lucky winners will be rewarded with a cool Clean Planet bag.

p.s – multiple entries allowed….if you charm us twice you’ll still get 1 bag.


Clean Planet Scholarship

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

At Clean Planet we are committed to initiatives that support the creation of a sustainable world – eco initiatives , education support , skill building and employment opportunities. Our idea is not just monetary assistance but to bring our professional and personal abilities , our extended community to the endeavors.

Education is essential in the goal towards a more equitable , sustainable world. The lack of opportunity to education changes the course of millions of lives. Naturally , access to education changes the course of the person’s life . Education benefits not just the individual – but his/her family and community too.

We’re pleased to share the news about Clean Planet scholarship to support education and facilitate mentoring for children and adults.

Clever Little Bag

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Puma decided to do away with boxes for packing shoes . Seems they researched it for 21 months and hired Yves Behar. The outcome was to do away with the box and use a bag. This is possibly a very corporate way of doing things . Take ages and hire a famous consultant. The suggestion could have come from a Puma associate . But , minus the stamp of a famous person it may not have gotten the blessings of the powers that be at the corporate HQ. We do hope that the bag is made of a biodegradable material.

Whatever the pathway we appreciate the initiative by Puma to relook at the packaging. Scores of other companies and industries need to relook at packaging at retail and in their production chain to minimize the environmental impact.

Meanwhile , for a super cool , clever little bag you just need to head here !

Exercise your power

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Do you know how POWERFUL you are ? Like a stone dropped in water that creates waves – you can start waves of joy – for a loved one , friend , co-worker , stranger, anyone . Genuine , conscious acts of kindness , love and thoughtfulness.

- Acknowledge someone for their presence in your life

- Express love and appreciation in unexpected , creative , genuine ways

- SMILE. Sometimes that’s all it takes to brighten up someone’s day.

- Be present to the person

- Listen

- Offer your time and help to someone who needs it

The list can go on . You’ll notice that none of this requires money (in any significant form ) . All it takes is the intention and the willingness to light the flame of joy.