Thank you Steve for making the world infinitely more creative , beautiful , magnificent , memorable.
Your journey and creations have shaped Clean Planet. Your vision , courage and genius continue to inspire us.
Posts Tagged ‘vision’
Independence Day
Monday, August 15th, 2011
A salute to all those who participated in the movement to make India Independent. And to all those unsung heroes across the country who have since then contributed in myriad forms to making this a more equitable , fair , liveable , joyous , progressive nation than it would have otherwise been.
What is the significance of Independence Day in present day urban India ? For the generations that have been born and raised in an independent India ? Newspapers filled with pictures of celebrities wearing clothes that have shades of the tri-color , saying what it means to be Indian . Buying little flags at the traffic signals and putting them in one’s car or desk for a few days. Participating in flag hoisting ceremony in one’s residential building or company. A few moments of solemn silence as the anthem is played. What is the connection that the rituals build with the idea of a nation ? of the idea of being Indian ? The risk is when the sentiment is limited to a few external gestures.
We can create new , meaningful rituals for Independence Day – as individuals and as groups :
- Recognize that our actions – personal and professional – shape India . If there is allegiance to the idea of a nation to which we pledge our devotion – let it reflect in consistent action.
- Make life choices – small and big – that are authentic and deeply meaningful rather than driven by external appearances / compulsions aka Inner Independence
- Give time , attention , money to those less fortunate
- Help educate a child
- Consciously choose not to litter any public space – e v e r.
- Plant trees
- Become an a c t i v e citizen
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- the list can be meaningfully expanded
Eventually we need to rise above the idea of nations and see the human species as one . Until that can happen we can attempt an expansive and inclusive definition of what it means to be Indian . And be cognizant of our responsibilities and rights the other 364 days of the year.
Happy Independence Day to all citizens of this magnificent piece of the Pale Blue Dot.
Impossible is nothing…
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
In the aftermath of the nuclear crisis, Japanese citizens have cooperated to help save electricity. In the process, they’ve reduced energy usage by 15% in Tokyo, one of the world’s most electric cities which is also one of most densely populated metros in the world.
It’s a concerted effort between the government , media , organizations and citizens. Massive in scale , complex to execute. Seemingly impossible to pull off. Yet , it has been done.
One wonders if this is possible in other parts of the world ? Are citizens elsewhere equally willing to put collective well being over their individual comfort ?
In their own characteristic way Japanese citizens have shown that while no one can do everything. Every one can do a LOT.
Eco Veggie
Friday, July 29th, 2011
One of the biggest reasons most folks invite or allow plastic into their homes is to store fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator.
Disposed after one use, these bags leave the kitchen bin and head right to an ever growing pile of non-biodegradable waste. Environmental concerns aside, storing fruits & vegetables in plastic is far from hygienic not to mention plastic keeps fruits & veggies from breathing which makes them to spoil faster.
We designed the Eco Veggie to address each of these concerns. They’re easily washable & reusable making them both hygienic & eco, add to that the fact that they’re made in 100% cotton allowing produce to stay fresh for longer.
The reusable Eco Veggie is perfect for storing vegetables and fruits in your refrigerator. Its 100% cotton fabric keeps fruits & veggies fresher for longer . The thoughtful messages on the Eco Veggie bags spread joy..
A small step that goes a long way towards a more Sustainable World.
Click here to buy your Eco Veggie bags.
Bag Karma
Saturday, June 4th, 2011All of us at Clean Planet are excited to be part of the Eco Bazaar, Eco Fest organized by Mocha Treehuggers in association with The Root. We’re looking forward to meet you and discuss things green and good.
On the occasion of World Environment Day we’d also like to share some ‘BAG KARMA‘ with you. Got an old re-usable bag in fairly good condition (no plastic please)? Donate it to us and buy a spanking new Clean Planet tote for 10% less! See you Sunday 5 June 2011 at Mocha Mojo, Bandra .
The bags collected will be given to those who can’t afford them..thereby helping them to go green.
A new way to holiday
Sunday, May 1st, 2011Golden week in Japan is one of important national holidays treasured by the normally hard working Japanese . This year many of them have spontaneously decided to use their holiday time to support the tsunami relief work.
Through the crisis and beyond the Japanese citizens have been admirable and inspiring in the way they have chosen to respond. Join us in renewing good wishes to the awesome Japanese to recover and rebuild their lives and nation.
One Voice One India
Thursday, April 7th, 2011
A movement is gaining momentum all across India . People from all walks of life and across age groups are coming to support the creation of a Corruption Free India.
The government headed by the Prime Minister NEEDS to hear your message. Write in to the PMO – email , send letters by post or courier . This is a govt that chose to not reply to Anna Hazare. They need millions of letters to see the writing on the wall.
If you would like a Clean India pl choose to make a difference.
Creativity unfolding..
Monday, April 4th, 2011
Amxma folding bicycle comes with an integrated basket for your groceries.
In folded form, the bike functions like a shopping cart. Now you can leave your car at home and travel to the supermarket on your bicycle.
Love the idea of combining functions in a product. Makes for a creative world . And a more sustainable one. Since we’d need fewer stuff to fulfill our requirements.
* This would not be allowed yet into Indian supermarkets !
Our only world..
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011
For the first time ever – at a Mumbai supermarket was able to buy 4 different fruits without a single plastic bag ! Requested the store associate to avoid plastic bags. Handed her my Compact Tote . The store didn’t have many customers in the morning . Possibly therefore she accepted. It was clearly a new task. Other store associates gathered around her to see why she was juggling fruits on the weighing machine when they should be neatly packed in individual plastic bags.
Larger/busy super markets (in Mumbai ) don’t have the people or the bandwidth for handling such a request . Often fishing out a reusable bag and insisting on avoiding plastic would evoke expressions akin to witnessing shoplifting or something equally inappropriate.
It appears that retailers are not sensitized to the avoidable waste and environmental problems associated with plastic bags. Seldom does one see store associates try to minimize the number of bags. It’s clearly not a priority or even an issue on which to train store associates.
Supermarkets in Mumbai have the practice of asking (rather insisting) that customers leave their mid-size / large bags at the entry point. Ostensibly to deter shop lifting . So it’s quite unimaginable to be able to enter a Mumbai super market with a bag that’s even partly filled with purchases made elsewhere. In that sense , shopping for veggies and fruits at the local open market is definitely more eco-friendly besides being time efficient.
Supermarkets in India can help create a more sustainable world by encouraging and enabling customers to bring their own reusable bag.To be fair to the retailers there is a cultural issue of customers asking / haggling for extra plastic bags. But, when the supermarkets can enforce draconian procedures of ‘leave your bags at the entry point’ to reduce their losses they can apply some thought to reduce the loss to the wider environment of which they are a part.
Your voice as a customer counts. Pl request the stores your frequent to use eco-friendly ways to pack their products.
This is OUR world . Our ONLY world . Let’s make it sustainable.
No one can do everything. But everyone can do a LOT.
Impossible is nothing
Friday, March 25th, 2011
After the worst earthquake in decades that the Japanese people have shown such resilience in moving forward after the tragedy on March 11. The Great Kanto Highway in Naka was totally destroyed and has now been repaired and opened to traffic. The Daily Mail Foreign Service describes in its report “The picture of gaping chasms in a Japanese highway demonstrated the power of the March 11 earthquake. Now the astonishing speed of reconstruction is being used to highlight the nation’s ability to get back on its feet. Work began on March 17 and six days later the cratered section of the Great Kanto Highway in Naka was as good as new. It was ready to re-open to traffic last night.”
As an ad goes ‘Impossible is Nothing’. This is a huge inspiration and a powerful example of what a determined group of people can accomplish.
