Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Global Warming melts Hills of Sikkim

A British team that conducted an expedition to Gokhala Green lake of Sikkim (A North Indian state) had reporteda stunning news to world - The snowy hills of Northern Sikkim is found to be melting for years due to Global Warming.


The team reported that the hills like Tsemu,Thonksong and Taloong had been getting morphed forthe last 80 years.The team compared the file photoes of an expedition to Taloong hill conducted in 1930 with the present one.It is found that the hill had shortened about 70 meters down within 80 years!!!


There was a snowy layer connecting the Thonksong and Taloong.Due to Global Warming this connection has been lost.The old pictures of these hills reveal that once all of them were connected.This points to the future threat of Global Warming.Industrialisation and Tourism development activities also had added momentum to this problem.


The Science and Technology Department has been observing the phenomenon through remot sensing with the help of satellites.Sikkim Government had posted a commission to study the problem with Prof: Syed Iqbal Hasnain as its head.


Over 75 snowy hills are there in Sikkim.The melting of hills had caused to low down the water level of rivers like Teesta and Ramgith.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008



The inauguration of "Our Tree" (An environmental campaign by Kerala Government) Program at Govt.Engg.College , Wayanad by Principal Dr.Kuncheria P Isaac

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Victorious Hundred Crore Tree Program.

The program launched by UN to prevent Global Warming namely "One ഹുന്ദ്രേദ് Crore Tree Planting" had proved to be a great success with all support from all over the world.The program aimed to plant one hundred crore trees.But within 18 months of launching the program more than 200 crore trees have been planted, said the Nobel Prize laurate and Kenyan Green Belt Program head Prof:Vangari Mathaayin a press conference.

Due to the high response from all over the world the project had redefined its aim to plant 700 crore trees.Individuals,Government and Non-Government agencies,Different clubs ,Institutions are requested to participate in this program and donate your part.

So come....let us plant at least a tree for nurturing our nature.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Real Death of Earth !!!

April 22nd is the International Earth Day.Since earth is facing a lot of threats like nuclear weapons,ozone layer depreciation,global warming etc it is very important to have a thought in mind about our earth on this day.


What will be the last fate of earth? How many more years will it sustain ?


An English astronomer Robert Smith tried to answer these questions.He made some mathematical calculation and reached in the following assumption.
" Earth will live for another 760 crore years.During this period the sun will change into a red giant and earth will ultimately fall into sun !!!"


How it happens ? Let me to explain the theory.

The age of sun is 500 crore years now.It will light for another 500 crore years more.That means sun is a youth now.When the hydrogen inside the sun is almost completed the inner part of sun will be under high pressure due to gravitational forces.Then the fusion process takes place in the outer layer of sun.Hence the outer layer begins to expand.This expansion will encroach the orbits of planets near sun.As a result they will be swallowed by sun ! Earth will also be swallowed in this way !!!

Since the size of sun at red giant state is 1000 times grater than it now, it is unpredictable whether there will be any planet in our solar system in that age.


Smith's explanation continues - The outer area of red giant sun begin to enlarge first.Still earth revolve around sun in a light density airy medium.Due to the friction of this low density gas the orbit of earth contracts gradually and moves more and more to sun..At last earth will plunge into sun !!!


But.....fortunately no living being will have to suffer this situation !! Why ? Very simple....After 100 crore years itself sun will begin its expansion.As a result earth will get highly heated.Oceans will become deserts due to evaporation.The steam rising from oceans will spread all over earth.Staem is a major greenhouse gas.The cover formed by steam over earth causes to rise the atmospheric temperature of earth.The excessive global warming will put an end to all the life on earth.


So each and everyone of us should take a pledge today that I'll not harm my mother earth but will try to nurse it properly during my life.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Lead content eight times above the permitted level in water !!!

A study conducted by NRCLPI (National Referal Centre for Lead Poisoning in India) in connection with world water day revealed that the lead content of water inIndia is far above the permitted level.It is about eight times higher than the permitted level.Even mineral water also is not free from lead content.The lead content in water is to be displayed on the label of mineral water.But most of thecompanies do not mind this. For the study,800 samples had collected from different parts of India.


The quality council of India reports that the lead reaches water primarily from paints and batteries.The only remedy to this is usage of rechargeable battery andlead free paints.Common people should be encouraged to use these two instead ofthe current practice.


As per Bureau of Indian standards(BIS) the permitted level of lead content in wateris 50 in 100 crores.In India it is found to be upto 400!!The world average is 15 in 100crores!!In United States it is below 10 !!


Drinking the lead polluted water invites serious health hazards.It adversely affectsthe functioning of kidney,brain and nervous system.It also affects the mental growth of children.


In India the lead pollution is higher in the states of Meghalaya,Nagaland and Manipur.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Kadalundi Community Reserve

The Kadalundi estuaryn of Calicut District in Kerala state is the first community reserve of India.It was declared as community reserve recently, but it was noted early in 1980's itself as wintering ground for migratory birds.


About 108 species of birds has been recorded here.Many of them are new additions to Kerala bird list. Species like Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plower, Terek Sandpiper etc are recorded sparingly.Obiviously this area has a rich avifauna.


Being community resrve the 150 hectars of estuary area will be protected. It is rich in mangroves also. The project will be governed by Kadalundi and Vallikkunnu Gramapanchayaths, poeple's committee and forest department.The speciality of this community reserve is the participation of people to protect the rare forests and birds.This movement is a very good step in eco-bio conservation.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Try these Methods

If you are a nature lover try these methods in your daily life.

1) In functions like marriage , festivals , anniversaries etc use disposible plates and glasses made of paper only. If possible try banana leaves as plates. If you participate in a function with plastic items on table insist to get a papermade one and express your feeling through it.

2) When you or someone of your relative get hospitalised take a tiffin carrier with you for buying food from outside.Parcelling food makes the hospitals of our city a dumpyard of plastic covers.

3) When you go for shopping take a cotton bag or paper carry bag or a gunny bag with you.

4) If you are a shopkeeper you decide that you will give all things wrapped in paper or in paper covers to your customers.If customer have no paper/gunny bag give one as your gift with an advice to carry it whenever he go for shopping.

5) When you prepare a budget for a function put aside some money to compensate for the hazards that may be made by you to the environment.

6) Make all your actions and celebrations fully ecofriendly.

7) If you own some motorvehicle take it only if necessary.If the distance is walkable , go by foot or take a bicycle.

8) Plant trees when and where possible and preserve it in good condition.

9) Always try to create an ecofriendly mind.

10) Study the environmental problems around you.Find out its causes and agents.Then try to solve the problem in your own ways.

11) Catch the attention of similar minded persons and form groups of nature lovers.

12) Conduct group activities occationally to protect nature and natural resources.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

A thought for nature.

"God gave us the gift of life.So live as you like !!!" "The fittest will survive".These were our feelings so far.Environmental problems were thought to be discussed only by educated and wise people.But now even common people realised that the climatic changes at any part of world may affect him also.The tsunami that credited many lives in Kerala and Tamilnadu was actually originated in Indonatia, far far and far away from our Kerala.

Man attacks the environment in many ways.All attacks are for his selfish needs only.Hills get demolished and flattened for building huge complexes or houses. Water resources like lakes and ponds are levelled by soiling and even a mafia culture for sand exploitation from rivers is growing in almost all parts of Kerala.

Plastic is the main threat to our environment today.Eventhough many rules and regulations came banning this plastic, people do not mind it still now. Just look back to our daily life . We can see a lot of incidents of rule violations by ourself .

1) Fish merchant comes daily at our doorstep.We buy some fish.He puts them in a plastic cover.Why don't you bring a pot or a container and put the fish in it instead of that plastic cover? Think.......

2) You goes to market daily and buys different types of things.You buys vegetables from one shop. They put them all in a plastic cover.Then you goes to a stationary shop , buys something.They also put them in a cover and gives you.Then you goes to buy some rice.They first put it in a plastic container and then puts in a plastic cover and gives you!! Now, by a single purchase you received four or more plastic covers!!! If you carry a paper or cotton bag all these plastic covers can be avoided.What is the problem in taking a paper or cotton bag with you while going for shopping?Is it decrease your dignity? Think...........

3) Why can't you ask to wrap the above purchased items in a paper? Will the paper wrapped goods infame your social status?Is going for shopping with a bag in hand ashames you ? Think.....

4) What do you do with all that plastic covers at home? Simply throws out.Then actually what are you doing there? Are you polluting only your surroundings or denying the living right of many other creatures that God created? Think............

So think think and think . Then act appropriately.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Tokyo Fog

It occured in the capital city of Japan on June 18 , 1970.The fog formed due to some chemical reaction in the atmosphere.The concentration of sulphur dioxide in atmosphere rised upto 0.4ppm.As an immediate effect sulphuric acid formed in atmosphere due to the oxidisation of sulphur dioxide.Over 5000 people were affected by the fog in various ways.

A view of Tokyo Fog

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Los Angeles Smog

This was a tragedy took place in Los Angeles.In a pleasnt day a smog suddenly spread over Los Angeles city .The sudden result was eye itching,loss of sight etc in human beings.Many plants and trees also destroyed in the smog.



Different views of LA Smog

The smog was due to cracking of rubber which is a polymer.It was cracked by the reaction of double bonded Hydrocarbon and Nitrogen Dioxide.This resulted in the formation of peroxy acyl nitrates and ozone.These compounds were very dangerous to plants and trees.

The actual agent of smog was vehicles.The increase in vehicle density had worsed the condition.The partly consumed fuels expelled from vehicles toxicated all living beings including humans.

Monday, January 21, 2008

London Smog

This was a tragedy occured on Dec 4th 1952.A sudden change in climate occured due to an air current tn Themes river valley in London.A heavy current of moderate hot air occured over the cold air.As a result after sunset fog begane to spread over London and temperature fell down.



Poeple were unable to withstand the sudden cold climate.As a usual practice they begane to light up their heaters.The fuel of most of the heaters were coal.As a result dense black smoke begane to rise to atmosphere from thousands of houses.





On next day this smoke , sulphur dioxide , smoke from different factories and various chemical wastes begane to concentrate in atmosphere over London.This dense cover of air prevented sunlight reaching the ground.As a result temperature begane to fall below normal.People begane to shiver in freezing cold and the heaters produced insufficient heat. In blood freezing cold hundreds of poeple died and many got hospitalised.




What actually happened was , when people burned coal first carbon dioxide released.Due to insufficient air circulation carbon monoxide also formed.The sulphur in coal joined with oxygen and formed sulphur dioxide .On entering this to the respiratory system it bagane to make problems.sulphur dioxide again reacted with oxygen and formed sulphur trioxide.Sulphur trioxide combined with water to form sulphuric acid.All these chemicals spread over London City as smog.Transport became dead slow causing more pollution.It increased the suffocation to all living beings and subsequent illness , death etc.A similar smog repeated in 1962 and about 700 people lost their life.
Here is a graph showing the death rate of the victims of 1952 London Smog.






Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Bird Survey in Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary

Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary is basically an elephant reserve.But in the recent bird survey conducted here two types of vulture groups have been found inhabiting in this sanctuary.They are White backed Vulture and King Vulture.

Vultures are getting extinguished from all places.It is very important that in South India vulture is seen only in Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary.Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary has a suitable ecosystem for vultures.

The identification of the bird , Rosy Miniwet for first time in Kerala is a feather in tha cap of this bird survey.Twenty or more new items of birds have been identified in Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary during this survey.Blue Eared King fisher,Greenbild Malkosa, Bladbasa , Black Eagle etc are some of them.But no new species have been identified yet.

195 types of birds have been seen so far in Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary .Survey is continuing. In last survey 205 types of birds were identified.Some birds have also seen to be reduced in number.

This is the fourth bird survey in Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary .The first survey was in 1991.Next in 1996 and the last one in 2001.

Valliyoorkavu - A shelter for Birds.

Valliyoorkavu is a famous temple near Mananthavadi in Wayanad District of Kerala State.The river near the temple and the bamboo bushes on the banks of river are beautiful scene to eyes.


Now it is more attractive and catches the attraction of nature lovers due to some other reason.The bamboo bushes are becoming the shelter places of many kinds of migratory birds.Different kinds of cranes come here for breading.Even syberian Cranes reach in the bushes of Valliyoorkavu.


The migratory birds reach here during October and stay here upto April.Between this they build new nests , lay eggs and give birth to young ones.


The availability of water and convenience in making nests in bamboo bushes are the reason behind the attraction of birds to this area.


But the scene will soon become a memory due to following reasons.

(1) The bamboo bushes get demolished in every year due to flood followed by soil erosion.

(2) Birds are hunted by some people for its meat.

(3) Due to excessive sand mining the river itself is vanishing.


So as a lover of nature all of us should protect this kind of bushes and associated water resources.There by more and more animals and birds will be attracted and it will be a pleasure giving scene to all.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

MALABAR BOTANICAL GARDEN

One of the world's best Botanical Garden will be opened for public today at Olavanna near Kozhikkod ( Calicut ), Kerala.

The Malabar Botanical Garden begane to function in 1996.Till yesterday it was opened only for research scholors and students.Now its gates are opening for public also to make the people aware of the necessity of protection and conservation of water plants and water resources.It also aims to notice the biodiversity in our surroundings.

The divesified collection of Water Lillies is the important attraction of this botanical garden.There are seventeen different items of Water Lillies in India and sixteen of them are already present in this beautiful garden.Pigmiya from Shillong is yet to reach.

Another peculiarity of this garden is the diversity of water plants.Over Three hundred rare species of water plants are preserved here.More than Five hundred medicinal plants are also preserved.

Surely the Malabar Botanical Garden will be a feast to the eyes of every nature lover.

(More news will be published soon)

Monday, January 7, 2008

Paining Earth.

Air pollution makes a lot of problems to Human beings. A healthy man inhales about 16Kg of air daily.

Man can live without food for about five weeks and without water for five days. But he can’t live even for five minutes without air. Fresh air is so essential for life on earth.

The air pollution directly affects the lungs. Polluted air is highly harmful to children. In winter season the air pollution results in smog (smoke = fog) formation. Smog is dangerous to all living beings. It also causes motor accidents in high traffic roads.

Water pollution is another pollution created by the hands of man. The main agent of Water pollution is chemicals. Nowadays we use more than 60000 chemicals for different purposes. Out of these the non-biodegradable chemicals are the threat to life on earth.

The coolants from reactors are normally discharged to water. As a result water get heated. This will cause the oxygen to escape from water. Consequently the living beings of water get endangered.

Also the colours used for various purposes in paper mills , coir factories ,leather factories , textile mills etc are discharged to water after use. This also pollutes water seriously.

Soil pollution is another type of pollution. Plastics , crockery , paper ,polythene , automobile parts etc etc are the main objects of soil pollution . About 1000 crore ton solid wastes reach soil yearly!!!

Industrialized countries exploit third world countries by exporting their various types of wastes to these countries. The third world countries import these wastes without recognizing that they are the waste of Industrialized countries.Even our country India also had trapped in this net.

Fluorine is the most poisonous substance affecting the living beings.Chlorine , Argon , Lead etc also cause harm to all living beings.

Sulphur dioxide , Hydrogen Fluoride , Ozone , Hydrogen Chloride , Nitrous Oxide , Nitrogen Dioxide , Ammonia , Hydrogen Sulphide etc affect plants and trees. The disease called necrosis caused by pollution destroys the cells in leaf. Another disease called chlorosis destroy the chlorophyll in leaves and badly affect photosynthesis. Pollution may cause untimingly shedding of leaves.

Thus pollution is storming and all living beings are under its octopus hands. The whole biosphere activities will get upside down due to this pollution. New kinds of environmental problems are arising due to thoughtless activities of man. The nuclear weapons radiate dangerous rays to whole earth.

So it is the duty of new generation to be free themselves from all these activities. We should encourage all activities that nurture our nature and discourage all those destroy our nature.