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BACK ISSUES | APRIL 2010 | CURRENT ISSUE
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APRIL 2010
GOING GREEN
How GREEN are you?
Bittu Sahgal
...................................................Let's face it. None of us is truly green. In some way or the other each of us conspires to damage the environment around us by the simple expedient of living 'normal' lives. This is because we have become a part of an urban, destructive model of development, where over-consumptiveness is synonymous with status and social responsibility is passé. But the winds of change are around us and it is inevitable that this freshness will imbue us all with new purpose. At this point then, it might be useful for each of us to take stock of our position on the green graph. The following exercise should help.
The idea is to test your awareness and your lifestyle. Remember, this is not a competition. In fact, you would be best advised to fill in the answers when you are alone to prevent inadvertent overrating!
Colours of death
A young boy casts a dark shadow on a highly polluted sewer
that empties into the river Ganges
Photo: Piyal Adhikari, Joint Second Prize Winner
HP Capture Change Photography Contest
HP Capture Change Photography Contest
(a) Almost always (b) Quite often
2. Would you lobby for efficient and clean public transport and would you give up the use of your car if this were available?
(a) Yes (b) No
3. If the streets were safer, would you use a cycle for short trips?
(a) Already use a bike (b) Would use
4. Do you turn off the tap when you brush your teeth / shave / wash clothes?
(a) Yes (b) No
5. Do you use disposable plastic or paper cups, plates, paper napkins, etc?
(a) Never (b) Almost never
6. Do you write or type on both sides of a page, or reuse envelopes?
(a) Always (b) Very often
7. Do you sell bottles, tins, newspapers and magazines to the raddiwallah?
(a) Yes (b) No
8. Do you routinely switch off lights and fans when you are the last person to leave a room?
(a) Yes (b) No
9. Do you use an air-conditioner at home?
(a) No (b) Yes
10. Do you use aerosols?
(a) No (b) Yes
11. Do you avoid the use of antibiotics and strong drugs?
(a) Don't use (b) Try not to use
12. Do you avoid the use of pesticides in your home, preferring to opt for cleanliness, and natural deterrents such as neem leaves etc to control pests?
(a) Yes (b) No
13. Have you written a letter to a newspaper, in the last six months, expressing opposition to an environmentally or socially damaging project, or view?
(a) Yes (b) No
14. Have you ever worked together with others on an environmental or social campaign to mould public opinion?
(a) Have worked (b) Currently part of a group
15. Are you fundamentally opposed to the generation of nuclear energy?
(a) Yes (b) Very concerned but, do not yet know enough to make an informed evaluation
YOUR SCORE
1. (a) 5 points (b) 3 points
2. (a) 3 points (b) 0 points
3. (a) 5 points (b) 3 points
4. (a) 5 points (b) 0 points
5. (a) 5 points (b) 2 points
6. (a) 5 points (b) 2 points
7. (a) 5 points (b) 0 points
8. (a) 5 points (b) 0 points
9. (a) 5 points (b) 0 points
10. (a) 5 points (b) 0 points
11. (a) 5 points (b) 2 points
12. (a) 5 points (b) 0 points
13. (a) 2 points (b) 0 points
14. (a) 3 points (b) 5 points
15. (a) 5 points (b) 3 points
If you scored high you are probably well on the way to becoming a model, future earth-citizen. If you score lower on the scale than you expected, don't let it worry you. The very fact that you were interested enough to devote time and energy to test yourself indicates that you have great green horizons ahead of you.
Bittu Sahgal is the Editor of Sanctuary Magazine |
E-mail your green ideas to editorial@theteenagermag.com
with the subject line ‘I'm Green!’
