Dear Pandit ji, I am student of class X, and have recently subscribed to the magazine. I found it very attention grabbing. The Supreme Court has prescribed Environment Education as a compulsory subject in the school syllabi. But, most of us (students) find it as another burden. So, I would like you to start quizzes, crosswords or other scholarly columns in your esteemed magazine. As this magazine is one of the most coveted magazines among students and youngsters besides others, such activities would make it more interesting, and students like me can also brush up their awareness related to the subjects. Kindly ponder over my suggestions and if you could please append my above-mentioned columns in it I’ll be very thankful. Ashutosh Garg Via email Dear Ashutosh Garg ji, Thank you for your interesting ideas. There is something for you… check out the back cover of Gobar Times! Pandit Gobar Ganesh Dear Pandit ji, Thank you for your good magazine. It is perfectly suited for both children and adults. I especially like your Lifecycle articles. I am against junk food, and its import from the West. Here are my views on few of your lifecycle pages: Vegetable oils: Alternative doctors or nutritionists now say vegetable oils are not so healthy. Olive oil and other monounsaturated fats are probably still better. Sugar: Though sugar is bad, artificial sweeteners are worse. Recently, I killed the ants climbing onto my clotheslines with a paste of crushed N****sweet pellets and water. Real sugar is ‘natural’ at least (though that does not mean healthy necessarily). Many scientists now discredit the evolution theory. ‘Intelligent design’ or creationism is far more logical. Margaret Shishak Via mail

How can plastic bags be destroyed completely? Is it true that storing water in plastic bottles for long makes some of the chemicals present in plastic enter the stored water?

Prabhnoor
Via e-mail

Dear Prabhnoor ji,
Plastic is non-renewable (petroleum-based), and may take hundreds of years to degrade. In spite of this, an estimated 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide every year. Unfortunately, we cannot destroy them at home. Never try to burn them at home or outside, as burning plastic bags would release smoke and toxic gases.
The good news is that certain additives have been developed that allow plastic to degrade within a few months in landfill. Plastics made with these special additives are called Oxobiodegradable plastics.
But at present, the most suitable and widely implemented solution is to reduce the use of plastic bags.
Storing water inplastic bottles is another big (and ignored) problem. Chemicals from plastic bottles leach into water. Two controversial chemicals used in their making are Bisphenol A and Polyethylene terephthalate or PET.
Some scientists and environ-mentalists claim that Bisphenol A mimics the female hormone estrogen. “There are effects on reproduction and development... and possible implications with the two most common forms of cancer – breast cancer and prostate cancer,” says Kathy Cooper of the Canadian Environmental Law Association.
And PET may cause severe health problems. Another chemical known as Antimony can cause dizziness, depression, nausea or even death when consumed in large doses.
So, you can either use glass water bottles or stainless steel bottles that are easily available in the market.

Dear Pandit ji,
I liked the latest copy of Gobar Times, especially the articles on Geography and GPS systems.
I have been searching for a GPS receiver for past many years with no success. I live in a village 40 km from Mangalore and 300 km from Bangalore.
It was shocking to learn about the recent deaths of three engineers trekking in the Western Ghats’ forests, near Karnataka, just because they did not
know where they are at crucial moments. A simple GPS receiver worth may be Rs.3000 in western countries would have given them precise coordinates and helped them to come back.
Similarly sometime back, a military helicopter was lost near Goa and there were mobile phone calls from them but rescue team never got there.
Having cycled around the world twenty years back, I would like to teach the kids here about geography and GPS. Will you please give me information on availability of GPS receivers, preferably in Bangalore?
I liked the latest copy of Gobar Times, especially the articles on Geography and GPS systems.

Dear Pandit ji,
The most popular brand of GPS receivers is GARMIN International (USA). http://www.garmin.com/
There are various models on offer ranging from the very basic (about US$60-80) to the more sophisticated ones with better user interfaces and antennae for greater accuracy, which could be US$100-300. The GARMIN E-Trex series is the most popular amongst amateurs.
You can choose according to your budget and need. It is advisable to spend a little more and get a better model. The cost of receivers is cheaper if you buy it abroad. Buying it in India would mean paying import duty costs and all making it much more expensive. Here are some contacts of GARMIN dealers in India:

Bangalore: 9343833887
Delhi: 9899676507/ 9350923666
Mumbai: 9821576333

Dear Pandit ji,
First of all, I want to congratulate you for this fabulous magazine for children on environment. It is of great help to beginners in environment sector, and focuses on the basics.
I have two questions: how can ecotourism help in sustainable development?
And are there any successful case studies of ecotourism in India, which can be replicated for other tourism centers of India?

Vikram Sethi
Via e-mail


Dear Vikram Sethi ji,
Thank you for appreciating our work. Here are the answers to your queries.
Ecological tourism, or ecotourism, is a form of tourism that is ecologically and socially conscious. It aims to minimise the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. It thus promotes environmentally and socially conscious activities such as recycling, energy efficiency, and water reuse.
Ecotourism also creates economic opportunities for local communities. For example, in countries like Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nepal, Kenya, and Madagascar, ecotourism adds a significant portion to the gross domestic product. And in Antarctica’s case, ecotourism is a part of its economic activities.
The goal of sustainable development is somewhat similar. The goal is to create and sustain development to satisfy the needs of the people by avoiding damages to the environment. Environmental sustainability, one of its main constituents, minimises environmental degradation, and reverses (ideally) its causes.
Ecotourism acts as a tool for sustainable development. It increases tourism, and at the same time sustains the environment.

India’s status:
With almost 350 species of mammals, thousand types of birds and more than 30,000 kinds of insects, India provides an unmatched scope for ecotourism. But, it is still at a very nascent stage.
There is good deal of information on ecotourism in India at www.incredibleindia.org, and you can check out various case studies at http://www.scstsenvis.nic.in/case%20studies.html