| Organic education |
 |
| This is about my school. I am
Bala from Kodaikanal. Our School is located in a beautiful valley, where a river runs
through our campus. Mr Brian Jenkins is the principal of our school. He thought he would
make a learning centre for the local children of Kodaikanal and for people all around the
world. About 35 of us are studying in the school. There are seven students to a teacher.
So the teachers can easily interact with students and become their friends. We have both
day scholars and residential students.
We also have a "mature" student programme for
those above the age of 18 and they learn about Organic Agriculture and Appropriate
Technology. We grow vegetables of all kinds in a 100% organic farm where no chemicals are
used. There are beans, cabbage, broccoli and lots more for our kitchen. We sell it to some
hotels too. We also grow fruits like oranges and guavas.
We are not connected to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board
and we make our own electricity by solar power. We get power from air, water and the sun.
We have about 70 solar panels and a micro hydro (small hydro plant) that runs on water. We
also have a wind generator. The school, farm and the appropriate technology centre
together are known as CLOAAT (Centre for Learning Organic Agriculture and Appropriate
Technology).
Bala (Aged 14)
Sholai School
Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu |
We want to buy the series of booklets reviewed in the June 30 issue of
GT. We require the address of the Development Research Communication and Services Centre.
You are requested to provide us with the complete address of the Salwan Public School to
enable us to contact them.
TS Aulakh
All India Pingalwara Charitable Society
Amritsar, Punjab
GT replies: Please
contact: ENRE Project, CDRSC, 58A Dharmatola Road, Bose Pukur, Kasba, Kolkata 700042.
Phone: 033 – 24427311, 033-24411646.Email: enre_sc@vsnl.net
For the details of the National Conference on water and waste
management you can contact the principal at:
Salwan Public School
Rajinder Nagar,
New Delhi
I visited the Centre for Science and
Environment office in Delhi and learnt a lot there. I saw slides with very interesting
rainwater harvesting structures in villages. But I really liked the set of two
photographs. The first showed mountains that were bare. The second showed how the use of
stones to catch water transformed them into lush green spots in 3-4 years. I could not
believe my eyes. I also saw informative posters on air pollution.
Avneet Singh
New Delhi
Thank you for answering my questions in
the last issue of Gobar Times. I am a research student in the School of Plannning (at the
Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology). I had to answer some questions during a
presentation on "Environment Movement and Campaign in India". Your information
confirmed that I had given the right answer. GT is a marvellous magazine and the way it
handled its target group (children) is remarkable.
Vikram Sethi
Ahmedabad
You have opened my eyes by informing
about the toxicity in toys made of PVC because these toys can cause damage to kidneys,
liver and sex organs if ingested by chewing. I am now substituting these toys with the
matchbox toys that you have recommended. I can rest assured that if my child licks the
matchbox, there will be no toxicity. If he ingests the tiny pebbles, he won't choke. And
the split bamboo stick won't blind him accidentally!
Amar H.
Via Email
I am fond of your magazine Gobar Times
and whenever I get a new issue, I find something new to learn. I thank you and your team
for this effort and wish to read it for years to come. Could you please help me on the
details of a workshop on "Environmental awareness" which I am planning for
students of Class IX and X. What topics should I include and how much detail can be
delivered?
Dr Kalyan Adhikari, Secretary
Durgapur Centre for Environment and Ecology
GT replies: We
thank you for your interest in Gobar Times. It will be difficult to give the details in
the limited space we have here. Why don’t you check out the "Environmental
Educational" programme on the CSE website (www.cseindia.org), which is a storehouse
of information on such matters and will be of help.
