Black leads to Green...

I saw a mail on an egroup asking people to reduce usage of paper by switching to computers and other advanced technology. In fact the ad campaign by Idea mobile promotes the same Idea. I think its not easy to go green even if one wanted to, for the following reasons:

1. Even today, most of the legal documentation is on paper. In most of the correspondence, people insist on a hard copy as a legal requirement. So, is it not better to draft things on computer and print only the final copy. OR better still, convince legal circles to switch to a paperless world. Maybe not.

2. All our so called "advanced technology" is based mostly on coal based power. It seems browsing one page on the internet produces 7 grams of Carbondioxide. Promotion of this "sub-optimal" technology should be done only after proper analysis of environment friendliness of technology vis-a-vis alternatives. For all you know, paper might be more environment friendly than computers. We could be creating another problem for the environment in the name of saving it.

3. Use of paper is linked to literacy and economic growth. India has one of the lowest per capita usage of paper, i.e nearly 5 kg, as compared to the world average of over 50 kg.(http://www.valuenotes.com/krc/krc_ecoreview_08april05.pdf?ArtCd=34933&Cat=I&Id=) Equity issues apart, what this also means is that the majority of our population is yet to catch up with the paper world and we may create additional barriers by moving ahead to a paperless world of computers, which is known to have a huge digital barrier. Thus, unless we bridge the digital barrier, a paper less world in the name of saving the environment would be against the interests of development of majority of Indians.

While the sentiment behind the save trees campaign is to be appreciated, I think a lot of creative effort is needed to work out a solution.

In response to the above mail, a reader, Mr.Rama Krishna pointed out
"It seems you are in “divine dilemma” – whether to use paper or not. USE paper, without any guilt, if you HAVE to. But use both sides of the paper; try to use recycled paper, if possible. You may use pencil to write, instead of pen, so that you can reuse the paper. (Per capita consumption of paper is not an indication of economic growth, remotely it may be surrogate indication of literary growth).

If you are browsing, use www.blackle.com instead of www.google.com to save a few watts of clean energy. Without any guilt, use technology; haven’t you seen “kindle”, “digital clip-boards”, “teaching boards” etc. BUT, switch off your computer, monitor, lights, refrigerator, TV, fans, AC, microwave etc when not in use.

All these campaigns are not to sacrifice your pleasures, but to practice frugality.

Above all, PLANT (NEW) TREES; DO NOT CUT TREES.-----------------------------"

The catamarantimes blog which used to have a white background, is now in black, inspired by www.blackle.com.

Another example of Blacking out leading to a Greener Earth. A friend Renita, who is campaigning for the Earth Hour, writes, "The Earth Hour is being observed this year on the 27th March, Saturday from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm.http://www.earthhour.in/home.aspx

This is an "one hour" of switching off all lights to raise and spread awareness about Global Warming, what's more this very exercise works against Global Warming.

In India, the IPL is big, huge.. in fact any form of cricket is!
If the IPL were to pause for say, even 5 minutes, if an entire hour is not feasible, imagine the impact, it would have across the whole of India, and in other nations watching the telecast.
Write in, to Mr Lalit Modi, to help create an awareness against Global Warming on a scale larger than any other possible.http://www.iplt20.com/write-chairman.php
Join in the effort by observing Earth hour yourself."