Jaya's Green by Dr.Jaya Kurhekar

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Jaya's Green by Dr.Jaya Kurhekar July 03, 2019 3 Comments

To live as a tree🌲🌲🌲

It's not easy to not be free and live as a tree,
It's not easy to be one with soil, in glee,
It's not easy to loan every single breath with love,
From the wide and vast open sky above,
It's not easy to not be free and live as a tree!!

It's necessary to drench in the sun,
While someone asks for some shadow,
It's just human, to give a bit of
Cool breeze, to one who sits below,
It's not easy to give each and every one,
What one needs or is demanded, in turn!
It's not easy to not be free and live as a tree!

You can't fight with the rock below,
You can't cry if someone hurts you,
It's not easy to seal your lips,
And just tolerate everything, anew!
It's not easy to not be free and live as a tree!

You have to let go of everything that's old,
For the new, that enters the world,
You have to bear with all the seasons,
It's not easy to bury your life deep, beyond reasons!
It's not easy to not be free and live as a tree!

Dr Jaya Kurhekar,
Green Blogger

Friday, June 21, 2019

Jaya's Green by Dr.Jaya Kurhekar June 21, 2019 3 Comments

RISING SEAS

One of the most beautiful things on this earth are the oceans, which occupy a large expanse of it! As Indians, we all are proud of our northern protective mountain ranges of Himalayas, which feed seven of Asia’s large and majestic rivers; Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, Salween, Mekong, Yangtze and Huang He. Himalayas stand tall with their majestic landscape, rightly known as the ‘Water Towers of Asia’. instilling a sense of awe, wonder and amazement, spanning about 33,000 kms of glaciers. During summer, Himalayas are an important source of water for huge human population. Himalayas are presently facing the effects of climate changes and undesirable human activities and glaciers are retreating. Glaciers contribute up to 75 per cent of river water during summers and their retreat leads to freshwater scarcity during dry seasons, affecting regional agriculture and energy sources. Loss of melting water of glaciers affects downstream water flows, affecting the lives of several million Indians.

Globally too, this has a large impact!

Since 1880, global average sea level has increased 8 inches, about 7 cms over the last 22 years, due to global, regional, and local factors.

· Along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, path changes and strength of ocean currents have led to fast sea level rise.

· In East Coast and Gulf regions, subsiding land has led to ocean penetrating inland.

· Shrinking of glaciers, land ice, ice caps and sheets has speeded up.

· Loss of land ice has added about half inch to global sea level during 2003 to 2007, leading to 75 to 80 per cent of the increase.

· The long-term global sea level rise depends on heat-trapping emissions and quick response of land ice to increasing temperatures.

· Past heat-trapping emissions of gases will affect rise in sea level up to 2050, present and future emissions will affect it after 2050.

· We have already affected the environment so badly that even if emissions drop to nil, sea levels will keep rising as oceans and land ice need to adjust to the undesirable changes.

· The greatest impact will be on rate and magnitude of the loss of ice sheets, in Antarctic regions, due to the atmospheric heat-trapping emissions.

Changing sea levels are due to different reasons, but climate change is the driving force! 2 degree rise in temperature would lead to sea rise by 0.4 to 1.4 meters due to thermal expansion. Melting ice sheets add to the total amount of water in the world’s oceans, predicting a sea rise by 19 to 59 cm by 2100.

As the earth heats, sea water warms up taking up more space causing thermal expansion. Melting glaciers and ice sheets add even more water into the oceans, leading to a rise in sea level.

In winter, snows balance melting. Today, global warming has resulted in continuously elevated temperatures causing above average melting, less snowfall causing imbalance and rise in sea levels.

Massive ice shelves are weakening and breaking off because of melting. Increase in ocean's mass leads to a global sea level rise of 1.9 mms each At this rate, 6.4 meters sea level rise may be expected in upcoming years. Irreversible melting already occurred may require hundreds of years to reverse.

Rising sea levels lead to;

· Higher risks of erosion and floods,

· Damage to manmade infrastructures,

· Disturbing of delicate coastal ecosystems

· Flooding threatens human health with water-borne diseases

· Rising sea water contaminates agricultural land

· Rising sea water contaminates drinking water.

· Erodes shorelines

· Causes loss of wetland

· Allows salt water to enter fresh water bodies

· On penetrating inland, it may lead to destructive erosion

· Flooding of wetlands

· Contamination of aquifers and agricultural soils,

· Disturb habitat for fish, birds, plants.

· Large storms can submerge low-lying islands

· Coastal areas may be disproportionately affected due to ocean currents.

· This may disturb homes and livelihoods of people in coastal areas of the globe.

SOLUTIONS:

· Burn no or fewer fossil fuels.

· Curb emissions of certain pollutants

· Reduce emissions of methane, tropospheric ozone, hydro fluorocarbons and black carbon, specific pollutants which may prevent rise in sea level by about 25 to 50 per cent.

· Cut back on motor vehicle exhaust

· Curb industrial emissions, chemical solvents, windshield washer fluid, create fewer CFCs

· Cut back on smoke or soot generating activities.

Many countries have managed rising sea levels by;

· Construction of sea defences such as dams and other barriers.

· Coastal armouring is used to raise and fix shorelines in place, through seawalls or levees. Infrastructure could be designed to be elevated or buoyant to deal with rising waters.

· Developing and nurturing coastal biomes is a good protection against rising sea water. Ecosystems such as wetlands and mangrove forests protect shorelines from erosion.

In vulnerable areas, well-managed migrations and early-warning flood systems are needed to help people threatened by rising sea levels.

Over the long term, scientists warn that the only way to limit sea level rise will be to drastically reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases dangerously warming the planet, though already significant irreversible damage has been done.

We tend to attribute all this to "climate change", which is deceptive! We should now pledge to stop using the term “climate change” and start using the words increasing global warming or disturbed climate to describe the destruction caused by global warming primarily due to human activities like burning of fossil fuels.

The choices we make today, the life style we adopt today, the habits we inculcate in ourselves today, will determine how the sea level rises this century, how fast it occurs and how much time we really get to protect our communities!

Dr. Mrs. Jaya Vikas Kurhekar,

Green Blogger

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Jaya's Green by Dr.Jaya Kurhekar June 01, 2019 0 Comments

WE REALLY CAN DO IT !!!

I came across news which caught my eyes and made me introspect! Why are we really playing with nature? Are we doing it for a few dimes? Is it worth it? When we enjoy nature, its color, its fragrance and its innumerable blessings, are we not responsible for keeping it safe and as it is? How many of us really think in this way?

Farming and agriculture without using any chemicals is not a new thing now. Many conscientious farmers are already seriously implementing it. A farmer in Alewa, district Jind, in Panipat, state Uttar Pradesh, a farmer Mr. Joginder Singh, for the last eight years, is reaping sugarcane, Grains, wheat, maize, vegetables along with other produce, without using any sort of sprays or chemicals. He insists that he gets the same amount of produce as others and since he uses no chemicals, gets good money for his produce.

He believes in not interfering with the nature. He wonders why, when all farmers, fifty five years back could do it, we cannot do farming without any chemicals. He himself has not used even a drop of chemical in his own farms. He states that the number of earthworms has increased and the produce hasn’t decreased too. From his own experience, he is sure that if the irrigation is proper, quality of seeds is good, timing of all agricultural procedures is proper; the produce will not be diseased. In the process of killing the harmful living beings, using chemical pesticides, we are killing the beneficial ones too. Its better not to kill even the harmful ones, than killing all of them!

He reveals his secret of good agricultural practice saying that he prepares a mixture of five liters of cow urine, five to seven liters of cow dung, one kilogram of old jaggery, 250 grams of any cereal flour, 250 grams of soil dug from below peepal or banyan tree, mixed in 200 liters of water. The mixture is gelled well in summers for three days and in winter for seven days. During irrigation period, this mixture is added to the water and provided directly to the crops, which has been proved beneficial.

He confessed attending the lectures of Dr Surendra Dalal, implementing whatever was taught there and getting very good results. Whatever knowledge he received, he practically used and got very good results. Now he is doing farming without any chemical pesticides. He is trying to motivate other farmers towards following him. A few of his followers are happy that they are saving on the expensive pesticides. They also realized that they are getting better produce and better money for their produce as organic products are more in demand!

Green Blogger

Dr Mrs. Jaya Vikas Kurhekar

Sunday, May 19, 2019

Jaya's Green by Dr.Jaya Kurhekar May 19, 2019 0 Comments

GOOD NEWS FOR THE VEGGIES, ADD THESE TO YOUR DIETS,

YOU WILL NEVER FEEL LEFT OUT, THEY ARE FULL OF ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS!

Nine vegetarian foods that must be added to a veg or non-veg diet!

1. Arrow Root:

Existing in rhizomes of tropical plants,

Powder of roots contains gluten-free starch,

Can be used in place of corn starch and gelatin,

Gelatin; Oh its animal derived protein!

Thickens jellies, soups and gravies,

Ideal for weak guts and good for tummies!!

2. Beet Root:

Lovely, blushy, red colored beet root,

Is a medicinal plant, high in sugar,

Edible tap root portion of the plant,

Keeps you away from inflammation and fever;

Full of anti-oxidants, Vitamin B6 and C,

Provides fiber, folic acid, iron, Mn and Mg free,

Low cal protein supplement,

Protects from dementia and keeps immunity strong,

Controls blood pressure,

Keeps bones, nerves, muscles tight all along!

3. Jack Fruit:

Huge greenish, prickly fruit, tough on the outside,

Golden yellow, sweet, groovy and delicious from inside;

Raw, when cooked, delicious as meat,

Provides, protein, starch, Vitamin A, B, C and fiber fit;

Found in ample in ghats and rain forests,

Ca, Cu, K supplements, rich in the harvest.

Helps in digestion and aids in bowel movements,

Known to increase sperm counts,

Giving happy moments!

4. Legumes:

Fruits, seeds, pulses are included in legume,

Cloves, peas, chick peas peanuts, beans in bloom;

α α, tamarind, lentil and soya beans,

All suppress appetite, a choice over meat lean!

High protein, low glycemic index, good for diabetic,

Low fat, low cal, high complex carb, fiber and folate rich!

Good for weight loss, satisfies hunger,

Increases BMR, good for pregnant mother!

5. Mushrooms:

Agaricus bisporus, Toad stools, as they are commonly named by,

Fleshy, spore bearing fruiting bodies of gilled fungi!

Rich in Energy, Vitamins, selenium, Cu, K and water,

They are the meats of the vegetarian world!

They can be sautéed and baked and added to a meal,

Giving a rich, crispy taste and a fibery feel!

6. Nuts and Seeds:

Though they are nuts, they really power pack nutrients in nuts and seeds,

High in fats of healthy type omega 3, ful filling human needs,

Low cal, high proteins, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol,

Just a handful keeps you healthy and fit, overall!

They can be soaked overnight to neutralize enzyme inhibitors,

Good anti-oxidants, advised in diabetes and certain cancers!

High in Vitamin E, Mg and minerals,

Seeds of hemp, flax, sesame, sunflower, shia, pumpkin,

Nuts of pea, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, hazel, cashews, pine!

7. Paneer:

Paneer is the unaged, non-melting, farmers’ cottage cheese,

Made from cow or buffalo milk, curdled with lime juice,

Rich source of fats, moisture, lactose and proteins,

Used in place of meats, in many veg cuisines!

Rich in aroma, taste and different flavors,

Types depending on various types of molds and fungus,

Paneer varieties depend on milk fats and aging,

A mild milk product, garnished as per your liking!

8. Soya Beans:

Beans of soya, high protein content and fat free,

Hard to cook, have to be first sautéed in glee,

High carbs, water, ash, rich source of minerals and vitamins,

Essential nutrients, fiber, Iron, Phosphorous and albumins;

Great substitute for animal meat,

High protein diet that vegetarians can eat!

9. Tofu:

Bean curd or Tofu is soyabean milk paneer neat,

Soft or firm, prepared by curdling it!

It has a subtle cheesy flavor, used in savory and sweet dishes,

Low cal high protein, reducing incidences of heart diseases!

High protein, high Fe, ca and Mg, reducing cholesterol,

A cooling agent, good for spleen, detoxifies the body overall!

It contains high amount of Sulphur containing cysteine,

Good for alcohol detox, making liver clean!

Dr Jaya kurhekar,

Green Blogger

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Jaya's Green by Dr.Jaya Kurhekar May 12, 2019 0 Comments

Hello friends,

This is another issue, which is very close to my heart! We should not waste food! Throwing food takes only a few minutes, but bringing it to your table, in a palatable form, takes months!
Ploughing, sowing, then plants erupting, ready crop, reaping, thrashing, cleaning and final product takes about 132 days; so also cooking takes a lot of our time! Food can be thrown in a minute, but it takes years, sometimes, to grow the food that we eat. So think twice, before throwing the food away!

Besides, there are so many deprived people on this planet, who don’t get to eat properly, twice a day; malnourished children, who die because of being deprived of proper nutritious food! On this background, we see so many people around us, who, fill up their plates in functions, without understanding their own capacity to eat and later on, throw everything left over! We should be aware of the situation we are facing, the significance of sustainable utilization of resources, before taking any such step!
Before we complain about t taste of our food, we have to think of those, who have nothing to eat!

Have a nice summer vacation, enjoy, but please don’t waste food, which is ultimately wasting of natural resources, which are fast depleting!

Dr Jaya Kurhekar,

Green Blogger

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Jaya's Green by Dr.Jaya Kurhekar May 05, 2019 0 Comments

Trees are our greatest friends!

Mango, Peepal, Holy Basil, Azadirachta indica, Ficus microcarpa give us oxygen for 24 by 7. In India, in all religious functions, mango leaves are tied everywhere in the house and twigs are burnt in holy fire. All these trees have their own benefits, which are advantageous for the mankind. They are anti-microbial, air purifiers, air-coolers and more.

We should plant more and more trees of this kind and surround ourselves with them!
In Hindu scriptures, tree cutting is a big crime!
Trees give oxygen to breathe, fruits and medicines, keep temperatures cool, support life, give wood for furniture, air for vehicles, clean the atmosphere by giving pure and cool air, absorb harmful gases and circulate various elements in the environment.

See their fantastic benefits!!!

Dr Jaya Kurhekar

Green Blogger

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Jaya's Green by Dr.Jaya Kurhekar May 02, 2019 0 Comments

DEAREST MOTHER EARTH!!!

Dr Jaya Kurhekar,

Sangli, Maharashtra,

India, Earth,

Dated: Today

Dearest Mother Earth,

Greetings and holy tribute to you!

I am penning down my heartfelt emotions, pent up within me, for a long time now. Mother, we are all your children. You know all of us very well and I am sure, as you have always done, you will forgive all of us, for all the sins we are committing.

You are our dear mother; you have given birth to us! You are the one supporting us! We are surviving in your lap, working with your strong support, seeking solace in your embrace. You are so loving, so caring, so pure and so natural. And yet, here we are, so cruel, so inhuman and so greedy!

We rely on your oceans to provide us with abundant fish, marine flora and fauna. We depend on your forests for food, wood and medicines. We depend on your rivers, streams and lakes for water, our life line!

Our expectations and livelihoods are based on the hope and surety that you and your environment will always support us!

Sometimes I feel we are taking everything too much for granted. Your “free services and resources” are the invisible foundation that supports our societies, our economics and our endeavours. Yet, our economies are unwittingly encouraging us to misuse and destroy nature. The “free services” so graciously endowed by you are undervalued. Your most valuable goods and services like water bodies are being utilized very poorly. The worst part is that, the same activities that pollute and deplete your natural capitol, are being acclaimed and highlighted as major contributions to our economic well being!

Mother, you have been so kind to us! You have always provided us raw materials, purified and regulated our water supplies, absorbed and decomposed our wastes, cycled nutrients, created and maintained soils, provided pollination and pest control, regulated global and local climates, your gifts to us, humans, are unending!

Forests in your lap supply us timber, provide habitat for insects and birds that pollinate crops and control pests. They also resist the impact of rainfall, reducing its force, by the time it reaches the ground, decreasing the amount of soil erosion. Roots hold soil in place. Forests help in recycling, pumping, stabilizing water and climate. Oxygen, the life line of humans, is created by plants. Cutting down of trees, for use as timber, is the least profitable and least sustainable use of a forest.

Honey bees are on e of the important family members of the forests. Their service as pollinators is much more valuable than the honey they collect. Unfortunately, theses bees are being intensely exposed to pesticides and herbicides and their population is depleting rapidly.

Our indiscriminate cutting down of forests, indiscriminate use of vehicles, fertilizers, pesticides etc has irreversibly destroyed your environment, dear mother! We are now becoming aware of it and are trying to spread this message to mankind, all over the world.

We can always encourage more planting of trees and forests, which have always supported our livelihood. Harvested forest wild goods can provide food and income security. They have always been a part of our flexible and sustainable livelihood systems. Vegetables, fruits, fish, dyes, medicines, materials for weaving and thatching are all products that can provide an earning. Wild mushrooms collection, natural wood that can be woven into furniture, can provide some alternatives.

Mother, your natural ecosystems have been extensively degraded, fragmented, converted and stripped off its diversity and services. Nature’s products and valuable services are getting lost with them too. Birds, insects, worms, microorganisms, though small in size and seemingly insignificant, are of enormous values. Can you ever forgive us, for creating adverse conditions for them to thrive?

Although late, I still feel that everything is not lost! As the wise say, its better late than never!! We must support and protect our natural resources providers by protecting their habitat! Avoiding till farming methods, substantial reduction in the use of agricultural chemicals, allowing under ground economy of nature to flourish, protecting migratory routes, saving nectar corridors, creating buffer areas for trees, protecting havens of resident and migratory birds, insects and animals, reducing erosion, controlling pollution are some methods to help our helpers.

Markets can be formed and policies can be created, keeping in mind, the value of nature, maintaining the ecosystem services and processes. Ground water, the life line of human beings and all life on earth, should be appropriately valued.

In our short sighted approach, we have forgotten to look beyond us! We have the minimum moral responsibility of ensuring that our future generations will get at least the same level of nature’s services that we are enjoying today. We must take care of what legacy we leave behind us. Are we being so selfish that we can’t even think of our children? We need to change our attitudes and practices. We have to live within the carrying capacity of our supporting systems. WE have to learn that we can take from thee and thy atmosphere, only so much that we can return back to you!

O Mother Earth,

“What of thee I dig out,

Let that quickly grow over

Let me not hit thy vitals or thy heart!”

I am truly sorry for all that we have done but I also promise to make a beginning towards repairing the damage.

Always yearning for your love, my dear mother,

Yours Loving,

Daughter.

To,

Mother Earth,

C/O Universe,

Milky Way.