Book launch and Book Review of Pathways to the Green Cities

HELEN LAFAVE SPEAKING AT THE EVENT

On 18^th April, at Oxford Bookstore Park, Helen LaFave, the Consular General of United States of American to Kolkata and Padmini Narayanan, the first lady of West Bengal inaugurated the book - Pathways to the green cities. It deals with the problems and solutions of cities of India. The book can be downloaded online without any cost. The book launch was conducted by Earth Day Network-India.

Growing out of the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, Earth Day Network (EDN) networks with over 22,000 partners in 192 countries to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. The theme for Earth Day 2014 and 2015 is Green cities. 

The book contains 24 success stories aka Case Studies from 13 cities across India on innovative strategies that have already been implemented to make cities greener. Speaking on the Occasion, Helen LaFave said “The best part of this case study is that even small ideas, one day becomes a big idea”. She added. All the guests of the evening were presented a sapling on the eve of Earth Day.

BOOK REVIEW

The book presents 24 case studies from 13 countries across India on innovative strategies that have already been implemented to make cities greener. Many of these are related to water and waste management. Others to increasing the green cover, developing green buildings, traffic control, reduction of air pollution, use of renewable energies, and the judicious use of natural resources. Excerpts from few case studies are stated below.

Where have all the parks gone?

Centre for Contemporary communications conducted a survey of parks/open areas in Kolkata that indicated that many had ‘vanished’. Working with NGOs, efforts have been made to reclaim some areas and prevent other parklands from being urbanized.

Sustainable Hawking

Local Governance Network helped relocate street hawkers in Bhubaneswar to specifically designed vending zones, thereby freeing up pedestrian areas. Moreover they advocated conversion to the more efficient energy lighting and lowered the carbon footprint and saved 1500 tonnes of C02 in 2010.

Improving Livelihoods and Localities 

Waste Warriors developed a partnership model with business located in Anekant Palace, Dehradun, to clean the area of garbage. The success of the project has inspired the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority to fund a 7 km Clean Zone Project, along with same lines.

Rag pickers Turn Entrepreneurs

South Asian Forum for the environment has empowered rag pickers to turn trash into cash. They helped them develop business acumen and the waste recycling project has inspired the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority to fund a 7 Km Clean Zone Project, along with same lines.

Urban Forests

Afforestt turns urban spaces into miniature forests as alternative to the water-guzzling lawns and decorative plants that dominate artificially laid out landscapes in some metro cities.

The People`s lake

Puttenahalli Neighborhood Lake Improvement Trust has rejuvenated their neighborhood lake and become the first citizen custodians of a ‘saved’ lake in Bangalore. In just five years, the once marshy dumping ground is now teeming with aquatic and avian life. The lake is today recharging the water table. Avian and other species have returned to the area. 

The book is written in simple language and the best part, you don`t need to pay anything to buy it. 

Ratings :- 9.5/10