Preservation and Conservation of Water

2^nd Meeting updates of youth network

Date: 27-28th April 2013      

Place: DEEDS org Training Campus, Hunsur, D : Mysore

Organised By: Nisarga Foundation & DEEDS, Hunsur

Supported by: Tdh – Germany / AEI

No of Youth Participated: Male:  30     Female:  20        Total; 50 , others: 16 Total: 66

No of NGO’s Participated: 14

No of district Youth Participated: ( Dharwad 8, Belguam 4, Bellary 16, Davangere4, Bangalore 4, Mysore 6, Bijapur  4, Mandya 2 )

Mr. Ravi Kumar is known as “Mysore’s lake saver, a man who has made it his mission to preserve the city’s ecosystem through its wetlands” was the Resource Person for this meeting. He shared with the youth  group the importance of conservation and preservation of water and direct and Indirect usage of Water- “FOOT PRINTS “

Direct and Indirect usage of Water- “FOOT PRINTS “

The Ecological Footprint, as defined by the Ecological Footprint standards which calculates how much biologically productive area is required to produce the resources for the human population and to absorb its carbon dioxide missions. Consistency across applications will encourage even more widespread adoption of the Ecological Footprint, increasing its effectiveness as a catalyst for a sustainable future. Different end-use categories (food, shelter, mobility, goods and services), calculates how much biologically productive area is required to produce the resources for the human population and to absorb its carbon dioxide emissions. Consistency across applications will encourage even more widespread adoption of the Ecological Footprint, increasing its effectiveness as a catalyst for a sustainable future. 

Water Foot prints:

The water foot print of a produce is the volume of freshwater appropriated to produce the produce, taking into account the volumes of water consumed and polluted in the different steps of the supply chain.  The relation between consumption and water use: "The interest in the water footprint is rooted in the recognition that human impacts on freshwater systems can ultimately be linked to human consumption, and that issues like water shortages and pollution can be better understood and addressed by considering production and supply chains as a 

whole," "Water problems are often                           

closely tied to the structure of the global economy. 

National water footprint accounting: moving beyond traditional statistics

Traditional national water use accounts only refer to the water withdrawal within a country.

They do not distinguish between water use for making products for domestic consumption and water use for producing export products. They also exclude data on water use outside the country to support national consumption. In order to support a broader sort of analysis and better inform decision making, the national water use accounts should be extended.

The water footprint of national consumption is defined as the total amount of fresh water that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the nation. It consists of two components:

• The internal water footprint, i.e. the water use inside the country,
• The external water footprint, i.e. the water use in other countries.

The water footprint within a nation is defined as the total freshwater volume consumed or polluted within the territory of the nation. It can be calculated by summing the water footprints of all water consuming or polluting processes taking place in the nation.

Therefore it is important as a consumer, we can reduce your ‘direct water footprint’ (home water use) by installing water saving toilets, applying a water-saving showerhead, closing the tap during teeth brushing, using less water in the garden and by not disposing medicines, paints or other pollutants through the sink.

Your ‘indirect water footprint’ – the water consumption and pollution behind all the goods you buy – is much larger than your direct water footprint at home. You have basically two options to reduce your indirect water footprint. One option is to substitute a consumer product that has a large water footprint by a different type of product that has a smaller footprint. Examples: eat less meat or become vegetarian, drink tea instead of coffee, or even better drink plain water. And replacing cotton clothes by clothes from artificial fibre saves a lot of water.  But this approach has limitations, because you may find it difficult to drastically change your consumption pattern. 

Photos

Youth Network 1st meetig Report main points and some photos

1st Youth Network meetig on "Understanding of the environment and its inter-relationship with man"  held on 19-20th January 2013 in Gramchetna Training Centre, Surshettykoppa, T: Kalghtagi District: Dharwad organised by KIDS Dharwad

There were 65 participants of which 52 were youth from various districts of the state and the rest were staff accompanying these youth from the concerned organizations. Main sessions of the youth network programme

1. Context setting and purpose of the programme in relation to ecological rights

2.The issues: Environment, ecology and Social issues

3.The youth groups sharing their understanding on the growing trends, development in the country, violations and threats which they come across

4.Identifying & prioritizing the areas of concern

5.Action plan

The context to develop an understanding about the holistic and inter related existence of humankind with the eco system:

Today, our world is on the brink of destruction and if we don't ACT NOW we would be committing global suicide.  Environmental education and understanding will make us aware about the environmental problems that are looming over our heads and will equip us with knowledge to overcome these

problems.

Children and young people, who are the future of tomorrow, have a critical role to play in making this world a better place to live in.  They can act only if they understand why environmental problems arise and how they should be tackled.  Environmental education will sensitise them towards their environment and develop in them necessary skills and attitudes to work together and individually for better man-nature relationship.

In our country, environment has been accorded a very high place in the scheme of things.  Our poets, philosophers and saints have always emphasized that human beings can find happiness only by living in harmony with nature. But, with the leaps that science has taken in the modern times, and coupled with man's greed for power, prosperity and prestige, man has caused untold damage to the environment.  He has used development as a means to exploit nature to its maximum, not caring a bit for the damage it has done and is doing to humanity.  The damage that has been done to the ecosystem and biological diversity is impossible to assess and to reverse.

We have to heed to the voice of ancient wisdom.  People now feel that each one of us has responsibility to save the Mother Earth.  They have realised that progress in science and technology should be in tune with sustainable development.  Emphasis should be laid on rational consumption so that we leave a healthy and joyful life for our future generations. It is in this background that the proposed youth network is being organised by trying to bring together about 40 -50 youth from different parts of the state.  There is an understanding that the monthly meetings and sessions should facilitate their understanding of the environmental and ecological threats relating them to their own life situations.  It should help them to

design their own action programmes. It is going to be a process aimed at developing a group of youth that is aware of and concerned about the total environment and its associated problems and which has the knowledge, attitudes, commitments and skills to work individually and collectively towards the solution of current problems and prevention of new ones.  The participating youths are to develop the following qualities over a period of time.

a) An awareness of the environment and its problems.
b)Basic knowledge and understanding of the environment and its inter-relationship with man.
c)Social values and attitudes which are in harmony with environmental quality.
d)Skills to solve environmental problems.
e)A sense of responsibility and urgency towards the environment so as to ensure appropriate actions to environmental problems.

So the objectives would be - youths are supported in understanding environmental and ecological issues relating to their life situations and to support to think of alternatives and possible actions in promoting the alternatives.