SWITCH off everything that runs on electricity for an hour on December 15: that’s what Mumbai Unplug — a group of young professionals — wants the entire city to do to draw attention to global warming.
For a cause
Keith Menon, Shiladitya Chakraborty, Neil Quraishy, Anuradha Jasol, Priyanjali Ghose, Karthik R and Aviral S, founder members of Mumbai Unplug, were inspired by the success of Earth Hour observed in Sydney earlier this year on March 31 when the city switched off power for an hour. Mumbai Unplug has named its initiative Batti Bandh.
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SWITCH off everything that runs on electricity for an hour on December 15: that’s what Mumbai Unplug — a group of young professionals — wants the entire city to do to draw attention to global warming.
For a cause
Keith Menon, Shiladitya Chakraborty, Neil Quraishy, Anuradha Jasol, Priyanjali Ghose, Karthik R and Aviral S, founder members of Mumbai Unplug, were inspired by the success of Earth Hour observed in Sydney earlier this year on March 31 when the city switched off power for an hour. Mumbai Unplug has named its initiative Batti Bandh.
47 Comments
Tell a friend
Bury
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Are they going to do a raasta-roko to stop cars and vehicles as well ?
Batti bandh and all such kinds will get good TRP ratings and advertisement space nothing else, it cannot help global warming issue by a inch.
Until US signs kyoto pact global warming will remain as a problem
I agree with you Kiran, but you see the intention doesn't seem to be what you think it is. They are just trying to draw attention of the entire city to global warming. Most of the people in the city, don't even know that such a term exists.
lostwanderer seems to get the point already ..i'd like to know kiran ..what are your apprehensions about a movement like this and how do you figure that this has something to do with trp's
and meekon no we are not going to do a raasta roko. all we want to do is make you take a look at the world and realize that at the rate we are going we will not have a future unless we make certain changes in the way we live ...batti bandh is a movement for and by mumbai and all we are doing is educating people about global warming in an effort to have everyone proactivley making a difference for the better
Well you should ;-)
Voluntary shutting off of electricity is fine for Australia and the west ... In India you have to shout in order to be heard... else you are just another lost voice in the din.
Global Warming is a serious issue, much serious in implication than most people who themselves known about the term itself can makeout. Global Warming has already started showing its implications in terms of Fast Glacier Meltdowns e.g. glaciers in Himalayas which support great rives like Ganges are fast melting down.
I dont think we need to look at all initiatives from a possible negative angle, but then all such initiatives are prone to negative speculations, so Neil we have to live with it.
Also as Kiran rightly pointed out, Until US signs kyoto pact global warming will remain as a problem.
Yes, you are right Chetan. But, how about this .... what if India, stands as an example for all those bigger countries who do not want to agree with the pact for all their selfish reasons.
Let India first attain developed status... then let us start setting examples for others !
I want to live in a developed India ... within my lifetime.
You know meekon, even I strongly intend to live in a developed India just like you and several others. We have the potential, and we are on the path to our goal.
But, I some how tend to disagree with the rest of your statement. I think, once you grow it is very difficult to change. If you can shape up things while you are evolving, things would be much easier later. We also need to foresee and build a base for our long term goals while achieving our immediate initiatives. If we do not act now, then maybe we could be able to see a developed India, but our childrens/grandchildrens may not even survive to speak about out efforts.
Developed world will be on other planets by the time we evolve ;-)
http://timeforchange.org/CO2-emissions-by-country
Check BOTH the charts to get things in the right perspective
Western media allways harps on the first chart only...
I agree with lostwanderer. Developed India is not a state I guess Its an Attitude. I dont think its only a responsibilty of our political leaders to take India to A status called Developed.
To solve any issue I guess The first step is to create An awareness abt it and I guess Thats exactly what Mr.Neil and his friends are doing.It might appear as a small start or step but I guess few more steps like this might help in adressing issues like this.
But I have one question How & who will create an awareness among our political leaders.who ek khavat hai na."Soye hue ko jagaya ja sakta hai Par sone ke dhong karne wale ko koi kaise jagayega :) :(
Oh dont get me wrong. I am not against the idea.
In fact i am happy about it but not for the reason you think.
I live in Mulund and we have to face long powercuts almost every day.
I will really be happy if Mumbai agrees to voluntary load-shedding for an hour everyday
:-)
Right Funholic who will create awareness amoung our politicians...they r not even aware of the problems of their constituencies. Besides Global warming is Global issue [i do know it is a seroius one]...wont it be better if we concentrate on the problems here..create more awareness about those.
ha meekon jee as far as facing long powercuts is concern
then even we are SamaDukhi :) Dombivali is even more worst than Mulund in this case :( and I will be happy too if ur idea on load-shedding is implemented :)
Global warming is not a new concept, but it is an eventuality that we aren’t paying much attention to. It is happening right now and India is drastically affected. Millions of people are staring it in the face and they do not even know it. For instance – The Gangotri glacier that provides water to over 50 million people and is considered sacred by over 500 million indians is drying up at an unprecedented rate. It is retreating/drying up by 30 meters every year. Since 1977 until 1990 alone it had retreated by more than 364 meters.
Mumbai Unplug / Batti Bandh is an initiative taken in order to educate the masses and make them aware of their contribution to the deteriorating conditions of not only Mumbai but India and the world. All one has to do is switch off all electricals for 1 hour on December 15th between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Just one hour of sacrifice will go a long way in not only reducing pollution in Mumbai considerably but also make a statement and set an example for the world. This one hour can become a regular feature in households not only around Mumbai but India and the world. Sydney did it for one hour and achieved great results – and they were just 2.2 million people.
There are 22 million people and increasing per day in Mumbai. We have united at times of need and stood against the worst – Together. Today we face the greatest threat that this world has ever faced. This city needs to unite again and stand up for the cause. We are attempting to educate the citizens of our city and nation. We have lived beautiful lives and witnessed many a sunset and sunrises; let’s leave a legacy that coming generations are proud of and not disappointed with.
We are not part of any organization and neither are we sponsored. We do not need money or sponsorship, all we need is support. We have managed to gain the support of many corporate companies, celebrities in all fields as well as media houses spanning all fields. Everyone has taken a stand against global warming and has supported this initiative. We need examples. We need your support.
Unplug on December 15th between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Take a stand.
Unplug
Can anyone please explain, how saving electricity helps in preventing global warming?
As I understand the ways of generating electricity can be harmful not its carry nor its use specifically in light!
Better would be turnoff refrigerators, ACs and fuel based items e.g. cooking gas, petroleum based vehicles etc. which are direct source of harmful gases leading to global warming.
I agree with you saurabh and secondly its not an original idea as "they were inspired by the success of Earth Hour observed in Sydney " . So these bunch of guys just want "publicity via electricity" :)
Anyways but I would request you guys one thing becore going home please shut down your office machines cause if you leave it on its a wastage of power and if you stay close to office buy a cycle and goto office that way you will be helping in the cause and it will keep you in shape too .:)
Thats right spirit, saving energy not for just an hour but everyday; appreciated. Shutting PCs will definately save lot of energy. Those who want to keep programs running at next login can go for hibernating.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/getstarted/hibernate.mspx
Those who cant shutdown/hibernate for some reason should at least turnoff monitor. I use e-bike for travelling to office, that helps reducing onroad pollution.
I use e-train ... apna Western Railways yaar.
Over packed, under ventilated but hey its not adding to global warming... not unless you add up all that packed, sweaty body-heat... also some fans inside are already unplugged
:-)
We have screwed around with the planet big time and so what is required is major repair work.
Read an interesting proposal in the papers couple of months back.
Check it out at :- http://www.indiaenews.com/business/20070904/68540.htm
Explained in a little more technical detail at http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/aug102007/298.pdf
Worth a thought eh ?
WE ALL R GONNA DIE SOMEDAY .... BETTER SOON THAN NEVER :)
Pavwala jee There is a saying "Only Good people die at young and early age " :-D. I don't know abt others but no one from this katta is going to die soon ok.So that means we have to stay here only.Thats why manish bhau said we require a major repair work.
Did any of you guys see this program ?
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/245963.html
Considering that Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia is Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission it is very significant about what the Indian goverment feels about it.
It was the US-Australia which didn't sign up at the Kyoto meet.
This time it is going to be India who is going to raise objections at the major meet which is going to take place at Bali in this month.
US is at the top in emission of greenhouse gases and they will never sign the kyoto pact. They basically cannot do anything against the Coal Industry and the power sector responsible for 80% of emission. Israel lobby is too big to experiment with for us. Australia signing or not signing doesn't matter, they are in opposite group just to give some company to the US.
Right. I agree with Kiran.
Americans are never willing to compromise on their lifestyle.
Australia always sides with the US ever since the yanks saved their asses from the Japs during WW2.
The Europeans make the right noises at conferences in the mornings and go right back to their comfortable lifestyles in the evenings.
The Chinese are going to do their thing until they become a developed country. They don't and won't care what the rest of the world says.
The Gulf's survival depends upon the oil and gas which they supply to the west and the rest.
Africa ? Well who cares about Africa except Bono and his band.
Guess it is up to Asia and India.
And if it is India then who else but aamchi Mumbai to show the way...
:-|
Surprise, Surprise.
The Fosters boys finally saw the light...or felt the heat.
The Aussie goverment has signed and ratified the Kyoto treaty yesterday (the first day of the Bali conference)
Now it's the US on one side against the rest of the world.
This is turning out to be more interesting that the India-pak test series.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/All_Bali_summit_participants_should_commit_to_binding_cuts/articleshow/2596748.cms
Australia and other 'developed' countries like Japan are trying to force all countries to accept 'voluntary emissions targets' as demanded by US.
It will be very bad if this union of nations becomes as ineffective as the UN due to power blocs and politics :-(
This all is really a time pass ... power sector in US a.k.a. Jewish Lobby a.k.a. Tel Aviv gives _|_ to all this. They all think that it is just a publicity stunt for Rock stars and Hollywood celebrities.
On a different note this is actually a joke, they are debating over Post-Kyoto pact which is ending in 2012. During all this time U.S. was all time defaulter as per kyoto pact .. but thats not a serious issue. And the "voluntary emission targets" .. haha .. is something they want to impose on develop countries after kyoto pact is over. So crucks of the matter is .. after 2012 there is no kyoto pact (nobody bothered even when it existed) .. and after that just to make a joke out of it .. U.S. and its friends will voluntarily set their targets for emission of greenhouse gases .. Cheers !!!
'US a.k.a Jewish library' .... library ???
Yaar Kiran ye baat samjah nahin aayi..can you explain?
Anyway i think it is not a time pass or joke. It's just business, plain and simple.
The new 'Carbon Credit Market' is the hottest market. So if you have money to spare then invest in this bazaar. Superb returns guaranteed !
The developed countries are basically saying to developing countries that - "Boss we can't stop our industralised lifestyle. What price do you want to stop yours ?"
They are giving monetary compensation to maintain their emission levels.
So basically this conference is reduced to just haggling over the price.
Ganda hai par dhanda hai ye.
Library .. Haha .. i don't know what i was thinking then. I meant lobby.
Surprising... The Euro guys are talking tough to Big Brother USA :-)
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/13/climate.conference.ap/index.html
On December 15 that is tommorow Mumbai will go off the grid. It will be unplugged. Batti Bandh ... so i have decided to bring this story in light again for those who don't know what it is all about.
'tommorow Mumbai will go off the grid' ... is it official declared ?
I have heard sirens are going to sound off to remind people to shut off but i have not heard that mumbai is going off the grid ! ??
Thanks for "enlighting" us Kiran.(pun intended)
Tomm I want www.marathikatta.com down cause I want even the servers of this site to be down.
We don't even need sirens I guess to remind to shutoff Regular 3 hours load shedding will do that for us once in morning and once in evening.
And we have invertor which runs on battery. batti bandh says "SWITCH off everything that runs on electricity for an hour" So ;)
Mandavli ho gaya
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7145544.stm
As kiran said it turned out to be a big joke or time-pass !
The only warming they agreed on seems to be the sun-soaked beaches they enjoyed using their goverments money (out of the tax which we pay).
Biggest winner was Indoneasia.... it got so many tourists :-)
Biggest losers are us ... who are going to do batti bandh !
We are ALL losing this war yaar. There are going to be no winners...
That's what has to be shown to them tonite - 'Darkness'
Maybe this darkness will help them see the light. After all everything is possible with people-power - even something as improbable as Virar trains running empty ;-)
With the lights off.. Its less dangerous .. Here we are now entertain us .. iam stupid and contegious .. HEY HEY HEY ..
I have decided to turn off the lights wherver iam .. between 7.30 to 8.30. PM
Be in Mantralaya or BMC head office... there will be no one else there except cleaning staff and havaldars... but all the lights will be on as usual.
You can have nice time-pass turning them off while singing your song.
Let me know if you want me to join you ;-)
I guess it didn't happen.
At least not in most areas of Borivali to Andheri (English papers anyway consider Mumbai to be only from Colaba to Mahim...)
So what's next ?
It didn't get much response in our area.
There was just one more flat in our building where the lights were out. It turned out later that the family had gone out for movie & shopping at a nearby mall..
POPAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So how many of katta waalas did it ?
I was in office meeting with a client delegation. Not US but Dutch..doesnt make much difference, all goras are the same.
Needless to say all lights were full on, ACs were on, Projector was on, PCs were on... and my big boss was full-to ON trying to impress them.
Back home the lights were off but the fans were on...
So when is batti bandh this year ?