green pune movement - cdeindia.in development issue.pdfgreen pune movement ... action resource pack...

GREEN PUNE MOVEMENT

Released on 10/10/10 by ICC-CDE in response to the call by 350.org by Dr. Jayashree Firodia at the Green Pune Movement Event in Pune, India

© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA

ACTION RESOURCE PACK FOR LOCAL ISSUES

BIO DIVERSITY PARK – PUNE ISSUE

This Action Resource Pack is the first of a series of Local Issue Resources

developed by the Centre for Development Education, Pune to provide

young children an understanding of local issues, to stimulate discussion

amongst them, to help them consider various perspectives and to

express their own opinion about it.

It was released in Pune at 10:10am on 10/10/10, in response to a call by

350.org at that unique designated moment for initiating action for

climate change at a city-based event led by the Green Pune Movement –

an informal association of over 50 organisations and individuals

working towards sustainable development in Pune city.

This pack consists of materials to help young people understand the

issue, activities that use a set of cartoons and quotes loosely based on

real opinions as a stimulus for discussion and for considering their own

perspectives. The idea is for young people to think critically about a

range of opinions and to develop their own views on local issues – in this

case - the Bio Diversity Park Issue. The activity is based on the

participatory methodology ‘Open Spaces for Dialogue and Enquiry’

(OSDE) and the social interaction model, the Jurisprudential Inquiry

Model (JIM).

Centre for Development Education works with schools, colleges and the

community on projects related to global issues like climate change,

sustainable development, child rights and more. CDE currently manages

the International Climate Challenge - a project that encourages local

action among the youth aged 14 – 20 to mitigate climate change. The

ICC works alongside the EVS curriculum of over 30 schools and colleges

in Pune and Mumbai.


Words in Context

Biodiversity is the diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or in the world as a whole. Biological diversity, or "biodiversity," refers to the variety of life on earth.

Bio Diversity Reservation proposed in the Pune Development Plan for the 23 newly merged villages. This has become an issue as the law

allows 4% of construction in these

areas.

A carbon footprint is "the total set of

greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions

caused by an organization, event or

product". For simplicity of reporting,

it is often expressed in terms of the

amount of carbon dioxide, or its

equivalent of other GHGs, emitted.

For instance, the carbon footprint of

a person travelling by car everyday is

heavier than a person who travels by

bus.


Words in Context Carbon Sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs, accumulates and stores carbon compounds for an indefinite period. E.g. forests absorb the carbon dioxide emitted by the cities and human civilizations.

Clean air share is a mechanism suggested by CDSA (Centre for Development Studies and Activities -Pune) to issue shares to the citizens by creating a stake for them in the city Biodiversity Development Plan.

Climate mitigation is any action taken to permanently eliminate or reduce the long-term risk and hazards of climate change to human life, property. It is to take preventive action to reduce the carbon footprint of individuals, organisations and societies.


Words in Context

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. In CSR businesses would embrace responsibility for the impact of its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere.

Development plan is laying out a pattern of human settlement, using science, technology and resources of the time to achieve balance and create physical spaces (both built and unbuilt).

Forestry is the art and science of managing forests, tree plantations, and related natural resources. The main goal of forestry is to create and implement systems that allow forests to continue a sustainable continuation of environmental supplies and services.


Words in Context

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) includes a Mission on ‘Green India,’ that would enhance ecosystem services and focus on increasing forest cover.

The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) is an Indian government ministry. The ministry is responsible for planning, promoting, co-ordinating and overseeing the implementation of environment and forestry programmes in the country. It is responsible for conservation and

survey of the flora and fauna, forests and

other wilderness areas; prevention and

control of pollution; afforestation, and

land degradation mitigation.

A public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service (often also providing a service using that infrastructure) Example: Electricity, natural gas, water

and sewage. Telephone services may also

be included.


Words in Context

Sustainable development has been defined as balancing the fulfilment of human needs with the protection of the natural environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. In other words: development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

A national “Mission on sustainable habitat” was launched to make habitat sustainable through improvements in energy efficiency in buildings, management of solid waste and modal shift to public transport.

Step topography is created by volcanic action where lava flow creates layers of rock. This creates areas of slope interspersed (means to distribute among other things at intervals) with small flat areas which look like steps.


FACILITATORS’ NOTES

Set the scene Introduce the three ground rules recommended when exploring different perspectives. It is important to allow some time to discuss these ground rules as some participants can find them quite challenging at first sight. After discussion, invite participants to accept these ground rules for the session. Put up the ground rules so it may be seen

Introduce the case: Present the case to them and explore the two main perspectives mentioned, the differing views, the reasons and the values in conflict

Introduce the perspectives Introduce the cartoons and quotes provided. You could give a couple to each group, or give each group the whole set. You don’t need to use all of them especially if you are working with younger children.

Make them think: Who might hold this opinion? How has this perspectives been formed? What question would you like to ask him or her to understand the perspective better?

Get them to discuss: Which perspective do you identify most closely with? Why? Are there any perspectives you find particularly difficult to accept? Why? Are there any other perspectives which you think are important but are not represented here?

Let them reflect

What could the two main outcomes be? What are the desirable and undesirable consequences of the two outcomes? Could there be a third outcome - a compromising outcome?

Let them express What is your opinion on this issue? Express your voice. This activity is intended to help participants think critically about the Bio Diversity Park Issue in Pune and inspire action to bring about change in a participatory and democratic manner.


Step 1: Introduce the issue

Step 2: Discuss rules and make them

clear

Step 3: Introduce the perspectives –

ask participants to think about it

Step 4: Discuss in groups

Step 5: Reflect and Express


Presenting the case

The development plan - proposed by the Pune

Municipal Corporation for the 23 newly merged

villages - states that the areas which are hills i.e.

having a slope of 20% or greater will be reserved as

Bio Diversity Parks.

The law says that no construction can be carried out on

the hilly areas – but it can be used for agricultural

purpose, public/private parks, health clubs, public

utility services and forestry

And in any case the maximum Floor Space Index FSI

shall not increase 4%

It is important to note that we have a step topography

i.e. slopes interspersed with flat plateau-like areas

(that resemble steps) since Pune lies on the border of

the Western Ghats and the Deccan Plateau.

Now some people say that with the increasing

population of Pune, we should have constructions – 4%

- on those areas which that are flat and use this space to

create places to live in natural healthy environments.

But other people say that the hills are the lungs of Pune

and should not be constructed upon. They would

hamper the climate of Pune.


Exploring the Issue

Which are the two main

perspectives mentioned in the

case?

Why do you think they have

these differing views?

What values are these two

different sets of people

upholding?

Which are the two basic

values that seem in conflict?


RULE 1

Every individual brings to the

group valid knowledge as a result

of their own experiences and

background

This ground rule accepts that

the knowledge and views that

each person brings to the

discussion are valid and

should be respected, not

criticised as inaccurate or

wrong.


RULE 2

All knowledge is partial and

incomplete

No matter how well informed

an individual is, or how

complete a piece of research

might appear to be, there will

be aspects which have not

been considered and

information which has not

been thought about.


RULE 3

All knowledge can be

questioned

Participants are encouraged to

question all knowledge, to ask

where it originated, the

assumptions on which it is

based, and to explore

alternative interpretations and

implications.


PERSPECTIVE 1

I think that the builders and the people who want to

construct on the hills are taking us for a ride. They say

that they will construct only on 4% of the hills but

eventually will end up damaging 30 – 40% of the hills

to build roads, power-stations, sewage treatment plants

and such services.


PERSPECTIVE 2

I really don’t know what is happening? Lots of ‘rich’ people come here and say that these hills should be protected from constructions. What is wrong if there are constructions? At least the people around here will get some employment.


PERSPECTIVE 3

I suspect that the energy, water and other

resources that are now available to the

local people around the hills will be

diverted to these constructions and result

in water shortage and power-failure for

the local people.


PERSPECTIVE 4

I think that it will be good for the economy if

these hills could be developed sustainably as

resorts. Using energy efficient technologies and

renewable resources and greening the entire

hills could even help water tables to rise and

generate income for the city through eco -

tourism.


PERSPECTIVE 5

Wow! Isn’t it great to have a beautiful

house among the trees and hear birds sing!

Even spending a weekend at a resort

nearby could rejuvenate our system and

refresh it. Now we don’t have to go all the

way to Lonavala!


PERSPECTIVE 6

I think it is a money making scheme of the

builders and politicians. They have already

made up their minds to construct upon the

hills and there is little we can do to avoid

it. I don’t think citizens can take any action

to stop these policies.


PERSPECTIVE 7

I think if construction on the hills is allowed then

it will destroy some of the native endangered

species of flora and fauna. In fact, we need to create

more of these biodiversity hot spots so we can also

give enough space to other beings apart from humans

and live in harmony with nature!


PERSPECTIVE 8

The hills around Pune act as a carbon sink and

are the lungs of city. The best idea would be

to make it a biodiversity park as planned. If

we let construction happen – then trees will

be cut and this will lead to rise in temperature

in the city and other related climate

problems.


THINK

Who according to you

might hold this kind of

opinion?

How has this perspective

been formed?

What question would you

like to ask her or him to

understand the perspective

better?


DISCUSS

Which perspective do you

identify most closely with?

Why?

Are there any perspectives

you find particularly difficult to

accept? Why?

Are there any other

perspectives which you think

are important but are not

represented here?


EXPRESS

(On a piece of paper)

What are the two main decisions

one can see in this issue?

What are the desirable and

undesirable outcomes for

decision I

What are the desirable and

undesirable outcomes for

decision II

Are there any other ways in which

this issue could be resolved?

Any compromising judgment?

What is your opinion on this issue?

Let’s hear your voice...

You could mail your voice to

[email protected] before 31st Mar ’11 and

we could compile it into an interesting format so

that it is heard!!

mailto:[email protected]


Acknowledgements

Green Pune Movement

CDSA

350.org

Sapphire Graphics

Aashapura Stationary

Devendra & Ameya

ICC & CDE Team

- www.cdeindia.in

http://www.cdeindia.in/


Resource Pack developed by: Centre for Development Education

D2/3 Ratan Park – Phase II, Pashan Sus Road, Pune 411021, India W: www.cdeindia.in E: [email protected] M: +919371069730

http://www.cdeindia.in/

mailto:[email protected]

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