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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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?
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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!
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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!
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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.
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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?
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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?
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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!!
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
Acknowledgements
Green Pune Movement
CDSA
350.org
Sapphire Graphics
Aashapura Stationary
Devendra & Ameya
ICC & CDE Team
- www.cdeindia.in
© Centre for Development Education, Pune, INDIA
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