April - June 2005cmsenvis.nic.in/qnewsletter/aprjune05.pdf · Mirchandani, Head Ad Sales, said that...

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In line with its global positioning, NationalGeographic Channel (NGC) today announcedthe `Think Again' tagline. Announcing this,Mr. Guy Slattery, Senior Vice-President, Creativeand Marketing, NGC International, said thenew positioning of the channel stems from itsneed to continuously stay relevant to its viewers.

The positioning ensures that NGC continues to"promote knowledge of the world and all that'sin it" while becoming more entertaining andengaging. Mr. Slattery said the channel wouldlook at commissioning more programmes ratherthan buying them off-the-shelf. He added thatthe channel had seen good growth rates inmarkets where the channel has already beenrepositioned.

Elaborating on the Indian market, Ms DilshadMaster, senior Vice-President, Content andCommunications, NGC, said that the channelwould be focusing on 3Rs - relevant, resonantand relatable. The new programming wouldinclude series such as Nat Geo Investigates, Inthe Womb, Ultimate Survivor and new episodesof Mega structures, Show Real Asia and Taboo.The channel has also tied up with the KaranJohar produced Kaal coinciding with the premierof Deep Jungle Week.

On the advertising front, NGC has managed toattract a handful of advertisers. Mr NikhilMirchandani, Head Ad Sales, said that thenumber of brands have gone up from 49 lastyear to about 140. "We are confident that thenew broad-based appeal of NGC with otherongoing sales and marketing initiatives will ensurea 200 per cent revenue growth by the end offiscal 2006," he said.��

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��A Newsletter from CMS ENVIS CENTRE on Environment and Media

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Global chip major Intel is co-operating withChina to better protect the highly endangeredgiant panda by offering real-time data andcommunication facilities to researchers.

The Wolong giant panda nature reserve insouthwest China's Sichuan province has beenfully covered by a regional telecom networkbased on Intel's centrino mobile technology, acompany official said. He said the regionaltelecom network covered the administrative officebuilding of the Wolong reserve, a giant pandamuseum, and China conservation and researchcentre for giant pandas, an open-air habitatfor the endangered species. With the broadbandnetwork, researchers are able to process real-time data on the pandas, including photos andvideo signals, around the clock at any givencorner of the nature reserve, or observe giantpanda cubs on a daily basis without having tostep out of their official Xinhua news agencyreported. Before this regional telecom networkwas launched in Wolong, communication betweenthe research center and the outside world waslimited to conventional means of access.Researchers had to walk back of their offices toprocess data or drive several kilometers to senddata to outside researchers.

"digital technology has changed communicationbetween Wolong and the rest of the world anwill help promote information sharing on giantPanda protection," director of the Wolong naturereserve, Zhang Weimien, said.

"This will not only help increase the number ofgiant pandas, but also help us manage theliving environment of giant pandas in a moreefficient manner," he said.

The giant panda is one of the world's mostrare and endangered species, with an estimated1,000 living in the mountainous regions of

Sichuan in Southwest China, and northwesternShaanxi and Gansu provinces.

Statistics from the state forestry administrationreleased last June show the number of pandasin the wild China has risen by more than 40 %from 1110 in the 1980s to 1590 nowadays,while a total of 161 are in captive breedingprogrammes world wide.

Despite the increase, the animal's existence isunder threat due to problems including loss ofhabitat and a low rate of reproduction, Chinahas 33 nature reserves with a combined areaof 3.95 million acres.

Wolong, founded in 1963, is the largest. It hasan area of 494,200 acres and owns 76 giantpandas. With 20 giant pandas on leasedoverseas, there are now only 30 giant pandasin captivity at the Wolong center. The remaining26 have been moved to the Bifeng Georgebase in Yaan, also in Sichuan province, tomake way for construction of new habitants.��

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The first CNES-Setu National Media Fellowshipfor a journalist studying issues in the North-East has gone to Nitin Sethi, a senior reporterwith the environmental magazine Down to Earth,the awards committee announced on Thursday.

The fellowship, worth Rs 75,000 and spreadover three months, is aimed at encouragingserious media research and reporting on issuesrelevant to the North-East and enabling thejournalist to apply himself or herself to an issuethat he or she has felt deeply about but hasnot had the time or opportunity to work upon.

Announcing the prize, the awards committeenoted Mr Sethi's consistent coverage of issues

A Newsletter from CMS ENVIS CENTRE on Environment and Media

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related to the region for the fortnightly magazine,the best-known advocates of strong environmentalpolicies and people-related development.

"Although the fellowship programme received anumber of excellent proposals ranging from theimpact of conflict on women to India's LookEast Policy and herbs, healers and theenvironment, the committee has picked NitinSethi for his deep insights into the challengesand problems facing the future of bamboo inthe region - production, technology, impact asa tool for self-reliance as well as its potentialfor transforming the economy of the North-Eastand its people," the committee said.

The committee comprised of Managing Trusteeof the Centre for North East Studies and PolicyResearch and Consulting Editor with TheStatesman Sanjoy Hazarika, editor of the ImphalFree Press Pradip Phanjoubam and editor ofAsom Bani, Guwahati Dileep Chandan.

It reviewed the applications at a meeting inShillong last week before taking a decision.��!��

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Hyderabad: Akash, the indigenously built mediumrange software driven surface-to-air missile, whichis equipped to provide communication andintelligence information to the defence forcescould be used for disaster management, theDRDL Director Prahlada said at a press conferencehere.

He said technological support could be providedto coastal States to predict natural calamitieslike tsunami and coordinate rescue operationswith advanced computer software used for missiledevelopment.

The DRDL was already working with the NationalInstitute of Technology, Warangal, on evolving

an advanced disaster management course inthe wake of the tsunami tragedy, he said.

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Mr. Prahlada said DRDL could produce a broadvariety of technologies ranging from aerospacesciences to high energy materials and electronicsand instrumentation thanks to the qualitymanpower generated by the premier institutionsof the nation.

Varsities roped in several joint programmeswere taken up with various universities in theState - Hyderabad Central University, OsmaniaUniversity, Jawaharlal Nehru TechnologicalUniversity, Indian Institute of InformationTechnology (IIIT), ISB in addition to NIT, Warangaland the Andhra University - for its developmentand review systems.

Research was on in the areas of hypersonictechnologies in Osmania University, high-energymaterials and computational fluid dynamics withHyderabad Cen t ra l Un ive r s i t y andtelecommunication inscription and informationsecurity at IIIT, he added.�� "��

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New Delhi: The Centre on Monday said themedia was raising a false alarm on thedisappearance of tigers. Speaking in RajyaSabha, environment and forests minister A Rajasaid IUCN, an in international body that isstudying the issue, has said the situation in 14reserves was either good or satisfaction, "butnone of them can be termed bad". Raja saidSariska was a matter of concern but it waswrong to equate other national parks with it.

"Tigers are visible in Bharatpur, which is noteven notified as a tiger reserve," he said.IUCN, along with the Wildlife Institute of Indiawill also conduct studies in the remaining 14reserves, the minister added.


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Raja said the government was taking all precautionsto protect tigers. The ministry is planning to holda meeting of chief wildlife wardens and forestministers of all states. The government is alsoconsidering setting up forest managementcommittees in villages across the country��#��$�% ��&��

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The green brigade has something to look forwardto: the country only film festival on environmentand wildlife films, Vatavaran Film Festival, thistime round on the theme of "Forests for Life".

While the festival will be held in the Capitalfrom November 21 to 24, for the moment, it isopen for entries. The last date for entries inJuly 15. In the competitive section, awards havebeen instituted in eight categories. They includefilms on wildlife conservation, wildlife naturalhistory, environment, public service message spots,animation film, student film and the mostenvironmentally conscious broadcaster. "For thestudent-film category, we will be looking at anage group of at least secondary level schoolingand above. And not just students of mediainstitutes but anyone interested in the theme.For the environmentally conscious broadcaster,we will be looking at the content from theperiod January 2004 to December 2004," saysthe Deputy Director of the Centre for MediaStudies, Sanjay Mohan.

A jury of eminent filmmakers headed by ShyamBenegal will decide the award-winning entries.These will travel to different cities as part ofVatavaran Travels so that people all over canview the films. And that's not all. In the non-competitive sections, the best of Asian filmsand a retrospection of masters like RichardBrock and David Attenborough will be screened.Organized by CMS, the festival has beensupported by the Union Ministry of Environmentand Forests.�� "��

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New Delhi: The next time you go to a cinemahall, you might just bump into the chief ministerand sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan's familyadvising you to conserve water. Delhi Jal Board(DJB) has made short films with CM SheilaDikshit that inform the Delhiites why every dropis precious. Shot at CM's residence, a 30-secondfilm shows Dikshit closing a tap of her bathroomand saying: "Every drop is precious. Do notwaste water." About 53 cinema halls have beenshowing the short films during intervals andbefore the movie shows since Monday.A second short film features Khan and his twosons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash at a breakfasttable and then washing a car with just half abucket of water. As the sons wash the car in thebackground, their father declares how water shouldbe conserved and that he is learning from hisown children. More innovative films have beenmade showing increasing population in the Capitaland declining water resources.��#��$�% ��'��

Green Initiative by All India RadioKeeping in view the importance of Environment, all AIR Stationsare broadcasting a daily programme on Environment for 5 to 7minutes duration and a weekly programme of longer duration.In order to inform and educate the listener living both in urbanand rural areas and for creating environmental consciousnessamong them on preservation of Environment throughdevelopment for forests, afforestation , social forestry etc.,these programmes are mounted in interesting, appealing andimaginative ways. These programmes are being broadcast indifferent formats like talks discussions, features, news itemsspots serials etc by all AIR stations in their local languages.AIR Stations are advised from time to time to intensify andinclude the programmes on Environment in their futureschedules.There is a regular broadcast of programmes relatedto Environment & Forests development Schemes launched bythe Central/ State Governments, adopting a multilingualapproach targeting local communities for its broadcasts ofProgrammes on Environment. Forestry. Wildlife and ecology.In View of their importance, subjects like wildlife and forestsconservation are treated by AIR as a challenge and emphasisis given on development activities as well as social rituals. AllIndia Radio projects the success of Government initiatives, inrespect of forestry, wildlife conservation and ecological balance.As such, programmes on wildlife and care of animals arebroadcast through its various special audience programmeswere produced and broadcast on world Environment day.


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Environmental journalists often go wrong whenthey highlight flagship species to emphasis theneed for protection of biological habitats.

The people may just refuse to go by when youargue that the lion tailed monkey ought to beprotected in preference to a power project.

This happened in the case of the campaignagainst Silent Valley hydroelectric project inKerala (India) that focused too much on themonkeys. Yet Silent Valley was saved owing tomulti-faced campaigns launched by Non-Governmental Organizations and The Hindu,India's National Newspaper. However, politiciansstill raise the debate whether monkeys or humanbeings were important. They manage with thesekinds of argument because the public is notfully aware of the biological wealth of SilentValley and how that wealth relates to them andthe future generations. (Silent Valley is now aWorld Heritage site). A few years ago, anewspaper report on the proposed VamanapuramIrrigation Project in Thiruvananthapuram spokeof the harm the project would cause to theNilgiri tahr (ibex) on the Ponmudi Mountains.Such reports can even be counter-productivenot only because it projected a flagship speciesbut also because the argument was far fetched.

The Kallar Valley, and the river on which thedam of the Vamanapuram Project was to bebuilt, is lying at an elevation of less than 300metres whereas the ibex lived at an elevationof about 900 metres. There was little chance ofthe tahr being directly affected by the project.Moreover, ibex has almost ceased to be anendangered species on account of conservationmeasures undertaken in the past. The populationat Ponmudi was not that critical. All that onecould say was that some forests would be lost

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on the lower elevation and this would havesome effect on their habitat at the top of themountains.

Loss of forests and its distant effects, unfortunately,are not arguments that would be fully appreciatedby many readers. However, in the case of theforests of Kallar Valley, there was a somethingmore to say. The Valley was one of the fewremaining forested low lying valleys in Kerala.The State has more than 30 valleys that lie atan elevation of less than 300 metres above themean sea level. Almost all of them were forestedover a century ago. But, people have clearedthem for farming. The import would still beobvious only to a trained scientist unless thereporter adds a few scientific facts in plainlanguage. Different types of plants grow atdifferent elevations. Plants found at low elevationwould not grow at higher elevations, say, thePonmudi Mountains.

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The reporter has to add something more thatwould relate the issue to daily lives of people.One fact is that many of our medicinal plantsgrow at this elevation and many medicinalherbs are now found only in the forests. Well,our ancestors were conscious of these thingswhen they colonized the valleys. So, theypreserved some areas as sacred groves andgave a religious aura to it so that none woulddestroy them. Even in those groves, sacred treeslike Koovalam, which has medicinal value, havebecome rare.

For the man on the street, the ayurvedic medicineswould be important, but not necessarily for thepolicy maker. Here, economics may be an areathey would understand better than environment.Kerala had invested over Rs. 1000 crores onmajor irrigation projects during the past fortyyears. The rate of return has not been even one


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per cent. So, why invest on another project?The project was conceived years ago to irrigatepaddy fields. These fields have since beenconverted into garden lands...

So, if you are writing about the impact of theproposed hydroelectric project at Pooyamkuttyin Idukki district, the impact on the reed economybased on the Pooyamkutty forests would be abetter argument than the species diversity of theforests. The locals may be concerned about theearthquakes and over two-dozen dams spottingthe district. The cause of tribals too cannot beignored anymore. The fact that the forest thatwill be submerged by the reservoir is a corridorfo r the e lephan t s may conce rn theenvironmentalists. But that may not carry convictionwith many others.

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The most important thing is that the journalist,who wishes to communicate environmental issuesto the people, should hear the people first. Thepeople of Kallar had been agitating against theproject for long. What were there arguments?Was there something deeper than the environmentalarguments they projected in their leaflets?

Frequent contacts with the affected people are amust for anyone covering environmental issues.This also means that the reporter visits the areasinvolved including forests before shooting offconclusions based on known arguments in favorof protecting the environment. Each case canhave something more than that meets the eye.These days, even vested interests pose as naturelovers. Some commercial interests cleverly promotethe cause of environment with hidden objectives.Sometimes this would be to hide their own sinsor to put down competitors. Some environmentalorganizations raise a bogey of protest over everyissue just to keep themselves afloat.

When reporters cannot visit, sincere activistswith a sense of proportion can be source tolearn about field level developments. The leadersof mainstream environmental organizations should

not be depended upon for this, as their owninformation would be secondary. They are betterwhen you need a few quotes.��((��))***+��,��-�� (+��.+� ),��/+(#�

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There may be no environmental network ontelevision, but there is a network of environmentalistsmaking extraordinary television, video, and film.This kind of media isn't trying to sell you anythingother than a voice in the debate about the futureof the planet. It is produced for the expresspurpose of getting you off the sofa and into thepolitical process by clamoring for a cleaner planet.And it is working.

Sometimes when well-funded and well-organizedactivist-producers document environmentaldestruction for the first time, the documentationstops the problem. The international environmentalorganization has achieved a good deal ofnotoriety and success over the past 20 yearssending camera crews around the globe - intothe middle of the ocean filming whale hunts, tothe bottom of the world documenting pollutionin Antarctica, and underneath the sea capturingthe murderous impact of driftnets. The power ofthese images has been essential in moving thepublic to call for an end to commercial whaling,international protection for Antarctica, and aU.N. ban on driftnet fishing.

Today, with the accessibility and low cost ofcamcorders, anyone anywhere can be a camcordervigilante for the environment. All one needs isinformation, patience, chutzpah, and acommitment to getting the word out by everymeans necessary for as long as it takes. But theimpact of environmental films and videos is manifestnot only when a plant closes or a fishermanbrings in his net. Environmental films and videoshave a more subtle and no less powerful effectwhen they inspire people to join the fight.


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To change business as usual in the environmentwe need to begin by changing business asusual on television. And we need to train morepeople, particularly grassroots activists, to turnto media when they have an importantenvironmental issue to communicate. In thisrelatively new business of using media to protectthe environment, a few simple maxims apply:there are no rules about who can produce; givethe people the information they need, and theywill respond; loosen the reins on copyright, andyou will widen your circle of influence; thinkcreatively about marketing, and you will findnew audiences; spend the years it may take toget the word out, and you will be rewardedwith the satisfaction of being heard, thegratification of seeing change, and theappreciation of future generations.

To change business as usual in the environmentwe need to begin by changing business asusual on television. And we need to train morepeople, particularly grassroots activists, to turnto media when they have an importantenvironmental issue to communicate. In thisrelatively new business of using media to protectthe environment, a few simple maxims apply:there are no rules about who can produce; givethe people the information they need, and theywill respond; loosen the reins on copyright, andyou will widen your circle of influence; thinkcreatively about marketing, and you will findnew audiences; spend the years it may take toget the word out, and you will be rewardedwith the satisfaction of being heard, thegratification of seeing change, and theappreciation of future generations.

*: Karen Hirsch has worked in the fields ofindependent film and non-profit media for thepast 15 years. She served as director of videoproduction for Greenpeace in North and SouthAmerica and executive director of 911 MediaArts Center in Seattle. She edited MakingTelevision Matter: How Documentaries Can Engageand Mobi l i ze Commun i t i e s .Email: [email protected]��((��))***+#��.(�+��.) �*�)��(��)��0� /�� #� (��0$��#�0��0(�0� /�� #� (+��

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What are the educational requirements?

Environmental or Science Communications studentsoften focus on developing the ability tocommunicate complex environmental conceptsto the public. Students can expect to take basicand technical writing, as well as a broad orspecific base of scientific courses to develop abetter understanding of environmental processes.

Training for writing for the media is oftenconsidered separately through EnvironmentalJournalism programs or emphases, althoughprospective environmental journalists often comefrom Environmental or Science Communicationsprograms. Those considering graduate school whoalready have an undergraduate degree orexperience in journalism or a writing professionmight consider a broadly-focused environmentaldegree, such as Environmental Studies orEnvironmental Science. Specific courses we've seenin Environmental or Science Communications include:

� Basic Science and Technical Writing� Communicating Technical Information� Media Ethics and Law� Brown & White� Politics of Science� Media Coverage of Environmental

Controversies� Computer Assisted Reporting� Environmental Research Methods for

Journalists� Public Affairs� Public Relat ions for Environmental

Organizations� Environment, the Public and the Media� Covering the Environmental Beat� Science on the Radio� The Science Feature� Writing for Specialized Magazines� Translating the Secrets of Science� Nature Writing��((��))***+� /��(�� +��#)#�-��1��.��#�)� /1��##+(#�


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Completely revisedand upda ted ,Multimedia Environ-mental Models: TheFugacity Approach,Second Ed i t i oncontinues to providesimple techniques forca l cu la t ing howchemicals behave inthe environment,where they accum-ulate, how long they

persist, and how this leads to human exposure.

The book develops, describes, and illustratesthe framework and procedures for calculatingthe behavior of chemicals in our multimediaenvironment of air, water, soil, and sediments,as well as the diversity of biota that reside inthese media.

While other books focus on specific compartments,such as the atmosphere, or specific substances,such as PCBs, this book presents the big pictureof how organic chemicals behave in the totalenvironment. It does this by providing examplesof calculation methods based on the fugacityapproach and explaining how to access up-to-date property databases and estimation methodsas well as computer programs, which areavailable from the Internet. In addition, themodels are Web based, instead of on a floppydisk as in the previous edition.

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The guide to worldwide environmentalorganizations

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The 2005 editionof the NationalWildlife FederationConservation Dire-ctory is the mostc omp r ehen s i v elisting of conser-vation and environ-mental organi-zations ever publi-shed, with inform-a t ion on over4,000 governmentagencies, nongovernmental organizations, andcolleges and universities, as well as more than18,000 officials concerned with environmentalconservation, education, and natural resourceuse and management.

Each entry contains detailed contact informationincluding names, addresses, and telephone andfax numbers; also included are selected e-mailand Internet addresses, descriptions of programareas, senior staff by name and responsibility,principal publications, and more. Entries arecategorized by organization type and state orcountry, and indexed alphabetically and bysubject, on subjects ranging from acid rain tozoology. Each person listed in the directory isalso indexed alphabetically.


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The website aims to create and maintain anature and environmental film library, providingeasy access for DVD rentals or purchases. ForFilmmakers with completed films, GPF offers at-cost DVD authoring, listing in our onlinesearchable catalog, and distribution/fulfillment.

Green Planet Films supports producers byproviding a new outlet and new audiences fortheir work. We support the public by meetingthe growing demand for informative andcompelling environmental programs.

Our mission is to put the tools for education,outreach, and advocacy into the hands of thosewith the power to foster change on this earth...

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Bringing filmmakers together with environmentalactivists, educators, government, scientists, business,and concerned citizens, to improve the qualityand effective use of environmental media.

Provide a forum in which environmental mediaand its uses can be critiqued in the presence of

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media makers, users, and informed watchers.Raise awareness of environmental issues andinspire people to become more involved with

environmental causes. Develop messages thatcan bridge the gap between business people,scientists, educators, public officials, activists,and media makers. Increase the credibility ofenvironmental issues and campaigns by deliveringinformed, intelligent, thoughtful, and well toldstories. Become a year round community resourceby increasing the number of small events wepresent in metropolitan areas. Increase accessto environmental and media resources throughan improved website and enable activists tocollaborate, network and empower theirorganizations through online communication.

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Creating awareness of the direct link betweenwildlife and increased prosperity Publicizingthe role of National Parks Reducing human/wildlife conflict through education Showing howprotecting land for wildlife & tourism, also protectsother vital resources for the whole regionPromoting activities that create awareness ofthe need to conserve biodiversity - In Africa -Internationally. Supporting initiatives that reducethe threat to biodiversity

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Green Media Toolshed is a different type ofenvironmental group. We are targeting a subsetof environmental professionals that face commonchallenges in the process of pursuing very differentstrategies to protect and restore our naturalenvironment.

Our services provide a mix of strategic tools inthe hands of environmental groups. Green MediaToolshed tools were developed specifically to helpenvironmental groups be more effective in gettingtheir messages to the public through the media.

THE EARTH DAYTheme for 2005: "Protect our children and ourfuture"

Earth Day, April 22, a day to celebrate theenvironment. The first Earth Day was organizedin 1970 to promote the ideas of ecology,encourage respect for life on earth, and highlightgrowing concern over pollution of the soil, air, andwater.

Earth Day is now observed in 140 nations withoutdoor performances, exhibits, street fairs, and

television programs that focus on environmentalissues.Earth Day is a name used by two differentobservances held annually in the (northern) spring,both intended to inspire awareness of andappreciation for the planet's fragileenvironment."May there only be peaceful andcheerful Earth Days to come for our beautifulSpaceship Earth as it continues to spin and circlein frigid space with its warm and fragile cargo ofanimate life."

--Secretary-General U Thant, March 21, 1971.

The Equinoctial Earth Day

The original equinoctial Earth Day is celebratedin most countries on the vernal equinox to markthe precise moment that spring begins in theNorthern Hemisphere and autumn in the SouthernHemisphere. At this global moment, night and dayare equal length anywhere on Earth. At the SouthPole, the sun sets, bringing an end to the six-month-long day, while at the North Pole, the sunrises, ending six months of continuous darkness.Anyone standing on the equator at noon will notcast a shadow. Earth Day is a day of equilibriumwhen differences are forgotten and nature'srenewal is celebrated by all.

This annual event marks the beginning of EarthDay which has been traditionally observed withthe ringing of bells. Earth Day was created toremind us of our shared responsibility to protectthe planet. The United Nations celebrates EarthDay each year on the vernal equinox (aroundMarch 21). On February 26, 1971, Secretary-General U Thant signed a proclamation to thateffect. At the moment of the equinox, the PeaceBell is rung at the UN headquarters in New York.

John McConnell first introduced the idea of a globalholiday called Earth Day at a UNESCOConference on the Environment in 1969, the sameyear that he designed the Earth flag. The first EarthDay proclamation was issued by San FranciscoMayor Joseph Alioto on March 21, 1970. UNSecretary-General U Thant supported JohnMcConnell's global initiative to celebrate thisannual spring equinox event. In his statement onMarch 21, 1971, Secretary-General U Thant said:"May there only be peaceful and cheerful EarthDays to come for our beautiful Spaceship Earthas it continues to spin and circle in frigid spacewith its warm and fragile cargo of animate life."Secretary General Waldheim observed Earth Daywith similar ceremonies in 1972. The UnitedNations Earth Day ceremony continued each yearon the day of the March equinox (20th or 21st),with the ringing of the U.N. Peace Bell at the verymoment of the equinox. In 1975 the U.S. Congressand President Ford proclaimed and urgedobservance of Earth Day on the March equinox.�� ((��))� +*�4��+��.)*�4�)��(05��


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Born in Chennai, toa supportive middle-class family, Shekar'sfirst tryst with naturebegan in h i sbackyard. It was atiny garden thathoused a large neemtree, which attractedRose-ringed Parakeetsand a Tecoma, whose flowers lured sunbirds.Influenced by the writings of Gerald Durrell, hetook to birdwatching and the study of nature ata very early age and today, he is recognizedin India and overseas as a world-class wildlifeand conservation filmmaker. He speaks here toBittu Sahgal about filmmaking, the many awardshe has won and saving wild nature.

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Frankly, with a lot of despair. The polarisationis needless. Some of the most enjoyable andilluminating moments in my life have been spentin the company of tribal people. Roaming withthe Irulas of Chinglepet District during my teenageyears, I learnt a great deal about the naturalhistory of the scrublands around Chennai. Iwas also privileged to assist in setting up theIrula Snake Catchers' Cooperative, a long-standing, and perhaps unique example in Indiaof the sustainable use of a natural resource. Asa filmmaker, I have spent weeks with the Kadars,camping in the shola forests of south India. I

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am always awed by their knowledge of thenatural world and I think it is a tremendousshame that enough isn't being done to documentand harness this vanishing wisdom.

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I think all humans are entitled to a place theycan call home, and tribal communities shouldn'tbe an exception. They too have aspirations fora better life. But surely, we can find solutionsthat satisfy peoples' aspirations without sacrificingour remaining forests? I've seen too much toshare the misty-eyed romanticism of many whothink that all indigenous people live in 'harmonywith nature'. Today, in India, I think only theSentinelese, who inhabit North Sentinel Islandin the Andamans, can be described as living incomplete 'equilibrium' with their surroundings.That's because they inhabit a 'closed' ecosystemwith no interference by or commerce with theoutside world. They live by that strict law ofnature - survival of the fittest.

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Virtually everywhere else in India, indigenouspeople are caught in an unfortunate cusp thatstraddles two worlds with market forces rangingfrom giant pharmaceutical firms to dealers inthe wildlife trade, exploiting their knowledge ofthe jungle. No longer are they judiciously usingthe resources of the forest for their ownsubsistence, but are being made to indiscriminatelyand unsustainably collect forest products to feeda bottomless national and international market.Something needs to be done urgently to setthings right and populist slogans such as "givethe forests to the people and they will look afterthem" are not the answer.


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We need well-considered, site-specific solutionsthat will treat indigenous people with dignity,respect and fairness, without imperiling whatlittle is left of our natural wealth. As stakeholdersin India's well being, it is incumbent upon all ofus to solve problems without exacerbating things.The quality of life of the children of India andtheir children is closely bound to our actions orinactions today. For India's sake, let us, first andforemost, put an end to this destructive polarisationbetween 'wildlife' and 'social' groups andacknowledge that the welfare of the environmentand of all human beings is inextricably interlinked.Let us also acknowledge that indigenous forestdwellers have been given a raw deal so far. Weshould think of sensible and practical ways ofmitigating their suffering without slaying the goosethat lays the golden eggs.

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My work, frankly, is my reward. But therecognition is tremendously useful. The awardssupport me to do more work. I'm always - andI mean always - scrounging for money to addto my equipment inventory and an infusion ofcash is a wonderful tonic.

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It's a goal I've set myself to produce a series ofshort films, including a children's film, over thenext few years on specific wildlife andconservation issues. I believe that these filmswill be extremely useful to a wide cross sectionof people, from teachers and students to decisionmakers and politicians. It will hopefully helpthem understand the practical value of ournatural heritage. The money from the RolexAward is being invested in equipment and I'mseeking other support to make the films happen.

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I was incredibly lucky not only to have 'discovered'nature very early in life but also the works ofgreat naturalists. By the time I was 18, I hadread every wildlife book I could get my handson - Jim Corbett and Jane Goodall, GeraldDurrell and George Schaller. One thing that Ilearnt, particularly from the biologists, was thatto make sense of anything as complex as naturerequires years of patient observation and fieldexperience. It makes me cringe when I seepeople reaching conclusions or making momentousdecisions affecting the environment after a cursoryexamination of a complex problem or the muchloved 'flying visit' to a location.

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A trip to the Madras Snake Park at the age of13. I was mesmerised by snakes and enrolled asa volunteer. The Snake Park became a secondhome and the Irula tribal snake catchers whosupplied snakes and other reptiles, as well asfrogs and rats to the Park, became my gurus.My involvement with the Snake Park led to tripsto real jungles, where I experienced the thrill ofstalking all manner of creatures, great and small,with a still camera. The film bug came later, inthe early '80s, soon after college where I studiedZoology. I met John and Louise Riber, friends ofRom Whitaker who had come to India to makea film called 'Snakebite'. Deputed to help them,I became fascinated with filmmaking itself. Whileworking on this project another great opportunitypresented itself. Sanctuary Films began productionof their 'Project Tiger' series of films forDoordarshan. Rom Whitaker and I were bothroped in for the Periyar episode, with a Bollywoodcinematographer we were supposed to direct.Three days into the shoot, the cinematographerthrew a tantrum - waking up at 5.00 a.m. andrushing off to film 'boring' animals and birds justwasn't his cup of tea. He went home. We tookover the filming. There's been no looking backsince.


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Producer: Children at Gandhi Summer School,Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti

Subject focus: The film tries to dwell with thewater crisis in Delhi, in equal distribution ofwater, increasing pollution in Yamuna and urgesto save water.

Summary: The film tries to dwell with the watercrisis in Delhi, in equal distribution of water. Ittries to highlight that due to increasing pollution,all big rivers like the Yamuna are becomingdrains having dirty and polluted water. Whileit urges to save water, it points out the unequaldistribution of water in areas of the capital.

Right from scripr-writing, planning of the film todeciding on the locations to shoot, the childrenworked all these out themselves, they were alsointricately associated during editing which wasdone by Mr. Maharishi and his team.

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Producer: Priyanka S./Siddharth S./Paricher T

Subject focus: How water effects our daily livesand how we effect it

Summary: 'Samudra se boond tak' is an insightinto how water effects our daily lives and howwe effect it. A journey of life with one of themost valued elements on earth, without which theother elements seize to exist and so do we. Thisis an account of how much water is a part ofour lives yet how much water is apart from ourlives. Right from a drop dripping out of a rustedtap, to a rainstorm when people start looking forshelter…this is a symbolically put-together musicalreminder of this. Through pictures, music and afew words the aim is to depict the reality andpreciousness of water in it's different forms.

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Producer: Zee News, Zee Telefims Ltd.

Subject Focus: Rapid Urbanisation Leading toloss of trees in cities

Summary: Pipal Waali Gali'It' is a postal address.'It' is a landmark.'It' is no more.

Yes, we are talking about the protagonist of thefilm---The pipal tree. It has ceased to exist. Thefilm is based on a true story. This "gali" is nodifferent from any other alley or small-townneighbourhood. If you visit the historical city ofJaipur, you will find the "Pipal waali gali" inone of the numerous meandering lanes. Whatstruck the director on his maiden visit to thenow defunct postal address was the carelessnesswith which modernisation tore out the roots ofenvironment. The film covers a period of 50years and how the pipal tree has been slowlybut surely mowed down to make way for modernconveniences. It depicts how mercilessly theenvironment has been butchered in the name ofprogress.

Long live the pipal tree.Sadly, the "gali" outlived the tree.

TV Programme - Born Wild (Elephants)

English/22 mins/2003/dvc pro

Director: Swati Thyagrajan

Producer: New Delhi Television (NDTV)

Summary: A series that takes a look at India's wildlifeand wild spaces. While we might worship the elephantheaded god, we certainly do not treat his counterpartsin the wild with any respect. The biggest people animalconflict today in the country is the man - Elephantconflict. Hundreds of people die every year, acres ofcrops are destroyed, property damaged and severalelephants death as well. A schedule! Animal, it iscertainly is a god in distress.


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CMS ENVIS GREEN MEDIAE-NEWSLETTER

Daily e-newsletter Green Media, an electronic documentation of news and features, whichappear in English News dailies in India. Green Media satisfies information requirementsof environmentalists, wild lifers, conservation activists, researchers, media professionals,filmmakers, political activists, NGOs/ scientific organizations, mass communicationinstitutes, lobbyists and advocacy groups in an effective and functional manner. Thenewsletter reaches to more than 3000 email boxes every day.

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