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Events Organized by Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Marine
Ecology Centre Or
Real stories with pictures would be appreciated
Wildlife Photography Contest SP Godrej Marine Ecology Centre (Godrej Mangrove Centre) had organised Wildlife Photography Contest as a part of Wildlife Week Celebration for
Please see the link for the results and pictures
Prize Distriburion ceremony was organised during Anand Mela 19th December at 5.30 PM Chief Guest : Mr. Navroze Godrej All the prize winning pictures and other pictures were displayed in Wildlife Photography Exhibition in Mangrove Stall during Anand Mela.
Wildlife Week Celebration- 2009 SPGMEC (Godrej mangrove centre) celebrated the Wildlife week from 1st to 4th October 2009. All these days were packed with diverse programs. Different programs were conduced for various groups such as teachers, NGOs, University students, ladies club from hillside colony, Nature clubs and Godrej employees.
On 1st October a presentation on beautiful butterflies around us was made by Dr Arun PR for Udayacha Primary School teachers and G&B staff, which was followed by an interactive session .
On 2nd October Mangrove nature trail was conducted for a group of nature lovers from environmental NGO ‘Save forum’ by Dr Maya Mahajan. On the same day in the evening 40 students from SNDT University participated in the mangrove nature trail which was lead by Mr Hemant Karkhanis. The nature trail was followed by a film show on Wildlife cruelty by PAWS (Plants and Animal Welfare Society). Paws members sensitized students and employees about cruelty to animals for the greed of human beings (killing animals for leather, ivory, fur etc).
In an early pleasant morning on 3rd October, Wildlife nature trail was conducted for Ladies club at hillside colony by Maya. A parallel nature trail was organised for Udayachal Primary school focusing on butterflies under the guidance of Dr Arun. Teachers were amazed to see the wonderful world of butterflies. Teachers tried to identify them as they were exposed to butterfly pictorial presentation earlier on 1st October.
5th October, Sunday was the most eagerly awaited event for all the nature lovers. A wildlife nature trail was organised in the forest of Yeoor, which is a part of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Twenty seven nature lovers from Green Club and Nisarg gathered near Hillside colony ground at 6.15 am. A car pooling was done to save petrol as well as environment. Mr. Anil Rajbhar, Dr. Maya, Mr. Hemant K, Dr. Arun were the resource persons during this trail. In-depth information about huge trees, climbers, lianas, medicinal plants, rare plants, crabs, butterflies and other insects was shared with the participants.
See the link for Yeoor nature trail report by our nature club member, Nikhil Mayekar At the end of the trail (about 2.5 km) participants enjoyed ‘Van-bhojan’ and dip in ice cold stream water coming from the deep forest. See the link for more pictures Van-mahotsav - 2009 Every year Garden-Mangrove sections celebrate Van-Mahotsav in the first week of July to raise awareness about nature conservation among employees, colony residents, school children and society at large. This year we had organised plantation programs for different groups such as Godrej employees, Udayachal School Children, Godrej Green Club, Hillside Nature club-Nisarg and Garden workers. The celebration was inaugurated on 1st July by Mr PD Lam by planting a shrub in Hillside colony.
Dignitaries such as Mr. Maneck Engineer Sr VP and Mr. Purvez Gandhi COO, Mr Anup Mathew GM from construction divisions also planted saplings in hillside colony on this occasion. On 2nd July little angels from Udayachal Primary School and teachers participated in Plantation program at Station-side colony road near Udayachal school. Ms Smita Godrej Crishna inaugurated the program and cheered up the little ones.
On 3rd July, plantation activity at Station-side colony was conducted by involving the staff of construction division. About 15- 20 construction staff participated in the program.
Employees from Plant 13 also planted saplings near their plant on 4th July.
On Sunday, enthusiastic nature lovers from Green club, Nisarga and other colony residents planted 125 saplings of different varieties of shrubs in accessory areas from Club house to G type bungalows in Hillside colony. Around 70 nature lovers gathered near Hillside colony club house at 10 am. Dr. Maya Mahajan explained about the purpose of Van mahotsava celebration and importance of tree plantation and adopting sustainable lifestyle for better future.
Plantation activity was initiated by plantation of saplings by dignitaries such as Sr. most participant Smt G Lalitha, Mr. B. K. Rajkumar, Mr. G. Sunderraman, Ms Harpreet Kaur, senior citizens club leader Dr. Homi Bilimoria, Mr Sushil Raut and Mr Ashok Chichiya.
The Participants aged from three years old kids to 60-65 years old Sr citizens actively and enthusiastically participated in this plantation program and enjoyed thoroughly. And left with satisfaction as they contributed towards greener and brighter Pirojshanagar.
On 3rd July Dr Maya interacted with UHS students (assembly of 8th to 10th) and shared information about Nature Conservation and Sustainable development. On 6th July Mr R N Rathor spoke about Van-mahotsava in the assembly of UHS students (5th to 7th std ) UHS students also actively participated in the activity of filling up of poly-bags & seedlings on 6th July, which was a part of Van-mahotsav.
Ikebana workshop was conducted in Pragati Kendra on 7th July for garden workers and Mahila Mandal. Ms Nayana Shah explained different ways of flower arrangements to participants.
World Environment Day- 5th June 2009 On the Occasion of the World Environment Day, the Godrej Mangrove Centre has taken an initiative to form the Green Club for Godrej Employees. We received a very good response from different divisions of Godrej and Boyce. So far 86 employees have registered their name to join the Green Club. Few employees from Godrej Industries, Godrej properties also have registered their names The first informal meeting of the club was conducted in the Pragati Kendra on 5th June. Around 20 nature lovers participated in the initial meeting. Dr. Maya Mahajan explained the motto of forming the Green club. She also explained that the activities of Green Club throughout the year could be … Nature trails, Visits to theme parks, Bird watching, Butterfly trails, Screening of Films on Environment and Sustainable development, Lectures, Presentations by experts, Role plays, Games, Quiz, Street plays, Debates and discussions, Adopting Green Lifestyle, Adopting Green Culture in office, Spreading environmental awareness and motivating others to do the same ..... etc. Members were requested to share their ideas and suggestions. Participants decided to motivate more people to join Green Club. Colony residents decided to monitor segregation of dry and wet waste in colonies as their first activity.Participants suggested to promote use of solar energy in Godrej. It was also discussed that colony residents can avoid using vehicles for coming to office. We should encourage people to walk or use bicycle. Participants suggested that Green Club members should meet on the third Saturday of every month after 5.30 pm at Pragati Kendra or Mangrove Centre
On the same day (5th June) volunteers from the Godrej colonies (Friends of Environment) monitored the Segregation of Waste in all the Godrej colonies and distributed pamphlets to generate awareness about the same. In the evening Rangoli Competition was organized in the Pragati Kendra (Theme was Save Earth, Nature). Residents from Creek-side and Station-side colonies and employees from G&B participated in this activity.
Ms Nalini Kala, Ms Rahila Athanikar from Corporate communication and Dr Maya Mahajan from Godrej Mangrove Centre were the judges for the Rangoli competition. The prize winners are 1st Prize- Mr Sujith Vijayan
(G and B) Locks division also had organized different programs on the occasion of World Environment Day in collaboration with Mangrove Centre. This year’s official international theme set by United Nations Environment Program was Your Planet Needs You-Unite to Combat Climate Change. In line with this theme different competitions such as Slogan, Rangoli, Poster competitions were organized for Locks division from 2nd to 4th June.
Enthusiastic participation by the employees in voicing their opinion through slogans and expressing their thoughts through Rangoli on various aspects of environment was the highlight of the event. The difficulty faced by Ms Harpreet Kaur, GM, corporate HR, Dr Maya Mahajan, Mangrove Centre and Mr. Shyam Motwani, VP and Business Head, Locks in judging the Rangoli competition was a testimony to the novel ideas exhibited by employees
On 5th June in the morning a symbolic plantation was done by planting a sapling in the campus of Locks division by Mr. Shyam Motwani, VP and Business Head of Locks division. Mr. Motwani’s enthusiastic participation and constant motivation to all the participants brightened up the event. Entire team of locks division and Mr RN Rathor, Dr Maya Mahajan and Mr Ravindra Walujkar from Garden and Mangrove Section were present on the occasion.
Earth Day Celebration- 22 April 2009 The Earth Day was celebrated by the Godrej Mangrove Centre on 22 April 2009. 36 teachers from Udayachal Pri-Primary (UPPS) and Primary School (UPS) actively participated in the celebration. At around 10.30 AM all the teachers were taken to Gazebo in the Mangroves where Dr. Maya gave talk on
What can we do to protect our mother Earth?
A nature trail was conducted in Mangroves. The information about different varieties of mangrove such as Grey mangrove, Milky mangrove, Meswak, Common Derris, their adaptations and importance of Mangrove Conservation was given to the participants.
Teachers enjoyed the visit to marine aquarium. Teachers were surprised to see different variety of marine fishes like Lion fish, Puffer fish, Blue ring angle etc. and other aquatic animals like Lobster and Sea anemone. Maya and Hemant gave information about each species in the aquarium.
Visit to tower was the most interesting part of the program. Udayachal School teachers were mesmerized by seeing the beautiful world of mangroves, conserved by Godrej.
Campaign on Segregation of Waste in Stationside and Creekside colonies A Clean up- Pirojshanagar (Godrej colonies) Campaign focusing on proper Solid Waste Management practice was undertaken on the occasion of Marathi New Year (Gudhi Padva) by involving young environmentalists from nature club and mangrove club of Udayachal highschool who reside in the colonies and sweepers (Safai kamgar) in the colony. Major objective of the campaign was to spread awareness about importance of segregation of dry and wet waste in the colony. On Friday, 27th March at 8.30 am, around 37 enthusiastic children from UHS (including Mangrove club members), 2 teachers, Sixteen contract workers (Safai Kamgar), research students gathered at the Udayachal Primary School. A brief introduction about the purpose of this campaign was given to Children as well as Workers at UPS and at Creekside colony before the action by Dr. Maya Mahajan from Mangrove section. She also narrated a story about Budhdha’s philosophy on reduce, reuse and recycle.
Mr. Hemant Karkhanis from Mangrove Section, Mr. Sanjeev Pednekar from Envirotech section and Dr. PR Arun, nature lover from hillside colony also actively participated in the Campaign. Campaign at Creekside colony was started at 10.00 am. Eighteen contract workers (Safai kamgars) and 8 enthusiastic UHS students participated in the same.
A rally was conducted at Stationside as well as Creekside colony. During the rally, participants sang songs giving the message of segregation of dry and wet waste. Sweepers took voluntary lead in this song. Each of the workers was allotted with two children to accompany him/her on their daily routine of Garbage collection from each of the households. Around 30 such groups went around sensitizing people about the importance and benefits of waste segregation and provided helpful information on effective ways of managing their household Waste. They also carried posters with relevant messages on waste management, 3-R principles etc.
They distributed pamphlets giving information on the need for segregation of waste. Children also gave the information orally and talked to those who weren't practicing the waste segregation. They also got important feedbacks from residents on the practical aspects of the segregation.
Children are going to monitor whether the segregation of waste is effectively practiced by the residents (especially the presence of separate garbage cans for dry and wet waste in each house) for the next one month during their summer vacation. World Wetlands Day Celebration-2009 On 2nd February, the World Wetland Day was celebrated by Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Marine Ecology Centre (Godrej Mangrove Centre) with various programmes. The day began with a Nature trail in Godrej Mangroves. Forty nature lovers from Environmental Science Department of the Institute of Science, Mumbai participated in Nature trail and were educated about Wetlands and Mangroves, why we need to conserve wetlands and role of youth in Nature conservation etc. An exhibition based on the theme of Wetland and Mangrove conservation was organized from 11.00 am to 6.30 pm near Pragati Kendra. Apart from Godrej Mangrove Centre, different environmental organizations in Mumbai such as BNHS, WWF & Gangajal Nature Foundation participated in this exhibition.
Newly developed posters by Mangrove Centre (SPGMEC) on Importance of Mangroves, Life in Mangroves, Mangrove Adaptations, Threats to Mangroves and Our role in Mangrove Conservation were formally released during this occasion and the exhibition was inaugurated by the chief guest Mr. Anil Verma. Dignitaries like Mr. Maneck Engineer, Mr. Purvez Gandhi and Mr. Anup Mathew were also present on the occasion.
Different varieties of mangrove saplings, model of mangrove ecosystem, posters describing types of wetlands, flora and fauna in wetland ecosystem and their conservation value etc were displayed. Mangrove club and Nature club members from Udayachal high school performed an action song/dance on climate change and wetlands.
Godrej employees and Udayachal School Children and teachers visited the exhibition. Exhibition was extended by one more day due to huge demand. Information on wetlands and Mangrove conservation was given to visitors by Dr. Maya Mahajan and Hemant Karkhanis of Mangrove section.
In the afternoon a skit on Environmental awareness –‘Chalo Godrej’ was presented by Mangrove club, Nature club of UHS and staff of Mangrove Section. A Film on Wetlands was screened in the assembly hall of UHS. All the students and teachers from classes 5th to 9th of UHS participated in this program
The program concluded with prize distribution for the winners of different competitions organized by Mangrove Section for Udayachal high school students at the hands of Mrs Binaifer chhogga, Principal, Udayachal primary school.
A brief introduction about the purpose of this campaign was given to Children as well as Workers on 13th December, a day before the action. On Sunday, 14th December at 9 am, around 50 enthusiastic children from UHS (including Mangrove club members), 12 volunteers from the colony, and 40 Safai Kamgars (Cleaning Workers) gathered at the Hillside colony ground. Apart from these, several of the enthusiastic colony residents like Dr. Homi Bilimoria, (Sr Citizen), Mr. Sanjeev Pednekar, Mr. Anil Hazare, Mr. Ramesh Bhandarkar, Mr. Ram N Rathor, Mr. Ravindra Walujkar, Ms. Jaysheela teacher (of UHS),
Dr. PR Arun, Dr. Maya Mahajan, Mr. Hemant Karkhanis and few of his nature loving friends from Dombivali, the other staff of Mangrove Section (Mr. Ravi Vajale & Mr. Nitesh Bhowar) also actively participated in the Campaign.
On the outset, importance of segregation of dry and wet waste and the action plan for the day was explained to all participants by Dr. Maya.
They also monitored whether the segregation of waste is effectively practised by the residents (especially the presence of separate garbage cans for dry and Wet waste in each house) and distribute pamphlets giving information on the need for segregation of waste. Children also gave the information orally and talked into those who weren't practicing the waste segregation. They also got important feedbacks from residents on the practical aspects of the seggregation.
Further plan of Action
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