Geography and You is one of the best magazines on Indian and World Geography and Society. The selection of topics is not only relevant but also quite comprehensive. It is based on fact with an analytical approach. I found Volume 5, No 5&6 very useful.
Pallavi Nayak, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Useful and Interesting Magazine
I really don’t know how this fits into the scope of your magazine. I just thought it would be useful and interesting for readers like us. Please include it somewhere if you can.
HOW YOU CAN HELP SAVE THE EARTH
1. Plant a tree or grow a garden.
2. When you don’t have far to go, try riding your bike or walking instead of getting a ride in a car.
3. Turn off the lights when you leave the room, and turn off the radio and TV when you’re not using them.
4. Use energy efficient appliances, they are cheaper in the long run and save electricity.
5. Use automatic timers to control appliances to avoid wasting energy.
6. Use low-wattage bulbs in areas where bright light is not necessary.
7. Use energy-saving bulbs, which are cooler, like halogen bulbs, fluorescent tubes and energy efficient compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs rather than the conventional incandescent bulbs. The CF bulbs give off a warm, bright light but use 75 percent less energy and last up to ten times longer than the conventional incandescent bulbs.
8. Avoid installing your air-conditioner in direct sunlight which could neutralize the cooling effect.
9. Ensure the door seal of the refrigerator is completely air tight and make sure the door is not left open when the fridge is not in use
10. Wait until you have a full load of washing for the machine ,to save electricity and water.
11. Adjust the flame of the burner to hit bottom of pan. Fuel is wasted if flames leap up the side of the pan. Food cooks faster if it is put nearer the burner or grill.
12. Replace or repair loose seals on your toilet and taps promptly. Ten drips per minute wastes about 3,000 litres of water a year.
13. Turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth.
14. Do not use an excessive quantity of detergent when washing clothes or household utilities as more water is needed for rinsing them off.
15. Keep your car properly tuned. An inefficient car greatly increases fuel costs and pollutes the environment.
16. Use less paper.
17. Use handkerchiefs rather than paper napkins.
18. Cut down on gift wrapping paper.
19. Separate waste paper at home and in office for paper recycling.
20. Use less plastic bags and use durable bags or baskets. Plastic bags take years to decompose.
21. Choose the products with the least packaging. It means less garbage, less wastage of energy and resources and savings for you.
Neerja Agulekar, Pune, Maharashtra
Geography and You
I came across two old issues of the periodical “Geography & You” today. I am afraid, I may have to point out some inaccuracies/deficiencies in them. Vol 4, No. 5 & 6, 2004
Page 22, Ballast Water Management.
The article brings forward the problem. But it is incomplete if the author is not mentioning the remedies in vogue for the past one decade. It shows the ignorance/shallow knowledge about the subject or even prejudice on the part of the author. Through the International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) it has been made mandatory for all ships to dump the ballast in the equatorial region, pump in ballast from there, again dump it 200 n.m. outside the destination and take fresh ballast from there to the load port. All vessels are religiously doing this and the Port State Control normally inspects the records. Countries like Australia even analyses the ballast water in port.
