YCS/YSM INDIA
“Students For Green And Harmonious World”
THEME:
“RESPONDING TO GOD’S CALLTO BE SIMPLE, SINCERE AND SENSITIVE PERSONS TO ENVISAGE AND BUILD A GREEN AND HARMONIOUS WORLD”
THRUSTS:
CLIMATE CHANGE, FOOD CRISIS, HUMAN RIGHTS
Dear YCS/YSM Members, Animators and friends,
The theme chosen by the 15th National Council is dealt with in detail by the students of Chennai and NTA/Exco members have been given to you in a consolidated form. This year we will be dealing with the theme ‘Students for Green and Harmonious World’. Next year we will deal with How to be Simple, Sincere and Sensitive Persons regarding our Mother Earth. Along with this theme a number of writings will be appearing in the Search magazine. You are to make use of these things for your cell meetings and make a difference in your schools, homes and society.
There are many people worked for this resource material. I thank them sincerely for their effort in making it a reality. Though late, let us make use of this material to broaden our horizon about mother earth, take effective action and work for her selflessly.
Let our action plan after the cell meetings bring about a change in our attitude towards our earth and save the earth for the future generation. Kindly write to ‘The Search’ the things you have done in your school, home, neighborhood and society. Let it be an eye opener for all in saving the earth.
We were fortunate to have a resource person of international caliber. We thank him sincerely who has taken extra effort to make it happen in a short notice. We pray for him and wish him success in all his undertaking.
Resource Person: Dr. Haridas
Students who participated in preparing the resource material: G. Vijayaraj, Eleias Raj kumar, Ashwin Raj, Rijo Joseph, Joseph Kamal (St. Bede’s), Arokia Jesudasan, Jenifer Rodrigues, Benisha, Ajith Adam, Premnath (SFX), Shijina Mary, Rubia, Janani., Christie Jennifer, Divya, Pratheepa, Swetha, Laranzia, Jhariya(St.Raphael’s), Thamileelam, Janani, Sushmitha, Soundarya, Abhinaya (Fatima), Aldriya Correa, Amos Samuel, Rupa(St.Joseph’s), Mary Nancy, Jasmine, Saranya, Jabastean(Avadi), Ebin, NavisSherine (St.John’s) and (Animators) – Helen, Johncy, Mercy Gnana Sheela, Caroline Mary, Sangeetha, Vanitha, Leo Joseph, Santhosh.
Local organizer: Fr. Clement
Thanks to Director and Staff – Pastoral Centre, Madras-Mylapore Diocese, Chennai.
The NTA/Exco members who reworked this material: Fr. Charles Menezes, Fr. Olavo, Fr. Ranjit Minj, Fr. Sanjay, Sr. Margaret, Sr. Bhanumati, Sr. Shaiji, Ms. Bipasha, Suzan, Mural, Amit Runda, Joyce John, Amit, Linda,Sushmitha, Sunit, Frank, Cuthbert, Jennifer, Jovita, Dinesh, Alice, Damini, Jenicia
THANK YOU ALL.
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1. Water and Environment
Story: A small boy called Frank was sitting next to the beach. The waves kept coming and touching his feet…. then he realized that the waves were whispering to him. He bent close and tried to hear the waves. He asked the waves why was it touching and then leaving the shore…. The waves replied ‘I don’t like you people on the land… every time I came I see you and go back to my own, you humans are very ungrateful… for millions of centuries I served you selflessly gave you all you needed for your survival but now you people are destroying me, you carelessly spill oil and toxic chemicals and always waste on me…..’ Little Frank said ‘I didn’t do anything, my parents are doing it, don’t get angry with me…’ The waves said ‘you too will grow up to be like your parents and will pollute me tomorrow like they do today... please change soon…. I want to live and let live healthy….’
See: How was water?
In olden days:
* The water was pure and good for health
* There was a proper usage of water.
* There was a proper rainwater harvesting system like wells, ponds etc.
* There was a proper drainage system.
* The water was not contaminated.
* The people of olden days lived many years since they drank pure and natural water.
* There were no diseases.
What about now?:
* The water is highly polluted.
* The polluted water causes many diseases.
* The polluted water also kills aquatic plants and organism.
* There is no water even to drink.
* We are forced to buy the drinking water.
* The main factor is leaving the foreign companies to exhibit their products in our country.
Eg: Coco cola, Pepsi etc. They are using a lot of water from our land and we are paying for it.
* We are spending our money on it and getting diseases.
* The water is contaminated due to oil spillage.
* The aquatic organism and fisheries are dead.
* The contaminated water causing diseases like paralysis and other major diseases which lead them to death.
Judge
* What is the attitude of the people towards life giving water today?
* Would God like to accept the way we waster and pollute the water?
* What does the Holy books and religion say about water?
* To accept water as God’s precious gift what attitude we require?
Act:
* What do you do to save and use water properly?
* Can we make people aware of Water Pollution Act?
* To use water sparingly what will be your action?
* Every house must have rain water harvesting system.
* Start planting more trees and take care of them.
* Drainage system has to be improved.
* Awareness about the importance of water has to be propagated.
* Keeping taps closed during brushing, storing of water in a tub for washing utensils instead wasting continuous water.
* Building up small tanks where idols are immersed.
* Storing rain water for domestic purposes.
* Write short stories about saving water and publish on the notice board and news bulletins to make the children and people aware of it.
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2. Plant and Environment
Story: Once upon a time a man lived in a village. He planted a seed and was eagerly waiting for the tasty fruit without taking care of it. He waited for a long time in vain.
Another man who was interested in growing plants also planted a tree and took good care of it. He poured water and put manure to it. After a few years the tree grew up into a big tree and yielded much fruits.
See
1. What is the difference between these two people in caring the plant?
2. What are the reasons for the first man for not taking care of the plant?
3. Why did the second man take care of the plant & what is the result of his care?
4. Have you come across any similar situation & how did you respond?
Judge
1. Do you find similar message from the scripture passages?
2. Can you enumerate from scripture passages our connectedness with the environment?
3. Any symbol that came to your mind to show this connectedness?
4. Have you come across the life giving ayurvedic plants? Can you make a study on it?
5. What is the effect of the deforestation?
6. How do the fertilizers and pesticides kill the plants and malign the earth?
Act
1. Propose a concrete action as an individual and as a group in taking care of plants?
2. Enlist the good points a plant that gives to human beings.
3. Will you plant a tree in remembrance of your friend or diseased one of your family?
4. Will your cell take care of the school/church garden and name it by your cell?
5. Can you make a study on how much a plant produces oxygen in its life time and share with your companions?
6. Plant a plant, Save the earth – write slogan on notice board.
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3.Soil and Environment
Story: Once upon a time, a boy was sitting in his house balcony and thinking about his science class. His teacher taught about the ill effects of soil pollution. So he found at the front of his house, that the soil was polluted by plastics and many other things. Without any hesitation he collected everything and dug a hole and buried. Next day when he went to the class, his teacher appreciated him and encouraged others to follow him to protect the mother earth.
Do you know this?: Due to the disintegration of rocks, soils are created. It takes nearly 500 years to create an inch of soil. Soil contains many minerals like Iron, potassium, silicon, phosphorus, iodine, nitrogen, calcium etc. Soil is very important for the growth of plants. Many micro-organisms are present in the soil to make them rich. There are many kinds of soil like Black soil, red soil, and top soil. In olden days, people did not use any chemical fertilizers. Due to heavy rain the top soil relocates, mainly in hill stations.
See
1. What do we understand by soil pollution & factors that cause soil pollution?
2. How and what are the ways we pollute the soil?
3. What is the effect of soil pollution?
4. Who are the people who pollute the soil?
5. How does the soil pollution affect the living organisms and human beings?
Judge
1. Identify the significance of soil reflected in scripture or any other relevant books?
2. Is there or are you aware of any policy/decisions to curb the soil pollution?
3. What are the scientific reasons/ understanding about soil erosion?
4. How is it going to affect humanity on the long run?
Act
1. Suggest concrete action to prevent and eradicate soil pollution as an individual & as a group?
2. Make your School / Home a no plastic zone.
3. Carry cloth bag while going for marketing and instruct others to do so.
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4. Agriculture and Environment
Story: Eternal God gave us right to rule the world.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Ram. He was cultivating in his land. Agriculture is the one and only way for him and his family to survive. When the crops started growing the insects became his great enemy.
He heard about one dealer, who was selling pesticides at a very low rate. There was rumors that this dealer was not honest but Ram had no choice but to go to this dealer because of his financial constrains.
In the beginning it gave him great profit. When he saw this he became greedy and continued to use the cheap artificial pesticides. However the farmer and his family got affected by skin cancer. Now the profit from the cultivation is not sufficient even for their medical treatment. He learned a lesson to be truthful in whatever you do and don’t give into human greed.
See
1. What was the cause for his present condition? What was his attitude?
2. Have you come across of such farmers in your vicinity?
3. 75% of the people in India work in agriculture field and do you know what they do to get more profit?
4. How the pesticides do adversely affects soil as well as human beings?
Judge
1. What is the dependence of people on agriculture?
2. How the Human beings had symbolic relationship with nature?
3. What are the values that would save the agriculture and environment?
4. What do the scriptures tell us about it? Is God present in environment? How?
Act
1. Do you know to do the good of natural fertilizers and organic farming?
2. What is your action plan to stop chemical fertilizers?
3. Cultivate vegetables in the backyard of your house and school gardens.
4. Use only natural organic fertilizers prepared in your backyard.
5. Create awareness among farmers about the harm of chemical fertilizers.
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5. Animals and Environment
Story: Ram had heard about the hunting and killing animals for food and exporting animal organs for making money. He had not seen many animals. So one day Ram and his family went to visit a zoo. There were number of animals. Ram was very much excited to see them. Since they were in cage he started irritating them. Though his father told him not to trouble the animals, he would not listen to him. He threw stones at monkeys. He gave some eatables to some animals, though he was instructed not to do so. He touched some animals and pinched them. He pulled their tails and pained them. When he went near the cage of Lion, he put his hand inside and the Lion bit him hand and he lost his hand. The happy visit ended at a sad note.
See
1. Why did Ram behaved in this manner? What was the end result? Was it required?
2. Have you seen some people behaving like this when they see animals on the road?
3. What is the attitude of the persons behaving in this manner?
4. Is it proper for people indulging in illegal hunting & selling animal organs with the intension of making money?
5. What is the result of hunting and killing animals for selfish gains?
6. Which are the endangered species? Have you heard about Save Lion Programme? What does tell us?
7. What is the animals’ behavior when we pain them?
8. Why do you think birds and animals migrate from one place to another?.
Judge
1. How do you think we need to treat animals?
2. What does the creation teach us about animal world?
3. If human beings encroach on to the animal territory, then animals will encroach on to our territory. Can you elaborate on it?
4. Do you realize that plants, animals & human beings all have their rightful place in nature and humans should not trample with that?
5. What is your opinion of caging animals in zoo and circus?
Act
1. Save an animal however small. What is your action plan?
2. Stop encroaching into forests for agricultural purposes.
3. Spread awareness through newspaper articles, rallies & other mediums about the animal space on the earth.
4. Avoid using leather products, ivory products, fur, etc
5. Educate people about caging animals in zoo and circus.
6. Give awareness to people through dramas, street plays etc
7. Join the group that saves animals and protect them.
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6. Food and Environment
Story: Once there was a boy named Rohit. He was addicted to junk food and he had a habit of using it every day. One day he ate the same and went to sleep. In his dreams he went into to the future.
In the dream, in the future he saw urban land and not a single animal or a tree. From far away a boy with one leg came hopping. He met Rohit and enquired about him. Rohit said he was coming from the present. He asked him why he was with one leg and one eye. The future boy got angry and said that it is all because of you. You polluted the environment and so we are like this. Rohit asked where the trees are. The future boy said that he doesn’t know what is meant by trees.
Rohit was surprised and walked along the way. He felt very hot and asked the future boy why it was very hot? He said every time it will remain the same. As he was saying he melted and fell down. Rohit woke up from the dreams and realized his mistake.
From that day he took an oath that he will use water, trees and other habitats in proper way. He promised not to take junk food and eat only healthy food.
See: Olden days Modern days
Food as medicine for taste only
Fresh and pure Using preservatives
Prepared food at home Fast food - Junk food (Hotel culture)
Natural ripening of fruits artificial ripening
No colours Add colours for the eyes to attract
Used natural manure Use fertilizers, pesticides
Used mud pots Tupper ware
Used herbs Use tablets
Fresh and pure environment Polluted environment
Judge:
1.Who is responsible for this drastic change in the food habits?
2,What is the role of Society, Politicians, Policies, Higher authorities, People in doing so?
3. What is the result of polluting food for selfish and money motive?
4. Stomach ache, vomiting, dysentery, cancer, kidney failure, lung disease, Heart attack - Do you think these diseases are the by-products our bad food habits?
5. What is your attitude about food for nourishment?
Act:
1.What is your action plan for safe food habits?
2. Educate your friends on the following things: Stop using junk food, stop wasting food, eat home prepared food, stop buying from hotels, No to Pepsi, Coca-Cola. Drink tender coconut and pure water.
4. Cultivate own vegetables at home terrace and balconies in the houses and school garden.
4. Say no to plastics; don’t harm insects, use natural manure like papaya, neem, custard apple, castor leaves etc.; avoid using broiler chicken; eat organic fruits and vegetables.
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7. Human Beings and Environment
Story: Alphy was a farmer. He lived with his old parents. He was a knowledgeable farmer n his village. He had to migrate to a city due to a draught.
His life in the city was totally different. There were noisy polluting vehicles everywhere. People were cutting down trees to build roads, bridges and houses. New methods of depleting the resources evolved in the name of technology and corruption. He didn’t like to live there and he could not imagine what would be his future. New civic rules never helped farmer like him to get into any job. His father who was so strong in the village died due to heart attack.
He then wanted to change something in the society itself by creating awareness with what he knew and he could succeeded to change a few of their mindsets. In a few years that particular part of the city was greener and healthier. People celebrated festivals like Diwali, Pongal etc in an eco friendly manner.
If a farmer can do such a change in the part of the city with his neighbors, why not you and I?
See:
Narration: Human’s best ability is his power to see things. We see things in different ways with our own experiences. On the whole, one judges the environment by what he sees and how he wants to act. Experience comes to a person by a sudden drastic feeling of something you can’t even imagine of what’s happening. A person sees many things on day to day basis. What he takes into himself is the most important one. In reality we come across a lot of things. Many things are being misused by the human beings.
Say yes or no:
* New technologies are the major cause for the drawback of the environment.
* Man cuts down trees for his shelter.
* There is lack of disposal of water.
* Old people suffer from diseases due to the pollution caused by the present generation.
* Plastic things cause land pollution.
* People mainly look for their welfare and not for the survival of the environment.
* Due to the prevalence of MNL’s these prevails a lot of pollution.
* MNCs, bring resources and wealth in our country.
* There is power wastage.
* Drought and flood are man made happenings.
* There are natural disasters and natural diseases.
Judge: Please comment in the cell meeting.
* It is mainly because of us and our choices cause the pollution in the environment.
* The leaders are being corrupted by the MNL’s.
* Best understanding of us leads to many drawbacks.
* It is because of our culture and how we celebrate. Eg: Diwali is celebrated by bursting crackers, which is not eco-friendly.
* There is even more thirst for becoming rich.
Act:
* What is your action plan to save human race in the earth?
* Suggest how to save our natural resource by planting trees, More efficient methods of using resources, think of re-cycle methods, create awareness to others.
* Change the life-style and basic principles that make a greater change in the environment, save papers, motivate the students in developing their mind to save our nature, promote rain water harvesting, save electricity.
So finally let us aim at a healthy pollution free environment that saves human race and save our mother earth as well.
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8. Environmental Management
Story: Once there lived a boy called Vijayaraj. His father was a good farmer. He has earned a lot of money by using only the natural organic manure. Due to his effort he made his son study in a big school. But his son did not think of his father and did everything against his father’s will. He had wasted everything. His father became sad.
His father had heard about YCS/YSM and he spoke to the teacher and made him join the movement. In the movement he had a program about environment. This session made him realize his mistake. He has become a role model to others in every action today. This brought a big change in the YCS/YSM members.
See:
1.Why did the boy waste things and what was the result?
2. What was attitude at his father’s hard work? How did it affect him?
3. Do we also waste things like paper, electricity, water, eat unwanted things (Junk food), use too much plastic material, misuse furniture, pollute the environment, land, soil, etc,
4. Are we the cause for deforestation, more usage of pesticides and its effects on the production?
5. How do we use of automobiles and other gadgets and spoil the environment?
Judge:
1.What is our attitude towards environment?
2. Why are so careless about the environment? Can we create it again?
3. What does the creation narration speak about the environment? God used 5 days to create the environment and one day to create human being. Does it give you any indication about the importance of earth and environment?
4. Where do you think it will lead us if we harm the environment in the way we do today?
Act:
1.What is your action plan to save the environment?
2. Can we reduce, recycle, re use the things at our disposal? How?
3. As YCS/YSMr how can you be a role model to others?
4. Can you share about environment with your friends through write ups, diagrams, street plays and other means and make people in general environment friendly?
Note: Kindly translate these lessons in vernacular for your use and send the report of every action plan to THE SEARCH.
YCS/YSM Handbook will be sent to you soon and that also could be translated in vernacular languages and made use of.