----------------------------------------------------------------- Goanetter Francis Rodrigues (Vasco/Toronto) unveils his book, The Greatest Konkani Song Hits. Launch dates: Goa (Kala Academy) on 9 Aug. 4 pm. U.K. (Staines) on 15 Aug. Canada on 20 Aug and US on 30 Aug. Details http://www.konkanisongbook.com/
----------------------------------------------------------------- SSA Save Our Trees Environmental issues and concerns have become widespread due to the media and more so because of changes in weather conditions which can be perceived by all. One of the causes of changes in weather conditions is deforestation, which is due to many reasons – mining, urbanization and habitation of forest areas, industry such as the paper industry, timber industry and so on. In our schools, we teach children to protect the environment in all possible ways, specially our trees. We celebrate Vanamahotsava, we have environmental studies, we try to tell the students not to waste space in their note books to save paper. Some schools even encourage the students to write in the margins of their note books in an attempt to save paper. We make carry bags out of newspaper and recycle paper. All this results in saving trees. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is doing good work by providing free text books for Stds I through Std VIII every year. However, once the text books are used, they are consigned to the rubbish heap at the end of the year. This results in colossal waste of tons of paper. Why can't the text books be reused in the same school for (say) a period of three years i.e. for the books which do not change? I studied in schools in Tanzania where the books were reused for a number of years. The system followed was this: Every text book was given a number and was entered in a register where the student's (borrower's) name was entered along with other relevant details. The book also had a slip attached to the back of the book (like a library record) which had the name of the student and the academic year. The student could use the book for that particular academic year and was responsible to maintain the book in good order. No marks or annotations were permitted. It was the class teacher's responsibility to ensure that the book was returned in good condition. Erring students were asked to make good the damage. If this system is followed, then it will result in the saving of tons of paper and resultantly thousands of trees as also lakhs of rupees which could be used to give children a better mid-day meal. Also, it will have a bonus effect of teaching children the value of neatness, tidiness, preservation of one's possessions (however temporary), responsibility and so on. Oh, but I don't know about the commissions to the middle men..... Will the Government and the SSA act in this matter? -- †ðñ¥ Ðê §å Ph: +91 832 2470 148 M: +91 9975162897 E: tonyd...@gmail.com ------------------------------------------------ Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.