Greenstorm Foundation Photo Competition on Nature in Neighbourhood: 100000 in prizes!

Good Morning, World Environment Day is another reminder for us to spare a thought for Mother Earth. For the past 11 years Greenstorm has engaged millions of creative minds across the world, urging them to express their love of nature while spreading the message to preserve it. Now, the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest is back again with its 12th edition.

This year, as we’re bouncing back from an unforeseen pandemic, one thing that has stuck out is how the lockdown has helped nature heal. It is with this in mind that we have chosen the theme for this year - Nature in the neighbourhood. You can participate by clicking a picture and uploading at www.greenstorm.green. There are cash prizes worth Rs. 1 lakh to be won. Join the contest. Share the message. Environment Day Greetings from Green Storm Foundation!

Application deadline: 15th June 2020!! International MSc prog on Global Change Ecology at University of Bayreuth

Application Invited for MSc study program in Global Change Ecology at University of Bayreuth

Application Deadline: 15^th June 2020

Teaching language is in English. Accepted candidates do not have to pay tuition fees.

Hello Folks,

FYI the message we have received from the above university with a request to spread the advertisement. 

Best wishes,

Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Combat Climate Change Network, India

Convenor, Water Initiatives

Tweets @ranjanpanda

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Message below from Carl Beierkuhnlein, University of Bayreuth, Germany

We would like to advertise the upcoming application deadline this summer for an attractive and intense international MSc study program in Global Change Ecology at the University of Bayreuth in Germany. Either you in person or bachelor students and graduates around may be interested in this qualification.

The program is devoted to understanding and analyzing the most important and consequential environmental concern of the 21st century; namely, the ecological consequences of Global Change, especially the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. One of the program's focus is the linking of natural science and socio-economic perspectives. The international program is realized in close contact with research institutions, NGOs and companies and administration. Our study program has been acknowledged by the United Nations as an observer organization. During the last years, we received applications from more than 70 countries.

Teaching language is in English. Accepted candidates do not have to pay tuition fees.

Applicants from any academic background that is related to the scope of this study program are welcome to apply. Applications can be uploaded on the Online Application portal.

The deadline is 15th of June 2020. Please check the link below for application details:

https://www.bayceer.uni-bayreuth.de/gce/en/lehre/gru/html.php?id_obj=39882

We encourage and appreciate you to disseminate this information! Our coordinators will be happy to assist candidates in their application if something is unclear.

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The #COVID19 Lockdown and Indian Migrant Workers: Two Posts from Ranjan Panda

The Indian Roti at Aurangabad

Date: 9^th May 2020

The state said it had waged a war against a virus. Just within 4 hours the poor #MigrantWorkers realised it was turning out to be a war against them as well. They feared, hunger will kill them before Corona. It in fact did. The Roti that they somehow had gathered to fight against hunger turned out to be a useless weapon when the train crushed them. Now the state will ascertain the cause of death. Some have already raised the question as to why these fools slept on the railway track. Some asked, why were they walking for hundreds of kilometers even as all of us are advised to 'stay home, stay safe'? Genuine questions! But were not they trying to do exactly that: trying to reach home so that they can stay safe? Now, as the state is trying to ascertain the cause of the death, what would be the result: Suicide? Hunger? Corona? Apathy? State? Ask this question to yourself while ordering your Biryani from Zomato or flaunting your culinary skills on social media. Your answer has a lot to do with future of this country.

(Pic: Roti that were given as a matter of charity, and not as a Right to the migrant workers falling on the railway tracks as a goods train crushed 16/17 of them to death at Aurangabad. They were walking down from Maharashtra to reach their village in Madhya Pradesh as India failed in taking care of them.)

https://twitter.com/ranjanpanda/status/1258982676087762946?s=20

Nation’s Conscience lost?

Date: 8^th May 2020

We as a nation have lost our conscience for sure. We have failed our #MigrantWorkers who build our dreams, our cities. We have left them to die in many ways. These 16/17 workers were run over by train, many have died of exhaustion on road and the nation has died several deaths! https://t.co/umIRxr1zax

(Both photos are from social media.  Photographer unknown)

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Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives

Convenor, Combat Climate Change Network, India

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper (Member, Global Waterkeeper Alliance, New York)

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

Twitter: @ranjanpanda

Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranjan.waterman

There is no planet B and Covid 19 is not the last pandemic! Better behave, humans!!

There is no Planet B and Covid 19 is not the last pandemic we are facing! Better behave and revamp your growth models, humans!!!

Humans have concentrated so much on their survival and progress that they have forgotten the very root of their existence: Mother Earth. Well, now you have to drain all your money, gotten at cost of natural resources & other species, just to survive one pandemic. More to come!

(https://twitter.com/ranjanpanda/status/1250681688683732993?s=20 )

We need to orient more towards a #GrossEnvironmentProduct kind of an economy than current one. 1 thing is clear, we have lost our right to progress at the cost of nature, other species. We can't boast about being the superior animal unless we grow in an inclusive & equitable way.

(https://twitter.com/ranjanpanda/status/1250684020884557824?s=20 )

Ranjan Panda

Tweets @ranjanpanda