Mission Green Earth - BMCC Pune August 1 2008

I got an email a couple of days ago that Dinesh Bhaiyya was going to be at a Mission Green Earth program at BMCC college, Pune. No having met bhaiyya for a long time, I decided to go. Dinesh Bhaiyya didn't make it, but I was witness to a great event co-sponsored by BMCC and Art of Living. It was heartwarming to see the college top management show up and spend a considerable amount of time inspiring the several students gathered there to be a part of the tree plantation drive that was to follow.



I went there with the intention of actually getting my hands dirty by planting some saplings, but the enthusiastic students and faculty pretty much stole the show :) and I was left a gleeful spectator clicking away with gay abandon.

Then the miracle happened. 2 minutes after the saplings had been planted, the skies opened up. Like a benediction from heaven, the rain poured, as though showering blessings on the participants of the wonderful action just performed.

On my way back the rains refused to stop drenching my skin with water and my soul with bliss. I stopped long enough to take this picture of the YES+ course with Bawa and Dinesh currently in progress at Indraprastha - something I longed to attend but could not under my current circumstances.




Until the next opportunity .......

SAVE THE PLANET ! PLANT A TREE TODAY !!

Jai Guru Dev,

Laxmi Taru

With global warming a distinct reality, vanishing winters, failed monsoons, deforestation, large scale tree-felling making way to the massive malls and huge apartment complexes in India , Gurudev has asked people all over India to plant as many trees as possible. One such special tree is called Simarouba . Guruji calls this plant "Laxmi Taru".

A massive plantation drive is on in Pune and other parts of India to plant as many such trees and others bearing fruits and flowers . Pune has taken on an initative called "Green Pune", as part of the Mission Green Earth project, a 100 million tree plantation campaign.


Laxmi Taru is said to have the following benefits :

• This tree consumes highest amount of Carbon Dioxide and purifies the environment and can help in reducing the heat.
• It can grow on barren land and reduces or stops the soil erosion.It requires very little water to grow. India has 60 million hectares wasteland and this land can be used for growing this tree.
• Its seeds can give edible oil, non edible oil and diesel. The seeds have 60 to 75% oil as against 30 t0 35% in peanuts, soybean. One tree can give around 15 to 30 kg seeds and from that can get around 2.5 to 5 Lt oil and equal amount of oil cake which can be used for bakery items,vegetable oils,soaps,cosmetics,bio-diesel.
• It has medicinal value, can be used to treat malaria and diarrhea.
• The pulp of the seeds can be used for compost or drinking juice.
• The cover of the seeds can be used for making of card board.
  
• The wood of the tree can be used to make light furniture.
  

Saplings of Laxmi Taru are available at many satsangs in Pune. Here is one growing beautifully in my apartment garden .

SAVE THE PLANET !! PLANT A LAXMI TARU TODAY !!!!!

Jai Guru Dev,