Fast food, tobacco and alcohol are pouring into India, promoting a consumer culture. India should beware. It must not repeat the mistakes of the West, says Andrée-Marie Dussault in his article entitled Cellphone and the Soul, in the Times of India, dated 24th January 2010. Andrée-Marie is a Delhi-based correspondent of a Swiss newspaper.

Cows, Commodities, Greenhouse Gases
Partha Desikan

Christopher Fry: "Between our birth and death we may touch understanding, As a moth brushes a window with its wing"

To Encourage Autonomy

1. Let children make choices.
“Are you in a mood to go to painting class today or not?”

2. Show respect for a child’s struggle.
“Getting up early can be hard. If you come with me for a walk every morning you’ll feel better. Or have a cup of fresh juice as soon as you wake up. Or pour some water on your face.”

3. Don’t ask too many questions.
“Good morning.”

4. Don’t rush to answer questions.
“That’s a good question. What is your answer?”

5. Encourage children to use sources outside the home.
“Maybe Professor Shashi can offer an idea.”

This youth charter on Climate/ Climate Change is the outcome of the first Hyderabad Youth Summit on Climate Change held in the Deloitte Campus in Gachibowli, Hyderbad on June 20, 21st ’09. The summit was organized by the Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) with the support of WWF-India, Deloitte and APEC.

Since the charter is quite extensive, I have mentioned only the sailent points. For details on any of these, the charter can be downloaded from here.

*

Workplace is supposed to be a highly rational place. Your Human Resources (HR) team may tell you that there is no place for emotions at workplace. All the training programs and coaching sessions may be designed to develop and sharpen your left brain. Be analytical, every poster in your office may shout. Think before you act, your boss may tell you. Your year-end performance appraisal may be designed to give you a higher rating if you got assessed better on all those rational activities. However, you know really well that you are never a 100% rational person. You can never be.