From the Green Mans Desk...

Every year on 9th August we celebrate the International Day of

the World's Indigenous Peoples.
We know that the term
indigenous people refers to the original or native people of a
particular place. An extremely important feature of indigenous
people in any part of the world is their close relationship with the
land where they live. They clearly understand that their lives depend heavily on the land, hence, in turn, they also understand that
they need to be protectors and guardians of the land. Well, we
can therefore ascribe to indigenous people the title of original
environmentalists! Even today, across the world, they continue to
be protectors of the land, forests, water sources, the natural world.
A term closely linked to indigenous people is indigenous knowledge. Since they
have such a close connection with the natural environment, they have an innate and
immense knowledge of what is good for and what harms nature. This has led them to
develop customs, practices, systems, infrastructure and lifestyles that are perfectly in
harmony with their natural surroundings. Take water bodies for example they know
perfectly well how to, both, use as well as conserve, springs, ponds, lakes and rivers.
Thus, while they have ample water for their use, they also ensure that the natural water
supply is well conserved.
Unfortunately, we urbanites have lost our indigenous culture. Our connect to our
natural surroundings has disappeared, our knowledge about the natural world is
weak, and our commitment to protect nature is tepid. As we celebrate the
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, its a good opportunity for us to
emulate these natural environmentalists and like them to become protectors of our
natural wealth!

Inside this issue...

Fun Facts on Indigenous People

Crossword Puzzle

Task for August

Students Corner

Copyright 2016 GreenLine. All rights reserved.

01

Here are some interesting facts on the occasion

of International Day of Worlds Indigenous
Peoples - 9th August

Indigenous peoples make up about

one third of the worlds 900 million
extremely poor rural people.

Two centuries ago indigenous people lived in

most of the earths ecosystems. Today they
have the legal right to use only about 6% of
the land and in many cases their rights are
partial.

There are more than 5,000 different

groups of indigenous peoples living
in more than 70 countries.

In Hindi the term Adivasi means

original settlers.

According to the Guinness Book of

world records, the smallest pygmies in
the world are the Mbutsi from Zaire in
Egypt.

Copyright 2016 GreenLine. All rights reserved.

02

Sacred Groves

Copyright 2016 GreenLine. All rights reserved.

03

CROSSWORD

Across:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

This is the most isolated tribe in the world staying in the Andamans.
Popularly known as the bowmen of Rajasthan. This is largest tribe of South Asia.
She was the last member of the Bo tribe which is now extinct.
This act was implemented by the government of India in 2006 to secure the rights of indigenous communities living in forest areas.
The cattle festival celebrated by the Gond tribe in India.

Down:
1.
2.

A traditional and sustainable cropping pattern practiced by many indigenous communities

in India.
The name of this tribe means 29. Reverence for nature is the main objective of this tribe. It
comprises of twenty Hindu and nine Muslim principles.

3.

This tribe is found in MP, UP, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. It is believed that after a death in
the family, the members of this tribe just leave the house and build another.

4.
5.

It is a necklace worn by women of most Naga tribes.

They live in the Andamans and call themselves En-iregale, which means perfect person.
They consider white teeth a sign of a dead body and therefore, chew a bark in order to turn
their teeth red.
They live in the Amazon forest and are considered the most threatened tribe in the world.

6.

Copyright 2016 GreenLine. All rights reserved.

04

TASK FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST

Awareness Campaign on Personal Water

Footprint
Each school is expected to have formed the Jal Squad/ Water Committee by
now. For the month of August, the Water Committee members along with the
teacher-in-charge should arrange for an awareness campaign of personal
water footprint for the entire school.
Here are few ways in which you can go about doing this
1) Conduct a School Assembly on the theme of personal water footprint.
OR
Organize a short seminar on personal water footprint for the entire
school.
OR
Prepare posters that explain personal water footprint and put them up
in the school.
2) After the awareness campaign, encourage a discussion in all the classes on ways in which the personal water footprint can be reduced.

Do It Yourself (DIY) Rain Gauge

This is a fun and learn activity for the students. The students can make their
own rain gauge and study the precipitation in their area.
The rain gauge can be made by using locally available materials like a
plastic bottle, tubes, pails or pipes. It can be a Best out of Waste activity.
Let the students unleash their creativity. Here are few links to help understand the concept and making of Rain Gauge:

https://www.rmets.org/weather-and-climate/observing/make
-rain-gauge
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/projects/raingauge.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Mq-hSO9AJU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOzdcM-YZ2U

Copyright 2016 GreenLine. All rights reserved.

05

Rains Our Water Saviour

I remember when I was in school, we were welcomed by rains into the new academic
year. And as school began, our teachers would perpetually ask us to write essays about rains,
if not somewhere, there is a prompt about your favourite seasons or poem recitals.
Being a relief from the summer heat, the humidity and deluge of the monsoons is an ideal
time to refresh a tired mind. We do know the importance of the rains in the water cycle, especially its use in our everyday activity, but there is much more to it.

Indigenous and other local people play a vital role in many ecosystems and may help to improve the flexibility of these ecosystems. Warlis, a tribe inhabiting the western parts of India,
are worshippers of nature, their chief gods being elemental nature gods and goddesses - the
Sun, Moon, Thunder, Lightning, Great Wind, the Rain and many others. With the bringing in
of the first rice, the rain gods festival Naranadeva is celebrated with kamadi dance.

They are weather dependent and yet weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Agricultural production is heavily dependent on quality of the monsoon rains, which act as our
guest for four months in the entire year. While too little rainfall during the monsoon can cause
dreadful conditions for farmers on land, too much rainfall and excessively strong winds can
make coastal waters dangerous, preventing fishermen from heading to sea to earn their income.
Nowadays seasons are less distinct or unpredictable. We humans have a tendency to grumble
a lot, for example, when we did not have rains we complained and now that we are receiving
sufficient rains we still complain. As Mumbai receives intense showers of blessings this year,
though it can lead to hurdles in our daily routine, let us not criticise but learn to appreciate the
wonders of nature because life depends on it.
Janice Vaz

Copyright 2016 GreenLine. All rights reserved.

06

Students Corner.
OH MAN! PLEASE REPENT
Oh! Rain, dont be so mean,
Make the deserts green.

Green trees and green land,

Beautiful flowers in our wonderland,
The three things which we need to
survive
The food the clothes and the shelter
for our life
The nature is the best physician
We probably say
But why do not we follow this
proverb in any way
So keep this proverb in your mind
And always do good things of all
kind.
- Rutuja Belwalkar ,Std 8, Convent
Girls High School, Dadar

Farmers need you, for their crop,

I promise Ill care for each of your drop.

Oh! Atmosphere, please cool and calm

down,
For we just want suns little crown.

We are sorry for warming you,

I pray, please dont get blue.
Oh! Mother Earth, sorry for this discomfort,
And all the humanly disgrace and dirt.
I played with your longitude and latitude,
I dont know how to express my gratitude.

Oh! God. What the hell I did?

I am trying to extinct the one who sowed
my seed.
I am realizing my mistake,
Please. Oh God! Help me for this worlds
sake.
By Alisa DSouza Std. VI B
St. Pauls Convent High School, Dadar

Copyright 2016 GreenLine. All rights reserved.

07

Students Corner.

Every Drop Counts

We will only know the worth of water when the well is dry.

Copyright 2016 GreenLine. All rights reserved.

08

Answers to the Crossword

Across
1) Sentinelese 2) Bhil 3) Boa Sr 4) Forest Rights 5) Pola

Down:
1) Mixed 2) Bishnoi 3) Baiga 4) Tida 5) Onge 6) Aw

Stay updated with everything that happens at GreenLine.

Website: www.greenline.org.in

Facebook: https://

www.facebook.com/
GreenLineIndia

Want to contribute to the newsletter ?

Write to us at:
newsletter.greenline@gmail.com
and well feature your work in the
next issue of Green Runner!
Tell us how you found this issue,
and if you have any suggestions.
Feedback from our readers is always welcome!
You can also write to the GreenLine
Team at
info@greenline.org.in

Copyright 2016 GreenLine. All rights reserved.

09