The Diary Of A Carbon Rationer

BBC News writes:

The BBC News website asked Carbon Rationing Action Group member Peter Robinson to describe how his efforts to reduce his carbon footprint affected his daily routine.

“Getting up: Don't put the light on in the bedroom; just open the curtains slightly to give a bit of light. This way you avoid losing too much heat through the windows. In the shower: Use a jug to collect hot water to shave in, to avoid heating more water to fill the washbasin.

Downstairs: Our kids will open the curtains rather than turning the lights on.

Breakfast: No lights on in the morning. Fill the kettle with the amount we need, ie a cup each for me and Sarah.

Work/school: Cycle or walk to work. Sarah and the children will walk to school most days, and then Sarah cycles on to work. Use the bike at work to go to meetings or visit other campuses.

Finishing work: Switch everything off standby and encourage colleagues to do the same.

Teatime: Spend a lot of time in the kitchen rather than moving a lot around the house, so as to avoid having to switch more lights on than necessary. We try to only light one half of the kitchen at one time. We are gradually replacing our incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving ones.

No TV: We don't watch TV at all, and the kids don't watch videos or DVDs during the week. But there's unlimited viewing for them at the weekends.

If watching DVDs or videos, turn down the dimmer switch really low.

On the computer: Turn the broadband connection on and off only as required. Remember to switch lights off in other parts of the house if they're not needed.

At or after bedtime: Only use the bathroom upstairs, as there's just enough light from the street light outside to see by.”

More info @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6636521.stm

8am: Shower. Save The Water. Save The Planet

Here is a interesting story about energy conservation. Gemologists, gem dealers, jewelers and consumers may want to give it a try.

(via BBC News Magazine) Robert Greenall writes:

Would you switch everything off and rely on natural light to save the planet? It's the only answer for the families going to extreme measures to cut emissions. Most families get up in the morning, switch on the lights and start their ablutions. The Robinsons do not.

The Robinsons get up, leave the lights off and open the curtains a crack so some light gets in but little heat escapes. This is the world of "carbon rationing".

The term may fill some people with horror - conjuring up images of wartime austerity measures and queues for bread and sugar. For others it may suggest green fundamentalists forcing us to swap our central heating for woolly jumpers and run our cars on chicken dung.

A recent poll suggested only 28% of Britons thought the idea of setting mandatory limits on individuals' carbon emissions - raised by Environment Secretary David Milliband - was socially acceptable, even though most feel lifestyle changes are needed to reduce the impact of climate change.

But the term does not trouble Peter Robinson, and dozens like him around the country who have signed up to voluntary groups whose aim is to substantially reduce the CO2 their members are releasing into the atmosphere.

These Carbon Rationing Action Groups advise their members, known as Craggers, on how to minimise energy use. The Robinsons have eagerly set about finding ways to cut their personal energy use, many of which have also proved financially beneficial.

"It's only when you stop and start looking that you realise that you do waste a lot of energy, not out of spite or just being lazy or anything, it's just your normal lifestyle," Peter says.

"Our lifestyles were very energy-rich whereas now... there are things you can do in your life that don't stop you having a really nice time... but you can still make really substantial savings.”

"It's not draconian, you're not leading the life of a monk, it's just stuff that's really easy to do."

The 36-year-old school administrator may not think it is draconian but there are some who would raise an eyebrow at the prospect of using only the upstairs bathroom during the hours of darkness and relying on ambient light from streetlamps.

But Peter has been an enthusiastic "cragger" since joining his local Crag, in Worcester last year. Though he, his wife Sarah, and children Jacob and Molly, have been actively trying to reduce their carbon footprint for some time, he believes being members has helped to focus their minds on the task in hand.

"Being involved in the Crag... has really made a difference - monitoring how you produce your carbon... is what really has driven me and enabled us to look at what we do, how we live our lives, make those savings," he says.

It is easy to see the Robinsons as driven. They do not watch television, but for reasons that have nothing to do with the environment. Their children are allowed to watch DVDs at the weekend but the brightness control has to come down.

Developing habits is the key, Peter says. He described how he once visited a prison with a group of psychology students.

"One thing you notice there is that each time any of the prison staff went through a door they would close it and lock it, it becomes second nature. And when I started going round at home turning lights out it reminded me of that routine."

Most of the family's savings have come from using less heat (turning it off altogether from April to October and restricting its use at other times), less light and turning off electronic equipment at the wall. Peter has also pledged not to fly this year.

He says they reduced their personal carbon emissions from 12.7 metric tons in 2005 to 10.9 in 2006, well below the national average. He is hoping savings this year will have knocked another 10% off their emissions by December.

Financial penalties
Frustratingly for him, his local Crag has not offered any guidance or reduction targets. But in nearby Hereford one of the first groups to be set up recently finished its carbon "accounting" for the year April 2006 to April 2007.

It set a limit of 4.5 tons per person. Some Crags have elected to impose financial penalties for those who exceed the limit, but Hereford decided not to. Carpenter Steve Ball, 36, who joined Hereford Crag last year, found a combination of his car use and a flight to Slovenia had pushed him well over the limit to more than seven tons.

But although he had never previously calculated his footprint, he believes changes he has made have already cut deeply into his emissions - for instance, converting his car to run on a biodiesel mix and resisting regular calls by friends to fly off to Tallinn or Prague.

Like Peter, Steve has taken small steps across the board - like using a small motorbike for some journeys or insulating his converted loft. He plans to insulate his floor as well, but his dream is to build afresh.

"Renovation is quite a hard thing to do, to make an old house efficient energy-wise, but I'm looking into building a new house," he says.

Both Peter and Steve have made massive changes and are prepared to go further. But they both seem wary of the Crags' ultimate aim - to reduce personal carbon emissions by 90% by 2030, which the movement says is necessary to avoid dangerous and potentially runaway climate change.

"We would struggle as a family to get 90% cuts," Peter says.

"If it's do-able, then great idea," says Steve. "We can strive for it, but whether or not it's realistically possible I don't know."

One thing is sure. If anyone can do it, it's the Craggers.

More info @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6635759.stm

CrystalSleuth

The windows-based software, called CrystalSleuth, may become an useful tool for analyzing and interpreting Raman spectra and powder X-ray diffraction data. The software may be able to compare multiple spectra and identify an unknown sample utilizing the online RRUFF project database.

With the continued technological advances portable Raman spectrophotometer may become even smaller and affordable in the future for gemological studies or other applications. This, combined with the free CrystalSlueth software may become a user-friendly tool for practising gemologist and gem dealers.

Raman spectral library is freely downloadable from the RRUFF Project web site @
http://rruff.info/about/about_software.php

Trapiche Tourmaline From Zambia

Well formed crystals of green tourmaline have been found with a growth pattern similar to trapiche emerald and ruby from Kavungu mine in the vicinity of Jivunda in Chief Sailunga's area, southeast of Mwinilunga in northwestern Zambia. Those who are not familiar with the crystal specimens may confuse for emeralds because of its color and patterns. The experts believe that the trapiche-like appearance may be due to skeletal growth with black carbonaceous substance, most likely being graphite, that may have been embedded with other impurities during the growth of the crystals. Chemical analysis indicate that the tourmaline is uvite and is colored green by vanadium. Facet quality specimens are rare due to the dark color of the tourmaline.

GemQ

when you are curious
ask this
simple question
what are gemstones?

where do they
come from?
why are some
stones so expensive?
why do people
go the extra mile
to find them?
the gemstones
speaks to you
in colorful languages
the mineral way
the gemstone way

gemstones are synonym
for love and status
symbol of commitment
intended gifts for a few

gemstones have
special status in
our culture
it is based on
an illusion
a few gems appreciate
value with time

some believe
gemstones are nature’s
gift to mankind
some believe they
are from the gods
of this universe
some believe they
are for the people
by the people
to share and enjoy
rarity and beauty

Harper

Memorable quote from the movie:

Lew Archer (Paul Newman): The bottom is loaded with nice people, Albert. Only cream and bastards rise.

His Jewellery Box

(via Live Mint) Parizaad Khan writes:

From pendants to gold bracelets and lapel pins, men’s fashion focuses on accents

As an architect, it’s a given that Jimmy Mistry, 34, pays attention to detail. But he takes it a step further when it comes to grooming. He spends a fair amount of time each morning coordinating his jewellery and accessories. So, apart from his white topaz and white gold ring (“very unobtrusive, it goes with both formals and informals”), he pairs a thin gold Italian bracelet with his steel Rolex, or matches his blue leather strap Audemars Piguet with a blue lacquer and steel pen. He’s figured out various other combinations, which he changes daily.

Mistry is a member of that group of men who were not scarred for life by Bappi Lahiri, so wearing jewellery doesn’t put him off. “I’m fond of accessories and like expressing myself this way.” His tip: “Stick to what you can carry off. I wouldn’t try a diamond pendant, though it looks good on Vijay Mallya,” he says.

Jewellery for men is no longer restricted to stones recommended by astrologers, gold chains or cuff links. It now includes materials like wood, steel, leather, semi-precious stones and even square-cut diamonds, as accents.

“All men are closet jewellery lovers,” believes Mumbai-based jewellery designer Anita Vaswani. “From the Zegna-wearing guys to metrosexuals—they all love embellishment,” she says. She’s currently working on a men’s line for her label, Stoned. Vaswani’s male friends keep demanding more, so the idea for an all-male line was born. But it’s not for the faint-hearted: hunks of turquoise and charms strung with Rudraksh beads.

On the other hand, Bollywood’s favourite designer, Farah Khan, has sobered up when it comes to sketching for the boys. She launched her male line last year, after asking corporate and film friends for inputs. “I found that most men weren’t afraid to experiment, but they like to keep it masculine, with geometric shapes or straight lines,” she says. She says her men’s line was a success because the timing was right. “Maybe it wouldn’t have been successful five years ago. It used to be macho not to wear jewellery, but now it is,” she says.

Khan isn’t off the mark. When Manali Vengsarkar, jewellery designer and cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar’s wife, launched her collection earlier this year, she presented the Indian cricket team with a long, tablet-shaped pendant strung with a leather thong. They were well received, so Vengsarkar’s men’s line will be launched before Diwali this year.

One of Vaswani’s clients is 31-year-old restaurateur Aditya Kilachand. He believes the days of gold chains are passé; today’s trend is to wear one statement piece, be it around the neck or wrist. Whether he’s working at his South Mumbai restaurant, Tetsuma, or partying with friends, he puts on three or four thin Rudraksh bracelets. “I like to leave my jewellery on all the time, I don’t wear things I have to change too often,” he says.

Mistry says he prefers to change every day and he accessorizes mostly when he’s at work. “In the evenings, I try to be as casual as possible,” he says.

Biren Vaidya, jewellery designer of the Rose Group, designs for those who don’t believe in being casual. His male line, Rose by Bee Vee, has contemporary pendants and bracelets, crafted from rubber, wood and steel. But his speciality is the flower or bee-shaped diamond lapel pin, worn on the lapel of a jacket or a shirt collar. “It’s a more subtle statement for those times when you can’t leave your shirt buttons open and wear a pendant. It always gets noticed and appreciated,” Vaidya says.

More info @ http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/12000525/His-jewellery-box.html

A Primer On Life Skills

2007: I think gemological schools should train their graduates on a similar wavelength. Many students lack soft skills, life skills and are totally clueless + unemployable. All they want is money, money, and plenty of money.

(via Business Standard) Prakash Iyer writes:

It was the summer of ’86. And as I, and the rest of the graduating batch, walked out of the hallowed portals of WIMWI (ah, the Well-known Institute of Management in Western India), you could sense that we were probably echoing Bryan Adams’ words as we looked back on our two years on campus: Indeed, those were the best days of my life!

We learnt the fundamentals of management. We learnt to draw up business plans, and evaluate advertising, and discount cash flows. More important, we learnt to stretch ourselves, and structure our thinking. We learnt to work hard. To compete. To win. And we made friends!

B-schools do a terrific job of equipping us with business skills. What’s missing, perhaps, is a primer on life skills. We emerge competent to deal with the complexities of running a business — but not quite as adept at managing the business of running our own lives.

Here then, in no particular order, are four life skills I wish they had taught us in B-school.

Goal setting: I wish every student passing out of B-school would walk out with a set of written goals for himself. A set of goals that define what each of us want to do, be, have and achieve. That would include financial and career goals for sure, but would also cover other key areas such as family, health, relationships and personal interests. Goals provide direction and discipline, helping us stay focused on what is really important to us. Without those goals, we tend to drift — and wonder why we sense a strange emptiness even as the next promotion beckons. And as the saying goes, if you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.

Communication: The best ideas and thought are of little use if we don’t learn to communicate them effectively. Learning to use the right words at the right time, to empathise and listen are priceless skills no one teaches us. We master an assortment of financial ratios but forget the message God sent us when he gave us two ears and one mouth: listen more than you speak. And making presentations is a key part of business life — yet you find bright young managers fidgeting nervously and reading out every word of a text-heavy and hastily prepared PowerPoint slide. If only they had been taught communication and presentation skills!

Good health: Corporate waistlines are expanding almost as rapidly as company bottom lines. And between early morning flights and late night conference calls, no one seems to have the time to take care of their own bodies. The games we grew up playing become the stuff we watch on TV. And our idea of a long walk is the trek from the corner room to the elevator. Perhaps B-schools should inculcate the habit of an hour in the gym every day. And the pursuit of a sport, say, every week.

Work-life balance: No man on his death-bed ever said “I wish I’d spent more time in the office.” Watching your child grow up, spending time with loved ones, being there at those special moments in other people’s lives — all these can probably give you as much joy as a deal clinched or a market share point gained.

“What would you do differently if you knew you had only six months to live?” We could all probably answer that one quite easily (spend more time with the family, play with the kids, take off on that vacation to the hills, write that book …). Alas, none of us really knows when precisely we have only six months to go.

B-schools teach us how to become change agents. We learn how to change the world, the consumer, the organisation, the works. But we don’t quite learn how to change one key piece: ourselves. Learning to change ourselves, our thoughts, our beliefs, and our actions can often be the biggest and most effective change we can make!

Prakash Iyer graduated from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in 1986

More info @
http://www.businessstandard.com/common/storypage_supp.phpautono=283680&leftnm=1&subLeft=0&chkFlg=B-schools