Green Diwali - oxymoron or tautology?

Folks who think "Green Diwali" is an oxymoron obviously don't know the spiritual / true meaning of Diwali.

While Diwali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the inner light".

Diwali is the Indian festival of lights but more importantly (I believe) it is another God-gifted opportunity to go green! Here's how you can make this festival more green and more fun for yourself and others -

1. Promote community building and concept of saving - Spend the hard-earned money you saved all year for this day. Obviously you need to save first - a concept quite lost today. Wear new clothes, share gifts, and use the opportunity to make new friends by sharing and caring for others.

2. Save energy by burning diyas - To celebrate the victory of good over evil and light over darkness, you burn symbolic diyas. In today's modern age, people tend to turn on ALL the lights in the house. Try burning more diyas instead, with friends and neighbors. This is not only economically and environmentally better but diyas generally look more beautiful and create a more soothing atmosphere. If you really can't resist turning on all the lights, use this opportunity to buy energy efficient lighting.

3. Home hygiene and food - Take this opportunity to clean and decorate your home. Cook food at home. Try potluck parties with friends and family.

4. Reduce noise and smoke - Burning firecrackers are popular but I am not very sure if the pollution and noise generated are necessary. This is obviously a tough issue to address. There are some alternatives to fireworks. I would recommend using glow sticks, wands, necklaces etc. Make sure they are recyclable products.

So how are you making yours a greener Diwali? Would love to know your ideas even if you are not implementing them.

10 tips to go green (the Indian way)!!

10 tips to go greener at work or even at home (and why it's even easier for us, Indians!)

1. More work, less energy (optimizing and making more from less)
2. Digitize (using a computer to store documents - scan instead of print hard copies)
3. Don't be a paper pusher (if you really need to print then print double-side and reuse paper as much as possible)
4. Greening the commute (carpool or use a car sharing service - why drive when someone can drive for you once in a while, you get a chance to make new friends, and just by the way you save some gas as well)
5. Green sleeves (ironing your own clothes gives you more self-confidence at work then why give clother for dry cleaning)
6. Work from home (sure, why go all the way to work when you can use communication technologies like messaging, email, tele/web conferening, blogging, wikis, etc. Today anything can be done remotely. Grow up!)
7. Use green materials (buy in bulk so that shipping and packaging waste are reduced, and reuse the shipping boxes)
8. Lunch time (getting delivery and takeout means more waste, bring your lunch in your dabbaas, recyclable plates, spoons, and napkins are encouraged)
9. Get others in the act (share this with your fellow Indian friends and earn brownie points that your kids will remember you for)
10. There are probably a number of other reasons why you must go green but here's one you should never forget -- "Stay in touch with the Indian inside you -- at least for your habits.. they just might end up saving Mother Earth.. after all we were'nt just made that way.. you know what way ;)

Earning green by going green... I welcome comments (through this blog).

IT can lead the green revolution?

"The kneejerk reaction to current environmental damage and resultant climate change is to do the cause-and-effect calculations, and attempt to remove the technological causes of what all but the most shortsighted Clarksonistas regard as imminent catastrophe." - posts an IT Week article. Post your comments about how can environmentally-aware technologists be the planet’s best hope for averting disaster?

Big Companies Go Green to Ensure Business

"Whether one likes it or not, you will be forced to adopt greener ways of conducting business" - this is what we've been hearing until now... Recent article from ABC News shows how companies like GE and Wal-Mart are realizing that Environmentalism is actually good for profits. What are these big companies starting to realize? Share your thoughts/comments.

Adobe - The Greenest Office in America

In an era of corporate scandals CEOs need to maintain brand trust as it is no more enough to make good products. Consumers trust companies that are responsible citizens & mistrust those that appear selfish or wasteful. Companies are facing pressure to create environmental value while still maximizing profits & protecting shareholders.

In a recent article published in Business 2.0, Adobe is considered to be "the Greenest Office in America". Adobe has turned its headquarters into a towering example of environmentalism - and is saving millions of dollars in the process.

This is just the begining of the green revolution - a quiet but strong revolution. Smart businesses are rising to the order and winning the hearts and (more importantly) pockets of their investors.

What vibes do you get about the trends of businesses going green? Post your comments.