Karnatriix - Live Earth CD available

Mitras are ecstatic. John Anthony, friend and guitar genius of Karnatriix, the man behind the only Live Earth concert in India, that we had the pleasure of supporting to spread the word on global warming and the need for individual action to reduce our carbon footprint, has finally released the album from that beautiful night- Namaste.

If you want to submerge yourself into some really trippy soul soothing fusion music featuring Johny's mesmerizing guitar, Ustad Faiyaz Khan's saarangi , hindustani vocals and wicked percussion, we encourage you to view, listen and acquire the album.

Karnatriix is headed to Europe for their maiden tour. If you enjoy their music then you should write to Johny to wish him good luck.

Counter Climate change not terrorism - Teenagers

Mitras always knew it and once again it has been proven - the youth today are smarter than their parents. A new survey of nearly 50,000 teenagers from around the world today reveals that 74 per cent of teens believe that global warming is a serious problem and are more concerned about it than any other issue including drugs, violence or war. The research conducted jointly by Habbo, the world’s largest virtual world for teens and Greenpeace examined the attitudes and behaviour of the global teen population towards environmental issues and gave teens a chance to speak out on the most pressing problem facing the world.

Whereas the teens surveyed regard climate change as more important than terrorism (56 per cent versus 46 per cent, respectively) they think that governments consider climate change a lower priority. 33 per cent think governments are ‘very concerned’ about climate change compared to 42 per cent who see governments being ‘very concerned’ about terrorism.

North America has come under the most fire, with 39 per cent of teens citing the continent as being responsible for the majority of greenhouse gases, followed by Europe (24 per cent) and Asia (19 per cent). Despite teens in every country pointing fingers at North America for the crisis (except in Asia where they blame themselves), a quarter of North American teens are still not sure if global warming is even a problem.

Although 64 per cent of teens believe it’s still possible to stop global warming, nearly 40 per cent don’t actually know what’s causing it or how to prevent it. One thing is clear though: teens do not regard this as a future problem; two thirds of those polled believe that global warming will affect their lives in a negative way.

Scientists of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change say that emissions of greenhouse gases need to be halved globally by the middle of this century to avoid severe impacts such as water shortages, floods and the spread of diseases.

The 49,243 teens participating in the November 2007 Habbo survey came from 18 countries. Those completing the survey were given the option of finding out more about climate change at the ‘Habbos against climate change’ campaign group page. 16,000 Habbos registered as the supporters of the group.

Habbo is a richly colorful, multi-dimensional virtual community and game environment for teens. Users join by creating a fully-customized online character called a Habbo. From there, they can explore many public hang-outs, play a variety of games, connect with friends, decorate their own rooms, and have fun through creativity and self expression.

Today’s teenagers are tomorrow’s decision makers and at Mitras we have discovered that they are already heralding a new revolution. Students of Center for Learning and Mallya Aditi school have already taken steps to promote non-polluting, renewable energy to prevent global warming from affecting the lives of billions of people and threatening the survival of countless species of animals and plants.

Mitras are proud to hang out with the smart ones!.

Trees are Dying!

Mitras are regularly asked, whether planting trees will stop the climate change disaster. We usually like to quote Mr. Oliver Rackham of Cambridge University - " Undeniably, having more trees will work in the right direction - but to a minute degree. For its practical effect (on climate change) telling people to plant trees is like telling them to drink more water to keep down rising sea-levels." :-).
Yes plant trees, but save the existing forests is our message to all our young friends out there and enjoy this Music video we spotted on you tube for Dr. Octagon ft. Kool Keith & One Watt Sun.

Carbon Debit!

(Courtesy Joy of Tech)

One of of our young members forwarded us this very funny cartoon on Carbon Credits aka known as Emissions Trading. Mitra Foundation will soon release a Dummy's guide to Carbon Trading. Watch this space.

Mitras and Peepal's Global warming rally

Peepal and Mitra celebrate Independence Day with a Global Warming Awareness rally.

Pune, 15^th August, 2007 : Peepal foundation along with their project partners Mitra Foundation organized a rally of over 1000 students and senior citizens in Pune on Wednesday in Yerwada, to raise awareness on global warming, impacts of climate change and the role of renewable energy in ensuring a safe and clean future.

Students from various schools and senior citizens associated with Peepal foundation took to the streets with banners, posters and placards depicting global warming and its impacts and tips on conserving electricity, as well as a demand to switch to renewable energy sources instead of climate killing coal powered plants.

“The planet is facing a grave threat from global warming. India is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, already northern India is reeling under terrible floods, resulting in a massive human tragedy, displacing millions of people and destroying property and agricultural land worth billions of rupees. More floods, water scarcity, food shortages and a rise in diseases is predicted in the next decade by UN scientists. We have to take individual and collective action to stop this phenomenon, and students and senior citizens associated with our groups are taking the first step by raising awareness on the issues.” Said Vineet Kharat, Chairman Peepal Foundation on the occasion.

“Conservation of electricity, buying energy efficient appliances, using solar water heaters and solar home lighting are some of the more simpler and cheaper options that every individual and household can take to contribute to fight against global warming. Buying locally grown food, car-pools, using public transport, reducing wasteful consumption and reducing your carbon footprint are some other individual actions that will contribute greatly to ensuring a sustainable future.” said Adarsh Vansay, Program coordinator of Mitra foundation.

A Walk in the Park

With the new school term, Mitra resumed its carbon neutral campus program. The first step towards developing an energy consciousness, in our program is to sensitize the students to global warming and the role of the energy sector, especially fossil fuels, in climate change.

The students of Mallya Aditi International School, got a first hand experience of working renewable energy models at a one of its kind, Karnataka State Level Energy Park developed by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) and TATA BP in Bangalore.

Mitra trustee and guest speaker, Shailendra, introduced the students to global warming, its impacts and the role of nation states as well as individuals in tackling the clear and present danger posed by climate change on entire ecosystems, the poorest of the poor and hapless other species that share this planet with us. He concluded the lecture with a call for replacement of climate change causing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources that will meet our energy requirements to ensure energy security as well as sustainable development, while arresting the runaway phenomenon of climate change.

Immediately after the presentation, Mitra coordinators, Seema and Adarsh, took the students for an invigorating walk in the park, where the students were introduced to the concepts of renewable energy and its applications followed by live demonstrations of various existing applications at the park powered by renewable energy.

The ‘Walk’ through the renewable park began at a solar kitchen that has huge mirror-clad panel which rotates automatically to catch the rays of the sun and re-direct a concentrated beam towards an opening in the kitchen where it is absorbed by a black pot in which food can be cooked. The kitchen also had information on Bio-gas plants that produces methane gas for cooking purposes.

Next was the demonstration of non-pollutiong, electric vehicles, which included a bus that can seat around 15 people and Reva, the famous Indian electric car, manufactured in Bangalore, which is proudly showcased under the array of 8.5 kW solar panels from which it charges its batteries in 6 hours. The students loved the battery operated bicycle which is recharged as you cycle. Some of the students also got an opportunity to zip around in a mini solar powered car.

The power of wind was demonstrated at the 1.3 kW wind turbine, the 1800W turbine that operates a surface water pump to irrigate all the plants in the garden, and a windmill that pumps water from a borewell for storage.

The students were then taken to a unique ‘Power Plant’, a Battery Bank located in a well ventilated room that consists of 72 batteries which stores an amazing 10kW of power generated from solar panels and 1.3 kW wind turbine mentioned above.

The crowning glory of the park is the solar powered house. A combination of BIPV and PV solar panels creates 2.2 kW to power lights, fans, a computer, tv and a small fridge in this off-grid house. Food is pressure cooked in a parabolic solar cooker in 20 minutes. A solar box cooker and a solar dryer are the other gadgets found in this unique house. Besides providing hot water for the house an industrial solar water heater circulates heated water through a nearby swimming pool.

The huge playground in front of the house with its swings, slides, see-saws, etc, all of which run on dynamos and ignite bulbs or play electronic music, was an energetic way to end the walk and reinforce the point that creating clean energy is a simple task.

The students left with a sense of realization that alternatives to our traditional climate change causing energy production exist . Mitra’s aim was not only to guide them through ways of using energy, whether renewable or otherwise, efficiently, but to open their minds into new and innovative ways of creating alternate energy and spreading the word to save this planet and all living things dependant on it.

Karnataka State Level Energy Park is located at the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Garden, Raj Bhavan Road, Opp. the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore.

Karnatriix for Live Earth - A Review

Nearly 500 people gathered at Bucks Theatre for an evening of fun -- a fun way to show solidarity and take back some tips to help each of us save the earth. Where politicians and scientists have failed for want of commitment, public spirited musicians from Chennai, Bangalore and Madurai rocked a crowd spanning at least three generations. With the planet going to hell in a handbasket, thanks to the climate-warming gases released by wasteful private and elite transport, the musicians who performed today insisted on none of the electricity-guzzling jazzy lights. Indeed, all of them took the train, sleeper class, to get to Chennai. Youth activists associated with Mitra Foundation underscored the motivation behind the concert: "Have fun, but have a care. Use less, consume less. Think about simple things like switching off your lights; taking public transportation or bicycling to work."

Karnatriix's fresh sounds, with "Darbuka" Siva keeping a deadly beat to a trippy rendition of Saint Thiagaraja's Pancharatna keertana, "Entharo" was a masterpiece that highlighted the talents of Dharwad vocalist and Sarangi player Fayyaz, and the lead-guitarist-cum-producer John Anthony. Featuring a number of originals and exclusive renditions of popular Carnatic tunes, the band delivered song after song that underscored relaxation as a way out of the hectic and earth-burning life that most of us live. Karnatriix' performance, short though it was, covered their special numbers -- Angel's Dist, Entharo, Delicately Tuned, Exorcism and Namaste.

John Anthony is an ole time rock guitarist, with the defiance, pride, creativity and dexterity befitting an activist. On more than one instance, he has stepped in to pull off massive shows for social causes. In 2000, in a gesture of farewell to Greenpeace's flagship Rainbow Warrior from Chennai, Johnny and his "Banned" organised a "No More Bhopals" concert. No corporate sponsors; free tickets. More than 5000 students rocked peacefully to a series of socially-relevant songs set to invigorating music.

"Darbuka" Siva, a sprightly lad in his early twenties, was a hit. A Radio anchor on Radio Mirchi, Siva's solo percussion performance, -- he starts off testing this bell and that xylophone -- eventually cascaded into a riot of beats that had the old and the young keeping rhythm in their own ways.

Fayyaz Khan, an accomplished Hindustani classical vocalist and Sarangi player from Bangalore by way of Dharwad, punctuated the otherwise instrumental-emphatic performance with vocals flowing from the belly, a sound that touched you awake from the mesmeric music that straddles evolving genres such as new age, electronica, ambient and alternative.

With all four musicians/bands making it clear that they were playing for the planet, the show was set apart from the rest both by the commitment of the performers and the fact that the show was largely sponsored by the five-hundred odd music lovers that bought tickets to attend the show. Performing in the lead-up to Karnatriix' performance were Marana Gana Viji, Manoj from Chennai-based country western band Shoestring, and Rajasekhar, another old-time radical Tamil rocker from Madurai. (Courtesy Nityanand Jayaraman)

An Invitation to Chennai

Music is a passion amongst us Mitras. It keeps all of us together and fuels our optimistic outlook. So naturally when, musician and friend , John Anthony called us to support a special concert by "Karnatriix" in Chennai, to raise awareness on climate change, all of us jumped on the next train. The concert was held in conjunction with Live earth concerts for climate crisis organised by Al Gore of An Inconvenient Truth.