Dec 2019

Page 8 VOLUME 117 | ISSUE 123 | DECEMBER 2019 Established by H.H. Dr. Syedna Environment Wellness & Lifestyle Monthly Newsletter Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA) in 1992 BURHANI FOUNDATION (INDIA) WISHES Karnataka’s Primary Education Minister Suresh Kumar announced that all private and On the auspicious occasion of 109th Milad Mubarak of aided schools in the state will also have a water bell that will ring three times during 52nd Dai-Al-Mutlaq, great visionary, school hours to remind students to consume water. HIS HOLINESS DR. SYEDNA MOHAMMED BURHANUDDIN SAHEB (RA) The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has guidelines about how much fluid children need – as a general rule of thumb, children aged between 4 to 13 should aim & 76th Milad Mubarak of 53rd Dai-Al-Mutlaq to drink approximately 6-8 glasses of water a day, with younger children needing relatively lesser amounts (eg. 150ml for a 4 year old and 250ml for an older child) HIS HOLINESS DR.SYEDNA AALIQADR MUFADDAL SAIFUDDIN SAHEB (TUS) To address this concern and inculcate the habit of consuming an adequate amount of water, Kerala schools started a rather unique practice. During school hours, a bell is rung thrice, to remind students to pick up their bottles and drink some water. The first bell is rung at 10.35 am followed by one at noon and then at 2.00 pm every day. Indraprastha Vidyalaya in Uppinangady, in the Dakshina Kannada district, was the first school to implement this concept in Karnataka. Principal M J Jose says, “We were getting a lot of feedback from parents that their children would return home with water bottles completely untouched and that was what prompted us to take this decision. We implemented this at school almost three months ago. This rule is applicable for all classes, from our nursery children to the senior classes. In fact, even the teachers and staff at school have been diligently following it. The complaints that we used to get from students and parents, about frequent headaches and pain in the stomach, have reduced considerably after the implementation of this rule.” The same is now being emulated by schools in other states too. Recycled Paper Used Caring For Our Elders INDEX 5 Recycled Paper Used 2 Vertical Gardens 6-7 BURHANI FOUNDATION (INDIA) 8 Amatullah Manzil, 65 Bazargate Street, Fort, Mumbai-1. Phone: 22678480 / 22634326 Youtube: Burhani Foundation India Channel A few habits to inculcate in our daily 3 Winter Care Website: burhanifoundationindia.org Facebook: Burhani-Foundation-India lives to care for elders Email: [email protected] Twitter: BFI_environment Instagram: burhani.foundation 3 Ways To An Eco-Friendly Holiday 4 Kerala’s Water Bell [email protected]

Page 2 Page 7 In recent sermons, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal SaifuddinTUS has drawn attention to Most places in India do not have very harsh winters, however there are exceptions the matter of care for the elderly, entreating community members to fulfill the Islamic where winter is severe and one needs to take utmost care to prevent against ailments. obligation of brotherhood and fraternity, by inquiring after elders in society and making Following these simple to-do’s can reduce the chances of falling ill during winter. Enjoy sure that their needs are met. He counseled community members to organize recurring the winter with complete health and well-being. activities especially for those above the age of 70, so that they could meet with their peers and be taken outdoors for picnics, sightseeing and other recreational activities. Keep warm: Don’t brave the cold by going out for walks in This will surely uplift their spirits and bring joy to their lives. the late evening without wearing something warm. Cover Heeding his counsel, community members across the world organized events and your feet and neck appropriately, as these are two parts of activities for the elderly. In Secunderabad where His HolinessTUS reiterated this the body that are most prone to the cold. Get as much sun as message, a special event was organized where the elders of that city were invited. His possible. Sunshine has vitamin D, which boosts your Holiness interacted with them, before they were taken for a day of outings. immunity. Consider taking a short walk after lunch. It does not have to be a brisk walk. Instead, you can stroll and enjoy Recycled Paper Used the warmth of the sun. Avoid cold drinks, prefer warm Recycled Paper Used beverages like tea, coffee or hot chocolate milk instead. Increase your intake of vitamin C: Vitamins in general protect against diseases. Vitamin C in particular protects against colds and coughs. Citrus fruits, such as oranges and lime are good sources of Vitamin C. Exercise: Exercise is essential for keeping the body warm during winter. You needn’t do vigorous exercises. Climbing merely one flight of stairs or doing just ten pull-ups in the morning will be enough. Manage stress: Stress impacts the immune system and can make you susceptible to illness. One way to manage stress is to get adequate sleep and rest. Manage dryness: In many parts of India, winters are very dry. The humidity dips and the resulting dryness can cause skin and respiratory problems. Use a humidifier when indoors. Keep your body hydrated with adequate intake of water. For your skin, a good moisturizer is essential. Frequent Hand Washing: Frequent hand-washing throughout the day is an absolute must in maintaining your health during the winter. It not only helps protect your immune system and prevent you from developing flu and cold, but also protects others around you.

Page 6 Page 3 Winter has almost arrived in India. It is the season of end- You can make a positive impact by just At old age, morbidity increases and this less cups of adrak chai and strong coffee. It is also the being there for them. During meals or means that they are likely to get sick holiday and wedding season. However for many, winter leisure, talk to them and listen to what more often. Ensure that they get and brings a lot of diseases. While some people are susceptible they are saying. Watch a favorite show keep their appointments with the doctor to catching common diseases, most illnesses can be or take a walk in the park together. and take medicines on time. Draw up a avoided by just a few precautions. Have them teach you a game, then chart for them to follow medical teach them one you know. Do not be instructions easily. Colds and Flu: Contrary to popular belief, cold and flu preoccupied while spending time with symptoms are not a direct result of falling temperatures. them. Grandparents love to feel proud of their People suffer due to a compromised immune system. To grandchildren. Invite them to your counter the cold and regulate the normal body temperature. Elders are people with a higher level of sports, games, concerts, plays, recitals, the body naturally begins to work in overdrive. So layering wisdom due to vast life experiences. So birthday parties and graduations. the body in warm clothes is necessary. Wear two or three when looking for advice, seek it from Nothing will please them more than to pairs of thin clothing instead of one pair of heavy warm them. They will feel appreciated and be included as an important part of your clothes. respected. life. Flu generally gets transmitted through the air. Keeping your- Look around the house for any Physical activity in older people helps to self shielded from chilling winds is the best precaution. potentially hazardous areas like loose prevent disease, maintain independ- Coughs: The dust, dryness and cold winds all add to cough symptoms. floorboards or uneven steps that could ence, and improve quality of life. Having beverages of extreme temperatures also triggers throat infection. cause an accident. Make sure those Encourage them to make physical Always wear scarves or mufflers to protect against the winds and dust areas are taken care of. activity a priority. while heading outdoors. Itchy skin: The cold climate may cause dry itchy skin. To avoid this Maybe it’s bingo at the senior center, brunch, or a weekly class that they can happily apply a good moisturizer, coconut, olive or almond oil every night. anticipate. Just like you need a break from work, they need a breath of fresh air after being indoors for long periods of time. Plan family outings from time to time. If Respiratory ailments and sinusitis: When homes are closed up, there is no proper something big isn’t feasible, at least visit a new park or beach. Invite other friends or ventilation and so respiratory ailments worsen. Make sure you get enough rest, eat family, take pictures, build sand sculptures or just relax. It’s important to be healthy, drink plenty of fluids and avoid dust and smoke to minimize the symptoms. outdoors – it is refreshing and helps to change negative patterns of thought. Joint Pains: One of the most common remedies to get relief from joint pains is by exercising and keeping yourself warm. Basking in the sun whenever possible is also beneficial. Heart Attacks: Most of us are unaware of the fact that winters is one of the prime seasons for heart attacks. As temperature falls, the arteries become constricted making it difficult for the heart to pump the blood. Experts suggest that people should avoid exhausting themselves in the winter season. It also important not to overeat and preferably eat in small quantities four or five times in a day. Recycled Paper Used Recycled Paper Used

Page 4 Page 5 While the holidays are typically a time of indulgence, how can one celebrate when the The Ludhiana Railway Station has found a way The vertical gardens was the phrase of the year is “climate strike”? And with the festivities in full swing, it is easy to to reduce plastic waste and increase greenery on brain child of Rohit Mehra — resort to old habits rather than thinking of eco-friendly ways. Here are some ideas to the premises. Their newly created vertical garden get you started: uses waste plastic bottles for planting. “So far, my an IRS official vertical gardens have planted about 2 lakh plants Decorative seasonal lights account for 6.6 billion kilowatt in Punjab, and as a result, upcycling the same hours of electricity consumption every year in the US alone, number of plastic bottles!” said Rohit Mehra, the which is equivalent to running 14 million refrigerators and man behind this idea. Last year, when the Air more than the national electricity consumption of developing Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 275 in countries like El Salvador and Tanzania. Ludhiana, environmental scientists visited the city. The solution? Using modern tech. Try using LEDs over They even visited Mehra’s office and were surprised at a discovery—the AQI at IRS traditional lights. LEDs use 80% less energy and last 25% officer Rohit Mehra’s office was just 78! The vertical gardens were silently battling air longer. pollution, where the entire city was struggling to breathe fresh air. When purchasing gifts, try scouring antique or vintage shops for Mr. Vivek Kumar, the Divisional Railway Manager said, “We will also replicate this those unique finds that don’t carry the huge burden of emissions project in other stations and sites to spread greenery as far as possible.” Mehra’s office from seasonal production and shipping. Also consider buying now sports 18000 upcycled plastic bottles! However, he didn’t stop there. He helped experiences, not gifts, like museum memberships, workout government offices, schools, Gurudwaras and even hotels to house upcycled plastic subscriptions, tickets to see a show or spa days. bottles containing plants to make the surroundings greener and enhance their aesthetic appeal! The IRS officer has established over 75 vertical gardens in Punjab! If you buy from online retailers, choose standard shipping and try to consolidate all of your purchases into one order so that you can reduce your carbon footprint as much as Vertical gardens have already started As our cities get increasingly urbanised, it is possible. growing on flyover pillars near the important to make efforts to preserve and College of Engineering, Pune. expand the rapidly shrinking green patches, Single-use wrapping paper is super wasteful. Be creative. Check out cloth wrapping and Pune is doing just that. The metro techniques, wrap with newspapers, maps or posters or decorate with markers. Try not authorities have put plans in place to make it to use plastic ribbons, bows, glitter and tape to avoid creating additional waste. green. The metro pillars will have vertical gardens, which will serve a dual purpose. No holiday gathering is complete without food. Bringing all They will not only beautify the area but will of your friends and family together can greatly reduce also purify the air and reduce the harmful your footprint. When it comes to leftovers, don’t let your effects of pollution. food go to waste. Repurpose them for another meal. And if you don’t end up using all of the leftovers, be sure to compost. Another eco-friendly tip:Ditch the plastics and disposables. Invest in good quality dinnerware. Making simple environmentally conscious changes to long-held traditions can help our planet in the long run. As the above list illustrates, we don’t have to sacrifice on the specialness of the holiday season to make it memorable, we just need to ensure that we can continue making those memories for years to come. Recycled Paper Used “We will use recycled water through a drip irrigation mechanism. In some places, we Recycled Paper Used plan to use hydroponics technology to save water. We have all the prerequisite machinery necessary to take care of the plants.” said Brijesh Dixit, the Managing Director of Maha Metro. The vertical gardens on the main pillars of the metro will undoubtedly enhance the beauty of Pune roads while providing fresh air.