Earth day falls on 22nd April every year and my birthday on 17th April so it gives me double pleasure to celebrate Earth and my birthday in green and eco-friendly ways.

TREE PLANTATION -PLANTED 100 TREES IN 5 DAYS AT 5 DIFFERENT SITES

Since 2012 I have been planting trees/saplings on my birthday and have been occasionally visiting to see them growing. This year I was in UAE in the month of April and decided to plant 100 trees to commemorate Earth Day (and also my birthday). 

In line with my 'Birthday Plantation' tradition and for EARTH DAY, I planted 100 trees in 3^rd week of this month (April) as I believe that 'Trees are the lifelines and lungs of Earth'. Planting trees is the most efficient way to combat climate change and help protect environment.

 

I planted trees every day of that (3^rd week) at a different place. I started with plantation with small kids at 'Lollipop Nursery'  followed by the next plantation with another set of kids at 'Little Angel British Nursery', then at Sharjah Industrial area, then with labourers at Sharjah Airport free zone and the last 10 saplings with my community friends in a villa near Kuwait roundabout, Sharjah. I am feeling a sense of accomplishment after planting these trees.

 

It was such a great feeling to see cute, innocent kids at 'Lollipop Nursery' and 'Little Angel British Nursery' digging the sand, sowing and watering the plants. They very curiously observed me doing and then did almost perfect. Before starting the plantation, I gave an environment awareness session to these kids in a very simple, easy to understand language, made them understand what Earth day means and that they should not throw litter around, should not waste food and should plant trees on their birthdays to save Mother Earth who is suffering just like when we suffer from fever, our mother gives us medicine. I told them that paper and pencils they use come from trees which they have planted. I took a pledge with them (made them to promise that they will save Earth).

 

These small kids have fresh minds without any preconceived notions and they are like moulding clay means what we tell them, they pick very fast and get moulded or groomed accordingly. It is rightly said 'Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn'. These kids have experienced the plantation, done it with me, so they will never forget this in life. This is the reason, I did with these kids to lay their green foundation.

 

My idea behind this activity was to generate kids' interest in environment and create the sense of responsibility (towards environment) in the child's behaviour and foster environmental stewardship. These cute kids were the primary planters with me and by planting saplings themselves it gave them a sense of ownership and increased their knowledge of trees. I got the feedback that these kids were very excited when they reached home and they told their parents about their plantation experience which they enjoyed.

Planting trees should be part of every school curriculum. Students become aware that they can play a role in protecting the environment through personal involvement. Experience of such events will help them make intelligent decisions about conservation and use of our valuable natural resources.

I thought, did research and carefully selected Ghaf, Aloe Vera and Neem plants for my series of plantation this week. These species are heat loving plants and grow best in hot climates, thus are suitable for dry and hot climate of this place. Also, while Ghaf is UAE's national tree, drought resistant, Aloe Vera is the most powerful and medicinal plant and it is good for skin, hair, heals sunburn, insect-bites, allergy etc. It is a natural medicine for cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, inflammation, and other health conditions. Likewise, neem is also used in herbal healing treatments and is well known for a wide array of medicinal and cosmetic applications. Neem tree has proven itself to be a valuable herbal aid for daily living and for the support of ailments and irritants. Slender Neem tree twigs are used in Asia as toothbrushes.

 

I have made a short video about this tree plantation, you can view on You tube through below link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htRFuOUOEmE

 

 

Quotes or feedback from few participants of my 'series of tree plantation':

It's great to see younger generation like Arushi, so passionate about Earth and caring for the environment. She visited us and we were more than happy to plant Aloe Vera and Neem trees outside our office to support her mission and contribute towards environment-By Mr Devi Prasad (HR & Admin, PEC)

We were glad to have the young environmentalist Arushi Madan with us to give a nice environment talk to our kids followed by tree plantation. Kids were excited, inspired and enjoyed the process-By Mrs. Yamina Saifee (Principal of Lollipop Nursery)

This is a good initiative by Arushi to protect our Earth. With an increasing decline in number of trees every year, such an initiative is a good step towards a greener future-by Mr Sunilraj (Library Committee Convenor at Indian Association, Sharjah).

I was filled with joy to be able to participate in the planting of Ghaf trees with Arushi. I encourage everyone to practice the slogan "STOP TALKING START PLANTING "- Venkatesan Sundar, Student of DPS-Sharjah 

Beautiful initiative by Arushi, who is my role model. Planting saplings on various occasions makes us especially young children closer to the nature. This is the true way of celebrating earth day and by this way we can keep the earth greener. Staying in a deserted country and planting saplings on many events which shows that we are trying our best to make UAE greener.  By Neola Castelino- student of Our Own English High School(Girls)- Sharjah.

We, Little Angel British Nursery, believe in holistic development of our kids. It was amazing to have Arushi in our nursery to give 'Earth Day' environment talk and plant saplings with our little angels. It was truly an eventful day and a meaningful 'Earth Day' activity-By Ms Shagufta Haji (Principal of Little Angel British Nursery)

I am thankful to local media for covering my initiative 'Tree Plantation -Earth Day' and appreciating my efforts. Media plays a big role in promoting any cause like this, which eventually inspires many more.  I had informed media about my event and they were excited to come and do the live shooting.

 

Online links of media coverage:

Azad news

http://azadnewsme.com/teen-enviro-activist-arushi-madan-s-exemplary-tree-plantation-ahead-earth-day/

Gulf News dated 28^th April

http://gulfnews.com/your-say/your-reports/leaving-a-mark-with-our-actions-1.2018801

Khaleej Times

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/sharjah/indian-girl-plants-100-trees-on-her-birthday

The Gulf Today (dated 17^th April 2017)

http://gulftoday.ae/portal/0efe43dc-1ee9-44b1-8a41-80418e7834d4.aspx

Xpress News

http://gulfnews.com/xpress/news/no-parties-teen-celebrates-birthdays-by-planting-trees-1.2017841

Mathrubhumi (Indian regional language newspaper)

http://www.mathrubhumi.com/gulf/uae/news/tree-planting-1.1868411

 

ENVIRONMENT SPEECH AND CALL TO ACTION AT PETROFAC

Our Toastmasters Gavels club(TKMCE) was invited by UAE's leading company 'Petrofac' (provider of oilfield services to the international oil and gas industry) to participate in their 'Environment Month' celebration. 5 of us from our club volunteered to speak at Petrofac. I was one of the 5 speakers and spoke about environment, global warming, causes and impacts, tips to protect environment, my efforts towards saving Earth and FINAL CALL TO ACTION -urging the audience to wake up, gear up and work to protect environment. I did not want to deliver it as a lecture. I, rather, decided to speak from my heart citing examples of my efforts in the direction of protecting environment, giving convincing facts and figures as to why we all should wake up to save and protect our Mother Earth from the illness/fever of 'Global Warming', giving simple and practical green living tips to be followed at offices and homes. Co-incidentally this speech was in the week when I was planting trees so I shared about my 'Birthday Plantation' habit and tried my best to inspire them to plant trees on their birthdays or significant days like Earth Day to make this planet a clean, green and healthy planet. My friend Rohan Kapur (Tunza appointed ambassador to the Middle East) was also among the 5 speakers. As per the feedback and evaluations, our speeches were highly appreciated. Audience (mainly employees of Petrofac) realised that if we, the younger ones, can work towards environment protection, why can't they. They were also made to realise that their generation needs to be eco-friendly to ensure greener present and greener future for our generation.

 

MOBILISING KIDS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENT AND EARTH DAY

Whenever I go to India to visit my relatives, I observe my 6-year-old cousin named 'Parina Arora' taking keen interest in my environment sessions or tree plantations. This Earth Day, I did a skype call with her and asked her to speak on 'Earth Day' and saving Earth -in her school assembly-in front of hundreds of other students and staff. She is so quick in grasping and has amazing confidence that she just heard me once and remembered and spoke so effortlessly with confidence.

This cute little angel, speaking so confidently on 'Earth Day' about earth, environment, global warming and the green tips. .Amazing!..When kids like this stand up for Mother Earth and promote to save Earth, we are sure to have greener days, greener Earth ahead...

 

You all must watch her speak on the below Youtube link:

https://youtu.be/6ZyC0qie1wg

 

 

As an environmentalist, I support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)13 which encourages to take action to mitigate and fight Climate Change. Birthday Plantations like this, candle light dinner every alternate dinner at my home (to save energy), Recycling and doing environmental advocacy in social gatherings, schools, community events etc are my efforts in the direction of supporting SDG 13 and helping to protect Earth as I truly believe that 'There is only one planet, there is no Plan, I mean Planet B'. What is the use of a house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?

Going green doesn't have to be a daunting task. Before taking any action just ask yourself 3 questions-Is it necessary? What will be its impact on the environment? Is there an eco-friendlier alternative? Remember "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed." So be wise, don't waste water, energy and most important don't waste food. Eat what you take and take what you eat.

I urge everyone to plant trees on their birthday and also on the birthday of Mother Earth called 'Earth Day'.  Let's leave our mark, not the footprints.