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Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

AHMED SIKANDER
sikander.ahmed3@gmail.com 3
Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

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Bubblewrapped March 2011

CONTENTS
THE TIPPING POINT
10 MURDER OFF THE MUMBAI COAST
The point of crying over spilt oil.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE GREEN TONE
16 SHEDDING SOME LIGHT
What are you doing on March 26th?
We are switching off from 8:30pm - 9:30pm.
18 LATHER AND BLATHER
The Body Shop's claims of being clean, green and naturally effective
are about as substantial as a handful of foam. What say you?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE WILD TRUTH
24 PECKING ORDER
We are on a scavenger hunt for Vultures.
28 HISSING AROUND
Don't be afraid of Satan.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B+
34 MERCHANDISING CHANGE
EDITOR Shop for a cause. Loosen you purse strings and spread the cheer.
Chetna 38 THE DREAM PITCH
DESIGNER The kids of Project Crayons hit a few fours and sixes with the lads from England.
Guru Munishwar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTRIBUTORS
Akhil Sood
Elle Reynolds
Rachel Lopez
Rahul Fonseca
Sachin Rai

graffiti
publishing
house
Produced and Published by
DISCLAIMER
Views and opinions mentioned in this eMagazine do not necessarily reflect those of Bubble Wrapped or Graffiti
Publishing House.Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, Bubble Wrapped and Graffiti Publishing
House cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in eMagazine. Reproduction in whole or part
without written permission from Graffiti Publishing House is strictly prohibited.
10
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 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

Do you want
to help Japan
pick up the pieces?
Here is a list of 10 non-profits that have committed to send relief
resources directly. For more details log on to
http://media.causes.com/ribbon/1032753.
Special thanks to The Causes Team, Facebook.

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 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

ADRA: Initial $25,000 of aid committed. Assessment team evaluating affected area and preparing
broader response. Providing food and shelter for train passengers that are stranded in Tokyo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMERICAN RED CROSS: Gifts to the American Red Cross International Relief Fund will support their
disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES Our partners are assessing the needs where the tsunami has caused
extensive damage. CRS has programs in the Philippines and Indonesia and works with partners in
numerous islands in the Pacific that might be affected. Central American countries where CRS works could
also be in danger.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONVOY OF HOPE: Disaster Response team established connection with in-country partners who have
been impacted by the damage and are identifying the needs and areas where Convoy of Hope may be of
the greatest assistance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS: Putting together relief teams, as well as supplies, and are in contact
with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OXFAM USA: Oxfam is poised to respond if disaster strikes vulnerable countries in the tsunami’s path.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REAL MEDICINE FOUNDATION: RMF was founded in 2005 in response to the Asian Tsunami relief
efforts. We’re working to see where our funding, resources and expertise will be most effective to those
most affected in Japan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAVE THE CHILDREN: Mobilizing to provide immediate humanitarian relief in the shape of emergency
health care and provision of non-food items and shelter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHELTERBOX: ShelterBox responds instantly to natural and man-made disasters by delivering boxes of
aid to those who are most in need. The box includes a tent for a family of 10, cooker, blankets, water
purification, tool kit and other items survivors need to rebuild their lives in the days, weeks and months
following a disaster.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WORLD VISION: World Vision staff members are on high alert, preparing to respond.

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THE TIPPING POINT

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MURDER OFF
THE MUMBAI
COAST
Author: Akhil Sood

The explosion of the Deepwater

Horizon, a drilling unit on a British
Petroleum-operated project off the Gulf
of Mexico, resulted in what is
considered one of the largest marine oil
s p i l l s e v e r, w i t h f a r r e a c h i n g
consequences which are being felt even
today. Soon after, on August 7th 2010,
two international cargo ships, the MV
MSC Chitra, and the MV Khalijia 3,
collided off the coast of Mumbai,
causing another devastating spill. More
than 800 tons of oil poured into the sea
before any substantial action could be
taken, causing tremendous damage to
the ecological environment. The
financial damage was also far reaching,
as movement along the Jawaharlal
Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and the Mumbai
port were suspended for a few days
after the spill. While not as massive as
the incident off the Gulf of Mexico,
which continued to spill oil for three
months after the explosion, the collision
is still one of the largest such disasters
to take place on Indian waters.

10

Mangroves along the coasts of
Mumbai, Thane and Raigad were largely
destroyed, and the impact is still being
calculated. “The maximum impact of
the spill was felt on the mangrove areas.
The spill spread to various land areas,
such as Uran, Mandwa, and Elephanta.
It was quite a wide section, and some of
the mangrove areas were so completely
covered with oil that nothing could have
possibly survived,” says Sumaira
Abdulali, a well-known environmentalist
who is also the Managing Trustee of the
Awaaz Foundation. She had written to
the government as well, demanding a
probe into the spill. She claims that the
impact of the spill could have been
minimised, but it was allowed to spread
due to a lack of planning. “The spill
spread over a vast area since there were
no systems in place to curb its impact.”
How it Happened
Says Derrick Alvares, who has worked
as the Chief Engineer for off-shore
harbour tugs, “There are certain
navigational rules, or RoR (Rules of the
Road), which dictate the pattern of
movement on a ship. For example, if one
ship is taking the port side, then the
other has to take the starboard (port and
starboard are navigational directions).
The collision could have been the result
of miscalculation or a human error.”
“The incident happened around the
monsoon season, when the sea is a bit
Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia
choppy,” says Arun Gupta (name
changed), an engineer for an Indian
shipping company, “but that is no
excuse. It was a grave error. Both the
captains were arrested, and usually in
such cases, the captains are not given
employment after such an incident.” He
tells us that the authorities were
equipped with the necessary skill and
technology to handle the incident, and
the port was shut down for about 8 to 10
days. “‘Lifting’, which is the process of
stabilising the tilting ship to ensure that
further oil does not spill in to the sea,
and placing it in an upright position, took
around three weeks. Despite the
incident happening at the busiest port in
India, the authorities did not possess
the necessary equipment, and a
salvaging company from Singapore was
summoned in order to repair the
damage. They brought their own
equipment and ship, and used heavy-
duty cranes to lift up the container ship
which was tilting. There is a device
made of thermocole which is used
during oil spills. It surrounds the erring
ship and being a light material, it floats
on the water, preventing the spill from
spreading any further, but it wasn’t
available at the time of the collision.”
Arun goes on to inform us that action
was taken in the aftermath of the
incident, and the authorities have
woken up to the dangers of oil spills
having procured the necessary
equipment now.
Retrospective Action and
Shipping Procedures
According to the guidelines of the
National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency
Plan, as devised by the Indian Coast
Guard, the duties of the Coast Guard
involve “marine environmental
preservation, protection, and
prevention and control of pollution in
the maritime zones of India.” Says
Sumaira, “The Coast Guard has been
installed for monitoring and reporting oil
spills. But this is a very difficult area to
monitor. Public awareness about such
disasters is not very widespread, and
very little work is being done in this field
aside cleaning processes carried out by
the Bombay Natural History Society
(BNHS), a few NGOs working actively to
raise awareness about it, and some
work done by government institutions
like IIT Mumbai. It’s a case of out of
sight, out of mind.”
Arun adds that while it remains the
responsibility of the Coast Guard to
monitor all possible spills, such a task is
much harder to execute. “Aside from
environmental preservation, the Coast
Guard, which is state governed, also has
to monitor any infiltration. The naval
base is located near the Gateway of
India, and the Coast Guard has to
monitor the entire West Coast. It’s like a
needle in a haystack,” he affirms.
11

MARPOL, which stands for maritime
pollution, is an international protocol of
which India is a signatory. It issues
various regulations that ensure pollution
by shipping companies is minimised. “It
enforces strict rules regarding disposal.
Food cannot be dumped within three
nautical miles of the shore, and disposal
of plastic is strictly banned. The
Oil/Water Separator (OWS) is a machine
through which bilge is passed through.
It separates oil and water, and the rules
maintain that a ship can only discharge
15 parts per million (ppm), and that too,
at a distance of 12 nautical miles from
the coast, and no oil is to be discharged
into the sea,” says Derrick. When you
reach Indian waters, you have to contact
your local agent and arrange a mobile
transport for a bilge holding tank. This is
used to discharge all the sludge, bilge
and dirty oil on board, and it is necessary
to maintain an oil record book, keeping
track of all the bilge on board and being
discharged, and also providing the exact
location of the ship at these times.” He
goes on to inform us that officials from
the Port State Control can board a ship
anywhere and inspect the record book,
and also check for any leakages, giving
recommendations to the captain and
chief engineer based on that. According
to MARPOL regulations, emissions
from the engine through the funnel are
also banned, since that pollutes the air.
Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia
Environmental
and Ecological Impact
The spill destroyed a large chunk of the
mangroves in the affected areas,
resulting in long-term damage. “The
authorities carried out procedures to
clean the oil which had infiltrated the
land areas through bio-treatment, and I
believe this process went off well,
preventing further long-term damage.
However, the treatment was carried out
only after the oil had pervaded such a
vast area of land,” says Sumaira. Derrick
talks about the immediate impact of the
spill, “It damaged marine life, and
resulted in the loss of wages to fishing
trawlers as well.”
The BNHS has been actively involved in
the gauging of damage in the aftermath
of the spill. “Right now, we are still doing
the assessment, seeing the
geographical extent of the damage, and
how much of the areas have been
cleaned up. We will submit the final
report in November,” says Deepak Apte,
Head – Conservation, BNHS. He informs
us that the oil has virtually reached most
of the mangrove areas from Mandwa,
up till Alibaug and Raigad. “A substantial
amount has been cleaned up, due to
procedures undertaken as well as the
process of natural cleaning because of
the strong water supply during the
monsoons. The regeneration of the
mangroves did not happen last
monsoon, but the damage is not
irreversible. We are waiting for
regeneration this year, but there is also
the problem of intermittent pollution
through industries in the area that affect
the mangroves,” he adds.
Well-known filmmaker Vinta Nanda is
also in the process of setting up an NGO
called the Village Project, which will aim
at cleaning up the beaches of Mumbai
by working alongside the Khar Danda
Fishermen’s Village Association. “We
are currently in the process of gathering
funds, and we should probably be active
within six months or so. The project
aims at cleaning up the beaches, which
have collected so much garbage. And as
it has accumulated over time, it has
almost become like rock.”
The government issued a notice
advising people to avoid consuming
seafood after the spill. Sumaira narrates
how the prices of fish plummeted after
the spill, causing a state of disarray in
the market as fishermen suffered the
brunt of it since it remained their sole
livelihood. “The drop in prices was
largely evident. But more importantly,
once the ban was lifted, I don’t think it
was done on the basis of any scientific
processes or tests. While the August
spill was a large-scale one, and was
heavily reported, minor spills happen far
too frequently. How can we tell which
12

fish is suffering from the toxic impact of
the oil, and which one isn’t?” Deepak
tells us that the notice was
precautionary due to the hazards posed
by the spill, and the maximum
impact on the fishes was on
shellfish, including crabs.
The oil from the spill washed ashore on
the nearby islands, completely
destroying the fishing life of the areas.
“The water on the land was
contaminated, which caused these
people to suffer severe financial losses
as the quality of fishes procured was
suspect. However, perhaps more
significant was the widespread impact
on the people who were residing on
these nearby islands. It hampered their
very life since even the water that they
needed to drink was stained with the oil.
Also, the powerful waves resulted in the
oil even reaching holiday resorts like
Alibaug, causing further pollution. You
can’t underestimate the power of the
tides going out,” says Arun.
Sumaira raises further concerns as she
maintains that the influence of the spill
on health of the people could be drastic.
“The number of people exposed to the
oil cannot be restricted to just the
fishermen on the coastal areas.
Ultimately, it has a significant impact on
the health of all those exposed, be it
through evaporation, or the oil
Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia
infiltrating the soil, and in turn the
vegetables and fruits that we eat. The
resultant pollution affects the health of a
large population in Mumbai, and it
becomes difficult to ascertain the extent
of damage caused.”
Much apart from the people who may
have gotten exposed to the oil at the
time, a large chunk of animals also
ended up suffering due to the spill.
Thankfully though, the damage was not
too great. The Bombay Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(BSPCA) treated various birds who had
suffered damage to their health as a
result of exposure. Colonel JC Khanna,
Secretary of the BSPCA, tells us that lots
of flamingos and pigeons were brought
to the hospital for treatment. “Lots of
birds, especially from the seashores,
were brought to us. Probably 90% of
them recovered, except for the odd bird
which had inhaled the oil, which causes
severe respiratory problems. The
damage was not long term. Generally,
flamingos come in the months of
August and September. It takes around
six to eight months to clear out the
effects of the spill. That particular year,
the number of flamingos that came was
20-30% less than usual. Luckily, the
impact was only short-term, and the
situation is expected to improve. The
people who brought the animals to us
included a lot of activists, but also
people who were working with the
refineries and security guards who saw
the birds suffering.”
Further Oil Spills
Aside from the much-publicised spill
following the collision in August, the
country faced yet another spill in
January this year, when an Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC)
pipeline burst around 80 kms from the
coast of Mumbai. However, the damage
caused was minimal as a contingency
plan was swiftly put into action and the
rupture in the pipelines was plugged
within two days, preventing the oil slick
from spreading.
However, Sumaira informs us of another
spill that allegedly happened soon after
the one in August. “It happened
sometime in October or November, but
w a s n’ t a c k n o w l e d g e d b y t h e
authorities. I have photographs which
show fresh oil washed ashore. The
characteristic of this oil was different
from the oil spilled by the ships, but no
action was taken and it went
unreported. Due to limited media
coverage, not enough attention is being
paid to these minor spills that occur
from time to time and cause a
significant impact on
the environment.”
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THE GREEN TONE

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SHEDDING
SOME LIGHT
Author: Elle Reynolds
Photography: (courtesy) WWF-India
Ironies are commonplace in a land
where the festival of lights and daily
power cuts live in a state of unnatural
symbiosis. Wielding the power of light,
therefore, can come across as
redundant, if there is no higher purpose.
Enter Earth Hour, launched four years
ago in Sydney, Australia. 2.2 million
individuals and over 2,000 businesses
turned their lights off for one hour in
support for a cause that in one year took
the message of global energy
sustainability to more than 35 countries
across 18 time zones.

Stepping up in 2009, India joined hands

with now over 120 nations worldwide in
this annual call for action against climate
change scheduled for March 26th from
8.30 to 9.30 pm this year. “Last year,
Earth Hour became the largest voluntary
action ever witnessed in history,” said
Aarti Khosla, Programme
Communications and Campaigns,
WWF-India who has worked with the
initiative from the very beginning. 120
private and public organisations across
125 cities in India participated in the

16

effort last year. Banks, local cafés,
defence institutions like the Indian
Military Academy willingly flipped the
switch in support. “It is a simple call to
action,” said Aarti. “We want to
empower individuals to tackle the issue
of climate change for themselves.”
Some of the project's toughest critics
often ask the all-important question.
Sanjana Chowdhury, homemaker from
Mumbai, Maharashtra switched off all
her electrical appliances at home in
support last year. She said, “I want to
continue my support. But, how much
power is saved in that hour and how do I
know what is being done with it?”
WWF-India (earthhour.in) who help
organise the event in the country
provides updated information online. It
maintains that the aim is a behavioural
change rather than merely acting as a
power saver campaign. “The aim is to
create a conscious recognition of the
amount of energy each person uses. A
segment of our society wastes ever-
increasing amounts of energy. This
must be checked.” While long-term
benefits may seem vague and
unquantifiable, slow positive change is
better than none at all.
What few people realise, is that even a
campaign that seems as simple as this
one has cog-stopping hurdles. “Tight
Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia
budgets,” said Aarti “and to some
extent trying to explain the merit of a
switch off campaign to an Indian
audience that is fundamentally an
energy starved society is tough.” If
you're smiling to yourself at this
moment and know your idea can make a
difference, this team is all ears.
Their Facebook fan page
facebook.com/earthhourindia
and Twitter
twitter.com/earthhourindia
pages ask members for feedback on
how they plan to spend Earth Hour this
y e a r. T h e r e s p o n s e h a s b e e n
encouraging. While some take on the
role of crusader, others plan to focus on
some tinder loving in their own lives.
Akash Shirodkar from Porvorim, Goa
logged on and said you will find him, “on
the street from 8.30 to 9.30 pm, asking
people who have not participated, to
join hands with other people (around the
world) and switch off all their appliances
and lights for another hour.”
Another vocal supporter of the project,
Ashutosh Morrisson, from Ghaziabad,
Uttar Pradesh also signed in to the social
networking page and left this note. “(I)
will go to the nearest electric house,
explain the cause and ask for their
support by cutting the power supply of
near by areas for (that) one hour,” he said
about his plan for the hour.
Noble intentions indeed, but what
happens after March 26th, 2011? “The
Government needs to introduce
stronger policies to promote renewable
energy in homes and businesses. They
also need to support use of lesser
carbon intensive fuels, and implement
climate friendly actions towards
becoming 'carbon neutral cities',”
said Aarti.
In a bid to extend its support to the
initiative, Smt. Sheila Dixit, Chief
Minister of Delhi and Mr. Singh, CEO
and SG, WWF-India will come together
to mark the start of Earth Hour 2011 by
turning off the power at India Gate in
New Delhi on March 26th at 8.30 pm.
Expect low visibility at other famous
landmarks in the city like the
Qutub Minar, Red Fort and the
tomb of Humayun.
Even, the city that never sleeps,
Mumbai, will encourage its
incandescent stars – the Gateway of
India and Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link - to join
its counter parts worldwide and get
some much needed shut eye.
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LATHER
AND BLATHER
Author: Rachel Lopez

Back in the 1980s, many years before

Naomi Campbell threw her first
hairbrush at an assistant, Vogue
magazine decided that supermodels
were not famous enough and dedicated
a whole cover story to their skincare
regimes. Campbell was interviewed, as
were Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington
and Claudia Schiffer. Even Linda
Evangelista, who famously said that she
wouldn't get out of bed for less than
$10,000 a day, answered questions
about her cleansing routine – perhaps
from her bed itself.

Among the usual revelations of “I drink

lots of water” and “I head to a secret spa
in the mountains every weekend”, was
one model's confession that her
flawless skin was courtesy a Body Shop
cleansing bar. It may sound hilarious in
2011, but over two decades ago, it
probably wasn't so funny. A newly
booming America – with bad hair,
c l o y i n g p e r f u m e s , Wa l l S t r e e t
millionaires and shoulder-pads – was
where bigger, brighter and louder was
always better, even in the skincare
market. It made sense then for the

18

model to recommend not something
trendy, but it's very opposite – a little
known brand that championed natural
ingredients, recycled its packaging and
cared as much for your skin as it did for
the rainforest and labs full of red-eyed
rabbits. That the brand was founded by
a maverick bohemian made it easier to
love. Anita Roddick may have been up in
arms about community trade and saving
whales (by using jojoba oil instead of
whale-produced spermaceti), but she
was no ordinary hippie. She liked to
bathe. She smelled good. She even
shaved her underarms for Pete's sake.
It's little wonder then that The Body
Shop quickly became cool, popular and
successful. In an era when you could
buy everything, Roddick's brand of
ethical consumerism ensured that you
could also buy a conscience. She
eventually steered her ad campaigns to
target unfair representations of women
in the media – pointing fingers at the
very supermodels who liked her soaps,
but it seemed to have worked. In the
stock market, it was given the
The Body Shop quickly became
cool, popular and successful. In
an era when you could buy
everything, Roddick’s brand of
ethical consumerism ensured
that you could also buy a
conscience.
Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia
nickname, “the shares that defy gravity”
since it opened at 95pence but
increased by more than 500%.
Today, however, even a buyer who
knows nothing of Anita Roddick (who
died in 2007) will find that The Body
Shops slogans sound self righteous,
even a bit suspicious. Let's say you're
looking for their body lotion made with
community-trade cocoa butter. There's a
Body Shop in every major Indian city and
more than a few in the biggest metros.
In fact, the chain has become the
second largest cosmetic franchise in
the world, with 2,400 stores in 61
countries. Each outlet has at least 10 of
every item on display, plus a
conservative estimate of five in storage,
so that's 15 500 ml bottles which
adds up to 18,000 litres of
lotion in stores right now.
That's an awful lot of lotion. And there
are some four other products in the
cocoa butter line. If even a quarter of it
was cocoa butter, that's an impossible
amount of cocoa to be traded ethically.
Unless of course there's less cocoa
butter in your lotion or lip balm than you
think. Or worse, you're buying less
fair-trade products than you've been
led to believe.
In the case of The Body Shop, both of
the above have unfortunately been true.
While the company puts shiny happy
images of plants, blossoms and herbs
on its labels, they are by no means plant-
derives. The company itself claims that
they are not “all-natural”, but “inspired
by nature”, a convenient phrase that
allows them to produce what the
cosmetic industry calls “alibi
formulations”: synthetic compounds
combined chemically with a tiny
sprinkling of natural ingredients.
Meaning there's not enough cocoa
butter in the bottle to offer enough
skincare benefits. It's not even enough
to fragrance or add colour to the lotion –
that's all synthetic.
As for the fair trade claims, consider
this: The Body Shop started sourcing
Brazil nuts from the Kayapo tribe in
1991, launching a huge campaign
calling for “Trade not Aid” to developing
countries. But the former University of
Chicago anthropologist and Kayapo
expert Terrence Turner has stated that
the “project has been very disruptive for
the Kayapo”. When the tribe's chief sued
the company for exploiting his image for
commercial gain in 1993, it turned out
that The Body Shop was sourcing no
more than 0.165 % of its goods from
fair-trade sources. The chief won.
The gravity defying share price
finally fell to earth.
19

In The Body Shop's Charter, Roddick
states that the company's “goals and
values are as important as our products
and profits”. But that axiom rang hollow
long before the brand was taken over by
the L'Oreal Group for 652.3 million
pounds in 2006 (Anita Roddick and her
husband Gordon reportedly made 130
million pounds from the sale). Roddick
has claimed that hers was the “first skin
and hair care company to encourage
customers to bring back used
packaging for recycling” offering US
customers 25 cents off if they came in
with empty Body Shop containers for a
refill. But in reality, customers got as
little as 10 cents off per ounce, hardly an
incentive to save the world.
The company's green image has turned
muddy over the years. In the early
1990s, various guides, including
Consumer Reports, criticised The Body
Shop products on overall quality or for
liberal use of synthetics. There have also
been instances of product
contamination. David Brook, a former
Environmental Protection Agency
lawyer and the company's US manager
of environmental affairs in the early
1990s, provided environmental-agency
records showing that pollutants were
being discharged into the local water
Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia
system at The Body Shop's pandering to a market already created
headquarters in New Jersey. The by competitors like Ole Henrickson and
management ignored the reports, TiGi. No wonder even Indian
prompting him to quit. models seemed to have moved
on to newer distractions.
Their other causes, including opposing
animal testing, promoting AIDS
awareness, human rights and battling
domestic violence and globalisation
The Body Shop started sourcing
have found to be riddled with hypocrisy
Brazil nuts from the Kayapo tribe
too. Roddick who applauded
in 1991, launching a huge
companies that refused to trade with
campaign calling for “Trade not
repressive economies like China, was
Aid” to developing countries. In
exposed as buying gift baskets from the
1993... it turned out that The
Chinese.
Body Shop was sourcing no
more than 0.165 % of its goods
In recent times, The Body Shop's worst
from fair-trade sources.
enemy has not been the watchdogs
among the public, but its own product
line. Once known for its radical new
innovations (it popularised body scrubs,
hemp lotion, blue-corn face masks, tea-
tree cleansers and Vitamin E creams)
the brand fell behind in the 1990s
market where brands like Aveda, Lush
and Origins dominated. Their line of
naturally derived cosmetics came too
late as well, offering little to distinguish
itself in terms of ingredients, quality or
packaging. The brand's most recent
launch, sulphate free shampoos
inspired by the rainforest, are also
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 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

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THE WILD TRUTH

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PECKING
ORDER
Author: Rahul Fonseca

Dwindling numbers and bleak statistics

have almost sent vultures in India to the
land of the dodo. Known as the
recyclers of nature, vultures are
extremely important to our survival.
With a rapidly decreasing vulture
population, that has fallen by over 98%
in the past few decades, these birds
have almost been exterminated. Dr.
Vibhu Prakash, Deputy Director of the
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
Mumbai and Head of their Vulture
Conservation Breeding Programme has
witnessed the decreasing numbers first
hand. He said, “Vulture population has
dropped from approximately 40 million
in the 1980's to about 60,000 in 2007.
The difference is significant and the
cause needs better coverage.” Today
the numbers stand at a dismal 11,000.
This is due, in no small measure, to
misconceptions about these birds and a
loss of their natural habitat.

Contrary to popular belief, vultures do

not hunt living creatures. Most often
their typical diet includes the remnants
of small and large animal carcasses.
Gruesome though the thought may be,

24

these large avians are an integral link in
the circle of life. The birds keep the
spread of infectious diseases among
animals and humans in check. Vultures
are of also of vital importance to the
Zoroastrian community as one of the
key ways to dispose their dead.
The BNHS was among the first
institutions to notice the dwindling
numbers and sounded the alarm in the
late 1990's. Due to their efforts of
recording this rapid population decline,
three vulture species were listed as
'Critically Endangered' by the
International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened
Species. To be listed here, means that
the species is at extremely high risk of
extinction in the wild.
Theories abound as to why vulture
populations have declined at such a
rapid pace. Some believe that
widespread urbanisation has chased
these raptors out of their habitat. Others
maintain that they have been trapped or
intentionally poisoned by villagers who
believe that vultures prey on their
livestock.
Extensive research conducted by the
BNHS, UK-based Royal Society for
Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the
Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have
evidence to the contrary. While findings
Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia
support the fact that these giant birds
were in fact being poisoned, it was
unintentional. Diclofenac - a non-
steroidal anti-inflammatory drug was
introduced to India for veterinary use in
the late 1980s. The drug was a popular
treatment for ailing livestock throughout
the Indian subcontinent. Healthy birds
excrete uric acid through the kidneys.
Birds eating the carcasses of these
animals built up toxic levels of the drug,
which caused kidney damage and gout.
With kidney failure, uric acid builds up in
the bloodstream and crystallizes on
organs, especially the heart, liver, and
kidneys causing death. To most
farmers, Diclofenac is a godsend. Like
most over-the-counter painkillers, it
does not cure livestock but can alleviate
pain enough to allow animals to
continue labouring through the day.
New research has uncovered a similar
drug that has also lead to a number of
vultures dying. “Ketoprofen is less toxic
than Diclofenac, but it also causes fatal
visceral gout”, said Prakash.
During The International Workshop
conducted at Kathmandu, Nepal in
February 2004, India woke up to the
need for action against vulture
extinction. The aim was to tackle the
causes of vulture decline by 2010 and
establish self-sustaining populations of
vultures in the wild by 2030. The
National Workshop held in New Delhi in
April 2004 resulted in a landmark
decision. Diclofenac was to be phased
out and an official ban on the use and
production of this drug was passed by
the Central Government in May 2006.
In spite of the ban, a recent survey by
the BNHS found the drug readily
available in drug stores around the
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, in the Nilgiri
Hills range in South India. The results of
this survey showed that most people
from farmers to veterinary experts were
unaware of the ban and continued to
u s e t h e d r u g . C . S a s i k u m a r,
Ornithologist, and the South Zone Co-
ordinator of the Vulture Conservation
Project of the BHNS said, “This is a very
dangerous situation as far as vultures
are concerned. If laws are not enforced
and the situation brought under control
immediately, the remaining vulture
population here will be extinct soon.”
An answer to this dilemma might just be
another drug, Meloxicam. Developed by
the BNHS in collaboration with the
Indian Veterinary Research Institute
(IVRI), this alternative painkiller for
livestock does not poison carrion-eating
birds. With promising test results, it was
introduced into the Indian market in
2006. Expensive at first, the drug is
slowly becoming affordable as more
companies manufacture and distribute
it across the country.
25

In 2005 the BNHS started a vulture
breeding project in Haryana and West
Bengal with 18 vultures caught in
Assam. The project has shown signs of
success with 15 hatchings buoying the
numbers in 2010.The captive population
at the Pinjore centre in Haryana has now
increased to 134 birds since the
project's inception. According to
Prakash, “Bringing as many vultures as
possible into captivity is the best way to
save them from extinction.” The captive
breeding of vultures has been difficult
as no prior work had been done with the
species and the project met with mixed
reactions. The strongest opposition has
been because this procedure requires
wild specimens to be captured, eggs
collected from nests and artificially
incubated. Others agree that breeding
projects are necessary and a number of
prominent members from the
Zoroastrian community have been vocal
about their support for sustained
breeding projects. One of the biggest
challenges though, is that captive
breeding is extremely difficult as
vultures mature after four years,
mate for life and hatch only
one chick every year.
Although there was initial difficulty in
obtaining permissions from the Central
Government and the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, the BNHS
now runs successful vulture breeding
Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia
centres in Haryana, West Bengal and
Assam. US-based The Peregrine Fund
started the The Asian Vulture Population
Project, a factual data resource,
compiled and verified by
informed observers.
In an effort to save these helpful
scavengers from extinction, the state of
Maharashtra also recently embarked on
a project to create a safe haven for these
birds to feed without fear of being
poisoned. The first of its kind in India,
the vulture 'restaurant' at the Phansad
Wildlife Sanctuary, in Raigad district,
opened in January 2011. Forest officials
ensure there is a continuous supply of
cow, water buffalo and bullock
carcasses at the main feeding area.
Vultures gather at the large clearing
equipped with tree stumps and logs of
wood that mimic perches. Officials
work together to ensure that the
carcasses are Diclofenac-free and safe
to consume. International organisations
have also extended their support by
sharing resources. Websites like
www.vultureday.org provide helpful
information through e-newsletters and
one can find more information via social
networking sites like Facebook and
Twitter. An increasing number of
professionals are exploring the online
medium to fuel the awareness drive and
the first Saturday of September every
year is observed as International Vulture
Awareness Day. The aim is for each
participating organisation to carry out
their own activities worldwide to
highlight the cause of vulture
conservation and raise the global levels
of awareness. While re-populating the
wild is difficult, it is not impossible.
Sustained long-term conservation will
ensure future generations will see and
experience these majestic birds in their
natural habitat.
DID YOU KNOW?
Vultures serve a higher purpose for a
little over 1,00,000 Zoroastrians that live
in the Indian sub-continent. The
Zoroastrian faith does not permit natural
elements of wind, fire, earth and water
to be polluted by death, seen as the
work of evil. The dead must be allowed
to disintegrate naturally or be
consumed by birds like vultures, who
they believe were created specifically
for this purpose.
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 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

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 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

HISSING
AROUND
Author & Photography: Sachin Rai

What causes more deaths in modern

cities – road accidents or snake bites?
Yet, the sight of Cleopatra's messenger
of death can create havoc and in most
cases it's the snake that's brutally killed.

A recent report suggests that snake

bites fatally affect as many as 50,000
human lives and an additional 9, 50,000
people get bitten but live to tell the story
across the world. A recent BBC
documentary titled One Million Snake
Bites, released as yet in the UK features
the famous herpetologist Romulus
Whitaker investigating the truth behind
these statistics and figuring how best to
help people and save the snakes as well.

In India, snakes have traditionally been

venerated as Gods in Hindu mythology
and thus command a lot of respect
which is perhaps borne out of fear. In
many parts of India snakes such as the
Cobra are still worshipped and festivals
like Nag Panchami are celebrated with
much enthusiasm (and indeed,
aberration). With the advent of
modernisation and urbanisation, among
other factors, one can observe a

28

decrease in people's confidence and
tolerance levels which has ultimately
resulted in a lowering down of its iconic
status to almost that of a pest.
Urbanites, especially, panic at the sight
of this creepy crawly in their city (more
so when it is in their backyard), and
some well-intentioned ones proclaim
with great conviction that the snake
needs to be rehabilitated in its 'natural'
setting that is to say, dense forests. The
truth, however, is a bit more complex...
Of the 15-20 species of snakes found in
and around Mumbai it is only four
species that cause most fatalities, while
the rest could either cause extreme pain
at worst or minor injury at best. The
Spectacled Cobra, Common Krait,
Russell's Viper and Saw-scaled Viper are
among the most venomous snakes
found in the city but let's briefly remind
ourselves that a lot more people lose
their lives to road accidents and
diseases than to snake bites. And
among the non-venomous ones, the Rat
Snake, Checkered Keelback, Vine Snake
and Common Kukri can be encountered
in the city.
While different snakes feed on a variety
of creatures, most of the big ones prey
on rats and are thus dubbed as nature's
municipality. It is for this reason that one
can encounter snakes in places like
gutters, rotting wooden debris, piles of
Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia
dump – basically, any place which can
sustain rat populations. Most snakes
are active during the night but usually
tend to avoid confrontation with
humans and even larger animals like
dogs. They are known to attack humans
only in self-defence as any self-
respecting organism would, especially
when cornered.
However, it must be remembered that
snakes are not snuggle-toys and a
respectful distance must be
maintained. It may come as a surprise to
many, but it is illegal to kill a snake in our
country. There are several snake rescue
societies whose volunteers can come
up to your doorstep to rescue snakes by
causing the least amount of distress to
people and the animal. So next time you
spot a snake, call the nearest snake
rescuer before you scream for help and
end up with blood on your hands.
Did you know?
Katraj Snake Park at the outskirts of
Pune city was initiated by the renowned
herpetologist Neelim Kumar Khaire and
is known to house a variety of snakes
including the King Cobra. The staff and
volunteers here provide education to
thousands of tourists who make their
way to see the fascinating reptile
collection here.
Some easy steps to
avoid snake-bites
-Identify potential habitat:
Don't wander off in places with a lot of
wooden debris/piles of construction
materials/ruins. Ensure that
confrontation is reduced by clearing off
rotting junk from your backyard.
-Wear covered shoes: If you
really cannot avoid such places then
wearing gumboots or such other
protective shoes.
-Contact a snake rescuer
(not a charmer): If you do happen to spot
a snake, stay calm, disperse the crowd,
gently move away (remember not to
startle the snake) and contact a local
snake rescuer. If it is during the day
when snakes are generally less active, it
will usually take cover in a
burrow or a crevice.
-Keep an eye: While the snake
rescuer is on his/her way, remember to
keep a watch on where the snake last
took shelter but don't try to be
too curious.
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 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

ASLI
JANWAR
KAUN?????
He trusts you completely. He loves you without question. He will devote his
entire life to you. And yet, you abandoned him on the street. To starve and fall
sick. Scared and alone. To die, slowly and painfully.

Every day, pets are left to die by owners who think it’s alright to treat a loving,
innocent creature in this manner. So tell us, who is the real animal here?

Don’t be silent. Report all such cases to

Animals Matter to Me on +91 9819380310
and help bring justice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

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 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

B+
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 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

MERCHANDISING
CHANGE
Author: Chetna, Nikita Sawant

Retail therapy can do no wrong;

shopping can cause no harm. And
Bubble Wrapped now makes 'burning a
hole in your pocket' the 'right thing to do'.

CRY WORLD
A space with a purpose - to see, to know,
and to do what’s right for India’s
marginalised children, CRY World is the
on-ground shop supported by CRY –
Child Rights and You. When you buy a
product from CRY World, you contribute
towards the organisation’s work to
ensure children their rights in villages
and slums across the country. For more
information visit www.cryworld.cry.org.

T-shirts (for adults)

Vivid colours from the 'Expressions of
Childhood' palette are offset by striking
black. Show your support for child rights
in a stylish and attractive way.
M, L and XL sizes
Priced at Rs. 210/-

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 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

T-shirts (for children)

Bright, funky colours with cheeky
messaging that's bound to be a
favourite with kids and parents alike!
S and M sizes
Priced at Rs. 185/-

Stationery
The perfect accessories for your desk - a
handy memo pad in a wooden box and a
foldable pen stand. Available in two
designs – 'Handprint' and 'Stand up for
Child Rights' - that capture the bold,
carefree colours from the 'Expressions
of Childhood' palette.
Priced at Rs. 120/- to Rs. 140/-

DIY Sand Art Kit

This Do-It-Yourself kit comes with 4
coloured sand cones, a variety of craft
materials, texturing tools and a detailed
'how-to' leaflet to ensure your child (4-10
years) can create greeting cards, photo
frames and any other showpiece.
Priced at Rs. 225/-

DIY Craft Kit

A Do-It-Yourself kit perfect for children
(4-12 years) to create wall hangings,
bookmarks and greeting cards. Each kit
is equipped with 4 coloured paint tubes,
a variety of craft materials like sequins,
crepe paper and a detailed
‘how-to' leaflet.
Priced at Rs. 225/-

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 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

EMPOWERMENT
THROUGH EMPLOYMENT
Gauri and Vikas Vichare have given
vocational training and skilled labour a
new dimension through their work at
the Dindayal Sanstha. The women of
Milind Nagar, Aurangabad have patched
up their sense of self-worth and
independence as they sewed together
many pieces of cloth transforming them
into bags, pouches, folders and more.
Today, they manage additional
expenses and run their house better
now that they have another source of
income. Many have saved money and
invested in electric sewing machines,
thus helping them produce more pieces
within the allotted time.

The bags and other products made by

the women of Milind Nagar are sold at
various exhibitions in Mumbai, Pune and
Aurangabad. Gauri and Vikas can be
contacted on 9960921132
for special orders.
Photography and inputs by
Nikita Sawant.

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 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

THE DREAM
PITCH
Author: Chetna

“Never thought that I will play with

players from a different country. Project
Crayons made our dream true.” Those
were the words of Kuldeep, the captain
of the Project Crayons' Gully Cricket
team that recently played against
Northants Cricket Club (NCCC) from
England in Bangalore. Barry Gourdriaan,
Head Physiotherapist with the NCCC
read about the Gully Cricket initiative on
Facebook and wasted no time in
contacting Neishaa Gharat, Catalyst-
Global Awareness & Collaborations of
Project Crayons to propose a cricket
jamming session with his team.
Subsequently, 15 boys from Ambujwadi
community travelled to Bangalore from
Mumbai and interacted with the boys
from England on 23rd February at JSS
Cricket Ground.

NCCC has an existing programme called

the Emerging Players Programme (EPP),
aiming at offering a platform to the
youth with promising potential in
cricket. The objective is similar to the
Gully cricket i.e. to give a global platform
to the youth to inculcate team building
and leadership qualities. Barry has

38
 Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

expressed his intention to make it an

annual exchange program and to make
Project Crayons Gully Cricket Initiative
international. Kevin Innes, Coach of
NCCC said, “Your community boys are
wonderful and without any professional
training they played so well. I loved
training them and would love to train
them in future.” He and his partner
coach Andy patiently and humbly taught
them various techniques of cricket.
Their enthusiasm motivated the players
of NCCC as well as the two coaches.

Kuldeep, the captain of the team

couldn't help but reminisce about the
days of playing with a simple wooden
board, and chalk drawn wickets on the
wall. Abhishek, one of the Project
Crayons' boys said, “Miss thank you so
much! I learnt a lot today from Northants
players,” while Rajan found it hard to
express his joy and said, “Itna accha
laga khel kar aur sikh kar ki kya bolu.”

To support or congratulate Project

Crayons, write to them at
projectcrayonsindia@gmail.com
or visit www.projectcrayons.org
Join them on Facebook -
www.facebook.com/ProjectCrayons

39

“The world is going to end in 2012, for sure!”
“This is God's way of punishing us.”
“We are to blame. We are destroying the Earth
and Mother Nature is giving it back to us now.”
“It's just a result of seismic changes. There are
scientific explanations. There's no Anti-Christ; the
world is not coming to an end; and it's not
because of global warming or any of our other
environmentally hazardous habits.”
Since the earthquake and Tsunami hit Japan on
11th March, these are some of the comments
I've heard. Post-mortems are important only if
the findings are going to be put to some
positive use. Endless debates are a waste if
their only aim is to convert people to your own
personal viewpoint. Through all the chatter, the
only thought I have is to find a way to help
and thanks to the Causes team at Facebook,
we at Bubble Wrapped have shared a list of
VOLUME I, ISSUE III, MARCH 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia
THE
non-profits that are directly involved. It's a
sincere request to all our readers to extend
BEGINNING
your support in whatever way you can. If you
Lastly, do join us on Twitter and Facebook to
know of other local organisations or individuals
stay updated. Thanks to everyone who has
who are helping out, do let us know.
joined our online communities and extended
your support by sharing our link with your
This month we are supporting another cause
individual networks. We hope to make Bubble
and that is Earth Hour. Do remember to switch
Wrapped more interactive in the coming issues.
off your lights and electrical appliances on
26th March from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. We are
Cheers!
switching off today to switch on tomorrow!
Chetna
editor@bubblewrapped.asia
I hope you enjoy reading our March issue with
reports on oil spills off the Indian coast, The
P.S.: Don't forget to send us updates about your
Body Shop's green claims and the Vulture crisis.
NGOs or any social initiatives you are
This issue we are also starting a new column
associated with.
called 'Merchandising Change' in the B+
section dedicated to products sold or
promoted by NGOs and individuals in a bid to
help children, women or various communities.
'Change the way you shop' is the new motto at
Bubble Wrapped.
38
 VOLUME I, ISSUE III, MARCH 2011, www.bubblewrapped.asia

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39
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