EAT FOR THE PLANET

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The United Nations instituted the celebration of June 5 as World Environment Day in 1972.

This year the theme is "Think, Eat. Save". A campaign that implores us to be careful about our food choices in order to save the environment. This year as We celebrate World Environment Day on June 5, it is important to think before we eat and save the environment , much like the Dabbawalas of Mumbai.

Under the Dabbawala system, 120 tonnes of food is transported and approximately 16 tons goes waste. As a result, the Dabbawala Foundation has come up with the unique concept of "Share my dabba". Those who have leftover food in their lunch boxes can simply paste a red "Share" sticker on their dabba. These dabbas are then segregated easily and passed on to volunteers who feed 200000 hungry children in Mumbai.

According to the Food and Agriculture organisation, more than 20000 children under the age of five die from hunger every day. Shocking as it may seem, one in every seven people in the world go to bed hungry. Which is why, the theme for this year's World Environment Day is "Think, Eat. Save". It is a campaign that is against food waste and food loss , and encourages billions around globe to reduce their food print.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Save the environment with the food you eat

= Buy your weekly fruits and vegetables from the local farmer's market
= Make an informed decision before you sit down to eat.
= Choose foods that have less of an environment impact, like organic food that is free of chemical fertilizer and seasonal, fresh veggies.
= When you to go a restaurant, order carefully. Eat everything on your plate and avoid wasting.

Source: The Hindu dt 04.06.2013 - Article in Young World by Madhulika Gautama


S.SHOBANA