Clean Air Challenge in India
- Namaste! The Clean Air Challenge has completed three very successful years working with local teachers in India! CAC trainers Lee Boyes, Susan Smith and Warren Long have conducted workshops for teachers new to CAC as well as reunion workshops with very positive feedback about the effectiveness of the hands-on learning activities being incorporated into the traditional Indian educational program. The workshops have been held in Delhi and Bangalore with sponsorship from Agilent Technologies. We’ve also visited several secondary schools and have been impressed with the caliber of the students and their enthusiasm for environmental science and how well the interactive activities of CAC have been integrated into chemistry classes, biology classes and in their Eco-clubs. Just as in China, air pollution is a very real concern and as a result, the awareness of the issue and impact of air quality upon health is receiving higher priority in schools and in the legislature.
- India itself, is an incredibly diverse and fascinating culture with a vibrant life. Warren’s highlights after seeing the Taj Mahal were the humility felt when visiting the Gandhi memorial and Gandhi museum in honor of the father of the largest democracy in the world established after the British colonial period. The bright colors of the Saris worn by women, the smells of the spices, the taste of the delicious food, the heat of the summer, the sounds of Indian music and the hubbub of daily life are everyday experiences in this sub-continent nation with 1.1 billion people. The modern cities with freeways and other projects under construction are juxtaposed with very modest shacks, camel drawn carts, bicycles, people walking everywhere and spectacular mosques, temples and ancient palaces, making India a country of amazing potential and challenges.
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