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Gobar means animal dung in Hindi. All
of rural India uses it in a variety of ways. Ways that exemplify sustainable existence.
That's why we use it, too.
How
does one get kids interested in issues that show up linkages between a degrading
environment and poverty, unsustainable development and inequity in society?
The answer is Gobar Times, a bi-monthly children's supplement to the
magazine Down To Earth in 4-colour, highlighting news and views on environment and
development through comic strips, cartoons, quizzes, essay competitions and interactive
pages
It has all that children look for in a magazine. GT also serves as a
useful teaching aid in classrooms for teachers.
Subscribe to Down
To Earth and get a FREE copy of Gobar Times regularly!
What's in a name? Well …… a lot of wealth!
The unusual name ‘Gobar Times’ is due
to the fact that gobar is one of the best examples of wealth from waste. Chief
among its myriad uses is its value as a healthy diet for plants, an enormous energy
conserver and insect-repellent. Besides being sustainable and cheap, gobar is inextricably
linked with the daily goings-on of millions of Indian lives, and is the perfect metaphor
of what environment should mean to us.
Special editions of GT are produced by groups of student journalists
from Delhi schools regularly. These young reporters are assisted in writing and designing
special editions of GT on specific issues.
Children take to Gobar
Times
The Environment Education Team of CSE
surveyed six schools in Delhi to find out what student readers thought of Gobar Times.
Here are some excerpts of comments received on the first issue
"Reading ugly facts about our
environment is not easy. I feel guilty for everything." |
Sonam Kala, Noida, 13 yrs. |
"I like Gobar Times
because of the name Gobar and I would like to have some more funny pictures of Gobar." |
Archit Goyal, Soami Nagar, 11 yrs. |
"Gobar Times is good
and I like reading it. But can you just change your title? I do not like it." |
Lov Loothra, Saket, 11 yrs. |
"Gobar Times should
have a lot of illustrations and some mature articles for a teenager. " |
T Pamposh Enclave, 12 yrs. |
"Gobar Times is a funny
magazine which creates awareness among people about pollution. I would like to
contribute!" |
Shaman Jaggia, Noida, 12 yrs. |
"Gobar Times just gives
information on Gobar and is not enjoyable." |
Shivangi Vyas, Ekta Apartments, 12
yrs. |
"Gobar times is a
magazine which inspires all citizens of India to take part in saving wealth from
waste." |
Pranav Piyush, Alaknanda, 13 yrs |
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