The Earth for you

Down To Earth is a product of our passion for change. But it would not have made it to its 23rd anniversary without your continued commitment. Our desire is to bring you news and perspectives on the state of the environment and explain why it needs attention. It is clear to us that as we produce each issue—this is 552nd edition—the struggle for a green, but prosperous, world is getting more intense, contested and difficult. It is also clear that if we do not have independent and credible sources of information, we cannot even begin to move towards resolution.

This is your magazine, literally. Down To Earth’s finances are straightforward. We continue to print because you continue to read us; send us annual subscriptions. In this issue, we also bring you a new-look Gobar Times. We hope you like it, as this is our educational product, available only to you—our subscribers.

We believe we have a huge unfinished agenda. There is no doubt that the world (and India) has evolved since our first edition in May 1992. Environmental issues are now part of the mainstream. We read about pollution in our cities in newspapers; governments swear to clean up rivers and remove garbage from our streets. But in this change, our role is even more acute: to examine proposals; to critique actions and to suggest ways ahead. Our best work is to learn about who is doing what to make a visible difference. Our best day is when we hear that our effort to bring the “good news” has been recognised. Someone, somewhere has learnt from it, replicated it.

In this season of despair—when unseasonal rain, freak storms, hailstorms and the prospect of a failing monsoon have robbed farmers of hope—we make a renewed vow. We will bring you good and bad news from farms, laboratories, factories and homes. We will continue to show the way ahead in building a fair, secure, liveable and healthy world. It is our duty to hope. It is our duty to you.