Thursday, 15 August 2013

Bhavani Prakash @ Eco Walk the Talk



Eco WALK the Talk is a non-profit environmental website with an Asia focus. It covers eco news and insights, offers green living tips, and feature people who inspire with their environmental thoughts and action.  It is also a platform to feature important environmental causes and campaigns in the region. It was also nominated as a finalist in the Singapore Environment Council’s Inaugural Asia Journalism awards.


.
.
The Story
Siddhant Sadangi of Youthleader magazine speaks to its founder, Bhavani Prakash.
.
SS: Tell us something about yourself.

BP: I’m a Singapore based ex-finance professional from India, who totally changed tracks to champion environmental issues a few years ago after a wake-up call. Several experiences were simmering below the surface to lead to that moment – such as the course on Environmental Economics during my mainstream economics masters program in the UK, and being a volunteer guide at the Singapore Botanic Gardens in the rainforests section. I became increasingly sensitive to the ecological crisis facing the planet.
.
SS: Can you walk us through the events and the set up which led to the inception of Eco Walk the Talk and Green Collar Asia?

BP: I was at a seminar in 2008, visualising a near end of life scenario, and the legacy I was to leave behind. This was when my ‘aha’ moment came. How did I really want to spend the rest of my life? Pursuing my earlier dreams to become a banker didn’t make any sense in the larger scheme of things. What really mattered to me was whether I am doing everything I can to leave a better future for generations to come. This realisation led me to set up the non-profit portal EcoWALKtheTalk.com in 2008 to share and raise awareness about environmental issues and campaigns, and also offer practical tips for people to take action. The voice of environmentalism was mostly coming from the west, which is also important no doubt. We needed a platform that talked about issues that affected Asia, and mattered to this region.
It was important for me to broaden the engagement with the public, to include industry and government, because everyone is part of the solution. Green Collar Asia, which was set up in 2011, is not only a means to financially support the work done via Eco WALK the Talk through providing recruitment and training services for organisations, but is also a thought leadership platform to bring out state-of-the art developments and ideas through interviews with various green professionals.
.
SS: Could you provide a brief outline of your purpose, mission and vision?

BP: I would like to see Eco WALK the Talk as a leading environmental portal to be used not only by the public for quality information, but by other writers, bloggers, campaigners as a platform to magnify their voice and spread their message. Green Collar Asia aims to be a leading thought leadership portal in the region for green professionals and entrepreneurs, by providing quality information and ideas for change.
.
SS: What is your primary reason to promoting this concept?

BP: Alternative media, such as yours at Youth-Leader magazine is a very important niche that needs to expand. Whilst mainstream media focuses on celebrities, wars, consumerist and sensationalist news, we need several platforms that inspire people into positive action. This is what both platforms Eco WALK the Talk and Green Collar Asia aim to do.
.
SS: Playing away from your turf always poses challenges, which were the ones faced by you while establishing and conducting your activities?

BP: Since 2008, I’ve been going outside my comfort zone nearly every single day. It’s scary sometimes, frustrating at other times, but the important thing is to keep trodding on despite any inhibitions that loom right in front of you. I’ve learnt to develop immense trust and faith in the universe to show me the way, and to keep walking and not stop. Even if it appears that there is a big brick in front of me, if I move closer to the wall instead of retreating, there is always a little doorway or a little hole that I hadn’t noticed before, which allows me to go through. Or it may be that the big wall is just an illusion of the mind, and when I step nearer, it just vanishes!
To give more concrete examples, I knew nothing about IT or web design or maintenance – and I struggled initially to get it all together. But the right people and resources turned up at the right time to help out in areas I knew nothing about.
After setting up a green enterprise via Green Collar Asia, I realised that MBA Schools teach a lot of theory, but really there’s so much to learn when you’re actually running a business. I’ve been great at content building, but when running an enterprise, you need a new level of energy and a whole set of new skills in business development, budget and people management. But that’s what keeps me excited and motivated – to constantly stretch the boundaries that I’ve been used to.
.
SS: While you battled such challenges, what was the motivation that kept you going?

BP: Some people may call it ‘being aligned to the Source’; some may call it ‘faith’ or ‘trust’. It’s something I can’t intellectualise as it comes out of experience that when you really work from the space of your true passion in genuine service of the wellbeing of humankind, in an unconditional way – the Universe will bend over backward to help you in your mission. Even when something doesn’t happen the way I want or expect to happen, there is always, always, a hidden blessing that may not be immediately visible.
.
SS: Can you talk about some of the activities conducted by you?

BP: Most of the work I do is through online media, which is quite intense when you think about content preparation and publishing on an ongoing basis. I also conduct workshops and give talks to organisations about sustainability issues. Behind it all, is the constant engagement with the green community as well as other stakeholders in industry and government, to understand their perspectives and also share ours.
.
SS: How are these ideas different from the others?

BP: Eco WALK the Talk is a unique portal, as it has a regional environmental perspective from the grassroots level. As alternative media, it really fills an important gap left unfilled by mainstream media which tends to focus on sensational, negative, consumerist news – instead of real issues and real solutions.
Green Collar Asia is also different from other green business portals as it focuses on the green jobs sector, and on how professionals can enter and contribute in this domain.
.
SS: Any other interests/hobbies of yours which you would like to share with us?

BP: My passion is growing food in small spaces, organically without the use of synthetic fertilizers. I used to play the veena regularly, but haven’t been able to make time for it lately. I hope to resume in a few years’ time. I’m also deeply interested in the practice of mindful breathing and meditation which I’ve begun to do daily since earlier this year. This has helped me become more centred and joyful.
.
SS: Anybody whom you would give credit for supporting (inspiring) you in this mission?

BP: I’m really grateful for the ongoing support given by my family – my husband and two girls. My inspiration comes directly from Planet Earth – her beauty, complexity, resilience and generosity. She is someone we must treat with great respect, if we are to survive as a species with the quality of life we would want for generations to come.
.
SS: Any breakthroughs or achievements which you would like to share?

BP: The biggest achievement is the underlying network of relationships that have formed because of the website and through connecting with various people whose collective intelligence we are able to tap due to social media. Some of the content has also influenced behavior change, as I can see some readers writing in to say they are inspired to do composting or use fewer chemicals at home, or try growing their own herbs for example. Eco WALK the Talk was also nominated as a finalist in the Singapore Environment Council’s Inaugural Asia Journalism awards.
.
SS: There are people and organizations which want to serve the cause; can you guide them about ways to join?

BP: As Eco WALK the Talk is an online portal, there is always need for a variety of content in the form of issues and campaigns as well as positive stories of change, coming from any part of Asia. This can be in textual or in multi-media format. So anyone is most welcome to contribute content to be shared on the platform which is really meant to magnify the message. If you need more information, just write in to me bhavani@ecowalkthetalk.com
The best way to serve the cause is to take leadership within your community, to become a role-model for eco-living and positive change, and guide others with your enthusiasm and knowledge. In the internet era, the hows can be found by searching on the net. There’s a free e-book on the Eco WALK the Talk website to download called “50 ways to make your home eco-friendly”. The important thing is to practice and take action, and encourage a community around you, at home or at the workplace to do the same.
.
SS: What would be your message for the youngsters reading this?

BP: As Gandhi’s immortal message says, “We must be the change we want to see in the world.” Channel your anger, fears and anxieties into positive action – and you will become a powerful force creating far reaching ripple effects. But do this from a space of love for all, using compassion and inner peace as a core foundation.
Connect with Eco WALK the Talk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecowalkthetalk
Twitter: @ecowalkthetalk.
Website: www.ecowalkthetalk.com

Connect with Green Collar Asia:
Facebook www.facebook.com/greencollarasia 
Twitter: @greencollarasia
LinkedIn: Group Green Collar Asia.
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

What do you think about this?

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)