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This Diwali make a pledge to reduce environmental pollution, not increase it. ‘‘

Do you encourage your kids to burn firecrakers on Diwali? Do you go all out and splurge at
the nearest store, so your kids can shoot rockets in the air, light 'anars' and 'chakris'?
Here's why you should think twice. ‘‘
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a  ‘‘

¦our children are fortunate to be part of the privileged few that can afford firecrackers. But
there are numerous children who are employed by the firecracker industry, who sit late into
the night making crackers for your children to burn in an instant. Firecrackers are made
using harmful chemicals and acids, and these children work from dawn to dusk, breathing
such harmful fumes and coming into constant skin contact with the acids. They burn their
hands, legs and eyes, and many get miamed for life. The conditions they work in are
inhumance, and the compensation, pitiful. ‘‘
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c ‘‘

c heavy smog hangs low in the air on Diwali night and a few days after that. While we
ignore the smell - and some even claim to like it - we can't ignore the fact that we are
inhaling poison. The levels of sulphur nitrates, magnesium, nitrogen dioxide increase, and
these chemicals are injurious to our respiratory passages. csthamatics, beware! Diwali can
be potentially fatal! ‘‘
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mne Diwali night causes as much damage to the ecology as regular pollution does over the
span of a year. ‘‘
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'Bombs' are a favourite amongst kids, and the noisier the better. This leads to noise
pollution, and a prolonged exposure to such high levels of noise can lead to permanent
damage of the eardrums. ‘‘
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The amount of garbage released on the day after Diwali is phenomenal. cpproximately
4,000 additional metric tonnes of garbage are released in Delhi alone, and twice the amount
in Mumbai. cnd this garbage, far from being eco-friendly, is extremely hazardous for the
environment as it comprises of chemicals like phosphorous, sulphur and potassium chlorate,
and tonnes of burnt paper. ‘‘
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c‘‘

0umerous fire accidents occur every year. Rough estimates claim that nearly 10,000 people
get injured by the crackers. Most of the injuries are minor, but cause an untold amount of
pain. Most of the victims are children in the age group of 8-16. ‘‘
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c few schools around the country are encouraging their students not to burn firecrackers.
Perhaps it's time you did the same. ‘‘
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Take your children to a clubhouse or encourage your neighbourhood society to hold a

firework display, followed by dinner. In this manner a lot fewer fireworks get burnt, and one
doesn't feel that they haven't 'celebrated' this festival in the manner it calls for. ‘‘