FOREWORD

There I was on top of the world. 8000 feet above sea level and while my eyes were drinking in the beauty of the verdant Deodhar forest and my lungs were stocking up on all the mountain air it could get, I saw it fluttering, an unwelcome shade of green amidst the columbine star bushes...the unmistakable green of a Lay's potato chips packet. I saw red. What is it about us that we pay scant regard to our environment? Why do we look the other way when young trees bursting with life are chopped for a religious bonfire? Well, thank god for a few who have it in them to stop our beloved planet from slipping into a black hole. This issue is dedicated to such people. People who have made it their life's mission to save us and our planet. People we call Earth Heroes. For this reason our June issue is a feel good one. You read about these people doing their own thing to save the planet and you get that warm all's well with the world feeling.

M K Prasad who is doing his bit to save the Silent Valley, Frauke Quader who is hellbent on saving the rocks, Heblikar who has made environment conservation his life mission, Whitaker who is passionate about crocodiles because crocodiles keep our eco systems going, professionals who have chucked up their well paying jobs to grow organic fruits and vegetables so that we can have food free from pesticides... and there are many more like them within the pages. Read and ask yourself how you can emulate them or better still what you can do to set an example for others. How you can reduce your carbon footprint. As someone once said we are the cause, we are the solution. So it is all up to us as to what we make out of our time on earth. Are we leaving behind a better place or are we doing what Bush did to Obama, leaving behind a huge mess to clean up!

Moving on, we have on our Talent page the poster boy of F2 racing, Armaan Ebrahim, the first Indian to compete in a full international season of F2, one look at him and you will know why he qualifies as the poster boy!

This issue also gives you a chance to meet Shashi Tharoor, the suave former diplomat who charmed his way into the hearts of the people of Thiruvananthapuram to emerge a winner! The 'foreigner' who made a spectacular return to his roots! It is said that the man did not seek campaign contributions from the public and used his personal resources, this made an impression on the people?s minds!

Essentially this is a people's issue, remarkable people emerging victorious, ordinary people making extraordinary differences and creative minds on path-breaking tracks. This is Jade's salute to all of them! Viva la India!

Jai ho!

SUGATHA MENON

Executive Director