Greenhouse Gas (GHG), And How it affects the Planet and our World

we talk about green house gases...We keep hearing about them all the time , without perhaps understanding their significance and its impact on climate change.

So what are GHG’s ?

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. They are carbon dioxide , methane ,nitrous oxide and other fluorinated gases ….

How long do the gases stay in the atmosphere? - Each of these gases can remain in the atmosphere for different amounts of time, ranging from a few years to thousands of years. All of these gases remain in the atmosphere long enough to become well mixed, meaning that their measure in the atmosphere is roughly the same all over the world, regardless of the source of the emissions.

Some gases are more effective than others at making the planet warmer and as they say, "thickening the Earth's blanket" .For each greenhouse gas, a Global Warming Potential (GWP) was developed to allow for comparisons of the global warming impacts of different gases. Specifically, it is a measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2). Gases with a higher GWP absorb more energy, per kilo emitted, than gases with a lower GWP, and thus contribute more to the warming the Earth. So a GWP of NO2 is estimated to be about 250 times that of CO2 , which means that Nitrous oxide has that many times the heating potential of Carbon dioxide in a period of time . Second important consideration , is the residence time of a particular gas in the atmosphere . Carbon dioxide has a very long residence time , lasting upto thousand years and so are many fluorinated gases, while a methane and nitrous oxide has lower residence time , lasting upto, about twenty years and 100 years respectively . Therefore, the longer the residence time and the higher the warming potential of a gas , the bigger the issue .

Now let us look at each of these gases in a bit of detail.

Carbon dioxide is the most prevalent of emitted green house gases ( at 68% ). Carbon dioxide , enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), and through solid waste, trees and other biological materials, and also as a result of certain chemical reactions (example say, in manufacture of cement). Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere (or "sequestered") when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle.

Methane is another important green house gas and is second only to carbon dioxide with 16% of the share . Methane has a global warming potential of 56 and is formed naturally by the bacterial decomposition of organic matter under oxygen-free conditions. Because of various types of human activity, emissions of methane have roughly doubled in the last 2 decades. Rice cultivation, cattle breeding, emissions from coal mines and the leakage of fossil gas, represent significant anthropogenic sources around the world, as do the treatment of wastewater and organic waste. The pre-industrial concentration of methane is estimated to have been 0.7 parts per million or ppm. Today’s level (at 2011 estimates ) is more than twice as high, about 1.8 ppm. The life of methane in the atmosphere is relatively short, on an average only 10–15 years.

Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas which is emitted during agricultural and other land use, Also due to industrial activities, combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste; as well as during treatment of wastewater. Denitrification is the main source of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. This process, which is carried out by micro-organisms, occurs naturally in the soil. However, the more nitrogen is made available to plants by adding it in the form of fertilizer or through the deposition of airborne nitrogen, the more nitrous oxide is formed. Another source of nitrous oxide emissions is all sorts of combustion. During the combustion process, small amounts of N2O are formed in addition to the “ordinary” nitrogen oxides (N O and NO2). This amount depends largely on the combustion conditions. Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas whose pre-industrial level is estimated to have been 270 ppb (parts per billion). The level in 2011 was 324 parts per billion, an increase of 20 percent. About a third of the nitrous oxide emitted today, are caused by humans. Nitrous oxide has a long residence time in the atmosphere, with an average of about 120 years, and also a very high warming potential at 280 ,which makes it doubly potent .

Fluorine compounds The greenhouse gases described so far occur naturally in the atmosphere.

This does not apply to the group of synthetic fluorine compounds, which in many cases are very long-lived and potent greenhouse gases. Their large heating effect, per molecular weight, is due to their ability to absorb radiation in a previous fully transmissive part of the infrared spectrum.

The most familiar substances in this group are the chlorofluorocarbons (CFC gases, known as CFC’s), which have mainly attracted attention because of their ability to break down the stratospheric ozone. CFC gases are also powerful greenhouse gases. Measured per molecule, some of them are tens of thousands of times more effective than carbon dioxide. CFC gases are however being phased out globally. Other substances in this group are so-called f-gases, which have significant greenhouse effects and include: HFC's, which are similar to CFCs but do not contain chlorine and therefore do not affect the ozone layer. Used as a replacement for CFCs in many applications. They are not as long-lived in the atmosphere as CFCs and not as powerful in their greenhouse effect. Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), used in the electronics industry, for example. PFC's (also called fluorocarbons, FC's) emitted during alluminium production, but also used in the electronics industry. Since the released amounts of these substances are small, their contribution to the greenhouse effect is so far only a few percent, calculated over a hundred-year period. However, global emissions are increasing rather sharply, particularly of HFCs, and several of them have effects that last for a very long time – the mean residence time of SF6 in the atmosphere is estimated at 3,200 year.

Other elements which play a limited yet significant factor in heating of the atmosphere are Ozone and residual particulate matter .

Ozone in the stratosphere has made it possible for animals to live on land by preventing harmful 200–300 nm UV radiation from reaching the Earth's surface. The absorption of UV radiation by ozone, however, heats the air, disturbing air convection and creating a layered structure in the stratosphere hence is one of the so-called greenhouse gases. In the lower troposphere, photochemical reactions of air pollutants (hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides) produce ozone as well as other atmospheric oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), organic peroxides, and peroxyacyl nitrates that result in what is called photochemical smog. Daytime ozone concentrations often exceed 0.1 ppmv in polluted air. Ozone and other oxidants promote oxidation of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides into sulfuric and nitric acids, respectively, bringing about the occurrence of acid rain.

Ozone is being used in the field of water treatment, disinfection, decolorization, deodorization, organic synthesis, materials testing, dry etching and cleaning processes in semiconductor industries, and other industrial areas. The advantages of using ozone over other chemicals are: its strong oxidizing power, its clean nature leaving only oxygen after the treatment, and electrical generation at the site.Ozone is also emitted from germicide lamps, copy machines, printers, welding, and other industrial processes. The working environment criteria for ozone are set at 0.05–0.1 ppmv in most countries. Ozone is a colorless gas at ambient temperature and pressure and has a characteristic odor even at very low concentrations. It has a strong oxidizing ability that is hazardous to plants and animals, and is unstable especially at higher concentrations. Monitoring of ozone is therefore important from the viewpoint of workplace health and hygiene. Among the substances that could have significant impact as greenhouse gases, ozone is the most short-lived. Its retention time in the troposphere is weeks or a month. Ozone in the lower troposphere acts as a greenhouse gas and the level has risen an average of 1–2 percent per year in recent decades. The increase occurred primarily across North America and Europe, so the climate effect in this case is regional. One special effect in the context of climate change is due to emissions of nitrogen oxides from aviation in the upper troposphere, where most commercial aviation travel takes place. At this height nitrogen oxides cause extensive formation of ozone.

Monitoring of ozone concentration is thus indispensable for protection of both the local and global environment. Particles in the atmosphere also affect the radiation balance. Sulphate particles reflect incoming sunlight and hence reduce the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth’s surface. Sulphate particles originate from sulphur dioxide emissions.

There are also carbon particles (“black carbon”) in the air. These can both absorb heat and reflect incoming light. Their net effect on climate is therefore difficult to assess. Particles of black carbon can both absorb heat and reflect incident light. Particles also have an effect on the environment by forming condensation nuclei for water vapour in the atmosphere, which can affect cloud formation and precipitation. Unlike greenhouse gases, the residence time of particles in the air is short, about two weeks. The net effect of particles is difficult to assess and contributes to a high degree of uncertainty, but has been estimated by the IPCC to be somewhere between -0.1°C and -1.9°C.

To summarize, - Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels have significantly increased since the 1900’s. Since 1970, CO2 emissions have increased by about 90%, with emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes contributing, about 78%, of the total greenhouse gas emissions increase from 1970 to 2011. Agriculture, deforestation, and other land-use changes have been quite significant as well ,as the second-largest of contributors. Emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases have also increased significantly since 1900. The G20 nations contribute to 80% of GHG’s in the world on an ongoing basis .Only the share amongst them has altered over time .The G20 in turn, contribute to 90% of world’s GDP . So It is easy to see the connection between growth , human activity and rise in emissions.

The question is what do we as humans do, about reducing the emissions , bringing down the earth’s temperature and avert a climate change crisis . We are running out of time and running out of easy options .

Road Trip - Bangalore to Honnavar

Road trip - Bangalore to Honnavar

distance - 367 km route NH 4 upto Tumkur, NH 206 from tumkur to honnavar

places enroute - Nelmangala , Tumkur , Arsikere, Banavara, Kadur, Birur, Tarikere, Bhadravathi. 
Shimoga, Sagar , Jog

places to see in and around the drive ( courtesy wikipedia )

Gubbi Mahalakshmi Temple

Mahalakshmi temple : Mahalakshmi Nagara, Gubbi

Channabasaveshwara swamy temple : The most attractive temple, having lot of devotees from all over the World

Kadaba: located on the right bank of River Shimsha, about 11 km south-west of Gubbi is the headquarters of the hobli of the same name. Till 1896, it was the headquarters of Gubbi taluk. It is said that sage Kadamba performed penance here on the banks of Shimsha and honoured Rama on his way back from Lanka. According to another legend, Rama who had encamped here on his return from Lanka, erected a dam across the Shimsha River into a present big tank at the request of his wife Sita. The place was one of the panchagramas (five settlements) of the Hebbar Shrivaishnavas and was a flourishing agrahara of Hoysala times. The Rama temple here is of the Dravidian style with a gopura and a fine Garuda pillar in front.

Hagalawadi: is at a distance of about 40 km from Gubbi and was the headquarters of a palegars line. The chief produce of the neighborhood is areca nut and kambalis (blankets) are also manufactured. The chiefs of this place ruled for about 300 years, from 1478 to 1776 A.D. The founder of this dynasty Erimada Nayaka was succeeded by Sali Nayaka (16th century) who largely expanded the territory. The town of Chikkanayakanahalli was founded and named after his brother.

Nittur: called the Southern Ayyavale (Aihole) the ‘navel’ of Gangavadi–96000 and the “crest jewel” of the Heruthenadu in an inscription dated 1226 A.D. is about 12 km away from Gubbi town. The Shantishvara Basadi here is a Hoysala structure attributed to the 12th century and it has a garbhagriha, a shukanasi, a navaranga and a mukhamantapa. A small shrine OF Padmavati was built later.

A beautiful turquoise Church standing on NH206 Bangalore-Honavar Road, Gubbi, Karnataka was built in 1904 in the memory of Rev. William Arthur, an Irish Missionary who worked in Gubbi in the 19th Century

Malekal Tirupathi Hill, also called Chikka Tirupathi is three kilometers from Arsikere and has two temples: (Venkataramana and Govindaraja), which are frequently visited by pilgrims. Malekal Tirupathi Hill has 1,300 steps and a standing Venkateshwara idol.

The Nagapuri fortress, built on the Hirekal hill, is eleven kilometres north of Arasikere and is said to have been constructed by Hyder Ali.

Places of importance in Shimoga

Shivappa Nayaka’s palace is located within the city.

Gajanur dam lies 15 km or 9 mi to the southwest.

Koodli lies 15 km away and is the place where the Tungaa and Bhadraa rivers meet and flow together as Tungebhadraa.

Koodli

Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Safari lies 12 km on the way to Sagara. Safari drives are conducted by forest department.

Sakkare Bayalu, elephant training camp 2 km away from Gajanur Dam on the way to Thirthahalli.

A Shiva statue made of concrete,on river banks is installed at Harakere, near Shivamogga.

Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary, near Thirthahalli is home to wide variety of water birds.

Guddekal has Subrahmanya Temple near Tunge River on Holehonnur Road.

Gudde Mardi is a small hill near Shimoga city.

Jog Falls

The world famous Jog Falls is in Sagar taluk. It is approximately 30 kms on the way to honnavar from sagar

Marikamba Temple

The Marikamba Temple located in Sagara City,features the image of the goddess Marikamba, a form of Durga or Parvati. The temple was built in the center of the city during the reign of Venkatappa Nayak who ruled over Keladi and Ikkeri kingdom during the 16th century. Marikamba was the family deity of the Nayaka dynasty.

Keladi -A Shiva temple of historical importance is located 6 km from the city. One has to take a diversion at Sorab Road. There is a museum containing old manuscripts written during the Keladi dynasty.

Pavitra Vana and helicopters pad-Children’s playground, ancient trees. The available nearest helicopter pad just. also a lovers spot.

Shettisara-This is a place where had temples of Shani Lord & Laxminarayana

Ikkeri-This place is of historic importance due to the presence of a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. One has to take a diversion at B. H road .

Kalasi-This is another historically important place with a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is 8 km from the city and one has to travel along Sorab Road for 6 km and take a diversion.

ATM’s ,petrol bunks , restaurants ,Tourist bungalows in all major towns , B to C grade hotels for stays in all the towns mentioned . places like Tumkur , Shimoga have 3 star deluxe boarding and A grade Hospital facilities. Police stations located conveniently in most towns .People are generally helpful and friendly. road conditions moderate to good.

I have been wanting to do this trip from bangalore for a while now . I have done this route in parts on few occasions but it was going to take some effort to do a 430 km trip on single lane roads with lots of traffic which could take anywhere between 8–10 hours . It is far easier to access the west coast of India from bangalore if one wants to through waynad /calicut or sakleshpur /mangalore or Hubli /ankola or even Dharwad/panjim for that matter .

Nevertheless I decided to do this road trip and that too all alone for company and document it for others interested in attempting a trip to this part of the western ghats in the future .

It was a sunday mid morning start as it is always difficult to start early on a sunday from your home .It is culmination of ‘dusshera’ week of holidays which is a popular festival in Karnataka . Many are out on the roads but the morning still seemed fairly sedate by bangalore standards . I make it quite easily to nelmangala 40 kilometers from bangalore though the four lane expressway is full of fast moving traffic not willing to give each other any quarter.For travellers getting out of bangalore on NH4 there are quite a few options for a good breakfast if early in the morning . Kamat brand of hotels and restaurants serves a nice south Indian fare with decent toilets and they have quite a few branches enroute right upto Hubli .

I make it to Tumkur in little over an hour and turn left and westward after the toll booth on the NH4 . This brings me to the ring road which helps avoid the town of tumkur .The inner ring road is in need of repairs and the 10 kms or so is a maze of people, two wheelers and four wheelers all trying to keep going without any respect for road rules .

Tumkur is 70 ams away from bangalore and is a educational and industrial hub .Being conveniently located a short distance from Bangalore on the main arterial highway to Pune and Mumbai it has been earmarked to be developed as a future ‘smart city ‘
A T junction brings me to the NH206 to shimoga and the road is well surfaced from here on with clean double divider lines . what is not going well is myriad two wheelers on the road slowing me down considerably . This would be the story of the day !

The scenary is brilliant ! The day is little cloudy and the weather is not too warm ( which perhaps explains all the people out on the road ). The road undulates with mix of agriculture on the sides . As I travel further in the plains towards the ghats , there are water bodies galore . Some are bunded and some have wild lotus and lilies flowering in abandon. Coconut and betel nut groves dot the landscape . The slow traffic helps me take in more of the outside . A small town of Gubi is 15 Kms from tumkur with a population of 17,000 people. I cross through a single file of shops on either side . 50 kms away is Tiptur with a population of 100,000 people and it serves as a hub for coconut based industries .

A little mountain on the right with a temple on the top of it appears as a stark object as we enter Arsikere which is 30 kms from Tiptur . I file it in my memory for future exploration .It also has a lake by the sides of the road . I later gather that ‘Arasi’ means queen in Kannada. ‘kere’is a water body Therefore, it is the "queen’s Pond’. Arsikere is the taluk headquarters, a major railway junction on the South Western Railway, and a central place for tourists who visit nearby places that do not have rail access, such as Belur, Halebidu, and Shravanabelagola.
The progress is slow towards Shimoga from Arsikere with some traffic hold ups , tractors carrying agricultural supplies and crops demanding right of way and many of the local population using the highway for their local commute mostly in their two wheelers .

A herds of ponies on the road near shimoga makes me wonder how they got there in the first place . I see another herd after a dozen or so kilometres . They stream right down the middle of the road as the traffic on either side keeps them in that fashion . Surely ! there is a story somewhere !

Shimoga (also called Shivamogga in Kannada) is a city on the banks of the Tunga River and is the administrative headquarters of the Shimoga district.

set at 569 m above sea level surrounded by lush green paddy fields, arecanut and coconut groves shimoga is the gateway for the hilly region of the Western Ghats also called ‘malnad’ locally.

The city is popularly known as Capital of Malnad.The name of the city is derived from the term “Shiva-Moga”, “Moga in Kannada means Face hence meaning Face of Shiva”. An alternative etymology is that the name is derived from the term “Sihi-Mogge”, meaning “sweet pot”. The district formed the southern tip of Emperor Ashoka’s Mauryan Empire in the third century BC.[citation needed] It was ruled during later centuries by the Kadambas (4th century), Chalukyas (6th century), Gangas, Rashtrakutas (8th century), Hoysalas (11th century), and the Vijayanagara rulers (15th century). The city got an independent identity under the Keladi Nayaka rule during the 16th century[citation needed], reaching its pinnacle under the rule of Shivappa Nayaka. From the late 17th century onwards, the city was a part of the Kingdom of Mysore until the independence of India in 1947, when Mysore merged into the Republic of India.

- courtesy wikipedia

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shimoga or shivamoga as it is sometimes referred to has seen plenty of development in the last decade . today it is on the threshold of modernness with wide roads , a railway station , a huge bus stand , hospitals , college and other  varied institutions and some three star hotels to boast of. The economy is still agrarian though !

Just outside shimga on the road to Sagar I stop for a meal . It is late and I haven’t had much to eat after I had my breakfast at home . there are rows of hotels and fast food inns alongside and one has a ‘bar attached ‘sign, meaning liquor is served there . I decide to try out a new entree called “vinayaka hotel and fast food’ . Place is basic but the two separate kitchen serves both north and south indian fare . I opt for some naan and dal . i must say I am surprised with the amazing authenticity of naan( bread) from the ‘Batti’ ( a contraption of a hollow drum with hot coal inside and the bread stuck to the inside to bake ) along with a small plate of ‘Dal’ ( indian lentil curry ) . I am also served a chutney ( sauce ) of chilli and tomato which is hot but extremely delicious . The plate is complete with some lime and onions to taste . I ask the guy and the cook where they belong to and they tell me that they are from a neighbouring town and the cook worked at ‘maharaja’ hotel in satara in bordering maharastra for many years before venturing to this place . nice ! with a promise to stop by next time and a handsome tip for a great meal . I leave as i am worried about nightfall spoiling my view for the rest of my journey !

I cross the town of sagar quickly as the roads are clearer . This town of sagar is not be confused with a bigger city of the same name in Madhya Pradesh . This is a small sleepy town but has all amenities for the tourists because of the mighty ‘jog falls’ in Gersoppa .

The traffic seen now is clearly and mostly from the tourists to Jog falls which is 30 kms away from sagar on my route . The roads take a touristy turn now and road sides are flanked by temporary tents at many places. people hawking steamed and barbecued Corn from these temporary structures but they could be nearly all year round . This eat is popular with the tourists from the number of vehicles parked around these shops . bare bodied people with towels around their torso ,wet from their trek to the waters at the jog falls are enjoying their time with friends and family and off course barbequed corn .Also possibly aided by some intoxicant to bolster their boisterousness both on the ground and behind the wheel as I would witness.

Things are beginning to get wilder now with huge rain clouds gathering over me and lightening streaking across the skies . It is sure to rain and why this is of significance is that this region has had more than its share of the monsoons this season . So much so that the whole area was under a spate  of flooding and resulting landslides just few weeks ago . Shimoga district recorded the highest rainfall in decades this season . would I get caught in this stretch and let rain spoil my trip . Hell ! no ! 

A beautiful stretch of road just before jog with paddy fields on either side and mountains in the distance catches my eye.Rain clouds make it nearly pitch dark above but the sunlight streaming in from the sides is a mesmerising sight. I stop to take some photographs ! I can see the mist from the gigantic falls gather overhead a few kilometers from the ‘jog’.perhaps one can hear the sound too if shorn of the noise from the traffic and the rains and thunder at that time . I strain to catch something as I cross the bridge from the far side which leads across the river just above the precipice ,but I know that I shall have to give the falls a miss as I need to reach honnavar before nightfall which finally I don’t !

It will be travesty if I do not describe the jog falls in all its glory but for this article I shall just quote some excerpts from the wikepedia

Jog Falls is created by the Sharavathi River dropping 253 m (830 ft), making it the second-highest plunge waterfall in India after the Nohkalikai Falls with a drop of 335 m (1100 ft) in Meghalaya.

Sharavati, a river which rises at Ambutirtha, next to Nonabur, in the Thirthahalli taluk and takes the northwesterly course by Fatte petta, receives the Haridravati on the right below Pattaguppe and the Yenne Hole on the left above Barangi. On arriving at the frontier it bends to the west, precipitates itself down the Falls of Gersoppa, and passes that village (properly Geru-Sappe), which is some 29 kilometres distant, discharging into the sea at Honnavar in North Kanara.

The Sharavati, flowing over a very rocky bed about 250 yards wide, here reaches a tremendous chasm, 290 m (960 ft) deep, and the water comes down in four distinct falls. The Raja Fall pours in one unbroken column sheer to the depth of 830 ft (250 m). Halfway down it is encountered by the Roarer, another fall, which precipitates itself into a vast cup and then rushes violently downwards at an angle of forty-five degrees to meet the Raja. A third fall, the Rocket, shoots downwards in a series of jets; while the fourth, the Rani, moves quietly over the mountain side in a sheet of foam. The Tourism Department has built steps from the viewpoint to the bottom of the hill where the waterfall can be seen at the opposite side. There are approximately 1400 steps built to reach the bottom of the hill._

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My drive from Jog to Honnavar is not easy . A thunderstorm spoils my intended sightseeing . I am forced to concentrate on the road which is downhill one moment and climbing in another instant . The terrain has been cut originally through the forest from the point of view of least resistance and not necessarily the shortest distance , I suppose . The narrow roads under my car’s headlamps meander through villages and inhibitions skirting the shravati wildlife sanctuary. To my surprise , there is unending stream of traffic coming from both sides and the slowness because of the rains makes us all single file. what saves the day driving in this kind of weather perhaps is that the surface is still okay at the fag end of the monsoon .
Amazing twists and turns of the ghat road in sleeting rain and thunderstorm makes this another experience which I had not bargained for and in a way enjoyable but the seemingly unending drive towards the last stretch in the night gets me a little flustered .Finally the roads are broader and the surfacing a lot better . I am in ‘Honnavara’ !

Honnavar is a coastal town with the river shravati joining the sea and a long bridge over the same connecting the NH17 . The estuary is truly magnificent and the town is one of my favourites with lovely views of the sea , a beach , a railway station and good road connectivity . This town of now twenty thousand people has some great history with the pepper queen of 15th century using it as her port of export to Europe . ships travelled to Honnavar in those days for pepper and spices and was the major port for the French and Portugese . The coastal food is delectable and fresh and there is a multitude of places to try . It enjoys the charm of the sea and the river and the beauty of the hills all located closely .

I make it to Honnavar town in 9 hours from bangalore . roughly it took me 5 hours to shimoga and 4 from shimoga to Honnavar with few stops . I have been treated to some lovely sights along the way and some frustrating time behind the wheel but it was an experience I would not have missed out on . If I were to do a two day trip one way , the ‘places to see’ listed above in the article could be even more delightful with the jog as a centrepiece . Any of the towns mentioned could be a useful to spend the night as well .

Verdict - the sights and sounds of the journey is awesome but driving for nine hours point to point through a maze of people and commuters is a downer . Do it in stages if you can! The roads , the forests , the landscape ,the vegetation is all going to undergo a major transformation in the next few years so it is necessary to see what is now before it changes for the worse . Do it and you will be better for it ! 

being yourself

Being yourself

The greatest freedom we can have in this world is the ability to do what we want with our time , to choose the company that we keep : importantly our choice of people in authority, leaders in government, organisations etc.
The ability to have access to everything that the world has invented, without having to worry about cost, distance, technology etc is daunting but yes imaginable. That freedom would also mean that we could do as we please even at the cost someone else’s happiness, break few laws of the land which we deem unimportant in our scheme of things and not worry too much about what the world thinks of us. If you are the kind who likes everyone to like and respect you than you could use this freedom to influence their decision about yourself.
Would this freedom make us happy! Or would it make us wish for some control over ourselves perhaps external! All of us have seen some movies on some zealot who has the power to destroy the world with his thoughts aided by weapons of mass destruction in his hands. The end of those movies is very predictable – the zealot is ultimately overpowered and most often erased from the face of this earth. Have you ever wondered why?
Freedom is of no use if it has to worry about one’s own action in the context of right or wrong each time we make it and wondering what others make of it.
Freedom is a choice in itself. It is the power that we can give ourselves. It is the power to explore what we are about. It has the ability help you build your own brand and stop being one among the faceless nameless soul in the world. It gives us the power to define our relationship with our friends, peers, bosses and thereby our world. It does not alter the structure of relationship because it is not about breaking free but it does alter the power in that relationship by breaking the shackles of the controls in your mind. How does that happen or rather why should that happen? The reason is that ,when we draw from the power of doing things without looking for approval we start to build our sense and purpose on why we are taking that stance. The ability to read our follies and quickly correct them without attaching any guilt or baggage makes us powerful. This responsibility of drawing on our own sensibilities makes us attractive to the world. It could make us unpopular but nevertheless more powerful than before. On the contrary it can make us popular beyond our dreams and equally powerful.
But how do we get there? How could we have personal freedom and at the same time not lose our peace of mind
The first thing to do to enjoy that freedom is to stop looking for approval. All the motivational experts have told us that we carry enough baggage of rights and wrongs in this world defining and shaping our view on morality, sexuality, commerce and relationships ever since we were of learning age to the present. Even today some of us perhaps are having thoughts - when we have a glass of water or a piece of cake about the good and bad resulting of that action. Freedom of choice will redefine at least some of them if not all of them. But that choice if exercised with an open mind will redefine you.

To be continued........