| MUMBAI:
Taking forward its 'Open Up Tomorrow, Today' campaign to save our planet, NDTV
supported by Toyota, will be telecasting a first of its kind 24-hour nonstop programming
-THE GREENATHON- urging Indian citizens to take a pledge towards a greener tomorrow.
The Greenathon starts across the NDTV network on the 7th of February 2009 at 7pm.
The programming will showcase a series of on-the-ground activities such as round-the-clock
clean up drives in Mumbai city and Yamuna Ghats in Delhi; a 24-hour marathon run
by Milind Soman; a musical extravaganza by renowned Bollywood stars and simultaneous
green activities taking place across the country.
The Greenathon will
be inaugurated by Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Nobel-prize winner, Chairman of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change and Director-General of TERI (The Energy and Resources
Institute), and Dr. Prannoy Roy, Chairman, NDTV, while the 24-hour programming
will be hosted by NDTV's Vikram Chandra and Preity Zinta, who is also the campaign
ambassador. VJ Cyrus Broacha will keep viewers entertained for 24 hrs with his
witty humour.
The campaign aims to raise funds for TERI's 'Light a Billion
Lives' project and will provide light through solar power to villages across India,
that would otherwise have been without electricity for a decade or more. The funds
raised during The Greenathon will go directly to TERI.
Speaking about
the campaign, Dr. Prannoy Roy, Chairman, NDTV Ltd, said," Greenathon is the
biggest event NDTV has ever produced. Because we believe environment abuse and
resulting climate change is the single biggest danger we face today. In the 24
hours beginning 7th February 7pm, we hope people and corporates across the country
will join hands with us and pledge to make a visible change in their lifestyles
towards a greener tomorrow." Sharing
his views on the The Greenathon, Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, Toyota
Kirloskar Motors added, "At Toyota every issue that concerns nature is our
concern. The 'Open Up Tomorrow, Today' campaign that we are conducting in India
in collaboration with NDTV has helped create awareness amongst the public about
the environment protection and road safety. In accordance with our global policy
and this campaign, Toyota in India has been conducting various eco friendly activities
like waste water treatment, air pollution control, etc. NDTV
having similar responsibility towards nature and society at large has shown for
the last one year what each one of us can do for ourselves and the society. I
wish with all my heart that this 24 hour programming becomes a great success" A
host of events have been organized throughout the country as a part of The Greenathon:
Cleaning
up the Yamuna - The NDTV-Toyota Environment Campaign in partnership with an NGO
Swechha will hold the first ever 24-hour Yamuna Clean-Up Drive on the 7th and
8th Feb '09. In a simple and effective way to bring cause of the Yamuna to the
minds of citizens and the government, people from all walks of life including
Delhi's Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, Activist Nafisa Ali, Designer Rina Dhaka,
etc. will join hands to leave a visibly cleaner Yamuna. The campaign will conclude
with a monument of waste being constructed by the volunteers. This clean up drive
will start at 7pm at Qudsia Ghat, Delhi.
Rock Concert at the Yamuna- Performances
by some of the well known Indian rock bands like Parikrama, Mrigya, Soulmate,
Menwhopause and Advaita amongst others, at the venue of the Yamuna drive to offer
support to the cause.
Mumbai City clean up Drive - Our campaign's brand
ambassador Preity Zinta will sweep the Mumbai city clean and leave it free from
plastic. Join Preity Zinta in this clean up drive from 7am onwards on 8th Feb
09 at Worli Seafront, Dadar Beach (Behind Mayor's bunglow) and Carter Road promenade.
Marathon
Man- Model, actor and our Marathon Man Milind Soman will run for 24 hours supporting
our cause of saving the environment. Milind will start his run at 8:15pm from
Yashraj Studios, Mumbai on 7th Feb '09. Special
programmes on environment will also be showcased: A
musical extravaganza where some of India's most popular film stars - Bipasha Basu,
Govinda, Madhuri Dixit, Dia Mirza, Arshad Warsi will perform with Shiamak Davar's
troupe. Some of the country's talented singers- Sunidhi Chauhan, Shaan, Kailash
Kher, Sukhwinder Singh and Palash Sen will also perform at this event. These celebrities
take the green pledge on The Greenathon at 8pm on 7th Feb '09.
In Your
House - VJ Cyrus Sahukar will visit people's home in Delhi to conduct carbon audits
and keep a check on how environmentally conscious they are.
Children of
the Environment Films - Short documentary films on children affected by climate
changes and environmental degradation will be telecast throughout the 7th and
8th of Feb '09.
Spoofs - NDTV's puppet team will show a series of spoofs
on environmental issues and current affairs.
Green Gadget Hour - Rajeev
Makhni along with Aamir Khan, Malaika Arora and Mandira Bedi will take his viewers
through some of the trendy new gadgets which are environmentally friendly at 12
noon 8th Feb 09. Organic
Food - NDTV's food connoisseur Seema Chandra along with Ritu Dalmia will share
tips on organic and healthy food that leaves the least carbon footprint. Watch
this show at 1pm on 8th Feb '09.
Morning Raga Session - A one-hour session
of classical morning ragas with Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan and Hari Prasad Chaurasia
will take viewers closer to the nature, on 8th Feb '09 at 7am. | 