Just Transformations: Book Launch and Webinar
Hello, and you are all kindly invited to the launch of the new publication
“Just Transformations: grassroots struggles for alternative futures”
in which co-authors from Argentina, India, Turkey, Belgium, Canada, Bolivia, England, Venezuela and Lebanon will share the results of the ACKnowl_EJ (Academic and Activist Co-produced Knowledge of Environmental Justice) Project. ACKnowl-EJ was one of the first three Transformations to Sustainability (T2S) international research projects funded by the International Science Council (ISC).
Edited by Iokiñe Rodriguez, Mariana Walter and Leah temper, with from contributions from a wide variety of co-authors, including Ashish Kothari, Begüm Özkaynak, Ethemcan Turhan, Cem İskender Aydın, Arpita Lulla, Mirna Inturias, Rania Masri, Lena Weber, Jérôme Pelenc, Meenal Tatpati, Mukesh Shende, Shruti Ajit, Aguilar, Neema Pathak Broome, Shrishtee Bajpai and Jen Golby among others.Date: December 12, 2023
Time: 12 pm UTC-GMT /12 pm UK/1 pm Spain/ 5.30 pm India/9 am Argentina
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81704189296
Translation into Spanish will be available
The Just Transformations book can be downloaded free here: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/77032
Book Synopsis:
The climate crisis is the greatest existential threat humanity faces today. The need for a radical societal transformation in the interests of social justice and ecological sustainability has never been greater. But where can we turn to find systemic alternatives?
From India, Turkey and Bolivia, to Venezuela, Canada and Lebanon, Just Transformations looks to local environmental struggles for the answers. With each case study grounded in the social movements and specific politics of the region in question, this volume investigates the role that resistance movements play in bringing about sustainable transformations, the strategies and tools they utilise to overcome barriers, and how academics and grassroots activists can collaborate effectively.
The book provides a toolkit for scholar-activists who want to build transformative visions with communities. Interrogating each case study for valuable lessons, the contributors develop a conceptualisation of a just transformation that focuses on the changes that communities themselves are trying to produce.
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Protected Area Update, October 2023, No. 165
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Children’s books now in Tibetan!
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Vikalp Sangam Newsletter September, 2023
For inspiring stories and perspectives from people all across India, read the entire newsletter.
Please click here.
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Protected Area Update, August 2023, No. 164
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Children’s Books now in Marathi and Hindi!
Two Children’s Books ‘Chitty – A Dog and Her Farm’ and ‘The Miracle on Sunderbaag Street’ have been translated and published in Marathi and Hindi by Eklavya.
To place your order please head to OUR STORE


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Wild Vegetables Festival at Bhimashankar
A festival celebrating the nutritious wild vegetavles of Bhimashankar to reconnect the link between community and biodiversity health. Join Van Bhojan to celebrate the spirit of the forest; reviving local biodiversity-based cultural activities and festivals and facilitating informal and formal village discussions on these subjects.
On 17 September 2023 at Bhorgiri, Bhimashankar.
For more details see the attached poster.

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Maharashtra Protected Area Update, July 2023
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Protected Area Update, June 2023, No. 163
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Kishan Bagh Book Launch: Why Are You So Colourful?
WHEN: Sunday, 13th August 2023 | 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
WHERE: Kishan Bagh Sand Dune Park, 10 A, Sector 8 Main Road, Vidyadhar Nagar, JAIPUR (See Location)
FOR: Children aged 8-12 years
SCHEDULE:
9:30 – 9:45 | Registration |
9:45 -10:15 | Guided nature walk with with naturalist Monal Singh. Learn about sand, rocks, plants and animals of Kishan Bagh! |
10:15 – 10:30 | Book release by chief guest |
10:30 – 11:00 | Book reading and discussion with author and illustrator Shruti Hemani |
11:00 – 11:45 | Creative hand-printing with natural colours |
11:45 – 12:00 | Book signing Author signed copies available for sale! |
Why Are You So Colourful?
Written and Illustrated by Shruti Hemani
Published by Kalpavriksh
About the book
Why is a red munia red? Why does a bullfrog turn yellow? How does a painted stork get its pink colour? Why do some mushrooms glow in the dark? Why do purple sunbirds shine? And why do most mammals come in different shades of brown? This magnificently illustrated book explores the hows and whys of colours in the natural world. More
About the Author/ Illustrator
Shruti is an architect and urban designer with a PhD from IIT, Guwahati. Alongside her professional career in urban design, she continues to follow her interest in illustrating and since the year 2020, she contributes regularly to children’s magazines and picture books.
Shruti is also a keen observer of all forms of life between buildings. In her leisure time, if not wandering the streets of Jaipur observing plants, fungi, insects, birds and people, she may be found hiking in the Aravallis.
About the Publisher
Kalpavriksh is a non-profit organisation working on environmental and social issues since its establishment in 1979. It works at local, national and global levels on environmental awareness, education, campaigns, litigation, research and advocacy particularly related to people’s rights, and communities’ role in biodiversity conservation. See children’s books by Kalpavriksh.
About the Nature Guide
Monal is a naturalist and holds a keen interest to learn the science behind plant behaviour and restoration. She is a molecular biologist by degree and loves to establish the link between textbooks and field!
About Kishan Bagh
Kishan Bagh Sand Dune Park is Jaipur Development Authority’s flagship ecological restoration project. It is a small part of a sprawling set of sand dunes that had come to a standstill at the southwestern foot of Nahargarh, in northern Jaipur city. It was inaugurated by Rajathan’s Chief Minister in December of 2021 and quickly became a popular tourist attraction for Jaipur’s residents.
THE EVENT IS NOT CHARGED, BUT THE ENTRANCE FEE TO KISHAN BAGH IS RS. 25 FOR STUDENTS AND RS. 50 FOR OTHERS.
Seats are limited. All participants who register are requested to come so that no seats are wasted.
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SmritiVan Book Launch: Why Are You So Colourful?
WHEN: Saturday, 12th August 2023 | 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
WHERE: Smriti Van, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Jhalana Doongri, JAIPUR (See Location)
FOR: Children aged 8-12 years
SCHEDULE:
9:30 – 9:45 | Registration |
9:45 -10:15 | Guided nature walk with with avid birder and photographer Shweta Shrotriya. Learn about the flora and fauna of Smriti Van! |
10:15 – 10:30 | Book release by chief guest |
10:30 – 11:00 | Book reading and discussion with author and illustrator Shruti Hemani |
11:00 – 11:45 | Art and craft activity with author-illustrator |
11:45 – 12:00 | Book signing Author signed copies available for sale! |
Why Are You So Colourful?
Written and Illustrated by Shruti Hemani
Published by Kalpavriksh
About the book
Why is a red munia red? Why does a bullfrog turn yellow? How does a painted stork get its pink colour? Why do some mushrooms glow in the dark? Why do purple sunbirds shine? And why do most mammals come in different shades of brown? This magnificently illustrated book explores the hows and whys of colours in the natural world. More
About the Author/ Illustrator
Shruti is an architect and urban designer with a PhD from IIT, Guwahati. Alongside her professional career in urban design, she continues to follow her interest in illustrating and since the year 2020, she contributes regularly to children’s magazines and picture books.
Shruti is also a keen observer of all forms of life between buildings. In her leisure time, if not wandering the streets of Jaipur observing plants, fungi, insects, birds and people, she may be found hiking in the Aravallis.
About the Publisher
Kalpavriksh is a non-profit organisation working on environmental and social issues since their establishment in 1979. It works at local, national and global levels on environmental awareness, campaigns, litigation, research and advocacy particularly related to people’s rights, and communities’ role in biodiversity conservation. See children’s books by Kalpavriksh.
About the Nature Guide
Shweta Shrotriya received a PhD in motivation management from the University of Rajasthan. She is in-credibly passionate in photographing birds to better understand their behaviour. In addition, she has spent the past few years organising and actively taking part in efforts to conserve the local flora and fauna.
About Smriti Van
Smriti Van, with a roughly 108-acre footprint, is located along JLN Marg in the heart of Jaipur. It is known for its beautiful terrain, which is home to a variety of trees, flowers, and animals.
THE EVENT IS NOT CHARGED, BUT THE ENTRANCE FEE TO SMRITIVAN IS RS. 30 PER PERSON.
Seats are limited. All participants who register are requested to come so that no seats are wasted.
- Published in Announcements
Vikalp Sangam Newsletter June, 2023
For inspiring stories and perspectives from people all across India, read the entire newsletter.
Please click here.
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Three new kids’ books by Kalpavriksh!
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New Book: Ecosophies of Freedom: Suturing Social, Ecological and Spiritual Rift
You will find 16 enriching, stimulating, thought-provoking, philosophical, and spiritual essays written in response to the pressing problems of social fragmentation, religious polarisation, ecological collapse, and rising inequity that humanity faces today.
You can order your copy on Kv website or write to [email protected]
It is available for a pre-launch discount offer of 15%, valid upto 21st May…

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New Book: The Miracle On Kachhua Beach
Announcing our first book off 2023!!
THE MIRACLE ON KACHHUA BEACH by Nandita Dacunha illustrated by Priya Kuriyan was launched last Saturday at the Lit Bug Fest, 2023 in Pune by Amrita Patwardhan of Parag Initiative, author Madhuri Purandare and Sandhya Taxale of Pratham.
Thank you Vaishali and Ishan from the Story Station for such a wonderful event.
Copies available on:
Kalpavriksh Website and Amazon
For bulk orders, write to us at:
[email protected]

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