This essay projects some ways of understanding the value (positive and negative) of human interactions with natural environments. In an intensely mediatized world, where opinions and identities are considered one and the same, experimental and explorative discourses are becoming difficult and rare. In the post-cold-war world the cold-war is happening in our minds. Vocabulary dictates. Money, like Switzerland, is still neutral. Mostly everyone: radical, center, left, right, nowhere uses the bank in some way or the other, putting ethics on hold or otherwise.

In this scenario it becomes important to theorise ways of representing the contested realities of “Human / Natural Environment Interactions (HNEI)” in ways which are not loaded with political, rhetorical, ethical or other biasis. In other words, maybe, why not the language of money? We will look at multiple ways of doing this here.

We have literally been 'Gored' to death by a certain inconvenient truth - be green, its now or never. Without doubt, 'being green' is the latest blitz to hit corporate industries, governments, the media, and even the common man. Being real is apparently not given that much importance.

'Greenwashing' can be seen as the act perpetrated by 'corporations, businesses and even governments who spend a lot of money to illegitimately make themselves appear greener in the public eye in a false or deceptive manner'. Usually this term describes efforts by corporations to portray themselves as environmentally responsible in order to mask environmental wrongdoings. However, as 'being green' grows in popularity, so does the range of 'greenwashing'.

How does one escape from this trap of thinking green without being green? In this essay, as we analyze the various HNEI's, we hope to ascertain how it is possible to be environmentally friendly, without fitting into any popular green discourse.

• Existential: hunting, collecting, agriculture, cooking, eating, excreting
• Re-creative: playing, drinking, horse-riding, swimming, mountaineering, water-sports, bathing
• Intellectual: field research, exploration, experimentation, collection, archeology
• Creative: public art, nature photography, outdoor concert, movies,
• Industrial: mining, power-generation, BPOs, mass-murder

• Gaming as a platform of alternate currency exchange
• A real world network that accepts and trades in alternative currency
• Barter economy
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Tax Exemptions
• Discounts
• Social Capital
• Pension scheme and health insurance for artists

• Gaming platform - Get the glass (www.gettheglass.com), Games for change (http://www.gamesforchange.org/channels/environment)
• Alternative Currencies
• Corporate Social Responsibility- CSR - one rupee … for 100 rupees per company
• Tax exemption - contribution to environment can be converted into 100% tax exemption

• choice
• trans-universal applicability
• telematic possibilities
• gaining skills
• exploring scale
• experimental acronyms

1 roshan = V/1000

1 roshan = 100 roshies

roshan is denoted as <> (the spacing is important)

roshie is denoted as {} (the curls are important)

V = r (q * [(d * k * w)/rncn]) + en - 1

V = value. the rate at which HNEI's are converted to ROSHAN currency

r = random champu mood variable (5)

q = quantum of good actions (100)

d = diversity of good actions (10)

k = historical systemic karma rating (10)

w = wholeness (24)

rncn = recognizable recommended network connection nodes (6)

en = expressed number of leaves on the tree in the garden of champu (number of leaves/1000)

-1 = if you are a self-righteous dogmatic bugger

V = s ([bn * ex * tw/d]^ab)/nu

s = strength of the system today (level of access)

d = number of disaster dreams (nightmares) reported

bn = number of bankruptcies filed

ex = quantum of network excreta

tw = units of time collectively “wasted” while attempting to not “waste” it

ab = number of anti-bodies in champu's blood

nu = number of beings who are not aware of roshan and champu

The above equations are being modeled and simulated in the analog and binary worlds:

• Tanvi is playing with pixels. Creating a network of three parties in Second Life or Google Lively, who are willing to trade in Roshan currency. STEPS:
  1. Find three parties who are willing to be part of the network (2 found)
  2. Create an external Roshan calculating webpage, using a PHP Html form.
  3. Script the interaction
  4. Document the simulation in the form of screenshots and machinema (using FRAPS)

• Prayas is trying to connect cycling, cycle repair shops and betting. STEPS:
  1. Recruit volunteers
  2. Script the simulation: CYCLE PAIYA – Cycle shop agrees to accept Roshans and get them replaced for rupees, cyclists agree to earn money by cycling and then use the roshans for repair and betting.
     1. I speak to the volunteers (Sanjeeev, Rashmi, Akshay, Rohit).
  3. Document the simulation in the form of records sketched/written by all the participants and photographs

Characters

1. Udhari Amaretesu – The Manipulator
2. Farooq Fhang – The Insider
3. Ju Jya – The Skeptic
4. Baxter Barnaby – The Scot
5. 2 more people.

The First Stage: Rope

1. Udhari Amaretesu along with Farooq Fhang bring up the idea of an alternate currency to Linden$ in public places, such as, clubs, money land, etc.
2. Other citizens overhear our conversations/arguments. They are roped into the conversation.
3. Links to website depicting Roshan currency is given.
4. Their reactions are recorded in FRAPS – first footage

The First B Stage: The Mass Mail

1. Contact individuals who sell things through Linden$
2. Mass mail them – informing them of Roshans. Hope someone responds

The Second Stage: The Network

1. 3-4 citizens are chosen to be a part of the Network of Alternative Roshan Currency (NARC) based on their interest.
2. Their services/products are established on the Roshan site unders second life.

The Third Stage: The Operation

1. A bar is chosen where people can meet and talk about Roshan and the exchange products/services
2. Exchange occurs through self-reporting and transfer links on the website
3. Recording footage – step by step

The Fourth Stage: The Feedback

• Monday (lunch time) - Prayas sends logo first draft. Tanvi jazzes.
• Tuesday Oct. 21
  1. Schedule & Logo presented to zack.
  2. Prayas (volunteers found, scripting done, dates established)
  3. Tanvi (Scripting done, volunteers selected out of 6 potential, dates established).

• Website:
  1. Each page expanded and work divided (Prayas: Cyclepaiya, Both: About Roshan, Tanvi: SecondLife, Self-Reporting, Transfer)
  2. Modify theme to make it more user friendly - Tanvi
  3. Logo expanded - Prayas
  4. Calculator and self-reporting - make text more user friendly (Prayas)
  5. Prayas creates Site B for use with Website Optimizer
  6. Tanvi sets up Google Analytics, Adwords (with website optimizer) and Webmaster tools setup.

• Oct. 24 - Website complete. Technically and conceptually. Usability test done with 5 users.
• Oct. 25 (before diwali) - Website goes live.
• Monday Nov. 3 - Simulations complete.
• Tuesday Nov. 4 - Design and print. Roshan currency.
• Thursday Nov. 6 - Essay over. Documentation complete. Story over.

Possible dates: April 2009

Ideas for themes:

• Frugality, Affluence and Alternative Currencies
• UDHAARI BANDH

By 25th Sept - Thursday. THE END. Prayas and Tanvi.