The Indian Weekender, 30 April 2021

16 ENTERTAINMENT
Friday, April 30, 2021 The Indian Weekender
DIA MIRZA ON ENVIRONMENT:
Need to hold govts, industry accountable
Actress Dia Mirza has always been vocal
about environmental issues. On the
occasion of Earth Day on Thursday, she
said we must hold authorities accountable for
changes in the environment, too, besides making
efforts on the personal front.
"We need to mobilise greater momentum now
than ever before. Of course, personal behaviour
change will make a difference, but along with
learning to lead more sustainable lifestyles, we
also need to hold governments, industry and
civil society accountable. We need to imbibe and
disseminate scientific facts which are now more
accessible than ever before," she said.
The actress urged people to raise their voices
now. "We must join movements to protect nature/
wildlife and demand laws that will ensure the
change we need. We need every single earth citizen
to work towards restoring the planet to its former
Debina Bonnerjee urges
all to donate plasma
Actress Debina Bonnerjee
encourages her fans to
donate plasma, since plasma
therapy is proving to be an effective
way to combat Covid-19.
"I urge everyone who has
recovered from Covid-19, to check
with their doctors and then go ahead
and donate your plasma. Plasma
donation has proven to be an effective
way to combat Covid-19, as many
patients who are in critical stages are
benefitting from plasma from Covidrecovered
patients," she said.
She adds: "This is the least we can
do to salvage the current situation and
every donation counts. So, please go
ahead and donate your plasma."
The actress says that she and her
husband actor Gurmeet Choudhary
have also donated plasma.
"Post recovering from Covid, My
husband and I visited our local clinic
and we donated our plasma. While
there are millions of people getting
affected, there is also a large chunk
of the population that is recovering
and has been able to fight Covid 19.
Since I am a plasma donor, I have the
donor card and I found out that there
is no plasma available as of now
and there is an acute shortage of the
same. People should come ahead and
donate plasma, just like they donate
blood," she says.
Gurmeet Choudhary: High time we use power of celebrity to help fight pandemic
Actor Gurmeet Choudhary, who has
tweeted that he will open an "ultramodern
1000 bed hospital in Patna and
Lucknow for the common man", says the power
of a celebrity is to inspire people to save lives
and stay motivated in the time of the crisis.
He adds that he is "inspired by Sonu (Sood)
bhaiya".
"I think the power of being a celebrity and
the popularity that we have, is to utilise for the
good of the people under this crisis. Debina
and I, both had a battle with Covid-19 and we
recovered because we had access to everything.
Right now, people are suffering without even
basic facilities like beds, oxygen or plasma
treatment. I have been trying to put up
beds, arrange for oxygen and plasma
for needy people like many of us.
I am inspired by Sonu bhaiya,"
Gurmeeet said.
The "Ramayan" famed actor
says initially in Mumbai, few
people reached out to him and
asked for help to get beds and
glory. When political, business and environmental
leaders work in synergy with people from all walks
of life to protect the earth, a better world will come
into being," she said.
She says that the pandemic has taught us a lot
about how we are interlinked to the environment.
"The ongoing pandemic has made it abundantly
clear that we have to change the way we live,
produce, manufacture and consume. Today,
the health of every single human being and our
collective harmony hangs in the balance and is
closely linked with the well-being of mother
nature," she said.
An awareness needs to be spread, asserted
Dia, adding: "What we need to begin with is the
dissemination of environmental literacy at all
possible levels because we cannot save what we
are ignorant about. The theme of Earth Day this
year is a clarion call to restore the balance of the
natural world on which all of life depends."
Raveena Tandon: Need stronger movements
against lobbies, corruption, land sharks
Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon took to social
media to talk about the necessity for stronger
political will and awareness among citizens to
start movements against lobbies, corruption and land
sharks. On the occasion of Earth Day, the actress also
reminded fans about the need to conserve whatever is still
left in the planet on a "war footing".
"Can't think of any wishywashy message to write
#earthday whatever we need to conserve of whatever is
left has to be done on a war footing, it'll take us centuries
to reverse the damage that has already been done , but
we need a stronger political will and aware citizens to
start stronger movements against lobbies, corruption
and land sharks.
"More initiatives for protecting our forests and wildlife.
Join your local NGOs and orgs to help and pitch in.
#earthday," Raveena shared in an Instagram post.
Highlighting on the need to preserve our environment,
Raveena also shared photograph of a protester holding a
banner that reads: "When all the trees are cut down, when
Veteran actor Shekhar Suman
suggested netizens to take good
care of themselves saying the
safety of every single person is important
amid a raging second wave of the
Covid-19 pandemic in India.
"No one is safe until everyone is safe,"
Shekhar Suman tweeted. Suman's tweet
comes at a time when India has reported
more than three lakh Covid cases for the
fourth consecutive day.
oxygen, and he gradually realised the onground
situation was worsening by the day.
That prompted him to form a small team,
verify the information of people who are needy
and use his access to reach out to doctors for
guidance.Asked about his observation of
ground level reality, Gurmeet replies: "Panic
attack is one of the things that many people
who are sitting at home are facing, and are
falling sick due to that. Always remember panic
is not going to help, if you are already healthy
and sitting at home, stay at home and become
a helping hand online. Keep motivating people
online and share positivity." He adds: "There is
a section of people who are going
through a mental health crisis
and depression, and I want
to tell them, engage with
those who are dealing
with Covid-19. Your
small yet sensible
action of connecting
with a needy person
will turn out to be a
all the animals are dead, when all the waters are poisoned,
when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you
discover... you cannot eat money."
In a tweet posted the veteran actor
suggested that it is important to stay
bonded and spread love in these tough
times. "Now I've made it a daily routine to
get up and pray for ev one's well -being.
Its imp that in these tough time we stay
bonded together and spread as much love
as we can. God has put us thru this test
of fire and we all must emerge as better
human beings," he wrote.
"We are living in very scary times.
huge help, and you will automatically gain
confidence." According to Gurmeet, at times
talking to the family members of the sufferers
becomes equally important, too.
"Whenever I get time, my team connects me
with some of those family members. I have
heard them cry and say that even though they
have got a bed and oxygen for the patient,
nobody even looks at them or talks to them --
as in how anxious they feel without knowing
if their loved one will come back home. This
uncertainty that gives them anxiety is heartwrenching,"
he says.
"Putting up bed and oxygen is an expensive
affair, too. Of course, we are trying to do
our best but I think it is also time we get
ready for everything, so that at least people
do not die on the road without oxygen,"
adds Gurmeet. The actor explains why
plasma donation is important. "Whatever
conversation I have had with doctors and
with our limited understanding, plasma
therapy and oxygen therapy are the two
ways many active Covid-19 cases have
Sonu Sood arranges
airlift for critical Covid
patient from Nagpur to
Hyderabad
Actor Sonu Sood has arranged
for a 25-year-old critically ill
Covid patient to be airlifted
in an air-ambulance from Nagpur to
Hyderabad for treatment.
The patient Bharti is the daughter
of a retired railway officer, and she
has reportedly lost almost 85 to
90 per cent of her lungs owing to
Covid-19. Sonu initially helped in
shifting her to a private hospital in
Nagpur. Doctors then suggested she
needed a lung transplant.
The actor arranged for the patient
to be airlifted to Apollo Hospital,
Hyderabad, for a treatment called
ECMO, in which blood is artificially
pumped into the body to take pressure
away from the lungs.
"Doctors said the chances are
20 per cent, and asked me if I still
wanted to go ahead with it. I said 'of
course'. She is a 25-year-old young
girl and will fight the battle hard and
come out of it stronger. That's why
we took this chance and decided to
get an air ambulance. The treatment
is going well in and we hope for the
best," said Sonu.
Meanwhile, the actor took to
Instagram on Friday afternoon to
inform that he has tested negative for
Covid-19. The actor had informed
about testing positive for the virus.
Meanwhile, Actor Sonu Sood feels
the Covid preventive vaccine should
be available to the needy for free, and
there should be a cap on pricing.
"Every needy should get vaccine
for free. Very important to put a
cap on the pricing. Corporates and
individuals who can afford should
come forward to help everyone get
vaccinated. Let's do business some
other time," Sonu Sood tweeted.
Shekhar Suman: No one is safe until everyone is safe
Panic
attack is one of
the things that many
people who are sitting at
home are facing, and are falling
sick due to that. Always remember
panic is not going to help, if you
are already healthy and sitting at
home, stay at home and become a
helping hand online
Covid19 has become unsparingly
lethal. So many people dying every day.
Please guys be very "We
careful and don't are living in
neglect the govt
guidelines. We
very scary times.
Covid19 has become
don't know unsparingly lethal.
what is going So many people dying
to happen to every day. Please guys
whom and
be very careful and
don't neglect the govt
when."
guidelines."
been resolved, patients are recovered. Those
who recovered can equally save another life
by donating plasma. If you do not know how
to process it, since Debina and I have donated
plasma, people who have recovered from
Covid-19 can reach out to us, with name, blood
group, and city, and I can connect you with the
right person. But please donate plasma because
that is saving a life," said the
actor.