A G8 meeting was convened some time ago in L’Aquilla, Italy. The G5 countries that comprise India, Brazil, China, South Africa and Mexico were also participated in the Summit.
The final declaration contains a statement on the limiting of the green gas emissions. It “recognized the scientific view that the increase in the global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2 degrees C.” the declaration envisages “a global goal of substantially reducing emissions by the year 2050.
The declaration calls for a global response and would very much like to attain “a 50 per cent reduction of global emissions by 2050. It expects global greenhouse gas emissions to reach its nadir in the near future and go down in scale afterwards.
All this look very optimistic and creates a rosy picture of Mother Earth with considerably less greenhouse gas emissions tainting the Environment. And the irony of the situation is that none of this is legally binding on the member nations. Still, they do look good on paper, don’t they?
But what is the real state of things? Can such reductions achievable? And if it is indeed proves to be so, then will that be sufficient?
Oh no sirree, not by a long shot!
The truth of the matter is that to set global warming to a 2 degree C limit, a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases is quite insufficient. The 1977 report of the 4th Assessment Report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control (IPCC) categorically states that the 2 degree C limit can be achieved only if a whopping 85 per cent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions can be maintained.
Will the industrialized countries agree to such a draconian measure? Can the politicians who can’t see beyond their noses are capable of coming to such far reaching, far sighted decisions? Can they overcome their dilly dallying, procrastinating, ostrich-like nature and really do something about it?
Like the great Bob Dylan sang, “The answer is blowing in the wind.”
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Implications of the Small Car Nano
The cheapest car ever is here: The Nano, Tata’s brainchild, something many have been waiting for and will be waiting for some time to come for there is a queue light years long.
Now it won’t be long before the car is sold in the hundreds of thousands. It will fill the already narrow roads where ‘slumdog’ Indians will hurry along in this novel trinket with expressions that the nouveau riche sport on their vacuous visages while speeding in a Merecedes. Soon it will cross the borders and turn ubiquitous, plying along the highways of myriads of countries.
And what is the consequence of all this so called ‘progress’?
More automobiles, more oil imports, more carbon emissions, more pollution, more ailments, more human casualties…the list is endless.
Instead of doing research with the vast amount of resources at their disposal, to find out ways to manufacture autos sans the evil internal combustion engine, auto giants like the Tatas are giving birth to children that will increase and multiply exponentially all across the God’s green planet. So also will the deterioration of the environment.
The developing countries have an advantage that the developed ones never had. They don’t have to go commit the same mistakes that the Westerners did. They are in a position to move away from the well trodden paths that only led to gigantic greenhouses. Instead of breaking the glass and the flimsy framework, they are building more and yet more greenhouses.
Instead of learning from the mistakes of the developed countries, countries like India and China are hell bent on following the same western industrial practices, the bane of modern civilization.
And the prime example is the little handsome antagonist who will make living on this planet a lot more unbearable.
Down with the Nano.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The Plight of the Elephant!
The Plight of the Elephant
As human population increases, so does a need for extra food. This in turn necessitates more land to be brought under cultivation. This is alright up to a point. But when the expansion of agriculture encroaches into animal habitats, something goes haywire.
There are two consequences to this action, both detrimental to the environment. The first one is the large scale decimation of forests as it happens in the rain forests of the Amazon region, Asia and Africa with its attendant consequences of global warming. The second one is the human encroachment into the natural habitats of wild animals.
Global warming is not only the product of this evil tendency. When huge tracts of forests are turned into cultivable lands, wild animals are naturally forced to stray into those areas into which agriculture has made deep inroads. This in turn creates a conflict of interest between man and animal. As a result there are casualties on both sides. But in the final analysis, it is the animal that suffers most and that through no fault of its own.
We find extensive areas of forest lands fast disappearing around the world. For one thing such forests are public property so fair game for any landgrabber. For another The powers that be is aware of this but do nothing to stop this criminal practice. And the villain of the piece is the unruly farmer.
To cite an example of the process, let us proceed to the Western Ghats (Mountains) situated along the western flank of peninsular India. This extensive mountain range is literally the 'lungs' of South India. Elephants herds roam freely along these ranges. To the Indians, these animals are not like other ones like tigers. The huge animals are venerated, worshipped and are held as important religious icons.
Bu all these sentiments go up in the air, the moment the holy animal makes forays (termed ‘elephant raids’) into lands under cultivation adjoining forest lands. Then the poor animal is no longer “Lord Ganesha” but Satan in disguise.
Inevitably African elephants also fall prey to this process not to mention thousands of other animals
To make matters worse, the soap-opera TV channels exaggerate such encounters out of all proportions, both verbally and graphically. Time after time they accuse the poor animals of criminal trespass and mayhem. They ignore the fact that much more folk die in automobile accidents than in elephant encounters.
One would think that the government of the realm would do something about it. Oh, they let out a lot of hot air on the subject but do not do anything to solve the problem.
This beautiful Mother Earth does not exist solely for the existence of the inhuman specie called Homo Sapiens to lord it over as he likes. Man is just a Johnny-come-lately on the face of the planet. Animals like the elephants predate man and have existed on this blue globe for hundreds of millions of years. Animals do have first claim in their own respective habitats. There man is a trespasser and like any trespasser a criminal. Also, man considers many fauna pests, but he does not realize that he is the worst pest of them all.
So what shall be done to mitigate this problem?
First of all, farmers living in close proximity to forests should not cultivate crops that are delicious to elephants plates. Orchards and sugar plantations attract the mammoths like nobody’s business. They should also stop the inhuman practice of placing sharp nail-studded steel plates in their plantations to prevent them from straying into their land. Poisoning the majestic animals is another heinous thing that the farmers often resort to. They should be made to end this criminal practice by legal means if necessary.
The government should wake up to the situation and take measures to stop people from encroaching into forest land and if anyone does, he/she should be considered criminals and dealt with accordingly. If they cannot do it they should at least compensate for the losses suffered by the farmers.
As human population increases, so does a need for extra food. This in turn necessitates more land to be brought under cultivation. This is alright up to a point. But when the expansion of agriculture encroaches into animal habitats, something goes haywire.
There are two consequences to this action, both detrimental to the environment. The first one is the large scale decimation of forests as it happens in the rain forests of the Amazon region, Asia and Africa with its attendant consequences of global warming. The second one is the human encroachment into the natural habitats of wild animals.
Global warming is not only the product of this evil tendency. When huge tracts of forests are turned into cultivable lands, wild animals are naturally forced to stray into those areas into which agriculture has made deep inroads. This in turn creates a conflict of interest between man and animal. As a result there are casualties on both sides. But in the final analysis, it is the animal that suffers most and that through no fault of its own.
We find extensive areas of forest lands fast disappearing around the world. For one thing such forests are public property so fair game for any landgrabber. For another The powers that be is aware of this but do nothing to stop this criminal practice. And the villain of the piece is the unruly farmer.
To cite an example of the process, let us proceed to the Western Ghats (Mountains) situated along the western flank of peninsular India. This extensive mountain range is literally the 'lungs' of South India. Elephants herds roam freely along these ranges. To the Indians, these animals are not like other ones like tigers. The huge animals are venerated, worshipped and are held as important religious icons.
Bu all these sentiments go up in the air, the moment the holy animal makes forays (termed ‘elephant raids’) into lands under cultivation adjoining forest lands. Then the poor animal is no longer “Lord Ganesha” but Satan in disguise.
Inevitably African elephants also fall prey to this process not to mention thousands of other animals
To make matters worse, the soap-opera TV channels exaggerate such encounters out of all proportions, both verbally and graphically. Time after time they accuse the poor animals of criminal trespass and mayhem. They ignore the fact that much more folk die in automobile accidents than in elephant encounters.
One would think that the government of the realm would do something about it. Oh, they let out a lot of hot air on the subject but do not do anything to solve the problem.
This beautiful Mother Earth does not exist solely for the existence of the inhuman specie called Homo Sapiens to lord it over as he likes. Man is just a Johnny-come-lately on the face of the planet. Animals like the elephants predate man and have existed on this blue globe for hundreds of millions of years. Animals do have first claim in their own respective habitats. There man is a trespasser and like any trespasser a criminal. Also, man considers many fauna pests, but he does not realize that he is the worst pest of them all.
So what shall be done to mitigate this problem?
First of all, farmers living in close proximity to forests should not cultivate crops that are delicious to elephants plates. Orchards and sugar plantations attract the mammoths like nobody’s business. They should also stop the inhuman practice of placing sharp nail-studded steel plates in their plantations to prevent them from straying into their land. Poisoning the majestic animals is another heinous thing that the farmers often resort to. They should be made to end this criminal practice by legal means if necessary.
The government should wake up to the situation and take measures to stop people from encroaching into forest land and if anyone does, he/she should be considered criminals and dealt with accordingly. If they cannot do it they should at least compensate for the losses suffered by the farmers.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Mistaken Notions on Shark Fins, Tigers
In their own way, superstitions are okay. One can believe or not believe in them. But if one of them is cause for environmental destruction, then we should look into it harder and do something about it.
One such stupid superstition is prevalent in South East Asia, primarily among the Chinese. It is a belief that by consuming certain portions of the anatomy of tigers, one can attain a better hard on. This belief stems from the premise that since the tiger is very macho, gobbling up certain portions of the magnificent animal’s flesh will act as a powerful aphrodisiac and their cocks can gain pornographic nirvana.
This belief is a futile fallacy. It is not based on any scientific evaluation by experts in the field. The erectile tissue will get a fine boost if medications like Viagra and Cialis are administered orally in prescribed doses. And the beautiful animals are saved from an early extinction.
So I request my Chinese friends who are looking for a powerful aphrodisiac, to make a bee line for the friendly chemist around the corner and spare the tiger. And they will have beautiful hard ons that can penetrate even the most impenetrable vagina.
These very same persons, incidentally cause another kind of environmental cruelty. They are crazy about shark fin soup. But please convey this earnest request to those who catch the unfortunate sharks. Tell them not to cut off their fins and throw them back into the sea alive. Be merciful and kill them. Who knows, karmic retribution might follow them through all their coming janmas!
One such stupid superstition is prevalent in South East Asia, primarily among the Chinese. It is a belief that by consuming certain portions of the anatomy of tigers, one can attain a better hard on. This belief stems from the premise that since the tiger is very macho, gobbling up certain portions of the magnificent animal’s flesh will act as a powerful aphrodisiac and their cocks can gain pornographic nirvana.
This belief is a futile fallacy. It is not based on any scientific evaluation by experts in the field. The erectile tissue will get a fine boost if medications like Viagra and Cialis are administered orally in prescribed doses. And the beautiful animals are saved from an early extinction.
So I request my Chinese friends who are looking for a powerful aphrodisiac, to make a bee line for the friendly chemist around the corner and spare the tiger. And they will have beautiful hard ons that can penetrate even the most impenetrable vagina.
These very same persons, incidentally cause another kind of environmental cruelty. They are crazy about shark fin soup. But please convey this earnest request to those who catch the unfortunate sharks. Tell them not to cut off their fins and throw them back into the sea alive. Be merciful and kill them. Who knows, karmic retribution might follow them through all their coming janmas!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Is Extremism A Good Idea?
What would you do if somebody violates your mother? Or if you love your country, what would you do, if an alien army invades your motherland, raping your women, killing the children and pillaging your property?
Would you stand with folded hands and watch the tamasha?
Now something greater than your mother, women and possessions are being violated. The mother of all these is crying out for your understanding, your help. Mother Earth who gives sustenance to everything on this beautiful blue globe is being raped, gang raped. And you watch with folded hands and imagine that it is happening to someone else and you are not responsible.
To explain this fully I quote from a novel that I wrote recently. It is not a work about environment at all. Still I make the protagonist mouth the concerns that trouble me constantly.
I quote.
"‘The problem, the greatest single problem that humanity faces today isn’t anything that the politicians have us think. What is in question is our very existence on this earth, our very survival. Man has survived on this planet, even when the great dinosaurs had died out, become extinct. The instinct for survival is the strongest instinct in any living being. Man survived through the ages because of this and also using his superior intelligence and powers of adaptation.’
‘And now it’s as if man is bereft of his powers of reasoning, it’s as if he has suddenly succumbed to a death-wish. It’s as if, like the lemmings of the tundra, he is hell bent on committing suicide en masse. If we go on like this, by the turn of the next century, mankind as specie will have become extinct.’
‘If we take preventive action with immediate effect and a long term perspective in view, we can arrest this problem now. But the tragic thing about it is the fact that there’s only one group of people who can really help and those are the politicians.’
‘In a way, you can’t blame them. All their actions are governed by their tenure of five years sometimes even less in these times of political uncertainty. Their imagination refuses to stretch beyond this time limit, with the result that they can’t or are afraid to take any long-term decisions. In the meantime humanity suffers. In spite of the warnings of experts, the politicians refuse to see the problem that’s facing all living beings, for what it is. And in collusion with some greedy, grabbing industrialists, they’re hell bent on destroying life, the most fragile, the most divine of all things on earth. The warnings of the experts are just laughed off.’
‘BUT I INTEND TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!’
‘Before long, our atmosphere will become piss and shit. Depletion of the Ozone layer will cause skin cancer. It’s already evident in certain countries of the Northern Hemisphere. Millimeter by millimeter, the sea level is rising and cities lying along the sea - as most of them are - will be inundated, under water, in the very near futurre - this is already under way in the beautiful italian city of Venice. Soon we’ll have to wear oxygen masks as if we’re on a lunar landscape. The decimation of forests will bring down the oxygen level and the building of dams will release lethal doses of methane into the already dying environment. And the fact of the matter is that all these processes are under way NOW!’
‘The industrialist pollutes the environment, the politician pollutes the nation.’
‘And the world suffers in the meantime.’
‘I’ve already begun to do something about it. And I’m getting results, but in very slow measure.’
‘Environmental extremism.’
‘…the end does not always justify the means, but sometimes it does.’
‘Not that. That’s not an alternative. Its. It's even called terrorism.’
‘Yeah, maybe. Some dirty Jap used this term when certain daring individuals tried to prevent the hunting of whales by some cruel Japanese.’
‘Come to think of it, it is the terrorism of the future. Folk will die for it and they’ll be dying for a good cause too. Causes like religious and political extremism will die out. What relevance these forms of extremism have when the existence of the very specie hangs in the balance?’
‘Don’t worry. I hope that I’ll never have to resort to such a step. But the option is there all the time, wide open. I’ve the very persons to do it. But I’ll use them only as a last resort. May be I won’t use them at all. But the option is there, ready all the time,’
The protagonist ends the speech thus. 'And I promise you one thing. I’ll make it very difficult for people who are in power who turn a blind eye to the slow destruction of our beautiful, blue planet.’
I think this will do for a starter. If you feel what I believe is right, let us turn into a noble Protector of Mother Earth and fight those who rapes her incessantly.
LISTEN TO THE CALL OF THE MOTHER!
Labels: Environment, Extremism, Pollution
Would you stand with folded hands and watch the tamasha?
Now something greater than your mother, women and possessions are being violated. The mother of all these is crying out for your understanding, your help. Mother Earth who gives sustenance to everything on this beautiful blue globe is being raped, gang raped. And you watch with folded hands and imagine that it is happening to someone else and you are not responsible.
To explain this fully I quote from a novel that I wrote recently. It is not a work about environment at all. Still I make the protagonist mouth the concerns that trouble me constantly.
I quote.
"‘The problem, the greatest single problem that humanity faces today isn’t anything that the politicians have us think. What is in question is our very existence on this earth, our very survival. Man has survived on this planet, even when the great dinosaurs had died out, become extinct. The instinct for survival is the strongest instinct in any living being. Man survived through the ages because of this and also using his superior intelligence and powers of adaptation.’
‘And now it’s as if man is bereft of his powers of reasoning, it’s as if he has suddenly succumbed to a death-wish. It’s as if, like the lemmings of the tundra, he is hell bent on committing suicide en masse. If we go on like this, by the turn of the next century, mankind as specie will have become extinct.’
‘If we take preventive action with immediate effect and a long term perspective in view, we can arrest this problem now. But the tragic thing about it is the fact that there’s only one group of people who can really help and those are the politicians.’
‘In a way, you can’t blame them. All their actions are governed by their tenure of five years sometimes even less in these times of political uncertainty. Their imagination refuses to stretch beyond this time limit, with the result that they can’t or are afraid to take any long-term decisions. In the meantime humanity suffers. In spite of the warnings of experts, the politicians refuse to see the problem that’s facing all living beings, for what it is. And in collusion with some greedy, grabbing industrialists, they’re hell bent on destroying life, the most fragile, the most divine of all things on earth. The warnings of the experts are just laughed off.’
‘BUT I INTEND TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!’
‘Before long, our atmosphere will become piss and shit. Depletion of the Ozone layer will cause skin cancer. It’s already evident in certain countries of the Northern Hemisphere. Millimeter by millimeter, the sea level is rising and cities lying along the sea - as most of them are - will be inundated, under water, in the very near futurre - this is already under way in the beautiful italian city of Venice. Soon we’ll have to wear oxygen masks as if we’re on a lunar landscape. The decimation of forests will bring down the oxygen level and the building of dams will release lethal doses of methane into the already dying environment. And the fact of the matter is that all these processes are under way NOW!’
‘The industrialist pollutes the environment, the politician pollutes the nation.’
‘And the world suffers in the meantime.’
‘I’ve already begun to do something about it. And I’m getting results, but in very slow measure.’
‘Environmental extremism.’
‘…the end does not always justify the means, but sometimes it does.’
‘Not that. That’s not an alternative. Its. It's even called terrorism.’
‘Yeah, maybe. Some dirty Jap used this term when certain daring individuals tried to prevent the hunting of whales by some cruel Japanese.’
‘Come to think of it, it is the terrorism of the future. Folk will die for it and they’ll be dying for a good cause too. Causes like religious and political extremism will die out. What relevance these forms of extremism have when the existence of the very specie hangs in the balance?’
‘Don’t worry. I hope that I’ll never have to resort to such a step. But the option is there all the time, wide open. I’ve the very persons to do it. But I’ll use them only as a last resort. May be I won’t use them at all. But the option is there, ready all the time,’
The protagonist ends the speech thus. 'And I promise you one thing. I’ll make it very difficult for people who are in power who turn a blind eye to the slow destruction of our beautiful, blue planet.’
I think this will do for a starter. If you feel what I believe is right, let us turn into a noble Protector of Mother Earth and fight those who rapes her incessantly.
LISTEN TO THE CALL OF THE MOTHER!
Labels: Environment, Extremism, Pollution
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