UN tackles climate change effects

By Imogen Foulkes
BBC News, Geneva

Officials from UN member states are gathering in Geneva for a five-day conference on climate change

The World Climate Conference will look at ways to help countries cope with the effects of climate change, such as an increase in floods and drought.

The conference aims to create a global framework to ensure early warnings for tsunamis and hurricanes reach everyone.

It also aims to ensure that farmers in remote African regions know about impending droughts and floods.

This conference will not discuss cutting fossil fuel consumption or greenhouse gas emissions - things environmentalists say are essential if we are to slow down global warming, but which governments have so far found very hard to do.

Instead it will look at how to help countries cope with more floods, droughts and landslides already being caused by climate change.

Many developing countries lack proper information about what to expect.

The more difficult negotiations on a new treaty to replace the 1997 Kyoto protocol on reducing greenhouse gases will have to wait for the Copenhagen summit this December.

But whatever the outcome of that summit, the coping mechanisms being planned in Geneva are essential, scientists say, because many effects of climate change are already happening.

(courtesy BBC)

The charming Sultan of Beypore

One of my favorite writers has to be Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. I have read most of his short stories, he was an amazing man. Why I thought about writing on Basheer was this story “enteuppapaakuoruannaindarunu” (my great grand dad had an elephant), this story was translated into English and titled as "Me Gran'dad 'ad an Elephant". There was difficulty in translation as it lost the punch. Let me explain. The hilarity of the story was confusion between Kuzhi anna (literal translation would be: hole elephant) antlion larvae -doodlebug, with real elephant. The story is a strong take on superstitious in Basheer style!. Basheer's charming stories i always liked (some stories faintly reminds me of Saadat Hasan Manto). When I was a kid there was an elderly man who liked taking children for fantasy ride. He would say when I had accidentally eaten seeds with fruit that it will grow in my stomach- very serious when he said these, and next few days I would think trees growing in my stomach, even occasionally checking by putting finger into the throat or opening my mouth wide into the mirror. Now this fellow once when he saw the track of kuzhi anna (antlion larvae) told me that these are miniature elephants that live underground. And i ask "really", he would say "absolutely!!". Obviously that was enough to trigger my imagination and next many hours I followed the track and kept digging to capture one, it remained elusive. When I read Basheer years later couldn’t help recalling that incident. Even now I sometime wonder there must be miniature elephant down under, it really was so very convincing. Basheer is a strongly suggested writer, more than a writer he was a great human. A charming man you would love to know.

Need to mention in context to Elephants that there is a very popular program in one of Malayalam TV channels titled E 4 Elephant.

Ganapathi bappa moriya agle baras thu jaldi aa!!

Lord Ganesha is quite a big deal in most part of the country but the charm is something else in Maharashtra. Ganesh chaturthi is a big festival in here, the fervor can be traced back to history got further impetus by Bal Gangadhar Tilak as means for religio-socio assertion against imperialism. Frankly this blogger believes, keeping in mind recent happenings, most people don’t have the luxury nor the time to delve into history. People who have greed for power and other benefits tend to rake up history quite often. Indeed history has become quite subjective, and being used by powerful for their own benefit. Most common people have no time for history present is quite challenging enough, of course if present is significantly impacted by history then yes (but frankly it rarely does, it is contemporary realities that affect the events much). Indian politicians have start to take the cue from international ‘leaders’, who more than any kind of leading are much adept in selling books!!. When in responsible position that affects our life they bungle up and then after retiring write memoirs explaining!. I am told Mister Bush is writing a big one. I sincerely hope people don’t buy these books.

Well…well I was talking about lord Ganesha!. I recall while in school at Pune most classes used to keep Ganesha for puja, some kids in each class organized and we roamed around the school going to each class finding out how they have arranged. It was quite a big event and terrifically exciting. In Pune city too the decoration of each pandal was stuff of legends, I distinctly recall dagdu halwai. And then there is excitement of Ganapathi Visarjan. Few years back kids in neighborhood dump it in the well in my compound, now they are confused as there is no water. Last year I found this bunch of kids who came with their mini Ganesha, surreptitiously climbing wall to the well, one asking “how come there is no water in the well despite rain?”. Good question.


I am sure most of us have heard about story of Lord Ganesha from elders, these stories were quite riveting and Amar Chitra Katha series were in demand, now of course there are animation movies and so on. Elephants are amazing animals, and those programs in National Geography and Animal Planet have helped me understand them better. Whenever we came to Kerala we first go to Guruvayur Temple, this place is probably the most visited of all places by the blogger, I love the ambiance of the place. So my tryst with elephants began here, the screaming protest as the gentle elephant extended its trunk to bless is etched in memory. Most temple festivals were about elephants and I was enamored, we kids always scamper around them till the 
papan (mahout) shooed us away. Guruvayur Keshavan was a legendary elephant and there are statues of him, movies made, tales of his valor and dedication to lord. Some homes even have picture of him they they use as deity. Of course animals should be in jungle but elephants have a special place, most are treated quite well. That however is not a reason for exploitation in name of faith. There are people who can tell names of elephants in different temples on their finger tips. Elephant is much part of life here, a century back having an elephant was considered status symbol!. With commercialization things are degraded rapidly and these magnificent animals are exploited. There are strict laws but are broken with impunity. The Railways are also accused of deaths of many elephants in particular around valayar (Kerala-TN border), despite these they haven’t really taken any steps to prevent. It is quite sad state of affair, I am very grieved seeing the bodies of elephants hit by train.

O what a magnificent animal elephant is, every time you watch them you are transfixed. This blogger has the hobby of collecting miniature elephant statues, wherever I travel I try to get one and I have atleast hundred of them: sandalwood elephant from Mysore to onyx from Pakistan (bought it from exhibition by Pakistani traders many years back), the paper mache from Kashmir and bamboo twined from Assam are my favorite (It started in Rishikesh where I bought this miniature elephant and took at as lucky charm, soon I started to like it and it grew). It is amazing to look at hundreds of miniature elephants of varying splendor; if possible I wouldn’t mind filling a room from different parts of the world. I have already spent a fortune on it.

Latest from Copenhagen: Danish embassies walk the green talk

Danish embassies walk the green talk
Danish embassies around the globe are walking the green talk by lowering their energy consumption.

(Marie Sauer-Johansen 17/08/2009 11:40)

That each of us needs to get smarter about how we use energy is one of the messages that Danish diplomats deliver to decision makers around the world in the lead up to COP15.

To underpin this message, 17 Danish missions have decided to implement energy savings measures on their missions.

“The motivation was to ‘walk the talk’,” says Jesper Fersløv Andersen, deputy head of mission at the Danish embassy in Athens.”You are much more convincing when you show a good example yourself, especially in a country like Greece where people are fed up with words without action from their politicians and the EU.”

The Athens embassy has committed to cut electricity use with 4.5 pct. over the next three years. The embassy is the first out of 12 missions to sign a so-called curve-breaker agreement with the Danish Electricity Savings Trust. The agreement obliges missions to reduce their energy consumption with around 1.5 pct. per year.

The reductions will be achieved mainly by focusing on IT equipment, air conditioning systems, copying machines and TV sets.

An energy efficient procurement policy will also be implemented as part of the Curve Breaker Agreement.

While the effort to make Danish embassies greener aims to support an agreement in Copenhagen, the commitment to energy savings will continue beyond 2009.

Most missions have already committed themselves to a three-year energy saving effort. Later this spring, a status report on the Green Mission project will be launched as part of a campaign to encourage more missions to walk the green talk.

scribbles...

“When you are old as me don’t forget what you have seen where you go. Be observant child. You will have to carry all that you see”
Mother had the habit of saying things that nobody understood and when least expected. Like when I am having food and ask for water or while looking for shirt to wear after bath. She spoke as if she was continuing a conversation with someone left unfinished. It was as if a different world lived in her that sneaked out occasionally. Her face became gentle as I have never seen before, her face creased of all worries, she lower her eyes in a benign way towards me and gently put her hand on my head, caress my hair. Even at that tender age I knew somehow that I have to be attentive, a strange sensation drew my body still. She would go silent for a long time but I wouldn’t move I wait transfixed as if this is what was expected of me. Sometimes I did wonder where is the world from which these words come?. Is it a world different from this world?. Are there people who whisper her these?. I did feel the silence that envelope me on these occasions. Something entering me from her, filling me and growing roots under my feet. In that serene face I saw millions of faces splitting and vanishing before it grows dark into dot. Then as if awakened from some trance she shook herself, push me and say “What you still here?. Haven’t you got anything to study?. Next time you bring low marks in the exam I will show you”. I run away and sit under the tree. The sky was always bright blue.

Post script: many years back I scribbled something that I titled as “Night whispers and Butterfly dreams”. It was intermittent and spanned probably from 1998-2002. Few days back I found this script in my box, something churns in me when I read it and get into that zone where I have to scribble something. The above happened almost instantaneously. I would to love put the whole copy in the blog but terribly lazy…I dedicate the above scribble to a helpful elderly woman I came across in the market the other day (just like the Chekhov story!!). Frankly these are the kinds of things that give me meanings and fuel to move!!

Bolt from the sky!!

Phew this is nothing short of incredible: 100m in 9.58sec. I recall when Carl Lewis was breaking records we thought this must be the limit (it was the same event in which Ben Johnson tried with steroids and could only work out somewhere around 9.70 odd seconds). Usian bolt like Phelps seems unreal. In the Olympics when he did the jig before the finish line it was criticized by the officials but people around the world enjoyed it. And that is precisely what sports is all about, it must be fun. Great sportsperson tend to enjoy their performance. Athletics is an exact sport, it is not only accessible to everyone the advantage of technology is also quite limited making it a level playing field. There is nobody in this world who has not run a race!!. The reason why these achievements are stupendous.

Questioning the conscience of world community…

Clearly the events in Burma are test on world, and yes UN has been seen as ineffective. Somewhere this blogger is not really convinced about how the world will face crisis that effect humanity while they have ethical ambiguity in dealing with thugs in Burma. For this to happen countries that have say in UN should themselves be democratic and value liberty and freedom of individual. It brings into sharp focus the role of countries like China. Its impact on world doesn’t seem to be very positive, whether Burma, North Korea or Sudan. Few people at the helm of affair in certain countries seem to be taking decisions for small time narrow reasons. Lack of democracy in countries is threat to world it is amply clear by countries like China and North Korea. Why undemocratic China has a veto power in UN is questioned?.

This blogger who could be located anywhere in the world finds these hypocrisies and compromises world community make serious transgressions. If they can overlook these and carry on daily affair then events in Burma will find no takers and as Chinese said “these are internal matter” and has even put axe on resolution against Burma in UN, and so vulnerable India will have to take position that will suit its interest rather that what is ethical. Powerful countries like China is turning out be quite disruptive and irresponsible, the lack of ethical compass is reflection of any checks in the system. This blogger strongly believes that common people in china like anywhere else will be appalled by the events in Burma. Chinese people are proud and hardworking it is sad that their aspirations have quelled by an increasingly belligerent regime that has now extended its tentacles towards world. The reason why China helps Junta stamp the aspirations of Burmese people is no different. China is increasingly being seen as threat to civilized world.

Errata: in the last blog word ‘insulted’ is meant to be ‘insulated’.

Read Amartya Sen but don’t trust him…

This blogger has read most of the writings of Amartya Sen, he is quite an influence. His theoretical involvement and insight is amazing. His understandings infused with historical perspective and careful contemporary analysis is astounding, and humbling for the reader: here is a man who has read and knows more than you can ever. I picked up Amartya Sen from a pavement of Kochi in 1996, later Nobel Prize increased his popularity (carrying Sen’s book in JNU was a style statement for many!!). I met him in 1998 on the occasion of Jan Sunwayi on Education in Delhi, not really a bad experience. He spoke well.

Over the years I have realized that there is a difference between theoretical involvement and what position people take on contemporary issues. There are influences that rigors of theory are insulated from. There are compromises and then hypocrisies. Mr. Sen is now on promotion tour of his new book, and could be seen on most TV channels. Don’t know what to make of it but the Bata shoe priced book I don’t intend to buy from book stall, should be able to get it for 100odd Rs from pavement few months hence (I am thrilled by the Niti-Nyaya paradigm, I read on the net).

Clearly Amartya Sen has elitist worldview and so constructs his opinion on this foundation whether Nandigram or significant aspects of market economy (frankly I admire Paul Krugman’s intellectual integrity. He is someone I adore. Though I don’t really have much understanding on economics but I find Krugman very agreeable) or even global warming (loved the way he was questioned in BBC). Bengal is a disaster on social front, referring to land reforms all the time doesn’t make much sense when the society lacks any forms of social mobility for decades, as compared to neighboring states like Bihar or even UP. Probably Ptolemy mentions industries of Bengal region centuries back, frankly it means nothing and also it doesn’t negate the issue of agriculture land being converted for industries. It is a major issue and has serious repercussions on food security. Every time I go to market I end up paying more money on basic food items, don’t know how automobile industry is going to help. Further the assertion that elite where involved in freedom struggle therefore the contemporary realities of Bengal or any other region is not out of place is rather limited view (if not insult, the ridiculous extend some people go to defend commies of Bengal is amazing). This blogger even questions the freedom India seemed to have ‘won’. Whose freedom are we talking about?. Frankly Sen is too much of intellectual elite, probably following some hallowed tradition this blogger doesn’t give much damn.

Although when he writes he is amazingly passionate (and yes it is infectious, I love reading him) but life outside the world of theories and ideas is bit trying. Probably the exact nature of self tends to come out on these occasions. Humanism without humanity. Concern without empathy. The ideal world where the institutions were thought about and created was product of passions of some amazing people, it was not sterile intellectual involvement, it was urgent and immediate, it inspired generations of people. To reject institutions as mere utopia and therefore introducing social realization as a clause seems like a clever attempt to posit utilitarian from certain section of society. In most cases in societies like India social choices are rarely determined by realization factor but by earthy matters of corruption and nepotism. The reason why this blogger strongly feels integrity of institution as a definite reference point than social realization that seems to be working on some subjective premise. The lack of social realization need be seen in terms of flaw in the system that need be modified and understood better. The means definitely is as significant as the end, otherwise we are opening it for powerful to interpret and benefit, as they have been doing for decades.

Maybe I will write more after I read the book few months from now when it hits the pavement. We generally have gut feeling about people, frankly Amartya Sen is not someone this blogger will be trusting on most of his views albeit interesting. Some people are such supple speakers that after listening to them you know that they are knowledgeable but still don’t know their exact opinion!!. Its like you listen to the guy for an hour and then you have a vague feeling of having listened to him !!. It is definitely an art in elite circle, goes well with red wine, caviar, subtle smiles and hushed talk!.

The other day I was reading Chekhov (I absolutely love his stories) the one titled The Beggar the rich man in the story (advocate Skvortstoff) helps the beggar (Lushkoff) by giving him odd jobs and he thinks he has motivated the poor fellow for gainful employment and meaningful life. Years later when the beggar as a well off man meets him, Skvortstoff shows pride and tries to take the credit. But was told that poor old servant cook of his was the one who changed him and that Skvortstoff influence was marginal, he says “…do you know, sir, that I did not chop one single stick of wood for you?. She did it all. Why this saved me, why I changed, why I stopped drinking at the sight of her I cannot explain, I only know that, owing to her words and noble deeds a change took place in my heart. She set me right and I shall never forget it”. The story ends with that.

So the moral of the story here is we are rarely influenced by self serving people who try to manipulate as saviors for their own benefit, we are moved by our surrounding, our immediate experiences and sights. Sometimes lessons of life come from unlikeliest of sources to understand that humanism and empathy is more than enough. Amartya Sen’s utilitarian and logically constructed views are quite interesting and beneficial but lack soul.

Post script: some views may be bit extreme, and yes last one month or so I am going through some bad time. That reality of mine is part of the objective analysis and not otherwise. It has the universal truth of most people so cannot be negated, as much as the views determined by hypocrisy and personal benefits. Frankly when it comes to society views cannot be objective it has manifold influences. The reason why it becomes challenging and interesting.

When the flue gets real...

This blogger is concerned as most Indian news channel right from English to Hindi to Tamil to Malayalam to Kannada …all of them are going overboard on swine flue wherein doctors are asking not to panic and this just another flue which could be avoided by taking some precautions. People seem to be getting panicky, this blogger has just come out of an infectious disease and is going through low immune phase and so was very concerned and bought the basic filter mask (well N-95 mask even the medical shops are not aware of!), meantime decided to avoid crowded places if possible at least for one month. In fact the other day I picked up a fight with a fellow at the internet café who was sneezing without covering himself, really getting into my head I guess!!. indeed WHO has declared swine flue as pandemic few months back. When most people live in crowded neighborhood with low hygiene standards, and will have to move through crowded places precautions may not be enough, I guess it hinges on luck, fate…Hoping that things wouldn’t go seriously wrong when most people nowadays do have breathing related ailments including this blogger. Health minister quoted WHO that 30% of population will get H1N1, not very encouraging one would say. When it is going to seep into poorer section is when things will go seriously wrong. I guess infectious diseases are going to increase in near future and yes medicines are getting costly (medicines cost not less than 300-400rs these days!!).

Pune is one of my favorite cities and it pains to see these happenings. Infact Pune does have precedence, when I was doing my schooling here in 80s was when the country’s first HIV case was reported in here. I recall it created quite a sensation in school everyone talking about. We even asked questions to biology teacher (Mr. Panche was his name, quite an absent minded fellow in big glasses) about it. He told not to worry and concentrate on studies!!.

Tribute to Corazon Aquino…

This blogger apologizes for not putting this blog earlier, I was ill (and seems to be going through unexplained bouts of disorientation recently, it does get scary sometimes). But that shouldn’t be the reason why one shouldn’t be writing about Cory. She flashed into our life when I was in school. Immediate attraction was astounding level of corruption by Marcos, the Imelda Marcos woman I recall had almost thousand pair of shoes, I couldn’t believe that !!. It was some kind of obsession I guess, most people may have four pairs (that includes bathroom slipper and formal shoe). Corazon Aquino was fresh burst of air for coup prone Philippines, despite serious misgivings by critics she was instrumental in stabilizing the country, and remained a very popular leader till the end.

Politicians need protection

Don’t really go by the title that is just to contradict the bias assertions and exaggerations market media in India is increasingly prone to. It is an aggressive posturing. Not all politicians are bad we all know that, this market media enthusiasm to portray politicians as scumbag is to show themselves in positive light nothing much. Market is always in search of high moral ground to seep in. On similar lines one can assert that all media people are not irresponsible but yes most in Indian media are increasingly mutating into TRP driven chimpanzees. It is definitely embarrassing, I guess it is about daal-roti (oops caviar one must say) at the end of the day. The question here is are journalism schools actually needed?!!. It is waste of time studying journalism; I don’t think these have any practical application. Most slaves who moonwalk as journalists or media people live in degradation, I personally knew many media persons who are acutely aware of this reality but are helpless, as the Americans would say “gotta pay the bills dude”. Working in media can be quite alienating, the crassness can be depressing to many. Many are brave enough to quit. But the lure of easy money, hobnobbing with powerful people and showing market driven concerns (packaging concerns for market would be better way to put it) can be heady. So the best option is to associate crudeness with values of freedom and create a facade.

If you study the way the news (mostly views these days, I like BBC they rarely compromise. But the report on organic food was biased- I buy it basically for absence of chemicals and pesticides) are reported and the views expressed, you can easily note class bias as also very vehement and urgent compliance to market realities (TRP is now weekly!, how about creating an indices like stock exchange- minute by minute summary). This blogger agrees that many politicians use security for projecting their status, it is reflection of feudal remnants still active. Do a study on how many movies are made on hero as police officer you know the feudal crave for power as means for social mobility, it is that latent violence that being tapped.

It cannot be denied though that security cover is important for people holding sensitive positions but there doesn’t seem to be any rules or criteria. The decisions on these matters of national importance are kept ambiguous and so manipulated. It is amazing if not funny. This blogger also expresses grave concern over incentives and benefits extended to media through railway and finance budget. How these people less or more important than common people, this blogger fails to understand. If they are responsible in their functioning then yes fourth estate has a significant function and so should be supported. But this blogger rarely come across those types of people or intent. Secondly is entertainment also journalism?. Some new channels are mostly entertaining, taking even entertainment to ridiculous level. It is quite embarrassing.

This blogger would also like to know when PM goes abroad he takes with him coterie of media person and businesspeople. Who pays for the bill for that?. It must be in crores, clearly media knows what can hurt them so will not reveal!!!. Three cheers for market friendly issues. Media cannot take high moral ground on anything, since first they have to justify how much responsible they have been. There is too much potshot taken on politicians by market, this blogger thinks Indian politicians are not that nasty as being made out. They are as much responsible or irresponsible as we are. That includes media too, it is clear most in media have been quite irresponsible. In poor societies with increasing marginalization this irresponsibility is criminal. In most cases they are found to ignore grave issues, one wonders if it is lack of competence. Corruption in media is quite rampant, the reason why this blogger had raised up the issue of favoritism by government.

I think we needn’t be too harsh on Indian media after all they are only trying to copy west. But in west there are strict laws particularly on privacy, corruption, favoritism, nepotism so on and so these relatively limited. Despite that the big daddy of media was caught snooping recently, even using ‘criminal methods’ to get story (story here is meant to be news I guess!!). If Murdoch could do it in developed countries with impunity imagine what clones with big money can do in poor countries. The reason why I consider irresponsible media as a serious threat, privacy of common people therefore becomes much more significant than any abstract notion of freedom of expression that generally helps richer class. They can do whatever crap but the society will have to decide where to draw the line and not profit mongers. The system as we know is hinged on elected representatives- necessarily a reflection of collective aspiration of people meaning they will have to take steps to initiate regulatory mechanism and that should be least influenced by marketer. Market doesn’t really carry any eternal truth. It is about money and also about those who have means to exploit others and situation to make easy money, this not very difficult in India if you have head start. A slave in one channel was quoted as saying that parliament discussed these insignificant issues for three hours while malnutrition is a major issue !!. Good logic but when was the concerned channel ever worried about any issues facing the society other than crass entertainment as news. Don’t throw stones when you live in….complete it dimwit. Indian media has become an embarrassment. Last few days I was bedridden and thought of watching some good programs on TV but unfortunately despite hundreds of Indian channels good programs are rare, I had to go to programs made by foreigners. I think Indians honchos are insecure breed and therefore look easy and safest way of making money. Americans are role models here, this blogger thinks that despite Obama and few other bright people US as a society probably has one of the lowest collective IQ in the world. When democracy went to US it seems to have mutated for buffoonery. And so with money and comfort, and charms of insulated world they have developed a gargantuan appetite the world find difficult to sustain.

In recent times market crudeness is being attempted to be presented as liberal, this coterie is having easy run in poorer and corrupt societies. Well when you have crores of easy money in front of you Gandhi can be quoted and high moral grounds taken, it comes easy. Market by its very nature works on juvenile premise, this is what I have finally concluded. This means they work well when there is lack of intellectual involvement and knowledge. The wisdom of buying and selling is not very challenging. The reason why you see normal people with basic intelligence mutate into orangutans when they come in TV channels. The reason also on why they target emotion- the cause for exaggeration and rampant sensationalisation. So instead of futile attempts justifying crude programs on its liberal merit best is to admit: We are here to make money. Period.

The attempt to create benchmark of social movements through these juvenile premises is a limited exercise and will create more ridiculous situations. What I have observed is market media generally tend to create negative environment, in the name of competition they instigate rivalry and confrontation. They work by dividing and gaining. Market therefore should always be at the periphery and cannot be central or core of any society. Selfishness as an ideology had a free run through capitalism but it seems it is has reached its endgame. We are recognizing the cannibalism. The follies of the West are being experienced by vulnerable societies across the world. When these follies are attempted to be replicated by elite of poorer societies the threat becomes immediate. The reason why policy makers need to recognize these realities at the earliest.

Crimson tide: now that is what we call a movie…

This blogger has seen Hollywood movie Crimson Tide not less than five times. Every time it comes in TV I really get sucked into it. It is one of the best movies I have seen for a longtime. This amazing movie is about mutiny in American nuclear submarine. I always had liking for men of character and conviction and there are lots of them in Armed forces whom I admired and opportunity to interact at very close level. This movie reminded me of the world I knew. They handle stress so well that you stand back and admire, I have seen that in senior elderly guys. There presence itself will straighten people at least in 1km radius!. These people are of different breed. You watch Crimson Tide you know what I am talking about. I just loved the reference on horses, the talk captain had on what he believed is white horses from Portugal. Readers wouldn’t believe there is a horse in Indian racing circuit (at Pune if I got it right) that is named Crimson Tide and this blogger had played on it few years back, apart from being a decent type this movie was the main reason to go for it!!. And yes I got it for longer odds, cool 2000rs on that!!. In this context one need mention that 2009 Bangalore Derby was an amazing race (try see that on the web, this blogger has seen it many times. Incredible. I am proud of some of these jockeys, they are master act. Wonder why they are not considered for Arjuna Award?)

Of course I have seen the corrupt side of the Army too, I know some who got court martialed. Incidentally I know personally about recruitment related corruption and wouldn’t be surprised some caught in jaipur recently were known to me!!. If it can happen in 80s jaipur it must be big business now!. But I would like to stick to the positive side of the experience in this blog. In Chennai I was regular at transit camp and would interact with young officers who were mostly part of the battalion on move. I got along famously well, mostly my name was referred to get in touch to move around Chennai hangouts. I still recall few of them, one lieutenant I remember who was coming from Siachin had permanent swelling in his fingers, he told me lot about those places. They even showed me all the ammunitions and explained in detail. Man it was great. During Kargil war I was not into TV, nor was aware of details but yes tried to get the info on dead soldiers, should have known many of them. They were people who had lots of determination, sincerity of purpose and yes discipline. For instance you tell them meet at Anna Salai at so and so place at this time and you can expect them to be there sharp to the dot. Incidentally I too am very much stickler of time and have dislike for people who don’t take time seriously. Committing to other is a grave responsibility some people don’t understand this, I find that least amusing and take it as reflection on character of the person. What motivated those soldiers was not really money, looking back I wonder whether it is possible to have such people in contemporary market manipulated world. It is surreal.

The balderdash of protecting the national interest…

It is amazing the way some people are trying to pull the fast one on the world, yes the groovy world of national interest. It works very well in poorer and overpopulated societies, giving some manipulative people to play savior and fatten. In Indian society it has become part of tradition in elite section. This extension of thinking is what comes out as balderdash of per capita. I must say our Environment minister Jairam Ramesh has played his role very well and yes our economist PM has got his calculations right. The bluff need be called at the earliest. India’s ‘tough posturing’ is more to do with business lobby and other interest groups and less to do with reality of the nation. Mr. Ramesh was quoted as saying that India’s need of development is paramount before emission reductions. Well spoken sir and yes I don’t think you deserve to be the Environment minister of billion nation, it is amply clear your brief seems to be different from the ministry (he could be a commerce minister). Anyway whose development he is talking about?. Environment degradation affects the poor section first, clearly therefore his development seems to be for richer section. Secondly what policy changes has been made by the government to reduce carbon footprint of richer section?. If the recent budget was any indications then it is about to get worse. What place has SUV in Indian road?. If that is development then how does it benefit majority of people in this country? Jairam Ramesh also doesn’t even have time to attend important meets wherein global leaders are discussing issues before Copenhagen. Amazing.

Whether it is per capita emission or per capita consumption India is considered among the lowest in the world. The per capita carbon emission of India is ridiculously low compared to countries like US or Australia (the so called developed countries). So what does that mean?. Well the balderdashers would bring in the national interest “look we don’t do harm. So why should we pay?”. The readers might have noted the emphasis on the word ‘we’. This precisely is the nonsense elite section all around the world play on common people. It is easy to live on poor, when they are in millions it becomes easier. The Indian story is no different.

The question is not about India’s low per capita emission rate, the question is why and how?. Millions of people live below poverty line (atleast quarter of population by any conservative estimate), that simply means almost 30million people don’t even have carbon print!!. Majority of the people around the country are very conscious about consuming less or try effective utilizations of resources. They therefore keep the carbon footprint at the minimal. Sometime back I asked this kid what she did when she was stressed. Her reply was instantaneous “go for a long drive!”. I am sure many morons who are reading this blog share the same understanding on tackling stress.

Most people in this part of the world though don’t have such luxury and generally think in terms of saving money, so save fuel, therefore take shortcuts or share. The reason why fuel price increase is a sensitive issue, it has a cascading effect. Clearly most Indians don’t handle stress by going for long drive (that sounds almost insane). It is in the same class of indulgence sports like car racing also fall (dimwits refer it to as formulae one, no formulae there dude. Driving fast and wasting fuel is not smart). In India these kind of events have special attention, the more it is elitist, more away from common people, more chance for that being a popular sport!!. It is more about traditional insight “to see the opportunity”!!. That needs no specific competence since most people are not even aware of these.

It is this very “opportunity” that is being packed as national interest. The logic of per capita fits in well. It serves their lifestyle at the expense of common people very well indeed. This blogger very strongly submits that national demarcations as a standard in deciding on issues threatening the world like global warming is short sited and grossly ineffective. This blogger though understands the practical limitations of declassifying nation-state. Though countries may have varying per capita emissions but to classify a country as single entity is grievously mistaken, there are entrenched interest groups in societies. In poorer societies they are looking for easy profit, exploiting nature at the expense of livelihood of poor marginalized people is easily done with corrupt system and complaint market driven elite. Clearly lifestyle choices of richer section of society is having a serious impact on livelihood options of poor, it’s very exploitative nature is unsustainable the reason why we are in such state of affair. Paradox here is capitalism is hinged on consumption, it is amazing they still haven’t found any better alternatives. Clearly the model of development is seriously questioned.

The leaders at Copenhagen will have to recognize these. Any agreement if taking into consideration per capita, like for instance India, will have to strongly bring into focus that India’s low per capita is based more on disparities and not on any lack of per capita emission from elite sections. Hence agreement should include step by step measures taken to bring emission (reducing carbon footprint) down by elite section in poorer societies. This will have to be an integral part of the agreement. Leaders of a country where carbonated drink (made from exploiting nature and poor people, well documented by the blogger) is easily accessible than potable water or basic medicine when start showing too much concern for national interest then we know we are having some big money working.

condolences...

Please god rain in the catchment areas !!

What kind of god is this that doesn’t know where to rain?!!. Or shall we say the rain doesn’t know where to rain!. It rains in the wrong places, in wrong time, and behold in wrong quantity. It pours gallons onto hapless people, stranding innocent souls whose only crime seems to be rushing to meet deadlines for grander future. All that mess and confusion it creates, no propriety. Surely no economic sense: if you really have to rain, rain in the fields and catchment areas why cities for godsake?!.

There is a well next to my house that was dug in mid 1940s, about 30 odd feet deep, it was always full of water till two years back, then it went dry no amount of rain fills even a centimeter. An old man (he doesn’t forget to mention that he was a graduate when India got independence) who is one of my neighbor expresses amazement every time he looks into it recently though he has stopped even looking, given up I guess. Clearly despite the rains the groundwater table is not rising. Also note the place where I stay now was decades back was part of river bed (well that’s what the man said; he even elaborated that few meters down was funeral grounds. That did make me creepy). So the ponds and water bodies are now covered with buildings, needs of development and population pressure one can say. The issue here though is: cannot they atleast have some basic planning and rules for what kind of buildings be allowed. This is the pic of one huge ugly building coming up very near to where I stay. It looks like a mall and I expect it to be similar to one found anywhere in the country (they really don’t have much imagination or need for understanding local climatic conditions when constructing these monsters. Then when youngsters come holding hands morons will protest threat to Indian culture and then other devious equally competitive dimwits counter it by their versions of freedom in streets and TV. Its showtime folks!!). Next year since these terrible buildings are going to suck more electricity (as these concrete boxes will need AC and artificial ventilators, a kind of building very suited to hot desert climate) also only insignificant percentage of water seep into ground. We really are in for horrible times. And yes since most people have no access to these and serious social economic disparities have seen to that the per capita emission are low. A minuscule percentage of people are crossing even norms of profligacy with very tacit understanding of policy makers. It is big loot at the expense of poorest who are going to suffer and they say emissions cannot be cut because the poor will suffer!!. Elites playing victims is a traditional understanding in Indian context.

Despite rains Bangalore still has power cuts, I read it didn’t rain where it should. All the claims of development it seems are hinged on good monsoons. It is amusing, to see men in black suit dead serious about deadlines talking uncomfortably about monsoons, a factor they thought should be constant!!. Clearly GDP is very much about monsoons, forget GDP everything is dependent on nature, and in case one has forgotten we still live on planet earth. One year of no rain and they had it, this blogger is very concerned about how the sensitive indexes and tender people at stock exchange going to handle this!. The rising and falling indexes as this blogger understands is rarely about any rationality but a system wherein they have created indices for emotions, more weeping it tumbles down, happiness makes it rise sometimes even “touching the roof” some kind of ecstatic state of being. Since they vacillate so often from one end of emotional spectrum to another with no apparent reason, collectively these people seem to be suffering from serious case of bipolar. Few powerful people have cleverly manipulated it as some kind some kind of national preoccupation, thus making themselves very important. Funny part here is they don’t do anything much except manipulate these, invest, sell and so on and make easy money. Homo sapiens associate these curious happening to other mammalian references: Bulls and Bears. Intimidating one must say but yes does give an impression of ringside view of Wild West. Clearly (and unfortunately) market media does influence policy makers and so does the monkey business at stock exchange.

Shocking: I was shocked to see Swami Agnivesh in some trash discussion the other day (saw it for five odd minutes, no time for nonsense, just to check what he had to say), it is disheartening to see him participating in what I would say vulgar. It saddened me lot and even contemplated removing him from dedication (it may not matter to him or the world but for me it is quite significant). Not about what he said (he still is an amazing man), on why he need to participate in these nonsense which is meant to promote some trash program (that I think it is about talking personal details to make disproportionate amount of money kind of question program, it is new low but who is bothered). Swami Agnivesh has degraded himself by encouraging these trashes, there is no excuse for encouraging or even allowing crude people one’s attention. He needs to be aware that there are people who can misuse, his view doesn’t matter what matters is publicity for these people good or bad. Infact they create controversy (against themselves too) for cheap publicity and if you could package it as freedom of expression or other egalitarian ideals then crudeness gets legitimacy.

Swami Agnivesh is expected to more responsible and show some dignity by denying these disgusting people or has he also got bug of TV channels like small timers. This blogger think he doesn’t need these manipulations. I still have admiration for him as I have listened to him many times during 1997-98, so these incidents does dent but any other breach it is over. Very upset about this.

I recall a seminar on ‘value education’ I happen to participate a decade back where he spoke at length (those days I was trying to have an in depth understanding on Education, even visiting schools in Uttrakhand to later some in south India). Later I even decided to dedicate sometime to teach street children. I recall going to Salam Balak trust (finding address even in posh colonies of south Delhi can be arduous chore, walking many kms, back and forth), the man-I recollect distinctly- had long white hair. I also recall he had very intriguing photo of woman pissing in a bush on his table (fond memories there I guess!). He turned out to be a nice decent man caring even to ask for tea (I preferred gallons of water!). Next few days was in Delhi railway station as an observer, it was an interesting experience but by then I had to take care of other pressing problem so dropped the idea.

By the way Ela Bhatt is another person I forgot to mention, what an amazing woman. Few months back while traveling I came across these girls from US who had come as exchange students to a college in Bangalore. I was traveling from Jodhpur to Bangalore and they got in from Ahmedabad to the same compartment. They were studying Sociology and had gone to Ahmedabad for studying more on woman emancipation. The shocking part was when asked about SEWA they showed ignorance. That really upset me (what kind of brief these kids given before being send for tour by teachers?). I spend some precious time to explain about Ela Bhatt and SEWA and that there couldn’t be any better place to visit for knowing about woman’s emancipation than this, I recall even writing down the details on paper for them!!.

Celebrating wonderful trees

Development as understood through economic progress is important for the prosperity of societies. But this blogger strongly believes that environmental sustainability is an important element of prosperity (the above pic is of centuries old banyan tree on outskirts of Bangalore, this blogger happen to visit few weeks back). To widen the roads and reduce congestion trees will have to be cut and this blogger has seen hundreds of trees cut around where I stay. But we need also to ponder how a tree that has been growing at a spot for decades comes in the path of development. What steps has the government taken to reduce congestion other than the easy option of widening and ruthlessly cutting trees?. Yes mass transport is being modernized; also metro is to start but steps need be taken to create cells to monitor traffic as also creating smart traffic signals (London city is quite advanced in these, I saw a program on TV yesterday). If Bangalore prides itself as some kind of technological hub (this blogger though mostly see squalor side everyday) then it will have to have policies and investment on technological savvy solution that keeps in mind the local conditions. Unfortunately Karnataka government has been quite primitive and the kind of roads they have created by cutting some huge trees is appalling to say the least. This blogger invites readers to visit this road they have created: it is one of the worst roads I have seen for a long time (people behind this should be tried for corruption), it is very unsafe to drive through this road. The uneven new road has even started to disintegrate. It is an amazing example of incompetence. And it is in heart of Bangalore city. Please visit this new road to experience modern Bangalore the new international city. They even had audacity to transplant green grass and new equally atrocious “freedom park”, it is a piece of dubai. The city planners lack even a minimal understanding of aesthetics. It is shocking. It pains me every time I pass this road so mostly try to avoid. When Mr Obama keeps referring to Bangalore in his speech, it gives the impression of some modern hi-tech city- a city of synergy of modern and past. This blogger though is ashamed of what the city is metamorphosising into. Clearly the leaders or professionals attempting to modernize Bangalore lack the basic competence. It is a painful realization that most new roads and flyovers are substandard, the zeal to modernize seems lacking in competence.

Why trees?

The trees cut could also be transplanted, I am sure many would be ready to contribute to the expense, that though is the least thought when trying to replicate New York or Dubai. Trees don’t grow in few months so the excuse of afforestation is rather crude. Many trees in big Indian cities exist because religion (specifically proto Hinduism) has saved them otherwise they would have easily cut and destroyed!!. This tree was saved recently while hundreds were cut has to thank this ancient temple.

Trees, like all plants, sequester (absorb and store) carbon dioxide as part of the process of photosynthesis, which enables them to grow. Through this process, carbon dioxide is converted into stored carbon, and this is why trees are sometimes referred to as 'carbon sinks'. By taking this carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, trees clean the air, reduce temperatures, and counteract our polluting lifestyles. Tree planting in urban areas is a great way to give something back to the environment. Trees are highly 'carbon smart' and, as well as absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide, can help mitigate against climate change in a number of ways: a) Trees can also save as much as 10% of annual energy consumption around buildings by moderating the local climate keeping it cool in summer and warmer in winter. b)Tree canopies reduce rainstorm impact and provide a natural alternative to resource-heavy flood control systems that depend on hard engineering. c) Trees help to filter harmful pollutants from the air, making areas with many trees healthier places to be than areas without trees. d) Trees create vital wildlife habitats, enabling more species to thrive in their surroundings (the placard is taken from mysore zoo) .

In addition to their positive physical differences to the environment, trees also add beauty to the urban landscape, and tree planting is a wonderful way of bringing different communities together around a shared goal ( the above is taken from Net at Trees for cities).

Meet Wangari Maathai: this lady from African subcontinent (Kenya to be specific) was the one who brought to the focus of the world the issue of environmental degradation with issues of human rights and democracy. In announcing the award in 2004, the Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee said, “Peace on Earth depends on our ability to secure our living environment.”

“Through the Green Belt Movement, thousands of ordinary citizens were mobilized and empowered to take action and effect change,” Maathai said in her December 2004 Nobel address. “They learned to overcome fear and a sense of helplessness and moved to defend democratic rights.”
Maathai didn’t necessarily see these connections when she started her work. In the beginning, planting trees was simply a direct way of meeting the needs of rural women — the primary caretakers of their families — for firewood, extra income, prevention of erosion, clean drinking water, and better crop yields. Similarly, deforestation causes rivers to dry up and rainfall patterns to shift.

But there was another, equally important, and long-term result, according to Maathai. These women, she says, “are often the first to become aware of environmental damage as resources become scarce and incapable of sustaining their families.”

Environmental concerns are linked to broader issues of good governance and protection of human rights. During her campaign Wangari Maathai has been arrested, imprisoned, and beaten when her grassroot campaign took on endemic corruption in the government — especially over plans to build an office tower in the middle of Nairobi’s Uhuru Park. In her Nobel address, Maathai said that although the Green Belt Movement didn’t initially address political issues, “It soon became clear that responsible governance of the environment was impossible without democratic space. Therefore, the tree became a symbol for the democratic struggle in Kenya. ... In time, the tree also became a symbol for peace and conflict resolution.”

You can visit Wangari Maathai website through the link herein in the blog…

The snap below is taken from very close to where I stay. The owner of this building could have easily cut the tree, that was the easiest option, as they have in done in west. But our man has different understanding of life and surrounding and also development. If ordinary people are ready to spend extra few rupees to save their surrounding then why can’t the planners. It is astounding the lack of application of mind. I am sure housing colonies would be ready to spend few thousand rupees to transplant trees, that are chopped, to their localities. Has the government thought about these ideas, or is it cut cut and cut for aggressive growth?. Incidentally when the monsoon was delayed policy makers started to sweat, although this blogger hopes there are no droughts but would like to see one. That should jolt them out of the stupor. Under the economic understanding of growth monsoon is a factor. And this factor is expected to be constant also referred to as normal monsoon as if rain happens because they are meant for economic growth because economist want it!!. Under this understanding clouds brings rain and so it rains (like stork bring babies!). From what I have studied trees have an important contribution on rain, ground water, ecosystem. So tomorrow if there are no rains and no drinking water don’t show surprise. Geez where the clouds with water gone?!!. They are supposed to come aren’t they?