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?

on world population day...

Today is world population day and let’s focus our attention to insightful thoughts of Amartya sen. He has much to say on population of course he consistently tries to prove the point that it is not a very big issue “isolationist view of population growth should be rejected”. He brings in many factors like income, education and so on and rightly so. But this blogger humbly submits that whatever argument Mister Amartya Sen is giving for not looking population in its isolation is contradicted by his very surroundings itself!!. Wonder why people don’t look around them?. Anyway his insightful and sometimes brilliant understandings are here for the reader. He titled it Reality and Delusion (dated 1994), very correctly so.

“The increase in the world population has vastly accelerated over the last century. It took the world population millions of years to reach the first billion, then 123 years to get to the second, 33 years to the third, 14 years to the fourth, 13 years to the fifth billion, with a sixth billion to come, according to one UN projection, in another 11 years.

Has development, in fact, done much to reduce population growth? There can be little doubt that economic and social development, in general, has been associated with major reductions in birth rates and the emergence of smaller families as the norm. This is a pattern that was, of course, clearly observed in Europe and North America as they underwent industrialization, but that experience has been repeated in many other parts of the world. In particular, conditions of economic security and affluence, wider availability of contraceptive methods, expansion of education (particularly female education), and lower mortality rates have had—and are currently having—quite substantial effects in reducing birth rates in different parts of the world

It is what people do when they have some basic education, know about family planning methods and have access to them, do not readily accept a life of persistent drudgery, and are not deeply anxious about their economic security. It is also what they do when they are not forced by high infant and child mortality rates to be so worried that no child will survive to support them in their old age that they try to have many children. In country after country the birth rate has come down with more female education, the reduction of mortality rates, the expansion of economic means and security, and greater public discussion of ways of living.

Post script: Amen

Sarkozy, market choices and modern savages

It was Rousseau who used the oxymoron noble savages to describe men when in ‘state of nature’-the primitive man, he was later to negate it and rightly so. At the end of the Discourse on Inequality (contradicting the elitist ‘social contract’ by Hobbes), Rousseau explains how the desire to have value in the eyes of others comes to undermine personal integrity and authenticity in a society marked by interdependence, and hierarchy. In the degenerate phase of society, man is prone to be in frequent competition with his fellow men while at the same time becoming increasingly dependent on them. This double pressure threatens both his survival and his freedom. Rousseau asks "What is to be done?" His answers was all men can do is to cultivate virtue in themselves.

Rousseau was a significant inspiration behind French revolution, and the democratic principles on which civilized societies stand. What Rousseau refers to as virtue is what we know as ethics. The reason why I am quoting Rousseau is to point out that all great ideas that put the foundations of equitable society was based on ethics, an expectation of responsible behavior. All understandings of different religions and faith also stand on the same premise. The society as we know and cherish stands on the enlightened thoughts of some great people who strived to create ideals for the betterment of humanity.

What we are seeing in the contemporary world is a paradox of unbridled access to information and exciting possibilities with degradation of society through unsatiated greed and increasingly crude irresponsible lifestyle. The misplaced confidence of ‘great unthinking masses’ (to use Kant) is being sought to be channelised as freedom, as aspiration, as legitimate desires. Is it surprising that people who espouse liberal values are themselves repulsive opportunists?. Is it surprising that those who swear by god and call themselves religious resort to shocking expressions of faith?. In this scenario democracy becomes farce in the hand of few, religion becomes tool of oppression.

Business and commerce is important part of society but whether Adam smith or Weber (remember he had Protestant ethics as his reference) they emphasized on being responsible. Ethics here means that if my business is irrevocably damaging the environment and long term well being of society then it is unethical. Democracy therefore means that leaders take decisions to safeguard against these exploitations and dangerous implications on future. I don’t think it could get simpler than this; it is a very simple reality on which world leaders have to work at Copenhagen. If they cannot agree on something as basic as this then it is a matter of shame, it is heights of irresponsibility. Sometime back BBC broadcasted a program titled ‘ethical man’; it showed how individual actions have quite insignificant impact on catastrophic events, like global warming, that world faces it needs strong policy backing.

In this increasingly crude world cherished institutions and great thought get easily manipulated by vested interests. Market opportunism has constructed freedom as independence to do nonsense and still feel euphoric!!. The ideals though were meant to necessarily go with responsible behavior otherwise it is not freedom, it is vulgar. It is in this world that religion also finds its extreme takers. The society it seems is extending its fringes of crudeness wherein the construct was for enlightened thinking and actions. So what we have is society of reactionaries, a society that individually and collective live by reacting to each other or situation, in this melee competence is downgraded and truth pushed out. They create their own reality. It is where extreme forms of vulgarity meet.

Democracy was not meant for conduit of market choices, nor religion for crude insensitive people. Nor Plato nor Rousseau nor Kant ever meant democracy to reduce to serve bunch of profit mongers at the expense of all other expressions and aspirations or even sustainability. When social relations, emotions and even human bodies are meant for the purpose of unabashed money making, when respect becomes sycophancy, when compassion is profit, when words becomes farce, when others are statistics, actions are compromises then we know something is grievously gone wrong and that such a system will lead to nothing but disaster. In Holy Koran there is a mention of modest dressing but enlightened words never conceived crude followers who could pack women in burqa (the full face covering) and still claim divine. Religion also is about power, male domination therefore does find enough reasoning. It is in this context of politically correct and incorrect world Sarkozy’s statements become ambiguous. He may be right or he may be wrong depends upon how much you stand to gain. Truth is the biggest loss in the contemporary world we live in.

These varied forms of vulgarities compete and they call it freedom of expression. Here we get cruder versions of liberty, secularism, profit, love, creativity, modesty, faith…, it’s a celebration of mediocrity. In gist it means you do your crap and we do ours. Live and let live. And yes we respect each other for that!!. And so we live in a free world. Modern savages. If this idea of living was so very ideal then why is environment/nature not ready to take the crap?. Clearly these are not true, therefore unsustainable. Nature doesn’t lie. Then that means there is truth, and we do see it all the time but are not ready to acknowledge. The crass world makes it impossible, so we flirt on the fringes of truth and justify ourselves for immediate gain. Somewhere this will have to end, we see glimpses of that in bombs, riots, cyclones…

Post script: readers are invited to short story blog, there is a new story I posted the other day. It is dedicated to incredible people like Swami Agnivesh, Medha Patkar, Aruna Roy, Binayak Sen, Vandana Shiva, Sugatha Kumari and so on. It is these people who make democracy vibrant. Indian society is proud of them.

The latest about Copenhagen summit

Canada and Japan obstruct climate deal
Morten Andersen 02/07/2009 16:50

“Copenhagen is faltering at the moment. The Americans are now fully engaged. But several countries are blocking the progress,” Sir David King, former British Chief Scientific Advisor, said at the World Conference of Science Journalists in London.

He also noted that both Canada and Japan have recently gotten rid of their scientific advisors, and both countries “are stepping into the breach and blocking progress.”

A weak agreement coming out of the UN conference on climate change in Copenhagen this December would be worse than no agreement, said Sir David King. According to Times Online he sees an ambitious bilateral agreement between China and the United States as a better alternative:

“If you had the Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and (Barack) Obama on the same stage, together with the EU position, this would be a strong move in the right direction.”

According to One World Net, the former British advisor has “a lawyer in his team working behind the scenes to find a legal formula that would enable the summit (the UN conference, editor’s remark) to be concluded with a general statement and a commitment that a protocol would follow in 2010.”

In his speech, Sir David King praised a Brazilian commitment to stop deforestation in 2025 and was optimistic about reaching an international agreement on forest conservation at this years UN conference.

Comments by a reader

Peter Wood

03/07/2009 04:13 If Canada and Japan don't cooperate, we can have a treaty without them. Countries can then charge border taxes on fossil fuel intensive goods, and border export taxes on fossil fuels exported to these countries. Probably not a good outcome for Japan's steel industry or Canada's tar sands industry, but a good outcome for the planet

Registering a protest with GOI by an Indian citizen…

This blogger as an Indian citizen registers a strong protest with Government of India (and State governments) on the way in which policy decisions or matters dealing with it are made known to the public. Government employee from the highest level to the lowest is not expected to give “exclusive interviews” to any TV channel or matters dealing with state. Any matter dealing with the State that needs to be communicated to the public should be done through press conference or media communiqué or spokesperson. A union minister or any senior official hobnobbing with the private channel and entertaining them is favoritism therefore a grave case of corruption.

By its very nature "exclusive" is partisan, governments are not here to work on the TRP of private channels. After every “high profile” case even senior police official are found giving interviews to TV channels. Is that there job?. Is this how state machinery function in a democracy?. Astounding. Secondly just because a case is high profile doesn’t mean that it gets precedence over others, since high profile word is a construct of market media in most cases (who leaks the video of narco test?. It is a serious case of privacy violation. Does this land have any privacy laws?). The recent rape case by small time hindi film actor was attempted to play through media. Fixers and manipulators got in and tried to subjectify the crime that was still under investigation. All norms and decency was thrown out, even the CM of Maharashtra was found reacting. What a shame.

This blogger agrees that a minister could give an interview to a particular channel or print media as part of getting to know the person- about the minister as a person and his overall views on issues, afterall he/she is a public person. But to give access to a particular TV channel or print media of his liking on every matter and his/her exclusive views is serious dereliction of oath he took (media and others are excited about who gets what during swearing-in ceremony…but what oath was read is much important. It is no small matter or routine. It has to be followed in word and spirit, otherwise why have these expensive mockery?).

When senior minister or official hobnobs with the media (clearly for personal gains later, it’s a tacit understanding) it has direct influence on morale of the junior members and staff, it sets a bad precedence and culture of sycophancy. This is one way corruption gets institutionalized. Generally when most ministers are from Delhi or state capitals they are found to create coterie or interest groups, giving exclusive access to “their people” in media, it is a step towards degrading the system. Either the minister or official concerned doesn’t understand the significance of the position one is holding or is irresponsible so doesn’t deserve the position.

Post Script: this blogger congratulate the Education minister Kapil Sibal for the revolutionary steps taken to make the education system sensitive and learning an enjoyable process. Round of applause for that!!.

Condolences: Lohithadas was a one of the brilliant script writer and director this nation has seen in recent times. This blogger is personally indebted to him. It so happened that my understanding of Malayalam movies in my earlier part of life was limited, just few movies in VCR or DD, so when I was studying in college (in my first year) Kireedom was released. It was a path breaking movie and it had immense influence on me (incidentally it was my very first movie in Kerala), i started to have great liking for Malayalam movies. That period also coincided with some amazing movies being made, I was hooked. Lohithadas had scripted many of these movies, it was sensational to say the least. Later while in Delhi I saw Boothakanadi in one of the film festival, quite a sensitive movie, so many rapes happening I too got paranoid like the character in the movie.

Lohithadas belonged to a tradition that had produced some of the greatest malayalam film directors like Bharatan, Padmarajan, MT who understood the aesthetics and soul of the kerala culture and its people, that had universal appeal. Their movies not only had high aesthetic standard but it touched hearts of millions. Their movies always had incredible songs which in itself embodied so much of the oral-cultural tradition. When you watch movies by Bharathan, Padmarajan, MT or Lohithadas it leaves an impression that last for ages. Everything about the movie becomes beautiful, they were very sensitive people. They were rooted to the land. Lohithadas was an amazing man, he will be terribly missed. It is a big loss.

Gone too soon…

Michael Jackson was an amazing guy, truly an international icon. A showman par excellence he was music all the way, a trend setter. This blogger came to know about him in late 80s. Probably in the contemporary world his words must been heard by more number of people around the world in the last few decades than anyone else, and yes more people copied his moonwalk than nobody else…

This blogger was appalled and angered by his doings in the later part of his life. But I guess there are many part of people they are not able to handle, it saddening to see brilliant people break like that, it got really weird. He was in public right from the tender age of 5 that must have been tough. I liked many of his songs prominent being “lets make this place a better place…”(it is a very sensitive song), “we are the world” (for Africa), “black or white”, “thriller”, “childhood” “beat it” (I recall dancing on that many times!!) and so on.

What really endeared me to him was what I watched in one of the music channel today, I haven’t listened to this song previously. It is a tribute to a beautiful boy Ryan White who died of AIDS. The song is titled “gone too soon”, I regret not listening this earlier. Michael Jackson might have sung many songs but this one has created a place for him in my heart that will remain forever intact. Despite all the blemishes he was such a wonderful guy. He should have been given a chance to redeem himself. It is an unfair death.

To boldly go where no man (or woman!!) has gone before…

That was how Star trek series opened with space ship cruising into the universe. And boy it opened a whole new world. Star trek was a popular TV serial that used to be shown on Sunday noon in 80s. They made movie on it recently and this blogger happen to see it yesterday, though I avoid going for movies this I had to watch. I still prefer the older version (the newer version had to compete with latest technology, in the process many occasions it became more of a video game). It was amazing to see human transferred from place to another by a command. Despite difficulty in understanding I can still recall those names Capt Kirk (the grave looking head of the Enterprise spaceship), Spock (amazing guy with pointed ears), not to forget Sulu, Macoy, Uhura and so on. It was spectacular experience to say the least.

Star Trek had an astounding affect on me, till then life was about mythology wherein chariots could fly and so on. Star trek brought in science fiction. Science fiction means extrapolation of technological future or postulation of future that is logically consistent. Myth and fantasy based stories had magic or unexplained occurrences that were attributed to mystical powers. It was Arthur Clark who blurred the line of science fiction and science fantasy by introducing magic consist with logic.

I always wondered why science fiction not part of school curriculum?.(Note here science fiction is not same as science and therefore should be handled separately nor is it meant to make science interesting- tool of pedagogy. This blogger is arguing science fiction as different stream or additional chapters or exercises to ponder). We didn’t have even a chapter, I assume they don’t have it even now. That is shocking. Infact science fiction is an important understanding. Its implications are significant. They are the guys who predicted airplanes, submarines, spaceships, tanks, cyberspace, robot and so on. How could we ignore them?. Few science fiction writers need be noted here: Isaac Asimov (who first discussed artificial intelligence and made laws for ethical robots: "A robot may not injure humanity, nor, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm" and so on, became premise for many other science fiction), HG Wells (time travel in Time Machine), Arthur Clark (well known for Space Odyssey-2001 with Kubrick. Speculating on geostationary satellite as also wireless communications, he even wrote time table upto 2010), George Orwell (1984- was about totalitarian future), Mary Shelley (Frankenstein, arguably the first science fiction, was inspired by nightmare she had!!) but it was French writer Jules Verne who is considered father of science fiction. Verne is credited with impressive predictions. His anticipations of the future included the moon landing, the helicopter, air conditioning, automobiles, and even the Internet! (remember it was 19^th century). Verne's most famous works include 'Journey to the Center of the Earth,' 'From the Earth to the Moon,' 'Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea,' and 'Around the World in Eighty Days.’ Science fiction movies that were immensely popular in recent times include Jurassic park series (Attenborough, you can trust Attenborough brothers for brilliance) was written by Michel Crichton- his understanding on global warming though was more fiction than science!!. Bush administration tried to use him. This blogger is a great fan of science fiction movies (my first few English movie was Terminator, I can’t conceive terminator without Arnold swazinegger. My favorite is Terminator 2, the scene wherein his detached metal hand melts back into his body after a spectacular chase, the best ever. The guy who played that part was amazing selection).

Science fiction need be important part of children’s growth, the understanding of present action/inaction and its probable implication on future for not only himself or herself but the society, the world or the life as we know is what science fiction construct itself on. Children need to understand these, the need for responsible use of science and knowledge. It also is a vicarious experience to a possible world constructed on extrapolating the present, the implications of our actions. Science fiction also provides a space for collective fear on where we are and where we go. The issues facing the world right from social implications of cloning to environmental catastrophes of human actions are important in the education of young generation. Science fiction therefore can be an important tool in understanding technological innovation and social consequences. This helps us to be more vigilant, preparing intuitions not necessarily being paranoid. Don’t know whether to use the word intuition but yes cognitive skills that is more emotional, creative than factual, lacking context. It makes children proactive and instill responsible behavior, it could also give them confidence to be visionaries. It makes them ask realistic questions that are less abstract and more real to the world as they experience and anticipate.

Another aspect of science fiction is presenting a counter culture, an understanding of societies different from ours or how we could change in future. Implication here is that what we consider as permanent may not be. This helps in preparing us for change, questions traditions and opens new possibility that the present structure cannot even conceive. Science fiction can be an important tool for non fictional forecasting and preparing us for radical changes and tolerant to evolving social institution.

Science fiction as change speculators has the potential to create agents for change. The diversity of choices and multitude of paths it can lead is dependent on choices we make now is what these fiction teaches.

Post script: phew…that was quite exhausting. And so I will have to finish the above with a light hearted incident. Once a journalist inquired Arthur Clarke (one of the greatest science fiction writer who died in 2008. Space elevators anyone?!!), whether he was gay. Clarke replied "No, merely mildly cheerful". Good one!!.

Trivia: Arthur Clarke became a Sri Lankan citizen and was Chancellor of a University for a very long time, he is buried in Colombo.

Tragic events in Iran

Iran I gather is one of the most tech savvy nations around, there is a substantial section of Iranian society that has access to latest technology. Iran also has significant expatriate population located around the world, particularly in rich countries (this blogger too had Iranians and Afghans as neighbors few years back but they weren’t rich, the girl I recall worked at the reception of a firm). This complicates the events that are unfolding in Iran. Don’t know whether to use the word complicated or that it adds strength to efforts for more open society. Iran seems to be a nation that is in cusp of things, either the events would unfold immense possibility of people of the nation or it would be chaotic and divisive eventually tragic. The assault on peaceful protesters is cause of grave concern. As Khatami points “The silent protests and civil behavior of the people in demonstrations is a sign of people’s vigilance and (sense of) responsibility”. The picture is that of Neda Agha Soltan young woman killed during the protest.

This blogger happen to listen to Ayothallah’s speech, he spoke with lots of passion. Clearly there is a huge following (I found the part of “extreme views leading to extreme reaction” interesting). The elite seem to have genuine concern for a just society as was envisaged by the revolution that uprooted the feudalism in 1979. There are few concerns though (this I express as a very concerned outsider). Although despite the best intentions of Ayothallah that “Islamic nation of Iran would never rig the elections” it is conceivable that things are murky at the lower level (quite possible with tacit understanding of power mongers in the elite). The latest report indicates establishment’s admission that there has been irregularities “that wouldn’t have affected the final result”. This fact that is emerging points to some serious problems in the system and a major source of disgruntlement as the channel for redressal is non functional. Also the fact that it took such coercion for this admission points to something wrong.

Religio-political elite in Iran are in a critical juncture and have a huge responsibility; one fervently hopes they don’t fail their people. It would do them well to make the system more transparent and participatory. Lots of changes have happened in the world from 1979 to 2009, aspirations and expectations have evolved, technology has led to access and new possibilities. Defects of western system is also understood, in the name of freedom they have led to space for “extreme views and reactions”, thus we have increasingly radicalized youth despite better choices or is it about self aggrandizement, blatant consumerism. Certain section get increasingly vulgar and crude not only in dealings with the surrounding but also worldview, this is being tried to be replicated as modern around the world. Freedom comes with responsibility some fail to understand, it must be arrogance. Religion and traditions can be a good reference point for being a responsible human being. Enlightened elite should be able to interpret religion for betterment of all with the changing realities.

Iran also has major existential threat, its oil reserve makes it a precious target. Further Iran has been a challenge to cozy worldview of western nations on nuclear bombs. Also Sunni hardliners in an increasingly volatile region wouldn’t let go the chance for disruption, sectarian violence have increased substantially in recent times. This makes the happenings in Iran very critical. The elite instead of adopting a hardline would do well to look for solution based on contemporary realities before things spin out of hand, oppressive and unilateral measures may not work and would lead further degradation of the situation. Iranians fighting with each other is the last thing that should happen. That would be immensely tragic. Iran is too important a nation to fail like this.

Post script: though we know there is something gone wrong in Iran, it is very difficult to get unbiased facts of the events. But yes some people can be reference points. This blogger was reading Shirin Ebadi (Iranian Nobel laureate), she is for opposition. Clearly the opposition movement in Iran has a section of popular and intellectual support. Mousavi (the opposition leader) has also taken extreme stand (in reaction to crackdown) that he wouldn’t mind being a martyr. Very precarious situation indeed. This blogger has great regard and respect for Mohammed Khatami. He has called for independent commission to verify allegations "before it is too late the officials must take the least costly approach, adding the opportunities are slipping quickly and fast turning into potential threats”. Khatami says, "Linking the healthy movements of the people with foreign interference is a flawed political practice, which leads to alienating the people from the government.” His understandings would immensely help. He could be the rallying point in the increasingly polarizing society.

A Greenpeace initiative

I got this forward few days back thought it to be important to put in my blog. Plz visit http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/take_action/leaders-go-to-copenhagen-climate-summit for more. Don't forget to sign the petition...

President Barack Obama, United States of America
President Hu Jintao, People’s Republic of China
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, India
President Nicolas Sarkozy, France
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, United Kingdom
Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany

Dear leaders,

I call upon you, not as representatives of your countries, but as leaders of the world, to personally attend the United Nations Climate Summit in Copenhagen this December.

Decisions which will be made at this meeting will impact the lives of everyone alive today, and determine the shape of humanity’s future.

This is the world’s best chance to avoid runaway climate change.

You owe it to the world to attend, to set aside your national interests, to safeguard our future, and to do what you were elected to do: lead.

My request is simple: promise now to personally attend.

Post script: In context to the last blog, Mr. Ramesh have taken some stern steps with regards to illegal miners in Karnataka and he personally visited Corbett park, that definitely is a great start. This blogger is also enthused by his statement on need for "tiger ecosystem".

Shouldn’t the Environment Minister speak about environment??!!

It is only yesterday that I came to know who the union environment minister is!!(i guess it is my fault getting complacent). I was flipping through TV channel and came across report on Tigers. This blogger is very much concerned about issues concerning environment, the Minister left me vaguely uncomfortable. I did spend sometime on the net and found he had lots of skeptics, I guess it is too early to pass judgment. Jairam Ramesh is holding a very important ministry and policy decisions he makes and the impact it creates will be watched very closely.

An environment minister need necessarily be concerned about environment and that is his priority. He is not expected to talk about economics and finding a balance, his framework has to be necessarily prioritizing environment and natural wealth. I don’t see commerce minister talking about environment nor home minister talking about education. Don’t know what is rigid and not rigid but progress need be seen from the context of sustainability and inclusiveness. The rate at which forest is getting depleted and wildlife habitat loss happening is a serious concern. There is a serious pressure on natural resources that no GDP can compensate. The previous environment minister I gather worked as a henchman for profit mongers. He seems to have done significant damage. I also gather environment board does have presence from exploitative industries. This I find very disturbing (so why do you think they fund election?!!).

Mr Ramesh it seems speaks more like an economist, which makes this blogger quite concerned, not that anybody should have anything against economists but environment is not really about demand and supply paradigm. Environment is not a factor. The western model of development that is being transplanted is seriously flawed (they realize that and are making every effort to increase forest and wildlife conservation, but then they are rich. In poorer societies there is significant pressure from vested interests). Don’t know about alternatives but yes this much this blogger is sure and that is progress at the cost of environment is no progress. Also one feels the west has earned lot of money at the cost of natural resource, shouldn’t these product have environment tax?. Issues of environment are more holistic, it needs broadmindedness and sensitivity. Narrow economic exigencies and short term benefits will be seriously counterproductive.

Personal interaction with Jairam Ramesh: don’t know how many will recall Jairam Ramesh used to conduct a successful program in DD many years back (was it Crossfire?). I watched many episodes of it and yes got lots of understanding and knowledge. It was crisp, no crap, getting into the facts. I wasn’t much into TV but wouldn’t miss this program. Later I shifted to Delhi (I guess it was December 1995) and stayed in the worst part of the city. Could manage few weeks and had a breakdown, just couldn’t handle it, the food, winter (the room didn’t even have a cot and I wasn’t carrying much clothing), but yes an year later was back with some bank balance, quite determined not to quit. I had a reference of family friend they stayed in Andrews ganj, so shifted. I found that Jairam Ramesh lived in the ground floor (he played cricket with his two sons) and bumped into him, told him I liked his TV program immensely, few minutes of general talk nothing much. I stayed there for 4 to 5 days and met him quite often. I thought he was a great guy.

Readers are requested to visit birds blog (its about Kingfishers!!) also i have posted a Short story (i dedicate it to autowallahs of Bangalore, particularly to the man who went out of the way to help me as i was pushing my punctured vehicle few months back at an isolated stretch. Some are nasty but mostly ok kind of guys. I know few punters too who moonlight as auto drivers!)