Forgetting the dance 

I am a fish in the poisoned river

I am an insect droning the street light

I am the bird knocked out by the window strike

I am a disoriented whale stranded

I am a turtle tangled lifeless in abandoned net

I am a giraffe skinned by trophy hunters

I am the rhino calf nudging my hacked mother

I am a shark without fin sinking into the depth of ocean

I am a tiger farmed for my body parts

I am a monkey tied up for research

I am a dog with ears and tail cropped

I am a chicken dying in my own weight

I am cow impregnated for milk

I am a pig farmed for meat

I am a snake deity defanged   

I am a cheetah cub groomed as a pet  

I am a caged parrot

I am an electrocuted elephant

I am the bull in the arena

I am an orangutan clinging to the last tree

I am an owl startled by celebration

I am the heron feeding on plastic

I am caterpillar killed by pesticide

I am a plant drooping in soot

I am butterfly searching for shade

I am a tree that has come in the way of development

I am a bee who has forgotten the dance

 

 

Update your priori

Well-adjusted prior judgments of 20^th century needs update. Last two decades have completely changed the world in the way homo sapiens have not reckoned in 200,000 years. Last few hundred years of understandings have culminated at breakneck speed in the last few decades. Internet made the world immediate, it also empowered ordinary people. Each individual’s interface with the world has seen cataclysmic change. Even poorest have access to device more powerful than what sent men to moon. In the last few years every human is given the possibility of change as also platform to join into action. With AI and quantum computing set to become everyday reality technology is becoming meaningfully pervasive but intrusive in an entirely unthinkable way that even science fictions are falling back! Biotech is another area that has seen breathtaking changes and possibilities, even giving humans tools to change an entire specie. Meanwhile diseases spread fast, microorganism upgrade and mutate. The visible signs of climate change add to the surreal feel to the contemporary reality. Cataclysmic changes are happening that each living specie on earth has not experienced in hundreds and thousands of years. Species are vanishing at a rate matched only by few instances in five hundred million years. Homo sapiens have clearly reached a cross road. From hereon either it's road to possible extinction, or very likely, some will work with technology to create a new space -doubtful whether this space will be inclusive and it's very likely that majority will face the incremental wrath of elements and perish in hundreds and thousands on regular basis. The stage is already set, and you can see rough outline emerging in the horizon, meanwhile majority are kept distracted with everyday excitement and entertainment inanities. Most people though have experienced precarious nature of life through pandemic, an uneasy sense of doom pervades deeply while forest fire's flare reaches sky, ferocious floods sweep fancy cars into guzzling underbelly of cities… With reality becoming increasingly immediate systems are getting exposed. There is no use of herd controlling when herd start to die or are distracted by overwhelming reality. The futility is hitting home. 

Rather than rationalizing anything and everything through crumbling systems it's the existential priority to face the reality. All lifeform on earth face realities of life all the time, and adapt or perish. Humans too started with the same template but lost their way into fantastical fictions -that though started with compassionate intent to assuage and understand, and mounting sense numbing luxuries and distractions. These egoistic holds and delinks are now becoming life threatening and perilous for humanity. The matrix of life’s data is firmly fine-tuned to reality. In this reality human beings are increasingly working out as liability. There is an essential need to invoke the long lost values of mutual trust and concern, a shared commitment to reason, and to act sensing the changing nature of surrounding. In short it's about time for human beings to assert their humanity.  

Any threat to democracy is a threat to humanity

 

Democracy hinges on individual rights and liberty that synergize into society to assert the potential to progress as human being. It safeguards human rights that extends to other species and ecosystems. Democracy is an evolved conception that assures civilized dealings and accommodates dissent. A free mind is an assurance of humanity. Therefore, to push a narration that some societies are not fit or ready for democracy (in effect some humans of some regions are incapable to be free) is not only spacious but reflection of high-end patronizing mindset that comes with laziness of wallowing in hedonism and assured capacities. Afghanistan is a case study of misery on humanity orchestrated by competing systems and clever cold manipulators. Brutal gun totting religious primitives, suave suit wearing carpet bombing democracy spreaders for profit and narration controlling keyboard warriors holed up in comforts of western cities with well placed angst are all equally complicit. They are eating the souls of people. They regurgitate fictions that suits their deal. It’s the Rashomon effect in the bleakest of possibilities. The stampede to control narration to present themselves as saviors.                

Every lifeform thrives in freedom fully understanding the limits that life puts, the conditions they sense to survive and evolve. Every human on this earth strives to be free. Only a free human can gain the capacity to understand responsibilities and value living in daily absurdities of life. Primitive religions -the anachronistic regret, should be humored and tolerated with pity but what we see is vicious arbitrators using these as opportunity to control and haggle for power. Spiritual earnings and mounting insecurities of hapless people are trapped into systems of barter. Humans are commodities in this conception. They are to be bartered for religion as unthinking faithfuls, for democracy spreaders they are comfortable means to exploit for profit as also pointer of benign grace of powerful, for politicians these are pawns in the game of strategic depths and for angst driven fluffs they represent untold bottomless opportunity for angst positioning. Afghan people running scared and cowering in homes from gun wielding monster mullahs emblemizes common people all across the world. They are metaphor of tragedy. Fodder to the systems of control.

West in its arrogance think that they can blatantly attack any region for profit and then cover it up by feeding chosen few and work them to control the narration. They represent flawed arrogance of democracy whether US – with absurd gun freedom, systemic racism and deviance of Christianity, or UK – that wallows in supreme assurance of colonial loots and tries to define democracy through monarchy patriotism. Under the garb of spreading democracy they are controlled by wanton greed and supreme omniscience as overseers. Meanwhile Afghanistan is a flawed society that gnaws its people. Beleaguered people never really got the chance to consolidate humanity as the competing forces massacred. People of the region are trapped in the vice grip of religion and poverty hence last twenty years of Western attempts were superficial. The collapse of Afghanistan is a testament to flawed intervention that couldn’t percolate. Empathy driven institutions and free connection of humans is what roots institutions to consolidate democracy. Further, when the sinister states like US (under Trump), China, Russia so on had started to negotiate with Taliban and authenticated monster mullahs for their devilish control over the region as also international geopolitical ruse what could common people do? They were given hope without any means to achieve. They were given choices that had life at stake.          

Afghanistan is a tragedy on humanity that will unfold into the depths of depravity. Religion can but only create nuisance and when these fantastical fictions are means of governance there is denial of centuries of human progress and understanding. Those western fattened fluffs who are helping nurture these dehumanizing systems as identity and attempting to equate with race are equally dangerous and complicit with spreading misery. Religion cannot be identity nor it can define or usurp ideas of protecting minority. Diversity cannot be degradation. Humanity is paying heavy price for these flawed values. Secularism must be replaced with humanism. It’s about time to stop nurturing dehumanizing ridiculous systems like religion that has become threat to humanity. As also wanton consumption promoting systems like capitalism that is defining development at the expense of life.     

When wanton consumption driven western nation attack or occupy resource rich regions to further the deep state controlled capitalism and its neoliberal values, they create nepotistic corrupt ecosystem of exploitation and opportunism in the region. They try to assuage these by using common people as fodder back home who take the brunt of backlash through terrorism, xenophobic hate, fundamentalism, while unleashing angst driven narrators who pose as moral bearing of society. They create binary. Us vs Them. It’s the easiest way to control. Thus, dividing humans into strifing herds.    

Code red for humanity

 IPCC report is what every human being in very place must be discussing today, tomorrow and days to come. But India that is extremely climate vulnerable with acute disparities, entrenched inhumanity and primitive value system seems least bothered. Herd controllers have not given much significance to these "news". Market and religion controlled herd oscillate between blessing and opportunity hamster loop while herd controllers showcase their blessing as a lesson on fate and how to upgrade it. As with pandemic when it pushes to crisis herd controllers will swiftly move to higher grounds with family and friends, and that too is fated. What to expect from such a deviant society? 

As I survey Indian "news" websites I find these significant report, or news related to climate change, are sidelined. These are supposed to be 'infotainment' that keeps herds happy while they are squeezed out of basic faculties of being a human. While I interacted with youngsters, not only as part of occupation but during cycling along the coastal region from chennai to goa, I find serious lack on basic facts on these crucial matters. And now as I survey the inbred litters quite active in social media -a culmination of flawed education and deviant home truths, they too are busily habituated in stampeding on inanities to prove their special place in universe. Beggar's mindset doesn't change with money, power or literacy it tends to express in newer ways. Expertised in sanctum these have entrenched in herds. Its not surprising at all that the richest man or socalled scientists at the helm extend beggar's mindset. Its a sycophantic mindset of want and is characterized by pleasing others for gains. Probably it will need few more generation for refinity to percolate and mindsets to change, and that too seems farfetched. A sense of connection with surrounding, compassion and striving to understand are steps that isn't difficult. A society that has nothing to look forward to in future will always try to manipulate history to feel better. It will seek to control narration to feel secure. Climate change is none of their concern. It is just a fate. When they look at teeming masses struggling for basic amenities in various stages of misery they cannot help feel how blessed they are despite being absolute rotten humans without any discernable skills nor making any attempts to examine themselves or their understanding with all the opportunities and resources that they easily access. Surely there must be some reason for these special favor, argues their deviant little minds, hence this lifelong pursuit to justify. For crude minds lacking contemplation every new innovations becomes a new source of manipulation instead of possibilities. Likes of Amartya sen are not accidents they are nurtured. Lacking intellectual integrity, immune to realities, they compensate by high sounding words and nuanced expressions (that serves dual purpose of showcasing to west while simultaneously controlling beleaguered Indians into submission as their blessed representatives to the world. It is the language game that Wittgenstein spoke about and helps to get insight into lazy patronizers) and showcase intellectual capacity by quoting books and working on sophisticating language to absurdity. Lacking contemplative skills or evolved thoughts and tethered to sanctum they replicate ecosystem of sinister sanskrit. And as a final act of special place in universe -as jagath gurus, they defecate books with ordained self assured intention to guide humanity. Never mind they are too incapacitated and challenged to even fathom the beginnings of being a human. As with everything else Indian writing with very few rare exceptions are absolute garbage that expectedly resonate in the echo chambers hence assumed as acclaimed. Indeed it was only meant to showcase blessing.  

So finally

 

Beleaguered nation of 1.4 billion has found redemption. Largest consumer -obsessed hoarder or deviant affliction are better words, of gold (while more than half of children under 4years remain malnourished, which has accentuated during pandemic) has finally found elusive gold through ever elusive caliber. Some blessed frogs in the well are already seeing signs of divine intervention that was already ordained. If only Japanese or Olympic committee knew about auspicious timing to tap positive energy from brahmaand or worked on vastu of  stadium then maybe blessing would have multiplied!! Even Indian scientists know these secrets. 

 The youngster Neeraj Chopra is ofcourse talented, and has all the quality to be a better human hence not in a minor sense a high-ranking army personnel (not that it is something to be cherished, it’s a dehumanizing occupation that may excite herd since nationalism as also subtleties of patriotism are strong herd controlling tool. Army/security must be automated with less of humans and more of algorithm. Humans are not meant to die defending fiction). There is no reason why he should not be promoted to the rank of captain with gallantry medal at the earliest. It is because of the Army that his talent was recognized and blossomed (ofcourse with foreign coach) otherwise he would have wasted out like millions of Indians while freeloaders showcased their limited skills competing with each other as entertainers. Sports is not an entertainment. It strives to achieve and extend the limits of human body and possibilities. Entertainment is a byproduct while the sportsperson enjoys his or her participation the audience too experience the exhilaration.  

Indian sport is parasited by cricket -game of wastrels to entertain herds, was passed on by lazy colonizers to sycophantic freeloading feudals (while actively working against freedom struggle) who then after independence worked it through state machinery to convert herds as also passed onto market to squeeze. It’s a high end con setup. Cricketers appreciating athletes is like donkeys inspiring race horse! (nothing against donkeys, they are cute animals and, I learn from youtube, can be great pets too). They have usurped all awards and positions in the name of sports. Herd controllers know the value of herd controlling mechanisms and they will not let it go. In the meanwhile it needs to be understood that this entertainment has severely degraded Indian sports. Also, it is unfortunate that golf is part of Olympics. It is being included because of money power and clout otherwise there is nothing in it to call it a sport, as much as car racing is not a sport. They must remove golf from Olympics at the earliest. It is a class driven game that occupies and vandalizes green space which should be converted into parks or biodiversity zones. Clearly mediocre entitled Indians will see themselves as golfers hence sportsperson which would be tragic. Tragedy of trumpian scale. 

Neeraj Chopra is a high caliber sportsperson. Hopefully he is promoted to Captain with gallantry medal at the earliest. It should have been done instantly. He has done country proud with his achievement which is equivalent to a soldier in any action. The state is seen wanting in appreciating. It is not only about money or land plot at 50% reduction (?!!). Now the stampede by manipulators is going to be on how to use him to multiply money as also control narration. It will show his character. Hopefully his training in Army saves him from these opportunistic undertakers.  Other sportspersons too have struggled (not much into boxing or wrestling, don’t really like it, quite violent/crude for my liking) from impoverished background and neglect. And when it comes to primitive societies like India you can be very sure that they did struggle in the worst possible ways, and will go back to their miserable lives if they fail (picture here of silver medalist Mirabai Chanu). It’s a life of desperation, and to hold body and mind intact to the arduous demands of sports in bleak surrounding is an achievement in itself. A mediocre society with freeloading garbage at the top has severely degraded the society. They created their own definitions of competence to elevate themselves hence inability to speak English or the right accent may be seen as wanting. I think its about time that these bullshit in the form of humans occupying prominent positions are kicked out as also their nurturers. Speaking nice liberal sounding words may impress lowest denominator diversity searching patronizing angstful western fattened fluffs but its hollow. Its not too long back that Aiyer crap (with all the gandhian ruse intact) was the sports minister while blessed officials went to international sports meet with sportspersons as helpers. Castetva degraded society is now in the hands of Hindutva. Let’s keep our fingers firmly crossed.    

Untangling 

Have you ever stumbled upon a scene

Where a feel you been before

It's not the same but you can see the outline

Filling in the details

Retrofitted from distant past

Or is it improvised future

You wipe the moist from the glasses

And the day is brighter

Street shinier 

Faint salty smell of sea crisscross the tables

Arrange the flowers in the vase

And settle on the easy chair

To introduce yourself

From the day you choose

 

 

 

 

Story of your life

 

Ted Chiang’s "Story of your life" is arguably one of the best short stories I have read. I read it sometime back and even saw the movie “Arrival” -adapted from this story. The movie though is interesting doesn’t really match the nuance of the writing, then of course there is limitation of medium. Good Hollywood movie is certainly a notch up, and this languorously developing movie is definitely at the top. The other day I read the story again. This is one story that stays with you for long time and influences your thinking.  Chiang has heightened sensibilities as also the awareness on wide range of field of inquiry from mathematics to linguistic to philosophy. Control over language and expression that exudes humanity and deep love while tries to understand the alien thoughts in the process creating a new way of thinking that further asserts humanity in an entirely refreshing way. Amor fati. Savor these lines that leaves you fascinated and rivetted 

“Humans had developed a sequential mode of awareness, while heptapods had developed a simultaneous mode of awareness. We experienced events in an order, and perceived their relationship as cause and effect. They experienced all events at once, and perceived a purpose underlying them all. A minimizing, maximizing purpose”.     

Human language is bound and limited by time and its sequential order. While the experience of wholeness of life in a moment transcends time. So the question here is: Is the language limiting the human experience or is it -accumulation of experience through time, enriching it by a new way of seeing the world? 

“For the heptapods, all language was performative. Instead of using language to inform, they used language to actualize. Sure, heptapods already knew what would be said in any conversation; but in order for their knowledge to be true, the conversation would have to take place” 

Ted Chiang’s "Story of your life" is strongly recommended. Read it, and then maybe you could watch the movie -it's a commendable attempt (short listed for Oscars). Stories like these needs long space of rumination and vast silence. It is a tremendous effort. Such a brilliant writer.   

 

 Indispensable grace

 Will life just let itself shrink into a dot

 And vanish?

Billions of years of misses and chances sophisticate atoms into life 

Wither away? 

 Will matter’s experiment with consciousness lost forever?

Or is the harmonious dance of fundamental forces gauging the discord?

Is the cosmos sensing the loss?

Will the healing begin?

For random atoms to align elements

To set the story of life

Peg the milestones

That led to human

And back

There is something preciously compelling about herds that only herd controllers can understand

Breakthrough research and vaccine

 

I have taken both my doses of vaccine, the first dose was fairly easy to get since those were pre-second wave period and people arrogantly assumed -suitably egged on by politicians, that blessing will save their uniquely entitled life, the health centre was sparse, while for the second dose I really had to struggle as the online registration was mostly non available and finally managed to get one opening after much effort about 20kms from home. It is amazing the speed by which they developed these lifesaving vaccines. I had read about vaccines but the other day I read it in much detail and truly stupefied by the effort and intelligence of people involved. The picture here is of Katalin Kariko -the Hungarian American, who realised the potential of m-RNA (messenger RNA) as early as in 1989. She was ridiculed, demoted (why would people do such a thing?) and defunded. She though persisted, and with another researcher Drew Weismann, made breakthrough finding through modified RNA (incidentally Moderna stands for modified RNA) but again they were ignored. It is only recently that their research on mRNA has been recognised as it sped up the vaccine research. Within few months of genetic sequencing of virus, the vaccine was ready. It is an unprecedented achievement.

It is therefore important to spend some time to understand the basics of their work that is indeed saving millions of lives as also has potential to save more. The conventional vaccine works by exposing human body to virus in a benign way. These could be by breaking viruses into pieces or by killing or inactivating the virus. Using mRNA is entirely new way of vaccine research. They introduce mRNA into the body and turn recipients own cells into drug manufacturing factory. So, the body becomes reservoir of protein that resist the virus. This is easier said that done. The DNA (that we studied in school) carries the code of life, the genetic makeup. There are 3billion letters that make up human genetic code which are segmented into genes. The DNA though are quite passive and are dependent on mRNA as intermediary to deliver genetic instruction (hence messenger RNA) to make protein that makes cellular actions possible. These proteins are what makes life possible. Vaccine uses these mRNA to produce protein (in case of covid19 spiked variety). But again, this is quite difficult to achieve. Any outside nucleic acid (mRNA used by vaccine) triggers body’s immune system activating antiviral pathways. If you recall from your school biology the DNA consist of four base ATCG that stands for Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine. The RNA has an extra base U that is Uracil. Uridine, that composes of uracil, is what they modified to make the outside mRNA acceptable. There are immense possibilities of this therapeutic use of mRNA ranging from cancer to fibrosis and so on. Like CRISPR Cas9 that is contributing to precision medicine (as also exciting possibility of reviving recent extinct species like Mammoth or passenger pigeon through breakthrough CRISPR gene drive) modified RNA present absolutely spectacular possibilities. We are indebted to these researchers and their amazing level of dedication and uncommon intelligence.  

Tottering at the edge of chaos

Tottering at the edge of chaos

It looks like a misshaped beetle

Or conceived as mandalas or probably a meditating mendicant

Mandelbrot set is a totem of pattern

Building from the wild on the edge of chaos

Pushing the limits of random into template of life

Trees reach out to clouds

The eyes, the leaves, tentacles, brain, milkyway, universe…

All connect in deep primordial unconscious of churning patterns.

Undulating color cycling in and out without any movement

Magnifies forever in more psychedelic detail

Ricochets at Planck’s length to infinite space and back

Knitting coordinates that is the beginning of matter and space 

Seed of self-reference describing physical world

Iterating between self and the whole

A system in a system, in a system

One string taut change the tune of creation.

Deterministic in intend not in practice

Body the container, mind the free will

Explore infinite in finite

God play dice or dice play the god

Simple instructions set the code in the yolk

Tether the caterpillar to unravel

Smudges of pale rust and purple on Malabar flash.

 

               

The prime number

Valiant warriors defending division

building block by block from the unknown

into a strand

as infinite as time itself

unpredictable, fiercely free

no rules or theories hold them to order

scattered like vultures in thermals

floating, appearing and disappearing

whenever wherever it fancy

sometimes as twin primes

like exclamations of absences 

on the transmission line

stretching into desert

sparse and harsh

as if a mirage    

After reading The Housekeeper And The Professor (some words taken from the book, not mine).

 (Yoko Ogawa’s English translation of Japanese book “The Housekeeper And The Professor” is highly recommended. Sensitive writing with brilliant translation by Stephen Snyder. Check these lines: "In my imagination, I saw the creator of the universe sitting in some distant corner of the sky, weaving pattern of delicate lace so fine that even the faintest light would shown through it. The lace stretches out infinitely in every direction, billowing gently in the cosmic breeze. You want disparately to touch it, hold it up to the light, rub it against your cheek. And all we ask is to be able to re-create the pattern, weave it again with numbers, somehow, in our own language; to make even the tiniest fragment our own, to bring it back to earth". Her concern in most of her writing is about fragilities of memories. “The Memory Police” is next one on my reading list)  

 

The kingfisher

Those who can see it

Will see it

Those who cannot

Will not.

The miracle in every place

The trees, birds, the bees

The sun, moon, the river.

All wait.

The moment the kingfisher

Catch the glint of sunlight

On fish’s fin.

False binaries and cost on humanity

 Israel Palestine conflict, or what is generally referred to as Middle East problem, flares up quite regularly with huge human casualties and misery particularly on Palestine side as also unintended victims like a nurse from Kerala (a small state in India where this blogger is based) who died in the crossfire yesterday. It’s again the gift of West on other part of the world. This conflict is so much discussed and analyzed threadbare that it is futile to go into it as also expect any solution when you are aware of valiant attempts by astute leaders over the decades have failed. It’s a viciously divided region and the crack spread all across the world because of its connection with controlling systems. It’s like staring into an abyss. The world is again in an impasse while many important issues like pandemic or climate catastrophes are pushed into background that the humanity can ill afford.  

This issue though has its beginning in early 20^th century is rooted in systems dating back to centuries. It’s an affront on enlightened souls and evolved thoughts that helped in progress of humanity to where we are now -and intend to progress further in the exciting possibilities of future, if the same staid tools and primitive mindsets are applied to approach this pernicious problem that is becoming gangrene on humanity. It clearly needs a fresh approach, a new perspective, which reflects evolution of human societies in 21^st century. If the societies don’t evolve with the minds that created these wonders of contemporary world then the technologies become dangerous and ideas become lethal weapons. Ofcourse there will be primitives but these must be relegated into the sidelines, that is, reduced to insignificant minorities, and cannot control the mainstream discourse. Humanity cannot evolve if it is stuck with primitive systems that control humans and degrade them into herds. The primacy of herd is the root cause of most problems across the world. It must be recognized that the system is the cause of the misery. Herds are just cogs paying the price. Religion the fantastical notion that was meant to sooth humans has become anachronistic nuisance with perilous consequences.

The region of Middle East is where the three prominent systems –religions, intersect. The events here have such cataclysmic impact across the world because of the number of herds associated with these influential systems and their respective orchestrated reactions. It’s the game of dominance of systems wherein herds are the pawns and humanity is the casualty. If ever any meaningful intervention is proposed then it must necessarily be to negate the system and extricate the humans. The moment humans are free they will realize the futility of fighting, meaninglessness of occupying piece of land and absurdity of defending structures of system –worship space. The problem is kept alive and accentuated by herd controllers whether its politicians or influencers of religions or media who don’t want to antagonize the herds as also seek to benefit. Jew have narration of being exterminated hence they defend to last blood while Islam works on as defender of its space. They pass narration to younger generations as the misery move from one generation to other producing generations of deeply flawed human beings. Meanwhile herds around the world choose the binary they want to associate with. The misery it spreads to human beings is least of their concern. They are seen as martyrs for the system. The narration has passed beyond absurdity and has become an embarrassment for the contemporary world we live in if it not for the deaths and mayhem. We must deconstruct the systems and walls of protection it has built at the expense of human beings. We must encourage anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and all phobias against all religions and systems that seek to degrade and dehumanize. We are not living in 1940s. Religions fighting with each other are false binaries. There are no sides to be taken when herds fight. You can only pity at the depth of depravity. 

The world has evolved. Our understanding of the world, the access and the capacity to influence makes 1940s distant memories –fatal flaws of the past need to be understood, analyzed and surely not re-lived. Individuals need to use their faculties and possibilities to understand the potential of the world they live in. They must understand their unique context and connect to the world. They must critically scrutinize and question that which prevents these understandings. Societies must evolve and nurture values, spaces and narrations that prevent systems that seek to dehumanize and segregate. Anachronistic nuisance like religions needs to be critically analyzed and ridiculed. You must tolerate being ridiculed for putting faith on fantastical fiction. You must be pitied for your lack of common sense and inability to use your sensibilities to scrutinize world. Private personal spiritual earnings that reassert being human and unique member of humanity is how narration can be build. From this space collective association will naturally attain its possibilities. The challenges facing humanity needs free humans, free thinking minds and empathy driven world. Dehumanizing systems are not only a threat to humanity but to the very world we live in.       

WTO NEEDS TO ACT IMMEDIATELY

Now that the powerful nation like US has taken the initiative to waive the patent on vaccines its incumbent on multilateral arbitrator like WTO to ratify at the earliest without wasting even a single day. People are dying every minute all across the world while the situation is dire in India. It will be criminal negligence that these are delayed further. Already so much time is wasted, and if you recall this blogger had republished a letter by concerned group calling on the WTO to waive the patent. That was 21days back (504 hours back) since then hundreds and thousands of people have died and many are in serious conditions. Also, as the virus spreads its mutation rate will increase and chance of dangerous variants too will increase which may make the vaccine ineffective. So time is of much importance. There is too much at stake. PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY

Yes millions of dollars and skilled time was spent on research for the vaccine. It is but natural that these must be compensated. Also considering that most nations did not even invest adequately on crucial health infrastructure and were generally lackadaisical and incompetent, and so to now ask for help for sake of humanity is rather hypocritical. But these are extraordinary times and precedence set by multilateral cooperation in vaccine manufacturing must be consolidated further to fight the virus. Distinction of geography should not matter when the threat is on humanity. This template needs to be nurtured as the future threats needs multilateral cooperation and sharing of information. It is unfortunate that UN is not really living up to its role at this crucial juncture. 

I am reminded of Jonas Salk who developed the much anticipated polio vaccine in 1955 after years of dedicated research and chose to not patent the vaccine or seek any profit from it in order to maximize its global distribution. When asked "Who owns this patent?” He replied, "Well, the people I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?" Salk was an amazing human being and its about time to invoke his value system to fight the pandemic.   

Meanwhile people die

Meanwhile people die

They die

And they die

They die waiting

in the queue, 

at the gates of hospital, in the autos, in ambulances, 

On the cart, in the arms. 

Next they are stacked to be cremated 

It is difficult to tell from the smoke through the crematorium chimney 

Where the mother ends and brother begins 

Or whether it is the son or grandmother 

That is the problem with the smoke 

It doesn’t tell 

It keeps its secret 

But sometimes a swirl of breeze 

Conjure a shape 

Wisp a tug

Attempts a final farewell

Collapsing medical infrastructure

 

What we are seeing is horrifying reality of real time collapse of medical infrastructure in India. International community needs to intervene. WHO please take note. This is building up to a human tragedy of colossal scale that humanity has not seen for a long time. Most market media, as is the affliction, is concentrating on big cities where ‘people like us’ are suffering, it is quite likely a calamity of much bigger scale is unfolding in hellholes of small villages where discrimination and exploitation are rampant and systemic, where health centers are non existent. Life in India is series of tragedy for most Indians which are orchestrated by cunning arbitrators. Willful neglect of what was crucial for common people i.e. public health infrastructure is defining characteristic of this society. It is a society that lack compassion or care but position itself as moral authority with assortment of deeply disturbing nonviolence posturing and cannibalistic vegetarianism that impresses west. It’s about manipulating narration.

You cannot manipulate for too long nor recruit charlatans as PR agency, and when reality strikes it has to be dealt. Check few oft repeated data to again show how desperate the neglect is. India ranks 184 out of 191 countries in public spending on health. Despite the fact that almost 70% of India’s population lives on less than $2 a day, the country continues to have one of the highest out of pocket expenditures on health. It is estimated that 62.4% of the total current health expenditure is paid for by the patients themselves and the government only contributes 16.7%. It’s a vicious cycle that most Indians are trapped in. What we are seeing now is an accumulation of neglect of last many decades. Castetva forces put the framework and consolidated this at the expense of lives of common people as they viciously milked aspirations into personal gains. Hindutva only accentuated the misery with its own unique depravities (but yes health insurance for 12R/annum through bank accounts was commendable initiative).

The effort was always to provide template to accentuate blessing while cunningly working the narration of spiritual nation of satisfied people (who seems to have found some eternal connection that west will never comprehend. Western fluffs meanwhile dropped in to take pictures of smiling impoverished Indians for their amusement). Effort was rarely to solve the problem or be genuinely interested in finding solution, to sincerely work to develop infrastructure for human development. Fate therefore became the significant reference for common people. Take for instance how Castetva deviously encouraged culture of statue building (as an extension of valued attribute of sycophancy modified from squatter sanctum references) on street corners to consolidate their ideology in public space. This was replicated by new entrants (like say mayawati or Dravidian parties in TN), and then taken to next level by Hindutva. One cannot blame hindutva it had to establish its narration onto common people into public space. This is just another example of how castetva worked to create framework to undermine and degrade the democratic institutions. How scarce resources were being used to capture mindspace of common people and firmly push them into snarling herds. Meanwhile lacking any understanding of responsibility –expressed through competence, the society slipped into worst of references producing mediocre outputs and embarrassing attempts.

Crony capitalism produced its billionaires. As much as statues are vulgarities in public space antila -the home of richest indian, is the consolidation of collective crassness that castetva nurtured that has now possessed hindutva and is an aspiration for valueless populace. They also degraded media by nurturing nepotistic association through awards and perks. All these righteous barking by some section of media is the same that were given awards and perks by castetva, the same template now hindutva spreads –thus we have competing barking. Meanwhile an important institution of democracy stands degraded capitulated to power and market adding to the misery of common people. The same is true for art too –the one that is supposed to add richness of experience to society. Awards are being manipulated for decades. Mediocres with limited talents use power, perks and awards to consolidate their brand hence this constant haggling. What was supposed to be austere wise space like RajyaSabha (house of elders) has been ransacked by ruffians of all shape and size. Sometime back I wasted my time focusing on a disgust who posed as lyricist celebrity/ZK. Now this fellow, even as an elderly man (imagine the crassness), decides to spent time on trash talking TV feeding on vulnerable youngsters. With all opportunities one has this is how these people decide to spent their time. What kind of people are these? These crude were nurtured by Castetva (specifically because of muslim name), now Hindutva has its choice. It’s a fake binary. A waste of time. In these counter posturings of those salivating for power majority of the people across this huge land are neglected. It is but natural that they didn't have the time nor the inclination to create a robust health infrastructure nor enlightened framework for quality education. The intention was to showcase blessing, and lessons on fate. They worked their deceit by firmly controlling and manipulating narration, and that seems to be the expertise. This is the foundation of this society. It has failed miserably.              

This society failed to even invest in what was basic for survival. They thought they can handle reality by illusions of grandeur embellished by sickening sanskrit quotes of plagiarized ideas, by manipulating narration and doing some PR work (with huge population and exploitable resources corporate conglomerates have dropped money for powerful marketeers as influential mercenaries, the fixers). A society that doesn’t even understand what community means is incapable to face reality. Democracy adds to chapter of deceit. Trapped in a depraved society common people can only curse their fate and pray more fervently, and that is precisely how it is scripted. Pity.                    

 13th April 2021 

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Director General World Trade Organization 

cc. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Director General World Health Organization cc. Members of the WTO 

Dear Dr. Ngozi, 

We congratulate you on your election as the Director General of the World Trade Organization. Civil society organizations signed on to this letter are encouraged that you would like to contribute to addressing the global challenges of inadequate supply and inequitable access to COVID-19 medical products, especially vaccines. However, we would also like to express our concern over the emphasis on industry-controlled bilateral agreements as the primary approach to addressing global production constraints and supply shortages. We note that some WTO Members have submitted WT/GC/230i . While the objective of this proposal may be well-intended, the proposed approach is also mainly centred on bilateral agreements controlled by corporate rightsholders. The same strategy has already been used by the pharmaceutical industry for the past year, including the oft-cited Oxford/AstraZeneca agreement with the Serum Institute of India. There is considerable experience on the constraints such agreements put on local production and equitable worldwide access to life-saving pharmaceuticals. Bilateral agreements that have been signed to date contain restrictive terms and conditions that reinforce vertical control of technology-holding companies, artificially limit production and supply to constrain global supply options and are mostly un-transparent with governments and the public learning about the limits imposed post-facto, if ever. For instance, Astra Zeneca almost entirely relies on one manufacturer in India, which it has licensed, for the supply of its vaccine to low and middle income countries including the COVAX Facility, and consequently billions of people are now primarily dependent upon the vaccine supplies from one company in India. 

Most of the existing bilateral agreements to produce COVID-19 vaccines are contract manufacturing agreements through which the contracted entity manufactures on behalf of a licensor that maintains full control over the use of its technology, the volume of production and where and at what prices vaccines may be supplied. Although contractors may help ease some production pressure in the short term, the model cannot guarantee sustainability because contractors have no legal rights to independently produce and supply the concerned technologies worldwide. We have also observed from publicly available information that in some agreements the technology holder maintains control over the vaccine component and prevents the licensee from manufacturing the vaccine component, hence creating dependency on the technology holder for the supply of the vaccine component, while others contain territorial restrictions . 

These agreements also depend on the “willingness” of the technology holder to license at all and as such are failing to mobilise global manufacturing capacity and diversifying supply options, on transparent terms that prioritize boosting global supply of the vaccine components and the final product. For instance, Moderna and Pfizer have yet to enter into license agreements with developing country manufacturers allowing for technology transfer and manufacture to supply developing countries. We recall that early on in the pandemic the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the COVID19-Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) initiative calling on pharmaceutical companies to commit to transparent non-exclusive global voluntary licensing. However, this initiative has been rejected by the global biopharmaceutical companies. The voluntary bilateral contracting approach is the preferred choice of pharmaceutical corporations holding the technology for it allows them to control production and supply to markets, which they consider lucrative for their future profits. An example of this expectation of future profits is Pfizer‘s stated intention to shift some production to manufacturing booster doses for rich countries even while some low and middle income countries have not had an initial vaccine and to raise its vaccine price to an estimate $150-175 per dose in what it considers the post-acute-pandemic phase.

 We understand your recent call, alongside other proposals, for a “Third Way” that entails once again appealing to pharmaceutical corporations to take voluntary actions. As elaborated above, we sincerely raise your attention to the inherent limitations of being dependent on corporations' voluntary measures that have been proven to be insufficient in this pandemic. The world is in a state of a global health emergency, where societies, economies, and livelihoods worldwide are in a dire situation. And most pharmaceutical companies have benefitted from large amount of public funds invested in R&D, trials and spent on procurement, with little to no accountability and conditions attached to guarantee access. For instance, Pfizer and Moderna are expecting vaccine revenue of between $15-30 billion in 2021.vii It is time to realize governments' core and collective responsibility to collaborate and address monopolies on technologies concretely. 

We believe that the way forward should be to remove barriers towards the development, production and approval of vaccines, therapeutics and other medical technologies necessary for the prevention, containment and treatment of the COVID-19 pandemic, so that more manufacturers, especially from developing countries, may independently contribute to the global supply. Global supply should not be dependent on the purely commercial prerogatives and exclusive rights of pharmaceutical companies holding the technology. There is simply too much at stake. In the context of WTO, temporarily waiving relevant intellectual property rules that reinforce monopolies, is an important contribution that the WTO as a rule-based multilateral institution can make on this matter in the pandemic, alongside reaffirming and supporting the full use of existing public-health-safeguarding flexibilities of the TRIPs agreement. Voluntary licensing, if pursued, should treat vaccine as a global public good, be open and allow for transparent global non-exclusive licenses with worldwide coverage of supply, and left to the WHO that has established C-TAP for this purpose. 

We look forward to further engagement and discussions on this matter. 

Signatories (updated as at 14 April) Global 1. Amnesty International 2. AVAC 3. Casa Generalizia della Societa del Sacro Cuore 4. Congregation De Notre-Dame 5. Congregation of the Mission 6. Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) 7. EqualHealth Global Campaign Against Racism 8. Fondation Eboko 9. Health Alliance International 10. Health Action International 11. Health GAP 12. IndustriALL Global Union 13. International Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV and AIDS 14. International Presentation Association 15. International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) 16. LDC Watch 17. Médecins du Monde 18. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Access Campaign 19. Oxfam International 20. Passionists International 21. People's Vaccine Alliance 22. Reality of Aid Network 23. Regions Refocus 24. Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur 25. Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat, Society of Jesus 26. Social Watch 27. Society for international Development (SID) 28. Vaccine Advocacy Resource Group (VARG) 29. Yolse, Santé Publique et Innovation Regional 30. AIDS and Rights Alliance in Southern Africa (ARASA) 31. African Alliance 32. Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) 33. Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV (APN+) 34. Asian Indigenous Women's Network (AIWN) 35. Corporate Europe Observatory 36. Focus on the Global South 37. Health Action International Asia Pacific 38. International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPCru), (Eastern Europe & Central Asia) 39. International Treatment Preparedness Coalition Latin America and The Caribbean 40. International Treatment Preparedness Coalition ITPC-MENA, (Middle-East & North Africa) 41. Jesuitenmission Germany & Austria 42. Pacific Network on Globalisation 43. Project Organising Development Education and Research (PODER) 44. Red Latino Americana por el Acceso a Medicamentos (RedLAM) 45. South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication 46. Southern African Programme on Access to Medicines and Diagnostics 47. Third World Network-Africa (TWN-Africa) 48. Universities Allied for Essential Medicines Europe (UAEM) National 49. Access to Medicines Research Group, China 50. Acción Internacional para la Salud, Peru 51. Action against AIDS, Germany 52. ActionAid Australia 53. Active Citizens Movement, South Africa 54. Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN), Belgium 55. Africa Faith and Justice Network, United States 56. Africaine de Recherche et de Coopération pour l’Appui au Développement Endogène (ARCADE), Senegal 57. Africa Japan Forum, Japan 58. Aid/Watch, Australia 59. Alboan Fundazioa, Spain 60. All India Drug Action Network, India 61. American Friends Services Committee, United States 62. Asian Health Institute, Japan 63. Asociación por un Acceso Justo al Medicamento, Spain 64. Association for International Development and Research in Sustainability, Malaysia 65. Association For Promotion Sustainable Development, India 66. Association Marocain des Droits Humains, Morocco 67. Association of Concerned Africa Scholars (USA), United States 68. Association of legal entities Association of harm reduction "Partner network", Kyrgyzstan 69. ATTAC Hungary Association, Hungary 70. Auckland Peace Action, New Zealand 71. Australian Arts Trust / Music Trust, Australia 72. Australian Council for International Development, Australia 73. Australian Council of Trade Unions, Australia 74. Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network, Australia 75. Balance Promoción para el Desarrollo y Juventud AC, Mexico 76. Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for Development in Mindanaw, Inc., Philippines 77. Belgian Lung and Tuberculosis Association, Belgium 78. Belong Aotearoa (Formerly known as Auckland Regional Migrant Services Charitable Trust - ARMS), New Zealand 79. Both ENDS, The Netherlands 80. Brazilian Federation of Library Association and Institution – FEBAB, Brazil 81. Brazilian Interdisciplinary Aids Association, Brazil 82. Bread for the World, Germany 83. Building Inclusive Society Tanzania Organization (BISTO), Tanzania 84. BUKO Pharma-Kampagne, Germany 85. Campaign for Access to Medicines-India 86. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Canada 87. Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research, Canada 88. Canadian Jesuits International (CJI), Canada 89. Canadian Society for International Health, Canada 90. Cancer Alliance, South Africa, South Africa 91. Cancer Patients Aid Association, India 92. Center for Accountability and Inclusive Development (CAAID), Nigeria 93. Center for International Policy, United States 94. Center for Peace Education and Community Development, Nigeria 95. Centre Europe- Tiers Monde (CETIM), Switzerland 96. Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), South Africa 97. Charitable organization "100 Percent Life", Ukraine 98. Christian Education and Development Organization (CEDO), Tanzania 99. Citizens Trade Campaign, United States 100. Citizens' Health Initiative, Malaysia 101. Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS) Uganda 102. Coalition for Research and Action for Social Justice and Human Dignity, Finland 103. Coalition of Women Living with HIV and AIDS, Malawi 104. Coletivo Mangueiras, Brazil 105. Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach, United States 106. Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario MX, Mexico 107. Consumer Association the Quality of Life, Greece 108. Consumers' Association of Penang, Malaysia 109. Crisis Home, Malaysia 110. Delhi Network of Positive People, India 111. Diverse Women for Diversity, India 112. Drug Action Forum-Karnataka, India 113. Dua'a Qurie, Palestinian NGO Network, Palestine 114. Ecologistas en Acción, Spain 115. Equal Health and Medical Access on COVID-19 for All! Japan Network, Japan 116. Edmund Rice International, United States 117. Equidad de Género: Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia, Mexico 118. Fair World Project, United States 119. Fairwatch Italy, Italy 120. Federation of Democratic Labour Unions, Mauritius 121. Food Sovereignty Alliance, India 122. Fórum Nacional de Prevenção e Erradicação do Trabalho Infantil – FNPETI, Brazil 123. Foundation for Research in Science Technology and Ecology, India 124. Freshwater Action Network Mexico, Mexico 125. Fundación Arcoíris por el respeto a la diversidad sexual, Mexico 126. Fundación Entreculturas-Fe y Alegría España, Spain 127. Fundación Grupo Efecto Positivo, Argentina 128. Fundación IFARMA, Colombia 129. Fundación Mexicana para la Planeación Familiar, A. C. MEXFAM, Mexico 130. Fundación Salud por Derecho, Spain 131. Gandhi Development Trust, South Africa 132. Gestos (soropositividade, comunicação, gênero), Brazil 133. Global Health Advocates / Action Santé Mondiale, France 134. Global Humanitarian Progress Corporation, Colombia 135. Global Justice Now, United Kingdom 136. Grandmothers Advocacy Network, Canada 137. Green Without Borders, Kenya 138. Groupe d'Action, de Paix et de Formation pour la Transformation (GAPAFOT), Central African Republic 139. Grupo de Incentivo à Vida (GIV), Brazil 140. Handelskampanjen, Norway 141. Health Justice Initiative, South Africa 142. Health Equity Initiatives, Malaysia 143. HIV Legal Network, Canada 144. Human Rights Research Documentation Center (HURIC), Uganda 145. Ignation Solidarity Network, United States 146. Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), India 147. Indonesia AIDS Coalition, Indonesia 148. Indonesia for Global Justice, Indonesia 149. Initiative for Health & Equity in Society, India 150. Instituto Cidades Sustentaveis, Brazil 151. International Treatment Preparedness Coalition-South Asia, India 152. International Women's Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific), Malaysia 153. IT for Change, India 154. It's Our Future, New Zealand 155. Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) Rajasthan/Prayas, India 156. Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar, Kenya 157. Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa, Kenya 158. Jesuit Missions, United Kingdom 159. Just Treatment, United Kingdom 160. Justice is Global, United States 161. Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS, Kenya 162. Knowledge Commune, Republic of Korea 163. Korean Pharmacists for Democratic Society, Republic of Korea 164. Lawyers Collective, India 165. Life Concern, Malawi 166. Little Sisters of the Assumption, United States 167. Madhyam, India 168. Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC), Malaysia 169. Maritime Union of Australia Victoria Branch, Australia 170. Mauritius Trade Union Congress, Mauritius 171. Médecins sans Frontière, Japan 172. Medical Action Group, Philippines 173. Medical Mission Institute Würzburg, Germany 174. Medico International, Germany 175. Médicos sin marca Colombia, Colombia 176. Migration and Sustainable Development Alliance, Mauritius 177. Milwaukee Fair Trade Coalition, United States 178. MISEREOR Germany, Germany 179. Missionary Society of St Columban, Australia 180. MY World Mexico, Mexico 181. National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal, Nepal 182. Nelson Mandela TB HIV Community Information and Resource Center CBO Kisumu Kenya 183. NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, United States 184. New South Wales Retired Teachers' Association, Australia 185. New Zealand Alternative, New Zealand 186. NGO Federation of Nepal, Nepal 187. Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association, Nigeria 188. Observatoire de la transparence dans les politiques du médicament, France 189. ONG Positive Initiative, Republic of Moldova 190. Oxfam New Zealand, New Zealand 191. Pacific Asia Resource Center (PARC), Japan 192. Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Pakistan 193. Passionist Center-Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, Inc., Philippines 194. People PLUS, Belarus 195. People's Health Forum, Malaysia 196. People's Health Movement Canada, Canada 197. People's Health Movement (PHM) - Japan Circle, Japan 198. People's Health Movement Nepal, Nepal 199. People's Health Movement Uganda (PHMUGA), Uganda 200. People's Health Movement South Africa, South Africa 201. Pertubuhan Kebajikan Intan Zon Kehidupan, Malaysia 202. Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Philippines 203. Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PhilRights), Philippines 204. Phoenix Settlement Trust, South Africa 205. Positive Malaysian Treatment Access & Advocacy Group (MTAAG+), Malaysia 206. Public Citizen, United States 207. Public Eye, Switzerland 208. Public Health Association of Australia, Australia 209. Public Health Research Society Nepal, Nepal 210. Red Argentina de Personas Positivas (Redar Positiva), Argentina 211. Red de Acceso a Medicamentos, Guatemala 212. Réseau québécois sur l'intégration continentale (RQIC), Canada, Quebec 213. Rural infrastructure and human resources development organisations, Kpk, Pakistan 214. Salesian Missions, Inc. United States 215. Salud y Farmacos, United States 216. Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust, India 217. Save the Children South Africa 218. SEATINI-Uganda 219. SECTION27, South Africa 220. Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), Philippines 221. SHARE, Japan 222. Sisters of Charity Federation, United States 223. Social Development Through Community Action (SODECA), Kenya 224. Social Watch Philippines-Alternative Budget Initiative Health Cluster, Philippines 225. Southern and East African Trade and Negotiations Institute - South Africa 226. Southern African Programme on Access to Medicines and Diagnostics (SAPAM), South Africa 227. Students for Global Health, United Kingdom 228. SWP-ABI Health Cluster, Philippines 229. Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education), Philippines 230. Terra Nuova, Italy 231. Third World Network, Malaysia 232. Trade Collective, South Africa 233. Trade Justice Network- Canada 234. Trade Justice PEI, Canada 235. Trade Justice Pilipinas, Philippines 236. Trade Justice Prince Edward Island, Canada 237. Transnational Institute, The Netherlands 238. Treatment Action Group, United States 239. UDK Consultancy, Malawi 240. UNANIMA International, United States 241. UnionsWA, Australia 242. Universities Allied for Essential Medicines UK, United Kingdom 243. War on Want, United Kingdom 244. Washington Biotechnology Action Council, United States 245. Watch Democracy Grow, United States 246. Women's Coalition Against Cancer – WOCACA, Malawi 247. WomanHealth Philippines 248. Women’s Probono Initiative, Uganda 249. Youth and Small Holder Farmers, Nigeria 250. Zimbabwe National Network of PLHIV (ZNNP+), Zimbabwe