Friday, October 30, 2009
comment on GEAC nod for the commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal
A farmer from Tamilnadu, Mr.Ravichandran, shared his experience with Bt cotton cultivation. You can make your valuable comments and opinions here and can lead an online discussion. For more details click here.....
Monday, October 26, 2009
India steps up climate change efforts
As international climate negotiations progress this week in Bangkok, Thailand, India has shown signs of more proactive engagement on climate change issues both internationally and at home. click here....
Fossil Fuel Production Up Despite Recession
World production of fossil fuels-oil, coal, and natural gas-increased 2.9 percent in 2008 to reach 27.4 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) per day. click here.....
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Like a big sponge, moon absorbs charged particles to produce water
New data from Chandrayaan-1 has revealed how the moon “produces its own water.” Much like a big sponge, it absorbs charged particles emitted by the sun, which then interact with oxygen on the lunar surface to produce water.A scientific instrument on Chandrayaan-1 — the Sub keV Atom Reflecting Analyser or SARA — made this discovery that was published in the latest edition of the Planetary and Space Science journal. According to European Space Agency (ESA) scientists, hydrogen nuclei from solar winds are absorbed by the lunar regolith (a loose collection of irregular dust grains making up the moon’s surface). An interaction between the hydrogen nuclei and oxygen present in the dust grains are expected to produce hydroxyls and water. SARA, developed by the ESA and the Indian Space Research Organisation, was designed to study the moon’s surface composition and solar wind-surface interactions. Recently, another instrument on the Indian spacecraft, the Moon Mineralogy Mapper — an imaging spectrometer developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration — first found water molecules on the lunar surface.
SARA’s results also highlight a mystery: not every hydrogen nucleus is absorbed. One out of every five rebounds into space, combining to form an atom of hydrogen. “We didn’t expect to see this at all,” said Stas Barabash of the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, who is the European Principal Investigator for SARA.Hydrogen shoots off at speeds of around 200 km per second and escapes without being deflected by the moon’s weak gravity, the team found.This knowledge provides timely advice for scientists who are readying ESA’s BepiColombo mission to mercury. The spacecraft will carry two instruments similar to SARA and may find that the innermost planet is reflecting more hydrogen than the moon because the solar wind is more concentrated closer to the sun.
The Hindu, 17th October 2009
SARA’s results also highlight a mystery: not every hydrogen nucleus is absorbed. One out of every five rebounds into space, combining to form an atom of hydrogen. “We didn’t expect to see this at all,” said Stas Barabash of the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, who is the European Principal Investigator for SARA.Hydrogen shoots off at speeds of around 200 km per second and escapes without being deflected by the moon’s weak gravity, the team found.This knowledge provides timely advice for scientists who are readying ESA’s BepiColombo mission to mercury. The spacecraft will carry two instruments similar to SARA and may find that the innermost planet is reflecting more hydrogen than the moon because the solar wind is more concentrated closer to the sun.
The Hindu, 17th October 2009
One billion people go hungry, says U.N. report
Parents in some of Africa’s poorest countries are cutting back on school, clothes and basic medical care just to give their children a meal once a day, experts say. Still, it is not enough.A record one billion people worldwide are hungry and a new report says the number will increase if governments do not spend more on agriculture. According to the U.N. food agency, which issued the report on World Food Day on Wednesday, 30 countries now require emergency aid, including 20 in Africa.The trend continues despite a goal set by world leaders nine years ago to cut the number of hungry people in half by 2015.“It’s actually a world emergency that calls for action from both developing and developed countries,” said Otive Igbuzor, the head of international campaigns for ActionAid International.
“We know a child dies every six seconds of malnutrition,” he said.Spiralling food prices have added to hardships, especially in the world’s most desperate countries where the poor could barely afford a single daily meal to begin with. The inflated prices — which caused riots across the globe last year — have stabilised but remain comparatively high, especially in the developing world, Jacques Diouf, director-general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation, told AP Television News.In Somalia, ravaged by violence and anarchy for almost two decades, the monthly expenditure for food and other basic needs for a family of six has risen 85 per cent in the past two years, said Grainne Moloney of the Somalia Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit.The world’s most populous region, Asia and the Pacific, has the largest number of hungry people — 642 million — followed by Sub-Saharan Africa with 265 million people. — AP
The Hindu, 17th October 2009
“We know a child dies every six seconds of malnutrition,” he said.Spiralling food prices have added to hardships, especially in the world’s most desperate countries where the poor could barely afford a single daily meal to begin with. The inflated prices — which caused riots across the globe last year — have stabilised but remain comparatively high, especially in the developing world, Jacques Diouf, director-general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation, told AP Television News.In Somalia, ravaged by violence and anarchy for almost two decades, the monthly expenditure for food and other basic needs for a family of six has risen 85 per cent in the past two years, said Grainne Moloney of the Somalia Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit.The world’s most populous region, Asia and the Pacific, has the largest number of hungry people — 642 million — followed by Sub-Saharan Africa with 265 million people. — AP
The Hindu, 17th October 2009
Wildlife offenders spreading the net in Ernakulam district
After attempting to trap barn owls, star turtles and sand boas, some are after the slender loris, a nocturnal animal.Two men were arrested here last week for attempting to sell a pair of slender loris. The animal, which is found mostly in South India and Sri Lanka, has been classified as an endangered one. The loris has also been protected by including it in the Sch edule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Act, according to Wildlife authorities.The authorities had also raided the clinic of a local Ayurveda practitioner at Pattimattom following information that the animals were being trapped for his use.
The animal, which has been kept at the Animal Rescue Centre, Kodanad, died the other day at the centre.“The exact reason for the death could be ascertained only after obtaining the post-mortem report. The animal might have failed to accustom itself to the new habitat,” said P. Biju, Forest Range Officer, Kodanad. While the authorities nabbed those involved in the slender loris case, they could not claim much success regarding the sale of dolphin meat near Vypeen.Though the authorities received reports that dolphin meat was being sold at a market near Vypeen, they could not seize the meat samples or track the offenders.Dolphins are also included in Schedule 1 of the Act and even the possession of its meat will land one in trouble. The Wildlife authorities had earlier organised an awareness campaign in the State following reports of the animals being killed and sold for meat.
Awareness driveMarine researchers are of the view that there is no targeted fishing for the species in the Kerala waters. There are instances of the animals being netted accidentally and there is the possibility of fishermen selling them in the market without realising the risk involved, researchers said.
The Wildlife authorities are planning to undertake an awareness programme in the coastal belt of the district for sensitising the people, especially fishermen, to the need for protecting the species, Mr. Biju said.Meanwhile, the authorities took into custody a barn owl that was spotted in a city hotel. The bird was later brought to the Rescue Centre. The Forest Department had recently carried out a campaign against the smuggling of owls too.
The Hindu, 17th October 2009
The animal, which has been kept at the Animal Rescue Centre, Kodanad, died the other day at the centre.“The exact reason for the death could be ascertained only after obtaining the post-mortem report. The animal might have failed to accustom itself to the new habitat,” said P. Biju, Forest Range Officer, Kodanad. While the authorities nabbed those involved in the slender loris case, they could not claim much success regarding the sale of dolphin meat near Vypeen.Though the authorities received reports that dolphin meat was being sold at a market near Vypeen, they could not seize the meat samples or track the offenders.Dolphins are also included in Schedule 1 of the Act and even the possession of its meat will land one in trouble. The Wildlife authorities had earlier organised an awareness campaign in the State following reports of the animals being killed and sold for meat.
Awareness driveMarine researchers are of the view that there is no targeted fishing for the species in the Kerala waters. There are instances of the animals being netted accidentally and there is the possibility of fishermen selling them in the market without realising the risk involved, researchers said.
The Wildlife authorities are planning to undertake an awareness programme in the coastal belt of the district for sensitising the people, especially fishermen, to the need for protecting the species, Mr. Biju said.Meanwhile, the authorities took into custody a barn owl that was spotted in a city hotel. The bird was later brought to the Rescue Centre. The Forest Department had recently carried out a campaign against the smuggling of owls too.
The Hindu, 17th October 2009
Breast cancer rate on the rise in young women
The annual risk of women developing breast cancer has been going up in the State steadily since early 90s and unfortunately, it is the women in the younger age group — less than 35 years — who seem to be the most susceptible.The number of new patients who registered for breast cancer treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre here in 2008 was 1,600. In 2007, this figure was 1,200. And shockingly, about 20 per cent of these cases were women who were below 35 years.The annual incidence rate of breast cancer in Kerala is 31 per one lakh population, which is on par with the national average.The International Breast Cancer Awareness day is observed on October 18. Oncologists have one message to convey to women — regular self examination of the breasts is one of the most simple and effective methods for the early detection of breast cancer, which is completely curable if picked up early. Regular self examination and screening tests like mammography is something that women in the 30 plus group should necessarily adopt, for facilitating early detection and treatment of breast cancer.
Even though the awareness about the importance of self examination for the early detection of breast cancer has gone up, doctors at the RCC seldom saw patients in the early stages, Beela Mathew, Additional Professor of Radiation Oncology at RCC, said.The RCC is observing October as ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month,’ and a special screening clinic for women above 30 will function here for the whole month.The clinic has screened about 200 women so far and two cases of breast cancer were newly detected, Dr. Mathew said.The RCC plans to make the breast cancer screening clinic a regular feature, depending on the demand for screening.According to a study report by the World Cancer Research Fund and American Cancer Research Institute released in 2007, there is enough evidence to believe that body fat plays a crucial role in the development of breast cancer.The report suggested that maintaining a healthy weight and breast feeding at least up to six months are protective against breast cancer.
The Hindu, 17th October 2009
Even though the awareness about the importance of self examination for the early detection of breast cancer has gone up, doctors at the RCC seldom saw patients in the early stages, Beela Mathew, Additional Professor of Radiation Oncology at RCC, said.The RCC is observing October as ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month,’ and a special screening clinic for women above 30 will function here for the whole month.The clinic has screened about 200 women so far and two cases of breast cancer were newly detected, Dr. Mathew said.The RCC plans to make the breast cancer screening clinic a regular feature, depending on the demand for screening.According to a study report by the World Cancer Research Fund and American Cancer Research Institute released in 2007, there is enough evidence to believe that body fat plays a crucial role in the development of breast cancer.The report suggested that maintaining a healthy weight and breast feeding at least up to six months are protective against breast cancer.
The Hindu, 17th October 2009
Bt.brinjal a threat to health, say environmentalists
In protest against the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee’s (GEAC) nod for the commercial cultivation of genetically-modified (GM) brinjal in the country, the Coalition for GM-Free India took out a march and staged a dharna in front of the Ernakulam telephone exchange on Friday.The coalition turned the World Food Day observance into a protest day in view of the alleged threat emanating from Bt.brinjal. Environmental and social activist C.R. Neelakantan, who inaugurated the dharna, said that the green signal for Bt.brinjal would open the floodgates to other GM crops and foods.Genetic engineering in food and crops would cause unimaginable harm to human health as well as the environment, he cautioned.
The environmental activists, who spoke at the dharna, urged the Union government to reject the GEAC recommendation to allow Bt.brinjal cultivation. The GEAC had recently approved the commercial cultivation of Bt.brinjal in spite of the mounting protests by environmental and social organisations across the country, which alleged that multinational seed companies were pressuring India to allow GM crops cultivation. Genetically-modified foods are a highly controversial issue across the world and the scientific community is divided over the benefits and threats of GM crops. While those pushing for Bt.brinjal claim that it will enormously increase brinjal productivity, opponents say that the anticipated benefits would far outweigh the harm to human health, farmers’ economic security and damage to the environment.
The Hindu, 17th October 2009
The environmental activists, who spoke at the dharna, urged the Union government to reject the GEAC recommendation to allow Bt.brinjal cultivation. The GEAC had recently approved the commercial cultivation of Bt.brinjal in spite of the mounting protests by environmental and social organisations across the country, which alleged that multinational seed companies were pressuring India to allow GM crops cultivation. Genetically-modified foods are a highly controversial issue across the world and the scientific community is divided over the benefits and threats of GM crops. While those pushing for Bt.brinjal claim that it will enormously increase brinjal productivity, opponents say that the anticipated benefits would far outweigh the harm to human health, farmers’ economic security and damage to the environment.
The Hindu, 17th October 2009
Maldives Cabinet to hold underwater meeting
Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed is to preside over the world’s first underwater Cabinet meeting on Saturday off the island of Girifushi, about 20 minutes journey from the capital Male, to draw global attention to the pressing issue of climate change.At the meeting, the Cabinet plans to sign a document calling on all countries to cut down their carbon emissions ahead of the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December, where the countries are to negotiate a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. The Ministers will wear scuba gear and use hand signals and slates to communicate.The Maldives comprises 1,192 coral islets that lie on an average just 1.5 metres above sea level. As a country that is threatened most by the rise in sea levels, the Maldives sees itself as the front-line state in the debate on climate change.In his address to the United Nations climate summit in New York on September 22, Mr. Nasheed had called upon world leaders to seize the historic opportunity at the Copenhagen climate summit to be held in December. He asked world leaders to “discard [the] habits that have led to 20 years of complacency and broken promises on climate change”.A senior official in the Maldivian Presidential Secretariat told The Hindu that the underwater meeting was part of a wider campaign by international environmental NGO, 350.org.
350.org is calling on political leaders to commit to deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions at Copenhagen. The world’s top climatologists, such as James Hansen of the NASA/Goddard Institute, caution that atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide must return to the safe threshold of 350 parts per million if catastrophic global warming is to be avoided.Levels currently stand at 385ppm. The 350.org campaign will cumulate in a global day of environmental action on October 24.For Maldives the threat of a warmer sea will translate into higher water levels, through thermal expansion of the ocean and storm surges and could also damage coral, on which the islands depend for fishing and tourism.
The potential danger is so acute that the country’s leadership has been thinking aloud about buying a new “homeland” for its 3,30,000 people, in Australia, India or Sri Lanka.After the cabinet meeting, Mr. Nasheed is scheduled to hold a press conference, where he will call for carbon dioxide reductions commensurate with the 350 target.Mr. Nasheed has often warned of the dangers climate change poses to the Maldives — a country that has reached the final of the “New 7 Wonders of Nature” competition.
Ahead of the Saturday’s event, on October 12 an insurance policy for the underwater Cabinet meeting was presented to the Cabinet.In preparation for the meeting, Maldivian Ministers have been taking scuba diving lessons. Mr. Nasheed is a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Advanced Open Water diver.The Maldivian President is scheduled to visit India next week at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and intends to enlist New Delhi’s cooperation in the global quest for a common understanding on climate change.
The Hindu, 16th October 2009
350.org is calling on political leaders to commit to deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions at Copenhagen. The world’s top climatologists, such as James Hansen of the NASA/Goddard Institute, caution that atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide must return to the safe threshold of 350 parts per million if catastrophic global warming is to be avoided.Levels currently stand at 385ppm. The 350.org campaign will cumulate in a global day of environmental action on October 24.For Maldives the threat of a warmer sea will translate into higher water levels, through thermal expansion of the ocean and storm surges and could also damage coral, on which the islands depend for fishing and tourism.
The potential danger is so acute that the country’s leadership has been thinking aloud about buying a new “homeland” for its 3,30,000 people, in Australia, India or Sri Lanka.After the cabinet meeting, Mr. Nasheed is scheduled to hold a press conference, where he will call for carbon dioxide reductions commensurate with the 350 target.Mr. Nasheed has often warned of the dangers climate change poses to the Maldives — a country that has reached the final of the “New 7 Wonders of Nature” competition.
Ahead of the Saturday’s event, on October 12 an insurance policy for the underwater Cabinet meeting was presented to the Cabinet.In preparation for the meeting, Maldivian Ministers have been taking scuba diving lessons. Mr. Nasheed is a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Advanced Open Water diver.The Maldivian President is scheduled to visit India next week at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and intends to enlist New Delhi’s cooperation in the global quest for a common understanding on climate change.
The Hindu, 16th October 2009
Janasree mission plans waste management project
Janasree Sustainable Development Mission plans to conceive and implement a waste management project in the State, KPCC spokesman and Janasree Chairman M. M. Hassan has said. Addressing a meeting at the Regional Theatre as the ‘Sustainable Development Yatra’ being led by him reached Thrissur city on Thursday, he said that waste management was a serious issue in corporations and panchayats.“Waste disposal problems in Lalur have showed the Thrissur Corporation’s inefficiency. Many other places have similar experiences. Waste management should be a mass programme. By next year, the Janasree Mission will set up 1 lakh units across the State and its several lakh members will be involved in the programme,” he said.
He said the proposed waste management project will be different from the garbage disposal activities being carried out by the Kudumbasree.“Unlike Kudumbasree workers who merely pick waste from different places and deposit it in trenching grounds, Janasree workers will go a step further and devise schemes to turn waste into manure and biogas.”He observed that mere agitations would not alleviate poverty and create jobs.“Governments alone cannot ensure social justice and financial stability to the people. Community-initiated programmes too are needed. Janasree Mission was set up to realise Gandhiji’s vision of Grama Swaraj and decentralised development.”
The Hindu, 16th October 2009
He said the proposed waste management project will be different from the garbage disposal activities being carried out by the Kudumbasree.“Unlike Kudumbasree workers who merely pick waste from different places and deposit it in trenching grounds, Janasree workers will go a step further and devise schemes to turn waste into manure and biogas.”He observed that mere agitations would not alleviate poverty and create jobs.“Governments alone cannot ensure social justice and financial stability to the people. Community-initiated programmes too are needed. Janasree Mission was set up to realise Gandhiji’s vision of Grama Swaraj and decentralised development.”
The Hindu, 16th October 2009
The number of hungry people increasing: FAO
On the occasion of World Food Day on October 16, the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), has said that the number of hungry people in the world has increased by 75 million in 2007.The FAO food price index rose above 50 per cent from mid-2007 to mid-2008. Global cereal prices are still more than 63 per cent higher than they were in 2005, according to the International Monetary Fund.The global economic slowdown has made matters worse.
The Hindu, 16th October 2009
The Hindu, 16th October 2009
VS for bar on GM seeds
Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has asked the Centre to reconsider allowing ‘widespread use’ of genetically modified seeds. In a letter sent to the Prime Minister on Thursday, he wanted a moratorium to be declared on such seeds for half a century to evaluate the dangers posed by them. He said Kerala had even earlier conveyed to the Centre its stance on genetically modified seeds and food items. It was against allowing the cultivation of those seeds even on experimental basis.
The Hindu, 16th October 2009
The Hindu, 16th October 2009
Panel approves commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), country’s bio-technology regulator, has approved the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) Bt brinjal. If approved by the government, it will become the first GM food crop in India.Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh confirmed that the GEAC gave its approval. He, however, said the government was yet to take a decision on the committee’s recommendations.Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr. Ramesh said the recommendations and the review committee report were submitted but these would be studied in depth before a final decision was taken by the Ministry.The GEAC said an expert committee, set up to assess the impact, suggested the commercial release of Bt brinjal.
There have been concerns over lack of bio-safety data of such crops having environmental implications and strong opposition from civil society groups and non-governmental organisations.Mr. Ramesh said the final decision would not be taken under the influence of any company or any NGO. It was wrong to say that the final approval had been given.Strongly disapproving of the manner in which some NGOs, particularly Greenpeace, were registering their protest, he said it amounted to blackmailing. Greenpeace activists were sending thousands of faxes from across the world.GM crops are those in which genetic material (DNA) is altered for some perceived advantage either to the producer or the consumer.
There are four varieties of brinjals on the table for approval with the important one being cry 1Ac.The research is also part of a USAID programme called Agri-Biotechnology Support Programme under a private-public partnership where three institutions — the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (Varanasi), the University of Agricultural Sciences (Dharwad) and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (Coimbatore) are working with Monsanto and Mahyco.
Bt Brinjal has been under trial for the past nine years and was first sent to the GEAC for approval in 2004.It was cleared by a panel led by Deepak Pental but a review committee was constituted in 2007 when civil society groups and NGOs raised doubts over health safety and environmental concerns.The outcome of this committee was discussed on Wednesday and the GEAC cleared the commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal.
The Hindu, 15th October 2009
There have been concerns over lack of bio-safety data of such crops having environmental implications and strong opposition from civil society groups and non-governmental organisations.Mr. Ramesh said the final decision would not be taken under the influence of any company or any NGO. It was wrong to say that the final approval had been given.Strongly disapproving of the manner in which some NGOs, particularly Greenpeace, were registering their protest, he said it amounted to blackmailing. Greenpeace activists were sending thousands of faxes from across the world.GM crops are those in which genetic material (DNA) is altered for some perceived advantage either to the producer or the consumer.
There are four varieties of brinjals on the table for approval with the important one being cry 1Ac.The research is also part of a USAID programme called Agri-Biotechnology Support Programme under a private-public partnership where three institutions — the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (Varanasi), the University of Agricultural Sciences (Dharwad) and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (Coimbatore) are working with Monsanto and Mahyco.
Bt Brinjal has been under trial for the past nine years and was first sent to the GEAC for approval in 2004.It was cleared by a panel led by Deepak Pental but a review committee was constituted in 2007 when civil society groups and NGOs raised doubts over health safety and environmental concerns.The outcome of this committee was discussed on Wednesday and the GEAC cleared the commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal.
The Hindu, 15th October 2009
“Alternative Nobel” award winners announced
Four activists were on Tuesday named co-winners of the 2009 Right Livelihood Award, the so-called “alternative Nobel”, for their work in campaigning against nuclear weapons, protecting the rain forests of Congo, raising awareness about climate change and campaigning for women’s health.“The overarching topic for this year is survival,” said Ole von Uexkull, director of the Right Livelihood Award Foundation.Alyn Ware of New Zealand, Rene Ngongo of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and David Suzuki of Canada share the award with Australian-born physician Catherine Hamlin. Mr. Ware, Mr. Ngongo and Mr. Hamlin were each to receive €50,000 euros ($73,000) in cash while Mr. Suzuki was to receive an honorary prize.Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull created the prize in 1980 “to honour and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today”.The awards are to be presented at a ceremony in the Swedish Parliament on December 4.
Mr. Ware was cited by the jury for his role in promoting peace work in New Zealand, including drafting peace study guidelines that became part of the school curriculum. Mr. Ngongo has since 1994 braved threats to expose “destructive mining and logging” operations that threaten rain forests, which play a key role in the global climate system. Mr. Suzuki was cited for promoting the “socially responsible use of science” and raising awareness about climate change, not the least as anchorman of a television programme about science. Ms. Hamlin has helped restore “the health, hope and dignity of thousands of Africa’s poorest women,” according to the jury, referring to her efforts to treat complications linked to child birth in Ethiopia.
The 2008 award was shared by: Monika Hauser, founder of the Germany-based group Medica Mondiale, which has worked with women and girls in war and post-war conflict zones; Krishnammal and Sankaralingam Jagannathan of India and their organisation Land for Tillers’ Freedom (LAFTI); U.S. journalist Amy Goodman, who founded the daily grassroots global TV/radio news hour Democracy Now!; and Asha Hagi of Somalia, who gave women a voice in the peace process in Somalia. — DPA
The Hindu, 14th October 2009
Mr. Ware was cited by the jury for his role in promoting peace work in New Zealand, including drafting peace study guidelines that became part of the school curriculum. Mr. Ngongo has since 1994 braved threats to expose “destructive mining and logging” operations that threaten rain forests, which play a key role in the global climate system. Mr. Suzuki was cited for promoting the “socially responsible use of science” and raising awareness about climate change, not the least as anchorman of a television programme about science. Ms. Hamlin has helped restore “the health, hope and dignity of thousands of Africa’s poorest women,” according to the jury, referring to her efforts to treat complications linked to child birth in Ethiopia.
The 2008 award was shared by: Monika Hauser, founder of the Germany-based group Medica Mondiale, which has worked with women and girls in war and post-war conflict zones; Krishnammal and Sankaralingam Jagannathan of India and their organisation Land for Tillers’ Freedom (LAFTI); U.S. journalist Amy Goodman, who founded the daily grassroots global TV/radio news hour Democracy Now!; and Asha Hagi of Somalia, who gave women a voice in the peace process in Somalia. — DPA
The Hindu, 14th October 2009
Marine Act will harm fish workers: forum
T. Peter, secretary of the National Fish workers Forum (NFF), has said that The Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Act 2009, in its present form, will be strongly opposed by fish workers all over the country. He added that the Act “appears to be completely inimical to traditional fish workers.” He said that NFF was the first forum to demand a Marine Fisheries Act for India. “It was mainly to control the operation of foreign fishing vessels on Indian waters. But, paradoxically the draft Bill contains provisions that discourage traditional fish workers from deep sea fishing, which in turn would help foreign fishing vessels to take over those waters. The draft Bill even proposes docking facilities for foreign vessels,” he pointed out.The NFF wanted the traditional fishing sector to be excluded from the purview of the Act, he said.“These fishermen already have State government permits. Asking them to go for a Central government registration is like asking vehicle owners to cancel State registrations and take a Central one,” Mr. Peter said.The Act would also nullify the Kerala Marine Fisheries Regulation Act 1980 and the Kerala Monsoon Fishery (Pelagic) Protection Act 2007. Moreover, while the proposed Central Act mentions that the Coast Guard would be the enforcement agency, it did not mention which would be the registration agency.
“The draft Bill was prepared without consulting anyone from the traditional fishing sector. Though the draft Bill is in circulation, the text is in English. Traditional fishermen, who are the main stakeholders, must be given a copy of the same in their language to understand things better and make suggestions,” he said.However, Mr. Peter said, the fishermen were willing to cooperate with provisions of the Act that aimed at conservation and regeneration of fish stock and ensure fishing in an environmentally sustainable manner, apart from maintenance of law and order in the maritime zones of the country.
The Hindu, 14th October 2009
“The draft Bill was prepared without consulting anyone from the traditional fishing sector. Though the draft Bill is in circulation, the text is in English. Traditional fishermen, who are the main stakeholders, must be given a copy of the same in their language to understand things better and make suggestions,” he said.However, Mr. Peter said, the fishermen were willing to cooperate with provisions of the Act that aimed at conservation and regeneration of fish stock and ensure fishing in an environmentally sustainable manner, apart from maintenance of law and order in the maritime zones of the country.
The Hindu, 14th October 2009
Copenhagen last chance to curb global emissions: EU
The European Union (EU) said it wanted the Copenhagen agreement to prevent global warming to be a single, legally binding instrument that builds on and takes forward the Kyoto Protocol.The agreement needs to be ratified by governments in time for it to enter into force on January 1, 2013. The EU will honour all its commitments and obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, independent of the outcome in Copenhagen, a EU statement here said.The window of opportunity to prevent global warming from reaching dangerous levels, of two degree Celsius or more above the pre-industrial temperature, which could trigger irreversible and catastrophic changes in the global environment, was closing fast, warns the EU.
The average global temperature is already almost 0.8 degree Celsius higher than in pre-industrial times and research indicates that the past and present emissions may have already made a further rise of as much as one degree Celsius inevitable. Despite consensus at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznañ in Poland in December last that international negotiations should shift to higher gear, progress at the three negotiating sessions this year was slow.
The EU said the ongoing negotiations were being conducted on two parallel ‘tracks.’On one track, the 192 parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, which include the United States, are discussing long-term cooperative action to combat climate change. On the other track, the 184 parties to the Kyoto Protocol, which do not include the U.S., are discussing post-2012 emission reduction commitments for industrialised countries. This division “is a complicating factor and it would be desirable for the tracks to be merged sooner rather than later to prepare the way for a single agreement in Copenhagen.”Indeed, there are already clear signs of the Convention track emerging as the main focus, while negotiations under the Kyoto track are practically stalemated.The EU, however, sought to ensure that all of the substance of the Kyoto track discussions — on further emission reductions by industrialized countries and on other key issues such as reform of the international carbon market and emission accounting rules for the forestry sector — is kept on the table as the two tracks come together.
The Hindu, 14th October 2009
The average global temperature is already almost 0.8 degree Celsius higher than in pre-industrial times and research indicates that the past and present emissions may have already made a further rise of as much as one degree Celsius inevitable. Despite consensus at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznañ in Poland in December last that international negotiations should shift to higher gear, progress at the three negotiating sessions this year was slow.
The EU said the ongoing negotiations were being conducted on two parallel ‘tracks.’On one track, the 192 parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, which include the United States, are discussing long-term cooperative action to combat climate change. On the other track, the 184 parties to the Kyoto Protocol, which do not include the U.S., are discussing post-2012 emission reduction commitments for industrialised countries. This division “is a complicating factor and it would be desirable for the tracks to be merged sooner rather than later to prepare the way for a single agreement in Copenhagen.”Indeed, there are already clear signs of the Convention track emerging as the main focus, while negotiations under the Kyoto track are practically stalemated.The EU, however, sought to ensure that all of the substance of the Kyoto track discussions — on further emission reductions by industrialized countries and on other key issues such as reform of the international carbon market and emission accounting rules for the forestry sector — is kept on the table as the two tracks come together.
The Hindu, 14th October 2009
E Waste managemnt and handling rules 2008
The Central Government, in accordance with the objectives of the National Environment Policy, 2006 and to address the sustainable development concerns considers it necessary to regulate environmentally sound management of waste electrical and electronic equipments, hereinafter referred to as e-waste, which are generated from the manufacture and use of electrical and electronic equipments.
For further details click here.....
For further details click here.....
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The Plastics Rules,2009- Draft Notification
S.O.2400(E), [17/09/2009] - The plastics (Manufacture, Usage and Waste Management) Rules,2009- Draft Notification .
Dolphin, India's national aquatic animal
"Like we have tiger as a national animal and peacock as a national bird, we have declared dolphins as a national aquatic animal as it represents the health of the rivers, particularly Ganga in the country," Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh told media persons in New Delhi .
He said the decision was taken at the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to streamline steps to rejuvenate the river Ganga.
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