The Leh Cloud Burst: a First-Hand Account
Cross-posted from www.TaleOfGrace.com
Midnight, August 6, 2010: “Link, wake up! Water is coming in from the roof!” My mother and I were in Leh, Ladakh, staying at “Eco-Homestay,” the house of Mr. Sonam Gyatso and family, in Lower Sankar. The house was made in a hybrid of traditional and modern [...]
Leh Cloud Burst caused by Global Warming
EH cloudburst was an impact of global warming, feel scientists at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune. They said extreme events have been increasing in monsoon season due to warming.
“The normal average temperature of the Northern Hemisphere is 15 degrees Celsius. However, it has been observed that it has gone up to 15.7 [...]
Srikakulam Tragedy: Where Fishermen turn into Beggers
Corruption runs deep as the lush wetland region of Srikakulam was cited as a “wasteland” in a detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of a mega power plant in the area. India is signatory to an international treaty called the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands which seeks to preserve these dwindling habitats rich in [...]
Waste to Energy-An Eyewash!
Disregarding Supreme Court’s order, unmindful of the adverse order of the Delhi High Court and the fact that the matter is sub-judice and ignoring the concerns of the residents, Sheila Dikshit, Delhi’s Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a polluting waste to energy plant today in the national capital to produce electricity from wastes. [...]
Making India ‘safe’ for foreign investors, ‘unsafe’ from hazardous chemicals, asbestos and nuclear industries
The deafening silence of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) so far in the matter of industrial disaster of Bhopal and Gulf of Mexico was intriguing. Now that it has spoken out with a press release, it has revealed itself as a lobby group which is callous towards victims of Bhopal and public interest and ignores [...]
Citizens oppose state government’s favourable stand on GM Maize in Punjab
Eminent citizens, Farmers’ Unions’ representatives and environmental activists from Punjab today questioned the reported government stand in favour of GM crops, reflected in the support sought for Bt Maize by the Chief Minister’s delegation to Planning Commission a few days ago. They demanded that the CM explain on what basis/scientific evidence and through what process [...]
Firefighting Environmental Violations in India
A workshop to discuss major reforms to India’s environmental-governance system was held in Delhi this week. It was hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and inputs were invited from central and state government, business and civil-society stakeholders on a proposal for a National Environmental Protection Authority (NEPA).
“Every day, I receive hundreds of [...]
PSN initiates Clean Pakistan Campaign
Pakistan Sustainability Network (PSN) kick starts “Clean Pakistan Campaign” with the help of Waste Busters in Green town Lahore. Green town locality is considered as to be most polluted area with the trash. The idea is to clean it up by empowering the community, promote youth entrepreneurship and leadership. In this case locals will be [...]
Dr. Sahib organize public consultation on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill
To
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister,
Government of India,
South Block,
New Delhi 110 001
Dated: April 14 2010
Sub: Public Consultation on ‘Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010′
Dear Dr. Singh,
We the undersigned hereby express our grave concerns at the implications of the ‘Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010′, copies of which have already been [...]
Patience Running Thin (Full Report of IPT)
The Independent People’s Tribunal concluded today with the jury comprising of Justice (Retd.) Sawant, Justice (Retd.) Suresh, Professor Yash Pal, Dr. P. M. Bhargava, Dr. Mohini Giri and Dr. K S Subramanian presenting an interim recommendation report to the public, Government and the media on the issues of on Land Acquisition, Resource Grab and Operation [...]
The Jury Speaks (IPT Interim Observations)
The jury heard the testimonies of a large number of witnesses over three days from the States of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa as well as some expert witnesses on land acquisition, mining and human rights violations of Operation Green Hunt. The immediate observations of the Jury are as follows:
Tribal communities represent a substantial [...]
Op. Green Hunt Rolls out Red Carpet for Mining
Proceedings of Independent People’s Tribunal-Day2 (10th April, 2010) Part-1
Session-1 & 2 Jharkhand
The session was inaugurated with the song “Goan Chhodab Nahi, Jungle Chhodab Nahi” and after that Mr. Prem Prakash Verma, chair of the session briefed the audience about the undemocratic model of development. He added that human rights has to be seen in [...]
Independent People’s Tribunal (IPT)
1st Sessions: Inauguration
Dr. Vandana Shiva (Navdanya) introduced the audience to Independent People’s Tribunal:
“Last year a broad coalition was formed that has worked to put this tribunal together. The IPT will create a dialogue so that the adivasis of India can be brought in the debate. This is the reaction to the lie that Maoists are [...]
Narmada Indefinite Fast!
Whenever the name of River Narmada comes to one’s mind, a beautiful river rising from Amarkantak passing through western ghats, emptying itself in Arabian Sea delight the eyes. The river has been a symbol of struggle from last 25 years. The struggle between “modern development” & “ecological harmony”. The construction of Sardar Sarovar dam “resurgent [...]
India’s Holy Ganges to Get a Cleanup
Crossposted from the wallstreet journal
India’s Holy Ganges to Get a Cleanup
Government Embarks on $4 Billion Campaign to Treat Heavily Polluted Waters;
Devout Hindus Revere River as ‘Goddess’
By KRISHNA POKHAREL
VARANASI, India—More than a million devout Hindus bathed in the Ganges River
Friday, braving the risk of terrorist attack, stampede and petty crime for
the chance to wash away the [...]
