Development versus Environment-II

We have seen the debate of development versus environment yesterday. Present issue is this. The entangle is between the Ministry of Environment& Forests and Ministry of Coal. There are certain areas which are announced by MOEF as no-go areas where rich coal reserves are found. The ministry of coal wants the MOEF to allow them to clear forests in the No-go areas.

What do we do in this situation? To let them clear the forests and mine? Or preserve the jungle?

The country’s most of the power, almost 72%, generated from burning coal. 22% of hydel power and the rest from nuclear. Most of the countries in the world are nowadays minimizing their dependence on thermal power. As we discussed, coal exhausts are polluting the atmosphere and warming the world every day. Rather they switch over to other means of power generation. They are conventional means, ie hydel power, nuclear power and non conventional means like solar power, wind power, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), Tidal energy, Geo-thermal energy etc. Though the non conventional power generation is at nascent stage globally, it is picking up pace these days. 

Let us see the Indian situation. India has enormous hydro power potentials near the Himalayan flanks, and western flanks of western ghats. They might not be economically viable for mega projects. Understanding this, India now have recognized the importance of micro projects, captive power generation etc. If, the micro hydro projects are supported by the centre with subsidies, the areas uncovered by the power grid will be served sufficient power. The government itself can procure power from the captive power generators for household supplies in the no-grid areas.

India had been survived in nuclear isolation till recent past because of not signing in the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). We had engaged in the breeder reactor research, as designed by Dr.Homi Baba with the available Uranium and abundant thorium. The research had reached second stage, which is the Fast Breeder Test reactor stage. Suddenly the government decided to pursue the P-5 nations for waiver from the NPT and succeeded it its exercises. We have civil nuclear agreements with USA, Russia, France, Kazhagastan, Namibia, Mongolia, Canada etc. Everyone is in line to offer nuclear minerals. Fast breeder technology will almost be abandoned, in due course because there is no need of it now. We may expect tens of nuclear reactors in the ensuing decades. But…. Is relying on nuclear power safe? Yes, if the international standards of nuclear reactors are achieved. We know the present condition of or reactors. None of them have international standards. But, achieving those standards are not impossible.

Is nuclear power better than thermal power? Yes. It is non-polluting/less polluting than thermal power. No. Thermal exhausts sanction slow death-nuclear radiations sanction instant death in case of any accident. Remember Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Cernobyl and the recent incident in Delhi. Nuclear power is reliable if the government is vigil. Of course, we cannot expect power by nuclear fusion, the non polluting power in India in our lifetime.

 India has an ambitious project on Solar Power with World Bank assistance. The project aims for 20,000 MW of solar power generation 2020. Great!!! Funds allocated-Projects started. India is the fourth largest wind power generator in the world. We have reversing monsoon, people! Other means of power generation are also on the anvil.

As we discussed earlier, many countries are diversifying their source of power. They are moving away from thermal.  95% of power generation of France is from nuclear. India should show its commitment to reversing Global warming. We cannot pretend to be blind to the global cause. We cannot take the credit of being a developing country and going on polluting the atmosphere. India should move away from the Thermal means of energy-instead we may use the technology of coal gasification- which is less polluting. We cannot clear the jungles for mining. There should be a moratorium for mining in the forests. We should stick to the Forest Act’s mandate in a time-bound manner to maintain the 33% of forests.  

Development versus Environment

What is more important? Development or the environment?

Is it right to sacrifice the environment for the sake of development? After having developed where we are gonna live? In this very ecumene.. aren’t we? Then what is the point of development at the cost of environment?

Is it right to stay where we are? We need development also. Had we been considered only environment, the mankind wouldn’t have evolved at all. Environment issues should be sacrificed for some extent for development because reversing the environment is not so hard. The depleted can be replenished also. Moreover earth can withstand the pollutions caused by developments.

Which side are we in this debacle? Ecology or development. We can’t take a precise stand because what we know about these issues is a little.

The environmental scientists have ample evidence of the withering weather phenomenon of earth. The year 1998 is considered to be hottest of the millennium and 2007 is still hotter than 1998. The average global temperature have risen to 1^`Celcius since  industrial revolution. Consider this my friends-within 220 years earth is heated up for a degree Celsius. Earth as a planet, formed before 450 crore years. The present atmosphere formed before 250 crore years, ie in the Precambrian Era.

Forests are the natural sinks of Carbon di oxide which is an active green house gas. The present composition of CO₂ in the atmosphere is only 0.33%. But this is enough to keep the earth warm to support life. More the CO₂, more the green house effects. 

After having parked a car under the hot sun with its windows closed, if you board the car, you will feel the heat more than outside. Because glass allows the shortwave radiation from the sun, which is converted into long wave radiation (after dissipation of energy).The long wave radiation is not allowed by the glass to escape. This is a continuous process, so that the car gets heated up.

Consider earth as car. The glass is the carbon di oxide layer in the upper atmosphere. This is green house effect.

So CO₂ should be in a balance for the life to survive. Forests do this for us. Plants breathe CO₂ and release Oxygen. We cannot deny the role of green house gases in keeping the earth warm. Without them, the planet earth would have been ice-cold, ie inhospitable for life existence. The green house gases, the result of natural reasons, from volcanoes, Marshy lands, Forest fires etc are sufficient for warming up of the atmosphere, and forests absorb the excessive CO₂ and thus strike a balance. The problem is the anthropo-intervention. Since the industrial revolution, the addition of CO₂ in the atmosphere has been growing exponentially.

The environment-development debate is pursued since 19^th Century. The debate gave environmentalists and developmentalists the face of determinists and possiblists-or rather radicalists and capitalists respectively.

The debate caused cropping up of green parties all over the world including India. Chipko movement, appiko movement etc. Some NGOs are also active in this scene.

There are a lot more to discuss…. We will continue tomorrow.   

GSLV-All about

The failure of the Christmas launch of GSLV was the third one for India. GSLV Stands for Geo Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. As the name suggests, the satellite have to revolve around the earth at the same angular velocity, rather a little more than that which means the satellite have to constantly watch a particular geographical area. This is possible only at great altitudes. The altitude is a whooping 36,000 Kms above earth surface.

The problem with the earth is its gravity. The launch vehicle should be able to travel to the altitudes against earth’s gravity, against the friction offered by the atmosphere. The vehicle need not escape from the gravity, but it should reach the level of minimum gravity. For launch vehicle, to achieve such great heights, the conventional fuels like HTPB (Hydroxyl Terminated Poly Butadiene), or UDH(Unsymmetrical Dimethyl Hydrazene) do not offer the thrust required, though they are used in the lower stages of the vehicle. The only known fuel for achieving such thrust is Liquid Hydrogen. Hydrogen can be liquefied at sub-zero temperature (-253 degrees). Along with liquid Hydrogen, Liquid Oxygen (-297 degrees) is also used as an Oxydiser. Both gases are liquefied at high pressure and lowest temperatures.

Now the fuel should burn for combustion. The temperature of the combustion is over 600 degree Celsius. Imagine this situation. In the fuel tank, it is in subzero temperature. The combustion is at 600 degrees. All the three forms of heat transfer, conduction, convection and radiation (Isothermal effect) should be successfully prevented from evaporating the liquid fuels. This is achieved by a rare ceramic. Liquefying these gases is not a big deal. But the challenge lies in using them.

Indian failures in GSLV missions worth Rs. 1000 crores each. These endeavours are necessary to excel the GSLV technology.

Russia has provided seven cryogenic engines to India, out of which 6 have already been used. With the existing one, India can perform only one GSLV mission. Let us pray the scientists for the best.

The politics of the satellites is very peculiar. The developed P-5 nations inhibit transfer of sensitive space technologies to the third world countries. MTCR is the international pact, for which the P-5 nations are bound. Missile Technology Cut-off Regime is a treaty which forbids the transfer of technology, with a higher limit. You know about BrahMos missile? It is the compromise for that treaty.

The higher limits of transfer of technology for missiles are

1.    The Missile should not have a nuclear warhead.

2.    Its range should not exceed 300 kms.

Brahmos’ range is 290kms and it is a missile carrying conventional warhead.

What is the connection between space technology and missile technology where both are different in applications? Because, if a country is able to produce a PSLV (Polar satellite Launch Vehicle), it can equally produce an intercontinental missile as well. He technology used is similar. In space application, the vehicle goes to the Low earth Orbit (LEO) whereas in defence applications it is launched to reenter the atmosphere.

The future wars will be fought only by missiles and electronic warfare. Though GSLV technology is for space applications, it is sensitive in the defence angle. Therefore, no wonder, the MTCR cover the GSLV technology also.

Comments are welcome.

Sorry People

Hi

       Sorry people,

          I could not post an article for three days because, I have been there in my home town wherein no internet connection. Here we go. you will read an article hereafter everyday.

Posting of Deobond

There was a posting yesterday by the seminary of Dar-ul-uloom Deobond. The posting says that, Muslims should not use contraceptives without consulting the clerics and Muslim women, should not wear skin tight dresses- instead wear loose pajamas, till feet. The use of contraceptives should be only of medical reasons (Like to avoid STDs), not for birth control. Even we can digest the dress code issue though. Because, we find the cultural fascism in some of the educational institutions etc. But the part of ‘Contraceptives’ is indigestible.  

I wonder how such medieval nonsense still gains currency in the contemporary world.

Please Note: 

I have no faith in any of the religions and its prophets. Please do not waste your valuable time in finding my religion of birth. Soon you may expect articles withering all religions. My ultimate aim is-PLEASE READ THE TITLE OF THE BLOG

Right to Freedom, Life and dignity

You should have read in the papers. Mr. Mohammed Haneef, a Bangalorean who had been arrested on the grounds of nexus with terrorists is now compensated by the Australian Government. It is believed Md. Haneef have received a heavy package, of Multi Million dollars. Good.

Dr.Haneef, a physician was working in Australia. He was arrested by the Australian government on the grounds of Sedition-The evidences the government had were the e-chatting of Md. Haneef with his cousins. Both of his cousins, one dead and other now detained, were accused in connection with the Glasgow and London Blasts. Dr. Haneef's Visa was cancelled by the Immigration Ministry of Australia, and he was detained. Dr. Haneef filed a case against the government after he had made bail. Now, the government is compensating for the defamation and loss incurred to Dr. Haneef.

People! Is it possible in India? Nope!! Let me tell you something. India, perhaps the only country in the world which have 'PREVENTIVE DETENTION' clause in it guarantee of fundamental rights itself.  Imagine. An arbitrary, dictating clause is in between the guarantee of rights. So sad. 

If somebody is arrested before he commits an offence, it may be justified, if the establishment proves the potential threat by him. But here, even without proving anything, the detainee can be kept behind the bars, for 6 months (UAPA). Remember, Gandhi and all the Congress leaders cried foul when the 'Rowlatt Act' was enforced. We were against the suspension of Habeas Corpus, In fact, UAPA, have a lot more teeth than Rowlatt Act.  Living in jail is not a light issue. Indians are so sensitive to it. Remember, How Indira had been arrested, how was the reversal of her image after her arrest with cuffs on.  

Still you will find under trial detainees under the former POTA. None of the Preventive detention Acts of India had been used to arrest the Potential Threats. Almost 90% of them had been political arrests only. You can find minor boys and babies also in jails, registered under POTA. India would not have compensated anyone for its own mistake. Instead, the man would have been told-'This is your duty to prove yourself not guilty-No compensation for performing duty'  

Do we really need Preventive Detention Acts anymore?

Spectrum issue-What next

The Prime minister's speech in the Congress Session is remarkable. Yes. A Prime minister should be like the Caeser's Wife. Being beyond all doubts. There is no doubt about his credentials in public life. I can say that he is the only prime minister who is highly qualified India ever had. But Mr. Prime minister,  is it good, closing the eyes when something wrong happens? The Prime minister should have intervened when the decision of 'first come first serve' had been taken by the disputed ministry. The Prime minister should not have granted his consent, for the Ministry's decision to the sale of Spectrum by itself, bypassing the cabinet. There occurred the first error. It is good to let the Ministries to take its own decisions-in considering the autonomy and speedy implementation of the development projects. But the Ministry of Telecommunications is a potential one to bring loads of money and foreign exchange, given the size of the market. The cabinet should have taken the decision. In that case, the decision taken would have become a collective responsibility of the cabinet, giving effect to the Parliamentary form of government. 

Remember, Even the British were very particular about the Telecommunications. Telecommunications was one among the four ministries they were holding in the last years in India. 

The outgoing Minister A.Raja continues to state that the spectrum had been sold according to the rules only and there is no breach of rules. This might be true. But the loss to the Government is also equally true. Mr. Raja may come clean after the trial.  But the spectrum issue will definitely be a setback to Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the forthcoming elections.

The preponement of the last date for the spectrum purchase, subsequent sale of the spectrum to other companies at manifolded rates by the first buyer- There are the issues now.

The Spectrum issue is much politicized and one complete Parliament session have gone in vain.

It is better, that the prime minister to verify the important decisions taken by the key ministries, like Home, Finance, External affairs, defence etc before they are implemented. 

RELIGION AND POLITICS-II An Essay on Political parties based on Religions/Castes

It is clear that the mixing of Religion and Politics is as bad as the mixture of Sex and Violence, But a commercial one. Courtesy-Kamalhassan (Hey Ram).        

There are few political parties in India based on caste and religion. No doubt, forming a political party is the democratic right under the Constitution. It is the right to association. Forming it on the lines of Caste and religion ends up in dividing the society.

India is a secular country. Secularism is the yarn of the Indian fabric. It is mentioned in the very preamble of the constitution. Indian secularism is different from that of other countries. India is not a state with no religion. It is not the state having equal distance with religions. But India is a state having equal proximity with religions. The former is different from the later. Former explains the state’s attitude of a state to keep the religions away, but the later explains the attitude to move together with all the religions.

Political parties in India have caste and religious background. Both types of parties have to be approached in different manner.

The Election Commission of India should ban the political parties from elections which have religious agenda. If any of the articles of their manifesto, speech of any member of the party, any member of a party wearing/carrying religious symbols appearing in public(*) or the name of the party, directly or indirectly found to be on religious lines, the Election Commission should not hesitate to ban the party from contesting the elections. If any speech of any party member violates this condition, the removal of the member from the party will be the solution. The party itself should be banned. If the party is not a political party-like pressure group or NGO etc, even then, the ban is justified for the sake of secularism. It is obvious that in many General elections, India witnessed the victory of the political parties which induce the people on religious lines. Even though the collective wisdom of people is greater than individual wisdom (Aristotle), the wisdom of the sensitive/semi literate people is not the ultimate one. Of course, Religion is the Opium of People.  

The caste based political parties also polarize the society into separate entities. The reasons of existence of political parties can be various.

1.       A particular community may want to show their pride and power and want to compete with its rival caste group.

2.       A particular community might be a downtrodden one because of the varna system and the government’s welfare measures might be a failure in their case.

3.       A particular community may want to get reservations and benefits from the government like some other downtrodden ones.

4.       A rebel group from a secular political party/pressure group/NGO may want to prove their political power….etc

Most of the political parties/associations on caste lines were formed any one of the above reasons. The religious conflicts in India are so young than the caste conflicts. Whereas Religion is the international phenomenon, but caste is unique to India and some oriental countries. The government should have a firm hand on the religious groups those divide the people. But it should understand that it is the failure of the government in its welfare measures and regulation of the political parties, which is the reason for the cropping up of caste politics. No doubt, with the given size of population, the equitable growth in socio economic spheres is a hectic job. But this is a lame reason even after 63 years of Independence.

There are other factors of social polarization like Regionalism, Linguistics etc. But the lines of castes and religions attach primary importance than the other factors.

*             Wearing/carrying a religious symbol is a fundamental right under Article 25 of the constitution. It is the right to practice, profess and propagate the religion. But this restriction is necessary in respect of the political parties/associations because the religion is here used as a tool for their victory in elections/in growing hatreds.

Religion and Politics

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people-Karl Marx

Politics and religion is a successful mixture in Indian Political past and present. We have to analyse religion in the light of its pros and cons. But human need a line among themselves, in anyway possible. It might be religion, color, creed, race, caste etc. The lines dividing mankind are very potent. They can kill people outside and inside the line too. When, no human on earth, there was no problem. When there was only one, he needed someone for his survival. He was so happy, when he found someone else. But, problems surfaced when they found the third human being. The first line among human being appeared then. Universal Fraternity, brotherhood is possible only when the lines divide the mankind fade away.

                The Hindu Muslim tension has the history of centuries in India and still continues. Since the age of sultans the tension exists. The successful mixing of religion in politics have begun from the so called the period of ‘renaissance of religions’. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan advised the Muslims not to participate in National politics. Dayanandha Saraswathy was active in the Suddhi Movement- Reconversion/Conversion of Muslims into Hindus. Some of the INC leaders did not understand the multi religious nature of the country.  Tilak used Shivaji festival and Ganesh Sathurthi as tools of propaganda. There was a split in the Swaraj Party on religious reasons-for the beef eating cause. Gandhi wanted a 'Ramarajya'.  Majority of Muslims stood aloof from the freedom struggle, after the formation of Muslim League. British viceroyalties used the lines very successfully to perpetuate their rule in India.

                The Contemporary India, though literate, though have a commanding position in international arena, is still very sensitive on religious lines. Demolition of Babri Masjid is the major reason for the contemporary tensions. It was demolished by the Hindu elements on the reason that the Masjid was built after demolishing Rama temple that existed. The day of Demolition, the 6^th December is observed as ‘Black day’. The demolition of Babri Masid resulted into series of bomb blasts all over the country since then.

               
                 WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THESE MISHAPS?

Religions? Or the Followers? No religion sanctions hatred over other religions. It is the followers interpret religions in that way. In fact, all religions have their own demerits also. We cannot glorify all religions because it came from god, or by the prophets. Religion is a formation of likeminded people, in one or the other way and nothing else. Can’t we find disputes among the sects of a religion? They will fight among themselves after having done with the people of other faith. This is true for most of the religions. There is a solution for all these problems. At least a solution that mitigate the problems.


TO BE CONTINUED 

SINO-INDIAN Entangles

Hi,

 We all Know the ongoing disputes between India and China. The politics of the relations is  quite complex. To understand the irritations, we should look into the History. One who understands the Young Husband's Mission to Tibet, and their pacts with them, the invasion of China and annexation of Tibet will have no difficulties in understanding the Sino-Indian border issues. 

Moreover, China could never tolerate democracy as a political philosophy of a country. Remember Tianenmen Square Massacres?!! It could never tolerate its southern ally to be the largest democratic country in the world. This is the blunt truth. 

About the Stapled Visas, it is the universal practice according to which countries issue Stapled Visas from the disputed areas of any country. China followed this stream of issuing visas to the people from J&K. Is it right? Is J&K really a disputed area? 

Yes. It is. But the dispute is internal. The world countries have no say in the issue of J&K. It is a bilateral issue which could resolved through talks between the parties involved. For such a bilateral issue, China have been attaching international importance. 

Same kind of rumbles surfaced when China refused Visa to an IAS Officer of Arunachal Pradesh Cadre, and she condemned the Asian Development bank for granting loan to India for the development project to be executed in Arunachal. 

China is sorrounding India-in cocos, In Srilanka, in Gwador--aimed in containing India within South Asia.

China is China.

The glorious history of relations between these countries for 2000 years is being deteriorated now. Mere growth in economic relations will no bring peace in relations. Rather China should recognise democracy as a political philosophy, and India should recognise chinese power and its say in the international arena.