jun 24
kerala will have water scarcity entirely because of keralites' stupidity and cupidity.
there is a price to be paid for reckless environmental destruction.
but as the late lamented james watt, ronald reagan's secretary of the interior, once said charmingly, the world's going to end (he thought in 2000 CE), so what me worry?
23 comments:
Rajeev
Interesting article. I have a few questions
1. In your piece you say this "The result has been a dramatic reduction in rainfall, as well as topsoil runoff, just as it happened in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya around storied Cherrapunji after religious conversions there"- do you have a data source for the correlation between the conversions and top soil runoffs. I would like to read more on this
2. "This has allegedly depleted groundwater levels and dumped toxic sludge on local farmers as 'fertiliser', and its products are so full of pesticide that the US Food and Drug Administration refused to admit shipments from India! In addition, I am told Pepsi-Cola also has a (functioning) bottling plant in relatively dry Palakkad district. Interestingly, a one-man NGO, the India Resource Centre, has made so much noise, and made Coca-Cola's life so miserable, that this person, Amit Srivastava, got a front-page story in the Wall Street Journal." - As a Keralite, is the situation that bad as Amit makes it seem or are you in favor of these industries? Please expound
3. "It is an example of a foreign species wreaking havoc on native flora and fauna" - isn't this what we call globalization :-)
quote: "As a Keralite, is the situation that bad as Amit makes it seem or are you in favor of these industries?"
My response would be 'no'. I happend to talk to a member of the kerala polution control board that did review on the coke plant. At the time the ngo's were claiming that coke had about 100 wells when there were only about 6. This is the level of exagerration these ngo's go into.
During the time I also wondered why no one was talking about pepsi co's plant in the same locality. This led me to believe that the whole thing was part of the cola wars that was raging in India.
About the slug, there is some truth in that, even coke admitting to it. But regarding water problems, that region has always had water problems during summer. In fact, the cola compounds might be the only places in the district following scientific water management policies.
I am in favor of these industries. May be Rajeev should write more about this?
prasank
do you have a document where the NGO claims that coke had about 100 wells. I read the WSJ pice on Amit and I was intrigued but it never quoted 100 wells. This is new information
Without taking credit away from Amit, here's an analyses of what the WSJ story missed and some of the real issues involved in this campaign.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/000391.html
This issue is more about water rights rather than Cola wars. That it is a multinational in this case, and a Cola company at that, is incidental to the real issue.
Historically in India, water was never owned by the State (or "king") neither were the forests. They belonged to the local communities. Exploitation of water as a commodity, with efficient usage metrics, etc etc are meant to hide the reality that water is a not a fundamental need/ commodity/resource, but a fundamental right for all human beings.
If Indians have such a high IQ how is it they cannot figure out how to eliminate the water hyacinth - a billion people and not one suggestion?
I condemn religious globalization - all Hindus should stay in India since they are not allowed to cross the seas. People belonging to all other religions will bring in the "foren" exchange. Then you can "blame" the people of other religions for ruining "this great country" by "purchasing" all the land and converting it to plantations.
the above anonymouse is the same old 'kerala george', with increased complexes , hatred and sunday-school intolerance. forgive that sheep...
Narayanan
Kerala Christian genius obsessed with Hindus crossing seas, the foreign religionists did not *bring* any money into India, they came to loot it. Your fellow religionists took out huge amounts of money, and they are recycling that money now to convert more people to your blind faith. And they do not 'purchase' plantations, they grab public land and forests. Then KM Mani and other Christians will give out ownership certificates to them. This is all in keeping with your false religion, based on a guy who didn't exist. If you dont believe this is a 'great country', just leave it. Take all your fellow Christians with you. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Excuse me for butting in,
I thought we were talking about water...
How did religion come in the discussion
quote: ""Things grow better with Coke," read a headline in Britain's Guardian newspaper. But Mr. Srivastava admits the whole thing was a publicity stunt by local activists and farmers, and it's unclear how many farmers participated. "We played it up as well, obviously," he says."
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05158/517150.stm
You might also remember stories that went round about how a human teeth melted in coke.
Not quite to the point you mentioned. But I guess you would now have got an idea about the way the agitators work.
What I said regarding the 100 wells is true and its not a new information. This was well publisized in malayalam channels "Asianet", "Kairali" and "Surya" and the local newspapers. This was the main allegation of the agitators during the initial struggle. Regarding these news items with me now, come on man, these are things that happend 3 years back. I dont have any paper cuttings with me. I am not that fanatic about these issues. :-)
google is great!!! I got the article I wanted in 5 mins search...
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0209/S00036.htm
quote: "In its 17-hectare land, more than 65 bore-wells were sunk to extract the ground water for the production of Coke and Maza."
Now notice that this article has 65 bore wells. I am quite sure you will find other articles with varying number of bore wells.
quote:"Coca Cola factories have been attacked and destroyed such as in Andhra and Nepal."
Though this letter says only Andra and Nepal, I remember the coke factory in kerala also being destroyed with attackers damging the bottle shipments totally. That requires another googling...
san and other folks @ the blog
I was posing a question to Rajiv "isn't this what we call globalization :-)" - Maybe I forgot to add the question mark in the end but I swear it was a question. But thanks for the interesting comments
Why should I tell anyone how to remove the water hyacinth without adequate compensation?
In a previous comment to Anonymous you claimed "Why not condemn Religious Globalization with the same zeal that you condemn economic globalization??" as though that would fix the water hyacinth issue. First argue logically. At the very least read your previous posts. I would guess you are one of the legions of "software programmers" that India "exports" and have no clue on how to think logically let alone express an idea and hold a train of thought. After all when it comes to some "scientific evidence" neither you nor the Shadow Warrior can come up with any evidence to back up your idiotic comments.
If you or the Shadow Warrior can back up this assertion:
"The result has been a dramatic reduction in rainfall, as well as topsoil runoff, just as it happened in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya around storied Cherrapunji after religious conversions there"
then I would be interested, otherwise these are just juvenile rants of a pompous ass.
WTF is "the basis of theological competition"? Since you are an atheist, why would you care? (Yes I have read your other posts on this blog too). It appears to me you want competition in all fields except "religion". Why are you so "afraid" of "capitalism and competition" in religion? Explain to me how the water hyacinth will be eradicated by some "capitalist" means if the cost for eliminating it is greater than the cost for leaving it alone and letting it grow?
Awaiting more BS from you, meanwhile chill out - drink Coke and/or Pepsi...or water.
If you or the Shadow Warrior can back up this assertion:
"The result has been a dramatic reduction in rainfall, as well as topsoil runoff, just as it happened in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya around storied Cherrapunji after religious conversions there"
then I would be interested, otherwise these are just juvenile rants of a pompous ass.
Anon, while there are some interesting debates that are raised in this column, they are immediately tied (quite dubiously) to religion and the conversion agenda. I doubt if you'd get a response with proof for what was claimed in these columns. It is interesting, nonetheless, that the only explanation you'd recieve is a "quid-pro-quo:: we do because the Maoists do the same" argument..
tap, tap, tap Hello? Isn't that what the Shadow Warrior and san don't like about them and keep ranting about? :-/
Anyways, getting back to the topic on hand, what's the stand of Shadow warrior and team, and others who read this space, on the Coke/ Pepsi issue independent of globalisation, religious conversions and free market? :-) Even if the stand is based on Googling and not actual experience, it's a stand nonetheless.
"san" does not provide a better identity than anonymous or anonymouse. Interesting that you have not answered any of the questions. BTW nobody was asking about your "contributions" to the "needy". I am questioning your (and the Shadow Warrior's) commitment to "patriotism".
Hmmm, have you read this article and the book mentioned in the article? Sorry, I forgot you only read books that were written since you were born - all others are old and have no bearing on the "modern" world. Second, "theological competition" is within a religion, not between religions. Further, I am all for competition in all spheres of life - religion included. My question is why do you think religion should be excluded from such competition, especially if you are a capitalist? And your response makes no sense - you are equating "religious competition" with "ethnic competition" and "racial antagonism". According to your "capitalistic" outlook - religion is providing a service to the people that need it. (*You* may not need it but someone else would be interested in it) They can choose from any religion - let the market decide...Please don't be deluded into thinking that there is no "ethnic competition" in the global marketplace - it is alive and well.
Regarding cost of removal vs cost of inaction -- if cost of inaction was negligable, then there would be no demand for removal.
Let me get this straight - (from the article):
Finally, Kerala's famed backwaters and canals are being denuded of fish and aquatic plant life by the pernicious weed called the water hyacinth, which forms an impenetrable barrier that chokes off oxygen to whatever is beneath. It is an example of a foreign species wreaking havoc on native flora and fauna: it was introduced as an ornamental plant by somebody. Despite many attempts that fattened the wallets of various people, the authorities still have no answer to this noxious menace.
So you are saying that there is no "demand" to get rid of the water hyacinth? And the above paragraph is another one of those silly allegations that the Shadow Warrior can throw out and not be held accountable. However, if you think that the above paragraph is true, and the cost of removal is higher than the cost of inaction, what "capitalistic" means would you employ?(remember I provided two capitalistic answers).
to buddha: the pond is on the way from ambalamukku to muttada.
ah, i see we have 'george''s younger brother, let's call him 'abraham' here, getting his knickers in a twist! 'george' has a little more by way of class than 'abraham'. 'abraham', since you are the google wizard, you go find out the stuff about the khasi hills and conversion. should be a breeze for you. this isn't like the fabrications you dearly love, you know. there was a major story in outlook or india today a few years ago. the khasis had their tribal religion which carefully husbanded the forests by protecting sacred groves which they left untouched. they converted to the religion of james watt (the logging and mining king) and immediately cut down the sacred groves. result: the forest died, serious runoff, erosion, no retention of water. they now have to cart water uphill from the plains despite the still-heavy rainfall. very sad story.
Oh puhleeze San. Now an atheist is redefining "theology". Isn't the "patriotism" that you and the Shadow Warrior hide behind, "sectarianism"? "The last refuge of scoundrels..."
You asked I'd like to ask -- what does religion have to do with capitalism and providing for earthly needs? and I explained the connection. Since you haven't read the article or the book, it is clear you don't want to engage in any sort of "reason" that undermines your basic assumption. So much for the "scientific" and "rational" stance that you regularly espouse - and you can neither prove the connection between conversions and topsoil runoff nor defend your rather incoherent position. I wonder which capitalist worth his salt will keep repeating a Karl Marx quote "Religion is the opiate of the masses". Apparently, this is the only sentence you know about any "-ism".
With regard to the water hyacinth, here is the kicker - there are commercial "capitalist" solutions available. You and the Shadow Warrior are not willing to "start a company in India" (the capitalistic way) to eradicate the water hyacinth, despite a "demand". Now, should the state step in to protect the flora or fauna or should the state wait for some befuddled blokes to start a company; and/or wait for the flora or fauna to adapt to the water hyacinth? (You claimed in an earlier post that "Capitalism can produce a cure for the water hyacinth problem" etc. so explain to me how "Capitalism" is going to implement this "cure")
As a citizen of India, I am not interested in the "problem" - most Indians know the "problem" - whatever the "problem". I am interested in the proposed solution and what you are doing to fix it. According to the Shadow Warrior's article, if conversions in Khasi stop, the topsoil runoff will reduce. Perhaps, if all the Christians or Muslims along the backwaters were to convert back to Hinduism, the water hyacinth menace would also reduce. And since we have cheap labour, why not get the RSS and the kar sevaks to do something useful for a change like this? That should generate some employment and keep them out of mischief. What is the point in becoming an "engineer" and writing some "yellow journalistic" articles? - any two-bit idiot can do that and hide behind such a "patriotic" act.
The RSS kar sevaks do a lot of good, just that the secular media -print and television, refrain from giving them their due to burnish their own "secular" credentials. RSS workers are always present be it train accidents, floods - if you recall, an occasional snapshot of RSS sevaks engaged in work would flash by on the DD news (may be because of sloppy editing). And they are more than willing to publish the photo of a woman in burqa "lending a hand" to weed out the water hyacinth - while there is a non-zero probability that there were many other volunteers (belonging to other religions) enganged in the same work too. And given your tone, it would be of no surprise to me if you would later claim that the state run DD was indulging in a conspiracy to elevate the status of the RSS workers (thru that passing clip on the screen). I know the thread has digressed way beyond what it was originally meant to discuss - but allow me to digress even further and state that minorities in India are afflicted with the siege mentality that is characteristic of smaller communities - but no amount of appeasement is going to allay those fears. So we should just disregard them after a certain humanly possible effort has been invested to include them.
Just an observation,
Is there a mass support for RSS in Kerala? ... NO. So, if there is no RSS in Kerala how can 'anonymous' expect the organization to clean up things?
The majority organazations (SFI, DYFI etc...) are more interested in cleaning up the old KSRTC buses? ^_^
George the drain inspector, you are a good little Abrahamist because you lie through your teeth. If you are not a Christian, why do you get defend your little cult so vigorously? You Christians should buzz off to your disgusting desert, you are polluting this great country. You are devil-worshippers and death-worshippers. You worship a crucified corpse. Yours is a false religion created by the devil, intended to destroy God's creations.
refer the May 5 newindpress.com report on 'snake groves' in kerala:
"Alarming depletion of ‘kavus'
Thursday May 5 2005 12:51 IST
KOLLAM: The alarming rate of depletion of the sacred groves (Sarpakavu/Kavu), an integral part of the cultural life, is posing a serious threat to the environment of the state and its rich bio-diversity.
The number of sacred groves in the state has been reduced to 2000 from 15,000 in 1827, according to study reports.
Most of the sacred groves vanished owing to the changing socio-economic conditions and the land use system. Illegal cutting of trees, planting with exotic species not suitable to the place, encroachment, fire, cattle grazing, collection and removal of biomass, collection of green manure and fuel-wood, mining of China clay and laterite bricks, high pressure on land owing to the increase in the population and above all the weakening of the faiths have been identified as the factors that led to the depletion.
However, the sacred grove spread over more than 4 acres of land around the Vana Durga Temple at Eravipuram near Kollam tells a different story. Despite the high pressure on land in this coastal area, the Cheroor Sree Rama Rama Samskarika Samithi, a family trust which runs the affairs of the Kavu and the temple, was contributing all its best to preserve the sacred grove even though the total area of the grove had been reduced considerably owing to encroachments during the past few years.
The Kavu, popularly known as Velliayazhcha Kavu, as Friday is believed to be the favourite day of the deity in the temple, is rich of very rare species of plants and animals. Odalpazham, a fruit with high medicinal value, is lavishly found in the grove. During summer the kavu turns an abode for the migratory birds such as Siberian cranes.
"
everyone knows who are the masters of land encroachments and forest mafia under the able guidance of X-ian politicians in Kerala. Just visit central travancore to see their atrocities on our ecology. (thanks to KM Mani and his frock wearing Bishops)
Krishna
It is funny to blame Marxists for those empty paddy fields. What is wrong in insisting minimum wages for poor farm-workers ? I am surprised that you did not bring Nehru in this story. When did mallus work in the paddy fields ?
I remember you are that genuis who wrote that tsunami attacked Tamilnadu coz Kanchi Seer was arrested. You mallus are stingy about giving few TMCs of water in Periyar Dam. Thatz why God's own country is becoming Dog's own country.
You are just one of those capitalistic coolies..
Post a Comment