Saturday, June 20, 2009
THE ART OF SHOE THROWING
Harish Bhat explores the finer aspects of the ‘art’ of shoe-throwing. The forgotten art of shoe-throwing has seen a dramatic revival. In earlier days, shoes were thrown after newlyweds for good luck. Thereafter, Nikita Kruschev taught us that throwing and banging shoes on the high table at the United Nations produces a remarkable effect. Imelda Marcos may have never thrown a shoe herself, but she owned hundreds of glorious pairs, and must have collected many more as her countrymen threw shoes at her in anger. Like all art forms, shoe-throwing has also evolved. In recent times, shoes have been thrown at US president George W Bush and India's homeland security minister P Chidambaram and other well-heeled personalities. For all aspiring practitioners of this splendid art form, here are some words of advice. Choose your shoe prudently. It is best to throw a shoe that you don’t really want. Alternatively, you could choose to throw your wife’s shoes: more choice there. The gender of the shoe is not really important, and indeed a good high heel can send a very potent message. You must practice the throw several times in advance — the idea is not to hit the target, but to just miss. My time-tested formula — grasp the shoe firmly, rotate your arm in a wide sweeping arc, sight the target and throw aiming exactly 17 inches to the left. If you are targeting a politician, increase this gap to 80 inches or more: they are known for constantly shifting positions. Throw both shoes. After all, what can you hope to achieve with the second residual shoe once the first has been taken away by the authorities? You could even throw your neighbour’s shoe if you wish. This requires a quick bending action and a sleepy shoe-clad neighbour. And finally, dont throw shoes for flimsy reasons as getting rid of your old shoes. Every shoe, however smelly or torn, must be thrown only for a great and noble cause
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Who gets to "pick"? Al Gore or Baida Gaikwad ?
Times of India report from PUNE: "Don't burn our bread," urged Baida Gaikwad, a wastepicker from Pune, while expressing her concern over the use of Waste to Energy' (WtE) in
Germany. Baida addressed panels of trade unions and United Nations on the impact of WtE technologies on her livelihood and that of thousands of wastepickers across India, including 6,500 in Pune.
Baida, along with Poornima Chikarmane and Nalini Shekar of Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP), the Pune-based association for ragpickers, made a presentation at Bonn (Germany) Climate Change Talks - June 2009, organised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Wastepickers in Pune are worried about the impact of the civic body's efforts to use quick-fix solutions like Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) to control the garbage processing menace, on their livelihood.
"The recycling sector provides livelihood and employment to about 1 per cent of the total population in developing countries. The workers in this sector live and work on the fringes of the economy. They go about their business of collecting paper, plastic, metal, glass and other recyclables. Their livelihoods are under threat from technology providers hawking quick-fix solutions, like RDF, plasma, pyrolysis, gasification and other euphemisms for incineration. Cloaked in the guise of renewable energy, they claim carbon credits for sending toxic gases into the atmosphere" said Laxmi Narayan of KKPKP.
KKPKP has 6,500 member of which 1,500 are also members of Solid Waste Collection and Handling (SWACH), an autonomous enterprise of waste-pickers.
PMC's plan to opt for RDF technology for processing garbage is meeting stiff resistance from environmentalists who have warned of hazardous consequences for health and environment.
December 2008 Comptroller Auditor General's report on Municipal Solid Waste in India recommends providing legal recognition to rag pickers so that recycling work becomes more organised and also ensures better work conditions for waste-pickers. RDF technology is inconsistent with the livelihood needs of the recycling workers. In fact, it destroys livelihood and poisons the food chain as has been witnessed in Gundhumguda, Andhra Pradesh, says New Delhi-based solid waste expert Gopal Krishna.
"The use of technologies, which displace wastepickers and threaten their livelihood, should be avoided as these technologies go against the principle of recycling because the incentive to segregate is absent," adds Laxmi Narayan.
Germany. Baida addressed panels of trade unions and United Nations on the impact of WtE technologies on her livelihood and that of thousands of wastepickers across India, including 6,500 in Pune.
Baida, along with Poornima Chikarmane and Nalini Shekar of Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP), the Pune-based association for ragpickers, made a presentation at Bonn (Germany) Climate Change Talks - June 2009, organised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Wastepickers in Pune are worried about the impact of the civic body's efforts to use quick-fix solutions like Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) to control the garbage processing menace, on their livelihood.
"The recycling sector provides livelihood and employment to about 1 per cent of the total population in developing countries. The workers in this sector live and work on the fringes of the economy. They go about their business of collecting paper, plastic, metal, glass and other recyclables. Their livelihoods are under threat from technology providers hawking quick-fix solutions, like RDF, plasma, pyrolysis, gasification and other euphemisms for incineration. Cloaked in the guise of renewable energy, they claim carbon credits for sending toxic gases into the atmosphere" said Laxmi Narayan of KKPKP.
KKPKP has 6,500 member of which 1,500 are also members of Solid Waste Collection and Handling (SWACH), an autonomous enterprise of waste-pickers.
PMC's plan to opt for RDF technology for processing garbage is meeting stiff resistance from environmentalists who have warned of hazardous consequences for health and environment.
December 2008 Comptroller Auditor General's report on Municipal Solid Waste in India recommends providing legal recognition to rag pickers so that recycling work becomes more organised and also ensures better work conditions for waste-pickers. RDF technology is inconsistent with the livelihood needs of the recycling workers. In fact, it destroys livelihood and poisons the food chain as has been witnessed in Gundhumguda, Andhra Pradesh, says New Delhi-based solid waste expert Gopal Krishna.
"The use of technologies, which displace wastepickers and threaten their livelihood, should be avoided as these technologies go against the principle of recycling because the incentive to segregate is absent," adds Laxmi Narayan.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
THE REAL PRICE OF GOLD
The following is an environment update from me. Respecting your time, I've heavily shrunk an article from the National Geographic
In the U.S. an activist-driven "No Dirty Gold" campaign has persuaded many top jewelry retailers to stop selling gold from mines that cause severe social or environmental damage, but such concerns don't ruffle the biggest consumer nation, namely India, where a gold obsession is woven into the culture. For all of its allure, gold's human and environmental toll has never been so steep. Part of the challenge, as well as the fascination, is that there is so little of it. In all of history, only 161,000 tons of gold have been mined, barely enough to fill two Olympic-size swimming pools. Now the world's richest deposits are fast being depleted, and most of the gold left to mine exists as traces buried in remote and environmentally fragile corners of the globe such as the Peruvian Andes and Indonesian rain forests . Mercury used to separate gold from rock, spreads poison in both gas and liquid forms. UNIDO estimates that one-third of all mercury released by humans into the environment comes from artisanal gold mining. Two to five grams of mercury are released into the environment for every gram of gold recovered—a staggering statistic, given that mercury poisoning can cause severe damage to the nervous system and all major organs. Even vast, open-pit mines run by the world's largest mining companies wreck the environment in a different way. A typical wedding ring requires the removal of more than 250 tons of rock and ore. No other metal generates so much waste per ounce.No technology can make the massive waste generated by mining magically disappear. A mere 16 hours shift, at a big mine inside the Indonesian rain forest, accumulates more tons of waste than all of the tons of gold mined in human history. The waste comes in two forms: discarded rock, which is piled into flat-topped mountains spread across what used to be pristine rain forest, and tailings, the effluent from chemical processing is piped to the bottom of the sea.
Will we still enjoy buying gold? Saving the environment can no longer be the concern of only tree hugging, sandal wearing, tofu eating bearded types.
In the U.S. an activist-driven "No Dirty Gold" campaign has persuaded many top jewelry retailers to stop selling gold from mines that cause severe social or environmental damage, but such concerns don't ruffle the biggest consumer nation, namely India, where a gold obsession is woven into the culture. For all of its allure, gold's human and environmental toll has never been so steep. Part of the challenge, as well as the fascination, is that there is so little of it. In all of history, only 161,000 tons of gold have been mined, barely enough to fill two Olympic-size swimming pools. Now the world's richest deposits are fast being depleted, and most of the gold left to mine exists as traces buried in remote and environmentally fragile corners of the globe such as the Peruvian Andes and Indonesian rain forests . Mercury used to separate gold from rock, spreads poison in both gas and liquid forms. UNIDO estimates that one-third of all mercury released by humans into the environment comes from artisanal gold mining. Two to five grams of mercury are released into the environment for every gram of gold recovered—a staggering statistic, given that mercury poisoning can cause severe damage to the nervous system and all major organs. Even vast, open-pit mines run by the world's largest mining companies wreck the environment in a different way. A typical wedding ring requires the removal of more than 250 tons of rock and ore. No other metal generates so much waste per ounce.No technology can make the massive waste generated by mining magically disappear. A mere 16 hours shift, at a big mine inside the Indonesian rain forest, accumulates more tons of waste than all of the tons of gold mined in human history. The waste comes in two forms: discarded rock, which is piled into flat-topped mountains spread across what used to be pristine rain forest, and tailings, the effluent from chemical processing is piped to the bottom of the sea.
Will we still enjoy buying gold? Saving the environment can no longer be the concern of only tree hugging, sandal wearing, tofu eating bearded types.
Wealth since the dawn of civilization
The 75 richest people since the dawn of civilization makes interesting read: Here is a selection of names including rank, wealth in recent USD billions and source of wealth. And off course my wisecracks! 1st John D. Rockefeller, (oil), 318 billions. 2nd Andrew Carnegie, (steel), 298 billion. 3rd Nicholas II of Russia (monarchy), 253 billion. Is not Putin richer? 5th NIZAM OF HYDERABAD, (Ruler), 210. I was his neighbour before I moved to US (kidding!). 7th Henry Ford, (motor car), 188 billion. No surprise his successor has not asked for federal bailout money. 8th Marcus Licinius Crassus, (Roman Senator and contemporary of Julius Caesar), 169 billion. What happened to JC, Brutus and Mark Anthony ... were they busy either writing speeches or chasing Cleopatra instead of raiding the mint? 9th Basil II, (Byzantine Emperor), 169 billion again. 12th Amenophis III (Egyptian Pharaoh), 155billion; think some is still there in the pyramids? 15th Elizabeth I (House of Tudor), 142 billion. 16th John D. Rockefeller, Jr, (oil), 141 billion .... how did he blow 180 billions that his # 1 kin started out with ? 17th Sam Walton (Walmart) 128 billion ... imagine how much more if he did not offer everyday low prices! 20th CLEOPATRA (ancient Egypt/Ptolemaic inheritance), 95 billions; dream mix of beauty & wealth! 27th Sultan of Brunei, (Ruler), 80 billion; yeah, I've seen pics of his fancy jet! 31st. Carlos Slim, (Mexican telecom tycoon), 72 bil. 37th BILL GATES, (Microsoft), 58 billion. 40th MUKESH AMBANI, (Reliance/India), 55 billion .... wow ! to be on the same list as Cleopatra. 41st Warren Buffet, (Berkshire Hathaway), 52 billion; good job Warren for joining Bill in the world's biggest charitable endowment. 42nd LAKSHMI MITTAL, (steel/India), 51 billion. Looks like that mega shaadi (wedding) for your daughter did not make a dent! 48th ANIL AMBANI, (Reliance Communications/India), 45 billion. 55th Paul Allen, (Microsoft co founder), 40 billion. His recipe for success: Room with a dude like Gates and don't waste time at Harvard. 68th K.P. SINGH (DLF/Indian builder), 32 billion 75th Prince Al-Waleed bin Tal, (Saudi ruling family), 29 billion.
Source of information: "Outliers", by Malcolm Gladwell
Source of information: "Outliers", by Malcolm Gladwell
India Untouched
A Times Of India report summary
NEW DELHI: India is failing its rural poor with 230 million people being undernourished. Malnutrition accounts for nearly 50% of child deaths in India and every third adult is reported to be thin. According to the latest report on the state of food insecurity in rural India, more than 1.5 million children are at risk of becoming malnourished because of rising global food prices. Foodgrain harvest during 2008-09 is estimated to be a record 228 million tonnes. However, the requirement for the national population would exceed 250 million tonnes by 2015.
India ranks 94th in the Global Hunger Index of 119 countries, the report said.
Brought out by the United Nations World Food Program, the report points to some staggering figures. More than 27% of the world's undernourished population lives in India while 43% of children, under 5, in the country are underweight. The figure is among the highest in the world and is much higher than the global average of 25% and also higher than sub-Saharan Africa's figure of 28%. More than 70% of children suffer from anaemia and 80% of them don't get vitamin supplements. According to the report, the proportion of anaemic children has actually increased by 6% in the past six years with 11 out of 19 states having more than 80% of its children suffering from anaemia. Percentage of women with chronic energy deficiency is stagnant at 40% over six years with the proportion in fact increasing in Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana during the same period. The report also questioned the government's definitions of hunger and poverty. "The fact that calorie deprivation is increasing during a period when the proportion of rural population below the poverty line is claimed to be declining rapidly, highlights the increasing disconnect between official poverty estimates and calorie deprivation," it said.
Almost 80% of rural households do not have access to toilets within their premises. The figure exceeds 90% in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and MP.
The proportion of stunted children at 48% is again among the highest in the world. Every second child in the country is stunted, according to the health ministry's figures. Around 30% of babies in India are born underweight
NEW DELHI: India is failing its rural poor with 230 million people being undernourished. Malnutrition accounts for nearly 50% of child deaths in India and every third adult is reported to be thin. According to the latest report on the state of food insecurity in rural India, more than 1.5 million children are at risk of becoming malnourished because of rising global food prices. Foodgrain harvest during 2008-09 is estimated to be a record 228 million tonnes. However, the requirement for the national population would exceed 250 million tonnes by 2015.
India ranks 94th in the Global Hunger Index of 119 countries, the report said.
Brought out by the United Nations World Food Program, the report points to some staggering figures. More than 27% of the world's undernourished population lives in India while 43% of children, under 5, in the country are underweight. The figure is among the highest in the world and is much higher than the global average of 25% and also higher than sub-Saharan Africa's figure of 28%. More than 70% of children suffer from anaemia and 80% of them don't get vitamin supplements. According to the report, the proportion of anaemic children has actually increased by 6% in the past six years with 11 out of 19 states having more than 80% of its children suffering from anaemia. Percentage of women with chronic energy deficiency is stagnant at 40% over six years with the proportion in fact increasing in Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana during the same period. The report also questioned the government's definitions of hunger and poverty. "The fact that calorie deprivation is increasing during a period when the proportion of rural population below the poverty line is claimed to be declining rapidly, highlights the increasing disconnect between official poverty estimates and calorie deprivation," it said.
Almost 80% of rural households do not have access to toilets within their premises. The figure exceeds 90% in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and MP.
The proportion of stunted children at 48% is again among the highest in the world. Every second child in the country is stunted, according to the health ministry's figures. Around 30% of babies in India are born underweight
Monday, May 25, 2009
Behind every man .......
Barbara Walters did a story on gender roles in Kabul, Afghanistan, several years before the Afghan conflict. She noted that women customarily walked five paces behind their husbands. She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands. From Ms. Walters' vantage point, despite the overthrow of the oppressive Taliban regime, the women now seem to walk even further back behind their husbands, and are happy to maintain the old custom. Barbara approached one of the Afghani women and asked, 'Why do you now seem happy with an old custom that you once tried so desperately to change?' The woman looked Ms. Walters straight in the eyes, and without hesitation said..."Land Mines". No matter what language you speak and where you go: BEHIND EVERY MAN, THERE'S A SMART WOMAN.
Dr Robert Langdon responds to my request!
I requested the fictional Dr. Robert Langdon, the fabled Harvard symbologist (Tom Hanks plays him in the movie version of Dan Brown's Angels & Demons) to help me understand the symbols of Indian political parties and here is his response!!!
Q: Why is the Samajwadi Party's symbol 'Cycle'? A: Because after a ban on English and use of computers, that's all we'll be able to afford
Q: Why is the Congress party's symbol 'Hand'? A: To remind Indians that our fate is forever in the hand of one family
Q: Why is BJP Symbol 'Lotus'? A: Lotus is the symbol of Sarawasti and learning. BJP will educate us through the wisdom of Varun Gandhi and Pravin Togadia.
Q: Why is Mayawati's symbol 'Elephant'? A: It's a self portrait.
Q: Why is Jayalalitha' s symbol 'Two leaves'? A: Because that's what remained after Amma ate up all the fruit
Q: Why is DMK's symbol 'Sun'? A: So that Karunanidhi can justify promoting his 'suns' through his numerous wives over others in the party!
Q: Why is Lalu's symbol 'Lantern'? A: Because there's no electricity in Bihar
Q: Why is CPM's symbol 'Hammer and Sickle'?
A: Because that's what you will be using if they come to power
Q: Why is Sharad Pawar's symbol 'Clock'? A: Because his time, as Mahamantriji, never seems to come
Q: Why is Shiv Sena's symbol 'Bow and Arrow'? A: I can tell you, but then I'll have to shoot you Have a nice day Lava
Q: Why is the Samajwadi Party's symbol 'Cycle'? A: Because after a ban on English and use of computers, that's all we'll be able to afford
Q: Why is the Congress party's symbol 'Hand'? A: To remind Indians that our fate is forever in the hand of one family
Q: Why is BJP Symbol 'Lotus'? A: Lotus is the symbol of Sarawasti and learning. BJP will educate us through the wisdom of Varun Gandhi and Pravin Togadia.
Q: Why is Mayawati's symbol 'Elephant'? A: It's a self portrait.
Q: Why is Jayalalitha' s symbol 'Two leaves'? A: Because that's what remained after Amma ate up all the fruit
Q: Why is DMK's symbol 'Sun'? A: So that Karunanidhi can justify promoting his 'suns' through his numerous wives over others in the party!
Q: Why is Lalu's symbol 'Lantern'? A: Because there's no electricity in Bihar
Q: Why is CPM's symbol 'Hammer and Sickle'?
A: Because that's what you will be using if they come to power
Q: Why is Sharad Pawar's symbol 'Clock'? A: Because his time, as Mahamantriji, never seems to come
Q: Why is Shiv Sena's symbol 'Bow and Arrow'? A: I can tell you, but then I'll have to shoot you Have a nice day Lava
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)