THINK UNDERSTAND ACCEPT ADAPT

JAN SABHA FOR MUNI ELECTIONS IN MUMBAI

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:40:00 +0000

It is a given that Citizen Activism of all brands, including the Anna Effect promoted by India Against Corruption, is a long term activity. We at IAC have long ago accpeted this fact and are promoting it with citizens who are often misled into treating this satyagrah as a short term competition between citizens and government. THIS IS NOT A US VERSES THEM FIGHT AT ALL.

The current Muni Elections in Mumbai offer an excellent opportunity for concerned Citizens to act for better governance and delivery of services. IAC-Mumbai has arranged a new flavor of Jan Sabha (Citizen Meeting), in various Constituencies ... some 20+ so far. The accompanying chart gives details of these critical events over the next few days. These are also posted at our web link: iacmumbai.org in the Event Box.

The Candidates from the mainline political parties and a few chosen Independants will be invited to interact with the Citizens of the constituencies. IAC-Mumbai IS NOT SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING ANY POLITICAL PARTY OR CANDIDATE. Time being a constraint, all possible candidates cannot be invited.

The standard queries put to the Candidates by our Moderators will expose the knowledge and capabilities of the Candidates. Citizens will judge for themselves who they should donate their precious vote too. The lottery is worth rupees twenty-five thousand crores per year in Muni Budget. Those parties or candidates who absent themselves will be insulting the citizens of the constituencies and further losing an opportunity to get votes. It is assumed that each citizen attending the Jan Sabha represents FIVE votes.

For the Volunteers, it a win-win all the way. They win four World Cups if they put thru the Jan Sabha process ... whatever the results.

1. Volunteers learn to work as a team for a common public cause.
2. Volunteers interact with citizens in their areas when they use leaflets to invite them for the
citizen meet. Thus their bonds are made with citizens as selfless workers.
3. Volunteers see the fickle nature of some politicians and candidates and do not remain in perpetual awe of 'leaders'. They learn that as 'owners' they can 'interview' Nagar Savak's for a five year job of serving the community.
4. Volunteers interact with the elected and selected officials for public work and get confidence in handling the official quirks and processes.

To make this long story short, it is critical for citizens to participate and change things for the better by joining this opportunity. STOP THE PLUNDER OF INDIA. JAI HIND.

First Anniversary for IAC-Mumbai public activity.

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:42:00 +0000

Today is the first anniversary of the IAC-Mumbais' first 'activity'. To those who recall, the public meet at Azad Maidan was the first 'testing of waters' for some of us to judge, if the 'need for a strong law to fight corruption' had any takers in Mumbai. The response got us going and look at the 'jan jaagran' that has been achieved.

Can one imagine, one year back, anyone talking in public, of 'citizens being owners and supreme' and requiring Parliament to act on citizen wishes?

Can one imagine, one year ago, tens of thousands (even almost two lakh once), gathering to learn about the Lokpal, without any 'neta' or 'abhineta' leading the activity?

Can one imagine, one year back, challenging and questioning of the regulatory and statutory authorities by some ordinary citizens?

Yes all this has happened and I learnt so much :) I am so glad of the year gone past.

I am truly happy to receive the flowers that some of our Volunteers presented to me and Mayank.

I strongly feel the 'anna effect' has set in, in India, and the personal shortcomings or mistakes of the IAC-initiators do not carry any value. VandeMataram. Jai Hind.

FUTURE OF THE ‘INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION’ MOVEMENT

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:34:00 +0000

All movements have episodic highs and lows. This is a given even before a movement starts, as should be obvious to anyone who has made even a cursory study of the Mahatmas’ freedom movement between 1917 and 1947. There should therefore be no reason for 'disillusionment', depression or ‘I told you so’ revelations by some prominent Activists. A movement should not be compared with some 'competition' or sport where there are clear cut results and winners. A movement such as IAC always has winners if one studies it carefully.

This IAC has been the ONLY movement in the world in the past 65 years where Jan Jaagran has occurred without violence or upsetting life in the nation or cities. Almost one year of IAC activities in Delhi, Mumbai and so many cities and towns of

India

, have gone by without a single incident of violence or 'situation' requiring police intervention. This is a record for

India

and for the World, a peaceful movement involving citizens across all sections and sectors, with no 'netas' or 'abhinetaas' is unheard of in the whole world. For the FIRST time some citizens have become aware of their 'need for participation' in a vibrant democracy. That such a thing could happen in so short a time – just over one year - with so little resources and so widely across a vast nation should make any citizen feel PROUD. The fact that a national bill could be discussed so widely in public and in the print and electronic media for so long, is something to feel PROUD about ... this is also a FIRST in the whole world in recent times. The fact that some politicians have exposed themselves so fully, in and out of Parliament ... as incompetent and selfish, without upsetting a national government, is something to be PROUD about.

When the above is taken in perspective, all negative feelings and thoughts should be gone. So, citizens need to focus on the REAL GAINS and not on imagined losses. This is an answer to all those who view national movements with a very small lens ... my request is that use a birds eye view and see beyond immediate wins and losses.

The future needs to continue with this non-structured national civil society Group, staying out of electoral politics and concentrating on citizen politics, inviting all concerned to express themselves, reaching out to all classes and Groups in an all-inclusive fashion, to respond politely to repeated queries which have obvious answers, to create local support groups, design training modules to prepare local leaders in colleges and residential zones, to start a newsletter or piggyback on an existing one. The whole set of national level and state level reforms covering: elections, public information, taxation, local governance, local resource rights, judicial and police, need to be put in a wider public domain. The promoters need to be accurate, consistent and persistent.

The public needs to be constantly informed of the 3D poison and the PAT antidote. The citizens need to beware of the Government offered ‘khichadi’ which has only two ingredients (rice and daal) missing out of the probable twenty. The spirit of IAC needs to be repeated ad nausam:

1. Ahimsa in Thought, Word & Deed. While the last two might be easy and are generally practised by an overwhelming majority of Volunteers, it is the Ahimsa of Thought that is to be achieved by all, in order to reach higher Conscience.

2. Satyagrah against existing Systems and Processes of the Government (at all levels) which are based or copies of what the extortionist English left behind and which do not reflect the current and future needs and wants of the Citizens of India. We must not forget that a simple inquiry will demonstrate that none in the current and the past three generations have been asked what 'systems and processes of governance' are desired. No explanation has been offered and no feedback is sought even today, unless under pressure.

3. Avoidance of trap of 3D (which is Deny, Divide & Divert) which has been practiced by all invading powers and adopted by the democratically elected Government at all levels in the nation. The last, that is Divert is like a Bhramaastra, most citizens easily become emotional and get carried away by peripheral issues forgetting the central issue for which an agitation is launched.
4. Persistent and consistent use of PAT (Participation, Accountability & Transparency) in all social transactions, such as meetings, activities and agitations.

Let us not try to look for shortcuts and instead prepare for a decade long struggle. STOP THE PLUNDER OF INDIA.

IAC-Mumbai FAQ, on Lokpal and IAC movement.

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:32:00 +0000

1. We hear that Anna Hazare plans to mobilize a mammoth meeting at the Jantar Mantar grounds in New Delhi on December 11. Are there any similar plans in Mumbai? Also has Hazare got permission for the same as there are conflicting reports.

Intimations-Permissions are under process for Jantar Mantar. IAC always abides by the basic 'rules for common good' even tho we offer 'satyagrah' against systems which were designed by the english about one hundred years back. Yes, there are similar plans for Mumbai too.

2. Do you have permission to demonstrate at Azad Maidan? Do let me know what form this gathering in Mumbai will take? When will it start?

Yes, IAC-Mumbai are planning a 'dharna' at Azad Maidan in the public demonstration zone. Intimation to the relevant Police Station has been made and as has been usual, we do not expect any objection, since this is a common demonstration zone. Our Volunteers wearing Anna Caps, will gather there at about 10AM, to inform the Citizens-public and the Media about the 'breach of faith' the 'dhokha' that the Government has given the whole nation. Full details of the points on which promises have again been broken will be offered. Banners, posters, leaflets, badges proclaiming the above will be offered to the IAC Nagarik Samiti's and city wide citizens from our Citizen Centers at Andheri East, Byculla East and Kurla West. The crowd will disperse in the evening, about 07PM after dark. We expect tens of thousands, more than last time.

3. What is the program exactly for the Mumbai demonstration?

As above. One day fasting will be encouraged by all Volunteers ... except those who are managing the actual event. As has been usual, we expect the police and CID to continue to offer guidance to IAC. We also expect some Groups associated with IAC-Mumbai to conduct their own similar events in far flung areas of MMR, though on a smaller scale.

4. December 11, is a Sunday is it deliberate to stage this protest on Sunday since it is a non-working day?

The presence of citizens on a non-working day is an advantage since they do not have to forego working day salary and wages. The GoI is forcing citizens to upset their routine lives by forcing our hand and we have to accommodate the needs and restrictions on the lives of citizens and their families and work.

5. What kind of crowds are you expecting on December 11?

IAC-Mumbai expects tens of thousands to visit and participate in our day long satyagrah-dharna-fasting.

6. Why are you holding this protest once again, after mammoth demonstrations earlier?

We are now sure that the Standing Committee and the GoI have purposefully broken all the promises made to the nation. The Lokpal Bill to be put before Parliament for debate and passing is so weak that again the citizens will be left with a toothless institution and more pain. The following issues are not resolved, even though promises, 'sense of the house', commitment by INC spokes person, UPA-2, were made:

PM to be covered by the Lokpal

CBI and CVC to be merged with Lokpal

Citizens Charter for all Federal and State departments, covering all services, costs, time lines and regular revision after feedback from all stake holders.

Lower division Officers not covered by Lokpal, but NGOs (registered and unregistered) to be covered. The talk of need of extra staff for the former, is therefore a lie since there are Lakhs of NGOs who will need much processing.

Judiciary corrupt practices not covered by Judiciary Bill or the Lokpal.

Lokpal not independent since it has to work thru CBI, etc who continue to report to PMO.

7. Do you think that the public will respond again?

We at IAC are certain that the citizen of our glorious nation will respond with greater fervor than before. The disgust and rage is palpable. Our meetings at Nagpur, Amraviti, Pune, Nashik, weekly meetings in Mumbai, the eagerness to join our Mumbai IAC Nagrik Samiti's (INS), support this expectation. We have confirmed 85 INS for Mumbai, and the number keeps rising.

8. Hasn’t the Anna Hazare movement lost some of its steam and sheen?

This is really unbelievable. A simple chat with the people on the street in any town, village, city will confirm otherwise. Our movement based on Ahimsa, Satyagrah, avoidance of 3D and confirmation of PAT does not allow goondaism, hulliganism, rabid tactics, etc. We do not instigate common breach of law and order, as can be seen every week, by some political parties and their supporters. We do not call for 'bands' and harassment of citizens. We do not call for flash strikes and hurt the nation and citizens. In our one year of street activity, there has not been even ONE incident of violence or 'situation' for which the security and police have had to act. The satyagrah has been more peaceful and is the first in the whole world. The constant mis-management of the Nation and its economy, the leakage of development funds in Lakhs of Crores, the humongous scams are not forgotten by the citizens. We know they will respond to Annas' and IACs' call ... now it is a 'do or die' struggle. The second freedom struggle is certainly on.

9. first, it was Prashant Bhushan accused of making alleged anti-India remarks, then Kiran Bedi controversy? People are now saying that even if Hazare’s team is accused of corruption then it has lost the moral high ground.

The high or low moral ground of individuals has NEVER been the issue on the table. The one and only item which has been troubling the nation has been a 'strong law against corruption and black money'. This cause is greater than the individual, who so ever it is. This is the principle of the IAC movement. The tainted among the GoI are busy trying to 'divert' the public from the main agenda. The whole nation is reduced to becoming victims of corruption and some projects have reduced the nation to beggary. So who is to choose who will be 'the great deliverer'. The logic that an alleged accused cannot suggest or work for public good is most ridiculous.

10. Is the Anna Hazare team riddled with infighting and controversy?

Any national movement will have persons coming in and going out. This is so for all times. Each capable person will have their own strengths, but they all believe in the common public cause. Only those who want the 3D effect (Deny, Divide & Divert) will emphasize the alleged weakness of one or more of the IAC teams. Does the fact that some in the team have different opinions, change the main agenda or the need for a strong law? Is the possibility that one person being wrong today, mean that the nation should not consider something pending for over 43 years? What have the political parties being doing, except passing bills to improve their own benefits? Witness the fact that each MP costs the citizens at least 62 Lakhs per year. They do not even take feed back from the citizens of their constituency as our common referendums have shown time and again.

11. History has shown that movements like the support Anna movement start off with a bang but gradually fizzle out. People do not have the strength or the time to continue. Would this one be different?

Its only when arm chair activism overtakes grass root action, that the above happens. IAC has found the right cause affecting each and every citizen of this great nation. Even the politicians agree in private that they support a strong law against corruption since urgent reforms do not work anymore due to the constant bleeding of resources. The same support has been expressed by the police and their branches and officers. The peaceful nature of each and every activity speaks of the sincere purpose; never has any activity been hijacked by 'self-seekers' or trouble makers, though attempts have been made to bring ridicule on the movement and its key supporters. None of such attempts have succeeded.

12. The last time Anna Hazare held his demonstration and similar movement happened in Mumbai, there were actors, performers etc who supported him. I think a choreographer even did some dance at the Azad Maidan. Was all this for publicity or do you think what he said resonated with everyone?

IAC movement does not promote: netas, abhinetas and any self-seekers. Like any citizen, they are welcome to visit and promote the national IAC cause. IAC has never hired choreographers professionally, however some came and offered to bring in talent to promote the INDIA TEAM public cause led by AnnaJi. Even some Bollywood personalities came in support as did senior Advocates of the Mumbai High Court. We have not stopped politicians from openly supporting the IAC cause, however they have not brought their party culture or ideology to our stage and platform. After all they too are citizens of India. In each case, they have avidly supported the public cause of 'strong law against corruption'. IAC does not support publicity stunts and stings. This movement is too serious and Indias' existence is at stake.

13. Why do you think NGOs (like yours) and the media (like this one) should not come under the ambit of Lokpal?

These are mostly not working with Public Taxes or public money. They are anyway required to file elaborate annual statements and undergo regular audit. Peer pressure exposes any wrong doing. This is not found with Low Level Government Officials and Public Servants who have been kept out of the ambit of the Lokpal. With the Media, its independence and episodic misdeeds, hardly require any special treatment, the current laws and the Media over sight is sufficient. The common citizens are not affected by any episodic event of the Media. Focus on making the law citizen centric needs to be maintained.

14. do you see the second round in Mumbai at least growing into a mass movement like the first?

Sorry ... this is the fifth round: the first was at Nare Park, Lalbaug, on 03rd April when over 8,000 citizens sat for three hours peacefully and listened to five 'dharma gurus' and many IAC key Volunteers. The second was the 'fasting' from 05th Apr onwards at Azad Maidan when over 10,000 visited daily and which culminated in a victory car rally attended by over 150 vehicles on the 09th April. The third was again the unbroken fasting from 16th Aug. at Azad Maidan when over 2,400 offered themselves for arrest on the first day, and daily 15,000 visited the Maidan and where over one hundred Groups, Schools, Unions and Associations signed in. There was also the MahaRally from Bandra West Rly Stn via Juhu Beach ending at the Juhu Circle (over 10 KM) on 27th August attended by over TWO LAKH citizens, without any incident or 'situation' and with hardly any police presence. Every time the movement has grown and the constant 3D, which seems to be the only weapon of GoI, has stopped working.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The India Against Corruption (IAC) movement is based on ...

1. Ahimsa in Thought, Word & Deed. While the last two might be easy and are generally practised by an overwhelming majority of Volunteers, it is the Ahimsa of Thought that is to be achieved by all, in order to reach higher Conscience.

2. Satyagrah against existing Systems and Processes of the Government (at all levels) which are based or copies of what the extortionist English left behind and which do not reflect the current and future needs and wants of the Citizens of India. We must not forget that a simple inquiry will demonstrate that none in the current and the past three generations have been asked what 'systems and processes of governance' are desired. No explanation has been offered and no feedback is sought even today, unless under pressure.

4. Persistent and consistent use of PAT (Participation, Accountability & Transparency) in all social transactions, such as meetings, activities and agitations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The above was published in the newspaper: Mid-Day, Mumbai, Thu 01st Dec. 2011, page-14&15.

SLAPGATE REFLECTIONS

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:32:00 +0000

The India Against Corruption (IAC) movement is based on ...

4. Persistent and consistent use of PAT (Participation, Accountability & Transparency) in all social transactions, such as meetings, activities and agitations.

The current debate on Slapgate (Shri Sharad Pawar being the new victim, in a series of minor violence cases initiated by anonymous citizens, against prominent persons) seems to look for some scapegoat to pin blame on the reason for the sudden rise in violence in public life. Some politicians as usual are bent on Dividing and Diverting attention from the central issues which led to the national agitation and, some from the Media have taken pleasure in trying to pin blame on selected Activism movements. Here one needs to pause and review the events over the past few years and months: growing level of scams of astronomical levels, growing shortages of basics and increasing costs, scuffles in Parliament and State Assemblies so nicely broadcast on national TV, attack on Baba Ramdev at Ramlila Grounds, attack on Prashant and Arvind, episodic humiliation and detention of IAC Volunteers when law and order or corruption issues are exposed. The use of Governmental pressure, overt and covert, on the Activists behind the IAC movement and humiliating them on national TV, have not gone unnoticed among the citizens of India. Reactions will follow, all need not be responses, and this should be clearly understood. India can wait no more … to be heard and given its needs.

Almost one year of IAC activities in Delhi, Mumbai and so many cities and towns of India, have gone by without a single incident of violence or 'situation' requiring police intervention. This is a record for India and for the World; a peaceful movement involving citizens across all sections and sectors, with no 'netas' or 'abhinetaas' is unheard of in the whole world. Let us not try to pin some blame on Anna or key drivers of IAC without realising that violence originated from the establishment and their power centres. TEAM INDIA IS WATCHING; STOP THE PLUNDER OF INDIA.

Buffett should learn our ethos of giving

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The following is the report from: Indian Express / R Vaidyanathan / Wednesday, March 23, 2011. It makes very pertinent reading, even if a bit rhetorical.

The rootless wonders are agog with ecstasy that Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are visiting India. They will not only explore about investing in India but also urge the Indian business to allocate at least half of their wealth to charity and this year is called year of ‘giving’.

It is important that both of them are educated about our system and ethos of giving which exist from ancient times and do not need lectures through business channels which live and even die for TRPs.

Buffett should know that the greatest hero of all times in India in our puranas is Karna who gave all and his name is interchangeably used for the art of giving in many Indian languages.

Ratan Tata may be shy to point out to Bill Gates that ‘the Tata founders bequeathed most of their individual wealth to many trusts they created for the greater good of India and its people’. So is the case with G D Birla and Jamnalal Bajaj. This may not be trumpeted by Kumara Mangalam Birla and Rahul Bajaj. As a perceptive blogger Sandeep Singh says that as early as 1895 Dayal Singh Majithia bequeathed away three million rupees for noble causes including new ventures by Indians. Actually Majithia was an early ‘venture capitalist’ in India even though not many know about him.

We also find that Swami Vivekananda could not have gone to USA but for local business people funding him and the weightlifters and wrestlers could not have won gold medals at the recent Commonwealth Games but for local traders financing their clubs in remote parts of Orissa and Manipur. Many may not have heard about Ekal Vidyalayas which are one-teacher schools functioning in remote parts of India, particularly in tribal areas. They are in as many as 35,000 villages, educating more than one million children. Take the other example of Satya Sai initiative to bring water to Rayalseema using private donations. The Ninth Plan document of Planning Commission says, “The Sathya Sai Charity has set an unparalleled initiative of implementing on their own without any budgetary support a massive water supply project with an expenditure of `3 billion to benefit 731 villages, etc.”

Later this project was extended to Chennai costing more than `600 crore. Ramakrishna Mission runs around 200 hospitals serving nearly one crore people annually mostly in rural areas. It also runs around 1,200 educational institutions serving more than 3.5 lakh students of which more than 1.25 lakh are in rural areas.

Nadars engaged in business in Tamil Nadu have funded hundreds of educational institutions and hospitals and so the Marwaris/Chettiars/Katchis/Bhoras all over India.

A lot of our education, healthcare, arts, literature and spirituality efforts/ventures have been fully financed by businessmen who are even shy to talk about it. Herein is the secret to the fundamental ethos of giving in India. It is done without advertisements and trumpets. Actually in our tradition the giver is reluctant to talk about it since it embarrasses the receiver. The fact that it could demean the receiver is reason enough for the giver to keep silent. Remember the way Nitish Kumar reacted when the donation from Gujarat for flood relief in Bihar was advertised? Nitish Kumar recalled our tradition of giving without revealing.

It is told in our ancient wisdom that one should give till the hand bleeds and one should not talk about it. The action will speak even centuries later. The upstarts of today write on every tubelight their names before donating it to a temple or call press conferences to declare their ‘intentions’. That is the US culture. Everything from lovemaking to charity should be advertised and shown on prime time television. Then only you prove that the spouses and receivers are happy.

But why this sudden wallowing in self pity and whining about giving? It all started with the Indira Gandhi Prize being given to Bill Gates on July 25, 2009, and wherein the chairman of National Advisory Council Sonia Gandhi read a speech on the need for Indian businessmen to give for charity (like Bill Gates) and it was published in full by Wall Street Journal and a columnist in that paper pontificated the “rich in India to open their wallets”. Leaders and media in India who are clueless about Indian ethos are setting the Gates and Buffett’s to further pontificate to our business people.

It is interesting that Bill Gates who has operations in Cayman islands and Reno of Nevada to minimise or evade taxes to be paid to the United States government is enthusiastic about “Giving by India Inc”. Warren Buffett is planning to give his dollar assets to the Gates foundation which will reduce estate taxes in the future. Interestingly both of them are some of the few US business barons supporting estate taxes. It is not clear who are their dinner guests in India. If it is Forbes billionaires from India we hope Shahid Balwa of the Spectrum fame is not going to be there!

Somebody should also tell Bill Gates and Warren Buffett that India Inc constitutes less than 15 per cent of our GDP and the real growth masters are small partnership and proprietorship firms which are deeply involved in giving. Actually India Inc in our economy is like an item number in a Bollywood movie. Good to talk about on TV but only has the glamour quotient. Also can we suggest to Gates and Buffett to stop investing in firms in tax havens since that sucks away billions of dollars of money from countries like India. If they really want to help India then they should start a campaign to close down all these tax havens rather than having expensive company-paid dinners at five star hotels of our country urging Balwas to give.

(The writer is professor, Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore.

The views are personal)

URL of this Article : http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/op-ed/buffett-should-learn-our-ethos-of-giving/258790.html

YOU CHOOSE ... WHICH PATH YOU WANT TO FOLLOW

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:03:00 +0000

ToI, Mumbai, 01Mar11, page-17

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 09:06:00 +0000

A serious reform opportunity is lost. Taxing life insurance service providers is a 'pass on' and we will have to pay more. Also, why tax AC hospitals when quality health care needs air conditioning? With excise duty on 'branded’ garments, the small town guy who puts his own label to improve his reach will pay more
PRAFUL VORA | ACTIVIST

FINANCE BILL FY12

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:19:00 +0000

The following proposals / allocations will hurt the citizens:

1. taxing life insurance service providers. This is a 'pass on' and our under insured will pay more and more.

2. taxing AC hospitals, when quality health care needs air conditioning. We are still in the mindset that AC is a luxury ... with our dusty and polluted air, AC is a necessity and improves efficiency of service providers and the clients. Why should health care be taxed in any way?

3. excise duty on 'branded garments' ... now the small town guy who puts his own label to improve his reach will pay more. This is ridiculous. Do we want to improve production or imports? All China goods carry some brand mark, so will there be special import imposition on all of those?

4. token excise duty of 1% on 130 new items ... just to collect statistics, a costly method I will say. The Govt must use other on line filing methods without creating work for clerks.

5. Micro-irrigation equipment has its duty reduced but not brought to full exemption, yet the Govt. talks of spending on agriculture. Here is a clear case of double speak.

6. reduction in duties on downstream crude oil products would have helped control inflation; yet this is not done. Why heavily tax transport inputs, this adds to cost and not to value. How can India compete and double its exports in five years?

7. if we have difficulty in mining coal, gypsum, etc because of forest lands, adivasi lands and environ. concerns; at least eliminate import duties on same to allow power, cement, infrastructure to get benefit of lower inputs. Why just token reduction?

8. as usual, focus is on stock market, not long term reforms. So, FII investing in Mutual Funds is a big plus for the market; yet FDI for infrastructure is not clear, FDI in manufacturing is not easy.

9. a simple solution of pulling back Rs. 1000 currency notes to control corruption and black money is missed. USA did it during Nixon's time and the Mafia lost ground.

These are the errors of commissions and omissions which would otherwise, have made this Finance Bill tolerable.

The focus of the Finance Bill should be only on irrigation (small local dams and micro-irrigation), low agri-interest rates, cheaper produce storage and transport corridors and coaching for employable skills. Taxes and Duties on processed foods should be removed, to encourage production and consumption. Food Security is needless if above are made robust.

The dangers of an imported Second Green Revolution should be clear in that focus should be on fine tuning existing technology rather than handing over research control to foreign Corporates and sourcing so called better seeds from foreign Corporates. If the existing skill sets and tools with the farmers are improved there will be no need for Corporates to move in. The meek surrender of the nations assets and resources to Global Corporates who focus on financial gains by any means must be avoided.

Next on priority should be meaningful education with emphasis on 'values education', robust health care and continuous electric power. All other social spending should be reduced to accommodate the above. NREGA is useless if employable skills and power are not provided, we are perpetuating beggary and needless immigration to urban areas.

Finally, India needs to review its taxation process entirely. The ArthaKranti Prathisthan proposes 'bank transaction tax' and currency compression. We must have public debate and prepare a doctrine. India has the skill set for this and can lead the world in this sphere.

All the above taken together will lead to eleven plus economic growth rate with a human face and drastically reduce the current social problems that India and the world face. Unfortunately, the above are not fully addressed this time.

Obama's 2nd green revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:06:00 +0000

If any further data on the self-centered nature of USA govt. global policies is needed, here is a lead from a reputed web link. All means are used to push GMO on to the global citizens ... even levering developing nations to mis-guide other developing nations. Corporate profits from useless research must be obtained for USA groups, for which their Govt. spares no effort in lobbying. All in the name of an 'evergreen revolution' which is a 'self-destruct revolution' as opposed to 'natural evolution'. Read on ...

http://www.naturalnews.com/030695_GMOs_Obama.html

(NaturalNews) The Obama Administration is working towards a second "Green Revolution" in agriculture known as the "Evergreen Revolution". This sequel to prior agriculture industrialization efforts in India in the mid-20th century is being heralded by some as the next step in sustainable food production for the populations of the world. But a closer look reveals that one of the primary thrusts of the initiative is to push GMOs both in India and around the world.

In a recent Joint Session of the Indian Parliament, President Obama briefly explained his plans in the new Evergreen Revolution, which include exporting India's "hard-earned expertise" in agriculture, much of which was wrought during the first Green Revolution. But now, the goal is to allegedly improve upon these efforts and bring them to other developing areas like Africa that seem to be on the verge of an agricultural revolution.

But the main problem with the efforts is that they include exporting the same genetic modification technology that was thrust on India, but this time to the nations of Africa. In fact, a series of leaked reports from Wikileaks recently revealed that Africa is on the U.S. radar for GMO expansion efforts, which highlights the real agenda (http://www.naturalnews.com/030683_G...).

A recent Scientific American report on the subject explains that a former chief scientist from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pushing the Obama Administration to focus heavily on GMOs in its efforts with the program. Gale Buchanan is a huge supporter of GMOs and is quoted as saying that the only way the Evergreen Revolution is going to have a "real, revolutionary" impact is if it makes GMOs its top priority. And since Buchanan has already expressed support for the initiative as it is, it is likely that GMOs are already part of the plan.

Sources for this story include:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press...
http://www.scientificamerican.com/a...

Jairam Ramesh to blame for no GM crops

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 09:12:00 +0000

It is shocking to read a report dated Tue 09th Dec 2010 attached here, with the above subject line at the link:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/--Food-security-needs-to-be-addressed-on-priority--/722495

The promotion of GMO products, GM seeds and foods is a game that the Corporates and the Govt of USA have been playing all across the globe for sometime now. It is sad to see able leaders of Parliament and Research Labs in India falling for such traps; makes one wonder at the probable cause for such position they take. If they truly wish good for the India Farmer and the health of future citizens of India, they would work towards educating the farmers on better farming methods and levering existing tech which alone would raise the farmer profits and yields by over 30%. Better marketing methods and food storage chains will ease the burden of the nation on food security. No such activity is found attractive to these gentlemen. Instead they are comfortable in blaming the 'only man of the India union cabinet' who sees fit to look at the long range picture in citizen interest.

Much has been written and enough evidence in easily available to disprove what ever Shri Sharad Joshi, NRCPB and NSAI Directors have to promote. One has only to 'google it' on the internet and evidence to show the probable liability for any nation and its living organisms is easily found. Shri Joshi would have us believe that all such reports are wrong. The unfortunate news report of Directors of Research Institutes who recently had given 'copy paste' reports approving GMO to Environment Minister Shri J. Ramesh is not forgotten by intelligent citizens.

It is urged that the following blog be visited to discover some uncomfortable truths which should cause Shri Sharat Joshi to hang his head in shame.

http://thinkunderstandacceptadapt.blogspot.com/2010/10/view-point-on-gmo-foods-and-plants.html

http://thinkunderstandacceptadapt.blogspot.com/2010/05/gmo-products-and-their-pain.html

http://thinkunderstandacceptadapt.blogspot.com/2010/05/it-will-be-revealing-to-read-link.html

http://thinkunderstandacceptadapt.blogspot.com/2010/04/genetic-roulette.html

http://thinkunderstandacceptadapt.blogspot.com/2010/03/cultivation-of-genetically-modified.html

http://thinkunderstandacceptadapt.blogspot.com/2010/02/caution-is-not-complacency.html

A point by point rebuttal is useless when certain 'leaders' refuse to acknowledge that Earth with its bio-diversity is our only home and 'collateral damage' with 'unintended outcome' cannot be determined without decades of global study. The last 'green revolution' has cost India much in terms of use of humongous amounts of 'pesticides', 'chemical fertilizers', 'water' and 'pumping power'. More grain came with a price, which India is paying today (subsidies is only one of them). The time tested means of hybridization, which even simple farmers have carried out does not get the prominence and support, which should be the job of such 'farmer loving' leaders. Please review the news report attached herewith of Shri Dadaji Khobragade of Chandraput Dist, Maharashtra who invented 11 hybrid rice varieties without using GMO processes of splicing genes from unrelated species

(http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_maharashtra-finally-gives-inventor-of-11-rice-varieties-his-due_1477148). This GMO process does not exist in Nature which has evolved other processes over millions of years. The need for careful citizen monitored research over decades, at various locations with special focus of effects on other organisms, is the need before such products are imposed on the six billion citizens and millions of other organism of the Earth. The greed for profit on incomplete research by multi-national Corporates, should not be promoted by India leaders.

It is hoped that the media in India will broadcast such mis-deeds and citizens will take up same with their elected representatives. India does not need more scams now.

Babus failing the citizens of India.

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:25:00 +0000

Today, Fri 03rd Dec 2010 leading newspapers have a report on the 'so called action' proposed to be taken against some dozen Babus (IAS, IPS, IFS) of Maha-rashtra. It seems a 'notice' is to be issued and the concerned officers are to respond on 'source of funds', 'failure to inform on controversial actions' of obtaining flats / immovable property, in names of family members - close or distant. After one full month, this is the outcome - proposed action. I could write the responses without any sweat, even before the 'notices' are sent. This is a joke!

The shocking behavior of the 'tainted' Babus is contrary to their service rules. Remember they are public servants. If the coalition-Govt in Maha will not take action with 'extreme prejudice' ... its a month now and sending notices is not action, its procrastination ... the job of the Governor is to call each of the 'tainted officers' and demand their resignations or fire them on the spot. They have behaved contrary to public expectations (of prudence and integrity) and deserve to be criminally proceeded against ... any business, office or family head at home, would do so. Let them rot in the Courts (to get a feel of what the citizens have been used to for decades). Their families who benefited, must be humiliated and these Babus, should lose their pensions and be marked 'unemployable'. Is this not what happens to employees who are caught with their 'hand in the till'? I expect Maha- to take the lead for other states in India to act similarly.

All along for the past fifteen years, Activism has taken root in the major urban areas to address the 'bad governance' plaguing India and preventing its normal growth. First, the junior officers were coerced, then the courts were filled with PILs, then the Politicos were targeted, even elections were fought to get to the seat of power - so that meaningful outcome could be got. None seems to deliver the expected results because we all know the 'system' is bent to prevent delivery of expectations of the citizens.

It is again clear that all along, some of the Babus and their cohorts have been manipulation not only the system of governance but also the politicos and businesses, so that they remain in control and can keep destroying the institutions. For the past three years at least, many Babus have been analysed to have been working contrary to the interests of the citizens, but this was attributed to the 'system'. The month of November has been filled with core issues which all point to 'system and babus'. None of the serious scams could occur without the oversight of the Babus who should have refused to participate in them. That is their job! Now Activists must not fail to target these very persons who have tried to remain anonymous and have worked to wreck every progress that the citizens desire and have a right to.

I have reports attributed to some retired babus, which confirm that a large section of the Maha- babudom is lost to self-development and not state or citizen development. It is my firm belief that if key rascals are treated with 'extreme prejudice', the rest will soon become citizen centric and Maha- and India as a whole will see positive results. The rusted steel frame of India needs to be rebuilt urgently and its only the 'citizens', who own the nation, can do so. More important, our ancient culture demands it. Let us work to have a better life for ourselves and our generations to come. The greatest innovations and solutions have throughout history always come from 'concerned citizens' and private groups ... never by waiting for government to take corrective actions. ACT NOW.

Get ready for the mother of all battles. The earlier 'tough battles' will seem to have been a walk in the park. Please share this with your well wishers and think deeply about your comments ... which are welcome.

response to BLIND FAITH

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:51:00 +0000

Apropos your report "Blind Faith" (Blind faith, Small Smokescreen, Sunanda Poduwal, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, Mumbai, Sun. 21st Nov 2010, page-6. reproduced hereunder), I wish to congratulate you on taking up a very sensitive topic and for pointing out the failure of the 'regulators' to act forthwith. It seems the usual obfuscation, this time between the: I&B Min., ASCI and the CCC, has won again. It seems again and again that, for every governance issue, the citizen has to knock on the doors of the Judiciary at various levels. The fact that this is causing the Judiciary to interfere in 'executive functions' is forgotten till the politicos start howling whenever it pinches them personally.

Once a law is in place (The Drugs & Remedies ... Act ...), it is for the executive branch of the government and its regulatory bodies to act with haste to uphold the law of the land. This is where a 'soft state' like India fails time and again, in implementation of the law with a 'big stick' and with 'overwhelming force'. Why should any regulator have to wait for 'public complaint' for breach of law? This pertinent issue is never discussed; always some silly protocol is referred to. The onus on implementation thus gets subtly shifted to the complainant, who can struggle for years to be heard. England used this method to rule the nation and got away with many wrong doings. It seems our Constitution is being wrongly interpreted and the Judiciary is overwhelmed with such cases of lack of action by regulatory and statutory bodies who believe in waiting for public complaints and public follow up. This root cause must change for governance to improve and 'human development index' to change for the better.

In this particular case, I request you to study the following link:

http://thinkunderstandacceptadapt.blogspot.com/2010/03/regulation-for-paranormal-activities.html

A simple 'cautionary warning' is not yet in place. Janhit Manch, a respected NGO associated with JNM has been working on this very issue. Even though the matter is before the Judiciary for some time now, the onslaught of mis-leading adverts carries on relentlessly, with gay abandon. I have copied this email to Janhit Manch and their key Volunteers. The youth are thus taught not to respect the law since it seems impotent to take action for obvious wrong doing. They are further convinced that fantasy and magic will improve their quality of life. The fact that charlatans are twisting unexplored / unexplained powers for pecuniary gains is rarely understood.

A simple solution is staring everyone in the face. The broadcasting channels are bound by a code of conduct and it's their primary duty to obey the law. A warning and cautionary message must be presented at the start and end of such programs. Any clarification if needed is to be made by the Ministry or its regulatory bodies, which must be approached by the broadcaster. If the I&B Min. prosecuted just one broadcaster, the game would be up. It will be worthwhile to file an RTI to determine how many infringements of the said Act have been recorded, prosecuted and its outcome, and the database for the same. Publicity of such info might shame the Ministry to act in haste from the fear that the same might be questioned by the Judiciary. This can be validated by the actions of the Courts in the recent Rathore and Telecom scam cases.

Will the Courts take suo moto notice of this protest by a concerned citizen? Is a cautionary message too much to ask for ... at least to make citizens think about what they are attempting to depend upon? Corrective approach often has few associates ... but wise action since historic times has not waited for all to approve of a change ... for it to be suggested to the population. The change when it comes will find many partners ... as usual. Change is the only thing permanent and past practices are good only for reference ... not action or plan.

The original report in The Eco Times ....

Blind faith

Small Smokescreen

The govt may have wielded the stick on a few reality shows, but when will it wake up and take note of telemarketing agencies grabbing precious TV slots to promote products of dubious magical powers, questions

Sunanda Poduwal

THE ECONOMIC TIMES, Mumbai, Sun. 21st Nov 2010, page-6.

THE NUMEROUS babas and quacks wielding semi-magical powers—publicising their abilities on walls, modes of public transport, through ill-written fliers and even in newsprint—are being given a run for their money it seems. Unfortunately, human beings acquiring a scientific temperament is not the glorious reason behind it. It is the alternative and perhaps the most convincing medium for publicity, television, that is perpetuating blind belief today.

If you wish for material success and wealth, try installing Kuber Kunji in your house. It helps increase the flow of funds and the ability to accumulate wealth. Mata Kawach not only gives maximum benefit, it also bestows wealth and property and protects the person from all sorts of dangers. People suffering from black magic, charms, negativity and psychic attacks will get relief from the unexplained powers of the Shree Panchmukhi Hanuman Kawach. And if you wish to ward off evil "looks" try the Nazar Suraksha Kawach.

One of the prominent tele shopping networks producing and advertising such delusional products dodged all queries and clarifications sought. An executive who requested not to be named ensured that the products were well researched. He was quick to add that more than the research and development that went into them, it was the faith people had in their products that bore the buyers positive results. Further questions broke his wall of defence and he ended the conversation with a candid admission—"Hindustan hai madam, sab bikta hai (This is India, everything sells)".

The products are marketed and sold by numerous telemarketing agencies which have been allotted precious TV space by various channels. The simple fact that these tele-shopping networks are able to buy time slots in these channels say a lot about the salability factor of such commodities. Television channels refused to comment on the issue presumably because tele-shopping networks sit on valued sales slots.

According to the Drugs and Magic Remedies (objectionable advertisements) Act, 1954, "No person carrying on or purporting to carry on the profession of administering magic remedies shall take any part in the publication of any advertisement referring to any magic remedy which directly or indirectly claims to be efficacious for any purposes". The Act clearly says that such advertisements are offences and attract punishment in the form of imprisonment or fine.

The information and broadcasting ministry has put the onus of bringing such advertisers to book on the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). Ministry officials say they act only if the offending parties do not listen to ASCI's orders. Founded in 1985, the self-regulatory body has adopted a code for self-regulation in advertising in its commitment towards honest advertising and to fair competition in the market place. The organisation believes that "as the Code becomes increasingly accepted and observed pro-actively, three things will begin to happen: fewer false, misleading claims; fewer unfair advertisements and increased respectability." The body has set up a Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) which acts on complaints and also has the power to direct advertisers to discontinue or modify their advertisements.

"The usually discerning Indian consumer is sometimes gullible when it comes to matters of faith and make-believe products. However, we can pass a judgment on whether a particular advertisement is misleading only once we have a formal complaint," says Dilip Cherian, image management expert and member of the governing board of ASCI.

According to him, the process is fairly evenhanded, where empirical and statistical evidence from both sides—the complainant and the advertiser—are invited. So a lucky charm or a "nazar surakhsha" advertisement must be able to defend itself on the basis of evidence it provides. "The key here is that we must receive a complaint first! In such cases the question is: who will bell the cat, since clearly there are quite a few takers for such products. And those who don't 'consume', neither care nor complain," he adds.

"We have acted on numerous cases and have been successful in getting them off-air. But the advertisers change the form and move to other channels," says Allan Collaco, secretary general ASCI. Shree Panchmukhi Hanuman Kawach, which was being marketed on an entertainment channel, came under ASCI's scanner and the television commercial was subsequently withdrawn. But the product is freely available online. "The only way people will stop advertising such products would be when Indian audience stops buying them," says Collaco.

Paritosh Joshi, member of the council that looks into the complaints, echoed Collaco's views and put the responsibility on the public since the council doesn't have the power to act without a complaint. Joshi himself heads a shopping network, STAR CJ Network India, a joint venture of News Corp owned Star TV and South Korean firm CJ Shopping. He says the sheer magnitude of such advertising activities is what makes it difficult to keep track of them and act upon them. He goes on to give examples of products such as Morning Walker and Roopamrit, advertisements of which were taken off post CCC's decision to ban them. "The issue has acquired a Sisphean angle considering it is an endless loop. Also, the volume of consumer complaints are low," he says with a hint of frustration.

He said such advertisements are a subject of central laws and the complaints can be taken, not only to the CCC, but also straight to the police. "The broader issue is that the learned classes display a sense of apathy towards such activities. They should take the responsibility and come forward with complaints," he says. He doesn't mince words when he says that self-regulation is a better option than expecting the government to act. "If the government has its way, it will wield a big fat stick like it did with a few reality shows recently and we all know we don't want that," says Joshi.

sunanda.poduwal@timesgroup.com

WHOs new initiative

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 07:08:00 +0000

I am concerned at the thinking of the WHO which is reported in The Eco Times, Mumbai, Mon. 22nd Nov 2010 under the heading: LEVY ON FOREX TRADE COULD FUND HEALTH SCHEMES IN INDIA ... from Geneva. (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/Levy-on-forex-trade-could-fund-health-schemes-in-India-WHO/articleshow/6971225.cms) A similar report also appears in The ToI, Mumbai.

Basically the report brings out the growing poor health care, rising costs for the same all across the world and the push to poverty for many households due to uncontrollable medicare costs. The solution for India is offered by way of a tax on Forex Trading in India. It is admitted that health care facilities are poor in India and a large population has negligible reach for Primary Health Centres. Further the awareness for hygiene and basic health care which should have been passed down by the senior family members and schooling, has been destroyed in the past century. The current Government is addressing this lacuna with greatly increased social spending as never before. Substantial improved results will come with the end of the 12th Plan in 2017.

It is shocking that a global organization should think of cross-subsidy as a means of achieving a limitless aim. This could be stretched to all kinds of other spending, all over the world. Would they suggest this for USA where this same issue has been dominating the past three Governments? WHO is right in suggesting that efficient spending, reducing misuse of medicines could be used to control costs of medicare. This should have been the only focus of their attention instead of an after thought.

It is accepted today that the human body and mind tend to find natural equilibrium in good health. This applies for all living organisms, that is why they multiply as has been the humans to over six billion today. Evolution and Nature have taken care of this naturally. Natural remedies are low cost and more effective. The current living habits all over the world are shifting towards 'processed foods' and sedentary work, with their attendant problems. The health issues actually needing special-intervention are few. The focus therefore should be on means to reach and maintain health equilibrium thru proper life styles and intelligent living standards, instead of spending billions on useless pharma research to find means to fight infection. Almost every medication 'invented' in the past one hundred years had to be abandoned due to 'side effects' and 'unintended consequences'. This fact should have enlightened WHO to think innovatively ... instead we find they are thinking like any 'bean counter' or tax authority ... finding new means of taxing the citizens or corporates.

I humbly suggest that WHO focus on educating the world citizens on finding health equilibrium instead of spending on expensive medications to fight infection. They could focus on natural remedies as are used by all living organisms. If taxing is their new forte, they could think of 'taxing' the pharmas who have minted billions thru 'so called research and patenting' and also taxing the medical profession whose living standards are many times that of any national average per capita income. I am sure billions would be realised which could be used for treatments where natural health equilibrium is not possible. This would avoid cross-subsidy totally and turn humanity back to better living standards.

‘Growth sans gains for poor mere nos': Pranab Mukherjee

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 08:43:00 +0000

Just read a remark in todays' EcoTimes, by the FM Shri PranabM: "...If I would have got that money, I would have spent it in social response (social sector schemes) ..." referring to additional funds from sale of 2G spectrum. It is clear that the rhetoric is aimed at the recently resigned TcM Shri Raja A.

A thought occurs to me ... if the telecom corporates were made to pay more, would they have been able to provide mobile phone services cheaply to the growing demand pull for such services? Let us not forget that the explosive growth of the mobile phone user base from some 300 million to 600 million came about because the user rates are so low ... in fact lowest in the whole world. This can now be validated against the rates the telecom corporates will charge for the 3G services, for which they have paid the GoI the highest auction amount in the world. How will this useful service be available to the majority of citizens in the nation, when the proposed data rates are so high, at one rupee per MB ?

It is my thought that the FM would be better advised to focus on reducing the 'bleeding of national resources' which are already directed for existing social schemes. The national health, education, agro and employment schemes probably do not deliver 20 paise per rupee to the actual user. He could focus on raising this to say 50 paise within a financial year. For this no new funds will be needed, only a big stick and firm will to punish the grasper's. This one act alone will be a great CBM (confidence building measure) for the citizens of India.

There is also the issue of India funds secreted to safe havens abroad on which taxes have not been paid. Recent reports from International Orgs. talk of some USD 650 billion. If the FM can focus on a scheme to negotiate settlement of say 40% taxes on most of this amount and simultaneously create a strong bias against corruption in the Excise, Customs, Tax departments; more money will not leave the nation, tax unpaid. Such settlement amount will give him ample funds to not only spend on social schemes (with more grand names of old congress party leaders), but also clear out national debt and raise our GDP to double digits, due to easy funds for infrastructure investments.

I invite comments on my thoughts.

"Sarve bhavantu sukhinahaa"

MCGM URBAN QUALITY OF LIFE ACT ... of 15th May 2010.

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 02:25:00 +0000

Just over one year ago, I had proposed this QoL Act for Mumbai, during some email exchanges with local Activists. I am now elaborating this idea below, hoping I will get some pro-active response.

Citizens using any public space have a right to go about without being forced to:

1. hear loud music, traffic sounds, azaans, religious incantations, spiritual speeches, fire-crackers, celebratory drums-taashaa, etc.

2. view adverts., mis-leading publicity, ‘fair and lovely’ type adverts, raunchy posters and hoardings, adverts diverting children, divisive adverts, hoardings promoting: politicians, religions, paranormal and blind faith remedies, etc.

3. absorb bad smells, open cooking smells, butchers working in open, rotting garbage, etc.

4. walk thru muck, rubbish, dust, rubble, open garbage, scavenging insects and birds, stray animals (dogs, cats, pigs, cattle, goats, sheep, horses, camels, rats), insect clouds, etc.

5. taste foul polluted air and water and have to wait for incessant noisy processions of all kinds, at all hours of the day and night, anytime during the calendar year.

6. see and touch badly maintained streets, footpaths, water fountains, building facades, parks, trees, public toilets, street signage / furniture, etc.

7. get caught up in extended traffic jams and wait for multiple green signals (upto 6 minutes per cycle), with incessant junction hawkers, beggars and eunuchs as company.

8. hardly ever get to use the footpaths, city bus or trains without anxiety and trauma.

9. do without easy access to information or guidance from the Regulatory, Statutory and Security Institutions, even after having powerful citizen friendly Acts like: RTI and Disclosure Law in the legal statutes.

10. do without adequate: libraries, health care, courts, education opportunities, job training, safety, recreation, sports facilities, housing, gardens, open grounds and spaces, city infrastructure, street furniture.

Surely ... more such points can be added. All our five senses are overwhelmed and minds distressed. Need for facilities for the handicapped and the distressed / deserted is only a dream. Children between two and fourteen are wandering the streets begging and ensuring they will be unemployable when grown up due to lack of work skills.

There is yet no holistic act / policy dealing with mis-use of public spaces or spaces in private areas which impinge on citizens at large. In a democratic society, citizens have a right to some minimum quality of life. All the points above prevent basic quality of life. I think, Mumbai needs a MCGM act to cover this basic right.

It is my hope to work on a 'green paper' for this cause ... MCGM Urban Quality of Life Act. I believe the existing MCGM Act is some one hundred twenty-two year old, and now has a patch work of amendments to cover each and every demand of the politicos, many citizen unfriendly.

We now need to get beyond such petty activity and go for something fresh and citizen-centric and friendly. Illegal banners, unwanted foot bridges, rusty city water pipes, encroached footpaths and inadequate agro-markets, bad roads, mis-managed Municipal Schools and Civic Hospitals, in-equitable home taxes, zero tolerance for pedestrians, vandalism, these are only the tip of the change that all citizens would wish to see.

QoL is described in Wikipedia at the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_of_life and a QoL-Index is shown at link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality-of-Life_Index where India is at lowly #73 for year 2005 and also at link: http://www1.internationalliving.com/qofl2010/index.php where India has a low score of 58 for year 2010. The Mercer QoL ranking for year 2009 shows Mumbai at a low #148 rank, see the link: http://www.mercer.com/qualityoflivingpr Various factors and categories are used, some may not be relevant for Mumbai today. The International Living Magazine places India at rank #88 out of 194 nations for the year 2010 at the link: http://forum.globaltimes.cn/forum/showthread.php?t=11938

I desire to have a limited debate; Activists could present papers on various angles to this basic premise of mine. Such a debate can be an essay ‘mail in’ from which ‘collation paper’ can be made for points to be covered. A five point grading (1 to 5) for various factors and categories with time lines and do-ables to improve on the grading should be included. I am not sure how one can go about this and request experts to guide this at the formative stage. A decent format-spreadsheet would be useful. Once a Citizens’ Document is ready, it can be taken up with the MCGM and the State Govt. for analysis and implementation.

I request all concerned well wishers to write on this topic: MCGM Urban Quality of Life Act (as a subject line in the emails) and email: jnm.movement@gmail.com Please include your Name + PIN code + Mobile Code so the same can be included in the 'contributors list'. If a standard document is referenced, please include its details for the 'bibliography'. Such a thread will enable me to follow up and hopefully make a summary collation :) for deeper study. Requesting your indulgence and comments.

A VIEW POINT ON GMO FOODS AND PLANTS

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 02:21:00 +0000

One has heard so much about Genetically Modified Organisms, Seeds and Plants. Much money has been spent on research and validation processes and a few nations have given a green signal for the growing of some GM plants and their sale for consumption to citizens. Maise or Corn is one GM item.

Here are two pictures which show natural Maise or Corn, as it used to be. It is rarely available now, these pictures were recently taken in California, USA. This Corn was widely grown and consumed in the distant past before the native Americans were over run by the settlers from Europe, over two centuries ago. Even today in late-2010 CE, a small bunch is sold for USD 2.00. It is a 'hardy plant', grew 'wild' and did not require any special process for its planting or harvesting in the early day farms. Some selection processes did occur due to want of desired characteristics ... but these were carried out through natural cross-pollination methods and selective planting of desired seeds.

Here is another picture of the 'modern GM corn' which has undergone a vast change in appearance, taste, nutrient, growth processes and cost. Notice this new variety now requires additional fertilizers, pesticides, water and power and special seeds. All this comes at enhanced cost. Currently, it sells for USD 5.00 for the same small bunch as the original variety. So a USD 2 product is commonly sold for USD 5 to the Consumers. Episodic reports of collateral damage due to this GM Corn keep appearing in the media.

One wonders at this 'progress in bio-tech' from the Consumers point of view. It seems, much money and resources have been spent by Governments and Corporates with a aim of maximizing yields, quality and profits. While these aims are not anti-social, the methods used are counter-nature. Natural selection has evolved methods over milliions of years of natural testing and are verifiably suitable for humans, animals and all living things.

The current GM methods involve cross-species gene manipulations, bacteria-plants for example, which may not be satisfactory for humans or all living things. A decade long study and trials do not expose collateral issues. Recent hundred years of science and technology have exposed the disasters of asbeshtosh, tobacco, thalidomide, aluminium utensils, even teflon coated and stainless utensils, lead metal contamination, etc. after many decades of use. This list can go on, especially the great drug discoveries in the pharma space which usually get rejected within five years of use.

Great caution needs to be exhibited, may be fifty years of global study, before exposing nature and living creatures to these new products. A good way would be to label all products containing GM constituents for public consumption, denial of patenting for all edible products and introduce citizen monitoring of all related research and trials. We must not forget bio-diversity, greed of corporates to maximise profits at any cost, corporate subsidised public research, unintended collateral effects, etc. Earth is still the only home to almost seven billion humans and millions of other species of living organisms.

Chanakya's Quotes - Worth reading a million times… (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BCE -275 BCE)

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 20:00:00 +0000

"A person should not be too honest.

Straight trees are cut first

and Honest people are victimized first."

"Even if a snake is not poisonous,

it should pretend to be venomous."

"The biggest guru-mantra is:

Never share your secrets with anybody. !

It will destroy you."

"There is some self-interest behind every friendship.

There is no Friendship without self-interests.

This is a bitter truth."

"Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions -

Why am I doing it,

What the results might be and

Will I be successful.

Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."

"As soon as the fear approaches near,

attack and destroy it."

"Once you start a working on something,

don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it.

People who work sincerely are the happiest."

"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind.

But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.."

"A man is great by deeds, not by birth."

"Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them.

By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends."

"Books are as useful to a stupid person

as a mirror is useful to a blind person."

"Education is the best friend.

An educated person is respected everywhere.

Education beats the beauty and the youth."

PANCHATANTRA - Gems of Verses

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:56:00 +0000

Gems of Verses selected from the Jaico edition of 1949, edited by Ryder A.W., during May - June 1963 holidays before proceeding to IIT-Mumbai.

ü Whoever learns this work by heart

Or through the story-tellers art

Becomes acquainted,

His life by sad defeat – although

The King of Heaven be his foe –

Is never tainted.

… Introduction to the Panchatantra

ü Release the money you have earned;

So keep it safely still:

The surplus water of the tank

Must find a way to spill.

ü Death pursues the meddling flunkey;

Note the wedge-extracting monkey.

ü Bravest bosoms do not falter,

Fearing heavens threat:

Summer dries the pools; the Indus

Rises, greater yet.

ü Do not act as does the grass blade,

Lacking honest pride,

Drooping low in feeble meanness,

Lightly brushed aside.

ü Whoever leaves the righteous path

For some unrighteous course,

Will meet calamity in time

And suffer much remorse.

ü He strikes or stings with hasty fear

When warning has been heard;

‘Tis wise to warn an enemy

By action, not by word.

ü The serpent sandal-tree defiles;

In lotus-ponds lurk crocodiles;

The slanderer makes virtue vain:

No blessing lacks attendant pain.

ü A friend in need is a friend indeed;

Although of different caste;

The whole world is your eager friend

So long as riches last.

ü A fire will burn, though kindled

In fragrant sandal-wood;

A rascal is a rascal,

Although his birth be good.

ü Wrong is wrong, the wise man never

Wrong as right will treat;

None would drink, however thirsty,

Water in the street.

ü Do the right, the right, the right,

Till the breath of death;

Shun the wrong, although the right

Lead to death of breath.

ü When once the mind is gripped by fate,

The judgment even of the great,

In moral meshes fettered, wends

To unintended, crooked ends.

ü Whoever trusts a faithless friend

And twice in him believes,

Lays hold of death as certainly

As when a mule conceives.

ü Like a pots of clay, the wicket friend

Is quick to smash and hard to mend,

Like pots of gold, the righteous flash,

As quick to mend, as hard to smash.

ü Six things are done by friends:

To take and give again;

To listen and to talk;

To dine, to entertain.

ü No friendship ever comes

Without some kindly deed:

The very Gods respond

To gifts they have decreed.

ü As soon as presents cease

So soon does friendship die,

The calf deserts the cow

Whose udder has gone dry.

ü What’s duly his a man receives;

This law not even God can break;

My heart is not surprised, nor grieves;

For what is mine, no strangers take.

ü Bestow, or use your wealth for pleasure,

If not, you hoard another’s treasure:

As in your home, your lovely girl

Awaits a stranger, his dear pearl.

ü The miser for another hoards

His bags of needless money:

The bees laboriously pack,

But others taste the honey.

ü A calf can find its mother cow

Among a thousand kine:

So good or evil done, returns

And whispers: “I am thine”.

ü Better with the learned dwell,

Even though it be in hell

Than with vulgar spirits roam

Palaces that Gods call home.

ü Better to the servant of the wise

Than the master of a fool.

ü The parrots and the grackle birds

Are caged because they utter words:

The stupid herons go scott free –

For silence is the master key.

ü From cows expect subsistence;

From Brahmans, self-denial;

From women, fickle conduct;

From relatives, a trial.

ü Money gets you anything

Get it in a flash:

Therefore let the prudent get

Cash Cash Cash.

ü Scholarship is less than sense;

Therefore seek intelligence:

Senseless scholars in their pride

Made a lion, then they died.

ü He who lacking wit, does not

Harken to a friend,

Just like weaver Slow, inclines

To a fatal end.

ü If senseless quarrels rend

A house from day to day,

The folk who wish to keep alive

Had better move away.

ü A rolling stone gathers no moss.

(I am not a stone and anyway,

Do not wish to gather moss –

Only rich experience).

ü However skillful the disguise,

However frightful to the eyes,

Although in tiger skin arrayed,

The ass was killed – because he brayed.

ü Plant your works where profit lies:

Whiter cloth takes faster dyes.

ü Naughty meddlers suffer,

Destruction swift and sure.

ü No man reaps a harvest

Plowing barren soil.

ü Whoever will not take from friends

Most excellent advice,

Will gladden foes, and falling soon,

Will pay his folly’s price.

ü A man convinced against his will

Is of the same opinion still.

ü There is no toy, called happy joy.

ü A man must thrive – to keep alive.

ü To extinguish a fire and leave a spark,

To kill the snake and preserve its offspring

Is not the wisdom of the wise.

ü Wisely move one foot, the other

Should its vantage hold;

Till assured of some new dwelling,

Do not leave the old.

ü No fish was caught,

Who didn’t open its mouth.

ü Knowledge makes a wise man wiser,

and a fool more foolish.

ü Great humans like diamonds,

Are products of pressure.

FELICITATION OF LOCAL IDOL APPOINTED RAJYA SABHA M.P.

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:57:00 +0000

In a rare display of affection, citizens from Western Mumbai got together and felicitated Mr. Javed Aktar (Padma Shri -1999, Padma Bhushan - 2007 and dozens of other Film and National awards), on Sat. 08^th May 2010, on his being nominated M.P. to the Rajya Sabha. What was unusual was that the local politicians too were present with greetings for Javed Saab as he is popularly known. There were the local MP and Union Minister – Mr. Gurudas Kamat, local MLA – Mr. Ashok Jadhav, local Corporators – Mr. Adolf D’Souza and Mr. Devendra ‘Bala’ Amberkar. All know Javed Saab as a Urdu writer-lyricist-poet, but now he showed his thinker-reformer-politician side, during his acceptance speech. The audience of about 120 was made up of many Activists and well wishers from all over Western Mumbai, including Mr. G.L. Raheja a well known local businessman and philanthropist.

Volunteers from the Juhu NGO: Juhu Citizens Welfare Group, namely: Ms. Zahida Banatwala, Ms (Dr.) Sindhu Daftary, Ms. Bindu Parikh and Ms. Shabana Azmi took pains to organize the program with the support of local anonymous donors. A special plaque was presented to Javed Saab and saplings of the Lakshmi Taru (Simarouba glauca DC) were presented to the honoured local elected politicians. The Paradise Tree as it is also known is very good in CO2 absorption among other things. More can be found at the web links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simarouba_glauca http://aswathikasimadom.blogspot.com/2008/07/lakshmi-taru.html

A civic activist of decades Prof. Hansel D’Souza made a presentation, covering some of the local needs of consumers and citizens, cutting across all social strata. The idea was to present the focus areas to the new Rajya Sabha MP who is also a resident of the western suburbs. The issues covered implementation of: highway through the Pawan Hans Airport (instead of a Juhu Beach highway which would destroy the beach which happens to be the haunt of the poorer social strata and cost some twenty-three times more); re-development of local agro-markets (to reduce the incidence of illegal hawking on the new pavements); further development of local Municipal School (in view of increasing population and need for English medium education for the lower strata); control on illegal slums and encroachments along with cheaper mass housing; protection of mangroves, open spaces and Irla Nulla Beautification; development of a local Sports Complex at the location shown in the DP-1981 plan; further strengthening of the Nagar Raj Act in the local zone; banning of plastic bags of all sizes and specifications and banning of paan and gutka; decongestion of the city by development of the hinterland by a Central Planning Authority; stricter implementation of the ban on ‘land reclamation’ in view of Mahim Beach being lost to the monsoon seas; a common Beach Authority for the city and an integrated city transport authority for the extended business district of Greater Mumbai.

Local MP and Union Minister Mr. Gurudas Kamat after congratulating Javed Saab, mentioned the secular principles of the INC lead UPA Govt. at the Center and also the coalition Govt. in Maharashtra State. He expressed his willingness to sit with citizens for a dialogue and impressed on all the need for balanced development with minimum pain for the project-affected-persons (PAPs). He informed the august gathering that only the Union Govt could bear the costs of subsidizing the city rail-transport system which has not increased costs in the past six years and the impossibility of a ‘bullet train’ to cover the extended hinterland of Greater Mumbai. He confirmed that he was regularly visiting the constituency every weekend and interacting with citizens to understand their problems and guiding them.

The new MP - Javed Saab, talked of the need for all citizens to recognize the concept of ‘my country’ also being the ‘local area’ where ever the citizen resides and said patriotism also meant doing the best in ones’ own area instead of only looking for some big picture. He too showed interest in meeting with citizens to discuss in detail, their needs and plans for the area.

During the general fellowship following the felicitations, Mr. Adolf D’Souza, a first in India, consensus elected Corporator while congratulating the local hero Javed Saab, told the citizens of the need to be ecologically friendly and showed a Rs.2 cloth bag that he had just introduced as a viable alternative to the eco-polluting plastic bags. A token lot was launched the same day earlier, in the presence of over one hundred citizens from the Western Suburbs. The local MLA Mr. Ashok Jadhav interacted with many of the activists who knew him well. Mr. Shankar an activist from the local Nehru Nagar slum also interacted with the guests.

The program was anchored by Ms. Nita Bajpai and the vote of thanks was offered by Ms. Bindu Parikh, both local civic activists.

GMO products and their pain

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Sun, 09 May 2010 07:15:00 +0000

More interesting reports on the dangers of GMO and the profit-centric human-phobic activity of Monsanto.

Check out the weed resistance report: http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/weeds-are-now-resisting-monsanto-weed Also enjoy the comments at the end of the report.

This must be given the widest possible publicity so that more Governments and farms do not fall prey to the so called new technology which is not tested for decades and which lacks citizen monitoring. It would be best if testing is done in fully protected areas and labeling of GMO is made mandatory.

The First Green Revolution in India of the 1970s, got quick results and slow pain in that: more pesticides, more fertilizer, more water and more power is needed to grow the new seeds. Also the seed efficacy seems to drop with time and nurtured saplings and seeds are often needed. This realization took 40 years in coming. This is the time it takes to determine the downside, when humans interfere with nature which has evolved processes and products over hundreds of millennium. Again this pain and time was for cross bred seeds from same species. Imagine now the surprises in store when inter-species breeding is done.

The new GMO products come from DNA tampering of cross-species of plants and bacteria and such products are trumpeted as a 'new green revolution' without the decades of observation and trials. No one can foresee the new pain in store after fifty years. No doubt the supporters will say ... we will come up with newer and costlier solutions and more patents and more IPR and more corporate profits. The ordinary farmers who were free and whole communities who thought they have freedom to choose will become indentured labour, working away for unknown corporate gains. The pain and anxiety will continue to grow.

The NOW SOLUTION is to isolate such work, have citizen group monitoring, observe for decades, mandate GMO labeling, conduct closely monitored trials in different zones and specifically look for unintended effects on other species due to the new GMO products and also for high levels of allergens and 'unintended viral and bacterial resistance'. Think about 'terminator genes', 'gene silencing' and 'unintended gene mutations'. Do not forget perpetuating bio-diversity. Most important remember this Earth is our only home.

ACT NOW FOR A BETTER FUTURE. Give widest publicity and lobby with your elected representatives for a safer tomorrow.

Seven Issues for the GMO promoters ...

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Fri, 07 May 2010 12:27:00 +0000

It will be revealing to read the link: http://www.gmfoodnews.com/gmwho.html

Pronouncements such as follows are often made by 'GMO supporters' to support the 'infectious greed' of some Corporates:

"Food biotechnology is not a new phenomenon. Since Roman times, plants have been selectively crossbred to develop crops that are tastier, more hearty and more resistant to certain pests and plant diseases than their predecessors. Modern biotechnology provides an ability to transfer desired traits into plants much faster and more selectively. This, in turn, can result in fewer pesticides being used, greater conservation of land and water, better tasting and more nutritional foods and more abundant food supplies to address world hunger." ... Quaker -
USA.

"We do believe that the responsible use of gene technology in agriculture will bring benefits to farmers, industry and consumers. We are therefore prepared to use ingredients which may be derived from genetically modified crops where it is necessary to do so or a clear benefit can be shown..." ... Nestle, UK.

On the other hand, the more human-centric and ethical organizations take a cautious stand as shown below:

"Caterers have delivered Monsanto the final insult by banning genetically modified food from the GM giant's own staff canteen "in response to concern raised by our customers." ... Monsanto Staff Canteen, UK.

"We have recently decided to remove GM ingredients from products wherever it is practical to do so. This will reduce considerably the number of products containing such ingredients, while maintaining the range available to our customers. At the same time Tesco will provide increased GM-free options by adding to the number of items in our organic range. We are already energetically seeking reliable sources of genuinely GM free ingredients and are pleased that Greenpeace has agreed to discuss working with us to meet this challenge." ... Tesco, UK.

The pro-GMO initiatives, fail to address the following fundamental issues:

1. food biotechnology does not only mean GMO. Its time to refocus on the self-healing processes of nature instead of rushing to synthesized chemicals for all solutions.

2. that since times immemorial, intra-species crossbred plants, which anyway would occur in nature, have been and continue to be used, without any overt damage to plant or animal life or without affecting general bio-diversity on planet Earth. Earth continues to be our ONLY HOME.

3. that the new GMO products are derived from inter-species cross breeding purposefully done between plant and animal (bacteria) in a most un-natural manner (by interfering with the DNA), which would never occur in nature, without any historic data (forget since Roman times), with unknown damage 'over decades' to plant and animal life as collateral damage, and certainly affecting bio-diversity in the worst way. The lack of verifyable historic data on 'gene silencing', 'gene mutations', 'single gene means single protien', due to the un-natural inteference in processes evolved over many milleniam, are never publicly discussed.

4. the hard facts do not support reduced use of pesticides, fertiliser, water, power and even productivity of GMO products decreases with time. The First Green Revolution of 1970s in India is a typical case. Whereas productivity increased manifold for many years, it did deteriorate over time and use of pesticides, fertilizer, water and power increased sequentially. Now after some 40 years the great achievements do not seem so great. We have huge subsidies for farmers and their inputs and still have them poor and distressed. The Green in their life is gone. Let us therefore observe and monitor, by including all stake holders, such intrinsic changes in the new GMO products, for many decades, before spreading their use across continents.

5. the lack of desire to label food products with GMO origin, constituents, ingridients or derivatives is unexplained. Why the desire to take away the right to 'informed consent' or 'right to choice' from Consumers? India must mandate such labeling and also some 'cautionary message' with immediate effect even if USA Regulatory Authorities fail in their duty to keep open choice for their own citizens.

6. how are Consumers who believe in 'a pure vegetarian food habit' to be satisfied if inter-species gene manipulation of GMO food products are not being labeled? Why should their rights of belief and practice be trampled upon? The easy solution is to mandate compulsory GMO labeling as with the current Green - Red dot practice on all packaged food.

7. why challenge the processes of nature, developed over hundreds of milleniam without even two human generations of observations, trials, study, collateral damages evaluation, etc. Why the haste to make waste. It must never be forgotten that bio-diversity must never be disturbed while tinkering with nature. We should learn from our last century experiments with economy management, industrialization, division of the planet into so called nations based on political ideology, loss of thousands of species, nuclear power misuse, health mis-management with questionable drugs and vaccines.

Earth continues to be human-kinds only home. Patience is the key when it comes to deciding the future of billions of human, animal, insect and plant life. They all have varying degree of consciousness and a few human scientists and corporates must not abrograte to themselves, the right to decide their future, primarily because they have not participated in their creation or nurture.

Genetic Roulette

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:29:00 +0000

Jeffrey Smith has written two books about the significant danger genetically modified (GM) foods pose to your health, and the health of the entire planet.

His first book, Seeds of Deception (http://www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/Home/index.cfm), is the world’s bestselling book on the topic. His second,Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods (http://www.geneticroulette.com/), provides overwhelming evidence that GMOs are unsafe and should never have been introduced.

He’s also the executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, whose Campaign for Healthier Eating in America

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/CampaignforHealthierEatinginAmerica/index.cfm) is designed to create the tipping point of consumer rejection of GMOs, forcing them out of our food supply. As a major force riling against GM foods, Smith is responsible for limiting the spread of GM crops in the US, just like others have successfully done in Europe.

In addition to his books he has also created two videos: Hidden Dangers in Kids Meals, and Your Milk on Drugs, Just Say No.

Genetically Modified Foods = Toxins in Every Bite?

Corn chips, or tortilla chips, are quite pervasive. Perhaps you’ve had some yourself this week? Well, let’s see how you feel about buying them again once you realize what you’re risking by eating them.

In the only human feeding study ever published on genetically modified foods, seven volunteers ate so-called Roundup-ready soy beans. These are soy beans that have herbicide-resistant genes inserted into them in order to survive being sprayed with otherwise deadly doses of Roundup herbicide.

In three of the seven volunteers, the gene inserted into the soy transferred into the DNA of their intestinal bacteria, and continued to function long after they stopped eating the GM soy!

There are serious medical implications to this finding. However, the GM-friendly UK government, who funded the study, chose not to fund any follow up research to see if GM corn -- which areengineered to produce an insecticide called BT toxin

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/08/enjoy-pesticides-in-every-bite-of-gmo-food.aspx) -- might also transfer and continue to create insecticide inside your intestines.

These kinds of studies are sorely needed, and fast, because as of right now, about 85 percent of the corn grown in the US is genetically engineered to either produce an insecticide, or to survive the application of herbicide. And about 91-93 percent of all soy beans are genetically engineered to survive massive doses of Roundup herbicide.

What this means is that nearly ALL foods you buy that contain either corn or soy, in any form, will contain GMO unless it’s certified organic by the USDA

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/01/Which-Organic-Label-Should-You-Trust.aspx). Other major GM crops include cottonseed and canola.

When trying to avoid these GM crops, you’d also have to avoid all the derivatives of them, which would include items such as maltodextrin, soy lecitin, and high fructose corn syrup.

Other common GM products include:

• Some varieties of zucchini, crookneck squash, and papayas from Hawaii

• Milk containing rbGH

• Rennet (containing genetically modified enzymes) used to make hard cheeses

• Aspartame (NutraSweet)

How Genetic Engineering Works

Many are under the flawed assumption that genetic engineering is a very precise, refined science.

Not so, explains Smith.

“… in order to understand the risks associated with GMOs, I’m going to back up and talk about the process of creating a genetically modified organism because if we understand that, then a whole host of things that can go wrong all of a sudden become clear.

… The biotech industry gives you this impression that it’s a very clean process. We just take a gene from a species and carefully splice it into another, and the only thing that’s different is it’s producing some new beneficial protein to produces some trait.

This is far from the truth.

What they do is – let’s say you want to create a corn plant that produces a pesticide. So you go to the soil bacterium called BT for “Bacillus thuringiensis” and you change it so it’s more toxic, and you make millions of copies of the gene.

You actually put a piece of a virus there which turns it on, it’s called the promoter. It’s the “on” switch that turns this gene on, 24/7, around the clock.

You make millions of copies and you put it in a gun and you shoot that gun into a plate of millions of cells, hoping that some of the genes make it into the DNA of some of those cells. Then you clone those cells into plants.

Now the process of insertion and cloning causes massive collateral damage in the DNA that could have higher levels, and do have higher levels, of allergens and toxins.

… Anti-nutrients of soybeans that are genetically engineered have as much as seven times higher the amount of a known allergen cold trypsin inhibitor when compared to non-GM soy, in their cooked state.

There is a new allergen in genetically modified corn. There is a new anti-nutrient in the [GM] soy which blocks the absorption of nutrients.

They don’t look for these things. These are found after they’re on the market by some few of the independent researchers that are doing their work.”

Farmers have long used BT spray on crops, and because it’s a natural bacterium, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the biotech companies claim it is safe for human consumption.

However, this too is clearly misguided optimism.

Smith states:

“Based on peer reviewed published studies, animals like mice that were fed BT had damaged tissues and immune responses as powerful as if they’ve been fed cholera toxin, and then they became multiple-chemically sensitive to where they started to react to formally harmless compounds.”

Genetically Engineered Health Problems

It’s important to realize that when the BT is spliced into the corn, it’s thousands of times more concentrated than the spray version.

According to Smith, thousands of farm workers who harvest BT-cotton in India are complaining of rashes all over their bodies. And animals grazing on BT cotton plants after harvest have died, sometimes within a day or so.

This should tell you something.

Now, some will point out the fact that humans are not dying like flies from eating GM foods. But the death of grazing cattle is likely the result of an acute reaction to large exposure. So, as Smith states, it’s still an indicator for what might be happening in the human system, albeit at a much slower rate.

For example, Smith mentions an Italian study where they fed BT corn to mice. As a result, the mice expressed a wide variety of immune responses commonly associated with diseases such as:

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Osteoporosis

• Atherosclerosis

• Various types of cancer

• Allergies

• Lou Gehrig’s disease

In addition, Smith has documented at least 65 serious health risks from GM products of all kinds.

Among them:

• Offspring of rats fed GM soy showed a five-fold increase in mortality, lower birth weights, and the inability to reproduce

• Male mice fed GM soy had damaged young sperm cells

• The embryo offspring of GM soy-fed mice had altered DNA functioning

• Several US farmers reported sterility or fertility problems among pigs and cows fed on GM corn varieties

• Investigators in India have documented fertility problems, abortions, premature births, and other serious health issues, including deaths, among buffaloes fed GM cottonseed products

Genetically modified foods are, from my perception, one of the most significant threats that we have against the very sustainability of the human race

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/01/genetically-modified-organisms-are-a-looming-threat.aspx).

Although Monsanto doesn’t believe (or admit) this is a possibility, their shortsighted focus on profits is blinding them to the very real threats that this technology is posing to the viability of the human race.

How Conflicts of Interest May Be Destroying Health of Millions

In this interview, Smith discusses some of the political intricacies involved with GM food labeling, and some of the more shocking conflicts of interest that may be harming literally millions of people.

Back in 1992, the FDA authority responsible for the decision of whether or not to label GM foods turned out to be a former attorney for none other than Monsanto. His name is Michael Taylor.

He went from being Monsanto’s attorney to serving as their vice president, and after that he became a policy maker at the FDA.

At this point in time, Taylor serves as the US food safety czar!

Taylor claimed that the agency was not aware of any information showing that GM foods were significantly different than conventional foods, and therefore no testing and no labeling were required.

Since then, documents made public from a lawsuit showed that it was a lie that the policy was clearly fictitious.

In fact, the overwhelming consensus among the FDA’s own scientists were that genetically modified foods were inherently dangerous and could create allergies, toxins, new diseases and nutritional problems, and of course they should be labeled because they are a food additive and new food additives must be labeled.

However, Smith explains, the FDA was directed by the White House to promote the biotechnology industry, and they knew that if they labeled GM foods, most Americans would avoid it like the plague. So, true to form, they supported the economic interests of the biotech companies at the cost of long-term human and environmental health.

It remains to be seen whether or not this type of blatant conflict of interest will be perpetrated again, allowing genetically modified alfalfa to be brought to market.

There’s currently a grassroots movement underway demanding that Chief Justice Clarence Thomas recuse himself in the April Supreme Court consideration of GM alfalfa.

As it turns out, Chief Justice Thomas is also a former Monsanto attorney, who served the biotech giant from 1976 to 1979.

What You Can Do NOW!

The silver lining in all of this, however, is that we actually don’t NEED policy changes to kick GMO’s out of the market!

The only requirement is getting enough people to consistently avoid buying anything that contain GM-derived ingredients, and the food manufacturers will do the rest.

They WILL respond to market demands, because if they don’t they go out of business.

For a helpful, straightforward guide to shopping Non-GMO, please see the Non-GMO Shopping Guide (http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/SG/DownloadtheGuide/index.cfm), created by the Institute for Responsible Technology.

In addition, the natural food industry has decided to turn October of this year into “Non-GMO Month,” and October 10th (10/10/10) will be “Non-GMO Day.”

I encourage you all to prepare for October by spreading the information about GM foods.

Together we CAN make a major difference!

Is BMC Causing The Water Shortage In Mumbai?

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:10:00 +0000

The subject topic was listed for 'discussion' under Message #60892 at the Karmayog Blog:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karmayog/messages

The topic has a large number of responses, most requesting for more controls, regulations and punitive measures. Very few were prepared to address the real issues as I see them. Hence I put my views on record under #55 on 16th March 2010, as shown hereunder.

The fundamental job of every Govt is to 'raise' the standards of living of its citizens. So how will cutting off water to swimming pools help? They recycle the water and replacement is small anyway. Can we only think of 'lowering' standards to meet every crisis? The current shortage of water in Mumbai is due to uncontrolled and unattended pipe leakages and theft (direct and illegal connections). Implementation is the key ... not denial to those who aspire for better standards and quality of life. Remember, if denied they will move away and so will their taxes and contribution to city and nation building activities. They are the wealth and asset creators ... lets not belittle them.

The means suggested to inspect housing complexes, etc. is a pipe-dream; when leakages and illegal connections cannot be reduced, how these new ideas will be implemented? No rules should be made which cannot be implemented without fear or favor. Even power theft, child labor, basic law and order, traffic laws, encroachments and minimum wages act cannot be implemented in the city of Mumbai.

The urban areas are growing relentlessly ... so is Mumbai. Daily we have hundreds of 'wage-earners' arriving with huge aspirations. Obviously their basic needs cannot be accommodated without adequate foresight in planning, execution, outcome ... that is implementation and monitoring. Just denying water to new projects and putting limits of 90 L per day per head will never solve the problem. More has to be planned and executed for. This is where the focus should be ... not 'short cut direct action rabble rousing' plans of cutting off here and there.

Water desalination, new projects are all needed as various types of solutions ... no doubt they cost a lot and also deny rights of the local PAP (project affected persons), but these too have to be provided for. We must not plan to go back to the two buckets per day per person of the last century. Mumbai gets enough rains for all the water needs ... we are not harnessing it. Simple technics like ground charging, retention pools, recycling are not implemented and enforced.

User pays is the norm for all development ... yet we have skewed rates for water ... why? Why a subsidy when shortage is felt? Why not first fix a norm for consumption based on aspirational lifestyle and then telescoping rates for higher consumption. Remember, private sector was not keen to generate electric power because of rampant subsidy and clear case of no recovery of revenue. So we have a tremendous electricity shortage all over the nation. Must we repeat the mistakes again for water for Mumbai?

Governances' first job is to enable projects to provide for its citizens. Controls and regulation must follow, not lead every issue of the city. Let us dream big, plan big, execute and monitor big and get big outcomes for our big nation of a billion plus citizens.

Cultivation of Genetically Modified Food Crops in India

noreply@blogger.com (Praful Vora) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:55:00 +0000

Genetic Modification (GM)

Worries are accumulating about the exponential growth of genetically modified crops. Fuelled by giant International Corporates, India among other countries is committing millions of hectares of farmland to these crops. Such GM-crops pose risks to humans, animals, soil and other food and wild plants, for unknown decades, with no known path for reversal. Among human health risks concern is expressed about the following:

Allergies: Brazil nut protein inserted in soybean and processed into protein supplements caused anaphylactic shock in consumers. This confirmed that genetic engineering could lead to the expression of allergenic proteins. ‘Science News’ reported in July 1999 that a study of Ohio crop pickers and handlers shows that Bt "can provoke immunological changes indicative of a developing allergy. With long-term exposure, affected individuals may develop asthma or other serious allergic reactions."

Toxicity: Novel proteins produced in GM-plants have the potential to cause human toxicity; hence further tests and scrutiny are needed, over long decades and across other species.

In 1989, a genetically engineered version of tryptophan a dietary supplement produced toxic contaminants. Before the FDA-USA recalled it, the mutated tryptophan wreaked havoc. Thirty-seven Americans died, 1,500 were permanently disabled, and 5,000 became ill with a blood disorder, eosinophila myalgia syndrome.

Antibiotic resistance: Concern has been expressed about antibiotic markers such as kanamycin that are used in plant transformation. These are still used to treat infections in humans especially tuberculosis which is still widespread in India. Increased exposure to them might cause infections to become resistant to antibiotics, rendering these medicines ineffective.

Environmental risks

Unintended effects on non-target species: Laboratory studies have reported damage to the larvae of monarch butterfly feeding on the pollen from GM-plants. Further research is needed into this aspect. Long term effects spanning decades for various species are unknown. Reversal is un-planned and unknown too.

Effects of gene flow to close relatives: Pollen dispersal can lead to gene flow, but only trace amounts are dispersed more than a few hundred feet. The transfer of conventionally bred or transgenic resistance traits to weedy relatives could worsen weed problems, but such problems have not been observed or adequately studied, over long periods of time, for various geographic zones and climates.

Related Issues

Increased weediness: Some new traits introduced into crops – such as pest or pathogen resistance – could cause transgenic crops to become problem weeds. This could result in serious economic and ecological harm to farm or wildlife habitats.

Pests developing resistance to pest-protected plants: Insects, weeds and microbes have the potential to overcome most of the control options available to farmers, with significant environmental impacts, and this fairly rapidly unlike advanced species like mammals who have evolved complex DNA over hundreds of millennia. Are farmers adequately counselled on stringent safety practices? Evidence from around the world indicates that this is not the case. Further, random mutations due to the GM-plants could affect pests and microbes and lead to unknown animal diseases. No mitigation processes are laid down since the randomness itself is unknowable. Nature takes millennia for such activities while Corporates hope to reach solutions in decades. This is not logical.

Concerns about virus-resistant crops: Engineered plants containing virus resistance may facilitate the creation of new viral strains, introduce new transmission characteristics or cause changes in susceptibility to other, but related, viruses. Engineered plants are unlikely to present problems that are different from those associated with traditional breeding for virus resistance. The great advances made with Bt-Cotton just some 15 years ago, have got bad reports in the past two years in India. Again here, interspecies gene manipulation was done. It is forgotten, that pests learn biologically to adapt much faster than advanced species like humans. So pest attacks are reported on Bt-cotton. Please refer the section 'Genetic Modification' of the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton

Threats to biodiversity: Gene exchange could spread to wild relatives that are rare or endangered, especially if the exchange happens in centres of crop diversity. Scientists must increase their awareness of these and other problems arising from potential gene flow from GM-crops. The genetic varieties of various species (plant life) today exist only in some parts of S.America and Asia. India is known for its widest bio-diversity. Going for short term gains and putting bio-diversity to unknown risk is not logical thinking. One does not know what the new man-made species will do to the existing ones ... after decades.

Uncertainties in Gene Splicing:

In the early last century and even earlier in historic times, cross-breeding of popular plant seeds (as in rice and wheat) was done of naturally occurring seeds interacting within the 'plant species'. The current development in GM-plants, is NOT cross-breeding but is 'purposeful experimental gene splicing between unrelated species'. Here is the difference, for which mankind has no previous or historical reference to guide it. The earlier process could and does occur naturally, but the recent work is only man-made and totally un-natural. This is where logical thinking suggests one has to be careful. The current usage of one decade for such GM-plants, is not adequate and calls for decades of strictly controlled trials and monitoring of effects, not only with humans, but also across many plant and animal species, in various climate and geographic zones.

“New Research on the Impact of GMOs on Health.” Soil Association, GM briefing 19. Updated 13-04-2006.

Further, animal studies have shown graver outcomes of consuming genetically modified food

These studies have shown: Changes in cell structure and cell function; Changes in blood chemistry; Damage to the walls of the gut; Potential for haemorrhage; Generational effects, i.e. death of the off-spring; Inserted genes transfer to existing bacteria in the gut giving rise to new organisms.

The threat to honey bees (“Catastrophic bee population decline may be related to Bt-spliced GMO crops.” http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4682.cfm )

Scientists, farmers and activists point to a disturbing development about honeybees in the US. Millions of these insects have disappeared over the last half-year, their hives are empty. Bees are used as pollinators for various crops and the value that they generate in the US is estimated at over USD14 billion per year.

“Genetic engineering is far from precise”, warns Dr Ricarda Steinbrecher, consultant genetic scientist of Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific and also director of EcoNexus, a public-interest research organization based in the UK. “There are a number of steps in the genetic engineering process and most of them are subject to various uncertainties. A single gene mutation can have serious effects. Yet genetic engineering is all about creating mutations. The outcome can be tremendous, and totally unpredictable and unexpected.”

The problem is so severe that it has been called the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Nobody knows why the bees are dying. There is evidence though that GE crops contribute to this, in particular insect resistant crops producing the Bt-toxin.

Though healthy bees do not seem to be affected by Bt pollen, scientist Hans-Hinrich Kaatz in Germany has found that bees infested with parasites and fed with Bt pollen were affected and died at a high rate. Beekeepers have for years reported that honeybees suffer from high rates of parasites and diseases. As reported earlier in a German journal Der Spiegel, this appears to be new evidence that Bt pollen is a contributing factor in the death of the bees. The areas where the bees have disappeared have a lot of Bt crops.” It is clear that Heuristic Algorithms do not work here.

Ricarda Steinbrecher, “Ecological Balance and Biological Integrity What Is Wrong with Nature?” Women's Environmental Network. Synthesis/Regeneration 18 (Winter 1999)

The study of epigenetics (above genetics) shows that the effects of genetic manipulation often go beyond what is theorized. For instance, other genes in the organism can undergo physical damage by the process of insertion itself.

Other possible impacts are gene silencing i.e. the plant that is being genetically engineered may ‘silence’ (turn off) that particular gene permanently. Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher explains, “In 1992, a study was published about GE-petunias in Germany. One summer, these GE petunias started to produce white and pink flowers instead of the characteristic red ones. Investigations revealed that the plant had somehow shut off the gene producing red flowers. Again, this was a totally unexpected effect. Gene silencing in GE plants has been repeatedly observed. We now know that environmental factors as well as homologies of the GE gene and the plant’s own genes can trigger gene silencing.”

Denise Caruso. “A Challenge to Gene Theory, a Tougher Look at Biotech.” July 1, 2007 http://www.nytimes. com/2007/ 07/01/business/ yourmoney/ 01frame.html?

Meanwhile the $73.5 billion global biotech business may soon have to grapple with a discovery that calls into question the scientific principles on which it was based.

Researchers found that the human genome might not be a “tidy collection of independent genes” after all, with each sequence of DNA linked to a single function, such as a predisposition to diabetes or heart disease.

Instead, genes appear to operate in a complex network, and interact and overlap with one another and with other components in ways not yet fully understood. According to the institute, these findings will challenge scientists “to rethink some long-held views about what genes are and what they do.”

For example, antibiotics were once considered miracle drugs that, for the first time in history, greatly reduced the probability that people would die from common bacterial infections. But doctors did not yet know that the genetic material responsible for conferring antibiotic resistance moves easily between different species of bacteria. Over use of antibiotics for virtually every ailment has given rise to “super-bugs” that are now virtually un-killable.

The principle that gave rise to the biotech industry promised benefits that were equally compelling. Known as the Central Dogma of molecular biology, it stated that each gene in living organisms, from humans to bacteria, carries the information needed to construct one protein.

The scientists who invented recombinant DNA in 1973 built their innovation on this mechanistic, “one gene, one protein” principle.

Because donor genes could be associated with specific functions, with discrete properties and clear boundaries, scientists then believed that a gene from any organism could fit neatly and predictably into a larger design — one that products and companies could be built around, and that could be protected by intellectual- property laws.

Even more important than patent laws are safety issues raised by recent research findings. Evidence of a networked genome shatters the scientific basis for virtually every official risk assessment of today’s commercial biotech products, from genetically engineered crops to pharmaceuticals.

“The real worry for us has always been that the commercial agenda for biotech may be premature, based on what we have long known was an incomplete understanding of genetics,” said Professor Heinemann, who writes and teaches extensively on bio-safety issues.

http://www.gmwatch.org/p1temp.asp?pid=42&page=1 The so-called evidence-based therapy

A major player in the GE field is Monsanto, and this trans-national has been the focus of many people’s movements throughout the world.

In mid-May 2004, the US Department of Justice investigated Monsanto’s activities in Indonesia, amid charges of bribery of government officials. Indonesia was the first south- East Asian country to approve GE-plants commercially.

In China mostly cotton is grown, and the people are reportedly hostile to more GE varieties. GM-cotton is perceived as damaging the environment.

Sri Lanka attempted to ban these crops in May 2001, only to succumb to US pressure. This is the case with Thailand, Philippines and Japan, while in India the cotton crop has performed poorly enough to drive sizeable numbers of debt-ridden farmers to suicide.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/DES Issues of human rights and natural justice

Drugs are released to the market after extremely costly multi-stage testing, yet their intended effects and side effects can both be unpredictable. In the case of thalidomide the effects were seen immediately in the form of deformed babies, so the use was stopped soon. But in the case of DES, the effects surfaced many years later by which time a lot of damage was done.

In 1971, DES (di-ethyl stilbesterol an estrogen-like drug) was linked to clear cell adenocarcinoma in a small number of daughters of women who had used DES during pregnancy. This uncommon cancer of the vagina or cervix is usually diagnosed between age 15 and 25 in DES-exposed daughters. Some cases have been reported in women in their thirties and forties. The risk to women older than age 40 is still unknown, because the women first exposed to DES in utero are just reaching their fifties, and information about their risk has not been gathered. So, decades of accurate, persistent and consistent research and data mining across the world is needed before Corporates into the GM game start pushing their products.

US-India Agricultural Knowledge Initiative Agreement

This agreement came packaged with the recent India-USA Nuclear Deal, to monitor agricultural research, education and dissemination and exchange of knowledge between US and India. Dr. Krishan Bir Chaudhary, Executive Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj has voiced his reservations in this matter. Major stakeholders in agriculture in India, like farmer's organizations, State governments, Standing Committees of Parliament, civil society organizations and eminent academics, have not been consulted in preparing the framework of the agriculture deal, nor in determining the focus areas. All features of the agriculture deal must be in consonance with existing Indian policy and legislation, the National Biodiversity Act and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act. No mention is made in the deal of key issues of genetic engineering, like respecting crops in their centres of origin, of protecting socio-economic interests of rural and tribal communities and implementing a regime for generous liability and redress in case something goes wrong with a genetically engineered crop or fish or animal. The new varieties should be made available to farmers through public research institutions as done during the Green Revolution and should not be given to the private sector for commercialization.

Collateral Damage:

Bharat Ratna Shri C. Subramanium led Green Revolution in India of 1970s, came out with development of 'cross-bred within species' new seeds which were further 'cross-bred' over time in India (called High Yield Variety - HYV seeds). No doubt it substantially increased yield, but also caused use of humongous amounts of 'pesticides', 'chemical fertilizers', 'water' and 'pumping power'. More grain came with a price, which India is paying today (subsidies is only one of them). In most of the world today: processes needing 'large water, power, pesticides and chemical fertilizers' are frowned upon. This understanding has come after some 40 years. These HYV-seeds were badly needed for India then, but did not reveal unrelated issues for a long time. Such time spans must be considered normal for research and development involving human intervention in life processes.

It is pertinent to mention here that the HYV-seeds of the Green Revolution remained the property of the Indian farmer, however the new GM seeds will remain the property of the foreign owned Corporates who initiated development and research work, even if the same research work was finished and validated by India based and owned workers, research laboratories and farms. Worse, our farmers and scientists will work like indentured labour on Indian fields while our not-so-hidden masters will patent everything new we come up with. Is this equitable?

India Specific Issues

No reasonable person can outright reject scientific and technological work leading to probable progress for humankind, nor are we asking for bans or total rejection. We advice caution for decades, to study this new cross-species GM techniques. No doubt there is evidence to support 'gene splicing' for food, most of it supported by the creators and their research partners or grant receiving companies, universities and ‘experts’. This is called ‘performance conditioning’ and ‘conditioned assistance’. Yet one must not forget that ‘actual usage’ is hardly one generation old, most mention ten year usage. Human memory is not so weak as to forget that all such inventions have a tendency to show problems after forty or more years. Can India afford to risk its farms, seeds and bio-diversity for this? Caution is the only key when we deal with a billion plus citizens, most of who will never be well-informed to make a meaningful choice, if such is left by the creators of GM-foods.

Where are the monitoring, reporting and compensatory systems in India that can protect consumers and farmers alike, for generations, till any late ill-effects die out? A quarter of a century after Bhopal happened, there has still been poor justice for the affected, while the chemical company executives and owners got off without a scratch. What justice can we expect? The third generation of the affected at Bhopal, still show serious illnesses.

It is often said that in the Bt-Brinjal case, approval was given by the India scientists and India statutory organization (GEAC). Please view the following links which will reveal the type of 'clearance' and 'testing' that was done. Even the Union Minister acknowledges that reliable study is far off. Can we forget the Himalayan Glacier Melting fiasco? The IBNlive report is rather revealing.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/controversy-continues-over-bt-brinjal-approval/106190-3.html

http://biz.zeenews.com/news/news_content.aspx?newscatid=4&newsid=574

http://www.samaylive.com/news/what-is-bt-brinjal-and-its-controversy/674103.html

It is not surprising that India statutory and regulatory bodies are not yet strong and independent in their outcome ... but that is another story. Trials will be done in India, by India farmers and labourers, on India farms with India resources; yet Patents and IPR will be owned by foreign owned Corporates. There is no partnership! Liabilities will be limited in time and amount, who can predict the future? Where is the equity? The seeds will be sold by the foreign owned Corporates. Most will not be automatically reproducible, so India farmers will be permanently subject to foreign Corporate terms and rates for seeds and plantlets. Where is the equity? Is this what we want the India Citizens to suffer for generations? Is this politically, economically, technologically viable? Must we again suffer alien domination?

One cannot forget that the gene-modification is primarily done to improve yield and reduce pest attacks. This technique pre-supposes that the human metabolism and complex systems will rapidly adapt to the changes in the plant DNA. Currently, even the use of microwaves is being questioned since it causes damage to food DNA which is then likely to be treated as alien by the human metabolic system. Human and animal processes that evolved over hundreds of millennia are supposed to adapt in a human-generation. I think this goes against common sense. One needs to think this over carefully and not look for passing swallows hoping spring has come. The Second Green Revolution for India will only come from increasing productivity and training farmers thru other means – a long patient but surely a sustainable method.

Praful Vora, Volunteer & Convener, JNM

Prof Prabha Krishnan, Volunteer JNM.