Monday, August 9, 2010

Climate change is all about equity and sharing growth between nations & between people

After a long time ..some thoughts on one of the issues closest to my heart .............

Life’s clouded with uncertainty and the dilemma we all face in our lives 24x7 is of sustainability! Will we sustain our relationships? Will the economy sustain meltdown? Will nations be able to sustain aftermath of wars?

But the biggest question which stares into our face today is “Will Mother Nature is able to sustain its earthlings???”

With globalization at its peak and advancements sky rocketing we have indeed advanced to such an extent that Nature has begun to retreat. Forest covers are depleting, glaciers melting and temperatures rising. Nature’s changing and the “powerful” men striving and surviving because of Nature have termed this Climate Change. 
Change is good! It’s the spice of life but unfortunately this change questions the sustainability of life!!!!

The basic right outlined in every constitution and the Charter of United Nations is of equality synonymous with equity. Nature created us as equals and an act to restore the damage to it will unquestionably be about equity and sharing at all levels in every way.
The failed Copenhagen talks, the restrain of the developed world to give up luxuries, the expectations from the third world to retard their growth, the hitch in acting to save the earth, the denial of the promises in Kyoto Protocol are all factors which are creating an imbalance not just in Nature but in our World.

The principles of equality are being exploited and disregarded. The rich must step down at least a few steps to help the poor rise. They cannot stagnate in their comfort zones and expect the poor and the under privileged to act and change the Change they added fuel to!
How can we expect someone who barely gets a meal a day to understand that his indigenous cooking arrangement is harming the environment and will adversely affect nature for generations to come? When he is unsure whether he will see the next dawn or not how can he be sensitised on these issues?

It is the affluent, who are leading reasonably convenient lifestyles, who can talk of this in the boardrooms and draft policies. There is no denying that this thought and awareness is essential but if we are actually bothered we need to act there is a need to offer the poor man a CNG cooking arrangement and then educate him!

This example simply illustrates the divide between nations, between people. We cannot do anything to change the Climate Change till we understand that Nature in balanced and our actions and policies must respect its inherent characteristic.

In 1750’s when the west was evolving they had their hands on the most indigenous technology and cheapest of fuels. They grew and grew real fast to become Superpowers of today and are now putting the onus on countries like India and China to act and reduce emissions! Reluctant to give up on their comfort, concepts like carbon offsetting have been evolved. This disparity needs to end and an all pervasive equitable solution must be evolved.

As former French president Jacques Chirac put it
“Our house is burning and we look elsewhere. Nature, mutilated and over-exploited, can no longer reconstitute itself and we refuse to admit it. Humanity is suffering. It is suffering from poor development, in the North as in the South, and we are indifferent. The Earth and humanity are in peril and we are all responsible. It is time now to open our eyes! “

There is a need to work on the model of the Robin Hood tax, a concept where it is proposed to impose a tax on bank transactions to help the poor, a noble concept indeed!

An intense support is required by the developing world in terms of technology and finances to be able to adapt to greener technologies to reduce the damage. The disparity within nations must be reduced and differences between countries should be solved.

A global human society, characterised by islands of wealth, surrounded by a sea of poverty, is unsustainable and unacceptable! We need to grow together as a nation and as global citizens who are all children of one Mother Nature rather than as divided individuals and countries.

Climate change is not just an environmental issue, but has more to do with security and economics. It is related to economic growth. It is about sharing necessary growth between nations and people. Without environmental sustainability, economic stability and social cohesion cannot be achieved

As I close, the words of John Duggan ring in my ears We will create the environment of the future, either through action or inaction. We have a choice! 

Monday, January 25, 2010

Its a man's World.....oh yes it is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sigh ...)

Well after a long time I decided to pen something down....I update this blog only when something really penetrates my being and forces me to rise above my solitude ..so here's another one 4 u ... please bear with the surge of emotions ...


I am a Feminist ....yes indeed ...I believe that women are in no way  less than a Man ...they are fully capable ..in fact on certain occasions even stronger...then what has compelled me to give such a title to my post ???
Well our attitudes and behaviors are largely influenced by our experiences and I owe my present stand to nothing but my recent, not so pleasant experiences....


After all that my college has compelled me to do,...from visiting a cigarette factory : (     to roaming in the streets of largest wholesale markets in NCR, finally there is yet another feather in the "academic" crown ..the experience of professional life in pursuance of a degree..."the happening " graduation project....
So here I am,one of the many who wake up at 6am  in freezing winters and rush to office...
Ah did someone say office...well then there must be a check in time...(and check out time? well lets talk of it later !!!!) ..It so  happens that my office starts at 8: 30 am far ahead of my friends and to be there on time to report to my "English " boss I gotta run all alone ..catch hold of whatever transport possible and risk all that i have !!!!!Literally .....


I woke up hassled today morning..the cabbie with whom I had been tying up had conveniently switched off his phone and was loitering in gardens of deep slumber while I frustrated and worked up stood at the Bus stop staring at the streets ...there was no sign of the "ah so loved" DTC bus....believed to be a "safe " transport
 ( well consult gals who travel all alone to establish that belief  !!! what a misnomer ..but who cares ...the politicians can be verbose and speak  but they are not the ones who have to face the constant torture..and we the public..well we have no voice...I'm just grateful that these "beloved" politicians at least bother to consider us humans....this is a different discussion altogether..will come back to it sometime later  )


It was indeed an unlucky day....no sign of a bus....I looked at my watch and then at the deserted bus stop...it had only people...no busses...should have been called a "people stop" ....what a silly thought .....
Anyways I moved ahead and stood in a corner trying to stop a cab when suddenly I hear "Hey Madam"..from behind my back ....
Startled I turn and an "uncle" apparently in his late 30's said "You gotta go to Gurgaon...I am going there ..jump in ..I'll drop you off...." ...


"What??? .Who are you ???and how do you know where am i going ????
what ..why that smile ?????..ahh no Thank you .......!!! Get off!!!!!!!! "


God!!!! its 8 : 10 already ....40 minutes lost merely standing .....Well its going to be a good afternoon in office for me ...sob sob....God not again.....
I was suppressing these thoughts when Whoosh !!!!!!!!! An Innova (a "luxurious" car ..thanks to Mr. TATA ) stopped right in front of me.... " Wanna go to Gurgaon ?????"
"Good lord NO ...oh Yes...but NO...thankyou....
What the hell is going on ?????did I stop you ???no ...maybe i was too lost ...but NO ....(No strangers dear..Mom's voice rang in my ears !!!!)


Huh ....What is wrong ....What will Boss say ???Will he scold me ???Will I be able to reach office at all ???
Where is the bus??
Screech...." Madam where do you wanna go ????...
"Did i stop you ??"...well Iffco (thats my stop )
"Come sit ..."
"You going there ??"...
"No madam..I will go till Qutub ( a stop midway in delhi...) but I want to help you ....don't pay me ....??.?
"What ?????mercy ????dude did I ask you for sympathy ??? and help me ??why ???
what for ???I  did'nt even stop you ????...No ....
"Madam you can sit ...you can get another cab from there "
"Good lord whats going on ????No ....I don't wanna go ....." 


8 : 30 ....God ..I am dead !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another cab pulls up this time with some people  ..."yes madam ..."



I am too blank to speak ......"madam ...madam ....wanna come ???....Madam ...................."
It took me another 5 minutes to get hold of myself.....The panic button struck....


An Indica (yet another "TATA" gift) ...with a yellow and black number plate (that's what signifies a cab )
...I signal ..it stops and I open the door ...."Gurgaon ?...and before the driver said yes I got in  ...


It was a few minutes before I realized that there was no other passenger and the driver seemed least bothered to stop where there were hordes of people waiting for cabs !!!!!
What ??????
"Do you you travel up and down daily???
"Yes madam .... ..!!!! "
I shifted to the other side to prevent my view from the review mirror....
"Rasiya !!!!!!!!" a groovy song from one of the recent movies started playing suddenly at full volume and my heart skipped a beat !!!!!!!!!!
Oh God....No ...why did I jump and sit....
I mustered some courage to speak ....("Lower the volume......It's a nice song madam....crap !!!....
you won't take more passengers on board ????? You're there ..good enough ..no need for others....
What ?????????My heart skipped a beat ...felt for the seam ripper in my bag ( a tool we used in college for ripping seams ..its pretty pointed )....Oh no......not there ...Now what ...Should keep pepper handly ..I am going to  buy it today, for sure !!!!!
God help me ....." 
The car was speeding across,,,tried to recognize some landmarks ...but could see...eyes were misty...
No !!!!...wierd thoughts crossed my minds and I repeated all prayers I had ever learnt.....
The car sped through...
"So madame you go daily ?????huh ..wat ??? yes ..I  mean no !!!!
"What's wrong ???are you alright madame !!!! ...???? ahh yes ......how far are we ?
Why do you worry madam ? I will escort you to your stop ....!!!!!


Suddenly the words of a friend rang in my ears...."Hey always remember gals should not try and be a bond ...they should remember their limitations"
.......I had wondered what limitations...now I knew what !!!!!!!!!! 


Suddenly the song changed to a fast track (Barson Yaaron from london dreams)....which had "lord hanuman's praises  in full intensity " 
Thank Lord .....I closed my eyes...Just one time Lord.....
"So madame whats your stop ???...hmmm  ..Iff ..iffco I stammered "
" So in the evenings also you go back " ...yes...oh no....... i mean yeah with my colleagues...
"If you want madame i can collect you.....?...no no thank you ....
I felt myself grow cold......."Hey stop this is my stop...Stop !!!!"
" Where will go from here ....?? "
"No I wanna get down here ..."
"Where is ur office madame !!!!! "
" lef...Left !!!!! and the car turned left ......."
"Take my number ...give me a call if you want me to pick you up....k .k ...
Now give me a miss call ....
No i will call you ......yes madame ...did u give me a miss call....?????
I did !!!!!!!!!!!!! (not that I had much of a choice )....
Stop !!!!!!!!!!!!
and thankfully the car came to a stop........."So where is your office. ??? "
I pointed in some direction ...pulled out a twenty rupee note ...
No madame..i won't take money from you ....Will call you when i am crossing your step ..
Good to meet you...
I threw twenty rupee note and ran .....ran and ran till I entered my office gates !!!!!
Got into the lift and sat down .........
"God !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" 
9: 15 am ...45 minutes of pure terror ....
Reached my office floor and fell on the couch ...........


Did I say i am strong..i can manage on my own ....What if the cab driver took me in some other direction....
What could I have done .....Helplessness.....its only today  that I realised the meaning of this word...
Even as I write my hands have  grown cold...the terror of the morning haunts me till now and I wonder 
Are women actually safe in this "male dominated " society .....
So what if the first citizen of the nation is a woman...
So what if women have reached the moon or climbed himalayas.....they are still the weaker sex...and will be....no denying that .......
"Madame..are you alright  ??"....I hear the guard coming towards me....
Ah yes...I slowly gathered myself up ....took a deep breadth and Slowly strutted towards my office...
Boss wished me "Good Evening " for being in time !  ..I forced a smile and began yet other usual day at office !!
A man's world indeed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!