The recent odd happenings in Maharashtra, India are not singular. From time long Americans have been suspicious of the Blacks intruding in their country. It is to be noted here that even the whites are not Native Americans and the blacks have brought immense proud and honor to that country in areas of sports and politics. Yet, till date they are looked down upon. The same is happening today in USA with Indians too. There have been so many riots and so much of blood shed in France, Germany and other European countries in the name of preserving the local culture. But the case in India is a little different. Here people are competing with people of their own country, in the name of regions and languages. India being a country hosting scores of cultures, faiths and hundreds of languages, if this fire spreads further, will be disintegrated into numerous small fragments.

There have been cases of harassment of Assamese in Bihar and vice versa, east Indians and Tibetans in Delhi, north as well as south Indians in Maharashtra, which are shameful. Petty politicians trigger such disturbance for mere few votes of hardliners but at the end of day innocent hard working people bear the burnt. These outsiders leave their own place and work in other cities; they generate economy and contribute to the development of the place and still are hurt and bundled out at smallest provocation by small-minded politicians.

It’s a fact that only those societies, cities or countries have flourished and succeeded where outsides along with locals have existed, be it Dubai, New York, Sydney, London, Amsterdam, Delhi, Bangalore or Mumbai. Just imagine if Australia or America would have still been inhabited by its aboriginals? What face it would have had today? And in that case, what about our own Indian tribal people? If India wouldn’t have adopted Aryans, Mughals, Parsis and British, would it have developed and enriched as much as it is today? Just take the case of Mumbai. The Mumbai that we are proud of, wouldn’t have been so if it were untouched by outsiders till date. The development of India today is attributed to the technologically and scientifically skilled, English speaking man power that is spread through out the world. But English is not a native Indian language, so do we reject this development? What if all those Indians all over the world are kicked out in the name of regionalism? What would these politicians say then?

The intolerant politics of ‘Divide And Rule’ is being followed by our politicians from more than half a century. It would be wise and appreciable if at least now they begin to think about innovative ways for genuine development of their regions and then procure votes, not by merely beating around people and provoke hate.

Via: Times, Hindu

We have been hearing and reading about animals and natural resources being in danger due to human activities from a long time. Many animal species have vanished from the face of earth, we are facing an unpredictable and harsh weather, potable water is scarce, oil and gas are depleting, forest cover is reducing at an alarming rate and new diseases are cropping up all the time. All these dangerous and alarming changes are happening around us every day and we are the ones bearing all the burnt. Though we humans are only responsible for all this, yet we fail on our commitments to saving our environment everyday.

Today there has been a startling exposure by National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, USA, that 96% of the world ocean has been damaged by human activity. The rate of damage is varying and directly depends on the degree of human contact.

This damage is caused by multiple factors like:

• Discharge of solid waste, toxic chemicals, manufacturing waste, fertilizer, radioactive waste, plastics, oil etc. in to the seas
• Passenger cruises disposing tons of waste every year.
• Polluting the sea water surface through air
• Dynamic changes in temperature and radioactive background
• Seismic surveys
• Industrialized fishing
• Oil containers spilling millions of gallons of oil
• Commercial cultivation of some species
• Destruction of the shore line
• Building new islands
• Sea floor drilling

In this way we are not just polluting the water but also disturbing the whole ecosystem involved. These wastes damage the sea creature’s respiratory organs, digestive system and receptive ability. Some chemicals cause rapid growth or destruction of phytoplankton, the basis of sea food chain. Even if the waste is easily decomposable organic matter, high volumes of that too can cause oxygen deficiency in water thereby killing thousands of water organisms. More harmful toxics result in permanent damage to their physiological functions like reproduction.

An ever increasing incident of oil spill has exposed the sea organisms to the danger of physical and physicochemical damage, owing to oil’s complex composition. We are discharging them in far more quantities than what natural recycling system can handle. Many a time marine animals consume waste mistaking it for food and ultimately face a painful death. Floating plastic dubs turtles, who eat it, mistaking it for jelly fish, and then die of indigestion.

Fishing rates are higher than the capacity of the specie to replenish the yield. Coastal areas are witnessing more and more depleting number in specific type of fishes, thereby disturbing the whole ecosystem of the area. Apart from this, the discarded fishing lines and nets are trapping mammals and whales into them. The entangled animals are dying in great numbers every year.

In the rush of development we are over using our resources much more than their replenishment rate. We are preparing a barren, toxic and dangerous earth for the coming generations. It’s sad that only one of the uncountable species of this beautiful and only living planet is hell-bent of destroying all life and colour here.

Via: Offshore-environment / Eco-Pros / UNESCO

On one hand the headlines read about the inauguration of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, PM confident on achieving 9 to 10% GDP growth rate, India to test new long-range ballistic missile in 2009, $500 million investment by Ford in India, Reliance going global, Sensex touches an all time high of 21,100 mark, Tata group to launch world’s cheapest car, which makes us proud and hopeful of India’s progress.

On the other hand there are reports of molestation, rape and murder, loop holes in dowry laws aids women in harassment of in-laws, highly increasing rate of divorce cases being filed, suicide due to marital discord, murder or schoolmates for revenge etc. which will compel you be shameful and question the security and moral fiber of our society.

One may wonder if this is the consequence of economic growth and prosperity? Is this the cost, society is paying for all the technological and financial growth of the country?

Just take one instance; there has been a disturbing news today that 6 to 7 divorce cases are being filed in Pune courts everyday. The common attributes of all of these cases are: couples are in the age group of 25 to 35 years, both are highly educated and are working professionals, they have completed only 2 or 3 years of their marital life. Half of the times it’s a mutual decision to cut off the nuptial cord. Counseling rarely helps in all these cases.

It’s a rude and gory picture, though the reasons behind it are many.

There is family interference in couple’s day to day life. Couples discuss and share their problems with their respective families instead of their spouses. All this creates a lot of misunderstanding. In some cases there is violence and cruelty too.

There is a lot of attitude in young people today, generating from their professional life and they are not ready to compromise.

Enormous work pressure keeps them occupied most of the time. As a result they are unable to give enough time to each other and their relationship. Also they don’t share a comfort zone and this creates a lot of communication gap.

Individual professional goals and requirements are placed on the highest priority and this effects the family harmony.

Women are financially and emotionally independent and they don’t attach any stigma to the concept of divorce. Even society has started accepting it very normally. In absence of any social pressure, the decision to part becomes easier.

At the root of all these reasons lies the economic prosperity. Why can’t this generation balance financial freedom and family responsibilities at the same time? Does education do nothing to strengthen and aware the person of his/ her moral and social responsibilities? Why are we producing only skilled labors and not dependable citizens?

Growth and prosperity should not just be mapped by GDP or Sensex or Forex, the social traits and strength are what that defines stability in a long run. In true terms, growth should witness these two complimenting each other and not hampering the other for one’s growth.

Via: Times Of India

Bashing the Indian Police system of its incapability and ignorance towards properly and timely addressing public grievances, she took this initiative wherein any body can launch complain if he/ she feels that it is difficult or not possible to register an FIR with the police. The web-system will automatically forward the FIR to the concerned police chiefs or director generals with a copy to the complainant too. To control any misuse of this website, the complaint will be scrutinized and screened by advocates, retired police officers and other experts in the field, before forwarding to the concerned state police headquarters.

She strongly feels that, by not registering complain timely and carefully, the Police are playing a big role in promoting crime in India. However she maintained that this e-based complain project is only a means to bridge the gap between Police and Public and in no way does it replace the Indian Police Force.

Along with this, the website safeindia.com also promotes India Vision Foundation, an NGO laid by her. India Vision Foundation is a trust that works in areas of police and prison reforms and women’s empowerment. It was born with the receipt of The Ramon Magsaysay Award by her in 1994. The projects undertaken by it includes Crime Home Children or Children of Vulnerable Families (CVF), Gali School, SEHAT and Nurture. She also founded The Navjyoti India Foundation in 1987 which works in the area of Preventive Policing.

Via: The Hindu, The Hindu (Bedi’s Mission), Sify News, The Express, The India Vision Foundation.

It’s not just a story, it is happening around us. Recently there was news of ‘Outsourced Pregnancies’ in India. An infertility clinic near Anand (Gujrat) is actually employing surrogate mothers from local community. They are kept in separate houses in groups, with maids and doctors, who take care of them during the pregnancy. They are treated and kept in best of facilities. After the birth, the baby is transferred to the possession of its biological parents. The surrogate mothers are supported for some time in terms of counseling.

These local women are earning more than what they would earn in a decade of their usual income and the offshore parents get a ready made baby of their own, with a high payment of course.

According to the reports there have been 40 such successful births and 50 more are pregnant.

But what kind of a family we are creating in this way? What would be the long term emotional and psychological impact of such a huge baby outsourcing? Isn’t it commercialization of birth? Doesn’t it prove again that ‘money can buy everything’? What about the issue of globalization? Aren’t richer counties passing on all their dirt to the less privileged one?

The issues are not just commercial and economic, but this type of trend will have a very long lasting effect on the way our societies are formed and on our family fiber too. The surrogate mothers are paying a high price in terms of their family bonding and their own baby desires; where as the actual parents are like paying a price for a baby, just as we do for any other product. What level of emotional attachment would they have for such a ready made costly product, is an issue to mull about. Both of these parties are working for their own profits, but what about the baby? That baby belongs to someone but has been created by someone else, in some corner of the world that he doesn’t even know. That baby inherits nothing from that mother of nine months but still he has been created in her womb!

These questions are valid for any in-vitro fertilization, but what when it has been commercialized? A few instances a year can be managed as exceptions but its dangerous when it becomes a trend. After all everything cannot be marketed. There has to be space for things that are special and too personal.

Via: Daily Mail and mLive