116 roads violate Forest Act in Himachal; forest department and PWD guilty
A total of 116 roads in Himachal Pradesh were built violating Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Moreover, the no-objection certificates (NOCs) to build the roads were issued by unauthorized persons like patwaris, range officers and block development officers (BDOs). The matter is now sub
Omidyar’s philanthropy to catalyse economic, social and political change
In the beginning of this month, Janaagraha, a Bengaluru-based non-profit organization, received a grant worth $3 million from a US-based philanthropic investment firm that had recently started operations in India. The funding will be used to upscale Janaagraha’s citizen engagement and urban governance
Polluted air increases severity of asthma
A recent research conducted jointly by experts at Stanford University and University of California has found that polluted air directly affects a gene that appears to increase the severity of asthma in children. The study was done on 181 children with and without
Hindus and Muslims to build ‘school of self-actualization’ at Ayodhya site
In a landmark turn of events that will very well amaze people across the world who have been following the Ayodhya verdict, Hindu and Muslim parties have come to a mutual understanding and decided to not build either a temple or a masjid
Easy environment conservation idea: Save energy by saving food
It is difficult to believe that just by not wasting food the United States could immediately save the energy equivalent of that produced by about 350 million barrels of oil a year. US-based scientists Michael Webber and Amanda Cuellar note that food contains
About 3,500 Indians and Chinese will die of aircraft pollution this year
The harmful pollutants emitted by an aircraft at an altitude of 35,000 feet are fatal for people, says a study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology (EST). The report reads that almost 8,000 people will die due to aircraft pollutants this
Environment adds a new dimension on diabetes prevention; Indians at high risk
A study by Harvard medical researchers, published in the October issue of Diabetes Care, links air pollution to increased rates of diabetes. The research says that even in areas where there are acceptable levels of air pollution, as regulated by the Environmental Protection
Green national accounting system by 2015
‘In the last few months, I have tried to set the ball rolling, so that by 2015, at least, we can have a system of green national accounting,’ Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh has said. The minister said
Our roads, our cows, and us.
The grandeur of the sight is compelling. An under-construction flyover – some three kilometres in length”overlooking a sea of human beings, cars, motorbikes, buses, mini trucks, scooters, cycle rickshaws, bicycles, carts, animals – all bravely navigating the crests and troughs of what can
Climate change, poverty, gender, disarmament and terrorism in foreign minister’s UN address
Foreign Minister SM Krishna addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 29. Given below is the full text version of the minister’s speech. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. At the outset, please allow me to congratulate you on your election as President