Cola major gets a taste of panchayat power

A board proclaimed it to be their 575th day of struggle. As if to counter the villagers’ move, Coca-Cola employees were camping outside the panchayat office, about 3 kilometres away, demanding that the plant’s licence be renewed. The board there declared that the stir had reached its 188th day.

On a strong wicket

CONTITUTIONAL issues underlie the deadlock that persists in Plachimada. More specifically, the entire debate is centred on the rights of panchayats. Not only is the Perumatty Grama Panchayat pitted against the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited (HCBPL) and the Kerala government, it is ironically having to take on the local self-government department also. In fact, it was the latter's directive to have the matter investigated afresh by officials of other departments that prompted the panchayat to file a writ petition in the HC.

New Delhi to Milan

The Ninth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also known as COP-9, is being held in Milan, Italy. The previous conference, COP-8, took place in New Delhi from October 23 to November 1, 2002. Can the lessons from New Delhi be applied to Milan?

Time for a rethink

Let's face it: the global climate change regime is stuck in a rut. It is unlikely that things will change dramatically at the forthcoming conference of the parties (CoP-9) of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC). Of course, it is possible that Russia could surprise everyone by deciding to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. It is possible, but not probable.

A site of global struggle

Tangible action: now!

The ratification of the Kyoto Protocol (KP) has become a great game between the Russian bear and the EU/Japan, very much reminiscent of the Great Game played between the same bear and the British bulldog in the late 19th century over Northwest India & Afghanistan. Of course, the new entrant is Uncle Sam, whom everyone is trying to cajole & pacify.

A call for leadership

The events of the last few years - 9/11, the US invasion of Iraq, and, on the climate front, the emerging recognition that the Earth's overall climate sensitivity is likely to be quite high - should first of all prod us to realise that our situation is deadly serious.

At CoP-9

Moving climate policy forward

AXEL MICHAELOWA

Memory's nemesis

Is it memory that keeps Bhopal alive in our conscience? In 1984, I, Richard, was in class nine. My colleague, Surya, was in class two. Twenty years later, we were on our way to Bhopal, for a 20th 'anniversary' story on the world's worst industrial disaster.