Countdown to copenhagen

Brazil announces deep emission cut Ahead of Copenhagen

Carcinogenic Rajnigandha

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of Rajnigandha brand of pan masala on the ground that it contains magnesium carbonate, a probable carcinogen the sale of which in the form of gutkha or pan masala is banned in the state. Acting on a consumer complaint, fda conducted tests on Rajnigandha pan masala and found it laced with the chemical compound.

In Short

legal backing: The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and other civic agencies to permit water harvesting in as many public sector buildings as possible. In an order issued on August 25, 2004, it also directed authorities concerned to allow the activity on flyovers that have their designs approved for the purpose. The order was issued in response to a petition filed by V K Jain of Tapas, a non-governmental organisation. The Central Ground Water Authority was asked to submit data on groundwater.

Messing around with regulations

A row is raging in the us over reports that the Bush administration meddled in a policy proposed to tackle the last uncontrolled source of mercury pollution -- thermal power stations. Environmentalists and public health activists also alleged that the White House sought to project reduced toxicity from mercury, despite scientific studies stating otherwise.

Developing countries are dumpyards for e-waste

Exactly what is the new millenium all about? Some call it the time of the information technology (it) revolution. Some say it is globalisation turning mature. But, as one looks for ways to name the present, there pops up a phrase with a murky neologism in it: the new millenium is also the era of e-waste.

HP snubbed

the Union ministry of environment and forests (mo ef) has taken strong exception to Himachal Pradesh's (hp) decision to denotify a part of its forestland. Under a notification issued in 1952, hp declared all wasteland and tracts on which the state government had proprietary rights as protected areas. However, in 1998, it introduced another notification excluding certain categories of wasteland from forest areas.

Sans science

the science policies of the Bush administration are skewed to suit ideology, and they often ignore scientific studies that do not support the viewpoints of the Conservatives. Scientists and Democrats have made these allegations in a report by the us House of Representatives' government reform committee. "Our report amply illustrates the efforts made to manipulate, distort and suppress science," says Henry Waxman, the lead author.

Takeover bid

with Bihar's revenue minister Ramai Ram informing the legislative assembly on July 7 that the state government was actively considering an amendment to the Bhoodan Act, the battle for control of such tracts has intensified in Patna. At stake is more than 160,660 hectares (ha) of land, which is still in the hands of the Bhoodan Yagya Committee for distribution but has not been verified by officials of the revenue department. Ramai Ram has long argued for the abolition of the panel to bring this land under the direct control of revenue authorities.

Stop being airtight

the 'freedom of speech and expression' guaranteed by article 19 of the Indian Constitution may at last emerge out of the realms of myth. Of late, some people have become vocal about their rights in a country sound asleep to its strong democratic traditions.

Felling favoured

The us house of representatives has passed a controversial bill that will increase forest thinning on eight million hectares of federal lands. The step has been taken on the pretext of better management of federal lands to reduce the threat of wildfires. Critics argue this is a million-dollar giveaway to the timber industry.