Celebrity’s anti-shale angst

An eclectic group of celebrities, including Yoko Ono, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Susan Sarandon, have come together in a music video calling for New York state to ban hydraulic fracturing.

Nutrient paradox

THE WORLD is facing a nutrient crisis, says a new report. Nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, are essential for raising crops to feed the ever increasing population and in production of energy. But the report, ‘Our Nutrient World’, suggests these human activities have altered the natural flow of these nutrients.

A river’s worthy son

VEERBHADRA MISHRA 1938-2013

Victims question Centre on delaying Plachimada Bill

It has been more than two years since the Kerala Assembly passed a Bill to set up a tribunal to secure compensation for people of Plachimada village who suffered the ill-effects of ground water depletion and pollution at the hands of beverage giant Coca-Cola. But the tribunal is yet to be set up because of delay by the Centre. A memorandum regarding the constitution of the Plachimada Coca-Cola Victims’ Relief and Compensation Claim Special Tribunal was submitted to the Union home ministry on March 15.

March to Delhi to save Yamuna called off

The Yamuna Muktikaran Padyatra was till yesterday facing a crisis with several activists and participants pulling out of the agitation. On Thursday, they celebrated an announcement which till yesterday they considered a betrayal. At 10.30 p m Wednesday night, the Union minister for water resources, Harish Rawat, met the protesters camping at Ali Gaon on the outskirts of Delhi and promised the release of additional water into the river.

Letters - March 31, 2013

Bigger is better

Budget 2013: the path remains the same

There is little budget allocation to steer the country towards ecologically sustainable development Finance minister P Chidambaram said in his budget presentation that “higher growth leading to inclusive and sustainable development” was the mool mantra of budget 2013-14. Since growth so phrased is also the theme of the 12th Five Year Plan, he reiterated that development must be sustainable both economically and ecologically. In short, he must mean what he says. So how sustainable is the budget he laid before Parliament on Thursday?

Small fish, big net

At a rural market, fishers selling tiny fish in small baskets cannot escape the curious eye. Often ignored as “trash” or “miscellaneous” by the formal fishery sector, small fish is a delicacy rural people line up for. A loving husband would never miss the chance to give his expecting wife a meal full of nutritious small fish. A mother would always pursue her children to have them for good eyesight.

Kumbh: time to come clean

Maha Kumbh in Allahabad has perhaps no parallel in terms of the sheer size of the congregation. In less than two months over 100 million people are expected to come to this city, which sees the confluence of two rivers of India—the Ganga and the Yamuna. People come to worship on the banks of the Ganga.

Can faith heal?