"Biodiversity treaty is misleading the Third World"
A known a crusader for traditional Indian medicine. P Pushpangadan, who completed his Ph.D from Aligarh University, is currently the director of …
'I don't think future generations will be very happy with our performance'
Michael Jefferson is vice-president of the London-based World Energy Council (WEC), an international association covering all energy forms. …
The 'karma' of conferences
Arun Shourie, minister fordisinvestments, led the Indiandelegation to the International Conference on Financing for Development at Monterrey, …
GM food can cause cancer
French scientist GILLES-ERIC SÉRALINI unmasked the dangers of genetically modified brinjal, almost approved for commercial production in …
"This drug will be accepted by the West"
Ranjit Roy Choudhary , emeritus scientist at the National Institute of Immunology and chairperson of the scientific advisory group of the Indian …
People are unaware of the health effects of indoor air pollution
Angela Mathee , an environmental scientist at the South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town,spoke to Nidhi Jamwal on the dangers of …
Joint participation made privatisation a success
Mark A Dumol , former chief of staff, Department of Public Works and Highways of Philippines, who played a key role in the privatisation of the …
'Bird trappers make good zoo keepers'
ABRAR AHMED senior programme officer at Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce-India/World Wildlife Fund-India lashes out at the …
"Small hydropower is unique"
In 2002, at least 42,221 small hydropower (SHP) stations were operating in China, supplying adequate power to more than 300 million people. This …
'We have no reason to be secretive'
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (geac) braved roaring controversy to approve commercial plantation of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) …
How safe is your toothpaste?
From the basic, white toothpaste of yesteryears to the specialised cavity- and plaque-control ones, toothpastes have come a long way. Scientists …
Political parties cannot offer solutions
Well into his seventies, the veteran of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Kushabhau Thakre recently took office as president of the …
Imbalances need to be improved
Egbert Pelinck , director general, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, spoke to Prakash Khanal on …
'Censuses mean little'
A POPULATION expert sharply critical of India's achievements in curbing population growth. A demographer with scant respect for the census. A …
Aid cuts will defeat objectives of Agenda 21
WITH HUGE reductions in aid already under way and further cuts to follow soon, transfer of resources remains the most contentious issue in …
"There can be no development without women"
REACHING Doongri, a picturesque village perched 1,750 m above sea level in the Pindar valley in Chamoli district, is a daunting task. The nearest …
"Over 15 per cent of Russia is ecologically unsafe"
Professor Alexei Yablokov is head of the inter-departmental commission for ecological security under Russia's National Security Council. He …
'Slow, creeping catastrophe'
Former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Michael Zammit Cutajar, speaks to Anju …
"A mining company is an elusive animal"
Roger Moody is the director of Nostromo Research, which investigates mining practices around the world. A leading critic of the …
Light on India’s fourteenth meteor shower
The Vidarbha region in Maharashtra was hit by a meteor shower on May 22. It was no spectacle—it came between 2 pm and 2.30 pm—in the …
Governments alone cannot combat pollution
P K Ray an eminent immunotoxicologist and director, Bose Institute, Calcutta, spoke to Amit Nair on the various issues related to human health
"Where there is some project, they need explosives"
Nagpal Tea Stall, 29 Rajpur Road, Dehradun. Raju sips his tea, eyes glued to the television. Then his eyes light up as he hears talk of Bhutan. …
"We have won against the army"
Muhammad Ali Shah has been crusading for the rights of fisherfolk for the past three decades. Presently he heads the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (…
"We have done precious little"
Tado Karlo, professor of physics, Northeast Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh tells Nitin Sethi that …
"Laws are modified to suit MNCs"
A transfer order on May 10, 2005, cut short A Ramakrishnan's crusade against sub-standard food and drugs and malpractices by companies like …