While an average worker in an advanced country such as the US earns about US $50 per hour that amounts to not less than $10, 000 per month, the average maximum earned by a worker in a general industry sector in a developing nation such as India or Nigeria is $2/50 per day, amounting to about $62/50 per month. This is 1/160th of that earned by the US counterpart!. This would mean that an average Indian/ Ethiopian/ Nigerian worker would have to live and work a total of 160 years to reach the annual income volume of an American counterpart!!!
This writer is of the view that this huge disparity between the livelihood earnings in the advanced nations and the less developed nations is the greatest cause for POVERTY and Global Warming in the world. This is aggravated by the unfortunate exodus of “trained manpower” into advanced nations, from almost all developing nations, exacerbating the already existing difficult situations of economic and social conditions in these nations. Further, almost all of the developing nations have NOTHING to develop OWN TECHNOLOGIES and Material resources – in fact not one of them REALLY ATTEMPTS to do the same – and instead, merely mimic and slavishly accept whatever the “advanced nations” (Western world) consider as “being right”.
Nobel laureate Al Gore’ would cajole us to BUY and use CFL instead of tungsten lamps, and tell those in the US to switch over to so-called GREEN fuel instead of petroleum fuels (with a perceived and preconceived view that such a fuel reduces Global warming!); Clinton and other NGO groups would “beg” for donations so that their “foundations” could do something for the poor and the destitute (as though such “tokenisms” are the answer to poverty alleviation); Nobel laureates, Dr. Amarteya Sen and Paul Krugman would theorize about Poverty; yet another Nobel winner Dr. Younus would vouch that “Micro financing” would empower the poor; GREEN Entrepreneurs such as John Doerr and Vinod Khosla would bet on so-called GREEN technologies and entice youngsters to work on the possibility of tapping the “lost in space” cosmic energy of “dead stars” … But alas! Not one of these great personalities seem to have any practical arrangement to make sure that the 3.5 billion poorest people (almost all of them living in dilapidated villages in the tropical countries, and in wretched conditions) are empowered to continually earn their livelihood through SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT programs.
WHY GLOBAL WARMING & POVERTY ARE COROLLARIES?
When Al Gore’ cajoles the people of the US to switch over to Bio-fuels, does he advocate it on the basis of a genuine feeling against Global Warming vis-a-vis the poor on earth? Does he look at the various other possibilities, which could simultaneously solve these TWIN problems (GWP)? Does Al Gore’ advocate the utilization of (leasing?) vast lands in Africa and South America for cultivating Food/ Fuel “crops” for the richer nations, relegating the “LOCALS” to subsistence living? Does Al Gore’ approve the disparity that exists between the rich nations and the poorer nations? We had estimated that an average industrial worker in a developing nation such as Ethiopia/ India/ Bangladesh would have to live and work for about 160 years to earn what his/ her counterpart earns in just one year in the US!!! Are all of these “champions” of GREEN and/ or POOR (great personalities such as Al Gore’, Clinton, John Doerr, Vinod Khosla …) aware of these realities, and are all of their “genuine” concerns for the betterment of the world driven and fueled by THESE fundamental facts?
Now let us look at an interesting observation:
In most of the developing nations there are many “old fashioned” Animal Powered systems of transport and other utility arrangements (animal powered/ driven coconut oil extraction and “bullock cart” transports are examples). India has many bullock carts still in use, in almost all of the village areas, transporting goods across different regions. These are also used by farmers, to till/ plough the land. Would it not be in the best interests of mitigating Global Warming as well as reducing poverty, if we advocate such “animal powered” systems, instead of advocating so-called Green Fuels and Green energy that are endorsed by the “champions”? If this were so, why are these “champions” advocating CFL, Photo Voltaic systems, and Bio-fuels, all of which depend on “heavy” industry arrangements that draw on the meager resources of the earth? Further, CFL and PV cells are bound to cause mercury/ heavy metals pollutions, which may soon become another deadly problem! Or, is there a “hidden agenda” on these moves? Why are the great “knowledge” centers such as Harvard, Massachusetts and Oxford “keeping mum” on these?

A Pair of Bullocks would move about two tons of load
It is estimated that India could offset not less than 10, 000 to 12, 000 MWe power, through appropriate utilization of “animal power” , mainly bullocks (this does not include the possibility of using Elephants for hauling and other related needs!). Power potential based on Bullock systems could be the equivalent of 120 million barrels of oil!!! Many other nations, especially in Africa, could also develop such “BIO-ENERGY” systems for their good as well as to mitigate the twin problems of GWP. However, under the present “unipolar” world wherein almost everything (both the economics and governance of all nations) seem to be dictated and directed by the Consumerism and Energy/ Materials Gulping behavior of the USA, even a democratic nation such as India is totally “bound” within those dictum! Perhaps we may have to “create”a New Nehru to LEAD, so that India alone has the strength and will power to counter the twisted and self-centered thought-actions of the western world, dictated by the US, at the forefront. It is also interesting to note that, if a country like India develops Animal BIO-POWER, not less than 100 million local people would have “FULL TIME” jobs, in villages, thereby uplifting their living standards through better earning power – reducing shifting population to that extent.
Are the GREEN CHAMPIONS listening? Or, do they feel this would “snatch the war” against GWP away from the multinational corporations?
WHAT SHOULD WE DO to Answer Problems of GWP?
“SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” has become a “catch-phrase”, a front runner for all political and other socio-cultural rhetoric! Added to this is the “biggest rhetoric” that is supported by the UN: MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDG). Here is superb rhetoric:
“Let the future say of our generation that we sent forth mighty currents of hope and that we worked together to heal the world.”
… Prof Jeffrey D Sachs … http://www.millenniumpromise.org/site/PageServer?pagename=home
… The “link” from the above would lead to this:
“Your contribution will support Millennium Promise and our mission to end extreme poverty in Africa. It will help underwrite vital resources and activities such as staffing in Africa, outreach, advocacy, and program oversight that make sustaining Millennium Promise and Millennium Villages possible. *These amounts below represent our total cost for providing these items, including the costs of purchase and distribution, needed technical assistance, and the associated operational costs. Your contribution will support Millennium Promise and its overall mission. The examples provided are symbolic and donations will be used where needed most to help those living in poverty.”
THE QUESTION:
Could we mitigate the effects of Global Warming and Global Poverty through Gifts/ Donations/ Hope/ Prayers/ Government Gratis? Why are the different groups, who apparently seem to work very hard to mitigate the effects of GWP, NOT attempting to develop and bring out effective and REAL Sustainable programs?
While not wishing to go into the detailed analyses of the How/ Why/ What on these “begging” for Donations etc, this writer wishes to express his personal nauseating feelings (with mental agony) about such unabashed “second-fiddling” by almost all of the systems that propound ideas and actions toward mitigating Poverty/ Global-Warming.
Here is a REAL Case study (Actual study done in 2007):
Thampy (true name withheld) is about forty years of age, and lives in Wayanad District in Kerala State in India. He has just short of one ac of land, which provides all that he could “think of” for his family upkeep. The family consists of himself, his wife and two children (aged 14 and 11 – girl and boy respectively), and his widowed mother who is 65 years old (physically very weak). Although, a few years back, when the crops he obtained through cultivation in his meager land (mainly coffee, pepper and banana) could earn him not less than US $3150 gross, his present gross earnings are not even $1050 – a net annual earning of not more than $750, at the best of times. Five years back he could send his children to a good local school; but with poorer earnings now, he is unable to pay the “high fees” needed to support such “better education”. Further, he has to support his mother, who needs medical attention due to poor health. Although Government health centers are helpful, a combination of corruption and high costs of special medications make it very difficult to support his mother, except those that are possible within his meager earnings level. Though he has cooking gas connection and also electricity connection, he avoids using them except for specifically important needs, avoiding wastage. In the ultimate analyses, the average earnings per individual in this family works out to less than $150 per annum (at the best of times). Observations showed that a major portion of the District had many such “Thampy’s”, a few of them having greater economics problems.
The above pathetic “story” is not a freak case, but this writer has seen and interacted with many such families in villages, across the length and breadth of India (moving about 3000 km), noting that almost 70% or more of all village families are extremely poor and in wretched conditions!!!
QUESTION:
What could we do to change this pathetic economic realities in India (and in almost all developing nations)? Would it be enough if we offer platitudes and rhetoric, apart from theorizing and “preaching” various ideas and concepts? Would the various seminars and other so-called “work-shops” aimed at poverty alleviation etc, almost all of them being conducted in Five-Star Hotels at high costs, help? Do we have PRACTICAL propositions and Operational methods so that the average per capita income in villages could be raised to not less than $2000? For example, if we were to enhance the economics standard of “Thampy”, his family income would have to be not less than $10, 000; could we help in achieving this?
AGRO-BIOGENICS – A MINUSCULE GROUP: working toward mitigating the effects of GWP
http://www.agro-biogenics.com
This is a small (but highly determined and dedicated) group, constituted through a “chance interaction” in the forum of CR4. The members of the group (numbering less than twenty at this moment, after One year of interaction through the net) have come together with the main thrust being: Mitigation of Global Warming and Global Poverty, through defining and creating a NEW BUSINESS PARADIGM, which measures the rate of increase of business/ economic development as being proportional to the closing of the gap between the “rich” and “poor”. The said new business paradigm DOES NOT wish to depend on doles/ donations/ gifts/ Government subsidies and other philanthropic “offerings”; but the new business would wish to COMPETE side-by-side mainstream economics, working on an estimated worldwide business volume of over $4 trillion for every $150 per capita increases earned by the poorest 3.5 billion people on earth!!! Here is an excerpt from an Introduction to the themes at Agro-Biogenics:
“If you think technology means sophisticated gadgets and hybrid systems … think again! Just look around us at our backyards … we would have the greatest business potentials there … we need to use all available local renewable resources, including human resources, toward solving the needs and problems of local people. This “localization” would be the answer to the present day problems of global warming and green house gas emissions. We have all the energy and materials needs of the local people, within local surroundings. Our estimate of these business potentials indicate a value of not less than US $4, 000 billion!!!”
At this juncture, we also need to “define” the connotation: AGRO-BIOGENICS:
“We may observe that agriculture and plant systems are the starting point for all human activated phenomena on earth; it is further noted that the future of humans would directly depend on how we shape the productivity/ efficiency of agriculture and all related activities and processes, thereby optimizing on land utilization, food generation and processing, eating habits, cultural habits, and reducing wastage and reversing shifting populations. The acronym, AGRO-BIOGENICS, connotes a very broad theme conveying the totality of the systems of Materials and Energy that are germane to life on earth. AGRO-BIOGENICSmay be defined as the totality of the system environment that encompasses the whole of Renewable Resources (and could include both living and non living things) and all energy sources. The first word system (AGRO) connotes the theme that the resources are artificially created agriculture and plantation activity resources, including both plants/ vegetation based and animal based. The word – BIOGENICS – connotes the material and energy systems/ resources involved in the entire life forms and those that emanate from them (living and nonliving). We may also note that Agro-Biogenics would be the future, not only in terms of the human resources and energy needs, but also in creating the greatest New Ventures of the future.”
The Group Vision is summed up as follows:
“The turmoil that we see all around us is the result of a system that maximizes wealth in the hands of a handful of people, when the majority merely ekes out their existence. The results of the so-called industrial revolution that began about 250 years ago and culminated in the twenty first century Technology revolution have had little impact on the majority, keeping them at subsistence levels. There are about 4 billion people in this category, as per the UN, and growing at enormous pace. The disparity between these “poor” and the “rich” is growing at exponential level. If we do not take these into consideration and make sure that the lower end strata people are not uplifted to levels above their present paltry incomes of US $150 to $200, we shall have to see a catastrophic backlash, which could result in greater consequences than the perceived catastrophe due to Global warming.
“We at AGRO-BIOGENICSview Global Poverty and Global warming as corollary to one another, as presented elsewhere. And, it would be our endeavor, through propagating the concept of Agro-Polymer Industry Complex-Sustainability Engineered Projects (APIX-SEP), which has been explained at length elsewhere, toward solving these twin problems, simultaneously. And we are also of the view that Business alone would have the competency, imagination and resources to deliver.
“AGRO-BIOGENICS is one small but important step in that direction”
The group benignly calls upon great thinkers, economists, Nobel laureates and all advocates of GREEN TECH and Poverty alleviation programs to ADVICE and support us in our deliverance. We would also call upon all those involved in supporting the development of the Poor: OXFAM, FOE, The Earth Institute, Bill Gates, GOOGLE … and every other such group/ individual, to support the cause for which we PLEDGE to work.
(Note: It is never the intention of this writer to pooh-pooh the excellent and other humanitarian works being rendered by these great institutions and other Groups/ individuals; but the sad commentary is that not one of these GOOD WORKS seems to offer REAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSITION)
More about AGRO-BIOGENICS could be seen here: http://www.agro-biogenics.com/ and http://agrobiogenicscleantechpvtltd.com/
0.000000
0.000000