2011 in review

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Is there any Hidden Agenda in Opting for Nuclear Power?

Why is our Government so adamant (vehement!) in opting for the “dangerous” and ‘complicated” Nuclear Power, when it is Clear that we have enough Renewable Resources (RR) in our country to generate Power? It is noted that we could generate enough methane gas through simple (time tested Biogas system) processes in the 638,596 villages. The total estimated methane gas potentials through the various RR are as follows:

1. Through conversion of Food wastes = 30,670,220 T

2. Through “spoilt” grain and other food = 30,303,000 T

3. By conversion of Vegetation matter etc = 39,375,000 T

These could be converted into about 115,000 MW power (both Electricity and Heat). Additionally, there would be an advantage of producing superb Bio-Fertilizer = 34,545,445 T. These conversions would offer “full time” jobs to not less than 6 million village people, in the 638,596 villages. The average Power potential per village would be about 200 KW (24 x 365).

It is sad and strange that a very respected and senior person such as Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (Our Former President and a reputed Scientist) is coaxing the public to go for Nuclear Power! Does he not know about the potentials of RR based Power in India? If he does know that, why does not he tell the Government to go for such an environmentally superior system (a real CLEAN-TECH process) for Power generation? Or is there any hidden agenda?

We may also note that by going for RR based (bio-methanation) Power generation, we would be paving the way for simultaneously answering the Twin-problems of Global Warming and Poverty (GWP). Is it not the real answer to the UN MDG? In what way, a very costly and complicated (involving dangerous Radio-active materials disposals) Nuclear Power is considered more appropriate answer to India’s Power needs? This writer wishes to openly challenge every scientist and development economist in telling them that Bio-methanation is the answer to India’s Energy Security and it also helps in Rural Development through Job creation and cascading developments. Is there any one to challenge this statement?

Gandhi Ji’s Dream of Village Development Is Possible

GANDHI JI

AGRO-BIOGENICS (CLEAN-TECH) PVT LTD (http://agrobiogenicscleantechpvtltd.com/) Bangalore are prepared to take up the Challenge posed by MAHATMA GANDHI: that of Poverty Problem. We are prepared to solve both the Poverty Problem and the Energy Problem,  thereby simultaneously work on the twin-problems of Global Warming and Poverty (GWP)

Today (October 2, 2011) is Gandhi Ji’s yet another Birth day! And, although his unparalleled “Styagraha Fight” against the might of the British was rewarded with India’s being proclaimed as an Independent nation, we are still a Poverty ridden nation, “begging” with our bowls at the Doors of the Western world. Governments come and go: paying lip service to Gandhi Ji’s concept of Village Development and POORNA SWARAJ. Lakhs of Crores of rupees are spent in the name of Khadi, Village Development, Rural development and so on. Yet the 638, 600 villages where over 850 million people live are dilapidated and and in wretched conditions. The Governing people (Parliamentarians, Legislators, IAS officials, Planners, Government Officials, Industrialists and various Elite Groups) continue to become richer and richer; but the Villages are continuing to be poorer and poorer! But, YES! We ( AGRO-BIOGENICS (CLEAN-TECH) PVT LTD Bangalore ) have the answer to counter Poverty and the dreaded Energy problem too.

Our Population and Renewable Resources (Plants/ vegetation, Agrowastes, Organic wastes etc and Rainwater, Sunlight and Soil) are our Resources

RURAL POPULATION = 742,490,639 (61.36%)

URBAN POPULATION = 286,119,689 (23.64%)

CITY/ METRO POPULATION = 181,583,094 (15%)

We look at potential Energy Generation through Organics wastes:

1. Approximately 0.5 Kg of food materials are averagely wasted per individual, per day. These could be converted into the following (India’s population = 1.21 billion):

   • Methane Gas ………….. 30,670,220 T

   • Neutral CO₂ …………… 145,648.15 T

   • Bio-Fertilizer (Solids) … 70,583.33 T

   • H₂S …………………………. 2240.74 T

2. About 60 Million T of food grains are rotting in Godowns. If these were converted into Biogas, the following are the potentials:

   • Methane gas ……………… 30,303,000 T

   • Neutral CO₂ ……………….. 9,332,400 T

   • Bio-Fertilizer (Solids) …… 1,399,860 T

3. On the basis of 350 ha of land per village (Total “productive” villages estimated @ 600,000) the annual vegetation/ organic wastes available @ 5 T per ha = 1,050,000,000 T. If ONLY 50% were considered we generate the following @:

   • Methane Gas …………….. 39,375,000 T

   • Neutral CO₂ ………………. 68,250,000 T

   • Bio-Fertilizer (Solids) …. 33,075,000 T

   • H₂S …………………………… 1,050,000 T

Total Power Potential (both Heat + Electricity) from (1), (2) and (3) = 35,000 MW + 35,000 MW + 44, 950 MW (114,950 MW). India now struggles to produce about 130,000 MW, including private Diesel generated power etc (which itself is deficient by 30%) … The Energy Potential (Units) = 1,006,962,000,000 KWH.

What AGRO-BIOGENICS (AB) would Offer:

1. AB would collect all Wastes from Towns/ Cities/ Villages for recycling and further processing

2. At least 302,088,600,000 (Units, both Heat + Electricity) would be made available to the Grid @ Re.1 per unit. These would be provided in the form of METHANE GAS to an extent of 20,928,600 T. This volume could be re-worked and appropriate modifications made, as per ACTUAL conditions prevailing on the basis of an agreed “audit” every Three years

3. A total of 10,363,633 T Bio-Fertilizer (solids) would be offered @ Rs.5 per Kg to Local Farm community (to be decided on the basis of land and wastes supplied)

4. TOTAL VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT (about 600,000 Villages all over India), offering not less than 100,000,000 people “all the year” Jobs in their own local village environments, with average monthly earning power of Rs.5,000

5. The entire Projects could be completed in Five years in the First State that enters into arrangement (NOTE: As the Total Potentials are computed on All-India basis, the individual State potentials are to be estimated separately)

   NOTE: THESE ARE BROAD ESTIMATES. ACTUAL, MORE REALISTIC COMPUTATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR FULL ACCURACY

The following support policies are required:

1. Each Household and Establishment MUST segregate Food/ Bio Organics and Inorganic materials

2. Each Village, Street area MUST form an Association for Waste Disposal, and be responsible for the upkeep of the surroundings CLEAN

3. Any Littering in any place shall be Fined (The quanta of Fine to be discussed and decided)

4. Wastes MUST be segregated into the following Categories for collection:

   • Plastics/ Packaging (Paid @ Rs.5/ Kg)

   • Food wastes (Paid @ Rs.2/ Kg … dry)

   • Paper (Paid @ Rs.3/ Kg … dry)

   • Cloth (Paid @ Rs.5/ Kg dry)

   • Electrical/ Electronic (Paid @ Rs.3/ Kg)

   • Others (No payment)

5. Our Company and Joint-Venture Companies should be Income Tax exempted for Twenty years. All other Government levies (Sales tax, Excise, Octroi etc) also to be exempted. These must be allowed to every employee of the Company and Joint-Venture companies

6. All Food materials/ cereals rotting in Government Godowns MUST be offered to AB, unconditionally @ Rs.2000 per ton

7. All Agrowastes and other unclassified vegetation/ organic matter MUST be made available to AB, for which values @ Rs.0/50 to Rs.2/ per Kg would be offered

8. AB would have to be supported with a GRANT of Rs.30 Cr to set up an AGRO-POLYMER INDUSTRY COMPLEX (APIX) Pilot Project. The said APIX_Pilot would showcase Waste processing. Whichever State offers the same FIRST would get an additional benefit of 5% on the annual returns of AB’s Total Indian businesses, all throughout.

9. AB would also need some additional Government/ Public support that would be delineated in a more detailed statement

WE THROW OPEN THIS CHALLENGE TO ANY GOVERNMENT STATE/ CENTRAL, OR EVEN TO ANY ENTREPRENEUR. If an Entrepreneur comes forward to support our Projects with Funding, the said Entrepreneur/ Group would have 33% Stake allowed in OUR Company. These are for ALL-WORLD Developments … In the ENTIRE TROPICS where we are prepared to operate and take up the Problem solving of GLOBAL WARMING AND POVERTY (GWP)

WHAT IS INDIA’S POVERTY LEVEL?

The yardstick of Minimum Decent Living Standard/ Earnings per individual in India has to be based on the following minimum human needs:

• Food (@ Rs.50 per day for 365 days) ………………………….. Rs.18,250

• Energy @ 1.5 unit per day for 365 days …. 547.5 units … Rs.2,737.5

• Home/ Housing @ Rs.1000/ pm …………………………………. Rs.12,000

• Mobility @ Rs.25/ day for 300 days …………………………….. Rs.7,500

• Education @ Rs.1000 per month ………………………………… Rs.12,000

• Medicines/ health @ Rs.15 per day for 365 days …….;… Rs.5,475

• Leisure/ entertainment @ Rs.150 per month ………………. Rs.1,800

• Family @ Rs.1, 000 per month …………………………………..… Rs.12,000

• Old age security/ providence @ Rs.1,000/ pa ……………… Rs.1,000

  TOTAL MINIMUM DECENT LIVING STANDARD EARNINGS NEEDED BY AN INDIVIDUAL IN INDIA … Rs.72, 762.5

Compare this minimum need of Rs.72,762.5 per individual with the paltry Rs.11,680 (Rs.32/ – per day) in Urban areas and Rs.9,125 (Rs.25/ – per day) in Rural areas being prescribed by the Planning Commission. Is it not a SHAME on the part of the Government to prescribe Officially that the Poverty Line in India should be prescribed at less than 15% of the Minimum Decent Living Standard needs of an individual? Are those in the Government … Economists, Planners, IAS Officials, and other so-called experts aware of and  interacting with the Common People of India? Perhaps not! They seem to be arm-chair economists and planners with absolutely no botheration to understand WHO IS A COMMON MAN IN INDIA

India’s Development through Total Village Development

India has an estimated 638,596 villages; about 44,865 in these (roughly 7%) are uninhabited. These villages all put together are home for an estimated 175,000,000 families (about 875 million people). The average percapita real earnings of village people is a paltry Rs.6,000 (about $130). It is sad and strange that, while the minimum decent living needs for an Indian today is about Rs.75,000 per annum, the Government of India does not offer more than Rs.10,000 per individual as the total wages under the National Rural Employment Program (NREP); and that too for just one person per family. A real shame (sham!) indeed. Please also read: http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/poverty-is-the-result-of-plundering-and-muzzling-of-the-peace-loving-majority/

How may we raise the living standard of such a huge population of 875 million?

The answer lies in TOTAL VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS (TVDP), as against the so-called Industrialization and “Globalization”. It is noted that an average village in India has about 350 ha of “productive” land. This is an effective total of 223,508,600 ha of village/ farmland. On the basis of average per ha vegetation growth (irrespective of whether any agriculture operations are involved or not) of 45 T (“green” weight), the estimated total green weight biomass in Indian villages would be 10,057,887,000 T. Additionally, one-fourth of the total estimated population of 875 million in the villages are in NEED of decent livelihood benefits (with average decent living standard percapita earnings of not less than Rs.75,000 per annum). This is a whopping total of Rs.16,406,250,000,000. If this is 12.5% of the total value of “Wealth” creation, the annual wealth generation should be Rs.131,250,000,000,000 ($2,853,260,869,565). We may note that India’s villages do have the following “wealth creation Potentials”:

1. Power potential (both Heat and Electricity combined) …….. ……………….. 274,600 MW

2. Bio-conversion Products (Engineering materials, Bio-petrochemicals) … 3,017,064,360 T

[Total Values at current rates ... Rs.150,853,218,000,000 ($3,291,280,502,600)]

The questions: How do we arrive at such a development model? Do we have the Technology, Managerial capability and Entrepreneurship for these to happen? The answer to these questions is: YES We too CAN! Please also read: http://agrobiogenicscleantech.wordpress.com/2010/11/20/cleantech-euphoria/

Let us consider just TWO examples of Vegetation systems/ Plant growth – The Coconut Tree and Banana Tree … We may estimate the Coconut Tree resources in India’s coastal region alone as 18,768,750,000 T; and the total Banana plantation/ vegetation based resources would be 202,500,000 T. These are “Green” weights (with the water content also considered). Since there are both “food” materials and agro-wastes in these two Biomass categories, we shall consider only 50% of the biomass as being available for non-food conversions. While the entire available Banana tree biomass could be converted into Biogas based Methane, that from Coconut tree shall be considered for conversion into Engineered Products. The following are the Biomass conversions from Banana Trees and Coconut Trees [Note: The main Coconut tree could be considered as having a productive life of 60 years; hence the “dead tree” resources are computed on that basis = 63,750,000]:

1. Power generation through Banana Tree conversions ………………… 8290 MW

2. Power generation using 50% of available Coconut tree biomass … 3350 MW

3. Engineered products using balance Coconut Tree conversions ….. 50,595,237.5 T

[Total Values of Products and Energy = Rs.2,530,264,723,000]

It is high time that we re-look at the current euphoria of so-called Cleantech through Solar, Windmills, Atomic Power, Hybrids and so on. Nothing seems to have been done or thought of in taking advantage of the greatest and readily available REAL Cleantech … the Alternate and more Sustainable CLEANTECH THROUGH BIOMASS! Are the world’s scientists, entrepreneurs, academicians, environmentalists, and all those involved in this huge lobbying listening?

HOW THE DEVELOPED WORLD FLEECES THE POOREST IN DEVELOPING NATIONS

The latest of the Biggest fraudulent schemes through which the developed world fleeces the underdeveloped world is seen in so-called CLEAN TECHNOLOGY and Green products. Let us look at the “Big Business” of Solar Lamp systems that are “forced” to be bought by the Poorest roadside and village vendors in India, and in all poor nations (in Africa, Latin America, East Asia and the Pacific Islands). If we consider an average of 100 units of 50 W Solar lamps per village in India, the Indian village market itself is 60,000,000. At a unit cost of Rs.3500 this is Big business = Rs.210,000,000,000 ($4,666,666,667). We may estimate the total world market at not less than $20,000,000,000.

Now let us look at how the scheme works:

“About 57% of India’s population does not have electricity and for many more the supply is unreliable. SELCO’s approach to the lack of working electricity through much of rural India relies on three principles: the poor can afford sustainable technologies; the poor can maintain sustainable technologies; and one can run a commercially viable venture serving the needs of the poor. ” … http://www.schwabfound.org/sf/SocialEntrepreneurs/Profiles/index.htm?sname=173458&sorganization=0&sarea=0&ssector=0&stype=0

1. A Company is formed by a group or individual (always having had experience and studies in the US or other highly developed European nations) to support so-called Clean Technology/ Green products. The said Company (Co) gets various Certifications, based on yardsticks that are approved by the Government. The Government, in turn, looks for standards prescribed by the World Bank or other US based Corporations and Institutions

2. The said Co buys certain basic systems and equipments from the US, and gets those set up in India. Various manpower are recruited and trained, as per the skills developed in the US, sometimes having to send senior Technical people to the Us for training

3. Solar Lamps (SL), as designed and suggested in the US, are manufactured in India

4. The Government of India (Gvt) organizes certain subsidies for Solar based products/ lamps, under directions of various UN institutions. These are approved by the World Bank for Financial supports. The ultimate trigger are from Multinational Corporations in the US, who form the Centers for all these Solar systems all over the world

5. The Co now scouts for NGO (Non Government Organizations) groups who are asked to find markets for these SL. One type of SL that could be used by a Street vendor during the evenings/ night up to about 10 pm could cost Rs.3500. The arrangement is that each SL would be leased to a vendor at a daily “rent” of Rs.15. These street vendors (almost their entire family members) work for all 365 days (say effective 360 days). That would mean their annual cost for SL would be Rs.5400 (540% more than the original price)

Now, let us ask: Who are the ultimate beneficiaries? Is the so-called Clean Technology product (SL) helping the average Street vendor earn more? If, Yes, what is the increased earning? Whys is the Gvt subsidizing a Multinational product, but are not subsidizing the Poor Street vendor, instead?

INFERENCE: The “chain” of activities in the entire Operations that finally culminate in the Street vendor paying for the SL makes sad story. The world seems to be living by squeezing the Poorest. These actions are thrust on them by each local Gvt under directions from the US or other European based Power centers. In this case, for example, even the so-called Entrepreneur who manufactures the SL is serving US interests; nothing being available to the real beneficiaries, who are supposed to be served. What a tragedy and travesty of justice?

POST-SCRIPT:

Now let us look at the manner in which the answers to poverty ‘alleviation” is being found. We again go back to the “questions” that the Business Looks at:

“(i) the poor can afford sustainable technologies; (ii) the poor can maintain sustainable technologies; (iii) and one can run a commercially viable venture serving the needs of the poor”

Item (i): Here, the Poor are Consumers; not Job seekers, looking for better living standard. Thus, the business takes away their frugal purchasing power, as if by doing that the living standards of poor would improve!

Item (ii): Here the poor are assumed to support so-called Sustainable Technologies that are developed in the west. This Sustainability is for those in the west (the RICHEST on earth!), who squeeze the poorest to sustain themselves!!!

Item (iii): The Local entrepreneur runs a commercial venture, using the Poor people’s money squeezed out! Ultimately benefiting the richest in the west!

INDIAN DEMOCRACY ON A “TEST”; WILL WE ALSO GO THE PAKISTAN WAY?

THE INITIAL PERIOD

Our Great Men of Imagination, Vision, Mission

Were we to study and compare India’s democratic progress with that of Pakistan’s retrograde progress, it would be noted that our founding “fathers” had the greater vision and “mission” compared to the “leaders” and self centered “founders” of Pakistan. Let us look (dispassionately) at the Two FIRST leaders of India and Pakistan. India’s prime leader was Jawaharlal Nehru, and that of Pakistan was Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Except for the fact that Nehru was a Hindu by religion and Jinnah was a Muslim, the overall knowledge, qualities, stature and competency of the two were one-to-one matching equally! The comparison stops here. While Jinnah decided to go ahead with the concept of Pakistan being converted into a Theocratic Muslim State, Jwaharlal Nehru (along with all other leaders of the time) decided to make India a truly Democratic, Secular, and Socialist nation. While Jinnah “surrendered” to the United States for everything that resulted in Pakistan being essentially a sort of US Satellite country, Nehru stoutly and firmly refused to be under the dictates of the US. India began magnificently under Nehru and the original Congress (in spite of various contradictions and cancerous Power centers growing within and outside the Congress party). Nehru also “authored” and promoted the Non-alignment movement, (worldwide) which is now being pooh-poohed and destroyed by the Present Congress supported regime (slowly making India a “slave” of the US). India’s initial progress were created through Five-year Plans, development in Irrigation, Power, Industry, Agriculture, Science, and Education. Various other sectors also were developed, apart from Health sectors, Art/ Entertainment, Private enterprises and total democratic processes. Atomic Power was independently developed (without the US or other western supports; and it is even believed that Dr. Homi Bhabha, the architect of Atomic Power in Indida, was murdered to retard Indian Atomic Science progress). Inasmuch as India were slowly and steadily marching forward, Pakistan became a Military Dictatorship, and the founding father Jinnah was imprisoned; and the rest is History. Today, although the basic qualities of the Pakistani people are no different from the Indian communities (especially those in the Norther Indian regions of India), the unfortunate military dictatorship + theocratic concepts seem to be destroying Pakistan. They are TOTALLY dependent on the US, resulting in the unfortunate militancy and so-called terrorism, with no real “local control”

INDIA’s PRESENT SITUATION

Ever since Nehru’s period ended, although Indira Gandhi tried to usher in the continuance of non-alignment and indigenous (Swadeshi) developments, corruption in Congress party and within all government systems created unprecedented problems, resulting in various upsurge (including the so-called JP movement). Slowly and steadily the deterioration in law and order as well as in balanced functioning of the democratic systems got jeopardized. From a “zero” dependence on the US for development we slowly began “looking” at the US for economic development model. And the matter took serious turn during Rajeev Gandhi’s period, and we are more or less 100% under the dictates of the US for almost everything, now. Thanks to the Ten year “slave-mentality” rule of Dr. Manmohan Singh. Today, we have no “independent” economic (and hence social) policies. Whether we are to have a Gas supply arrangement with Iran or other country is dictated by the US; our medical systems are directed by the US; our energy policies, Atomic Power policies, Science development, Education, Agriculture and almost everything … is dictated by what the US wants us to do! Even a local “movement” such as the recent Anna Hazare’ movement against corruption seems to be having some “push” from the US corridors of Power.

India now seems to be moving away from a totally independent strong democracy to a banana republic that looks at the US for everything happening here! We foolishly consider the so-called IT revolution (which seem to offer some “paper money” to some English educated youngsters of our nation) as economic development! Our entire Industry and Agriculture now depend on Multinational (mainly those of the US) corporations for upkeep, technology/ market. Our commodity prices are decided in the US (and other western nations); our raw materials (based in our land) prices are decided in US; our “Standards” are decided in the US; our education methods and qualities are decided and dictated by the US; our science/ medicine systems, and even cultural systems (dress codes/ cinema/ art “brand names” etc) are either decided in the US or influenced by the whims and fancies of US cultures! There is a peculiar “elated superiority” feeling amongst the so-called educated (English speaking) youngsters as if the US-tag to all that they do/talk/feel/imagine is the be-all-and-end-all for everything! Added to this is the greatest misfortune… our entire educational Institutions (IIT, IISc, IIM, NIT and all others) proclaim from hill tops that each one is the better for youngsters to enter and study so that they could be 100% sure to go to the US!

This writer is neither a communist nor a “right wing” Hindutva nationalist; neither a cynic nor a soothsayer; nether a negative thinker nor a revolutionary … But there is a strong feeling in the writer’s mind for Indian Culture, ethos, Philosophical thoughts, and above all… a feeling for India’s great Diversity in Resources and People. India’s independence and strength would depend on how we convert these resources through our own concepts and through our own people’s wisdom, without being dictated by alien Western Intellectual Traditions. There is a sad feeling that under the present weak ruling regime our democratic set up seem to be not only crumbling, but India’s very independence is being compromised by a sort of “slave-thinking” national behavior, under the dictates of the self interests of the US. If this is not stemmed right at this moment (instantaneously), there is no other way for us than the way of the “failed state” Pakistan. The so-called internal “troubles’ and “movements” that we see in the forms of various uprising (Mao movement, Naxalites, ULFA, Telengana, Tamil separatists, J & K Separatists, Khalistan, and so on) would NOT be able to sustain if we completely desist from being under the dictates of the US. If not we are bound to be pulled into a quagmire from which we would not be able to come out! One Anna Hazare’ would not be able to change these; but we may need a thousand Anna’s!

GOD SAVE INDIA!

JAI HIND

MAHATMA ANNA’s NIRAAHAAR SATYAGRAHA and CERTAIN TRUTHS

Mahatma Anna’s thrust against corruption does not seem to have built a direct chord with the entire nation as a whole – especially the southern Kerala society and much of Tamil Nadu society. Here, this writer has some very serious inferences that are based on own personal experiences for over 45 years. India’s one major problem is a “North-South” divide that was created by almost all Leaders in this country except Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. There is not even a single leader in this country from the day of Independence, who could reach out equally to every one in each nook and corner of this vast nation, except these two Giant leaders, whatever many antagonists of both Nehru and Indira Gandhi may have to say. Added to this is the unfortunate fact that after these two leaders were dead and gone, the concept of National Integration and SWADESHI (Self reliance and Indigenous Development) were given the go-by. These most needed thrusts of Socio-Economic developments that would have propelled India into an Independent World leader were destroyed the moment Rajeev Gandhi was “force-installed” by the Congress based mafia-politician-officers nexus. Mere lip-service about these Socio-Economic Development concepts are being uttered at Seminars and other meaningless discussions. The present PM ( a retired obedient Government Servant) has “Opened the Doors” to the western world to “take over” India (through Socio-Economic Terrorism). The so-called “highest educated” Southern States are the most affected in these. And adding salt to the wound is the very poor competency of the biggest Opposition party (BJP, which has real Stalwart Leaders), which also is more of a “Northern States oriented” group, apart from having certain “wrong influences” that are not based on India’s Pluralistic Culture and ethos. It is hoped that like a Beacon that came from no-where in the form of MAHATMA Anna Ji, we do have strong, powerful and knowledgeable leaders in the mold of Pundit Jawharlal Nehru, springing from amongst the 1200 million Indians, soon.

 We must understand the truth in Indian Politics today, without bias. It is not easy to dislodge highly competent (but corrupt and mafia-quality) Politicians such as Lalu Prasad, Mayawati, Bal Thackeray, Karuna Nidhi … to name a few. While MAHATMA Anna Ji has kindled the “fire” in a section of the people (especially the younger generation and the highly educated class) for the First time against corruption, the wily Politicain-Mafia-Officers nexus cannot be easily dislodged. The present operational methods (in a Good system) being all in their “dirty” hands, they are extremely powerful and will thwart any move by even such a giant personality like Mahatma Anna Ji. This is because it is not enough to be capable of getting mere public support for these causes; and instead, the public have to enforce these through Parliamentary processes, which are completely controlled by these Politico-Mafia-Officials nexus (including the so-called impartial Judiciary). Even if Mahatma Anna Ji does have the support of many knowledgeable personalities such as Arvind Kejriwal, Shanthi Bhushan, Kiran Bedi, Justice Hegde and many other real “super” stalwarts, all of them put together cannot be a match to the Politico-Mafia-Officials Nexus. And these are ultimately remote-controlled by the Western based Multinational Corporations (especially those in the US), whose largesse’ in the form of “commissions” to the very same Politico-Mafia-Offials nexus would make sure that not even a hundred MAHATMA Anna Ji’s could counter this Imperialistic forces. History is very clear. As long as Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi were the Topmost Leaders of India, we were never under the dictates of the West nor were we “educated mental slaves” of the west. To-day, all these are different. Not even the BJP (with very high quality Leaders), which is the main Opposition to the biggest Ruling Mafia Congress group in parliament, would be able to handle this unfortunate situation. This writer shudders to visualize the impending consequences that are in store for us. Many who have been brainwashed by the western imperialists, would pooh-pooh this as cynicism and foolishness. But, to every one of them, the writer would like to tell, “see the writing on the wall”: Just see around us and analyze the happenings in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, East Europe, Nigeria, Congo, Kenya, Yemen, Ethiopia, Egypt, Libya, Zimbabwe, Philippines, Indonesia Syria, Lebanon … etc; and slowly and steadily spreading in India! There are over 4 million Indian born people in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and some other “European origin” nations. It is sad that they are unable to see through the designs of the west (especially the US); and instead, they are very wrongly giving a PUSH to go “western” in almost every thing that is happening in India. The happy imperialists are making hay when the Political leadership is in the hands of the weakest and most incompetent groups. We can only say… GOD SAVE OUR NATION

JAI HIND

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR INDIA’s DEVELOPMENT?

India is now witnessing a phenomenon that is unprecedented in its 64 years of independence: THE ANNA HAZARE’ phenomenon of FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION. It is possible for us to estimate India’s corruption in terms of Development Loss (DL) @ 90% of the total Budget (from the main exchequer) and at an equal amount of the budget in terms of “value losses”. All these losses are subsidized by the commonest/ poorest people through their being Tax payers, workers, employees, and consumers. There is an estimated 1% of the total 120 Cr (1200 million) population who enjoy all these at maximum levels; another 3% to 4% could be on the “fringe” enjoyment category. They are the “rulers” Industrialists, businessmen and a few other celebrities

This writer is of the opinion that no amount of so-called economic development inputs would help real development of the people. If such real development of the common village people is to happen, EVERY ABLE BODIED INDIVIDUAL IN EVERY VILLAGE would have to earn decent livelihood benefit within ones own local environment.

THE NEW POTENTIALS

The development of any nation depends on the availability of resources and manpower. India has both these in abundance. While India’s population is about 1200 million, the annually Renewable Resources (RR), in the form of vegetation and animal matter (@ 40 T per annum per ha) are estimated to be 13,149,200,000 T. If we consider only the non-forest (@ 75%) resources “solids” portion @ 23% (the balance being water), the annually available solid RR in India = 2,268,237,000T. These include our entire food materials (cereals, oil seeds, fruits and vegetables, and various other non classified grasses, water hyacinths and even domesticated animal resources). It may also be noted that the annual rainfall based water available in India is of the order of 3,616,030,000,000 Cu m (over 8,256 l per capita per day). Add to this the “recoverable’ water from the RR (earlier mentioned). That works out to 4298095150 Cu m (10 L per capita per day). Now the question may be asked: what do we do with these resources? The answer is: we could have the following SOLIDS Resource Conversions made possible:

1. Energy Conversion using 500,000,000 T RR  ………….. 181,159 MWe (24 x 360 days; India now produce less than 120,000 MWe Power )

2. Bio-Petrochemicals using 500,000,000 T RR ………… 500,000,000 T (India’s present total petroleum consumption is about 155 Million T; in which India’s own production is about 35 M T, the rest being imported petroleum)

3. Engineered products using 500,000,000 T RR ………….. 830,000,000 T

4. Food production and Processed foods potential ……… 600 Million T

5. Full-time Employment potential (additional) ………………. 250 million people

The Total estimated values of productions are: Rs. 104,326,068,800,000 (about US $2,318,357,084,444). On the basis of 18% of these values as the benefits to the working class, the average annual income for 250,000,000 people are: Rs.75,115. This is 1250% more than the current per capita earnings in Indian villages. Additionally this value is above the estimated minimum decent earnings needed per individual (@ Rs.72,000 per capita)

Typical Indian Village - Poor and Desolate

TOTAL VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (TVDP)

The above mentioned Village Development potentials are the parallel potentials that do not have any thing depending on any existing economic activities, except that these new arrangements would be within the geographical regions and systems involved. These new programs would be named: TOTAL VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (TVDP), which look at every gram of all available Renewable Resources (RR) in every one of the 638000 villages across India. Although the different villages would have different RR and resultant animal and other organic resources (including various local skills), we shall look at averages for our estimation. Thus, the average GROSS VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT INDICATOR (GVDI) for India = Rs.163,520,484 ($3,633,788.5). This is the Gross Products in an average Indian Village. Every one of the 638000 villages would have electricity and most requirements for decent living; every able bodied person (male/ female) would have earning power. These earning power would create sufficient conditions for various cascading developments: resulting in Schools, Markets, Hospitals, Restaurants, Recreation facilities, Destitute homes and various other infrastructure. No village would depend on any Government schemes or other “outside” directed schemes (almost all of which are mere eyewash and arrangements for “others” to swindle money!).

64 Years after Independence India seems to be under Dictates of the US

JAI HIND

Each year we have the ritual of Independence day celebrations – a ritual continuously being followed by every Government from August 15, 1947, when the British Colonial rulers proclaimed India as an Independent nation. The Prime Minister, The President, most Congress party bigwigs and many other national leaders perform the ritual of calling up on the people to emulate Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Patel and various other leaders of yesteryear. Their main thrust would be to tell us about the heavy “sacrifices” of our great leaders that resulted in Independence. However they do not tell us how they themselves have performed in comparison with the “heroes” they want us to emulate! Almost all these leaders would perform another ritual of showing how they do “shram daan” or other “village development” works! Examples of such activities are: Road side cleaning; Cooking food for the poor; Distributing sweets to school children… and many more gimmicks, depending on the imagination and creativity of the “leaders” and those of the party workers!!! There after both the Leaders and the community forget about all these, till another August 15^th arrives!

Today, sixty four years after that original date, let us look back and ask ourselves … “Is India really Independent?” To this writer, the answer seems to be “NO”

1. Our education system is dictated by the Western Intellectual Traditions (WIT). Almost all schools, starting from kindergarten through the 10^th standard, vie with one another in teaching our future generation more about Western thoughts and ideas than about Indian concepts. Our children would be taught about Tundra region Maple Trees, Fox and Caribou instead of local Palmyra Trees and Local farm animals(many youngsters in cities like Mumbai would never know what is Palmyra tree!!!)
   

2. Every function in schools, colleges, companies, institutions (and even in most middle class homes) is carried out with western ideas, concepts, and food service systems. For example, the so-called “Traditional Cake Cutting” is the ritual for almost every Birth Day … the said system is not an Indian concept

3. Our food habits have been completely overhauled in such a way that almost 100% of our food systems depend on Western concepts of processing, packaging, and service. For example, although our original oil preparation methods of mechanical means using original oil seeds are more nutritious and healthy, we have completely switched to refined oils, which have no nutrition and health values. However, the Western world where Olive Oil is made continue to manufacture in the traditional way (without refining) and are marketing unrefined Oils here at exorbitant costs and profits. Our Government and public are foolishly falling prey to these gimmicks. The losers being those who eat these (by paying very high rates for far inferior product) as well as our poor farmers (who loose business)

4. Our agriculture and animal husbandry are completely under the dictates of multinational companies (especially those of the US). Almost 100% of our original crop systems have been totally modified and hybridized to an extent that over a period we may mutate into a different clan. Our milch cows and all other animals are also “mutated” and we are now eating foods that are less resistant and less nutritious. Further, for 100% of all technologies and material needs we are dependent on multinational US companies – being dictated by their whims and fancies. This has resulted in complete impoverishment of our farm communities whose knowledge in traditional farming and agriculture have been smothered and overcome (under Government’s connivance) by the multinational alien inputs

5. Our entire Real Estates are being bought by so-called NRI’s and other people of Indian Origin (almost 100% being US or other European/ Canadian/ Australian citizenship). The largest chunk (over 3 million in number) are US citizens (out of a total of 4 million). If, therefore, the US Government one day decides to take over all those Citizen properties under some “emergency rules”, we are slated to arrive at a peculiar situation whereby all of India’s Real Estates would be owned by the US. This is not far off, as the US is terribly afraid of so-called Terrorists (something which they alone created, including the Sikh terrorists working against India for over 40 yrs now) … and they could take any barbaric actions to counter those perceived threats, including this extreme step!

6. All our higher education systems are tuned to help systems and operations in the US, with the result India has absolutely no skills available to transform Local community knowledge into world-class Commodities (our original carpenters, masons, potters, black smiths, basket weavers and many many such highly skilled groups have become irrelevant or turned away to other professions which are alien and need special Western technical training, under their supervision and standards). No IIT, IISc, IIM etc have anything to offer toward utilizing our own Skills and Resources. In fact we are not aware what are our real Skills and Resources … lost or dormant for over 400 years when Vasco da Gama set foot in India
   

7. Our Government does not support or attempt to develop our Local Indian Medicine systems (Ayurveda) and instead, the entire system of Medicine is based on Western Concepts, which are alien, having no relevance to local conditions of tropical climate and related environment. It is a tragedy that Ayurveda systems are NOT APPROVED by most State Governments and Central Government Institutions/ Offices/ departments – a sort of “self-goal” in a football match!

8. Our Music systems, Entertainment systems, Food processing, Packaging and almost anything that are needed for human existence are all under the dictates of the Western Intellectual Traditions (WIT). This creates an inferiority complex and every brand name, and even Cinema arrangements are all based on WIT

9. India does not enjoy the right to have its Oil/ Gas Contracts signed with a neighbor Asian nation, Iran; and this is dictated by the US. They direct Indian Government not to Sign any agreement with Iran. Instead, we are forced to associate with the US multinationals and Ex-President Companies (Clinton is an example) who advocate so-called Clean technology in the name of Solar, Wind etc. A total hoodwinking of the Indian public (of-course, this is due to the Foolish and Incompetent leaders who come to power through elections, and who are under the “Agency Commission” lists of the western world)

   … There are many other umpteen systems and operations that are directly controlled by the US (including the entire Industrial operations), and India Cannot have any Independent decision power – all due to the unpatriotic and traitor behavior of the entire political class, who have cornered the electoral Seats in Parliament through brute force and subterfuge. Even the courts are controlled by these forces .. and the common people in India are actually helpless

The latest salvo in the plethora of dictums and dictates that the US sends to the “agency commission” unpatriotic leaders and “rulers” is that connected with How the Government should handle the issue of Anna Hazare’. For a change, this time it is against the “undemocratic” manner in which the Government is alleged by the US … to be handling the same. And adding salt to injury, the news is that one US Consulate official who took part in a seminar in a Southern Indian University had recently made a terribly shameful statement … That She has become black and dirty like Tamilians! So much respect for the very Tamilians who had called her to address the Seminar! And here too, this writer is ashamed and aghast that our people would never learn!!! ALWAYS WANTING TO BE SLAVES OF THE WESTERN WORLD

This writer is pained, angry and ashamed that these “slavery systems” of the US directed on Indian polity (and hence affecting every one of us) are becoming more and more pronounced over time… with potential to take over India through a new Modern method of indirect control and “Mental Slavery” … as pointed and enunciated above. Where could we go for justice against such “slavery” that is abetted by our own unpatriotic (but elected “representatives of the people?) leaders and all systems of Governance and economic methods? One sometimes wonders if the so-called “fight against corruption” staged by Anna Hazare’ and Co is also stage managed by those Dictating from the US!!!

A POST-SCRIPT: On the PLIGHT of Indian farmers, after 60 + years of so-called Independence: (Click to enlarge)

Courtesy: THE HINDU

JAI HIND

Please also Read: http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/gandhi-jis-dream-of-independent-india/ and http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/what-ails-india-and-other-tropical-nations/

Clean Tech through Total Recycling

Global warming is intimately connected to global poverty; the two being corollary to one another. Our attempts to solve these twin problems through so-called “high-tech” systems and engineering would only exacerbate the already troubled situation. For, any attempts to develop all these “high-tech” systems would only draw more of the depleting resources.

Let us consider just one example. We have been cajoled to use CFL bulbs instead of Tungsten bulbs for our lighting, so that we do reduce the power consumption, mitigating CO2 increases to that extent. But, we need to analyze the manufacturing processes involved in creating CFL bulbs, and we should also try to understand the impact of large scale mercury spillages involved in CFL bulb disposals. The question here would be:Is mercury pollution better than CO2 increase in the atmosphere? This is a serious issue that needs to be answered!

This writer is of the view that “clean tech” systems are to be begun in our backyards, where we could Recycle almost all the huge wastes – both organic and inorganic. We need to recognize that almost 93% to 95% of all materials, and energy that we use are either wasted or never recovered – in automobiles, electric cookers, agriculture, wood industries … and so on. Thus, it is logical to conclude that recycling these Wastes would be the most appropriate answer to counter Global warming – not creating more wastes through more sophistication.

Let us look at an example: Agriculture and Nonfarm vegetation systems.

Plants and Vegetation systems for recycling

To understand how these organic materials would be the starting point for CLEAN TECH systems, let us look at another illustration:

Zero-Waste Zero-Carbon Business model

The above illustration is the Zero_Waste Zero_Carbon Business Model in a banana plantation region. Virtually every gram of plant/ vegetation materials (both the wastes generated from agriculture operations as well as those which are called weeds) would be used through Self Regenerative Recycling (SRR). While the FIBROUS matter would be converted into Engineered Composites that could replace wood and even metals in many engineering applications, the sludge portions (inclusive of all available water) would be converted into Methane gas, Chemicals and Bio-Fertilizers. Methane gas could be further converted into either Energy or Alternate Petrochemicals. Incidentally all these would be CLEAN TECH products or GREEN products, having business potentials through Carbon credits as well as excellent markets. The entire processes involved could be inter-connected through a systematic process engineering; the same is named: AGRO-POLYMER INDUSTRY COMPLEX_Sustainability Engineered Processes (APIX-SEP). It may also be noted that by recycling and processing the CO2 spewed through burning methane gas, we could produce many utility products, named: Carbon Sink Engineered Products (CSE)

Alternate Petrochemicals through Biorefinery_Bio-Methane gas platform

The last illustration is the schematic of a Biorefinery that starts with the methane gas generated using agrowastes and other organic wastes.

It is noted that if we attempt to develop and convert the available vegetation resources (which are renewable in nature), every 1000 ha areas in the so-called underdeveloped nations (termed as APIX_1000) could be transformed into wealth producing systems through SRR, resulting in processed foods, alternate energy, alternate engineering materials, alternate petrochemicals and Bio-fertilizers. The result would be the development and commercialization of CLEAN TECH products (energy and materials) resulting further in unprecedented improvements in the livelihood qualities of the poor people who now live in these nations. The estimate is  that each 1000 ha based APIX-SEP unit could create businesses worth US $15 million to 20 million, apart from offering direct and full time employment  to 2, 000 local people in each such unit.

This writer, being from India, is more conversant with the systems and conditions prevalent there. In the specific case of India, it is estimated that “clean tech” businesses through APIX-SEP could be a whopping $3, 000 billion, in a total of about 150, 000 APIX_1000 units (units based on 1000 ha clusters). The different other underdeveloped countries could create APIX-SEP businesses of another $3, 000 billion!

These and many more concepts/ information may be noted in the website: http://www.agro-biogenics.com

Developing Nations & Poverty Index

INTRODUCTION

‘DEVELOPING NATIONS’ is a euphemism to express the plight of UNDER-DEVELOPED NATIONS. Incidentally, almost all of these nations are those spread across the entire tropical regions (the regions within the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn). Hereafter, we shall refer to these nations as TROPICAL NATIONS (TN).

World Renewable Resources vs Development

Although the UN and the Word Bank estimate the population living in DIRE POVERTY (“lowest development” regions and “improved development” regions in the illustration above) @ 2 billion or lesser, this writer would like to differ. Further, the UN also enunciates four categories of nations, based on income (lowest income, low middle income, upper middle income and high income). Here again, this writer would like to differ. The following observations are the main themes/ concepts that constitute these differences:

1. The world could be differentiated into TWO categories: Organized Economies based on Western Intellectual Tradition (WIT) and the Unorganized Economies (almost all of them being Tropical Nations – TN)

2. The world view of WIT group depends on Temperate Zone climatic situations, as opposed to the Tropical climate of TN group.

3. While the temperate zones of WIT group are deficient in natural resources (including the most valuable resource of human potential), the TN group is endowed with huge natural resources (Natural Resources here are the Renewable plants/ vegetation, water, rain, wind, sunlight, animals and humans … collectively called Renewable Resources – RR)

4. It is a paradox that, although 70% of the world’s RR are in the TN group regions, the WIT nations score over them on an economic differential in the scale 1:25 (the TN group being poorer @ 1/25^th of the WIT nations)

5. It is noted that the poverty of the TN group is a result of alien technology/ economics/ business/ education/ governance systems (mainly based on WIT themes) forced on these poor economies by the local leaders, inadvertently (or otherwise) supported by the Western World. This wrong approach has resulted in non-utilization of local resources, based on local needs, and also without relying on local wisdom.

The green and red colored nations in the illustration above fall in our Unorganized Economies group (mostly TN), and the blue colored nations are the WIT group nations (the advanced nations). It is a remarkable observation – that the entire regions of the Temperate Zones, where WIT based economic development models are practiced, are far more developed than all of the Tropical zone regions! Exceptions are the Oil rich nations such as the Gulf region nations, Japan and a few other tropical nations

Business/ Economic Growth vs Poverty/ Environmental Effects

The illustration here depicts a strange (paradoxical) phenomenon: the rate of increase in environmental degradation and poverty is proportional to the rate of increases in economic/ business development. This conclusion is based on the way poverty and global warming have increased in the last two centuries, ever since the so-called industrial and technological revolutions ushered in the unprecedented “growth” in the WIT nations. The impact is of exemplary nature in the TN world.

Faces of Poverty

Although the theoretical expressions and mathematical derivations analyzing the genesis of Poverty and Global Warming may not be universally agreed up on, that both these do have some causal connection is becoming clear. This writer wishes to define Poverty as follows:

POVERTY: is a human living condition, resulting due to deprivation of livelihood needs of the majority. We may state that it is inflicted on them by a minority of consumers, by their propensity to consume and assertive ability to corner more of the resources of the world. If we go a step further in our analysis, we might state that poverty is a corollary of present day Economic development—the said poverty being inversely proportional to the economist’s yardsticks of GDP, and GNP (or any other terms defined by them to specify the ‘one-sided’ concept of development)—the greater the “development”, the greater is the state of poverty.

As mentioned earlier, it is strange, but true, that global warming has paralleled poverty (or vice-versa). And, in a world where the effects of human-nature interactions are crossing national boundaries, resulting in so-called “Globalization”, we need to think and act “inclusively”, if we were to avert catastrophic consequences. Unilateral decisions, based on WIT, cannot and will not work hereafter.

EXTRAVAGANZA AT ITS ZENITH (This Photo was received through “mass” E-mail)

The above Photo-illustration is not the photo-illustration of a “star” hotel showcasing the Mercedes Benz and other luxury cars for tourists; but it is the residence of ONE Arab Sheik – telling us that not only the hanged Saddam Husein, but almost all of the Arab Billionaires are extravagant! The “silver” bodied” car in the foreground is original silver! The cases of many Western “celebrities” could paint greater extravagant pictures .

THE WRETCHED CONDITION OF POVERTY (This is a poor family dwelling near Bangalore International Airport (India)

In contrast to the extraordinary levels of luxury flaunted by the Arab Sheik, the wretched existence of the poorest in a City in India is depicted above. The condition is pathetic. In fact India has about 300 million people in this condition; another 300 million people live in slightly “better” conditions! (depicted below)

A MORE “WELL-TO-DO” POOR FAMILY's HOME!

The idea of presenting some of the dramatic pictures, shown above, is to drive home the basic “faces” of poverty.

Measuring Poverty (POVERTY INDEX)

Although economists would present it in terms of “per capita” GDP, etc, which do not tell us the real on the ground picture, at this juncture we do not have any other yardsticks to “measure” poverty. Yet, this writer wishes to audaciously state that POVERTY has to be measured on the local micro level, whereby all of the economist’s yardsticks have no meaning in their present definitions/ formats. Instead, we may redefine and measure poverty on the basis of NON UTILIZATION OF LOCAL RENEWABLE RESOURCES.

We shall look at India, on the basis of this yardstick:

Land Area ……………………………. 3, 287, 590 sq km

Arable land area ………………….. 1, 605, 330 sq km (48.83%)

Permanent crop land ……………. 92, 053 sq km (2.8%)

Population …………………………… 1, 147, 995,904

Labor force …………………………. 516, 400, 000 (60% in agriculture)

(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html)

Average Annual rainfall ………. 1, 200 mm (http://www.krishiworld.com/html/water_resources2.html)

Total water available (based on rainfall) … 3, 945 cu km (usage @ less than 650 cu km)

Estimated Non-Utilization level

Land area (based on 30% as virgin forests) …………………….. 2, 209, 260 sq km

(Here, land areas of 30% forest cover + 2.8% permanent crop areas have been excluded)

Estimated Available RR in the form of vegetation matter @ 15 T/ annum/ha … 3.31389 billion T

(this is the estimated “green weight” of the RR in the form of all available vegetation/ organic/ animal resources)

Estimated non-utilized labor force (all of the agricultural labor) ………………………… 309, 840, 000

(Agricultural based workers are in the non-organized category and they do not have more than 100 days real work… also, their wages are very low @ US $2 per day, during the number of days worked)

Estimated non utilized water resources ………………………………………. 3, 295 cu km

This writer would “measure” India’s Poverty Index (PVI) as follows:

The estimated 310 million non-utilized labor force would have earned a total of US $232.5 billion @ $750 per capita (almost all of them would not be earning more than $150 at the moment). This would need that this entire population would have sufficient jobs, through productive works. If their earnings were an estimated 7% of the total businesses, the ultimate business volume for this to happen should be a whopping $3, 321.4285 billion! India’s PVI is this staggering number!

Thus, we may arrive at an appropriate definition for POVERTY INDEX:

Poverty Index (acronym, PVI) is the optimum business generation needed to offer full time employment to the non-utilized “active” labor force (both unskilled and semi-skilled) in a nation, so that the average actual income of all of this labor force is well above the minimum “decent” living standard. The yardstick for “decent” level would have to be based on costs of living, taking into account the following:

• FOOD

• ENERGY

• HOME/ HOUSING

• MOBILITY

• EDUCATION

• MEDICINES/ HEALTH

• LEISURE/ ENTERTAINMENT

• FAMILY

• OLD AGE SECURITY/ PROVIDENCE/ INSURANCE

NOTE: If the phrase POVERTY INDEX paints a “wrong” impact, we may rename the same as NEGATIVE WEALTH INDEX (NWI).

The questions are:

1. Is it possible to arrive at such “utopian” levels of development?

2. Do we have the resources, technology and managerial/ entrepreneurial competence to transcend and transform?

The writer wishes to recapitulate the prophetic wisdom of the economist Dr. Richard T. Gill (1967)

“Advanced western technology … is by no means ideally suited to the typical under-developed country … Ideally, the under-developed countries would employ neither the western technology of a century ago (which is defective) nor the most modern western technology (which is adopted to a different economics context), but a THIRD technology which consists of an adaptation of modern methods to the special conditions of the under-developed world … but, such a technology does not exist …”

Dr. Richard T. Gill: “ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Past and Present” © 1967, Prentice Hall Inc. USA.

Please visit the site: http://www.agro-biogenics.com … to understand how POVERTY of Developing Nations could be tackled;

….. also view: http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats

Global Warming and Global Poverty are corollaries – Part-II

THE GLOBAL WARMING BANDWAGON/ LOBBY

Earlier, we had attempted to define: Poverty and Poverty Index (http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/developing-nations-poverty-index/). We have also touched upon the effects of our “over indulgence” exacerbating the impacts of Time-Entropy phenomena, which force us toward the “Heat Death” of the universe!(http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/global-warming-and-global-poverty-are-corollaries/). We may also note that more things are said/ written/ “podcast” than actual practices on Poverty, Global warming and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG). World leaders meet very often, spending huge amounts of money and “human work-time”, discussing these over and over … and finally nothing seems to be coming up to mitigate the problems and effects of both global warming and global poverty. Economists and academicians, journalists and soothsayers … each group vies with one another, trying to outwit the other in exposing and espousing the various “negative” impacts. Nobel Prizes are bestowed on others; and special awards are constituted, and awards ceremonies “celebrated” with great aplomb and fanfare – all for some perceived works that are said to mitigate these “twin-problems”. But alas! The twin problems of Global Warming and Global Poverty (acronym GWP) continue to flourish unabated; the rich also continue to become richer; nations, with greater “know-how” to plunder the meager world resources, continue their unilateral indulgence, unchecked. Renowned names of “Mahatma” Gandhi, Adam Smith, Schumpeter, among many others, are recalled and their ideas re-kindled. Every one toms-toms about various new methods/ theories/philosophies to combat the twin problems, and new businesses are defined and approved by Governments through public subsidies, toward “mitigating” the twin problems. The cycle goes on … and sooner than later, we would once again come up with another huge crisis, which could be triggered by these “twisted” actions, being taken now, in the name of mitigating GWP!

Now the question may be asked: What is it that this writer is wishing to tell?

The following may be noted;

1. If we dispassionately research through the “pages of history” from the days of Alexander (or beyond back in time) till the twenty first century, we would observe that the world’s progress (or regression?) has always been dictated by a handful of people/ groups. And, today, even though we talk high of Democracy and Socialism, the effective Governance methods have been totally in variance with the basic principles – always the majority being under the “dictates” of a minority! Let us consider Two Examples: India (which is painted as the “biggest” democracy) and China (which is considered to be a “communist/socialist” set up). In India a recent catastrophic flood havoc had devastated the lives of about five million people; and the Government instead of attempting to solve these poor people’s problems is more concerned with the “stock brokers” and other “financial clubs”, all of whom seem to have had “melt down” in the recent global financial crisis (created by their own extravaganza) – the poor flood victims continue to fend for themselves in pathetic and desperate conditions. So also in China, a few million people in Tibet are being “muzzled” under the weight of the so-called communists proletariat (a minuscule group) to toe their line, against the collective wishes of the people!

2. Ever since the idea of Global Warming was “strongly” presented through the UN in the nineties (although the basics were known very clearly, even in the early Fifties!) and finally culminating in the MDG, there appears to be absolutely NO concerted, honest and cohesive “formulas” and “problem-attack” to mitigate the effects of global warming or global poverty. The biggest tragedy is that, as large amounts of FUNDS are needed to promote and “re-engineer” development of systems and appropriate techno-economic ventures to mitigate GWP, almost all the works of the MDG Funding are being entrusted to the very perpetrators of the GWP-Problems! For, in the current scenario, they alone seem to have the financial muscle and clout to INVEST!

3. The two aforementioned factors could be further elaborated to present the pathetic situation – that of nonchalance and further “self-aggrandizement”. Two examples would suffice to make this claim more acceptable.

   1. ETHANOL TO REPLACE GASOLINE: Billions of Dollars are invested and thousands of “brain-power” in the form of young engineers, scientists and “knowledge workers” are lured into the new focus of Ethanol/ Biofuel bandwagon.

   2. CFL INSTEAD OF TUNGSTEN LAMPS: In the name of reducing Global Carbon emission, Tungsten lamps are being assiduously replaced by CFL. Many Manufacturers, in collaboration (or collusion?) with various NGO’s and do-gooders are moving heaven and earth to cajole various Governments to subsidize and switch over to CFL!

4. Why do we consider the two examples of “the frenzy to do a quick-buck business” through so-called Bio-fuel and CFL (instead of Tungsten) as being ploys for “self aggrandizement”? The answer would be evident when we note the following: (i) every ton of “green biomass” could generate 75 Kg of methane gas (with 937, 500 K-cal Heat value/ energy value), 130 Kg of non-polluting CO₂ (convertible into about 800 Kgs “Carbon Sink Engineered” Products), 63 Kg of superb Bio-fertilizer (dry weight), and about 400 Kg reclaimable water. If instead we were to convert the cellulosic matter in the vegetation into Ethanol, we would have about 90 Kg “proof” alcohol (having energy value of about 601, 706 K-cal); we note here that, even if we were not to consider the “extras” in the “methane gas systems” the base energy available in that process-conversion is greater by a factor of 150%. (ii) Now look at the “dangerous” proposition of converting all Tungsten lamps into Mercury based CFL (each lamp having about 2 gm pf mercury). If a city such as Bangalore (India) were to replace all Tungsten lamps with CFL, the annual Mercury pollution to be handled could be of the order of not less than 5 tons! Are we to consider Mercury pollution as more benign to the atmosphere/ environment than CO₂?

It is not our intention here to “counter” all attempts to “think and act against the impacts of GWP”, but instead the proposition here is to “think, observe, analyze and go down to the base/ genesis level”, before we act in the same “wrong way”. This would also need that we STAND UP boldly against the present GLOBAL WARMING BANDWAGON LOBBY, so that we DO NOT become pawns in their hands, unwittingly being lead to believe their “truths”. Much damage has already been caused by this “bandwagon”. Great “brain power” and “Mahatma Gandhi Power” are needed to counter them!

So, what is in store for all of us common people? In fact every citizen of the world is being directly impacted and involved in one way or the other in the processes that finally lead to GWP.

Please await more details in the next few days: to read “Global Warming and Global Poverty are Corollaries – Part-III”

Global Warming and Global Poverty (GWP) – What should we do, other than offer platitudes?

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 1/160^th 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/

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS – Answer to Global Warming & Poverty (GWP)

A FEW OBSERVATIONAL INFERENCES

1. Human civilization could be seen to have progressed over the millennia, under THREE distinct Climatic Zones: TROPICS, TEMPERATE and TORRID. Although the human populations in the torrid zone regions could be considered infinitesimal, we do have certain groups (The Eskimos, for example) that flourish in those regions.

2. The “ultimate source” of all resources on earth (both so-called non-renewable and renewable) is visualized as the SUN, which is considered the “center” of the Solar system, of which the earth forms a part.

3. Although it may not be an objective scientific classification, we could subjectively classify the world’s resources into TWO systems: RENEWABLE RESOURCES (RR) and NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES (N-RR). For brevity, we shall consider all resources that have causal relationship to the quanta of sun’s energy falling on earth as being RR. Examples are: Wind, plants/ vegetation, animal life and solar radiation. By the same yardstick measure, we could also consider the huge deposits of CaCO₃ in the ocean beds as RR. A few examples of N-RR are volcanic lava, basalt and granite.

4. Greed, pelf and desire for amassing wealth have been the main driving forces that have dictated the way human civilizations seem to have evolved – with the United States being the center for almost all these qualities engulfing the societies under its citizenship, at present. More over, the entire world’s “greedy” populations seem to be flocking en-masse’ to the US, in search of greener pastures. Additionally, almost all of the world’s nations look upon the US Model (and/or ideas/ concepts) as the “ultimate economic development” arrangement, irrespective of the REAL LOCAL Resources availabilities. Thus, the world is seen to be growing into “thuggery” levels of unprecedented nature, with the US leading from the front. We may term this as ECONOMIC THUGGERY, leading to Global Warming and Poverty.

5. It is observed (as seen in an earlier blog in this series: http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2008/12/29/global-warming-and-global-poverty-gwp-%e2%80%93-what-should-we-do-other-than-offer-platitudes/) that the REAL CAUSE for GWP is the huge disparity between the earning power of those in the US and other Developed nations, vis-a-vis those in the developing (poorer) nations – the latter is poorer by being 160 times lower than the US. Thus, almost all materials/ resources consumptions are maximized (including those that are exported from the poorer nations) in the US and other developed nations, exacerbating the independent progress of these poor nations. The direction of all economic and development works throughout the world is seen to be dictated on the basis of the US thinking and governance. The net result is that about 4 billion people (60% of the world’s current population) are extremely poor, almost all of them living in the different dilapidated villages (India alone having more than 750 million amongst these) in the tropical countries.

6. It would not be out of proportion to suggest that the resources of the “resource rich” Tropical nations are being “plundered” under such unipolar economics, reducing almost all of these nations to be either by-standers or subservient. Perhaps three nations could modify this unipolar economic thuggery of the US and other developed (western) nations: Russia, China and India. Here, India alone could (probably) take the better leadership, as we in India have a stable and functioning Democracy, with a total population of about 1.15 billion population (about four times the population of the US). But, as yet, India does not have a Nehru like socio-political stalwart, with leadership, Imagination/ Mission/ Vision.

7. It is a great tragedy and paradox (if not quixotic) that although the Tropical nations (including India) have the greatest volumes of natural RR, these are the very nations that struggle with huge populations of extreme poverty, living in dilapidated villages and in wretched conditions! (As already explained earlier, India alone having over 750 million people living in such dilapidated villages). Even so the entire world seems to be wrongly following the Western Intellectual Tradition model (WIT), which stems from exclusive experiences within Temperate zone climatic situations (having far lower RR compared to Tropical nations). And, unlike the “high greed levels” seen in these temperate zone nations, those in the tropics seem to have lesser greed, thereby living in lower levels of so-called modernity (“wanting” lesser and consuming lesser). But then, alien technologies and practices in agriculture, industry, education etc force these “economically poor” (although “resource rich”!) nations to the brink, creating continual increase in the gap between the “rich” and “poor”.

(NOTE: The words “thuggery” and “plunder” have been used not to convey the usual, literal meaning, but the writer is NOT able to “find” any equivalent appropriate word to connote what has been felt to be conveyed!)

The seven “observational inferences”, as presented above, are unbiased expressions of an “external onlooker”, independent of the unipolar themes involved in Western Intellectual Traditions (WIT). And, it may be noted that the conclusions do not speak well of the present day happenings around the world. Perhaps we need to look for “Alternate Thinking”.

DO WE HAVE APPROPRIATE ANSWERS TO GWP?

The ONE-WORD answer is: YES! But we need to be BOLD and would have to think and act on the basis of specific NEEDS and RESOURCES that are germane to each situation, without being unduly carried away by alien thought-action plans. Here, when we say “alien”, it pertains to WIT, the economics and business paradigm as “defined” and practiced in all of the “western” nations and others who depend on their “support” and/ or assistance. Interestingly, even the different so-called Alternate Economics thought-action plans are being defined and framed with a “western” tinge! For example, almost all of the “recognized” or approved NGO’s depend totally on systems, procedures, methods and paradigms that are used in the WIT programs, apart from utilizing and relying on support-material and resources from the western world. A “case in point” would be so-called Poverty alleviation programs in the poor regions of Africa.

Hers is an excerpt from one such program:

(ref: http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/1799):

“With the help of new advances in science and technology, project personnel work with villages to create and facilitate sustainable, community-led action plans that are tailored to the villages’ specific needs and designed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Simple solutions like providing high-yield seeds, fertilizers, medicines, drinking wells, and materials to build school rooms and clinics are effectively combating extreme poverty and nourishing communities into a new age of health and opportunity. Improved science and technology such as agroforestry, insecticide-treated malaria bed nets, antiretroviral drugs, the Internet, remote sensing, and geographic information systems enriches this progress.”

Let us mark the words and phrases that are presented in boldface and under-lined. Now juxtapose the statement, “… Improved science and technology such as agroforestry, insecticide-treated malaria bed nets, antiretroviral drugs, the Internet, remote sensing, and geographic information systems enriches this progress,” against our earlier TRUE STORY of a poor farmer in India:

“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).”

(NOTE: Here we should recognize that although the situations and conditions in the different developing countries, such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania … India, are not exactly the same, the overall REAL problems of Poverty are essentially the same in all these countries.)

Could we (then) “accept” as true the vainglorious statement made in the Columbia University’s EARTH INSTITUTE presentation? Of what use does a poor farmer have of so-called “new advances in science and technology”? On what basis do the “planners” and opinion makers at the Columbia University state: “high-yield seeds, fertilizers, medicines … are effectively combating extreme poverty and nourishing communities into a new age of health and opportunity”? If, as they claim, these villages (and hence the villagers) are able to get better nourishments, enriching their lives towards modern progress, we need to ask a further question: Do these finally result in Sustainable Development of the different villages whereby the average PER-CAPITA earning power of the local people could be substantially increased? For example, could we unequivocally state that the per-capita in all these places would reach a figure of US $1000 or above? In fact, this writer has noted (at least in ACTUAL situations in India) that almost 75% of the local village populations earn a per-capita less than US $200 … what to talk of those countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria and Kenya?

What, then, are the ANSWERS?

Please await more on these in our next presentation … which would be presented in these columns, later this month.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS – Answer to Global Warming & Poverty (GWP) – II

Desert Grasses

WHAT CONSTITUTES SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

A desert region in Rajasthan, India, would have sparse vegetation growth, mainly due to poor annual rainfall. Yet, we would observe certain definite annually “self generative” vegetation growth in those regions. Closer scrutiny and study would show that there are many animal and other biological systems (including small insect populations), which constitute the totality of Rajasthan Desert Ecology. Given unbridled “freedom of ecological evolution”, there is bound to be a natural “growth process” that would automatically adjust to the surroundings, through a self regulated generation arrangement. We may note that the resultant interactions and “conflicts” amongst various life species would further evolve into (what we may term as) Self Sustainable Rajasthan Desert Ecology-Economics.

 

The usual rainfall in these regions range from a low of 12 mm to a maximum of 25 mm (which is about 100 times lesser than the all India average rainfall). Yet, we could estimate the average annual vegetation Renewable Resources (RR) generation @ 5 tons per ha (green weight, inclusive of in-situ water).

Every region would, thus, have ecological systems that are peculiar to that region. For example, the vegetation growth in the southern Indian state of Kerala (where annual rainfall is in excess of 3, 000 mm) is estimated @ over 100 tons per annum per ha. This is seen in the illustration showing lush green vegetation, below.

 

High Growth Vegetation in Rainy regions

The two contrasting ecological systems (those of Rajasthan Desert regions in northern India and the rain fed Kerala state in southern India) would indicate that any local systems of development would have to be dependent on the corresponding ECO-SYSTEMS. That alone would result in optimized development. Such a development model that utilizes LOCAL ecological and biological resources, taking appropriate care to effect Self Regenerative Recycling (SRR) (without over indulgence), would usher in Sustainable Development. These observations directly lead us to the appropriate DEFINITION of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

“SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Defined as optimized socio-economic and environmental development, taking into cognizance the effects of TIME-ENTROPY phenomena, towards reducing competitive conflicts.”

Our THRUST is on “optimized socio-economic and environmental development”. Such optimized development would ensure that the disparity in earning power between those in advanced countries such as US and other under-developed (developing?) nations is reduced; and, as we envisage balanced development, in tune with the environmental surroundings in each region, ecological imbalances and environmental degradations would also be minimal. Further, these developments would be dictated by the LOCAL RR, based on local needs, and with full involvement and approval of local people (people’s wisdom). We shall also try, as far as possible, to minimize application of alien methods, technology and other such external inputs, which could create imbalances (not only from the environmental angle, but also in dislocating human settlement, leading to shifting population). Sustainable development would reduce (if not obliterate) all of these negative impacts. Here, the concept of TIME-ENTROPY has to be understood as the worldly effects of Second Law of Thermodynamics: “matter-energy system is dynamic and continually move toward a new state, from the previous state, never reaching the earlier state.”

The different studies on evolutions of species on earth have made us understand that many generations of dinosaurs have propagated themselves and perished over the millennia, and in the wake creating total upheavals. While, hitherto almost all of these species seem to have perished (Time-Entropy phenomenon) due to various extraneous natural causes, human beings alone seem to “accelerate” this phenomenon through self inflicted causes – over indulgence, over exploitation of natural resources, greed, self aggrandizement and “no-care attitude” toward environment.

It is a paradox that over 66% of the total current world populations (an estimated 4 billion people) live at economic levels earning less than $2/50 per day, per-capita, while about 1000 richest people earn more than the total earnings of all of these 4 billion poor people! Further, at least one billion people amongst these do not earn a per-capita of even $1 per day! India alone has about 320 million such extremely poor people, almost all of them do not have personally owned living homes or one square meal every day! Incidentally, this lowly poor are those who are mostly employed (as unorganized labor force) in the constructions of huge projects (infrastructure, housing, luxury hotels, malls, airports and all others) that have absolutely no significance to the livelihood of these very same people.

At the time this is being penned, a huge pomp and show in the form of a “grand Five-Star” three-days culture program is being inaugurated by the President of India at Chennai (Madras), attended and eulogized by the economist Prime Minister of India, apart from the same being graced by a host of Ministers, Government dignitaries and various other VVIP’s, VIP’s and local personnel. The total amount of money spent for such a meeting (essentially being conducted to shower encomiums to the many so-called Indian diaspora, who had gone away in search of greener pastures to the USA and other Western nations!) could run into millions of dollars!!! Interestingly it is this same economist Prime Minister who proclaimed a vainglorious scheme of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), whereby every village home in this country would have at least one able bodied person who would be offered “job” for 100 days @ US $1.25 per day! … not even a pittance, by any standards. And, it is the very same Prime Minister, who merely proclaimed a National Calamity, when about five million poor people were thrown out of their homes in the North Indian State of Bihar and the Eastern Indian State of Assam, and immediately thereafter went off to tour the US and other Western nations! Those poor people have lost everything they ever had (although infinitesimal by any standards), including their homes. No body talks or thinks about them. It is a horrible TRUTH that those who have been affected in such calamities as early as 2000, are still to get any Government aid, even though TWO Governments have been elected to Power and gone in the interim!

The aforementioned FACTS are being presented not with any cynicism or sarcasm, but all of those represent specific instances that would tell us where and how we go wrong in attempting to create Sustainable Development. For, we need to introspect and ask the question: What constitutes Sustainable Development at the ground level? We shall answer this through a few specific examples of the NEED for Development in India.

IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE OR IS IT UTOPIA?

This writer has a younger brother, who like many young frustrated people of India in the seventies/ eighties, went away to the western world, in search of greener pastures. While he earns about US $200, 000 per annum in North America, this writer does not have even his one year’s earnings as bank balance in his entire life savings, living in India! He often expresses that this writer is impractical and utopian, in view of the strong WILL to stay in India and DEVELOP India! Recently, this writer had a “techno-commercial” interaction in one of the prestigious Institutions of learning in India. The subject matter under consideration was connected with PILOTING AND DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL RENEWABLE RESOURCES FOR CREATING ALTERNATE ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND ENERGY, finally mitigating Global Warming and Global Poverty. One such concept was the conversion of Coconut Tree materials and Banana Trees into Engineered Composites, Bio-Fertilizers, Bio-based Chemicals, Energy and various Alternate Engineering materials. It was estimated that these two Vegetation species alone would offer Alternate Engineering Materials to an extent of not less than 15, 000, 000 Tons, apart from various other products and Bio-fertilizers, and offering Full time Jobs to about a million Local Youngsters. The “learned” professors and other “officials” at the Institution pooh-poohed the concept of this writer as UTOPIAN and IMPRACTICAL. Some aspect of the said themes/ concepts are presented at the website: http://www.agro-biogenics.com

and at: http://www.agro-biogenics.com/apix.htm

Yes! Viewed from “skewed” and selfish (negative?) angle of certain individuals, the idea of Sustainable Development could be termed UTOPIAN!

However, we may note that SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is possible, feasible and absolutely necessary, for the continued existence and propagation of human civilization … which would also, in turn, mitigate Global Warming and Global Poverty.

More on these would be presented in these columns, later.

PLEASE NOTE: The following excellent blog may also be seen and read by visitors to this blog: http://defeatpoverty.com/ (It is a conversation on global economic issues, ideas & data to help us all become better contributors to defeating the scourge of extreme global poverty)

Sustainability and Globalization – Are these Contradictory?

CERTAIN OBSERVATIONS

Globalization, Sustainability, Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Global Warming, Terrorism … and many more concepts have become common place in contemporary vocabulary; yet, the real significance of every such idea/ concept eludes universal acceptance. The perfect example of contradictory connotations in defining terrorism is such a case! While almost a major part of the civilized world considers the Taliban as “terrorists”, there are a few societies who genuinely believe that the Taliban groups are “freedom fighters”. This writer purposefully wishes to side-step the issue of debating “for or against” on this concept, as the broader idea here is to look at some of the root causes leading to various problems and catastrophe that hover around the various world communities.

An Idea Of Poverty

What meaning do any of the concepts such as Education, Democracy, Socialism, Globalization, Sustainability … etc convey to the poor Mother and Children shown in the photo illustration here? The photograph would convey the truth about what poverty is. This family, here, seem to be a group of Four, perhaps Five, with the father of the children having gone to eke out some livelihood wages, somewhere in the nearby sprawling City of Bangalore, India. There are over 450 million people in India alone (within a population of 1, 150 million), who are in this category or near about – with no proper dwellings and any amenities whatsoever. The world total is estimated to be about 1200 million people in this category!

Now, look at another “Photo-story”

Poor Women family members wait for Water tanker

The story of men/ women/ children waiting for hours or traveling ten kilometers or more for small quantity of potable water is the same as that of the poor family in the previous photo illustration. Here again India has over 450 million people in this category! The entire world would have more than 1000 million people in this category.

What could we do to mitigate these problems being faced by a majority of world’s population? How could we offer “creative” solutions? Or, is it that all our creativity are always directed toward those problems/ needs of the minority “well-to-do”? Do we take into consideration these problems and needs of such poorer communities in our idea of Sustainability? Who decide and define all these? Who are approvers?

THE HUGE DISPARITY AMONGST VARIOUS COMMUNITIES

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 less developed nations such as India, Nigeria, Philippines, and Jamaica is US $2.5 per day (amounting to about US $62.5 per month, which is 1/160th of that earned by the US counterpart!!!). This would mean that an average Indian worker (for example) 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 related problems 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 attempt to do the same.

This writer is working hard to initiate at least some action in that direction, and it is hoped that even if we are not able to see this happen in our life time, we would have the satisfaction that our attempts might create the foundation, paving the way forward, to achieve the GOALS set through APIX-SEP programs … http://www.agro-biogenics.com/apix.htm, http://sustainabilityengineering.wordpress.com/

Interestingly, although many Governments in such developing nations have special schemes to support the poorer communities amongst them, almost all such schemes are as much pathetic in form and content as the livelihood of those supposed to be served! To quote an example, we in India have a prestigious “poverty alleviation” scheme: National Rural Employment Guarantee program (NREGP). The scheme involves Government sponsored and supported “Development Works” in rural areas, whereby at least one individual of a family would get work and wages for 100 days in a year. Each such beneficiary gets Rs.6000 per annum (about $120) @ Rs.60 per day (about $1.2 per day). It is a sad commentary on the part of these Governments to proclaim vaingloriously that they have such “Poverty Alleviation” programs, whereas the ground level reality is the offer of Pittance to the beneficiaries! The strange argument is that they did not get even half of this earlier, when such schemes were not in vogue!!!

HOW MAY WE DEFINE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

It is fashionable these days to indiscriminately use the paradigm – SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. The idea connotes different things to different people. For example, for the “vote bank” based politicians (more euphemistically called – Statesmen) it is the so-called “Food, Clothing and Shelter”; for the sophisticated economist it would mean things like GDP, Price Index, etc; for the environmentalist it means more space for the flora and fauna in our surroundings; for the NGO activists, it would mean “No Displacement” of the “indigenous” peoples; for the common folks in the “neighborhoods” it would mean “the availability of at least minimum needs of livelihood”. How do we “filter” an unbiased view from all these conflicting ideas? We need to introspect on certain basic TRUTHS on all natural phenomena.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT would not be a jargon, if we recognize the impact of TIME and ENTROPY in all our thought and actions. The biggest single factor that contributes to the greatest problems in the race to develop is COMPETITION – competition to equal or excel peer groups. And it holds good for the individual as well as a whole nation. We shall not attempt here to “define” the concept of Competition but suffice it to state that it connotes an instinct in all life forms toward achievement oriented “growth process” of peer groups. The net result is CONFLICT. This writer wishes to define Sustainable Development as optimized socio-economic and environmental development, taking into cognizance the effects of TIME-ENTROPY phenomenon, towards reducing competitive conflicts. We should also recognize that it is humanly impossible to nullify the effects of all of these (Time-Entropy, Competition and Conflict) on our development process. The question may be asked: How do we practically achieve sustainable development? Here again this writer wishes to identify the single biggest effect of competitive conflict – SHIFTING POPULATIONS. People flock to cities and urban agglomerations, from far way dilapidated villages, to earn their livelihoods. Essentially, this results in great stress on city management – congestion, poor amenities, water scarcity, crime, and much more … There is another cause for this shifting population – the so-called industrialization of village areas (the setting up of Steel Plants, Mining centers, Power Projects, Dam construction, etc). Thus, this writer is of the view that sustainable development would need a reversal of shifting population. But how could we achieve that?

LIVING STANDARD – Or non-Standard?

Let us look at two contrasting examples:

Poor people's Village Hut (under construction)

The photo illustration above is a typical village hut, which is the normal “standard” housing arrangement in the coastal regions (stretching across about 600 KM, touching the Arabian Sea) of Kerala State, India. The approximate overall plinth area of such dwellings would be in the range 350 sq ft to 450 sq ft. The main construction materials come from the Coconut trees, which form the biggest tree resource in the entire region. The Main structural posts, roofing reapers, beams and Wall studs are all made of the tree trunk; the roof itself is a “thatched” sheet system, made of the fronds (a typical man-made sheet may be an average size of 4.5 ft x 1.5 ft). These sheets are carefully placed, as seen in the photo, and anchored by using “tie-wires” made of pliable portions of coconut fronds/ leaf systems. The side walls are covered using planks made of coconut tree trunk material, sawn into appropriate sizes. Very little cement would be used, except to make a more water-proof flooring and plinth line. The total cost of one such house, with at least two rooms, one kitchen and a small front gallery/ porch, would be less than Rs.100, 000 (approximating to $2000). The usual household would consist of the main family (Husband, wife – age group 40 +, two children – age group 10 to 15, and parents of either the husband or that of the wife). The typical household may, thus, be considered to include 5.5 adults. Pumped water may rarely be available to such villagers, although in many villages there could be public water supply that are free (the said public supply being highly erratic, often being made available past midnight!). India has about 100 million to 150 million families (over 600 million people) in this category.

Let us look at a contrasting Lavish Construction of a Singapore based Hotel, as presented in the photo illustration below.

Five Star Luxury Hotel in Singapore

Without going into the details of the construction and other related aspects, the estimated construction and finishing costs for such a “Five/ Seven” Star Hotel could be as much as one-hundred and fifty times (tending toward two-hundred and more) higher than that of the unit costs of the village house described earlier! Further, the electrical consumption at the village house would be less than one unit (KWHe) per day, against an estimated average of not less than 200 units per day, for a “group of five” in the case of the latter.

How do we arrive at appropriate definitions for the following, which would take such contrasting “living systems” into consideration?

1. Sustainable Development

2. Sustainability

3. GREEN Products

4. Carbon Footprints

5. Poverty

6. Minimum Living Standard

The world, somehow, seems to be supportive of only the minority (less than One percent population) well-to-do people, relegating the more than 80 percent of the poorest into the background! They are “forced” to bear the brunt of all calamities: War, Holocausts, Tornadoes, Cyclones, Earth-quakes, Terror attacks … the list is endless. Ironically, it is sad to note that even the many “Social Forums” that are purportedly meant to support Gandhian way of life, Sustainability, Village Development, etc… are almost always presented through “show-biz” seminars, conferences and other paraphernalia; or is this writer wrong?

Vanity-Fair, instead of Poverty Alleviation

Recently my daughter had an official visit to Melbourne, Australia, along with her various colleagues. The “function” was to organize some managerial meetings/ conferences/ deliberations on certain intra-company business matters. The management of the Company decided that Melbourne could be the venue (instead of Singapore, their HQ), for a “change”! The total costs of the entire “operations”, involving the travel of about a dozen people from Singapore to Melbourne and back (apart from Hotel/ stay/ conference arrangements) are estimated @ US $350, 000. Now, let us try to visualize the possibility of one thousand Corporates (all over the world) undertaking such “extravaganzas” every quarter. Add to this the various expenses (perhaps, we could treble this in the case of Governments) of every nation in this world, whereby each such nation spends hundreds of thousands of dollars for “meetings”, “symposiums”, “seminars”, “conferences” and so-called “work-shops”. The rough estimate of such “vanity fair”, all over the world could be any thing like: US $2, 500, 000, 000 per annum! Here we have not considered the various local Government expenditures for the various day-to-day paraphernalia

Click on each Image to Enlarge the same

Statesmen Meet in Extravaganza

Paraphernalia for Whom?

Who Cares for the POOR?

Every picture above tells us some TRUE Stories!

Where are all the Statesmen and so-called National Leaders? Perhaps they prefer sumptuous foods and exotic living in various far away lands, enjoying on their own, instead of caring for the majority POOR, who vainly elected them! These elected “representatives” may not get a second chance to enjoy this way!!!

BT_Brinjal Debate & How INDIA Should Utilize the Biodiversity?

India’s future now lies at the pen-stroke of ONE Man … Minister Jairam Ramesh! He could become either the greatest proponent of Modern Genetic Transmutation of Indian society or the founder-destroyer of India’s biodiversity … by February 10, 2010 (12 30 noon, at the appointed hour)

Be that as it may, let us consider the potential based on normal organic farming practices.

BRINJAL

The brinjal yield could range from a low of 15 tons per ha to 45 tons per ha. We shall consider an average value of 25 T per ha. It may, however, be noted that approximately 40% are “attacked’ by worms/ parasites. Thus, the “real yield” would be 15 T (10 T being “lost”). If we look at a total brinjal cultivation area of 100000 ha, the following would be noted:

• Total “unspoilt” yield ………………………………… 1, 500, 000 T
• “Spoilt” volume ………………………………………. 1, 000, 000 T

NOTE: There would be an average of 20 T (green weight) vegetation matter (The plants) per ha that do not have any commercial value. The total volume in 100000 ha = 2, 000, 000 T (green weight)

Let us now look at what we may do with the “spoilt” material and the “wasted” plants (a total of 3, 000, 000 T). In practice, the “wastes” could be “mechanically” split into the following (in 100000 ha area):

• Total Organic matter (solids, with 207, 000 T Fibers) … 690, 000 T
• Recoverable water (762, 300 cu.m water “lost”) ………. 1, 547, 700 cu.m

The following are the commercial potential, based on certain “bench-level” works done by this writer:

COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL OF BRINJAL FARM WASTES (100000 HA)

• Methane gas generation … 184,000 T (Heat + Electricity = 250 MW Power)
• Biofertilizer (solids) ……………………………… 161, 000 T
• Engineered Composites (Wood substitutes) … 328, 570 T

BENEFITS:

1. Power generation would offset the use of not less than 400, 000 T of Petroleum materials (reducing Carbon Dioxide = 1, 200, 000 T)
2. Farmers would get value for all the materials (both the ‘spoilt” brinjal and the plant wastes), to an extent of Rs.3, 000, 000, 000 (Rs.300 Cr)
3. The recycling of 161, 000 T of Biofertilizer would help offset chemical fertilizer usage, thereby reducing environmental pollution and reducing carbon Footprint to an equivalent weight value
4. Manufacture of Wood Substitute Composites (= 328, 570 T) would offset timber usage to an extent of not less than 750, 000 Cu M of wood; and this, in turn, helps in forest conservation
5. The above benefits are over and above the normal produce, the brinjals
   

This writer is prepared to Offer FREE VOLUNTARY SERVICE to the Government of India, so that the wrong policies of our Government is corrected

While it is appreciated that Minister Jairam Ramesh is not a scientist/ or farmer, and hence, he may not be able to appreciate the matter presented, this writer is perturbed because the following Great men of Indian Science/ Vision do not seem to recognize such potentials in India, and also come forward to STOP the idea of BT_Brinjal:

1. Bharath Ratna, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
2. Nobel laureate Dr. RK Pachauri
3. Eminent Agriculture scientist Dr. MS Swaminathan

Are these GREAT men of Imagination/ Vision listening?

This writer is reminded of Scientist Dr. PM Bhargawa’s observations:

“If a power from outside India wishes to control this country’s destiny today, it is not going to drop a nuclear bomb: it only has to control Indian agriculture. And to do that, it needs to control just seed and agro-chemicals production. The Indian government is not cognizant of this: otherwise, more than 30 per cent of the country’s seed business today would not have been under the control of multinational seed companies. Indeed, a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops would have been declared until preparations were made to test them adequately.

“… If the present Indian policies with regard to agriculture, education and health security continue to be pursued, there could well be a civil war in the next 10 to 15 years. ”

Let us not be carried away by the Western Intellectual Traditions (WIT), which should be recognized as having developed on the basis of temperate zone climatic situations. We are in the Tropics, where we have greater resources (over 70%) and it would be a tragedy if India blindly falls a prey to WIT … the other 135 + tropical nations look toward India to show the way. But this is no way indeed!

WHY ARE WE IN THE TROPICS UNDERDEVELOPED AND POOR?

World Renewable Resources and Income

Click on the Illustration to get an enlarged picture

Just have a nice look at the illustration map above: depicting the relationship between climatic situations and poverty! It would be very clear that the poorest nations are those in the tropics. Now, let us look at a couple of “daily happenings” around us

1. The other day this writer was interacting with a few villagers in a nearby small village (about 35 km from the huge metropolis of Bangalore). Suddenly, we heard a chorus of young school children singing: “Happy Birth Day to you!…..” It was a surprise to note this “new cultural outlook” in a village, where the school does not teach English; yet the children sing an alien Birth day Chorus!
2. The southern State of Kerala in India has Cashew cultivation, which is a vegetation system exclusive to tropical climate. It was strange to note that the Kerala State Government had invited Agriculture Scientists from Denmark to study and report how the state could improve growth of cashew and related businesses. It should be noted here that Denmark is climatically close to the Torrid Zone, having absolutely no relationship in climate as well as in vegetation growth with respect to those in the tropics. And, more over, the Government of India has instituted a special Cashew Development Corporation, with well paid Indian Scientists and other support infrastructure for Research and Development. But, even these “learned” and knowledgeable personnel are “happy” to be trained by alien scientists, who do not have any worldly experiences of both the climate in the tropics as well as the vegetation systems here!

What do the above two seemingly unrelated happenings around us have in common?

If we carefully analyze the “inner significance” in the two cases we would note that there is an undercurrent of “slavish” mentality or behavior pattern in the two instances. This writer has observed such psychological degeneration in almost all aspects of socio-cultural and techno-economic programs in every tropical nation. Somehow, the entire tropical world seems to have become dumb (or “human dodos”), resulting in meek acceptance of alien ideas and alien ways of living, being considered “modern”.

A bit of History:

1. To this writer, there are only Two worlds: the Tropical and the non-Tropical (although we could further differentiate the latter as Temperate zone and Torrid zone). While the tropical world holds more than 70% of all the resources of the Planet (based on its original source, the sun), the non-tropical world has the balance. This also pertains to human resource (population) as well as animal resource. The two worlds have had separate socio-economic and cultural developments over the millennia.
2. Throughout the last thousands of years, the Tropical world has, by and large, been progressing in a natural manner, without looking for self aggrandizement and “over consumption”, although small pockets of “big powers” did exist, form time to time. This “natural way of living” had kept the original systems of village clusters and cultures in all these countries, intact (including those in India, which has had the greatest influx of aliens for over a millennium … China seems to be moving toward an impending “disaster” that no one seems to have noted… that of converting over a billion people under communist dictates into a totally different “meaningless” culture).
3. The non-tropical world could be considered as having “developed” into a “conglomerate” in Europe – starting with the British, Dutch, French, Portuguese and Spaniards as the main “forces”. All of these groups started their “expeditions” (voyages to the “east”) into the tropical world (in the early 1400 AD). The local populations in all these lands have been (and continue to be) very docile and peaceful, allowing the aliens to actually “invade” their own lands. By 1500 AD, the “invaders” virtually took control of almost all the different regions, starting from the small Galapagos Island in the Pacific Ocean to the Philippines in the east (and controlling almost the entire tropical world). The new invaders plundered whatever they could lay their hands on (animals, material wealth, vegetation systems, artifacts of value…and so on). By 1600 AD, the entire tropical world became actual slaves of the non-Tropical world (better known today as the Western World)
4. Over 300 years of colonial rule by the West in all these tropical nations destroyed the original communities; destroyed every original system of agricultural practices, local medicine systems, local governance systems, local education systems, and everything “original, including various vegetation and animal specie. The destruction is so huge that today we have the so-called Global warming, which has also  resulted in the unimaginable Poverty of the Tropical world. Huge land mass were reconstituted for alien cultivations, in the form of Coffee, Tea, Rubber, Vanilla and the like, resulting in complete destruction of the original ecologies of the entire tropical worlds. Many local domesticated species such as cows, goats, fowls and other farm animals that had lived along with the local communities for centuries were totally destroyed
5. Today’s local societies in the entire tropics are absolute “mental slaves” of the western world in every thing … and a condition has been reached whereby most countries (especially in Africa) cannot easily come back to gain their original identities. [Perhaps India alone seems a bit different in that not only the Democratic system but the very basic original culture that has "lived" for over 4000 years would help India to slowly limp back to its pristine cultural glory in the next one hundred years!!!]
6. As an example, let us look at Ethiopia. This great ancient civilization has had superb “original culture” of human existence, through a natural wealth of water, vegetation, animal and beautiful natural surroundings. But then, like every other tropical nation, the “brain power” of the country has been purloined to alien lands, thereby the “original culture” and human systems have been destroyed beyond repair! Today there are more Ethiopian Doctors and Nurses in the US/ Canada than in their own lands!!! Further, recently the pristine fertile lands are being “offered” on lease to the western world for their food cultivation … being done under connivance of the local “rulers”

What are these so-called Developed nations as against Developing/ Under-developed nations? All these (and everything to do with whatever we are forced to “look at”) are coined by the Western Intellectual Traditions (WIT), which is an off-shoot of the experiences in the Temperate climatic world… and has absolutely no relevance to the ground realities in the tropical world. Unfortunately, almost all the “brain power” in these “developing nations” have become slaves of the WIT, forgetting to even “look at” the local situations, in spite of these regions being endowed with huge Renewable Resources. Thus, economic development is a condition that pertains to Local resources based development, based on local wisdom and local needs. Any amount of “alien” systems (whether industry or medicine) would only add to the “underdevelopment” of Local resources, making these nations more and more poor and indebted to the “others”

Please also see: What Ails India and other Tropics

From the bottom of my heart_On India

If we consider the datum year of independent India’s development activities as 1950, we are in the sixtieth year of our planned developments. Without any hype or attempts to find scape-goats, let us see where we actually stand [please note: The writer does not accept the various "official" data and statistics; but the following are based on own personal Research carried on during a period of about 20 years, starting in 1987/88]:

WHERE INDIA STANDS TODAY

1. Our population is about 1, 150 million (One in every sixth person in the world is an Indian)
2. We have over 635, 000 villages, where about 800 million people live, in very difficult conditions
3. Almost 100% of the villages are dilapidated, and over 80% of these regions do not have any infrastructure (electricity and water topping the list of non availabilities)
4. About 450 million people are illiterate, and over 80% of them are in the Northern Indian States (UP and Bihar topping the list)
5. About 650 million people do not earn even $150 per capita, and do not have one full nutritious meal per day for all 365 days
6. About 400 million of our youth (age group 18 to 35 yrs) are either unemployed or under employed (over 95% of these are from villages)
7. Over 350 million children (age group 0 to 9 yrs) are malnourished or do not have any average living conditions (all of them never see a school at all)
8. Although we have about a million “higher educated” youth coming out of the nearly 1000 specialty institutions (including prestigious ones such as IIT’s IIM’s and IISc), not even 30% of these youngsters get appropriate assignments, based on their training and qualifications
9. 80% of our farmers own less than 2 ha land, and they struggle to get enough water, electricity; and they do not get appropriate seeds, fertilizer, and finally appropriate values for their produce (this is in spite of the Government subsidizing almost all of these for the last 40 years)
10. About 40 years ago, our Agricultural and related Scientific departments wanted the farmers to go for intensive cultivation through indiscriminate use of Chemicals and Fertilizers; but now the Scientists are telling them to go for “organic” farming
11. Our Government is indiscriminately (without long term studies) allowing multinational corporations (mainly American Corporations) to have direct say/ control in our Agriculture, resulting in slow and steady dependence on their dictates (reducing our Science, farm practices etc) into “slave levels”
12. We have annual rainfall that allows percapita water of 3, 500 L per day; yet 75% of India’s population do not have clean potable water
13. Our electricity requirement falls short by 30%; in spite of lakhs of crores of rupees having been spent on Wind mills, Solar power and other “hybrids”
14. At least 10 million people are annually affected by floods and related calamities, and nothing concrete is done to help those affected, in spite of huge amounts being earmarked for these calamities; about 5 million amongst those affected either loose all of their belongings and homes or are shifted to far away places to become migrants within ones own country of origin. This has been the case from 1990
15. About 40% of the populations in over 500 Towns/ cities (including about 20 metros) are migrant laborers and others seeking some “jobs”; and 100% of these (about 150 million) personnel are form the most dilapidated villages in Orissa, Bihar, UP, Rajashtan and north eastern states, where most villages have absolutely nothing to support them
16. About 450 million people do not have any modern medical facilities, including primary health support; and this is in spite of lakhs of crores of rupees being spent annually for the same; at the same time, superb facilities do spring up for the 1% elite of this country
17. We boast of about 100 billionaires; about 500, 000 millionaires; and we also boast of about 4 million “rich” Indian Diaspora in US, Canada, Europe and other western nations – all put together are worth over US $500 billions; yet, India does not have even one amongst these to counter the “western-tilted” philanthropy of the likes of Bill Gates from entering India! Almost all the philanthropy works are not intended to answer the problems of Poverty and destitute in India, within Indian needs and conditions [Please note: There are thousands of Good Samaritans doing yeoman's service to the society; but we need to counter these "others" from coming in with their brand of philanthropy; for example, when our poor people do not have one meal a day, we talk of serving them with education, vaccines, solar power, water filters and so on. But we have no answer to Poverty]
18. 100% of all our development economics, especially from 1991 onward, cater only to the 350 million middle class (including about 10 million “upper” class) … relegating the lower 800 million people altogether into “uncared class”. The “big” economists gloat over saying that “trickle effects” would make sure that those 800 million “lower level” people are also benefited!!!
19. The last twenty years have seen the worst “farmer suicides”, mainly due to inadequate earnings through farming; about a million farmers have committed suicide during this period, on account of bad debts and related economics problems – a shame on our national agriculture policies; shame on our agriculture science; shame on the entire community who “talk” and “act” for agriculture (including big “award winners”)
20. It is estimated that about 15 million ha of farmlands have been converted into housings, industrial infrastructure or for related non-farm activities during that last two decades. This has resulted in decrease in farm production and increase in farm produce costs; escalating into food inflation of the highest order
21. Although the “twenty” statements above would be seen to prioritize our problems in a general way, the Government of India does not seem to consider even one of these as our real problem; instead, we talk of Nuclear arrangement; Gene technology; Bio-technology; Bio-Fuels; “Higher” education; Exports and Special Economic Zones; International Air Ports; Tourism to attract westerners … and so on … as if these would solve our “down-to-earth” and mundane problems

HOW DO WE OVERCOME POVERTY IN INDIA?

If India is to overcome poverty, not one of the economic and development paradigms that are now attempted would be able to achieve the same. This is because we are trying to mimic the very “Western Intellectual Traditions” (WIT) that have failed the western world … business and economic models that had their origin in the middle ages of the alchemists, wherein business and economics are to do with maximizing wealth and “returns”, concentrating these within a small group. We have seen, in recent times that this classical business model ultimately destroys the very business, resulting in economic-poverty of majority, increasing the gap between the “rich” and “poor” (the two classes also being created by the very same business).

Business needs to look at arrangements in distributing “wealth” equitably so that the current situation of small pockets of prosperity seen in between huge regions of mass poverty is changed. If we were to create a situation whereby the 600 million people (who now earn about $150) earn at least $750 per annum (average), the incremental Purchasing Power (PP) would have to be a whopping $330 billion! This would be possible only if we have additional businesses of at least $3.3 trillion! We may ask: is this possible? This is necessary and feasible. But, we need to look at the world around us in its natural environmental conditions, and build up a Business-Model, based on natural Renewable Resources (RR). Our new business model would have to work on India’s strengths:

• We have about 400 million youth-power in villages, who are “available” for appropriate employment
• Our RR, in the form of annually renewable non-forest vegetation systems (both agro based and non farm vegetation) are of the order of about 3.3 billion tons (green weight) … (one item Banana stem wastes alone account for over 13, 500, 000 T; there are many other such vegetation systems that are totally wasted now)
• We have a cattle wealth of over 400 million
• Our annual rainfall is the equivalent of 3, 950 billion cu m (but not even 15% of these have been appropriately tapped)
• We have a coastal area across about 6, 500 KM
• Our average sunlight insolation ranges from about 115.2 KWH/ Sq m to over 230.4 KWH/ Sq m/ (averaging about 172.8 KWH/ Sq m/)
• (Note: Here we have not considered any of the Mineral and other non renewable type of resources)

India would be able to develop as an Economic Force, if we take advantage of the above “strengths” and convert them into Processed Food, Energy, and Engineering Materials, as needed by our own people, through our own efforts. Such conversion utilizing/ recycling RR (renewable resources) would be capable of generating “equitable wealth” in the 635, 000 villages; providing jobs to a total of not less than 400 million people. The “wealth” generation (parallel to the present economic development systems) would also include not less than 50, 000 MW additional power; about Rs.90 trillion worth Food, Energy and engineering materials

These could be showcased through a Pilot Plant that could convert the RR in about 50 ha into energy and engineering materials worth about Rs.15 Cr. Such a Pilot plant would need a seed investment of Rs.6 Cr.

Is raising this Rs.6 Cr seed capital for the Pilot plant possible? Would our “rich” Indian diaspora take up the initiative? If it is possible to do so, a small (dedicated) GROUP here would take up the practical implementation works … Actually India is not a hungry republic … we seem to be a republic with very few looking at positive methods to work for nation building … that of POVERTY ALLEVIATION, which is our single biggest problem. This has to change

JAI HIND

INDIA’s MOUNTAINS OF SHAME

IT’S A SHAME WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS SHAME

(WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO CHANGE?)

1. When we come out in the morning from our home to go to the work place, a few things greet us on the roads:

   1. Drainage would be broken, and the road would be flooded with the sewage waste water etc, with vehicles splashing these dirt and filth all over the moving people’s body.

   2. As we proceed further, the entire foot path would be crowded with people (reading some News paper, drinking coffee/ tea, eating some snacks, conferencing … etc); and this makes it difficult for us to move easily

   3. The traffic would be in utter chaos, as the Police constable on duty is unable to handle the various forms of crowds (beyond one man’s capacity) … some dogs, cattle also adding to the melee … every vehicle trying to squeeze in (with absolutely no concern for the law), honking the horn … adding to further utter confusion

   4. The Bus Stop point is a scene of “free for all”, with the City buses stopping at random (often right on the middle of the road), putting regular traffic into confusion; some street vendors selling various vegetables, fruits, wares and snacks; unauthorized private vehicles parking at the bus stop; commuters moving around here and there, unable to apprehend the Bus they want to board

   5. As we move further forward, we come across a Railway over-bridge, passing over the road; most two wheelers and small “open vehicles” stop ahead of the bridge, when a train moves over the line; the bridge has no “base cover” and often wash-water and excretions fall through on the road, creating nuisance!

   6. Suddenly all traffic would come to a screeching halt, putting the entire traffic (up and down) into disarray … some “death procession” moves ahead, breaking the law, and taking the whole public road into their “hand”

   7. As we move further, the entire traffic is stopped at a junction by the traffic police … to allow a series of VIP vehicles to move easily, while the common people “fight out” for themselves, with no law and order

   8. When one reaches the work place after about one full hour of strenuous city travel, power is switched off, and the lifts would not work. Some buildings have own generators; many do not have. However, “generator power” is used only for basic needs … no AC and Refrigerator would work; fans are reduced; lighting would be reduced … etc

   9. As we come out for lunch, we see many vendors on the foot-paths, blocking movement and selling various things, including snacks … all these being done breaking the law… yet we would find it difficult, if these vendors weren’t there!

   10. Filth and waste packets and broken things would be seen thrown at various places; “picker boys and girls” (aged less than 10 yrs) are seen picking all sorts of junk, so as to salvage (and scavenge) whatever they could, earning something for their family who have no other income [India has over 10 million “scavenger” children]

FURTHER SHAME

1. India’s 100, 000 + primary schools in villages do not have proper buildings, infrastructure and teachers. The so-called mid-day meal schemes are often organized in dilapidated and unhygienic places, without proper government funds; often these being left to the poor “anganwadi” workers who try to do their best under given circumstances

2. Over 400 million children in the age group 5 to 15 do not attend schools properly due to various problems in their homes (mainly economic); and invariably these children are forced to work/ help their parents in household chores … bringing water from far away places, looking after young siblings and the like

3. The food wasted in India (per day), by the 350 million middle/ upper/ elite classes is of the order of 55, 000 Tons; these do not take into account the huge volumes wasted in marriages, hotels, restaurants, elite functions and so on. If these alone were to be converted into energy, the resultant Power would be of the order of 2, 000 MW (24 x 360)

4. The total grains/ fruits/ vegetables wasted per annum is of the order of 50 million tons; if these were to be converted into energy, there could be additional power of 5, 000 MW

5. Over 400, 000 villages do not have potable water, and if at all the villagers need water, they fetch the same walking a few kilometers away from the village proper … and that too for contaminated, poor quality water. Interestingly, many “great film personalities” often show themselves as “Brand Ambassadors” for various Water Schemes or advertise water filters for the poor!!!

6. Many Film Personalities often advertise and cajole us to conserve electricity; yet the Government Electricity Boards and other Institutions waste power by not putting-off street lights during day time. Further, many city regions/ airports/ malls/ Cricket matches etc waste huge amounts of power day in and day out

7. The average PDS (various cereals supplied to public through Government control, such as rice, wheat, sugar etc) arrangement is perhaps the most Corrupt arrangement in the whole world. The system starts with “levy” of food material from the farmers and ends up at the “Ration shops”. The entire activities are so arranged that every one starting from the Topmost Minister at the center down to the “sweeper” or “Khalasies” at the warehouse have something to share in the booty. This writer had made a study and noted that the overall “corruption” is to an extent of 60% to 65%

8. We have an annual ritual called the Science Congress, which is generally addressed by the PM. Many scientists are awarded various prizes for their “achievements”. The question is: Of what relevance do these have in understanding and solving any of the problems mentioned so far? If the scientific community cannot solve such problems, why do we have all sorts of Science and Technology Institutions?

9. Do we have even one IIM or IIT attempting to find out what are these problems; why do these occur; how do we define solutions?????

HOW DO WE CHANGE THESE?

This writer wishes to observe that the “Mountains of Shame/ Problems” that we have in India cannot and will not be overcome through show-biz seminars, reports, sensational journalism or even through so-called “Special Guarantee” Schemes. Instead we need to go back to the basics – of working with REAL People in the villages, where India actually lives. The pathetic state of affairs in the 635, 000 villages is noted by the stark truth that about 650 million (out of a total 800 million) people there do not have Rs.20 per day earnings [Note: About 350 million in these are unemployed youth in the age-group 20 to 35 yrs]. Can we live with such pathetically low earnings? What constitutes a minimum Decent Living Standard earnings for an Individual? Do we have any schemes/ business/ economics for answering these fundamental questions? Are our various “great” institutions of learning (and various Universities) defining and working on these?

This writer wishes to present his own study/ analyses as follows:

The yardstick of Minimum Decent Living/ Earnings per individual has to be based on the following minimum human needs:

• Food (@ Rs.35 per day for 365 days) ………………………….. Rs.12, 775

• Energy @ 1.5 unit per day for 365 days …. 547.5 units …….. Rs.2, 737.5

• Home/ Housing @ Rs.1000/ pm …………………………………. Rs.12, 000

• Mobility @ Rs.15/ day for 365 days …………………………….. Rs.5, 475

• Education @ Rs.1000 per month ………………………………… Rs.12, 000

• Medicines/ health @ Rs.15 per day for 365 days ……………… Rs.5, 475

• Leisure/ entertainment @ Rs.150 per month ………………….. Rs.1, 800

• Family @ Rs.1, 000 per month …………………………………… Rs.12, 000

• Old age security/ providence @ Rs.1, 000/ pa ………………… Rs.1, 000

  TOTAL MINIMUM DECENT LIVING STANDARD EARNINGS … Rs.65, 262.5

Compare this minimum need of Rs.65, 000 per individual with the paltry Rs.6, 000 to Rs.10, 000 being prescribed by the so-called National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) … the so-called revolutionary scheme “misses the real Goal” by a huge margin of 1, 000%.

What do we mean when we say such things like: Poverty Alleviation programs; Fight against Hunger programs; Education for All … and all such bombastic jargon and rhetoric, which are “hatched’ in Five-Star culture seminars and other Mansions/ Palaces of Ministers, Top Government Secretaries and so on? Of what use do we have when we are told that India’s eminent and other top Politicians shower their praise of Gandhi Ji, Nehru Ji and other “dead and gone” stalwarts? We should be ashamed of such hypocrisy and “double-standard” games being played by men/ women at the helm of affairs

SOME RITUALS AT HIGH LEVELS!

CLICK on the Photo-Illustration to ENLARGE

Now, even if we consider only the unemployed youth as those needing earning power, the minimum decent living earnings for these 350 million youth of India would be whopping Rs.22.75 Trillion ($500 billion). If India is to support these 350 million unemployed youth of this country, who form the real future of this nation, the total value of economic activity would have to be not less than Rs.227.5 Trillion (US $5 trillion). We need to work on this “shame” of India’s POVERTY INDEX (PVI) of US $5 trillion!

If our Government, Business houses, scientists, Universities, R & D institutions, Billionaires, and all those who “shout from hill-tops” about poverty alleviation in India … wish to answer the real problems, it is this biggest mountain of shame (the need to offer minimum wages to 350 million jobless youth = US $500 billion) that we should answer/ overcome. Anything else would be mere “eye-wash” or superficial, if not sensational.

This writer is confident that it is possible to surmount the mountains of “shame”, for which, we need to look at our strengths and our own resources (instead of “selling” our independence and competency to the industrialized world, in the “foolish” idea of bringing so-called modern economic development … a euphemism to be slaves of the Western Intellectual Traditions … WIT that originated in Temperate zones)

JAI HIND

THE REAL TRAGEDY UNSEEN IN THE BHOPAL GAS DISASTER

This writer has been curiously observing something very alien, form his young years as a growing up boy from age five to nine, in a remote town of India’s Southern State, Kerala (1954-1958). The surrounding world seemed to slavishly consider Western Intellectual Traditions and western “methods” as the be-all and end-all of everything in this world! As years passed by, this became very clear, and almost all Indians were observed to have “two life styles” … an official, western style, and a “domestic” local, village style! The two life styles have nothing in common, and yet, that is the way 100% of all our activities proceed. The funniest part of all these has been the “quixotic” behavior of the so-called elite (and “smart” people), whereby they try to talk, think, act, dress-up and work as if they were as much alien as the original men/ women from the west. The writer is now aged sixty two … and today these quixotic behavioral patterns seem to have spread to the entire 350 million “middle-class” of this country (within a total population of 1200 million)!

The question may be asked: What causal connection could be made between this “alien quality” behavior of the people and the BHOPAL GAS DISASTER ISSUE? One need to look at only one of the many hundreds of “arrangements” that the Government of India is offering to the United States and other Western developed nations … an “agreement” to effectively “dump” the most lethal and obnoxious nuclear wastes in India, in the name of technology and nuclear know-how/ materials support!!! This writer is not interested in any explanations and other epithets that are offered by the present Government personalities (starting from the PM down to the lowest officer in every department of the Government). The observational inferences of the writer (from as early as 1954, as aforementioned) has been that we, as a nation (mostly based on rule by a minority “party people” and some Officials, in the name of Democracy), are absolute slaves of the western world, relegating the 800 million downtrodden people of this country to irrelevant citizenry! This has been aided, abetted and brought about by the abject submission and connivance of all the “ruling class” … directly or indirectly. The very Government has not been able to look into the greatest industrial disaster on earth (in History perhaps) … the Bhopal Gas tragedy … and instead, are working over time to allow more dumping of lethal wastes, electronic gadget wastes, organic and inorganic wastes and any thing else the western world feels are dangerous for them! Further, instead of developing our own huge Renewable Resources, utilizing our own manpower, our dynamic youth are trained (hypnotized?) to become slaves of the western world, subservient to the western bosses, in the name of working for “collaborative ventures” and what not!

We (in India) are “ruled” today by a Prime Minister, who had just not bothered to stay in India during one of the greatest flood disasters of recent times (wherein about five million poorest people had lost almost everything in the flood havoc); but instead, he was at some summit in the US, literally asking for the autograph of the US president (Barrack Obama), to be passed on to the PM’s daughter, who lives in the US! Almost every one at the helm of affairs in this country is more interested in such “autographs” and “free” trophies/ mementos to be brought back from “foreign trips” … not the least concern for the welfare of the common people … at least 800 million amongst them earning less than $1 per day! The case of Bhopal Gas accident victims is no different from these other 800 million people

What then is the real TRAGEDY of our nation … and perhaps that of almost 135 tropical nations, all of whom work as if they would never exist without the western world? What is actually happening in the whole of Africa, Latin America and many other tropical nations where the original peace loving people are being “pushed” to the wall? What are the real causes behind the following? Korean war, Vietnam war, Cambodia war, Killing of Lumumba in Congo, Killing of Saddam Hussein, Afghan war, Palestinian war, Countering Iran … many more such questions need deep study, analyses and unbiased observational inferences (without the dictates of the western world’s ruling elite, in connivance with their local tropical world “agents”)

In the ultimate analyses, this writer has clearly come to recognize (over a period of forty years of self study, observations, experimentation, and inferences) that as long as we in the tropics do not work on the basis of our own Resources for our own needs, utilizing local people and local wisdom, the world would be under the dictates of the western world … and many more Bhopals, Afghanisthans, Saddam Hussein Killings and the like are waiting to happen. Our foolish belief that we need to “export” and earn dollars in return has to be completely washed off. The people would have to wake up to the fact that we (in the tropics) have greater resources than those in the Temperate Zone western world … stop importing alien materials and so-called Technology; and instead develop on our own. That alone would reduce the gap between the “rich” and “poor” … if not, the POOR as well as BHOPAL TRAGEDIES almost exclusively would continue to belong to the Tropics!

GANDHI JI’s DREAM OF INDEPENDENT INDIA???

Mahatma Gandhi wanted our rulers to wipe out every tear in the eyes of every poor man/ woman in this country. Nehru attempted to do that through modern development economics, five-year plans, education, science and self reliance; Indira Gandhi wished to wipe off poverty in India, and introduced Public sector Bank investments in small business/ industries and in rural sectors; Rajeev Gandhi thought he had a vision for India! And today we have (after 63 years of “independence” to rule ourselves) an economist Prime Minister, who thinks that the Western economic concept of “trickle effect” would change poverty in India!

Let us ask: Are we Independent today (when the nation celebrates the 64^th Independence day)?

Population: We are number two (immediately behind China), with about 1.15 billion people

Human Development Index: We are at an abysmal low of 134 (behind Indonesia, Vietnam and even Bhutan)), in a total of about 182 nations

WHERE DOES INDIA STAND TODAY?

[please also see: From The Bottom of My Heart]

1. Our population is about 1, 150 million (One in every sixth person in the world is an Indian)

2. We have over 635, 000 villages, where about 800 million people live, in very difficult conditions

3. Almost 100% of the villages are dilapidated, and over 80% of these regions do not have any infrastructure (electricity and water topping the list of non availabilities)

4. About 450 million people are illiterate, and over 80% of them are in the Northern Indian States (UP and Bihar topping the list)

5. About 650 million people do not earn even $150 per capita, and do not have one full nutritious meal per day for all 365 days

6. About 400 million of our youth (age group 18 to 35 yrs) are either unemployed or under employed (over 95% of these are from villages)

7. Over 350 million children (age group 0 to 9 yrs) are malnourished or do not have any average living conditions (all of them never see a school at all)

8. Although we have about a million “higher educated” youth coming out of the nearly 1000 specialty institutions (including prestigious ones such as IIT’s IIM’s and IISc), not even 30% of these youngsters get appropriate assignments, based on their training and qualifications

9. 80% of our farmers own less than 2 ha land, and they struggle to get enough water, electricity; and they do not get appropriate seeds, fertilizer, and finally appropriate values for their produce (this is in spite of the Government subsidizing almost all of these for the last 40 years)

10. About 40 years ago, our Agricultural and related Scientific departments wanted the farmers to go for intensive cultivation through indiscriminate use of Chemicals and Fertilizers; but now the Scientists are telling them to go for “organic” farming

11. Our Government is indiscriminately (without long term studies) allowing multinational corporations (mainly American Corporations) to have direct say/ control in our Agriculture, resulting in slow and steady dependence on their dictates (reducing our Science, farm practices etc) into “slave levels”

12. We have annual rainfall that allows percapita water of 3, 500 L per day; yet 75% of India’s population do not have clean potable water

13. Our electricity requirement falls short by 30%; in spite of lakhs of crores of rupees having been spent on Wind mills, Solar power and other “hybrids”

14. At least 10 million people are annually affected by floods and related calamities, and nothing concrete is done to help those affected, in spite of huge amounts being earmarked for these calamities; about 5 million amongst those affected either loose all of their belongings and homes or are shifted to far away places to become migrants within ones own country of origin. This has been the case from 1990

15. About 40% of the populations in over 500 Towns/ cities (including about 20 metros) are migrant laborers and others seeking some “jobs”; and almost 100% of these (about 150 million) personnel are form the most dilapidated villages in Orissa, Bihar, UP, Rajashtan and north eastern states, where most villages have absolutely nothing to support them

16. About 450 million people do not have any modern medical facilities, including primary health support; and this is in spite of lakhs of crores of rupees being spent annually for the same; at the same time, superb facilities do spring up for the 1% elite of this country

17. We boast of about 100 billionaires; about 500, 000 millionaires; and we also boast of about 4 million “rich” Indian Diaspora in US, Canada, Europe and other western nations – all put together are worth over US $500 billions; yet, India does not have even one amongst these to counter the “western-tilted” philanthropy of the likes of Bill Gates from entering India! Almost all the philanthropy works are not intended to answer the problems of Poverty and destitute in India, within Indian needs and conditions [Please note: There are thousands of Good Samaritans doing yeoman's service to the society; but we need to counter these "others" from coming in with their brand of philanthropy; for example, when our poor people do not have one meal a day, we talk of serving them with education, vaccines, solar power, water filters and so on. But we have no answer to Poverty]

18. 100% of all our development economics, especially from 1991 onward, cater only to the 350 million middle class (including about 10 million “upper” class) … relegating the lower 800 million people altogether into “uncared class”. The “big” economists gloat over saying that “trickle effects” would make sure that those 800 million “lower level” people are also benefited!!!

19. The last twenty years have seen the worst “farmer suicides”, mainly due to inadequate earnings through farming; about a million farmers have committed suicide during this period, on account of bad debts and related economics problems – a shame on our national agriculture policies; shame on our agriculture science; shame on the entire community who “talk” and “act” for agriculture (including big “award winners”)

20. It is estimated that about 15 million ha of farmlands have been converted into housings, industrial infrastructure or for related non-farm activities during that last two decades. This has resulted in decrease in farm production and increase in farm produce costs; escalating into food inflation of the highest order

21. Although the “twenty” statements above would be seen to prioritize our problems in a general way, the Government of India does not seem to consider even one of these as our real problem; instead, we talk of Nuclear arrangement; Gene technology; Bio-technology; Bio-Fuels; “Higher” education; Exports and Special Economic Zones; International Air Ports; Tourism to attract westerners … and so on … as if these would solve our “down-to-earth” and mundane problems

All of us need o introspect, and rekindle the spirit of the famous statement made by the then US President Kennedy … “Ask not what the nation can do for you; ask what you can do for the nation?” … But alas! Almost the entire nation, starting from the PM down to the commonest person in the streets, want every thing “Foreign” … whether Atomic Development, Tourism, Jobs, Technology, Wind/Solar-Power … Our IIT’s, IIM’s and all other Institutions want all our youngsters to go to the US or other western nations for livelihood (they gloat over this aspect as an indication of their “quality”). Our so-called IT Companies, Pharma-Companies, and almost all Small businesses wish to be identified by their Western connections (with thousands of youngsters working like “slaves” for the ultimate development of the Western world); our Agriculture, Science, Engineering, Industry and almost every thing now depends on the Western-tilted “connection”, and not even one aspect of Modern India’s development paradigm is INDIAN!

This writer is pained and extremely sad that in the last 63 years, our nation has become dependent 100% on the Western world, negating and rejecting the greatest Independence War Result ever fought on earth (through AHIMSA of MAHATMA GANDHI). What is the use of talking about the great soul, in the ritualistic cacophony such as Independence day, Gandhi Ji’s birth day etc (August 15^th and Oct 2^nd)?

Gandhi Ji’s Dream of an Independent India may not be possible at all. Why did he (and over a million “workers”/supporters) sacrifice their every thing to get so-called Independence from the Western strangle hold!!! Our present “rulers” would have to answer these questions. Do they have the imagination, mission and vision to do so?

A NEW CLEANTECH BLOG Started

The euphoria and near desperation to realign the world through an apparently skewed and subtly marketed thought-action plans under the subjects of Cleantech, Green products, Sustainability and Carbon reduction need to be modified, if not controlled and thwarted. Another matter that would have to be carefully examined is the virtual “self centered” definitions prescribed to the word CLEANTECH. The following may be noted as the Definition that this writer would like to attribute to the word/ concept:

CLEANTECH may be defined as:

Technology, Economics, Management and Business that look at the world not as being resource-starved but on the basis of the possibilities of utilizing available Renewable Resources such as Sunlight, Rainwater, Vegetation matter, Animal matter, Wind and Soil. The said utilization would be based on conservation, recycling and a New Zero-Waste paradigm

Please visit: http://agrobiogenicscleantech.wordpress.com/ … for more on these… and also: http://www.cleantech.org/magazine/author/791

What Ails India and Other Tropical Nations

THE POLITICS OF IMPERIALISM

The following notes on Patrice Lumumba, the original Congolese Independence leader and patriot, has been presented in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrice_Lumumba):

“Patrice Émery Lumumba (2 July 1925–17 January 1961) was a Congolese independence leader and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo after he helped win its independence from Belgium in June 1960. Only ten weeks later, Lumumba’s government was deposed in a coup during the Congo Crisis.. He was subsequently imprisoned and murdered in circumstances suggesting the support and complicity of the governments of Belgium and the United States”

Many such Independence leaders of almost ALL the tropics have either been eliminated or hounded out … the last such personality who was murdered under the US dictates was Saddam Hussein (whatever may be his deeds/ misdeeds) … many more are under the “watch list” and “hit list”

Now look very dispassionately at the differences between India and Pakistan.

Both India and Pakistan got independence (after a few hundred years of British colonial rule), almost simultaneously in 1947. Both the nations had exactly equivalent stalwarts and patriots (with two equivalent “giants” leading the two nations: Jawahar Lal Nehru in India and Mohammed Ali Jinnah in Pakistan) to carry forward with development of the two burgeoning new nations. But the similarities stopped there. Nehru, who had Vision, Mission and Imagination … decided to take up the onerous task of nation building through real SELF RELIANCE, independence and NON-ALIGNMENT, and the new concepts of Socialist Democracy and Panchsheel (keeping equivalent distance from both the Capitalist West and Communist Russia). On the other hand, although Jinnah was as much a modern secularist and knowledge-man as Nehru was, he decided to go the path of Muslim Theocratic State system and Total dependence on the West, especially the US. Rest is history, and we now see the real difference … with India, having matured to become a True Democratic nation, and Pakistan tending toward becoming a stateless anarchy or failed state! However, after Nehru’s death in 1964, in spite of the basic Democratic process working in some fashion in India, the dictates of the West (especially that of the US) is slowly and steadily creeping in. The last ten years (under the weak Government supported by disparate groups with the main Congress party as the “ring leader” group) have created the BEST opportunity for the US involvement in almost everything that India does/ or does not do! India too seem to be moving toward a sort of misrule, which if unchecked, would lead to a “Pakistan like” situation in the end. Interestingly, the perpetrators (or the initiators) of the same would be the very Congress party that was once the “hallmark” of Indian Democracy under Nehru. More over, today, there is a great “fashion”amongst so-called intellectuals and all “modern stalwarts” to pooh-pooh and belittle Nehru (who was a staunch supporter and initiator of Self Reliance through independent Policies and modern science), subtly supported by the Western world (mainly the US)

The aforementioned two sets of seemingly unconnected historical observations have something to tell us. One: Both show the manner in which the world is under the dictates of the Western nations (with the US being the “ring leader”), in spite of so-called independence and “freedom”. Two: Given a chance to think, plan and act independently based on Local Self Reliance, every nation would be able to develop appropriately.

PRESENT DAY REALITY IN TROPICAL (DEVELOPING) NATIONS

If we look at every Tropical nation … be it Congo/ Zaire, Indonesia, Ecuador, Sri Lanka or even India … almost all of them have great volumes of renewable resources; very high rainfall; very high populations; and a basic availability of almost all the needs of the people. Further, the western world (with the US leading in that) virtually depend on all of these nations for their different needs (in terms of many basic materials such as Sugar, Coffee, Tea, Vanilla, Flowers, various minerals, and even petroleum). Also, the west depends on the “cheap” labor of the Tropical nations for many of their needs (both within and without). A situation has been created whereby almost all the tropical nations have their entire economy being made to be dependent on some form of “exports” as decided and “dictated” by the western nations. It would be ironic to note that countries such as Brazil, India, and Sri Lanka are more interested in “exporting”Coffee/ Tea/ Rubber/ Vanilla … rather than develop own vegetation specie such as Coconuts, Babassu, Jack Fruits, and Palmyra. The different governments vie with one another in subsidizing “exports” so that each would compete with the other in supplying at the “lowest” rates to the western world, relegating their own better resources! For example, the Indian Government would go out of the way in subsidizing Coffee growers’ requirements than supporting Jack Fruit growing or Coconuts; so also is the case of Sri Lanka, Malaysia and so on. Similarly, a country like Kenya or Ethiopia have many local species that are to be developed rather than organizing agricultural practices based on alien hybrids, as needed by the western nations. The same thing holds good in the case of other farm practices such as animal husbandry, poultry, fisheries, etc.

The strangest phenomenon is that 100% of the education systems and education needs of all the tropical nations are tuned to “supply” manpower to the western world … mainly the US. Virtually every nation subsidizes their entire human resources development so that ONLY the Western nations are benefited. Every local university and institution would vie with one another in proclaiming that their curricula and courses would make sure that youngsters who take up such courses would have the “best chances to get FOREIGN jobs”. The net result is that while on the one hand there are no “educated” people within ones own nation to “think, plan, work and develop” own nation, on the other hand the greatest of the world resources (Human Resources) would be made available virtually FREE to the western world … finally resulting in less than mediocre people working within own native land!

Adding salt to the wound, almost all the economics development activities in the tropics are so organized and the government regulations so oriented that “imported” and alien systems and processes alone are encouraged. For example, in a country like India, whereas there are no real support and “tax benefits” to entrepreneurs who want to develop Local resources such as Bullock cart systems, Local vegetation systems and local medicines, the entire Western based Wind Mills, Solar systems, Biomass burning systems, Lighting systems, Construction methods… and the like are subsidized through Tax concessions and other doles. Here, we need to recognize that resources such as Bullocks and other farm animal systems are not merely to be brushed away as foolish or things of no consequence; but suffice it to note that if India were to develop the entire farm animal potential to supplement their energy needs, the total Biogas based power in India would be a whopping 45,000 MW to 50, 000 MW!!! The net results of such skewed policies of the Developing nation Governments are TWO NEGATIVES: One, local resources get relegated to second fiddle; Two, the ultimate economic benefits accrue ONLY to the Western world

WHAT IS CORRUPTION?

Having analyzed the basic root causes that negate appropriate economic developments in all tropical nations, including India, we need to look at one of the most weakening human conditions that self propagates under such negative economics growth … CORRUPTION. We cannot look at so-called corruption merely as the stashing away of money by various individuals and groups; but viewed from a more holistic angle, we need to accept the stark truth that almost the entire community has degenerated into various practices of corruption and surreptitious methods.

Let us consider ONE Example … that of God men and Goddess Women. Who are these God men and Goddess women? What are their specialties? How do they sustain such colossal “arrangements” and extravaganzas? Why are many Politicians, Rich people, and other such people flocking and surrounding them?

There are very many other phenomena such as “Donations” to Educational Institutions, Donations to “Charities”, Public Services such as Food Distribution, Fertilizer distribution, Industrial Land acquisition … and even Recruitment in the Armed Forces… almost the entire systems of Government controlled arrangements … Last, but not least, we must also seriously ponder why the so-called “whistle blowers” never come out in the open while in service… but start talking about these ONLY after Retirement!!!

Please also see: Why are we in Tropics Under-developed

2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 3,400 times in 2010. That’s about 8 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 8 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 18 posts. There were 4 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 2mb.

The busiest day of the year was April 28th with 26 views. The most popular post that day was SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS – Answer to Global Warming & Poverty (GWP) – II.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were mail.yahoo.com, odrf.wordpress.com, WordPress Dashboard, cr4.globalspec.com, and mambang-x.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for desert grasses, wealth index infrastucture, tropical regions of the world, poor family, and rajasthan desert.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS – Answer to Global Warming & Poverty (GWP) – II January 2009

2

Developing Nations & Poverty Index November 2008
7 comments

3

Sustainability and Globalization – Are these Contradictory? June 2009

4

WHY ARE WE IN THE TROPICS UNDERDEVELOPED AND POOR? March 2010
4 comments

5

GANDHI JI’s DREAM OF INDEPENDENT INDIA??? August 2010
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Farmers Need Not Struggle in India

While some irresponsible and nonchalant politicians shout from Hill-Tops that India would soon be self sufficient in Power generation, infrastructure and so on, the economic struggles of more than 150 million farm community families continue unabated. The reported farmer suicides from 1995 till 2010 is over 250,000 suicides (directly affecting over 1.5 million Indian farm community members!) … many suicides are not reported, and many other struggles are never known to the outside world . In the meanwhile, many so-called scientists, economists and writers have earned Nobel prizes, Magsaysay awards, Indian of the year awards, Poverty Eradication Awards etc etc … in Show-biz seminars and other extravagant paraphernalia, purported to support and uplift the farming community!

Now let us look at a SCIENTIFIC fact.

Each average ha of Indian farmland is capable of self generating not less than 50 Tons of “green weight” biomass (Plants/ vegetation/ shrubs/ grasses etc). It is estimated that these volumes of biomass, if converted into Biogas and Biofertilizer, could be processed into Petrochemicals. And the average Petrochemicals and Biofertilizer possible in India per ha are as follows:

1. Bio-Petrochemicals ………………. 5 Tons

2. Biofertilizer ………………………… 3.15 Tons

3. CarbonDi Oxide …………………… 6.5 Tons

What does this mean to both the farmers/ village communities and India as a whole?

If just 50% of these Self Generative Renewable Resources in our farmlands were to be converted into petrochemicals and energy, India’s Power production would be a whopping 67000 MW!!! For the 150 Million families, these would work out to a total value of Rs.2, 894, 400, 000, 000 ($64, 320, 000, 000) … a Family percapita of Rs.19296 ($425) … which is THREE Times the present paltry $150

Where are our scientists, engineers, Nobel Laureates and so-called development Economists? are they listening? Or, is it that the Indian farmer is just DUMB? Are our Universities, IIM’s IIT’s and IISc etc thinking about these? If NOT WHAT ARE THEY EXISTING FOR? Let us STOP STOP being SLAVES of the western world, by mimicking and acting ONLY under their dictates, and instead, let us LOOK INWARD AND DEVELOP OURSELVES!

Also see: http://zerowastezerocarbon.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/zero-waste-zero-carbon-farming/

Poverty is the Result of Plundering and Muzzling of the Peace-loving Majority

As this is being written in the early morning of Jan 15, 2011, we in India are bombarded with a sad “breaking news” that more than one hundred pilgrims were killed in a stampede during a mountain temple festival in southern India. The time was about 7 pm (January 14, 2011), when thousands had congregated at the mountain top forests (named Shabari Mala, in Kerala State), trekking through difficult terrains, and eagerly looking at the dark skies to see the “heavenly light” called MAKARAJYOTHI – believed to be the final sunlight ray that would change the direction of the sun move from the southern solstice, northward. The belief is that a look at that “ray” is next to “Godliness”. Almost the entire crowds that gather in such situations are the poorest, who are herded like sheep pushed into their sheds through the “slit opening”, while the VIP’s and VVIP’s (Officials and Celebs) have the best positions, guarded and comfortably arranged by the security personnel and other volunteers. An unbiased and scientific enquiry would show that the so-called “heavenly light” is artificially created by the “officials” of the religious “authority” that is called “Dewaswom Board”, under the support of a so-called Democratic Government. The said Board officially earn not less than US $10 million each year by way of “devotee offerings”; and the different officials and Temple priests (including the various related support personnel also “get” much benefits by way of cash and other materials “poured in” by the so-called devotees/ pilgrims). Many such farce and frauds are perpetrated in almost all so-called democracies, resulting in great hardships to the poorest community

The question is: What is Poverty?

Under the present day Indian situation, with a teeming population of 1200 million, the average annual minimum expenditure per each individual that would be needed for a decent minimum living standard are as follows:

• Food (@ Rs.50 per day for 365 days) ……….. Rs.18, 250

• Energy @ 1.5 unit per day for 365 days …. 547.5 units … Rs.2, 737.5

• Home/ Housing @ Rs.1000/ pm ………………. Rs.12, 000

• Mobility @ Rs.15/ day for 365 days ……………. Rs.5, 475

• Education @ Rs.1000 per month .………………… Rs.12, 000

• Medicines/ health @ Rs.15 per day for 365 days … Rs.5, 475

• Leisure/ entertainment @ Rs.150 per month …….. Rs.1, 800

• Family @ Rs.1, 000 per month ……………………… Rs.12, 000

• Old age security/ providence @ Rs.1, 000/ pa …… Rs.1, 000

TOTAL MINIMUM DECENT LIVING STANDARD EARNINGS … Rs.70, 737.5 (US $1, 572)

However, it is noted that about 800 million people (67% of total population) do not earn even $150 per annum (less than 10% of the minimum decent living standard)! Now, the Government of India vaingloriously proclaims that they have instituted a big scheme whereby every family would have at least ONE PERSON with Guaranteed job for 100 days @ Rs.100 per day. This works out to Rs.10, 000 per Family! However, as per our Minimum Decent Living Standard Computation this value should be Rs.353, 687.5 (which is more than 3,535% of what the Government actually pays the poor workers!!!). Is this the way to develop the status of the Poor in a democratic nation?

Contrast this with the following:

• The average expenditure Per day in Parliament, spent on our Members of Parliament is estimated at about Rs.25 million (Over Rs.9, 000 million per annum)… Parliament has about 550 members
• India now has about 500 Billionaires
• There are about twenty five million Millionaires
• Together, these Billionaires/ Millionaires form less than 2.1% of the population

The world looks at this glitzy (but paltry) group of people and and go gaga and the media blitzkrieg proclaims that India is progressing! Further, the entire Government machinery and all economic activities are oriented and modified to suit ONLY this 2.1% of the population. The 97.5% of the rest of the population are “helpless” as 100% of those are law abiding or are subservient to the Rich 2.5%. Those who died in the stampede (as mentioned earlier that occurred at the Forest temple of Shabari Mala) are part of that lowly 97.5%. They are all like the ass that moves forward thinking that the “carrot hanging in front of it would be its food as it moves forward”!

Now coming back to the idea on Poverty, it is noted that India has about 638, 000 villages almost 100% of those regions are dilapidated and bereft of basic amenities and other infrastructure. The 800 million poorest people live in these god-forsaken places, eking out their livelihood, and earning less than 1% of India’s GDP. The Government, various Poverty Alleviation Organizations (independent and other sponsored by World bank, UN etc) shout from hill tops that they are doing wonderful jobs to alleviate Poverty. Many Big Industries join the Chorus, and send their “high salaried’ executives to “do some helping works” in villages, under what is called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Added to these are the Giant Corporations and other Bigwigs (such as Ford, Rockefeller, Bill gates and et al) who advertize themselves as the do-gooders creating tremendous developments in many dilapidated villages. In doing so, 100% of these do-gooders earn Tax benefits for their CSR! In the ultimate analyses, a dispassionate study would show that the poor villagers continue to be as poor as ever (with earning power of less than 10% of the minimum decent living standard needs!!!)

India and other Tropical Nations Need to Utilize Local Resources to Become Developed

This writer has always wondered why all so-called Developing Nations (almost 100% being in the Tropics) are more interested in “helping” the western nations, relegating their own economy to always stay Poor!!! For example, 100% of these tropical nations (including India) are foolishly believing that “exporting” somethings needed by the Western world are “best” for these countries; as if that alone would create economic development. Thus, these nations vie with one another in “cutting prices” through Government subsidies for so-called “exports”. Produces such as Tea, Coffee, Vanilla, Flowers, Cashew, Cardamon, Spices, Rubber, and many such “export products” are subsidized by every nation so as to “compete” in the international markets. Western trained (local) Economists, Agriculturists, Scientists, and almost all Journalists and other “knowledgeable” personalities cajole Farmers and every business person to work hard for exports. Phrases such as … EXPORT OR PERISH and EARN FOREIGN EXCHANGE … are coined and huge show-biz seminars and “work-shops” are conducted so that common business people are “brain washed” to become ultimate “Slaves” of the Western world. The biggest fad is the so-called Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), which is a euphemism for “back office clerical operations”. Many so-called IT Companies are encouraged to grow so that thousands of highly qualified and competent youngsters work like “bullocks” and other animals, doing mere clerical jobs for the western world, which would not require any qualification at all. And almost 100% of these IT companies are mere Back Office arrangements for the Big Western Multinational Companies, who get highly qualified youngsters at “throw away” costs to work on their various “clerical” needs. Not even one company follows the “Principle of Equality” in Payments, Timing of work and other Perks/ amenities offered. For example, an IT employee in India who works for a US Multinational would do nearly Double the work of an equivalent US employee and yet receive only one-fourth to one-fifth of the equivalent wages of the US counterpart. The net result of all these is that the Western nations progress by the “slavery” of tropical nations, under the connivance of the “rulers” of these Tropical nations.

Now look at a couple of the many disregarded and relegated Local Resources based systems: The Palm Trees in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh states and Jack-Fruit Trees in whole South India:

UNCARED FOR PALM TREES AND JACK-FRUIT TREES

Both these species are Local Resources species and DO NOT require any special agriculture practices for growth. They grow “automatically and naturally” and profusely too … requiring no fertilizer, no extra water and any tending at all. Instead, they grow on the Darwinian principle of “Survival of the Fittest”. Of the two species, the growth of the Palm tree is extraordinarily enormous. And, on a rough estimate, Southern India could be home for not less than 100 million trees. If we were to estimate that the average life of each tree @ roughly 50 years, the annually available Renewable Resources (RR) in the form of “Dry land Palm Trees” in India would be One million tons. These could be either converted into Energy or Engineered Composites that are Wood Substitutes or Metals Substitutes. The minimum productions as Engineered Composites (by combining with a few other ingredients) would be 2 million Tons. These 2 million Tons could replace either 4 million Tons metals or 4 million Cubic Meters of Wood. Further, not less than 200, 000 Local Village level Skilled labor/ Artisans would have decent jobs all throughout the year… something lacking in the entire 638, 000 villages in India now! [Note: If the Palm Tree resources were to be converted completely into Energy, Southern India would have not less than 1400 MW extra power (360 x 24) through Combined heat + Electricity generation!]

The question is: Is our Economist PM able to visualize these potentials? Are our so-called citadels of learning such as Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institutes of Technologies (IIT’s), Indian Institutes of Management (IIM’s) and many such show-biz institutions looking at these REAL RESOURCES as the greatest bet for our national development? How long would all these “pride of the nations” continue to train our superb younger generations to become mere “mental Slaves” of the west?

Let every one of the 150 to 160 tropical nations understand that: as long as we foolishly believe that “exports” as required by the western world are more important than converting and utilizing OUR OWN LOCAL RESOURCES, we would always be Slaves of the western world, irrespective of whether or not we consider ourselves to be independent and free!!!

Please also visit:

1. What Ails India and tropical Nations?

2. Gandhi Ji’s Dream of Independent India!

3. Why are tropical Countries Poor?

4. http://agrobiogenicscleantechpvtltd.com/

……..

An Appeal to all our Countrymen/women – WE INDIANS

Historically, it is sad to note that WE (so-called INDIANS) seem to have been slowly and steadily perfecting only One thing: THE ART OF SUBTERFUGE AND PURLOINING THROUGH COLLUSION WITH OUTSIDE FORCES! Although many “short stories” within the Epic “Mahabharata” do depict this unfortunate behavior in the corridors of power, the first Real-life instance of this was experienced by the brave King: Porus … his own ministers and lieutenants betrayed him by secretly “siding” his enemy … none other than Alexander the so-called “great”. But for this betrayal, Alexander would never have crossed Sindh (now part of Pakistan), and his so-called “greatness” would have come to an end. But, that was not to be: Porus was “caught” by surprise … the culprits being his own “trusted” men, who sided Alexander for “monetary commissions”, wine, and women. The latest such real life episode was that of the great Tipu Sultan, about 200 years back, when Tipu’s own men (all of them Indian HINDUS) betrayed the Sultan, by siding the British. Tipu knew that the British Westerners were not interested in India’s development; but all they wanted were to plunder India. He was the only person in the entire world to have physically defeated the British … not even the great Napoleon could!. But, had not our own HINDU Kings sided with the British, India could have achieved Freedom from the British long before Gandhi was even born

Of late, this writer is able to see a new National Calamity, slowly creeping in: almost every one who matters thinks that there is only one thing that India needs: Simply ACCEPT whatever the US asks us to do and align with whatever they do. This behavior is seen at a maximum level in our Economist PM,Dr. Manmohan Singh, who has so far not uttered any word that supports our own Indians whenever our people are in trouble in the West (US, Cnada, Australia, etc). His golden rule is SILENCE at such times!!!

The latest in the series of this SLAVERY is the unfortunate duping of about 3000 Indian students in the US, and their being “chained” (a more modern version is “Radio Collard” … like the Wild animals and other “ranch” animals!!!) It is sad and strange that not even one amongst the nearly 4 million Indians who have set shop in the West (for making money) is raising a finger! Are we Indians (nearly four times the Population of the US) wild ASSES and FOOLS? Why are we degenerating to levels of “second and third fiddle” in almost every thing at international arena? Why should we think that we need FDI’s, Foreign Exchange, US based Technologies, IT and all those the West want us to take up as most necessary for so-called development??? Why should our youngsters be forced to go to such alien lands for livelihood? Why should we be “modern slaves” through being mentally and physically subservient to the Western world? Why should all our Universities and Educational Institutions teach and train our youngsters to serve the Western world and NOT India? Why are we foolishly thinking that Western systems, economic ideas, commercial systems (and almost all Western Branded Goods) are the ones we too need? Why do our “Bollywood” and other celebrity entertainment groups think that systems such as “OSCARS” are more important than creating OUR OWN Brands? Why are the Congress people foolishly thinking that a very ordinary and mediocre person such as Rahul Gandhi is their Future? Is it that India does not have even one person amongst the 120 crores people to lead us, other than such a mediocre person?

AN APPEAL: Dear Indian brothers and sisters: This writer wishes to express sadness, shock and bewilderment at the nonchalance of our Political class and almost 100% of our elite/ industry/ celebrities in not considering SELF RESPECT as the most important thing for National development. If we were to consider these classes: (including the “ruling officials”) as those who now matter, perhaps their total number would be about One Crore in India. Thus, there are nearly 119 Crore “MAJORITY INDIANS”, with about 85 Crore Indian Poor people, who are being RULED by these “super minority” elite class. It is therefore appealed to the majority (119 Crores Indians) that we NEED to raise our voices by countering every action that reduces us to be SLAVES of the Western world. If we do not START now, perhaps it would be too late, and sooner than later, history of “East India Co” would again repeat. LET US NOT MAKE WAY FOR THAT  … PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!

Democracy in India is a Cacophony of Minority MAFIA Rule

The other day this writer was watching a Television program in one of the South Indian local channels, wherein Dr. Subarmaniam Swamy (a Member of Parliament and former Cabinet Minister of Government of India) was being interviewed. The subject was about the now famous 2-G SPECTRUM Scam that has become a household discussion subject all across the country. The following are some of the shocking things he was alleging:

[NOTE: One CRORE = TEN Million]

1. The total money swindled in the 2-G SPECTRUM Scam is of the order of Rs.60, 000 crores, creating a net loss to the Government Ex-chequer to an extent of about Rs.180, 000 crores
2. The alleged swindled amounts are apportioned as follows:
   1. Congress Party ………………………………. Rs.18, 000 Crores
   2. Mrs Sonia Gandhi (SG) …………………….. Rs.18, 000 Crores
   3. Mr. Karunanidhi (KN) ……………………… Rs.18, 000 Crores
   4. Ex-Minister, A. Raja (the front line “player”) … Rs.6, 000 Crores

1. Dr. Subramaniam Swamy (SS) alleged that he has ALL proofs to show the above “facts” and that the entire information is being presented to the Supreme Court
2. SS went on to allege that all these “bigwig” players (including various “collaborators” and family members of the main players, named above) would be arrested soon for fraud, money laundering etc

In a yet another shocking revelation, the same South Indian TV channel exposed a copy of an alleged letter written by none other than the “greatest” Indian Industrialist (Sri Ratan TATA), who is alleged to have met the family members of KN, and had also written a personal letter to the alleged fraud-perpetrator Ex-minister A. Raja, addressing him as “Loving Son”. The said TV channel alleged that Ratan Tata had even personally met one of the wives of KK to get some favor, for which it was also alleged that about Rs.200 Crores + were paid as bribe/ and/ or special “favor”

Even as these were being penned, this writer was watching the latest Malayalam TV news telecast by a regional TV-channel. A sitting MP was alleging (shouting in front of a huge public audience in his home constituency in south Kerala) that he had witnessed a Supreme court Judge being bribed by prominent Politicians through payments of gratis to the tune of tens of lakhs of rupees

What do the above instances of alleged bribery, corruption and nepotism indicate?

To any average Indian (be it even a young school child) the “fact” about corruption is a common everyday happening, and no one would be surprised to hear about all these so-called “new revelations”. In fact many common Indians would go to an extent of saying that “bribe” (which is more commonly known in some of the local languages as: “mamool”, “lunchum” “kaikooly” etc) is a MUST to get anything done that involves any Government agency – starting from the poor man’s “Ration card” … to purchasing a House (official Registration). Even recruitment in the armed forces is alleged to be involving bribes.

LIST – 1:

Now let us look at the “prominent” members in the following list:

1. Bal Thackeray
2. Raj Thackeray
3. Ms Maywati
4. Lalu Prasad
5. Krunna Nidhi
6. Alagiri
7. R. Balakrishna Pillai
8. Kunjhali Kutty
9. Jagdish Tytlor
10. Yediyurappa … this is just a small fraction of the hundreds of many such “leaders” of prominence in various regions/ states in India today

LIST – 2:

Now look at the following List:

1. Mahatma Gandhi
2. Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru
3. Pundit Madan Mohan Malavia
4. Dr Amberdkar
5. Dr Radhakrishnan
6. Subrahmanya Bharathi
7. Dr CV Raman
8. Rabindra Nath Tagore
9. Sir M Visweshwarayya
10. Dr Jagdish Chandra Bose … these names are those of a few of India’s greatest stalwarts … a small list in a list that would include many more giants

What are the differences between the members presented in List – 1 and List 2? While we may not go deep into the various aspects, one thing would stand strongly, staring at our face: Not even one amongst the List – 1 would be considered by any youngster in this country as role model, in comparison to any one in List – 2. That then is the state of affairs in present day India, where a minority of mafias, goons and scoundrels have taken position and possession in the name of democracy. The cacophony is more evident when we note that the Parliament consists of  about 550 Members who represent 1200 million … roughly 2.2 million to one ratio of “representation” One wonders what meaning Democracy would have under such ridiculous “MINORITY” rule of the people!!!

Please also see:

http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/an-appeal-to-all-our-countrymenwomen-we-indians/

http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/india-and-other-tropical-nations-need-to-utilize-local-resources-to-become-developed/

http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/what-ails-india-and-other-tropical-nations/

http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/gandhi-jis-dream-of-independent-india/

http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/why-are-we-in-the-tropics-underdeveloped-and-poor/

http://pvhramani.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/poverty-is-the-result-of-plundering-and-muzzling-of-the-peace-loving-majority/

Development Has to be Resources Based

It is a clear fact that no country would be able to develop (socially and economically) unless Own Local Resources (including Human Resources) were utilized and developed. Although this TRUTH is known universally, the last six hundred years (during which period the Western onslaughts were unleashed against the Asian/ African/ Latin American nations) have resulted in the complete destruction and uprooting of all “local systems” in almost all the non-western nations. Another unfortunate belief (forced by the onslaught of the Western influences over the years) is that every non-western nation MUST Export to the the Western nations to develop each country’s economy! This triggers a “foolish” competition amongst these non-western nations to vie with one another (through subsidies and other supports) toward exporting various commodities to the Western nations. This is being done by disregarding their own resources and needs. By doing so, the ultimate beneficiary is not the exporting nation … but the nation in Western group which imports the same! The said western nation gets the required commodity at the “best” prize.

Let us look at Sugar, as a Resource and understand why NO ONE SHOULD EXPORT SUGAR

India’s case: India is currently producing about 25 million T of Sugar, and exporting (or planning to export) about 500, 000 T of sugar. As a Renewable Resource for energy and petrochemicals, each Kg of sugar is the equivalent of 0.85 Kg of methane (about 11 KWH equivalent energy + 0.15 Kg neutral CO2). Thus, the volume of Sugar exports planned  could be the equivalent of 3, 620, 000 barrels of Oil

World Scenario in Sugar: The overall World production of Sugar is estimated at about 168 million T; exports being about 50 million T. If instead of exports, the entire “surplus” sugar were to be converted to Energy/ Petrochemicals the sugar based “Oil Equivalent” would be 362 million barrels of Oil per annum. In effect this would help every Tropical nation that now exports sugar to become “non-dependent” on Oil Imports to that extent

Let us look at another Tropical Resource: The COCONUT TREE

India’s Coastal line is about 6600 KM; and at least 6000 KM of these are dotted with Coconut Trees. Even if we do not consider the trees/ resources inland, the estimated Coastal area (about 35 KM inward from sea) Coconut Tree based Renewable Resources in India would be a whopping 12.6 Million T. This is estimated on the basis of the following: Total estimated area = 21, 000 sq km; Total number of trees (@ 60 Trees per ha average) = 1, 260, 000, 000; annual tree fall based on 60 year life per tree = 21, 000, 000 trees (approximate weight @ 600 Kg per tree = 12, 600, 000 T) … [NOTE: these estimates do not include the annually available resources such as Coconuts, fibers and other materials released from the trees, during the entire life. These could be a whopping (estimated) 735, 000, 000 T]. What is the real significance of Coconut Tree as a Renewable Resource at this period, when the world is reeling under so-called Energy Crunch? The answer is that in a country like India the Potential for Energy (both heat and electricity combined) through Coconut Tree Resources alone could be an estimated whopping 638, 100 MW (360 x 24) … the electricity alone would be 200, 000 MW. India now struggles to produce less than 120, 000 MW power (with a 30% deficit)!!!

There are about 80 + tropical countries having huge volumes of Coconut Trees. It is high time that each such tropical nation comes out of the slumber and start utilizing their GREATEST RENEWABLE RESOURCE … THE COCONUT TREE!

Democracy in India has to be Redefined

The old adage that “Democracy is For the people, By the People and Of the people” seems to have no meaning for India, where we now see a cacophony of minority groups ruling the vast population of over 1200 million (120 Cr). There are about 540 elected (and nominated) members (who are supposed to Represent) for the total population… which works out to an average of 2.2222 million per member. Can any one with even the slightest of brain-power ever look at this foolishness of one individual’s representing more than Two million people as Democracy? To this writer this is not only Foolish but it also amounts to absolute hoodwinking of the common people who simply accept these as “destiny” or whatever … some sort of blind faith!

Now look at another fact. India has about 638,000 villages, wherein about 850 million people live. Interestingly, not even one of these villages has proper power, roads, drainage, water supplies, schools, medical facilities, and any infrastructure that compares with even the smallest of the Towns … forget about the Cities. A Few Photo presentation on Villages in India follows:

A Poor Village Family House Inside

Village Surroundings

More "Well-to-Do" Houses in a South Indian Village

Typical Central India Village

Bullock Cart On a Village Road

Patiently Waiting for Gvt Water Supplies

This writer has visited hundreds of villages all over India and interacted with both the poorest as well as the richest in many villages. The “richest” are normally very old and highly successful farmers who had “God’s grace” to be in such a state. However the majority of the other “rich” were seen to be either Politically connected people or other town dwellers who have set shop in villages for the purposes of cornering Lands at “cheap” rates. More than 80% are poor and amongst these at least 90% are very poor.

For example, in one village in the south-western part of Bangalore (near Chennapatna), there were about 200 families whose profession is Pottery making. An average family consists of 5 to 6 people. Almost all the younger generation has migrated to the Cities (mainly Bangalore and Mysore). The older generation continue to make Pottery and eke out their existence … earning less than Rs.5000 per month average (for a family of not less than five people). Food, Fuel, Medicines and clothing are very costly; and although the Government proclaim that “essential commodities” are made available at subsidized prices, the common people do not get these at those rates. Almost all the 80% poorer community in these villages are forced to buy materials like Cereals, Kerosene, Cooking Gas etc at rates higher than the Government  prescribed rates.And no politician, officer or other “celebrities” have anything to help in these

Be that as it may, let us ask: Why is it that people in villages (particularly the poorer ones in the community, who form over 80% population) are not actually provided any proper facilities and needs by the Government? Forget about the “statistics” of Civil Supplies corporations and other Public Distribution system departments. All of them are cooked up statements and lots of LIES!!! What is the use of so-called Democracy, Parliament. Elections and all these modern (Western directed) governance systems? Is it not a humbug and absolute hood-winking of our common people, in the name of democracy … that is actually happening on the ground? What is the use of personalities like Anna Hazare creating all these noise and other cacophony when the real Problem is not being addressed to? … THAT OF TOTALLY CHANGING THE DEMOCRATIC IDEA in India … whereby there is necessity for at least one representative from every village, for governance… or at least having a system whereby Panchayat Raj is fully functional

… in the ultimate analyses, is it not time for us to ask: HOW COULD EACH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT LOOK INTO THE PROBLEMS OF OVER TWO MILLION PEOPLE? Can such a Democracy have any meaning at all? What is the use of all these so-called 8.33% development, IT Units offering Over Rs.15 L to Rs.20 L salaries to some educated COOLIES (who actually work as SLAVES of the US or other Western nations)? Of what use is there for an ordinary villager (who is the REAL MAJORITY) if POSCO or TATA creates some big Industry in the village that is destroyed and the villagers’ farmlands taken away under Government Force? What is the use of Some big Swamiji’s, God-men and God-women giving lectures and other “hypnosis” to youngsters in villages?

… Many more such unanswered Questions are to be fathomed carefully and India’s BIGGEST problems are FINDING ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS OF THE POOREST , who form nearly 80% of the total 1200 million people

We shall try to fathom all these questions and try to analyze and arrive at plausible answers in the next few write-up. Does any one have something to tell on these Please?