================================================== CSE's Fortnightly News Bulletin (February 3, 2012) ==================================================
February, for us, has begun with some really astute investigative work by our renewable energy team, which has stumbled upon a web of coprorate fraud, deceit and official stonewalling surrounding the much vaunted National Solar Mission. The findings point to one company walking away with 40 per cent of the projects in blatant contravention of the one project-one proponent norm. In fact, a press conference by CSE exposing the scam has reportedly resulted in the government considering an inquiry. Read the full story in Down To Earth (this fortnight's cover, details below). Also in this fortnight's package is a host of new activities and training opportunities -- media fellowships, seminars and workshops, training programmes on EIA, rainwater harvesting etc... and two new reports from the urban water and green building teams. We look forward to your feedback and inputs. ============================================ To subscribe to this newsletter, or any of our other newsletters, please click on http://cseindia.my2.in/cseindia/?p=subscribe To unsubscribe from this newsletter, just click http://www.cseindia.org/content/please-enter-your-email-id-unsubscribe-cse-newsletter If you have any questions or concerns about newsletter subscription, please contact Vikas Khanna at [email protected] ==================================================== EDITORIAL: The inconvenient truth by Sunita Narain ====================================================== Many years ago, in a desperately poor village in Rajasthan, people decided to plant trees on the land adjoining their pond so that its catchment would be protected. But this land belonged to the revenue department and people were fined for trespass. The issue hit national headlines. The stink made the local administration uncomfortable. They then came up with a brilliant game plan—they allotted the land to a group of equally poor people. In this way the poor ended up fighting the poor. The local government got away with the deliberate murder of a water body. I recall this episode as I watch recent developments on climate change. At the recent Durban climate change conference small island nations—from the Maldives to Granada —believed, rightly so, that the world has not delivered on its promise to cut emissions and is jeopardising their future. But they do not have the power to fight the powerful. So, this coalition of climate victims turned against its partner developing countries, targeting India, for instance, for inaction. These nations pushed for India to take legal commitments to reduce emissions, dismissing its concerns of equity as inconsequential. The divide is complete. According to Bangladeshi climate change researcher and old friend Saleemul Huq, the issue of equity—the setting of emission targets based on the contribution of each country to the stock of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere—is an old fashioned idea. He says it will not work in the new world where the dichotomy of the rich and poor countries has vanished; instead, there are equal and big polluters like China, India, South Africa and Brazil (BASIC). These, he says, are equally responsible and must take steps to cut emissions. He wants the notion of historical emissions junked. For him, countries like the Maldives and Bangladesh are victims. India is a polluter, a rich country whose government is hiding behind the poor to avoid cutting emissions. But the fact is Maldives’ per capita emission is higher than India’s. So, should the Maldives take mandatory emission reductions? Is it a victim or a polluter? India also has a longer coastline than vulnerable Bangladesh. Is it a polluter? Or an equal victim? Sivan Kartha, a climate change researcher with the Stockholm Environment Institute, tears into this argument that is dividing the poor world and taking the focus away from countries that need to be told to take action fast. He compares India and Africa, countering the charge that Africa is being destroyed because of rich India’s reluctance to take emission reductions. “Actually, 1.1 per cent of Africans have made it to the top global wealth decile against 0.9 per cent Indians. As against this, 21 per cent Americans are in the top global wealth decile. Then, India’s total emissions are only two-thirds of what Africa emits.” As against this, US emissions are four times India’s. In this way, while the poor fight over crumbs, the cake is eaten by the rich. My colleagues at the Centre for Science and Environment analysed income distribution and emissions data to see if rich Indians emitted more than their counterparts in rich countries. They found that the per capita emission of the richest 10 per cent of India’s population was the same or slightly less than the per capita emission of America’s poorest 10 per cent and it was less than one-tenth the per capita emission of America’s richest 10 per cent. In other words, the rich in India emitted less than even the poorest Americans. This is not to deny that Mukesh Ambani’s enormous house and electricity consumption—reportedly Rs 75 lakh a month—is distasteful. But energy and emission apartheid in the world remains unacceptable. Simple plot. Sinister design. The poor have been divided to fight over who is more vulnerable. But one must realise that this divide is a deliberate creation. In 2009 at the Copenhagen Conference of Parties, two categories of countries were devised. One, vulnerable countries that would get fast track funds to adapt to climate change and two, emerging polluters grouped under the BASIC banner. The bribe and divide was blatant and successful. It was openly said in the conference plenary that polluting countries like India, who wanted an agreement based on equity, were blocking funds that would flow to Bangladesh and the Maldives. That penultimate night of the conference the poor fought the poor. Since then the divide has grown. It’s time we stopped this kindergarten fight. Let us be clear the world has to cut emissions drastically and fast. There must be limits on each country based on its per capita emission and taking into account its historical contribution. China is the biggest current emitter. But in cumulative terms—taking into account the stock in the atmosphere accumulated over the years—it contributes 11 per cent against US share of 26 per cent. It must also be brought under limits, as must India. But these limits will have to be based on the principle of equity so that these countries will also have the right to development. This is the most inconvenient of truths. But it is the truth. Post your comments on this editorial online at http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/inconvenient-truth ======================= MORE FROM DOWN TO EARTH ======================= - Cover Story: The truth about solar mission A peek into the National Solar Mission's 'grand success' http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/truth-about-solar-mission - Special Report: Food authority backtracks Says milk adulterated but not unsafe for consumption http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/food-authority-backtracks - Special Report: Pollution glorified World Bank arm finances polluting steel mill in Jharkhand http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/pollution-glorified - Special Report: Shudder islands Harsh environment, government apathy are literally driving Sundarbans inhabitants mad http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/shudder-islands - Special Report: Losing light Bachat Lamp Yojana flounders. Investors say faulty mechanism makes it a bad deal http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/losing-light - Science and Technology: Biodiversity buffer It can protect dryland from withering due to climate change http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/biodiversity-buffer - Science and Technology: Breather for crops How growstones keep substrates more fertile in greenhouses http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/breather-crops - Science and Technology: Paints that power home Quantum dots convert sunlight into electricity http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/paints-power-home - News: Untangling India’s Bt cotton fraud ICAR’s top research institutes and GEAC exposed in Bt cotton research scam http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/untangling-india-s-bt-cotton-fraud - News: Indian law caught in web Can Information Technology Act deal with the dynamics of the Net? http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/indian-law-caught-web - News: Cleared at cost of biodiversity Environment ministry clears hydro project rejected twice by its advisory committee http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/cleared-cost-biodiversity - South Asia: Concrete invasion Colombo’s marshes cannot avert floods the way they used to. Construction is to be blamed http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/concrete-invasion - Column: Patently absurd by Latha Jishnu Blacked out & hacked The fight to protect Internet freedom turns into war of attrition as protests against US measures to curb piracy grow strident http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/blacked-out-hacked Down To Earth is now on Facebook and Twitter. Do follow us, share, comment, and discuss and stay in constant touch with our reporters on www.facebook.com/down2earthindia and twitter@downtoearthindia. =========================== Web DTE =========================== - Reporter's Diary: Goa's dark side Hidden from public eye, miners and politicians are ravaging Goa's forests and drinking water reservoirs, finds Sugandh Juneja http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/goas-dark-side - Reporter's Diary: Lanco's allies Jonas Hamberg stumbles on fictitious companies dealing in public funds http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/lancos-allies - Blogs: Let states decide Chief ministers oppose Centrally sponsored schemes, say they rip money off them http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/let-states-decide =========================== On India Environment Portal =========================== - Renewable energy portal CSE has launched its new renewable energy (RE) portal aimed at promoting socially just, environmentally sustainable and independent views on RE policies and practices. Do utilise the E-forum for posting questions and exchanging your views at http://cseindia.org/forum/20323 You are invited to be our partner and contribute to the RE portal. If you come across interesting renewable energy projects, case studies or stories, the RE portal can be a platform to spread the message (through articles, photos, videos, blogs etc.). Do chip in. A selection of photos on environment and development by Anil Agarwal & Sunita Narain http://www.flickr.com/photos/csepictures/sets/72157628728282841/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/csepictures/sets/72157628849514621/ - India Environment Portal is now on Facebook and Twitter. Do follow us, share, comment, and discuss and stay in constant touch with us on http://www.facebook.com/pages/indiaenvironmentportal/228015872817 and http://www.twitter.com/indiaenvportal For more details or any assistance, contact Kiran Pandey at [email protected], [email protected]. ============================================= LEARNING WITH CSE Courses offered by Anil Agarwal Green College ============================================= EIA Training Programme on Mining Projects A five-day certificate programme for regulators, NGOs, industries, forest officials, students, academicians and environmental consultants Date: February 13-17, 2012 Last date for applying: February 6, 2012 Course content: - Environmental clearance process and mining legislations - Review of effectiveness of an EIA report - Mining technologies and best practices - Data interpretation - Mine closure plans and best practices in reclamation - Resettlement and rehabilitation plans - Post-EIA monitoring Further details: http://cseindia.org/node/3591 Course contact: Swati Singh Sambyal Ph: 91-11-2995 5124 / 6110 (Ext. 281); Fax: 91-11-2995 5879 Mobile: 9910496283 Email: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------- Managing Information in the Digital Age: Training Programme on Library, Information Management and Web-based Outreach Date: March 20-23, 2012 Last Date for applying: March 12, 2012 Course content: - Planning and managing resource centres in the digital age - Sourcing information (print/electronic, internet for research) - Organising Information: Classification & Indexing (including digitized resources) - A primer on managing audio-visual resources (films, photos, Cds, etc.) - Digitisation and e-documentation of news clippings, articles, reports and documents - Building contact databases - Knowledge creation and dissemination (Information Services/Products) - E-mail for outreach (mass mail using open source s/w) - Online presence : reaching out through the web - Potential of social media and web 2.0 for information dissemination and communication Further details: http://www.cseindia.org/node/1653 Register online: http://www.cseindia.org/node/997 NOTE: Few fellowships for participants from South Asia available. Course contact: Kiran Pandey Prgramme Director-Information Management Phone: +91 (011) 29955124/125 (Ext. 287) Mob: 9968767698 Fax: +91 (011) 29955879 Email: [email protected], [email protected] ---------------------------------------------- CSE's short term training on Social Impact Assessment To build capacity and create awareness among regulators, developers, NGOs and academicians to understand SIA process Date: March 26-28, 2012 Couse content: - Exposure to aspects of SIA, from theory to applications regarding: - Integrated approach for addressing SIA and EIA process - Knowledge on review of SIA reports and identification of strengths and weaknesses - Post SIA monitoring - Procedure for institutional strengthening and capacity building - Experience sharing on national and international best practices in SIA For registration kindly email Sujit at [email protected] Course contact: Sujit Kumar Singh Centre for Science and Environment 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi-110062 Ph: 91-11-2995 5124 / 6110 (Ext. 281); Fax: 91-11-2995 5879 Mobile: 9899676027, 9910496283, 981056423 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Training programme on urban rainwater harvesting CSE's urban water unit has announced a three-day training programme on urban rainwater harvesting. Engineers, architects, consultants and researchers can apply for this course. Date: March 27-29, 2012. For more details, please see the following link: http://www.cseindia.org/content/training-programme-urban-rainwater-harvesting-march-27-29-2012 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Agenda for Survival A Certificate course on the policies, practices & politics of environmental management in India Date: June 1 – 30, 2012 Last date for applying by: April 21, 2012 Course content: - State of India’s environment: An overview - Poverty and the biomass economy - Ecological rights & natural resource management - Conflicts over land use: Agriculture, industry, urbanization - Urban growth challenges: Water & waste management, air pollution & mobility - Sustainable industrialisation & public health concerns - Climate change & global environmental governance - Week long field visit to Himalayas and several with Delhi - Group assignments: Produce a magazine or web documentary, in addition to case study presentations & hands-on workshops Eligibility: The course is open to 25 young professionals and college students from any stream. Further details: http://cseindia.org/node/1701 Course contact: Sharmila Sinha Ph: +91-11-2995 5124 / 6110 (Ext. 270); Mobile: 9818482018 Email: [email protected] / [email protected] ================================ UPDATES FROM OUR PROGRAMME UNITS ================================ For regular updates, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cseindia Anil Agarwal Dialogue on Green Clearances Date: February 24-25, 2012 Venue: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi Aims to bring to the fore the various issues and concerns related to environmental and forest clearances in India. For more on this, get in touch with Sugandh Juneja at [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Asian Media Briefing Workshop on Food Safety and Environmental Toxins Date: March 29-30, 2012 Venue: New Delhi A two-day media briefing to share a range of issues -- pesticides, junk food, toxins, drugs of daily use, industrial contaminants, industrial liability, regulations and regulatory capacity. Register Online: http://cseindia.org/node/2937 For details, visit http://www.cseindia.org/node/3680 or contact Souparno at [email protected] / 9910864339 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13th Media Fellowships: Backs to the wall: tigers, tiger habitats and conservation in India For Indian journalists Date: March - May, 2012 Application deadline extended till: February 20, 2012 For details, visit http://cseindia.org/node/3567 or get in touch with Papia at [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fellowship Media Briefing Workshop on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation Date: April 25-26, 2012 Venue: To be announced For details, please contact Papia ([email protected]), or check out http://cseindia.org/content/cse-fellowship-media-briefing-workshop-tigers-tiger-habitats-and-their-conservation-india ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Churning Still Water CSE has come up with a paper called "Churning still water"- on conservation and management of urban waterbodies in India. The paper discusses the state of urban waterbodies, conservation and management in India and has tried to bring out the threats to the urban waterbodies in India. The paper has also reviewed the existing policies, acts and laws to tackle the loss of these bodies of water. To see the report, click on http://www.cseindia.org/content/churning-still-water-briefing-paper-urban-waterbodies For any queries get in touch with Sushmita Dasgupta at [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Green Building Report Titled ‘Buildings: Earthscrapers: Environment Impact Assessment of Buildings’, this is a critique on the current regulatory instruments available to assess environmental impacts To download the report, please visit http://www.cseindia.org/node/3585 For any queries get in touch with Sakshi C. Dasgupta at [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jaipur Citizen's Survey: Transport and air quality challenges CSE's Clean Air Campaign team is organising a citizens’ survey in Jaipur to understand the challenges of air pollution and transportation that the city faces, and identify the way forward. Would you like to volunteer your participation in the survey? Just fill out a form at http://cseindia.org/node/1190 and send it to us. For details, please get in touch with Vivek at [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------------- RainWater Harvesting Technical Support Every Friday between 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, CSE provides detailed technical guidance to interested individuals, RWAs and institutions to implement rainwater harvesting. The technical assistance will be provided at CSE’s office at 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area. For details, see http://www.cseindia.org/content/catch-rainwater-solve-your-water-problems ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Technical advice: Decentralised wastewater treatment systems Every second and fourth Friday, meet our experts at CSE, 41, Tughlaqabad Institutional Area for guidance on planning and designing these systems. For details, contact Deblina at [email protected] or call her on 9899596661. ================== About this e-mail ================== You are receiving this newsletter because you have asked to be included in our list, attended a CSE event or requested information. CSE is an independent, public interest organization that was established in 1982 by Anil Agarwal, a pioneer of India's environmental movement. CSE's mandate is to research, communicate and promote sustainable development with equity, participation and democracy. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
