Fortnightly News Bulletin (August 3, 2012) ==========================================
This is India: The world's biggest power outage happens here, and the power minister goes public claiming his tenure was "excellent", even as he is moved to take charge of one of the most critical ministries, home! Quite opportunely, Down To Earth takes a close look at what ails the Indian solar manufacturing sector, hile Web DTE goes to the heart of the matter in 'The power trip' by looking at the whys and wherefores of the outage. Also on this fortnight is a relook at the endosulfan saga in Kerala -- Sunita Narain's editorial brings back the memories of suffering and the struggle. Do check out our 'Endoban tracker' as well on www.cseindia.org. Read on for more from Down To Earth, and the latest from our programme and training teams... ======================================================================== 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: When battered people took on the pesticide industry by Sunita Narain ============================================================== Today, I want to tell you a true story of extraordinary courage. The past week, I was in Kasaragod, a district in Kerala, splendid in beauty and with abundant natural resources, but destroyed by the toxic chemical, endosulfan. The pesticide was aerially sprayed over cashew plantations, for some 20 years, in complete disregard of the fact that there is no demarcation between plantations and human habitation in this area. It is also a high rainfall region and so, the sprayed pesticide leached into the ground and flowed downstream. The poison contaminated water, food and ultimately harmed human beings. This story is known. But the personal battles that make up the story of this poisoned land and its diseased people are not known. More importantly, it is not asked where this story ends? Leelakumari Amma is the original heroine of this plot. In early 1990s, she came to Kasaragod, ironically, as an agriculture scientist, whose job was to push farmers to use pesticides. Her brother died mysteriously while she was building her house. But she did not connect the dots and moved in, only to realise that the pesticide spray was poisoning her land and water. Fish she put in her well died. She could not open the windows of her house for days when the helicopter sprayed poison. It eemed a thick cloud was hanging over her house. She could not breathe and worried about her children. Then she noticed that many people living close to her seemed diseased— children were born with deformities and severe neurological problems afflicted people. Leelakumari Amma petitioned for help. But received threats from the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK)—the public sector company, which owned the cashew lands. In 1998, she filed a case in the local court. The threats became more venomous. But she did not give up. In 2000, the court ordered an interim ban on spraying. Some months later, the vehicle she was travelling in was hit by a truck. Leelakumari Amma lost a leg. She told me that this was an accident. Maybe, but then maybe not. About this time, Mohana Kumar, a doctor practicing in a neighbouring village, wrote to the medical fraternity about the incidences of abnormality and deformities,but got nowhere. Shree Padre, a freelance journalist of the area, also decided to write explaining the plight of people. His email reached Anil Agarwal, director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), who decided in mid-2000, to send a team to investigate and collect water, soil and blood samples. The results showed high levels of endosulfan—proving what was only suspected till then. The question, still, was what this meant for human health? The pesticide industry hit back. It first hired a laboratory to ‘clean up’ the results. When this failed, it decided to hurt the storytellers. Mohana Kumar was served legal notices—so many he cannot even count. But hope was not dead. In 2001, the National Human Rights Commission intervened and asked the Indian Council of Medical Research for a detailed report. Scientists from the Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) analysed blood samples for pesticides and concluded there was significantly higher incidence of abnormalities and diseases in populations exposed to endosulfan as compared to the control population. Endosulfan's effect on humans was established. This study was even more inconvenient to industry. The investigators were attacked and vilified. A case was filed against the key scientist, Aruna Dewan, the day she retired from government service. The Centre set up committee after committee, headed by ‘eminent’ scientists to debunk the CSE and NIOH reports. This was fought back, at considerable personal cost. Thanal, a Kerala-based NGO, plays a critical role in research and campaign against pesticide industry smear and smut. This battle has not been easy. Over the past 10 years, industry has made it a habit to attack all research and threaten all scientists. As a result, it has taken over 15 years for the truth to be known. Currently, the Kerala government’s ban on endosulfan prevails. Last year, the Supreme Court banned manufacture and use of the pesticide in the country. The state has accepted the need to provide compensation to ‘endosulfan victims’. A part of the compensation money will be paid by the PCK. Liability has been established. Much more remains to be done—from rehabilitating the living to providing specialised health care to the very ill. Also cleansing traces of endosulfan in Kasaragod's soil, and taking the district towards organic farming. The stigma of pesticide contamination has to be wiped clean. This will happen. I am sure. In the Buds school—seven special schools for endosulfan victims opened by the district administration—I saw signs of hope. Some 27 children from Padre and Perle village are enrolled there. I saw their teacher hold their hands, teach them how to smile, as they counted and drew flowers. Their laughter filled the room. The physiotherapist told me he was working hard to make sure these special needs children could walk. A few steps today, maybe more tomorrow. Post your comments on this editorial online at http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/when-battered-people-took-pesticide-industry ======================= MORE FROM DOWN TO EARTH ======================= - Cover Story: Sunshine sector loses sheen An analalysis on what ails India's solar manufacturing industry and how it can be revived http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/sunshine-sector-loses-sheen - Special Report: Sapped for sal seed Despite abundant produce, seed collecting Baigas earn little http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/sapped-sal-seed - Special Report: A tab on wishlist As firms explore applications for Indian consumers, the country is set to drive the budget tablet market http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/tab-wishlist - Special Report: Displaced for nothing First Asiatic lion, then cheetah: officials struggle to decide which animal to introduce, and when, in Kuno-Palpur sanctuary. 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Down to Earth magazine is now available on your iPad too. For more information and ordering please visit us at: http://www.magzter.com/IN/Society-for-Environmental-Comm/Down-To-Earth/Technology/ Down To Earth is also on Google+. Please "+1" at https://plus.google.com/106293307783638713083 Down To Earth is 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 =========================== - Web Special: The power trip A close look at why the grids failed and what needs to be done to stabilise them http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/power-trip - Photo Gallery: Nuclear power at the cost of livelihood http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/389 =========================== On India Environment Portal =========================== - FREE ALERT SERVICES ON THE India Environment Portal (IEP) IEP team regularly identifies and sources new studies and reports on environment and development. To remain updated, do subscribe to this free service http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/reports-documents/rss Also subscribe to the exclusive Daily Environment News Service here http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/daily-news-bulletin/rss Contact: Kiran Pandey (kiran@cseindia,org, [email protected]) -------------------------------------------------------------- New on the Renewable Energy Portal - Photo essay on the 'Solar Trick' A number of solar mission projects are operational only on paper. The government has decided to act tough with 14 companies which did not commission their solar power projects in time (http://re.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/solar-trick) --------------------------------------------------------------------- CSE Photo Library presents a selection of photos on environment and development by Anil Agarwal and 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] not what you do not know. Don't expose your ignorance before others. ============================================= LEARNING WITH CSE Courses offered by Anil Agarwal Green College ============================================= CSE’s short-term EIA training programme Understanding EIA: From screening to decision making Date: August 20-24, 2012 Last date for application: August 16, 2012 Course Module: - Exposure to all aspects of EIA, from its theory to the practical –such as better understanding regarding - Better understanding of the EIA process – from screening, scoping,data collection to impact assessment as well as the role of public consultation - Better understanding of the environmental and social impacts of the industrial and developmental projects - Better ability to review EIA reports and identify its strengths and weaknesses - Increased ability to play active role in post-EIA monitoring. For details contact: Swati Singh Sambyal, Industry & Environment Unit 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: 9910496283 Website: www.cseindia.org ------------------------------------------------------------- Managing Information in the Digital Age: Training Programme on Library, Information Management and Web-based Outreach Date: September 11-14, 2012 Last date for application: August 25, 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 Course details: http://www.cseindia.org/node/1653 Register online: http://www.cseindia.org/node/997 NOTE: Few fellowships for participants from South Asia available. For details 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] ------------------------------------------------------------- Training Programme on Advanced Rainwater Harvesting For civil engineers, architects, urban planners, environment consultants, NGOs, students and academicians Date: September 11-13, 2012 Last date for application: August 31, 2012 Course Module: - Managing India's water future: Past, Present and Future - Water auditing and water efficient fixtures - Technologies of rainwater harvesting and water conservation - Harvesting city's water endowment through water sensitive designs (including waterbodies) - Policy framework for rainwater harvesting, water conservation and waterbodies For details contact: Sanyukta Dasgupta Email: [email protected]/[email protected] Mobile: +91 - 8826849773 ================================ UPDATES FROM OUR PROGRAMME UNITS ================================ For regular updates, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cseindia ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - Excreta Matters goes to Kolkata Early next month, CSE is releasing its Seventh State of India's Environment report -- Excreta Matters -- in Kolkata. Saugata Roy, minister of state for urban development in Government of India, would be releasing the report, which analyses the state of water and sewage management across urban India. Over the last few months, CSE has been taking this report to a number of cities across the country -- Gurgaon, Agra, Bengaluru, Meerut, Hyderabad etc -- and the response has been phenomenal. Check out the tour on http://cseindia.org/content/excreta-matters-0 For more on the Kolkata release and the others that are being planned, contact Nitya Jacob at [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - CSE's South Asian media briefing on climate change The annual media meet, open to journalists from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, is scheduled this year on November 15-16, 2012. To apply, just write to Papia Samajdar at [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - CSE's air quality and media teams in Kathmandu Kathmandu Dialogue -- Air Quality and Transportation Challenges in South Asia: An Agenda for Action July 26, 2012 at Hotel Himalaya, Kathmandu The air quality and sustainable mobility team brainstormed with the top city administrators of Kathmandu on how to manage the city's mobility and what Kathmandu and Delhi could learn from each other. The following day, July 27, CSE's media team organised a briefing for journalists from Nepal on the same subject. Details at http://www.cseindia.org/content/kathmandu-dialogue-air-quality-and-transportation-challenge-south-asia-agenda-action For more on what the air quality team is doing, write to Priyanka Chandola at [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - The Environment Health Bulletin http://www.cseindia.org/content/environment-health-bulletin-may-2012 For your regular dose of the latest information on pesticides, food, toxins and health, subscribe at http://cseindia.my2.in/cseindia/?p=subscribe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ICRN website launched The Indian Climate Research Network (ICRN) a collaboration of CSE, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru has launched its website, www.icrn.in. The website is currently accepting registrations. Researchers can now register online with us. There is a host of information on the website, including research papers, research funding announcements, forthcoming meetings and conferences and jobs. You will also be able to download ICRN’s newsletter, which has two separate policy briefs on clean development mechanism and mangroves. Join us to establish India’s only network dedicated to the Indian climate change research community. ----------------------------------------------------------------- - 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. This technical assistance is provided at CSE’s office at 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi. 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. ==================================== The CSE Store ==================================== Into the Furnace: The life cycle analysis of Indian iron and steel industry The latest publication from CSE -- a report of the green rating of one of India's key industrial sectors. For details and to order, just go to http://csestore.cse.org.in/books/environment/into-the-furnace-1.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Food as toxin “All substances are poisons; the right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy.” Modern food regulation is about determining what is that right dose in our daily diet. How is food safety defined? What are the global systems that regulate food safety? What does ‘Acceptable Daily Intake’ (ADI) mean? Why do we have to accept pesticides in our food? If you are also troubled with questions like these and some more, you are not alone. It concerns the health and well being of every family, and that's why we did a careful in-depth research and came out with this revealing new book, which will give you all the answers. For more details please contact us at [email protected]. ================== 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 -------------- _______________________________________________
