sharpeye

Himalayan Glacial Lakes By Dr Arvind Kumar There are “8,000 glacial lakes in the Hindu Kush Himalayas alone, 203 of which they have declared to be extremely dangerous.” According to European Parliament’s Resolution of 27 September 2011, f ast cuts in black carbon are needed to reduce threats from hundreds of dangerous glacial dams in the Himalayan Hindu Kush and the devastating flash floods caused when these dams burst. The Resolution recommends fast-action to cut black carbon, as well as ground-level ozone and its precursor methane, to slow glacial melt and reduce the threat of glacial lake outburst floods. Nirj Deva, Chair of the Committee on Development during debate that called for an “international agency of the United Nations to be created, through the EU’s support, so that India, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan and other countries can come together under the auspices of the UN” to reduce such risks. The European Resolution relies on recent evidence from the United Na...

Women & Peace Three women have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2011 and these women symbolize nonviolent struggles to improve their nations and advance the role of women's rights. Sharing the award are Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa's first democratically elected female head of state; her countrywoman Leymah Gbowee, a peace activist who challenged warlords; and Tawakul Karman, a Yemeni human rights leader seeking to overthrow an autocratic regime as part of the regionwide "Arab Spring" movement. This demonstrates that women are increasing taking part in peace activities in almost all parts of the globe. The citation of the award read by Thorbjorn Jagland, head of the Nobel committee, based in Oslo, said: "We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society." The Norwegian panel said it hoped the award would help e...

World Postal Day According to Edouard Dayan DG of the Universal Postal Union “On this World Post Day, we should remember the fundamental values of the Post and the numerous public services it offers to people everywhere, which contribute to the economic development of countries.” The UPU was established in the Berne on 9th October, 1874. The main objective of union was to maintain and create the structure for open flows of the worldwide mail around world. In many of the global countries and organizations, the ministers or the high ranking officials issue the proclamations or make their speech on achievements or the history of the international or national postal services. The postal services may issue the unique postal stamps to commemorate the history, achievements or the ideals of national postal service on the World Post Day. All these are respected by the philatelists and stamp collectors. Further to it, unusual education on these topics can be prepared for school children a...

Remebering Gandhi Ji & Shastriji By Dr Arvind Kumar A grateful nation celebrates today the birth anniversary of Gandh Ji, Father of the Nation. It has become a ritual with the powers that be either at the Centre or States to pay courtesy call at Rajghat and offer garlands as a token of tributes to the departed noble soul. Gandhi Ji did not lay down his life for earning these rituals. He never clamoured for any coveted office and rather led a life of an ordinary Indian peasant or a hermit. He experimented with nonviolence, truth, Satyagraha and found these ideals as worth putting into practice. He strove hard to eliminate the curse of untouchability from the India society. Today is the solemn occasion for all of us to emulate the ideals cherished by Gandhi Ji and putting even a single ideal into our practice will be real tribute to the Father of the Nation. Our dalit brethern have to be brought into the national mainstream and this task cannot be left to the Government alon...

HYDROPOLITICS IN CHINA [ Present dispensation in China is engaged in creating a harmonious society in China and the burgeoning problem of water shortage is likely to upset its ambitious aspirations as counties affected may give rise to unmanageable problems. The rivers emanating from Tibet, while passing through Tibet stream downward the neighboring countries. Brahmaputra and Sutlej which originate from Tibet flow down into India. However, China’s contemplated move to build dams along Sino-Indian border can adversely impact India, Ed.] The present regime under the leadership of President Hu Jintao in Beijing is pursuing the policy of hexie shehui or the harmonious society, which envisages social and political stability based on sustainable development and people’s welfare. However, the Chinese society is afflicted with severe water scarcity and pollution, which seems a clear fault line in its path to the society. The problem of water scarcity has threatened the Chinese people’s sustena...