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Mukesh Mishra's Friends
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A Solution For Stray Dogs
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I am against neutering of animals. Who are we to decide about another animal's reproduction. But there are so many stray dogs on the streets. They thrive because of unchecked mating (ofcourse!) and on the waste on the streets. There have been many cases of children being attacked and killed by packs of dogs. Dogs can't hunt alone, but are highly effective when hunting in packs.
I was thinking that maybe we should capture all stray dogs and leave them in the jungle. Not all at once, but periodically. Because loss of forest cover and habitat loss and expansion of farmlands has seen a rise in cases of leopards starying into human territory (which was the animals' to being with). Most times, the leopards have fallen into open wells or killed by fearful villagers , beaten to death with sticks. Leopards are in search of fod , so are man-eaters (tigers). So before we kill all our beautiful cats, maybe we should provide them food in their own space, limited as it is, by letting loose a few stray dogs which can be hunted, because both of these cats hunt dogs.
I understand there could be some problems with ecological balance, but dogs aren't good hunters anyway. Unless ofcourse they evolve vertime and adapt to their new surrounding. But, I think saving our national animal, the Tiger is more important than anything.
And meanwhile we can check forest cover loss.
By making punishment to offenders who grab forest and more stringent. According to what I read, laws to deal wth such offences aren't very strong. Rs. 25,000 as a fine is just such a joke.
We should deal such offenders on par with murderers.
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stranger to the world
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'King of Pop' Michael Jackson dies
June 25, 2009
LOS ANGELES -- Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the "King of Pop" and the biggest celebrity in the world , died Thursday. He was 50.
i'm feeling really sad because i LOVED his music. i listened to his music since i was a kid. i think the media was ruthless in condemning him and though he was acquitted of all charges, american society really put this singer with his childlike innocence through such a terrible time all his life. maybe his success could not be tolerated by people who wanted to squeeze out all his earnings. he was a phenomenon. he was a fantastic dancer. no singer and entertainer in the world has had such a phenomenal reach as MJ. i mean, you could ask little kids or grown ups in small towns and villages here and they have heard of him. they don't know where he comes from, but they know him. he was that famous. i don't think we had or ever will have another artist like him.
finally he will rest in peace.
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Keeping Out Rainwater
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Since the past few months Jayamma worried about the coming monsoon because the rain water would enter her house and flood everything, and because of the rain, pigs would enter through the door and take shelter in her house, and a lot of waste would flow in along with the rain water.
Now it was hard for me to imagine how this could happen.
But last week she seemed very happy because some road layers gave her a few spare bricks and a bit of cement. She said that she used those bricks to make a threshold in front of the door. So that effectively blocked out any rain water from entering (though I'm sure how she would deal with the pigs - maybe by bolting the door?). Now she's happier because her one room house floor remains dry even during the heaviest of downpours.
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Documentary on Wild Boars
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This is a photo of a young pig.
Two days ago I saw a documentary on wild boars on Animal Planet. It was very interesting because I found the behaviour of wild boars very very similar to the Indian pigs- how boars tend to move around in isolated groups, how one female takes charge of young of other females too, how sow are agressive when protecting the young.
I guess I've been observing them for too long. Last month near my home I saw a pregnant sow build a nest to give birth. It used its mouth to pull out or cut parthenium weeds and other herbs and piled them up in a safe corner. And once the piglets were born, another younger female sort of started to live with this 'family'. It wasn't a nurse, but I'm not sure why it made its appearance. Maybe as additional protection.
Once when a herd of buffaloes accidentally ventured near where these very young teeny weeny piglets were huddled (because they tend to move together when they are so very young), the sow got into a vicious stance challenging the herd who backed away very quickly.
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One Tree
About this category: Environment
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'I saw death cut down a thousand men
In that tall lovely legacy of wood' - poet Clifford Dyment on seeing an old tree being cut down.
An Australian pine tree grows in our home. Everyday I see so many birds perching on its tip or flitting from one branch to another. I made a note of the all the kinds of birds that have visited this tree in the past. They are -red ringed parakeets, bush chats, tailor birds, wren warblers, sometimes flower peckers, grey tits, crow pheasants, crows, a golden oriole, and a bird like an osprey. Just one tree can support so many birds, so many insects, so many microscopic life forms... Amazing!
Cut down just one tree, and its like you're cutting off the oxygen supply bit by bit for these life forms.
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They manage our waste - Taking Away Pigs
About this category: Education
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A few days ago, the civic authorities carried away a truck load of pigs to leave them on the outskirts of the city because of people's complaints against pigs roaming the streets. The unfounded fear of swine flu and the very minor attacks on small children were among the other causes.
I don't understand the wisdom behind transporting all the pigs to the outskirts of the city.
For one, there never was a case of confirmed swine flu.
Second, pigs aren't a nuisance, and every animal has a right to self-defence. Little children throw stones at pigs, and most of the time, pigs run away but sometimes they defend themselves. You can't expect such an intelligent animal to not react when you attack it.
Our cities don't have any form of waste management. All the garbage ends up in landfills and the anaerobic conditions created in a landfill make it very hard for bacteria to decompose any waste. Bacterial degradation is eitherway a very slow process. Most often garbage is overflowing from bins and strewn on the roads in big cities where it rots and the stench is unbearable.
I don't think people appreciate the role pigs play in waste management. They consume almost everything, from big bones that dogs can hardly chew, to rotting fruit, to human excreta. They're really responsible for keeping much of this city clean. I think they help prevent many epidemics. In this country where people and children still relieve themselves on the roads, the only solution are pigs because they clean up our worst waste. They even clean up excreta from railway tracks.
And yet, these gentle creatures are much maligned. Their usefulness is overlooked on account of their 'ugliness'.
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The Baobab Tree
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The Baobab tree is a native of the African continent. It grows in a small town called Savanur, not far from here. I read about the baobab tree in Africa and how its fruit is soon going to be exported to Europe and the US as a health food. This is the article :
What Will Happen When the Baobab Goes Global? By DAWN STARIN Published: May 25, 2009 IT’s known as the baobab in English, sito in Mandinka, gwi in Wolof and Adansonia digitata in botanical circles. Sometimes it’s called the upside-down tree, because its weirdly shaped branches resemble roots. It was made famous in the West by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s fable “The Little Prince.”  Guido Scarabottolo In Africa, the baobab tree is steeped in mystique and surrounded by superstition. Many people believe that its spirit protects the community around it, and its tangible properties certainly nourish those who live near it. Parts of the tree are used to make rope and fishing line; to feed goats, sheep and cows; and to provide shelter, food and medicine. While living in Gambia I saw parts of the baobab used to treat everything from malarial fever, infertility and asthma to headaches and toothaches. I have no idea if and how these local remedies worked, but all of a sudden the rest of the world — Western health food companies included — is catching on. There’s a growing belief that the baobab may be the world’s newest super food. The tree’s white, powdery fruit is rich in antioxidants, potassium and phosphorus, and has six times as much vitamin C as oranges and twice as much calcium as milk. The leaves are an excellent source of iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum and phosphorus, and the seeds are packed with protein. The baobab was approved for European markets last year, and the Food and Drug Administration is expected to follow suit soon. The fruit’s dry pulp will be sold as an ingredient in smoothies and cereal bars. Already, a small jar of African baobab jam made in England sells for around $11. According to the Natural Resources Institute in Britain, an international baobab industry could bring in about $1 billion a year and provide jobs for 2.5 million African families. On paper this sounds great, but there’s another side to the picture. The baobab has never been a plantation tree; it grows wild in arid regions. (It can also be found in Australia, but it thrives in few other places outside Africa.) Presently people harvest only what they need and maybe a bit more to sell at local markets. If it becomes an international commodity, the baobab probably would need to be planted as a crop, even though arable soil is limited. The open land where local people now freely harvest wild baobab could be developed by agribusinesses into plantations, or else precious forests or farmland used to grow everyday staple crops could be turned over to the baobab export industry. Although local people would probably find jobs on such farms, their ability to harvest or purchase the baobab themselves would be limited. They wouldn’t be able to pay as much as London dealers could. This means that some Africans could lose a source of household wealth, an important part of their diet and an essential pharmaceutical resource. These possibilities — not to mention the threat of corruption, poor wages and genetic modification leading to a loss of the tree’s biodiversity — are not random predictions. Africa is no stranger to the overexploitation of its natural resources. But the solution isn’t necessarily to cut the baobab off from international markets. Regulations could be put in place to protect the tree, its environment and the people who depend on it — and still allow for profitable production. The coffee trade provides a model. It’s clear that many consumers are willing to pay more for fairly traded coffee — which costs enough to provide the growers a decent wage for their labor. This bottom-up pricing should be applied to the baobab market, even if it means European health nuts have to pay a lot for their smoothies. The baobab’s new popularity is exciting, but the European Union, the United States and African exporters should decide on regulations before the baobab is rushed to European and North American markets. In Saint-Exupéry’s story, the planet the Little Prince lives on is too small to support the baobab. This is hardly our situation, but the Little Prince still has some useful advice for us: Taking care of your planet, he says, “is very tedious work, but very easy.” Dawn Starin is an anthropologist. via blogger 
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my vote, indelible ink
About this category: Peace & Conflict
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on may 30, i travelled for four hours to vote. for some time, while i was inside the polling booth, the EVM in front of me, i mulled over the choices i had before me. i knew i didn't want choose the two major political parties - the congress and the bjp. after a few minutes i pressed the button and i felt happy that i had the right to vote, the right to choose, to know that we don't live under military rule or under a dictatorship, even though a majority of our politicians aren't clean. i think voting should be made compulsory.
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Amusing Incidents during the Indian Elections
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This could happen only in India. A professor who was caught having an affair with his student , more than half his age, is now contesting from his area and calls his party, 'prem party' (ie. love party), and the symbol for his party is a heart. His election promise - building a park for lovers in the city. Then there is a magician employed by a party in Kerala who tries to hypnotise people into voting for that party, provided ofcourse that they agree to be hypnotised in the first place. And as usual, though its illegal, parties supply liquor to villagers in the hope of winning their votes. But politicians never seem to learn that villagers consume the alcohol supplied by all parties and in the end vote for who they like, or don't vote at all. This won't stop them from trying though.
Ever since the Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at GW Bush, seems like everyone wants to try their luck hurling shooes and sandals at politicians. There's an effigy in a village in UP propped up for the villagers to hone this skill. I wonder which Indian politician will be the next target after Chidu,Advani,Jindal...
Well, whatever the outcome of the elections, I can't help but marvel at how things are organized. So many regions, so many languages, so many people, so many officers, so many parties, so many candidates...
Some interesting facts I found about the elections -
no country in the world has polling stations located at altitudes of ~13,000feet.
Polling booths are accessible in Lakshadweep only by boat.
Its mind-boggling, this organization in this chaos. That elections take place in India more or less smoothly is incredible, and if this is not amazing, then I don't know what is.
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Earth Hour doesn't help in any way .
About this category: Environment
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I don't see what difference swtiching off lights for an hour would do to save the planet. Earth Hour isn't a very good idea. It may make people aware that we are doing "something wrong" when it comes to the environment, but it really doesn't help. It may make some people guilty that they aren't doing their bit. But,what difference will switching off lights for an hour each year make ? Won't people still be burning candles ?.. Think about it. Candles still release pollution. So what's the point.
We should go back to what we were taught in school - to turn off electricity using appliances and lights when not in use. Why have a light burning in the next room when no one's there. The more important thing is to make people realize that light pollution is a serious issue. Birds confuse bright city/building/skyscraper lights for the sun's light and many die in flight because they crash into buildings. So maybe we could have rules to dim the lights on all commercial buildings after a certain period of time after sunset. Light pollution also makes it difficult to spot stars in the night sky as well as creating sleeping problems in human beings. The concept of Earth Hour is well-meaning, but its impractical.
A little common sense instead of this overzealous enthusiasm would be better.
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Tribal Woman (halakki Vokkaliga) in Kumta
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 I spotted this tribal woman selling brinjals. They're called Halakki Vokkaligas. The first time I came across these tribal women was when I was nine years old. They were at the Sunday market in Karwar, selling odd dried stuff ( I don't remember what) I remember though one woman measuring a spice called triphal, commonly used in fish curry in a cylindrical measuring glass. Its very common to see these tribal women in this region (north canara). via blogger
They're called Halakki Vokkaligas. http://karwar-daily-pic.blogspot.com/2008/07/lifes-burden.html
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| February 15, 2009 | 9:02 AM |
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Tribal Woman in Kumta
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I spotted this tribal woman selling brinjals. The first time I came across these tribal women was when I was nine years old. They were at the Sunday market in Karwar, selling odd dried stuff ( I don't remember what) I remember though one woman measuring a spice called triphal, commonly used in fish curry in a cylindrical measuring glass. Its very common to see these tribal women in this region (north canara). They're called Halakki Vokkaligas. http://karwar-daily-pic.blogspot.com/2008/07/lifes-burden.html via blogger 
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| February 15, 2009 | 9:02 AM |
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Chinese buying fish on Arabian Sea coast.
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Yesterday, at the fish market in Karwar, a lot of people were unhappy with the state of affairs concerning the non-availability of shellfish. There was a sense of shock and despair because shellfish were either too expensive or, more likely, not available at all. On enquiring further, I got to know that all of the shellfish is being bought by Chinese for four to five times the price that local
customers would pay from fishermen, making it unaffordable. Some people here grudgingly say that the Chinese have such an appetite for fish and each person eats so much that it seems unlikely the Karwari would ever be able to eat fish at all in the coming years.
Well, I spotted a couple of Chinese on one of the roads leading to the beach.
Many years ago,deep sea trawlers that supplied fish to other countries had made life miserable for the fishermen here, who hardly had a catch and couldn't even afford mackerel, which was the cheapest fish in the market.
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| February 12, 2009 | 12:31 PM |
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bonds
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"Being Indian means... living with the birds, the animals and the fish as though they were your sisters and brothers. It means saying the land is an old friend and an old friend your father knew, your people have always known... To the Indian people our land is really our life." - Richard Nerysoo, Inuit, Canada. The picture in this post is a postcard I received from Survival International. And the young persons in the photo are the Jarawa, a tribe living in the Andaman Islands (India). Its hard to believe isn't it. At least I find it amazing that they're still there, surviving. Look at what the picture says : No Debt, No Bombs, No prisons, No Poverty, No homeless, No Junk Food, No Pollution, No Sweatshops.. And people call them primitive. When the construction of Great Andaman Trunk Road began, the route through the forest exposed these peoples to the 'outside' world, and more importantly, the 'outsiders' saw them for the first time. Many tourism related businesses focus on "spotting" these people in the "natural" habitat. Odd how we have scant regard for another human being. In 2002, the Supreme Court passed a landmark judgement to close down the Great Andaman trunk Road. Last I read in 2006, the road hadn't yet been completely closed. This isn't any different from what we see about how land is being grabbed in Mangalore for the SEZs. http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/01/21/stories/2009012158360300.htm None of us is against progress of the nation, or progress in science and technology. But what worries me is that the efforts each state government takes to woo investors and set up SEZs, the same efforts are not applied to make agriculture feasible. After all agriculture is the backbone of our country or of any civilization. It was a very bold stand taken by Nitin Hegde and his eighty year old mother (mentioned in the article), not relenting (but for how long?) in the face of powerful players. The earth connects us to her by some invisible bond. Its not only about losing your land, but your way of life, and breaking that bond we've nurtured over time. In the face of opposition, the officials had contacted absentee landlords, who had severed all ties with agriculture or with the land, who didn't benefit from the land, except now that by coming back and selling the land, they would become richer. Somehow it feels like betrayal. Because, the earth is alive; and this is what you give back. via blogger 
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| January 30, 2009 | 1:01 AM |
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Obama 2009
About this category: Peace & Conflict
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"Yes He Can, Now He Must "
I am sure no other world leader has ever been welcomed into office in such a grand manner, and with so much of enthusiasm and expectation from the people. Its such a historic moment for the United States and also for the world to witness this. But Barack Obama has inherited a huge mess and it will be a very difficult task to set right all the wrong done by his predecessor George W Bush. People can be very ruthless and quick to judge if he fails to deliver. The rest of the world already has so many expectation from him. Looks like the right man to be president at the completely wrong time.
I really liked the inauguration ceremony. It was so elegant and nothing in my country could compare to this ceremony. Most of our politicians appear so shallow, callous and ill-informed. Anyway, Obama will need all the luck in the world for this job.
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| January 20, 2009 | 9:43 PM |
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