Editor,
Apropos the on and off ban on internet, it seems that the Government does not know the difference between ‘Internet’, ‘websites’ and ‘applications’. For example, Facebook and WhatsApp are websites and applications respectively. It is not the whole Internet. The whole Internet consists of websites like MIT Open Courseware, Edx., Udacity, The Shillong Times website, and billion others. I want to tell the Government that there exist, people who learn, read and earn from various other websites on the Internet; they do not scroll through Facebook/WhatsApp the whole day. A lot of universities/colleges enroll students on the basis of an application filed online. What it means is that one needs to visit the website of a particular institution (again, not Facebook/WhatsApp) and follow the on-screen instruction to file an application. While many people know of this, I am not sure if Meghalaya Government does. The Internet also includes serious activities like Train/Flight booking, which do not happen on Facebook/WhatsApp/Twitter, they happen on IRCTC website for trains and respective carrier website for flights. Hence blocking the Internet is not really an option. The Government can think of taking some lessons on Digital India from other states, perhaps that will help the student community of the state to a great extent.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Climate Change
Editor,
Since the industrial revolution humans have engaged in undertakings which threaten planet earth. Industrialization has been glorified as wonderful and progressive, but the fact that it is largely responsible for climate change has been disregarded.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change carrying out its research on Global Warming has reported a considerable rise in global temperatures, due to the rise of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The greenhouse gases which include water vapours, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, CFC’s, and HFC’s, traps heat that the earth receives through a process called the greenhouse effect. Though, a significant amount of naturally occurring greenhouse gas is essential for a ‘livable temperature’ of the planet, its unbridled and rampant rise beyond its naturally occurring levels traps excess of infrared radiation originating from the sun which then is kept confined in the atmosphere. Incorporation of these gases, aerosols like ‘soot’ from forest fires or from coal-fired power plants are present in the atmosphere, which are dark coloured and they also tend to absorb solar radiation. These trigger an unwelcome imbalance in the diverse natural processes, making the planet more vulnerable and inhospitable for future generations.
The burning of fossil fuels, household exercises, deforestation, energy production, industrialization, and also processes like calcination of limestone to form clinkers in cement production have been the major sources of greenhouse gas emission. Meghalaya a limestone abundant state attracts cement industries, like flowers that attract bees.
These cement industries are flourishing in the state and depleting the natural environment. Though industrialization brings employment opportunities and economic growth, its potential to push the natural environment to the verge of collapse is not being addressed. Earth’s mounting temperature is ceaselessly fueling frequent droughts, extreme weather conditions, the rise in the sea level, changes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, undernutrition due to crop failures, negative health impacts, civil unrest and much more. Hence, diverse environmental, biological as well as social processes get affected adversely by none other than ‘ the human activities’.
The irreversible damage that we have done to the planet represents an existential dread as the Earth is increasingly becoming less hospitable at the basic level. Curbing this dangerous change of earth’s climate system requires very deep cuts in emissions as well as the promotion and financing of climate engineering, alternatives to carbon energy technologies, reforestation, and adaptation to climate change.
Yours etc.,
Saurav Thapa
Via email
Of plastic waste
Editor,
Recyclable plastic which was taxed 5.5 per cent before, has now been bracketed in the 18 per cent GST. As a result, plastic recyclers have drastically slashed the price of waste plastic ~ as for example the price of empty milk packets has suffered a 50 per cent reduction.
This has sharply reduced the income of poor rag-pickers. It can have an adverse effect on the rate of recycling and thus on the environment.
We must not forget that it is mainly because of more than four million of our brothers and sisters who are engaged in rag picking that India has achieved the highest PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) recycling rates (90 per cent) in the world! Recycling is undoubtedly the best way to manage waste plastic menace. Hence recyclable plastic needs to be put in the five per cent GST category to protect poor rag-pickers and our environment as well. Moreover, adult rag-pickers should be made stakeholders in garbage recycling. It will help achieve 100 per cent PET recycling and end the marginalization of the ragpickers who are, as it were, the silent soldiers against pollution.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Via emai