The NDTV Toyota Greenathon is lighting up lives. Villages that would be plunged into darkness at nightfall are now riding on solar power which has replaced expensive and toxic kerosene lamps.
Guwada Gujran in Rajasthan is one of the first three villages to get solar power after the Greenathon through TERI's Light a Billion Lives initiative. And here's a look at the other villages that will soon be solar powered. Thanks to the Greenathon.
Fifty villages will soon benefit from solar technology. While most of them are in north India, villages in the south are also being identified.
NDTV's campaign raised 2 crore rupees in February and now work is on to spread the light. Lighting up each village takes about two months. Village communities, local NGOs and companies that make the solar lamps are all working together.
"The way the whole program works, there are three important stakeholders, bottom up - the community - someone needs to come forward and become the charging station operator. Second is the NGO partner because TERI is not present everywhere. And the third important stakeholder is the industry partner."
It's a slow process; but it is one that will surely light up lives for years to come.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Going green helped a woman rob!
Going green helped a woman rob an Austin bank. The Travis County Sheriff`s Office says a woman held up a bank on Tuesday and apparently used a recyclable grocery bag to haul away the greenbacks.
Sheriff`s spokesman Roger Wade told The Associated Press, after viewing surveillance photos of the unidentified woman with the green bag, that he`s guessing "that`s where she put the money."
Wade said the bag was the only one the woman has going in and coming out of the Regions Bank branch.
No weapon was displayed. Nobody was injured. The amount of money stolen was not released by law officers.
Sheriff`s spokesman Roger Wade told The Associated Press, after viewing surveillance photos of the unidentified woman with the green bag, that he`s guessing "that`s where she put the money."
Wade said the bag was the only one the woman has going in and coming out of the Regions Bank branch.
No weapon was displayed. Nobody was injured. The amount of money stolen was not released by law officers.
Judge orders increased help for Southern California endangered species
A judge has ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries violated the Endangered Species Act in their biological opinions for managing four Southern California forests covering 3.2 million acres.
In her ruling on a lawsuit brought by a coalition of environmental groups, Judge Marilyn Patel of the U.S. District Court of Northern California said the opinions failed to include protective measures such as monitoring systems required to determine the effects of land-use decisions on endangered plants and animals in the Los Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino forests.
Environmentalists praised Patel’s determination as an important victory for 40 threatened and endangered species, including the California condor and steelhead trout.
“Under the Bush administration, these federal agencies regarded regional forest plans as unimportant documents that simply gather dust on a shelf,” said Marc Fink, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, which brought the lawsuit along with Los Padres ForestWatch, the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and the California Plant Society.
“Their argument was that they would analyze the plans later, as needed, when projects were being implemented,” he said. “In fact, these forests are surrounded by millions of people who use them daily, and the impacts of that use on dozens of endangered species are occurring now.”
In an interview, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman Chris Tollefson said, “I wouldn’t necessarily agree with that characterization of our treatment of these regional plans. In general, the service has tried hard to work within the boundaries of the Endangered Species Act.”
Patel gave both sides in the case 21 days to devise a remedy.
In her ruling on a lawsuit brought by a coalition of environmental groups, Judge Marilyn Patel of the U.S. District Court of Northern California said the opinions failed to include protective measures such as monitoring systems required to determine the effects of land-use decisions on endangered plants and animals in the Los Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino forests.
Environmentalists praised Patel’s determination as an important victory for 40 threatened and endangered species, including the California condor and steelhead trout.
“Under the Bush administration, these federal agencies regarded regional forest plans as unimportant documents that simply gather dust on a shelf,” said Marc Fink, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, which brought the lawsuit along with Los Padres ForestWatch, the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and the California Plant Society.
“Their argument was that they would analyze the plans later, as needed, when projects were being implemented,” he said. “In fact, these forests are surrounded by millions of people who use them daily, and the impacts of that use on dozens of endangered species are occurring now.”
In an interview, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman Chris Tollefson said, “I wouldn’t necessarily agree with that characterization of our treatment of these regional plans. In general, the service has tried hard to work within the boundaries of the Endangered Species Act.”
Patel gave both sides in the case 21 days to devise a remedy.
People of Niger Delta see new beginning in settlement for executions
In Nigeria's oil-rich Niger River Delta, where Royal Dutch Shell has a tense relationship with communities, activists Tuesday welcomed the company's agreement to pay $15.5 million to settle a lawsuit that accused it of complicity in the 1995 executions of environmental and human rights advocates.
But the activists saw it as a starting point, not the end of the struggle of the Ogoni people and other communities in the region for compensation over Shell's activities.
"One hopes that this is a signal of the beginning of a new phase that will address the larger issues of the Ogoni people, in a way that other people who are not benefiting from this can also get their benefit," said Ledum Mitee, spokesman for the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, or MOSOP, speaking by telephone.
"Both the government and Shell have to build on this and address the large issues not only for the Ogoni people but for the Niger Delta," he said.
Ken Saro-Wiwa, poet, satirist and a founder of MOSOP, and eight other Nigerian activists in the delta region were hanged by the country's military dictatorship. Saro-Wiwa had a central role in MOSOP's 1990 bill of rights for the Ogoni people, which called for independence and the right to protect Ogoniland from environmental harm.
In a New York court Monday, Shell settled the case brought on behalf of six of the activists' families, but conceded no blame for their deaths.
"We believe this settlement will assist the process of reconciliation and peace in Ogoniland, which is our primary concern," Malcolm Brinded, Shell's executive director for exploration and production, said in a statement released Monday. The settlement "acknowledges that, even though Shell had no part in the violence that took place, the plaintiffs and others have suffered."
But Mitee said that was not how people in the Niger Delta saw the payment.
"They're entitled to such views but as for people here, people take this as atonement for what has been done," Mitee said. "The point is that any settlement for the benefit of any of the families that have been victims of the repression of the 1990s is welcome."
Shell began operating in the Niger Delta in 1958 and is accused by local activists of destroying the environment and traditional livelihoods, such as fishing and farming. Critics also accuse the company of working with Nigerian authorities in the 1990s to suppress opposition to its activities, which Shell denies.
More than 30 million people and dozens of ethnic groups live in the three states of Nigeria's delta area.
Since the 1990s, the Ogoni and others in the region have struggled for compensation for environmental damage and for a substantial share of the revenue generated by oil, including billions of dollars that activists say have been plundered or squandered by Nigerian officials over the years.
The situation has deteriorated sharply in recent years, with theft of oil and kidnapping of oil workers by militants claiming to represent the communities.
Thousands of people in Delta state have been displaced since mid-May by clashes between militants and the military. Since militants ambushed and killed soldiers with a joint military task force, charged with stabilizing the region, the force has attacked militants' camps.
Mitee said activists in the region are still seeking environmental compensation. "That's one of the main issues because that has an effect not only for the present but for future generations," he said.
Mitee said a victory for the Ogoni people helped draw attention to issues affecting everyone in the region. "Any positive outcome that can be generated in one area will reverberate right across the Niger Delta," he said.
About two-thirds of the settlement money will go to the families and for legal fees. The remaining $5 million will be put into a trust fund for local communities.
"The principle of saying we are going to establish a trust fund that reaches across the region sends a good message and is a good idea, even if the amount involved is not huge," said Chris Newsom, spokesman for the London-based Stakeholder Democracy Network, a human rights group.
But the activists saw it as a starting point, not the end of the struggle of the Ogoni people and other communities in the region for compensation over Shell's activities.
"One hopes that this is a signal of the beginning of a new phase that will address the larger issues of the Ogoni people, in a way that other people who are not benefiting from this can also get their benefit," said Ledum Mitee, spokesman for the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, or MOSOP, speaking by telephone.
"Both the government and Shell have to build on this and address the large issues not only for the Ogoni people but for the Niger Delta," he said.
Ken Saro-Wiwa, poet, satirist and a founder of MOSOP, and eight other Nigerian activists in the delta region were hanged by the country's military dictatorship. Saro-Wiwa had a central role in MOSOP's 1990 bill of rights for the Ogoni people, which called for independence and the right to protect Ogoniland from environmental harm.
In a New York court Monday, Shell settled the case brought on behalf of six of the activists' families, but conceded no blame for their deaths.
"We believe this settlement will assist the process of reconciliation and peace in Ogoniland, which is our primary concern," Malcolm Brinded, Shell's executive director for exploration and production, said in a statement released Monday. The settlement "acknowledges that, even though Shell had no part in the violence that took place, the plaintiffs and others have suffered."
But Mitee said that was not how people in the Niger Delta saw the payment.
"They're entitled to such views but as for people here, people take this as atonement for what has been done," Mitee said. "The point is that any settlement for the benefit of any of the families that have been victims of the repression of the 1990s is welcome."
Shell began operating in the Niger Delta in 1958 and is accused by local activists of destroying the environment and traditional livelihoods, such as fishing and farming. Critics also accuse the company of working with Nigerian authorities in the 1990s to suppress opposition to its activities, which Shell denies.
More than 30 million people and dozens of ethnic groups live in the three states of Nigeria's delta area.
Since the 1990s, the Ogoni and others in the region have struggled for compensation for environmental damage and for a substantial share of the revenue generated by oil, including billions of dollars that activists say have been plundered or squandered by Nigerian officials over the years.
The situation has deteriorated sharply in recent years, with theft of oil and kidnapping of oil workers by militants claiming to represent the communities.
Thousands of people in Delta state have been displaced since mid-May by clashes between militants and the military. Since militants ambushed and killed soldiers with a joint military task force, charged with stabilizing the region, the force has attacked militants' camps.
Mitee said activists in the region are still seeking environmental compensation. "That's one of the main issues because that has an effect not only for the present but for future generations," he said.
Mitee said a victory for the Ogoni people helped draw attention to issues affecting everyone in the region. "Any positive outcome that can be generated in one area will reverberate right across the Niger Delta," he said.
About two-thirds of the settlement money will go to the families and for legal fees. The remaining $5 million will be put into a trust fund for local communities.
"The principle of saying we are going to establish a trust fund that reaches across the region sends a good message and is a good idea, even if the amount involved is not huge," said Chris Newsom, spokesman for the London-based Stakeholder Democracy Network, a human rights group.
Childhood: Obesity Linked to Sleep Disorder
Childhood obesity may have yet another dangerous consequence: disordered breathing during sleep.
Researchers had 700 children spend a night in a sleep lab where they were evaluated using a polysomnograph, an instrument that measures sleep quality and breathing function. They also underwent a physical examination by an ear, nose and throat specialist. The children were randomly selected from the community, and none were being treated for sleep problems.
About a quarter of the children had mild or moderate sleep-disordered breathing. Tonsil size was not associated with disordered breathing, and nasal abnormalities were a factor only in mild cases. But waist circumference and body mass index were strong independent risk factors for snoring and other breathing problems during sleep.
This, the authors write in the June issue of the journal Sleep, suggests that the well-known effects of excess weight may be an important factor in sleep-disordered breathing in children, just as they are in adults.
“This is another red flag related to obesity, another reason to be concerned,” said Edward O. Bixler, a professor of psychiatry at Penn State who led the research. “The metabolic issues in adults associated with obesity are now beginning to be found in younger children.”
Researchers had 700 children spend a night in a sleep lab where they were evaluated using a polysomnograph, an instrument that measures sleep quality and breathing function. They also underwent a physical examination by an ear, nose and throat specialist. The children were randomly selected from the community, and none were being treated for sleep problems.
About a quarter of the children had mild or moderate sleep-disordered breathing. Tonsil size was not associated with disordered breathing, and nasal abnormalities were a factor only in mild cases. But waist circumference and body mass index were strong independent risk factors for snoring and other breathing problems during sleep.
This, the authors write in the June issue of the journal Sleep, suggests that the well-known effects of excess weight may be an important factor in sleep-disordered breathing in children, just as they are in adults.
“This is another red flag related to obesity, another reason to be concerned,” said Edward O. Bixler, a professor of psychiatry at Penn State who led the research. “The metabolic issues in adults associated with obesity are now beginning to be found in younger children.”
Bad Habits Asserting Themselves
Anyone who hasn’t heard the healthy lifestyle message has to be living under a rock. But whether it’s the vegetable-hating inner child or the primal urge to conserve physical energy asserting itself, millions of middle-age Americans are having none of it.
Over the last 20 years, the share of Americans 40 to 74 who eat five fruits and vegetables a day has dropped to 26 percent from 42 percent, according to the latest analysis of an authoritative national survey on health and nutrition.
Moderate drinking — roughly one drink a day for women, two for men — increased to 51 percent from 40 percent, even as the number of abstainers went down, to 40 percent from 51 percent. (Advice is mixed on whether this is a healthy trend.)
And the number of smokers in the 40-to-74 group declined only slightly, to 26 percent from 27 percent.
The obesity rate increased to 36 percent from 28 percent. And 43 percent of Americans said they worked out at least 30 minutes three times a week, down from just over half.
“The results are disappointing and disturbing,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Dana E. King, a professor of family medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
Dr. King added that because fruits and vegetables are markers of a healthy diet, correlated with consumption of fat and fiber, “not eating them is reflective of a decline in diet over all over 18 years.”
The study, in the June issue of The American Journal of Medicine, compared results from two National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, in 2001-6 and 1988-94. The surveys, done regularly by the National Center for Health Statistics, include a physical examination; each included more than 7,000 respondents 40 to 74 years old.
Dr. King focused on middle-age adults because they are at greatest risk for heart disease, but was surprised that even those with diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol were no more likely to adhere to healthy habits.
“I worry that some people are taking medication instead of following a healthy lifestyle,” he said. “You take a pill and say, ‘I’ll eat whatever I want, and my doctor says my cholesterol is fine.’ Your pill may be lowering your cholesterol, but it’s not doing the other 100 things that proper eating and exercise do for you.”
In some areas, men’s habits have deteriorated more than women’s. In the earlier period, 57 percent of men and 49 percent of women reported exercising three times a week; now both sexes are at 43 percent. The rate of obesity climbed similarly in both men and women.
Although the study did not address the underlying causes of these changes, some experts say men are less receptive than women to advice on nutrition and exercise. Longer commutes and more time spent on the computer have made for more sedentary lives, said Ross Brownson, professor of epidemiology at Washington University in St. Louis.
And Dr. Lori Mosca, director of preventive cardiology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, said stress and depression might be taking a toll. “Most people know what they need to do, but they need to be confident they can actually make the changes and believe the changes will impact their health,” she said. “I think what we’re seeing is that people are giving up.”
Dr. King warned that the rise in unhealthy habits could lead to a costly surge in heart disease and other chronic ailments of the elderly. But he added, “The other half of this message is that changes in lifestyle can do so much good.”
Other studies have shown that people who adopted healthy behavior reduced their risk of heart disease and death by 35 percent in just four years. “So to those people who say it’s too late and won’t do any good — the exact opposite is true,” Dr. King said. “There’s a tremendous benefit in people of this age
Over the last 20 years, the share of Americans 40 to 74 who eat five fruits and vegetables a day has dropped to 26 percent from 42 percent, according to the latest analysis of an authoritative national survey on health and nutrition.
Moderate drinking — roughly one drink a day for women, two for men — increased to 51 percent from 40 percent, even as the number of abstainers went down, to 40 percent from 51 percent. (Advice is mixed on whether this is a healthy trend.)
And the number of smokers in the 40-to-74 group declined only slightly, to 26 percent from 27 percent.
The obesity rate increased to 36 percent from 28 percent. And 43 percent of Americans said they worked out at least 30 minutes three times a week, down from just over half.
“The results are disappointing and disturbing,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Dana E. King, a professor of family medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
Dr. King added that because fruits and vegetables are markers of a healthy diet, correlated with consumption of fat and fiber, “not eating them is reflective of a decline in diet over all over 18 years.”
The study, in the June issue of The American Journal of Medicine, compared results from two National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, in 2001-6 and 1988-94. The surveys, done regularly by the National Center for Health Statistics, include a physical examination; each included more than 7,000 respondents 40 to 74 years old.
Dr. King focused on middle-age adults because they are at greatest risk for heart disease, but was surprised that even those with diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol were no more likely to adhere to healthy habits.
“I worry that some people are taking medication instead of following a healthy lifestyle,” he said. “You take a pill and say, ‘I’ll eat whatever I want, and my doctor says my cholesterol is fine.’ Your pill may be lowering your cholesterol, but it’s not doing the other 100 things that proper eating and exercise do for you.”
In some areas, men’s habits have deteriorated more than women’s. In the earlier period, 57 percent of men and 49 percent of women reported exercising three times a week; now both sexes are at 43 percent. The rate of obesity climbed similarly in both men and women.
Although the study did not address the underlying causes of these changes, some experts say men are less receptive than women to advice on nutrition and exercise. Longer commutes and more time spent on the computer have made for more sedentary lives, said Ross Brownson, professor of epidemiology at Washington University in St. Louis.
And Dr. Lori Mosca, director of preventive cardiology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, said stress and depression might be taking a toll. “Most people know what they need to do, but they need to be confident they can actually make the changes and believe the changes will impact their health,” she said. “I think what we’re seeing is that people are giving up.”
Dr. King warned that the rise in unhealthy habits could lead to a costly surge in heart disease and other chronic ailments of the elderly. But he added, “The other half of this message is that changes in lifestyle can do so much good.”
Other studies have shown that people who adopted healthy behavior reduced their risk of heart disease and death by 35 percent in just four years. “So to those people who say it’s too late and won’t do any good — the exact opposite is true,” Dr. King said. “There’s a tremendous benefit in people of this age
Green collar job creation 'outstripped traditional sectors in US'
America's emerging clean energy economy produced new jobs at more than twice the rate of more traditional industries in the years leading up to the economic downturn, a new study released today claimed.
The report by the Pew Charitable Trusts provides the first hard evidence of jobs created by the rising demand for environmentally friendly services, and in the new clean energy sectors like wind and solar.
It said such jobs grew at a rate of 9.1% from 1998-2007, easily outstripping job growth in traditional areas of the economy, which was 3.7%.
The study stopped before the economic downturn, which has caused steep job losses in the traditional economy. Some 347,000 Americans were put out of work in May alone.
However, its authors also noted that the rapid growth came at a time when there was little or no federal government support for clean energy – unlike today when Barack Obama has committed to greening the economy.
They also said that wind farms, solar projects, and battery factories had fared better than traditional manufacturing as the job market has contracted.
"This is a sector poised for explosive growth," said Lori Grange, the interim deputy director of Pew. "Our report points to trends that show a very promising future for the green energy economy."
The report helps bolster Obama's claims that his $787 billion economic recovery plan could create millions of new jobs. The package contains about $85 billion in green investment, and the administration has repeatedly touted its efforts at creating new clean energy jobs.
The Pew report said the new jobs were created across 38 states, and not restricted to specific regions.
By 2007, more than 68,200 businesses accounted for about 770,000 green jobs. That is not hugely below the numbers of jobs in fossil-fuel industries, including oil and gas extraction and coal mining, which employed 1.27 million people in 2007, the report said.
California created the most green jobs: 125,390, while Wyoming had the fewest, just 1,419. Pay scales among the new jobs ranged from $21,000 to $111,000 a year, Pew said.
The report by the Pew Charitable Trusts provides the first hard evidence of jobs created by the rising demand for environmentally friendly services, and in the new clean energy sectors like wind and solar.
It said such jobs grew at a rate of 9.1% from 1998-2007, easily outstripping job growth in traditional areas of the economy, which was 3.7%.
The study stopped before the economic downturn, which has caused steep job losses in the traditional economy. Some 347,000 Americans were put out of work in May alone.
However, its authors also noted that the rapid growth came at a time when there was little or no federal government support for clean energy – unlike today when Barack Obama has committed to greening the economy.
They also said that wind farms, solar projects, and battery factories had fared better than traditional manufacturing as the job market has contracted.
"This is a sector poised for explosive growth," said Lori Grange, the interim deputy director of Pew. "Our report points to trends that show a very promising future for the green energy economy."
The report helps bolster Obama's claims that his $787 billion economic recovery plan could create millions of new jobs. The package contains about $85 billion in green investment, and the administration has repeatedly touted its efforts at creating new clean energy jobs.
The Pew report said the new jobs were created across 38 states, and not restricted to specific regions.
By 2007, more than 68,200 businesses accounted for about 770,000 green jobs. That is not hugely below the numbers of jobs in fossil-fuel industries, including oil and gas extraction and coal mining, which employed 1.27 million people in 2007, the report said.
California created the most green jobs: 125,390, while Wyoming had the fewest, just 1,419. Pay scales among the new jobs ranged from $21,000 to $111,000 a year, Pew said.
China launches green power revolution to catch up on west
China is planning a vast increase in its use of wind and solar power over the next decade and believes it can match Europe by 2020, producing a fifth of its energy needs from renewable sources, a senior Chinese official said yesterday.
Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice-chairman of China's national development and reform commission, told the Guardian that Beijing would easily surpass current 2020 targets for the use of wind and solar power and was now contemplating targets that were more than three times higher.
In the current development plan, the goal for wind energy is 30 gigawatts. Zhang said the new goal could be 100GW by 2020.
"Similarly, by 2020 the total installed capacity for solar power will be at least three times that of the original target [3GW]," Zhang said in an interview in London. China generates only 120 megawatts of its electricity from solar power, so the goal represents a 75-fold expansion in just over a decade.
"We are now formulating a plan for development of renewable energy. We can be sure we will exceed the 15% target. We will at least reach 18%. Personally I think we could reach the target of having renewables provide 20% of total energy consumption."
That matches the European goal, and would represent a direct challenge to Europe's claims to world leadership in the field, despite China's relative poverty. Some experts have cast doubt on whether Britain will be able to reach 20%. On another front, China has the ambitious plan of installing 100m energy-efficient lightbulbs this year alone.
Beijing seeks to achieve these goals by directing a significant share of China's $590bn economic stimulus package to low-carbon investment. Of that total, more than $30bn will be spent directly on environmental projects and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
But the indirect green share in the stimulus, in the form of investment in carbon-efficient transport and electricity transmission systems, would be far larger.
HSBC Global Research estimated the total green share could be over a third of the total package.
China also believes the price reforms that will take place in its economic recovery programme will lead to more efficient use of resources and an increased demand for renewable energy.
"Due to the impact of global financial crisis, people are all talking about green and sustainable development," Zhang added. "Enterprises and government at all levels are showing more enthusiasm for the development of solar for power generation, and the Chinese government is now considering rolling out more stimulus policies for the development of solar power."
He said the government would also plough money into the expansion of solar heating systems. He said the country was already a world leader, with 130m square metres of solar heating arrays already installed, and was planning to invest more. The US goal for solar heating by 2020 is 200m square metres.
Zhang was speaking in London on a day China came under increased pressure from Washington to do more cut its emissions.
David Sandalow, the US assistant secretary of energy, said the continuation of business as usual in China would result in a 2.7C rise in temperatures even if every other country slashed greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.
"China can and will need to do much more if the world is going to have any hope of containing climate change," said Sandalow, who is in Beijing as part of a senior negotiating team aiming to find common ground ahead of the crucial Copenhagen summit at the end of this year.
"No effective deal will be possible without the US and China, which together account for almost half of the planet's carbon emissions."
Zhang said China was pursuing "a constructive and a positive role" in negotiations aimed at agreeing a deal in Copenhagen. As part of that agreement, he said developing countries would have to pursue "a sustainable development path", and said Beijing was open to the idea of limits on the carbon intensity of its economy (the emissions per unit of output).
"We have taken note of some expert suggestions on carbon intensity with a view to have some quantified targets in this regard. We are carrying out a serious study of those suggestions," Zhang said.
Zhang told the all-party parliamentary China group in Westminster yesterday that Beijing's stimulus package was already showing signs of re-energising the Chinese economy. He said it grew by 6.1% in the first quarter of this year, and growth in the second quarter would be stronger than the first. He predicted that China would meet its target of 8% growth this year.
Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice-chairman of China's national development and reform commission, told the Guardian that Beijing would easily surpass current 2020 targets for the use of wind and solar power and was now contemplating targets that were more than three times higher.
In the current development plan, the goal for wind energy is 30 gigawatts. Zhang said the new goal could be 100GW by 2020.
"Similarly, by 2020 the total installed capacity for solar power will be at least three times that of the original target [3GW]," Zhang said in an interview in London. China generates only 120 megawatts of its electricity from solar power, so the goal represents a 75-fold expansion in just over a decade.
"We are now formulating a plan for development of renewable energy. We can be sure we will exceed the 15% target. We will at least reach 18%. Personally I think we could reach the target of having renewables provide 20% of total energy consumption."
That matches the European goal, and would represent a direct challenge to Europe's claims to world leadership in the field, despite China's relative poverty. Some experts have cast doubt on whether Britain will be able to reach 20%. On another front, China has the ambitious plan of installing 100m energy-efficient lightbulbs this year alone.
Beijing seeks to achieve these goals by directing a significant share of China's $590bn economic stimulus package to low-carbon investment. Of that total, more than $30bn will be spent directly on environmental projects and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
But the indirect green share in the stimulus, in the form of investment in carbon-efficient transport and electricity transmission systems, would be far larger.
HSBC Global Research estimated the total green share could be over a third of the total package.
China also believes the price reforms that will take place in its economic recovery programme will lead to more efficient use of resources and an increased demand for renewable energy.
"Due to the impact of global financial crisis, people are all talking about green and sustainable development," Zhang added. "Enterprises and government at all levels are showing more enthusiasm for the development of solar for power generation, and the Chinese government is now considering rolling out more stimulus policies for the development of solar power."
He said the government would also plough money into the expansion of solar heating systems. He said the country was already a world leader, with 130m square metres of solar heating arrays already installed, and was planning to invest more. The US goal for solar heating by 2020 is 200m square metres.
Zhang was speaking in London on a day China came under increased pressure from Washington to do more cut its emissions.
David Sandalow, the US assistant secretary of energy, said the continuation of business as usual in China would result in a 2.7C rise in temperatures even if every other country slashed greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.
"China can and will need to do much more if the world is going to have any hope of containing climate change," said Sandalow, who is in Beijing as part of a senior negotiating team aiming to find common ground ahead of the crucial Copenhagen summit at the end of this year.
"No effective deal will be possible without the US and China, which together account for almost half of the planet's carbon emissions."
Zhang said China was pursuing "a constructive and a positive role" in negotiations aimed at agreeing a deal in Copenhagen. As part of that agreement, he said developing countries would have to pursue "a sustainable development path", and said Beijing was open to the idea of limits on the carbon intensity of its economy (the emissions per unit of output).
"We have taken note of some expert suggestions on carbon intensity with a view to have some quantified targets in this regard. We are carrying out a serious study of those suggestions," Zhang said.
Zhang told the all-party parliamentary China group in Westminster yesterday that Beijing's stimulus package was already showing signs of re-energising the Chinese economy. He said it grew by 6.1% in the first quarter of this year, and growth in the second quarter would be stronger than the first. He predicted that China would meet its target of 8% growth this year.
As the world marks the first UN Oceans Day, marine scientist Erich Hoyt says too little of the oceans has been set aside to protect marine life. In this week's Green Room, he explains why vast protected areas are needed to ensure the long term survival of marine mammalWhere do whales live? In the sea, of course; but the sea is ever changing.
We know that sperm whales search for squid in the dark canyons off the continental shelf.
We know that other whales and dolphins feed along massive seasonal upwellings fuelled by plankton explosions that attract vast schools of fish, which in turn attract seabirds, sharks and turtles, too.
We know that whales travel from feeding areas near the Arctic and Antarctic to warm equatorial regions where they breed and raise their calves.
So where precisely do whales live?
Well, this is the starting point for marine habitat-related research on whales and dolphins. We are still in the process of determining the fine points based on ocean depth, slope, temperature, currents and other factors; but we are learning.
And the more we learn, the more we realise how important it is to know where everything lives and how it functions in the dynamic environment of the sea; not just whales and dolphins but all marine life.
Habitats for a lifetime
Since the 1960s' save-the-whale movement started in California, we have made some progress reversing the momentum toward extinction that came from centuries of whaling
s such as whales and dolphins.There are still great threats to whales and dolphins as some countries continue to go whaling and dolphin hunting.
Hundreds of thousands of whales and dolphins are killed every year as bycatch and as a result of becoming tangled in fishing gear.
Also, overfishing has damaged ecosystems and food chains; the escalating noise in the sea from shipping, military sonar and hydrocarbon exploration has invaded their habitats.
On top of all this, there is the silent kill from chemical pollution and the effects of climate change.
Meanwhile, oil, gas and mining industries have their sights set on the vast ocean seabed.
If the lessons of intensification during the previous century show us anything, it is that we need to make a place in the sea for marine life.
We cannot save the whales unless we save their habitat.
Thinking big
International agreements, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), have set a looming deadline of 2012 to create a network of worldwide marine protection areas (MPAs) in national waters and on the high seas.
Most countries have agreed to these targets yet few are on track to reach them. In the UK, the parliaments in Westminster and Edinburgh are currently considering new marine bills that will determine the future extent of efforts to protect the sea around the British Isles.
Compared to land-based protected areas, which cover an estimated 12% of the world's continents and islands, protection of the sea stands at only 0.65%, with highly protected areas limited to just 0.08%.
Countries such as Australia, the US, and Kiribati are currently leading the world in marine protection, even if they too clearly have a long way to go in terms of full implementation.
Better understanding
Whales and dolphins have colonised many marine habitats, and have intricate relationships with many other species.
With so many species and habitats, how can we uncover the key places where whales live, the critical areas needing protection?
The past 35 years of research tell us that the same whales are returning to the same places to feed, mate, give birth, raise their calves and socialise.
Mothers have calves and then travel with them, introducing them to their favourite spots, corresponding to ideal depths, water temperatures, currents and other conditions for nursing, resting, finding prey, and so forth.
This is the concept of site fidelity. How do we know this? Individuals within the various species of whales and dolphins can be distinguished by nicks or other markings on their fins and tails, or by pigmentation differences revealed by sharp photographs.
Thus, the animals can be named and distinguished, and therefore identified when re-sighted. These re-sightings have helped us reveal site fidelity as well as abundance, crucial to telling us that one area is more important than another.
To protect these favourite places we must establish legally binding MPAs. We must create management bodies and plans, and ensure there are provisions for enforcement and monitoring.
MPAs must be much larger than land-based protected areas because of the fluid nature of the ocean and the mobile nature of its inhabitants; in some areas we may need flexible or moveable boundaries with seasonal components.
To help advance the creation of MPAs, we devised the idea of "homes for whales and dolphins".
The great bonus is that by focusing on "homes" or safe havens for whales, we can protect much more.
Whales and dolphins are umbrella species. The size of habitats needed for their protection, including consideration of MPA networks across ocean basins, will give assistance to many other species as well.
The goal, if not yet the practice, of most marine conservation revolves around the concept of ecosystem based management; so theoretically, entire ecosystems could be protected.
Whales and dolphins are sentinel species. If they are present and healthy, there is a good chance that the entire ecosystem is healthy.
Many cetaceans are among the apex predator species first to go from an area if things are not right, so if we can protect whales and dolphins, we know we are on the right road.
If marine mammals are turning up on beaches or dying in nets, then these events should be warning flags for the whole ecosystem.
The lines are being drawn in the sea. Now more than ever we need a bold vision - big, ocean-wide networks of highly-protected areas.
Fifty years from now, we will see the present day as the time when we had a chance; when we made tough choices and either elected to develop the sea, converting it into some vast watery industrial site, or decided to help significant portions of marine nature to stay wild and sustain our planet.
If we can make homes for whales and dolphins, the ocean may just have a chance.
erich hoyat in bbc
We know that sperm whales search for squid in the dark canyons off the continental shelf.
We know that other whales and dolphins feed along massive seasonal upwellings fuelled by plankton explosions that attract vast schools of fish, which in turn attract seabirds, sharks and turtles, too.
We know that whales travel from feeding areas near the Arctic and Antarctic to warm equatorial regions where they breed and raise their calves.
So where precisely do whales live?
Well, this is the starting point for marine habitat-related research on whales and dolphins. We are still in the process of determining the fine points based on ocean depth, slope, temperature, currents and other factors; but we are learning.
And the more we learn, the more we realise how important it is to know where everything lives and how it functions in the dynamic environment of the sea; not just whales and dolphins but all marine life.
Habitats for a lifetime
Since the 1960s' save-the-whale movement started in California, we have made some progress reversing the momentum toward extinction that came from centuries of whaling
s such as whales and dolphins.There are still great threats to whales and dolphins as some countries continue to go whaling and dolphin hunting.
Hundreds of thousands of whales and dolphins are killed every year as bycatch and as a result of becoming tangled in fishing gear.
Also, overfishing has damaged ecosystems and food chains; the escalating noise in the sea from shipping, military sonar and hydrocarbon exploration has invaded their habitats.
On top of all this, there is the silent kill from chemical pollution and the effects of climate change.
Meanwhile, oil, gas and mining industries have their sights set on the vast ocean seabed.
If the lessons of intensification during the previous century show us anything, it is that we need to make a place in the sea for marine life.
We cannot save the whales unless we save their habitat.
Thinking big
International agreements, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), have set a looming deadline of 2012 to create a network of worldwide marine protection areas (MPAs) in national waters and on the high seas.
Most countries have agreed to these targets yet few are on track to reach them. In the UK, the parliaments in Westminster and Edinburgh are currently considering new marine bills that will determine the future extent of efforts to protect the sea around the British Isles.
Compared to land-based protected areas, which cover an estimated 12% of the world's continents and islands, protection of the sea stands at only 0.65%, with highly protected areas limited to just 0.08%.
Countries such as Australia, the US, and Kiribati are currently leading the world in marine protection, even if they too clearly have a long way to go in terms of full implementation.
Better understanding
Whales and dolphins have colonised many marine habitats, and have intricate relationships with many other species.
With so many species and habitats, how can we uncover the key places where whales live, the critical areas needing protection?
The past 35 years of research tell us that the same whales are returning to the same places to feed, mate, give birth, raise their calves and socialise.
Mothers have calves and then travel with them, introducing them to their favourite spots, corresponding to ideal depths, water temperatures, currents and other conditions for nursing, resting, finding prey, and so forth.
This is the concept of site fidelity. How do we know this? Individuals within the various species of whales and dolphins can be distinguished by nicks or other markings on their fins and tails, or by pigmentation differences revealed by sharp photographs.
Thus, the animals can be named and distinguished, and therefore identified when re-sighted. These re-sightings have helped us reveal site fidelity as well as abundance, crucial to telling us that one area is more important than another.
To protect these favourite places we must establish legally binding MPAs. We must create management bodies and plans, and ensure there are provisions for enforcement and monitoring.
MPAs must be much larger than land-based protected areas because of the fluid nature of the ocean and the mobile nature of its inhabitants; in some areas we may need flexible or moveable boundaries with seasonal components.
To help advance the creation of MPAs, we devised the idea of "homes for whales and dolphins".
The great bonus is that by focusing on "homes" or safe havens for whales, we can protect much more.
Whales and dolphins are umbrella species. The size of habitats needed for their protection, including consideration of MPA networks across ocean basins, will give assistance to many other species as well.
The goal, if not yet the practice, of most marine conservation revolves around the concept of ecosystem based management; so theoretically, entire ecosystems could be protected.
Whales and dolphins are sentinel species. If they are present and healthy, there is a good chance that the entire ecosystem is healthy.
Many cetaceans are among the apex predator species first to go from an area if things are not right, so if we can protect whales and dolphins, we know we are on the right road.
If marine mammals are turning up on beaches or dying in nets, then these events should be warning flags for the whole ecosystem.
The lines are being drawn in the sea. Now more than ever we need a bold vision - big, ocean-wide networks of highly-protected areas.
Fifty years from now, we will see the present day as the time when we had a chance; when we made tough choices and either elected to develop the sea, converting it into some vast watery industrial site, or decided to help significant portions of marine nature to stay wild and sustain our planet.
If we can make homes for whales and dolphins, the ocean may just have a chance.
erich hoyat in bbc
'Tiny chance' of planet collision
Astronomers calculate there is a tiny chance that Mars or Venus could collide with Earth - though it would not happen for at least a billion years.
The finding comes from simulations to show how orbits of planets might evolve billions of years into the future.
But the calculated chances of such events occurring are tiny.
Writing in the journal Nature, a team led by Jacques Laskar shows there is also a chance Mercury could strike Venus and merge into a larger planet.
Professor Laskar of the Paris Observatory and his colleagues also report that Mars might experience a close encounter with Jupiter - whose massive gravity could hurl the Red Planet out of our Solar System.
Astronomers had thought that the orbits of the planets were predictable. But 20 years ago, researchers showed that there were slight fluctuations in their paths.
Now, the team has shown how in a small proportion of cases these fluctuations can grow until after several million years, the orbits of the inner planets begin to overlap.
The researchers carried out more than 2,500 simulations. They found that in some, Mars and Venus collided with the Earth.
"It will be complete devastation," said Professor Laskar.
"The planet is coming in at 10km per second - 10 times the speed of a bullet - and of course Mars is much more massive than a bullet."
Professor Laskar's calculations also show that there is a possibility of Mercury crashing into Venus. But in that scenario, the Earth would not be significantly affected.
"If there is anyone around billions of years from now, they'd see a burst of light in the sky and the two planets would be merged," he said.
"The new planet would be a little bit bigger than Venus, and the Solar System would be a little more regular after the collision, but the Earth's orbit would not be affected."
The finding comes from simulations to show how orbits of planets might evolve billions of years into the future.
But the calculated chances of such events occurring are tiny.
Writing in the journal Nature, a team led by Jacques Laskar shows there is also a chance Mercury could strike Venus and merge into a larger planet.
Professor Laskar of the Paris Observatory and his colleagues also report that Mars might experience a close encounter with Jupiter - whose massive gravity could hurl the Red Planet out of our Solar System.
Astronomers had thought that the orbits of the planets were predictable. But 20 years ago, researchers showed that there were slight fluctuations in their paths.
Now, the team has shown how in a small proportion of cases these fluctuations can grow until after several million years, the orbits of the inner planets begin to overlap.
The researchers carried out more than 2,500 simulations. They found that in some, Mars and Venus collided with the Earth.
"It will be complete devastation," said Professor Laskar.
"The planet is coming in at 10km per second - 10 times the speed of a bullet - and of course Mars is much more massive than a bullet."
Professor Laskar's calculations also show that there is a possibility of Mercury crashing into Venus. But in that scenario, the Earth would not be significantly affected.
"If there is anyone around billions of years from now, they'd see a burst of light in the sky and the two planets would be merged," he said.
"The new planet would be a little bit bigger than Venus, and the Solar System would be a little more regular after the collision, but the Earth's orbit would not be affected."
Australia flu 'may tip pandemic'
A sharp increase in swine flu cases in Australia may mean the infection has become a pandemic, the World Health Organization says.
For that to happen, officials would have to verify that the disease had become established outside North America, where the crisis began.
"Once I get indisputable evidence, I will make the announcement," said WHO director general, Margaret Chan.
More than 1,200 people have contracted the virus in Australia - none fatally.
The total means Australia has seen a four-fold increase in a week.
Less than a month ago the country had only a handful of cases of the H1N1 virus but it now has the highest number of infections outside North America.
Victoria and the state capital, Melbourne, are the worst-hit with more than 1,000 confirmed cases.
Evolving
Most of those affected are suffering only a mild illness, but the Health Minister of Australia's Queensland state, Paul Lucas, has warned that the contagious respiratory condition would inevitably claim lives.
The head of the WHO's global influenza programme, Keiji Fukuda, said the situation had "evolved a lot" in recent days.
"We are getting close to knowing that we are in a pandemic situation," he said.
But Dr Fukuda urged calm. "It does not mean that the severity of the situation has increased or that people are getting seriously sick at higher numbers or higher rates than before," he said.
Following the major outbreaks in North America the flu alert is currently at phase five of a six-level scale.
The virus has infected more than 26,500 people in 73 countries.
The WHO held a conference call with governments on Wednesday, but afterwards said no decision had been taken on moving to phase six - the pandemic stage - at the moment.
Gregory Hartl, WHOs spokesperson for epidemic and pandemic diseases, said if a pandemic was announced it would not be the "apocalyptic situation" envisaged when bird flu looked liked it would be the cause.
"What we are seeing now with H1N1 is that in most cases the disease is self-limting, lets say 98-98% of the people we know to be affected recover without any need for hospitalisation, as far as we can tell.
"We do understand that the natural reaction of people if and when we declare phase six could be very strong.
"But we would hope that there would be quiet quickly an adjustment reaction, as happened in the US, when people realised they weren't getting seriously ill."
BBC medical correspondent Fergus Walsh says it is true that the word "pandemic" sounds scary. But it simply means a global epidemic of an infectious disease.
He says it is not a signal that the virus is getting more virulent - only a measure of its geographical spread.
As the number of H1N1 cases in Australia passes 1,200, Singapore has urged its citizens to avoid travel to Victoria.
Authorities in New South Wales and South Australia, as well as the national capital, Canberra, have told children who have recently travelled to Melbourne to stay away from school for a week on their return home.
The entire squad and staff of the Brisbane Broncos rugby league club have been put into quarantine as tests are carried out on a player suspected of contracting swine flu.
For that to happen, officials would have to verify that the disease had become established outside North America, where the crisis began.
"Once I get indisputable evidence, I will make the announcement," said WHO director general, Margaret Chan.
More than 1,200 people have contracted the virus in Australia - none fatally.
The total means Australia has seen a four-fold increase in a week.
Less than a month ago the country had only a handful of cases of the H1N1 virus but it now has the highest number of infections outside North America.
Victoria and the state capital, Melbourne, are the worst-hit with more than 1,000 confirmed cases.
Evolving
Most of those affected are suffering only a mild illness, but the Health Minister of Australia's Queensland state, Paul Lucas, has warned that the contagious respiratory condition would inevitably claim lives.
The head of the WHO's global influenza programme, Keiji Fukuda, said the situation had "evolved a lot" in recent days.
"We are getting close to knowing that we are in a pandemic situation," he said.
But Dr Fukuda urged calm. "It does not mean that the severity of the situation has increased or that people are getting seriously sick at higher numbers or higher rates than before," he said.
Following the major outbreaks in North America the flu alert is currently at phase five of a six-level scale.
The virus has infected more than 26,500 people in 73 countries.
The WHO held a conference call with governments on Wednesday, but afterwards said no decision had been taken on moving to phase six - the pandemic stage - at the moment.
Gregory Hartl, WHOs spokesperson for epidemic and pandemic diseases, said if a pandemic was announced it would not be the "apocalyptic situation" envisaged when bird flu looked liked it would be the cause.
"What we are seeing now with H1N1 is that in most cases the disease is self-limting, lets say 98-98% of the people we know to be affected recover without any need for hospitalisation, as far as we can tell.
"We do understand that the natural reaction of people if and when we declare phase six could be very strong.
"But we would hope that there would be quiet quickly an adjustment reaction, as happened in the US, when people realised they weren't getting seriously ill."
BBC medical correspondent Fergus Walsh says it is true that the word "pandemic" sounds scary. But it simply means a global epidemic of an infectious disease.
He says it is not a signal that the virus is getting more virulent - only a measure of its geographical spread.
As the number of H1N1 cases in Australia passes 1,200, Singapore has urged its citizens to avoid travel to Victoria.
Authorities in New South Wales and South Australia, as well as the national capital, Canberra, have told children who have recently travelled to Melbourne to stay away from school for a week on their return home.
The entire squad and staff of the Brisbane Broncos rugby league club have been put into quarantine as tests are carried out on a player suspected of contracting swine flu.
Aso Seeks 15% Japan Emissions Cut
Prime Minister Taro Aso announced that Japan, a global manufacturing hub for automobiles and electronics, aims to cut greenhouse-gas emissions 15% below 2005 levels by 2020.
But meeting that ambitious target will pose a significant challenge to the world's second-largest economy as it struggles to recover from its worst recession since World War II.
Under the current Kyoto Protocol, which set limits to countries' greenhouse gas emissions, Japan agreed to reduce its carbon output by 6% from 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. But Japan has made no progress toward this goal; in fact, greenhouse-gas emissions have increased by 14% over 1990 levels, according to Japan's Ministry of Environment.
Due to the country's inability to reduce emissions in recent years, Japan's new target of a 15% reduction from 2005 levels by 2020 is actually equivalent to only an 8% cut below Japan's 1990 emission levels. Although its reduction targets appear to not be as aggressive as other nations', Japan argues that its industries are comparatively cleaner and more energy efficient than other nations' and thus don't need to make larger cuts.
Mr. Aso warned Wednesday that his plan to reduce greenhouse gases will increase unemployment, reduce Japan's gross domestic product and put new financial burdens on Japanese households and industries as the country invests heavily in solar power and other new technologies, expands the use of eco-friendly cars like hybrid electric vehicles and adds insulation and eco-friendly appliances to homes.
Still, opinion polls suggest broad Japanese support for more strict emissions reductions to address the problem of global warming.
According to a recent government study, the added expenses for government, business and individuals to achieve a 14% decrease in carbon-gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2020 would decrease Japan's GDP by 0.6% and raise unemployment by 0.2%. Japanese households would face an additional one-time cost of 30,000 yen for lighting and heating expenses. The government said Wednesday that a 15% cut would have a similar impact on Japan.
Already facing tough competition from China, India and other developing nations, Japanese manufacturers pushed for less ambitious targets, the government said. But critics -- including Greenpeace -- slammed Mr. Aso's plan, saying it was far from what is required to stop dangerous climate change.
In the U.S., a proposal making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives calls for cutting U.S. emissions 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83% below 2005 levels by 2050. China, which is widely believed to have surpassed the U.S. as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has instituted national energy-efficiency standards but has resisted capping its emissions, arguing that the U.S. should take steps before poorer nations do.
In a document outlining its negotiating stance ahead of December climate talks in Copenhagen, China said last month that developed nations should cut their greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 40% by 2020 from 1990 levels, a significantly more aggressive cut than anything being contemplated by U.S. officials.
If Japan can meet its target, Mr. Aso said it would serve as a stepping stone to Japan's longer-term goal of curbing emissions by 60% to 80%, from current levels, by 2050, though meeting such targets would require many technological breakthroughs and greater reliance on nuclear power.
Mr. Aso's announcement came as many governments are preparing for the United Nations conference in December. Talks are under way this week in Bonn, Germany, with delegates from 182 countries to produce a draft of a new agreement to combat global warming that would take effect in 2012.
But meeting that ambitious target will pose a significant challenge to the world's second-largest economy as it struggles to recover from its worst recession since World War II.
Under the current Kyoto Protocol, which set limits to countries' greenhouse gas emissions, Japan agreed to reduce its carbon output by 6% from 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. But Japan has made no progress toward this goal; in fact, greenhouse-gas emissions have increased by 14% over 1990 levels, according to Japan's Ministry of Environment.
Due to the country's inability to reduce emissions in recent years, Japan's new target of a 15% reduction from 2005 levels by 2020 is actually equivalent to only an 8% cut below Japan's 1990 emission levels. Although its reduction targets appear to not be as aggressive as other nations', Japan argues that its industries are comparatively cleaner and more energy efficient than other nations' and thus don't need to make larger cuts.
Mr. Aso warned Wednesday that his plan to reduce greenhouse gases will increase unemployment, reduce Japan's gross domestic product and put new financial burdens on Japanese households and industries as the country invests heavily in solar power and other new technologies, expands the use of eco-friendly cars like hybrid electric vehicles and adds insulation and eco-friendly appliances to homes.
Still, opinion polls suggest broad Japanese support for more strict emissions reductions to address the problem of global warming.
According to a recent government study, the added expenses for government, business and individuals to achieve a 14% decrease in carbon-gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2020 would decrease Japan's GDP by 0.6% and raise unemployment by 0.2%. Japanese households would face an additional one-time cost of 30,000 yen for lighting and heating expenses. The government said Wednesday that a 15% cut would have a similar impact on Japan.
Already facing tough competition from China, India and other developing nations, Japanese manufacturers pushed for less ambitious targets, the government said. But critics -- including Greenpeace -- slammed Mr. Aso's plan, saying it was far from what is required to stop dangerous climate change.
In the U.S., a proposal making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives calls for cutting U.S. emissions 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83% below 2005 levels by 2050. China, which is widely believed to have surpassed the U.S. as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has instituted national energy-efficiency standards but has resisted capping its emissions, arguing that the U.S. should take steps before poorer nations do.
In a document outlining its negotiating stance ahead of December climate talks in Copenhagen, China said last month that developed nations should cut their greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 40% by 2020 from 1990 levels, a significantly more aggressive cut than anything being contemplated by U.S. officials.
If Japan can meet its target, Mr. Aso said it would serve as a stepping stone to Japan's longer-term goal of curbing emissions by 60% to 80%, from current levels, by 2050, though meeting such targets would require many technological breakthroughs and greater reliance on nuclear power.
Mr. Aso's announcement came as many governments are preparing for the United Nations conference in December. Talks are under way this week in Bonn, Germany, with delegates from 182 countries to produce a draft of a new agreement to combat global warming that would take effect in 2012.
Australian varsities come up with 10-point plan
With the attacks on Indian students in Australia showing no signs of abating, with the latest victim being a 23-year-old student who was
beaten up on Sunday, the universities in Australia have come up with a 10-point plan. Universities Australia, the industry peak body representing the university sector, has come up with a plan for student safety based on the recommendations by the deputy and pro vice-chancellors from Australian universities.
The organisation had held a meeting in Canberra on June 4 and 5, during which they met members of the diplomatic community of Canberra, Australian government officials and others, including Indian high commissioner Sujatha Singh. The plan released by the organisation on Tuesday focuses on strong law enforcement and necessary complementary actions.
"The meeting affirmed the importance of international integration through education. It unreservedly condemned the deplorable attacks that have been reported involving international students studying in Australia," said Glenn Withers, the chief executive of Universities Australia, in the release.
The 10-point plan includes providing pro-active and preventive approaches to assure student safety and collaborating with the local law enforcement authorities to increase levels of security. It also mentions that there needs to be improved cultural awareness. The increased visibility of police and security officers in locations where international students study, work, travel and live is a must,'' the plan reads.
The TOI got in touch with a few Australian universities to enquire if they were planning any measures with regards to the safety of Indian students. The media and communications co-ordinator of the University of Wollongong (UOW), Kate McIlwain, replied through e-mail: "Our faculties and our student central area have been put on high alert to look out for any international students who wish to raise any concerns about their welfare." UOW, which has over 1,100 Indian students enrolled with them, has also sent out an e-mail to all its students assuring them of their support.
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) through a statement from its vice-chancellor Margaret Gardner sought to reassure the Indian students of their importance to the university. "International students bring diversity and fresh perspectives to the university and this is highly valued. The RMIT also has an International Student Information and Support (ISIS) department that acts as a central point of contact for international students throughout their studies at the RMIT," she said. The RMIT also has around 1,100 Indian students currently.
Meanwhile, Withers also called for close co-operation between all education providers, the government, state authorities, foreign governments and their diplomatic representatives and other partners, to find solutions to the problems faced by the international students. "To implement this plan, the university sector is ready to work with national and state or territory authorities and other stakeholders such as other education providers, community representatives and those who employ student workers," he added.
Meanwhile, Indian student Anoop Nair said that, while the safety of the Indian students is mainly the concern of the Australian government, the universities' help can go a long way. "They can meet the Indian students regularly and keep tabs on their safety, while also asking the local students to support us in areas like transport, etc. They should also provide a helpline where the student can call if he/she is in trouble after which the university should contact the police directly."
The Monash University, that has about 700 Indian enrolments, on the other hand, conducts lectures by the Australian police officials, who advise the students on safety within the community. In an e-mail to its students, the vice-chancellor of the university, Richard Larkins says, "We seek to create a safe environment at all of our campuses. the University Security is available on every campus for immediate response to threatening situations."
Some universities also pointed out the necessity for Indian students to adopt safety measures themselves. "We are advising students to not flash any expensive gadgets like iPods or laptops in public. We have also advised them on the benefits of living on campus. Additionally, if they find it difficult or uncomfortable to talk to a non-Indian, we have appointed some Indians to advise the students on their problems," said Vidyananda Sagaram, the country co-ordinator of La Trobe University.
beaten up on Sunday, the universities in Australia have come up with a 10-point plan. Universities Australia, the industry peak body representing the university sector, has come up with a plan for student safety based on the recommendations by the deputy and pro vice-chancellors from Australian universities.
The organisation had held a meeting in Canberra on June 4 and 5, during which they met members of the diplomatic community of Canberra, Australian government officials and others, including Indian high commissioner Sujatha Singh. The plan released by the organisation on Tuesday focuses on strong law enforcement and necessary complementary actions.
"The meeting affirmed the importance of international integration through education. It unreservedly condemned the deplorable attacks that have been reported involving international students studying in Australia," said Glenn Withers, the chief executive of Universities Australia, in the release.
The 10-point plan includes providing pro-active and preventive approaches to assure student safety and collaborating with the local law enforcement authorities to increase levels of security. It also mentions that there needs to be improved cultural awareness. The increased visibility of police and security officers in locations where international students study, work, travel and live is a must,'' the plan reads.
The TOI got in touch with a few Australian universities to enquire if they were planning any measures with regards to the safety of Indian students. The media and communications co-ordinator of the University of Wollongong (UOW), Kate McIlwain, replied through e-mail: "Our faculties and our student central area have been put on high alert to look out for any international students who wish to raise any concerns about their welfare." UOW, which has over 1,100 Indian students enrolled with them, has also sent out an e-mail to all its students assuring them of their support.
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) through a statement from its vice-chancellor Margaret Gardner sought to reassure the Indian students of their importance to the university. "International students bring diversity and fresh perspectives to the university and this is highly valued. The RMIT also has an International Student Information and Support (ISIS) department that acts as a central point of contact for international students throughout their studies at the RMIT," she said. The RMIT also has around 1,100 Indian students currently.
Meanwhile, Withers also called for close co-operation between all education providers, the government, state authorities, foreign governments and their diplomatic representatives and other partners, to find solutions to the problems faced by the international students. "To implement this plan, the university sector is ready to work with national and state or territory authorities and other stakeholders such as other education providers, community representatives and those who employ student workers," he added.
Meanwhile, Indian student Anoop Nair said that, while the safety of the Indian students is mainly the concern of the Australian government, the universities' help can go a long way. "They can meet the Indian students regularly and keep tabs on their safety, while also asking the local students to support us in areas like transport, etc. They should also provide a helpline where the student can call if he/she is in trouble after which the university should contact the police directly."
The Monash University, that has about 700 Indian enrolments, on the other hand, conducts lectures by the Australian police officials, who advise the students on safety within the community. In an e-mail to its students, the vice-chancellor of the university, Richard Larkins says, "We seek to create a safe environment at all of our campuses. the University Security is available on every campus for immediate response to threatening situations."
Some universities also pointed out the necessity for Indian students to adopt safety measures themselves. "We are advising students to not flash any expensive gadgets like iPods or laptops in public. We have also advised them on the benefits of living on campus. Additionally, if they find it difficult or uncomfortable to talk to a non-Indian, we have appointed some Indians to advise the students on their problems," said Vidyananda Sagaram, the country co-ordinator of La Trobe University.
Singapore Air CEO: Business Environment Remains Challenging
Singapore Airlines Ltd.'s (C6L.SG) chief executive Sunday said the business environment remains challenging due to the slowing global economy and conditions in the crude oil market.
"The current environment is challenging. Our attention is right now preoccupied by the business challenges we face," Chew Choon Seng told Dow Jones Newswires.
Chew is here to attend the three-day International Air Transport Association's 65th annual general meeting.
Singapore Airlines is facing a difficult operating environment as a slowing global economy crimps demand for business and leisure travel. For the fourth quarter ended March 31, the airline, which is majority-owned by Temasek Holdings, posted a 92% drop in net profit to S$42 million due to fuel-hedging losses and a drop in demand for air travel.
The airline also warned that the uncertainties from the swine flu will have an impact on its business.
"The environment is very challenging because of the (global) crude oil environment and the depressed conditions we are all facing," Chew said.
On the airline's plans in China, Chew said that Singapore Air is open to opportunities in the region, but declined to comment on whether it is still interested in China Eastern Airlines Corp. (CEA).
Recently, China Eastern's board secretary, Luo Zhuping, said that the Chinese government hopes that Singapore Air will invest in China Eastern after the Singaporean airline allowed its offer to lapse last year.
Chew had said earlier that talks with CEA haven't been revived, but that his airline was interested in China's airline sector.
"In the longer term, China, India and so on represent important economies in which we hope to be able to participate in. But it very much depends on the regulatory environment, what the governments in those countries decide upon," Chew said Sunday.
"The current environment is challenging. Our attention is right now preoccupied by the business challenges we face," Chew Choon Seng told Dow Jones Newswires.
Chew is here to attend the three-day International Air Transport Association's 65th annual general meeting.
Singapore Airlines is facing a difficult operating environment as a slowing global economy crimps demand for business and leisure travel. For the fourth quarter ended March 31, the airline, which is majority-owned by Temasek Holdings, posted a 92% drop in net profit to S$42 million due to fuel-hedging losses and a drop in demand for air travel.
The airline also warned that the uncertainties from the swine flu will have an impact on its business.
"The environment is very challenging because of the (global) crude oil environment and the depressed conditions we are all facing," Chew said.
On the airline's plans in China, Chew said that Singapore Air is open to opportunities in the region, but declined to comment on whether it is still interested in China Eastern Airlines Corp. (CEA).
Recently, China Eastern's board secretary, Luo Zhuping, said that the Chinese government hopes that Singapore Air will invest in China Eastern after the Singaporean airline allowed its offer to lapse last year.
Chew had said earlier that talks with CEA haven't been revived, but that his airline was interested in China's airline sector.
"In the longer term, China, India and so on represent important economies in which we hope to be able to participate in. But it very much depends on the regulatory environment, what the governments in those countries decide upon," Chew said Sunday.
Investors Predict Globalization Of Industry, Especially To China
Venture capitalists expect their industry to grow increasingly global, as firms shift more attention to Asia and as institutional investors around the world seek to add venture funds to their portfolios, a survey shows.
Half of 725 venture capitalists queried said they expect their investment in Asia (excluding India) to increase over the next three years, while 12% projected a decline, according to the 2009 Global Venture Capital Survey conducted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and the National Venture Capital Association. Meanwhile, 43% said they planned to boost their investing in India. The survey, which included U.S., European, Asia Pacific, Israeli and non-U.S. American investors, found that 52% of respondents already invest outside their home country.
Burgeoning middle classes and relatively strong economic growth are prompting venture investors to see strong opportunity in Asian countries such as China. “You have a huge market and a lot of problems that can be solved in China,” said NVCA President Mark Heesen in a conference call Tuesday. “The United States is no longer the only area in the world for venture capital activity.”
Venture firms raising funds are also searching the globe for investors. Fifty-four percent of respondents predicted that their number of limited partners outside their home country would increase, while 38% said the number would remain the same, and 8% predicted that foreign limited partner involvement would decline. While U.S. firms don’t look at the federal government as a direct source of capital, governments in other countries are more active in supporting venture capital firms.
“You are going to continue to see marked interest around the world in this asset class,” Heesen said. “This is a not a zero sum game; we believe everyone can win in this new global venture capital environment.”
But survey respondents said China stands to gain from the downturn that’s drying up investment in the U.S. and other Western nations. Thirty-eight percent said China has the most to gain from the crisis, while 18% chose the U.S. Further, 51% said the U.S. had the most to lose from the downturn, though Heesen said this is not unexpected considering that the U.S. has been the industry leader. “When you’re on top, you have the most to lose,” he said.
Globalization, however, is only one of the trends shaking up the industry. Another is a general winnowing of venture capital firms. Institutions will continue to invest in venture firms that have delivered good returns, but will cut off those that haven’t, Heesen said. In the coming years, 10% to 15% of firms operating today will disappear because they will be unable to get their existing limited partners to re-up or find new investors, he said.
Meantime, venture firms have spent the bulk of this year reassessing their portfolios, which has contributed to a general slowdown in new investment. In some ways, the downturn has made it easier to sort through a portfolio, said Steve Fredrick, general partner of Grotech Ventures, in an interview.
“It’s getting easier to do that triage, because the market is sending decisive signals as to what has traction and what doesn’t,” Fredrick said.
Now that firms are completing the process, however, they can get back to making new deals, said Terry McGuire, managing general partner of Polaris Venture Partners and chairman of the NVCA, during the conference call. “We have our houses in order for the most part,” McGuire said. “You’re going to see a lot more investment coming in the second half of the year.”
Much of that investment will likely be in later-stage companies, according to the survey. Thirty-six percent of respondents said they intend to move toward later-stage investing to support existing portfolio companies. Just 6% intend to move toward early-stage investing.
This is partly because firms are looking to shorten the time to exit, but for many firms, it’s not by choice, Heesen said. Older firms with large portfolios have many maturing companies that need capital, so firms by necessity are spending much of their money and time on these holdings, he said.
The survey shows that venture investors intend to move away from traditional, maturing industries such as semiconductors and telecommunications, and toward emerging opportunities in fields such as clean technology and medical devices. Sixty-three percent of venture capitalists surveyed said they expect to boost their investments in clean technology over the next three years, while 37% said they planned to ratchet up investment in medical devices. Just 15% said they planned to invest more in telecom, while 6% were looking to invest more in semiconductors.
Half of 725 venture capitalists queried said they expect their investment in Asia (excluding India) to increase over the next three years, while 12% projected a decline, according to the 2009 Global Venture Capital Survey conducted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and the National Venture Capital Association. Meanwhile, 43% said they planned to boost their investing in India. The survey, which included U.S., European, Asia Pacific, Israeli and non-U.S. American investors, found that 52% of respondents already invest outside their home country.
Burgeoning middle classes and relatively strong economic growth are prompting venture investors to see strong opportunity in Asian countries such as China. “You have a huge market and a lot of problems that can be solved in China,” said NVCA President Mark Heesen in a conference call Tuesday. “The United States is no longer the only area in the world for venture capital activity.”
Venture firms raising funds are also searching the globe for investors. Fifty-four percent of respondents predicted that their number of limited partners outside their home country would increase, while 38% said the number would remain the same, and 8% predicted that foreign limited partner involvement would decline. While U.S. firms don’t look at the federal government as a direct source of capital, governments in other countries are more active in supporting venture capital firms.
“You are going to continue to see marked interest around the world in this asset class,” Heesen said. “This is a not a zero sum game; we believe everyone can win in this new global venture capital environment.”
But survey respondents said China stands to gain from the downturn that’s drying up investment in the U.S. and other Western nations. Thirty-eight percent said China has the most to gain from the crisis, while 18% chose the U.S. Further, 51% said the U.S. had the most to lose from the downturn, though Heesen said this is not unexpected considering that the U.S. has been the industry leader. “When you’re on top, you have the most to lose,” he said.
Globalization, however, is only one of the trends shaking up the industry. Another is a general winnowing of venture capital firms. Institutions will continue to invest in venture firms that have delivered good returns, but will cut off those that haven’t, Heesen said. In the coming years, 10% to 15% of firms operating today will disappear because they will be unable to get their existing limited partners to re-up or find new investors, he said.
Meantime, venture firms have spent the bulk of this year reassessing their portfolios, which has contributed to a general slowdown in new investment. In some ways, the downturn has made it easier to sort through a portfolio, said Steve Fredrick, general partner of Grotech Ventures, in an interview.
“It’s getting easier to do that triage, because the market is sending decisive signals as to what has traction and what doesn’t,” Fredrick said.
Now that firms are completing the process, however, they can get back to making new deals, said Terry McGuire, managing general partner of Polaris Venture Partners and chairman of the NVCA, during the conference call. “We have our houses in order for the most part,” McGuire said. “You’re going to see a lot more investment coming in the second half of the year.”
Much of that investment will likely be in later-stage companies, according to the survey. Thirty-six percent of respondents said they intend to move toward later-stage investing to support existing portfolio companies. Just 6% intend to move toward early-stage investing.
This is partly because firms are looking to shorten the time to exit, but for many firms, it’s not by choice, Heesen said. Older firms with large portfolios have many maturing companies that need capital, so firms by necessity are spending much of their money and time on these holdings, he said.
The survey shows that venture investors intend to move away from traditional, maturing industries such as semiconductors and telecommunications, and toward emerging opportunities in fields such as clean technology and medical devices. Sixty-three percent of venture capitalists surveyed said they expect to boost their investments in clean technology over the next three years, while 37% said they planned to ratchet up investment in medical devices. Just 15% said they planned to invest more in telecom, while 6% were looking to invest more in semiconductors.
India's millions of mentally ill hidden behind taboo
Many of the patients at the Sanjali rehabilitation centre in New Delhi cannot explain why they are there or how they lived before chronic mental illness took over their lives.
They are among the lucky few in India to receive regular treatment in a country where mental illness carries a huge stigma and psychiatric hospitals can be severe and frightening institutions.
Experts estimate around 20 million Indians suffer serious mental disorders, with most hidden from public view by their families.
For many Indians, their first instinct when symptoms of mental illness begin to manifest themselves in their relatives is to seek a spiritual explanation for the sudden change in behaviour.
Families in denial will often take their loved ones to temples or faith healers, both of which abound across the country.
India does have some half-way houses that serve as temporary shelters for destitute and homeless mentally ill people, but there are few long-term options for families who are unable to look after their kin.
Nimesh Desai, head of psychiatry at the New Delhi-based Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, estimates India has fewer than 4,000 psychiatrists, and even fewer general mental health professionals.
"The lack of psychiatrists is bad and the shortage of psychologists, social workers and counsellors is even more alarming," said Desai. "It meets about five to seven percent of the projected need."
One reason is a reluctance among young medical students to pursue a career in mental health. While India prides itself on churning out thousands of world-class doctors and surgeons, there is no prestige in psychiatry.
"The shame and stigma that is attached to mental illness is also attached to a mental health doctor," said Naveen Kumar from the Manas Foundation, a mental health charity.
"Though we have one of the largest pools of medical professionals, they are not geared toward dealing with mental health problems.
"It leaves mental patients at the mercy of the faith healers who exist on every street corner and in every village of India (who) are supposed to have magic healing powers."
Common treatments include inducing the patient into a trance or even physical abuse, said Kumar.
While many mental health problems can be easily treated at the primary care level, general practitioners are not adequately trained to tackle them -- and are unable to refer patients to specialists.
Kumar said only five to 10 percent of Indians are "psychologically aware" enough to seek help in the first place, and many families believe going to a doctor for mental illnesses is a sign of weakness.
Instead, age-old religious rituals and superstitions that have passed through generations are often relied on, and religious shrines are regularly packed with devotees looking to rid a family member of a "curse".
"Only when you find that the person is not improving or there are other complications will you even consider going to a general practitioner," said Kumar.
Here at the Sanjali centre patients suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and psychosis are unfortunate in their illness but lucky to have families who have recognised their problems and sought professional help.
Sanjali offers a varied day therapy programme aimed at helping patients live as normally as possible outside the clinic, said co-ordinator Simrita Chaudhry.
While patients take medication to curb symptoms, the centre's goal is to rehabilitate people so they can re-enter society and the workforce, she said, adding however that by the time many are brought here it is often too late.
"Only a small number are discharged every year," said Chaudhry.
In an airy, clean environment, the day patients join in musical activities, games, drawing classes and light exercise such as bowling in a makeshift alley.
Among the centre's regulars is 64-year-old Pallavi -- not her real name -- who had a bright future as a junior doctor until she suffered a nervous breakdown and was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Now receiving a combination of medication and therapy, she remembers nothing about her life as a young wife and mother, but is quick to express the paranoia symptomatic of her illness.
"People don't respect me," she whispered, her eyes darting around the room.
The secrecy surrounding mental illness in India, plus the serious shortage of mental health professionals, means many people must suffer in silence.
Most patients at Sanjali come from wealthy families in south Delhi who can afford the daily fee of 100 rupees and have some understanding of the problem.
Denial cuts across classes, but Desai said attitudes are slowly changing, partly thanks to government and private education campaigns, as well as the impact of globalisation.
"Even so-called middle-class, educated people will first go to a shrine such as Ajmer in Rajasthan if there's a mental health problem," said Desai.
"But Indian society and government is becoming more and more internationalised in its outlook (and) one of the positive fall-outs of it is the acceptance of issues of mental health."
At Sanjali, the huge burden of mental illness on families is clear.
Jagdish -- also not his real name -- is a 48-year-old schizophrenic who has been coming to the centre every day for 11 years.
He trembles as he slumps forward in his chair, but cheerfully says: "I like coming here."
Yet as secure and tranquil as it seems, Sanjali's safety net cannot be taken for granted.
"We don't have any facilities to offer life-long, full-time rehab," said Chaudhry.
"Tomorrow when the families are no longer there to look after them at home, what happens to these people?"
They are among the lucky few in India to receive regular treatment in a country where mental illness carries a huge stigma and psychiatric hospitals can be severe and frightening institutions.
Experts estimate around 20 million Indians suffer serious mental disorders, with most hidden from public view by their families.
For many Indians, their first instinct when symptoms of mental illness begin to manifest themselves in their relatives is to seek a spiritual explanation for the sudden change in behaviour.
Families in denial will often take their loved ones to temples or faith healers, both of which abound across the country.
India does have some half-way houses that serve as temporary shelters for destitute and homeless mentally ill people, but there are few long-term options for families who are unable to look after their kin.
Nimesh Desai, head of psychiatry at the New Delhi-based Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, estimates India has fewer than 4,000 psychiatrists, and even fewer general mental health professionals.
"The lack of psychiatrists is bad and the shortage of psychologists, social workers and counsellors is even more alarming," said Desai. "It meets about five to seven percent of the projected need."
One reason is a reluctance among young medical students to pursue a career in mental health. While India prides itself on churning out thousands of world-class doctors and surgeons, there is no prestige in psychiatry.
"The shame and stigma that is attached to mental illness is also attached to a mental health doctor," said Naveen Kumar from the Manas Foundation, a mental health charity.
"Though we have one of the largest pools of medical professionals, they are not geared toward dealing with mental health problems.
"It leaves mental patients at the mercy of the faith healers who exist on every street corner and in every village of India (who) are supposed to have magic healing powers."
Common treatments include inducing the patient into a trance or even physical abuse, said Kumar.
While many mental health problems can be easily treated at the primary care level, general practitioners are not adequately trained to tackle them -- and are unable to refer patients to specialists.
Kumar said only five to 10 percent of Indians are "psychologically aware" enough to seek help in the first place, and many families believe going to a doctor for mental illnesses is a sign of weakness.
Instead, age-old religious rituals and superstitions that have passed through generations are often relied on, and religious shrines are regularly packed with devotees looking to rid a family member of a "curse".
"Only when you find that the person is not improving or there are other complications will you even consider going to a general practitioner," said Kumar.
Here at the Sanjali centre patients suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and psychosis are unfortunate in their illness but lucky to have families who have recognised their problems and sought professional help.
Sanjali offers a varied day therapy programme aimed at helping patients live as normally as possible outside the clinic, said co-ordinator Simrita Chaudhry.
While patients take medication to curb symptoms, the centre's goal is to rehabilitate people so they can re-enter society and the workforce, she said, adding however that by the time many are brought here it is often too late.
"Only a small number are discharged every year," said Chaudhry.
In an airy, clean environment, the day patients join in musical activities, games, drawing classes and light exercise such as bowling in a makeshift alley.
Among the centre's regulars is 64-year-old Pallavi -- not her real name -- who had a bright future as a junior doctor until she suffered a nervous breakdown and was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Now receiving a combination of medication and therapy, she remembers nothing about her life as a young wife and mother, but is quick to express the paranoia symptomatic of her illness.
"People don't respect me," she whispered, her eyes darting around the room.
The secrecy surrounding mental illness in India, plus the serious shortage of mental health professionals, means many people must suffer in silence.
Most patients at Sanjali come from wealthy families in south Delhi who can afford the daily fee of 100 rupees and have some understanding of the problem.
Denial cuts across classes, but Desai said attitudes are slowly changing, partly thanks to government and private education campaigns, as well as the impact of globalisation.
"Even so-called middle-class, educated people will first go to a shrine such as Ajmer in Rajasthan if there's a mental health problem," said Desai.
"But Indian society and government is becoming more and more internationalised in its outlook (and) one of the positive fall-outs of it is the acceptance of issues of mental health."
At Sanjali, the huge burden of mental illness on families is clear.
Jagdish -- also not his real name -- is a 48-year-old schizophrenic who has been coming to the centre every day for 11 years.
He trembles as he slumps forward in his chair, but cheerfully says: "I like coming here."
Yet as secure and tranquil as it seems, Sanjali's safety net cannot be taken for granted.
"We don't have any facilities to offer life-long, full-time rehab," said Chaudhry.
"Tomorrow when the families are no longer there to look after them at home, what happens to these people?"
India needs GM crops, says Jairam Ramesh
The country needs genetically- modified crops but there is no "great urgency" for GM foods, Union Minister of State for Environment Jairam Ramesh said today.
"I draw a fundamental distinction between GM foods and GM crops. I do not see a great urgency for Bt. Brinjal and I see a very strong case for Bt. Cotton. Country needs GM crops; no great urgency for GM foods," Ramesh told reporters here.
He said Bt. Cotton has been successful in some states such as Gujarat but in some others, it created a lot of problems, adding, he is not against the idea of a comprehensive assessment from the experience of Bt. Cotton.
Part of the problem in Bt. Cotton was that India did not have an indigenous variety of Bt. Cotton but in the last few days the Central Institute of Cotton Research in Nagpur has introduced a local variety of Bt. Cotton that would substantially change the environment as far as Bt. Cotton is concerned.
"I believe that there is a very strong case to be made for a unified, independent, science-based national biotechnology regulatory regime which will do a comprehensive risk assessment for all GM technologies before they are introduced," the minister said.
On the flow of GM foods into India from overseas, he said as Minister of State for Commerce previously, he had requested the then Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss to make labelling of GM products compulsory. "I will stick to this position." "Any product coming from anywhere containing GM characteristics.. There must be compulsory labelling so that consumers are made aware of what they are buying," he said. PTI
"I draw a fundamental distinction between GM foods and GM crops. I do not see a great urgency for Bt. Brinjal and I see a very strong case for Bt. Cotton. Country needs GM crops; no great urgency for GM foods," Ramesh told reporters here.
He said Bt. Cotton has been successful in some states such as Gujarat but in some others, it created a lot of problems, adding, he is not against the idea of a comprehensive assessment from the experience of Bt. Cotton.
Part of the problem in Bt. Cotton was that India did not have an indigenous variety of Bt. Cotton but in the last few days the Central Institute of Cotton Research in Nagpur has introduced a local variety of Bt. Cotton that would substantially change the environment as far as Bt. Cotton is concerned.
"I believe that there is a very strong case to be made for a unified, independent, science-based national biotechnology regulatory regime which will do a comprehensive risk assessment for all GM technologies before they are introduced," the minister said.
On the flow of GM foods into India from overseas, he said as Minister of State for Commerce previously, he had requested the then Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss to make labelling of GM products compulsory. "I will stick to this position." "Any product coming from anywhere containing GM characteristics.. There must be compulsory labelling so that consumers are made aware of what they are buying," he said. PTI
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)