Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
· WILL U ANSWER?· GEM Inspirational series
· Readers’ Letters
· THE GORAI - UTTAN BELT COULD BE THE NEXT NANDIGRAM
· Working for a Cleaner Mumbai
· Cops reluctant to act on noise violations in festivals: Activists
· If you make noise about too much noise, you can end up like this
· Pawar’s 'promotion' of GM crops draws activists’ flak
· Indians have 30% weaker lungs than Europeans: Study
· Mangalore: IFKCA symposium highlights harmful effects of Niddodi power project· Sustaining greenery amid a concrete jungle - City's biggest challenge / · Dr Arun Padiyar: Ushering in 'Milkfish' revolution
· Goans protest NIT for forest
· Salesian university to help poor farmers
· ASIA : Japan's nuclear crisis deepens, China expresses 'shock'· TAIWAN : Children protest against nuclear power
· hamburger-chef-jamie-oliver-proves-mcdonalds-burgers-unfit-for-human-consumption
· Karnataka earmarks 100 crore for Christians
· Udupi: Bishop Dr Gerald Lobo visits Jamia Masjid· Anto book release: Institute NIA inquiry – Digvijaya
· Cardinal Cleemis dialogues with Hindu leader
· Thousands march remembering Odisha violence
· Prayers to resume at Kedarnath shrine
· Catholic priest trains govt. school principals
· Mumbai: BMC schools lack basic facilities
· Pope Francis Reiterates Appeal for Peace in Syria
· Saved from abortion, Chilean twin brothers are now priests
· GEM PLUS – Appeal for help· GEM LAUGH TIME
Thought for the week
"Why are we going down the nuclear route at all? Nuclear power is far more expensive and hopelessly uneconomic. Decommissioning costs are enormous. There are mountains of nuclear waste, which we do not know where to put and it will increase our risk of terrorism."
Labour's Michael Meacher:
WILL U ANSWER?
INDIA : PM - Will you answer my questions? By Fr. Thomas Kocherry CSsR (CNUA) A letter addressed to the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, UPA , NDA leaders and Regional Parties who are supporting Nuclear Plants?
1. Is Nuclear Plant more important than Safety of the People in and around Kudamkulam?
2. After the Disaster of Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima nobody can give any guarantee for the safety of the People. The life and livelihood is more important than Nuclear Plant. People should not live in fear.
3. If some Disaster Takes place who is responsible and liable? After the Bhopal Gas Tragedy we know that our Governments are incapable of handling any Disaster. Utterakhand Disaster is human made. And yet we never learn from all these tragedies.
4. Who are the beneficiaries of Nuclear Plants? The MNCs and the Politicians? Ordinary people get nothing. They are the victims of all these kind of Exclusive Development. They cannot live in freedom.
5. For Centuries the sea around Kudankulam has been the mother of the local People. Now the mother is desecrated by the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu. All these happen in the name of Exlusive Development. Fisher People cannot get any more non radiated fish. Who will pay the compensation to the Fisher People?
6. Where are you going to dumb the Nuclear Waste? Please tell us honestly where are going to dumb the nuclear waste?
7. Who is responsible for the use of Sub-standard Technology in Kudankulam Nuclear plant since the Russian MNC is in jail because of Corruption.?
8. Why are you not coming to Kudankulam to inaugrate 15000 Crores Project? Are you afraid to come there?
9. You are saying that Kudankulam Nuclear Plant is 100% safe. If so why don’t you have a retirement villas near Kudankulam Nuclear Plant? You get enough electricity.
10. When the whole world is moving away from Nuclear Plants why are you insisting upon Nuclear Plants?
11. Why don’t you transmit present electricity through Underground Cables? Why don’t you change into CFL and LED bulbs?
12. Why don’t you invest in Solar Energy and Wind Energy?
13. If you are democratic and transparent why don’t you make Nuclear Plant and Political Parties under RTI?
14. Are you against Terrorism and Mass Destructive Weapons? If so why are you joining in the Competition group of Russia, China, Pakistan and India in competing in the production of Nuclear Plants?
15. Why is Atomic Energy Act under defence when all the other energies not under defence?
16. Why are you delaying to withdraw all the false cases charged against the Non-Violent Protesters inspite of the Verdict by the SC and Tamilnadu HC?
17. What is the total investment for the Atomic Energy Establishment since 1962? What is the total Nuclear Energy production since 1962?
18. How much sea water do you put back into the sea after cooling the Nuclear Plant? What is the degree of heat of the water while putting back to the sea?
19. Is Nuclear power requires obedience, not transparency.? ( The gap between nuclear rhetoric and nuclear reality has been a fundamental impediment to wise energy policy decisions for half a century now.Without transparency no technology will flourish. Dr.Ramanna and Dr.Gopalakrishnan vouch this.)
20. If your Nuclear Plants are safe Why Insurance Companies are not coming forward to back up your Exclusive Development?
21. Are you willing to place before the public the audited statement Kudankulam Nuclear Plant and all the other nuclear plants and atomic energy establishment since the enactment of Atomic Energy Act in 1962?
22. What is the precaution do we have to face any untoward Tsunami and Earthquake? Do you want face another Utterakhand Disaster and Bhopal Gas Tragedy? What is the precaution to stop sudden Radiation which has been happening in and around Fukushima? Nobody Knows if Radiation Will Get Worse, Get Better, or Just Stay Bad ?
23. Are you aware of China has abandoned plans for a $6 billion (£4 billion) nuclear processing plant in the southern province of Guangdong after hundreds of protesters took to the streets to air their environmental concerns.? Is China more Democratic than India in this Protest?
24. Are you aware of The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2013 (WNISR) was publishedrevealed a measly growth of over 1.2 GW during 2012 globally, compared to 32 GW of solar growth in the same time. In fact, the nuclear industry seems to be in decline in every category and in every country across the face of the planet, and many are laying the blame equally at the feet of the Fukushima disaster and the growth of the renewable energy sector.?
25. Are you aware of Nuclear Energy Production is going down from 21% in 2009 to 19% in 2012 in the USA? Do we want to get isolated from the World? Let us not be victims of Nuclear Plants when we are rich with Solar Energy and Wind Energy?
26. Who is calculating the cost and benefit of Nuclear Energy Production and the Security given to the Plants?
27. "As if that weren’t a sad enough commentary on the participatory quality of India’s democracy based on respect for the people’s will, NPCIL acted in blatant violation of the spirit of a May 6, 2013, Supreme Court order in a petition raising questions about the safety of the Kudankulam plant. This order asked that NPCIL, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board "oversee each and every aspect of the [contested] matter, including the safety of the plant, impact on environment, quality of various components and systems" before commissioning the plant. After ensuring full compliance with safety norms, they must file a report "to that effect … before this court" prior to the commissioning." (Praful Bidwai). What answer do you give to Praful? Are we democratic or Autocratic?
28. "No wonder the DAE has turned out to be the worst-performing department of the government. It’s a White Elephant. promised to install 20,000 megawatts in capacity by 1980, and 43,500 MW by 2000. The respective achievements were 512 MW and 2,720 MW. It has never completed a major project on time, or without a 300 percent cost-overrun. It has failed to develop any worthwhile technology and always borrowed, bought or stolen knowhow from others."(Praful Bidwai).Yes PM you said in the Parliament that we have a production of 4000 MW Nuclear Energy till today. What do you say to this? How do you justify your Department? Are you answerable to such Massive Dead Investment? Of Course you need not reveal all these since it comes under Defence?
29. "Nuclear energy is unavoidably linked to nuclear war" (Pineda, .) The Nuclear Waste was used massively in Iraq Bombing. All the atomic Bombs are connected with Nuclear Plants. Let us be honest. What do you say to this?
30. If the GOI is keeping the Sedition law of the British, who are the real culprits in the protest against Koodankulam Nuclear Plant.? The first Violator was the Police of TN on 1st May 1989 when they opened fire upon the non-violent protesters and 8 got wounded, Jesuretinam lost the leg and Fr. Servatius was beaten up. The ruling class DMK supported this firing and they are also violators of Sedition law. They were waging war against the innocent, unarmed and non-violent state-People of India. Are you honest with yourself and the Indian Constitution?
31. "Crucial materials and reactor parts have been exported to KKNP-1 & 2 by a Russian government-owned company called Machine-Building Plant ZiO-Podolsk (ZiO) , which is another Rosatom subsidiary. ZiO-Podolsk supplies have been sent for years to all the Russian nuclear power plants, and to most of the VVER plants exported to countries like India, Iran, China and Bulgaria. These include important safety subsystems , equipment , components and materials supplied over the years to KKNP-1 & 2 "(Dr.Gopalakrishnan). Are you aware of the owner of Zio-Podolsk is in the Jail of Russia under Corruption Charges?
32. " While millions of litres of hot water is being discharged into the sea every minute, the total heat dumped into the waterway every minute, and tremendous. Roger Witherspoon, the well - known US journalist, author and editor, in a recent article has given some figures. Citing company records, he points out that the nuclear power plants at Salem, New Jersey, USA, dump about 30 billion BTUs of heat hourly into Delaware Bay. That is equivalent of the heat which would be generated by exploding a nuclear bomb, the size of the bomb which destroyed Hiroshima, in the waters of Delaware Bay every two hours, all day, every day." Roger Witherspoon, ‘Ravishing the waterways, DEP vs the power Plants’ Dec 13,2010.http://www.nirs.org/reactorwatch. How will you answer this? This study was done by the USA Fisheries Department? How will you react to this study?
Please write to: Fr. Thomas Kocherry CSsR , , www.thomaskocherry.com
GEM INSPIRATIONAL SERIES
How to become a super achiever
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan on May 02, 2013A Muslim youth of my acquaintance, born in a village and madrasa-educated, can speak two foreign languages fluently – Arabic and English -- without ever having studied for a university degree. I asked him once to tell me the secret of his unusual success. He uttered a single word: “Junoon”or madness, meaning that if you have unflagging determination to achieve your target, you will certainly do so.
That youth was a common man. But this formula is also true of those who are known as great minds. One such case is that of Albert Einstein, who, although started his life from very modest beginnings, made such discoveries as ultimately changed the course of scientific history.
Albert Einstein was born in the nineteenth century to a poor family. He started out with no means whatsoever, living in destitution and misery. But, from the very outset, he was an ambitious person and was blessed with a very special sagacity – the determination to pursue his goal to the very end. This determination became his greatest asset, and finally he emerged as the greatest scientific mind of the world.
This is no mystery. It is a formula of nature, and applies to every individual. Everyone is born with great qualities. Potentially, every man is a superman and every woman is a superwoman. What is
required is an insatiable desire to turn this potential into actuality. Success is not a gift. It is the result of your own striving. If you want to be a super achiever, first recognise your own capabilities. Everyone is born with some unique quality, and success depends upon discovering it and then utilising it with sound planning.
Always remember that you are created; you are not creator. You have to know your limitations, your external compulsions. You have to know the law of nature. Missing out on any one of these two aspects of life will lead only to disaster.
Be ambitious, but not an adventurist. Be confident, but never lose your modesty. Be clear about your target, but never try to achieve it at the cost of another person’s success or peace of mind. You have to be a good planner, but keep away from any kind of corrupt practice. It is good to be a self-made person but not by usurping others’ rights. In short, never succumb to a negative experience: try to turn negativity into positivity.
Always remember that it is not your intention or your desire that determines the course taken by the external world. It is a wise adjustment between your desires and external realities that leads to great success.
It is a fact that no one can overrule your ambitions but it is also a fact that you cannot overrule the laws of nature. So always be a realist. Acceptance of reality is the most important principle of any kind of success.
Every human being, great or small, is determined to live between two different sets of compulsions – limitations and advantages. So you should know your limitations while you avail of the advantages. Never go beyond your limits and never try to avail of that which is ultimately beyond your reach. Always try to maintain a balance between these two different aspects of life, and the result will certainly be success.
Life is not a smooth journey, being fraught with all kinds of odd and unwanted situations. Accept the reality rather than try to fight it. Don’t forget this wisdom, if you want to see your name listed along with the super achievers.
READERS’ LETTERS
Felix Oliveira
Dear Fr. Felix
Thanks for the timely correspondence and I am proud that you are doing a great contribution to humanity through the awareness circular. Keep it up and may God bless you in all your endeavors.
From,
b sabha
Dear SOULmates,
The History of the Gorai-Uttan Issue as published in the Christian Spotlight a few years back...refresh your memory...read on
THE GORAI - UTTAN BELT COULD BE THE NEXT NANDIGRAM
The serene Gorai–Uttan belt, the Mumbaikar’s ideal spot for picnics could be the next Nandigram in Maharashtra. The lush green countryside, an abode of over 1.25 lakh Catholic farmers and fishermen, is caught in the net of the SEZ Act and is in the process of being handed over by the State Government to Pan India Paryatan Limited (PIPL), the group that owns Essel World and Water Kingdom, to be developed into a Recreation and Tourism Special Economic Zone. The locals are beginning to realize the impact this development is going to have on their lives and are planning to fight tooth and nail against its implementation.
The editor ofChristian SPOTLIGHTMr. Gordon D’Souza and his colleague Mr. Walter Murzello spent time with the locals and tried to understand the implications of this project.
PHYSICAL:
Ø The Uttan-Gorai belt also called Dharavi Island consists of ten villages namely Dongri, Pali, Tarodi, Chowk, Uttan, Gorai, Manori, Rai, Morva and Murtha.
Ø These are the only villages left in proximity of Mumbai. Manori, Culvem and Gorai are in Mumbai Municipal Corporation jurisdiction.
Ø The population is predominantly Catholic (90%) and is engaged in agriculture and fishing. A few having strategic locations have built resorts and cater to picnickers. Gorai has 99% Catholic population.
Ø The beaches and mangroves are extensively used for fishing.