Innocence Lost

A Essay on Child Labor.  My essay won a Merit Award from Scholastic California Writing Project.

Innocence Lost!

The 1910s was a glorious “Coming of Age” period for the United States. We were emerging as a bonafide industrial powerhouse and dazzled the world with our new machinery and inventions. Immigrants poured into the country in search of economic opportunities and the American Dream. In 1910, 40% of the population in New York was foreign born and 38% was first generation. Factories abounded and business owners knew naught but profits.

Many of new immigrants did not know English and even less of American Democracy. They eked out a living at these factories that dotted the cities. They worked long hours and endured miserable working conditions. Early capitalism precluded notions of social responsibility by corporations. There was no concept of worker safety – that would cut into bottom lines. Few of the workers could afford childcare, so the younger ones often wandered the streets. When the wages are below-subsistence and there are many mouths to feed, everyone is forced to work – even the children. And what better way to cut costs for the factory owners than to employ child labor.

Innocence Lost!

In  1910, only 48% of kids in Rhode Island attended school.  Education, leisure and play were the privilege of the wealthy minority. And only these children had the opportunity to really enjoy their childhood.

Life for many of the “other” kids was confined to the walls of manufacturing factories all across the cities of America. They worked in cigar factories, textile mills and packing factories. Technology had made the machinery easy to operate especially in the textile industry e.g.: the Arkwright Machines. One adult supervising a number of children meant larger profits. They were even small enough to crawl under textile machinery to oil it. They were locked in for long hours and beaten if they fell asleep. Crowded and unhygienic conditions often resulted in respiratory and other ailments.  The glorious Industrial Revolution was in full force in the United States!

Social Reformers like Jane Addams recognized the issues that plagued the polyglot society of the 1910s. Though she was from a wealthy background, she chose to do something about it. The establishment of Hull House in Chicago provided an oasis for the immigrant population. For the children, this meant day care, chance at an education and the childhood pursuit of play. Her efforts resulted in Chicago’s first public playground and the building of more schools. And she worked toward passing laws that made child labor illegal and the establishment of juvenile courts.

A hundred years later; we have come a long way. The United States has passed and implemented child labor laws.  The Fair Labor Standards Act restricts employment and abuse of children in the US. It also does much to protect their educational opportunities and restricts their employment in hazardous jobs. It restricts the number of hours children under 16 can work. There is even a separate enforcement division called Wage and Hour Division.

We have cleaner and safer working conditions now. Our society and economy went from strength to strength and we became a global superpower.  We lead the world in the search and discovery of new technology. As we moved to fresher pastures, much of the work we used to do, has moved to other countries. For example, most of the manufacturing has moved out of the United States to emerging economies like China.

The US continues to be the world’s largest consumer with its enormous purchasing power. The illusion of a vast virtual income is further driven by the existence of endless credit. Capitalism is based on supply and demand. There are many countries willing to produce and sell goods that satisfy the insatiable appetite of America. And we also insist on getting them cheaper and cheaper too.

The image of those ragged American children working in textile mills have become mere photos in our history textbooks. But we have just replaced them with the unseen images of millions of non-American children in other countries. Have we just transferred the social injustices of our past onto other countries?

Have we as a society, really considered the consequences of our incessant consumerism. Did we ever stop to consider, for example, that the expensive diamonds – “the gift of love” - that we wear, could be the toil of child labor in the diamond mines of Africa?

We cannot put on blinders and pretend that our history or our future is not closely interlinked with that of the rest of the world. After all, immigrants from all over the world make up this country.

For corporations in a capitalistic society, the bottom line is still a determining factor. As environment, labor and safety laws became more stringent in the United States; the multi-national corporations simply moved the jobs overseas to countries where the laws were less rigid or not enforced as well. Child labor is considered illegal in many countries today, thanks to efforts of organizations such as the International Labor Organization and UNICEF, but is poorly enforced in most.

In 2008, as many as 1000 school age children were found working in the manufacturing zones in the Guangdong Province of China (near Hong Kong). Labor recruiters are believed to have lured thousands of children away from the poverty stricken Liangshan region of China. Ironically stricter enforcement of adult labor laws and inflation had made these manufacturing sectors turn to illegal child labor to stay competitive. They produce much of the cheap toys and electronics that kids in the US enjoy.

In 2004, some 480 children, some as young as 5-6 yrs old, were rescued from embroidery factories in New Delhi, India. These sweatshops produced clothing for GAP Kids in the US. Surely this is not what we had in mind when we started to outsource. Similar scenarios of child labor have arisen with Firestone Inc at their metal plantation in Liberia. H&M, a worldwide fashion retail chain has been accused of using cotton from Siberia, where children under 10 often work the fields.

The sad truth is that child labor is common in many parts of the world – in agriculture, mining, domestic work, industry and informal sectors. They often endure cruel and harsh conditions. While, we in the United States have fought against it, ironically we may in part be encouraging it in other parts of the world.

The US has put in much effort, by passing laws such as the Child Labor Deterrence Act in 1993 (Harkin's Bill). This curbs the import of goods that uses child labor in any stage of its production. But is boycotting such goods, really the best solution? UNICEF found that thousands of child laborers lost their jobs in the garment industries of Bangladesh as a result of this Act.  Driven by poverty, they simply moved to more hazardous jobs like stone-crushing. The UNICEF, IPEC (International Program for Elimination of Child Labor – A division of ILO) and other non-profits are now trying to rehabilitate these kids by slowly phasing them into schools.

Sometimes it happens right under the nose of our democracy. In 2008, Agriprocessors, a meat packaging company in Kentsville, Iowa, was charged with over 9000 child labor law violations, involving 32 minors. Of these 7 were under the age of 16. One always hears stories of sweatshops right in the US where immigrants work long and grueling hours for little pay. Who is to say that minors are not in that group that works in those very sweatshops?

The reasons for child labor remain the same whether it is 1910 or 2010. Abject poverty drives entire family to work. There isn’t a parent in the world that does not want their child to have an education or enjoy the pursuits of childhood. And it is economic conditions that make parents willingly or unwillingly send their kids off to work as they depend on the additional income. Perhaps there are no educational opportunities available to that child in that region and the alternative is working.

Discovery and rehabilitation of child workers is a good short term solution. So is raising public awareness and corporate responsibility by passing and implementing laws. But the real long term solution to worldwide child labor is really to increase the standard of living in all countries and across all strata of society. Only then can child labor truly become mere images in history books across the world. 

Sources:

"Government and Immigration." 1910's Government and Politics. Gale Cengage, 1996. eNotes.com. 2006. 15 Jan, 2010 http://www.enotes.com/1910-government-politics-american-decades/government-immigration

Whaples, Robert. "Child Labor in the United States". EH.Net Encyclopedia, edited by Robert Whaples. October 7, 2005. URL http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/whaples.childlabor

Slater, Samuel. “Father or the American Industrial Revolution”. Jan 15, 2010 http://www.woonsocket.org/slaterchildlabor.html

United States Department of Labor – Youth and Labor  Jan 2010 http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/youthlabor/index.htm

The History Place: Child Labor in America 1908-1912 http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/

Hakim, Joy.  “A History of US – Book 7, An Age of Extremes.”

The New York Times. 5/10/2008. Child Labor Rings Reach China’s Distant Villages http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/10/world/asia/10CHINA.html

The New York Times. 11/15/2007. GAP Moves to recover from Child Labor Scandal http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/15/business/worldbusiness/15iht-gap.1.8349422.html

The Iowa Independent. 9/9/2008 Agriprocessors charged with over 9000 child labor law violations http://iowaindependent.com/5235/agriprocessors-charged-with-9000-child-labor-law-violations

United States Dept of Labor – Bangladesh Jan 2010 http://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/sweat/bangladesh.htm

Rahman, Mufizur et al. Child Labor in Bangladesh: A Critical Appraisal of Harkin's Bill and the MOU-Type Schooling Program. Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 33, 1999 http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=LSQGQQHSJWZdNKHLwp0J6G0yHyCrmYLv5dpmvYMZRLjhP2fBvhvf!-852814118!1201110973?docId=5001865348

ILO, Investing in every child: An economic study of the Costs and Benefits of Eliminating Child Labor. Dec 2003 http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/---webdev/documents/publication/wcms_071311.pdf

ILO, Diamonds are Forever, But Not the Lives of Child Workers. Nov 2006. http://ihscslnews.org/view_article.php?id=162

A Definitely Possibility

A Definite Possibility!                      

“Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech.”

And thus the vision of the founding fathers was sealed. They were from diverse backgrounds. Some were Deists who did not recognize religion as such but believed in the notion of a creator, and that reason was the basis of all knowledge. Others were Christians and there was even an Atheist in the mix.  They envisaged a republic that was free from oppression of any kind  - not just from rulers, but also between different groups of its citizens. 

"It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers, but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part.  Different interests necessarily exist in different classes of citizens.  If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure." (No. 51)

A fundamental aspect was, of course, to protect the right of religious expression – to practice one’s set of beliefs, even if it was in variance with other groups.

However, over the decades, parts of the US has tilted to being more Judeo-Christian centric, with lower tolerances for other religions. While the Ten Commandants are absolutely unique and in a way a very profound set of maxims, it is hardly reasonable to have them placed at some of our courthouses – especially when one of the commandments states, “Thou shalt not follow any God but me”. A republic can be, “for the people and by the people,” only if every citizen has equal access to this right. Associating the offices that uphold the judicial wing of our secular government with such a statement for example, does not give the impression of fair justice for all.

All religions have to be respected, for their basic value systems are essentially the same. There are the notions of morals, fairness, love, charity and being a productive member of society, no matter what one’s economic or social status is. These are basic human principles necessary for man to survive in a society. Even non-believers of religions follow such fundamental human principles.

But this also imparts a responsibility on the shoulders of its citizens – how far does one take the conviction of freedom of religious expression?  It can be argued as to who defines these limits. It has to be limits that define functioning of just human societies. The spirit of this principle is indeed negated when other religions are vilified or ridiculed.

The US has moved past its colonial roots, where religions of the conquered, be they monotheist or polytheist, were regarded as inferior. We may or may not agree with specifics of other religions and some practices may seem strange or unusual to us, but what is wrong in toleration unless they violate a fundamental human right.

Despite the seeming shortcomings, the US is actually one of the most tolerant societies in the world toward religion and religious expression.  But to move ahead as a society we have to make it more so.

This boils down to education and awareness of other religions. As you learn about other religions, old prejudices are stripped away in terms of what their core values represent. Criminals abound in all societies and religions. A criminal will commit crimes, irrespective of the religion he was born into (or converted to). And there are always going to be people who will commit heinous acts in the name of religion. They may even whip others into a state of frenzy citing religion as a reason. But this is a result of their own flawed interpretation of what their sacred texts state. No religion on earth condones hate crimes, genocide, exploitation or even simple theft.

Religious differences seem to be an underlying factor in conflicts worldwide today. As a society, we have to move towards unity and harmony.  The US, given its giant status, can do much to dissipate tensions. But the foundation has to be laid in its own citizens.

The US has over the last few centuries, been a melting pot for people from all walks of the world.  People have flocked here for many reasons - both economic and social. They have even fled here to escape political persecution – from the Jews during Hitler’s rule to recent immigrants escaping tyrannical regimes.

When there is freedom of expression, people can express their grievances against a political system or government. It gives you the right to protest in Washington DC or elsewhere in the country, without fear of arrest and harassment. This is in sharp contrast to say, the treatment meted out to the protesters demonstrating against Tibetan Occupation at the Beijing Olympics.

This really is the underlying factor in our founding father’s vision of “freedom of expression” – that of political expression. They themselves were trying to shake off the shackles of British Colonialism. Our modern US democracy has sometimes strayed from this path e.g.: the McCarthy Era. And we may not always agree with the direction that some administration may be taking us. There are always short-term glitches and mistakes we make along the way. We are involved in another endless Vietnam style war in Afghanistan. We have just replaced rainforests and swamps for scorching deserts and caves. Then we got distracted by starting another war in Iraq and got sidetracked from our initial goal of capturing Osama Bin Laden who is still at large. But it is debate and discussion that highlights these issues. And it is this very freedom of expression, which will eventually help us get back on track.

In the end, democracy evolves and becomes all the more vibrant, as discussion expands. And healthy debate can happen only when freedom of expression is upheld. The founding fathers gave us a great framework to work with. We now have to help define it.

Freedom of Expression has played a great role in shaping racial tolerance in our country. Where would we be without the mountain-moving words of figures like Rev Martin Luthur King Jr., during the Civil Rights Movement? Only when the voices of all are heard, even those of minorities, can we progress as a society. And there are many such minority residents whose voices need to be heard in our country. They have to be given the courage to express their views. Many new immigrants are not even aware they have this right. In large part, they come to this country so that they too can become productive members of society. In many ways they are willing to work harder in order to succeed. Freedom of expression is such a profound concept, that its influence and reach can be difficult to grasp at first. Newer immigrants need to be educated so that they too have access to this right. The responsibility lies with us to not misuse it as a propaganda tool either.

The US is like a giant soup bowl – a mix of populations, both diverse and interesting. Immigration has defined this country. We have been an Immigration-Mecca, beckoned anon by Lady Liberty and her flaming torch. Our vision on immigration in the future will continue to define the face of this country.

The constant immigration is what enables the US to keep its edge in the global marketplace. Immigration brings with it fresh ideas, fresh minds and new outlooks. We flourish as an economy because of it.

Then there are others, who may argue for restricting immigration, citing other reasons, and push for protectionist policies. But if you look at it, the real original natives are the American Indians. The original colonists were themselves, immigrants. Even the founding fathers were immigrants or descended from immigrants. Are we confusing restricting immigration to racial intolerance where some immigrants are more equal than others, depending on their country of origin?

Then there is the conundrum of illegal immigration. Why are there so many illegal immigrants in our country? A number of them seem to be working and thereby contributing to society. By far, the jobs done by them may be menial, “underground” and unwanted by others. But these jobs too, have to be done. Can a way not be found to bring them under the folds of the legal umbrella, especially if they are contributing members, or give them opportunities to become productive members? Did our forefathers not travel across the oceans on ships, under difficult conditions, all seeking a better life in this land of opportunity? As long as there are opportunities for illegal low-paying jobs, there will be an illegal population waiting to fill that demand. So the way to curb this would be to plug those loopholes. And it is debate and discussion that will help us find ways to plug those loopholes. As far as government and state benefits go - especially basic health care and food - they should not be denied to any resident, legal or illegal. That is a fundamental human principle.

Throwing different ingredients together may cause a brief period of disharmony, as the differently sized ingredients brush against each other. But in the end, they all mesh into a cohesive whole and tasty salad.   The fact is that we have the freedom to debate both sides of the argument.  And that’s the definition of democracy.

Where we really fall short as a democracy is in the fields of basic health care and education. The US is a global leader in the fields of biomedical research and advances. Ironically in this same country, health care is neither affordable nor accessible to all its citizens. We are mired deep in layers of bureaucracy - more time is spent on paperwork (adding to un-necessary workforce costs) than on treating the actual illness. Are these cost-adding layers really necessary, and are they a useful tool to the progression of our society?

Our medical insurance system is reminiscent of a Mafia Don that terrorizes both the doctor and the patient.  If you don’t pay for protection (coverage in this case) - no health care for you! Even if you do agree to pay up, you are charged extra under the guise of labels like co-payments and deductibles. And if you have a pre-existing condition – why then you may be denied medical care altogether.

Likewise, if a doctor suggests treatment that is not cost-effective for the insurance, he is blacklisted. What doctor would dare go off the leash put on his by the insurance masters – it would be job suicide. It’s a sad state of affairs when basic medical care is driven by the profits of insurance giants at the expense of the health of our nation.

The irony is that there are developing countries out there that have a better medical care system than us. India is one such example. There are free public hospitals and small private clinics all over the cities. Service is quick and painless (maybe long waitlines in the lobby due to sheer populalation size. The doctor usually knows his patients so well that, many times he charges less for patients whom he knows are not economically well off, or helps them with cost of buying medicines by giving them free medical samples. Primary health care is so easy and so affordable. Many doctors routinely volunteer in rural and low-income areas and offer free health care. All these things are the sign of a humane society. Can the US doctors’ even dream of such a situation and would the insurance companies even allow them to do that? High quality surgeries and other medical procedures (e.g.: bypass surgeries) are so affordable by world-standards that there is now a booming medical tourism industry in India.

Health is both a physical and mental phenomena. Our health care has become too robotic and there is less and less human interaction in care. If a concerned and known ear accompanies the pills, recovery times would be quicker and last longer. Maybe there would even be less mental conditions such as depression in our society.

Our (US) research labs discover and market most modern medicines, yet these same medicines are less expensive outside the US. Our own citizens prefer to buy them from Canada and Mexico. It is a sad day in our country’s history when people have to run to other countries for affordable medical care and medicines.

It’s apparent that we’re ahead on the technology, knowledge and science but we kick on the delivery. Does it not then seem logical that we need to start by overhauling insurance in order to transform basic health care in our country?

And we have been through such other periods in our history. There was a time when factory owners exploited workers. It was always more profitable to have less safety standards or employ child labor. But was it the right thing to do? Debate and discussion resulted in enactment of Labor Laws and changed the face of the modern workplace. That’s freedom of expression at work!

Similarly, free Public Education is a wonderful idea in American society. It has helped generations of new immigrants integrate into our country.  We have made sure that every child in this country gets the chance at an education. Not all countries are able to pull this off.

Where we lack is that the quality of education is not uniform throughout the country. Our teachers help shape the next generation of American adults and visionaries, yet they are paid a pittance. Talented workforce will be attracted to this profession only if compensated well.  Isn’t this a worthwhile investment in our children’s future? And poor teaching in poor neighborhoods just breeds the vicious cycle of school dropouts, unemployment, and crime.

Even as we have ensured a free public education up to the high school level, our tertiary education has become unaffordable and therefore inaccessible for most people. This affects our competitiveness in the global market, especially given that we have top-notch university education available right at home. Our industries draw brilliant minds from across the globe. Ironically, we have so many more at home, just deprived of that opportunity to shine in that field.  Affordable college is again a critical investment in our country’s future.

Education itself is currently too narrowly defined. It is not merely learning to decode words that are written. It is not merely learning math and sciences either. Many students move through the education system without even grasping the applications and possibilities of what they learn, such that they can utilize it throughout their lives. Education has to move away from regurgitating facts to really having an appreciation of the subjects taught.

Education is the promenade of life. We have to prepare young minds to be responsible adults by also instilling “education in human values.” As a society, we can then, only progress from strength to strength.

What an absolutely profound concept – “Freedom of Expression”  - set in the framework of our constitution. And it has survived over 200 years. Let us not abuse it, but use it to mold the future of our country and the world. Our democracy will evolve and thrive as we uphold and continue to use this fundamental right.

My vision is one where there is peace amongst mankind and where every citizen is a contributing member of society in his own small way– in our country and globally.

It’s a definite possibility!

Jolly St Nick

Jolly St. Nick comes flying on his reindeer drawn sleigh. He lands on the snow-laden roof, climbs down the chimney and lays out presents under the Christmas Tree, before he sets off again. It’s every child’s fantasy to catch Santa in the act of climbing down the chimney or the sight of him enjoying the milk and cookies laid out for him. Oh to see the lovely reindeer that pulled his magical sleigh! The anticipation of seeing the gifts appear magically under the tree on Xmas morning is almost too much to bear.

As a child I did believe in the existence of Santa Claus. It was a time when one's perception of the word was much more simple - where things were black and white, with no shades of gray. After all, Santa spent all year slogging it away with the elves at the North Pole, making toys. He was this really chubby guy with a jovial face and wore an attractive red suit. And he loved kids - he would grant you any wish you wanted. His address was just so simple - “Santa Claus, North Pole,” and the Post Office knew exactly where to send your wish list.

Ah, the bliss of childhood memories!

I was around 7 or 8 when I started thinking about the physics and economics of this phenomenon. Xmas day like any other day lasts exactly 24 hrs if you take the earth’s spin into account. In 24 hrs, he has to visit every home on earth – look at the exploding global population - currently at 6.7 billion. That’s a LOT of homes to cover in a small amount of time. For each home he has to fly there, land on its roof, climb down the chimney, leave presents under the tree, snack on the milk and cookies, climb up the chimney, and fly off.

Why did Santa need to snack on milk and cookies at every home anyway? No wonder he is so chubby! He probably has to be on a salad diet the rest of the year. Was he just tired from all the climbing, up and down the chimneys? Did the reindeer get snacks too for their hard work? Surely they were tired too!

His sleigh has to land on snowy, possibly icy roofs. How do the reindeer manage to not slip off the roof? The sleigh must have some terrific traction technology. And what happens where there are no slanting roofs - like in apartments blocks. There are no fireplaces in warmer countries either – how does he enter.  Was Santa just limited to snow bound parts of the world? And what happened to the kids with no X-mas trees - were they denied toys?

How did he manage with that suit of his? It’s warm and great for the Artic skies, but what did he do in the countries south of the Equator- in the midst of their summer at Xmas time? And how did the sleigh work in the desert and the plains?

To top it all, how on earth did he manage to fit all the toys (which took all year to make) into one red sack?

How did the lean figure of the Christian saint, Bishop Nicholas transform into the roly-poly red jolly figure we know today. The transformation started in the 1820s with an anonymous poem titled “Sante Claus.” Soon after, Santa Claus became an American phenomenon, with the publication of the poem “The Night before Christmas.” The image of the red figure with flying reindeer and elves was permanently sealed in our psyche.

There are however lots of $$$ at stake when Santa season is on. Malls are crowded and guys in red Santa suits are found everywhere. You pay for the privilege of sitting on his lap or even taking a photo with Santa. Kids make wish-lists for Santa and parents pay – a price to uphold notions of Santa’s existence. But can all parents necessarily afford to pay this price. Santa has unfortunately become the epitome of our society’s consumerism – pushing everything from coca colas to every other product at the malls and stores.

It was so much easier when memories of Santa were of the Jolly Red Guy, with a snowy beard, who just truly loved kids, with no other strings.

Cheers Santa!

Avatar - the movie

Avatar

(Movie Review)

The aliens land on Earth and pretend to be our friends. But their ulterior motives are far more sinister – they covet something on Earth and are willing to destroy the planet to attain it.

Does this plot sound familiar? There have dozens of movies and books over the decades on this very theme. Now what if we turn this scenario around. What if Man from Plant Earth became the aggressor, and wants to colonize another planet in order to exploit its resources.

Colonization is not a new concept in our planet’s history. Mankind has spent centuries practicing it – one nation dominating another by force, depleting its natural resources, subjugating and killing native populations. And now man has become so technologically advanced that he just extends this concept beyond the boundaries of his home planet.

Settlers from Earth arrive on Pandora. The humans are headed by a ”for-profit” corporation, which has both a scientific unit and a military wing. They try to teach the native population English in order to interact with them. But the corporation is really after a precious ore, which is right undernearth the native village. Joining their crew, is paraplegic ex-Marine Jake Sully.

Jake’s twin had been part of the scientific unit developing the Avatars. This hybrid entity, containing DNA of both humans and the native humanoid Na’vi, allowed the Avatar to breathe the local atmosphere and interact with the Na’vi. Each avatar was driven by the consciousness and nervous system of its human driver. Jake is asked to take on the avatar designed for his dead brother as they share the same genome.

While the main directive from the science wing is to learn more about the natives and advancement of science, Colonel Quatrich, heading the military unit recruits Jake to get inside information to get the Na’vi off their land – ie: force their cooperation. The corporation plans to get the ore, with carrots or with stick. In return, Jake is promised spinal surgery, which would restore his legs.

The 10 ft tall, blue-skinned Na’vi, are actually a peaceful tribe living in harmony with their environment. Pandora is lush and green, almost like a tropical rainforest with its giant trees, yet with wondrous psychedelic flora and some unusual, almost pre-historic fauna. Parts of the planet even float. The special effects in the movie are quite dazzling and a pleasure to watch.

During a chance encounter, A Na’vi princess, by the name of Neytiri, takes a liking to Jake’s Avatar and takes him back to her village. The tribe decides to teach him their ways. As his interaction with the Navi grows, he is forced to question his own role there. The Colonel and the head of the corporation realize that Jake is having a change of heart and move to evict the Na’vi by force – with “shock and awe” bombing. Jake has to save the day and decide where his future lies!

Dazzling high-tech special effects and a quick moving story make this movie a spectacular watch.

Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost

The Maldives is a stunningly beautiful tropical nation in the Indian Ocean. Most of its 1200 islands are no more than 1m above sea level, yet 80% of its islands will be underwater in 100 years. On Oct 17, 2009, its government held an underwater cabinet meeting to bring world attention to the plight of this nation.

Paradise Lost!

Developed nations like the US and emerging economies like China lead the world in terms of their carbon dioxide emissions, but the impact is felt across the world - even in the tiny and underdeveloped nation of Maldives.

One fifth of the low-lying deltas of Bangladesh frequently experience both river and coastal floods. An increase in atmospheric temperature would increase its precipitation rates and cyclone intensities. The increasing glacier melts of the Himalayas would cause increased river run-offs. A 1m rise in sea level could inundate 18% of its land and 40% of its mangrove forest area would forever vanish along with the 49 species of flora and fauna that it houses.

The phenomena of the melting polar ice sheets would expose darker surfaces, which absorb rather than reflect the sun’s heat, causing further increases in temperature.  The artic Narwhal may soon be a distant memory as its specialized diet and migration paths change. Warmer weather patterns would also increase the spread of vector borne diseases such as malaria. Higher altitudes would become accessible to warm weather insects exposing populations with no previous immunity to such diseases.

The list goes on, with effects on our health, forests, water resources, ecosystems and biodiversity and its impact will last generations more.

A Newsweek article in 1975 claimed the very opposite; that the world was headed towards global cooling from the 1940s, and indeed it was at that time. But the trend reversed from 1979 and we are now rapidly plunging in the other direction.  And the earth does naturally go through periods of cooling and warming, as does the intensity of our solar energy. The difference this time, it seems, is that it is largely man that is madly accelerating these changes.

Irrespective of the trends, there is a very fundamental question we need to address: - Do we not respect the home we live in? Our current knowledge knows of no other biosphere in the universe that can sustain us like Earth can. Planet Earth is our home. Why then are we trying to pull the rug out from under our own feet?

Man as a species, has both shocked and awed the world with his technological advances and knowledge over the ages. Yet, Man has often striven to create and advance such that it benefits his species. In fact he has often tried to promote the interest of his own sub group(s), to the detriment of other humans on earth.

But is Man not the most evolved species, amongst the biodiversity present on this planet? If he had destroyed in the past, he is equally capable of working to sustain and revive from now on. It boils down to awareness that our home planet is a whole entity and is inherently interlinked. It is ignorance to think that depletion of the Amazon rainforests will not impact outside of South America. It is equally naive to think that the rapid and uncontrolled expansion of cities like Las Vegas, will not affect the biodiversity of the Grand Canyon.

Global awareness is setting in, and that’s an important first-step. From the perspective of a nation, economics, profit and convenience often sway decisions detrimental to constructive logic. But this just serves as blinders that constrict our foresight. Such a narrow vision may have unparalleled short-term benefits, but it places too great a burden on the shoulders of future generations. Indeed it is these very nations that have the resources to help stem and reverse the tide.

Shifts in awareness needs to translate into real action. Governments can do much by imposing laws and regulations. The success of conservation efforts depend on sound public policies that back them up. At the national level, it is in efforts such as wetlands and forest management, pollution control and monitoring of oceans, rivers and lakes, encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, and programs that conserve biodiversity.

On average, 8% of the gas-fuel in the US, is the biofuel ethanol, thanks to federal and state regulations and incentives towards clean air standards. Brazil, the second largest producer of ethanol, recognized its potential early on - in the 1970s itself, and invested heavily in this renewable, alternative sugarcane-based biofuel.  The US is currently the largest producer of corn-based ethanol. It is however argued by some environmentalists that sugarcane based ethanol is more efficient and more environment friendly. And there are concerns that large scale ethanol production would lead to lopsided agricultural practices as farmers would prefer to grow government subsidized corn at the expense of other much needed food crops. It may even promote deforestation as the demand for ethanol rises, especially in South America where there are large areas of unfarmed land.

Global cooperation is essential such as the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in which 37 industrialized countries and the European community gave commitments to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol has in fact created a new tradable commodity – “the carbon market,” which allows countries to trade their unused carbon emissions with others who have exceeded their quotas.

However, unless the need is felt at the individual level, laws will mean little, especially in a democracy, which is for the people and by the people. We have spent decades enjoying the benefits of our progress, which has often been at the expense of earth’s environment somewhere, sometime.  Why we’ve even managed to clutter up earth’s atmosphere with space debris from pieces of inactive satellite hardware. It’s gotten really crowded up there in a matter of decades, from the time Sputnik was launched back in 1957.    

Social responsibility has to become a factor for business as well. Why do we need a dozen different chargers in our homes, one for each device that we have? And when a device no longer works or is outdated, its perfectly working charger has to be discarded as well, clogging our landfills. Surely a standards based common charger would reduce the clutter of wires in our homes and therefore mean less clutter in our environment as well. The European Union has already agreed to a one-size-fits-all cell phone charger by Jan 2010.

Going green does not have to mean dragging bottom-lines. The photovoltaic solar panels on the rooftop of Google Inc. in Mountain View, California, produce 1.6MW of electricity. That’s enough energy to power 1000 California homes. Excess power from such measures, can be funneled back into the grid, reducing the need for electricity generation through traditional methods.  In addition to the obvious cost benefits, it provides the company in the long run; it elevates the perception of that business in the eyes of the consumer. Such positive publicity is priceless for any business.  And as more businesses start going green, the cost of going green will reduce for the individual through economies of scale, making it a reality for all.

Individuals can well make the difference in the operation of businesses. Businesses after all, operate on the premise of supply and demand. If the consumer perception and thus demand shifts towards sustainable products, the supply too will follow suit. Business are not some gray indefinable corporate entities. Businesses are run by individuals. Individuals operate as both the producer and consumer of goods in our society.  If the value-system of the individuals change, so will the output of these same businesses. All it takes is a seeming inconsequential action like the use of native plants in one’s yard, which require far less or no watering than just the traditional perfectly manicured lawns. It could be something as simple as limiting the use of paper or monitoring light usage or the types of bulbs used. Or recycling just so all your garbage does not end up in clogged landfills. A single drop of snow is all it takes to start an avalanche.

So used to comforts are we, that its difficult to make that shift in perception. A toy with simpler packing does not reduce its use or functionality in any way. Is the momentary joy of ripping through layers of complex packaging really worth the space it takes up permanently in our landfills? Packaging materials like plastics are not biodegradable. In addition, they may leech out chemicals, which will find its way into our groundwater and therefore into our drinking water supplies.

All said and done, the runaway commercialization and prosperity of developed nations, is bound to influence other lesser-developed nations. In order to attain the lifestyle example set by the developed nations, they emulate the methods to attain them - ironically this example too, was set by the very same developed nations. The result is rampant exploitation of natural resources even in those countries, especially in the burning of fossil fuels, all in an effort to catch up.  

The human race has over time immersed itself in a pattern of instant gratification and instant results.  The effects of conservation on the other hand may take decades or even generations to have noticeable effects.  It can take upto a hundred years for greenhouse gases like Carbon Dioxide to disperse in the atmosphere. So even if we stopped or reduced our carbon footprint now, it will continue to affect our planet for many many generations.

Is it really that hard for an individual or society to think of such a long-term global view? History shows us otherwise. The founding fathers framed the US Constitution such that it has survived unscathed 200 years later. And we continue to admire and be inspired by its basic principles. Our democracy is a model for people of countless other countries. All it took was a few brilliant minds with a really long-term vision.  Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luthur King Jr, are further examples in more recent history. Their vision was then translated into action by the belief and effort of every citizen to make it the success that it is.

The human mind is highly tuned, intelligent and capable. There is nothing that the human race can’t do, once we set ourselves on that path. In the short term there may be skirmishes and disagreements on what the exact path is. But the momentum has been set in motion and its only going to pick up speed and intensity.

We are not just mere citizens of a single country; we need to be proud citizens of Planet Earth. Man living in harmony with his biosphere can be nothing but a win-win situation for all.  

Earth In Peril

Our earth so wondrous when viewed from space
A glowing vibrant globe of blue and much more
With nourishing waters, forests and landforms manifold
A heritage worth preserving for generations more

Yet man of all species is destroying this earth
Enjoying its fruits with thought only for the present
Subjugate and destroy other species that stand in his way
Not to mention the domination he tries on other human races

Pollution justified in the name called progress
Exploitation of earth’s resources, second nature to man
Realizing not the limit, planet earth can take
Diseases and resulting problems rising by the day

Renew and recycle should be the motto of today
Conservation of resources the need of the day
Natural and organic, innately the better way
Change can be felt through all our own small ways.

Change in individual attitudes can lead to global change.
An avalanche starts with a single drop of snow
Change in our lifestyles to a simpler way of life
Green consciousness starts with the single mind

From one to many the change soon spreads
Society working toward collective consciousness
Harmony with nature, crucial to man’s survival
Lets help our planet Earth, precariously in peril.

Sources

1.BBC News South Asia Edition. 7/28/2004 - “Paradise soon to be lost” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3930765.stm
2.CBS World News, 10/17/2009 “Maldives Cabinet meet on Seafloor”
3.Dept of Energy estimates of CO2 emissions from all sources of fossil fuel burning and consumption. www.ucsusa.org/global_warming
4.Agarwal S, et al – 2003 Devt and Climate Change in Bangladesh. Focus on Coastal Flooding. Environmental Directorate Dev Cooperation Directorate, Working Party on Global and Structural Policies. OCDE
5.Newsweek, 4/ 28/1975. “The Cooling World”
6.Los Angeles Times, 11/7/ 2009 “Brazil raises cane over US ethanol tariff”
7.UNFCC – The Kyoto Protocol www.unfcc.int/Kyoto_protocol/mechanisms
8.European Space Agency – “Evolution of Space Debris” http://www.esa.int/esaMI/ESOC/SEMN2VM5NDF_mg_1.html
9.CNN 6/ 29/2009 - Europe gets universal cell phone charger www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/ptech/06/29/cellphones.universal.charger/index.html
10.Official Google Blog – An official tour of the Google Campus. googleblog.blogspot.com
11.National Geographic – Environment http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment

Aadi Frenzy

Crowds mill the corner at Pannagal Park in Chennai, India. The traffic crawls, stopping intermittently for the pedestrians, who choose to cross the street at random, weaving their way through traffic. Enormous banners hang on storefronts with pictures of models in attractive clothing. Window displays are a study in color and design. TV ads have already promised potentially unimaginable discounts on clothing and goods. The psychology of the individual is whipped up to a near frenzy. If the discounts are not availed off, a near catastrophe would well prevail.

It is the Tamil month of Aadi in Chennai. The focus is on prepping the fields and sowing. Festivals and weddings at this time would be a unwanted distraction. It is considered an inauspicious month for festivities and therefore, traditionally, a slow month for businesses.

A brilliant marketing strategy - a mad dash for discounted goods is the frenzied result. Loads of shoppers, throng the streets, with full shopping bags in their arms. To avoid the rush, shoppers arrive earlier and earlier to a level that, it matters not if its morning or night on the Street.

Insane traffic jams are the result. A lone policeman waves his baton in attempts to control the traffic. He is easily able to walk in and out of the crawling traffic. He aims a blow at an auto-driver who tries to a take a short cut. The auto, falls back in line, at least for the time being.

Progress; Thy name is Commercialization!

Contradictions and Contraindications.

Contradictions and Contra-indications. 

How many does it take?

The face of the old woman was pressed beseechingly against the window. The lines of age were etched deep into her face and her skin was a dark chocolate leather, from years spent in the hot sun.

Her face was just two inches from mine. Here was I, in the cool comfort of an air-conditioned car, while she was out in 100 F heat. The traffic signal had turned red and the assortment of traffic that plied the roads had come to a halt.

She was wearing a floral blue saree, but it looked worn and was torn in a few places. She had made her way through the traffic and was piteously gesturing with her hand.

How does one respond? And, was I in a position to respond and help her? A feeling of helplessness washed over me. The signal changed and the car moved on.

Another was a cripple. The brown shirt was torn and the khaki shorts revealed that one leg was a mere stump. He was seated on a board with wheels, which he used to drag himself around. He made his way across the signal. The light changed before he got across. Horns blared from impatient drivers, while the bicycles and assorted 2-wheeled vehicles just went around him. The beggar made his way across the street to a fruit stand. The vendor rudely shooed him off. His presence would surely discourage potential buyers.

A frail woman wandered up, carrying a tiny bundle in her arms. That bundle was a tiny nursing infant. The woman looked ragged and worn as she held out her free hand to ask for money. In despair she wandered from car to car.

What about the countless other beggars in the city? Were they reduced to begging due to circumstances or was begging a carefully planned occupation.

As a child, Buddha (then Prince Siddhartha), had been carefully protected from old age and sickness by his father. A chance sight of a beggar put him on the path to achieving harmony and realization.

How many beggars will it take, before society wakes up to the path of realization? 

(written during a visit to India)