2017: The way IndiaWilds editorials saw it
We bring you the round up of all editorial articles written in the newsletters of 2017.
January 2017 :
There were massive demonstrations in Tamil Nadu for holding Jallikattu in December 2016 and January 2017 and there was even an occupy Marina beach movement with lakhs of people converging on the Marina beach in Chennai for demenstrations. The elected Governments both at the Centre and the State level decided to bow in to public pressure. There were many myths propagated, so we decided to examine the issue of Jallikattu in the January 2017 editorial. The article was titled “Jallikattu: Role of State, Culture & Conservation” : https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-i/
3 men on a bull in a jallikattu event in Tamul Nadu
In February 2017:
The article “Of Oceans, Whales & Man” covered the sorry state of our oceans : https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-ii/
400 long-finned Pilot whales breached in the coast of New Zealand and by the next morning 300 of them were dead. The editorial was triggered by this incident and went on to examine the plight of our Oceans which are under continual assault of man. Ofcourse, man gets back what it throws at the ocean and the toxicity in human body can be attributed to some of our actions of throwing toxic waste into the oceans.
Volunteers try to guide some of the stranded pilot whales still alive back out to sea after one of the country’s largest recorded mass whale strandings, in Golden Bay, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, February 11, 2017. REUTERS/Anthony Phelps
March 2017:
The Uttarakhand High Court had given a judgement which could have had far reaching implications. Unfortunately, later this judgment was stayed by the Supreme Court. The main editorial article is on that topic and titled “Holy Rivers as Juristic Persons: A Sliver of Hope” https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-iii/
100th IndiaWilds Issue – April 2017 :
“Killing a River to Raise Awareness” : https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-iv/. This is a 100 pages issue.
Yamuna AOL debris
May 2017 :
Unleashing a Genie: GMO Mustard https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-v/ . In this May 2017 article we explore the toxic world of GM Foods and crops.
June 2017:
Our Home. Our Land. Our future- Desertification? https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-vi/ . This issue explores the rapid desertification and land degradation in India. Unfortunately, neither the Government nor the people seem to be bothered by this burning issue.
July 2017:
Is MoEF&CC reluctant to Save Wild India? https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-vii/
In this July Issue we examine the actions of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and climate change and try to see if those actions are in sync with saving India’s fast vanishing wilderness and wildlife.
Coal mine in Jharkhand
August 2017 :
Conservation: Tree Plantation & Economics https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-viii/ . This issue contains views of some rural folks who have economically benefited from tree plantation and their experience forms the basis of this editorial.
September 2017 :
Religious Tenets, Rituals, State of the Environment https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-ix/ . It is said that Faith can move Mountains. Today irresponsible manner of channelizing our faith has resulted in environmental problems of gigantic proportions and the mountain of environmental problems is becoming too difficult to overcome. For example, what kind of religious belief is this that we are ready to poison our water and the earth?
According to Rig Veda (19th Mantra of 23rd Sukta of 1st Mandala),
“Apsu antah amrutam,
apsu bhaisajam,
apamuta prashastaye,
deva bhabat bajinah”
which loosely translated means “Immortality is the middle of waters, the healing powers are in the waters, O Gods, become full of plenitude (so that) the Waters become praiseworthy”.
Crows on Non biodegradable idols of Lord Ganesha
An adult Human body has at least 50% water content. Civilisations are known to have reached their peak on the banks of rivers and have perished due to lack of water. According to world bank report, India’s economy can be derailed due to insufficiency of water. Today even children are taught in the schools that there are water wars frequently erupting between states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. So the importance of water is well known to people. Despite this, it is surprising that we don’t take care of our water bodies…..
October 2017:
Learnings from Another Toxic Deepawali https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-x/
These days it is accepted that India’s capital city New Delhi and other major cities will be highly polluted during Deepawali, the festival of lights where people burst fire crackers. For several days after the Deepawali, the quality of the air becomes extremely severe. Nevertheless, is there a learning from another Toxic Deepawali? The October 2017 editorial examines.
November 2017:
Nature, Wildlife and our Quality of Life https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-xi/
Our Quality of life is intrinsically linked with the protection and preservation of our environment, forests and nature. Whether you stay in an urban area or rural area, one can’t escape the situation. If we need to survive then we need to ensure that our nature and environment is taken care off.
Newsletter – 2017 – Smog in Delhi
December 2017:
Serial Elephant Killers of Wheels: Bharatiya Rail https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-9-issue-xii/. This article aims to educate the people about the massive challenge faced by the elephants to their lives. Many herds of elephants are being wiped out from the face of this earth by speeding trains and the Indian railway authorities are hardly bothered about it. The elephant has a special place in our psyche, folklore, religion and history. It would be a tragedy if India suddenly forgets the welfare of its elephants. It would be morally and ethically wrong to keep killing our Natural Heritage animal under the wheels of trains and refrain from taking action.
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