Effects on environment
The industrialised nations have agreed to provide funds to mitigate the sufferings of Bangladesh due to climate change as they are at fault by destroying the global environment. Bangladesh government is spearheading the efforts to get the funds to implement projects in this regard. Question is what are we doing ourselves to stop polluting the environment? The rampant development without any planning for environment safety will not help our country either. Cox’s Bazaar/Saint Martin’s Island/CHT all these places will be unliveable due to unplanned constructions. Do we have a sewage system in Cox’s Bazaar to handle this growth? How about water or other infrastructure facilities? What is our recourse due to the effects of all upstream dams/barrages?
The bottom line is running after someone else’s funds will not change anything unless we have accountability and responsibility in our design matrix of urban planning. If felling of 30 thousand zhou trees in Cox’s Bazaar transforms into new villas/hotels for the powerbrokers and elites, then it does not help the environment either. We must have a long-term vision in planning and implementation from now on and tough environmental standard must be followed without any reservation.
MK
Via e-mail
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The readers perhaps know that the Australian sky went blood red a few days ago because of sandstorm. It provides us the evidence that the recent drought in that country has turned years of enduring agricultural progress there to sand. That is just one reason why millions of people like us ask for comprehensive policies and global regulations to combat climate change. They can be protected at the Copenhagen Climate Summit in December this year. At Copenhagen the world need a fair, ambitious and binding deal. One that delivers emission cuts of at least 40 per cent by 2020 from the developed world, an end to tropical deforestation by 2015, and $140 billion a year to support adaptation, mitigation and forest protection in Bangladesh and in other developing world. We know that these goals are politically difficult, but it is equally true that avoiding these goals is cruel.
A binding treaty which delivers these things will believably set us on the track. Delivering such a treaty will require greatness on the part of the global leaders. So far as we know, China, Japan, India and Brazil have all indicated that they are willing to do their share. If the US is ready backed by its lawmakers, only a few negotiating sessions the rest of the world has to go for all these goals to achieve.
But part of the problem is that many in the developed and even developing nations who are believably against the deal, say they do not know when or where climate change will have its impact. The answer lies in the smoke on the horizon to forest fires and burned out homes in their countries. Americans themselves can ask farmers struggling with drought in Texas. The same is applicable to Chinese and to the Indians who also become exposed to unprecedented draught. And, they can take lessons from the recent tsunami in Samoa to floods in the Philippines or can ask, if they please, people like us or the Maldivian, or the Africans who live less than one metre above sea level who know that they or their children will have to move or migrate.
It is time to do something. Do the policies we need exist? Yes, they do. For example, I can cite Greenpeace’s ‘Energy Revolution Scenario’ that spells out how to replace fossil fuels quickly and completely. They developed it in partnership with the German Space Agency and universities around the world. It supports current projections of both population and economic growth. It uses only existing technologies and rejects unproven carbon capture and storage technology and dangerous nuclear power that many developed or developing nations including the United States accepts or exploring the possibilities to do with. ‘Forests for Climate’ policy informs us how deforestation can be halted by 2015, cutting global CO2 emissions by almost a fifth. The scheme would invest money raised on carbon markets in forest protection. By implementing this on a global scale the risk that deforestation is simply displaced is avoided.
Greenpeace’s ‘Cool Farming’ report describes how sustainable agriculture systems can feed the world while reducing climate changing emissions from fertilisers and livestock. This year we must begin to change the way we produce and use energy, manage our forests and feed ourselves. It would mark the beginning of a global drive to live within the planet’s means. It is certainly not ‘tinkering at the edges’. It is encouraging to see how close the entire world views are. The world agrees on the severity of the crisis. The world agrees on the scale of the required response. Perhaps, then, it is just a matter of approach. Campaigns all over the world have driven global solutions to environmental problems. The London Dumping Convention ended the dumping of radioactive waste at sea. The CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty) halted nuclear testing. The Arctic Treaty preserved an entire continent from exploitation. None of these things would have happened without people’s campaign backed by the scientists and political leaders. None of these things would have happened if the leaders had decided they were just too difficult. At each step the world in other side were told the goals were impossible, that the campaigns were being immature. Giant changes have a way of looking not viable as they come close to and inevitable as they die away into history.
Scientists and campaigns like Greenpeace sounded the alarm on climate change many years ago. Because they didn’t take money from governments or corporations, they could develop response free from constraints. Many people in the world, both in the developing and in the developed, have been driven by science and by principle. If only governments and corporations had done the same, the scenario could have been very different. Now, we have the third-degree climate crisis, and it threatens us all. Now, it is the wake-up call and we’ve no other option but to move the world to action. While our children will ask us about climate change will we look at them in their eyes and tell them that we had the chance, but not have the courage, that we were alerted but couldn’t leave the greed, that we had the know-how, but were deficient in the idea?
We shouldn’t miss this Copenhagen Summit as our fair chance, and we have to find out our way into the future. We will find out if the global leaders have the awakening to run off the gluttony, guts and prudence to quickly leave climate-changing things and behaviour behind.
Sirajul Islam
Shyamoli, Dhaka
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For the last couple of years, the world has been experiencing catastrophes one after another. Tsunami killed thousands of people, made thousands homeless and reduced some of the beautiful cites into rubbles.
According to environmental analysts, ‘global warming’ is responsible for these natural calamities. Piles of ice at different regions of the world have started to melt and the sea level is on the rise. And because of this, future earthquakes will be stronger; cyclones, hurricanes will hit harder. More will suffer, more will have to be buried underneath the rubble.
It has long been known that the West — mostly, and the Asian giants are responsible for this global warming. US’ refusal to sign Kyoto Protocol which is an attempt with other rich countries to limit their own carbon emission is the brazen challenge against global warming.
In order to consolidate economic military and technological power corporate America and its allies have developed such a culture where ‘silly’ issue like global warming is an embarrassment for them.
Nowadays, many politicians are saying that a democratic movement can’t be democratic unless it has an agenda against imperialism. And just like that a democratic movement can’t achieve democratic criteria until and unless it includes a programme against global warming. And the time has come when we all need to understand that this blue planet is not ours only. We share Mother Nature with its all other inhabitants. The very existence of this planet and its dwellers are at stake. We must step forward to protect it, save it and live within it.
The movement is growing.
Murshadul Hakim Shuvro
New York, USA
Bangla: UN’s next official language
Every language matters as it is important to bridge differences. Languages are indeed essential to the identity of groups and individuals, and to their peaceful coexistence. They constitute a strategic factor of progress towards sustainable development, and a harmonious relationship between the global and the local context. Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing the tangible and intangible heritage. Every language has the right to be regarded as actual, existing organism.
Considering the rich heritage of Bangla (Bengali) language, its historical background as it is the identity of a nation, its importance in the global arena, its singular place as a symbol of people’s faith in the power of languages to sustain cultures, or the number of people who speak in this language, prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina called for the United Nations to adopt Bangla as one of its official languages, which is spoken by 250 million people worldwide. ‘I seek support of the UN member-states to get recognition of Bangla as an official language of the United Nations,’ she said in an address before the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday, September 26, 2009.
In theory, every country who is a member of the UN has the right to request that their language be allowed for official usage.
An international organisation must have effective ways to overcome language barriers to avoid becoming a Tower of Babel. Since almost every country in the world is represented at the United Nations, it is not an exaggeration to say that the United Nation is a microcosm of the world. The Organisation uses six official languages in its intergovernmental meetings and documents, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The languages were decided by the General Assembly where all countries took part and it could also add or subtract languages in the future. And to add or subtract any language is relatively associated with budgetary reasons, humanitarian reasons, practical issues, and of course with historical background.
Though UNO is yet to accept Bangla as it is official language, it is pertinent to mention here that the UNESCO has paid tribute to the sacrifice of martyrs for Bangla language movement of 1952, by way of proclaiming 21 February the Mother Language Martyrs Day, as ‘International Mother Language Day’ to be observed every year in all the UN member states and at UNESCO Head Quarters. On May 16, 2007, to encourage all of its partners to increase and reinforce their activities in favour of the promotion and protection of all languages, particularly endangered ones, in all individual and collective contexts, the UNGA proclaimed 2008 to be the International Year of Languages and formally recognised the observance of the International Mother Language Day. In last year’s UNGA session, a resolution seeking to recognise Bangla was cosponsored by 124 nations but it was yet to get the acknowledgement.
People, who love the diversity of language, are more likely to be for the addition of more languages. In order to facilitate the mission of the UN, there should be more standardisation because they cannot allow themselves to be caught up on little details like language. The languages used by the UN should reflect the countries involvement with its mission. Today or tomorrow, UN is likely to add a 7th official language in the list.
To become a strong candidate, Bangladesh should start extensive and intensive consultations with the 192 member states and make immediate diplomatic moves to seek the status of official language for Bangla at the United Nations.
Ripan Kumar Biswas
New York, USA
Training of imams
Some times ago, I read an editorial in the Guardian ‘Muslims in Europe - Nationalising Islam’. It was written in reference to the French government’s initiative, France having the largest majority of ethnic Muslim population in any country in Europe, to consider proper education/training of imams for the mosques. The proposed idea of training the imams, the nucleus of Muslim clergy, in universities on civil law, history, culture and language is indeed a very timely as well as a welcome suggestion. In fact this ought to be followed in other countries.
For the present world order and with a view to rid this great religion from the ills of current unjustified blames for fundamentalism/terrorism, imams everywhere must be properly educated. The crux of the problem seems due to lack of defence in the absence of adequate numbers of appropriately learned imams with due theological background combined with essential general education in subjects as indicated in the French government proposal mentioned in the subject editorial.
For the Muslims in France as well as in Europe with the level of education, attitude of life, the mindset of pragmatic thinking, it will be quite easy to get this idea endorsed/implemented without much difficulties. But it will surely pose a great problem to sell the idea in the developing or the third world countries.
With few exceptions, the imams in these countries are in dire need of higher education to come out of the ‘shell’. So far hardly any effective step or realistic effort has been taken in these countries to educate the imams. It will be wonderful if France can go ahead and achieve the desired goal. It doesn’t matter if it takes a long time. At least the initiative has been taken. If the French government becomes successful, it will definitely go a long way in ridding the Muslims from the blame of being fundamentalists, etc. But France alone won’t be able to contribute much, but if others also come forward the situation is sure to change.
What is required the most is coordinated effort as well as well planned initiatives. The US should also consider this matter as it is the pledged intention of that single superpower to free the world from the curse of ignorance/ill-will ultimately leading to what terrorism is all about. Surely, fraction of the billions and billions of dollars spent on wars could be better utilised if it is used in educating the people in general along with the Muslim clerics as intended by the French government.
Z Rahman
Gulshan, Dhaka
Jalil fiasco
This is in reference to the news item, ‘Jalil should quit before questioning polls: Hasina: She says no to action against Fakhruddin, Moeen’
Sheikh Hasina has the right to say so. Is not this Jalil a beneficiary of that ‘understanding’ he is talking about? Why didn’t he protest about it before? Trying to be a saint by being out of favour?
As for Sheikh Hasina, of course she would have broken the teeth of the ‘dogs’ that had bitten her if she could; she ‘does not believe in politics of vendetta’ is an utter lie. She uttered this shamelessly in public media assuming everybody to be a fool. It seems to me that this power hungry lady can do and say anything to get or to remain in power.
An expatriate
Via e-mail
Asian high way through
Burma and India
I doubt if the proposed highway will be any use for Bangladesh in future. The route will go through very dense forests, very hilly regions, with sparsely populated areas known for insurgency. The land transport is always 4-5 times costlier than sea transport for goods. If there is rail service possibly this might be profitable for the countries as the commodity prices will not increase excessively. However, all the facilities will need at least 15 years or more to materialise. I think the sea route will still be the cheapest way to access the markets of China and south Asia from Bangladesh in next decade.
F Islam
Theatrics at UN
The theatrics of the prime minister in New York this week can only be matched by the theatrics of her late father. Speaking to the United Nations in Bengali, while a proud and emotional thing, probably got everyone but the UN staff to leave the hall in boredom. It smacks of desperation and false pride when what the country needed was a modern image and substantive engagement. Take a cue from neighbours like India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, whose heads of state-each commanding a bigger, better economy than ours speak in English and are taken seriously by the peers at the United Nations. The childish ego of Sheikh Hasina is what got her to be called the ‘chief minister’ of Bangladesh by a Kolkata journalist during her last stint at power.
Evidently she has not learnt much.
BT
USA
The latest DNA test and Hitler
New DNA tests show that a skull long thought to be Adolf Hitler’s is not his after all. Scientists at the University of Connecticut conducted tests on the bullet-pierced skull — which had been secretly preserved for decades by Soviet intelligence — and discovered that it belonged to an unidentified woman under 40, the British newspaper The Guardian reported. The results cast doubt on the long-held account that the Nazi dictator swallowed a cyanide pill and then committed suicide in his Berlin bunker as Allied forces were closing in on him in 1945. The story of the testing was also reported in a History Channel documentary, ‘Hitler’s Escape.’ University of Connecticut archaeologist and bone specialist Nick Bellantoni knew from the outset that something was amiss. ‘The bone seemed very thin; male bone tends to be more robust,’ he said. ‘And the sutures where the skull plates come together seemed to correspond to someone under 40.’ Hitler had turned 56 in 1945. Bellantoni had flown to Moscow to inspect the skull and was given one hour to take DNA samples. The testing was conducted in Connecticut. According to the Guardian, the skull fragment was the only positive physical proof that Hitler had shot himself. So who does the skull belong to? According to witnesses, Hitler committed suicide with his mistress Eva Braun. Their bodies were then wrapped in blankets and carried to a bomb crater outside the Berlin bunker, doused with gas and set on fire. But Bellantoni doesn’t think the skull belongs to her. ‘There is no report of Eva Braun having shot herself or having been shot afterwards. It could be anyone. Many people were killed around the bunker area,’ he said.
Spirituality exists wherever we struggle with the issue of how our lives fit into the greater cosmic scheme of things. This is true even when our questions never give way to specific answers or give rise to specific practices such as prayer or meditation. We encounter spiritual issues every time we wonder where the universe comes from, why we are here, or what happens when we die. We also become spiritual when we become moved by values such as beauty, love, or creativity that seem to reveal a meaning or power beyond our visible world. An idea or practice is ‘spiritual’ when it reveals our personal desire to establish a felt-relationship with the deepest meanings or powers governing life.
Avik Sengupta
McGill University, Canada
Alarm
Two types of crimes are alarmingly rising. In my opinion, the Government of Bangladesh is responsible for both the types of crimes, directly or indirectly. It is the government and the society who are not addressing the issues appropriately. Both the issues should be treated as national issues.
Number one issue is the rising number of deaths in road accidents. Most of those accidents are the result of head on collisions. Since the independence, all the consecutive governments talked about mega projects but none of them were materialised, because most of them were unattainable and simply political shows. Probably it is high time we kept aside those showpiece projects and concentrated on basic infrastructural developments. We must give top priority in building multilane national highways. The development of national highways is not only important for communication, it is the backbone of industrial and agricultural developments.
The second disturbing issue is the rising number of killings of women by husbands and in-laws. I believe that making prime minister, foreign minister, home ministers, etc do not necessarily mean empowerment of women in the society. The real empowerment of women can only come from practical reforms and bold steps taken by the government and the society. As an immediate step, we should demand that the government reserve at least one third of the government jobs for women. Let them work in every level, from driving to the management level. It is very important that we help them to become economically emancipated and in shredding out their dependency on their cruel and selfish male counterparts.
MH Khan
Via e-mail
