Sustainability , reusablility .....

 These days everywhere it is more about environment consciousness, creating awareness amongst people to respect the planet and environment.

Last few years we saw plastic ban in line with environmental health and well being - saw rules, laws, restrictions, bans, substitutions and what not. Result, yes reduced plastic usage, but yet you can get plastic if you can pay for it.

I had earlier commented in many forums, how this ban affected people - Earlier all business institutions used to distribute good quality huge plastic bags ( which can carry heavy load, and can be used again anad again) as a way to promote their business, but when plastic was banned , consumers were forced to pay for the bags ( whether cloth, paper ). I had questions on why the business institutions were not asked to provide something else instead of plastic and not allow charging for the same from the consumer? Yeah, no answers for that. 

Yet, I studied about Brundtland report, things about sustainibility and convinced myself on what has happened was the right way. In the name of reusable and recyclable, the cartons used, stink whether you enter a mall or buy medicines or pay for paper bags anywhere etc. How paper is going to affect in future? How will you ensure deforestation doesnt happen? What are the side effects of stinky reusable cartons that you use for groceries, vegetables and edibles?

Even if I wish to let go my perception of that, I fear a bigger epidemic in store. Earlier aluminium foil related disposable pouches/ containers were much promoted as very healthy way and also disposable. Now again plastic containers, aluminium foil containers, pouches , paper cups are back with Covid. Every small outlet is using disposable utensils even if you eat in the premises. Business owners want to have business and hence are willing to provide disposables as consumers are more comfortable than the regular stuff. Both are benefitting - business is earning, and people are happy that they get clean stuff. win-win situation. ideal solution. 

but what about environment? what about sustainibility? what about sustainable solutions? is this really sustainable? Or is it just that go with the flow, manage the present. we will worry when we really reach that level?

How are these "disposables" disposed? How will the effects of aluminium and plastic be managed in future? Where is the caution of degradation gone? 

brace yourself for another epidemic , for another ban, for another awareness 

 

Politics, Elections, Government, Opposition, blah blah

Coming from a very small town, and a middle class family, I saw that the ladies from the neighborhood get together at one place helping each other in their chores almost everyday, gossiping about the people , who are not around, pointing fingers at how a girl is behaving, or how a boy is roaming around without responsibilities.

Growing up, I saw the societies fighting off their egos, showing off their riches, trying to take sides etc. And later this grew up to the colonies, and with internet, whatsapp, these ego clashes, behavior, supreme feelings have multiplied , with people forgetting social etiquette, public forum behaviors and publicly humiliating one/many people in the forums etc.

Parliament is not far behind. We have seen people literally fighting, shoving off the chairs, holding off collars, MLA running away with speaker's mace, all this while it is being aired on national TV.

Now, what is the government and the opposition/ parties doing? Just washing off the dirty linen in public. I was under the impression that a government forms given the good deeds done, and opposition is the one, who failed doing its part, and the one who contributes in pointing/ monitoring the things being done by the government , thus making sure the government fulfils its promises or the oppositions gains it in the next election. 

These days whenever you connect to News/TV/media -- only thing is PM commented this, and opposition commented that... blah blah.... 

Raincoat, peeping, maut ka saudagar, phata kapda, 10L ka suit and what not. It sounds stupid and is like having two children debate and instead of the debate, both of them fighting on what he said, what other one said. And see the tone of all the politicians in all their lectures, i see no growth plans , no development plans nothing other than bitching around. 

With the election time around, this nonsense has extended to every nook and corner of the cities , with blaring speakers, and wide screens ...

phew... i think instead of walking ahead , we are moving backwards. 

Nature's Fury, Media , Politics....

It is like yesterday, people were crying of drought, blaming politicians of their intentions of diverting water and blah blah... But now, suddenly monsoons start off with a heavy fan fare of cloud bursts, flash floods and what not - "THE UTTARAKHAND" episode.

It, by itself is a calamity, though natural, but what about the calamities we, the people, are creating as an aftermath of the natural calamity.

There travels a VVIP of some party, god knows with what intentions, but evacuates 15000 people ( not to mention, of his own state). Maybe, the wrong person, for the wrong reason, was at the right place at the right time;). And the home ministry states that no (V)VIP's should travel to these areas and hamper the rescue operation. Good.  Immediately, one more VVIP travels for whatever reason. This, is surely a point to ponder on why, how and who approved, blah... blah.. blah...

On top of all this, one of the news channel hosts a debate hour - "VIPs and Visits".  That too sounds great. And the famous anchor yells and screams on top of his voice about the VIPs visit, while the same channel flaunts of having its own people, at ground level and broadcasting every minute detail of the devastation 24 X 7, showing pictures of the choppers, people river crossing, rock climbing, helped by the army and rescue forces in evacuation.

Is the broadcasting really necessary - that too 24 X 7? Broadcasting the wreck-ages of the buildings, shrines 24 X 7 - how does that help? Are they going to be reconstructed just by watching it 24 X 7? Showing people struggling - 24 X 7 - does that help in getting them to safety just by broadcasting? Guess, the media hasn't learnt anything from the terrorist attack incident in Mumbai.

Don't you think the media, itself, is also acting like the (V)VIP's at the ground? The reasons - one, if they have sent their media personnel in their own vehicles, then they should also start helping rescue operations by providing the basic necessities to the stranded over there, and bring them back to camps in their own vehicles - whatever they are. Two, if they haven't gone in their own vehicles, and used rescue choppers/ machinery to reach there, then they too have disrupted the rescue operations - because they are using up the space by which more people could have evacuated.

So, coming to the debate hour, while the anchor, on top of his voice, points out that the politicians are using this incident to maximize their vote bank, doesn't he realize that his own channel is doing something similar to maximize and gain its own TRP.

Inflation ....Recession ... Middle class woes

Petrol prices increased by Rs.7.50!
Vegetables and groceries gone up !
School fees gone up!
School van charges gone up because of petrol ( I thought they were on CNG till now :( )!
Books, uniform everything gone up!

For the middle class & employed class, only the expenses go up always. Salary never goes up relatively with inflation.

GOD save us !!!

Confused....or Amused.........

When I read some articles, I really am not sure if am confused or should be amused.

* Case filed against a police inspector who shot a leopard to save people from its killing spree:(
Article says "With warden's permission, it can be shot dead". The previous day newspaper showed images of the police shooting at the leopard, while it was attacking a human. Looks like the police at that point should have restrained himself and gone back to seek permission before shooting it down. How does it matter if it kills a couple of people more? Maybe, value of the life of a person is much less than the leopard's, given the enormous human population India has!!

Maybe, one more munnabhai series is needed to say "permission zaroori hai kya mamoo" in line with "form bharna zaroori hai kya mamoo".

This reminds me of the recent "save tiger campaign charity" Wherein celebrities had come out and auctioned their stuff, and an NRI commiting that he will pay "equivalent amount of the charity contributions for the cause".I appreciate the effort and sincerely hope the funds generated are utilized responsibly.

What makes me wonder is, where were all these biggies when it comes to helping human-beings! There were multiple articles stating that people injured in bomb blast got meagre compensation, which doesn't even meet their medical needs; people washed away in floods and rendered homeless were given Rs.5000-10000 as compensation, in this age of super-inflation.


* There was one more article "Man accused of rape charges" and the lady was staying with that person for a long time; and now suddenly she files an accusation of rape, because he did not keep his promise of marrying her. Lady is well into middle years and very knowledgeable, but still charges the man of rape after living-in with him for more than 2 years!


* Article on Inflation - Instead of trying to look at the rootcause and solution, people start making statistics and asking people to get prepared to shell off Rs.200 per kg of vegetable in the next 10 years. True!! What were the petrol prices before 10 years? 30 Rs/l, and now 62 Rs/l. Great case of media preparing people for the worst.


* Riots happen, bandhs happen, they torch buses, public property and all, and who has to shell off for the losses? Ruling party? Opposition party? or rioters? or people who called for the bandh? This debate will continue like the never ending court proceedings, and till then it is the tax payer who suffers.

I think a tax-payer should be called something else, to show the extraordinary multiple skills they own - for the sheild they wear to fight inflation, for being honest in paying exorbitant taxes, for having ability to cater to the losses incured to the government -irrespective of whether it is bandh, buses torched, for the bravery shown to adapt to the sudden change in petrol hike or some other policy.

* Recently read an article where an IT exec says there is no term like Over Time payment to employees; even though they do charge the customer for OT and pocket the moolah.Not sure if it is smart running of operations or glaring corporate ethics!

* Another thing that surprises me is the age-old rules/policy that we continue to stick to. For instance, the LTA component paid to employees. As per policy, "LTA can be claimed for a trip to the native place by rail or road or air, but by the shortest route and so on....It should be within India etc..etc.." Cheapest mode, shortest distance, within India, long leave, .... Are we living in stone age? Why not cover any mode of travel & to any corner in the world?

When the government can take decision irrespective of the people's stand on how much they will pocket as salary, etc... Can't it relook at some of these policies and align it to the current state of living?

Anyways, my questions are always questions; as I am always confused and more amused.

I remain confused and at the same time amused....so bear with my unstreamed thoughts;)

Thoughts – (il)logical

Turn around and anywhere and everywhere you get to hear the words “economy”, “sensex gaining/losing”, “outsourcing”, “Australian attacks” etc….

These words remind me of my childhood thoughts. Whenever I used to see poverty around or difficult times in my own life, I always used to think, why are some people poor and some rich? From where are all these problems evolving. If the saying “Money isn’t everything, but everything needs money.” is true, why doesn’t RBI print money and bring everyone at par in terms of finances and start afresh?

These thoughts may seem senseless or childish to all, but still these “outsourcing”, “attacks”, “economy” and all these words make me all the more curious about “money”, “currency”. Let me explain: If there was uniform currency world wide, would there be an issue of outsourcing? Would there be something like Australian attacks?

See the pro’s of having uniform currency world wide,

* US companies would not look out for cheap labor in countries like India or China, avoiding the issues like unemployment in their own land and outsourcing (also the president would not be stressed out on these issues)

*Australian ministers wouldn’t request Indians to go low on their profile, not flaunting their wares

*The real talent in any field would have been recognized, pure by IQ’s and EQ’s and not evaluated by terms like cheap labor and all

*People wouldn’t flock to US or other nations to earn more money and become rich in shorter times

And so on….

What say?