CENTRE FOR EDUCATION & DOCUMENTATION: DOCPOST -critical concerns : Infocus-jun2008

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A monthly Review of clippings on Critical Issues & Concerns for NGOs, Activists
and others concerned with Justice & Social Change
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June 2008

IN FOCUS

Crises within a Crisis

There was hope that the World Food Conference in Rome would come up with sincere policy decisions that would address the challenges to food security. But it failed to discuss the challenge to food security from biofuels and climate change; it failed to take a tough stand on either. Nor could it persuade rich countries to bring down farm subsidies that are distorting agricultural trade. States and financial institutions agreed that their agriculture policies had failed and there was a need to increase investment in agriculture, but beyond that there was no sign of a fresh approach.

Like so many international negotiation rounds before, this conference too saw the urgent needs of the world's poor hijacked by the interests of the rich and powerful nations. The most active participants at the Rome Conference were not UN agencies, but private players like International Seed Federation, International Fertiliser Association and the International Feeds Association. As one commentator on the food crisis summed up, "Across the

FOOD & AGRICULTURE
<Related Articles -June 2008 issue>

Right to Food versus Right to Profit , Economic & Political Weekly Magazine, 14 Jun 2008
Empty Promises, Down to Earth, Magazine, 16 Jun 2008,
A missed opportunity to feed the world, ,The Independent London, 06 Jun 2008
Virtues of urban agriculture, ,The Hindu, Chennai, 17 Jun 2008
Fertilising profit, sowing misery, , by P. Sainath, The Hindu, Chennai, 16 Jun 2008,
Origins of the crisis, ,The Business Standard, Mumbai, 16 Jun 2008
Farming hits another low, by C Anand Reddy, The Asian Age, Mumbai, 02 June 2008
Continuing violence of Green Revolution , by Dr Vandana Shiva, The Asian Age, Mumbai, 17 Jun 2008
GM concerns in agriculture, The Hindu, Chennai, 11 Jun 2008
Scientists warn against GM foods , by Rashme Sehgal, The Asian Age, Mumbai, 05 Jun 2008
GM brinjals, boon or a curse?, by Eklavya Atray, DNA, Mumbai, 10 June 2008
Sustainable agriculture: A world beyond GM crops , by Devinder Sharma, The Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 20 Jun 2008
Threat to Food Security , ,by Bharat Dogra, Frontier Magazine, 08 J un 2008

globe, the entire chain of resources and inputs are now being cornered by corporations. Farm land, water, fertiliser, seeds, pesticides and many more. Grab these together and you've got the world by its belly. The giant companies are now putting out papers on how they will solve the world's food problem. Never mind the fact that they are at the heart of it ".

Critical Concerns has focused on the Food Crisis in the last three issues and the inevitable conclusion we have arrived at the end of the day is simple: The food crisis can be resolved only if the right to food is given precedence over the right to profits.

In Focus

Crises within a Crisis

What we see unfolding before us in the wake of the global food crisis - severe shortage of chemical fertilisers, the unnecessary hurry to push through GMOs and the failure of the Rome conference to come up with fresh initiatives to overcome the crisis - indicate that the right to profit has taken precedence over the right to food. Across the globe, the entire chain of resources and inputs are now being cornered by corporations. Farm land, water, fertiliser, seeds, pesticides and many more.

Concern

Mismanaging the Coast

Fisher people along the nationâ€™s coastline are not happy with the new Costal Management Plan; they fear that this new plan will jeopardize their livelihoods.

NEWS BRIEFS

a) Time for the Environment

On World Environment Day, it is time to take a critical look at two areas: the state of the most precious and basic resources for life - water and our urban environment.

b) A New Action-plan

The National Action Plan on Climate Change sets out an agenda for alternate energy use and reduction of the countryâ€™s reliance on fossil fuels.

c) Conflicting Views

The NREGA is in the news. While some prefer to talk of tardy implementation, others highlight its contributions to the empowerment of the poor in the countryside.

d) A raw deal?
Two pieces of legislation, which will impact millions of people displaced or threatened with displacement in the name of development, may well set the ground for aiding corporate interests in land rather than addressing the issue of forcible displacement

e) On the SEZ front

The jury is still out on whether enhanced economic activity driven by the SEZ is producing the results that were anticipated.

f) Access to all

There is little doubt that Indian healthcare is `shiningâ€™ like never before, but does it really health care for all or promoting heath tourism and access to modern hi-tech care to a few?

g) Illegal Labour

World Day Against Child Labour (June 12) is a reminder that children continue to labour in all kinds of hazardous jobs despite the enactment of the Child Labour Act.

h) Urban Explosion

We have reached a momentous milestone - more that half of earth's human populations are now living in urban areas, most of them refugees from the rural areas in search of a living.

i) Soft Targets

After MF Hussein, it is the turn of Professor Asish Nandy and journalist Kumar Ketkar to face the brickbats from the fundamentalist elements

j) Wage workers

What is significant in the Indian labour market is the fact that some 35 per cent or more than 110 million workforce are in the wage-based economy.

k) NGOs and the market
NGOs in India are still uncomfortable with market forces, either as legitimate players in the social change space, or as funders of social initiatives

l) Solar Panels and Electric Cars
It is time we look at the possibility of solar powered energy and cars driven on electric power, if one is to combat the destructive foot-print of development.

FOOD & AGRICULTURE

LIVELIHOODS

ENVIRONMENT

CLIMATE CHANGE

EMPLOYMENT GURANTEE

DISPLACEMENT

SEZ

HEALTH

CHILDREN

URBANISATION

COMMUNALISM

LABOUR

CIVIL SOCIETY

ALTERNATIVES

LAST PAGE

Concerns Down South

Elections to the Karnataka state assembly have thrown up some interesting questions on the nature of electoral politics in the country.

SOCIETY & CHANGE

Earlier criticial concerns issues