BRIC
BRIC
Fair Observer provides analysis of important issues, events and trends in the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
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By Shaon AhsanA discussion about the Indian government’s failure to encourage public participation in the formation and implementation of the Ganga Action Plan, environmental policies created to curb pollution in the River Ganga. Meaningful public participation is important for forming successful environmental policies. Public participation, defined by Thomas Dietz and Paul C. Stern (2008) as “processes” that “elected officials, government agencies, or other public- or private-sector organizations” employ “to engage the public in environmental assessment, planning, decision making, monitoring, and evaluation”, has been a missing piece in the Indian government...
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Although the Ganga is considered a living deity, today she lays in the most abysmal state one can imagine. Quite a contrast to the image one would have of a goddess a nation worships. Background The river Ganga traversing over 2500 km is the longest river in India and in 2008 was recognized as the National River of India. Originating from the glacial melt of the Gangotri in the Himalayas, she meanders through north India, and finally meets the Bay of Bengal. The river basin covers parts of China, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Apart from the religious importance – The Ganga’s economic and environmental significance is almost immeasurable. Religious and Cultural Significance...
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360° Analysis / India / Politics / Sexual Assault / Sexual Harassment / BRIC / Arts & Culture / AsiaBy Rahila GuptaA Gallup poll finding that women in Rwanda and Bangladesh felt safer on the streets than women in the UK and Sweden needs to be treated with great caution. There is no correlation between 'feeling safe' and the objective reality of whether women are actually safe or not, says Rahila Gupta. In a recent article on openDemocracy arguing that the pornification of Western culture undermines women’s fight for equality, Markha Valenta quoted a Gallup poll carried out in 143 countries in support of her argument. The poll found that women in countries like Rwanda and Bangladesh felt safer on the streets than women in developed Western countries like the UK, America or Sweden. Really?...
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With a rapidly increasing urbanization India's majour cities are now facing great social issues including housing problems, waste disposal and shortage of electric power. The country went through the decennial census operations during 2010-11 culminating in the final count of population on 1st March 2011. On that day India’s population was just above 1210 million or 121 crores. Of these people 883 million live in rural areas and 377 million live in urban areas. In other words, as of 2011, 68.8 percent live in rural areas and 31.2 percent live in urban areas. Incidentally an urban area is defined as one where more than 5000 people live and at least 75% of them depend on non-...
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Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar recently said that in case of famine, India has enough food reserves. What he did not clarify is that how much of that reserve is palatable. Though India officially maintains a food security reserve of three million tons of wheat and two million tons of rice, media has pointed out that more than one third of these reserves are always in rotten state – unfit for human consumption. The same goes for “buffer stocks” that in 2010 had stockpiled to 27.7 million tons of wheat and 7.2 million tons of rice. One estimate says the total food-grains in India stockpiled since mid 2009 have been built up to over 50 million tons – much more...
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United States / Europe / BRIC / Middle East / Americas / Africa / Asia / Oceania / Environment & SustainabilityIn the light of population growth and the constant risk of natural catastrophes, food security becomes an unavoidable political issue. Background Food security is becoming increasingly important to our world.The World Health Organization (WHO) defines food security as consisting of three pillars: food availability, food access, and food use. Issues which have always existed to threaten the availability of food to certain populations, such as corruption in politics and natural disaster are experiencing much newer pressures, such as the rural/urban imbalance; rapid population growth and climate change. Although regions who suffer less from food security related problems, such as the US and...
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360° Analysis / corruption in India / Democracy / India / Politics / state of India's democracy / BRIC / AsiaIndia's foreign policy prowess may be growing, but it is governed by the nation's internal health - which is riddled with poverty, corruption and displacement. Such vulnerabilities can threaten the smooth functioning of our democracy, and need to be addressed promptly. By Sudeep Chakravarti There is an urgent need to evangelise the compelling reality that there is a country at stake: India. It is these days fashionable in certain circles to write off India’s neighbours—Pakistan, Nepal—as failed states, and superciliously refer to other neighbours—Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar—as those who have seen the guiding light of India’s...
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360° Analysis / CO2 emissions / Emission Trading scheme / EU / United States / Europe / BRIC / Americas / Africa / Asia / Oceania / Environment & SustainabilityThis is an analysis of the EU’s policy to include the aviation sector in its existing Emission Trading Scheme and strong opposition demonstrated by foreign governments along with the aviation sector. Do we really need an irremediable environmental catastrophe to wake us up? Anyone among us, flying from for example Frankfurt to Singapore for business or family purposes would hardly know their carbon footprint through this journey. Supposing that a person travels with an Airbus A380, claimed by Airbus to be the most environment friendly commercial jet, causes CO2 emissions of 769.35 kg with a return journey adding the same amount to our environment again! Adding all together the...
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360° Analysis / India / Most Favoured Nation / Non-Tariff Barriers / Pakistan / Politics / SAARC / trade / WTO / BRIC / AsiaWhile the debate over according India the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status rages on in Pakistan, the possible implications for both countries cannot be predicted so early on. A lot more needs to be done in order for the trade to be liberalized. The Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, as envisaged by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), stands for non-discriminatory trade between signatory countries. Even though India granted MFN status to Pakistan back in 1996, the country held back and named strategic concerns and the lack of trust between the two states as reasons for its decision. In September 2011, the Pakistan Government announced the ...