Serene
Boston @ Nite
So what is Carbon Trading? (Searching Wikipedia…)
Emissions trading (or cap and trade) is an administrative approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants.[1]
OK! This sounds good. Reading on…
In such a plan, a central authority (usually a government agency) sets a limit or cap on the amount of a pollutant that can be emitted. Companies or other groups that emit the pollutant are given credits or allowances which represent the right to emit a specific amount. The total amount of credits cannot exceed the cap, limiting total emissions to that level. Companies that pollute beyond their allowances must buy credits from those who pollute less than their allowances or face heavy penalties. This transfer is referred to as a trade. In effect, the buyer is being fined for polluting, while the seller is being rewarded for having reduced emissions. Thus companies that can easily reduce emissions will do so and those for which it is harder will buy credits which reduces greenhouse gases at the lowest possible cost to society.
Hmmm. Let me see an easier analogy. We can call it Calorie Trading. In this world, there are people who are overweight (who cant stop consuming), and they are people who are underweight and those who exercise to maintain weight. But, in this homogeneous flat world, we need all of them at the same weight (either by consuming less or exercising – this method will ensure that overweight people will become normal – oh the controlling agency, the govt, cares about the health of all its citizens and all citizens should be a certain weight for great health benefits). But those who cant consume less, can “trade” with folks who can exercise more than they already are. So, in effect the overweight people will pay over-exercising people, so that they can over consume.
Now it makes sense. This calorie trading will take care that the population will remain healthy!
Whoever thought that carbon trading will save the world should be given a Nobel Prize! So many corollaries are possible! You bet, Calorie Trading is going to be a top one!!! Anyone willing to give me money, I will exercise ….let us begin the calorie trading revolution.
Think about it. You eat all you want. I exercise and together we can maintain a constant weight! You need to cough up some serious dough though. Thus both of us reap benefits in the long term. Genius.
Should I run the marathon again or not?
Can I run? Well, that is a different question. I can start practicing and I will know pretty soon if I can run or not.
But should I run? I have told all people I can about AID. Or maybe I should really specific things and look for raising funds….maybe.
Yeah, I finished my marathon. Running is fun. Running a marathon – lot of fun, except you dont want to do it;-)
Long time, since I blogged. Guess bored with this new tool. Trying to figure out how so to manage so many communication channels – emails/phones/blogs/scraps. Letters anyone?
Long time I got a cold too. Now that explains why I am sitting before a comp and putting stuff on my blog for a change.
New things in life, an Onkyo 6.1 home theater system – all setup, needs a good DVD to test. TV is pathetic transmission to split into 6.1 channels.
Lastly, long time I have been to India. I need a life!
अयं निज: परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम्
उदारमनसानां तु वसुधैव कुटुंबकम्
English Translation of the Sanskrit quote:
This is mine or (somebody) else’s (is the way) narrow minded people count. But for broad minded people, (whole) earth is (like their) family.
I am not a runner, nor did I ever dream that I will run a marathon – not even in my wildest dreams. But, things change – no, I am not a runner yet! Last year, Oct 8th an earthquake stuck Kashmir. It is a hot topic – not the earthquake but Kashmir. Everyone talked but not many worked on it nor did they contribute to it. So I decided to walk the talk, no actually run – I ran a marathon to raise awareness about the plight of people in Kashmir and that contributions are sorely required. I raised some funds and I know they were put to good use. http://sahyadri.aidindia.org/content/category/24/124/144/
That was last year. With the newfound confidence that I can run a marathon, I thought I should do it again this year. Not so easy. I ran 18 miles day before yesterday, and I am still sore. And the reasoning is the same….I am not a big fan of running then WHY? Why on earth go through this torture?
Well the answer is always simple. I love to volunteer my time with AID. That is no secret. I think, we are making a positive difference. And I see one particular program as making a lot of change. No – I don’t run that program neither do I control that program. That – is the first thing you learn, that you need to unlearn a LOT. An idea that you could be wrong!
So what is the program I am talking about? I am talking about the AID Jeevansaathi program. 6 AID volunteers in the US, quit their jobs and careers and headed back to India to do full time social work at different points of time in the last few years. In the truest spirit of the quote above, these young friends have been working tirelessly with the people who need to be developed the most in India! You can read all about them here: http://saathi.aidindia.org/new/
We, in AID give them a small honorarium so that they can concentrate on the change they are bringing about on the ground! This is the smallest thing we could do. And here I give you a chance to participate in the biggest change for India! Donate to our jeevansaathi fund and enable our friends to bring about the change! Change for the better, change that is visible.
Donate securely and generously and show your encouragement for my effort! Either of our efforts go a long way in ensuring our vision of a developed India: thanks to the Jeevansaathis! And I will run, for India!
Donate Securely – Click Here
After you donate, send this mail or this link to your friends and family!
http://www.runforindia.org/runners/rajasekhar
Water, I assume is a fundamental right, right? Afterall a good percentage of our body is made of water. Without water, I guess we cant survive. Water is fundamental to human life and hence I will say that water is a fundamental right. Agreed?
In other news, got a P4 extreme edition 965, 3.73 GHz, hyper threading, dual core …etc etc. Would love to see system monitor and see how that behaves. But, but – had to build up the system myself. And then the fun part starts. Yeah, it is a room heater – 4 fans etc and all. But then, I bought a motherboard which doesnt have a video card on! OOPS! System is ready but dont know if it boots up either.
Coming soon, Ubuntu server on it.
Back to sweet water. If water is a fundamental human right….why is not guaranteed in any constitution?
First and foremost thanks to the Be the Change team for the wonderful banners for Bhopal and Narmada. The source code is available here. Be the Change team will appreciate lot more of these from you folks!
A lot has been going on – be it Narmada or Bhopal or Coke or Reservations. Polarizing it may seem, digging in for information can change perceptions at times. But who has the time to dig? Life has become so fast that people categorize you as either you are with the tide or you are against it. People with the tide always see everyone moving with the tide, some might be just washed away with the tide – but still are with the tide is the arguement.
But what is the cost of a human life? Who can determine if my life is “expendable”? Is it fine in the name of national security or patriotism?
I have no problem with foriegn companies coming to India. We live in a globalized world. Heck otherwise I wouldnt be sitting in the US and typing this out. But I will respect companies which respect people and doesnt cause any harm. I want tightening of laws and tougher implementation of the laws. Nothing like this.
Respect companies which respect people. And if nothing else, the least we can do is listen to voices which are being drowned or washed away in this “development” tide. http://www.goodnewsindia.com/index.php/Supplement/article/489/ lists some hotspots. If coke is doing what all it claims to be doing in rain water harvesting or whatever then why are locals in the areas where there are coke plants complaining? Cant a take moment of my life and listen to them? We cant drown more voices……we need to stop and listen to them and make any corrections. And if you are too small for making a difference – two things
a. quit drinking coke
b. If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.
There are many things you can do. The least you can do is spread the word!
So a group of ministers went to the Narmada valley on a fact-finding mission. Somehow they never chose to make the facts public except for the leak which was carried by the Hindu. Our state and central governments have themselves failed to follow the order of the Supreme Court – this is not an issue of whether big dams are good or bad ….. no, I am not talking about that at all.
Full report of the GoM panel:
http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/17/stories/2006041705231100.htm
“General Observations
1. The complaints from various quarters that the Rehabilitation and Resettlement of oustees of Sardar Sarovar Dam has not taken place in consonance with the orders of the Supreme Court have been found to be correct.
2. In spite of the extreme shortcomings in respect of Rehabilitation and Resettlement of oustees, the Madhya Pradesh Government can organize proper effort for rehabilitation, say, within a year from now. The leadership there has to show its political will to accomplish this gigantic task.
3. The Chief Minister of Gujarat had assured the Water Resources Ministry, in a recent letter, that Rehabilitation and Resettlement in Madhya Pradesh could be fully ensured in accordance with the orders of the Supreme Court. It will have to be ascertained as to how Gujarat Government could come to the rescue of the Madhya Pradesh Government in this behalf.
4. The outcry against the SRP (cash award) must be responded by stopping this practice as it has bred corruption and thousands of people the GoM met in the valley, have rejected the same as a practice breeding corruption. Besides, this practice has been adopted by the State Government with the approval of the GRA. It is yet to be seen whether the Supreme Court would find this practice to be in line with its specific instruction which said: “every displaced family whose more than 25% of agricultural landholding was acquired would be entitled to be allotted irrigable land of its choice to the extent of land acquired subject to the prescribed ceiling with a minimum of two hectares land and that project-affected families (PAFs) would be allotted a house/plot free of cost”.
5. The GoM found that there was no moral and legal justification for deducting Rupees One lakh by way of Income Tax for every unit of Rupees Ten lakhs that is to be given to an oustee as a settlement under SRP.
6. In due course of time, the Government must explore a better system of redressal of grievances than what is sought under the present GRA. It is a fact that 5000 petitions for redressal of grievance are pending before the GRA. The Chairman of the GRA is headquartered at Bhopal and his visits even to Indore are few and far between which has meant a great hardship for the oustees.
7. The position of the adivasis (oustees), particularly in the areas like Kakrana and Kharia Bhadal, which the GoM could not visit, is reportedly very bad. The GoM will pay a visit there if required, in due course of time.
8. The Ministry of Water Resources had been insisting that Madhya Pradesh Government should adopt the mechanism of referring ATRs to Gram Panchayats according to the previous Government’s assurance given in the then Chief Minister’s letter of 29th August, 2003. Since the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has finally responded positively on this issue recently, the ATRs will now be sent to Gram Panchayats, as stated by the Chief Minister in his meeting with us on April 7, 2006. That will, however, not have any effect on the problems at hand.
9. The GoM felt concerned about SCs & STs for whom there doesn’t seem to be any special provision in respect of Rehabilitation and Resettlement.
10. The reports of the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Sub Group and the GRA on the basis of which Narmada Control Authority (NCA) granted permission for raising the height has been largely paperwork and it has no relevance with the situation on the ground.”
