Given that we are almost on a daily basis protesting against one or other grovernment agency, I am coming to the realization that it perhaps isnt the best use of time. For one it is very difficult to get hold of people at short notice and more importantly is a source of constant friction.
As responsbile citizes on this country and city we realize that development work will need to be carried out. If the development work happens to be sustainable development it is all the more welcome. We have issues when we think that the development is not in the best interest of the community.
Our time could be used more effectively if as citizens of bangalore we understand the sustainable development policy of government agencies. Imagine a scenario where BBMP (or any other agency) publishes & more importantly sticks to an annual environment policy outlining under what circumstances landscape/environme nt changes will be permitted and how losses (community as well as greenery) will be compensated. If this happens the need for our protests could come drastically down as long as the development work is along the approved guidelines.
I fully acknowledge that environment is a very complex topic and it isnt very easy to formulate a one size fit all approach. Moreover it is a democratic society. A mutual understanding with HU will not be binding on another person and the recourse to law / court is always available. However thinking aloud, if people do buy into the overall plan it will reduce the constant friction.
With that in mind I wanted to poll this group to understand the following
1. Does BBMP or the state government have a stated "environmental vs development" policy
2. Does any other state in India have a similar policy and have they been implemented successfully?
3. Does any another country in the world have a similar policy for sustainable development
Thoughts?
The above was a post made by Anand Raman on the HU web-site. I thought may be PRAJAgalu would like to further the debate.
Muralidhar Rao
ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆಗಳು
bike-friendliness - the way to go?
Portland, Oregon, just displaced Copenhagen as the No. 2 most bike-friendly city in the world.
"Portland was a streetcar city," says Tom Miller, chief of staff for Portland City Councilman (and mayoral candidate) Sam Adams. "We still have the footprint of the dense, walkable and thus bikable city". Adams leads the city’s advocacy for cycling and, not coincidentally, is leading the polls for mayor. "You can’t win an election here without the support of the bicycle community," adds Miller.
For the full story, click on: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25267048/
Muralidhar Rao
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development - Earth Summit
The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, often shortened to Rio Declaration, was a short document produced at the 1992 United Nations "Conference on Environment and Development" (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit. The Rio Declaration consisted of 27 principles intended to guide future sustainable development around the world.
The 27 principles of the RIO Declaration -
Principle 1. The role of humans.
Principle 2. State sovereignty
Principle 3. The Right to development
Principle 4. Environmental Protection in the Development Process
Principle 5. Eradication of Poverty
Principle 6. Priority for the Least Developed
Principle 7. State Cooperation to Protect Ecosystem
Principle 8. Reduction of Unsustainable Patterns of Production and Consumption
Principle 9. Capacity Building for Sustainable Development
Principle 10. Public participation
Principle 11. National Environmental Legislation
Principle 12. Supportive and Open International Economic System
Principle 13. Compensation for Victims of Pollution and other Environmental Damage
Principle 14. State Cooperation to Prevent environmental dumping
Principle 15. Precautionary principle
Principle 16. Internationalization of Environmental Costs
Principle 17. Environmental Impact Assessments
Principle 18. Notification of Natural Disaster
Principle 19. Prior and Timely Notification
Principle 20. Women have a Vital Role
Principle 21. Youth Mobilization
Principle 22. Indigenous Peoples have a Vital Role
Principle 23. People under Oppression
Principle 24. Warfare
Principle 25. Peace, Development and Environmental Protection
Principle 26. Resolution of Environmental Disputes
Principle 27. Cooperation between State and People
Warm Regards,Poornima.