Global Warming - Kerala Initiatives

Tourism Department has re-christened Keralam as " God's Own Country ". Anyone who passes through the lush greenery, vast water bodies, pristine rain forests, icy high range will assent a nod to the title. With so much of concern being raised for Global Warming, Keralites can do their bit in this fight. Interestingly government departments have conducted a symposium on this issue. Though television news item did not give much insight into the program schedule, it did show short clip on minister speaking about some large percentage of contribution being from America. Alternating governments can surely be very proud in stating that the industrial carbon foot print for Kerala is comparable to that of a virgin rain forest. Governments in collusion with trade unions have ensured that no new industry came up during their regime. All existing industries were given such harsh conditions to work with that they preferred to close the shutters instead of expansion. The moral of the story is that there is always positive side even in the grave unemployment situation of Kerala. I am wondering whether any developed nation will allow us 'carbon credits' for this feat. If you think so, kindly get in touch with state finance minister who is guarding an empty treasury.

Wishes for a Happy New Year

This being the first post of year 2009, it is time to wish you a happy and prosperous year ahead.
I had been to Kerala during the last month. Ernakulam witnessed the muscle flexing meetings of leading poplitical parties of both fronts in recent times. With elections coming close, what else a political entity requires to do ? At first it was the turn of Congress Party which leads the United Democratic Front. National president Ms.Sonia Gandhi attended the meeting. Congress is synonimous with groupism. In Earlier days, there were two prominent groups affiliated to Sri. A. K. Antony and Sri. K. Karunakaran. Then came the third group - reformists! Even at panchayat, mandal, block, district levels, there were many a groups. In fact each leader who had some clout did develop own groupism forgetting to promote the party!
After the Congress meeting at Ernakulam was over, it was the turn of CPI(M). They too did the show well. Being a cadre party, they had things planned in the meticulous way. It ws repoprted in the press that District secretary had instructed party cadre to applaud when the National General Secretary Sri. Parakash Karat comes to speak. It seems the applause that was offered to him during some earlier meetings were less than what Sri.V.S. Achuthanandan got. Since power & post in the governmental setup must not be above the party rank, such behaviour of the mob is totally against the tenets of CPI(M) policies!
If you had been to Ernakulam during any of these meetings, you would have realised how difficult normal life was. Schools were closed by noon on the day of CPI(M) rally owing mostly to traffic restrictions in the city. Attendance in offices in the afternoon was terribly affected. Traffic towards western side of railwayoverbridges were cut off. Public transport systems were diverted and in some cases they had to cut short their route. I earnestly plead to all parties / organisations who plan to organise such rallies to consider inconveniences caused to public while planning these rallies. Allappuzha being town with narrow roads used to be the favourite hangout for rallies. Life in town normally gets crippled with any such rallies.
It is time we think about the national loss of productivity owing to these rallies. The mentality towards bandh, hartal, rallies needs to be changed. We make the slightest excuse to escape from our responsibilities. Do you think such a trend is good?
P.S. I wonder whether same people are attending all these rallies for returns in cash and kind?