Jun 05 2014 : The Economic Times (Mumbai)

The Need for Environmental Governance

As told to Nilakshi Sharma





Kartikeya V. Sarabhai was awarded the Padma Shri in 2012 for his exceptional and distinguished service in the field of Environmental Education. He is also the Founder Director of the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), established in 1984 as a centre of excellence of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India. He takes the time today to discuss the environmental future of India India has been able to protect its bio-diversity to a large extent due to the deeply entrenched belief system and practices. But these are rapidly changing...The proposed national nature camping program wherein every child who goes to school will attend at least one certified Nature Education Camp is a step in that direction

WHAT ARE THE THREATS TO THE INDIAN ENVIRONMENT?
The main threat to the Indian environment comes from the rapid change in lifestyles and the increase in urbanization, industrial growth and consequent need for power, minerals, ports and transportation. A major concern is that global models of development that are at times inappropriate for India are being brought in. A good example would be the Bt technology for food and the rapid replacement of Indian seed varieties and farmers' independence. The loss of wild bio-diversity is also a major threat.
Protected areas are a good strategy but by no means sufficient. Many species are intricately connected with what happens outside protected areas and strategies to conserve this need to be rapidly put in place.Land, which is a critical resource is perhaps the most neglected and taken for granted. In some of our most fertile regions we build factories and try to improve farm productivity in land which is otherwise poor. The threat is the loss of fertile land. The loss of green cover especially on the hill sides further adds to soil erosion which will be very difficult to replace. Similarly, water is the lifeline of our country.
Climate change threatens the monsoon pattern. Any change in the water cycle would be quite disastrous. Water, both on surface and ground water is being polluted and aquifers are rapidly deteriorating.
WHAT ARE IMMEDIATE STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN FOR BIO-DIVERSITY CONSERVATION?
Protection of indigenous crop varieties is important. India is the home to several of plants and animals that it has domesticated and preserved over thousands of years. Special characteristics appropriate for India and the particular environment have led to many varieties such as over 20 breeds of cows or the 2000 plus varieties of brinjals. Use of Bt technologies in varieties which are indigenous to India is very dangerous and the precautionary principal needs to be followed.
Without adequate regulatory mechanisms in place or clarity as to whose liability it is, allowing field trials is not a wise step.
Urgent and new strategies are required for the protection of bio-diversity outside of protected areas. In many cases traditional corridors where animals moved have been blocked not only causing human-animal conflict but also major accidents. Birds like the Harriers, which migrate to grasslands in India but feed in cotton fields around the protected area, are under threat. One needs a multi stakeholder collaboration to develop a conservation strategy. There are good examples of this and the government needs to support such efforts.
Traditionally much of India's biodiversity was also linked with livelihood and craft traditions. With the erosion of bio-diversity the impact has been on both these. Crafts person have often switched to chemicals or other substitutes. Such non-agricultural plant material needs to be carefully put into a system of sustainable use and consumption. The same is true of other areas such as traditional fishing. The threat of industrialized operations not only destroys the fish stock but also kills local traditions and destroys local livelihoods.
An initiative on sustainable use of biodiversity has been taken and needs to be made into a full fledged program.
● Key species which are under threat need individual strategies as the threat or reason for decline in each case is different. In many cases such as protecting the Tiger, Elephant or Rhino, an effective conservation strategy might suddenly collapse as a result of new threats and new technologies. These need to be monitored and new solutions found. In many other cases such as the Gangetic Dolphin, the success of the specie is also the success of the efforts to clean the Ganga. This requires careful strategy and public support.
● Ultimately in a democracy it is only as a result of wide public support and awareness that conservation will be possible. India has been able to protect its bio-diversity to a large extent due to the deeply entrenched belief system and practices. But these are rapidly changing.
We need to bring more understanding
and reach out to the young. The proposed national nature camping program wherein every child who goes to school will attend at least one certified Nature Education Camp is a step in that direction. Programmes such as these will need the necessary resource to make them possible. The Science Express Biodiversity Special which took a biodiversity exhibition around the country on a train is another example.
WHAT, ACCORDING TO YOU, WILL BE THE NEW GOVERNMENT'S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY?
What is the policy of the government of India? In the past I have often been asked this question at international forums.
Unfortunately, there was never a single answer to such a question but multiple ones. Each ministry would have its own policy often contradicting another. The key to success lies in being able to blend environmental concerns with development, and to develop a sustainable development pathway for this country. The new government, with its clear and strong leadership, will be better able to bring a common vision on sustainable development to all the ministries and end what often looked like a set of disjointed policies made by individual ministries. Key areas which need to be addressed include agriculture, energy, urbanization, mining, water supply and the use of schemes such as the MGNREGA. While it is too early to say what the precise view of the new government will be on individual environmental issues, the pronouncement and the actions and new initiatives at co-ordination have been positive signs.India's legislation has shown a lot of foresight in many areas. However, there has been a major gap between legislation and implementation. The current government's emphasis on better delivery, more transparency and speed will go a long way in ensuring that the environmental initiatives taken actually lead to protection of the environment. The current government seems likely to improve the quality of implementation in the field.

Jun 05 2014 : The Economic Times (Mumbai)

Tackling Air Pollution in Our Cities: Getting Started

KUNAL SHARMA





I vividly recall how in the mid 1990s my eyes would often water while travelling by three-wheeler in Delhi. Such was the severity of air pollution in those days that you inevitably shed a tear or two every time you went up a flyover. That's the height at which it seemed the plume of air pollutants hung over Delhi, causing irritation to the eyes as you came in contact with it.In contrast, Delhi's air seems cleaner today and I expect that many who have lived in the city during the last two decades will agree with me. Starting in the mid nineties, a substantial improvement in the quality of Delhi's air took place due to several measures taken by the government. These included conversion of the public transport fleet to CNG, introduction of cleaner automotive fuels and relocation of polluting industries to outside city limits.
However, air quality data indicates that much of the gains achieved through such measures have now eroded. To blame are rapid urban development and a booming number of vehicles.
The situation is similar in most other Indian cities; only a handful of cities currently achieve the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for pollutants like PM10 and PM2.5, while NO2 and Ozone pollution levels are areas of growing concern. A World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality database released earlier this year reveals that 13 Indian cities feature among the top 20 in the world on monitored levels of PM2.5. Delhi occupied the top spot, while Patna, Gwalior, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, Amritsar and Ludhiana, all made the list.
A vast body of scientific research confirms that inhalation of Particulate Matter (PM) leads to health effects like asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, birth defects, and premature death.
The smallest particles are the most dangerous as they are able to penetrate the deepest part of the lungs. Fine particulates like PM2.5, which are particles of size 2.5 microns (10-6 meters) or smaller, are usually emitted from anthropogenic sources like automobiles, industrial boilers and generator sets.
Large emissions coupled with high population exposure levels yield staggering estimates for the loss India suffers due to air pollution. The latest WHO Global Burden of Disease assessment concludes that 627,000 Indians died early in 2010 from exposure to ambient air pollution. A 2013 World Bank study estimates that exposure to air pollution resulted in an annual loss of Rs. 2 trillion, or about 3% of our GDP, due to resultant health impacts.
If these numbers come as a surprise, then here is the kicker: a 2011 Gallup survey spanning 140 countries found 90% of Indians to be satisfied with the quality of air in their city or area where they live. That puts India among the top 10 countries in satisfaction level, and in a group that includes Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany! How can this be? That's where my experience of travelling around Delhi in three-wheelers may provide an answer. Older Indians are seemingly satisfied because they have seen worse levels of air pollution in the past and feel they are better off today.
Younger Indians on the other hand lack a similar point of reference and so are 'satisfied' as they currently suffer a huge knowledge deficit on the threat that air pollution poses to them and society.
Given that air pollution gravely threatens the wellbeing of most Indians and the relative ignorance of the population to this threat, it's the Indian government that must act.
Furthermore, in today's growth driven world, clean air is a public good that must rely on good governance to persist; the air we breathe needs to be treated as a resource that we value. But in contrast to the 1990s, where government action came primarily as a reaction to public outcry and court directives, today a more proactive approach on the part of the Indian government is required.
To begin with I believe at least two things need to happen. First, our public officials need to acknowledge, publicly, the extent of the problem and begin building the case for measures that need to be introduced to tackle rising air pollution in our cities. This is important. In recent times releases of major global studies on air pollution have often been met with seeming denial in India, primarily by questioning the validity of data, or led to futile discussions, such as on whether Delhi or Beijing has dirtier air. Rather than be defensive, these moments should be seized as opportunities to build political will for action. Second, public awareness on air pollution needs to vastly increase. Citizens need to be appropriately informed so that they understand the risks that rising air pollution poses, are willing to support control measures and in specific instances directly bear the costs (such as marginally higher prices for cleaner petrol and diesel) and take precautionary measures when necessary. Many Delhi residents who like to get their daily exercise in the mornings probably do not know that in the winter months the highest concentration of pollutants occurs during the early morning hours as emissions from the thousands of trucks that pass through the city are trapped close to the ground due to thermal inversion. Providing easy access to reliable air quality monitoring information and issuance of health advisories, as is now available in many countries around the world, is a good place to start. Of course the real work will still be left to be done and it will require time. To clean up the skies of Indian cities, the government will need to draw up and implement a judicious portfolio of control measures.
But given where we stand today, if the aforementioned two outcomes are achieved over the next few years, we will be off to a decent start.
The author is a Senior Programme Manager, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, New Delhi.
The views expressed are his own.
and do not imply endorsement by the Foundation.

Jun 05 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)

`India over-reporting green cover'

Jayashree Nandi

New Delhi: TNN





Study Faults Method Of Calculation

On World Environment Day , this could be worrying news for the new environment minister. A study by forest researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) has concluded that India could be grossly “over-reporting“ its forest cover.The researchers say that the existing forest cover, in reality, may be what the Forest Survey of India had reported back in 1997. This is because, they say, a large area that the government has been including under the forest category actually comprises commercial plantations, including those for coffee, arecanut, cashew, rubber, fruit orchards, parks and gardens.
The reason behind this, the study claims, is that India's ambiguous definition of the word `forest' which doesn't differentiate between tree cover on agricultural land and natural forests.
The Forest Survey of India (FSI) defines forest cover to be “all lands more than one hectares in area, with tree canopy density of more than 10%, irrespective of ownership and legal status“. This definition could well mean that manmade forests or monocultures (farmland used to grow only one type of crop) are being considered forests. “If plantations are being included in forest area, it has huge implications for biodiversity and may even change the way we look at forests,“ said N H Ravindranath, lead author of the study.
The FSI has been reporting a steady increase in forest cover -from 63 million hectares (mha) in 1997 to 69mha in 2011. But to verify the exact area under natural forests which can represent biodiversity, the team of researchers gathered data of area under various plantations from the agriculture ministry . It put together all probable monocultures that may be being reported as forests and found this to together measure 8.79mha or 12.7% of our total forest area. They also calculated the year-wise increase in the area under plantations, which also showed a steady increase. The increase in plantation area may be even masking deforestation in India.
“Inclusions of plantations of eucalyptus, casurina and poplar under forest area is questionable from a conservation perspective. India could be potentially under-reporting deforestation by reporting only gross forest area,“ the study concludes.
“Our afforestation rates could be higher than deforestation rates, showing a continuous increase in forest cover,“ the study points. TOI had ealrier reported about a study by Ravindranath on April 19, 2012, that found that FSI's method of reporting forest cover was masking deforestation to a large extent.
The current study raises doubts about India's tall claims about afforesting 1 mha every year.
“India has been implementing one of the largest afforestation programmes in the world and annually between 1 and 1.5 mha has been afforested since 1980. Large investment is going into afforestation programmes in India and it is not clear how much of the planted area has survived and matured into forests,“ Ravindranath said. The team suggests the government modify the current forest area reporting format.

Dear Readers

Greetings from TISS Guwahati Campus Library

We are happy to inform you that the library has started a new service "Accession Update". It will keep you alert about newly accessed books & journals. The frequency of Accession Update will be at monthly basis.

                                Accession Update

                                                     01-05-2014 to 31-05-2014

Research   Silverman, David : Doing Qualitative Research. Los Angeles, Sage publications, 2005 ( 001.4 S45D)  Knight, Peter T.  : Small-Scale Research : Pragmatic Inquiry in Social sciences and the Caring Professions. London. Sage Publications, 2002 (001.4 K85S) Psychology Benjamin, Ludy T.  : A Bried History of Modern Psychology (2nd ed). New York. Wiley, 2014 (150.09 B44B) Steg, Linda (ets. ) : Environmental Psychology: An Introduction. Oxford. BPS Blackwell, 2013 (155.9 S72E) Religion Hinnells, John R. (etd) : The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion. London. Routledge, 2005 (200 H67R) Lapidus, Ira M.  : A History of Islamic Societies (2nd ed.) Cambridge. Cambridge University Press, 2002 (297.09 L23H) Sociology/Anthropology Gwynne, M.A.  : Anthropology Career Resource Handbook. Boston. Pearson Education, 2003 (301 G98A) Korgen, Odell Kathleen, White, J.M. : The Engaged Sociologist: Connecting the Classroom to the community. Los Angeles, Sage Publication,  2011 (301.07 K95E) Media/Communication Marsen, Sky : Communication Studies. New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2006 (302.23 M36C) Social Change Roberts, J. Timmons. Hite, Amy : From Modernization to Globalization: Perspectives on Development and Social Change. Malden. Blackwell Publishing, 2000 (303.44 R58F) Social Movement Porta, D.D. , Diani, Mario : Social Movements: An Introduction, New York, Blackwell Publishing, 1998 (303.484 P69S) West, David : Social Movements in Global Politics. Cambridge. Polity Press, 2013 (303.484 W33S) Menon, D Johnston, Hank: What is a Social Movment? Cambridge. Polity Press, 2014 (303.484 J52W) Caste/ Dalit Menon, Dilip M.  : The Blindness of Insight: Essays on Caste in Modern India. New Delhi Navayna (305.5122 M54B) O’Hanlon, Rosalind  : Caste, Conflict and Ideology: Mahatm Jotirao Phule and Low Caste Protest in Nineteenth-Century Western India . Delhi. Permanent Black, 1985 (305.568 O31C) Culture Crehan, Kate  : Gramsci, Culture and Anthropology. London. Pluto Press, 2002 (306 C72G) Epstein, A.L. (etd)  : The Craft of Social Anthropology. Delhi. Hindustan Publishing Corpn. , 1978 (306 E77C) Burke, Peter  : What is Cultural History ? Cambridge. Polity Press, 2008 (306.09 B97W) Narotzky, Susana  : New Directions in Economic Anthropology. London. Pluto Press, 1997 (306.3 N25N) Nettleton, Sarah  : The Sociology of Health and Illness (3rd edn). Cambridge. Polity Press, 2013 (306.461 N43S) Buffington, Robert M. (et al.) : A Global History of Sexuality: The Modern Era. Oxford. Wiley Blackwell, 2014 (306.7 B95G) Urban Development Zijderveld, Anton C.  : A Theory of Urbanity: The Economic and Civic Culture of Cities (307.76 Z7T) Statistics Marasinghe, M.G., Kennedy, W.J.   : SAS For Data Analysis: Intermediate Statistical Methods With 100 SAS Programs. New York, Springer, 2008 (310 M33S) Gelman, Andrew and Cortina  : A quantitative Tour of the Social Sciences. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press (310 G25Q0 Gelman, Andrew and Cortina  : A quantitative Tour of the Social Sciences. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press (310 G25Q) Political Science Barry, Norman  : An Introduction to Modern Political Theory (4th edn) New York. Palgrave, 2000 (320.1 B30I) Corbridge, Stuart (et al.)  : India Today: Economy, Politics and Society. Cambridge. Polity Press, 2013 (320.54 C60I) Chaube, S.K.  : Hill Politics in Northeast India. Hyderabad. Orient BlackSwan, 2009 (320.5416 C32H) Malesevic, Sinisa  : Nation-States and Nationalisms: Organization, Ideology and Solidarity. Cambridge. Polity Press, 2013 (320.54 M29N) Robinson, Robison (etd)   : Routledge Handbook of Southeast Asian Politics. London. Routledge,, 2014 (320.59 R64R) Anand, Dibyesh   : Tibet: A Victim of Geopolitics. London. Routledge, 2007 (954,541 A48T) Human Rights Cushman, Tomas (etd)  : Handbook of Human Rights, London. Routledge, 2011 ( 323 C94H) International Relation Baylis, John, Smith, Steve (etd)  : The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations (3rd edn.) Oxford. Oxford University Press, 2005 (327 B35G) Economics Kusuoka, S. , Maruyama, T. (Eds.)  : Advances in Mathematical Economics. New York. Springer, 2011 (330.015 K98A) Boumans, Marcel. Davis, John B. : Economic Methodology: Understanding Economics As a Science. New York. Palgrave Macmillan (330.072 B72E) Nurmi, Hannu : Models of Political Economy. London. Routledge, 2006 (330 N94M) Seddighi, Hamid R. : Introductory Econometrics: A practical Approach. London. Routledtge. 2012 (330.01 S27I) Banerjee, Anindya. Hendry, D.F. (etd) : The Econometrics of Economic Policy. Malden. Blackwell Publishers, 1997 (330.01 B21E) Amin, Sa Usher, Dan  : Political Economy. Oxford. Blackwell Publishing, 2003 (330 U8P) Baltagi, Badi H.  : Econometrics (4th edn). New York, Springer, 2008 (330.015 B19E) Amin, Samir   : Capitalism in the Age of Globalization: The Management of Contemporary Society. London. Zed Books, 2014 (330.122 A46C) Capello, Roberta, Nijkamp, P. : Urban Dynamics and Growth: Advances in Urban Economics. Amesterdum. Elsevier, 2004 (330.917 C18U) Cohen, A.J. (etd.) : Power in a Changing World Economy: Lessons from East Asia. London, Routledge, 2014 (330.95 K93P) Kuenne, Robert E. (etd) : Readings in Social Welfare: Theory and Policy. Malden. Blackwell Publishers, 2000 (330.12 K98R) Corbae, Dean (ets) : Economic Theory and Practice: Frontiers of Analysis and Applied Research. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press, 2006 (330.015 C60E) Labour  Ghai, Dharam : Decent Work: Objectives and Strategies. Geneva. ILO, 2006 (331 G28D) Scales, T L. Stree Luce, Stephanie : Labor Movements: Global Perspectives. Cambridge. Poliy Press, 2014 (331.8 L87L) Hauptmeier, Marco. Vidal, Matt. (etd) : Comparative Political Economy of Work. New York. Palgrave Macmillan, 2014 (331 H41C) Basu, Kaushik (ets.) : International Labour Standards: History, Theory and Policy Options. Oxford. Blackwell Publishing, 2003 (331.12 B31I) Sallaz, Jeffrey J. : Labor, Economy and Society. Cambridge. Polity Press, 2013 (331 S12L) McGovern, Patrick (et al.) : Market, Class and Employment. Oxford. Oxford University Press, 2007 (331.0941 M53M) Finance/Capital Bartzokas, Anthony. Mani, Sunil (etd) : Financial Systems, Corporate Investment in Innovation and Venture Capital. Massachusetts. Edward Elgar Publishers (332 B30F)  Robinson, Joan . Fortune, A.E. (ets) : The Accumulation of Capital (3rd edn). New York. Palgrave Macmillan , 2013 (332.041 R63A) Environment Death, Carl (etd) : Critical Environmental Politics. London. Routledge, 2014 (333.7 D30C) Raven, Peter H. (et al.) : Environment (7th edn,) New York. John Wiley & Sons, 2010 (333.7 R20E) Attfield, Robin. : Environmental Ethics: An Overview of the 21st Century (2nd edn.) Cambridge. Polity Press (333.7 A88E) Glasson, John (et al.) : Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment (4th edn.) London. Routledge (333.714 G41I) Botkin, Daniel B. Keller, E.A.  : Environmental Science (8th edn) New Delhi. Wiley India, 2012 (333.7 B71E) Goudie, Andrew S.  : The Human Impact on the Natural Environment: Past, Present and Future. Oxford. Wiley-Blackwell, 2013 (333.7 G59H) Daniels, R.J. Ranjit, Krishnaswamy, J.  : Environmental Studies. New Delhi. Wiley India, 2009 (333.7 D15E) Lejano, Raul (et al.) : The Power of Narrative in Environmental Networks. London. MIT Press, 2013 (333.72 L46P) Pearce, David (etd) : Environmental Valuation in Developed Countries: Case Studies.London. Edward Elgar, 2006 (333.7 P30E) Robbins, Paul (ets.) : Environment and Society: A Critical Introduction. Oxford. Wiley Blackwell (333.72 R57E) Wolf, Susan. Stanley, Neil. : Wolf and Stanley on Environmental Law (6th edn) London. Routledge, 2014 (344.046 W66W) Climate Change Grey, Murray :  Geodiversity: Valuing and Conserving Abiotic Nature (2nd edn), Oxford. Wiley Blackwell, 2013 (551 G71G) Hulme, Mike: Exploring Climate Change Through Science and in Society. London. Routledge, 2013 (551.6 H91E) Machin, Amanda : Negotiating Climate Change: Radical Democracy and the illusion of Consensus. London. Zed Books, 2013 (551.6 M15N) Tanner, Thomas & Horn-Phathanothai, Leo. : Climate Change and Development. London. Routledge , 2014 (551.6 T14C) Gray, Murray: Geodiversity: Va Dove, Michael R. (etd): The Anthropology of Climate Change: An Historical Reader. Oxford. Willey Blackwell, 2014 (304.25 D67A) Moser, Susanne C. (etd.): Successful Adaptation to Climate Change: Linking Science and Policy in a Rapidly Changing World. London. Routledge, 2013 (551.6 M83S) Castro, Peter. A. (ets.) : Climate Change and Threatened Communities: Vulnerablity, Capacity and Action . Warwickshire. Public Action Publishing, 2012 (551.6 C28C) Ecology Litfin, Karen T. : Ecovillages: Lessons For Sustainable Community. Cambridge. Polity Press, 2014 (577 L67E) Shmelev, Stanislav E. : Ecological Economics: Sustainability in Practice. New York. Springer, 2012 (577 S41E) Brewer, Richard. : The Science of Ecology (2nd edn) Australia. Thomson Learning, 1994 (577 B82S) Molles, Manuel C .  : Ecology: Concepts and Applications (5th edn). Boston. McGraw Hill, 2010 (577 M71E) Carreiro, M.M. (ets.): Ecology, Planning and Management of Urban Forests: International Perspectives. New York. Springer, 2008 (577.3 C22E)  Liu, Jianguo (ets.) Sources, Sinks and Sustainablity. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press, 2011 (577.8 L67S) Marxism Hutnyk, John   : Bad Marxism: Capitalism and Cultural Studies. London. Pluto Press, 2009 (335 H96B) World Economy Cleaver, Tony : Understanding The World Economy (4th edn). London. Routledge, (337 C43U)  Phillips, Nicola (etd): Globalizing International Political Economy. New York. Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 (337 P49G) Telfer, David J.  , Sharpley, Richard : Tourism and Development in the Developing World. London. Routledge, 2008 (338.4 T25T) Mulhearn, Chris. Vane, H.R. : Economics For Business (2nd edn). New York. Palgrave Macmillan, 2012 (338.7 M86E) Microeconomics Rubinstein, Ariel: Lecture Notes in Microeconomic Theory: The Economic Agent. Princeton. Princeton University Press, 2006 (338.5 R96L) Baumol, W.J., Blinder, Alan S. : Microeconomics: Principles and Policy. New York. Harcourt College Publishers (338.5 B33M) Economic Development Hopper, Paul: Understanding Development: Issues and Debates. Cambridge. Polity Press, 2012 (338.9 H81U) Selwyn, Benjamin: The Global Development Crisis. Cambridge. Polity Press, 2014 (338.9 S28G) Chang, Ha-Joon, Grabel, Ilene: Reclaiming Development: An Alternative Economic Policy Manual. London. Zed Books, 2014 (338.9 C29R) Reid, David: Sustainable Development: An Introductory Guide. London. Earthscan, 1995 (338.927 R32S) Globalization Ritzer, George: Globalization : The Essentials. Sussex. Wiley-Blackwell Publication, 2011 (338.91 R54G) Axford, Barrie: Theories of Globalization. Cambridge. Polity Press, 2013 (338.91 A95T) Macroeconomics McConnell, C.R., Brue, Stanley L. : Macroeconomics: Principles, Problems and Policies (17th edn). Boston. McGraw-Hill, 2008 (339 M52M) Ahfield, C.L.F. (et al.): Rational Expectations in Macroeconomics: An Introduction to Theory and Evidence (2nd edn.) (339.0724 A 88R) Counselling Mcleod, John: An Introduction to Counselling (3rd edn). New York. Open University Press, 2003 (361.06 M53I) Ageing Nyee, Steven A. Schieber, S.J.  : The Economic Implications of Aging Societies: The Costs of Living Happily Ever After. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press, 2005 (362.6 N99E) Social Work Scales, T. Laine (ets) : Rural Social Work: Building Sustaining Community Capacity. New Jersey. Wiley ,  2014 (361.3 S17R) Fortune, Anne E. : Qualitative research in Social Work. (2nd ed) New York. Columbia University Press, 2013 (361.3072 F69Q) Mental Health Boardman, Jed (ets): Social Inclusion and Mental Health. London. Rchpsych Publications, 2010 (362.2 B64C) McCracken, Kevin, Phillips, David R. : Global Health: An Introduction to Current and Future Trends. London. Routledge, 2012 (362.1 M51G) Water Sanitation Gray, N. F. : Drinking Water Quality (2nd edn). Cambridge. Cambridge University Press (363.61 G71D) Calow, Roger (ets.): Achieving Water Security: Lessons from Research in Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene in Ethiopia. Warkwickshire. Practical Action Publishing, 2013 (363.7284 C12A) Health/Medicine Bhattacharya, Jay (et al.) : Health Economics. New York. Palgrave Macmillan, 2014 (610 B51H) Hatfield, Gabrielle: Encyclopaedia of Folk Medicine: Old World and New World Traditions. California. ABC CLIO, 2004 (610 H48E).) Breelove, S. Marc et al.) : Biological Psychology: An Introduction to Behavioral, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience. Sunderland. Sinaure Associates Inc. , 2007 (612.8 B81B) Forest Husch, Bertram.: Forest Mensuration (5th edn.) New Jersy. John Wiley & Sons, 2003 (634.9 H95F) Management Burke, W.Warner: Organization Change: Theory and Practice (3rd edn). Los Angeles. Sage Publications, 2011 (658.4 B97O) Miller, Katherine : Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes (5th edn) Australia. Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2009 (658.406 M62O) Writing Skill/Public Speaking Ford, Ma Laws, Anne: Writing Skills. Hyderabad. Orient Blackswan, 1999 (415 L30W) rjorie, Schave, Elizabeth: Community Matters: A Reader For Writers. New York. Longman, 2001 (808.0427 F65C) German, Kathleen M. (et al.) : Principles of Public Speaking (15th edn.). Boston. Pearson, 2004 (808.51 G28P) History State and Locality in Mughal India: Power Relations in Western India 1572-1730. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press, 2004 (954.02 H14S)

Jun 04 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)

CHARTING A COURSE History is not just about dates, and it has a future

New Delhi TIMES NEWS NETWORK





Being one of the most popular humanities subjects, the highest cutoff last year was 95.75% at LSR and between 93 and 97% at Hindu College

Those hoping to study history “must understand the relevance of being social scientists,“ says Vanita Ganesh who teaches the subject at Kamala Nehru College.
Students who haven't studied history in school must know that it is not all about dates, but is also thematic. “It is high up on interdisciplinarity ,“ says Ganesh.Being one of the most popular humanities subjects in Delhi University , the highest cutoff for history last year was 95.75% at Lady Shri Ram College and between 93%-97% at Hindu. The lowest was 65% at Bharati College and Shyama Prasad Mukherji College; At Deshbandhu College, it was between 65%-67%. Eligibility: As many as 48 DU colleges offer the course.
The scores in the best four subjects, including a language, are considered.
Discipline I: A total of 20 papers, including research ones. Topics for teaching include early India; social formations and cultural patterns of the ancient and medieval world; modern East Asia and modern Europe.
Discipline II: Six papers, all on Indian history Applied Course: Four papers, including understanding heritage, art appreciation (an introduction to Indian art), archives and museums, and understanding popular culture Road Ahead: “Options are infinite,“ says Ganesh, “All the options available to people studying social sciences are also available to history graduates. Many of my students study MBA, become ateacher or get into research“.

Jun 03 2014 : Mirror (Pune)

Cellulose fibres that are stronger than steel

Mumbai Mirror Bureau mirrorfeedback@timesgroup.com TWEET @_MumbaiMirror





A Swedish-German research team has successfully tested a new method for the production of ultra-strong cellulose fibres at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron’s (DESY) research facility.The novel procedure spins extremely tough filaments from tiny cellulose fibrils by aligning them all in parallel during the production process.
The new method has been reported in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
“Our filaments are stronger than both aluminium and steel per weight,” emphasises lead author Fredrik Lundell from the Wallenberg Wood Science Center at the Royal Swedish Institute of Technology KTH in Stockholm. “The real challenge, however, is to make bio based materials with extreme stiffness that can be used in wind turbine blades, for example. With further improvements, in particular increased fibril alignment, this will be possible.” For their method, the researchers took tiny, nanometre-sized cellulose fibrils and fed them together with water through a small channel. Two additional water jets coming in perpendicular from left and right accelerate the fibril flow.
“Following the acceleration, all nano fibrils align themselves more or
less parallel with the flow,” explains co-author Stephan Roth from DESY.“Furthermore, salt is added to the outer streams. The salt makes the fibrils attach to each other, thereby locking the structure of the future filament.” Finally, the wet filaments are left to dry in air where they shrink to form a strong fibre.
“Drying takes a few minutes in air,” explains co-author Daniel Soderberg from KTH. “The resulting material is completely compatible with the biosphere, since the natural structure of the cellulose is maintained in the fibrils. Thus, it is biodegradable and compatible with human tissue.” As the scientists write, their fibres are much stronger than all other previously reported artificial filaments from cellulose nano fibrils. In fact, the artificial filaments can rival the strongest natural cellulose pulp fibres extracted from wood at the same degree of alignment of the nano fibrils.
“In principle, we can make very long fibres,” says Lundell. “Up until now we have made samples that where ten centimetres long or so, but that is more of an equipment issue than a fundamental problem.” For their experiments, the researchers have used nano fibrils extracted from fresh wood. “In principle, it should be possible to obtain fibrils from recycled paper also,” says Lundell. But he cautions: “The potential of recycled material in this context needs further investigations.”

Jun 03 2014 : The Economic Times (Mumbai)

A Dark Side to the Internet of Things

Nick Bilton

The New York Times





Apple is expected to unveil software that turns homes into Wi-Fi-connected wonderlands, but what if the toaster spies on you?

Home, connected home. The front door opens with a tap on an iPhone. The lights come up as if by magic. The oven sends a text: Dinner is ready .You will probably be hearing a lot about these sorts of conveniences this week from the Apple Wo rl d w i d e D e v e l o p e r s Conference in San Francisco.
Apple is expected to unveil software that promises to turn our homes into Wi-Fi-connected wonderlands, where locks, lights, appliances -you name it -can all be controlled via an iPhone or iPad. You can bet that before long, refrigerators will come with “Made for iPhone“ stickers.
These initiatives are all part of what is known as the Internet of Things. That is a catchall term used to describe connectivity -specifically , how people connect with products, and how products connect with each other.
Sounds great. But I can't shake the feeling that one day, maybe, just maybe, my entire apartment is going to get hacked.
The word in Silicon Valley is that Apple has all the security issues locked down. But as any computer security expert will tell you, nothing -and I mean nothing -is impervious.
Hackers can crack governments and corporations, let alone smartphones and desktops. What's to stop them from hacking a connected house? Think back to those dark ages when the first smartphones arrived. Back then, few people worried about the privacy and security issues those products might pose. Look where we are today .
“Obviously, there are lots of benefits of connected devices in the home, but there can also be complications,“ said Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a nonprofit research and advocacy group.
“When you worry about computer viruses, you can unplug your computer. When your house gets a virus, where do you go to hide?“ Take an incident that happened last week in Australia. There were reports that some people with iOS devices, including iPhones, iPads and Mac computers, had been targeted in a “digital hijacking“ operation. Hackers had command e e re d t h e m a ch i n e s a n d rendered them unusable. A hacker going by the name “Oleg Pliss“ demanded a $100 ransom, paid via PayPal, to unlock each one.
Now imagine what could happen to your house. You come home to unlock your front door or turn on your lights with your smartphone -and find yourself locked out, your home held hostage.
Just like the early days of the iPhone, we don't seem to be too worried that such intrusions could happen to a connected home. Maybe we're just starryeyed. A May report from Pew Research about the Internet of Things asked 1,606 experts on internet-connected clothing and appliances to explain their visions of this future. The report is a cornucopia of delights about how our toothbrush will email our dentist, how the toilet paper dispenser will know when to order a new roll from Amazon, how our alarm clock will start our coffee maker minutes before we get up. The term “hacker“ appears only once in the 30,000word document.
Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, who oversaw the report, said people would initially see these new technologies as a “gee-whiz phenomenon.“
Only later will they start to worry about the potential problems.
“There is a reference in our report to consumer willingness to embrace these things,“ Rainie said. “If they seem too powerful and know too much about us, con sumers aren't going to want to adopt these products.“
The report also addressed another troubling aspect of the Internet of Things: the privacy implications. In that regard, hackers are only one worry . The companies that are actually making these technologies could become flies on our walls. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission late last year, Google said it foresaw a future of ads in cars, watches, glasses, thermostats and so on.
Google has backtracked since, saying last week: “We've contacted the SEC to clarify our 2013 filing; it does not reflect Google's product road map.“ But, as privacy experts noted, someone, somewhere inside Google has been thinking about putting ads in your home.
“These are devices that are des i g n e d t o t r a c k p e o p l e, “ Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center said.
“You might start to wonder, why is my toaster spying on me?“