[Reader-list] Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project - Blueprint for an ecological disaster

Shuddhabrata Sengupta shuddha at sarai.net
Mon Sep 17 23:11:16 IST 2007 

Dear Pawan,

many thanks for your thoughtful reply,

actually I dont care two hoots for the BJP or VHP either, so I am glad 
to see that we are on common ground here too. In fact I think that the 
BJP is the one political party that played the dirtiest and most cynical 
politics with displaced Kashmiri Pandits. I am sure you will agree. They 
used them, and then they discarded them.

The question I am asking you is not really about the BJP or VHP or any 
sangh parivar outfit, I dont care about them, I am glad you dont either.

But as a person of faith, of passionate faith, and who is considerate 
about ecology, would you not say that the destruction of the holy river 
Narmada, the militarization of the Himalayas (sacred), and the Thar 
desert, which is sacred for those who live there, are also a matter of 
insulting faith. I am sure these hurt you too.

Now I am not very lucky in the faith department. I do not have faith, 
but I respect everyone elses right to their faith. Of every religion and 
spiritual perspective. And I think that the spaces people think are 
sacred, be they temples, mosques, churches, deserts, forests, mountains, 
rivers, schools or taverns should be treated with respect.

On simply these grounds would you say -

1. The Nuclear Tests in Pokhran were a terribly wrong thing to do
2. That Indian army soldiers should never have been on Siachen glacier
3. That the Narmada Dam should not be built
4. That the alternative proposal of the Sethusamudram Canal should not 
be built - because not just the Ram Sethu, but the entire Rameshwaram 
area around Kanyakumari is sacred.

In all four of these issues, there are matters of faith and the sacred 
involved. So I would imagine that we should all be equally concerned 
about all of them.

Or do you think that this is too crude a way to look at the issue, 
because maybe everything is not equal, maybe there are some things, some 
spaces, some gods that are more sacred than others. In which case you 
would give priority to those things that you considered more sacred and 
not to those which you considered less sacred.

As I am not a person who has faith, I cannot answer this question, 
because I would apply my crude reason and say everything that is a 
symbol of faith is of equal significance, and should be respected 
equally. How wold I know any better? After all I dont believe. So I 
honestly dont know.

  That is why I am asking you too help me think this through. Are all 
sacred things equally sacred to you? Are the Thar desert and a Himalayan 
Glacier and the Holy River Narmada and the Ram Sethu equally sacred, or 
is the Ram Sethu more sacred than the others that I have mentioned? Or 
is the Himalaya more sacred than the Ram Setu?

I am confused.

I am not asking you about the BJP or any other party. I am asking you to 
think about how peoples faith is disprespected and violated by nuclear 
weapons, militarization of the mountains and big dams,  and of course 
these are really really ecologically harmful - all three of them equal 
disasters. So with my crude reason I would say that we should raise our 
voices against all of them at the same time. Of that I have no doubt, I 
just wanted to know if, in your opinion, one was more sacred than the other.

I hope to learn from your answer,

regards

Shuddha



Pawan Durani wrote:
> For me
> 
> 1. Sethu Samudram is a matter of faith.
> 2. I care about Ecology , more so when fiddling with it causes discomfort to
> faith of billions.
> 
> I do not care for about BJP or VHP , as long as I do not need their support
> to strengthen my cause. And in this project if they do something which halts
> the project , i dont mind.
> 
> It does not mean I am necessarily going to vote for them.
> 
> Any more candid answer needed from me ?
> 
> Pawan
> 
> 
> On 9/17/07, Shivam Vij <mail at shivamvij.com> wrote:
> 
>>I do, Shuddha. Don't you, Pawan? The BJP-VHP-RSS joint family can't
>>appropriate ecological concerns when it comes to Sethusundaram, and refuse
>>to answer them when it comes to the Hindu Bomb. Surely Pawan, you condemn
>>such hypocrisy?
>>best
>>shivam
>>
>> On 9/17/07, Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Dear Pawan,
>>>
>>>Thank you for your appreciation of my concern. Since I do not share your
>>>faith, I cannot take that into consideration in my assessment of the
>>>Sethusamudran Project. But since I do share your ecological,
>>>developmental and financial concerns, I fully agree with you that the
>>>Sethusamudran Project is going to be a disaster.
>>>
>>>Now since you share my ecological, financial and developmental concerns
>>>(and whether or not you do share my attitude to questions of faith, on
>>>which we can agree to disagree) I do hope you will share in my
>>>condemnation of the Nuclear Tests in Pokhran, the military occupation of
>>>the Siachen glacier, the Narmada Dam and the 'canalization' plan
>>>proposed by the Bharatiya Janata Party as an alternative to the
>>>Sethusamduran Project. Because these are  and have been all ecological,
>>>developmental and financial disasters.
>>>
>>>You do, don't you?
>>>
>>>regards
>>>
>>>Shuddha (not Gargi)
>>>
>>>
>>>Pawan Durani wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Shuddha ,
>>>>
>>>>Thank you for your concern on Sethu Samudram , besides ecological
>>>
>>>disaster
>>>
>>>>it is a matter of faith as well.
>>>>
>>>>Even the developemnt is not going to be of major use, its a financial
>>>>disaster.
>>>>
>>>>Pawan
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>On 9/17/07, Partha Dasgupta < parthaekka at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>>As an aside, had an offline chat with Pawan when he mentioned that he
>>>>>plans to plant a 1000 trees - something so simple yet so important
>>>
>>>that I
>>>
>>>>>didn't even remember it.
>>>>>
>>>>>The basics are simple steps we can take that will make a difference in
>>>
>>>the
>>>
>>>>>long run. And yes, I do agree that our shattered environment
>>>
>>>(including the
>>>
>>>>>Sethusamudram project) needs a serious rethink as to where the ecology
>>>
>>>is
>>>
>>>>>going.
>>>>>
>>>>>Rgds, Partha
>>>>>..................
>>>>>
>>>>>On 9/17/07, Shuddhabrata Sengupta < shuddha at sarai.net> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Dear All,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>This is one of the rare occasions where I think I am in near total
>>>>>>agreement with Pawan Durani. So, I thought I would break my silence.
>>>>>>Thank you Pawan for the links that you have sent.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I think that the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project is indeed a
>>>
>>>blueprint
>>>
>>>>>>for the unfolding of a human tragedy and an ecological disaster. And
>>>
>>>I
>>>
>>>>>>think it ranks along with the Narmada Dam Project as a plan that is
>>>>>>deeply inimical to the interests and livelihoods of the people who
>>>
>>>will
>>>
>>>>>>be affected by it most, namely local fisher folk (for whom the region
>>>
>>>is
>>>
>>>>>>an age old natural fishing commons).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I see no reason why ancient fishing practices and the delicate
>>>
>>>natural
>>>
>>>>>>ecology of the region should have to be disrupted just so that
>>>>>>Capitalism (in the form of ships carrying containers) and the Indian
>>>>>>Navy's ships can gain a few hours while crossing from the west to the
>>>>>>east coast of India. If for all these centures, ships have had to
>>>
>>>round
>>>
>>>>>>the southern tip of Sri Lanka to move from the Arabian sea to the Bay
>>>
>>>of
>>>
>>>>>>Bengal, and traverse the waters of the Indian Ocean region, I do not
>>>
>>>see
>>>
>>>>>> why then the  livelihoods of the inhabitants of the region have to
>>>
>>>be
>>>
>>>>>> suddenly sacrified for them to be able to move faster.I see
>>>
>>>absolutely
>>>
>>>>>>nothing wrong in insisting that the ships take the same time that
>>>
>>>they
>>>
>>>>>>have always taken?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>However, I have also watched worthies from the Bharatiya Janata
>>>
>>>Party,
>>>
>>>>>>especially, Shri Murli Manohar Joshi, present their 'alternative'
>>>>>>project for the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project over the last few
>>>
>>>days
>>>
>>>>>>on television - which is to cut a canal through the southern tip of
>>>
>>>the
>>>
>>>>>>Deccan peninsula. And I think that proposal is just as much of a
>>>>>>potential human and ecological disaster as  the disruption of the
>>>>>>Sethusamudram region. So the new found 'greening' of the BJP, needs
>>>
>>>to
>>>
>>>>>>be understood for what it is. Yet another recipe for the displacement
>>>
>>>of
>>>
>>>>>>people and the violent disruption of the landscape, on the same scale
>>>
>>>as
>>>
>>>>>>Sardar Sarovar project and the proposed scheme to link rivers that
>>>
>>>was
>>>
>>>>>>the pet project of the esteeemed erstwhile president of the Indian
>>>>>>republic.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I would like to point readers on the list to consider the tragic
>>>>>>histories of Panama (a state, now a narco-republic, carved out in
>>>
>>>order
>>>
>>>>>>to dig a canal) and the Suez canal (over which at least one major
>>>>>>military conflict - the Suez crisis of 1956 erupted. I have no doubt
>>>>>>that The BJP's recently found enthusiasm for cutting a canal through
>>>>>>Southern India will no doubt create  'swadeshi' versions of
>>>>>>narco-republicanism, and aggressive military posturing a la Panama
>>>
>>>and
>>>
>>>>>>Suez.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Also, on a parting note, let us not forget the decision by successive
>>>>>>governments, controlled by the Congress or led by the BJP, that did
>>>
>>>not
>>>
>>>>>>have any qualms about violating the delicate ecology of the Thar
>>>
>>>desert
>>>
>>>>>>with Nuclear explostions, or completely destroying the equally
>>>
>>>delicate
>>>
>>>>>>Himalayan glacial environment of Siachen in the part of Jammu and
>>>>>>Kashmir occupied by India, by stationing troops, heavy artillery and
>>>>>>continuing what must be one of the most tragic, bizarre, violent and
>>>>>>wasteful military engagements with landscape in the history of the
>>>>>>modern world.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>So, yes let us all demand that the Sethusamudram region be left
>>>
>>>alone,
>>>
>>>>>>let us demand that no more nuclear explosions or tests ever take
>>>
>>>place
>>>
>>>>>>in the Thar desert or anywhere in the landmass of all of South Asia,
>>>
>>>or
>>>
>>>>>>in the Lop Nor plateau in Tibet, and let us demand also a unilateral
>>>>>>ceasefire and troop withdrawal from Siachen, and let us demand
>>>
>>>immediate
>>>
>>>>>>cessation of the Sardar Saroval Project on the river Narmada and that
>>>>>>the river linking project be abandoned. I would be absolutely willing
>>>
>>>to
>>>
>>>>>>assent to all these demands, and while doing so, I would also demand
>>>>>>that those who took the decisions to conduct Nuclear Tests in Pokhran
>>>
>>>in
>>>
>>>>>>India (in 1974 and in 1998) and in the Chagai Hills in Pakistan (in
>>>>>>1998) or on the Lop Nor plateau in Tiber offer uconditional apologies
>>>
>>>to
>>>
>>>>>>the people of India, Pakistan and Tibet (and to all peoples in Asia)
>>>
>>>for
>>>
>>>>>>the serious damage that these tests caused to the ecology of South
>>>
>>>and
>>>
>>>>>>Central Asia.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I sincerely hope that all of you will agree with me.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>regards
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Shuddha
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Pawan Durani wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>http://tamilinfoservice.com/manitham/environment/sscp/article/4.htm
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>http://www.tamilnation.org/diaspora/tamilnadu/050404sethu.htm
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>http://www.greensl.net/campaigns003.php
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>http://hitxp.wordpress.com/2007/07/01/a-blunder-called-sethusamudram/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Where are all those who had been talking about ecological disaster
>>>>>>
>>>>>>during
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Narmada Dam project ? Why are they silent ?  Where are the
>>>>>>
>>>>>>activists  and
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>the film makers ?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I do understand their problems and the "compulsions".
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>God Bless !
>>>>>>>_________________________________________
>>>>>>>reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>subscribe in the subject header.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>_________________________________________
>>>>>>reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
>>>>>>Critiques & Collaborations
>>>>>>To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
>>>>>>subscribe in the subject header.
>>>>>>To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>_________________________________________
>>>>reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
>>>>Critiques & Collaborations
>>>>To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
>>>
>>>subscribe in the subject header.
>>>
>>>>To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
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>>>
>>>_________________________________________
>>>reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
>>>Critiques & Collaborations
>>>To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>------------------------------------------------------
>>Shivam Vij
>>9871845627
>>www.shivamvij.com
>>mail at shivamvij.com
>>
>>Correspondent, Tehelka
>>M-76, 2nd Floor, M-Block Market
>>Greater Kailash II, New Delhi 110048
>>Tel/Fax: 91-11-41638750-55
>>www.tehelka.com
>>shivam at tehelka.com
> 
>

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