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

[Partha Dasgupta]

Hi Pawan,

I will not talk about the stance of the Left, or of the BJP or the Congress.

Personally, I normally vote for the Congress, but the last two times I have
invalidated my vote as I did not agree with the candidate of the platform
they were seeking office on.

However, I do care about whom I'm associated with. Whether for business or
otherwise, in any issue that is important to me, am extremely careful whom I
tie-up with since my reputation then also becomes linked up with them.

My disagreement with the BJP (am not loking at the VHP since they're not a
political party as such) is on the issue of how they could go along with a
mob and destroy a public property. Do note that I'm not talking about
whether it's a mosque or a temple or even an ordinary residents house.
Against the law and against the constitution they destroyed property and
then distanced themselves when the court laid down strictures.

That is my personal point of view.

However, if you feel it does not matter who you align yourself with, then
that too is your personal point of view.

Rgds, Partha
..............

On 9/18/07, Pawan Durani <pawan.durani at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Dear Mr Ray ,
>
> I would not have cared for BJP /VHP protesting against Sethu Samundram
> project , had the same "bunch" of people come out in streets and held
> demonstrarions against the project , who had earlier protested narmada
> project and were part of Chipko movement.
>
> Where are Arundhatis and Medhas of this world ?
>
> I am sure they dont care about this issue and hence would stay back in
> their
> AS rooms polluting the atmosphere.
>
> Since they did not step in , why shouldnt I support BJP or VHP ...they are
> filling in the void.
>
> And so far i havent come across the stand of the Communist ? Is it the
> same
> as that of Karunnadhi ?
>
> Pawan
>
>
>
>
> On 9/17/07, Tapas Ray <tapasrayx at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Pawan,
> >
> > If you care about ecology, don't you think that should be because it has
> > a value in itself, regardless of whether or not it has value as sacred
> > ground/water? If the channel had no mythology attached, would it be ok
> > to alter its ecosystem? The meaning of "more so" is not clear to me. The
> > way I see it, it is either worth preserving or it is not. Can't be both.
> >
> > As for the BJP and VHP, which have shown complete insensitivity to
> > ecological issues, would you like to see them hijack a major ecological
> > issue for their own political ends? As someone who is concerned about
> > ecology, are you not concerned that this would hurt the eco movement?
> >
> > Tapas
> >
> >
> >
> > 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)
> > >>>
> > _________________________________________
> > 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
> > List archive: &lt;https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> _________________________________________
> 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
> List archive: &lt;https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>