Cities for development

The world is talking about urban sustainability. It is discussing ways to safeguard our cities from collapsing either due to lack of basic resources, internal and external threats. Myriad studies have taken place to make our cities sustainable by making our daily needs efficient- be it water and power usage, transports and buildings.

But which section of society wants this sustainability? Of course, as a have I need it so that I do not have to compromise on my lifestyle. What about those living in the slums? Surely, they want to reach where we are, hence sustainability is not what they are looking for. Isn’t this term elitist in nature?

During the GTZ workshop, this potent question of Urban sustainability vs Urban Survivability was raised by an expert. It got me thinking. To sustain cities, we need to be inclusive and welcome those migrating and keep into account the possible increase of basic needs- housing, water, et al.

But is migration always a choice? I kind of differ from the view. A few months back Hindustan Times did many stories around migration. Stories reflected that it happens because of lack of availability of adequate employment and resources in rural, peri- urban areas. Should we not look at developing those rather than forcing people to come into big cities and live like paupers – their quality of lives further deteriorating? NREGA is a positive step towards it. I also disagree that development comes only with big cities, isn’t it too euro- centric a concept? Our structure is very different from that of the Europe. We need to encourage farmers and others supporting the agriculture and thrive on it.

We should promote the SME sector that generates large- scale employment to people that helps in decentralisation of employment and population. We need to integrate energy efficiency through the use of green technologies, creating awareness on ways to conserve natural resources, provide access to basic needs like education, healthcare, employment, etc into the framework of development that is decentralised and dynamic.

Peeking into the Bonn conference

A few of my friends recently went to Bonn to witness the negotiations that will be culminated in COP 15- Copenhagen. Ridhima went as a part of WWF delegation while Leela represented the youth. Almost all the major INGOs, Research Organisations, etc participated in this conference. Around 3000 people were representing their nations. Did I hear 3000???!!! Getting 3000 people from nook and cranny of the world involves huge cost, of course adds to the carbon emissions and other factors. A magnum opus, if I can say!

So much to combat climate change…

Let me not sound hopeless and cynical. This time round, Bonn did manage to have set the stage for going towards the right direction. It began with the 53- page document included the thoughts and views of all the nations. Long- term cooperative action (AWG- LCA) was put on the table and parties expressed their views etc on it. The LCA text compiled by the Chair for negotiations went to first and second rounds of readings by the parties and the modifications/additions which inflated this report to 200 pages. AWG- KP (deals primarily with obligations of developed countries in terms of emission reduction targets a financial and technological support to NA1) led to heated discussions but underlined that these countries need to act more and talk less. Yvo De Boer, UNFCCC Executive Secretary said, “The big achievement of the meeting is that it has made clear what governments want to see in a Copenhagen agreement, which shows their commitment to reaching an agreement. ” he added that Annex- I (industrialised nations) should set ambitious targets.

The main highlight was Japan’s mid-term emission reduction announcements at LCA. A 15 % reduction target by 2020 was announced by using the base year 2005. This is equivalent to -8% compared to 1990. The Japanese delegation felt that the target was ambitious. Japan is ready to provide technical assistance to countries who participate in 2012 framework. The innovative technology use and nuclear power combined with mid-term targets would eventually reduce the emissions by 25% in 2030 and 70% in 2050.

This announcement by their Prime Minister Taro Aso attracted criticism from all quarters, including Japan’s civil society groups which called it an industry- driven move. Countries like Japan and US have seen their emissions rise considerably since 1990. Japan’s Kyoto’s commitment is 6% reduction during the five years commitment period. If the target is –8%, it means Japan it adds up only 2% in the next 8 years!

The Indian Delegation led by Mr. Shyam Saran, in a press conference, provided clarifications and cleared India’s stance on various issues at the negotiations. He expressed that the expectations from the Copenhagen package will be comprehensive, balanced and based on principles of equity, where mitigation and adaptation is supported by finance and technology transfer to developing countries. He emphasised that a global challenge needs collaborative and not a competitive response. Developing countries only demand confining to the legal treaty that has been signed by all parties in 1992 (UNFCCC). His optimism about the negotiation process was reflected in his statement that India believes negotiations have not reached a deadlock, but are moving at a slow pace.

The whole debate of the developed nations should pay their historical debt, the developing – the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and least responsible for historic emissions have been doing rounds for a long time. I have a simple point – while its necessary to be negotiating on this aspect, yet we need to see within. India is the ‘greenest’ nation (as a survey in a recent newspaper claimed) is because of the fact that the majority are poor. We as urbanites, the haves, are polluting as much as any person living in a developed nation and it’s the poor who are neutralising are extravaganzas. This business of carbon credits and carbon trading will be exploited by us rather than benefiting the majority. Isn’t it?

Ridhima gifted me a very interesting t- shirt that says ‘How old will you be in 2050?’ and I was looking at this site- www.adoptanegotiator.org/ that Leela is a part of to see the youth perspective. It is our future they are talking about and its us who are missing in the action. Experts in this field are arrogant and often feel that youth are not capable of bringing about solutions as we are not really serious and this is just a phase and soon the activism shall die. Well, hello! The youth groups around the world proved their enthusiasm, commitment and hope by being there and doing their own thing- rapping in plenary hall, distributing a note to their respective govts on what they feel etc etc. We need to realise that singing and dancing around doesn’t in any way mean that we are un- serious!

That waiting game has begun and lets hope something come out of COP 15, I mean it better after these guys have contributed so much in terms of carbon emissions!!

With inputs from: Ridhima and google news (zindabad!!)

The 'G' old Age Home

It was my first visit to any old age home and trust me me, if you are as sentimental as I am, prepare yourself psychologically!!

The one I visited was run by MEANS (NGO) in Hyderabad and was more a healthcare centre for the aged abandoned or kept by their children living abroad. Nonetheless, the loneliness mixed with desperation and insecurity screamed out loud. I felt like an intruder and a tourist of another kind. I mean what can I do by being there for an hour?

But I met a 70 year old Radha amma, who in her fluent English, he big smile and wisdom stole my heart. Parents nurture us, make compromises to give us the best and give up their dreams to fulfill our's.

Have we lost the patience, sensitivity towards them once we grow up and earn big bucks? What are we teaching our next generation?

Time to reconsider...if we can't live with them, we can at least give them our time and love!

This Is World-

It takes 10 hours 45 minutes to reach London from Kabul in a flight. Around 3-4 months if you intend to skip visas and go there not for leisure, but for survival. But for 16- year old Jamal, it took a bit more than that. He reached London, his dream workplace, were paupers become rich, by paying a price. He paid in cash, he paid by losing his innocence, his elder brother on the way, his student life...now that's a lot for a kid, ain't it?

This documentary was shown in GTZ Summer School... a melancholic insight to human trafficking.
Cramped in a little tin box that' stuffed in a big truck, crossing the borders on a wooden patta (plank) under the truck, walking across snow- peaked mountains of Turkey in the dead of night are only a few journeys he made with his brother to reach London.

But why London? Why does a 16 year old need to travel 3554 miles to earn? The answer lies in the country he was born in...turbulence, atavism and lack of opportunities. The film made me uncomfortable. It made me realise the situation within...in India.

Large population coming from Bangladesh enter India in the hope of a better living. Many rural people become urban poor in search of a better life, only that their dreams our thwarted the moment they recognise the truth of the city.

Is it just a regular movement of people or something more serious? I guess its time we think about it a little bit more.

New faces@ GTZ Summer School!

That's one of my most favourite things! To meet new people, observe them and marvel at the diversity and complexity of people makes me soooo excited!!!

From a mother of a 18- year old to a 19 year old...that was the group composition!

A 20 year- old who can't wait to tell her story, share her ideas. A guy who is honest enough to say, "I am the best." A young lady, forever hesitant, waiting to shatter the barriers that lie within her. An unassuming guy who is the first game developer in India, to a man who loves JNU... some found solace in each other that went amiss while growing up in broken families. A man loved by all women but guided by his own principles, another too shy to be close to them! Much more lies beyond these words!

A vibrant group in which some talk, others listen and few who want to be heard.

I have met people from different backgrounds...few leaped all boundaries--- rural set up, lack of facilities and yet made it to the top institution -- IIT. Looks are deceptive; a simple, married and fragile saree clad lady turned out to be a Ph.D ...whoa!

So much to learn and so much to give...that's what these 31 were all about :)