Green Options » South Asia http://greenoptions.com/tag/south-asia Posts tagged 'South Asia' Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:51:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en “New” Rat Discovered in the Phillipines http://ecoworldly.com/2009/02/19/new-rat-discovered-in-the-phillipines/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/02/19/new-rat-discovered-in-the-phillipines/#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:51:12 +0000 Jake Richardson http://ecoworldly.com/2009/02/19/new-rat-discovered-in-the-phillipines/ piano rat

The discovery of a species in nature often results in headlines such as “New Species Discovered”. However, what exactly is a new species?

A ‘new’ species would probably be only one that had evolved into something unique very recently, or zapped instantly into existence by the power of God, or created by genetic engineers in a laboratory. Therefore, it appears to be safe to say that there is no such thing as a ‘new’ rat. (Unless one includes politicians).

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/02/19/new-rat-discovered-in-the-phillipines/feed/ Pakistan Finally Admits Its Role In The Mumbai Terror Attacks http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/13/pakistan-finally-admits-its-role-in-the-mumbai-terror-attacks/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/13/pakistan-finally-admits-its-role-in-the-mumbai-terror-attacks/#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:20:57 +0000 Reenita Malhotra http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/13/pakistan-finally-admits-its-role-in-the-mumbai-terror-attacks/ Pakistan has finally acknowledged that last year’s terrorist attack on Mumbai was planned on its soil. This is the clearest sign yet that Pakistan intends to cooperate with international efforts to prosecute those behind the attacks.

Pakistan’s Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik spoke during a press conference in Islamabad Thursday.

On Thursday, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said eight suspects from the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group were behind the attacks and could face prosecution. But why now?  Why has Pakistan decided to admit this after months of denial?

When the attacks occurred, it was clear as day that they had been planned on Pakistani soil. However at the time Pakistani officials strictly denied any involvement and even went as far as to accuse India of strategizing the attacks to find an excuse to point fingers at Pakistan.  No wonder then that relations between the two South Asian countries plummeted and rumors of war and attack have been on the forefront ever since.

Pakistan has decided to come clean only because officials in Washington have pushed them to conduct a thorough investigation and offer a complete, public accounting of what they found. The country knows the entire international community is watching and wants to see justice. However, it has stayed silent on Indian accusations that elements of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency has played a role in plotting the attack.(WSJ)

But India wants action. Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee berated Pakistan for taking so so long to admit its involvement. (BBC)

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/13/pakistan-finally-admits-its-role-in-the-mumbai-terror-attacks/feed/ Tibetan Glaciers Shrinking Faster Than Expected http://ecoworldly.com/2009/02/04/tibetan-glaciers-shrinking-faster-than-expected/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/02/04/tibetan-glaciers-shrinking-faster-than-expected/#comments Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:04:37 +0000 Jake Richardson http://ecoworldly.com/2009/02/04/tibetan-glaciers-shrinking-faster-than-expected/ Tibetan glaciers are melting faster than predicted. Nearly a sixth of the world’s population, one billion people, directly depend on the glaciers for survival.

Tibetan RangeThe Tibetan plateau has an average height of 14,000 feet above sea level. It is also home to over ten thousand glaciers. This gargantuan network of ice feeds some of the longest rivers in the world: Salween (2820 km) Mekong (4880 km) Yellow (3180 km) Yangtze (6380 km) Indus (3180 km) and Brahmaputra (2900 km).

Seasonal glacial melting provides vast quantities of water to these rivers and their watersheds. It is critical to all life there. An Ohio State University researcher named Lonnie Thompson, who has studied the region, is very concerned global warming could cause the glaciers to shrink below levels that currently support the local ecosystems, and human communities.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/02/04/tibetan-glaciers-shrinking-faster-than-expected/feed/ Battlelines Over Waterlines: South Asia’s Not So New Tensions http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/01/28/battlelines-over-waterlines-south-asia%e2%80%99s-not-so-new-tensions/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/01/28/battlelines-over-waterlines-south-asia%e2%80%99s-not-so-new-tensions/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:07:33 +0000 Anshu Nagpal http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/01/28/battlelines-over-waterlines-south-asia%e2%80%99s-not-so-new-tensions/

South Asia\'s rural areas search for water becomes increasingly tense as rural area face shortages on yearly basis due to draughts. (Image by Abro)

South Asia’s rural areas search for water intensifies due to annual droughts.

According to a UNESCO study, fresh water supply is expected to drop by one-third within 20 years. UNESCO points out that up to 7 billion people could face water shortages by 2020 as global warming will affect water supply in more than 60 countries.

Water as a priority in national strategic discourse is not new but its prominence in recent years illustrates the emergence of a new battlefront. A broader acceptance of climate change associated with global warming has led to the reassessment of fresh water’s priority.

Water Supply Is A Growing Problem in South Asia

In South Asia, this future is here. Ground water drop in several major metropolises in India is up to nine meters; this is especially pronounced in densely populated areas where people bore wells in their yards rather than rely on government supplied water which is in severe shortage. With that in mind, one of the fastest growing regions in the world, South Asia, is involved in cross-border water dispute.

Regional Tensions Over  Water

Last year UN appointed a specialist to look at a complaint filed by Pakistan against India for violating the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960.  India recently initiated a construction of dam on Chenab River in Kashmir, which has the potential of reducing the flow to Pakistan’s primary agricultural areas. Although the specialist found that the Indian design was permitted under the treaty, he suggested some minor changes.

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/01/28/battlelines-over-waterlines-south-asia%e2%80%99s-not-so-new-tensions/feed/ My Little Pakora: An Organic Baby Line and Multicultural Resources Center http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/29/my-little-pakora-an-organic-baby-line-and-multicultural-resources-center/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/29/my-little-pakora-an-organic-baby-line-and-multicultural-resources-center/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:50:18 +0000 Reenita Malhotra http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/29/my-little-pakora-an-organic-baby-line-and-multicultural-resources-center/ My Little PakoraLike many multicultural moms, I find a direct link between a sustainable way of living and the wisdom of old world cultures. As an Indian mom, I have always had a tremendously soft spot for South Asia inspired parenting resources. I have always maintained that it is not easy raising multicultural kids, so I will take all the help I can get.

An old adage tells us that company loves misery, obviously other moms like me feel the same way! I was thrilled to hear from Sonia Gupta about My Little Pakora, an organic children’s clothing retailer and online multi-cultural resource center, blends the latest information about organic and sustainable lifestyles with the uniquely similar cultural traditions of South Asia and other cultures around the world.

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