Sustenance of a Joyous and Leisurely Life
Girish Abhyankar
Visiting faculty, The Ecological Society, Pune.
B-2, Jayanti, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune 411016 India.
Volume 13, Issue 04, Pg. 11-36 (2020)
Abstract: The issue of sustainable development has come-up following intense or hard use of technology (hard-tech). Evaluation of hard-tech vis-à-vis sustenance of a joyous and leisurely life, against the backdrop of The Laws of Nature clearly shows the limitations of hard-tech.. This is a scientific evaluation, based as it is on a “systematic study and knowledge of natural phenomena” (i.e. The Laws of Nature), the dictionary meaning of ‘science’ [1].
As per The Law of Entropy, every technology is inherently inefficient as regards matter and energy, i.e. “the output is always lesser than the input”. At every step, energy efficiency has to obey the Carnot cycle limit. In fossil-fuel based technology (hard-tech) the number of steps is very large and so there are huge losses even at the best possible efficiency. Working for inefficient hard-tech entails huge physical and mental effort (labour), harm (to health), pressures of commitments (loss of freedom), tensions, and risks for the majority of human society. Some have to carry out – difficult and/or dangerous and/or dirty jobs – or ‘3d jobs’.
For hard-tech we draw large quantities of raw materials (from mines) and oil from under the surface of the earth. These then continue to remain above the surface in the form of slag, rubble, scrap, goods, garbage, and other toxic and dangerous pollutants. Unwanted matter cannot be destroyed as per The Law of Conservation, and as per The Law of Entropy it always increases causing degradation of air, water, and soil quality, global warming and undesired effects thereof with the sustainability of the entire human race at stake. As per The Laws of Nature hard-tech can never ensure a joyous and leisurely life for all.
As per The Law of Entropy energy generated by photovoltaic cells, windmills, and hydro-power stations in their whole lifespan is less than the energy spent in making and maintaining them. Or, the energy generated by one photovoltaic cell does not suffice to make another photovoltaic cell of the same capacity. The same is true for windmills and hydro power stations and in harnessing all other renewable or non-conventional or ‘green’ energy sources. They release more green-house gases for the same job. Hence, they are neither friendlier to the environment nor a real alternative to fossil-fuels.
Automatic machines controlled by silicon-based technologies substitute humans for many jobs but we are not paid for sitting at home. Development of Silicon life is today considered subservient to us doing 3d jobs, but their superior power in data processing can, and is already enslaving humans, and may one day finish unwanted humans! (As we did with animals and other living-creatures.) So it is not just sustenance of a joyous and leisurely life, but also a dignified human life, that is at stake.
Selective use of technology; – selection being based on low cost (in terms of effort and harm) technology (soft-tech) and befriending diversity (for better living and beating uncertainty) is the basis of an ecological solutions that are in tune with The Laws of Nature. These will facilitate a joyous, leisurely and dignified life; in other words, sustainable development.
Keywords: Ecological-solution; Hard-tech; Laws-of-Nature; Self-reliance; Soft-tech
HDI of Dalits and Tribes in India: The Distance to be Travelled
Shiddalingaswami Veerayya Hanagodimath
Centre for Multi-disciplinary Development Research (CMDR), Dharwad – Karnataka, India
Volume 13, Issue 04, Pg. 37-54 (2020)
Abstract: In the recent decades, human development index has vastly been accepted as the measurement of overall socio-economic development of any region. Since 1990, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), publishes Human Development Report, which gives the ranks to all the countries in Human Development Index (HDI). HDI is a composite index of three dimensions viz., Standard of living, Knowledge and longevity. Many countries have framed the policies and programme to achieve the higher human development. Hence, they initiated the construction of HDI at disaggregated levels. Now most the countries world over have the national human development reports taking into consideration of providence/states/regions at the unit of study. These national level reports have guided the policy makers in different ways. India is not lagging behind in this direction. In India, government as well as individuals have also constructed Human Development Indices. Further, many states have also constructed HDI for their districts and taluks/blocks. These reports have helped the policy makers in various ways to achieve the higher Human Development.
In India, due to rigid caste based hierarchical system, some social group are in the better-off position and some are lagging behind in many developmental fruits. With respect to Human Development also, some social groups are in good position and some are not. Hence, in India, many socio-economic indicators are studied at disaggregated levels like SC (Schedule Caste or Dalits), ST (Schedule Tribes or Tribes), OBC (Other Backward Communities), Minority, Non-SCST and so on. Similarly, for understanding of HDI of Dalits, Tribes and Non-SCST become more meaningful for the proper policy frame-work.
In the present paper an attempt has been be made construct HDI for Dalits, Tribes and non-SCST for Indian states, using modified methodology of UNDP and Thorat’s. Further, the way travelled and the distance to be travelled by Dalits and Tribes in HDI has been analysed. Appropriate policy measures are suggested to improve the data base for different disaggregated groups, which will help to understand the problem more meaningfully.
The study suggests that Like UNDP, India should have a Human Development Report for entire nation. This report should construct social group wise HDI for all the districts. These indices can be calculated once in a five year. In the next five years, implementation of good policy and programme towards achievement of higher human development based on the finding and recommendations of the report. Hence, inclusive balanced regional development can be achieved in India.
Keywords: Dalits and Tribes, Human Development, Inclusive Growth, Regional Development
Effectiveness of Chromoleaeceaeodorata (siam weed) for Phytoremediation of Lead and other Toxic Metals in Enyigba Lead Mines, Nigeria
Oti Wilberforce J. O.1, Ngele S.O.1 Nworie F.1, Oti-Wilberforce R.O.2
1 Department of Industrial Chemistry,
2 Department of Medical Laboratory Science,
Ebonyi State University, Nigeria.
Volume 13, Issue 04, Pg. 55-62 (2020).
Abstract: Phytoremediation which is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and aesthetically pleasing process was used to clean up a mapped out 50m by 50m portion of Enyigba mineusing Chromoleaeceaeodorata. The concentrations of lead and other toxic metals in the soil wasanalysed using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) to reveal the current metal loads in Enyigba soil and their corresponding pollution indices (PI). Sequential extraction was done to ascertain the bioavailability of lead and other metals in different part of the mines. Chromoleaeceaeodoratawas planted for phytoremediation process and was monitored for 24 weeks. Samples of soil (top and sub) and plant (leaves and roots) were collected at fortnight interval and analyze for lead and other metals. The bioaccumulation factors (BAF) and translocation factors (TF) were used to evaluate the phytoremediation process.High values of the Bioaccumulation Factor (4.5) for Cd and Translocation Factors of Pb(8) and Zn (3)were observed. The results revealed that the concentrations of Pb, Zn and Cd were significantly reduced after the phytoremediation experiment. The percentage decontamination of the metals decreased in the order Cd (100%) >Pb (85%) >Zn (75%) by Chromoleaeceaeodorata.
Keywords: Chromoleaeceaeodorata, Bioaccumulation Factor, Translocation Factors, Phytoremediation, Toxic Metals, Enyigba