Comments for People. Planet. Partnership. http://blog.cohabnet.org The blog for Co-operation on Health and Biodiversity Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:32:19 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Position statement on health and biodiversity by S.Krishnan http://blog.cohabnet.org/2010/10/20/position-statement-on-health-and-biodiversity/#comment-4 S.Krishnan Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:32:19 +0000 http://blog.cohabnet.org/?p=53#comment-4 If Health is Wealth, why should we lose it? If ecosystems are not well maintained , how can one expect healthy life? It is rather unfortunate that biodiversity issues are not discussed in all seriousness in the health sector. I find most of the discussions "academic" than as practicable protocols. Which country will consider Expenditure on environment as Investment? Is it not necessary that we talk of the immediate one-off decisions for tackling immediate issues, a well decided plan for the next two decades and a long term policy to implement sustainability principle in the Meet? Sectorwise focussing is the need of the day. Food and health can never be delinked. Nagoya guiding factor should envisage protection of environment at the local level, by people, as an integral part of their day-to-day life tied to the religion, custom, civil liberties and self dignity. If Health is Wealth, why should we lose it? If ecosystems are not well maintained , how can one expect healthy life? It is rather unfortunate that biodiversity issues are not discussed in all seriousness in the health sector. I find most of the discussions “academic” than as practicable protocols. Which country will consider Expenditure on environment as Investment? Is it not necessary that we talk of the immediate one-off decisions for tackling immediate issues, a well decided plan for the next two decades and a long term policy to implement sustainability principle in the Meet? Sectorwise focussing is the need of the day. Food and health can never be delinked. Nagoya guiding factor should envisage protection of environment at the local level, by people, as an integral part of their day-to-day life tied to the religion, custom, civil liberties and self dignity.

]]> Comment on Position statement on health and biodiversity by S.Krishnan http://blog.cohabnet.org/2010/10/20/position-statement-on-health-and-biodiversity/#comment-3 S.Krishnan Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:07:56 +0000 http://blog.cohabnet.org/?p=53#comment-3 The magnitude of biodiversity loss can be well understood, only when the human race understands that it will be the first to go, should there be a cataclysmic event. Nature can be there without humans but humans cannot exist sans environment. Secondly, the living resources are also finite. Sustainability stems from conservation and optimal use. Quality of human life also is decided by the environment only. A long term policy to educate the generations to come, about the "E" factor to sustain life should be the top-prioity agenda in any international treaty, should we talk about sustainability. Politics will change, from time to time and place to place but principles should be enshrined. Polluter pays principle also is corrupt, because by paying the polluter gets the right to abuse. It has no moral or ethical value. Development is uni-directional like aging. Changing technologies alone will not be enough. Yesterday's luxuries have become today's necessities and hence asking the mankind to revisit civilisation of the previous centuries will have no listeners. Environmental policy of an international body should be enforceable in true spirit in all the countries, but putting it into practice will be a herculean task. The only ray of hope is, there is "time" still left to learn. The larger nations with more land mass should concentrate on scientific agriculture than space research, land-locked countries should go for a borderless cultivation, island nations should fish for the world, rivers should be considered arteries and veins sans border disputes, undisputable newer technologies should be ushered into agriculture to convert fallow lands to cultivable farms, social forestry principles should be religiously followed and the cost of life for humans should be comparable whether one lives in a developed country or underdeveloped nation. That way, I feel, COHAB is doing a wonderful duty. The magnitude of biodiversity loss can be well understood, only when the human race understands that it will be the first to go, should there be a cataclysmic event. Nature can be there without humans but humans cannot exist sans environment. Secondly, the living resources are also finite. Sustainability stems from conservation and optimal use. Quality of human life also is decided by the environment only. A long term policy to educate the generations to come, about the “E” factor to sustain life should be the top-prioity agenda in any international treaty, should we talk about sustainability. Politics will change, from time to time and place to place but principles should be enshrined. Polluter pays principle also is corrupt, because by paying the polluter gets the right to abuse. It has no moral or ethical value. Development is uni-directional like aging. Changing technologies alone will not be enough. Yesterday’s luxuries have become today’s necessities and hence asking the mankind to revisit civilisation of the previous centuries will have no listeners. Environmental policy of an international body should be enforceable in true spirit in all the countries, but putting it into practice will be a herculean task. The only ray of hope is, there is “time” still left to learn. The larger nations with more land mass should concentrate on scientific agriculture than space research, land-locked countries should go for a borderless cultivation, island nations should fish for the world, rivers should be considered arteries and veins sans border disputes, undisputable newer technologies should be ushered into agriculture to convert fallow lands to cultivable farms, social forestry principles should be religiously followed and the cost of life for humans should be comparable whether one lives in a developed country or underdeveloped nation. That way, I feel, COHAB is doing a wonderful duty.

]]> Comment on Position statement on health and biodiversity by Maya Gislason http://blog.cohabnet.org/2010/10/20/position-statement-on-health-and-biodiversity/#comment-2 Maya Gislason Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:46:07 +0000 http://blog.cohabnet.org/?p=53#comment-2 How wonderful to hear from the COHAB Secretariat! I wish you all the best as you work with your characteristic passion, intelligence, and grace to move the health and biodiversity agenda forward! I look forward to your upcoming posts. All my best, Maya How wonderful to hear from the COHAB Secretariat!

I wish you all the best as you work with your characteristic passion, intelligence, and grace to move the health and biodiversity agenda forward!

I look forward to your upcoming posts.

All my best,
Maya

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