Resource- based Economy
‘Consider the following three ingredients: a mega-city in a poor, Pacific rim nation; seasonal monsoon rains; a huge garbage dump. Mix these ingredients in the following way: move impoverished people to the dump, where they build shanty towns and scavenge for a living in the mountain of garbage; saturate the dump with changing monsoon rain patterns; collapse the weakened slopes of garbage and send debris flows to inundate the shanty towns. That particular disaster, which took place outside of Manila in July 2000… was not inherent in any of the three ingredients of that tragedy; it emerged from their interaction’ (Sarewitz and Pielke, 2001 cited in Ramalingam et al).
Monument to ruin
Consider then the theory that all disasters are created by emergent interactions between crisis drivers and human activities. This approach suggests that disasters are part of ongoing dynamic processes of global change, shaped by contextual factors such as demographic shifts, natural resource dependency, urbanisation and climate change. Our purpose and thus effort at development is relevant in the complexity of natural disasters. When population exceeds the natural carrying capacity of land then the darker face of urban affairs emerge. The best documented being greed, crime and violence. By overcoming scarcity crime and finally prison would be no longer necessary. Geoffrey West’s says that cities are the common factor of origin for global warming, environmental degradation, pollution, disease and economic crises. Their exponential growth grants that our planet will be completely dominated by cities by the second part of this century. It is hardly comforting to note the transformation of the city to the glorified slum. We know that generic universal principles can answer the complex questions in natural occurrences. Scientists have studied in detail the metabolism of plants, animals and insects. The city is also a living, breathing organism. The complexity of its metabolism is directly proportional to the growth and diversification of its network of interactions. The evolution of cities is critically faster than the innovative capabilities of the inhabitants to avoid a system collapse.
Pollution v/s love
“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” – Albert Einstein.
Imagine a world beyond politics, war and poverty. It would mean re-inventing society and breaking away from the regimentation that defines it. A holistic socio- economic system would mean all materials and services are available without the use of money, credits or any other debt of servitude. Jacques Fresco through the Venus Project says the question we must ask is not if we have enough funds to produce necessary implements or but rather do we have enough resources. Resources are common heritage and outgrow the need for artificial boundaries that separate people.
In The Incas: New Perspectives, Gordon Francis McEwan writes:
With only a few exceptions found in coastal polities incorporated into the empire, there was no trading class in Inca society, and the development of individual wealth acquired through commerce was not possible . . . A few products deemed essential by the Incas could not be produced locally and had to be imported. In these cases several strategies were employed, such as establishing colonies in specific production zones for particular commodities and permitting long-distance trade. The production, distribution, and use of commodities were centrally controlled by the Inca government. Each citizen of the empire was issued the necessities of life out of the state storehouses, including food, tools, raw materials, and clothing, and needed to purchase nothing. With no shops or markets, there was no need for a standard currency or money, and there was nowhere to spend money or purchase or trade for necessities.
It would take considerably less energy to rebuild a city than to adapt an old one to the pressing needs of society. The application of renewable sources of energy, computerising, automating manufacturing, advanced transport systems, universal health care and relevant education could generate an incentive system based on human and environmental concern. The infusion of technology without abuse and misuse is crucial. Mechanisation will reduce the demand for exploitable labour. Distribution and manufacturing can be balanced on a global scale to minimise wastage. Nutrition and healthy food would be available. Planned obsolescence can fade into a myth. Agriculture would be monitored remotely with sensors to help maintain the water table and coordinate harvesting and planting of crops. Recycling waste materials and environmental cleanliness in urban areas will also be monitored. Without careful handling the future of mankind will have to exist not just skyward and seaward but perhaps subterranean as well.
Strike against land acquisition
Acquire and Displace
Land Acquisition in India refers to the process of land acquisition by the central or state government of India for various infrastructure and economic growth initiatives. In the guise of development related displacement, large-scale projects like dams, canals, energy plants, sanctuaries, industrial units and mining have displaced over 100 million people. The amount reimbursed is not on par with the prevailing economy prices. The low level of earning capital is cause for concern as those displaced fail to find adequate employment. 75% of those displaced since 1951 still await rehabilitation according to the National Policy of Rehabilitation.
Michael Cernea’s ‘impoverishment risk model’ lists eight dimensions of development-induced displacement:
- Landlessness
- Joblessness
- Marginalization
- Loss of access to common property resources
- Increased morbidity and morality
- Food insecurity
- Homelessness
- Social Disarticulation
Although the farmers of today are not better educated than before, they are better informed. There is a resistance to part with ancestral property for the simple logic that land is the sole means of livelihood and also their greatest asset at this time. The shift in attention from coal to land has seen even the market move forward in anticipation. The communities must also have a say in the decision making without being marginalised. The right to consultation and consent must be recognised not as roadblocks but as part of the process. The Government of India is faced with public resentment, outdated law and a need for balance on its road to development.
Land records are largely fragmented and disorganised and in most cases not updated. The new law ensures that these records be updated. There is also an imbalance in the bargaining power between large corporations and small farmers which is considered. There is a legitimate need for the state’s efforts to not be undermined and stalled by vested interests. The state can exercise ‘eminent domain’ in times of war, famine and flood for which a guidelines are required in the absence of guiding legislation.
Land Acquisition Act, 1894
- Forced acquisitions
- No safeguards for landowners
- No commitment to rehabilitation of the displaced
- Urgency clause which allows complete dispossession of the land ignoring the processes listed under the Act
- Low compensation rates
- Litigation stalls legitimate projects
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013
- Compensation upto four times the market value in rural areas and twice the market value in urban areas
- Resettlement and Rehabilitation including land, housing, employment and annuities in addition to one time payment
- Retrospective operation: The bill operates retrospectively to previous cases
- Monitoring committees both national and state level to ensure that R&R obligations are kept
- Safeguard for tribals: The Gram Sabhas’ assent is required to acquire land in scheduled areas.
- Compensation for livelihood loses
- No less than 70% and 80% must consent for PPP projects and private projects
- Caps on acquisition of multi-crop and agricultural land to safeguard food security
- Return of unutilized land
- Exemption from income tax and stamp duty
- Owner receives a share in appreciated land value
Kokrebellur
Co-existence
Kokrebellur is a village in Mandhya district of Karnataka, India. The village is symbolical for the painted stork that breed on this site. The villagers and the birds share a unique bond and have been co-existing peacefully for decades. The bird droppings are rich in phosphorus and potassium and is used in manure. The villagers also benefit from compensation for every tree that is used by the birds to nest. It is a rare sight to see 20 pairs of birds on the same tree. The spott billed pelicans are protected by law. The success of this village attracts tourists to its small rural paradise. It is also dubbed a role model to be replicated. The forest and village authorities are in an agreement to conserve and develop all facilities for the birds. The trees are nurtured and enhanced through grants provided. Tourism is encouraged and villagers assist as guides besides earning an income by providing other facilities. Adequate water supply and drainage is ensured to maintain hygiene. Food sources are created for the birds in reservoirs by introducing indigenous fish species, discouraging fishing activities and de-silting the tanks. The villagers along with an NGO tend to the injured hatchlings.