One wonders whether our government officials were even aware that today is the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant accident, the world’s worst nuclear plant accident in history. Or maybe they do and consciously chose to announce plans to move ahead with the nuclear power plant in Jaitapur?

But then again, if the Fukushima crisis and violence and killing of its own people over the plant don’t matter, why should we expect this Government to at least have the good sense to not make this announcement today of all days.

We hope these students run with this idea and make it a reality. The country and the planet is depending on them to change the unsustainable solutions we are currently using.

A few stiff fines strictly enforced should stop the litterers. That’s all there is to say on the subject.

Full post at NY Times:

As the Hindu population has grown in Queens over the last decade, so too has the amount of ritual debris — clothing, statues, even cremation ashes — lining the banks of the bay in Gateway National Recreation Area.

“We call it the Ganges,” one pilgrim, Madan Padarat, said as he finished his prayers. “She takes away your sickness, your pain, your suffering.”

But to the park rangers who patrol the beach, the holy waters are a fragile habitat, the offerings are trash and the littered shores are a federal preserve that must be kept clean for picnickers, fishermen and kayakers. Unlike the Ganges, they say, the enclosed bay does not sweep the refuse away.

In America, 4/20 (April 20th) is a day celebrated by pot smokers all over. A National Marijuana day if you will started back in the 70s by a group of high school kids and took on a whole new life and meaning since then.

420 in India has a whole different meaning though. It was what we called people who were either low grade scamsters or slightly off their rockers. The term came from section 420 of the Indian Penal code that calls for imprisonment of upto 7 years for anyone caught cheating someone off their property – epitomized in Raj Kapoor’s 1955 classic film Shree 420.

As we celebrate the decision by India’s Supreme Court granting bail to Dr. Binayak Sen, let’s pause to remember this – Dr. Sen has spent the past 121 days in jail convicted of sedition, a charge even the Supreme Court finally deemed unproven. He also spent two more years in jail from July 2007 to May 2009 before the Supreme Court had to step in to grant him bail.

Dr. Sen had the visibility of a world press, numerous international human rights organizations, 40 Nobel Laureates who wrote on his behalf, and finally the eminent lawyer and politician Ram Jethmalani handling his case. What happens to the ordinary Indian who has none of this support?

A quick reminder of what India’s sedition law, section 124A of the Penal Code is:

124A. Sedition – Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in [India], shall be punished with [imprisonment for life], to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine. Explanation 1.- The expression “disaffection” includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity. Explanation 2.- Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section. Explanation 3.- Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.”