CED a progressive Information Centre
centre for education & documentation-critical concerns:
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A monthly Review of clippings on Critical Issues & Concerns for NGOs, Activists
and others concerned with Justice & Social Change

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July 2008

                                         
Pathways to the Future                   
                  
On 1st July, 4.29 crore farmers ended their debt burden - due to loans taken to meet the expensive inputs necessary to sustain modern agriculture - as the loan waiver scheme comes into affect, it is time to give a serious thought to modern agricultural and its deadly consequences.

Food &Agriculture Abstract of below articles >>>


To GM or Not      
   
                                                                                                            
The problem is that if you are among those who have reservations about GM food, you will never know if it's the natural or the GM variety that you are eating.

GMOs Abstract of below articles >>>

Minor Relief         
                                                                                                       

The Supreme Court has asked trial courts and High Courts to deal with rape cases with the utmost sensitivity and responsibility. The punishment cannot depend upon the social status of the victim or the accused.
 
Gender Abstract of below articles >>>


Waste Mismanagement         

It is common knowledge that cities generate a lot of waste every single day. Yet, the issue did not raise a stink a couple of decades ago.
 
Urbanisation Abstract of below articles >>>



Growing Intolerance           
                                                                          

The Supreme Court expresses anger at the growing intolerance over freedom of expression and its serous concern over the way in such cases are handled.

Communalism Abstract of below articles >>>

Potential for mobilisation ?     
                                                                         
Somehow, political organisations and social movements are yet to seize the vast potential for collective action around NREGA

Employment Abstract of below articles >>>


More on the meal          
                                                                                                 
The Prime Minister had to intervene to ensure that the mid-day meal scheme under the ICDS continues with freshly cooked meals.
 
Child Abstract of below articles >>>
 

Rights Activists under Attack                                                                          

The human rights situation in the country has been deteriorating rapidly. The killings of rights activists take place in a context characterised by a fast-growing economy that is accelerated by government policies.
 
Human Rights Abstract of below articles >>>



Future of SEZs                   
                                                      

The SEZ ‘s are indicative of the  new mantra of growth and development in elite national discourse much in keeping with the global neo-liberal discourse
 
Special Economic Zones Abstract of below articles >>>



Land Degradation                                                                                             

A cause for major concern is the FAO’s observation that 24 per cent of the global land area has degraded is that the current phenomenon of degradation has more to do with land management, and less with the nature of the soil or terrain.

Environment Abstract of below articles >>>
 

Indigenous Knowledge                                                                    

Apart from a respect for indigenous and community knowledge, and collaborative research projects with them, a range of radical steps towards this are being discussed in various circles
 
People & Forests Abstract of below articles >>>


Defining Charity                   
                                                                            
The 2008 Finance Bill, which has amended the definition of 'charitable purposes’, puts several voluntary organisations in a spot. So far, charity meant relief to the poor, education, medical relief.
 
Civil Society Abstract of below articles >>>



No Place to Live     
                                                                                       

Three decades, farmers and forest dwellers, mostly scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, uprooted to make way for industry, are still waiting for compensation, jobs and rehabilitation  
Displacement Abstract of below articles >>>


Many more Options             
                                                                            

Cultivating paddy with less water, replacing conventional energy with solar and wind power – there are more options available than you can think of.
 
Alternatives Abstract of below articles >>>


Doomed Talks                                                                                                                  

The WTO framework is based on reciprocity. But in the present scenario, there is little prospect that industrial countries will be able to overcome their own defensive interests to deliver greater access to developing countries where they most seek it.
 
WTO Abstract of below articles >>>


Unending Tragedy                                                                                                        

Why it has taken so long to deal with the disaster is an epic tale of the ineffectiveness and seeming apathy of governments and the political class.

 
Bhopal Abstract of below articles >>>