For a cleaner world
the last 15 years have seen a virtual explosion of intergovernmental negotiations to formulate global environmental treaties. This ecological globalisation is the result of the ongoing process of economic growth and globalisation which has linked the world's economies and now threatens to overuse the world's ecological systems to fulfill national production and consumption levels.
The simple use of a refrigerator or an airconditioner can destroy the world's ozone layer and using a car or cutting down a tree can destabilise the world's climate. The need to set up rules to govern the global commons of the world on a more equitable and sustainable basis is the need of the hour. It is of utmost importance, therefore, to set up a multipolar order in the world. In this situation India has to seek out new allies among the nations that have traditionally stood by her. Hence, the first-ever official visit by an Indian President, in this case K R Narayanan, on Sunday April 16 to France, was of great significance and will contribute meaningfully to promoting dialogue and trade between the two countries. Also in the President's entourage were several Members of Parliament, including the former Lt Governor of Delhi Jagmohan, who is presently the minister of urban development, and Ramkrishna Hegde, chairperson of the Indo-French Forum.
This visit follows French president Jacques Chirac's trip to India in January 1998. While it was common knowledge, prior to the visit, that no major agreements would be signed, it definitely demonstrated an upturn in relations between Paris and New Delhi. The change comes at a time when both sides are keen to boost trade and technology transfers with each other. France has already made it known that it is keen to see that India has a permanent seat in the United Nations security council.
The mood was reflected in the banquet speech made by Chirac on Monday at the Elysees Palace in Paris.
"This is the first time France has received the President of the Indian Union,' Chirac had stated, "Your visit occurs at the dawn of a new century which I am convinced will be Asia's century. It occurs at a moment when the contours of a new world are being drawn, a world that you, like ourselves, hope will be a balanced and peaceful one, resolutely striving for economic development and greater social justice.
During the five-day tour President Narayanan visited Paris, Toulouse, where Airbus Industries is located, and the port town of Marseilles. While talking to newspersons abroad Mahendravarman Air India One on the return trip, he outlined in brief the discussions he had held with his French counterpart and other senior officials.
Aware of the problems in India today, the issues President Narayanan had raised ranged from environmental pollution in cities to cleaner and safer sources of energy. The French press was aware of the ease with which he tackled all the issues. The Le Figaro was quick to appreciate this and remark, "There is no doubt that today, the guest of the French is better informed of world affairs than the world is about his country.'
India's need for cleaner technology in the power sector, fueled by environmental concerns, was voiced by President Narayanan during his meeting with his counterpart. During the meeting at Palais Elysees, the official residence of the French President, Chirac also stressed upon the Indian President the importance of clean energy to meet India's energy requirements.
"India is so energy deficient that it desperately needs any form of clean energy that does not emit greenhouse gases,' states foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh. "The French seem to have developed certain technology in this field which they are willing to transfer to us,' he adds.
The issue of trade sanctions was also raised during the visit. India has long held the view that trade as a weapon, can only be used by the rich against the poor. Hence no country should be permitted the use of such sanctions against another. For example if the usa were to impose trade sanctions on Pakistan on environmental grounds saying that shrimp from Pakistan is being harvested at the cost of killing an endangered species of turtle, Pakistan cannot retaliate by banning the import of us goods. Even if it did so it would be a cosmetic gesture and would not hurt us interests in anyway. But of late it has become fashionable for countries of the North to impose trade sanctions on countries of the South. This was apparent in more than one case where shrimp had to be caught using turtle-friendly devices before they could be exported to the us . (see box: Trading Punches )
"I informed the French that we are against trade sanctions being imposed upon any country whether they are done in the name of human rights or labour standards or linked to environmental clauses,' Narayanan later informed the Indian media. The French agreed that trade sanctions are indefensible.
Since France is a member of the European Union ( eu ) and the eu is one of the largest trading groups in the world, apart from the usa , there has been a move to institutionalise on an annual basis an Indo- eu meeting to give India a platform on which to communicate her position. Already world trade is marred by skirmishes between the eu and the us. The eu would prefer to exercise the precautionary principle and impose a ban when it comes to dealing with certain products like beef grown in the usa as a range of hormones are used to grow this beef.
During his visit President Narayanan also raised the issue of environmental pollution in cities. Cities, he said are not monuments but living entities. Clearly indicating that the problems of pollution needed to be solved. Paris and New Delhi have a similar problem of air pollution. Almost 12 per cent of global patents and 20 per cent of European patents in the field of environment management technologies are held by France. Paris also has the same problem of a large fleet of diesel cars that New Delhi has. But unlike New Delhi they have a regular air pollution index and a system of air pollution alerts. If pollution levels exceed the danger mark cars are taken off the roads to restore levels of normalcy. Cooperation in this field would be beneficial to India in a big way.
"For a truly multipolar world it is importance to fight the cultural hedgemony of one superpower. One of the reasons why I am insisting upon a cultural centre of India to be set up in Paris, is to facilitate exchange between India and France. This is because 90 per cent of the foreign films we see in India are made in Hollywood. Unless we first fight the cultural dominance of a people we cannot hope to establish a truly multipolar world,' stated K R Narayanan.
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