The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
Even as negotiations on the relaxation of international patent protection rules enshrined in the World Trade Organization (wto) remain deadlocked, the eu has adopted a law that will provide 76 developing countries access to cheaper drugs. The affordable medicines will help the beneficiary nations, including India, to combat hiv/aids, malaria …
From a resource-rich area to a metaphor for poverty, the Balangir district of Orissa has covered a long distance. Plausibly, it is this journey that is driving its inhabitants to go away from their roots
India's drought-stricken people must weather more uncertainty. Indeed outright confusion, for the country could receive anything from 113 per cent excess rainfall to 25 percent below normal rainfall, if monsoon forecasting models are to be believed. Such science can only leave mouths dry. On the eve of the 2003 monsoon, …
Five successive years of debilitating drought. It had rained for barely a few hours last year in the region of Rajasthan I was visiting. I expected wasted lands, desolation and nearly-abandoned villages. Instead, I could see greenery, irrigated agriculture, people tending to vegetable crops and livestock. The village diary - …
With its awe-inspiring architecture and remarkable concepts of astronomy, the Maya was undoubtedly one of the greatest civilisations of Mesoamerica. At the peak of its glory, around 800 ad, the civilisation extended from Mexico's Yucat
When residents of Mansingpura village in Madhya Pradesh's (mp) Betul district successfully cultivated wheat in the year 1996, it was the grand finale of their water conservation efforts. Thanks to the Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Development Mission, the village's groundwater level rose by over 30 feet. The mission was started by …
It is a bumper crop that has raised quite a few eyebrows. Much to the chagrin of those leading the international fight against the drugs menace, Afghanistan harvested a bountiful poppy yield of 3400 tonnes last year. In a strange paradox, the country is struggling to gather enough food for …
breaking with tradition, Union finance minister Jaswant Singh chose not to conform to the two-part format while delivering his maiden budget speech on February 28. But there was no departure from practice in this year's Union budget as it was at the end of the day another populist document. No …
Parched koalas are roaming Australian towns in search of water. A long-drawn drought, that has been stretching for more than 11 months, has forced the koalas to abandon their babies and eucalyptus trees in the forest and head for household backyards, to drink water from taps and sprinklers. The lack …
The first comprehensive UN survey of Afghanistan's environment brings out the dismal state of affairs in the country. After more than two decades of war and three years of drought, air and water quality in the largest towns is badly degraded. The study also reveals chemical pollution, massive deforestation, declining …
In theory, rainwater harvesting can drought-proof every village in India. In theory, drought-proofing requires strong and functioning village-level institutions. Travelling through Chattisgarh state
Bathing daily is now a punishable offence in three gram panchayats of Andhra Pradesh. The village bodies in Mellacheruvu mandal of Nalgonda district have ruled that villagers will bathe once in four days and wash clothes once every 10 days to save water. Those who defy the diktat will be …
indian scientists have embarked on a programme to study clouds from close range. This was revealed at the recently concluded 90th Indian Science Congress session in Bangalore. Space Commission member Roddam Narasimha said that the satellite would help understand how the water cycle affects atmospheric climate processes over the tropics. …
a survey currently underway in states to calculate the number of below poverty line (bpl) households is being opposed tooth and nail by civil society groups under the 'right to food' campaign. They are objecting to the exercise on two counts: firstly, the criteria used for poverty estimation are incorrect; …
With a severe drought hitting the region, it seems residents of southern Australia are willing to go to any length for relief. Hundreds of women in Victoria state are planning to bare themselves to the heavens to ensure more rain in this drought-ravaged region. Taking their inspiration from a Nepalese …
