Take steps to make next decade better
This is in reference to “The decade: It’s a tinderbox world” (1-15 January, 2020).The article is a brilliant recap of what happened (or went wrong) over the last decade.The situation is unlikely to be any different in the next one either, both globally and nationally. But the story can be different and better scripted if local issues and concerns are not drowned in meaningless nationalistic rhetoric and diversionary politics. For example, making our forests more resilient to climate change can happen within a decade (at local levels) and that is why forest-linked livelihoods matter. Similarly, water conservation measures can go a long way in alleviating water shortages and related problems that people in rural areas face almost every day. One step that can help improve the situation is electing people who understand these issues and have the integrity to do something about them.The situation can be improved only if our MLAs and MPs allow it to happen. But they have not let the panchayats work independently so far.
VINAY TANDON
VIA EMAIL
This is in reference to “20102019:The decade”.The decade runs from 2011 to 2020 inclusive, so it won’t be over for another year. There was no year zero, so the first decade ran from 1 through 10; the next from 11 through 20; and so on. Same with centuries and millennia.This century and millennia didn’t start until 2001, and the first decade therein was 2001 through 2010.
BENT TRANBERG VIA EMAIL
This is in reference to “Fatal resistance”. How about asking the government to plant neem and tamarind trees to improve disease resistance of people? Your publication should also hold conferences on the issue at eminent institutes like the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
GANESH KUMAR M VIA EMAIL
Preserve produce by dehydrating it
This is in reference to “Each year, half the fruits, vegetables world produces are wasted: FAO” published online on November 13, 2018. We should think about this serious issue because most of the vegetables produced globally are wasted. One way to solve the problem is by adopting preservation strategies such as dehydration.The shelf life of dehydrated vegetables is longer than that of fresh ones and are easier to store and transport. VIMAL VYAS
VIA EMAIL