Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Lessons from Indonesia earthquake
It is unfortunate to note that the powerful earthquake that hit Indonesia has killed more than 260 people apart from leaving behind a trail of destruction out there. First off, immediate help should be extended to the affected in Indonesia. Plus, global forums like the UN should send officials to the earthquake-hit areas to take stock of the situation. To begin with, Indonesia has long been one of the most beautiful Asian countries in the world. Thanks to amazing seas, natural resources and panoramic vistas, it has always been a tourist attraction. As a school student, I got to learn a lot about Indonesia and Jakarta in geography during my schooldays in the 1990s. At the same time, it is really a setback to understand that there have been no advancement or breakthrough in forecasting natural disasters like earthquake despite so many such natural calamities and in spite of massive damage caused by them. The East or the West, countries have been grappling with numerous natural catastrophes right up till date. In this context, the West and Asian countries must come forward to make the most of technology to tackle natural disasters head-to-head. Above all else, countries and governments could do better to encourage all kinds of green activities from expanding green areas to planting trees to facilitating rigorous agricultural activities like growing food crops so as to be able to save Mother Earth, humanity, the ecology and abundant natural resources from the clutches of natural catastrophes.
P SENTHIL S DURAI
Maharashtra, India
Toshakhana scandal
The latest controversy of Toshakhana cases has become the talk of the town, where it is claimed that former PM Imran Khan kept certain costly gifts, those he had received from the heads of the foreign countries during his tenure as Prime Minister. As per law of the land, the PM can keep those gifts by paying 20% of the market value of desired gift.And as per former PM Imran Khan, he got those gifts as per law. However, there is great difference in his thoughts and actions. As gifts are given with love and affection to official of the state in official capacity, for that reasons, those given gifts should always have been state property or if Imran Khan desired so, he should not have sold those gifts at the first place. Even the much controversy remains over real market value of presents, price Imran Khan paid, price on which Imran Khan sold, payment method, cash or cheque, the first seller and first buyer, declaration of sell-money in the Election Commission of Pakistan. The earlier ones and this whole unwanted episode of Toshakhana have impacted negatively the people of Pakistan, first in the form of loss to the national exchequer and second, media coverage time to the scandal. As all, big and small media groups talk about Toshakhana scandal but none regularly put light on plight of climate-hit people of the country, who at present, are facing countless problems of health, economy and educational problems. To cap this up, it is rightly remarked by the judge that all gifts of Toshakhana must be brought and deposited in the national treasure. Apart from that strict laws must be formulated for the regulation of Toshakhana as nation can focus on the issues of the most importance.
AAMIR KHAN WAGAN
Larkana, Sindh
Fight against climate change
Now that the COP27 has come to an end at last after prolonged parleys, it is time to have some quick insights into the subject of climate change – like why this issue has been getting worse by the day down the line. Bereft of technological advances, people in ancient times had been maintaining spectacular coexistence with earth and mother nature through their various green activities including eco-friendly agricultural activities. Even in the second half of the previous 20th century, there had been great balance between humans and nature. Starting from 2000, climate change issues have been getting worse thanks to a growing population, techno-logical advances, urbanisation and rigorous use of automobiles.
That said, there was much talk of funds required to help out countries vulnerable to the bad effects of climate change at the recent Egypt Climate Change Summit. Way forward indeed! At the same time, it is not about the blame game either. Considering the magnitude of climate change impacts, the whole efforts to fight climate crisis should be fifty-fifty, meaning that countries from all across the world should join the bandwagon coherently, jointly and globally. True, whichever countries are coming forward to take more responsibility should be welcomed. To top it all, there have been so many beautiful and resource-rich countries sprawling across the globe – like Brazil, Canada, Australia, the UK, the US, Mexico, Colombia, Spain and Argentina apart from naturally beautiful and robust Asian countries like Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and India.
SENTHIL S DURAI
Maharashtra, India
