Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Greenpeace Unwelcome in India?


There is a recent report that a Greenpeace worker with a valid visa has been refused entry to India in Delhi  to attend a conference (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/greenpeace). Apparently, the government feel that this organisation is slowing down their rate of economic growth by e.g. campaigning against coal mining in areas where the local human and animal life seem vulnerable. Greenpeace is reportedly being investigated by the Indian security services and contributions to their accounts in that country have been frozen. This appears to be yet another example of tensions between environmentalists and politicians. Thinking of an analogy: Biological DNA is programmed to replicate itself whereas Political DNA is programmed to get itself re-elected. Short-term economic considerations often appear to trump long-term sustainability? The 'life' of a government is much the shorter. Having said that, one must be careful about imposing 'foreign' values  on other cultures.

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