Norman Borlaug- Father of Green Revolution

On 12th September 2009, the Great International Scientist NORMAN BORLAUG died due to cancer in USA. He was a true definition of PEACE and HUMANITY on this planet. He saved lives of hundreds of millions of people from hunger. This great scientist was born on 25.03.1914 in USA. He done his Ph. D. in plant pathology under Dr. Elvin Stakman, from Minnesota University, USA, in 1942. In 1964 he developed the semi-dwarf high-yielding, disease resistant wheat varieties in Mexico which SAVED lives of hundreds of millions of people from hunger. He came India on the invitation of government of India and started green revolution program from Punjab province. This 'FATHER OF GREEN REVOLUTION' was awarded NOBEL PEACE PRIZE on 10th December 1970 [ the ONLY agricultural scientist ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize ]. He saved more humal lives than any other person in world history. In 1986 he established 'WORLD FOOD PRIZE' and the FIRST prize was awarded to the 'Father of Green Revolution in India' Dr. M.S. Swaminathan. On 17th July 2007 the USA's highest civilian award, the CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL, was awarded to him. He is no more with us but his GREAT research works will always play the important role in saving the life of poors; HE WAS THE HUMAN GOD FOR THE POORS and HUNGRY PEOPLE. [ Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India ]

ARTIFICIAL TREES: to decarbonise the global economy

Green trees convert 1%-5% of the solar energy reaching the ground into chemical energy; it is in turn used in building up the plant body, in their metabolism and in gaining their organic biomass. This is done with the help of unique phenomenon of PHOTOSYNTHESIS. It is this process which is NATURALLY controlling the GLOBAL WARMING. But due to continuous cutting of trees and uncontrolled URBANISATION and INDUSTRIALISATION the problem of global warming become very serious. Many scientists calculated that the problem will be inevitable after few decades, if no immediate effective actions are taken. To tackle with this problem the scientists are developing the prototype of 'ARTIFICIAL TREES' by using geo-engineering technologies. Such artificial trees will have the size of a shipping container and will remove thousands of times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than an equivalent sized real tree; this may contain 'algae based photobioreactors'. So, these will be our future trees to save our future. [Prabhat Misra]

Road To Low Carbon Society In Copenhagen

There are less than hundred days remaining for the Copenhagen Summit, to be held in December 2009 at Copenhagen. Much has been written to low carbon footprinting but the excellent article is by Mr. David Miliband, [Foreign Secretary, U.K.] on his FCO Blog [ http://www.blogs.fco.gov.uk/miliband/act_on_copenhagen ]. Another great effort is from Mr. Ed Miliband. Now the question arises that what more can be done for the future to reduce the carbon emission. Here are few suggestions, which needed urgent attention. These are:
1. There should be a WORLD COMMISSION FOR SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT for promoting the researches and developmental works which have zero to low carbon emission.
2. There should a compulsory constitutional amendment to make ENVIRONMENTAL WAY OF LIFESTYLE a compulsory duty.
3. Our investment in R & D should be more on the forthcoming areas like solar, tidal, wind and water energies apart from on lowering carbon emission.
4. There should be a big role for N.G.Os. in implementing the plans & projects of government.
5. There should be effective programmes, at grass root level to save the environment from degradation, such as RED TAPE and GREEN VILLAGE [ http://www.blogs.fco.gov.uk/miliband/act_on_copenhagen ].
6. This should be the primary duty of DEVELOPED nations to provide financial help and green technology transfer to help DEVELOPING nations in phasing-out the fossil fuels.
7. Carbon caping should not be the one way legislation programme against developing nations; this may cause economic recession in developing world.
If we will consider the above points in COPENHAGEN SUMMIT09, then it will be better for the formation of a low carbon society. [Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India]