The traditional Indian strategy of resolving conflict by non-cooperation, the satyagraha, has been revived in the Chipko, or "Embrace the Tree", the movement to protect trees from commercial felling. This paper traces the development of the philosophy and the non-violent resistance activities from the beginnings of Chipko in the early 1970's in Garhwal to its present role throughout most of India. It is unique in that it is based not on the politics of the distribution of wealth but on that of sustainable ecological stability, and it is dominated by women.
When India and other nations convened the U.N. Conference at Stockholm in June, 1972, it marked a new epoch in international concern for the environment. India was among those nations representing to the call for a cleaner environment. However, India's environment has improved very slowly since 1972. In this article, we will point out several weaknesses in India's statutory scheme for environmental protection.
Using data from villages in three districts of Western Rajasthan, this paper describes the decline in area and deterioration in quality of common property resources over three decades. The decline of common property resources is associated with institutional changes in the villages.
The water resources of a Miocene limestone aquifer in northwest Sri Lanka were investigated. The limestone aquifer receives recharge although it is buried beneath a thick sequence of Quaternary deposits of low permeability which cover the whole basin. Hydrochemical and pumping-test data show that this recharge occurs as leakage through the semi-permeable cover.
The important attributes of macrobenthic community structure viz., species composition and number, population density, biomass, and dominance and diversity indices were measured at different depths and discussed in relation to pollution of Lake Naini Tal. The zone below 7 m depth, where anoxic conditions prevailed for most part of the year, showed complete absence of macrobenthos.
Porpax Lindi. is a small genus found only in the mainland of Asia. It differs from its close relative Eria Lindl. in having the sepals joined into a tube and having a very short pseudobulb which is wider than long. While on an exploration to Silent Valley a curious population of Porpax was located. Comparing with other known species of the genus, the plants were described here as a new species. The plants were growing on lichen covered tree trunks in moist shady places.
Brief studies of microearthquakes in four separate parts of eastern Afghanistan reveal a high level of seismicity over a broad area. In general, the activity is not concentrated on well-defined faults, nor does it define new faults, but seismicity on or close to the Chainart and Sarubi faults attests to their activity. First motions of P waves are consistent with left- and right-lateral strike-slip motion, respectively, on these two faults.
Information available on the present status of genetic diseases in India is relatively meagre, considering the number and varieties of its populations. Data, based mainly on those from uurban referral units, suggest that the incidence is fairly high with the preponderance of certain defects in particular areas and subpopulations.
Vinoba Bhave's demand for banning cow slaughter in Kerala & West Bental and his fast for gaining its acceptance raise three sets of issues; (a) the constitutional and legal basis of the demand, (b) its economic rationale and (c) the political implications and possible consequences. This note examines these issues.
