Improving Livelihoods based on Better Care of Goats
Goats are generally at the margin of rural development efforts, but thanks to a well-planned initiative in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, efforts related to better care of goats and…
Bharat Dogra
Jal Sahelis–Water Conservation based on Community Strength and Women Volunteers
At a time when several environmental problems have become so serious as to threaten the basic life-nurturing conditions of our planet, thoughtful and concerned people all over the world are…
A Time to Remember the Struggle of Ganga River Fisher Folk
Recently several activists and supporters of the Ganga Mukti Andolan (Liberate the Ganga River Movement or GMA) got together first at Delhi and later at Bhagalpur (Bihar). This has been…
Urgency of Checking Spread of GM and Gene Editing Technologies as well Control of Multinational Companies on Farming and Seeds
As consciousness regarding the many-sided adverse impacts and high hazards and risks of GM crops have grown, some promoters allied to the same big business interests and multinational companies directly…
Protection of Indigenous Cows and Bullocks Needs Much Higher Emphasis
Often we pay a high price for neglecting our heritage. In the context of indigenous breeds of cattle a recent report in The Indian Express (7 March 2025) with…
Arrest of Ex-Philippine President Duterte also raises wider questions about the War on Drugs
Following a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on March 11 in Manila. This is in relation to his so-called war…
Non-rational decisions of a few leaders, based on imaginary fears, threaten durable peace in Europe
Rational, evidence-based decision-making is the most basic quality that leaders of any country must possess and use, particularly in very important and sensitive times. Unfortunately in very important times some…
Myths and reality–How and Why A False Narrative on Ukraine was Created
At the time of the break-up of the Soviet Union and unification of Germany a promise was made at very high levels by representatives of the USA, Germany and others…
Why the need for revolution has increased, not decreased, but must be understood in a new and wider context
Historically the concept of revolution as an inspirational concept has been based on an understanding, firstly, that in any place and time the extent of distress caused by man-made factors…
An Inspiring Portrayal of the Spirit of Voluntary Work in Indigenous Community Life in Ecuador
The book under review here, very simply titled ‘Mingas+Solidarity’ is a rare and invaluable book. It is rare because such books are seldom seen in print. It is invaluable because…
Women in Remote Villages Mobilize to Check Fast Spread of Alcoholism
Due to a combination of factors there has been sharp increase in alcoholism in several rural areas from time to time. While this can be a serious problem for health…
Ghoomar Brings New Hope by Strengthening Livelihoods Based on Forest Produce
One of the most important means of improving the livelihood base of tribal communities is to increase the income they can derive on sustainable basis from non-timber forest produce, also…
Why Ending Ukraine War as Early as Possible Should Get Universal Support
The ongoing Ukraine-Russia War has been among the most tragic conflicts of recent times, in terms of the huge loss of life and other extreme human distress this has caused.…
Rural women groups combine economic progress with social reform
By pooling their savings on a regular basis every month self-help groups (SHGs) in many parts of India have improved their economic and social security. However such efforts, particularly of…
Tribal Community’s Family Farm Shows the Way Forward with Highly Creative Natural Farming
Maali Ram’s small home and farm may appear to be very ordinary to outsiders, but local people who know better are increasingly attracted by what this bheel (tribal community) farmer…
Experience of Suhagpura Villages Shows Water Conservation Must Get the Highest Priority
Chittodia village, located in Suhagpura block of Pratapgarh district (Rajasthan), is finding sustenance increasingly difficult because of water scarcity during the first half of the year, before the advent of…
Inspiring Effort to Green both Urban and Rural Areas
When Bajrang Sharma retired from government service in India after serving very capably for decades in senior positions in the state of Rajasthan, he could take particular satisfaction from two…
Paradox of Panicking as Peace Approaches
Normally there is a lot of stress in times of war, and even panic when things are going the wrong way. However recently what we have seen is a very…
What hinders the adoption of path based on justice, peace and environment protection?
The most rational path for humanity and the one most guaranteed to reduce distress (in the short-term as well as the long –term) as well as to increase welfare is…
Rise in oral cancer–How mix of pan masala and tobacco defies regulations to continue its assault on public health
In recent times when very serious concern was expressed regarding the increase in devastating health problems led by oral cancer due to the escalating consumption of smokeless tobacco and there…
What sincere, genuine reform in USA means in real life
Moving away from the controversies and contradictions of daily discourse, can we consider what the most sincere and genuine reform in USA, capable of giving real relief to the people…
Improving Bio-Safety Concerns Must Go Beyond COVID Origin Debate
The debate on COVID origin refuses to die. According to a recent report titled ‘CIA now favours lab leak theory to explain origins of COVID-19’ (and somewhat similar reports in…
What is missing in the political and social discourse in the USA, and why?
The USA leads the world in having the most extensive discourse on political and social issues, supported by the world’s most famous media outlets, think tanks and academic institutes, by…
High risks of large dam projects in the Himalayas
Various countries are building large dams on Himalayan rivers. Apart from local factors this often gets discussed in terms of the conflicting interests of various countries. In the process the…
The USA Needs Political Party Dedicated to Peace, Justice and Resolving High Environmental Risks
The USA really needs a political party which is completely dedicated to evolving and promoting an agenda based on peace, justice and environment protection, internally as well as at world…
How ABSSS led a peaceful transition towards land for the landless and release and rehabilitation of bonded workers
While starting their work most voluntary organizations are reluctant to take up the most difficult issues. However when Gaya Prasad Gopal, popularly known as Gopal ji in development circles in…
Inspiring Voices from the Ground
It is always a good learning to hear the experiences of those grassroots activists who have been working for long years in villages to create a better society. At a…
Demand for MG-NREGA work growing, additional budget needed
The coordinator of Mahila Sangathan (women’s organization) in Barmer district, Anita Soni, said recently that there is increasing demand for employment under the rural employment guarantee scheme known popularly as…
Most important aspects of change getting neglected in world discourse
While world discourse on various issues has increased as never before with the rapid spread of media, social media, research institutions and think-tanks, it is disturbing to realize that at…
While struggling for the survival of her own family, Sarkunwar found the courage to help several hundred people
Sarkunwar’s courage was tested very early in her youth. Her husband who had gone out to work suffered a serious injury and returned disabled to his home (Udgavaan village of…
Rural women who suffered from injustice earlier now taking the lead in reducing injustice caused to others
*PM, an educated girl with an MA degree in Hindi literature, comes from Magaura village in Banda district (UP). For nearly 24 years she endured domestic violence and insulting behaviour…
Model of Facilitating Cultivation of Abandoned and Neglected Land in Eco-Friendly Ways Evolving in Karauli
Efforts to increase food production generally emphasize intensively developed areas which already have high levels of production. On the one hand many areas recording much lower levels of food production…
Farmers Scarred by Mining Recover Lost Ground as Green Crops Smile on Rocky Land
Farmers of Makanpurswami village, located in Mandrayal block of Karauli district (Rajasthan) were experiencing a lot of difficulties about a decade back. This is a rocky area known for its…
Those who protect the poor also need protection in difficult times
The poorest and most vulnerable sections of the population living in remote villages frequently face injustice and sometimes even violence. Those responsible for this injustice and violence use their resources…
People of Bodhepurva village devastated by sand mining and neglect need urgent help
In these times can you imagine a village in which almost no child goes to school regularly? Bodhepurva village, which suffers from extreme poverty and neglect, is one such village.…
Reason Wounded, Hope Denied—World Leadership Response in Difficult Times
Here is an AI-generated podcast based on the article The most important and unprecedented aspect of world in recent decades has been that for the first time there are human…
Don’t make the world a powder keg that can be ignited by a single mistake, or matchstick, to start World War 3
It must be stated at the outset that regardless of anything else, if one of the great powers follows world dominance as a central precept of its policy then it…
Thousands evicted in Paris ahead of Olympics
At a time when most of the discussion is about who will win most medals, on the margins of the Paris Olympic Games several social groups have intensified efforts to…
The Way Forward for People’s Mobilization on Crucial Survival Issues
It is relatively easier to achieve wide agreement that those problems which threaten the basic life-nurturing conditions of earth—such as accumulation of weapons of mass destruction, climate change and other…
The Importance of What Israeli Surveillance Soldiers Have Stated about the October 7 Attack
An important role in the Israeli security system is assigned to Israeli women surveillance soldiers who are on duty at the long fence with Gaza. They are called tatzpitaniyot. They…
How India’s villages have been changing, and what needs to improve
India has the largest number of people living in villages, and the percentage of rural population here is also one of the highest among the leading countries. According to conventional…
2024 Will be Very Important, But Can the New Year Also Bring New Hope?
With several significant elections (India, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico etc.) being topped toward the end of the year by the US Presidential election, 2024 will be a very important year for…
World’s Priorities Must Shift Rapidly from Dominance to Protection
All too often the discussion in world is dominated by who will dominate the world. Not just a lot of talk but also a lot of action moves around this.…
USA’s ‘long coup’ in Brazil used anti-corruption movement to oust left government and imprison its leaders
Left and democratic as well as working class forces in world suffered a big setback with the impeachment of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff in 2016, the imprisonment of frontline Presidential…
Why Apple To Wine Project In Himachal Pradesh Is Bad News
New capacity created by World Bank funded unit in Himachal Pradesh for obtaining 100,000 litres of wine from apples per year is bad news for nutrition, health and ecology One…
An Important Book on Hindi Journalism that Deserves Wide Attention
A recent book on Hindi journalism edited by Atal Tewari and published by Setu Prakshan is a very welcome addition to the rather limited literature on Hindi journalism relative to…
In the New Year South Asia Must Seek Hope in Agenda of Peace and Justice
Three of the largest South Asian countries share a remarkable similarity in the coming year 2024—all of them will be holding general elections in the first half of this year.…
Beating Swords into Ploughshares, or What A No-war Future May Involve
At a time when existing and potential wars dominate the attention of world leadership to such an extent, it may appear very unrealistic to discuss a future for humanity in…
Real Action Based on Comprehensive Plan to Resolve Survival Crisis Should be Top Priority
There is increasing concern among some of the most well-informed people and institutions of the world that the most important problems which together constitute a survival crisis are worsening. Of…
Piecemeal Efforts will Not Protect the Planet or Its People
With increasing realization that the earth’s basic life-nurturing conditions are threatened by man-made factors, the world has responded in a number of ways ranging from climate change commitments to treaties…
Assassination Plots Which Killed Some of The World’s Most Promising Leaders, and Threatened Others
Which world leader faced the most attempts on his life or other attempts to injure and harm him? The answer to this question is very clear—Fidel Castro, President of Cuba.…
Unequal and Unsustainable Life Patterns A Very Important Yet Neglected Cause of Environment Ruin and Climate Change
Economic and social inequalities have historically been a very important aspect of injustice, but in addition these have also resulted in some other important distortions which are not so well…
Europe started two world wars, it must prevent the third one
Europe started the first two world wars and played a key role in them, even though the extensive distress caused by them spilled over, directly and indirectly, to the greater…
Plan and Pray for a Significant Peace Initiative around Christmas and New Year
Can a year which experienced such terrible although entirely avoidable violence and conflict still end on a note of peace and hope? Yes, it can if the remaining few days…
Anaura’s Water Conservation Success Followed by Many-sided Benefits
Water conservation can be the key to many-sided rural development, and the recent experiences of Anaura village in Birdha block of Lalitpur district provide a very promising example of this.…
Two Decades of A Journey Based on Community Welfare
It was nearly 20 years back that a young social activist Basudev made the rather difficult decision to move from a bigger voluntary organization in Chitrakut to a very remote…
Villagers Delighted with Tap Water in Their Homes, but Concerns Regarding Depleting Water Sources Remain
People of Manjra Makara village in Niwari block and district (Madhya Pradesh) are very happy that they now have tap water in their homes. They say that their daily life…
Rejuvenation of Rivers Brings Greenery for Now and Hope for Future
Due to a number of factors like encroachments, pollution, silting and sand-mining, many small rivers and rivulets have been degraded so much and their flow during lean season has been…
Sona’s Journey from Exploited Migrant Worker to Sustainable Organic Farming
Sona is sitting with some of her family members near her farm. The lush greenery of crops, fruit trees and vegetable plants serves as a symbol of the improving prospects…
Sirkunwar Overcomes Big Adversities to Bring Hope to Many Villages
Extreme personal distress and adversities can sometimes push people into despair and loneliness, but some also respond with a strong determination to overcome extremely difficult situations. Sirkunwar is one of…
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