Hard facts about Soft Drinks: time to ban them!

Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

Greetings from Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO)!

The giant soft drink companies have once again proved that they care a damn about the health of the people, their consumers.  The latest report by Paris based National Institute of Consumption, as reported in the news pasted below, shows how all these big brands including Coca-Cola and Pepsi make people drink ‘alcohol’ in their soft drinks including soda. 

It has also been reported that a chemical 4 methylimidizole (4-MI) found in Coke is considered carcinogen.  So, these big brands are pushing soft drink consumers to cancerous impacts. 

What is also important to note here is that the news about this study has prompted Cola-Cola to announce that it will alter its recipe for sodas sold in the U.S. It reportedly has no plans to do so worldwide.  So, all other countries will continue to get their alcoholic and carcinogenic drinks under guise of ‘soft drinks’.

Well, the task has obviously been made easy for Bars.  They now don’t have to print separate menu for soft drinks.  It is all hard drinks.  

We at WIO appeal the Govt. of India to immediately ban such products.  Also, a sincere appeal to the people of the nation to shun the junk!

Take care, stay healthy!!

Thanks and regards,

Ranjan

Alcohol In Soda: Trace Amounts Found In Coca-Cola, Pepsi And Other Top Brands

Posted: 06/28/2012 3:33 pm

 Trace amounts of alcohol can be found in popular soft drinks including Coca-Cola and Pepsi, according to new findings by the National Institute of Consumption in Paris.

The research, published in the French magazine 60 Million Consumers, found small amounts of alcohol measuring around 0.001 percent per liter in 19 popular sodas around the world. Generic supermarket brands, however, were alcohol-free.

Business Insider also reports that another chemical present in Coke, 4 methylimidizole (4-MI), is considered a carcinogen by the Center for Science in Public Interest.

The publication has more background on why the alcohol was detected:

Coca-Cola France’s scientific director Michel Pepin told Channels TV that it is possible “alcohol traces come from the process of making our drink according to its secret recipe,” perhaps due to natural fruit fermenting.

While the amount of alcohol found is negligible, the revelation may anger thousands of Muslims, whose religion prohibits them from drinking alcohol.

However, as the Seattle Post Intelligencer notes, Coca-Cola’s web site is up front about alcohol levels in its products:

Trace levels of alcohol can occur naturally in many foods and beverages. Governments and religious organizations have recognized that such minute levels are considered acceptable in nonalcoholic foods and beverages.

That being said, the news has prompted Coca-Cola to announce it will alter its recipe for sodas sold in the U.S. It reportedly has no plans to do so worldwide.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/28/alcohol-soda_n_1635190.html

-- 
Ranjan K Panda

Convenor

Water Initiatives Odisha: Fighting water woes, combating climate change... more than two decades now!

INDIA

Mobile:             +919437050103      

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, ranjanpanda@yahoo.com

You can also mail me at: ranjan.waterman@facebook.com

Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader

Tweet @ranjanpanda

Blog: http://www.climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/ 

Please join our group 'Save Rivers Save Civilizations' at http://www.facebook.com/groups/220598744649462

Water talks to me, I speak for Water...

Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) is a state level coalition of civil society organisations, farmers, academia, media and other concerned, which has been working on water, environment and climate change issues in the state for more than two decades now.

Thought for 1st July 2012

Greed is opposite of Green.  It finds its comparison in the fat in your food.  As more of that junk kills your health; that of greed chokes the fate of your survival in a Humane World…

Good morning and have a great Sunday!

Ranjan Panda

Electricity Generation sucking up rivers!

Dear All,

Greetings from Water Initiatives Odisha !

FYI the following news based on a new report that says how power plants are sucking up the rivers of United States.  We at WIO have been arguing that the power plants of our nation as well are having huge impact on our water resources - quantity and quality wise.  Almost all the current forms of power generation have got dirty water footprints and we cannot afford to lose out on our 'life saving water resources' for the sake of a greedy lifestyle.  

Its high time the nation thinks over it and not only limit power production but also go for greener sources and most importantly ration energy use for 'greedy industries, commercial establishments, urbanites' and so on.

Thanks and regards,

Ranjan

=============

Electricity Generation 'Burning' Rivers of Drought-Scorched Southeast

A new report reckons the water cost of electricity generation

Power plants are guzzling water across the United States and increasing the risk of blackouts in the Southeast, where the precious resource is drying up.

"Burning Our Rivers," a new report by the River Network, found that it takes about 40,000 gallons of water to meet the average American household's energy needs, which is five times more than the amount of water used directly in that home.

Of the various modes of power production, hydropower has the biggest water footprint. Each day, enough water evaporates from behind hydroelectric dam reservoirs to meet the demands of more than 50 million people.

Coal-, nuclear- and natural gas- powered plants are also thirsty, in need of water to cool their generators. These energy facilities are the fastest-growing users of freshwater resources and already account for more than half of all fresh surface water withdrawals from rivers. That is more than any other economic sector, including agriculture, write the authors.

More than a quarter of the water fossil-fuel plants take in is turned into steam. The remaining liquid is contaminated with pollutants and excess heat and returned to waterways, where it can kill wildlife and create toxic algae blooms.

"What we are seeing now is the way we produce electricity can threaten our water supplies, and it's already compromising our water quality across the nation," said Wendy Wilson, director of River Network's energy and climate program and author of the new report.

The results found in "Burning Our Rivers" echo a report released last fall by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which also found that conventional power plants are stressing U.S. lakes and rivers by removing too much water or discharging it at extremely warm temperatures, to the detriment of surrounding ecosystems (ClimateWire, Nov. 15, 2011).

In the Southeast, which has been battling a drought for more than a year, the impact of power plants is especially worrisome and could lead to brownouts and blackouts throughout the summer and beyond.

"The conflicts between energy and water needs are ones we've seen before ... and will only worsen as the frequency of drought increases and water temperatures rise driven in part by climate change," said Ulla Reeves, regional program director at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

'Disasters in slow motion'Alabama and Georgia have been particularly hard hit this year, with the drought reaching exceptional levels that are predicted to continue and even worsen through September. Todd Rasmussen, a hydrology professor at the University of Georgia, says that taking strong energy conservation measures may be the only way to avoid losing electricity.

"Worst-case scenario for energy and water shortages later this summer can be avoided if we take time now to prepare," he said. "Unlike a hurricane, tornado or earthquake that strikes quickly, these droughts are disasters in slow motion. It's something that we could prepare for."

The River Network report says the long-term solution to reducing water consumption for power production is to switch from conventional energy sources to wind and photovoltaic solar power, which have almost no water footprint.

Alabama is currently looking at all options for managing its fragile water-energy nexus and to meet Republican Gov. Robert Bentley's call for a comprehensive water plan by 2013. According to Mitch Reid, program director at the Alabama Rivers Alliance, the state has no official water management plan to ensure that users get the water they need while enough is left over to protect the river network itself.

"Efficiency in our water use and making sure that we're not wasting water or wasting electricity, which in turn uses more water, has got to be addressed in part of a comprehensive plan," he said.

The nation needs a plan, too, said Wilson, if it is going to weather the existing and expected water shortages.

"It's not clear that the water and energy agencies are in a process where they are talking about these scenarios and building the resilience that we need to face these kinds of challenges," she said. "Is someone managing the farm here on integrating our water and energy needs? Or are we just praying for rain?"

By Julia Pyper and ClimateWire  | June 29, 2012 |

Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=electricity-generation-buring-rivers-drought-southeast

-- 
Ranjan K Panda

Convenor

Water Initiatives Odisha: Fighting water woes, combating climate change... more than two decades now!

INDIA

Mobile:             +919437050103      

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, ranjanpanda@yahoo.com

You can also mail me at: ranjan.waterman@facebook.com

Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader

Tweet @ranjanpanda

Blog: http://www.climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/ 

Please join our group 'Save Rivers Save Civilizations' at http://www.facebook.com/groups/220598744649462

Water talks to me, I speak for Water...

Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) is a state level coalition of civil society organisations, farmers, academia, media and other concerned, which has been working on water, environment and climate change issues in the state for more than two decades now.

Thought for 30th June 2012

Truth cannot take the position of guerrillas and their complices in your character.  It has to be the self, the basis of existence…

Good Morning and a Great Weekend friends!

Ranjan Panda

Thought for 18th June 2012!

Our expressions don't necessarily succeed to convey our feelings rightly and always...

Have a fabulous week!

Ranjan

First drops this monsoon...

O' Me Lord Monsoon:

Thanks for showering on us the first drops this season.  Take control of your 120 days in your gracious ways.  Don't leave us thirsty, don't make us parched...

Ranjan Panda

Shift power plants to Bhubaneswar: WIO Open Letter to Environment Minister

Open Letter of Water Initiatives Odisha(WIO) to the Minister, Forest & Environment, Govt. of Odisha

Now that Bhubaneswar is the hottest city, shift all Coal-fired power plants to the capital

Sambalpur, 8^th June 2012

Dear Minister,

On the World Environment Day even as you were busy attending functions, press meets and TV debates and were boasting of your ministry’s tall achievements in greening Bhubaneswar and other initiatives, the Pollution Control Board of the state along with local administration preferred to conduct a public hearing for a Coal Fired Power Plant in Titlagarh, otherwise famous as Tatlagarh (the abode of heat). 

Perhaps you know it Sir, that thermal power plants are the highest Green House Gas emitters and increase the local temperature in the area.  These environmentally destructive plants are also water guzzlers and highly polluting.  Despite knowing all that when your ministry plans to go ahead with such a plant in places like Titlagarh, don’t you think you are fuelling further heat?

The Climate Change Action Plan that you have submitted to the Govt. of India recognises the fact that coal-fired power plants emit 68 per cent of all GHG of the state.  It also recognises the fact that a large chunk of the state’s land is facing degradation and water erosion. 

However, you plan to generate 60,000 MW of thermal power in the coming decade emitting about 300 million tonne carbon per year.  Most of these plants are coming up in areas already suffering widespread land degradation and water scarcity.

The EIA report of the Sahara Thermal Power Plant which is coming up in Titlagarh says it will draw water from Tel river even as it does not show a water availability analysis of the river.  Tel is a water starving river already.  Similarly, a month ago your Ministry tried to conduct a public hearing in Pitamahul of Subarnapur district which is another dry area, so much so that, the fire brigade could not save an entire village, that’s not very far from the proposed thermal power plant, from turning into ashes in want of water. 

This unfortunate incidence took place only a few day after the date in which the public hearing was scheduled.  In this case the water is being proposed to be drawn from the already stressed Mahanadi river.  Is it not mockery of your own Climate Change Action Plan, Sir?

In your speeches during the World Environment you kept on saying that there is need of awareness among the public on conservation of environment to maintain a proper ecological balance.  The above two power plants and almost all the other power plants in the state are being opposed by the local people on ground of their severe impact on the environment including land, water and forests. 

However, it’s your department which is pushing through such polluting plants by crushing people’s genuine concerns.  Don’t you think it’s not the public but your department which needs to be made aware on the need of conserving environment and maintain a proper balance of the ecology, Sir? 

Have you not seen how the EIA report of the Sahara plant tells the blunt lie that the plant will not have any negative impact on ecology?  This is despite the fact that document after document of the Pollution Control Board, your CCAP and many other documents of the department point out that coal-fired power plants have many negative impacts on ecology.  How can you still go ahead with holding a public hearing based on such a false EIA report, Sir?

Sir, we sincerely hope you are aware of the fact that the National Green Tribunal has ordered that all proposed coal fired power plants must do a ‘radiation impact assessment’ along with the ‘environmental impact assessment’.  None of the above power plants and not any other power plant that are proposed in the state have done this.  However, you are still allowing them to go ahead with the public hearing.  Is it not an illegal act Sir? 

Seeing your adrenaline rush for such ‘ecologically destructive’ methods of energy production, we would like to urge upon you to shift all the coal fired power plants to Bhubaneswar where, as you said in your speeches, you are creating a very good green belt through plantation of saplings and where the municipality has so much water that it supplies much more than the minimum stipulated amount to the areas it services water supply. 

We are sure you will not face opposition from the local people there as they have nothing to complain about loss of livelihood, land and environment.  We also make such an urge seeing your love to establish power plants in areas which are already suffering with excessive temperature rise.  On 7^th June, two days after you boasted of your greenery effort in the city, Bhubaneswar was the hottest city in the state, beating all its previous records.  So, shifting the power plants to Bhubaneswar would also satisfy your drive to fuel the hot places with more heat.

We hope you kill kindly pay attention to our urges.

Thanking you

Truly

Ranjan K Panda

Convenor

Water Initiatives Odisha: Fighting water woes, combating climate change... more than two decades now!

INDIA

Mobile:             +919437050103      

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, ranjanpanda@yahoo.com

You can also mail me at: ranjan.waterman@facebook.com

Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader

I tweet @ranjanpanda 

Blog: http://www.climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/ 

Please join our group 'Save Rivers Save Civilizations' at http://www.facebook.com/groups/220598744649462

Water talks to me, I speak for Water...

ADB Needs To Do More On The Ecological Front

Rs.28 to live, 3.5 million for a toilet: Equitable India

Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

Please see the following news to know how our Planning Commission, which suggests that an Indian can survive at Rs.28/- a day, spends 3.5 million rupees to renovate two toilets.  Further, these are not public toilets within the Commission office.  Only a few privileged having a 'smart card' can access these.  And as per information available with TV news channels, only 60 people have such smart cards.  

The toilets for poor people, as the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) says, can be built at Rs.2500/- (3000 in hilly areas).  

I am more than sure now that we live in a highly equitable country!

Keep it up India, keep shining!!

Thanks and regards,

Ranjan

================

Planning Commission revamps 2 toilets at Rs 35L

June 05, 2012, PTI

   

New Delhi: Planning Commission, which is mired in a controversy over what constitutes the poverty line, has spent a whopping Rs 35 lakh for renovation of two toilets here, an RTI reply has revealed.

The Commission, which came up with a controversial poverty line figure of Rs 28 per day for an individual, has spent Rs 30 lakh for the renovation of the toilets on the lines of Indira Gandhi International Airport.

An additional Rs 5.19 lakh was spent on installing door access control system for the toilets at Yojana Bhawan.

The access control system will mean only those people who have been provided smart cards can use these swanky toilets.

"Cost of installation of Door Access Control System is Rs 5,19,426 for two toilets. Cost of renovation of two toilets where door access control system is installed is Rs 30,00,305," the reply to activist Subhash Agrawal said.

According to the RTI reply, 60 smart cards have been issued to the officials of the Planning Commission which have to be used to get access to the toilets.

The Commission had also decided to install CCTV cameras in the corridors leading to these toilets as the officials said there were instances of pilferage in the toilets. Estimates have been sought from the CPWD.

Apart from the poverty line estimates issue, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had come under criticism after a newspaper, based on RTI reply, reported that foreign travel expense incurred by him between May and October, 2011 was a staggering Rs 2.02 lakh per day.

Another report said that he undertook 42 official trips (between June 2004-January 2011) of 274 days at a cost of Rs 2.34 crore.

Refuting the inferences drawn in the later editorials, Ahluwalia had said that foreign travels are necessary for discharge of official duties.

The Commission officials, in a note on renovation, had observed, "With the approval of JS (admn), CPWD(E) was requested to submit estimates for SITC for door access control system and CCTV cameras. However Executive Engineer CPWD(E) has forwarded estimates for installation of door access control system in two toilets (one each on first and second floor) RBI side, Yojana Bhawan."

"Things like disturbing/breaking of sanitary appliances are taking place frequently. It may not be out of place to mention that very high dignitaries visit Yojana Bhawan in connection with official work in addition to this non-official members of different committees visit Yojana Bhawan for attending meetings," the officials said in another note.

Disturbing of sanitary fittings or non functional sanitary fittings portray a very untidy picture of planning commission to the visiting dignitaries, it said.

Another noting proposing the upgradation of toilets last year shows that the two toilets to be renovated as a pilot project and after execution of work, decision on renovation of other toilets would be taken. According to the note, it was desired that three other toilets of the Planning Commission may also be renovated on the same lines.

Source: http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/planning-commission-renovates-2-toilets-at-rs-35-l_779957.html

-- 
Ranjan K Panda

Convenor

Water Initiatives Odisha: Fighting water woes, combating climate change... more than two decades now!

INDIA

Mobile:             +919437050103      

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, ranjanpanda@yahoo.com

You can also mail me at: ranjan.waterman@facebook.com

Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader

I tweet @ranjanpanda 

Blog: http://www.climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/ 

Please join our group 'Save Rivers Save Civilizations' at http://www.facebook.com/groups/220598744649462

Water talks to me, I speak for Water...

Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) is a state level coalition of civil society organisations, farmers, academia, media and other concerned, which has been working on water, environment and climate change issues in the state for more than two decades now.

Thought for World Environment Day 2012!

Hypocrisy is not going to work anymore

You cannot love her and abuse her at the same time...

You cannot love dirty coal and complain about pollution at the same time...

You cannot cut trees and complain about increased temperature at the same time...

O’ human un-kind, you cannot continue like this anymore.  You have no right to talk about ‘green economy’ and promote ‘greedy economy’ at the same time.  Wake up! Sooner the better!!

Ranjan Panda

Happy Sunday!

Happy Sunday!

TPP haunts Subarnapur now!

Subarnapur worried over thermal plant repercussions

The setting up of a thermal power plant at Pitamahul in Subarnapur district and an asbestos plant in Bargarh district has raised concerns about displacement, livelihood loss and environmental degradation among the residents of the two districts.

It may be recalled here that the residents had also opposed tooth and nail the Sahara power plant at Luturbandh in Titilagarh of Balangir district following which the fate of the project still remains uncertain.

KU group of companies is going to set up a 1,320-MW power plant at Pitamahul and Tevapadar villages near Subalaya in Birmahajpur sub division of Sonepur district with an investment of Rs 7, 500 crore. A total of 900 acres of land is required out of which 800 acres would be acquired from private people and the rest 100 acres would be acquired from the Government, said Project Manager the company Bidhu Ranjan Mishra.

Once the plants comes up, it would further improve the economic condition of people of the area by providing them jobs, besides helping in growth of ancillaries industries in that area. It would also go a long way in improving the entire scenario of the area of Sonepur district, claimed Sonepur District Collector Gagan Behari Swain.

However, a meeting was held at Buromaal recently which was addressed by Prafulla Samantary of Lok Shakti Abhiyaan and Priyabrata Sahu, among others, who opposed the setting up of the project.

The thermal power plant would cause severe fly ash pollution. When the mercury laden ash falls in the ground and comes in contact with water and aquatic animals, it would increase mercury pollution resulting in serious health hazard, said Priyabrata Sahu. Moreover, the temperature in the area would go up and it would also reduce ground water affecting the livelihood of hundreds of poor farmers of the area, Sahu cautioned.

The condition of Jharsuguda and Angul belt should be an eye opener for those proposing to set up the thermal power plant here. The requirement of power as projected by the Government is not intended for the common masses, but for the power hungry big industries. 1 kg of aluminum production requires about 15 units of electricity, which requires vast amount of coal to be burnt and water to be vaporized. Besides, it causes green house emission with sulfur, nitrogen, carbon contents.  The vast amount of fly ash would contain considerable amount of heavy metals and radioactive materials, said Amitabh Patra of Baragarh.

The scenic beauty of Pitamahul and Tevapadar area is really enchanting. The bird population of the locality is impressive. But the project would affect the precious flora and fauna, besides resulting in severe water pollution, said activist Amitabh Patra.

Setting up thermal power plant at Pitamahul is not appropriate as this area frequently faces problems of drought and water scarcity. The Mahanadi river is already water stressed, which cannot bear the water requirement of the power plant. Setting up a thermal power plant is like hammering the fate of the farmers and ecology, said Ranjan Panda, Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha.

However, despite the concerns raised by people from different walks of life, Sonepur District Collector GB Swain said, “We are offering Rs 3 lakh as compensation per acre of land. Taking the people into confidence and giving them proper rehabilitation, the project will be implemented in the district.”

Meanwhile, opposition to Vishwakarma Roofings, an asbestos cement plant in Baragarh has already gained momentum. People from 10 villages held a meeting on May 22 and pledged to oppose the plant, which has purchased about 20 acres of land in the middle of Naagaom, Lebidi and Kendpali villages of Sohela block.

Among others, farmer leaders Saroj Mahanty and Lingraj of Jan Chetna Parishad addressed the gathering.

They said the factory would cause severe dust emission by which as many as 42 villages in 10 km radius of the factory would be affected. As the company requires huge amount of water, it would deplete the groundwater affecting the livelihoods of hundreds of farmers, besides drying up ponds, wells and other water bodies, they pointed out.

-          Sudhir Mishra, Balangir, FRIDAY, 01 JUNE 2012

Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/69882-subarnapur-worried-over-thermal-plant-repercussions.html                       

Good Morning Thought for 2nd June 2012

The desire to have control over everything one needs is dangerous of all...

Ranjan Panda

Good Morning and Have a Great Weekend!