Monday, December 29, 2008

The coming Green Revolution

Wind Power SolutionsImage by kimberlyfaye via Flickr

The time for Green technology has come and It is going to be the next big growth story. Green technology includes Solar,Wind,Biomass, Certain forms of Nuclear technology ,Hydrogen, geothermal and other sources including Tide and Wave based power generation plants.

This is the type of sources of energy that will revolutionize the economy, but most importantly will create a lot of changes at the planetary level in politics as well. This is in line with the kardashev scale
for more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-kardashev-scale.htm
This form of technology will create the basis for a large scale change in the world, in its outlook as well as perceptions. The world will prepare to utilise the resources of the Star ( The Sun in our case) and this will go a long way in creating a civilization which will unify in its objectives in the quest for resources as well as the utilization of the same.

In the meanwhile, go out and buy a few of the stock in the Solar, Nanotech ( has implications for Solar and bio mass based plants) and wind energy companies, you will see benefits by the third quarter of 2009.
This revolution will change a lot of things. Lets welcome the same
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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The Present Credit Crisis and the Poor Nations

Countries fall into three broad categories bas...Image via Wikipedia

Credit Crisis and the Poor
The monetary crisis has hit us all badly and it can only get bad before coming back for all of us.Saying greed is to blame is taking an emotional stance about it. The rose petals have to become mulch before the flower starts to bloom - Basic law of transformation. However realise that this crisis is even worse for some of us than to the others.
How will the crisis affect the less developed and what will happen to the millenium goals for development. Resource rich underdeveloped countries are likely to see a contraction in their economies as the commodity prices are becoming rapidly underpriced. This could affect the amount of money available after corruption in these countries to pursue social development Agenda. Corruption is a big thing in these economies and it could only get much worse as everybody tries to grab their share of a reducing pie.
It is also more likely that the debt forgiveness program from the first world countries would also take a hit as these nations are looking to outspend the recession through radical fiscal programs. So it is likely that debt forgiveness for poor nations could take a drastic hit.

The main suggestion for underdeveloped countries is to strengthen the existing programmes under the millennium development goals and make them self sufficient. This is a real time lesson in the reality that these programmes will face once the aid nations leave. So the prescription is to strengthen the programmes. Also one should ensure that wasteful expenses are taken out. A system of frugality should be institutionalised to prevent waste of much needed money.
Also Strengthening the traditional system of commerce unique to each culture must be given a boost so that the effects of the meltdown of the Modern commerce system will be compensated by the traditional system of commerce. The traditional systems of commerce have a lot more trust and also compensate well. so the traditional system of commerce should be given a boost.
Conclusion:-
1. Strengthen the programmes under the millennium development goals
2. Ensure Frugality in the program management
3. Give a boost to traditional commerce channels
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Ghandian Economics for Todays Credit crisis

Mohandas K.Image via Wikipedia

Quote from Gandhi writing in Hindu Swaraj " As the self is , so is the Universe"
The current generation has forgotten the value of Gandhi and the only knowledge we have is skewed. We have forgotten his economics and this is very unskilled of a lot of us because he has a lot to teach in both the areas of Personal Finance and National Economics
Personal Finance:- The Main value that this great man taught is one called frugality. In todays world, frugality is seen as something akin to poverty and that is most unfortunate as this is the only value that can prevent largescale poverty.Please understand that frugality is not about living in poverty and enjoying it without gritting the teeth. It is about spending less and keeping more for the rainy day/retirement/emergencies. Seems like advice from the moral science class.
Frugality also means that we consume less of the earth and that we give a legacy to our future generation.
The Advice is to spend less and to save more for the future. Also understand that todays savings become the Investments of tomorow which benefit our next generation as jobs.
National Finance :- The main lesson here is that as a nation we must invest more in the development of assets inthe hinterland as much as in the cities. The NREGA is a good step in that directions. BUt it is small interventionism. The need of the hour is building national assets like river interlinking. In a country the size of India,this idea is one whose time has come and that time is Now. Building national assets like River interlinking will provide massive irrigatin potential especially in semi arid tracts of the Deccan and also flood relief for a number of states in the North. This is the only oppurtunity after Balarama to alter the course of rivers and it is possibel to realise this
Jai Hind
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Monday, December 15, 2008

Time to revive River interlinking

The need of the time for the economy of the country is a massive fiscal impetus. Though the NREGA is a good success in states like Andhra pradesh, The economy needs a much larger fiscal boost and it is the Task of Prof Manmohan Singh to Initiate a massive fiscal boost.
The American New Deal Program was successful because of its large scale investments in developing the Infrastructure of the country particulary the development of the TVA- Tennesse valley and the Hoover dam.
The development of similar infrastructure in the country have been waiting for someone to take the task since the late Jawaharlal Nehru to initiate.
I believe that the dream of Bishop Cotton of interlinking the river is and ideal infrasructure that can pay itself in Irrigation and transport cess that can be levied on the users. Time the government thought of the larger national good. Time for this very useful investment
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Nobel Prize in Economics 2009

Jeffrey Sachs, a special adviser to UN secreta...Image by AFP/Getty Images via Daylife

My bet for the next year`s Nobel Prize in Economics is Prof Jeffrey Sachs. His End of Poverty is seminal in its ideas and his prescriptions for a better future involves Technology and Inclusive growth. His book breaks a few myths about poverty and the measures needed to get the economic engine puttering in a number of economies.

His ideas are sustainable and they have a lot of hope for the poor nations of the world

Here is an early toast to the Mighty professor and his ilk
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Monday, December 1, 2008

9/11 Newyork and 26/11 Mumbai

Is there any difference between 9/11 and 26/11. Well Iam not debating the mode of the operations, I am no expert nor am I talking about the fanaticism of the villians.
I am talking about the heros of mumbai and how they were treated and how the heroes of newyork were treated.
Right after the Incident in Newyork, the media in that country as well as the world over congratulated the FDNY the Police on a job well done though their operation was in rescue and recovery and not any direct contact with the villians.

In India, the media has started questioning the fire department for a delay of 20 minutes when they were not fighting fire but had to evade shooting and then fight the fire. The NSG were critised for coming 10 hours late whereas they had to organise themselves to move from delhi to mumbai on heavy planes.

Those who serve dont ask us for platitudes , they ask us that we dont doubt their commitment, that we dont suspect their motivations and most of all never to distrust their patriotism.

Lets treat our heroes well.

Jai Hind