Initiatives must come from us to address climate change: Principal

Alternatives to Copenhagen seminar enlightens students

Principal of SJC, Fr Ambrose Pinto SJ has said that initiatives must come from ordinary people to find solutions for the crisis of climate change.

He was speaking after inaugurating the seminar ‘Alternatives to Copenhagen’, a students’ initiative of the PG Department of Communication, here on Friday.

He said, “Capitalist countries want profit. They are not interested in reducing global warming. They tried to fool us through Copenhagen. So it is up to us to must reflect, point out and think of the solutions and respond accordingly.”

He further added that people must denounce the whole system that was exploiting the environment. “We can heal this planet only by denouncing such system,” he said.

Chief Guest Ms Janaki Murali, Principal of Education and Research, Infosys, spoke about a ‘Sustainable tomorrow’. She said, “Without profit there are no companies and no sustainability. But what is more important is our planet earth without which we cannot survive. So its health is the responsibility of us all.”

Madhu Kumar Bopanna, Manager, Corporate Communications for Vestas India, the principle sponsor of the seminar said that wind energy was a viable solution for green energy. “Wind energy is a solution to climate change. We are facing global energy shortage and there is a lot of energy demand for cities. There is a dilemma between producing more energy with less carbon dioxide emission. Wind energy will surely provide a better alternative,” he said.

Another speaker, Marianne De Nazareth, Fellow member of UNFCC, who had taken part in the Copenhagen summit in December last year spoke of the implications of the COP15 and the Copenhagen Accord. “Instead of blaming everybody, can we make a start to save the planet,” she said.

- Menuka Chhetri I MS Com

‘Bt Brinjal will add to farmers’ miseries’

Jason Jacob of Green Peace, an NGO, has said that Bt Brinjal, a genetically modified vegetable will only create problems to farmers as it has not been tested on a longer term and there is a possibility of land becoming burnt and unfit for cultivation.
He was speaking at E-bizz – 2010, organised by the Economics Forum of SJC here on January 29.
He said, “Bt cotton affected scores of farmers, many of whom committed suicide, but the company made a profit of over 650 millions, all at the cost of farmers. The story of Bt Brinjal is also going to be similar and the government has taken a wrong step by agreeing to the deal, even as the public and NGO’s are apprehensive.”
Earlier, Chief Guest of the function, Kiran Kunduri, CEO of Four Initiatives, inaugurated the seminar, along with Principal, Fr Ambrose Pinto who congratulated the organisers for taking troubles to organise the event.

- Menuka Chhetri I M S Com

Be change makers, students told

Principal of SJC, Fr Ambrose Pinto SJ has called upon students to become change makers of the Republic of India.

He was addressing the students after unfurling the national flag on the occasion of the 60^th anniversary of the Indian Republic here on Tuesday.

He said, “The preamble of the Constitution of India had promised a lot in terms of making this country a truly democratic republic. However, not much has been achieved thereafter. The status of SCs and STs in this country is still deplorable as they are continuously losing their land. Many of those in politics are corrupt and criminals and nothing much can be expected of them. Social justice is still a distant dream fro the poor in this country. Thus when we look at such a Republic, we wonder whether we are truly Republic.”

Fr Pinto, however, said that all had the responsibility to strive to make this nation a truly democratic republic. “Students must be motivated and inspired to work hard to become change makers in their own way so that we become more optimistic. Persons like Jyoti Basu who was instrumental in redistribution of land can truly be an inspiration,” he added.

Tribute paid to Jyoti Basu

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Jyothi Basu’s contribution to Indian polity was recognised by eminent speakers at a unique workshop held at St Joseph’s College recently. The speakers were unanimous in their opinion that the death of Mr Basu was a great loss both for the Communist Party of India and the nation as a whole.

Dr Sabyasachi Chatterjee, Professor at the Indian Space Research Organisation said, “Jyothi Basu’s first political position was as the leader of the Railway workers’ association. Therefore we come to know that he started off his career with the working man and ended his career with the working people.”

Dr Chatterjee added that while the other national leaders like Indira Gandhi declared socialism to be their objective when she declared emergency in 1975, Basu did not. “When asked why he did not, Mr Basu had said that socialism he could not declare socialism as they were serious about implementing it in India,” he said.

He also spoke about Basu’s role in protesting against the Bengal famine in 1955 that claimed fifty five lakhs people. “The crisis was created by black marketers and hoarders who created an artificial shortage of food,” Dr Chatterjee said. “Jyothi Basu was anti-imperialistic, anti-landlord and always gave equal rights to everyone, irrespective of caste, creed, sex, etc,” he opined.

Ms Parvathi Menon, Bangalore Chief of Bureau, The Hindu, in her presentation said that Mr Basu was responsible for the implementation of Panchayati Raj in West Bengal. “Even though the Panchayat system of rural governance had become popular all over the country, it was only in West Bengal that it had such a large role to play,” said Ms Menon.

She further added that the land reforms were the other major achievement of Jyothi Basu. “Though only three percent of the agricultural land in India is in West Bengal, it still accounts for 21 percent of the total land re-distribution in India, which is the highest in the country,” she said.

Ms Menon took exception to the media portrayed Mr Basu and the Left. “His achievements were always brushed under the carpet and his faults were unnecessarily magnified,” she lamented. She spoke of Singhur, of its exhaustive media coverage and questioned why the media never spoke about the land distribution successes, especially 30,000 acres of land redistribution that took place in 2006-07.

“The left was always criticised for not bringing about enough investment and industrial development, but when the present Chief Minister tried to encourage investments, the Left was again attacked for going against the poor,” she said.

Commending him as the only public figure who donated his eyes and body for medical purpose, she said that even in his death he inspired people.

Principal of St Joseph’s, Fr Ambrose Pinto said, “There is a lesson we can learn from Basu’s life which is how to make the public cause our own.”

- Sidharth I MS Com

College hockey, football team victorious

In a spectacular performance SJC Hockey and Football teams have brought laurels to the College by winning two separate tournaments. In the football tournament, SJC held Garden City College for a draw (one goal each), thus scoring an overall 7 points and winning the inter-college football tournament organised by the Bangalore University. In hockey, SJC emerged victorious defeating DB Jain College, Chennai 2-1, to lift the VIE 2010 tournament organised by Jain University.

“The students completely gave their best. Team work, regular practice and self-discipline fuelled our team towards victory. Every individual player gave a mind-blowing performance,” said Mr John Moses Manuel, the coach of the team.
Vijay Raghavan (III PEM), captain of the football team said, “I’m in the College football team for the past three years. I and my team persevered much. The whole team co-operated very well. Practice is the main key. I’m expecting the team to maintain the same spirit in the next tournament as well.”
In the football tournament, the first match was held at Hoskote, where SJC defeated Al-Ameen College by 3-0. The semi-finals took place at the BU Central college grounds on 22 and 23, where SJC won over Christu Jayanthi College by 1-0 and St Joseph’s commerce college by 2-5.
In a spectacular performance SJC Hockey and Football teams have brought laurels to the College by winning two separate tournaments. In the football tournament, SJC held Garden City College for a draw (one goal each), thus scoring an overall 7 points and winning the inter-college football tournament organised by the Bangalore University. In hockey, SJC emerged victorious defeating DB Jain College, Chennai 2-1, to lift the VIE 2010 tournament organised by Jain University.

“The students completely gave their best. Team work, regular practice and self-discipline fuelled our team towards victory. Every individual player gave a mind-blowing performance,” said Mr John Moses Manuel, the coach of the team.
Vijay Raghavan (III PEM), captain of the football team said, “I’m in the College football team for the past three years. I and my team persevered much. The whole team co-operated very well. Practice is the main key. I’m expecting the team to maintain the same spirit in the next tournament as well.”
In the football tournament, the first match was held at Hoskote, where SJC defeated Al-Ameen College by 3-0. The semi-finals took place at the BU Central college grounds on 22 and 23, where SJC won over Christu Jayanthi College by 1-0 and St Joseph’s commerce college by 2-5.

- Raju Prannoy I MS Com