The Week that was....

Global warming was the theme and how to combat it was the aim, as political leaders from 192 countries gathered at Copenhagen, Denmark. Discussions were more heated than the global atmosphere itself and the talks were on the verge of breakdown. The poorer countries felt that the developed ones were giving them a raw deal and insisted that any agreement reached should be in line with the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. The main concepts of the Kyoto Protocol were:

• Commitment to reduce greenhouse gases
• Implementation of the same by way of policies & measures
• Accounting, inspecting & review of the progress made
• Setting up of a Compliance Committee
• Minimising the impact on developingcoutries by setting up an Adaptation Fund fpr climate change.

It was the last item which was a major sore point at Copenhagen. The African nations mainly, felt that the developed countries' commitments on financial incentives for controlling emissions were rather sketchy. African countries were pushing for a less than 1.5 degrees rise in global temperature while the final draft pegged this at 2 degrees. Countries like Brazil, India, China & South Africa found themselves neither here nor there and had to ultimately concede ground to the developed countries headed by the USA.Amounts promised to developing countries range between US $ 30 billion & US $ 100 billion in the 2012-2020 period.

COMMENTS: More responsibility on developing countries with the developed ones sidestepping issues neatly. On the verge of total failure, what transpired in the sidelines is not clear, whether it was arm-twisting by the US or a sense of burn-out by the BASIC countries--the final outcome was that the developing countries again bore the brunt. Ultimatey, as it played out, greenbacks were deemed more important than a green world.

While Copenhagen was grappling with the politics of global warming, the same message of conserving the world and its environs was spread across the globe by James Cameron through his much-awaited film, Avatar. Written, directed and produced by James Cameron, the film said to cost half-a-billion dollars opened to packed houses all over. A 3-D science fiction film, its technology is stated to be way ahead of its time. A planet called Pandora has humanoid inhabitants called NaVi who are tall and blue-skinned. The most striking feature is that they live in total harmony with the natural world around them. The language of the NaVi has been created by the Director for this film. Jake Sully, the protagonist visits Pandora on a mission and when humans with their greed for the natural wealth of Pandora attack it, Jake sides with the natives.

COMMENTS: A film which will do much more for enlightening the world on conserving natural resources than all the political big-wigs could do at Copenhagen. As for the language of the NaVi, the way many of our actors and actresses speak English, Hindi, etc, it is indecipherable any way.

The Bharatiya Janata Party went in for a major revamp. Nitin Gadkari took over a party President from Rajnath Singh. L.K.Advani resigned as leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, his place being taken by Sushma Swaraj. Advani, it is stated will head the BJP parliamentary party.It was a real paradox that Advani who joined the RSS way back in 1942 and was the biggest propounder of 'Hindutva' finally had to bow down to the RSS diktat. Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS Chief had clearly mentioned that new blood was called for. Adavni, was perhaps the man most touted to be the Prime Minster but who could never reach that coveted position. He will be remembered for his numerous 'Rath yatras' and his fanning of the Hindutva flames through the Ram Janmabhoomi issue which culminated in the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Nitin Gadkari, a relative lightweight from Mharashtra would possibly have never got this opportunity had Pramod Mahajan been around.

COMMENTS: Majority of the educated Hindu populace did not agree with Advani's ideology that a Ram Temple should be built on the site where the Babri Masjid was, as it was supposedly the birthplace of Ram. They felt that there were more pressing national issues and building of a temple was not demed very important. However, in a teenie-weenie corner of their hearts, these very people at times felt, if as a Hindu I cannot build a temple for my deity in India (where Hindus are a majority), can I do it in Pakistan or Saudi Arabia?. Secularism is fine but curbing the majority in the name of secularism, was what Advani termed 'pseudo secularism'.

Talking about religion, can cricket be left out? It is said in India cricket is a religion and Tendulkar is God. In the 1st ODI at Rajkot, India after scoring 414 was scared stiff as Sri Lanka chased and chased and finally fell short by a mere 3 runs. If Sehwag blazed away for his 146, Dilshan's reply was a brilliant 160, which in the end was just not enough. MSD must have heaved a huge sigh of relief as his bowlers bowled like billionaires and the fielders couldn't even catch the common cold. If India were lucky to get away in the 1st ODI, they were not so lucky in the second one at Nagpur, despite a 300 plus score. Dhoni's century was in vain as Dilshan dished out 123 and Angelo Mathews held his nerve in the end as Sri Lanka triumphed by 3 wickets.

COMMENTS: As if to add insult to ijury, MSD was suspended for 2 ODIs due to India' s slow over rate at Nagpur. With so much time being taken for overs, one would think great attention was being paid to thoughful bowling strategies and precise fielding positions. Neither was happening and to top it all slow over rates? Any remedies?

Guess who bowled the best googly ? Do not think of any leg-spinner for it was Ajmal Kasab, the captured terrorist from 26/11. After admitting to his guilt as early as in July and having been identified by scores of witnesses, suddenly he bowled his googly---it was not me but my lookalike.I have never handled an AK-47. Mumbai police had picked me up even before 26/11 and are trying to frame me.

COMMENTS: What audacity ! What on earth are we doing in the name of ' righteousness', 'judicial processes' and the necessity to project ourselves internationally as great upholder of human rights? We are already spending a fortune on the maintenance of this proven terrorist. Should he not be publicly hanged or shot? What are we treying to achieve by prolonging the trial? Even the 'so-called' upholder of democracy and human rights, the United States of America did not spend too much time on the trial of Saddam Hussein after his capture and hanged him.Why does India dilly-dally so much? Any answer guys ?