Articles by ecothrust at Technorati Headline Animator

Sunday, February 6, 2011

I don't want a pen mightier than the sword....

http://bit.ly/7XwAG

I joined the India-ej ( India environment journalist ) forum a few months ago that has a lively chatter about the young but rapidly going industrial India at  crossroads ...a confrontation with issues of  equity, sustainability and transparency.  There are several issues of interest and great relevance being discussed on a daily basis with animated conversation from journalists, political journalists and activist journalists. With all respect to writers across the globe who call themselves journalists, it so happens that only part of them remain fair and unbiased  in their reporting. As reporting and opinions mix journalists want to give voice to their personal feelings with passion and fervor that makes the reading all the more interesting, though perhaps not as objective.



At the forum are people who want a climate revolution, others who want to create a political party. One such young fired up activist called Anandi  Saran  commenting on a post I made while giving technical data to another journalist on a new nuclear plant being set up in India, opined....."So if you are genuinely interested in a people-oriented analysis of nuclear power, it is better to ask yourself not: "what qualities must licensee and vendor have in order to make nuclear power a success." as the linked article does, but rather  'how can we control the power of the modern nation state through decentralized people's media in order to block the proliferation of undesirable and dangerous technologies'.

It was obvious that the young lady was fired up by the success of the social networking  sites like Facebook that  has contributed to the peaceful revolution we are seeing in Egypt or  perhaps disgusted with the rampant corruption we see within India. I don't blame her for feeling frustrated with the current Indian Government which though democratically elected is shamelessly pandering to the vested interest of a handful of cronies of the ruling parties. Still  the statement jarred me as never before. ......... for  really thinking about it can we bring a thoughtful social change with the might of the sword...... the dictators of the world have all aspired to but have failed. Egypt and Tunisia are the results of such failures though Mubarak still  feels that he has served
Egypt honorably and would love to continue like all people who live by the sword.

.............. .....I do not want a pen mightier than the sword that bleeds the heart, but one soft as the humble quill that stokes your mind.






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