Today was my second day at the 16th Session of the Commission for Sustainable Development at the UN. I'm here to conduct interviews with experts on partnerships for sustainable development. I also attend sessions with partnership presentations.
I was very impressed by today's presentation of a partnership called 'Farmer's Relief'. The partnership addresses the problems around high suicide rates among farmers in India. Apparently every 32 minutes an Indian farmer commits suicide. Indebtedness to GM seed companies, isolation from communal living, mood disorders and other health problems due to the use of highly toxic pesticides, drive many farmers to despair. Farmers are so distressed that they drink the very pesticides they use to increase their yields.
This case illustrates how environmental, social, health and economic problems are not separate. When you look into environmental problems, you'll often find that they are in fact much more than environmental problems. There's a human drama behind these cases. That is why I argue that the environment is really a question of neighborly love rather than an isolated ecological issue.
India,suicide,environment,farmers,UN
1 Comments:
Hey Sander,
I hope you are doing well. I'm sure Matt Burris is taking care of you! Hopefully you have been in touch with Matt Brennan. They are both great guys. Take care and I hope to maybe see you when you come to D.C.!
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