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A Nobel message We grow, they die |
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Should India permit GM foods?
When heaven and earth met
Boost brain health to reduce dementia risk The significant discovery of ‘brain’s internal GPS’
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A Nobel message There is a powerful political message conveyed in the selection of Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi for the Rs 6.8-crore 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. That the winners are Indian and Pakistani, Hindu and Muslim, both working for children's rights, is obvious. The Prize should prompt in India and Pakistan deep introspection over our priorities: Terror or trade, hostilities or collective growth? It is a Peace Prize. Are we committed to maintaining peace on the border or engaged in one-upmanship by stockpiling deadly weapons? Are we on the right track or derailed by self-serving, jingoistic politicians? Should the two countries celebrate the achievement of the honour, or feel ashamed at the plight of children highlighted by the Prize? Indian and Pakistani soldiers do not just exchange fire; they kill each other and render children orphans. Orphans are forced to fend for themselves, driven to work in dingy factories and subjected to sexual exploitation. Peace is necessary for the two countries to fight poverty, disease and unemployment. Money that is spent on buying weapons can be better spent on schools and hospitals. Malala told President Obama what perhaps Nawaz Sharif did not have the courage to say: "Instead of soldiers, send books. Instead of sending weapons, send pens". Malala has shown unusual maturity by inviting the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to attend the awards ceremony in Stockholm. Despite her young age she has fought not just the Taliban opposing girls' education, but also Pakistan's discriminatory culture that denies girls equal rights and opportunities to grow. That is a curse in India too. In sharp contrast to Malala, who was already an international celebrity before she won the Prize, Kailash Satyarthi was our unsung hero, not much known before the Nobel announcement. The media that was chasing him after the Prize had ignored him during his long years of struggle. One hopes governments will respond to Satyarthi’s efforts to rescue children in chains. Prime Minister Modi, who himself has seen deprivation as a child, should not only focus on peace with Pakistan but also work for the uplift of children of a lesser god.
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We grow, they die Anatomically
modern man walked this earth the first around two lakh years ago. A tough but peaceful co-existence with his environment continued through the ages. In just the past 40 years, however, man has caused the loss of half of the world's wildlife population, i.e., compared to what it was in 1970. And even then it was only a fraction of what it was a couple of hundred years previous to that. This is according to the '2014 Living Planet Report' published by the World Wildlife Fund, which is an index that tracks the numbers of animals in selected populations of vertebrates —mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish — across the globe. This shocking bit of statistic found a passing mention in the mainstream media in India, and no debate — forget outrage or disbelief — followed. That is shocking. Shocking because it exposes the level of awareness we as a society have of what we are doing to ourselves, not just to ‘innocent animals’. For the scientifically unaware, which includes the mass of political leadership, bureaucracy and industry, it may be put this way: Humans are a product of the environment as it existed before they came around. They are designed by nature to eat, breathe and live in that environment. Will killing that ecosystem — all forests, land, water and air — leave us humans unharmed? And the rate at which we are making wildlife, the fruit of that environment, disappear is evidence of that murder. Information technology, global sharing of knowledge, and investment in data collection have today given us a far better understanding than ever of what and where the threats are, and how they can be tackled. But human population and greed that have led to climate change and loss of wildlife habitat - primary drivers of the catastrophe - may prove to be forces too strong for better sense to counter. Amidst this blazing loss of not just population of animals but also species, let us not forget we are also just another species.
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A compliment is something like a kiss through a veil. — Victor Hugo
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Mr. Jagadish Chandra Chatterji IN a brief notice of the oriental research work carried on in Kashmir, especially in connection with Kashmir Shaivaism, Mrs. Besant pays a fitting tribute to the profound scholarship of Mr. J.C. Chatterji, B.A. (Cantab.) under whose directions the learned inquiries into the famous Trika system of Shaiva philosophy are being conducted. By common consent Mr. Chatterji is a profound scholar and his researches into Kashmir Shaivaism are practically unique. The wealth of material that is available in the great northern Indian State is abundant and affords scope for this talent and energy. We are glad of Mrs. Besant's testimony that Mr. Chatterji has utilized the material in the most able and painstaking fashion; and we doubt not the Government of India will remember this and similar tributes to Indian efforts in the domain of research when the opponents of our aspiration throw obstacles in the way of our advancement. WE regret that there is an unpleasant controversy as regards the selection of the President of the forthcoming Congress meeting at Madras. It is said (and we have seen no authoritative statement) that Lala Lajpat Rai has been recommended by the Provincial Congress Committees by a majority of votes and he should be finally selected for the Congress Presidentship. The Lahore Congress Committee has selected him and we should be glad if his election commends itself to the country at large. We do not know clearly what has occurred to disturb the usual process of electing the President. It has been published in more than one paper that certain influential Congress leaders wish that Lala Lajpat Rai should not be elected. We doubt the truth of this.
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Should India permit GM foods? The Green Revolution did in fact increase food production, principally the production of rice and wheat. It made India independent of food imports and firmed up its political spine. It ensured surplus grain that could be stored in buffer stocks to be rushed where need arose and it tried to ensure that famines were not anymore a feature of the Indian reality. These gains were so visible that the downside, the unequal distribution of the benefits, of land and water degradation, the accompanying loss of genetic diversity and the persisting endemic hunger and poverty, could not take the shine off the Green Revolution. Because of this positive image, the promoters of Agbiotech draw semantic parallels, invoking the earlier agricultural revolution. The subliminal message that the spinmeisters of the Agbiotecg sector try to convey is: If the Green Revolution brought so many benefits, the Evergreen Revolution would bring all those in perpetuity. The word play has actually been quite successful. Political leaders and policymakers carry over the positive association with the Green Revolution to the Evergreen one. If the earlier version brought such benefits, the newer one (more precise, with greater possibilities, as the industry says) would surely bring even greater benefits to the farmers and the poor. Conveniently left out of this portrayal are the essential and crucial differences between the two 'revolutions'. The Green Revolution (GR) was a publicly owned technology, belonging to the people. The research was conducted in public sector universities and research institutions with public money and created public goods to which everyone had access. There were no Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), no patents vested in multinational companies, no proprietary technologies or products. If there was ownership of the GR, it was vested in the farmer. Once the seed reached the farmers, it was theirs; they moved it where they wanted. Therefore, despite its faults, the Green Revolution addressed farmers' needs and India's food production showed an upward curve. The Evergreen Revolution is almost the exact opposite. It is a privately owned technology. Six corporations (Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer CropScience, DuPont, Dow and BASF Plant Science) control practically the entire research and output in the field of transgenic plants. Processes and products, including research methodologies, are shackled in patents and the farmer has no say, let alone any control. The technology creates only private goods that can be accessed only at a significant cost after paying licensing fees. In the case of Bt cotton, the only GM crop cultivated in India so far, a bag of Mahyco-Monsanto's Bt cotton seed costs Rs. 1,600 as compared to around Rs 400 for superior varieties produced locally. The seed belongs to the company, which strictly controls its movement. With the development of the popularly termed ‘terminator’ or sterile seed technology, the farmer is reduced to a helpless consumer, not a partner as in the case of the GR. The Evergreen Revolution has in its 20 years, not yet produced a crop variety that has any direct connection to hunger and nutritional needs. The most prevalent crops remain corn, soya, cotton and canola and the dominant traits are herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. Despite its other faults, the Green Revolution was able to put out a number of crop varieties in a short span of time that enabled direct yield increases, which brought immediate benefits to farmers. That in short is the contrast between the two revolutions, so assiduously camouflaged by the Agbiotech spinmeisters. India had participated enthusiastically in the Green Revolution and is on its way to equally enthusiastically embrace the Gene Revolution or Agbiotechnology. Yet there is little debate in the country on whether any lessons have been learnt from the Green Revolution. There is even less debate between policymakers and other stakeholders on whether GM crops are relevant to Indian agriculture and if so, what path we should adopt. There is no consultation with the public or any sharing of information about GM research and trials, as is done in almost all countries that are implementing GM technology. The Department of Biotechnology has promoted research projects randomly without any assessment of farmers' needs and the best way to fulfil them. Civil society has been uneasy with the lack of transparency and the lack of competence in regulatory bodies; the media is largely uninformed and political leaders remain unaware of the direction this new and controversial technology is taking in India and have no say in determining what it should or should not do. This is not the way to adopt a new technology, especially one that comes with a string of compulsory regulations. GM technology must follow specific prescribed procedures and be tested stringently. What kind of GM technology should India adopt? Should it permit GM foods or should it ban them like Europe, Africa and many other countries have done? What should our policy be on GM food crops and non-food crops? We must frame an intelligent policy after widespread consultations with a range of stakeholders. The process should be inclusive and transparent, allowing a range of expertise and insights to be brought into the decision-making process. And we should abide by the consensus
view. The writer is the founder of a research and advocacy
organisation, Gene Campaign
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When heaven and earth met I was the Deputy Commissioner of Kullu from 1975 to 1977, and, thus, was central to the efforts of organising Dasehra. Fortunately, with the cooperation of our colleagues and the help of many state governments, and also the participation of many leading national level theater troupes, the 1975 Dasehra was a great success. I was naturally keen to ensure that the 1976 Dasehra was a greater success. That year Dasehra was to start on the 1st of November (if I recall correctly). So I started writing letters to famous dance troupes and other state governments in right earnest in July, 1976. I also requested the then USSR Embassy through the state government to sponsor the participation of one of their world famous ballet groups. We did not receive any response till the end of September. In the first week of October, we were informed that Prime Minister Indira Gandi would visit Kullu and also Lahaul & Spiti on October 30-31. Now the entire attention of the state government and the district administration was concentrated on the arrangements for the Prime Minister's visit. Suddenly on October 29 we were informed that the PM's programme had been cancelled. We were all disappointed because even the popular excitement that was aroused for the PM’s visit would no longer be there to condone a dim Dasehra. I sat in office in gloom and called a meeting of local officers to arrange overnight the participation of some local dance parties to fill in the gap and somehow manage the cultural programme with local dance parties, although everyone knew it would not meet people's expectations. On October 30 after a few hours in my office reviewing the substitute arrangements, I returned to my residence, crest-fallen. At about 4 pm I sat in my residential office, and meditated on the futility of human efforts. Melancholic thoughts crowded my mind. Suddenly a flash of thought came to me. I thought quietly in my mind that the Dasehra festival was of Lord Raghunath. “Who are we to ensure its success?. Why should we feel happy or sad about the outcome of our efforts?” So I quietly prayed: “Oh Lord, please take care of your festival the way you like”. Thereafter as I went through the daily mail folder routinely, I suddenly discovered a telegram confirming the participation of the world famous repertory company of Habib Tanvir, a leading theatre personality. They were on their way to Kullu and were to reach that very night. I was delighted that at least one famous group was to be there. Then something happened I could not believe. Telegrams started raining torrentially for the next two hours, conveying confirmation of almost all troupes I had invited three months ago. I became mad with joy to see this divine miracle. The incredible was happening before my eyes which I could not have imagined even in my dreams. Then at about 8.30 pm I got a call from the then USSR Embassy to confirm that one of their famous ballet companies consisting of 60-70 members would participate in the festival and also assured us that the USSR would regularly participate in the Kullu Dasehra every year. I quietly bowed to Lord Raghunath to thank him for showing us the grandeur of his omnipotent grace. The divine envelops us always, everywhere but we do not often see or
realise.
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Boost brain health to reduce dementia risk
The
number of people living with dementia worldwide is estimated at 44 million and it is set to almost double by 2030 and more than triple by 2050. The global cost of dementia was estimated in 2010 at US $604 billion. This is only set to rise. Based on current estimates, this figure is expected to rise to US $1trillion by 2030. It is estimated that there is somewhere in the world a new case of dementia every 4 seconds and 7.7 million new cases every year. There is yet no known cure for the disease but we can reduce the risk or delay the onset of developing the disease. Dementia is not a normal part of ageing but focused attention on staying healthy can make a difference. It is time to make Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia a national public health priority. In India, it is projected that about 4 million people are affected by Alzheimer’s disease. But, because of the stigma attached to it and lack of awareness about the disease many cases go undiagnosed. Some epidemiological studies indicate that only about 10 per cent of those affected get a diagnosis. People in general do not know of ways to deal with the debilitating condition of the disease.
Indian scenario Also there are negative attitudes of the people towards the disease and its treatment. There are very few medical setups and non-government organisations specialising in dealing with the problem, which not only affects the patient but family members as caregivers too. The Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), established in 1992 and now with 20 chapters across the country, is one such establishment dedicated to the cause. It is a voluntary organisation involved with dementia care, support to patients and their families and with research for better quality of life of people affected by the disease. The neurological departments in big hospitals across the country involved with the diagnosis and treatment of the disease are becoming conscious of doing more on preventive strategies as a way to delay the onset of the disease.
Reducing the risk As public health measures world over it is observed that five simple things can help with reducing the risk of getting the disease. Doctors recommend looking after the heart, being physically active, following a healthy diet, challenging the brain and enjoying social activity. While these are important steps, what are also needed are diagnostic provisions for testing memory loss as these can help diagnose the disease at an early stage and help perform interventions. Checking on the progression of the disease is an important step for monitoring it. What also needs to be prioritised is including older adults in prevention programmes. Studies across the globe indicate improvements in access to secondary and tertiary education reduce the incidence of dementia. In India, as elsewhere in developing countries, where public health awareness is low and prevalence of dementia increasing, symptoms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease such as memory loss, irritation, depression are seen as natural impact of ageing. It is time to raise awareness about the disease and while the medical community works towards finding a cure, a lot needs to be done to reduce the risks. As the latest World Alzheimer Report states there is evidence to show that population risk of dementia can be modified through reduction in tobacco use and increased physical activity, alongside better treatment for hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes. Countries need to focus on brain health-promotion strategies and adopt good public health measures as modifiable risk factors for dementia. While many middle income countries have adopted heart disease, stroke and cancer as preventable non-communicable diseases, they also need to have national dementia strategy to reduce the risk of this epidemic. Continuous efforts to improve public health, along with tackling the burden of non-communicable diseases can be a cost- effective method. Why wait till tomorrow and why not make changes from today in maintaining healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease? Adopting a life course perspective to preventive strategies can reduce the number of people living with the disease, the costs to our health systems and the impact on the affected families and society. If we can enter old age with healthier brains we are likely to live longer, independent lives with reduced risk of developing dementia. Adopt brain-healthy living and enjoy happy ageing.
Warning signs to watch out for
What are the risk factors Research indicates a close relationship between lifestyles and dementia risk. Lifestyles are modifiable and thus important links for preventive programmes and interventions. In relation to dementia, a common term in practice is “use it or lose it”. Research evidence indicates beneficial effects of intellectually stimulating activities on brain health. A number of studies suggest tobacco use could increase dementia incidence or progression. Current smokers and ex-smokers, compared to non-smokers, have a higher risk for the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Heavy drinkers too are at higher risk. Deleterious effects of alcohol on brain health are well known. Physical activity entailing social and psychological engagements and interactions increases mental fitness. Neurodegenerative diseases reduce physical capability and bring about isolation. Physical activity is seen to be beneficial for the cerebrovascular system and shows encouraging results on cognitive functions. Cognitively stimulating activities are seen to have positive effects on the brain. There is insufficient evidence to show benefits of intakes of certain diets and vitamins on improved cognitive functions and brain health. Studies do indicate positive results of use of micro and macro nutrients. Studies report the association of stroke in developing dementia. It is observed that those who experience a stroke are at approximately twice the risk of dementia. Studies have also found a specific association of heart disease with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. There is strong evidence for association of midlife hypertension and incidence of dementia in late life. There is consistent association between high midlife total cholesterol and increased risk of dementia. Evidence also indicates association between diabetes in late-life and subsequent onset of dementia. — The writer is a Gerontologist and Chair, Asia International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse
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The significant discovery of ‘brain’s internal GPS’
Three
foreign-born scientists who have all worked in the UK have jointly won this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their pioneering research into how the “GPS” of the brain creates internal maps of the real world. John O’Keefe, who was born in New York to Irish immigrants, but who has worked at University College London for more than 40 years, shares the prize with husband-and-wife team May-Britt and Edvard Moser, Norwegian nationals who were trained at Professor O’Keefe’s laboratory in London. The three researchers share this year’s prize, “for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain” according to the citation from the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, which pointed out that philosophers have argued for centuries about how we know where we are. “This year’s Nobel Laureates have discovered a positioning system, an ‘inner GPS’ in the brain that makes it possible to orient ourselves in space, demonstrating a cellular basis for higher cognitive function,” the Karolinska said. “The discovery of the brain’s positioning system represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of how ensembles of specialised cells work together to execute high cognitive functions. It has opened up new avenues for understanding other cognitive processes, such as memory, thinking and planning,” it said. An attack on the brain’s positioning system occurs in some neurological illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease where the progressive degeneration of the neurons of the brain results in patients becoming disoriented after losing their memory of spatial locations. Professor O’Keefe, director of the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour at UCL, discovered the first components of the brain’s internal positioning system when he found a type of cell in the brain’s hippocampus that was always activated when a laboratory rat was at a certain place in a room. “This part of the brain is one of the first areas to be attacked in Alzheimer’s disease,” Professor O’Keefe said. In a study published in 1971, Professor O’Keefe suggested that these “place cells” were used by the brain to build up a map of the environment. More than three decades later, in 2005, May-Britt and Edvard Moser discovered other nerve cells in a nearby part of the brain, called the entorhinal cortex, that were activated when the rat passed certain locations. The two researchers, working at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, found that these locations formed a hexagonal grid, with each “grid cell” within the entorhinal cortex reacting in a unique spatial pattern – collectively the grid cells form a coordinated system that allowed spatial navigation through a complex maze. The two findings, together with other discoveries, allowed the scientists to discover how mammals, including humans, were able to build up an internal map of the environment to locate their position and work out how to get from one place to another. John Stein, emeritus professor of physiology at Oxford University, said: “I remember how great was the scoffing in the early 1970s when John first described place cells. ‘Bound to be an artifact’, ‘he clearly underestimates rats' sense of smell’ were typical reactions. Now, like so many ideas that were at first highly controversial, people say ‘well that's obvious’.” Professor Andrew King of Oxford University said: “The discovery by John O’Keefe that neurons in the hippocampus revolutionised our understanding of how the brain knows where we are and is able to navigate within our surroundings." Professor O’Keefe said he was “totally delighted and thrilled” to have received the award, which he heard about this morning before he left for his laboratory in central London. “It’s the highest accolade and a terrific sign of the way the world thinks about our work. UCL is a terrific place to do research,” he said. Professor O’Keefe receives half the prize money of 8m Swedish Kroner, and the Mosers share the other half, in recognition of his seminal role in the joint effort.
— The Independent
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Agbiotechnology
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