Book/Magazine Reviews

"To the Hands of the Poor" : Robert Chambers, NC Saxena, Tushaar Shah

"Who is Taking the Heat" : Gerald Foley

"In the normal processes of development, most of the gains go to the rich and less poor. The question we confront in this book is how the poorer can capture more of these potential and gain more from these opportunities."

It is tough task to take upon yourself-this confrontation - but after that - what?

This book explores the cruel paradox of mass poverty coexisting with vast resource potentials in much of rural India. It explores how poor people can gain more from the vast and underestimated potential of ground water and trees.

The authors identify simple implementable policies like the community management of these common property resources. By abolishing some restrictions, changing regulations and clarifying rights, crores of poor could gain livelihood and custodial attitude towards such natural resources is the manifestation of a paradox. We have the tendency to regard those whose existence hinges around these two resources as a danger, and yet we refer to lift irrigation and livelihood forestry as "minor" economic activities.

Surely the potential of groundwater irrigation and growing trees for forest produce has been underestimated by planners as a tool for alleviating the crores of poor India. As the authors point out, while dealing with common property resources, the crucial question of practical political economy also needs to be kept in mind.

A very useful book for all concerned with rural poverty and resources, the new analysis and agenda of this book presents a practical challenge to all who seek sustainable solutions to rural poverty. And yet "there can be nothing finished or final, no last ward, about problems as complex as rural poverty and resources."

Rounding off, the authors stress that much that is recommended in the course of this book, is common sense though less obvious. Once we can confront the fact that past actions intended to help the poor child, woman and man may have harmed them, we can review things from this quarter. The vision to effect such reversals is already there with many a young professionals. Now it is time to act.
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Who is taking the heat? We all may well ask this pertinent question.

We can expect a worldwide temperature rise of 1^oC by the year 2030 and 3^oC by 2100 at the current rate of increase.  there will be an increase in the sea level.  This will most certainly inundate coastal low lying areas the work over and many small island nations.  Increased emissions of,  water vapour and chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) catalyse green house warming.  Without any claims of being alarmist or complacent, this book clearly and concisely summarises the global warning evidence so far.  It examines the potential impacts of climate change world wide. But all scientific estimates and predictions are at best no more than educated guesses.

However, there are some certainties.  Without its atmosphere, the earth would be as cold as the moon.  Before we have enough data to take remedial action it will be too late to avert the ill effects of global warming.  Emissions of , water vapour and CFCs will be on the increase and their concentration in the atmosphere will consequently rise.  The full impact of present omission levels will not be felt until decades later.  All remedial action, will at best only slow down the warming process.

We have to plan for at least some rise in global temperatures.  We can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.  We can adopt measures to ensure energy-efficiency.  We may even reduce deforestation and counter it by planting lots of trees.  We can outline "no regrets" energy conservation practices that are accompanied by many other advantages that will benefit the environment and consequently humankind as a whole.  These would also be a step towards tackling hunger, debt and many other inequities which insult our common humanity.

All these measures will cost money.  And yet again, who should pay?  Should it be the industrialised world which is probably the major role player in this scenario? Should the path of development of the North be blocked to avert this imminent catastrophe?

Gerald Foley has dealt with an increasingly controversial issue by giving us the information to assess this issue for ourselves.  National boundaries will provide no defence against an overheated planet.  A global threat requires a global response.  To arm yourself with all this information and more, you require Rs. 230.

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