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  The myth being sold about nuclear bijlee

  One question about the continuing drama and deepening political crisis over the Indo-US nuclear deal fills me with agony: Americans know what they want out of this agreement, but do we?

  The UPA government is fooling the nation by presenting the deal as a panacea for India's chronic power scarcity. "Opponents of the deal are enemies of India's development," thundered Sonia Gandhi at a rally in Haryana. True, her party did a quick U-turn by putting out a rather creative interpretation on her combative remark -- saying it was "Haryana-specific"! But rest assured that it will revive the "enemies of development" theme, now that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with the apparent backing of the only person who wields real authority in the UPA coalition, has done yet another U-turn.

  But will the deal really answer the `B' part of the BSP (bijlee, sadak, paani) needs of our people? For an answer, turn to the `Integrated Energy Policy' report of the Planning Commission's expert committee in August 2006. It projects 11 different fuel-mix scenarios up to 2031-32 for achieving eight per cent annual GDP growth rate.

  In none of these scenarios do we see the slightest hint of the "nuclear renaissance" that the prime minister has been so grandiloquently promising. The report says: "Even if a 20-fold increase takes place in India's nuclear power capacity by 2031-32, the contribution of nuclear energy to India's energy mix is, at best, expected to be 4-6.4 per cent." This, even in the most "optimistic scenario" of supply of imported nuclear fuel, made possible through the deal. Remember that Dr Anil Kakodkar, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, was a member of this expert committee.

  A person closely associated with the report who wishes to remain unnamed said to me: "There is no way in hell or heaven that India's nuclear power capacity can go up from 4,000 MW at present to anywhere near the best-case projection of 63,000 MW by 2030. With or without the deal with the U.S., nuclear energy is not going to be the solution to India's energy needs. The proponents of the deal know this. They are essentially selling a strategic alliance with the US in the name of energy security, since the common man understands daily bijlee shortages better than the intricacies of the 123 agreement." Isn't this deception, pure and simple? I always dowload tv program for latest events.

  And for this illusory promise of energy security, look what the UPA government is giving up in its bargain with America: India's sovereign right to decide the future development of our nuclear weapons programme as per our own independent assessment of our national security needs. This compromise could well lead to a subservient strategic partnership, one requiring India to take shelter under America's nuclear and missile-defence umbrella. Washington has never been coy about indicating that this is it wants.

  On July 27, after the 123 agreement was concluded, Nicholas Burns, its chief American negotiator, was at his candid best: "This deal brings India back into the non-proliferation mainstream in a way it was never before." In other words, it brings India into the NPT regime through the backdoor.

  Last week, Burns said something equally alarming. Explaining why India is becoming more important for America in the 21st century, he predicted: "Twenty or 30 years from now, many Americans would say India is one of the two or three most important global partners -- the way Japan and the European Union are today."

  Read it carefully, from India's security perspective. After World War II, the US imposed a pacifist constitution on Japan that prevented it from having a standing army of its own, leave alone its own nuclear weapons. As far as Europe is concerned, NATO is a US-led security alliance and there is no doubt about who will call the shots in a time of crisis. So, should India become America's junior partner in its global security architecture tomorrow, as Japan and EU are today?

  It is a question that the BJP leadership, in particular, must ponder over. It is the party that made India a nuclear weapon power and made Indians, both here and abroad, proud. Now a concerted attempt is being made to bail out a beleaguered Manmohan Singh by playing on the BJP's deep-rooted anti-Left sentiments.

  "How can you make common cause with the Communists in opposing the deal?" BJP leaders are being asked. "You will lose your middle-class base, which wants India to be on the right side of the US," they are being cautioned. The party, sadly, has made no effort to educate its own cadres, or the public at large, about the myth of energy security and the reality of the perils to India's national security.

  Nevertheless, if the proud legacy of Pokharan II means anything to the BJP, and if it thinks, as it has consistently done since 1964, when it first raised the demand for an Indian nuclear deterrent, that India's national security must always be foolproof and self-reliant, now is the time for the party's leadership to remain firm on its well- and oft-stated stand. And if Prakash Karat has to be made an ally in letting the whole world know that a majority of MPs in Indian Parliament are opposed to the deal, so be it.On The feds are backing nuclear power -- in the name of the environment posted 2 years ago 1 Response

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  I am a car guy

  Even though I'm a car guy, I won't even get into how stupid this rig is. I do, however, have a bone to pick with the line "...a $100 million initiative to build hydrogen refueling stations can't be a bad thing."

  First of all, practical, afforadable fuel cell cars are decades away. Direct hydrogen combustion is certainly do-able (as it's done here) but still expensive and inefficient.

  The important question is: "Where does the hydrogen come from?" Most industrial grade hydrogen is cracked from natural gas through the process of steam reforming. The whole hype on hydrogen was kicked off by the Bush Administration's clever "bait n' switch." They'll have you think they're progressive and advocates for alternative fuels, when it's just the same oil and gas (and soon coal) companies creating the hydrogen. The energy conversions are also extremely inefficient and wasteful.

  A much better solution is to continue pushing hybrid-electric technology, displacement on demand, etc. for cars. And most importantly, to invest in, and promote real alternative energy like solar and wind power. While a perfect world might envision such technologies creating the hydrogen, which they can do, it's simply not efficient enough right now. Too many conversions, too much entropy. Every megawatt of energy added to the electric grid via renewables, displaces the need for an equal amount of dirty generation somewhere else.

  No it can't be a bad thing, but it CAN be a total waste of money. And how to trade stocks is hard to do.

  Sorry for the rant.
  On Schwarzenegger's "Green Hummer" plan sparks cultish following posted 2 years ago 2 Responses

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  A Declaration of (Energy) Independence

  When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to displace the hydrocarbon bonds which have fueled them (and were provided by another) and to assume from the recurring power of the earth and sun, the sustainable and independent energy which the Laws of Nature provide them, a decent respect to the opinions of the men vested in the established order requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

  We (should) hold these truths to be self-evident, that all generations are created equal, that they are endowed by Creation with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life (through air, water and a stable climate), Liberty (from foreign powers), and the Pursuit of (sustainable) Happiness. -- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed, but also owing a responsibility to the to-be-governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter it, and to institute new Governmental Principles and Forms as to them shall seem most likely to effect the Safety and Happiness of their and future generations.

  Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Government Principles long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience has shown that the common good has been more disposed to be subordinated to private interests by Governmental activism. But when a long train of externalities, driven by private economic choices, and leading invariably to reduce the common good, how to trade stocks are not being righted by an inactive Government, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such inactivity and to provide new Principles for their future security.

  Such has been the patient sufferance of these United States (since at least 1973); and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter the Principles of their Government. The history of the present government-energy complex (culminating in the current administration) is a history of repeated denials, delays and missed opportunities, all having the direct result of mortgaging the futures of the children of this country. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

  I found this interesting articles:  http://www.theglobalist.com/DBWeb/StoryId.aspx?StoryId=23 ...
  On New clean-energy coalitions talk up national security and the economy posted 2 years ago 1 Response

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  In Good Company - 2

  We've traveled to feudal Japan, Mexico and post-Katrina New Orleans, meeting a handful of new ordinary people with extraordinary abilities this season on "Heroes," but nothing has been as buzzed about as Kristen Bell joining the cast.

  The "Veronica Mars" alum--who'll make her debut as the mysterious Elle on Monday, Oct. 22 at 9 p.m./8c on NBC--gave us a little inside scoop about her vixen of a character, her hero connections and her dream face-off with bad guy Sylar.

  So how did you end up actually being on the show?
  I certainly put feelers out there during Comic-Con and let them know what a fan I was of the show, I think with the secret hope that one day I could be a part of it. It was the ultimate flattery when they said they might have something for me to do.

  Was it hard to jump in to such an already established cult show? Or were you welcomed with open arms?
  There was anxiety and nerves certainly, but nothing about it has been hard. Every time you join a different show, it kind of feels like you're changing schools. Like, is everyone going to like me? Is this going to be fun? Am I going to do well? The warmth that I was greeted with...it felt like I was starting a school that all my friends already went to.

  So what's it been like playing this new super-mysterious character?
  Oh, it's been so much fun. I've been crossing my fingers I'd get a job where I could play someone who was a little off or, perhaps, didn't have the brightest and shiniest intentions. The depth at which they've written Elle--she's so conflicted and comes across as such a vixen--it's so much fun to play with.

  And what is Elle's power?
  I can't reveal her secret powers...but it's a very cool power.

  From what we hear, your character will be seen with Peter Petrelli first--do you have a connection to him?
  I have a lot of information about Peter's past.

  OK...does Elle have ties to anyone else?
  She has ties to HRG and to Claire. There's going to be a very interesting dynamic between her and Claire, a deeper relationship than people are expecting. They're going to see some parallels. And she also has ties, a little bit, to Suresh.

  Very cool--so tell us more about this vixen business.
  She's a little messed up in the head, which makes her really manipulative and always out to get what she wants. She doesn't have many boundaries, which I think is the really interesting part. The whole first season has been about these fairly good-natured people trying to embrace these confusing abilities. And Elle is not that way at all. She very much enjoys her power and enjoys the emotional power it gives her over other people.

  The other actors on the show always say they don't know much until it happens, but you sound like you know quite a bit about what's going on...
  I was a little lucky--and I'm giddy when I say it--that when I was picked for the character, Tim [Kring] let a few cats out of the bag. Unfortunately, all the other cast members were trying to get it out of me. I think I did a pretty good job of just smiling through it, knowing that I was lucky enough to have been told where my character was going, or at least her first arch.

  So you're not accepting bribes?
  Oh, I didn't say that. [Laughs]

  How many episodes have you signed on for?
  Right now, I'm signed on for 13. I'll be one of the ones who keeps my fingers crossed that I don't get killed.

  So anything in particular that you're super excited about? An episode with really good Elle stuff?
  Oh wow--yes! Unfortunately it might be a little bit of a tease because I start in episode 5, and then I'm not in 6 or 7, which I guess is sort of part of the mystery. At least, that's what I'm saying. Episodes 8 and 9 have a lot of Elle. A few of the storylines completely revolve around her.

  Are fans going to love or hate her?
  I think she'll go back and forth in that area. I think they will love to hate her initially, when they're confused about her intentions. But I think the more you find out about her--like she was raised by the company and not by a normal family--the more you'll sympathize with her.

  Which hero do you most want to square off with?
  Zachary Quinto. He's been a good friend of mine for almost 10 years now and [Sylar is] pretty much the coolest thing because he's so unpredictable and downright evil. He also teach me investing in the stock market. It's the polar opposite of Zach's personality--he's the kindest, gentlest, most giving person. But I'd love to see [Sylar] and Elle face off one day. That would be unbelievable.

  And if you could pick any power to have, what would it be?
  Multiplicity. It'd be great to be able to cook myself dinner. Then I'd just be like, "Hey clean that up!" If there were more of me, I could get so much more done. I'd be so much happier.On Cutting emissions to raise profits posted 2 years ago 1 Response