January 30ath, 2016

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www.morungexpress.com

saturDaY • JanuarY 30 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 27 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth Suu Kyi gets ready for power as NLD comes to parliament PaGE 09

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

P o W e R

o F

T R u T H

— George Bernard Shaw

TGOUN to organize seminar on domestic architecture in the NE

Mirza-Hingis win Aus Open doubles title

PaGE 02

PAGE 12

Zika virus threat to india real: experts

NeW Delhi, JaNuary 29 (iaNS): The mosquito-borne Zika virus - a pathogen which was virtually unheard of till some days ago - is spreading so fast that it can infect nearly four million people in the Americas in next 12 months if not tackled well within time and the threat has now reached India. In May 2015, Brazil reported its first case of Zika virus disease. Since then, the disease has spread within Brazil and to 22 other countries and territories Stop crying. The consum- in the Americas. Pregnant women are ers will reimburse you for your losses. at greater risk. According to health authorities, the virus may trigger a brain We would like to remind abnormality called microcephaly (abnormal smallyou that Rejoinders to ness of the head) in newthose statements/news born babies though the pieces that have not been link is yet to be established. originally published by Zika virus is transmitthe newspaper will not ted by the bite of Aedes be carried either. This is species mosquito which in order to maintain im- breeds in water-holding partiality on an issue. We containers. Like dengue, it seek your understanding is a day-biting mosquito. and cooperation! “India has to be on the Also all press statements, alert because internationmemorandums, articles, al travel from central and reports and news related South America, Africa and documents should be the Caribbean Islands can sent to the official email: potentially carry the virus morung@gmail.com into our country,” said Dr Monica Mahajan, senior Press releases will be consultant (internal mediaccepted only till 8:00 pm cine) at Max Super SpecialThe Morung Express ty Hospital in the capital.

Public Reminder

In its latest advisory, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also cautioned pregnant women to avoid travelling to countries at risk of Zika virus transmission. However, most cases are mild and only one in five humans bitten by the mosquito will develop the disease. Symptoms are similar to chikungunya and dengue but fortunately, complications are rare. “The recent concern is two-fold: There have been cases reported in more nations compared to outbreaks prior to 2015. Secondly, there is concern about possible birth defects in case a pregnant lady gets infected,” Mahajan told IANS. According to her, past experience with dengue epidemic shows that mosquito breeding in India is rampant and difficult to control. “So any mosquitoborne illness tends to spread easily owing to overcrowding and hygiene issues. So till such time that diagnostic facilities are available, best option is mosquito control measures to prevent mosquito breeding,” she added. A patient suffering from fever with rash should be protected from further mosquito bites during the

Zika vaccine by year-end

WiNNiPeG, JaNuary 29 (reuterS): A vaccine for the Zika virus in development by U.S. and Canadian scientists could be available for emergency use before the end of the year, possibly making it the first, one of the lead scientists said on Thursday. The consortium working on the vaccine includes University of Pennsylvania, led by scientist David Weiner, University of Laval, led by Gary Kobinger, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc and South Korea’s GeneOne Life Science, Kobinger told Reuters in an interview. He hopes to start trials by September to test its safety on humans, pending regulator approval. A month later it could be ready for emergency use.

Necessary steps being taken against Zika: Health ministry

Rain Gomes waits for medical care with her son Alessandro Gomes, who has microcephaly, at the Oswaldo Cruz Hospital in Recife, Brazil, January 26. (REUTERS)

first few days of illness so that he does not pass the virus into more mosquitoes and cause local transmission of disease. “Zika virus is a vectorborne disease. Currently, it may not be here in India, but if a person lands in India with the active infection and gets bitten by Aedes mosquito and that mosquito bites other peoples this can be spread in India as well,” Dr J.S. Bha-

sin, senior consultant and HOD (peadiatric and neonatology department) at BLK Super Specialty Hospital in Delhi. According to Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), “the level of alarm is extremely high, as is the level of uncertainty. Questions abound. We need to get some answers quickly.” The WHO was criti-

cised last year for reacting slowly to Ebola epidemic that killed over 10,000 people. “A causal relationship between Zika virus infection and birth defects and neurological syndromes has not been established, but is strongly suspected,” the WHO statement added. The virus was first isolated in 1947 from a rhesus macaque monkey from Zika forest in Uganda.

NeW Delhi, JaNuary 29 (iaNS): The union health ministry said on Friday it is making sure that India is well prepared against cases of Zika virus that has already caused much damage in Brazil and elsewhere in the Americas. “We are closely monitoring the situation of Zika cases and all necessary steps have been initiated to ensure that India is well prepared in case of any eventuality,” said Health Minister J.P. Nadda at a meeting held to take stock of the recent cases of Zika in the world. The minister directed the authorities to set up a technical group that would monitor the situation arising out of the spread of Zika virus in other countries and suggest steps that would need to be taken in India. “We are focusing on especially strengthening the surveillance system,” said the minister. The minister called for increased focus on prevention to control the spread of the Aedes mosquito that breeds in clean water and is implicated in the spread of the Zika virus. “Community awareness plays an instrumental role in this regard. There is a need for greater awareness amongst community,” the health minister said. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is like dengue and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes.

NPF supports honourable solution & Changpang oil spills of Nagaland feature in appeals for inclusiveness of all groups environmental conflicts and injustices map Our Correspondent Kohima | January 29

The Central Executive Council of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) in its meeting held here today reiterated the commitment of the party to work for finding an honorable and acceptable solution to Indo-Naga political problem. While welcoming the Framework Agreement signed between NSCN-IM and GoI, it further appealed to both the GoI and NSCN-IM work out a formula of inclusiveness of all the Naga political groups so that any solution that may come out may be acceptable to all sections of Naga people. The CEC also extended its support to the hill people of Manipur state in protest against the three anti-hill/tribal people’s bills passed by

the Manipur Legislative Assembly on 31st August 2015 relating with the implementation of ILP system in Manipur state. While expressing support and solidarity with those MLAs particularly the NPF MLAs of Manipur who resigned their seat in protest against the bill, the CEC also appealed to President of India not to give his assent to the controversial bill which is “anti-hill people.” The meeting whole heartedly welcomed the INC, JDU, NCP MLAs along with their supporters who have recently merged with the NPF. “It is hopes that their merger will strengthen the party government to work effectively towards finding Naga political aspiration,” the resolution adopted at the meeting stated.

Rajya Sabha tenure for Nagaland expire on April 2 Meanwhile, Naga People’s Front (NPF) president Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu said the present Rajya Sabha tenure for Nagaland will expire on April 2 this year. He termed it as unfortunate for the state of Nagaland that late Khekiho Zhimomi passed away before completing his term as Rajya Sabha MP. In his presidential address at the CEC meeting, Dr Liezietsu revealed that few leaders have already expressed their willingness to serve the party as Rajya Sabha MP. Dr Liezietsu on the occasion appealed to the party members to accept ‘reconciliation’ in its true spirit and rededicate themselves to cover up the damages that they have done to themselves. Related story on page 5

Environmental Justice Atlas mapping shows India at top of climate violence • Conflicts related to water management 59 cases • Conflicts in fossil fuels and climate justice 47 cases • Industrial and utilities conflicts category 36 cases

‘the way forward for nagaland’

C M Y K

DiMaPur, JaNuary 29 The Global Open University Nagaland in a study to take advantage of existing lo(MexN): The Global Open Uni- found that in order to improve quality of life and cal markets and exploit the demand for indigenous products versity Nagaland (TGOUN) re- economy for the Naga people, it should: outside the State in order to recently completed a study project duce the trade gap, resource which has been compiled in the • Harness available resources and potentials form of a handbook titled, “The • Encourage private investment-from within drain and to benefit from the inand outside come and livelihood opportuniWay Forward for Nagaland.” Meet demand for indigenous products outties thereof. According to a press release • side Nagaland He also advocated on preparissued by Martoshi Longkumer, • Plan public spending with a clear focus to exing a database of the available Planning Officer, TGOUN, the ecute plan handbook offers short-term and • Oil exploration and extraction can be a major infrastructure and a comprehensive road map for building long term suggestions for improvsource of revenue ing quality of life for people relat- • Maintain eco-balance through eco-restora- infrastructure and plan public spending with a clear focus. ed to health, education, housing, tion measures According to Dr Imotemsu transport, information technolAo, Registrar, “the limited prosogy, unemployment, social juscontrol, disaster preparedness, hotel tice, rural and urban poverty, drug ad- management, catering and applied pects for expansion of Government diction, environmental degradation, nutrition, adventure, ecological and activities necessitate the encouragewater scarcity, energy unavailability, sustainable tourism and integrated ment of private investment for accelerating economic growth in the State garbage disposal, sustainable agricul- mountain development. ture, human rights violation etc. Harnessing of the resources and and also for creating employment The effort to compile the prob- potentials require not only invest- opportunities….The State governlem areas and finding appropriate ments but also policy interventions ment has to generate sufficient resolutions was based on motivation to encourage such investments, Dr sources of its own in the near future.” The Board of Advisors for this from NPF President Dr Shurhozelie Trivedi pointed out. Liezietsu and founder Chancellor, According to him, the State gov- study and compilation work consistTGOUN Dr Priya Ranjan Trivedi who ernment’s role in making the invest- ing of Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu, Deo suggested the hypothesis and guide- ments cannot be underestimated Nukhu and TN Mannen viewed that lines for compiling information relat- but the limited availability of finan- oil exploration and extraction can ed to “district wise and district wide cial resources with the government also be a major source of revenue for problems of the different tribes at necessitates that private investment the State government and for economic uplift of the society. grass root level.” is encouraged. Maintaining eco-balance Dr Priya Ranjan Trivedi mainHe however cautioned that the tained that there is an urgent need for resources available should be used through eco-restoration measures economic understanding, strength- efficiently and in a sustainable and and environmental protection proening of local self-governance, me- planned manner for equitable eco- grammes was also suggested, along dicinal plantation, skill based train- nomic growth within a reasonable with compilation and documentation of the State’s biodiversity and ing in the new and emerging areas of time-frame. cosmetology, beauty sciences, cleanVice Chancellor Dr HN Dutta patenting the unique knowledge and liness, hygiene, sanitation, pollution stressed the need to produce goods uses of this biodiversity.

Seepage from abandoned oil wells at Changpang village area, Wokha. (File Photo)

Morung Express News Dimapur | January 29

Spills from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) well sites which severely destroyed Changpang and Tsorri villages in Wokha district is one among the several cases of conflict caused by climate change and environmental disputes in India, according to a map of global ecological conflict. The Environmental Justice Atlas (AJAtlas), released in the December 2015 issue of the Current Science – A Journal of Research revealed that India, Colombia and Nigeria have the most cases of conflict caused by climate change and environmental disputes. More than 200 conflicts in India have been caused by ecological disputes and scarcities of basic resources such as water and forests. Colombia has

101 and Nigeria has 71 environmental conflicts, the report said. According to EJAtlas, the Changpang and Tsorri villages oil spill case falls under the category of fossil fuel and climate justice/ energy (1st level) and oil and gas exploration and extraction (2nd level). More than two thousand people have seen their farmlands, forests and water sources they rely on for their survival, contaminated because of the spillage, it said. Details on the project on their website: ajatlas. org said ONGC began extraction since 1981 after acquiring permission from the Government of Nagaland in 1973 to explore Oil and Natural Gas in the villages without obtaining the Free Prior and Informed Consent of the indigenous communities as per the national and international

law articles. About 1.02 metric million tonnes of crude oil were extracted between 1981 and 1994. However, the ONGC has not disclosed the quantity of oil extracted during exploration in the period 1971 to 1981.The ONGC drilled 29 wells in the Changpang area during the year 19731994. Out of these, 21 wells in Changpang area were oil bearing and 2 wells were gas bearing, the report stated. Visible environmental impacts, according to the AJAtlas include soil contamination, oil spills, deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, surface water pollution/decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, mine tailing spills. Loss of livelihood, land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place while there was potential harm of

displacement, loss of traditional knowledge, practices and cultures were among the socio-economic impacts triggered by the oil spills. From the North East India, thirteen (13) cases of conflict caused by climate change and environmental disputes have been mapped. They include the Mapithel Dam project, Imphal Airport Expansion, Tipaimukh Dam project, Solid Waste Management Plant Lamdeng Khunnou, Imphal and Oil exploration from Manipur; the Kyelleng-Pyndengsohiong, Mawthabah (KPM) uranium mining project in Meghalaya, the Lower Martam Garbage Dump Ground in Sikkim, 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project in Assam, the Gumti Hydroelectric Power Project at Thirthmukh, Tripura, Tuirial Hydro Power Project, Serlui-B Hydropower Project and the 210 MW Tuivai Hydro Electric Project from Mizoram. According to scidev.net, VV Krishna, EJOLT project director and professor at the Centre for Studies in Science Policy at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi is quoted as saying that one reason for India recording the maximum number of conflicts is the thrust on industrialization, mining for natural resources and industrial units exploiting loopholes in environmental governance. Conflicts related to water management appear highest in India with 59 cases, followed by conflicts in fossil fuels and climate justice category with 47 cases and the industrial and utilities conflicts category with 36 cases. The atlas is a work in progress and aims to map 2,500 environmental conflicts and injustices by the end of 2017.


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