Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 72 Sat. August 07, 2004  
   
Letters to Editor


Global politics and farmers


What an irony of life: big powerful global politics is deeply related to our chasi-bhais (farmers)! For our politicians, Dhaka metro (pop 10m) is the end of the pilgrimage. Ultimately, it is the feeders of the dal-bhat, regardless of the anti-armament sanctions being hotly debated in the UN lobbies, and outside.

In the third world, the farmers constitute the highest percentage of voters, while their numbers in the industrialised countries are lower, but the per capita production output is much higher due to scientific inputs and infrastructure. The big question is the subsidies provided to the farmers in the developed countries, against which the LDC's cannot compete. Question: Protect the strong point of science and technology, which is the weak point in international political debates? Similar is the equation with the energy resources of the world, grab it by hook or by crook, and damn the Untied Nations! Outcome; terrorism against the uniformed demons.

These artificial pressure tactics won't last, regardless of the weapons displayed. Bangladesh is in the forefront of this fight; human resources vs scientific and technological resources. We have the highest density of population in the world, for nations with population above the 100m mark; hence this basic situation has to be considered at international forums for mere survival!