Bangladesh's climate adaptation programme

Global community should support it

Quamrul Islam Chowdhury

Bangladesh, which is continuously hit by floods, cyclones and sea-level rise, has become an emblem in facing adverse climatic behaviour. Global community especially the industrialised countries should support Bangladesh in implementing her adaptation programmes immediately so that she can shrug off draconian impacts of climate change by innovation in her agriculture and fisheries to ensure food security of 150 million people.
   Dr Rajendra K Pachauri, chair of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that won Noble Peace Prize this year with former US Vice- President Al Gore, told newsmen adding, 'Bangladesh needs innovation in agriculture and fisheries to ensure food security for its people in the face of increasing adverse impact caused by climate change.'
   He asked the industrialised countries to come forward to support in a big way Bangladesh and other coastal and small island countries which would be the worst hit countries because of luxurious life-styles of the rich nations emitting greenhouse gases causing sea-level rise and climate change.
   "Given the scale and level of worst affects to hit the low- lying deltaic country, it's highly immoral to ask Bangladesh to implements her adaptation programmes from her own domestic resources to face huge adverse climatic events," he told a group of Asian journalists.
   Dr Pachauri regretted that neither global community nor US and other most industrialized countries really know how deeply Bangladesh is going to be worstly hit by adverse climatic events and said," I think, the people of Bangladesh are already facing the draconian impacts in the form of abrupt rainfalls, changes in the weather, more hit and severe cold waves and more intense and frequent floodings, cyclones and droughts.
   "Food security of the poorer countries will be threatened as climate change will reduce food production across the world.And Bangladesh needs innovation in agriculture and fisheries to ensure food security," said Pachauri at the concluding session of the three-day Asia Media Workshop on climate change and human development.
   Commending Bangladesh for its capability to adapt to floods and cyclones, said that he is planning some measures that will help Bangladesh to adapt to the erratic behaviour of the climate.
   Dr Pachauri said, "I admire Bangladesh for her efforts. But, global community should come forward because Bangladesh is not at all responsible for this human induced climate change, rather Bangladesh is an innocent victim. Dhaka, Kolkata and Shanghai are the major cities to be the worst hit in case of climate change."
   Bangladesh needs to make its voice louder to inform the international community of the severely adverse impact of climate change on it, he added.
   Dr Pachauri urged his country, India, to emerge as a role model in the South Asian people's struggle against climate change. 'The South Asian countries should work together to face climate change, a politically neutral issue, as the poorest section of the people will be the worse hit.And India should emerge as a role model to face the crisis.'
   'We need leaders who will do what is good for us and good for the earth. But, unfortunately we do not have any role model here,' he said, frustration evident in his voice. The IPCC chair reiterated that the countries - including United States, India and China - which are major polluters of the atmosphere, must drastically decrease their emission levels. 'Stability of human society will be disrupted if we allow the emission levels to increase.'
   Lead author of the Human Development Report 2007 of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Dr Kevin Watkins also warned that it is the world's most poor people who are at the frontline of climate risks including those of Bangladesh.
   " Incremental risks of heavy monsoon, cyclones and crop failures will hit the poorest people. They will not be able to successful in managing those risks. Climate threat really restricts people's choice," Dr Kevin pointed out.
   He suggested setting hard targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the upcoming Bali UN Conference on Climate Change and called for raising cooperation to tackle the adverse impacts.
   The Human Development Report 2007 lead author also called for removing imbalances in investment in flood defense and other adaptation programmes that now exist between Dhaka and London cities one is pumping in billions of dollars while the other not even having millions of dollars though the people of Dhaka are more vulnerable than those of London owing to sea-level rise and climate change.
   The UNDP organised the media workshop in partnership with the Water and Sanitation Programme of the World Bank and the Swiss Development Corporation. A total of thirty journalists from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines participated in the workshop.
   Both Dr Pachauri and Dr Kevin called for more drastic actions and suggested countries like Bangladesh to show-case her achievements in adaptation so far as well as vulnerability so that global community is sensitized about Dhaka's urgent requirement to face climatic erratic behaviours more efficiently.
   Now it is the turn of the Bangladesh delegation members to raise their voices at the forthcoming Bali UN Conference on Climate Change scheduled to be held in December 3-16 next?

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Alice A. Islam

The name of Elvis Presley needs no introduction to the world. The king is an appropriate name for such a giant. His name has gone in the history of music. As long as the world exists he will be remembered for his melodious voice and his heart breaking "Love me tender" and "Falling in love with you." Each song of his has been a hit and it brings tears to the eyes to think that he is now no more.
   Elvis was born on January 8th, 1935 to Vermon and Gladys Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi. It is hard to believe that he died at the early age of 42. The 16th of August is his death anniversary. He could have contributed so much to the world and made this world a happier place to live in.
   Elvis was special in many ways, and not only shook generations but made America great. That melodious voice, those pout lips, his beautiful blue black hair made not only America but the whole world love and respect him and rock with him.
   But Elvis had his share of struggle and hardship to make him what he was. His parents saved their money to buy for him his first guitar for $12.95. In the year 1949, he got his first job as an usher in a cinema hall for $12.50 per week. Later he became a truck driver for Crown Electric Company for $35 per week. This man grew up to be not only the best but the highest paid entertainer in the world.
   It is strange that his mother Gladys, whom he loved dearly, also died at the early age of 42 on August 14th and of heart failure. Graceland, his home, had been a gift to her. He had purchased the whole estate for $100,000 a year before she died. Elvis loved Graceland and beside the stage this was the only place where he felt secure. Every year more than half a million people visit it and the place where he was put to rest.
   There is an Elvis Presley museum located in Potomac mills, Woodbridge, Virginia. This museum has the largest collection of Elvis memorabilia in the world. It was by chance that I came across the museum while doing some sight seeing. I could not believe my eyes and being a great fan of Elvis, my heart started beating fast. Was I really going to see some of the things touched and used by him? With a throbbing heart my family and I entered the museum.
   There on display was his last personal limousine - a white 1973 Stretch Lincoln Continental. It is equipped with duel heating and cooling, stereo system, colour television and a bar. The doors are lined with brown fur and inside there is a dressing table and mirror.
   What touched me the most was the first dollar he had earned. He had placed it in the collection plate at the Highland Assembly of God Church in Meridian, Mississippi, during a revival meeting. Reverend Joel had kept it for years and then sold it to L. Howard. In 1982 it was purchased for $8000 by M.L.Moon who owns the entire collection in this museum. Some of his jewelleries are also on exhibit, like a gold nugget ring and bracelet and necklace of Turquoise, a sapphire ring and a gold computer watch and a wooden jewellery box.
   Elvis was devoted to Karate which may come as a surprise to his fans. For nearly 20 years he worked at it and eventually obtained a 7th degree Black Belt which is also on display. The museum has also a good collection of his clothes - Western shirts, silk shirts, dress Tuxedo which he wore in the movie Double Trouble, a fur-trimmed dress coat, blue pajamas and even underwear and socks. There was also a suede coat which he had given to his security guard John O'Grady because it had a blue spot on it.
   There are many other interesting things on display like his X-ray of 1971, last pair of sunglasses, gun and holster with original bullets, a green sofa set from his Hollywood home, pool side table and umbrella, cosmetics, a gold key ring and address books some of which are in Elvis' writing.
   Elvis always had a tight security around him and special jackets, orange with black sleeves, were made for his men and some of these original ones are in the museum.
   Much can be said about this great man, the king of Rock N Roll who made the whole world shake with him. He will be remembered for generations and his melodious and thrilling voice will continue to break the hearts of millions of fans of which I am one.
   Let me conclude here with the words of his wife Priscilla Beaulieu Presley in her book "Elvis and Me": "I don't think anyone can begin to capture the magic, sensitivity, vulnerability, charm, generosity and greatness of this man who had influenced and contributed so much to our culture through his art and music. Elvis was a giving soul who touched and gave happiness to millions all over the world and continues to be respected and loved by his peers.
   "All my dreams come true,
   For my darling I love you
   And I always will."

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