(IN): Fwd: Letter to Shri Priyadarsanan Dharma Raj

[Guest guest]

Forwarded copy of a response from Shri Priyadarsanan Dharma Raj

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Priyan <priyan

2008/7/8

RE: Letter to Shri Priyadarsanan Dharma Raj

AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7

Cc: Maneka Gandhi <gandhim, envisect, Animal welfare <

awbi, secretary.awbi, prathapankd,

pooranij

 

 

" Collect insects to understand insects,

 

Eat insects to conserve insects "

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Mr. Azam Siddiqui,

 

Thanks lot for your mail and the article.

 

Your mail is a very good example of the lack of awareness and general

misunderstandings existing even among the learned people about the less

charismatic and lesser known part of biodiversity which comprises 95% of the

total species existing on the earth- THE INSECTS. Unfortunately our

conservation strategies and policies are still pivoting around the protocols

developed for conserving a few charismatic species –which was originally

developed for conserving the game mammals, much before the concept of

biodiversity came to current day popularity.

 

 

 

The scientists [except the space and nuclear scientists who works for

defense who enjoys an elite status and popularity among the nationalists]

does not enjoy any popularity or they are not revered in India like

cricketers or mega stars. But they silently they do their job with total

dedication to the works they do. The scientists never catch insects for

eating, fun or trade like Salman Khan, Pataudi or others did. Entomologist

collect insects only for the sake of science, for the sake of mankind. The

world is not starving today because the entomologists collected and studied

the insects so that they could mange the pests and save our crops. All crop

protection studies, including the latest BT, are depending on the findings

of erstwhile Entomologists, who have extensively collected and studied

those. Insects play the most important roles in all ecosystem functions

except primary production. That is reason why Dr. EO Wilson –he is an

entomologist with a huge collection of ants from all over the world- praised

them as the " little things run the world " . If you want to understand the

insects there are no short cuts- you should collect and study them.

 

 

 

Before writing this mail you should have read the Time magazine article

atleast once rather than trying to find parallels just based on the title of

the article. The times article itself gives answers for many of your doubts.

 

" entomophagy--the scientific term for consuming insects--could also be a far

greener way to get protein than eating chicken, cows or pigs " etc. etc.

 

 

 

The major threats to insects are not coming from collections or killings,

but from the pesticides poured into our fields and habitat lose due to

landuse changes. For producing every kilogram of rise we are killing

thousands of invertebrates. While building every square foot we destroy the

habitats for several species.

 

If people start to eat insects, it is not only going to provide cheap

proteins for the poor , but it will be bringing in a greener way of pest

control. So " eat insects, save life " ( I found caterpillars esp. 'bamboo

shoot caterpillars' more tasty than the grass hoppers. The cicada are tasty

but I don't like the feeling of their fatty abdomen burst between my teeth.

The Rhinoceros grubs (a common coconut pest) is delicious. Oecophila chutney

is good and I could never get the termite preparations although it si widely

eaten in India )

 

 

 

The total number of insects collected by an Entomologist in his/her life

term is not even one percent of the insects we kill in an acreage of paddy

field. But the science he produces is helping in feeding and sustaining the

mankind on the earth directly or indirectly. There are no cases of any

insect gone extinct due to collection for research purpose. Unfortunately

our rules, regulations and legislations are not helpful for the scientists

and science. You are further requested to see the following related articles

by a few of us on how Indian Laws are stifling biodiversity research.

 

 

 

Shadow of permit-raj over research :

http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/oct252006/1006.pdf

 

Hurdles for Conservation science in India :

http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/oct252006/1005.pdf

 

Science in the wilderness: the predicament of scientific research in India's

wildlife reserve : http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/oct252006/1005.pdf

 

Death sentence on taxonomy in India :

http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/jan252008/170.pdf

 

 

 

AS an Endnote let me say:

 

I can not be qualified as an " animal lover " in the definitions set by

organized animal lovers. I eat animals, I hate street dogs (they are human

pests due to bad habitat management) and I wish to leave all animals free

enjoying all their " natural animal rights " –not the rights defined by the

man. It is proven fact that Human beings, by origin and structure are

omnivores. So it is my right to eat animals. I can not find any reasons for

man keeping pets other than selfish motifs. I believe that keeping pets and

humanizing them by training is nothing less than making " behavioral bonsais "

for the sake of the keeper's benefits and entertainment. This is crueler

than eating them.

 

With warm regards

 

 

 

Priyadarsanan

 

PS: Pl. don't hesitate to mail me if you require any further information on

insects.

------------------------------

 

** AZAM SIDDIQUI [azam24x7]

*Sent:* Monday, July 07, 2008 5:20 PM

*To:* priyan

*Cc:* Maneka Gandhi; envisect; Animal welfare;

secretary.awbi

*Subject:* Letter to Shri Priyadarsanan Dharma Raj

 

 

 

*Kind attention:* *Shri* *Priyadarsanan Dharma Raj, Ashoka Trust for

Research in Ecology and the Environment

 

Sub: *Online petition requesting the release of Dr. Petr Švácha, (Senior

Scientist at Institute of Entomology, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic)

arrested in Singalila National Park, Darjeeling (West Bengal).

 

Dear Shri Priyadarshan,

 

This is with reference to the above online petition which has been created

by and written by you which can be traced in the link below:

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?wgircn2 & 701

 

It is a matter of deep concern that instead of appreciating the actions of

the enforcement agencies in detection of environmental offenses and crimes

and appealing for strict actions to be taken, we are instead trying to bail

out the offenders.

 

If the petition is to believed then are we going to say that this can act as

a model for other so called 'elitist' people to follow the trend of being

pardoned.

 

Would you appreciate if considering the huge popularity and the

contributions of the Salman Khans and the Pataudis for Bollywood and the

Cricketing field the animal people would have petitioned to the highest

authority to allow them pardon for their respective offenses?

 

Your actions remind me of Shri Tarun Gogoi, the Chief Minister of Assam who

pardoned an IAS officer of Nagaland state after the person was arrested red

handed poaching rhesus macaques in the fringe areas of Kaziranga National

Park. This action of the Chief Minister was a big blow to the efforts of

those officials who risked their lives in trying to protect our National

wealth from being robbed.

Pardons unfortunately never go well within the society, and it only pushes

the efforts of our some of the legends who spent a lifetime in trying to

protect even a single 'leaf' of A- Tree.

 

Yes, it is unfortunate that perhaps the person was unaware of the rules and

laws. But please do not allow our sentiments and emotions to come in the way

of protecting anything that is in danger and more so when it is the case of

protecting our National wealth.

Awareness should be limited to schools and colleges and the juveniles for

the adults and specially the 'scientists' who should be considered one of

the most educated lot within human beings the LAW should be allowed to take

its own course.

It should act as a model for others to follow, instead we have a global army

of 'scientists' trying to fish out an offender.

 

Just for your kind information I would like to point out to the current

issue of the TIMES magazine article " EATING BUGS " which dwells on the

growing popularity of the consumption of bugs and other exotic and rare

insects.

Please find the link below:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1810336,00.html

 

I am sure that you can now make the connection between the following:

 

1. The arrest of the scientist.

 

2. Another similar act of collecting bugs illegally by a German citizen in

Arunachal Pradesh, who was let of with a warning by the local council.

 

and

 

3. The TIMES article.

 

All the above are serious food for thought for those who actually strive to

protect and see the status of India`s environment & wildlife improve for

good.

 

Best wishes,

 

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

Master Trainer in Animal Welfare for

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)

 

Copy to:

 

1. Smt Maneka Gandhi, Former Union minister for Environment & Forest, and

Chairperson People for Animals- India

 

2. Secretary, MOEF

 

3. Chairman & Secretary, AWBI

 

 

--

United against elephant polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

 

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--

United against elephant polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui