Guest guest Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Dear Mr Pridarsanan Dharma Raj, Please allow me to introduce myself. I am an animal welfare and wildlife enthusiast in Kolkata and having read your message on insect collection, I offer you two comments on the kind of 'science' you profess to be doing: 1) " In science there is only physics; all the rest is stamp collecting " - Lord Rutherford, physicist. 2) " Many who balk at the sight of a mathematical equation, make a bee rush for ecology " - Stephen Budiansky, science writer. Collecting insects for study makes little difference to genuine science and has very little impact on human welfare. It is basically the indulgence of those who seek to kill animals for curiosity. Such a pursuit is best avoided. As playwright George Bernard Shaw put it, " If you can't obtain knowledge without cruelty, do without knowledge. " There are many environmentalists and scientists who are vegetarians by choice. You should keep this in mind before defending your right to eat animals. The suffering of animals in slaughterhouses is so enormous that one could say that if slaughterhouses had windows, everyone would be vegetarian. As far as your hatred of street dogs is concerned, please remember they are entitled to humane treatment and consideration as much as any creature, wild or domestic. Compassion is something you learn and imbibe as you gather experience in life in relation to your fellow beings, human and non human. I am not sure you imbibe it by collecting insects for pleasure in the name of a so called science. Regarding the Czech scientist, he should have known the laws better than to collect insects in a national park. He is now in prison and I believe he deserved it. I hope the law takes its own course in his case. Regards, Yours sincerely, On 7/8/08, Dr.Chinny Krishna <drkrishna wrote: > > Dear Mr. Dharma Raj, > > How ironic that your name is in direct contradiction to its meaning! > Dharma Raj is supposed to be " the King of Righteousness " but you have only > grown to be the Clown Prince of hate. > > While you seem to be highly literate, you are, sadly, uneducated. Not only > regarding the street dogs you say you " hate " because they are " pests due to > bad habitat management " , but also because most of what you have written is > so far of the mark that it should not even be dignified by a reply. > > Surely, the Czech " scientist " would not tolerate people coming into his > country and breaking the laws there. > > As a scientist myself, I cringe at being included in a group with you in > it. > > Dr. S. Chinny Krishna > Chennai > > > aapn <aapn%40> [ > aapn <aapn%40>]On Behalf Of > AZAM SIDDIQUI > Tuesday, July 08, 2008 6:51 PM > aapn > Fwd: Letter to Shri Priyadarsanan Dharma Raj > > Dear all, > > I trust many of you have now read the message by Mr Priyadarsanan on the > issue of the Czech scientist arrested in Darjeeling. > > Please take note of his stance that endorses the killing of insects for > research, his hatred of street dogs and his support of eating insects as a > conservation measure. > > This thoroughly utilitarian perspective of animal conservation flies in the > face of the philosophy of animal rights and compassionate treatment of > animals > > Insects may be less glamourous than mega species like tigers and rhinos but > they should be respected in their own right > It is just as wrong to kill silkworms for silk as it is to kill foxes for > fur > > Please take off some time to respond to this man explaining why you think > he > is defending the indefensible and where his arguments have gone awry. > > Thanks, > > Regards. > > Azam > ________ > > My Response to his reply: > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7 <azam24x7%40gmail.com>> > Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 5:11 PM > Re: Letter to Shri Priyadarsanan Dharma Raj > Priyan <priyan <priyan%40atree.org>> > Cc: Maneka Gandhi <gandhim <gandhim%40nic.in>>, envisect<envisect%40nic.in>, > Animal welfare < > awbi <awbi%40md3.vsnl.net.in>>, secretary.awbi<secretary.awbi%40gmail.com>, > prathapankd <prathapankd%40gmail.com>, > pooranij <pooranij%40gmail.com> > > >PS: Pl. don't hesitate to mail me if you require any further information > on > insects.< > > I would definitely reach out to you as and when I need any info on Insects, > meanwhile I would appreciate if you kindly do the same in case you require > any further input on the Indian laws , rules and legislations that exist as > of now so that in future such acts are not repeated. > > Whether we like it or not, whether they are draconian or soft, the fact is > that till your views echo in the walls of the Parliament and further > amendments are added/ removed from the same, we got to abide by them. > > Buying pardon for after an alleged offense is not the right move. > > Environmental protection and Wildlife laws are lowest on priority with > conviction rates having found to be as low as 0.2%. > > I thank you for spreading the word across the world when you rightly say: > > " The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 seriously curtails the scientific > freedom of individual taxonomists by putting draconian regulations on the > free exchange of specimens for taxonomic research and threatens to > strangulate biodiversity research in India with legal as well as > bureaucratic control " . > > Quoted from: " Death sentence on taxonomy in India " > link: http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/jan252008/170.pdf > > You may have the right to not be an " animal lover " but you DO NOT have the > right to " hate street dogs " (homeless as we call), remember not to " HARM > THEM " in anyways as under sec 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals > Act, 1960 (59 of 1960) you may end up sadly on the footsteps of the erring > scientist- A law breaker inviting punishments and penalties. > > >So it is my right to eat animals< > > Lastly, whilst in India you can ONLY eat animals that are permitted. > > Please do not derive any sadistic pleasure by writing such things. > It does not go well for someone striving to become a scientist. > > Please calculate the risks involved before defending such people as your > online petition may not have a general provision regarding such association > to be termed as invalid. > > regards, > > Azam Siddiqui > > 2008/7/8 Priyan <priyan <priyan%40atree.org>>: > > " 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 <azam24x7%40gmail.com>] > > *Sent:* Monday, July 07, 2008 5:20 PM > > *To:* priyan <priyan%40atree.org> > > *Cc:* Maneka Gandhi; envisect <envisect%40nic.in>; Animal > welfare; > > secretary.awbi <secretary.awbi%40gmail.com> > > *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 > > > > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > > Checked by AVG. > > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.4.1/1519 - Release 6/25/2008 > > 4:13 PM > > > > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > > Checked by AVG. > > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.4.1/1519 - Release 6/25/2008 > > 4:13 PM > > > > -- > United against elephant polo > http://www.stopelephantpolo.com > http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui > > -- > United against elephant polo > http://www.stopelephantpolo.com > http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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