Abortion is murder
With ref to the report ‘99 % of women unaware of abortion laws: Study (O Heraldo, 2 March), I wish to state that our religion teaches us that abortion is a crime against the Laws of God as one goes against the 6th Commandment of God – ‘ Thou shall not kill ‘ . I am sure that all the other major religions of the world teach the same and uphold the sanctity, dignity and right to life of the unborn child.
This silent genocide is taking place along with another latest addition called ‘Assisted Suicide or Euthanasia ‘ in many countries of the world especially the West . God plants a soul into the child at the moment of its conception and calls the soul back unto Himself at the time of the persons natural death. Termination of pregnancy is an evil act carried out in secrecy so nobody talks about it.
Even our religious leaders maybe are embarrassed to touch on this topic which is a stark reality. The article states that an NGO conducted this survey in certain states and possibly approached the economically weaker sections of society because there is great potential for this evil business to thrive if encouraged amongst illiterate and poor sections just like it happens in the West where all abortion clinics are located close by to poor neighborhoods. In certain places, some ‘medics without ethics ‘ are promoting these kind of surveys to increase their profits. The blood of the unborn and the old and terminally ill invalids being executed under guise of legality will cry to heaven for vengeance.
Allwyn N D’Souza, Saligao
Blow to the poor,middle class
The price rise in cooking gas has dealt a blow to the poor and middle class, who will now have to further tighten the belt, work harder and eat lesser. The price of domestic LPG has crossed Rs 1,000 per cylinder, while a commercial cylinder will cost more than Rs 2,000.
Leader of the opposition in Goa Assembly Yuri Alemao has stated that now even frying pakodas will be difficult for the educated unemployed! Food is a very basic necessity of life. The increase in cooking gas will have devastating consequence leading to malnutrition which is a silent killer and is not reflected in our much touted GDP. We may be the 5th largest by
GDP, ahead of many western nations, but if we divide the GDP by population, we nose dive to number 127; and that’s the real GDP. Our economy may seem to be booming, with exponential increase in millionaires and billionaires, but of the lower half of our population, nobody cares?
Robert Castellino, Calangute
Better days seem only like a mirage
This has reference to the report ‘Centre hike LPG price by Rs 50’ (O Herald0 2 March 2023).
Yet another gas cylinder price hike, well, we should have seen that coming. There have been repeated price hikes in the past and now, after a brief lull, the government has announced a steep increase in the price of LPG. While we are at it, the response of the Leader of the Opposition is apt when he says, even frying pakoras will be difficult for educated unemployed youth. On the one hand, the common man is faced with rising prices of essentials, while on the other hand, employment is a huge problem.
So, where are we heading? What better days can we expect? It seems like we are destined to live a miserable life unless there is a miracle. Perhaps, it makes better sense believing in miracles than on promises of Better days. Better days seems like only a mirage!
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Need for redistribution of wealth in nation
During his reply to the President’s address in Parliament, Narendra Modi came across as if he was speaking at an election meeting. Instead of replying to issues raised, he indulged in reciting the supposed measures that his government has done for the welfare of the people. Claiming that he has the support and confidence of 140 crore Indians which is clearly hyperbole since in the last Lok Sabha polls the BJP got just 23 crore votes. So Modi’s magnification is 6 times which can be applied to anything that he says. Thus by applying it, take only one-sixth and that too after further verification. He also said that India is the 5th largest economy in GDP terms in the world.
In this he is not wrong but the correct measure for a Prime Minister to look at is the per capita where India ranks 145th and on per capita in purchasing power terms the country’s ranking is a little better at 128th. The rich are getting richer in India with 1% owning 21% of the national income and 10% owning in excess of 50% while the bottom 50% contribute only 10%. In wealth accumulation since the 1990’s, the top 1% accounted for more than 38% of the new wealth with the acceleration mostly from 2020, coinciding with the start of the COVID pandemic, which trend reflects worldwide where the rich got richer during Covid. Thus there is an urgent need for the redistribution of wealth in India to make it more equitable.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz
Beware of heat waves
Heat waves are not new to India. Already, the Indian meteorological department (IMD) has forecast above normal temperature in northeast, eastern and central parts of India this summer. Lack of rains is said to be a precipitating factor for the possible heat waves between March and May.
Wheat cultivating farmers are advised to irrigate or initiate soil treatment to conserve moisture. Earlier, anything around 40 degree celsius was considered ‘hot’.
The new norm in India, in the coming years, may as well be 34 degree celsius to 35 degree celsius especially in selected cities along the coastal areas. Otherwise, a heat wave is that in which an average rise of at least 4.5 degree Celsius in normal temperature is seen.
A 6.4 degree departure in normal temperature forms a “severe” heat wave. Experts have said that unlike in the past, India is going to witness more frequent and severe heatwaves.
In the years to come, a two degree rise in temperature is expected to push the globe to thrice the normal exposure, and this phenomenon is likely to affect the south Asian countries more.
People need to remain aware of heat exhaustion, heat cramp and heat stroke — the three common heat conditions. From excessive sweating in mild forms, to absence of sweating in severe heat afflictions, symptoms vary.
Simmering heat, paucity of water and polluted air form a deadly triplet.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
