Editorial - "Right to Live v. Right to Know" in the 15 September 2008 issue of LAW ANIMATED WORLD, Vol. 4, Part 2, No. 17

RIGHT TO LIVE V. RIGHT TO KNOW

That the entire biomass in this static-dynamic cosmos (akhila charaachara viswam loni samasta praanikoti) is to be viewed with due care and respect is our ancient wisdom, occasionally noted but often flouted. We humans acted with impunity and cruelty to cause extinction of innumerable biospecies. Our superiority complex as also the arrogance about the uniqueness of our intelligence leading to novel scientific, techonological advances and tamperings with nature are some main causes; and the same now drive us toward a perhaps inevitable danger of annihilation. In our thirst for knowledge and greed for power we have split the atom, generated vast energies, committed genocides as also created dangers of a nuclear holocaust. Now we are on the brink of creating black holes, which Dr. Otto E. Rössler fears may eat up our entire earth in a matter of years if we are unable to cope with them – all this in the name of the biggest scientific experiment in world history to know the secrets of the universe. Are we unwittingly behaving like ‘Bhasmaasuras’? Doubts crop up though the spirit of enquiry tends to belittle all that as mere gibberish. Dr. Rössler and others have even approached the European Court of Human Rights, saying: “CERN itself has admitted that mini black holes could be created when the particles collide, but they don't consider this a risk. [But] … it is quite plausible that these little black holes survive and will grow exponentially and eat the planet from the inside. … We submitted this application to the ECHR as we do not believe the scientists at CERN are taking all the precautions they should be in order to protect human life." Not only the human but the entire earth should be protected. Hitherto, we are accustomed to respect the right to know as an integral part of the right to life, but now comes the juncture of a calamitous conflict between it and the very right to live. Let us hope the time has not completely run out and human wisdom prevails in the end to thwart any possible dangers to our geo-bio §§§

Edtorial 31 August 2008 typing mistake regretted

In the editorial of 31 August 2008 issue of LAW ANIMATED WORLD, posted on this blog [as also in the printed version of the newspaper), a material mistake occurred: It was typed: WOLD, instead of WORLD. We very much regret the mistake and request the readers to read it as WORLD. The title of the Editorial is: 'ONE WORLD, ONE DREAM'. - I.M. Sharma.

Editorial, 'One World, One Dream', in 31 August 2008 issue of LAW

LAW ANIMATED WORLD
A world law fortnightly published from Hyderabad, India.
Editor: I. Mallikarjuna Sharma
ADVISORS: Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal (INA Colonel), V.R. Krishna Iyer, O. Chinnappa Reddy, B.P. Jeevan Reddy (Former Judges, SC), P.A. Choudary (Former Judge, APHC), Surendra Mohan (Ex-MP), Prof. R.V.R. Chandrasekhara Rao (Politics), Umesh Chandra (Senior Advocate, Lucknow), Ravi Kiran Jain (Senior Advocate, Allahabad), Colin Gonsalves (Senior Advocate, Delhi), K. Subba Rao (Senior Advocate, Bangalore), K.G. Kannabiran (Senior Advocate & National President, PUCL), Ms. Chandan Ramamurthi (Advocate, S.C., Delhi).
Volume 4: Part 2 31 August 2008 No. 16

‘ONE WOLD, ONE DREAM’

The world’s gala sports feast of peace, harmony and progress came to a joyous end amidst great pomp and ceremony on 24 August 2008 with Liu Peng, President of the Chinese Olympics Committee, declaring that this 23-day sports festival conducted in the spirit of ‘One World, One Dream’ has achieved the objectives of unity, friendship and progress. Truly, China with the successful organization of this mega event has come of age as a leading power of the world, and has done entire Asia proud by topping the list of gold medals, the first since many decades for any country other than the USA. In contrast, we, the second most populous country in the world, could bag just three medals in all, and have much to learn and imbibe from our efficient neighbour in this regard. The Olympics were memorable for the spirit of friendship and amity displayed by the competing teams from >200 countries all over the world, and happily not marred by any terrorist attacks or ugly demonstrations. The IOC President Jacques Rogge congratulated China for ably conducting the Games and lauded the participants: “You have shown us the unifying power of sport. The Olympic spirit lives in the warm embrace of competitive rivals from nations in conflict. Keep that spirit alive when you return home.” That was in obvious reference to the unforgettable hugging by Natalia Paderina of Russia, the Silver medalist, of Nino Salukvadze, the Georgian bronze medalist, in 10 meter air pistol shooting, despite then raging war between Russia and Georgia, with Natalia remarking that ‘sports is not politics’ and Nino responding saying ‘politicians should straiten out the situation’. We too hope and wish this friendly spirit prevails over the undesirable enmities raging in the world today, and the belligerent powers realize the futility of, and give up, the old imperialist or aggressive policies and strive for One World of peace, unity and human welfare instead §§§