Editorial, "MAY DAY AND WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY," in Vol. 17: Part 1, No. 9, 15 May 2021 issue of LAW ANIMATED WORLD.

 MAY DAY & WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

May Day, the international labor day, arising out of the sterling sacrifices and noble ideals of the Haymarket Square labor martyrs of Chicago in the 1880s – most of us know now, but many of us may not know about the World Press Freedom Day celebrated on 3 May every year, pursuant to the Windhoek Declaration formulated in a seminar held by UNESCO at Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, from 29 April to 3 May 1991 and gradually accepted by most of the countries in the world.  The United Nations General Assembly in December 1993 proclaimed the 3^rd of May as World Press Freedom Day, thus embodying the proposal made by the Windhoek seminar participants and taken over later by UNESCO's General Conference. The Windhoek Declaration underscored that “consistent with article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the establishment, maintenance and fostering of an independent, pluralistic and free press is essential to the development and maintenance of democracy in a nation, and for economic development.” And Article 19 of UDHR reads: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” It was clarified in the Windhoek Declaration that “2. By an independent press, we mean a press independent from governmental, political, or economic control or from control of material and infrastructure essential for the production and dissemination of newspapers, magazines and periodicals” and that “3. By a pluralistic press, we mean the end of monopolies of any kind and the existence of the greatest possible number of newspapers, magazines and periodicals reflecting the widest possible range of opinion within the community.” It was also noted in the declaration that “5. The worldwide tendency towards democracy and freedom of information and expression is a fundamental contribution to the fulfillment of human aspirations.” Truly, “the Windhoek Declaration is the African contribution to the edifice of human rights.” Both these Days remind us of the enormous importance of the basic rights of labor and the freedom of press for the general welfare and equitable development of the peoples. Particularly, in the current Covid-19 crisis days, with governments all over the world acquiring a whole lot of powers, and with some even neglecting/abusing them leading to lakhs of avoidable deaths even, these occasions offer us an opportunity to dedicate ourselves to, and strive to protect and promote, these essential liberties. §§§

Editorial, "SECOND WAVE OF CORONA: STUDENTS’ EXAMINATIONS," in Vol. 17: Part 1, No. 8, 30 April 2021 issue of LAW ANIMATED WORLD.

SECOND WAVE OF CORONA:

STUDENTS’ EXAMINATIONS

Unexpectedly for most of us, but also as a shock to experts as also central/ states’ governments’ leaders, never sufficiently cautious/efficient in Covid-19 management, the second wave of Corona has smashed on ‘we the people’ with the force of a nuclear explosion! We had one full year of preparatory and remedial processes to combat Corona, yet failed to create sufficient infrastructure to cope with this killer disease – no construction of emergency hospitals, nor any adequate storage of Oxygen and lifesaving ventilators etc. In contrast, when Covid-19 first hit the Chinese people in Wuhan in January 2020, how quickly they built the Huoshenshan Hospital with a 1000-beds facility (in just 10 days)! Today China is almost free of Corona but the rest of the world, we Indians all the more, are suffering – even America that still peaks in persons affected/ patients dead is recovering but in our case much worse is now feared. By May ending we may even cross the American tally. Well, our governments have so many powers under colonial and post-independence laws that, given the requisite will and determination, it is not difficult to use those appropriately and bring the situation fully under control. The Epidemic Diseases Act empowers the governments to take all emergency measures to control and suppress such vicious epidemics; all the lockdowns, social distancing norms, curfews etc. have been ordained with these powers. The Supreme Court also suggested that governments explore all possibilities and make use of these powers to quickly suppress this pandemic. And so, States’ Governments also have heavy responsibilities; in fact they are to be the field warriors in the battles against this pandemic. But, it is quite regrettable that, in this delicate situation, the Government of Andhra Pradesh is adamant on conducting the SSC and Intermediate examinations despite furious protests from the students, their parents and people at large, which measure can turn out to be a super-spreader, putting the lives of the students and through them the entire people to the great risk of an enormous health disaster. It seems the High Court of A.P. too has seriously suggested to the State Government to think of postponing or cancelling the examinations, especially as the CBSE exams, as also the Board exams in several states, were also cancelled/postponed due to this menace. Hope at least now the Government of A.P. will reconsider and save the people of Andhra, and India, from any such calamity. §§§

Editorial, "WEST BENGAL ELECTIONS & MODI’S BANGLADESH TOUR," in Vol. 17: Part 1, No. 7, 15 April 2021 issue of LAW ANIMATED WORLD.

WEST BENGAL ELECTIONS &

MODI’S BANGLADESH TOUR

Elections in this eastern State play a critical role in redrawing the political map of that traditionally left and centre dominated State with the rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party now making piercing inroads into the seething socio-economic milieu there. Placed in a crucial geostrategic position, and given its historic traditions and its great contributions to the cause of Indian freedom struggle, the state of West Bengal holds a key position and the outcome of the elections there can be a game changer for the country’s immediate future even. We know that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mamta Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, are at loggerheads with each other on almost all main issues of our socio-economic, political development and, though once allies there, have now become bitter rivals. The election campaign and the polling going on there, strangely in eight phases, are marred by intense emotions, name-calling, and even violence and anarchy at some places. The Chief Minister herself complains of a sordid physical attack on her and moves along with her leg bandaged in the election campaigns but, of course, the rival parties pooh-pooh it as just another election gimmick. In this background it seems the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh Liberation have come as a big aid to the Prime Minister Modi and he rushed to this first ‘foreign’ tour in a year or so after the Corona crisis onset. He talked there of his participation in the struggle to aid Bangladeshi freedom struggle even – this heckled by the opposition leaders as mendacious boasting. However, this editor feels there is no need to taunt the PM on this point since it was certainly probable that he could have participated, as an RSS activist, in the then Jana Sangh/RSS organized demonstrations, courted arrest/suffered short imprisonment. Well, Modi’s tour also seems to have been stained by Islamic fanatics’ demonstrations/riots in Bangladesh too, but that can certainly have some sympathetic impact on the Hindu voters of Bengal and Assam who are not happy with the intrusions/settlement of lakhs of illegal immigrants in their States. This editor always held that country more dangerous to the interests of security and integrity of our country, than Pakistan, and also opines that strict action should be taken against the illegal immigrants to West Bengal or other regions in our country. Let us hope and wish the present tenacious situation and acerbic campaigns there would not further deteriorate but the people would be more cautious and considerate in exercising their choices. §§§

Editorial, "TO TAKE A JAB OR NOT?," in Vol. 17: Part 1, No. 5-6, 15-31 March 2021 special issue of LAW ANIMATED WORLD.

TO TAKE A JAB OR NOT?

Nowadays this seems to be a most worrying question to rational thinking persons the world over, watching all the ‘hulla’ (uproar) the pharma industry and the governments making in favor of hastily manufactured Covid vaccines touting them as a panacea in the current circumstances. Even the World Health Organization declares, “The world is in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic. As WHO and partners work together on the response ...... are racing to develop and deploy safe and effective vaccines. // Vaccines save millions of lives each year. Vaccines work by training and preparing the body’s natural defences – the immune system – to recognize and fight off the viruses and bacteria they target. After vaccination, if the body is later exposed to those disease-causing germs, the body is immediately ready to destroy them....” But one wonders how and why such fast-tracking of vaccine-production is permitted at all when usually their manufacture-cum-approval take 7-20 years. Certainly the vast profits accruing to the Pharma industries are a main factor with even Bill Gates being alleged to have made billions in this business and a Korean executive, Jerome Kim, Director General, International Vaccine Institute, stated that “Investment in vaccines is investment in the future,” and “Investment in vaccines can bring a 16-fold return, and $1 investment can result in $16 in saving through disease prevention.” Those who doubt this ‘distilled wisdom’ are branded as conspiracy theorists and some spirited anti-vaccination activists (e.g. Dr. Bradstreet and Brandy Vaughan) in America die in suspicious circumstances with their deaths passed off as ‘suicides’! Brandy had founded a “non-profit organization LearnTheRisk.org [countering] the pharmaceutical industry's agenda to make and keep people sick for profit ...” and declared: “In addition to pharmaceutical drugs and medical error, vaccines are put into the mix. Vaccines do not create immunity, they create customers. It’s the best business model in the world. ...There are multiple toxic ingredients in vaccines... [that]create health issues that in turn create customers. / The best defense against disease is a healthy, strong immune system, not overloaded with toxins from food, water, air, and pharmaceutical products.” She had left a sort of a dying declaration even: “If something were to happen to me, it’s foul play and you know exactly who and why – given my work and mission in this life.” Then, whistleblowers like Dr. Roger Hodkinson (a Canadian top pathologist and expert in virology), even go to the extent of saying that the COVID-19 pandemic is the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on an unsuspecting public.” And now some deaths have also been reported due to the side effects of these vaccines the world over and the AstraZeneca vaccine is barred [paused] in several European countries. This editor tends to agree with the anti-vaccination advocates, advises caution but, of course, notes that the final decision is for the readers’ rationale; all the while emphasizes that such vaccination, in any case, should not be mandatory. §§§