Global warming

Our beautiful planet is in peril. And we. humans, are to be solely blamed for this. We are destroying the planet that God has given us. We all can contribute to save the planet Earth from losing its life. This is the time and we all should work right now! We should remember that the survival of our future generation depends on us. Here are some of the things which we all can do. You can pass on these tips to your friends and relatives as well:

1) Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket.

You'll save 1.000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple action. You can save another 550 pounds per year by F setting the thermostat no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit

2) Use less hot water.

It takes a lot of energy to heat water. You can use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead (350 pounds of carbon dioxide saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year), instead of hot

3) Turn off the electronic devices you' re not using.

Simply turning off your television, DVD player, stereo, and computer when you're not using them will save you thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

4) Unplug electronics from the wall when you're not using them.

Even when turned off. things like hairdryers, cell phone chargers and

televisions use energy. In fact, the energy used to keep display clocks lit and memory chips working accounts for 5 percent of total domestic energy consumption and spews 18 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere every year!

5) Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (efl).

CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

6) Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner.

Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

7) Keep your car tuned up.

Regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. When just l%of car owners properly maintain their cars, nearly a billion pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the atmosphere.

8) Buy fresh foods instead of frozen ones.

Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.

9) Avoid heavily packaged products.

You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut down your garbage by 10%.

10) Eat less meat.

Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they

exhale with every breath.

Minhaj Ahmed.

Uttara, Dhaka

Structured questions

The decision ot introducing structured questions at the SSC level from 2010 is a laudable initiative indeed. Thanks to the education ministry for arranging meetings with eminent academic personalities to share and exchange views, opinions & recommendations prior to commencement of the system.

Needless to say, a country's prospect of prosperity largely depends on an efficient educational system.

Md. Mahfuzur Rahman

Core Network Engineer Celtel-Malawi

Welcome news

The statement of the Bangladesh Chief Adviser's Press Secretary that the government is likely to begin the much-awaited formal dialogue with the political parties in the first or second week of May is highly welcome news for the entire region of South Asia as much as Bangladesh, because despite all its faults it has been well established that democracy still remains the best form of governance found so far and certainly much better than any dictatorial venture.

Dr.Nu tan Thakur

Secretary. IRDS

Lucknow (UP)

Elimination of rickshaws

I noticed a few letters on this subject recently. Before rickshaws can be eliminated it is necessary to make all roads pedestrian friendly and safe, so that it becomes a pleasure to walk short distances without falling into open manholes or being tripped over by uneven pavement surface. At night the pavements should be well lighted. Maybe the rickshaw pullers can take over the manual work of main -taining such pavements. Buses and other forms of transport would then only be necessary for commuting between localities which can also be served by the proposed underground system. So, safe and easy "pedestrianisation" of all roads (non trunk) should be adopted as a policy for Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh as in most of the developed countries.

Engineer Shafi Ahmed

London. UK

"Selective load shedding"

I fully agree with the views expressed in Mohammed Alauddin’s letter published in your daily on 24/04/08 under the above heading. It is true that some posh areas in Dhaka are getting preferential treatment in case of load shedding. In spite of promises by BPDB, their website is still not carrying the daily schedule of load shedding. This prior notification will also save us from many hazards like being trapped in the lift etc. Is it to avoid being caught for the selective load shedding to keep some quarters happy? It shouldn't be selective.

If the problem is shared by all. then nobody will feel discriminated against.

PriangkaTalukder Lalmatia, Dhaka

Cherie Blair and we

The recent comments by Cherie Blair regarding our depocracy, I think, were totally out of place. She told the reporters that Bangladesh was not going to be another Myanmar and that Sheikh Hasina's trial would follow the due course of law. Whatever my personal opinion regarding the present government may be, I totally fail to see the point of her remarks, unless of-course as the spouse of a former British premier, she has Hillary Clinton inspired objectives.

I hope she did some background research on Bangladesh before she flew in. The people arrested and incarcerated so far read like a formidable who's who of Bangladesh's politics and the related dynasties. Does she realise how much popular support that 1/11 (the day the caretaker government took over in 2007) had? The fact that I am sitting in my office without electricity for hours at a stretch and living in a city that is the second most polluted in the world is definitely a reflection on our so-called democracy. This has happened because these "Ladies of the Durbar" failed to do anything except patronizing their own cronies!

M.K.Aaref Gulshan 2 Dhaka

BB's decision

I found the report on BB's decision not to disburse home loan to govt, employees in your Star Business page. I was disappointed. I was waiting eagerly to have the loan. I told my wife and children that I should avail myself of this loan to buy a flat at Dhaka. We were never told that the govt, employees would be out of the Tk.300 crore home loan scheme. So. may I request the BB authorities lo reconsider the decision.

Md. Idris Hasan Madartek. Dhaka

Why carbohydrates only?

It's encouraging that our nation, present CFG and the media arc interested in potatoes. If we don't want to be tunnel visioned wc should think collateral. What about protein consumption? During the 1960’s, an average Bengalee took 85grn protein daily, now they are takingbelow 50grn.

So please don't be obsessed with carbohydrates only. That's a good and cunning distraction! A national policy with a mission is needed, rather than the "potato-hypnotisation".

NIPSOM or nutrition related govt organisations and NGOshave done little about it so far.

Dr Mohammad A Karim GP.Australia

Loadshedding

People are suffering due to acute load shedding all over the country. We are fed up with daily load shedding in this hot weather. The HSC candidates are the worst victims. Their exam is knocking at the door.

The decision makers should show due sensitivity to the matter Nurnobe

Dept, of Bengali literature CU

Malaria

Malaria, a disease without borders, is preventable and treatable. However, it needs a bolder commitment from donors and member states if it is to be brought under control.

Malaria remains a major health problem in the South-East Asia region with 83% of its population at risk. There are an estimated 20 million cases and around 100,000 deaths occur each year from malaria in the region.

"Today we have powerful new tools and effective models of control, which are critical in our approach to tackling this disease. But financial resources need to be mobilised and political commitment to addressing this disease needs to be solidified. A lackadaisical attitude to this health issue will not lessen _the current ,disease , burden," said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South East Asia marking the first World Malaria Day.

Populations particularly susceptible to malaria include those who live in urban slums, the poor, ethnic groups, mobile populations, young adults and border communities. In South-East Asia, where some of the most devastating resurgences of malaria have occurred, the disease continues to pose a serious threat to public health. Much of the malaria in this region is transmitted by forestdwelling vectors, making vector control extremely difficult and also leaving large infected populations beyond the reach of basic health infrastructure.

Malaria is endemic in all the countries in the South-East Asia region except the Maldives, and the situation is becoming increasingly difficult to control. This region also harbours two main malaria parasites, the deadly Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, which is notorious for causing relapsing episodes. In addition to damage to health and well-being, malaria adversely affects economic development particularly the livelihood of the poor.

Intensified efforts by member countries, international agencies.

partners and donor agencies are urgently required to tackle this problem.

Bobby Ramakant

One-mail

Poor show

We knew that Pakistan were going for a 5-0 whitewash. We also lost the only 20-20 match. It was a great shame for us and for our nation. Because we are no longer a new cricket playing country.

Milon Das

BBS(Hon's)

Govt. City College Chittagong

Sale of pirated books

Barua's report from Chittagong on the matter in your issue of April 24 saddened me. True, it deprives the government of revenue in terms of import duties and VAT etc. However the really deprived are the poor, even middle class students, the vast majority whose need for reasonably priced books have been severely undermined - given the prohibitive prices of original prints! This is an area where a lenient approach from the authorities would be really beneficial for a large majority of students, who depend on pirated books for higher and technical studies!

For example; the price of an original Nestler's "Atlas of Human Anatomy" will be a four figure amount in taka, whereas a pirated copy can be had for a few hundred taka--the price depending on the quality of copying of the print and illustrations! How many middle class medical students can afford the original one?

This is a subject, where I strongly believe that the authorities as well as all concerned (including press reporters) follow the golden saying; "See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil" for the greater good of all. I hope our authorities too will appreciate this viewpoint.

SA. Mansoor

Pirate print reader. Dhaka

Politics

As the election date is nearing our politicians are becoming as active as they were during the pre-one-eleven times. As a mlirk of their "hyper activity”, some politicians are demanding resignation of the present CEC who, according to them, is not impartial and is not working in the way these politicians want him to work. According to them, this CEC took about a year to make a voter list which a former CEC could do in one day!! The former CEC. a trusted man of the politicians, defying the HC order corrected the voter list in less than a week's time all over the country. What a fast man he was!! But the demand for resignation of that CEC was very strong The whole nation was looking at him but he did not bend although he was illegally holding two positions concurrently, violating the public service rules. He brought the nation almost to the brink of a civil war.

The demand for resignation of the present CEC is different. The people are not against him because he has made a genuine voter list and national ID, talking to all the political parties and creating a congenial atmosphere for a free, fair and credible election. So. this time the demand will not draw public support. The politicians who arc demanding the resignation of the CEC are known to the public. The people now know the true colours of these politicians.

We, the poor people of Bangladesh, would therefore request the politicians to cooperate with the CEC for a good election. The present government should also think of providing security. While the outgoing British High Commissioner was talking about lifting of emergency rule, he tacitly mentioned about security of people too.

Shafiqul Islam

One-mail

China foreign minister We do not know how the government would evaluate the visit of China Foreign Minister. We hope this would not empower the government to change its course from road to democracy to road to Burma!!

We only hope that China's hands of friendship would be extended to our people to achieve those basic goals of democracy and good governance.

We will have to wait and see who benefits from the visit of China's Foreign Minister to Bangladesh-the people or the government? We know that the people and the government are inseparable. But the question arises when the government is not elected.

A reader

On e-mail

Adieu, Anwar Chowdhury

The first time I met you at the French Embassy on Bastille Day soon after taking over your assignment in Bangladesh, I spoke to you in Sylheti & asked if you could speak & understand Sylheti . Your reply to me at that time was 'thura, thura'.

Well. I. like many locals, have been watching you, not 'thura, thura' but quite intensely for the last four years. After that cowardly attack on you at Hazrat Shah Jalal's Dargha in Sylhet, hardly anyone to my knowledge expected yob to ever return to Bangladesh on recovery to carry on with your duties. But I bad a strong belief that you would -because, for me, it was the question of the pride of the Sylhetis.

Lots of people said & may still say that foreign Embassies/ Ambassadors/High Commissioners should not meddle in our internal affairs. I will not go into that. But what I saw in you was a resolve to do something constructive & fruitful for Bangladesh-as a patriotic Bangladeshi would do - no matter what your nationality is.

I wish you great success in life; and. at the same time, your successor a very happy & prosperous stay. Ashfaque Chowdhry Banani. Dhaka