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warfare just as the remnants of water courses and irrigation systems speak of peaceable and prosperous times gone by. Bundelkhand suffers from manmade problems, starting with the government’s misplaced land and water policies that have worsened an already stressed climatic |
situation caused by prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall. Air dropping of ‘Prosopis juliflora’ seeds as a soil-conservation measure in the 1960s resulted in the plant becoming an invasive species that killed indigenous shrubs and trees, making the soft soils of |
the ravines leach water rapidly and turned vast areas into wastelands. Thoughtless promotion by the government of water-intensive crops like mentha (mint) encouraged richer farmers to dig deep tube wells while neglecting groundwater recharge, resulting in a disastrous lowering of |
the water table. Marginalised farmers, unable to afford expensive infrastructure and inputs, suffer as groundwater depletion adds to problems caused by the ancient rainwater storage and distribution systems going defunct. Drought is now a familiar spectre in this region and |
less than half of its one million hectare arable spread is now cultivable, causing distress to its mainly farming population of 50 million people. “What you have is very high water consumption in an area suffering from water crisis,” says |
Anil Singh, coordinator of Parmarth, an organisation working to revive traditional systems of water and cropping among marginalised communities that inhabit the ravines of Bundelkhand. In Tajpura village, as though in denial of Bundelkhand’s stark conditions, 36-year-old Mamtadevi, wife of |
Ajan Singh, serves up a meal of steaming hot chappatis (Indian flat bread) smeared with clarified butter, a cool, green salad and a dish of smoked brinjal, boiled potato, fresh tomato and green chilli. “That extra taste in the vegetables |
is because they are grown sustainably and without chemicals,” explains Mamtadevi. Ajan Singh and Mamtadevi were among the first to adopt Parmarth’s ‘low external input sustainable agriculture’ (LEISA) which is now standing them in good stead as rainfall becomes scantier |
and average temperatures rises. LEISA involves such practices as efficient recycling of nitrogen and other plant nutrients, managing pests through natural means, maintaining ideal soil conditions and ensuring that local farmers are aware of the environment and the value of |
preserving ecosystems. The soundness of this method shows in the freshness of Ajan Singh’s vegetable crops, in biodiversity conservation through the use of hardy indigenous seeds and avoiding chemicals for maintaining soil health. Ajan Singh is also able to beat |
the vagaries of the weather and this year’s drought, caused by failure of the monsoons, holds no great terror for him or for other farmers who follow LEISA. Bhartendu Prakash, steering committee member of the Organic Farmers Association of India |
(OFAI) and in-charge of its northern branch based in Bundelkhand, says the region was hit by frost last winter but organic farmlands using LEISA were the least affected. “I did not know this system previously. I would grow ‘gehu’ (wheat) |
and manage 200-300 kg on this same plot,” says Ajan Singh. Parmarth helped the community in contouring the lands for rainwater run-off and storage and constructed a well for irrigation. Its volunteers also taught farmers like Ajan Singh how to |
make vermicompost and set up pheromone traps to catch insects. Most farmers though, already had their own methods of making biopesticide – usually a mix of neem leaves and garlic soaked in buffalo buttermilk. “But before the pheromone traps were |
laid, the spraying had to be done once every three days, now once a week is enough,” says Mamtadevi. By 2009, the couple’s vegetables had such a reputation for quality that they sold at the local market 10 km away |
at higher than prevailing rates, earning them nearly 80,000 Indian rupees (then approximately 1,800 dollars) yearly. Three years later, Ajan Singh bought another ‘bigha’ (approximately 2.2 acres) of land. He now takes his produce to two markets and also sells |
milk from five buffaloes that he bought with his earnings. Fifteen more farmers from Tajpura are now following Ajan Singh’s methods. Along with this, the women of the community have banded together into self-help groups that maintain a savings and |
loan account to assist women find simple livelihood alternatives like livestock rearing. The women also run a grain bank that sells surplus grain in the open market and give grain free to distressed families in times of need. “We are |
now trying to link the community to government schemes wherever possible, such as obtaining sprinklers, and getting some benefit from the state-run Bundelkhand Relief Package which does help with drought-proofing,” says Anil Singh who works for Parmarth. Released in 2009 |
by the federal government, the package worth 1.5 billion dollars supports rainwater harvesting, proper utilisation of river systems, irrigation canals and water bodies over a three-year period. But Bundelkhand’s natural farming methods need to get more support as the funding |
period comes to an end. “Bundelkhand is too entrenched in northern Indian chemical farming methods,” says OFAI’s Prakash. In contrast, OFAI is deluged with requests for training in organic farming methods from farmers in Punjab and Haryana, the ‘mother zone’ |
of the so-called ‘green revolution’ that transformed agriculture in India after introduction in the 1960s. Rajesh Krishnan, campaigner for Greenpeace in India, is optimistic that the government will see the wisdom of promoting organic agriculture as a counter measure to |
the numerous fallouts of chemical agriculture that fuelled the green revolution. Krishnan is hopeful for the probable financing of sustainable agriculture in India’s 12th Five- Year Plan, due to be rolled out in November. Prakash is confident that sustainable agricultural |
Common Sense was first produced in Edinburgh in 1987. It offered a direct challenge to the theory production machines of specialised academic journals, and tried to move the articulation of intellectual work beyond the collapsing discipline of the universities. It was organised according to minimalist production and ed... |
was reproduced in small numbers, distributed to friends, and sold at cost price in local bookshops and in a few outposts throughout the world. It maintained three interrelated commitments: to provide an open space wherein discussion could take place without regard to style or to the rigid classification of material int... |
contemporary political climate; and to animate the hidden Scottish passion for general ideas. Within the context of the time, the formative impetus of Common Sense was a desire to juxtapose disparate work and to provide a continuously open space for a general critique of the societies in which we live. – May 1991 edito... |
in 1987 and ended in 1999 after the publication of 24 issues. Since then, a selection of articles from the journal have been republished in the book, Revolutionary Writing, and a few have been collected on libcom. Despite the journal’s significance in the development of open and autonomous Marxist critical theory, a co... |
source, until now. You can read how the digitising got under way and a few notes on the scanning process itself. The complete set of issues that were kindly donated by past Common Sense editors for the digitisation project has been deposited with the British Library for preservation. A further set is held by the Nation... |
Deductive versus Inductive Reasoning Noah D. Alper [Reprinted from Land and Freedom, March-April In his History of Civilization in England, Henry Thomas Buckle makes some interesting observations on the respective merits of the deductive and inductive methods of propagating thought in the development of civilization. I... |
out the facts which support it. In the inductive method we first select our facts and then seek to lead to the acceptance of the general conclusions or principles. Buckle says: "If we take a general view of those countries where science has been cultivated, we shall find that, whenever the deductive method of inquiry h... |
increased and accumulated, has never been widely diffused. On the other hand, we shall find that, when the inductive method has predominated, the diffusion of knowledge has always been considerable, or, at all events, has been beyond comparison greater than when deduction was prevalent. If, in any civilized nation, two... |
conclusion, and one of these men were to defend his conclusion by reasoning from ideas or general principles, while the other man were to defend his reasoning from particular and Visible facts, there can be no doubt that, supposing all other things the same, the latter man would gain most adherents. Facts seem to come ... |
are undeniable. Principles are not so obvious, and, being often disputed, they have to those who do not grasp them, an unreal and illusory appearance, which weakens their We find historically that the establishment of the modern inductive philosophy, with its varied and attractive experiments, its material appliances, ... |
the awakening of the public mind, and coincides with that spirit of inquiry, and with that love of liberty, which has been constantly advancing since the sixteenth century. . . . "In both cases [induction and deduction] there is no doubt a line of argument essentially ideal; just as, in both cases, there is an assembla... |
No method is pure, or stands entirely by itself. But inasmuch as, in induction, the facts are more prominent than the ideas, while, in deduction, the ideas are more prominent than the facts, it is evident that conclusions arrived at "by the former plan, will, as a general rule, obtain a wider assent than conclusions ar... |
plan. Obtaining a wider assent, they will produce more decisive results, and will be more likely to shape the national character and influence the course of national affairs." Buckle's penetrating observations may be taken as a guide to Georgeists in the dissemination of their principles. What is the Georgeist objectiv... |
abolish all forms of special privilege in order that an environment might exist in which the free enterprise system of production and distribution of wealth can operate. More specifically, it is to abolish all forms of securing public revenue save those which collect for the use of the community the publicly created re... |
about? We must secure favorable interest and decision on the part of a large majority of the people. We cannot hope to be the beneficiary of any dictatorship or of any totalitarian revolution. We must maintain and use the discriminating democratic processes. We must influence thought, difficult as that may be. We must ... |
The advice of Buckle comes in for consideration here. The Georgeist philosophy is adaptable to both the inductive and the deductive methods. But when we use the latter, we find that the statement of strong conclusions leads to antagonism toward them. Farther investigation is discouraged, and the prospective convert is ... |
if facts are presented first, people will listen. To many self-styled practical people, a principle, however sound it seems to be, is not a fact. A fact to these observers is a figure, a measurement, an example. Facts promote curiosity, interest, inquiry. Witness our ubiquitous radio quiz programs and pictorial "believ... |
was my pleasure and privilege to be associated with Judge Jackson H. Ralston of California during the years 1935-1938 in his gallant effort to secure the adoption of a strong application of Georgeist principles in that State. It is from this experience that I have arrived at what I feel is a pattern of activity which c... |
bring about the acceptance of our social and economic proposals. This pattern follows the principles of influencing thought presented by Buckle, making use largely of the inductive method, though not, of course, excluding use of the deductive. The great majority of the people must be made to feel that they will gain ma... |
is on the whole sound and just. Two propositions relating to our method of securing public revenue must be demonstrated factually so that they will be understood and accepted by the people. The first proposition is that the people, who should hold title to the land values of the nation, today hold little or no title to... |
is that a tax on the value of land, or a direct levy on the rent, must be paid out of the rent now collected by the present title holder, and that he cannot shift this charge to the people in higher prices or rents and so recover an equal amount for himself. Of course, during the process of education, |
the other points in the Georgeist theory must also be demonstrated. People must be made to" see that rent is the measure of communal privileges; that the economic activities of all who labor and spend contribute to the rent fund; that the taxing of land values and the untaxing of labor and industry will benefit all. Ho... |
to be accomplished? First, a study must be made of the land values in the community where the program is to be launched. This is a problem of research, of accumulating the facts in the given geographical area. They involve records, public sales, etc. -- facts that are familiar to people. During the Ralston campaign in ... |
was made. Because of data regularly collected, the problem in that state was not so difficult. Based on 1936 figures compiled by Prof. Alfred S. Niles, of Stanford University, it was found that over 50% of the state's land value was located in only three of the fifty-eight counties. The three counties were Los Angeles ... |
Alameda (5.78%). This left the vast remaining area of fifty-five counties with bat 47.01 % of the land values. In the city of San Francisco it was demonstrated that 3% of the city blocks contained over one-third of the total land value of the city. By a breakdown of the distribution of land values in this manner it can... |
shown where the land value is to be found. By studies of ownership of titles it can be shown what percentage of the property holders and what percentage of the total population control and enjoy the vast bulk of the rental income of the land. This is a matter of statistical effort and study which any Georgeist group th... |
for any sort of success in a political way must be prepared to make. Such facts as these the people can grasp. Further, they are facts which cannot be denied or argued by the land-title holders or their agents of agencies. Our second proposition must also be demonstrated -- the proposition that a tax on land values can... |
and that the net effect of the Georgeist proposal is to make land holders pay fairly and equally to the community for the privilege of holding land. Unless the idea of the non-shiftability of our method of raising public revenue is accepted by the majority of the people, we cannot hope to secure favorable action on our... |
another important point to be remembered in the planning of an educational program -- that is, its "timing." We lost the 1938 Ralston campaign in California, not because the methods used were unsound, but simply because we did not have the time or the funds to reach the people with our information. If any group of Geor... |
prepared or will one day be prepared for a political campaign, they must first and above all plan a long-range campaign of basic factual education. In far too many cases (perhaps in all cases, so far) the campaign method has never had a chance to succeed, because the correct sort of preliminary barrage of facts had not... |
and hence the ground was not prepared for political action. Although Georgeist campaigns have in the past failed, they have left us a precious heritage -- that is, anticipation of the probable line of attack on us by the opposition. Chief among the arguments used against the Georgeist proposal is that it will hurt the ... |
rents, and that it will ruin the fanner. Preparation against such arguments should be undertaken by dissemination of facts on the case, before any political action is undertaken. A campaign should not begin with a draft of an amendment or legislative enactment. Such an action will not only interfere with the preliminar... |
the opposition on the nature of the measure. It will place us at a disadvantage in the ensuing fight. The legislative draft, which is only able to incorporate principles, is about the last thing to be After the work of research, which is the first requirement in a Georgeist campaign, must come the work of publicizing t... |
attributes of the good salesman and advertising man, the radio quiz artist and the educators need to be brought into play to present the figures and facts to the people. During our California campaign, we held a meeting before the Pomona Grange, consisting of the Grange organizations of Shasta and Trinity Counties. The... |
those attending the meeting. The farmers of Trinity County were asked how much land value there was in their county. None of them knew. Then we presented the facts: The 1937 figures of the Controller's Report of California showed that there was $2,728,715 in land value in that county. Along with this figure we gave the... |
value of block 329 in the City of San Francisco. This small, triangular block of 1.54 acres had a land value of $2,766,020 -- more than all of Trinity County. The fanners of Shasta County were also asked about the land value in their county. They, too, did not know. The 1937 report gave Shasta County a land value of |
$12,166,890. It was shown that three large blocks between Third and Sixth Streets in San Francisco, some 17 acres, had a value of over $13,000,000 -- nearly a million more than all of Shasta County. Another presentation designed to attract attention might be in the form of weekly releases of the accumulated facts. In C... |
read: "Less than one acre of land under the Russ Building (in San Francisco) rents for $120,000 a year. This is paid to the title holder for .99 years. It would take 120 men, working eight hours a day, making $1,000 a year, to produce wages or salaries equal to the wealth taken by the title holders to this land |
each year. Here is a measure of the value of privilege and the value of wages." All the channels of publicity can be used in distributing the facts. If this policy were carried on continuously for a period of time without any concrete political proposal, it is of course to be expected that the enemies of the "to be pro... |
measure would in time suspect the situation. But in the face of indisputable facts, they would be at a disadvantage as compared to their position if a legislative amendment were first drafted. Sooner or later, in the course of the educational campaign, the question of the non-shiftability of the land value tax will hav... |
arguments can be used. It might be started on a quiz basis, a series of questions, such as the following: If the community increased the tax on the value of a vacant lot, could the owner shift the tax or would he have to pay it himself ? To whom could he shift it ? If the supply of vacant |
lots for sale or rent increased, due to a tax on land value, would their price go up or down? If a man is getting all the land rent he can for the use of a certain piece of land, could he collect more if the taxes on his rent were increased? If he could increase his rent, would he |
wait for the tax in order to do so? If a tax on land values can be shifted, why do landowners oppose it so strongly? A carefully prepared campaign, planned to run over a period of several years, could become more specific as the time came to launch a definite proposal and the actual campaign. Until some definite propos... |
made, the opposition would be at a great disadvantage. If they attacked in advance of a definite proposal, it would have to be over fundamental principles, the facts being indisputable. Of course, Georgeists would welcome such an attack. If it did not come, the Georgeists should even provoke it. The best thing that can... |
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) offers some advice for safely handling food when you’re dining outdoors this summer: Warm weather brings a bounty of fresh produce, and a trip to the local farmers market can make a nice addition to your outdoor meal. Food safety starts in the field. |
It’s important to get to know the growers selling produce at your local farm stand, and ask about their farming practices. How do they keep their products free from bacterial pathogens and other contaminants? Farmers may also have great tips for storing produce, testing for ripeness and even ways to |
prepare the fruits and veggies they sell. IFT spokesperson and food safety expert, Don Schaffner, PhD, says that when you’re purchasing produce, make sure it’s free of mold, bruises or blemishes where bacterial pathogens can grow. Many grocery stores offer freshly cut, packaged produce for customers seeking nutritious ... |
Freshly cut vegetables and fruit need proper temperature control to prevent the growth of bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Before preparing food, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Make sure all prep utensils such as cutting boards, dishes and countertops are clean |
before preparing each food item. Dirt, dust and pathogenic microbes can linger on produce. It’s important to wash fresh produce before consuming it. The only exception is are pre-bagged salads and leafy greens, as experts advise that additional washing of ready-to-eat green salads is not likely to enhance safety. Thoro... |
washing in cold water will suffice for most fruits and vegetables, but some types of produce require special handling. Wash spinach or salad greens in a bowl of water and rinse them gently to remove dirt and other contaminants. Give extra attention to fruits with stems, such as apples, pears |
and peaches. You may be tempted to forego washing fruit with a rind, since you won’t be eating the rind. But, it’s still important to wash oranges, avocados, melons, cantaloupe, etc. – pathogens can linger in unwashed crevices and transfer to your hands or the knife you use to cut |
the fruit. In addition, wash items you’ll peel – such as carrots and cucumbers – for the same reason. If you’ll be grilling at home, remember to always marinate meat in the refrigerator, never on the kitchen counter or outdoors. Discard any extra marinade that’s touched raw meat. Grill food |
thoroughly, using a thermometer to ensure the proper internal temperature: 145 F for steaks and fish, 160 F for pork, hot dogs and hamburgers, and 165 F for poultry. Keep finished meats hot until you serve by moving them to the side of the grill rack, away from the coals |
or highest flame on your gas grill. Avoid cross contamination by using separate serving plates and utensils for different meats and vegetables. If you’ll be grilling away from home – in a park, tailgating at a sporting event or on a camping trip – consider purchasing pre-formed patties for burgers |
and pre-cut poultry. This minimizes the amount of handling meat requires and can help minimize the risk of bacteria and cross contamination. A picnic in the park can be great fun for everyone, but it’s important to assure your food arrives safely along with your family and guests. Follow smart |
food packing guidelines. Keep meats, including lunch meats and raw meats, cheeses and condiments cold in insulated, soft-sided bags or coolers with freezer gel packs. Food needs to be stored at 40 F or colder to reduce the risk of pathogen growth, so limit the number of times you open |
the cooler. Never allow food to sit for more than two hours at temperatures below 90 F, and no more than an hour when temperatures exceed 90 F. Throw away food that’s been sitting out too long. Securely package raw meat, seafood and poultry to ensure the juices don’t contaminate |
other foods. Pack only the amount of perishable food that you think will be eaten. Beverages and perishable foods should travel in separate containers and coolers, especially if you’ll be transporting raw meat. When it’s time to go home, don’t reuse packaging material that has touched raw meats or meat |
You must read through the US Public Health Service Policy and the National Academy of Sciences Guide to understand animal care and use. Notice that the Guide closely follows the Policy and extends it in some ways. The Guide is an interpretation and commentary on the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use o... |
the the authoritative regulatory document on this subject. As a practical matter this orientation will concentrate on the Guide. The Guide makes relatively easy reading of the more fundamental documents: the Federal statutes and USDHHS policies and other materials from which much of The Guide is composed. Many of these... |
below. The second thing to notice about The Guide is that it is NOT comprehensive. One must use other documents and resources to answer questions and devise protocols for the use of laboratory animals. Agricultural animals, microscopic animals, and alternatives to using animals are not covered in any depth or with the ... |
RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1842. The structure and distribution of coral reefs. Being the first part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of Capt. Fitzroy, R.N. during the years 1832 to 1836. London: Smith Elder and Co. REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed for John van Wyhe 2002, further corrections 2003, ... |
3.2007. RN3 See an introduction by Gordon Chancellor. See bibliographical introduction by R. B. Freeman. The copy scanned was kindly provided by The Earth Sciences Library Cambridge. STRUCTURE AND DISTRIBUTION STRUCTURE AND DISTRIBUTION BEING THE FIRST PART OF THE GEOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE, UNDER THE COMMAND ... |
DARWIN, M.A., F.R.S., F.G.S., NATURALIST TO THE EXPEDITION. Published with the Approval of the Lords Her Majesty's Treasury. SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. PRINTED BY STEWART AND MURRAY, I SHALL have occasion, in many parts of the following volume, to acknowledge the valuable information I have received from sever... |
Captain R. Moresby, I.N., who conducted the survey of the Red Sea, and of the archipelagoes of low coral-islands in the Indian Ocean. I beg, also, to be permitted to return my best thanks to Captain Beaufort, R.N., for having given me free access to the charts in the Admiralty, as well as to Captain Beecher, R.N. for m... |
aiding me in consulting them. My thanks are likewise especially due to Captain Washington, R.N. for his invariable desire to assist me in every possible manner. Having in former publications had the pleasure of acknowledging how much I owe to Captain FitzRoy, for having permitted me to volunteer my services on board H.... |
giving me assistance in my researches, I can here only repeat my obligations to him. The materials for this volume were nearly ready two years ago; but owing to ill health, its publication has been delayed. The two succeeding Parts,—one on the volcanic islands visited during the voyage of the Beagle, and the other on S... |
as they can be prepared. 2nd May, 1842. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. In the several original surveys, from which the small plans on this plate have been reduced, the coral-reefs are engraved in very different styles. For the sake of uniformity, I have adopted the style used in the charts of the Chagos Archipelago, publis... |
from the survey by Capt. Moresby and Lieut. Powell. The surface of the reef, which dries at low water, is represented by a stippled surface with small crosses: the coral-islets on the reef are marked by small linear unstippled spaces, on which a few cocoa-nut trees, out of all proportion too large, have been introduced... |
The entire annular reef, which when surrounding an open expanse of water, forms an 'atoll,' and when surrounding one or more high islands, forms an encircling 'barrier-reef,' has a nearly uniform structure, and has been tinted, in order to catch the eye, of a pale brownish-red colour. The reefs in some of the original ... |
single line with crosses, so that their breadth is not given; I have had such reefs engraved of the width usually attained by coral-reefs. I have not thought it worth while to introduce all those small and very numerous reefs, which occur within the lagoons of most atolls and within the lagoon-channels of most barrier-... |
or are attached to the shores of the reef or land. At Peros Banhos none of the lagoon-reefs rise to the surface of the water; a few of them have been introduced, and are marked by plain dotted circles. A few of the deepest soundings are laid down within each reef; they are in fathoms, of six English feet. Fig. |
1.—VANIKORO, situated in the western part of the S. Pacific; taken from the survey by Capt. D'Urville in the Astrolabe; the scale is ¼ of an inch to a geographical mile; the soundings on the southern side of the island, namely, from 30 to 40 fathoms, are given from the voyage of the Chev. Dillon; the other soundings ar... |
down from the survey by D'Urville; height of the summit of the island is 3032 feet. The principal small detached reefs within the lagoon- channel have in this instance been represented. The southern shore of the island is narrowly fringed by a reef: if the engraver had carried this reef entirely round both islands, thi... |
leaving out in imagination the barrier-reef) as a good specimen of an abruptly-sided island, surrounded by a reef of the fringing class. Fig. 2.—HOGOLEU, or ROUG, in the Caroline Archipelago; taken from the atlas of the voyage of the Astrolabe, compiled from the surveys of Captains Duperrey and D'Urville; scale 1/20 of... |
the immense lagoon-like space within the reef is not known. Fig. 3.—RAIATEA, in the Society Archipelago; from the map given in the quarto edition of Cook's first voyage; it is probably not accurate; scale 1/20 of an inch to a mile. Fig. 4.—BOW, or HEYOU ATOLL (or lagoon-island), in the Low Archipelago, from the survey ... |
1/20 of an inch to a mile; the lagoon is choked up with reefs, but the average greatest depth of about 20 fathoms, is given from the published account of the voyage. Fig. 5.—BOLABOLA, in the Society Archipelago, from the survey of Capt. Duperrey, in the Coquille: scale ¼ of an inch to a mile; the soundings in this and |
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