Here is my purpose of writing on this blog: It is my plea to everyone to act responsible.
Before we make harsh judgments or act hasty to make our opinions, before we plant our beliefs in any idea, let us make sure we’re going in the correct, responsible direction – unless your purpose is to go in the wrong direction intentionally.
So far in my articles I have voiced my opinions and beliefs. I do not wish to influence my reader, I wish him/her to question. Just as there are two sides to a coin, there are two sides to our personalities, so there are two sides to every issue we see and hear and read about in the news. I want my reader to recognize this. This is important, because the media and Internet are our main connections to the world beyond our homes, offices and family and friends. It is our right and it is our duty to ask for correct information from those who have taken up the responsibility of providing us with the information. And if they fail to do so, it must be labeled as a crime, for misinformation can be dangerous. We could act on misinformation such that it could hurt an innocent person/s.
Right now, there are two issues that interest me greatly: agriculture and energy. There have been important developments as well as deterioration in these fields in India. Whether it is new agricultural technology, ban on the use of certain pesticides, nuclear power plants. These fields are very important for their contribution to our economy and development as a nation. Therefore these issues must be taken seriously.
Now how can one take these issues seriously when he/she has no technical knowledge/training in these fields? We would rely on news papers, news channels, certain important figures/organizations, internet searches… On several occasions in the past as well as recently we have seen/are seeing numerous controversies on issues that are related to agriculture and energy. Certain NGOs and media say this is bad for human health and the environment, while at the same time certain industrialists and government parties oppose this view point. Both the parties conduct studies and publish reports that will have figures and equations and what not to support their own stand, and that a layman may not understand neither be interested in. What the layman will do is that he will skim down to the conclusion and on those basis he will form his opinion.
Another role plays here as well. Our previously formed notions on things, such as NGOs and environmentalists are good, while industrialists and the government is corrupted. Such as organic and green is good, chemicals and technology is bad. Solar power is good, nuclear power is bad. Good and Bad. This goes deeper, it hits our sentiments and emotions. We become vulnerable to our informers.
But yet, we haven’t forgotten, there are two voices giving us contradictory views, one is right and one is wrong, and ultimately there is a law body protecting us and bringing justice to us. But what do we do when this legal body that makes the judgments that are directly or indirectly going to affect each one of us, is not equipped well enough? When there is not a single law in our country that can punish one that commits the crime of publishing fraudulent science? Should we stay quiet and continue to believe popular opinions that can possibly be based on a fraud report? While the truth remains uninformed or misread, or perhaps twisted and broken? Should we continue to be misinformed? This is my question. Or should we act responsible, fight for our right to be informed correctly? Fight for the establishment of a law that can punish fraudulent science?
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