Vehicular Emissions

Vehicular Pollution.

Environmental pollution & degradation is an issue that’s not being taken seriously enough. Though governments across the world are very much aware about it they aren’t really doing anything about it. Contrary to the general opinion, I do think that we still have time (very little, actually)and that we haven’t actually crossed the point of no return. As the saying goes, better late than never.
A good place for policymakers to start would be by targeting vehicular emissions.
As lifestyles improve radically, the number of private passenger vehicles on the roads has increased exponentially over the past few years. And luxury vehicles comprise a large part of this number. The figures are bound to increase further. I think this is an easily controllable/ manageable issue ,at least in terms of policy and implementation ,as opposed to infrastructure needed to tackle say , deforestation.
A number of steps govts could adopt are:
1) Encourage car-pooling by providing perks in terms of free car servicing, occasional gas vouchers or even special parking passes. Car-pooling could be a simple but very efficient means to cut down emissions as well oil consumptions.
And a good solution to those traffic congestions.
2) Okay, this ones gonna create a problem but hey, no pains no gains. Increase road tax and levy additional tax on luxury vehicles, using some sort of tiered system based on car model & fuel consumption ( the owners can very well afford it & besides they are the biggest oil guzzlers around.). This step will bring down the numbers and actually increase car- pooling.
3) This ones just based on plain optimism. Governments should make the public transport systems much more effective and passenger friendly, not to mention environment friendly. Citizens should be encouraged to use PT much more. All Govts should come up with MRTs (mass rapid transport ) such as metros, subways,etc
4) Last but not the least, newer technologies, like hybrid cars, should receive much more exposure , even down 2 grassroots level. This can done by better media coverage( at least in India) and reduction of prices. Governments should take initiative in ensuring that such technologies become easily available. While the Toyota Prius, for example, is in vogue in countries like the U.S, developing countries ( which, ironically, have the largest markets for vehicles) are not perceived as possible markets for such technologies. I don’t think labels are going to help anyone. Both the tech makers and govts need to join hands in this respect.

I think there should a mass movement on this issue. Apart from the policymakers, it’s up to us, the general population, to take an initiative.
So what are u waiting for?

Layman's Review of DB Books

I’m reading DVC for like the fourth time and each time I’m awed by the fact that Dan Brown has put together a near perfect novel. Ok so maybe some of the facts are debatable, but the book is still a breakthrough in terms of concept and the size of the conspiracy. The way he links little pieces of the jigsaw to give us the big picture is amazing.
But I really don’t know if the movie will be as good. I mean its gonna be tough to convey some of the stuff the way the book does. Ok I’ve always been biased against the screen versions of books but it’s not without reason. Look what they did to ‘Gone with the Wind’
I’ve also read his Angels & Demons, Deception Point and Digital Fortress.
Of these, A & D come a close second in my DB booklist. It lost out cos towards the end it becomes unbelievably dramatic, almost hindi filmy like. You’ll know what I mean if u have ever watched one. What I love about this one is the cool stuff about the elements and the placement of the clues.
Next comes Deception Point. It’s a pretty good read. Again we have a conspiracy of mammoth proportions. And again it begins to drag towards the end. But this one would make a pretty good Hollywood movie. Its satisfies all the criteria- beautiful people, romance, unlimited action (death and destruction), and most important of all, potential for jaw- dropping- million-dollar special effects.
Digital Fortress does not make it to my list. It’s incredibly (yawn). Hell, I don’t even remember what it was all about. I just remember checking the cover more than once to ensure that I was actually reading a book by Dan Brown. This book is easily his worst.

A coupla things about his books- they’re almost always set in a very short time period. About 24hrs.
And its always easy to guess who done it- suspect somebody totally out of the circle of suspicion. Admitted that’s the same with 90% of the stuff v read. Remember the author wants to shock you.

All said, I’m waiting breathlessly for his new book.