Chris Milton : Independent Journalist & Writer

Bucks Free Press

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NOTE: Pro bono PR contribution to childrens’ school.

The Ecologist

(Plain text version)

Indigenous medical practices, or folk medicine, are receiving welcome recognition from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India.

A programme worth over £4m has been launched to investigate the traditional health practices of over 130 minor tribes who live in small, local communities across central and north-eastern parts of the country.

These remedies are different to those which have gained wider credence such as Yoga and Naturopathy but are nevertheless recognised as a valuable pool of knowledge which is under threat from mainstream health practices.

Sanjeev K. Chadha, a director within the ministry, said: “Because of folk medicine practices, tribals in India have a very good immune system … there must be something good about these practices.”

An institute to study these ancient traditions has already been set up on land granted by the Government. Several branches are expected to open across the country at a later date.

The Ecologist

The next Malaysian General Election, anticipated in March 2008, has had democracy breathed into it in the state of Penang by the successful protests of residents against a development of 40 skyscrapers on land adjoining rainforests.

The state’s Chief Minister has been deluged with postcards and emails opposing the proposed “Penang Global City Centre”, which would undoubtedly herald an expansion of urban sprawl. In response he has instructed the planning application to be sent back for revisions.

Campaigners see this as a delaying tactic and are pressing for the entire project to be moved to a less environmentally sensitive site and for the social profile of the proposal to be made more inclusive. They are also demanding that the present site, currently a racecourse, be protected as a public open space.

Local elections have been suspended in Malaysia since 1964 meaning that issues such as this can only be aired when state and national elections take place. Ahmad Chik, one of the protest co-ordinators, said “This victory will, I hope, show to the doubters and fence-sitters that we can make a difference, if we speak out together with a loud voice.”