Chris Milton : Independent Journalist & Writer

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.”

The Ecologist

Plan Text Version:

Only a few years ago, stories about Whole Foods Market became famous for their poetic quality as journalists waxed lyrical about how the fresh, organic fruit in any of their stores was proof that you could be a successful business while remaining environmentally friendly. However, last year sustained questioning by consumers and regulators saw the shine come off the company’s glossy image.
Most revealing of all the company’s CEO and Founder, John Mackay, was investigated for unethical behaviour after he was exposed posting investment advice on the internet under a pseudonym, talking his company up and attacking its main competitor Wild Oats. What made this all the more shocking was that at the time Wild Oats was the subject of a takeover bid by Whole Foods Market, leaving Mackay open to accusations of market rigging and fraud.
The company finished the year in a less than happy state of affairs. In the US its share price plummeted amid revelations it was refusing to support a scheme to raise migrant agricultural workers out of conditions likened to slavery. In the UK, despite the 2004 purchase of the Fresh & Wild chain, the company’s new European flagship store in Kensington struggled to draw customers and became embroiled in accusations that it had avoided paying for work permits by claiming American nationals were entering the UK solely to attend meetings.
The revolution, it would appear, is complete. What was once just another small, local natural foods retailer with a conscience has become just another multi-billion dollar corporation abandoning sustainability in order to satisfy a master on Wall Street. How did it all go wrong? (more…)