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| Sunday, 09 March 2003 |
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Letters |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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In last week's Sunday Observer an article on "over consumption and its detrimental effects" was published. It's no doubt a topical issue at a stage that "polythene" has become a formidable menace not only to our country but even to highly developed countries in the world. Despite the fact that the concerned authorities of the afore-mentioned developed countries have already taken legal and essential steps to overcome the problem, it's a matter of pleasure in the initiative being taken by Minister Rukman Senanayake to formulate necessary regulations to open our eyes to this rapidly growing plague though being late. I suppose a ban is a must at a phase that our duties and responsibilities have been completely forgotten. Anybody environmentally friendly except the personnels who may have an aversion to this step on their business purposes, will admire it. Anybody knows its tremendous and detrimental effects on environmental pollution and human/animal health. Upul Dhammika Is consumption of meat essential? - a response Dr. D. P. Atukorale in his letter (Sunday Observer), February 02, has come out with some interesting reasons as to why man was not anatomically and physiologically created to eat meat. I disagree with his flawed comparison. Dr. Atukorale started off by stating that vegetarians have healthier and longer lives compared to non-vegetarians. To support his claim, he goes on to say that there are roughly 9 million vegetarians in the United States. It deceptively looks like a very large number but when you consider the population, vegetarians represent less than 0.5% of the US, an insignificant percentage. The remaining 99.5% of non-vegetarians have made the US to be one of the healthier nations in the world. Dr. Atukorale also claims that India has the highest concentration of vegetarians. If so, why is India rated as one of the most malnourished nations in the world? According to United Nations Population Fund statistics, more than 30% of India's population is undernourished, compared to less than 10% in the US. It stands to reason that poor dietary habits coupled with poverty are the main causes. Therefore, vegetarianism does not automatically equate to good health. It can cause malnourishment too. Carnivorous and herbivorous are two extremes in a wide spectrum of eating habits in the animal kingdom. Between these extremes lie the habits of Omnivorous animals. Humans fall into this category and more. They have the capacity not only to select their foods but also to prepare and understand their dietary values. The power to reason and make choices is inherently a human trait. On the other hand, animal species do not possess those human traits - animals do not cook food like we do. They don't need to. Their physiological makeup does help them digest their food raw. Therefore, to compare human dietary requirements, eating habits and physiological makeup with animals is ludicrous. All the 15 reasons Dr. Atukorale had listed out to prove that humans are similar to herbivorous animals is an exercise in futility. One comparison I take offence is when he claims that meat eating animal pass putrid excreta unlike vegetarian animals whose excreta is not offensive. Therefore, Dr. Atukorale extends his comparative logic to humans: vegetarian's excreta is sweeter smelling than we meat-eaters! I am willing to accept his position if there is a research finding in human excreta smelling test. In the absence of any evidence, I am willing to volunteer myself to whoever has the courage to conduct such an experiment. The good doctor should know that God created all waste matters to smell distinctly different from one another. The animal kingdom and humans are not in competition to find who can produce the sweeter smelling excreta. If nature has made excreta smell sweeter, bees, like flies, will be swarming behind every animal and a simple satisfying everyday pleasure will indeed be a painful experience. The purpose why waste matter smell differently are many: it serves as markers for territorial animals, food for nature's clean-up crew like dung beetle and swine, help bacteria identify waste products and start the biological breakdown process working, as an identification marker for animals like dogs, etc. I have the good fortune to work for one of the top zoos in the US. My experience teaches me that the vegetarian Gorilla's excreta is more putrid than the meat-eating tiger. Even if we take an animal test and apply to human, Dr. Atukorale's assertion that carnivore's waste smells offensive does not hold true. Dr. Atukorale also illustrates by way of example why humans are different from carnivorous animals - humans sip water whereas flesh - eaters lap water. Therefore, he concludes that all humans are vegetarians by nature. This analogy is flawed. Like meat-eaters, cows lap water too. According to Dr. Atukorale, meat eating contributes to many diseases. It is not necessarily true. In the US, high coronary and other diseases are mainly caused by over indulgence, stress, pre-cooked foods, lack of exercise, etc., and not meat alone. Even alcoholism, a "psychiatric illness" according to Dr. Atukorale, is blamed on meat eating. If this is true, why are the Muslims, a non-vegetarian group, have the least alcoholic consumption per capita than any other religious groups? To blame it all on food rather than on the eating/drinking habits is stretching one's imagination a bit too far. Meat and fish are part of a healthy diet and so is vegetable. This is a basic dietary guideline issued by every nation in the world. To compare apples with oranges, and because of their dissimilarities conclude that apples are like pineapples, defies common sense. They are three different fruits each with their own unique qualities. Human, herbivorous animal, and carnivorous animal each got its own dietary habits. It's futile to compare them. Tuan Riza Rassool The gallows is reserved for only those who have taken human lives without any redeeming circumstances according to the law. The previous Government decided to reinstate the death penalty two years ago and the current Interior Affairs Minister has also realised the pressing need. With unanimity of the Government and the Opposition what is needed is action and not procrastination. Delay makes both sides responsible for the numerous killings in the country each day. The dithering of the previous Justice Minister is responsible for several hundred murders which could have been deterred by prompt action at that time. Every religion is based on the concept that good and bad deeds attract similar returns. No religion preaches against enforcement of law and order by the State. In fact it is considered a duty of the State. There are some who oppose capital punishment on grounds of Human Rights, "the Right to Life". Are these "Rights" reserved exclusively for murderers? Are there no such rights for their victims? Must the law abiding citizens of this country continue to be terrorised by thugs and murderers ? Even simple arithmetic justifies the gallows as murder victims far outnumber convicted murderers due to multiple murders as well as provisions of Criminal Law giving the benefit of any reasonable doubt to the accused. Human "Rights are for protecting the law abiding and not for protecting criminals from their just desserts. They talk of possible miscarriages of justice. There are at least three levels at which justice can be sought and if a miscarriage persists it has to be "God's Will", "Fate", or "Karma". Free legal aid I believe is available for deserving cases. This is a very fine sieve for any miscarriage to go through ! Criminal Law ensures that no Judge will condemn a man to death unless the case is proved "beyond reasonable doubt". Minister John Amaratunga has got the picture right. Now we look forward to implementation without being sidetracked by quiblers and prospective murderers. The law abiding people of this country will be grateful to him and the Government for the deterrent action to protect their lives. Lincoln Wijeyesinghe The dress code we follow has much to do with the community to which we belong. However, there is flexibility with regard to the choice of clothing worn by men and women in our country. A man may wear a loungi suit or the national dress and a woman may clad herself in a sari, a gown or any other attire that is customarily appropriate. A controversy had arisen recently because a school principal had made it obligatory for females to wear the sari to be permitted to enter the school premises. The reason behind this decision was to prevent females from wearing clothing that fiercely reveal their contours or expose too much of their anatomies. Why don't we also think that, as a rule, most of our females display a sense of modesty in the attire they choose to wear? The other category is a rare sight and, if they present a grave problem, it is best that we do not provide an audience for them. It would be better to give females, who are no doubt adults, a choice of what they should wear to school, due to practical considerations. In this context, if need be, they may be advised, without impertinence, to be mindful to safeguard the modest instincts of children at all times. E. M. A., A ragging incident was reported in a Kegalle school recently. This has spread from Colombo and Kandy to other parts of the country. A 15 year student, a newcomer, has been badly beaten up and harassed and injured and hospitalised. The culprits are reported to be in remand. In another incident reported from Kegalle itself from the Kegalla Vidyalaya where the students are reported to have gone to the house of a teacher and assaulted him for getting them expelled from the school. These boys too have been produced in courts and remanded. Ragging is going on unabated due to the inefficiency of the school heads and teachers. There seems to be no end to effectively control this indiscipline on the part of the students. Some teachers themselves are in toe with the culprits. What is the remedy ? - the big question is so far not solved. It is the opinion of the majority that harsh punishment should not be meted out unless as a last resort, after corrective action has failed. The students are still learning not only the subjects taught to them but also to be good and useful citizens of the future and the leaders of the society in which they are born. This problem existed and exists in all universities of the world and it will continue to exist as long as the university education exists or even primary or secondary education. It can never be completely eradicated. We have to make meaningful efforts to contain it, to the barest minimum level which should be decent and law abiding and peaceful. It has been proved that politics is the root cause of ragging. The only remedy seems to be for the clergy of all religions, the Prime Minister, the President, teachers and school heads and administrators to get together as one and help this problem or rather contain it to the barest and decent level which will not disturb the law and good manners of the society at large. Court action and punishments must be the last resort. V.K.B. Ramanayake Confusion over ethnic group - a response Apropos Sithy Iyne Weerasiri's letter of February 9, in the Sunday Observer she seems to request the readers to clear her confusion on the captioned subject. Various races follow different religions depending by and large on conviction or compulsion. The majority of Sinhalese in Sri Lanka are necessarily Buddhists and the rest follow Christian faith. But Muslims follow only Islam because 'Muslim' means one who chooses Islam as one's religion. As long as one is confined to Islam one's race remains a Muslim. No sooner a Muslim becomes a Buddhist one cannot be called a Muslim at any cost. Strictly there can be no exception in this matter. Ceylon Malays whose religion is Islam speak a different language but still they are Muslims by race. Since Buddhism is the religion of the major race (Sinhalese) the term 'Sinhala Buddhist' applies to them more appropriately. On the contrary, Sithy Iyne Weerasiri cannot be called a 'Muslim Buddhist' even considering her matrimonial somersault being the child of an orthodox Muslim Parenthood. It is a pity that Sithy Iyne Weerasiri should engage in the quest of her race since it is too late for this exercise. MOHAMMAD FAROOK, This is with reference to a reader's letter under the heading, "Confusion over ethnic group" that appeared in the Sunday Observer February 9. It is instructive to observe the term "Muslim" as used in Al Quran. For instance in Sura 22, Verse 78 it is declared as, "He (Allah) has chosen you believers - and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion: it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He (Allah) who has named you Muslim both before and in this Revelation that the Prophet (Muhammad) may be witness for and you be witnesses for mankind." As regards 'before' this is a reference, said to be to Abrhama's prayer which occurs in Sura 2 Verse 128: "Our Lord make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy will and of our progeny Muslims bowing to Thy will and show our places for celebration of our due rites." Similarly we find the word "Muslim" with reference to the disciples of Prophet Isa (Jesus) in Sura 3 Verse 52. When Jesus found unbelief on their part, he said, "Who will be helpers to work for Allah ? said he disciples: "We are Allah's helpers, we believe in Allah and do Thou bear witness that we are Muslims". Thus according to Al Quran all Prophets from Abraham to Jesus taught the religion of Islam - submission - and their followers were Muslims. As regards ethnic grouping, the following Verse from Al Quran may be cited as spelling its views: "O ! Mankind ! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into Nations and races and tribes, that you may know each other and not that you may despise each other. Surely the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most dutiful of you." Sura 49 Verse 13. It is stated that the brotherhood of man laid down in this verse is on the broadest basis. Mankind is described as members of one family and their division into nations, races and tribes should not lead to estrangement but to better understanding and knowledge of one another. Superiority of one over another, in this vast brotherhood does not depend on nationality, race wealth etc but on observance of duty or moral uprightness. M. Thoufeeq Hassan, I refer to the article by Prof. T.W. Wickramanayake (Professor Emeritus, University of Peradeniya) in the "Health Watch" of Daily News of January 24, on the above subject and a similar article under the heading "Cosmetic Surgeon and Nutrition Policy" in the Sunday Observer of February 9. I am purely a layman and do not wish to discuss the well intentioned contents of the articles on nutrition guidelines given. I have the highest regard for Prof. Wickramanayake's contributions on nutrition, but I do not agree with the reference to Reader's Digest. I quote "Many of the writers rely on information supplied to them by non-scientific publications such as Reader's Digest". I have been a reader of Reader's Digest for well over 4 decades and I do not think that the Reader's Digest gives the reading public any non-scientific information in these articles on "Food and Nutrition - a Health Update". It is also seen, similar articles are published even in the News Week and Time Magazine on Food and Health at times. For example the articles in the News Week of January 20, on the new research in the "food pyramid" is interesting. I am sure they are enlightening the public though we should not go by them when we have to get individual guidelines/advice on the nutritional requirements which may vary with each person's health status, age, sex and many other variables. On such occasions for individual consultation, I believe it is one's family physician or consultant who is the best guide. Finally I also like to request the professor to inform the reading public what his views are on nutrition and other health information which appear in local media such as Daily News and Sunday Observer which are also not scientific journals as much as the Readers Digest! Maj. Gen. M.T.W. Ponnamperuma (Retd) A consumer resistance movement necessary The absence of an active Consumers Resistance Movement is the main cause for the ever increasing prices of all consumable articles including the much needed infant milk foods and other essential commodities for the rapid growth of the future generations as it is beyond an average means. High quality, uniform standards of products is required with price modelling to accommodate the actual cost which combines the main reasons relating to a fair and affordable price structure. Thereafter modern and creative technique and new style requiring better understanding among customers in a localised manner are beneficial for the promotional aspect of both the entrepreneur and the consumers as well. In these circumstances all avenues of monopoly enjoyed by a single entrepreneur and suppliers should be eliminated to accommodate a fair and reasonable price structure and need a change in accordance with the consumer demand and prevent any exploitation by unscrupulous traders. Advertisement too form an integral part for the promotional aspect of marketing and sales target. But the competitive edge of a brand name and costly attractive packing and other various expenses matters nothing to the customers as long as the standard and quality equalises all norms of the requirement stipulated by the authorities concerned. In this regard I wish to quote the printed instruction thus read as "after opening transfer of contents to an airtight container and store in a cool dry place" on all the packages of a popular brand. Thereafter these highly expensive decorative packs are thrown into the garbage bins. There is also more news to all housewives that of a genuine effort by Laugh gas and another third commercial venture by Mundo gas to offer their respective gases at an affordable price and extend their cooperation to bring down the price of gas as against the monopolistic Shell gas. It is also understood that two more commercial ventures the Petronas of Malaysia and Caltex are on the news to join in and extend their cooperation to help the housewives a better deal by competing against the sky rocketing price of gas. M.I.M. Mudassir, Many people willingly donate to Cancer Hospital projects. Probably most of it is directed towards the buildings, equipment and drugs. On the other hand, the "living" condition of the patients is still very poor. A simple walk through the wards shows non-working fans, doorless bathrooms, oversized or undersized mattresses, worn out dirty linen and most of all, unloved (by their fellow human beings) patients. Except a few wards, others are in a very pathetic condition. The nurses do not have comfortable resting rooms. After all, these patients are suffering the worst kind of disease, most of them are dying. Many who come from far are not being visited by their family for months. The authorities probably can do only so much. But the Sri Lankan citizens who are well-known for their kind hearts, can do much to alleviate the suffering of these patients. If a group of people or an organization can adopt a single ward and attend to the electrical repairs, beddings, curtains and a few pictures may be to brighten up the wards, perhaps that will go a long way than all the chemotherapy and surgeries put together. More than that, if some kind souls can spare a day per month to visit them it can perform miracles! For a start Al Muslimaath has adopted the female wards and intend to do just that. If anyone is interested in contributing, please call 726392, Dr. Reffai, Al Muslimaath, Coordinator of the Maharagama Cancer Hospital Project. Dr. Mareena Reffai, |
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