Skip to main content

Modi "must persuade" US president Donald Trump to reconsider America's negative stance on Paris Agreement

Counterview Desk
Mahesh Pandya of NGO Paryavaran Mitra, Ahmedabad, has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to pursue President Donald Trump to reconsider America’s stand on Paris Agreement during his forthcoming visit to the US. Text:
Paryavaran Mitra is a Gujarat-based voluntary organization working on socio-environmental issues since 1997. Our organization is active in bringing awareness in matter of environment and climate change issues and imparting education for the same.
At the outset I wish to congratulate you and wish you a successful mission on your forthcoming tour of America. In particular I appreciate your bold decision to accept the invitation of President Donald Trump despite his severe criticism of India and China while pulling out of Climate Change commitments. The whole world has condemned the unwisely step of Mr. Trump. Your visit is seen beneficial to both the larger democracies of the world in solving many bilateral and international issues including terrorism.
I was happier to note the response that you and the foreign minister gave about India’s role in protecting the environment, in the backdrop of President Mr Trump’s decision. I myself have witness your stand in COP21 in which you made it very clear to the world at number of occasions India’s concern and commitment towards environment and climate citing examples of Vedas and its deep religious affinity to the natural world. Moreover you have expressed India’s firm resolve to continue working... above and beyond the Paris accord."
As you know, in view of Trump’s backing out, the leadership has fallen on nations like India, China, France Germany, Brazil and England. Not only that, he also named India and China among key reasons for his decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement. Mr Trump has said that “India would get billions of dollars for meeting its commitment under the Paris Agreement and it along with Beijing would double its coal-fired power plants in the years to come, gaining a financial advantage over the United States.”
You are one of the few political leaders, besides Al Gore, to write a book on climate change which shows your concern, knowledge and commitment towards the global challenge of climate change. The world looks with high hopes from you to perform the leadership role and provide guidance.
At the onset of your visit, I take this opportunity to place two requests before you:
  1. You may please realize Trump and the whole world that India is most concerned and committed towards climate change control and without anyone’s aid India will abide by its commitments and responsibilities. 
  2. My second request to you is to use your good office in perusing President Trump to reconsider America’s stand of pulling out of the agreement by withdrawing his decision.

Comments

TRENDING

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

'Anti-poor stand': Even British wouldn't reduce Railways' sleeper and general coaches

By Anandi Pandey, Sandeep Pandey*  Probably even the British, who introduced railways in India, would not have done what the Bhartiya Janata Party government is doing. The number of Sleeper and General class coaches in various trains are surreptitiously and ominously disappearing accompanied by a simultaneous increase in Air Conditioned coaches. In the characteristic style of BJP government there was no discussion or debate on this move by the Indian Railways either in the Parliament or outside of it. 

Why convert growing badminton popularity into an 'inclusive sports opportunity'

By Sudhansu R Das  Over the years badminton has become the second most popular game in the world after soccer.  Today, nearly 220 million people across the world play badminton.  The game has become very popular in urban India after India won medals in various international badminton tournaments.  One will come across a badminton court in every one kilometer radius of Hyderabad.  

Faith leaders agree: All religious places should display ‘anti-child marriage’ messages

By Jitendra Parmar*  As many as 17 faith leaders, together for an interfaith dialogue on child marriage in New Delhi, unanimously have agreed that no faith allows or endorses child marriage. The faith leaders advocated that all religious places should display information on child marriage.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Ayurveda, Sidda, and knowledge: Three-day workshop begins in Pala town

By Rosamma Thomas*  Pala town in Kottayam district of Kerala is about 25 km from the district headquarters. St Thomas College in Pala is currently hosting a three-day workshop on knowledge systems, and gathered together are philosophers, sociologists, medical practitioners in homeopathy and Ayurveda, one of them from Nepal, and a few guests from Europe. The discussions on the first day focused on knowledge systems, power structures, and epistemic diversity. French researcher Jacquiline Descarpentries, who represents a unique cooperative of researchers, some of whom have no formal institutional affiliation, laid the ground, addressing the audience over the Internet.

Article 21 'overturned' by new criminal laws: Lawyers, activists remember Stan Swamy

By Gova Rathod*  The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Gujarat, organised an event in Ahmedabad entitled “Remembering Fr. Stan Swamy in Today’s Challenging Reality” in the memory of Fr. Stan Swamy on his third death anniversary.  The event included a discussion of the new criminal laws enforced since July 1, 2024.

Hindutva economics? 12% decline in manufacturing enterprises, 22.5% fall in employment

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The messiah of Hindutva politics, Narendra Modi, assumed office as the Prime Minister of India on May 26, 2014. He pledged to transform the Indian economy and deliver a developed nation with prosperous citizens. However, despite Modi's continued tenure as the Prime Minister, his ambitious electoral promises seem increasingly elusive. 

Union budget 'outrageously scraps' scheme meant for rehabilitating manual scavengers

By Bezwada Wilson*  The Union Budget for the year 2024-2025, placed by the Finance Minister in Parliament has completely deceived the Safai Karmachari community. There is no mention of persons engaged in manual scavenging in the entire Budget. Even the scheme meant for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers (SRMS) has been outrageously scrapped.