The graphic that begins this essay is horrifying and says everything about the decay of a quiet, green, temeperate city into the chaotic horror show that it is today. My grandfather retired and settled in Bengaluru (formerly known and Bangalore) in the 1950s. I have spent many of my holidays during the 50-70s in the city along with a brood of 18 cousins of varying ages. The disaster started in the late 70s when the IT industry decided that this was where India's Silicon Valley would be. What followed is a horror story of urbanisation. It can take 2 hours or more to go from one area of the city to another. Still, there are 2 lovely nature preserves that have resisted all this madness: Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park.
As usual, amazing work Jayshree. I’m never disappointed, never bored, always rewarded when I find the time to read any of your posts. This issue is serious, everywhere, but few view it as such until it bites them in the ass…literally.
For this reason I recommend the amazing book “No Beast So Fierce,” which discusses this very issue in its Indian infancy in relation to the Champawat tiger, shows how urbanization not only led directly to the deaths of over 430 Indians, but inspired other tigers, leopards, and wolves to kill as well.
The surprising thing to me is the Climate Change activists clamoring to plant more trees, stop using fossil fuels and go all electric using renewables(which cannot be done without fossil fuels). It is plain to see that where energy has become hyper expensive and scarce, people will denude woodlands to have fuel to cook meals, heat bath water and keep their family warm in the winter. Where have all the trees gone becomes a moot question. Let's remember too, that carbon in the atmosphere is not a toxin to plants or a significant cause of any world-wide temperature change. My area was powered by a clean burning coal-fired plant. Never an odor, only the slightest white plume from the tall chimney tower. They used scrubbers to filter out pollutants. But then they switched to cheaper, cleaner and more plentiful natural gas. But our President shut down the new pipelines on day one of his presidency in a fit of Climate Change madness. Our electric bill is very much higher now. I smell more wood smoke now in my neighborhood. People are burning firewood.
The graphic that begins this essay is horrifying and says everything about the decay of a quiet, green, temeperate city into the chaotic horror show that it is today. My grandfather retired and settled in Bengaluru (formerly known and Bangalore) in the 1950s. I have spent many of my holidays during the 50-70s in the city along with a brood of 18 cousins of varying ages. The disaster started in the late 70s when the IT industry decided that this was where India's Silicon Valley would be. What followed is a horror story of urbanisation. It can take 2 hours or more to go from one area of the city to another. Still, there are 2 lovely nature preserves that have resisted all this madness: Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park.
Sorry missed this comment earlier! Thanks for sharing Arjun. It is true, once no ac was needed, and here we are 90 degree weather in early feb.
Jayshree, I wish the world rejuvenation. D
Seconded.
It is so important to retore green area wherever possible around the world.
Agreed, Pamela, it is sad to see a concrete jungle in most cities these days.
It certainly is.
Wow, that is a crazy transformation - and all within my own lifetime. Thank you for sharing.
Agreed, I was surprised to see it too. Thank you for the feedback.
As usual, amazing work Jayshree. I’m never disappointed, never bored, always rewarded when I find the time to read any of your posts. This issue is serious, everywhere, but few view it as such until it bites them in the ass…literally.
For this reason I recommend the amazing book “No Beast So Fierce,” which discusses this very issue in its Indian infancy in relation to the Champawat tiger, shows how urbanization not only led directly to the deaths of over 430 Indians, but inspired other tigers, leopards, and wolves to kill as well.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks Jack, great hear feedback as always, and the book sounds interesting - I shall put it on the list.
The surprising thing to me is the Climate Change activists clamoring to plant more trees, stop using fossil fuels and go all electric using renewables(which cannot be done without fossil fuels). It is plain to see that where energy has become hyper expensive and scarce, people will denude woodlands to have fuel to cook meals, heat bath water and keep their family warm in the winter. Where have all the trees gone becomes a moot question. Let's remember too, that carbon in the atmosphere is not a toxin to plants or a significant cause of any world-wide temperature change. My area was powered by a clean burning coal-fired plant. Never an odor, only the slightest white plume from the tall chimney tower. They used scrubbers to filter out pollutants. But then they switched to cheaper, cleaner and more plentiful natural gas. But our President shut down the new pipelines on day one of his presidency in a fit of Climate Change madness. Our electric bill is very much higher now. I smell more wood smoke now in my neighborhood. People are burning firewood.
Hi Dale, but this is due to development companies tearing down green areas to build offices, buildings etc, without replacing the green zones.