2014 September 21 « Dr Alf's Blog

English: Image of Narendra Modi at the World Economic Forum in India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Worldwide Renewable energy, existing capacities, at end of 2008, from REN21.http://www.ren21.net/globalstatusreport/g2009.asp Total energy is from BP Statistical Review.http://www.bp.com/statisticalreview (Photo credit: Wikipedia

This is a very interesting article from National Geographic. I recommend it for a read. Check it out!

via India’s Push for Renewable Energy: Is It Enough?

Personally, as I read this article, I thought of Europe and the misguided policies of the European Commission. I was reminded that the EU has a strategy for renewable energy but does not have an effective energy strategy. There is nothing wrong with the green argument for cleaner energy but it must be balanced by pragmatism and cost-effective energy, with security of supply.

Reading the National Geographic article, it is abundantly clear that India is not doing enough to save the planet. However, with large numbers of people still without electricity in their homes, and regular blackouts, India has an energy crisis. To me, Indian Prime Minister,

Narendra Modi, is playing with energy, granting modest extra budget to renewable energy but not really changing matters. I fear that Modi may be like a political butterfly, going front issue to issue. Sadly, without properly articulated vision, carefully costed and risk-assessed policies, and effective, coordinated strategies, Modi is likely to fail – this will be a failure for Modi, India and a clean planet.

As an expert in delivering strategic change, I would recommend that India takes two actions. Firstly, create a Crisis Manager for Energy, reporting into Modi’s government. Secondly, like the European Union, India urgently need to commission a properly risk-assessed effective energy strategy.

Thoughts?

European flag outside the Commission (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Gordon Brown (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dr Alf is right about foreign correspondents and newspapers being able to put their finger on an issue with their external perspective as the Japan Times has done vis-a-vis Gordon Brown’s intervention in the Scottish Referendum campaign.

Gordon Brown did re-energize the “No” campaign which was lacklustre and cowed at grass-roots level by intimidation, bullying, social media insults, particularly on Twitter and disrupted by the BBC who were deliberately partisan and failed to put forward the key facts about the Barnett Formula.
Gordon Brown as Prime Minister was pugilistic, ill-tempered and dishonest but in the Prime Ministerial debates was lacklustre.

This time round he was the reincarnation of his late father a stern Calvinistic preacher thumping his Bible and delivering the threat of fire and brimstone to his flock unless they resumed the path of righteousness.

What was not mentioned, of course, is the bribe that encouraged Scottish pensioners and those that have continued to benefit from English largess, to come forward on their zimmer-frames , walking sticks and mobility scooters and vote “No”.

Not only do the Scots get to keep the Barnett Formula worth £3,500 gbp a head, not the £1300 gbp quoted by the BBC, but they also get free tuition fees, free prescription charges, free Adult Social Care, the lion’s share of EU budget rebates in Regional Selective Assistance or whatever it is now called, more money for the NHS, and now more tax raising powers, the retention of their own Parliament and more say over their own affairs.

The bribe was enough to get people thinking about what they might lose but Gordon Brown tipped them over the edge and through his intervention caused Alex Salmond who “peaked too early” to resign.

John Gelmini