By: Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur 

Coal is an unforgiving servant as it exacts its proverbial ‘pound of flesh’ from its masters.

To begin with, mined coal needs to be washed of impurities which produce a fantastic amount of coal sludge (slurry) that in turn needs a dam for storage. This sludge contains mercury, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, nickel and selenium, all harmful for people and ecology. Little wonder that people affected by the dam now being established near Ghorano village in Thar are vehemently but futilely protesting.

By: Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

Coal is an unforgiving servant as it exacts its proverbial ‘pound of flesh’ from its masters.

To begin with, mined coal needs to be washed of impurities which produce a fantastic amount of coal sludge (slurry) that in turn needs a dam for storage. This sludge contains mercury, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, nickel and selenium, all harmful for people and ecology. Little wonder that people affected by the dam now being established near Ghorano village in Thar are vehemently but futilely protesting.

After creating so many hazardous toxins during mining, coal doesn’t become benevolent, rather it becomes more vicious, especially when used in power plants. Coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels. Per kilogram, it produces the least amount of energy and the most amount of pollution.

By: Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

The present situation in Balochistan is critical in the political context which is naturally overshadowed by an armed conflict that has ebbed and flowed in different periods but never seen a complete victory of either side. This situation has now become critical as both sides struggle hard for political and military gains. The Baloch armed might is naturally no match in a head on battle for the organized and well oiled machinery that Pakistani army is but the very fact that they have not only survived but continue to inflict losses speaks volumes for the Baloch peoples’ ability and determination for achieving their political goals.

Words are craftily used to obscure issues and mislead people. People unnecessarily killed are palmed off as ‘collateral damage’ and death squads are conveniently termed as ‘patriotic elements’ by Pakistani generals in 2011.

‘Masses are known to have wrought miracles in history;
nothing is beyond them’.

No entity, group, nation or state whatever the basis for its creation or existence can have priority over the intrinsic rights of the people it integrates to itself for supposedly higher and noble aims. Imposition of languages, culture, ethics and values however lofty in the eyes of the imposer cannot be justified on any grounds be they religious, social, economic or political. Such unjust impositions will always be the cause of the myriad problems that will face them at every turn and will keep cropping up with increased vigour and frequencies with the passage of time because of the incompatible and uncharacteristic nature their association.

By: Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

Recently the ‘Sindh Writers and Thinkers Forum’ in Karachi arranged a dialogue on ‘Internationalism and nationalism’’ after a debate in Sindh in which some people equated nationalism with fascism. I was invited by friends and I expressed my views and the piece below was the basis of my talk.

http://balochistantimes.com/is-nationalism-fascism/