Bihar’s SIR exercise is a threat to right to vote — across India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ies2OcDnaFc Jul 16, 2025 Indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/yogendra-yadav-writes-bihars-sir-exercise-is-a-threat-to-right-to-vote-across-india-10126554/ While the relief signalled by the Supreme Court in its hearing on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar can only be welcomed, it carries a serious risk of distracting us from the real issue. Our focus may be diverted to the inclusion of Aadhaar, on revising the impossible timelines of this exercise and on the ground reality in Bihar. Once on the voters’ list, a name cannot be removed without the proper process. Finally, as Ornit Shani’s celebrated history How India Became Democratic shows, the making of universal franchise required the ECI to take unusual steps. Over the years, the ECI has gone out of its way to evolve protocols for the inclusion of “liminal” citizens who may have been left out in any routine, bureaucratic exercise: Nomadic communities, homeless persons, sex workers, transgender persons, orphans, undocumented citizens and non-resident Indians.
In this interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ies2OcDnaFc , Yogendra Yadav highlights the TDP's concern about the citizenship issue and the potential exclusion of disadvantaged communities. He argues that the revision threatens the universal adult franchise and the inclusive practices established over 75 years. Yogendra Yadav cites the "logic of encompassment" and the importance of substantive citizenship. He predicts the Election Commission will release favorable statistics and anticipates a Supreme Court hearing on July 25, 2023, which could impact the revision's future.
“Tourists go home”: Inside the angry protests on Spain’s holiday islands The Guardian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWmwGnfOKVI Jul 15, 2025 CANARY ISLANDS
In scenes echoed across southern Europe, Spain’s Canary Islands are suffering from a crisis of too many tourists – 18 million are projected to visit in 2025.
On Tenerife, where tourism accounts for 35% of the economy and which draws the largest number of mostly British holidaymakers, it is tourists, not immigrants, who are seen as a threat to local identity. As protests across the Mediterranean continue, local people vent their anger at an exploitative, extractive and unsustainable tourism model. But is it still possible to change course, and are political leaders listening?
Atul S on Whatsapp :If the economy of these islands largely depends on tourism, then why are the local people then revolting against tourism ?
When the canary islands get 18m tourists annually, why are local residents becoming increasingly homeless and living out of their cars despite having a full-time job ?
Who is really benefiting from the mass tourism? These protestors are not against tourism, they are against a particular type of tourism (unfortunately the most widespread form) which benefits only corporations, government at the cost of local community, culture and environment.
Sustainable tourism, diversified economy, eco-friendly constructions is what they are asking for. More power to such citizen-led movements around the globe !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWmwGnfOKVI
Manas :One idea is to give tourism development in the hands of local specially formed community bodies. If not, the Municipal or panchayat bodies need to have special cells. The forests, parks, monuments, bazaars, and food will do better with local stewards. I have heard of another town in Spain, allowing only a set number of people entering. earlier they recorded 10000+per day, disrupting the locals everyday life and making amenities unaffordable. They now have curbed it to 800. Many tourism spots in India, especially in the hills are extremely vulnerable.
GAIA IS CALLING: LET'S RESTORE THE PLANET TOGETHER https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/gaia-calling-lets-restore-planet-together-rob-de-laet-pw94c/
https://www.coolingtheclimate.earth/