Earth Equity News

India’s Environment Minister Called an ‘Eco-Crusader’ by Friends and Foes. By Katy Daigle, AP, 12/13/10. “India's environment minister has blocked the construction of mines, power plants and dams. He's held up a new airport and describes diesel cars as criminal. He's even taken Harry Potter to task for promoting threatened owls as pets. Just a year and a half into the job, Jairam Ramesh has turned a once-marginal Environment Ministry into a powerful gatekeeper on India's road to prosperity. He's been called an eco-crusader, a ‘Dr. No’ of development and even a buffoon, angering so many investors and politicians that there are constant rumors of his impending dismissal. But his tenacity has fuelled an environmental debate that many say is long overdue.”