The Ganges River ecosystem is facing many challenges. The population around the river is growing quickly, and the pollution is bad. Their sewege is dumped directly into the river. 80% of the pollution in the river is urban waste, and 60% of that comes from near a city called Varansi. To ease the pressure on the rivers ecosystem a fund of the R’s 12.22 crore has been set up under the Jawaharla Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Due to the polluted water maney people die each year from drinking straight from the Ganges river. The rivers ecosystem and unplanned tourism can and will have a disastorous impact on the cultural carrying capacity of the cities along the river and the rivers ecosystem if this pollution is not stopped. A link is here. To go to the article click here.

India’s Hindu extremists have attacked women, and Muslims, but now they are rioting against the popular silent film star, Charlie Chapman. Hindus in the southern state of Karnataka are fiercely against the construction of a 67 ft tall statue of Mr. Chapman for a film shoot. Extremists are arguing that Charlie was a Christian and made no contribution to India and that putting up a likeness of him would be extremely disrespectful to the religion and the country. These same radicals have attacked women, storming into a bar and accusing them of “debauched behavior” because they were drinking and smoking. On valentines day, they threatened to take any couple that showed themselves in public straight to a church where they would be forced to get married. Many people have said that these extremists are acting like Afghanistan’s hardline rulers, that may be part of the reason that dozens of people have now offered up their private land for the statue. So even though Hindu radicals think Charlie Chapman hasn’t benefited India, obviously some Indians are a fan of his work.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jfkOfvbAgzaLSit_kRv9NXKyIIZA

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/03/16/arts/peeptue.php