Aug 16-31, 2021 - Vol 2, Issue 4
INDIA NEWS
EDUCATION
India News-JGU-IAIE SMART program JGU has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Australia-based INDIA NEWS and Institute for Australia India Engagement (IAIE) to create opportunities for students to undertake internships in Australia. With INDIA NEWS and IAIE students will participate in the Student Mentoring and Research Training (SMART) program over a period of 1-2 months. As a part of the internship students design, edit and publish this page which contains commentaries by them on issues which they deem relevant for Australia-India relations. Page Editor: Ms. Anushka Saxena, Lady Sri Ram College (graduate), New Delhi Associate Page Editor: Ms. Vaibhavi Nagar, JGU Commentators: Mr Dhruv Kumar Jha, Ms. Harshita Calla, Ms. Sumedha Maheshwari, Ms. Sri C. Khyati Reddy, Mr. Shivam Shukla and Ms. Tanya Goel ( JGU students and graduates) Note from the Page Editor: As the page editor for the 28th issue of India News, and as an outgoing intern in the IAIE-JGU SMART programme, it is my profound pleasure to share diverse ideas and brief commentaries from our SMART interns. SMART Programme has proved extremely beneficial to all of us, and enriched our knowledge on strategic analysis, higher degree research and leadership challenges. We are thankful to Dr. Ashutosh Misra, the editor-in-chief for providing the space to write and publish in India News and IAIE, and also enriching our pieces with his inputs and fine editing. Also, our sincere thanks to Prof C. Raj Kumar, VC of Jindal Global University and Prof Shaun Star for creating this internship opportunity for us all. We wish the SMART program, IAIE and India News all success for the future.
The Great Barrier Reef Harshita Calla
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he Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is located on the north-east coast of Australia, off the coast of Queensland. It covers an area of 348,000 square kilometres. Its unique ecosystem earned it the title of a World Heritage Site in 1981. When it comes to biodiversity, GBR has one of the richest, most organic and complex ecosystems on earth. It comprises the world’s largest collection of corals (over 400 types), 4000 types of molluscs, and 1,500 species of fish. The beauty of the GBR can be fully captured from an aerial view, and it is the only living structure visible from outer space. An aerial view would reveal mosaic patterns of reefs and a seascape panorama depicting corals of diverse shapes and sizes. Beneath the surface, one can find a marvellous assemblage of hard and soft corals, thousands of brightly coloured reef fish, and the special Cod Hole near the Lizard Island. Recently, UNESCO decided to label the reef as “in danger”, and the Australian government lobbied to delay the decision. Such an act downplays the danger that the reef faces, as it has been experiencing massive bleaching recently. In 2016, it was suspected that 29-50 of the coral reefs were degraded due to bleaching. It is important that humankind preserves this natural living habitat, especially since a healthy ocean is crucial for a healthy planet, and coral reefs form
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Deepening Australia-Japan bilateral ties Vaibhavi Nagar
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n 15 July 2021, the Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment, Dan Tehan MP, and the Japanese Minister for Economy, Trade, and Industry, Mr. Kajiyama Hiroshi, cochaired the third Japan-Australia Ministerial Economic dialogue in Tokyo. This symbolises deepening bilateral ties between both countries. Discussions revolved around shared opportunities and challenges, including economic recovery from the catastrophic impact of COVID-19 on the IndoPacific region. The dialogue was characterised by emphasis on shared values such as assurance of free and fair trade and strengthening of a rules-based multilateral trading system, among others. The two countries also reaffirmed their commitment to achieving net-zero transmissions under the Japan-Australia Partnership on Decarbonization through Technology. They also agreed to extend such initiatives to
neighbouring countries to mitigate global emissions, and to prioritise helping the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet their emission goals. The representatives from both sides pledged to address unfair trade practices to enhance supply chain resilience. Both countries also stressed the need for developing quality infrastructure in the IndoPacific region and affirmed to coordinate in dealing with digital technologies. This includes a covenant to build enhanced modes of information exchange to mitigate difficulties arising from development and usage of digital tech and critical infrastructure. Being participants in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), both countries reiterated their interest in strengthening their economic partnership in the wake of the pandemic. Under the
CPTPP, both countries committed to maintaining the rules of the partnership and providing support to signatories that have not ratified the agreement yet. With regard to RCEP, the representatives emphasised the importance of early implementation of the agreement. These strengthening bilateral relations signify the desire of Japan and Australia to reduce their dependence on Chinese supply chains in a post-pandemic world in a mutually beneficial way, and their commitment to create a positive impact in the Indo-Pacific region.
Similarity between adivasis of India and aborigines of Australia Shivam Shukla
I an important part of the ocean biodiversity. Such regions are in danger due to the effects of climate change. As we continue to emit greenhouse gases, flora and fauna continue to be destroyed. Due to greenhouse gas emissions, the tropical sea surface temperatures have risen by approximately 0.4-0.5 degrees celsius since the 19th century, which has made it difficult for the plant and animal species to adapt due to heat stress and mass coral bleaching. Since the 18th century, the earth’s oceans have absorbed around 30% of the additional CO2 which has been released in the air. This has led to acidification of the ocean, indicated by reduction in pH levels. On the bright side, there are signs of recovery in over 60% of the reef. This, however, should not lead us into complacency, as the impact of coral bleaching is not visible till after few years. Nevertheless, that one of the greatest living structures on earth is reviving itself is a welcome news.
ndia is home to various tribal and indigenous communities, which remain unaffected by modern living compulsions today. India possesses the highest tribal population in the world, with a whopping 84.4 million recognised tribal communities. Tribal people in India are known by the word ‘adivasi’, meaning ‘local inhabitants’. They are economically backward, and still dependent on traditional methods of livelihood suchas hunting, agriculture, fishing and cattle breeding and raising. The major tribal groups in India include Bhils, Gonds, Santhals, Khasis, Kols, Anganims, Bhuitas and the Great Andamanese. These different ethnic groups have their very own traditions and cultural practices, with different languages and lifestyles. The Indian Constitution has not provided adequate clarity on the definition of ‘tribe’, but they are listed by the government in the Constitution under ‘Scheduled Tribes’. Academics and anthropologist have been making efforts to agree a single definition of a tribe. For example, sociologists define a tribe as a “social group, usually with a definite area, dialect, cultural homogeneity and unifying social organisation.”
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Over the years, tribal structures and identity in India have been affected by ‘mobility and change’. With extra-regional movement in search of livelihood tribes have taken up peasantry and labour, and are working as waged labour in industries, plantations and the mining industry. In this situation the concept or definition of tribe will have to be a bit broader to include their changing socioeconomic activities driven by mobility and development. In Australia, the time and place of the arrival of the first humans in and around the continent is a subject of debate among scholars and historians. The earliest archaeological evidence of human remains have been found from around 50,000 years ago, of the Mungo Man LM3 and Mungo Lady. But recent archaeological evidence derived from charcoal and artefacts reveal that the tribes in Australia date back to 65,000 Before Present. In the Australian continent, there used to exist more than 500 different ethnic “clans” that formed a nation in themselves, incorporating many distinctive socio-cultural structures, beliefs and languages. The equivalent of tribal people in Australia consist of 2.4% of the total population. Like ‘adivasi’ in India, the term ‘aboriginal’ or ‘Torres Strait Islander peoples’ (plural) is used
to refer to indigenous groups in Australia. Before modern-day boundaries were drawn, indigenous peoples migrated across continents and circumvented ancient coastlines and reaching Australia passing through India. This perhaps explains the similarity between the tribes of different parts of the world. SBS executive producer Kumud Merani has examined in her radio special of 2014, the significant links between the tribes of India and Australia, which go back thousands of years. Science and genetics have played a crucial role in casting new light on these arguments. However, there is still a lot to be learnt about what drove people to migrate so far and wide. Was it for richer hunting and fishing grounds, or simply their unsatiated quest to see what lay beyond the next beach or the nearest mountain range? There is so much we still do not know about the early humans.
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