The winners of Rs 3,000 are ...

Impractical lifestyle
There is no doubt that increasing population would bring more challenges in the days to come. It has direct impact on resources as those are limited especially natural resources. I agree with Arindam Chaudhuri’s editorial related to seven million people and the resources crunch where he has mentioned it is more food wastage by western countries than shortage of food (TSI, Nov 13). In case of food, water or even energy, it could be seen that it is the lifestyle of some developed nations because of which many poor nations are suffering. President Obama has no right to blame India or China for global food price hike because the original culprits are the developed countries. Like crisis in food or water or energy, the other thing which is alarming is climate change and climate crisis. The consumption pattern and lifestyle of developed nations are contributing more to climate change which has become climate crisis for the poor and the marginalised.  
Ranjan K Baruah
Guwahati

Misguided campaign
Seema Mustafa’s write-up ‘Taking no chances’ (TSI, Nov 13) dampened the mood as it once again reminded us that the politics in our country is not about development and progress, but about religion and castes and hundreds of other such divisions. The political parties are using every ounce of strength in this tug-of-war to win the Muslim votes but does anyone of them really care about the people who vote for them? The answer is a clear “no”. Instead of bickering and slandering against one another, all the political parties should work in co-operation for the benefit of the people of the state. A common man wants food, shelter, job and security. If the political parties will make efforts to fulfill these basic needs, then the people will definitely vote for them. It’s as simple as that. But our leaders chose to divide us by religion based politics and rule over us comfortably.
Richa Vermani
Una, H.P

Us and the world
The editorial ‘Do Americans want complete anarchy...’  (TSI, Nov 6) by Arindam Chaudhuri interprets the US involvement and interference in the region vis-à-vis NATO action in Libya. In Egypt, Hosni Mubarak was once a key ally of the US. However, under domestic pressure, US eventually supported the change of regime in Egypt. Similarities can also been drawn with Iraq under Saddam Hussein. The editorial factually analyses that though democracy may be deficient in these three countries, but human development parameters were progressive, especially in respect of women’s rights. So the new regimes will face the challenge of not being found wanting on any of these counts. As for the US, there is a lot more to do apart from securing oil pipelines and finding new avenues of selling weaponry, for the sake of humanity if not anything else.
Rama Guha
24 Parganas (North)