When Water Becomes A Bargain With Religion - TH!NK ABOUT IT http://water.thinkaboutit.eu/think5/post/when_water_becomes_a_barga...

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When Water Becomes A Bargain With Religion Diêgo Lôbo Goiabeira

Environmental Blogger/Writer and PR
Published 19th January 2011 - 9 comments - 755 views - ShareThis
(Salvador, Brazil)

Rivers have always been a development tool. Since ancient times, the Diêgo Lôbo, 21,
civilizations found on the riverbanks benefit from the development through environmental writer and
blogger; frustrated oil and
villages being built, and even big economic centers. Nowadays, many people
gas technical; and Public
depend on it to survive. However, with the lack of urban planning and Relations. Currently, I am
disorganized city growth, many of the world’s largest rivers are drastically working in a non-profit
organization with
polluted, which causes a lot of diseases and consequently deaths, as I stated on
communication, social medias and
my introductory article. fundraising. Since I was chosen in a
bloggers competition to cover an
According to the World Wild Foundation, the same 5 rivers that are directly environmental conference in Germany, I
became passionate in blogging in English.I
related to the survival of 870 million of people in Asia are among the 10 most
love travelling, learning about new cultures
threatened rivers in the world. I am going to talk about two of them: the Citarum, and discussing. Creator and Chief-editor of
in Java Island, Indonesia, and the most famous Indian river Ganga. E esse tal Meio Ambiente?
(www.essetalmeioambiente.com) Follow
Indonesia has gotten the unfortunate title of having most polluted rivers in the world and looking at the photograph above it me on twitter: @diegolobo For further
infomation: diegolobog@gmail.com
is not hard to believe it. Many industries, mainly the textiles, settled on the riverbanks in the 80’s started to throw their
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chemical waste (without any treatment) into the Citarum. This, together with the human and domestic waste, has become a View all posts
toxic and dead river. It is the destiny and “solution” to the problems of these people, who still use the water to drink, wash Subscribe to author's posts (RSS)

and plant.

The Ganga (or Benares), in the north of India and Bangladesh, has a different history. It crosses 9 states and influences
the life of over 300 million of people, of whom there are 20 million located on its bank. The river has an excessive Related posts
importance for this population, because they consume food and water for survival from it. For the Indian people, the rivers
are divine and the Ganga is the most sacred of them. The believers of the Hinduism (more than 80% of the country)
believe that bathing in its water is a signal of “sins purification”. Perhaps, this is the big difference between what happens
in India and other countries. Popular posts
Apart from the industrial and domestic wastes (89 million of liters of drain are
thrown into the river daily), the fertilizers and pesticides used in the agriculture
(43% of all irrigation system in India are based on the riverbanks) and the
garbage in general, the religious aspects all contribute to damaging the river.
Each day, 2 million people bathe in the Ganga searching for this purification.
However, bathing itself is not the problem. What actually is problematic is what
the believers do on behalf of their faith. It is quite common to see humans and
animals bodies floating on the river. The adults are burned and have their ashes
thrown into the holy river. The children (and pregnant), on the other hand, are considered pure, it means they cannot be
burned; so they have stones tied in their feet and have their bodies thrown into the river. Moreover, animals like cows – a
holy symbol – have the same destiny. Thus, the stinky bodies (human and animals), the ashes, the fishermen, the women
washing their clothes, the believers bathing, the children playing, and the huge sum of wastes, such as plastic, sanitarian
and chemical residues live side by side.

I have talked to some of my Indian friends, Tarun Sharma and Rahul Acharya, and it has
been an interesting discussion because I knew their opinion about this relation between
the river and religion. They have told me how the religion aspect is immensely tough and
how the people end up being induced to do certain things. Both Rahul and Tarun agree
that India is very corrupt, not only politically, but also in relation to religion. They say there
is that speech of guaranteeing their place next to the gods through the rituals – e.g.
throwing the bodies and ashes on the river. For hundreds years they have been following
those customs, they would not stopping doing it in a couple decades. It is like they do not
see anything beyond the religion, and of course there are economic interests in it. Moreover, agreements between
business and politicians, together with the lack of Government’s will make it difficult even for those 2% or 3% interested in
helping to recover the river. It is an example of the organization EcoFriends, which does very tough actions, as you can
see here.

Actually, the cleanup of the Ganga is not a new subject. In 1986 someone launched the Ganga Action Plan, which
objectified the biodiversity conversation, decrease the pollution and increase of the water quality. Obviously, it has failed.
As my Indians friends said, it is no use doing these actions without changing the attitudes. And because the government

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When Water Becomes A Bargain With Religion - TH!NK ABOUT IT http://water.thinkaboutit.eu/think5/post/when_water_becomes_a_barga...

will not anything by itself, it is necessary to apply pressure.

Unfortunately, the pollution and environmental degradation is a result of the industrial development and the population
boom, together with the lack of urban planning and miserable life conditions. Just like Tarun, I hope one day I can see this
reality change, but it depends on what we are doing now. It depends on us.

For those who can handle, take a look at these pictures here.

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Comments
Iris Cecilia Gonzales on 19th January 2011:

Diego,

Interesting post. I liked the way you pointed out the impact of faith and development on water and the lack of urban
planning. It can indeed be terrible.

Cheers.

Andrea Arzaba on 19th January 2011:

And with the lack of urban planning you get destruction by natural disasters as well. Common problem in Latin
America, and in developing countries.

Thanx for the pictures, they are very explicit themselves!

K N Vajpai on 20th January 2011:

Dear Diego: I have my serious observations on your post and they are really not facts but exaggeration of situation for
sake of posting. While writing we should respect the sentiments of people and without knowing the facts should not be
judgmental. I also have serious doubts about your understanding about river Ganges and the religious views of people
about Ganges. Ganges, never means only Benares (Varansi)which your post says, and let’s be also aware about the
origin of Ganges and the unknown [scientifically] facts that doesn’t deteriorate its water for years, due to its origin from
Himalayas. Yes, there are issues related to ongoing pollution in the river due population pressure and haphazard
development in Indian cities and so, are the agencies like WWF and Government are concern about it. For your note,
WWF should not be referred as the agency that talks about the data on Ganges, though, it might have done a few
sample studies in part of it. So, your references itself are incorrect. I am not sure about your country and religion, but
the guys mentioned (Tarun and Rahul) might be Hindus, and if they told you about the ‘corrupt religious’ views in India,
they must talk to their parents and forefathers to know about India and Ganges. Linking the corruption with religion
here is unexpected and highly objectionable in your post, and I would not like to see such observations by amateur
people about a country and its religion. Please be patient and write practical examples, of which you are aware about
by your own.

Diêgo Lôbo Goiabeira on 20th January 2011:

@K N Vajpai, I appreciate your disagreement. But in first place, if what I say is wrong, you should be the one to prove
it, not simply deny it. I am aware about the complex of the religion and I would certainly not be affirming those facts if I
was not sure about them. I am not making it up, the pictures say by themselves.
In relation to the religion corruption, I understand your disgust, I did not mean to offend anyone. However, we know it
happens - of course, each case is a different case and India is a huge country. Again, I might have crossed the line,
but in my country and, fortunately, in many other in the world, it is allowed to express our opinion without being
censored.
I have read a lot about your country; I have personal and professional relation with indians and I am looking forward to
visit the country next september.

K N Vajpai on 21st January 2011:

I need not to prove my statements, to an article that is absurd and meaningless about Ganges. I must say and pity on;
understanding about India, Ganges and Hindu religion, and the argument about abusing a religion without knowing
basic fact as freedom of speech.

Maria Eugenia Rinaudo Mannucci on 25th January 2011:

Hi Diego!
I like very much your post because I really think that exist a conexion between the water and the life (not only for the
creation and environmental problems), but also for the many cultures and religions who believe in the majesty of the
resource. For the christianism it’s very importan the baptism, for example, and it means a fresh start in the life. Just as
for other cultures such as India, water is a step towards pure and holy death, with the celestial and physical connection
they have with the river Ganges.
Many greetings!
Many greetings!

Sylwia Presley on 03rd February 2011:

Really valid points and good link to the photos - please feed more of those. I really like the personal motive in your
post, would love to hear more from your friends on their experiences.

Avgi Lilli on 05th February 2011:

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Interesting indeed.
I wouldn’t refer to corruption of religion, any religion for that matter, although from time to time we do hear about
incidents of corruption or harrassment (we all remember the scandal with the Pope’s relative some months ago). I think
that the point here is that generally religion is conservative, keeps people close and controls in a way their thinking or
opinion, keeps them away form knowledge or modern life. These tactics are typical, detected through the centuries
and work easier for the indigent masses.

Diêgo Lôbo Goiabeira on 05th February 2011:

I totally agree. I do not know what the Indian above would say to you… as you all saw what he said to me - this is
where the control you talk about begins.

"In Amsterdam the water is the mistress and the land the vassal. throughout the city there are as many canals and drawbridges as bracelets on a Gypsy's bronzed arms." - Felix Marti-Ibanez
TH!NK ABOUT IT - international blogging competition
A project by the European Journalism Centre (EJC), Maastricht. Additional support from the European Commission.

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