Jareeda: Pakistan's Sustainability Magazine

Jareeda first fell in my hands when, having finished my work for the day during an internship at IUCN, I decided to shuffle through the stuff on the office bookshelves.

I promptly took copies of several issues home - where I keep them close to my heart six years later. Because this magazine is so informative, so sincere, and yet so amazingly unknown. And because it features some of the rare-to-find research on Pakistan's environmental and sustainability issues.

At least back then, the thin magazine was being published in English and Urdu - and was available free. It has topical issues - the current one on the website is all about the wonderful Juniper tree.

Previous issues have explored mountains, water systems, national parks, and other matters of ecological concern.

I'll tell you what's beautiful about Jareeda:

• The content is accessible to the general population: it's in Urdu (haven't checked if the English version is still printed), the language is jargon-free and easy, the writing isn't out to impress but to communicate.

• There is plenty of coverage on medicinal herbs and other plants. With a global shift towards a lifestyle of health & sustainability, medicinal plants have made a comeback into the mainstream after a long, long winter of the synthetic era.
  It's a significant trend for its possible impact on the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industries of the world.
  
• It's free. Or was, last I checked.
  
• Jareeda's topics are contemporary - e.g. the Kashmir Earthquake '05 was promptly covered in the Fall 2005 quarterly issue. In Summer '07, eco-tourism gets a feature. This means the editors and reporters are well-grounded, doing continuous research, and really care. From an editorial point-of-view, this shows respect for the readers - which translates into a healthy, thought-provoking effect on the readers' end.
  
• On the whole, each quarterly explores a subject from a 360 view. Remember STEEPLE (Society, Technology, Environment, Economics, Politics, Law, Ethics) analysis? Analyzing an environment from all these angles, especially to create a map for the future? I have taken a step to integrate external and internal analyses in the People-Centered Model of Business (PC-MoB). PC-MoB* goes beyond STEEPLE to include people's belief systems as the starting point of their roles & actions. Jareeda understands the subtlety. It's beyond the separation of the science of the environment and the people - a frustrating gap - and embraces the philosophy of social ecology. The content is well-rooted in the Pakistani culture, tradition, and thought - it often cites an article or two relating the people's belief system with ecological education - such as here.
  
• There are plenty of photos!
  

Please get a subscription today (contact IUCN Pak); get one for your school/ university/ office library and for your hairdresser's shop - and pass Jareeda 's environmental consciousness on!

* Download PC-MoB (PDF; 540 K)

E-mail: nextbyramla/AT/g mail/DOT/com

Breaking News: Pakistan President removes Chief Justice

The President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, suspended Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry (@ Wikipedia) from the post of the Chief Justice of Pakistan for "misuse of authority."

A reference has been filed against Justice Iftikhar, who has been replaced by Justice Javed Iqbal as acting Chief Justice.

Reports are trickling in via media. It appears that Justice Iftikhar has been removed for helping his son gain positions of importance.

Justice (retired) Nasir Aslam Zahid is just speaking to Geo TV and expressing his view that this step is extraordinary. He believes that the President should have waited for the report of the Supreme Judicial Council on the inquiry about Justice Iftikhar.

Chief Justice (R) Sajjad Ali Shah says that according to the Constitution, Supreme Judicial Council inquires the cases of misuse of authority while the Chief Justice remains suspended.

Note: It appears that Justice Iftikhar has not been "sacked" as is the impression - but "removed" from acting as the functional Chief Justice while hearing against him proceeds in the Supreme Judicial Council... to avoid conflict of interest.

Lawyers have gathered around the building of the Supreme Court in protest. The doors of the court have been locked.

On acting Chief Justice: Justice Rana Bhagwan Das is out of country, and hence Just. Javed Iqbal has been put in the position of acting Chief Justice. According to Just. Sajjad Ali Shah, his religion is not the reason for the appointment of Just. Javed Iqbal - as Just. Bhagwan Das has previously taken the position.

Note: Removed? Is it "sacked?" Is it "suspended?" Details to come. According to CJ (R) Sajjad Ali, the language of the Constitution is archaic and befuddling. He is saying that a corrected, clearer version of the decision must be made.

Removed Chief Justice Iftikhar is known for taking suo-moto actions on complaints of common citizens, which has rendered him quite a hero in Pakistan.

Famous cases:
Supreme Court halts handover of Steel Mills
Stock Exchange Scam

More: Naeem Bokhari's letter to Justice Iftikhar - Offers interesting insights on the cases related to his son
E-mail: nextbyramla AT gmail.com