While reports done by various bodies, independant or governmental differ in blaming India or China as the more polluting country, the quality of our air, water and soil continues to deteriorate. It might be a population problem or the fact that we are developing countries and that pollution is a by-product, nonetheless to the common citizen it seems like little is being done to create a better world for gen next.
A recent story by the Times of India, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lets_Work_Together/articleshow/2716049.cms
talks about enviroment challenges and the road ahead. While comparing Beijing and New Delhi, the article points a finger at all the avtaars of pollution - plastics, people and poaching. The story also highlights steps taken by the government and international agencies - the recent MoU signed between India and China during Dr Manmohan Singh’s visit in the areas of co-operation in land resource management, scientific research and development projects, sustainable development in agriculture and the civilian use of nuclear energy. It also includes efforts taken by the International Eneregy Agency and the US based world-watch institute.

Additionally, the article covers Dr Manmohan Singh’s diplomatic response to the debatable topic, should developing countries cut pollution levels as much as developed countries who have already polluted the enviroment during their developmental phase?  

Following the news reports of large busts in China (pirated Windows Office and Vista programs) and India (computer dealers in Gujarat), Microsoft is feeling pretty good about itself and its battle with its evil nemesis, the IP monster. A blow was struck for capital markets, intellectual property, common decency! However, Henry Chesbrough argues today in BusinessWeek that Microsoft should be welcoming rather than discouraging piracy in India and China.

From Gujarat, India, to Santa Clara, Calif., Microsoft is simply doing the right thing for the company and its shareholders, as any company should. But is the giant shortsighted in treating these two situations in the same manner? The answer could be yes.

Chesbrough uses the example of Betamax, the video recording format that, because it was linked to Sony proprietary machines, lost out to VHS which JVC was willing to license to other manufacturers back in the early 80s. The result, VHS won the day and remains to this day (albeit in to a much lesser degree with the rise of hard disc recorders and cheap DVD players - thank you China). (more…)

Another notable World Bank publication just put out in January this year.  A great resource for those wanting to learn the basics and current movements of these two huge economies into the international marketplace as their companies and national interests ‘go global’.  The book comprises of six essays focusing on China and India’s foreign trade, domestic industrial development capabilities and financial systems and the rest of the book looks into the challenges these two countries face which may influence their aims to develop.  The book also goes into implications of energy and environment, two major areas of criticism that China and India face from the global community.

The book’s 292 pages (full text) is available for free at: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2007/01/10/
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Published in November last year, this China-India book is a compilation of entries by more than 20 leading academics who discuss their research findings on four major areas of concern in the two countries - identity & ethnicity; challenges, opportunities & responses to globalization; national security; and governance & social security.  The book is a bit pricey - around US$ 50 on Amazon - but well worth the buy.

The list of scholars who contributed to this book is quite impressive, have a look at their profiles at: http://www.worldscibooks.com/economics/etextbook/5919/5919_contributors.pdf.

No better time for a credible and in-depth publication on China and India’s economic relationships with African countries.  Released on February 1st this year, the book - by Harry Broadman - provides a strong outlook into the comparisons and similarities of China and India’s strategies in ‘going Africa’.  A great thing about the book is that it gives empirical case studies based on first-hand investigative research and the author surveyed 450 firms, including Chinese and Indian companies (16 practicing in Africa), operating in four African countries.  The book is the most un-biased piece I’ve seen out there and it gives refreshing perspectives on a triangular regional area that is all too often - and perhaps overly - criticized these days.  What’s better, the book is available online for free at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/AFRICAEXT/Resources/Africa_Silk_Road.pdf.

Check it out!

The OECD published a book last May on the implications for Africa of China and India’s global rise.  Most compelling in this piece is the emphasis on how growth strategies in many African economies are directly influenced by (and in some cases modeled after) those of the two Asian giants - this can be seen particularly in Africa’s commodities-export and oil markets.  The authors talk about how African countries are redirecting parts of their trade and relationships from traditional OECD partners to China and India, they discuss the consequences of this phenomenon and the conclusions are quite shocking.

a summary of the publication is available for free at: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/54/62/36905545.pdf

The topic of political and economic relationships (and intentions) of China and India with African countries is hot-off-the-press these days - and is proving to be quite a sensitive issue in the global community - have a look at what others are saying:

Africa Emerges as China and India’s New Economic Frontier (World Bank, September 2006)

China, India Boost Africa’s Growth (China Radio International Online, November 2006)

What is Behind the China-African Courtship? (China Elections, November 2006)

China’s Influence in Africa Arouses Some Resistance (New York Times, February 2007)