An innocent tweet from Sanctuary Asia caught my attention:
Sanctuary Asia on Twitter: "If PM Modi is serious about saving #India's #tigers, he must read this by Prerna Bindra https://t.co/Ve48NBTmHR"
I went ahead and clicked the link, the headline of which I thought was in very poor taste, highly arrogant & toxic. Turned out exactly as expected. The headline was just to grab attention, get clicks & shares - it had nothing to do with contents of the article, moreover even contradictory.
If Modi is serious about saving India's tigers, he must read this
The article, supposedly written by an 'award winning' journalist and a passionate 'Wildlife Conservationist', was poor in content, completely devoid of key policy suggestions or path-breaking ideas, to help the cause of Tiger Conservation. Except quoting random cases and statistics of Tiger Casualties. There is no dearth of such data out there and a teenage intern would put out a better researched article.
Hence, the objective of a toxic and arrogant headline was clearly to get some attention & cheap publicity, just a day ahead of the event - a whopping 461 'Shares' by the time this post goes live. I am sure those 461 Shares, including Sanctuary-Asia would not have even bothered to read through the article before sharing it. They clearly suffer the common presumption: Something on Tiger Conservation is a great Cause by itself and with screaming headlines must absolutely be Shared.
About the author:
PRERNA BINDRA @prernabindraThe author is an award winning journalist, wildlife conservationist and a former member of the National Board for Wildlife. She also edits TigerLink. She lives in Gurgaon, but her heart, she says, resides in the forest.
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Let us now analyse the Article, and try to understand the intentions of the Author.
#1 -> Quoting from article: (emphases mine)
The prime minister has asked "wildlife lovers" for their thoughts, ideas, inputs.The author completely contradicts headlines of her article by stating that the PM himself has asked for thoughts & ideas from "wildlife lovers".
Below is the note PM actually had put out seeking thoughts and ideas on Third Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation.
-> One is supposed to Login or Register to add commentOn 12th April 2016 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will address the Third Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation. This conference is a forum where India’s successful journey in tiger conservation can be showcased. Wildlife lovers from various nations will join the deliberations and think of the road ahead in tiger conservation.You are urged to share your thoughts, ideas and inputs on the issues pertaining to tiger conservation. The Prime Minister may refer to the inputs received in his speech.
I am absolutely certain that the Author never bothered to Login and add her valued comments on the related thread / forum. On the contrary, such attention seeking fake activists would rather use social media platforms for personal publicity.
When the PM himself agrees to inaugurate and address the conference, seeks comments in advance from wildlife lovers, why put out a toxic headline - "If Modi is Serious"?
Exposes author's duplicity and lack on genuine interest in contributing to the cause.
#2 -> Quoting from article: (Emphases mine)
It is pertinent to note that in February and March 2007, eight lions were poached in and around the Gir National Park in Gujarat. In an unprecedented effort, the then chief minister, Narendra Modi moved the state's machinery - CID, forensics, outside experts, forest officials worked collaboratively to ensure all the guilty were arrested and convicted. Surely, the tigers - and other endangered wildlife - deserve a similar effort? Import this Gujarat model!
The author completely stands exposed here. She is trying to preach the converted.
The PM has 'been there done that' while as CM of Gujarat.
So why question his seriousness to the cause now?
#3 -> Quoting from article: (Emphases mine)
The minister for environment, forests and climate change, Prakash Javdekar was quoted as saying, "We are a poor country and must be practical."
This tribe of "journos-cum-fake-activists" also have a great quality of picking up some random bites from somewhere and use them as 'quotes' in support of their twisted arguments.
Here is the official statement of Shri Prakash Javdekar on PIB notice dated 11th April, as follows: (emphases mine)
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, said, “We have allotted Rs.380.00 crore to the Project Tiger in the current fiscal year, which is an all-time high and indicates that the Government of India is committed to the conservation of our national animal, ‘Tiger’. Shri Javadekar said that due to the concerted efforts of the Government and other stakeholders, more than 70% of the global wild tiger population is in India. He also said that saving the Tiger means much more than ecological balance. “It is helping in combating adverse effects of climate change as well”, the Minister added.
So, there goes yet another futile attempt by Author at maligning the Minister.
Moreover, I noticed that the PIB note also says and I quote:
This conference is being co-organized by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, National Tiger Conservation Authority, Global Tiger Forum, Global Tiger Initiative Council, Wildlife Institute of India, WWF and Wildlife Conservation Trust.
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Now why would PM even bother to read the author:
a) When she never bothered to contribute to the cause by providing comments and suggestion at the respective forum,
b) Decides to published elsewhere on a social media Opinion site; and
c) The 'who's-who' from wildlife conservation sector is already on board as co-organisers, who needs your empty noise from a random source?
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