Friday 2 January 2009

A Proposed Jus Cogens Norm

Pictured above is the valley of the Relli river, 16 kilometres from Kalimpong. Unspoilt natural vista? Not really.

Here’s the same scene, shot from halfway up the mountain.

They are constructing a coffee shop, toilets and—this is what really kills me—a swimming pool. Tourism development, they call it.

Sometimes I think evolution is making us stupider.

I also think there should be a jus cogens norm against vandalising landscape.

4 comments:

The Reluctant Rebel said...

It is a proven fact that this so called evolution is counterproductive: we gave up a chill life of climbing tres, hanging with our mates and devouring bananas by the river to be trapped in a glass cabin typing away on a keyboard.

But seriously, bad shit mate.

Unknown said...

I remember thinking in Shimla that CCDs should be banned beyond a certain altitude. More than ten CCDs - one at every freakin turn of the road!

Swimming pool, you say. Sigh, and I thought the CCDs took the cake.

Sroyon said...

@Saha: Very bad shit mate indeed.

@Karthy: Yeah I remember you telling me. The CCDs in Shimla are bad I agree, but even CCDs are not that noticeable in a city. Smack in the middle of virgin landscape is a different story altogether.

Shrabasti Banerjee said...

Sujaan was telling me. Swimming pool?! Shotyi baba!