A media hype

The media is responsible for making a big issue about bird flu (A master in disguise, March 13). It’s well-known that some diseases that are life threatening in certain parts of the world might not be so threatening in other regions. Other forms of flu are known to kill almost 40,000 people every year in North America and elsewhere while being relatively benign in India. Bird flu virus was discovered about two years ago, and has supposedly been responsible for the death of approximately 60 people across the world. If it had been a new and deadly form of viral epidemic, then it would have killed several people within a short span of time just like the flu pandemic of 1918. Anyone who has studied the dissident point of view on HIV/AIDS will understand the sort of game that is being played here by powerful companies in the West and their willing and unquestioning servants in the elitist Indian media.

Biswajit Gohain
Guwahati

Climate concern

The publication of Is global warming a myth? (March 20) coincides with almost a similar piece published in the Evangelicals on the same day. More than 80 Evangelical leaders issued a statement last year stating that “climate change is an urgent problem and that the Christian faith mandates a strong response to global warming”.

Judhisthir Sarkar
Calcutta-25

Dedication pays

What more can be said about a man of 85, bubbling with new ideas and tackling new problems (Meet Mr Fuzzy logic, February 27). Prof. Lotfi Zadeh is indeed a pioneer in his field of research. He was correct when he spoke about the brain drain. It’s really unfortunate that today’s youths idolise actors instead of scientists like A.J.C. Bose and S. Ramanujan. The youths must remember that excellence comes through dedication.

A.Q. Siddique
Jamshedpur