[Stoves] News: Why a clean cooking campaigner chooses the kitchen to save the planet

[Nikhil Desai]

(To Paul and Anil: Did you see any accredited Press people with badges at
CCF 2017? Some Faizal Khan?)

Why a clean cooking campaigner chooses the kitchen to save the planet
<http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/61610304.cms>, Faizal
Khan, Economic Times, 12 November 2017

This is a second item on CCF 2017 from another newspaper in India, on the
same day and with the same name for the reporter - Faizal Khan. Both
Financial Express and Economic Times refer to him as a free-lancer.

If it is the same man, this raises some doubts that these may be "planted"
stories. At least one of the newspaper sources - Economic Times - is
published by the Times of India group, which openly admits that it
publishes "news" items for payment. (The New Yorker published a story on
this a couple of years back).

That the stories come out good two weeks after the end of CCF 2017 and by
one or two free-lancers raises the suspicion that nobody in Indian or
international press saw the CCF worth covering or analyzing. Yet. Except
for Anil here.

The trouble with paid or planted stories, or even over-enthusiastic
reporters, is that inaccuracies, errors, mis-statements crop up, and the
writer produces a fawning piece whose effects may be counter-productive.
There was one such case two years ago with an article in an Indian
newspaper; GACC had to retract its endorsement of the article (even though
it may have paid for its publication in the first place; that's how Times
of India operates.) GACC India representative left or was fired two months
later.

Here, ET reports, "Muthiah declared that the target for universal adoption
of clean cooking would be 2030, the same as the SDGs, inviting roars of
approval. Muthiah’s confidence stems from that fact that the Alliance is
already on its way to achieve its goal of 100 million homes adopting clean
and efficient cookstoves and fuels by 2020 set by Hillary Clinton seven
years ago. “India will be a key driver in the universal adoption of clean
cooking,” says Muthiah. "

GACC had zilch to do with the Indian LPG program. And no, the planet
couldn't care less what smoke GACC emanates in its kitchens. It is highly
unlikely GACC would do much for "universal adoption of clean cooking",
considering that the SDG 3.9.1 indicator is "mortality attributable" to use
of solid fuels, no matter how combusted. GACC has driven LPG agenda into
the SDGs and planted them into WHO with no intellectual or jurisdictional
authority. What is a private foundation doing speaking on behalf of
governments or the UN?

False reporting emanates from GACC, then parroted by newspapers. Same with
WHO.

God save the poor - and the climate - from their saviors.

I think GACC needs to be revived and regenerated - outside of UNF and EPA
control (which is probably going to disappear anyway). I never liked the
name, but it has a brand value now, as does the GACC CEO.

Nikhil
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