The debate between the two US presidential candidates will go down in history as a campaign without substance. President Barack Obama was clearly diffident, having not lived up to the expectations of the American people and not giving them any reason to think he will do better in the next four years. Opponent Mitt Romney could do no better, apart from offering a change of face. Both appear to be obsessed with China, and certainly the Chinese government should be pleased with this.

Surprisingly, while the US has a multitude of issues crying for solutions on various fronts, including economic, social and international, most of these were not the subject of discussion. Whoever becomes the next President, the victory will only be by default.

N. S. Venkataraman

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For a solar surplus

This is with reference to the excellent analysis of Tamil Nadu’s solar policy in “TN’s solar policy: A ray of hope” ( Business Line , November 5). While Tamil Nadu is under severe stress due to the power crisis, it is heartening to note that the Government has allotted funds to solar developers.

Virudhunagar district has lot of uncultivated lands which can be allotted to solar developers. The Government must create a solar land bank in backward districts to allot lands not being utilised for agriculture to FDI investors in solar energy.

S. A. Alagarsamy

Chennai

Company’s liability

This is with reference to “Corporate liability for human right abuses” (Business Line, November 2). Globally, it is established that corporates have social responsibility to the stake holders. Within that conceptual frame, nevertheless, they have corporate liability for not infringing human rights when they venture to make profits. Irrespective of the geographical boundaries, such civil excesses must be trialled by courts where it happens. In Riobel’s ease, it is clear that he fought for the environmental damages caused by the Shell Company in Nigeria as his human right.

N. R. Nagarajan

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