Sir — A new study claims that the ecosystems of the world’s tropical oceans are headed for a collapse in the next 10 years. This comes on the back of one the most consistent bouts of global warming in recent history. Warming waters are perfect breeding grounds for a variety of pathogens. If the Covid-19 epidemic does not teach human beings a lesson about what disturbing the ecological balance can do then nothing will. The oceanic ecosystem is also closely tied to global economics. If not anything else, perhaps these selfish reasons will prompt humans to take immediate action.

Somak Ganguly,

Calcutta

Barren land

Sir — The Kashmir of postcards and posters has long disappeared; the real Kashmir is now an eerie landscape where the sound of the wind passing through the valley is broken only by the crunch of boots on the ground. But with a recent government order to lop or fell the poplar trees that dot the region, the hope that postcard-perfect Kashmir can one day be regained seems to be lost forever too (“Poplar trees in Kashmir face axe over virus fears”, April 10). The government is apparently worried that ‘aerosol’ from the female Russian poplar can carry and spread the novel coronavirus. There is also an apprehension that pollen allergy caused by these poplars in spring will aggravate the Covid-19 scare, since the virus attacks primarily the upper respiratory tract.

While it is appreciable that the government is doing everything it can in order to stop the spread of the virus, one wonders about the environmental impact that this indiscriminate cutting of trees will have. Is there an afforestation drive that has been planned to make up for the lost poplars? One also cannot help but speculate that given the recent revocation of Article 370, the order to chop down tens of thousands of trees is too convenient at a time when there is a rush to acquire land in the Valley. Already a great number of trees — even forested areas in some places — are being cleared off in Kashmir in the name of development. The fragile ecosystem of the area has already faced the onslaught of militancy for years on end. I am afraid that the latest developments might just tip the scales irreversibly in Kashmir. The land that two countries have fought over for so long might have nothing left to give anymore.

Mehejabeen Bilal,

New Delhi

Brew up a storm

Sir — It has become impossible to scroll through social media without encountering several images of frothy dark coffee — or dalgona coffee, as the internet has named this new trend. The name, dalgona, is inspired by a South Korean candy that resembles a creamy dollop, the kind that usually tops iced coffee. But beaten coffee — this is essentially what dalgona coffee is — is hardly new. It has existed not just commercially but has also been made at home for decades. Why then are generations Y and Z so obsessed with this frothy beverage? Is it because spending time in the kitchen whipping up a storm inside coffee cups is giving people a chance to escape a depressing news cycle, where the only information is the ever-increasing counts of those infected by Covid-19 and those who have succumbed to it?

This could also be one of the reasons why cooking videos — everyone, from celebrities to ordinary citizens, is busy sharing recipes — has become one of the other prevalent trends on social media. In a situation over which we have little to no control, perfectly whipped coffee is something completely under our control. There is also the fact that all the effort that goes into whipping together instant coffee powder, sugar and warm water is helping people expend some of the pent-up energy that is the result of staying at home.

Sohini Sarkar,

Calcutta

Sir — South Koreans preening about starting a trend that has gone viral should think twice. The dalgona coffee that is spreading across the world in pace with the virus has been a favourite of Indian households for ages; only it is called phneti hui coffee or beaten coffee.

Roshni Sen,

Calcutta