In the present era of rapid globalization, developing economies like India have been catapulted into a scenario full of turbulence and change for the consumer. The market and industry are on a fast track and consumers, while being pulled willy-nilly into the excitement that the onset of age of information technology has generated all around, are in dire need of protection of their rights in new areas mushrooming all around them. Our website, Consumer-voice.org, is one small step in the direction of keeping pace with the new demands on consumers. Our subscribers can access all kinds of information on the site ranging from their rights to their responsibilities in the areas of consumer education, marketing, legal, gender, and social issues as well as ethical and sustainable consumption and production. We expect our readers to interact with us through our "feed back" form. We also urge people to join hands with us to strengthen the consumer movement by subscribing to our bimonthly : Consumer Voice.

The second is our ongoing programme of Product Testing to screen the market for the consumer and give the industry a run for its claims - exaggerated or otherwise - in the detergents range.

We decided not to do the skin sensitivity and skin irritation tests for the following considerations. The skin sensitivity test involves animal testing, which we are against and the other, having human volunteers for testing and costs which we could not afford. In a random survey we found that most detergent users had already identified some such irritants in the available range of detergents and also that it varied from consumer to consumer as allergic reaction are mostly individual. We hope our test report proves useful for our readers.

The other two events are two landmark decisions involving mineral water and labelling of non- vegetarian foods. VOICE has actively campaigned on both issues and our efforts have borne fruit as now it is mandatory from April 2001 for mineral water bottles to carry ISI mark along with manufacturing and expiry dates. The issue of proper labeling of non vegetarian ingredients has engaged at our request, even prime ministerial attention and now companies will have to give informative labels for consumers on food packages that specify the origin of ingredients, both in words and in symbols. 'Our ' new look' current issue of ‘consumer-voice' is in your hands. We have tried our best with somewhat enhanced, but still limited resources to bring you an exciting new package. Not only have we attempted a new look but have also added a new range of issues and colours to our contents and the palette. We will also bring you a four page special focus on a variety of consumer concerns in each issue, addressed to one or the other consumer segment. We would welcome any suggestions you might have. We will of course continue to bring you the test reports and legal reporting along with health issues. We look forward to lots of feed back from our subscribers.

Take care in the hot season and keep your liquid intake high, but do not get hooked to mineral water or the synthetic range of cold drinks. Aqua pura is the elixir of life. Keep smiling.