Protest Against Ecoport.org

Ecoport’s bad game is on even in the International Year of Biodiversity

2010-04-23T00:56:00.000-07:00

Ecoport’s bad game is on even in the International Year of Biodiversity.

Pankaj Oudhia

Few weeks back I was searching “Ecoport.org” in Google image. Suddenly I found an image of Sida alba. It was in site on Dogon Language dogonlanguages.org/flora_fauna/flora_fauna.cfm. I checked the site and found that someone has added this Ecoport picture by acknowledging the source but not image contributor. I contributed this image to Ecoport. Please see the link for image.

http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=pdb&PdbID=55022

I sent warning message to the addresses given in the site. Even after many days neither the academic thief nor the promoters of thief i.e. Ecoport took any action. This academic cheating is still visible through Google.

When I started “Protest Against Ecoport” I made it clear that why Ecoport is not interested in allowing search engines to the database. They want to keep my contributions behind the walls and then distribute in such way so that I can never get information about such thefts. This is one example but I have tens of examples when my Ecoport contributions have been used in this wrong way.

It seems that PROTA is closely associated with Ecoport. My many pictures are on PROTA base. I contributed it to Ecoport. Please see this link for record Boerhaavia diffusa.

http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Boerhavia%20diffusa_En.htm

PROTA used this image without informing me. I know it is not required as per Ecoport rules but still it is required for the sake of readers. I took picture from local herb shop claiming it as roots of Boerhaavia diffusa. I uploaded it to Ecoport and ask for true identification from the experts. Many of them confirmed that it is genuine root. Due to Ecoport policy of keeping information behind the wall I stopped contributions many years back. Very recently I verified the picture again and I found that it is not root of Boerhaavia. There is need to change the caption in Ecoport but Ecoport as barred me to make any correction in my own contributions. I have no way. Through this PROTA record wrong information is reaching to millions of readers. Therefore, through this writing I would like to request the users of Ecoport contributions to verify it through the contributor and take updates.
[After informing about this Error to PROTA. They have corrected it immediately and assured to take special precaution while using Ecoport pictures in future. But this picture with wrong caption is still visible in Ecoport.]

There are hundreds of pictures in Ecoport needing correction and improved captions but I am not able to correct it in Ecoport. Ecoport owners thought that they have extracted every thing from me and now its time to earn from it. This is the reason they are giving my contributors to everyone as these are their own property. When I raised voice against this exploitation the Ecoport Supervisor used bad languages against me and barred me using the Ecoport.

As last resort I am uploading over 34,000 pictures in pankajoudhia.com with correct captions. I have to repeat the work of many years only due to business policy of Ecoport. The United Nations has declared year 2010 as International Year of Biodiversity. I feel that in this year besides all routine work there is need to expose the database like Ecoport engaged in fraud activities.

[Earlier the title of this article was “FAO sponsored Ecoport’s bad game is on even in the International Year of Biodiversity.” I sent it to Mr. Rohan Putter of Ecoport for comments. I received no reply from him but a mail from “Jan Breithaupt” saying
“I am also an FAO plant protection staff member based in East Africa – From some of the recent postings of yours, it became apparent that there are clear misunderstandings from your side concerning FAO and EcoPort and what ‘EcoPort’ is!
- EcoPort is NOT an FAO sponsored enterprise! But I know of many FAO individuals that are EcoPort contributors and also do contribute under FAO-banner.”

This message indicates that Rohan has forwarded my mail to him and he replied my letter. I deleted the words “FAO sponsored” from the title of this article but I am aware Ecoport is sponsored by FAO atleast in front page of Ecoport.org the name of FAO is present as sponsor.

I replied to Jan through this message.

“Thanks Jan for your message. Lets not make our relations bitter by discussion
on Ecoport. It seems that you are not aware of issues raised by me.

The father and son running Ecoport know well the issues raised by me. Also
thousands of readers reading me since year 1990 are aware of these issues. The
father and son are not ready to answer my questions because they have no
answer for it. They have used Ecoport for their personal gain.

Hopefully you know it that I have contributed over 33,000 images and other
research documents to Ecoport. I have invested every thing from my pocket for
it. And then the Ecoport supervisor dares to say that I am Ignorant fool. When
I showed the translated version of supervisor's letter to my people living in
forest and my readers they simply asked for unconditional apology for this
abuse.

Jan right know I am engaged in documentation of over 35,000 cancer
formulations. About 260 formulations are online through pankajoudhia.com. I
feel that I must give priority to this work instead of dealing with Devils
like Ecoport supervisor. God is there to punish such persons.

Give me few months, you will find my Ecoport contributions less than the post
Ecoport contributions.

This is my way of challenging fraud.

(Thanks for answering on behalf of Rohan. I am publishing your letter and my
this answer with the article sent to Rohan.)

regards

Pankaj Oudhia”

Global knowledge database owners must have sound mental health, at least

2009-11-13T05:10:00.000-08:00

Global knowledge database owners must have sound mental health, at least

Pankaj Oudhia

“You have spoiled my Sunday.” I got this message. I was trying to add captions in recently added pictures in Ecoport. I was very tired due to day long visit to forest. I was adding captions in pictures of Ficus racemosa trees taken from different angles. First of all I decided to add the botanical name of trees in all pictures and later add other details. I added the name “Ficus racemosa” in three pictures. Suddenly I got this message.

It was the message of Tonie Putter, the Ecoport supervisor. I humbly replied that how I have spoiled your Sunday sir? I got the reply immediately. “You are adding same names in pictures. What is meaning of adding pictures of same tree?” He wrote.

“Let me add the captions in it. Only then you will know why I have added pictures of same tree.” I tried to explain. “I am watching it carefully. Don’t argue unnecessarily. You have spoiled my Sunday.” He repeated the same line.

For the first time I felt that I was treated as employee. I was contributor sharing knowledge and Tonie was treating me as employee. This is not a good manner. “If I have spoiled your Sunday sir then let me stop contributing in Ecoport. Enjoy your Sunday. All the Best.” I wrote with disappointment. As reply he wrote very long letter with apology. During contributions in Ecoport up to three years he showed odd manner hundreds of times and when I said that I am saying Goodbye, he wrote long letter with apology. I have kept his all mails.

I complained about it to his son Rohan. He replied that my dad is very busy person and he receives hundreds of mails daily. That is why many times he uses rough language.

Before starting contributions in Ecoport I have contributed thousands of articles in Botanical.com and New crop website, University of Purdue. Webmaster of Botanical.com Julie and Prof. Jules Janick of Purdue University showed generosity while accepting my contributions. They mentioned many times that in modern world very few researchers share knowledge with open heart and we are fortunate to get friend like you. Such appreciations motivated me to share knowledge for the benefit of world community. They were busy like Tonie but never used rough language.

After adding few articles I invited my readers and friends to read it in Ecoport. As response, most of them replied that they are unable to find the articles due to complex nature of database. If you visit to Ecoport you will find “Sign in” key in every page. The users try to “Sign in” to access the information. They register in Ecoport in order to get “Sign in” benefit. But after registering they find that it was the wastage of time. “Sign in” is not possible even after registration.

When I asked about it to Tonie he replied that “Sign in” is required only for the Editors not for the users. For users there is no barrier to access the information. I asked to him that if “Sign in” is not required for the users then why this key is placed in every page prominently, remove it. I got no response. Thousands of users including Chairperson of MPWG Dr. Patricia also questioned about it. Mr. Bhatt from Gwalior asked about it yesterday. Ex-FAO employee and very close friend of Tonie, Griffee Peter also suggested many times to remove this key but it is still there.

“Ecoport is run by ex-FAO consultants. It is not a database with holy objectives. It is online to earn money from it. “Sign in” key is there to confuse the users. They must not reach to free information. If they reach to the information how the consultants will earn from this database?” I got anonymous message from ex-Ecoport worker. I ignored it but today when I think over it again I see some truth in it.

Ecoport keeps small sized pictures. Once a Wikipedia contributor added picture of Momordica charantia contributed to Ecoport by me, in Wikipedia. Wikipedia team raised objection and instructed the contributor to take permission from me. He contacted me. I was new to Ecoport so I decided to ask about it to Tonie. I forwarded the original mail to him. He replied to me and the contributor that you must charge US $ 5000 for this picture. Obviously, the contributor shocked and he used wrong words against me and dropped the idea to take this picture. Later I realized that I have done a big mistake. God knows why Tonie answered in this way but I got idea about his commercial mind.

I got invitation from Wikipedia to become editor. It was one time offer. Tonie successfully washed my brain. Today when I get much knowledge from Wikipedia without confusing “Sign in” key, I realize that I have done wrong. Wikipedia is far better than Ecoport and not run by “The consultants”.

“Ecoport acknowledges the contributors; if you contribute in Wikipedia no one will get information that it was your contribution.” Tonie writes these lines commonly. But it is not true. We have Shri J.M. Garg as example. He has contributed thousands of pictures in Wikipedia. These pictures are searchable by the name of Shri Garg. Millions of users are getting benefit from these pictures. Today entire world appreciates his contributions. I have contributed nearly 34,000 pictures to Ecoport. As Ecoport is not allowing search engines, these pictures are far from common people. “Consultants” have locked my contributions and enjoying (as well as earning) from my work.

When I am writing this I am remembering the gesture showed by Dr. John Pickering of Discoverlife Database. I have contributed thousands of pictures to this database. John not only helped in designing new software for easy upload of pictures but always appreciated my contributions. These pictures can be searched through search engines. I am fortunate that this time I am not in grip of “The consultants.”

As mentioned in my blog “Protest Against Ecoport” that in three years I was treated as slave in Ecoport. It was very painful experiences. “You must add hyperlinks in every technical word” –Tonie instructed me as boss in early days. “I will do it later” I said. “No it is strict rule and you have to follow. If we give freedom to you other contributors will also take advantage from it.” He replied. Due to chronic eye problem I was advised to sit in computer less by health experts but in Tonie’s pressure I started adding hyperlinks. Later I found that in three years there was no contributor in Ecoport except me and Tonie himself. He fooled me. In these three years I added material that is over 90 percent of material available in Ecoport today. To fool the sponsors Ecoport team has added passwords in old articles and if you try to see inside the articles you will find it empty. There are thousands of pictures with no caption. Ecoport claims to have 100.000 pictures. I have contributed nearly 34,000 pictures and major part of remaining pictures is UGA pictures. These are already online through UGA site. “Ecoport is sinking ship but Ecoport team is still fooling sponsors that it is working in full swing.” Ex-Ecoport employee presented the truth in one mail.

Such bitter experiences give new lessons in life. It shows that before giving any organization especially private organization like Ecoport Foundation, a huge responsibility of making global database, there must be some norms. The supervisors must be well mannered and should respect the contributors, at least.

“Ecoport is openly denying Prof.Wilson’s great philosophy of knowledge sharing.” Pankaj Oudhia in interview.

2009-09-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

“Ecoport is openly denying Prof.Wilson’s great philosophy of knowledge sharing.” Pankaj Oudhia in interview.

Famous Agriculture Scientist Pankaj Oudhia talking about his decision to withdraw academic contributions from Ecoport.

Q. Please tell us about your contributions in Ecoport.
Pankaj Oudhia: I have contributed over 33,000 pictures, over 2500 e-articles, over 80,000 interactive tables, Hundreds of glossary terms, hundreds of references and tens of plant and animal entities to Ecoport in three years. I have spent hundreds of hours to upload it, initially from cyber cafe and then by my own computer with high speed broadband. According to Ecoport supervisor Mr.Tonie Putter in his presentation in recent world conference on Conservation Agriculture, New Delhi, I have contributed over 650,000 pages in Ecoport.

Q. Amazing!!! No one contributes with such generosity. Why you are requesting for “Withdraw”?
Pankaj Oudhia: Ecoport claims that it is knowledge sharing database. When I started contributions in Ecoport they were allowing search engines. Ecoport pages were visible through search engines. Suddenly in the name of technical difficulties they have blocked search engine crawlers with promise to solve this issue within months. But it is more than two years from now Ecoport is not allowing search engines. I feel that my contributions are “locked”. I write for common people not for people selected by Ecoport. Dr. Nelson Mandela and Prof.E.O.Wilson are patrons of Ecoport. I feel that Ecoport is openly denying Prof.Wilson’s great philosophy of knowledge sharing.

Q. What is the response of Ecoport?
Pankaj Oudhia: I have written to Ecoport many times with no response. Finally I decided to stop contributions one year back. Meanwhile readers around the world complained through messages that due to Ecoport policies my contributions are not reaching to them. They suggested me to “Withdraw” the contributions and publish it in place where it can reach to common people. I realized that present Ecoport model of knowledge sharing is not for world community but to get benefit in their own business.

In response of my recent mail Ecoport supervisor Mr. Tonie Putter has written that they are planning to allow search engines in near future and it is in their own interest. This is typical answer I am getting from Ecoport from two years. I am concerned with world community’s interest not the interest of Ecoport.

Q. If Ecoport refuses to return the contributions, how you will proceed?
Pankaj Oudhia: I am confident that Ecoport will respect my request and help in “Withdraw.” In case of their denial I am planning to raise the voice against this malpractice through international forum.

Q. Do you have any problem of misbehaving from Ecoport team?
Pankaj Oudhia: Please don’t ask this. I was treated as “unpaid slave” in the name of Ecoport rules and norms. It is very painful side. But I tolerated all odd comments in order to share knowledge to common people.

I have kept the emails sent by them time to time as proof.

Q. After” Withdraw” what are your plans to do with the material?
Pankaj Oudhia: I am in process of making CGBD database online. I have prepared this database by my own expenses. This database will be available for everyone. Another option is to give pictures and materials to Wikipedia like database available for everyone.

Q. How you uploaded over 33,000 pictures in Ecoport?
Pankaj Oudhia: Initially I sent pictures as email attachment but later finding it difficult I sent it through post in form of CDs and DVDs. Ecoport asked for full size pictures i.e. 3 to 4 MB per picture. After receiving the pictures they were resizing it in small pictures for database. Last year when I requested Ecoport supervisor to return my original CDs and DVDs they ignored my request. I am much worried about its misuse.

Later when I started contributions in Discoverlife I learnt the process of resizing. Ecoport never told me about easy method of resizing. It seems that there intention is to get full size pictures from me. I am still waiting for their reply.

Q. What is your response to Ecoport supervisor’s recent mail? Here is mail:

“Rubbish!

All your information is openly accessible. No information or access to any
information is 'denied'.

On the other hand YOUR authoring access to EcoPort is herewith suspended
until further notice - until you can behave in a responsible way that does
not denigrate or threaten the service or its community.

Tonie Putter”

Pankaj Oudhia: Let me explain the lie of this gentleman by giving one example. Please visit to this link and type “Oudhia” in contributor name, by setting “contain”

http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=displayMenu&menu=Resources

Press the search button, you will find this link

500 interactive tables found

http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=interactiveTableList&Contributor=oudhia&ContributorWild=CO

I have contributed over 80,000 Interactive Tables but Ecoport is showing only 500. Most of the tables (plus 75,000) related to Type II Diabetes report are not visible through search. Now please read his mail again and decide who is telling lie. Ecoport is not allowing common people to reach my contributions.

Now come to second point saying “YOUR authoring access to EcoPort is herewith suspended.” He knows very well that I have stopped using this authoring access from one year. Hence there is no meaning of any suspension. But please note the gesture and see how Ecoport “behaves” with star contributor (“Star contributor” name was used by Mr. Tonie Putter in one mail).

Q. Are you still trying to avoid this conflict?
Pankaj Oudhia: On September 24th, 2009 I sent message to Mr.Tonie Putter that by giving “concrete assurance” of making my contributions available through search engines still Ecoport can avoid this conflict. But he replied

“I will not succumb to your threats and ultimatums.

I fully expect you to behave like an adolescent and set out to do as
much damage as you can.

There is mo system in the world that could have enabled and empowered
you as did EcoPort. Yet you still, ignorantly, equate EcoPort and
wikipedia.

Go ahead throw your childish tantrum in public. Be proud of the damage
you are setting out to do.

Sent from Tonie's iPhone”

You can note his “tone.” I have stopped further correspondences. This ‘attitude’ has forced me to put this issue in front of world community.

I am simply saying that my contributions should reach to common people for whom I have contributed. If Ecoport is not in position to do so, please return my contributions back. Nothing else.

Q. Why you are not writing directly to FAO and other organization sponsoring Ecoport? You can also write directly to Prof. E.O.Wilson?
Pankaj Oudhia: I am in process of sending letters. Also writing to Prof.Wilson. Ecoport knows that I am from remote part of the world and may not do much to raise voice against the giant organization but I will do my best so that shared knowledge can reach to common people.

Q. You have wasted three golden years of your life for Ecoport. Worked day and night and put much from your own pocket. How you are feeling now to see the bad attitude of Ecoport?
Pankaj Oudhia: It is very shocking and sad time of my life. But I have to remain strong and confident. I will not allow Ecoport to “enjoy” from my contributions. I have shared knowledge for noble cause. Today when I am telling about the bad treatment given by Ecoport to world community I am feeling light. I am confident that people around the world will come in support of me and force the Ecoport like organizations to respect the people ready to “give.”

Please wait for second part of this interview.

Quotes displayed in Ecoport but Quotes Ecoport is not following.

"Knowledge is effective action in the domain of existence. Knowledge shared is knowledge doubled.

— Maturana & Varela (1992)"