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Showing posts with label petition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label petition. Show all posts
Ministries urged to protect health policy from those with conflict of interest
Mounting pressure against new uranium mining and nuclear power plants
Mounting pressure against new uranium mining and nuclear power plants
There is a growing civil society movement against the new uranium mining and nuclear power plants in India. The National Alliance of Anti-nuclear Movements (NAAM) is mobilizing citizens to protest against the reported decision of the government of India to take a quantum leap in installed capacity for nuclear power generation, from the current level of 4,120 MW to 63,000 MW by 2032. "This decision is but an invitation to disaster" says activists.
"Nuclear power, contrary to orchestrated hypes, is actually costlier than power from conventional sources like coal, gas and hydro. And once all the hidden costs are factored in, it would be costlier than even from renewable sources, like wind, in particular" says the NAAM petition that is swelling with citizens signing and endorsing the petition addressed to Ms Pratibha Patil, President of India; Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India and Mr Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
"More importantly, it is also intrinsically hazardous, as large amount of radiation is routinely released at every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle. An even more intractable problem is that of safe storage of nuclear waste and safe disposal of outlived power plants, given the fact that the half-lives of some of the radioactive substances involved are over even millions of years" further reads the petition.
"Even more disconcerting is, considering the complexity of the technology of a nuclear reactor; there is no way to ensure that a major accident at a nuclear power plant will never take place. And a major accident, given the nature of things, will just turn catastrophic affecting a very large number of people, over a large territory, over a very long period. The disastrous accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, in the Ukraine province of the then USSR, on April 26 1986 is a chilling illustration."
"The promise of nil greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is also nothing more than a myth if the entire fuel cycle - including mining, milling, transportation and construction of the power plant - is considered. Moreover, nuclear energy with its highly centralized power production model would only further aggravate the problem by accentuating the current development paradigm reliant on mega-industries and actively blocking any possibility towards ecologically benign decentralized development. The strong linkage between nuclear power and weapons - in terms of large overlaps in technology, in turn triggering strong political push - of which India itself is a graphic illustration can also be overlooked only at our own peril given the genocidal, and suicidal, character of the nuclear weapon" reads the signature petition of NAAM.
The NAAM petition further adds:
As nuclear power is economically unattractive and socially unacceptable, on account of radiation hazards and risks of catastrophic accidents, no order for new nuclear reactors was placed in the USA and most of West Europe during the last 30 years, since the Three Mile Island accident in the US in 1979.
The US and European companies in nuclear power plant equipment and nuclear fuel business are thus looking to Asia for markets - India, China and Japan spearheading the current expansion programme.
It is unfortunate that the Indian government is becoming their willing collaborator in this in pursuit of its megalomaniac hunt for nuclear power and weapon. It has thus, over a period of just one year, rushed to enter into agreements with as many as seven countries, viz. the US, France, Russia, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Mongolia and Argentina.
So far, nuclear power production capacity in India is very small, only about 3 percent of the total electricity generation capacity; and the veil of secrecy surrounding the existing nuclear power plants in the country, and absence of any truly independent monitoring agency, has seriously hindered dissemination of information on accidents - large and small - at these plants and their public scrutiny. That explains the current low level of popular awareness as regards the grave threats posed by the nuclear industry.
Taking advantage of this, the government of India is now set to steamroll its massive expansion program.
The contention that nuclear power is indispensable to meet future energy needs is false; for energy demand, and "need", is obviously a function of the development paradigm chosen and pursued. And "energy security" is not an autonomous entity or objective, but must be in alignment with other chosen objectives which must include equitable growth and concerns for ecology.
Viewed thus, "energy security" may be achieved by: (I) Increasing efficiency of electricity generation, transmission and distribution. (II) Doing away with extravagant and wasteful use of energy. (III) Pursuing a path of low-energy intensity and decentralised development. (IV) Making optimum use of alternative energy options. (IV) Radically raising investment in development of sustainable and renewable energy sources and technologies, especially wind and solar energy.
As a part of its expansion program, the government of India has announced plans to expand the nuclear power plant coming up at Koodankulam (Tamil Nadu). Additional four reactors from Russia of 1,200 MWe each, in the immediate or near future, are to come up over and above the two of 950 MWe each, presently under construction. The process for setting up a nuclear plant at Jaitapur (Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra) has also reached an advanced stage. The French company Areva is set to supply two new generation reactors of 1650 MWe each, to be followed by another two. Land acquisition notices have been served on the local people to acquire 981 hectare of land.
The government has reportedly already approved 15 new plants at eight sites.
These sites are Kumharia in Haryana - meant for indigenous reactors; Kakrapar (indigenous reactors) and Chhayamithi Virdi (reactor from US) in Gujarat; Kovvada (reactor from US) in Andhra Pradesh; Haripur (reactor from Russia) in West Bengal; Koodankulam (reactor from Russia) in Tamil Nadu; and Jaitapur (reactor from France) in Maharashtra.
Similarly, the mad rush for more and more power plants is matched by an accelerated drive for uranium mining in newer areas: Andhra and Meghalaya, in particular. And this, despite the horrible experience of uranium mines in different parts of the world, as also in our own Jadugoda - where appalling conditions continue despite strong popular protests, spanning decades.
The signatories of this NAAM petition demand that the government of India put a complete stop to the construction of all new uranium mines and nuclear power plants, and radically jack up investments in renewable and environmentally sustainable sources of energy.
[To sign the petition, click here or go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/Nonukes/petition.html ]
Published in:
Thai-India News, Bangkok, Thailand
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
News From Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Pakistan Christian Post, Pakistan
Bihar and Jharkhand News (BJNS)
World News Network, USA
NewspostOnline.com
Bahcesel.com
Social median
NatureRights
Nuclearnews.net
World News Report
Wikio.com
Press Pieces
Energy Industry Today
Latest Headline
Finance Industry Today, Namibia
Waste Management & Recycling Today, China
Global Investing Today, Mongolia
Technology Today, Ukraine
There is a growing civil society movement against the new uranium mining and nuclear power plants in India. The National Alliance of Anti-nuclear Movements (NAAM) is mobilizing citizens to protest against the reported decision of the government of India to take a quantum leap in installed capacity for nuclear power generation, from the current level of 4,120 MW to 63,000 MW by 2032. "This decision is but an invitation to disaster" says activists.
"Nuclear power, contrary to orchestrated hypes, is actually costlier than power from conventional sources like coal, gas and hydro. And once all the hidden costs are factored in, it would be costlier than even from renewable sources, like wind, in particular" says the NAAM petition that is swelling with citizens signing and endorsing the petition addressed to Ms Pratibha Patil, President of India; Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India and Mr Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
"More importantly, it is also intrinsically hazardous, as large amount of radiation is routinely released at every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle. An even more intractable problem is that of safe storage of nuclear waste and safe disposal of outlived power plants, given the fact that the half-lives of some of the radioactive substances involved are over even millions of years" further reads the petition.
"Even more disconcerting is, considering the complexity of the technology of a nuclear reactor; there is no way to ensure that a major accident at a nuclear power plant will never take place. And a major accident, given the nature of things, will just turn catastrophic affecting a very large number of people, over a large territory, over a very long period. The disastrous accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, in the Ukraine province of the then USSR, on April 26 1986 is a chilling illustration."
"The promise of nil greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is also nothing more than a myth if the entire fuel cycle - including mining, milling, transportation and construction of the power plant - is considered. Moreover, nuclear energy with its highly centralized power production model would only further aggravate the problem by accentuating the current development paradigm reliant on mega-industries and actively blocking any possibility towards ecologically benign decentralized development. The strong linkage between nuclear power and weapons - in terms of large overlaps in technology, in turn triggering strong political push - of which India itself is a graphic illustration can also be overlooked only at our own peril given the genocidal, and suicidal, character of the nuclear weapon" reads the signature petition of NAAM.
The NAAM petition further adds:
As nuclear power is economically unattractive and socially unacceptable, on account of radiation hazards and risks of catastrophic accidents, no order for new nuclear reactors was placed in the USA and most of West Europe during the last 30 years, since the Three Mile Island accident in the US in 1979.
The US and European companies in nuclear power plant equipment and nuclear fuel business are thus looking to Asia for markets - India, China and Japan spearheading the current expansion programme.
It is unfortunate that the Indian government is becoming their willing collaborator in this in pursuit of its megalomaniac hunt for nuclear power and weapon. It has thus, over a period of just one year, rushed to enter into agreements with as many as seven countries, viz. the US, France, Russia, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Mongolia and Argentina.
So far, nuclear power production capacity in India is very small, only about 3 percent of the total electricity generation capacity; and the veil of secrecy surrounding the existing nuclear power plants in the country, and absence of any truly independent monitoring agency, has seriously hindered dissemination of information on accidents - large and small - at these plants and their public scrutiny. That explains the current low level of popular awareness as regards the grave threats posed by the nuclear industry.
Taking advantage of this, the government of India is now set to steamroll its massive expansion program.
The contention that nuclear power is indispensable to meet future energy needs is false; for energy demand, and "need", is obviously a function of the development paradigm chosen and pursued. And "energy security" is not an autonomous entity or objective, but must be in alignment with other chosen objectives which must include equitable growth and concerns for ecology.
Viewed thus, "energy security" may be achieved by: (I) Increasing efficiency of electricity generation, transmission and distribution. (II) Doing away with extravagant and wasteful use of energy. (III) Pursuing a path of low-energy intensity and decentralised development. (IV) Making optimum use of alternative energy options. (IV) Radically raising investment in development of sustainable and renewable energy sources and technologies, especially wind and solar energy.
As a part of its expansion program, the government of India has announced plans to expand the nuclear power plant coming up at Koodankulam (Tamil Nadu). Additional four reactors from Russia of 1,200 MWe each, in the immediate or near future, are to come up over and above the two of 950 MWe each, presently under construction. The process for setting up a nuclear plant at Jaitapur (Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra) has also reached an advanced stage. The French company Areva is set to supply two new generation reactors of 1650 MWe each, to be followed by another two. Land acquisition notices have been served on the local people to acquire 981 hectare of land.
The government has reportedly already approved 15 new plants at eight sites.
These sites are Kumharia in Haryana - meant for indigenous reactors; Kakrapar (indigenous reactors) and Chhayamithi Virdi (reactor from US) in Gujarat; Kovvada (reactor from US) in Andhra Pradesh; Haripur (reactor from Russia) in West Bengal; Koodankulam (reactor from Russia) in Tamil Nadu; and Jaitapur (reactor from France) in Maharashtra.
Similarly, the mad rush for more and more power plants is matched by an accelerated drive for uranium mining in newer areas: Andhra and Meghalaya, in particular. And this, despite the horrible experience of uranium mines in different parts of the world, as also in our own Jadugoda - where appalling conditions continue despite strong popular protests, spanning decades.
The signatories of this NAAM petition demand that the government of India put a complete stop to the construction of all new uranium mines and nuclear power plants, and radically jack up investments in renewable and environmentally sustainable sources of energy.
[To sign the petition, click here or go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/Nonukes/petition.html ]
Published in:
Thai-India News, Bangkok, Thailand
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
News From Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Pakistan Christian Post, Pakistan
Bihar and Jharkhand News (BJNS)
World News Network, USA
NewspostOnline.com
Bahcesel.com
Social median
NatureRights
Nuclearnews.net
World News Report
Wikio.com
Press Pieces
Energy Industry Today
Latest Headline
Finance Industry Today, Namibia
Waste Management & Recycling Today, China
Global Investing Today, Mongolia
Technology Today, Ukraine
West Bengal authorities put media's credibility at stake
West Bengal authorities put media's credibility at stake
A growing outrage is palpable from the civil society against the abuse of media's credibility to arrest Chhatradhar Mahto, the leader of Lalgarh movement in West Bengal, India.
The West Bengal police and authorities disguised as a fake media representative and with the assistance of a local media personnel, managed to reach Chhatradhar Mahto. Mahto was arrested then.
Dr Vishnu Rajgadia, Secretary of Jharkhand RTI Forum and a noted social activist, took the initiative with support from National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) leaders to begin a signature petition campaign demanding the Prime Minister of India to intervene and stop this trend which is jeopardising the credibility of media in India. Citizens have mobilized individuals to sign a petition against the misuse of media's credibility in West Bengal to arrest Mahto. The signature petition got hundreds of signatures from citizens in a short span of time (signature petition is online here). Prominent among those include the Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey, noted Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist and adviser to Supreme Court Commissioner on Right to Food Arundhati Dhuru, filmmaker Anand Patwardhan,
"The West Bangal police has misused the credibility of media to arrest a leader of Lalgarh movement, Chhatradhar Mahto on 26 September 2009. This is very objectionable as it is a misuse of the credibility and good name of the media. This is also an encroachment in the autonomy of Media" says Dr Vishnu Rajgadia.
"This will create various problems for the journalists including the threat of their life during reporting in any so-called disturbed area. Therefore, we request you all to consider signing the online petition to protest the misuse by West Bengal police and to support a law to prevent such possibilities" further adds Dr Rajgadia, who began the petition on behalf of several human rights organizations.
It poses serious questions on the way police is functioning in a democratic country. Draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and other such Acts which are rule of the law in other states like Chhattisgarh, have only caused seemingly irreparable damage to social democratic fabric.
When media used disguise to conduct sting operations, the authorities took them to task and hardly any concrete action has come out of the evidence collected thereby in public interest. However authorities shamelessly have used the disguise of media and put media's credibility at risk in West Bengal.
"In a democratic country like India, each and every institution has its own duties as well as each of them have been provided certain space, authority and liberty to execute their responsibility. No institution has any right to encroach the autonomy of other institution" says the petition.
"The media persons are visiting in various remote areas including "Disturbed" fields and they also have to meet with various people including any accused person to collect news and to expose various socio-political-economic conflicts of the society. The media has a credit to keep its sources secret and to not harm somebody during their news gathering process" further states the petition.
"Therefore, the act of West Bengal Government through its CID and Police is totally unethical and unjust. It has created a big threat to the media persons especially for them who are visiting to various remote areas of so-called insurgency. Now, every body will suspect the identity of even the genuine media persons putting them at grave risk" says the petition.
The petition also demands a law in place to prevent any such abuse of media in future. Hope effective measures to safeguard media from any such misuse in future get in place as soon as possible.
[To sign the petition, click here or go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/wbmisuse/petition.html ]
Published in:
Modern Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Citizen News Service (CNS)
World News Network, USA
Pakistan Christian Post, Pakistan
The New Nation, Bangladesh
Bihar and jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhan, India
A growing outrage is palpable from the civil society against the abuse of media's credibility to arrest Chhatradhar Mahto, the leader of Lalgarh movement in West Bengal, India.
The West Bengal police and authorities disguised as a fake media representative and with the assistance of a local media personnel, managed to reach Chhatradhar Mahto. Mahto was arrested then.
Dr Vishnu Rajgadia, Secretary of Jharkhand RTI Forum and a noted social activist, took the initiative with support from National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) leaders to begin a signature petition campaign demanding the Prime Minister of India to intervene and stop this trend which is jeopardising the credibility of media in India. Citizens have mobilized individuals to sign a petition against the misuse of media's credibility in West Bengal to arrest Mahto. The signature petition got hundreds of signatures from citizens in a short span of time (signature petition is online here). Prominent among those include the Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey, noted Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist and adviser to Supreme Court Commissioner on Right to Food Arundhati Dhuru, filmmaker Anand Patwardhan,
"The West Bangal police has misused the credibility of media to arrest a leader of Lalgarh movement, Chhatradhar Mahto on 26 September 2009. This is very objectionable as it is a misuse of the credibility and good name of the media. This is also an encroachment in the autonomy of Media" says Dr Vishnu Rajgadia.
"This will create various problems for the journalists including the threat of their life during reporting in any so-called disturbed area. Therefore, we request you all to consider signing the online petition to protest the misuse by West Bengal police and to support a law to prevent such possibilities" further adds Dr Rajgadia, who began the petition on behalf of several human rights organizations.
It poses serious questions on the way police is functioning in a democratic country. Draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and other such Acts which are rule of the law in other states like Chhattisgarh, have only caused seemingly irreparable damage to social democratic fabric.
When media used disguise to conduct sting operations, the authorities took them to task and hardly any concrete action has come out of the evidence collected thereby in public interest. However authorities shamelessly have used the disguise of media and put media's credibility at risk in West Bengal.
"In a democratic country like India, each and every institution has its own duties as well as each of them have been provided certain space, authority and liberty to execute their responsibility. No institution has any right to encroach the autonomy of other institution" says the petition.
"The media persons are visiting in various remote areas including "Disturbed" fields and they also have to meet with various people including any accused person to collect news and to expose various socio-political-economic conflicts of the society. The media has a credit to keep its sources secret and to not harm somebody during their news gathering process" further states the petition.
"Therefore, the act of West Bengal Government through its CID and Police is totally unethical and unjust. It has created a big threat to the media persons especially for them who are visiting to various remote areas of so-called insurgency. Now, every body will suspect the identity of even the genuine media persons putting them at grave risk" says the petition.
The petition also demands a law in place to prevent any such abuse of media in future. Hope effective measures to safeguard media from any such misuse in future get in place as soon as possible.
[To sign the petition, click here or go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/wbmisuse/petition.html ]
Published in:
Modern Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Citizen News Service (CNS)
World News Network, USA
Pakistan Christian Post, Pakistan
The New Nation, Bangladesh
Bihar and jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhan, India
Call to stop misuse of media in elections
Call to stop misuse of media in elections
[To sign the petition, click here]
Lucknow, INDIA: Citizens expressed their deep concern about the blatant misuse of print and electronic media by parties and candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and about the media allowing itself to be abused. "This constitutes a gross breach of trust with the reader/viewer who expects unbiased and fair news coverage during elections" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and member, National Presidium, Lok Rajniti Manch (People's Politics Front - PPF).
Moreover, the media, violating the Press Council of India’s Guidelines of Election Reporting -1996, stands discredited so far as its role as fourth pillar of the democracy is concerned, said the assembled citizens.
Shri Ishwar Chandra Dwivedi, former Director General of Police (DGP), Uttar Pradesh (UP), Shri Naveen Tiwari, UP Election Watch, Dr Ramesh Dixit who represents Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), were among the other key discussants.
The distinction between news, views and political campaigning (read advertising) is no longer clear. The use of 'advt' or 'marketing media initiative' tag in small font-size printed is not sufficient to inform the reader whether the content is news, views or paid advertising by an election candidate. Some newspapers don’t even care to put this small print.
Broadly speaking, the influence of marketing heads is growing over the influence of editors within media houses in decision-making related to the content. The person who collects advertisements for media and acts as a correspondent, is often the same in smaller districts and sub-district places. These people enjoy due media accreditation and often promote those who issue advertisements (and block those who don't).
The amount which is spent on paid advertising, advertorials and other manners like 'marketing media initiative' and likes, to solicit earned and paid media coverage of a candidate during elections, often crosses the spending cap of Rs 25 lakhs. Hence, media is colluding with parties and candidates in violating the model code of conduct during elections. Moreover, the transactions for advertisements in the garb of news items are not even shown in the records. Newspapers are not required to file financial statements to their regulatory authorities as a result of which it is difficult to know their exact incomes or the sources on this account. They should be required to do so partywise & candidatewise so that the figures given by the candidates may be cross-checked.
"There is a need to enact a law to regulate political parties. The ceiling should be all inclusive covering expenditure by friends & relatives also which is not included at present and is used to flout the ceiling. Also the penalty on violating the spending cap in elections should be more severe and applicable on the current election cycle as well. Presently the action taken on violating the spending cap is applicable to next election cycle only, which is clearly not a deterrent" said Dr Sandeep Pandey.
The electronic media must also have an equivalent of a Press Council to govern their conduct.
"We also support the growing demand for all newspapers to appoint an ombudsman to inquire into complaints against them" further added Dr Pandey.
"But, fundamentally, we would like to see the media go back to its non-partisan role of being the watchdog of democracy. It should not compromise its independent position for the sake of commercial interests" stressed Dr Pandey.
When people are losing faith in the democratic institutions of the country the media should not accelerate the degeneration. It is expected to play a role in restoring people’s confidence in democracy.
An online and print signature petition campaign was also launched at this meeting today. The online signature petition campaign is available online at: www.citizen-news.org
- Bobby Ramakant, Citizen News Service (CNS)
[To sign the petition, click here]
[To sign the petition, click here]
Lucknow, INDIA: Citizens expressed their deep concern about the blatant misuse of print and electronic media by parties and candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and about the media allowing itself to be abused. "This constitutes a gross breach of trust with the reader/viewer who expects unbiased and fair news coverage during elections" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and member, National Presidium, Lok Rajniti Manch (People's Politics Front - PPF).
Moreover, the media, violating the Press Council of India’s Guidelines of Election Reporting -1996, stands discredited so far as its role as fourth pillar of the democracy is concerned, said the assembled citizens.
Shri Ishwar Chandra Dwivedi, former Director General of Police (DGP), Uttar Pradesh (UP), Shri Naveen Tiwari, UP Election Watch, Dr Ramesh Dixit who represents Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), were among the other key discussants.
The distinction between news, views and political campaigning (read advertising) is no longer clear. The use of 'advt' or 'marketing media initiative' tag in small font-size printed is not sufficient to inform the reader whether the content is news, views or paid advertising by an election candidate. Some newspapers don’t even care to put this small print.
Broadly speaking, the influence of marketing heads is growing over the influence of editors within media houses in decision-making related to the content. The person who collects advertisements for media and acts as a correspondent, is often the same in smaller districts and sub-district places. These people enjoy due media accreditation and often promote those who issue advertisements (and block those who don't).
The amount which is spent on paid advertising, advertorials and other manners like 'marketing media initiative' and likes, to solicit earned and paid media coverage of a candidate during elections, often crosses the spending cap of Rs 25 lakhs. Hence, media is colluding with parties and candidates in violating the model code of conduct during elections. Moreover, the transactions for advertisements in the garb of news items are not even shown in the records. Newspapers are not required to file financial statements to their regulatory authorities as a result of which it is difficult to know their exact incomes or the sources on this account. They should be required to do so partywise & candidatewise so that the figures given by the candidates may be cross-checked.
"There is a need to enact a law to regulate political parties. The ceiling should be all inclusive covering expenditure by friends & relatives also which is not included at present and is used to flout the ceiling. Also the penalty on violating the spending cap in elections should be more severe and applicable on the current election cycle as well. Presently the action taken on violating the spending cap is applicable to next election cycle only, which is clearly not a deterrent" said Dr Sandeep Pandey.
The electronic media must also have an equivalent of a Press Council to govern their conduct.
"We also support the growing demand for all newspapers to appoint an ombudsman to inquire into complaints against them" further added Dr Pandey.
"But, fundamentally, we would like to see the media go back to its non-partisan role of being the watchdog of democracy. It should not compromise its independent position for the sake of commercial interests" stressed Dr Pandey.
When people are losing faith in the democratic institutions of the country the media should not accelerate the degeneration. It is expected to play a role in restoring people’s confidence in democracy.
An online and print signature petition campaign was also launched at this meeting today. The online signature petition campaign is available online at: www.citizen-news.org
- Bobby Ramakant, Citizen News Service (CNS)
[To sign the petition, click here]
Role of media in elections
Role of media in elections
[To read this statement in Hindi language, click here]
[To sign the petition, click here]
We, the citizens, are deeply concerned about the blatant misuse of print and electronic media by parties and candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and about the media allowing itself to be abused. This constitutes a gross breach of trust with the reader/viewer who expects unbiased and fair news coverage during elections. Moreover, the media, blatantly violating the Press Council of India’s Guidelines of Election Reporting -1996, stands discredited so far as its role as fourth pillar of the democracy is concerned.
The distinction between news, views and political campaigning (read advertising) is no longer clear. The use of 'advt' or 'marketing media initiative' tag in small font-size printed is not sufficient to inform the reader whether the content is news, views or paid advertising by an election candidate. Some newspapers don’t even care to put this small print.
Broadly speaking, the influence of marketing heads is growing over the influence of editors within media houses in decision-making related to the content. The person who collects advertisements for media and acts as a correspondent, is often the same in smaller districts and sub-district places. These people enjoy due media accreditation and often promote those who issue advertisements (and block those who don't).
The amount which is spent on paid advertising, advertorials and other manners like 'marketing media initiative' and likes, to solicit earned and paid media coverage of a candidate during elections, often crosses the spending cap of Rs 25 lakhs. Hence, media is colluding with parties and candidates in violating the model code of conduct during elections. Moreover, the transactions for advertisements in the garb of news items are not even shown in the records. Newspapers are not required to file financial statements to their regulatory authorities as a result of which it is difficult to know their exact incomes or the sources on this account. They should be required to do so partywise & candidatewise so that the figures given by the candidates may be cross-checked.
There is a need to enact a law to regulate political parties. The ceiling should be all inclusive covering expenditure by friends & relatives also which is not included at present and is used to flout the ceiling. Also the penalty on violating the spending cap in elections should be more severe and applicable on the current election cycle as well. Presently the action taken on violating the spending cap is applicable to next election cycle only, which is clearly not a deterrent.
The electronic media must also have an equivalent of a Press Council to govern their conduct.
We also support the growing demand for all newspapers to appoint an ombudsman to inquire into complaints against them.
But, fundamentally, we would like to see the media go back to its non-partisan role of being the watchdog of democracy. It should not compromise its independent position for the sake of commercial interests. When people are losing faith in the democratic institutions of the country the media should not accelerate the degeneration. It is expected to play a role in restoring people’s confidence in democracy.
- This is a statement produced by some citizens after reviewing the Press Council of India's Guidelines for election reporting (1996), BBC guidelines for election reporting, the Press Act of India, and other such documents, and newspaper coverage during 15th Lok Sabha elections in India.
[To sign the petition, click here]
[To read this statement in Hindi language, click here]
[To sign the petition, click here]
We, the citizens, are deeply concerned about the blatant misuse of print and electronic media by parties and candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and about the media allowing itself to be abused. This constitutes a gross breach of trust with the reader/viewer who expects unbiased and fair news coverage during elections. Moreover, the media, blatantly violating the Press Council of India’s Guidelines of Election Reporting -1996, stands discredited so far as its role as fourth pillar of the democracy is concerned.
The distinction between news, views and political campaigning (read advertising) is no longer clear. The use of 'advt' or 'marketing media initiative' tag in small font-size printed is not sufficient to inform the reader whether the content is news, views or paid advertising by an election candidate. Some newspapers don’t even care to put this small print.
Broadly speaking, the influence of marketing heads is growing over the influence of editors within media houses in decision-making related to the content. The person who collects advertisements for media and acts as a correspondent, is often the same in smaller districts and sub-district places. These people enjoy due media accreditation and often promote those who issue advertisements (and block those who don't).
The amount which is spent on paid advertising, advertorials and other manners like 'marketing media initiative' and likes, to solicit earned and paid media coverage of a candidate during elections, often crosses the spending cap of Rs 25 lakhs. Hence, media is colluding with parties and candidates in violating the model code of conduct during elections. Moreover, the transactions for advertisements in the garb of news items are not even shown in the records. Newspapers are not required to file financial statements to their regulatory authorities as a result of which it is difficult to know their exact incomes or the sources on this account. They should be required to do so partywise & candidatewise so that the figures given by the candidates may be cross-checked.
There is a need to enact a law to regulate political parties. The ceiling should be all inclusive covering expenditure by friends & relatives also which is not included at present and is used to flout the ceiling. Also the penalty on violating the spending cap in elections should be more severe and applicable on the current election cycle as well. Presently the action taken on violating the spending cap is applicable to next election cycle only, which is clearly not a deterrent.
The electronic media must also have an equivalent of a Press Council to govern their conduct.
We also support the growing demand for all newspapers to appoint an ombudsman to inquire into complaints against them.
But, fundamentally, we would like to see the media go back to its non-partisan role of being the watchdog of democracy. It should not compromise its independent position for the sake of commercial interests. When people are losing faith in the democratic institutions of the country the media should not accelerate the degeneration. It is expected to play a role in restoring people’s confidence in democracy.
- This is a statement produced by some citizens after reviewing the Press Council of India's Guidelines for election reporting (1996), BBC guidelines for election reporting, the Press Act of India, and other such documents, and newspaper coverage during 15th Lok Sabha elections in India.
[To sign the petition, click here]
Anti-Dalit and Anti-poor action by a pro-dalit Government
Anti-Dalit and Anti-poor action by a pro-dalit Government
Nadwa slums brutally demolished
Today at the behest of Bahujan Samaj Party’s Satish Chandra Mishra, the local administration came into swing to brutally demolish the slums in Nadwa (daliganj), Lucknow . More than 250 poor people were rendered homeless when UP’s Chief Minister Mayawati on her birthday had claimed that every poor will get a home.
When the senior activist and Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey was on his way to intervene, police forcibly stopped him from going to the Nadwa slums and detained him at the Hasanganj police station. Representatives of many social organizations and invidivuals came to the Hasanganj Police station and Nadwa area where slums were being demolished. Heavy police was deployed to ward off any intrusion in Gomti Action Plan under which the slums were being cleared off from the coast of Gomti river. Activists of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Asha Parivar took the centrestage in the demonstation against this brutal onslaught on the underserved communities in Lucknow.
The residents of Nadwa slums are mostly dalits and have been saving from their daily earnings to qualify for housing under Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP). But the local administration demolished the slums even when these alternative housing facilities are not yet ready to use.
In the afternoon Dr Sandeep Pandey was allowed to go out of the Hasanganj Police station. By
this time the slums were already completely demolished. When the displaced people of these slums were marching towards the Vidhan Sabha to stage a protest to demand their alternative housing facilities, a woman among those displaced went into labour pains. Due to timely intervention by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) OP Pathak, a government ambulance reached in time to take this woman to a hospital.
Residents of Lucknow , representatives of various social organizations and those displaced due to the demolition are demanding that government should immediately provide temporary housing facilities to the displaced communities, meantime the construction work at BSUP should be expedited so that these people can move into their houses at the earliest.
Nadwa slums brutally demolished
Today at the behest of Bahujan Samaj Party’s Satish Chandra Mishra, the local administration came into swing to brutally demolish the slums in Nadwa (daliganj), Lucknow . More than 250 poor people were rendered homeless when UP’s Chief Minister Mayawati on her birthday had claimed that every poor will get a home.
When the senior activist and Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey was on his way to intervene, police forcibly stopped him from going to the Nadwa slums and detained him at the Hasanganj police station. Representatives of many social organizations and invidivuals came to the Hasanganj Police station and Nadwa area where slums were being demolished. Heavy police was deployed to ward off any intrusion in Gomti Action Plan under which the slums were being cleared off from the coast of Gomti river. Activists of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Asha Parivar took the centrestage in the demonstation against this brutal onslaught on the underserved communities in Lucknow.
The residents of Nadwa slums are mostly dalits and have been saving from their daily earnings to qualify for housing under Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP). But the local administration demolished the slums even when these alternative housing facilities are not yet ready to use.
In the afternoon Dr Sandeep Pandey was allowed to go out of the Hasanganj Police station. By
this time the slums were already completely demolished. When the displaced people of these slums were marching towards the Vidhan Sabha to stage a protest to demand their alternative housing facilities, a woman among those displaced went into labour pains. Due to timely intervention by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) OP Pathak, a government ambulance reached in time to take this woman to a hospital.Residents of Lucknow , representatives of various social organizations and those displaced due to the demolition are demanding that government should immediately provide temporary housing facilities to the displaced communities, meantime the construction work at BSUP should be expedited so that these people can move into their houses at the earliest.
Indian faces humiliation in Bangladesh
Indian faces humiliation in Bangladesh
I introduce myself as the chairman of the Group called 'Goldenagro'. We have two companies at Mongla EPZ (Export Processing Zone). Recently, on 25th August 2008, one of the factories suffered big damage due to a fire and I had to travel to Dhaka for a meeting with the MD of our insurance company. Below I will describe first hand of what I had to go through at Dhaka and the kinds of racism by Biman Bangladesh staff which left me very very bitter.
The incident I am referring is the incident which occurred on 14th-15th Jan 2009. I took boarding pass for BG 088 from Dhaka to Bangkok. The flight was shown to be delayed by one hour first. At this time they announced that they will give dinner at the restaurant in the lobby.
When I saw the food they were serving, I did not feel to eat. The rice is double full plate and one tiny bit of chicken in a cup with yellow water (can't really say this as curry). Looking to the standard of the food, I was came out from the restaurant without eating. The restaurant staff asked me why I am going without eating?, I replied I did not like the food, so he gave me one chicken sandwich. After eating I checked the flight status, it showed it is delayed by another hour, and again one hour.
Finally we were asked to proceed for security check at about 11.30 pm.
After security we were send by bus to the aircraft. The pilot then refused to accept the passengers so we again sit in the bus and back to terminal. At 1 am on 15.01.2009 some person came and asked me to go out from security area and sat and waited in the lobby.
At 1.30 am we all passengers were asked to go out side the airport for go to hotel. I did request that I don't want to go out without my luggage. Out side is very very cold and all my warm clothes were in the baggage which was checked in at the time of taking the boarding pass.
Since the Biman staff said I cant remain at airport as a rule so I came out with my passport, no one asked for canceling the stamp or no one kept the passport at the immigration at the time of coming out. (In fact as per stamp in my passport I am out of Bangladesh, but physically I am still inside the country of Bangladesh).
There was no person to guide which bus I have to board, no queue system.
All passengers were jumping to get first in the bus, once a bus is full another comes and again the same chaos. No system for boarding the bus.
Finally I along with few other passengers got a bus at about 1.45 am. We were drop by the bus at a hotel called 'Hotel Black Rose Int. Ltd.'.
After about fifteen minutes the receptionist starts the process to give us rooms. The moment he realized we all were the passengers of Biman, the receptionist asks us to wait and get out of the hotel. He returned after another 15 minute to say that the hotel has no rooms available, so we had to go to some other hotel. He then arranged a bus at 2.30am, and sends us to another hotel. We were all together 12 people in this bus (3 sardars Indian (Bangkok) + 3 aged sikh couples (Singapore) + 2 Bangladeshi men (Bangkok) + myself Indian (Bangkok).
The bus then brought us back to the airport, instead of another hotel.
The passengers who were turban wearing sardar Indians (Bangkok), were sitting near the gate of the bus, after reaching the airport, they refused to get down from the bus. They asked the bus to take them to some hotel. Now, a staff of Biman come and started to pull the Indian man by his hands. This man pushed the Biman man and did not wanted to get down from the bus. Now, another Biman staff came from behind and started shouting 'YOU BLOODY INDIAN', 'YOU BLOODY IDIOTS', 'BLOODY WE WILL KILL YOU'. At this point I thought it to be proper to get down from the bus, so I make my way and get down from bus and go to arrival hall and ask to go to the departure lounge. The security asked me to go to the departure from outside and follow the road which is used by cars.
I finally reach departure hall, there the security would not allow me to go inside the immigration area. They ask me to come back at 7am for to be let inside. In the mean time the same person of Biman comes there and he asks me what my problem is? He informs me that he will send me to some hotel. I refused to go to hotel as by that time it is already 3am and who know which hotel he is talking about again? I told that if I can go inside the lobby after immigration I want to rest inside and really feel to eat some food as I was very hungry by now. The man took me to immigration officer and requested him to allow me to go inside. Finally I was let inside and felt secure. I also brought some sweet curd to eat and tried sleep on the bench. The mosquitoes bit me whole night. The cold was beyond my bearing as I had no warm clothes.
Whole night and till I reached Bangkok, I felt that at any time I may be killed by these unruly Biman Bangladesh Staff. I never came across this type of incidents in my life, where I thought I was so close to death. I still think if those Biman people start a riot and start beating us in the name of 'BLOODY INDIANS' how many people would have joined to beat us? And what would have the consequences?
Due to the incident above, I have taken a decision to close both the factories at EPZ Mongla. This decision will result in loss of money for me, but to live with grace and peace is more important for me.
God bless to the people to have love in their hearts and not hate.
Bal Kishan Kayan
(The author is the chairman of the Goldenagro group and can be contacted at: kayan@goldenagro.com )
[Image: Scanned copy of the E-Ticket, Boarding pass, Baggage tags and the name card of the hotel 'Hotel Black Rose Int. Ltd']
Published in
Bangladesh News, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Northern Voices, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh (India)
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Pakistan Post, Karachi, Pakistan
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Citizen News Service (CNS)
News Tin
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar (India)
News Track India, Delhi
Bangladesh News Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
I introduce myself as the chairman of the Group called 'Goldenagro'. We have two companies at Mongla EPZ (Export Processing Zone). Recently, on 25th August 2008, one of the factories suffered big damage due to a fire and I had to travel to Dhaka for a meeting with the MD of our insurance company. Below I will describe first hand of what I had to go through at Dhaka and the kinds of racism by Biman Bangladesh staff which left me very very bitter.
The incident I am referring is the incident which occurred on 14th-15th Jan 2009. I took boarding pass for BG 088 from Dhaka to Bangkok. The flight was shown to be delayed by one hour first. At this time they announced that they will give dinner at the restaurant in the lobby.
When I saw the food they were serving, I did not feel to eat. The rice is double full plate and one tiny bit of chicken in a cup with yellow water (can't really say this as curry). Looking to the standard of the food, I was came out from the restaurant without eating. The restaurant staff asked me why I am going without eating?, I replied I did not like the food, so he gave me one chicken sandwich. After eating I checked the flight status, it showed it is delayed by another hour, and again one hour.
Finally we were asked to proceed for security check at about 11.30 pm.
After security we were send by bus to the aircraft. The pilot then refused to accept the passengers so we again sit in the bus and back to terminal. At 1 am on 15.01.2009 some person came and asked me to go out from security area and sat and waited in the lobby.
At 1.30 am we all passengers were asked to go out side the airport for go to hotel. I did request that I don't want to go out without my luggage. Out side is very very cold and all my warm clothes were in the baggage which was checked in at the time of taking the boarding pass.
Since the Biman staff said I cant remain at airport as a rule so I came out with my passport, no one asked for canceling the stamp or no one kept the passport at the immigration at the time of coming out. (In fact as per stamp in my passport I am out of Bangladesh, but physically I am still inside the country of Bangladesh).
There was no person to guide which bus I have to board, no queue system.
All passengers were jumping to get first in the bus, once a bus is full another comes and again the same chaos. No system for boarding the bus.
Finally I along with few other passengers got a bus at about 1.45 am. We were drop by the bus at a hotel called 'Hotel Black Rose Int. Ltd.'.
After about fifteen minutes the receptionist starts the process to give us rooms. The moment he realized we all were the passengers of Biman, the receptionist asks us to wait and get out of the hotel. He returned after another 15 minute to say that the hotel has no rooms available, so we had to go to some other hotel. He then arranged a bus at 2.30am, and sends us to another hotel. We were all together 12 people in this bus (3 sardars Indian (Bangkok) + 3 aged sikh couples (Singapore) + 2 Bangladeshi men (Bangkok) + myself Indian (Bangkok).
The bus then brought us back to the airport, instead of another hotel.
The passengers who were turban wearing sardar Indians (Bangkok), were sitting near the gate of the bus, after reaching the airport, they refused to get down from the bus. They asked the bus to take them to some hotel. Now, a staff of Biman come and started to pull the Indian man by his hands. This man pushed the Biman man and did not wanted to get down from the bus. Now, another Biman staff came from behind and started shouting 'YOU BLOODY INDIAN', 'YOU BLOODY IDIOTS', 'BLOODY WE WILL KILL YOU'. At this point I thought it to be proper to get down from the bus, so I make my way and get down from bus and go to arrival hall and ask to go to the departure lounge. The security asked me to go to the departure from outside and follow the road which is used by cars.
I finally reach departure hall, there the security would not allow me to go inside the immigration area. They ask me to come back at 7am for to be let inside. In the mean time the same person of Biman comes there and he asks me what my problem is? He informs me that he will send me to some hotel. I refused to go to hotel as by that time it is already 3am and who know which hotel he is talking about again? I told that if I can go inside the lobby after immigration I want to rest inside and really feel to eat some food as I was very hungry by now. The man took me to immigration officer and requested him to allow me to go inside. Finally I was let inside and felt secure. I also brought some sweet curd to eat and tried sleep on the bench. The mosquitoes bit me whole night. The cold was beyond my bearing as I had no warm clothes.
Whole night and till I reached Bangkok, I felt that at any time I may be killed by these unruly Biman Bangladesh Staff. I never came across this type of incidents in my life, where I thought I was so close to death. I still think if those Biman people start a riot and start beating us in the name of 'BLOODY INDIANS' how many people would have joined to beat us? And what would have the consequences?
Due to the incident above, I have taken a decision to close both the factories at EPZ Mongla. This decision will result in loss of money for me, but to live with grace and peace is more important for me.
God bless to the people to have love in their hearts and not hate.
Bal Kishan Kayan
(The author is the chairman of the Goldenagro group and can be contacted at: kayan@goldenagro.com )
[Image: Scanned copy of the E-Ticket, Boarding pass, Baggage tags and the name card of the hotel 'Hotel Black Rose Int. Ltd']
Published in
Bangladesh News, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Northern Voices, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh (India)
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Pakistan Post, Karachi, Pakistan
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Citizen News Service (CNS)
News Tin
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar (India)
News Track India, Delhi
Bangladesh News Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Citizens of India-Pakistan stand-up for peace
Citizens of India-Pakistan stand-up for peace
To confront the present war posturing between India and Pakistan, the citizens of both countries are launching a joint signature petition campaign on 9 January 2009, to voice their mandate against terrorism, war posturing and to promote mutual cooperation and peace. This signature petition campaign shall conclude on 8 February 2009, after which these signatures shall be handed over to the heads of both the nations along with other prominent stakeholders.
Citizens of both nations can also sign online here or by going to the following URL: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/indopak/petition.html
The petition states that the citizens of Pakistan and India demand that:
* The Government of Pakistan and the Government of India should practice zero tolerance for religious extremism and terrorism in the interest of the very sustenance and prosperity of both the countries.
* Recognising that the problem of terrorism in both the countries are qualitatively different, we urge both the governments to take all appropriate initiates to contain and root out the activities of all fanatic and terrorist groups and catch and punish perpetrators of any acts of terror in their respective countries to make the subcontinent safe and secure for all.
* Both the governments should immediately set up a Joint Action and Investigative Agency for total cooperation and mutual assistance to address and overcome the problem of terrorism effectively and without any further delay.
* War can never be a solution but the beginning of insurmountable problems for both the countries. Hence both the governments should desist from war posturing and immediately engage in meaningful and effective dialogue and actions to address the issue of terrorism and to resolve all other outstanding problems.
* Both the Governments should follow in letter and spirit all the Conventions and Resolutions of UN and SAARC against terrorism and for cooperation to secure an atmosphere of mutual trust and holistic cooperation that alone could ensure security of all citizens and prosperity of the entire region.
* We appeal to the media of both India and Pakistan to play a constructive role in this hour of crisis to propagate and strengthen positive attitudes for the resolution of all the outstanding problems and discourage escalation of conflict and adventurism that could jeopardize peace and prosperity of both the countries.
"After 55 years of tense relations, just five years of sustained peace process between India and Pakistan was producing good results for all. Unfortunately, the terror attack in Mumbai suddenly changed the entire scenario and the tensions between India and Pakistan have once again reached dangerous levels that are detrimental to the interests of both the countries" said one of the organizers.
"It is clear that a dependence on the political- bureaucratic- military establishments in both the countries may not lead to reduction in tensions but on the contrary, this nexus could possibly land us in a war. Role of the media of both the countries in the ongoing crisis is also not very heartening" added the organzers.
In such a situation, assertion by the people and civil society groups of both the countries in favour of resolving the present crises through dialogue, cooperation and appropriate actions by both the governments to address terrorism and all other outstanding issues could influence the processes that are set in motion. The collective will of the people could certainly compel the establishments to adopt peaceful and appropriate processes to address all the issues and bring back normalcy.
In India, the following organizations have endorsed the campaign: Arya Samaj, ASHA Parivar, Bandhan, Bandhua Mukti Morcha, COVA, EKTA Parishad, Gandhian Integrated Forum Trust, Gram Vikas Manch, Hind- Pak Dosti Manch, Jana Sahayog, MUKTI, NACDOR, North East Network (NEN), Open Space, PUCAAR, Rupantar, SAHAI, Samarthan, SANGAT, SANSAD,Yuvsatta, Xavier Institute of Social Research, Yuva Samvad,
In Pakistan, the following organizations have endorsed the campaign: All Pakistan Kisan Ittehad CYDA, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, India Pakistan Soldiers' Initiative for Peace, Lahore , Institute of Secular Studies, Labour Party Pakistan, Muttahida Labour Federation, Pakhtoonkhva Progressive Front, Pakistani Doctors for Peace & Development, PPC-Sindh, Pakistan Peace Coalition, Pakistan Peace and Solidarity Council, Pakistan Workers Confederation, PILER, SAP Pakistan, South Asian Idea, SDPI , Sungi Development Foundation, , Tehreek-I-Niswan, Women's Rights Association, Multan.
(Website: http://www.indopakcampaignagainstwarnterror.org)
Published in
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
To confront the present war posturing between India and Pakistan, the citizens of both countries are launching a joint signature petition campaign on 9 January 2009, to voice their mandate against terrorism, war posturing and to promote mutual cooperation and peace. This signature petition campaign shall conclude on 8 February 2009, after which these signatures shall be handed over to the heads of both the nations along with other prominent stakeholders.
Citizens of both nations can also sign online here or by going to the following URL: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/indopak/petition.html
The petition states that the citizens of Pakistan and India demand that:
* The Government of Pakistan and the Government of India should practice zero tolerance for religious extremism and terrorism in the interest of the very sustenance and prosperity of both the countries.
* Recognising that the problem of terrorism in both the countries are qualitatively different, we urge both the governments to take all appropriate initiates to contain and root out the activities of all fanatic and terrorist groups and catch and punish perpetrators of any acts of terror in their respective countries to make the subcontinent safe and secure for all.
* Both the governments should immediately set up a Joint Action and Investigative Agency for total cooperation and mutual assistance to address and overcome the problem of terrorism effectively and without any further delay.
* War can never be a solution but the beginning of insurmountable problems for both the countries. Hence both the governments should desist from war posturing and immediately engage in meaningful and effective dialogue and actions to address the issue of terrorism and to resolve all other outstanding problems.
* Both the Governments should follow in letter and spirit all the Conventions and Resolutions of UN and SAARC against terrorism and for cooperation to secure an atmosphere of mutual trust and holistic cooperation that alone could ensure security of all citizens and prosperity of the entire region.
* We appeal to the media of both India and Pakistan to play a constructive role in this hour of crisis to propagate and strengthen positive attitudes for the resolution of all the outstanding problems and discourage escalation of conflict and adventurism that could jeopardize peace and prosperity of both the countries.
"After 55 years of tense relations, just five years of sustained peace process between India and Pakistan was producing good results for all. Unfortunately, the terror attack in Mumbai suddenly changed the entire scenario and the tensions between India and Pakistan have once again reached dangerous levels that are detrimental to the interests of both the countries" said one of the organizers.
"It is clear that a dependence on the political- bureaucratic- military establishments in both the countries may not lead to reduction in tensions but on the contrary, this nexus could possibly land us in a war. Role of the media of both the countries in the ongoing crisis is also not very heartening" added the organzers.
In such a situation, assertion by the people and civil society groups of both the countries in favour of resolving the present crises through dialogue, cooperation and appropriate actions by both the governments to address terrorism and all other outstanding issues could influence the processes that are set in motion. The collective will of the people could certainly compel the establishments to adopt peaceful and appropriate processes to address all the issues and bring back normalcy.
In India, the following organizations have endorsed the campaign: Arya Samaj, ASHA Parivar, Bandhan, Bandhua Mukti Morcha, COVA, EKTA Parishad, Gandhian Integrated Forum Trust, Gram Vikas Manch, Hind- Pak Dosti Manch, Jana Sahayog, MUKTI, NACDOR, North East Network (NEN), Open Space, PUCAAR, Rupantar, SAHAI, Samarthan, SANGAT, SANSAD,Yuvsatta, Xavier Institute of Social Research, Yuva Samvad,
In Pakistan, the following organizations have endorsed the campaign: All Pakistan Kisan Ittehad CYDA, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, India Pakistan Soldiers' Initiative for Peace, Lahore , Institute of Secular Studies, Labour Party Pakistan, Muttahida Labour Federation, Pakhtoonkhva Progressive Front, Pakistani Doctors for Peace & Development, PPC-Sindh, Pakistan Peace Coalition, Pakistan Peace and Solidarity Council, Pakistan Workers Confederation, PILER, SAP Pakistan, South Asian Idea, SDPI , Sungi Development Foundation, , Tehreek-I-Niswan, Women's Rights Association, Multan.
(Website: http://www.indopakcampaignagainstwarnterror.org)
Published in
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Whither The Light Of Democracy
Whither The Light Of Democracy
Shobha Shukla
Deepawali is the festival of lights which is celebrated all over India . It marks the advent of the winter season and signifies peace and prosperity and the victory of truth over evil. This year’s Diwali (it falls on 28th October) is a bleak one indeed.
As I peer hard through the darkness of hatred and violence, I struggle to find a single ray of bright hope. The atrocities committed by the British Raj on the Indian citizens during its rule in India are now being re enacted by another Raj - the megalomaniac, self styled leader of the Marathas. He seems to be holding the common people to ransom with nary a soul daring to lift a finger against him. The seeds of hatred (between different Hindu communities) so systematically sown by him in Mumbai, some time ago, are spreading like tenacious weeds throughout the country. His diktats against non-Maharashtrians (perhaps with a view to forging new political alliances) have resulted in large scale arson, stampedes, insensitive rioting mobs and killing of innocents - all in the name of protecting the interests of Maharashtra state.
The recent backlash against him in Bihar has killed more innocents, holding public life and security to ransom. And as trains are being torched, public property being damaged and commoners being attacked in the name of avenging misdeeds of the Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena, Raj Thackarey is being accorded a hero’s welcome by his goons in Mumbai.
Fiery statements by politicians for and against the Mumbaikars are helping in opening a Pandora’s box, with ‘an eye for an eye’ and ‘two slaps for one slap’. It is no longer just Hindus versus Muslims or Christians. New battle lines have been drawn now with one Indian state pitched against another; one caste targeting another caste; all in the name of achieving new political objectives. But does anyone care for the moral objectives?
All of us seem to have become impotent in not being able to control the actions of one madman. Neither the judiciary, nor the government, nor the executive has done anything ( sans issuing the bail able warrant of arrest against him) to douse the fire of hatred and violence that started from Mumbai and is now spreading to other states. The chief minister of U.P.recently feared for the safety of Maharashtrians in other states, thereby hinting subtly at more retaliations rather than reconciliations. Our prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh seems to be more affected by the current financial crisis (the economist that he is) rather than the human crisis ( the non humanist that he seems) engulfing the nation. Violence is begetting violence and no political party, worth its salt, is opposing it. They are busy planning strategies for the winning the forthcoming elections. Why should they care for the common person on the street who has lost his/her property, job or even life in the senseless mania that seemed to have gripped the powers that be?
Let us pray to God to give us some sanity on this festival of lights so that we can dispel the darkness of ignorance and wayward behaviour of a miniscule few who are holding humanity to ransom.
Shobha Shukla
The author teaches Physics at India's Loreto Convent and has been writing extensively in English and Hindi media. She serves as Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS).
Published in
The Statesman, India
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Asian Tribune, Bangkok, Thailand
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
News Track India, Delhi
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
Two Circles
Guatemala Times, Guatemala
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
News Blaze, USA
Northern News Lines, Chandigarh
Sahil Online News, Bhatkal, Karnataka
Standard Times, Sierra Leone
My News, Delhi
Khabar Express, Bikaner, Rajasthan
Pakistan Post, Islamabad, Pakistan
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
OpEd News (OEN), UK
Hindu News
The Bangladesh Today, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Howrah News Service (HNS), Kolkata, West Bengal
Shobha Shukla
Deepawali is the festival of lights which is celebrated all over India . It marks the advent of the winter season and signifies peace and prosperity and the victory of truth over evil. This year’s Diwali (it falls on 28th October) is a bleak one indeed.
As I peer hard through the darkness of hatred and violence, I struggle to find a single ray of bright hope. The atrocities committed by the British Raj on the Indian citizens during its rule in India are now being re enacted by another Raj - the megalomaniac, self styled leader of the Marathas. He seems to be holding the common people to ransom with nary a soul daring to lift a finger against him. The seeds of hatred (between different Hindu communities) so systematically sown by him in Mumbai, some time ago, are spreading like tenacious weeds throughout the country. His diktats against non-Maharashtrians (perhaps with a view to forging new political alliances) have resulted in large scale arson, stampedes, insensitive rioting mobs and killing of innocents - all in the name of protecting the interests of Maharashtra state.
The recent backlash against him in Bihar has killed more innocents, holding public life and security to ransom. And as trains are being torched, public property being damaged and commoners being attacked in the name of avenging misdeeds of the Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena, Raj Thackarey is being accorded a hero’s welcome by his goons in Mumbai.
Fiery statements by politicians for and against the Mumbaikars are helping in opening a Pandora’s box, with ‘an eye for an eye’ and ‘two slaps for one slap’. It is no longer just Hindus versus Muslims or Christians. New battle lines have been drawn now with one Indian state pitched against another; one caste targeting another caste; all in the name of achieving new political objectives. But does anyone care for the moral objectives?
All of us seem to have become impotent in not being able to control the actions of one madman. Neither the judiciary, nor the government, nor the executive has done anything ( sans issuing the bail able warrant of arrest against him) to douse the fire of hatred and violence that started from Mumbai and is now spreading to other states. The chief minister of U.P.recently feared for the safety of Maharashtrians in other states, thereby hinting subtly at more retaliations rather than reconciliations. Our prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh seems to be more affected by the current financial crisis (the economist that he is) rather than the human crisis ( the non humanist that he seems) engulfing the nation. Violence is begetting violence and no political party, worth its salt, is opposing it. They are busy planning strategies for the winning the forthcoming elections. Why should they care for the common person on the street who has lost his/her property, job or even life in the senseless mania that seemed to have gripped the powers that be?
Let us pray to God to give us some sanity on this festival of lights so that we can dispel the darkness of ignorance and wayward behaviour of a miniscule few who are holding humanity to ransom.
Shobha Shukla
The author teaches Physics at India's Loreto Convent and has been writing extensively in English and Hindi media. She serves as Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS).
Published in
The Statesman, India
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Asian Tribune, Bangkok, Thailand
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
News Track India, Delhi
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
Two Circles
Guatemala Times, Guatemala
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
News Blaze, USA
Northern News Lines, Chandigarh
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Uphold public health over corporate interests
Uphold public health over corporate interests
It is a pity that India's robust smoke-free policies have been challenged by those with vested interests neglecting the immense and undisputed proven public health benefits of implementing such policies for people at-large.
India is to ban smoking in public places nation-wide from October 2. However the ITC Limited and the Indian Hotel Association are among those who have challenged these public health policies in the court of law.
"Secondhand smoke, also know as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is a mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers. It is involuntarily inhaled by nonsmokers, lingers in the air hours after cigarettes have been extinguished and can cause or exacerbate a wide range of adverse health effects, including cancer, respiratory infections, and asthma" informs Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, who heads the Tobacco Cessation Clinics at CSM Medical University and Gandhi Memorial & Associated Hospitals.
"Secondhand smoke has been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a known cause of cancer in humans (Group A carcinogen)" informs Dr Rishi Sethi, Department of Cardiology, CSM Medical University.
Secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke. Secondhand smoke contains hundreds of chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic, including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. Secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths and 22,700-69,600 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers in the United States each year, further adds Dr Sethi.
Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at work are at increased risk for adverse health effects.
There is enough data to de-bunk the apprehensions of ban on smoking at the workplace. Since 1999, 70 percent of the U.S. workforce worked under a smoke-free policy, ranging from 83.9 percent in Utah to 48.7 percent in Nevada. Workplace productivity was increased and absenteeism was decreased among former smokers compared with current smokers.
Secondhand smoke is especially harmful to young children. Secondhand smoke is responsible for between 150,000 and 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children under 18 months of age, resulting in between 7,500 and 15,000 hospitalizations each year, and causes 430 sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) deaths in the United States annually, says Dr Sethi.
Secondhand smoke exposure may cause buildup of fluid in the middle ear, resulting in 790,000 physician office visits per year.10 Secondhand smoke can also aggravate symptoms in 400,000 to 1,000,000 children with asthma.11
The Surgeon General's Report concluded that scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
The 3rd edition of the "Global Tobacco Treaty Action Guide 2008: Protecting Against Tobacco Industry Interference" was released earlier this week in many countries including India. The Global Tobacco Treaty Action Guide 2008 is produced by Corporate Accountability International [which is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO)], along with the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT).
"The repeated delay, at times weakening, and postponing the implementation of public health policies in India, particularly the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, mustn't occur again. With few days to go before India enforces ban on smoking in public places from 2 October 2008, and few more weeks to go before mandatory pictorial warnings on tobacco products from 30 November 2008 get enforced, it is high time to prepare ourselves to contribute effectively in the implementation of these health policies" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, national convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Magsaysay Awardee (2002).
"For years the tobacco industry has operated with the express intention of subverting public health policies. If the tobacco giants were truly serious about saving lives, they would back off and let governments swiftly, fully implement the public health policies, including the national health policies and also the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) -- the first global corporate accountability and public health treaty" added Dr Pandey.
Let us hope that good sense prevails and public health and welfare is upheld above corporate interests.
Published in:
Asian Tribune, Thailand/ Sri Lanka
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Kerala Online News, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
News Track India, Delhi
Two Circles
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
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Guatemala Times, Guatemala
The Liberian Journal, Liberia
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It is a pity that India's robust smoke-free policies have been challenged by those with vested interests neglecting the immense and undisputed proven public health benefits of implementing such policies for people at-large.
India is to ban smoking in public places nation-wide from October 2. However the ITC Limited and the Indian Hotel Association are among those who have challenged these public health policies in the court of law.
"Secondhand smoke, also know as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is a mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers. It is involuntarily inhaled by nonsmokers, lingers in the air hours after cigarettes have been extinguished and can cause or exacerbate a wide range of adverse health effects, including cancer, respiratory infections, and asthma" informs Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, who heads the Tobacco Cessation Clinics at CSM Medical University and Gandhi Memorial & Associated Hospitals.
"Secondhand smoke has been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a known cause of cancer in humans (Group A carcinogen)" informs Dr Rishi Sethi, Department of Cardiology, CSM Medical University.
Secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke. Secondhand smoke contains hundreds of chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic, including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. Secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths and 22,700-69,600 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers in the United States each year, further adds Dr Sethi.
Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at work are at increased risk for adverse health effects.
There is enough data to de-bunk the apprehensions of ban on smoking at the workplace. Since 1999, 70 percent of the U.S. workforce worked under a smoke-free policy, ranging from 83.9 percent in Utah to 48.7 percent in Nevada. Workplace productivity was increased and absenteeism was decreased among former smokers compared with current smokers.
Secondhand smoke is especially harmful to young children. Secondhand smoke is responsible for between 150,000 and 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children under 18 months of age, resulting in between 7,500 and 15,000 hospitalizations each year, and causes 430 sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) deaths in the United States annually, says Dr Sethi.
Secondhand smoke exposure may cause buildup of fluid in the middle ear, resulting in 790,000 physician office visits per year.10 Secondhand smoke can also aggravate symptoms in 400,000 to 1,000,000 children with asthma.11
The Surgeon General's Report concluded that scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
The 3rd edition of the "Global Tobacco Treaty Action Guide 2008: Protecting Against Tobacco Industry Interference" was released earlier this week in many countries including India. The Global Tobacco Treaty Action Guide 2008 is produced by Corporate Accountability International [which is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO)], along with the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT).
"The repeated delay, at times weakening, and postponing the implementation of public health policies in India, particularly the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, mustn't occur again. With few days to go before India enforces ban on smoking in public places from 2 October 2008, and few more weeks to go before mandatory pictorial warnings on tobacco products from 30 November 2008 get enforced, it is high time to prepare ourselves to contribute effectively in the implementation of these health policies" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, national convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Magsaysay Awardee (2002).
"For years the tobacco industry has operated with the express intention of subverting public health policies. If the tobacco giants were truly serious about saving lives, they would back off and let governments swiftly, fully implement the public health policies, including the national health policies and also the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) -- the first global corporate accountability and public health treaty" added Dr Pandey.
Let us hope that good sense prevails and public health and welfare is upheld above corporate interests.
Published in:
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Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Kerala Online News, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
News Track India, Delhi
Two Circles
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Guatemala Times, Guatemala
The Liberian Journal, Liberia
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
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News from Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Sindh Today, Sindh, Pakistan
ATS resorts to terror tactics
ATS resorts to terror tactics
Dr Sandeep Pandey
Rajasthan Police accompanied by Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police raided the house of Shahbaz Hussain, arrested in connection with blasts in Jaipur and now on Police remand there, in Molviganj, Lucknow for search past midnight on 29 August 2008 and house and office today, 30 August 2008, in the afternoon.
Shahbaz used to stay at his father-in-law Abdul Moid's house along with his wife and three little children. The police took away all literature present in the house including newspapers, a cheque for Rs 15,000 in the name of 'Zyna Computers' given by one the students and Rs 1000 cash from the purse of Shahbaz's wife Shadaf. Shahbaz used to run a computer training centre and a consultancy.
Today they took away a battery from the house and made Abdul Moid (father-in-law) sign on three blank papers. Upon receiving this information from Abdul Moid's son some of us rushed to the shop where the search was going on.
When we enquired from the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP) Sangram Singh, who had come for conducting the search operations from Rajasthan, about the purpose of getting Abdul Moid's signature on blank papers, he said they were going to draw the map of house and office on them. He didn't explain what the third paper will be used for. When we requested him to give a copy of what is written or drawn on these sheets of paper to Abdul Moid he told us to come to the ATS office after a couple of hours.
When Abdul Moid and myself reached ATS office, the officer from Rajasthan was gone. We insisted that we would like to speak to the officer in-charge. When we communicated the purpose of our being there to this officer, who came out to see us at the reception, he particularly got mad at the charge Rs 1000 being taken away from Abdul Moid's house. He raised his voice and said we were accusing him of theft. I suggested him not to raise his voice. He could have simply denied the charge. On this he ordered his men to throw us out of the office. I protested and said that he cannot take somebody's signature on blank piece of paper.
After this we were abused and pushed out of the premises of ATS office by his men. The ATS and Rajasthan Police are obviously busy concocting evidence and using their unlimited powers arrogantly. Whether Shahbaz was involved in the Jaipur blasts or not will be decided by the investigation and the judicial process but the high handed behaviour of police and ATS makes one suspect of how they implicate people.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@yahoo.com)
Contact Phone of Dr Sandeep Pandey: 0522 2347365, Mobile : 9415022772
Contact of Abdul Moid: 9792439090
Published in Tehelka
Dr Sandeep Pandey
Rajasthan Police accompanied by Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police raided the house of Shahbaz Hussain, arrested in connection with blasts in Jaipur and now on Police remand there, in Molviganj, Lucknow for search past midnight on 29 August 2008 and house and office today, 30 August 2008, in the afternoon.
Shahbaz used to stay at his father-in-law Abdul Moid's house along with his wife and three little children. The police took away all literature present in the house including newspapers, a cheque for Rs 15,000 in the name of 'Zyna Computers' given by one the students and Rs 1000 cash from the purse of Shahbaz's wife Shadaf. Shahbaz used to run a computer training centre and a consultancy.
Today they took away a battery from the house and made Abdul Moid (father-in-law) sign on three blank papers. Upon receiving this information from Abdul Moid's son some of us rushed to the shop where the search was going on.
When we enquired from the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP) Sangram Singh, who had come for conducting the search operations from Rajasthan, about the purpose of getting Abdul Moid's signature on blank papers, he said they were going to draw the map of house and office on them. He didn't explain what the third paper will be used for. When we requested him to give a copy of what is written or drawn on these sheets of paper to Abdul Moid he told us to come to the ATS office after a couple of hours.
When Abdul Moid and myself reached ATS office, the officer from Rajasthan was gone. We insisted that we would like to speak to the officer in-charge. When we communicated the purpose of our being there to this officer, who came out to see us at the reception, he particularly got mad at the charge Rs 1000 being taken away from Abdul Moid's house. He raised his voice and said we were accusing him of theft. I suggested him not to raise his voice. He could have simply denied the charge. On this he ordered his men to throw us out of the office. I protested and said that he cannot take somebody's signature on blank piece of paper.
After this we were abused and pushed out of the premises of ATS office by his men. The ATS and Rajasthan Police are obviously busy concocting evidence and using their unlimited powers arrogantly. Whether Shahbaz was involved in the Jaipur blasts or not will be decided by the investigation and the judicial process but the high handed behaviour of police and ATS makes one suspect of how they implicate people.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@yahoo.com)
Contact Phone of Dr Sandeep Pandey: 0522 2347365, Mobile : 9415022772
Contact of Abdul Moid: 9792439090
Published in Tehelka
'We reject Indo US Nuclear Deal' campaign begins
'We reject Indo US Nuclear Deal' campaign begins
The 'We reject Indo US Nuclear Deal' signature petition campaign was launched today at Rao's IAS Coaching, Faizabad road, Lucknow by Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).
"The dream to provide electricity across the country by signing the Indo US Nuclear Deal is not true" said Dr Pandey. "Nuclear power is not a safe, affordable or better option for producing electricity. Rather nuclear power is a very dangerous and expensive option. The Indo US Nuclear Deal is actually a political and military deal" said Dr Pandey.
There is a deliberate misinformation being created that nuclear plants will be a quick fix to our huge shortages and power cuts. Nuclear plants have to have detailed studies regarding where and how to put them up and take a long time to build. The import of reactors have to be negotiated commercially and their fuel has to be guaranteed. Typically, the entire process takes 8-10 years. So even if we finish all the steps required to complete the India US Nuclear Deal, it will take not less than 8-10 years before any electricity is produced. And this is an optimistic figure; the last plant that the US commissioned -- the Watts Bar 2 Reactor -- took 23 years to complete. So the belief that nuclear energy will provide an immediate solution to our power crisis is a deliberate fraud on the people, said Dr Pandey.
The India US Nuclear Deal is not about India's energy security. Energy security lies in using indigenous energy resources such as coal, gas, hydro, etc., and ensuring our future energy supplies from Iran and other countries in West and Central Asia. Obviously, augmenting indigenous coal production, building hydro plants, investing in oil exploration, securing gas supplies through Iran Gas Pipeline are much more important for India's energy security than buying imported reactors and importing uranium for such nuclear plants, asserted Dr Pandey.
The Nuclear Deal is a part of a larger vision which seeks to subordinate India to the US's strategic vision. It is known that the US strategic thinking calls for dominance in all possible theatres. In Asia, the US has been handicapped that it has only one major base -- Okinawa, Japan -- in East, South-east and South Asia. The only other base it has in this region is in the Indian Ocean in Diego Garcia. That is why the US's interest in making India as a junior partner in Asia, said Dr Pandey.
The disabilities and diseases attributed to radioactive nuclear radiation have upped in the neighbouring areas where nuclear reactors, nuclear mining or nuclear waste dumping is done in India. Places like Jadugoda, where uranium mining and nuclear waste dumping is carried out, is an example where virtually every household is a living testimony of nuclear radiation hazards, said Dr Pandey.
The 'we reject Indo US Nuclear Deal' campaign will raise public consciousness on the issue and mobilize public opinion to protect the sovereignty of India.
Published in
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
The 'We reject Indo US Nuclear Deal' signature petition campaign was launched today at Rao's IAS Coaching, Faizabad road, Lucknow by Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).
"The dream to provide electricity across the country by signing the Indo US Nuclear Deal is not true" said Dr Pandey. "Nuclear power is not a safe, affordable or better option for producing electricity. Rather nuclear power is a very dangerous and expensive option. The Indo US Nuclear Deal is actually a political and military deal" said Dr Pandey.
There is a deliberate misinformation being created that nuclear plants will be a quick fix to our huge shortages and power cuts. Nuclear plants have to have detailed studies regarding where and how to put them up and take a long time to build. The import of reactors have to be negotiated commercially and their fuel has to be guaranteed. Typically, the entire process takes 8-10 years. So even if we finish all the steps required to complete the India US Nuclear Deal, it will take not less than 8-10 years before any electricity is produced. And this is an optimistic figure; the last plant that the US commissioned -- the Watts Bar 2 Reactor -- took 23 years to complete. So the belief that nuclear energy will provide an immediate solution to our power crisis is a deliberate fraud on the people, said Dr Pandey.
The India US Nuclear Deal is not about India's energy security. Energy security lies in using indigenous energy resources such as coal, gas, hydro, etc., and ensuring our future energy supplies from Iran and other countries in West and Central Asia. Obviously, augmenting indigenous coal production, building hydro plants, investing in oil exploration, securing gas supplies through Iran Gas Pipeline are much more important for India's energy security than buying imported reactors and importing uranium for such nuclear plants, asserted Dr Pandey.
The Nuclear Deal is a part of a larger vision which seeks to subordinate India to the US's strategic vision. It is known that the US strategic thinking calls for dominance in all possible theatres. In Asia, the US has been handicapped that it has only one major base -- Okinawa, Japan -- in East, South-east and South Asia. The only other base it has in this region is in the Indian Ocean in Diego Garcia. That is why the US's interest in making India as a junior partner in Asia, said Dr Pandey.
The disabilities and diseases attributed to radioactive nuclear radiation have upped in the neighbouring areas where nuclear reactors, nuclear mining or nuclear waste dumping is done in India. Places like Jadugoda, where uranium mining and nuclear waste dumping is carried out, is an example where virtually every household is a living testimony of nuclear radiation hazards, said Dr Pandey.
The 'we reject Indo US Nuclear Deal' campaign will raise public consciousness on the issue and mobilize public opinion to protect the sovereignty of India.
Published in
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
NAPM supports the ongoing fast of Hardoi residents who are demanding land possession due since past 32 years
NAPM supports the ongoing fast of Hardoi residents who are demanding land possession due since past 32 years
107 families of gram panchayat Jajpur, Tehsil Sandila, district Hardoi, were given 'patta' of the lands allotted to them 32 years before, but till-date they haven't got the possession. Powerful landlords still occupy the land allotted to these families. 16 people of these families are fasting since 28 July 2008 in front of Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow demanding justice overdue since past 32 years.
Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and national convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) supported the fast.
Powerful landlords have been illegally occupying the land which rightfully belongs to 107 familes since past 32 years. These landlords have family members which include Shriram Singh Tomar and Advocate Nageshwar Singh, who is the gram pradhan too.
These landlords are politically connected and have been maneuvering their might to douse the people's agitation for land rights.
These landlords are also accused of forcibly taking away the crop harvest from the fields of these 107 families.
Lekhpal asks for Rs 2000 or more money, and some family members have even paid this amount to Lekhpal, despite of which they couldn't get the land possession.
Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) met the agitators in Lucknow and assured them that police will accompany them tomorrow to give them their much-awaited right to the land. But the people have no trust on verbal assurances and have decided to continue the agitation and fast in front of vidhan sabha.
This fast is led by Rajesh, who can be contacted at: 9793271930
107 families of gram panchayat Jajpur, Tehsil Sandila, district Hardoi, were given 'patta' of the lands allotted to them 32 years before, but till-date they haven't got the possession. Powerful landlords still occupy the land allotted to these families. 16 people of these families are fasting since 28 July 2008 in front of Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow demanding justice overdue since past 32 years.
Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and national convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) supported the fast.
Powerful landlords have been illegally occupying the land which rightfully belongs to 107 familes since past 32 years. These landlords have family members which include Shriram Singh Tomar and Advocate Nageshwar Singh, who is the gram pradhan too.
These landlords are politically connected and have been maneuvering their might to douse the people's agitation for land rights.
These landlords are also accused of forcibly taking away the crop harvest from the fields of these 107 families.
Lekhpal asks for Rs 2000 or more money, and some family members have even paid this amount to Lekhpal, despite of which they couldn't get the land possession.
Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) met the agitators in Lucknow and assured them that police will accompany them tomorrow to give them their much-awaited right to the land. But the people have no trust on verbal assurances and have decided to continue the agitation and fast in front of vidhan sabha.
This fast is led by Rajesh, who can be contacted at: 9793271930
Indo US Nuclear Deal: Why this hurry and at what cost?
Indo US Nuclear Deal: Why this hurry and at what cost?
Dr Sandeep Pandey
Amidst protests against price rises of essential items throughout the country, the PM Manmohan Singh has again started harping on the issue of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. The Deal has been pushed forward in India in an anti-democratic manner without approval of the Parliament - in fact in the teeth of opposition by a large majority of parliamentarians. The Deal has the potential of disturbing regional stability and further distorting India 's relationships with important neighbours like China , Pakistan and Iran.
This cannot also but severely undermine the prospects for both vertical and horizontal non-proliferation and thereby the prospects for global nuclear disarmament. This allurement also has the danger of further propelling India towards becoming a junior military ally of the US and a market to mint profits for its MNCs and also the nuclear industry of other advanced countries -- Russia and Fra
nce, in particular.
Most importantly it will be a set back to the environmentally friendly sustainable ways of meeting our energy requirements. Power from nuclear energy is a failed project in developed countries and the eagerness of the Prime Minister to clinch the Deal fails to generate any enthusiasm among the common people of India . Neither is nuclear energy a solution to global warming as some experts make it out to be. On the contrary the entire nuclear fuel cycle is fraught with danger and exposes human beings to hazardous radiation. The world is yet to find a safe way for disposal of radioactive waste, a factor which is constraining the growth of nuclear power programmes in the developed countries.
The US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Japan all seem to be reviewing their nuclear energy programmes and commissioning of new nuclear power plants in all these countries has almost come to a stand still. Australia , the biggest supplier of Uranium in the world, is yet to initiate a nuclear power programme. Everybody has realized there is no future in nuclear energy. Advanced countries are looking for alternatives. But because of the parochial vision of our government the ruling class of this country has become obsessed with the nuclear option without any clear understanding of its implications. There seems to be a superficial feeling that this Deal is somehow going to enhance the stature of India in the community of nations. Hence it is matter of vanity and false sense of pride with possibly no concrete benefits for the people of this country.
A Planning Commission study shows that even with the best possible estimates of capacity addition in power generation after the Deal is through, the country is not going to increase its share of electricity from nuclear energy from the present 3% to more than 7-9%. And this would come at a huge cost -- financially and politically. We would be required to bring our foreign policy in line with the US policy as has been already exhibited by India being forced to vote against Iran in the IAEA meeting.
The Indo-US Nuclear Deal is meant to serve the interests of the global nuclear power industry and is a ploy to keep India away from staking claims to shrinking fossil fuel reserves in proportion to its large population so that these reserves may last for some more time for the rich countries.
The undue importance given to the Indo-US Nuclear Deal as opposed to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, even though gas is predicted to be the major source of power globally for the next two to three decades, raises questions about the motives of the Indian government.
The most diabolical aspect of the Deal is the increasing military proximity between the US and India . Joint Indo-US military exercises have already been going on for the last seven years with the aim of building interoperability.
A Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School has been established at Vairengte in Mizoram. The US Congress has been briefed that in a war that is being predicted with China in about fifteen years from now, the US would like to see India on its side. US envisions a military base for itself on India soil soon.
The increasing militarization of the India State is also being used to stifle civil liberties and democratic movements in the country. India must learn a lesson from the history of US military involvement in various parts of the world which have been left devastated. It is dangerous to have the US as an enemy but fatal to have as a friend.
The friendship and the elusive geo-political status or possibly a seat in the Security Council, whatever the Government of India is aspiring for, is going to come at the cost of loss of sovereignty to the nation. Our status will be reduced to that of a second rate UK or Israel .
In the face of unprecedented pressure mounted by the US , the Left Front, a partner in the UPA alliance, must be congratulated for successfully stalling the Indo-US Nuclear Deal up till now. The Deal is now stuck at the stage of finalizing a India specific agreement with the IAEA. The Left party leaders have displayed foresight in foiling the US hegemonic designs in South Asia even though they have yet to take an ideological position against the nuclear power programme.
Manmohan Singh, who talked about renewable energy for the last time at NAM meeting two years ago, has directed the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to draft an umbrella legislation for promotion and growth of renewable energy, under duress. It would make more political, economic and environmental sense for India to pursue a path of self reliant renewable energy programme for fulfilling its need rather than the elusive nuclear energy for which we'll always be at the mercy of external agencies. But then India will have to give up its own hegemonic designs of acting as a regional military super power.
Clean source of energy will have to be accompanied by clean politics. India will have to work on the agenda of regional peace, disarmament and stability rather than converting it into a region of warfare. If Manmohan Singh embarks on this twin objective programme, he would be remembered for his wisdom more than he would be if he were to finalize the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. He would favourably alter the course of history of not only this nation but also possibly the world towards a cleaner, safer and secure future.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@yahoo.com)
Published in
The Kashmir Observer, Jammu & Kashmir (J & K)
The Bangladesh Today, Dhaka, Bangladesh
News Track India, Delhi
Orissa News, Bhubhneshwar, Orissa
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
My News, Delhi
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
News Blaze, USA
Pakistan Post, Islamabad, Pakistan
Assam Net, Guwahati, Assam
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Khabar Express, Bikaner, Rajasthan
Dr Sandeep Pandey
Amidst protests against price rises of essential items throughout the country, the PM Manmohan Singh has again started harping on the issue of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. The Deal has been pushed forward in India in an anti-democratic manner without approval of the Parliament - in fact in the teeth of opposition by a large majority of parliamentarians. The Deal has the potential of disturbing regional stability and further distorting India 's relationships with important neighbours like China , Pakistan and Iran.
This cannot also but severely undermine the prospects for both vertical and horizontal non-proliferation and thereby the prospects for global nuclear disarmament. This allurement also has the danger of further propelling India towards becoming a junior military ally of the US and a market to mint profits for its MNCs and also the nuclear industry of other advanced countries -- Russia and Fra
nce, in particular.Most importantly it will be a set back to the environmentally friendly sustainable ways of meeting our energy requirements. Power from nuclear energy is a failed project in developed countries and the eagerness of the Prime Minister to clinch the Deal fails to generate any enthusiasm among the common people of India . Neither is nuclear energy a solution to global warming as some experts make it out to be. On the contrary the entire nuclear fuel cycle is fraught with danger and exposes human beings to hazardous radiation. The world is yet to find a safe way for disposal of radioactive waste, a factor which is constraining the growth of nuclear power programmes in the developed countries.
The US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Japan all seem to be reviewing their nuclear energy programmes and commissioning of new nuclear power plants in all these countries has almost come to a stand still. Australia , the biggest supplier of Uranium in the world, is yet to initiate a nuclear power programme. Everybody has realized there is no future in nuclear energy. Advanced countries are looking for alternatives. But because of the parochial vision of our government the ruling class of this country has become obsessed with the nuclear option without any clear understanding of its implications. There seems to be a superficial feeling that this Deal is somehow going to enhance the stature of India in the community of nations. Hence it is matter of vanity and false sense of pride with possibly no concrete benefits for the people of this country.
A Planning Commission study shows that even with the best possible estimates of capacity addition in power generation after the Deal is through, the country is not going to increase its share of electricity from nuclear energy from the present 3% to more than 7-9%. And this would come at a huge cost -- financially and politically. We would be required to bring our foreign policy in line with the US policy as has been already exhibited by India being forced to vote against Iran in the IAEA meeting.
The Indo-US Nuclear Deal is meant to serve the interests of the global nuclear power industry and is a ploy to keep India away from staking claims to shrinking fossil fuel reserves in proportion to its large population so that these reserves may last for some more time for the rich countries.
The undue importance given to the Indo-US Nuclear Deal as opposed to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, even though gas is predicted to be the major source of power globally for the next two to three decades, raises questions about the motives of the Indian government.
The most diabolical aspect of the Deal is the increasing military proximity between the US and India . Joint Indo-US military exercises have already been going on for the last seven years with the aim of building interoperability.
A Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School has been established at Vairengte in Mizoram. The US Congress has been briefed that in a war that is being predicted with China in about fifteen years from now, the US would like to see India on its side. US envisions a military base for itself on India soil soon.
The increasing militarization of the India State is also being used to stifle civil liberties and democratic movements in the country. India must learn a lesson from the history of US military involvement in various parts of the world which have been left devastated. It is dangerous to have the US as an enemy but fatal to have as a friend.
The friendship and the elusive geo-political status or possibly a seat in the Security Council, whatever the Government of India is aspiring for, is going to come at the cost of loss of sovereignty to the nation. Our status will be reduced to that of a second rate UK or Israel .
In the face of unprecedented pressure mounted by the US , the Left Front, a partner in the UPA alliance, must be congratulated for successfully stalling the Indo-US Nuclear Deal up till now. The Deal is now stuck at the stage of finalizing a India specific agreement with the IAEA. The Left party leaders have displayed foresight in foiling the US hegemonic designs in South Asia even though they have yet to take an ideological position against the nuclear power programme.
Manmohan Singh, who talked about renewable energy for the last time at NAM meeting two years ago, has directed the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to draft an umbrella legislation for promotion and growth of renewable energy, under duress. It would make more political, economic and environmental sense for India to pursue a path of self reliant renewable energy programme for fulfilling its need rather than the elusive nuclear energy for which we'll always be at the mercy of external agencies. But then India will have to give up its own hegemonic designs of acting as a regional military super power.
Clean source of energy will have to be accompanied by clean politics. India will have to work on the agenda of regional peace, disarmament and stability rather than converting it into a region of warfare. If Manmohan Singh embarks on this twin objective programme, he would be remembered for his wisdom more than he would be if he were to finalize the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. He would favourably alter the course of history of not only this nation but also possibly the world towards a cleaner, safer and secure future.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@yahoo.com)
Published in
The Kashmir Observer, Jammu & Kashmir (J & K)
The Bangladesh Today, Dhaka, Bangladesh
News Track India, Delhi
Orissa News, Bhubhneshwar, Orissa
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
My News, Delhi
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
News Blaze, USA
Pakistan Post, Islamabad, Pakistan
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The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Khabar Express, Bikaner, Rajasthan
RAIPUR: Day II of 10-days fast in support of Dr Binayak Sen
RAIPUR: Day II of 10-days fast in support of Dr Binayak Sen
[To read a related posting in Hindi language, click here]
To sign the petition, click here
17 June 2008
R
aipur (Chhattisgarh)
The 10-day Group Fast began on 16th June, 2008 at Raipur around 2 pm to express solidarity with Dr. Binayak Sen (Medical Doctor), Ajay T G (Film Maker), both members of the PUCL, and many others detained under the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (1967) amended in 2004.
While Dr. Sandeep Pandey (Magsaysay Award Winner & Social Worker), Com. Prem Narain Verma (Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha), Prem Prakash & Faisal Khan (both from Asha Pariwar), began their 10-day fast to ensure that human rights of marginalized people are not trampled upon and human rights defenders continue to work fearlessly, seven social & cultural activists from Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha, Pithora region of Raipur district joined in solidarity in a relay-hunger strike for 24-hours. They include Naveen Kumar, Leeladhar, Janki, Jugmati, Sandhya, Hemant Giri and Budhyarin.
Today, at the completion of 24 hours of the Fast, 11 social activists and members of the Chhattisgarh Mahila Jagriti Sangathan (CMJS) replaced them for another day of 24-hour relay hunger-strike at 2 pm at the Dharna Sthal at Burha Talab in the capital city of Raipur. These are: Veena Thakur, Lokeshwari Thakur, Beena Vishwas, Durga Dhruv, Saguna Sarthi, Humeshwari Sahu, Emin Kahsyap, Indrani Kahsyap, Kansani Pandey, Ranjana Belekar.
About 75 citizens, activists and intellectuals were present at the inauguration of the Group Fast on 16th June to end arbitrary abuse of state power and protect democratic rights of ordinary citizens. These represented various people's and human rights organisations led by Com. Janak Lal Thakur (President, Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha & Former MLA) & Com Sheikh Ansar (Vice-President, CMM), Adv. Gautam Bandopadhya (Nadi Ghati Morcha), Ratneshwar Nath (Ekta Parishad, Kanker), Shashi Sail (Chhattisgarh Mahila Jagriti Sangathan), Adv Sudha Bhardwaj (Pragateesheel Cement Shramik Sangh, Jamul), Com Hemant Tandon (Communist Party of India-ML), Kumud Nandgave (Chhattisgarh Bal Sharamik Sangathan), Jacob N (Richariya Campaign), Com. Bishe Lal Nishad (Pragateesheel Engineering Shramik Sangh & CMM), Nazma (Roopantar), Shiv Kumar Patel (Mukti-Niketan, Pithora), Vijendra (National Centre for Advocacy Study), Com Bishram KK & Pawan Devangan (Rajnandgaon Kapda Milla Mazdoor Sangh), Com Rajim Tandi (Dalit-Adivasi Sangh), Babita Dutta (Shaheed Ansuiya Natya Kala Manch), M K Masih & Surendra Tandi (MLU-RCDRC).
During the occasion, Adv Rajendra K Sail, President (Chhattisgarh PUCL) underlined that these draconian laws sanction the violation of due process by the state, and thus contravene internationally accepted norms of jurisprudence as well as democratic governance. Quoting the Senior Advocate K G Kannabiran, National President of PUCL, India, Sail said that in his letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Kannabirarn argues that the CSPSA and UAPA operated by criminalizing the very performance of civil liberties activities, and culpability was decided upon not by direct proof, but through guilt by association.
Sail also pointed out that the PUCL-Chhattisgarh Unit, with Dr. Binayak Sen's active leadership as its General Secretary, had exposed the government sponsored so-called campaign Salwa-Judum in Chhattisgarh which legitimizes extra-constitutional violence and pits adivasis against adivasis. And, this was the major reason that the State machinery of Chhattisgarh had come out heavily against the human rights defenders.
Addressing the gathering at the inauguration of the Group Fast, Dr. Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Award Winner said that if the state did not respond to peaceful and democratic means of protest, it was but natural that the people victimized by various development processes being implemented by the Governments at the behest of big business and industrial giants would have no option but to resort to extra-constitutional means. Giving example of Irom Sharmila, a human rights activist from Manipur on Fast-unto- Death for the past 7 years against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Sandeep Pandey said that it was such a shame that the democratically elected governments were going back on their own promises to restore democracy and ensure human rights in the North-East India region, which has been witnessing worst violations of human rights by the hands of the Army.
Others who spoke at the occasion were Com Janak Lal Thakur (CMM), Bharat Bhooshan Pandey (CPI-ML), Ram Prakash (Asha Pariwar), Sudha Bhardwaj (PUCL-CG), Shiv Kumar Patel (Mukti-Niketan). Cultural Activists from Shaheed Ansuiya Natya Kala sang mukti songs, and raised slogans.
At the end, Rajendra Sail announced that the Group Fast would end on 25th June, the day Emergency Rule in India was declared in 1975, followed by a National Convention on Repressive Laws & Human Rights on 25th & 26th June 2008 at Raipur.
Sail also informed that almost that more than 70 organizations from more than 25 states of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UK, USA, and other nations had endorsed the campaign, and that a signature campaign has been initiated to mobilize support from the Members of Parliament in India. He said that 12 MPs, who were related to medical profession, had already signed the petition for the release of Dr. Binayak Sen.
Rajendra K Sail
President
Mobile: 094242-01288
Dharna Sthal: +91-9752526299
To sign the petition, click here or go to:
http://www.AshaParivar.org/petition/binayaksen
INVITE: Convention of Bangladesh-Bharat-Pak People's Forum
INVITE: Convention of Bangladesh-Bharat-Pak People's Forum
Bangladesh-Bharat-Pakistan People's Forum
[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]
-----------------------------------------------
Date: Sunday, 15 June 2008
Time: 10am to 8 pm
Venue: Yuba Kendra (Youth Centre), Moulali, Kolkata, West Bengal
"HUM HAI ISKI MALIK HINDUSTHAN HAMARA HAI
Ghadar Jaari hai”
Dear Friends & Comrades,
Bangladesh – Bharat – Pakistan People’s Forum (Bharat Chapter) in collaboration with Lok Raj Sangathan (New Delhi) invites you and your organization to participate, contribute in the convention as concluding part of yearlong program in the memory of 1st Independent struggle of 1857.
This program will be held on Sunday, 15th June 2008, from 10 A.M. to 8 P.M. at Yuba Kendra (Youth Center), Moulali Kolkata.
Programme:
----------
10 – 10.30 A.M. - Introduction of the program.
10.30 – 1.30 P.M. Audio Visual presentation on 1857 (Prepared by Lok Awaz Publishers).
10.30 – 11.15 A.M. The background 1700-1857
11.15 – 12.00 Hours - The Great Ghadar 1857
12.00 – 12.45 P.M. The Aftermath 1858-1947
12.45 – 1.30 P.M. - The legacy 1947 to the present
2.30 P.M. – 3.30P.M. Discussion: - Comments and contributions from participants
4.00 P.M. – 6.00 P.M. Bangladesh, Bharat & Pakistani team will perform Cultural Program
6.00 P.M. – 8.00 P.M. Convention, decision and election of State committee of B.B.P.P.F (Bharat)
16.06.08 – 10 A.M. Trinational conference (Representative from Bangladesh, Pakistan and from 12 States of Bharat will be present.)
17th & 18th.06.08 – Different program will be announced on 15th June.
With warm greetings
Manik Samajdar
General Secretary
Bangladesh-Bharat-Pakistan People's Forum (BBPPF) - Bharat
Phone: (+91) 09339317761
Registration Free but donation expected. Program may be alter slightly
Sent by:
Hindu Muslim Friendship Association
Email: hindumuslimfriend@yahoo.co.in
BANGLADESH – BHARAT – PAKISTAN PEOPLE’S FORUM
---------------------------------------------
INDIA:
28,GURUDWARA RAKABGANJ ROAD, NEW DELHI 110 001,
Email: bbp_peoples_forum@hotmail.com
PAKISTAN:
P-85, PEACE HOUSE, Mubarakbad Colony, Toba Tek Singh -3650. Pakistan.
Email: bbppfpak@gmail.com
BANGLADESH:
225, FAKIRAPOOL (3RD Floor), Motijheel, DHAKA 1000. Bangladesh.
Email: bbp_peoplesforum@yahoo.com
---------------------------------------
[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]
Bangladesh-Bharat-Pakistan People's Forum
[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]
-----------------------------------------------
Date: Sunday, 15 June 2008
Time: 10am to 8 pm
Venue: Yuba Kendra (Youth Centre), Moulali, Kolkata, West Bengal
"HUM HAI ISKI MALIK HINDUSTHAN HAMARA HAI
Ghadar Jaari hai”
Dear Friends & Comrades,
Bangladesh – Bharat – Pakistan People’s Forum (Bharat Chapter) in collaboration with Lok Raj Sangathan (New Delhi) invites you and your organization to participate, contribute in the convention as concluding part of yearlong program in the memory of 1st Independent struggle of 1857.
This program will be held on Sunday, 15th June 2008, from 10 A.M. to 8 P.M. at Yuba Kendra (Youth Center), Moulali Kolkata.
Programme:
----------
10 – 10.30 A.M. - Introduction of the program.
10.30 – 1.30 P.M. Audio Visual presentation on 1857 (Prepared by Lok Awaz Publishers).
10.30 – 11.15 A.M. The background 1700-1857
11.15 – 12.00 Hours - The Great Ghadar 1857
12.00 – 12.45 P.M. The Aftermath 1858-1947
12.45 – 1.30 P.M. - The legacy 1947 to the present
2.30 P.M. – 3.30P.M. Discussion: - Comments and contributions from participants
4.00 P.M. – 6.00 P.M. Bangladesh, Bharat & Pakistani team will perform Cultural Program
6.00 P.M. – 8.00 P.M. Convention, decision and election of State committee of B.B.P.P.F (Bharat)
16.06.08 – 10 A.M. Trinational conference (Representative from Bangladesh, Pakistan and from 12 States of Bharat will be present.)
17th & 18th.06.08 – Different program will be announced on 15th June.
With warm greetings
Manik Samajdar
General Secretary
Bangladesh-Bharat-Pakistan People's Forum (BBPPF) - Bharat
Phone: (+91) 09339317761
Registration Free but donation expected. Program may be alter slightly
Sent by:
Hindu Muslim Friendship Association
Email: hindumuslimfriend@yahoo.co.in
BANGLADESH – BHARAT – PAKISTAN PEOPLE’S FORUM
---------------------------------------------
INDIA:
28,GURUDWARA RAKABGANJ ROAD, NEW DELHI 110 001,
Email: bbp_peoples_forum@hotmail.com
PAKISTAN:
P-85, PEACE HOUSE, Mubarakbad Colony, Toba Tek Singh -3650. Pakistan.
Email: bbppfpak@gmail.com
BANGLADESH:
225, FAKIRAPOOL (3RD Floor), Motijheel, DHAKA 1000. Bangladesh.
Email: bbp_peoplesforum@yahoo.com
---------------------------------------
[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]
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