-By AMY YEE
BAGLUNG, NEPAL: In Rangkhani, a remote mountain village in western Nepal, a 12- hour walk on steep dirt roads from Baglung, the district’s chief town, families until a decade ago used kerosene and butter lamps to banish the darkness when dusk fell. River water is channeled to mi- crohydro facilities, providing power for villagers. The generators have little effect on the environment and the waterways are similar to irriga- tion channels already in use. Communication and health care were poor. Work, apart from traditional farming and small trade, was scarce.But since 2001, a microhydro project has harnessed the tumbling waters of the nearby Kalung Khola river to provide electricity for Rhangkhani and neighboring villages.
The World Bank estimates that Nepal’s swift-flowing torrents could supply as much as 83,000 megawatts of electricity through such projects, some without costly and environmentally damaging dams, making them one of the largest untapped hydro power resources in the world.“Nature has given us tough terrain: It’s difficult for infrastructure,” said Bhupendra Shakya, a renewable energy expert in Katmandu.“But it’s suitable for hydro,” added Mr. Shakya, who works with Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihood, a project run jointly by the Nepalese government, the U.N. Development Program and the World Bank.
When the Kalung Khola plant was built, the villagers at first did not believe that water could create electricity. Khagaraj Sharma, 48, a school teacher, recalled in a recent interview how 150 people had gathered at the small powerhouse for the startup ceremony. All eyes were fixed on a light bulb outside the one-room concrete shed housing a generator powered by running river water. When the bulb glowed, villagers cheered and danced.
Monday, July 16, 2012
CPCB fails to file report on groundwater contamination by Dow’s Bhopal plant in Supreme Court
New Delhi : In a letter to ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), Vijay Panjwani, Supreme Court lawyer for Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has assured that “CPCB would file report (on groundwater contamination by Dow’s Bhopal plant) as soon it is ready. There is no reason for CPCB to hold back or delay filing of report on contaminated ground water in Arif Nagar,etc near UCC/UCIL/DOWCHEMICAL plant in Bhopal.”
The report of ground water contamination by the plant of Dow Chemical Company’s Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) has not yet been filed although the deadline for filing it on June 4, 2012 is long over.
In a letter to Mira Mehrishi, Chairperson, CPCB, Additional Secretary Union Ministry of Environment & Forests, TWA had reminded CPCB about the need for filing the report on removal of contamination of ground water in UCC’s Bhopal plant area in compliance with Supreme Court Order dated April 19, 2012 and March 28, 2012. A copy of the letter was also sent to Panjwani as well. The letter dated July 14, 2012 is attached.
Panjwani added, “Even otherwise supreme court has not stopped you to go ahead and collect samples immediately for presence of toxic heavy metals.” TWA feels that after the rains the test results of the samples will not be credible due to dilution by rains.
The report of ground water contamination by the plant of Dow Chemical Company’s Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) has not yet been filed although the deadline for filing it on June 4, 2012 is long over.
In a letter to Mira Mehrishi, Chairperson, CPCB, Additional Secretary Union Ministry of Environment & Forests, TWA had reminded CPCB about the need for filing the report on removal of contamination of ground water in UCC’s Bhopal plant area in compliance with Supreme Court Order dated April 19, 2012 and March 28, 2012. A copy of the letter was also sent to Panjwani as well. The letter dated July 14, 2012 is attached.
Panjwani added, “Even otherwise supreme court has not stopped you to go ahead and collect samples immediately for presence of toxic heavy metals.” TWA feels that after the rains the test results of the samples will not be credible due to dilution by rains.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Quebec, Canada and UK Urged to Stop Financial Support to White Asbestos Industry
New Delhi: In a letter to Jean Charest, Premier, Government of Quebec, Canada and Stephen Harper, Prime Minister, Government of Canada, ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) has expressed its sense of outrage and dismay at the announcement of a $58 million loan for revival of the Jeffrey Asbestos mine under the influence of Chrysotile Institute, a white asbestos industry funded group. Canadian High Commission has confirmed that the letter dated July 6, 2012 has been sent to their offices.
In a separate letter to Prime Minister of Government of United Kingdom his urgent intervention has been sought to stop banks, financial institutions and companies from investing in the Indian white asbestos industry. TWA has pointed out that companies like Jagjiwan Enchem Udyog Limited Company are admittedly “associated with world’s leading 150 years old reputed company M/s. Scandura Ltd., the British Belting Asbestos group of companies. Mr. Dilip J. Pandya founder promoter of the company had undergone intensive
asbestos process training at M/s. Scandura Ltd., in England.” The company reveals that its Aqua Dispersion Process technology imported from *BRITISH BELTING & ASBESTOS GROUP of U.K. *The letter dated July 10, 2012 is attached. Such involvement of British business interests in asbestos companies is unacceptable. This also reveals a manifest case of double standard given the fact that use of asbestos is banned in UK.
In a separate letter to Prime Minister of Government of United Kingdom his urgent intervention has been sought to stop banks, financial institutions and companies from investing in the Indian white asbestos industry. TWA has pointed out that companies like Jagjiwan Enchem Udyog Limited Company are admittedly “associated with world’s leading 150 years old reputed company M/s. Scandura Ltd., the British Belting Asbestos group of companies. Mr. Dilip J. Pandya founder promoter of the company had undergone intensive
asbestos process training at M/s. Scandura Ltd., in England.” The company reveals that its Aqua Dispersion Process technology imported from *BRITISH BELTING & ASBESTOS GROUP of U.K. *The letter dated July 10, 2012 is attached. Such involvement of British business interests in asbestos companies is unacceptable. This also reveals a manifest case of double standard given the fact that use of asbestos is banned in UK.
Beware of Campaign by POSCO and Government to create ‘Feel Good’ ambience for project
By Prashant Paikaray
Recently the government and POSCO have engaged in a media campaign aimed at confusing the entire mass. They claim to have “downsized” the proposed steel plant, that the “people are coming around” and that the plant construction work will start in October 2012 etc. These are apparently made to create a ‘feel good’ ambience in favour of the project. Stay cautious on such claims as many of such may simply be bewildering!
The fact that the people still oppose this unjust project is shown by the fact that yesterday i.e. on 9th July 2012, more than 700 villagers staged a rally in Dhinkia village in spite of heavy rains. We reiterated our strong opposition against the recent move by the Naveen Patnaik government to acquire our land for the proposed POSCO steel plant project. The State government is preparing to take over 700 acres of government land that had more than 500 betel vines and about one lakh cashew trees belonging to our villagers. In order to acquire this 700 acres of forest land adjacent to Govindpur village, the company and the government are using the technique of “trap and divide” our people. However we are determined to defeat such designs by proving that we stand united.
It was decided at the meeting that to hold similar meetings in some other villages of the area, such as Gobindpur, Patana, and Nuagaon during this week and to prepare for a bigger rally at Batatikira at a later date. As you may know that at Batatikira, our villagers have been continuing daily with dharna since June 2011. The villagers have promised to foil any attempt by the government to acquire land for the POSCO. Our people had barricaded in many places to prevent the entry of officials in these areas.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
(IIM), INDORE : 5 YEAR INTEGRATED PROGRAMME
Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore : 5 year Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) Admission-2012
Eligibility: Candidates who have passed Higher Secondary/XII standard/+2 level/equivalent examination and those who are likely to complete the examination by the end of 31st July, 2012. 60% aggregate marks in SSC/X standard equivalent and 60% aggregate marks in HSC/XII standard/+2 level/equivalent; or SAT-1 overall score of 1600 out of 2400 (for General/NC-OBC category) 55% aggregate marks in SSC/X std/equivalent and 55% aggregate marks in HSC/XII std/+2 level/equivalent; or SAT-1 overall score of 1475 out of 2400 (for SC/ST/PwD/DA category) SAT-1 score obtained during 01st January, 2011-20th July, 2012 are only valid
Age limit: Not more than 20 years as on 30th June, 2012 (for General/NC-OBC category); not more than 22 years as on 30th June, 2012 (for SC/ST/PwD/DA category)
How To Apply: Admission Procedure and Selection Criteria
Friday, June 29, 2012
In Haryana, you are punished if you fight corruption!
 |
| Sanjiv Chaturvedi |
Sanjiv Chaturvedi, a Haryana cadre officer of Indian Forest Service, been forced to proceed on earned leave from June 3. Chaturvedi is a whistleblower who tried to resist and expose corruption in the Congress-led government in Haryana.It all started when Chaturvedi stopped the destruction of Saraswati wildlife sanctuary, Kurukshetra, at the hands of influential contractors of the state irrigation department in violation of Supreme Court orders and provisions of the forest and wildlife laws. The destruction would have happened due to construction of an irrigation canal through the sanctuary without statutory clearance. It is noteworthy that Haryana's share of forest cover is the lowest in the country. The Saraswati sanctuary is home to about 200 hog deer. It is believed that Saraswati, the mythical river, flows beneath the surface of the sanctuary.
Chaturvedi has been fighting back while remaining within the system but it seems he is tired now. He has been forced to go on leave in spite of his work getting support from many quarters.The ministry of environment and forest said in March: "Having regard to the advice of the Central Vigilance Commissioner and facts of the case…the issues raised (by Chaturvedi) …are worthy of an independent probe by an investigating agency."The CVC has said on December 16, 2011, that, "The Central Bureau of Investigation has now informed… that issues raised by Chaturvedi are worthy of an independent probe." Even, CBI says, it is "willing to take over the investigation of the matter… "
Monday, June 25, 2012
Sex determination rampant in J&K despite crackdown
Srinagar: A year after the Jammu and Kashmir government cracked down on sex determination centres, CNN-IBN has learnt that many of them have opened up again.In 2011, year when census figures had revealed the declining numbers of the girl child, the state government had come down heavily on the diagnostic centres suspected of conducting sex determination tests. A year later these clinics have started to open slowly prompting questions whether these clinic owners have been emboldened or the government has just become complacent.
More than 90 clinics were sealed when the census report suggested that sex ratio had skewed sharply from 941 to 859 per 1,000 males. In Leh, it was a dismal 583 girls to every 1,000 males.Kashmir private clinics association advisor Dr Shabir Ahmad said, "Some people got relief through the courts while other registered by paying money. There are some unregistered clinics functioning with the department's knowledge."
CNN-IBN went around and could see several clinics functioning and some were even working surreptitiously during late hours. Ironically, these clinics are in close proximity to the health department, which pleads ignorance.Health services director Saleem Rehman said, "If anyone tips us about sex selection being done at a clinic with credible proof, Rs 50,000 will be given to him and his identity won't be revealed. We will take strict action."Tough laws and strict monitoring along with government intervention can only check that the girl child does not go missing.
More than 90 clinics were sealed when the census report suggested that sex ratio had skewed sharply from 941 to 859 per 1,000 males. In Leh, it was a dismal 583 girls to every 1,000 males.Kashmir private clinics association advisor Dr Shabir Ahmad said, "Some people got relief through the courts while other registered by paying money. There are some unregistered clinics functioning with the department's knowledge."
CNN-IBN went around and could see several clinics functioning and some were even working surreptitiously during late hours. Ironically, these clinics are in close proximity to the health department, which pleads ignorance.Health services director Saleem Rehman said, "If anyone tips us about sex selection being done at a clinic with credible proof, Rs 50,000 will be given to him and his identity won't be revealed. We will take strict action."Tough laws and strict monitoring along with government intervention can only check that the girl child does not go missing.
CBI official V. V. Lakshminarayana in media cross-fire
In Andhra Pradesh the CBI is under the scanner for alleged selective leaking to anti-Jagan media houses. MADABHUSHI SRIDHAR ACHARYULU says neither the press nor the CBI has performed creditably.
When the media expose the real culprits through investigative journalism, their work is criticised as “trial by mediaâ€, which the judiciary has also considered to be influencing their judgment. In cases such as Arushi murder in Delhi, it was the CBI that regularly briefed the press leaving nothing for the judiciary to decide. The media were only overenthusiastic in sensationalising the private details of the case. Although not totally innocent, the media have been wrongfully blamed for this kind of “trialâ€. Now the media are busy reporting press conferences and selective leaks from the CBI or police investigators much before the evidence is produced before the court of law.
When the media expose the real culprits through investigative journalism, their work is criticised as “trial by mediaâ€, which the judiciary has also considered to be influencing their judgment. In cases such as Arushi murder in Delhi, it was the CBI that regularly briefed the press leaving nothing for the judiciary to decide. The media were only overenthusiastic in sensationalising the private details of the case. Although not totally innocent, the media have been wrongfully blamed for this kind of “trialâ€. Now the media are busy reporting press conferences and selective leaks from the CBI or police investigators much before the evidence is produced before the court of law.
A couple of newspapers and a television channel are under trial by another section of the media in Andhra Pradesh today. Earlier, some newspapers were supporting the Congress and some the Telugu Desam Party. But now the media are passionately divided as pro- and anti-Jagan. Several hours on television channels and columns after columns in newspapers are filled with bombarding details of the questions and answers in the interrogation of Jaganmohan Reddy, MP, former Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana, industrialists, and IAS officers, as if the newspapers were allowed to witness the grilling of the accused. Continuous reporting on details of the illegal assets case of Kadapa MP Jagan has raised questions of “media trial” from a different point of view with respect to ethics and propriety.
birth centenary of father of computing celebrated
Alan Turing, the father of computing, whose birth centenary is being celebrated on June 23 was also a victim of homophobia. The World War Two codebreaker committed suicide after being convicted and chemically castrated for being a homosexual. Mathematician Turing led a team at Bletchley Park country House north of London which cracked the Nazis' Enigma code - regarded by the Germans as unbreakable - a move credited with helping to shorten the war and save countless lives.
However, five years after the war he was convicted of gross indecency under laws which banned homosexuality and was sentenced to chemical castration involving a series of injections of female hormones. 100 years since Alan Turing's birth: A look back at computers. The conviction meant Alan Turing, a pioneer of modern computing, losing his security clearance and being unable to continue his work. In 1954 he killed himself at the age of 41. The legislation used against the maths genius was the same as that used to prosecute and jail playwright Oscar Wilde in 1895 during a Victorian clampdown on homosexuality and it was only repealed in 2003.
In 2009 British Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised for the treatment meted to Alan Turing.It was at the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park that Turing and fellow scientists designed and developed Colossus, a truck-sized machine which was one of the world's first programmable electronic computers. However the work was not widely known beyond academic circles as Britain kept their role in the war secret.
Then Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered that the Colossus computers and 200 so-called Bombe machines, used to crack the Enigma code, be destroyed to keep them secret from the Soviet Union. Bletchley's existence only came to light in the 1970s when the veil of secrecy was lifted.
However, five years after the war he was convicted of gross indecency under laws which banned homosexuality and was sentenced to chemical castration involving a series of injections of female hormones. 100 years since Alan Turing's birth: A look back at computers. The conviction meant Alan Turing, a pioneer of modern computing, losing his security clearance and being unable to continue his work. In 1954 he killed himself at the age of 41. The legislation used against the maths genius was the same as that used to prosecute and jail playwright Oscar Wilde in 1895 during a Victorian clampdown on homosexuality and it was only repealed in 2003.
In 2009 British Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised for the treatment meted to Alan Turing.It was at the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park that Turing and fellow scientists designed and developed Colossus, a truck-sized machine which was one of the world's first programmable electronic computers. However the work was not widely known beyond academic circles as Britain kept their role in the war secret.
Then Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered that the Colossus computers and 200 so-called Bombe machines, used to crack the Enigma code, be destroyed to keep them secret from the Soviet Union. Bletchley's existence only came to light in the 1970s when the veil of secrecy was lifted.
TISS report points to anti-Muslim, ant-migrant bias of Maharashtra Police
A report on Muslim prisoners in Maharashtra jails by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) establishes that most of them do not have connections with criminal gangs, and points to an acute bias of the police for arresting them in some cases only because they belong to a particular community. A Study of the Socio Economic Profile and Rehabilitation Needs of Muslim Community in Prisons in Maharashtra, 2011, by Dr. Vijay Raghavan and Roshni Nair from the Centre for Criminology and Justice School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), states that 96 per cent of the respondents have not been held under preventive detention charges, thus indicating that they are not viewed as a threat to law and order.
The study which surveyed 339 Muslims, mostly between 18 and 30 years of age, in 15 prisons says this implies that most respondents do not have connections with criminal gangs or have any record which may be a threat to law and order. About 25.4 per cent of those imprisoned don’t have lawyers to represent them in their cases. The police’s bias against Muslims led to some of the arrests under the erstwhile Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) and even under the Official Secrets Act.
Resist the silent emergency! Call for Action on June 26th 2012
On June 26,1975, Emergency was declared in India, robbing citizens of their basic democratic rights and ushering in a dark period of rampant human rights violations all over the country. Arrests of Indian citizens without charge or notification of families, abuse and torture of detainees, media censorship and use of public and private media institutions for government propaganda, forced sterilization of the minorities, destruction of slums and low income housing areas and authoritarianism were its main characteristics. All dissent was crushed. While the engineering student Rajan was tortured and killed in the Kakkayam torture camp, many others includingArchana Guha & Latika Guha from Calcutta who were badly tortured are still alive to tell their tales.
The nightmare of Emergency was over in 1977 when it was lifted due to large scale public protest. Political parties, institutions and individuals who defended Emergency were discredited. The sigh of relief evoked a hope for a functioning democracy in India.
But today, we are entering into a similar phase of governance without any formal declaration of Emergency. This Silent Emergency has regulated, controlled and restricted all space for democratic public protests against ruling governments. Custodial deaths and encounter killings have become a routine phenomenon. Rape, murder, loot, torture and arrests in Manipur, Nagaland and other north eastern states as well as Kashmir have even crossed the excesses of the Emergency period. Many discriminatory laws have been enacted to silence the Media without a censorship. Several discriminatory laws were enacted to enhance and strengthen the power of the State over civil society and crush dissent. State terrorism today is beyond the imagination those who were responsible for the declaration of Emergency in the seventies.
Laws to facilitate the corporate control and loot over the resources of people are being enacted. This has also become a major reason for the human rights violations against adivasis, dalits, minorities, farmers, fisher people, workers, activists and human rights movements. While the mainstream media is compelled to ignore most of the people’s movements,for reasons of commerce those who work on human rights of the people are being victimized. The human rights defenders who take up burning issues of the people are being targeted. False cases are being fabricated against activists, people’s movements, media, theatre activists, minorities, self determination movements, dalits and adivasis in a major way. Thus thousands of innocent people are languishing in Indian jails without any trial.
Human rights lovers of this country and abroad came out on streets to campaign for the release Dr. Binayak Sen in recent times. However, hundreds of innocent adivasis are still suffering in the jails in Chhattisgarh. While the anti-POSCO movement leader Abhay Sahoo was released on bail recently, he is still being tied up with 51 fabricated cases. The villagers and activists resisting the South Korean multinational giant POSCO are facing over 1500 false cases and many of them cannot move out of their villages even to go to hospital due to this. They are jailed inside their own villages. While the leader of the anti-nuclear movement in Koodamkulam is facing over 200 fabricated cases, similar charges have also been instigated against over 6000 villagers. Muslim spiritual leader Abdul Nasser Maudany who supported the struggles of adivasis and dalits in Kerala was imprisoned in Coimbatore jail with fabricated charges for nine and a half years without trial and declared innocent and released later. However, he is imprisoned again with fabricated charges and he is suffering in jail in Bangalore today without proper medical care for his health problems. Maudany is becoming blind today. He has lost vision in one eye and the second eye is also affected. Writer and human rights activistSeema Azad is also behind bars today facing fabricated charges along with her husband. Seema Azad is the organizational secretary of PUCL in Uttar Pradesh. Journalist Syed Mohammed Ahmed Kazmi, journalist K.K. Shahina, adivasi activist Soni Sori, farmers’ movement leader Dr. Sunilam, Mumbai based activist Arun Ferreira, Activists protested against Nonadanga slum evictions in West bengal , advocate Shahnavas, dalit group in Kerala DHRM, Mumbai based theatre group Kabir Kala Manch, adivasi activist CK. Janu and her supporters and thousands of others have become victims of fabrication by the State in the recent past. This trend is not acceptable to any citizen who believes in democracy and human rights.
Adopted Rio+20 Summit declaration reflects India's concerns
RIO DE JANEIRO: Reflecting the concerns of India, the Rio+20 Summit has said that developing countries needed additional resources for sustainable development and that unwarranted conditionalities on Official Development Assistance (ODA) and finance should be avoided. "We reaffirm that developing countries need additional resources for sustainable development," said the 55-page declaration adopted at the end of the Rio+20 summit officially called "United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development".
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his address at the Summit attended by 125 world leaders had said "many countries could do more if additional finance and technology were available. Unfortunately, there is little evidence of support from the industrialised countries in these areas (reducing emissions intensity). The ongoing economic crisis has made matters worse." Describing economic development, social inclusion and environmental sustainability as all equally critical as components of sustainable development, Singh said that the task before the world community is to give practical shape and content to this architecture in a manner that allows each country to develop according to its own national priorities and circumstances.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his address at the Summit attended by 125 world leaders had said "many countries could do more if additional finance and technology were available. Unfortunately, there is little evidence of support from the industrialised countries in these areas (reducing emissions intensity). The ongoing economic crisis has made matters worse." Describing economic development, social inclusion and environmental sustainability as all equally critical as components of sustainable development, Singh said that the task before the world community is to give practical shape and content to this architecture in a manner that allows each country to develop according to its own national priorities and circumstances.
Left parties urge Odisha govt to scrap Posco project
Paradip: The Left parties on Friday urged the Odisha government to scrap the proposed Posco project near here respecting the people's sentiment. The state government should refrain from acquiring land forcibly and scrap the project. Acquiring land for a project without having any agreement is illegal, CPI leader A B Bardhan said. The local people have been agitating against the project for the last seven years. This is a clear indication that the people do not want the project here, Bardhan told a a protest rally at the proposed plant site village marking the seventh anniversary of the MoU for the mega steel plant.
Bardhan, who has been opposing the project since the Odisha government signed an MoU with the South Korean steel major for setting up a 12mtpa steel mill in June 22, 2005, said the people of Dhinkia gram panchayat, the epi-centre of anti-Posco movement, were kept in captivity in their villages as they were opposed to the project. Whoever comes out of the village is framed in a fake case, he alleged. CPM MP Basudev Acharia urged chief minister Naveen Patnaik to drive away Posco in the interest of the local people.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Paraguay’s President ousted in impeachment trial
AP Paraguay's former President Fernando Lugo addresses the nation after the Senate voted to remove him from office in an impeachment trial at the Presidential palace in Asuncion on Friday. Paraguay’s Senate removed President Fernando Lugo from office in a rapid
impeachment trial on Friday, and the leftist former priest said he was stepping aside even though he considered his ouster a blow to democracy.
Vice-President Federico Franco was promptly sworn in as President after tense hours during which Mr. Lugo’s supporters massed in the streets facing off with riot police. The outgoing President, who was elected on pledges of helping the poor, averted the potential for a bigger conflict by appearing on television and saying he would comply with the Senate’s vote.
“I say goodbye as President,” a smiling and gracious Mr. Lugo said shortly after the Senate vote. He said, however, that Paraguay’s democracy “has been deeply wounded.” Mr. Franco, who had parted ways with Mr. Lugo in recent years, triumphantly donned the Presidential sash and declared: “At this time, God and destiny wanted me to assume the Presidency.”
The Senate tried Lugo on five charges of malfeasance in office, including an alleged role in a deadly confrontation between police and landless farmers that left 17 dead. After the five-hour trial, 39 Senators voted to dismiss Mr. Lugo, while four Senators voted against and two were absent. It was a dramatic demise for the once-popular leader who previously had
stepped down as a popular Roman Catholic “bishop of the poor” to run for the Presidency amid a leftward swing in South America.
Information regarding IRDS Fellowship
1. The period of fellowship
shall be from 01 July2012 to31 December2012
2. The first honorarium shall be provided on 15July2012, second on 15October 2012and third on 15January 2013
3. There shall be no minimum Educational qualification nor any minimum or
maximum age limit for the fellowship.
4. The language of fellowship can be Hindi or English
5.The selected Fellow shall have to present a Progress Report on the first
date of every month.
6. The selected
fellow shall present an Interim Report on 01 October 2012 after which the next
honorarium shall be provided.
7. The Fellow will have to present a detailed Final Report on 31 December2012 after which
the final honorarium shall be given. This Report shall not be less than Twenty
Five thousand words (25,000 words). The suggested format of the Report shall be
as follows-
(a) Introduction
(b) The Internal and External characteristics of the current Anti-corruption Movements
(c) The power of Media to affect people’s perception
(d) The role of Media in these movements- (i) Positive aspects (ii) Negative
aspects
(This analysis shall be presented separately for the Electronic and Print
Media)
(e) Role of Media in Anti-corruption
Movements- Conclusion
(f) Suggestions/Recommendations for the Media
(g) Suggestions/Recommendations for the Anti-corruption
Movements
The selected Fellow can remain in contact with us through email or through
Phone. In case they feel necessary, they may contact us at 5/426, Viram Khand,
Gomti Nagar, Lucknow- 226010.
The name of the person selected for Fellowship shall be announced on 31 June.
Those interested in this fellowship may send their Expression of Interest along
with a Concept paper (Synopsis) and the required Bio data latest by 25 June atirdslucknow@gmail.com, amitabhth@yahoo.com ornutanthakurlko@gmail.com.
They may contact us at 94155-34525 or 94155-34526 for any further details.
shall be from 01 July2012 to31 December2012
2. The first honorarium shall be provided on 15July2012, second on 15October 2012and third on 15January 2013
3. There shall be no minimum Educational qualification nor any minimum or
maximum age limit for the fellowship.
4. The language of fellowship can be Hindi or English
5.The selected Fellow shall have to present a Progress Report on the first
date of every month.
6. The selected
fellow shall present an Interim Report on 01 October 2012 after which the next
honorarium shall be provided.
7. The Fellow will have to present a detailed Final Report on 31 December2012 after which
the final honorarium shall be given. This Report shall not be less than Twenty
Five thousand words (25,000 words). The suggested format of the Report shall be
as follows-
(a) Introduction
(b) The Internal and External characteristics of the current Anti-corruption Movements
(c) The power of Media to affect people’s perception
(d) The role of Media in these movements- (i) Positive aspects (ii) Negative
aspects
(This analysis shall be presented separately for the Electronic and Print
Media)
(e) Role of Media in Anti-corruption
Movements- Conclusion
(f) Suggestions/Recommendations for the Media
(g) Suggestions/Recommendations for the Anti-corruption
Movements
The selected Fellow can remain in contact with us through email or through
Phone. In case they feel necessary, they may contact us at 5/426, Viram Khand,
Gomti Nagar, Lucknow- 226010.
The name of the person selected for Fellowship shall be announced on 31 June.
Those interested in this fellowship may send their Expression of Interest along
with a Concept paper (Synopsis) and the required Bio data latest by 25 June atirdslucknow@gmail.com, amitabhth@yahoo.com ornutanthakurlko@gmail.com.
They may contact us at 94155-34525 or 94155-34526 for any further details.
Dr. Kiran Bedi at Crossword, Kemps Corner, Mumbai for a book launch
+and+Dr.+Kiran+Bedi).jpg) |
| Dr. Kiran Bedi at Crossword Kemps Corner (L-R- Swarup Nanda, CEO Leadstart Publishing, Nishi Malhotra (Author) and Dr. Kiran Bedi) |
Mumbai : Crossword and Leadstart Publishing hosted the launch of the book 'Tejas - Love is Worship', a novel by Nishi Malhotra. The novel was released by Author, Social Activist & Highest Ranking woman in Indian Police Services, Dr. Kiran Bedi at Crossword Kemps Corner. The evening was memorable as two eminent and highly knowledgeable women were seen interacting and sharing their experiences as authors with each other. The audience was enthralled and attentive as Nishi Malhotra along with Dr. Kiran Bedi read out a few excerpts from the book.
Dr. Kiran Bedi was impressed with the plot of the book, she pointed out saying that it connects instantly with every woman and the youth in general who are experiencing the dilemma of love. She not only appreciated the author Nishi Malhotra, who has interviewed her in the past, but also encouraged her to continue to keep writing from the heart and follow her passion. Nishi Malhotra, the author of 'Tejas- Love is Worship' was elated by the incredible response that she got for her book and said, "It's a story close to my heart, a tale of two people helplessly in love who want to be together in spite of the hurdles and challenges they face. I am sure the audiences are going to enjoy the journey while reading as much as I enjoyed while writing the book."
Swarup Nanda, CEO, Leadstart Publishing, was quoted saying "Leadstart Publishing is known for supporting creative talents who wish to share their story with the world. Nishi Malhotra is an extremely talented and an insightful writer and we wish to work with her on more occasions in future."
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
UNESCO water report promotes privatisation narrative
Ahead of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development being held in June 20-22 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation published a 909-page report titled 'United Nations World Water Development Report 4: Managing Water under Uncertainty and Risk. It is envisaged as a conference at the highest possible level, including heads of state and government or other representatives. It will result in a focused global political document
Citing a World Bank document of 2009, this three volume report says: "The National Ganga River Basin Authority in India, with the financial support of the World Bank, launched a programme in 2009 to clean the Ganges, to ensure that 'no untreated municipal sewage or industrial effluents would be discharged into the river by 2020'. Previous action plans did not improve the health of the river, in which almost 95 percent of the pollution is caused by sewers and open drains (World Bank, 2011b). This time the governmental approach has moved from a town centric approach to a broader river basin approach..."
The report's treatment of Ganga Basin, the largest river basin of the country which has catchment in 11 States leaves a lot to be desired. The report fails to enlist any achievement of the authority that was set up in February 2009. It does not scrutinise whether or not the promised 'broader river basin approach' has indeed been adopted. It does not dwell on the split personality of the bank either.
The bank has been undertaking contradictory projects in the Ganga basin without any sense of accountability. It depletes water quality of Ganga by supporting dams upstream and it provides loans for improvement of water quality in its downstream. The second volume of Environmental and Social Management Framework for Bank assisted National Ganga River Basin Project document says, "The Ganga basin (which also extends into parts of Nepal, China and Bangladesh) accounts for about 26 percent of India's landmass, 30 percent of its water resources, and more than 40 percent of its population."
Citing a World Bank document of 2009, this three volume report says: "The National Ganga River Basin Authority in India, with the financial support of the World Bank, launched a programme in 2009 to clean the Ganges, to ensure that 'no untreated municipal sewage or industrial effluents would be discharged into the river by 2020'. Previous action plans did not improve the health of the river, in which almost 95 percent of the pollution is caused by sewers and open drains (World Bank, 2011b). This time the governmental approach has moved from a town centric approach to a broader river basin approach..."
The report's treatment of Ganga Basin, the largest river basin of the country which has catchment in 11 States leaves a lot to be desired. The report fails to enlist any achievement of the authority that was set up in February 2009. It does not scrutinise whether or not the promised 'broader river basin approach' has indeed been adopted. It does not dwell on the split personality of the bank either.
The bank has been undertaking contradictory projects in the Ganga basin without any sense of accountability. It depletes water quality of Ganga by supporting dams upstream and it provides loans for improvement of water quality in its downstream. The second volume of Environmental and Social Management Framework for Bank assisted National Ganga River Basin Project document says, "The Ganga basin (which also extends into parts of Nepal, China and Bangladesh) accounts for about 26 percent of India's landmass, 30 percent of its water resources, and more than 40 percent of its population."
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Obama campaign raises more questions about Romney's wealth
Obama officials periodically invoke Romney's fortune, worth as much as $250 million, to try to make the case that he is out of touch with the concerns of most Americans."It raises a host of questions of why it is that he will not abide by more rigorous standards," Obama general counsel Robert Bauer said on a conference call.The Romney campaign dismissed the questions as an effort by the Obama campaign to change the subject after a string of bad news in recent days.Romney has pulled virtually even with Obama in several polls, raised more campaign cash than the president's team did in May, and has new hope of a strong showing in Wisconsin, where Republican Governor Scott Walker survived a recall election on Tuesday.
"Another day, another tired distraction by the Obama campaign, which is frantic to avoid discussing the continued rejection of President Obama's agenda by the electorate and by members of his own party," Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said."As has been reported for years, Governor and Mrs. Romney's assets are managed on a blind basis," Saul added. "They do not control the investment of these assets, which are under the control and overall management of a trustee."
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Water Privatization in Jakarta ‘Not Working’
Ezra Sihite | Residents line up for clean water in West Jakarta in this file photo. The Coalition of People Rejecting the Privatization of Water in Jakarta (KMMSAJ) and the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Jakarta said on Sunday that the privatization of Jakarta's water supply hasn't helped the city's residents, where some 40 percent of households don't have access to piped-in water. (Antara Photo) age Two groups on Sunday criticized the privatization of clean water in the capital, and received the support of a candidate for the city’s governorship.The Coalition of People Rejecting the Privatization of Water in Jakarta (KMMSAJ) and the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Jakarta expressed their opposition during a forum on the city’s clean water supplies.
“LBH Jakarta and KMMSAJ took up the water problem in Jakarta because the issue has been forgotten and marginalized,” LBH Jakarta chairman Nurkholis Hidayat said. “This is a general need that should have been fought for by those concerned, especially the government.” Nurkholis said that even with the privatization of the Jakarta clean water company — state controlled PAM Jaya subcontracts water services to private companies PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) and Aetra Air Jakarta — about 40 percent of Jakarta households do not have access to piped water. The poor have to buy water at between Rp 37,000 and Rp 85,000 per square cubic meter, he said.
Nurkholis said that since signing the 25-year contracts with the two private companies in 1997, PAM Jaya has suffered from debts of up to Rp 1.3 trillion ($142 million). Its assets dropped from Rp 1.49 trillion to Rp 204.46 billion a 2007 audit showed.Those organizing Sunday’s discussion invited all six of Jakarta’s gubernatorial candidates but independent candidate Hendardji Supandji was the only one who attended.“Privatization is not problem if it alleviates the burden of the people, but it is if it’s adding to the problem,” said Hendardji, who is in the race with running mate Riza Patriya.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Gujarat High Court Stays Ship-breaking
New Delhi : ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) welcomes Gujarat High Court ruling staying ship-breaking activity at the Sachana in Jamnagar district, Gujarat. The Gujarat's forest department has raised objections against the shipbreaking yards having environment clearance.Justice S R Brahmbhatt of Gujarat High Court ordered after the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) failed to provide cogent reply to queries posed by the State Forest Department regarding the location of the yard. The dispute between Forest Department and GMB has been referred to the chief secretary, Gujarat Government. The next date of hearing is on on June 18. The High Court has also issued notice to the State Government.
The Forest Department has found that the ship-breaking activities are taking place on forest land and in the Marine National Park.The hazardous ship-breaking activity at Sachana port, a fragile coastal environment is older than the shipreaking activity at Alang beach. At Sachana the activity began in 1977. At present there are 18 yards. At Alang beach the activity began in 1982-3.
Taking cognisance of the alarming levels of pollution, the the forest authorities have ordered all ship breakers to stop the activity with immediate effect in absence of environment clearance. In the Gujarat High Court the GMB supported ship breakers contention. It disputed Forest Department's claim about the limit of the Marine National Park. The shipbreaking activities were stopped at three of the yards after the Forest Department's letter. Justice Brahmbhatt asked as to why ship-breaking activity has not been stopped in all plots. The High Court has stayed all work till further orders.
In the Supreme Court, the ship buyer of ex Exxon Valdez (currently named MV Oriental N) has filed an application for beaching and breaking the dead vessel at Alang beach, Bhavnagar, Gujarat replying to the application filed by TWA raising objections about it.
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