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    GROUND REPORT INDIA GRI-eJournal-June2011-Edition(This Edition is circulated to the more than 70,000 friends in around 100 countries)

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    Contents

    Guest Editorial .............................................................................................................................................................. 3

    Congress, Corruption and Counseling ...................................................................................................................... 3

    Cover Reports ............................................................................................................................................................... 6

    M.F. Husain: Victim of Intolerance ........................................................................................................................... 6

    UNDP joins the sustainable energy for all campaign ............................................................................................... 7

    Mexico's War on Journalists - op-ed by John Ralston Saul ....................................................................................... 8

    Video Reports ............................................................................................................................................................. 11

    P. Sainath on the Jan Lokpal Bill ............................................................................................................................. 11International ............................................................................................................................................................... 11

    Malaysia: Free 30 Peaceful Political Activists ......................................................................................................... 11

    Egypt: Military pledges to stop forced virginity tests........................................................................................... 12

    EU-Russia workshop to seek inclusion of civil society for Rio 2012 ....................................................................... 13

    China must reveal whereabouts of Ai Weiweis associates ................................................................................... 14

    BAHRAIN: Activist and blogger Abdul-Jalil Alsingace sentenced to life imprisonment. ......................................... 14

    The Death of Democracy and Human Rights in India ............................................................................................. 16

    Reports ....................................................................................................................................................................... 17

    Juhi Chawla: Radiation from Sahyadri Guesthouse is cancer risk to Malabar Hill residents ................................. 17

    Foot D Ball for Elder Cause, Stop Elder Abuse Young Chagemakers to use Football as a catalyst for Elder

    Friendly World ........................................................................................................................................................ 18

    Citizens Silent Protest March From Rajghat on 18 June at 5 pm .......................................................................... 21

    PMO moves ahead on affirmative action in the private sector, catalyses self regulation through Ombudsman . 22

    46 th Report on The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010 ..... 23

    POOR STUDENTS IN DIRE STRAITS IN TAMILNADU ................................................................................................ 24

    One muslim man inhumanly tortured by BSF, fractures in both hands ................................................................. 25

    IAF women mountaineering expedition team gets a grand homecoming ............................................................. 26

    Conservation of Forests is Crucial for Sustainable Development: Shri Jairam Ramesh India Celebrates World

    Environment Day Today ......................................................................................................................................... 27

    Indias green economy for the future will need to meet the challenge of adding 8 10 million jobs each year .. 29

    Consultative Committee of Home Ministry Discusses Disaster Management ....................................................... 30

    PRESIDENT OF INDIA CONDOLES THE PASSING AWAY OF SHRI BHAJAN LAL ........................................................ 31

    NDMA holds National Seminar on Landslide Mitigation Management ................................................................. 31

    APPEAL TO BABA RAMDEV ..................................................................................................................................... 32

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    PM reviews Railways, gives direction for stepping up safety, punctuality and cleanliness ................................... 33

    Columns ...................................................................................................................................................................... 34

    A question to Anna & Baba Brigade: While giving thorns to the Government, arent we forgetting to presentroses? ...................................................................................................................................................................... 34

    Tearing through the Water Landscape: Evaluating the environmental and social consequences of POSCO

    project in Odisha, India ......................................................................................................................................... 37

    Shanti Bhushan's letter to Pranab Mukherjee on Ramdev crackdown and Lokpal Bill .......................................... 38

    Why do I support Baba Ramdevs corruption and black money movement while NGO & metro intellectuals are

    criticising it? ............................................................................................................................................................ 40

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    Guest Editorial

    Congress, Corruption and Counseling

    There may be some relief for time being for congress and Manmohan Singh as Baba Ramdeo ended his fast on 12

    June which he started on 4th from Ram Lila ground Delhi. It is a general perception that corruption and black

    money are byproducts of congresss bad governance. After independence, congress ruled the country all along,

    except a full term of BJP ruled by Atalji. One question which every Indian citizen would like to know How

    corruption and black money flourished after 1947 and who is responsible for it. Diagnosing the case, we find,

    congress ruled most of the time with some intermittent intervals of no significance. Morraji Desai, Inder kuamr

    Gujral, Chaudhary charan Singh, Devagoda, Chandra shekhar, Lal bahadur shashrit, V P Singh and Atalji were lucky

    to serve the country form the most powerful seat. But at the same time, they were unlucky also, as none got full

    term except Atalji- he got one after a short term. If one determines responsibility for corruption and black money,

    these intermittent PMs would take excuse that they got very short period, so couldnt do anything effective. But

    what answer congress will put before the nation. Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajeev Gandhi and now

    Manmohan Singh got sufficient time to cure and check this cancerous disease.

    For the sake of saying, we are multi-party system in India, but prior to Atal our polity-system was effectively

    single-party-system. At national level congress was only effective party. The advent of AtalJi as PM made our

    polity two-party-system in true scenes. Situation is still same as at national level only congress and BJP is having

    wide followings and many CMs. On this front also congress is cornered. Simply we can say congress would havecured easily as there was no strong opposition.

    Slowly and gradually, corruption becomes part of life. Citizens oppose it but there was no way out, except to

    accept it and keep it as anger. With the passage of the time, the overload corruption is now unbearable and

    intolerable. Citizens are simmering under heavyweight of anger of corruption and trying to find some means to

    take it out. In this regard, all constitutional organs contributed but lions share is of Legislative and followed by

    babus. Public have lost hope with these two wings and they think them real culprit. They were looking for a ray of

    hope for long to challenge these menace. BJP tried to make black money an issue in 2009 election but didnt get

    public attention. Public knows, they also did nothing to curb corruption in preceding five years- with Atal as PM.

    People are disappointed with these two actual national parties and trying to get alternative means.

    Baba Ramdeo popularized yoga to remove health problems. He reached to a large section of society through his

    ICT enabled social marketing routes. Almost 4% populations have access to internet to facilitate the molding of

    public opinion to have a strong soft power. Mobile has an added advantage over internet as its reach is more

    wide-spread as compared to internet. Its catalytic action made Baba the foremost figure on this social issue, in a

    very short span and he did it successfully using modern tools, technology and tactics of ICT and marketing. He is a

    great social marketer. He started awakening public on this social issue by forming a trust- Bharat Swabhiman. In

    the mean time, Anna Hazare took up the issue of lokpal bill and sat on Jantar Mantar. Public got the vent to blow

    out their accumulated anger with the help of Annaji. He acted as venting rod and in exchange he got support

    what they could not have imagined. Congress assessed the gravity and accepted the demand. This incident made

    corruption start floating as an issue in the society, but as natural, Baba was not happy as Anna reaped the crop

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    sowed by Baba. To regain the lost ground, Baba announced his program of protest with three issues and bringing

    Black money stashed outside was prominent among them.

    Manmohan government handled Anna episode tactfully without any great loss, but didt learn any lesson as

    evident by babas case. So, by mishandling the Babas case, congress will pay a heavy cost for it in long-term. After

    forceful eviction in midnight from Delhi, Baba kept his fast and got wide publicity over a longer period. Phase-1 of

    Anna and Baba is over now. Both are cent-percent successful in their aim to make the issue popular. Like Bofors

    and Mandal, the trees of corruption and black money are panted by duo. It will give sever pain in due course and

    finally congress will have to pay its cost in 2014 election. After some break, both team will raise their issues and

    play in full swing as annoyed to make it a permanent imprint in citizens mind. Acharya Balkrishna announced that

    phase-2 of Babas stir in 3 months. They have enough time to do their job as 2014 election is almost 3 yrs away

    from now. Present public mood indicates that next loksabha election may be fought on these social issues.

    Annoyed Anna and irritated Baba is not going to sit ideally till they achieve something concrete to show the

    followers. Anna has a good team and maturity and Baba will mature on social front as this incident has jolted him

    from inside to learn a lot. It is hoped his Phase-2 will be in better shape and will show maturity and seriousness in

    style like Anna do

    Team Anna wanted to be a part of Lokpal drafting team. Seeing the mounting public pressure, good sense

    prevailed. Hence, Manmohan accepted the demand immediately and shortened the life of this incident to

    minimize the damage. Both teams of Anna and Government managed the situation showing expected maturity.

    After accepting demand, Government with the congress help tried to malign image of the team Anna. This

    annoyed public against congress as public is fed-up with it and dont want to hear anything on this. All such

    implicit or explicit actions are counter productive. In Babas case, both team-Baba and Government showedimmature actions and reactions. The forceful eviction decision in midnight from Ramlila Ground was an

    administrative blunder in congress history as endorsed by veteran congress leader Basant Sathe in a statement.

    On the whole, so far, overall gainer is Baba and overall looser is congress and Manmohan government. His

    continued fast and deteriorating health for more than 8 days, kept him continuously in news with wide coverage

    in all media. This made his issue more popular than expected. Baba became champion of black money due to

    miscalculated move by government and illogical and loose talks by some congress leaders. Congress image has

    sagged greatly with public perception that it is trying to crush the movement or divert the issue against

    corruption and black money by duo. Congress applied same tactics to malign the image of Baba also like Anna by

    laughable, light and loose-statements. During whole episode Digvijay Singh become famous as man of loose-talk

    and non-serious leader. His personal image has suffered a lot. This is the reason public pelted stone at his house

    situated in MP and tried to lodge FIR too as evident form news.

    Problems started by a CAG report in 2G spectrum and followed by CWG, Adarsh housing society scams. BJP blew

    these issues out of proportion one after the other and did ICT enabled political marketing to get political mileage

    but at fiasco. Why? Public knows the inside story that BJP did nothing while in power. All along the episode, public

    showed one more very peculiar sentiment that they didnt want to drag these nation importance issues into

    politics. Government controlled the emergency situation and minimized the damage by sending A. Raja and

    Kalmani to jail and by changing CM in Maharashtra. In publics eyes congress took wise step to manage then

    immediate political crisis and compulsions. Actions in different cases improved the sagging reputation and publicwas convinced that congress is doing Ok if not good.

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    But in case of Baba, things are beyond thinking. Administrative scanning and analysis show that mismanagement

    has created an impression that congress is making an all out effort to foil the movement against corruption.

    Congress fears if it will surface many its person may be in trouble. Public also thought that corruption and black

    money are two bad intangible social products of proudy governance of congress. If it will be an issue in coming

    elections-having potential to be, it would not be easy for congress to avoid its ownership. As opposition, BJP will

    try its best to prove congress as parent of these two bad produces. And finally it may lead to great loss- to the

    extent may be of loosing government like Bofors and Mandal in past. History repeats itself fit here.

    In short-term, it looks good for political managers and actors in containing the situation, but in long-term

    congress has to pay a heavy price with high interest rate if corrective measures are not undertaken immediately.

    To support, see statement of Prnab Mukharjee. He called incident as unfortunate and this was supplemented by

    defense minister concisely. He who is one confident of top leadership and enjoying good reputation as Mr. clean

    said very rightly Transition to Transparency cant be stopped midway. This is a timely advisory from within to

    purge the sin to fit in the party and government in the public mould. Congress has sufficient time to put the things

    in reverse gear in the clean leadership of Anthony on these issues unlike Sibal and Digvijay, provided good sense

    prevails. To achieve this, congress needs to prove its honest efforts to the masses through different visible actions

    and initiatives. Further congress must try an all out effort to fulfill the publics demand on these two issues to

    make BJP, Anna and Baba offensive from their defensive point of firing.

    Transparency is getting grip worldwide. This is in fact a time of wonder for politics with its 'transparency

    revolution,Indiais joining in. It's time for our politicians to see that big picture. And drop their small

    talk. Congress should take the lead being oldest party instead looking backward.

    (Views are in personal capacity based on different sources)

    Article by:

    Heera Lal

    Joint Regsitrar, U P State Administrative Tribuanl at Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

    www.makingyouhappy.org

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    Cover Reports

    M.F. Husain: Victim of IntoleranceOn 9th June 2011, M.F. Husain breathed his last in a London Hospital, and was later buried in the cemetery in

    London as per his wish that he should be buried at a place of his death. The most celebrated painter of India,

    more Indian than any of his detractors died, away from his home, due to self imposed exile. This self imposed

    exile was due to the threats of Hindu fundamentalists. The renowned painter called by many as Picasso of India,

    had the fate similar to that of Picasso, who also went into self exile in the regime of Fascist Franco of Spain.

    M.F. Husains work spanned a long period, evolving with time and deeply rooted in the rich traditions of India,

    plural, diverse Hinduism. He was confronted as to why he does not pick up Islamic motifs for his work to which he

    replied that Islam has Calligraphy alone and human figures are not drawn in Islamic tradition. He came more into

    the news from the decade of 1980s, with the rise of sectarian politics, as the intolerant Hindutva groups started

    attacking his painting- exhibitions regularly. The allegation was that he is hurting the sensibilities of Hindus, and is

    doing it deliberately as he is a Muslim. He was abused for painting Hindu Goddesses like Sarswati, Durga,

    Draupadi and the one titled Bharat Mata in nude. Interestingly some of these paintings were done in 1970s or so.

    With the rise of the movement for Ram Temple the Hindu Fundamentalist forces became more assertive, the

    intolerance grew in the society, many a magazines and newspapers stated fanning the fire of hurting our

    sentiments and thats when the followers of VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena started attacking Husains,

    exhibition, his Gufa in Ahmadabad, SAHMAT painting exhibition and so.

    Later these communal forces went on filing case after case against him to harass him. The Courts ruled in Husains

    favor saying that his paintings are not promoting enmity between communities in any way, and that he is wellwithin the limits of his artistic freedm. Husain by this time was quiet old, he was offered the security by the state

    but he declined to be imprisoned in the cordon of security and decided to take the citizenship in Qatar to

    continue his work in his own uninterrupted way, while maintaining that the Passport is a piece of paper and he

    remains an Indian at heart. He also missed India but it was a strong choice, to do the work in an uninterrupted

    way or to face the physical and mental wrath of the Hindu fundamentalists. As such he was not spared by Muslim

    Fundamentalists also, who had objected to his film, Meenaxi: A Tale of Three cities on the charge that it

    blasphemes Koran.

    As such Husain probably represents the best of Indian syncretic traditions and that too his rooting in Hindu

    mythology and culture may be much deeper than those who kept attacking him. He was born in the

    Maharashtrian town of Pandharpur; a place of pilgrimage for the Warkaris the followers of great Marathi Saint

    Tukaram. He belongs to Sulaimani sect of Shias, whose some practices are like Hindus and they also believe in the

    theory of reincarnation. During his childhood years he was very impressed by the staging of Ramlila and along

    with his Hindu friend used to enact it. He also went to study the Valmiki and Tulsidas versions of Ramayana. His

    quest for understanding the society led him to the study and discussion of Gita, Puranas and other spiritual texts.

    His rooting in liberal Hindu culture, not the Brahmanical variety, was very deep. One example we can glean from

    the information card which he designed for telling people about his daughter Raeesas marraige, who did not

    want any ceremonies. His card showed Parvati sitting on the thigh of Lord Shiv with Shivas hands on Parvatis

    breast. Husain regarded this union as the first marriage in the cosmos.

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    When he was in Hyderabad, Ram Manohar Lohia suggested to him to paint Ramayana. Husain was broke at that

    time, but he undertook this job seriously and drew 150 canvasses around Ramayana mythology over a period of

    eight years. He also used to discuss with the Pundits of Kashi on the themes when drawing this Hindu epic. He

    regards Ganesha as one of the figures with a delightful form, a brilliant material to draw and generally before

    beginning on a large painting first used to draw Ganesha. The major criticism against him was and is definitely

    politically motivated. Being a Muslim and drawing these motifs so boldly was unacceptable to the offshoots of

    Sangh Parivar. As such the charge that nudity is an insult to Hindu Goddesses does not hold water as Husain

    pointed out that Nudity is a metaphor for purity in Hindu mythology. The example of Khajuraho cannot be

    dismissed on the ground that people wanted to increase the population so these were drawn, and were

    otherwise of no consequence to Hindu culture. As such Khajuraho paintings were expression of the prevalent

    culture. The painting or any other work of art has to be seen in the context of the artist and the cultural rooting of

    the work. Nudity can express vulgarity as well as purity, and thats where the fundamentalists of all variety show

    their intolerance to the extreme.

    The rise of fundamentalism for various reasons has exiled the creative people, like Tasleema Nasreen, Salman

    Rushdi and tormented the likes of Vijay Tendulakar and Deepa Mehta in recent times. The case of Husain is a bit

    more unique, as here is an artist whose work on Hindu iconography is insurmountable, one who is deeply rooted

    in the deeper spirit of broad Hindu culture, still he has been hounded by both varieties of fundamentalists. All this

    has taken place while the other political formations have been so ineffectual in protecting him, creating an

    atmosphere where the creative people can undertake their work without any fear or intimidation. While the

    Hindutva party has been the blatant opponent of his work the other parties have done precious little for

    protecting the maestro.

    Article by:

    Ram Puniyani

    UNDP joins the sustainable energy for all campaignVienna, Austria, 21 June 2011

    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has joined other UN agencies and partners in a call to

    provide every human on earth with access to modern energy services within the next 20 years. Meeting at an

    international energy forum in Vienna, 21-23 June, UNDP Associate Administrator Rebeca Grynspan said:

    Achieving universal access to modern energy by 2030 is possible and can lift more than a billion people out of

    extreme energy poverty. The additional investment required is about $40 billion per year until 2030, less than

    three percent of total global energy investment, citing the findings of a joint analysis by the International Energy

    Agency, UNDP and United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Energy Poverty: How to make modern

    energy access universal?

    Today, 1.4 billion people are still without electricity access, and 3 billion use firewood and other biomass and coal

    as fuel for cooking and heat, causing indoor pollution and leading to diseases that kill two million people every

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    year. Some 1,000 participants at the Vienna Energy Forum are discussing how to create momentum for universal

    energy access while also reducing the amount of carbon produced through energy supply and consumption.

    We have to build a momentum for a global movement for universal energy access, said Grynspan. We need to

    invest in capacity development to create enabling policy, regulatory frameworks and effective institutions and we

    must partner with the private sector and civil society that drives innovation, brings investments and creates jobs.

    The UN General Assembly has designated 2012 International Year for Sustainable Energy for All. Universal

    access is one of the key focus areas for a high level summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June next year. UNDP has

    assisted countries in investing more than US$2.5 billion over the last decade in projects that have brought

    sustainable energy to 10 million poor around the world. For example, in Nepal, more than 100,000 people

    benefited from an off-grid network of micro-hydropower systems set up with UNDP and the World Bank support.

    This is one of many UNDP local initiatives which are being carried out as fully fledged, expanded programmes.

    In an effort to support governments in setting their countries on low-emission, climate resilient development

    paths, UNDP recently launched Catalysing Climate Finance, a step-by-step guide enabling governments attract

    clean energy investments by identifying and implementing an optimal mix of public policies, public funding and

    national and international legislation.

    Achieving universal energy access is a top priority for UNDP, concluded Grynspan. The three goals being

    proposed towards 2030: universal energy access, 40 percent energy intensity reduction and achieving 30 percent

    renewable energy in the global energy mix, provide an important starting point for the discussions in the global

    policy processes such as Rio+20, UNFCCC and the post 2015 Millennium Development Goals agenda. With ourpresence in 176 countries and territories, were ready to support countries achieve universal energy access and

    sustainable energy transitions.

    ******

    For more information on UNDPs work:http://www.undp.org/energy/

    The Analysis Energy Poverty: How to make modern energy access universal?, can be downloaded here:

    http://www.beta.undp.org/undp/en/home/librarypage/environment-energy/energy_poverty_-

    howtomakemodernenergyaccessuniversal.html

    Mexico's War on Journalists - op-ed by John Ralston Saul

    3 JUNE 2011

    Mexico's human rights rhetoric is second to none. It has been like this for a decade. The Mexican government has

    signed or ratified more than 20 human rights treaties and considered more than 1000 recommendations from

    various human rights organizations. These fine words and political gestures contradict the failure of successive

    administrations to tackle the country's reality of corruption and impunity - issues intensified by President Felipe

    Caldern's "war on drugs". One horrendous by-product of the war on drugs has been what amounts to systemic

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    state-sanctioned violence against journalists who expose government corruption and its ties to drug traffickers.

    Given the number killed per year, Mexico is now the world's most dangerous country in which to be a journalist.

    In 2010 Mexico tied with Pakistan for this honour.

    President Caldern began militarizing his campaign against the Drug Trafficking Organizations in December 2006.

    The resulting wave of violence that killed more than 35,000 Mexicans, provoked an unprecedented spree of

    threats, kidnappings, and torture, all aimed at intimidating the public and silencing the Mexican press. Since 2000,

    up to 66 journalists have been killed, most of them in the northern border states.

    Faced with this crisis, the Caldern administration has continued the pattern established by the preceding

    administration. It attempts to beguile Mexican citizens and international observers with superficially impressive

    measures that do little to halt a worsening human rights crisis. Most attacks on journalists are not properly

    investigated. And when they are, authorities rarely secure convictions. Many of the most vaunted legal reforms

    are patently hollow. Take the government's creation of a Special Prosecutor's Office for the Attention to Crimes

    Committed against Freedom of Expression. Sounds wonderful. Except the Prosecutor has no formal powers to

    investigate these crimes or to lay charges. Or even to handle drug trafficking cases. Four years of carnage and the

    Special Prosecutor's Office has averaged no more than a single prosecution a year.

    This and a great deal more is laid out in a new report, Corruption, Impunity and Silence: The War on Mexico's

    Journalists. This is a joint effort by the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law's International Human Rights Program

    and the Canadian Centre of PEN International. It deals with the Mexican government's deceptive manoeuvres,

    and its related failure to stand up against repeated assaults on free expression. This is the most thorough

    investigation I have seen of the Mexican situation. The report blames a "strategy of minimization" in which theMexican government deliberately "crafts a minimal concession, such as a bill or policy that does not actually solve

    the problem" while trumpeting its efforts to all who will listen. The report is clear: this strategy has led to deaths,

    violations of the human rights of journalists and limitations on freedom of expression.

    The Mexican government insists that attacks on journalists "are perpetrated, essentially without exception, by

    organized crime". This new report lays out indications that in 2009 state agents were responsible for two out of

    every three recorded attacks. Journalists have learned to "steer clear of provocative local reportage." In Ciudad

    Jurez and parts of Tamaulipas practically no information enters or leaves the state unless it has been vetted by

    some combination of state authorities and organized crime.

    Free expression in Mexico is stifled by heavy handed authoritarian attitudes which have survived the country's

    recent democratic changes. Community radio broadcasters, who face no known threats from drug traffickers are

    routinely subject to violence, intimidation and sometimes death. The most likely source of these attacks? Local

    politicians. The state eagerly prosecutes many of these citizen journalists, using Byzantine regulatory procedures.

    Antiquated criminal libel, slander and defamation laws remain on the books in 15 states. Civil defamation suits

    are routinely used to silence journalists.

    Canada and the United States should be deeply disturbed by their NAFTA partner's disregard for freedom of the

    press and the safety of journalists. Neither has held the Caldern government to account for its disastrous drugwar, nor for its evasions and false claims about the resulting impunity and violence against journalists. Instead

    they seem to accept at face value the ongoing rhetoric of high-sounding recommendations and toothless reforms.

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    In late May, the European Parliament's Sub Committee on Human Rights went to Mexico where it sided with "all

    human rights defenders" and called for "an end to impunity". But the Sub-Committee couldn't help expressing

    encouraging words, for example about the Special Prosecutor's Office and a recently created journalist protection

    program. Yet, as the University of Toronto/PEN Canada Report clearly demonstrates, neither of these programs

    has provided any real protection.

    Until the governments of Canada and the United States and bodies such as the European Parliament question the

    faade of reassuring rhetoric, Mexico's lethal war on journalists will continue. This war, commonly described as a

    struggle against drug lords, has a great deal more to do with decades of government corruption; police, military

    and political links to organized crime; and institutionalized limitations on freedom of expression.

    John Ralston Saul is the international President of PEN International, the freedom of expression literary

    organization with 144 centres in 102 countries.

    This article was first published in The Globe and Mail of Canada on 3 June 2011 See

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/the-lethal-war-on-mexicos-

    journalists/article2044985/

    To read the full report in English, see:http://tinyurl.com/6bmcdqk

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/the-lethal-war-on-mexicos-journalists/article2044985/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/the-lethal-war-on-mexicos-journalists/article2044985/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/the-lethal-war-on-mexicos-journalists/article2044985/http://tinyurl.com/6bmcdqkhttp://tinyurl.com/6bmcdqkhttp://tinyurl.com/6bmcdqkhttp://tinyurl.com/6bmcdqkhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/the-lethal-war-on-mexicos-journalists/article2044985/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/the-lethal-war-on-mexicos-journalists/article2044985/
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    Video Reports

    P. Sainath on the Jan Lokpal Bill

    International

    Malaysia: Free 30 Peaceful Political Activists

    27 June 2011, Bangkok:

    The Malaysian authorities should order the immediate release of 30 members of the opposition Socialist Party of

    Malaysia (PSM) who were pulled off their bus and arrested on the way to a political rally in Penang on June 25,

    2011, Human Rights Watch said today. They were charged with "waging war" against the king of Malaysia.

    The authorities are holding the 30 in remand for seven days while the police investigate the charge that the party

    was restarting the Communist Party of Malaysia, a long vanquished communist movement that signed a peace

    treaty with the government in 1989. The Penang police publicly presented as evidence against the activists a few

    shirts with photos of former Communist Party of Malaysia leaders and several leaflets promoting political change

    in the next election.

    "Charging the political opposition with restarting a movement that died with the Cold War 20 years ago is more

    than a little absurd," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "These arrests show the

    government's fundamental disregard for the democratic process and its willingness to go to great lengths to

    frighten Malaysians with political bogeymen from the distant past."

    The charge of "waging war" against the king, section 122 of the Penal Code, carries penalties of up to life in prison

    as well as fines.

    General elections are not slated for Malaysia until 2013, but the government has tightened repression on all

    election-related activity. The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) 2.0, a civil society coalition urging

    electoral reforms, announced a major public march and assembly for July 9. The home affairs minister,

    Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, responded that the government would not permit the march and the Minister of

    Information, Communication and Culture, Dr. Rais Yatim, called the event an "evil and unlawful rally."

    Prime Minister Najib Razak accused Bersih 2.0 of trying to "wrest back political momentum" from the rulingBarisan Nasional (National Front), a charge that Bersih's steering committee immediately rejected.

    According to a media account, 81 opposition activists have been arrested since June 22. They include 28 Socialist

    Party members arrested in Johor on June 25, who were reportedly charged under the Sedition Act and the

    Printing Presses and Publications Act. Police also arrested a number of activists in various locales for selling or

    wearing yellow Bersih 2.0 shirts.

    In November 2007, the first Bersih march and rally for clean and fair elections brought together approximately

    60,000 participants.

    The Malaysian government's actions to deny the rights to freedom of association, expression, and peaceful

    assembly run counter to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the government's commitments to

    respect international human rights standards as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The

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    government should heed the call of the governmental Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) and

    permit the Bersih rally to proceed, as well as possible counter-marches to Bersih being planned by United Malays

    National Organization (UNMO) Youth and Perkasa, Human Rights Watch said.

    "Rather than trying to silence peaceful critics, the Malaysian government should be working to ensure that

    election processes are fair and that they fully protect the civil and political rights of all Malaysians," Robertson

    said. "Arresting people for wearing t-shirts and distributing leaflets simply shows the depths of the government's

    intolerance of opposing viewpoints."

    Source:

    HRW

    Egypt: Military pledges to stop forced virginity tests

    27 June 2011

    The head of Egypts military intelligence has promised Amnesty International that the army will no longer carry

    out forced virginity tests after defending their use, during a meeting with the organisation in Cairo on Sunday.

    Major General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), discussed the issue with

    Amnesty Internationals Secretary General Salil Shetty months after the organisation publicized allegations of the

    forced tests.

    Major General al-Sisi said that virginity tests had been carried out on female detainees in March to "protect" the

    army against possible allegations of rape, but that such forced tests would not be carried out again. He also added

    that army would avoid detaining women in the future.

    He noted that women seeking to work for the army are required to undertake virginity tests.

    The Major Generals comments must translate into unequivocal instructions to army staff that women are never

    forced to undergo this treatment again in Egypt, said Amnesty International.

    Subjecting women to such degrading procedures hoping to show that they were not raped in detention makes

    no sense, and was nothing less than torture. The government should now provide reparation to the victims,including medical and psychological support, and apologise to them for their treatment.

    The Major Generals comments came during discussion of a range of human rights abuses, including the ongoing

    military trials of thousands of civilians including demonstrators, workers and people suspected of petty crimes.

    When army officers violently cleared Tahrir Square on 9 March the day after International Womens Day 17

    women were detained, beaten, prodded with electric shock batons, subjected to strip searches, forced to submit

    to virginity tests and threatened with prostitution charges.

    The women were brought before a military court on 11 March and released on 13 March. Several received one-

    year suspended sentences for charges including disorderly conduct, destroying property, obstructing traffic and

    possession of weapons.

    That month, Amnesty International wrote to SCAF to investigate the womens treatment, but received no direct

    reply or comment from them on the virginity tests until the meeting.

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    In relation to abuses by the security forces during the uprising and in the past thirty years, Major General al-Sisi

    told Amnesty International at Sundays meeting that there was a need to change the culture of the security

    forces, and gave assurances that instructions had now been given not to use violence against demonstrators, and

    to protect detainees against ill-treatment.

    Such a commitment is particularly welcome ahead of mass demonstrations called for 8 July in solidarity with

    families of victims of the uprising, and for greater social justice.

    According to Major General al-Sisi, people alleging human rights abuses at the hands of the army should complain

    to the military prosecutor, and can also post their complaints on the SCAF Facebook page.

    Major General al-Sisi also stressed the importance of ensuring social justice for all Egyptians, an aim shared by

    Amnesty International.

    We are hopeful that Egypts 25 January Revolution will ultimately lead to justice for those wronged and

    mistreated by security forces, said Amnesty International. But ultimately what matters are the actions of the

    Egyptian authorities, not their words.

    EU-Russia workshop to seek inclusion of civil society for Rio 2012

    As part of a continuing effort to promote dialogue in EU-Russia relations, the fourth joint workshop between theEuropean Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Civic Chamber of Russian Federation (CCRF) will take

    place on Tuesday, 28 June. The workshop will be hosted at the EESC and will involve around 50 participants. It

    provides an opportunity to discuss the prospects of moving towards greener economies prior to the United Nations

    conference on sustainable development next year.

    In this context, the focus of the discussion will be primarily on two objectives: the involvement of civil society in

    the EU-Russia strategic partnership and the contribution of civil society to the United Nations conference on

    sustainable development. The exchange of views will allow the two parties to share perspectives and to seek

    consensus on various approaches. Attention will turn towards other important issues such as the EU-Russia

    partnership for modernisation and migration issues.

    The workshop brings together a number of experts and representatives from the EU and Russia. EESC

    President Staffan Nilsson and the President of the CCRF, Dr Evgeniy Velikhov will open the workshop. There will

    be contributions from Vladimir Chizhov, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the EU, David

    O'Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service and Knut Fleckenstein, Member of the

    European Parliament and chair of European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation

    Committee.

    The inclusion of civil society in the forum of debate is a principle strongly endorsed by both parties and it is hoped

    that this workshop can serve to demonstrate a high level of agreement. For further information please visit:

    http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.events-and-activities-eu-russia-june-2011

    http://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/eu-russia-workshop-to-seek-inclusion-of.htmlhttp://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.events-and-activities-eu-russia-june-2011http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.events-and-activities-eu-russia-june-2011http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.events-and-activities-eu-russia-june-2011http://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/eu-russia-workshop-to-seek-inclusion-of.html
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    China must reveal whereabouts of Ai Weiweis associates

    23 June 2011

    Three of artist Ai Weiweis associates are still missing, presumed in secret detention, despite the conditional

    release of Ai and his cousin into house arrest, Amnesty International said today.

    The Chinese authorities have refused to provide any information about the whereabouts of Wen Tao, Hu Mingfen

    and Liu Zhenggang since they went missing in early April, the same week that their employer and associate Ai

    Weiwei was detained without charge.

    The desperate families of the missing three even attempted to persuade police to open kidnapping investigations

    to locate them, after months of silence from the authorities.

    The longer these three are missing, the more we fear for their safety, especially given that Ai Weiwei himself has

    already been released on bail, said Catherine Baber, Amnesty Internationals Deputy Director for the Asia-Pacific.The international outcry around Ais detention should not neglect the others caught up in the Jasmine arrests.

    It is the least famous among them who are at the most risk. The Chinese authorities have to reveal the

    whereabouts of Wen Tao, Hu Mingfen and Liu Zhenggang, and release them immediately if, like Ai Weiwei, they

    have not been charged with any crime.

    Ai Weiwei was released on bail on 22 June and his driver Zhang Jinsong also his cousin - was released the

    following day. Both appear to be subject to house arrest and are unable yet to discuss the conditions of their

    detention.

    Zhang, like his three co-workers, had been held incommunicado with no information released about hiswhereabouts to his family or to lawyers.

    Wen Tao was Ai Weiweis assistant, Hu Mingfen his accountant, and Liu Zhenggang a designer.

    Ai Weiwei and his business associates were just a few of least 130 activists, lawyers, bloggers and low level

    netizens who have been detained, harassed and imprisoned within their homes since February.

    The sweeping action against dissenters has been prompted by government fears of a Jasmine Revolution

    inspired by the Middle East and North Africa.

    BAHRAIN: Activist and blogger Abdul-Jalil Alsingace sentenced to life imprisonment.

    The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International is shocked by the life sentence handed down to

    academic and human rights activist Dr Abdul-Jalil Alsingace on 22 June 2011 for his peaceful opposition activities.

    He is among twenty-one activists convicted this morning of plotting to overthrow the government' after a violent

    crackdown on peaceful opposition protestors in the capital, Manama. PEN calls for the immediate and

    unconditional release of all those currently detained in Bahrain for the peaceful exercise of their opinions,

    including Dr Alsingace, and seeks immediate guarantees of their safety. It reminds the Bahraini authorities of their

    obligations to protect the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenanton Civil and Political Rights, to which Bahrain is a signatory, and is alarmed at the apparent use of excessive force

    to suppress peaceful dissent.

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    According to PEN's information, Dr Alsingace, head of the human rights office of the Haq Movement for Liberty

    and Democracy, was among twenty-one opposition activists to be convicted by a special security court on 22 June

    2011 ofplotting to overthrow the government' following a wave of protests which swept the country in February

    and March this year. Eight of those convicted received life sentences, including Dr Alsingace. A further ten were

    sentenced to fifteen years in prison, two received five-year terms and one a two-year prison sentence.

    Dr Alsingace was arrested at Bahrain International Airport on his return from London on 13 August 2010, where

    he had been attending a conference at the House of Lords during which he had criticised Bahrain's human rights

    practices. He was initially accused of inciting violence and terrorist acts', before being formally charged under

    national security and counter-terrorism legislation. Dr Alsingace was held incommunicado and in solitary

    confinement for six months, during which he was reportedly ill-treated. He and all those on trial with him were

    freed in February 2011 following widespread calls by anti-government protestors for political reform and the

    release of political prisoners. He was re-arrested on 16 March 2011 after publicising the deteriorating human

    rights situation in the country, and was later placed under house arrest. His current whereabouts are unknown.

    Dr Alsingace is disabled, and relies on a wheel-chair for his mobility. Concerns for his welfare are mounting.

    Dr Alsingace taught engineering at the University of Bahrain and authors his own blog

    (http://alsingace.blogspot.com/ ). He was previously detained in 2009 and held for several months on charges of

    plotting to overthrow the government before being given a royal pardon.

    Background

    Protests led by Bahrain's majority Shia community against the government's policies have been underway since

    mid-February 2011. The Bahraini security forces have responded with excessive force, using tear gas and live

    bullets to disperse demonstrators. Dozens of civilians have reportedly been killed and many more wounded. TheBahraini government declared a State of Emergency on 15 March 2011 and brought in troops from neighbouring

    Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia to help suppress dissent. The State of Emergency was lifted on 3 June 2011

    but those arrested and charged under that law have not been released. Opposition sources estimate that some

    four hundred people are currently on trial for their support of the protests, and further demonstrations are now

    expected.

    For further background go to:

    http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/20116228219100399.html

    http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/4029

    Source:

    International PEN

    http://alsingace.blogspot.com/http://alsingace.blogspot.com/http://alsingace.blogspot.com/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/20116228219100399.htmlhttp://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/20116228219100399.htmlhttp://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/4029http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/4029http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/4029http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/20116228219100399.htmlhttp://alsingace.blogspot.com/
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    The Death of Democracy and Human Rights in India

    Beginning midnight June 4, 2011, the capital of India, Delhi, witnessed the barbaric actions of the government

    exerted upon hundreds of thousands of peaceful Satyagrahis assembled at that time, sleeping in the Ram Lila

    ground tents. The brutality of the police towards thousands of innocent resting people, including children and

    women, revisited the atrocities committed by British rulers atJallianwala Bagh. The people assembled were

    gassed, lathi-charged and trampled by thousands of policemen. Baba Ramdev was taken away to an unknown

    destination by the police. The people who had come from villages, towns and various long distances were asked

    to leave the grounds immediately, at 2 oclock in the morning. This cannot be a Democratic India; this cannot

    be Mahatma Gandhis India; this is not India governed by of rule of law and a democratic constitution, ensuring

    the fundamental rights of all. These were the actions of people in power who do not believe in Indian values, the

    values of Mahatma Gandhi, and the declaration of individual human rights. India, which always gave shelter to

    the needy and helpless, was humiliated by the devilish acts of ignoble and arrogant rulers of the day. It was an act

    of treachery upon Baba Ramdev and his followers, who had come to present their demands againstrampantcorruption in India.

    These cruel actions reminded us of the days of the 1975 emergency. Unfortunately, these brutalities were

    committed upon unarmed and resting people within close proximity of the Mahatma Gandhi Samadhi. We, the

    people of Indian Origin all over the world are deeply depressed, embarrassed and pained by this vulgar display of

    naked power. No justification of any kind can condone these vicious actions.

    The Indian Diaspora condemns it. We urge everybody to join in the movement to restore democracy and civility in

    India. Let us be united in expressing our disgust and anger about the death of democracy and human rights within

    the country. We hope Baba Ramdev ji is not further harmed in any way.

    Bhishma K. Agnihotri

    Chairman | Bharat Swabhiman Overseas

    President | Friends of India International

    [email protected]

    http://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/death-of-democracy-and-human-rights-in.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jallianwala_Bagh_massacrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jallianwala_Bagh_massacrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jallianwala_Bagh_massacrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jallianwala_Bagh_massacrehttp://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/death-of-democracy-and-human-rights-in.html
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    Reports

    Juhi Chawla: Radiation from Sahyadri Guesthouse is cancer risk to Malabar Hill

    residents

    A few months ago, worried about the cell towers bristling over the Sahyadri Government Guest House opposite

    her Malabar Hill residence, actor-producer Juhi Chawla had an independent audit conducted to assess the levels

    of Electro Magnetic Radiation around her house. The report was startling, said the bubbly actor, speaking at a

    prominent business chamber in the city some months ago. The radiation levels were higher than the extreme

    high end of 2000 megawatt per square metre all around my house! This is a cause for concern, not only for my

    family, but also for all the people living in Malabar Hill. Of course there are similar neighbourhoods throughout

    the city! I have sent a letter to our Member of Parliament Milind Deora about this problem, and I ask you all to do

    something to address this serious problem, she said. She added that safe limits recognized for such radiation was

    less than 600 MW/sq m.

    The auditor, CTIL Techno Solutions Ltd, reported that radio frequency (RF) readings indicated strong anomaly

    i.e. 1000 to 1999 MW/sq m and extreme anomaly i.e. Over 2000 MW/sq m around her apartment, and

    recommended the use of anti-radiation wallpapers and films to minimize exposure. Standards of the International

    Commission for Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) were applied for making these measurements and

    recommendations.

    Juhi Chawla mentioned how seeing a huge cluster of cellphone towers near Haji Ali Juice Center a popular

    South-Bombay hangout -- had made her extremely uncomfortable about how we were living our lives, unmindful

    of the risks.

    At the meeting, however, there were business leaders present, who played down the urgency of the issue, and

    advocated a slow-slowly approach. It was clear that the loss of business opportunities was a bigger concern to

    them than cancer risks faced by the common man, and the extinction of keystone species disrupting the

    ecological balance of the entire region.

    From an RTI activists point of view, I am putting things into public domain, so that they are known and discussed.

    We all are aware of the numbers of cell towers multiplying on building terraces and also traffic flyovers. I happen

    to know that a majority of these towers are not duly licensed by the municipal corporation. A lot of work is

    required to be done in this area.

    In December 2010, Prof. Girish Kumar of IIT Powai, submitted a DETAILED REPORT ON CELLTOWER RADIATION TO

    DEPTT. OF TELECOM:http://tinyurl.com/Report2DOT-Celltower-radiation

    We had developed radiation shield to absorb undesired radiation but instead of promoting our product, we tried

    to convince Govt of India to adopt better radiation norms as in India. We had adopted worst radiation norm in the

    world. Finally, Inter-ministerial report has come and they admitted that there are several health problems due to

    cell tower radiation, he says.

    UNION INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEES REPORT ON RADIATION LEVELS:http://tinyurl.com/Inter-ministerial-cmtee-Report

    http://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/juhi-chawla-radiation-from-sahyadri.htmlhttp://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/juhi-chawla-radiation-from-sahyadri.htmlhttp://tinyurl.com/Report2DOT-Celltower-radiationhttp://tinyurl.com/Report2DOT-Celltower-radiationhttp://tinyurl.com/Report2DOT-Celltower-radiationhttp://tinyurl.com/Inter-ministerial-cmtee-Reporthttp://tinyurl.com/Inter-ministerial-cmtee-Reporthttp://tinyurl.com/Inter-ministerial-cmtee-Reporthttp://tinyurl.com/Inter-ministerial-cmtee-Reporthttp://tinyurl.com/Inter-ministerial-cmtee-Reporthttp://tinyurl.com/Inter-ministerial-cmtee-Reporthttp://tinyurl.com/Report2DOT-Celltower-radiationhttp://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/juhi-chawla-radiation-from-sahyadri.htmlhttp://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/juhi-chawla-radiation-from-sahyadri.html
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    If we adopt better Electro Magnetic Radiation (EMR) norms, then you do not have to get the radiation

    measurement done and also no shielding will be required (will save lots of money for all of you and protect the

    entire country, human beings, birds, animals, plants, trees, environment, etc). he adds. His report has a lot of

    details about how sparrows, bees and other sensitive species are rapidly going extinct due to concentration of cell

    towers.

    Besides being Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department of IIT Mumbai, Prof. Girish runs Wilcom

    Technologies Pvt. Ltd. which is an IIT- incubated company. His Contact details:

    IIT: (022) 2576 7436, Fax - (022) 2572 3707

    Wilcom Technologies: (022) 2784 1340, Fax - (022) 2784 1325

    Website:www.wilcom.co.in

    Besides Prof. Girish, there are two other points at which a journalist or rti activist can get details of EMR

    RADIATION READINGS & CELLPHONE CONCENTRATIONS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF MUMBAI, DELHI etc:

    CTIL Techno-Solutions, a Delhi based company, which undertakes research into radiation levels for private

    individuals. (See this press release:http://tinyurl.com/Celltower-CTIL-PressRelease)

    Its associated company Cogent EMR Solutions Limited (Okhla) 01140506400 (Azadpur) 01127217402

    Other Recommended reading material:

    1. Exposure Guidelines in various countries:http://tinyurl.com/Celltower-exposure-guidelines

    2. Greenpeace India report on Celltowers dependence on subsidized Diesel in rural

    areas:http://tinyurl.com/Celltower-use-subsidy-Diesel

    Report by:

    Krishnaraj Rao

    Foot D Ball for Elder Cause, Stop Elder Abuse Young Chagemakers to use Football as

    a catalyst for Elder Friendly World

    During this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 15th June 2011 programme, we at Silver Inning Foundation (SIF)

    are promoting the cause of Elderly through unique and well tried Sport for Development (S4D) concept. This

    year we are launching our Pilot project Foot D Ball to Stop Elder Abusein association with ALFRESCO FC,

    Mumbai MDFA 3rd Division Team (2010).

    Fusion and Synergy between Youth & Elders will help us to achieve our vision of creating elder friendly worldwhere ageing becomes a positive and rewarding experience. This intergeneration activity with S4D concept

    http://www.wilcom.co.in/http://www.wilcom.co.in/http://www.wilcom.co.in/http://tinyurl.com/Celltower-CTIL-PressReleasehttp://tinyurl.com/Celltower-CTIL-PressReleasehttp://tinyurl.com/Celltower-CTIL-PressReleasehttp://tinyurl.com/Celltower-exposure-guidelineshttp://tinyurl.com/Celltower-exposure-guidelineshttp://tinyurl.com/Celltower-exposure-guidelineshttp://tinyurl.com/Celltower-use-subsidy-Dieselhttp://tinyurl.com/Celltower-use-subsidy-Dieselhttp://tinyurl.com/Celltower-use-subsidy-Dieselhttp://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/foot-d-ball-for-elder-cause-stop-elder.htmlhttp://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/foot-d-ball-for-elder-cause-stop-elder.htmlhttp://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/foot-d-ball-for-elder-cause-stop-elder.htmlhttp://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/foot-d-ball-for-elder-cause-stop-elder.htmlhttp://tinyurl.com/Celltower-use-subsidy-Dieselhttp://tinyurl.com/Celltower-exposure-guidelineshttp://tinyurl.com/Celltower-CTIL-PressReleasehttp://www.wilcom.co.in/
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    through Football is tried for first ever time for promoting Elder Cause and to create awareness about Elder Abuse

    in civil society.

    Sports programme promotes social inclusive and serve as effective tool for social mobilization. Access to and

    participation in sport is a human right and essential for individuals of all ages to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

    Sport and physical activity are essential for improving health and well being. Appropriate forms of sport and

    physical activity can play a significant role to prevent as well as help cure many of the world's leading

    noncommunicable diseases. Evidence shows that regular participation in physical activity programmes provides

    all people with a wide range of physical, social and mental health benefits. Such active participation also interacts

    positively with strategies to improve diet, discourage the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs and enhance

    functional capacity. Consequently, physical activity is an effective method of disease prevention for the individual

    and, for nations, a cost-effective way to improve public health.

    Sport, recreation and play are a fun way to learn values and lessons that will last a life time. They promote

    friendship and fair play. They teach team work, discipline, respect, and the coping skills necessary to ensure that

    children develop into caring individuals. They help prepare young people to meet the challenges they will face

    and to take leadership roles within their communities. Sport and recreation programs are creating environments

    that are safe and promote stable relationships between children and adults, and among children themselves.

    Sport as a development instrument becomes even more interesting if it is durably embedded in the local society.

    Sport and play are important to UNICEF because they are vital elements in the health, happiness and well-being

    of children and young people. Research shows that participation by young people in structured recreation

    contributes to their physical and psychosocial development and can teach basic values and life skills - hard work,

    discipline, teamwork, fairness and respect for others - that shape individuals' behaviour and help them to pursuetheir goals and respond appropriately to events in their own lives and in those of others.

    UNICEF's Sport for Development (S4D) work is grounded in its mission to ensure that every child has the right to

    recreation and play in a safe and healthy environment - a right founded in Article 31 of the Convention on the

    Rights of the Child - as well as the right to sport, which is specifically contained in other international treaties. It

    also recognizes sport-based initiatives as a programme strategy to achieve specific development objectives,

    including, most notably, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    Football is one of the most patronized sports around the world. All around the globe, organisations driven by local

    social entrepreneurs, use the power of the beautiful game to positively transform their communities.

    Development through Football is becoming an important issue within the development cooperation and social

    work sectors.

    Fuelling positive social change through Football has become a fundamental pillar in and carries a significant

    responsibility for the society as a whole. Due to its values, popularity, universal nature and appeal, football -in all

    its forms- can be seen as the ideal instrument for achieving social and human development targets and tackling

    many of the major challenges faced by society today. Football has a positive effect on those who play it, both in

    terms of health (physical activity) and life skills (the values of team sport).

    The success story remarkably have been made in the Development through Football sector since the beginning of

    the 21st century, while more limited activity on the field can be tracked down already back in the late 1980s. It is

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    only during the last 5-6 years, however, that more and more social development and donor organisations

    recognise the positive impact of sports and especially football as a way to foster social and human development.

    The universal fascination of football thanks to its simple but exciting playing rules, along with its low equipment

    costs and team-building characteristics, makes this sport a favourite in the Development through Sport field.

    A perfect analogy to life ,The principles and values of street- or simply informal football played within

    Development through Football programmes include fair play, team spirit, tolerance, inclusion, and understanding,

    both of oneself but also of the others, regardless of their status as opponents or team mates.

    The 2010 FIFA World Cup which was staged in Africa for the first time ever has strengthen the connection

    between football and social development even more and thus offer a great chance to showcase the full potential

    of football.

    "Linking football with development programmes, can help make a difference to the lives of millions of children,"

    said Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel.

    In India organsiation like Dream A Dream has training module The Dream Way of Working with Children

    highlights values like respect for children, progressive ways of getting children to follow instructions, and making

    learning for children fun, interesting and participatory.

    Also Magic Bus India works for change through football ,finds the potential and abilities within each child,

    empowering them to build strong and aware communities free of religious and caste prejudice and gender

    divides. It believes in the childs right to a positive future in which they make their own choices and takeresponsibility for change.

    The SIF pilot project Foot D Ball to Stop Elder Abuse recognizes the potential that football and other sports can

    unleash when systematically included in processes of social change. Football especially has the power to unite

    people and cultures all over the world. As a team sport it promotes fairness and tolerance, leapfrogs gender

    boundaries and fosters mutual understanding, thereby contributing to the positive development of personality

    and character.

    With this Pilot project SIF wishes to engage youths, empowering them with skills to positively develop their

    personality and character, thus increasing opportunities to tackle their life and enhancing a strong civil society. SIF

    will utilize skill and wisdom of our Elder and use a holistic approach to promote Sports for Development through

    Football.

    Vinay Sangwan , the Alfresco FC manager says I have been playing football for last four years just for my passion

    for the sport and to carry on the work of my father. Its exciting that we are associated with SIF for this unique

    programme to support the cause of our Elders. Yes I agree there lack of awareness about Elder Abuse in Indian

    society and we are happy that through game of football we would bring the issue in mainstream and seek justice

    for our Elders.

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    Sailesh Mishra, Founder President Silver Inning Foundation believes that while sport would not be a cure for all

    social ills, sport and specially game of football can perfectly be a catalyst for development and the promotion of

    peace.

    Sailesh further says added to this is the broad consensus that regular physical activity is essential for the physical,

    mental, psychological and social development of children and people of all ages. The tool of sport through

    football will help our youngsters and elders to Age Gracefully and lead to Healthy Ageing.

    We call upon members of Civil Society , Youth Clubs , Sports Club , UN Agencies, Educational Institutions ,

    Corporate , Media ,Senior Citizens Organizations and Senior Citizens to come ahead and support our unique pilot

    project Foot D Ball to Stop Elder Abuse by Participating , Organizing matches , Capacity building training , Train

    the Trainer , Media promotion and most important by Funding and Sponsoring.

    Together, we have the power to prevent elder abuse; lets make My World, Your World, Our World, Free of Elder

    Abuse.

    This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 2011 program is organized by Silver Inning Foundation and

    supported by INPEA (International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse) Indian Chapter through Development,

    Welfare and Research Foundation (DWARF) and 'Little Things Matter Initiatives' (LTMI), SSS Global; FESCOM

    (Mumbai), 1298 Senior Citizens Helpline, Mumbai; AISCCON ,iCONGO , Harmony for Silvers Foundation & Alfresco

    FCMumbai.

    Article By:

    Shailesh MishraContact: [email protected] ; [email protected]

    Website:www.silverinningfoundation.org

    Citizens Silent Protest March From Rajghat on 18 June at 5 pm

    Please join in large numbers to register our strong protest against the governments clampdown on peaceful

    demonstrators in the wee hours of 5 June. It reminded of the Jallianwala Bagh incident of 13 April 1919 when

    British troops opened fire on innocent citizens. The difference this time was that instead of bullets the state used

    batons. There was no provocation.

    Even otherwise the government has been using repression to curb dissent and muzzle the voice of civil societies

    demanding change and a better system of governance. Demanding a strong Lokpal or retrieval of black money

    from tax haven countries cannot be provocation in a country that prides of its democratic traditions. But instead

    of redressing grievances and trying to meet the demands, the government has preferred to run down civil

    societies using various techniques.

    http://www.silverinningfoundation.org/http://www.silverinningfoundation.org/http://www.silverinningfoundation.org/http://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/citizens-silent-protest-march-from.htmlhttp://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/citizens-silent-protest-march-from.htmlhttp://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/citizens-silent-protest-march-from.htmlhttp://www.silverinningfoundation.org/
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    Such attempts include the attempts to malign the messengers of change and not allowing people to protest by

    imposing Section 144 at vantage points in the city. Let us march silently, holding placards, with our mouths tied in

    black cloth, from Rajghat to the office of the National Human Rights Commission this 18 June.

    Route: Rajghat, Ambedkar Stadium, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Tilak Marg, India Gate, Copernicus Marg.

    Time: 5 pm

    This is a call to all thinkers, artists, athletes, scientists, writers, poets, journalists, teachers, corporate sector

    heads, actors, activists and other eminent citizens of the country to stand by the side of the hapless, distraught,

    oppressed and brutally suppressed lot that is looking up to you for moral support in this dark hour of Indias

    democracy.

    Come one! Come all!

    PS: Water, adequate first aid tools and vehicles for the aged and the ailing, who cannot walk the distance, will be

    available on spot

    Dr. Ved Pratap Vaidik (former Editor of Navbharat Times and Editor PTI -Bhasha),

    Arif M. Khan (Former Cabinet Minister),

    Ram Bahadur Rai (architect of anti-emergency movement in 1975 and senior journalist),

    Ambassador J.C. Sharma (Former Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs),

    Jaya Prakash Narayan (former IAS officer and President of Lok Satta Party),

    Shri Ashok Tandon (Director Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Evam Sanchar Vishwavidyalaya),D P Sinha (winner of Sangeet Natak Academy Award),

    Maloy Krishna Dhar (former Joint Director CBI)

    and many other eminent personalities will also join the March.

    PMO moves ahead on affirmative action in the private sector, catalyses self regulation

    through OmbudsmanMore than 1500 companies in the private sector have adopted a voluntary code of conduct for implementation of

    affirmative action. The action hinges around four major points - Employability, Education, Entrepreneurship

    Development, and Employment (4E). The Chambers of Industry have reported that under the 4E Programme,

    112702 persons have benefitted so far.

    The information was disclosed by the industry associations during the Review Meeting of the Coordination

    Committee on Affirmative Action in the Private Sector, which was chaired by Shri TKA Nair, Principal Secretary to

    Prime Minister.

    While FICCI and ASSOCHAM have appointed Ombudsman to monitor the progress. CII is in the process of doing

    so. CII has adopted the district of Nawashahar in Punjab and Cooch Behar in West Bengal, and FICCI has adopted

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    Sonbhadra in UP for implementation of the 4E Programme. The programme will focus on skill development and

    livelihood promotion for disadvantaged population in these districts. In addition, the Industry Associations are

    also supporting Mid Day Meal programmes and various education schemes. ASSOCHAM has created a foundation

    for inclusive growth for SCs and STs and a taskforce has been mandated to oversee initiatives taken for

    affirmative action. FICCI has reported imparting skill training to 11,000 SC/ST candidates to enhance their

    employability and have also forwarded voluntary code of conduct to nearly 2,70,000 industrial entrepreneurs in

    the country. Between themselves, FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM have adopted 559 ITIs

    A significant information given by CII is that nearly 20% employees in their member companies belong to SC/ST

    community

    46 th Report on The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the

    Disclosures Bill, 2010

    1. The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law andJustice headed by Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan, M.P., Rajya Sabha presented its Forty-sixth Report on The

    Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010 to Hon'ble

    Chairman, Rajya Sabha on the 9th June, 2011. The report will be presented to both the Houses in the

    ensuing session of Parliament.

    2. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on the 26th August, 2010 and referred by the Honble Chairman,Rajya Sabha to the Committee on the 15th September, 2010 for examination and report.

    3. The Bill seeks to establish a mechanism to receive complaints relating to disclosure on any allegation ofcorruption or willful misuse of power or willful misuse of discretion against any public servant and to

    inquire or cause an inquiry into such disclosure and to provide adequate safeguards against victimization

    of the person making such complaint and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.

    4. The Committee, while examining the Bill, heard the Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training andvarious organizations/individuals/experts on the provisions of the Bill in its meetings.

    5. The Committee's major recommendations/observations are as follows:- The Committee is not in favour of keeping out the Armed Forces/intelligence and security agencies from

    the purview of the Bill. No organisation of Government should be left out from public scrutiny and

    accountability provided for in the Bill.

    The Committee desires that the Ministry should consider bringing the Members of Council of Ministers,the Judiciary, including the higher Judiciary, Regulatory Authorities etc, within the ambit of this Bill by

    making necessary amendments therein.

    The Committee recommends that a foolproof mechanism should be envisaged to ensure that the identityof the complainant is not compromised with, at any cost and at any level.

    The Committee recommends that the Government may consider an alternate mechanism within/outsidethe Bill for enquiring into anonymous complaints.

    The Committee is of the considered opinion that the identity of the complainant should not be revealedby the Competent Authority to the Head of the Department, without the written consent of the

    complainant.

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    The Committee feels that the Competent Authority should inform the complainant about the outcome ofthe complaint. The Competent Authority should also give the reasons if the complaint is dismissed and

    further, the complainant should be given a reasonable hearing to present his case if he is not satisfied

    with the dismissal of his complaint/ outcome of the enquiry.

    The Committee is of the view that the Rules/Regulations under the Bill should provide for a reasonabletime limit for conducting the discreet inquiry by the Competent Authority; for inquiry by the Head of the

    organisation/office and for acting upon the recommendations made by the Competent Authority.

    The Committee recommends that the Government should ensure that the directions of the CompetentAuthority are complied with.

    The Committee does not endorse the provisions of the Bill ruling out complaints on events older than 5years.

    The Committee recommends that the term "victimization" may be defined in the Bill. The Committee also recommends that it should be provided in the Bill that witnesses/persons who

    support the whistleblower or help in the investigation/inquiry, should also be accorded the same

    protection against victimization as envisaged for the whistleblower, in the Bill.

    The Committee desires that a mechanism be set up for this Bill to apply particularly in respect of Centrallyfunded schemes when the State level authorities fail to take suitable action. The Committee hopes that all

    States would adopt the Bill.

    The Committee feels that the quantum of punishment prescribed in the Bill for frivol