[GreenYouth] Re: Who the hell is Varkala Radhakrishnan?
On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 5:21 PM, Sebin Jacobsebinaja...@gmail.com wrote: Dear Mohanan, Sorry, I didn't find any online. It was published in Janayugam -- The resources of the world are for us all to share. Let us affirm our faith in that common cause - Dr. Ilina Sen --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Green Youth Movement group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to greenyouth+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] beemapalli and human rights- bobby
http://www.thejasnews.com/portal/index.jsp#8474 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Green Youth Movement group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to greenyouth+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] An Ecological History of Bombay (Mumbai) or Chronicle of a Disaster Foretold?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/world/asia/14mumbai.html?_r=1ref=asia July 14, 2009 MUMBAI JOURNAL As Mumbai Spills Over, Floodwater Creeps CloserBy VIKAS BAJAJhttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/vikas_bajaj/index.html?inline=nyt-per MUMBAI, India — As this city prepared recently to inaugurate a shiny new bridge that officials promise will ease Mumbai’s chronic traffic jams, Dilip da Cunha was peering at the underbelly of the city’s waterways and drainage systems. Taking two visitors on a tour of the busy causeway where the city’s befouled Mithi River meets the Arabian Sea near the new bridge, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link http://bandraworlisealink.com/, he pointed out a small clump of trees nearby under which several men were defecating. The trees represented one of the last remaining species of the mangroveshttp://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/02/mangroves/warne-text that once dominated the ecology of Mumbai, India’s financial capital and its most populous city. Over the decades, most of the wetlands of the Mithi River estuary that were home to such trees have given way to highways, slums, office buildings and apartment towers. While the mangroves’ retreat has provided valuable acreage for Mumbai’s growth, Mr. da Cunha, who is one half of a husband-and-wife team that recently finished an exhaustive study of the city’s landscape, said their disappearance, along with the degradation of the city’s waterways, has made the city increasingly vulnerable to flooding during the monsoons. “At some point there were many species of mangroves here, and they must have made this a fantastic wetland,” he said. “We have reduced these mangroves to almost a single species that have survived with the bad waters, the sewage that is around.” In the summer of 2005, a few weeks before Hurricane Katrinahttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/h/hurricane_katrina/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier devastated New Orleans and parts of Mississippi, Mumbai received a record 37 inches of rain in 24 hours during high tide. Approximately 900 people died in those floods in the city and surrounding areas. While Mumbai has spent millions on its drainage system since then, last week an overnight rain about one-tenth as severe as the 2005 downpour brought traffic and suburban trains in many parts of the city to a crawl during the morning rush hour. Inspired by the 2005 floods, Mr. da Cunha and his wife, Anuradha Mathur, who teach design and landscape architecture at the University of Pennsylvaniahttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/u/university_of_pennsylvania/index.html?inline=nyt-org, have spent the last two and a half years studying Mumbai and its uneasy relationship with water. They recently released their findings and 12 proposals for making the city more resilient to floods in the form of a museum exhibit http://www.soak.in/ and a book http://www.soak.in/book.html, both titled “Soak: Mumbai in an Estuary.” They have documented the current state of the city’s waterways and mangroves and collected a trove of historical maps, images and documents dating back hundreds of years. They previously did similar, though less comprehensive, work on the Mississippi River and Bangalore. Their findings show that a series of natural features like mangrove swamps and interconnected creeks once protected and shaped Mumbai, just as the bygone swamps of the Mississippi River delta once protected New Orleans. But those defenses were weakened over the years, dating to the days of British rule, as swamps were filled in, land was reclaimed from the sea and creeks were narrowed or diverted. The historical maps and documents show little appreciation for those long-lost natural features. Most old maps make no mention of swamps, which were often labeled simply as “badlands.” There are few images of the trees and plants that made up these areas. Moreover, boundaries between land and sea were never drawn as they existed during the monsoon, when the wetlands of the estuary expanded, only as they stood during the summer or winter. “The monsoon was seen as foul weather,” Ms. Mathur said. And “all of the planning is based on fair weather maps.” Ms. Mathur and Mr. da Cunha, who both grew up in India but met in San Francisco, said they set out on their work in part to provide an alternative interpretation of Mumbai — to have it be recast as an estuary where salt and fresh water coexist rather than as an island that has to be protected from the water. “We are sort of trying to find ways to visualize these complex landscapes,” Mr. da Cunha said. Yet they also seem realistic and do not advocate returning the city to an earlier, more idyllic landscape. They propose a series of projects that, they say, would alter and tilt the landscape in ways that could reduce or contain flooding during the monsoon without displacing its vibrant population and commerce. For instance, they advocate that
[GreenYouth] PUCL Press Release: Maoist Attack on Policemen Killing 40
*PEOPLE'S **UNION** FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES– * *CHHATTISGARH * *Post Box No. 87, Main Post Office, **Raipur** – 492001: Chhattisgarh: ** India** * E-mail: *pucl...@gmail.com * * * *Press Release:* *PUCL DEPLORES DEATHS OF POLICEMEN * *IN MAOIST ATTACK AT RAJNANGAON, Chhattisgarh* * * *Raipur**, **July 14, 2009*** The Chhattisgarh Unit of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has deplored the killings of 30 policemen in Maoist’s attack on 12thJuly 2009at Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh. The PUCL appeals to the Government, Maoists and Salwa-Judum to put an end to killings and violence and create conducive environment for resolving the issues and concerns through political dialogue and peace talks. The PUCL pays its homage to all police personnel killed in the attack by Maoists, especially remembering Shri V K Chaubey, Superintendent of Police, Rajnandgaon, who was known for his simple ways and strict discipline. PUCL expresses its condolences and solace to the bereaved families. PUCL believes in the Right to Life guaranteed under the Indian Constitution and, as such, lives of all citizens are valuable, which should not be taken away either for political or non-political purposes. PUCL has always affirmed its faith in non-violence and peaceful means to resolve differences and problems within the broader framework of the Indian Constitution, and has deplored the militaristic strategies and actions. Efforts for peace talks have been also made by Sri Sri Ravi Shanker of the Art of Living Foundation, who in September 2008 called on the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Dr. Raman Singh at his residence soon after meeting Dr Binayak Sen, a public health specialist and leader of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) in the Raipur Central Jail. Later Sri Sri Ravi Shanker met Adv K G Kannabiran, National President of PUCL at Hyderabad, and wrote to Dr. Raman Singh for initiating peace talks. PUCL demands that the CG Government should made public the steps taken in this regard. PUCL has also demanded from Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, President, Congress (I) to make public the finding of a six-member Task Force constituted by her in October 2004 “to study the problem of *naxalite *violence in various states; submit a report which would identify factors responsible for the spread of violence and make an assessment of the impact of efforts made by the government to contain it; and will make recommendations on policies, plans and programmes for the central and state governments as also for the Congress party”. The Task Force was asked to submit its report within three months and had Sri Sashidhar Reddy from Andhra Pradesh as its Convener, Mr. Ajit Jogi, Mr. Gajendra Singh Rajukheri, Mr. R C Khuntia, Mr. Nikhil Kumar, and Mrs. Manju Hembrom as its members. The Chhattisgarh PUCL had submitted its Memorandum on this issue to the Task Force during its visit to Raipur. The CG PUCL also demands that the proceedings of the in-camera meeting of the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha held on 26th July 2007 to discuss the issues and concerns arising out of growing activities of CPI (Maoists) in Chhattisgarh should be made public to generate a public debate on it. The CG PUCL considers the in-camera meeting of Vidhan Sabha against the letter and spirit of the Constitution as an institution representing people’s interests and concerns should be transparent and accountable to the public. Making public of the Vidhan Sabha proceedings has become all the more important now as the State Unit of Congress (I) in Chhattisgarh was demanding imposition of President’s Rule in the wake of Rajnandgaon incident. PUCL also believes that it is no longer a matter between the State and the Maoists, and it should not be left primarily and purely in the hands of the police to deal with it. Other enlightened segments of the society, including intellectuals, various political forums, human rights and social activists must discuss these strategies and agenda for establishing lasting peace, justice and human rights in Chhattisgarh. Rajendra K SailDr. Binayak Sen Vijendra *President General Secretary Joint-Secretary* 98268-04519 94060-49737 -- We have to start looking at the world through women’s eyes’ how are human rights, peace and development defined from the perspective of the lives of women? It’s also important to look at the world from the perspective of the lives of diverse women, because there is not single women’s view, any more than there is a single men’s view.” -- Charlotte Bunch Adv Kamayani Bali Mahabal Mobile-00919820749204 skype:lawyercumactivist www.binayaksen.net www.phm-india.org www.phmovement.org www.ifhhro.org --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message
[GreenYouth] Mullahcracy in Iran and Left (of Various Strands)
http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/21948 The Tragedy of the Left's Discourse on Iran July 10, 2009 By Saeed Rahnema The electoral coup and the subsequent uprising and suppression of the revolting voters in Iran have prompted all sorts of analyses in Western media from both the Right and the Left. The Right, mostly inspired by the neo-con ideology and reactionary perspectives, dreams of the re-creation of the Shah's Iran, looks for pro-American/pro-Israeli allies among the disgruntled Iranian public, and seeks an Eastern European type velvet revolution. As there is very little substance to these analyses, they are hardly worth much critical review; and one cannot expect them to try to understand the complexities of Iranian politics and society. As for the Left in the West, confusions abound. The progressive left, from the beginning openly supported the Iranian civil society movement. ZNet, Campaign for Peace and Democracy, Bullet, and some other media provided sound analysis to help others understand the complexities of the Iranian situation (see, for example, here). Some intellectuals signed petitions along with their Iranian counterparts, while others chose to remain silent. But disturbingly, like in the situations in Gaza or Lebanon, where Hamas and Hezbollah uncritically became champions of anti-imperialism, for some other people on the left, Ahmadinejad has become a champion because of his seemingly firm rhetoric against Israel and the US. Based on a crude class analysis, he is also directly or indirectly praised by some for his supposed campaign against the rich and imagined support of the working poor. These analyses also undermine the genuine movement within the vibrant Iranian civil society, and denigrate their demands for democracy, and political and individual freedoms as middle class concerns, instigated by western propaganda (a view shared by Khamenei, Ahmadinejad and his supporters). *MRZine and Islamists* The most bizarre case is the on-line journal MRZine, the offshoot of Monthly Review, which in some instances even publicized the propaganda of the Basij (Islamic militia) hooligans and criminals. The website has given ample room to pro-Islamist contributors; while they can hardly be considered to be on the left, their words are appreciated by the leftists editing the site. One writer claims that the battle in Iran is about welfare reform and private property rights, and that Ahmadinejad has enraged the managerial class, as he is the least enthusiastic about neo-liberal reforms demanded by Iran's corporate interests, and that he is under attack by Iran's fiscal conservative candidates. The author conveniently fails to mention that there are also much corporate interests controlled by Ahmadinejad's friends and allies in the Islamic Guards and his conservative cleric supporters, and that he has staunchly followed privatization policies by handing over state holdings to his cronies. During the 1979 revolution, the late Tudeh Party, under the direction of the Soviet Union, was unsuccessfully digging deep and looking hard for non-capitalists among the Islamic regime's elements to follow a non-capitalist path and a socialist orientation. Now it seems that MRZine magazine is beginning a new excavation for such a breed among Islamists, not understanding that all factions of the Islamic regime have always been staunch capitalists. *Azmi Bishara's imagined Iran* In Iran: An Alternative Reading (reproduced in MRZine), Azmi Bishara argues that Iran's totalitarian system of government differs from other totalitarian systems in two definitive ways: Firstly, it has incorporated such a high degree [of] constitutionally codified democratic competition in the ruling order and its ideology. Bishara does not explain however that these competitions are just for the insider Islamists, and all others, including moderate Muslims or the wide spectrum of secular liberals and the left are excluded by the anti-democratic institutions within the regime. The second differentiation Bishara makes is that ... the official ideology that permeates institutions of government ... is a real religion embraced by the vast majority of the people. He is right if he means the majority of Iranians are Muslim and Shi'i, but it is wrong to assume that all are religious and share the same obscurantist fundamentalist version as those in power. He also fails to recognize the existence of a large number of secular people in Iran, one of the highest percentages among Muslim-majority countries. He praises such tolerance of political diversity, tolerance of criticism, and peaceful rotation of authority in Iran. One wonders if our prominent Palestinian politician is writing about an imaginary Iran, or the real one. Could it be that Bishara has not heard of the massacres of thousands of political prisoners, chain killings of intellectuals, and silencing of the most able and progressive voices in the country? Doesn't he know that a
[GreenYouth] WRAP UP REPORT: NATIONAL TIPAIMUKH DAM CONFERENCE on 19 June, 2009.
Draft NATIONAL TIPAIMUKH DAM CONFERENCE ntdc2009 19 June,Friday,2009. 09.30 A.M. to 05.30 P.M. Venue: Seminar Room, Institution of Engineers,Bangladesh (IEB) Headquarters, Ramna, Dhaka. WRAP UP REPORT The inaugural session was held in an atmosphere of determination and jubilation.It was attended by more than 400 water rights activists from around the country. Hon'ble Minister of Finance, Government of Bangladesh, Mr. AMA Muhith graced the occasionOB, as the Chief Guest. Mr.Rashed Khan Menon Member of Parliament and President, Bangladesher Workers Party, Mr.Mujahidul Islam Selim,General Secretary, Communist Party of Bangladesh , Dr. R.K.Ranjan from CCDD, Manipur, India,Mr. Fazle Hossain Badsha, Member of Parliament, Mohammad Afzal, President of Gonotontri Party, Farah Kabir,Country Director,Action Aid Bangladesh made deliberations in the capacity of Special Guests in the inaugural session. Professor ABM Farouk presided over the session. Engineer Muhammad Hilaluddin, Chief Director, Angikar Bangladesh Foundation, made the inaugural power point presentation and moderated the session. The Chief Guest in his speech categorally spoke about the possible adverse impact of the Tipaimukh dam and suggested for seizing the opportunity of engaging into discussion with India and raise the necessary points. Mr. Muhith discouraged the method of leading hate campaign and express extreme words in this regard. He stressed the need for getting all the pertinent data and information from the Indian authorities. Mr. Muhith stressed the need for joint initiativeof the countries belonging to GBM basin. All other speakers said sraightwordedly ' NO TO TIPAIMUKH DAM' and resolved to generate an intensified, strong and united movement of the people of both Bangladesh and India against the dam. The 2nd and concluding session of the ntdc2009 was chaired by a veteran educationist of the country, Professor Riazul Islam which was addressed by Khalequzzaman, Convenor, Bangladesher Somajtantric Dal BSD, Mostofa Kamal Mojumdar, Editor, the New Nation, Muniruzzaman, Senior Assistant Editor, Daily Sangbad, Ramananda from Manipur, Mohsin Ali, Coordinator, Governance Advocacy Forum, Ratan Sarkar, Executive Director, INCIDIN, Advocate Moinuddin Jalal ,Chief Coordinator, Angikar Bangladesh, Sylhet Division. Dr.M.A. Matin, General Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, BAPA guided the session towards achieving the strategic and tactical targets of the anti-Tipaimukh Dam movement. Decisions and resolutions of ntdc2009: 1. The delegates of ntdc2009 after thorough and careful analysis of the latest situation and developments centering around the Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project TMHP since the sudden visit of Secretary, External Affairs of India to Bangladesh in April, 2009 and his related statements, opine that the Indian proposal for a visit of Bangladesh Parliamentary delegation to the Tipaimukh Dam project-site does not seem to be of any meaningful exercise as there is no sign of construcion as yet on the site. The delegation will just be enjoying the scenic beauty of the dam location which will ultimately be submerged after the construction. 2. The Indian relevant authorities finalized their design of the TMHP basing upon data and information of the 277 km stretch (existing within the Indian boundary) of the Barak-Meghna riversystem and they just ignored and overlooked science in not considering the impact at the 669 km stretch of the downstream of the same riversystem flowing across Bangladesh. India never consulted with Bangladesh or send any relevant data and information to Bangladesh regarding the design of TMHP. The ntdc2009 considers it of paramount importance to make all the data and information regarding theTMHP open and available to the people and government of Bangladesh by the Indian authorities immediately. The ntdc2009 demands immediate andadequate steps from the Bangladesh authorities in the assessment of the downstream impact of the THMP within Bangladesh. 3.The participants of the ntdc2009 express the firm expectation to the 9th National Parliament of Bangladesh that it will adopt an unanimous resolution demanding the immediate scrapping of the THMP. Any official delegation from Bangladesh, if sent to India, will have discussion only upon the unanimous resolution of the parliament. 4.The participants of the ntdc2009 express the firm expectation to the 9th National Parliament of Bangladesh that it will adopt an unanimous resolution demanding the immediate stoppage and scrapping of all the intervening projects on the Brahmaputra at the upstream in PR China and India. 5. The ntdc2009 calls upon the people and political forces of the country to forge a strong national unity on the Tipaimukh Dam issue and avoid all sorts of tricky and sectarian games in the overall survival question of the riverine civilization of Bangladesh. 6. The ntdc2009 calls upon the SAARC countries to
[GreenYouth] Re: Who the hell is Varkala Radhakrishnan?
Marxist position in this issue can be read from http://www.pragoti.org/node/3495 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Green Youth Movement group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to greenyouth+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Re: Who the hell is Varkala Radhakrishnan?
On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 10:30 PM, Sebin Jacobsebinaja...@gmail.com wrote: Marxist position in this issue can be read from http://www.pragoti.org/node/3495 Do you mean CPIM Position? Anivar -- The resources of the world are for us all to share. Let us affirm our faith in that common cause - Dr. Ilina Sen --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Green Youth Movement group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to greenyouth+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] KAMBLI: Experiments with Caste, Willow and Gloves (new post at our blog Round Table)
-- Forwarded message -- From: anoop kumar anoopkh...@gmail.com Date: 2009/7/15 Subject: KAMBLI: Experiments with Caste, Willow and Gloves (new post at our blog Round Table) To: our-media our-me...@googlegroups.com KAMBLI: Experiments with Caste, Willow and Gloveshttp://blog.insightyv.com/?p=292 *Recently newspapers reportedhttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4774108.cms that Vinod Kambli, the Indian cricketer during the shooting of a forthcoming television show had vehemently attacked BCCI for discriminating against him based on his caste and skin colour and criticized his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar for being less ‘friendly’ at his bad times. Though,Kambli has denied these reports laterhttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4777247.cms, RANJITH THANKAPPAN shares the ‘Kambli Moment’ in his life that point towards the caste factor in cricket and life.* Kambli, I knew it years ago. Perhaps you didn’t. Or what else kept you silent for long? I know, cricket like brahmanism is a mythical institution that will lead one to the illusion of empowered self. But, I expected you to throw it back with the same ease with which you pick up and throw to get your opponent run out. And how can I forget your beautiful smile; the mumbling after a diving effort to save a single; the naughty grin after an effortless catch; the languishing return from the crease and enigmatic flow of energy in the field with the usual encouraging words to fellow players. How can I forget you Kambli, though you were not my role model? Nor Sachin was. Never ever. Read the full post at our Blog Round Table http://www.blog.insightyv.com/ http://www.blog.insightyv.com/anoop -- Rosa sat so Martin could walk; Martin walked so Obama could run, Obama ran so your children can fly -- Ranjit --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Green Youth Movement group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to greenyouth+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Re: beemapalli and human rights- bobby
No drinking water, no education, no health services, no sanitation facilities, no safe homes, no job security, no self respect, no recognition in society, no.. no... no... Still people from Vizhinjam and Beemapally earn more foreign currency for the State than Technopark! Technopark got separate water distribution lines, land, buildings, infrastructure, tax cuts, discounts , soaps, bubbles, bla bla... Dont you feel ashamed to call yourself as Malayalee? No laws or systems can help those who thrown themselves into the clutches of bunch of clerics and religious leaders and is living like slaves. Compared to the plight and human rights violation of people in vizhinjam and Beemapally, imposed by those community leaders for last few decades, police firing is nothing. Most of the business is controlled by people from malabar. Pirated CD sales is not the only illegal activity going on there publicly. Where were the mosque and leadership all these years? Why dont they take action, eventhough they define rules and regulations for the community and is so powerful! (it is just because of their power, no police invaded beemapally till last month for a raid!) --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Green Youth Movement group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to greenyouth+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
