[GreenYouth] Fwd: [Secular Perspective] Fwd: questions
Some Questions about the Counter-Terror Operation at Jamia Nagar, New Delhi A team comprising activists, academicians and journalists visited the site of the police operation against alleged terrorists staying in an apartment in Jamia Nagar in the afternoon of 20.09.2008 (Saturday). Two alleged terrorists Atif and Sajid, along with Mohan Chand Sharma, an inspector of the Delhi Police's Special Cell died in the operation while a third alleged terrorist was arrested. On the basis of our interactions with the local residents, eye witnesses and the reports which have appeared in the media, we would like to pose the following questions: 1) It has been widely reported (and not refuted by the Police) that in early August this year Atif, who is described by the Delhi Police as the mastermind behind the recent terrorist bombings in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi, underwent a police verification exercise along with his four roommates in order to rent the apartment they were staying in Jamia Nagar. All the five youth living in the apartment submitted to the Delhi police their personal details, including permanent address, driving license details, address of the house they previously stayed in, all of which were found to be accurate. Is it conceivable that the alleged kingpin behind the terrorist Indian Mujahideen outfit would have wanted to undergo a police verification- for whatever purpose- just a week after the Ahmedabad blasts and a month before the bombings in Delhi? 2) The four-storeyed house L-18 in Jamia Nagar, where the alleged terrorists were staying, has only one access point, through the stair case, which is covered by an iron grill. It is impossible to leave the house except from the staircase. By all reports, the staircase was taken over by the Special Cell and/ or other agencies during the counter-terror operation. The house, indeed the entire block, was cordoned off at the time of the operation. How then was it then possible, as claimed by the police, for two alleged terrorists to escape the premises during the police operation? 3) The media has quoted 'police sources' as having informed them that the Special Cell was fully aware about the presence of dreaded terrorists, involved in the bombings in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi, staying in the apartment that was raided. Why was the late Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, a veteran of dozens of encounter operations, the only officer in the operation not wearing a bullet proof vest? Was this due to over-confidence or is there something else to his mysterious death during the operation? Will the forensic report of the bullets that killed Inspector Sharma be made public? 4) There are reports that towards the end of the counter-terror operation, some policemen climbed on the roof of L-18 and fired several rounds in the air. Other policemen were seen breaking windows and even throwing flower pots to the ground from flats adjacent or opposite to L-18 Why was the police firing in the air and why did it indulge in destruction of property around L-18 after the encounter? 5) The police officials claim that an AK-47 and pistols were recovered from L-18. What was the weapon that killed Inspector Sharma? Was the AK-47 used at all and by whom? Going by some reports that have appeared (see 'Times of India', 20.09.08), the AK-47s have been used by the police only. Is it not strange that alleged terrorists did not use a more deadly and sophisticated weapon like the AK-47, which they purportedly possessed, preferring to use pistols? We feel that there are far too many loose ends in the current story of the police encounter at L-18 in Jamia Nagar. We demand that a fair, impartial and independent probe into the incident be initiated at the earliest to answer the above questions as also any other ones that arise from the contradictions of the case. Signed/- Shabnam Hashmi, Satya Sivaraman, Manisha Sethi, Tanweer Fazal, Arshad Alam, Pallavi Deka --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Re: Fwd: Some Questions About The Delhi Encounter
see this mangalam report http://mangalam.com/index.php?page=detailnid=77276 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] A Soft Hindutwa piece on Terrorism and response from Aftab
Read from Below. How progressive is these progressive leaders.. A forwarded mail -- Forwarded message -- From: Afthab Ellath [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 2:46 PM Subject: FOURTH ESTATE CRITIQUE Re: India seeks IDF expertise in Kashmir conflict To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I got a new a tag in no time.. A romantic terrorist... I would have enjoyed any other tag...But this one is really scary for me when very influential broadcast media journos (Aditya Nigam call them, mediots (media idiots) in an article Singur, mediotics and an NGO called Indian Express He says Let us call this specific form of media-generated idiocy, rampant among media persons, mediocy and the phenomenon, mediotics. Those affected by it will then be mediots), with immense socio-political and corporate capital to back, stick this tag on my back... Believe me, it is really frightening... I read tonce again the text that I have written... Can anybody help me to find out what went wrong? At least a single line from what I wrote in FEC, invoked such a tag, so that I can reflect on it... Please help me, I just need a single line from what I have written here... This is especially important when the same mediots go and celebrate in channels, about the Jehadi IT Professionals and about those go to middle-east and get trained by Pakistanis in terror...Is it another stereotype that Sanil was writing about, i.e. Muslim-a-terrorist? Javed Anand writes in the last issue of Tehelka(Truth has two faces)... At a poignant moment, Sahi writes: As I interviewed countless Muslims so weathered, I couldn't but ask myself, 'What if this was me? What if it was my brother, my father in jail?' My deepest respect for the sentiment embedded in this statement. My great fear however, is that in today's India, while Sahi, his father and brother are reasonably safe, someone with a Muslim tag is not. The latter, therefore, had better beware of the SIMI label. It's a label that claims to speak for him; it's a label that can unfairly damn him, his brother or father. I read carefully what JS has written... A true scholar, who can write expert opinions on any subject under the sun, any body of knowledge, that you ask him... A veracious human rights defender, who is omnipresent in all space and time of its violations, to give us the first hand commentary about it, interviewed such a variety of terrorist leaders risking his life, to takeout the secrets of cat and dog games that they played, and who has gained extensive information about the leaders in Brussels and Amsterdam.. But in his lengthy post there was he himself, stories of his own bravery, blood-thirsty terrorists and their atrocities, and hisconnectedness with the victims of these atrocities, and in between some clichés of rights violations and the minor aberrations of military happened under immense pressure situations, and an eloquent optimism about the state apparatus...There was one thing badly missing from his analysis. That is the real people... Their sufferings... But they were just mobs for him.. millions organized, recruited, and paid to kill other millions... There were no stories told by them. Please don't send me another set of references of what you wrote elsewhere, JS... I assume there might be plenty... It is always profitable to balance.. It was wonderful, JS... A person of my credentials (kundukulams!) should have accepted and kept quietBut I couldn't... I am still suspicious because it is no different from the mediotic stories that are produced in abundance, out there... Because I tend to believe another genre of human rights defenders, fighting a tireless fight, with absolute moral clarity and intellectual honesty, many, many, like the one you mentioned (Dr. Binayak Sen)... I was reading their reports for the last twenty years on Kashmir, since the one given by Justice Tharkunde and Sachar, et al, visited Kashmir, immediately after the most notorious Sopur firings, which according to them was another Jallianwallah bagh. There are many citizens' tribunals, Investigation reports, including those of Amnesty international and Human Rights Watch that are more credible for me...The latest of such violations come from Hyderabad... But you don't stop me there JS... You want to make sure or the clarity of others in this group that I am an apologist of terrorism... You had to produce crystal clear evidence for that... So you would not ask me an opinion about Delhi or Ahmadabad Blasts ... That will not be sufficient. You need an extra ordinary thing... A singularity, a limit-experience like September, the 11th... So you invoked the parliament attack... December the 13th, and catch me by my throat and ask me. Tell me, are you with us or with them? like a Sangh Parivar interrogation Are you a patriot? If not, go to Pakistan or Hell... I liked it from a person like you, JS... But I would have given you a conclusive answer JS to prove my innocence because I want to
[GreenYouth] Re: Going Back to Ambedkar to Revisit His Ideas On Conversion (FWDED from www.Countercurrent.org)
Dear Comrade, I find the article by Ambedkar written in 1930s, published in a recent issue of Countercurrents well timed and still relevant for debate. Perhaps, the agenda for a National Debate on proselytism as suggested by Mr.Vajpayee some years back has been violently put forth by the Sangh Paivar, and all parties from the Centrists to the Leftists seem to be eagerly following suit. But , unfortunately they are busy with making a distinction between the Constitutional provision on freedom of conscience with that of the forced conversions allegedly taking place at the auspices of churches and the neo-Buddhists. Regards, Venu. On Fri, Sep 19, 2008 at 1:17 PM, venukm [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Why Go For Conversion? By Dr. B.R. Ambedkar 18 September, 2008 Countercurrents.org In 1935 at Nasik district, Maharashtra, Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar had declared his firm resolve to change his religion. He had declared that he was born as a Hindu but will not die as Hindu. About a year later, a massive Mahar conference was held on May 30 and 31, 1936, in Mumbai, to access the impact of that declaration on Mahar masses. In his address to the conference, Dr.Ambedkar expressed his views on conversion in an elaborate, well- prepared and written speech in Marathi. Here is an English translation of that speech by Mr.Vasant Moon, OSD to the committee of Govt. of Maharashtra for publication of Writings speeches of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Class Struggle There are two aspects of conversion; social as well as religious; material as well as spiritual. Whatever may be the aspect, or line of thinking, it is necessary to understand the beginning, the nature of Untouchability and how it is practiced. Without this understanding, you will not be able to realize the real meaning underlying my declaration of conversion. In order to have a clear understanding of untouchability and its practice in real life, I want you to recall the stories of the atrocities perpetrated against you. But very few of you might have realized as to why all this happens! What is at the root cause of their tyranny? To me it is very necessary, that we understand it. This is not a feud between rival men. The problem of untouchability is a matter of class struggle. It is the struggle between caste Hindus and the Untouchables. That is not a matter of doing injustice against one man. This is a matter of injustice being done by one class against another. This class struggle has a relation with the social status. This struggle indicates, how one class should keep its relation with another class. This struggle starts as soon as you start claiming equal treatment with others... Conversion not for slaves The reason for their anger is very simple. Your behaving on par with them insults them. The untouchability is not a short or temporary feature; it is a permanent one .To put it straight, it can be said that the struggle between the Hindus and the Untouchables is a permanent phenomena. It is eternal, because the religion which has placed you at the lowest level of the society is itself eternal, according to the belief of the Hindu caste people. No change, according to time and circumstances is possible. You are at the lowest rung of the ladder today. You shall remain lowest forever. This means the struggle between Hindus and Untouchables shall continue forever. How will you survive through this struggle is the main question. And unless you think over it, there is no way out. Those who desire to live in obedience to the dictates of the Hindus, those who wish to remain their slaves, they do not need to think over this problem. But those who wish to live a life of self-respect, and equality, will have to think over this. How should we survive through this struggle? For me, it is not difficult to answer this question. Those who have assembled here will have to agree that in any struggle one who holds strength becomes the victor. One, who has no strength, need not expect success. This has been proved by experience, and I do not need to cite illustration to prove it. Three types of Strength The question that follows, which you must now consider, is whether you have enough strength to survive through this struggle? Three types of strength are known to man: (i) Manpower, (ii) Finance and (iii) Mental Strength. Which of these, you think that you possess? So far as manpower is concerned, it is clear, that you are in a minority. In Mumbai Presidency, the untouchables are only one-eighth of the total population. That too unorganized. The castes within themselves do not allow them to organize. They are not even compact. They are scattered through the villages. Under these circumstances, this small population is of no use as a fighting force to the untouchables at their critical moments. Financial strength is also just the same. It is an undisputed fact that you at least have a little bit of manpower, but
[GreenYouth] Re: (Fwded) Question Marks on Khairlanji Trial Judgement : Ensure Proper Implementations of the Atrocities(Prevention) Act and the Law on Rape
this act is not implemented properly.its conviction rate is hardly 3%..after 40 years ,kilevenamani(tanjavore,tamil nadu1968) story repeats itself in the name of khairlanji.many officials are dalits,but,they are in a very helplesss situation to to take a stand against dominant forces. --- On Thu, 18/9/08, sunil kumar [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: sunil kumar [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [GreenYouth] Re: (Fwded) Question Marks on Khairlanji Trial Judgement : Ensure Proper Implementations of the Atrocities(Prevention) Act and the Law on Rape To: greenyouth@googlegroups.com Date: Thursday, 18 September, 2008, 12:30 AM It's really a shocking judgement.We should see this as a move to invalidate the sc/st atrocities(prevention) act, a safeguard for dalits and adivasis. The court, enquiring agencies and media are trying to sabotage the very spirit of this act. It is high time to unite dalits tribes and all democratic forces to protect the act and the legitimate rights of oppressed xections in the Indian society. On 17/09/2008, venukm [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Bhandara district fast track court, gave a very hollow judgement on Khairlanje massacre case, by conviction of 8 out of 11accused and released three persons. It said that the massacre was not the result of castism but arisen out of personal animosity. It has convicted 8 accused under 302 and not considered the Atrocity act due to unavailability of evidence. The CBI was also not able to provide evidence to prove the brutal rape on Surekha Bhootmange, Priyanka Bhootmange and a blind boy Roshan. This brings frustration and deep sorrow in any sensible person's mind. The worst feature of this judgements are a) Through this judgement it appears that the whole system including the bureaucracy, police and judiciary are so communal and caste bias that they can reduce any protective laws such as ''Atrocity act'' and Rape, to a toothless weapons that never worked to administer justice to real victims. b) The very provision in the law demanding Cross-evidences that is never possible, itself indirectly grants permission to outrageous people to go Scott free. c) The court did not consider the circumstantial evidences to convict Rapist which was worst part of this Khairlanje massacre. d) The judiciary system and CBI and CID apparently worked under NCPs influence. e) Bhaiyalal Bhootmange always surrounded by NCP men and was pressurised to opt for Ujwal Nikam as PP. When I met Bhaiyalal 2years back one of our friend journalist informed him about Ad. Ujwal Nikam's anti-dalit nature, (during Gundevar Commission) he could not give his opinion but just looked at NCP bodyguards! This clearly suggested then and thereafter that the Khairlanje Justice process was controlled and manipulated by NCP and R R Patil. All of us should protest against this judgement and ask the proper implementation of Atrocity act and another law on Rape. This is serious shortfall of our judiciary system Kunda P. N. Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now, on http://help.yahoo.com/l/in/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/tools/tools-08.html/ --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Nudism and Terrorism
Nudism is the ahimsatmic remedy for Terrorism. Not only for terrorism, but for all stupidities including rule. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Amidst Wall Street Woes, Labor Activist Writer Bill Fletcher on “Solidarity Divided: The Crisis in Organized Labor and a New Path toward Social Justice”
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/9/19/amidst_wall_street_woes_labor_activist Amidst Wall Street Woes, Labor Activist Writer Bill Fletcher on Solidarity Divided: The Crisis in Organized Labor and a New Path toward Social Justice While the press has extensively covered the Wall Street meltdown, little attention has been paid to what this means to the American worker. We speak to longtime labor activist and writer Bill Fletcher, co-author with Fernando Gapasin of the new book *Solidarity Divided: The Crisis in Organized Labor and a New Path toward Social Justice*. Fletcher is the executive editor of BlackCommentator.com and the former president of TransAfrica Forum. [includes rush transcript] Guest: *Bill Fletcher*, co-author with Fernando Gapasin of the new book *Solidarity Divided: The Crisis in Organized Labor and a New Path toward Social Justice*. He is the executive editor of BlackCommentator.com and the former president of TransAfrica Forum. *JUAN GONZALEZ: *The *Wall Street Journal* has called it the worst financial crisis since the 1930s. The *Washington Post* described Wednesday as one of the most tumultuous days ever for financial markets. A recent *Financial Times* headline read Goodbye capitalism American-style. The events on Wall Street in recent weeks have shocked the financial world. The federal government has used taxpayer money to bail out the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as well as the American Insurance Group. Meanwhile, Lehman Brothers has declared bankruptcy, Merrill Lynch has been bought out by Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley is in talks to sell almost half of the company to a state-run Chinese investment fund. And now the Fed and Congress are working on an unprecedented bailout plan that would result in the most direct commitment of taxpayer funds so far in the financial crisis. *AMY GOODMAN: *While the press has extensively covered the Wall Street meltdown, little attention has been paid to what this means for the American worker. On Thursday, the Federal Reserve announced American households had lost $3 trillion over the past nine months. The nation's unemployment rate has reached 6.1 percent, a five-year high. The unemployment rate for African Americans is now in double digits, at 10.6 percent. Wages remain stagnant, and retirement funds are taking a major hit as stock values plummet. Since President Bush took office, the SP 500 has fallen 14 percent. We're joined now from Washington, D.C. by longtime labor activist and writer Bill Fletcher. He is co-author of the new book *Solidarity Divided: The Crisis in Organized Labor and a New Path toward Social Justice*. He's executive editor of blackcommentator.com http://www.blackcommentator.com/and former president of TransAfrica Forum. Welcome to *Democracy Now!*, Bill Fletcher. *BILL FLETCHER: *Amy, Juan, thank you for having me on the program. *AMY GOODMAN: *It's great to have you with us. Why don't you start out by simply talking about that issue? How has this global meltdown affected the American worker? *BILL FLETCHER: *Well, among other things, Amy, what it means is that the whole illusion that we have something called a free market economy is gone. I mean, here we have for years been subject to this propaganda blitz regarding deregulation and that regulations have hurt the economy. And now what we're seeing is an implosion, an implosion that government is prepared to respond to by assisting corporations, but there has been—this situation has been disastrous for workers, and not just in the most recent past—workers and farmers, actually, if you go back to the 1980s. *JUAN GONZALEZ: *Bill, one of the areas that hasn't gotten very much attention is that—are union pension funds, as well, because many pension funds over—in recent years began investing not in conservative bonds or government securities, but increasingly got into equities and even into venture capital and private equity funds. What's been the impact, is your sense, as what's going to happen to the retirement funds of so many of not only the pension funds, but increasing number of Americans who were convinced to get into, by their employers, 401(k) retirement funds, which were basically invested in the stock market? *BILL FLETCHER: *I'm glad you ask that. Let's just divide it into two pieces. One is that back in the 1980s, we started to see the end of or the decline of pensions, actually defined benefit pensions, where workers would retire and actually could count on a steady income. We started to see this replaced with the rise of the 401(k)s, which you mentioned, and this whole illusion that if you invest in the market, you get a piece of the rock and that you'll be better off than having these defined contribution or defined benefit plans. So, the first problem is that workers—fewer and fewer workers actually have pensions of any sort. In the most recent past, it's exactly as you describe. I mean, workers are looking at their futures
[GreenYouth] Meet highlights woes of sexual minorities - Thrissur
Meet highlights woes of sexual minorities The meet was organised by Sahayathrika at the Kerala Sahithya Akademi Staff Reporter http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/21/stories/2008092153080300.htm Thrissur: The problems being faced by sexual minorities were highlighted at a convention held here on Saturday that brought together several alternative sexuality groups from South India. The convention, organised by Sahayathrika at Kerala Sahithya Akademi, turned out to be a forum to express the problems as well as creative energies in the form of dance, drama and songs of gays, lesbians, transsexuals and bisexuals. It declared solidarity with Kerala's suffering sexual minorities, who are among the most marginalised in the country. Speakers pointed out that though Kerala had achieved progress on several social fronts, sexual minorities continued to be harassed, tortured and delineated. As a result, many of them, especially transsexuals, were forced to migrate to neighbouring states. The sexual minorities are not just a marginalised section, their very existence is challenged by society, said M. K. Rajasree, a researcher at the Centre for Development Studies(CDS), Thiruvananthapuram. A CDS study had found that all development interventions by the government, including Kudumbasree, had excluded the sexual minorities. For them, the life is a tumultuous journey towards a reinvented selfhood. Even our legal system does not tolerate this community. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code criminalises homosexuality, said Ponni of Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore. The fear of being exposed and expelled from the family and society is the first challenge faced by each member of our group, said Sunil Menon from Chennai-based organisation 'Sahodharan'. Regular verbal and physical abuse by the society creates a negative attitude in sexual minorities towards life and affects their self-esteem. Ridiculed by family and friends many were driven to suicide, he said. Even the basic rights of a citizen have been denied to us, said Sanjesh, an activist of the Kozhikode-based 'Firm'. We are not allowed to walk free on the road or sit at the bus shelter, he says. The writer-activist Civic Chandran accused the first generation of feminists of ignoring the problems of lesbians. Sahayathrika co-founder Deepa, women's rights activist Mini Sukumar and short story writer K.R.Meera spoke at the function. When a gay or lesbian is forced into marriage, the families don't realise how traumatic their marital life would be, said Nasar, from 'Firm', Kozhikode. Their life partners would be unnecessarily trapped in the misery, he said. Playwright, director and actor Preetham Chakraborty performed 'Nirvanam', an exploration of the journey towards becoming a transgender at the convention. 'Nirvanam' refers to the liberation of the female persona from its male body. Various cultural forums including Loveland Arts Society, Kollam, Malabar Cultural Forum, Kozhikode, and Lesbit, Bangalore performed. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Re: FOURTH ESTATE CRITIQUE Re: VRC Tirur
This is a big Thank You note. I hear, though I am yet to see the news report in madhyamam that the Human Rights Commission has started an investigation into how VRC is run... Thanks for all the support and responses, personal and public 2008/9/16 Bobby Kunhu [EMAIL PROTECTED] Not just Islamic educationist, I believe the thodupuzha institution is run by catholic educationists. Around a decade back, I wrote a short story about that, which I will be willing to share privately, cause I think, it would invite unecessary ire. I should thank Sasi sir and Geedha for sharing their inputs. And I hope the article gets publshed soon Mentally disabled are the easiest constituency for whom decisons can be made by others and this has far-reaching consequences. The fact that non-heterosexual orientation still within some sections of Indian psychiatric practice is still seen as a psychotic disorder I was wondering how VRC for instance gets recognition in forms of awards etc.. there are similar institutions in other states as well run by Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and other religious denominations in other parts of the country. Thanks for the responses 2008/9/16 V. Sasi Kumar [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Tue, 2008-09-16 at 12:50 +0400, Afthab Ellath wrote: We need de-addiction centers for those addicted to the same fundamentalist Islamic Educationists , who treats patients either with physical abuse or Islamism... Physical and verbal abuse is very common in most government mental hospitals in the country. People have no access to private mental hospitals, so no one knows what is happening there. Many hospitals don't even have nurses, according to a report of the Human Rights Commission. So it is not just Islamic Educationists who need treatment. Best -- Dr. V. Sasi Kumar Please visit http://keralachinthakal.blogspot.com/ -- Bobby Kunhu http://community.eldis.org/myshkin/Blog/ -- Bobby Kunhu http://community.eldis.org/myshkin/Blog/ --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Controversy on a Text Related to Ramayana Challenges Academic Freedom In Delhi University- The Telegraph Editorial of 21-09-08
The Telegraph, September 21, 2008 Editorial ON A NEW BATTLEFIELD The wonder that is India may or may not have many Ramayanas, but it certainly has a magnificent array of idiots of colourfully variegated stupidities. The colour on display in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad?s campaign against the inclusion of A.K. Ramanujan?s essay, ?Three hundred Ramayanas: five examples and three thoughts on translation?, in Delhi University?s history course is saffron. The Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad have been protesting on campus because, according to them, some references to Hanuman in the essay are offensive. Approached by petitioners, the Delhi High Court turned down pleas to have the essay removed, saying that it was not the legitimate or competent authority to pronounce on the matter. Undeterred, ABVP petitioners went to the Supreme Court, which has said that it is up to the vice-chancellor and the academic council of the university to decide whether or not a text should be included in a syllabus. The point that the higher judiciary has made may seem obvious, but it is important when its petitioners are arrogantly armed in ignorance. One, it is the responsibility of the university to decide on its syllabi, and that responsibility cannot be evaded. Two, the judiciary would not encroach into specialist areas, just as teachers would not judge and sentence criminals. But more generally, the courts? responses have another moral ? they cannot be made into instruments of partisan politics. This moral is particularly relevant when the petitioners believe that using religion as excuse will cow individuals and institutions alike. The incident is not just a tussle between opposing ideologies in the academia. The focus of the attack was Upinder Singh, the daughter of the prime minister and a teacher in the history department. She was supposed to have compiled the collection that includes Ramanujan?s essay. That the prime minister?s office issued a statement saying that she had nothing to do with it seems strange under the circumstances, since a teacher is normally defended by her institution, not by her father?s office. But the PMO?s statement brings the political game out into the open, and makes it easy to connect Kandhamal and Karnataka with Delhi University as the time for the Lok Sabha election draws closer. Such a connection would also explain why Mayawati has jumped into the fray on the pretext of a law and order problem in Lucknow, and has said that she is against the essay if it distorts the Ramayana. The incident may seem absurd, but it is a bad omen. If a scholarly elucidation of the sources and emphases of the various retellings of the Ramayana in different cultures and languages is attacked in the name of religion, only to be used in politics, India would soon have to bid adieu to its scholars, to intellectual freedom and the dedicated pursuit of knowledge. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Udit Raj statement at the UN Human Rights Council
--- On Sun, 21/9/08, ST/ST Confederation [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: ST/ST Confederation [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Udit Raj statement at the UN Human Rights Council Date: Sunday, 21 September, 2008, 10:24 PM All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations B-113, Sarvodaya Enclave, New Delhi-17, Tel: 011-26960022, Telefax: 011-26534559, Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] com Press Release Statement made by Dr. Udit Raj in UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, 9th Session, 17th September 2008, at Geneva New Delhi, 20th September, 2008 The National Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, Dr.. Udit Raj, attended 9th Session of United Nations Human Rights Council at Geneva from 9th to 17th September, 2008. He raised the issue of discrimination of Dalits and was successful in campaigning that the caste discrimination is mother of all discriminations. He said that despite various provisions of Indian Constitution aiming at the protection and promotion of human rights of Dalits, their implementation remains inadequate. Atrocities, untouchability, insufficient wages, bounded labour, child labour, landlessness, illiteracy, inequality of opportunities, manual scavenging are still the order of the day in the life of Dalits. Dr. Udit Raj further said that last Indian National Bureau of Crime Report (2006) states that in that year 27070 crimes had been committed against Dalits, though many go unreported. 13 Dalits are murdered every week, 5 Dalits homes are burnt every week, 6 Dalits are abducted every week, 3 Dalits women are raped every day, 11 Dalits are beaten every day and a crime is committed against a Dalit every 18 minutes. Literacy rate for Dalits remains abysmal: 54.69% as per Govt of India's last census (2001) while we are witnessing a deterioration situation. Even more disappointing is the progress made by Dalits at higher education. The enrolment of Dalits in graduate education is 8.37% as against 91.63% for others. Furthermore, 37.8% children had to sit separately while eating in 37.8% of Government schools. Dr. Udit Raj said that so far, reservation has not been fully implemented, e.g., out of more than 200 Secretaries in the Government of India, there is hardly anyone from this community. Discriminatory pronouncements of higher judiciary - High Courts and Supreme Court - are engaged in further eroding the base of reservation . Privatization and globalization processes are further blowing death to the reservation. Government jobs are shrinking fast and private enterprises mostly owned by upper castes, discriminate in recruitment (no Dalits CEO in any corporate establishment) . He urged the Government of India to establish mechanisms of protection for Dalits in order to curb crimes against them as well as empower them educationally. Dr. Udit Raj further said that the recent brutal attacks on Christians in Orissa State continue to remind us that Religious intolerance and caste discrimination are synonymous. The right wing Hindu organizations such as RSS, VHP and Bajran Dal have unleashed brutal violence against Christians in Orissa, once again this year, after the murder of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, on 23rd of August, by unknown assailants. The violence spread throughout the state - at one point 12 of 30 districts were in flames - with concentration of multiple attacks on Christians, despite the fact that districts are ethnographically different. More than 4,000 Christian homes were burned, 52 Christians killed according to list maintained by Dr. Joseph D'Souza, of the All India Christian Council. About 115 churches from all denominations were destroyed or heavily damaged. Furthermore, dozens of women were sexually assaulted and harassed. Dozens of Christian-owned businesses burned down. As a result, riots have displaced about 50,000 Christians. 31,000 of them took refuge in the forest/jungles and live in constant fear. Dr. Udit Raj said that Muslims constitute about 15% of Indian population but their participation in administration is quite a dismal. Though the reservation has been extended to them also in recommendation of Mandal Commission, obstacles lie at the bottom of implementation. Muslims and Christians Dalits are striving to get reservation at par with Hindu Dalits. However, this has to be achieved yet. Dr. Ejaz Ali of United Muslim Morcha is fighting for this right. He therefore urged the Human Rights Council that it should build the pressure on Indian government that the justice is secured. (Sanjay Kumar) Media Incharge 9818659660 UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, 9th Session, 17th September 2008 Statement on Item 4 - General Debate - By Dr. Udit Raj MBOSCUDA - Mbororo Socio-Cultural Development Association Mr. President, Despite various provisions of Indian Constitution aiming at the protection and promotion of human rights of Dalits, their implementation remains
[GreenYouth] The strange allure of our 'exes'
The strange allure of our 'exes' Ziauddin Sardarhttp://www.newstatesman.com/writers/ziauddin_sardar http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2008/09/muslim-exes-themselves-fame To declare that you are an ex-fanatic or ex-Muslim is now the shortest route to fame and fortune It has become quite fashionable, in certain Muslim circles, to be an ex. We have a number of ex-fundamentalists and ex-fanatics, such as Ed Husain, promoting themselves as experts on fanaticism and terrorism and advising various branches of the government. We have a group calling itself the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, which specialises in denouncing all things Islamic. We even have an odd ex-terrorist or two seeking book deals. I have nothing against people who want to make a new identity for themselves. That is their right. But it does seem strange to me that those who want to distance themselves from a certain kind of Islam, or Islam itself, still use Islam to describe their new identity. We don't have reformed criminals calling themselves ex-criminals. Indeed, we don't even have ex-atheists. So why ex-Muslims or ex-Islamists? The answer tells us a great deal about contemporary Britain. When it comes to Islam we are ready to believe anything and everything. Anything that seems to help us fight fundamentalism is deserving of uncritical support. The exes also enable us to perform a neat con-trick. By embracing them and their call for Islamic reform, we appear to demonstrate our support for the Muslim community - thus drawing attention away from the fact that we continue to discriminate against, and marginalise, the majority. The uncritical embrace of exes is justified by the assertion that they bring insider knowledge. They have been there, so they know what it's like to be a fanatic, an Islamist, or a puritan Muslim. They are thus in a good position to provide useful insights into fighting the nasty Muslims and stopping their nefarious plans. This is a rather odd argument. How can someone who didn't have the intellectual or spiritual capability to resist being brainwashed lecture other Muslims on how to avoid such traps? The exes themselves have realised that they are on to a good thing. To stand up and declare that you are an ex-fanatic or an ex-Muslim is now the shortest route to fame and fortune. One of the first to realise this was Tawfik Hamid, a former member of the Egyptian terrorist group Gama'a al-Islamiyya, who now lives in the US. Just over two years ago, he declared himself an ex-terrorist and instantly found himself on Fox News and CNN. Offers for confessional stories and books flooded in. He became an expert on terrorism and Islamic reformation for the neoconservative Hudson Institute. The exes in Britain have followed similar trajectories. Who had heard of Ed Husain, now jetting around the globe advising all and sundry about reforming Islam, a few years ago? Or of Maryam Namazie, the voice of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain? Has no one noticed that the Council consists largely of Iranian exiles, card-carrying members of Mujahedin-e-Khalq, the revolutionary Trots who fought the shah? They were hardly Muslims in the first place. I have nothing against these folk (though I think those who take them seriously ought to be put in a straitjacket). Indeed, I am going to take a leaf from their book. This will be my last column for the *New Statesman*and I am therefore establishing a Council of Ex-Columnists. But I plan to parade my knowledge in longer articles for this magazine and elsewhere, thus enhancing my considerable fame and fortune. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Politics on Terrorism
Politics on Terrorism http://newswing.com/?p=1375 Dhananjay Tripathi Within the span of less than six months, three serial bomb blasts in prominent Indian cities once again exposed the vulnerability of internal security in India. The loss of innocent lives is painful aspect of these blasts but what is more painful is the politics on terrorism. It is shameful that at even at the moment of crisis our politicians are engaged in mudslinging. We had witnessed how Rajasthan government was almost at the battle with the center government after the terrorist attack on Jaipur. The war of words that took place between Rajasthan government and centre government was nothing but to shift blame on one another. Similarly, after the blasts in Bangalore and in Ahemdabad, BJP is attacking the government for repealing POTA. If BJP is to be believed, than terrorist attacks is the result of repealed POTA. Those who are of the view that POTA is a deterrent forget the fact that some of the biggest terrorist attacks ascribe to the regime of BJP led NDA when stringent law like POTA was intact. These attacks include attack on Indian Parliament, which is the temple of Indian Democracy. Stringent law has its merits and demerits, even if just for the sake of arguments we accept that POTA is necessary for curbing terrorist activities than also the question remains as what about our internal security system. For using POTA we need to arrest terrorists, we need to crack their planning, and raid their hideouts. None of these things is happening in India. Except in Bolloywood Masala Movies Indian Intelligence rarely unearthed any of the terrorist plans. We get clueless after the attack and even fail to get the hold of those who are sending emails before the attacks. This reveals the antique system we have where experts are just have experience but do not have technical knowledge. The age-old techniques used by almost all the state police make them susceptible to such situation. The government hospitals of this nation do not have any special arrangements for such victims and many fatalities are the consequence of lack of medical attention. Majority of government hospitals in India do not have trauma centers and even the medical practitioners lack the expertise to deal with such a situation. There is no centralized task forces which can be airlifted to anywhere within hours to help the victims and guide the others. Despite our entire hollow claims of being on the verge to become the superpower, Indian intelligence gathering is poor in the world. Our forces are ill equipped and mostly untrained to counter such attacks. On the other hand, the enemies of humanity have most sophisticated weapons and best technical training to carry out attacks with precision and to evade arrest. The terrorist network is much strong than that of intelligence network and they operate easily. India spent major part of its budget on defense and it is one of the biggest buyers of military hardware in the world. There is a problem in this policy and we need to pay attention on our internal security. India needs modern, trained and technical forces to deal with the growing menace of terrorism. Indian military strategy primarily based on external security threats gives fewer importances to internal security matters. Building more missiles is not a need of the hour but drastic improvement in the internal security is essential. It is also wrong to link terrorism always with the external security as it has local and domestic dimensions and need courage to accept our loopholes rather than blaming all on Pakistan for our ills. Blame game will not going to bring any desired result until every political party realize what is wrong. NDA or UPA terrorism is a reality and it will not end with the change in regime. Consistent policy with political willingness and correctness in approach is indispensable for safe India. Please stop playing politics on terrorism it is not a solution. *About The Writer:* A Research Scholar, School of International Studies, Ex-President Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union, New Delhi-67 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Interview with Walter Bender of Sugar Labs
What is work in the real world? Using Word and Powerpoint? Or learning to engage in critical thinking and use computation as a thing to think with? Where are the jobs going to come from? Can we raise a generation of children who are creative, expressive, truly unbounded in the potential, who know how to problem-solve? What country (or company) would really want to build a dependency on Microsoft when they could appropriate the tools and knowledge locally and be self-deterministic? What country wouldn't want to have the option of supporting their local languages and cultures? http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20080920181151638 Anivar Aravind -- Any responsible politician should be encouraging a home grown FOSS industry because it creates the basis for future jobs. Learning Windows is like learning to eat every meal at McDonalds. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] CPI(M) for distribution of land to the poor aka the distance btw Chengara nad Chennai
See this news http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/22/stories/2008092259240400.htm CPI(M) for distribution of land to the poor Special Correspondent Ensure that all those who have applied for pattas get them, CHENNAI: The CPI(M) on Sunday urged the State government to take steps to distribute the land of temples, churches, Wakf Board and trusts to the poor in the City. A resolution adopted at the Mylapore area conference said poor people who had been living on the land should be made the owners. The government should take over the land and distribute it to the low-income groups, the resolution said. Another resolution asked the government to remove the deadline for distributing the pattas. Ensure that all those who have applied for pattas get them, it said. Addressing the conference, CPI(M) MLA S. K. Mahendran said that though as many as 30,000 persons had applied for pattas in all five taluk offices in Chennai, only 1,724 had received the pattas, so far. South Chennai CPI(M) secretary K. Beema Rao participated in th conference, --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] The red mongoose in solemn procession: Samkutty Pattomkary
The red mongoose in solemn procession: Samkutty Pattomkary by Aditya Nigam http://kafila.org/2008/09/21/the-red-mongoose-in-solemn-procession-samkutty-pattomkary/ [This guest post by SAMKUTTY PATTOMKARY responds to the ongoing debate in Kafila on the Chengara issue. -AN] Reading through the discussions on Chengara in kafila, some thoughts I felt I need to articulate as follows. It comes out vividly through the Chengara struggle that a large section of people remain alienated from social and political powers in the so-called democratic society of Kerala. Why is it not possible for the 'class proponents' to see and engage themselves in working towards solving the issue politically? It is plainly visible to one who visits the Chengara land of struggle that more than 30,000 people who are directly involved in this struggle are going through hellish suffering. When they are subjected to many forms of violence and when barbaric strategies of suppression such as rape on women are used against them, why the communists in Kerala are unable to call these acts of violence injustice? It's more than a year that this struggle is going on. Why the CPI M is unable to come out with a solution addressing the issue of social equality for dalits, adivasis and other landless people in Kerala? Why do the discussions get confined to those who are mediators or supporters to the extent of masking the legitimate questions the ones who struggle and their leaderships in Chengara put forward? In this context, it seems important to look at some allegations raised against people who have been involved in the struggle. From the beginning of this struggle itself, the CPI M had started spreading time and again that Laha Gopalan owned some 15 acres of land. This has been proved wrong by the enquiries made by several concerned groups and individuals. In a direct interview with Laha Gopalan, this was what he told me: The Chief Minister had said that Laha Gopalan has 15 acres of land. I am saying, 'give me 2 acres from that and then distribute 2 acres each to 6 other landless people. In the remaining 1 acre land, a CPI M party office may be built up'. But, respected Chief Minister should show where the 2 acres of land for me are lying? Till now, to my knowledge, the Chief Minister had not shown Laha Gopalan the 2 acres of land. LDF convener Vaikom Viswam had also made such allegations that the Chengara protesters are those with substantial land holdings. However, when the CPIM people are asked in return as to how much land they had thus discovered during this period, they have no answers. Now, if we look at the CPIM and its followers, what do we see? We can see that the Kerala CPIM as a Private Limited Company. That is, a big Private. Ltd. Company that owns and runs things from TV channels, news papers and magazines to amusement parks and five star hotels and so on. Those who work for them and go along with it do not find it necessary to have an ideological crisis or a definite political direction. They, who are only interested in promotions and increments available within it, mindless careerists in short, are the ones who defend this party blindly. We must not forget that the Chengara struggle began with the slogan of land for landless people. It encompassed the issue of land and livelihood for those 70 people who were employed in the Chengara plantation as well. Without addressing this issue, the group of goons entered the stage in the pretext of arguing for the plantation workers. We watched in utter shock how the united trade unions of CITU, INTUC, AITUC, BMS, HMS, KTUC, and UTUC have all come together, to evict Chengara protesters whom they shamelessly and conveniently termed a 'bunch of thieves'. CITU district secretary, Rajagopal- a CPIM MLA has led this trade union blockade. None of these people ever uttered a word about the fact that the Chengara plantation is already out of the lease period and hence its continued possession by the Harrison's need be questioned in the first place. Remember, this is a company who have acquired land on negligible lease, flouted the lease contract, by reselling the leased land and giving land on subsidiary lease against rules, and then continue to keep land illegally. The Indian Independence struggle demanded the British to 'quit India'. Today, the poor landless people of Chengara under the subaltern leadership is asking this London based company of Harrison's to 'quit India'. And the irony here is that the united trade unions and the CPIM leadership in Kerala are asking, 'Harrison, please don't go; give some of us some jobs, somehow'. Here the question arises, who represent the Indian citizens? If George Bush starts a tea shop in Kerala, I apprehend that Mr. Prakash Karat would say, 'Bush, give us jobs'. There is a saying in Kerala, namely, 'to bring in the red mongoose in solemn procession'. This red mongoose refers to an old mongoose with hair gone and eye-sight diminished and has no
