The ‘Crescent North’

According to the latest statistics available, Islam is spreading at a fast pace especially in America, Europe, India and Russia. The Crescent North refers to the rise of Islamic forces from Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, and Central Asia. Islamic conquerors like Tam-erlane, Sultan Bayazid Yild-irim, Khairuddin Barbarossa, Ghauri and Ghaznavi who changed the course of history belonged to this area. The west confused by the rise of militant Islam in the Middle East has initiated a ‘Long War’ by triggering a Shia-Sunni conflict based on the Iraqi model; not realising that recent history has already set in motion the winds of change, with epoch-making consequences, this time coming from the steppes of Asia or the Crescent North.

The Long War was initiated to achieve multiple objectives, with initial foothold in Afghanistan and Iraq. The ultimate aim of the US and west was to create divisions in the Islamic world and get hold of the hydrocarbon hub of Caspian and the Middle East in order to continue exercising dominance over China and the rest of the world. Indiscriminate bombing of Iraq and Afghanistan and the penetration of intelligence and mercenary agencies, like Blackwater, into Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan to create chaos in these countries and spread confusion between various Islamic sects was a clever ploy to support this so-called Long War.

Iraq has already become an example for the entire Arab world. Every day bomb blasts in Shia and Sunni communities lead to violence between them. The agenda is to break-up Iraq into three countries – Kurdistan is one of them. This might ca-use anarchy whose impact would be felt in the wider Arab world. Knowing that sectarian violence can even lead to a war-like situation between Shias and Sunnis, the west wants to adopt this strategy to gain time and survive by vainly trying to improve their demo-graphics in the next 50 years. But they seems to have forgotten that all the major invasions of Europe came from the northeast, most of them from Central Asia and Turkey.

Now, the NATO forces have already started a new agenda in occupied countries in which the US army is playing a vital role. They are all focusing on Pakistan to destabilise and break it up. But thanks to Allah, we are still standing as one nation. The US/NATO forces have lost the war in Afghanistan and are leaving behind small crackers in the region. In the past 10 years, things have totally changed. While America and allies have been dividing and demoralising Islam by the media and military power in the Middle East and North Africa, things in the north have started to get in favour of Islam.

Qolşärif mosque - The largest mosque in Russia, Kazan

The future rise of Islam will come from Russia. Paul Goble (a specialist on ethnic minorities in the Russian Federation) has predicted that within the next few decades, Russia will become a Muslim majority state. This situation has alarmed the Russians as well as western leaders; today Russia has about 8,000 mosques while 15 years back there were only 300. According to statistics, by the end of 2015, the number of mosques in Russia will cross the figure of 25,000. Most alarming of all for the Russians and the west is: “By 2015, Muslims will make up a majority of Russia’s conscript army.” Russia’s white population is declining, but the Muslim population is growing at a fast pace. And in 2030 to 2040 its population will, most likely, have a big majority of Muslims.

The Turks also are abandoning the western culture, as their government focuses more on good relations with Muslim countries. The Israel-Gaza conflict has further strained relations between Turkey and the west. The degree of change in the Turkish public opinion during the Gaza conflict, and the scale of criticism of Israel that was manifest in popular demonstrations, may suggest that Turkish-Israeli and Turkish-western relations have been seriously damaged. The Turkish people support Islamic trends and culture. In the past years they have developed their economy at a tremendous rate. Politically, they have become more conscious of their Muslim identity; Turkey was the only Muslim country whose prime minister visited Azad Kashmir in Pakistan.

Afghanistan, another Muslim country, is already at war with the allied forces and the Afghan Taliban have pinned down the US/NATO forces. Today there are more US and NATO casualties in Afghanistan than ever before. Surprisingly these simple people have defeated two big superpowers of the world within a span of three decades. In this backdrop and the well conceived saying, “Afghanistan is the graveyard of superpowers”, America today has started to initiate peace talks with the Taliban.

The flag of Pakistan is meant to represent the country's Islamic heritage with its use of the crescent and star against a dark green background.

Last but not the least comes Pakistan, a country at war, a country facing economic crisis, a country with power shortages, a country full of corruption, and a country having problems in managing its resources. But it is a nuclear power, produces 10 percent of the world’s food, has the most efficient Islamic army, has millions of patriots and has the identity of being the fortress of Islam. Despite the nexus of Indo-US-Israel and 20 to 30 members of NATO to support terrorism in Pakistan; it is still standing.

Today Pakistan is at centre stage of the Crescent North. The rise of Pakistan will be seen when the US and its allies exit Afghanistan. The Taliban will again form government and lay the foundation of real AfPak. Yes, there will be an AfPak; but quite different from the western agenda. The two countries could move towards forming a confederation-like alliance. Hopefully, it will be a regional power of the next decade and may merge into the North Crescent to assume a bigger role.

(See also:  The Inevitable Pakistan-Afghania Union: “A” in Pakistan is for “Afghania”)

The best course for Muslims of the world is to come to the right path of Islam. The west must stop roaming around in the south; if it really wants a challenge, it should visit the north where the crescent revolution is taking shape. by Umar Waqar

[Via http://thepeopleofpakistan.wordpress.com]

Tingkai

In the summer of 2007, after the rest of the team had left to go back home, and I had come back to Mahabalipuram to spend a last 10 days with my parents before embarking on my own homeward journey, I spent some time with a girl named Tingkai. She was in her mid to late twenties, and from Shillong, in North East India, and was a teacher at the Christian school in Mahabs. She was beautiful, but I was not interested in her, I just didn’t have any friends around and her and her “cousin” were the only people I knew relatively close to my age.

Her cousin was not really her cousin. He was a high-school student who had somehow found his way from Shillong to somewhere in Tamil Nadu and because, apparently, Shillong is a pretty tight-nit community, Tingkai was keeping an eye out for him.

Both of them had had severe cases of TB, and Tingkai had spent around 9 months in the hospital. I remember that one, or both of them, had scars on the side of their bodies where there had been pipes going in to their lungs. After recovering, Tingkai had worked at a call center somewhere in India where she had earned, from what I remember, 13,000 rupees a month. 13,000 rupees a month was, at the time, just over 300 dollars a month.  Definitely enough to live on in India, and to live somewhat well by their standards, but still not a whole lot. She talked about that job as if it had paid really well, and I suppose it did, in retrospect, that it did.

But my most distinct memory of Tingkai was standing in her tiny little studio apartment in Mahabalipuram. Mostly bare, with a mat on the floor to sleep on, a very menial kitchen and a tiny bathroom, there were no luxuries that I could see. And yet I remember standing there with her and her cousin, and her exclaiming with all sincerity how blessed she was to have that place, and how thankful she was for it.

Her and her cousin shared their meals with me, and made me tea. We both sat while she cooked, and then we all ate the chicken, or potatoes and rice together.  What little they had, they were happy to share. She even brought sandwiches over to my parents house once, and walked the whole way to bring them to us.

I had never forgot Tingkai and her amazing heart of gratefulness when I returned to Mahabalipuram this last Christmass, and it was with a grave heart that I learned the news that she had died. She could not have been more than thirty when TB finally got the better of her. I can only imagine that she stayed hopeful till the end, and I know that any time I am tempted to think that my life has been hard or unfair, to think that I’ve been dealt bad cards, or that I’m not as rich as I’d like to be, I’ll remember Tingkai and know that no matter the circumstances, The Kingdom of Heaven can come from within. No matter the hardships, God’s Spirit can overcome the world, and fill my heart too with sincere joy and gratitude, with peace and rest and thankfulness for what I have, and joy for the good things that life has brought my way. I’ll picture myself in that little yellow apartment with no beds, and Tingkai exuding her thankfulness, and I’ll remember that no matter what comes my way, as long as I seek God first, and his Holy Spirit in me, I will easily do the same.

[Via http://iaincook.wordpress.com]

India India India

Still posting from my vacation reading — three books from and about India.

Elisabeth Bumiller, May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons.

Bumiller spent several years of living and working in India, and used her time there to travel and meet a great variety of Indian women. “May you be the mother of a hundred sons” is a traditional wedding wish and reflects the deference given to a woman who produces sons — and the lack of it when she does not. Bumiller was appalled by the poverty of India, the injustices of the caste system and much about the treatment of women, but she also came close enough to the real people to see the difficulties of change in a culture of rigid customs and limited resources.

I already had great respect for Bumiller after reading The Secrets of Mariko in which she documented the busy life of a Japanese housewife. I wish she would update her observations of India, made over 20 years ago. Has anything changed?

Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss.

This novel, winner of the Mann Booker prize in 2006, is rather difficult to get into, as you sort out the various people and places. Hold on. The writing is good — carefully controlled, while evocative of place and character. Small matters, for example, the tin trunks marked “Mr. J. P. Patel, SS Strathnaver” and “Miss S. Mistry, S. Augustine’s Convent” will return  with greater meaning as the context develops.

The story has two settings: northeastern India near the border with Nepal and New York City, where the son of the cook lives as an illegal immigrant, unable to fulfill his dreams or anyone else’s. The two stories run parallel, but finally merge.

This is a sad book, sad in its setting and sad in the events in these people’s lives, but especially sad as we gradually recognize the dark undercurrents of life. The retired judge who currently shelters his granddaughter once abused his wife, and he still shows more affection for his dog than for the girl. The cook’s son learns to dodge all the relatives and villagers who ask for his help in a situation where he can barely keep himself going. Sad.

Ann Cherian, A Good Indian Wife.

Cherian’s novel about an American-trained Indian doctor and his arranged-marriage bride is a combination of soap opera and social comedy. Nevertheless, the themes of the roles available to Indian women and the difficulties making a life in America are the same themes found in the Bumiller and Desai books, only treated more lightly.

It is easy to relate to Leila who, after several rejections by suitors, accepts the doctor — she has little choice and neither has he. It is not so easy to respect the doctor who marries while planning to dump his wife as soon as possible. What happens? Tune in tomorrow for the next episode.

[Via http://silverseason.wordpress.com]

Copenhagen Accord: Scott Brown Victory Saves U.S. From More Than Just ObamaCare

The Scott Brown victory in Massachusetts might be best analogized to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, in which a tiny little hobbit saves the world from an incredibly powerful dark and evil force hell-bent on totalitarian rule.

Things looked incredibly bleak.  The world was on the verge of going right down the drain into the sewer of socialism.  The dark and evil tyrant’s forces seemed unstoppable.  And yet somehow virtue, wisdom, and courage prevailed.  And a little hobbit named Frodo Baggins saved the day for freedom.

Scott Brown is our Frodo, of course.  I’ll leave it to you to figure out who the “dark and evil tyrant” is.  And that stunning upset victory in Massachusetts was analogous to Frodo successfully journeying to Mordor to throw the one-ring of Democrat power into the fiery hell of Mount Doom.

Brown’s victory likely saves the country from having the incredibly unpopular ObamaCare shoved down our throats.  But now we’re finding it did a lot more than that:

India, China won’t sign Copenhagen Accord

The Indian and Chinese governments have had a rethink on signing the Copenhagen Accord, officials said on Saturday, and the UN has also indefinitely postponed its Jan 31 deadline for countries to accede to the document.

An Indian official said that though the government had been thinking of signing the accord because it “did not have any legal teeth and would be good diplomatically”; it felt irked because of repeated messages from both UN officials and developed countries to accede to it.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has written to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon seeking a number of clarifications on the implications of the accord that India — with five other countries — had negotiated in the last moments of the Copenhagen climate summit in December, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“That letter, and the defeat of the Democrats in the Massachusetts bypoll, has forced the UN to postpone the deadline indefinitely,” an official said. “With the Democrats losing in one of their strongholds, the chances of the climate bill going through the US senate have receded dramatically.

“So if the US is not going to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent, which was a very weak target anyway, why should we make any commitment even if it does not have any legal teeth?” the official said.

China also appears in no mood to sign the accord.

“With the deadline postponed, we are not going to sign now,” said a Chinese official now here to take part in the BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India, China) meeting to chalk out a climate strategy.

The meeting of the four environment ministers Sunday is likely to end with the announcement of a fund they will set up to help other developing countries cope with the effects of climate change, said an official of the environment ministry.

Only four countries — Australia, Canada, Papua New Guinea and the Maldives — have signed the Copenhagen Accord so far, though Brazil, South Africa and South Korea have also indicated their willingness to do so.

Though Australia and Canada have signed, they have not indicated the greenhouse gas emission reductions they are committing under the accord — something developed countries are supposed to do.

China and India were never going to actually sign anything that was going to gut their economies.  They were building coal plants faster than happy puppies wag their tails.  And they are increasing their CO2 emissions at a mind-boggling rate.

But Obama doesn’t care about the US economy the way the leaders in China and India care about theirs; Obama was willing to sign an economic suicide pact with the global warming orcs even if our most formidable economic competitors played games and did nothing even as they were all-the-while talking the good talk.

What can I say but “Frodo lives!“

Scott Brown is the man who may have literally saved America – and the entire western world – from death by suicide.

[Via http://startthinkingright.wordpress.com]

New game in the east

A news item has appeared in today’s newspapers about successful negotiations between India and Myanmar regarding joint coordinated military operations in North-East and Myanmar, to flush out Indian extremist fugitives hiding in the dense jungles of Myanmar. The news item says further that the Security forces of India and Myanmar will conduct coordinated operations in their respective territories in the next two-three months. The objective of the operation is that no militant can escape to the other side after facing heat in one side. The security forces of both India and Myanmar will also intensify their vigil along the border to check smuggling of arms, narcotic drugs and other goods.

What is noteworthy is the comment of Indian union home secretary that Myanmar assured India to address all of India’s security concerns and promised to carry forward the cordial relations between the two countries. By itself, the news item has no great significance except for friendly action between two neighbouring countries.

However if this agreement is seen against the backdrop of a news item which appeared in August 2009 mentioning successful action of Myanmar’s military. According to this report, Myanmar military had overwhelmed and disarmed the Kokang rebel group, triggering an exodus of more than 37,000 refugees into China, prompting an unusual outburst of anger from Beijing. To realize the significance of this, we may have to look at the ground realities in North-West Myanmar.

On a map, Northern Myanmar looks like a wedge inserted between India’s Northeastern states and Yunnan province of China. Just across the Chinese border,Myanmar’s autonomous state of Kokang is located. The population of this state, with an area of about 10000 square kilometers, is mostly of Chinese origin with a large percentage of Chinese Migrants. Kokang has its own regional army. Kokang army in alliance with four other ethnic armed groups, had signed a truce with Myanmar military in 1989.

Historically, diplomatic relations between Myanmar and china were never exactly friendly. However with Military takeover of Myanmar in 1962, things began to change. China backed Myanmar following the bloody suppression of pro-democracy protests in 1988, and has continued to stand by the generals and sell them arms in the face of sweeping international sanctions. Relationship between China and Myanmar basically is a marriage of convenience. The Burmese rely on China for money and armaments, and China uses its position at the U.N. Security Council to protect Burma to some extent, in return for which China gets access to the country’s natural resources and gets a voice in ASEAN, of which Myanmar is a member since 1997.

The Kokang autonomous region with 90% people of Chinese origin naturally flourished as relationship between these two countries blossomed. It became a major trade route between these two countries with highway from Laogai on the Yunnan border to Lashlo, which is the capital of Shan state in Myanmar was seen overloaded with Chinese trucks bringing in a range of consumer and other goods. This trade however is controlled entirely by traders of Chinese origin or by Chinese who have migrated to Myanmar. The bilateral trade has grown in 2008 to about $2.63 billion. In late October, China’s CNPC started building a crude oil port in Myanmar, part of a pipeline project. Logically it was expected that Myanmar would give unquestioning support to China in all international matters.

All this bonhomie between China and Myanmar obviously has been a great concern for India. In fact fear was expressed in India that China is trying to encircle India. It appeared that another strategic game was developing on the eastern border of India and China had already gained an upper hand.

This region also happens to be the hotbed of opium trade. In fact, drugs flow easily from Myanmar into China, fueling an AIDS epidemic in Yunnan, driven by the sharing of dirty needles, as well as prostitution. In last August, a visit of a police party of 30 officers, gone to investigate drugs trafficking from a local arms factory in Kokang region, developed into a major fight between Myanmar’s armed forces and the pro Chinese Kokang army. This resulted into a huge outflow of Chinese migrants and people of Chinese origin to Nansen district in Yunnan. About 37000 Chinese fled Kokang.

Chinese Government responded with outbursts of anger against Myanmar. This brought up again profound suspicion of China in Myanmar, which dates back to before independence from the British in 1948, in spite of Beijing’s overt support to it in the past 20 years or so.

Myanmar Generals are vehemently anti communist and are suspicious of banned Communist party of Burma. Most of them have fought in the anti-communist/anti-Beijing operations in the 1950s and 1960s. In these operations, Chinese soldiers wore Burmese Communist military uniform and had participated in actual battles against the Burmese armed forces. It’s difficult to conceive a change of heart on behalf of the Burmese generals toward Beijing.

The agreement between India and Myanmar must be seen in this light. After a while, India seems to have a winning hand. Yet it is obvious that Myanmar’s wily Generals are aware of this New Game in the east and see that being friendly to India is an important counterweight to China. Myanmar’s foreign relations always reflect that the Generals are constantly playing one off the other. It must be agreed that it is a very simple but effective strategy, to keep everyone coming after you.

With Myanmar Generals being willful partners in this game, India has really no choice but to play the game.

25 January 2010

[Via http://chandrashekharasandprints.wordpress.com]

Behind The Scenes: Spring/Summer 2010 Inspiration

This special message is from Stella & Dot’s chief creative office, Blythe Harris (also known as the “jewelry goddess”). The original post can be found on the corporate Stella & Dot website HERE.

What an exciting week for Stella & Dot! We are thrilled to unveil our new globally inspired spring/summer 2010 collection. Consider it your passport to style. I am often asked about the inspiration behind my jewelry designs. This season’s styles were inspired by my travels through exotic markets and quaint villages. And by the strong women in rich cultures around the world. The creation of this line was both a spiritual and physical journey around the globe. From the glitz and glamour of St. Tropez, France to the colorful bohemian fishing village of Sayulita, Mexico. From the exquisite textures and ornate designs of Jaipur, India to the whimsical and kitschy cool of Palm Beach, Florida. Every piece tells a story. Throughout the season, we will be giving each of the four destination-inspired collections its time in the spotlight. We will also provide styling and pairing tips to help you discover the pieces that make you feel adventurous and, at the same time, right at home in your own style. The spring Look Book captures the spirit of each collection. What a page-turner! The Web site has a wealth of information on each style that you’ll want to peruse again and again. Each product page provides descriptive details and style tips. Most pieces even have a short Spotlight video that really brings the style to life. My mantra this season? Think globally, style locally. I hope you have as much fun wearing each unique piece as I’ve had creating them.

XO, Blythe Harris, Chief Creative Officer

[Via http://itsthestylefile.wordpress.com]

Yoga sets you free

And not just in some metaphysical way – this is the real deal. Inmates in the Indian state of Madya Pradesh can now reduce their jail time by completing a yoga course. For every 3 month of practice they can cut their detention by 15 days. Better fitness, more peace, less anger and aggression and becoming a better person – it won’t just benefit those participating but probably also improve the atmosphere in the facility and the world beyond. And it offers prospects of becoming yoga instructors themselves once released. And yes, some may fall into their old illegal habits; but now you can easily spot repeat criminals by their excellent posture and calm demeanor – “and gently lift your arms up high.” Namasté, inmates.

[Via http://juicematters.wordpress.com]

inconsistent messages

I love this piece of writing from one of the most influential men who ever lived – Mohandas K. Gandhi. It is a message to the readers of his publication “Towards New education”.

“I would like to say to the diligent reader of my writings and to others who are interested in them that I am not at all concerned with appearing to be consistent. In my search after Truth I have discarded many ideas and learnt many new things. Old as I am in age, I have no feeling that I have ceased to grow inwardly or that my growth will stop at the dissolution of the flesh. What I am concerned with is my readiness to obey the call of Truth, my God, from moment to moment, and, therefore, when anybody finds any inconsistency between any two writings of mine, if he has still faith in my sanity, he would do well do choose the later of the two on the same subject.”
Harijan, 29-4-’33

Too often we go through life clinging to our past opinions or decisions even when we know them to be wrong. All because of the fear of appearing weak-minded due to inconsistency. How beautiful is Gandhi’s teaching above? It would be ridiculous to believe that we have rock-solid opinions and morals. We are constantly evolving and must never allow our ego to keep us still. We are like healthy water – always moving and brimming with energy. Stagnant water, on the other hand, tends to have a bad smell.

[Via http://livesoftly.wordpress.com]

Exotic Low-Priced Fantastic Travel Destinations in Himachal

Himachal Map

Himachal Pradesh has numerous travel destinations with a peaceful ambiance and a variety of enjoyable relaxation activities. Winters in Himachal is a very popular time for road trips, the most traveled months are from November to March. Adventure seekers always look for the tourist destinations where they can take part in various adventurous activities. The tourists can experience the activities such as mountaineering, trekking, mountain biking, rafting, jungle tourism, rock climbing, biking, safari rides, and many more. Winter travel destinations in Himachal Pradesh are famous for its breath taking views, exciting adventure sports and thrilling experience.

There are lots of winter travel destinations that provide a perfect getaway. Here is a list of must-see travel destination that are fun to visit, inexpensive, adventurous, exotic, filled with luxurious low-priced hotels, vast quantities and varieties of delicious delicacies, feasible to travel and economical.

Top Ten Travel Destination of Himachal :

Shimla

Kullu

Woods of Dalhousie

Lushgreen Grounds of Khajjiar

Monastery in McLeodGanj

Kinnaur

KAZA

Sangla Valley

Keylong

Kasauli

[Via http://himachaltravel.wordpress.com]

IPL, Pakistani players and Mr Modi's ego wagging along

None of Pakistani player attracted a single bid at IPL-3 auction, wow incredible? But what were they doing in the final Auction list then?

Greater power brings greater responsibility! BCCI and IPL now giants of cricket economics they should handle this in a better way and give respect to other nations and players, I agree franchises should not risk their money on a fragile relations between two countries but if a every dumb in the world knows both country have problems and are not ready to welcome each other players than why IPL or their Govt. don’t have balls to say it loud.

All this should have been stoped at the moment it started couple of months ago and it should have been made clear that Indian Govt. will not be able to welcome and allow visas, so no Pakistani in IPL. But instead our genius dumb Mr. Modi and his friends started double standard games by putting pressure on Pakistan authorities and players to get NOCs, clearance and deadlines even they know at that time they will not be able to play Pakistani player in IPL’s third edition. They were acting like they are having goose bumps for getting Pakistani players in their golden babe IPL.

It is perfectly acceptable to anyone that inviting Pakistani player in India may create some problems for IPL as tension between two nations  isn’t eased off yet and due to some conspiracy theories and some action people of both countries think of each other trying to kill them and stuff. Although there isn’t a single evidence of any hate or harsh action by cricket fans of both countries against players except some candid Ball Thakray’s pitch invasion. Mr.  Modi had a perfect excuse specially after Mumabi attacks so why don’t use it why playing games with a cricket loving nation and their players. Don’t Mr. Genius have the guts to say it at face the moment they asked him to let them in?

IPL ended up humiliating and disrespecting an entire nation of billions of cricket loving people who love the game and love to see any possibility of their players competing with rest of the world. I am not much disappointed as no Pakistani player is in IPL as they deserve it somewhat by not giving first priority to their real job but I am really very disappointed the way this has been handled. Now dear Modi can have 101 reasons to justify it but reality is same the situation is no different than what it was couple of months ago, whatever reason they give now was true couple of months ago too so they could have simply finish this business by simply denying it at that time. You can’t fool everyone, isn’t it obvious every franchise had their home done and that home work doesn’t include any Pakistani player in their plans. This is just not a selection committee it is a damn business with lot of money involved so they must had asked Indain Govt. and IPL authorities about the status of Pakistani players which was a simple No, but if that No was made public some months ago all this could have been avoided.

As far as Pakistani players are concerned I somehow feel it is better they stay away from IPL even though they are very excited about it after all how don’t want some easy earned bucks. But they should concentrate on making up for their national fans and team who they are continuously disappointing one way or other.

All of those who think by these act of hypocrisy one can marginalize Pakistan cricket, they need to wake up. It’s a nations only big sport and they love it. It is in a hole right now due to some good for nothing administrators and politics involved but it will rise and will rise soon. It is just a matter of time and right persons.

And Finally:

Happy new IPL 3 dear MODI you did it again, you earned enough TRP and media space even months before the start of IPL you really are a genius hats off to you Sir.

[Via http://reverseswing.wordpress.com]

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[Via http://workathomeinus.wordpress.com]

Memories of Shangri-la_Part 2

Tiksey Gompa (Monastery), Ladakh, Inida. Canon New F1 camea and Canon 50mm f1.8 lens with Agfachrome 100 film

Today’s post is the second of two articles on my first overseas trip. It’s a reasonably long article accompanied by 4 photos so, even if you don’t feel like reading it all, please make sure you click on the More symbol and scroll down to see the rest of the photos.

It was early August 1988 and I had crossed the border from Tibet into Nepal. After a difficult trip to Kathmandu, where the upper end of the highway to the capital had been washed away in a flood, I hiked for an afternoon and much of the next day until the state of the road improved and I was able to catch a bus the rest of the way to Kathmandu.

Nepal wasn’t a major part of my travel plans. I had originally planned to travel overland from Hong Kong through China into Nepal, around the top of India and then through Pakistan into Kashgar in far northwest China. Striking out from Kashgar I would journey across the country, via the fabled Silk Road, to Beijing. From there I would travel back to Hong Kong from where my return flight home was booked. The ticket included a special return trip to the Olympic Games in Soul. I wasn’t that excited by the event, but the opportunity to travel to another country was certainly enticing.

Anyway the dodgy meal I’d mentioned in my last post, on my journey from the Chinese border to Kathmandu, continued to cause me problems. I suffered from terrible stomach problems (I’II spare you the details) and, as a consequence, saw very little of the country. After around 10 days I took a flight to Varanasi, the famous city on the holy Ganges River. It is here where Hindu’s hope to be cremated and have their ashes cast onto the river. I remember reading at the time that, as the very poor couldn’t afford the cost of the ceremonial cremation, deceased babies from poorer families were often singed, rather than cremated, and their bodies thrown into the river. In an attempt to deal with the problems this practice was causing a species of crocodile had been introduced into the river to finish off the bodies. This policy wasn’t popular with local fisherman whose boats were little more than large canoes. They were, naturally, sacred of the crocodiles.

After a few interesting days, including a sunset boat trip on the Ganges, where my latest travelling companion was hasselled by our boatman causing me, once again, to swing the tripod, I took a night train to New Delhi.

Well, that train trip was certainly an adventure. I was robbed in my sleep. The next morning I was without my passport, plane ticket home, travelers cheques and all my cash, albeit for about 80 cents. There was no doubt that the eight or so seudo professionals, who bordered the train in the middle of the night, were suspicious characters. A guard approached with a 303 rifle pointed straight at them but, with a “now look here my good man” approach they embarrassed him and caused him to back away and leave the carriage. Outside of an old B-grade movie I doubt that I’d ever seen someone outside of a hospital or medical clinic wandering around with a stepascope around their neck.

Canon New F1 camera and Canon 50mm f1.8 lens with Agfachrome 100 film

Once I reached New Delhi I headed straight for the Australian Embassy where I was made to stand, in pouring rain outside the front gate, while the two local security guards grinned at me from the shelter of their guardhouse. Once inside the treatment was little better. I was interegated by an Australian Diplomat to determine whether or not I was an Australian Citizen. Eventually I passed and was issued with a temporary (12 month) passport and a hardship loan of around $70 cash. American Express were wonderful and my travelers cheques were quickly replaced. Mum and Dad forwarded cash and, after a few days of beaurocratic hassles, I was ready to get back on the road. Unfortunately two events threatened to stop me continuing my travels. Pakistan’s President Zia was killed, probably assassinated, when his plane exploded. The turmoil that followed meant that it was too risky for me to continue my journey through Pakistan and then back into China. The second obstacle I faced was a miserable Indian beaurocrat who refused to re-issue me with a new Indian visa for my temporary passport. As a consequence, although I was certainly in the country, I was not allowed to leave. His argument was that the flight from Kathmandu to Varanasi, by which I’d entered the country, was a domestic flight. The fact that both cities were in different countries, Nepal and India, appeared irrelevant to him. The discussion continued round and round until I left totally frustrated. After a few days travelling back and forth to Agra, where I visited the magnificent Taj Mahal and was driven to near insanity by touts, I decided to head north to Kashmir and then, by bus over the Himalayas, to Ladakh were I met new friends and had many great experiences.

Canon New F1 Camera and Canon 24mm f2.8 lens with Agfachrome 100 film

On the way back from Ladakh I stopped off in Srinagar where I met a Swedish army doctor serving with the United Nations (UN) who were there to monitor the ceasefire line between India and Pakistan. He diagnosed my stomach condition as giardia and prescribed me with the appropriate medication. Within a day or two I was cured and, after 6 weeks of continued illness and a loss of around 27 kilos, I began to recover my strength.

Canon New F1 camera and Canon 50mm f1.8 lens with Agfachrome 100 film

The image at the very top of this article was made at Tiksey Gompa (monastery) in Ladakh, India. It’s a lovely gompa which, at 3,600m altitude, provides a commanding view from the rooftop just outside the main temple. The Champa Buddha Statue in the above photograph is 15 meters high and housed inside the main temple. The statue possess both serene and majestic qualities, which is probably why it’s been featured in numerous films. I may well post one or more images of this location over the next few weeks.

This final image was made of an elderly pilgrim at Hemis Gompa, 47 km west of the capital, Leh. He was an ideal subject but, sadly, the conditions were such that making a great photograph of him was impossible. These days there would be all manner of things I could do to reduce the extreme contrast under which I was shooting. But, as it is, the fact that I’ve completely lost his eyes in this image is a motivation to never let the same happen again.

I wanted to stay and the only bug that remained in my system was the travel bug. But my younger sister was due to be married and, as an ex wedding photographer, I’d been drafted in to do the photography. Unfortunately, while I was able to procure a replacement ticket for my return flight to Melbourne from Hong Kong, the heavy demand on region flights due to the Olympic Games in Soul prevented me from being able to fly there from New Delhi.

I bought a ticket to Bangkok after being advised that, from there, it would be easy to catch a flight onto Hong Kong. I then fronted the same Indian beaurocrat who’d refused to grant me a visa during my previous interview. He was shocked to see me again and to be told of my travels in his country, without a visa. I put tthat nights plane ticket to Bangkok in front of him, together with my temporary Australian passport and a cash incentive (for his troubles, after all). He stamped my passport with the most pathetic, almost invisible stamp you could imagine and wrote directly onto my passport, in pencil, that I should be allowed to leave the country that night. It was as easy as that. But, from desperation comes inspiration.

Unfortunately, once I arrived in Bangkok I discovered that there were no flights available to Hong Hong. I was now stranded in Bangkok, with very little money. I did it tough, even spending one night in a slum by a river, being eaten alive by mosqitos. Eventually, after 19 days, I finally got a flight to Hong Kong. And you don’t want to know how I pulled that one off.

Once back in Australia I determined to work hard with the sole intention of saving enough money to travel again. One year later I was off again and continued to travel, on average every 18 months, for the next 12 years. Over the last 10 years my travels have been restricted to my own country. Australia is a wonderful country and I’ve been fortunate enough to have photographed some of its most spectacular locations. But, the bug has returned and I feel it will soon be time to venture overseas again.

© Copyright All Rights Reserved

Glenn Guy, Blue Sky Photography

[Via http://blueskyphotography.wordpress.com]

India stealing Pakistan’s water

Water in Pakistan’s rivers has touched perilously low levels. The reason for it is not just lack of rains. India is controlling the water flow of rivers that flow from India into Pakistan, especially the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum rivers that pass through India’s Jammu & Kashmir state.

Pakistan has raised objections to Indian water projects, but a World Bank-appointed neutral expert rejected most of the Pakistani objections, especially with regard to the Baglihar Dam on Chenab River, while also advising India to make some changes to the dam’s height. Pakistani commentators, pressure groups and religious leaders are convinced that India is controlling the river waters to strangulate Pakistani agriculture, which could affect Pakistani exports and increase its dependency on food imports. Pakistani commentators fear future war with India may break out over water disputes. There is a realization in Pakistan that the 1960 Indus Water Treaty that establishes legal framework for use of river waters has been to the advantage of India. However, Pakistani authorities are raising the issue of water sharing between the two nuclear neighbours.

The Indus Water Treaty sets out the legal framework for the sharing of the waters of six rivers: the Indus and its five tributaries. All six rivers – Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi – flow through northern India into Pakistan. Under the pact, the waters of three rivers – the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum—are to be used by Pakistan, while India has rights to the waters of the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi before these three enter Pakistani territory. The Chenab is the key tributary, as it carries the waters of the rest four rivers into the Indus. The complicated origins of the Indus river system plays a key role in the water debates, as the rivers originate in and pass through a number of countries. According to the Indus Water Treaty, the following three rivers are for use by Pakistan:

The Indus River originates in Chinese-controlled Tibet and flows through Jammu & Kashmir. The Chenab originates in India’s Himachal Pradesh state, travels through Jammu & Kashmir. The Jhelum rises in Jammu & Kashmir and flows into Pakistan, finally joining Chenab. The Treaty affords India use of the following three rivers:

The Sutlej originates in Tibet, flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab before joining the Chenab. The Beas and the Ravi originate in Himachal Pradesh state and flow into Pakistan, emptying into the Chenab. Taking into account the flow of the rivers, the importance of the Chenab and the Indus becomes clear. The Chenab combines the waters of four rivers, the Jhelum, the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi, to form a single water system which then joins the Indus in Pakistan. The Indus River is considered to be the lifeline of Pakistani economy and livestock. Pakistani concern regarding the water from the rivers started in the 1990s after India began constructing a hydroelectric power project on the Chenab River in the Doda district of Jammu & Kashmir. Since the Chenab is the key tributary of the Indus, Pakistani policymakers, religious and political parties, and political commentators feared that India could exert control over the waters. Such control could be used to injure the Pakistani economy and livestock, or could be used to cause floods in Pakistan by the release of water during times of war.In early 2009, it was estimated that Pakistan is on the brink of a water disaster, as the availability of water in Pakistan has been declining over the past few decades, from 5,000 cubic meters per capita 60 years ago to 1,200 cubic meters per capita in 2009. By 2020, the availability of water is estimated to fall to about 800 cubic meters per capita.

Pakistan is also estimated to be losing 13 million cusecs [approximately 368,119 cubic meters/second] of water every year from its rivers into the sea, as it does not have enough reservoirs or dams to store water.

During the past two years, the debate in Pakistan about the Indian water projects in Jammu & Kashmir has gained a bitter momentum, as Pakistani leaders have begun to describe India as their eternal enemy and accuse India of trying to suffocate the Pakistani economy. The construction of the Baglihar Dam Baglihar dam has also raised Pakistan’s defense security concerns. A number of canals, drains and artificial distributaries used for irrigation purposes are crucial during times of war. The strategic importance of the Indian water projects in Kashmir is significant because the projects could wreak havoc… if the said dams were to collapse or malfunction.

It is feared that if India continues to take Pakistan’s share of water it could turn Pakistan into another desert. On the other hand, Indian influence in Afghanistan is growing, causing alarms in Pakistan that India will gain control over the water from two Afghan rivers that flow into the Pakistan border regions, where water shortages could inflame local insurgencies. Indian investment in Afghanistan has doubled since 2006, to $1.2 billion, and up to 35 percent of that is going into canals for local irrigation, as well as hydroelectric dams that will supply power to Iran and Turkmenistan, India’s gateways to Central Asia and the Gulf. India has used water as a weapon against Pakistan before. The fear now is that India will use the Afghan dams to deny Pakistan’s border regions the water they need to sustain their farms and hydropower projects.

The sad part is that successive Pakistani governments have failed to take cognizance of the impending water crisis and have not addressed the construction of dams, resulting in water shortage as well as acute energy deficiency. The current dispensation in the government is also neither taking up the cudgels against India for ensuring that it gets fair and equitable share of water nor tackling the looming water shortage by educating the people into the discipline of water rationing and frugal use of the scare resource thus contributing to the ominous disaster.

Sultan M Hali

[Via http://siyasipakistan.wordpress.com]

It's Six Minutes To Midnight, Rejoice, The Peacemaker Obama Cometh!

What’d I say two days ago about the loons in charge of the “Doomsday Clock”?

Now common sense would dictate that between al Qaeda, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, the threat of nuclear proliferation and global warming hysteria, they’d move the minute hand a minute or two closer to midnight. Then again, you need to remember that the “scientists” in charge of the Doomsday Clock are pretty much liberal lefty loons (LLLs) and, with the ascension of Obama to the world stage and Obama’s subsequent Nobel Peace Prize, they might just have gotten it in their pointy heads that the world is actually safer today and move the minute hand back. Either way, we’ll find out Thursday.

Sure enough, they’re falling down drunk on the Obama Kool-Aid.

It is 6 minutes to midnight

This hopeful state of world affairs leads the boards of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists–which include 19 Nobel laureates–to move the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock back from five to six minutes to midnight. By shifting the hand back from midnight by only one additional minute, we emphasize how much needs to be accomplished, while at the same time recognizing signs of collaboration among the United States, Russia, the European Union, India, China, Brazil, and others on nuclear security and on climate stabilization.

Beginning with the joint letter of Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitri Medvedev of April 1, 2009, a growing partnership between the United States and Russia is resulting in nuclear arms negotiations that could bring down our deployed strategic warheads from more than 2,000 to about 1,500 warheads each. To put this in perspective, just a little more than a year ago, tensions over actions on Russia’s borders–sparring over Georgia and U.S. missile defense systems in Eastern Europe–threatened to push each country into hostile corners. Instead, this bilateral relationship–perhaps the most important for nuclear disarmament–is on the mend.

. . .

A key to the new era of cooperation is a change in the U.S. government’s orientation toward international affairs brought about in part by the election of Obama. With a more pragmatic, problem-solving approach, not only has Obama initiated new arms reduction talks with Russia, he has started negotiations with Iran to close its nuclear enrichment program, and directed the U.S. government to lead a global effort to secure loose fissile material in four years. He also presided over the U.N. Security Council last September where he supported a fissile material cutoff treaty and encouraged all countries to live up to their disarmament and nonproliferation obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. These actions constitute, in part, Obama’s efforts to make good on his campaign promise–the first ever by a U.S. president–to work toward a world free of nuclear weapons.

Unreal. Of course there is no deal with the Russians, no deal with Iran, no fissile material cutoff treaty, and nuclear proliferation is as much a threat as it ever was. It’s exactly the same logic used for giving Obama the Nobel Peace Prize, when Obama speaks to gullible liberals, they can taste the loquacious, Candy Land lollipop lies spewing forth from the TelePrompTer, via his mouth, and smell the savory fragrant, floral unicorn farts emanating from his ass! In the real world, Obama has accomplished exactly nothing.

See also:
Doomsday clock reset thanks to Obama
Doomsday Clock Gets “Hopeful” Adjustment
Making Good Time: Doomsday Clock Moves 1 Minute Back to 6 from Midnight
We’re a minute safer: Doomsday clock moves backwards for first time since 1991
Doomsday Clock shows signs for hope, need for progress
‘Doomsday Clock’ Moves Away From Midnight but Only by 1 Minute
‘Doomsday Clock’ moves a minute back
Atomic scientists move Doomsday Clock one minute further away from midnight
Scientists Push “Doomsday Clock” Back a Minute
Tick-tock: Doomsday Clock gains a minute
DOOMSDAY CLOCK ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEOS
It’s Five Minutes To Midnight, What Time Will It Be Thursday?

/frankly, you have to be insane to think that Obama has made the world a safer place, in fact, his naivety and weakness in international affairs have done just the opposite

[Via http://eatitorwearit.wordpress.com]

Advantages of Landscape Architecture Design and Drawings.

Landscape Design tools and software helps make home owner landscaping a reality with the best resources available in all areas of landscape design pictures from landscaping ideas and design to finishing touches. Should it is for the Waterfront improvement projects, parks and playgrounds or shopping centre, there will surely be available design tools/software which can be utilized to address the required landscape design and drawing requirements.

AutoCAD assists clients in their Landscape Drawing tasks by utilizing a wide variety of CAD software such as AutoCAD (Version -14 to 2005), Micro Station ADT, MDT, Inventor, Pro-E, Solid Edge, Solid Works, MS Visio, and 2020. Other than AutoCAD, other useful design tools which can be found are Coreldraw (CDR), Adobe Illustrator (AI), ArchiCAD, etc.

Landscape architecture design is an advanced and fresh concept in residential landscape architectural segment representing a mix of science, arts and technical values that addresses critical issues related to Earth’s landscapes. It also involves close study and investigation of the proposed landscape site.

The Key Benefits of Landscape Design and Drawings Services:

• High accuracy
• Competitive pricing
• High data security
• Helps clients to drastically reduce their operating expenses
• Quick Turn-around
• Advanced technology
• Highly skilled professionals with readily assessable expertise and skill sets

Some companies offer solutions in the field of Landscape architectural to others. These companies serve as a strategic partner to the companies as they have the experience, qualifications and skill which enable the effective solutions delivery to the landscape architects, developers & contractors within very demanding time and budget constraints.
These are some of the popular services offered by the out-sourcing partner,

-> Architectural renderings for various landscape amenities
-> Drawings for Green roof design & Tree preservation
-> CAD design for Drainage improvements, lighting, etc
-> 3D CAD modeling & drafting services
-> Compliance with local authorities & Coordination with your team
-> Elevations
-> Foundation Plans
-> Wall Sections, etc
>> Raster-to-Vector Conversion
>> Landscape architecture drawings
>> Interior rendering/planning drawings
>> Detailing of Interiors
-> Reflected Ceiling
-> Power distribution
-> Communication points
-> Plumbing, HVAC etc
>> CAD conversion services

Some companies have claimed that they would save up to 60% cost by outsourcing their CAD design and other landscape design needs to professional design service partner whom are equipped with the required skills to fulfill the required needs.

Visit Us:-

http://3d-walkthrough-rendering.outsourcing-services-india.com/aboutus.php

Source By:-

http://ezinearticles.com/?Advantages-of-Landscape-Architecture-Design-and-Drawings&id=2602591

[Via http://3darchitecturaldesign.wordpress.com]

Indian Samosa Egg Rolls with Avocado Dip

Samosas are an Indian vegetable pastry flavored with curry.  Here, I’ve used egg roll wrappers to put a familiar spin on an Indian favorite.  I served the egg rolls with a refreshing avocado dip to offset the spiciness of the curry.

This is the final result of my hard work! Pardon the photo; my camera skills leave much to be desired.

Samosa Ingredients

- 2 lb. red potatoes, chopped into 3/4 inch cubes, skins on
-1/2 lb. carrots, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
-1 1/2 cups roasted unsalted cashews
-2 tsp. salt
-2 tbsp. canola or other vegetable oil
-1 tbsp. garam masala (available in the Asian Foods section of most grocery stores)
-2 tbsp. curry powder
-2 cloves garlic
-1 tsp. fresh grated ginger root
-1 tsp. onion powder
-2 bay leaves, crushed with center vein removed
-dash turmeric
-salt, to taste
-1 pkg. pre-made egg roll wrappers at room temperature; about 20
-oil, for frying

Samosa Instructions

In a large pot, boil potatoes, carrots, and cashews until potatoes are fork tender, about 20 minutes.  Strain and remove to bowl.  Mash coarsely.   Meanwhile, add 3 tbsp. oil, garlic, ginger, onion powder, garam masala, curry powder, bay leaves, and turmeric to a small sacuepan, heat on low.  Add to coarsely mashed potato/carrot/cashew mixture; mix with a spoon to incorporate seasonings.  Add salt to taste.

This is the filling, coarsely mashed, with the seasonings incorporated. It's so yellow! The red potato skins are so thin and tasty that I left them in. They add color and yummy texture.

Coat the bottom of a large saucepan with canola or other vegetable oil; heat on high. While oil is heating, add filling to egg roll wrappers and wrap according to instructions.    Test oil temperature by dropping a piece of extra egg roll wrapper in pan.  If it sizzles, the oil is hot enough!  Using tongs, place 4-6 egg rolls in oil.  Turn when lightly browned, being sure to brown on all sides.  Alternatively, you can deep fry the egg rolls until lightly browned all over.  Remove to paper towel when done.

This recipe makes 16-20 delicious samosa egg rolls.

Dip Ingredients

-16 oz. light or fat free sour cream
-flesh of two medium avocados
-2 tbsp. cilantro
-1 tsp. curry powder
-1 tsp. celery seed
-1 tsp. black pepper
-2 tbsp. white wine
-2 tbsp. lemon juice
-salt, to taste

Dip Instructions

Blend all ingredients except salt in blender until smooth.  Add salt to taste.  Refrigerate prior to serving.

This is the creamy, refreshing avocado dip that I made. It went very well with the sweet, spicy curry.

I made these for a family dinner and will definitely make them again.  They were so yummy!  They went well with sliced cucumbers and baby carrots, but if you’re a meat-and-potatoes person, they would go very well with pork, venison, or steak.  They’re very filling, however, and definitely hold their own as an entree.

I looked at many different recipes for samosas, but ended up making my own recipe because of the difficulty of other recipes or the inclusion of ingredients I don’t like (such as peas – carrots aren’t traditional, as far as I know).  The dip was another creation of my own.  You’re invited to try my recipe and tell me about any variations or changes you come up with.  Good luck!  :^)

[Via http://craftlet.wordpress.com]

Farmers Also Deserve Good Life. (Why Suicide?)

While reading on the internet about farmer suicides I came across P. Sainath’s very thought provocative article; which has enough information to understand the situation which forces Bharatiya farmers towards suicide. I’ve consolidated the statistics and probable reasons of farmer’s suicide (massacre) from this article on Counter Punch and from other resources like NCRB.

*************** The Largest Wave of Suicides in History:  P. SAINATH ********************

The Spate of Suicide in Bharatiya Farmers:

• Number of farmers who have committed suicide 1997 and 2007  -  is staggering 182,936.
• Nearly 2/3 suicides have occurred in 5 states (out of 28 states & seven union territories).
• Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh
• These states account for just about 1/3 of the country’s population but 2/3 of farmers’ suicides.
• Farm suicides have also been rising in some other states of the country very rapidly example Odisa.
• As many as 8 million people quit farming between the two censuses of 1991 and 2001.
• Also the large scale survey shows that given a chance almost 40% farmers are willing to quit farming permanently.
• These suicide data are official and tend to be huge underestimates, suicide data in India are collated by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
• Women farmers are not normally accepted as farmers. They do the bulk of work in agriculture – but are just “farmers’ wives.” This classification enables governments to exclude countless women farmer suicides. They will be recorded as suicide deaths – but not as “farmers’ suicides.”
• The spate of farm suicides accompanies India’s embrace of the brave new world of neo-liberalism.
• The farmer suicide risen in every five years:
  • 1997 – 2001,   78,737 (or 15,747 a year on average).
  • 2002 – 2006,   87,567 (or 17,513 a year on average).
  • 2001 onwards, one farmer took his or her life every 30 minutes on average.
  • The 2007 figures (detailed below) place that year, too, in the higher trend.

 

• What do the farm suicides have in common?
  • Those who have taken their lives were deep in debt.
  • Peasant households in debt doubled in the first decade of the neoliberal “economic reforms,” from 26 per cent of farm households to 48.6 per cent.
  • In Andhra Pradesh 82 per cent of all farm households were in debt by 2001-02.
  • Those who killed themselves were overwhelmingly cash crop farmers – growers of cotton, coffee, sugarcane, groundnut, pepper, vanilla. (Suicides are fewer among food crop farmers – that is, growers of rice, wheat, maize, pulses.)
  • The brave new world philosophy mandated countless millions of Third World farmers forced to move from food crop cultivation to cash crop (the mantra of “export-led growth”).
  • For millions of subsistence farmers in India, this meant:
    • Much higher cultivation costs,
    • Far greater loans,
    • Much higher debt, and
    • Locked into the volatility of global commodity prices.
  • Global commodities sector dominated by a handful of multinational corporations, with vested interest in profit making only.
  • The extent to which the switch to cash crops impacts on the farmer can be seen in this:
    • Cost Rs. 8,000 ($165 today) roughly to grow an acre of paddy in Kerala.
    • Whereas for vanilla, the cost per acre was (in 2003-04) almost Rs.150,000

• Seed Cost – an exploitation of the needy by Govt and Corporate?
  • Giant seed companies displaced cheap hybrids and far cheaper and hardier traditional varieties with their own products.
  • A cotton farmer in Monsanto’s net would be paying far more for seed than he or she ever dreamed they would. Local varieties and hybrids were squeezed out with enthusiastic state support. (Why did state support such thing? Who were the scholars consulted before this decision? Aren’t the agricultural experts also accountable along with the agriculture ministry?)
  • In 1991, a kilogram of local seed cost Rs.7 – 9 in today’s worst affected region of Vidarbha, Maharashtra.
  • By 2003, Rs.350 for a bag with 450 grams of hybrid seed. i.e. Rs.780/Kg
  • By 2004, Monsanto’s partners in India marketed a bag of 450 grams of Bt cotton seed for between Rs.1,650 and Rs.1,800 ($33 to $36). This price was brought down dramatically overnight due to strong governmental intervention in Andhra Pradesh, where the government changed after the 2004 elections. The price fell to around Rs.900 ($18) – still many times higher than 1991 or even 2003.

 

• Inequality among the “Emerging Tiger” nations of the developing world.
  • The predatory commercialization of the countryside devastated all other aspects of life for peasant farmer and landless workers.
  • Health costs, for instance, skyrocketed.
  • Many thousands of youngsters dropped out of both school and college to work on their parents’ farms (including many on scholarships).
  • The average monthly per capita expenditure of the Indian farm household was just Rs.503 (ten dollars) by early this decade. Of that, 60 per cent roughly was spent on food and another 18 per cent on fuel, clothing and footwear. (Just imagine a young IT pro spends Rs. 500 for movie on weekend, of course pro earns it, so has right to spend it. But the situation can boom-rang anytime)

 

• Farmers are number one food buyers?
  • Millions of small and marginal Indian farmers are net purchasers of food grain.
  • They cannot produce enough to feed their families and have to work on the fields of others and elsewhere to meet the gap.
  • Having to buy some of the grain they need on the market, they are profoundly affected by hikes in food prices, as has happened since 1991, and particularly sharply this year.  (We have seen “Dal – Rs.110/Kg, Sugar Rs.40/KG” which made a decent (Rs. 15k/month) salary earner think twice before buying)
  • Hunger among those who produce food is a very real thing.
  • Add to this the fact that the “per capita net availability” of food grain has fallen dramatically among Indians since the “reforms” began:  from 510 grams per Indian per day in 1991, to 422 grams by 2005. (That’s not a drop of 88 grams. It’s a fall of 88 multiplied by 365 and then by one billion Indians. That is 3,21,20,000  tons of food grain shortage compared to 1991)
  • As Prof. Utsa Patnaik, India’s top economist on agriculture, has been constantly pointing out, the average poor family has about 100 kg less today than it did just ten years ago
  • The elite eat like it’s going out of style. 
  • For many, the shift from food crop to cash crop makes it worse. At the end of the day, you can still eat your paddy. It’s tough, digesting cotton.
  • Even the food crop sector is coming steadily under corporate price-rigging control.
  • Speculation in the futures markets pushed up grain prices across the globe earlier this year. (Why do we need commodities trading at the hands of people who don’t have any idea about it? In the name of free trade we are killing traditional farmers. Our farm produce must have given higher preference, but unfortunately it did not happen and we see the results now 200000+ farmer suicides.)

 

• Cash Crunch – All is for Urban Dwellers:
  • The neoliberal model that pushed growth through one kind of consumption also meant re-directing huge amounts of money away from rural credit to fuel the lifestyles of the aspiring elites of the cities (and countryside, too).
  • Thousands of rural bank branches shut down during the 15 years from 1993-2007.
  • Even as incomes of the farmers crashed, so did the price they got for their cash crops, thanks to obscene subsidies to corporate and rich farmers in the West, from the U.S. and EU.
  • Their battle over cotton subsidies alone (worth billions of dollars) destroyed cotton farmers not merely in India but in African nations such as Burkina Faso, Benin, Mali, and Chad.
  • India kept reducing investment in agriculture (standard neoliberal procedure).
  • Life was being made more and more impossible for small farmers.
  • As costs rose, credit dried up. Debt went out of control. Subsidies destroyed their prices. Starving agriculture of investment (worth billions of dollars each year) smashed the countryside.
  • India even cut most of the few, pathetic life supports she had for her farmers.
  • The mess was complete and from the late-’90s, the suicides began to occur at what then seemed a brisk rate.
  • In fact, India’s agrarian crisis can be summed up in five words (call it Ag Crisis 101): the drive toward corporate farming.
  • The route (in five words): predatory commercialization of the countryside. The result: The biggest displacement in our history.

 

• Corporate Farming on the horizon:
  • Corporations do not as yet have direct control of Indian farming land and do not carry out day-to-day operations directly.
  • But they have sewn up every other sector, inputs, outlets, marketing, prices.
  • And now are heading for control of water as well (which states in India are busy privatizing in one guise or another).

 

• Mumbai Bharat ki Jan, Usane Leli Kisano ki Jan:
  • The largest number of farm suicides is in the state of Maharashtra.
  • Home to the Mumbai Stock Exchange and with its capital Mumbai being home to 21 of India’s 51 dollar billionaires and over a fourth of the country’s 100K dollar millionaires.
  • Mumbai shot to global attention when terrorists massacred 180 people in the city in a grisly strike in November.
  • In the state of which Mumbai is capital, there have been 40,666 farmers’ suicides since 1995, with very little media attention.
  • Mumbai have 21 billionaires and a 25k millionaire just to make sure media does not notice the massacre (by neo-liberal policies and development) of 40,666 farmers since 1995.

 

• Farmers’ suicides in Maharashtra:
  • It crossed the 4,000-mark in 2007, for the third time in four years, according to the NCRB, that is 25.48% of total national suicides.
  • As many as 4,238 farmers took their lives in the state in 2007, the latest for which data are available, accounting for a fourth of all the 16,632 farmers’ suicides in the country.
  • That national total represents a slight fall from the 17,060 farm suicides of 2006. But the broad trends of the past decade seem unshaken.
  • Farm suicides in the country since 1997 – 2007 are total 182,936.

Year MH Total Bharat Total 1995 1083 - 1996 1981 - 1997 1917 13622 1998 2409 16015 1999 2423 16082 2000 3022 16603 2001 3536 16415 2002 3695 17971 2003 3836 17164 2004 4147 18241 2005 3926 17131 2006 4453 17060 2007 4238 16632 Total 40666 182936

Source: FinalReport_SFM_IGIDR_26Jan06 : report is accepted by Govt of Maharashtra, NCRB data.

 

• The five worst affected states:
  • Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh
  • These states account for two-thirds of all farmers’ suicides in India. Together, they saw 11,026 in 2007.
  • Maharashtra alone accounted for over 38 per cent (4,238).
  • Andhra Pradesh saw a decline of 810 suicides against its 2006 total (1,797).
  • Karnataka saw a rise of 415 over the same period (2,135).
  • Madhya Pradesh posted a decline of 112 (1,375).
  • Chattisgarh’s farm suicides mean an increase of 110 over 2006 (1,593).
  • Specific factors in these states nourish the problem.
    • These are zones of highly diversified,
    • Commercialized agriculture where cash crops dominate.
    • Water stress has been a common feature, and gets worse with the use of technologies such as Bt seed that demand huge amounts of water.
    • High external inputs and input costs are also common, as also the use of chemicals and pesticides.

 In the end I’ll say this mindless deregulation lit a lot of pyres and dug a lot of graves. So what are we doing? Are we ready to support initiatives to discuss these issues in public and support others who are fighting for farmer’s cause? Aren’t we indebted by the farmers for the food produced by them?

 Welcome your thoughts and comments….

जय भारत!

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Indian Attacks

Open Doors reports that in the days before Christmas there were 2 violent attacks on Christians in India. On Sunday Dec 20 Hindus attached a church during worship in western Maharashtra state’s Sindhudurg district and a Christmas exhibition in Gwalior city in Madhya Pradesh state. The following day, extremists claimed having converted over 1,700 tribal (aboriginal) Christians “back” to Hinduism in western Gujarat state. Open Doors asks that people pray for these Christians, that they will remain strong in their faith and to pray for peace in this region for Christians.

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The Benefits of 3D Modeling.

3D modeling is beneficial for those instances in which we will benefit from seeing a physical object in a solid form. For this reason, 2D models cannot justify the results required from observing the model.

Medical surgery has come a long way, with the use of 3D models. Modern surgical tools have implemented schematics which include a 3D model of the body, showing the surgeon precisely where to create an incision or the exact location of a tumor that is to be excised. An x-ray, which uses 2D features and techniques, will not have this gravity throughout the surgery process, and can yield, at best, an estimation of where to cut.

If we think back to chemistry class, and the models in the textbook and in the classroom of the 3D representations of molecules, this is more than likely one of the most memorable influences that many students have faced when interaction with 3D models. Researcher, students, teachers and professors alike have benefited from the creation of 3D models.

Property development companies require 3D models of developments for planning committees, zoning, architects, and designers and most important, to pre-sell the properties before the buildings have been completed. Customers purchase the property based on the models alone, justifying the importance of creating accurate and concise 3D models, which can be rendered in the form of a tour of the unit.
Without 3D models and the rendering and animation of these models we would not have advanced graphics within video games and animated films. Not only are 3D models beneficial for entertainment purposes, but for teaching and instruction techniques, such as a 3D model rendered, to show the process of digestion within the human body. These 3D models engage the viewer and offer unique interaction that cannot be found in a 2D model.

Of course, there are always going to be objects that have shown better results when they are visualized in a 2D space, these are: the traditional x-ray, and perspective drawings.
The Advantages of 3D Modeling
3D modeling and 3D renderings serve multiple advantages in a variety of fields. Without these renderings, we would have no simplification in the form of animated video for complex processes such as surgery, or the complex journey through the digestive system.

Considering in the avenue of film, or in current events how time and cost consuming it could be to recreate an event such as a fire, or explosion that has occurred. The animation of 3D models allows artists to create these events using models, than rendering the models, which provides life into the structure to create a sequence of events.

The process of 3D modeling allows artists to learn a variety of techniques and forms to create models, animation and even visualizations. As these artists are taught varying techniques, productivity increases as each technique is best for create specific types of the models.

Using 3D models are learning tools are a business all in its own. We are each gifted with different abilities, and with these abilities comes different ways in which we are able to learn new concepts, easily and effectively. Through the use of 3D models and 3D visualizations we are able to create concepts which can easily be learned by visual or tactile learners. That is, those who learn best by visual recognition of an object, and those who learn best by being able to feel, or take part in an object.

We are able to create models that can mimic art through the use of complex lighting, and photo realistic capabilities created with 3D modeling software programs. We are able to create artistic 3D models, which can benefit the arts as providing another media. Sculpture is one of the earliest forms of 3D modeling, and now, we are able to take sculpture to a new level, with the use of 3D modeling software which can create new media.

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http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Benefits-of-3D-Modeling&id=1590452

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WASPADAI KRITIS PADA TRIWULAN I - 2010

Indonesia perlu mewaspadai perkembangan ekonomi pada triwulan I tahun 2010 berkenaan dengan kondisi politik yang terus memanas, terutama terkait kasus Bank Century. Kondisi ini bisa mendorong investor asing setiap saat bisa menarik dananya ke negara yang lebih menjanjikan.

Investor asing saat ini sudah meraup keuntungan yang lumayan tinggi. Apabila pergolakan politik terus berlanjut, mereka bisa memindahkan dananya ke negara yang jauh lebih menjanjikan, negara yang lebih serius memperbaiki perekonomiannya.

“Investor heran mengapa Indonesia masih saja fokus pada masalah politik. Padahal, pemilihan umum sudah berlalu. Indonesia seharusnya mulai serius pada penanganan ekonomi karena negara lain sudah pulih jauh lebih cepat,” ungkap Direktur PT Mandiri Sekuritas sekaligus Kepala Ekonom Bank Mandiri Mirza Adityaswara, di Jakarta, Senin (21/12), pada seminar “Indonesia Economic Outlook 2010” yang digelar Ikatan Sarjana Ekonomi Indonesia (ISEI).

Menurut Mirza, berlarut-larutnya masalah politik Bank Century mulai mengganggu perencanaan anggaran belanja modal korporasi di Indonesia. Padahal, dari sisi kebijakan, penyelamatan Bank Century tidak bisa dipersalahkan sebab kondisi yang kebijakan itu sangat berbeda dengan saat ini.

Pada triwulan IV-2008, nilai tukar rupiah ada di level Rp 12.000 – Rp 13.000 per dollar AS hingga triwulan I-2009. Biaya penerbitan obligasi rupiah yang ditunjukkan dengan tingkat imbal hasilnya melonjak dari 9,7 persen ke 20 persen. Begitu juga imbal hasil obligasi valuta asing mencapai 16 persen, jauh di atas normal, yakni 7 – 7,5 persen.

“Sepanjang untuk mencari ‘penumpang gelap’ dalam penyelamatan Century silakan dicari. Namun, kebijakannya (penyelamatan Century) sudah benar. Ini berlaku untuk siapa pun menteri keuangannya karena saya bukan ekonom politisi,” ujar Mirza.

Mirza mengatakan, aksi investor asing perlu diwaspadai karena dana asing dalam Surat Utang Negara sudah Rp 150 triliun atau setara 15 miliar dollar AS. Tersimpan di Sertifikat Bank Indonesia sudah Rp 48 triliun atau 4,8 miliar dollar AS. Penarikan oleh investor bisa berdampak luar biasa.

Pada seminar yang sama, Ketua Fokus Group Koordinasi Fiskal dan Moneter Pengurus Pusat ISEI Sri Adiningsih mengatakan, pergulatan politik di dalam negeri menyebabkan Indonesia tidak mampu mendorong pertumbuhan ekonomi secara luar biasa. Padahal, Indonesia bersama China dan India adalah tiga negara yang masih mencatatkan pertumbuhan positif.

Sumber  :

Ekonomi 2010 : Kondisi Kritis pada Triwulan I | Kompas, 22.12.2009
Sumber : Mandiri Sekuritas | Foto : Kompas/Yuniadhi Agung – Grafik : Septa

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