80 Feet Road : News Bytes From Crazy Media Analysts

The Tiger

2009-10-22T21:12:00.004+05:30

Courtesy PDClipart.org

TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

I had to revisit this classic by William Blake (1757–1827), especially when Radio Indigo is plugging its “Engage Indigo: Get Involved, Get Engaged Campaign” so vigorously that it is actually bordering on irritation. This campaign by Indigo is actually supporting an initiative by The Wildlife Protection Society Of India (WPSI).

The WPSI website is quite informative, but lacks information on how our donations will be utilized it its efforts to save the Tiger.

I was really disappointed with the Radio Indigo’s webpage. There are the following options:
• E-mail them to show support.
• Send in donations to their office
• A link for the WPSI website for more details and
• A ‘Save the Tiger’ pledge link.

Apart from these, there was no information regarding what would happen if someone decides to mail them as a show of support or decides to take a pledge. If they are expecting people to send in their donations to their office, after listening to those advertisements or visiting their website; how about some information on how their contributions would be used to save the Tiger.

Nope. We are expected to visit the WPSI website and find the information, which was really unhelpful as I have mentioned above earlier.

Here’s an interesting take on Radio Indigo’s campaign by Paul Nixon. Please go through this interesting blog post titled “Ronseal's quick dying tiger” at India-aaagh.

Then, is this a well managed publicity stunt created for the sole purpose of saying we care, but actually it is just another corporate soul cleansing activity? All those e-mails and pledges, will they really save a Tiger?

Following a tiger census carried out in 2007 which said that the wild tiger population in India has declined by 60% to approximately 1,411 Tigers, the Indian government pledged $153 million to further fund the Project Tiger initiative, set-up a Tiger Protection Force to combat poachers, and fund the relocation of up to 200,000 villagers to minimize human-tiger interaction. Additionally, eight new tiger reserves in India are being set up

I found that on Wikipedia. How much of the pledges and planning has found the light of the day, is unknown. I guess an RTI would divulge something. But then what is the point? If all these measures do not result in saving the Tiger population, then of what help would our pledges, e-mails and donations to Radio Indigo’s campaign achieve.

But if you want to clear your guilt, even though you know that it is pointless. Go ahead. Pledge your support. Write e-mails. Donate! SAVE THE TIGER.

International Day of Climate Action - 24th October

2009-10-21T18:15:00.003+05:30

Hi all,

IYCN (Indian Youth Climate Network) in partnership with 350.org is organising events across namma Bengaluru on 24th of October' 2009 to mark the International Day of Climate Action.

I would like to invite you all to be a part of this global movement organised across 163 countries and 3769 actions.

More details about the Bengaluru events @
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AaQRcpjpFXNhZGN6dzc0MzVfNTJnazhtZ3Rjcw&hl=en

We would require your active participation to make these events successful.

Thanks and regards,
Gunajit
M - 9980972288

Sometimes life drags you down from the clouds & that's good - Lisa

2009-09-15T16:46:00.001+05:30

I just read an article titled “Sometimes life drags you down from the clouds & that's good” published in Times of India. Model Lisa Ray who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma on June 23rd, spoke to TOI's Bharati Dubey on her struggle in coming to terms with the disease and why she went public about it.

In her blog “The Yellow Diaries”, she writes, “Myeloma is incurable. It’s a relatively rare cancer of the bone marrow that affects about 6000 Canadians. Every year, approximately 2100 more cases are diagnosed. I’m a junior Member in many ways, having been diagnosed at 37, while the average age is 65. Makes the disease not quite as ‘Sexy’ as other Cancers. But we can change that. In the industry I’m in, you could say, its motive alone that gives character to your acting… I’m going to do everything I can to wrench the spotlight onto Myeloma and Cancer Awareness. I believe it can be cured. That’s the Dirty Realist in me…I know I’m not trusting the situation. I’m treating my battle like its inconvenient, managing the stage like a tyrannical Bollywood choreographer, but worst of all, I’m not looking it in the eye. I’m letting the situation tyranise my heart. I need to ask for help and support. They say, name it, then you can recognise it. Then deal with it. Yup. In time.”

I really got shocked looking at her strength & determination while battling against multiple myeloma, which is a very rare form of cancer. I wish researchers discover a treatment for the cure of multiple myeloma with a holistic approach.

Hats off to Lisa for being so optimistic and positive in her battle against this disease! Truly, it’s better to be realistic than being idealistic about life.

Greenpeace fails to end Canada's ancient boreal forest clearcuts for paper products, yet proclaims victory

2009-09-01T10:05:00.002+05:30

Greenpeace fails to end Canada's ancient boreal forest clearcuts for paper products, yet proclaims victory

Greenpeace has chosen to end its "Kleercut" campaign despite receiving no assurances clear cutting of Canada's ancient boreal forests will end. Instead, according to Greenpeace, such decimation of old forests will be "certified" as "sustainably managed" by FSC. Let Greenpeace know the forest protection movement has moved past claims of sustainable forest management in primary and old growth forests. Old forests must be protected and restored for global ecological sustainability.

Ecological Internet and allies vigorously condemn Greenpeace Canada's greenwash endorsement of continued ancient boreal forest logging to make throw away paper items. We are appalled that Greenpeace supports the continued first time industrial harvest of Canada's ancient boreal forests to access "virgin" fibers to make toilet paper. The Canadian Boreal Forest is North America’s largest primary forest, holding massive amounts of water, threatened wildlife and migratory birds, and containing 25% of the world's remaining intact ancient forests. It is also the largest terrestrial storehouse of carbon on the planet, storing the equivalent of 27 years worth of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenfleece has announced a premature end to its "Kleercut" campaign against "ancient forest crimes" by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the maker of Kleenex, Scott and Cottonelle brand paper products, on the basis of amazingly flimsy promises. The ONLY things that change are clearcuts of primary boreal forests will now be certified as acceptable by numerous certifiers including FSC, and token amounts of recycled fiber will be used. Making of toilet paper from primary and old growth forests does not end, it will just be "certified" by one of five forest certifiers as being well-managed. There is no such thing, as first time logging of old forests inevitably destroys primary and old growth forests' fully intact ecological function, structure and composition.
Greenpeace's forest campaign is ecologically lacking and socially naïve. They completely fail to understand that all primary and old growth forests are endangered and of high conservation value. Instead they perpetuate the ecologically criminal myth that old forests can and should be industrially logged for the first time in an environmentally acceptable manner. Greenpeace fails to realize real solutions to the forest/paper crisis require shrinking demand, increasing recyclables, and only accessing new fiber from regenerating secondary forests and mixed species, non-toxic, locally supported plantations.

In a world well past its ecological carrying capacity, facing abrupt climate change, and species and ecosystem collapse, we call upon Greenpeace to immediately disclose the ecological science that suggests primary and old growth forests can and should continue to be clearcut to wipe our asses. Greenpeace has missed a marvelous opportunity to make clear that consumption of ancient forests for throw away paper products is unsustainable, unethical and unjust. Their atrociously weak targets will legitimize continued destruction of Canada's ancient forest ecosystems, to largely be replaced by toxic plantation monocultures, to produce throw away paper products for decades.

Call upon Greenpeace to immediately globally cease and desist from negotiating agreements with industry that continue the production of throw away consumer items from Earth's dwindling old forests. Call upon Greenpeace to work for full protection of primary forests, restoration of old growth forests, and dramatic reduction in paper use globally. Further, Greenpeace must immediately disassociate itself from the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) ongoing certification of first time industrial logging of primary forests as being "well-managed" while implying sustainability.

No one including Greenpeace can tell us how many tens of millions of hectares of primeval forest ecosystems are being destroyed under FSC's certification label. Until Greenpeace and friends stop greenwashing FSC ancient forest logging, we call upon committed forest protectors to resign their memberships, and to stop using toilet paper from virgin primary forests, no matter how sensitive their behinds. Global ecological sustainability will never be achieved if we cannot make such minor sacrifices. Shame on Greenpeace, who should know better.

Note: With special permission from www.Forests.org

Researchers find out a different perspective of Global Warming

2009-08-31T12:16:00.002+05:30

Researchers find out a different perspective of Global Warming

Most of us tend to think of global warming in terms of the greenhouse effect produced by CO2 emissions. While it may be partly true that CO2 emissions interfere with the radiation of the heat from sunlight back into space and thus warm up the atmosphere, the main culprit could be the amount of energy we produce and use; and the heat energy that is let out into the atmosphere in this process. Anyone familiar with thermal power plants would know that the efficiencies (ratio of electrical energy output to fuel energy input) are on average around 35%, with the cooling water taking away the bulk of the heat when steam is condensed into water. Even the useful energy that is produced is ultimately lost in space in the form of heat produced in various processes in which this energy is used.

Researchers Bo Nordell and Bruno Gervet of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Lulea University of Technology in Sweden have calculated the total energy emissions from the start of the industrial revolution in the 1880s to the modern day. They have worked out that using the increase in average global air temperature as a measure of global warming is an inadequate measure of climate change. They suggest that scientists must also take into account the total energy of the ground, ice masses and the seas if they are to model climate change accurately.

The researchers have calculated that the heat energy accumulated in the atmosphere corresponds to a mere 6.6% of global warming, while the remaining heat is stored in the ground (31.5%), melting ice (33.4%) and in sea water (28.5%). They point out that net heat emissions between the industrial revolution circa 1880 and the modern era at 2000 correspond to almost three quarters of the accumulated heat, i.e., global warming, during that period.

The researchers also point out a flaw in the nuclear energy argument. Although nuclear power does not produce carbon dioxide emissions in the same way as burning fossil fuels, it does produce heat emissions equivalent to three times the energy of the electricity it generates (using the thermal cycle of steam turbine) and so contributes to global warming significantly.

Their calculations suggest that most measures to combat global warming, such as reducing our reliance on burning fossil fuels and switching to renewables like wind power and solar energy, will ultimately help in preventing catastrophic climate change in the long term. But the same calculations also show that trapping carbon dioxide, so-called carbon dioxide sequestration, and storing it deep underground or on the sea floor will have very little effect on global warming.

Source: International Journal of Global Warming-July 2009 Issue

Money Matters

2009-08-28T10:03:00.000+05:30

It is ironic that here in India, the left hand is completely out of sync with its right hand and also the rest of its limbs!

The Indian sports ministry has apparently rejected the proposal of holding an F1 race here in India, which would have cost the exchequer around $36.5 million. It contended that the money can be used instead to promote other lesser known Indian sports. If the ministry really does what it believes, then it would be holding a candle for the rest of government machinery here in India to follow.

On the other hand, the UP Government has told the Supreme Court that installing various statues (including that of the Chief Minister’s) in the state at the cost of around $100 million was approved by the state Legislature. This was in response to a petition filed in the court alleging waste of taxpayer’s money.

The state machinery in UP is in dire straits. Encephalitis has been plaguing the state, causing the death toll (mostly children) to approach the 200 mark this year alone. According to a World Bank report, infant mortality rate in UP is the highest in India. Swine flu is slowly spreading its wings. The public sector has failed to create an investment friendly atmosphere. The biggest stumbling block here in UP is deep rooted caste and gender inequalities.

Is the $100 million for building statues justified? How did the State Legislature approve it? If it did, then what was the Central Government doing? The biggest question here would be is why the public of UP not raising its voice?

Blissful ignorance would be the perfect answer. Or would it?

Training programme on Zero Waste Management

2009-08-25T15:37:00.013+05:30

Training programme on Zero Waste Management

Hi All,

You are invited for the training programme on Zero Waste Management (ZWM) on 30th Aug, this Sunday.

A map is attached for the venue. Please follow the Blue line from Maharaja Hotel to Embassy Meadows. The concrete road ends at the Embassy Meadows, and you can park and walk to our house (Mr. Balaji's house).

Training programme on Zero Waste Management (ZWM) By Vellore Srinivasan.

Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. (date : 30th Aug)

Indian Heritage Academy
Address: 870, 20th Main, Koramangala 6th Block, Bangalore- 560095
Landmark: Near Koramangala Police Station

Contact:
25530121, 25530304
9449708836, 9845545576

MAP:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101898344775736888305.00047205f6dde17770c8e&ll=12.950527,77.625704&spn=0.023798,0.033088&z=15

Contact details:
Balaji : 9844052132
Surya : 9902419903
Guru (President AID Bangalore) : 9845294184

Love Hate Theory - An awakening within

2009-08-24T16:58:00.006+05:30

“Instructional designing” was something like a foreign substance/antigen to my system of perception. I was not quite sure of what exactly is instructional designing until I met Abhinava. Surprisingly, after knowing more and more about ID from him, I felt this field as most interesting one as many concepts here can be applied to life too! Whenever Abhi talks about ID, I feel as if ID helps to explore how to deal with life! Trust me, it works! However, I never got an opportunity to see his presentation live. On August 22nd, IDCI made my dream come true by providing people with an opportunity to login online and hear Abhi presenting LH (Love-Hate) Theory. My heartfelt thanks to IDCI for making this happen! Those who attended the session online also had a chance to ask questions if they had any and share their comments and answers for questions asked by Abhinava. The online session was arranged so well that we never felt as if we were left out. I really appreciate it. And, I totally enjoyed Abhi’s wonderful presentation. Each slide put by Abhi was so thought provoking that he actually awakened the sleeping thoughts and hidden feelings within us! The way he explained the significance of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory, I was just amazed! I did not feel it as just a presentation meant for IDs, it was much more than that! And, guess why it was like this??? All because of LOVE :)

For more information:

IDCI Session Highlights - Love-Hate theory (summarized by Sreya Dutta on August 22, 2009 and posted on road-to-learning.blogspot.com)

Today's IDCI session by Abhinava (Twitter ID: @Abhinava) was extremely thought provoking for me. The topic of discussion, LH Theory (Love-Hate Theory) triggered on a lot of thought on how to be sensitive to the learner and use 'love' to design courses. To know more about the session go to twitter and search with the hash tag #IDCI. The session highlighted the need to be sensitive to the learner needs more holistically. At the same time, the session compared two modes of creating learning; Love and Hate. The session also emphasized on when to use each mode of learning.

Here's the presentation that Abhinava put on Slideshare:

So when do you use the LH Theory?
You use Love when:

* You want to create learning for a long term.
* You want to create a long term relationship/bond.
* When you have time to create good learning.
* When there is a lot to gain.

You use Hate when:

* You want to create learning for the short term and don't really care much about the outcome.
* When you don't need to create any long term relationship/bond.
* When you don't have time.

Why Business-driven Learning?
So, you use Hate theory when you only mean business and don't plan to invest a lot of time. You want a quick-fix solution that just serves the purpose. I found this discussion extremely relevant in today's times, as most often we seem to get pushed towards the Hate theory for purely business reasons. It is also important to be sure that you don't use Hate out of ignorance.

Sometimes, when you're in a situation where the business demand is high, using Hate does seem like the most practical thing to do. The need analysis moves from addressing the learner need towards addressing the business need! One could easily argue here that isn't the learner need the business need as well? My answer is yes at a high-level, but probably not exactly how we define it when we get to the specifics. I call this kind of learning 'Business-driven' or 'Business-centric'. The following are some justifications for creating 'business-driven' learning:

* You really need a quick solution to address the business need and get training out there to learners. Meaning your TTM (Time-to-market) is the #1 priority.
* Shelf life of the learning material is short (6 months to a year) and content changes/updates very often.
* Your learning supports the business and is not the primary revenue generator.
* Topic for learning is a mature one (like a product for niche areas) and people in the domain already know a lot of the basic concepts. Some are very advanced users. So, all you need to do is to tell them the new features and concepts and they will soon be using the knowledge hands-on.

The ideal ID world?
Given a chance, IDs would love to make the most effective and engaging courses. Some attributes that contribute to making such courses are:

* Perform a thorough learner analysis.
* Do a thorough needs assessment for your learners meaning drill down to the exact learning outcome that is expected.
* Empathize with the learner and create simple, usable and easily navigable courses.
* Don't make the course a content dump. Take time to make the course effective and engaging.
* Use well-researched real-time scenarios to add relevance to your learning material.
* Personalize feedback and strategies if the learner has high EQ (Emotional Intelligence)
* Design simple but effective practices.
* Use practices when absolutely necessary and not for very simple procedures.
* Validate and choose the appropriate delivery medium based on content complexity. Very advanced courses with lots of hands-on are better delivered in classroom training. Do not try to achieve this goal using online learning.

Business-driven learning; the reality and the solution
When you create business-driven learning, you may tend to skim/rush through many of the above steps. But business-driven learning becomes a reality as end of day 'business' is what everything boils down to. This of course does not undermine the fact that you do need to deliver the best possible solution in this situation. Here are some things one can do:

* Be extremely clear about the business objective.
* Do a periodic detailed learning profiling and assessment of the prerequisite knowledge and skills of your learner. Knowing the prerequisites will enable you to reduce the flab on your course and focus on a smaller amount of content. Eventually, this reduces your TTM.
* Research on and recommend a list of rapid elearning tools that work for the business solution.
* Leverage on existing material and spend time refining and updating it to the most current information.
* Focus on reducing knowledge gaps rather than covering the whole bulk of content.
* Use social learning as much as possible and focus on creating short and effective micro-learning strategies.

Life in Bhutan – a metamorphosis that changes your perspective about life: Brought to you by a Letter to the author’s mother written on 6th March 2009

2009-08-22T22:37:00.001+05:30

Note to Readers: This will be a series of short paragraphs that will follow with a succession of 2 days to build up the thrill while reading. At the end of the series due permission will be taken from Ministry of Education, RCSC, Royal Govt. of Bhutan to be published in American Chronicle. For now it will be put up on http://80feetroad.blogspot.com This article series will also include photographs that were not seen before. So as a request from the author, please do send in a request at arunavadas1983@yahoo.co.in or arunavaempowerresearch@gmail.com for using the photographs. The author will guide you in this regard. This note comes to you after strict advice from MoE, Royal Govt. of Bhutan. These articles are purely for Blog Display and not have been published in foreign magazines.

Part I

I am good here. Its interesting living here, though conditions here are very basic and Spartan. Our school is located at a village called Menjiwoong or Menjwoong or Minjiwoong (‘a land of medicines’ in Dzongkha) under Serthi gewog (Hindi: Panch) in Jomotsangkha Dungkhag in Samdrup Jongkhar district of Eastern Bhutan. It’s almost a tiring 9 hrs walk from the border town of Jomotsangkha (Old Name: Diafam), through dense forests and precariously positioned cliffs and ridges that make your heart run fast. It’s an adrenaline rush to see yourself perched on the edge of a cliff and hundreds of feet below running the fast flowing Jomo Chhu or Dhansiri Chhu that goes and joins the Brahmaputra in Assam.

Ours is a Lower Secondary School (LSS) that started way back in the year 1989, the second oldest school in the district. Hence, it has got a very good infrastructure (only drawback is there is no electricity) and a nice sprawling, well-maintained green campus with separate hostels for boys and girls. It was upgraded from Primary to LSS in the year 2001. The whole school, however, is connected with solar supply, good way to use green power. At night, we are back at the mercy of kerosene-powered lanterns.

Life is slow and peaceful here. Democracy started in the year 2008 and all the ministers of the country are extremely devoted to make His Majesty the 4th King of Bhutan’s vision of Gross National Happiness (GNH) as the country’s motto for getting along the modern paced world in the twenty-first century. The 4th King’s son, the present king and the 5th King of Bhutan, H.M. Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, a very learned man from Oxford, is doing just what the doctor ordered, that is, making his father’s dream of a prosperous Bhutan transform into reality by the end of 2020.

People in Bhutan seem to have lots of time on ready disposal and they are very different from people in other parts of the world. They have kept their human values intact inspite of gradual degradation and erosion of human values. People here think that like us wild animals also have the same right to stay alive sharing the same land that the people here stay in. They do not kill or take other animal’s life and they believe and it’s a Buddhist virtue that taking one’s life is the sin of the highest order.

Minjiwoong is situated on a table top valley dotted by mountains from the Black Mountain Ranges on almost all sides. From Diafam, one needs to cross four villages, namely, Upper Diafam (Royal Bhutan Army Base Camp), Jampani, Gelonghar, Tokaphu and Fokchuri before reaching Minjiwoong. From Fokchuri there is a final ascent that takes you from a height of 2000mts to 2500mts, a dramatical rise that will leave you with a breathtaking view of the hamlet once you reach up. This particular part of the world is very much different from the usual tourist hotspots like Thimphu, Paro, Phuentsholing, Wangdue, Bumthang, Trashigang, Haa, and Gaza. Here you find three worlds meeting together and at the confluence there is an amazing diversity of wildlife, flora and fauna that is truly endemic to this region. The fauna, rare and believed-to-be-extinct amphibians like the Flying frog, reptiles like the great boa (the same like the Anacondas of South America) and flying lizards, avian species of hornbills and raptors, quite a few unidentified lepidopterans (butterflies) that are found only in this part of the world are quite unique. Again as you walk past the dense forests, you will notice some fauna resemblance with those of the Cretascean and Jurassic periods.

These inhabitants of the jungles will lead you to a Mogli experience that one is very lucky to experience in his/ her lifetime. You learn how to adapt to the environment where you are, how to lead life after coming from an IT rich experience in one of the leading cosmopolitans of the world (talking of my early education in Bangalore and my early part of my career in the same city) to one of the remotest areas on earth, how to adjust with the meager resources at your disposal, what things to eat to stay alive, to drink from the purest sources of water (mountain springs) and above all to learn to respect the flora and fauna around you and take them as your fellow beings – a philosophy I learned after my association with The Land of the Peaceful Dragon dominated with Buddhism running through her veins; unfortunate enough to be unaware of this great practice of mankind all through my life until this point though I originally hail from the Land of Lord Buddha. Through my countless hours of conversation with the proprietor of Hotel Shambala at Samdrup Jongkhar town and sipping at the tangy “lassi” that the hotel serves (a sweet thick mixture of curd and water generally drank after a meal to enable your digestion process), I was able to realize the latent Buddha in me. To tell you the truth now I have started to experiment with the thoughts of Buddha’s enlightment and the way of life defined with The Dalai Lama and some of the other great teachers of Buddhism. A brief period of experiment with the ciggarate also strangely ended for me after attending the ceremonial accession of the 4th Sermon of Lord Buddha that was celebrated at the Royal Bhutan Army Camp Lakhang (a Buddhist monastery) at upper Diafam one day in the month of June. Slowly the idea of a full elightment will come into thy where I will learn the real virtue of being alive.

The nine hours walk from Diafam to my school at Minjiwoong is one to remember in a lifetime that takes you through the heart of Bhutan’s sub-tropical forests. And if you are walking alone, the Jomo Chhu will give you a constant company all throughout your walk. This runs down straight from the head of Trashi Yangtsee district of Bhutan to the Brahmaputra in the south. The mountain road that we use to walk and travel is just only about 90cm. in width and at some places is just enough to let two horses walk through. Locals use horses and ponnies to carry loads from the plains of Assam to the interior maountain villages like ours (Minjiwoong), Monmola, Zamthari, Zangthri, Dungmanma, Serthi, and Shinga-Louri. You can take pride because the road that you are walking on has been used throughout the ages since the time of 1400’s dating back to the ancient Silk Route to China.

I feel at awe whenever I take to this road and think of the hardships that used to adorn the travelers those days.

Nikhil Dey's (MKSS) Talk on 23rd Aug, 2:30p in Bangalore

2009-08-20T16:52:00.007+05:30

Nikhil Dey's (MKSS) Talk on 23rd Aug, 2:30p in Bangalore

Ever wondered:
 What changes are needed to take India beyond the so called 'First World'?
 Who are the real heroes behind the positive changes the country has seen in the last 5 years?
 What are behind-the-scenes stories of our country's political and administrative system?
 How do national movements take birth and what do they look like today?
 Can we help transform the nation?

Speaking on Sunday, 23rd August at 2:30pm the venue below is Nikhil Dey of MKSS. MKSS
was founded in Rajasthan 22 years ago by Nikhil (24 at that time), Aruna Roy and Shankar Singh.

MKSS has gifted the country the most progressive laws since India's independence: the RTI (Right to Information Act) and NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). Pictures, documents, videos, etc. of their historical struggle are now part of the national archives at Nehru Museum, Delhi.

Read more about Nikhil and MKSS on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruna_Roy

We will show a short 15 min. film giving glimpses of their work and the struggle.

Please positively RSVP to help our planning since seating is limited. MKSS works on a shoestring
budget; please help by bringing your cheque books.

Regards,
Ashim, ashimjain@gmail.com
Manish, manishj@synopsys.com

M: 98801-95372 M: 98804-13124

VENUE: Trans Indus, Basapanapalya, Tatguni, Bangalore - 66 (Map on next page.)

DIRECTIONS & MAP
Trans Indus (Google Map)

Reach the Kanakpura Rd and NICE Rd junction (the only flyover on Kanakpura Rd). Go another ~1km south on Kanakpura Rd and turn right into the second road (after the NICE junction). This right turn is marked with several signs "BGS Int'l School", "Trans Indus", etc. Go about 3.5km on the winding road and turn left where sign says "Trans Indus". Go another 0.75km and turn right into Trans Indus colony.

Park your vehicle just inside the security gate.

To see online, go to:
http://maps.google.com and type TRANS INDUS, BANGALORE, INDIA in the search box.

LOOSE AGENDA:
Film
Nikhil's Talk
Q&A, discussion
Tea
(Conclusion ~ 4:30p)

ASHIM'S BRIEF EXPERIENCE

As a free lance volunteer I have recently concluded my 5th trip to Rajasthan in the past ~7 months spending almost half the time there. What struck me the most about this organization and especially Nikhil, is that they directly take on pain and suffering on themselves to provide relief to others, a selfless trait that is extremely rare even in NGOs. Nikhil, and every one of MKSS members have impeccable integrity and survive on a monthly salary of Rs. 2800 (including ex-IAS officer Aruna Roy). Nikhil is unmarried and has 3 degrees (including one in law and one from U.S.).

During my last trip, I was sitting in a 'dharna' in front of SDM's office in Bhim, Rajasthan. Nikhil and other MKSS members were encouraging the 500 or so peasants and laborers to demand their unpaid wages (imagine, govt. holding back their survival income of Rs. 100 per day!) MKSS's work with the people of Rajasthan has given them an influential voice in the state and central governments. This was apparent in Nikhil's calm and firm conversation with the SDM resulted in fulfillment of the demands of the people. (Aruna was part of National Advisory Council chaired by Sonia Gandhi that resulted in passing of RTI and NREGA Acts). Both, state and central govts., often come to MKSS for advice and help in implementation of govt. schemes.

BRAD PITT Image of MINE, Thanks to struggle in Bhutan

2009-08-16T18:04:00.003+05:30

This is how I am presently looking like. This I clicked in my hotel room just few days back. I am in Sam Jongkhar, Bhutan on official visit. 8 Hours of strenous walking and playing all year round have contributed to this slim look. Special Thanks to Bhutan and my mom, who agreed in sending me there. To tell you the truth my mom failed to notice me at the Kolkata airport among the crowd when I went there during my summer holidays. I have reduced from 110 Kgs. in February, 2009 to 75 Kgs. in July, 2009 -- an amazing loss of 35 Kgs. My determination and perseverance have paid off.

This photo comes to you after a special request from "RockSta", Rakesh Reddy, who was eager to see my Bradd Pitt Image?? Am I looking the same?? Please do comment........

This Is Where We Stand After 62 Independent Years

2009-08-15T19:13:00.004+05:30

“Why we Indians fail the nation” by Ramesh Khazanchi is a good read. However there are a couple of points which require a different perspective. Here is my perspective on them.

We keep our homes spanking clean and dump all the garbage outside, on the streets.

Should we be ashamed of our behavior? No. The civic agencies are corrupt, lazy and don’t clean the streets at all. I have never seen any worker from any of the civic agency cleaning the streets in my life and I have been living at one single place since my birth. Most of the families here have put in place a wonderful system of cleaning the street in front of their houses, either by employing a maid or doing it by themselves.

The garbage collection system is erratic and the driver of the garbage truck is always drunk. Moreover, we pay him 20 – 50 bucks every now and then to ensure he does not forget to come and collect the garbage.

What should we do, set up garbage disposal units outside our homes? I guess the civic agencies wouldn’t mind as it would give them another opportunity to fleece us with extra taxes, not that we are paying them enough already.

The community bin concept does not work here as they are hardly cleared and always overflows. Obvious isn’t it? Oh and the one thing that the so called civic agencies are good at is sending notices if we fail to pay our taxes on time.

We routinely employ children below 14 years of age as domestic help or in jobs of hazardous nature.

I am totally against this as I believe in the basic fundamental right to education which these children are entitled to. But spare a thought for those who have received education and are languishing on the streets without jobs.

What is the guarantee that the education will land the child a job? What if the child does not want to learn and wants to work in order to support a family. The child may be the sole bread winner for its family. Pulling the child out of a job and putting it in front of a blackboard does not help as its family might die of hunger. The child might die of hunger. Learning to read and write does not satisfy the hunger pangs.

Our social security system does not exist as it does in the developed countries that frown on such practices. The poor and the jobless are left in the lurch to fend for themselves, with no help coming from the government that is busy in introducing legislations for an increase in the salaries and perks of the netas. They don’t care if we are eating our own shit, as long as we are paying sanitary taxes on time.

62 years of independence, after spending countless years of being ruled under different invading hordes; does it matter anymore? Corruption is gnawing away at the roots of our freedom. How long will the stability last? Something’s got to give. Every day we inch closer to tag of a failed nation. (Look at Congo for an extreme example). All our successive Governments and their policies have failed us and we as citizens have failed it by not raising our voice against corruption and allowing it to flourish.

Twin Gerbera Flower !!

2009-08-11T16:42:00.005+05:30

I had never seen a twin flower. I was amazed to witness one such twin flower. Recently we bought flowers from market for Pooja. I found this “Twin Gerbera Flower”. There were five such twins. It was special decoration as the flowers were twins! He he..

I was really surprise to see twin flower.. It’s kool!

Jus.. wanted to share this picture with you all!!

Thank you,

Samsung Reclaim

2009-08-07T15:04:00.001+05:30

It costs less than 50 dollars at Sprint and according to the Samsung, the Reclaim is 80 percent recyclable as it is made from bio-plastic. The packaging is made from 70 percent recyclable material, while the ink used for printing text and images on the package and the phone warranty is made from soy. The charger consumes about 12 times lesser power than the Energy Star standard.

Samsung has positioned it as an eco-friendly messaging phone. 2 dollars will go to the Nature Conservancy’s Adopt an Acre program in the U.S.

Image Courtesy: Samsung

Bangalore Platform on Climate Change

2009-08-05T15:04:00.002+05:30

Bangalore Platform on Climate Change

· The Good Life in a low-carbon lifestyle: cultural and ethical issues for urban Bangalore

by Siddhartha, Fireflies Ashram

· Urban Waste: issues in generation and disposal in the time of Climate Change

by Dr. Hoysala Chanakya, Centre for Sustainable Technologies, IISc

· The Way Forward: Working groups discussion on Transportation, Carbon Footprint of Bangalore and any other.

Date and Time: August 7, 2009 (Friday); 4 to 7pm

Venue: Centre for Education and Documentation, Domlur

RSVP: send mail to priya@doccentre.net or call 9341248784

For directions: http://www.doccentre.net/About/ced-map.pdf

Centre for Education and Documentation

No.7 , 8th Main , 3rd Phase

Domlur 2nd stage, Bangalore 560071

Phone:(080)25353397

Email: cedban@doccentre.net

The Bangalore Platform is an open civic space for reflection and action through greater understanding of the science, policy and ethical issues in the context of Climate Change

Retour des Champions

2009-08-02T00:33:00.000+05:30

What an amazing week it has been!

Seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong finished 3rd at this years Tour. Eight time Grand Prix winner “The Doctor” Valentino Rossi extended his lead in this years Moto GP Championship. Last but not the least; Michael Schumacher has announced his comeback to Formula 1 this year, albeit only as a replacement to the Felipe Massa.

However, there is the sad news of BMW confirming that this year would be its last in F1. But the good news is that 12 teams have signed a new Concorde Agreement that lasts until 2012.

I was really hoping that this year’s Tour de France would be dope free. But I guess I was hoping against hope. Mikel Astarloza, winner of the 16th stage, has tested positive for EPO and has been suspended by the ICU. Is he the only person to test positive for doping at this year’s Tour or will there be more? Only time will tell.

Constitution Allows ......

2009-07-14T19:50:00.002+05:30

Constitution Allows "I Vote Not to Vote"

Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the 1969 act, in section "49-O" that a person can go to the polling booth,

Confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn't want to vote for anyone!

Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these seemingly notorious leaders have never disclosed it. This is called "49-O".

Why should you go and say "I VOTE NOBODY"… because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received "49-O" votes more than 123,

Then that polling will be cancelled and will have to be Re-Polled. Not only that, but the Candidature of the Contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling.

Since people had already expressed their decision on them.

This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way, of our whole political system…

It is seemingly surprising why the election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public….

Please spread this news to as many as you know… Seems to be a wonderful weapon against Corrupt Politicians and Political Parties in India … show your power,

Expressing your desire not to vote for anybody is even more powerful than voting… so don't miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49-O)!

A Compilation by Pravda Nair

Action To Save Our Climate

2009-07-08T18:42:00.002+05:30

Action To Save Our Climate
Action to save our climate is happening right now in Italy: As you read this our activists are scaling chimneys, chaining themselves to conveyor belts and blocking coal shipments at multiple locations in Italy.

They will be occupying coal-fired power stations during the G8 Summit beginning in Italy today and demanding that world leaders gathering for the summit make serious commitments to reducing world greenhouse gas emissions.

You can take action with them. You can demand that world leaders take personal responsibility for averting catastrophic climate change. You turn the Earth.
Follow our activists here: www.greenpeace.org/g8action
Thanks for your support.

Mr. Arunava Das
Greenpeace International
http://www.greenpeace.org/climate

Climate Project Presenter and Connector ACF 591
&
Senior Secondary Biology Teacher, Royal Government of Bhutan

# + 91 033 2683 1456 (Kolkata, India, Residence)
+ 91 9748804959 (Kolkata, India, Residence)

"Home" Next is What???? Probably the Inconvenient Truth

2009-07-08T09:54:00.003+05:30

We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate. The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being. For this purpose, HOME needs to be free. A patron, the PPR Group, made this possible. EuropaCorp, the distributor, also pledged not to make any profit because Home is a non-profit film. HOME has been made for you : share it! And act for the planet. Yann Arthus-Bertrand, GoodPlanet Fundation President. HOME is a carbon offset movieSubtitles : http://www.goodplanet.org/I...PPR is proud to support HOME http://www.ppr.com . Do see the movie ....... Its amazing!!!

Taken with permission from Mr. Yann Arthus-Bertrand for Blog display by
Mr. Arunava Das
Climate Project Presenter and Connector ACF 591
&
Senior Secondary Biology Teacher, Royal Government of Bhutan
# + 91 033 2683 1456 (Kolkata, India, Residence)
+ 91 9748804959 (Kolkata, India, Residence)

Festival of Cycling is back!

2009-07-03T23:09:00.000+05:30

The Tour de France 2009 kicks of its 96th edition, covering roughly 3,500 kilometers over 21 days. But it not an ordinary tour as Lance Armstrong is back riding in his favorite event.

In terms of geographical boundaries, the tour will be passing through six countries this time around: Monaco, France, Spain, Andorra, Switzerland and Italy.

Another novelty is the communication between the riders and their team managers being banned in stages 10 and 13.

I am will be following this year’s event on the web, hoping against hope that it turns out dope free.

Eternal Love

2009-07-01T15:57:00.004+05:30

There was a girl
She was pretty but never thought so
Intelligent but never praised for
Kind and people used that
Everything about her made her so special
Always out of the crowd

One day, a guy approached her
He was not intelligent as she was
Not handsome that a girl would want him
All he sought was her love and care
Life time promise that she will
Share both happiness and sorrows

She needed some time to think
She was lost in her thoughts
Though she was aware of his kind hearted nature
And the person he is, there was something
Haunting her day and night

They both started speaking often
Met some day in a week
Shared their emotions
She boosted him little that he needed
To walk in a success path

The success and the companionship
Made him feel strong and
See the beauty of life
He was on cloud nine
Thinking of their lives together
And live happily ever after

Still she was uncertain
The inner beauty was masked by
The physical appearance
Any girl of her age would prefer
A handsome guy with looks
And style that makes her feel special

Another guy with great looks and talent
Met her and promised the better life
The dreams come true moment didn’t
Last for a while, he broke her heart
He found a girl prettier than this girl

All with broken heart and tears
Girl, didn’t speak a word for days
Forgot to smile and cheer
Avoided everyone and wished loneliness
Only tears and gloominess accompanied her

This guy, still mad for her
Was worried of her deeds
Went to her one fine day, asked for
A minute! Just hold her hands
Comforted with a smile and care

She embraced him, busted out of tears
The guy tried to make her smile
Made sure to let her know his lasting love
She dint speak a word, tears rolled on her cheeks
Without a gesture girl walked away

Days passed, months spun still there’s no
Sign of girl. All worried of her life
Guy visited her house with handful of flowers
Heart full of love and eyes full of dreams
But none at home; guy walked into the room

Saw his love. She was not moving
All pause! With flowers adorning her
She looked happy and was dressed like a bride
Guy walked slowly towards her
Without a word, tears rolled out

Girl was not real, all this time
He was looking at her photo frame
Shattered to see his love of life nailed on the wall
With garland! Walked to her mother
Asked if he can know the story

Girl was suffering from some medical condition and was
Fighting last days of her life
The saddest part, she was unaware
And got to know the day, just before
This guy approached to console her
Mother said the story

Guy cried and cried
Screamed to the sky and wept to the ocean
Mother said how much
The girl loved and wanted to share rest of her life
With him. Guy couldn’t digest the truth
Of girl’s demise and yelled n’ yelled

Guy not ready to share his love with
Any other girl; lived his rest of the life all alone
Made sure to get buried after his love of life
Now nothing remains! Except the unsaid love and
The long-lasting bond that they shared.

Many a times, we all think beauty is what matters when it comes to a life partner. If not everyone but at least the preference would be given to beauty. Because that is what is seen, the moment we see anyone.

Why beauty when you don’t have the true heart to love and wishful hands to embrace when you need. There are no limits for beauty. There is no one you can call – most beautiful lady / men.

Beautifulness won’t last forever. Everything on earth will undergo aging. As age passes, the beauty shades. The beauty you see today might not look the same tomorrow.

Though we think, we are the most beautiful – we are not sure what life ensures us tomorrow. Life promises not the beauty but the love.

Earth exists not for the beauty but for the love. When you look at someone, look with love filled eyes; the true eternal beauty of that person is seen. Appreciate the honesty and the kindness the person enclose.

Beauty dies not the beautiful thoughts. Beauty fades not the beautiful moments.

Life can be beautiful even with the person who is not beautiful. All you need is to realize how beautiful he/she makes your life with their companionship.

Once you are sure who the right person is for you, don’t give a thought for the external beauty. Eternal beauty is what that lasts forever and ever.

Make your life beautiful with the beauty that the person shares and not the beauty he/she shows.

Live life “Happily Ever after”

- RK

Videos From Bhutan

2009-06-30T08:43:00.003+05:30

From Bhutan With Love

2009-06-30T08:21:00.003+05:30

From Bhutan With Love ---- Whatever I was unable to achieve in Bangalore, I was able to do it at Bhutan. I am grateful to the Principal of Minjiwoong Lower Secondary School, Mr. Rajesh Rai; His Honorable Dasho OC, Royal Bhutan Army and the Dzonkhag (District) Education Officer, Samdrup Jongkhar to give me the opportunity to realize my dream.

As Connector ACF 591 I have been promoted now as the Climate Project Presenter to be happening this December at Royal Thimphu College at Thimphu by joint venture of the Australian Conservation Foundation, World Food Programme and UNICEF.

Do add in your valueable comments for the same. Thank You.

The Web Link:
http://connectors.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=13

By Arunava Das, Senior Secondary Contract Teacher, Royal Government of Bhutan

“The GODS Will Overcome” ---- FREE TIBET, One World, One Free “Roof of the World”

2009-06-30T07:54:00.002+05:30

“The GODS Will Overcome” ---- FREE TIBET, One World, One Free “Roof of the World”

During my sojourn of the really small, yet fruitful stay of six months in Eastern Bhutan, which very well resembles the intricately woven live tale of the golden days of Tibet by Heinrich Harrer in his legendary book “Seven Years in Tibet”, I saw similarity of language, cast, creed, evenness of religious belief and practices and the relief of the country, to say both the countries, the amazing vastness of the Himalayas, the awe that these mountains create on its dumb-founded onlookers is worth it and I believe that as Bhutan, Tibet has every “right” to enjoy freedom at its best from the oppressive Chinese rule.

To my astonishment, I who hail from a country that has been under the British rule for over three hundred years till 1947 never saw or heard of any disfigurement or destruction of any of the national monuments of India and the Britons were kind enough to add some important infrastructure like bridges, roads, railways to India.

I was horrified and literally torn to pieces to learn that 99% of the 6000 sacred buildings have been razed to the ground by the barbarian bastards, Chinese invasion. It makes me realize that the Chinese, who are also Buddhists in their belief, are harming precious Buddhist texts and articles that should have been preserved rather than demolished by the demons. As a staunch supporter of Buddhism, I believe that these ancient relics are great sources of inspiration that one can gather about a religion, its ancient virtue and culture and some knowledge about Tibetan School of Medicine, all that were hitherto unknown to the world.

Through my readings of His Holiness The Dalai Lama (I generally read these books during my lonely times at nights in Minjiwoong as it’s a remote area with no room for electricity.) and many other Buddhist related books and ones own knowledge, I abide by the rule that it is the sin of the highest order to destroy one’s freedom to live. Freedom is a virtue that everyone enjoys from humans to wild animals and plants. Nobody likes to be oppressed or mistreated and humiliated on his land that belongs to him/her by birth. Some great Indian freedom fighter once famously remarked that “Swaraj is one’s birthright and one should leave no stone unturned to get it.” “Swa” means self and “raj” means right of freedom on one’s motherland.

The people who think that they have the right to dominate others, kill people (taking one’s life) are rather fools as “GODS” have the last say. “What Man proposes, God disposes!” If China proposes to take Tibet and part of Bhutan, God will one day have China dethroned because freedom of land and its people come first and I hope that the day is not far away. I hope a catastrophe may paralyze China forever that they may fail to come to the grips of their loss, the same loss that they have so far inflicted on a holy country like Tibet.

That is the point they will realize their mistake; and when they have done so, I pray to His Lordship Buddha and any other Gods for that matter that they lose their backbone forever to stand up again. This is my solemn request I keep as I like and would love to see Tibet free again. I know the people are strong enough to rebuild their treasures as only from ashes of destruction that new things come up.

I hereby, on the behalf of all my Indian colleagues at the Ministry of Education, Royal Government of Bhutan, take the solemn oath of standing by H.H. The Dalai Lama, Heinrich Harrer and the people of Tibet in their fight for freedom.

By Arunava Das, Senior Secondary Contract Teacher, Royal Government of Bhutan

Life At Bhutan

2009-06-29T19:16:00.004+05:30

Me with my Wangchuk House. We won the Boys Footbal Interhouse Championship. Me the Proud Coach

Our school and hostels

Thimphu getaway, taken on Phuentsholing - Thimphu Highway on way to Thimphu

Ministry of Education office, my employer....

Ministry of Education building....

Thimphu on morning.....

More images to follow..... along with blogs, please be patient.....