Western Air Command of Indian Air Force is a unique Air Force formation in the world as its area of operations extends from the world’s highest airfields in the Himalayas to the deserts of Rajasthan. WAC, IAF was raised as No.1 Operational group on independence in 1947. In 1949, it was re-designated as an Operational Command. In 1962 this formation got its name ‘Western Air Command, IAF’. WAC is the most operational command of the IAF and is said to be equivalent to the eighth largest Air Force in the world. Protection of the National Capital falls under the purview of Western Air Command
Two day long, The Commanders’ conference of Western Air Command (WAC) commenced today at its Subroto Park Headquarters in New Delhi. The commanders’ conference is being attended by the Commanders of all the formations under the Western Air Command, Principal Staff Officers of WAC and the conference is being presided over by Air Marshal PK Barbora, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief WAC.
Addressing the WAC Commanders, in his inaugural address Air Marshal PK Barbora said “The country is going through a very difficult phase. The world economy is in a turmoil posing new challenges to our country. Instability already exists in our neighbourhood. Hence, we need to be more vigilant than ever before. The need of the hour is to make optimal use of all our assets, be it equipment or our skilled manpower so as to expand on our capability spectrum. The synergy amongst us and the other services needs to be strengthened to cope up with the challenges of the time. Indian Air Force, as you all know, is in the process of modernization and, therefore, our men should be trained to handle the high tech equipment with caution so that no wastage takes place.. The endeavour is to make ourselves ever ready to accept any challenge and improve operational efficiency to a very high order without compromising Flight Safety. This calls for a high degree of professionalism and the constant urge to excel. The security of our bases should be enhanced to counter any external and internal threat. The welfare of our men and families should be a major thrust area and efforts to be directed to improve the quality of life at our bases”.
During the present Commanders’ Conference discussions on the concept of operations of Western Air Command, planning and effective use of resources would take place apart from discussions on agenda points. As reported earlier, the Western Air Command recently has been involved in many path breaking activities such as operationalisation of DBO and Fukche in eastern Ladakh by transport aircraft, activation of Leh airfield by SU-30 MKI and commencement of night operations by fighter aircraft from forward airfields in J & K . What next, the deliberations of the next two days will tell. The Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major PVSM AVSM SC VM ADC would be addressing the WAC commanders on 25 Nov 08.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Economic Editors' Conference in National Media Centre
Finance Minister of India Shri P. Chidambaram to Inaugurate Economic Editors’ Conference
Press Information Bureau of India is organizing a three-day Annual Economic Editors’ Conference in the National Media Centre, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, India which will be inaugurated by the Finance Minister of India Shri P. Chidambaram tomorrow.
There will be separate sessions with the Ministers and senior officers of the key economic and infrastructure ministries participating in the Conference. The Conference will enable economic editors and journalists, invited from all over the country to interact with them and get a detailed background of the government’s policies and programmes. The media persons will get a comprehensive view of the overall economic scenario in the country and the latest initiatives and thrust areas of the Government. The Conference will also provide an opportunity to the Government to get feedback from the economic editors.
Ministries participating in the Conference include Planning Commission, Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Tourism, IT & Communication, Urban Development & Information & Broadcasting apart from the Finance Ministry. About 300 editors and financial writers are likely to attend the 3-day Conference.
Press Information Bureau of India is organizing a three-day Annual Economic Editors’ Conference in the National Media Centre, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, India which will be inaugurated by the Finance Minister of India Shri P. Chidambaram tomorrow.
There will be separate sessions with the Ministers and senior officers of the key economic and infrastructure ministries participating in the Conference. The Conference will enable economic editors and journalists, invited from all over the country to interact with them and get a detailed background of the government’s policies and programmes. The media persons will get a comprehensive view of the overall economic scenario in the country and the latest initiatives and thrust areas of the Government. The Conference will also provide an opportunity to the Government to get feedback from the economic editors.
Ministries participating in the Conference include Planning Commission, Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Tourism, IT & Communication, Urban Development & Information & Broadcasting apart from the Finance Ministry. About 300 editors and financial writers are likely to attend the 3-day Conference.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Raipur Chhattisgarh Full Of Surprises
View Larger Map of Raipur
Raipur is the biggest city in the Chhattisgarh region, fast developing into an important industrial center for large and middle scale industries. The Raipur region is in the south east part of the Mahanadi River valley, with Bilaspur to its north, Bastar to its south, Durg on the west and Raigarh on the east. Raipur, now the capital of Chhattisgarh state, India, is rich in mineral resources and has 2 major physical divisions: the Chhattisgarh plains and the hilly areas. The main crop is paddy. Raj Kumar College, one of Central India's prime schools, is in Raipur.
The Chhattisgarh state capital Raipur was originally established by the Kalchuri King, Ram Chandra, in the last quarter of the 14th century AD. For a long time it was the capital of the Haihaya kings.
Raipur has its distinctive culture. Raut Nacha, Dewar Nacha, Panthi and Soowa, Padki and Pandwani are some of musical styles and dance dramas. There is a typical style of singing the epic Mahabharata, called Pandwani. Women wear the sari in a style called kachhora . Jewellry worn includes baandha (a necklace made of coins) and suta (a silver necklace) around the neck; phuli in the nose; bali and khunti in the ears; ainthi (made of silver), patta and choora (bangles) on the forearm; kardhani (a belt-like ornament made of silver) on the waist; bichhiya on the toes. Men wear a koundhi (necklace of beads) and kadhah (bangle) for ceremonial occasions, like dances.
Raipur is the biggest city in the Chhattisgarh region, fast developing into an important industrial center for large and middle scale industries. The Raipur region is in the south east part of the Mahanadi River valley, with Bilaspur to its north, Bastar to its south, Durg on the west and Raigarh on the east. Raipur, now the capital of Chhattisgarh state, India, is rich in mineral resources and has 2 major physical divisions: the Chhattisgarh plains and the hilly areas. The main crop is paddy. Raj Kumar College, one of Central India's prime schools, is in Raipur.
The Chhattisgarh state capital Raipur was originally established by the Kalchuri King, Ram Chandra, in the last quarter of the 14th century AD. For a long time it was the capital of the Haihaya kings.
Raipur has its distinctive culture. Raut Nacha, Dewar Nacha, Panthi and Soowa, Padki and Pandwani are some of musical styles and dance dramas. There is a typical style of singing the epic Mahabharata, called Pandwani. Women wear the sari in a style called kachhora . Jewellry worn includes baandha (a necklace made of coins) and suta (a silver necklace) around the neck; phuli in the nose; bali and khunti in the ears; ainthi (made of silver), patta and choora (bangles) on the forearm; kardhani (a belt-like ornament made of silver) on the waist; bichhiya on the toes. Men wear a koundhi (necklace of beads) and kadhah (bangle) for ceremonial occasions, like dances.
Directors General of Police Conference
STATES SHOULD TRAIN SOME FORCES FOR COUNTERING TERRORISM, SAYS SHIVRAL PATIL in Conference of Directors General of Police and Inspectors General of Police
The Union Home Minister has called upon the States to train some of their forces for countering terrorist activities. He was inaugurating the two-day conference of Directors General of Police and Inspectors General of Police here today. Shri Shivraj Patil pointed out that the States which have trained their police for countering terrorist activities have achieved better results. Speaking at length about the measures required to be taken to counter terrorism, the Union Home Minister stressed the need for full and timely utilization of funds given by the Centre, filling up vacancies in the State police forces, preparation of plans to provide special security arrangements for cities, training of police forces in dealing with possible use of nuclear, biological and chemical devices, etc. by terrorists, appointment of a nodal officer in each State to ensure cooperation among States to control terrorism, and strengthening of special branches in the States. Emphasizing the need to adopt a multi-pronged approach to counter terrorism, Shri Patil said that the less-developed areas have to be better developed and injustice to any individual or section of the society has to be avoided. Drawing attention of the gathering to the inter-State dimension of terrorism, the Union Home Minster said that a central agency can be permitted to act in special kinds of cases. Ruling out the possibility of enacting a law like POTA, Shri Shivraj Patil said that if required, some provisions can be added to the existing laws to facilitate investigation of terrorism-related cases, but such provisions must not go against the basic principles of criminal justice system and human rights.
The Union Home Minister gave away the Police Medals for meritorious service to officers and men of the Intelligence Bureau on the occasion. Those present at the inaugural session included the Ministers of State for Home, Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal, Dr.Shakeel Ahmad and Ms. Radhika Selvi, National Security Advisor, Shri M.K.Narayanan, Cabinet Secretary, Shri K.M. Chandrasekhar, Union Home Secretary, Shri Madhukar Gupta, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Sh. P. C. Haldar and Chiefs of Central Police Forces.
The Union Home Minister has called upon the States to train some of their forces for countering terrorist activities. He was inaugurating the two-day conference of Directors General of Police and Inspectors General of Police here today. Shri Shivraj Patil pointed out that the States which have trained their police for countering terrorist activities have achieved better results. Speaking at length about the measures required to be taken to counter terrorism, the Union Home Minister stressed the need for full and timely utilization of funds given by the Centre, filling up vacancies in the State police forces, preparation of plans to provide special security arrangements for cities, training of police forces in dealing with possible use of nuclear, biological and chemical devices, etc. by terrorists, appointment of a nodal officer in each State to ensure cooperation among States to control terrorism, and strengthening of special branches in the States. Emphasizing the need to adopt a multi-pronged approach to counter terrorism, Shri Patil said that the less-developed areas have to be better developed and injustice to any individual or section of the society has to be avoided. Drawing attention of the gathering to the inter-State dimension of terrorism, the Union Home Minster said that a central agency can be permitted to act in special kinds of cases. Ruling out the possibility of enacting a law like POTA, Shri Shivraj Patil said that if required, some provisions can be added to the existing laws to facilitate investigation of terrorism-related cases, but such provisions must not go against the basic principles of criminal justice system and human rights.
The Union Home Minister gave away the Police Medals for meritorious service to officers and men of the Intelligence Bureau on the occasion. Those present at the inaugural session included the Ministers of State for Home, Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal, Dr.Shakeel Ahmad and Ms. Radhika Selvi, National Security Advisor, Shri M.K.Narayanan, Cabinet Secretary, Shri K.M. Chandrasekhar, Union Home Secretary, Shri Madhukar Gupta, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Sh. P. C. Haldar and Chiefs of Central Police Forces.
Rekha Lights the Ceremonial Lamp 39th IFFI at Goa
The legendary bollywood Actress Rekha inaugurated the Festival by lighting the ceremonial lamp in the august presence of the Governor of Goa, Dr. S. S. Sidhu, the Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and External Affairs, Shri Anand Sharma and the Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Digambar V. Kamat. The 39th International Film Festival of India (IFFI-08) started in star studded Kala Academy at Goa in a colourful function.The inaugural lamp was lit with the assistance of Telugu Actress of Goan origin Illina D.Cruz. Amrita Rao, an upcoming Actress hosted the Inaugural Function as the Master of Ceremony. The luminaries present were, inter alia, the Speaker of the Assembly, Shri Pratap Singh Rane, Panjim Mayor, Shri Tony Rodrigues bollywood doyens Randhir Kapur, Sachin, Tabu and Tisca Chopra.
Shri Anand Sharma said on the occasion that as the curtain rises from 39th edition of the festival, it brings together the film professionals from India and abroad at one platform to recognize the excellence in cinema, and creativity and dedication of hundreds of people who are involved in making films. The Minister said, cinema is a powerful medium of connecting people within the society, the nation and the continent. The journey of Indian cinema, which is almost a century old manifest how Indian cinema and its makers were deeply rooted in the reality of their time and displayed the same in their works.
Shri Sharma further mentioned, films are powerful way of conveying a message and have great ability of influencing masses. This, therefore, imposes a great responsibility on everyone associated with the film industry to look at how to use the power of cinema to do good for society through the portrayal of attitudes that help in building tolerant and harmonious societies, the Minister observed.
The Indian film industry is believed to be the largest in the world – producing over a thousand films a year in different languages. At a time when every sector of our economy is being influenced and in most cases taking the benefits of the currents of globalization, our film industry can utilize this opportunity too, the Minister added. He assured the film fraternity of all possible support from the Government that would lead to promotion of good cinema.
The Governor of Goa, Dr. S.S. Sidhu said that the good cinema reflects economic, cultural and social reality of the time. He observed that with the technological advancement, the film industry is poised to assume a greater responsibility of producing films capable of influencing the people towards creation of a better society. He felt that the fifth edition of IFFI at Goa is all set to take a great leap forward and carve a niche for itself internationally.
The Chief Minister, Shri Kamat while speaking on the occasion said that such international film festivals provide a platform for close interaction between Indian and international film makers, artistes, students of cinema etc. He reminded the august gathering of the contribution of Goa and the Goan people in the film industry. He said that Goa has taken a lead to form ‘cinephile’, a club of cinema lovers to help promote cinema in the State. He assured of State’s as well as people’s support to take IFFI to newer heights so that IFFI-Goa compares with the best of the film festivals in the world.
In her address, Smt. Sushma Singh, Secretary (I&B) mentioned that the International film Festival is one of the flagship programmes of the Ministry. The Ministry has considered cinema as a strong medium of communication for socio-economic development and as such has been taking steps to strengthen the film industry. IFFI is one such initiative of the Government which presents the best of international cinema and its makers. The confluence of cinema from all over the world at IFFI’s platform is crucial for the development of good cinema in this part of the globe. Secretary (I&B) further added that the increase in the number of delegates from 4000 last year to over 6000 is a testimony of growing popularity of our film festival.
Shri S.M. Khan, the Festival Director announced that in the section of the Cinema of the World, 65 films from more than 40 countries will be screened. In the Film India Worldwide segment of the International programming, Tandoori Love (Switzerland), Death without Consent (USA), Barah Aana and Chaurasta – Cross Roads of Love (India) will be presented. A specialized competition for feature films from Asia, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Africa is being organized. Two Indian entries — S. Priyadarshan’s Tamil film “Kanchivaram” and Ramesh Laxman More’s acclaimed Marathi film “Mahasatta” — have been selected in the “competition” section among 13 other films chosen from Bangladesh, Russia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Philippines, Argentina, China and Japan.
There are three Country Focuses this year viz. Russia, Switzerland and Iran. The Foreign Retrospectives are on films of Aki Kaurusmaki (Finland), John Landis (USA) and Wong Kar Wai (Hong Kong). 8 restored heritage film classics are there in the Film Heritage – Thematic “Women” section. Besides there will be a special tribute to Niki Karimi, he mentioned.
The Indian programming at IFFI - 2008 would be under seven different segments with screening of 83 films. Besides the section Indian Panorama wherein 26 Feature and 21 Non Feature films will be screened. The Indian programming would have Retrospective of Legendary Director Bimal Roy and L.V. Prasad. Udayer Pathe, Devdas, Bandini, Gautama the Buddha, Remembering of Bimal Roy and Do Bigha Zamin will be screened in Retrospective on centenary of Bimal Roy. Other Retrospective on legendary Director and Producer L. V. Prasad on his birth centenary will have the screening of Dadi Maa and Ek Duje ke Liye.
Under the Lifetime Classics, Mughle- A - Azam of Dilip Kumar, Hum Aapke Hai Kaun & Dil Ek Mandir of eminent singer Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, Anbe Vaa and Kittur Channamma of eminent Kannada Actress B. Saroja Devi and Kabuliwala of Tapan Sinha will be screened. G. P. Sippy, B. R. Chopra, F. C. Mehra, Jayshree Gadkar, Raghuvaran, Mahendra Kapoor, Jeeva, Sridhar, Vijay Tendulkar and Nabendu Ghosh will be paid tribute under Homage section.
The Jury members of Competition Section, Peter Chan, Mr. Marco Mueller, Ms. Niki Karimi, Mr. Lav Diaz and Ms. Tabassum Hashmi were felicitated during the Inaugural Function. Chinese film ‘Warlords’ was screened as the opening film. The Director of the opening film Mr. Peter Chan and the crew of the film were introduced to the audience before the screening of the film.
Shri Anand Sharma said on the occasion that as the curtain rises from 39th edition of the festival, it brings together the film professionals from India and abroad at one platform to recognize the excellence in cinema, and creativity and dedication of hundreds of people who are involved in making films. The Minister said, cinema is a powerful medium of connecting people within the society, the nation and the continent. The journey of Indian cinema, which is almost a century old manifest how Indian cinema and its makers were deeply rooted in the reality of their time and displayed the same in their works.
Shri Sharma further mentioned, films are powerful way of conveying a message and have great ability of influencing masses. This, therefore, imposes a great responsibility on everyone associated with the film industry to look at how to use the power of cinema to do good for society through the portrayal of attitudes that help in building tolerant and harmonious societies, the Minister observed.
The Indian film industry is believed to be the largest in the world – producing over a thousand films a year in different languages. At a time when every sector of our economy is being influenced and in most cases taking the benefits of the currents of globalization, our film industry can utilize this opportunity too, the Minister added. He assured the film fraternity of all possible support from the Government that would lead to promotion of good cinema.
The Governor of Goa, Dr. S.S. Sidhu said that the good cinema reflects economic, cultural and social reality of the time. He observed that with the technological advancement, the film industry is poised to assume a greater responsibility of producing films capable of influencing the people towards creation of a better society. He felt that the fifth edition of IFFI at Goa is all set to take a great leap forward and carve a niche for itself internationally.
The Chief Minister, Shri Kamat while speaking on the occasion said that such international film festivals provide a platform for close interaction between Indian and international film makers, artistes, students of cinema etc. He reminded the august gathering of the contribution of Goa and the Goan people in the film industry. He said that Goa has taken a lead to form ‘cinephile’, a club of cinema lovers to help promote cinema in the State. He assured of State’s as well as people’s support to take IFFI to newer heights so that IFFI-Goa compares with the best of the film festivals in the world.
In her address, Smt. Sushma Singh, Secretary (I&B) mentioned that the International film Festival is one of the flagship programmes of the Ministry. The Ministry has considered cinema as a strong medium of communication for socio-economic development and as such has been taking steps to strengthen the film industry. IFFI is one such initiative of the Government which presents the best of international cinema and its makers. The confluence of cinema from all over the world at IFFI’s platform is crucial for the development of good cinema in this part of the globe. Secretary (I&B) further added that the increase in the number of delegates from 4000 last year to over 6000 is a testimony of growing popularity of our film festival.
Shri S.M. Khan, the Festival Director announced that in the section of the Cinema of the World, 65 films from more than 40 countries will be screened. In the Film India Worldwide segment of the International programming, Tandoori Love (Switzerland), Death without Consent (USA), Barah Aana and Chaurasta – Cross Roads of Love (India) will be presented. A specialized competition for feature films from Asia, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Africa is being organized. Two Indian entries — S. Priyadarshan’s Tamil film “Kanchivaram” and Ramesh Laxman More’s acclaimed Marathi film “Mahasatta” — have been selected in the “competition” section among 13 other films chosen from Bangladesh, Russia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Philippines, Argentina, China and Japan.
There are three Country Focuses this year viz. Russia, Switzerland and Iran. The Foreign Retrospectives are on films of Aki Kaurusmaki (Finland), John Landis (USA) and Wong Kar Wai (Hong Kong). 8 restored heritage film classics are there in the Film Heritage – Thematic “Women” section. Besides there will be a special tribute to Niki Karimi, he mentioned.
The Indian programming at IFFI - 2008 would be under seven different segments with screening of 83 films. Besides the section Indian Panorama wherein 26 Feature and 21 Non Feature films will be screened. The Indian programming would have Retrospective of Legendary Director Bimal Roy and L.V. Prasad. Udayer Pathe, Devdas, Bandini, Gautama the Buddha, Remembering of Bimal Roy and Do Bigha Zamin will be screened in Retrospective on centenary of Bimal Roy. Other Retrospective on legendary Director and Producer L. V. Prasad on his birth centenary will have the screening of Dadi Maa and Ek Duje ke Liye.
Under the Lifetime Classics, Mughle- A - Azam of Dilip Kumar, Hum Aapke Hai Kaun & Dil Ek Mandir of eminent singer Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, Anbe Vaa and Kittur Channamma of eminent Kannada Actress B. Saroja Devi and Kabuliwala of Tapan Sinha will be screened. G. P. Sippy, B. R. Chopra, F. C. Mehra, Jayshree Gadkar, Raghuvaran, Mahendra Kapoor, Jeeva, Sridhar, Vijay Tendulkar and Nabendu Ghosh will be paid tribute under Homage section.
The Jury members of Competition Section, Peter Chan, Mr. Marco Mueller, Ms. Niki Karimi, Mr. Lav Diaz and Ms. Tabassum Hashmi were felicitated during the Inaugural Function. Chinese film ‘Warlords’ was screened as the opening film. The Director of the opening film Mr. Peter Chan and the crew of the film were introduced to the audience before the screening of the film.
'The Freeride Experience' takes guests to pristine snow
- As many as 57 pistes stretch across the snow-covered slopes of the local mountains of the holiday region Zell am See-Kaprun. The different levels of difficulty indicated by the colours blue, red, and black make sure that every winter sports enthusiast finds an appropriate challenge. In total, skiers and snowboarders can indulge in 138 kilometres of pistes. For everyone who loves snow in its purest form, there are some additional kilometres waiting. Taking advantage of 'The Freeride Experience', sports-loving holidaymakers can get to know Zell am See-Kaprun from a completely different angle this winter season. From January 2009 they can head for the virgin backcountry to enjoy downhill runs off the prepared pistes. This is possible thanks to Volker Hölzl and his team of 'The Freeride Experience'.Freeriding - that's going skiing in untouched nature where the covering of snow is absolutely pristine and no traces scar the face of the wintry landscape. Only very few locals know of such places. One of them is Volker Hölzl. The 39-year-old was born and bred in Zell am See and has been roaming the mountains and the deep snow of the region for many years. By offering 'The Freeride Experience', he wants others to enjoy this amazing adventure as well. From 8th January Hölzl and his colleagues Nici Winterstein, and Tom and Matthias Mayr invite guests to participate in three weekend trips to the back country.
The weekend programme starts on Thursday. In the evening, the certified guides go through Friday's programme in the wide open nature with the participants. The groups comprise a maximum of seven people who are taken to the backcountry by an experienced guide. But before they set out, the group is equipped with the latest first-class models 'Titan Argos IQ' and 'Titan Cronus IQ' from the renowned manufacturer Blizzard. Furthermore, the hired equipment includes special freeride poles, avalanche transceivers and shovels. In order to guarantee for better and quicker service, Hölzl and his team have established cooperation with the close-knit network of regional Intersport branches. Participants receive competent counselling in as many as five shops in the region.
Once the participants are properly equipped, the adventure can begin. At 8.30 am the small groups (as many as three each weekend) set out into nature. Beginners and pros go in separate groups, of course. The guides will not decide on a certain tour in advance but condition it on the weather and the region where they are sure to find the thickest blankets of snow on that day. The tours last until 4 pm approximately. For lunch, the groups drop in at an Alpine hut before Volker Hölzl accompanies his guests to the most charming inns and bars of the region in the evenings.
Anyone who would love to indulge in deep powder snow can choose from three different weekends (8th to 11th, 15th to 18th, and 22nd to 25th January 2009). All you have to bring are ski goggles, weather-proof clothes and some enthusiasm about enjoying an exciting new experience in up to 200 runs between 700 to 3,200 metres of altitude - wearing a helmet is advisable. In Zell am See-Kaprun, the heart of the pleasure of freeriding is the local mountain of Kitzsteinhorn. But for 249 euros you can also venture out into the deep snow on the neighbouring summits of the province of Salzburg for one unforgettable weekend.
For more information on 'The Freeride Experience' please visit the organizer's homepage at www.freeride-experience.at.
The holiday region of Zell am See-Kaprun with its 14,000 beds and two million overnight stays per year is one of the most important holiday destinations in Austria. The beautiful flora and fauna in the Alpine panorama and Lake Zell guarantee relaxation and well-being. Golfing, hiking, and bathing are at the focus for the summer time programme, but visitors can choose from more than 40 other activities as well. During the cold season, fun on skis and boards make sure that there is no dull moment. Skiers can comfortably reach the 136 kilometres of slopes covered with powder snow by one of the 56 lifts. Snowboarders enjoy the perfect conditions of the Snowpark on the 2,600-metre-high glacier plateau. Even in the summer you can swish down the slopes here. And family-friendliness is a top priority in Zell am See and Kaprun. For this reason, the region has already received various awards. (openPR)
In a fit of irony, iPhone pirating app gets pirated
The Hackulous pirating site is dedicated to cracking and distributing iPhone applications without paying any money to their developers.
In what can only be described as hilarious irony, a beta version of that application was itself pirated and released before it could enter a full open-source distribution.
Read Full Story | Digg The Story
In what can only be described as hilarious irony, a beta version of that application was itself pirated and released before it could enter a full open-source distribution.
Read Full Story | Digg The Story
Hali Mela at Hali Park, Panipat
The ‘Hali Mela’ at Hali Park, Panipat inaugurated by the Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari. Altaf Hussain Hali was an eminent scholar who added new dimensions to Urdu literature, delivering inaugural address, the Vice President said. Altaf Hussain was a pioneer of the social and educational advancement amongst Muslims of India. Altaf Hussain lived in troubled times. Altaf Hussain witnessed the loss of freedom, the subjection of India to the British rule, and the totality of its implications for society. Altaf Hussain's principal contribution to Urdu literature lies in his natural, matter-of-fact style, in his pioneering work on literary criticism and in his very effective use of the quatrain (Rubai) as a form of poetry to convey a moral message.
The Vice President said that Hali was associated with Syed Ahmed Khan and the Aligarh Movement. His views on education are best reflected in his 1907 address to the annual session of All India Muslim Educational Conference. He identified the relevance of modern education to employment and urged the Muslims to make their own efforts to redress the situation. He advised Muslim youth not to confine their quest to government jobs but to seek expression of their talent and genius in crafts and in technical education. He quoted with approval a European scholar who said that nations that depend for livelihood on government jobs lose their creativity and are doomed while those who opt for industry and trade prosper.
The Vice President said that Hali was associated with Syed Ahmed Khan and the Aligarh Movement. His views on education are best reflected in his 1907 address to the annual session of All India Muslim Educational Conference. He identified the relevance of modern education to employment and urged the Muslims to make their own efforts to redress the situation. He advised Muslim youth not to confine their quest to government jobs but to seek expression of their talent and genius in crafts and in technical education. He quoted with approval a European scholar who said that nations that depend for livelihood on government jobs lose their creativity and are doomed while those who opt for industry and trade prosper.
Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder of Apple in AmericanLife TV Exclusive Screening
AmericanLife TV Network Presents Exclusive Screening of "Moments That Changed Us" -- a Documentary on Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder of Apple ComputerExclusive Screening Hosted by Acclaimed Journalist Nick Clooney Will Be Held at the Newseum on November 28th
WASHINGTON, DC - AmericanLife TV (ALN), the cable network devoted to the Baby Boomer generation, announced today they will present an exclusive screening of a new documentary, "Moments That Changed Us: Steve Wozniak" -- and the beginnings of the computer revolution, a revealing interview with co-founder Steve Wozniak (aka "The Woz"), the genius behind the design of Apple II. The exclusive screening will be hosted by acclaimed journalist Nick Clooney and held at the prestigious "Newseum" on Friday, November 28, 2008 (2:30p.m.-3:30p.m.). This special will premiere on ALN December 5th at 9p.m. Eastern with an encore at 11p.m. Eastern / 8p.m. Pacific.
Photo shows Steve Wozniak 'The Woz' Creator of the Apple II Computer."Moments That Changed Us" is a series of groundbreaking specials presented by AmericanLife TV that re-tells the defining times of the Baby Boom Generation. The series is hosted by Nick Clooney, veteran journalist and father of actor, George Clooney. Each special presents an in-depth interview with a leading figure in a signature moment that changed our lives, our culture and our history.
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple Computers in 1976 and made an incredible creative team, inventing the first personal home computers. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was interviewed by Nick Clooney and speaks candidly in this rare interview on the show. This special will feature the story of Apple, and evolution and effects on the baby boomer generation, and the genius of Steve Wozniak as a computer engineer and designer and how he came to design the Apple II, which was one of the first practical desktop computers that could be used in businesses, schools and the home.
"Today we take computers for granted; in fact my kids can't conceive of a world without them," said Mark Ringwald, AmericanLife TV's Vice President of Programming, "yet in reality the information age began just a few short years ago. Through Steve, this 'Moments' documentary lets us re-experience the sense of wonder and awe in discovering a machine that brought the future into our homes."
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak are among the most well-known revolutionaries of the computing age. Their invention of the first true personal computer changed baby boomers' ideas of what a computer could look like and what it could do for them to make their lives easier and their work more efficient. Apple continues to be one of the best-known and most popular brands of personal computing devices in the world.
Both Wozniak and Jobs have been recognized with countless awards and honors, including National Medals of Technology, awarded in 1985 by then-President Ronald Reagan. Wozniak was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame in 2000 and is a past recipient of the Heinz Award for Technology, The Economy and Employment.
AmericanLife TV Network™ (www.americanlifetv.com) is the cable network devoted to America's baby boomer generation. The network delivers classic TV, lifestyle, original and socially responsible programming that addresses compelling issues important to today's mature audience. ALN offers VOD and broadband programming. For more information, or to get AmericanLife TV Network™ call your local cable or satellite provider or visit us at www.americanlifetv.com --(Marketwire - November 21, 2008)
39th IFFI – 2008 - Warlords
39th International Film Festival of India commences today at Panjim, Goa with the screening of the Period Chinese Film, ‘Warlords’, set in the year 1850s portraying Taiping rebellion against the Qing Dynasty. The synopsis of the film and a short brief about the Director of the film are as follows:
WARLORDS - Hong Kong - 2007, 35 mm, Colour, 127 mins, Mandarin Chinese
Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Screenplay: Xu Lan, Chun Tin Nam, Aubrey Lam, Huang Jian Xin, Jojo Hui,
He Jiping, Guo Jun Li, James Yuen
Cinematography: Arthur Wong
Editor: Wenders Li
Music: Chan Kwong Wing, Peter Kam, Chatchai Pongprapaphan
Cast: Jet Li (Gen Pang), Andy Lau (Zhao Er-Hu),
Takeshi Kaneshiro (Jiang Wu-Yang), Xu Jinglei (Lian)
Festivals & Awards
London, San Francisco
In the year 1850, the suffering of the 430 million Chinese people under the corrupt rule of the Qing dynasty set the stage for the Taiping Rebellion. During the chaos of the decade long civil war, 50 million people died from either hunger or battle. In the fall of 1870, General Pang stands high atop the city walls fully attired in governor's robes. Peering down upon the site of his inauguration, he is filled with dreams and ambition. Pang has taken a path of no return; had he chosen differently, he might have been one of the heroes to later overthrow the corrupt Qing imperial regime and establish a new China. He could have changed the course of history……But two bandits and a woman have changed the course of his life - helping him achieve his goal, but ultimately causing his demise. The two bandits are his sworn blood brothers: Zhao Er-Hu and Jiang Wu-Yang. The woman who comes between them is Zhao's wife Lian. Peter Chan has been quoted as saying that the film, mounted on an epic scale and marked by spectacular battle scenes and great visuals, was influenced by the late Chang Cheh's 1973 film The Blood Brothers, but also that it was not a remake.
Peter Ho-Sun Chan co-founded the United Filmmakers Organization (UFO) in Hong Kong in the early 1990s, and produced a solid track record of box office and critical hits. Chan has made an indelible mark on both sides of the Pacific with his Hong Kong comedy-dramas Alan and Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye; Tom, Dick & Harry and He's a Women, She's a Man. His commercially and critically acclaimed Comrades: Almost a Love Story was named one of the Ten Best Movies of 1997 by Time Magazine and swept a record-breaking nine Hong Kong Film Awards. In 1998, he was voted one of
the Top Ten Helmers to watch by Variety. Chan also directed the romantic comedy The ve Letter for Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks SKG in 1999. Chan furthered his vision or international collaborations by establishing his own company, Applause Pictures Ltd, in year 2000. The films produced include: Jan Dara (Thailand-Hong Kong), One Fine ring ay (Japan-Korea-Hong Kong), The Eye (Singapore-Thailand-Hong Kong), Three Thailand-Korea-Hong Kong), Golden Chicken and its sequel Golden Chicken 2, The Eye 2 (Thailand-Singapore-Hong Kong), Three…Extremes (Japan-Korea-Hong Kong), The Eye Infinity and McDull, The Alumni (Hong Kong-China). In 2005, Chan widened his range by embarking on Hong Kong-China co-productions. Perhaps Love, his first collaboration with film professionals on the Mainland, became one of the best-selling Chinese films in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan that year, picking up 29 honors at nine awards ceremonies. It was also selected as Hong Kong's entry to the 78th Annual Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. In 2007, Chan produced Derek Yee's Protégé and directed The Warlords. The two films took the top two spots as the highest grossing co-productions of the year both in Hong Kong and China.
WARLORDS - Hong Kong - 2007, 35 mm, Colour, 127 mins, Mandarin Chinese
Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Screenplay: Xu Lan, Chun Tin Nam, Aubrey Lam, Huang Jian Xin, Jojo Hui,
He Jiping, Guo Jun Li, James Yuen
Cinematography: Arthur Wong
Editor: Wenders Li
Music: Chan Kwong Wing, Peter Kam, Chatchai Pongprapaphan
Cast: Jet Li (Gen Pang), Andy Lau (Zhao Er-Hu),
Takeshi Kaneshiro (Jiang Wu-Yang), Xu Jinglei (Lian)
Festivals & Awards
London, San Francisco
In the year 1850, the suffering of the 430 million Chinese people under the corrupt rule of the Qing dynasty set the stage for the Taiping Rebellion. During the chaos of the decade long civil war, 50 million people died from either hunger or battle. In the fall of 1870, General Pang stands high atop the city walls fully attired in governor's robes. Peering down upon the site of his inauguration, he is filled with dreams and ambition. Pang has taken a path of no return; had he chosen differently, he might have been one of the heroes to later overthrow the corrupt Qing imperial regime and establish a new China. He could have changed the course of history……But two bandits and a woman have changed the course of his life - helping him achieve his goal, but ultimately causing his demise. The two bandits are his sworn blood brothers: Zhao Er-Hu and Jiang Wu-Yang. The woman who comes between them is Zhao's wife Lian. Peter Chan has been quoted as saying that the film, mounted on an epic scale and marked by spectacular battle scenes and great visuals, was influenced by the late Chang Cheh's 1973 film The Blood Brothers, but also that it was not a remake.
Peter Ho-Sun Chan co-founded the United Filmmakers Organization (UFO) in Hong Kong in the early 1990s, and produced a solid track record of box office and critical hits. Chan has made an indelible mark on both sides of the Pacific with his Hong Kong comedy-dramas Alan and Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye; Tom, Dick & Harry and He's a Women, She's a Man. His commercially and critically acclaimed Comrades: Almost a Love Story was named one of the Ten Best Movies of 1997 by Time Magazine and swept a record-breaking nine Hong Kong Film Awards. In 1998, he was voted one of
the Top Ten Helmers to watch by Variety. Chan also directed the romantic comedy The ve Letter for Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks SKG in 1999. Chan furthered his vision or international collaborations by establishing his own company, Applause Pictures Ltd, in year 2000. The films produced include: Jan Dara (Thailand-Hong Kong), One Fine ring ay (Japan-Korea-Hong Kong), The Eye (Singapore-Thailand-Hong Kong), Three Thailand-Korea-Hong Kong), Golden Chicken and its sequel Golden Chicken 2, The Eye 2 (Thailand-Singapore-Hong Kong), Three…Extremes (Japan-Korea-Hong Kong), The Eye Infinity and McDull, The Alumni (Hong Kong-China). In 2005, Chan widened his range by embarking on Hong Kong-China co-productions. Perhaps Love, his first collaboration with film professionals on the Mainland, became one of the best-selling Chinese films in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan that year, picking up 29 honors at nine awards ceremonies. It was also selected as Hong Kong's entry to the 78th Annual Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. In 2007, Chan produced Derek Yee's Protégé and directed The Warlords. The two films took the top two spots as the highest grossing co-productions of the year both in Hong Kong and China.
भारतीय पैनोरमा - गुलमोहर
मलयालम - 100 मिनट - 35 मि.मी. - रंगीन
निर्माता ------------ जयराज
निर्देशक और पटकथा --- दीदी दामोदरन
छायांकन ----------- एम.जे. राधाकृष्णन
संपादन ------------ विजय संकर
संगीत ------------- जॉनसन
पात्र --------------- रणजीत, मीनू, मैथ्यू, सिद्दीकी
आप पद्दलित होने के खिलाफ नृशंसता से लड़ने से भला कितनी दूर भागेंगे? आप अपने कामरेडों के उत्साह को किस हद तक पुनर्जीवित कर पाएंगे।
गुलमोहर ऐसे व्यक्ति की कहानी है जो बहुत दूर, अपनी राह से भी बहूत दूर उस विचारधारा में रहने गया जिसमें वह विश्वास करता है। वह असफल हो गया, इसलिए उसका विजन भी नाकाम हो गया, मगर उसने अपनी लड्ने की क्षमता कभी नहीं खोई। सच्चा योध्दा उनके लिए लड़ता है जो हर बार गिरकर फिर खड़े जो जाते हैं।
इंदुचूदान का सफर उसकी युवावस्था के जोश में पढ़ाई के दिनों से शुरू होता है और भव्य खामोशी मगर प्रतिरोध के साथ बुढ़ाने तक जारी रहता है। वर्तमान से लेकर उस गड़बड़ी तक तथा देश में आपातकाल के बाद चिंता के उस दौरे तक हम यही देखते हैं।
इंदुचूदान लेखक, योध्दा और प्रेमी है, वह ऐसे पुनरूत्थान का सपना देखता है जो कभी नहीं आया। वह अपनी प्रेमिका का भी ख्वाब देखता है, जिसे वह गुलमोहर के फूलों के बीच पीछे छोड़ आया है। दुर्भाग्य से वह भी कभी नहीं आती।
इनमें से कोई भी उसे पराजित नहीं कर पाएगा, यहां तक कि पुलिस भी पूछताछ के दौरान शारीरिक प्रहार भी उसे पराजित नहीं कर पाता। परंतु वह उस वक्त बिखर जाता है जब उसके कामरेड किसी कारण अपना जीवन बलिदान कर देते हैं। वह जेल के बाद वापस लौटकर एकान्तवास में चला जाता है और एक आदर्शवादी स्कूल टीचर के रूप में कहानी में लौटता है।
क्रांतिकारियों के ख्वाबों की तरह उसे भी अपने सपनों के लिए कट्टर जुनून है। इंदुचूदान अपने कामरेड के लिए, उस जनता के लिए जिसकी जमीन छीन ली गई और जो ना उम्मीद है गुलमोहर की तरह मोर्चाबंदी करता है। यह जंग जीतने के लिए, उसे अपने पूर्णतया समर्पित करना होगा।
इस शाश्वत दुविधा के समक्ष, क्या वह हार मान जाएगा या जोश से उठ खड़ा होगा?
निर्माता ------------ जयराज
निर्देशक और पटकथा --- दीदी दामोदरन
छायांकन ----------- एम.जे. राधाकृष्णन
संपादन ------------ विजय संकर
संगीत ------------- जॉनसन
पात्र --------------- रणजीत, मीनू, मैथ्यू, सिद्दीकी
आप पद्दलित होने के खिलाफ नृशंसता से लड़ने से भला कितनी दूर भागेंगे? आप अपने कामरेडों के उत्साह को किस हद तक पुनर्जीवित कर पाएंगे।
गुलमोहर ऐसे व्यक्ति की कहानी है जो बहुत दूर, अपनी राह से भी बहूत दूर उस विचारधारा में रहने गया जिसमें वह विश्वास करता है। वह असफल हो गया, इसलिए उसका विजन भी नाकाम हो गया, मगर उसने अपनी लड्ने की क्षमता कभी नहीं खोई। सच्चा योध्दा उनके लिए लड़ता है जो हर बार गिरकर फिर खड़े जो जाते हैं।
इंदुचूदान का सफर उसकी युवावस्था के जोश में पढ़ाई के दिनों से शुरू होता है और भव्य खामोशी मगर प्रतिरोध के साथ बुढ़ाने तक जारी रहता है। वर्तमान से लेकर उस गड़बड़ी तक तथा देश में आपातकाल के बाद चिंता के उस दौरे तक हम यही देखते हैं।
इंदुचूदान लेखक, योध्दा और प्रेमी है, वह ऐसे पुनरूत्थान का सपना देखता है जो कभी नहीं आया। वह अपनी प्रेमिका का भी ख्वाब देखता है, जिसे वह गुलमोहर के फूलों के बीच पीछे छोड़ आया है। दुर्भाग्य से वह भी कभी नहीं आती।
इनमें से कोई भी उसे पराजित नहीं कर पाएगा, यहां तक कि पुलिस भी पूछताछ के दौरान शारीरिक प्रहार भी उसे पराजित नहीं कर पाता। परंतु वह उस वक्त बिखर जाता है जब उसके कामरेड किसी कारण अपना जीवन बलिदान कर देते हैं। वह जेल के बाद वापस लौटकर एकान्तवास में चला जाता है और एक आदर्शवादी स्कूल टीचर के रूप में कहानी में लौटता है।
क्रांतिकारियों के ख्वाबों की तरह उसे भी अपने सपनों के लिए कट्टर जुनून है। इंदुचूदान अपने कामरेड के लिए, उस जनता के लिए जिसकी जमीन छीन ली गई और जो ना उम्मीद है गुलमोहर की तरह मोर्चाबंदी करता है। यह जंग जीतने के लिए, उसे अपने पूर्णतया समर्पित करना होगा।
इस शाश्वत दुविधा के समक्ष, क्या वह हार मान जाएगा या जोश से उठ खड़ा होगा?
Solar Attic Fan
HUDSON, MA - Solar Attic Fan is for you here with following tools --- Anxious to choose the proper size and model solar attic fan, consumers have flocked to Solar Attic Fan Sizer, invented by H-Mac Systems, a solar attic fan retailer.
-- Solar Attic Fan Sizer recommends solar attic fans based on a checklist of criteria: attic length, attic width, attic height, and air changes per hour. The tool is designed to help people understand which attic fans will deliver the ventilation they need.
-- As part of the Solar Attic Fan Info site, the Solar Attic Fan Sizer is complemented by Solar Attic Fan Info Center pages offering detailed information on choosing, purchasing, installing, and operating a solar attic fan.
Use this link to access the Solar Attic Fan Sizer Tool
Use this link to access H-Mac's Company News Blog
What Kevin McErlean, H-Mac Systems, Inc. says "We built the Solar Attic Fan Sizer initially just for internal use, but liked it so much we decided to open it up to see if others would find it useful. We made the conscious decision not to charge for it because we thought it was a cool tool to contribute to the greater community."
Jon Haher, H-Mac Systems, Inc. asserts "The idea for Solar Attic Fan Sizer came from what was originally a manual process for solar attic fan sizing. Over time we figured out ways to automate that process, and then on a whim launched Solar Attic Fan Sizer to see if others would find it useful. It's important to properly select a solar attic fan and Solar Attic Fan Sizer does that for quickly and easily for free. The success we've seen proves people do find it quite valuable and effective."
H-Mac Systems, Inc. is a retailer offering low prices and free shipping on air conditioners, fans, heaters, coils, swamp coolers, and curbs. With tools to quickly and easily choose and price products, H-Mac Systems is the best way for businesses and homeowners to select and purchase heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment. Based in Hudson, MA, H-Mac Systems can be found at Store.h-mac.com and Shophmac.com and the Solar Attic Fan Sizer Tool is available at Solar-attic-fan-info.com/solar-attic-fan-sizer. --(Marketwire - November 21, 2008)
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh, a 21st century State, came into being on November 1, 2000. Larger than Tamil Nadu, it is just the right size, and is also fortunate to have a low population density. Good Governance is the highest priority in this Fast Track State. There is both policy stability as well as political stability. Government has been kept small and the State is in excellent fiscal health.
Chhattisgarh is truly a land of opportunities. With all major minerals including diamonds in abundance, it is the richest State in mineral resources. There are mega industries in Steel, Aluminium and Cement. Chhattisgarh contributes substantially to the Human Resources of India. Several hundred students from the State qualify for admissions in prestigious academic institutions every year. Bhilai, the knowledge capital of the State, alone sends over 50 students to the elite Indian Institutes of Technology every year. A unique Private Universities Act has been passed to attract investments in quality higher-education.
Its large power surplus is attracting power-intensive industries, and the State is poised to become the power-hub of the nation. Its central location helps easy power transmission to any part of the country. The State is supplying power to Delhi ,Gujarat and Karnataka, among others. Chhattisgarh ranks high in terms of good industrial relations and labour productivity. There has been no labour unrest in either Bhilai or Korba, the Power capital, for several decades.
12% of India's forests are in Chhattisgarh, and 44% of the State's land is under forests. Identified as one of the richest bio-diversity habitats, the Green State of Chhattisgarh has the densest forests in India, rich wildlife, and above all, over 200 non-timber forest products, with tremendous potential for value addition.
The City of Bhilai with its modern and cosmopolitan lifestyle is just 30 km from Raipur, the State capital. A new world-class capital city is to come up near Raipur's airport. Raipur is at the centre of the rail and road routes between Mumbai and Kolkata, and is well connected to Delhi and Chennai. Bilaspur's Railway Division is the most profitable Railway operation in the country, contributing 17% of the revenues of Indian Railways.
One third of Chhattisgarh's population is of tribes, mostly in the thickly forested areas in the North and South. The central plains of Chhattisgarh are known as the “Rice Bowl” of Central India. Female literacy has doubled in the last decade, and male literacy is higher than India's average. Gender ratio is next only to Kerala.
Bastar is known the world over for its unique and distinctive tribal heritage. The Bastar Dassera is the traditional celebration of the gaiety of our tribals. All of Chhattisgarh has many virgin, unexplored tourism destinations.
Above all, the State's biggest asset is its 208 lakh people. The people are friendly, open, warm and industrious. Chhattisgarh has an enviable record of social harmony and maintenance of public order. Upholding the Rule of Law is top priority for the Government.
“Our focus is on two areas- good governance and good infrastructure. If we can provide these two, the rest will follow.”
For further details:
Director, Public Relations
Jansampark Chowk,
Raipur 492 001, Chhattisgarh, India
(+91-771) 221612-14, 229402 Fax
email: info@cg.nic.in
website : http://chhattisgarh.nic.in
Chhattisgarh is truly a land of opportunities. With all major minerals including diamonds in abundance, it is the richest State in mineral resources. There are mega industries in Steel, Aluminium and Cement. Chhattisgarh contributes substantially to the Human Resources of India. Several hundred students from the State qualify for admissions in prestigious academic institutions every year. Bhilai, the knowledge capital of the State, alone sends over 50 students to the elite Indian Institutes of Technology every year. A unique Private Universities Act has been passed to attract investments in quality higher-education.
Its large power surplus is attracting power-intensive industries, and the State is poised to become the power-hub of the nation. Its central location helps easy power transmission to any part of the country. The State is supplying power to Delhi ,Gujarat and Karnataka, among others. Chhattisgarh ranks high in terms of good industrial relations and labour productivity. There has been no labour unrest in either Bhilai or Korba, the Power capital, for several decades.
12% of India's forests are in Chhattisgarh, and 44% of the State's land is under forests. Identified as one of the richest bio-diversity habitats, the Green State of Chhattisgarh has the densest forests in India, rich wildlife, and above all, over 200 non-timber forest products, with tremendous potential for value addition.
The City of Bhilai with its modern and cosmopolitan lifestyle is just 30 km from Raipur, the State capital. A new world-class capital city is to come up near Raipur's airport. Raipur is at the centre of the rail and road routes between Mumbai and Kolkata, and is well connected to Delhi and Chennai. Bilaspur's Railway Division is the most profitable Railway operation in the country, contributing 17% of the revenues of Indian Railways.
One third of Chhattisgarh's population is of tribes, mostly in the thickly forested areas in the North and South. The central plains of Chhattisgarh are known as the “Rice Bowl” of Central India. Female literacy has doubled in the last decade, and male literacy is higher than India's average. Gender ratio is next only to Kerala.
Bastar is known the world over for its unique and distinctive tribal heritage. The Bastar Dassera is the traditional celebration of the gaiety of our tribals. All of Chhattisgarh has many virgin, unexplored tourism destinations.
Above all, the State's biggest asset is its 208 lakh people. The people are friendly, open, warm and industrious. Chhattisgarh has an enviable record of social harmony and maintenance of public order. Upholding the Rule of Law is top priority for the Government.
“Our focus is on two areas- good governance and good infrastructure. If we can provide these two, the rest will follow.”
For further details:
Director, Public Relations
Jansampark Chowk,
Raipur 492 001, Chhattisgarh, India
(+91-771) 221612-14, 229402 Fax
email: info@cg.nic.in
website : http://chhattisgarh.nic.in
National Treasury Management Agency India
The report of the internal working group on establishing a National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) has been shared with the Regulators, state governments and other relevant agencies for their comments.
It has also been put on the website of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. (http://finmin.nic.in/reports/index.html).
The comments on the report of the internal working group on establishing a National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) as well as on the draft bill are invited by 31st December, 2008 at the following email id: am.bajaj@nic.in and shefali.dhingra@nic.in .
In its annual report of 2000-01, Reserve Bank of India had recommended the setting up of an autonomous Debt Management Office (DMO). A similar recommendation was made by the Report of the High Powered Expert Committee on making Mumbai an International Financial Centre (http://finmin.nic.in/reports/index.html) and more recently the Report of the Committee on Financial Sector Reforms (draft) chaired by Prof. Raghuram Rajan and brought out by the Planning Commission.
In the 2007-08 Budget Speech, Finance Minister of India had stated:
“World over debt management is distinct from monetary management. The establishment of a DMO in the government has been advocated for some time. The fiscal consolidation achieved so far has encouraged us to take the first step. Accordingly, I propose to set up an autonomous DMO and, in the first phase, a Middle Office will be set up to facilitate the transition to a full-fledged DMO”.
In light of these developments, the Ministry of Finance constituted an Internal Working Group to suggest how best to move forward on establishing a DMO. After examining arrangements for public debt management in a number of countries, the Working Group has recommended the establishment of a statutory body to perform the government debt and cash management functions in India. The report of the group envisions an agency that will manage debt for the Centre and States, with the overarching objectives of meeting their financing needs, while minimising borrowing costs within acceptable levels of risk. The report has proposed a draft Bill to create a National Treasury Management Agency.
It has also been put on the website of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. (http://finmin.nic.in/reports/index.html).
The comments on the report of the internal working group on establishing a National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) as well as on the draft bill are invited by 31st December, 2008 at the following email id: am.bajaj@nic.in and shefali.dhingra@nic.in .
In its annual report of 2000-01, Reserve Bank of India had recommended the setting up of an autonomous Debt Management Office (DMO). A similar recommendation was made by the Report of the High Powered Expert Committee on making Mumbai an International Financial Centre (http://finmin.nic.in/reports/index.html) and more recently the Report of the Committee on Financial Sector Reforms (draft) chaired by Prof. Raghuram Rajan and brought out by the Planning Commission.
In the 2007-08 Budget Speech, Finance Minister of India had stated:
“World over debt management is distinct from monetary management. The establishment of a DMO in the government has been advocated for some time. The fiscal consolidation achieved so far has encouraged us to take the first step. Accordingly, I propose to set up an autonomous DMO and, in the first phase, a Middle Office will be set up to facilitate the transition to a full-fledged DMO”.
In light of these developments, the Ministry of Finance constituted an Internal Working Group to suggest how best to move forward on establishing a DMO. After examining arrangements for public debt management in a number of countries, the Working Group has recommended the establishment of a statutory body to perform the government debt and cash management functions in India. The report of the group envisions an agency that will manage debt for the Centre and States, with the overarching objectives of meeting their financing needs, while minimising borrowing costs within acceptable levels of risk. The report has proposed a draft Bill to create a National Treasury Management Agency.
BlackBerry Storm Blows in US Verizon Store
New York Metro Area Customers Line Up as BlackBerry Storm Blows Into Verizon Wireless Communications StoresNEW YORK, Hundreds of customers lined up outside Verizon Wireless Communications Stores before the sun came up today, some braving cold temperatures, to be the first to buy the new
BlackBerry(R) Storm(TM), available exclusively in the U.S. from Verizon Wireless.
Long lines formed outside Communications Stores throughout the New York/New Jersey Metro area beginning as early as 3AM today.
The world's first "clickable" touch screen BlackBerry is available starting today -- and selling quickly -- at Verizon Wireless
Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $199.99
after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement with a data plan or feature. Some New York area stores sold out early but many
locations received new supplies before noon and additional shipments will be arriving each week. -- Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ --
विश्व सिनेमा - डिसायरे सर
कथासार विश्व सिनेमा :- डिसायरे सर
चिली - 100 मिनट - 35 मि.मी. - रंगीन - 2007 - निर्देशक- शोन गैरी
वार्सिलोना में रह रही 20 वर्षीय सोफिया स्पेनिश लड़की है। वह अपने माता-पिता की इकलौती सन्तान है और साथ ही एक अच्छी तैराक भी है। उसकी माँ कैंसर से पीड़ित है। वह अपनी माँ की बहुत देखभाल करती है, ताकि उसकी माँ के जीवन के आखिरी दिन कष्ट और पीड़ा में न बीतें।
माँ की मृत्यु सोफिया के जीवन में बहुत बड़ा खालीपन ला देती है, वहीं पिता के जीवन में पत्नी की मृत्यु भावनात्मक अभाव की स्थिति पैदा कर देती है। उसके पिता अपनी भावनाओं को संयत रखते हैं, जिससे सोफिया को लगता है कि उसके पिता को संभवत: उसकी माँ से अधिक प्रेम नहीं था।
कुछ ही समय पश्चात सोफिया के हाथ वह पत्र लगा, जो उसकी माँ ने गोपनीय ढंग से चिली में भेजा था। उसके मन में इस पत्र में लिखी बात को जानने की जिज्ञासा जागी। पत्र को पढने क़े बाद उसे अपनी माँ की गुजरी जिन्दगी के उस प्यार के बारे में पता चला, जिसे माँ कभी भूल नहीं सकती थी। उस पत्र में माँ ने अपनी अस्थियां अटाकामा रेगिस्तान में बिखेर दिए जाने की इच्छा भी व्यक्त की थी।
पत्र पढक़र सोफिया यह निर्णय लेती है कि वह खुद चिली जाकर यह पत्र व्यक्तिगत तौर पर उस व्यक्ति को सौंप देगी और इस प्रकार संभवत: अपनी माँ के गुजरे कल के बारे में वह कुछ जान पाएगी। वह पत्र के साथ दो प्लास्टिक की बोतलें, जिनमें उसकी माँ की अस्थियां थीं, को पिट्ठू में बांध कर चिली की ओर चल पड़ी। एक अर्जेंटीनी जिसकी पिछली जिन्दगी का इतिहास ठीक नहीं था, और नाडिया नाम की एक विद्रोही लड़की जो अपना घर छोड़कर आई थी, अटाकामा रेगिस्तान के दूर-दराज के एक नगर डिसायरे सर की ओर जाने वाले सफर में उसके साथी बने। इस सफर का हर एक सदस्य जो पारिवारिक और व्यक्तिगत ऊहापोह की स्थिति से गुजर रहा था, के साथ सफर का रोमांच भी जुड़ गया। इस सफर के अपने अनुभवों से वे भावनात्मक रूप से परिपक्कव हुए और इस प्रकार उन्हें अपने परिवार और मित्रों की अहमियत का पता चला।
चिली - 100 मिनट - 35 मि.मी. - रंगीन - 2007 - निर्देशक- शोन गैरी
वार्सिलोना में रह रही 20 वर्षीय सोफिया स्पेनिश लड़की है। वह अपने माता-पिता की इकलौती सन्तान है और साथ ही एक अच्छी तैराक भी है। उसकी माँ कैंसर से पीड़ित है। वह अपनी माँ की बहुत देखभाल करती है, ताकि उसकी माँ के जीवन के आखिरी दिन कष्ट और पीड़ा में न बीतें।
माँ की मृत्यु सोफिया के जीवन में बहुत बड़ा खालीपन ला देती है, वहीं पिता के जीवन में पत्नी की मृत्यु भावनात्मक अभाव की स्थिति पैदा कर देती है। उसके पिता अपनी भावनाओं को संयत रखते हैं, जिससे सोफिया को लगता है कि उसके पिता को संभवत: उसकी माँ से अधिक प्रेम नहीं था।
कुछ ही समय पश्चात सोफिया के हाथ वह पत्र लगा, जो उसकी माँ ने गोपनीय ढंग से चिली में भेजा था। उसके मन में इस पत्र में लिखी बात को जानने की जिज्ञासा जागी। पत्र को पढने क़े बाद उसे अपनी माँ की गुजरी जिन्दगी के उस प्यार के बारे में पता चला, जिसे माँ कभी भूल नहीं सकती थी। उस पत्र में माँ ने अपनी अस्थियां अटाकामा रेगिस्तान में बिखेर दिए जाने की इच्छा भी व्यक्त की थी।
पत्र पढक़र सोफिया यह निर्णय लेती है कि वह खुद चिली जाकर यह पत्र व्यक्तिगत तौर पर उस व्यक्ति को सौंप देगी और इस प्रकार संभवत: अपनी माँ के गुजरे कल के बारे में वह कुछ जान पाएगी। वह पत्र के साथ दो प्लास्टिक की बोतलें, जिनमें उसकी माँ की अस्थियां थीं, को पिट्ठू में बांध कर चिली की ओर चल पड़ी। एक अर्जेंटीनी जिसकी पिछली जिन्दगी का इतिहास ठीक नहीं था, और नाडिया नाम की एक विद्रोही लड़की जो अपना घर छोड़कर आई थी, अटाकामा रेगिस्तान के दूर-दराज के एक नगर डिसायरे सर की ओर जाने वाले सफर में उसके साथी बने। इस सफर का हर एक सदस्य जो पारिवारिक और व्यक्तिगत ऊहापोह की स्थिति से गुजर रहा था, के साथ सफर का रोमांच भी जुड़ गया। इस सफर के अपने अनुभवों से वे भावनात्मक रूप से परिपक्कव हुए और इस प्रकार उन्हें अपने परिवार और मित्रों की अहमियत का पता चला।
Nuclear Moon Bases: NASA weighs its options
When lunar astronauts flick on their televisions after a long day of prospecting, they’ll have a trashcan-size nuclear reactor to thank for their nightly dose of prime time. NASA, looking past the already daunting task of simply getting humans to the moon by 2020, recently started considering proposals for ways to power lunar habitats.
Read Full Article | Digg It
Read Full Article | Digg It
World's Largest Solar Thermal Project in Western North Carolina
World's Largest Solar Thermal Project for Heating and Cooling Announced in Western North Carolina - Acquisition is expected to put Western North Carolina on the map as the sustainability capital of the U.S., with new company's immediate focus to own and operate $14 million worth of solar installations in North Carolina.
Asheville, N.C. (PRWEB) November 21, 2008 -- Appalachian Solar Energy announced today that it has been acquired by Vanir Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Vanir Group of Companies Inc. Vanir Energy will be headquartered in Fletcher and staffed by the former personnel of Appalachian Solar Energy with support from Vanir management in Sacramento, Calif.
The announcement, which was made during the AdvantageWest Annual Banquet at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, was well-received by the federal, state and local leaders in attendance because it means $14 million will be invested in solar thermal technology projects throughout North Carolina in 2009.
Vanir Energy will own and operate the solar thermal systems it installs, allowing its customers to "go solar" without making capital expenditures.
"This represents more great news in our growing environmental enterprises cluster because it means new jobs, an influx of targeted capital and momentum to put Western North Carolina on the map as the sustainability capital of the U.S.A. as we pursue worldwide leadership," said Dale Carroll, CEO of AdvantageWest, the regional Economic Development Commission based in Asheville. "This announcement is right on track with a major initiative we call 'AdvantageGreen,' a green-collar jobs strategy the AdvantageWest board and staff began to devise in 2007 as part of our Vision Plan. Vanir Energy is proof positive that AdvantageGreen is an idea whose time has come."
Andrew Tate, President and CEO of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, said: "We're tremendously proud that a company with roots in Fletcher has become a national player in the alternative energy revolution."
With more than 30 years of construction management and development experience, Vanir Energy is well positioned to lead North Carolina and the nation in converting to solar thermal power, said Steve Hunter, COO of Vanir Energy.
"Our immediate focus will be to own and operate $14 million worth of solar installations in North Carolina," Hunter said.
The world's largest solar thermal installation for heating and cooling
Executive Vice President Scott Clark said the first Vanir project will be a solar thermal installation at Fletcher Business Park, a 900,000-square-foot facility where the company is headquartered.
"With the Fletcher Business Park project, we're creating 58 jobs in less than 60 days," Clark said.
The business park will be the largest installation of solar thermal heating and cooling technology in the world, according to the International Energy Agency.* The 640 panels will produce 1.5 megawatts of power. Vanir Energy will own and operate the system at no capital expenditure to Fletcher Business Park, a model the company plans to repeat across the state.
Hunter told the audience at the AdvantageWest banquet that "the Fletcher Business Park project is the first step in achieving Vanir Energy's vision to be a worldwide leader in providing cost-effective alternative energy solutions for our clients while providing for the needs of our people and communities in which we work."
Note: Fletcher Business Park will be the largest installation of solar thermal heating and cooling technology in the world, according to a database maintained by the Solar Heating and Cooling Program of the Paris-based International Energy Agency.
About Vanir Energy - Vanir Energy is a North Carolina-chartered business and a subsidiary of Vanir Group of Companies Inc., a woman- and minority-owned business enterprise (WMBE) with a diversified portfolio of construction, construction management, real estate development and energy service companies. Vanir Group of Companies is headquartered in Sacramento, Calif. with offices located throughout the United States and Dubai.
About AdvantageWest - AdvantageWest Economic Development Group is Western North Carolina's regional economic development commission. Chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1994, AdvantageWest is a non-profit, public-private partnership whose primary focus is marketing the North Carolina mountains to corporations seeking to relocate or open a new facility, expand an existing business within our region, and those who might otherwise improve the quality of life for citizens within our region through activities such as filmmaking, entrepreneurship and tourism. For more information, visit advantagewest.com.
Asheville, N.C. (PRWEB) November 21, 2008 -- Appalachian Solar Energy announced today that it has been acquired by Vanir Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Vanir Group of Companies Inc. Vanir Energy will be headquartered in Fletcher and staffed by the former personnel of Appalachian Solar Energy with support from Vanir management in Sacramento, Calif.
The announcement, which was made during the AdvantageWest Annual Banquet at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, was well-received by the federal, state and local leaders in attendance because it means $14 million will be invested in solar thermal technology projects throughout North Carolina in 2009.
Vanir Energy will own and operate the solar thermal systems it installs, allowing its customers to "go solar" without making capital expenditures.
"This represents more great news in our growing environmental enterprises cluster because it means new jobs, an influx of targeted capital and momentum to put Western North Carolina on the map as the sustainability capital of the U.S.A. as we pursue worldwide leadership," said Dale Carroll, CEO of AdvantageWest, the regional Economic Development Commission based in Asheville. "This announcement is right on track with a major initiative we call 'AdvantageGreen,' a green-collar jobs strategy the AdvantageWest board and staff began to devise in 2007 as part of our Vision Plan. Vanir Energy is proof positive that AdvantageGreen is an idea whose time has come."
Andrew Tate, President and CEO of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, said: "We're tremendously proud that a company with roots in Fletcher has become a national player in the alternative energy revolution."
With more than 30 years of construction management and development experience, Vanir Energy is well positioned to lead North Carolina and the nation in converting to solar thermal power, said Steve Hunter, COO of Vanir Energy.
"Our immediate focus will be to own and operate $14 million worth of solar installations in North Carolina," Hunter said.
The world's largest solar thermal installation for heating and cooling
Executive Vice President Scott Clark said the first Vanir project will be a solar thermal installation at Fletcher Business Park, a 900,000-square-foot facility where the company is headquartered.
"With the Fletcher Business Park project, we're creating 58 jobs in less than 60 days," Clark said.
The business park will be the largest installation of solar thermal heating and cooling technology in the world, according to the International Energy Agency.* The 640 panels will produce 1.5 megawatts of power. Vanir Energy will own and operate the system at no capital expenditure to Fletcher Business Park, a model the company plans to repeat across the state.
Hunter told the audience at the AdvantageWest banquet that "the Fletcher Business Park project is the first step in achieving Vanir Energy's vision to be a worldwide leader in providing cost-effective alternative energy solutions for our clients while providing for the needs of our people and communities in which we work."
Note: Fletcher Business Park will be the largest installation of solar thermal heating and cooling technology in the world, according to a database maintained by the Solar Heating and Cooling Program of the Paris-based International Energy Agency.
About Vanir Energy - Vanir Energy is a North Carolina-chartered business and a subsidiary of Vanir Group of Companies Inc., a woman- and minority-owned business enterprise (WMBE) with a diversified portfolio of construction, construction management, real estate development and energy service companies. Vanir Group of Companies is headquartered in Sacramento, Calif. with offices located throughout the United States and Dubai.
About AdvantageWest - AdvantageWest Economic Development Group is Western North Carolina's regional economic development commission. Chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1994, AdvantageWest is a non-profit, public-private partnership whose primary focus is marketing the North Carolina mountains to corporations seeking to relocate or open a new facility, expand an existing business within our region, and those who might otherwise improve the quality of life for citizens within our region through activities such as filmmaking, entrepreneurship and tourism. For more information, visit advantagewest.com.
US Media Reports Name Possible Additions to Obama Cabinet
U.S. media report President-elect Barack Obama has decided to nominate Timothy Geithner, head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, to be his treasury secretary.
Geithner is one of the top central bank officials who set U.S. interest rate policy and made other decisions aimed at keeping inflation and unemployment in check.
The Obama transition team has made no official announcement, but the news reports say Geithner's nomination is likely to come next week.
"The New York Times" reports that former presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton has decided to give up her Senate seat and accept the position of secretary of state.
Senator Clinton's office denied Friday afternoon that she had accepted the job, but a spokesman said talks with the Obama transition team are on track.
Separately, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, another former Democratic presidential contender, has emerged as a serious contender for Commerce Secretary. News reports quote anonymous Democratic Party sources as saying Mr. Obama would announce the nomination in coming days.
Sources also say the president-elect is also close to nominating Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to be secretary of homeland security. As governor of a state that borders Mexico, Napolitano has experience with security and immigration issues, which are the responsibility of the homeland security department.
There also is speculation that Mr. Obama is considering keeping current Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was appointed by outgoing President George Bush. - 21 November 2008 - By VOA News
Geithner is one of the top central bank officials who set U.S. interest rate policy and made other decisions aimed at keeping inflation and unemployment in check.
The Obama transition team has made no official announcement, but the news reports say Geithner's nomination is likely to come next week.
"The New York Times" reports that former presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton has decided to give up her Senate seat and accept the position of secretary of state.
Senator Clinton's office denied Friday afternoon that she had accepted the job, but a spokesman said talks with the Obama transition team are on track.
Separately, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, another former Democratic presidential contender, has emerged as a serious contender for Commerce Secretary. News reports quote anonymous Democratic Party sources as saying Mr. Obama would announce the nomination in coming days.
Sources also say the president-elect is also close to nominating Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to be secretary of homeland security. As governor of a state that borders Mexico, Napolitano has experience with security and immigration issues, which are the responsibility of the homeland security department.
There also is speculation that Mr. Obama is considering keeping current Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was appointed by outgoing President George Bush. - 21 November 2008 - By VOA News
Oman & Indian Cost and Management Accountants, Institute
The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India signs MoU to promote an Institute of Cost and Management Accountants in Oman
The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with a prominent corporate group of Oman: Omar Zawawi Establishment LLC ( OMZEST ) to promote an Institute of Cost and Management Accountants in Oman. OMZEST has diverse commercial interests including promoting higher education in Oman
According to Mr. Kunal Banerjee, President, ICWAI, the Global Summit of Management Accountants held in January 2008 in Delhi gave a fillip to the efforts of ICWAI to go beyond the country and make its presence felt as a driving force of management accounting profession in the global arena. As a continuum of this process, it is co-promoting a new management accounting body in Gulf in the Sultanate of Oman.
In terms of this MOU, ICWAI will be technically guiding Oman in developing the syllabus relevant for the Omanese economy and help them in conducting the examinations periodically. The pass Certificates will be awarded by Institute of Management Accountants Oman ( IMA Oman ). In the first phase, technician level courses will be introduced to be followed by Business Accounting certification and later on the management accounting qualification. The course will also include training modules with the Omanese business units for the students.
The Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA) and The South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), are also planning to establish an Institute of Management Accountants in Oman (IMAO). In this case also ICWAI will play the role of Technical Collaborator/ professional service provider/ consultant to academics programme for designing the course syllabus of IMAO for awarding Certificates. The Certificates awarded by IMAO will specifically mention that this programme has been designed and examinations conducted by ICWAI.
The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with a prominent corporate group of Oman: Omar Zawawi Establishment LLC ( OMZEST ) to promote an Institute of Cost and Management Accountants in Oman. OMZEST has diverse commercial interests including promoting higher education in Oman
According to Mr. Kunal Banerjee, President, ICWAI, the Global Summit of Management Accountants held in January 2008 in Delhi gave a fillip to the efforts of ICWAI to go beyond the country and make its presence felt as a driving force of management accounting profession in the global arena. As a continuum of this process, it is co-promoting a new management accounting body in Gulf in the Sultanate of Oman.
In terms of this MOU, ICWAI will be technically guiding Oman in developing the syllabus relevant for the Omanese economy and help them in conducting the examinations periodically. The pass Certificates will be awarded by Institute of Management Accountants Oman ( IMA Oman ). In the first phase, technician level courses will be introduced to be followed by Business Accounting certification and later on the management accounting qualification. The course will also include training modules with the Omanese business units for the students.
The Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA) and The South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), are also planning to establish an Institute of Management Accountants in Oman (IMAO). In this case also ICWAI will play the role of Technical Collaborator/ professional service provider/ consultant to academics programme for designing the course syllabus of IMAO for awarding Certificates. The Certificates awarded by IMAO will specifically mention that this programme has been designed and examinations conducted by ICWAI.
PVIPE Music and Phoenix VIP Events Introduces "Young Mystic" Opening for Young Buck This Saturday at Marquee Theater - Young Mystic Will Premiere New Hit Single "Fly Like Me"
TEMPE, AZ- PVIPE Music and Phoenix VIP Events announced today that it has inked a deal to represent up and coming star Young Mystic. Young Mystic's music will be released by PVIPE Music.
Young Mystic is a 19-year-old hot young rising star in the hip-hop, rhythm and blues tradition. He will premiere his new single titled "Fly Like Me" at his live performance November 22, 2008 at Marquee Theatre. The song was written and recorded by Young Mystic and label mate Jo Beng at the legendary Studio at the Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The song was executive produced by PVIPE Music. The production team included Jay Kapp of BeatMobb productions and Graham "Bigadee Bunch" Benskin, brother of music icon Nile Rogers.
His Top 40 hit single titled "Last Time" was premiered on the #1 mix-show in Palm Desert by celebrity DJ SupaJames of Hot 97.7 KRCK. "Last Time" features an acoustic guitar on a catchy hook with smooth lyrics that will appeal to a cross over audience. While in Las Vegas kicking off his west coast promotional tour, he met with on-air personality Chris Cash aka: Cashavelli, The Prince, of Hot 97.5 KVEG. Cashavelli is featured on the remix version of "Fly Like Me." Visit www.myspace.com/mysticmusic2 for more information on Young Mystic.
"We are excited to be working with Young Mystic and his team," said David Pryce, co-founder of PVIPE Music and Phoenix VIP Events. "Young Mystic has the determination, songwriting and performance ability to make it to superstardom and he will soon be a household name."
Sponsored by Episential, Phoenix VIP Events is a premiere event, rising talent promotion and lifestyle marketing company. The principles of Phoenix VIP Events have extensive experience in entertainment industry publicity, advertising, marketing and promotion that provide its clients with expert support through their relationships with media, publishers, promoters, radio stations and talent. PVIPE Music is the record label arm of Phoenix VIP Events that handles writing, publishing, production and distribution for its artists. www.phoenixvipevents.com. Jo Beng's CD, "Law of Attraction," is available through her website www.jo-beng.com. Check out Cashavelli at www.Cashavelli.com and DJ SupaJames at www.DJSupaJames.com. --(Marketwire - November 21, 2008)
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh (Chhattisgarhi/Hindi: छत्तीसगढ़, a state in central India, formed when the sixteen Chhattisgarhi-speaking southeastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained statehood on November 1, 2000. Raipur serves as its capital. It is the 10th largest state of India by area of 52,199 sq mi (135,194 km²). Chhattisgarh takes its name from 36 (Chattis is thirty-six in Hindi and Garh is Fort) princely states in this region from very old times, though the listing of these 36 states has always remained a point of dispute..controversial, many stories
It borders Madhya Pradesh on the northwest, Maharashtra on the west, Andhra Pradesh on the south, Orissa on the east, Jharkhand on the northeast and Uttar Pradesh on the north.
The Chhattisgarhi language, part of the East-Central group of Indo-Aryan languages, is the predominant language in the region. It is often regarded by linguists to be a dialect of the western Hindi, which is the official language of the state. People in southern Chhattisgarh, Bastar, speak dialects of Dravidian languages. Other languages spoken in Chhattishgarh are Hindi, Oriya, Marathi and tribal languages. The officially recognised and patronised version of the dialect is spoken in the general area in the plains of Raipur and Bilaspur division that was under the direct British administration in the 19th and (the first four decades of)the 20th centuries. The dialect in the erstwhile princely-states-area has carried a flavour distinct from that that was spoken in the "Khalsa Chhattisgarh" as the British area was known as. The language in the northern Sarguja State area has the influence on it of dialects of Vindya Padesh, UP and Bihar. As against Chhattisgarhi, the language over there is proudly called "Sargujia" by the people of that region. Likewise, in areas in the Eastern part that came under Raigarh, Sarangarh and Phuljhar (Saraipali) States, the language has a distinct influence of Oriya on the language.From Chhattisgarh
It borders Madhya Pradesh on the northwest, Maharashtra on the west, Andhra Pradesh on the south, Orissa on the east, Jharkhand on the northeast and Uttar Pradesh on the north.
The Chhattisgarhi language, part of the East-Central group of Indo-Aryan languages, is the predominant language in the region. It is often regarded by linguists to be a dialect of the western Hindi, which is the official language of the state. People in southern Chhattisgarh, Bastar, speak dialects of Dravidian languages. Other languages spoken in Chhattishgarh are Hindi, Oriya, Marathi and tribal languages. The officially recognised and patronised version of the dialect is spoken in the general area in the plains of Raipur and Bilaspur division that was under the direct British administration in the 19th and (the first four decades of)the 20th centuries. The dialect in the erstwhile princely-states-area has carried a flavour distinct from that that was spoken in the "Khalsa Chhattisgarh" as the British area was known as. The language in the northern Sarguja State area has the influence on it of dialects of Vindya Padesh, UP and Bihar. As against Chhattisgarhi, the language over there is proudly called "Sargujia" by the people of that region. Likewise, in areas in the Eastern part that came under Raigarh, Sarangarh and Phuljhar (Saraipali) States, the language has a distinct influence of Oriya on the language.From Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh At A Glance
Formed in
November 1, 2000, as India's 26 th state, carved out of Madhya Pradesh.
Location
Central India.
Bordered by
Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh (north)Andhra Pradesh (south)Orissa (east)Madhya Pradesh (west)
Area
135,133 sq km (45% densely forested)
Population
20,795,956
Literacy
65%
Sex Ratio
990 females per 1000 males (the second-best sex ratio of any state in india, after Kerala)
Capital
Raipur.
High Court
Bilaspur.
Districts
16, many of them being erstwhile princely states.
National Parks
03
Wildlife Sanctuaries
11
Major Cities
Raipur, Durg-Bhilai (twin cities), Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon, Korba, Raigarh, Jagdalpur.
Minerals
Iron Ore, Coal, Bauxite, Timber, Tin (found only in Chhatisgarh), Gold, Limestone, Dolomite, Diamond, Manganese, Korandum, Quartz.
Industries
Steel, Aluminum, Cement, Thermal power.
Important Rivers
Mahanadi, Indravati, Shivnath, Hansdeo, Arpa, Pairi, Kharoon, Maniyari Jonk, Shabri, Dankini-Shankini, Mand, Tandula, Ib, Kotri.
Water bodies/dams
Gangarel (Ravishankar Sagar), Mooramsilli, Dhudhawa, Sikasar, Sondhur, Pairi, Hansdeo-Bango, Kodar, Jonk, Arpa, Maniyari, Khutaghat, Tandula, Kharkhara, Saroda, Banki, Jhumka.
Waterfalls
Chitrakote, Tirathgarh, Kanger, Gupteshwar, Malajkundam, Saat Dhara, Ranidah, Rajpuri, Kendai, Tata Pani, Damera Tamda Ghumar, Mendri Ghumar.
Wildlife
Tiger, Leopard, Wild Boar, Cheetal, Langoor, Rhesus Monkey, Barahsinga, Sambhar, Bison, Wild Buffalo, Civet Cat, Bear.
Crops
Rice, Sugarcane, Banana, Pulses, Wheat .
Forest Produce
Teak, Sal, Bamboo, Sheeshal, Mahua, Tamarind, Haldu, Saja, Sheesham, Various Herbs.
Languages
Hindi, Local dialects.
Religions
Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Tribal.
Fairs
Bastar Dussera, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Ramaram, Ma Bambleshwari, Ratanpur, Shivrinarayan, Sihawa, Bhoramdeo, Girodhpuri, Damakheda.
November 1, 2000, as India's 26 th state, carved out of Madhya Pradesh.
Location
Central India.
Bordered by
Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh (north)Andhra Pradesh (south)Orissa (east)Madhya Pradesh (west)
Area
135,133 sq km (45% densely forested)
Population
20,795,956
Literacy
65%
Sex Ratio
990 females per 1000 males (the second-best sex ratio of any state in india, after Kerala)
Capital
Raipur.
High Court
Bilaspur.
Districts
16, many of them being erstwhile princely states.
National Parks
03
Wildlife Sanctuaries
11
Major Cities
Raipur, Durg-Bhilai (twin cities), Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon, Korba, Raigarh, Jagdalpur.
Minerals
Iron Ore, Coal, Bauxite, Timber, Tin (found only in Chhatisgarh), Gold, Limestone, Dolomite, Diamond, Manganese, Korandum, Quartz.
Industries
Steel, Aluminum, Cement, Thermal power.
Important Rivers
Mahanadi, Indravati, Shivnath, Hansdeo, Arpa, Pairi, Kharoon, Maniyari Jonk, Shabri, Dankini-Shankini, Mand, Tandula, Ib, Kotri.
Water bodies/dams
Gangarel (Ravishankar Sagar), Mooramsilli, Dhudhawa, Sikasar, Sondhur, Pairi, Hansdeo-Bango, Kodar, Jonk, Arpa, Maniyari, Khutaghat, Tandula, Kharkhara, Saroda, Banki, Jhumka.
Waterfalls
Chitrakote, Tirathgarh, Kanger, Gupteshwar, Malajkundam, Saat Dhara, Ranidah, Rajpuri, Kendai, Tata Pani, Damera Tamda Ghumar, Mendri Ghumar.
Wildlife
Tiger, Leopard, Wild Boar, Cheetal, Langoor, Rhesus Monkey, Barahsinga, Sambhar, Bison, Wild Buffalo, Civet Cat, Bear.
Crops
Rice, Sugarcane, Banana, Pulses, Wheat .
Forest Produce
Teak, Sal, Bamboo, Sheeshal, Mahua, Tamarind, Haldu, Saja, Sheesham, Various Herbs.
Languages
Hindi, Local dialects.
Religions
Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Tribal.
Fairs
Bastar Dussera, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Ramaram, Ma Bambleshwari, Ratanpur, Shivrinarayan, Sihawa, Bhoramdeo, Girodhpuri, Damakheda.
National Integration Week India - ESL Narsimhan
The National Integration Week beginning Nov 19, 2008, is being observed by the Chhattisgarh Government Administration - HE Governor of Chhattisgarh, Mr ESL Narsimhan taking oath along with his coleagues IAS Officers at Raipur Raj Bhavan
Midweek Escape and Bayside Romance Packages
Cavallo Point - The Lodge at the Golden Gate Announces Midweek Escape and Bayside Romance Packages - Travelers Invited to Experience One of America's Must-See Green LandmarksSAN FRANCISCO, CA - Cavallo Point - the Lodge at the Golden Gate, San Francisco Bay's first national park lodge, offers travelers and locals alike two packages to experience the Bay Area's newest upscale, environmentally sustainable property which was just named one of America's 10 green landmarks by Travel + Leisure. Cavallo Point Lodge establishes an elegant "base camp" where the city's urban edge meets coastal wildlands.
The Midweek Escape invites guests to a night out by the Bay. The package includes one night in a Golden Gate Jr. Suite with Golden Gate Bridge view, plus breakfast at Murray Circle and overnight parking. The Midweek Escape is $520 per night, available Sunday to Thursday. Additional nights may be added.
The Bayside Romance Package gives couples two nights' accommodation in a Bayside King Deluxe room featuring city and bay views, a chilled bottle of champagne and decadent chocolates on arrival, daily breakfast for two at Murray Circle and overnight parking. The two-night package is $860. Additional nights may be added for $430 per night.
These two packages are valid now through May 31, 2009, excluding Nov. 27 and Dec. 24-31, and are based on double occupancy. Taxes and gratuities are not included. Packages are commissionable to travel agents.
For special small-group occasions, guests may reserve an entire historic residence. These former military officers' quarters, built at the turn of the last century and restored to their full glory, offer four to 12 bedrooms with spacious living quarters in a variety of configurations. Each residence also features its own front porch with rocking chairs. House rates vary by residence and range from $1,175 to 3,785 per night.
Lodge guests are welcome to enjoy a variety of activities, such as hiking and biking along spectacularly scenic coastline trails; yoga classes in a century-old chapel; savoring Michelin-starred cuisine at Murray Circle, the lodge's signature restaurant; reveling at Farley Bar with one of largest wine cellars in California; relaxing with a restorative wellness treatment at the Healing Arts Center & Spa; and at day's end, residing in one of the property's 68 carefully restored historic rooms and suites or one of 74 artfully designed contemporary rooms and suites.
Guests also have the option to discover deeper enrichment via signature, pre-booked adventures and programs that pair property amenities with focused agendas in adventure & well-being, creative arts, and the culinary arts.
Set within the Golden Gate National Parks at Fort Baker, Cavallo Point Lodge burnishes Fort Baker's stalwart legacy as it preserves historic landmark buildings, restores natural habitat, protects the environment, and ensures access to the revitalized national park site for generations to come.
A member of Preferred Hotels® & Resorts, Cavallo Point is developed by the Fort Baker Retreat Group LLC, which includes Equity Community Builders LLC, Passport Resorts LLC, and Ajax Capital LLC. Passport Resorts or its affiliated companies manage Cavallo Point, the award-winning Post Ranch Inn, Hotel Hana-Maui and Honua Spa, Sea Ranch Lodge and the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort. For more information or to book one of Cavallo Point Lodge's packages, visit http://www.cavallopoint.com/specials.php or call the lodge at (888) 651-2003.
--(Marketwire - November 21, 2008)
Unique Way to Tell Stories, Share Memories
LegacySharing, LLC is proud to announce the launch of LegacySharing.com. Using a rich, multimedia feature set in a secured, online environment, members create virtual "LegacyBooks" by combining journal entries with photographs, audio and video clips to share memories and stories with family and friends.(PRWEB) November 21, 2008 -- LegacySharing.com is an innovative new website where members create and share life stories. The website offers a secured format to integrate written memories and reflections with videos, audio clips, photographs and other scanned memorabilia, creating an easy and unparalleled experience at www.LegacySharing.com. By creating LegacyBooks, members are able to share more of their thoughts and feelings than could possibly be written in a scrapbook next to a photo. LegacyBooks can bring to life the story of a loved one by documenting milestone activities such as the first few months of life, birthdays, graduations, family reunions, wedding anniversaries, school activities, vacations - the possibilities are endless.
"When my grandmother passed away I realized that the scrapbooks and shoeboxes full of photos could never tell her story completely," said Gary Cochran, founder of the company. "For my children to really understand who she was, I needed to go beyond the scrapbooks and tell the stories behind the pictures. I needed to find a way to share the little things about her that made her so special."
For $10.99 every three months, LegacySharing members create virtual memory books that are stored online where they can be shared with family and friends using free guest accounts. LegacyBooks may also be downloaded to a personal computer, flash drive, or CD ROM to create a unique archive of stories and memories that will be cherished by future generations.
Features of LegacySharing.com - Upload: Users first upload their memories to their secure account on LegacySharing.com in the form of images, video clips, audio recordings, and other scanned documents.
Design: Inside a book editor, users design a cover for their book and create pages by easily dragging and dropping their uploaded content to tell their stories. Pictures may be resized, cropped, framed, and positioned anywhere on the pages. Page color and font style can be easily modified. Using an audio and video recorder feature, members may narrate stories using a microphone or webcam connected to their personal computer and attach the clips to pictures or pages in their LegacyBook.
Journal: Add a story to each page through drag and drop textbox functions.
Share: When ready to share a book, create password protected guest accounts where family and friends can login to view the LegacyBooks online or download the LegacyBooks to their personal computer, a flashdrive or CD-ROM. Users can continue to edit and add to their books at any time.
About LegacySharing.com: LegacySharing.com was founded in Omaha, Nebraska by a small group of friends and family who wanted a way to pass memories along to their children and grandchildren. "LegacySharing's purpose is to bring people closer together by capturing, sharing and preserving the memories that mean so much," Cochran said. "Everyone has a story to tell, and we at LegacySharing want to help tell those stories."
High Tech Holiday Gifts With David King
RIDGEWOOD, NJ - The day after Thanksgiving, "Black Friday," is known as the biggest shopping day of the year. Last year, 147 million people spent the day shopping for holiday gifts spending an average of $348 -- down 3.5 percent from the year before.
Today's tight economy may cause consumers to cut back even more this year, but chances are high tech gifts will remain high on the "must buy" list.
But whether you've already started shopping or have yet to start, David King, consumer products expert has the latest gift ideas to keep consumers connected and on the go. Whether it's a new cell phone or GPS system, David has the hot holiday items.
To view the podcast and for more holiday high tech gifts, go to http://www.moreaboutthat.info/341 or Podcast Available at http://www.moreaboutthat.info
--(Marketwire - November 21, 2008) --
Today's tight economy may cause consumers to cut back even more this year, but chances are high tech gifts will remain high on the "must buy" list.
But whether you've already started shopping or have yet to start, David King, consumer products expert has the latest gift ideas to keep consumers connected and on the go. Whether it's a new cell phone or GPS system, David has the hot holiday items.
To view the podcast and for more holiday high tech gifts, go to http://www.moreaboutthat.info/341 or Podcast Available at http://www.moreaboutthat.info
--(Marketwire - November 21, 2008) --
Album Creative Studios Tailors Big Brand Marketing for Small Businesses
Album Creative Studios, Inc., a full-service brand marketing firm, launches a new program offering big brand marketing for small businesses.
"We have taken the large, expensive ad agency process and services, and tailored them to small businesses with a very hands-on approach," says Matt Parker, Creative Director. Album Creative, founded in 2002, combines experience and proven brand-building techniques to build "Rockstar Brands."
Album markets a range of businesses including Too Faced Cosmetics, Ben & Jerry's and Western National Group, but primarily helps small businesses in the industries of consumer products, health & beauty, hospitality, and health care.
"Whether you are a startup or have been in business for years, the process is the same. We fine-tune your brand message and distribute it in a way that really resonates with your audience," Parker said.
Posh Party Box is an example of Album's brand-building process in action. Launched by Album in 2006, Posh Party Box sells all-inclusive party packages that make it effortless to host a stylish celebration.
As a startup, Posh Party Box needed help defining their brand strategy and establishing a logo and brand identity. After establishing a strategic and visual foundation, Album provided the marketing and sales tools needed to launch their brand, including catalogs, collateral, offline and online advertising, and more. Album then designed and developed a custom e-commerce website, which won an award from iParenting Magazine.
On-going brand strategy and online marketing tactics have ensured that Posh Party Box's marketing message remains consistent and creative. Whether it is search engine optimization, online advertising, or email blasts, Album has delivered creative results that resonate with customers and prospects, and as a result, have grown the business.
Sue Pierce, Founder and CEO, has found great value in a reliable, innovative marketing partner. "I have business associates who outsource their marketing and they're always complaining about the service and quality. My advice is always the same -- call Album. Album's response, customer service, and dedication to their clients are far more superior to any other organization I have worked with."
Visit www.AlbumCreative.com or call 949.373.1140 for information on our unique branding process.
America's Best High School Chef Launches November 21, 2008
NEW YORK, Nov. 21 - America's Best High School Chef, a national culinary competition for college-bound high school students with a flair for the culinary arts, launches its application period beginning Friday, November 21, 2008 through Friday, January 30, 2009. Talented, aspiring chefs will vie for high marks and impress celebrity judges, including the Food Network's Marc Summers, for the soon-to-be-coveted America's Best High School Chef title. The competition will be inaugurated the weekend of Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19, 2009 at Monroe College in New Rochelle, New York.ABOUT AMERICA'S BEST HIGH SCHOOL CHEF:
America's Best High School Chef is a three-day culinary competition, with an emphasis on promoting teamwork and acknowledging skill and leadership, for high school seniors who have a strong desire to pursue the culinary arts at a college level. A maximum of 16 teams will be selected to participate in the competition and experience the award-winning Culinary Arts center at Monroe College's School of Hospitality Management and the Culinary Arts. The top-rated member on the winning team will be acknowledged as America's Best High School Chef.
Monroe College, the host of America's Best High School Chef, is dedicated to the goal of strengthening the culinary capabilities of our nation's youth by providing a state of the art educational experience. Monroe College believes that another way to meet this goal is to identify, recognize, and reward excellence among high school students through this competition.
ELIGIBILITY:
-- A team of four (4) high school seniors nominated and coached by their high school culinary instructor or designee from the high school;
-- Each student must be a high school senior that has an interest in a college level culinary program;
-- Each student must have successfully completed at least one cooking or culinary class at the high school level; and
-- Each team member must be in very good standing, academically, and within the community through the current school year.
TOP AWARDS:
America's Best High School Chef
-- Full college academic scholarship to Monroe College's School of Hospitality Management and the Culinary Arts and admission to the study abroad program in Italy for 15 weeks; (Total value-$35,000)
OR
-- $2,500 scholarship if the student plans to attend another college or university;
-- Recognition and publicity campaign along with the opportunity to meet New York City's leading chefs and restaurateurs; and
-- A guaranteed one-week internship at a leading restaurant.
America's Best High School Chef Team
-- $7,500 scholarship to each team member towards Monroe College tuition
OR
-- $1,500 scholarship to each team member who plans to attend another college or university;
-- $2,000 donation to the high school for the enhancement of its culinary program; and
-- Recognition and publicity campaign for the high school and winning team.
The application package must be postmarked no later than Friday, January 30, 2009 and sent to: -
America's Best High School Chef, Tanya Whaley - Office of Admissions, Monroe College, 2501 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY 10468
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the official website at: http://www.ABHSChef.com -- /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ --
.ORG CEO Honored by The Washington Business Journal
Alexa Raad Is Named as One of 2008's Women Who Mean Business
RESTON, VA - Alexa Raad, CEO of .ORG, The Public Interest Registry, has been chosen as one of the leading women in Washington business by The Washington Business Journal's fifth-annual Women Who Mean Business Awards. The Awards set out to recognize women across all industries and professions, and of all ages, who have demonstrated their drive and innovative spirit both around their work and in their communities.
Under Alexa's leadership, .ORG, The Public Interest Registry, who manages and oversees the .ORG Top-Level domain, reached over 7 million global domain registrations. .ORG is the third largest generic Top-Level domain following .COM and .NET, and has continued to grow consistently since PIR took over its management in 2003. Alexa has also positioned the .ORG domain as a trailblazer in the areas of Internet policy and security, being the first generic Top-Level domain to begin implementing DNS Security Extensions to make users safer from identity theft and cache poisoning. Additionally, Alexa has led the formation of a cross-industry group dedicated to solving issues associated with phishing and malware.
.ORG has continued to add value to its online community of registrants through the .ORG blog and Resource Center, fostering communal spirit and a collaborative nature as well as using those resources throughout the community at large to enable users to further their individual or organizational missions.
In her role as a CEO of a nonprofit, Alexa is dedicated to highlighting the work of organizations and individuals on a global scale who are working to inspire, advocate, and educate in order to change society for the better. The recently launched "World Voices" campaign is an example of the ways in which .ORG is achieving this goal under Alexa's leadership. Throughout her career, Alexa has held different positions in the Internet and Telecommunications industries. In her roles at companies such as AT&T, dotMobi, VeriSign, CyberCash, and Bell Atlantic Internet Services (now Verizon), Raad has consistently demonstrated her business acumen and ability to deliver results.
About .ORG, The Public Interest Registry - Trusted across all ages, backgrounds and nationalities, .ORG is where people turn to find credible information, get involved, fund causes and support advocacy. .ORG, The Public Interest Registry empowers the global noncommercial community to use the Internet more effectively and, concurrently, takes a leadership position among Internet stakeholders on policy and related issues. The .ORG domain is the Internet's third largest "generic" or non-country specific top-level domain with more than 7 million domain names registered worldwide. .ORG, The Public Interest Registry, was founded by the Internet Society in 2002. It is based in Reston, Virginia, USA. --(Marketwire - November 21, 2008)
RESTON, VA - Alexa Raad, CEO of .ORG, The Public Interest Registry, has been chosen as one of the leading women in Washington business by The Washington Business Journal's fifth-annual Women Who Mean Business Awards. The Awards set out to recognize women across all industries and professions, and of all ages, who have demonstrated their drive and innovative spirit both around their work and in their communities.
Under Alexa's leadership, .ORG, The Public Interest Registry, who manages and oversees the .ORG Top-Level domain, reached over 7 million global domain registrations. .ORG is the third largest generic Top-Level domain following .COM and .NET, and has continued to grow consistently since PIR took over its management in 2003. Alexa has also positioned the .ORG domain as a trailblazer in the areas of Internet policy and security, being the first generic Top-Level domain to begin implementing DNS Security Extensions to make users safer from identity theft and cache poisoning. Additionally, Alexa has led the formation of a cross-industry group dedicated to solving issues associated with phishing and malware.
.ORG has continued to add value to its online community of registrants through the .ORG blog and Resource Center, fostering communal spirit and a collaborative nature as well as using those resources throughout the community at large to enable users to further their individual or organizational missions.
In her role as a CEO of a nonprofit, Alexa is dedicated to highlighting the work of organizations and individuals on a global scale who are working to inspire, advocate, and educate in order to change society for the better. The recently launched "World Voices" campaign is an example of the ways in which .ORG is achieving this goal under Alexa's leadership. Throughout her career, Alexa has held different positions in the Internet and Telecommunications industries. In her roles at companies such as AT&T, dotMobi, VeriSign, CyberCash, and Bell Atlantic Internet Services (now Verizon), Raad has consistently demonstrated her business acumen and ability to deliver results.
About .ORG, The Public Interest Registry - Trusted across all ages, backgrounds and nationalities, .ORG is where people turn to find credible information, get involved, fund causes and support advocacy. .ORG, The Public Interest Registry empowers the global noncommercial community to use the Internet more effectively and, concurrently, takes a leadership position among Internet stakeholders on policy and related issues. The .ORG domain is the Internet's third largest "generic" or non-country specific top-level domain with more than 7 million domain names registered worldwide. .ORG, The Public Interest Registry, was founded by the Internet Society in 2002. It is based in Reston, Virginia, USA. --(Marketwire - November 21, 2008)
KANCHIVARAM
In the thick of Kanchi’s silk weaving industry, a common man is caught between the society he lives in and his own ideals and individual dreams.
Vengadam surprised one and all when he promised his newborn daughter to drape her in a fine silk sari on her wedding day. According to tradition, a promise made to one’s newborn child on the first day of feeding is a lifelong one: it must be kept, come what may. The skeptics warned Vengadam that he would never be able to fulfill his promise on his weaver’s income. And breaking the promise would spell dire consequences. With full faith in his abilities, Vengadam refused to budge.
If youth brings optimism, it brings resourcefulness, courage and recklessness in equal measure. Aware that his meagre salary could not buy his daughter a silk sari, a determined Vengadam started stealing one solitary thread of silk every day. When going home he would be frisked from head to toe, but the guards never found the thread he hid in his mouth. Every night he would sneak into his cattleshed to weave a strand. As the days and years passed, his diligence paid off and the sari increased in length as his daughter grew into a young lady.
Vengadam’s life changed forever when a communist preacher appeared in his village. The apolitical weaver became a living, breathing communist. His affiliation to the ideology helped him become a leader of the community. He instigated a revolt against the mill owners who ruled over the workers like feudal lords and the mills were shut down. Neither the owners nor the workers were ready for a compromise.
As the strike got prolonged, his daughter’s wedding approached, and Vengadam realised that he could not get any silk from the closed mills. Torn between his vow and his ideology, he started questioning the principles of communism. He realised that preaching is easier than practicing a philosophy.
Vengadam surprised one and all when he promised his newborn daughter to drape her in a fine silk sari on her wedding day. According to tradition, a promise made to one’s newborn child on the first day of feeding is a lifelong one: it must be kept, come what may. The skeptics warned Vengadam that he would never be able to fulfill his promise on his weaver’s income. And breaking the promise would spell dire consequences. With full faith in his abilities, Vengadam refused to budge.
If youth brings optimism, it brings resourcefulness, courage and recklessness in equal measure. Aware that his meagre salary could not buy his daughter a silk sari, a determined Vengadam started stealing one solitary thread of silk every day. When going home he would be frisked from head to toe, but the guards never found the thread he hid in his mouth. Every night he would sneak into his cattleshed to weave a strand. As the days and years passed, his diligence paid off and the sari increased in length as his daughter grew into a young lady.
Vengadam’s life changed forever when a communist preacher appeared in his village. The apolitical weaver became a living, breathing communist. His affiliation to the ideology helped him become a leader of the community. He instigated a revolt against the mill owners who ruled over the workers like feudal lords and the mills were shut down. Neither the owners nor the workers were ready for a compromise.
As the strike got prolonged, his daughter’s wedding approached, and Vengadam realised that he could not get any silk from the closed mills. Torn between his vow and his ideology, he started questioning the principles of communism. He realised that preaching is easier than practicing a philosophy.
GULABI TALKIES
Gulabi, a discarded 50-year-old woman, lives in an island inhabited primarily by fisherfolks. Since her husband Musa has married again, she lives away from him. To escape her loneliness she fans her obsession for films.
Gulabi is well known in Kuduru as an expert midwife. One evening while she is watching a film in a cinema, the village affluent Kalyani’s daughter goes into labour. Kalyani summons Gulabi to conduct the delivery and promises to reward her with a television.
The colour TV turns Gulabi’s hut into the village hub. Village women frequent the hut and begin weaving their dreams, sorrows and desires around the TV. Among them is Netru, whose husband works in Dubai. She suffers the atrocities of her mother-in-law and finds relief from her suppressed life in the TV. Gulabi sows in her the seeds of hope and desire. Television fills the void in Gulabi’s life too. Soon her estranged husband and her foster son Addu resume their relationship with her.
Gulabi is well known in Kuduru as an expert midwife. One evening while she is watching a film in a cinema, the village affluent Kalyani’s daughter goes into labour. Kalyani summons Gulabi to conduct the delivery and promises to reward her with a television.
The colour TV turns Gulabi’s hut into the village hub. Village women frequent the hut and begin weaving their dreams, sorrows and desires around the TV. Among them is Netru, whose husband works in Dubai. She suffers the atrocities of her mother-in-law and finds relief from her suppressed life in the TV. Gulabi sows in her the seeds of hope and desire. Television fills the void in Gulabi’s life too. Soon her estranged husband and her foster son Addu resume their relationship with her.
ORU PENNUM RANDAANUM
ORU PENNUM RANDAANUM - A Climate For Crime
The 1940s, in the Princely State of Travancore in South India.
The Second World War being fought in Europe had cast its shadow on British India. Daily necessities like food, clothing, kerosene and petrol were scarce. Unemployment grew while hoarding of grains became routine. Set against such times, the four stories in this film relate to crimes committed by the deprived as well as the privileged landed gentry.
The Thief
In school, Kunjunni is nicknamed ‘Son of a Thief.’ One night his father Neelantan arrives home after one of his jail stints. Kunjunni excitedly breaks the news of his father’s return to his friend Kurien who scornfully asserts that in no time Neelantan will go back to jail. A fight ensues between the two boys.
Later Neelantan meets Kurien’s father, Mathai, and enjoins him not to pass on the prejudices of the parents to the children. Mathai takes offence: with help from his son, he prepares a mass petition to the police chief requesting that Neelantan be kept under preventive custody to safeguard the villagers’ property. Neelantan is duly locked up. Kunjunni makes his mother promise that once he’s released, she will persuade his father to reform and take up a decent profession. Two years pass. One day Kunjunni brings home the news that Kurien’s house has been burgled. Seeing the full meal laid out, and the new clothes bought for him, he realises his father has resumed stealing. He is heartbroken. The Police
An upright Inspector is posted to the local police station. He finds numerous complaints of corruption pending against the Head Constable and his aide.
The Inspector has special instructions from above to probe the ‘unsolved’ case of a theft in a rich merchant’s shop. It is suspected that Head Constable Pillai has already traced the culprit and shared the loot with him. He and his cunning colleague Mathu are given one week’s time to solve the case or face the consequences.
Mathu suggests they re-arrest the culprit. Pillai wavers because they have already taken their share. The two discuss the dilemma in the local bar. Mathu jumps out of his seat in excitement when he spots a customer in soiled clothes open a paper packet full of currency notes. Before the poor rickshaw puller realises what is happening, the two take away all his cash and frame him as the accused. If he appeals, he will have to engage a lawyer and produce witnesses, a process that will exhaust his savings - so he is told. If he admits to the crime, he will be jailed for ten days at the most. What choice does the poor man have?
Two Men and a Woman
Krishnankutty, a university student, is fascinated by a servant girl in the lodge where he is put up. What starts as a casual affair turns serious with her showing symptoms of pregnancy. Being entirely dependent on the head of his joint family for his education - and under obligation to marry his daughter - Krishnankutty has two options: either terminate the pregnancy or take his life.
A distraught Krishnankutty seeks help from his friend and confidante, a lawyer. In a remote part of an islet, they locate a notorious quack to conduct an abortion. The meeting with the drunken quack stirs feelings of both pity and loathing in the young man.
Eventually it turns out that the girl is not pregnant. Krishnankutty however makes bold to take the most difficult decision of his life.
One Woman, Two Men
The men of the village are attracted like fireflies to Panki, a woman of great beauty and grace. Smitten by her charm Rama Kurup, a man past middle age, forsakes everything to marry her. He guards her jealously. One night his fears are proven right when he finds her with a paramour.
A scuffle ensues and Kurup stabs his younger adversary. He goes into hiding while the paramour recovers in a hospital. A case is registered for attempted murder and a warrant issued for his arrest. After a while a battered and humiliated Kurup returns home on bail. He is overwhelmed as Panki seems to be her old self, tending him with love and care.
As the case is fought in the court of law, Panki is urged by both men to depose in their favour. But she is non-committal. The verdict absolves both of the initial crime but they are sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment for inciting their followers to murder and mayhem. In prison the two men put an end to the enmity that has ruined their lives. On their release they decide to confront Panki together...
The 1940s, in the Princely State of Travancore in South India.
The Second World War being fought in Europe had cast its shadow on British India. Daily necessities like food, clothing, kerosene and petrol were scarce. Unemployment grew while hoarding of grains became routine. Set against such times, the four stories in this film relate to crimes committed by the deprived as well as the privileged landed gentry.
The Thief
In school, Kunjunni is nicknamed ‘Son of a Thief.’ One night his father Neelantan arrives home after one of his jail stints. Kunjunni excitedly breaks the news of his father’s return to his friend Kurien who scornfully asserts that in no time Neelantan will go back to jail. A fight ensues between the two boys.
Later Neelantan meets Kurien’s father, Mathai, and enjoins him not to pass on the prejudices of the parents to the children. Mathai takes offence: with help from his son, he prepares a mass petition to the police chief requesting that Neelantan be kept under preventive custody to safeguard the villagers’ property. Neelantan is duly locked up. Kunjunni makes his mother promise that once he’s released, she will persuade his father to reform and take up a decent profession. Two years pass. One day Kunjunni brings home the news that Kurien’s house has been burgled. Seeing the full meal laid out, and the new clothes bought for him, he realises his father has resumed stealing. He is heartbroken. The Police
An upright Inspector is posted to the local police station. He finds numerous complaints of corruption pending against the Head Constable and his aide.
The Inspector has special instructions from above to probe the ‘unsolved’ case of a theft in a rich merchant’s shop. It is suspected that Head Constable Pillai has already traced the culprit and shared the loot with him. He and his cunning colleague Mathu are given one week’s time to solve the case or face the consequences.
Mathu suggests they re-arrest the culprit. Pillai wavers because they have already taken their share. The two discuss the dilemma in the local bar. Mathu jumps out of his seat in excitement when he spots a customer in soiled clothes open a paper packet full of currency notes. Before the poor rickshaw puller realises what is happening, the two take away all his cash and frame him as the accused. If he appeals, he will have to engage a lawyer and produce witnesses, a process that will exhaust his savings - so he is told. If he admits to the crime, he will be jailed for ten days at the most. What choice does the poor man have?
Two Men and a Woman
Krishnankutty, a university student, is fascinated by a servant girl in the lodge where he is put up. What starts as a casual affair turns serious with her showing symptoms of pregnancy. Being entirely dependent on the head of his joint family for his education - and under obligation to marry his daughter - Krishnankutty has two options: either terminate the pregnancy or take his life.
A distraught Krishnankutty seeks help from his friend and confidante, a lawyer. In a remote part of an islet, they locate a notorious quack to conduct an abortion. The meeting with the drunken quack stirs feelings of both pity and loathing in the young man.
Eventually it turns out that the girl is not pregnant. Krishnankutty however makes bold to take the most difficult decision of his life.
One Woman, Two Men
The men of the village are attracted like fireflies to Panki, a woman of great beauty and grace. Smitten by her charm Rama Kurup, a man past middle age, forsakes everything to marry her. He guards her jealously. One night his fears are proven right when he finds her with a paramour.
A scuffle ensues and Kurup stabs his younger adversary. He goes into hiding while the paramour recovers in a hospital. A case is registered for attempted murder and a warrant issued for his arrest. After a while a battered and humiliated Kurup returns home on bail. He is overwhelmed as Panki seems to be her old self, tending him with love and care.
As the case is fought in the court of law, Panki is urged by both men to depose in their favour. But she is non-committal. The verdict absolves both of the initial crime but they are sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment for inciting their followers to murder and mayhem. In prison the two men put an end to the enmity that has ruined their lives. On their release they decide to confront Panki together...
SUMMER 2007
A part of 39th International Film Festival of India - 2008 Film - SUMMER 2007
Summer 2007 explores, with deep humanism, the coming together of India’s cool, happening youth with the Agrarian Crisis that is threatening to spiral out of control.
Five friends from India’s buoyant upper middle class, studying in a capitation fee medical college, are leading an insulated life facilitated by their parent’s economic potency. Their problems of love, sex, girlfriends, exams, and ego spice up their blissful existence. The fact that they are studying to be doctors and will be part of the healthcare scenario, a key element in any nation’s development, is of no consequence to them. They are just flowing with the tide, in a cocooned existence.
Then, a few days of rural medical training in a Vidarbha village caught in extreme poverty and farmer suicides, proves cataclysmic. The friends are suddenly confronted with an India they’ve never really seen. And they’re appalled by what they witness: Predatory money lenders preying on the farmers; Healthcare in a shambles… Living is the most arduous battle for them all. Giving up life is an easier option.
Reluctantly, they are now forced to seek answers to just one question: Why is India’s progress so lopsided? Each friend reacts differently to the situation. One comes to terms with reality, one has a change of heart, one becomes bitter, one falls in love, and one puts his life on the line - for others.
TAARE ZAMEEN PAR
Ishaan Awasthi is an eight-year-old whose world is filled with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate: colours, fish, dogs and kites are just not important in the world of adults who are much more interested in things like homework, marks and neatness.
Ishaan just cannot seem to get anything right in class. And so he gets into far more trouble than his parents can handle, and is packed off to a boarding school to be ‘disciplined’. Things are no different at this new school, and Ishaan has to contend with the added trauma of separation from his family.
One day Ram Shankar Nikumbh bursts onto the scene. This new Art Teacher infects the students with joy and optimism. He breaks all the rules of ‘how things are done’ by asking them to think, dream and imagine, and all the children respond with enthusiasm - all except Ishaan. Nikumbh soon realises that Ishaan is not happy being at school, and sets out to discover why. With time, patience and care, he ultimately helps Ishaan find himself.
Summer 2007 explores, with deep humanism, the coming together of India’s cool, happening youth with the Agrarian Crisis that is threatening to spiral out of control.
Five friends from India’s buoyant upper middle class, studying in a capitation fee medical college, are leading an insulated life facilitated by their parent’s economic potency. Their problems of love, sex, girlfriends, exams, and ego spice up their blissful existence. The fact that they are studying to be doctors and will be part of the healthcare scenario, a key element in any nation’s development, is of no consequence to them. They are just flowing with the tide, in a cocooned existence.
Then, a few days of rural medical training in a Vidarbha village caught in extreme poverty and farmer suicides, proves cataclysmic. The friends are suddenly confronted with an India they’ve never really seen. And they’re appalled by what they witness: Predatory money lenders preying on the farmers; Healthcare in a shambles… Living is the most arduous battle for them all. Giving up life is an easier option.
Reluctantly, they are now forced to seek answers to just one question: Why is India’s progress so lopsided? Each friend reacts differently to the situation. One comes to terms with reality, one has a change of heart, one becomes bitter, one falls in love, and one puts his life on the line - for others.
TAARE ZAMEEN PAR
Ishaan Awasthi is an eight-year-old whose world is filled with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate: colours, fish, dogs and kites are just not important in the world of adults who are much more interested in things like homework, marks and neatness.
Ishaan just cannot seem to get anything right in class. And so he gets into far more trouble than his parents can handle, and is packed off to a boarding school to be ‘disciplined’. Things are no different at this new school, and Ishaan has to contend with the added trauma of separation from his family.
One day Ram Shankar Nikumbh bursts onto the scene. This new Art Teacher infects the students with joy and optimism. He breaks all the rules of ‘how things are done’ by asking them to think, dream and imagine, and all the children respond with enthusiasm - all except Ishaan. Nikumbh soon realises that Ishaan is not happy being at school, and sets out to discover why. With time, patience and care, he ultimately helps Ishaan find himself.
BANADA NERALU
A part of 39th International Film Festival of India - Film BANADA NERALU
Amaresh, a smalltime civil contractor under pressure from money lenders to repay debts, decides to try his luck by growing commercial crops in his wife’s village. For that, however, he must cut down old trees growing on the land. He seeks the horticulture department’s advice and negotiates with a sawmill willing to fell the trees.
But when the mill workers come Banavva, the former landowner’s widow, refuses to let them cut the trees, saying she has sold the land but not the trees! This upsets Amaresh who has borrowed from the bank to develop the land.
To make her see reason Amaresh requests a meeting of the village elders. They instruct Banavva to return the money and retain her land. The poor widow fails to do so. To retain the trees she attempts suicide: first she threatens to jump off a high wall, next she jumps into a well. Both times she survives and becomes the laughing stock of the village. Amaresh is under pressure from the bank as well as the sawmill owner. His rivals in the village have complained to local authorities of encroachment, and he is falling in the eyes of his mother-in-law. So he procures the forest department’s permission to cut the trees.
Banavva now tries to hang herself in public. A stunned Amaresh rescues her but finds that Banavva has lost her voice, and rushes her to the city hospital. During this human interaction he learns about her background and is transformed.
But the sawmill owner needs the trees, so he arrives with police protection to fell them. The village community draws together and succeeds in protecting the trees.
The womenfolk celebrate this in Banavva’s field. While people sing and play, Banavva dies a silent death. Her body is put to rest under a tree planted by her, and Amaresh plants another on her grave.
Amaresh, a smalltime civil contractor under pressure from money lenders to repay debts, decides to try his luck by growing commercial crops in his wife’s village. For that, however, he must cut down old trees growing on the land. He seeks the horticulture department’s advice and negotiates with a sawmill willing to fell the trees.
But when the mill workers come Banavva, the former landowner’s widow, refuses to let them cut the trees, saying she has sold the land but not the trees! This upsets Amaresh who has borrowed from the bank to develop the land.
To make her see reason Amaresh requests a meeting of the village elders. They instruct Banavva to return the money and retain her land. The poor widow fails to do so. To retain the trees she attempts suicide: first she threatens to jump off a high wall, next she jumps into a well. Both times she survives and becomes the laughing stock of the village. Amaresh is under pressure from the bank as well as the sawmill owner. His rivals in the village have complained to local authorities of encroachment, and he is falling in the eyes of his mother-in-law. So he procures the forest department’s permission to cut the trees.
Banavva now tries to hang herself in public. A stunned Amaresh rescues her but finds that Banavva has lost her voice, and rushes her to the city hospital. During this human interaction he learns about her background and is transformed.
But the sawmill owner needs the trees, so he arrives with police protection to fell them. The village community draws together and succeeds in protecting the trees.
The womenfolk celebrate this in Banavva’s field. While people sing and play, Banavva dies a silent death. Her body is put to rest under a tree planted by her, and Amaresh plants another on her grave.
Eight films screened on the second day for press
As a part of 39th International Film Festival of India - 2008 pre festival screening for the Press and Media, eight films were screened on the second day of the screenings at New Delhi.
- Banada Neralu,
- Summer 2007,
- Taare Zameen Par,
- Oru Pennum Randaanum,
- Gulabi Talkies and
- Kanchivaram screened in Macquinez Palace I and
- What on Earth Have I Done Wrong (Qing Fei De Yi Zhi Sheng Cuu Zhi Dao) &
- The Man Who Loved Yngve in Inox multiplex theatre.
- Banada Neralu,
- Summer 2007,
- Taare Zameen Par,
- Oru Pennum Randaanum,
- Gulabi Talkies and
- Kanchivaram screened in Macquinez Palace I and
- What on Earth Have I Done Wrong (Qing Fei De Yi Zhi Sheng Cuu Zhi Dao) &
- The Man Who Loved Yngve in Inox multiplex theatre.
SACOSAN-III calls for according national priority to Sanitation
The Third South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN-III) concluded with a call for according national priority to Sanitation. The Delhi Declaration has been approved by the Heads of Delegations from Afganistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Srilanka.
The declaration recognises that access to sanitation and safe drinking water as a basic right, and accords national priority to sanitation It confirms commitment to achieving National and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on Sanitation in a time-bound manner in all participating countries of South Asia.It also asserts that achieving total and sustainable sanitation in all rural and urban communities in the member countries is not only possible but also is a cherished goal reiterated in SACOSAN-I at Dhaka (2003) and SACOSAN-II at Islamabad (2006).
The declaration reiterates member’s commitment to the following key principles and specific actions that need to be implemented at household, local, sub-national and national levels to accelerate performance and rapidly achieve sanitation goals:
Ensuring that the present and future generations enjoy a healthy environment, with clean air, soil and fresh water resources; Achieving sanitation for all will be an inclusive process, involving all stakeholders at all stages, especially local governments, community and grassroots groups; Sanitation will not be considered merely an infrastructure or financing challenge, but one that requires effective policy, institutional and fiscal incentives to change behaviour, working in partnership with religious leaders, communities, institutions (e.g. schools etc.), local governments and service providers; and strengthening their capacities and accountability in mobilizing, implementation and monitoring; Promote thinking of sanitation as the full cycle of proper arrangements, safe conveyance and sanitary disposal/re-use of liquid and solid wastes (including solutions that do not adversely impact the quality of land and water resources), and associated hygiene behaviour; A range of sanitation provision and service options will be available to choose from. Basic access to sanitation facilities will be ensured to all by reducing disparities through appropriate budgetary policies, with active participation, contribution, decision-making and ownership by communities; Incentives and support will be provided for the poor and people in vulnerable areas; The needs and concerns of women and most vulnerable (e.g. infants, children especially girl-children, the differently-abled, the elderly) will be addressed as a priority. Innovative mechanisms e.g. micro-finance by Self Help Groups, will be effectively promoted; Socially and economically disadvantaged households will be mobilized to form groups; and supported to access sanitation and other development programs; The special sanitation needs of women (e.g. menstrual hygiene management) will be integrated in planning, implementation, monitoring and measurement of program outcomes. The key role of women in managing sanitation and hygiene in community settings will be enhanced; Greater thrust will be placed on promoting adequate sanitation in schools e.g. separate facilities for boys and girls, supported by safe drinking water and with adequate child-friendly facilities. Hygiene education will be incorporated into the school curricula to promote good hygiene behaviour and upkeep of facilities; Collaboration between countries will be strengthened to develop capacities, sharing of best practices, and to promote mechanisms for independent monitoring; Behaviour Change Communication and information sharing will be effectively utilized for creating demand for clean and healthy environment, and for promoting good hygiene behaviour; in partnership with Media and using Information and Communication Technologies; Sanitation and hygiene needs to be integrated into health, education and other related policies, and regulations effectively enforced; Technologies (e.g. which require less water and/or no water) and the practice of “reuse and recycle” of human wastes, and solid and liquid wastes (including conversion into energy), will be promoted; Collaborations with the private sector (including toilet associations and groups of sanitary goods and service-providers) will be strengthened in developing sanitation standards, technologies and products that are appropriate, affordable, ecologically-friendly and easily accessible;For urban areas, an integrated city-wide approach will be adopted to ensure the safe management (including treatment and disposal) of human wastes, and all other solid and liquid wastes (including medical, industrial and commercial wastes, etc.);The urban poor, especially those in slum settlements, will be facilitated and supported to obtain access to safe sanitation as a part of the integrated city-wide sanitation plans; and The critical role of personnel involved in sanitation work will be recognized, and measures taken to raise their dignity.
The member countries have committed to achieve the national goals and the Millennium Development Goals on Sanitation in a time-bound manner during the ongoing International Year of Sanitation 2008 and took a resolve for Continuing the advocacy and awareness to sustain the momentum given to sanitation explicitly at the regional, national, sub-national and local levels, in policy, budgetary allocation, human resources, and implementation. They took vow for strengthening community efforts and developing capacities of Local Governments, non-governmental organizations, youth and community groups to work in partnership for sustainable sanitation solutions. The action taking include to Ensure occupational dignity, health, safety and improve the profile and working conditions of personnel involved in sanitation work and also to Prioritise sanitation as a development intervention for health, dignity and security of all members of communities especially infants, girl-children, women, the elderly and differently-abled. Accordingly, efforts will be made for mainstream sanitation across sectors, ministries/departments, institutions, domains (private, household, schools, community, public), and socio-political persuasions, so that sanitation is everybody’s concern and prioritised in their respective programs (e.g. railways or tourism agencies promoting access to sanitation facilities as a part of their programs). They will also develop and implement approaches, methodologies, technologies and systems for emergencies, and disaster situations, and for areas, with special characteristics/ terrains or groups suffering temporary displacement. In addition work to advocate globally the recognition of climate change impacts on sanitation provision in South Asia, and develop and implement strategies and technologies that adapt to and mitigate impact and will enable flexibility and variety in options and practical solutions to suit local conditions, preferences, and resources.
An inter-country Working Group, led by country focal points, will meet periodically to promote research and development, collaborations, exchanges of innovations, experiences and expertise; networks among intra-country groups and agencies will be created for sharing of knowledge and the Indicative “South Asia Roadmap for Achieving Sanitation Goals”) will be consulted by the participant countries to develop their national Action Plans for implementation over the 2009-2011 period.
The declaration while expressing its gratitude towards the Government of India and its people for the warm hospitality expressed hope that momentum gained by the three SACOSANs will be further continued by the hosting of the Fourth SACOSAN in Sri Lanka in 2010, and the fifth SACOSAN in Nepal in 2012.
The declaration recognises that access to sanitation and safe drinking water as a basic right, and accords national priority to sanitation It confirms commitment to achieving National and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on Sanitation in a time-bound manner in all participating countries of South Asia.It also asserts that achieving total and sustainable sanitation in all rural and urban communities in the member countries is not only possible but also is a cherished goal reiterated in SACOSAN-I at Dhaka (2003) and SACOSAN-II at Islamabad (2006).
The declaration reiterates member’s commitment to the following key principles and specific actions that need to be implemented at household, local, sub-national and national levels to accelerate performance and rapidly achieve sanitation goals:
Ensuring that the present and future generations enjoy a healthy environment, with clean air, soil and fresh water resources; Achieving sanitation for all will be an inclusive process, involving all stakeholders at all stages, especially local governments, community and grassroots groups; Sanitation will not be considered merely an infrastructure or financing challenge, but one that requires effective policy, institutional and fiscal incentives to change behaviour, working in partnership with religious leaders, communities, institutions (e.g. schools etc.), local governments and service providers; and strengthening their capacities and accountability in mobilizing, implementation and monitoring; Promote thinking of sanitation as the full cycle of proper arrangements, safe conveyance and sanitary disposal/re-use of liquid and solid wastes (including solutions that do not adversely impact the quality of land and water resources), and associated hygiene behaviour; A range of sanitation provision and service options will be available to choose from. Basic access to sanitation facilities will be ensured to all by reducing disparities through appropriate budgetary policies, with active participation, contribution, decision-making and ownership by communities; Incentives and support will be provided for the poor and people in vulnerable areas; The needs and concerns of women and most vulnerable (e.g. infants, children especially girl-children, the differently-abled, the elderly) will be addressed as a priority. Innovative mechanisms e.g. micro-finance by Self Help Groups, will be effectively promoted; Socially and economically disadvantaged households will be mobilized to form groups; and supported to access sanitation and other development programs; The special sanitation needs of women (e.g. menstrual hygiene management) will be integrated in planning, implementation, monitoring and measurement of program outcomes. The key role of women in managing sanitation and hygiene in community settings will be enhanced; Greater thrust will be placed on promoting adequate sanitation in schools e.g. separate facilities for boys and girls, supported by safe drinking water and with adequate child-friendly facilities. Hygiene education will be incorporated into the school curricula to promote good hygiene behaviour and upkeep of facilities; Collaboration between countries will be strengthened to develop capacities, sharing of best practices, and to promote mechanisms for independent monitoring; Behaviour Change Communication and information sharing will be effectively utilized for creating demand for clean and healthy environment, and for promoting good hygiene behaviour; in partnership with Media and using Information and Communication Technologies; Sanitation and hygiene needs to be integrated into health, education and other related policies, and regulations effectively enforced; Technologies (e.g. which require less water and/or no water) and the practice of “reuse and recycle” of human wastes, and solid and liquid wastes (including conversion into energy), will be promoted; Collaborations with the private sector (including toilet associations and groups of sanitary goods and service-providers) will be strengthened in developing sanitation standards, technologies and products that are appropriate, affordable, ecologically-friendly and easily accessible;For urban areas, an integrated city-wide approach will be adopted to ensure the safe management (including treatment and disposal) of human wastes, and all other solid and liquid wastes (including medical, industrial and commercial wastes, etc.);The urban poor, especially those in slum settlements, will be facilitated and supported to obtain access to safe sanitation as a part of the integrated city-wide sanitation plans; and The critical role of personnel involved in sanitation work will be recognized, and measures taken to raise their dignity.
The member countries have committed to achieve the national goals and the Millennium Development Goals on Sanitation in a time-bound manner during the ongoing International Year of Sanitation 2008 and took a resolve for Continuing the advocacy and awareness to sustain the momentum given to sanitation explicitly at the regional, national, sub-national and local levels, in policy, budgetary allocation, human resources, and implementation. They took vow for strengthening community efforts and developing capacities of Local Governments, non-governmental organizations, youth and community groups to work in partnership for sustainable sanitation solutions. The action taking include to Ensure occupational dignity, health, safety and improve the profile and working conditions of personnel involved in sanitation work and also to Prioritise sanitation as a development intervention for health, dignity and security of all members of communities especially infants, girl-children, women, the elderly and differently-abled. Accordingly, efforts will be made for mainstream sanitation across sectors, ministries/departments, institutions, domains (private, household, schools, community, public), and socio-political persuasions, so that sanitation is everybody’s concern and prioritised in their respective programs (e.g. railways or tourism agencies promoting access to sanitation facilities as a part of their programs). They will also develop and implement approaches, methodologies, technologies and systems for emergencies, and disaster situations, and for areas, with special characteristics/ terrains or groups suffering temporary displacement. In addition work to advocate globally the recognition of climate change impacts on sanitation provision in South Asia, and develop and implement strategies and technologies that adapt to and mitigate impact and will enable flexibility and variety in options and practical solutions to suit local conditions, preferences, and resources.
An inter-country Working Group, led by country focal points, will meet periodically to promote research and development, collaborations, exchanges of innovations, experiences and expertise; networks among intra-country groups and agencies will be created for sharing of knowledge and the Indicative “South Asia Roadmap for Achieving Sanitation Goals”) will be consulted by the participant countries to develop their national Action Plans for implementation over the 2009-2011 period.
The declaration while expressing its gratitude towards the Government of India and its people for the warm hospitality expressed hope that momentum gained by the three SACOSANs will be further continued by the hosting of the Fourth SACOSAN in Sri Lanka in 2010, and the fifth SACOSAN in Nepal in 2012.
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