After a month of bickering over seat sharing, the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have sealed a pact to fight the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections together. It took them many rounds of meetings, heated discussions, threats to contest against each other and finally Sonia Gandhi’s stamp of approval to arrive at their decision to forge unity. There are 227 wards at stake in the polls.
Though the pre-poll alliance between the two is a done deal now, members of neither party are celebrating. Senior leaders of both parties are yet to reveal ward allocations—an exercise that will definitely see many disgruntled partymen looking to go elsewhere to further their political ambitions.
Bickering over seat allocation is not new to the Congress-NCP alliance. They have done it in every election, wasting valuable campaign time and creating more disgruntled partymen than happy ones. Ever since the day the two parties forged a post-poll alliance after the 1999 Assembly election, each has been suspicious of the other. Though partners in government, both in the state and at the Centre, the Congress and NCP continue treat each other as rivals. Each has tried to scuttle the growth of the other, and despite a no-poaching agreement between the two, party hopping is rampant. So it is essentially a case of two uncomfortable, mistrustful partners that have come together to work jointly in an effort to win the elections.
The bickering is still not over; it will continue even during campaigning. After all, each perceives itself as the stronger—the Congress thinks it has more support, as does the NCP. Despite all the cold vibes from senior leaders within their parties, both Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and his deputy Ajit Pawar were extremely keen to work out a pre-poll alliance. This is the first time both parties will contest as partners—they’d failed to arrive at an understanding for the two previous BMC polls (in 2002 and 2007).
This time too, both bargained hard. The NCP, with 13 corporators in the outgoing house, demanded 65 seats. The Congress wanted to give the NCP only 45 and finally gave away 58, keeping 169 seats. The Congress has 70 corporators and a strong anti-incumbency factor against it.
The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance has held on to power in the BMC for 17 years. The Congress-NCP alliance is looking to change that. Victory in these polls is crucial to the Congress, which is dealing with widespread disillusionment with the party. Besides, it has more at stake than the NCP, which has only a small presence in the financial capital of the country.
Though the Shiv Sena is fast losing its base in rural parts of the state, this has not resulted in any gains for the Congress. Results of the recently concluded polls to 196 municipal councils threw up a surprise—the NCP emerged on top, spreading its presence across more municipalities than the Congress. The Sena came in a poor third. The NCP is expected to do well in the forthcoming zila parishad polls too, a scenario that should sound alarm bells for the Congress. Hence, it is imperative that the Congress consolidate its position in urban areas through victories in municipal corporation polls. For the Shiv Sena, control over the BMC has become a matter of survival. Faced with steadily declining Marathi heft the city, and the loss of its own support base to Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, these elections will be extremely tough for Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena.
Both the Congress and NCP, despite winning all six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, know that neither party can go it alone for the BMC polls. An alliance is not just a compulsion, but an extreme necessity. If they win the BMC, they will be able to keep the Shiv Sena in check.
But while most Congressmen are seen to be mere poster heroes, the Shiv Sena continues to hold on to its wards through its network of shakhas. Its ‘people connect’ programmes, like street corner reading centres and free crèches, have kept it in touch with voters in Mumbai.
Even with a relatively weakened Shiv Sena and a pre-poll alliance under its belt, it is unlikely to be easygoing for the Congress-NCP combine in the BMC polls. Both parties are going to have a huge problem on their hands in trying to contain the disgruntlement of partymen in their ranks. Both parties are likely lose more seats to this factor than to the electorate’s prevailing mood.
17 January, 2012
03 January, 2012
Rising Prices in India
Today, India is facing many problems – the problem of corruption, the problem of unemployment, the problem of illiteracy, the problem of population, so on and so forth. The problem of rising prices is one of the most important problems that Indian is facing now. This problem is two-fold to check the rising prices and, if possible, to bring the prices down.
The economists are of opinion that growing economy of the country has given rise to the rising prices. Such economy causes inflation. In inflation purchasing power runs ahead of purchasable goods. In other words, in a growing country, the supply of money increase at once but the supply of goods takes time to increase. Again the population has increased. This has further increased inflation. Because of growing population the current corruption is increasing.
There is another cause of rising prices. The production of consumption goods has been very slowly rising. Our plants are also responsible for the present food situation. High targets were set to be achieved in defense and development. Levels of outlay on the development were suggested. No consideration was given to the existing state of economy. The pressure on real resources has been increasing. The gap between the return and investment also has its effect upon the present price situation.
Thirdly, the kind of system of Government such as is ours is liable to inflation. Restraint cannot be exercised in spending. Often it happens that claims have to be met mainly allocating funds.
In the period of rising prices, the rich got richer and poor, poorer. The rich own the means of production. They pay the laborers handsomely. But they take of the left hand what they gave with right hand. The cost of goods swells up. The prices naturally go up. What his master gives him, the market takes.
Rising prices encourage hoarding, profiteering, black –marketing and corruption. They discourage export. They cause devaluation of currency. Lastly, they seriously disrupt equitable distribution of wealth.
The problem is very dangerous. It needs measures – short and long term, to be adopted. These measures include as appeal mixed up with threat to the sellers, raids on go downs and other hoards of grain, the seizing of black, the cut of Rs 400 crores in central expenditure, the increase in bank rates to 5 %, the opining of fair price shops, the rationing of provisions, the imports of food-grains from some foreign counties, the curbing of unproductive expenditure by the Government, the readjustment in the scale of pay and the emphasis on small plants. The short term measure will help the government to hold the price-line. The long term measures will help the government to withdraw the huge amount of money pumped into circulation during the last year.
Corruption has also given rise to rising prices. Our former Prime Minister, Mr Rajiv Gandhi had taken it upon himself to root this evil out in his regime.
The economists are of opinion that growing economy of the country has given rise to the rising prices. Such economy causes inflation. In inflation purchasing power runs ahead of purchasable goods. In other words, in a growing country, the supply of money increase at once but the supply of goods takes time to increase. Again the population has increased. This has further increased inflation. Because of growing population the current corruption is increasing.
There is another cause of rising prices. The production of consumption goods has been very slowly rising. Our plants are also responsible for the present food situation. High targets were set to be achieved in defense and development. Levels of outlay on the development were suggested. No consideration was given to the existing state of economy. The pressure on real resources has been increasing. The gap between the return and investment also has its effect upon the present price situation.
Thirdly, the kind of system of Government such as is ours is liable to inflation. Restraint cannot be exercised in spending. Often it happens that claims have to be met mainly allocating funds.
In the period of rising prices, the rich got richer and poor, poorer. The rich own the means of production. They pay the laborers handsomely. But they take of the left hand what they gave with right hand. The cost of goods swells up. The prices naturally go up. What his master gives him, the market takes.
Rising prices encourage hoarding, profiteering, black –marketing and corruption. They discourage export. They cause devaluation of currency. Lastly, they seriously disrupt equitable distribution of wealth.
The problem is very dangerous. It needs measures – short and long term, to be adopted. These measures include as appeal mixed up with threat to the sellers, raids on go downs and other hoards of grain, the seizing of black, the cut of Rs 400 crores in central expenditure, the increase in bank rates to 5 %, the opining of fair price shops, the rationing of provisions, the imports of food-grains from some foreign counties, the curbing of unproductive expenditure by the Government, the readjustment in the scale of pay and the emphasis on small plants. The short term measure will help the government to hold the price-line. The long term measures will help the government to withdraw the huge amount of money pumped into circulation during the last year.
Corruption has also given rise to rising prices. Our former Prime Minister, Mr Rajiv Gandhi had taken it upon himself to root this evil out in his regime.
26 December, 2011
Lokpal agitation: In 2 days, 68000 sign up to go to jail
Anna wants to know if you're willing to go to prison. And 68,000 people and counting have volunteered in the last two days. As the countdown to Team Anna's third fast this year draws close, his team has unleashed a campaign spanning new technology and social media getting people to register, join the protest in Mumbai or just spread the word.
While activist Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi will be present in Mumbai, Prashant Bhushan is expected to hold fort in Delhi. This time few members of the core team will sit on fast with Anna.
Consider this: over 60,776 people across the country have already registered on the website jailchalo.com to be part of the jail bharo andolan. About 7,000 people have responded on the toll free helpline and registered themselves through smses and IVR and over 19,000 faxes have been sent to parliamentarians in support of the Jan Lokpal bill.
The jail bharo campaign was started by the Mumbai chapter of the India Against Corruption movement and had registered about 37,000 people till Friday night. "The number has more than doubled. The response has been overwhelming," a Team Anna member said on Saturday.
The campaign is being cross promoted on IAC's social media pages. In fact one of the pages even has legal advice on what being arrested in an agitation of this kind mean and whether being detained can affect a person's job prospects or visa application.
The fax campaign was kickstarted by global organization avaaz.org that has been associated with the Anna campaign. Over 19,000 faxes have been sent to about 40 senior political leaders between Thursday and Friday including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi, cabinet ministers and senior leaders from all major political parties.
The text of the fax says, "Without the independence to investigate and prosecute those who are suspected of corruption, Jan Lokpal stands to become a toothless bill. The CBI must stay within the purview of the Lokpal so as not to weaken the Lokpal Committee's ability to tackle corruption in any substantive way."
Sent to 8 lakh registered users the fax said, "We are so close to passing the most powerful anti-corruption bill that India's ever seen - and delivering anything less will be a betrayal of your promises to millions of Indians." The group also plans to send another set of letters to all MPs with a sharp critique of the government's Lokpal draft just before the special session in Parliament.
A core committee member said this would be supplemented by street plays, dharnas, candle-light marches and rallies across the country.
While activist Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi will be present in Mumbai, Prashant Bhushan is expected to hold fort in Delhi. This time few members of the core team will sit on fast with Anna.
Consider this: over 60,776 people across the country have already registered on the website jailchalo.com to be part of the jail bharo andolan. About 7,000 people have responded on the toll free helpline and registered themselves through smses and IVR and over 19,000 faxes have been sent to parliamentarians in support of the Jan Lokpal bill.
The jail bharo campaign was started by the Mumbai chapter of the India Against Corruption movement and had registered about 37,000 people till Friday night. "The number has more than doubled. The response has been overwhelming," a Team Anna member said on Saturday.
The campaign is being cross promoted on IAC's social media pages. In fact one of the pages even has legal advice on what being arrested in an agitation of this kind mean and whether being detained can affect a person's job prospects or visa application.
The fax campaign was kickstarted by global organization avaaz.org that has been associated with the Anna campaign. Over 19,000 faxes have been sent to about 40 senior political leaders between Thursday and Friday including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi, cabinet ministers and senior leaders from all major political parties.
The text of the fax says, "Without the independence to investigate and prosecute those who are suspected of corruption, Jan Lokpal stands to become a toothless bill. The CBI must stay within the purview of the Lokpal so as not to weaken the Lokpal Committee's ability to tackle corruption in any substantive way."
Sent to 8 lakh registered users the fax said, "We are so close to passing the most powerful anti-corruption bill that India's ever seen - and delivering anything less will be a betrayal of your promises to millions of Indians." The group also plans to send another set of letters to all MPs with a sharp critique of the government's Lokpal draft just before the special session in Parliament.
A core committee member said this would be supplemented by street plays, dharnas, candle-light marches and rallies across the country.
$ 128 billion siphoned out in a decade
Even as the country continues to witness a campaign for a strong anti-corruption watchdog, a report has calculated that between $104 billion and $128 billion (roughly Rs 5 to 6 lakh crore) was illegally siphoned out of India in the decade spanning 2000 to 2009.
This works out to an average outflow of about $10-13 billion (Rs 48,000 to Rs 63,000 crore) every year.
The report has been prepared by international watchdog Global Financial Integrity (GFI), which first collected and computed worldwide data on illicit financial outflows in 2008.
International watchdog Global Financial Integrity's (GFI) report on illicit financial flows says nearly Rs 6 lakh crore was illegally siphoned out of India in the decade spanning 2000 to 2009.
GFI estimates illicit flows by looking at data on two aspects of the economy. The first category is calculated by comparing foreign funds generated by external borrowings and foreign direct investment with the uses to which these funds could be put - bridging the country's current account deficit or adding to its forex reserves.
If the official data shows that the use is less than the funds generated, there must be an illicit outflow and if it is more there must be an illicit inflow. GFI data shows that in India over $6.8 billion (about Rs 33,000 crore) was lost in this manner over the decade.
The second category is illicit flows that arise through trade mispricing. If an importer declares a higher import value to the customs department than the value of goods recorded by the exporting partner country, it creates an illicit outflow.
Similarly, if an exporter understates the value of goods actually exported in relation to the imports recorded in the importing partner country and keeps the balance of funds abroad, that too is an illicit outflow. International trade data reveals such mispricing by comparing data from partner trading countries.It is this type of jugglery that accounts for the bulk of illicit flows in India - worth over $121.65 billion (Rs 5.8 lakh crore) or almost 95% of the total.
This works out to an average outflow of about $10-13 billion (Rs 48,000 to Rs 63,000 crore) every year.
The report has been prepared by international watchdog Global Financial Integrity (GFI), which first collected and computed worldwide data on illicit financial outflows in 2008.
International watchdog Global Financial Integrity's (GFI) report on illicit financial flows says nearly Rs 6 lakh crore was illegally siphoned out of India in the decade spanning 2000 to 2009.
GFI estimates illicit flows by looking at data on two aspects of the economy. The first category is calculated by comparing foreign funds generated by external borrowings and foreign direct investment with the uses to which these funds could be put - bridging the country's current account deficit or adding to its forex reserves.
If the official data shows that the use is less than the funds generated, there must be an illicit outflow and if it is more there must be an illicit inflow. GFI data shows that in India over $6.8 billion (about Rs 33,000 crore) was lost in this manner over the decade.
The second category is illicit flows that arise through trade mispricing. If an importer declares a higher import value to the customs department than the value of goods recorded by the exporting partner country, it creates an illicit outflow.
Similarly, if an exporter understates the value of goods actually exported in relation to the imports recorded in the importing partner country and keeps the balance of funds abroad, that too is an illicit outflow. International trade data reveals such mispricing by comparing data from partner trading countries.It is this type of jugglery that accounts for the bulk of illicit flows in India - worth over $121.65 billion (Rs 5.8 lakh crore) or almost 95% of the total.
19 December, 2011
Gift me Uttar Pradesh, says Mayawati.
With the Assembly elections in India, every political party is at it again. None of the Political party would want to mislay this golden chance, so did Mayawati.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Sunday had addressed a rally in Lucknow.
In this rally she has insisted people to gift her Uttar Pradesh in the next Assembly Election. “My birthday is just round the corner and unlike the past, we may not be able to celebrate it grandly as there is a possibility that Election Commission would announce dates for the 2012 assembly elections. However you have to gift me Uttar Pradesh in 2012 assembly elections”, says Mayawati.
She also raised her voice stating that how shoddily are Muslim treated in Congress Raj. “Congress had ruled our country for 40 years and during their rule Muslims were always neglected. The maximum number of communal riots took place during Congress Raj in the country and these left a sense of insecurity in the minds of Muslims. What happened in Ayodhya on Dec 6, 1992? Demolition of the Babri Mosque, This was again during Congress Raj”, says Mayawati.
She further added “Our party has worked day and night and along with every other part of society, and we haven’t at no point of time neglected of Muslims. We had taken care of them as well. BSP has ensured that no such unfortunate incidents take place. "
Mayawati also tried to impress Muslims by stating that, “I promise to give proper representation to Muslims in ticket distribution for the assembly polls and in the government, if voted back to power.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Sunday had addressed a rally in Lucknow.
In this rally she has insisted people to gift her Uttar Pradesh in the next Assembly Election. “My birthday is just round the corner and unlike the past, we may not be able to celebrate it grandly as there is a possibility that Election Commission would announce dates for the 2012 assembly elections. However you have to gift me Uttar Pradesh in 2012 assembly elections”, says Mayawati.
She also raised her voice stating that how shoddily are Muslim treated in Congress Raj. “Congress had ruled our country for 40 years and during their rule Muslims were always neglected. The maximum number of communal riots took place during Congress Raj in the country and these left a sense of insecurity in the minds of Muslims. What happened in Ayodhya on Dec 6, 1992? Demolition of the Babri Mosque, This was again during Congress Raj”, says Mayawati.
She further added “Our party has worked day and night and along with every other part of society, and we haven’t at no point of time neglected of Muslims. We had taken care of them as well. BSP has ensured that no such unfortunate incidents take place. "
Mayawati also tried to impress Muslims by stating that, “I promise to give proper representation to Muslims in ticket distribution for the assembly polls and in the government, if voted back to power.”
Tale of Md Afzal, RTI Activist
Mohd Afzal, a Mumbai based RTI Activist, is a man who have never been encouraged or appreciated for his workings. People in our country are not very familiar with Md Afzal and his achievement towards our society.
Mohd Afzal was a well established man. He had a travel and tourism business. He was always ardent towards our society. He wanted to remove the tribulations that we people undergoing in our society. Thus he started taking up social causes in his spare time. He began his social service with Consumer guidance society of India. Afzal has been actively working as an RTI activist for proper implementation of the Right to Information Act since 2005. He raised his voice to eradicate obscenity from hoardings, print and electronic media.
Afzal has been a significant medium in discontinue pornography, Video clipping from being shown in iShare Internet with the help of Social service branch. He had also filed a lot of RTI queries on different social issues in Maharashtra.
On speaking to Md Afzal, he said, “I have been in the social service for the past 30 years and I strongly believe that we have some responsibility towards the country and the society at large. No religion encourages terrorism, what is required is we Indians should rationally. We should join hands with the government to see how we can progress so that India shines”.
Mohd Afzal was a well established man. He had a travel and tourism business. He was always ardent towards our society. He wanted to remove the tribulations that we people undergoing in our society. Thus he started taking up social causes in his spare time. He began his social service with Consumer guidance society of India. Afzal has been actively working as an RTI activist for proper implementation of the Right to Information Act since 2005. He raised his voice to eradicate obscenity from hoardings, print and electronic media.
Afzal has been a significant medium in discontinue pornography, Video clipping from being shown in iShare Internet with the help of Social service branch. He had also filed a lot of RTI queries on different social issues in Maharashtra.
On speaking to Md Afzal, he said, “I have been in the social service for the past 30 years and I strongly believe that we have some responsibility towards the country and the society at large. No religion encourages terrorism, what is required is we Indians should rationally. We should join hands with the government to see how we can progress so that India shines”.
India records marginal rise in crime graph in 2010
There is no doubt that crime in India today is a big issue. India is experiencing thousand of violence cases such as kidnaping, murder, rape, riots, gang rape etc. In 90’s, these criminal cases were very less. Hardly one could hear news about a girl molested or a woman raped. Delhi was the only city that was considered as a ‘Capital of Crime’.
But today, there is an enormous increase of criminal cases in all parts of the country. Not only offence on murder and robbery are rising but also Offense against children and women are increasing steadily.
In India, a women is raped in every 25 minute, a girl is been molested and murdered in every 10 minutes. There have also been an infinite raise in cases registered in the police station; however a majority of cases also goes unreported.
As reported by a local newspaper, The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) states that there is a rise in the crime rate in India since 1998 – 2010. Cases of crime under various categories in the country had increased by about 5 per cent last year as compared to 2009.
As compared to 2009, the number of crimes such as murder, rape, sexual harassment, kidnapping, abduction, cheating and mishaps increased in 2010.
In 2010, a total of 22, 24,831 criminal cases were registered under the Indian Penal Code as against 21, 21,345 cases in 2009. Murder cases this year were 33,335 where as in 2009 32,369 cases were registered. This went up by 3 percent against.
Crime against women during 2010 was 2, 13,585 which again went up by 4.8 per cent compared to 2, 03,804 cases recorded in 2009. Crime against children went up by 10.3 per cent (26,694) as against 24,201 cases in 2009.
On the other hand other robberies, dacoit, burglaries, auto thefts, riots, criminal breach of trust, dowry deaths, counterfeiting, arson and attempt to murder declined.
But today, there is an enormous increase of criminal cases in all parts of the country. Not only offence on murder and robbery are rising but also Offense against children and women are increasing steadily.
In India, a women is raped in every 25 minute, a girl is been molested and murdered in every 10 minutes. There have also been an infinite raise in cases registered in the police station; however a majority of cases also goes unreported.
As reported by a local newspaper, The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) states that there is a rise in the crime rate in India since 1998 – 2010. Cases of crime under various categories in the country had increased by about 5 per cent last year as compared to 2009.
As compared to 2009, the number of crimes such as murder, rape, sexual harassment, kidnapping, abduction, cheating and mishaps increased in 2010.
In 2010, a total of 22, 24,831 criminal cases were registered under the Indian Penal Code as against 21, 21,345 cases in 2009. Murder cases this year were 33,335 where as in 2009 32,369 cases were registered. This went up by 3 percent against.
Crime against women during 2010 was 2, 13,585 which again went up by 4.8 per cent compared to 2, 03,804 cases recorded in 2009. Crime against children went up by 10.3 per cent (26,694) as against 24,201 cases in 2009.
On the other hand other robberies, dacoit, burglaries, auto thefts, riots, criminal breach of trust, dowry deaths, counterfeiting, arson and attempt to murder declined.
Major gains in efficiency of livestock systems needed: FAO
Intensive production holds key to feeding growing cities, but improvements in natural resource use and environmental performance are crucial
By 2050 an expanded world population will be consuming two thirds more animal protein than it does today, bringing new strains to bear on the planet's natural resources, according to a new FAO report published today.
Populations and income growth are fueling an ongoing trend towards greater per capita consumption of animal protein in developing countries, says the report, World Livestock 2011. Meat consumption is projected to rise nearly 73 percent by 2050; dairy consumption will grow 58 percent over current levels.
Much of the future demand for livestock production — in particular in the world's burgeoning cities, where most population growth is occurring — will be met by large-scale, intensive animal-rearing operations.
"As it stands, there are no technically or economically viable alternatives to intensive production for providing the bulk of the livestock food supply for growing cities," FAO's report says.
But such systems are a source of concern due to environmental impacts such as groundwater pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as their potential to act as incubators of diseases, warns the report, cautioning: "an urgent challenge is to make intensive production more environmentally benign."
Based on existing knowledge and technology, there are three ways to do this, according to FAO: reduce the level of pollution generated from waste and greenhouse gases; reduce the input of water and grain needed for each output of livestock protein; and recycle agro-industrial by-products through livestock populations.
Efficiency gains only way to meet demand
The surge in livestock production that took place over the last 40 years resulted largely from an increase in the overall number of animals being raised. But "it is hard to envisage meeting projected demand by keeping twice as many poultry, 80 percent more small ruminants, 50 percent more cattle and 40 percent more pigs, using the same level of natural resources as currently," says World Livestock 2011.
Rather, increases in production will need to come from improvements in the efficiency of livestock systems in converting natural resources into food and reducing waste.
This will require capital investment and a supporting policy and regulatory environment.
Animal health is key
A number of additional challenges must be confronted as well, including drought, water shortages and other climate-related impacts — not to mention the threat of animal diseases, some which may directly threaten human health, which will have to be carefully managed as livestock production is ramped up.
Intensive systems, and those that encroach upon forest environments or peri-urban areas without proper hygiene, are a fertile ground for new diseases — and many of them are managed in ways that are detrimental to animal health and welfare, according to the report.
"It is not enough to pour funding into coping with the urgent disease threats of today — disease intelligence and epidemiological research must be financed to anticipate future diseases in the countries that produce the bulk of livestock source food," it says.
Livestock and food security
Since 1967, global production of poultry meat increased by around 700 percent. Other products saw surges in production as well, including eggs, which registered a 350 percent increase, pig meat (290%), sheep and goat meat (200%), beef and buffalo meat (180%) and milk (180%)
Livestock products today supply 12.9 percent of calories consumed worldwide — 20.3 percent in developed countries. Their contribution to protein consumption is estimated at 27.9 percent worldwide and 47.8 percent in developed countries.
However global trends have not played out evenly on the ground. In many places, production increases haven't occurred and poor and vulnerable communities have not seen their consumption of animal protein rise, FAO warns. Production has expanded rapidly in East and Southeast Asia and in Latin America and the Caribbean but growth in sub-Saharan Africa has been slow
"Average consumption of livestock protein in Africa is less than a quarter of that in the Americas, Europe and Oceania, and represents just 17 percent of the recommended consumption level for all proteins," says FAO's report. "By contrast, the consumption of livestock protein in the Americas, Europe and Oceania in 2005 was between 78 and 98 percent of the total protein requirement, suggesting that livestock products are being over-consumed."
But in the developing world, livestock and livestock products can make a crucial contribution to household economic and food security — as well as nutrition.
Even small amounts of animal source foods can improve the nutritional status of low-income households. Meat, milk and eggs provide proteins with a wide range of amino acids as well as micro-nutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and calcium, in which many malnourished people are deficient.
For livestock-dependent pastoral societies like those in Eastern Africa, the report says, priorities should be boosting the sector's contribution to food security by restoring degraded pastures and managing them better, strengthening animal health services, and doing more to help livestock keepers get their animals and goods to market.
By 2050 an expanded world population will be consuming two thirds more animal protein than it does today, bringing new strains to bear on the planet's natural resources, according to a new FAO report published today.
Populations and income growth are fueling an ongoing trend towards greater per capita consumption of animal protein in developing countries, says the report, World Livestock 2011. Meat consumption is projected to rise nearly 73 percent by 2050; dairy consumption will grow 58 percent over current levels.
Much of the future demand for livestock production — in particular in the world's burgeoning cities, where most population growth is occurring — will be met by large-scale, intensive animal-rearing operations.
"As it stands, there are no technically or economically viable alternatives to intensive production for providing the bulk of the livestock food supply for growing cities," FAO's report says.
But such systems are a source of concern due to environmental impacts such as groundwater pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as their potential to act as incubators of diseases, warns the report, cautioning: "an urgent challenge is to make intensive production more environmentally benign."
Based on existing knowledge and technology, there are three ways to do this, according to FAO: reduce the level of pollution generated from waste and greenhouse gases; reduce the input of water and grain needed for each output of livestock protein; and recycle agro-industrial by-products through livestock populations.
Efficiency gains only way to meet demand
The surge in livestock production that took place over the last 40 years resulted largely from an increase in the overall number of animals being raised. But "it is hard to envisage meeting projected demand by keeping twice as many poultry, 80 percent more small ruminants, 50 percent more cattle and 40 percent more pigs, using the same level of natural resources as currently," says World Livestock 2011.
Rather, increases in production will need to come from improvements in the efficiency of livestock systems in converting natural resources into food and reducing waste.
This will require capital investment and a supporting policy and regulatory environment.
Animal health is key
A number of additional challenges must be confronted as well, including drought, water shortages and other climate-related impacts — not to mention the threat of animal diseases, some which may directly threaten human health, which will have to be carefully managed as livestock production is ramped up.
Intensive systems, and those that encroach upon forest environments or peri-urban areas without proper hygiene, are a fertile ground for new diseases — and many of them are managed in ways that are detrimental to animal health and welfare, according to the report.
"It is not enough to pour funding into coping with the urgent disease threats of today — disease intelligence and epidemiological research must be financed to anticipate future diseases in the countries that produce the bulk of livestock source food," it says.
Livestock and food security
Since 1967, global production of poultry meat increased by around 700 percent. Other products saw surges in production as well, including eggs, which registered a 350 percent increase, pig meat (290%), sheep and goat meat (200%), beef and buffalo meat (180%) and milk (180%)
Livestock products today supply 12.9 percent of calories consumed worldwide — 20.3 percent in developed countries. Their contribution to protein consumption is estimated at 27.9 percent worldwide and 47.8 percent in developed countries.
However global trends have not played out evenly on the ground. In many places, production increases haven't occurred and poor and vulnerable communities have not seen their consumption of animal protein rise, FAO warns. Production has expanded rapidly in East and Southeast Asia and in Latin America and the Caribbean but growth in sub-Saharan Africa has been slow
"Average consumption of livestock protein in Africa is less than a quarter of that in the Americas, Europe and Oceania, and represents just 17 percent of the recommended consumption level for all proteins," says FAO's report. "By contrast, the consumption of livestock protein in the Americas, Europe and Oceania in 2005 was between 78 and 98 percent of the total protein requirement, suggesting that livestock products are being over-consumed."
But in the developing world, livestock and livestock products can make a crucial contribution to household economic and food security — as well as nutrition.
Even small amounts of animal source foods can improve the nutritional status of low-income households. Meat, milk and eggs provide proteins with a wide range of amino acids as well as micro-nutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and calcium, in which many malnourished people are deficient.
For livestock-dependent pastoral societies like those in Eastern Africa, the report says, priorities should be boosting the sector's contribution to food security by restoring degraded pastures and managing them better, strengthening animal health services, and doing more to help livestock keepers get their animals and goods to market.
05 December, 2011
Racism with our own country men
Are we people nationalist or just faking ourselves to be one? So what is nationalism does it teach us to be a racist or to discriminate between our countrymen? No this is not nationalism; this is a kind of racism on the basis of region, caste, language etc. The people who believe in regionalism consider their own countrymen as foreigners still they say that they are nationalist and patriotic in true sense. Let’s take the instance of our north eastern states we discriminate with the people of our land just on the basis of there facial features and language. Its true if we go to Mumbai or Delhi or to any other city of north India or south India people out there mention students or workers from Arunachal,Manipur,Sikkim,Nagaland ,Mizoram ,Meghalaya, Tripura ,Darjeeling as CHINKIS. Where this word came from to discriminate with our own people? It’s really true that we have very little knowledge about our north eastern states and up to some extent we can blame media for this. Forget about the problems and culture over there many of us not even know the capital of north eastern states .As we all know media is more interested in showing personal likes and dislikes of film stars or the cheap statements made by politicians in
parliament instead of showing the viewer the problems in manipur,nagaland or mizoram.If some bomb explodes in imphal then it’s going to be appear on a running strip on the bottom of your TV screen but what’s going on between deepika padukone and yuvraj singh will come as breaking news ,what an irony .But we can bridge this gap between our people by stopping this discrimination and giving respect which they deserve .So please stop discriminating on the basis of region, language,cast,creed before its get too late to repair this damage.
Be a true Indian.
parliament instead of showing the viewer the problems in manipur,nagaland or mizoram.If some bomb explodes in imphal then it’s going to be appear on a running strip on the bottom of your TV screen but what’s going on between deepika padukone and yuvraj singh will come as breaking news ,what an irony .But we can bridge this gap between our people by stopping this discrimination and giving respect which they deserve .So please stop discriminating on the basis of region, language,cast,creed before its get too late to repair this damage.
Be a true Indian.
Salman Speaks…
Salman Khan! When he walks into frame, everything else stops existing... His diehard fans and his ever-growing popularity, despite the rumours about his insouciant behavior on sets, astonish no one anymore. For those who want to know his mantra’s on life… here are some of his ideas bottled in a nutshell, for all us Sallu-fans!
“The one thing that charges me up is when people are trying to put me down and harm me... I make sure I get up and fight!”
“What keeps me going and makes it all worthwhile are the compliments, encouragement and appreciation I receive for my work and the person I am. But at the same time, I try not to take these too seriously, not depend too much upon it.”
“Power can be a dangerous instrument when in wrong hands. I don’t believe in power. There is nothing called power. Yes, I believe in success. But power that is gotten out of success is a different ball game altogether.”
“When you die, how will being the most powerful person in the industry or on earth matter? Does it make sense?”
“The harder you work, the luckier you become!”
“I am a writer’s son, so the first thing I concentrate on is the script of the film. If the film doesn’t do well, it is my judgment which will have gone wrong. Nobody else will be responsible.”
“I have always believed that new people have a distinctive take on things. They not only concentrate on the script, they also work very hard on the dialogues, design… the entire film basically.”
“The one thing that charges me up is when people are trying to put me down and harm me... I make sure I get up and fight!”
“What keeps me going and makes it all worthwhile are the compliments, encouragement and appreciation I receive for my work and the person I am. But at the same time, I try not to take these too seriously, not depend too much upon it.”
“Power can be a dangerous instrument when in wrong hands. I don’t believe in power. There is nothing called power. Yes, I believe in success. But power that is gotten out of success is a different ball game altogether.”
“When you die, how will being the most powerful person in the industry or on earth matter? Does it make sense?”
“The harder you work, the luckier you become!”
“I am a writer’s son, so the first thing I concentrate on is the script of the film. If the film doesn’t do well, it is my judgment which will have gone wrong. Nobody else will be responsible.”
“I have always believed that new people have a distinctive take on things. They not only concentrate on the script, they also work very hard on the dialogues, design… the entire film basically.”
“We are more sensitive, because we are constantly judged!” – Katrina Kaif
The end of her relationship with Salman Khan or the beginning of her new glorious phase in the industry, her friendship with Ranbir or her public outburst, Katrina Kaif tells just how she rose above it all…
Plenty, many hits! Growing star power! Katrina has reached an enviable place in the industry. The beauty of it all is the fact that few were convinced she’d ever really get there…. And yet she is sitting poised amongst the biggest names.
Clearly the girl has made many right choices but over these years of growth there certainly might have been many moments that have stirred the person she is, to her very chore, changing her gradually. Many, who thought of her existence in the industry as a mere exhibition of her man, Salman Khan’s goodwill, haven’t really given her, her due. It is a fact that she has had to face many brickbats post the affable actor declaring their relationship is all but over. Initially, she smiled saying, “if he says he is single, and if I say I am single then it sure must be true!” But things didn’t seem all pretty peaches.
That was until I saw her, walking graciously on the ramp for Being Human she looked a million bucks and sure did know that there were more than a million eyes on her gauging the remainder chemistry between her and her ex. Amidst all these glaring eyes and personal darts, how did she rise?
“Where the show is concerned; I have this one regret…” she had my ears with that, “I didn’t have much time to prepare. It so happened that the dates were changed at the last minute due to some issues, and I was shooting away from town, I had to rush in, change and finish the makeup etc… and rush through the show. Other than that I think you know, it went off well it was a difficult show to pull off… For me it is very important that you must at all costs maintain your friendships especially with those you are important to you in life and give them that respect when and where you can be there for them, I think I have ….” And I guess it worked perfectly, all the crazed media’s aggression disappeared seeing the ex- couples bond on the ramp.
You have to give it to the girl, she sure knows how to address the media and shut them up when required, maybe that is the reason why her uncharacteristic outburst at a press event shocked me so… getting my drift she said, “Have you seen the footage of that press event? If anyone ever manages to see the entire footage, I would ask them how would they react if it was their family member, their mother or sister up there on the stage? I was up on the stage, all alone for a product, not for a personal press conference when the media went completely out of hand. The mike’s were flying all over the place, the people were getting so aggressive, some of them were screaming pack-up… they were trying to do everything to pressure me into giving a quote. The worst part was that these are the same media people I have been interacting with, for years! I have always been dignified and kind in my approach towards the media. I know they are very important, not just to promote films but otherwise too. And despite all the respect and regard I have for them, in my vision of that day’s events… I’d say it was a plain violent aggression. I can go to the extent of saying that it was one of the low days I have had this year. Basically I feel, every actress when you see them, you tend to see them as some kind of soul, identity, image which is not a human image. Or normal image.. you tend to think of them as something abnormal. But we are all humans and very normal. Probably more sensitive than normal people because you are constantly being judged!”
The junta isn’t alone judging her, her own colleagues aren’t exactly sparing her any grand adjectives. Having undoubtedly the maximum number of box offices successes as compared to anyone she could call competition, the girl still seems to be falling short of gaining respect of her contemporaries as far as her acting ability is concerned.
She flashed me a smile that seemed so perfect, I almost thought it was practiced, “It’s an individual opinion and it doesn’t matter to me much to be honest, it is your own identity and it is not that anyone’s opinion has to be taken personally or something. It really doesn’t matter to me and it is irrelevant completely and I am doing the best that I can and I believe in myself and believing in being my person and working towards my potential as an actress. I have been 100% honest to the films that are given to me. All else is useless, and entirely irrelevant, it doesn’t matter.” The smile showed again.
It is uncommon for an actor to disregard other people’s opinions considering public image is so dear to them. Maybe unwittingly, what Ranbir and Imran said about her on national television, could form an impressionable mind’s opinion on her. “For me it is important that a film does well at the box office, and I strive, my level best, to get there. Am I growing as an actor? Well, I am taking my steps towards getting better.” A lot was spoken about her role in RAAJNEETI, did she somewhere feel that it would change things for her? It is said that once a glamorous actresses dons a cotton sari, she is perhaps hooting for a national award.
“The fact that I got a chance to work in the film and with the kind of people in it, the experience and the fact that the film got accepted in a big way by the audience is such a huge sense of happiness, you don’t then start to look too much than this I think, there has to be some limit of desire of wanting. Was I expecting a national award? No! Not at all! I would never see a light in something I didn’t get, if I didn’t get it then there will be a reason I didn’t get it. I cannot think like that. Neither can I lie to you by saying something else, I would like to win and get awards and after all everyone wants to be awarded for their profession no matter what you are, but it is not foremost in my mind, I also have to be honest to my ambition and in what I want to achieve. A lot of times I would go for a film thinking it is a fun film! I believe if your intentions are honest, the best will come to you!”
Those will be times she signs up something like TEES MAAR KHAN? I might have anticipated some defense there, but she casually told me, “That was because I wanted to work with Farrah Khan. I wanted to be projected in a film by her.”
I somehow didn’t want details on why she signed MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN, cause it sure seems like a project any today’s actress would say yes to, given the Sonams and the Deepikas of the world having already done their share. What I really wanted to know is why isn’t she taking her time to enjoy that ‘single’ status? Doesn’t she have her bunch of girls to take to the beach and enjoy the male attention? Hoping all these years she has spent in the industry have given her some friends she is can call her own…
“My friends aren’t from popular faces from the industry, so I don’t think giving names would help,” she shut the lid tight on that, and continued, “I share a nice rapport with all the people I work with. There are different kinds of friendship, there are those who we don’t really speak to everyday and then there are others who you call and check on, obviously the latter are closer…. But have their own place in life, only the nature and equation might be different.” I was obviously more curious about those she calls every day, those she shares her moments with… good as well as sad. And also, which category does Ranbir Kapoor fall in, given both speak of the other as a good friend.
“We worked together on two films and we have very similar views on a lot of things, like films, filmmaking… reason of doing films and generally the way we look at things. He is the kind of person, you befriend easily. We have become good friends after these two films. But we don’t see each other anymore because unfortunately we don’t have a film together right now. That’s the sad thing you make good friends and then you don’t get to see them anymore. Getting to think of it, RAAJNEETI, had a fun bunch of people. Arjun being the big surprise. I always saw him as a very straight, very quiet kind of a guy and he turned out to be the biggest prankster… We had a group called the Bho-Pals, since we shot the film in Bhopal.” Indeed very creative… a bunch of fun people. But of these friends we spoke off, who are ones she called to vent out the pain of say her breakup?
Her answer was a long silence…finally she said, “Honestly, not just about being single again, but generally too, inside have I ever pricked or felt hurt about negativity , we all do! We are all human. Have I spoken to someone, do I give it too much importance, NO. I deal with it inside I accept it and I go through my emotions. It feels sad but then I go on and work hard with an honest intention which is the right thing everyone does, that’s the way I face these things.” Resilient or collected, whichever way she chooses to go, more power to this pretty gurl!
Plenty, many hits! Growing star power! Katrina has reached an enviable place in the industry. The beauty of it all is the fact that few were convinced she’d ever really get there…. And yet she is sitting poised amongst the biggest names.
Clearly the girl has made many right choices but over these years of growth there certainly might have been many moments that have stirred the person she is, to her very chore, changing her gradually. Many, who thought of her existence in the industry as a mere exhibition of her man, Salman Khan’s goodwill, haven’t really given her, her due. It is a fact that she has had to face many brickbats post the affable actor declaring their relationship is all but over. Initially, she smiled saying, “if he says he is single, and if I say I am single then it sure must be true!” But things didn’t seem all pretty peaches.
That was until I saw her, walking graciously on the ramp for Being Human she looked a million bucks and sure did know that there were more than a million eyes on her gauging the remainder chemistry between her and her ex. Amidst all these glaring eyes and personal darts, how did she rise?
“Where the show is concerned; I have this one regret…” she had my ears with that, “I didn’t have much time to prepare. It so happened that the dates were changed at the last minute due to some issues, and I was shooting away from town, I had to rush in, change and finish the makeup etc… and rush through the show. Other than that I think you know, it went off well it was a difficult show to pull off… For me it is very important that you must at all costs maintain your friendships especially with those you are important to you in life and give them that respect when and where you can be there for them, I think I have ….” And I guess it worked perfectly, all the crazed media’s aggression disappeared seeing the ex- couples bond on the ramp.
You have to give it to the girl, she sure knows how to address the media and shut them up when required, maybe that is the reason why her uncharacteristic outburst at a press event shocked me so… getting my drift she said, “Have you seen the footage of that press event? If anyone ever manages to see the entire footage, I would ask them how would they react if it was their family member, their mother or sister up there on the stage? I was up on the stage, all alone for a product, not for a personal press conference when the media went completely out of hand. The mike’s were flying all over the place, the people were getting so aggressive, some of them were screaming pack-up… they were trying to do everything to pressure me into giving a quote. The worst part was that these are the same media people I have been interacting with, for years! I have always been dignified and kind in my approach towards the media. I know they are very important, not just to promote films but otherwise too. And despite all the respect and regard I have for them, in my vision of that day’s events… I’d say it was a plain violent aggression. I can go to the extent of saying that it was one of the low days I have had this year. Basically I feel, every actress when you see them, you tend to see them as some kind of soul, identity, image which is not a human image. Or normal image.. you tend to think of them as something abnormal. But we are all humans and very normal. Probably more sensitive than normal people because you are constantly being judged!”
The junta isn’t alone judging her, her own colleagues aren’t exactly sparing her any grand adjectives. Having undoubtedly the maximum number of box offices successes as compared to anyone she could call competition, the girl still seems to be falling short of gaining respect of her contemporaries as far as her acting ability is concerned.
She flashed me a smile that seemed so perfect, I almost thought it was practiced, “It’s an individual opinion and it doesn’t matter to me much to be honest, it is your own identity and it is not that anyone’s opinion has to be taken personally or something. It really doesn’t matter to me and it is irrelevant completely and I am doing the best that I can and I believe in myself and believing in being my person and working towards my potential as an actress. I have been 100% honest to the films that are given to me. All else is useless, and entirely irrelevant, it doesn’t matter.” The smile showed again.
It is uncommon for an actor to disregard other people’s opinions considering public image is so dear to them. Maybe unwittingly, what Ranbir and Imran said about her on national television, could form an impressionable mind’s opinion on her. “For me it is important that a film does well at the box office, and I strive, my level best, to get there. Am I growing as an actor? Well, I am taking my steps towards getting better.” A lot was spoken about her role in RAAJNEETI, did she somewhere feel that it would change things for her? It is said that once a glamorous actresses dons a cotton sari, she is perhaps hooting for a national award.
“The fact that I got a chance to work in the film and with the kind of people in it, the experience and the fact that the film got accepted in a big way by the audience is such a huge sense of happiness, you don’t then start to look too much than this I think, there has to be some limit of desire of wanting. Was I expecting a national award? No! Not at all! I would never see a light in something I didn’t get, if I didn’t get it then there will be a reason I didn’t get it. I cannot think like that. Neither can I lie to you by saying something else, I would like to win and get awards and after all everyone wants to be awarded for their profession no matter what you are, but it is not foremost in my mind, I also have to be honest to my ambition and in what I want to achieve. A lot of times I would go for a film thinking it is a fun film! I believe if your intentions are honest, the best will come to you!”
Those will be times she signs up something like TEES MAAR KHAN? I might have anticipated some defense there, but she casually told me, “That was because I wanted to work with Farrah Khan. I wanted to be projected in a film by her.”
I somehow didn’t want details on why she signed MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN, cause it sure seems like a project any today’s actress would say yes to, given the Sonams and the Deepikas of the world having already done their share. What I really wanted to know is why isn’t she taking her time to enjoy that ‘single’ status? Doesn’t she have her bunch of girls to take to the beach and enjoy the male attention? Hoping all these years she has spent in the industry have given her some friends she is can call her own…
“My friends aren’t from popular faces from the industry, so I don’t think giving names would help,” she shut the lid tight on that, and continued, “I share a nice rapport with all the people I work with. There are different kinds of friendship, there are those who we don’t really speak to everyday and then there are others who you call and check on, obviously the latter are closer…. But have their own place in life, only the nature and equation might be different.” I was obviously more curious about those she calls every day, those she shares her moments with… good as well as sad. And also, which category does Ranbir Kapoor fall in, given both speak of the other as a good friend.
“We worked together on two films and we have very similar views on a lot of things, like films, filmmaking… reason of doing films and generally the way we look at things. He is the kind of person, you befriend easily. We have become good friends after these two films. But we don’t see each other anymore because unfortunately we don’t have a film together right now. That’s the sad thing you make good friends and then you don’t get to see them anymore. Getting to think of it, RAAJNEETI, had a fun bunch of people. Arjun being the big surprise. I always saw him as a very straight, very quiet kind of a guy and he turned out to be the biggest prankster… We had a group called the Bho-Pals, since we shot the film in Bhopal.” Indeed very creative… a bunch of fun people. But of these friends we spoke off, who are ones she called to vent out the pain of say her breakup?
Her answer was a long silence…finally she said, “Honestly, not just about being single again, but generally too, inside have I ever pricked or felt hurt about negativity , we all do! We are all human. Have I spoken to someone, do I give it too much importance, NO. I deal with it inside I accept it and I go through my emotions. It feels sad but then I go on and work hard with an honest intention which is the right thing everyone does, that’s the way I face these things.” Resilient or collected, whichever way she chooses to go, more power to this pretty gurl!
Ainvayi Ainvayi Winning the Hearts – Ranveer Singh
Keeping with the YashRaj ‘tradition’ to keep things under wrapped till the release date, one only got a mere whiff that they were making a film with Anushka and Ranveer, assumptions went awry and many considered Ranveer a typo for Ranbir Kapoor. Graduating from those assumptions, Ranveer made quite a grand entry on the small screen with the promos but with it came rumours about how his dad would have funded the film, why else would YASHRAJ give a newcomer a solo hero project. From what we remember, Uday Chopra didn’t get a solo hero debut! The publicists worked hard at clearing these bizarre rumours about Ranveer’s moneybag daddy and a Yash Raj film being funded by an outsider... but all the bickering and rumours felt silent with the loud applauds the boy received when BAND BAAJA BARAAT hit the theatres. And suddenly from behind all the confusions emerged the next big thing - Ranveer Singh.
Does he credit his hard work or his luck, I asked, “I think I am the first one to be introduced by YashRaj in a solo hero project. When I got the call from them I was not certain, because I knew they worked with established stars only so this launch was beyond my imagination, that too the right script and at the right time. And most importantly, I was ready to do some good work. I had paid my dues during the struggle period and I was at the right age.” Given he has bagged some awards already for his debut film, the struggle period might not seem as bad today but sure there would be days when he felt like giving it all up and maybe changing over to a lesser gamble?
“Many have told me ‘arrey tune kya struggle kiya hai, you stayed with your dad and traveled around in cars...’ I really don’t appreciate that talk at all, struggle is a very relative term. Few know that while I was struggling to get a break in films, my family was going through probably the worst phase financially. They had spent a lot of money on my foreign education and I had still not started earning. It would have really helped had I been bringing some kind of income home but instead I was aiming at something that was far away from my reach. Yes, I was sitting at my father’s house but I was not at peace. It was mentally the most taxing period so what if I was not eating toothpaste sandwiches! You said it right when you called it a gamble.”
And the gamble called acting comes with a lot of people pulling you down, if not downright ridiculing you....
“Friends who knew me from childhood always told me that I am not cut out for a 9-to-5 job. I was the nautankI of the school. I did just what I liked...” that explains why literature was his favourite and mathematics was just a chore but it was annual day that brought the limelight upon him, “yes, annual day was my day. I took part in all the activities. I always wanted to entertain... you know during the struggle phase I was assisting Shaad AlI for a while. My first job with him was an AD on an ad shoot. We were shooting Paresh Rawaj at Bhaidas Hall. All my friends kept teasing me saying, ‘dekhle once you get behind the camera you might never get in front of one ever again.’ I shut them up but it kept playing at the back of my mind, what if I get scared seeing what really goes around in acting, maybe I will enjoy more behind the camera.... Anyways, I reached Bhaidas and they were putting up the sets and doing the lighting, where PareshjI was to stand that place was lit up and the second I saw that spot, I knew it, that is where I want to be. That is where I belonged.” his eyes still sparkle, perhaps with gratitude cause today he is where he wanted to be.... but I wanted to know about days when this dream was no where close to getting realised... when acting was perhaps restricted to the mirror in the bathroom. What were his favourite scenes, the ones he enacted for just himself....
“‘You talking to me? You talking to me? There is no one else here so you must be talking to me...’ Robert de Niro in TaxI Driver.... “ he enacted the famous dialogue and moved onto his other favourite, “Al Pachino in Scarface, these performances made me wanna act!”
Spoke like a true Bandra boy, what about our Hindi film folk?
“I love them all from Amitabh Bachchan to Aamir Khan to Shah Rukh to Salman to Govinda... I love them all. Shah Rukh especially. I might be an exceptional bandra boy but I totally loved them all. Being in bandra you are in the heart of it all. I was damn filmi as a kid. I was fairly enamored by it all, I wasn’t crazy to hang around their houses for a glimpse but then being in Bandra I was used to seeing them in recreational clubs, Salman Khan’s sister was in my school and stuff…”
Given he has grown up seeing the who is who of the industry, getting the star-act together wouldn’t be a problem for Ranveer, but question remains how did he train to get his acting in place? After all the ‘1-2-3 change’ kind of dancing and all needs practice.
Laughing he said, “You can either do it or can’t! I tried training in acting but I realized that the acting training available here is not very good. If you are good natural actors, the training might ruin you. It took me a year to unlearn what they were trying to teach me. The thing is the kind of acting they are teaching died in 1980…it doesn’t work anymore. Also I realized, that acting can’t be taught… All a good acting training can give you is suggestion; you have to achieve this and you can approach it either this way or that way… Every actor has his original way of approaching. I didn’t want to get influenced and restricted by someone else’s idea of acting. Acting is mercurial, it’s fluid… if you get set in a form you are closing your horizons.” His fundas seemed well thought and given he has been appreciated in his first film, there certainly is an obvious show of confidence in his theories. But sometimes theories don’t work, practice doesn’t work…. nothing does, one of those bad days or has he seen them yet?
He agreed there are days when nothing really seems to work and for a novice it sure gets unnerving, “There was this monologue I had to do, if you see it you would not know why was it difficult, but there was this particular pitch which was the emotional quotient in that monologue, it could not be altered else it would become clichéd… the emotional quotient had to be pitch perfect. Manish knew that pitch and for me to catch that was becoming very difficult. Somehow it wasn’t coming through in the required way and it kept Once I got it wrong, I would not say wrong there is nothing wrong or right but, in a way which wasn’t fitting and somehow it kept spirally more and more into the wrong direction. I just had to let go and start again and again till Manish said ‘theek hai 75% aagaya hai, baki 25% when you are on the set and we have created the environment it will come. So we went on the set…we okayed the shot, we took anushka’s angle and then in the end he said chal we will take one more take and if you hit it here then great else we will can the shot as is. It felt like a world cup penalty shot for me…” and he scored!
It sure is a happy feeling to accomplish what you have set out to do, but it is the sustenance that is always the tougher to attain. Idea is to be irreplaceable, indispensible. Or at least give that impression!
“Of course, but that will come with a strong body of work, when you have a certain section of audience that loves to subscribe to your work. It takes many, many, many films to get there. Acting is a lot of hard work, and I am prepared to do that. I am pretty confident that if I am given a certain number of years and God is as kind has he has been so far I will be an indispensable part of the industry.” I liked his dreams and if not his work, I surely was beginning to subscribe to a few of his ideas but the fact is to get around in this industry one has to be good at selling themselves, and once you have had a YashRaj experience starting afresh some consider below their dignity.
“Fortunately , I am being approached but I completely fine with the idea of singing for supper and I will do it till the day I die. Some people feel that once they are established they don’t want to go audition or do a test, ‘main dvd bhej dunga’ sorts, I don’t think that is cool at all. As an entertainer at any given stage in your life you should by all means have to sing for your supper, why should anyone take you on face value, you have to prove that you are worthy of the role. Cause at the end of it, you are dispensable.” He matter-of-factly stated the scariest fact of the industry but for him, there is still a long way before such fears even come to the horizons… today he is basking merrily and even remembering to call Nimmi Aunty, the lady who first took his autograph… but life for Ranveer is at the threshold of change, here’s wishing him a good head and able shoulders
Does he credit his hard work or his luck, I asked, “I think I am the first one to be introduced by YashRaj in a solo hero project. When I got the call from them I was not certain, because I knew they worked with established stars only so this launch was beyond my imagination, that too the right script and at the right time. And most importantly, I was ready to do some good work. I had paid my dues during the struggle period and I was at the right age.” Given he has bagged some awards already for his debut film, the struggle period might not seem as bad today but sure there would be days when he felt like giving it all up and maybe changing over to a lesser gamble?
“Many have told me ‘arrey tune kya struggle kiya hai, you stayed with your dad and traveled around in cars...’ I really don’t appreciate that talk at all, struggle is a very relative term. Few know that while I was struggling to get a break in films, my family was going through probably the worst phase financially. They had spent a lot of money on my foreign education and I had still not started earning. It would have really helped had I been bringing some kind of income home but instead I was aiming at something that was far away from my reach. Yes, I was sitting at my father’s house but I was not at peace. It was mentally the most taxing period so what if I was not eating toothpaste sandwiches! You said it right when you called it a gamble.”
And the gamble called acting comes with a lot of people pulling you down, if not downright ridiculing you....
“Friends who knew me from childhood always told me that I am not cut out for a 9-to-5 job. I was the nautankI of the school. I did just what I liked...” that explains why literature was his favourite and mathematics was just a chore but it was annual day that brought the limelight upon him, “yes, annual day was my day. I took part in all the activities. I always wanted to entertain... you know during the struggle phase I was assisting Shaad AlI for a while. My first job with him was an AD on an ad shoot. We were shooting Paresh Rawaj at Bhaidas Hall. All my friends kept teasing me saying, ‘dekhle once you get behind the camera you might never get in front of one ever again.’ I shut them up but it kept playing at the back of my mind, what if I get scared seeing what really goes around in acting, maybe I will enjoy more behind the camera.... Anyways, I reached Bhaidas and they were putting up the sets and doing the lighting, where PareshjI was to stand that place was lit up and the second I saw that spot, I knew it, that is where I want to be. That is where I belonged.” his eyes still sparkle, perhaps with gratitude cause today he is where he wanted to be.... but I wanted to know about days when this dream was no where close to getting realised... when acting was perhaps restricted to the mirror in the bathroom. What were his favourite scenes, the ones he enacted for just himself....
“‘You talking to me? You talking to me? There is no one else here so you must be talking to me...’ Robert de Niro in TaxI Driver.... “ he enacted the famous dialogue and moved onto his other favourite, “Al Pachino in Scarface, these performances made me wanna act!”
Spoke like a true Bandra boy, what about our Hindi film folk?
“I love them all from Amitabh Bachchan to Aamir Khan to Shah Rukh to Salman to Govinda... I love them all. Shah Rukh especially. I might be an exceptional bandra boy but I totally loved them all. Being in bandra you are in the heart of it all. I was damn filmi as a kid. I was fairly enamored by it all, I wasn’t crazy to hang around their houses for a glimpse but then being in Bandra I was used to seeing them in recreational clubs, Salman Khan’s sister was in my school and stuff…”
Given he has grown up seeing the who is who of the industry, getting the star-act together wouldn’t be a problem for Ranveer, but question remains how did he train to get his acting in place? After all the ‘1-2-3 change’ kind of dancing and all needs practice.
Laughing he said, “You can either do it or can’t! I tried training in acting but I realized that the acting training available here is not very good. If you are good natural actors, the training might ruin you. It took me a year to unlearn what they were trying to teach me. The thing is the kind of acting they are teaching died in 1980…it doesn’t work anymore. Also I realized, that acting can’t be taught… All a good acting training can give you is suggestion; you have to achieve this and you can approach it either this way or that way… Every actor has his original way of approaching. I didn’t want to get influenced and restricted by someone else’s idea of acting. Acting is mercurial, it’s fluid… if you get set in a form you are closing your horizons.” His fundas seemed well thought and given he has been appreciated in his first film, there certainly is an obvious show of confidence in his theories. But sometimes theories don’t work, practice doesn’t work…. nothing does, one of those bad days or has he seen them yet?
He agreed there are days when nothing really seems to work and for a novice it sure gets unnerving, “There was this monologue I had to do, if you see it you would not know why was it difficult, but there was this particular pitch which was the emotional quotient in that monologue, it could not be altered else it would become clichéd… the emotional quotient had to be pitch perfect. Manish knew that pitch and for me to catch that was becoming very difficult. Somehow it wasn’t coming through in the required way and it kept Once I got it wrong, I would not say wrong there is nothing wrong or right but, in a way which wasn’t fitting and somehow it kept spirally more and more into the wrong direction. I just had to let go and start again and again till Manish said ‘theek hai 75% aagaya hai, baki 25% when you are on the set and we have created the environment it will come. So we went on the set…we okayed the shot, we took anushka’s angle and then in the end he said chal we will take one more take and if you hit it here then great else we will can the shot as is. It felt like a world cup penalty shot for me…” and he scored!
It sure is a happy feeling to accomplish what you have set out to do, but it is the sustenance that is always the tougher to attain. Idea is to be irreplaceable, indispensible. Or at least give that impression!
“Of course, but that will come with a strong body of work, when you have a certain section of audience that loves to subscribe to your work. It takes many, many, many films to get there. Acting is a lot of hard work, and I am prepared to do that. I am pretty confident that if I am given a certain number of years and God is as kind has he has been so far I will be an indispensable part of the industry.” I liked his dreams and if not his work, I surely was beginning to subscribe to a few of his ideas but the fact is to get around in this industry one has to be good at selling themselves, and once you have had a YashRaj experience starting afresh some consider below their dignity.
“Fortunately , I am being approached but I completely fine with the idea of singing for supper and I will do it till the day I die. Some people feel that once they are established they don’t want to go audition or do a test, ‘main dvd bhej dunga’ sorts, I don’t think that is cool at all. As an entertainer at any given stage in your life you should by all means have to sing for your supper, why should anyone take you on face value, you have to prove that you are worthy of the role. Cause at the end of it, you are dispensable.” He matter-of-factly stated the scariest fact of the industry but for him, there is still a long way before such fears even come to the horizons… today he is basking merrily and even remembering to call Nimmi Aunty, the lady who first took his autograph… but life for Ranveer is at the threshold of change, here’s wishing him a good head and able shoulders
18 September, 2011
RTI an effective but unsafe system to expose corruption
What is common between, Amit Jethwa, Dattatraya Patil, Vithal Geete, Sola Ranga Rao, Arun Sawant, Shashidhar Mishra, Vishram Laxman Dodiya and Satish Shetty? They all were RTI activist and all of them were murdered. They were the people who fought against the corruption in the system of this country and for which they paid the price of their life. It’s easy to talk against corruption while sitting in ac rooms, on networking sites or with friends but it is really difficult to fight against them in this country. Because in our great nation the word security is the privilege of only rich and powerful and result of which the honest whistle blowers have to sacrifice their lives. But then also activists are not afraid and are exposing the scams in the system.
The insincerity is that the government still is not able to present a full proof bill or law which can ensure the security of whistle blowers. The first whistle blower who lost his life was Satyendra Dubey who was a civil engineer from IIT Kanpur. He was shot dead in 2003 as he exposed the corruption in golden four-sided figure project in bihar.
The murderers of Dubey were convicted of robbery and murder instead of getting convicted for eliminating him as he exposed the corruption in project of national highway authority of India. Nothing tangible was done by the government to find the people on whose orders he was killed. In year 2004 under the pressure of Supreme Court on the basis of PIL on the satyendra dubey murder case the then NDA government announced to protect whistle blower and a resolution named public interest disclosure and protection of informers (PIDPI) was notified empowering cental vigilance commissioner to act on the complaint of whistle blowers and to protect them.
However nothing has been done in last six years for the legislation to replace PIDPI.On the opposing a graduate of IIM Lucknow named Manjunath Shanmugham was killed in 2005 as he tried to expose an corruption racket at an Indian Oil Corporation petrol pum in Lakhimpur Kheri (U.P).Though the trial court awarded death sentence to prime accused and life sentence to the seven others but last year Allahabad High Court bench in Lucknow changed the death penalty to life sentence and released two of the seven convicts.
Still government is unable to pass an act which guarantees safety and security of whistle blowers because of which eight RTI activist are killed in year 2010.Is this the way to ensure security of people who are fighting against corruption? Government should seriously take effective measures for the security of whistle blowers otherwise their killings will create a bad impact on the minds of potential activists. The system has to encourage citizen activism by using all available means instead of discouraging it by not meting out justice and not punishing people involved in corruption.
We all talk about corruption every now and then but have never done anything to stop it or helped people who are victims of it .But its better late than never if we want to improve the system and conditions in our country we have to fight corruption in favour of public interest and best available means in our country to curb it, is RTI.
Though there are loopholes in it and there is no protection for the activists who uses it to expose corruption but it is necessary to take the stand somewhere and this is the time otherwise the day will come when it will not be difficult but it will be impossible to stop the evil of corruption
The insincerity is that the government still is not able to present a full proof bill or law which can ensure the security of whistle blowers. The first whistle blower who lost his life was Satyendra Dubey who was a civil engineer from IIT Kanpur. He was shot dead in 2003 as he exposed the corruption in golden four-sided figure project in bihar.
The murderers of Dubey were convicted of robbery and murder instead of getting convicted for eliminating him as he exposed the corruption in project of national highway authority of India. Nothing tangible was done by the government to find the people on whose orders he was killed. In year 2004 under the pressure of Supreme Court on the basis of PIL on the satyendra dubey murder case the then NDA government announced to protect whistle blower and a resolution named public interest disclosure and protection of informers (PIDPI) was notified empowering cental vigilance commissioner to act on the complaint of whistle blowers and to protect them.
However nothing has been done in last six years for the legislation to replace PIDPI.On the opposing a graduate of IIM Lucknow named Manjunath Shanmugham was killed in 2005 as he tried to expose an corruption racket at an Indian Oil Corporation petrol pum in Lakhimpur Kheri (U.P).Though the trial court awarded death sentence to prime accused and life sentence to the seven others but last year Allahabad High Court bench in Lucknow changed the death penalty to life sentence and released two of the seven convicts.
Still government is unable to pass an act which guarantees safety and security of whistle blowers because of which eight RTI activist are killed in year 2010.Is this the way to ensure security of people who are fighting against corruption? Government should seriously take effective measures for the security of whistle blowers otherwise their killings will create a bad impact on the minds of potential activists. The system has to encourage citizen activism by using all available means instead of discouraging it by not meting out justice and not punishing people involved in corruption.
We all talk about corruption every now and then but have never done anything to stop it or helped people who are victims of it .But its better late than never if we want to improve the system and conditions in our country we have to fight corruption in favour of public interest and best available means in our country to curb it, is RTI.
Though there are loopholes in it and there is no protection for the activists who uses it to expose corruption but it is necessary to take the stand somewhere and this is the time otherwise the day will come when it will not be difficult but it will be impossible to stop the evil of corruption
Iran Nuclear Controversy
The nuclear program of Iran was launched in 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program. The encouragement of the United States and Western European governments in Iran's nuclear program continued until the onslaught of 1979 Iranian Revolution which brought an end to Shah of Iran Regime. After the 1979 revolution, the Iranian government temporarily disbanded elements of the program, and then revived it with less Western assistance.
The Iran nuclear program was started with the motive of peaceful purpose but it had become a controversial issue because of its camouflaged intension of gaining nuclear power for militarial purpose for nukes and bombs, it was permissible under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); there have been allegations that Iran has been illegally pursuing a nuclear weapons program, in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Under the leadership of the United States and of the European Union, the international community has requested the end of enrichment activities in Iran. The 118 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement however have backed Iran's right to acquire peaceful nuclear technology.
Iran's leadership states that they had made a goal of developing a nuclear program so that they can generate electricity without dipping into the oil supply and to provide fuel for medical reactors. Whereas The European governments had a terror that Iran could use this program to develop nuclear weapons such as bombs and nukes and thus American new administration had to live in terror. These uncertainties have been raised by the exposure, on August 2002, by Alireza Jafarzadeh, a famous associate of MKO.
United States also believes that Iran is planning a big event against them. Because of it, Iran had been accused by the United States of supporting extremist Islamic movements in the Middle East, and supplying militias and weapons. Iran has also directly made a strong speech towards Israel, including questioning the legitimacy of its existence. Because of these factors, tensions between some states and Iran have degenerated into an international crisis. The United States and Israel have refused to lift the nuclear embargo to stop the Iranian nuclear program, although they have always stressed that they consider the use of force as a last resort. The Islamic Revolutionary Mujahidin Organization has complained that Iran's drive to produce nuclear energy has endangered national security, the national interest and the destiny of the Iranian people.
The Security Council had ordered Iran to stop enrichment because the technology which is used to enrich uranium for nuclear power can also be used to enrich the higher level nuclear explosion. There are fears that Iran is either secretly planning to make a nuclear device or is at least acquiring the know-how so that one day it has the option of doing so.
However, Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran said that they don't need nuclear weapons, it's not a part of their programmers’ and plans and they believe that nuclear weapons are "a fire against humanity" and they fundamentally reject nuclear weapons. The UN has imposed four sets of sanctions, in Security Council resolutions 1737, 1747, 1803 and 1929. These seek to make it more difficult for Iran to acquire equipment, technology and finance to support its nuclear activities.
They ban the sale to Iran of materiel and technology related to nuclear enrichment and heavy-water activities and ballistic missile development, restrict dealings with certain Iranian banks and individuals, stop the sale of major arms systems to Iran (Russia has cancelled the sale of an anti-aircraft missile system) and allow some inspections of air and sea cargoes. However they do not stop the trade in oil and gas, the major source of Iran's income. The United States is pushing for more economic sanctions against Iran.
MY PERCEPTION
Iran is an "unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security", says Alireza Jafarzadeh According to me, Iran nuclear program is simply an argument and western created propaganda. Every country has a right to take steps to defend itself, in the manner it thinks fit and necessary. If Iran thinks that the country will be safe only with a nuclear deterrent, there should be no objection to that from any other country, including USA and Israel. If Pakistan and North Korea can go nuclear, why not Iran, Iran cannot be looking only at Israel. If USA can attack Iraq on dubious and unfounded grounds, what is the guarantee Iran may also not become a victim for one reason or other, whether justified or not? Those who oppose other countries from becoming nuclear, should first disarm their own weapon store and make the whole world nuclear free, rather than restricting others. Iranian nuclear program is peaceful obsession and US and Israel know that.
Apart from that, The United States is pushing for more economic sanctions against Iran. Which is wrong, the nuclear program is owned by the Iran country they have all the rights to use for there need. If this nuclear program states that they had made a goal of developing a nuclear program so that they can generate electricity without dipping into the oil supply and to provide fuel for medical reactors. They are not using it for the terror perspective and every country have rights to think about their bright future of their country. United States also believes that Iran is planning a big event against them. But US doesn’t have any evidence regarding the Iran that they will use for the nuclear weapons. or as per the President of Iran said that they don't need nuclear weapons, it's not a part of their programmers’ and plans and they believe that nuclear weapons are "a fire against humanity" and they fundamentally reject nuclear weapons. so there is no need to fear about the nuclear program because it’s for their better economy not for the terror .if USA have complete evidence about that so USA can take action about the program.
According to me, Israel is gathering evidence on the Iran nuclear program. When they have enough evidence to proof that Iran is building nuclear weapons, it will act accordingly.
And second thing is that, Zionism is nothing to do with religion it is a dangerous racist ideology like the 3rd Reich that believes in ethnic cleansing and making living space. Iranian nuclear program is peaceful and US and Israel know that. Iran is catalyzers for Islamic awaking and all is about Israel security.
According to me, Middle East should be dealt with newly made up policy with fresh and open mind, the scenario is changing after the Tunisian and Egyptian uprising. People have openly come against their political masters such as Hosni Mubarak to form a new government. The Israel is much more vulnerable ever before from the Egyptian border and have to think in term of solving Palestine problem with almost urgency or else this Egyptian revolution is going to much more fatal than Iranian nuclear program.
Aside from Gaza, the biggest policy crisis in the world is Iran and its nuclear program. Iran had managed to enrich uranium on a large scale to produce a nuclear weapon. Iran with the ability to produce one or more bombs poses a true danger for America and the Middle East. And thus America and the Middle East have to live with the threat. In this crisis, Israel or Iran may be tempted to use nuclear weapons out of fear the other might do the same. There is also the chance other countries such as Egypt or Saudi Arabia may develop or acquire such nuclear weapons too. The United States could reduce these risks by providing missile defense and security guarantees to selective countries, but it is far from clear it would succeed. Moreover, nuclear propagation is not the only danger if Iran proceeds with its nuclear efforts.
What Iran does directly and through such groups as Hezbollah and Hamas will continue to have a major and mostly adverse effect on the future of Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Palestine. Iran is one of the Middle East's most powerful countries. A nuclear Iran would probably act more aggressively, believing its nuclear capability afforded it considerable protection. A second policy option would be for the US, Israel or both to attack Iran's known nuclear installations. Such a pre-emptive attack would destroy some or even most of Iran's nuclear facilities and materials. But some capability would probably survive, and the program could be rebuilt in a manner that would make a second attack much more difficult. There would be serious consequences before then. Iran could be expected to retaliate by attacking US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, unleashing terrorist attacks throughout the region and the world, and interrupting the flow of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The last thing the world economy needs is a $200 barrel of oil, but this could be the result. Both options - living with a nuclear Iran or attacking it - involve serious risks and costs. The best outcome would be one in which Iran was persuaded to freeze or suspend its nuclear efforts or, better yet, give up an independent capability to enrich uranium. It could be allowed a symbolic "right" to enrich, but any enrichment program would have to be so small as not to pose a strategic threat. The country would also need to be subject to intrusive inspections.
US always say that Iran is a bigger threat for their country bur according to me; North Korea poses a more significant threat to US nat. security than Iran.
Although North Korea and Iran are stunningly similar nations, strong sponsorship of Middle Eastern insurgencies by Iran and its probability to act irrationally while armed with nuclear weapons make Iran a far graver national security threat than North Korea. It is because of this that I negate the resolution.
The Iran nuclear program was started with the motive of peaceful purpose but it had become a controversial issue because of its camouflaged intension of gaining nuclear power for militarial purpose for nukes and bombs, it was permissible under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); there have been allegations that Iran has been illegally pursuing a nuclear weapons program, in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Under the leadership of the United States and of the European Union, the international community has requested the end of enrichment activities in Iran. The 118 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement however have backed Iran's right to acquire peaceful nuclear technology.
Iran's leadership states that they had made a goal of developing a nuclear program so that they can generate electricity without dipping into the oil supply and to provide fuel for medical reactors. Whereas The European governments had a terror that Iran could use this program to develop nuclear weapons such as bombs and nukes and thus American new administration had to live in terror. These uncertainties have been raised by the exposure, on August 2002, by Alireza Jafarzadeh, a famous associate of MKO.
United States also believes that Iran is planning a big event against them. Because of it, Iran had been accused by the United States of supporting extremist Islamic movements in the Middle East, and supplying militias and weapons. Iran has also directly made a strong speech towards Israel, including questioning the legitimacy of its existence. Because of these factors, tensions between some states and Iran have degenerated into an international crisis. The United States and Israel have refused to lift the nuclear embargo to stop the Iranian nuclear program, although they have always stressed that they consider the use of force as a last resort. The Islamic Revolutionary Mujahidin Organization has complained that Iran's drive to produce nuclear energy has endangered national security, the national interest and the destiny of the Iranian people.
The Security Council had ordered Iran to stop enrichment because the technology which is used to enrich uranium for nuclear power can also be used to enrich the higher level nuclear explosion. There are fears that Iran is either secretly planning to make a nuclear device or is at least acquiring the know-how so that one day it has the option of doing so.
However, Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran said that they don't need nuclear weapons, it's not a part of their programmers’ and plans and they believe that nuclear weapons are "a fire against humanity" and they fundamentally reject nuclear weapons. The UN has imposed four sets of sanctions, in Security Council resolutions 1737, 1747, 1803 and 1929. These seek to make it more difficult for Iran to acquire equipment, technology and finance to support its nuclear activities.
They ban the sale to Iran of materiel and technology related to nuclear enrichment and heavy-water activities and ballistic missile development, restrict dealings with certain Iranian banks and individuals, stop the sale of major arms systems to Iran (Russia has cancelled the sale of an anti-aircraft missile system) and allow some inspections of air and sea cargoes. However they do not stop the trade in oil and gas, the major source of Iran's income. The United States is pushing for more economic sanctions against Iran.
MY PERCEPTION
Iran is an "unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security", says Alireza Jafarzadeh According to me, Iran nuclear program is simply an argument and western created propaganda. Every country has a right to take steps to defend itself, in the manner it thinks fit and necessary. If Iran thinks that the country will be safe only with a nuclear deterrent, there should be no objection to that from any other country, including USA and Israel. If Pakistan and North Korea can go nuclear, why not Iran, Iran cannot be looking only at Israel. If USA can attack Iraq on dubious and unfounded grounds, what is the guarantee Iran may also not become a victim for one reason or other, whether justified or not? Those who oppose other countries from becoming nuclear, should first disarm their own weapon store and make the whole world nuclear free, rather than restricting others. Iranian nuclear program is peaceful obsession and US and Israel know that.
Apart from that, The United States is pushing for more economic sanctions against Iran. Which is wrong, the nuclear program is owned by the Iran country they have all the rights to use for there need. If this nuclear program states that they had made a goal of developing a nuclear program so that they can generate electricity without dipping into the oil supply and to provide fuel for medical reactors. They are not using it for the terror perspective and every country have rights to think about their bright future of their country. United States also believes that Iran is planning a big event against them. But US doesn’t have any evidence regarding the Iran that they will use for the nuclear weapons. or as per the President of Iran said that they don't need nuclear weapons, it's not a part of their programmers’ and plans and they believe that nuclear weapons are "a fire against humanity" and they fundamentally reject nuclear weapons. so there is no need to fear about the nuclear program because it’s for their better economy not for the terror .if USA have complete evidence about that so USA can take action about the program.
According to me, Israel is gathering evidence on the Iran nuclear program. When they have enough evidence to proof that Iran is building nuclear weapons, it will act accordingly.
And second thing is that, Zionism is nothing to do with religion it is a dangerous racist ideology like the 3rd Reich that believes in ethnic cleansing and making living space. Iranian nuclear program is peaceful and US and Israel know that. Iran is catalyzers for Islamic awaking and all is about Israel security.
According to me, Middle East should be dealt with newly made up policy with fresh and open mind, the scenario is changing after the Tunisian and Egyptian uprising. People have openly come against their political masters such as Hosni Mubarak to form a new government. The Israel is much more vulnerable ever before from the Egyptian border and have to think in term of solving Palestine problem with almost urgency or else this Egyptian revolution is going to much more fatal than Iranian nuclear program.
Aside from Gaza, the biggest policy crisis in the world is Iran and its nuclear program. Iran had managed to enrich uranium on a large scale to produce a nuclear weapon. Iran with the ability to produce one or more bombs poses a true danger for America and the Middle East. And thus America and the Middle East have to live with the threat. In this crisis, Israel or Iran may be tempted to use nuclear weapons out of fear the other might do the same. There is also the chance other countries such as Egypt or Saudi Arabia may develop or acquire such nuclear weapons too. The United States could reduce these risks by providing missile defense and security guarantees to selective countries, but it is far from clear it would succeed. Moreover, nuclear propagation is not the only danger if Iran proceeds with its nuclear efforts.
What Iran does directly and through such groups as Hezbollah and Hamas will continue to have a major and mostly adverse effect on the future of Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Palestine. Iran is one of the Middle East's most powerful countries. A nuclear Iran would probably act more aggressively, believing its nuclear capability afforded it considerable protection. A second policy option would be for the US, Israel or both to attack Iran's known nuclear installations. Such a pre-emptive attack would destroy some or even most of Iran's nuclear facilities and materials. But some capability would probably survive, and the program could be rebuilt in a manner that would make a second attack much more difficult. There would be serious consequences before then. Iran could be expected to retaliate by attacking US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, unleashing terrorist attacks throughout the region and the world, and interrupting the flow of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The last thing the world economy needs is a $200 barrel of oil, but this could be the result. Both options - living with a nuclear Iran or attacking it - involve serious risks and costs. The best outcome would be one in which Iran was persuaded to freeze or suspend its nuclear efforts or, better yet, give up an independent capability to enrich uranium. It could be allowed a symbolic "right" to enrich, but any enrichment program would have to be so small as not to pose a strategic threat. The country would also need to be subject to intrusive inspections.
US always say that Iran is a bigger threat for their country bur according to me; North Korea poses a more significant threat to US nat. security than Iran.
Although North Korea and Iran are stunningly similar nations, strong sponsorship of Middle Eastern insurgencies by Iran and its probability to act irrationally while armed with nuclear weapons make Iran a far graver national security threat than North Korea. It is because of this that I negate the resolution.
Paid News
We live in the age of institutionalized corruption. From politicians to judges, from senior bureaucrats to policemen, from corporate tycoons to petty officials, everyone it seems has a price. As journalists, our profession demands that we inquire, interrogate and expose corruption.
So, when a Madhu Koda is jailed we rejoice that the law has caught up with a former chief minister. When allegations against a judge lead to impeachment we express our satisfaction. When an InfoTech czar is punished we are hopeful of improved standards of corporate governance. But what happens when the camera turns inwards, when news itself has a price tag attached to it?
A corrupt politician can be jailed, so can a business leader. A judge can be impeached; a babu can be tried under the prevention of corruption act. But what happens to the editor/reporter who brazenly endorses cash for news? The recent controversy over 'paid news' that is undermining the very foundation of journalism strikes at the heart of a concept that we swear by: the principle of accountability. What moral right do we have in demanding action against the other pillars of our democracy when we wink at the gathering storm in our own profession?
Journalists as a tribe tend to be cynical and self-righteous in equal measure. The cynicism leads us to believe that the glass is always half empty. Our self-righteous streak drives us into spasms of rage when we are accused of lowering ethical standards. The 'paid news' crisis calls for neither an overdose of cynicism nor another bout of self-righteousness. What is required is a robust pragmatism that accepts the problem confronting the profession, but also sees it as an opportunity to restore falling credibility.
The first step is to understand what ‘paid news’ is. Some recent articles have tended to confuse legitimate 'advertorials' with the unethical 'sale' of news. The key lies in setting disclosure norms. If a politician or a corporate house wishes to 'buy' editorial space or airtime, they can do so, but only if they adhere to rules of disclosure. It is when the political/commercial brand is plugged in a non-transparent manner, when an advertisement masquerades as news with no distinction are clearly made in form or content to the reader or viewer, that the sanctity of news is violated.
Secondly, we need to realize that 'paid news' is not some overnight phenomenon that began with election 'packages'. Film and sports journalism, for example, has been forced to blur the lines with public relations for some time now. Corporate India has also been a step ahead of political India: 'private treaties' by which a newspaper enters into agreements with business groups to ensure favorable coverage in return for an equity stake in the company has been in existence for several years now. A political candidate who pays for favorable media coverage is not guaranteed victory; a corporate house through a 'private treaty' is almost guaranteed lasting immunity against journalistic 'objectivity'.
Thirdly, we must recognize as to just why there is a growing temptation to opt for 'paid news' by all the entities involved. In the case of elections, it is no secret that the election commission's attempt to control excessive expenditure by clamping down on rallies and publicity material has only led to political funding going 'underground': like liquor, paid news is part of this 'parallel' election machinery. With many regional politicians controlling cable networks and newspapers, the local media in particular is easily compromised.
Moreover, the nature of the news 'business' has fundamentally altered in recent years. The news space in television and to an extent in print too, is increasingly cluttered and the financial pressures have only heightened in a competitive market. While the advertising pie has grown, it is offset by the growing expenditure. Newspaper cover prices or channel distribution revenues are still well below accepted standards. In this difficult external environment, 'paid news' has almost become a survival option for some, especially in regional markets. In the process, the 'Chinese wall' that existed between journalist and advertiser, between news and marketing has almost evaporated.
And yet, to blame the sharp-suited sales and marketing teams for 'legitimizing' paid news would be to shirk our responsibility as journalists. The imprint of a newspaper carries the byline of an editor, not the proprietor or the marketing guru. It is the editor who is legally responsible for what is carried in a newspaper or telecast on a channel. A sales and marketing professional is paid to enhance revenues. An editorial professional is paid to improve the quality of content. A journalist is meant to add editorial value to content, not peddle it to the highest bidder. Critical to this value addition are the notions of integrity and credibility, neither of which can be measured through hard cash. Unfortunately, with the declining role of the editor as the watchdog of news and the emergence of fly by night owners, a vacuum has been created that has led to a near-total breakdown of rules and standards.
If editors have been accomplices in the debasement of news, they must now take the lead role in restoring its sanctity. If every editor in this country agreed to follow a strict code of conduct in dealing with 'paid news', if there was an insistence on disclosure norms, there is every possibility that the cancer can be checked. Most right-thinking news organizations will realize that 'paid news' will eventually erode their brand, and it is for editors to put sufficient moral pressure through every available media forum to shame and isolate those who refuse to fall in line. It maybe a slow process, but one whose success is critical to the future of this profession.
So, when a Madhu Koda is jailed we rejoice that the law has caught up with a former chief minister. When allegations against a judge lead to impeachment we express our satisfaction. When an InfoTech czar is punished we are hopeful of improved standards of corporate governance. But what happens when the camera turns inwards, when news itself has a price tag attached to it?
A corrupt politician can be jailed, so can a business leader. A judge can be impeached; a babu can be tried under the prevention of corruption act. But what happens to the editor/reporter who brazenly endorses cash for news? The recent controversy over 'paid news' that is undermining the very foundation of journalism strikes at the heart of a concept that we swear by: the principle of accountability. What moral right do we have in demanding action against the other pillars of our democracy when we wink at the gathering storm in our own profession?
Journalists as a tribe tend to be cynical and self-righteous in equal measure. The cynicism leads us to believe that the glass is always half empty. Our self-righteous streak drives us into spasms of rage when we are accused of lowering ethical standards. The 'paid news' crisis calls for neither an overdose of cynicism nor another bout of self-righteousness. What is required is a robust pragmatism that accepts the problem confronting the profession, but also sees it as an opportunity to restore falling credibility.
The first step is to understand what ‘paid news’ is. Some recent articles have tended to confuse legitimate 'advertorials' with the unethical 'sale' of news. The key lies in setting disclosure norms. If a politician or a corporate house wishes to 'buy' editorial space or airtime, they can do so, but only if they adhere to rules of disclosure. It is when the political/commercial brand is plugged in a non-transparent manner, when an advertisement masquerades as news with no distinction are clearly made in form or content to the reader or viewer, that the sanctity of news is violated.
Secondly, we need to realize that 'paid news' is not some overnight phenomenon that began with election 'packages'. Film and sports journalism, for example, has been forced to blur the lines with public relations for some time now. Corporate India has also been a step ahead of political India: 'private treaties' by which a newspaper enters into agreements with business groups to ensure favorable coverage in return for an equity stake in the company has been in existence for several years now. A political candidate who pays for favorable media coverage is not guaranteed victory; a corporate house through a 'private treaty' is almost guaranteed lasting immunity against journalistic 'objectivity'.
Thirdly, we must recognize as to just why there is a growing temptation to opt for 'paid news' by all the entities involved. In the case of elections, it is no secret that the election commission's attempt to control excessive expenditure by clamping down on rallies and publicity material has only led to political funding going 'underground': like liquor, paid news is part of this 'parallel' election machinery. With many regional politicians controlling cable networks and newspapers, the local media in particular is easily compromised.
Moreover, the nature of the news 'business' has fundamentally altered in recent years. The news space in television and to an extent in print too, is increasingly cluttered and the financial pressures have only heightened in a competitive market. While the advertising pie has grown, it is offset by the growing expenditure. Newspaper cover prices or channel distribution revenues are still well below accepted standards. In this difficult external environment, 'paid news' has almost become a survival option for some, especially in regional markets. In the process, the 'Chinese wall' that existed between journalist and advertiser, between news and marketing has almost evaporated.
And yet, to blame the sharp-suited sales and marketing teams for 'legitimizing' paid news would be to shirk our responsibility as journalists. The imprint of a newspaper carries the byline of an editor, not the proprietor or the marketing guru. It is the editor who is legally responsible for what is carried in a newspaper or telecast on a channel. A sales and marketing professional is paid to enhance revenues. An editorial professional is paid to improve the quality of content. A journalist is meant to add editorial value to content, not peddle it to the highest bidder. Critical to this value addition are the notions of integrity and credibility, neither of which can be measured through hard cash. Unfortunately, with the declining role of the editor as the watchdog of news and the emergence of fly by night owners, a vacuum has been created that has led to a near-total breakdown of rules and standards.
If editors have been accomplices in the debasement of news, they must now take the lead role in restoring its sanctity. If every editor in this country agreed to follow a strict code of conduct in dealing with 'paid news', if there was an insistence on disclosure norms, there is every possibility that the cancer can be checked. Most right-thinking news organizations will realize that 'paid news' will eventually erode their brand, and it is for editors to put sufficient moral pressure through every available media forum to shame and isolate those who refuse to fall in line. It maybe a slow process, but one whose success is critical to the future of this profession.
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