Let us throw it out

Got this poster from an old friend’s page. Couldn’t resist publishing it in my blog. I hope that anyone who sees this, should consult a doctor or physician who can help him/her get out of it. This poster is a wakeup call for all those who are affected by drug abuse.

Let us pledge that we shall throw Drugs menace from our lives.

Amnesty’s Online Community Action ISSUE 5

Our Online Community is growing. There are now 992 International Members from 50 different countries. Support the Online Community today and tell friends, colleauges and family to JOIN! Online Community Action ISSUE 5 Amnesty International’s Online Community for International Members

Take Action Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th anniversary 10 December 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights The month of June is dedicated to highlighting Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that states everyone has the right to be free from torture and other ill-treatment. The organization has documented torture for decades, but governments’ actions in recent years have challenged the validity of the prohibition itself, particularly in the context of counter terrorism. Government responses to the attacks of 11 September 2001, and attacks in other countries since then, have amounted to a serious assault on the framework of human rights. They have not only used torture, they have sought to justify it in the name of security. Torture is a crime that cannot be justified under any circumstances.  Governments must bring to justice those responsible for authorising and inflicting it. The conditions which allow it to flourish, particularly illegal detention, must be brought to an end. More… What you can do: Take action now to end illegal US detentions Petition page on Facebook: We need you! If you are on Facebook, please become a fan of the petition page and share the link with other Facebookers.  Feel free to post images or videos, write on the wall and open discussion topics.

Information Update Riga Pride - 31 May 2008 LGBT people in Latvia continue to face discrimination and homophobia on a daily basis. Their struggle for acceptance and realization of their human rights has just started. Thus, it is imperative that Amnesty Interanational continues to support their efforts to be able to fully enjoy their rights. In 2007, a LGBT Pride march was allowed to go ahead. Approximately 400 people participated, of whom around 70 were from Amnesty International. More… On 31 May 2008, around 100 AI activists from 30 countries participated in Riga Pride 2008 in solidarity with Mozaika, the Latvian LGBT rights organization, who are fighting for increased human rights for LGBT people in Latvia. The participating sections and structures included AI Australia, AI Turkey, AI Faroe Islands, AI Moldova, AI Denmark and AI USA. The march went very well and we did not let the counter-protesters rain on our parade. Thank you to all sections and structures who were involved and helped make it such a successful event! Click here to see the Riga Pride Video You can also see videos and photos on the Riga Pride Facebook group, available at Facebook Group: Riga Pride 2008 - Amnesty International and Mozaika Please encourage your networks to comment on the video and the blog

Have your say Under the Statute, every 6 years Amnesty International creates an Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP).  The ISP guides the work, research and policies of Amnesty International. In preparation for the next Integrated Strategic Plan 2010-2016, Amnesty International has launched the first survey in a series of consultations.  The survey is a chance for the general public and members of Amnesty International to have their say on the future direction of the organization. We strongly encourage you to complete the survey; as it will be the first time International Members will participate in influencing Amnesty International’s future human rights work. Watch this space for future opportunities to participate and have your say on the future of Amnesty International Have Your Say * Please state you are an International Member

Publications 28 May 2008. Launch of the 2008 Annual Report The State of the world’s human rights.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL International Seretariat 1 Easton Street London, xLON WC1X 0DW United Kingdom

Indian Gestures - Communicating in An Uncommunicative Way

It was 9.50 am when I reached the metro station from where I am to board an auto-rickshaw (Three wheeled cab mostly found in south and south-east Asia) for my office. Damn my previous night party for me to wake up this late today. As soon as I started looking around for three wheelers, 3-4 of them sprung up.

Now, the hardest part of boarding an auto-rickshaw; ‘negotiation of fare’. Here, in Delhi, NO auto-rickshaw driver gives a damn about the rules and regulations setup by Government. If you are a frequent traveler, you can tell whether the bargained fare is good or not. If you are a seasoned traveler these drivers can certainly take you for a ride with a fare that digs a big hole in your pocket.

At last when I asked such a driver, he just made a gesture with his hand which I thought meant that he is saying NO. However, to my surprise as soon as I turned back, he started calling me and asked me to board.

Ah! GESTURE/SIGNS, maybe these were the first things with which we human tried to communicate with each other. Millions of years have passed since that age. Yet, we Indians are still making such gestures to complete our communication. I am not questioning the usability of such gestures/signs, I am just questioning whether the one to whom one is gesturing would be able to perceive the communication. Aren’t we prone to miscommunication at such juncture?

I believe, the auto-rickshaw driver I encountered today was someone who was so stressed that he was in no mood to talk or maybe it was just his habit of saying. However, what I certainly believe is that, I just did not understand the way he was communicating.

Tata Motors Unveils the $2500 Car

Tata Motors today unveiled its much-anticipated below $2500 car better known as 1 lakh car in a Motor Expo at New Delhi. They have entitled this car as Tata Nano. Tata Nano looks trendy and stylish. However the front of the car looks similar to erstwhile Daewoo Matiz. With the rate of economy at which Indian economy is growing at present, it remains to be seen whether Tata Nano will be able to become People’s Car in the coming days.

Images of Tata Nano

 

Atlast I watched Dor

Though this movie was telecasted for more than once in many TV channels, I only got to watch it yesterday. Actually I like watching movies directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. However, some of my friends told that ‘Dor’ was boring and that left me feeling that I should be skipping the movie. Though, I didn’t have the time to watch the movie as it was around 12.30 am when it started I hanged on to watch the movie. It was over at around 3.00 am.

May be my friends found it boring but I found the movie quite interesting. Whatever humorous content the movie had, was filmed with Shreyas Talpade on the scene. A normal movie goer who just wishes to watch entertainment will not understand the movie. The movie tells a sordid tale of what goes through a young widow’s mind; the self-conflict and the conflict with the society. Yes, certainly the movie was a women oriented movie but kudos to Kukunoor he brought out another dimension through which one should be viewing young widows.

May be commercially it was not a successful movie, I would like the content of the movie to be ranked on the likes of “Tare Zameen Par” movie.

Director : Nagesh Kukunoor

Starcast:

• Gul Panag
• Ayesha Takia
• Shreyas Talpade
• Girish Karnad
• Prateeksha Lonkar
• Rushad Rana
• Anirudh Jaykar
• Shivan Joshi and others

Maruti 800 catches fire in Delhi

A Maruti 800 caught fire on the ring road stretch between Netaji Subhas palace and Prembari Pul in New Delhi. Till now, the reason behind the fire is not known. However, it is suspected that it may be due to some technical fault in the car. Fire brigade had to be rushed in to tame the fire. Traffic on that stretch was moving at snail’s pace after the incident.

Life: A King, A General and A Pauper

This is my take on life. During our childhood we live life of a king. We do not give a damn about what others think and used to do whatever we felt like. Used to play whenever we liked and did whatever we wanted.

Then there came the period of adolescence when we are restricted in doing something we wanted. Sometimes we used to do mischievous things yet we were concerned of ‘if someone gets to know what we did’. We were concerned how others will feel about it. Those days we were playful and not submissive. During those days we were living like General of an Army. Dictated terms of life yet fearful that if the King comes to know what we were doing behind him.

The last stage of life is the stage of pauper. During this stage, the very road we walk down everyday haunts us with the thought that we may get involved in an accident. We are fearful of losing the job if we don’t do the work properly. We are haunted by the duties and obligations we have towards our family and society. It is like a stage of life that is as miserable as a pauper.

We start our life as a King, and then spend some years as General and at last till our death we live the life of a Pauper.

Time for sneezing symphony

Yesterday was Sunday and I didn’t go for any outing as it was real cold. I tucked in under my blanket for almost the whole of day thinking that tomorrow it will be a chilling Monday. As per my belief, today it turned out to be a chilly Monday. After lot of hesitation, I turned up to my office desk and started working as if it were normal.

Once in a while, I could hear a sneeze or two from the other corner of the office room where my desk is located. I thanked myself for not having contacted with so called sneezing. And lo! Half an hour or so after I arrived at my desk, even I started to sneeze. I was sneezing so hard that I believe everyone might be thinking who is this sneezing guy?

Then there was a moment when around ten guys started sneezing one after another like a perfect symphony. It made me think, what an idea for a perfect musical score. May be some brand like Vicks Vaporub may take out the theme and run an ad campaign from this. Though coming of winter has make me sneeze and have runny nose, I don’t mind as long as it gives me idea on how to get inspired from such situations. Thank you WINTER, Delhi Winter.

Ministry of Marriage

The latest news abuzz is that Government of India is planning to have a new ministry called Ministry of Marriage. Though it’s not clear who will be heading the ministry, it’s doing the rounds that Mr. Lalu Yadav might be heading the ministry.

The Indian Government has come up with idea of this ministry only after observing that the lower courts are unable to register so many marriages in a year. If Mr. Lalu heads this new ministry, he will certainly bring in new methodologies (like in Railways Ministry). In addition, with his experience of having too many children, he might be giving good advice to newly wed couples on why not to have too many children

Note: This post is only a creative stuff nothing more than that.

Indian Hijras

It’s time that the hijras take upon something else rather than begging in the streets and attending marriage parties. In India one might give them a blank look as for their sexual orientation while applying for job; however, it is the so called hijras who are to be blamed for inculcating that notion amongst the public. It’s high time that they consider themselves equal to others than just applying a slack of lipstick on their lips and look awkward.

Just today while was on my way to office, there were around 3-4 such individuals at a traffic sign and asked me money. I didn’t give a single paisa thinking that they should not be paid else they would not be able to stand up on themselves. With muscular bodies better than me, they should a good worker in some kind of factory. It’s time that they look upon themselves as someone who has a different sexual orientation and nothing else.