Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
WORLD STREET CHILDREN NEWS...
What can i say about this?? Action has to be taken...by all of us, COLLECTIVELY!!
It is so depressing that there are so many of our children on the streets...I recently came across this blog where there is so much information about children who are on the streets from various countries...I could not believe my eyes when I saw the list of countries with such children...This blog has all the possible news about street children from all over the world and it has been collected with utmost responsibility for whoever wants to research or help these children..take a moment and ask yourself this question...
Isn't this our collective responsibility??
please take action in whatever way you can...and please help spread the word...
Streetkidsnews
It is so depressing that there are so many of our children on the streets...I recently came across this blog where there is so much information about children who are on the streets from various countries...I could not believe my eyes when I saw the list of countries with such children...This blog has all the possible news about street children from all over the world and it has been collected with utmost responsibility for whoever wants to research or help these children..take a moment and ask yourself this question...
Isn't this our collective responsibility??
please take action in whatever way you can...and please help spread the word...
Streetkidsnews
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Events of postcard sharing in NY,NJ...
Dear wonderful people...for the past two days, i have been doing the postcard painting with a few kids at the comfort of their homes because they were so excited about the WWPCS
which we conducted and wrote about it in our kids blogspot called Children of the World Unite
Two of them Dani and Ally at New York and three kids Alec, James and Alen from New Jersey...It was such an inspiring experience for me to have seen these kids draw and paint for kids in other parts of the world...
So, parents or anyone who knows kids who will be interested in doing this in your house can contact us at vconverge@gmail.com and we will make sure your kid connects with another child in a different part of the world...
We are here to connect kids..and bring them all together...their innocent yet powerful minds which can perceive the greatest of truths with utmost simplicity...
CHILDREN OF THE WORLD, UNITE!!
Short films from Pangea.org
Hey everybody..there is a list of movies in the Pangeaday.org website...enjoy and have fun watching them...I have watched only 2 of them..we intend to submit our shorts too...
to view the movies CLICK HERE...
and go to the sample films page...
ENJOYYYYYYY....and submit your own film if you have something interesting to share with the world...
to view the movies CLICK HERE...
and go to the sample films page...
ENJOYYYYYYY....and submit your own film if you have something interesting to share with the world...
Shangai Superkids Empowerment Program...
I met these two wonderful humans Janet Fink and Kathy Miller of Shanghai Superkids
who have unconditional love in their hearts for the children of the world...and believe whole heartedly that a family is not only formed from blood ties...but also from the heart...from the love that we have for the beings around us...and once we realize this, there is boundless happiness for us to experience from the magnificent universe...
Jeanie's Story... By Janet & Stephen Fink
In February 2005, we traveled with our son to Shanghai to adopt our daughter, Jeannie. Jeannie was a special needs orphan living at the Shanghai Children's Home (SCH), one of China's nicest and largest special needs orphanages. Jeannie was placed in SCH at age three months because her eyes flickered rapidly and crossed (her eyes are now straight). Jeannie’s special needs status made her difficult to place for adoption, and we received her referral when she was almost two years old.On February 16th we went to SCH to take Jeannie home. As we entered her nursery...for more click here...
Shanghai Superkids is a non-profit organization that sends therapists and volunteers to Shanghai, China to work in the Shanghai Children's Home (SCH). Our therapists and volunteers—specializing in pediatric physical, occupational, speech, and play therapy—spend approximately one week at the orphanage working directly with the children and their caregivers. Their main purpose is to train caregivers to incorporate easy, fun therapy exercises into the daily orphanage routine. With the use of specialized therapy toys, we can teach caregivers how to strengthen children's gross and fine motor muscles as well as improve their sensory integration. Our goal is to make exercise rewarding for both child and caregiver!
For more click here
We wish them good luck with all their genuine efforts and hope that the Universe will find a way to help them through this...If anyone wants to help they can always contact Janet Fink...
who have unconditional love in their hearts for the children of the world...and believe whole heartedly that a family is not only formed from blood ties...but also from the heart...from the love that we have for the beings around us...and once we realize this, there is boundless happiness for us to experience from the magnificent universe...
Jeanie's Story... By Janet & Stephen Fink
In February 2005, we traveled with our son to Shanghai to adopt our daughter, Jeannie. Jeannie was a special needs orphan living at the Shanghai Children's Home (SCH), one of China's nicest and largest special needs orphanages. Jeannie was placed in SCH at age three months because her eyes flickered rapidly and crossed (her eyes are now straight). Jeannie’s special needs status made her difficult to place for adoption, and we received her referral when she was almost two years old.On February 16th we went to SCH to take Jeannie home. As we entered her nursery...for more click here...
Shanghai Superkids is a non-profit organization that sends therapists and volunteers to Shanghai, China to work in the Shanghai Children's Home (SCH). Our therapists and volunteers—specializing in pediatric physical, occupational, speech, and play therapy—spend approximately one week at the orphanage working directly with the children and their caregivers. Their main purpose is to train caregivers to incorporate easy, fun therapy exercises into the daily orphanage routine. With the use of specialized therapy toys, we can teach caregivers how to strengthen children's gross and fine motor muscles as well as improve their sensory integration. Our goal is to make exercise rewarding for both child and caregiver!
For more click here
We wish them good luck with all their genuine efforts and hope that the Universe will find a way to help them through this...If anyone wants to help they can always contact Janet Fink...
PANGEA - SUPERCONTINENT!!!
Pangea our super continent and PANGEADAY....makes the senses and the spirit feel so good!!
A friend of mine recently sent me this wonderful link and told me about Pangeaday...
Let me tell you all about the chain of events that the universe put in front of me...in the past 3 days...
on August 22nd we went to rent a foreign film from a rental store called Blockbuster...and rented this movie called PARADISE NOW....
On August 23rd, i had some work in Pleasantville and a friend told me about this theater called Jacob Burns and she said that we should submit our film to them...
On August 23rd evening when I came back home, I saw this email from a friend telling me about the PangeaDay...
When i was watching the trailer about Pangea Day, I saw this presentation of Jehane Noujaim
and she mentioned about Paradise Now...and the Jacob Burns theater was mentioned it...PANGEA DAY...what can i say about it!!!
The reason all this happened...for us to come together...all of humanity...on one ground..for one cause...for Peace...
It is so overwhelming to see how many souls are in the path towards oneness and Peace...
take time to go through the website...and be a part of the PANGEA DAY!!!
Picture Courtesy: http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/plates/images/pangea.jpg
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
FRANCE-wwpcs!!
Hey guys! We just got the cards from the kids in France...As you all know this could not have been possible without our dear friend and teacher Lalitakumari and her wonderful school kids!
Check out the beautiful postcards at the WORLDKIDSUNITE Blogspot...we have not uploaded all the postcards...we will upload it soon and post the link so you all can enjoy the kids' artwork....!!
We are so glad that WWPCS is spreading its wings...Come join us!
You can view the initial footage from here...
Check out the beautiful postcards at the WORLDKIDSUNITE Blogspot...we have not uploaded all the postcards...we will upload it soon and post the link so you all can enjoy the kids' artwork....!!
We are so glad that WWPCS is spreading its wings...Come join us!
You can view the initial footage from here...
Did-Geri-doo? What's that?
While reading an article about Maya MIA Arulpragasam, the underground music star, I came across this beautiful wind instrument. Very unique, at least, this is new to me. Enjoy!
The didgeridoo (or didjeridu) is a wind instrument of the Indigenous Australians of northern Australia. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe". Musicologists classify it as an aerophone.
A didgeridoo is usually cylindrical or conical in shape and can measure anywhere from 1 to 2 meters in length with most instruments measuring around 1.2 meters. Generally, the longer the instrument, the lower the pitch or key of the instrument. Keys from D to F♯ are the preferred pitch of traditional Aboriginal players.
There are no reliable sources stating the didgeridoo's exact age, though it is commonly claimed to be the world's oldest wind instrument. Archaeological studies of rock art in Northern Australia suggests that the Aboriginal people of the Kakadu region of the Northern Territory have been using the didgeridoo for about 1500 years, based on the dating of paintings on cave walls and shelters from this period. A clear rock painting in Ginga Wardelirrhmeng from the freshwater period (1500 years ago until the present) shows a didjeridu player and two songmen (source: Journey in Time, George Chaloupka, p. 189).
Monday, August 20, 2007
Kannitverstan by Johann Peter Hebel
A very interesting short story...happy reading...!!
Man indeed has the opportunity every day, in Emmendingen or Gundelfingen as well as in Amsterdam, to speculate, if he wants to, on the inconsistency of all earthly things and to become satisfied with his fate, even though there aren’t many roast pigeons flying about in the air for him. But, through an error, a German artisan in Amsterdam arrived at the truth and its recognition by the strangest roundabout way. For when he had come to this great and rich commercial city full of splendid houses, swaying ships and busy people, his eye was at once caught by a large and handsome house, such as he had never yet experienced on all his wanderings from Tuttlingen to Amsterdam.
For a long time he contemplated this luxurious building in astonishment, the six chimneys on its roof, its beautiful cornices and its tall windows, larger than the door of his father’s house at home. Finally he could not refrain from addressing a passer-by. “My good friend,” he said to him, “couldn’t you tell me the name of the gentleman who owns this wonderfully beautiful house with its windows full of tulips, daisies and stocks?” But the man, who presumably had something more important to do and unfortunately understood just as much of the German language as the questioner of Dutch, that is to say nothing, said shortly and brusquely, “Kannitverstan” and buzzed past.
Now this was a Dutch word, or three if you want to be exact, and means in German as much as “Ich kann Euch nicht verstehn.” (“I can’t understand you.” ) But the good stranger believed that this was the name of the man he had asked about. He must have been an awfully rich man, this Herr Kannitverstan, he thought and went on. Out one street, in another, he finally came to the bay they call there Het Ey, or in German, the Y. There stood ship beside ship and mast beside mast, and at first he didn’t know how he would manage to see and contemplate his fill of all these marvels with his two eyes alone, until finally his attention was caught by a large ship which had recently arrived from East India and was now being unloaded.
Whole rows of boxes and bales were already standing on and beside one another on land. But more kept being rolled out, and barrels full of sugar and coffee, full of rice and pepper and, pardon the expression, mouse droppings too. But when he had looked for a long time, he finally asked a fellow who was just carrying a chest on his shoulder for the name of the lucky man for whom the sea was bringing all these goods to shore. “Kannitverstan” was the reply. At this he thought, Aha, is that it?” No wonder, a man for whom the sea floats such treasures ashore can well afford to put such houses into the world and such breeds of tulips in front of his windows in gilded flowerpots.
Now he went back again and began a really sad speculation in his mind, what a poor man he was among so many rich people in the world. But just as he was thinking, if I had it as good as this Herr Kannitverstan, only once – he turned a corner and saw a long funeral procession. Four horses, draped in black, were drawing a hearse, which was likewise draped in black, slowly and mournfully, as if they knew that they were taking a dead man to his rest. A long train of friends and acquaintances of the deceased followed, pair by pair, enveloped in black coats and silent. In the distance a lonely bell was tolling.
Now our stranger was seized by a melancholy feeling, which never passes a good man by when he sees a corpse, and he stood there devoutly with his hat in his hands until they had all passed by. However he went up to the last man in the procession, who was just then calculating silently how much he would profit from his cotton if it went up ten guldens a hundredweight, gently took hold of his cloak and innocently begged his pardon. “That must have been a good friend of yours,” he said, “for whom the bell is tolling, that you are following the procession so sadly and pensively.” “Kannitverstan!” was the reply. At this a few big tears fell from the eyes of our man from Tuttlingen, and he suddenly felt heavy and then again light about his heart. “Poor Kannitverstan,” he exclaimed, “what profit do you get from all your wealth now” What I will get from my poverty some day too: a shroud and a sheet, and from all your beautiful flowers – perhaps a sprig of rosemary on your cold chest or a rue.”
With these thoughts he accompanied the corpse to the grave as if he belonged to the party, saw the supposed Herr Kannitverstan lowered to his rest and was more moved by the Dutch funeral oration, of which he did not understand a word, than by many a German one to which he paid no attention. Finally he went away with the others with a light heart and ate a piece of Limburger cheese with a good appetite at an inn where they understood German, and whenever he was again threatened by the sad thought that so many people in the world were so rich and he so poor, he merely thought of Herr Kannitverstan in Amsterdam, of his great house, his rich ship and his narrow grave.
Man indeed has the opportunity every day, in Emmendingen or Gundelfingen as well as in Amsterdam, to speculate, if he wants to, on the inconsistency of all earthly things and to become satisfied with his fate, even though there aren’t many roast pigeons flying about in the air for him. But, through an error, a German artisan in Amsterdam arrived at the truth and its recognition by the strangest roundabout way. For when he had come to this great and rich commercial city full of splendid houses, swaying ships and busy people, his eye was at once caught by a large and handsome house, such as he had never yet experienced on all his wanderings from Tuttlingen to Amsterdam.
For a long time he contemplated this luxurious building in astonishment, the six chimneys on its roof, its beautiful cornices and its tall windows, larger than the door of his father’s house at home. Finally he could not refrain from addressing a passer-by. “My good friend,” he said to him, “couldn’t you tell me the name of the gentleman who owns this wonderfully beautiful house with its windows full of tulips, daisies and stocks?” But the man, who presumably had something more important to do and unfortunately understood just as much of the German language as the questioner of Dutch, that is to say nothing, said shortly and brusquely, “Kannitverstan” and buzzed past.
Now this was a Dutch word, or three if you want to be exact, and means in German as much as “Ich kann Euch nicht verstehn.” (“I can’t understand you.” ) But the good stranger believed that this was the name of the man he had asked about. He must have been an awfully rich man, this Herr Kannitverstan, he thought and went on. Out one street, in another, he finally came to the bay they call there Het Ey, or in German, the Y. There stood ship beside ship and mast beside mast, and at first he didn’t know how he would manage to see and contemplate his fill of all these marvels with his two eyes alone, until finally his attention was caught by a large ship which had recently arrived from East India and was now being unloaded.
Whole rows of boxes and bales were already standing on and beside one another on land. But more kept being rolled out, and barrels full of sugar and coffee, full of rice and pepper and, pardon the expression, mouse droppings too. But when he had looked for a long time, he finally asked a fellow who was just carrying a chest on his shoulder for the name of the lucky man for whom the sea was bringing all these goods to shore. “Kannitverstan” was the reply. At this he thought, Aha, is that it?” No wonder, a man for whom the sea floats such treasures ashore can well afford to put such houses into the world and such breeds of tulips in front of his windows in gilded flowerpots.
Now he went back again and began a really sad speculation in his mind, what a poor man he was among so many rich people in the world. But just as he was thinking, if I had it as good as this Herr Kannitverstan, only once – he turned a corner and saw a long funeral procession. Four horses, draped in black, were drawing a hearse, which was likewise draped in black, slowly and mournfully, as if they knew that they were taking a dead man to his rest. A long train of friends and acquaintances of the deceased followed, pair by pair, enveloped in black coats and silent. In the distance a lonely bell was tolling.
Now our stranger was seized by a melancholy feeling, which never passes a good man by when he sees a corpse, and he stood there devoutly with his hat in his hands until they had all passed by. However he went up to the last man in the procession, who was just then calculating silently how much he would profit from his cotton if it went up ten guldens a hundredweight, gently took hold of his cloak and innocently begged his pardon. “That must have been a good friend of yours,” he said, “for whom the bell is tolling, that you are following the procession so sadly and pensively.” “Kannitverstan!” was the reply. At this a few big tears fell from the eyes of our man from Tuttlingen, and he suddenly felt heavy and then again light about his heart. “Poor Kannitverstan,” he exclaimed, “what profit do you get from all your wealth now” What I will get from my poverty some day too: a shroud and a sheet, and from all your beautiful flowers – perhaps a sprig of rosemary on your cold chest or a rue.”
With these thoughts he accompanied the corpse to the grave as if he belonged to the party, saw the supposed Herr Kannitverstan lowered to his rest and was more moved by the Dutch funeral oration, of which he did not understand a word, than by many a German one to which he paid no attention. Finally he went away with the others with a light heart and ate a piece of Limburger cheese with a good appetite at an inn where they understood German, and whenever he was again threatened by the sad thought that so many people in the world were so rich and he so poor, he merely thought of Herr Kannitverstan in Amsterdam, of his great house, his rich ship and his narrow grave.
Johann Peter Hebel (1760-1826) was a clergyman and educator. He published many anecdotes and didactic tales under the title Schatzkästlein des rheinländischen Hausfreundes (Little Treasure Chest of the Rhenish Family Friend). The book has remained a classic because of Hebel’s narrative power and his dry wit.
Courtesy: http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/hebel.htm
Courtesy: http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/hebel.htm
What will happen to the Earth??
I found this in the comic strip of a newspaper years back and have saved it to remind myself of the state of our Earth and what man is doing to Nature....and this is depressing, not funny!! It hides such a horrible truth within...of how mankind is exploiting Mother Earth...and her inexhaustible beauty...!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
1st Event on IDEALIST.ORG
Accessible Horizon Films, now part of the Idealist Groups is hosting an event at Johnson Park Rd, Johnson Dr, Piscataway NJ , at the junction of Johnson Park Rd and Rose Dr, Highland Park, New Jersey, United States, on Saturday, August 25th, 2007.
This event will bring together like minded individuals who care about the Earth and the existing society. This is the first time Accessible Horizon Films is hosting an event...and welcomes anyone who can provide creative, caring, loving, non-violent solutions to the current problems in this world to achieve Peace in the Planet ! Anyone who is interested in meeting people and who are concerned about the current society and the world are invited to join!!
This event is for anyone interested in bringing a Positive change in this world!
Become a member of the Idealist.org and connect with thousands of Idealists who want to make this world a better place!
Mules as libraries: a novel approach
How far can a book go? How far can it take us? The answer is "very far," according to this BBC story about the Bibliomulas Project in Trujillo, Venezuela.
The bibliomulas – mules carrying loads of books, laptops and projectors – trudge for hours over mountain trails to remote village locations, accompanied by human participants from the Universidad Valle del Momboy. When they reach their destinations, children gather to hear stories read aloud by the university students. This is more than a few hours of story time: project leaders Christina and Juana explain that they're not only spreading the joy of reading, but helping to improve the quality of life in these communities through environmental education and internet access. Student volunteers help the children to plant trees, while adults can utilize the laptops to tap into wireless connections.
Tap into your creativity...there is more to this world than all the negativity we face every single moment...we can find a solution to all the problems that exist currently...with the positivity and creative potential!
Courtesy: Idealist.org
Picture courtesy: BBC
The bibliomulas – mules carrying loads of books, laptops and projectors – trudge for hours over mountain trails to remote village locations, accompanied by human participants from the Universidad Valle del Momboy. When they reach their destinations, children gather to hear stories read aloud by the university students. This is more than a few hours of story time: project leaders Christina and Juana explain that they're not only spreading the joy of reading, but helping to improve the quality of life in these communities through environmental education and internet access. Student volunteers help the children to plant trees, while adults can utilize the laptops to tap into wireless connections.
Tap into your creativity...there is more to this world than all the negativity we face every single moment...we can find a solution to all the problems that exist currently...with the positivity and creative potential!
Courtesy: Idealist.org
Picture courtesy: BBC
UNICEF's Make a difference - Contest winner
I accidentally came across this website UNICEF - Voice of Youth. This has lots of interesting information and especially the Approaching the Issues got my attention.
They do have lots of interesting contests, forums and more. Here is the link to the winner of the video contest. Winner of the video contest. Enjoy the movie and get ready to MAKE a DIFFERENCE.
They do have lots of interesting contests, forums and more. Here is the link to the winner of the video contest. Winner of the video contest. Enjoy the movie and get ready to MAKE a DIFFERENCE.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
HOLISTIC QUANTUM RELATIVITY (HQR)
Holistic (H) E8 Vector Visualisation in String Theory (Q+R) like the 1,000 Petal Sahasrara Lotus in Spirituality
Source: The Atlas Project -- American Institute of Mathematics -- National Science Foundation, USA.
While going through the blog site www.intentblog.com I came across this series of posts...The connection I feel with the rest of the beings in this universe...the collective purpose...the parts that form that infinite whole...
The previous post on Maulana Rumi, the great Persian poet is the beginning of the link to the whole series of Holistic Quantum Relativity...
Enjoy the energy of the articles...and the discussions on the interpretations...healthy conversations between humans trying to unravel the mysteries of this beautiful universe...
For further details on this topic of HQR...
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/holistic-quantum-relativity-hqr/web/?hl=en&hl=en
http://www.intentblog.com/archives/2007/03/holistic_quantu_5.html
Courtesy...www.intentblog.com
Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi- Persian Poet
I swallowed
some of the Beloved's sweet intoxicant,
and now I am ill.
My body aches,
my fever is high.
They called in the Doctor and he said,
drink this tea!
OK, time to drink this tea.
Take these pills!
OK, time to take these pills.
The Doctor said,
get rid of the sweet intoxicant of his lips!
OK, time to get rid of the doctor.
It is your turn now,
you waited, you were patient.
The time has come,
for us to polish you.
We will transform your inner pearl
into a house of fire.
You're a gold mine.
Did you know that,
hidden in the dirt of the earth?
It is your turn now,
to be placed in fire.
Let us cremate your impurities.
When we talk about the witness in our verse,
we talk about you.
A pure heart and a noble demeanor
cannot compete with your radiant face.
They will ask you
what you have produced.
Say to them,
except for Love,
what else can a Lover produce?
By day I praised you
and never knew it.
By night I stayed with you
and never knew it.
I always thought that
I was me--but no,
I was you
and never knew it.
This is a gathering of Lovers.
In this gathering
there is no high, no low,
no smart, no ignorant,
no special assembly,
no grand discourse,
no proper schooling required.
There is no master,
no disciple.
This gathering is more like an intoxicated party,
full of tricksters, fools,
mad men and mad women.
This is a gathering of Lovers.
I wish I could give you a taste of
the burning fire of Love.
There is a fire
blazing inside of me.
If I cry about it, or if I don't,
the fire is at work,
night and day.
People make clothing to cover their intellect,
but the heart of Lovers
is a shroud,
inflamed in golden hues of His Love.
For more...http://www.intentblog.com/archives/2007/01/maulana_rumi_ti.html
Courtesy...www.intentblog.com
Friday, August 10, 2007
Photography - Parallel World!!!
Am under the Illusion that...A better world exists in a Parallel World...
My instincts say I am wrong...
and have made me realize that...
Parallel Worlds exist only to inspire...
me to change this world into that!!
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Change of State - SDaS
Change of State Performance Project was founded in 2005 by Andrea del Moral and K. Qilo Matzen. The mission of Change of State Performance Project is to fuse improvisation, theatre, and somatic techniques to create precise and absurd live performance. As the vaudevillian duo careens across the dance-theatre spectrum, looming socio-political issues seep into the performance space. For more click here...
I met Andrea and Qilo at Gesundheit this June...the simplicity and genuineness in their dispositions inspired me...they are humans with a purpose to stir some inspiration into the minds of people watching them...their play TAKE THIS HOUSE AND FLOAT IT AWAY
was a many layered piece of art shared with us at the Summer School for Designing a Society
We had a good discussion on a lot of issues after their play...the many layers consisted of society's alienation with every single element, the disjointedness of humans with the community and themselves, the ignorance that is made to prevail in the minds of the existing society, how much humans are trained in drowning of their reason in almost anything they can find...etc etc
The world needs humans who dedicate themselves to a cause and make everyone realize their place in this magnificent universe...
keep up the loving work...humanity needs you to remind them of everything they have pushed to oblivion!!
I met Andrea and Qilo at Gesundheit this June...the simplicity and genuineness in their dispositions inspired me...they are humans with a purpose to stir some inspiration into the minds of people watching them...their play TAKE THIS HOUSE AND FLOAT IT AWAY
was a many layered piece of art shared with us at the Summer School for Designing a Society
We had a good discussion on a lot of issues after their play...the many layers consisted of society's alienation with every single element, the disjointedness of humans with the community and themselves, the ignorance that is made to prevail in the minds of the existing society, how much humans are trained in drowning of their reason in almost anything they can find...etc etc
The world needs humans who dedicate themselves to a cause and make everyone realize their place in this magnificent universe...
keep up the loving work...humanity needs you to remind them of everything they have pushed to oblivion!!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Significance of a Country's Independence...
Anyone capable of understanding the word "Independence" will know how much it means to the soul...well, Independence is that word which comes into context every time humans think they are threatened in some way or the other...
They say India struggled a lot to request the British to grant them the Independence...and this was possible through non-violence...what an awesome word! Hardly makes sense to a lot of humans in the current society who think otherwise...
After so many years of the Indian Independence and telling people all around the world the story of how we got that, etc etc....
India = Bollywood for a lot of Indians and friends here in the U.S...I find it so hard to even explain to people that there is more to India than bollywood...
and this comes up...Some bollywood actress is going to lead the Independence day March in NYC...and some other actress had done that last year...
A million questions rise in my mind...
Why an actress?
Has she done anything socially significant for the people of India?
Aren't there a lot of socially committed people who could lead the march?
Why do Indians in U.S. welcome such ideas?
Does no one have anything to say or protest?
and...and...??????????
So, people please....India is much more than bollywood!!
They say India struggled a lot to request the British to grant them the Independence...and this was possible through non-violence...what an awesome word! Hardly makes sense to a lot of humans in the current society who think otherwise...
After so many years of the Indian Independence and telling people all around the world the story of how we got that, etc etc....
India = Bollywood for a lot of Indians and friends here in the U.S...I find it so hard to even explain to people that there is more to India than bollywood...
and this comes up...Some bollywood actress is going to lead the Independence day March in NYC...and some other actress had done that last year...
A million questions rise in my mind...
Why an actress?
Has she done anything socially significant for the people of India?
Aren't there a lot of socially committed people who could lead the march?
Why do Indians in U.S. welcome such ideas?
Does no one have anything to say or protest?
and...and...??????????
So, people please....India is much more than bollywood!!
Obama at Odds - His Inexperience
Recently, Obama gave a Speech on Terrorism as part of his ongoing campaign which seems significantly different from Hillary's approach. Well, that's not the point.More importantly his rhetoric - about using violence in Pakistan's peripheral regions (NWFP - North West Frontier Province) if Musharraf didn't cooperate to clean out 'terrorists' -
has created a furor. But why wouldn't it?
I read in Ultrabrown blog extolling Obama's declaration, or should I call it an Adrenaline-invoked, ill-thought-out statement like:
There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al Qaeda leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will.Though Obama differs substantially from Bush's policies, the above statement clearly indicates an inexperience and foolhardiness in dealing with foreign policies. The following is my response to the blog entry. Read this Ultrabrown blog entry before you read the following response.
My Response
It seems more like he’s acting on his adrenaline than a balanced state of mind. Just because contextually he says something agreeable doesn’t mean you can declare to act like a rogue. You CAN’T just declare you will use violence to ’save’ America and get your revenge. This is purely an extension of Bush’s agenda except that it has a contextual subtlety.
First of all, this kind of a war rhetoric HAS to stop. I mean, how long are you gonna be using the fact - that America has lost 3000 lives over and over again - to advance your agenda. Yeah right, everything has to revolve around fear and America. When America bombs the bajeezus out of other countries and kills thousands of people it’s never a matter of aggression…because America supports democracy and all that bull.
Foreign policy is not something that just comes out of a unilateral viewpoint or a few seemingly intelligent nerds who claim to know every damn thing about every country that poses a threat. And what the hell does he mean by “actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets”, I mean, isn’t that BS especially since we all know how “actionable” the “intelligence” of US was in the case of WMDs. Who is this intelligence? Who verifies? Who cross-checks?
There has to be a paradigm shift in the way we think of foreign policy. We have to move away from using FEAR to instill peace and security. Obama seems controversial just for the sake of it and even if he did mean whatever he said about using violence, and he becomes the President, America has a long way to go before it can salvage whatever’s lost.
Contd. Response
My point about what the world thinks of American policy has to do a LOT with American interests…it’s far from tertiary. Especially when the world has become much much smaller in terms of information exchange, porous borders, immigrants’ cultures who have become part and parcel of countries they immigrate into and much more. Whatever you do unto someone comes back with the same intensity to you - think of it as global karma in this case.
You can’t really separate America in terms cultural influences because it is becoming a global melting pot and this is exactly when it has to be more tolerant. You see, foreign policy is not just something that can be taken at face value. You can’t declare statements aggressively when you haven’t even tried multilateral diplomacy in the first place. Especially not when you are not even in office.
In fact, if you truly want security/peace in the long-term then there are specific ways you approach the problem. See the Israel-Palentine issue, where did they reach until they were using an eye-for-an-eye approach? But what’s happening now, a multilateral peaceful approach, at least both the parties are open to talks.. You don’t want to learn things the hard way when somebody has already done it for you.
Look at Britain now, where there are so many home-grown fundamentalists popping up. Where do they all get their ideas? Where do they get the hate? It’s directly or indirectly related to the foreign policy that we adopt. In the current world scenario, you can’t talk about unilateralism again when you have failed miserably at it. Learning from mistakes is what should shape foreign policy.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
This ball of energy....
where does the strength for action comes to a human?? i feel this huge ball of frustration go up and down my throat whenever i think about the condition of the world around me..how hostile?? what all do i have to change here?? this ball seems to increase in size like the snow ball that rolls downhill and gets bigger in size...i feel like it is consuming me from within and what can i say about that??? i feel that i do not deserve to live while so many of my own are in so much pain....where do i collect the strength of mind from?? i used to think it came from the nature around me..but now i feel even the nature around me is as helpless as i am and does not any answers to anything....i see a lot of other humans trying their best...but for what??? maybe they got this ball too...sometimes i just have to ignore the presence of this ball...and swallow it in...but i hope it does not kill me from within..and take away my strength...to do things...what can i say about it??????????
the ball has no mercy and does not care what i do...it wakes me up in the middle of the night and then asks me what i am doing to end all the suffering...and then i ask myself...and whenever i have no answer...it gets bigger only to suffocate me from within...when will i reduce this to nothing ??? i have to do something about this...what am i supposed to do?? when every single person around me is as ignorant as me??? maybe they are ignoring their balls of energy too???
are yu????
the ball has no mercy and does not care what i do...it wakes me up in the middle of the night and then asks me what i am doing to end all the suffering...and then i ask myself...and whenever i have no answer...it gets bigger only to suffocate me from within...when will i reduce this to nothing ??? i have to do something about this...what am i supposed to do?? when every single person around me is as ignorant as me??? maybe they are ignoring their balls of energy too???
are yu????
Where is the EDGE for each human??????????
I cannot explain how so very disappointed i am with the humans around me...what pushes a human to the edge to actually get down to do something?? i wonder where the threshold for each person lies?? does it lie in the personal realm of things ??? or maybe it lies in the realm of selfishness?? maybe somewhere deep down in the abyss of the so-called day-to-day practicality which offers a perfect excuse??? or maybe in the darkness of the soul..if there is any???
what can i say??? why do humans change only after they themselves are affected by something?? what is that one factor that pushes a human to actually start doing something about anything??? when more than half the humans are dying by war or hunger or some injustice how can we sleep?? i just cannot seem to sleep tonight...pls help me someone...why is it that humans want to be personally affected every time they have to be pushed to take some action..each human so self-absorbed in his/her own achievements and practicalities...thats really a perfect example for a lame excuse...what can i say?? my blood boils..because i see humans are drowning reason in any way that they can...no matter what...they just need to be pushed to that EDGE to help...someone or anyone in need...this is like a never-ending search...where do i find that EDGE which is common to all humans ????where do i find the perfect moment that will drive these humans to actually do something...i feel so helpless and anxious...how can humans not do anything??? at this time of anguish how can i think of relaxing my mind and think that everything is the way it has to be...??? how can i say that the humans who are suffering are suffering because it is their destiny or some other ____________?????????
why don't we do something about all this??? is it not enough for a few humans to undergo so much pain and share it with the others??? have we lost the trust or have we become too individualistic and proud that we wait for the living experience to feel everything???
WHAT IS IT?? IF SOMEONE FINDS THAT COMMON EDGE....PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW....PLEASE...
what can i say??? why do humans change only after they themselves are affected by something?? what is that one factor that pushes a human to actually start doing something about anything??? when more than half the humans are dying by war or hunger or some injustice how can we sleep?? i just cannot seem to sleep tonight...pls help me someone...why is it that humans want to be personally affected every time they have to be pushed to take some action..each human so self-absorbed in his/her own achievements and practicalities...thats really a perfect example for a lame excuse...what can i say?? my blood boils..because i see humans are drowning reason in any way that they can...no matter what...they just need to be pushed to that EDGE to help...someone or anyone in need...this is like a never-ending search...where do i find that EDGE which is common to all humans ????where do i find the perfect moment that will drive these humans to actually do something...i feel so helpless and anxious...how can humans not do anything??? at this time of anguish how can i think of relaxing my mind and think that everything is the way it has to be...??? how can i say that the humans who are suffering are suffering because it is their destiny or some other ____________?????????
why don't we do something about all this??? is it not enough for a few humans to undergo so much pain and share it with the others??? have we lost the trust or have we become too individualistic and proud that we wait for the living experience to feel everything???
WHAT IS IT?? IF SOMEONE FINDS THAT COMMON EDGE....PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW....PLEASE...
Friday, August 03, 2007
Ain't this NOT-COOL??
I met this teenager in one of my friend's place and started a conversation with her...after a while she confessed that she was so scared of her driving test the following day...I first thought she was scared of driving and so tried to tell her that it was ok for her to be anxious for the first time...but all she had to concentrate was the road...I also told her it was all about co-existing with the rest of the humans and moving with an understanding on the road...admiring the patterns..and to see how the flow was so organized...(at least in some countries haha)
I went on and on about all the concepts of driving while she still remained anxious...so i asked her what was bothering her...
She then said that there were around 4 cars in her house... and how she had read about Global warming... and how she felt that driving was not very interesting to her...but how her friends and siblings made fun of her that she said all that because she was not good enough for driving...and she did not have the nerve to drive..and she was not cool...etc etc...
I suddenly was pushed to the harsh reality the youngsters were facing today...
When did driving become a matter of pride or anxiety? When did it become an issue of prestige? Maybe the actual spirit of driving does not exist anymore....
What is the big deal about getting a license to drive? The amount of stress that a teenager developed and the pressure from friends and family about obtaining one was so enormous...It was now more a matter of pride, ego, style etc etc.....maybe like a lot of other things in this world...it too has lost its purpose...
I tried so hard to sit and talk with the teenager that it was absolutely ok for her not to get a license if she did not want it and she could tell her friends and siblings the real reason and that she preferred to take trains or public buses...she felt so confident after that and said that she was not going to take her test the next day and was going to stand up against it...she also confided that she preferred to walk any distance and disliked the very idea of sitting in cars for long drives...
Happy that I had helped her out with what she actually wanted, I left her with some more suggestions on how-to-not-use-so-many-cars in a single house...and asked her to observe the understanding between drivers on the road and how they communicate...
After a whole month i remembered about her and called my friend's house to ask about the teenager...my friend's sister said, "she got her driving license recently...Isn't that cool?"
The purpose behind so many things in this world are losing their values...Where do we start to set things right?
On a one-on-one basis? or group campaigns..well, someone could make a short film out of this concept and post it as a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!!
I went on and on about all the concepts of driving while she still remained anxious...so i asked her what was bothering her...
She then said that there were around 4 cars in her house... and how she had read about Global warming... and how she felt that driving was not very interesting to her...but how her friends and siblings made fun of her that she said all that because she was not good enough for driving...and she did not have the nerve to drive..and she was not cool...etc etc...
I suddenly was pushed to the harsh reality the youngsters were facing today...
When did driving become a matter of pride or anxiety? When did it become an issue of prestige? Maybe the actual spirit of driving does not exist anymore....
What is the big deal about getting a license to drive? The amount of stress that a teenager developed and the pressure from friends and family about obtaining one was so enormous...It was now more a matter of pride, ego, style etc etc.....maybe like a lot of other things in this world...it too has lost its purpose...
I tried so hard to sit and talk with the teenager that it was absolutely ok for her not to get a license if she did not want it and she could tell her friends and siblings the real reason and that she preferred to take trains or public buses...she felt so confident after that and said that she was not going to take her test the next day and was going to stand up against it...she also confided that she preferred to walk any distance and disliked the very idea of sitting in cars for long drives...
Happy that I had helped her out with what she actually wanted, I left her with some more suggestions on how-to-not-use-so-many-cars in a single house...and asked her to observe the understanding between drivers on the road and how they communicate...
After a whole month i remembered about her and called my friend's house to ask about the teenager...my friend's sister said, "she got her driving license recently...Isn't that cool?"
The purpose behind so many things in this world are losing their values...Where do we start to set things right?
On a one-on-one basis? or group campaigns..well, someone could make a short film out of this concept and post it as a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!!
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Bringing Cities & Countrysides together...
If Cities and Villages are close enough, then the people can interact and have more new and varied experiences which will reduce the day-to-day stress which drives the people towards exhaustion. Let us together try and reduce the gap between the cities and the countrysides!
How do we do this?? Like, take kids on trips to nearby villages? pls suggest my fellow humans!!
Courtesy: Pattern Language
How do we do this?? Like, take kids on trips to nearby villages? pls suggest my fellow humans!!
Courtesy: Pattern Language
Monday, July 30, 2007
Doc. Film 'Wings of Evolution' Completed
Hi all
This is news from two weeks back. Our second documentary film, 'Wings of Evolution' on a revolutionary system of education for homeless and underprivileged children is now complete and ready to go. We are just getting it DVD-ready for film festivals and possibly other screenings in the near future. The trailer and preview clips should be out in a couple of days. So watch out!
This is news from two weeks back. Our second documentary film, 'Wings of Evolution' on a revolutionary system of education for homeless and underprivileged children is now complete and ready to go. We are just getting it DVD-ready for film festivals and possibly other screenings in the near future. The trailer and preview clips should be out in a couple of days. So watch out!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
BRAVE NEW THEATRES
Brave New Theaters provides world changers like you with films and organizing tools to bring attention to, raise money for, and take action around the issues you care deeply about. Your ticket to the people-powered movie revolution starts here...
If you want more information about the social activism in the upcoming independent media...please do not hesitate to take a look at the issues dealt by the movies in this site...There is more to the world than what hits the eye...
The pictures about Poverty, destruction by war, water deficiency in many parts of the world etc., have been coming out once in a while... for a very long time now...I understand that we do not need to repeatedly see the pictures to know about the situation of the world...but what else would remind us??
We see them, feel bad and forget about them...the regular media does not concentrate on showing things like this ...so what can we do about it?? When there was tsunami ...we saw a lot of tv coverage for a short period of time only..after that the media totally stopped showing it...that does not mean people are not still affected by tsunami..people are still suffering from its effects...but when we do not see the pictures or on the tv..we think it is over and nothing is wrong with the world..same things happen for the people who starve in the world...we have become so numb seeing the pictures...but do not do anything about them...we see so much poverty around us and what do we do????
TRY AND TAKE TIME TO NOTICE OTHER THINGS IN THE WORLD...WITH THE HELP OF THE INTERNET IT IS POSSIBLE...AND THERE IS SO MUCH TRUTH BEYOND WHAT THE EYES SEE AND BELIEVE...
If you want more information about the social activism in the upcoming independent media...please do not hesitate to take a look at the issues dealt by the movies in this site...There is more to the world than what hits the eye...
The pictures about Poverty, destruction by war, water deficiency in many parts of the world etc., have been coming out once in a while... for a very long time now...I understand that we do not need to repeatedly see the pictures to know about the situation of the world...but what else would remind us??
We see them, feel bad and forget about them...the regular media does not concentrate on showing things like this ...so what can we do about it?? When there was tsunami ...we saw a lot of tv coverage for a short period of time only..after that the media totally stopped showing it...that does not mean people are not still affected by tsunami..people are still suffering from its effects...but when we do not see the pictures or on the tv..we think it is over and nothing is wrong with the world..same things happen for the people who starve in the world...we have become so numb seeing the pictures...but do not do anything about them...we see so much poverty around us and what do we do????
TRY AND TAKE TIME TO NOTICE OTHER THINGS IN THE WORLD...WITH THE HELP OF THE INTERNET IT IS POSSIBLE...AND THERE IS SO MUCH TRUTH BEYOND WHAT THE EYES SEE AND BELIEVE...
IDEALIST.ORG
My friends and some people who know me say that I am an Idealist...All I want is Peace in this Planet...and a sense of togetherness...and I came across this website where the Idealists of the world...are already working together on a lot of issues...please join the Idealist network and help make IDEALISM a way of life...
"The Internet is the cloning of our collective soul. That's where the human consciousness resides right now," says Dr. Chopra...explaining that with blogs and other outlets on the Web, one can reach millions of people on a regular basis. "We have the means to make this shift...the shift that is so needed right now..."How true!
Go here for more on Idealist.org
"The Internet is the cloning of our collective soul. That's where the human consciousness resides right now," says Dr. Chopra...explaining that with blogs and other outlets on the Web, one can reach millions of people on a regular basis. "We have the means to make this shift...the shift that is so needed right now..."How true!
Go here for more on Idealist.org
Friday, July 20, 2007
Protest with Flowers and love actually works...
Immigration Voice, a group that advocates for high-tech immigrants in the U.S. on visas recently protested in a compassionate and Gandhian way...
The situation...
Engineers, computer programmers, and tech workers aren't known for outspoken collective action and political protest. But when denied the permanent U.S.residency they'd been promised, high-skilled workers took to the streets in non-violent protests and even sent flowers to the USCIS.
The point here is the method they dealt with...
Hundreds of green-card applicants sent flowers to the director of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. The flowers and the rally were modeled after the nonviolent protests of Mahatma Gandhi, and they emerged from Immigration Voice...
The result...
The USCIS has reversed its memorandum and provided an extension for the application process.
For details please click here...
and here...
Picture Courtesy: Immigration Voice
No matter what the situation, there is always a peaceful alternative to deal with it...the point I was trying to make through this - is highlight the method of protest... What will happen if all the humans decide to end poverty through a peaceful protest all over the world? What if children took to the streets to persuade the adults into finding a solution for poverty and hunger in this world? What if Protests had more flowers than deadly weapons? Then, PEACE might be possible...let us think about it!!!
The situation...
Engineers, computer programmers, and tech workers aren't known for outspoken collective action and political protest. But when denied the permanent U.S.residency they'd been promised, high-skilled workers took to the streets in non-violent protests and even sent flowers to the USCIS.
The point here is the method they dealt with...
Hundreds of green-card applicants sent flowers to the director of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. The flowers and the rally were modeled after the nonviolent protests of Mahatma Gandhi, and they emerged from Immigration Voice...
The result...
The USCIS has reversed its memorandum and provided an extension for the application process.
For details please click here...
and here...
Picture Courtesy: Immigration Voice
No matter what the situation, there is always a peaceful alternative to deal with it...the point I was trying to make through this - is highlight the method of protest... What will happen if all the humans decide to end poverty through a peaceful protest all over the world? What if children took to the streets to persuade the adults into finding a solution for poverty and hunger in this world? What if Protests had more flowers than deadly weapons? Then, PEACE might be possible...let us think about it!!!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Gesundheit - SDaS 2007 - 5 : Social Activism
One of the humans who shared his knowledge with us was Robert Naiman..He is part of JUST FOREIGN POLICY.ORG...He is favoritely called the Economics Man (by one of the concerned citizens of the planet)...
How to produce more activism:
a) spend more time doing activism
b) be more efficient
c) recruit more People to be activists
Activism is the normal state of human affairs and although some people view activism as deviant social behavior they appreciate the results of it. Bob suggested that we attempt to break this view and recruit more activists. He said the best way to do this is start out on a personal level.
He used the example of trying to figure out how to help a blind person cross the street saying most people would not stand by and not help the blind person. And he uses this as an analogy that one doesn't pass by unthinkingly not trying to find a simple solution to solve problems.
Bob: Why do people push to get one the bus? When people see a bus half empty they are polite and let others ahead of them but when they see a bus is jammed... people push to get on the bus. A normal person would just say that people are rude and complain about it. But an activist would say: "We need more buses" (seeking an alternative)
Bob stated that "Language (words) are a major barrier for activism in the U.S."
Bob then returned to questions on public/private ownership?
When does something controlled by the government belong to the public?
He asked that we reformulate and think of examples... examples given park, sidewalk, library, hospital, etc.
Patrick, another concerned citizen of the world, pointed out the difference between belong and control. Is it a public park if it has bum proof benches and riot police?
Bob asked us once again to reformulate the problem, where we lower our standards to where something useful is taken away or privatized and asks would that make us upset.
Focus our attention that we should be concerned about socialism/capitalism and pointed out that there are some things controlled by government that belong to the public that we believe are ours and would fight for them if taken away.
Bob : Activism is a 'good' and more activism is needed.
Cassandra (another concerned citizen): There is the march against war, there are certain amounts of activists and what amount of activists is needed for the activism to be effective?
Questions you can ask yourself or others...
Activism is a good produced by Activists, are we producing enough?
How can we produce more?
Activism is the normal state of human affairs
How do we contribute?
Why do people push to get on the bus?
Why is money so annoying?"
Why is money so annoying?"
Monday, July 16, 2007
A Mammoth of an Elephant
Given that I'm a sucker for creatures of gargantuan proportions especially in mythological realms related to time travel, it's no biggie that I absolutely love this piece of work - The Sultan's Elephant. Amazing effort and coordination by the artists. You gotta watch this.
Courtesy Wiki.The Sultan's Elephant is a show created by the Royal de Luxe theatre company, involving a huge moving mechanical elephant and other associated public art installations. In French it is called La visite du sultan des Indes sur son éléphant à voyager dans le temps (literally, "Visit From The Sultan Of The Indies On His Time-Traveling Elephant").
The elephant is made mostly of wood, and is operated by over ten puppeteers using a mixture of hydraulics and motors. It weighs 42 tons, as much as 7 African elephants. A replica of the elephant was built in Nantes (France) in 2007, as part of the Machines of the Isle of Nantes permanent exhibition.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
How far would you go to bring PEACE on Earth?
From 1953 to 1981 a silver haired woman calling herself only "Peace Pilgrim" walked more than 25,000 miles on a personal pilgrimage for peace. She vowed to "remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food."Courtesy: Peace Pilgrim
Other links: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/07/11/2468/
John Taylor Gatto on System of Education!
I asked this question in Yahoo...
Please read the following pages to get an idea about what Gatto's work is like...
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history4.htm
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history5.htm
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history6.htm
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history7.htm
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history8.htm
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history9.htm
Why does the current system of Education in our world alienate theory & practice, confuse & burden the child?
Children of today's world are burdened with heavy syllabus and they have no concept-based learning. What they learn in school for 17 years and college for 4 years has no connection with what they experience in the real world of work. Moreover, they are always made to understand that education has to be related to the amount of money they earn in the current world. The result is that children lose their interest to go to school and the actual learning process and mostly are exam driven and they have to force themselves to go to school simply because they have to survive the current system. Many children drop out of schools and some of them are so stressed out that they cannot handle any issue without being scared. Education on the other hand has to be fun for the children and not intimidate them and push them to the edge.
...and I got an answer from Limbonia asking me to read books written by John Taylor Gatto...Please read the following pages to get an idea about what Gatto's work is like...
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history4.htm
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history5.htm
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history6.htm
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history7.htm
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history8.htm
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history9.htm
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
WE ARE EVERYWHERE - A Must Read Book!!
Courtesy: http://weareeverywhere.org/
We Are Everywhere is a book of stories, stories written by activists from the front lines of resistance against capitalism and economic globalization, tales of struggle and rebellion from participants in a movement of movments that is gaining ground on every continent. These stories, told with both words and pictures, have been collected over the past three years by a collective of activists, writers and artists, all of whom have deep connections to the movement.
The book explores and celebrates what activist, academic, and media commentators have recently come to refer to as the "anticapitalist" movement. One of the great strengths of this movement has been its capacity to re-kindle the idea of a global political project, a project defined by notions of autonomy, ecology, democracy, self-organization and direct action, notions which are explored in We Are Everywhere.
For further details of the pdf format of the book, go to WE ARE EVERYWHERE.
IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS!!!
Humans who belong to this planet called earth…here I am…hurt but inspired, helpless but motivated and I could go on and on…but let me stop here and share with you the real reason of my writing this…
I had the opportunity of meeting with another human called Patch Adams whose love came straight through from his heart to people around him…what more can I say? He asked us a disturbing question; “have you ever held a starving dying child in your arms?”
And I could not help the tears that followed…
He showed a few pictures which were taken in one part of this very planet we all live…photographs of people and children who were dying in starvation. Not one or two…we saw many lives being wasted away without even having a chance to know what living and loving is all about…we saw mothers holding starving children close to their bosom, feeling helpless because they could not help but watch them die, we saw humans bury their young and old ones side by side who died of starvation, we saw humans waiting for others to die so that they did not have to share their few morsels with them, we saw a vulture sitting close to a child dying of starvation – waiting for the child to die and prey on it even before the soul could leave the body, we saw children drink from the wastes, we saw humans who were dehumanized by war, struggling for a few more breaths in this merciless world, we saw endless poverty which screamed into every grain of the sands and every atom of air that surrounded it…we saw the never-ending abyss of hopelessness in their eyes…we saw that thinking was drowned somewhere in all that misery and had become extinct for years in their souls, what we did not see in those pictures directly but realized was that – reason on the whole was being drowned in poverty, money, selfishness, war, greed, blood and many more entities of the so-called human world…
We saw how countless human beings were born in some parts of the world just to die without even knowing what living was all about…and to think that we talk about intellect, arts, technology, war, politics, government, humanity, peace etc while remaining oblivious to what is happening around us. What kind of a world are we a part of where we totally ignore such realities and still shamelessly say ‘IGNORANCE IS BLISS’??
My tears flow while I type all this…why was I made to see all this? To just feel bad for a few hours, forget and then move on??
NO, NO, NO!!!
These will remain in my mind, heart, body and soul as long as I live and I will see to it that I will share this with as many humans as I can and inspire them to do something about this inequality…
I cannot stop questioning myself again and again about all that is going on? If ignoring such realities and living without an iota of feeling responsible to do something for the world is all called living in this world, I feel sad to be a part of it…but wait!!!
What then is our duty in this design? What is the purpose of our existence in this world?
What can we do to make this world a better place?
How can we expect a soul to love or think when even the basic needs are not met??
Of course we can make a difference…TOGETHER!
HUMANS OF THE PLANET, UNITE!!!
Picture courtesy: www.nutrisci.wisc.edu/
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Gesundheit - SDaS 2007 - 4 : Summer School Report
Summer School Report-June 2007
Courtesy: SDaS
We enveloped ourselves in a potpourri of unusual offerings for the summer school's point of departure. We've been at the Gesundheit Institute, where costume activist "Madd Maggs" literally wrapped us in clown pants and tie dyes throughout the month -- so logically we had a clown pants fashion show, with most participants opting for the "waist around the shoulders" look (see right). This came in tandem with the "art everywhere" exhibition, which included a showing of the month's returns on art projects that included painted shoes, stencils, hand-crafted paper, political wedding dresses, wish flags...for more check here...
Gesundheit - SDaS 2007 -3 : SUMMER SCHOOL SESSION
SUMMER SCHOOL IN SESSION from SDaS...JUNE 15th 2007
During the first week, we discussed our personal "courts of criteria" -- the "voices" in our heads that we consult when we make a decision. This culminated in an uprising of cartooning, which illustrated the various criteria people consider when making a specific choice. The first week also saw the start of a flurry of "desire statements" writing. We broke into "design groups" to connect...for more check here
During the first week, we discussed our personal "courts of criteria" -- the "voices" in our heads that we consult when we make a decision. This culminated in an uprising of cartooning, which illustrated the various criteria people consider when making a specific choice. The first week also saw the start of a flurry of "desire statements" writing. We broke into "design groups" to connect...for more check here
Gesundheit - SDaS 2007 -2 :Detour Towards Earth
Rob Scott of SDaS has made it possible for everyone to access the (13MB) pdf of "Detour Towards Earth" booklet which was done by his design group.
The Booklet has been formatted so that when printed doublesidedly, it makes a document with
pages numbered "A" to "Z" plus a cover page.
Happy Reading!!
The Booklet has been formatted so that when printed doublesidedly, it makes a document with
pages numbered "A" to "Z" plus a cover page.
Happy Reading!!
COUCHSURFING!!!
"CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate cultural understanding."
Courtesy: http://couchsurfing.org/help.html
I came across this website which connects a lot of people around the globe...opening your homes to the beautiful people of this world...It makes me want to believe in the good of the people..
Courtesy: http://couchsurfing.org/help.html
I came across this website which connects a lot of people around the globe...opening your homes to the beautiful people of this world...It makes me want to believe in the good of the people..
Friday, July 06, 2007
Gesundheit - Clowning 2007
CLOWNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNGG!!!
I always ask myself this question from time to time - "When was the last time you did something for the first time??" (courtesy: Discovery Channel)
Gesundheit, WV is a place that makes you feel at home the minute you arrive there! And we were given with this opportunity of entertaining around 200 elderly people who were celebrating their 80+ birthdays in the town.
Well, we had not had any experience in Clowning but our hearts were open to it and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and saw to it that we spread the joy, love and laughter that was part of the clowning to all the people who who were there at the town hall.
Sometimes it is good to just be open to anything and let go of the fear of the unknown...becoz that is when we trust our hearts and take that path which leads us to true happiness!
So, my friends, try something new once in a while...and try clowning once your lifetime!!!
I always ask myself this question from time to time - "When was the last time you did something for the first time??" (courtesy: Discovery Channel)
Gesundheit, WV is a place that makes you feel at home the minute you arrive there! And we were given with this opportunity of entertaining around 200 elderly people who were celebrating their 80+ birthdays in the town.
Well, we had not had any experience in Clowning but our hearts were open to it and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and saw to it that we spread the joy, love and laughter that was part of the clowning to all the people who who were there at the town hall.
Sometimes it is good to just be open to anything and let go of the fear of the unknown...becoz that is when we trust our hearts and take that path which leads us to true happiness!
So, my friends, try something new once in a while...and try clowning once your lifetime!!!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Gesundheit - SDaS 2007 -1 : My Experience
Hey Beautiful People!!!
Am back after a whole month at the Gesundheit Institute...I was there for the Summer School for Designing a Society...
The experience was amazing...the whole place was filled with so much vibrant energy and I got lots of it to share with the rest of the world...WEST VIRGINIA is a wonderful piece of art by the Creator...
During the train journey, I was engulfed in total awe at the sight of the endless mountains and sky which seemed to hold each other in an embrace that was breathtaking...
There were moments when I asked myself, "If there is so much beauty around me, then what change did I want from the world around me...for a moment, I felt the earth was perfect and there was no chaos or war or hunger or pollution or any atrocities of any kind...How can something so beautiful be messed up?? But my memories of the news about war, poverty, unrest, insecurities etc that existed in the world outside this place brought the harsh reality to me!!
Is it even possible to transform something that is so perfect into something that is totally un-livable?? well, we somehow managed it I guess! SIGH!
This is the first of its kind! More to come my comrades!
Am back after a whole month at the Gesundheit Institute...I was there for the Summer School for Designing a Society...
The experience was amazing...the whole place was filled with so much vibrant energy and I got lots of it to share with the rest of the world...WEST VIRGINIA is a wonderful piece of art by the Creator...
During the train journey, I was engulfed in total awe at the sight of the endless mountains and sky which seemed to hold each other in an embrace that was breathtaking...
There were moments when I asked myself, "If there is so much beauty around me, then what change did I want from the world around me...for a moment, I felt the earth was perfect and there was no chaos or war or hunger or pollution or any atrocities of any kind...How can something so beautiful be messed up?? But my memories of the news about war, poverty, unrest, insecurities etc that existed in the world outside this place brought the harsh reality to me!!
Is it even possible to transform something that is so perfect into something that is totally un-livable?? well, we somehow managed it I guess! SIGH!
This is the first of its kind! More to come my comrades!
Friday, June 22, 2007
"Lil' Bush" Bash - One heck of a Show
Kudos to Donick Cary, Creator of the amazingly hilarious, gut-busting show on Comedy Central, Lil' Bush. What a fine piece of comedy writing, ripping the Bush Administration like they were a Pinata filled with Bush and his lil' cronies. Taking current issues and putting a phenomenal spin on each of them. Brilliant piece of work.
Here's a segment from CNN discussing if the show is taking things just a lil' to much. But hey, nothing's too much when it comes to Bush Bashing ;-)
Some of the good stuff - Bush's nonsensical English where Lil' Bush wants to be the 'Decider' coining his own words as he plays prank-wars on Al-Qaeda and their underwear, etc. Looking forward to the next episode!! Wednesdays, 10:30 p.m Eastern.
Ethical Dilemmas of Cycle Rickshaw - Radio Show on Web
Here's the interview that Asia Pacific Forum featured on 'Men of Burden', it's labelled under 'Ethical Dilemmas of Cycle Rickshaws'. I was slow to start initially but I guess I picked up later. Amy and Chitra were great hosts and they both had been to Pondicherry. Talk about a small world. Hopefully, this would bring more awareness to our cause.
People, come forward with your contributions to our projects. Please visit http://www.accessiblehorizonfilms.com/partchange.html
and learn how you can donate.
Thanks for all your support so far.
People, come forward with your contributions to our projects. Please visit http://www.accessiblehorizonfilms.com/partchange.html
and learn how you can donate.
Thanks for all your support so far.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Asia Pacific Forum(NYC) features segment on 'Men of Burden'
Asia Pacific Forum(NYC) features segment on "Men of Burden - Pedaling
Towards a Horizon" a documentary film on cycle rickshaws in India, on their
weekly Radio Show on Tuesday, June 19th 2007, broadcast between 8-9 p.m.
The segment will be the second in the show at around 8:15 p.m.
The segment will be part of a newly launched series on the environment and
developing economies- this segment focuses on the struggles of an India
where middle/upper class desires for technology and cars and where cycle
rickshaws represent an environmental blessing- and livelihood for
thousands of cycle rickshaw workers- though also respecting the
hardship/manual labor of rickshaw drivers.
ABOUT THE ASIA PACIFIC FORUM
Asia Pacific Forum is the progressive pan-Asian radio show broadcast every
Tuesday night from 8-9pm on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York City and live on the
web.
We particularly like to profile stories and perspectives which are
under-represented in mainstream media- and which we believe deserve
attention and dialogue.
For excerpts of past shows, please check out our website: Asia Pacific Forum
(http://www.asiapacificforum.org)
We cover underreported stories from Asia, as well as Asian American
politics and culture. Our guests have included Arundhati Roy, Gary Locke,
Jessica Hagedorn, Tariq Ali, Yuri Kochiyama, David Henry Hwang,
Monique Truong, Edward Said, Maxine Hong Kingston, Vijay Prashad,
Cathi Tactaquin, Zia Mian, Grace Lee Boggs, Vivek Bald, Phil Tajitsu
Nash, Bharavi Desai, Lois-Ann Yamanaka, Monami Maulik, Margaret
Fung, Robin D.G. Kelley, Shashi Tharoor, Joo-Hyun Kang, Mike Honda,
Vandana Shiva, John Liu, Stacey Ann Chin, Jeff Chang, DJ Rekha,
and Asian Dub Foundation.
Asia Pacific Forum airs on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York City. WBAI is part of
the Pacifica Foundation, a national radio network founded in 1946 with
additional affiliates in Houston, Los Angeles, Berkeley, and Washington,
D.C. Pacifica is a non-commercial, listener-sponsored network founded on a
strong community role in each individual station.
SYNOPSIS OF THE FILM
Set in the city of Pondicherry, a Union Territory in South East India, the
documentary uncovers the story of disappearing cycle rickshaw drivers
living in abject poverty. Over time, the city has experienced a gradual
but alarming reduction in the number of cycle rickshaws thereby
diminishing the chances of living of those who depend on them. What used
to be one of the primary modes of transport in the city is now a fading
memory with the few remaining ones staging a difficult survival. The film
explores some of the ethical dimensions of man pulling man against the
background of increasingly menacing effects of motorized transport and
pollution. It also takes you through the rickshaw men’s journey of hope on
the roads that have fostered them.
Representing one facet of India’s population below poverty line, these
unflagging men perpetually struggle to eat one satisfying meal a day. But
what is remarkable is the essence of some who believe in making a
difference in an apparently hopeless livelihood. While India's big cities
are racing towards globalization and technology, these men, against all
odds, remain appreciative of their modest lives by believing in the power
of now.
Portraying the immediacy and desolation of the situation the film
highlights a catalytic change revolutionizing India’s economic and social
future from the grass roots level. Juxtaposing the way of life of these
men with definitive solutions, the film answers the question of how these
changes can trickle down to the roots of India’s soil.
--
http://www.AccessibleHorizonFilms.com
http://acchor.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
The Resurgence Effect
A simple, powerful depiction of the status quo of US Foreign policy in Iraq. Although you could call it a humorous take on the issue, it shows us the raw reality.
Original Source: Unknown but I got this on Desh's Blog, Drishtikone.
Original Source: Unknown but I got this on Desh's Blog, Drishtikone.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Heart-wrencher: La Vie en Rose
Via: VideoSift
I read about the film 'La Vie en Rose' and eventually Edith Piaf, the Little Sparrow of Paris who lived during and enthralled the first half of the 20th century. The film is a biography of her life which is a collective medley of poignant stories from her birth to her untimely and tragic death at the age of 47. When you hear La Vie en Rose, you want to see the movie, read the story of her life, go to Paris to where she lay in peace.
Édith Piaf (December 19, 1915–October 11, 1963) was one of France's most loved singers, who became a national icon. Her music reflected her tragic life, with her specialty being the poignant ballad performed in a heartbreaking voice. Among her most famous songs are "La vie en rose" (1946), "Hymne à l'amour" (1949), "Milord" (1959), "Non, je ne regrette rien" (1960).For more about her life, check out Edith Piaf.
Monday, June 04, 2007
1st Annual NJISACF
The weekend of June 2-3rd had the inauguration of the New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine Fest 2007. This was way overdue. Given that this was its first time, it did decently well. Quite a decent turnout although it wasn't overflowing. Georgestreet Playhouse was a good choice as the venue and yeah good food at the cafe. One concern was that, during the inauguration ceremony, it seemed more like an election campaign for the NJ Senate, no, really, for some time, it seemed like we were all sitting in the auditorium waiting to vote and register ourselves and even suggest policy changes in the government! I didn't know why they had to bring people to campaign in a film festival(the chief guest was running for the NJ senate - even then). Well, let bygones be bygones.
Anyways, Men of Burden was screened on the first day at 8:30 p.m. We had a Q and A session later with some good reviews by the audience. The slate of films was very diverse although I had already seen quite a few of them at various festivals like IFFLA, IAAC and SAIFF. On the whole, I would give it a 6.5 on a scale of ten. Keep it up and good luck!
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