Myanmar police break up copper mine protest

Myanmar police fired water cannon and tear gas at protesters against a Chinese-backed copper mine on Thursday, the government said, injuring dozens in a crackdown hours before Aung San Suu Kyi visited the area.

The demonstration was the latest example of long-oppressed Myanmar citizens testing the limits of their new freedoms after the end last year of decades of authoritarian junta rule that saw protests routinely stamped out.
Demonstrators, who say farmers have been evicted to make way for the mine near the town of Monywa in northern Myanmar, recounted being shaken from their sleep in the early hours of the morning as police moved in to disperse them.
Several monks were arrested and around 30 others "suffered burns to their body", a monk called Yaywata, who goes by one name, told the news agency.
It was unclear exactly what kind of device caused the burns.
President Thein Sein's office said in a statement that water cannon, tear gas and smoke bombs were used against the protesters, but a spokesman denied allegations by local media that a form of chemical weapon had been deployed.
"It's not true at all that chemical weapons were used in the crackdown," Nyan Tun, a director of the presidential office, told the news agency.
As criticism of the police mounted, opposition leader Suu Kyi arrived in the area where she met officials from the Chinese mine operator Wanbao near the scene of the crackdown and was later due to give a speech linked to the dispute.
"She said it was necessary to find a solution to the problem together," a Wanbao official who did not want to be named told the news agency.
Villagers, monks and students had been warned to vacate protest camps near the mine -a joint venture between Wanbao and military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings by Tuesday, but had vowed to defy authorities.
The government is being closely watched, with activists warning that the use of junta-style security tactics could undermine Myanmar's reform process.
"These kind of old habit solutions should not happen," said Kyaw Min Yu, a member of the '88 Generation movement, born during huge student-led demonstrations in 1988.
"The government should be more patient in this transition period. If it (violence) is again used in the future, we cannot continue forward."
Protesters are demanding the company stops work until it releases environmental and social impact studies.
During a September protest activists said some 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) of land had been confiscated from local farmers without consultation, and in some cases without compensation

Briefing Session on Knowledge and News Network at Ahmedabad

INVITATION

for

Briefing Session on

Knowledge and News Network (KNN)

(Platform to bring together the MSME Associations and Institutions for sharing knowledge, information & reaching out to the Media)

 

Saturday 1^st December  2012

(1100hrs onwards to be followed by Lunch)

Hotel Inder Residency

Ellisbridge,

Ahmedabad

 

Greetings from Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME: www.fisme.org.in)- a network of more than 700 MSME associations and  the chief representative body of MSMEs in India.

FISME is organizing a Briefing Sessions on ‘Knowledge and News Network (KNN)- Platform to bring together the MSME Associations and Institutions for sharing knowledge, information and reaching out to the Media.

The Knowledge and News Network’ – being built with support of GIZ (German International Development Cooperation), aims to enable the partner MSME Associations/ Institutions to reach-out to national and regional media- both electronic and print. The network will enable them extract information of their interest from global media and knowledge sources as also upload their own news making their views heard by the world.

The objective of the briefing session is to share the details as to how the MSME associations / institutions can leverage the power of the Network which would be attended by Office Bearers, Managing Committee Members and Special Invitees of associations/trade bodies.

It is a brief and crisp programme focused towards the trade bodies (associations, chambers etc), media and the management institutes.

 

PROGRAMME
1100 to 1200hrs:	Registration at Tea
1200 to 1205hrs:	Welcome address
1205 to 1305hrs:	Briefing session cum presentation to be followed by Q & A.
1305 to 1310hrs:	Vote of Thanks
1310hrs:	Lunch

Thanks and with best regards

Mukesh Kalra

Joint Secretary (International Trade)

Federation of Indian Micro and Small &

Medium Enterprises (FISME)

B – 4/161 Safdarjung Enclave,

New Delhi – 110029

INDIA

Cell.:                 +91 - 9811465438

Telephone:     +91 – 11 – 26187948

Telephone:     +91 – 11 – 26712064

Telephone:     +91 – 11 – 46023157

Telephone:     +91 – 11 – 46018592

Fax:                 +91 – 11 – 26109470

E-mail:             simmi.nagpal@fisme.org.in

Website:         www.fisme.org.in

Fierce clashes with rebels in Damascus

The road to the airport in the Syrian capital Damascus has been closed and flights cancelled amid reports of fierce clashes with rebels in the area.

The government appears to be mounting an unprecedented offensive against rebel-held districts in the east of the city.

The clashes came as internet and phone systems in the country went down.

The Syrian government has previously cut off access to the internet during major operations.

But Syria's information minister said "terrorists" had cut off the internet and that engineers were working to repair the fault.

Russia no to extending Kyoto Protocol

Russia said it won’t join the second commitment to extend the Kyoto Protocol. The Russian vice Prime Minister confirmed that his country will not sign on to the Second Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol. He told that Russia will announce its emissions reduction targets next week but they will not be attributed to the Second Commitment Period which Russia strongly opposes. It implies that Russia will lose the chance to take part in Joint Implementation projects on Climate Change in the future.
The move will have a negative effect on both the economy and low-carbon development in Russia. At the UN Climate change Conference in Durban two years ago, a group of 40 odd rich nations had agreed to cut by 5.2 percent their emissions below 1990 levels by the end of 2012 and to set up a $100 billion Green climate Fund to help the developing nations in climate change issues.
Neither of the two have fructified yet.
Japan has already stated that it won’t join the Second commitment and wants a fair, effective and transparent deal in which the emerging economies should also share the emission reduction cuts.
US has said that it won’t increase earlier commitments to cut emissions by 17 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020. New Zealand has also said that it won’t be a party to second commitment but would like to be involved in climate change talks.
It leaves only European Union, Australia and several smaller countries which account for less than 15 per cent of global emissions as the only parties ready for second commitment.
The BASIC countries led by Brazil, South Africa, India and China have said that the responsibility for the outcome of Climate Change talks depends on developed nations.
Day four at the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference in Doha was dedicated to the role of youth in the issues related to climate change. Experts and delegates from participating nations underlined the importance of involving and motivating them to prepare the world for a safe and secure environment.
The President of the Conference of Parties, COP-18, Qatar’s former energy minister Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah appreciated the contribution of the youth towards making world a cleaner and greener place to live in and said if UN doesn’t support them, whom will they support.

Egypt crisis fear of 'second revolution'

Egypt crisis raises fears of 'second revolution'  Faced with an unprecedented strike by the courts and massive opposition protests, Egypt's Islamist President is not backing down in the showdown over decrees granting him near-absolute powers.  Activists warn that his actions threaten a "second revolution," but Mohammed Morsi faces a different situation than his ousted predecessor, Hosni Mubarak.  He was democratically elected and enjoys the support of the nation's most powerful political movement.  Already, Morsi is rushing the work of an Islamist-dominated constitutional assembly at the heart of the power struggle, with a draft of the charter expected as early as Thursday, despite a walkout by liberal and Christian members that has raised questions about the panel's legitimacy.  The next step would be for Morsi to call a nationwide referendum on the document.  If adopted, parliamentary elections would be held by the spring.  Wednesday brought a last-minute scramble to seize the momentum over Egypt's political transition.  Morsi's camp announced that his Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists will stage a massive rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the plaza where more than 200,000 opposition supporters gathered a day earlier.  The Islamists' choice of the square for Saturday's rally raises the possibility of clashes.  Several hundred Morsi opponents are camped out there, and another group is fighting the police on a nearby street.  "It is tantamount to a declaration of war," said liberal politician Mustafa al-Naggar, speaking on the private Al-Tahrir TV station.  Morsi remains adamant that his decrees, which place him above oversight of any kind, including by the courts, are in the interest of the nation's transition to democratic rule.  Backing down may not be an option for the 60-year-old US-educated engineer.  Doing so would significantly weaken him and the Brotherhood at a time when their image has been battered by widespread charges that they are too preoccupied with tightening their grip on power to effectively tackle the country's many pressing problems.  Morsi's pride is also a key factor in a country where most people look to their leader as an invincible figure.  He may not be ready to stomach another public humiliation after backing down twice since taking office in June.  His attempt to reinstate parliament's Islamist-dominated lower chamber after it was disbanded in July by the Supreme Constitutional Court was overturned by that same court.  Last month, Morsi was forced to reinstate the country's top prosecutor just days after firing him when the judiciary ruled it was not within his powers to do so.  Among Morsi's first acts after seizing near-absolute powers last week was to fire the prosecutor again.  Unlike last year's anti-Mubarak uprising, calls for Morsi's ouster have so far been restricted to zealous chants by protesters, with the opposition focusing its campaign on demands that he rescind his decrees, disband the constitutional panel and replace it with a more inclusive one, and fire the Cabinet of Prime Minister Hesham Kandil.  "There is no practical means for Morsi's ouster short of a coup, which is very, very unlikely," said Augustus Richard Norton, a Middle East expert from Boston University.  Still, the opposition, whose main figures played a key role in the anti-Mubarak uprising, may be tempted to try to force Morsi from office if they continue to draw massive crowds like Tuesday's rally, which rivaled some of the biggest anti-Mubarak demonstrations.  They will also likely take advantage of the growing popular discontent with Morsi's government and the fragility of his mandate -he won just 51 percent of the vote in a presidential election fought against Mubarak's last Prime Minister.

ON FDI IN RETAIL NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATION ON 4 DECEMBER

TRADERS ADOPT STRONG PROTEST STRATEGY ON FDI IN RETAIL

NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATION ON 4 DECEMBER AGAINST JUGAAD RAJNEETI

In the wake of Loksabha Speaker’s mandate to hold debate and voting under Rule 184 on FDI in Retail in Lok Sabha, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) while cautioning the political parties particularly those who were earlier opposing and now supporting FDI by way of a couplet ” Raat Ki Baat Sitaron Ne Gagan Bech Diya-Chand “o” Chandni Ki Lasho Ka Kafan Bech Diya. Aaj Adhikar Tumhe Phool Chuno Ya Kaante- Phir Na Kehna Ki Baharon Ne Chaman Bech Diya” and asked the political parties to give away their suspensive role and while clearing their positions, they should announce their opposition to FDI in Retail.

In the above couplet the “Sitare” is used for Govt and “Gagan” is used for economy while Chand -Chandni is signifying the vibrant retail trade of the Country. The Couplet also caution the people that they should execersie their right in the way which leaves no scope of regret. The CAIT said that by bringing FDI in Retail the Govt has put on stake the future and livelihood of crores and crores of people invloved in farming, trading, hawking, earning through small industry or transporting goods.Undoubtdly, the issue has now linked with the Votes and it will be of much importance to see the choice of Politicians whether it devolves on Multinational Companies or on domestic people. The outcome of such choice will certainly have major impact on future of the Country and that of political parties.

On the other hand, the stance of DMK to support the Govt has evoked a sharp response amongst the trading and other sectors which leads to a major rally of Traders held yesterday at Coimbatore and led by Tamilnadu Traders Association Federation President Mr. Vikram Raja who while criticising the DMK has demanded that DMK should withdraw its support from UPA Govt and demostrate its strong stand of opposing FDI in Retail. An environment of back biting is being emerged across the Tamilnadu and traders are planning to hold protest demonstartions against DMK all over the State in next days.

The CAIT while continuing its nationwide SMS campaign against FDI on second day today take the political parties like DMK to the task. The sms says ” Pehle Virodh aur Ab Samarthan Ye Kaisi Manmani Hai-FDI Se Hoga Hamare Vote Ka Nirnay Humne Ab Ye Thani Hai”. This sms has been sent in thousands to organisations of trade,farmers,hawkers, small industries,transporters etc. with a advise to further forward to their members and general public with a request to send it further. Accordingly several lakhs of sms have been exchanged during the day all over the Country. The sms is proving to be an effective tool for expressing dissent and in making public opinion.

The CAIT further said that to expose the dirty picture of “Jugaad Rajneeti” (manipulative politics), the traders will hold protest march, Dharna and will burn effigy of “Jugaad Rajneeti) on forthcoming 4th December all over the Country. Consultations are going with leaders of all other sectors of retail trade to transform a protest environment in the Country by 4th December.

A tribute to 100 years of Bollywood with the ቮdia China Music Festival 2012⠥xclusively on UTV STARS!

Delhi, 27^th November: 2012 has been declared as the ᆲiendship year⠢y the Prime Ministers of both, India and China in order to improve bilateral ties between both countries. With a view to propagate this agenda and to pay an iconic tribute to the 100 years of glorious Cinema, UTV STARS the official channel of Bollywood and Carnival Media have come together to create a unique property; The India China Music Festival 2012!

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The India China Music Festival is a first of its kind initiative that will witness the confluence of Chinese Sound and Indian Music. For the first time, in the history of India, 100 Chinese Musicians along with some Bollywood singers will perform together to the tunes of BollywoodⳠgreatest chartbusters, culminating into an illustrious Musical Jugalbandi!

The Chinese Musicians belong to none other than the renowned China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra and the Indian singers include none other than BollywoodⳊdistinguished singer, Kavita Krishnamurthy along with her husband, ace violinist, Dr. L. Subramaniam and son, Ambi Subramaniam. This event will, in fact, mark AmbiⳠdebut performance as vocalist/singer.

Commenting on the prestigious property, Nikhil Gandhi, Business Head, UTV STARS, said: 㔨e India China Music Festival 2012 marks a musical tribute to the 100 glorious years of Bollywood. UTV STARS is proud to be associated with this festival as it marks the friendship between both the countries.伯span>

Commenting on the visit of the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra, Zhang Zihong, Cultural Counselor, Embassy of China, said: "I believe that the visit of the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra will be a unique opportunity for Indian people to have a deeper understanding of Chinese culture through the appreciation of the traditional Chinese music, which will facilitate more frequent cultural exchange between China and India. I wish the China Broadcasting Chinese OrchestraⳠtour to India and the India-China Music Festival a complete success."

India China Music Festival 2012 was held in Delhi on 27^th November at the Sirifort auditorium and will go on air on 10^th December 2012 exclusively on UTV STARS.

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About the შina Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra⺼/span>

China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra was founded in 1949. It took the lead in establishing the Chinese orchestra pattern and consists of all traditional Chinese instruments and the most renowned musicians of china.

They have performed in America, Canada, Australia, South America and many other countries throughout the world. They will be performing in India for the first time.

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About UTV STARS:

UTV STARS the official channel of Bollywood, is a mass specialty entertainment channel launched in August 2011 with a view to provide the average viewer with exceptional Bollywood content that has never been seen or experienced before and bring Bollywood closer to its audiences, thereby becoming the intimate insider of Bollywood. Right from Original Programming formats that boast of path breaking shows such as Live My Life, Up, Close and Personal with PZ , Superstar Santa, Lux The Chosen One to taking the brand on-ground via prestigious associations with the ᐥopleⳠBest Dressed Show⬠the Lap Buddh Circuit After Parties , Cosmopolitan Fun and Fearless Awards, IIFA Awards 2012, to owning its very own on ground IP, the ᗡlk of the Stars⠠an iconic tribute to Indian Cinema; the Brand has left no stone unturned in establishing UTV STARS as a premier and ultimate destination for Bollywood.

UTV STARS was the only Indian channel to be launched simultaneously in India and the Middle East.The channel was launched in the UK market in June 2012. UTV STARS is today, amongst the top Bollywood Entertainment channels in the country!

The Environment in India and China: Histories and Innovations When: November 30-December 1, 2012 Where: Theresa Lang Center, 55 W 13th St, 2 Fl., New York, NY For more information visit www.indiachinainstitute.org Co-sponsored with Environmental Studies Program, Global Studies Program, GPIA and The Starr Foundation.

Friday, Nov. 30, 2012 3:00 – 4:00pm | Opening Registration 4:00 – 4:15pm | Welcome Ashok Gurung, Senior Director, India China Institute Ron Kassimir, Associate Provost For Research And Special Projects 4:15 – 6:45pm | Session I – Ecology Chair: Mark Frazier, ICI Academic Director Panelists: Kamaljit Bawa – University of Massachusetts – “India, China and the Environment” Steward Pickett – Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies – “Meaning, Model, and Metaphor in Ecological Science as Tools for Interacting with Innovators” Lu Zhi – Peking University – “Integrating Science and Traditional Culture into Conservation Policies on the Tibetan Plateau” Discussants: Jayanta Bandyopadhyay, Timon McPhearson Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012 9:30 – 10:00am | Continental Breakfast 10:00 – 12:30pm | Session II – History Chair: Sanjay Reddy, ICI Academic Director Panelists: Ranjan Chakrabarti – Vidyasagar University – “Writing Environmental History of Asia: Climate, Water and the Issue of Sustainability” Judith Shapiro – American University – “Nature-Conquest in Revolutionary China: Lessons for China’s Search for Sustainability” Donald Hughes – University of Denver -“Environmental History in China and India” Discussants: David Ludden, Li Bo 12:30 – 2:00pm | Lunch Break 2:00 – 4:30pm | Session III – Innovations Chair: Brian McGrath – The New School Panelists: Sanjay Chaturvedi – “Struggles for Innovation: The Chipko Movement in Retrospect” Shikui Dong – “Adaptive Management for Sustainable Resource Use” Victoria Marshall – “Designing Urban Environmental Activism” Nidhi Srinivas – “Politics of Innovation: Cases from India and China” Discussants: Michele Kahane, Guobin Yang 4:30 – 5:00 PM | Closing Remarks Ashok Gurung, Senior Director, India China Institute Michael Cohen, Director, Graduate Program in International Affairs (GPIA)

Launch of the Aakash2 Tablet at United Nations

November 29, 2012

launch of the Aakash2 Tablet at United Nations

November 29, 2012

H.E. Mr. Ban ki-moon,
Secretary General of the United Nations, Excellencies and
Colleagues from Permanent Missions and Observer Missions,
Dear Friends from the Media,and
Most importantly, the architect of Aakash2, Mr. Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO of Datawind, who flew all the way from India to Canada and then here for this event.
On behalf of the Permanent Mission of India first let me extend to all of you a very warm welcome. We are gathered today for a special event that focuses on one of the principal goals of the UN, a better world for all.
Mr. Secretary General, you have kindly consented to unveil today an innovation that has the potential to fundamentally alter the development discourse. It allows millions of young people the opportunity to benefit from technology and move towards realizing the Millennium Development Goals for themselves. This innovation is unique, not just from the view point of the technology, OR for being the world most cost competitive tablet, as it is widely billed as,
BUT more importantly in actualizing the an idea of development innovation – and that’s the reason why Government of India embarked upon the pursuit of this pioneering technology. With pricing determined through anopen international tender, Aakash2 is the world’s lowest cost tablet at end-user pricing. It harnesses top of the line technologies at costs, which the neediest can embrace. And believe me, the technologies and applications that have been put in it, are indeed the world’s best.
It also bridges the digital divide within our societies. No doubt, Mr Suneet Tuli has been recently voted amongst the world’s top 15 education innovators by Forbes magazine. In India, the National Mission on Education through Information Communication Technology will equip 220 million students across the country with low cost tablets and internet access. The Government of India is subsidizing 50% of the cost of this device. With State governments and local institutions along with other development partners chipping, the devices would ultimately be, made available FREE to all students.
It may be pertinent to mention here Mr. Secretary General, that while outlining your ‘generational imperatives and opportunities’ in the beginning of this year, you had outlined that ‘harnessing the full power of partnerships across the range of UN activities ‘ was a key enabler.
It is our considered submission, that by partnering with key initiatives such as these, the UN development system would be able to ‘force multiply’ to achieve the MDGs of universal education and global partnership.
The development of Akash2 also reflects India’s continuing commitment to the principles of the United Nations Academic Impact, including those of educational opportunity for all and fostering global citizenship. It is just two years since you launched the Academic Impact, Mr Secretary-General, and we are delighted to commemorate its second anniversary with this innovative product.
The first Aakash2 was unveiled in India, on 11 November by the Hon’ble President of India. With devices such as Aakash2,Technology Enabled Learning, would be implemented to leverage the potential of ICT in providing high-quality, personalized, and interactive knowledge modules over the internet in a any-time, any-where mode, across all primary schools. Using Aakash2, teachers & students in the remotest corners of our country can join a classroom and benefit from lectures delivered by the best teachers.
Mr Secretary-General, in a knowledge economy, the wealth of a nation will not be measured in terms of its natural resources but in terms of its human capital. We need to promote research and innovation in national institutions and create an eco-system of excellence right from the elementary level upto the institutions of high-end research and innovation.
To us, Aakash2 is an epitome of such high end research, innovation and excellence. It is said that the taste of a pudding lies in its eating. Very soon this device would be unveiled and then you can yourself decide, whether this 20$ pudding, is worth its taste, for 220 million students who could have never ever afforded to see this pudding, lest alone taste it. ( 20 $ approx being the price at which GOI after 50% subsidy intends to give it to Indian students)
Aakash, to those here who dont understand Hindi – means SKY-something that many aspire to reach out for. It is our earnest hope that for students in India, and, indeed in time across the developing world, this device helps in getting them their ‘mouthful of the skies’.
I would now like to invite His Excellency Secretary General, to unveil the Aakash2, and deliver his address

Naresh — More than 1 million supporters took our survey

November 29, 2012

Obama – Biden Naresh –
More than 1 million supporters took our survey last week, sharing feedback on their 2012 campaign experience and how they’d like to see us move forward. While we’re still sorting through all of the responses, I wanted to share some initial results:
– An overwhelming majority of survey respondents reported feeling welcomed and included, that their time was used effectively, and that there was a clear understanding of how their work directly helped re-elect President Obama.
– Among those of you who volunteered at least a few hours, a majority went into a field office, though many of you got involved instead through the campaign’s online tools such as Dashboard and the call tool.
– About 1 in 10 survey respondents are interested in running for office at some point, using their organizing skills to continue fighting for real and lasting change. That level of political engagement is inspiring.
– Almost half of all survey respondents forwarded campaign emails, and more than one-third communicated with friends on Facebook — both great ways to pass along information about the President’s positions and plans, as well as opportunities to get involved.
– Nearly 80 percent of survey takers want to keep volunteering, primarily around the President’s legislative agenda.
Many of you shared comments and personal anecdotes. Here are just a few that made me smile:
“When our field office opened, my husband, 12-year-old daughter, and I were there almost every day. My daughter and I even took a leadership role — she was our tally captain! This is the kind of experience that changes your life. My children not only have a better understanding of the political system but also have a firsthand experience of how community engagement can make a difference. On Election Night, they felt that difference. They were so excited for the President because they had a sense of ownership — they had personally helped him achieve the win. On Election Night, I truly believed we were all winners.” — Kerry, California
“It made me feel good to see the enthusiasm of volunteers at the local level (who become friends) … great to see teens through seniors, men and women, any race and faith all working together for something we believed in (even if we weren’t there for the same issues) … it assured me I was doing the right thing…” — William, Virginia
I feel more confident as an individual — I can make a difference in election results! I was talking about this with my son today, he’s a public school teacher, and he has new faith in our electoral system also! Let’s keep doing it — this is democracy as it should be!” — Andrea, California
There’s a lot more to be proud of — check out this blog post for some other incredible numbers on the work you all did in the field.
And here are a few comments from supporters like you about the road ahead. We fought for the chance to continue moving our country forward for the next four years, and it’s up to each one of us to follow through on this remarkable opportunity:
“This organization has tapped into the enthusiasm of Americans that were previously on the sidelines of the political process. These Americans are now fully engaged and aware of the policies that are being advanced that will impact their lives and the lives of future generations. They are excited, ready, and willing to do whatever is within their power to influence policy makers to pass legislation that reflects and responds to the issues of our times.” — Rita, Virginia
“Create an engaged community of people that keeps the momentum alive and ensures that progressive policy is implemented at local, state, and national levels. Community here is the operative word! Build and enhance local organizing groups. Would be happy to be included in a local group and lead such a group.” — Merida, Illinois
“Don’t let the energy of the re-election slip through your fingers. This is a very powerful network of people.” — Joel, Texas
We’re going to put your survey responses to good use. Over the next month or two, a team of campaign staff from across the country is working on a project to document and analyze the work we did over the past 19 months, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. Our goal is to pass along what we’ve learned from the 2012 campaign.
You’re the reason President Barack Obama was re-elected in 2012, and your input from surveys and calls is crucial to this project. So please stay tuned. We’re putting together a final report that will be available to the public, so that your voices continue to shape the future.
Our work is far from done — you helped make sure of that. President Obama, as always, is counting on us to help pass his agenda and continue to make this country a better place for every American.
There’s more to come. Thanks for all you’ve done and will do.
Jeremy
Jeremy Bird
National Field Director
Obama for America

Phatlum gunning for a third Hero Women’s Indian Open title

November 29, 2012

Phatlum gunning for a third Hero Women’s Indian Open title
Gurgaon, November 29, 2012: Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum may be dressed up by Loudmouth Golf – the manufacturer endorsed by John Daly – but she is anything but that. On Thursday, the shy and soft-spoken Phatlum makes her sixth straight appearance in the Hero Women’s Indian Open, which she considers as her favourite event. There is good reason for that.
After finishing tied 30^th in her first appearance as a 17-year-old in the first Indian Open in 2007, she emerged triumphant in 2008 and 2009. In 2010 she was tied sixth and in 2011 she was second to Caroline Hedwall.
Phatlum, who turns 23 two days after the end of the 2012 Hero Women’s Indian Open, now wants an early birthday present and become the first woman to win the title three times – in fact she is the only to win the Indian Open more than once.
Phatlum, 23,  hails from Chaiyaphun, a satellite town near Chiangmai in north Thailand. She said, “There’s no pressure on me. My game is on song and I like playing in India. There is a chance for me to go for my third win, this explains why I’m here – to make it happen.”
Having played 27 events on the US LPGA this season, Phatlum only missed the cut six times. “Playing in the US LPGA has made me a better player. The courses are tough, the greens are sleek and tough and there are good players,” said Phatlum, who won the HSBC LPGA Brasil Cup 2012 and recorded top-15 finishes in two other events.
She added, “Don’t forget, there are strong players taking part in this event too. The Hero Women’s India Open always holds a special place in my heart. I hope my form and my mental strength will help me win once more to put my name on the record books.”
Phatlum, 55^th on the LPGA Tour, wants to get into top10 in a year or two. “I want to be part of that force from Asia. So, winning a joint-sanctioned event by Ladies Asian Golf Tour and Ladies European Tour will justify my actions,” said Phatlum.

3^rd Mahindra Youth Football Challenge
U-14 Inter-School Tournament, Delhi

Delhi Public School is “Champion School” of the Delhi leg  

Third edition of Mahindra Youth Football Challenge concluded

New Delhi, November 29, 2012: The third Edition of Mahindra Youth Football Challenge concluded in Delhi today, in an exciting match played between C.R.P.F, Rohini and Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj. Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj emerged as the Champion School.

 The match was a tie at 0-0 till the first half. However in the 40^th minute, Delhi Public School’s Nichiketa Dutt managed to score a goal. C.R.P.F, Rohini tried their best but was not able to score and lost the match 1-0.

 The third place went to Modern School Vasant Vihar as they beat Sanskriti School 3-0. The goals were scored by Ayushmaan, Dhruv Sethi & Devansh in 2^nd, 43^rd & 58^th min respectively.

 Delhi Public School took home the winner trophy and Rs. 30,000 for their efforts, while C.R.P.F, Rohini & Modern School, Vasant Vihar won the Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 15,000 respectively.

 Arjun Malkani from Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj was adjudged the best player of the tournament.

" Architecture , Building , Construction Expo & Conferences "

We, Paramount Exhibitors(ESTB 1999), a Professional Event Organising Company, based out in Chandigarh, specialized in organising Conferences ,seminars and exhibitions.  In the last twelve years, we have successfully  organised 94 exhibitions, 62 conferences, 38 vendor development programs..

Paramount Exhibitors feel pleasure in introducing &  inviting  you to  " Architecture , Building , Construction Expo & Conferences "  ( www.abcexpos.com ) as per following schedule:  

Event Dates :

               · Haridwar (Uttarakhand)                 07-09 December 2012

               ·  Gurgaon (Haryana)                       14-16 December 2012

You can participate as :

·  Exhibitors/Visitors

·  Sponsors/Advertisers

·  Vendor Development Program

·  Company Presentation

Our Other Concurrent EXPOS : ( www.paramounteventscalendar. com)

·  International Industrial Expo and Conferences

·  Real Estate Banking & Finance Expo

·  Wood , Panel & Machinery Expo

·  LED & Lighting Expo

Visitors : Key personnel from Top & Middle management from various industries are targeted to visit the Exhibition.

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The Center for Public Integrity

Weekly Watchdog November 28, 2012

Secrecy for Sale: Inside the Global Offshore Money Maze The Center's global network of reporters, The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, this week launched the first part of a multi-year project aimed at stripping away the biggest mystery associated with tax havens - the owners of anonymous companies. Secrecy For Sale: Inside The Global Offshore Money Maze is one of the most ambitious and complex pieces of journalism the ICIJ has ever undertaken. This first part of the project was done in collaboration with The Guardian and the BBC's flagship investigative program, Panorama, and focused on Britain - one of the centers of the offshore industry. The first day of our series identified more than 21,500 companies around the world who use a group of some 28 so-called nominee directors. The nominees play a key role in keeping hundreds of thousands of commercial transactions secret. They do so by selling their names for use on official company documents, while giving addresses in obscure locations all over the world. Hiding behind nominee fronts are the real owners. They are of widely varying types, ranging from Russian oligarchs to perfectly legal but discreet speculators in the British property market. Their only common factor: the wish for secrecy. Read More Share Revealed: the Real Identities Behind Britain's Secret Property Deals The real identities behind British property deals previously cloaked in secrecy were revealed in the second part of our investigation. By then, the revelations had prompted the British government to promise that it would investigate any abuses revealed involving sham nominee directors. The second story showed how previously secret owners were identified in a sample of almost 60 UK homes and offices, ranging from multimillion-pound commercial premises in the heart of London to a small hotel in Essex. They typified the 100,000 such purchasers who have set up offshore companies, largely registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), since 1999. The owners of BVI entities use them to hide their dealings in UK property and to take advantage of tax loopholes. Read More Share Post Soviet Billionaires Invade UK, Via British Virgin Islands Britain's friendly regime of offshore secrecy has tempted an extraordinary array of post-Soviet billionaires to descend on London, sometimes to the sound of gunfire. They include a magnate who once tried to take over the SAAB motor company. These billionaires on the run tend to offer similar justifications for their use of British-controlled secrecy jurisdictions. They say they must protect themselves from corporate predators and political enemies in their home countries. The final day of the series will concentrate on military and intelligence figures using offshore entities. You can watch our video on this series as well. Read More Share

Secrecy for Sale: Hidden Off-Shore Money This week, The Center for Public Integrity's global investigative arm, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists or ICIJ, has launched the first part of a multi-year project on tax havens, such as those based in the British Virgin Islands. Secrecy for Sale: Inside The Global Offshore Money Maze is the most ambitious and complex journalism project we have ever been involved with. The first part of our project is being done in collaboration with The Guardian and the BBC's flagship investigative program, Panorama. The initial reporting focuses on Britain - one of the centers of the offshore industry. All week, the front page of The Guardian has been dominated by this project, providing the names behind the existence of a global network of sham company directors, most of them British. The UK government claims such abuses were stamped out long ago, but our worldwide joint investigation has uncovered a booming offshore industry that can lead to tax avoidance and hidden assets. Our project has already had an impact - the British government has promised to investigate the abuses we have uncovered. This type of cross-border investigative work has been the purpose of ICIJ since it was founded in 1997 as a project of the Center for Public Integrity. And this complex investigation is the brain-child of the Center's Irish ICIJ Director, Gerard Ryle, who came to the Center from a distinguished journalism career in Australia. Working closely with Gerard is ICIJ Deputy Director and Argentina native Marina Walker Guevara, a distinguished international investigative reporter. Three cheers, Gerard, Marina and ICIJ, and congratulations on this important work and excellent launch with much more to come. Until next week, Bill Buzenberg Executive Director

Team Asia and Rest of World share honours in Hero Skills Challenge

Gurgaon, November 28: Team Asia and Team Rest of the World shared the honours in the Hero Skills Challenge which preceded the HWIO 2012 at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Wednesday. The teams won two skills each and shared the prize money of Rs. 1,20,000.

Double winner on the Ladies European Tour this season, Carly Booth won the long drive for Team RoW with a drive of 283 yards as Sharmila Nicollet fell just short of her by four metres. That was followed by the 100-yard shot in which two-time Indian Open winner Phatlum Pornanong playing for Team Asia hit her shot to two feet five inches and took the top spot.

In the Bunker shot, Carly Booth once again showed great form landing her shot to two feet three inches from the hole but once again team Asia hit back as Vani Kapoor put her long putt to within 15 inches.

The teams: RoW: Carly Booth, Stacey Keating and Carlota Ciganda; Asia: Phatlum Pornanong, Sharmila Nicollet and Vani Kapoor.

The prizes were given away by Mr. Pawan Munjal, MD and CEO, Hero MotoCorp, and Mrs. Kavita Singh, President, WGAI.

The Pro-Am will be held on Thursday, while the main $ 300,000 tournament tri-sanctioned by Ladies European Tour, Ladies Asian Golf Tour and Women's Golf Association of India,  begins on Friday.

Public Lecture Invitation - "The Smog in Delhi-Causes & Concerns" - Toxics Link

Dear Sir/Madam, 

Pl find attached invitation of the Public Lecture to be organised on 29th
November, 2012 at 6:30 pm at Lecture Room II, Annexue Basement, India International Centre (IIC), Lodhi Road, New Delhi.

With Regards,

Rambha Tripathy

Head-Communications

Toxics Link

H-2, Jungpura Extension

New Delhi-110014

M:9811175042

Phone:+91-(11)-24328006,24320711

Fax:+91-(11)-24321747

www.toxicslink.org