48th Anniversary of “I Have a Dream” Speech

Tomorrow is the 48th anniversary of the monumental “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Regarded as one of the most famous speeches in the history of mankind, the speech was delivered on 28 August 1963 at Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Though Abraham Lincoln, through his “Emancipation Proclamation” in 1862-63, stopped the despicable practice of slavery, the coloured people of America were not given the civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr., the Mahatma Gandhi of the coloured people (Negroes) in the United States, led the non-violent struggle in bringing civil rights for them.

At the following URL you can listen to this great speech. Use the “Audio MP3 of the address” option, not the You Tube link, to listen to the speech. While listening to it you can also read the transcript of the speech given just beneath the audio option.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

If you are someone who aspires to make it big as an orator or at least wants to improve your public speaking skills, this is an excellent model to follow. The speech, widely hailed as a masterpiece of rhetoric, will help you learn how to use powerful words in your speech, how to modulate your voice to motivate the listeners and how to mix emotional expressions in inspiring people.

AmericanRhetoric.com is a good resource to find many great speeches including the first presidential address of Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the times of Great Depression (in Economics, depression is the worst form of recession), Lyndon Johnson’s “We shall overcome” speech, Barack Obama’s Cairo University speech, to name but a few.

Indian Government Says No to Vedanta Mining Project at Niyamgiri Hills, Orissa

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has stalled the UK based Vedanta Resources’ bauxite mining project in Orissa’a Niyamgiri hills. The expert panel set by the MoEF found out that Vedanta blatantly violated forest and environmental laws in starting the project which would lead to environmental destruction and thus would adversely affect the livelihood of the Dongria Kondh tribals.

Many human rights organisations including Amnesty International and Survival International have been in the forefront in highlighting this human rights and environmental crisis. Many of the readers of this blog who read the blogpost Human Rights Violations in Orissa also supported this initiative by signing the online petition as well as sending the Amnesty International postcards to the Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh appealing him to look into the matter. Congratulations to all of those conscionable activists for their efforts in bringing in this outcome. I hope we will continue to utilise such opportunities in the future as well in being online activists for environmental and human rights concerns.

Find more information from the following URLs

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article591546.ece?homepage=true
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/aug/24/vedanta-mining-industry-india

Happy Onam to All My Readers

I wish a very happy and prosperous Onam to all my readers, wherever you are in the world. Let this Onam bring all happiness to all of you and your families.

Randiv’s No-Ball Woes

One of the most amazing characteristic features of human nature is its enduring proclivity towards controversies. The most recent controversy in cricket, with Virender Sehwag and Suraj Randiv as its main protagonists, proves this fact beyond any doubt. In a moment of folly, which might have become a life changing one later for him, Randiv deliberately bowled a no-ball to deny Sehwag a century in an ODI, which created havoc in the cricketing world.

A trivial incident that should have warranted only the minimal concern that triviality deserves has been blown out of proportion by many around us, not any less by our 24/7 visual media. TV hosts were pouncing at Randiv as hungry lions on a meek deer, so called cricket experts were furious at his unsporting demeanour and newspapers carried headlines that were tantamount to declaring Randiv a habitual offender of serious crimes. For those who have been following cricket for at least a couple of decades would find it quite obvious that this incident was an insignificant one when compared to other more blatant violations of the spirit of the game. Common sense should have prevailed on such an occasion but unfortunately even wise men sometimes get overwhelmed by emotions. Sehwag, a street smart cricketer, who normally takes such things lightly, was undoubtedly furious on being denied a certain century. Though in the first instance, immediately after the match, he was inclined to dismiss it as a trivial incident, at the press conference he came out with all guns blazing and lashed out at the rookie Lankan off spinner. He even accused that it was not the first time that Sri Lankan cricket team resorted to such unsporting tactics.

The Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakara and the team management were quick to come up with an apology. Randiv personally apologised to Sehwag and the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga called up the Indian team manager Ranjib Biswal to tender his apology on the incident. SLC also handed down one match suspension to Randiv and also decided to forfeit his match fee for the game. Tilakaratne Dilshan, who is accused to have coaxed Randiv into bowling a no-ball, will lose his match fee as well.

One can’t help but feel sad for the young man, Suraj Randiv, the offie hailed by many as a worthy successor to the great Muthiah Muraliadharan, as he got such a big blot on his character very early in his international career. It must be acknowledged that the cricketing world was rather harsh on its accusation of the young man. It was a matter that should have been handled in a defter manner than that was on view at this occasion. But it certainly was another occasion that reminded cricketers of their utmost responsibility of upholding the spirit of the great game of cricket - the gentleman’s game. Yet the greatest challenge for Suraj Randiv is to move forward leaving behind this incident and to excel in what he does well, which is bowling turning deliveries that mesmerise batsmen.

Amnesty International - Public Statement

India: Authorities in Tamil Nadu must release five activists campaigning against torture and drop false charges against them

Authorities in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu must release five arrested human rights defenders, drop the false charges against them and hold the state police accountable for harassment and intimidation, Amnesty International said today.

The five human rights defenders - Bharathi Pillai, Niharga Priya, Sudha, Gnana Diraviam and Anandan – who were part of a human rights training programme conducted by People’s Watch, Madurai, were arrested on the night of 15 August on false charges. They had gone to Veeravanallur police station for a fact-finding exercise as part of the field training programme to inquire about the lack of investigation in the torture of a Dalit youth, Suresh, allegedly by a police officer there. Earlier, they were detained at the police station for six hours.

The five activists have been charged with section 170 of the Indian Penal Code (impersonating a public servant), section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his or her duty), section 416 (cheating by impersonation) and section 506 (criminal intimidation) and lodged in prison. The police also declared Henri Tiphagne, Director of People’s Watch, Madurai, as an “absconding offender” in the case. This was on the basis of a complaint from one of the police officials that the five activists, claiming to be public officials, had apparently tried to threaten them.

Fact-finding exercises are commonly held globally and in India, as a way of probing allegations of human rights violations and seeking accountability. There was no attempt by the fact-finding team to impersonate public officials and the team had informed the Veeravanallur police in advance about the purpose of its visit.

Amnesty International is concerned that the arrests and the filing of charges appear to be politically motivated, as a result of their work as defenders of human rights raising issues of torture and impunity. The police charges of impersonation against Henri Tiphagne and the five arrested human rights defenders appear to be an attempt to silence the victims of police torture by criminalizing a legitimate form of protest by human rights defenders.

Amnesty International calls on the Tamil Nadu government to:

• drop the false charges against the six human rights defenders and immediately release the five persons.
• hold the State police accountable for such harassment and intimidation and ensure an independent investigation into the allegations of torture by the police of the Dalit youth.

The Tamil Nadu authorities should also create an enabling environment and ensure respect for the rights of individuals in Tamil Nadu engaged in the peaceful promotion of respect for human rights, including the right to seek, obtain, receive and hold information about respect for human rights.

(For Amnesty International, publishing their public statement)

Abducted Indigenous Campaigners Released (Update on the Last Post)

Lado Sikaka, a leader of the Dongria Kondh Indigenous communities in India, was released on 12 August, two days after being abducted. Sana Sikaka, another leader who was abducted at the same time, was released on 11 August.

Lado Sikaka has told local media that he and Sana Sikaka were stopped by some 12 armed plainclothes police officers, and two unidentified people in the Niyamgiri Hills in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, as they were travelling to Delhi with other activists to protest against a local bauxite mine. They abducted the two men in the van the activists had been travelling in, forcing Sana Sikaka out of the van at Bijepur town. However, they detained Lado Sikaka for another day and interrogated him at the District Intelligence Bureau office in the town of Rayagada. Lado Sikaka says that while he was there, he was beaten on his hands and legs, and interrogated about whether he had links with supporters of banned Maoist groups. and was involved in any violent incidents in the Niyamgiri Hills. He replied in the negative. However, his captors forced him to sign two blank pieces of paper, before taking him to the nearby town of Kalyansinghpur and releasing him there. He is currently walking back to Lakpaddar, the village where he lives, accompanied by several Dongria Kondh Indigenous people. The Rayagada district police superintendent has denied that Lado Sikaka and Sana Sikaka were detained by police.

Lado Sikaka and Sana Sikaka are both campaigning against a proposed bauxite mine in the Niyamgiri Hills. Research by Amnesty International indicates that the Niyamgiri bauxite mining project, which would be located on the Dongria Kondh's sacred sites, traditional lands and habitats, is likely to result in violations of their rights to water, food, health, work and other rights to protection of their culture and identity. The project is currently awaiting clearance from India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests.

(For Amnesty International)

Abducted Indigenous Campaigner Released

Sana Sikaka, a leader of the Dongria Kondh indigenous communities who was abducted by gunmen on 9 August, has been released. Another leader is still being held.

Sana Sikaka, one of the Dongria Kondh indigenous community leaders in the eastern Indian state of Orissa who was abducted on the evening on 9 August, was released yesterday evening.

He has informed journalists that he and Lado Sikaka, pictured left, were stopped at Izrupa at the foothills of Niyamgiri as they were leaving with a group of activists in a van to catch a train to Delhi. About fifteen men in plain clothes, armed with automatic weapons, had parked their two vans nearby and were hiding in a forest. They surrounded Lado and Sana and said they were taking them. They intimidated the other activists, snatching their mobile phones and the van key and forced them to walk towards Lanjigarh, the nearest town. Then the plainclothesmen, along with Lado and Sana, walked to the vans and then made a long drive towards the neighbouring district of Rayagada, stopping at a few places en route. Yesterday evening, when they reached Bijepur town, they pushed Sana Sikaka out of the vehicle, forcing him to commence a long journey back to Niyamgiri. They appear to have taken Lado Sikaka to Rayagada town and detained him there.

Lado Sikaka and Sana Sikaka are both campaigning against a proposed bauxite mine in the Niyamgiri Hills in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. Research by Amnesty International indicates that the Niyamgiri bauxite mining project, which would be located on the Dongria Kondh's sacred sites, traditional lands and habitats, is likely to result in violations of their rights to water, food, health, work and other rights to protection of their culture and identity. The project is currently awaiting clearance from India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests.

(For Amnesty International, publishing a content provided by them)

9 August is International Day of the World's Indigenous People

The United Nations celebrates 9 August every year as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. Indigenous people are tribal people (in India their nomenclature is “Adivasis”) who consider themselves distinct from societies of majority culture or the 'developed world', as we call it.

Some of the issues faced by the indigenous people the world over include cultural and linguistic preservation, land rights, ownership and exploitation of natural resources, political determination and autonomy, environmental degradation and incursion, poverty, health, and discrimination. Indiscriminate infrastructural development activities have caused havoc in the lives of the indigenous people as these activities often results in the degradation of their inhabited environment. Human rights violations are committed against them in many parts of the world and they are discriminated against in economic development as well.

By observing this day, the United Nations aims at strengthening international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development.

Source: Official website of the United Nations and Wikipedia

Whistleblower Website Brings Embarrassment to the US and Pakistan Governments

The release of thousands of classified military documents from the Afghanistan war on the Internet, mainly by the whistleblower website Wikileaks has brought embarrassment to the US and Pakistan Governments. The 91,000 classified documents about US military involvement in Afghanistan has opened a Pandora’s Box of sorts.

The leaked documents show that the US authorities are covertly of the strong belief that the Pakistan intelligence agencies are playing a double game – of helping the NATO forces to track down terrorists in South Waziristan and Swat, at the same time encouraging and even funding insurgents inside Afghanistan as ‘strategic assets’ against traditional foes. These documents and the facts in them have come as a major embarrassment for the Pakistan government, its military and the intelligence services. What has put the US government in a spot of bother is the revelation that many actions by the US military in Afghanistan amount prima facie to war crimes, where they have indiscriminately ambushed civilians all across the war ravaged country, at many occasions, unprovoked.

The classified documents suggest that the Pakistan military acted like a friend and a foe to the Afghan insurgents. There are reports that show that the Pakistan intelligence worked with the Al-Qaeda to plan attacks. However, experts believe that though the Afghan insurgents and Pakistan militants work together, directly linking the Al-Qaeda with the Pakistani intelligence agencies like the ISI is difficult. The reports also show that though there is a palpable sense of camaraderie between the US administration and the Pakistan military, behind the scenes there are occasions of confrontation between the two. At the same time, several US congressional officials complained that in spite of repeated requests over the years for information on Pakistan’s support to insurgent groups, they usually get vague and incomplete briefings from Pentagon and CIA. Accusations that Pakistan military and the intelligence agencies are working together with insurgents are always met with angry denials from Pakistan. They have always said that they have severed the relationship with Afghan insurgents years back. American officials believe that though ISI is a rigid organisation that doesn’t allow rogue activities of their members, the spy service’s “S Wing”, which operates against the Afghan government and India has broad autonomy for their operations.

The leaked military classified documents show details of the toll on Afghan civilians exacted by the coalition forces. The logs reveal 144 such incidents and they are mainly about the controversial air strikes by the coalition forces, which have already evoked criticism from the Afghan authorities. In addition to these deadly air strikes, the logs also show previously unknown incidents that appear to be the results of troops shooting unarmed drivers out of a determination to protect themselves from suicide bombers. They show bloody errors committed by the coalition forces including the day French troops attacked a bus full of children in 2008, wounding eight. The logs also show accounts of such ghastly incidents on how a US patrol gunned down about 15 passengers on a bus and how the Polish troops mortared a village in 2007 killing a wedding party in an apparent revenge attack. There are details of questionable shooting by British troops at civilians as well.

The leaking of the war documents has started showing its impact. Pakistan administration is facing a lot of questions on the involvement of their intelligence agencies in helping the Afghan insurgents and many countries have started putting more pressure on the Pakistan government to come clean on this issue. The criticism from the British Prime Minister David Cameron, when he recently visited India, is one good example for this increasing pressure on the Pakistan government by the international community. The American government is also under increased pressure because of the leaking of the classified military documents. It has also strengthened anti-war sentiments in the US. Whether this brave act of Wikileaks would bring any change to the present state of affairs is yet to be seen.

Tendulkar is the Most Capped Player in the History of Test Cricket

I congratulate the Master, Sachin Tendulkar, for becoming the most capped player in the history of test match cricket. Sachin, playing his 169th test match today against Sri Lanka, has gone past Steve Waugh’s record of 168 test matches. India’s most popular sportsperson, Tendulkar is the highest run getter in test matches with 13,742 runs at an average of 56.08. He is also the front runner in number of hundreds in test matches with 48 tons. As a bowler, with his assorted spin, Sachin Tendulkar has 44 test scalps as well. The milestones man from India has once again given us an occasion to celebrate.