Fwd: Digest for peace--harmony-news-from-south-asia@googlegroups.com - 3 Messages in 3 Topics

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Subject: Digest for peace--harmony-news-from-south-asia@googlegroups.com - 3 Messages in 3 Topics
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  Today's Topic Summary

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/peace--harmony-news-from-south-asia/topics

• March 16, 2010: Peace & Harmony News from S. Asia [1 Update]
• ACHA Peace Bulletin, March15, 2010 [1 Update]
• March 15, 2010: Peace & Harmony News from S. Asia [1 Update]

 Topic: March 16, 2010: Peace & Harmony News from S. Asia

Pritam Rohila <asiapeace@comcast.net> Mar 16 07:15AM -0700 ^

 
ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNAL HARMONY IN ASIA (ACHA)
www.asiapeace.org & www.indiapakistanpeace.org
4410 Verda Lane NE, Keizer, OR 97303, USA
asiapeace@comcast.net
 
March 16, 2010: Peace & Harmony News from S. Asia
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndiaPakistanPeaceDay
&
http://groups.google.com/group/peace--harmony-news-from-south-asia
 
IN THIS ISSUE
 
NOTE: I will be out of town March 17 through April 7. During this
period I will have inconsistent access to internet, and will not be
able to send you this bulletin with the usual regularity. Sorry!
Pritam Rohila.
 
*India to seek meeting with Pak (re) cross-border telecom signals,
APP, March 15, 2010
*Sufi teachings of love, peace can counter extremism, terrorism;
Zardari, APP, March 15,
*Pakistan: Babar Awan stresses religious harmony, APP, March 15, 2010
*India: Maha's first open jail for women inaugurated in Pune, Rediff
News, March 15, 2010
*'Trade between India and Lanka improved' ISLAND LK | March 15, 2010
*SAARC Summit on April 28-29 in Bhutan NEW NATION | March 14, 2010
*Bhutan to lift women's football THE AFC | March 13, 2010
__
 
*India to seek meeting with Pak (re) cross-border telecom signals,
APP, March 15, 2010
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=98468&Itemid=1
 
NEW DELHI, Mar 14 (APP) India is planning to seek meeting with
Pakistan to resolve issue of cross-border telecom signals which are
affecting the quality of cellular operators of both countries in
Punjab border areas. Indian cellular operators have complained that
signals of Pakistani telecom providers are crossing into Indian
territory in Punjab, leading to interference with Indian services.
Pakistani mobile phone companies have also complained that
interference in frequency bandwidth from Indian cellular operators
affecting the quality of their services in border areas…
 
*Sufi teachings of love, peace can counter extremism, terrorism;
Zardari, APP, March 15,
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=98499&Itemid=1
 
ISLAMABAD, Mar 15 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari Monday called for
focussing attention on teachings of peace, love and tolerance of the
Sufi saints so as to counter extremism and the militant mindset.
Addressing an International Conference on Sufism and Peace arranged by
Pakistan Academy of Letters here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, President
Zardari said Sufism has a crucial role to play in mankind's struggle
for a peaceful world. Around 80 delegates from 30 countries around the
world and 250 from Pakistan are participating in the conference…
 
*Pakistan: Babar Awan stresses religious harmony, APP, March 15, 2010
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=98502&Itemid=1
 
ISLAMABAD, Mar 15 (APP): Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary
Affairs Dr Babar Awan Monday emphasized on promoting religious harmony
to thwart the recent surge of terrorist activities across the country.
Addressing the annual Mehfil Milad organized by Capital Development
Authority Employees Union, the minister stressed the people to go
through the basic knowledge of Islam through reading the Holy Quran,
which gives the lesson of humanity…
 
*India: Maha's first open jail for women inaugurated in Pune, Rediff
News, March 15, 2010
http://www.ptinews.com/news/564536_Maha-s-first-open-jail-for-women-inaugurated-in-Pune
 
Pune, Mar 14 (PTI) The first open jail for women in Maharashtra was
today inaugurated by the State Home Minister R R Patil. The jail
premises, spread across 17 acres of land of Yerawada Central Prison
here, will have 50 women inmates with promising good conduct….
He said the women prisoners would be given a substantial raise in the
financial assistance at the time of their release in order to enable
them to earn a decent living when they cross the prison gates.
 
*'Trade between India and Lanka improved' ISLAND LK | March 15, 2010
http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=642205&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
 
COLOMBO: The Free Trade Agreement between India and Sri Lanka is 10
years old and a top trade economist says trade between the two South
Asian neighbours have improved and that Sri Lanka should consider
upgrading the agreement into a comprehensive economic partnership.
"India is emerging as a leading economy in the world and whether or
not one likes it Sri Lanka has to be close to India because it would
stimulate Sri Lanka's own economy," Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive
Director of the Institute of Policy Studies, told the Island Financial
Review…
 
*SAARC Summit on April 28-29 in Bhutan NEW NATION | March 14, 2010
http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=642022&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
 
DHAKA: The 16th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) will be held in Bhutan on April 28-29 this year.
Leaders of the eight-nation group will focus on climate issues at the
summit, an apparent regional follow-up of the United Nations (UN)
Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen on securing global pledges on
emission cuts. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already been invited
to attend the summit…
 
*Bhutan to lift women's football THE AFC | March 13, 2010
http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=641943&category=Frontend&Country=BHUTAN
 
THIMPHU: Their country is one of the smallest in the world but size
and population doesn't matter when compared to a hunger to succeed.
For Dechen Wangmo (left) and Sherab Gyenmo (right), nothing is bigger
than their heart, desire and willingness to achieve their dream to
turn Bhutan women's football into one of the Asia's best in the
future. They are determined to prove that a tiny country with a total
area of 38,394 square kilometres and population of 691,141 can gain a
big reputation in football. If the Himalayan Kingdom can defy the
odds, it could provide the inspiration for others…
__
EXPLANATION/DISCLIMER: The above is a selection of news stories
pertaining to South Asian governments, civil society organizations and
individuals working together on projects of mutual benefit including
peace and communal harmony, and those relating to attempts to improve
the condition of South Asian peoples, especially women and children.
ACHA does not approve of or subscribe to any "disharmonizing
language" (including terms such as POK or IOK) used in these items
selected from various publications. Readers may exercise their
linguistic judgment and ignore any biased language.


 

 Topic: ACHA Peace Bulletin, March15, 2010

Pritam Rohila <asiapeace@comcast.net> Mar 15 08:42PM -0700 ^

 
ACHA PEACE BULLETIN, Volume XIV, No. 03: March 15, 2010
 
A publication of Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA)
www.asiapeace.org & www.indiapakistanpeace.org
 
Editor: Pritam K. Rohila, PhD asiapeace@comcast.net
_____________________________
CONTENTS
 
EDITORIAL
*Marching Forward on the Way to Peace in South Asia, Pritam K. Rohila,
Ph. D.
ARTICLES OF THE MONTH
*Forget 1947, it's history, Allen O'brien, TNN, 04 Mar, 2010
*Suspicion of India's hegemonic ambitions not based on facts, M S
Khan, New Age,
*Canada-US Relationship Model for Pakistan-India? Ottawamysteryman,
Feb 15, 10
*Atmosphere of mistrust, Kuldip Nayar, Kashmir Times, March 5, 2010
BOOKS & DVD'S
*Striving for peace: Video Lectures on Communal Harmony-National
Integration,
EDUCATION & TRAINING
*May-June 2010, Brattleboro, Vermont, USA: PEACEBUILDING PROGRAM
EVENT REPORTS
*February 19, Faisalabad, Pakistan: EDU FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE
EVENTS
*March 20-21, village Malwa, Ambala, Harayana, India: SAVE THE GIRL
CHILD
*March 26 – 27, Cleveland, Ohio, USA: BLDG INFRASTRUCTURES FOR
CHANGE
*March 27, Worldwide: EARTH HOUR
*July 9-11, Brisbane, Australia: COPING RESILIENCE & HOPE BUILDING
MEMBERS' CORNER
*Dr. Stephen Gill
PEACE EDUCATION & TRAINING
*July 12 - 18, Cartagena, Colombia: INTER. INST. ON PEACE EDUCATION
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS FROM INDIA & PAKISTAN
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS FROM SOUTH ASIA
UPDATE: KASHMIR
UPDATE: NEPAL
UPDATE: PAKISTAN
UPDATE: SRILANKA
*Road to Jaffna Requires Governmental Regulation, Dr. Jehan Perera, 10
March 2010
___
View the full version of ACHA Peace Bulletin each month at
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACHAPeaceBulletin or www.asiapeace.org
 
For free subscription, email a request to ACHAPeaceBulletin-
subscribe@yahoogroups.com


 

 Topic: March 15, 2010: Peace & Harmony News from S. Asia

Pritam Rohila <asiapeace@comcast.net> Mar 15 09:51AM -0700 ^

 
ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNAL HARMONY IN ASIA (ACHA)
www.asiapeace.org & www.indiapakistanpeace.org
4410 Verda Lane NE, Keizer, OR 97303, USA
asiapeace@comcast.net
 
March 15, 2010: Peace & Harmony News from S. Asia
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndiaPakistanPeaceDay
&
http://groups.google.com/group/peace--harmony-news-from-south-asia
 
IN THIS ISSUE
 
*Pakistan: Plays and books, not bombs, Beena Sarwar, March 12, 2010
http://beenasarwar.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/personal-political-plays-and-books-not-bombs/
 
"New Karachi literary festival hopes to turn page on bombs," trumpeted
a headline in the Independent, UK.
 
Inspired by Jaipur, the festival in March "may not turn the page on
the bombs," as Siraj Khan, a Boston-based Pakistani commented in an
email, "but it is very inspiring. In my recent 7-month stint in
Karachi, I saw and felt this breath of fresh air myself. This has not
happened overnight and it's not just the new crop of writers who are
turning the tide."
 
The event, sponsored by Oxford University Press and the British
Council, will cater to readers of English. The First International
Urdu Conference in Karachi, November 2008, showcased several Indian
writers. Last November, the inspiring five-day event included a music
festival although ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India barred
the Indian delegates from attending.
 
Prominent scholar Dr Gopi Chand Narang addressed the gathering via
telephone from New Delhi. `My heart is with the people of Pakistan in
Karachi and I hope the condition in your country improves soon,' he
said, to rousing applause.
 
Siraj: "I do hope and pray that our youth get more engaged in reading
books rather than blasting bombs."
 
This bomb culture stems of course from attempts to convert Pakistan,
from 1979 onwards into a centre of Islamic `jihad', by the military
dictator Gen. Zia acting at America's behest to oust the Soviets from
Afghanistan. The peculiar relations between Pakistan and India are
part of that narrative: the pro-jihadi mindset is also virulently anti-
India.
 
I recently had breakfast with an Indian journalist living in Karachi,
married to a Pakistani. She must return to Delhi every three months to
renew her visa. She can't work in Pakistan because only two Indian
journalists can work in Pakistan (and vice versa). The irritants
include her Indian friends' one-dimensional views about Pakistan.
"They thought I would have no freedom, that there are no coffee shops
or women wearing jeans. Ok, so we can do this only in this part of
Karachi, but at least it's there."
 
Yes, there is violence and bomb blasts in Pakistan. But there is more
to life than that. Visit the Danka website (danka.com.pk --started by
a young Austrian who fell in love with Pakistan) to sample some events
in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad -- art exhibitions, book readings,
seminars, plays, fashion shows, musical evenings, hip hop and salsa
dance classes, yoga...
 
There's the fortnightly Critical Mass cycling event in Karachi I've
been meaning to join. There's the annual All Pakistan Music
Conference, held in Lahore for years and more recently, in Karachi
too.
 
Recently, I attended a talk on `youth and science' organised by Sindh
Awami Sangat, a socialist youth group from low-income localities.
College students, including some girls, most in hijabs, crowded the
seminar hall (made by breaking down the dividing walls in a flat) of
the Irtiqa Institute of Social Sciences.
 
"Jihad," said Adnan Sabzwari, the young scientist and educator who
addressed them, "is not strapping yourself with a suicide vest and
blowing up people, but making life better for the hungry and the
poor." He got a standing ovation.
 
Sindh Awami Sangat activists were active in a commemoration recently
to honour the Democratic Students Federation, a movement that rocked
the country in the early 1950s. The inspiring (as many termed it)
event, featuring a documentary, speeches, music and song, drew
students and old leftists, packing the 1000-seater auditorium.
 
The Classic and Vintage Car Show drew record crowds in its sixth year
running. "We still plan to hold a joint rally with our Indian
counterparts," said an organiser, referring to a plan scuttled earlier
due to tensions between the two countries.
 
For three weekends in February, stand up comedian Saad Haroon
performed at sold-out shows (I couldn't get tickets).
 
Last weekend, a friend's 16-year old son and his friends produced a
play in English that they wrote, directed, acted in, and marketed. The
suspense thriller dramatic, funny, and slickly done, ran to full halls
both nights, raising over a lakh of rupees for a welfare organisation
run by students.
 
P.s. It was a query about the March literary festival from Mayank
Austen Soofi, a Delhi-based journalist, that got me thinking about all
this. Mayank runs the blog "Pakistan Paindabad" (http://
pakistanpaindabad.blogspot.com/)
__
EXPLANATION/DISCLIMER: The above is a selection of news stories
pertaining to South Asian governments, civil society organizations and
individuals working together on projects of mutual benefit including
peace and communal harmony, and those relating to attempts to improve
the condition of South Asian peoples, especially women and children.
ACHA does not approve of or subscribe to any "disharmonizing
language" (including terms such as POK or IOK) used in these items
selected from various publications. Readers may exercise their
linguistic judgment and ignore any biased language.


 

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