For the Cause of Environment

E-Weekly-3/51

Green Earth Movement An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice Remember - “you and I can decide the future”  Water conservation activities planned in Kannur district  Supreme Court gives Madhya Pradesh lions' share from Gujarat's Gir  Taiwan nuclear plant prompts protests  Philippine tribal protest forces mine closure  Kejriwal to contest Assembly elections: AAP  Impact of Nuclear Reactors on  Mumbai Archbishop among Marine Life Pope's advisers  GEM Inspirational series  30 couples say ‘I do’ in Catholic  Readers’ Letters mass wedding  Citizens to join hands to save  50 samua vivah & 30 houses for Lokhandwala Lake tomorrow the needy  34 Mantralaya trees facing axe get  Saga of a stray respite  Serve palak idli, wheat frankie for  These benches are made of plastic healthy school kids: BMC bottles trashed at SGNP  Catholic-run shop serves 700 a  Locals join HT to make Vashi sparkle day with no public funding  Bandra locals save 45 trees from the  Unable to pay bribe, woman axe delivers baby at bus-stand  IIT's solar-powered home seeks its  Catholic priest to donate kidney to place in the sun Muslim man  Manmohan: renewable energy  Malankara Church starts social capacity will double by 2017 center in Delhi  Aircraft encroaching on this Kandivali  Press Release: Fifty Years plot meant for playground of Pacem in Terris  Vittal Hegde gives insight on rain  Beware the shiny, happy, unreal water harvesting world of Facebook  Complaints mount on Maldivian  GEM PLUS resorts dumping waste into sea  GEM LAUGH TIME Thought for the week … Our climate is changing. The Earth’s climate has, in fact, warmed by 1.1 to 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit since the industrial revolution. People look at this and say: Oh, that is not very much. In fact, it is very much, and it changes the dynamic. It impacts species. It kills some. It diminishes the carbon sink of the ocean. It does a number of things. Diane Feinstein The ministry of environment has agreed to use the sea water and send out back after cooling the Koodankulam Nuclear plant. Also they have given permission to use sea water for purification of water for the use of Koodankulam Nuclear Plant. If this is our ministry of Environment, who will trust you? You please listen to the Fisheries Department of the USA. Are you aware of this before you give such environmental clearance. This too happens when it is going to be commissioned. Right through the officials were denying this use of sea water. “Impact of Nuclear Reactors on Marine Life Fifty nine out of 103 nuclear plants in the US rely on what are known as ‘once through cooling systems’ to remove waste heat. Nuclear plant authorities have always claimed that their intake and discharge of billions of litres of water a day did very little harm to the surrounding marine life.

Some years ago, a major report, LICENCED TO KILL: HOW THE NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY DESTROY ENDANGERED MARINE WILD LIFE AND OCEAN HABITAT TO SAVE MONEY , released by the well respected Nuclear Information and Resource Service on February 22, 2001.” These cooling systems suck in and discharge as much as four million litres of water per minute. This water is sucked in at such a high velocity that along with the water, marine life is also sucked in , it is unable to resist velocity. These are dumped back as dead. The that the nuclear se high destruction rates can over take recovery rates, resulting in extensive depletion of the affected species. In this way, entire marine life communities can lose their capacity to sustain themselves.”

“ While millions of litres of hot water being discharged into the sea every minute, the total heat dumped into the waterway every minute, the total heat dumped into waterway is tremendous. Roger Witherspoon, the well known US journalist, author and editor, in a recent article has given some figures. Citing company records, he points out that the nuclear power plants, at Salem, New Jersey, USA, dump about 30 billion BTUs of heat hourly into Delaware Bay. That is equivalent of the heat which would be generated by exploding a nuclear bomb, the size of the bomb which destroyed Hiroshima, in the waters of Delaware Bay every two hours, all day, every day.” Roger Witherspoon, ‘Ravishing the waterways, DEP vs the power Plants’ Dec 13, 2010., http://www.nirs.org/reactorwatch. Thomas kocherry, [email protected], www.thomaskocherry.com, +91 9360645772

PRESS RELEASE FROM

Thomas Kocherry World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) Special Invitee, National Fishworkers' Forum (NFF), India National Alliance of Peoples Movements(NAPM), India.

7/48, Vayakarai, Manavalakurichy-P.O., Kannyakumari Dt.,Tamilnadu-629252.India

Tel/Fax: (91)4651 237 297, .Tel: (91)4651 200 517.Mobile: (91) 936 064 5772. Supportive Emails: [email protected], [email protected], Web:www.thomaskocherry.com In case there is no response from my mobile please contact: +91 9159750660 ------"The life of the Planet and the welfare of the whole humanity should not be sacrificed by the greed of a few".

GEM INSPIRATIONAL SERIES

Real to reel: the story of a Muslim woman and a Brahmin widow Shaju Philip : Indian Express, Alappuzha, Mon Mar 25 2013, 02:53 hrs

Thirteen years ago, a Muslim housewife in Kerala had stopped an old and destitute Brahmin widow from jumping in front of a train and ending a life for which she saw no hope. The Muslim woman, then 34, took the 76-year-old high- caste Namboothiri woman home, gave her shelter and sowed the seeds for an unusual relationship that bloomed despite their religious and cultural differences.

Their story of affection and harmony inspired Malayalam producer-director Babu Thiruvalla's film Thanichalla Njam (I am not alone), which went on to win the national award for 2012 for best feature film on national integration recently. The story began on January 22, 2000 when Rasiya Beevi, who is also a Congress member of Ambalapuzha village panchayat in Alappuzha district, spotted an old, frail frame standing near the railway track.

"I thought it was a woman passenger who was stranded after missing the road to the nearest railway station. When I approached her, Chellamma Antharjanam got irritated and shot back, 'you will not let me commit suicide?'" Beevi recalls. Beevi said Antharjanam told her she was waiting to jump in front of the next train, after having failed to kill herself through other methods. She had chosen the deserted spot hoping that no one would spot her and stop her. Antharjanam missed the train as she narrated her story to the stranger she had just met.

Antharjanam belonged to a prominent Namboothiri family in Central Kerala and was married to a man with psychiatric problems who died five years after their wedding. For about 25 years after that, she worked as a domestic help and returned to her brother's house as age caught up with her, only to be thrown out. Distraught, she tried to kill herself several times until Beevi found her.

Beevi said she took the Brahmin woman home and got her to stay with her family comprising her husband and three children. "She was afraid to stay with my family. Initially, she used to ask me whether Muslim organisations would attack the house for harbouring a Hindu. Her only plea was to allow her to live as a Hindu," Beevi said.

READERS’ LETTERS

Denis khan Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 5:17 PM

Denis

“India is a $1.8 trillion (£1.2 trillion) economy. Imports account for a quarter of its GDP.Inability to pay for imports can stall the economy, and a very high CAD (approx.$33 billion) ,increases risk of non-payment. An increasing CAD (6.7% of the GDP) can affect the foreign exchange rate of the country, suggesting in this case, India will have a higher demand for foreign currencies to settle its import liabilities. This will put pressure on the rupee and weaken its value, meaning the country will need to pay more for imports.” – Robin Banerjee The alarming Current Account Deficit (CAD) will leave a debt trail for GENext. “An increasing CAD (6.7% of the GDP) … will put pressure on the rupee and weaken its value, meaning the country will need to pay more for imports.”Another factor for the weakening of the rupee is the virtual disappearance of small change.” I've started the petition "RBI: bring back the black money and stop the small change shortage" and need your help to get it off the ground. Will you please take 30 seconds to sign it right now? Thanks. Here's the link: http://www.change. org/en-IN/ petitions/ rbi-bring- back-the- black-money- and-stop- the-small- change-shortage

- Show quoted text - Citizens to join hands to save Lokhandwala Lake tomorrow

Courtesy: DNA

Citizens give it credit for being their life-saver during the 26/7 deluge of 2005. “It ensured the water did not stagnate in the area and immediately drained into the mangrove soil that surrounds the lake,” says Sumesh Lekhi, a wild life enthusiast and businessman. Now Lekhi and a group of Mumbaikars are campaigning to save a Lokhandwala lake. The Oshiwara Lokhandwala Citizens' Association will form a human chain on Saturday evening to ensure the BMC and MHADA listens to their demands which include:

1. Desilting the lake by dredging it so that it can be deepened further by at least 8 feet taking the total depth of the lake to 16 feet. This will ensure the waters are not polluted.

2. Putting a chain link fencing around the lake so that illegal debris and garbage dumping does not take place near the natural vegetation around the lake.

3. Denotifying the lake as a Visarjan point. Last year, an artificial pond was created near the lake for visarjan enabling 1,200 idolimmersions but about 20 idols were still immersed in the lake.

Located in Lokhandwala, the five acre-wide lake is home to a large diaspora of animal life that includes snakes like pythons and Russell's vipers. Birds like the Purple Swamp Hen, Blue Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Moore Hens have been spotted at the water hole say activists. View photos of Lokhandwala Lake here: Gem of Mumbai: Lokhandwala Lake. Lalit Vashista, an environmental engineer based in Lokhandwala is supporting the project on his Facebook page: "It's our responsibility as citizens to involve the younger generations to take an active interest in the environment," he writes. Vashista is one of the many citizens who have created a Facebook campaign to spread their message to other Mumbaikars. In the past, members of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Society have campaigned to protect the mangroves and playgrounds in their area. “We've cleaned the periphery and banks of Lokhandwala Lake previously too,” says Lekhi.

A BMC official from the K-west department of the BMC claims that de-silting of the lake, which amounts to Rs 1.25cr cannot take place until MHADA (Maharashtra Housing And Development Authority) who owns the lake approves it with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and provides the funds.

Though Lekhi claims that in 2008 the Lokhandwala Lake came under the property of the forest department. The human chain will take place on Saturday at 4pm. Citizens will be meeting opposite Oberoi Sky Garden Building, at Lokhandwala Backroad, Lokhandwala Andheri West. The gathering and human chain near the lake will be followed by a art contest and speeches by naturalists like Sunjoy Monga. 34 Mantralaya trees facing axe get respite Vijay Singh | Apr 16, 2013,

MUMBAI: The 34 trees that were to be axed to make way for a blast-proof wall and surveillance towers at Mantralaya have got a breather. At a public hearing held on Monday at the Byculla office of municipal gardens superintendent, citizens opposed the proposal and demanded a review of the plan to save the trees. "Trees must not be sacrificed as security can be tightened in other ways too," said chairman of NGO Athak Seva Sangh Anil Galgali. Another citizen, Saumil Mehta, too asked for a review on the matter. TOI had recently reported how BMC had invited public views on axing the 34 trees. Three citizens had written to the BMC, of which two attended the Monday hearing. The proposal will now be reviewed by the Tree Authority, chaired by BMC commissioner Sitaram Kunte. These benches are made of plastic bottles trashed at SGNP The initiative will lead to eco-conservation and employment for tribals Virat A Singh, Mumbai Mirror

Don’t be surprised if you find swanky new benches and cabins lining the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), instead of the usual plastic litter, soon. The Forest department officials have decided to recycle and turn the garbage thrown inside the park by callous visitors into articles of civic amenities.

“On an average, we end up collecting around huge storage space. So, to deal with all 600 kg plastic of waste from the park every these problems in one go, we got a shredding month. It mainly consists of packaged machine set up on the occasion of World drinking water bottles. With the help of Forestry Day, March 21. The plastic Indian Centre for Plastics in the furniture will be made by local tribal Environment (ICPE), we have set up a members, providing them with employment facility near the entrance of the park to shred opportunities as well,” he said. this waste, which will then be sent to a set- up in Gujarat. There, it will be converted Apart from utilising the waste, forest into planks to make benches and other officials are also trying to spread awareness furniture items,” said Range Forest by educating tourists against littering the Officer(RFO) TN Shinde. He added that the park. They even collect a deposit of Rs 50- collected plastic waste would be shredded 100 from visitors carrying plastic bottles and once a week. bags to dissuade them from littering.

Sunil Limaye, Chief Conservator of Forest “The deposit is refunded only if the visitors and Field Director of SGNP, said that earlier show the exact number if bags and bottles as well, some of the waste was converted they were carrying, while on their way out,” into durable and water-proof benches, which said S D Saste, Assistant Conservator of were set up inside the park as a pilot project. Forest (ACF). TK Bandopadhyay, Technical “We think this initiative will help us send an manager of ICPE, said, “We have provided eco-friendly message to the visitors. Plastic SGNP with a machine that can shred any bottles collected by NGO and our staff solid plastic, and a manual compacter. We members during clean-up drives require a are also training their staff.”

Locals join HT to make Vashi sparkle http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Locals-join-HT-to-make-Vashi-sparkle/Article1- 1044488.aspx

More than 200 people gathered around Vashi’s mini seashore at 7.30am on Sunday and worked together to make the zone clean and plastic-free. The clean-up drive was a part of Hindustan Times’ week-long campaign ‘Say No to Plastic’, which began on April 10. Taking note of the plastic-waste clogging Navi Mumbai’s drains and its harmful impact on environment, HT carried a series of stories on the issue.

The event, which was the concluding part of the campaign, saw an enthusiastic response from citizens across age-groups. The theme of the event was ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’. Various organisations such as Suprabhat, a senior citizens’ group, Fortis group, DY Patil group and Navi Mumbai Network (a youth forum) joined HT and pledged to make the city plastic-free. Many morning walkers also joined the event when they saw people cleaning-up the shore.

“Making our city plastic-free is not just the responsibility of authorities, but also of the citizens,” said Rishi Mehta, a regular visitor to the mini seashore. Manik Darwesh, 59, who came with the senior citizens’ group, was appalled at the lack of environmental consciousness among citizens. “While cleaning, I came across scores of plastic bags stuffed with flowers lying on the shore. Such indifference towards the environment is just going to harm us in the end.”

Madhvi Dange, who participated in the drive from DY Patil group, said: “Every citizen should participate in such clean-up drives to understand the gravity of the problem we are currently facing. The situation gets worse during the monsoon. Plastic clogs the drains, thus causing many health problems and infections.”

Bandra locals save 45 trees from the axe The trees were supposed to be chopped to widen the Ramkrishna Paramhans Marg near MIG Club; BMC will now widen footpath instead Chaitanya Marpakwar, Mumbai Mirror Aday after green activists flayed the BMC Shah said. After much deliberation and for chopping 680 trees across Mumbai, coercion, the BMC’s Garden department residents of Bandra (E), along with the civic rejected the proposal to chop the trees. Tree Authority, successfully managed to save 45 fully grown trees from meeting a Kamlashankar Yadav, the BMC’s Garden similar fate. The trees were to be chopped Superintendent had recently written to the to widen a road in the area. Last month, the road officials asking them to ‘save’ the BMC had demolished the boundary wall of trees. “Your request to chop the trees the MIG Club to reclaim the area and widen Ramkrishna Paramhans Marg. Once the wall cannot be considered, as the road was demolished, 45 Ashoka trees that are construction is already taking a toll on a over 20 feet tall were on the road. number of trees. You are therefore requested to save the existing trees on the The BMC then sent a proposal to the civic road,” Yadav’s letter said. Mumbai Mirror, garden department, seeking permission to through its Talk the Walk campaign has chop the trees for the road widening been highlighting the plight of walking project. However, Jatin Golani of Plant, spaces in the city and over the last week Preserve and Protect (PPP) and his has also reported about hundreds of trees colleagues heard of the plan. The PPP, an that will face the axe to make way for NGO focused on protecting and planting development projects. The BMC had only trees to restore Mumbai’s lost green cover, recently given the green signal to chop over then wrote to the civic body, requesting 600 trees across the city for these them to protect the trees. As part of the projects. proposal, the PPP suggested the BMC extend the width of the footpath for the Paying heed to the suggestions from the PPP trees instead of chopping them down. and Shah, civic officials now plan to keep the trees intact and widen the road. “We “This way additional walking space will be will either create a pavement or a narrow created for walkers. This road anyway side strip so that the trees can be needs a good footpath,” Golani said. Kamlesh protected and the space can also be used by Shah, a expert member of the Tree walkers,” an official said. Shah added that Authority, took the matter up with the it was a joint effort made by the civic BMC’s Garden Department. “Members of officials and residents to save the green the PPP informed me of the matter. I raised cover. “Citizens should be aware of the the issue with the civic Garden Department trees in their locality and approach the civic and also the Tree Authority and asked them authorities if a tree is being chopped down. to make sure the trees were protected,” In this case, we not only saved the trees, but also created more walking space for pedestrians,” he said. inputs. "The idea is to build a prototype IIT's solar-powered of a home that can be suited to the home seeks its place Indian middle class. We have set a financial target of building the house for in the sun about Rs 30 lakh when it is industrially Hemali Chhapia, TNN | Apr 15, 2013, produced," said faculty advisor Rangan Banerjee.

Several departments from the institute are involved in building this house and the team will start constructing it in August; the competition in France will be held in June 2014. "There are some teams in this competition that Picture courtesy: Internet have been shortlisted for the third MUMBAI: Painting lessons, masonry time. We are up against some very work, plumbing, wiring, cooking and seasoned teams and well-versed all that goes into constructing a people," said Parth Bhatia, a student house and building a home is what a of the energy sciences and pretty large team from the Indian engineering department. The team is Institute of Technology-Bombay is looking outside the campus too for learning to do. The team will not only ideas-from the best material to build construct its mansion and live in it, the energy-efficient home, to the but also host soirees. The party is not paint that must be applied, to how to in Powai, but the romantic Chateau put the waste to better use. After the de Versailles in Paris. What is so house is built, students will ship it to grand about the 600 sq ft house is Paris and construct it again in 14 that it will not consume any electricity, days. "Students will live in the house yet provide all the comforts of a and host a party one evening for the European home. judges," said Puneet Batra, another student. Students from IIT-B will the first Indian team-team shunya-to make it to the "After the competition, students will Solar Decathlon, an international bring this house back to India and it design competition in which students will have a permanent place on the have to design, build and operate the IIT-B campus where it will be a living most enery efficient solar-powered research lab for anyone to try house. The competition is held by the something new," said Vishnu US department of energy that takes Chandak, another student on the place biennially. Students from team. Said faculty Monika Jain, "The Rachana Sansad will provide the idea is to integrate processes and architectural allow students to work together to produce a product that is professional". Manmohan: renewable energy capacity will double by 2017

India had launched a new initiative to double the renewable energy capacity to 55,000 MW by 2017 by exploiting non-conventional energy sources such as solar, wind power and energy from biomass, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here on Wednesday. Delivering the inaugural address at the fourth Clean Energy Ministerial here, Dr. Singh however, expressed serious concern at the “painfully slow” progress of climate change talks. He regretted that the goal of stabilising global temperatures at acceptable levels was nowhere in sight. The Prime Minister said:

“Rich nations responsible for the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions, are best placed to provide workable solutions to mitigate climate change. The industrialised nations have high per capita incomes, which gives them the highest capacity to bear the burden. They are technically most advanced, and to that extent best placed to provide workable solutions not only for themselves but for the whole world. Unfortunately, progress in these negotiations is painfully slow. The goal of stabilising global temperatures at acceptable levels is nowhere in sight.

“In India, we have set ourselves a national target of increasing the efficiency of energy use to bring about a 20 to 25 per cent reduction in the energy intensity of our GDP by 2020. The 12th Plan envisages an expanded role for clean energy, including hydro, solar and wind power. The cost of solar energy for example has nearly halved over the last two years, though it remains higher than the cost of fossil fuel-based electricity. If the cost imposed by carbon emissions is taken into account, then solar energy is more cost-effective, but it is still more expensive.”

Developing countries, he noted, accounted for 82 per cent of the world’s population and they used 55 per cent of the available global supply of energy. “They must aim at faster growth of their GDP to improve the living standards of their populations and this will entail an expanded demand for energy. If they follow the industrialised countries in meeting their energy requirements through fossil fuel-based energy, we know that the impact on the global climate would be simply unsustainable.”

There was need for inter-country consultation and discussion in these areas to promote information exchange and to identify possible areas of collaboration, and also to learn from each other’s experience in addressing common problems. The initiative for launching the New Delhi Ministerial was taken by Dr. Steven Chu, U.S. Energy Secretary, who is also a Nobel laureate.

AVAILABLE Educational PowerPoint Presentation SOLAR ENERGY Download it from our website: www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM section Aircraft encroaching on this Kandivali plot meant for playground Three plots, meant to be a park for locals, have been taken over by a trust run by a local developer and Picture courtesy: internet MLA

Chaitanya Marpakwar

A trust headed by a top developer and a road to the plot. There is a lawn on local legislator has allegedly taken over another part of this plot, which the trust three plots meant for a playground, uses for hosting its functions. Only one depriving local residents of the little open part of the plot is open, but that is space they have. Residents have occupied by two huge trees,” said a alleged that the Zagdu Singh Charitable resident. Following complaints, a team Trust, run by Thakur group of builders, of BMC officials visited the plot on has taken over three plots of land that Friday. were reserved for a playground.There are three plots in the area, adjacent to “ We will verify the agreement between Thakur Institute of Aviation Technology the BMC and the institute. Though it is a on 90 Feet Road in Kandivali (E). The local playground, the institute seems to trust has parkedaircrafts on one of the have blocked access to the ground and plots. local residents are not allowed inside. There are also complaints that the While the trust claims that it has adopted portion that has the lawn is let out for the plot through the BMC’s caretaker functions,” said Dr Ram Barot, chairman policy, locals allege that while the trust of the BMC’s improvement committee. has dumped a dummy aircraf on a part Barot said he has asked the BMC of the plot, it has also taken over another officials to prepare a detailed report on part where locals are not allowed to the matter and said that he would take enter. action after that. Meanwhile, BJP leader The trust maintains it has fulfilled all Atul Batkalkar has written to BMC formalities to adopt and maintain the commissioner Sitaram Kunte to remove plot. However, an RTI query by local the aircrafts from the playground. activists has revealed that the agreement between the civic body and The trust on its part claimed that they the trust was never executed. “The plot, had not violated any rules. “We have all bearing number CTS No. 636B, was records and have taken the plot as per given on adoption basis to the Zagdu the BMC’s policy. We have not misused Singh Charitable Trust on October 9, the plot in any way. In fact we have 2010. As per records, the agreement maintained the plot and kept it with the trust has not been executed encroachment free,” said VK Singh, because of a stay order issued by the Chairman of the Zagdu Singh Charitable state government on December 1, Trust. Singh added that they allowed 2007,” reads the reply given to local everyone into the play ground as per the resident Alok Chaoudhary under the act. timing allotted by the BMC. “This looks like an attempt to gain publicity and is The civic body used to provide plots politically motivated. We have been reserved for gardens and playgrounds most particular about the adoption on a caretaker and adoption basis to process and there are no irregularities. NGOs. However, following complaints of In fact local residents have discrepancies, the state government complimented us for the work the trust stayed the entire policy. “Children are his doing. We have also moved many of deprived of open space in the already the aircrafts from the ground,” Singh congested area. Their aircrafts are added. parked on the access

Vittal Hegde gives insight on rain water harvesting

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Apr 6: "It is important to resolve water problems in the scenario of present climate change caused by huge carbon emissions. The important manifestations of climate change is global warming which causes global temperature to change," said professor A Vittal Hegde from department of applied mechanics and Hydraulics, NITK. He addressed the gathering after inaugurating the seminar of ‘water proofing and water harvesting’ organized by Kodagu Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Engineers Association (KDKUEA) at Hotel Ocean Pearl on Saturday April 6.

Addressing further, he said since the year 1700 after industrial revolution, climate change has been the cause of various issues. Due to regular changes in the level of carbon dioxide, there is a change in the atmosphere. The release of greenhouse gases leads to extreme events such as floods occur said the speaker giving an example of a recent flood that occured in Australia. Considering the above problems, he said methodical support to local RWH should be provided to get a substantial amount of water. Briefing about rain water harvesting (RWH), he said it is accumulation and deposition of rain water for use before it reaches the aquifer.

In ancient India, people believed that forests were mother the of rivers; in fact a study from US indicated that 60% of fresh water comes from forest. The water bodies used to be maintained by the community around but after Independence, the government took full control over the water bodies and water supply. Speaking about the benefits of RWH, Hegde said it improves water availability, improves quality of ground water, prevents soil erosion, flooding and more important is is that it saves water an dmoney for the future.

Concluding his talk, he said that every city/village should implement RWH for the benefit of the future generation. Unless it is been made mandatory, no one will implement it, thus government should support and take initiative, he added. A Vishnu Bhat welcomed the gathering, Dr RG D’Souza compered while M Divakar Shetty delivered the vote of thanks. HV Harish, president of KDKUEA, Hemanth K Jain, director, Kerakol India limited, DR S Srihari from the department of civil engineering in NITK Surathkal, Dr Lakshman Nandagiri, Dr Girish Kumar, U Nagendra Rao, Gajanana S Hegde among others were present. Complaints mount on Maldivian resorts dumping waste into sea Mohamed Visham, Haveeru Online

Complaints of many resorts in Maldives dumping majority of its waste into the sea are mounting, Environment Ministry said Thursday. Minister Mariyam Shakeela revealed that the waste of resorts amount to 7.5kg per head, while it has been confirmed Waste in Thilafushi being washed away: Environment Ministry has that the majority of the waste do not reach accused many resorts of dumping majority of waste into sea. FILE PHOTO the dump site in Thilafushi. She added close inspection of waste accumulating in the sea near the capital Male has proved that it had been dumped by resorts.

“It has been confirmed that waste accumulating near the Male region comes from the resorts. The reason I say this is because most of the photos sent in by EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and other such authorities show large quantities of orange peel. Bits of apples and tomatoes amount to most of the waste. Where does it come from? It comes from the resorts,” Shakeela stressed.

In a bid to resolve the issue, the Ministry is presently trying to establish a focal point in each resort in addition to a study on the amount of waste. Environment Minister further highlighted the dangers in use of waste by resorts for land reclamation. She said such waste seep into the sea due to erosion compounding the problem of waste accumulation at sea. rainwater during monsoon. Such Water conservation activities activities would be an answer to drought, planned in Kannur district flooding, and salinity intrusion, he said. Aimed at making Kannur water-rich The society has initiated water district in four years conservation activities in the Special Correspondent , The Hindu Kunnothparamba panchayat, Defence Security Corps Centre, and the Central The Kannur Water Conservation Society Jail here. Steps are already under way (KWCS) will launch long-term for the repair and maintenance of the groundwater recharge activities in view rainwater storage tanks constructed by of the depletion in groundwater level and the society in different parts of the contamination of water resources in the district by April 30. A meeting chaired by district that raise concerns about a Mr. Kelkar on April 5 decided to ensure severe drought situation. storage of rainwater during monsoon for use during summer months. It was also The society, which was established in decided to offer technical expertise for 1995 and is now chaired by District constructing rainwater storage tanks in Collector Rathan Kelkar, has chalked areas facing acute drinking water out a comprehensive water conservation scarcity. scheme to be implemented in the district to make Kannur a water resources-rich A special meeting of the society was district over the next four years. held here on Tuesday to plan programmes for water conservation An action plan will be finalised on the campaign. The society will implement a basis of suggestions and proposals at a intensive water conservation programme national seminar here on April 21 in named ‘Greeting Monsoon’ from May 1 which experts and scientists will to June 30 with the involvement of local participate. KWCS secretary D. bodies and school and college students. Krishnanadha Pai said the scheme A 25-member ‘water brigade’ would be would be implemented with the active formed for the water conservation involvement and cooperation of the campaign. Open wells, tanks and ponds district administration and local bodies. would be renovated to ensure He said the water conservation activities groundwater recharge during monsoon, being planned included rainwater the KWCS informed in a press release. harvesting and constructing check-dams The campaign would also include and pits to lower the surface run-off of various water conservation programmes on World Environment Day on June 5. Supreme Court gives Madhya Pradesh lions' share from Gujarat's Gir

Utkarsh Anand : New Delhi, Tue Apr 16 2013, 0

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered translocation of Asiatic lions from Gujarat's Gir forest to Kuno Palpur sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh to provide a "second home" for the endangered species. Reminding the Gujarat government that no state can claim ownership over its wildlife, a bench led by Justice K S Radhakrishnan said: "Our top priority is to protect Asiatic lions and to provide a second home. MoEF's decision for re-introduction of Asiatic lions from Gir to Kuno is of utmost importance and it cannot be delayed." It asked the authorities to complete the task in six months. Calling for an "eco-centric" approach where the best interest of the Asiatic lions must be kept in mind, the court underlined that the species currently exists as a single sub-population in Gir, and is hence vulnerable to extinction. "We, as human beings, have a duty to prevent the species from going extinct and have to advocate for effective species protection regimes," said the bench, adding that experts were united in their opinion that Asiatic lions must have a second home outside Gujarat.

According to a 2010 census, Gir has a total of 411 lions, including 97 males, 162 females and 152 cubs. In 1986, the Centre had decided to translocate some Asiatic lions from Gir to Kuno so that the species would not be wiped out by an epidemic or natural calamity. But the Gujarat government had opposed the decision, contending that its effective conservation programme had resulted in an increase in the lions' population.

The bench, however, quashed the MoEF's decision to introduce African cheetahs in Kuno, noting that no detailed study had been conducted on the issue. It also highlighted the necessity for an exclusive parliamentary legislation for preservation and protection of endangered species. “ The government should squarely face the Taiwan nuclear plant consequences and not shun its responsibility by introducing a highly controversial prompts protests referendum,” Tsai said. The Lungmen Plant began construction in 1999 but has been Earthquake-prone Taiwan rallies against delayed several times due to political nuclear power controversy. It had to delay commercial operations expected in 2012 after revelations of construction mismanagement. Meanwhile, the ruling Nationalist Party today led a vote in the legislature against a proposal to stop construction altogether.

The public is particularly concerned about nuclear safety after Japan’s Fukushima disaster. Taiwan lies on a seismic belt and has experienced several earthquakes in the past year. The Lungmen Plant is located in An illustration for the no-nuke campaign northern Taiwan, close to the capital city of Taipei. Six million people would be affected More than 100 artists are participating in in the event of an accident. It will be an anti-nuke exhibit opening today in Taiwan's fourth nuclear power Taichung. It is the first large scale anti- plant. Taiwan’s current three provide 15 nuclear campaign since an island-wide, percent of the country’s electricity, a 200,000-person protest in early March recent study found. forced the government to consider a referendum on the Lungmen Nuclear Plant In a press conference today, exhibit by the end of the year. “The Taiwan Power organizer Chen Yu-feng said the display is Company overestimates its ability to cope “a social movement to demand that the with all technical issues of the Lungmen Taiwan government stops the construction Plant,” said Tsai Chih-hao, executive of Lungmen Nuclear Plant immediately and secretary of the Taiwan Academy of abolishes the referendum.” Ecology. Philippine tribal protest forces mine closure Badjao people formed a human barricade

Protesters form a barricade in the village of Cabangahan (Jimmy Bat-ao)

A mining company announced today it has shut down operations at a nickel mine in the southern Philippine province of Surigao del Sur, after locals blocked the entrance, citing environmental concerns. Members of the Badjao tribe in the village of Cabangahan, Catilan town, formed a human barricade on Monday to prevent Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation (MDCC) from entering the area, a federally designated watershed. "We got support from the local police and military," said village leader Jimmy Bat-ao. The area is also a burial and hunting ground, he said.

On Wednesday, a group of security guards tried to demolish the barricade and disperse the people, but about 300 tribesmen stood their ground. Bat-ao said no one was hurt in the incident. The nickel mines, which started operation last year, cover about 4,779 hectares of land in the town. The mining company has a permit to operate, according to Roger de Dios, director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in the region.

"Based on our monitoring and inspection, no violation has been observed to warrant suspension," de Dios said. "The company voluntarily suspended its operation." Chito Trillanes, spokesman of the Catholic Church's Social Action Center in Cantilan town, however, said tribal people have reached an agreement with the local environmental bureau to look into alleged violations committed by the mining company. Trillanes said the mining area is the source of irrigation for 3,000 hectares of land.

The parish social action office earlier filed an appeal before a local court to issue a temporary restraining order to stop the mining operation.

Kejriwal to contest Assembly elections: AAP

Express news service

Aam Aadmi Party on Monday announced that they would field convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Assembly elections to be held later this year. While the party is yet to decide the constituency from which Kejriwal would contest, AAP stated that it had begun the process to select candidates to contest Delhi's 70 Assembly constituencies.

same to the AAP by May 5. The AAP stated AAP chief spokesperson Manish Sisodia on that the candidates would have to furnish Monday said: "Arvind Kejriwal will indeed details of criminal history, political contest in the Delhi elections, but the background, participation in social constituency is yet to be decided. There movements and details of assets and wealth. has been a growing demand from supporters for his candidature." He added that the Senior members of the AAP said the AAP were yet to decide whether other AAP political affairs committee will interview leaders would also contest elections. prospective candidates. "We are challenging the methods used by national parties like the Congress and the BJP who chose their According to a statement from AAP, the candidates behind closed doors. No two party has invited applications and members from the same family can contest suggestions from the public to select elections on an AAP ticket," a senior candidates. "The AAP needs candidates functionary said. with character and an unblemished record to contest elections. The nomination The AAP has also begun writing to three process will end on May 5 and a screening lakh professionals, including members of committee will make the shortlist," the AAP resident welfare associations (RWA) to said. suggest candidates. The first lot of candidates are expected to be announced in Any Delhi resident claiming to have the the next two months. support of 100 people can register themselves with the AAP and submit the Mumbai Archbishop among Pope's advisers

Vatican City, Apr 14 (PTI): India's Oswald Gracias was among eight high-ranking cardinals from around the world who were on April 13 appointed by Pope Francis in an advisory council to look into ways of reforming the Vatican bureaucracy. The council will help the Pope revise the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia Pastor bonus - the Church administration which helps him in the daily governance, the Vatican said in a statement. Pope John Paul II had issued Pastor Bonus in 1988. "The Holy Father decided to set up the Council following on from discussions that emerged during the General Congregations in the lead up to the Conclave which elected him the 265th Successor to St Peter," it said. 68-year-old Gracias currently serves as Archbishop of Bombay (Mumbai), having been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. He was raised to the cardinalate in 2007.

Besides Gracias, the group is composed of Giuseppe Bertello, President of the Governatorate of Vatican City State; Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, Archbishop emeritus of Santiago del Cile (Chile); Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munchen und Freising (Germany); Laurent Monswengo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa (Congo); Sean Patrick O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston (US); George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney; Oscar Andres Maradiaga Rodriguez, Archbishop of Boston Tegucigalpa (Honduras).

The group of Cardinals will be coordinated by Rodriguez while Marcello Semeraro, Bishop of Albano (Italy), will serve as the secretary. The first meeting of the Council will take place on October 1-3, 2013, the statement said. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the appointments comes exactly one month after Pope Francis was elected as the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.

The council would have no legislative power and that its main function is to "help" and "advise" the Pope, the 'Vatican Radio' quoted Lombardi as saying. The Pope has already been in touch with the selected cardinals, he said. The Catholic Church has faced calls for reform in the wake of scandals involving the sexual abuse of children by priests and allegations of corruption. 30 couples say ‘I do’ in Catholic mass wedding

Express news service : Mon Apr 15 2013, 02:03 hrs

In many ways, it was a typical Catholic scrutinised thoroughly, and then wedding with beautiful decoration, a undergo a marriage preparation course. choir, music and food. Yet, it was The Archdiocese arranged for the venue, completely atypical. Instead of one bride catering, the music and even the walking down the aisle, there were 30 — garments of the brides and grooms. some in sarees and others in flowing "Many Catholic families came forward to wedding gowns. This was, perhaps, the sponsor the event. Some donated their first mass wedding being celebrated in family wedding gowns for the cause. We the Catholic community of Mumbai. The were also open to inter-religion wedding, organised by the Archdiocese marriages. In one of the couples, the girl of Bombay and the Bombay Catholic belongs to a different faith. She doesn't Sabha, was held Sunday evening at St need to change her faith after her Xavier's school ground in Vile Parle marriage. She can continue being a (West) in the presence of nearly 3,000 Hindu," Father Rodrigues said. well-wishers. The 30 couples who exchanged vows "Hosting weddings has become were either from the economically expensive these days and it is more weaker sections of the society or those difficult for the economically challenged. who didn't want to spend on a lavish Families take loans to get their children wedding. The couples were between 21 married. We wanted to reach out to years to 45 years of age; some of them such families and help them by being love marriages. The couples were arranging a wedding and making it given a wedding kit consisting of basic memorable for them. Such events also things such as utensils that they will help in bringing the community closer," need to start a life together. said Father Donald Rodrigues. "We participated in this because it was a The preparations for the wedding started community event. We wanted the whole more than a year ago when the congregation to be part of our important Archdiocese informed all the parishes, day and shower their blessings along who in turn publicised the concept within with the blessings of the Bishop," said their communities. Couples wanting to 24-year-old Shiny Gaikwad, who tied the participate in the wedding had to first knot with 28-year-old Nitesh, her submit their documents, which were colleague. H.E. Mar Thomas Elavanal initiates weddings & houses.

50 SAMUH VIVAH & 30 HOUSES FOR THE NEEDY Social-Charitable Jubilee Celebration of Kalyan Diocese

In order to help the poor and needy eligible spinsters in Maharashtra, a Samuh Vivah (Mass wedding) was conducted on April 4, 2013 as part the silver Jubilee year of the diocese of Kalyan. The programme was conducted under the leadership of the Karunya Trust in collaboration with Rahel George Charitable Trust. 50 couples were selected from the state of Maharashtra, based on socio- economic condition of their family. The wedding ceremony was conducted according to Hindu, Dalith, Muslim and Christian marriage rituals. All the couples were provided with basic gifts and other wedding expenses in cash and kind amounting to Rs. 75,000 per couple.

People started arriving at St. Therasa’s Convent High School Ground Kalegaon, Dombivli East, Maharashtra by 6.30 am itself. A crowd of 3000 people attended the functions. After preparations and lunch, the marriage ceremony began at 2 pm. Four different religious priests led the wedding in four different places which prolonged for 2 hours. A public meeting was held to felicitate the couple which began at 4 pm. Shri. Kodikunnil Suresh, Hon. Union Labour Minister, in his Inaugural Address praised the activities of the Eparchy of Kalyan in the social charitable fields. In his presidential address, His Excellency Mar Thomas Elavanal, Bishop of Kalyan briefed about the social charitable activities of the Eparchy of Kalyan and thanked everyone for their significant role. Shri. Johnny Joseph, Upa Lokayukta, Maharashtra and Shri. Ramesh Ratan Patil, MLA of Kalyan Rural constituency expressed that the social activities of the Eparchy are really model for various religious groups.

All the speakers congratulated the organizers and blessed the couple. Msgr. Jacob Porathur, the Vicar General welcomed and the Rev. Fr. Paul Kunduparambil, the Social Action Director thanked everyone. The other dignitaries on the dias were Rev. Fr. George Vattamattom (Convenor); Rev. Fr. Jose Kokkopuzha (Kalyan Zonal Vicar), Rev. Sr. Niles CMC (Regional Superior); Mr. M.G. Philip, Mrs. Mollamma Philip and Mr. M.G. Stephan (Trustees of the Rahel George Charitable Trust) and Mrs. Rosily Thomas (Pastoral Council Secretary). The presence of other eminent personalities from political, social & religious arena added flavour to the function. During the function, the diocese of Kalyan handed over the keys of 30 houses constructed for the poor and needy in the rural areas of Ambernath, Bhiwandi and Kalyan Taluka. This is a part of social project for the rehabilitation of the poor in the area. The function ended at 6:30 pm.

Karunya Trust is a Multi Religious NGO, registered under Bombay Public Trust Act 1950 formed in May 1998, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Eparchy of Kalyan which was inaugurated by the then Governor of Maharashtra, Honorable Dr. P.C. Alexander. Karunya trust dedicated for the upliftment of the downtrodden and the marginalized without any discrimination of caste and creed. The community development, animation, education, empowerment and health care are the key areas of its activities. Women, children, physically and mentally challenged and aged people are its focus groups and the HIV affected and infected children and infected parents are its special target groups.

Rahel George Charitable Trust was registered in the year 2007 and has been actively engaged in discharging its social responsibility. Starting various activities in Kerala, today the trust is expanding its activities to other regions of India particularly Maharashtra where the trust is registered.

- fr. francis eluvathingal (chancellor) Little boys mercilessly threw stones at him Saga of a To properly stand, he soon became unfit His appalling appearance drew girls away stray They detested dogs that were dirty and stray Adults ignored and walked past the dog Some shoved him away like a petty log

A Poem by Dalia Saldanha The little dogs big heart began to break Courtesy: Daijiworld.com So much rejection he could not take Was he not fit to be someone’s pet? About his plight, he began to fret His body was overpowered by hunger and pain He was physically incapable of tolerating such strain

Eventually his remorse turned into hate I saw a weary dog on the street today He has been cruelly treated by fate A new puppy had been born to the stray No longer would he be kind to the human race It had just opened it’s big eyes to see He wished to see them tremble at the sight of his face Everything around him and me Humans must pay for the dog’s misery I looked at it and gave a smile He was unwilling to undergo more drudgery But it’s body was still pale and fragile

He barked fiercely at every passerby Soon he began to roam on the streets Growled enough to force children to cry Without road noises his day was incomplete Bit at the ankles of every little boy The pup grew to love his surroundings Human skin and bones he ventured to destroy Bricks and car tyres were his new findings He was feared by the entire neighborhood The passersby fascinated him beyond measure Yet no person, from any home, gave him food He held on to everything like treasure

Hunger made the dog more savage One day the pup saw another like him He began to live on bits of garbage It’s fur, brushed properly and trim Loneliness slowly demented his mind It was being walked by a posh human owner He nursed an insatiable animosity towards mankind While the stray pup looked on, like a loner He lost no opportunity to torture them The sight of the rich dog made him sad Soon enough, his existence in society, became a problem For he was not just as royally clad

One night in his sleep the dog was injected His spirit was uplifted by his mothers presence From this world he was meant to be ejected From her, he had learnt life’s hardest lessons He was put under the mercy of a cruel vet The stray decided to not lose grit or heart The dog, it’s life’s end, soon met For no force on earth could set them apart That was the end of the stray dog’s story No matter how badly destiny treated them Devoid of any type of glamour or glory They had the will to overcome every problem

Hence, yet another animal, succumbs to human pressure However, one morn, he woke up all alone Just to make our society more healthier and fresher Nothing was with him except a leftover bone This dog’s death acts as an open testimony His mother had fled far and away Of human cruelty and our hidden hypocrisy With the pup, forever, she had not wished to stay When are we going to reveal our true selves? Tears of sorrow flowed like a stream But we, always in our ego, choose to dwell The pup whimpered, but wished to scream

The more we attempt to preserve nature The dog had to now endure reality’s harsh blows The more we are seen murdering every other creature He was free; yet insecure feelings in him arose We say all animal lives are valuable Survival became challenging and was no longer a game Yet beat them down as though they are malleable His lack of skills put himself to shame We set up sanctuaries and zoos for them to live He knew not how to procure water or food But more harassment to them we give About his misery he began to brood

We try to exhibit our false love towards wildlife He has been hungry since the past few days But easily watch animals be slaughtered by the knife Of his life, this definitely is the worst phase We import exotic dogs from around the world Starvation and thirst weakened his bones For us, our indigenous species appear absurd Everybody ignored his insufferable moans While on the street we flaunt our ‘foreign treasure’ He wished he could find a loving home Strays experience grief on an intensity hard to measure Humans he could finally call his own

Population of strays in Bangalore increase by the day No matter how hard he tried to please Their wildness causes great human dismay The people on the streets in their fancy Capri’s Our mistreatment is the sole cause of their plight Nobody looked at him more than twice Hence they have become sources of fright Their cold stares, to stop his barks, would suffice It is lack of our love that makes them wild His filthy fur and unkempt looks When will we stop making them feel exiled? Could not get him on anybody’s good books Compassion, after all, can tame them in a profound way And we can soon rewrite the saga of the stray. Serve palak idli, wheat frankie for healthy schoolkids: BMC Pratibha Masand, TNN Apr 9, 2013

MUMBAI: From the coming academic year, your child may be served healthier food options in school. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is in talks with private city schools urging them to modify their menu and include healthy food items, so that children eat right.

"We plan to start awareness sessions with the school authorities and their dieticians. We will suggest modifications for a healthy menu, which the schools may or may not follow. But around 200 schools have already agreed to follow our healthy menu programme," said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner (health).

Among the BMC's suggestions are serving spinach idli, instead of regular idli and using wheat roti instead of maida to make frankies. As part of its lifestyle disease control programme, the civic body has launched not only an awareness campaign for the adult population, but is also taking a special interest in the eating habits of children. It is at a young age that the junk food system takes roots, and later makes the entire population prone to lifestyle diseases, said a civic offical.

The BMC has been keeping a database of patients being treated in its dispensaries. The database shows that 3,500 Mumbaikars suffer from borderline diabetes, while 6,500 suffer from diabetes. Of these 10,000 diabetics, a majority are in the 41-60 age group. Around 150 suffer from severe diabetes.

Dr Daksha Shah, BMC's head of non-communicable disease control programme, said, "We are also coming up with other ways to reach out to children. For instance, we have the snakes and ladder game with a twist. In this game, the snake 'bites' every time the player lands on an unhealthy habit such as eating junk food. And, the player gets to use the ladder when he or she eats 'a meal at home'. Children will connect better this way, than listening to a lecture on healthy eating habits."

The BMC will also start an sms alert system for the diabetics on its database. "The borderline diabetics will receive a preventive lifestyle modification alert every month. Others will get more frequent alerts, while severe diabetics will receive personalized messages," said Mhaiskar, adding that the messages will be sent in the patient's preferred choice of language. AVAILABLE Educational PowerPoint Presentation JUNK FOOD – A SLOW POISON Download it from our website: www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM section had hard times,” he says. “One day we had Catholic-run shop serves no rice and we almost couldn’t open the shop until a supporter turned up with a sackful. 700 a day with no public Every time trouble crops up, support from a neighbor comes too. It’s God’s providence, I funding guess.”

From the Dandelion noodle shop, Seo is clearly a man of great principle. When good ideas spread. he was 22, he entered the Clerical Congregation of Blessed Korean Martyrs. But after 25 years of Religious life, he abruptly left at the age of 47, in 2000. “I entered the congregation for a poor but honest life. But I found I was living a comfortable, snobby life,” he says.

After leaving, he rented a house in Incheon where he lived with a group of ex-prisoners he had met during his correction ministry. From there he opened Mindlele. The name means ‘dandelion,’ which is perhaps appropriate as the original seed of the idea Peter Seo Young-nam, founder of the Mindlele noodle has spread widely. In 2008, Seo started a shop basic education facility for children of poor families. That was followed by a free cafe for Incheon: In Korea, the owner of any small the children. noodle shop would be more than happy to get 700 customers a day. That’s how many they At around the same time, he opened a serve at the Mindlele Noodle Shop, in a support center where homeless people can shanty town in the western harbor city of rest, shower and wash their clothes. The Incheon. The difference is, the customers are center provides free medical and dental homeless and the noodles are free. checks as well as a free clothing store. Peter Seo Young-nam, 60, set it up on April 1, Since a TV documentary was aired about Seo 2003. with just a table for six in a 10 sq.m. and his work, his name has spread too. And shop. As well as growing in size it has also even though he eschews seeking sponsorship expanded its menu so it now also offers rice, he has won several awards, including the soup and several side dishes. The shop has a National Medal of Seokryujang, and these wide number of willing supporters. Some often come with prize money. provide it with rice or vegetables or meat, while some simply send money. Seo himself is With the National Medal purse, he extended one of the volunteers who cook the food and the noodle shop and started a scholarship serve the customers. program for 124 children in the ‘garbage city’ of Payatas in the Philippines’ Quezon City. Seo does not look for government subsidies, Now, he is working on a free noodle shop aid programs or wealthy sponsors. “Our shop there, which he hopes will be open by next imitates Dorothy Day’s famous House of April. Hospitality providing shelter, food and clothing to those who need it,” he says. “I “As dandelion seeds fly all over the place and follow that model without public funding. take root, I hope the Mindlele style of sharing I’ve found that there are many good people spreads across Korean society so people can who will help us anonymously. It’s shown me live a happy life. That’s all I want,” he says. that God really exists in ourselves.” “The rest depends on God.” There must be times when he wishes he had Source: ucanews.com looked for some of that public help, for feeding 700 people a day is not easy. “We’ve Unable to pay bribe, woman delivers baby at bus-stand

Salem (TN), Apr 15 (PTI): A pregnant woman was allegedly asked to pay a bribe for treatment at a government hospital here, and unable to pay it, she was forced to deliver the baby at a bus-stand. The 24-year-old woman, a labourer hailing from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, had come to the hospital with her husband and two children, aged five and two years, after she experienced labour pains this morning, but some nursing staff allegedly demanded Rs 1000 for her delivery, Dr Vallinayagam, Hospital Dean said.

The woman was reportedly forced to go out of the ward when she could not pay the money and when she reached the Salem old bus-stand, walking for about a Km from the hospital, she delivered the baby boy, Dean said, adding two women passers-by assisted her. Locals immediately called an ambulance and rushed her to the same government hospital where the matter was reported to me, he said. Vallinayagam said a three team headed by him would conduct an inquiry tomorrow and if the incident was found true, the hospital staff concerned would be suspended. Catholic priest to donate kidney to Muslim man Muhammad, the only breadwinner for his ailing parents and minor brother, advertised for donors. Thiruvananthapuram: Timely help by a Catholic priest will help save the life of a Muslim man in Kerala. Father Kidangathazhe Sebastian, 41, will donate one of his kidneys to 30-year-old Rasad Muhammad, the The following day, they went to the hospital to preparations for which are underway and the start the procedure for donation and transplant surgery is likely to be performed transplant. The tests have been positive. "A next month. Muhammad is suffering from few counseling sessions and a final nod from chronic kidney disease since more than a the medical board remain. In all probability, the year. On February 25, he boarded a bus from transplant will take place within a month," said Aluva to go to Kochi for his check-up. the priest. Muhammad said he was initially shocked by the words of the stranger in the Fr Sebastian, who is associated with the bus. "But, in the next moment, I realized that a Catholic Goodness TV and who was then not priest would not lie." wearing his cassock, was seated next to him. "He looked very weak and burdened. He told He was a salesman in Saudi Arabia until me the story of his tragedy and his desperate kidney disease cost him his sight and forced search for a kidney donor," Fr Sebastian said. him to return home to Harippad in Kerala. He "I was seized of the pain of a life facing death. could see again but there was little chance of I made a cursory query about his blood group, his surviving without a transplant. Muhammad, which matched mine," he added. the only breadwinner for his ailing parents and minor brother, advertised for donors. "A few For the Idukki priest, the fortuitous match held donors turned up, but nothing materialized. In special significance. It signaled to him the end the meantime, touts cheated me of 250,000. I of his silent quest to practice what he had was dependant on periodic dialyses in a been preaching. "Inspired by the story of Fr private hospital in Kochi," he said. Davis Chiramel, who had donated one of his kidneys to a Hindu man in 2009, I had been Fr. Sebastian is the fourth Catholic priest in longing to make the same sacrifice. the country to donate kidney after Fr. Davis Somewhere, I hoped, I would meet the Chiramel of Trichur archdiocese and Fr. Jacob deserving person. What mattered to me most Kozhuvally and Fr. Joseph Kodiyan of was that the decision would save a life. I Ernakulum. realised that the person seated beside me in the bus was the most deserving person,'' he Source: Indian Express said. discrimination of caste, creed, community, Malankara Church starts religion and gender, Cardinal Cleemis told social center in Delhi ucanindia.in. Currently it provides hundreds of food packets daily to poor people living in Cardinal Baselios Cleemis laid the foundation streets, slums, orphanages, rehabilitation stone of a social service center. centers and even patients in hospitals, who By Bijay Kumar Minj cannot afford even one meal a day, the youngest cardinal said. The church members fund the programs. The 53-year cardinal, major archbishop of Syro-Malankara church, was in New Delhi for a two-day visit. The Oriental Church organized a function to felicitate the leader who was made a cardinal last November. Some 3,000 people and several dignitaries from the Church and politics joined it.

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio at the function lauded the New Delhi: Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, the simplicity, humility and spirituality" of the first Cardinal of the Syro-Malankara Church, leader, saying such qualities will help him lead on Sunday laid the foundation stone for his the Church to growth in the Catholic Church in Oriental Church's first social service center in India. The Church had only less than 10 Jasola, New Delhi. “Let this center be the sign members when it joined Catholic fold in 1930, of love of Christ where all are welcome, even but has some 500,000 Catholics now, mainly the least of people,” said the Catholicos, the in Kerala state, southern India. “In him we head of the youngest of Oriental Churches. have found an able and zealous missionary The center named Prachodana (inspiration) is here,” the nuncio said. Parliamentarian P J designed to house an NGO leading the social Kurien said the Cardinal is considered a services that the Church initiated in 2009 in people's bishop due to his simple and the national capital territory and nearby areas. approachable nature. The acceptance he has among leaders of other religions will help in The service, joined with the "Food for the nation building, the politician said. Hungry" program, helps people without Courtesy: ucannews Office for Justice, Peace and Development (OJPD) Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) CBCI Centre, No. 1, Ashok Place, New Delhi – 110 001

11 April 2013

Press Release: Fifty Years of Pacem in Terris

Pacem in Terris – an Incessant Appeal for Peace on Earth: OJPD-CBCI

This day, fifty years ago, was published Pacem in Terris by Pope John XXIII who had envisioned and commissioned the Vatican II Council. Pacem in Terris, being the last encyclical of Pope John XXIII, and being a heartfelt cry for the cause of justice and peace, is a testament to the incontestable fact that Pope John XXIII was an apostle of peace.

None can miss the historical context of the encyclical. It was issued shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis – an “arm wrestle” between the U.S. and the USSR – in 1962, and after the erection of the Berlin Wall. Given the ‘existence and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,’an atomic war seemed imminent and John XXIII’s encyclical helped deactivate the horrific mechanism of the crisis.

The encyclical had the distinctive feature of being ‘an open letter to the world’ as it was addressed to “all people of good will”, to both believers and non-believers, beyond borders and “blocs”. Not unexpectedly, the encyclical’s ‘optimistic tone and development of a philosophy of rights’ gave the encyclical a universal appeal and evoked favourable response almost from all the quarters and blocs. The then UN Secretary U-Thant said: “The encyclical is certainly in line with all ideas and objectives espoused by the United Nations.” Soviet agency Tass widely distributed the text, stressing, above all, the part about disarmament.The U.S. Department of State welcomed it “as a historic encyclical of global importance.” The Washington Post wrote that the encyclical “is the voice of the conscience of the world,” and that Pope John XXIII had the support of the people. Even in Britain, a number of Anglican representatives presented a motion praising John XXIII’s message.

Pacem in Terris is just as pertinent now as it was half a century ago. In fact, on 40 th Anniversary of this encyclical, in 2003 Pope John Paul II came out with the World Day of Peace titled: Peace on Earth: a Permanent Commitment. If heeded well, its appeal that “any disputes which may arise between nations must be resolved by negotiation and agreement, and not by recourse to arms” (no.126) can go a long way in ensuring and establishing peace not only between South Korea and North Korea but among all warring countries in any part of the world.The encyclical sets out four main guidelines for following the path of peace: the importance of the inviolability of a person’s rights; the universal nature of the common good; the moral foundations of politics; the strength of reason and the beacon of faith.

India – the largest importer of arms in the world, and one of the 24 countries that abstained from the UN Arms Trade Treaty – particularly needs to learn right lessons from what Pacem in Terris says about Arms race. Arms race deprives less developed countries of social and economic progress (no.109) and creates a climate of fear (no.111). “Hence justice, right reason, and the recognition of human dignity cry out insistently for a cessation of the arms race.” (no.112)

Envisioning a new relationship under the sway of truth, justice, love and freedom, the encyclical recommends a culture of peace. The CBCI Office for Justice Peace and Development sees in the encyclical Pacem in Terris a constant reminder to the individuals and the nations that they always chose the path of peace abandoning the path of war and strife. On the fiftieth anniversary of the encyclical, let us choose to be an agent of change and an instrument of peace that the world we live in may become more habitable.

Most Rev. Yvon Ambroise Most Rev. Mathew Arackal Chairperson Most Rev. Gerald Almeida Member Bishops

Beware the shiny, happy, unreal world of Facebook

Posts on Facebook and Instagram don't always tell the real story.

Shauna Niequist for Relevant Magazine International

I keep having the same conversation over and over. It starts like this: “I gave up Facebook for Lent, and I realized I’m a lot happier without it.” Or like this, “Pinterest makes me hate my house.” Or like this: “I stopped following a friend on Instagram, and now that I don’t see nonstop snapshots of her perfect life, I like her better.” Yikes. This is a thing. This is coming up in conversation after conversation. The danger of the internet is that it’s very very easy to tell partial truths—to show the fabulous meal but not the mess to clean up afterward. To display the smiling couple-shot, but not the fight you had three days ago. To offer up the sparkly milestones but not the spiraling meltdowns.

I’m not anti-technology or anti-Internet, certainly, but I do think it’s important for us to remind ourselves from time to time that watching other peoples’ post-worthy moments on Facebook is always going to yield a prettier version of life than the one you’re living right now. That’s how it works. My life looks better on the Internet than it does in real life. Everyone’s life looks better on the internet than it does in real life. The Internet is partial truths—we get to decide what people see and what they don’t. That’s why it’s safer short term. And that’s why it’s much, much more dangerous long term. Because community—the rich kind, the transforming kind, the valuable and difficult kind—doesn’t happen in partial truths and well-edited photo collections on Instagram. Community happens when we hear each other’s actual voices, when we enter one another’s actual homes, with actual messes, around actual tables telling stories that ramble on beyond 140 pithy characters. But seeing the best possible, often-unrealistic, half-truth version of other peoples’ lives isn’t the only danger of the Internet. Our envy buttons also get pushed because we rarely check Facebook when we’re having our own peak experiences. We check it when we’re bored and when we’re lonely, and it intensifies that boredom and loneliness.

When you’re laughing at a meal with friends, are you scrolling through Pinterest? When you’re in labor with your much-prayed-for-deeply-loved child, are you checking to see what’s happening on Instagram? Of course not. We check in with our phones when it seems like nothing fun is happening in our own lives—when we’re getting our oil changed or waiting for the coffee to brew. It makes sense, then, that anyone else’s fun or beauty or sparkle gets under our skin. It magnifies our own dissatisfaction with that moment. When you’re waiting for your coffee to brew, the majority of your friends probably aren’t doing anything any more special.

But it only takes one friend at the Eiffel Tower to make you feel like a loser. I’m a writer. I use Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and Pinterest and my blog as part of my professional life—as a way to connect with readers and be part of a conversation that we’re creating together, a conversation about creativity and faith and writing and parenting and community and life around the table. It’s a lovely conversation, and part of my work involves reading many blogs and commenting on lots of photos and scrolling through status after status.

Some days it feels rich and multi-faceted. I learn and I’m inspired. I find recipes I want to try and stories I want to live. I feel connected and thankful to be part of such an intelligent and creative internet community. And then on some days, I feel like I have nothing to offer, like I must be the only one who isn’t a graphic designer and hasn’t yet managed to display her entire darling life online with lots of chevron and mint accents. I feel so certain that my life is a lot less darling than other peoples’ lives.

But that’s the Internet. The nature of it. I so easily fall prey to the seduction of other people’s partial truths and heavily filtered photos, making everything look amazing. And their amazing looking lives make me feel not amazing at all. Let’s choose community. Let’s stop comparing. Let’s start connecting.

Source: Relevant Mazazine(ucannews) GEM PLUS APPEAL FOR MEDICAL HELP Courtesy: daijiworld.com Allan Almeida (25), Pratik High Trisha, 30-month-old, House No. 11/57 (1), School,Andheri-Kurla Road, Andheri Kuthpadi, Udupi (East), Mumbai

Allan Almeida (25), son of Cyril Almeida and Olga Trisha, 30-month-old daughter of Nagesh Acharya Almeida, residing at C-9, Ankur CHS, Plot No. 100, and Rohini, residing at House No. 11/57 (1), Kuthpadi, Kadamwadi, near Pratik High School, Marol Pipeline, Udupi – 576118, has been diagnosed with Andheri-Kurla Road, Andheri (East), Mumbai – Neuroblastoma (a type of cancer). Since the last 400059, met with a road accident on March 19, 2010, about six months, she is undergoing treatment at resulting in severe brain injury. He has been Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal. The diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury/Diffuse Axonal hospital, which has made the above diagnosis, has Injury. He was treated at different hospitals during the also certified that an amount of Rs 2,00,000 would be last three years, and Dr Ramesh R Dargad, consulting required to spent at present for the child’s physician and cardiologist, has certified that Allan is chemotherapy, and a further amount of Rs 3,00,000 not fully conscious and is completely dependent for would be required for her further treatment. his nutritious and other daily needs. The father of the child works as a goldsmith, but says Cyril Almeida, who is a senior citizen, says he had he hasnot been able to attend to his work since the incurred heavy expenditure for his son’s treatment by last six months, as he is busy running around hospital, using up all his savings, and raising loans from house, and medical shops. He says that so far he had relatives and friends. As his wife is a housewife, and provided treatment to his daughter out of his limited there is no other source of income, he says. He is means, but that he has no means to meet cost of finding it hard to meet further treatment expenses of further treatment. Therefore, he has requested willing his son, besides repaying the loans raised. Therefore, donors to extend possible help. he has requested willing donors to extend possible help. Bank Account Details: SB account number: 000100101042974 Bank Account Details: Trisha SB account number: 1206937952 Corporation Bank, P B No. 15, Cyril F Almeida and Olga Almeida (parents) Corporation Bank Building, Central Bank of India, J B Nagar Branch, Corporation Bank Road, Udupi – 576 101. Andheri-Kurla Road, Mumbai – 400 059. IFS code: CORP0000001 IFS code: CBIN0281332 Phone: 91 99200 21250

A Centre for Community Organisation (CCO) c/o St Francis Xavier Church Behind ST Depot, Near Panvel Railway station (W), Panvel 410 206 Tel: 2745 5556 (Office timings: Monday to Saturday- 10 am to 5 PM) ADMISSIONS OPEN FOR SUMMER VACATION BATCH OF VARIOUS JOB ORIENTED AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT COURSES: 1. CAREER GUIDANCE On Wednesday May 1: A 2 hour session for teenagers and youth (9th std and above)

Resource Persons: Adrian Rosario and Kinjal Maru

Adrian Rosario has 22 years of work experience - in IT industry and the HR/Training field. He has been involved in organising and conducting career planning workshops since 1995.

Kinjal Maru has done her Masters' research on Career choices across Mumbai, Ahmedabad and nearby rural areas. She has conducted Career Planning sessions for a variety of age groups.

2. PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC SPAKING COURSE AND ENGLSIH SPEAKING COURSE: Daily session starting from April 29, 2013 (for all age groups) Resource Person: Gautam Garry Gupta team, The Personality School 3. MUSIC INSTRUMENTS LEARNING COURSE Mondays 5.30 to 7 PM

OTHER SUMMER VACATION AND REGUAR COURSES:  Dancing  Singing (with music notes)  Tailoring GEM PLUS - LAUGH TIME

Cartoons: courtesy: internet

Published by St Xavier’s Community Centre, Panvel, Editor: Fr Felix Rebello Tel: 2745 5556, Email:[email protected], [email protected] website: www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in

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