Chaitin, J. (2009). Methodological quandaries in joint Israeli-Palestinian peace research. Journal of Research Practice, 5(1), Article M2. Retrieved May 19, 2010, from http://jrp.icaap.org/index.php/jrp/article/view/172/173
This is something on war and it is relevant for the "doctoral education" group because it discusses the challenges of doing research in the context of violent conflict.
Tuesday, May 25, 7:30 PM Tad Daley Author & Former policy adviser to Rep. Dennis Kucinich
Apocalypse Never: How the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons May Actually Happen
Fireside Room, Unitarian Universalist Church 505 E. Charleston Road, Palo Alto Click here for compete program details
Tuesday, June 1, 7:00 PM Jackie Cabasso Official Participant, UN Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference Exec. Dir., Western States Legal Foundation
A Special Report from the United Nations Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Conference Community Media Center 900 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto Click here for complete program details
All programs are free and open to the public Wheelchair accessible
If you agree that public programs like these are important, please make a tax-deductible contribution to the work of Peninsula Peace and Justice Center. You can make a secure donation using you credit card or PayPal through our online store.
Stanford Says No to War will be hosting a panel discussion of international and domestic students about their experiences with United States militarism (see attached flyer).
It's All About U.S.: Questioning American Militarism 7pm - 8:30pm Wednesday, May 26th Kehillah hall on the 2nd floor of Koret Pavilion at the Ziff Center
Stanford Says No to War will also be recruiting for next year at the event, so if you are considering getting involved in peace/justice activities, it would be a great way to meet people that are also passionate about this stuff.
With the help of a friend, Mr K Naveenchand, a website called www.waratwhatcost.com has been developed.
The logic behind the same is explained below:
When the nations are at war against each other it is difficult to carry on the development effort. Most of the resources are directed towards war. During that time the public sentiment, logic etc tend to be nationalistic. The development efforts which aim to bring cross-fertilisation of ideas from different domains and terrains get nullified. This nullification continue even when there is peace in between wars also. This will lead to improper formulation of the problem and therefore solution. This applies to inner conflicts within the country also
It is possible to manage/run/govern a country without defence forces. Costarica is one good example. Similarly there are 20 and odd countries which don't have defence forces at all. They may be small or big. At the extreme end of argument it is useless to invest in defence forces. It is against the conventional logic, which I am aware.
Wherever we are on earth it is important for the development community to ensure that the world's scarce resources are not directed towards something like war. It may also be possible that during war and in between wars resources towards development may be directed towards improper development efforts. It is true that most of the technological developments came from Defence and their research. However this led to Defence forces dictating the terms of the international relations as well as human relations.
The economics of war are disastrous. The footprints of war are unbearable. It is high time the development community to focus their attention on the immediate need for creating peaceful atmosphere across the globe through their efforts. This need spans across all disciplines of the development thinking and practice.
This made me us to seek your attention!
Look forward to active engagement with the website!
End Water Poverty | Facebook It is agreed that people should be taught to earn on their own for their own needs. Do we need to wait till then? I have my my argument clear: Pl visit www.waratwhatcost.com
Geoff Browning (Campus Minister) to say_no_to_war, action_condi, A3M show details 12:36 AM (9 hours ago)
Hello All,
A couple of months ago I had proposed the possibility of endowing a chair of Peace Studies at Stanford. Many of you replied back with many helpful thoughts and links to other programs around the country. I dutifully filed those for later reading and analysis. Then about a month ago my backpack and computer were stolen along with all of those good suggestions. I won’t begin to describe the nightmare it has been to recover from that loss. However, I am reaching out again to request that you send me your thoughts and suggestions about the prospect of endowing a chair of Peace Studies at Stanford.
Let me try to explain my motivation in this effort. My interest in exploring an endowed chair is rooted in my commitment to peacemaking. Like many of us, I am alarmed and concerned about the growing militarization of our economy and culture. (SSNW just had an incredible event composed of student panelists who have personal experience with US militarism.*) The U.S. defense budget has become sacrosanct such that we will cut education, healthcare, Headstart, food stamps, virtually everything to the bone before we ever consider a cut in military spending. Our military spending is roughly equal to all the rest of the world combined. While many are decrying deficit spending, the military remains an untouchable holy cow. This is not healthy for our democracy, its citizens, or peace in the world.
Peace will not arrive by default or by attempting stop the wars around the world or kill all the bad guys. If we are going to achieve peace, it will only be by devoting at least as much focus, energy, creativity, sweat and scholarship to this effort as that spent on the forces of war and weaponry. Peace and peacemaking is currently a fringe idea, not something that is part of the mainstream of our culture or institutions. And it will remain a fringe idea as long as it lacks the scholarship and institutional recognition of our educational institutions. While Stanford does have majors in international relations or political science, it does not have a department or even a major that is devoted to educating students on the critical issues of peace, peacemaking, and conflict resolution.
Please let me know what you think of this and whether there would be alumni support for such an effort.
* Videos of the panel can be found at http://www.stanford.edu/group/antiwar/cgi-bin/mediawiki/index.php?title=It%27s_All_About_U.S.:_Questioning_American_Militarism
In justice & peace, Geoff
Pr. Geoff
Geoff Browning, Pastor United Campus Christian Ministry Progressive Christians @ Stanford
It is indeed a long felt need to have a chair of Peace studies at Stanford. Each and every country rather every university in the world should have a chair of peace studies. Rather as an after thought we should have the optimum number of chairs in the world till we achieve the goal we are pursuing.
For your information we have started an e-initiative called www.waratwhatcost.com in a simplistic way. This is still in the initial stages only. You can see that the all the postings are done by either by me or by my friend Naveenchand. We are trying to make the website as rich as possible. This is in tune with your thinking that the link between increasing defense budget and corrleated decreased allocation for development budget. The US huge Defense budget has huge implications for the world.
We at War@What Cost endorse your idea. Please keep the website as one of your posting address. You need to become a member of that. Please encourage others to become members of that.
Your suggestions and ideas to improve our functioning are most welcome. Naveen is based in Nigeria (though originally from India) and I am based in India.
We have our own limited reach in this matter. Please give your useful suggestions to take it further.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greece and Volcanoes, BP Oil and Hurricanes
Posted: 29 May 2010 10:25 AM PDT
The earth’s wrath is ubiquitous these days, as vividly witnessed by the fiery eruptions of the Eyjafjallajokull, Turrialba and Arenal, Pacahua, and Tungurahua, the active volcanoes in Iceland, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Ecuador, respectively.
In ancient Greece, a volcano eruption was a sign of divine disapproval. It is unclear whether modern Greece has taken notice.
For better of worse, unlike Greece, there was no ancient BP. Oily conglomerates have only become more important than nations in recent times. It is thus hard to tell whether an extraordinarily active hurricane summer season (expected to be upon us imminently) can be interpreted as sign of disapproval from above.
You are subscribed to email updates from The Kaufmann Governance Post To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. Email delivery powered by Google Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 http://thekaufmannpost.net/
From Third World to New South http://www.thehindu.com/2010/04/28/stories/2010042854821000.htmEditThe Hindu : Opinion / Leader Page Articles : From Third World to New South
http://www.stopthewarmachine.org/ STOP THE WAR MACHINESWM in Albuquerque, New Mexico is focused on educating people and finding solutions to the truth behind Pres. Eisenhower's statement about the danger of the military-industrial complex.
http://socialistworker.org/2010/04/21/the-twain-they-didnt-teach http://www.snopes.com/quotes/twain.asp The Mark Twain they didn't teach in school | SocialistWorker.org
Mark Twain, who died 100 years ago, is honored as a great writer. He should also be remembered for his razor-sharp opposition to U.S. imperialism
The prominent Chief Seattle, leader of the native American tribes made a significant comment in 1854 when the white man was fragmenting their common world into small independent ranches and farmhouses: “The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected, like the blood, which unites one family. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”
Business is largely conducted behind a veil of secrecy. This is justified ostensibly on grounds of national security, but a SIPRI study investigating the barriers to greater transparency found that secrecy worked more in the interest of the officials and the companies than the public purse or security. As a result, the barriers to greater transparency “more often sprang from lack of political commitment than genuine national security reasons.”
Corruption in the Defence Sector: http://www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/2006/defence_sectorEditdefence sector/2006/in focus/news roomTransparency International is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.
Global Leadership Civilization Designing A World Worth Living In If you are passionate about your Human Right to redesign our world, you have come to the right place. If you are serious about fundamental global change, please participate here to advance humanity. Being enlightened, promoting wisdom, having initiative and an open mind are the qualities needed to build a new civilization that works. http://www.wiserearth.org/group/globalleaderciv
This is really horrific. The convoy was sending humanitarian aid to the people suffering in Gaza but was attacked by the Israeli navy. Two have been killed and dozens injured.
Several activists from around the world have been by the Israeli navy, including former U.S. Congresswoman and presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney. http://www.freegaza.org/boat-trips/en/home/hope-fleet-news/976-israel-attacks-justice-boat-kidnaps-human-rights-workers-confiscates-medicine-toys-and-olive-trees
-- Adam Hudson Stanford University '10 B.A. Candidate in International Relations Minor in Middle Eastern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures hudson.adam1@gmail.com http://ajhudson.wordpress.com/
Noam Chomsky interview for Israeli television (English with Hebrew subtitles) צפו: ראיון מיוחד עם פרופ' חומסקי http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCtYecGbQz8
Is US planning to attack Pakistan? - 1 - International News – News – MSN IndiaIslamabad: US military has already completed 'dry exercises' for launching a unilateral strike inside Pakistan if a terrorist attack in America in the http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3950785
Working Paper No 01/2008 Accountability and Transparency in Political Finance
by Policy and Research Department English, French, Russian, Spanish 8 Published by Transparency International
When money corrupts campaigns and candidates, political finance can undermine the same democratic values and good governance that it also supports. To prevent and address the problem, transparency and accountability must form part of the policies used to combat it.
http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3961507EditIsreal makes a stunning attack on Turkish aid ship - 1 - International News – News – MSN IndiaJerusalem: Israeli marines stormed a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza on Monday and at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists were killed, triggering a dip
MEDIA ADVISORY Climate change governance experts to meet in Berlin is on Transparency International's website and can be viewed at http://www.transparency.org/ Transparency International Transparency International is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.
For more information about the Free Palestine Movement, see www.freepalestinemovement.org. For information on other groups that played major roles in the Freedom Flotilla, see savegaza.eu/eng/ (the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza), www.freegaza.org/ (the Free Gaza Movement), and www.ihh.org.tr/filistin/en/ (The Foundation For Human Rights And Freedoms And Humanitarian Relief of Turkey - IHH).
Strong anti-corruption action required to ensure peace and security in the Americas
is on Transparency International's website and can be viewed at http://www.transparency.org/news_room/latest_news/press_releases/2010/2010_06_03_oas_assembly_en
Massacre in Pakistan | Israel Should Investigate Deaths Minority Ahmadis Killed in Pakistan Prejudicial State Laws Targeting Ahmadis Embolden Islamist Extremists On Friday, extremist Islamist militants in Pakistan attacked two mosques used by the minority Ahmadiyya religious community, using guns, grenades, and suicide bombs, killing 94 people and wounding well over a hundred more.
A few days later, unidentified gunmen attacked the Intensive Care Unit of Lahore’s Jinnah Hospital, where victims and one of the alleged attackers were under treatment, sparking a shootout in which at least four people, mostly police officers and hospital staff, were killed.
Pakistani laws and government policies discriminate against religious minorities, in particular the Ahmadis. For instance, under Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law, virtually any public act of worship by Ahmadis, who identify themselves as Muslim, could result in a death sentence for simply professing their faith.
Sex scandal in Army takes many twists and turns New Delhi: One of the seniormost officers of the Army, Lt Gen A K Nanda, is facing charges of sexual misconduct after the wife of a Colonel working under him alleged that he misbehaved with her during an official trip to Israel last month.
The Army is currently investigating all aspects of the allegation, including the possibility of a rivalry and succession battle involving another senior officer. Initial investigations have shown up "a number of loopholes in the account of the allegations", an Army spokesman said on Thursday.
The Army began a probe after Col C P S Pasricha, who is the Technical Secretary to Lt Gen Nanda, and his wife filed separate complaints. In the first complaint, made by
Mansha has deeper pockets than even Zardari. Kaswar Klasra on the tycoon
Pakistan’s richest man, Mian Mohammad Mansha, has offered to help President Asif Ali Zardari — the country’s second-richest — in rescuing its ailing economy. For though it is South Asia’s second-largest, it is beset by numerous problems — led by unemployment, which is at an all time high. According to the latest figures available (Economic survey of Pakistan 2008-2009), the country’s total labour force currently stands at 51.78 million; the figure of the employed at 49.09 million; and of the unemployed at 2.69 million.
Nothing could please Zardari more. “The government and private entrepreneurs must together take the bull by its horns,” he is often heard saying. In July last year Zardari had held a meeting with six top businessmen, including Mansha, to tackle the energy issue.
Mansha, ranked 937 in the Forbes list of 1011 billionaires this year, was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz civil award by former President Musharraf on March 23, 2004, for his contributions as a visionary businessman. He hotly denies he was ever close to Nawaz Sharif or that he made money during his premiership.
Though the magazine put his net estimated worth at $1.5 billion, according to his own declaration last September, it is nearly three times as much — putting him well ahead of Zardari. Other unconfirmed reports say that his closely held Nishat Group has a total capitalisation of $10 billion. The group is Pakistan’s largest private employer, with overall staff strength pegged at over 30,000. It is also the biggest exporter of cotton clothes, which include brands like Gap, and Nishat Mills Limited is the largest exporting entity in Pakistan.
Mansha is a child of the Partition. His father and uncles jumped into textiles with Nishat Mills in 1951, and Mansha joined them soon after he returned from London where he studied accounting at Hendon College.
With some 50 companies already on board, Mansha, who owns the Muslim commercial Bank, is now setting up a $17 million paper mill. He won the controversial bid for the bank during the country’s privatisation push in 1991, but sold half of the bank shares for $900 million in May 2008.
The group has been steadily leaving its rivals behind: the Manshas were the 15th richest family in 1970; sixth in 1990; and, in just seven more years, they were the indisputable number one.
Mansha’s companies have wide-ranging interests that include textiles, cement, leasing, insurance and management-related ventures. He is believed to have invested in a large number of bourses, and currency and metal exchanges — both within and outside Pakistan.
“I want to be the first Pakistani to really go out and show that we can succeed even outside Pakistan — like some of our counterparts in India” Mansha says. All of his enterprises are family owned. His eldest son, Raza, 36, runs the DG Khan cement Ltd, Pakistan’s second-biggest cement maker; Umar, 35, heads overseas textile ventures; and Hasan, 28, is in charge of the power business.
If Mansha were pitchforked into a lead role, it would be good news for India as well, because he has all through been a strong believer in détente and the opening up of trade. His other appealing trait is that he isn’t, like some others, cast in a hawkish mould. Despite all his riches, he likes to remain low-key and advises his staff to do the same.
As for his working style, it’s delightfully informal. Rather than make his point only at board meetings, Mansha makes frequent use of the phone to get his message across to his staff.
http://www.zeenews.com/news631336.html Army Lt. General in sex scandal; wife says not true Updated on Friday, June 04, 2010, 00:25 IST Tags: Army, Sexual, Lt GeneralBuzz up! Share New Delhi: An Indian Army Lieutenant General has been accused of molestation by his subordinate officer's wife. The army Thursday ordered a probe and said there were a "number of loopholes" in the complaint. However, wife of Nanda, today dismissed allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him.
Lt. Gen. A.K. Nanda, the Army's Engineer-in-Chief, allegedly molested his technical secretary's wife during a trip to Israel, the victim's complaint said.
"There are some allegations. Preliminary investigations show that there are number of loopholes in the account of allegations. Further investigations are in progress," an army statement said.
It also said that Lt. Gen. Nanda "has neither resigned nor (has he) been asked to put up his resignation".
The statement came after news channels reported that Nanda had been asked to quit in the wake of the molestation charge.
However, Neerja Nanda, wife of Lt General A K Nanda, today dismissed allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him and vouched for his character.
"I have been married to my husband for the last 35 years. I know he is an upright, principled and disciplined officer with a high code of moral conduct. I vouch 100 percent for his character," she said reacting to reports of a Colonel-rank officer's wife accusing Nanda of misbehaving with her during a recent trip to Israel.
"I accompanied him on the trip in question. I was with him throughout. I vouch no such incident took place," Neerja insisted.
Referring to reports about Nanda, she said the "rumours that are being circulated are fictitious. There is no element of truth whatsoever".
"Let the Army conduct an inquiry. Truth will prevail," she said.
Earlier Thursday, as news of the complaint broke, a senior army officer told IANS: "The (Indian Army) chief won't tolerate such behaviour and if it is found to be true, action will be taken." Nanda, who has about one year of service left, has also served as the director general of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The complaint had been lodged with Bharti Singh, the wife of Indian Army chief Gen. V.K. Singh. Bharti Singh heads the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA). The technical secretary is now posted in Bhopal. Nanda's wife has described the charge against her husband as "not true" and said he "is a highly disciplined officer with a high moral character". "I would like to clarify that all this is not true. I vouch 100 percent for the character of my husband," Neerja Nanda told reporters. "He is a highly disciplined officer with a high moral character. No such incident ever happened. I would rather say that the army conduct its inquiry and the truth will prevail," she added. Neerja also pointed out that she had accompanied her husband to Israel when the incident is alleged to have happened.
The worlds top 5 largest military budgets in graph. (also permanent members of the United Nations Security Council) Figures sourced from SIPRI.
The follow is a table of the top 15 countries with the highest military expenditure for 2009 published in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2010 using current market exchange rates in current (2009) US dollars.[2]
Rank Country Spending ($ b.) World Share (%) — World Total 1531 100 1 United States 661 43 2 China 100a 6.6a 3 France 63.9 4.2 4 United Kingdom 58.3 3.8 5 Russia 53.3a 3.5a 6 Japan 51.0 3.3 7 Germany 45.6 3.0 8 Saudi Arabiab 41.3 2.7 9 India 36.3 2.4 10 Italy 35.8 2.3 11 Brazil 26.1 1.7 12 South Korea 24.1 1.6 13 Canada 19.2 1.3 14 Australia 19.0 1.2 15 Spain 18.3 1.2
^ SIPRI estimate ^ The figures for Saudi Arabia include expenditure for public order and safety and might be slight overestimates. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
Aerospace facing defence budget cuts - Astrium CEO2010-06-04 06:27:11 GMT (Reuters) 0 votes View Comments (0) Previous News | Next News Text Size Print Email Add a Comment FRANKFURT, June 4 (Reuters) - Aerospace companies' orders will suffer as European countries slash their defence budgets to tackle rising deficits, said Evert Dudok, chief executive of EADS unit Astrium, in a newspaper interview.
"Europe's EADS, and Astrium as a part of it, will be the answer to the countries' question of how to cope with their own budget bottlenecks," Dudok told Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in an interview published on Friday.
German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has said that steep spending cuts are needed considering Berlin's dire fiscal budget.
France has also said it was considering defence spending cuts. French media had reported that the Paris government was targeting 2-5 billion euros ($2.5-6.2 billion) of savings from its defence budget over the next three years.
Dudok called for more cooperation so that countries can split the work and costs of big defence projects.
"Now more than ever the question is whether each country needs to do everything itself and how much independence it can afford," he said.
Astrium, a maker of satellites and the Ariane space rocket, expects its new orders this year to shrink back to the level of 2008 after a major order boosted the 2009 figure to 8.3 billion euros from 3.3 billion, Dudok said.
The order backlog will remain about flat at 15 billion euros, he said. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Michael Shields) http://www.forexpros.com/news/interest-rates-news/aerospace-facing-defence-budget-cuts---astrium-ceo-141215
German defence chief ponders end to 'citizens in uniform'Germany preparing to make drastic cuts to military spending and considering scrapping conscription Tweet this (3)Kate Connolly in Berlin guardian.co.uk, Thursday 3 June 2010 08.45 BST Article history Germany is preparing to make drastic cuts to military spending and considering scrapping conscription, according to sources within the Bundeswehr and the government.
The defence minister, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, is planning to slash the number of active-duty soldiers from 250,000 to 150,000. He will also argue that a professional army will provide a more efficient military when €1bn (£840m) worth of cuts are needed to the annual defence budget.
Scrapping conscription could lead to a saving of €400m a year, although it would also change the way in which the military has been anchored in German civilian life since the 19th century.
Coming on top of previous cuts, which already mean Germany's defence spending is the second lowest per capita among the G8 countries, after Japan, the troop reduction will result in a German military half the size it was six years ago.
"There are no taboos," Guttenberg said in response to the leaked plans. "We're working on a variety of scenarios."
These come as part of a drive to cut Germany's record budget deficit. Other proposals include raising autobahn tolls, reducing bonus payments to parents and scrapping plans to reconstruct a Prussian palace in Berlin. Decisions will be made at a special meeting, due next week, of Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet.
Although 76% of Germans are in favour of defence budget cuts, according to a recent poll, the decision to do away with compulsory military service is by far the most controversial. While Nato leaders have been calling for a fully professional German army for decades, most people in Germany oppose the idea.
Germans overwhelmingly favour conscription because, in view of the militaristic past, it is seen as an appropriate way of keeping the army in check. Many point out that a professional army failed to stop the Nazis from coming to power.
Conscripts have traditionally been encouraged to view their service as helping to protect Germany, which in turn has helped cultivate the general view of the armed forces as peacekeepers rather than fighters. Conscripts are commonly referred to as "citizens in uniform". It was, therefore, a watershed moment several months ago when Guttenberg started referring to the conflict in Afghanistan as a "war", rather than a peacekeeping mission.
No conscript can be forced to take part in foreign missions, which are made up of professionals and volunteers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/03/defence-chief-ponders-end-to-citizens-in-uniform
IM may retaliate against terror outfit tag: IB June 04, 2010 19:41 IST
CommentWith the government declaring Indian Mujahideen [ Images ] as a terror organisation on Friday, Indian intelligence agencies warned that the outfit could come up with retaliatory attacks protesting against the announcement.
All the states have been asked to tighten security in view of the threat.
The Intelligence Bureau said in the wake of this announcement, the IM might plan more attacks in the future, however it will also be forced to cut down its operations from now on.
However, the declaration has also brought a big relief to Indian investigators, who can now investigate or arrest suspected IM members without much hindrance.
Prior to the announcement, Indian agencies found it extremely difficult to investigate cases in which the IM was involved.
Once a group is declared as a terrorist organisation, investigators can skirt the several procedures needed to arrest terrorists and to chargesheet them.
Also, investigators can now book IM members under stringent laws and will need to give lesser explanations in the court against their arrest.
The birth of the IM:
Following the attack at Akshardham temple [ Images ] in 2002, Pakistan's Inter State Intelligence decided to float a new outfit in India.
The ISI was desperate to float a terror outfit with an Indian face, as the Indian government had banned the Students Islamic Movement of India under the suspicion that the group was indulging in terrorist activities.
The instruction was that only men of Indian origin would be inducted in the outfit.
The names of IM members -- such as Riyaz Bhatkal, Abdus Subhan and the rest -- indicate that they are of Indian origin.
The outfit was named Indian Mujahideen after a number of changes. It was first called the Tehriq-e-Qasas and then the Lashkar-e-Qaharby. However, the ISI and the Lashkar-e-Tayiba felt these names were not compatible with the Indian scenario and that they sound like that of a Pakistani outfit.
The name Indian Mujahideen was first revealed after the blast at Uttar Pradesh [ Images ] court three years ago. At first it was dismissed as a hoax outfit, but after a period of time investigators realised that the outfit meant business.
The group was founded by Riyaz Bhatkal, who hailed from Bhatkal, Karnataka [ Images ]. While all the operations have been India-centric, the outfit is controlled by a Pakistani man, identified as Amir Reza.
The IB has said that IM members are none other than the members of the SIMI [ Images ].
Young, educated, lower rung SIMI operatives were chosen for IM, as the outfit wanted to use advanced technology to carry out blasts in India. They knew that the Indian police was not technically sound and that they would only shoot in the dark before they actually apprehended the real culprit, which in turn would give them the time to escape.
The big players:
Amir Reza: The big boss, who is a Pakistani
Riyaz Bhatkal: founder
Iqbal Bhatkal: Brother of Riyaz
Yaseen Bhatkal: Pune blast accused
Abdus Subhan Qureshi: A software engineer and an expert in making bombs
Safdar Nagori: Considered to be the architect of the IM, he had also converted the SIMI into a hardline outfit before turning it into the IM.
Mufti Abu Bashir: A preacher from Azamgarh
Qayamuddin Kapadia: Suspected to be the IM financer
Sajid Mansur: A marketing executive who was part of the IM
MANY SPECIES. ONE PLANET. ONE FUTURE. World Environment Day is a celebration and a day of apprising people about the environment they are surrounded with. It is celebrated every year with a different theme on June 5 and is hosted by different cities. As part of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, this year's event will be celebrated under the theme - Many Species. One Planet. One Future. The global host to the event this year is 'The Land of a Thousand Hills' - Rwanda, a country of remarkably biodiversity and one who has made vast contributions to environmental protection. India is yet to host such an event.
69 comments:
http://www.transparency.org/news_room/corruption_news
Chaitin, J. (2009). Methodological quandaries in joint Israeli-Palestinian peace research. Journal of Research Practice, 5(1), Article M2. Retrieved May 19, 2010, from http://jrp.icaap.org/index.php/jrp/article/view/172/173
This is something on war and it is relevant for the "doctoral education" group because it discusses the challenges of doing research in the context of violent conflict.
Tuesday, May 25, 7:30 PM
Tad Daley
Author & Former policy adviser to Rep. Dennis Kucinich
Apocalypse Never: How the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons May Actually Happen
Fireside Room, Unitarian Universalist Church
505 E. Charleston Road, Palo Alto
Click here for compete program details
Tuesday, June 1, 7:00 PM
Jackie Cabasso
Official Participant, UN Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference
Exec. Dir., Western States Legal Foundation
A Special Report from the United Nations Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Conference Community Media Center
900 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto
Click here for complete program details
All programs are free and open to the public
Wheelchair accessible
If you agree that public programs like these are important, please make a tax-deductible contribution to the work of Peninsula Peace and Justice Center. You can make a secure donation using you credit card or PayPal through our online store.
http://peaceandjustice.org/calendar.php
Stanford Says No to War will be hosting a
panel discussion of international and domestic students about their
experiences with United States militarism (see attached flyer).
It's All About U.S.: Questioning American Militarism
7pm - 8:30pm
Wednesday, May 26th
Kehillah hall on the 2nd floor of Koret Pavilion at the Ziff Center
Stanford Says No to War will also be recruiting for next year at the
event, so if you are considering getting involved in peace/justice
activities, it would be a great way to meet people that are also
passionate about this stuff.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Danny Colligan
dannycolligan@gmail.com
With the help of a friend, Mr K Naveenchand, a website called www.waratwhatcost.com has been developed.
The logic behind the same is explained below:
When the nations are at war against each other it is difficult to carry on the development effort. Most of the resources are directed towards war. During that time the public sentiment, logic etc tend to be nationalistic. The development efforts which aim to bring cross-fertilisation of ideas from different domains and terrains get nullified. This nullification continue even when there is peace in between wars also. This will lead to improper formulation of the problem and therefore solution. This applies to inner conflicts within the country also
It is possible to manage/run/govern a country without defence forces. Costarica is one good example. Similarly there are 20 and odd countries which don't have defence forces at all. They may be small or big. At the extreme end of argument it is useless to invest in defence forces. It is against the conventional logic, which I am aware.
Wherever we are on earth it is important for the development community to ensure that the world's scarce resources are not directed towards something like war. It may also be possible that during war and in between wars resources towards development may be directed towards improper development efforts. It is true that most of the technological developments came from Defence and their research. However this led to Defence forces dictating the terms of the international relations as well as human relations.
The economics of war are disastrous. The footprints of war are unbearable. It is high time the development community to focus their attention on the immediate need for creating peaceful atmosphere across the globe through their efforts. This need spans across all disciplines of the development thinking and practice.
This made me us to seek your attention!
Look forward to active engagement with the website!
Best regards
Sastry
End Water Poverty | Facebook
It is agreed that people should be taught to earn on their own for their own needs. Do we need to wait till then? I have my my argument clear: Pl visit www.waratwhatcost.com
www.facebook.com/EndWaterPoverty
Geoff Browning (Campus Minister) to say_no_to_war, action_condi, A3M
show details 12:36 AM (9 hours ago)
Hello All,
A couple of months ago I had proposed the possibility of endowing a chair of Peace Studies at Stanford. Many of you replied back with many helpful thoughts and links to other programs around the country. I dutifully filed those for later reading and analysis. Then about a month ago my backpack and computer were stolen along with all of those good suggestions. I won’t begin to describe the nightmare it has been to recover from that loss. However, I am reaching out again to request that you send me your thoughts and suggestions about the prospect of endowing a chair of Peace Studies at Stanford.
Let me try to explain my motivation in this effort. My interest in exploring an endowed chair is rooted in my commitment to peacemaking. Like many of us, I am alarmed and concerned about the growing militarization of our economy and culture. (SSNW just had an incredible event composed of student panelists who have personal experience with US militarism.*) The U.S. defense budget has become sacrosanct such that we will cut education, healthcare, Headstart, food stamps, virtually everything to the bone before we ever consider a cut in military spending. Our military spending is roughly equal to all the rest of the world combined. While many are decrying deficit spending, the military remains an untouchable holy cow. This is not healthy for our democracy, its citizens, or peace in the world.
Peace will not arrive by default or by attempting stop the wars around the world or kill all the bad guys. If we are going to achieve peace, it will only be by devoting at least as much focus, energy, creativity, sweat and scholarship to this effort as that spent on the forces of war and weaponry. Peace and peacemaking is currently a fringe idea, not something that is part of the mainstream of our culture or institutions. And it will remain a fringe idea as long as it lacks the scholarship and institutional recognition of our educational institutions. While Stanford does have majors in international relations or political science, it does not have a department or even a major that is devoted to educating students on the critical issues of peace, peacemaking, and conflict resolution.
Please let me know what you think of this and whether there would be alumni support for such an effort.
* Videos of the panel can be found at http://www.stanford.edu/group/antiwar/cgi-bin/mediawiki/index.php?title=It%27s_All_About_U.S.:_Questioning_American_Militarism
In justice & peace,
Geoff
Pr. Geoff
Geoff Browning, Pastor
United Campus Christian Ministry
Progressive Christians @ Stanford
Dear Geoff Browning, (Campus Minister, Stanford University)
It is indeed a long felt need to have a chair of Peace studies at Stanford. Each and every country rather every university in the world should have a chair of peace studies. Rather as an after thought we should have the optimum number of chairs in the world till we achieve the goal we are pursuing.
For your information we have started an e-initiative called www.waratwhatcost.com in a simplistic way. This is still in the initial stages only. You can see that the all the postings are done by either by me or by my friend Naveenchand. We are trying to make the website as rich as possible. This is in tune with your thinking that the link between increasing defense budget and corrleated decreased allocation for development budget. The US huge Defense budget has huge implications for the world.
We at War@What Cost endorse your idea. Please keep the website as one of your posting address. You need to become a member of that. Please encourage others to become members of that.
Your suggestions and ideas to improve our functioning are most welcome. Naveen is based in Nigeria (though originally from India) and I am based in India.
We have our own limited reach in this matter. Please give your useful suggestions to take it further.
Best regards.
Keep us in loop.
Sastry
The Kaufmann Governance Post
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greece and Volcanoes, BP Oil and Hurricanes
Posted: 29 May 2010 10:25 AM PDT
The earth’s wrath is ubiquitous these days, as vividly witnessed by the fiery eruptions of the Eyjafjallajokull, Turrialba and Arenal, Pacahua, and Tungurahua, the active volcanoes in Iceland, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Ecuador, respectively.
In ancient Greece, a volcano eruption was a sign of divine disapproval. It is unclear whether modern Greece has taken notice.
For better of worse, unlike Greece, there was no ancient BP. Oily conglomerates have only become more important than nations in recent times. It is thus hard to tell whether an extraordinarily active hurricane summer season (expected to be upon us imminently) can be interpreted as sign of disapproval from above.
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Laura Rozen Politico blog:
http://www.politico.com/email-alerts/laurarozenblogs/laurarozenblogs_05282010.html
From Third World to New South
http://www.thehindu.com/2010/04/28/stories/2010042854821000.htmEditThe Hindu : Opinion / Leader Page Articles : From Third World to New South
Philosophy Online
The collection for all researchers in the humanities!
cas.pdcnet.
Iraq War Website
48 video clips. In-depth analysis. Bush claims vs facts.Free downloads
www.leadingtowar.com
MA Conflict Resolution
2 MA degrees University of Malta & Georgre Mason University
www.um.edu.mt/imp
Sri Aurobindo's mission for world peace:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Aurobindo
Say 'No' to War Candidates - by Daniel Ellsberg
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/ellsberg.php?articleid=9265
Soldier! Say no to War
http://soldiersayno.blogspot.com/2008/09/war-resister-update.html
Soldier Say No!: War Resister Update
Towards a Nuclear Free world:
http://www.america.gov/nuclear-free-world.html
Direct Action to stop the war:
http://bayareadirectaction.wordpress.com/
Direct Action to Stop the War
Global Connect
Join Our Global Community... Cause We All Can Make A Difference!
www.theglobalconnectnetwork.com
York Masters Scholarships
World Top 100 University International Social Policy MA
www.york.ac.uk/spsw/postgraduate
Biodiesel From Algae
Get The Latest Scoop On Algae Fuels Sign-Up For Algae World 2008
www.FutureEnergyEvents.com/algae/
Boer War - Book
Unique historical investigation into Kitchener's Boer War coverup
sites.google.com
How to Stop a War
by Monica Benderman
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0211-27.htm
How to Stop a War
Hear Alternative Radio
http://www.alternativeradio.org
on KUNM FM 89.9
Alternative Radio: Troubled Times. Sound Answers
Stop the War Machine:
http://www.stopthewarmachine.org/
STOP THE WAR MACHINESWM in Albuquerque, New Mexico is focused on educating people and finding solutions to the truth behind Pres. Eisenhower's statement about the danger of the military-industrial complex.
Mark Twain they did not teach:
http://socialistworker.org/2010/04/21/the-twain-they-didnt-teach
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/twain.asp
The Mark Twain they didn't teach in school | SocialistWorker.org
Mark Twain, who died 100 years ago, is honored as a great writer. He should also be remembered for his razor-sharp opposition to U.S. imperialism
The prominent Chief Seattle, leader of the native American tribes made a significant comment in 1854 when the white man was fragmenting their common world into small independent ranches and farmhouses: “The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected, like the blood, which unites one family. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”
Building blocks for new world order
http://www.thehindu.com/2010/04/26/stories/2010042651181000.htm
The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : Building blocks for new world order
Why is the defence sector prone to corruption?
Business is largely conducted behind a veil of secrecy. This is justified ostensibly on grounds of national security, but a SIPRI study investigating the barriers to greater transparency found that secrecy worked more in the interest of the officials and the companies than the public purse or security. As a result, the barriers to greater transparency “more often sprang from lack of political commitment than genuine national security reasons.”
Corruption in the Defence Sector: http://www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/2006/defence_sectorEditdefence sector/2006/in focus/news roomTransparency International is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.
Global Monitoring report:
MDGs after Crisis!
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTGLOBALMONITOR/EXTGLOMONREP2010/0,,contentMDK:22529228~pagePK:64168445~piPK:64168309~theSitePK:6911226,00.html?cid=GS_DECGMR_29
Global Leadership Civilization
Designing A World Worth Living In
If you are passionate about your Human Right to redesign our world, you have come to the right place. If you are serious about fundamental global change, please participate here to advance humanity. Being enlightened, promoting wisdom, having initiative and an open mind are the qualities needed to build a new civilization that works.
http://www.wiserearth.org/group/globalleaderciv
http://www.politico.com/email-alerts/laurarozenblogs/laurarozenblogs_05302010.html
Water Sanitation Hygiene Technical resources:
http://www.watersanitationhygiene.org/References/Technical%20Resources.htm
This is really horrific. The convoy was sending humanitarian aid to the people suffering in Gaza but was attacked by the Israeli navy. Two have been killed and dozens injured.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=128420
http://smpalestine.com/2010/05/30/flotilla-update-israel-attacks-convoy-deaths-reported/
http://smpalestine.com/2010/05/30/flotilla-update-unarmed-activists-killed-at-sea/
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=10781745
Several activists from around the world have been by the Israeli navy, including former U.S. Congresswoman and presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney.
http://www.freegaza.org/boat-trips/en/home/hope-fleet-news/976-israel-attacks-justice-boat-kidnaps-human-rights-workers-confiscates-medicine-toys-and-olive-trees
Here's a good op-ed by Gideon Levy in Haaretz.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/gaza-flotilla-drives-israel-into-a-sea-of-stupidity-1.292959
--
Adam Hudson
Stanford University '10
B.A. Candidate in International Relations
Minor in Middle Eastern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
hudson.adam1@gmail.com
http://ajhudson.wordpress.com/
Lead globally!
http://leadglobally.org/page/global-projects
Coming soon - our new projects store | leadglobally.org
Noam Chomsky interview for Israeli television (English with Hebrew subtitles)
צפו: ראיון מיוחד עם פרופ' חומסקי
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCtYecGbQz8
31 May 2010 Transparencu International Corruption news
http://www.transparency.org/news_room/corruption_news
Hot pursuit:
Is US planning to attack Pakistan? - 1 - International News – News – MSN IndiaIslamabad: US military has already completed 'dry exercises' for launching a unilateral strike inside Pakistan if a terrorist attack in America in the
http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3950785
India and Brahmos:
http://news.in.msn.com/internalsecurity/
India: Lost CRPF wireless set adied DAntewada Naxal Massacre:
http://news.in.msn.com/internalsecurity/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3936315
Mission peace:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20100531/LOCAL18/5310331/1001/news/Ben-Davis-graduate-is-on-a-mission-of-peace
Working Paper No 01/2008 Accountability and Transparency in Political Finance
by Policy and Research Department
English, French, Russian, Spanish
8
Published by Transparency International
When money corrupts campaigns and candidates, political finance can undermine the same democratic values and good governance that it also supports. To prevent and address the problem, transparency and accountability must form part of the policies used to combat it.
contact: plres@transparency.org
http://www.transparency.org/publications/publications/working_papers/wp_01_2008_political_finance
Obama speech rained out; netanyahu cancels his visit
http://www.politico.com/email-alerts/laurarozenblogs/laurarozenblogs_05312010.html
http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3961507EditIsreal makes a stunning attack on Turkish aid ship - 1 - International News – News – MSN IndiaJerusalem: Israeli marines stormed a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza on Monday and at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists were killed, triggering a dip
Israel attack stuns national leaders:
http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3961507
Volunteering with WaterAid and Endwater Poverty
http://www.wateraid.org/uk/get_involved/volunteer/default.asp
Human Rights
The protection and nurture of these rights rely on the efforts of us &.
www.america.gov
Cold War Paperbacks
Series on the Cold War. Detailed research. Timely analysis.
www.coldwar.net
MEDIA ADVISORY
Climate change governance experts to meet in Berlin
is on Transparency International's website and can be viewed at
http://www.transparency.org/
Transparency International Transparency International is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.
For more information about the Free Palestine Movement, see www.freepalestinemovement.org.
For information on other groups that played major roles in the Freedom Flotilla, see savegaza.eu/eng/ (the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza), www.freegaza.org/ (the Free Gaza Movement), and www.ihh.org.tr/filistin/en/ (The Foundation For Human Rights And Freedoms And Humanitarian Relief of Turkey - IHH).
Ground Report of India
http://www.groundreportindia.com/2010/05/may-2010-edition.html
The History of Warfare
A Worldwide Visual History of Technology and Tactics
www.thamesandhudson.com
Pakistan's nuclear Arsenal to overtake India!
http://news.in.msn.com/internalsecurity/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3936320
Strong anti-corruption action required to ensure peace and security in the Americas
is on Transparency International's website and can be viewed at
http://www.transparency.org/news_room/latest_news/press_releases/2010/2010_06_03_oas_assembly_en
Sexual mis-conduct by Indian Army General:
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3969615
Arundhati Roy backs Maoists, dares authorities to arrest her
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3970003
Massacre in Pakistan | Israel Should Investigate Deaths
Minority Ahmadis Killed in Pakistan
Prejudicial State Laws Targeting Ahmadis Embolden Islamist Extremists
On Friday, extremist Islamist militants in Pakistan attacked two mosques used by the minority Ahmadiyya religious community, using guns, grenades, and suicide bombs, killing 94 people and wounding well over a hundred more.
A few days later, unidentified gunmen attacked the Intensive Care Unit of Lahore’s Jinnah Hospital, where victims and one of the alleged attackers were under treatment, sparking a shootout in which at least four people, mostly police officers and hospital staff, were killed.
Pakistani laws and government policies discriminate against religious minorities, in particular the Ahmadis. For instance, under Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law, virtually any public act of worship by Ahmadis, who identify themselves as Muslim, could result in a death sentence for simply professing their faith.
http://www.hrw.org/newsletter
United Nations Foundation and Devex Launch MDG Campaign
http://www.devex.com/
Sex scandal in Army takes many twists and turns
New Delhi: One of the seniormost officers of the Army, Lt Gen A K Nanda, is facing charges of sexual misconduct after the wife of a Colonel working under him alleged that he misbehaved with her during an official trip to Israel last month.
The Army is currently investigating all aspects of the allegation, including the possibility of a rivalry and succession battle involving another senior officer. Initial investigations have shown up "a number of loopholes in the account of the allegations", an Army spokesman said on Thursday.
The Army began a probe after Col C P S Pasricha, who is the Technical Secretary to Lt Gen Nanda, and his wife filed separate complaints. In the first complaint, made by
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3968797
Can He Help Save Pakistan?
Mansha has deeper pockets than even Zardari. Kaswar Klasra on the tycoon
Pakistan’s richest man, Mian Mohammad Mansha, has offered to help President Asif Ali Zardari — the country’s second-richest — in rescuing its ailing economy. For though it is South Asia’s second-largest, it is beset by numerous problems — led by unemployment, which is at an all time high. According to the latest figures available (Economic survey of Pakistan 2008-2009), the country’s total labour force currently stands at 51.78 million; the figure of the employed at 49.09 million; and of the unemployed at 2.69 million.
Nothing could please Zardari more. “The government and private entrepreneurs must together take the bull by its horns,” he is often heard saying. In July last year Zardari had held a meeting with six top businessmen, including Mansha, to tackle the energy issue.
Mansha, ranked 937 in the Forbes list of 1011 billionaires this year, was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz civil award by former President Musharraf on March 23, 2004, for his contributions as a visionary businessman. He hotly denies he was ever close to Nawaz Sharif or that he made money during his premiership.
Though the magazine put his net estimated worth at $1.5 billion, according to his own declaration last September, it is nearly three times as much — putting him well ahead of Zardari. Other unconfirmed reports say that his closely held Nishat Group has a total capitalisation of $10 billion. The group is Pakistan’s largest private employer, with overall staff strength pegged at over 30,000. It is also the biggest exporter of cotton clothes, which include brands like Gap, and Nishat Mills Limited is the largest exporting entity in Pakistan.
Mansha is a child of the Partition. His father and uncles jumped into textiles with Nishat Mills in 1951, and Mansha joined them soon after he returned from London where he studied accounting at Hendon College.
With some 50 companies already on board, Mansha, who owns the Muslim commercial Bank, is now setting up a $17 million paper mill. He won the controversial bid for the bank during the country’s privatisation push in 1991, but sold half of the bank shares for $900 million in May 2008.
The group has been steadily leaving its rivals behind: the Manshas were the 15th richest family in 1970; sixth in 1990; and, in just seven more years, they were the indisputable number one.
Mansha’s companies have wide-ranging interests that include textiles, cement, leasing, insurance and management-related ventures. He is believed to have invested in a large number of bourses, and currency and metal exchanges — both within and outside Pakistan.
“I want to be the first Pakistani to really go out and show that we can succeed even outside Pakistan — like some of our counterparts in India” Mansha says. All of his enterprises are family owned. His eldest son, Raza, 36, runs the DG Khan cement Ltd, Pakistan’s second-biggest cement maker; Umar, 35, heads overseas textile ventures; and Hasan, 28, is in charge of the power business.
If Mansha were pitchforked into a lead role, it would be good news for India as well, because he has all through been a strong believer in détente and the opening up of trade. His other appealing trait is that he isn’t, like some others, cast in a hawkish mould. Despite all his riches, he likes to remain low-key and advises his staff to do the same.
As for his working style, it’s delightfully informal. Rather than make his point only at board meetings, Mansha makes frequent use of the phone to get his message across to his staff.
Writer’s email id:
kaswarklasra@yahoo.com
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main45.asp?filename=Ws050610pakbillionare.asp
http://www.zeenews.com/news631336.html
Army Lt. General in sex scandal; wife says not true
Updated on Friday, June 04, 2010, 00:25 IST
Tags: Army, Sexual, Lt GeneralBuzz up! Share New Delhi: An Indian Army Lieutenant General has been accused of molestation by his subordinate officer's wife. The army Thursday ordered a probe and said there were a "number of loopholes" in the complaint. However, wife of Nanda, today dismissed allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him.
Lt. Gen. A.K. Nanda, the Army's Engineer-in-Chief, allegedly molested his technical secretary's wife during a trip to Israel, the victim's complaint said.
"There are some allegations. Preliminary investigations show that there are number of loopholes in the account of allegations. Further investigations are in progress," an army statement said.
It also said that Lt. Gen. Nanda "has neither resigned nor (has he) been asked to put up his resignation".
The statement came after news channels reported that Nanda had been asked to quit in the wake of the molestation charge.
However, Neerja Nanda, wife of Lt General A K Nanda, today dismissed allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him and vouched for his character.
"I have been married to my husband for the last 35 years. I know he is an upright, principled and disciplined officer with a high code of moral conduct. I vouch 100 percent for his character," she said reacting to reports of a Colonel-rank officer's wife accusing Nanda of misbehaving with her during a recent trip to Israel.
"I accompanied him on the trip in question. I was with him throughout. I vouch no such incident took place," Neerja insisted.
Referring to reports about Nanda, she said the "rumours that are being circulated are fictitious. There is no element of truth whatsoever".
"Let the Army conduct an inquiry. Truth will prevail," she said.
Earlier Thursday, as news of the complaint broke, a senior army officer told IANS: "The (Indian Army) chief won't tolerate such behaviour and if it is found to be true, action will be taken." Nanda, who has about one year of service left, has also served as the director general of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The complaint had been lodged with Bharti Singh, the wife of Indian Army chief Gen. V.K. Singh. Bharti Singh heads the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA). The technical secretary is now posted in Bhopal. Nanda's wife has described the charge against her husband as "not true" and said he "is a highly disciplined officer with a high moral character". "I would like to clarify that all this is not true. I vouch 100 percent for the character of my husband," Neerja Nanda told reporters. "He is a highly disciplined officer with a high moral character. No such incident ever happened. I would rather say that the army conduct its inquiry and the truth will prevail," she added. Neerja also pointed out that she had accompanied her husband to Israel when the incident is alleged to have happened.
IANS, agencies inputs
SIPRI Yearbook 2010
The worlds top 5 largest military budgets in graph.
(also permanent members of the United Nations Security Council)
Figures sourced from SIPRI.
The follow is a table of the top 15 countries with the highest military expenditure for 2009 published in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2010 using current market exchange rates in current (2009) US dollars.[2]
Rank Country Spending ($ b.) World Share (%)
— World Total 1531 100
1 United States 661 43
2 China 100a 6.6a
3 France 63.9 4.2
4 United Kingdom 58.3 3.8
5 Russia 53.3a 3.5a
6 Japan 51.0 3.3
7 Germany 45.6 3.0
8 Saudi Arabiab 41.3 2.7
9 India 36.3 2.4
10 Italy 35.8 2.3
11 Brazil 26.1 1.7
12 South Korea 24.1 1.6
13 Canada 19.2 1.3
14 Australia 19.0 1.2
15 Spain 18.3 1.2
^ SIPRI estimate
^ The figures for Saudi Arabia include expenditure for public order and safety and might be slight
overestimates.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
Aerospace facing defence budget cuts - Astrium CEO2010-06-04 06:27:11 GMT (Reuters)
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FRANKFURT, June 4 (Reuters) - Aerospace companies' orders will suffer as European countries slash their defence budgets to tackle rising deficits, said Evert Dudok, chief executive of EADS unit Astrium, in a newspaper interview.
"Europe's EADS, and Astrium as a part of it, will be the answer to the countries' question of how to cope with their own budget bottlenecks," Dudok told Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in an interview published on Friday.
German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has said that steep spending cuts are needed considering Berlin's dire fiscal budget.
France has also said it was considering defence spending cuts. French media had reported that the Paris government was targeting 2-5 billion euros ($2.5-6.2 billion) of savings from its defence budget over the next three years.
Dudok called for more cooperation so that countries can split the work and costs of big defence projects.
"Now more than ever the question is whether each country needs to do everything itself and how much independence it can afford," he said.
Astrium, a maker of satellites and the Ariane space rocket, expects its new orders this year to shrink back to the level of 2008 after a major order boosted the 2009 figure to 8.3 billion euros from 3.3 billion, Dudok said.
The order backlog will remain about flat at 15 billion euros, he said. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Michael Shields)
http://www.forexpros.com/news/interest-rates-news/aerospace-facing-defence-budget-cuts---astrium-ceo-141215
German defence chief ponders end to 'citizens in uniform'Germany preparing to make drastic cuts to military spending and considering scrapping conscription
Tweet this (3)Kate Connolly in Berlin guardian.co.uk, Thursday 3 June 2010 08.45 BST Article history
Germany is preparing to make drastic cuts to military spending and considering scrapping conscription, according to sources within the Bundeswehr and the government.
The defence minister, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, is planning to slash the number of active-duty soldiers from 250,000 to 150,000. He will also argue that a professional army will provide a more efficient military when €1bn (£840m) worth of cuts are needed to the annual defence budget.
Scrapping conscription could lead to a saving of €400m a year, although it would also change the way in which the military has been anchored in German civilian life since the 19th century.
Coming on top of previous cuts, which already mean Germany's defence spending is the second lowest per capita among the G8 countries, after Japan, the troop reduction will result in a German military half the size it was six years ago.
"There are no taboos," Guttenberg said in response to the leaked plans. "We're working on a variety of scenarios."
These come as part of a drive to cut Germany's record budget deficit. Other proposals include raising autobahn tolls, reducing bonus payments to parents and scrapping plans to reconstruct a Prussian palace in Berlin. Decisions will be made at a special meeting, due next week, of Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet.
Although 76% of Germans are in favour of defence budget cuts, according to a recent poll, the decision to do away with compulsory military service is by far the most controversial. While Nato leaders have been calling for a fully professional German army for decades, most people in Germany oppose the idea.
Germans overwhelmingly favour conscription because, in view of the militaristic past, it is seen as an appropriate way of keeping the army in check. Many point out that a professional army failed to stop the Nazis from coming to power.
Conscripts have traditionally been encouraged to view their service as helping to protect Germany, which in turn has helped cultivate the general view of the armed forces as peacekeepers rather than fighters. Conscripts are commonly referred to as "citizens in uniform". It was, therefore, a watershed moment several months ago when Guttenberg started referring to the conflict in Afghanistan as a "war", rather than a peacekeeping mission.
No conscript can be forced to take part in foreign missions, which are made up of professionals and volunteers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/03/defence-chief-ponders-end-to-citizens-in-uniform
IM may retaliate against terror outfit tag: IB
June 04, 2010 19:41 IST
CommentWith the government declaring Indian Mujahideen [ Images ] as a terror organisation on Friday, Indian intelligence agencies warned that the outfit could come up with retaliatory attacks protesting against the announcement.
All the states have been asked to tighten security in view of the threat.
The Intelligence Bureau said in the wake of this announcement, the IM might plan more attacks in the future, however it will also be forced to cut down its operations from now on.
However, the declaration has also brought a big relief to Indian investigators, who can now investigate or arrest suspected IM members without much hindrance.
Prior to the announcement, Indian agencies found it extremely difficult to investigate cases in which the IM was involved.
Once a group is declared as a terrorist organisation, investigators can skirt the several procedures needed to arrest terrorists and to chargesheet them.
Also, investigators can now book IM members under stringent laws and will need to give lesser explanations in the court against their arrest.
The birth of the IM:
Following the attack at Akshardham temple [ Images ] in 2002, Pakistan's Inter State Intelligence decided to float a new outfit in India.
The ISI was desperate to float a terror outfit with an Indian face, as the Indian government had banned the Students Islamic Movement of India under the suspicion that the group was indulging in terrorist activities.
The instruction was that only men of Indian origin would be inducted in the outfit.
The names of IM members -- such as Riyaz Bhatkal, Abdus Subhan and the rest -- indicate that they are of Indian origin.
The outfit was named Indian Mujahideen after a number of changes. It was first called the Tehriq-e-Qasas and then the Lashkar-e-Qaharby. However, the ISI and the Lashkar-e-Tayiba felt these names were not compatible with the Indian scenario and that they sound like that of a Pakistani outfit.
The name Indian Mujahideen was first revealed after the blast at Uttar Pradesh [ Images ] court three years ago. At first it was dismissed as a hoax outfit, but after a period of time investigators realised that the outfit meant business.
The group was founded by Riyaz Bhatkal, who hailed from Bhatkal, Karnataka [ Images ]. While all the operations have been India-centric, the outfit is controlled by a Pakistani man, identified as Amir Reza.
The IB has said that IM members are none other than the members of the SIMI [ Images ].
Young, educated, lower rung SIMI operatives were chosen for IM, as the outfit wanted to use advanced technology to carry out blasts in India. They knew that the Indian police was not technically sound and that they would only shoot in the dark before they actually apprehended the real culprit, which in turn would give them the time to escape.
The big players:
Amir Reza: The big boss, who is a Pakistani
Riyaz Bhatkal: founder
Iqbal Bhatkal: Brother of Riyaz
Yaseen Bhatkal: Pune blast accused
Abdus Subhan Qureshi: A software engineer and an expert in making bombs
Safdar Nagori: Considered to be the architect of the IM, he had also converted the SIMI into a hardline outfit before turning it into the IM.
Mufti Abu Bashir: A preacher from Azamgarh
Qayamuddin Kapadia: Suspected to be the IM financer
Sajid Mansur: A marketing executive who was part of the IM
Amil Parwaz: Accused in UP blasts
http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/04/im-may-retaliate-against-terror-outfit-tag-ib.htm
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I want to share video "Earth Day: Give Earth a Hand" with you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep9MFiWXR8M. It's beautiful beyond words!
MANY SPECIES. ONE PLANET. ONE FUTURE.
World Environment Day is a celebration and a day of apprising people about the environment they are surrounded with. It is celebrated every year with a different theme on June 5 and is hosted by different cities. As part of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, this year's event will be celebrated under the theme - Many Species. One Planet. One Future. The global host to the event this year is 'The Land of a Thousand Hills' - Rwanda, a country of remarkably biodiversity and one who has made vast contributions to environmental protection. India is yet to host such an event.
http://specials.msn.co.in/sp10/EnvironmentalDay/index.asp
In a country like INDIA which is prone to many terrorist attacks it is impossible to run the country without defence forces
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