What happened in Amboli with Keenan and Reuben is known to us. The act was brutal and the perpetrators should be booked, punished and the proceeding should be established but the root cause of what happened that night and the issue they stood up for was eve teasing. Hence this campaign ZERO TOLERANCE, which is a campaign for zero tolerance to Sexual Harassment.

It is not just the casual approach. There is also a stigma attached to the entire issue, which prevents vulnerable victims from standing up and complaining. What makes matter worst is that Section 354 and 509 of IPC, are toothless provisions which have completely failed to tackle the issue.

As a campaign we have three major goals:

1. Spread awareness especially amongst the youth, that Sexual Harassment is just not acceptable and we need to be ZERO TOLERANT, be it victims or onlooker (An onlooker can also complain and not just the victim).

2. Empower women through imparting information about their rights and the existing laws to book the culprit and combat the menace. (E.g. What exactly a girl do if she is touched in appropriately at public).

3. Petition Shri. RR Patil through a signature campaign both online and offline. To strengthen sections 354 and 509, make them non bail-able, a move that is under consideration by the government but has not been implemented.

4. Take legal recourse, by filing a PIL in the high court asking for clear directions that the present mechanism is insufficient to tackle the menace of Sexual Harassment and stronger law is needed in addition to robust procedure, which genuinely empower women.

So join this campaign for the women in all our lives be it then our mothers, our sister, wives, daughter, friends or we ourselves!

Support what Keenan & Reuben stood for ! Join the Zero Tolerance Campaign and spread the word. It's time we all got ZERO TOLERANT !

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/zerotolerancecampaign

Twitter:http://twitter.com/Zero_Tol

There are already 3 out of the 8 tiger subspecies which have become extinct: the Javan, the Caspian, and the Bali tiger. The South China tiger is almost gone with an appaling population of only 30 to 40. The Siberian and the Sumatran tigers are only 500 in number and the Indo Chinese is not far behind.

The main reasons for the tiger's demise are poaching, habitat loss and population fragmentation.

The Indian tiger is being poached at a rate of one tiger a day. They are mainly poached for body parts, which are sold on the black market for use in Traditional Chinese Medicine. These body parts are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine because of old beliefs that they contain certain healing powers. These beliefs are absolutely unfounded as there is no scientific proof that there is any medicinal value in the tiger parts at all.

He is one of the few nation-builders who contributed immensely towards shaping the future of post-independence India. His remarkable life and achievements are an embodiment of faith; faith – in the ability of the common man to exercise control over his destiny and create world-class Institutions that become shining examples of excellence; faith - in the ability of Indian citizens to break the vicious cycle of poverty and exploitation and create a socio-economic revolution; faith in a religion called ‘cooperation’.

On 13th June, Dr. Kurien will complete 60 years of an amazing journey that started on Friday, 13th June 1949, when as a young bachelor full of zest for life, he landed in Anand – a town which he transformed into the milk capital of India. His courage and conviction engulfed the entire nation, galvanizing our farmers into breaking the shackles of oppression and making India, the largest milk producing nation in the world. He believed in placing the tools of development in the hands of farmers themselves, enabling them to decide what they want and to create what they need. Through the dairy cooperative movement which Dr. Kurien championed throughout his life, he helped our farmers to obtain a steady source of income, enabling them to improve their standard of living. His relentless hard work has helped to generate gainful employment for the most vulnerable section of our population:- small and marginal farmers, landless labourers and rural women. It is largely thanks to the efforts of Dr. Verghese Kurien that women of rural India have some measure of economic independence, through dairying. His vision and his zeal have been forever embodied in the numerous Institutions that he created; AMUL, GCMMF, IRMA, NDDB, NCDFI, Anandalaya, various state dairy cooperative federations and district-level milk producers’ cooperative unions.

The list of honours and awards, already bestowed on him are endless. It would be a fitting tribute to his extraordinary accomplishments, if the Government of India were to confer on him the highest civilian honour of the nation – ‘Bharat Ratna’. We are sure that you will agree that Dr. Verghese Kurien will be the most worthy recipient of this award. We would like to send a petition to the President and the Prime Minister of India to award ‘Bharat Ratna’ to Dr. Kurien, in recognition for his immense contribution.

We shall be grateful if you can lend your support to our efforts.

The fans are really upset after hearing the this news and so we have filed a petition requesting Star One to sort out thier problems with Shilpa Anand and make her stay in the abovesaid serial.

Le Corbusier worked on the design, planning and construction of Chandigarh with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret and a team of international architects from 1950 until his death in 1965. The result is the first planned city in India with beautiful green spaces and some of the 20th century’s finest buildings.

Their work at Chandigarh is now imperilled by the removal of artifacts designed by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and their team, including public property. Many of these artifacts, such as furniture, lighting, carvings, architectural drawings and models, have subsequently been sold by international art dealers and auction houses. A manhole cover from Chandigarh sold for over $24,000 at an auction in Paris in November 2010.

If the plundering of Chandigarh continues, Le Corbusier’s vision of the city will be destroyed. This article in The Guardian newspaper explains the gravity of the situation:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/mar/07/chandigarh-le-corbusier-heritage-site?INTCMP=SRCH

A group of local architects and art historians led by Manmohan Nath Sharma, who was Le Corbusier’s first assistant and later chief architect of Chandigarh, is campaigning to preserve the city’s architectural integrity.

You can help their campaign by signing this petition to urge the Indian government to:

- lobby UNESCO to make Chandigarh a World Heritage Site
- impose tighter controls on the removal of public property from Chandigarh

Your support could help to Save Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh.

As they say the good die young, Ishmeet died on July 29th, 2008 in the Maldives. Ishmeet had gone to Maldives to perform for the 'Star Voice of Maldives' contest to be held on the 1st of August, 2008. He “supposedly” drowned in the swimming pool of the Chaaya Island Dhonveli resort, at which he was staying on Tuesday, 29th of July 2008 only three days before he was scheduled to perform.

The news of his untimely death has shocked the whole country and his fans. This tragic news is particularly shocking for Sikhs as he was representing his clean Sikh Identity all round the world. Ishmeet made Sikhs proud of his achievement and by his presence at recognized high class venues. Ishmeet not only mesmerized the music fraternity but also enthralled the whole world with his voice and devotion to singing.

Ishmeet Singh died while he was on a professional commitment (to perform in Star Voice of Maldives). Isn’t the STAR GROUP liable for any compensation to his family?

If STAR GROUP thinks they can shed away the accountability, they are wrong. They are still accountable to whole India or rather the whole world to come forward with some compassion and remorse for what has happened.

STAR GROUP still needs to come up with a unique way to memorialize Ishmeet. We would like to know about Ishmeet’s journey, which was short yet so inspiring. Also, we want to know about him from Day 1 to the day he left us. Don’t show us repeat of the VOI Grand Finale, rather come up with a special program for him. Dedicate a special tribute to our hero.

Further, STAR GROUP definitely needs to take initiatives to come up with a CD of his performances. There is no doubt that the CD will get an overwhelm response worldwide. We further demand STAR GROUP to pay the royalty out of the sale of CD to Ishmeet’s family. Though money is no solace to their irreparable loss but sure it is needed to survive.

There are many unanswered concerns about Ishmeet’s death. Drowning of a 5 ft 11inch tall guy in a swimming pool which was about 7.5 ft deep seems absurd and questionable. The corroboration of the facts by eye witnesses seems fragile. Definitely the loose ends of the mystery need to be tied before concluding anything. There is an absolute need of a high level inquiry into this accident. A demand towards this has already been made by his family. We, as undersigned, put our weight behind this demand and hereby ask for the same in the strongest possible words.

Media did a commendable job in covering this incidence but for only 3 days. No wonder media coverage comes with an expiration date on it. Is this date based on the popularity of the person? Or is it based on the genuineness of media to help? For three days, Ishmeet’s house was hub of all the attention with media vans hovering around it. But why is not media pursuing this further? Have they concluded the cause of his death?

We request world media to support this “Justice for Ishmeet” campaign. We want to convey our feelings and sentiments to the authorities concerned through media as well. The cause of his death should only be concluded after a proper investigation into the incident. Also, help him and his family to get what they deserved from the STAR GROUP. His family needs us (including media) more than ever. Let's stick with them to keep alive Ishmeet. This is the least we can do.

Ishmeet was not only the son of Gurpinder Singh and Amritpal Kaur, Ishmeet was not only the brother of Sumeet Kaur but he was the son of every family who aspired him to win VOI. He was the brother of every individual, whom he inspired by his humble personality and commitment towards his faith. He was an idol for many and a true hero, who rightfully deserved the respect he got from his community and the state government. A hero is not only someone who dies for the country or kills for the country. But a hero is someone who motivates you to become a better person and help make this world a better place to live. Ishmeet with his personality not only touched millions of people in India but across the globe. The condolence messages from the world including Pakistan demonstrate this fact.

We would like to conclude by using these lines from Robert Fulghum “I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death.”

Love certainly is stronger than death and the biggest manifestation of it is our love for Ishmeet. Our love for Ishmeet is so strong that it would be safe to challenge Almighty, a challenge to filch Ishmeet away from our hearts. Naah! Not possible. We love Ishmeet so much. May his soul rest in peace.

Respected Sir/Madam,

I am writing you to express my deep concern that it was confirmed on 13 March that India is preparing to break its moratorium on the death penalty by hanging Balwant Singh on 31 March at 9am in Central Jail, Patiala.

Balwant Singh was a close friend of Dilawar Singh, a serving police officer in the Punjab Police who was involved in 1995 killing of then Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh, who was responsible for the mass genocide of the Sikhs in the 1980s and early 1990s.

In recent years Amnesty International has welcomed the lack of executions in India, with the last one taking place in 2004, but expressed its concern that at least 50 death sentences are passed each year by the Indian courts.

By making this announcement India is signalling to the world that when it comes to Sikh prisoners it is prepared to break the moratorium and reverse the trend to abolish the death penalty.

There is a real risk this may open the flood gates and allow India to execute the likes of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar. His case has been highlighted by Amnesty International and raised with UK Parliamentarians on a number of occasions. He has now been in prison for over 17 years and been on death row in Tihar Central Prison, New Delhi for over nine years.
This most recent announcement also comes on the back of the pre-mature release last month of Kishori Lal, who was awarded the death penalty in the murder of three Sikhs with a chopper knife on 1 November 1984. Many in the Sikh community feel the Indian authorities are blatantly targeting Sikhs and many countries around the world may stay silent as they do not want to jeopardise trade with India.

I, therefore, submit the petition attached with the signatures of the community and sympathisers with the aim to save Balwant Singh Rajoana from going to gallows.

For years sloth bear cubs in India have been poached and tortured through brutal training methods to become Dancing Bears, forced to perform for tourists. At less than 4 weeks of age, the cub is stolen from its mother who is often killed while trying to protect her cubs. Sold to traders and middlemen at underground markets, trauma, malnutrition and shock accounts for a mortality rate of more than 50%.

The surviving bear cubs are sold to Kalanders who will teach them to dance.
At the tender age of 4 months, the cubs canine teeth are knocked out. A red hot iron needle pierces its muzzle, and a coarse rope is pulled through. The wound is never allowed to heal, and the cub will live in fear, hunger and pain, tied to a stake for the rest of its life.

Many cubs die before the training begins because of the stress of capture, the terrible transportation conditions, starvation, dehydration, and rough handling. Although bears used in these acts would live up to 30 years in the wild, they rarely live more than eight years in captivity.

Source(s) - http://www.freethebears.org.au/bear-projects/india.html

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/dancing_bears

As well as signing this petition, you can help free the bears by:

Writing a letter to to Overseas Governments using this website - http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/dancing_bears

Donate to the WSPCA - http://www.wspa.org.au/

And Sign a petition on the WSPCA website - http://www.wspa.org.au/

The bears need your help.