Amethi: Anna supporters protest outside Rahul's office!

For LEED Consultancy / IGBC Certifications, Green Building Design, Green Homes, Green Factory Buildings, Green SEZs, Green Townships & Energy Audits - www.greentekindika.com

Press Trust Of India / ibnlive.in.com / Posted on Aug 23, 2011 at 07:44pm IST.

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi's central office in his Amethi constituency was among the premises targeted on Tuesday by Anna Hazare's supporters on the second day of protests outside homes of elected representatives in several parts of the country in response to the Gandhian's call.

As Anna's fast in Ramlila Maidan in Delhi entered the eighth day, the protests in the forms of fasts, sit-ins and demonstrations continued.

The support for Anna's hunger strike scaled new heights when a 60-year-old man Rajendran launched a fast in Veloor village in Kottayam in Kerala sitting atop a coconut tree during daytime.

The Tamil film industry also backed Anna's campaign for a strong Lokpal bill with over 200 of its members observing a fast in Chennai. The protesters included Directors Cheran and Chitra Lakshmanan, actress Rohini and several producers and backstage artistes.

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth lent his weight to Anna's 'peaceful' anti-graft movement, calling it a 'bloodless revolution'. He extended his 'whole-hearted support' to the campaign and said corruption was a dreaded disease that needed to be weeded out.

Rest at,

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anna-supporters-protest-outside-rahuls-office/178018-3.html

         

Ministers, MPs face ‘aam aadmi’ protest!

For LEED Consultancy / IGBC Certifications, Green Building Design, Green Homes, Green Factory Buildings, Green SEZs, Green Townships & Energy Audits - www.greentekindika.com

PTI / The Hindu / NEW DELHI, August 22, 2011.

Top ministers, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and some MPs on Monday faced protests on the issue of the Lokpal Bill after people gathered in front of their houses here following a call by Anna Hazare.

People protested in front of the residences of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, Ms. Dikshit and some MPs.

The first to face the ire of people was Mr. Sibal. Around 40 protesters staged a protest outside his Teen Murti residence seeking his support for the Jan Lokpal Bill.

The protests came following Mr. Hazare’s call to stage demonstrations outside the residences of ministers and MPs to ask them their stand on the Lokpal bill.

“We have come here to request Sibal to support the Jan Lokpal Bill. This is a good bill and everybody should support it,” a protester outside Sibal’s Teen Murti residence said.

   

On Sunday evening also several people had gathered outside the residence of Mr. Sibal and shouted slogans against him. They left before the police could come to the spot.

People also gathered outside the Talkatora residence of Mr. Mukherjee, who was member of the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill along with Mr. Sibal, and shouted slogans against the government.

  

Full Story at,

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2382892.ece

JAN LOK PAL BILL: Anna calls for protests at homes of MPs, Ministers!

For LEED Consultancy / IGBC Certifications, Green Building Design, Green Homes, Green Factory Buildings, Green SEZs, Green Townships & Energy Audits - www.greentekindika.com

K. Balchand, The Hindu / NEW DELHI, August 21, 2011.

Supporters of fasting social activist Anna Hazare marching towards Ramlila Maidan from India Gate, in New Delhi on Sunday night. Photo:Sushil Kumar Verma - The Hindu.

While accepting the offer of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for a dialogue on ending the impasse on the formulation of the Lokpal legislation, Anna Hazare on Sunday not only widened the agitation by calling on his supporters to confront individual Members of Parliament and Union Ministers at their homes but also warned the UPA government that its days would be numbered if it failed to pass the Bill by August 30.

Following up on the Prime Minister's offer on Saturday for talks, the Centre has launched a backchannel effort to work out a solution with the fasting anti-corruption crusader, but Team Anna said no formal approach had been made.

The government on Saturday indicated informally that it would like four months' time to take a decision on the matter after a thorough discussion, a suggestion Mr. Hazare's supporters turned down immediately.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal denied the possibility of any reconciliation. “They have not accepted even the smallest of suggestions made in the Jan Lokpal Bill. The government has just reworded the proposals already present in its Lokpal draft. There is no question of any pact with the government as of now.”

Mr. Hazare's supporters held a rally from India Gate to the Ramlila grounds, where Mr. Hazare's fast entered the sixth day, while several others — responding to the call of Team Anna — staged dharnas in front of the homes of several Union Ministers. At least 80 demonstrators were arrested when they sought to stage a sit-in in front of the Prime Minister's residence on Race Course Road.

Mr. Hazare addressed his supporters twice, in the morning and in the evening. In the morning, he said the doors were open for talks, but in his evening speech Mr. Hazare issued a warning to the UPA government.

He said the agitation would be intensified after August 30 if the government failed to pass the Bill. “The government will have to accept because the people have awakened. If not, you will have to go. You do what you want to, we too are prepared to launch an agitation which the country has not seen before.”

Full Story at,

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2378931.ece?homepage=true

SYRIAN OPPRESSION: Bashar al-Assad says military operations ended!

For LEED Consultancy / IGBC Certifications, Green Building Design, Green Homes, Green Factory Buildings, Green SEZs, Green Townships & Energy Audits - www.greentekindika.com

zeenews.india.com / Last Updated: Thursday, August 18, 2011, 15:22.

Amman: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that military and police operations against pro-democracy protesters have stopped, but activists reported more bloodshed overnight.

Local activists said two protesters were shot dead by pro-Assad militiamen on Wednesday after nightly Ramadan prayers in the city of Homs, and security forces carried out raids on districts of Hama and the capital Damascus.

The United States was expected to call on Assad to step down, sources in Washington said. That call could come as soon as Thursday, with the European Union expected to follow suit, the sources said.

As well as the growing Western pressure, Assad also faces criticism from regional Arab states and neighbouring Turkey over his escalated military campaign against the uprising since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on August 01.

"Assad is trying to convince Turkey that the attacks have stopped, which could also help appease the United States, thinking he could once again stop Washington from calling on him to step down," a Western diplomat in Damascus said.

"But the operations have not even stopped."

Although Syrian authorities have announced the Army's withdrawal from Hama and Deir al-Zor, residents say military units are still present in those cities. The Army is also still deployed in Homs and the coastal city of Latakia.

Full Story at,

http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/syria-s-assad-says-military-operations-ended_726834.html

BJP to launch nationwide protest from tomorrow!

For LEED Consultancy / IGBC Certifications, Green Building Design, Green Homes, Green Factory Buildings, Green SEZs, Green Townships & Energy Audits - www.greentekindika.com

PTI / The Hindu / NEW DELHI, August 16, 2011.

Nitin Gadkari addressing a meeting in New Delhi recently. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar.

Dubbing the arrest of Anna Hazare as a “plan” to impose Emergency in the country, the BJP on Tuesday said it will launch a “peaceful” country-wide agitation from Wednesday to protest UPA’s “dictatorship”.

Demanding immediate release of Mr. Hazare and his associates, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said that party workers with muffled mouths will take out silent marches, hold dharnas and take out torchlight processions to protest the “dictatorship of UPA, to save democracy and to root out corruption from the country”.

Without fixing any timeframe for the agitation, he said it will “continue” and much would depend on the circumstances unfolding.

“Anna Hazare and his associates should be freed immediately and be allowed to carry on with their agitation.

Stopping them from protesting like this is against the traditions in this country.

Full Story at,

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2362546.ece

UNDECLARED EMERGENCY: Anna arrest echoes in Parliament, both Houses adjourned!

For LEED Consultancy / IGBC Certifications, Green Building Design, Green Homes, Green Factory Buildings, Green SEZs, Green Townships & Energy Audits - www.greentekindika.com

Aarti Dhar & Sandeep Dikshit, The Hindu / NEW DELHI, August 16, 2011.

A TV grab of BJP members disrupting the proceedings of the Lok Sabha in New Delhi on Tuesday - The Hindu.

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare’s arrest echoed in Parliament on Tuesday with the entire Opposition demanding suspension of the Question Hour to discuss the issue and accusing the government of adopting an “undemocratic approach”. Both Houses witnessed repeated adjournments before being adjourned for the day without transacting any business.

In the Lok Sabha, the government said it was willing for a discussion after the Question Hour while in the Rajya Sabha, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) members prevented the Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley from speaking despite permission by the Chair.

When the Lok Sabha met for the day, Speaker Meira Kumar disallowed the suspension of Question Hour notices, given by Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, among others on detention of Anna Hazare and on the larger issue of corruption.

Ms. Kumar said there was no provision for suspension of Question Hour in the Lok Sabha but asked the members making this demand to “briefly touch upon the subject”. However, when Ms. Swaraj rose to speak, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal intervened and said his government was prepared for a discussion at noon when the Union Home Minister would also reply.

In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley alleged that the government was indulging in the “murder of democracy” while senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said in the Lok Sabha that “there is Emergency outside Parliament, there is Emergency inside Parliament”.

Ms. Swaraj alleged that Mr. Bansal was defying the Speaker by not allowing her to speak. “The undemocratic attitude adopted by the government outside the House is being adopted inside as well,’’ she said.

In the din, a short duration discussion on Sri Lanka could not take place even as the Speaker called DMK leader T.R. Baalu to initiate it. However, the entire Opposition, including the National Democratic Alliance parties, Left parties, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party, were on their toes with some of them rushing to the Well that resulted in adjournment for the day.

Full Story at,

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2362611.ece

SYRIAN MAYHEM: Death toll rises TO 2,000, as Arab states protest!

For LEED Consultancy / IGBC Certifications, Green Building Design, Green Homes, Green Factory Buildings, Green SEZs, Green Townships & Energy Audits - www.greentekindika.com

Ian Black, Middle East editor, guardian.co.uk / Monday 8 August 2011 21.42 BST.

Syria continues its crackdown on pro-democracry activists despite protests from US and Arab states. Above, protest at the Syrian consulate in Istanbul, 7 August 2011. Photograph: Bulent Kilic/Getty Images.

Syria defied Arab isolation and mounting international anger on Monday as President Bashar al-Assad's security forces continued attacks on pro-democracy protesters across the country.

The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, urged al-Assad to return his troops to barracks and release all prisoners, one of the bluntest demands yet made of the Syrian leader, after regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia led a rare chorus of Arab states in condemning the repression.

Reports from Deir al-Zor described artillery and heavy machinegun fire and snipers on roofs as troops and intelligence agents carried out mass arrests in the north-eastern city. On Sunday, 42 people were killed there, nudging the death total during five months of the uprising to more than 2,000.

In Hama, security forces were reported to have deployed an anti-aircraft gun to fire on civilians, diplomats said. Videos from around the country purported to show gunfire, shelling and corpses from violence over the weekend. Three people were reported to have been shot during a funeral in Deraa.

In a political development, al-Assad announced the replacement of his defence minister, Ali Habib, a member of the minority Alawite community, by the army chief of staff, Daoud Rajha, who is a Christian. Analysts said the move seemed intended to emphasise the regime's claim to be defending all Syrian citizens against a sectarian conflict it says is being fomented by Islamic extremists.

State TV described Habib as being in poor health and said the decision to replace him had been taken after consultations by the president.

Syrian media scorned moves by Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies to protest against the violence by withdrawing their ambassadors from Damascus. The Sana news agency quoted an unnamed official as expressing "regret" that Arab states had "completely ignored facts on the killing and sabotage committed by armed terrorist groups".

01) As I have been howling hoarse since long, Dictators like Bashar al-Assad, Muammar Gadaffi (Libya) and Ali Abdullah Saleh (Yemen) won't go on their own!

02) Sanctions, International Pressure, boycott, etc. won't work, either!!

03) Under the circumstances, the only solution appear to be an International Forces, preferably constituted by U.N.O. to invade the Syria to arrest the Dictator and book him for Human Rights Violations, install an interim government, allow the free & fair election of the First National Assembly to draft a New Democratic Constitution, for Syria!!!

Full Story at,

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/08/syria-deaths-arab-states-protest

UK nudist club ‘furious’ over council’s plans to build flats overlooking its grounds!

For LEED / IGBC Certifications, Consultancy, Green Building Design, Green Homes, Green Factory Buildings, Green SEZs, Green Townships & Energy Audits - www.greentekindika.com

August 6, 2011 / ANI, London / DC.

A nudist club with 300 members in Europe has been left ‘infuriated’ after a local council gave the nod to knock down a disused office block just 300 yards away and replace it with a five-storey block of flats.

The White House Club in Whyteleafe, Surrey, boasted that its members could swim in the nude in its 50ft outdoor swimming pool, relax in its sauna, or play tennis on its two outdoor courts.

But now, the nudists are ‘furious’ with Tandridge District Council after its planning committee approved the 167-flat tower block, saying residents will be able to see them in the ‘altogether’ as they prance around in the buff.

The club, which opened in 1933, has a membership ranging in age from two to 90 and counts nurses, teachers, electricians and an airline pilot in its ranks and had 10 bedrooms for residents to stay in.

White House Club director David Mason, speaking after planning permission was granted this week, said that scores of members had complained to the council and that he was ‘disappointed’ with the decision.

Full Story at,

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/world/europe/uk-nudist-club-%E2%80%98furious%E2%80%99-over-council%E2%80%99s-plans-build-flats-overlooking-its-grou

Japan PM Naoto Kan brings his nuclear-free vision to Hiroshima

For LEED / IGBC Certifications, Consultancy, Green Building Design, Green Homes, Green Factory Buildings, Green SEZs, Green Townships & Energy Audits - www.greentekindika.com

By Kim Kyung Hoon / Reuters – 8 hrs ago.

Protesters bearing anti-nuclear face-painting take part in an anti-nuclear march …

HIROSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) - Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Saturday took his campaign against nuclear energy in Japan to Hiroshima which 66 years ago became the world's first victim of an atomic bomb.

It marks a change of tack in a country which has until now carefully avoided linking its fast growing, and now discredited, nuclear power industry to its trauma as the only country to have been attacked with atomic bombs.

Kan, speaking at an anniversary ceremony for victims of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, repeated that the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years at Fukushima after a March earthquake convinced him Japan should end its dependence on nuclear power.

The damage from the earthquake and subsequent tsunami at the Fukushima nuclear plant, which the authorities are still trying to bring under control, has led to widespread calls for an end to reliance on nuclear power in the quake-prone country.

"I will deeply reflect on nuclear power's 'myth of safety', investigate thoroughly the causes of the accident and fundamental measures to secure safety, as well as reduce the dependence on nuclear power plants and aim for a society that does not depend on nuclear power plants," Kan said.

Kazumi Matsui, Hiroshima's mayor and the son of an atomic bomb survivor, also pressed Tokyo to act after the Fukushima crisis traumatized the public.

"The Japanese government should sincerely accept this reality and review its energy policy quickly," he said.

It was the first time in decades that any Hiroshima mayor had questioned Japan's policy of developing nuclear energy during the annual ceremony, in which tens of thousands observed a minute of silence as the peace bell tolled.

Matsui said it was heartbreaking to see the devastation left by the March 11 quake and tsunami on the northeast coast and how it resembled what was left of Hiroshima after the bombing.

A U.S. warplane dropped the atomic bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy," on this western city on August 6, 1945 in the closing days of World War Two. The death toll by the end of the year was estimated at about 140,000 out of the total 350,000 that lived there at the time.

The United States dropped a second atomic bomb on the southern city of Nagasaki on Aug 9. Japan surrendered six days later.

LINES BLURRED

Japan has a self-imposed ban against nuclear arms, part of its pacifist post-war constitution.

Full Story at,

http://news.yahoo.com/japan-pm-naoto-kan-brings-nuclear-free-vision-083014042.html;_ylt=AuCJ4OWftt8IfyK.CfyQOYGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTM2bmJmN3EwBHBrZwMxMjA1MWRiNS02MWYwLTM1OGEtYmMxOS1lYmJiOGM0OTE5ZGIEcG9zAzEzBHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzNjYTA1ZGEwLWMwMGYtMTFlMC1hYjFiLThiNDZiMGExYzEzOQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpNzk0NjhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3