Saturday, July 31, 2010

Remembering Hiroshima

The Institute for Peace and Secular Studies is organizing a candle light vigil in commemoration of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

Aug. 6 marks the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, followed by the bombing of Nagasaki three days later. The 200,000-plus deaths from those attacks, and the perceived need to reduce the number of such weapons, is the focus of an alliance of religious and secular groups.

Detail of Remembering Hiroshima is as under:
Time: 6.30 p.m
Date: August 6th 2010
Location: Chairing Cross, Mall Road, Lahore
Event: Candle Light Vigil.
Please feel free to bring your own candles!

A Nuclear free South Asia Initiative by I.P.S.S



A message from Diep Saeeda

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Iraqi union offices raided, solidarity campaign started


july 26 2010
On Wednesday, July 21, Iraqi authorities pounced on offices of the country's electrical workers' union nationwide, closing the offices and seizing all equipment, assets and records. This draconian act was carried out on the order of the Ministry of Energy, evidently without any prior judicial determination.A translated version of the order, provided by the British Trades Union Congress, under which this attack took place, the government's aim is to "prohibit all trade union activity in its ministries and departments, and to stop all official...interaction and communication with the trade unions that operate within the Ministry and its departments and sites. The ministry of electricity and in coordination with the police is ordered to close all trade union offices and bases and to take control of unions' assets, properties and documents and furniture and computers with proper listing of all the items seized.  The concerned directorates of the ministry must take immediate legal action against those who resort to the use or threat of violence aimed to damage public properties...."
The order goes on to mandate a sifting through of union leaders so that the government can decide which of them will lose his or her union positions. The Terrorism Act cited was put in place in 2005 at the height of the U.S. occupation.
When the United States invaded Iraq, one thing it did not change was the anti-union laws that had been imposed by dictator Saddam Hussein.
The action has been protested by Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) of the United Kingdom.
To send messages of protest, go to LabourStart ActNow.
Photo: Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein, center, president of the Electrical Utility Workers Union and the first woman to head a national union in Iraq, toured the United States in 200. She stands here with two members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Chicago. (Teresa Albano/PW)
(Courtesy:Peoples World)

Help Ratna and thousands like her


Amnesty International logo

Tell Indonesia's Parliament to protect domestic workers

Dear ,

Ratna started working as a domestic worker at the age of 13. Her employer initially told her that her salary would be 350,000 Indonesian Rupiahs (around US38) per month. But what she got instead was just half that amount for a seven-day work week from five am until midnight.
Ratna was not allowed to take any breaks and was only allowed to go out once a week to hang the clothes out to dry.  She slept on the hard kitchen floor and was locked in every night, supposedly for her own protection. This meant she couldn’t even go to the toilet at night. She also lost contact with her family because she was not allowed to make phone calls or send letters.
No protection under law
There are nearly 2.6 million women domestic workers, like Ratna, in Indonesia. They are not protected by current legislation safeguarding workers' rights. They are subjected to economic exploitation and physical, psychological and sexual violence inside homes. Many domestic workers are even denied sexual and reproductive rights such as access to information and services on family planning, contraceptives and the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Civil society groups in Indonesia have been campaigning for a specific law on domestic workers that will provide legal recognition and safeguard their rights.
The Indonesian parliament has included a domestic workers' bill in its legislative agenda for 2010. However, the parliamentary commission overseeing the drafting of this bill has displayed a lack of commitment in ensuring that it is drafted and passed.
Help Ratna and thousands like her
Sign the petition urging Indonesia's Parliamentary Commission IX to ensure the speedy drafting and passage of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill.
The final petition will be submitted to the Indonesian Parliament via our partners in Indonesia. 
We need people like you to let the Indonesian government know that activists around the world are following developments on this bill.Take action Now
In solidarity ,
Alaphia, Buddha, Jennifer and Jeremy


Dr. Jill Biden poses for photos



Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, poses for photos with soldiers and their families during a homecoming celebration at Fort Drum, N.Y., July 28, 2010. The 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team has returned to Fort Drum after a nine-month deployment to Iraq, the brigade's seventh deployment since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. DoD photo by John D. Banusiewicz.

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Dr. Jill Biden answers questions from children



Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, answers questions from children at the Chapel Drive School Age Center at Fort Drum, N.Y., July 28, 2010. DoD photo by John D. Banusiewicz

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Logistics Analyst Excels in Leadership Program

By Dianne Ryder 
Defense Logistics Agency Strategic Communications Office
FORT BELVOIR, Va., July 28, 2010 - When Betty Hoapili was selected to attend the Department of Defense's Executive Leadership Development Program, she got the chance to walk in a warfighter's shoes.
Click photo for screen-resolution image
Betty Hoapili trains in a German Leopard II tank at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany as part of the Defense Department's Executive Leadership Development Program. Department of Defense photo by Dave Michael
 

(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
The 23-year civil service veteran, a logistics program analysis officer on the Defense Logistics Agency's Air Force Customer Support Team in the Operations and Sustainment Division of DLA Logistics Operations, was looking to complement her career path when she responded to the program's call for nominations through DLA's Executive Development Program.
One of the program requirements was to complete a staff study. Hoapili's study focused on the Defense Department's acquisition community and its ability to handle the impending wave of retirements projected in the next five years.
"I looked at whether or not the [defense] acquisition career field is headed for ... a 'brain drain' and developed possible courses of action," she said.
Hoapili said she prepared herself for the various types of training and temporary duty assignments, which took place one to two weeks each month for 10 months -- a total of 95 days. She also needed to keep up with her regular workload, which she said helped her learn about juggling priorities.
At the program orientation, Hoapili said, her instructors told participants they were lucky to have been selected.
"One of the things they said to us was, 'You 61 people have won the lottery,' [because] there were 600 applicants, she recalled. The participants were split into six teams, including one military member per team, Hoapili said.
The first "deployment" was to core training at the Southbridge Conference Center in Southbridge, Mass., where Hoapili said team members were challenged physically, mentally and emotionally.
Team members had to complete a fitness test – sit-ups, push-ups and pull-ups – to ensure they could safely participate in the program's demanding activities.
"[Early] the next morning ... those who had not passed any aspect of the physical testing had to report to the gym area and were going to focus on additional training," she said.
Although Hoapili and her teammates had passed the physical test, she said she went to the gym anyway to help other program members prepare for the re-test. It was a proud moment when those members passed the test too, Hoapili said.
At another deployment, she volunteered for a swimming challenge at the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School at the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, Calif. The challenge involved swimming in full military gear out to a Navy SEAL positioned in the ocean.
"It was very scary because of the significant undertow and the crashing waves. ... There was one point where I thought, 'I wonder if I'm going to drown.' [But] when I made it back to the beach and the rest of my teammates were cheering me, I knew I'd challenged myself to do my best. That's why I [volunteered]," Hoapili said.
One of the program's key tenets involves showing participants they can do more than they'd thought, she said.
"That's the starting point for any good leader, ... knowing your capabilities and pushing yourself ... to see what you can do when faced with a tough challenge, ... to go one step beyond what you thought you could do," she said.
"How to adapt to changing circumstances is part of the skill set that this program was teaching me," Hoapili said.
After the swimming challenge, program members were required to drag an inflatable raft up and down the beach and then complete an obstacle course.
Despite being driven to physical exhaustion on that California beach, Hoapili said, her biggest challenge was yet to come at the U.S. Army Ranger School, at Fort Benning, Ga.
Standing on top of a 75-foot tower and stepping off to rappel down was more of a mental challenge for Hoapili, one she wasn't sure she could do.
"That first step took a lot of faith on my part, [but I had] confidence in my equipment and confidence in the instructors that were there ... assuring me they had my back," she said.
During times when she was less confident in her abilities, Hoapili said, she repeated a mantra to herself.
"Leaders are tough; leaders are strong; leaders can do these things," she said.
Still, Hoapili credits her accomplishments to her team's never-ending support.
"I was blessed with an amazing team of people. We called ourselves 'Team High Five.' ... Those 10 people became a family. ... We were there for each other. It goes back to working on behalf of warfighters; [they] were my warfighters, and I didn't want let them down, and we refused to leave anyone behind," Hoapili said.
Each year during graduation ceremonies, one class member is awarded special recognition. This year, Hoapili was awarded that distinction and presented the Rosemary E. Howard Leadership Award. She was unaware she would be receiving the peer-nominated award.
"To be nominated by your peers is an extreme honor," Hoapili said. "When I read the award's inscription: 'Based on Courage, Determination, Leadership and Professionalism,' I was very humbled," she said.
Hoapili said she took two lessons away from her experience in the program. The first was a reinforcement of a lesson learned from her father.
"My dad is a retired Air Force chief master sergeant; he always taught me the backbone of our armed forces is our enlisted corps," she said. "That was reinforced to me ... because at every deployment, the individuals who were teaching me, ... training me, ... equipping me were all [noncommissioned officers]."
The second take-away is the power of teamwork, she said.
"Not only did my teammates have my back, but trained, amazing warfighters had my back as well. [I value] the whole concept of courage and compassion and competence in terms of strong leadership and what's expected of us as future civilian leaders," she said.
Gary Gonthier, a performance-based logistics program manager in DLA Aviation's Strategic Customer Engagement Branch was also on Hoapili's team.
"Betty was a welcome member of the team. ... [She] is socially gregarious, which manifests itself in the precious attention she paid to both organizational and personal details," he said.
The combination of Hoapili's interpersonal style, which included offering praise and other affirmations to participants, set against a backdrop of structure, schedules and order made her a compassionate leader, Gonthier said.
"She left no doubt when team members performed well, yet also made clear those instances when things didn't go so well. Betty always placed the concern of others above her own self-interest," he said.
This year marked the first occasion that program participants traveled to Kuwait. Though they spent just 72 hours there, both Hoapili and Gonthier agreed that the program instilled them with a greater appreciation for military service members.
Gonthier said the program provides civilian personnel with a hands-on approach to learning what warfighters do on a daily basis.
"The ... members from each of the services are truly dedicated to what they do and [are] wholeheartedly supported by the family that follows ... them," he said. "They are highly trained and ready to do whatever it takes to defend this nation, including giving their lives. We should never forget that."
Hoapili agreed and said it's an experience civilians rarely, if ever, get.
"It's invaluable in enhancing my understanding of what our warfighters go through, the sacrifices they make ... on our behalf, and how important it is for us to do our jobs extremely well so they can do what we're asking them to do," she said.
Recently, Hoapili found out she was selected for another training opportunity – the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. She credits DLA for giving her the chance to display her leadership qualities in the ELDP. At DLA, developing employees' skills and abilities is a high priority, so high it falls into agency Director Navy Vice Adm. Alan Thompson's list of top initiatives.
"I'm anxious now to give back to DLA for having given me this opportunity," Hoapili said.
She added that she's a "huge proponent" of the ELDP program and noted that as the Rosemary E. Howard Award winner, she gets to go to orientation for next year's program and speak to incoming participants.
"In so many ways, I do wish I was doing it again - not so much the crawling through the mud, ... but it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," she said. "I look at the pictures and think, 'How did I do that?' But you do it one day at a time and with a whole lot of help from your friends."
Nominations for the DoD Executive Leader Development Program are solicited annually around September through the DLA Executive Development Program. Information is available on the EDP webpage at http://www.hr.dla.mil/resources/workforce/executive.html.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Prepares to take flight

A brown pelican prepares to take flight after being released at Gulfside City Park in Sanibel Island, Fla., July 12, 2010. Twenty-one brown pelicans and 11 northern gannets, which were all found oiled near the coasts of Louisiana and Alabama, were rehabilitated and then released in Southwest Florida. (DoD photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nick Ameen, U.S. Coast Guard/Released)

Mullen Calls for Long-Term Partnership with Iraqi Military

By Jim Garamone of American Forces Press Service
BAGHDAD: The United States military is committed over the long-term to a positive, productive partnership with Iraqi security forces, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.
The U.S. military drawdown in Iraq is on schedule, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen. The drawdown, he added, will reduce the numbers of U.S. troops in Iraq to less than 50,000 by August 31.
"I see absolutely nothing to negatively impact that [drawdown]," Mullen said during a joint news conference with Jacob Lew, deputy secretary of state for management and budget.
Mullen has been visiting Iraq since 2004. "I've seen things at their worst," he recalled. "I remember when very few people had very few hopes for a better future in Iraq. Today, that hope abounds. It's nearly palpable."
Mullen said he is stunned and pleased by the changes in Iraq, but more progress must be made. The U.S.-Iraqi relationship will move from mainly military to one based on "strong, vibrant civilian institutions and leadership," the admiral said.
There are just under 65,000 American servicemembers in Iraq today – down more than 100,000 from the height of the surge of forces in 2007. Mullen praised Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the commander of U.S. Forces Iraq, and his team for their management of the drawdown.
American planners here said they have sent much-needed equipment to U.S. troops in Afghanistan, provided equipment and materiel to Iraqi security forces, and cleaned up many of the sites to U.S. environmental standards.
The U.S. mission will change from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn on September 1, and the American forces will switch totally to an advise and assist role, Mullen said. U.S. forces, he added, will retain the ability to defend themselves.
Other U.S. forces will continue to train and work with the Iraqi army and Iraqi police, Mullen said. Other troops will continue to help the Iraqis develop logistics capabilities for their security forces, and also develop the Iraqi air force and navy.
"We will continue to assist in targeted counterterrorism operations where necessary," the chairman said. "But it is the Iraqi security forces that must provide for the security of their own people."
Mullen believes the Iraqi security apparatus is ready, and said he is pleased with their performance. Violent acts have declined 50 percent since July of last year, Mullen said, and security incidents are at their lowest point since 2003.
What's more, the Iraqi security force's behavior during the recent national elections proved to the Iraq people that the military is apolitical and loyal to the Iraqi constitution.
"As I have said to my own military, there are few attributes more important or more vital to a democracy than a military that stays out of politics and remains subservient to civilian leadership," Mullen said.
The election left a closely divided legislature, and the Iraqi politicians have yet to form a new government. Senior U.S. officials, including Vice President Joe Biden, have told the Iraqis that it is important for them to work together to form a government as quickly as possible. However, the delay in forming the new Iraqi government will not affect the U.S. drawdown or many of the development programs already underway, Mullen and Lew said.
Yet, the weakened insurgents still retain the ability to launch attacks, Mullen said. He called yesterday's attack on the headquarters of al Arabiyah television network an attempt to muzzle the press.
"That these criminals chose to lash out at a responsible, free and independent media organization, speaks volumes about the desperation of their situation and their motives," Mullen said. Insurgent attempts to squelch the Iraqi press, the admiral said, represents "nothing more than an attempt to hold back the Iraqi people from the free exchange of ideas and greater awareness of the world around them. It is as futile as it is foolish."
The chairman met today with Iraqi President Jalal Talibani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. Mullen also met with Defense Minister Abdul Qadir and Gen. Babakir Zabari, the Iraqi military chief of staff.
 
Biographies: Navy Adm. Mike Mullen Related Sites: Special Report: Travels With Mullen 


Tuesday, July 27, 2010

FINALLY GOOD NEWS FOR ALL DIABETICS




                                             DIABETIC?




FINALLY GOOD NEWS FOR ALL DIABETICS
  

A woman (65) was diabetic for the last 20+ years and was taking insulin twice a day, she used the enclosed homemade medicine for a fortnight and now
she is absolutely free of diabetes and taking all her food as normal including sweets ............ ......... .......

The doctors have advised her to stop insulin and any other blood sugar controlling drugs. 
 

I request you all please circulate the email below to as many people a you can and
let them take the maximum benefit from it..


AS RECEIVED :

DR. TONY ALMEIDA ( Bombay Kidney Speciality expert ) made the extensive
experiments with perseverance and patience and discovered a successful treatment for diabetes.
Now a days a lot of people, old men & women in particular suffer a lot due to Diabetes..

Ingredients:
1 - Wheat flour 100 gm
2 - Gum(of tree) (gondh) 100 gm
3 - Barley 100 gm
4 - Black Seeds (kalunji) 100 gm

Method of Preparation Put all the above ingredients in 5 cups of water.
Boil it for 10 minutes and put off the fire. Allow it to cool down by itself.
When it has become cold, filter out the seeds and preserve the water in a glass jug or bottle.

How to use it?

Take one small cup of this water every day early morning when your stomach is empty.
Continue this for 7 days. Next week repeat the same but on alternate days. With these 2 weeks of treatment yo
will wonder to see that you have become normal and can eat normal food without problem.

Note: A request is to spread this to as many as possible so that others can also take benefit out of it.
SPB MESSAGE
SINCE THESE ARE ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS, TAKING THEM IS NOT HARMFUL. SO THOSE WHO ARE SCEPTICAL ABOUT THIS TREATMENT MAY STILL TRY IT WITHOUT ANY HARM. WORST CASE SCENARIO WILL BE THAT YOU REMAIN STILL SAME AS YOU WERE BEFORE
BEST WISHES FOR ALL THE FRIENDS 



        --Sent by : Sanjeev Batra 


                          

How to Get Blood in Emergency!!

Now it has become easier to get the blood we need. 

All you have to do is just type "BLOOD and send SMS to 96000 97000" (in India ) 

EX: "BLOOD B+" 

A BLOOD DONOR WILL CALL YOU!! 

So please pass this message to all. It certainly would save many lives. 

It's a Must to Know & Share. Do it now.... 

Forward this to all your friends whom you care ....as the minute you spare to share this information can save somebody's life with rare Blood Group !  
  --Sent by: Sanjeeve Batra

A new step towards returning some thing back to the society

District Hoshiarpur unit of Youth Welfare Association has been declared on 25th July 2010 at Talwara Town Ship where Gurpreet Singh Khalsa was elected as District President and Dr Surinder Singh Mand ,a well known academician and writter of various aclaimed books was elected as Chief Patroon of District Unit.Well known journalist and incharge of Ajit office in Talwara .S. Samarjeet Singh Shammi was elected as Press Sectrary along with other 5 memders of District core level committee. A large number of Youth Akali Dal workers led by R.S.Sidhu ,Kaumi Gen Sect,Youth Akali Dal Badal also become the members of the Youth Welfare Association .10000 membership forms were distributed there as a part of member ship drive in the Whole district.
S. Kirpal Singh Gera ,Chairman Guru Nanak Seva Society also gave assurance to be part of the social work to be done by Youth Welfare Society.
At this occassion the Overall President of Youth Welfare Association Amit Bajaj ,Senior Vice President Mohit Mittal ,Vice President Harkamal Singh Gill,Vice President Rajvir Singh Rana were also present who encouraged the District Hoshiarpur Unit of the Association.
Chandigarh District Unit ,Mohali District Unit and Patiala Unit wil be declared by 5th of August in Press Club SAS Nagar Mohali.
Reporting  this event Prof.Jaswinder Singh Dilawari said that this is a new step towards returning some thing back to the society.
Prof. Dilawari also requested to fellow friends and all positive thinkers to be part of our association and help us to serve society.

Monday, July 26, 2010

A homecoming ceremony

U.S. Navy Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Robert Lancaster, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133, greets his family during a homecoming ceremony for his unit in Gulfport, Miss., July 19, 2010. NMCB-133 returned to the area following a four-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (DoD photo by Equipment Operator 3rd Class Mikayla Mondragon, U.S. Navy/Released)

Look out over North Korea

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates look out over North Korea from Observation Point Ouellette during a tour of the Demilitarized Zone in South Korea July 21, 2010. (DoD photo by Cherie Cullen/Released)