This week's headlines in The SouthAsian
Details at : http://www.thesouthasian.org

Magistrate Initiates Investigation on Coke Pollution
The Dstrict Magistrate of Varanasi, Bina Kumari Mina, has initiated an investigation into the role of the Coke Bottling Plant in Mehdiganj  on the drop in local water levels and high incidence of toxic chemicals around the plant site.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/magistrate_initiates_investiga.html

ADB Pulls Out of Controversial Mining Project
In a major victory for the rights of people and human rights movements, Asian Development Bank has decided to pull out of its funding for the Phulbari mining effort being driven by UK based MNC namely GCM Resources.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/adb_pulls_out_of_controversial.html

Bangladesh 1971: A Photoexhibition
A photographic exhibition and film season that focuses on one of South Asia’s most significant political events: the foundation of Bangladesh as an independent state.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/bangladesh_1971_a_photoexhibit_1.html

Debate on UPA Governance and Crackdown on Democracy
While the UPA government in India declared an end to the Prevention of Terrorism Act(POTA), it has used draconian amendments of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (ULAPA) to crack down on dissent within civic society, arresting judges, social activists and political dissenters.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/debate_on_upa_governance_and_c.html

CPM Targets Sibpur Students
Why did students write on blank answer- scripts ‘Save BESU from  becoming a Nandigram’? Students complain that CPM cadre and goons are targetting students inside the campus to join the student wing of CPM, or else.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/cpm_targets_sibpur_students_1.html

National Water Conference Underway
Report from the first two days of the National Water Conference in Varanasi presents a broad range of discussions by members of local communities near Varanasi and representatives from communities affected by water from across India.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/national_water_conference_unde.html

UP Community: Shut down Coke Plant
Over 1500 people marched to the Mehdiganj bottling plant that is operating without environmental authorization and demanded it shut down.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/up_community_shut_down_coke_pl.html

Shakhas of the Sangh?
The campaign to stop funding hate (CFSH) presents an analysis concluding that chapters of Hindu Student Council in the USA are connected to the Sangh even though many members of the chapters may not be cognizant of this connection.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/shakhas_of_the_sangh.html

Ramlal ka Kadda: Lessons in Struggle
Visiting those who have suffered the burtalities of Hindu communalism in  Ram Lal ka Kadda, Karthik Ramanathan concludes that the hope for Indian democracy can only arise from  the oppressed sections.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/ramlal_ka_kadda_lessons_in_str_1.html

Protesting the Chalakudi River Project
The opposition to the Athirapilly project on the Chalakudy River has been growing since the last seven years by the Kada tribals, dalit populations living in the project impact area, the local self governments depending on the river, the farmers in the downstream areas, Thesouthasian reproduces a letter by a representative of the movement to the president of the Congress party highlighting the impact of the project.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/protesting_the_chalakudi_river_1.html

Musahars: Bonded to Poverty
To understand the efficacy of various social welfare policies, Arundhati Dhuru analyzes how these policies affect the lives of one of the most socially, politically and economically marginalized communities in UP - the musahars.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/musahars_bonded_to_poverty_1.html

Human Rights and Wrongs
Human rights is the last resort of the hopeless. Its liberal advocates don’t see it that way. They find it heroic, the foundation of a new international order that will, when established universally, guarantee secure lives for everyone, everywhere – from Tibet to Timbuktu. But would the subaltern, the oppressed – the target of human rights – necessarily agree?
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/human_rights_and_wrongs_1.html

Madrasas in South Asia: Teaching Terror?
Yogi Sikand review this book by Jamal Malik titiled ‘Madrasas in South Asia: Teaching Terror?’ which was recently published by Routledge. He goes on to review a breadth of opinions by a number of scholars on the role and impact of madrasas and directions for reform.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/madrasas_in_south_asia_teachin_1.html

Fury at Bangladesh Mine Scheme
A  huge open cast coal mining project by a quoted British firm, that would displace  up to 130,000 people in Bangladesh, is at the centre of an international row.  GCM, a fast growing Aim-listed company, is behind plans to a dig up to 572  million tonnes of coal in a project that will displace people from Phulbari, in  north-west Bangladesh, divert a river from its course, and destroy a mangrove  forest that is a world heritage site. From The Guardian.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/fury_at_bangladesh_mine_scheme_1.html

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I cannot hope to work towards equality and justice, towards non violence, till I stop dominating other opinions, other voices.