World Archives - Page 4 of 7 - Voice from the rooftop

India and Security Council

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

India wants permanent membership of UN Security Council. Some argue the Security Council reflects the reality of 1945 and it should reflect the reality of 2010. In 1971 Taiwan (Republic of China) was expelled from UN and its seat went to China (Peopleâ€™s Republic of China). In 1991 USSR disintegrated and its seat went to Russia. So the UN Security Council reflects the reality of 1991. In 1945 India was a colony. In 1991 Indian economy was in bad shape. Reality of 2010 means France and UK should not be members of Security Council but nobody is saying that. In 2003 France opposed invasion of Iraq and some Americans wanted Franceâ€™s seat to go to India.

In 2010 India is a major contender for permanent membership of UN Security Council. Other major contenders are Germany, Japan and Brazil. France, Russia and UK support India. USA says the issue is complicated. China claims Arunachal Pradesh and some other parts of India as its territory.

http://go4quiz.com/vincent/2010/india/india-and-security-council/ ?

Barack Obama and Golden Temple

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Barack Obama is due to visit India and visit to Golden Temple proved a problem because of the headgear he was required to wear. Wearing a headscarf is asking for trouble as 18% of Americans think he is a Muslim and his wearing headscarf would have been seen by many as proof of his being a Muslim, an unacceptable risk. Baseball is not acceptable to temple authorities.

Some Americans are hostile to Barack Obama. They find fault with him for various reasons. Some blamed him for not showing emotion during BP oil well crisis. People who want emotion should see movies with emotion. Barack Obama cancelled his visits to Australia, Indonesia and some other countries to handle the crisis. When Pakistan had flood crisis Asif Ali Zardari went ahead with visits to UK and France.

http://go4quiz.com/vincent/2010/india/barack-obama-and-golden-temple/

Iran and USA

Posted on September 25, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Iran has its nuclear programme. USA says Iran is developing nuclear weapons and there are American, EU and UN sanctions against Iran.

USAâ€™s stand that Iran has violated NPT shows its duplicity. USA, UK, Norway and France helped Israel become a nuclear power by breaking NPT. USA supplied nuclear fuel to Israel to make nuclear bombs. Israel has more than nuclear bombs.

Israel is capable of defending itself against Iran. It can bomb Iranâ€™s nuclear reactors. If Iran attacks Israel it can counterattack and obliterate Iran. American intervention is not required.

Read more here: http://go4quiz.com/vincent/2010/india/iran-and-usa

Google and Map of India

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

The government has told Google that its version of map of India is not correct and remove all such maps. When there are territorial disputes between countries, maps become controversial.

Parts of Jammu & Kashmir are under Pakistani and Chinese occupations. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as its territory and protests when Indian ministers or Dalai Lama go there. Google follows three maps policy. In India its India map shows India as the government wants it. In China its map shows Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin and parts of Uttarakhand as part of China. Its world map shows Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and parts of Uttarakhand and disputed territories.

Many publications and sites show maps as they are. When showing Jammu & Kashmir some show the Line of Control, territory under Pakistan and territory under China. It is no use blaming publications, sites or TV channels for showing reality.

Out of Iraq

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

On 19/8/2010 last American combat unit left Iraq. Around 50,000 American troops remain in Iraq â€œto advise and assistâ€ Iraqis.

After seven years and five months of American military presence Iraq is worse than before. American invasion resulted in unnecessary deaths. Christians are targets in many parts of Iraq. Women have less freedom in many parts of Iraq. There is shortage of electricity and water. Corruption is rampant and in some cases 95% of the money has disappeared. Bomb explosions take place in Iraq.

Trial of Charles Taylor

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Trial of Charles Taylor by Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague is in the news for testimony by Naomi Campbell and Mia Farrow. It seems the trial has become a farce and summoning of Naomi Campbell and Mia Farrow as witnesses if for publicity. Naomi Campbellâ€™s then agent Carole White also testified but she is not famous like the other two and did not have much publicity value. Charles Taylor was president of Liberia from 1997 to 2003. He is accused of selling weapons in exchange for diamonds, known as blood diamonds, to Sierra Leone rebels. The trial began in June 2007 and did not have much publicity.

Leaders of small countries get arrested for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Leaders of big countries who commit greater crimes are safe. Many civilians have died due to bombing by American planes in Iraq, Serbia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. No American President has been charged with any crime.

WikiLeaks and India

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

WikiLeaks on 26/7/2010 made public many secret documents dealing with Afghan War. Some of them have relevance to India.

ISI played a role in terrorist activities against Indians. ISI paid the Taliban and Haqqani network to target Indians, Indian Embassy, Indian Consulate in Kandahar and other places. Indians have died. India has suffered loss of property.

It is futile to expect Pakistan to act against ISI or USA to do anything significant. India has to act on its own…

Burkha Ban

Posted on July 18, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

â€œBurkha is not welcome in France.â€

Nicolas Sarkozyâ€™s statement in his speech to French Legislature in 2009 was a game changer in Europe. Till then criticising burkha was considered politically incorrect. Jack Straw had faced criticism for saying he was uncomfortable with talking to women whose faces he could not see.

After Sarkozyâ€™s statement Switzerland banned construction of new minarets. Belgium banned burkha. Barcelona banned burkha.

Demographic Dividend

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Fools say population is a problem.

Greater fools agree with them.

Wise people say Indiaâ€™s population growth is a demographic dividend.

Indiaâ€™s population was 55 crores in 1971. Many predicted dire consequences if the population growth is not stopped.

Now in 2010 Indiaâ€™s population is around 110 crores. The country is thriving. The prophets of doom have been proved wrong.

Fuel Price Hike

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

On 25/6/2010 the government of India increased prices of petrol by Rs.3.50, diesel by Rs.2/- kerosene by Rs.3/- per litre and LPG by Rs.35/-per cylinder. Petrol and diesel prices were decontrolled.
The increase has come at a time when food price inflation is about 18%.

The increase was avoidable. For the week ended 18/6/2010 foreign exchange reserves increased by $3 billion. If the government had not increased foreign exchange reserves the dollar value would have gone down making oil import cost less and there would have been no need for price increase.