How Maharashtra "banned" the famine

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/sainath/article596311.ece?homepage=true

India's Avatar

A 12 minute documentary film on the life of Dongaria Kondh, who were to be displaced by Vedanta's bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri hills of Orissa.Just like the Na'vi tribe in the movie Avatar.

                                               http://www.survivalinternational.org/films/mine

Drought of justice, flood of funds

Ask the government for expansion of the NREGS, universal access to the PDS, more spending on health and education - and there's no money. But there?s enough to give away to the corporate world in concessions. A revelation by P Sainath.

Full article at:

http://www.indiatogether.org/2009/aug/psa-funds.htm

Rich MLAs, Poor Voters

In his new article, P Sainath says that a growing numbers of elected representatives fund their poll campaigns with corporate backing. And growing numbers of people with a big business background have ventured directly into the electoral arena.

Full article here:

http://www.indiatogether.org/2009/oct/psa-winter.htm

Death of a true hero: K Balagopal

Noted civil rights activist K Balagopal died of cardiac arrest at a hospital here, family source said today.

Balagopal (52) was taken to the hospital at Mehidipatnam in the city last night and he breathed his last while undergoing treatment, they said.

Born in Anantapur district, Balagopal worked in Kakatiya University as a professor but took to practising law nearly a decade ago.

He broke away from the Andhra pradesh Civil Liberties committee, with which he had been associated with since its inception in the 1980s, following differences over the issue of violence perpetrated by the erstwhile CPI-ML People’s War and founded the Human Rights Forum to fight for human rights and civil liberties.

For more, click here:

http://blogs.outlookindia.com/default.aspx?ddm=10&pid=2100&eid=5

Journalism, the best profession in the world

Fifty years ago, journalism schools were not fashionable. This craft was learned in newsrooms, print shops, run-down corner cafes, and at Friday night parties, says Marquez.

For full article, click at


http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?228937

The cafe reopenes

Hello All,

Your essential Cafe Chandigarh is starting again after a long summer break. The rains are here and there is nothing nicer than sit and read with a cup of hot tea or coffee (of course) in your hand.

So, now you know where to come every morning, afternoon, evening and have your fill of news and views and the beauty of life in between.

All are invited,

Sourabh Gupta