22 Kilowatts and Counting for a Church and Community Solar Energy System in University Park, Maryland

June 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Celebration of Community-Funded Renewable Energy System
–(Business Wire)–
Standard Solar, Inc.:

WHAT: Dedication of Washington, DC Region`s First `Grass Roots` Solar Energy
System.

WHO`S SLATED TO SPEAK:

* University Park Mayor John Tabori
* Chesapeake Climate Action Network Executive Director Mike Tidwell
* Church of the Brethren Pastor Kim McDowell
* Community Park Solar Co-Founders David Brosch and Tom Eichbaum
* Atmospheric Scientist and University of Maryland Professor Ross Salawitch
* Standard Solar Co-Founder Lee Bristol

WHEN: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, June 12, 2010

WHERE: Church of the Brethren, 4413 Tuckerman Street, University Park, MD 20782

FURTHER DETAIL:

• A 22 kW solar energy system was recently designed and installed by Standard
Solar on the roof of the Church of the Brethren in University Park, Maryland.

• The project is funded by 36 community members who have formed the University
Park Community Solar LLC (UPCS).

• The system will supply electricity to the church, which will purchase power
from UPCS at a prescribed rate. Excess energy will be supplied to the grid.

• The financial model of UPCS projects a return of investment in 5 to 6 years,
based on revenue from electricity supplied to the church and grid, the auction
of renewable energy credits, federal tax incentives for solar energy, and
depreciation.

• This is believed to be the first community-funded solar energy system in the
U.S. The UPCS solar energy system is intended to serve as a model for how
communities can help the nation decrease its reliance on fossil fuels in a
financially viable manner.

Directions: About a 1 mile south of the University of Maryland-College Park
campus, near the intersection of Route 410 (East-West Highway) and Route 1. From
that intersection, drive north two blocks on Route 1 toward College Park to the
intersection at Tuckerman Street. Church is on left (west); parking lot is on
Tuckerman Street, directly across from the church.

Light refreshments will be served.

For more information, please go to:

http://universityparksolar.com/ or

http://www.standardsolar.com/News-and-Events/Press-Releases/University-Park-Community-Solar-Electric-System.aspx

Community Park Solar
David Brosch, 301-779-3168
davidbrosch@comcast.net
or
Standard Solar, Inc.
Jim Pierobon, 240-479-1517
jim.pierobon@standardsolar.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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Is there a need for a fresh mandate to curb the Maoists?

May 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): The brutal killing of 31 persons in Chhattisgarh soon after the Dantewada attack on the Central Reserve Police Force, which had claimed the lives of 76, indicates that while the Maoists are clear in their strategy, the Indian State – both at the Central and State levels – appears confused.

The attack on the civilian bus showed the ruthlessness of the Maoists, who have claimed that their targets were the 15 Special Police officers traveling in it.

The attack on the civilian bus, which was on a routine journey from Dantewada to Sukhma, has shown the Central and State Governments in poor light. Stung by the criticism, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that he had a ”limited mandate”: the maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the State, and the Government of India can only provide special forces when asked for and provide intelligence inputs and funds for development.

The remarks made earlier during the week by Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on the ”aggressive ”statements of Chidambaram following the Dantewada massacre, have added fuel to the controversy.

The controversy has not died down in spite of the statement made by the Congress President Sonia Gandhi in her article in the Congress Party journal Sandesh that while the country ”must address acts of terror decisively and forcefully”, it has to ”address the root cause of Naxalism”.

The rise of Naxalism, she said, is a reflection of the need for our development initiatives to reach to the grass roots, especially in our most backward of tribal districts.

On this occasion, one recalls that the late Rajiv Gandhi had mentioned that hardly fifteen percent of the funds allotted for development reaches the people. Even today, in the areas affected by Naxalism, the funds earmarked for development are not spent.

Soon after the Dantewada incident, the Home Ministry arranged for a briefing by the Planning Commission for elected members of Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, to provide them details of the programmes being implemented by the Government.

It was felt that elected members would take pains to monitor the implementation of flagship programmes of the Government of India and try to wean tribals away from Naxalism.

Ever since Chidambaram took over as the Home Minister at the end of 2008, he has assumed a proactive role in mobilizing different State Governments to take steps to curb Naxalism, which has been described by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the most serious challenge that the country is facing.

Chidambaram has also invited the Naxals for talks – the only condition being that they should abjure violence for 72 hours before the commencement of dialogue. The Naxals have rejected the offer.

They know that talks and acceleration of development would mean that their hold on the tribals in the interior belt of the five states would be affected. The construction of a road network would open the hinterland and expose them to the security forces. As of now, the Naxals have been comfortable dealing with the local police, forest guards and contractors engaged in construction of roads and school buildings.

The month of April, when the tendu leave trade commences, is a sensitive time in the area. The Naxals were determined that the Central Reserve Police Force should not make inroads into territory which has been under their control for years. They issued warnings, declared ”bandhs”, and even slit the throats of villagers who defied their threats.

The ”leadership” of the Naxals does not belong to a particular region. From Koteshwar Rao to Ramana, most of them are ”migrants” from Andhra Pradesh , which was their original home for decades, before the so-called Operation ”Green-Hunt” displaced them. They are now established in safe havens in Bastar, Koraput, Midnapur, to name a few areas.

It is time that the Central Government told the Naxals in no uncertain terms that there would be no compromise with elements who challenge the unity and integrity of the country. It could use the armed forces, if necessary. Rightly, the Government has decided that so far there is no need to use the military, except Air Force helicopters for logistic purposes.

The Government of India has a clear mandate to ensure the unity and integrity of the country. It is not a ”limited mandate”. It is time “Operation Green Hunt” is pursued like a real ”Hunt”. (ANI)

E-mail ID: raoramamohan@hotmail.com

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Is there a need for a fresh mandate to curb the Maoists?

May 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): The brutal killing of 31 persons in Chattisgarh soon after the Dantewada attack on the Central Reserve Police Force, which had claimed the lives of 76, indicates that while the Maoists are clear in their strategy, the Indian State – both at the Central and State levels – appears confused.

The attack on the civilian bus showed the ruthlessness of the Maoists, who have claimed that their targets were the 15 Special Police officers traveling in it.

The attack on the civilian bus, which was on a routine journey from Dantewada to Sukhma, has shown the Central and State Governments in poor light. Stung by the criticism, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that he had a ‘limited mandate’: the maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the State, and the Government of India can only provide special forces when asked for and provide intelligence inputs and funds for development.

The remarks made earlier during the week by Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on the ‘aggressive ‘statements of Chdambaram following the Dantewada massacre, have added fuel to the controversy.

The controversy has not died down in spite of the statement made by the Congress President Sonia Gandhi in her article in the Congress Party journal Sandesh that while the country ‘must address acts of terror decisively and forcefully’, it has to ‘address the root cause of Naxalism’.

The rise of Naxalism, she said, is a reflection of the need for our development initiatives to reach to the grass roots, especially in our most backward of tribal districts.

On this occasion, one recalls that the late Rajiv Gandhi had mentioned that hardly fifteen percent of the funds allotted for development reaches the people. Even today, in the areas affected by Naxalism, the funds earmarked for development are not spent.

Soon after the Dantewada incident, the Home Ministry arranged for a briefing by the Planning Commission for elected members of Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, to provide them details of the programmes being implemented by the Government.

It was felt that elected members would take pains to monitor the implementation of flagship programmes of the Government of India and try to wean tribals away from Naxalism.

Ever since Chidambaram took over as the Home Minister at the end of 2008, he has assumed a proactive role in mobilizing different State Governments to take steps to curb Naxalism, which has been described by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the most serious challenge that the country is facing.

Chidambaram has also invited the Naxals for talks – the only condition being that they should abjure violence for 72 hours before the commencement of dialogue. The Naxals have rejected the offer.

They know that talks and acceleration of development would mean that their hold on the tribals in the interior belt of the five states would be affected. The construction of a road network would open the hinterland and expose them to the security forces. As of now, the Naxals have been comfortable dealing with the local police, forest guards and contractors engaged in construction of roads and school buildings.

The month of April, when the tendu leave trade commences, is a sensitive time in the area. The Naxals were determined that the Central Reserve Police Force should not make inroads into territory which has been under their control for years. They issued warnings, declared ‘bandhs’, and even slit the throats of villagers who defied their threats.

The ‘leadership’ of the Naxals does not belong to a particular region. From Koteshwar Rao to Ramana, most of them are ‘migrants’ from Andhra Pradesh , which was their original home for decades, before the so-called Operation ‘Green-Hunt’ displaced them. They are now established in safe havens in Bastar, Koraput, Midnapur, to name a few areas.

It is time that the Central Government told the Naxals in no uncertain terms that there would be no compromise with elements who challenge the unity and integrity of the country. It could use the armed forces, if necessary. Rightly, the Government has decided that so far there is no need to use the military, except Air Force helicopters for logistic purposes.

The Government of India has a clear mandate to ensure the unity and integrity of the country. It is not a ‘limited mandate’. It is time “Operation Green Hunt’ is converted into “Operation Red Hunt”. (ANI)

E-mail ID: raoramamohan@hotmail.com

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Grass-roots warming summit calls for greenhouse cuts

April 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Big polluting countries must aggressively cut greenhouse gases and listen to ideas from small nations to reverse global warming, activists and left-wing leaders concluded on Thursday at a meeting billed as an alternative to the failed Copenhagen summit.

The gathering in Bolivia’s Cochabamba region was meant to give voice to countries and environmental groups that said they were excluded from an active role at the Copenhagen summit in December, when world leaders negotiated behind closed doors.

Activists say the big industrial powers sabotaged the Copenhagen summit by not agreeing to major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and insist the next big climate change meeting in Mexico in December must include other voices.

The Cochabamba summit called for leading industrial nations to cut emissions by 50 percent, a much more ambitious goal than the pledges of cuts from 7 percent to 16 percent in the Copenhagen Accord.

“Developed countries … in the meeting of heads of state in Mexico in December, they’ve got to listen to the people, take decisions to better the lives of all,” Bolivian President Evo Morales told the summit.

Earlier in the summit, Morales drew controversy when he said eating chicken fed with hormones causes “sexual deviation” in men and that European men lose their hair because they eat genetically modified food.

Capitalism, genetically modified food and global warming were all targets at the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth, which drew some 20,000 environmentalists and representatives from 90 governments.

Representatives from indigenous groups from all over the world took part in the meeting in the small village of Tiquipaya, which was free and included concerts, theater, a handicrafts market and artists painting murals.

SMALL COUNTRIES COULD BACK RESOLUTIONS

Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Ecuador, which belong to a leftist group of Latin American countries, as well as Sudan and Saudi Arabia, have been strong critics of the Copenhagen accord.

“Climate change is a crisis that was created in the north and its effects are overwhelmingly lived in the south. If you acknowledge that simple fact of justice and decency, that means that southern countries are no longer begging for aid,” said Canadian author Naomi Klein.

Klein, a prominent activist against global warming, said Cochabamba could help cement an alliance among nations that are already suffering the effects of climate change. “That’s a much more empowered position” which calls for “a lot more unity between developing countries,” she said.

The Cochabamba meeting resolved that an international tribunal should be created to hold those to blame for global warming accountable. It also called for a global referendum on climate change and the creation of a fund to help affected nations cope with global warming.

The resolutions are not binding, but countries and social organizations who took part in the summit have pledged to drum up support for them ahead of December’s United Nations summit on climate change in Cancun, Mexico.

Alicia Barcena, the top U.N. representative at the meeting, told reporters on Tuesday it was time for the organization to admit it had excluded grassroots groups from the Copenhagen summit, but she was pessimistic about Cancun.

“Rio+20 should be our goal, because I don’t think Cancun will solve the problems,” she said.

Late last year, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution agreeing to hold the Rio+20 Earth Summit on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012.

(Editing by Peter Cooney and Todd Eastham)

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Punjab authorities launch drive to uproot “Congress Grass”

September 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Nag Khurd (Amritsar), Sep.5 (ANI): Farmers in Punjab are confronted with an unusual problem these days. A weed described as “Congress Grass” has covered all soil-bunds in the fields here and the administration is taking up measures to educate farmers about how to obviate it.

The “Congress Grass” is said to be a major biological pollutant of the environment. It is described as one of the seven most destructive weeds of the world.

Locally known as ‘Gajar Buti’, the Congress Grass has become an ecological nuisance especially on sides of link roads and other waste lands. It causes Asthma, Allergy and skin diseases to humans and also the animals.

It becomes a host for dangerous insects. Nowadays the vast growth of this weed can also be seen on roadsides and other wastelands.

Observing its harmful effects on the fields, the agriculture department has decided to pull out the “Congress grass” from its roots.

It is a mechanical technique in which fodder cutter machines attached to tractors are to be used to clear the area covered up by Congress Grass.

The novel technique of mechanical removal of this weed from the sides of link roads and wastelands in Amritsar district was started on Thursday.

Authorities are spreading public awareness among farmers through demonstrations about the new technique with the help of fodder cutting machine by eradicating Congress Grass.

With the help of the machines, the farmers are able to get rid of this menace of “Congress Grass” more effectively and rapidly.

The idea to use fodder cutting machine for this purpose has been conceived by Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Kahn Singh Pannu.

On Thursday, Pannu demonstrated to farmers by driving a tractor in Nag Khurd village in Majitha area about how to pull out the “Congress Grass”.

Talking to ANI Pannu said, this is first time in Punjab that they are cutting the hazardous weed “Congress Grass” with fodder cutter machines and it is giving god results.

According to Pannu, Congress Grass is not only harmful to the crop but also causes severe skin problems like rashes and itching and some time cause respiratory diseases.

“Through demonstration, we are creating awareness and educating the farmers to get rid of this unwanted weed by applying new methods,” Pannu said.

With the help of department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Rural Development, about 20 Fodder Cutter Machines in the district will be employed for the removal of the Congress Grass from the berms and the waste lands in the district.

The farmers, who own these machines, will operate them to remove the weed and they will be paid for their services by the Panchayats (village councils).

“Since these day we have ample time so we would pull out the Congress Grass by applying the new method,” said Satnam Singh, a farmer, while adding that it is more convenient as there has been always a shortage of labour in Punjab.

“Apart from the damage to crop through reduced yields, Congress Grass is weakening the strength of the land,” said Inder Preet Singh, another farmer.

Appreciating the efforts being made by administrative authorities, Singh said he feels that agriculture department should organize more camps so that the more farmers could benefit by eradicating the Congress Grass from their field. By Ravinder Singh Robin(ANI)

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Self-help groups enable women in Tripura to earn

May 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Jirania (Tripura), May 9 (ANI): Women members elected to the village council in Tripura have taken a lead in paving the way for a large number of poor women to become self-reliant.

This has been made possible by these enterprising women representatives by setting up Self-Help Groups (SHGs), which generate allied productive vocations for the poor families.

In Jirania region of Tripura, several SHGs are in operation providing ample subsistence to the ‘have-not’ families.

Women who until the other day were just housewives doing domestic chores, are supplementing the family income through their own efforts.

“Our self help group consists of 11 women and right from making incense sticks and packaging to marketing is being done, all by women. Another 200 women work under us and have become self-employed and earn for their families by making incense sticks which are made out of raw natural materials available locally,” said Mithu Chakraborty, a member of SHG, Jirania, Tripura.

Although the Self-Help Groups exist only at the village level, the fact is that these women members of the village councils have played a stellar role in empowerment of women and also in poverty alleviation at the grass roots.

Apart from creating varied vocations, the Self-Help Groups have also been active in other spheres such as education, drinking water and community health programmes.

“We are running it very well. I believe because we know better what shall be more beneficial for the women folk like drinking water facility, literacy, health facility. We are keeping these as priority sectors and are developing with mutual help,” said Juhlera Khatun, a Panchayat member.

The Self-Help Groups have also been instrumental in the construction of link roads in the villages including building culverts across streams and other rivulets. (ANI)

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Will reform ‘monstrous’ tax code: Obama

April 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama
promised Americans his administration would reform the “monstrous” US tax system as millions faced the dreaded
annual deadline on Wednesday for filing income tax returns.
Obama used Tax Day, a national ritual of public frustration due to the confusing tax code, to underscore his drive to cut taxes for many Americans while increasing spending to jolt the US out of its worst recession in decades.

Opposition Republicans seized the chance to rail against what they see as wasteful spending by his new Democratic administration, and some of Obama’s grass-roots critics staged “tea party” protests in several US cities.

Obama is pushing a $3.5 trillion budget plan that Republicans and some Democrats say carries too much deficit spending and too few tax cuts. Seeking to tap into public exasperation, Obama said: “We need to simplify a monstrous tax code that is far too complicated for most Americans to understand.”

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UPDATE 2-Obama vows to reform “monstrous” U.S. tax code

April 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Obama emphasizes delivery of tax cuts

* Says time to take on byzantine U.S. tax code

* Critics attack government’s “wasteful spending” (Adds Obama’s tax return, additional protest)

By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON, April 15 (Reuters) – President Barack Obama promised Americans his administration would reform the “monstrous” U.S. tax system as millions faced the dreaded annual deadline on Wednesday for filing income tax returns.

Obama used Tax Day, a national ritual of public frustration due to the confusing tax code, to underscore his drive to cut taxes for many Americans while increasing spending to jolt the United States out of its worst recession in decades.

Opposition Republicans seized the chance to rail against what they see as wasteful spending by his new Democratic administration, and some of Obama’s grass-roots critics staged “tea party” protests in several U.S. cities.

Obama is pushing a $3.5 trillion federal budget plan that Republicans and some Democrats say carries too much deficit spending and too few tax cuts.

“My administration has taken far-reaching action to give tax cuts to the Americans who need them, while jump-starting growth and job creation in the process,” Obama said at a White House event with a group of workers and business owners.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama had already cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans and would stick to his pledge of no higher taxes for anyone earning less than $250,000 a year.

“We know that tax relief must be joined with fiscal discipline,” Obama said. He also reiterated a pledge to stop giving tax breaks to companies that “ship jobs overseas.”

Obama and his wife Michelle jointly filed a 2008 federal income tax return reporting an adjusted gross income of $2,656,902 and paying $855,323 in federal income tax and $77,883 in state income taxes, according to tax information released by the White House.

TEA PARTY PROTESTS

As a counterpoint to Obama’s defense of his policies, protests were held in Washington, Chicago, Boston and other cities. Organizers said the protests were inspired by the 1773 Boston Tea Party rebellion against British colonial taxes, which helped spark the American revolution.

The “tea party” protesters demonstrated against taxes, government bailouts and Obama’s budget proposal.

Rallies were planned at state legislatures across the South, the most conservative region of the United States. In Mississippi, around 2,000 people gathered on the steps of the state capitol in Jackson.

“Our biggest thing is to protest the overspending of our government. They are not looking at the people. They are just automatically dipping into our pockets,” said Julia Hodges, an organizer of the Tax Day Tea Party in Mississippi.

Several hundred people, some in 18th century garb, braved chilly rainy weather in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, where they chanted “Don’t tread on me!”

Since taking office on Jan. 20, Obama has promised sweeping reform of the tax code. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker is leading a panel that is to study options and report back by the end of the year.

Seeking to tap into public exasperation, Obama said: “We need to simplify a monstrous tax code that is far too complicated for most Americans to understand.”

“It will take time to undo the damage of years of carve-outs and loopholes. But I want every American to know that we will rewrite the tax code so that it puts your interests over any special interest. And we will make it quicker, easier and less expensive for you to file a return, so that April 15 is not a date that is approached with dread each year,” he said. (Additional reporting by Andy Sullivan in Washington, Scott Malone in Boston and Kathleen Baydala in Jackson, Mississippi; editing by Mohammad Zargham)

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Obama vows to reform “monstrous” tax code

April 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama promised Americans his administration would reform the “monstrous” U.S. tax system as millions faced the dreaded annual deadline on Wednesday for filing income tax returns.

Obama used Tax Day, a national ritual of public frustration due to the confusing tax code, to underscore his drive to cut taxes for many Americans while increasing spending to jolt the United States out of its worst recession in decades.

Opposition Republicans seized the chance to rail against what they see as wasteful spending by his new Democratic administration, and some of Obama’s grass-roots critics staged “tea party” protests in several U.S. cities.

Obama is pushing a $3.5 trillion federal budget plan that Republicans and some Democrats say carries too much deficit spending and too few tax cuts.

“My administration has taken far-reaching action to give tax cuts to the Americans who need them, while jump-starting growth and job creation in the process,” Obama said at a White House event with a group of workers and business owners.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama had already cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans and would stick to his pledge of no higher taxes for anyone earning less than $250,000 a year.

“We know that tax relief must be joined with fiscal discipline,” Obama said. He also reiterated a pledge to stop giving tax breaks to companies that “ship jobs overseas.”

Obama and his wife Michelle jointly filed a 2008 federal income tax return reporting an adjusted gross income of $2,656,902 and paying $855,323 in federal income tax and $77,883 in state income taxes, according to tax information released by the White House.

TEA PARTY PROTESTS

As a counterpoint to Obama’s defense of his policies, protests were held in Washington, Chicago, Boston and other cities. Organizers said the protests were inspired by the 1773 Boston Tea Party rebellion against British colonial taxes, which helped spark the American revolution.

The “tea party” protesters demonstrated against taxes, government bailouts and Obama’s budget proposal.

Rallies were planned at state legislatures across the South, the most conservative region of the United States. In Mississippi, around 2,000 people gathered on the steps of the state capitol in Jackson.

“Our biggest thing is to protest the overspending of our government. They are not looking at the people. They are just automatically dipping into our pockets,” said Julia Hodges, an organizer of the Tax Day Tea Party in Mississippi.

Several hundred people, some in 18th century garb, braved chilly rainy weather in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, where they chanted “Don’t tread on me!”

Since taking office on January 20, Obama has promised sweeping reform of the tax code. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker is leading a panel that is to study options and report back by the end of the year.

Seeking to tap into public exasperation, Obama said: “We need to simplify a monstrous tax code that is far too complicated for most Americans to understand.”

“It will take time to undo the damage of years of carve-outs and loopholes. But I want every American to know that we will rewrite the tax code so that it puts your interests over any special interest. And we will make it quicker, easier and less expensive for you to file a return, so that April 15 is not a date that is approached with dread each year,” he said.

(Additional reporting by Andy Sullivan in Washington, Scott Malone in Boston and Kathleen Baydala in Jackson, Mississippi; editing by Mohammad Zargham)

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U.S. experts say much rides on North Korean rocket

April 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

North Korea would demonstrate an ability to hit much of the United States with a long-range missile if it succeeds in launching a satellite in space, the former head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said on Friday.

“If they have a successful Taepodong-2 space launch shot they should be able to range most of northwestern United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as part of the mainland, even with a two-stage missile,” said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry Obering, who ran U.S. missile-defense development until Jan. 1.

Much depends on whether Pyongyang has succeeded in developing advanced propellants for the rocket that satellite images show it is readying to launch as soon as Saturday.

South Korea and Japan have said the North’s declared goal — sending a communications satellite into orbit — is mere cover for a test of the long-range Taepodong-2 missile.

A similar missile blew apart about 40 seconds after launch in July 2006.

If the North successfully puts a satellite in space using a three-stage missile, as many experts predict it will try to do, “they would be able to range about half of the continental United States,” Obering said. “And with advanced propellants … they could range all of the United States.”

“That’s one of the reasons that we have our ears up and (are) very alert — because it’s a major step forward,” he told a briefing organized by the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, a grass-roots- and industry-funded group that backs a layered anti-missile shield the Bush administration began deploying in 2004.

The extent of North Korea’s mastery of advanced rocket propellants was uncertain at the time he left the U.S. government, Obering said. “But we do know that they have demonstrated the ability to go beyond the basic SCUD-propellant technology from the 1980s.”

North Korea also is estimated to have enough ingredients for at least half a dozen nuclear weapons, the U.S. Congressional Research Service said in a Feb. 12 report.

A successful space shot would show the North was “closer to gaining a capability that can be used to hold hostage a number of American cities — and thereby in a regional crisis in the future, serve as a weapon of intimidation,” said Robert Joseph, the State Department’s top arms-control official during part of

President George W. Bush’s administration.

“When you watch North Korea … you should be thinking of Iran,” he said. “In the ballistic missile business, these two countries are tied together at the hip.”

Joseph Bermudez, who analyzes North Korea’s missile program for Jane’s, a publisher of authoritative weapons-related reference material, said converting a space launch vehicle to deliver a warhead involved “trading out just the tip of the system.”

But the production of a reliable ballistic missile warhead is “extremely difficult,” he said. “You have to solve the problem of extreme vibration, rapid acceleration and deceleration as well as big swings in heating and cooling.”

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Oz Government distributes 5.8 lakh rupees for two youth sports programs in India

April 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar.31 (ANI): Through the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP), Australia has distributed 5.8 lakh rupees this year to support two youth sports programs in India.

Australia has provided 463,800 rupees to the Naz Foundation’s Goal – Reaching New Heights netball program for disadvantaged girls. This program is unique in that it challenges girls to learn new skills and improves confidence through a non-contact, women-only sport.

For many of the participants it is the first time they have been involved in any form of organised physical activity. ASOP has provided funds to expand the program through a ‘training of trainers’ workshop for potential coaches, and to refurbish local netball courts.

On March 24, Deputy High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan participated in a Goal workshop at the Deepalay School, Govindpuri. “I think sport is a wonderful vehicle to empower girls and young women” said Dr Strahan. “Apart from improving physical fitness, which is important for doing well in academic studies, sport teaches girls leadership skills and gives them greater confidence in themselves.”

Australia has also provided 115,517 rupees to the Youth Football Club of Rurka Kalan in the Punjab to develop a coaching program and translate training material into local languages. This program will facilitate a structured approach to physical education in the region.

Australia and India share a common sporting heritage and have a long history of competition at the international level, including in forums such as the Commonwealth Games. As Delhi 2010 approaches, the Australia Government is pleased to encourage further sporting excellence and the development of grassroots sport in India through ASOP.

ASOP was launched in July 2006 and this year provided around 10 lakh rupees in funding to countries across the Asia Pacific region for grass roots sport development.

The goal of ASOP is to increase community participation in sport and physical activity while providing an avenue for broader community development in areas such as health promotion, leadership and social cohesion. Youth, women and girls, and people with disability are focus groups for ASOP. (ANI)

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ECB planning on reforms to improve the way the game is governed

March 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar.12 (ANI): The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman, Giles Clarke, has outlined a series of reforms that aim to alter the way the game is governed.

The moves represent an attempt by the ECB to get back on to the front foot in the wake of the divisive Pietersen-Moores affair and the damaging Stanford episode.

In the wake of the fallout from the Sir Allen Stanford affair that led to calls for his resignation, Clarke has promised to introduce a fit and proper persons test as part of a wide-ranging review of the sport’s future.

Other reforms being thought of in the wake of the challenge posed from Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, include improved representation for women at the highest levels and independent input into a new five-year strategic plan.

According to a report in The Guardian, Burnham has challenged major sports to reassess their relationship with money and ensure more is invested in the grass roots.

In a meeting with Clarke and Collier later the same day, he raised concerns about the long-term health of the county game and the lack of a test for backers of the national team and owners of counties.

Following a board meeting earlier today, Clarke said the ECB would work far more closely with government in an attempt to tackle the issues raised and address them in its forthcoming review.

But he also placed some of the onus back on to Burnham by looking into how regulators and government might help investigate the finances and legitimacy of potential owners.

The ECB chairman said he would -discuss with Burnham “suitable arrangements for securing independent verification and input into the next five-year plan and how his department can assist in the complex financial arrangements that may be needed in examining whether people and institutions are fit and proper to be involved in the game”.

ECB insiders, however, still feel they have established a good working relationship with government in recent months and argue that its progress in driving grassroots participation and increasing attendances should be recognized. (ANI)

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North Eastern Region Vision 2020 document outlines strategies for peace

February 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Feb 26 (ANI): Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today said that the North Eastern Region (NER) Vision 2020 document outlines the goals, identifies the challenges and suggests implementation strategies for various sectors for peace and prosperity of the NER.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Aiyar said, “The Vision document suggests regional and sectoral implementation strategies for promoting the socio-economic prosperity of the region, with a view to growth rates in the NER catching up with the overall national growth rates.”

The document suggests a six-fold strategy for the comprehensive developments of the region. They are (i) Empowering people by maximising self-governance and participatory development through grass-roots planning to promote inclusive development. (ii) Creation of development opportunities for the rural areas through enhancing productivity in agriculture and allied activities such as animal husbandry, horticulture, floriculture, fisheries and generation of livelihood options through rural non-farm employment. (iii) To develop sectors in the region which have a comparative advantage such as agro processing, hydel power generation. (iv) Enhancing the skills and competencies of the people and building the capacities for institutions within the Government and outside. (v) Creating a hospitable investment climate to encourage investment by private sector particularly for infrastructure. (vi) Harnessing the resources of the Government and the private sector to realise the objectives of the Vision.

The Minister said that the Vision Document stresses the development of agriculture and allied sectors, strengthening of physical infrastructure, participatory development and inclusive governance.

“It has been estimated in the Vision document that additional investment to the extent of Rs. 13,29,891 crore from the XI Plan to the first three years of XIII Plan would be required,” he added.

“As per projections made in the NER Vision document, per capita income of India by 2020 is expected to be about Rs 87459 at the 2006-07 prices by 2020. To reach this level of income between 2006-07 and 2019-2020, the Vision document estimates that Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in the North-Eastern Region will have to grow at 12.95% per year on an average,” he said.

As per extant policy, 51 non-exempted Ministries and Departments of the Union Government have to annually spend at least 10 per cent of their Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) in the NER failing which the amount accrues to the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resource (NLCPR).

The accruals under NLCPR are then spent on projects recommended by the State Governments under the extant guidelines.

The implementation of various measures for the socio-economic development of the NER through the Ministries/Departments and agencies of the Union Government under their flagship national programmes, special schemes and projects for the NER and investments through sources other than GBS is a continuous process. (ANI)

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