Five years ago Hurricane Katrina hit the Unite States. Katrina killed more than 1,800 people and it was considered as the deadliest and costliest extreme weather event in US history. Stormy waters wiped away levees and floodwaters entered onto the streets of New Orleans. In some places, the water was six meters deep, resulting a serious damage to the thousands of buildings. Hundreds of the flood victims were waiting for the rescue at the roofs of the buildings. The tragic event made hundreds of poor people homeless in the largest economy of the world.
Five years later in 2010, reconstruction has yet to be completed. Indeed, some of the plots have been redeveloped but many more are left unattended which are taken over by weeds and grasses. In Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, worst affected area, there is complete absence of drug stores, supermarkets and community centers. The district lack necessary infrastructure and has only one school for the children.
Five years later, the worst flooding hit the lengths of Pakistan, from North to South, and killed more than 1600 people while affecting the lives of 20 million people. It washed away many villages and towns along with roads and bridges. It submerged millions of acres of cropland and took the lives of thousands of animals.
Contrary to the United States, political leadership of Pakistan is neither committed enough nor possesses sufficient resources to rehabilitate flood affectees and to rebuild the infrastructure. Widespread corruption among politicians and officials alike does not allow to be optimist about fair and just distribution of very limited resources. One can see only glimpse of hope that all flood affectees will be rehabilitated after five years; in 2015.
Crusader Against Corruption Pursues French Presidency in 2012 !
Eva Joly, 66, best known in France for her personal crusade against corruption, has expressed her willingness to contend for the French Presidency in the 2012 elections. She has earned her name as a judge on the Paris bench because of her fearless approach in uncovering financial frauds and wrongdoings, and now she is determined to free France from corruption, while fighting in the political arena. Her party, the French Green Party ( Europe Ecologie ), seems to approve her nomination for the next presidential elections.
Joly is a self-made woman who gradually climbed the ladder of success. She was born on 5th December 1943 in Norway, and moved to Paris at the age of 18. Her legal education she obtained at night school, working as a secretary during the day. Specializing in financial affairs, she joined the High Court of Paris as an investigating judge in 1990.
It did not take too long for Joly to make her mark with her ruthless fight against corruption. In the early 1990s, her prosecution of the infamous businessman and government minister, Bernard Tapie, won her wide recognition in the power circles of Paris. Later she unmasked a series of money laundering and corruption cases, which made her name feared among corrupt politicians and officials.
Joly received death threats when she was working on a case involving corruption within the French Petroleum giant, ELF. Although harshly criticised for levelling unfair accusations at innocent people, nothing deterred her from doing her job, and she emerged as an honest and incorruptible judge. Her fearless fight against corruption earned her the nickname "Eva the Diva."
In 2002 Joly resigned from the bench and returned to Norway, where she was appointed as a government advisor on international corruption. Working at international level took her across the globe, during which time she was barely remembered in France, and the corrupt elements of society relaxed.
Joly returned to France in 2008 with even greater conviction. Now she had the determination to play a decisive role by entering into politics, and she announced,
"I am going into politics because I recognise the limitations of voluntary action … I have a strong desire to improve relations between the developed and developing world. I want to change power structures within society. I am desperate to see a more just and more united society."
Eva Joly joined Europe Ecologie, a grouping of France's various Green Movements, and the following year she was elected to represent the Paris area at the European Parliament. Since her election she has continuously criticised the French government over many different issues, and when the scandal of 'alleged financial donations' surfaced, involving Liliane Bettencourt, the L'oreal heiress, she demanded the resignation of Labour Minister Eric Woerth. She also strongly accuses the government of "State Racism" over its anti-immigration policies.
Nikolas Sarkozy, current president of the French Republic, seems willing to contend for the presidency for a second time, despite his bad performance in the opinion polls. In addition to Sarkozy there are various other potential candidates, which include incumbent Managing Director of IMF, Dominique Strass-Kahn. In opinion polls Martine Aubry, François Hollande and Ségolène Royal are also gaining.
So how will Joly, a mere two year old toddler in the political arena, perform in such a close race for the Elysees Palace? Only time will tell!
For a complete list of blogs and articles please click here
Joly is a self-made woman who gradually climbed the ladder of success. She was born on 5th December 1943 in Norway, and moved to Paris at the age of 18. Her legal education she obtained at night school, working as a secretary during the day. Specializing in financial affairs, she joined the High Court of Paris as an investigating judge in 1990.
It did not take too long for Joly to make her mark with her ruthless fight against corruption. In the early 1990s, her prosecution of the infamous businessman and government minister, Bernard Tapie, won her wide recognition in the power circles of Paris. Later she unmasked a series of money laundering and corruption cases, which made her name feared among corrupt politicians and officials.
Joly received death threats when she was working on a case involving corruption within the French Petroleum giant, ELF. Although harshly criticised for levelling unfair accusations at innocent people, nothing deterred her from doing her job, and she emerged as an honest and incorruptible judge. Her fearless fight against corruption earned her the nickname "Eva the Diva."
In 2002 Joly resigned from the bench and returned to Norway, where she was appointed as a government advisor on international corruption. Working at international level took her across the globe, during which time she was barely remembered in France, and the corrupt elements of society relaxed.
Joly returned to France in 2008 with even greater conviction. Now she had the determination to play a decisive role by entering into politics, and she announced,
"I am going into politics because I recognise the limitations of voluntary action … I have a strong desire to improve relations between the developed and developing world. I want to change power structures within society. I am desperate to see a more just and more united society."
Eva Joly joined Europe Ecologie, a grouping of France's various Green Movements, and the following year she was elected to represent the Paris area at the European Parliament. Since her election she has continuously criticised the French government over many different issues, and when the scandal of 'alleged financial donations' surfaced, involving Liliane Bettencourt, the L'oreal heiress, she demanded the resignation of Labour Minister Eric Woerth. She also strongly accuses the government of "State Racism" over its anti-immigration policies.
Nikolas Sarkozy, current president of the French Republic, seems willing to contend for the presidency for a second time, despite his bad performance in the opinion polls. In addition to Sarkozy there are various other potential candidates, which include incumbent Managing Director of IMF, Dominique Strass-Kahn. In opinion polls Martine Aubry, François Hollande and Ségolène Royal are also gaining.
So how will Joly, a mere two year old toddler in the political arena, perform in such a close race for the Elysees Palace? Only time will tell!
For a complete list of blogs and articles please click here
Rescue Teams Must Treat Muslims and Non-Muslims Alike!
Natural calamities, earthquakes and disasters do not ask for identification or religious affiliation of the population before wrecking havoc. While doing their jobs, rescue and relief officials are also expected not to discriminate victims on the basis of their religion or caste . It is quite unfortunate that, however, relief workers failed to treat all victims alike in the worst flooding of Pakistan’s history. Members of some minorities has complained, which understandably did not get proper coverage in Pakistani media, about prejudiced treatment due to their religious affiliations.
According to Hindustan Times, members of Pakistan's Ahmadiya community - who were officially declared as non-Muslims in 1973 - were not rescued because rescuers preferred to save Muslims first . Members of the community complained to the Punjab government that upon disclosure of the religious beliefs, they were even ejected from the relief camps and denied any flood relief.
Members of Sikh community also complained the apathy and discrimination of provincial Khyber-Pukhtunkhawa government. They said that members of their community were abandoned and they had to arrange rescue on their own, unlike their Muslim counterparts.
Since every flood victim is complaining about the absence of the government help, the authorities can easily deny the discriminatory behavior by rescue workers. In the light of religious extremism in Pakistan, specially against Christians, it becomes very clear that complaints of minorities are not baseless.
Members of different religious minorities are also citizens of Pakistan and there must not be any discrimination regarding their beliefs and affiliations. In the later phases of rehabilitation and reconstruction, government must take special care about fair and just treatment to all subjects. In addition, it must take serious action if one fails to conform with the 'equality of humanity'.
According to Hindustan Times, members of Pakistan's Ahmadiya community - who were officially declared as non-Muslims in 1973 - were not rescued because rescuers preferred to save Muslims first . Members of the community complained to the Punjab government that upon disclosure of the religious beliefs, they were even ejected from the relief camps and denied any flood relief.
Members of Sikh community also complained the apathy and discrimination of provincial Khyber-Pukhtunkhawa government. They said that members of their community were abandoned and they had to arrange rescue on their own, unlike their Muslim counterparts.
Since every flood victim is complaining about the absence of the government help, the authorities can easily deny the discriminatory behavior by rescue workers. In the light of religious extremism in Pakistan, specially against Christians, it becomes very clear that complaints of minorities are not baseless.
Members of different religious minorities are also citizens of Pakistan and there must not be any discrimination regarding their beliefs and affiliations. In the later phases of rehabilitation and reconstruction, government must take special care about fair and just treatment to all subjects. In addition, it must take serious action if one fails to conform with the 'equality of humanity'.
French Cities Declare War On Toplessness.
France, it seems, has embarked on to define its new identity. After declaring a war against ‘Burqa’, a head to-toe-veil worn by Muslim women, French cities have declared a war on toplessness. Perpignan city, following the footsteps of Cavaillon which banned toplessness early this summer, has recently outlawed bare chests in public places. Transgressors may be fined with up to 38 Euros. The law calls for “human dignity, decency, morality and protection of the young”, said Pierre Parrat, security chief of Perpignan.
Coastal cities and seaside resorts have outlawed bikini wearing and shirtlessness long ago. Now inland cities has also started to tell tourists to put their clothes on. "A girl in a bikini in the centre of town is lovely, but children should not have to see hairy chests," a waiter in the Pigalle area replied in a poll conducted by Le Parisien.
Banning on toplessness is in accordance with the changing trends in the country. The beaches of St Tropez and other French resorts - which still allow bare chests on display - are witnessing a continuous decline what was once a common site; ladies in topless swimsuits. Toplessness is not hot in France any more.
Topless swimsuits and bathing made their first appearance on French beaches in 1964 and they have been there ever since, as well on other beaches on which topless attires was permitted. The topless culture, however, is under attack now as more and more women do not like to be topless in public.
Ban on toplessness may be a bad news for nudists and exhibitionists but it is certainly a good news for those who felt embarrassed with the display of naked bodies in public.
Banning on toplessness is in accordance with the changing trends in the country. The beaches of St Tropez and other French resorts - which still allow bare chests on display - are witnessing a continuous decline what was once a common site; ladies in topless swimsuits. Toplessness is not hot in France any more.
Topless swimsuits and bathing made their first appearance on French beaches in 1964 and they have been there ever since, as well on other beaches on which topless attires was permitted. The topless culture, however, is under attack now as more and more women do not like to be topless in public.
Ban on toplessness may be a bad news for nudists and exhibitionists but it is certainly a good news for those who felt embarrassed with the display of naked bodies in public.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)