Coca-Cola Plant Shut Down Mehadiganj in India, Authorities Cancel License
Jun 18, 2014
Protest against Coca-Cola in India
Varanasi, India: Coca-Cola’s bottling plant has been shut down by state government authorities in Mehdiganj in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) ordered the plant to shut down because it found the company to be violating a number of conditions of its license, or “No Objection Certificate” (NOC).
The Pollution Control Board, in its order dated June 6, 2014 (which we obtained yesterday), noted that Coca-Cola had failed to obtain clearance to extract groundwater from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), a government agency that monitors and regulates ground water use in water-stressed areas. The groundwater in Mehdiganj has gone from “safe” category in 1999 when Coca-Cola started operations to “critical” in 2009, according to the CGWA. As a result, more ground water use restrictions are in place, including on ground water use by farmers and the community for drinking water.
The closure is a major victory for the community in Mehdiganj which has actively engaged the UPPCB, CGWA and other government agencies to shut down Coca-Cola’s plant. The campaign had also alerted the government to Coca-Cola’s failure to meet a key condition of a temporary license given to it – obtaining the clearance from the CGWA. The campaign, which enjoys widespread local support, had also sent letters from 15 village councils (panchayat) in April 2013 seeking closure of Coca-Cola’s plant. UPPCB’s closure order also noted that Coca-Cola had increased its production capacity from 20,000 cases per day to 36,000 without the Board’s permission, and suggested that the company may have misled the Board about the actual amount of industrial waste discharge (which has remained constant, according to Coca-Cola, in spite of increasing production by 80%). The Board also cast doubt on Coca-Cola’s waste treatment plant, noting that the “Treatment System/Plant” was not operating “smoothly/properly”.
Coca-Cola had been seeking to expand the capacity of its existing plant in Mehdiganj five-fold, part of its aggressive growth strategy of India which in 2012 announced an additional $5 billion investment by 2020 as sales in industrialized countries decline or stagnate due to health concerns. Coca-Cola has approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), an environmental court in India, appealing against the decision of the UPPCB and has asked to be allowed to re-open its shut down facility. The NGT has not yet allowed the plant to reopen in the three hearings so far. The closure of Coca-Cola’s bottling plant comes at the peak of Coca-Cola’s sales season in India, and the company has cited financial losses to the NGT as a reason for reopening the plant quickly.
Welcoming the closure of Coca-Cola’s plant, Nandlal Master of Lok Samiti who has spearheaded the local campaign said, “We knew it was a matter of time before the government acknowledged the demands of the community. This is a great victory and a welcome confirmation that local communities can successfully take on big, powerful business.” Coca-Cola’s expanded facility in Mehdiganj has already been built but has not been able to begin commercial operations. The company also faces a major obstacle in its operations because some of the land acquired by Coca-Cola for its plant is community owned land and cannot be used for private purposes. In December 2013, local authorities passed an order to evict Coca-Cola from the illegally occupied land but Coca-Cola approached the courts and obtained a stay order.
Coca-Cola has also been forced to shut down another bottling plant in India in 2004 – in Plachimada in the state of Kerala, and faces legislation holding it liable for $47 million in damages as a result of its operations. The company is also the target of a major community campaign in Kala Dera in Rajasthan where the community is seeking closure of the bottling plant due to rapidly depleting ground water. Most recently, Coca-Cola’s plants to build a new factory in Charba in Uttarakhand were defeated almost as soon as the proposal was made public in 2013, testament to how quickly and efficiently communities can organize and network in India against problematic companies such as Coca-Cola. “Coca-Cola’s thirst for profits in India have placed its business interests over the well-being of communities and the environment and this is not acceptable as the community of Mehdiganj has shown. We will ensure that Coca-Cola will face heightened scrutiny anywhere it plans to operate in India because the track record of the company is dismal”, said Amit Srivastava of the international campaigning group, India Resource Center.
Fore background on Mehdiganj and for more information visit www.IndiaResource.org
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Harsh Vardhan, India’s Minister For Health To Lead Town Hall Meeting on AAPI-India Engagement During 32nd Annual Convention
Jayesh with Dr Harshvardhan
Will Review Accomplishments – Focus Forward “Enhancing Engagement Via Collaboration”... (San Antonio, TX: June 9th, 2014) “Members of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) both collectively and individually have been engaged in addressing the huge healthcare related needs of our motherland, India for several decades, by organizing, supporting, partnering and collaborating with local groups in India and making a difference in their villages, cities or states,” Dr. Jayesh Shah, president of the largest ethnic association of physicians in the United States representing over 100, 000 physicians of Indian origin, said.
Since 2008, AAPI has taken a more formal approach with the initiation of Indo-US Healthcare Summits, later evolved as Global Healthcare Summits by engaging Indian Physicians and Associations from Canada, UK, Middle East and Australia. This has been a great learning experience and thanks to the passion, commitment and collaboration AAPI has been instrumental in bringing about some ideas that are helping India in its efforts to make healthcare affordable, accessible and efficient to her more than one billion people. “With a view to enhance these efforts and coordinate future initiatives to best serve the people of India, AAPI is organizing a Town Hall Meeting, during which Harsh Vardhan, India’s newly appointed Minister for Health & Family Welfare will be the Chief Guest.” The Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2014, from 2-4 pm at the CST Convention Center, San Antonio, TX as part of AAPI’s 32nd annual convention,” Dr. Shah announced here. Kaul Singh Thakur, Minister for Health in the state of Himachal Pradesh, and Jayshree Mehta, Chair of MCI will be the Guests of Honor during the event.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, a physician by profession, was awarded with the first ever AAPI’s Special Distinguished Leadership Award during the inaugural ceremony of the landmark Global Healthcare Summit in Ahmedabad in January this year. Dr. Vardhan will also be the Chief Guest at the Presidential Gala on Saturday, June 28th in San Antonio, TX “We are extremely privileged to have Dr. Harsh Vardhan, former President of BJP-Delhi Pradesh and an ENT surgeon by profession during the Convention,.” Dr. Shah said. Dr. Vardhan entered the political fray in 1993, when the people of Delhi voted for their first Legislative Assembly. Fondly called "Doctor Sahab" by supporters and opponents alike, Dr. Harsh Vardhan is known for disarming simplicity in his personal life and transparency at the work place. When he was the Health & Education Minister in the Delhi government (1993-98), people found him remarkably accessible and officials respected him for his hands-on style of functioning.
Dr. Jayesh Shah will deliver the inaugural remarks at the Town Hall Meeting, while Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, President-Elect will welcome the delegates. Anwar Feroz, Honorary Advisor of AAPI, will moderate the session, which will focus on Enhancing Collaboration between Physicians of Indian Origin Across the World and India. Other panelists who address the audience during the Meeting include Dr. Narendra Saini of Indian Medical Association, Dr. Ramesh Mehta of British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Dr. Sunil Patel of Canadian Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage, Dr. Vani Rao, President of IAPA and John Meiners of American Heart Association. Dr. Jayesh Shah will present a report on “Smoking Cessation in Govt. buildings in India & GHS 2013.” Dr. Thakor Patel will speak on Sevak Program while Dr. V.K. Raju will provide an overview of Prevention of Blindness. Dr. Nick Shroff will present on the various programs initiated by AAPI Charitable Clinics in India. Dr. Navin Shah and Dr. S. Bala will enlighten the audience on Emergency & Trauma. Dr. Vemuri Murthy will offer insights into ways for collaboration between India and American Heart Association. Anwar Feroz will update the audience on Swasth India Portal. During the Open Forum, individuals will be invited to share projects that they have been working on either independently or in collaboration with India based organizations The Focus Forward by Anwar Feroz will have a quick review, summarization and creating a prioritized list of action steps that will help AAPI (USA) develop a clear roadmap for continued and enhanced engagement in India, to enable access to quality and affordable healthcare for all people of India. A white paper of key recommendations for AAPI (USA) will be finalized as a follow of the Town Hall Meeting.
“AAPI members represent a variety of important medical specialties,” Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, president-elect of AAPI, who will assume charge as President of AAPI during the convention, noted. “The AAPI Convention is where you can meet, network, collaborate and plan on ways to work together to contribute to enhance the healthcare system in our motherland. And the Town Hall Meeting to be led by Dr. Harsh Vardhan and leading experts from around the world will provide us with insights of ways to collaborate and continue to engage in the planning and implementation of healthcare delivery in India” In addition to 11 hours CMEs, the convention will be packed with entertainment, networking and delicious Indian cuisine. Nina Davuluri, the first ever Indian American to be crowned Miss America will lead AAPI Women's Forum Session and the “Be Fit Be Cool’ Walkathon during the convention. Over 1,500 physicians and their families are expected to gather and deliberate on ways to enhance their own professional growth and identify ways to network and stay united and offer a unified voice to protect their rights as well as explore possibilities to give back to the society, at the Convention to be held from June 25th through June 29th 2014 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.
The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) is the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States. AAPI is an umbrella organization which has nearly 130 local chapters, specialty societies and alumni organizations. For over 30 years, Indian physicians have made significant contributions to health care in this country, not only practicing in inner cities, rural areas and peripheral communities but also at the top medical schools and other academic centers. Almost 10%-12% of medical students entering US schools are of Indian origin. For more details, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit: www.aapiconvention.org and www.aapiusa.org
Ajay Ghosh Adjunct Faculty, Fordham University & University of Bridgeport Media Consultant, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin Chief Editor, The Asian Era (www.asianeraonline.com) Phone # (203) 583-6750
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MEN PUT THEIR “COCK IN A SOCK” FOR CANCER AWARENESS
By Blain BekeleStaff Writer & Asst Editor
Mar 27, 2014
James Brown
Cancer awareness campaigns have becoming more and more interesting in the past few years like the no bra breast cancer awareness and this campaigns have become even more effective with the help of the social media, the bare –faced selfie was the recent campaign that was very successful. The new idea that is flooding the social Medias is the Cock in a Sock campaign. The Cock in a Sock campaign attempts to raise money for Cancer Research U.K., the "world's leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research," and raise awareness for testicular and prostate cancer.
A British man named James Brown had the idea of men wearing only socks on their penis for cancer awareness when he saw how much success Cancer Research U.K. was having with the bare-faced selfie trend. To raise money and awareness for male cancers, he posted a photo of model Danny Charge posing naked wearing nothing but a sock over his penis, and somewhat bizarrely, leather gloves.
Brown's campaign seemed to have struck a gold mine. The money, has been rolling in, and the campaign's Facebook page so far has more than 106,000 likes. He's hoping to get at least £5000 in order to become a registered charity. Interested parties are encouraged to take a nude selfie with a sock covering their penis and donate money by texting SOCK70 to the number 70070, the way you'd donate money to the Red Cross. So far, Brown has raised roughly £2000 from over 400 people, though it seems unlikely he'll stop at £5000.
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Stop Corporate Match Fixing : Apply Cricket Swaraj
Special ContributionBy Rakesh Manchanda
Match fixing cricket cartoon funny
Thanks to better transparency and collective pressure put up by rich and poor. Score board cannot be hidden for long. Cricket still has fair rules unless the will or intention is not bought or pre-fixed. It remains more transparent then the `political cricket` played by billionaires in the production units and factories. During Production the score board in the factories indicating fixed audit is manipulated to ease out black money to Tax Heavens. A review of Bollywood blockbuster `Laagan` released in June-2001 can unfold several hidden lessons. Prayers to rain Gods failed. Harvest was poor & peasants protested. People wanted to change their destiny and get the taxes waved off. Hindu king who was controlled by British Law, expressed his helplessness. Movey shows how an unwise colonial Tax System brings 99% indigenous farmers together.
Small village of Champaner in North India, in 1890s decided to fight for its honour and self respect. Stakes were high. Deal was finalised. If village team beats the British team in a game of cricket , their taxes for three years would be waved off. If they loose, farmers shall pay three times of the land tax as crops. With no aids like proper batting pads and no training, the barefooted `desi` team of Aamir Khan was ready to face the challenge. Army Cricket team lost the match. Defeat of the English team forced a change in Army. Cantonment was disbanded. Captain Russell was forced to pay the taxes for the whole province as his “cricket deal” was unauthorised. He was further punished and transferred to Central Africa. Let us move out of the reel life. Independent India still fights for justice and cries for effective laws in real life. Unlike a bloody war the games demonstrate a country`s united readiness and courage. All rich and poor stakeholders in Cricket enjoy ball by ball micro details. Careful audit on each and every run scored and saved shows how important transparency is for maximising the fun and happiness. Recovery called “paisa vasol” is celebrated.
No one can steal or hide the profit of the runs scored and saved. Lost matches with weakness and dropped catches are analysed. The show goes on. Can we apply Cricket Swaraj regulations & its transparency with peoples` participation and Citizens charter to our daily Governance ? Today India is crying to get freedom from corruption. People work hard but team rewards of profits and security get stolen. In ancient India kings used to hide profit in temples in the shape of gold. Today, corporate pays extra to CEOs who in turn help them to hide money produced as profit in a Swarg called Tax Heavens. Corporate fix politicians to get their favours passed but keep the rest of the workers engaged in Industry insecure. CEOs help investors to steal money from the `wheel of production` and pump it in the `wheel of speculation` or `wheel of gamble` called share baazar. Share Baazar promises faster but unproductive, false and jobless growth. Government-Corporate-Bankers nexus in actual controls share market. This collaboration steals away the hard earned money of the majority. Stealing and hiding, the profit unlike in Cricket format, is made possible with a clever audit. Casual workers as soft targets are blamed for slow development. Profit monitoring team and production team is kept disconnected.
In Cricket rich and poor love to keep the minute by minute statistic of runs produced with `profit & loss` in form of possibility to win & lose. My game, my nation, my joy, my information, my sharing with all concerned is excelled and shaped. Sticking points remain- collective ownership & holistic participation in this religion of Cricket. Imagine a cricket match with `no rules`, `no wide balls`, `no limited overs` and no cheering & hooting of crowds. Connect these dots and we can see a boring game with no sense of belonging, no rewards and no punishments. Carry it forward and we see the pitch of Indian Ministry & Business work culture in India. Disconnected lobbies of excellence as small islands in a business team is essential. Disconnection is designed in the system & is not a default. This keeps the system weak and unsafe. Result ? Ask the home ministry to produce a list of 50 Pakistan trained terrorists as happened few years ago and you shall find a goof up.
Right to recall the non performing player in a game is possible by Swaraj Bill. Same rule cannot be applied in competitive business of law making in the Parliament. Right to vote is only after 5 years. During last FIFA in South Africa, we learned as to why a player is replaced if football gets stuck with his foot for more then 20-30 seconds. Fast sharing of football in the team is essential. Audience can build a pressure and force a change via selectors. Stakeholders in shape of audience and investors hoot and shout when the ball is lost in the crowd even for few seconds. Politicians shout and delay for all wrong reasons to block a bill in the Parliament. The recent victim was Lokpal Bill now a weak Joke Pal. British used fast punishment as a tool to force discipline in their system of governance where as we after 48 years are unable to sketch citizen charter and Lokpal together in a single draft and make it a Law. What goes wrong with the luck of a team ?
The space called `luck` is reduced by practise, calibrations of skills and shooting of goals. The speed and demand to deliver every minute, every second is so high that there is no time to fall back on business directions and services of experts during the real match. When democracy is strong & stakeholders as watchdogs are alert, the luck is replaced by honest match winning skills. There is no twisting of rules and laws for personal gains. Fair wealth distribution based on skills can increase the income of 99% and the markets can survive. Information in a business pitch is blocked by match fixing. Profit transformed in shape of dirty money or black money parked in tax heavens, refuses to get recovered. Excuses are designed. Any country`s finance ministry knows how many notes were printed by the Reserve Bank and how much is parked outside as foreign currency. Chances of corrupt match fixing is there but is very less or can be reduced. Pressure of `rich and poor` stakeholders with modern technology helps build a simple system which controls and checks the transparency. Referee as a `human control` can also make mistakes which people and player understand.
Politics and daily run of governance under ministry shall always remain boring if rules to control corruption are not fixed. From stadium to Sansad (Parliament) , people need to collectively apply simple Swaraj systems for a corruption free governance. If egg is broken by outside force, life ends and if broken by inside force, life begins. Let us act and play before it is too late.
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Do We Live in a Safe Human Global Society?
By Rakesh Manchanda
India IPL Cricket team
We live in an unexplained world where poor people walk miles to earn food and rich people walk miles to digest food. We live in a society that is designed by intelligent planners who try to sell air travel less then our Railway travel and keeps the middle class happy.
Pizza reaches home faster than an ambulance and Police. We live in a system where decision makers in city make agro plans for villages and industry but never care to visit the sites at ground zero. We live in system where capital is worshipped but human capital involved is treated as dirt. We live in a society where in order to produce in farms-factories, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing but demand to be worshipped as Economic Gods. We live with our work systems where the company can terminate the services of an employee/partner/slave any time without any fair trial at the site of the work.
Hire and Fire management policy protected by Governments is normal but no opportunity for victim to defend self needs support and future trend. We live in a system where Bank loan which is a Public Money gets converted fast into a soft easy Private profit. False Board of Directors resolutions are popped up to match the bank loan requirement but in actual there is no participatory democracy. We live in a system where grand plans and false declarations are given to fetch bank loans but no clear role and respectable amount is paid to the ground team and the contributors.
We live in a society where 99 % are asked to trust the planners blindly and work harder without asking for more. Car loan @ 5% but education loan from a bank @ 12%. How and Why ? Do not ask but think to see the links if possible. We live in a nation where Rice is almost a dollar per kg or Rs.60/- per kg and the Sim Card for mobile is free. We live in Society where more then 50% have mobiles but more people go out for toilets.
Where a millionaire can buy a cricket or football team instead of investing money in villages to generate more jobs. IPL Cricket teams are auctioned at 3300 crores and we are still a poor country where people starve for 2 square meals per day. Where the footwear, we wear, are sold in AC showrooms, but vegetables, that we eat, are sold on the footpath. Where we make lemon juices with artificial flavours and dish wash liquids with real lemon.
Farmer against farmer, technician against technician ,manager against manager, worker against worker, director against director are pitted in the goal of few which allows making as much money as possible in shortest possible time. This senseless greed of 1% people is responsible for the global crisis, recession and conflicts.
Time running out for those 1% to accept a long pending `change` in the systems or disappear like their loot which is parked hidden in `tax heavens` and in temples. Did our Freedom Fighters sacrifice for this ? Wake up, it may already be too late. Think about it!
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Rival: Comic Magic Action Fantasy in Seoul
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Dec 3, 2013
Rival show performance at Interpark Theater
A kind of martial art based comic show with a title called “Rival: Comic Magic Action Fantasy” is ongoing performance from November 8 until December 31, 2013, in downtown Seoul city. You can reserve the seat at Interpark Theater. At the event, especially, many of children are excited and enjoyed the show.
The actor of the comic show are highly skill martial art at the same time they have talent to make fun. Moreover, the show character with a fate magic style but simply for fun. Sometime the performer can pick up audience which makes risky and excited to funs.
Martial art peformance for fun
At least, such kind of making fun and amusement performance are helpful for a stressful Korean society. If you have a free time, especially most weekends are crowded, come to relax by watching the performance on your convenience days.
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GREAT FUN IN OCEAN WORLD Beach
By Neil Paul ValentinoStaff Correspondent
Oct 19, 2013
Indoor beach at Ocean World
Autumn season begins this week and summer has ended in the land of most advanced digitally country in Asia, South Korea, thus it has also become the center of high technology. Despite of low temperature, the team of Foreign community members have trekked and held our weekend to superb and extraordinary Valvadi Park Ocean World in Gangwon Province. Visiting to this amazing park takes almost two-hours long from the capital, Seoul City. The park is an egyptian designed , If you visit it and take a quick glance at the whole view of the upgraded resort you can see variety of pools sliding and advanced attractions. For example, children and adults had fun of riding the long and curving worm style tube sliding pool which made every guest not only exciting but it really made you refressed, to the max of joy and fear feeling with a wonderful long-pool tube sliding.
Moreover, the group's trip in ancient Egyptian designed Ocean World was quite remarkable experience and it really gave us good time as we have tried to ride different kinds of extraordinary pool rides which also allowed for children and adult alike and likewise its warm sauna, hot spa and sweating bathing can make everyone strength restored and stimulated. Thus, indoor wave pool with 1.8 meter depth made also every one thrilled as it was like a real sudden wave in the sea while every guest has his own safety vest. Prior to this journey, the team held seminar in wide and well-built English Village where members had been lectured about religious, current and human rights issues as well.
A group of Foreign community on thier way to Ocean World
South Korea has now become the place of popular resort, namely Everland, Happy Land and Ocean World and many more. Nevertheless, Ocean World is the latest hangout we have spent our designated time and officers and members gathered together for group's unity and the spirit of friendly fellowship and good camaraderie as well. The group of ten have enjoyed our vacation in one of the most refined and well-known park. Life is really beautiful in fastest developing nation not beacuse you are not only safe from harm and crimes but also you will see and feel the cleanliness across the country, like wider and bigger streets and alleys, a less highly traffic roads , good infrastructures, advanced designed buildings and equipments and beautiful and broad public park in everywhere .
Korean people are really very proud of their country because of its good governance and fair and just rules by which it provided the people in society with great services to its citizenry, where taxes of the nation went to its inhabitants. According to the latest statistics, Ocean World has been visited by more than one million and a half vacationers and tourists only this year beginning this summer since it begun its operation in 2006.
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Ethnic from Myanmar celebrates annual traditional festival on July 15
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jul 17, 2013
Members of Global Matu Organization celebartes festival in Norway
Mainland Chin state, Matu people celebrated their annual traditional festival – Losak Khotue in the month of July around the world. Losak Khotue is one of the main two festivals of Matu people, the other one is Cangyom New Year which usually held on November.
There were approximately thousand of people participated in the festival in US alone in this year, the program includes Sport, Talent show, Matu Miss competition and so on. Similarly, the festival is widely celebrated in Europe, Asia, and of course celebrates in inside Myanmar.
The word “Losak” came from the villager of Batupui also known as Matupi, central town of Chin state. Losak is a kind of traditional burning ceremonial system before rice farming started in Chin hill, said Rev. Dr. Val Thang, a former Chin politician and student leader during UThant’s uprising.
According to the tradition, it is possible for eating vegetables those are naturally available at the forest (outside farmland), such as in local names, Burhaeng an, Anhlaeng an, Anthui an, etc., but planted vegetables at the farmland such as in local names Vaikuem(maize), maipu an, rhuek thaih(chilly),etc., cannot eat before offering to Cithui(ancient animist religion god’s name). In-order to avoid sickness or death for the year, people had to bring such as a dog, chicken or goat for a burning offering for the Cithui at the rice farm in the eve of Losak Khotue, said Dr. Val Thang.
A boy with Matu costume in Norway
The historical three brothers Lung Ngo, Batu and Thai Phum they used to compose the festival song called TANGLA(TANGLASOL). Without the traditional song TANGLA it was incomplete Losak festival, and we can trace the meaning and historical background of Losak festival through that traditional song - TANGLA, as well.
Tanglasol means Hulasol(sing for a woman) at the Dae sport. Dae sport is a Chin traditional sport and it is a kind of power competition between two men by using leather shield for attacking each other. This a traditional song Tanglasol was sing at the Dae sport competition only, usually this Dae sport competition was found in Batupui village, nowadays known as Matupi town in Chin state. Khotue means a kind of the particular person who is hosting the festival by sacrificing OX or Pig for the public food. Nowadays, people just called Losak Khotue and hosted and organized by the community.
Ancient time, many of Matu people were threaten by surrounding enemy tribes, example Senthang tribe attacked Haltu village, Thang Aw tribe attacked NgaLeng village, and when it comes to Batupui village, CinZah chief Sabongpuei Van Sen said Batupui is too big for us to win them so they stopped attacking Matu people from that time. When British troop came to Batupui they mentioned again Batupui is the largest village in Chin state.
May God bless you in a happy Losak Khotue.
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K-POP Snow Music Festival at Pyeongchang
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Feb 8, 2013
K-POP singers
Korean POP Snow Music Festival held on February 3, 2013 at Pyeongchang, Pyeongchang is also the main South Korean’s skiing site, it takes more than two hours away from Seoul city. The festival was organized by KTO (Korea Tourism Organization), approximately 500 people attended.
Interestingly, in this festival K-POP bands are only male group, they are ZE:A, UKISS and NTRAIN. Most of them are young and active, sometime called them as dance-singer and they played digital music, K-POP heavily depends on digital music instrument.
Pyeongchang will be a host city of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in 2018. So South Korea shows the world how this upcoming Olympic will be interesting, and to be ready for the game.
Click at >> More K-POP photos
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Gangnam Marathon race for New Year Welcoming
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jan 1, 2013
Myung Woon Ahn(L) and Charlie
At the end of 2012 year and welcoming 2013 year, Gangnam Marathon club has a special marathon race along Yangjae stream to night, December 31, 2012. Approximately 100 of a total 117 members participated in the Marathon, said Mr. Myung Woon Ahn, the club’s president. Their Marathon race is approximately 10 Kilo meters long.
Apart from New Year welcoming Marathon race, the club have other special races as well, they were held in autumn (November) known as Chundan Marathon race and spring (March) known as Donga Marathon race. The club also joined with other club races sometime and Gangnam Marathon club is afflicted with Gangnam Athletic Association. One of the club member received first prize at half marathon race, which was organized by Yoido Island district at the downtown of Seoul City.
Members of Gangnam Marathon Club
The club activity is up to its member decision to perform it. Their activity is for physical exercise, mutual respect and friendship as their main purpose. Regularly they have activity three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
To become a member of Gangnam Marathon club, they have to pass 6 weeks training course and finished full Marathon course. And they have to pay membership 100,000KWN a year, and then certificate of membership will be issued to them. The club provide some facilities and foods during their activity.
This club is their side job activity, because each member has their own job. For example, President Ahn has a company, which is about geo-technical instrument, controlling and measuring safety of construction site and etc. Nowadays Korean environment is change, unusual heavy rain makes flood and slope-sliding which can sweep away construction sites, and sea temperature also changed, said Mr. Ahn.
At the race site, the club member prepared Korean tradition rice soup and wine for participants tonight. The club president Ahn wishes all of his member have a happy New Year and success in this coming New Year. Gangnam is a hometown of currently popular K-Pop song “Gangnam style.”
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A Korean dog lover at Daebu-do Sentry Dog Training Centre
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Sep 19, 2012
Mr. Im Jin Hyeok with one & half years old Labrador dog
The owner of Daebu-do Sentry Dog Training Centre, Mr. Im Jin Hyeok has been opening training centre for 5 years in Daebu-do and Sihueng city areas, western part of Korea. At the moment he has trainees 20 dogs, among them, he has four kinds of dogs at his centre, they are Afghanistan dog, Labrador dog, Shepherd dog and Samoa dog.
According to Mr. Im, Afghanistan dog is from Afghanistan country, it is good for racing game especially for sport, and it is cost approximately USD$500 in Korea.
Two years old Afghanistan dog jumping
The second dog, Labrador dog is from United State, and this dog is usually used by police or soldier for inspecting weapon- bomb or drug at the check point, also it is good for guiding or escorting blind people. This dog is cost approximately USD$600.
The third dog, Shepherd dog is good for keeping gate or safeguarding home, this dog also used by police for inspection purpose.
Shepherd dog
The fourth dog, Samoa dog is a kind of pet, used it for beauty and carry it by people as their partner or friend. It is cost approximately USD$800.
Mr. Im continues explained about the training, in the first month, the trainer and dog get to familiar and they are try to learn communication system between them.
Mr. Im holding his training center poster
After 3 months, the dog can be able to follow regular training performance with different techniques. But it required at least 3 years to be a perfect dog as to be useful, for example, guiding and escorting a blind person, Mr. Im explained.
He has approximately 30 customers a month. The cost for the training fee is approximately USD$400 a month for all kind of dogs, Mr. Im said. He welcomes all kind of customers at his centre, including foreign customer.
Daebu-do Sentry Dog Training Centre
Mr. Im’s hometown is Gwangwon Province, Donghae city, cheong-pong and his wife is from Seoul city, Sanglyeo-dong. They have two daughters. Mr. Im, 60, is actively support for the Korea-Dokdo-Love and he serves as a Public Relation director for this group.
Contact: 010-4942-9637
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An ethnic from Myanmar celebrates their traditional Losak Khotue
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jul 17, 2012
Two Matupi men holding demo shields at the dance in Norway
Annual Chin Traditional festival Losak Khotue was celebrated rally in Atlanta Georgia, USA, from July 13 to 15; a mainland Chin group Matupi people from across USA is participated in the event. Apart from regular Losak Khotue traditional program, young people played a soccer match compromised with a total 13 teams. A special speaker for the Losak Khotue event was, a former Chin politician and student leader during UThant’s uprising, Rev. Dr. Val Thang delivers a message on the event.
Losak means a kind of traditional burning ceremonial system before rice farming started in Chin hill. According to the tradition, it is possible for eating vegetables those are naturally available usually they are from the forest (outside farmland), such as in local names, Burhaeng an, Anhlaeng an, Anthui an, etc., but planted vegetables at the farmland such as in local names Vaikuem(maize), maipu an, rhuek thaih(chilly),etc., cannot eat before offering to Cithui(ancient animist religion god’s name). In-order to avoid sickness or death for the whole year, people had to bring such as a dog, chicken or goat for a burning offering for the Cithui at the rice farm in the eve of Losak Khotue, said Dr. Val Thang. The historical three brothers Lung Ngo, Batu and Thai Phum they used to compose the festival song called TANGLA(TANGLASOL). Without the traditional song TANGLA it was incomplete Losak festival, and we can trace the meaning and historical background of Losak festival through that traditional song - TANGLA, as well.
Tanglasol means Hulasol(sing for a woman) at the Dae sport. Dae sport is a Chin traditional sport and it is a kind of power competition between two men by using leather shield for attacking each other. This a traditional song Tanglasol was sing at the Dae sport competition only, usually this Dae sport competing was found in Batupui village, nowadays known as Matupi town in Chin state.
Khotue means festival. Matu people also have another important festival called Cangyom Khotue(also known as Chin New Year), it was held at the end of rice reaping usually in November.
May God abundantly bless you on the eve of Losak Khotue.
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Special body pain treatment at Jeong’s medical sport clinic
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jul 5, 2012
Dr. Daemo Jeon at his clinic
The Global Digest interviewed Dr. Daemo Jeon, CEO of Jeong’s medical sport clinic in Ichon City, South Korea. He started his clinic in 2007 for the special treatment of people with sports related injuries and quickly established himself as a professional in the field. His sport clinic is one of only ten such clinics, and there are only 5 or 6 specialists in the field in South Korea. Only a few people know about sport medicine, which is not primarily reliant on medicine and surgery, but instead on X-ray technology. Before he worked at this clinic, Dr. Jeon had experience of this kind of work as a student with his University’s various sport teams.
One of the main treatments is ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear). The patients come to the clinic for sport rehabilitation after surgery and operations. Sport rehabilitation means those who are still able to move but part of their body function has a problem. Approximately half of the clinic’s patients are sportsmen or women; the other half consists of ordinary patients, some of whom are international patients. For the international patients, they have to make an advance reservation before they come to the clinic. Usually, they come on a tourist visa. Dr. Daemo advised that if the patient needs an invitation letter for a visa application, they can help them out.
For sport rehabilitation, the patients have to get a treatment at the clinic twice a week. It takes approximately a total of 2 or 3 months to completely recover, for ACL patients it can take at least 3 months. The approximate cost is $3000. Patients can’t go back to work without proper ACL treatment, Dr. Daemo explained. ACL treatment is available in some countries, such as the US, Germany, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
Dr. Daemo further explained that their treatments depend on two kinds of groups, people from tropical regions and another group from cold climate regions. Tropical region people often have joint problems, whilst on the other hand cold climate region people often have muscle problems. Dr. Daemo is an expert in both kinds of treatments.
He finished his post doctorate with Nutrition Laboratory and Biochemistry, and a PhD and MA in sport medicine from Gyeonggi-do University; he was amongst the first group of sport medicine students in South Korea. He finished a BA in Microbiology from Konkuk University.
He currently lives together with his wife and two sons in his native Ichon city. He invites many people to his special clinic to get a treatment, saying ‘then your life will be so wonderful and you can relax.’
The Global Digest editor Barry Welsh edited to this story.
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South Korea
Kangnam Marathon Club has a welcoming New Year event
By John SThangJan. 1, 2012
Members of Kangnam Marathon Club were seen just before kick-off the marathon race
Approximately 60 of 150 club members participated for the marathon race in the last night of 2011 from 10 pm to 12 am, for a welcoming new year 2012 in Seoul city. The president of Kangnam Marathon Club Mr. Park Won Suk told the Global Digest, the purpose of their marathon race is to leave all old things in 2011 and start a new life in 2012.
Kangnam Marathon Club was started in 2001 and most of the members are from Kangnam district area of the Seoul Metropolitan city, and the club organized the marathon race every year in the end of the year December 31. In the event, the club members make a New Year resolution, for their safety in a new year, as well as, it's a kind of refreshing their new life on that midnight.
Kangnam Marathon Club president Mr. Park Won Suk(C) and Mr. Charlie(L)
The club members run along Yangjae stream for approximately 7 kilometers long distance as their main activity. The members are from the different background, such as public officers, company employees, doctors and engineers. The club was organized privately and supported all financial need by its members. Through marathon race, the members gain happiness, also, can able to make a friendship and solidarity in that highly Confucian system influenced a Korean society.
Kangnam Marathon Club wishes to you all with a happy new year 2012. And may God abundantly bless you all.
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South Korea
A leading Korean Circus show currently held in Daebudo Island in Ansan
By Salai ThangStaff Correspondence
June 16, 2011
A Korean Circuser Park Kwang-hwan(L), Korea Circus Association president Park Sae-hwan(2nd L), a Comedian Kimsatgat(3rd L) and the Global Friendship Club Chairman Sunggon Oh
Korea Circus Association is producing entertaining Circus shows in Daebudo Island, western cost of South Korea, part of Ansan city of Gyeonggi-do Province. The show kicked off from the beginning of June and will terminate in November 2011.
The circus is presented by both local Korean and oversea Chinese performers. Korea Circus Association is the only team in South Korea and they went from place to place to perform a circus, the team had completed a one round show in every two years in the whole country.
Korea Circus Association was started in 1925 under the leadership of the team’s president Park Dong-chun. He was also used to go to Japan for a circus performance. Then he was known as a Korean traditional circus performer. It was only upon his return from Japan, that he and the other 13 persons formed the Korea Circus Association in Korea peninsula for the first time.
The first team’s performance of their circus show was in Honam dong, Mokpo city of Joenlanam-do Province in South Korea. Their popularity gradually grew across the country during that time. They had 250 Circus performer members during 1960-1970, which included Comedians Suh Yeong-chun, Bae Sam-ryong, Baek Geum-yeo, Nam Cheo and Jang Hong-sun; also a singer Joeng Hun-hui.
By 1995 in spring time, they rendered another big circus performance in Pungnam Jae. They continued and played a larger role in 1998, by participating in such events as the Jinju Gaechoen festival, for Jinhae Military port festival, Milyang-Arang festival, Kangreung festival, Kyeongju Shila culture festival, Kongju cultural festival and Chungmu Hansang festival, etc.
The team performed a circus show in China and Russia as well. Park Sae-hwan networks with China National Artist Circus team and perseveres networking with more countries. Currently, the team is operating under the leadership of Park Sae-hwan, 56. He is the standing president of Korea Circus Association since 1970. Many people appreciated him for his good effort toward Korean circuses in the field. Mr. Park Sae-hwan is an adopted son of Park Dong-joo(who is the 2nd president of the organization).
Mr. Park Sae-hwan graduated from Yonsei University with an Economic major in 1982. From 2003 and till date, he is an art professor at Hansung Art University. He also appeared in Korean popular televisions channels namely KBS, MBC and SBS.
The Global Digest editor Luciano Chalice edited to this story.
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Women’s Singles Skating No. 1
S. Korean Star Kim Yu-na
DECEMBER 13, 2010 (Dongal-il bo)
Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na has maintained her world No. 1 ranking in women’s singles without competing in the Grand Prix series and final.
After the Grand Prix final in Beijing ended Saturday, the International Skating Union announced on its Internet homepage its global rankings, keeping Kim on top with 4,024 points.
The union reflects 70 percent of the 2008-09 season`s scores and 100 percent of those of the 2009-10 and the 2010-11 seasons to determine the rankings. Though Kim snubbed the Grand Prix series this season, no competitor overtook her in the rankings.
Second place went to Japan’s Akiko Suzuki (3,845 points) and third to Italy’s Carolina Kostner (3,648). Mao Asada of Japan, who failed to advance to the Grand Prix final amid a slump, fell one notch to sixth (3,275).
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