Russia 2011

hey everyone,

check this movie that I made on Russia 2011 (my experience)

Seliger 2011. An Intimate Glimpse.

Written by: Ksenia Semyonova – Russia

Until a few years ago I associated the word «Seliger» exclusively with the name of the lake but then everything changed. When this summer I found myself in International Youth Forum Seliger 2011 I realized that since that time Seliger for me is an incredible opportunity first of all to attend lectures of world famous teachers and of course meet new, interesting, ambitious people.

As I was in Seliger for the first time I didn`t get to talk about comparisons with the previous years but expectations of a coming one. So what were my hopes for Seliger? The priorities were set as follows: Seliger being an educational forum always aims at providing young people with educational programme of high quality. Thanks to different lectures, trainings and workshops students got both theoretical and practical knowledge in the sphere of business, politics and mass media.

Young entrepreneurs had a unique opportunity to promote their projects during daily World Cafe  discussions. But one shouldn`tforget about rest: my friends and I were pleasantly surprised at the variety of evening activities we had during Seliger: numerous open-air rock concerts, fairs, culture parades, parties, fashion shows and performances.

Theatre performances and guitar song evening.

One evening I found myself …by chance… at theatre performance. Why «by chance»? Just because I wasn`t a frequenter of Art Parade cultural events .The first thing I noticed was a scent of hay. Everybody was sitting on hand-made basket-chairs in the atmosphere of silence and shimmer. The acting was splendid. The plot was «fresh». So we didn`t even noticed how fast the time passed. Having thanked the actors with stormy applause we came back to our camp where a wonderful guitar song evening was waiting for us. Guys …having made themselves comfortable around the fire were singing «Beatles» and «Radiohead» hits. Our evening would probably go on unless a quiet hour that was announced soon.

Indian Night Party

Among plenty of parties that were held during the forum this one turned out to be one of the greatest. This was the only party I prepared myself for: proper clothes and hairstyle you know…besides my appearance was completed straight at the party when I was made a «tattoo» on my wrist. It seemed …that night the whole India moved to a small spot of land called Seliger!

P.S. Seliger for me is,,,,

as hospitable as Russian soul

as safe and reliable as Swiss watches

and it leaves such a pleasant aftertaste as French wine…

Best wishes

Ksenia Semenova (k.s.you)

COPYRIGHT KSENIA SEMENOVA

10 things you must know about Anna Hazare & Lok Pal Bill

1. Who is Anna Hazare?

An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War

2. What's so special about him?

He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahamad Nagar district, Maharashtra

3. So what?

This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills.

In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village. 

4. Ok,...?

This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.

5. Really, what is he fighting for?

He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India.

6. How that can be possible?

He is advocating for a Bil, The Jan Lokpal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), beurocrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.

8. It's an entirely new thing right..?

In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit thier theft (corruption).

7. Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?

The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed.

Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the JAN LOKPAL BILL. 50% goverment participation and 50% public participation. Because you cant trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.

8. Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?

A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, that has been going for last 25 years without any result.

9. Is he alone? Whoelse is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?

Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more.

Prominent personalities like Aamir Khan is supporting his cause.

10. Ok, got it. What can I do?

At least we can spread the message. How?

Putting status message, links, video, changing profile pics.

At least we can support Anna Hazare and the cause for uprooting corruption from India. 

At least we can hope that his Hunger Strike does not go in vain.

At least we can pray for his good health.

Thanks for reading.

India's new hope against corruption - Mr. Anna Hazare

A 71-year-old Indian anti-corruption campaigner has refused to end his "fast until death" despite government concessions on his demands for a powerful new body to stamp out graft in the country.

Anna Hazare ended his third day of hunger strike on Thursday saying he had lost weight and "felt a little weak" but could continue without food for at least another week.

Hunger strikes – which invoke the memory of those undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi – are popular political tactics in India and are frequent features of public life. However, this most recent campaign against corruption has mobilised millions of Indians. Hazare's Facebook page has more than 80,000 friends and supporters mobbed the Jantar Mantar observatory, the site of his hunger strike, in central Delhi on Thursday.

Tens of thousands also joined the protests, ranging from hunger strikes to candlelit vigils in cities around the country including Mumbai, Lucknow and Jaipur. A number of Bollywood stars have also come out in support of Hazare, a former soldier and veteran social activist.

Corruption in India is endemic and ranges from the small fees that need to be paid to avoid fines for trumped up traffic offences to an alleged £24bn fraud in the telecoms sector, which saw a former government minister jailed last month.

"This is a corrupt government, full of corrupt ministers in a corrupt country. We have had enough," said Peta Singh, an 18-year-old student from Noida, a satellite town of Delhi, who had travelled to the centre of the capital with friends to demonstrate.

The telecoms scandal was just one of a series to hit the Congress-led coalition in the last year. Others included alleged kickbacks connected with the hugely expensive 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

The protesters want speedy adoption of a law to create a powerful anti-corruption ombudsman which would be able to ensure rapid investigation and prosecution of offenders. Current authorities – described as either politicised or toothless by protesters – would be placed under the ombudsman's control.

The activists reject the current draft of the law as too weak. It suggests the ombudsman, known as the Lokpal, be a recommending authority without prosecuting powers.

The wealthy and powerful in India usually escape any charges against them or succeed in drawing out the legal process for many years, sometimes decades.

A bill to set up a powerful anti-graft mechanism has been repeatedly introduced into parliament but has never passed. Many lawmakers make huge fortunes illegally.

Keshal Gunjal, 28, had come to Delhi from the southern city of Pune to support Hazare. A science graduate who had given up his government post in protest against "the system", he said Hazare and his followers would achieve their aims.

"We will definitely reach our objectives. All of India is united against corruption – except the corrupt people of course," he said.

Another demonstrator, PN Jha, said he had personal experience of "scams" while working in the oil and gas sector.

"No one believes the politicians any more," he said.

In the global list of perceptions of corruption compiled by Transparency International, India is ranked the 87th least corrupt along with Albania, Jamaica and Liberia. China ranks 78th and Pakistan 143rd, local commentators have noted.

Brahma Chellaney, a respected Indian international affairs analyst and author, has called corruption an "existential threat" to India.

Negotiations between the campaigners and the government are set to continue on Friday.

source: guardian.co.uk

Dubai & Abu Dhabi Trip

Finally I am coming back to India after completing my conference Education Without Borders. Its an international conference on the Global Issues. Students from 140 countries had come for the conference. I was one the lucky ones from India who got selected for the conference.

The First Day:
The First Day there was an amazing opening ceremony at Burj Khalifa, Dubai. Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest building in the World. I was very amazed to interact with the King of UAE. At the same time when the opening ceremony was going on the French Climber Alain Robert was climbing at Burj Khalifa building to make his new Guiness World Record.

The Second Day:
Second Day, I had gone to Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa for the conference. There I got the chance to meet Education Minister of UAE, Tony Blair(Ex. Prime Minister of England), Ex President of Srilanka, President of Kenya, The French Climber Alain Robert, Famous Indian movies actor Jackie Schroff and many other big personalities of the world

The same evening we got the chance to visit Emirates Palace (7 star hotel ) in Abu Dhabi for the Gala Dinner and it was the best part.

The Third Day:
Third day I attended two workshops in Dubai Men's College. Then we had an off. So, I went for Dubai expedition with my friends from Pakistan, Turkey, Uruguay, Canada, Singapore, USA and many other countries. 

The Fourth Day:
AVisit to World's largest Mosque, Ferrari World and again my favorite place The Emirates Palace :).

On the whole it was a nice trip, got so much of exposure, met people from all around the World.
Loved their hospitality.

8 Ways To Help Japan After the Earthquake

Despite some tentatively good news surrounding Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the country is still reeling from the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit its shores just two weeks ago.

There has been a huge outpouring of support for Japan as it weathers the aftershocks and aftereffects of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Social media has been no slouch with nearly countless campaigns aimed at donating money, supplies or lending support in any way possible.

Article written by 

 Zachary Sniderman

New Website Guides You Through Homeless Experience

It’s one thing to feel bad for homeless people; it’s another to be forced into their shoes. Advertising agency McKinney has teamed up with Urban Ministries of Durham (UMD), a non-profit based in North Carolina, to create SPENT, an online game that guides users through what it feels like to be homeless.

Here’s how it works: If you accept the challenge to play, you enter a simple point-and-click game, navigating multiple choice questions about your livelihood. The site says you have been stripped of your savings and are currently unemployed, asking, “Can you make it through the month?”

You’re given simple choices with varying consequences. Do you want to try working in a restaurant? A factory? If you live far from the city your rent will be cheap, but, as you’re informed through pop-ups, you’ll have to pay more for gas or transportation.

The game’s integration with Facebook is its best feature. When faced with some choices, (like your landlord raising your rent) the game will ask you to decide whether to ignore the claim, pay it or ask a friend. The last option opens up a pre-written statement in Facebook where you can email one of your actual friends for “help,” bridging the gap between virtual reality and the real uneasiness of having to ask a friend for assistance. This simple act also helps spread awareness for the game by attaching a logo and small description to your request.

The game, however, walks a fine line with tone. Non-profits constantly have to balance bumming out their audience with important facts and stats, and motivating that same audience to then donate or become engaged. SPENT seamlessly blends that information into the game. Your choices are met with great insights about how many people opt out of health insurance because of high premiums, how 44% of people living below the poverty line use public libraries to access the Internet or how in 2009, 50 million Americans lived in households that had a hard time getting food. These facts are made all the more powerful after you’ve had to weigh the options for yourself.

After trying to shop for digital groceries, however, that fact is punctuated by comments like “With these groceries, you’re going to [have a hard time].” If you elect to eat a cheap burger rather than a salad you’re told, “Perhaps that’s why low-income workers like you are more likely to be overweight.” If you choose to live out of the city, SPENT sends you off with a missive: “Let’s hope your car doesn’t break down!” One of your options for getting some extra cash is to smash your child’s piggy bank for an extra $15.

SPENT definitely subscribes to the “tough-love” mentality, trying to give you a realistic impression of what it’s like to deal with homelessness and poverty. With its snipes, the game also gives a good impression of what it’s like to be leered at.

Jenny Nicholson, a copywriter at McKinney, is one of a handful of people that created the game and came from circumstances like the ones SPENT simulates. She says the game isn’t about disparaging the user but creating empathy: “You have to make the best decisions you can. The people that are in these situations don’t do this because they’re stupid but because they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

Tough love is a tough sell for someone who stumbles onto the game simply wanting to learn more or give money. There is a donate button at the bottom of the page, and once you run out of money you are prompted to get involved or donate to UMD. Currently based in the Durham region of North Carolina, Nicholson hopes to release SPENT nationwide if it proves effective.

What is your experience with the game? Should non-profits be tougher and more forthright about the problems they fight? Let us know in the comments.