Monday, November 26, 2012

Good Morning Thought - 27th November 2012!


Ignorance may be a matter of chance; to ignore, mostly a deliberate action…


Good Morning!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Good Morning Thought - 26th November 2012!


Fear and love can give you super-normal strengths and abnormal weaknesses…


Good Morning!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Sunday Thought - 25th November 2012!


A good friend’s presence in life may not necessarily heal your sorrows but will definitely add to your strength to get over those; and surely will add to your joys…


Have a Happy Sunday!

Friday, November 23, 2012

Regional Dialogue on River Mahanadi: Call for Participation


First Invitation for Participation

Regional Dialogue on River Mahanadi

“Building a People’s Agenda for Management of River Mahanadi”

Sambalpur – 23 and 24 December 2012

Organised by:  Water Initiatives Odisha, and Nadi Ghati Morcha, Chhatisgarh

Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

Mahanadi, touted as a water surplus river, is in fact dying.   While the river’s water is on a receding path, the allocation of water to industrial houses and urbanisation is increasing.  The changed priorities in managing the water resources are taking a heavy toll on both the quantity and quality of the river water.   In fact, this most important peninsular river of the country has become the most controversial of all. 

With the increased industrialisation, commercialisation and urbanisation in the river basin, fights over the water has also increased.  Farmers, fisher folks and common people have been struggling hard to access the river water.  The river is now heavily polluted and the current blind push for Thermal Power Plants is further worsening the plight of the Mother River of both Odisha and Chhatisgarh. 

The management of the river needs urgent attention of both the people and policy makers.  Most importantly both the major riparian states i.e. Odisha and Chhatisgarh must start discussing and form a whole new strategy to manage the river keeping in mind its current status of issues and problems. 

With the above in background, Water Initiatives Odisha and Nadi Ghati Morcha, Chhattisgarh are organising a two day long Dialogue on River Mahanadi which is aimed at ““Building a People’s Agenda for Management of River Mahanadi”. 

In this Dialogue, we aim at chalking out a plan for building an understanding on the stress that Mahanadi faces today and then build a consensus on a people’s agenda to be submitted to the state governments as well as to take them to the people of the states. 

If you are interested in the issue and want to participate please write back to us and we can discuss further.  Please mail us at ranjanpanda@gmail.com and call us at 09437050103/09937561700.

Look forward to hear from you.
Thanks and regards

Ranjan Panda, Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha

Gautam Kumar Bandyopadhyay, Convenor, Nadi Ghati Morcha, Chhatisgarh

================
Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) is a state coalition of civil society organisations, farmers, academia, media and other concerned, which has been working on water, environment and climate change issues in Odisha for more than two decades now.

Nadi Ghati Morcha is a Chhattisgarh based people’s organisation struggling for community rights over natural resources and promote water centric economy to get justice and equity.

Good Morning Thought - 24th November 2012!


False assurances kill trust, relationships and even people…


Good Morning!  Have a Great Weekend!!

Performance Linked Pay for Teachers: Questions to Govt. of Odisha


The Government of Odisha, while offering 60% Block Grant (very controversial and I cannot understand this mathematics, so don't ask me what is this.  Just remember its peanuts) to school teachers, has put a condition.  If the pass percentage of the children reduces their salary will also go down.  So, its a 'fluctuating pay' offer.

Now, can I ask the government the following questions:

1.  Can you reduce the salary of the staff of Water Resources department of the state because the per capita water availability of water in the state has gone down by more than 70 per cent in five decades?

2.  Can you reduce the salary of the staff of Forests and Environment department because our forest coverage has gone down by almost 50 per cent in the last half century and dense forest cover in the state has almost vanished?  Also because the pollution load of the state has grown by thousands of times.

3.  Can you reduce the salary of the staff of the Agriculture Department because millions of farmers are leaving farming and thousands are committing suicide due to degradation of the conditions and compensations?

4.  Why are you hell bent to kill the future of the children of the common people of the state who these teachers teach?  Is it a conspiracy to kill the already public education system in favour of the 'education business' your Corporate Masters are owning and promoting in the state??

Good Morning Thought - 23rd November 2012!


Money invites beasts; honey attracts bees.  The first one is a matter of vested interest, but the second a symbol of loving relationship…

Power of Democracy


While a politician can die a goon, a goon can die a politician...

(22nd Nov 2012)

Good Morning Thought - 22nd November 2012!


Many a time knowledge can make one obambulate before a performance, while ignorance can help perform without any inhibitions…

LIFE BYTES: Indian Railways and Timeliness


Q. How long will the journey take?

A. As long as it takes to reach the destination…J

(A friend who just called me after boarding a train answers my question)
(Date: 21st November 2012)

On Democratic Movements - 21st November 2012


Hair cut best represents govt.'s action on people's democratic movements in our country. As soon as they grow, cut them to size...

Good Morning Thought - 21st November 2012


Death does not come knocking your door but certainly gives you two options much before it arrives.  You can either die as a son of the soil or for a handful of soil for your ashes to be rested.  You have to make a choice when you think you are still alive…

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Good Morning Thought - 19th November 2012!


Words have their natural limitations and hence surrender to emotions very often.  This is because we learn words but are born with emotions.  Sometimes we have words but they still tend to surrender to emotions.  That’s why often in grief, when we lose words to console, we share the sorrow with our tears…


Good Morning!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Sunday Thought - 18th November 2012!


When you think you are in the deepest of crises in life and still don’t think there is need to share the grief even with your closest of buddies, you can say you have reached one of the final stages of awakening... 


Good Morning!
Have a Great Sunday!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Good Morning Thought - 17th November 2012 !


What exists by default is not necessarily the popular and most wanted entity…


Good Morning!
Have a Great Weekend!!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Good Morning Thought - 16th November 2012!


Never be in an illusory state of mind that makes you think that you are the ‘only one’ in anyone’s life. It’s all the same in God’s durbar…


Good Morning!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Happy Diwali - 2012 !


Light finds a synonym in smile.  We did not create both of these but are their greatest beneficiaries.  By making Diwali a festival to aggravate our aggressive obsession of spending and burning money, we are demeaning the very creation of this culture that is supposed to spread smiles and light…


Happy Diwali!
Spread Light, Spread Smiles!!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Good Morning Thought - 12th November 2012!


It may take a lifetime to understand someone’s contribution to life.  At the same time just one contribution of a person can tell us how someone takes life…
Good Morning!
Have a Great Start to the Week!!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Clean Water Bodies Are Children's Rights: WIO's New Campaign!


Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

Greetings from Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO)!

As you know WIO has been at the forefront of action and advocacy in water, environment and climate change issues for more than two decades now. We thank you very much for your continued support and cooperation.

This email comes to you with a special purpose, informing you about a new campaign we are launching.   This is about giving the children their right to play in safe water bodies.  As you can see from the attached campaign poster, playing freely and in safe environments is very vital for growth of our children.  However, with increasing pollution our children are no more getting the opportunity to play in safe water bodies.  We want to raise this issue with the parents, people in general and more importantly with the policy makers of this country to ensure that each child of the country has the right to play in safe water bodies such as ponds and rivers.  

As always, we count on you a lot to make this campaign a big success.  As you are aware, WIO is not a registered or formal network.  Its an informal yet vibrant network which is enriched by the presence and support of people like you.  We always bank on our member individuals and organisations for success of our endeavours.  Your role in building and strengthening this campaign will be very vital and we are sure you will be with us in this effort.

Initially the campaign will be targeted at urban areas of the state.  Later, we want to take this up at national level in both urban and rural areas.  Depending on the experience we will also add on other issues such as safe drinking water, sanitation and related rights and needs of the children of the nation.  

May we request you to please help spread the word of the campaign among your friends, members and contacts.  

We are planning to launch it formally on 14th November 2012 (Children's Day) at Sambalpur.  But would like that to spread to other cities in gradual course of time.  

Please let us know if this campaign idea interests you and if you would like to be part of it.  We can discuss further details then.  

Look forward to hear from you and your positive support.

Thanks and regards
Truly

Ranjan 



--
Ranjan K Panda

Convenor
Water Initiatives Odisha: Fighting water woes, combating climate change... more than two decades now!
INDIA

Mobile:             +919437050103      
You can also mail me at: ranjan.waterman@facebook.com

Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader


Please join our group 'Save Rivers Save Civilizations' at http://www.facebook.com/groups/220598744649462

Water talks to me, I speak for Water...
Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) is a state level coalition of civil society organisations, farmers, academia, media and other concerned, which has been working on water, environment and climate change issues in India for more than two decades now.

Good Morning Thought - 9th November 2012 !


The divine souls we meet in our daily lives are often the most tortured and least favoured people.  Yet, we look forward to them to learn the ways of living joyously…


Good Morning!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Monday, November 5, 2012

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Good Morning Thought - 5th November 2012 !


It is worth investing in increasing your internal immunity against negativity of people towards you rather than getting frustrated by their acts…


Good Morning!

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Sunday Thought - 4th November 2012!


Unlike money, a day spent in life is a day earned.  Keep earning humane days…


Good Morning! Have a Great Sunday!!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Weekend Thought - 3rd November 2012!


Relationships are neither managed nor maintained, they are lived and nurtured…


Good Morning! Great Weekend!!