Petition Tag - asia

諾貝爾和平獎委員會於2010年10月8日，公布頒發諾貝爾和平獎予身在遼寧錦州監獄的劉曉波。劉曉波妻子劉霞在結果公佈後數小時被公安帶走，內地其他異見及維權人士同遭拘留及監視。

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Child pornography is being openly sold on the footpaths of the city's busiest road, outraging both tourists and residents who said it would not be tolerated in any other country.

Even there are explicit laws in Thailand which prohibit the distribution or exhibition of obscene materials which is a criminal offence under Section 287 of the penal code of Thailand with the punishment not exceeding three years' imprisonment or fine not exceeding 6,000baht, or both.

Production, distribution and possession of Child Porn is a criminal act under Thai law and punishable ....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/199391/child-porn-on-streets-stirs-outrage

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WE WOULD LOVE MARS BOYS, JARED , SHANNON , TOMO TO BRING #INTOTHEWILD TOUR TO SINGAPORE AND ASIA! IT'S TIME FOR AN ASIAN TOUR.

PLEASE HELP TO SIGN THIS ECHELON!
WE THANK U!

SINGAPORE ECHELON
(₪ ø lll ·o.)

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To The Honorable Judge Santa Clara Superior Court Hall of Justice – 190 W. Hedding Street
San Jose , CA 95110
RE: TONG LY
Booking No: 10038315

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On August 19, 2009, two weeks before the September 8 town fiesta, the century-old acacia trees lining the national highway of the historic town of Guindulman, Bohol, Philippines were cut for the purpose of giving a prominent view of the building claimed by the municipal administration as its major accomplishment.

The mayor’s decision to cut the trees was on the pretext of public safety, however, there was no official report pointing to its hazardous existence. Environmental and structural experts declared the tress safe, part of the scenic sights of the national highways.

She failed to realize how important trees nowadays and their significance in the socio-cultural and historical heritage of the people in Guindulman and the entire Bohol povince.

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Malaysia, Truly Asia - a cultural melting pot where people of different races all live in perfect harmony.

Or so go the tourist ads, issued by the very same government who ingrains racist policy in the very laws of this country, and openly condones racist attitudes. In a multi-ethnic, "highly developed" (HDI 2007) country, it should be political suicide to have a special system of privileges for Malays. However, this is reality in Malaysia, where it is the responsibility of the king to ‘safeguard the special position of the Malays’.

Consider Article 153 of the Malaysian Constitution:

2. – Grants ethnic Malays preferential access to scholarships, exhibitions and similar educational/training prvilleges
6. – Allows an ethnic quota on business permits/licenses for ethnic Malays
8.(c)1.(8A) – Gives the Yang di-Pertuan Agong the right to reserve places for ethnic Malays in universities/other educational institutions after the completion of the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM).

News articles which confirm inequality in Malaysia:

“When you set up a company in Malaysia, Bumiputras must own 30%. When a Malaysian company goes public, 30% of the shares must go to Bumiputras--at a discount. Can't find a partner? The International Trade & Industry Ministry will give you a list of "approved Bumiputras" to whom you must sell--or give--a stake.”
(Business Week, 29/07/2002)
Halting aid to Malays courts chaos: Dr M. http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/57983

In addition to this, racist attitudes are openly condoned.

Delay allocation to Chinese only to make them repent:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/29/nation/20100429115917&sec=nation
“Vote BN for ‘easy living’”.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/13/nation/20308489&sec=nation

Clearly, some of us have had enough:

http://www.suaram.net/node/246
Facing Malaysia's racial issues
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1687973,00.html

It is detrimental to the economic development of Malaysia, and even international sources agree:

Malaysia is a virtual One Party State: http://www.indianmalaysian.com/sound/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=745
Malaysia keeps tiger caged: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=5&art_id=56728&sid=16259794&con_type=1&d_str=20071113&fc=8

The current state of affairs encourages division in what would otherwise be a far more harmonious society. We hope only for a society that offers fairness to all regardless of ethnicity, whether one is Malay, Chinese, Indian or of the various other races that reside in Malaysia.

Please sign this petition.

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Dill Mill Gaye was the story of Armaan and RIddhima and will be their. They are the main lead opposite each other. And no one can come between them.

If we see the previous episodes then we can be realize that they love each other very much than their own life. So we are suggesting to the CVs of DMG that please bring them together as a pair. Otherwise we will stop watching this show.

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Responding to the article below :
http://www.emedia.com.my/detailnews.php?nid=6448&cid=N01

Over 8,000 tons of shark fins are processed each year. The fins only amount to 4% of a shark's bodyweight. This means that some 200,000 tons of shark are thrown back into the sea and discarded.

11,300 hourly, 100millions Sharks were killed annually. Already 18 species of sharks have been listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Source : http://www.seashepherd.org/sharks/shark-finning.html

The Tourism Department in Sabah has done a great job in promoting the State as an International Diving Site. E.g. Sipadan Island, Mabul, Kapalai and Other Marine Park in Kota Kinabalu.

Sharks play a very important role in the ecosystem. If shark finning continues to be a legal in Sabah it will not be very long before the reefs and diving attractions that draw many International travelers to our waters lose their appeal. The standing that Sabah currently enjoys as a destination in tune with the preservation and promotion of a healthy and vibrant marine ecosystem can only go to ensure future growth revenue so long as they are maintained and not depleted of its shark populations.

Please do check on this link to Save Our Turtles :
http://www.gopetition.com/online/35631.html

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In dem inszenierten Gerichtprozess des kommunistischen Regime Vietnams vom 30. März 2007 in Hue wurde Pfarrer Nguyen Van Ly zu 8 Jahren Haft wegen "Propaganda gegen die Regierung der SR Vietnams" nach Artikel 88 des Strafgesetzbuches verurteilt. Seitdem befindet er im Gefängnis Ba Sao in Isolierhaft in der Provinz Ha Nam. Pfarrer Nguyen Van Ly verbringt insgesamt 17 Jahre im kommunistischen Gefängnis Vietnams wegen seines friedlichen Einsatzes für die Menschenrechte und Religionsfreiheit. Er wurde von Amnesty International mehrfach "Gewissensgefangener" benannt und ist Träger mehrer Menschenrechtspreise wie Hellman / Hammett, Salom etc...

In der universellen periodischen Staatenüberprüfung (UPR) des UN- Menschenrechtsrates am 8. Mai 2009 wurde Vietnam vorgeschlagen, einige Gesetze zu ändern, darunter wurde auch der Artikel 88 des Strafgesetzbuches genannt, da diese Gesetze nicht nur gegen die allgemeine Erklärung der Menschenrechte und gegen den Internationalen Pakt über bürgerliche und politische Rechte, sondern auch gegen die Verfassung der Sozialistischen Republik Vietnam verstoßen.

Pfarrer Nguyen Van Ly hatte im 2009 drei Schlaganfälle erlitten. Der letzte Anfall fand am 14. November 2009 statt. Ihm war dabei so unwohl, dass die Gefängniswächter den Pfarrer ins Polizei-Krankenhaus 198 in Hanoi brachten. Dort befand er sich in einem verschlossenen Raum, in dem er vom Wachdienst der Geheimpolizei den ganzen Tag überwacht wurde. Obwohl sich sein Gesundheitszustand noch nicht deutlich verbessert hatte, hat die Polizei ihn nach fast einem Monat wieder ins Gefängnis Ba Sao zurückgebracht, wieder in Einzelhaft. Am 1. Februar 2010 besuchte ihn seine Schwester, Frau Nguyen Thi Hieu. Sie hat über ihn wie folgt berichtet: "Pfarrer Ly kann wegen seiner gelähmten Hand nicht mehr schreiben. Gehen geht schwer, da er die Krücken und eine Begleitperson zum Stützen benötigt. Pfarrer Ly nimmt keine Medikamente vom Gefängnis an, sondern ausschließlich nur die von den Familienangehörigen gebrachten Medikamente. Er sagte, dass er nicht wie das letzte Mal wieder ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert werden will, falls ein neuer Schlaganfall wieder auftreten wird. Er wünscht, dass wir ihn öfter besuchen.".

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In Nepal annually hundreds of thousands of animals are killed in the name of culture and religion, some in an extremely cruel manner.

After 200.000 animals were killed at Gadhimai festival in 2009, the Animal Welfare Network Nepal launched a 5-year campaign aiming at a phase wise ban on blood sacrifices. We call on the government to support our efforts.

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The world has watched as South Korea has moved from dictatorship toward democracy, over the last half a century at great cost. However, democracy, including incredible advances made in the culture and media sectors, has suffered serious damage in South Korea under the Lee Myung-bak regime. This damage has been inflected by way of unilateral passage of new media and news laws, the Grand National Party's (GNP) and conservative newspapers' attempt to take-over of public broadcasting and the evening news in particular, and the replacement of major broadcasting networks' executives with pro-government figure. Furthermore, a principle of checks-and-balances among the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches of the government has been repeatedly violated and weakened the legitimacy of democratic governance.

South Korea in the past two years has been witness to the use of the Public Prosecutor's Office to detain and question journalists critical of the government, infringing on the professional autonomy of rank-and-file reporters and threatening the development of a free and independent press. In addition, the National Tax Service has been used to mobilize politically-motivated institutional audits, while various ministries have been involved in the revocation of NGO licenses and contracts, forced personnel changes, budget cuts, imposition of a real name registration system, pressing of charges of national security violations, and investigations into family members of media movement activists and cultural sector leaders that have been classified as "Born in the Time of DJ (Kim Dae-jung), and Raised by Roh Moo-hyun."

During the past year there have been several forced resignations and/or illegal firings, many of which the Seoul Administrative Court has determined have been illegal but not reversible. While the list is extensive and include the massive personnel and budget cuts at both South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the NHRCK that violates the latter's autonomy outlined and protected under Article 10 of the Constitution, notable incidents include:
* Arts Council Korea (ARKO) Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Kim Jung-heun
* National Museum of Contemporary Art Director Kim Yoon-soo
* Korean National University of Arts President Hwang Ji-woo
* KBS President Jung Yun-joo
* KBS Director Shin Tae-seop
* National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) Chairperson Ahn Kyung-whan

There have also been:
* many resignations made under political protest of four MBC Board of Directors members and media personality Kim Je-dong
* the parachute appointment of the YTN president
* the defunding of Migrant Worker TV
* the defunding of the Seoul Human Rights Film Festival hosted by Sarangbang
* defunding of RTV (national public access satellite cable channel/ a must-carry channel that launched in 2007)
* an attack on Article 38 of the Broadcast Law stipulating that funds are to be used for supporting viewer-produced programs and providing broadcast access to those otherwise excluded from the mainstream
* shut-down of Indie-Space

These and numerous other instances that suggest consequences of a democracy that is taking backward steps in South Korea have been drawing international attention, including from:
* Experts serving on the United Nations (UN) Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR)
* Reporters without Borders (Reporters sans frontieres, RSF) (According to its 2009 World Press Freedom index, South Korea has dropped 30 places in the past year under President Lee)
* Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
* Amnesty International
* International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection Human Rights
* Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
* Asia Human Rights Commission & a Statement From Professors In North America Concerned About Korean Democracy.

In addition to calls being made to KOFIC at (02)958-7521 or 02-9587-526 and emails being sent to snowmt@kofic.or.kr ...

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A Sikh Man Detained by Tokyo immigration .

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Please stop the discrimination actions among religion or belief, start with stop the action of church arson.

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- LRT speakers are busted or foul sounding.

- Everytime I get on it, I am ashamed of the sound that comes out of it.

- Person speaking on the speakers can hardly be heard and is very unprofessional (I am ashamed of tourists getting on the MRT).

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為什麼港府對窮人錙銖必較，對富人卻可慷慨解囊，大花669億興建高鐵？


為什麼港府可以從沒諮詢受影響居民而決定走線？


近日一些朋友團體就政府高鐵方案顯示的種種問題及18號立法會財務委員會可能通過政府669億巨額的撥款要求深感不安，希望能集合關心社會發展、民生福祉、致力改善貧富縣殊、心繫民主發展的社福界人仕集體發聲，就以下三點提出我們的意見及要求：


1.反對政府在推行高鐵方案過程中欠諮詢、隱瞞資料、不尊重村民不遷不拆的訴求、不回應大角咀及其他高鐵沿線受影響居民的查詢並拒絕對話、賤視民間專家及市民意見等黑箱作業的尊斷獨裁作風；


2. 要求政府應以公平、公開、公正原則善用公帑，並以投資改善民生建設、發展本土經濟為先，展開如何有責任地運用669憶的社會討論；


3. 要求立法會議員於18號財務委員會撥款上監察政府、維護市民公平受惠的權利，反對撥款。


初步構思的行動包括：

1. 就以上各點草擬一份聲明、廣傳社福界及服務使用者，邀請聯署，希望能在15號前收集一千個簽名 (網址http://www.gopetition.com/online/32743.html)


2. 在本月15號就聯署要求在立法會(近愛丁堡廣場)召開記者會，公佈網上聯署結果，並要求立法會議員回應。有興趣出席的同工可聯絡女工會胡美蓮27904848或正委會葉寶琳25603865，或電郵予chun@cheungkwokche.hk。


3. 在本月17號在蘋果日報刊登聯署聲明。


懇切希望你們能加入聯署行動，並就刊登聯署聲明作出捐款。


請於2009年12月16日或之前，將聯署費用（個人/團體捐款HK$50或以上）以劃線支票（抬頭請註明「香港天主教正義和平委員會」）形式寄到「西灣河大石街一號李宏基牧民中心302室」，或直接存入正委的銀行戶口（匯豐銀行082-013533-001），收據請傳真至25398023或寄到以上地址。


謝謝！

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* Fight against injustice to competitors of the Miss World by false rankings.

* Challenge the misleading ranks without looking at proper evidence.

* Create awareness about MISS Sri Lanka.

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West Papua is one of the poorest areas in Indonesia where most of the people live at subsistence level with appalling health, welfare and education problems. This despite its vast reserves of copper, gold, oil, gas, and virgin hardwood forests. None of the profit from plundering these resources goes to the people of West Papua.

We support the West Papuans in their right to self determination to decide their own future. However, there is an excessively high number of Indonesian troops and military style police (estimates range between 12,000 - 30,000; we are unable to confirm these numbers due to lack of transparency) stationed in this region. There is no open and free access to the country.

The Red Cross is an impartial independent organisation with an exclusive humanitarian mission. Since 1949 the Red Cross has had an international mandate conferred on it by the Geneva Conventions, which task the ICRC with visiting prisoners, organising relief operations, re-uniting separated families and similar humanitarian activities during armed conflicts.

The Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement encourage these organisations to undertake similar work in situations of internal violence, where the Geneva Conventions do not apply.

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During 1942, seven hundred Australian soldiers of the 2/2 and 2/4 Independent Companies were sent to the neutral Portuguese colony of Timor, just off the north-west coast of Australia.

The Japanese army was moving south rapidly and the island of Timor was seen as a possible place from which Australia could be attacked. The few Australians conducted a successful guerilla campaign against the thousands of Japanese military who subsequently arrived. The Timorese people sided with the Australians, feeding, sheltering and guiding them.

Young men carried the Australians' packs, led them through the jungles, advised on the best attacking positions and proved themselves loyal companions. They took them to their homes and the families shared what they had, nursing the Australians when they were wounded or sick. The toll on the Timorese was heavy, with at least 40,000 civilians dying as a result of Japanese reprisals and Australian bombing raids on Japanese positions. The Australians who returned testify to the courage, generosity and kindness of the Timorese.

There has yet been no official Australian recognition of this unique contribution to the welfare of Australians during the War, nor of the toll exacted on the small Timorese population.

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After the conduct of the 2009 INBAR training/workshop on Non-Timber Forest Products in Zheijang, China, it has been established that one of the best if not the best solution to the climate change problem is massive planting of bamboo worldwide. This is considering the natural characteristics of this miracle plant as follows:

1. It is the fastest growing plant in the planet. Some species can actually grow up to 4 feet per day.

2. It is much more sustainable compared to trees. 1 tree planted equals 1 tree harvested at a minimum waiting time of 10 years, whereas, 1 bamboo planted equals more than a hundred that can be harvested at a maximum waiting time of only 5 years and it just grows and grows and multiplies continuously.

3. It is much easier to grow compared to trees. It can grow at any elevation, does not require fertilization and requires little water.

4. It ABSORBS 35% more carbon dioxide and also EMITS 35% more oxygen compared to trees making it the best solution for CARBON SEQUESTRATION. Even finished products like boards, floors, furniture, activated charcoal, cloth, paper, etc will retain carbon for decades.

5. It is the BEST SOURCE OF BIO-OIL/FUEL and BIO-COAL. Copra, oil palm, jathropa, sugar cane, sorghum, cassava, moringa and other sources could not compare with bamboo. This will result in significantly reducing our dependence on fossil fuel which is one of the major causes of climate change and air pollution. Other advantages that can be derived in utilizing bamboo for bio-fuel are;
a. reduce GHG emissions, another major cause of climate change,
b. establishment of land cover which will also result in water conservation and flood control.

6. If massive planting of bamboo will be done worldwide, the climate change problem will be TOTALLY GONE in a matter of only 6 YEARS.

Incidentally, bamboo planting and utilization will also significantly reduce poverty as evidenced by China's bamboo-based industries.

1. Income from bamboo farming is 7 times more compared to rice farming.

2. The bamboo-based industries income of China derived from its 7 million hectares of bamboo plantations last year 2008 was US$15billion.

3. It is the best substitute for wood and its tensile strength is higher than that of soft steel. More use of bamboo and less of wood will be good for the planet.

4. Bamboo is a source of food, lumber, charcoal, pulp for paper, medicines, cloth, some chemicals, bio-oil/fuel, bio-coal and a lot more.

5. Investing in bamboo-based industries will;
a. generate more jobs
b. save foreign exchange
c. motivate countryside economy which will be good for overall economy.

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The Magellan's Cross is located in Cebu City, in the Republic of the Philippines.

On April 21, 1521, Portuguese and Spanish explorers, upon orders by Ferdinand Magellan, planted this beautiful artifact of Christianity (specifically Roman Catholicism) in the Philippines.

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One morning on her way to school, Na-Young was dragged to a public toilet by a 50 year old man. He was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident, according to information from the police department. She was beaten and strangled, then violently raped and sexually tortured.

After that was done, in an attempt to destroy the evidence, he then inserted a pump (used for blocked toilets) into her anus in attempt to extract his semen which led to severe ruptures in her large intestines. Then, he tried to push the organs back inside her using the long stick of the pump. During this process, he completelydamaged her genital organs.

He then flushed her blood and other traces of her organs down the toilet, washed her and made her sit upright. After having another intercourse with her, he ran away leaving Na-Young to die.

This 57-year-old man was only sentenced to 12 years in jail.

With this online petition, we hope to get the Korean government to review this case and give a heavier sentence to the perpetrator.

If you feel outraged by this case, please sign this petition to help Na Young gets the justice she deserves.

Perhaps, with just this simple gesture, Na Young and her family might be able to lead their lives in a better way, knowing that there are people out there who care for them.

Links:

http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=314635&st=0&p=14642831&#entry14642831

http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=na+young&init=quick#/group.php?gid=141977509759

http://koreabeat.com/?p=10747

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/10/01/200910010061.asp

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The Zipingpu hydropower dam in Sichuan was built in 2002 and completed in 2006, soon after the reservoir was filled and put in operation, on May 12, 2008, a massive earthquake, magnitude 7.9 hit the region and reportedly killed 69,000 people, rendering anywhere from 4.8 to 11 millions people homeless.

China and the world were shocked by the stunning catastrophe, in July 8, 2008, a group of Chinese environmentalists and scholars submitted the appeal to the Chinese government for dam safety assessments in geologically unstable south-west China. The petition was first reported on in the First Business Daily (Diyi caijing bao) on June 12, 2008 and translated by Three Gorges Probe. The petition is summarized below:

Chinese environmentalists and scholars appeal for dam safety assessments in geologically unstable south-west China.

One of the most glaring problems revealed by the disaster is that of dam safety. The Wenchuan earthquake has exposed three important issues regarding the construction of dams in southwest China:

• Whether it is appropriate to build big reservoirs and high dams in areas where there are seismic belts?

• Whether there is a possibility that mistakes were made in the assessment of seismic intensities during the planning stages of the dam?

• Whether the construction of big reservoirs and high dams in fault belts could trigger powerful earthquakes?

We hope that the relevant government departments will give serious consideration to these questions.

Dam safety is one of the most serious problems exposed by this disaster. In the fifteenth news conference on May 25, the deputy minister of Water Resources revealed that 2,380 reservoirs throughout eight provinces and cities including Sichuan, Chongqing and Shaanxi had been placed in danger because of the earthquake. The main problems included: dam cracking, dam sliding, destroyed spillways, collapsed outlets, breakwater walls broken, collapsed reservoir embankments, and so on. In Sichuan province alone, 69 dams are in danger of collapse, 310 have been deemed high risk, and 1,424 pose a moderate risk.

The damage resulting from the earthquake itself has been extensive, but if anything were to go wrong with the dams and reservoirs as a result of the earthquake, the whole area downstream would be inundated, and the casualties and property loss would be greater than those caused by the earthquake itself.

Now, apart from investigating the damage to dams and ensuring their safety, which is a little like mending the fold after the sheep have escaped, it is imperative to re-examine the plans to develop water resources in an unprecedented scale in the southwest region of China. The Wenchuan earthquake has highlighted three very important questions about dam construction in the southwest of China, all of which merit serious consideration.

1. Whether it is appropriate to build big reservoirs and high dams in areas where there are geological fault belts?

The southwest of China is geologically complex and affected by movement of the tectonic plates, especially on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau bordering on Sichuan and the mountains and gorges in the northwest of Yunnan, which are products of the violent lifting and splitting of the earth’s crust. Areas such as this contain the most abundant water resources in China and have become the most important hydroelectric generating areas. Of the 13 hydropower development zones1 in China’s planned hydro-electricity generation program, the three most important are the Jinsha River, Yalong River and Dadu River zones, which are in western Sichuan and northwest of Yunnan. The zones on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, as well as the Nanpan River and Hongshui River hydroelectric zones all straddle the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, and the Lancang River and Nu River hydroelectric zones are in the northwest part of Yunnan. (See Figure 1: Map of Yunnan Seismic Faults and Dam locations on The Lancang-Maekong)

Consider also that both Sichuan and Yunnan are the two provinces where the most earthquakes have occurred in China. They are part of the Sichuan-Yunnan earthquake zone of the north-south earthquake belts, where the magnitude and frequency of earthquakes in China is highest. Many of the cascade of hydro dams already built or planned to be built in the southwest will be built in earthquake zones. For example, the cascade of hydropower plants in the upper reaches of the Min River are located in the Songfan and Longmenshan seismic belts; the cascade of dams on the Dadu River (tributary of the Yangtze) have been and will be built in the Xianshuihe seismic belt; the cascade of dams built on the Yalong River (tributary of the Yangtze) are very close to the Anninghe-Zemuhe seismic belt; the Xiluodu dam on the Jinsha River (main channel of the upper Yangtze) is being built in the Yongshan seismic belt, and the dam projects proposed in the Lancang-Mekong and Nu rivers are located in the Three Parallel Rivers tectonic active belt.

The southwest area of China is geologically fragile and mud-rock-flows and landslides are common. Building a series of big reservoirs and high dams with a height over 100 metres -- and even over 300 metres -- is dangerous. Destruction of the rock mass along the reservoir is likely to occur as a result of large scale excavations of embankment slopes and large scale construction of highways and tunnels after the reservoir is filled. In the event of a strong earthquake, the above activities would exaggerate landslides, mud-rock-flows and landmass collapses, and even result in secondary disasters such as severe flooding or collapses caused by earthquake lakes. Thus we have to pay more serious attention to the hidden troubles and risks created for people living along the banks of rivers.

2. Whether there is a possibility that mistakes were made in the assessment of seismic intensities during the planning stages of the dam?

When questioned about the safety issue on the cascade of hydro dams built in the geologically unstable areas of southwest China, both the government and power companies usually responded in a confident way, emphasizing how the design of the big reservoirs and high dams was scientifically examined through the feasibility study, and how sound the choice of seismic intensity was to ensure the dams could withstand earthquakes and ensure safety. The Wenchuan earthquake, however, has demonstrated that there were flaws in the assessment of the risk of seismic activity related to dam building in this area.

Zipingpu Dam, the largest reservoir on the upper reaches of the Min River is a good example. Located 9 kilometres upstream of Dujiangyan, with a storage capacity of 1.1 billion cubic metres and a 156-metre high dam, the Zipingpu is a gigantic project. So it is no wonder that, as water experts described, the reservoir is “like a huge basin of water hanging over the heads of millions of people living in Chengdu and surrounding area.” As seismology and water resources experts revealed, in the feasibility study for Zipingpu, scientists anticipated a maximum seismic intensity of 7 in the dam site area, but the actual seismic intensity at the dam site was much higher than that because the dam site is only 17 kilometres away from the earthquake’s epicentre. As a specialist in earthquake prevention related to hydro dams said, “given such a high seismic intensity at the epicentre and the distance between the epicentre and the dam site, the seismic intensity at Zipingpu should have been between 8 and 9, which was a totally unforeseen event.”

Located high above the Chengdu Plain, close to the world heritage-listed Dujiangyan diversion and irrigation system, and as one of the key dam projects in the campaign of “Grand Development in the West,” the plan to build the Zipingpu dam attracted a wide range of debate even from the beginning of its feasibility study. And what worried a number of people in the country most was concern about the geological instability in the area, where it was proposed Zipingpu be built.

It has turned out that mistakes were made in the feasibility study of the Zipingpu dam, which now makes people uneasy and ask the question, if such mistakes could be made in such a key dam project as Zipingpu, how about the other cascade dams built in the geological fault belts of the same Min valley? Could the same mistakes have been made with those other cascade of dams in the Min valley? And does the same problem exist with big hydro dams which have been and will be built in other rivers such as the Dadu, Yalong, Jinsha, Lancang-Mekong and Nu rivers?

3. Whether the construction of big reservoirs and high dams in fault belts could trigger powerful earthquakes?

The epicentre of the huge Wenchuan earthquake was only five and a half kilometres away from the shoreline of Zipingpu reservoir. Based on studies by experts, the Zipingpu reservoir is located in an area of geological instability, with the notorious Longmenshan fault belts cutting right through the reservoir and surrounding area. Thus there are good reasons for people to wonder if the big reservoir induced such a record-breaking earthquake along the Longmenshan fault belts, which occurred after the reservoir had been filled.

As a disaster induced by human engineering projects, RIS (reservoir-induced seismicity) has caused wide attention around the world. According to data provided by experts from the Changjiang Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources at the conferences of the feasibility study for the Three Gorges project, reservoirs with a dam height over 100 metres have a 7 percent chance of RIS in China; globally, reservoirs with a dam height over 200 metres would have a 34 percent likelihood of RIS. Worldwide, even though there are only four examples of dam and reservoir project construction having caused earthquakes with a magnitude over 6 (and the one with the highest magnitude was 6.5), these four dams were all located in areas of geological stability, which began with a low risk of naturally occurring earthquakes.

Not only is the Zipingpu dam built in an earthquake zone and an area with an active fault belt, but more and more hydro dam projects have been built and are planned for west Sichuan and northwest Yunnan, an area of high mountains and deep gorges, where new tectonic movement is occurring and seismic activity is frequent. While conducting the feasibility study for the Three Gorges project, experts from the departments of geology and seismology acknowledged that, “Currently, there are neither proper theories, nor methods of assessing and predicting RIS. And studies on the mechanism of how RIS occurs is still in the hypothetical stage.” In such circumstances, therefore, we simply must consider the risks of rashly going ahead with the development of hydroelectric power on an unprecedented scale, in such a geologically unstable area.

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昨日十五名在立法會內的菜園村居民及支援組成員，因運輸及房屋局局長鄭汝華聲稱「見過村民四十次」，在旁聽席上批評其說假，休會期間被以「藐視立法會」的罪名集體拘捕，當中4名七十歲以上、5名六十多歲的村民被押送到海傍警署，竟直至晚上十時才獲准保釋。

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Kính gửi Đức Thánh Cha Bênêditô XVI,

An Seine Heiligkeit
Papst Benedikt XVI
00120 Citta del Vaticano

Liên quan tới việc: Xin Đức Thánh Cha cứu xét đơn từ chức của Đức Tổng Giám Mục Hà Nội Ngô Quang Kiệt

Kính thưa Đức Thánh Cha,
Chúng con ký tên dưới đây là những người Công Giáo Việt Nam luôn gắn bó chặt chẽ với quê hương và giáo hội VN thân yêu. Trong những ngày qua, chúng con rất quan tâm theo dõi hiện tình Giáo Hội Công Giáo Việt Nam, quan tâm đặc biệt đến sự kiện Đức Cha Giuse Ngô Quang Kiệt, Tổng Giám Mục Hà Nội, đệ đơn lên Đức Thánh Cha xin từ chức với lý do bệnh tật. Qua thỉnh nguyện thư này, chúng con rất vinh dự được đệ trình lên Đức Thánh Cha một vài ý nghĩ khiêm tốn của chúng con:

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This petition is for the support of Sikh guy Harshdeep Singh Anand from Shimla ( India ) who has lost his job in Abu Dhabi in refusal to cut his hairs ( a unique Sikh identity ). No such condition had been mentioned in his appointment letter and it was known that he was a Sikh with long hair as he was selected for the job after an interview.

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Explorers of the Human Body (Hangul: 인체탐험대; Hanja: 人體探險隊) was one of the three shows of New Good Sunday, a lineup of variety shows that aired every Sunday evening at 5:30 PM on SBS, from November 11, 2007 – February 3, 2008. The show's aim was to answer curious questions about the human body, where members of the South Korean Band Super Junior perform the answers by doing experiments with their own bodies.

The show succeeded in attracting a wide audience due to its comedic and educational content. Due to Super Junior's busy schedules, the last episode before the program's hiatus aired on February 3, 2008. It was finally decided that instead of a hiatus, the program would end the season with thirteen episodes.

Super Junior decided to leave the show due to their occupied schedules and busy preparations for their upcoming Asia-wide concert tour, Super Show. However, representatives of the program stated if there is a chance, a second season will be considered.

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Can you picture 7,000 young buffaloes being rounded up and killed by a thousand drunk men carrying large knives? A festival where 200,000 animals are killed to please a goddess?

This is exactly what -if nothing is done- will happen from November 24, 2009, onwards in Nepal. The Gadimai Festival in Bariyarpur, Bara District, is held each 5 years. The mass sacrifice turns the entire area into a marshy land of blood. The Animal Welfare Network Nepal together with Anti-sacrifice Alliance want to end this bloody, cruel practice.

For more information go to Worship Without Cruelty at http://animalnepal.org/campaigns_wwc.htm

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Cáo lỗi:

Quý vị vẫn còn có thể ký tên vào Thỉnh Nguyện Thư này, tuy nhiên Ban Tổ chức chỉ có thể chính thức ghi nhận tên trong sơ đến số 1846 mà thôi, vì chúng tôi cần thời gian để tổng hợp và đem đi in hồ ssơ đệ trình.

Ban Tổ chức chân thành cảm tạ sự ủng hộ nhiệt tình của quý đồng hương, quý thân hào nhân sĩ từ khắp mọi nơi. Kính xin hẹn tất cả quý vị trong một chiến dịch rộng lớn hơn vào thời gian sắp tới.

TM. Ban Tổ chức
TRẦN ĐÔNG
dongtran.vktn@gmail.com




Joint Declaration of the Overseas Vietnamese Communities
Regarding Communist Vietnam’s Pressure on the Government of Indonesia to demolish the former Refugee Camp in Pulau Galang, Batam (Riau, Indonesia)


In March 2005, 150 former Vietnamese Boat People from several resettlement countries returned to Bidong (Malaysia) and Galang (Indonesia) in order to erect monuments in memory of their fellow refugees who had lost their lives in quest for freedom, and to thank the peoples of Malaysia and Indonesia for their generosity and compassion towards the Indochinese refugees. Two months later, the Vietnamese communist government urged the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia to get rid of the monuments, arguing that they were deemed detrimental to the bi-lateral diplomatic relations. This action has been resolutely condemned by the global Vietnamese diaspora.

The Galang Refugee Camp was a place where hundreds of thousands of refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos were assisted by the people and government of Indonesia and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in their journey for freedom after their own countries had been taken over by the Communists in 1975.

Then on July 30 and August 2, 2009, according to the Jakarta Post in Indonesia, the Hanoi government renewed its pressure on the government of Indonesia, this time to take down the Galang Refugee Camp. This camp has been renovated and maintained over the last decades as a historical monument and a tourist attraction for local and foreign visitors.

WHEREAS the Galang Refugee Camp is a historical site which symbolizes the generosity and compassion of the people of Indonesia, the world community, and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees toward the Indochinese refugees in their desperate journey for freedom;

WHEREAS the Galang Refugee Camp has now become a heritage of Batam, one of the major local tourist attractions which is non-political in nature and which is not meant to have any detrimental impact on any individual, organization or country in the world;

WHEREAS the action on the part of the Hanoi government is a blatant interference into the internal affairs of Indonesia and the people of Batam;

WHEREAS the destruction of the Galang Refugee Camp will displace a symbol of recognition for the generosity and compassion of the people and government of Indonesia, the world community, and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees toward the Indochinese refugees in the past;

WHEREAS the destruction of the Galang Refugee Camp will lead to the loss of employment and income of the local tourist industry which is in its early development stage;

WHEREAS the destruction of the Galang Refugee Camp will deprive the local population of an important recreation facility which provides them with a precious environment for weekend relaxation;

WHERETOFORE, we solemnly declare to all freedom loving individuals and organizations including those with Vietnamese cultural and linguistic background in the world as follows:

1. We condemn and protest against the intervention of the Hanoi government in the internal affairs of Indonesia aiming at creating difficulties and disturbances in the civil society of Indonesia and in the everyday life of its citizens;

2. We support the well-justified decision of the local government, population, and businesses in Batam, Indonesia to preserve and develop the heritage of the Galang Refugee Camp;

3. We appeal to the Indonesian government to continue supporting the Galang Refugee Camp as a historical monument symbolizing the spirit of generosity and compassion of the Indonesian people towards the Indo-Chinese refugees in their journey for freedom;

4. We urge the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and UNESCO to recognize the Galang Refugee Camp as a historical and heritage site of the world;

5. We appeal to all freedom loving individuals and organizations including those of Vietnamese background to voice their indignation toward the inhuman and immoral action of the Hanoi government, and to use all the available means to urge the Indonesian government to preserve this cultural, historical and humanitarian heritage site of Indonesia for the future generations

6. Finally, we urge all Vietnamese organizations and communities in the world to view the incidents regarding the refugee monuments at Bidong and Galang in 2005 and the Galang Refugee Camp in 2009 within the wider context of other serious issues such as the land border and territorial waters concessions, Western Central Highlands mining exploitation, loss of Vietnamese islands and current religious repressions such as in Thai Ha, Tam Toa and Bat Nha, in order to join with other movements inside Vietnam to create a wave of indignation in order to unmask the dark intentions of the lying and inhumane Communist regime, and to contribute to the struggle for democracy, freedom and human rights for Vietnam and the protection of its territorial integrity.

August 12, 2009



The Vietnamese American Community of USA:
Mr. Tanh Van Nguyen, Chairman, Board of Representatives.
Mr. Tan Van Nguyen, Chairman, Executive Board.
Mr. Huu Dinh Vo, MD, Chairman, Board of Controllers.

The Vietnamese Community in Australia:
Mr. Phong The Nguyen, Chairman.

The Vietnamese Canadian Federation:
Mr. Ut Van Ngo, President.


Distributions: President and Congress of the Republic of Indonesia. Indonesian Ambassador to the US, Canada, Australia. United Nations. US Congress, EU Parliament, Australian Parliament, Canadian Parliament, NPC of Vietnam.
Cc: Archives.

---------------------

Tuyên Cáo Chung
của Cộng Đồng Người Việt Hải Ngoại
về vụ nhà cầm quyền Cộng Sản Việt Nam đòi chính phủ Nam Dương
triệt hạ trại tị nạn đảo Galang, khu Batam, tỉnh Riau, Cộng hòa Nam Dương



Tháng 3 năm 2005, 150 thuyền nhân ở nhiều nước trên thế giới đã về Bidong và Galang dựng lên Tượng đài Tri Ân và Tưởng Niệm tại Galang (Nam Dương) và Bidong (Mã Lai), hai tháng sau đó sau đó nhà cầm quyền Hà Nội đã áp lực chính quyền sở tại triệt hạ hai tấm bia này, lấy cớ nội dung tri ân và tưởng niệm làm phương hại đến bang giao của hai quốc gia. Hành động vô lương tâm này đã bị Cộng Đồng Người Việt tại Hải Ngoại lên án nặng nề.

Trại tị nạn Galang là nơi hàng trăm ngàn người tị nạn Việt/Miên/Lào đã đuợc dân chúng và chính quyền Nam Dương cùng Phủ Cao Uỷ Tị Nạn Liên Hiệp Quốc tiếp đón trong cuộc hành trình đi tìm tự do sau khi Cộng Sản thôn tính các quốc gia này vào năm 1975.

Bốn năm sau, ngày 30-7-2009 và ngày 2-8-2009 vừa qua, tờ Jakarta Post tại Nam Dương loan tin nhà cầm quyền Cộng Sản Việt Nam lại tiếp tục áp lực chính phủ Nam Dương, lần này họ yêu sách đòi Nam Dương triệt hạ di tích trại tị nạn Galang. Được biết, di tích này đã được chính quyền và cư dân địa phương tại đảo Batam trùng tu và bảo quản hàng chục năm nay để làm di tích lịch sử và công viên di sản dành cho khách hành hương, khách du lịch và cư dân địa phương đến chiêm bái và ngơi nghỉ.

Xét vì khu di tích Galang là một di sản mang tính lịch sử, là dấu tích của lòng nhân đạo của người dân và chính phủ Nam Dương, của các nhà hảo tâm trên thế giới, và những nỗ lực của Phủ Cao Uỷ Tị Nạn Liên Hiệp Quốc trong việc che chở, đùm bọc người tị nạn Đông Dương trong cuộc hành trình đi tìm tự do;

Xét vì khu di tích Galang nay đã là di sản của Batam, là một trong những trọng điểm du lịch trong và ngoài nước ở địa phương và hoàn toàn không có ý nghĩa chính trị cũng như không phương hại đến bất cứ cá nhân, tổ chức hay quốc gia nào trên thế giới;

Xét vì việc nhà cầm quyền Cộng Sản Việt Nam yêu sách Nam Dương triệt hạ khu di tích Galang là xâm phạm trắng trợn vào chủ quyền và can thiệp thô bạo vào công việc nội bộ của Nam Dương và của người dân tại Batam;

Xét vì việc triệt hạ khu di tích Galang cũng đồng nghĩa với việc phủ nhận lòng nhân đạo và sự đóng góp quý báu của người dân và chính phủ Nam Dương, của các nhà hảo tâm trên thế giới và của Phủ Cao Uỷ Tị Nạn Liên Hiệp Quốc đối với người tị nạn Đông Dương trong quá khứ;

Xét vì việc triệt hạ khu di tích Galang sẽ làm mất công ăn việc làm của nhiều người, làm giảm lợi tức của ngành du lịch còn đang trong thời kỳ phát triển phôi thai tại địa phương;

Xét vì việc triệt hạ khu di tích Galang sẽ làm mất đi trọng điểm du lịch tại địa phương và cư dân địa phương cũng thiếu đi chỗ ngơi nghỉ cần thiết vào cuối tuần sau những ngày làm việc mệt mỏi;

Vì những lý do nêu trên, chúng tôi long trọng tuyên cáo cùng tất cả các đồng hương Việt Nam trên thế giới như sau:

1. Cực lực lên án và phản đối Cộng Sản Việt Nam đã trắng trợn xâm phạm chủ quyền, can thiệp vào việc nội bộ của chính phủ và người dân Nam Dương với âm mưu gây khó khăn và tạo sự xáo trộn trong sinh hoạt chính trị và đời sống hàng ngày của người bản xứ.

2. Ủng hộ những quyết định đúng đắn, nhân đạo và hợp lý của chính quyền, các thương nghiệp và người dân Batam, Nam Dương trong việc bảo tồn và phát triển khu di tích Galang.

3. Thỉnh cầu chính phủ Nam Dương tiếp tục bảo trì khu di tích Galang như là một biểu tượng trân quý về lòng nhân đạo và văn hoá tốt đẹp của đất nước và người dân Nam Dương dành cho người tị nạn Đông Dương trong cuộc hành trình đi tìm tự do.

4. Thỉnh cầu Phủ Cao Uỷ Tị Nạn Liên Hiệp Quốc và UNESCO công nhận Di tích Tị nạn Galang là Di sản Tị Nạn của Liên Hiệp Quốc
5. Kêu gọi các cộng đồng và tập thể người Việt trên khắp thế giới đồng thanh lên án hành vi phi đạo đức này của chính quyền Cộng Sản Việt Nam, đồng thời tận dụng mọi phương tiện sẵn có để vận động chính phủ Nam Dương, bằng mọi giá, bảo vệ và bảo tồn di sản văn hoá, lịch sử và lòng nhân đạo lớn lao này của đất nước và người dân Nam Dương cho các thế hệ mai sau.

6. Kêu gọi Cộng Đồng Người Việt, các Hội đoàn Đoàn thể người Việt khắp nơi trên thế giới liên kết sự kiện bia Tưởng niệm Bidong-Galang, sự kiện trại tị nạn Galang chung với tất cả những sự kiện khác như biên giới, hải đảo, lãnh hải, Tây nguyên, Thái Hà, Tam Tòa, Bát Nhã cùng với các phong trào trong nước để dấy lên làn sóng vũ bão lột mặt nạ chế độ Cộng Sản giả trá, độc ác vô nhân, đấu tranh cho Nhân Quyền, Tự do, Tín ngưỡng, Dân chủ, Chủ quyền và Toàn vẹn Lãnh thổ.

Ngày 12 tháng 8 năm 2009



Đại Diện Cộng Đồng Người Việt Quốc Gia Hoa Kỳ:
Ô. Nguyễn Văn Tánh, Chủ Tịch Hội Đồng Đại Biểu
Ô. Nguyễn Văn Tần, Chủ Tịch Hội Đồng Chấp Hành
Bác Sĩ Võ Đình Hữu, Chủ Tịch Hội Đồng Giám Sát

Đại Diện Cộng Đồng Người Việt Úc Châu:
Ô. Nguyễn Thế Phong, Chủ Tịch Liên Bang

Đại Diện Liên Hội Người Việt Canada:
Ô. Ngô Văn Út, Tổng Thư Ký Liên Hội


Nơi nhận: Tổng Thống và Quốc Hội Nam Dương. Đại Sứ Nam Dương tại Hoa Kỳ, Canada, Úc Châu. QH Hoa Kỳ, QH Canada, QH Liên Âu, QH Úc Châu, QH Việt Nam. Liên Hiệp Quốc.
Cc: Hồ Sơ Lưu.

(Do Văn Khố Thuyền Nhân Úc Châu soạn thảo với sự góp ý của Liên Hội Người Việt Canada và CĐNVQG Hoa Kỳ)

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Daisaku ikeda, Peace builder in the world.

http://www.daisakuikeda.org

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We believe it is only a matter of time before an accident occurs on Tanjong Rhu Road. We cross the road each day taking our children to the bus station, or going to Kallang Leissure for daily shopping - it is unsafe and very scary, especially at rush hour.

Cars are coming from both directions, in and out of all four condominiums in the area (Water Place, Sanctuary Green, Park Shore and Pebble Bay), while parents with children in strollers or on tricyles/bicycles cannot cross safely. We believe that a pedestrians crossing would improve the situation considerably.

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