The year 2008 will be remembered more for the global financial crisis and its impact around the world. What started as a credit crunch in USA had far reaching effects around the globe...the developing countries will be the hardest hit...the poorest who eked out meager living have lost jobs that barely fed them.
This year also saw Canada lose quite a few number of it's soldiers, posted on duty in Afghanistan. Some of the men lost were there helping to build infrastructure to make everyday life a little easier for this war torn region. This young men have lost lives trying to bring peace to the people who have been derived of it for so long.
Year 2008 also saw a bloody terrorist attacks on well known landmarks in India. This brazen attack was carried out by a group of terrorist who for three days held hostages and fought with the special task force, all of them dying, except one along with many innocent hostage. Will violence ever solve anything? This attack has now left India and Pakistan with strained relations.
Just before the year ended a new crisis has erupted in the Middle East...the never ending conflict between Israel and Palestine. The bombing of Hamas targets has killed several hundreds, yet failed to stop Hamas from firing rockets into Israel. How will this conflict end in the year 2009? Will this conflict lead to a greater calamity for both Israel and Palestine people?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Over a cup of Chai
‘Aree Ganpatbhai, bai chai and ek thali bhajiya aapjo.” Rama called as she entered the small café and made a beeline for her regular table. Her friend Kamala was already there.
Dumping her shopping bag on the floor, Rama sat down on the wooden bench. “Kem che Kamla?” she asked.
“Chale ave. Kem modu thayu?” Kamala asked.
“Aree, aaje sawar ni pormaj gas ni batli puri thayi gayi. Pachi vaat javado.” Rama rattled on.
The boy came left two steaming cups of masala chai and plate of hot bhajiya.
Rama popping one in her mouth, gave a sigh of satisfaction. “Mast che bhajiya…aawa toh beje kaiyeen nahi malei. Lei ek toh kha.”
Kamala took one and munched away. “Kale raat na toh maine ungh na avi. Pela bhai toh TV samne thi khase tohne. Ola America mei Obamabhai nei Ramayan jova baisi gaya. Mari Ramayan serial jova baithi toh bhai khallas…baas paase baisini babariyan kare.”
Rama sipped hot tea and replied, “Aanma su navu…amare ghare pan aavu. Par saru thayu ne Kamla, ke kalabhai jeeti gaya. Chal ave thoro wakhat aapna bhai bhen ne visa maate kaein problem ni parse.”
Kamala nodded her head, “Haan ai vaat sanchi. Mara Vijay ne chance lagee jai toh saru. Ketla mahina thiya visa maate try karto che.”
Rama finishing off the last bhajiya, “Mara Suresh ne toh bhagwan ni krupa thi jaldi mali gayi thi.”
“Aapna chokra set thai jai baas bhijun kai nahin jauye.” Kamala folder her hands in prayers.
“Chal kaale malshun. Ghar jaine bopar nu jaman banawu.” Rama stood up, picked up her bag and walked up to the cashier, paid her bill and left.
Dumping her shopping bag on the floor, Rama sat down on the wooden bench. “Kem che Kamla?” she asked.
“Chale ave. Kem modu thayu?” Kamala asked.
“Aree, aaje sawar ni pormaj gas ni batli puri thayi gayi. Pachi vaat javado.” Rama rattled on.
The boy came left two steaming cups of masala chai and plate of hot bhajiya.
Rama popping one in her mouth, gave a sigh of satisfaction. “Mast che bhajiya…aawa toh beje kaiyeen nahi malei. Lei ek toh kha.”
Kamala took one and munched away. “Kale raat na toh maine ungh na avi. Pela bhai toh TV samne thi khase tohne. Ola America mei Obamabhai nei Ramayan jova baisi gaya. Mari Ramayan serial jova baithi toh bhai khallas…baas paase baisini babariyan kare.”
Rama sipped hot tea and replied, “Aanma su navu…amare ghare pan aavu. Par saru thayu ne Kamla, ke kalabhai jeeti gaya. Chal ave thoro wakhat aapna bhai bhen ne visa maate kaein problem ni parse.”
Kamala nodded her head, “Haan ai vaat sanchi. Mara Vijay ne chance lagee jai toh saru. Ketla mahina thiya visa maate try karto che.”
Rama finishing off the last bhajiya, “Mara Suresh ne toh bhagwan ni krupa thi jaldi mali gayi thi.”
“Aapna chokra set thai jai baas bhijun kai nahin jauye.” Kamala folder her hands in prayers.
“Chal kaale malshun. Ghar jaine bopar nu jaman banawu.” Rama stood up, picked up her bag and walked up to the cashier, paid her bill and left.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Will History be made on November 4
It's decision time in United States, time to vote, time to bring in a new leader. Borack Obama, a non-white presidential candidate stands to create history by becoming the first non-white president of United States.
There have been debates, advertising, campaign strategies and endless rallies across states by both the candidates to win votes. Well the time has arrived. Tomorrow the poles will open and by the end of night, the world will discover whether a new page in history is written or not.
There have been debates, advertising, campaign strategies and endless rallies across states by both the candidates to win votes. Well the time has arrived. Tomorrow the poles will open and by the end of night, the world will discover whether a new page in history is written or not.
Diwali...
Last week, millions of people all over the world celebrated this festival, a festival which celebrates the victory of good over evil.
Yet everyday we are left wondering if evil is conquered by good. The bomb blasts which kills hundreds, the war which uproots the people, the killing of a child for reasons not known as he backs home from school, makes us wonder if evil can be wiped out, whether peace can spread over the world...can goodness prevail over all in the world.
We light the diyas at night...how bright that small flame burns in the dark, spreading light in the dark. But what needs to happen is for the same small spark needs to light inside all to multiply it into one global glow to try and let the good be victorious over evil.
Yet everyday we are left wondering if evil is conquered by good. The bomb blasts which kills hundreds, the war which uproots the people, the killing of a child for reasons not known as he backs home from school, makes us wonder if evil can be wiped out, whether peace can spread over the world...can goodness prevail over all in the world.
We light the diyas at night...how bright that small flame burns in the dark, spreading light in the dark. But what needs to happen is for the same small spark needs to light inside all to multiply it into one global glow to try and let the good be victorious over evil.
Angel do exist...
I read an article on abuse of women in Repubic of Congo. It is not something new, it happens over and over again, the brutal raping of women by the rebel groups fighting in this country. The attack or attacks is so severe that this women end up in hospital run by Dr Denis Mukewege requiring surgery to repair the damage done. And because of his dedication to help the victims of rape, Dr Mukewege has become a leading expert on repairing injuries of rape.
Dr Mukewege comes from a large family and it was as a child, going around with his minister father to visit and pray for the sick, that he decided to become a doctor. He did not seek out to become a saviour to these women, but the survivors of the rape came to him seeking help at his hospital. he works long hours and lobbies governments to pay attention to this problem in his country.
While he waits for organizations to help end this violence he carries on working, trying to help the victims.
To the many who he has helped, he must seem like an angel descended on earth to wipe out their tears and sorrows.
Dr Mukewege comes from a large family and it was as a child, going around with his minister father to visit and pray for the sick, that he decided to become a doctor. He did not seek out to become a saviour to these women, but the survivors of the rape came to him seeking help at his hospital. he works long hours and lobbies governments to pay attention to this problem in his country.
While he waits for organizations to help end this violence he carries on working, trying to help the victims.
To the many who he has helped, he must seem like an angel descended on earth to wipe out their tears and sorrows.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Casuality of the Financial Markets
The financial markets keeps on taking the investors on roller coaster rides. The billions of dollars promised by the governments to help out the top finance houses seems to be not enough.
The meltdown of several large financial institutions has left thousands of people without jobs, large number of people who once had safe, stable jobs do not have one now.
And now besides the news of people losing their homes, there is news of people resorting to suicide because of financial loss occurred...to see the financial security they had built up with their hard work eroded in a day.
Its heartbreaking to read a father killing his young sons, wife, mother and then himself because of seeing his life fall apart. Not everyone is strong enough to rise above the financial carnage, there will be many more before this crisis resolves itself.
The meltdown of several large financial institutions has left thousands of people without jobs, large number of people who once had safe, stable jobs do not have one now.
And now besides the news of people losing their homes, there is news of people resorting to suicide because of financial loss occurred...to see the financial security they had built up with their hard work eroded in a day.
Its heartbreaking to read a father killing his young sons, wife, mother and then himself because of seeing his life fall apart. Not everyone is strong enough to rise above the financial carnage, there will be many more before this crisis resolves itself.
My Health Dollars
I listened with sadness last week as my friend related the treatment of her mother in a country which promises universal health care for its people. We even pay extra health tax to make sure the public health care gets sufficient funding.
This started few days back when my friend's mother developed severe pain in her back that ran all the way down to her leg, immobilizing her. The visit to the emergency department at the hospital resulted in being prescribed painkiller and coming back home. My friend tried desperately over two/three days to get the family doctor to come home and visit her mother as their was no way she could get her mother to the surgery.
I don't know how but she ended up taking her mother back to the emergency where her mother was hospitalized in the corridor of the hospital because no other room was available. She spent three days with her mother still sleeping in the corridor because no room could be found. The crunch came when she returned in the morning to find her mother in a serious emotional state, complaining about how the nurses would not help her to get to the bathroom. After being given morphine to subsidize the pain, the mother was in no state to make her way to the bathroom alone. My friend helped her during the day, but at night there was no one to help, despite two nurses sitting at desk just two feet away.
My friend has brought her mother back home. I don't blame her. Why spend sleepless night worrying if her mother is taken care of or not.
But I would like to know that despite paying additional taxes why is there no service available especially to the elderly? My tax dollars which pay the salary of those nurses, do their work contract specify they are barred from helping an eighty year old to go to the bathroom.
This started few days back when my friend's mother developed severe pain in her back that ran all the way down to her leg, immobilizing her. The visit to the emergency department at the hospital resulted in being prescribed painkiller and coming back home. My friend tried desperately over two/three days to get the family doctor to come home and visit her mother as their was no way she could get her mother to the surgery.
I don't know how but she ended up taking her mother back to the emergency where her mother was hospitalized in the corridor of the hospital because no other room was available. She spent three days with her mother still sleeping in the corridor because no room could be found. The crunch came when she returned in the morning to find her mother in a serious emotional state, complaining about how the nurses would not help her to get to the bathroom. After being given morphine to subsidize the pain, the mother was in no state to make her way to the bathroom alone. My friend helped her during the day, but at night there was no one to help, despite two nurses sitting at desk just two feet away.
My friend has brought her mother back home. I don't blame her. Why spend sleepless night worrying if her mother is taken care of or not.
But I would like to know that despite paying additional taxes why is there no service available especially to the elderly? My tax dollars which pay the salary of those nurses, do their work contract specify they are barred from helping an eighty year old to go to the bathroom.
Canada votes...
Tomorrow people of Canada will hit polls to vote for the party they would like to see govern the country.
Like many I am still one of those who have not made up my mind who to vote for. I have been reading newspaper, watching debates, listening to leaders speaking like right now listening to Mr Jack Layton. Listening to the leaders telling me and others why we should vote for their party.
I have listened to them telling what the other leaders have done wrong in the past...about giving tax breaks to the corporation and punishing the working class...about not spending enough dollars on the health care, arts, housing etc.
I don't want to listen to what the other leaders have done wrong, I want to know what you will do steer this country through the current world economic situation, how you will keep this country floating through recession, depression or whatever follows the breakdown of the global financial markets. I want to know how despite paying health tax, you will make the health care available to those who need it. I want to know how you will keep companies that have been 30, 40 years in business from closing, laying off hundreds of workers. Those laid off workers have no chance of getting the same full-time employment because the economy only creates thousands of part-time jobs...low pay and no benefits.
At the last minutes leaders have been scrambling around coming up with what they would do to help out the financial institutions through the credit crisis. Billions of dollars are promised to help the big banks, even going as far as taking on the bad assets. Now why take on bad assets if those assets will not generate any revenue. There is no talk about bringing in tougher regulations to regulate the lending markets in the country. There is no word about how to protect the hapless home buyers, borrowers, credit card users from the unscrupulous lenders, finance companies and the mortgage branch of the banks.
We all want to do our little bit towards a greener earth but why does it have to come at my expense, I already pay substantial amount to buy products from these companies...why should I subsidize them to go green by paying taxes and then also paying more for these so called environmental friendly created products.
Like millions I will sit and ponder all day today deciding which candidate do I give my precious vote to.
Like many I am still one of those who have not made up my mind who to vote for. I have been reading newspaper, watching debates, listening to leaders speaking like right now listening to Mr Jack Layton. Listening to the leaders telling me and others why we should vote for their party.
I have listened to them telling what the other leaders have done wrong in the past...about giving tax breaks to the corporation and punishing the working class...about not spending enough dollars on the health care, arts, housing etc.
I don't want to listen to what the other leaders have done wrong, I want to know what you will do steer this country through the current world economic situation, how you will keep this country floating through recession, depression or whatever follows the breakdown of the global financial markets. I want to know how despite paying health tax, you will make the health care available to those who need it. I want to know how you will keep companies that have been 30, 40 years in business from closing, laying off hundreds of workers. Those laid off workers have no chance of getting the same full-time employment because the economy only creates thousands of part-time jobs...low pay and no benefits.
At the last minutes leaders have been scrambling around coming up with what they would do to help out the financial institutions through the credit crisis. Billions of dollars are promised to help the big banks, even going as far as taking on the bad assets. Now why take on bad assets if those assets will not generate any revenue. There is no talk about bringing in tougher regulations to regulate the lending markets in the country. There is no word about how to protect the hapless home buyers, borrowers, credit card users from the unscrupulous lenders, finance companies and the mortgage branch of the banks.
We all want to do our little bit towards a greener earth but why does it have to come at my expense, I already pay substantial amount to buy products from these companies...why should I subsidize them to go green by paying taxes and then also paying more for these so called environmental friendly created products.
Like millions I will sit and ponder all day today deciding which candidate do I give my precious vote to.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Expressing your Views
The date for election in Canada is October 14th. The date wasn't even officially announced yet when the posters for the local candidates started going up in residential areas.
CBC usually have live sessions in the studio with leaders and guests to answer questions from the audience/viewers. This time CBC has started using Skype, web technology each night, as well as phone and Email, giving viewers far and near a chance to ask questions, raise concerns close to their hearts. May be this is a start of things to come in future when the local candidates may even venture to make use of this technology to reach the thousands of voters in his/her riding. If they want to win votes than the candidates need to hit the street and reach as many potential voters and persuade them why they should vote for him and his party. Why? Because I for one would like to know for sure that the candidate in my riding will represent everyone in my community, does not matter what part of the world they came from and their party agenda is for the good of in the country as a whole.
CBC usually have live sessions in the studio with leaders and guests to answer questions from the audience/viewers. This time CBC has started using Skype, web technology each night, as well as phone and Email, giving viewers far and near a chance to ask questions, raise concerns close to their hearts. May be this is a start of things to come in future when the local candidates may even venture to make use of this technology to reach the thousands of voters in his/her riding. If they want to win votes than the candidates need to hit the street and reach as many potential voters and persuade them why they should vote for him and his party. Why? Because I for one would like to know for sure that the candidate in my riding will represent everyone in my community, does not matter what part of the world they came from and their party agenda is for the good of in the country as a whole.
2010 Winter Olympics - With Glowing Hearts
Yesterday VANOC unveiled "With Glowing Hearts" as the Olympic motto. The words come from the Canadian National anthem. The three words have powerful meaning for the athletes that have followed there passion, slaved at the sport to reach the Olympic. The culmination of reaching the dream of winning a medal and standing on the poduim proudly watching the national flag rise up high in the sky, it becomes so obvious to the viewer what the athelete is feeling at that precise moment.
Hope 2010 winter Olympics does make many hearts glow.
Hope 2010 winter Olympics does make many hearts glow.
Bihar flooding
In the current economic crisis which dominates the news, there are parts of the world which are also suffering crisis of another kind. The monsoon rains in India and particularly in Bihar has left 10 million people displaced. Whereas in one part of the world people are losing homes because they don't have money to the mortgage, others have lost everything in the floods.
Bihar is one of the poorest state in India. The relief camps itself are accessible to all the people, as several camps had to be abandoned when the waters reached them. So far there is no bailout for this people from the government and whatever money raised will be by the foreign aid agencies and by ordinary people who reside overseas.
Here in University of Toronto campus, one young girl is trying to raise funds to help the victims fo the flood. She is making the young generation aware of the plight of country from which their parents came from and giving them an opportunity to help the people who are thousands of miles away. By visiting places of worship and community gathering this group of people are doing seva that is much needed by the people of Bihar.
Bihar is one of the poorest state in India. The relief camps itself are accessible to all the people, as several camps had to be abandoned when the waters reached them. So far there is no bailout for this people from the government and whatever money raised will be by the foreign aid agencies and by ordinary people who reside overseas.
Here in University of Toronto campus, one young girl is trying to raise funds to help the victims fo the flood. She is making the young generation aware of the plight of country from which their parents came from and giving them an opportunity to help the people who are thousands of miles away. By visiting places of worship and community gathering this group of people are doing seva that is much needed by the people of Bihar.
Bailout....global credit crunch
A week ago President Bush announced a $700 billion package to bailout financial firms. The whole week the market has been on roller coaster awaiting the news of the senate approving the package. The presidential candidates Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama even stopped their campaigning to go to Washington for a meeting on the economy on Thursday, yet at the end at the close of markets on Friday nothing has been finalized and in fact overnight another financial giant Washington Mutual was prevented from collapsing when its assets were seized by federal regulators and a deal brokered with JP Morgan to purchase Washington Mutual for 1.9 billion dollars.
Why is the senate hesitant on using taxpayers money to bail out failing firms? Is it because if they don't protect the common taxpayer in approved the bailout, the taxpayers would lash out in the election. This financial mess is hurting everybody, the economy, the taxpayer, the home owner and the seniors whose portfolios have been eroded by the downturn.
So the rest of the world awaits for the outcome of the talks that will carry on over the weekend. On Monday will the investors breath a sigh of relief or will they watch the markets tumble yet again?
Why is the senate hesitant on using taxpayers money to bail out failing firms? Is it because if they don't protect the common taxpayer in approved the bailout, the taxpayers would lash out in the election. This financial mess is hurting everybody, the economy, the taxpayer, the home owner and the seniors whose portfolios have been eroded by the downturn.
So the rest of the world awaits for the outcome of the talks that will carry on over the weekend. On Monday will the investors breath a sigh of relief or will they watch the markets tumble yet again?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Lehaman, Merrill, AIG...how safe is your investment
For the last few days the financial markets around the world have been on a roller coaster ride. The financial crisis stemmed from the housing boom and the dubious mortgage-backed securities that were brought and sold. For the common man words like assets, liabilities, derivatives and financial instruments have no meaning. What does getting a mortgage from a local bank has to do with the all these big financial giants? Most of us think the bank lends money out from all the money that is put in savings by its customers. Who would ever thought that if the banks themselves borrowed or raised money by selling off these mortgages?
The credit crisis started a year ago by the decline in the housing market has come to blow at the end of this summer where companies filing for bankruptcy, workers losing their jobs and those who had invested with this companies having to line up with others to see if they will see recover any of their dollars once the balance sheet is sorted out.
In the time when transactions can be committed in a blink of an eye, a trader sitting in Hong Kong can buy/sell with a trader on the other side of the world, the collapse of these giants have had repercussions all around the world. The markets which started tumbling on Monday morning in West were followed by similarly by the markets in the east, it's become a global disruption around the world with no one knowing what the final impact of the fall of these giants will be. Will your savings in your local bank be safe from the fallout of this financial crisis?
The credit crisis started a year ago by the decline in the housing market has come to blow at the end of this summer where companies filing for bankruptcy, workers losing their jobs and those who had invested with this companies having to line up with others to see if they will see recover any of their dollars once the balance sheet is sorted out.
In the time when transactions can be committed in a blink of an eye, a trader sitting in Hong Kong can buy/sell with a trader on the other side of the world, the collapse of these giants have had repercussions all around the world. The markets which started tumbling on Monday morning in West were followed by similarly by the markets in the east, it's become a global disruption around the world with no one knowing what the final impact of the fall of these giants will be. Will your savings in your local bank be safe from the fallout of this financial crisis?
Thursday, September 11, 2008
9/11 Remembered
September 11, 2001, a day whose images are imprinted on many minds around the world who witnessed the attacks on the World Trade Center, Twin Towers in New York. We watched horrified as the plane slammed into those tall towers, watched the firing inferno eventually bring the towers down. I remember going into work as normal, sitting and watching the stock quotes flicker in mad frenzy, not realizing the chaos that was befalling in New York.
As soon as the news flashed on CNN of the first crash on the TV in my bosses office, we were all crowding around it watching with wildly beating hearts at the scenes unfolding. Of course the rest of the day was not the same, it was not the same for all of us. The horror of people burning live, jumping off building to certain death, trapped on the floor or in the stairwell and of the eventual burial as the building collapsed. How many families watched the horror watching the fate of their loved ones.
The day changed many things for all of us. We could no longer walk carefree through the security at the airport. We could no longer enter United States for a holiday or to visit family without facing a barrage of questions. Those of us who are brown skinned and happen to be born in certain part of world found ourselves being pulled aside for more questioning. It also brought invasion of Afghanistan and then Iraq.
Did the terrorist attack bring the desired result for the organization that carried out? Did it bring world peace? Did it make life better for the poor man in the poorest parts of the world?
We have seen videos why this attacks happened, we have heard of the holy war, we heard of the grievance against the US for it's foreign policy, of the presence of foreign troops in the Middle East countries. Did the attacks bring about change that they wanted? Did the violence change anything? I or you cannot answer this, only the masterminds behind this attacks can answer them.
But I know every year we will only remember the loss of innocent lives, the desruction of families and the futility of using violence to change things.
As soon as the news flashed on CNN of the first crash on the TV in my bosses office, we were all crowding around it watching with wildly beating hearts at the scenes unfolding. Of course the rest of the day was not the same, it was not the same for all of us. The horror of people burning live, jumping off building to certain death, trapped on the floor or in the stairwell and of the eventual burial as the building collapsed. How many families watched the horror watching the fate of their loved ones.
The day changed many things for all of us. We could no longer walk carefree through the security at the airport. We could no longer enter United States for a holiday or to visit family without facing a barrage of questions. Those of us who are brown skinned and happen to be born in certain part of world found ourselves being pulled aside for more questioning. It also brought invasion of Afghanistan and then Iraq.
Did the terrorist attack bring the desired result for the organization that carried out? Did it bring world peace? Did it make life better for the poor man in the poorest parts of the world?
We have seen videos why this attacks happened, we have heard of the holy war, we heard of the grievance against the US for it's foreign policy, of the presence of foreign troops in the Middle East countries. Did the attacks bring about change that they wanted? Did the violence change anything? I or you cannot answer this, only the masterminds behind this attacks can answer them.
But I know every year we will only remember the loss of innocent lives, the desruction of families and the futility of using violence to change things.
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