VijaySappani.com

When  I left Canada on Sunday, we had plans set for fundraising, memberships, flights and what not. Nithy Ananth and I planned a spiritual tour to the holiest Hindu Shrine of Tirupathi and we started getting news afer news. Dominic stepped out to endorse MI, Dion steps down, Rae steps down to support Ignatieff. Wow, three days out of action and it looks like the whole world changed!

Well, all for the good and the timing is great, the unity is fantastic and the future is bright. I have no doubt that Harper is counting his last days as PM.

My India cell is 91-97898-40178. I will be spending the next few weeks working Children’s education projects in remote areas. While my friends think Iam trying to help them, I think I am learning a lot from them.

Standing Together with India

Remembering Mumbai’s Victims

Nearly 200 people were killed and hundreds more wounded in last week’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Victims were from diverse backgrounds, various faiths and many countries – including Canadians.

Join us for this important community solidarity rally. Show your support for India. Honour the memory of the victims. And join the fight against terrorism.

Bring a friend. Bring your family. Togther, our voices are stronger!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

International Centre, Hall 4

6900 Airport Road

(South of Derry Road)

Mississauga, Ontario

L4V 1E8

Supporting Organisations:

Canada India Foundation; Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce; Hindu Federation Canada; Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy; Muslim Canadian Congress; Ontario Khalsa Darbar; North York Sikh Temple; Canada Christian College; Canadian Coalition Against Terror; Canadian Coalition for Democracies; UJA Federation of Greater Toronto; Canadian Jewish Congress; Bnai Brith; Canadian Ethnocultural Council; Canadian Centre for Diversity; Vishnu Mandir; Hindu Mandir and Cultural Centre; Sanatan Mandir; Vaishnav Samaj of Canada; Lohana Cultural Association of Canada; Hindu Federation; Baps Shree Swaminarayan Temple; Guru Gobind Singh Children Foundation; Guru Sikh Sabha Canada; Sikh Heritage Centre; Rexdale Gurudwara
If you are interested to volunteer, please contact Shylee at 647-866-0959. If you want to know more about us visit www.canadaindia.org

Canadians think differently from the British. I think Russians might like the combination of both, Indians will prefer cricket over either and Americans will outsource it!

The Canadian Jewish Congress, Quebec Region is hosting a vigil for the victims of Terror attack in Mumbai. Details below.

Time and Place Date: Monday, December 1, 2008
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Gelber Conference Center
Street: 5151 Cote St. Catherine
City/Town: Montreal, QC

November 28th, 2008
Dear Community Members

Terrorism shakes the very root of stability in our world. The recent terror attacks in Mumbai, India have raised serious concern in the international community and the North America.
Addressing the needs of these constituents, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto is holding a special prayer assembly on Sunday, November 30th, 2008 at 4:30 pm. We invite you to join us in showing your support in these tragic times.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, offers his prayers and condolences on behalf of the global BAPS family to the kin of the innocent civilians that have been killed and injured in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. We continue to pray for the victims and their loved ones at all of our centers across the world and at over 62 centers here in North America on this Sunday.

We pray that no country, people or community ever have to deal with such a horrific attack again. It is imperative that we stay strong and have faith. We strongly feel that violence is not the answer to terrorism. We encourage people around the world and especially in Mumbai to stay calm and at peace. BAPS and BAPS Charities will continue to offer their support in this time of tragedy.

Once again, our condolences go out to the families of the innocent civilians that have suffered in this terrible ordeal and we look forward to your support and presence this Sunday afternoon.

With Prayers,

OTTAWA, Nov. 27 /CNW/ - Canada India Foundation issued the following statement by Chairman, Mr. Surjit Babra.

“Canada India Foundation strongly condemns the terrorists attacks in Mumbai, India. These deliberate acts of terrorism must not succeed in dividing India or hindering its ascent as a global economic superpower which values freedom, democracy and human rights.

This is a time for the Indo-Canadian community and all Canadians to come together as a symbol of unity with India, our democratic ally, a fellow member of the Commonwealth, and as a key partner in the global fight against terrorism.

We stand firmly with those individuals and families who have lost their loved ones, with those who have suffered injuries and with those who are still caught in the terrible hostage situation, including Canadians. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this most difficult time.”

Was sent along by email by a friend that I thought I should share.

“The precondition for order in a liberal society is an act of the imagination: not a moral consensus or shared values, but the capacity to understand moral worlds different from our own. We may be different, but we can imagine what it would be like to be each other.

How do we generate a world in common? We take actual human individuals – rich, poor, young, old, homosexual, heterosexual, white, black, in between, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jews (i.e., human beings in all their embodied difference) - and we imagine them as equal bearers of rights. Go into any courtroom, police station, or welfare office, and you will find real individuals ignoring the different surfaces of each person they deal with and addressing the juridical equal beneath. They are addressing a moral fiction. Yet it is this fiction, and our devotion to it, that enables us to be just. The entire legitimacy of public institutions depends on our being attentive to difference while treating all as equal. This is the gamble, the unique act of the imagination on which our society rests. ” (italics are Michael`s in “The Rights Revolution”, 2000)

Amnesty International has urged the Sri Lankan government to act now to protect the displaced civilians who are on the verge of facing hunger deaths due to the conflict.

This blog has a good description, photos and video from Amnesty on the current situation in Sri Lanka, which is critical of both the warring groups,but putting more pressure on the government to step up in protecting and caring for the civilians who plight has worsened due to the government’s action and inactions in protecting the civilians.

We just finished an election and the biggest debate was about voter apathy and the poorest voter turnout we have had in recent history.

On the contrary, the Kashmiris in Indian Administered Kashmir battled against cold weather and boycott calls from sepatarists and terrorists to give a 55% voter turnout.

The Kashmiri Muslims, stood in long lines in the Cold moutains of Kashmir and were not afraid of the boycott call given by sepatarists urging the people to not vote. These people put their life on the line to ensure that their democratic right will not be snatched from them and came out in large numbers to vote.

Now what was your excuse to not vote in our elections ?

So the word on the street is that you can never reach an agent on CIC call centre whether you be an immigrant or a Canadian citizen. Try it yourself!