VijaySappani.com

Radovan Karadzic arrested, one less monster out there.

Vijay — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:18:28 +0000

After being on run for 12 years, Bosnian Serb leader and one of the world’s most wanted fugitive, Radovan Karadzic was arrested. Radovan was responsible for the death of over 12, 000 people including 8000 Muslim Men and boys that was intend to terrorize Bosnian Muslims.

The arrest and prosecution of Radovan should set an example to other dictator and racist leaders in Zimbabwe, Sudan, Burma and other countries, where minorities have been persecuted under the will and power of the rulers. In the recent past several regimes have been toppled by the international community, but the number of dictators committing atrocious crimes have not come down. There are several of those in Africa committing crimes against humanity, those in Asia oppressing minorities and the terror friendly ones in Middle East that are a threat to global peace and peaceful co existence of humanity.

You can read more on Radovan here at BBC.

Asha for Education launches Work an hour (WAH) 2008

Vijay — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:01:20 +0000

So, if you didn’t know, WAH 2008 has been launched. If you are here, then you are in the right page for the right reason and for those who don’t know much about WAH, here is the short hand note on it.

Work an hour (WAH) is a campaign from Asha for Education that connects donors with children in India. As it stand, work an hour requests donors to donate one hour of your pay towards the cause. The theme changes every year, but always revolves around education, the core mandate of Asha. So whether you are working on minimum wage of (what ever that is in your country) $6.75 an hour or sending satellites into space and making $1000 a hour, your change can make change to these children in India.

So that’s the deal on it. If you are already sold on it, go here to donate , but if you are that tough one who needs more info, lets continue our journey….

This year’s, theme is Rural India- one child at a time. Very simple, isn’t it, but a very powerful dream too and it can not be achieved with out the support of people like you. This year there are 15 projects, 18 schools impacting 3000 children. As a donor you can select which project you want to support or donate in general. Our goal for 2008 is $200,000 and check who has donated so far (so that you can give a dollar more than your friends ;). So far about 113 people have donated $10,462 which is a good start, but we still have a long way to go.

The motivation for me to support the cause is very simple. It is only one hour of pay of my life, it is going towards a great cause of helping our children in rural India who don’t need our sympathy, but a little support to stand on their own and most importantly it is through a very reputable organization Asha for Education that has been given the highest four star rating by Charity Navigator, the charity watch dog.

100% fo your donation to Work an Hour go directly towards the selected projects. Keeping with Asha’s long-standing policy, Asha volunteers bear all administrative and operational expenses.

So there you go, all the right reasons to spare some change, that will bring change in the lives of children in rural India. Wah, wah kya bath hai, now donate to WAH by credit card online or cheque by mail. Canada residents donate here and UK residents donate here for your convenience.

What else, if you are still not convinced, send me an email and I will personally talk to you and clarify your doubts, no matter which part of the planet you are! hey, that’s my commitment to the project.

Cheers!

Vijay Sappani

on behalf of WAH 2008 and

the loving rural kids from India

Human rights Vs Diplomacy

Vijay — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:35:41 +0000

The International criminal court has accused Omar Al- Bashir, sitting president of Sudan of Genocide. Justice served for the millions killed in Sudan by this monster. The ruling has also set fears for the UN about its ability to increase peacekeeping troops and protect the peacekeepers and aid workers currently there.

This raises a debate on human rights vs diplomacy. Do we compromise human rights violations by the criminal so that we make diplomatic inroads to protect the survivors or do we stand up for those who laid their lives and protect the survivors through force or diplomacy. I like the later.

If Iraq and Afghanistan were the legacy of Bush, Sudan and Zimbabwe will the legacy of Obama. Someone needs to put China in its place.

Bring your Bible to the science class, P.Manning is back!

Vijay — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:43:14 +0000

Appointing a priest would have been better than appointing Preston Manning to Science advisory panel. At least a priest might not be racist and manipulative. Preston Manning, the founder of Reform party was today appointed by the Conservatives to the Science advisory panel, further moving Canada’s parliament and decision making into the church courtyard.

So kids, next time you go to the science class, take your bible with you (even if you are not a Christian). Uncle Manning is back!

Conservatives push Canada from rank 2 to 7

Vijay — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:24:30 +0000

Conservatives have successfully managed to push Canada from Rank 2 in 2007 to Rank 7 in the world’s best countries to do business.

Forbes has an interesting comment about Canada “As export volumes fall amid the downturn in the U.S. economy and a strengthened Loonie, the Canadian government is pursuing a free-trade pact with Colombia just as support in the U.S. Congress waffles.”

Harper’s management of our country and economy has made Canada less attractive for investors at a time when our economy is taking a downturn.

Canada should be looking for free trade pacts with emerging markets, where Canadian companies and exporters can benefit from, not Colombia. The Colombia pact was to please Bush, but support for it in US is down. What is Harper going to do about it now?

“misappropriation of personality” from Harper. yeah right!

Vijay — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:53:27 +0000

Harper is suing the Liberal party for what - ‘misappropriation of personality’ . What the hell does that mean, I mean really…that too from Harper.you got to be kidding!

Bus load of ideas Vs bus load of people

Vijay — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:05:33 +0000

If Mr.Byers had to leave the Liberal party to run for the NDP because he had to fight a nomination, then that is a shame. At times we need to bring people who can bring a bus load of ideas and not just a bus load of people, especially in Vancouver , GTA area where we know nominations are at times controlled by people on religious lines on issues based on Khalistan, Tamil Eelam and Palestine, more than the environment, health, economy.

Even the man who came to the last leadership with the highest support, our deputy leader M.Ignatieff became a candidate after getting all kinds of support from the Liberal big wigs. Today he is the Deputy Leader of the party.

Winning an nomination in GTA, Vancouver at times is 95% of the job. For great candidates the rest is easy.Many star candidates never want to run for a simple reason that they don’t want to go through the nomination process. We need to change our system, that will attract better candidates that will make a better Liberal party and a better Canada and simply bringing bus loads of people to a nomination is not the solution.

While we retain our democratic process of selecting candidates, we should also be open to appoint candidates who can bring a broader breadth of ideas and diversity to our caucus.

Canada day: A day for celebrating our past and future.

Vijay — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:14:19 +0000

It was fall of 1999 when I came to Canada with two bags and a dream to succeed as a foreign student to do my post grad in marketing. Eights years after that, many feathers added to my hat, but nothing is more proud to me than calling myself a Canadian! I do from the bottom of my heart.

Many of us take Canada for granted and forget the struggle that new Canadians went through from the early 15th century as they came and settled from Europe. while the European immigrants laid he foundation for our country, the Asian immigrants from India and China will ensure to take us to the next level in the modern world of globalization.

We had our share of joy and pain, Vimy Ridge, Universal Healthcare to Air India bombing- the worst terrorist attack on Canadians. 101 things Canadians should know about Canada is a great read.

Today is a day for us to celebrate and appreciate the efforts of our founding fathers from Europe and recognize the role our new Canadians coming from around the world that will make Canada the super power of the the future global economy.

So get out there and enjoy the BBQ parties and fireworks. It is definitely a moment to celebrate.

It is time now to intervene in Zimbabwe

Vijay — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:07:53 +0000

Mugabe was a hero for decades, the man who got independence for Zimbabwe(then Rhodesia) in 1980 and has ruled and ruined Zimbabwe since then. At one time Zimbabwe was known as the ‘bread basket of Africa’ for its success in agriculture, but today millions are starving and fighting for a morsel of bread in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe’s downfall started with him targeting Ndebe tribe and since 1998 has been targeting white farmers and business owners who were the back bone of the economy. While he has a history and record of discrimination and policies that are not considered the best for Zimbabwe, people both domestically and internationally has tolerated him for his role as the independence hero. That goodwill factor has started to erode since the 2008 elections and his evil visions have overtaken his good karma points that he earned decades ago.

It is time for the UN to intervene and protect the people of Zimbabwe, but also set a positive example to other dictators, that human rights violations will not be tolerated and we do not fight for democracy only in oil rich states. Namibia, ally of Mugabe is looking to redistribute white owned farms to black villagers, like Mugabe did.

Any intervention should include South Africa, AU and UN with the support of neighbouring countries like Mozambique, Zambia, Angola and Dr Congo that has influence with Mugabe.
While NATO forces including Canada are over stretched in counter terrorism missions, it is important for us including EU to pledge and commit aid dollars for Zimbabwe in the case of foreign intervention or negotiated settlement with Mugabe that will see him leave Zimbabwe and have free and fair elections thereafter.

Canada has for too long been out of the international peace brokers group and continues to miss opportunities in the Middle East and Sri Lanka. We can play a vital role in Zimbabwe in assiting South Africa and AU towards a negotiated settlement that will see peace and restoration of democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe. Do the Conservatives have the expertise to transcend in that direction, that is a million dollar question.

Air India 182 on CBC. June 22nd, 9:00pm

Vijay — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:05:08 +0000

Watch the commercial-free world television premiere of Air India 182 at 9PM, Sunday, June 22 on CBC television. The worst terrorist attack on Canadians and the biggest before 9/11.

Watch the trailer here and the website

Here are some reviews:

“…brilliantly crafted … will haunt viewers and shake them from complacency … a classic of its genre and an important page of Canadian history.”
- Bruce Kirkland. Toronto Sun

” …. a movie so gripping and suspenseful in its retelling of a large-scale tragedy that it frequently seems like a tautly written drama instead of grim reality.”
- Canadian Press

” … pushes the frontiers of non-fiction with a veracity and power on a par with movies like United 93 and A Mighty Heart … finds a poetic beauty and glimmers of transcendence in imagining what might have unfolded, and portraying a life that is about to be lost.
– Brian Johnson - MacLeans

”Devoid of any overt political rhetoric, Air India 182 ends up being among the most important political films of the past few years.”
– Jesse Wente – CBC Radio