(Reuters) - The Dalai Lama inaugurated a Buddhist temple in southern France on Friday with French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy among the guests.
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama (L) and France's first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy attend the inauguration of the Buddhist Lerab Ling temple in Roqueredonde, southern France on August 22, 2008. (REUTERS/Philippe Laurenson)
The ceremony at the Lerab Ling temple, set in remote green hills in the Herault area and built according to traditional Tibetan design, came at the end of a visit to France during which the Dalai Lama repeatedly criticised Olympics host China.
His presence in France during the Games caused a headache for President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been widely criticised for declining to meet the exiled Tibetan leader. The tacit aim of his wife's presence on Friday was to appease the row.
The red and gold Lerab Ling is one of the biggest Tibetan Buddhist temples in the West. It houses a 7-metre high golden statue of Buddha and many holy relics and scriptures. Another golden Buddha sits in the middle of a lake outside.
It was raining heavily on Friday but that did not stop hundreds of students of Buddhism from coming to the site, which was decorated with multi-coloured Tibetan prayer flags. They sheltered under orange umbrellas on the grass.
The Dalai Lama led a procession of monks in orange and red, chanting and playing long trumpets, around the temple, accompanied by Bruni-Sarkozy looking glamorous in a dark blue knee-length dress. When they arrived at the door, the Dalai Lama gave her a khata, a long white scarf symbolising welcome.
The Buddhist pageantry was a departure for former model Bruni-Sarkozy, who has recently appeared on the covers of glossy celebrity magazines promoting her latest pop album.
Action with a heart Headline Animator
Friday, August 22, 2008
Kashmiri protesters
Kashmiri protesters ride motorcycles during a march to the Eidgah, in Srinagar on August 22, 2008. Thousands of protesters marched in Kashmir's main city, resuming protests over a land row
Oregon indian tribe to allow same-sex marriages
At the request of a lesbian couple, the Coquille Indian Tribe on the southern Oregon coast has adopted a law recognizing same-sex marriage.
Tribal law specialists say the Coquille appear to be the first tribe to sanction such marriages. Most tribal law doesn't address the issue. The Navajo and Cherokee tribes prohibit same-sex marriages.
The couple planning their wedding at the tribal plankhouse say they seek only tribal recognition and are unconcerned about Oregon and federal prohibitions against gay marriage.
"For me, the important thing wasn't about rights or the benefits," 25-year-old Kitzen Branting told the Eugene Register-Guard. "I just wanted the tribe to say 'Yes, we recognize that you are just as important as any other tribe member, and we will treat you and your spouse as we treat all tribal members.' "
Legal scholars said that tribes do have authority over domestic relations among tribal members, but Congress may have the ultimate say-so. ( News- USAToday)
Tribal law specialists say the Coquille appear to be the first tribe to sanction such marriages. Most tribal law doesn't address the issue. The Navajo and Cherokee tribes prohibit same-sex marriages.
The couple planning their wedding at the tribal plankhouse say they seek only tribal recognition and are unconcerned about Oregon and federal prohibitions against gay marriage.
"For me, the important thing wasn't about rights or the benefits," 25-year-old Kitzen Branting told the Eugene Register-Guard. "I just wanted the tribe to say 'Yes, we recognize that you are just as important as any other tribe member, and we will treat you and your spouse as we treat all tribal members.' "
Legal scholars said that tribes do have authority over domestic relations among tribal members, but Congress may have the ultimate say-so. ( News- USAToday)
Save the world heritage: Sinharaja Forest
Dear Sir/Madam,
On behalf of concerned citizens of the Deniyara village in Sri Lanka which lies just on the periphery of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the concerns of ourself and many others.
It is in our understanding that this area has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as stated in the IUCN Summary 405, found at http://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/405.pdf. It also states in this document that the felling of the forest is prohibited within 1.6km of the reserves boundary (p68).
Worryingly it has been brought to our attention that, regardless of this prohibition, construction of a hotel has been ongoing for some time (approximately one year) in the Ensalwatte Tea Estate, Viharahena near the Deniyara village. As a result of the hotel construction, the forest is being felled and if this is indeed within the 1.6km prohibition zone then this activity is, as we sure you would agree and If Iam not mistaken, illegal.
It is furthermore been brought to our attention that a local river close to the construction site has been recently dammed. We  would like to be made aware of the evaluations that must have been undertaken prior to the damming. As we  understand it the river has been completely dammed and therefore many species has been displaced as a result. If such conservation organisations, such as IUCN and WWF (among others we  would assume) are providing funds for management plans and programmes (IUCN summary 405, p70) then surely such activities must have been properly evaluated and approved before hand.
If so; Why has the river and so many species been affected? Who has evaluated beforehand the construction of the hotel? can we enquire as to what actually is protected under World Heritage protection?
It has been mentioned that the construction of this hotel is for the purpose of ecotourism, if so could you please make enquiries as to what exactly is being returned to the forest itself and to the local people.
It is inconceivable to us that this situation is unique to the Sinharaja. We believe that if this can be going on in a UNESCO World Heritage Protected Site such as the Sinharaja Forest Reserve practically right underneath their very noses then surely and sadly similiar actions must be going on elsewhere in other protected World Heritage Sites across the globe.
This campaign is very much in its infancy and website(www.sinharaja.net), we hope, is only a stepping stone to a much larger development. Wehope that by creating awareness of the illicit activities in the Sinharaja and by letting as many people as possible know that even protected areas of the world are threatened and vulnerable to ˜predation themselves, then maybe something will be done to encourage enforcement of regulations.
We hope that change can be brought about that will enforce countries to abide by the legislation that is set up to protect areas that need such protection. These areas are for the good of all, not for the pockets of a few.
We need your help and the help from everyone who honestly sees this particular shade of ecotourism as a contradicting problem rather than an effective and sustainable solution. By voicing your concerns and supporting the Save the Sinharaja Campaign, you are showing your support for all campaigns and for all efforts across the globe in combating such unacceptable and unsustaining activities.
This is the first few steps of a very long journey and we need YOU to take these steps alongside us.
Together we will make a difference. Please investigate this matter immediately  before it is too late!!...
Kind Regards
save the sinharaja world heritage rainforest campaign media Team www.sinharaja.net
On behalf of concerned citizens of the Deniyara village in Sri Lanka which lies just on the periphery of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the concerns of ourself and many others.
It is in our understanding that this area has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as stated in the IUCN Summary 405, found at http://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/405.pdf. It also states in this document that the felling of the forest is prohibited within 1.6km of the reserves boundary (p68).
Worryingly it has been brought to our attention that, regardless of this prohibition, construction of a hotel has been ongoing for some time (approximately one year) in the Ensalwatte Tea Estate, Viharahena near the Deniyara village. As a result of the hotel construction, the forest is being felled and if this is indeed within the 1.6km prohibition zone then this activity is, as we sure you would agree and If Iam not mistaken, illegal.
It is furthermore been brought to our attention that a local river close to the construction site has been recently dammed. We  would like to be made aware of the evaluations that must have been undertaken prior to the damming. As we  understand it the river has been completely dammed and therefore many species has been displaced as a result. If such conservation organisations, such as IUCN and WWF (among others we  would assume) are providing funds for management plans and programmes (IUCN summary 405, p70) then surely such activities must have been properly evaluated and approved before hand.
If so; Why has the river and so many species been affected? Who has evaluated beforehand the construction of the hotel? can we enquire as to what actually is protected under World Heritage protection?
It has been mentioned that the construction of this hotel is for the purpose of ecotourism, if so could you please make enquiries as to what exactly is being returned to the forest itself and to the local people.
It is inconceivable to us that this situation is unique to the Sinharaja. We believe that if this can be going on in a UNESCO World Heritage Protected Site such as the Sinharaja Forest Reserve practically right underneath their very noses then surely and sadly similiar actions must be going on elsewhere in other protected World Heritage Sites across the globe.
This campaign is very much in its infancy and website(www.sinharaja.net), we hope, is only a stepping stone to a much larger development. Wehope that by creating awareness of the illicit activities in the Sinharaja and by letting as many people as possible know that even protected areas of the world are threatened and vulnerable to ˜predation themselves, then maybe something will be done to encourage enforcement of regulations.
We hope that change can be brought about that will enforce countries to abide by the legislation that is set up to protect areas that need such protection. These areas are for the good of all, not for the pockets of a few.
We need your help and the help from everyone who honestly sees this particular shade of ecotourism as a contradicting problem rather than an effective and sustainable solution. By voicing your concerns and supporting the Save the Sinharaja Campaign, you are showing your support for all campaigns and for all efforts across the globe in combating such unacceptable and unsustaining activities.
This is the first few steps of a very long journey and we need YOU to take these steps alongside us.
Together we will make a difference. Please investigate this matter immediately  before it is too late!!...
Kind Regards
save the sinharaja world heritage rainforest campaign media Team www.sinharaja.net
Suicide Accessories Uncovered from Catholic Church
ACCESSORIES NEEDED to prepare suicide jackets were uncovered from the inside of a Catholic Church in Colombo FORT by the Army troops Friday morning (22) around 8.10 a.m.. Following information received by Army troops on duty near the FORT railway station, a search was conducted inside St. PHILLIP NERISH Catholic Church on OLCOTT Mawatha, and found a bag laden with eleven MR type switches, eleven PT type switches, one PR type switch, five remote antennas and one bag of garments.( News-SL Army)
Notice reissued on Prabhakaran
Colombo High Court Judge Kumuduni Wickramasinghe Yesterday reissued notice on four suspects including LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in connection with the assassination of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
The Prosecution submitted before Court that the notice had been sent to Mullaitivu District Secretary to hand over the suspects absconding from Court but he had not reported so far the measures taken in this regard. The prosecution informed court the next steps it would take in this connection on the next calling date.
The Court also refused to grant bail to the two suspects who were in remand custody in connection with this murder based on the grounds that they were taken into custody under Emergency Laws.
Former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was assassinated in a sniper attack at his residence at Longden Place, Colombo on August 12, 2005.
The Attorney General filed the case against Velupillai Prabhakaran, Shiva Shankar alias Pottuamman, Charles alias Charlis Master, Komadee Manimekala alias Madee, Muttaiyah Sahadevan and Isithor Arokyanathan alias Babu for conspiring with another LTTE member Vinothan to assassinate Minister Kadirgamar and committing the murder as a result of the conspiracy made at Killinochchi and at Colombo between January 01, 2005 and August 12, 2005.
Muttaiyah Sahadevan and Isithor Arokyanathan alias Babu are in remand custody. Attorneys-at-Law Vinayagamoorthi and Thavarasa appearing for them pleaded before the Court to grant them bail. Deputy Solicitor General Kapila Vidyaratne and State Counsel Shani Kularatne appeared for the Attorney General.
The Prosecution submitted before Court that the notice had been sent to Mullaitivu District Secretary to hand over the suspects absconding from Court but he had not reported so far the measures taken in this regard. The prosecution informed court the next steps it would take in this connection on the next calling date.
The Court also refused to grant bail to the two suspects who were in remand custody in connection with this murder based on the grounds that they were taken into custody under Emergency Laws.
Former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was assassinated in a sniper attack at his residence at Longden Place, Colombo on August 12, 2005.
The Attorney General filed the case against Velupillai Prabhakaran, Shiva Shankar alias Pottuamman, Charles alias Charlis Master, Komadee Manimekala alias Madee, Muttaiyah Sahadevan and Isithor Arokyanathan alias Babu for conspiring with another LTTE member Vinothan to assassinate Minister Kadirgamar and committing the murder as a result of the conspiracy made at Killinochchi and at Colombo between January 01, 2005 and August 12, 2005.
Muttaiyah Sahadevan and Isithor Arokyanathan alias Babu are in remand custody. Attorneys-at-Law Vinayagamoorthi and Thavarasa appearing for them pleaded before the Court to grant them bail. Deputy Solicitor General Kapila Vidyaratne and State Counsel Shani Kularatne appeared for the Attorney General.
Japan's women beaten by Germany in bronze medal soccer match
Japan had their bid for a first ever Olympic podium finish in women’s soccer crushed with a 2-0 defeat to world champions Germany in the bronze medal match at the Beijing Games on Thursday. Norio Sasaki’s side controlled long periods of the match in drizzly conditions at Workers’ Stadium but substitute Fatmire Bajramaj grabbed a second-half double to secure the Germans their third consecutive Olympic bronze medal. Sasaki was naturally disappointed with the result but praised his players for their efforts in making the last four for the first time. ‘‘All the players have done their best. They did everything they could and put out everything they have been working for,’’ Sasaki said. ‘‘We lost but we will learn from the result. All the players did all they could and because of that I am very satisfied. We will go back to Japan proud,’’ he said.Seeking to avenge their 2-0 defeat at last year’s Women’s World Cup in China, Japan bossed the first half and it was only some inspired goalkeeping from Nadine Angerer that kept the East Asian champions at bay. Angerer got down low to her right to palm away an Aya Miyama shot in the 21st minute and then tipped over a long range effort from Yukari Kinga. Japan continued to press and Melanie Behringer was next to come to Germany’s rescue, clearing Homare Sawa’s volley off the line in the 23rd minute. Sawa and Ayumi Hara both went close as Japan continued to force the pace after the break but it was the Germans who took the lead against the run of play on 69 minutes. Miho Fukumoto could only parry Kerstin Garefrekes’s downward header and Bajramaj pounced to smash home from a tight angle. Japan began to run out of steam as the match wore on and Bajramaj put the game out of reach when she beat Fukumoto at her near post with the second goal three minutes from time. ‘‘We wanted to be strong from the beginning but Japan were active in the first half and tried to attack and had five shots on goal whereas we had hardly any,’’ said Germany coach Silvia Neid. ‘‘We needed to change in the second half and the creative players that came on brought some action and fortunately we were able to score two goals. We are happy to get the bronze medal.’’ In the gold medal match, the United States beat Brazil 1-0 in extra time to defend its title.( news from- Japantoday)
Suicide attack at Pakistan arms plant kills 64 people
Pakistani security officials examine the site of suicide bombing at the gate of an ordinance factory in Wah, about 35 kilometers, or 20 miles, west of the capital, Islamabad, on Thursday. (The Associated Press)
LTTE’s garrison town of Thunukkai is under siege
Sri Lanka Army troops attached to the 57th Division, launched their operations to capture the strategic LTTE garrison town of Thunukkai. According to reports arriving from Mullaittivu Eastern battlefront, troops of Army 57 division are now encircling the Thunukkai town amid heavy resistance from the Tigers. Sri Lankan Troops have commenced approaching the strategically vital town from the North and the West since early this morning.
Troops which observed the locality, noticed that the place is fully fortified and also found concrete bunkers built at the entrance to Thunukkai town.
T 55 battle tanks of the Armored Corps shelled their targets while, artillery guns shelled the same locality. Infantry then moved forwards, but were met with stiff resistance by the LTTE. However, troops operated their tactical ploy and overcame the heavy resistance, and began encircling the Thunukkai town.
An officer from the battle front said that at any moment, troops would march into Thunukkai victoriously and consolidate their position.
When Thunukkai falls, it is believed that the rest of the strategic places like Mallavi, Vadakadu and Mankuklam are expected to fall, as Tigers do not have any holding powers anymore, because when army captures Thunukkai, then Kilinonochi would come under direct threat of Sri Lanka Artillery, as 132 mm guns can fire to a distance of 27 km.
Thunukkai garrison town of the LTTE is situated halfway on the Vellankulam - Mankulam road and has been a strategic centre for the LTTE in the last two decades.
To repulse the military operations, the LTTE leadership appointed the Jaffna commander Thileepan as the overall commander. The LTTE desperately needed a counter offensive or a counter attack and Thileepan is said to be a specialist in such tactical encounters.
As the morale of the LTTE cadres are now pretty low and also they experiences shortage of manpower, it is said that Thileepan could not utilize his military strategies to the full.
An officer when contacted told Asian Tribune that the SL Army knows Thileepan's strategies very well and are well prepared to face any blitzkrieg manipulated by him at any given time.
Troops which observed the locality, noticed that the place is fully fortified and also found concrete bunkers built at the entrance to Thunukkai town.
T 55 battle tanks of the Armored Corps shelled their targets while, artillery guns shelled the same locality. Infantry then moved forwards, but were met with stiff resistance by the LTTE. However, troops operated their tactical ploy and overcame the heavy resistance, and began encircling the Thunukkai town.
An officer from the battle front said that at any moment, troops would march into Thunukkai victoriously and consolidate their position.
When Thunukkai falls, it is believed that the rest of the strategic places like Mallavi, Vadakadu and Mankuklam are expected to fall, as Tigers do not have any holding powers anymore, because when army captures Thunukkai, then Kilinonochi would come under direct threat of Sri Lanka Artillery, as 132 mm guns can fire to a distance of 27 km.
Thunukkai garrison town of the LTTE is situated halfway on the Vellankulam - Mankulam road and has been a strategic centre for the LTTE in the last two decades.
To repulse the military operations, the LTTE leadership appointed the Jaffna commander Thileepan as the overall commander. The LTTE desperately needed a counter offensive or a counter attack and Thileepan is said to be a specialist in such tactical encounters.
As the morale of the LTTE cadres are now pretty low and also they experiences shortage of manpower, it is said that Thileepan could not utilize his military strategies to the full.
An officer when contacted told Asian Tribune that the SL Army knows Thileepan's strategies very well and are well prepared to face any blitzkrieg manipulated by him at any given time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
