Press release – for immediate release
1 May 2009
[Mae Sot, Thailand]
The Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners (Burma) today released a report to mark the anniversary of Cyclone
Nargis, which struck Burma a year ago. The report highlights the cases of 21 volunteers who are currently
facing between 2 and 35 years in prison for their efforts to assist in the
aftermath of the cyclone, including gathering dead bodies and burying them.
At least eight of the volunteers had
been in hiding since their participation in September 2007’s Saffron
Revolution, but came out of hiding to co-ordinate relief efforts after the
cyclone devastated the Irrawaddy Delta. Five of the volunteers are former political prisoners, who have already
spent many years in jail.
AAPP Secretary Tate Naing said, “Their
punishment is completely unacceptable. Their ‘crimes’ were to help people and tell the truth about the
situation. We call on ASEAN and UN to press the military regime to release the
Cyclone Nargis volunteers – and all political prisoners – immediately.”
The organisation renewed its calls for support
for its campaign petition Free Burma’s Political Prisoners Now!
“Political prisoners – including Cyclone
Nargis volunteers - must not be forgotten. Ordinary people everywhere can sign
the petition,” added Tate Naing.
The
campaign aims to collect 888,888 petition signatures before 24 May. This is the date that the military junta
claims that Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be released
from house arrest, despite the fact that the United Nations has recently
declared that this consecutive sixth year of house arrest contravenes the
regime’s own laws. The petition can be
signed at www.fbppn.net
-ENDS-

AAPP
For more information, please contact:

Tate Naing at +66-(0)81-2878751
Bo Kyi at +66-(0)81-3248935

Notes
to editors:

1. The campaign is led by
the Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners (Burma) and Forum
for Democracy in Burma.
2. 199 organizations
worldwide have endorsed the campaign. For the full list, please click here
Thanks N Regards,

U Aung Myo Thein

Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
Contact: info-IGYSTu2/cTPYtjvyW6yDsg@public.gmane.org, info-k/ylNpILCDxeoWH0uzbU5w@public.gmane.org
Web: http://www.aappb.org, http://www.fbppn.net

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

•  4
  New Members

Summer Film Festival - 2009, Madurai
6-8 May 2009; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Venue: The American College, Madurai

Inauguration
6 May 2009; 10 a.m.

Chief Guest: P.Varthini
Little’s Children Centre, Madurai

Inaugural film: “Nee Yaar”
A documentary film on Tamil writer Sundara Ramasamy
Tamil/English
Directed by R.V.Ramani
Director will take part in the discussion following the screening

Felicitation
7 May 2009; 4 p.m.

Chief Guest: Yadhartha Rajan

Felication for Leena Manimekalai, film maker
for winning Golden Conch award at
Mumbai International Film Festival 2008
in the international category

Closing Ceremony
8 May; 4 p.m.

Chief Guest: A. Muthukrishnan, writer

Closing film:
“Your’s Truly John”
Malayalam with English subtitles.
A documentary about filmmaker John Abraham
Directed by Sarat Chandran
Director will take part in discussion following the screening

Organized by
MARUPAKKAM
In association with
Department of Visual Communication, The American College, Madurai
and
YADARTHA FILM SOCIETY

All are welcome.

•  4
  New Members

Friends,

The RTI Act was formulated with much fanfare and with great hopes that it will bring some kind of transparency and a related sense of responsibility in the government servants who would be feeling the heat of the people's power because of their power to seek information at will. It would be too ungrateful to say that the promulgation of the Act has not helped the common people. On the contrary this Act is certainly among the most powerful and potent tools in the hands of the people of this country and can easily be regarded as one of the most memorable and laudable gifts of the UPA government. Yet, there are departments and people in these establishments who are still not over with their colonial hangover. The result is that these people are not only making an open fun of the provisions of this Act but are also defeating completely the very purpose of the Act.
I shall present before you one such department where a few examples would suffice to let you understand how such people are treating this Act. The department is the Home department in the Uttar Pradesh which is generally held to be responsible for keeping the law and order in the State as also to see to it that there is a the proper implementation of various laws and people don't go breaking laws, rules and regulations. Yet, the department itself seems to notoriously believe in the dictum- "rules are there to be broken." This holds true particularly with regards to the RTI Act.
Information was sought from the Department as regards the details of the IPS and State Police Service (PPS) officers placed under suspension during a given period. The information dealt with issues like the date of suspension, the date of reinstatement, the grounds for suspension, the time required in conducting the enquiry and the result of the enquiry etc. One section of the Home Department which deals with the PPS officers provided the details, though a bit delayed. But another section, dealing with the IPS officers refused to give the information saying that that this information cannot be given without the prior written permission of the concerned IPS officers because it comes under section 8(j) of the RTI Act. Section 8(j), as we all know, deals with information of personal nature wh ich have a tendency of infringing the privacy of a person. Can anyone explain that the information sought can be termed private in nature? or one that is infringing upon someone's privacy?
The second example is that of asking some details from two departments of the UP Government as regards the Study leave of the IAS and IPS officers. While the Appointments department dealing with the IAS officers gave the requisite information, the same section of the Home department again said this information cannot be given without the prior written permission of the concerned IPS officers under section 8(j) of the RTI Act as being of personal nature and having a tendency of infringing the privacy of a person. Isn't it a deliberate and blatant flouting of the provisions of the Act?
In two other cases where the information as regards the selection criteria for promotion to the rank of DIG by the UP government for some given period and information as regards the decision by the government in the departmental cases in the month of May 2007 were sought, the sane section again came up with Section 8(j).
Now it seems that the Home department of UP government has got the section 8(j) under its name and any information sought from it would be abjectly rejected taking the plea of this section alone.
I would request the friends here to help me proceed with this matter by suggesting me the future course of action, other than making a request to the First Appellate authority in each of these cases.

Dr Nutan Thakur
IRDS,
Lucknow

•  4
  New Members

Dear Friends,

Binayaksen.net completes 1 Year of its Campaigning for the Dr. Binayak Sen'e
release . Please see the anniversary post at
http://www.binayaksen.net/2009/05/first-anniversary/

~ Regards
Anivar
Hum Dekhenge, Woh Din Ke Jiska Wada Hei, Hum
Dekhenge……….<http://www.binayaksen.net/2009/05/first-anniversary/>
http://www.binayaksen.net/2009/05/first-anniversary/
Posted at May 1, 2009

1 May 2009 will mark the first anniversary of binayaksen.net.

The site was born last year amidst an unprecedented surge of citizen
activism worldwide calling for the release of Dr Binayak Sen, incarcerated
on false charges in a Raipur jail since 14 May 2007.

Nobel laureates<http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/nobel-winners-call-for-release-of-dr-binayak-sen/>,
medical <http://www.binayaksen.net/info/medical-camps/>
professionals<http://www.binayaksen.net/2009/04/letter-to-chief-justice-of-india/>,
academics <http://www.binayaksen.net/2009/04/letter-to-the-guardian/>,journalists<http://www.binayaksen.net/info/press-reports/>,
human rights <http://www.binayaksen.net/info/articles/> and health
activists<http://www.binayaksen.net/info/protests/>
, students <http://www.binayaksen.net/info/global-action/>, workers, rural
folk <http://www.binayaksen.net/info/raipur-satyagraha/> – the sheer range
of people who have got involved in this epic struggle to challenge the
injustice done to Dr Sen - and through him to all of us- has been truly
phenomenal. The forms of struggle adopted also have been diverse – there
have been street rallies,
satyagrahas<http://www.binayaksen.net/topic/raipur-satyagraha/>,
signature campaigns, seminars, public lectures, medical
camps<http://www.binayaksen.net/info/medical-camps/>,
soliciting of media coverage
<http://www.binayaksen.net/info/press-reports/>and representations
to Indian state officials <http://www.binayaksen.net/info/statements/> at
various levels.

As a platform binayaksen.net <http://www.binayaksen.net/>, along with
several <http://www.freebinayaksen.org/>
other<http://www.aidboston.org/FreeBinayakSen/index.htm>similar<http://www.savebinayak.ukaid.org.uk/index.html>sites<http://gyanoprobha.typepad.com/gyanoprobha/dr_binayak_sen/>,
was meant to help all those interested, to follow the course of protest,
debate, the farcical trial in Raipur and media coverage of Dr Sen’s case. .
In this we have, with varying degrees of efficiency, succeeded in our modest
mission.

What we have not succeeded in achieving, along with our fellow activists in
India and around the world, is of course securing the actual release of Dr
Sen- and in that sense the past year has been one of repeated
disappointments too. Not only has he been arrested on trumped up charges and
subjected to a painfully slow trial
<http://www.binayaksen.net/2009/04/a-right-to-a-fair-trial-a-right-to-life/>in
an allegedly ‘fast track court’, he has also been repeatedly denied bail and
in recent weeks even his right to medical treatment at a facility of his
choice in the country.

What we are confronting through the case of Dr Sen is really the Indian
Establishment at its brutal worst- where its contempt for democratic norms
is openly visible for the entire world to see. It has indeed been a great
lesson to many in the way Indian democracy itself really operates when it
comes to dealing with people who threaten this country’s deeply exploitative
system- masked as it is by the noisy circus of regular elections,
bureaucratic procedures of law and the exercise of superficial freedoms.

The worldwide efforts <http://www.binayaksen.net/info/global-action/>for Dr
Sen’s release have not been in vain of course for in these two years he has
also transformed into a universal symbol of both the triumphs and travails a
person of conscience inevitably goes through in any part of our planet. The
legions of those who never knew Dr Sen before his arrest, have never ever
met him and yet are passionately involved in the fight for his release is
indicative of how the mere iron bars of the prison his captors have put him
behind can never contain the message of personal integrity, public service
and steadfast opposition to social injustice he represents.

So on our first anniversary and as we approach 14 May 2009, we sincerely
hope that the people around the globe, just like last year and in even
greater measure, will once again take to the streets demanding Dr Sen’s
immediate release. And do so- if we may suggest- with these immortal words
of Faiz Ahmed Faiz <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faiz_Ahmed_Faiz>, as sung
by Iqbal Bano <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iqbal_Bano>, South Asia’s queen
of ghazals - on their lips:

*‘‘Hum Dekhenge, Woh Din Ke Jiska Wada Hei, Hum
Dekhenge……….”<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3MIjoi381I>(We shall
witness, Certainly we, too shall witness that day, That has been
promised to us….)*

--
Free Binayak Sen campaign
http://binayaksen.net
Follow Us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/binayaksen
Follow feed: http://feeds.binayaksen.net/binayaksen
Mobile version: http://m.binayaksen.net

"The resources of the world are for us all to share. Let us affirm our faith
in that common cause" - Dr. Ilina Sen

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

•  4
  New Members

Dear Friends,

The May 09 issue of Dynamic Youth, the free online HRD magazine
dedicated to Global Youth Development is available for your kind perusal
in www.dynamicyouth.org <http://www.dynamicyouth.org/>

The highlights of the May issue may be seen below.

Articles

Life-cell Banking by T JOSEPH BENZIGER

NATO Turns 60 by K S VENKATARAMAN

A Time for Everything: Lunar Letter by ROB MCBRIDE
Get Rid of Depressive Tendencies by HANS DHOLAKIA
<http://tickledbylife.com/index.php?author=96> Say NO and feel great!
By SHALU WASU The power of words by Dr. RITU ARORA
What Goes Down Will Come Up by JANANI PRAKAASH

Reports

Call for an End to Hostilities in Sri Lanka

Ancient ecosystem found in Antarctica

Global Warming and Migrating Birds

Pantaloons Femina Miss India, 2009

Air Pollution Causes Heart Disease

Exercise Recommended for Heart Patients

Meningitis Risk in Africa

Polio Outbreak in Africa

Arab Summit Ends

Khmer Rouge Genocide Trial Opens

US Interrogation Memos Detail Harsh Methods

ESA Space Debris Conference

India Using Satellite to Study Rice

IPL Season 2: Happening in South Africa

Hoover Medal 2008 to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

A car-sized Asteroid recovered

China sets up 30 million dollar Africa food fund

Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir accuses UN Security Council

Cyber-Spying by China Alleged by Exiled Tibetan Government

Padma Shri Awards

Algae promoted for bio-fuel use

Xcel Energy and SunPower to Build 17MW PV Plant in Colorado

China launches global positioning satellite: report

Poland, Estonia urge Lithuania to speed up atomic power project

Over 50 nations want to build nuclear plants: report

OPEC sees 'devastating contraction' in oil demand

Helsinki aims to tackle growing rabbit menace

The Impact of Ethanol on Water Supplies

US scientists plan greenhouses on the Moon

IMF Chief Calls 2009 'Awful Year' for World Economy

Scientists Discover Large Population of Orangutans in Borneo
World Book and Copyright Day - April 23

New Technique Shrinks Size of Nanotechnology Circuitry

India Launches High-Tech Imaging Satellite

April 22 2009 is a special day for neuroscientists

Drug Offers New Hope for Elderly Patients with Broken Bones

Miscellaneous

Conquer Your World

Jokes

Interesting Insults

Readers Write

Share Your Thoughts

With kind regards,

K S Venkataraman

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

•  4
  New Members

We are looking for the sponsors for T Shirts and other materials for the
run!!! We'll need a sponsorship of about Rs. 20-25k for our T-shirts,
headbands, placards and props. Through these materials we are planning to
spread awareness about various causes where people could use their skills
and change someone's life. In case you or anyone is interested please
connect maadi and support maadi!!!

Thanks and looking forward for quick and positive response.

P.S: If you are a corporate and would like to sponsor the run materials we
would also love to have your logo on the T-Shirts.

Best Regards,
Prarthana

Prarthana Unkalkar
Head - iVolunteer Centres

iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives
<http://www.ivolunteer.in/> www.iVolunteer.in

"We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our
country!"

No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th 'E' Main,

6th Block, Koramangala,

Bangalore - 560 095

Tel: +91-80-41466568

Cell: +91-99803 50180

_____

From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana <at> ivolunteer.in]
Sent: 29 April 2009 17:38
To: 'prarthana <at> ivolunteer.in'; 'ivolunteer-blr <at> yahoogroups.com';
'iva-all <at> yahoogroups.com'; 'vconnect-blr';
'ivolunteer-asha <at> googlegroups.com'; 'invites <at> yahoogroups.com';
'karmayog <at> yahoogroups.com'
Cc: 'ashok vasudevan'
Subject: Final planning meeting - Sunfeast World 10K Run - 3 pm on 2nd May
2009

Hi there,

Last week meeting we had 10 members attending the meeting and we had a good
discussion on how we can plan as a group. Not many days left and we need to
plan and spread message about volunteering for various causes for loads of
people. We need atleast 50 people people running for cause to spread
awareness. There were very good ideas like using placards for various
causes, costumes, short slogans etc etc.. Our volunteer Ashok (Super theatre
artist) will take lead in coming up with remarkable idea but we need people
to participate and support us for the same. We want many pakka confirmations
and participation in meeting to help us plan and implement everything
properly. As of now confirmed runners for iVolunteer are below 15 () and
we need 50:

Ashok

Ankur

Anil Kumar

Archana

Aruna

Emal

Karthik

Ketan

Mrinal

Prarthana

Prateek

Vijayanand

Last years participants/runners/sponsors where are you, new
joinees/volunteers where are you???? We need you to cheer up and support
many causes!!!!

As mentioned earlier, I have got few forms in my office. For those who want
to "run for a good cause" and also "raise funds for good cause" you may pay
to me on Saturday and give me the filled forms and also please be part of
the meeting on Saturday at 3 pm at iVolunteer office where we can decide on
how through this Run as a group we can bring awareness about various social
issues to public at large and also few "Fund Raising Tips" on how you can
raise funds and support the organisation dear to your heart.

For those who aren't aware where iVolunteer office is here you go with
address and landmark:

iVolunteer,
No. 384, 6th Cross,
18th 'E' Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel. 41466568

Landmark: It's just behind Devi Eye Hospital on National Games Village Road.
Take immediate turn on the road connected to Devi Eye Hospital. Then keeping
Devi Eye Hospital on your right hand side and Acura Clinic on left hand side
take first right i.e. immediately after Dr. Sathya's dental clinic and then
first left. This is 7th house (pink coloured) on left had side. We are on
the first floor. No board on the building, so just don't try to look for
any

Thanks and looking forward for active presence with good ideas. Lets run
maadi for good causes and do as much social development as we possible.

P.S: Looking for sponsors for T Shirts and other materials for the run!!! In
case you or anyone is interested please connect maadi and support maadi!!!

Best Regards,
Prarthana

Prarthana Unkalkar
Head - iVolunteer Centres

iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives
<http://www.ivolunteer.in/> www.iVolunteer.in

"We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our
country!"

No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th 'E' Main,

6th Block, Koramangala,

Bangalore - 560 095

Tel: +91-80-41466568

Cell: +91-99803 50180

_____

From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana <at> ivolunteer.in]
Sent: 16 April 2009 09:13
To: 'ivolunteer-blr <at> yahoogroups.com'; 'iva-all <at> yahoogroups.com';
'vconnect-blr'; 'ivolunteer-asha <at> googlegroups.com';
'kilikili_volunteers <at> googlegroups.com'; 'invites <at> yahoogroups.com'
Subject: RE: Sunfeast World 10K Run is on 31st May 2009!!! Run maadi Run!!!

Block maadi not 25th May 2009 for the super run meeting but 25th April 2009
from 3pm to 6pm at iVolunteer office. Lots of events that happened just in
this month, like successful visit to rural H.D.Kote and now we have Makkala
Jagriti Annual Day and AIDS awareness on Saturday, "Pledge to vote Walk" and
wish fulfilment of 2 terminally ill kids on Sunday and blood donation camp
and an event with cancer patients next weekend. Just in one month when we
have so many things to do imagine the requirement to spread awareness all
across about how one can be part of social development???? Please come up
with ideas, giving a chance to all volunteers to become creative and help in
social development!!!

Run maadi and quickly confirm maadi, last day is nearing.

Best Regards,
Prarthana

Prarthana Unkalkar
Head - iVolunteer Centres

iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives
<http://www.ivolunteer.in/> www.iVolunteer.in

"We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our
country!"

No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th 'E' Main,

6th Block, Koramangala,

Bangalore - 560 095

Tel: +91-80-41466568

Cell: +91-99803 50180

_____

From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana <at> ivolunteer.in]
Sent: 15 April 2009 17:59
To: 'prarthana <at> ivolunteer.in'; 'ivolunteer-blr <at> yahoogroups.com';
'iva-all <at> yahoogroups.com'; 'vconnect-blr'; 'ivolunteerteam <at> yahoogroups.com';
'ivolunteer-hyderabad <at> googlegroups.com'; 'iVolunteer-delhi <at> yahoogroups.com';
'ivolunteer-asha <at> googlegroups.com'; 'ivolmumbai <at> yahoogroups.com';
'ivolunteerchennai <at> yahoogroups.com'; 'kilikili_volunteers <at> googlegroups.com'
Subject: RE: Sunfeast World 10K Run is on 31st May 2009!!! Run maadi Run!!!

Awaiting confirmations of people opting to Run for iVolunteer or any other
causes.

We'll be having discussions on 25th May 2009 (timings to be decided) on how
we effectively spread message about various causes and about volunteering to
public at large. Plzz come up with some effective ideas. And plzzz mail me
your confirmations. In case you register online or at some store plz keep me
posted or I'll do a collective registration in a weeks time, you may do
registration through me.

Thanks and looking forward to make this year's run too a super success by
your active involvement. Run maadi Run for social development!!!

Best Regards,
Prarthana

Prarthana Unkalkar
Head - iVolunteer Centres

iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives
<http://www.ivolunteer.in/> www.iVolunteer.in

"We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our
country!"

No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th 'E' Main,

6th Block, Koramangala,

Bangalore - 560 095

Tel: +91-80-41466568

Cell: +91-99803 50180

_____

From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana <at> ivolunteer.in]
Sent: 07 April 2009 18:11
To: 'prarthana <at> ivolunteer.in'; 'ivolunteer-blr <at> yahoogroups.com';
'iva-all <at> yahoogroups.com'; 'vconnect-blr';
'kilikili_volunteers <at> googlegroups.com'; 'ivolunteerteam <at> yahoogroups.com';
'ivolunteer-hyderabad <at> googlegroups.com'; 'iVolunteer-delhi <at> yahoogroups.com';
'ivolunteer-asha <at> googlegroups.com'; 'ivolmumbai <at> yahoogroups.com';
'ivolunteerchennai <at> yahoogroups.com'
Subject: Sunfeast World 10K Run is on 31st May 2009!!! Run maadi Run!!!

Ready to Run for a cause??? Ready to Run for a cause and raise funds for
causes you believe in???

Yes, registrations for Running for a Sunfeast World 10K Run has started and
registration forms are available in various out lets + online registration
too is possible Please note that the latest run registration related
information will always be at
http://sunfeastworld10k.indiatimes.com/articlelist/2861973.cms.. Please
visit there for more details.

Will be good if we do registration for all volunteers running for iVolunteer
together before 15th April 2009, plzzz mail me if you wish to run for us. We
can plan up something really exciting and interesting and bring in huge
awareness through this run about volunteering, various causes and various
organisations doing remarkable work, where an individual could share his
time, skills and passion and make a difference and change someone's life

Registration charges are Rs 200/- if U R running in Marathon for a cause and
Rs 300/- if U R running for a cause and raising funds for causes you believe
in too. No money out of this will go to any NGO. It's just registration
charge for running. From our past Run experience I can say it's worth paying
so much as the goodies you get later are more valuable

Be it any cause, any organisation, please come ahead and register and show
your concern for social world. For updates on organisations registered so
far (67) and participating in run log on to www.bangalorecares.in
<http://www.bangalorecares.in/>

Thanks and looking forward for good responses.

I am running this year too, hope to see many of you joining me Letzzzz
Run maadi Run and show our concern for social development!!!

Best Regards,
Prarthana

Prarthana Unkalkar
Head - iVolunteer Centres

iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives
<http://www.ivolunteer.in/> www.iVolunteer.in

"We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our
country!"

No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th 'E' Main,

6th Block, Koramangala,

Bangalore - 560 095

Tel: +91-080-41466568

Cell: +91-99803 50180

_____

From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana <at> ivolunteer.org.in]
Sent: 04 March 2009 17:32
To: ivolunteer-blr <at> yahoogroups.com; iva-all <at> yahoogroups.com; 'vconnect-blr';
kilikili_volunteers <at> googlegroups.com; ivolunteerteam <at> yahoogroups.com;
ivolunteer-hyderabad <at> googlegroups.com; iVolunteer-delhi <at> yahoogroups.com;
ivolunteer-asha <at> googlegroups.com; ivolmumbai <at> yahoogroups.com;
ivolunteerchennai <at> yahoogroups.com
Subject: Sunfeast World 10K Run is back soon, block ur calender!!!

After a successful Sunfeast World 10K Run in 2008 in Bengaluru here's 2009
Run coming shortly. Giving you all 2 months notice, to block your calendars
and Run for a good cause. Yes!!!!, plzzz block 17th May (Sunday) 2009 and
start practicing for the run Last time within a short span, with support
from many of you we had a successful Run with lot of fun filled enriching
experience and also not to forget we raised Rs 64,100/- for iVolunteer. This
wouldn't have been possible without your support and best wishes. This year
we are expecting more people to join us and make it a super success for 2009
as well. I still remember Mr. Murray's words on our efforts post Run.
"Thanks very much for this encouraging information. Sometimes one wonders
whether the effort is (or was!) worth it; but clearly you made a lot of the
opportunity and that IS encouraging." I am sure this year too we will
encourage many and bring awareness about tons of opportunities available all
across and in turn try and bring in a volunteering movement. Ready to join
us for Run, confirm your presence now and as and when you decide. You may
also go ahead and join any organisation participating in Run and raise funds
for them. Be it any organisation but plzzz come ahead and join us and make
this Run memorable and a super success by your presence.

This mail is just to make you all aware that Sunfeast World 10k Run is
happening on 17th May 2009 in namma Bengaluru and so request you all to make
your May 2009 memorable for lifetime!!! Glimpse of iVolunteer's presence in
Sunfeast World 10k Run 2008 below. For those who attended it, cherish those
lovely moments and for those who missed it be part of it this year to
cherish the memories in future

Thanks and enjoy maadi, just enjoy volunteering!!!

Best Regards,
Prarthana

Prarthana Unkalkar
Head - iVolunteer Centres

iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.
<http://www.ivolunteer.in/> www.iVolunteer.in

"We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our
country!"

No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th 'E' Main,

6th Block, Koramangala,

Bangalore - 560 095

Tel: +91-080-41466568

Cell: +91-99803 50180

_____

From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana <at> ivolunteer.org.in]
Sent: 30 May 2008 11:34
Subject: Thank you very much - Sunfeast World 10K Run... Final and updated
mail!!! Just enjoy

Final updated report/mail on the Run with updated feedbacks and Donor's
list Lots to read so read it patiently with fun and smile!!!

My special thanks again to everyone for making iVolunteer's participation in
Sunfeast World 10K Run a success.

I just am so curious to share with you all the Sponsors and the Contributors
list as of now, the feedbacks I have received from some of the Run
participants (put at end because you need to read them patiently), the
snaps and a surprise to all Run participants, the videos taken after
successfully reaching the destination.

Sponsors:

Special Thanks to our Sponsors Maintec Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Meera
Raman for taking care of Run expenses like T shirts, Banners, Head bands etc
who agreed to take the sponsorship based on the email sent by me at the last
minute Meera Raman was the one gave us the idea of Headband which was
unique in crowd of 10,000 people.

Contributor's as of now:

Special thanks to our contributors too!!! Below are names of all
contributors/donors in order of contributions made as of now:

Mr. Narayanan Shankaran

M/s Maintec Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (sponsorship money left was considered as
contribution)

Sabita/Thomas D. Fernandes

Ajithesh Hegde

Dr. Suresh

Prateek Kaul

Jaya Suresh

Vinay Kulgod

Vasanth and Chendur Chandramouli

Tejshree Madhu

Archana Unkalkar Kasat

MeenaKumari

P.V.Shirahatti

Vandana Unkalkar

Mrs. Uma Arun

Mrs. Ravikala Pai

Mr. Srikanth

Divya, Punita

Venkatraman

Somadatta Banerjee

Mrs. Meera Ramdas

No contribution is big or small and every rupee counts. And this is proved
by the above donors Below are details of amount raised for iVolunteer:

Runner name

Amount

Prarthana Unkalkar

60,000.00

Vishwanath Unkalkar

2,000.00

Vijayanand Nagaraj

2,100.00

Total Fund raised

64,100.00

Sponsorship Received

12,500.00

Contribution Received

51,600.00

Snaps links:

http://picasaweb.google.com/sajesh.j/IVolunteerBangaloreMarathon

http://picasaweb.google.com/ivolunteerbangalore/SunfeaskWorld10KRun

Videos (surpriseeee):

All 20+ people Ran for a cause supporting many causes... These videos were
taken only after the successful completion of our Majja Run when we reached
the final destination... After reaching the destination too all were in full
josh, so we went one more round all around the stadium. Before we started
going to the ground for a biiig Round, we had a fun and formed a little
train and did some masti, watch out!!!! It'll take some time to buffer, so
plzz have some patience Unforgettable moments of life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Tl5zz1hMM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpJn0sY-0vI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrhzchR-0nM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMoHwqtnqKs

Media Coverage:

Not sure where all we were covered but for sure we got good coverage. As per
one student volunteer Mythri we had a coverage for few secs today morning in
"MTV Wassup". To add Mythri although didn't participate in Run was part of
helping team and ya also raised Rs 3,400/- from her sources Thanks
Mythri

Volunteer's/Run participants feedbacks: Please read these very patiently and
in leisure, I know you don't wanna miss any feedback and I have lots to
share:

Vishwanath Unkalkar: (Active volunteer and Senior Citizen Run participant)

Initially for the preparation of Marathon, I accompanied my daughter
Prarthana for registering to collecting the Bib No.s, goodies kit of the 10
participants plus collecting the T shirts of the Run. Though I wasn't part
of Majja Run I had a nice opportunity to spend time with the young
volunteers in preparation for the Run on previous day.

On the Marathon day, from our group of senior citizens there were about 1000
young participants of 60 plus!!!:) Everyone was enthusiastic in running for
their various causes. I was of course running for the cause of iVolunteer.
It was thrilling experience to complete only 4 kms.

Still there are 5 days to raise the funds for the cause for which I and all
youngsters ran... Hence I appeal everyone to contribute generously.
Definitely your contribution will be utilised for the betterment of the
society.

Thanks to Prarthana and iVolunteer for giving me this opportunity.

Suresh Reddy: (Beneficiary turning to be a volunteer) We all were amazed
seeing his enthu yesterday in running as well as spreading the message.
Nobody knew till the end that he was visually challenged. You won't believe
one of new volunteer who joined us mid way didn't know till end that Suresh
is visually challenged individual. Only after the Run when we were
dispersing he realised it, that too when I mentioned it to him Great job
Suresh!!! Way to go boy!!!

I am so happy to walk with volunteers who were running for great cause by
which most of the people need to get admire. As an individual I pray to
almighty the energy which was shown by everyone yesterday its wonder, Could
we all transfer towards real challenges? 10 years ago hard to find single
volunteer to read but today there are many to help, I believe this is the
progress what it mean?

Tons of thanks for Amith and Kaushal for highlighting my name in the mail,
My hearty congratulation for each one of you all for supporting me and
making this event great success, which would continue forever.

Vijayanand Nagaraj: (Active + Star volunteer and attracted many on run day,
wearing good costume and spreading message "save trees save garden city")

The Sunfeast World 10K run was a marvelous event.

1. Loads of Enthusiasm.
2. Full of Fun...
3. Immense passion from volunteers and for volunteering.
4. Excellent awareness for iVolunteer...by shouting short and sensible
Slogans. (Slogans are still ringing in my ears)

a. I Volunteer, Do you?
b. If you mean it, Do it.
c. Intentions don't make a difference, Volunteer Do?
d. Who volunteers, I Volunteer..

Though I have got throat pain after all the shouting...but it was really
worthwhile. Also I felt my costume (especially the leaves)gave me a lot of
Oxygen to complete the run without much of pain in the legs.

Only disappointment is, should have come a bit early and participated in
costume competition :)

Rashmi K.C : (Active + Star volunteer of last month)

I am also one of the culprits as I couldn't attend the earlier planning
meetings.................. There's a lots about the good things that
happened and we all are aware of it..

It gave all the volunteers a sense of satisfaction and we are all proud of
being a part of iVolunteer

Some things we could have done better:

* More people competing for the costume competition
* Placards missing - impacted on spreading awareness on the works
done by the iVolunteer

I am also one of the culprits as i couldn't attend the earlier planning
meetings..................

Ramya Rekha: (Active Volunteer)

It's been a wonderful morning with a great bunch of enthusiastic people!

Had loads of fun holding the banners, shouting the slogans.......guess we
spread the message of volunteering to our best with in this event than ever
before.

Though the event is over, I can still feel it................maybe 'coz of
the body pains :)

My voice is slightly ok today!

Thanks to Sajesh and Sayeesh for the action snaps!

It's been a pleasure to be a part of this event as an iVolunteer member!

Cheers to iVolunteer........! :)

Amit Mittal: (Active Volunteer)

What to say!!!

As always, it was really a fun morning yesterday. This event reminded me the
masti and fun we used to have in ASHA Foundation events :) Additionally, I
got a chance to catch up some of old dudes and to meet some new members of
the team :)

I wish, I could go back in time while rehearsing our favourite play :)

The slogans were quite catchy as these were small and were able to question
any human being (like "do you?").

Of course, the presence of Suresh was a great motivating factor for the
group.

Looking forward to similar masti soon :)

Majja maadi!!!

Varuna Gupta: (Our new enthu Volunteer)

I completely agree with Rashmi about the Costume Competition part. In fact,
having a few unusual costumes in Majja Run wasn't really a bad idea either.
We saw the kind of media/public attention Vijayanand's creative outfit got!
We could have spread more messages via such creativity since the run was a
platform with much wider audience base.

The sticks with the banners could have attracted a lotta people (though we
compensated for it with all that "josheelee" shouting. :-D )

It was the first such kind of event that I attended and I must say
everyone's enthusiasm was absolutely contagious - be it Suresh leading the
way or Sayeesh's hoo-hoo-hoo or Amit's shouting or Vijay's rhythmic slogans
or Jaya/Ramya running all the way or Rashmi n Prarthana's
on-the-spot-motivating-inputs ( like tying band on ravan's head :-P ) or our
father-son ( Mr. Ramdas) duo sharing the banner or Chennai gang's arrival
to boost the morales or Venkat's Sprint :-P and Edwin's sweet-talks with all
the cute "kuttis" enroute !!!!

Not to mention Sajesh's 'not-to-miss-a-moment' snaps :)

We must not forget Meera's bandanas which made us look so different that
day. We must be thankful to her for all her efforts.

There is only one thing that baffled me and that was the amount of
water-bottles strewn everywhere on the roads. Though we couldn't have done
much to stop people from committing the folly, we should have been more
conscious not to be a part of it ourselves ..every small deed counts ! And I
guess we are the biggest proponents of the theory :). So, we must always
lead by example and save our Garden City !

Edwin: (Chennai volunteer moved to Bengaluru recently)

Its such fun and joy to be with you all yesterday.....

5.7km, did we imagine when we started; it was more of a procession right..
Believe me I enjoyed it to the core...

The arrangements, Bengaluru folks initiatives is so rich...and exciting.

Volunteers------- Rocks!!!!!

Kudddoooooooooooooos Meera!!!!! The band made the unique difference, Even
Ravana in Majja Run, had tied in all of his 2 heads..

Ramadas: (Active Volunteer cum associate of The Hindu Paper)

It was great fun and joy, shouting at the top of our voices--i
volunteer.....do you? Three cheers to... i volunteer.... Hip Hip Hureh,
Hip Hip Hureh, Hip Hip Hureh.

My son Srisha, did have his debut, first of its kind running a marathon
(5.7kms.). He did get a feel of it and did enjoy it thoroughly. He did
have two minds coming, as he was not fit.. with cold and a bad cough. He
made it and did his bit of slogan shouting and give good company to Suresh
(Who did need a guide, especially while walking and running).

End of it all we have got back totally drained and not able to speak much-
sore throat(after shouting). No complains. We thoroughly enjoyed every bit.

Thanks to all who made this possible. We definitely have created a lot of
awareness.

And thanks once again to Prarthana, you also did your bit of organising.
Very good show.

Kaushal: (New volunteer actively involved past 2 months who went and got the
sponsorship cheque and headbands:))

It was refreshing to walk all the way..

I cherished shouting: 3 cheers to iVolunteer- Hip Hip Hurray..

cause I could shout loudest then :))..

Good to see that everyone were full of energy.

Suresh's company, all the way, was inspirational.

Meera Raman: )New volunteer with unique ideas)

Really sorry about the placards - murphy beat me on this one big time...:(

And i didnt even get to join in all the yelling... Had to chaperone another
bunch of guys who were being extremely wicked(they threatened to drop out if
they didn't see me anywhere within 2 feet raduis of them) ... though i did
manage to catch up with a few of u on the track for sometime.... But overall
- just simply loved it - can't wait for next year's marathon... :)

Sayeesh Kirani: (Active volunteer)

Amazing time everyone has had in the MARATHON, i think everyone has enjoyed
to core, the awesome spirit, the scream, the aggression while
screaming(keeping in mind to spread awareness), everything is just
AWESOME...

I appreciate everyone's contribution towards everything holding banners to
completing the RUN, the best part is no VOLUNTEER has tired or stopped in
middle of the RUN(walk) that was amazing truly appreciated.

WILL WAIT FOR THE NEXT RUN...........

Pearl Malhotra: (New Volunteer)

I was part of the Sunfeast Run too. As I registered at the nth second I
could not be a part of the I-Volunteer bandwagon. However I could see all of
you holding Banners and shouting slogans. I think all of you did an
extremely wonderful job.

I loved the group with the save environment posters.

Wish could be a part of the run with all of you too.

Cheers to you for doing a bindaas job!!!!

Thanks and hope you all enjoyed reading it!!!

Sajesh: (Active experienced Volunteer)

I have no feed back to give.. u guys have said it all. Jus joking, too
bad I am checking the mails now only. To add up, it was simply one of the
best events I have ever attended.

Thanks to the great little lady of iVolunteer and u all.

Looking forward to see u all soon in the next event. Happy Volunteering!!!

Venkataraman: ( New Volunteer)

Excellent stuff. Me and my friends were thinking of doing the run on our
own but it turned out to be a lot more fun in a group. It was jolly good
fun, especially competing to be seen on tv(just kidding).
Keep up the spirit and hope the message gets across.

Anusha Vivek: (iVolunteer Chennai Centre Incharge) Anusha and Vivek came
from Chennai to be part of the Run!!! Kudos!!!

Honestly, this was one helluva trip!! It sooooo reminded us of the college
cultural fests we used to have in our architecture schools:)

Makes us really happy that we could be a part of this memorable event.Thanks
to all you guys who made this possible!!!


Was lovely catching up with the gang,and kudos to you Prarthana!!

Great going,keep the spirits intact:)

Maniv: ( New Volunteer, who couldn't make it to the Run)

Ok, Im slightly feeling jealous now. (Should've made it to the run.. hmmmm)

So don't miss such fun in future guys and lots to be done for Social
development in our country.

Together we can make a difference and our skills can change lives!!! R U
ready???

Best Regards,
Prarthana

Prarthana Unkalkar
Head - National Volunteering

iVolunteer, India
Web: <http://www.ivolunteer.in> www.ivolunteer.in

"Believe in yourself and your ability to be successful."

"We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our
country!"

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  New Members

From: Andrea Werner <andrea_werner <at> hotmail.co.uk>

Dear all,

may I draw your attention to the following track organised by Prof Fergus
Lyon (Middlesex University) and Dr Richard Blundel (Brunel University) at
the upcoming ISBE conference held in Liverpool this November. The organisers
are looking for high quality paper contributions from both academics and
practitioners. Deadline for abstracts is 31 May 2009.

https://www.eventsforce.net/isbe/frontend/reg/tOtherPage.csp?pageID=398&CSPCHDx=0000000000000&CSPIHN=108058-108058:443&CSPSCN=CSPSESSIONID&eventID=1

More general information about the conference can be found here

http://www.eventsforce.net/ISBE/1/310

Kind regards

Andrea

Dr Andrea Werner
Lecturer in Management
Middlesex University

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•  5
  New Members