Earth Hour 2009 January 14, 2009
Posted by Arup Deb in Worldbytes.Tags: Australia, Earth Hour 2009, Global Warming, Greenhouse Gas Emission, Sydney
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Calling the citizens of the world to switch off all lights for one hour at 8.30 PM (your local time) on March 28, 2009. In 2007, 2.2 million people did the same in the world’s first Earth Hour in Sydney, Australia and the initiative continued into 2008 with a whopping 50 million people in 370 cities across more than 35 countries worldwide, switching off their lights for Earth Hour.
An estimated 1 billion people in 1000 cities around the world are being aimed at by Earth Hour 2009. Let us all be part of this movement for saving the earth from the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions. It does not take too much of an effort to do our bit; it just calls for turning off our lights between 8.30 pm – 9.30 pm on March 28, 2009. Be it our home or business, let us do it. In 2008 world landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, and the Coca Cola billboard at Times Square, NY switched off theirs. In 2009 iconic buildings like the CN Tower in Toronto, Moscow’s Federation Tower, Sky Tower in Auckland, Sydney Opera House have pledged to turn off their lights for one hour. So do switch off your lights for one hour on March 28, 2009 at 8.30 pm for switching onto a safer future. What began as a Sydney based event in 2007, is now a global movement about the urgent need for action on global warming.
Check out this link: http://www.divshare.com/download/5999419-a8a for a promo video on Earth Hour.
You may also pledge your support by signing up for Earth Hour by visiting: http://www.earthhour.org/
I am envious of Obama November 9, 2008
Posted by Arup Deb in Worldbytes.Tags: India, Obama, Obama Girl, USA
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Barrack Obama has finally got elected as the President of the United States of America, after months of hard work and his unwavering faith in the electorate. There were moments of nail biting contests between him and McCain, but eventually the result has proved that the American people have reposed their complete trust in him, by giving him the mandate for bringing about the much desired change; a change that would work for the overall development and betterment of the country.
It was a mass following for Obama, cutting across colors, socio-economic layers, religions and regions. It was not the madness of the people that made the wave flow in favour of Obama. It was a well thought out decision of the people of America, of having someone whom not only they, but the entire world would love and be accepted.
Of the entire fan following, one person that is Amber Lee Ettinger or the Obama Girl knew for sure that Obama is a highly deserving guy for the White House and he would eventually be sweeping the Presidential election; hence paid him the well deserved tribute in the form of creating the lovely video that is “I got a crush on Obama” (Here is the link to the song for, those who are yet to watch the same: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKsoXHYICqU - the voice behind the video however is of Leah Kauffman.)
Now shifting the scene from the US to India, my homeland, I am absolutely envious of Obama for the reason that I do not see anyone, in the current lot of the Prime Ministerial candidates in India, who can match upto anywhere closer to him. The national elections in India are just a few months away and the political parties must be busy in finalizing or at least pondering about their Prime Ministerial candidates, probably without even giving an iota of thought on who could be the person that would have the thrustfullness, vision, drive and might to take the country to the next levels. It is not that India does not have the kind of talent that is required to steer a big and growing country like ours, but the political will and courage is certainly missing.
I am envious of Obama due to the fact that our leaders have not shown their honesty to the electorate, while dealing with pressing domestic and international issues.
And, I am also envious of Obama for the reason why no singer has ever sung a song as good as the “I got a crush……..” for any of our top leaders. Well, I believe the reason to be very simple that young singers like to sing for younger and charismatic leaders, like to sing for those whose vision for the country & the countrymen is as clear as glass, like to sing for leaders who do not mind calling a spade as a spade, like to sing for leaders who are not thrusted upon the people.
All envies apart, I am hopeful that one day we too would be having a leader, who would be loved by all, a leader for whom Anushka Manchandas and Sonu Nigams would love to sing. That day would certainly come soon. It is not at all a tall order for a country that has successfully sent a mission to the moon, has a huge pool of technical & managerial resource, has a sound education system, a vibrant and growing economy. “Yes We Can”.
