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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (44350)	8/11/2003 6:52:54 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

Expert Sitings: Kofi A. Annan Kofi A. Annan is secretary-general of the United Nations (www.un.org). Annan’s recommended sites—some created by the United Nations, some independent—reflect his belief that “information and communications technologies are enormously powerful tools for development. One of the most pressing challenges is to harness this extraordinary force, spread it throughout the world, and make its benefits accessible and meaningful for all humanity, in particular the poor.” www.cyberschoolbus.un.org The Cyberschoolbus is the education component of the U.N. Global Teaching and Learning Project, whose mission is to promote education about international issues and the United Nations. A related site, the Global Movement for Children (www.gmfc.org) is a collection of people and organizations dedicated to promoting children’s rights. www.cite-sciences.fr The Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie (City of Science and Industry) is one of the largest and most innovative scientific and cultural centers in the world. www.smallarmssurvey.org The Small Arms Survey provides accurate information on the global flow of small arms and light weapons. www.oneworld.net OneWorld is a community of over 1,000 organizations working for social justice. Its Web site provides up-to-date news on social justice issues worldwide. www.irinnews.org For current, strategic, and nonpartisan news on Asia and Africa’s most remote and underdeveloped areas, visit the Integrated Regional Information Networks homepage. www.digitalpartners.org Digital Partners is a Seattle-based nonprofit institute bringing together IT entrepreneurs, philanthropic foundations, and development institutions to create solutions for the world’s poor. www.earthtrends.wri.org The World Resources Institute’s mission is to promote living in ways that protect the earth’s environment. www.unaids.org UNAIDS supports an expanded response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This site reports on program activities and links to factual and statistical information on HIV/AIDS and related issues. www.icj.org The International Commission of Jurists is a nongovernmental organization that promotes and protects judiciary independence and the rule of law. www.hri.ca Human Rights Internet is a leader in the exchange of information within the worldwide human rights community. foreignpolicy.com

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (44350)	8/11/2003 6:57:32 PM
From: NickSE	Respond to of 50167

Indian MPs point the way to peace talks guardian.co.uk The Indian prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, called for an end to the "violence and bloodshed" between India and Pakistan yesterday during a historic peace mission to Islamabad by a group of Indian MPs. In a statement read out by one of the Indian delegates at a conference in the Pakistani capital, Mr Vajpayee said violence did not provide "any solutions". He added: "We can live together only if we let each other live. Cooperation, rather than confrontation, is the answer to our common problems." The visit by an all-party group of 33 MPs, and almost as many journalists, is the most significant of its kind since relations between New Delhi and Islamabad began to improve three months ago. They made the journey on the newly restored international bus service and received a rapturous reception when they crossed into Pakistan at Wagah on Saturday afternoon. Human rights groups and Pakistani politicians hugged their Indian guests as they walked into Pakistani territory in sweltering heat, and showered them with rose petals. Members of Pakistan's hardline religious parties also joined the welcoming party. Although the visit is not an official one, it marks a distinct thawing in relations between the subcontinent's two nuclear powers after months of bitter hostility and a near war last year. India suspended "people to people" contact with Pakistan after Islamist militants attacked its parliament building in December 2001. It blamed Pakistan for the outrage. At one stage 1 million soldiers were deployed along the India-Pakistan border, The crisis peaked in May last year. Earlier this summer Mr Vajpayee, who heads a coalition led by the Hindu nationalist party BJP, unexpectedly offered the "hand of friendship" to Pakistan, India's rival since their separation at independence more than half a century ago. Since then the two countries have toned down their normally abusive rhetoric and have taken several practical steps, including the restoration of the Delhi-Lahore bus service, which was suspended by India after the attack on the parliament. Last month a Pakistani girl, Noor Fatima, was allowed to travel to India for heart surgery. At the weekend the countries resumed full diplomatic relations after a break of 20 months. The peace conference,at the Marriott hotel in the Pakistani capital, brings together a wide range of parliamentarians. "The meeting and the themes for dis cussion are a forceful reiteration of the popular desire in both our countries for a normal, peaceful, friendly and cooperative relationship," Mr Vajpayee said in his message. "We cannot deny our people the right to peaceful and cooperative economic development." M Ziauddin, the president of the South Asia Free Media Association, which organised the conference, said: "These are exciting times for Pakistan and India. There is a peace process going on and I hope this conference provides participants the right kind of atmosphere to air their ideas and thoughts without inhibitions." The meeting has attracted blanket coverage in the Indian and Pakistani press, the star of the show generally agreed to be Laloo Prasad Yadav, one of India's most charismatic and entertaining MPs.