Source: Sunday Leader SRI LANKA, August 5, 2001: In response to humanitarian disasters both natural and man-made, victims are usually resettled in their place of origin, or at least compensated for their loss. One project has created a furor, bringing to light divisions among religious communities in Mannar, Sri Lanka. The 300-320 families to be resettled under this project are…
GO TO SOURCE DELHI, INDIA, Aug. 9, 2001: A spokesman for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) have strongly protested against the publication of a book which says that ancient Indians ate beef. the VHP claimed that the motive behind the book was to insult Hindus, who revere cows as part of their religion. But experts say the book…
GO TO SOURCE NEW YORK, NEW YORK, August 10, 2001: Dr. B.K. Modi announced today that a group of Hindu leaders traveling to 40 counties and 50 cities will be in Los Angeles on August 26 at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena. According to the press release, “The Forum is a global network of prominent women and men of Hindu…
GO TO SOURCE LONDON, ENGLAND, August 1, 2001: A controversial Italian embryologist Professor Severino Antinori is preparing to impregnate up to 200 women with cloned embryos in November. The move will reignite a debate about the ethics and safety of cloning as an infertility treatment. Antinori, whose clinic in Rome enabled a 62-year-old woman to have a baby in 1994,…
GO TO SOURCE JAIPUR, INDIA, August 7, 2001: Though there are five days for Janamashtami to arrive, in this city of Jaipur widespread preparations for the festival have started. The main festival is celebrated in Govind Dev Ji. Here the material of display is being prepared and programs of religious music/bhajans are being held. To celebrate the birthday of Lord…
GO TO SOURCE DEKALB, ILLINOIS, USA, July 28, 2001: The Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois and the International Ramayana Institute of North America will present an Artistic, Cultural and Literary Conference on Ramayana Worldwide, September 21-22, 2001. The International Ramayana Fair, which will include Ramayana performances and workshops for the entire family, will…
GO TO SOURCE CALIFORNIA, USA, Aug. 4, 2001: Last weekend,14-year-old Sharanya Mukhopadhyay performed an Odissi dance at the Federation of Hindus Association’s temple in Diamond Bar, California, to raise funds for the victims of the Gujarat earthquake. Last year, she helped raise funds for the Orissa cyclone and has performed three other times for different causes. “Basically, I want to…
GO TO SOURCE NEW YORK, USA, Aug 4, 2001: Nearly 200 members of the Parapsychological Association, a group of active researchers, honored the foundation’s 50th anniversary this week at an annual convention. Parapsychology is the study of unexplained or paranormal phenomenon. It mostly focuses on dream research, but also includes the study of hauntings, clairvoyance and the occult. Founded in…
GO TO SOURCE BANGALORE, INDIA, Aug. 3, 2001: In the seas southwest of here off the coast of southern India, fishermen are already in touch with the dozen-odd seafood markets around here, checking prices at different ports by mobile phone. One fisherman, Ratish Karthikeyan, says that since he acquired his BPL mobile service over a year ago, his profit on…
GO TO SOURCE AFGHANISTAN, August 5, 2001: Cracking down on any agency or person that might disagree with their Islamic beliefs, Taleban hard-liners have now closed down a Western aid agency called Shelter Now International. After accusing the agency of promoting Christianity to its emergency relief victims, twenty-four members of staff were arrested. Eight have allegedly admitted to the crime.…