I'm back

With that promise to be back I disappeared!

The Worldwide Moment, apparently, was quite successful. 1,283 Photos were submitted from 62 countries. There were some really beautiful images and some that I found plain silly. You can view them all here.

As for me, I couldn't get a camera. The Moment guys wrote me that they were trying some camera companies to donate some low-end cameras but guess that didn't happen.

Meanwhile life has taken up such a lovely course. I'm completely immersed in my work with Women For A Change. We planned a Worldwide Tree Planting event in support of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence. Sadly not many people came forward to join this event, but it was a good beginning :)

And then we were so caught up with planning our event in support of the 16 Days of Activism. We planned, and we changed plans and as usual everyone came together with a huge vision.

So now we are running a global campaign - A Safe World For Women which will go beyond the 16 days, in fact, it will culminate on the centenary of International Women's Day.

More on it very soon.

Yes, this time it will be soon :)

Worldwide Moment - Simultaneous Photo Shoot for Peace

This is called irony! My camera (nothing fancy; just your very regular Nicon Coolpix) has conked off and here I am, finding one photography event after another. Time to buy a real good camera? But where is the money, honey!

Anyways, here is something I would love to be a part of. So many people clicking for a single aim, at a single moment, across the world!

On 9th September, at 09:09 (+9 GMT) people will be taking photographs for world peace and international collaboration. As I write this post the website announces participation of 850 people from 67 countries. There are still fifteen days left for the event and I'm sure numbers are going to shoot up as the word spreads.

In India, the 'Moment' will be on 9th September at 5:49 AM; a little tricky time for a sleep loving soul like me. But you know what; they are offering to give you a camera if you don't have one but want to be a part of the moment! I'm going to give it a try NOW. Will keep you all posted.

Meanwhile, here are the details.

The Legatum Center at MIT Announces Its 2nd Annual Photo Contest

Another photo contest opportunity – The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT invites amateur and professional photographers from around the world to enter its second Annual Photo Contest.

This year’s theme is Women's Entrepreneurship: Empowerment through Innovation. The contest is open to all photographers globally, and in addition aims to spotlight photographers from India, Kenya, and Mexico.

Four winners will receive $500 each, be announced at the Legatum Center’s Annual Conference in October, and have their photos featured on the Center’s website.

The deadline for submissions is September 13, 2009, 5 pm EST. Please check out the photo contest website, http://decompetition.mit.edu, for more details, or go to http://legatum.mit.edu to learn more about the Center.

Here are last year's winning image:

For All You Photographers - UNESCO Photo Contest 2009: Promoting Gender Equality in Education

I was just doing some 'roaming around' the web world and found that deadline is fast approaching for UNESCO's photo competition. Here are the details:

Through 31 July 2009
Host / Sponsor: UNESCO Bangkok and UN Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Bangkok along with the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) in East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) and South Asia (SA) is holding a photo competition as part of an initiative to promote gender equality in education

Competition Details

Theme: Reversing Realities: Seeking Gender Equality in Education

Awards: 13 contest winners will receive official certificates of merit. The winning photographs will also be featured in the UNESCO Bangkok and UNGEI (EAP and SA) “Gender in Education Calendar 2010”, which is to be distributed widely throughout Asia and beyond. The winning photographs will be posted on the organizers’ respective websites.

Submission Deadline: 31 July, 2009

More Details here.

Kingfisher Airlines Pilots - How Loyal?

Read this news in today's Mumbai Mirror, according to which "Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines has the dubious distinction of having the maximum cases of pilots found under the influence of alcohol before take-off." Hope they were, at least loyal, to their big boss - Vijay Mallya and his Kingfisher beer!

And hope they are not like this pilot:

Quote of the Day

An inspiring quote always makes the day, but then there are some quotes that completely stump you with their stupidity. Like this one from the 'renowned' Bollywood 'actor', Shakti Kapoor.

While everyone is opening up to live-in relations and everyone is giving their own reasons on this 'sensitive' (at least in India) issue of marriage Vs. live-in, in comes the great Shakti Kapoor with his pearls of wisdom, "I don’t believe in arranged marriages. It’s like a dish. You have to try it first. You are expected to taste wine from a bottle in a restaurant. If you like it, it is fine, but they change it if you don’t like it."

And then, to clarify his stand and to prove that he is all 'serious', he adds, "I'm not telling you to taste each other, I’m saying you need to get to know each other."!!!!

Watch it to believe it!

Petting Wild Deer in Silvassa

Here's the only entry I could submit at Trazzler. It's a travel website with a difference for sure. Instead of the regular sections that most of the travel websites have, this offers ideas that emphasize on one particular aspect of a place. So there's an idea of Savoring Royal Simplicity in Chiang Rai, Thailand and then there is another idea of Bat-Watching in the Rillito River!

And so, here is my idea of Petting Wild Deer in Silvassa.

It’s an experience that will leave you enchanted all life. Silvassa, the sleepy little town of India’s twin Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, is surrounded by nature in some of its most unspoiled facets.

Like the Deer Park at Satmaliya. The moment you enter the gates, a whiff of pure forest air welcomes you. Minutes later you spot a herd of spotted deer, followed quickly by other deer and antelope species. The deer usually allow you to come as close as a few feet; occasionally, you may come across one tame enough to allow you petting it as it forages on the grass.

The Surrounding is serene and the experience, absolutely exhilarating. Part of the forest that also houses a Lion Safari at another end, Deer Park is a well maintained piece of forest where you can walk around without worrying about big cats attacking you. Entry is free and you can even take your car inside for a blissful day of bird and deer watching.

50 Million Women Missing

Internet is a truly amazing medium. You never know when you'll meet some wonderful people and how you'll land up on a page that will show you some remarkable efforts by people.

I stumbled upon this petition today.

As another international Women's Day approaches it brings us face to face with a horrific truth. 50 million women are missing from India. They would have been here if they were not killed as fetuses. yes, female foeticide is still rampant in my country and many more countries like mine.

I urge you all who read this to please sign the petition and raise your voice against the barbarian practice. The doctors performing these abortions must be punished severely, their licenses should be canceled.

And, while we are at it, here's a song dedicated to all women:

Jogi Hum To Lut Gaye - Shaheed Song

The other day I was working on the lyrics copy of this song for myPOPKORN and wondered who the actress is. Tried searching on net, but couldn't find the name. Anyone knows?

Women For A Change

It's been long since I blogged last. I have been busy; with work and home and this wonderful online community called Women for a Change! I had joined another ning community long back after a friend invited me there. Then one day, just out of curiosity, I was exploring ning, when I saw this page. Something pulled me there, not sure what. And I joined, just like you join orkut, facebook and other social networking things.

I never realized at that time I how much is going to happen there. This a a group of women, from all across the world. All, who hope for peace in the world, all who despair at the current state of affairs in the world, all who want to do something to bring a change - "to bring balance back to the world".

They all are coming together. It was started with the vision of one wonderful woman - Christine Crowstaff, and she was joined by her friend Jane Youn. Together the founded WFAC - Women For A Change. Christine's amazingly supportive life-partner and soon-to-be husband - Andrew Sampson provided all the technical help. Listen to her talking about WFAC...



And now the online community is growing rapidly.Today we are nearing 500 members. International chapters of WFAC are on cards. We are going to have online shops for fare trade. There will be an online art gallery. There are women artists, musicians and film makers coming together in support.

WFAC is planning a worldwide event on 8 March 2011, the Centenary of International Women's Day. There is so much to do. I'm really excited!

If you are a woman, I urge you to join the ning community.

If you are a man, who cares for this wonderful group and the idea of a world of gender equality, I urge you to join the facebook community.

I'll be back soon. With more from this lovely community of mine. :)