COVER STORY

Humans organise themselves in social aggregates to meet their collective needs and express their collective potentials. These social units have evolved in size and nature over the course of human existence, going from bands, to tribes, to chiefdoms, to city-states, to nations and empires.

FOCUS ON...

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK  -   20-24 JULY 2009

It was during October 17-22, in the year 1959, that Baba conducted the first Prout Convention at Jamalpur and next autumn will be the 50th anniversary of the historic event. To mark this occasion, we have planned a number of Prout-related events during 2009 and 2010. The event begins on July 20, 2009 with a global Prout Planning Convention in Copenhagen, Denmark, the place Baba designated as the Global Office of Prout. The event will conclude on July 24, 2009.


There have always been efforts to integrate Islamic theocracy and ideals of democracy. Despite, some strong grounds to make this possible, the issue is yet to see the light of the day. 

Two kinds of democratic states can be recognised in the Islamic countries. The basis of this distinction has to do with how comprehensively Islam is incorporated into the affairs of the state.


Growing consciousness about individual health and rising concerns about global environment are two major issues, which are linked in many ways. Several global citizens have come together to work towards the well-being of our planet and its people. WHHO and 'Save The Planet' are a step in this direction.

FEATURES

Satyam: A harsh truth


How Much revolutionary?

Considering the failure of the country's civil servants as well as the Government, to give to the citizens of this country, a clean and honest administration, administrative reforms had become a necessity. But, how far will these reforms as proposed by the Administrative Reforms Commission in its report, revamp the system and not remain a mere rhetoric, is a big question.

INSPIRATIONAL

"Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonalds, one crisp March morning. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside me as I turned to see why they had moved."

LETTERS

HUMOUR & WIT

On the spot

Three economists go deer hunting. They spot a deer. The first economist aims - and fires 20 feet wide to the right. The second economist aims - but fires 20 feet wide to the left. The third economist throws down his gun and shouts "We got him! We got him!"

COMMENTARY

The US economy, had since long, begun to show symptoms of its degeneration, only to be ignored as a temporary illness. It was only after it collapsed, that the experts awoke to its problems. Now, the ailment has been diagnosed and the cure too, is in sight. What matters, however, is how effectively will the treatment be carried out and how will the economy respond to it?

Invariably, at the end of a lecture on paradigm change, new visions or community capacity, there is always some one in the audience who asks: but what is the bottom line? This is especially so at technical universities and business organizations.

The “bottom line” question asserts that argument, visions and language display are all interesting but ultimately unimportant. What is important is what can be counted, that which leads to economic wealth: measurability and profit. Related is the challenge to the capacity to transform, that is the world is considered a tough place and only ego-maximizing real politics (money and territory) is possible – everything else is illusion. 

For any speaker focused on gender, community, health, cultural or spiritual issues suddenly there is very little to say, since, well, it is not about the bottom line but everything else. The audience walks away save for a few who are thrilled and desire to save the world, either through community building, learning meditation, or recycling bottles.

EDUCATION

Rising Sun' promises bright future

This model centre of learning based on Neo-Humanist Education is a source of hope for all those young minds who were born with darkness all around them.

A few miles from Belmiro Braga, a little city in the state of Minas Gerais just over the border from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a small village called Vila San Fransisco. It was established in the 1980s. And, in this village is a little school named the 'Rising Sun'.

Just as the rising sun denotes a new beginning, this school too, has adopted a new teaching model based on the Neo-Humanist education. It aims to instill a sense of worth and purpose among the poor and needy children of the village.

ACTIVITIES

After they held their annual convention in Delhi on 13-14 October 2008, the Party is now reorganising itself to launch serious and positively productive movements in India with the twin objectives to give power to the moralists and to usher in  an era of economic democracy in India.