PRESS RELEASE

On Saturday May 23rd, Meta-Culture Dialogics (MCD) convened the tenth session of its popular community dialogue series, Bengaluru Speaks. Held at the Ashirvad Community Centre, the dialogue explored the topic: “Dare to be an Agent of Change? Your wish list for the new government.” The Bangalorean participants varied in age and profession, and there was a fairly equal ratio of men to women. To kick-off the dialogue, the Meta-Culture facilitators asked the participants to reflect on the election campaigns and results. Many participants felt the candidates put forward party-oriented issues instead of focusing on social development. Some participants said they…

The World Environment Foundation is launching PROACTIVATE, an environment initiative, in the city on 5th June 2009, to combat climate change. The initiative is a part of World Environment Week 2009 commemoration in association with Institute of Directors, Bangalore Management Association, the Maini Group and the Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services along with their partners PROACTIVATE - an eleven point model of growth developed, discussed and filtered at various workshops and conferences organised by the UK based World Council for Corporate Governance and World Environment Foundation - has found universal support for its holistic focus and simplicity of execution.  This…

The markets of Madivala, Nelamangala, Banashankari and Naganathapura wear a new look these days. Buying vegetables, fruits and other home needs in the evenings has become easier now, thanks to the CFL bulbs that have replaced petromax lanterns in these places. They have illuminated smiles on the vendors’ faces too.Sarojamani, a small vendor for the last 17 years recalls that earlier the vendors had to either scramble for a place below the streetlight or spend on costly and low illuminating light sources or pack up their business by sunset. She used to spend more than Rs 900 per month for…

Runners for Life, a community of people who run to get fit organised its second edition of their unique event, ‘Feet on the Street', a five kilo metre run. The event held in the city on 5th April saw 301 enthusiastic runners out on the streets on a Sunday morning.The format of ‘Feet on the Street' is unique. These are monthly runs. It is not a track and field event, but is held at a central location. While the first edition was held at Cubbon Park, the second edition was conducted around Ulsoor Lake. In addition to running and popularising…

Brinjal, badanekayi, the king of vegetables comes with its own crown! Let's revisit the world of Brinjal and explore it's amazing diversity! It is a celebration of the diversity of brinjals and to contemplate our role in protecting it. Good Food, healthy food, safe food... should be a primary concern for all of us. The Brinjal festival to be held at Lalbagh is an attempt to bring a better consciousness and respect for our rich diverse food. Genetically Modified (GM) food crops pose a grave threat to the diversity and to our health as consumers. Let us all make informed…

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of fresh water and advocating for the sustainable management of fresh water resources. An international day to celebrate fresh water was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. Infrequent BWSSB water supply. (Illustration: Madhu Ramaswamy) It is an irony that in Bangalore, water gets significantly more expensive the poorer you get. Water is a subsidized commodity for those who…

The voter list in respect of Jayanagar 4th Block has been taken out from the website and kept it for verification at: The Office of the Jayanagar Residents Welfare Civic and Cultural Association Office No. 284, 34th Cross, 9th Main Road,4th Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore. 560011. All the residents of Jayanagar 4th Block are requested to verify their names in the list published by the Election Commission, Government of India as on 2nd February 2009. If any name has been left out in the above list, the residents can fill up Form No.6 and submit the same before 31st March 2009.…

Moodbidri, Feb 19, 2009. Moral police attack a 15 year old girl, Ashwini Moole. Her crime: Talking to a Muslim male friend. The girl commits suicide.  Bangalore, Feb 24, 2009, time: 9.30pm, Lakshmi who was walking on the road is roughed up by four men who later try to pull her out of an auto as she attempts to escape.  Bangalore Feb 28, 3009. Journalist Sanjana, whose bike broke down, was hailing an auto at 10:30 p.m. when two men on a bike punch her. What does our Bangalore Police Commissioner have to say about these incidents? ‘Bangaloreans are cultured.…

Ambedkar Community Computing Center (AC3) is a centre set up in the slum area of Sudharshan Layout by members of Ambedkar Youth Sanga, Stree Jagruthi Samithi (a women's organization fighting for women's rights and child rights, for increasing the wages of house maids, et cetra), volunteers from AID (Association for India's Development) and by volunteers of the free software movement.Mani, a student at the Ambedkar computer centreMore information on AC3 can be found here.The idea of setting up the centre was to equip the children in the nearby areas with the basic computer skills, using quality software which is available…

Continuing to enhance the airport's infrastructure, Bengaluru International Airport inaugurated the country's first of its kind Cargo Village. Spread over 11 acres of land area with adequate provision for future expansion, the facility, located near the cargo terminals is expected to strengthen Bangalore's position as a trade and commercial hub while ensuring faster clearances of import and export consignments from the cargo terminals at the airport. The facility, completed over a period of 10 months, has been built with an investment of Rs. 12 crore.From left to right: Marcel Hungerbüehler - COO, BIAL, Mr. Prabhu- President BCHAAI and Albert Brunner…