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Kashmiri on Death Row Galvanises Opposition to Death Penalty

2011-10-10T21:28:00.001-07:00

"Is Afzal Guru really the person that so many Indians supposedly want dead? Or are they taking out their frustrations on an easy target?" asked Human Rights Watch, referring to the death sentence handed down to the Kashmiri man who was convicted of conspiracy in the 2001 suicide attack on the Indian Parliament.

"For many, Afzal bears the burden of representing all those who dare to oppose Indian rule in restive parts of the country, because the attack on Parliament was an attack on India," said the statement by Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia researcher for global rights watchdog HRW.

"Conversely, many Kashmiris would say that Afzal is a freedom fighter, planning an attempt at the symbol of Indian oppression," adds the statement, titled ‘Life, Not Death: Why Afzal Mustn’t Hang’. "Both views are flawed. For this multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural state to survive, Indians have to believe in equal justice for all. And in the case of Jammu and Kashmir, there has been consistent failure to deliver on this promise."

A Kashmiri, supported by a wife who is a doctor and a lone teenage son, Mohammad Afzal, commonly called Afzal Guru, was found guilty of conspiracy in the attack on parliament which killed more than a dozen people. He was given the death penalty, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2004.

The sentence was to be carried out in 2006, but the execution was stayed following a mercy plea filed by Afzal Guru.

Although most nations across the globe – a total of 139 – have abolished the death penalty, India continues the practice, as the World Day Against the Death Penalty once again rolled around on Oct. 10.

India joined 53 other countries to vote against the December 2007 United Nations General Assembly moratorium on executions, passed with 104 votes in favour and 29 abstentions. However, Indian judges generally follow the 1983 Supreme Court ruling that the death penalty may be resorted to only in the "rarest of rare cases".

Afzal’s death penalty has not gone down well amongst various quarters in Kashmir. The separatist leaders view it as an unjust step, which would endanger the political situation in Kashmir

"I am completely against execution of Afzal Guru. He didn’t get a fair trial. Hanging him would be pure human rights violation," said Shabir Ahmad Shah, the chairman of the Democratic Freedom Party, a separatist organisation.

He says that Afzal’s hanging could have a negative impact on the situation in Kashmir. "When Maqbool Bhat was hanged in India’s Tihar jail in 1984, it was followed by insurgency. And if Afzal is also hanged, it will as well result in dangerous consequences," Shabir told IPS. "People would surely come on streets and protest against it as no Kashmiri wants his hanging."

The unrest in Kashmir has its roots back in 1947, when Britain granted India independence and the Muslim-dominated areas became part of Pakistan. A U.N. resolution, meantime, gave Kashmiris the option to join either Hindu-dominated India or Pakistan or to become independent. But Kashmiris had no chance to make a choice as their homeland is claimed by both India and Pakistan.

Roughly a third of modern-day Kashmir is administered by Pakistan while the rest is under India. But many Kashmiris challenge this, and protesters living on the Indian side rose up in arms in 1989 in an insurgency that simmers to this day.

Saying Afzal did not get a fair trial, Sajjad Lone, another separatist leader, said intellectuals, NGOs and civil society in general needs to stand up against Afzal’s execution, which he said "will not suit the people of Kashmir."

Hardline separatist leader of Kashmir Syed Ali Shah Geelani warned of "dire consequences" if Afzal Guru is hanged, saying in a statement in August that "it will unleash a storm."

Human rights activists and organisations have also criticised Afzal's death sentence, which they see as a human rights abuse.

"Afzal Guru's case is being adjudicated upon in terms of its politics, not in relation to the violations of process and hearing that have taken place. The death penalty has no place in a democracy," said Angana Chatterji, a professor of social and cultural anthropology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco, and the co-convener of the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir.

Chatterji says despite the international movement to abolish capital punishment and the 2007 U.N. moratorium on executions, "India continues to impose the (death) penalty. The allocation of capital punishment continues to be influenced by racism, ethnocentrism, and class prejudice, authorising the state to act against a person's right to life."

Kashmir-based human rights activist Khurram Parvez, a co-founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), says the sentence handed down to Afzal was not based on a fair trial.

"If anyone reads that judgment, one would come to know that he was pronounced guilty on secondary evidence. No direct evidence was produced in the court against Afzal Guru," Parvez told IPS.

Citing the Supreme Court sentence, he said it states that "the incident, which resulted in heavy casualties, has shaken the entire nation and the collective conscience of society will only be satisfied if capital punishment is awarded to the offender."

"When there is no evidence against Afzal, why should he be hanged? To satisfy the collective conscience of society, it appears India needs a sacrifice," Parvez added.

Advocate Faisal Qadri said the death penalty should be abolished in India. "I am completely against the death penalty. It is the worst kind of human rights violation. Humans have no right to kill anyone, even if it is a criminal."

And Qadri argued that in Afzal Guru’s case, capital punishment is completely unjustified: "Even India’s own leading lawyers admit that Afzal was not given a fair trial."

For ordinary people, the sentence handed to Afzal is a manifestation of India’s bias against Kashmiris.

"The Indian system is biased against Kashmiri people…there are scores of innocent Kashmiri youth who are arrested on the basis of mere suspicion and put behind bars for years with no evidence. How can we expect India to be just to Afzal?" said Iqbal (who provided only one name).

"Whenever any Kashmiri is found involved in any wrong act, India has to act in an unjust manner. That has been India's policy towards Kashmir," says Amina Maqbool, a political science student from the University of Kashmir

The HRW statement says the group "unequivocally opposes the death penalty. Guilty or not, we believe that neither Mohammad Afzal Guru, nor (law student) Priyadarshini Mattoo’s killer, Santosh Kumar Singh, nor (former Iraqi president) Saddam Hussein, nor anyone else, should be executed.

"Taking the life of a human being is inherently cruel, and as a form of punishment is unique in its irreversibility. The intrinsic fallibility of all criminal justice systems assures that even when there is a fair judicial process, innocent persons will still be executed. On a practical level, there is no evidence that it is an effective deterrent," it adds.

Source http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=105411

Front Porch: Brian Vogan plays Everett

2011-07-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Kiddie musician Brian Vogan and his band, the Good Buddies, offer a show with indie rock, R&B, country, jazz, rock, 80's pop and classical influences.

They plan to entertain from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Thornton A. Sullivan Park at Silver Lake, 11405 Silver Lake Road in Everett. Admission is free.

Vogan is a songwriter, performer and early childhood music teacher in Seattle. His music is inspired by the interests and ideas he gets from the children he teaches, according to his bio.

The audience can bring blankets and chairs. Silver Lake offers a playground next to the stage area, a sandy beach and a designated swim area, picnic tables, restrooms and is ADA accessible.

Mingle with nature: Kids of all ages are invited to join Washington State University's Snohomish County Extension faculty and staff for the fourth annual Forest and Wildlife Fun Day.

This outdoor field day is planned from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at McCollum Park, 600 128th St. SE in Everett. The event is free and food will be provided, but participants are asked to register.

The Forest and Wildlife Fun Day will allow kids (and their parents) to explore nature, including excursions to explore the forest, searching for critters in old logs, geocaching, marine life-themed arts and crafts, and examinations of bugs, animal skulls, and other interesting parts of the natural world.

Kids will get to make origami cups in which to grow lettuce.

Source http://heraldnet.com/article/20110725/NEWS01/707259949

Viral messaging: ‘Text messages facilitate productive relationships’

2011-06-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

Due to extreme penetration of mobile cellular technology in the country, a policy lab dedicated to innovation in population engagement, has done a case study on Pakistan and how text messages serve as a facilitator of productive relationships, between institutions and the people they serve.

According to the authors of the report, Alex Gilchrist and Jim Linton Williams, one of the reasons they chose Pakistan from a list of countries where SMS and mobile were common, was because there is little civil society engagement.

Viral text messaging is widespread in Pakistan, according to the report, which focuses on the use of two-way SMS communication in the country and explores how Pakistanis use SMS and mobile technology – elaborating on the possible tools available to engage the population and stakeholders of the country.

According to the report, it is common in Pakistan for text messages to be forwarded from one friend to another, without knowing the identity of who sent the message. The reason this is possible is because of the remarkably low cost of text messages in Pakistan, which allows this one-to-one viral transmission to reach a considerable scale.

Report findings also suggest that since mobile phones are approaching ubiquity in Pakistan – and allow low-cost access to all types of community members, “the mobile phone can be an effective tool to communicate with ordinary people in Pakistan, as well as to learn from them, and even collaborate with them.” According to the report, SMS enhances two-way communication among ordinary people. Citing examples of ways in which SMS can be used in Pakistan, include having a community bulletin board where users could receive adverts and announcements, vote on community development expenditures, call for help against domestic violence and also sign a petition.

Apparently, the report suggests that the use of SMS is common across phone owners of all demographics in Pakistan, and although literacy rates in Pakistan present a barrier, illiterate phone users are also SMS savvy. Interestingly so, it is common for such phone users to ask literate relatives and friends to read text messages to them, and sometimes even write text messages for them as well, the report states.

Furthermore, an equal number of men and women have access to mobile phones, through one means or another. However, while, men tend to own a phone or use the phone of a friend or of a public call office, women tend to use a phone owned by an adult male family member.

The writers are waiting to see how civil society organisations react to this report, and say that if their recommendations are looked upon positively, the authors, together with these organisations will try to collect funds to implement these recommendations. According to them, they’d like to carry out a similar report exploring the use of voice based mobile communications.

Omar Seeks Civil Society Help For Summer Calm

2011-04-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today sought help of civil society to maintain calm during the ensuing summer saying the civil society has important role to ensure congenial atmosphere so that lakhs of people associated with tourism, trade and allied activities are not deprived of their livelihood.

People will not be allowed to suffer in the same way as they were affected adversely during last 3 summers” Chief Minister said while interacting with a group of retired bureaucrats and civil society members at SKICC today.

The meeting which started at 10 am culminated at 4:30 in the afternoon, sources said.

Omar sought suggestions from every member present in the meeting.

Omar, sources said, accepted that there was gap between the government and public which needs to be bridged.

In the backdrop of unrest during last three summers in the Valley, Omar asked civil society members as how situation can be improved on ground.

Some of the participants, sources said, told Omar categorically that there should be a check on human rights violations in future if situation has to improve.

“Any human rights violation can spark into an agitation and it has to be taken care off. Arrest spree should stop,” Omar was told.

They also urged him that political issue should be solved politically and Omar should use his influence to motivate New Delhi to involve separatists in the dialogue process to make it meaningful.

He reiterated the fact that fundamental issue of Jammu and Kashmir is of political nature and requires a political solution. He said that he conveyed the same in presence of Prime Minister when the train was inaugurated in Anantnag and also repeated the same in Assembly. He reminded civil society that Home Minister of the Country himself stood in Parliament and said that Accession of J&K with India is unique and need unique solution also. He said it is surprising that those separatists who don’t feel shy in talking to parliament members who have constitutional limitation are not ready to talk to Interlocutors who have made it clear that they are ready to listen to any body on any issue.

The Chief Minister expressed his satisfaction on renewed progress on Indo-Pak talks after Mumbai episode and said that the Renewal of dialogue process is very significant, even during cricket match two Prime Ministers meeting indicates the improvement in relationship between two countries.

The meeting was attended by the Minister for Rural Development, Parliamentary Affairs and Justice, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for PHE and Irrigation, Mr. Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister for Social Welfare, Ms. Sakina Ittoo, Advisor to Chief Minister, Mr. Mubarak Gul, Minister of State for H&UD and Tourism, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani, Minister of State for Agriculture and Horticulture, Mr. Javaid Ahmad Dar, Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Mr. Devendra Rana, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr. B B Vyas, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Samoon, IGP Kashmir, Mr. S M Sahai, Director of Information and Public Relations, Khawaja Farooq Renzushah, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mr. M A Kakroo and other senior officers.

Mr. Omar said sixty two years long problem cannot be solved in shortest possible time but he acknowledged that the Prime Minister, Dr MM Singh is keen and serious in his determination in improving relationship with Pakistan. He said that any solution which is acceptable to all shall be the better solution.

While referring to stoppage of passports to the kiths and kins of militants, the Chief Minister said he has issued the directions to CID department that clearance of passports shall not be stopped in case any body’s relative is involved in the militancy. Since there is huge back log of 20-years, priority will be given for Hajj pilgrimage.

The CM appreciated that civil society and volunteers of RTI movement have initiated a new debate of making certain amendments in the State Vigilance Act for making it more effective and vibrant. He said recently RTI volunteers published open letter to him and said he agrees with them whatever amendment are required in the Act shall be considered and Law Minister will be suggested to put up the same so that the fresh ordinance is issued for giving more teeth to Vigilance Commission with such amended provisions.

The CM while responding to various questions regarding power said it is endeavour of government to make state self sufficient in power sector but civil society has to play a role in extending cooperation to the Government to check power theft and pilferage.

The Chief Minister said that his Government is very keen in providing skill development to the youth and create such an atmosphere for them so that sports and cultural talent is explored in proper manner and they are able to find different openings for building up their professional career.

Mr. Omar Abdullah said that with the improvement in situation Government has removed bunkers from city and process will continue and said that he hopes no security force person is seen on the streets or roads but situation should improve fast. He said civil policing concept is being strengthened and police has been advised to establish police-people contact on large scale.

When a member raised the issue of funds diversion from Kashmir to Jammu in the meeting, the Chief Minister clarified that no diversion of funds had taken place in his tenure and his government was committed for equitable development of all the regions of the state.

On apprehensions on J&K’s agreement with Reserve Bank of India for Ways and Means and why is state government bowing before the center by leaving JK Bank in an open competition where there are apprehensions that it may not be in a position to compete,” he said the state government’s Ways and Means Advance arrangement with the RBI was a win-win situation for the State Government, J&K Bank, and people of J&K.

Source http://www.kashmirobserver.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7316:omar-seeks-civil-society-help-for-summer-calm&catid=2:local-news&Itemid=3

Nilofar asks India to free Pakistani prisoners

2011-03-29T00:32:00.001-07:00

Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar, chairperson of Bardashat, a civil society organisation striving for peace and tolerance among individuals and societies, Monday hailed the release of an Indian prisoner, Gopal Das, after he was pardoned by President Asif Ali Zardari and called upon the Indian authorities to reciprocate the gesture by releasing Pakistani prisoners languishing in Indian jails in spite of having completed their sentences.

“We believe that peace is the only route to human development and can never happen in situations of injustice and human right violations. Forwarding the same goal for building peace, there are many Pakistani nationals who are in Indian jails and their family members are surviving merely on the hope that their breadwinners will return home some day,” Nilofar said.

Nilofar said that the Joint Judicial Committee on India-Pakistan Prisoners, set up in January 2007, recommended release of all Pakistani and Indian fishermen in custody. The committee comprises eight retired judges of the High Court and Supreme Court of both the countries but is inactive since August 2008.

“We have to address this gross human right violation without further delay. We cannot allow indifference and apathy to the poorest of the poor of both countries and demand immediate relief for the damned and dispossessed like Mai Sakina of Thatta, whose husband is in the Indian prison for the past 20 years,” Nilofar stated. In his letter from the Central Jail, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, dated August 8, 2008, Hussain Bhayani Mullah wrote that his sentence was over and his release was overdue.

“As civil society representatives, we urge the two governments to release the prisoners and ensure the implementation of the otherwise inactive Counsellor Access Agreement signed by the two governments in 2008. This will be viewed as a goodwill gesture and will go a long way in building confidence between Pakistan and India,” Nilofar stated.

Source http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=38713&Cat=6&dt=3/29/2011

Arkansas Governor signs autism bill for children needing therapy

2011-03-09T19:26:00.001-08:00

Tuesday morning in Little Rock, Governor Mike Beebe signed a bill into law that will change the lives of families living with autism. The legislation requires private insurers to provide coverage for autistic children.

"Families shouldn't have to wait. They should be able to get the treatment that is most research proven," said Dayna Miller.

Miller's son, Briar, was diagnosed with autism when he was three. Knowing he needed Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA, she and her family sacrificed to make it possible. She went back to school and opened up the "SPARC" clinic in Jonesboro, helping other children.

"You have a lot of moms and dads that want to provide the best treatment but just cannot financially do it," said Miller.

The law signed Tuesday morning by Governor Beebe will open the window that has been closed for so many families. Miller said Act 196 will require group insurance companies to cover autism treatment. Briar and his family have made a lot of trips to Little Rock to talk to legislators about the need for this law.

"Every kid with autism can get the same treatment that I had, ABA therapy, without having to pay $50,000 from their mothers," said Briar Miller.

Dayna Miller said insurance has covered things like limited speech therapy and physical therapy, but will now include the ABA therapy for children up to 18-years-old that has made a huge difference in her son.

"Only if you have a child with autism or if you work with them, will you understand how this will change a family's life," said Miller.

Seeing her son standing next to the governor as he signed the law was a day Miller never expected to see happen, not only for Briar but for children across the state.

"For a minute I feel like I was having an out of body experience and I felt like I was in a dream," said Miller.

Under this law, the cap for insurance coverage of autistic children is set $50,000.

Source http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=14209935

Killing of student in Handwara strongly denounced

2011-02-08T22:31:00.001-08:00

In occupied Kashmir, Hurriyet leaders and organisations have strongly denounced the custodial killing of an innocent student, Manzoor Ahmed Magray, by Indian troops in Chogal area of Handwara.

Veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, who is in New Delhi for medical check–up, in a statement issued in Srinagar termed the killing as an act of state terrorism. He said that India was engaged in genocide of Kashmiris through its troops. “At a time when the authorities were making tall claims of decrease in human rights violations, an innocent youth has been ruthlessly killed by Army in Chogal.”

He maintained that unless there is complete demilitarization of Jammu and Kashmir, no civilian is safe. He pointed out that on February 05, last year, the troopers killed Zahid Farooq of Nishat. “And the killing of Manzoor Ahmed Magray, in Chogal by Army has made it categorically clear that the ground situation has not changed in Kashmir as the innocent killings are still on,” he said.

The All Parties Hurriyet Conference leaders, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Shabbir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Ahmad Khan in their statements condemning the killing in strong terms said that such barbaric incidents would continue to occur till the presence of Indian troops in the occupied territory. They said that murder of the youth in Handwara had exposed New Delhi’s claims of zero-tolerance to human rights violations in the territory.

The Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front-R, Farooq Ahmad Dar and senior Vice Chairman, Javid Ahmad in a joint statement described the killing as an inhuman act. They expressed solidarity with the family of the martyred student.

The Jammu and Kashmir Mahaz-e-Azadi and the Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement also condemned the custodial murder of the student at Chogal in Handwara. »

Source http://www.kmsnews.org/news/killing-student-handwara-strongly-denounced

Leviathan bones land at local school

2011-01-19T20:13:00.000-08:00

As a cattle rancher, San Gregorio resident Erik Markegard stakes his profession on his ability to move large mammals.

But last month the self-proclaimed cowboy received an odd challenge. Could he and his pickup truck move the remains of the biggest animal on Earth?

That animal, a dead blue whale, washed up on the shores of Bean Hollow State Beach in October after a watercraft is believed to have struck it. After a set of lengthy permits last month filed by science teacher Dan Sudran, the largest bones of the leviathan have been approved to be mounted at Pescadero Elementary School.

But Sudran had a problem -— how do you carefully haul a 1,500-pound mandible, a jawbone as heavy as Half Moon Bay’s heftiest pumpkin? He was considering hiring a helicopter, but then he decided to call up Markegard.

“I haul a lot of heavy stuff, but I’ve never hauled anything like a whale bone,” he said. “I went down there to look at it, I told him let’s try to cowboy up. … Let’s try it the old-fashioned way.”

That meant tying ropes around the huge bone and getting a team of helpers to move it inch by inch from the freezing ocean water. It took hours to coordinate, but the 14-person team was able to lug the bone over to Markegard’s truck and eventually lift it into the bed.

“It was pure caveman physics,” Sudran said. “It was like two and two and two came together. It was perfect.”

Sudran teaches in San Francisco through the Mission Science Workshop, a hands-on nonprofit laboratory for students that he founded in 1991.

Living in Pescadero, Sudran explained that he has amassed a small collection of bones from his regular hikes in the area, which he uses to teach children about biology. When the dead whale washed ashore near Pescadero — the first since 1979 — Sudran realized bones of the creature would be perfect for local education.

“I thought it would be amazing what the kids could learn from a skeleton like that,” Sudran said. “It dawned on me that if I could figure it out logically and get permits, I could get these bones.”

It felt appropriate, Sudran said, to have the whale bones that washed up at Pescadero stay in the local community.

The remains of sea mammals are tightly restricted under federal and state law, making it a crime to take any part of a whale that washes ashore. In Northern California, the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco typically has first dibs on any sea carcass, and more than a half dozen other agencies usually claim samples, leaving few opportunities for anyone else.

But Sudran saw his chance when he noticed that most of the usual science institutions weren’t pouncing on this whale. Most of the other organizations explained they already had plenty of whale bones.

So Sudran decided to make a go for it, and he applied for permits through a hodgepodge of agencies. He also brought up the idea to Pescadero Elementary School Principal Pat Talbot.

“I told her it’s probably crazy, but this huge whale bone could be in front of your school,” he recalled.

Talbot agreed the bones would be a powerful tool for teaching because most of the student body was already interested in the huge whale that washed up on their shores. Everyone could smell the rotting carcass, and many students had visited the beach to see the whale firsthand.

“There was a real local connection,” Talbot said. “This wasn’t just a whale bone in a museum. This was one they saw, and certainly smelled, from the beginning.”

In the end, the small South Coast school received approval to take the huge mandible — part of which was broken. Sudran took other various bones including ribs and vertebrae and has been donating them to other researchers and educators.

For now, the bones are actually in Sudran’s backyard. He lives right in the neighborhood of Pescadero Elementary. The hauling team brought the bones to Sudran’s backyard to let the largest bones dry out before bringing them out to the school, which should lighten the weight of the bones considerably.

As its largest bone, the mandible of a blue whale is crucial for drawing in huge amounts of seawater and krill to feed the gentle beast. The blue doesn’t have teeth on its jaws, but rather baleen, which are used like a sieve to expel water but retain krill.

The jawbone will be mounted at the school by the start of the next academic year. Talbot has suggested that the school could develop some teaching curriculum around it. Off the cuff, she proposed students could learn math by calculating the krill a whale would need to eat, or learn writing by composing stories about the whale journeying across the sea.

Sudran proposed the jawbone could also make an excellent addition to the school playground — it’s large, sturdy, easily climbable and not sharp at all.

Markegard, the cowboy hauler, says he was happy to use his pickup truck to help the kids at Pescadero Elementary, and he’s reminded of it every time he gets behind the steering wheel.

“My truck, my clothes, everything still reeks of dead whale,” he said. “I’m lucky I’m married, otherwise I’d never get a date.”

Smart Skin for Land, Sea and Air Vehicles

2011-01-12T02:11:00.000-08:00

Dumb skin is inadequate

Today, the shell of a vehicle is dumb: it is no more than packaging made of bent metal, glass and shaped plastic that protects and streamlines the clever stuff inside. However, the space inside is needed for passengers and cargo. Bulky batteries and motors inside vehicles overheat, needing expensive and unreliable cooling - often water cooling. And we need many more functions such as solar power and external sensing and lighting that cannot be performed efficiently from within the vehicle. For example, the US Department of Defense has a program to develop real time monitoring of the structural integrity of the whole of the outside of its aircraft using smart skin. It envisages doing the same with aircrew.

Many inventions become appropriate

A large number of appropriate technologies are being adopted that can later become smart skin - multilayer, conformal electrics and electronics over wide areas. Flat electric motors and localised suspension and controls in the wheels have been rendered more practicable using thin film and printed technology. Mechanical linkages and drive trains are eliminated, saving cost and space and improving reliability.

The same can be said of the multilayer printing replacing heavy, expensive copper wire electrics in vehicles and making the bulky, heavy ceiling and dashboard clusters in a car into multilayered laminate, where T-Ink is a leader. Schreiner already makes printed decals for BMW cars that light when the door is opened and BMW is preparing laminar Automotive Thermoelectric Generators ATEGs that will harvest heat from the engine and exhaust. Light emitting diodes in car lights have improved lifetime tenfold: now we have laminar conformal LED arrays that use light guides or large numbers of very thin LEDs. Indeed, LEDs only 20 microns thick have been made and the thinnest LCD TVs are LED backlit. The lifetime limitations of printed large area ac electroluminescent and OLED (organic light emitting display) lighting and display are gradually being overcome.

Smart skin performs better than conventional components

Thin film batteries used in electronics can support faster charge and discharge, last longer and work even when a nail is driven through them. Solicore and others have demonstrated this: it contrasts with some bulk lithium-ion traction batteries exploding when penetrated. Some thin batteries are printed and conformal, with solid state electrolytes and therefore no possibility of leakage. Wider area versions are now being prepared by Planar Energy, The Paper Battery Company and others. Indeed, thin large area batteries have recently been a great success in several pure electric aircraft that have employed conformal thin film photovoltaics to provide the power. Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, AeroVironment and Aurora Flight Sciences each have contracts up to $530 million to make various dirigibles and aircraft based on a laminar coating of photovoltaics for power.

Alternatively, the "molecular switch" printed layer of the University of Texas at Austin potentially mimics the ability of plants to harvest light and convert it to energy. Laminar power could be produced directly from the sun, rather than inefficient power through a plant mediator, such as corn used for biofuels.

New magic

Take all this together and we clearly have a route to smart skin on land, sea and air vehicles saving huge amounts of space, cost, weight and energy but also adding many new functions. For example, if the whole truck or aircraft glowed in the dark it would be much easier to identify and avoid. If the whole of the outside of the car generated electricity, it would be at ten times the power generated by the small rigid solar panel on the top of some cars today.

Invisible vehicle skin

We can generate electricity from printed laminate over the windows and lights of a car if the layer is transparent. Laboratories in Taiwan, Japan and elsewhere have demonstrated both inorganic and organic printed photovoltaics that is transparent and others have translucent versions. This is also important for smart skin on, say the wings and body of an aircraft. We are no longer limited to one optically active layer - the one on the outside.

Already some printed photovoltaics has transparent transistors on the outside for controlling spectral response. Transparent photovoltaics can be layered over transparent light emitting surfaces which are over transparent wide area sensors - all have been demonstrated. NEC in Japan is developing transparent rechargeable battery layers and many OLED displays are transparent and conveniently work at or near the low DC voltages generated by transparent photovoltaics.

All that makes us think of invisible smart skin that does not detract from the conventional livery and signage on a vehicle, product or package. Some will even be capable of sound - spoken warnings, information and so on. On the other hand, printed and thin film electronics is giving us stretchable electronics, as with an OLED film stretched over a raw egg without breaking it, and costs low enough for some smart skin to be disposable.

Avoiding vulnerability

Although, at first sight, it may seem bad practice to put the brains and the power of a vehicle on the outside facing any impact, this is not as bad as it sounds. With wet electrolytes being eliminated, the danger from wet chemicals is removed. That applies to some printed Dye Sensitised Solar Cells DSSC, supercapacitors and hybrid supercapacitor-battery constructions called supercabatteries plus laminar batteries themselves. The use of toxic materials is also becoming a thing of the past.

Biomimetics is being brought to bear - just as the human brain has redundancy - duplication for security of service - so we shall have more of the redundancy of power and circuitry typically seen in a military ship or civil aircraft today. Most of these laminar components are much more damage tolerant anyway, just as a bird can still fly with a few feathers missing and a human hand can still have a sense of touch if part of it is out of action.

Missile destroying skin

So what about vehicle skin that disables incoming missiles? A recent European study has shown that "electric armor" can be a cost-effective way of protecting a vehicle against penetrating explosive devices. It follows earlier work in Russia and the USA with a skin of explosive that destroys incoming ordnance. Traditional thick steel armor plates are replaced by a capacitor layer - two conducting layers separated by an insulating one. When a shaped charge penetrates the smart skin it closes the circuit to discharge the capacitor to diffuse the attack. The work was carried out by BMT Defence Services in the UK for the European Defence Agency. This recent study looked at relevant work across Europe and its application to the new electric military vehicles which have little or no heat or sound signature for missiles to home in on but must be lightweight to provide adequate range. A generic electric armor system for a 30 tonne vehicle was developed and a roadmap for key technologies. New armored vehicles for the British Army are likely to include electric armor from the national Defence Science and Technology Laboratory DSTL to address the threat from rocket-propelled grenades. DSTL has already developed a system weighing only two tonnes but with the protective effect of carrying an extra 10-20 tonnes of steel armor, yet reducing the effect of impacts by rocket propelled grenades to almost zero. Clearly we shall hear of more magic made possible by various forms of smart skin on land, sea and air vehicles.

Leading event on the subject

Printed and potentially printed thin film electronics and electrics are now a subject in their own right. The world's leading event on the subject is Printed Electronics & Photovoltaics Europe where those providing and using the key enabling technologies for smart skin and other breakthrough applications will be exhibiting, presenting and demonstrating. That includes NanoMas Technologies, intrinsiq, HC Starck and others making printable nano metal and conductive polymer inks that can be annealed without damaging low temperature, low cost substrates. They also use less material. Global leader in appropriate polymer film, DuPont Teijin, ink jet printing experts Fuji Dimatix and the leaders in test equipment, materials and other aspects will also be exhibiting or sponsoring including Beneq, Innovation Laboratory, ImageExpert, Pall Corp., Chisso and InCore Systems. A large number of first announcements will be made. This event will be taking place 5-6 April in Dusseldorf, Germany.

For full event details, visit www.IDTechEx.com/peEUROPE.

Source http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=41351

"'I Am Ozzy' available on paperback." – Book Review

2011-01-04T23:44:00.000-08:00

Last year I picked up Ozzy Osbourne’s autobiography “I Am Ozzy.” Whenever I read a rock autobiography I usually read the book with the artist’s voice in my mind while I read. That was the weirdest thing about the Ozzy bio, if you read it with his voice in mind you wouldn’t be able to understand him. Which makes you wonder, how good could this autobiography actually be? We’ve all seen the reality show and interviews with Ozzy…can he really write a book?

“I Am Ozzy” is not the best rock bio ever…not by a mile, but that said it is very interesting. You can definitely hear Ozzy’s voice in the words, but it makes for some good stories. It doesn’t glorify the debauchery like “The Dirt” (Motley Crue’s Autobiography) or “Walk This Way” (Aerosmith’s Autobiography) and it’s not really about too much more than the rock n roll life style than “Hit Hard” (Joey Kramer of Aerosmith) or “The Heroin Diaries” (Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue). It’s really just a simple story of Ozzy’s take on several events that have happened in his life.

If I had to compare it to another rock bio, I’d compare it to “Slash.” It is what it is. I didn’t really gain anything from reading the book, but when I was reading it I couldn’t put it down. It was definitely a very good interesting read. While “I Am Ozzy” is mainly for Ozzy’s many fans, I think even those that dislike Ozzy would find it an interesting read. Ozzy may play a dumb guy on TV he definitely has a solid head on his shoulders. No seriously, the guy should have died years ago; he must be doing something right.

BYLINE:

Bob Zerull is the Managing Editor of Zoiks! Online. He writes pop culture commentary, does interviews with bands, and reviews music and stand-up concerts. He also administers Zoiks! Online's Facebook page. Follow Bob on twitter at bzerull. Email Bob at bob@zoiksonline.com.

Read more: http://www.zoiksonline.com/2011/01/i-am-ozzy-available-on-paperback-book.html#ixzz1A8zfgQR7

Killing of 112 boys spread azadi fire in Kashmir, says report

2010-12-28T23:49:00.000-08:00

Top politicians and civil society members of the country feel the death of 112 boys in action by security forces during the recent unrest stoked the azadi fire in Kashmir.

Delhi-based think-tank Centre for Policy Analysis (CPA), which led a 10-member team of parliamentarians and civil society members on a three-day fact-finding mission to the Valley early this month has come up with a damning report.

The team comprising parliamentarian Ram Vilas Paswan, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and journalist Seema Mustafa, among others, met the family of Tufail Matoo, the first victim of the unrest, Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti and others from December 3.

“The situation in Kashmir has worsened dramatically and the death of 112 boys at the hands of security forces and the mass arrests of young people that are still continuing have virtually helped seal the alienation, giving the slogan for azadi popular and widespread support,” the report says.

It punctures the Center’s ‘Mission Kashmir’, saying the three-member committee of interlocutors does not have the support of the people.

The only silver lining for the government is that there is anger against Pakistan, it says.

“The current movement is spontaneous, with strong anger against Pakistan making that state irrelevant in the Valley,” the report says, recommending revocation of Disturbed Areas Act, phased withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Srinagar and other urban centres, review of all cases of detention under Public Safety Act and release of political prisoners not facing serious criminal charges.

Source http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_killing-of-112-boys-spread-azadi-fire-in-kashmir-says-report_1487447

Senate Delivers Success to Obama by Clearing Russia Arms Treaty

2010-12-22T23:26:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama scored a win on a key foreign-policy initiative after the U.S. Senate approved a treaty with Russia that cuts nuclear arms and renews weapons inspections on the last day of the 111th Congress.

After eight days of debate, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty cleared its final hurdle and was approved 71-26, exceeding the minimum threshold of 67 votes needed to secure its passage. Thirteen Republicans joined 56 Democrats and two independents in the final vote held yesterday.

“Democrats and Republicans came together to approve my top national security priority,” Obama said yesterday at a year-end press conference at the White House. “With this treaty, our inspectors will also be back on the ground at Russian nuclear bases, so we will be able to trust, but verify.”

The positive outcome caps Obama’s victories in the post- election lame-duck session. Other successes include the repeal of a law that banned gays from serving openly in the military, and on the economic front, an $858 billion deal to extend tax cuts and unemployment assistance for the long-term jobless.

The timing for the ratification for New Start was critical. A reduced Democratic majority in the chamber in January, the result of last month’s elections, would have made the vote more tenuous and hurt the president’s credibility abroad.

‘Enormously Important’

“It is an enormously important measure of credibility for the president,” Senator John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters after the vote. “It’s critical” for any U.S. president to be able “to sit down with leaders in another country and to say to them, if we agree to X, Y and Z, I can deliver.”

Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the accord in April as part of a push to restore relations between the two former Cold War rivals and reduce the spread of nuclear weapons worldwide.

The treaty, replacing an agreement that expired last December, limits each side’s strategic warheads to no more than 1,550, from 2,200 allowed previously, and sets a maximum of 800 land-, air- and sea-based launchers.

“Obama’s ambitions for nuclear reductions were pared down at the negotiating table, but he succeeded in bringing home an agreement that further reduced nuclear forces in a structured, verifiable way,” said Michael Krepon, co-founder of the Henry L. Stimson Center in Washington, in an e-mail.

Russian Hurdle

Having cleared the U.S. Senate, the treaty now must be approved by Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma. Andrei Klimov, deputy head of the Duma’s foreign affairs committee, said it could be passed tomorrow in the last full session of the year.

With Vice President Joe Biden in the chair, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton worked the chamber, greeting former Senate colleagues and shaking hands. She spent much of her time on the Republican side of the aisle, talking with Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran, a treaty supporter, and Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, who helped spearhead the ratification drive as the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee.

Opponents argued that the treaty limits U.S. options for developing missile defenses, a project Russia has opposed. They also contend that the new accord’s verification standards aren’t strong enough and that Obama hasn’t made sufficient assurances that the existing U.S. arsenal will be adequately maintained.

In an effort to whittle down opposition to the treaty, the administration added $5 billion in recent weeks to its 10-year, $80 billion plan unveiled earlier this year.

McCain Opposes

That succeeded in winning over some Republicans but not Arizona Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl, among the sternest critics seeking to postpone the vote. Both declined to comment on the passage of the treaty.

“This was contentious,” said Lugar, who had worked to gather Republican support.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said New Start would improve security. It requires lower numbers of weapons, provides a “rigorous” inspection system and offers the flexibility the U.S. needs to pursue missile defenses against attacks from potential adversaries, such as Iran, he said.

Military commanders and defense and nuclear officials have testified that the accord doesn’t limit missile-defense options and that it improves the ability to verify Russia’s adherence to agreed weapons thresholds.

Former President George H.W. Bush, current and former U.S. military commanders and Cabinet secretaries, including Henry Kissinger and Colin Powell all supported ratification.

The Senate approved the original Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in 1992 by a vote of 93-6. Four years later, Start II won approval, 87-4. The 2002 Moscow Treaty, which drew on the same verification procedures as in Start, was approved 95-0.

--With assistance from Kate Andersen Brower, Mark Drajem, Ryan Donmoyer, Roger Runningen, Flavia Krause-Jackson, David Lerman and Nicholas Johnston in Washington, Balazs Penz in Budapest and Henry Meyer in Moscow. Editors: Steven Komarow, Bill Austin

Source http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-23/senate-delivers-success-to-obama-by-clearing-russia-arms-treaty.html