Here I am jumping into Heypop and Nana's swimming pool.

In Samoa, ECHO has committed some Euro 1,1 million to bring aid to the victims of Cyclone Evan which struck Fiji and Samoa in December 2012. On 18-22 June 2013, ECHO expert, Evangelos Petratos, visited Samoa and met the Country Director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Su'a Julia Wallwork, to discuss the progress in an ADRA project funded with Euro 280,000.

Photo Credit: EU/ECHO

Part of a set done at a performance of The Committed, at the Explorer Hotel, Feb. 18, 2012.

We are committed to this project as our shop car. We are under the process of conducting the following:

-S52 engine swap

-body work (wrap/repaint, body kit, etc.)

-suspension (Lead Tech, Jason will be making one for this project)

-Tires/Rims

and we are open to suggestions, give us your feedback here or under the "Review" tab on our fan page www.facebook.com/brianjesselautohaus

Stay tuned for the latest updates on our launch party, and many exciting events.

Also a chance to vote and win prizes throughout the building process.

The Georgia Chamber is committed to working with the legislature to strengthen the state's business community

Part of a set done at a performance of The Committed, at the Explorer Hotel, Feb. 18, 2012.

gasolineacademy.blogspot.com

We are committed to this project as our shop car. We are under the process of conducting the following:

-S52 engine swap

-body work (wrap/repaint, body kit, etc.)

-suspension (Lead Tech, Jason will be making one for this project)

-Tires/Rims

and we are open to suggestions, give us your feedback here or under the "Review" tab on our fan page www.facebook.com/brianjesselautohaus

Stay tuned for the latest updates on our launch party, and many exciting events.

Also a chance to vote and win prizes throughout the building process.

President Agius opens exhibition in Pula on crimes committed in Ahmići - Photo © Ajdin Kamber

Joshua Tree, CA - In December, former San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy Brian Derryberry was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison for sex crimes committed against female inmates at Morongo Basin Jail. t.co/MMh8RaX2yT (via Twitter twitter.com/LegalHerald/status/1082407803661238274)

We are committed to this project as our shop car. We are under the process of conducting the following:

-S52 engine swap

-body work (wrap/repaint, body kit, etc.)

-suspension (Lead Tech, Jason will be making one for this project)

-Tires/Rims

and we are open to suggestions, give us your feedback here or under the "Review" tab on our fan page www.facebook.com/brianjesselautohaus

Stay tuned for the latest updates on our launch party, and many exciting events.

Also a chance to vote and win prizes throughout the building process.

We visited Great falls National Park on a cloudless, cold, sunny day, when this guy showed up and did a few waterfall runs in prime view from the observation point. Pretty convenient.

Please view large by pressing 'L' or clicking the image.

Thanks for looking, and as always, your comments are appreciated.

via my.resources.sa/1t5BTOv

An American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis - Washington State's bird) committed to seed extraction on a fluffy branch. Photographed at Union Bay Natural Area (aka Montlake Fill) in Seattle.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 + Lumix 100-300mm

On Rescuer's Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the personnel of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, congratulated them on their professional holiday, and awarded state honors.

He emphasized that today is the professional holiday of all those whose job and calling is to save lives.

"Whatever happens, the SES of Ukraine is always there to help, and always promptly. They remain fully committed to their most important mission: saving lives," said the President.

The President inspected samples of automotive and robotic equipment. In particular, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and SES Head Andriy Danyk reported on the use of surface drones and robotic systems for mine disposal.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian rescuers have responded to over 170,000 shelling occasions and extinguished more than 20,000 fires. SES sappers have neutralized over half a million explosive devices.

As a result of Russian aggression, 97 SES personnel have been killed, 395 injured, and 4 are currently held in Russian captivity.

The attendees observed a minute of silence to honor all those Ukraine has lost due to the war.

The President presented the Order of the Golden Star to the family of the fallen Hero of Ukraine, Lieutenant Colonel of the Civil Protection Service Artem Kostyria. The Lieutenant Colonel participated in over 70 operations to mitigate the consequences of Russian attacks. After the liberation of the Kharkiv region, he organized the restoration of nearly 100 damaged fire and rescue units. Thanks to his efforts, over 2,400 people were evacuated. Artem Kostyria was killed on July 13 this year while responding to the aftermath of an enemy missile strike when Russian forces launched a second ballistic missile attack.

The President also awarded SES employees the Orders "For Courage", II and III class, and the Order of Danylo Halytskyi.

Additionally, in Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presence, the winners of the nationwide "Hero – Rescuer of the Year" campaign were honored. Eight Ukrainians received awards:

Oleh Holubchenko, a maxillofacial surgeon from the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital. On July 8 of this year, during a Russian missile strike, he was performing surgery. Medical equipment failed, but he found alternative ways to maintain breathing and carried the child to shelter. Despite his injuries, he assisted rescuers and volunteers in clearing the hospital’s rubble.

Artem Makarov, a cadet at Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs. In April of this year, he saved an eight-year-old boy whom his own mother tried to drown.

Andriy Bibik, a police officer in the Novopillia community. In one of the villages, he noticed thick smoke near the houses. An outbuilding was on fire, and the flames were spreading toward homes. Andriy rescued a 13-year-old girl, an infant, and two dogs.

Yuliia Oholikhina, a personnel specialist at the SES in the Zaporizhzhia region. While on vacation, she saw a child drowning in a pool. She pulled the girl out of the water and provided first aid.

Andriy Lubenets, a Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman. Severely wounded in the war, last September, near a pond, he heard a 17-year-old boy’s cry for help. Despite his injured leg, Andriy swam to the boy and pushed him 20 meters to safety with one arm. Patrol police officers helped pull the boy out of the water and resuscitate him.

Ihor Kalashnyk, an electrician at a construction hypermarket. In May of this year, after Russian aerial bombs hit the hypermarket, he fully shut down the power to the building and helped evacuate four visitors from a smoke-filled area. He also removed generator barrels with fuel from the premises to prevent another explosion.

Polina Sholokh, a SES signaller. While at a car wash, she heard a woman screaming. Next to her was a boy with no signs of life, who had been pulled out of a drainage pit. Polina immediately began CPR, and after several minutes, the boy was breathing again.

Oleksandr Zhuk, a physical education teacher. Near a lake, he heard cries for help and saw three girls in the water. One had already lost consciousness and was pulling another down. Oleksandr rescued two of the girls from the water, while the third made it to the shore on her own.

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Rik Poot (1924 Vilvoorde - 2006 Jette ) is a socially committed Flemish artist. In the early days he worked more abstract. Later he used a more figurative form of art, within classical modernism. Essential in the design of Rik Poot are the hollow spaces between the bronze parts from which his statues are constructed. Through creating those openings, his monumental sculptures get at the same time something light and a certain fragility. This work is dedicated to the mothers of raped, murdered and disappeared children, victims of paedophilia.

Title of the work: Hurt I am, inside.

This work can be admired in Grimbergen near the fantastic church of the abbey.

Rik Poot (1924 Vilvoorde - 2006 Jette ) is een sociaal sterk geëngageerde Vlaamse kunstenaar. In de beginperiode werkte hij meer abstract. Later hanteerde hij een meer figuratieve kunstvorm, binnen het klassiek modernisme. Essentieel in de vormentaal van Rik Poot zijn de holle ruimten tussen de bronzen delen waaruit zijn beelden zijn opgebouwd. Door die openingen te creëren krijgen zijn monumentale beelden tegelijk iets lichts en een zekere fragiliteit. Zijn werken kregen daarmee een krachtig en expressief ritme mee. Dit werk is opgedragen aan de moeders van verkrachte, vermoorde en verdwenen kinderen, slachtoffers van pedofilie.

Het kan bewonderd worden in Grimbergen in de omgeving van de fantastische abdijkerk.

Rik Poot (1924 Vilvorde - 2006 Jette) est un artiste flamand socialement très engagé. Au début, il travaillait de manière plus abstraite. Plus tard, il a utilisé une forme d'art plus figurative, dans le modernisme classique. Les espaces creux entre les pièces de bronze à partir desquelles ses sculptures sont construites, sont essentiels dans le langage de conception de Rik Poot. En créant ces ouvertures, ses sculptures monumentales acquièrent à la fois quelque chose de léger et une certaine fragilité. Cela a donné à ses œuvres un rythme puissant et expressif. Cet oeuvre est dédié aux mères d'enfants violés, assassinés et disparus, victimes de pédophilie.

Titre de l’oeuvre: Je suis blessé à l'intérieur

Il peut être admiré à Grimbergen à proximité de la fantastique église abbatiale

This woman makes a reference to the holocaust committed against the Jews by the Nazis during World War 2, with her "Never Again Is Now" sign at a Denver protest against Trump adminstration policies on reffugees seeking asylum.

"Fed: We're Still Committed To Low Mortgage Rates - The Mortgage Reports (blog)" t.co/1plbybFRqE (via Twitter twitter.com/downpaymentaz/status/826894204609691653)

Salviati, who committed suicide in his workshop, “came from a Venetian dynasty of glass-workers, and operated the Regent Street-based branch of the family firm, which was responsible for some of the mosaic work in St Paul's Cathedral, such as the figures of prophets in the spandrels of the dome.

Brookwood Cemetery, Cemetery Pales, Brookwood, Woking, Surrey.

I asked politely if I could take a photo of his tattoo. His reply was "Which one?". You should have seen the rest

I'm afraid i have committed a cardinal sin, and done something i would never normally do - i removed the lovely original amber hair from one of my bird trolls, as i wanted a dark haired one! That's so bad, but i do love the results! I only usually take off a trolls hair when it is completely rotton and needs to be replaced, but the birds are so rare, it is almost impossible to find just what you want, and when you do, there are so many people also after the same thing! :O( So, as i badly need some amber mohair for one of my new bald trolls, i carefully removed it from one of my birds. This has killed two birds with one stone - so to speak! LOL! Additionally, having experimented sorting out the slightly damaged air-brushing on my other bird i have enhanced the dark birds spots. His original spots didn't show up in photos, only in certain lighting. So, the newly dark guy has had a bit of a designer makeover! Terrible! I am chuffed though to now have two birds again, and they are now quite different! :O)

stripped down..

We are committed to this project as our shop car. We are under the process of conducting the following:

-S52 engine swap

-body work (wrap/repaint, body kit, etc.)

-suspension (Lead Tech, Jason will be making one for this project)

-Tires/Rims

and we are open to suggestions, give us your feedback here or under the "Review" tab on our fan page www.facebook.com/brianjesselautohaus

Stay tuned for the latest updates on our launch party, and many exciting events.

Also a chance to vote and win prizes throughout the building process.

Committed Combine Day 2

These Muslim woman were attempting to deliver a mandate to the United Nations proclaiming human rights abuses by the Indian Army during its continued occupation of Kashmir. They were barred from doing so and took to the streets in protest with chants of "Shame on the United Nations!"

Jan Palach, a student who committed suicide by self-immolation in political protest, killed himself on January 16, 1969, after the Soviet Union invaded his native Czechoslovakia to crush the reforms of Alexander Dubček’s government during the Prague Spring. A bronze cross marks the spot where Palach set himself on fire, followed by Jan Zajíc one month later in the entrance of the building at No. 39 on Wenceslas Square, where today a small plaque reminds of his act.

We are committed to this project as our shop car. We are under the process of conducting the following:

-S52 engine swap

-body work (wrap/repaint, body kit, etc.)

-suspension (Lead Tech, Jason will be making one for this project)

-Tires/Rims

and we are open to suggestions, give us your feedback here or under the "Review" tab on our fan page www.facebook.com/brianjesselautohaus

Stay tuned for the latest updates on our launch party, and many exciting events.

Also a chance to vote and win prizes throughout the building process.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, stating that they are extremely committed to preventing irregular migration flows to Europe, "we will in this issue is absolutely full," he said. Tsipras, made in Turkey, hosted by the Prime Minister's office in Izmir Turkey-Greece High Level Cooperation Council meeting of 4 and then held a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu. Tsipras, the refugee crisis in the negotiations said also on the agenda, of any other country in a better drama they live in the Aegean Sea, the road to the immigrants to find life in terms of cultural values of both countries stressed that shame. "What one of us does not dictate how to solve. Solving extremely passionate about," said Tsipras, who organized to dry the sources of illegal immigration was underlined their commitment to take all necessary steps in.

With our management team working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Gold Crest’s trained security staff are committed to providing quality service to suit what you need in security.

As a Gold Crest Security client you are appointed your own Service Executive who liaises directly with your management and oversees your entire security operation. They take a personal interest in your account to ensure your individual needs are always catered for and take the burden of day-to-day security off your shoulders.

We have a minimum of two mobile Area Managers working 24 hours a day, every day of the year, who conduct ongoing random visits to ensure the optimum safety and efficiency of your appointed security personnel.

goldcrestsecurity.com.au/infrastructure.html

Rik Poot (1924 Vilvoorde - 2006 Jette ) is a strongly socially committed Flemish artist. In the initial period, his work was more abstract. Later on, he used a more figurative art form, within classical modernism. Essential to Rik Poot's formal language are the hollow spaces between the bronze parts from which his sculptures are constructed. By creating these openings, his monumental sculptures simultaneously acquire something light and a certain fragility. This gives his works a powerful and expressive rhythm. He was a great advocate of craftsmanship. He stated: "Without craftsmanship you cannot make art. An artist is a craftsman."

Title of the work: the great ammonite

This work of art can be admired at the Middelheim open air museum at Antwerp: www.middelheimmuseum.be/en

Rik Poot (1924 Vilvoorde - 2006 Jette ) is een sociaal sterk geëngageerde Vlaamse kunstenaar. In de beginperiode werkte hij meer abstract. Later hanteerde hij een meer figuratieve kunstvorm, binnen het klassiek modernisme. Essentieel in de vormentaal van Rik Poot zijn de holle ruimten tussen de bronzen delen waaruit zijn beelden zijn opgebouwd. Door die openingen te creëren krijgen zijn monumentale beelden tegelijk iets lichts en een zekere fragiliteit. Zijn werken kregen daarmee een krachtig en expressief ritme mee. Hij was een groot voorvechter van vakmanschap. Zij stelde hij: “Zonder vakmanschap kan je onmogelijk kunst maken. Een kunstenaar is een stielman.”

Meer over dit werk: search.middelheimmuseum.be/details/collect/148114

Dit werk kan bewonderd worden in het openlucht museum Middelheim in Antwerpen: www.middelheimmuseum.be/nl

Rik Poot (1924 Vilvoorde - 2006 Jette ) est un artiste flamand fortement engagé socialement. Dans la période initiale, son travail était plus abstrait. Plus tard, il a utilisé une forme d'art plus figurative, dans le cadre du modernisme classique. Les espaces creux entre les pièces de bronze dont sont constituées ses sculptures sont essentiels au langage formel de Rik Poot. En créant ces ouvertures, ses sculptures monumentales acquièrent simultanément quelque chose de léger et une certaine fragilité. Cela donne à ses œuvres un rythme puissant et expressif. Il était un grand défenseur de l'artisanat. Il a déclaré : "Sans artisanat, on ne peut pas faire d'art. Un artiste est un artisan."

Titre de l'œuvre: la grande ammonite

Cette œuvre peut être admirée au musée en plein air Middelheim à Anvers: www.middelheimmuseum.be/fr

I committed a cardinal sin today.. finally we had some clear weather and even some sunshine and i forgot my camera when we visited the allotment... i was hoping for some nice flare or bokeh shots. However the evening sunset always hits the front of our house and i decided to use the light to capture some shots of the kids. This is my 14month old 'reading' her ABC book.

With plans to invest R$1.2 billion to build 80 new units, Walmart Brazil found a way to help women and, at the same time, address the lack of skilled labor in the civil construction industry. Walmart Brazil has committed to hiring women for construction projects who are graduates of “Women Building Autonomy,” a program developed by the city of Sao Bernardo do Campo Department of Policies for Women and the federal government. The first construction site under this new program is a Sam’s Club in Sao Paulo. Of the 200 bricklayer positions for this project, more than 50 have already been filled by women workers.

To find out how Walmart supports women’s economic empowerment around the world, visit walmartstores.com/women

Santiago Gonzales Castro, 36, of New York is shown in a November 1954 photograph. He was a Puerto Rican Nationalist Party member accused of conspiracy to overthrow the government of the United States.

Gonzales Castro had previously been convicted of a murder committed on behalf on the Nationalist Party in Puerto Rico in 1938 where he had been sentenced to life in prison, but was later pardoned.

Gonzales Castro was convicted of sedition in 1955 and sentenced to six years in prison

Sedition trial:

Following the wounding of five U.S. Representatives in the Capitol building March 1, 1954 by four Puerto Rican nationalists who opened fire on them from a visitor gallery, the U.S. government began a series of mass arrests that resulted in two conspiracy trials 1954-55. A third trial took place in Puerto Rico.

The four participants in the shooting—Delores Lolita Lebron, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Irvin Flores Rodriguez and Andres Figueroa Cordero—were quickly arrested and convicted in the attack with sentences varying from 16 years to 75 years in jail.

But the federal government went further, convening three different grand juries, summoning 91 Puerto Ricans and bringing indictments against 17 members of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party for “seditious conspiracy to overthrow the United States government by force.”

The four charged in the shootings were also among the 17 charged with conspiracy.

The indictment alleged that the defendants were “active members, leaders, officers or persons in control of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico, which is charged to be an organization dedicated to bringing about the political independence of Puerto Rico from the United States by force of violence or armed revolution.”

In effect, the government was using the same strategy it was using to break up the U.S. Communist Party during that period. If you were an active member of the Nationalist Party, you were guilty even if you committed no illegal acts yourself.

Four of those charged turned state’s evidence and gave testimony against the other defendants.

At the first month-long trial in October 1954, much of the evidence against the group consisted of testimony by police or informers of speeches given by Nationalist Party leaders who had used slogans like, “Throw the Yankees out at pistol point,” “give your life and property for independence,” and saying that President Harry Truman “could be hanged in a place in San Juan.”

Many of the speeches dated prior to the 1950 attempted armed revolution in Puerto Rico by the Nationalist Party that was defeated and for which many party members were jailed in Puerto Rico.

Defense attorney Conrad J. Lynn charged the government sought “proscription of a dissenting political group because of its ideas.”

Julio Pinto Gandia, a defendant who was acting as his own counsel and was the alleged leader of the group in the U.S., told the court that the party, founded in 1922, was not “a band of terrorists” and that any violent actions arose out of individual “despair.”

The most sensational specific testimony came from one of those indicted who turned state’s evidence--Gonzalo Lebron Sotomayor, brother of Delores Lolita Lebron who was the leader of the four shooters.

Lebron Sotomayor testified that Pinto Gandia told him there would be attacks on Congress, President Dwight Eisenhower and the Puerto Rican Resident Commissioner in Washington, but could not say how the plans would be carried out.

Other specific testimony involved another of those indicted who turned state’s evidence. Angle Luis Medina testified he had purchased a number of pistols and three carbines in Chicago at the direction of a party leader who told him “to be ready in case of a revolution” to free Puerto Rico.

The evidence against most of the defendants committing any specific illegal act was thin.

U.S. Attorney J. Edward Lumbard summed up the case saying that the Nationalist Party had supplied the pistols used in the U.S. Capitol shooting and a 1950 attempt to assassinate President Harry Truman and that each of the 13 defendants had their “moral fingerprints on the guns” used.

Lumbard further told the jury that the government did not have to prove that the defendants were part of a conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government—only that they had conspired to overthrow the authority of the United States in Puerto Rico.

The defense called five witnesses to testify that the Nationalist Party did not advocate overthrow of the U.S. government and only sought total independence for Puerto Rico.

Lynn told the jury that the government was trying “proscription of a dissenting political group because of its ideas.”

Pinto Gandia had earlier sought dismissal of the indictments against the four shooters as double jeopardy and because the government, “intended to bring the guilt of the four defendants upon the other defendants by association or inference.”

He added, “it is not a crime to preach and work for the freedom of a nation and that membership in the Nationalist Party itself did not indicate anyone was part of a conspiracy.

The jury deliberated only a few hours before finding all the defendants guilty.

Two weeks after the verdicts, more arrests took place and a second trial scheduled.

The trial of 11 other Nationalists took place February-March 1955 and followed the same lines as the first trial, except that Lebron Sotomayer gave additional details to his earlier testimony.

Ten of the 11 were found guilty. Serafin Colon Olivera, 28 of New York, was acquitted. Testimony had indicated he was a Nationalist Party member in 1949 and attended a Nationalist dance in 1953.

Those found guilty in the two trials received sentences ranging from 18 months to six years in prison. Appeals failed.

In Puerto Rico, Nationalist Party leader Pedro Albizu Campos hailed the attack as “sublime heroism.” The governor revoked a previous pardon of the party leader and he was arrested after a shootout and imprisoned.

Charges were placed against 15 party members on the island, however 12 were acquitted at trial in late 1954. The three found guilty were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 3-10 years.

Albizu Campos’ health suffered badly in prison where he suffered a stroke in 1956 that left him unable to talk or walk. He was pardoned in 1964, but died a few months afterward.

The Nationalist Party was all but dead as a result of the U.S. trials and by suppression by authorities in Puerto Rico, although it continues to exist today.

First trial sedition trial in 1954:

Jorge Luis Jimenez, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Manuel Rabago Torres, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Rosa Collazo, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Juan Bernardo Lebron, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Juan Francisco Medina, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Armando Diaz Matos, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Julio Pinto Gandia, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Carmelo Alvarez Roman, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Jose Antonio Otero Otero, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Andress Figueroa Cordero, one of 4 convicted shooters, sentenced to additional six years imprisonment

Rafael Cancel Miranda, one of 4 convicted shooters, sentenced to additional six years imprisonment

Dolores Lolita Lebron, one of 4 convicted shooters, sentenced to additional six years imprisonment

Irvin Flores Rodriguez, one of 4 convicted shooters, sentenced to additional six years imprisonment

Second trial in 1955:

Juan Hernandez Valle, Puerto Rico, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Maximino Pedraza Martinez, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Santiago Gonzalez Castro, sentenced to six years imprisonment

Esteban Quinones Escute, sentenced to four years imprisonment

Angel Luis Arzola Velez, sentenced to four years imprisonment

Antonio Herrera Moreno, sentenced to four years imprisonment

Carmen Dolores Otero Torresola, sentenced to four years imprisonment

Pedro Aviles, sentenced to four years imprisonment

Julio Flores Medina, sentenced to 18 months imprisonment

Miguel Vargas Nieves, sentenced to 18 months imprisonment

Those who turned state’s evidence:

Gonzalo Lebron Sotomayor, suspended sentence

Francisco Cortez Ruiz, suspended sentence

Carlos Aulet, suspended sentence

Angel Luis Medina, suspended sentence

Acquitted at May 1955 trial:

Serafin Colon Olivera

For more information and related images to the 1954-55 conspiracy trials of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, see flic.kr/s/aHskRMRawC

For more information and related images to the 1950 attempted assassination of President Truman and the 1954 wounding of five U.S. Representatives, see flic.kr/s/aHskghBC71

The photographer is unknown. The photo is believed to be a mugshot. The image is courtesy of the D.C. Public Library Washington Star Collection © Washington Post.

We are committed to this project as our shop car. We are under the process of conducting the following:

-S52 engine swap

-body work (wrap/repaint, body kit, etc.)

-suspension (Lead Tech, Jason will be making one for this project)

-Tires/Rims

and we are open to suggestions, give us your feedback here or under the "Review" tab on our fan page www.facebook.com/brianjesselautohaus

Stay tuned for the latest updates on our launch party, and many exciting events.

Also a chance to vote and win prizes throughout the building process.

Here at Klean Kanteen, we are committed to creating a more sustainable world by making reusable products more accessible for a wider range of uses. As the creators of the original stainless steel water bottle, we have always believed that everyone is capable of making a difference in the fight against single use! From festivals and fundraisers to cleanups and campouts, our products are durable enough to go with you on every adventure. www.kleankanteen.com

Photo by Erica Binns

Chittorgarh Fort (Hindi/Rajasthani: चित्तौड दुर्ग Chittorgarh Durg) is the largest fort in India and the grandest in the state of Rajasthan. It is a World Heritage Site. The fort, plainly known as Chittor, was the capital of Mewar and is today situated several kilometres south of Bhilwara. It was initially ruled by Guhilot and later by Sisodias, the Suryavanshi clans of Chattari Rajputs, from the 7th century, until it was finally abandoned in 1568 after the siege by Emperor Akbar in 1567. It sprawls majestically over a hill 180 m in height spread over an area of 280 ha above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. The fort precinct with an evocative history is studded with a series of historical palaces, gates, temples and two prominent commemoration towers. These monumental ruins have inspired the imagination of tourists and writers for centuries.

The fort was sacked three times between the 15th and 16th centuries; in 1303 Allauddin Khilji defeated Rana Ratan Singh, in 1535 Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat defeated Bikramjeet Singh and in 1567 Emperor Akbar defeated Maharana Udai Singh II who left the fort and founded Udaipur. Each time the men fought bravely rushing out of the fort walls charging the enemy but lost every time. Following these defeats, Jauhar was committed thrice by more than 13,000 ladies and children of the Rajput heroes who laid their lives in battles at Chittorgarh Fort, first led by Rani Padmini wife of Rana Rattan Singh who was killed in the battle in 1303, and later by Rani Karnavati in 1537 AD.

Thus, the fort represents the quintessence of tribute to the nationalism, courage, medieval chivalry and sacrifice exhibited by the Mewar rulers of Sisodia and their kinsmen and women and children, between the 7th and 16th centuries. The rulers, their soldiers, the women folk of royalty and the commoners considered death as a better option than dishonor in the face of surrender to the foreign invading armies.

GEOGRAPHY

Chittorgarh, located in the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, 233 km from Ajmer, midway between Delhi and Mumbai on the National Highway 8 (India) in the road network of Golden Quadrilateral. Chittorgarh is situated where National Highways No. 76 & 79 intersect.

The fort rises abruptly above the surrounding plains and is spread over an area of 2.8 km2. The highest elevation at the fort is 1,075 m. It is situated on the left bank of the Berach river (a tributary of the Banas River) and is linked to the new town of Chittorgarh (known as the 'Lower Town') developed in the plains after 1568 AD when the fort was deserted in light of introduction of artillery in the 16th century, and therefore the capital was shifted to more secure Udaipur, located on the eastern flank of Aravalli hill range. Mughal Emperor Akbar attacked and sacked this fort which was but one of the 84 forts of Mewar,but the capital was shifted to Aravalli hills where heavy artillery & cavalry were not effective. A winding hill road of more than 1 km length from the new town leads to the west end main gate, called Ram Pol, of the fort. Within the fort, a circular road provides access to all the gates and monuments located within the fort walls.

The fort that once boasted of 84 water bodies has only 22 of them now. These water bodies are fed by natural catchment and rainfall, and have a combined storage of 4 billion litres that could meet the water needs of an army of 50,000. The supply could last for four years. These water bodies are in the form of ponds, wells and step wells.

HISTORY

Chittorgarh Fort is considered to be the largest fort of India in terms of area. It is stated that the fort was constructed by the Mauryans during the 7th century AD and hence derives its name after the Mauryan ruler, Chitrangada Mori, as inscribed on coins of the period. Historical records show Chittorgarh fort as the capital of Mewar for 834 years. It was established in 734 AD by Bappa Rawal, founder ruler in the hierarchy of the Sisodia rulers of Mewar. It is also said that the fort was gifted to Bappa Rawal as part of Solanki princess’s dowry in the 8th century. The fort was looted and destroyed at the hands of Emperor Akbar in 1568 AD and subsequently never resettled but only refurbished in 1905 AD. Three important battles were fought for control of the fort; in 1303, Ala-ud-din Khilji besieged the fort; in 1535, Sultan of Gujarat Bahadur Shah besieged the fort; and in 1568, Mughal Emperor Akbar attacked the fort. Not that there were only defeats at the fort. Excluding the periods of siege, the fort had always remained in possession of the Sisodias of the Guhilot (or Gehlot/Guhila) clan of Rajputs, who descended from Bappa Rawal. There were also success stories of establishment of the fort and its reconstruction after every siege, before it was finally abandoned in 1568, all of which are narrated.

Chittor is cited in the Mahabharat epic. It is said that Bhima, the second of the Pandava brothers of Epic Mahabaharata fame, known for his mighty strength gave a powerful hit with his fist to the ground that resulted in water springing up to form a large reservoir. It is called Bhimlat kund, an artificial tank named after Bhima. Folk legend also mentions that Bhima started building the fort.

BAPPA RAWAL

The earliest history linked to the Bappa Rawal's fort is that of the Huna Kingdom of Sialkot (of Mihir Kula 515-540 AD) that was destroyed by Yashodharman. This was subsequently seized by a new dynasty of kshatriyas called Tak or Taxaka. According to historians, the Taxak Mori were the lords of Chittor from a very early period. After a few generations, the Guhilots supplanted them. From 725 to 735 AD, there were numerous defenders who appear to have considered the cause of Chittor their own, the Tak from Asirgarh. This race appears to have retained possession of Asirgarh for at least two centuries after this event and one of its chieftain Bappa Rawal was the most conspicuous leader in the lineage of Prithvi Raj. In the poems of Chandar he is called the "Standard, bearer, Tak of Asir."

SIEGE OF 1303

Ala ud din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, rallied his forces against Mewar, in 1303 AD. The Chittorgarh fort was till then considered impregnable and grand, atop a natural hill. But his immediate reason for invading the fort was his obsessive desire to capture Rani Padmini, the unrivalled beautiful queen of Rana Ratan Singh and take her into his harem. The Rana, out of politeness, allowed the Khilji to view Padmini through a set of mirrors. But this viewing of Padmini further fired Khilji’s desire to possess her. After the viewing, as a gesture of courtesy, when the Rana accompanied the Sultan to the outer gate, he was treacherously captured. Khilji conveyed to the queen that the Rana would be released only if she agreed to join his harem. But the queen had other plans. She agreed to go to his camp if permitted to go in a Royal style with an entourage, in strict secrecy. Instead of her going, she sent 700 well armed soldiers disguised in litters and they rescued the Rana and took him to the fort. But Khilji chased them to the fort where a fierce battle ensued at the outer gate of the fort in which the Rajput soldiers were overpowered and the Rana was killed. Khilji won the battle on August 26, 1303. Soon thereafter, instead of surrendering to the Sultan, the royal Rajput ladies led by Rani Padmini preferred to die through the Rajput’s ultimate tragic rite of Jauhar (self immolation on a pyre). In revenge, Khilji killed thirty thousand Hindus. He entrusted the fort to his son Khizr Khan to rule and renamed the fort as 'Khizrabad'. He also showered gifts on his son by way of

a red canopy, a robe embroidered with gold and two standards one green and the other black and threw upon him rubies and emeralds.

He returned to Delhi after the fierce battle at the fort.

RANA HAMMIR & SUCCESSORS

Khizr Khan’s rule at the fort lasted till 1311 AD and due to the pressure of Rajputs he was forced to entrust power to the Sonigra chief Maldeva who held the fort for 7 years. Hammir Singh, usurped control of the fort from Maldeva by “treachery and intrigue” and Chittor once again regained its past glory. Hammir, before his death in 1364 AD, had converted Mewar into a fairly large and prosperous kingdom. The dynasty (and clan) fathered by him came to be known by the name Sisodia after the village where he was born. His son Ketra Singh succeeded him and ruled with honour and power. Ketra Singh’s son Lakha who ascended the throne in 1382 AD also won several wars. His famous grandson Rana Kumbha came to the throne in 1433 AD and by that time the Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat had acquired considerable clout and were keen to usurp the powerful Mewar state.

RANA KUMBHA & CLAN

There was resurgence during the reign of Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. Rana Kumbha, also known as Maharana Kumbhakarna, son of Rana Mokal, ruled Mewar between 1433 AD and 1468 AD. He is credited with building up the Mewar kingdom assiduously as a force to reckon with. He built 32 forts (84 fortresses formed the defense of Mewar) including one in his own name, called Kumbalgarh. But his end came in 1468 AD at the hands of his own son Rana Udaysimha (Uday Singh I) who assassinated him to gain the throne of Mewar. This patricide was not appreciated by the people of Mewar and consequently his brother Rana Raimal assumed the reins of power in 1473. After his death in May 1509, Sangram Singh (also known as Rana Sanga), his youngest son, became the ruler of Mewar, which brought in a new phase in the history of Mewar. Rana Sanga, with support from Medini Rai (a Rajput chief of Alwar), fought a valiant battle against Mughal emperor Babar at Khanwa in 1527. He ushered in a period of prestige to Chittor by defeating the rulers of Gujarat and also effectively interfered in the matters of Idar. He also won small areas of the Delhi territory. In the ensuing battle with Ibrahim Lodi, Rana won and acquired some districts of Malwa. He also defeated the combined might of Sultan Muzaffar of Gujarat and the Sultan of Malwa. By 1525 AD, Rana Sanga had developed Chittor and Mewar, by virtue of great intellect, valour and his sword, into a formidable military state. But in a decisive battle that was fought against Babar on March 16, 1527, the Rajput army of Rana Sanga suffered a terrible defeat and Sanga escaped to one of his fortresses. But soon thereafter in another attack on the Chanderi fort the valiant Rana Sanga died and with his death the Rajput confederacy collapsed.

SIEGE OF 1534

Bahadur Shah who came to the throne in 1526 AD as the Sultan of Gujarat besieged the Chittorgarh fort in 1534. The fort was sacked and, once again the medieval dictates of chivalry determined the outcome. Following the defeat of the Rana, it is said 13,000 Rajput women committed jauhar (self immolation on the funeral pyre) and 3,200 Rajput warriors rushed out of the fort to fight and die.

SIEGE OF 1567

The final Siege of Chittorgarh came 33 years later, in 1567, when the Mughal Emperor Akbar invaded the fort. Akbar wanted to conquer Mewar, which was being ably ruled by Rana Uday Singh II, a fine prince of Mewar. To establish himself as the supreme lord of Northern India, he wanted to capture the renowned fortress of Chittor, as a precursor to conquering the whole of India. Shakti Singh, son of the Rana who had quarreled with his father, had run away and approached Akbar when the later had camped at Dholpur preparing to attack Malwa. During one of these meetings, in August 1567, Shakti Singh came to know from a remark made in jest by emperor Akbar that he was intending to wage war against Chittor. Akbar had told Shakti Singh in jest that since his father had not submitted himself before him like other princes and chieftains of the region he would attack him. Startled by this revelation, Shakti Singh quietly rushed back to Chittor and informed his father of the impending invasion by Akbar. Akbar was furious with the departure of Shakti Singh and decided to attack Mewar to humble the arrogance of the Ranas. In September 1567, the emperor left for Chittor, and on October 20, 1567, camped in the vast plains outside the fort. In the meantime, Rana Udai Singh, on the advice of his council of advisors, decided to go away from Chittor to the hills of Udaipur. Jaimal and Patta, two brave army chieftains of Mewar, were left behind to defend the fort along with 8,000 Rajput warriors under their command. Akbar laid siege to the fortress. The Rajput army fought valiantly and Akbar himself had narrowly escaped death. In this grave situation, Akbar had prayed for divine help for achieving victory and vowed to visit the shrine of the sufi saint Khwaja at Ajmer. The battle continued till February 23, 1568. On that day Jaymal was seriously wounded but he continued to fight with support from Patta. Jayamal ordered jauhar to be performed when many beautiful princesses of Mewar and noble matrons committed self-immolation at the funeral pyre. Next day the gates of the fort were opened and Rajput soldiers rushed out bravely to fight the enemies. Jayamal and Patta who fought bravely were at last killed in action. One figure estimates that 30,000 soldiers were killed in action. Akbar immediately repaired himself to Ajmer to perform his religious vow.

RETURN OF THE FORT TO MEWAR

But in 1616, Jehangir returned Chittor fort to the Rajputs, when Maharana Amar Singh was the chief of Mewar. However, the fort was not resettled though it was refurbished several centuries later in 1905 during British Raj.

PRECINCTS

The fort which is roughly in the shape of a fish has a circumference of 13 km with a maximum width of 3 km and it covers an area of 700 acres. The fort is approached through a zig zag and difficult ascent of more than 1 km from the plains, after crossing over a bridge made in limestone. The bridge spans the Gambhiri River and is supported by ten arches (one has a curved shape while the balance have pointed arches). Apart from the two tall towers, which dominate the majestic fortifications, the sprawling fort has a plethora of palaces and temples (many of them in ruins) within its precincts.

The 305 hectares component site, with a buffer zone of 427 hectares, encompasses the fortified stronghold of Chittorgarh, a spacious fort located on an isolated rocky plateau of approximately 2 km length and 155m width.

It is surrounded by a perimeter wall 4.5 kilometres long, beyond which a 45° hill slope makes it almost inaccessible to enemies. The ascent to the fort passes through seven gateways built by the Mewar ruler Rana Kumbha (1433- 1468) of the Sisodia clan. These gates are called, from the base to the hill top, the Paidal Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jorla Pol, Laxman Pol, and Ram Pol, the final and main gate.

The fort complex comprises 65 historic built structures, among them 4 palace complexes, 19 main temples, 4 memorials and 20 functional water bodies. These can be divided into two major construction phases. The first hill fort with one main entrance was established in the 5th century and successively fortified until the 12th century. Its remains are mostly visible on the western edges of the plateau. The second, more significant defence structure was constructed in the 15th century during the reign of the Sisodia Rajputs, when the royal entrance was relocated and fortified with seven gates, and the medieval fortification wall was built on an earlier wall construction from the 13th century.

Besides the palace complex, located on the highest and most secure terrain in the west of the fort, many of the other significant structures, such as the Kumbha Shyam Temple, the Mira Bai Temple, the Adi Varah Temple, the Shringar Chauri Temple, and the Vijay Stambh memorial were constructed in this second phase. Compared to the later additions of Sisodian rulers during the 19th and 20th centuries, the predominant construction phase illustrates a comparatively pure Rajput style combined with minimal eclecticism, such as the vaulted substructures which were borrowed from Sultanate architecture. The 4.5 km walls with integrated circular enforcements are constructed from dressed stone masonry in lime mortar and rise 500m above the plain. With the help of the seven massive stone gates, partly flanked by hexagonal or octagonal towers, the access to the fort is restricted to a narrow pathway which climbs up the steep hill through successive, ever narrower defence passages. The seventh and final gate leads directly into the palace area, which integrates a variety of residential and official structures. Rana Kumbha Mahal, the palace of Rana Kumbha, is a large Rajput domestic structure and now incorporates the Kanwar Pade Ka Mahal (the palace of the heir) and the later palace of the poetess Mira Bai (1498-1546). The palace area was further expanded in later centuries, when additional structures, such as the Ratan Singh Palace (1528–31) or the Fateh Prakash, also named Badal Mahal (1885-1930), were added. Although the majority of temple structures represent the Hindu faith, most prominently the Kalikamata Temple (8th century), the Kshemankari Temple (825-850) the Kumbha Shyam Temple (1448) or the Adbuthnath Temple (15th- 16th century), the hill fort also contains Jain temples, such as Shringar Chauri (1448) and Sat Bis Devri (mid-15th century) Also the two tower memorials, Kirti Stambh (13th-14th century) and Vijay Stambha (1433-1468), are Jain monuments. They stand out with their respective heights of 24m and 37m, which ensure their visibility from most locations of the fort complex. Finally, the fort compound is home to a contemporary municipal ward of approximately 3,000 inhabitants, which is located near Ratan Singh Tank at the northern end of the property.

GATES

The fort has total seven gates (in local language, gate is called Pol), namely the Padan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jodla Pol, Laxman Pol and the main gate named the Ram Pol (Lord Rama's Gate). All the gateways to the fort have been built as massive stone structures with secure fortifications for military defense. The doors of the gates with pointed arches are reinforced to fend off elephants and cannon shots. The top of the gates have notched parapets for archers to shoot at the enemy army. A circular road within the fort links all the gates and provides access to the numerous monuments (ruined palaces and 130 temples) in the fort.

During the second siege, Prince Bagh Singh died at the Padan Pol in 1535 AD. Prince Jaimal of Badnore and his clansman Kalla were killed by Akbar at a location between the Bhairon Pol and Hanuman Pol in the last siege of the fort in 1567 (Kalla carried the wounded Jaimal out to fight). Chhatris, with the roof supported by corbeled arches, have been built to commemorate the spots of their sacrifice. Their statues have also been erected, at the orders of Emperor Akbar, to commemorate their valiant deaths. At each gate, cenotaphs of Jaimal (in the form of a statue of a Rajput warrior on horseback) and Patta have also been constructed. At Ram Pol, the entrance gate to the fort, a Chaatri was built in memory of the 15 year old Patta of Kelwa, who had lost his father in battle, and saw the sword yielding mother and wife on the battle field who fought valiantly and died at this gate. He led the saffron robed Rajput warriors, who all died fighting for Mewar’s honour. Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) provides entry to the eastern wall of the fort. On the right of Suraj Pol is the Darikhana or Sabha (council chamber) behind which lie a Ganesha temple and the zenana (living quarters for women). A massive water reservoir is located towards the left of Suraj Pol. There is also a peculiar gate, called the Jorla Pol (Joined Gate), which consists of two gates joined together. The upper arch of Jorla Pol is connected to the base of Lakshman Pol. It is said that this feature has not been noticed anywhere else in India. The Lokota Bari is the gate at the fort’s northern tip, while a small opening that was used to hurl criminals into the abyss is seen at the southern end.

VIJAY STAMBHA

The Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory) or Jaya Stambha, called the symbol of Chittor and a particularly bold expression of triumph, was erected by Rana Kumbha between 1458 and 1468 to commemorate his victory over Mahmud Shah I Khalji, the Sultan of Malwa, in 1440 AD. Built over a period of ten years, it raises 37.2 metres over a 4.4 m2 base in nine stories accessed through a narrow circular staircase of 157 steps (the interior is also carved) up to the 8th floor, from where there is good view of the plains and the new town of Chittor. The dome, which was a later addition, was damaged by lightning and repaired during the 19th century. The Stamba is now illuminated during the evenings and gives a beautiful view of Chittor from the top.

KIRTI STAMBHA

Kirti Stambha (Tower of Fame) is a 22 metres high tower built on a 9.1 m base with 4.6 m at the top, is adorned with Jain sculptures on the outside and is older (probably 12th century) and smaller than the Victory Tower. Built by a Bagherwal Jain merchant Jijaji Rathod, it is dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain tirthankar (revered Jain teacher). In the lowest floor of the tower, figures of the various tirthankars of the Jain pantheon are seen in special niches formed to house them. These are digambara monuments. A narrow stairway with 54 steps leads through the six storeys to the top. The top pavilion that was added in the 15th century has 12 columns.

RANA KUMBHA PALACE

At the entrance gate near the Vijaya Stamba, Rana Kumbha's palace (in ruins), the oldest monument, is located. The palace included elephant and horse stables and a temple to Lord Shiva. Maharana Udai Singh, the founder of Udaipur, was born here; the popular folk lore linked to his birth is that his maid Panna DaiPanna Dhai saved him by substituting her son in his place as a decoy, which resulted in her son getting killed by Banbir. The prince was spirited away in a fruit basket. The palace is built with plastered stone. The remarkable feature of the palace is its splendid series of canopied balconies. Entry to the palace is through Suraj Pol that leads into a courtyard. Rani Meera, the famous poetess saint, also lived in this palace. This is also the palace where Rani Padmini, consigned herself to the funeral pyre in one of the underground cellars, as an act of jauhar along with many other women. The Nau Lakha Bandar (literal meaning: nine lakh treasury) building, the royal treasury of Chittor was also located close by. Now, across from the palace is a museum and archeological office. The Singa Chowri temple is also nearby.

FATEH PRAKASH PALACE

Located near Rana Khumba palace, built by Rana Fateh Singh, the precincts have modern houses and a small museum. A school for local children (about 5,000 villagers live within the fort) is also nearby.

GAUMUKH RESERVOIR

A spring feeds the tank from a carved cow’s mouth in the cliff. This pool was the main source of water at the fort during the numerous sieges.

PADMINI´S PALACE

Padmini's Palace or Rani Padmini's Palace is a white building and a three storied structure (a 19th-century reconstruction of the original). It is located in the southern part of the fort. Chhatris (pavilions) crown the palace roofs and a water moat surrounds the palace. This style of palace became the forerunner of other palaces built in the state with the concept of Jal Mahal (palace surrounded by water). It is at this Palace where Alauddin was permitted to glimpse the mirror image of Rani Padmini, wife of Maharana Rattan Singh. It is widely believed that this glimpse of Padmini's beauty besotted him and convinced him to destroy Chittor in order to possess her. Maharana Rattan Singh was killed and Rani Padmini committed Jauhar. Rani Padmini's beauty has been compared to that of Cleopatra and her life story is an eternal legend in the history of Chittor. The bronze gates to this pavilion were removed and transported to Agra by Akbar.

OTHER SIGHTS

Close to Kirti Sthamba is the Meera Temple, or the Meerabai Temple. Rana Khumba built it in an ornate Indo–Aryan architectural style. It is associated with the mystic saint-poet Mirabai who was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and dedicated her entire life to His worship. She composed and sang lyrical bhajans called Meera Bhajans. The popular legend associated with her is that with blessings of Krishna, she survived after consuming poison sent to her by her evil brother-in-law. The larger temple in the same compound is the Kumbha Shyam Temple (Varaha Temple). The pinnacle of the temple is in pyramid shape. A picture of Meerabai praying before Krishna has now been installed in the temple.

Across from Padmini’s Palace is the Kalika Mata Temple. Originally, a Sun Temple dated to the 8th century dedicated to Surya (the Sun God) was destroyed in the 14th century. It was rebuilt as a Kali temple.

Another temple on the west side of the fort is the ancient Goddess Tulja Bhavani Temple built to worship Goddess Tulja Bhavani is considered sacred. The Tope Khana (cannon foundry) is located next to this temple in a courtyard, where a few old cannons are still seen.

JAUHAR MELA

The fort and the city of Chittorgarh host the biggest Rajput festival called the "Jauhar Mela". It takes place annually on the anniversary of one of the jauhars, but no specific name has been given to it. It is generally believed that it commemorates Padmini’s jauhar, which is most famous. This festival is held primarily to commemorate the bravery of Rajput ancestors and all three jauhars which happened at Chittorgarh Fort. A huge number of Rajputs, which include the descendants of most of the princely families, hold a procession to celebrate the Jauhar. It has also become a forum to air one's views on the current political situation in the country.

WIKIPEDIA

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Well I have committed to a 'photo a week' project this year. I really missed doing a photo project last year. Unfortunately I've been so busy that I haven't really got around to taking any photos yet this week, so to make sure I don't fail in the first week I grabbed a shot of my Springer Spaniel Mac earlier on today whilst playing around with a new speedlight, because one of my photographic new years resolutions is to learn how to use it thoroughly. My last flash was so simple even a child could understand it, this one is quite a bit more complicated, lol. My other new years resolution is to calibrate my damn monitor, the brightness is way up so apologies if this is too dark, lol.

Reading Elizabeth Gilbert's sequel to 'Eat Pray Love'. Liz's thoughts on getting married a 2nd time.

Events on the stage of Shonan area of Japan , aimed at the development of the Hawaiian culture . Dancers of about 1,000 people gathered from Kanagawa prefecture , I committed showcase technology of hula daily , polished .

Pretty girl with very . You are dancing hard .

I begin by congratulating each one of you for having been selected for a very prestigious organized service in our system of government. The foreign service occupies a unique place in our system of governance and with every passage of time the importance of having a foreign service which is committed to our national objectives which has the requisite skills and motivation to carry out the task of implementing our foreign policy in diverse areas of activity – its importance is only going to grow in the years to come. We live today in an increasingly integrated, globalised world, and the growing interdependence of nations creates new challenges for the management of global economy, global polity and foreign policy is essentially a projection of our national interest abroad.

And therefore the starting point of every good foreign service training must be a thorough grounding of what are our national concerns, what are our national objectives and ever since India became independent the foremost task before our country has been to accelerate the pace of social and economic development to ensure that our economy grows at a rapid rate, that with it we can generate more wealth in our country with which we can wash away the tears from the marginalized sections of our society and in internal domestic policies have an important role to play as to what will happen to the pace of development in our country. But as I said in an increasingly interdependent world that we live in we need an external environment which is conducive to the promotion of rapid economic development in our country. And when I talk about international environment, I have in mind the fact that what happens to the world trading system impinges on our capacity to grow at a faster pace. International trade particularly in the globalised world we live in has emerged as an important engine of growth of nations. And therefore we have to create an environment with which India’s trade can grow, India’s economy will benefit enormously if our exports are given a level playing field if we don’t face barriers to increase exports of our country and therefore what happens to the multilateral trading systems, what happens to barriers to trade, barriers of commerce, is a very important indicator of what will be the pace of development of our country.

In the same way we are now today faced with situation where there are new challenges. Never before in the history of the world capital flows have emerged as major determinant of international system. Today financial liberalization has taken roots although many countries , even our own country, maintain some controls on capital movements but as far as inward movements of capitalist concerned by and large, we have a very liberal system which encourages the import of capital. As a part of our strategy to accelerate this tempo of development we need a rapid increase of savings and investments. If we want to grow at the rate of 9 to 10 per cent we need an investment rate of 35 to 40%. The bulk of savings needed to sustain this investment have been generated domestically. And fortunately our savings rate today is as high as 35%. We invest about 37% of our GDP and we save about 35% and therefore the net capital inflow from abroad is about 2% of our GDP. It is small but it is important. It is also important because capital inflows are harbingers of transfer of technology, management skills and therefore we have been trying to create over time a congenial atmosphere for investment in our country, both for domestic capital formation as well as in our ability to attract foreign capital.

In addition to the liberalization of trade and financial services, we are today faced with new challenges. There are environmental challenges. There is the growing concern of global warming. There is a growing concern about pandemics. Disease today knows no national barriers. Avian flu can travel from one country to another and this is yet another aspect of growing inter-dependence of nations. There are problems which no nation acting alone can solve and therefore we need regional cooperation, we need multilateral cooperation to deal with this new challenges.

I mentioned global warming. The world is not a morality play. The world’s political and economic system is a power play and those who have greater power use it to their advantage. And therefore those who are less powerful are always at a disadvantage. Our effort has been through collective strategies working towards with various coalitions of developing counties, sometimes with coalitions of like-minded developed countries to create an environment where power factor does not work to our disadvantage. Because even though when we recognize that the global warming is common concern. The whole world shares a single environment and therefore if the environment deteriorates if climate change becomes a reality we will also suffer. But it is also important that in devising solutions to these formidable new challenges that are on the horizon, we must protect our essential national interests. And for a poor country like ours, development and the eradication of poverty is the supreme concern. So we have to marry the concern of management of global climate with the concern for development, for removal of poverty.

Now in the international systems, there is going to be an immense pressure. And counties like India, countries like China – people are blaming them for global warming, for global food crises. Also blaming us for the rapid growth in demand of hydrocarbons as factor in the global crisis with regards to energy. All these are projections of national interests of various countries and our effort has to be that while we recognize the world is an increasingly inter-dependent entity, the management of this inter-dependence must be equitable, it must operate in a manner which will protect our national interest. These interests are that India need a long period of peaceful development to sustain the tempo of social and economic development so that over a period of time, in our lifetime, we can get rid of chronic poverty, ignorance and disease, which has been the lot of a majority of our people for centuries. There are opportunities, but there are challenges. So when we deal with global issues like managemnt of international economic system, world trading system, the management of international financial system, the world monetary system, the world system for the regulation of international flows, the how to handle issues like climate change, how to handle issues like growth of pandemics and how nations of the world can cooperate in research and development. An early warning system is also need to deal with challenges like Tsunami. In this one world that we live in, interdependence of nations is a fact. Peace and prosperity are indivisible. But as Jawaharlal Nehru said as early as 1947 in his famous speech on midnight of 15th of August, disaster is also an indication of interdependence. This is also indivisible, and therefore though there are new challenges our effort has to be that in dealing with them India’s national interest must be protected to the fullest possible extent. And that is where the foreign service comes in and therefore your awareness for national concerns and how best we can achieve our objectives in an increasingly interdependent world that we live in is the biggest single challenge facing our foreign policy establishment.

There are other areas – the growing menace of terrorism. Until 9-11 the world probably did not pay as much attention to the fact that countries like India have been the victim of terror for the last 20-25 years. After 9-11 the world situation has canged, and has changed to a certain degree to our advantage. But terrorism today is an international phenomenon, that there are still states who are sometimes actively backing the terrorist elements, and that there is a growing importance of the non-state actors in areas relating to terror. I think this gives our national security a new dimension. Also there is a growing fear that the security of nations can be threatened by nuclear weapons and sensitive technologies falling into the hands of terrorist elements. All this we have to conscious of, we have to handle our approach to dealing with these global issues in a manner which will project and protect our national interest.

What we have been trying to do is to create an international environment conducive to the achievement of our national goals of sustained economic and social development. We need a peaceful neighborhood. And that is why it is very important that our relations with our neighbours whether they are China, Pakistan, Bangla Desh, Nepal, Sri Lanka- they are of critical importance in realizing our national ambitions. With regard to China we have this whole problem of the border. We have in the last four years actively engaged through our special representatives to find pragmatic pathways to handle this complicated issue. Some progress is being made but I think there is a long arduous journey ahead of us. In the meanwhile both the Chinese and our government have appreciated that we cannot allow the border dispute to affect the pace of cooperation in other areas and that is why our trade with China has grown at a handsome rate. There is a scope for further expansion of trade and cultural relations.

The soft power of India in some ways can be a very important instrument of foreign policy. Cultural relations, India’s film industry- Bolly-wood I find wherever I go in Middle-East, in Africa – people talk about Indian films. So that is a new way of influencing of world about the growing importance of India. Soft power is equally important in the new world of diplomacy.

With our neighbours - particularly with neighbours like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal – we have a vested interest in their stability, in their progress because if they do not progress many of their problems can become our problems. If Bangladesh suffers from global warming, I think a large number of people will willy-nilly migrate, legally or illegally, into our country. India and Nepal have a very porous border and if the Nepali system does not provide adequate opportunity to Nepali youths – willy-nilly there will be migration. In the same way, there is a conflict in Sri Lanka, tragic though it is, it has given a lot of worries because many times it happens that when ethnic tensions increase, there is a tendency of increased inflow of refugees in our country and this creates both domestic problems as well as foreign policy problems. So our relations with our neighbours is of critical importance. In some ways the most aspect of our foreign policy is our management of our relations with our neighbours. I would encourage each one of you to take a lot more interest in our neighbourhood. We know a great deal of what goes on in the West – in Europe, in America. But we don’t know adequately enough of what goes on in our neighbourhood. And many a times our own thinking about these countries is influenced excessively by western perceptions of what is going on in these countries. I would like our diplomats to develop and Indian perspective on what is happening in our neighbourhood and use it as an important analytical tool for, I think, telling us what are the meaningful foreign policy and domestic policy options before us in dealing with the neighbouring countries.

But in the world in which science and technology have created a situation where distances have lost their old significant, the concept of neighbourhood is no longer the immediate neighbourhood that we know of. And that is why in the last 15-20 years , we have been trying to look East-ward to South-east Asia, to East Asia. This is where in the last 20 years there has been the most rapid economic and social growth. And that is why we are trying to work very closely to find new avenues of cooperation between India and the ASEAN countries. Also we are trying to expand our cooperation with other countries of East Asia. We have now an East Asia summit in which we are partners, which consists of Asean and three countries. It meets every year and discusses issues which have growing importance for the future of East Asia as a whole. The aspiration is, which we are projecting, that we all should work towards a flourishing East Asian community which will give new meaning to our inter-dependence with countries of South East Asia and East Asia.

At the same time the countries of West Asia are also of great importance. Those of you who have studied economics, our balance of payments depends a great deal from the flow of remittances of Indian workers – a large part of these comes from Middle East. We have about five million Indian citizens working in these countries and their earnings are very important for our balance of payments. And therefore the peace and prosperity in East Asia and the Gulf countries is of equal importance to us. Not only for that reason but also because the concerns with energy security is now assuming a new dimension. Since the 1970s when the world woke in 1973 that the world of cheap oil was dead and gone – there has been several phases of crises in the management of hydrocarbon economy. We now have a similar situation whereby the price of hydrocarbons, particularly petroleum products, have quadrupled in the last two years. This has created new problems. The world is not able to grapple that the crises that it faces. In the last three or four years, the average production of crude oil in the world has been about 85 million barrels a day. The demand is increasing faster than ever before and the quest for access to the oil resources is going to become another major factor of power play in the world. The Chinese have seized the opportunities and have been going around the world in Africa, in Latin America, investing and exploring and developing the natural resources for increased oil production – this tension will increase in the years to come. So the quest for sensitive natural resources, oil security, energy security will emerge as a major source of interplay of forces in the evolving world economy.

Now competition and cooperation have to be the watchwords. We have to cooperate but have also to recognize that there will be increasing competition from China, from other countries and also those who are in entrenched would not like to make way for others – the new comers. So therefore tensions will be a part of the evolving world systems and how we handle our problems, how we project our national interests, will be a crucial determinant of our capacity to be successful in the race for development.

For us Europe and United States matter a great deal because our trade and capital flows have a very large element coming from these countries. And that is why we were the first country who recognized the great important of European integration. So when the European economy community came to existence, India was one of the first few developing countries to establish diplomatic relations. Now the European integration process has gained new momentum and it has potential for good and it has potential to create new tensions. And therefore our effort has been to find new way of working together with the European Union – we are trying to negotiate a broad base trade and investment agreement to use the resources of Europe to promote our development objective. The process has been on for last three or four years and we have made progress but we have to concentrate a lot more.

In recent years our government has sought a new dimension to our relationship with the United States in the form of a nuclear deal. I don’t want to talk a great deal about it. But I think it is for the first time we got the US to appreciate that India is a nuclear weapons state, that India has the right to develop nuclear power to protect it’s strategic interests, and that it is a decision that must be made by the people of India not subject to any international supervision or any international interference. And despite the fact that we are not a signatory to the NPT, and we have also said that if the CTBT came into being we will not sign it, there is no pressure from the US on India to sign the NPT or any other international arrangement of that sort to enter into nuclear cooperation for civil energy. So as I see it this nuclear agreement that we signed with the US it has run into some difficulties, but it protects our national interest, it protects our capacity to use the nuclear power to protect our strategic interests. At the same time it opens us new opportunities for civilian cooperation and without that, I think, the trade in dual technologies – sensitive advanced technologies – can not become a reality. But our domestic politics has prevented us from going ahead, I still continued to hope that we will make progress in the months that lie ahead. But it is very important for us to move forward to end this nuclear apartheid that the world has sought to impose on India. This agreement, if it materializes, if it sees the light of day, it will open up new possibilities of cooperation, not only with the US but all other nuclear powers like Russia, France, who are very keen that once we have this deal through, that India should become eligible for civil nuclear cooperation.

These are some of the areas where I would shared my thoughts with you. All I can say is that you have an exciting career ahead of you. The service of India is the service of teeming millions of our people. You are privileged that you have this unique opportunity to be instruments for implementing our national vision, our national objectives, our national goal in the field of foreign policies. With these words, I once again congratulate you for being selected for this prestigious service of our country.

Courtesy :Government of India

Published Thursday, 19 June, 2008

www.egovmonitor.com/node/19489

Committed To Memory: A History of Johnstown in Objects

Heritage Discovery Center, Johnstown PA 2016

Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA)

BPD added this phrase a few weeks back, and I have several shots of vehicles with it, but none with a close-up view. No idea why they went with it or why it's in a script font, but can't say I'm a huge fan.

A rushed shoot for my photography class assignment. All photos were shot in broad daylight with one single remote flash using Nikon CLS system. Special thanks to Kevin Lee (the criminal) and David Kim (my VAS)