Aurélie's portrait

- Hi Aurélie!

- Hi!

- Thank you for granting me this interview for this big magazine everybody knows.

- My pleasure because I love this big magazine that everybody knows!

- Can you give me some details about your personality?

- Yes of course, I think I am courageous, honest, a good friend, humorous, imagi…

- Wow! I can hope that you are not the most modest girl in the world…

- What does that mean?

- No I just… Forget it. So, I can read on my cards that you like drawing and painting, would you like to be an artist in the future?

- I don’t know… I don’t think I have so much talent.

- Hey, you’re making progress!

- What about?

- Nothing… So, you don’t want to be a painter but do you play an instrument?

- I played the violin a little when I was very young but it wasn’t my passion. Oh, I wanted to tell you that there aren’t my favourite flowers in my lodge so I am stressed out, can you please bring them?

- Ok but what are your favourite flowers?

- Orchids. Please bring them immediately otherwise I will have a fit!

- Yes we will do it (Please bring these stupid flowers! She is uncontrollable!!!). Calm. Think about a happy and relaxing souvenir.

- Ok, I will try … Oh! I know! It was when I was very young, when I went to my grandmother’s house, I used to dance with my grandmother, and it was a very happy and fun moment… I loved to do it in the rainy afternoons; it brings a kind of sun in my heart…

- Aurélie, do you agree if I say that you are a good person and you don’t hesitate to help your friends at any time?

- Yes, I am. And I want to thank you for this… interesting interview!

- Good-bye Aurélie!

- Good-bye!

(This is an invented conversation and should not be taken at face value!)

Camille

Lea's portrait

To me, Léa, you are somebody just exceptional, and I am at loss for words to describe you to someone else, as well as I have known you for about approximately 9 or 8 years, so I will try to describe you through a painting.

I want you to imagine all that I may say, ok?

Well, are you ready?

Imagine you, an attractive girl, in a long white dress, leaning back against a tree. This tree has intermingling branches. Imagine the wind flying through your hair. A light breeze. You are at the top of a cliff. You hear the rocking of the sea, just in front of you, at the bottom of this cliff. There is the sun, with a light purple cloud curtain.

If I had to paint you, I would represent you with your long white dress, because you are pure and whiteness evokes freedom and wisdom. . In the top-right-hand-corner, I would draw the sun with some clouds because you are also stressed a lot. I will draw the rough sea behind you and the branches which represent stress too.

I would place you behind a tree because you are a little bit shy, and the tree can evoke nature (who ignores that you are fond of environment?). And at the bottom, I would draw an ear. It is a good representation because you are a trustworthy girl. The cliff represents power, and freedom, because it is dizzy. I also will draw the seagulls flying because it is as well a sign of freedom.

Now, I am going to talk about the colours that I will use for my painting which is starting to look like something.

If I had to paint you, I would use blue (sky, sea), because it stands for optimism and you are always optimistic.

I will also use green (grass, tree) because you are an ecologist, you love nature and flowers.

My painting will be my favourite and the most beautiful I have ever painted because this is you. I want everybody who sees my painting to say “Oh my god, what a beautiful painting! Just like an artist!!”

That’s how you look to me.

Aurélie

Organs missing

  An eight-year-old girl suddenly died after being injected with an unknown liquid in India. Gurkiren Kaur Loyal is from Birmingham UK. She was in India for her holiday and was admitted in the clinic Khanna for dehydration on 2 April. After she died an autopsy was made in India to returning the body in the United Kingdom. But once in UK the family was told that the cause of death was impossible to determine because of organs missing. Indeed all the organs disappeared except the eyes.
 The family is demanding answers and called for an investigation in India in the hospital.

Opinion

The bodies with missing organs are not uncommon in India, especially with an organ traffic still there. Consequently, Gurkiren Kaur Loyal's family could wait a year before getting the answers they are demanding.

Organes portés disparus

Une jeune fille de 8 ans est décédé soudainement après s'être fait injecté un liquide inconnu en Inde. Gurkiren Kaur Loyal vient de Birmingham RU. Elle était en Inde pour ses vacances et a été admise le 2 avril à la clinique Khanna pour déshydratation. Après son décès, une autopsie fut effectuée en Inde afin de pouvoir rapatrier le corps au Royaume-Uni. Mais une fois rentrer au Royaume-Uni, la famille a été avertie de l'impossibilité de déterminer la cause de la mort du fait d'organes manquants. En effet tous les organes ont disparus sauf les yeux.

  La famille demande des réponses et a appelé à l'ouverture d'une enquête en Inde dans l’hôpital.

Opinion

Les corps ayant des organes manquants ne sont pas rare en Inde, surtout avec un trafic d'organe toujours présent. Ainsi, la famille de Gurkiren Kaur Loyal pourrait attendre encore 1 an avant d'obtenir les réponses qu'ils attendent.

Sources:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/14/family-girl-died-india-organs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/16/parents-plea-india-missing-organs-gurkiren-kaur-loyal

Suspects identified in Mumbai Attacks

  Four witnesses identified people who helped terrorists in the Mumbai Attacks in 2008.
On Saturday 7 April, a witness identified a Pakistani man during proceedings behind close doors at Adiala jail by anti-terrorism court judge Chaudhry Habib-ur-Rehman.

The man called Shahid Jamil Riaz is accused of having bought inflatable boats used by terrorists in the assault on India's financial hub in Mumbai in 2008 as well as ten other people who bought 11 boats to go fishing whereas the witness declared during a hearing that they never came back with fish. Two others witnesses told the judge that they also sold another boat and six pumps to the accused and identified 10 other men.

Opinion

The Mumbai Attacks in 2008 caused and unprecedented event. The death penalty, which is hardly ever enforced and that India wanted to abolish, was allowed for the culprits.

For the victims' families and public opinion knowing that the researches continue and that the terrorists will be punished is reassuring.

Attentats de Mumbai: des accusés identifiés

  Quatre témoins ont identifié des personnes ayant aidé les terroristes des attaques de 2008 à Mumbai.

Ce dimanche 7 avril, un témoin a identifié un Pakistanais lors de la procédure à huit clos à la prison Adiala menée par le juge du tribunal anti-terroriste Chaudhry Habib-ur-Rahman.

L'homme s'appelle Shahid Jamil Riaz est accusé d'avoir acheté les bateaux gonflables utilisés par les terroristes lors de l'attaque du centre financier de l'Inde à Mumbai en 2008 comme 10 autres personnes ayant acheté 11 bateaux pour selon eux partir pêcher, le témoin déclarera durant l'audience qu'ils ne sont jamais revenus avec du poisson. Deux autres témoins ont déclaré au juge qu'ils avaient vendu un autre bateau ainsi que 6 pompes aux accusés et ont identifié 10 autres hommes.

Opinion

Les attaques de Mumbai de 2008 ont provoqué un événement exceptionnel. La peine de mort, qui n'est presque jamais appliquée et que l'Inde voulait abolir, a été rétablie pour les coupables.

Pour les familles des victimes et la population, savoir que les recherches avancent et que les coupables vont être condamnés est rassurant.

Sources:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-13/pakistan/38511143_1_mumbai-attcks-hamza-bin-tariq-witness
http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/26/11-pakistani-witness-identifies-one-accused_841857.html

Rapping High

An Air India pilot raps his vision of his company

Earlier this month, a pilot from Air India shared on YouTube a rap video in which he denounced his company for not paying employees on time, the management for driving it to bankruptcy and even offended air hostesses by making fun of their ages or looks.

 Quite understandingly he got a regular dressing down from the heads of the company who demanded he apologize both for his conduct against Air India and the people he may have hurt. He also might receive disciplinary sanctions.

His colleagues assume that the aim of his video was not to insult anyone but to highlight internal issues.

In the letter he sent to apologize, he repeats that he did not want to hurt anyone and also proposes to make his musical talents available to his company.

Opinion

It is the public denunciation of the internal issues which caused Air India officials to intervene. The heads of the company had to react to protect the company’s image but the pilot should not be punished for expressing himself.

Y a-t-il un pilote dans la vidéo ?

Au début du mois, un pilote d'air India a posté sur Youtube un vidéo de rap dans laquelle il se plaint que les employés de sa compagnie tardent à recevoir leu salaire, que les dirigeants mènent l’entreprise à la faillite et raille même l'âge ou le physique des hôtesses de l’air.

Après un long entretien, les responsables de la compagnie ont exigé qu’il présente ses excuses à Air India et aux personnes qu’il est susceptible d’avoir blessées. Il pourrait subir des sanctions disciplinaires.

Ses collègues affirment que le but de sa vidéo n’était pas de causer du tort à quelqu’un en particulier mais de mettre en évidence les problèmes internes de la compagnie.

Dans la lettre d’excuse qu’il a envoyée, il répète que son intention n’était pas de blesser qui que ce soit et offre de mettre ses talents musicaux à la disposition d’Air India.

Opinion

C’est la dénonciation publique des problèmes internes qui a poussé les dirigeants d'Air India à intervenir. Les responsables de la compagnie se devaient de réagir devant de tels manquement à la discipline mais le pilote n’a pas à être puni pour s’être exprimé.

Pierre-Antoine

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Air-Indias-rapper-pilot-apologizes/articleshow/18584610.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Air-India-rap-Pilot-may-face-disciplinary-action/articleshow/18594733.cm

Bloody Sunday

  Last Sunday in Allahabad in north-est of India, during the Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela, 36 pilgrims died and 30 were injured in a railway station crush.
  They were on their way to the banks of the Ganges when someone fell off a platform bridge at about 7 pm, which created a huge panic in an overcrowded station.

  This Hindu festival is organized every 12 years and is the world's largest religious gathering. It celebrates the Hindu belief that at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers a place where the mythical Saraswati River is supposed to flow. Bathing there could allow pilgrims to have their sins forgiven as in Allahabad a "nectar of immortality" fell to the earth.

  12,000 police officers secure the place that is host to 40 million pilgrims.

  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was deeply shocked by the incident and promise to help the injured and the families of the deceased.

Opinion

  Stampedes are common in religious festivals in India. However, this case paradoxically recalls the 2010 Love Parade in Germany where the crowd panicked while crossing a tunnel, which left 19 dead and  340 injured. The Love Parade was like the Hindu festival an important mass celebration but was consequently stopped.

Pélerinage mortel

  

  Dimanche dernier lors de la fête hindoue de Kumbh Mela à Allahabad dans le nord-est de l'Inde, 36 pèlerins sont morts et 30 on été blessés à la suite d'une bousculade dans une gare. 

  Les pèlerins rejoignaient les berges du Gange quand quelqu'un est tombé du quai à environ 19h00, créant ainsi une grande panique dans la gare surpeuplée.

   Cette fête constitue le plus grand rassemblement religieux du monde et est organisée touls les 12 ans. Elle célèbre la croyance hindoue selon laquelle au confluent du Gange et de la Yamuna coulerait le fleuve mythique du Saraswati.

  S'y baigner octroierait le pardon des péchés car à Allahabad un " nectar d'immortalité" serait tombé sur Terre.

  12.000 officiers de police étaient affectés à la sécurité du lieu qui rassemblait 40 millions de personnes.

  Le premier ministre Manmohan Singh s'est dit profondément choqué par ces morts et a promis une aide à leurs familles et aux blessé.

Opinion

  En Inde les paniques liées à des fêtes religieuses sont communes. Néanmoins, cette affaire ressemble paradoxalement à la Love Parade tragique de 2010 en Allemagne. La foule engagée dans un tunnel trop étroit avait été prise de panique, et la bousculade qui s'était ensuivi avait fait 19 morts et 340 blessés. La Love Parade avait dû être interrompue.

Sources

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/10/world/asia/india-stampede-deaths/index.html 
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/07/death-roll-rises-at-love-parade-germany-disbands-event.html

Aurore.

Freedom of expression regresses in India

Yet ranked 140^th out of 179 in the  2012 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, India is still considered as “the biggest democracy in the world”, while three European countries - Finland, the Netherlands and Norway are still occupying the top of the list.

The loss of 9 ranks compared to last year’s World Press Freedom Index is due to the violence committed against journalists especially in the regions of Kashmir and Chhattisgarh, web censoring or a growing number of taboos. The report says that India is the country which knew the worst  deterioration in 2012 in South Asia a region where global freedom of information has been reduced.

Christophe Deloire, secretary-general for Reporters without Borders assumes that  even if democracies protect well news providers, they and their families are not  out of reach in dictatorships, and sometimes are threatened by authorities. He added that they deserved honor for the work they perform.
Opinion

Losing freedom of expression means a lot for emerging countries like India. This highlights the fact that India is far from the standards of European countries. The taboos previously mentioned include violence against women and persisting gender inequalities.

La liberté d’expression régresse en Inde

Pourtant classée 140^ème sur 179 dans le classement de la liberté de presse édité par Reporters sans Frontières, l’Inde est toujours considérée comme « la plus grand démocratie du monde »,  quand trois pays d’Europe, la Finlande, les Pays-Bas et la Norvège occupent la tête du classement.

La perte de neuf rangs par rapport au classement de l’année dernière est due à la violence exercée contre les journalistes, spécialement dans les régions du Cachemire et de Chhattisgarh,  la censure de l’internet et la création de toujours plus de tabous. Le rapport estime que l’Inde est le pays d’Asie du sud ayant connu la plus grande régression en 2012 même si toute la région a subi un repli de liberté d'expression.

Christophe Deloire, secrétaire général de Reporters Sans Frontières pense que même si les démocraties protègent les professionnels de l'information, ces derniers et leurs familles ne sont pas à l’abri dans les dictatures et sont parfois menacés par les autorités. Il a ajouté qu’ils méritaient qu’on les honore pour leur travail.

Opinion

La perte de liberté d’expression a beaucoup d’importance pour un pays émergeant comme l’Inde. Cela met en évidence le fait que l’Inde est loin d’être aussi avancé dans ce domaine qu’un pays européen moyen. Les tabous mentionnés précédemment incluent la violence exercée contre les femmes et les inégalités persistantes entre les sexes.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-drops-to-140th-rank-in-press-freedom-lowest-since-2002/articleshow/18255744.cms

Pierre-Antoine