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Invisible Threads Of History: Overlooked Contributions Of Pakistan To Indian Democracy

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Invisible Threads Of History: Overlooked Contributions Of Pakistan To Indian Democracy

Pakistan itself may have failed to lay the foundation for strong democratic institutions, but it has made an invisible contribution to strengthening democracy in India.

Iftikhar Gilani

Pakistan itself may have failed to lay the foundation for strong democratic institutions, but it has made an invisible contribution to strengthening democracy in India. Just before the Partition, its leaders helped the architect of the Indian Constitution, Bhim Rao Ambedkar, get elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1946 – a fact now overlooked in Indian history books.

Another important but lesser-known connection between these two nations lies in Pakistan’s scientific contributions that influenced Indian elections.

At the heart of Indian electoral integrity is the indelible ink used to mark voters — a practice introduced in the first general elections in 1951. This seemingly simple mechanism prevents vote tampering and double voting, which is critical to maintaining the sanctity of elections.

Less well known, however, is the origin of this ink, which was created by Salim-u Zaman Siddiqui, the founding chairman of the National Science Council of Pakistan. Before partition, he worked at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar. He was also the younger brother of Chaudhry Khaleeq u Zaman Siddiqui, a prominent leader of the Muslim League.

The British authorities had asked Bhatnagar, who was also an eminent chemist, to develop a method to identify voters who would cast their votes during the 1946 Constituent Assembly elections. He, in turn, commissioned Siddiqui to develop a solution and asked him to experiment with silver chloride. The instructions were that the solution must not damage human skin.

After many experiments, Siddiqui mixed silver chloride with silver bromide and developed an indelible ink that stuck to the finger. The ink, which proved to be permanent and harmless, represented a significant advance in voting methods.

Although Siddiqui went to Pakistan after the partition of the country, his innovation remained in India and became an integral part of the Indian electoral system, which is now used in over 30 democracies worldwide.

“At the heart of Indian electoral integrity is the indelible ink used to mark voters invented by Salim-u Zaman Siddiqui, the founding chairman of the National Science Council of Pakistan”

Gopal Krishna Gandhi, a former governor and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, even suggested naming the system “SiddikInk” to honour its creator — a suggestion that has yet to be officially recognized in India’s current political climate.

Another contribution

Another contribution of Pakistan is the sending of Bhimrao Ambedkar to the Constituent Assembly in 1946 – an underrated but important aspect of Indian history.

Ambedkar, who is today revered as the architect of the Indian Constitution, lost his election from Bombay, largely due to the efforts of Congress leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. There was no way for him to become a member of the Constituent Assembly. However, his subsequent entry into the Assembly was facilitated by the Muslim League, especially through the efforts of Joginder Nath Mandal and Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy.

Ambedkar’s candidature for the Jasur-Khulna (now in Bangladesh) seat in a by-election was aided by the resignation of a Muslim League member who vacated the seat for him. This strategic political support not only enabled Ambedkar to participate in the drafting of the constitution but also secured his place as chairman of the nine-member drafting committee.

His role was crucial to the drafting of the Constitution and reflects his deep commitment to social justice and equality that characterizes India to this day.

The support of personalities like Jinnah, Suhrawardy and Mandal for Ambedkar underscores a complex interplay of political alliances that transcended the emerging boundaries of the new nations.

This aspect of the story highlights the irony of political narratives: While Ambedkar’s contribution to India is celebrated, the crucial role played by leaders from what would soon become Pakistan is often overlooked.

Six months later, when Jasur-Khulna went to East Pakistan as part of the Redcliff Award, India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru asked Congress member M. R. Jayakar from North Mumbai to resign, paving the way for Ambedkar’s return to the Constituent Assembly to continue as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.

Moreover, Ambedkar’s post-Constitution political journey was not smooth. Despite his monumental contributions, he suffered electoral defeats and was often side-lined by both the Congress and other political groups, reflecting the difficult dynamics of caste and politics in India.

But how ironic it is that soon after the Constitution was introduced, in 1951, when the first general elections were held in India, this creator of the Constitution again suffered a major defeat in Bombay. In 1954, he tried his luck again in the by-elections in Bandra (Bombay), but again he was defeated.

Dr._Babasaheb_Ambedkar_being_sworn_in_as_independent_Indias_first_Law_Minister_by_PresidDr-B-R-Amedkar-Wikipedia
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar being sworn-in as independent India’s first Law Minister by_President of India on May 8, 1950. Photo/Wikipedia

Ambedkar, Mandal contribution

Interestingly while Ambedkar became the first law minister of India, his political guru, Joginder Nath Mandal was appointed law minister and chairman of the drafting committee of constitution in Pakistan under Jinnah. He was a strong advocate of Dalit-Muslim unity.

His dreams soon disappeared after Jinnah’s death. Soon clashes started between him and Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and his cabinet colleagues.

The massacre of Dalits in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, in 1950 shook Mandal so much that he fled to Calcutta overnight and handed in his resignation to the Pakistani Prime Minister.

After his return to India, Mandal was always viewed with suspicion and was never able to regain his pre-independence status. He spent all his time looking after refugees (mostly Dalits) from East Pakistan. No political party was willing to accept him. He finally died in Calcutta in 1968.

The history of India and Pakistan is intertwined in a way that goes beyond conflict and partition. The contributions of Pakistani scholars and politicians to the fundamental aspects of Indian democracy are an example of a shared history that deserves to be recognized.

These stories not only enrich our understanding of the past but also teach us something about the complexity of political and scientific cooperation across borders.

Both countries had Dalit law ministers, who were to play a central role in drafting the constitution. While in India Ambedkar succeeded in drafting the constitution, Mandal was humiliated and was forced to return to India to an obscure and humiliating death.

This narrative not only highlights the significant role of these personalities but also recalls the invisible threads that connect the histories of India and Pakistan, offering a more nuanced perspective on their shared legacy and continued relevance in shaping contemporary political discourse.

Read: Pakistan – Civilian supremacy is the greatest casualty

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Courtesy: Kashmir Times (Posted on April 19, 2024) 

Life is organic, bread is also organic

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Life is organic, bread is also organic

In Korea, the number of people suffering from childhood diabetes or chronic diabetes is increasing

By (Cherry) – Lee Yeon-sil, Korea

It is different and special in many ways. Chung Yoo Sun, CEO of LoveYourSoul, entered the organic whole wheat bread business out of concern for the health of adults and children. “Always choose the right path rather than the easy path.” When she was in college, she saw an advertisement supporting the poor in Africa on a television channel, which changed her life. I was shocked to see starving black children making cakes out of dirt and eating them because they had no food to eat.

It is true that mud cakes are eaten in places like Africa and Haiti in the Caribbean. Although children all over the world live under the same sky, some of them live by eating mud. She naturally ended up studying global ecology. When I thought about the food and environmental problems facing humanity, I realized how important healthy food is to humanity.

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Broadcasting live in English and teaching English to employees at Samsung Electronics and LG

The “Love Your Soul” brand was created. Love Your Soul has been making every effort to produce vegan bread since 2020. “We only use locally produced organic whole wheat. Additionally, while whole wheat bread is generally made with whole wheat flour, the bread is made moist by Local whole wheat germination with crust for 48 hours In this process, dietary fiber and nutrients are maximized, and easy-to-digest bread is created. Because we have made this with great care, we source and sell high-quality vegan bread that falls within the 1% range, rather than bread. “Ordinary vegetarian.”

CEO Jeong grew up abroad since childhood thanks to her father who worked for a company there. Now, I run a vegan baking business with my parents in my home country to source healthy food. As her colorful and interesting life shows, Love Your Soul brand bread puts health first.

The most common item, “pocket bread,” has countless variations depending on what you put inside it. Non-vegetarian customers can use this bread as a meal replacement by adding anything to it, such as ice cream, red bean, glaze, spaghetti, salad, kimchi fried rice, or bulgogi. The bread delivered to every restaurant in Gangnam is expensive but very popular.

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Having a meeting with the 8th Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, because she lived a global life and was interested in the UN

In any country, a variety of organic produce and seasonal foods produced by local farmers should form a virtuous circle. She enjoyed eating meat so much that her nickname was the “Meat Killer” until she began studying the environment and food. He also ran a pork cutlet business that was popular in the new city.

“Like the brand slogan, I studied food that refreshes the body, mind and soul. I was surprised to see myself naturally preferring vegetarianism to eating meat. I deeply understood the importance of proper education for a human being. This is because the quality of education is directly related to the quality of life. Unfortunately, today “Due to human intervention, nature is being destroyed day by day and humans are also getting sick,” she says. “The only way to survive is through proper education.”

The world is going through a crisis due to the abundance of instant foods and baby food that contain a lot of preservatives and chemical additives. Korea is no exception. We accept patients with serious social problems such as atopy, irritable bowel syndrome, autism, and ADHD. Therefore, we also follow plant-based milk.

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Modern people don’t just eat food. Find eco-friendly and health

Italian brand Teraepan makes plant-based milk without artificial additives using only water and oats. It has a clean taste, is easy to digest, and is rich in dietary fiber, so it is beneficial for intestinal health. A person can live a consistently healthy life only by increasing his immunity, and immunity comes from gut health.

In Korea, where the number of people suffering from childhood diabetes or chronic diabetes is increasing, it is said to have pledged to inform patients about their declining eating habits. She is also good at foreign languages, so much so that she teaches English to employees at various companies such as Samsung Electronics and LG. This is useful for finding useful information from outside or material that has been researched in depth over a long period of time.

In the future, I would like to create a foundation to do social activities like growing vegetables in pots or flower beds at home, and providing healthy food to children in Africa who make biscuits from dirt. Only when there are more young people with sound minds and hearts like these, can we save the people, lands and seas of the world.

Read: Story of a Pakistani who became Korean

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Flame of a Distant Mountain – International Poetry Anthology Launched

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Flame of a Distant Mountain – International Poetry Anthology Launched

The international anthology of poetry has been compiled and edited by Misna Chanu

Manipur

An international anthology of poetry, “FLAME OF A DISTANT MOUNTAIN”, compiled and edited by Misna Chanu was officially released by the chief guest of the event Sukrita Paul Kumar, a poet, critic, artist and the guest editor of “Indian Literature” a journal published by Sahitya Akademi, in association with Dr. Amarendra Khatua, former secretary of Ministry of External Affairs, former diplomat, the director general of ICCR and a poet and Dr. Medha Kumari, a poet, journalist , peace activist and a professor of Satyawati college, Delhi University.

Voice artist and anchor Kritika Krishna moderated the event. Distinguished people like well-known Hindi writer Suman Keshari, children’s writer Deepa Agarwal, the librarian of Sahitya Akademi Mr. Avinash Kumar and TV anchor, author Dr. Shiva Kumar Rai had also attended the event with many other writer and literature lovers. After the launch, there was a poetry session too for the participating poets of the anthology. The Well-known multilingual poet and former vice president of Sindhi Akademi Mohini Hingorani, poet and civil servant Neha Bansal, two young poets Master Shasshwat Rao and Jhanvi Atri also recited poems along with Misna Chanu.

Flame-of-distant-mountain-sindh-courierLike previous two volumes of “May Live Heal the World” Book series, this 3rd volume was also published by Authorspress Publishing House, New Delhi, India.

What makes this book launch event different from other is that this book is the 3rd volume of the book series called “May Love Heal the World”.

The publication of this book series was initiated during the covid-19 pandemic to provide a little help to the ones who need most by donating the entire royalty from the book series to different humanitarian organizations. This is not only a book but a cause or a small step towards a big mission. From the first volume, she donated rs.26000 to the covid fund of WHO and Rs.10000 to the PMcare Fund, India and from the second volume, she could donate Rs.12000 to UNICEF India.

Flame-of-distant-mountain-sindh-courier-2Misna Chanu, bilingual (English and Manipuri) Manipuri poet and editor of this book announced that whatever the royalty she receives from this third volume of the book series, she will donate to Manipur violence victims.

In this 3rd volume, poets around the world wrote poems on different themes like life, love, loss, sadness, unconditional love, beauty, nature, exile, peace, harmony, universal brotherhood etc., with a hope to keep the flame of love and light burning.

Whenever you buy a book from this series, you are helping the world a little. May Love Heal the World tenderly!

Read: Beyond The Language

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Maharaja Dahir – Resurgence of Sindh – Part-IX

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Maharaja Dahir – Resurgence of Sindh – Part-IX

The English translation of a novel ‘Maharaja Dahir’ authored by Kolkata-based renowned novelist Debasree Chakraborti in Bengali language. The novel has been translated by Rajesh Giri

On that day, Maharaja dressed in white clothes and just came to the front of the window of his room; he had heard from his father Chach that absorbing the rays of the setting sun into the body paves the way to spiritual life. While Maharaja is staring fascinated at the golden beauty of nature in front of him, the ochre glow of the parting sun is spreading all over the canvas, which is carrying a message of deep sacrifice on the mind of Maharaja.

Maharaja felt that the moment of leaving the worldly ties had arrived, as if God was conveying that message to him at this very moment. Maharaja looks like a saint at this moment; his white silk robes draped in a mystic veil. Just then, his Prime Minister Budhimaan arrived. Sensing his presence, Maharaja looked back, smiled and said, “Budhimaan! Let me stay out of this world for a while, I would listen to you back from the temple.”

There is always a discomfort in the eyes and face of Budhimaan, when something very concerning happens. Budhimaan’s face becomes like this. He looked at Maharaja without leaving and said, “Maharaj, it is not possible to go to temple today.”

Maharaja was a little surprised to hear Budhimaan, as his name rightly represents his wisdom. He took on many responsibilities by himself to give Maharaja some relief. So his expression of this kind surprised Maharaja.

Maharaja said, “Budhimaan, you seem very worried!”

Raja Dahir - Bengali bookDarkness is gradually veiling the sky of Aror, lamps are burning all around the palace, but now no one is allowed to enter the Maharaja’s room. Before entering this room, the Prime Minister had forbidden that no one should enter here at this moment. There is a dense obscurity between the Maharaja and him. The Prime Minister’s face cannot be seen clearly. He said, “Your Majesty! Hajjaj, the chief commander of the Arabs has sent envoys.”

Maharaja asked, “But why?”

Budhimaan said, “Few days ago a ship was sailing to Arab from Sinhala. There are some Arab merchants there who were sending valuable jewelries, ornamental stones and women to the Caliph as gifts. The pirates captured the ship near Sindh coast, rescued all the women and sent them safely back to Sinhala with all dignity. This incident caused insult to the Caliph and crucified his honor, so he sent his messenger with the demand of all the looted wealth along with the women who were captivated.”

Maharaja Dahir’s pulse started to accelerate. Sometimes he feels like Bhishma, the son of Ganga. Although he has a desire for liberation inside, he is no longer free from the vicious cycle of this worldly ties. The Prime Minister’s words appear to him like mundane material of Maya (illusion), which is very temporary, however, after a time it dissipates like a bubble. Thinking about this, he sighed and said, “Where is he?

Budhimaan said, “He is waiting outside. If you allow, I will bring him in.”

Maharaja Dahir said, “Tell to light the lamp in the room before he comes, I am having difficulties in the dark.”

Maharaja saw that the picture outside had become poetically dignified orange, inviting him to delve into a spiritual life, on the other hand, the darkness of this room, which symbolized the darkness of mundane life, which he could not get out of disowning it. In this darkness he saw a solitary point source of light.

Budhimaan himself brought a lamp and placed it in this room, but did not allow any servant to enter. Then an Arab man and another translator entered the room. The Arab envoy began to read the message of the Arab general Hajjaj written on a cloth and the translator continued to translate it into Sindhi.

“Sindh soldiers never attack anyone unnecessarily, unless they are attacked. Passenger ship was attacked by the pirates near Debal port.

The summary of the statement of the Arab commander Hajjaj is that the soldiers of Maharaja Dahir Sen imprisoned the merchants coming from the country of Sinhala at Debal port and all their goods in the ship were looted by the soldiers of Maharaja Dahir. Hajjaj demanded that all merchants be released with dignity and all looted property be returned.

The message gets reflected around the room creating a horrific vibration. At this stage of life, he no longer likes these surrounding pressures. Maharaj Dahir became very indifferent to the current situation in his last stage of life. So he considered this message of Hajjaj to be of no importance and he felt that he was stopped for a very simple reason before going to the temple of Devi MAA. He said with great annoyance that “Sindh soldiers never attack anyone unnecessarily, unless they are attacked. Passenger ship was attacked by the pirates near Debal port. Though I have no association with them still I think whatever they did is nothing wrong. In recent past those Arab bandits many times captured women of Sindh dragged them on the streets with chains on their neck and waist. Devastated their honor and ultimately sold them in the market. So if they rescued those poor mothers of being a sex slave then I have nothing to say about this. It is our holy duty to protect the dignity of motherland as well as of each and every mother and daughter of Sindh and other.”

Now he looked at the Prime Minister and said, “Budhimaan, don’t act as an obstacle like this in my sadhana to Devi MAA; try to learn to do some things by yourself from now on.”

Saying this, Maharaja left. There was still some glow outside, and Maharaja in this twilight set off on his horse towards the cave-temple. There is a peculiar joy in riding a horse to Maa’s temple in such an environment. This path is like a spiritual sojourn. In the back is the throne and in front is Maa Kali. The crimson glow of the sun setting in the western sky falls on the plains ahead. The synthesis of red and black looks like there is shed of heavy blood.

Maharaj saw some shadow dancers in that wilderness, who come down from the past to the present human conscience and give him a special message of life. Maharaja dismounted from his horse and proceeded in that direction.

He could see hundreds of dismembered bodies lying in the desert, and a group of men and women being dragged somewhere with ropes around their waists. Those shadow people are looking at Maharaja and shouting, ”Maharaj, we beg for justice.” Let them suffer their karma. Maharaj looked and looked at that for some time. Then he again headed towards the temple. (Continues)

Click here for Part-I , Part-II, Part-III , Part-IV , Part-V , Part-VI , Part-VII, Part-VIII 

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Debasree Chakraborti - authorDebasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her most recent novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date.   

Rajesh Giri - TranslatorRajesh Giri, born in Kolkata, had his early schooling from Kolkata and then from Medinipur—a village in Bengal. He graduated from Calcutta University with Physics and Maths and Master’s from Burdwan University in 2016. Now he is associated with Adhdhyaan educational institution teaching Physics. History enthusiastic Rajesh Giri is particularly interested in the ancient civilization of India and other regions like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and North America. He loves traveling.

 

Observations of an Expat: Poor Bibi

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Observations of an Expat: Poor Bibi

Spare a thought for Bibi Netanyahu. He is caught between a rock and several hard places. He is fighting external wars, an internal war against his cabinet colleagues and a diplomatic one against the Biden Administration and others  

By Tom Arms

Spare a thought for Bibi Netanyahu. He is caught between a rock and several hard places. He is fighting external wars against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran; an internal war against his cabinet colleagues and a diplomatic one against the Biden Administration and most of the rest of the world, if not all of it.

The results of this complex picture could be Armageddon, stalemate or any one of the many in between scenarios.

While pondering the fate of the Israeli prime minister you may also want to consider all the other players who are dragging the world to the brink of a Middle Eastern abyss: President Joe Biden, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. They are locked in a dangerous escalating tit for tat dance of death.

Within the Israeli cabinet there is a four-way tug-of-war between Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and war cabinet minister and Opposition Leader Benny Gantz. They all appear to hate and distrust each other.

According to sources, Gallant and Gantz have hardly spoken to each other since Benny Gantz beat out Yoav Gallant for the top military job ten years ago. Itamar Ben-Gvir is an ultra-Orthodox Jew who said Netanyahu should “go berserk” after Iran’s missile attack on Israel. He described Israel’s retaliatory attack on Iran’s third most populous city, Isfahan, as “lame.”

Gallant is not as extreme as Ben-Gvir, but not far off. Benny Gantz is the nearest thing to a dove that there is in the Israeli war cabinet. But even he is calling for the “total destruction” of Hamas. If elections were held today, Gantz would be prime minister.

All four men have conflicting views on a post-war Gaza. Netanyahu wants the army to take over. Gallant wants an ill-defined arrangement with the West Bank’s Palestinian Authority. Ben-Gvir is pushing for replacing the 2.2 million Gazan Palestinians with Israeli settlers and Benny Gantz is keeping his cards close to his chest, but hints at a politically slimmed down two-state solution.

Netanyahu, according to sources, deals with his rivals by ignoring them. All the major decisions since October 7 have been made by the prime minister without – or with the minimum—consultation.

This goes for his relations with President Joe Biden as well. Netanyahu has ignored American calls for restraint in his attacks on Gaza. Neither was the US informed of the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus or the attack on Isfahan until “minutes” before they occurred, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Meanwhile, the left-wing of the Democratic Party is pulling Biden away from Israel and the Republicans are pushing him towards it. The US president also has to deal with Ukraine and the strategic threat of China. All this in an election year when he is trailing arch-foe Donald Trump in the opinion polls.

Biden’s main aim is to prevent the Gaza War and Iranian-Israeli retaliatory strikes from spiraling out of control. His calls for de-escalation, restraint and caution have been echoed around the globe including top adversary China as well as Britain, Japan and all of the EU countries. Biden’s “red line” is the threatened Israeli attack on 1.2 million Gazans holed up in the southern city of Rafah.

Netanyahu for his part, has said, that an attack on Rafah will come, and it will be at a time of his choosing. Furthermore, he, not Joe Biden, will make the decisions about what the Israeli army does and how it does it. At the same time, Netanyahu is banking on continued American military aid and full support if Israel is attacked.

Read: Iran Guards: Palestinians ‘not alone’ in fight against Israel

Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khameini, celebrated his 85th birthday on the same day that Israeli missiles landed on Isfahan. Iran is, on the one hand, a force behind Hamas, Hezbollah and the Yemeni Houthis attacking Red Sea shipping. And on the other, it is demonstrating restraint to avoid escalation. Its attack on Israel was telegraphed beforehand and afterwards Tehran said there would be no further retaliation, even though the effect was minimal. And when Israel bombed Isfahan, the Iranians dismissed it as almost an inconvenience.

The fact is that Iran is not ready for a war with an American-defended Israel. It has severe domestic problems, both politically and economically. At the same time, there is an irrational ideological Iranian hard-line to match that of Israel. They are known as the Paydari Front or the Front of the Stability of the Islamic Revolution. Ayatollah Khameini, still retains dictatorial powers, but he is 85 and the Paydari Front now controls many of the key government positions.

Meanwhile, Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas and the mastermind with Muhammad Deif of the 7 October attack, is believed to be holed up in a tunnel under Rafah along with a number of the Israeli hostages. Somehow or another, pollsters have managed to infiltrate Gaza, and discovered that Gazans are angry at the death and destruction that Hamas has brought down on their heads. Gazan support for Hamas, according to these brave pollsters, has dwindled to about 35 percent.

But Sinwar’s 7 October appears to have triggered giant strides towards several goals. He has severely strained relations between Israel and its chief backer the United States; turned Israel into a pariah state in the eyes of many; torpedoed the Abraham Accords and Saudi recognition of Israel; and put the two-state solution back on the diplomatic agenda. But that is unlikely to be the end of the matter.

World-ReviewWorld Review

Self-inflicted cracks are starting to appear in the MAGA edifice. The two Republicans wielding the sledgehammers are Alabama’s conspiracy theorist Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and, of course, Donald Trump himself.

The former president, has time and again, demonstrated a total disregard for the rule of law, or at least its application to his affairs. Next week the judge in his New York trial, Juan Merchan, will decide whether Trump is guilty of contempt of court for repeatedly breaching a gag order against his making comments about witnesses, jurors, the judge, the judge’s family or any court officials.

It is a legal courtesy for opposing legal teams to give a day or two’s advance notice of witnesses to give the lawyers time to prepare. The prosecution has asked the judge that they be allowed to withhold the information on the grounds that Trump is likely to issue intimidatory comments on his Truth Social platform. The judge has agreed.

Marjorie Taylor Greene—who has been dubbed “Vladimir Putin’s Envoy Extradordinaire to the US Congress” by Democrats and moderate Republicans— appears determined to totally destroy Republican credibility. Her main target is the $60 billion aid package for Ukraine which has been held up for months by far-right MAGA Republicans in the House of Representatives.

The package is expected to be approved this weekend. But Ms. Greene is determined to make a last ditch effort to kill the aid bill with a series of outrageous amendments, including: No humanitarian aid for Gaza, withdrawal from NATO, no support for a two-state solution, and—best of all– a demand that any member of Congress who votes in favor of aid for Ukraine be conscripted into the Ukrainian army.

Ms. Greene and the other members of the right-wing Freedom Caucus have managed to alienate moderate Republican congressman who are expected to cross the floor to vote with Democrats to pass the aid bill. Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden said that he and his colleagues were “sick and tired” of being “bullied” and “blackmailed.”

America’s “cancel culture” came to Europe this week–and then cancelled itself.

Cancel culture, is a term used by mainly US conservatives to decry the efforts of liberals to block (or “cancel”) public appearances by right-wing speakers. The tactic has become especially popular American university campuses where left-wing student demonstrations have forced the cancellation of speeches by right-wingers

Conservatives—quite rightly—see this as an attack on free speech.

This week the Edmund Burke Foundation, a conservative American think tank/pressure group, was hosting a conference of right-wing European luminaries in Brussels. Or at least, it was until it encountered the cancel culture of a series of Brussels mayors.

Trouble started the weekend before the event when one of the mayors of Brussels 19 districts decided that the Euro-sceptic foundation’s National Conservatism Conference would not be welcome in his district which included the EU institutions. He feared that the speakers’ anti-EU, anti-immigration and anti-LGBT views would attract violent counter demonstrations. So the venue was shifted to a building near the European Parliament where another district mayor turfed out the organizers.

The National Conservatism Conference—which included political celebrities such as Britain’s Nigel Farage and Suella Braverman, France’s Eric Zemmour and Hungary’s Viktor Orban—moved to a third location, a former night club called the Claridge which lent new meaning to the word seedy.

This time, a third mayor, sent in the police with orders to shut down the event. The attendees responded by beating off the police. But then the Brussels law enforcers sealed off the venue so that no food or drink could enter and if attendees left they were barred from returning. Emir Kir, Mayor of Brussels District Saint Josse-ten-Nood, said: “The far right is not welcome.”

Nigel Farage said the action of the Brussels mayors was “akin to the Soviet Union” and former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman condemned it as the actions of “the thought police.”

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo did not agree with the basic principles of the National Conservatism Conference. But he did agree with the principle of free speech. He declared that the mayors’ actions was unconstitutional, organized a court hearing to overrule the local authorities and the following day the event re-opened and Viktor Orban appeared to address his fans.

The problems of Europe and America’s White supremacists have just begun. And there is nothing that they can do about it.

According to UN demographers the populations of Europe, America, South Korea, China and Japan are falling because as few as 1.2 children are being born for each woman. In contrast a rising African birth rate and falling mortality rate means that by the end of this century about half of the world’s population will be African. This compares to 1950, when only ten percent of the world’s population lived in Africa.

At the moment about 18 percent of the world is African. But the median age in Africa is 20. This means African women will be at their fertility peak for the next 20 years and they are currently producing 4.6 children each.

The exploding African population coupled with political instability, poverty, climate change and a host of other problems can only mean that the growing number of Africans will be pushing harder on all fronts. By 2050, Nigeria will have a population of 230 million. Ethiopia will be 130 million and the systemically unstable Democratic Republic of the Congo, 110 million.

Climate change means Africans will be fleeing in even greater numbers northwards to Europe and America to escape the creeping sands of the Sahara. Those same sands means that agricultural production will inevitably fail to meet the needs of a growing population.

An ethnic group which comprises nearly half of humanity will also demand greater political representation in relation to other groups.  Economically, Africa will over the next 30 years have the world’s largest work force. This means that it could become a major engine for world growth or a huge pool of unemployed and angry labor. The decision will be made by capital held in the Global North.

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Tom Arms Journalist Sindh CourierTom Arms is foreign editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and author of “The Encyclopedia of the Cold War” and “America Made in Britain.” He is also co-host of the world affairs podcast “TransAtlantic Riff”

Read: Observations of an Expat: Suspend Arms Shipments to Israel

Pakistan Premier for intensifying high-level dialogue with Turkmenistan

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Pakistan Premier for intensifying high-level dialogue with Turkmenistan

Pakistan Prime Minister voiced his opinion during a meeting with the Ambassador of Turkmenistan

Islamabad

Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed interest in expanding bilateral cooperation with Turkmenistan, especially in the areas of trade, energy, and communication. The Prime Minister voiced his opinion during a meeting with the Ambassador of Turkmenistan Atadjan Movlamov on Wednesday, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s office, Orient reports.

During the meeting, the importance of cooperation on regional projects and initiatives was also emphasized. In this context, the Prime Minister of Pakistan stressed the need to intensify high-level exchanges between the two countries. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also noted the significance of regular meetings within the framework of bilateral institutional mechanisms.

The Ambassador of Turkmenistan conveyed congratulations from the Turkmen leadership to the Prime Minister on his reelection. The Prime Minister thanked President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow, as well as the national leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, for their congratulatory messages. He said that he fondly remembers his meetings with them and hopes for continued exchanges in the future.

The Ambassador of Turkmenistan briefed Prime Minister Sharif on various planned bilateral events.

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Courtesy: Central Asian Light (Posted on April 19, 2024)

Kazakhstan and Russia to launch joint space programs

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Kazakhstan and Russia to launch joint space programs

Kazakhstan announced its intention to launch space programs jointly with Russia

Astana

Kazakhstan has announced its intention to launch space programs jointly with Russia. This was revealed by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek. He disclosed the priority areas of scientific cooperation with Russia, Eurasia.Expert reports.

According to the Kazakh minister, the parties also intend to expand cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. He added that cooperation with Russia in higher education is “first and foremost an absolute strategic priority” for Kazakhstan.

Russia and Kazakhstan are united by a common civilization space that has formed over centuries of good neighborliness and existence in a single state. Thirty years ago, the two countries signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the field of culture, science, and education, which encourages academic exchanges and the development of contacts between universities.

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Courtesy: Central Asian Light (Posted on April 19, 2024)

World Poets call for immediate ceasefire and humanitarian assistance in Gaza

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World Poets call for immediate ceasefire and humanitarian assistance in Gaza

The appeal by over 1010 world poets has been addressed to all presidents and leaders of world countries

WPM HQ, Medellín, Columbia

World Poetry Movement (WPM) have gathered more than 1010 signatures by world poets in more than 140 countries on an appeal to act for immediate ceasefire and humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

The appeal has been addressed to all honorable presidents and leaders of world countries: Joe Biden, president of the United States, Xi Jinping, president of China, Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of England, Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister of Germany, Emmanuel Macron, president of France, Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, Gustavo Petro, president of Colombia, Manuel López Obrador, president of Mexico, Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Ali Khamenei, head of state of Iran, Michael Higgins, President of Ireland, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil.

World Poetry Movement Logo Sindh CourierThe Appeal to act for immediate ceasefire and humanitarian assistance in Gaza

“Your Excellency, we, the poets, writers and artists of all nations of the world, are deeply concerned by the barbaric, inhuman and systematic attacks on the people of Palestine in Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces. Media reports and other independent sources have claimed that at least 33,482 Palestinians have been killed and 76,049 wounded since October 7, 2023. Women, children, medical service providers, journalists and humanitarian workers have been indiscriminately targeted. Homes, hospitals, schools and public spaces are demolished, and humanitarian assistance is blocked.

The people of Gaza have become prisoners in their own nation, and are deprived of food, water, shelter and health services. They are denied their basic rights to life and dignity. This act is a clear violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws. It is loud and clear that no countries and territories can be at peace when people in Gaza are subjected to brutal war and historical injustices. Though the United Nations officials also have repeatedly urged for the immediate cessation of this genocidal war, it is very unfortunate that the world governments have failed to make any resolution to this crisis.

As poets, writers, artists and humans, sharing the common home, planet Earth, we have a collective responsibility to bear witness to this heinous crime against humanity. We strongly condemn the atrocities committed by the Israeli forces and appeal that the right to life and dignity of the Palestinian people to be protected by all means and in all circumstances. We maintain that these conflicts should be resolved through peaceful means and mutual dialogues.

We urge that the inhumanity in Gaza must be recognized and the perpetrators must be made accountable. But, as an emergency response, we appeal Your Excellency for your positive action in forging a deal for immediate ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, and in mobilizing the international mechanisms to provide humanitarian reliefs to the people in Gaza, Warmest Regards”

GazaThe signing poets are called by WORLD POETRY MOVEMENT (WPM), Hanan Awwad (Palestine), Fernando Rendón (Colombia), President of WPM, Rati Saxena (India), Alex Pausides (Cuba), Siphiwe Nzima (Lesotho), Keshab Sigdel (Nepal), Freddy Ñáñez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Ana María Oviedo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Khalid Rassouni (Morocco), Zolani Mkiva (South Africa), Maribel Mora (Chile), Oscar Saavedra (Chile), Vadim Terekhim (Russia), Rosa Chávez (Guatemala), Ashraf Aboul-Yazid (Egypt), Sylvie Marie (Belgium), Achour Fenni (Algeria), Christine Peiying (New Zealand), María Ángeles Pérez López (Spain), Gloria Chvatal (Colombia), Ali Al Ameri (Jordan), Saley Boubé Bali (Niger), Wpm Coordinating Committee, João Fernando André (Angola), Ikhlef Abdelselam (Algeria), Djamel Belarbi (Algeria), Nasser Bakria (Algeria), Mohamed Bouteghane (Algeria), Ahmed Abdelkrim (Algeria), Ahcene Douas (Algeria), Arabi Abdelkader (Algeria), Hmida Ayachi(Algeria), Lakhdar Fellous (Algeria), Bourouis Amar (Algeria), Zineb Laouedj (Algeria), Mohammed Boutaghane (Algeria), Mebsoute Mohamed (Algeria), Nadia Nouacer (Algeria), Kadik Mohamed (Algeria), Mabrouk Bannaoui (Algeria), Salim Abadou (Algeria), Abdelhamid Bourayou (Algeria), Mohamed Daoud (Algeria), Aidouni Salima (Algeria), Fertouni Mouloud (Algeria), Mohamed Lakhdhar Juini (Algeria), Kamel Kerrour (Algeria), Brahim Tazaghart (Algeria), Ahmine Chafik (Algeria), Brahim Boudraa (Algeria),  Abdelhakem Belehia (Algeria), Mahdi Berrache (Algeria), Nicolás Antonioli (Argentina), Leopoldo Castilla (Argentina), Gabo Sequeira (Argentina), Dafne Pidemunt (Argentina), Alicia Vincenzini (Argentina), Paula Kersul (Argentina), Sol Zurita (Argentina), Bianca Cacia (Argentina), Lilah Strack (Argentina), Hugo Alberto Luna (Argentina), Silvia Jayo (Argentina), Claudia Christiansen (Argentina), Yanina Audisio Jayo (Argentina), Leandro Frígoli Jayo (Argentina), Liliana Majic Jayo (Argentina), Milvia America Mansilla Jayo (Argentina), Ana Maidana (Argentina), Melina Sánchez (Argentina), Ezra Monsalvo (Argentina), Teuco Castilla (Argentina), Guillermo Almada (Argentina), Samuel Bossini (Argentina), Anandi Fernández (Argentina), Arturo Desimone (Aruba), Quinto Nichoolas (Aruba), Les Wicks (Australia), Juan Garrido Salgado (Australia), Eldar Akhadov (Azerbaijan), Marion Bethel (Bahamas), Aminur Rahman (Bangladesh), Winston Farrell (Barbados), Kerry Belgrave (Barbados), Jacinth Howard (Barbados), Linda Deane (Barbados), Hermas Gbaguidi (Benim), Hosheng Ossi (Belgium), Peter Theunynck (Belgium), Annemarie Estor (Belgium), Frank Pollet (Belgium), Anne Provoost (Belgium), Erik Vlaminck (Belgium), Leonardo Gustavo Ruiz (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Mariana Ruiz Oviedo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Francisco Sesto (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Luis Alberto Crespo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Víelsi Arias (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Pedro Ruiz (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Antonio Trujillo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Miguel Pérez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Gabriel Jiménez Emán (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), José Gregorio Vásquez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Venus Ledezma (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Yuri Patiño (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Juan Antonio Calzadilla Arreaza (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Nelson Chávez Herrera (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Hermes Vargas (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), José Gregorio González Vivas (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Jazmil Mendoza (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Milagro Meleán (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Ennio Tucci (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Ever Delgado (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Rodolfo Quintero Noguera (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Leticia Rojas (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Carlos Pérez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Leonel Ruiz (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Alexis Liendo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Benito Mieses (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Pedro Tellez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Luis Alberto Angulo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Arnaldo Erazzo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Gregorio González Vivas (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Elí Caicedo Pinto (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Fidel Flores (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Job Jurado Guevara (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Christian Farías (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Azul Urdaneta (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), María Alejandra Rendón (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Rumilda Jiménez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Vanileybi Rivas (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), José Mestre (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Mohamed Hassan (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Ernesto Cañizalez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Eleazar Marín (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Ninfa Monasterios (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Bartolomé Cavallo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Marcos Veroes (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Rafael Ortega (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Henry Colmenares (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Max Bembo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Alexis Escalona (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Skarlet Boguier (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), José Gregorio Correa (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Maury Valerio (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Luis Emilio Romero (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Luis Miguel Patiño (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Rodolfo Rodríguez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Luis Velázquez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Mirimarit Paradas (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Gonzalo Insignares (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Ildemaro Rosales (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Raúl García Palma (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Isabel Molina (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Emilys González Ordóñez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Wilmara Borges (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Rubén Darío Roca (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Ramón Ojeda Cruzate (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Fanny Araujo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Karelia Chávez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), José Ortiz (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Julián Escalona (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Alberto Rodríguez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Keomar Inojosa (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Nancy Caballero (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Miguel Viloria (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Roger Herrera (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Libeslay Bermúdez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Alejandro Silva (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Maríajosé Escobar (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), William Torrealba (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Ximena Benítez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Yuraima Salazar (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), José Javier Sánchez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Julio Borromé (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Enmanuel Colmenares (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Lennys Pérez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Juan Canelones (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Linda Ruiz Terán (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Aquiles Silva (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Marcos González (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), José Pérez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Franklin Fernández (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Clorinda Fuentes (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Jesús Velásquez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Edgar Hernández (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Rodolfo Rodríguez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela),  Gisela Delpino (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Benigno Barazarte (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Raúl Blanco (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Eduardo Rivero (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Luis Cabezas (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Argenis Méndez Echenique (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Marisol Pérez Melgarejo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Adolfo Segundo Medina (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Freddy Araque Contreras (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Manuel Rojas Flores (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Alejo Vivas Ramírez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Alexander García La Cruz (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Federico Ruiz (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Stephen Marsh Planchart (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Nelson Montiel Acosta (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), José Miguel González Rossi (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela),Lucas Gil (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Marisol Pérez Melgarejo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Adolfo Segundo Medina (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Freddy Araque Contreras (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Manuel Rojas Flores (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Alejo Vivas Ramírez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Alexander García La Cruz (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela).

GazaThe list of poets joining the appeal has been updated since April 11, 2024. More are following:

Valeria Sandi (Bolivia); Sulma Montero (Bolivia); Vilma Tapia (Bolivia); T. J. Dema (Botswana); Thiago Ponce de Moraes (Brazil); Tanussi Cardoso (Brazil); Arthur Ledine (Brazil); Bianca Monteiro Garcia (Brazil); Carlos Orfeu da Conceição (Brazil); Juliana Athayde Silva de Morais (Brazil); Lucas Perito (Brazil); Tatiana Leal (Brazil); Humberto Mello (Brazil); Daiane Pereira Rodrigues (Brazil); Pedro Muñoz (Brazil); Rinzin Rinzin (Bhutan); Gopilal Acharya (Bhutan); Ruzha Velcheva (Bulgaria); Gary Geddes (Canada); Geraldine Mpesse (Cameroon); Aubin-Renaud Alongnifal (Cameroon); Marcel Kemadjou (Cameroom); Jean-Michel Ekele (Cameroon); Paul Atangana Atangana (Cameroon); Soledad Fariña (Chile); Jesús Sepúlveda (Chile); Chinoy (Chile); Luis Eduardo Aguilera (Chile); Margarita Berríos García (Chile); Jaime Quezada (Chile); Rayen Kvyeh (Mapuche, Chile); Francisco Villa (Chile); Amanda Duran (Chile); Daruin Durier Duarte (Colombia); Guillermo Acuña (Costa Rica); Rodolfo Dada (Costa Rica); Cao Shui (China); Ming Di (China); Víctor Gaviria (Colombia); Gabriel Jaime Franco (Colombia); Rómulo Bustos (Colombia); Femando Linero (Colombia); Mónica Lucía Suárez (Colombia); Luis Eduardo Rendón (Colombia); Jairo Guzmán (Colombia); Luz Helena Cordero (Colombia); Pedro Arturo Estrada (Colombia); Lucía Estrada (Colombia); Vito Apüshana (Colombia); Selnich Vivas Hurtado (Colombia); Simón André Chvatal-Rendón (Colombia); Yorlady Ruiz (Colombia); Valentina Rojas (Colombia); María Matilde Rodríguez (Colombia); Carmen Alicia Pérez (Colombia); Ángela García (Colombia); Guillermo Torres (Colombia); Patricia Ariza (Colombia); Ronald Cano (Colombia); Vanessa Torres (Colombia); Manuela Salinas (Colombia); Daniel Montoya (Colombia); Eugenia Sánchez Nieto (Colombia); Diego Rodríguez Saza (Colombia); Yesenia Méndez (Colombia); Yadira Cáceres (Colombia); Elvira Alejandra Quintero (Colombia); Álvaro Malenkov Rendón (Colombia); Lizha Candelo Grueso (Colombia); Jaime Nevado (Colombia); Niyi Itzamatul Ixmucané (Colombia); Jaime Londoño (Colombia); Valentina Rojas (Colombia); Selnich Vivas Hurtado (Colombia); Daniela Zapata (Colombia); Fabio Garrido (Colombia); Mercedes Vivas (Colombia); Edgar Sandino (Colombia); María Isabel García Mayorca (Colombia); Luis Carlos Domínguez (Colombia); Rosaura Mestizo (Colombia); Luz Marina López (Colombia); Marco Antonio Mejía (Colombia); Ángela Briceño (Colombia); Anna Francisca Rodas (Colombia); Juan Sebastián Sánchez (Colombia); Andrés Uribe (Colombia); Francy Liliana Díaz (Colombia); Bárbara Lins (Colombia); Angélica Pineda Silva (Colombia); Rubén Darío Flores (Colombia); Natalia Montejo (Colombia); Claudia Chaverra (Colombia); Edgar Sandino (Colombia); Natalia Montejo (Colombia); William Jiménez (Colombia); Liliana Marentes (Colombia); Daniel Acevedo (Colombia); Gianni Lara Cruz (Colombia); Gustavo Adolfo Garces (Colombia); Omar Ardila (Colombia); Karla Jazmín Arango (Colombia); Luisa Aguilar (Colombia); Manuel Pachón (Colombia); Carlos Fajardo (Colombia); Carlos Alberto Merchán (Colombia); Diana Carolina Forero (Colombia); Amparo Andrade (Colombia); Fausto Marcelo Ávila (Colombia); Ana María García (Colombia); Judith Bautista Fajardo (Colombia); Janeth Rico (Colombia); Jenny Cabrera (Colombia); Inés López Ramírez (Colombia); Félix Molina-Flórez (Colombia); María Tabares (Colombia); Damaris Román (Colombia); Héctor Hernán Hurtado (Colombia); Dorian Villa (Colombia); Víctor Ochoa (Colombia); Mauricio Flórez (Colombia); Michelle López (Colombia); Jaime Lara (Colombia); Rodrigo Jaramillo (Colombia);Carlos Alberto Valencia (Colombia);Osvaldo Sauma (Costa Rica); Arabella Salaverry (Costa Rica); Paola Valverde (Costa Rica); Tomija Bacis (Croatia); Omar González Jiménez (Cuba); Abel Prieto (Cuba); Lilian Alvarez (Cuba); Waldo Leyva (Cuba); Raúl Roa Kouri (Cuba); Heriberto Feraudy Espino (Cuba); Karel Leyva Ferrer (Cuba); Marta Pérez Hernández (Cuba); Marlene Alfonso Ulacia (Cuba); José Nicolás Díaz Roa (Cuba); Alberto Marrero (Cuba); Ariel Diaz (Cuba); Roberto Valera (Cuba); Lillian Alvarez Navarrete (Cuba); German Sánchez (Cuba); Alberto Marrero (Cuba); Carmen González (Cuba); Juanita Conejero (Cuba); Pedro Péglez González (Cuba); Dimarys Águila (Cuba); Nevalis Quintana (Cuba); María de los Ángeles Polo (Cuba); Lucia Cristina Pérez (Cuba); Ariel Brooks Espinosa (Cuba); Cecilia Soto Martinez (Cuba); Kenia Rodríguez Poulout (Cuba); Bertha María Gómez (Cuba); Oscar Oramas Oliva (Cuba); Jesús Úrsula (Cuba); Juan Ramírez (Cuba); Arelys Danger de la Cruz (Cuba); Reinier del Pino Cejas (Cuba);Daisy Brau y grupo Areanle (Cuba); Esperanza Martínez (Cuba); Carlos Tablada (Cuba); Jesus Sama Pacheco (Cuba); Modesto Caballero (Cuba); Marina Akhmedova (Dagestan); Lusmil Castor (Dominican Republic); Rafael Pineda (Dominican Republic); Rei Berroa (Dominican Republic); Tomás Modesto Galán (Dominican Republic); Luis Carlos Musso (Ecuador); Beatriz Beltrán (Ecuador); Paulina Suárez (Ecuador); Cristian Avecillas (Ecuador); Waheed Taweela (Egypt); Eslam Adelaziz (Egypt); Nancy Farouk (Egypt); Mohamed Taha (Egypt); Salma Mokhtar (Egypt); Azza Mohamed (Egypt); Mohamed Yehia (Egypt); William Alfaro (El Salvador); Otoniel Guevara (El Salvador); Lauri García Dueñas (El Salvador); Norma Flores Allende (El Salvador); Juana M. Ramos (El Salvador); Ada Membreño (El Salvador); Richard Berengarten (England); Robin Ouzman Hislop (England); Antonio Martínez Arboleda (England); Jüri Talvet (Estonia); Recaredo Silebo Boturu (Equatorial Guinea); Ethenat Awol (Ethiopia); Alemu Tebeje (Ethiopia); Inger-Mari Aikio (Finland); J.K. Ihalainen (Finland); Philippe Tancelin (France); Émile Boutelier (French Guiana); Jean James Junior (French Guiana); Jean Rolph (French Guiana); Peter Sipeli (Fiji); Christine Siebert (Germany); Christos Koukis (Greece); Eleni Psaralidou (Greece); Dimitris Kraniotis (Greece); Aggeliki Dimouli (Greece); Despoina Haitatzi-Houlioumi (Greece); Logginidis Panagiotis (Greece); Eleni Tatzimaki (Greece); Isidora Malama (Greece); Francis Peters (Grenada); Rudy Alfonzo Gomez Rivas (Guatemala); Marvin S. García Citalán (Guatemala); Francisco Garzaro (Guatemala); David Majano (Guatemala); Ángela Eunice Sacalxot (Guatemala); Pablo Sigüenza (Guatemala); Julio Cumez (Kaqchikel, Guatemala); Raúl Figueroa Sarti (Guatemala); Genesis Ramos (Guatemala); Negma Coy (Guatemala); Carolina Escobar Sartí (Guatemala); Hector Velis (Guatemala); Francisco Conduto de Pina (Guinea Bissau); Alexandra Cretté (Guyana); Miguel Duplan (Guyana); Michée Dasmar (Haiti); Kamran Mir Hazar (Hazaristan); Basir Aang (Hazaristan); Melissa Merlo (Honduras); Dennis Ávila (Honduras); Armando Maldonado (Honduras); Anarella Vélez (Honduras); Livio Ramírez (Honduras); Oscar Amaya (Honduras); Venus Mejía (Honduras); Perla Rivera (Honduras); Galel Cárdenas (Honduras); César Lazo (Honduras); Soledad Altamirano (Honduras); Lety Elvir (Honduras); Alex Darío Rivera (Honduras); Alexis Ordóñez (Honduras); Edilberto Borjas (Honduras); Yadira Eguigure (Honduras); Juan Carlos Caffol (Honduras); Rolando Kattan (Honduras); Salvador Madrid (Honduras); Atila Balaz (Hungría); Thór Stefánsson (Iceland); Birgitta Jónsdóttir (Iceland); K. Satchidanandan (India); Mamang Dai (India); Taniya Chakraborty (India); Prithviraj Taur (India); Prava Samantaray (India); Sukumaran Chelinga (India); Durgaprasad Agrawal (India); Sonu Yashraj (India); Anand Khatri (India); Varsh Mirza (India); Pooja Primvada (India); Kasturika (India); Neelotpal (India); Vijaya Raj Mallika (India); Sukumaran (India); Kedar Mishra (India); Kamal Vora (India); Prithviraj Tore (India); Brajesh Singh (India); Geeta Gloria (India); Sunita Chaturvedi (India); Santosh Kumar (India); Basant Jaitly (India); Anwar Suhail (India); Anupma Tiwari (India); Uma (India); Prem (India); Nand Bhardwaj (India); Biplab Majee (India); Aakriti Kuntal (India); Jinaus Kamvar (India); Govind Mathur (India); Usha Dashora (India); Amien Kamil (Indonesia); Mohsen Rahjerdi (Iran); Nahid Kabiri (Iran); Mohsen Emadi (Iran); Ati Albarkat (Iraq); Abdulhadi Sadoun (Iraq); Hatif Janabi (Iraq); Mohammad Al Aminr (Iraq); Desmond Eagan (Ireland); Gabriel Rosenstock (Ireland); Moya Cannon (Ireland); Katherine Mezzacappa (Ireland); Lia Mills (Ireland); Çağdaş Gökbel (Ireland); Katie Donovan (Ireland); Felicia McCarthy (Ireland); Simon Robinson (Ireland); Ignatius McGovern (Ireland); Therese Kieran (Ireland); Fiona Bolger (Ireland); Ammar Al-najjar (Ireland); Grainne Tobin (Ireland); Dave Duggan (Ireland); Geraldine Mitchell (Ireland);Amir A. Moslemi (Ireland); Ruth Carr (Ireland); Viviana Fiorentino (Ireland); Catherine Dunne (Ireland); Neil Hegarty (Ireland); Moyra Donaldson (Ireland); Evelyn Conlon (Ireland); Shauna Gilligan (Ireland); June Considine (Ireland); Celia de Freine (Ireland); Mia Gallagher (Ireland); Stefano Strazzabosco (Italy); Tomlin Ellis (Jamaica); Opal Palmer Adisa (Jamaica); Judith Falloon-Reid (Jamaica); Amina Blackwood Meeks (Jamaica); Susan Lycett Davis (Jamaica); Fabián M. Thomas (Jamaica); Neto Maceo (Jamaica); Meeks (Jamaica); Adisa (Jamaica); Susan Lycett Davis (Jamaica); Fabian M. Thomas (Jamaica); Kwame MA McPherson (Jamaica); Abhaya Shrestha (Nepal); Hemanta Biwas (Nepal); Jeebesh Rayamajhi (Nepal); Rajeshwar Karki (Nepal); Anupam Roshi (Nepal); Shakuntala Joshi (Nepal); Momila Joshi (Nepal); Lorna Shaughnessy (North Ireland); Govind Mathur (India); Kedar Mishra (India); Suraj Shaw (India); Madan Saini_(India); Kavita Mathur (India); Mahesh (India); Avinendra Maan (India); Ramesh Pandit (India); Beppe Costa (Italy); Stefani di Leo (Italy); Daniela Dante (Italy); Lamberto Garzia (Italy); Massa Massa Bari (Italy); Samuel Dégni (Ivory Coast); Judith Falloon-Reid (Jamaica); Amina Blackwood Meeks (Jamaica); Neto Maceo (Jamaica); Meeks (Jamaica); Adisa (Jamaica); Susan Lycett Davis (Jamaica); Fabian M. Thomas (Jamaica); Kwame MA McPherson (Jamaica); Mari Kashiwagi (Japan); Mohamad Migdady (Jordan); Ulugbek Yesdaulatov (Kazakhstan); Altynai Temirova (Kyrgyzstan); Eralieva Umutkan Polotovna (Kyrgyzstan); Mona Kareen (Kuwait); Abdulah Nammour (Lebanon); Antoine Boulad (Lebanon); Tristan Cassir (Lebanon); Naji Naaman (Lebanon); Rethabile Masilo (Lesotho); Violet Anderson (Lesotho); Bahlakoana Mothobi (Lesotho); Moretlo Likate (Lesotho); Limpho Thoahlane (Lesotho); Rethabile Francis (Lesotho); Likoche Maseru (Lesotho); Borane Kumi (Lesotho); Nokukhanya Hatahata (Lesotho); Naledi Pashe (Lesotho); Kabelo Leboli (Lesotho); Motselisi Hlongwa (Lesotho); Folatsane Makamane (Lesotho); Masekake Molapo (Lesotho); Jeffrey Lebona Mapesela (Lesotho); Lintle Mahloane (Lesotho); Thapiwe Nzima (Lesotho); Kalosi Bantu Ramakhula (Lesotho); Makhebe Seatlana (Lesotho); Baatile Makhetha (Lesotho); Ngakane Bosiu (Lesotho); Ntsane Gerard Molai (Lesotho); Mpho Mohapi (Lesotho); Polly Makotoko (Lesotho); Kano Lebajoa (Lesotho); Liatile Mohale (Lesotho); Lipuo Lelula Maseru (Lesotho); Relebohile Selebalo (Lesotho); Tankiso Lizzy Lethibelane (Lesotho); Lerato Mosollane (Lesotho); Abubacar Jabbie (Lesotho); Thato Rannana (Lesotho); Pulane Rantho (Lesotho); Maapile Moliepe (Lesotho); Yolanda Makhetha (Lesotho); Lesiamo Thatho (Lesotho); Bahlakoana R Tau (Lesotho); Tumisang Malope (Lesotho); Katleho Mohapi (Lesotho); Portia Ramoloko (Lesotho); Mpho Sefali (Lesotho); Sesing Khama (Lesotho); Lefu Kotlolo (Lesotho); Maphunye Likate (Lesotho); Boitumelo Makhoabenyane (Lesotho); Malefu Kotlolo (Lesotho); Mareatile Malebo (Lesotho); Mokoena Molise (Lesotho); Kananelo Likate (Lesotho); Lethuli Mohlomi (Lesotho); Caroline Lelosa (Lesotho); Moleboheng Sefali (Lesotho); Pulane Seitlheko (Lesotho); Kutoane Ts’iu (Lesotho); Karabo Mark Suping (Lesotho); Patricia Jabbeh Wesley (Liberia); Ashur Etwebi (Libya); Hisham Errish (Lybia); Rabie Shrair (Lybia); Rabie Shrair (Libya); Jean-Luc Raharimanana (Madagascar); Paul Sezzie (Malawi); Shivani Shlivagurunathan (Malaysia); Karl Schembri (Malta); Nicole Cage (Martinique); Marie-Françoise Bernard (Martinique); Gérald Désert (Martinique); Christophe Rangoly (Martinique); Umar Timol (Mauritius); Yasmin Alfaro (Mexico); Natalia Toledo (Mexico); George Reyes (Mexico); Manuel Sauceverde (Mexico); José Ángel Leyva (Mexico); Manuel Cuautle (Mexico); Roberto Acuña (Mexico); Chary Gumeta (Mexico); Sixto Cabrera González (Mexico); Juan Schulz (Mexico); Grissel Gómez Estrada (Mexico); Roberto Arizmendi (Mexico); José Cruz (Mexico); Evelia Flores (Mexico); Octavio Jiménez (Mexico); Cynthia Pech (Mexico); Luis Enrike Moscoso (México).

Gaza-Child

Read: World Poetry Movement urges international agencies to protect the Palestinian people

More poets from different countries also signed the appeal.

Galsansukh Dejidmaa (Mongolia)

Hadaa Sendoo (Mongolia)

Sreten Vujović (Montenegro)

Yvonne Weekes (Montserrat)

Zelma White (Montserrat)

Hassan El Ouazzani (Morocco)

Mohamed Ahmed Bennis (Morocco)

Mohamed Hajji Mohamed (Morocco)

Mohamed Miloud Gharrafi (Morocco)

Mohammed El Amraoui (Morocco)

Aziz Azrhai (Morocco)

Ikram Abdi (Morocco)

Salah Boussrif (Morocco)

Jamal Elmoatassim-billah (Morocco – Canada)

Rachid Elyacouti (Morocco)

Amosse Mucavele (Mozambique)

Keamogetsi Joseph Molapong (Namibia)

Balu Thap (Nepal)

Balu Thap (Nepal)

Abhaya Shrestha (Nepal)

Hemanta Biwas (Nepal)

Jeebesh Rayamajhi (Nepal)

Rajeshwar Karki (Nepal)

Anupam Roshi (Nepal)

Shakuntala Joshi (Nepal)

Momila Joshi (Nepal)

Denis Pourawa (New Caledonia)

Christian Karl Stead (New Zealand)

Adamou Idé (Niger)

Inoussa Maman (Niger)

Abdoul Moumouni (Niger)

Zakariyaou Seybou (Niger)

Fatima Mashoud (Niger)

Iro Salif (Niger)

Chamsou Maiga (Niger)

Abdou Miko (Niger)

Abdoul Wahab Soumana (Niger)

Boukary Mamane Daouda (Niger)

Mayaki Doge (Niger)

Hannu Afere (Nigeria)

Tanure Ojaide (Nigeria)

Jan Erik Vold (Norway)

Erling Kittelsen (Norway)

Abdullah Habib (Oman)

Ashraf Fayad (Palestina)

Moheeb Barghouthi (Palestine)

Ghadeer Abusneineh (Palestine)

Yousef Abdelaziz (Palestine – Jordan)

Isam Alsadi (Palestine – Jordan)

Nabil Anani (Palestine)

Bassel Salen (Palestine)

Samar Alghuol (Palestine)

Giovanna Bennedetti (Panama)

Imdad Aakash (Pakistan)

Techi Cusmanich (Paraguay)

Mónica Laneri (Paraguay)

Susy Delgado (Paraguay)

Onix Fernández Báez (Paraguay)

Miguel Ángel Fernández (Paraguay)

Guido Rodríguez Alcalá (Paraguay)

Eduardo González (Paraguay)

Marta Violeta Garcete (Paraguay)

Ricardo de la Vega (Paraguay)

Carolina Mariana Cáceres (Paraguay)

Charlize Clarke (Paraguay)

Mario Casartelli (Paraguay)

César Aponte (Paraguay)

Proyecto Arcadia (Paraguay)

Chiquita Barreto (Paraguay)

Arte Cultura.  La Tocatta (Paraguay)

Roque de Pablo (Paraguay)

Sara Schupmann (Paraguay)

Juan Carlos Rojas (Paraguay)

Cala del Puerto (Paraguay)

Morena Sosa (Paraguay)

Milton Siegfried (Paraguay)

Kalya Luz (Paraguay)

Sofia Barbery (Paraguay)

Rosa Barbery (Paraguay)

Nelly Barbery (Paraguay)

Tury Talavera (Paraguay)

Mariale Enciso (Paraguay)

Sol Barbery (Paraguay)

Ricardo Flecha (Paraguay)

Trovadores de cada canción (Paraguay)

Maria Lourdes Zaragoza (Paraguay)

Ana Ramirez (Paraguay)

Rubén Domínguez Alvarenga (Paraguay)

Filomena Bejarano (Paraguay)

Enrique Sánchez Hernani (Peru)

Hildebrando Pérez Grande (Peru)

Marco Martos (Perú)

Gonzalo Espino (Peru)

Diego Alonso Sánchez Barrueto (Peru)

Katherine Medina Rondón (Peru)

Guillermo Saravia (Peru)

Miguel Lescano (Peru)

Elie Angles (Peru)

Tilsa Otta (Peru)

Tatiana Berger (Peru)

Natalie Celio (Peru)

Rosa Maria Díaz (Peru)

Paul Guillén (Peru)

Luis La Hoz (Peru)

Czar Gutiérrez Luis La Hoz (Peru)

Rodolfo Ybarra Luis La Hoz (Peru)

Mary Soto Luis La Hoz (Peru)

Edián Novoa (Peru)

Victor Vich (Peru)

Fernando González-Olaechea (Peru)

Lucas Cornejo Pasara (Peru)

Diana Miloslavich (Peru)

Jorge Espinoza Sánchez (Peru)

James Tian (Philiphines)

Marra Lanot (Philippines)

Ostap Nozap (Polland)

Santi Hernández (Puerto Rico)

Soad Alkuwari (Qatar)

Fida Alhail Alshooqtair (Qatar)

Alimirza (Qatar)

Lolita Mongo (Reunion Islands)

Ko Un (Republic of Korea)

Fahredin Shehu (Republic of Kosovo)

Natalia Kharlampyeva (Republic of Saja)

Ion Deaconescu (Romania)

Elena Armenescu (Romania)

Abdullah Issa (Palestine –Russia)

Svetlana Makarova (Russia)

Lyudmila Murashova (Russia)

Lidiya Davydenko (Russia)

Svetlana Savitskaya (Russia)

Alexander Gromov (Russia)

Natalia Kharlampyeva (Russia)

Elena Mashukova (Russia)

Marina Akhmedova (Russia)

Igor Tyulenev (Russia)

Lilia Okhotnitskaya (Russia)

Jane King (Saint Lucia)

Alvinus Melius (Saint Lucia)

Lasana Sekou (Saint Martin)

Lafleur Cockburn (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

Jaykel Mars (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

Milena Ercolani (San Marino)

Fowziyah Abukhalid (Saudi Arabia)

Christie Williamson (Scotland)

Aleksandar Novaković (Serbia)

Cheikh Tidiane Gaye (Senegal)

Oumar Farouk Sesay (Sierra Leone)

Issa Kanu (Sierra Leone)

Princess Mildred Kailey (Sierra Leone)

Mohamed Fuad Kamara (Sierra Leone)

Joseph Leema Peters-Macauley (Sierra Leone)

Lord Emmanuel Joseph (Sierra Leone)

Ibrahim Mustapha Fofanah (Sierra Leone)

Peter Semolic (Slovenia)

Brane Mozetic (Slovenia)

Jordi Virallonga (Spain)

Isabel Miguel (Spain)

Diana Bujarrabal (Spain)

Manuel Palencia (Spain)

Tomás Graves (Spain)

Amparo Arróspide (Spain)

Olivier Herrera (Spain)

Antonio M. Avilés (Spain)

Eladio Méndez (Spain)

Lola López Martín (Spain)

Javier Gil Martín (Spain)

Iosu Moracho (Spain)

Raquel Ramírez de Arellano (Spain)

Pedro Enríquez (Spain)

Santiago Sobrino (Spain)

Marie-Vida Obeid (Spain)

Carmen Huete (Spain)

José María Alfaya (Spain)

Antonio Cubelos (Spain)

Alberto Muñoz (Spain)

Rosario de Gorostegui (Spain)

Miguel Ángel García González (Spain)

Nieves Álvarez (Spain)

Fran Soto (Spain)

Milagros López (Spain)

Manuela Temporelli Montiel (Spain)

Villo Argumánez (Spain)

Rosana Acquaroni (Spain)

Gabriel Alejo Jacobkis (Spain)

El Dorado – Asociación cultural (Spain)

Eddie J. Bermúdez (Spain)

Javier Muñiz (Spain)

Ana Belén Martín Vázquez (Spain)

Noni Benegas (Spain)

Emma Fondevila (Spain)

Emilio Muñiz (Spain)

Dori Campos (Spain)

Luisa Antolín Villota (Spain)

Margarita Ballester Figueras (Spain)

Llucia Palliser (Spain)

José Luis Fernández (Spain)

Emily Roberts (Spain)

Gsús Bonilla (Spain)

Joan de la Vega (Spain)

Luz Pichel (Spain)

Alfredo Piquer (Spain)

Ana Ares (Spain)

Isabel Miguel (Spain)

Eva Hiernaux (Spain)

Esther Veintimilla (Spain)

Luis Adalid (Spain)

Mª Cinta Montagut (Spain)

Raúl Nieto (Spain)

Nieves Muriel (Spain)

Ricardo Pochtar (Spain)

Jesús Ge (Spain)

Manuel Fabián Trigos Baena (Spain)

Nacho Escuin (Spain)

Jorge García Torrego (Spain)

Cristina Morano (Spain)

Rafael G. Cáccamo (Spain)

Andrea Aguirre (Spain)

Ángeles Fernangómez (Spain)

Marga Blanco Samos (Spain)

Gonzalo Escarpa (Spain)

Silvia Cuevas Morales (Spain)

Isabel Pose (Spain)

Pepo Paz Saz (Spain)

Rocío Ordóñez (Spain)

Nieves Muñoz (Spain)

Inma Chacón (Spain)

Marta Sanz (Spain)

Amparo Pérez Arróspide (Spain)

Susana Obrero Tejero (Spain)

Marisa Bello (Spain)

Eva Navarro (Spain)

Arturo Tendero (Spain)

Belén García-Nieto (Spain)

Susana Muñoz (Spain)

Ela Sandín Prior (Spain)

Ángel Aguilar Bañón (Spain)

Frutos Soriano (Spain)

Eduardo Moreno (Spain)

Nicasio Sanchís (Spain)

Javier Lorenzo Candel (Spain)

León Molina Pantiga (Spain)

Paloma Espartero Martínez (Spain)

Matías Muñiz Borja (Spain)

María Asunción Caballero Muñoz-Reja (Spain)

Salomé Ballesteros (Spain)

Andrea López Montero (Spain)

María Concepción Álvarez García (Spain)

María Torvisco (Spain)

Mirian Carrera (Spain)

Jimena Cid (Spain)

Pilar Trol (Spain)

Pedro Díaz (Spain)

José Luis Esparcia (Spain)

Pablo Martín Coble (Spain)

Eva Chinchilla (Spain)

Lucrecia López Guisado (Spain)

Vera Moreno (Spain)

Dolores Méndez Méndez (Spain)

Juana Castro (Spain)

Pedro Tébar (Spain)

Pepe Ramos (Spain)

David Foronda (Spain)

Lola Álvarez Feito (Spain)

Olga Ruiz (Spain)

Daría Rolland Pérez (Spain)

Jean Claude Rolland (Spain)

Murillo Casas (Spain)

Daniel de Culla (Spain)

Matteo Barbato (Spain)

David Otero (Spain)

Álvaro Salvador (Spain)

Samir Delgado (Spain)

Nieves Díaz (Spain)

Victoria Yagüe Martínez (Spain)

Santiago Úbeda Cuadrado (Spain)

Elisa Rueda (Spain)

José Manuel Carcasés Cortés (Spain)

  1. Luna Pérez Gastón (Spain)

Aurora Saura (Spain)

Rosario Guarino (Spain)

Cristina Morano (Spain)

José Antonio Martínez Muñoz (Spain)

Jesús Antonio Ruiz Munuera (Spain)

Inmaculada Pelegrín (Spain)

Cristina Guirao Mirón (Spain)

Mª Loida Ruiz Rodríguez (Spain)

Roberto Ruiz Antúnez (Spain)

Begoña Montes Zofío (Spain-Brazil)

Jorge Molinero (Spain)

Shirani Rajapakse (Sri Lanka)

Peter Rorvik (South Africa)

Zohra Abdul Hamid (South Africa)

Tarek Eltayeb (Sudán)

Lina Tibi (Syria)

Monzer Masri (Syria)

Maram Al Masri (Syria)

Maram al Masri (Syria)

Dick Emanuelsson (Sweden)

Jochen Kelter (Switzerland)

Chiranan Pitpreecha (Thailand)

Abdukakhor Kosim (Tayikistán)

Patron Henekou (Togo)

Tahar Bekri (Tunisia)

Radhouane Ajroudi (Tunisia)

Houda Al Hermi (Tunisia)

Khedija Gadoum (Tunisia)

Chemseddine Elouni (Tunisia)

Fadıl Oktay (Turkiye)

Metin Cengiz (Turkey)

Matt Sedillo (United States)

Joy Harjo (United States)

Quincy Troupe (United States)

Allinson Hedge Cooke (United States)

Gene Grabiner (United States)

Nelson Traba (Uruguay)

Khosiat Rustam (Uzbekistan)

Huu Viet (Vietnam)

Mai Van Phan (Vietnam)

Mohammed Al-Lawzi (Yemen)

Nasir Aijaz (Pakistan)

Ayaz Gul (Pakistan)

Dr. Akash Ansari (Pakistan)

Dr. Mushtaque Phul (Pakistan)

_______________________

Read: World Poetry Movement Salutes Freedom Fighters Everywhere

VII Interregional Music and Poetry Festival ‘Handshake of the Republics’ will be held on April 20

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VII Interregional Music and Poetry Festival ‘Handshake of the Republics’ will be held on April 20

The festival will take place in Yoshkar-Ola. This year the festival will be dedicated to the 225th anniversary of the birth of Pushkin.

The Handshake of the Republics festival is a work for the future: Ashraf Aboul-Yazid

On April 20, the VII Interregional Music and Poetry Festival “Handshake of the Republics” will take place in Yoshkar-Ola. This year the festival will be dedicated to the 225th anniversary of the birth of A.S. Pushkin. The program includes two poetry concerts, a round table “Family of the Volga Region” as part of the Year of the Family in Russia. And as part of World Book and Copyright Day, which is celebrated on April 23, an event will be held to donate books to the National Library named after S. G. Chavain of the Republic of Mari El.

Artists of the Kazan Poetry Theater “Dialogue” will present two musical and poetic compositions: “Oriental motifs in the works of classics and contemporaries”: “Bakhchisarai Fountain” by Alexander Pushkin and “Turkish Tales” by Olga Levadnaya.

Handshake-Festival“Handshake of the Republics” is confidently reaching the international level. Poets from the BRICS countries will take part in the online cultural forum. A video bridge with Cairo took place at the Kazanskie Vedomosti editorial office. The organizer of the festival, poet Olga Levadnaya, chairman of the Kazan city organization of the Tatarstan branch of the Union of Russian Writers Alexander Voronin, journalist, film and television director Shamil Fattakhov, who took on the mission of translator, and President of the Association of Publishers and Distributors of Printed Products of the Republic of Tatarstan, editor-in-chief of the Kazanskie newspaper Vedomosti” Venera Yakupova spoke via videoconference with the famous writer, journalist, translator, president of the Eurasian Journalists Association Ashraf Aboul-Yazid.

Ashraf Aboul-Yazid has a long-standing friendship with Tatarstan. The authoritative magazine “Al-Arabi” published a whole series of his materials about the history, culture and traditions of Tatarstan, Sabantuy (The traditional Harvest Festival), the Kazan International Muslim Film Festival, and the theater festival of Turkic peoples “Nauruz”. Central Kuwait Television broadcast a series of programs and interviews about our republic, including about the first President of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev.

Handshake-Festival-Sindh CourierAshraf Aboul-Yazid translated Tukay’s fairy tales “Shurale” and “Goat and Sheep” into Arabic, published them with and sent them to children in the Arab world. Each book was published in a circulation of 127 thousand copies. In 2011, declared the Year of Gabdulla Tukay in Tatarstan, Ashraf Aboul-Yazid was recognized by the government of Tatarstan as the philanthropist of the year.

The video bridge was opened by the editor-in-chief of Kazanskie Vedomosti, Venera Yakupova:

– Mr. Ashraf, we are glad to welcome you! I would like to know your opinion, what is unique about the “Handshake of the Republics” festival?

– I have been to Kazan, Tatarstan many times, and I feel that the people of Kazan are my family. I gladly agreed to take part in this online meeting. I am very glad to see my old friends! – Mr. Ashraf shared his impressions. – The idea of the Handshake of the Republics festival is great – uniting people through music and poetry. Everyone understands that music is a universal language that does not need translation. Music and poetry passing through music can be compared to flying on a large, beautiful, fabulous magic carpet. A person in this flight is free, there are no boundaries for him. It is no coincidence that we have all loved to sing since childhood, because songs give us energy and a good mood. Music and poetry really unite people. This is the important task that the festival performs. Such joint work of poets and musicians to develop intercultural dialogue between representatives of different regions and different countries is work for the sake of the future.

The topical issue of the quality of translations of works of poets and writers into other languages was touched upon by Alexander Voronin:

– Art unites. Glory to the Almighty that we are all different, we all speak different languages. Readers will recognize the work of poets who write in their native language, thanks to the work of translators. What do you think is the problem with translating poetic texts?

– It is important for a translator not only to know the source language. For example, when we translate from the Tatar language, we must definitely learn the culture and history of the republic, because this is very important for the quality of the translation. I propose: if we want to receive high-quality translations of the works of Tatar poets into Arabic and other languages, we must make sure that the translator has the opportunity to come to Tatarstan and live there for at least a few weeks. This is necessary for him to personally become acquainted with the Tatar culture and hear what the living Tatar language sounds like. Yes, translation is a complex and delicate matter. For example, I did not translate Tukay’s fairy tales from the Tatar language, but relied on English translations that were made in different years by other poets. The most difficult task was to maintain the poetic meter in which Tukay’s fairy tales were written. To do this, I listened to recordings of “Shurale” and “Goat and Sheep” performed by Tatar actors.

Handshake-Festival-Sindh Courier-1Olga Levadnaya suggested that Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, together with Kazanskie Vedomosti, as part of the Handshake of the Republics festival, organize and conduct a series of video bridges with young talented poets and musicians from Eurasian countries. This will be especially relevant on the eve of the BRICS summit, which will take place in Kazan in the fall. Mr. Ashraf supported this proposal:

– The idea of connecting videos with bridges of poets and musicians from different countries is wonderful. The festival must develop. I believe that it should not take place once a year, but be permanent. Modern communication technologies make it possible to hold such meetings regularly. Let’s communicate more often!

At the end of the video of the bridge, Ashraf Aboul-Yazid was in for a pleasant surprise – Olga Levadnaya reported that for the BRICS summit, which will be held in Kazan in the fall, the Dialogue Poetry Theater is preparing a performance consisting of theatrical miniatures based on poems by poets of the world. And one of the miniatures is “Egyptian Nights” based on Mr. Ashraf’s poems from his book “Cairo Street” translated into Russian by their mutual friend Eldar Akhadov. The play does not have a name yet. But after Mr. Ashraf’s words, music and poetry with a fabulous carpet – an airplane, the idea came up to call it “Magic Carpet”.

– Thank you! This is a real surprise! – Mr. Ashraf sincerely thanked Olga Georgievna.

Historical reference

The interregional music and poetry festival “Handshake of the Republics” was created in 2016 on the initiative of the laureate of the Republican Prize named after. G.R. Derzhavin, Literary Prize of the Republic of Tatarstan named after. S. Suleymanova and a number of international awards, Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, poet, essayist, Ambassador of Peace, member of the Eurasian Assembly Olga Levadnaya. The purpose of the Festival is to strengthen the creative and friendly ties of writers and readers of Russia, to create a unified interregional literary space.

READ: ON THE FAIRY-TALE BEACH OF KAZANKA RIVER

The first three Festivals took place on the site of the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan. The IV festival took place in 2020 in an online format on the official pages of the A.S. Cultural Center. Pushkin. In 2021, the festival took place in Kazan and Chistopol. It was held under the auspices of the Year of Native Languages and National Unity in the Republic of Tatarstan. In 2023, the festival was hosted by the capital of the Chuvash Republic, Cheboksary. This year, “Handshake of the Republics” meets Yoshkar-Ola. Organizers – Russian National Cultural Association, Regional branch of the Russian Union of Writers of the Republic of Mari El, Mari regional branch of the Russian Literary Club, Tatarstan branch of the Union of Russian Writers.

“Handshake of the Republics” brings together creative people from Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Mari-El, Mordovia, Udmurtia, Chuvashia, and the Republic of Crimea, the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Arkhangelsk and Ulyanovsk regions.

Read: First ‘Kazan – Cairo’ Teleconference Held

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Published under the International Cooperation Protocol with The AsiaN, Seoul, Korea (Arabic) 

Poverty is tormenting the masses in Pakistan

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Poverty is tormenting the masses in Pakistan

As per reports, 40 per cent population has slipped below the poverty line.

Poverty is state or condition in which one lacks the financial resources and essentials for a certain standards of living. The poor economic growth is the foremost consequence of poverty in Pakistan. The nation has to put its maximum efforts to ensure and enable economic growth across the country. Then they will be also to prosper and live a happy life.

As per reports, 40 per cent population has slipped below the poverty line. The unemployment is key factor of poverty. A large number of people are jobless and are searching for private as well as government jobs. The government should take effective and immediate efforts for elimination the poverty for the betterment of the people.                    

Moreover, rampant corruption also has left negative impact in Pakistan. Every institution of Pakistan is infamous for rampant corruption. That’s why the poverty is increasing with every passing day.

PovertyIn Sindh, the low literacy rate and unskilled manpower are the some other factors behind poverty. The current literacy rate in Sindh province is 61.8 per cent in 2024. We should focus on education and grow it at higher level, as it is the best way to eradicate poverty.  

More to say, our government is not stable due to absence of rule of law. There is no transparency and accountability at any level. The anarchy prevails in Pakistan due to bad governance, misuse of authority and absence of justice.

 Read: The wounds of poverty: salt workers in Achro Thar

Such a situation has mentally disturbed the people. It has become very difficult for the common man to survive. They have lost all the hopes in government. Therefore, the government must take immediate steps to eradicate the poverty, dispense justice, improve the governance, improve the economic condition of masses, take drastic measures to skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and create job opportunities.  

Muhammad Murad Narejo

Naudero, Larkana, Sindh

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