Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 31. december 2004 / Time Line December 31, 2004
Version 3.530. December 2004, Januar 2005
12/31/2004
Greetings. I am sure you have heard about the Tsunami hitting the
coastal areas of India. We are sad to say that our working villages
in the coastal areas of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu have been badly
affected by the Tsunami. We are right now collecting funds for the
re-building process of our villages .Please read the following
appeal and help us as much as possible.Also please pass it on to as
many people as may be of help to us.
We are still hopeful that the New Year would bring in good
times.
In Peace,
Saswati
Carry on Colachel!
Tsunami victims: Fund-raising effort for rehabilitation of Colachel
in Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), India
On the morning of 26'th December 2004 when the rest of the world
was soaking in the fun of Christmas week Nature unleashed her
fierceness in the form of Tsunami. Devastation struck everywhere?
Thailand, India, Malaysia, parts of Africa, wiping out more than
1.3 hundred thousand people (and the number continues to soar
everyday).
Colachel, a small area in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu in
India, inhabited by poor fisher-folk Community, faced a severe
wrath of nature. Hundreds and thousands of little huts by the sea
have been washed away and till date no one can tell the actual
number of dead or missing in the area.
It has really left us devastated as that is where we have our 20
working villages, and at least 13 are directly hit by the tidal
waves.
- - It is difficult to believe that the tiny but well decorated
home of our village worker A.Rosy has been washed away by the tidal
waves,
- - we cannot imagine how Mary Anitha, another village worker, will
re-build her life with four sisters and a handicapped father.
- - it is hard to think that the ever-vivacious workers of ours-
Jose Camlin or Mari Therese may now have lost their smiles
forever.
Presently they are all in far away relief camps!
Relief is pouring from everywhere, in varying degrees. And we are
praying that each of them receive the needed relief materials. But
what is worrying us most is the rehabilitation. Because re-building
is always more difficult than relief. And that is why we have begun
this small effort to help Colachel and her people stand up once
more and re-build their lives.
With a little help from you we can help them smile once again. (In
the past during the super-cyclone in Orissa we have helped build
houses, provided agricultural and animal resource support and
education materials for children in the districts of Jagatsingpur
and Dhenkanal. And it has led us to believe that it is possible for
people to overcome devastation and build up lives from ruins once
more. All it needs is a little help.)
This New Year as you make merry with your friends and family do
spare a thought for the ones who may be running around for a drop
of water, shivering in this Winter cold, looking among the rubbles
for their loved ones.
Help us help them and let us say in unison- ?Carry on Colachel. We
are with you?
You can raise funds among your friends and relatives OR make a
donation yourself this New Year.
Please send your Cheque named Swadhina to:
1) KURVE Wustrow SOKO Indien
Konto-Nr. 6021646
Kreissparkasse Luechow-Dannenberg
(BLZ 25851335)
Germany
OR
2) United Bank of India
A/C Number 3750
(Swadhina)
19 Broad Street
Calcutta 700019, India
Thank you,
Swadhina 34/C Bondel Road, Calcutta 700019
mainoffice@swadhina.org
Swadhina
34/C Bondel Road, Ballygunge
Calcutta (Kolkata): 700019 INDIA
Tel: 00 91 33 22470934/22406244
Fax: 00 91 33 22470934
Email: mainoffice@swadhina.org, swadhina@vsnl.com
Web: http://www.swadhina.org
12/31/2004
Dear WILPF Members and Friends,
The staggering news from Asia has affected all of us in WILPF. We
received word this morning from Regina Birchem,
International WILPF President, that she was finally able to contact
Dulcy De Silva, WILPF International Vice President in Sri
Lanka. We were relieved to hear that she is safe, but she has lost
family members and friends. The WILPF Section in Sri Lanka is
struggling to respond to immediate needs amid unbelievable losses
and tremendous grief.
On behalf of U.S. WILPF, Executive Director Mary Day Kent
sent letters to our WILPF sisters in the Sri Lanka and India
Sections. After learning from news reports that proportionately
speaking Sweden suffered the highest loss of life outside of the
region, Mary Day also sent a letter to our sisters in the Swedish
Section - many of whom we met this past summer at the International
Congress in Gotenberg.
As part of her message Mary Day wrote:
"Although this event is a natural disaster, it brings us a stunning
reminder of the essential nature of our fragile human community on
earth and the urgent need to strengthen our means of caring and
communication for all. This overwhelming crisis of need once again
shows us that we must direct our world towards life and away from
the enormous waste of human energy and resources on war and
national divisions."
In sorrow, solidarity and support,
Sandy Silver, President U.S. WILPF
12/31/2004
Summary Explanations of Significant SAR Cost Changes
(As of December 31, 2004)
BMDS (Ballistic Missile Defense System) – Program costs
increased $21,003.1 million (+31.8%) from $66,120.3 million to
$87,123.4 million, due primarily to field Blocks 08, 10 and 12
capabilities which expand our ability to protect the United States,
friends, and allies from a ballistic missile attack. Block 08 adds
funding to complete 20 Ground-Based Interceptors (GBIs), 2 Forward
Based X-Band Radar - Transportable, 40 Standard Missile 3s, First
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Battery, and an
Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) at Thule, Greenland.
Incremental improvements include additional sea-based interceptors,
an additional THAAD fire unit, 10 additional (GBI), and UEWRs at
Clear Air Station, Eglin Air Force Base, and Otis Air Force Base.
Other improvements include funding for a Space Tracking and
Surveillance System constellation and contractor logistics support.
Funds were also added to address the program's revised escalation
rate ($1,152.3 million).
JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) – Program costs increased
$11,783.3 million (+4.8 %) from $244,834.3 million to $256,617.6
million, due primarily to increases for application of revised
escalation indices (+$7,663.7 million), design matur ation
(+$5,002.9 million), refined definitions of support requirements
(+$3,942.0 million), and a delay in STOVL (Short Takeoff and
Vertical Landing) initial procurement from FY 2007 to 2008 and
revised buy profile for all variants (+$2,281.8 million). These
increases were partially offset by a decrease in the costs for
standard hardware and general equipment based on refined
engineering assessments (-$7,289.4 million). JTRS (Joint Tactical
Radio Set) Waveform – Program costs increased by $339.2
million (+34.5%) from $982.3 million to $1,321.5 million, due
primarily to additional waveform development requirements (+$344.7
million).
12/31/2004
Industry warned of ever-growing cost of counter-terrorism
measures
Varying approaches by national authorities 'could result in voyage
delay and expense', writes James Brewer
Lloyds List; Dec 31, 2004
SHIPPING companies have been warned of potential mounting costs and
business disruption from the multiplicity of anti- terrorism
measures.
Recent reported threats will heighten the sensitivity of terminal
operators to security issues, both in the Gulf and elsewhere,
representatives of 80 shipping companies in the region were told at
a seminar in Mumbai.
Top shipowners convened for the meeting by coincidence the day
after a broadcast speculated to be from al-Qa'eda leader Osama bin
Laden, inferring possible attacks against oil supply.
At the gathering, organised by Steamship Mutual, which has long
been a leading protection and indemnity provider for the Indian
market, and Crowe Boda, a large network of P'I correspondents,
experts said that the International Ship and Port Facility Security
Code which set out a framework for governments and vessels to
respond had been implemented successfully and with limited
disruption to trade.
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