Hindu sites 'only for Hinduism'
By Omer Farooq
BBC News, Hyderabad
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6735661.stm



Map of Area

The government of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has banned the propagation of other religions in the holy places of Hindus across the state.

The authorities say the move is to ensure that Hindu sentiments in holy places are not offended.

It follows a row over alleged Christian missionary activity around a shrine in the town of Tirumala.

Christian organisations have not reacted, but a Muslim legal expert denounced it as unconstitutional.

The ordinance promulgated by the state Governor, Rameshwar Thakuar, came into effect immediately in Tirumala.

'Vatican for Hindus'

Experts say the move is a major development which will be far reaching.

The ordinance also affects seven areas surrounding Tirumala over an area of more than 10,000 acres affecting 20 Hindu religious places.

It empowers the state government to prohibit the propagation of religion in places of worship or prayer other than the religion traditionally practiced at such places.

In another equally significant move, the state government has accorded special status to the area around Tirumala as a place of religious importance.

The Lord Venkateswhara temple on top of the Tirumala Hills is counted among the richest Hindu temples in the country, visited by 50,000 devotees on a normal day and with an income of millions of dollars a year.

The decision to accord special status to Tirumala and its surrounding hills is being seen as an effort to meet the demands of Hindu organisations that the area become a "Vatican for Hindus".

The ordinance said that there had recently been a number of instances where worship or prayer by non-Hindu religious groups in or near Hindu places of worship hurt sentiments and disturbed the peace and tranquillity of that area.

"While practicing or preaching any religion was a fundamental right of every citizen, propagation of other religion in temple areas could not be allowed," the state Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said.

The chief minister said that the order will cover the places of worship of all religions.

Anyone violating the law will be punished with imprisonment or a fine

Photo of myself (gregor) at 60 (Do I look that OLD?) and my son in India at the Ardh Kumbh Mela January 2007 (see my hair tucked under my garland?)


Well a story of personal interest, I suffered a gigantic Senior Moment two days ago. I had bought some Star Trek memorabilia, to leave for my 17 year old son. When I showed the things to him,I stated that when he was as old as I am (57 I thought) he said "Dad did you know that the artifacts would be 100 years old by then?". I said "What?" and started to figure the age of the artifacts from 1965 and then figured my age, I was born in 1947 and it is now 2007. That is when I came to the realization that I had stopped adding years to my age and thought that I was 57 (for the last 3-4 years a young to middle aged man) when in fact I will be 60 years old in August.Where did my life go?

But looking back is slowly set in that I have a lot of memories of different lifestyles and adventures, mostly of the 1960, Vietnam and being a peace activist's upon my return and being a hippie (I never got over that stage:) )Rainbow Gatherings,Nevada Test Site, anti-nuke activist Herb Company owner (Green Mountain Herbs) Yucca Mountain anti-nuclear waste activist, Solar energy designer and installer. Owning and living on the first gold mining claim in Colorado (the Red Cloud Claim)Owning a Colorado mountain Valley at 10,300 ft (second ridge from the Continental Divide ( with three cabins built from logs cut and milled in the 1930's and also a stone cabin, created entirely out of rock from the Valley (located in the middle of the Arapahoes National Forest, as far as I could see I owned)Owning an Arts and craft store in Central City Colorado,hanging with the Grateful Dead in the late 60's and early 70's(I am mentioned in"A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead by Dennis Mcnally )working for a Solar Company in Taos,New Mexico (installing a photovolatic electric system at the famous artist R.C. Gorman). living at a commune in New Mexico, the flood gates opened, but I will not bore you as I realized all that I did in my Life at this time.

Wow talk about a Senior moment,where have I been the last three years, I was totally floored, I don't look 60 (Do I?)I have long hair down to my shoulders with some streaks of silver(gray is the new silver) I am pretty fit and flexible, I do use a cane quite often, and have back and neck pains due to an auto accident in the early 90's. But to suddenly realize that I was 60 just blew me away. As I said that was the greatest Senior moment that I have ever had.

I was scheduled to take a Satipatthana Sutta meditation retreat at the California Vipassana Center but had to cancel at the last minute due to a MIR scheduled along with a visit to my primary care physician at the Salt Lake City Veterans Hospitable during the course. I really need to keep up with my spiritual practices as It help with the real pains and the difficulties of day to day life. :( so I hope to reschedule for the November retreat.

I have plan on writing a book to honor an old friend, Corbin Harney, the Spiritual Leader of the Western Shoshone tribe, who unfortunately has developed prostate cancer , which has spread to his bones.

This past summer, Corbin was diagnosed by western doctors with prostate cancer which has reportedly spread to his bones. After spending the early summer at Nanish Shontie, Corbin is back at Poo Ha Bah where he is receiving constant care and is close to the healing hot springs.


Corbin Harney Western Shoshone Elder and Spiritual Leader

Corbin needs our help. Recently, Poo Ha Bah lost foundation funding and is experiencing a serious fiscal crisis. Specifically, Corbin requires funds for food, transportation, medication, health care, repairs and maintenance of the center. PLEASE send checks of any amount directly to "Corbin Harney" at his address: Corbin Harney, Post Office Box 187, Tecopa, California 92389

Corbin Harney is the founder of The Shundahai Network and Executive Director of Poo Ha Bah a Healing Center for Native folks who suffer(as Corbin Harney does)cancers from Nuclear above ground testing which occurred on or by their traditional homelands. The Western Shone homelands consist of most of the state of Nevada, parts of Idaho,California under the Treaty of Ruby Valley 1863. The US government said that the tread was voided by gradual (stolen) taking of the lands. But has generously offered to pay for the land at a price(1863 price) of fifteen cents an acre for the more than the millions of acres.

Update(pdf file)... on The Elimination of Racial Discrimination on The Early Warning And Urgent Action Procedure Decision 1(68) In Relation To The U. S.A. Submitted by The Western Shoshone National Council, The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, The Yomba Shoshone Tribe, The Wells Band Of Western Shoshone & The Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone

But back to my book"Shundahai Network:A Decade of Resistance" the thought of writing this book has brought purpose back into my life, again and am anxious to get started (actually I have been putting together my priorities for the book and an getting outlines, stories videos, audio releases from those who were there)I will be getting a web site to keep folks updated to what is happening with it. I know that getting a book publisher to release it would be near impossible, so will most likely go the vanity press route. If anyone has any suggested vanity press companies. Emails could be sent to me at gregornot@gmail.com.

This has turned out to be a rather long post so I will close for now.

May world peace prevail during this time of war and worldwide hungry,
with loving kindness(metta in the language of Gotma the Buddha), gregor

Man Kidnaps Girlfriend to Keep Relationship
http://www.weirdasianews.com/2007/06/07/man-kidnaps-girlfriend-to-keep-relationship/


A man tried to administer chloroform his girlfriend in front of a roomful of people, in order to take her home and talk her out of a break-up. The case was heard in the High Court of Hong Kong and has been adjourned to June 22.

The defendant, a 25-year-old man, went to a karaoke parlor on November 12, with his 20-year-old girlfriend and two relatives’ children. When his girlfriend was singing, he suddenly placed a chloroform towel on her nose and tried to intoxicate her. She fought him off and alerted police.

The man later explained that his girlfriend wanted to break up. He intended to take her home and have a good talk with her: “because he loves her too much”.

Smoke Camels, be a better sniper

Back in February, 1938 Camel ran this ad in Popular Science, promising that smoking their cancer-sticks would make you a better sniper -- er, "expert marksman." Link

Picture of the Day



Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva strikes the World Peace Gong during a visit to the Mahatma Gandhi memorial in India's capital, Delhi.

Pakistanis executed for adultery
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6721713.stm

Hudood laws can punish women for extra-marital sex
A woman and three men were shot dead in a public execution in a Pakistani village after tribal elders found them guilty of adultery, officials said.

The death sentences were ordered by a jirga (council) of elders in the Khyber agency area on the Afghan border.

Sex outside marriage is a crime in Pakistan and tribal village councils often punish those involved with death.

Last year, Pakistan's parliament approved a new bill amending Islamic laws on rape and adultery.

The new law dropped the death penalty for people having sex outside marriage.

'Confessed'

"We found a man and a woman in a compromising position along with another man who was drunk and had already committed adultery, and the owner of the house," Haji Jan Gul, a village resident, told the news agency Reuters.

"All four confessed to adultery. We punished them according to our customs and traditions," he said.

Reports said the executions were watched by some 600 people.