Voice of Asia May 24 2013

VOICE OF ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 1

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FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

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Vol. 26 No. 21 Friday, May 24, 2013 Published Weekly from Houston 713-774-5140 24 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com

Roopal Shah Named New Assistant Texas’ Largest Technology Accelerator Dean for International Affairs Honors Extraordinary Entrepreneurs

MEET ROOPAL SHAH

Honoree Vijay Goradia, Chairman & Founder, Vinmar International, LTD plus four life-time achievement awardees and over 40 entrepreneurs recognized at the Houston Technology Center’s annual gala

by Katie Vloet (March 18, 2013)

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oopal Shah—a 1995 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School who has a background practicing law for the government and in the private sector, as well as starting a nongovernmental organization in India—has been named the Law School’s assistant dean for international affairs.

“One reason I was drawn to Michigan as a law student was that Michigan was well regarded in the international community,” Shah said. “Since then, the Law School has done even more to increase international coursework, added the International Transactions Clinic, and helped students find work abroad for the summers. It’s exciting to me that Michigan is heading in the right direction, and that we have an opportunity to impact broad international happenings—not just in the law, but in treaties, global leadership, and other areas as well.”

Shah will replace Virginia Gordan, the longtime assistant dean for international affairs, who is retiring, and who helped to build Michigan Law’s global engagement and international reputation.

“Virginia has been at the very

Roopal Shah center of the strengthening of our international and comparative law programs and activities,” said Steven Ratner, the Bruno Simma Collegiate Professor of Law and a leader in the field of global law. “Finding a worthy successor was a challenge, and it required a worldwide search.

The level of interest in the job and the extraordinary candidates who applied show how well Michigan is regarded in

international law.”

Shah, he said, “has everything we want in this position, from her varied work experience to her strategic vision for where we need to go in the future.

She really wants our students to be leaders around the world, and she wants to help get them there.”

Continued on Page 5

Josette Sheeran Named Asia Society President NEW YORK, May 21, 2013

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oday announced the appointment of Josette Sheeran, the Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum, as the seventh president and CEO of the institution. Ms. Sheeran will assume the office on June 10.

“Josette Sheeran is a proven executive with a long and successful record of global leadership, and far-reaching diplomatic experience with the nations of Asia,” Asia Society Board Co-Chairs Henrietta Fore and Ronnie Chan said in a joint statement. “We are delighted that she will be Asia Society’s next president at this time of continued growth for our organization.”

At the World Economic Forum, which hosts the annual Davos and Davos in China gathering of world leaders, Sheeran has helped advance global initiatives and global, regional and industry agendas such as Grow Africa, which has attracted $4 billion in investment commitments to end hunger and malnutrition in Africa. This spring she also served at the Harvard Kennedy School as a Fisher Fellow in the Future of Diplomacy.

Prior to her tenure at the World Economic Forum, Sheeran was executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), appointed by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2006. There she was responsible for managing the

L-R: Richard “Dick” Williams, Chairman of HTC Board of Directors and President of Shell Wind Energy, Inc., Gala Honoree Vijay Goradia, Founder and Chairman, Vinmar International, and Walter Ulrich, Houston Technology Center President and CEO Photo Credit: DnN Photography OUSTON – May 17, 2013 - The Houston Technology Center (HTC), Texas’ largest technology incubator and accelerator hosted its 10th annual gala, “A Celebration of Entrepreneurs”.

The black-tie event honored local entrepreneurs who have made a significant impact on the region’s economy and developed lifesaving and revolutionary technologies.

Josette Sheeran newly appointed President of the Asia Society. world’s largest humanitarian organization, leading a team of 13,000 people in more than 70 countries, and managing an annual budget of more than $3 billion — including $1 billion in Asia.

Under Sheeran’s leadership, the WFP increased its donor base to more than 100 nations, and became the first global institution to include the socalled BRIC countries and the gulf states among its top 10 donors. She put in place historic reforms of food aid, helping cut the cycle of hunger and malnutrition by purchasing nutritious food directly from developing world farmers.

She also instituted emergency protocols that helped the WFP improve its ability to save lives and livelihoods in disas-

ters and emergencies, most notably in Pakistan, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Haiti and in the Horn of Africa.

Ms. Sheeran has also held senior positions in the U.S. government, and in those positions she conducted high-level diplomacy with virtually every nation in Asia. As U.S. under secretary of state for economic, business, and agricultural affairs, she led new State Department initiatives which supported economic transformation and reconstruction in Afghanistan and Central Asia and with APEC and ASEAN. Earlier she served for five years as deputy U.S. trade representative, conducting negotiations across Asia, including with China, Australia, Singapore, India, Korea, and Japan.

The Houston Technology Center named Vijay Goradia, Chairman & Founder, Vinmar International, LTD, as 2013 “Celebration of Entrepreneurs” honoree. At Vinmar, Mr. Goradia heads a leading petrochemical marketing, distribution and project development company with annual revenues in excess of $4 billion and customers in over 100 countries. Experience taught Vijay that there is no substitute for hard work, which coupled with ingenuity, can overcome most obstacles, and Vinmar International Ltd. was born 34 years ago in New York.

Vijay also founded and is Chairman of Goradia Capital LLC, which is a private equity company investing in acquisitions of petrochemical assets. Also, philanthropy has always been a passion for Vijay, and through their Foundation, the family supports deserving causes in education and health. Vijay is passionate about Pratham, a nonprofit involved in primary education in India. Today there are 15 Pratham chapters in the

US, which send about $5 million a year to Pratham, India. Vijay is on the Board of several nonprofits including Pratham USA and Pratham India, Houston Technology Center, Greater Houston Partnership, The American India Foundation and the Indo American Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed by the US Secretary of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee [ITAC] for the 2010-2014 t erm.

In addition, HTC also proudly recognized the following Lifetime Achievement Awardees: AEROSPACE: Tom Short, Anadarko Industries, LLC; CEO ENERGY: John Calaway, Pattern Energy Group; Director of Wind Development INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Leland Putterman, Acorn Systems, Inc.; CEO LIFE SCIENCES: David McWilliams, BioHouston; Chair “Vijay illustrates the true entrepreneurial spirit which has made Houston the hub for innovation,” said Walter Ulrich, president and CEO of the Houston Technology Center. “Vijay and Marie are such a gracious, generous and successful couple, and mean so much to the Houston community with their philanthropy. We are grateful for his and his foundation’s dedication and leadership.

Entrepreneurs are the engine of our economy and have built

Houston to be a dynamic and diverse region well known for our energy, aerospace, life sciences and technology sectors. We are pleased to continue our annual tradition of celebrating these outstanding entrepreneurs,” said Ulrich.

About Houston Technology Center Named by Forbes’ as one of “Ten Technology Incubators Changing the World”, and one of “Twelve Business Incubators Changing the World,” the Houston Technology Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a business accelerator and the largest technology business incubator in Texas, advancing the commercialization of emerging technology companies in the greater Houston area. As a catalyst for change, economic growth and development, HTC’s focus is to assist entrepreneurs in energy, information technology, life sciences, nanotechnology, and NASA/aerospace. Visit www.HoustonTech.org. Connect on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter @HouTechCenter.

HTC Mission: To enable and accelerate the growth of emerging technology companies for the purpose of creating jobs and promoting economic development in the greater Houston area.

HTC Vision: HTC is the hub for Texas Gulf Coast region’s resources for building and supporting emerging technology

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 4

The People’s Lawyer www.peopleslawyer.net

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

“Dream big, Work hard.

America will amply reward you” is the Message: A FIS Oral History interview of Dr. S.G. Appan and Mrs. Rajam Appan

Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

Your puppy comes with a guarantee

Q. I purchased a new puppy. I was told it was a pedigree and in good health. As soon as I got it home, it became very ill. I brought it to the veterinarian, but after two days and $1,000 in expenses, the puppy died. The vet said that the dog was extremely ill the day I bought it. The seller refuses to help pay the vet bills or even give me my money back. What are my legal rights?

A. Under Texas law, you may have substantial legal rights. First, unless you bought the dog “as is,” you get what is called a warranty of “merchantability.” This is a warranty that the law implies in any contract for the sale of “goods.” A dog is considered a “good,” just like any other product you purchase. Under this warranty, any merchant who sells a product warrants that it is “fit for its ordinary purpose,” and will “pass without objection in the trade.” In my opinion, this basically means that you have a guarantee that the dog is healthy at the time of the sale. If you can show that the dog had the medical problem at the time you purchased it, my opinion is that the seller has breached the warranty of merchantability, and should be liable for damages.

If there is a breach of warranty, you are entitled to all of the damages you suffered as a result of the breach. That would include the cost of the puppy, as well as your medical bills. You also would have a claim under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which entitles you to attorney’s fees, and up to three times your damage if the seller knew the puppy was sick when it was sold. This law also protects you if the seller makes any misrepresentation. You say that the seller told you the dog was in “good health,” which was untrue. This misrepresentation violates the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and gives you an additional claim.

As I said, I believe you have substantial legal rights. I suggest you let the seller know you know your rights, and you expect your money back, or a new puppy, and that you expect to be compensated for some or all of your vet bills. If you cannot settle the matter, consider a claim in small claims court. You also may want to contact the Texas Consumer Complaint Center to see if we can assist you. You can file a claim at www.texasccc.com Q. I just moved into a new apartment. When I asked the landlord if the door had a new lock he told me it was the same lock the previous tenant had, but he was sure there were no outstanding keys. I told him I wanted a new lock and he said I could change it, but to give him a key. Am I entitled to a new lock?

A. Under the law, a tenant who moves into an apartment is entitled to have the lock changed, or rekeyed, as often as the tenant wants. The first time a lock is changed or re-keyed, the landlord must bear the cost of the change. After that, the landlord must make the change, however, he has the right to charge the tenant for any costs incurred.

Based on what you say, your landlord must change the lock or re-key it and cannot charge you. I suggest you speak with the landlord and let him know you expect him to do what the law requires.

Q. One of my brothers has lived with our mother for about a year. He pays her a small amount each month to help with expenses. Things are not working out, and my mother wants him out. Can she just throw him out?

A. In my opinion, your brother has become a “tenant,” and your mother is his “landlord.” This means that she must give him proper notice to vacate, and has no legal right to just throw him out. I suggest she give him 30 days written notice to leave. If he still does not leave, she can file a forcible entry and detainer action in justice court to have him evicted.

Q. I am the executor of my mother’s will. In the will, she left $7,000 to her grandchild. There is no money in her estate. Do I have to pay the $7,000?

A. No, you do not have to pay. The executor merely puts the will into effect and distributes the assets of the deceased. If there are no assets, the executor is not responsible for fulfilling the terms of the will.

Do you want to know more about your legal rights? Check out my website, www.peopleslawyer.net

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Dr. S.G. Appan and Mrs. Rajam Appan being interviewed by Padmaja Sarathy

by Padmaja Sarathy, PhD.

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he Oral History interview of Dr. S.G. Appan and Mrs. Rajam Appan on May 17th, 2013 revealed an incredible story of a scientist taking up farming as a business enterprise.

Born in Kerala, Dr. Appan had a childhood dream of becoming a farmer in the foot steps of his father. His role model was his father who rose from being a coconut farmer to becoming an Agricultural Advisor to Govt. of India and was invited to tour America as a delegate during President Kennedy’s administration.

Dr. Appan said, in India, one is expected to progress from agriculture to a glamorous white collar job in the city. In his case, the reverse has happened. He gave up his desk job as a Research Scientist to take up cultivation of vegetables and specialty herbs.

He said, sometimes at gatherings people even moved away from him when he told them he is a farmer.

Dr. Appan came to this country in 1967 as a student to pursue further studies and obtained his PhD. in Ecology from University of Colorado and after graduation moved to Picayune, Mississippi & New Orleans, Louisiana and finally came to settle down in Houston in 1971 with a Research position in hand. After 10 years, due to down turn in his employer’s business, he decided to leave the Research job and pursue his passion of farming. Initially he planted Indian vegetables and then expanded operations to grow specialty herbs with the help of his wife Rajam who also held a job as a dietary supervi-

sor at a local hospital. Rajam enjoyed cooking at home using a variety of herbs that are essential for good health.

Her culinary expertise and Appan’s research background enabled them to design an innovative special packaging system for the herbs they grew in their farm land. The special container (patent pending) they designed has helped to preserve the nutrients once it has been harvested until it reaches the kitchen with all the healthy anti-oxidants wellpreserved.

With the collaborative efforts of all the family members contributing, their farming business has flourished and their herbs are marketed in supermarkets like HEB, Fiesta and Central Market chain stores throughout the Houston area. It is now a big family business, and Appans’ first daughter, Mangala and her husband primarily run the business and their second daughter, Sheila and her husband are pursuing their careers as physicians.

Asked about any discrimination they faced in America when they arrived, Appans said they were easily accepted in Boulder, Colorado, as it was then a hippy capital of America, whereas in Mississippi, in the 60s African Americans were made to sit at the back of a bus, Dr. Appan used to suggest to his wife to wear a sari and bindu on forehead so as to avoid discrimination and be easily identifiable as Indian. By and large Appans did not experience any discrimination. While in New Orleans, Louisiana, they were even featured on the front page of the Picayune newspaper, so warmly welcoming them into the community.

When asked what message they have for future immigrants and our children and grandchildren, they said, “Dream big and Work hard. America is the land of true freedom and opportunities for everyone will amply reward you.”

The Indo-American Oral History project, the brain-child of Mr. Krishna Vavilala, has been collecting life stories of early Indian immigrants who made their home in Houston some 30-40 years ago. The video interviews are produced by the Foundation for India Studies in partnership with Houston Public Library and the Houston Community College and are permanently archived in Houston Public Library’s Metropolitan Research Center for the benefit of future historians, researchers and students and to enable future generations of Indo-Americans to trace their roots back to India.

Interviewer Padmaja Sarathy, PhD., is an educational consultant and an author with expertise in the field of early childhood and special education. She has written a number of books, developed a music CD to assist children with autism and created toolkits for children with disabilities. She provides educational programming guidance to school districts and presents seminars at local, national and international conferences. You can visit her website for more information at: www.infinitepossibilities-sped. com.

For participation in the IndoAmerican Oral History project, please contact Krishna Vavilala, Founder Chairman of the Foundation for India Studies: Email: KVAVILALA1@GMAIL.COM.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 5

Samskriti to present the 6th Annual Incredible India program at the Miller Outdoor Theatre

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or the past five years Samskriti has been presenting two outstanding shows at the wonderful stateof-the-art Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park – Incredible India and Bollywood Blast.

Last year, two amazing dance teams, Nadam and Stem Dance Kampni, from Bangalore, India, presented the very exciting North Indian dance style of Kathak to an audience of more than 2000. For its sixth Miller Theatre season, Samskriti’s Artistic Director, Rathna Kumar, has chosen one of India’s most renowned dance ensembles from the East Indian state of Orissa to showcase Incredible India and its incredibly rich and diverse artistic traditions. May being the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, it seems so appropriate to end the month with a bang, with a memorable performance, and on Friday, May 31, the Miller Outdoor Theatre will come alive with the drumming of the pakhawaj, the steady metallic tinkling of the manjira (cymbals), and the sounds of twelve pairs of feet striking the ground in syncopated rhythmic sequences, as the curtain rises on Gatha Odissi, a performance tracing the rich history of Odissi, one of the eight classical dance styles of India, and perhaps the most elegant and lyrical of them all.

Gatha Odissi: A Journey from the Temple to the Stage will be performed by the prestigious Orissa Dance Academy, led by the eminent dancer Aruna Mohanty. The performance takes the audience on an exciting artistic journey of Odissi, from the halls of the ancient Jagannath Temple of Puri to the modern stage. Stone sculptures spring to life from temple walls in the classic chouka (square stance) and tribhanga (triple-bend) to inspire the classic repertoire: Mangalacharan, Pallavi, and Abhinaya. The audience will also discover the allied art forms and dance styles of Mahari, Gotipua,

Roopal Shah Named New Assistant Dean for International Affairs

Continued from Page 1 world, and she wants to help get them there.”

After graduating from Michigan Law, Shah clerked for the Hon. David Alan Ezra in Hawaii, then worked as an associate at Shearman & Sterling in Washington, D.C. She followed that with a job as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the border crimes, major narcotics, and terrorism divisions in San Diego; there, she conducted 24 criminal trials from jury selection to verdict, attaining convictions in 22 of them.

Sakhi Nata, Raasa and Leela - all of which are equally beloved by both artists and audiences and which so enriched the style of Odissi.

Odissi (or Orissi) is a traditional style of dance which originated in the acting or ‘story dances’. The rhythmic dances of Odissi are called batu / sthayi (foundation), pallavi (flowering) and moksha (liberation). The ‘acting dances’ are called abhinaya.

Aruna Mohanty, the lead dancer in Gatha Odissi, was trained by the late Guru extraordinaire, Padma Shree Gangadhar Pradhan. She is the Artistic Director of the Orissa Dance Academy and is recognized today as a leading Odissi dancer, teacher, and choreographer and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar, one of the highest artistic honors given by the government of India in the field of performing arts. The Orissa

Dance Academy was founded in 1975 by the late Padma Shree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan and its dance company is renowned for its innovative compositions.

Many of today’s leading Odissi dancers are ODA alumni, including Houston’s very own Shipra Avantica Mehrotra. As a senior student of the Orissa Dance Academy, Shipra has performed all over the United States and India. The New York Times described her performance as “wholly poetic” and “the truest revelation of dance itself”.

INCREDIBLE INDIA is funded in part by the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, and its community partners are the Asia Society Texas Center, Orissa Cultural Association, HUM magazine and the Anjali Center for Performing Arts. Gatha Odissi is FREE to the public, but those interested in securing reserved seats may email rathnanil@gmail.com or call 832 275 9656.

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

In 2001, she cofounded and served as executive director (2007-2010) of Indicorps in Ahmedabad, India. The nonprofit works to provide Indians from all over the world with a channel to reconnect with the country of their heritage and with the means to contribute to its development, while fostering a new generation of socially conscious global leaders.

Among its accomplishments was the successful partnership with community-based organizations to create sustainable rural initiatives, such as a clean drinking water project that reaches more than 70,000 people in 120 villages. She remains on the board of directors.

She also served in 2012 as a consultant to Ashoka, a nonprofit that supports social entrepreneurship, and in 2007 as professional staff at the University of Michigan Provost’s Office, where she provided strategic guidance on efforts such as the “Expect Respect” campaign.

As a student at Michigan Law, she was a two-term president of the Law School Student Senate. One of her legacies is the institution of a “Day of Service” as part of every new Law School student’s orientation.

She also advocated for grad-

ing reform, a new approach to the mandatory 1L legal writing program, and other innovations. Then-Dean Jeff Lehman created the Dean’s Exceptional Service Award and awarded it to her in 1995.

“Roopal was a distinguished student when she attended the Law School, and she has been a highly accomplished alumna since her time here, making her mark in important ways around the world,” Dean Evan Caminker said. “I have no doubt that she will continue to build Michigan Law’s global reputation, and she will do so with the great energy and verve she has brought to the earlier chapters in her career.”

In addition to Shah’s professional achievements, she also is a fearless adventurer.

She has run the Marine Corps marathon twice and, when she lived in San Diego, surfed every day for more than 400 days, “even when the rain was terrible, when the waves were over six feet tall, and when we really shouldn’t have been out there,” she said.

Shah said she looks forward to returning to Ann Arbor. “One of the things I have loved from a lot of the places I’ve been is the idea of building and being in community.

Ann Arbor is exciting because there already is a strong sense of community.”

True to her communitybuilding instincts, she also is excited about helping the Law School “continue to build on and extend its global networks, and ensure that it is just as engaged, connected, and energized as our community in Ann Arbor.”

Note; Roopal is the daughter of Indian community leader Ramesh and Kokila Shah of Houston.

Submitted by Dr. Sulekh C. Jain , Houston, TX

Sewa International Oklahoma Tornado Relief May 21st, 2013 One of the most horrific storms and disasters struck Moore, Oklahoma when almost a 2 mile wide and 17 mile long tornado flattened everything in its path, inflicting heavy damage all around. Schools, hospitals, theaters, houses, farms, barns – anything and everything that came in its path, was reduced to rubbles. Entire neighborhoods / communities have been devastated and are in dire need of immediate succor.

The human death toll stands at 91 right now and is feared to climb as search and rescue work continues. In this moment of unspoken tragedy and human suffering, Sewa International requests you to open your hearts and wallets for the suffering people. The relief efforts would continue for days to come and we request you to keep these people in your thoughts and prayers. We share in the grief and we all are with the Moore county community in this hour of difficulty.

Sewa International, having been at the forefront of many disaster relief projects including Hurricane Katrina and Ike, super-storm Sandy, launches this appeal to help and provide succor to these unfortunate victims. Donate generously at: www.sewausa.org, or call 708USA-SEWA / email at info@ sewausa.org.

SEWA, a Hindu faith based 501 (C)(3) charity Organization working with communities in need, is requesting individuals, companies and other organizations to generously donate their time and tax-deductible monetary contributions to SEWA. Your donations help step up the ongoing relief efforts and to provide compassionate assistance to families devastated by this twister.

Please contact their local SEWA chapters or SEWA’s national Oklahoma Tornado Relief coordinator Swadesh Katoch (404-935-8893) to get involved in the relief efforts.

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

WORLD/US

VOICE OF ASIA 11

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

Obama praises Myanmar re- Landmark US immigration form but warns on Muslims bill clears key Senate hurdle “Periods of transition are always fraught with risk. But I know my country and my people,” he said.

“I know how much people want to see democracy take root, put behind decades of isolation, catch up with other Asian economies and end all violence and fighting,” he said.

US President Barack Obama expressed to Myanmar counterpart Thein Sein (left) “deep concern” on the plight of Rohingya Muslim minority. Photo: AFP

by Shaun Tandon and Stephen Collinson

“deep concern” on the plight of Rohingya Muslim minority.

S President Barack Obama on Monday saluted Myanmar President Thein Sein for his leadership in pushing through startling political reforms, but warned that violence against Muslims must stop.

“The displacement of people, the violence directed towards them, needs to stop,” Obama said.

U

As his guest became the first leader of his country in almost 50 years to visit the White House, Obama praised Myanmar’s journey away from brutal junta rule and promised Washington would offer more political and economic support.

Seated with Thein Sein in the Oval Office, Obama said previously tortured US-Myanmar relations had eased because of “the leadership that President Sein has shown in moving Myanmar down a path of both political and economic reform.”

Obama repeatedly used the word “Myanmar” rather than Burma. The former is the name introduced during military rule, and which is slowly being used more frequently by US officials as a courtesy to the reforming government.

The US president said that Thein Sein had made “genuine efforts” to solve the intricate ethnic wars that have long torn at Myanmar’s unity, but expressed

The visit went ahead despite accusations by human rights groups that Myanmar authorities turned a blind eye or worse to a wave of deadly attacks against the Rohingya, who are not even considered citizens.

Thein Sein told Obama that he was committed to reforms and, in a speech shortly afterward, said he wanted to build a “more inclusive national identity.”

“Myanmar people of all ethnic backgrounds and all faiths -- Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and others -- must feel part of this new national identity,” he said, while stopping short of directly mentioning the Rohingya.

“We must end all forms of discrimination and ensure not only that intercommunal violence is brought to a halt, but that all perpetrators are brought to justice,” he said at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

Thein Sein, who took office as a nominal civilian in 2011, said that the reforms he has undertaken were “unprecedented” and called for “maximum international support.”

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Thein Sein surprised even cynics by freeing hundreds of political prisoners, reaching ceasefires with ethnic rebel groups, easing censorship and letting long-detained opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi enter parliament.

The most critical test of reform will come in 2015, when Myanmar is scheduled to hold elections -- testing whether the military would truly cede power and potentially let Nobel laureate Suu Kyi become president.

Thein Sein called for a continued role by the military, saying that the armed forces had helped preserve the country’s stability and usher in democracy.

The military seized power in 1962 under junta leader Ne Win, who in 1966 was the last leader of the country to visit the White House. He met president Lyndon Johnson as the Vietnam War raged.

Thein Sein spoke only obliquely of his motivation for reform. Many experts believe that the proudly independent nation feared that its isolation had pushed it too far into the orbit of China.

In a timing that may have aimed at tempering suspicions in Beijing, the White House announced later Monday that President Xi Jinping would visit California next month for his first summit with Obama since the Chinese leader took office.

Obama has made Myanmar a key priority and visited in November. To some, Myanmar represents the biggest success from his pledge in his 2009 inaugural address to reach out to US foes if they “unclench” their fists.

by Michael Mathes WASHINGTON, May 21, 2013 (AFP) - A sweeping overhaul of the US immigration system took a major step toward viability Tuesday when a Senate panel gave bipartisan approval to a landmark bill offering a path to citizenship for millions.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the contentious and potentially historic legislation by a 13-5 vote, following weeks of marathon hearings and meetings to consider more than 200 amendments.

The bill emerged with its core mostly intact, including requirements for major advances in border security, visa programs for high- and low-skilled workers, and expansion of a comprehensive e-verify system for employers.

It needs 60 votes to pass the 100-seat Senate, and would then head to the Republicancontrolled House of Representatives, where its fate is uncertain and where lawmakers are drawing up their own immigration legislation.

“We’ve got a ways to go but we will get there,” exuberant Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, one of four Democrats and four Republicans to craft the huge bill, said after the bipartisan vote.

The legislation, which would legalize more than 11 million undocumented people currently in the shadows and set most of them on a 13-year path to citizenship, is now set for a debate showdown on the Senate floor in June.

President Barack Obama cheered the vote and urged lawmakers to put partisanship aside in order to help it clear the Senate.

“None of the committee members got everything they wanted, and neither did I, but in the end we all owe it to the American people to get the best possible

Currently there are more than 11 million undocumented people in the US. result over the finish line,” the president said in a statement after what was a rare victory for him in recent weeks.

An elated committee chairman Senator Patrick Leahy, who shepherded the complicated bill through a marathon markup session, said he hoped “that our history, our values and our decency can inspire us finally to take action.”

Leahy had suffered a setback, however, when he was forced to withdraw his key amendment, a measure that would have allowed gay Americans to sponsor their foreign-born spouses for US residency and citizenship.

“This is not the bill that I would have drafted,” he said.

“I will continue my efforts to end the needless discrimination so many Americans face in our immigration system. This discrimination serves no legitimate purpose and it is wrong.”

Senator Marco Rubio, perhaps the most high-profile Republican in the “Gang of Eight” that crafted the bill, had warned that fellow conservatives would vote against the measure en masse if it included Leahy’s provision.

The Gang of Eight has made no secret of their wish to send the bill to the House with a substantial majority of some 70 votes, a result they hope would send a strong message to skeptical

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House Republicans.

Accomplishing that would mean placating key Republicans like Senator Orrin Hatch, who had expressed concern that the immigration bill’s provision of specialty visas to persons in high-tech fields could cost American jobs.

Hatch reached agreement with key Democrats on the panel, and his amendment to protect American workers passed the committee.

In turn Hatch backed the overall legislation, one of three Republicans who sided with the committee’s 10 Democrats.

“I said when the immigration bill was first introduced that it needed improvement to get to a point where I could support it, and I’m pleased we were able to do that by further strengthening border security and ensuring we can remain competitive in a global economy,” Hatch said.

“But this bill needs more improvement before I’m ready to vote for it when the full Senate takes it up.”

Even opponents of the bill, like Senator John Cornyn, expressed a hint of optimism that a broader deal could be worked out.

“I want the system to work for everyone, and I am hopeful that common sense will eventually lead to common ground,” he said.

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Young Life

VOICE OF ASIA 14

Friday, May 24, 2013

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

Tel: 713-774-5140

Should we let wunderkinds like Tumblr’s David Karp drop out of high school?

By BETH J. HARPAZ, Associated Press

this question that is going to be on the test.”

t’s one thing to say tech geniuses don’t need degrees. After all, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg all dropped out of college.

Susan Bartell, a psychologist based in Port Washington, New York who works with adolescents and their families, says she frequently encounters parents who are convinced that their kids are extraordinarily gifted. But she cautions that it’s “the very rare exception when this decision (to drop out) makes sense.” In the case of Karp, she

I

But now we’ve got David Karp, who doesn’t even have a high school diploma. Karp, 26, founded Tumblr, the online blogging forum, and sold it to Yahoo for US$1.1 billion. US high school students are roughly between the ages of 14 and 18.

are not necessarily seen as a hallmark of achievement and programmers are judged on their ability to type lines of code. You are what you create.

What also sets the field apart is that computer programming is not taught at every high school, and even when it is, the most talented students often either “surpass the curriculum or feel it’s not relevant to them,” said Danielle Strachman, program director for

Which raises the question: When is it OK for a wunderkind to drop out of school?

Some folks in Silicon Valley and elsewhere say a conventional education can’t possibly give kids with outsize talents what they need. Others, like Vivek Wadhwa, a fellow at Stanford Law School who teaches and advises startup companies, say dropping out to pursue a dream is like “buying a lottery ticket — that’s how good your odds are here. More likely than not, you will become unemployed.

For every success, there are 100,000 failures.”

But what about kids who are so good at computer programming that schools can’t teach them what they need to know? “That’s what internships are for; that’s what extracurricular activities are for,” says Wadhwa, who has founded two companies.

Karp, in an interview with The Associated Press, said he hopes teenagers don’t look at his success as an excuse for leaving school. “That is not a path that I would haphazardly recommend to kids out there,” he said. “I was in a very unique position of knowing exactly what I wanted to do at a time when computer science education certainly wasn’t that good in high school in New York City.”

Karp’s mother gave him the option of home-schooling when he was 14, after he completed his freshman year at the Bronx High School of Science, an elite New York City public school that only admits students who score well on a difficult entrance exam.

Karp took Japanese classes and had a math tutor while continuing with an internship at an animation production company, but by age 16, he was working for a website and was on his way to become a tech entrepreneur.

He never did get his diploma. Karp’s mother told the AP that she let him leave school because she realised “he

David Karp, 26, foundedr of Tumblr needed the time in the day in order to create.”

That resonates with Penny Mills of Hudson, Massachusetts, who let her son Thomas Sohmers, 17, drop out of 11th grade this year. “I could see how much of the work he was doing at school wasn’t relevant to what he wanted to learn,” she said. “He always wanted to learn more than what the schools wanted to teach him. At times it was very frustrating. I was fortunate to find people that were able to teach him more, but he has gone beyond what high school could ever give him.”

Thomas has been working at a research lab at the esteemed Massachusetts Institute of Technology since he was 13, developing projects ranging from augmented reality eyewear to laser communications systems. He just won a Thiel Fellowship, which gives

Local students earn fullride Gates Millenium college scholarships

A

total of 10 Wisconsin students - including six from Milwaukee - have earned scholarships covering all the costs of attending the colleges of their choice as part of a competitive program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Only 1,000 students nationwide win Gates Millenium Scholarships, aimed primarily at high-achieving students who are racial minorities from economically challenged backgrounds. The rigorous application process comes with an impressive payout for the winners: the scholarships cover 100% of the students’ unmet need (including room, board and tuition) to the college of their choice, including graduate school, if they wish to pursue it.

Milwaukee Public Schools recognized its three Gates Millenium scholars on Monday at South Division High School.

South Division senior Mayra Alaniz will be using the scholarship to attend Georgetown University. Jessica Curry, a senior at Riverside High School, will attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. And Kali Huettl, also a senior from Riverside, will attend Clark Atlanta University.

(From left to right): MPS seniors Kali Huettl, Mayra Alaniz and Jessica Curry were recognized Monday for winning Gates Millenium Scholarships.

Photo courtesy of MPS. Veritas High School, a public charter high school in Milwaukee, had two students win Gates scholarships: Cha Lee and Xiong Her. The boys were rescued from refugee camps in Thailand and enrolled in elementary school in Milwaukee knowing no English.

A Thomas More High School student also won a Gates scholarship: Karina

US$100,000 (HK$776,234) to 20 people under the age of 20 each year so they can skip college to focus on research or a dream, whether it’s a hightech project, a business or a nonprofit.

But his mom says she would have let him drop out even if he hadn’t won the award.

“The part that really bothers me is that there are a lot of Thomases out there and their needs are not being met,” said Mills.

Thomas says he’s sad to be leaving his teenage friends behind, but he’s excited about the future. And he has mixed feelings about his years in school. “I’ve had some amazing, great teachers that really have the passion to teach, but most of what is in school now is teaching to a test,” he said.

“It’s really sad. You’re not learning the skills for how to solve the problem — you are just learning the answer to

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, and Tumblr Chief Executive David Karp speak during a news conference Monday, May 20, 2013, in New York. Yahoo edged up 31 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $26.83 after the Internet company said it was buying online blogging forum Tumblr for $1.1 billion. Photo: Frank Franklin II said, “it worked out, but almost always it doesn’t — even if a kid is extremely gifted. School is about much more than just academics and in most cases, even the most gifted kids need the socialising.”

And not all young moguls take Karp’s route. Earlier this year, a 17-year-old from London, Nick D’Aloisio, sold an app he created to Yahoo for US$30 million (HK$232.9 million) — but he decided to stay in school.

On the other hand, there are examples of successful individuals in many fields who lack a high school diploma, from top performers such as Jay-Z to billionaire businessmen such as Richard Branson.

The tech community may be different from other industries. Degrees

the Thiel Fellowship. “They want to move at their own pace.”

Strachman also emphasised that just because someone has left school, doesn’t mean they’ve stopped learning.

The Thiel program provides not just funding, but a community of peers and mentors to help recipients reach their goals. And they can always go back to pursue a degree when the fellowship is over.

It’s a goal that even Karp has his eye on— despite his newfound wealth. “I hope I have an opportunity to go to school at some point,” he said, “and study something completely different.”

Associated Press writers Meghan Barr in New York and Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this story.

HCC-ASPIRE opens new scholarships

H

OUSTON (May 15, 2013) – Houston Community College’s new organization HCCASPIRE, Asian Scholarship Program Inspiring Results & Excellence, opened new doors of opportunities at an inaugural fundraising event on May 9.

The event served as a morning of entertainment and celebration for HCC faculty, staff, students and sponsors at the Hilton Americas. With an overwhelming sell-out response, the fundraising breakfast raised more than $54,000.00 for scholarships for HCC Asian students and faculty.

Co-Founded by HCC Trustee Neeta Sane (District VII), with the support of community leaders, public officials, and the HCC Foundation, HCCASPIRE program is designed to support educational pursuits and excellence of Asian students and faculty of HCC. Based on financial needs and academic progress, HCC-ASPIRE will grant awards to deserving students and members of the HCC

faculty or staff.

HCC-ASPIRE program is committed to inspiring HCC’s students and faculty members to excel in the academic world and in the community as well.

By supporting students and faculty with financial awards, HCC-ASPIRE aims to enhance the teaching-learning process that will enable HCC to educate more students for the 21st century workforce and job market To uphold diversity and inclusiveness, HCC-ASPIRE program will also support activities that highlight the Asian culture of education. For more information about HCC-ASPIRE and to access the application details visit www.hccs.edu/aspire.

Out of HCC’s 70,000 student population, about 14% is of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) origin. In 2012, HCC became eligible to be listed as one of the AAPI-serving institutions as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

About HCC HCC is one of the country’s

L-R: HCC Trustee Neeta Sane, District VII; Dr, Parvin Bagherpour, Associate Vice Chancellor for International Student Services & Study Abroad; HCC-ASPIRE scholarship recipient Ms. Thushara Korattyil and her brother, Thomson. largest singly-accredited, openadmission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training and lifelong learning opportunities for 75,000 students each semester. HCC is composed of

six colleges that serve the greater Houston area’s diverse communities by preparing individuals to live and work in today’s increasingly international and technological society. To learn more go to hccs.edu.

LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 15

Damage control There is no point in developing a great athletic-looking body if you neglect your skin, writes Gary Kwok

W

orking out and getting in shape is a never-ending quest for men, but a sweaty gym session can come with some unforeseen side effects: pimples, dry skin and blackheads, to name a few. Exercise also induces the formation of free radicals, which over time can damage the skin’s cellular integrity, resulting in premature skin ageing.

“Whether you’re a professional sports star or just a weekend warrior, there’s no point in developing a great athleticlooking body if you ignore taking care of your skin, which is the first thing people look at,” says Clare Matthews, director and co-founder of Australian men’s grooming brand VitaMan. “Even the world’s best bodybuilders can come unstuck when posing if they have bad acne, aged skin or wrinkles. So it makes sense that attention is given to looking after your skin equally as much as your fitness, physique and health.”

In response to rising demand, VitaMan is one of several brands that has developed sports-related product lines.

British spa chain Champneys offers a complete collection of Sports Therapy items, ranging from an Intensive Moisture Balm to a Muscle Rehab Bath Soak. American skincare brand Jack Black, which features a pain-relieving cream and wound gel, has even enlisted NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to promote its shaving and cleansing products.

Dermatologist and founder of Skin Clinic of New York and New Jersey Dr Chang Bae Son says men in general are now more willing to spend time taking care of their skin. “Due to a recent cultural emphasis in beauty and grooming with a focus on skin, investing in skincare and having good skin is no longer a social ‘taboo’, but rather a desirable asset for modern men,” he says. “ More common issues in men are excessive sebum production [oily skin], general and uneven thickening of skin, and dyschromia [uneven skin tone].”

Adding to these issues, says Ting Chiu, brand director for Olay Hong Kong and Taiwan, is the fact that men’s skin dries more easily. “Men’s skin has slower absorption and a weaker ability to retain moisture,” he says. “It becomes rough and dry , and working out will increase the likelihood of developing problems.”

So what’s an athlete to do?

Matthews suggests applying VitaMan’s Desert Muscle Rub before working out to prevent any possible muscle tears. The black mountain pepper helps increase circulation, while wattle seed resin is useful for pain relief.

A moisturiser, such as Olay Men Refreshing Energy Balancing Gel or Giorgio Armani’s new Perfect Master soothing and anti-ageing cream, can also be applied pre-workout to maintain the balance of oil in the skin.

Skin infection is a common problem at most gyms, with often-sweaty clients sharing machines and dumbbells. After a workout, Matthews says it is important to remove the buildup of sweat, grime and dirt to prevent formation of acne and blackheads.

VitaMan’s Anti-bacterial Face & Body Wash and Exfoliating Body Soap, which is especially popular among bodybuilders, contains natural plant extracts such as aloe, grass lily and blue cypress oil to nourish the skin and prevent flakiness. Other options include ClarinsMen’s Shower Scrub with microbeads for exfoliation and salicylic acid for deep cleansing, and Kyoku for Men’s Earth Body Scrub with moisturising jojoba beads.

With summer around the corner, a lot of active men will be partaking in more outdoor activities. Research shows that men spend 40 per cent more time in the sun than women, and Matthews warns that longterm exposure to ultraviolet rays threatens skin health.

“It results in skin dehydration, redness, heat, skin damage caused by the sun’s free radicals, speeding up of skin cellular ageing and possible skin cancer,” she says. “You often see the results in athletes as their skin ages a lot quicker throughout their life than other men’s.” A study by international skincare brand SK-II also shows that the level of glycation in men’s skin is significantly higher than that of women’s, resulting in diminished skin elasticity and yellowing of skin tones. That being said, sun protection is essential to any outdoor activity.

SK-II’s Men UV Protect Moisturizer features an enhanced moisturising formula that aims to brighten skin while its Facial Treatment Essence revitalises the skin and reduces the effects of environmental damage. Sulwhasoo’s Sun Cream for Men offers SPF 50 PA+++ protection with herbal extracts to enhance skin texture and guard against external aggressors. Targeted specifically at sports enthusiasts, Ultrasun’s High 50 SPF Sports Clear Spray Formula provides all-day protection in a light, sweat-resistant

formula.

Few understand the risk of sunburn better than a swimmer who spends hours training in the pool or open waters. Former Olympic swimmer Michael Klim started his skincare company Milk & Co in Australia in 2008, after he retired from professional swimming in 2007. “Australia’s climate is pretty harsh, that coupled with my hours in the pool, made looking after my skin tough. I couldn’t find a product that was right for me, so I made my own,” he says.

The brand’s product offerings include a Dry Touch SPF 30+ Sunscreen for the body and a Face Moisturiser + Sunscreen SPF 15 with marine-based ingredients that are rich in vitamin A, B and E. Despite the plethora of products for use before, during and after sports, Matthews advises caution when it comes to certain ingredients, such as alcohol and aluminium. “Don’t use skincare containing harsh synthetic chemicals, such as artificial fragrances or colours, as they are a major cause of 90 per cent of all men’s skin allergies and problems,” she says.(South China Morining Post)

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

VOICE OF ASIA 16

BOLLYWOOD MASALA

Friday, May 24, 2013

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

Tel: 713-774-5140

Bollywood seeks help from TV

Madhuri returns to Bollywood in Style with “Ghagra” item song opposite Ranbir

‘

Dhak-Dhak Girl’ of Bollywood has returned to the big screen after a gap of six years with a item song in an upcoming film “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani” directed by Ayaan Mukherjee.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani aka YJHD stars Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Aditya Roy Kapoor and Kalki Koechlin in lead roles.

Although, Madhuri is appearing in solo song “Ghagra” opposite Ranbir in this film, but she managed to steal the limelight from other actors.

The song has been choreographed by famous choreographer Farah Khan.

This promo was unveiled on Madhuri Dixit’s 46th birthday on 15th May. Her fans had appreciated this song and within five days of its release, this song has already been declared a super hit song and one the best song of this year so far.

Contrary to his projected role of a gangster in the film, John Abraham looks rather innocent in this still along with Kangana Ranaut.

Ranbir Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

Kavita awaasthi, Hindustan Time

B

ollywood may take up the bigger chunk of the entertainment pie, but it’s TV that has wider reach. Which is why film stars are spotted on TV shows so often. It isn’t a novelty to spot them on reality shows anymore, but appearing in serials seems to be emerging as a new trend. John Abraham and gang appeared as their Shooutout At Wadala characters on Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, while Bipasha Basu promoted Aatma on the show, Arjun. Abhishek Bachchan and Ajay Devgn appeared as their Bol Bachchan (2012) characters in Ek Hazaroon Mein Meri Behna Hai (EHMMBH), and Emraan Hashmi and Prachi Desai were on CID, talking about Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai (2010).

His co-star in this song, Ranbir Kapoor said in an interview, “it was great to shoot with Madhuri”.

Ranbir said he was heartbroken when Madhuri married Sriram Nene in 1999. He was 17 that time.

“The first woman I fell in love with was Madhuri Dixit. The first woman who gave me heart break was Madhuri Dixit when she got married. Just the fact that I got an opportunity to dance with her and to see her on the sets was just amazing,” added the 30-year-old.

“I bribed Ayan (Mukerji), as he is my friend. In the song, I found out that I had to kiss her on the cheek, so that was a lovely experience,” said Ranbir, who even danced with the “dhak dhak” girl on the sets of dance reality show “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa” last year while promoting “Barfi!”.

After her strong return in Bollywood, Madhuri will be next seen in Bollywood movies like “Dedh-Ishqiya” opposite Arshad Warsi and “Gulaab

Gang” with Juhi Chawla. Both movies are slated to release in this year.

“Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani” is all set to release on 31st May.

Film producers approach channels that they feel will have the best target audience for their film, and together, they decide which show would work best with respect to the subject of the

film. So, Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone will promote Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani on Pyaar Ka Dard... because the character of Aditya (lead actor), is similar to that of Ranbir’s in the film. Back when the Bol Bachchan actors appeared on EHMMBH, they cheered up Maanvi (played by Nia Sharma) and urged her not to give up her fight against cancer.

A reason for this trend picking up may be lack of time for the stars to visit tier-3 and 4 towns to promote their films and give interviews to local newspapers there. A TV show is thus their best way of reaching out to audiences far and wide. In smaller towns, some TV actors are bigger stars than their Bollywood counterparts. So when the audience sees Bollywood actors interacting with their favourite TV stars, asking them to watch their film, the message goes across very effectively.

It’s as good as a celebrity in an advertisement asking you to buy a particular soap or a brand of deodorant.

Sreesanth sought female models’ photos from Bollywood ‘casting director’

by Alok Deshpande

T

ainted Rajasthan Royals paceman S. Sreesanth had received several mails carrying hundreds of photographs of female models from a Bollywood ‘casting director,’ allegedly for the purpose of advertisement of his brand called S36.

The Mumbai police have found several e-mail interactions from the seized laptop and mobile phones, in which a certain casting director had sent him the pictures of models. The police had raided the suburban five- star hotel on Friday night where Sreesanth and bookie Jiju Janardan had independently booked a room each.

Cricketer S. Sreesanth (file photo)

The casting director was on Monday called by the Mumbai police for interrogation. “According to his version, Sree-

santh co-owns a company called S36. A film producer from Hyderabad is another partner in the company. The casting director had interaction with him only on e-mails and Facebook. He had sent the models’ photographs to Sreesanth.

The cricketer had asked him to send more photos,” said one of the officers who interrogated the casting director.

numbers in the laptop. However, all the contacts have coded names and police are in the process of identifying the persons. A photo of Sreesanth and Jupiter (bookie) has also been found in the laptop. The police suspect that some emails have been deleted from his account and cyber cell of the Mumbai police has been asked to retrieve the deleted mails.

The Facebook page of ‘S36’ with Sreesanth’s photo on it says that the products under this brand consist of mineral packaged drinking water, apparels and sports goods. According to police sources, Sreesanth’s partner from Hyderabad could also be called for interrogation. The police have not ruled out the possibility of interrogating the paceman.

The police have also received the CCTV footage of a hotel which was raided on Friday night and are currently examining the details.

Meanwhile, police custody of Ramesh Vyas, the bookie who was arrested on May 14 and who is turning out to be the common link between two different cases of spot-fixing currently being probed by the Delhi and Mumbai police, was on Monday extended till May 22.

They have also found a list of contact

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTH

VOICE OF ASIA 18

Friday, May 24, 2013

by Sabrina Tavernise (The New York Times) BROWNSVILLE, Tex. — Becoming an American can be bad for your health.

Section 2

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

The Health Toll of Immigration Vitamin D:Continued

A growing body of mortality research on immigrants has shown that the longer they live in this country, the worse their rates of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

And while their American-born children may have more money, they tend to live shorter lives than the parents.

David Jeyaraj, MD

The pattern goes against any notion that moving to America improves every aspect of life.

It also demonstrates that at least in terms of health, worries about assimilation for the country’s 11 million illegal immigrants are mistaken. In fact, it is happening all too quickly.

“There’s something about life in the United States that is not conducive to good health across generations,” said Robert A. Hummer, a social demographer at the University of Texas at Austin.

For Hispanics, now the nation’s largest immigrant group, the foreign-born live about three years longer than their American-born counterparts, several studies have found.

Why does life in the United States — despite its sophisticated health care system and high per capita wages — lead to worse health? New research is showing that the immigrant advantage wears off with the adoption of American behaviors — smoking, drinking, high-calorie diets and sedentary lifestyles.

Here in Brownsville, a worn border city studded with fastfood restaurants, immigrants say that happens slowly, almost imperceptibly. In America, foods like ham and bread that are not supposed to be sweet are. And children lose their taste for traditional Mexican foods like cactus and beans.

For the recently arrived, the quantity and accessibility of food speaks to the boundless promise of the United States. Esther Angeles remembers being amazed at the size of hamburgers — as big as dinner plates — when she first came to the United States from Mexico 15 years ago.

“I thought, this is really a country of opportunity,” she said. “Look at the size of the food!”

Fast-food fare not only tasted good, but was also a sign of success, a family treat that new earnings put in reach.

“The crispiness was delicious,” said Juan Muniz, 62, recalling his first visit to Church’s Chicken with his family in the late 1970s. “I was proud and excited to eat out. I’d tell them: ‘Let’s go eat. We can afford it now.’ ” For others, supersize deals appealed.

“You work so hard, you want to

V

Esther Angeles, 41, with her daughter, Johanna Marisol Gomez, 7. Ms. Angeles has developed diabetes since coming to the United States and struggles to see that her daughter eats healthfully. use your money in a smart way,” said Aris Ramirez, a community health worker in Brownsville, explaining the thinking. “So when they hear ‘twice the fries for an extra 49 cents,’ people think, ‘That’s economical.’ ” For Ms. Angeles, the excitement of big food eventually wore off, and the frantic pace of the modern American workplace took over. She found herself eating hamburgers more because they were convenient and she was busy in her 78-hour-a-week job as a housekeeper. What is more, she lost control over her daughter’s diet because, as a single mother, she was rarely with her at mealtimes.

Robert O. Valdez, a professor of family and community medicine and economics at the University of New Mexico, said, “All the things we tell people to do from a clinical perspective today — a lot of fiber and less meat — were exactly the lifestyle habits that immigrants were normally keeping.”

As early as the 1970s, researchers found that immigrants lived several years longer than American-born whites even though they tended to have less education and lower income, factors usually associated with worse health. That gap has grown since 1980. Less clear, however, was what happened to immigrants and their Americanborn offspring after a lifetime in the United States.

Evidence is mounting that the second generation does worse.

Elizabeth Arias, a demographer at the National Center for Health Statistics, has made exploratory estimates based on data from 2007 to 2009, which show that Hispanic immigrants live 2.9 years longer than Americanborn Hispanics. The finding, which has not yet been pub-

lished, is similar to those in earlier studies.

Still, the data does not break down by generation. Ms. Arias cautioned that subsequent generations — for example, grandchildren and great-grandchildren — may indeed improve as they rise in socioeconomic status, which in the United States is strongly correlated with better health.

Other research suggests that some of the difference has to do with variation among Americanborn Hispanics, most of whom still do better than the rest of the American population. Puerto Ricans born in the continental United States, for example, have some of the shortest life spans and even do worse than whites born in the United States, according to research by Professor Hummer, dragging down the numbers for American-born Hispanics. But Mexican immigrant men live about two years longer than Mexican-American men, according to the estimates

by Ms. Arias.

Why is a harder question to answer, researchers say. Some point to smoking. Andrew Fenelon, a researcher at Brown University, found in 2011 that half of the three-year life expectancy advantage that Hispanic immigrants had over Americanborn Hispanics was because they smoked less. The children of immigrants adopt health behaviors typical of Americans in their socioeconomic group.

For second-generation Hispanics, the group tends to be lower income, with higher rates of smoking and drinking.

Other researchers say culture contributes. Foreign-born Hispanics are less likely than American-born Hispanics to be raising children alone, and more likely to be part of large kinship

networks that insulate them from harsh American economic realities that can lead to poor health.

“I’d love to have my wife at home taking care of the kids and making sure they eat right, but I can’t afford to,” said Camilo Garza, a 34-year-old plumber and maintenance worker whose grandfather immigrated from Mexico. “It costs money to live in the land of the free. It means both parents have to work.”

WATER THERAPY - Part 3 quantity of 1.25 litres if practicing Water Therapy.

As a result, his family eats out almost every night, leaving his dining table abandoned.

HOW TO THERAPY

“It’s a decoration,” said Mr. Garza, who is overweight and a smoker. “It’s a place where we set groceries before sticking them in the refrigerator.”

The lifestyle takes its toll. The county in which Brownsville is situated, Cameron, has some of the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the country.

The numbers are made worse by a lack of physical activity, including walking. Immigrants said they felt so conspicuous during early attempts to walk along the shoulder of the roads that they feared people would suspect they were here illegally. Ms. Angeles recalled that strolling to a dollar store provoked so many stares that she felt like “a bean in rice.”

“In Mexico, we ate healthily and didn’t even know it,” said Ms. Angeles, who has since developed diabetes. “Here, we know the food we eat is bad for us. We feel guilty. But we eat it anyway.”

Still, immigrants have better health outcomes than the American-born. A 2006 analysis by Gopal K. Singh, a researcher at the Department of Health and Human Services, and Robert A. Hiatt, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, found that immigrants had at least a 20 percent lower overall cancer mortality rate than their American-born counterparts.

Mortality rates from heart disease were about 16 percent lower, for kidney disease 18 percent lower, and for liver cirrhosis 24 percent lower.

“When my daughter was born, my doctor told me that if I wanted to see her 15th birthday I needed to lose the weight,” said Gerry Ortiz, 37, a firstgeneration Mexican-American in Brownsville. He managed to lose 75 pounds, motivated in part by his grandfather, a farmer in rural Mexico who at 93 still rides his bicycle every day. He stares down at the family from a black-and-white photograph hanging in Mr. Ortiz’s living room. Four of the family’s six siblings are obese and have diabetes.

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itamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and is naturally present in dairy, eggs, meat seafood, mushrooms and cheese.

Vitamin D is naturally produced in the human skin upon exposure to sunlight.

It functions as a hormone in the body.

It is advisable to check your blood levels if you have not already done so. Normal lab levels of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D are 30-100 ng/ml.

Optimal levels are however, 50-80 ng/ml. Optimal intake of Vitamin D is about 5000 I.U/day. It is important to monitor the blood levels so as not to exceed the normal levels. Vitamin D toxicity is associated with symptoms due to excess calcium in the

body. These include poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, weakness, frequent urination and kidney stones.

People who live in northern lattitudes and African Americans are very susceptible to Vitamin D deficiency. However it is widely prevalent in other geographical areas and races too. Extreme long term deficiency leads to conditions such as osteomalacia and rickets, both disorders of bone formation. Milder forms of vitamin D deficiency is vastly under-diagnosed.

Dr David Jeyaraj is board certified in Internal Medicine and has been in practice for 14 years. When he faced a personal health crisis, he at first turned to conventional medicine. He exercised, ate right, took his medications regularly. He transitioned from conventional medicine to full time age management medicine . Dr Jeyaraj is certified in age management by Cengenics Institute, Las Vegas and is a member of the Age Management Medicine Group. He can be reached at: 713.271.0705 www.texasami.com

DO

WATER

Early morning, after you get up from bed, without brushing teeth drink 1.25 liters of water.

Neither drinks nor solid food of any sort should be taken within 1 hour of drinking this 1.25 litres.

Dr. Hiten Patel

Interesting facts about water • Lean people have more water in their bodies as muscle holds more water than fat.

• Every system in our body depends on water and is in constant need for replenishment.

• Lack of water to carry out normal functions result in dehydration produced diseases with serious health risks.

• Chronic and persistently increasing dehydration is the root cause of almost all encountered human dis-eAses.

• Energy drinks are no substitute for plain water.

• The most beneficial reason why we should take water is because it flushes out the toxins, which cause dis-eAses.

To measure the right amount of water to be taken: 1/10 of

No alcoholic drinks shall be taken the previous night.

Boiled and filtered water may be used, to begin with, start with half litre and gradually increase it by 100 ml every week till 1.25 litres is reached.

During the day you may continue to drink water as required, however 150 ml per hour is considered the general rule of thumb.

150 ml of water before bath will help lower blood pressure 150 ml of water before sleep will reduce chances of stroke.

During the do not drink water 45 minutes of solid food.

Disclaimer: This book shall deliver the basic knowledge on these three methods. I would request the readers’ discretion to use this book more from the perspective of information. I wish to emphasis that this book in no way a substitute to medical treatment; Please consult competent

Formula for daily amount of water Body Weight

Liters in a day

Glasses

50 kg

3.1

10

60 kg

3.8

13

70 kg

4.4

15

300 ml

Body Weight(in Kgs)X .625 This chart explains how much water we should drink throughout the day. If living in temperature zone above 35*C or carrying out heavy physical activities, then add 10% more to the above formula. These amounts include the morning

Medical Professional before starting the procedures.

Dr. Hiten Patel is a Registered Medical Practitioner (Alternative Medicine) and ACWA. he can be reached at +91-9820371404 or mind. therapist@gmail.com www.drhitenpatel.blogspot.in

www.texasami.com Acheive optimal health through an individualized program that combines scientific principles with your physiological profile to identify and correct nutritional Dr. David Jeyaraj M.D. Board certified in and hormone deficiencies.

Schedule a visit: • 713.271.0705 • 10101 Southwest Freeway, Suite 205, Houston, Texas 77074

Internal Medicine Certified in Age Management Medicine

SC & TECH

VOICE OF ASIA 19

Aging Yahoo! faces new Tumblr generation

by Rob Lever WASHINGTON - Yahoo! is under two decades old is already showing signs of age.

Tumblr, the cool blogging platform, represents a new generation.

This split marks both a challenge and an opportunity for the firms, after the announcement that Yahoo! is buying the six-year-old startup for $1.1 billion, mainly in cash.

“Yahoo users are behind the curve, Tumblr users too cool for school,” said Arvind Narayanan, a Princeton University computer scientist, in a tweet.

“From this POV (point of view) the acquisition seems ironically appropriate.”

Tumblr could be key to Yahoo! because of its popularity with younger Internet users. A survey this year conducted by the online data group Survata found Tumblr more popular than Facebook among those aged 13 to 25.

“Yahoo skews toward older demographics. Tumblr is ridiculously strong among Millen-

nials,” said a tweet from Brian Solis, analyst with Altimeter Group.

Some comments posted on Tumblr as the news broke highlighted this generation gap, as if their parents were intervening to spoil the party.

“YAHOO, CLOSE TUMBLR AND YOU’LL DIE!” one Tumblr user wrote.

Another wrote: “Dear Yahoo ... If you change anything, we will show up at your headquarters with fire and pitchforks.

Don’t try us.”

Still another posted: “Please leave Tumblr alone. You acquired it for the cool factor...

Don’t tinker with it; don’t change it ... Leave it alone.”

Yahoo! chief executive Marissa Mayer, in announcing the deal, pledged to allow Tumblr to remain independent, while integrating technology and advertising opportunities.

“Per the agreement and our promise not to screw it up, Tumblr will be independently operated as a separate busi-

ness,” Mayer said in a statement.

“David Karp will remain CEO. The product, service and brand will continue to be defined and developed separately with the same Tumblr irreverence, wit, and commitment to empower creators.”

Karp echoed those comments, saying in his own blog post: “We’re not turning purple,” in reference to the Yahoo! portal’s signature color.

But some analysts it could be hard for Mayer to keep her promise of keeping Tumblr independent while seeking ways to make the deal pay off.

“If I’m the CEO of Tumblr I would be concerned,” said Daniel Odio, senior vice president of California-based Internet firm Share This, who has been involved in a number of technology startups.

“Marissa is promising to keep it independent, but I just don’t buy it. Just looking at history, I would say that the culture that makes Tumblr special is going to change,” Odio told AFP. Roger Kay, analyst with End-

Left: The sketch a forensic artist made from video subject Jenise’s own description of her looks. Right: The more flattering sketch a stranger helped create. DOVE Dove’s ‘Real Beauty Sketches’ ad quickly went viral after its debut in April.

NEW YORK - Unilever claimed bragging rights Monday to the most-watched Internet commercial of all time -- a three-minute study of women’s self-perception that stars a forensic artist.

The Anglo-Dutch consumer products giant said its “Dove Real Beauty Sketches” has been seen more than 114 million times on YouTube and other video platforms in more than 110 countries “to surpass all previously recorded video ads.”

It is also the most-shared video in more than a year and the third most shared of all time, the company said in a statement, citing data from Unruly Media, which tracks the popularity of viral videos.

Released last month, “Sketches” features San Francisco forensic artist Gil Zamora as he draws a number of women, sitting behind a curtain out of his view, relying exclusively on how they describe themselves to him.

He then produces a second set of drawings -- invariably more flattering -- based on descriptions provided by strangers.

The video goes on to capture

India’s tax hunt claims Infosys, demands $105.3 million In India’s latest round of tax demands hurled at tech firms, Infosys is expected to pay $105.3 million.

India’s second-largest software services exporter, Infosys, is planning to appeal an income tax demand of 5.77 billion rupees ($105.3 million) set by Indian authorities, according to Reuters.

The demand has been made in relation to software development completed overseas — and therefore accounting for tax benefits which follow — in addition to revenue generated from “special economic zones in India,” according to a company statement. The firm contends that the latest demand disregards tax clarification set by the Indian government in January.

Infosys is also contesting a number of similar tax demands made for the fiscal years from 2005 to 2009, according to a filing submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Facebook’s Sandberg says it’s OK for women to cry at work

point Technologies Associates, also was skeptical about integrating the two different firms.

“There’s a particular thing in the hacker culture, and it is difficult for a large bureaucratic company like Yahoo! to keep that alive,” Kay said, “Yahoo! once upon a time was an entrepreneurial company with all the spirit that Tumblr has, but they have been though a number of retreads. The best programmers have long since gone to other places.”

Kay said the deal also could prompt some of the staff at Tumblr, many of whom will get a big windfall from the deal, to cash out and move elsewhere.

“Marissa Mayer might have thought that she was buying a staff, but this is a place where you can least expect people to stick around,” Kay said.

“What they are buying is a bunch of code, and the customers and maybe the revenue stream,” he said.

“You can’t assume you’re buying the talent. The talent likes to decide which master they want to serve.”

Dove ‘Sketches’ most-watched online ad: Unilever the subjects’ startled reactions upon seeing the resulting images.

“The ‘Dove Real Beauty Sketches’ campaign struck an emotional chord with millions of women who recognize that they are their own worst beauty critic,” Unilever said.

Nowhere does the ad mention Dove as a product, apart for an appearance of its logo at the end.

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

Unilever launched a so-called Campaign for Real Beauty nine years ago in Britain to pitch Dove, a moisturizing soap, to “real women” in a world of Photoshopped celebrities and models.

Its other brands include Axe, a range of men’s grooming products known as Lynx in Britain and Australia, which it markets via social and traditional media.

Facebook Chief oprating officer (COO) Sheryl Sandberg poses for a photograph at Barnes and Noble, March 12, 2013 in New York City.

NEW DELHI, (AFP) - Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg said in an interview published Saturday says it’s ok for women to cry at work, share emotions and be honest about their femininity.

Sandberg shot to global fame after her the publication of her best-selling book “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead” which talks about women’s career struggles and advises women to “lean in” to reach their potential.

It has drawn bouquets from admirers for articulating a new modern feminist vision and brickbats from critics who say her lofty position has made her out-of-touch with the gruelling personal cost of combining career and family.

In an interview with India’s Mint business daily, the 43-yearold admitted: “I cry at work,” adding women are not “one type of person Monday through Friday” and “then a different person in the nights and weekend.”

“I think we are all of us emotional beings and it’s okay for us to share that emotion at work,”

said Facebook’s number two, who was named in Time magazine’s 2013 list as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Studies have shown women are more prone than men to cry at work because males are schooled not to cry in public and it can hurt their career progression.

Sandberg, who is married with two young children, said on the subject of her book “the messages of believing in yourself and sitting at the table, getting compensated fairly, those can happen at any point in your career.”

It is necessary to talk about gender-related issues honestly in the workplace, and a need for employers to say: “I am here to support you”, she added in the interview.

The question of whether women can “have it all” in terms of pursuing careers and raising families is “very problematic”, added Sandberg, who got $26.2 million in salary, bonus and shares last year from the US social networking giant.

VOICE OF ASIA 20

Friday, May 24, 2013

BUSINESS

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Chinese PM vows to open up markets to India

Premier Li Keqiang being greeted by India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his recent visit.

by Penny MacRae

N

EW DELHI, (AFP) - Visiting Premier Li Keqiang promised Tuesday to open China’s vast domestic market wider to India and forge a “dynamic trade balance” to deepen economic ties and ease tensions between the Asian giants.

The trade push, which the countries say will supply “new engines” to lift the stumbling global economy, came amid efforts by the nuclear-armed powers to put a military dispute along their contested Himalayan border behind them.

“We have the ability to mitigate the trade imbalance between our two countries,” Li told business leaders in New Delhi, responding to Indian worries over trade that is heavily skewed in China’s favour.

“The Chinese side is willing to provide facilitation for more Indian products to access the Chinese market,” added Li, who chose to make India his first foreign stop after taking office two months ago.

He also said China was willing to “launch negotiations on a China-India regional trading arrangement” but did not elaborate.

China is India’s biggest trading partner, with two-way commerce totalling $67.83 billion in the last fiscal year to March 2013, up from $2.1 billion in 2001-02.

But India’s trade deficit with its neighbour soared to $40.77 billion last year from just $1.08 billion in 2001-

02, Indian figures show, as Indians bought increasing amounts of goods from mobile phones to TVs to industrial equipment.

Li said he wants a “dynamic trade balance” as the neighbours aim to raise twoway trade to $100 billion by 2015, and said they had “huge markets with huge potential”. But previous Chinese commitments have failed to narrow the imbalance.

“The two countries must now take corrective steps,” B.G. Verghese, fellow at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, told AFP. “There must be market access on the Chinese side and the Indians must produce the manufactured goods the Chinese need,” he said, adding deeper trade involvement brings “deeper vested interest in all-round stability”.

In his speech, Li reiterated China’s desire to build trust with India after both sides agreed Monday to work towards settling the long-running dispute over their still formally undefined border.

Ties have been dogged by mutual suspicion, a legacy of a brief 1962 border war.

China also views the presence in India of Tibet’s spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who campaigns for “genuine autonomy” for his homeland, as a serious irritant.

Li said China understands “balanced trade is crucial to good ties between the world’s two most populous countries” and that “a peaceful and stable South Asia is consistent with China’s development interests”.

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

“Only a dynamic trade balance is a sustainable trade relationship,” he said.

“We will support Chinese enterprises to increase investments in India and help Indian products have access to Chinese markets,” he said.

India is seeking Chinese participation in its special manufacturing zones or SEZs being set up under its National Manufacturing Policy, which aims to sharply increase manufacturing to provide jobs for its growing army of young people.

Later, Li urged businessmen in financial hub Mumbai to join hands with their Chinese counterparts to seek chances for cooperation “so the size of trade and investment between the two countries will enjoy sustained and rapid expansion”.

His call came after the first session of the India-China chief executives’ group held to coincide with the Chinese premier’s visit.

Chinese officials said 22 projects had been agreed worth $1.5 billion with the biggest ticket item a $1 billion debt-for-fuel deal between India’s Essar Oil with PetroChina and the China Development Bank Corp.

Both nations’ economies have slowed due to the global downturn and in India’s case due to high interest rates, corruption scandals and government policy paralysis that have dampened business activity.

Li was due to travel to Pakistan Wednesday and later to Switzerland and Germany.

Tel: 713-774-5140

India seeks access to Chinese market, invites investments

Anil Ambani, Chairman, ADAG, and Hu Huaibang, Chairman, China Development Bank, interacting with CEOs from India and China in New Delhi on Monday. — Ramesh Sharma Two sides will address trade imbalance issue, agree peace on border is key to ties NEW DELHI - India and China agreed to address the issue of widening trade imbalance between the two countries, after New Delhi conveyed its concerns about the trade deficit and sought increased access to China’s markets.

Addressing the media after meeting the visiting Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he has invited the Chinese to invest in “our infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.”

FINANCIAL COOPERATION A joint statement issued at the conclusion of talks said the two countries agreed to address the issue of trade imbalance, including cooperation on pharmaceutical supervision, stronger links between Chinese enterprises and the

Indian IT industry and completion of phytosanitary (involving health of plant and agricultural produce) negotiations.

They will also strengthen cooperation between their financial regulators and support banking institutions in setting up representative offices, branches or subsidiaries.

The two sides will also work towards simplifying visa procedures.

Further, to promote trade, connectivity and movement of personnel across the border, the two sides agreed to consider strengthening border trade via the Nathu La Pass.

Manmohan Singh said he had shared with Premier Li the view that the rise of China and India is good for the world and that there was in the global economy “enough space to accommodate the growth aspirations of both our people.”

Premier Li added that both the sides believe that each country should see the development of

the other as a major opportunity for itself.

With India indicating that the peace and tranquillity on the border was the keystone for relations, the two sides agreed that the Special Representatives of India and China be tasked with considering further measures that may be needed to achieve this.

RIVER ISSUE Talking about India’s concerns on river issues, Li said China had shared hydrological information with the Indian sides bearing in mind the overall interest of our relationship.

“Acting in a humanitarian spirit… we stand ready to step up communication with the Indian side.”

Briefing newspersons, the Indian Ambassador to China, S. Jaishankar, said that the visit was significant as the talks were wide ranging and all matters were discussed. Pacts signed: Courtesy: The Hindu ashwini.phadnis@thehindu.co.in

Rajat Gupta seeks re-trial over insider trading case

N

ew York: Former Goldman Sachs Group Board of Director Rajat Gupta’s attorneys asked the Judge to reverse his insider-trading conviction, saying wiretap evidence used by the prosecution should not have been introduced at trial stage.

Seth Waxman, lawyer for Gupta, told the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York yesterday that wiretaps played for the jury were inadmissible because they amounted to hearsay evidence.

“Gupta himself was not heard on the wiretaps, which are instead conversations between convicted Galleon Group manager Raj Rajaratnam and other employees at the hedge fund. Those wiretaps should never have been admitted,” Waxman told a three-judge panel.

“The prosecution’s case rested exclusively on circumstantial evidence, and predominantly on wiretap statements not of Gupta, but of Raj Rajaratnam, a highly unreliable declarant, speaking

Rajat Gupta. File Photo with other people with no connection to Gupta,” Seth Waxman and Gary Naftalis, Gupta’s lawyers said in a brief to the appeals court.

“The court’s decidedly asymmetrical interpretation of the rules of evidence left the jury with a distorted picture in which Gupta was accused by the selfserving hearsay of a known fabulist beyond Gupta’s powers to cross-examine, but was unable to explain to the jury that he had neither the motive nor the inclination to benefit that person,” Waxman said.

Gupta, 64, in October last year, was handed down a twoyear prison term by US District Court Judge Jed Rakoff, who also ordered him to pay a USD 5 million fine.

Waxman and Naftalis argued that the conversation and a second wiretapped call were admitted erroneously under the theory that it furthered the insider-trading conspiracy because prosecutors didn’t allege Lau was a member of the Rajaratnam-Gupta conspiracy and instead called it “inadmissible braggadocio”. (PTI)

Facebook joins Web freedom group WASHINGTON, May 22, 2013 (AFP) - Facebook on Wednesday became a full member of the Global Network Initiative, a non-governmental organization promoting Internet freedom and privacy rights.

The announcement came one year after the world’s biggest social network gained observer status at GNI, whose corporate members include Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google.

“We welcome Facebook as a full member of GNI and look forward to working more closely with them to advance the freedom of expression and privacy rights of Internet users worldwide,” said the group’s executive director Susan Mor-

gan.

“Adding the power of Facebook’s community of one billion global users puts GNI in an even better place to press governments to fulfill their obligations to protect rights online.”

Facebook Vice President Elliot Schrage said the California company joined the group as part of its commitment to “advancing human rights, including freedom of expression and the right to communicate freely.”

“We’re pleased to join GNI and contribute to its efforts to shed a spotlight on government practices that threaten the economic, social and political benefits the Internet provides.”

The news was welcomed by

Human Rights Watch, which is also a member of the initiative.

“Facebook has an undeniable responsibility to safeguard human rights for the more than billion people who use it,” said Arvind Ganesan, business and human rights director at Human Rights Watch.

“By joining the Global Network Initiative, Facebook is taking an important step to respect its users’ human rights and to be accountable to them.

The real test is to see how it implements GNI’s principles.”

Other GNI members include the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

FEATURE

VOICE OF ASIA 21

India’s ‘unbanked’ masses get fleeced

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

Your Horoscope (For week beginning Friday, May 24, 2013)

Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950

by Penny MacRae

F

As per Indian Vedic Astrology the Moon sign is considered, in which every Rashi has control over certain letters, which are initials of your name. Whereas in Western system of Sun Sign, all the people born in one month belong to the same sign. For example, every year approximately around 21 of March to 20th April, the Sun is moving in the Aries Constellation. So all the people born in that month belong to the Sign of Aries. If you were born in between those two dates then you are a Aries born.

or 75-year-old pensioner Sova Sengupta the collapse of Indian property-to-media empire Saradha Group, to which she had entrusted her life’s savings with the promise of a handsome return, spelt financial ruin.

“I’d deposited 100,000 rupees ($1,800). I lost all my savings,” the widow wept after police last month revealed that Saradha, headquartered in the West Bengal state capital of Kolkata, had gone bust with losses of hundreds of millions of dollars.

The popularity of Saradha highlighted the huge shortage of banks to cater for India’s population of 1.2 billion people, with many turning to unregulated and risky services, leaving them vulnerable to exorbitant lending rates and deception.

Sengupta was just one of some 350,000 small savers who saw their money vanish in a scam which offered to multiply savings four-fold over seven years.

Cash from new investors was used to pay off old ones, while promoters skimmed money off to make themselves rich, police said of the typical Ponzi scheme. At least 10 depositors committed suicide, they added.

“Indians have participated in informal savings schemes for time immemorial,” said T.S. Sivaramakrishnan, who heads a regulated national savings association of what are known locally in India as chit funds.

“That’s why many are content to put their money in these vehicles,” he told AFP. “Many of these people aren’t financially sophisticated so they get taken in by these scamsters who offer unrealistic returns.”

Around 480 million Indians, mostly living in the country’s 630,000 villages, have no banking access, according to the country’s central bank, which in February launched a push to expand regulated financial services in the rural hinterland.

“The fruits of the banking industry have not reached a substantial part of the popula-

Aries (A,L,E) 21st. March to 20 April

Officials from a microfinance organisation talk to villagers in Vadod on January 6, 2011 (AFP/File, Sam Panthaky) tion,” said N.S.N. Reddy, chief manager of the state-run Andhra Bank in India’s south.

Aside from a lack of banks, another barrier for savers is a lack of identity certificates.

“For the common man, the opening of a bank account is a Herculean task,” Reddy said. To open accounts, savers must produce an array of documents such as birth certificates or residence proofs that many poor people in India do not possess.

Many of India’s so-called “unbanked” store their savings by investing in gold jewellery and gold bars but they also turn to the parallel banking system which can be highly risky.

Many in Asia’s third largest economy are easily duped by get-rich-quick schemes and when they need money are forced to turn to unscrupulous lenders, said Sivaramakrishnan.

Microfinance institutions, which loan small sums to the needy who are unable to get credit from mainstream banks are stepping into the breach, but even they have been rapped by the central bank for exorbitant lending rates.

The problem is made more acute by the fact Indians have one of the highest household savings rates in the world at 30 percent of gross domestic product.

In the case of Saradha, up to 350,000 investors were cheated of $730 million, according to state officials, though some court documents have men-

tioned figures in the billions.

As part of its smoke-and-mirrors act, the group branched into TV stations, newspapers, education, construction and travel.

It also gained respectability by becoming close to West Bengal state’s ruling Trinamool Congress.

But in the end the scheme turned out to be like any Ponzi scheme -- the Saradha Group went broke and savers were left empty-handed, police said.

Now the conglomerate’s head, Sudipta Sen, is in custody facing fraud charges.

“The repeated sprouting of dubious Ponzi schemes across the country points to a failure of the formal saving and banking system” and the need for fast reform, commented the Economic Times newspaper in a recent editorial.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who told despairing investors “what’s gone is gone”, had a change of heart after a political backlash and now plans a fund to bail out those who were “the poorest of the poor”.

She says she will raise money through a tax on cigarettes and has advised people to “smoke a little more” to help out the investors.

Economist Avirup Sarkar of the Indian Statistical Institute based in Kolkata told AFP: “What we really need is more regulation and more banks so people don’t get cheated like this.”

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Taurus

(B,V,U) 21 April to 21 May

Need to value the instinctive powers that you possess. Sharing your enlightenment with younger people will help you to progress. Your positive energy will help you to meet tight deadlines. You will be surprised at how much you can accomplish once you get started. Avoid too many ‘ups and downs’ emotionally this week as they tend to send you ‘off your wobble’ and shorten your fuse. Your brain is good and you are creative at problem solving, particularly IF it saves you money! Having patience is essential, lest you experience a ‘set back’ of some kind. Keep ALL personal info, issues and opinions OUT of your career life until alter.

Gemini

(K,CHH,GH) 22 May to 21 June

The fact all roads you take this week will lead you to a sort of spiritual awakening. Use this time to refresh and rejuvenate your positive energy. Good relations with those you work with will enable you to spread your influence. Some interesting employment opportunities exist.

Cleansing talks, getting ‘on the same page’ with a problem member, especially elders or in-laws is very likely this week. Some of you may ‘strike deals’ with members, sign legal documents or form alliances to achieve important goals with good progress or success indicated.

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Good communications that will continue as long as you lead in the discussions. You will realize that you are very important to others plans. Whether you are preparing fine dining or simple comfort food, your past experience give you that little edge on your competition. Enjoy.

Your stars show a very busy AND demanding for a number of reasons with many of you multi tasking and doing some ‘chasing, errands or travel’ for either family and/or career. Spending easily goes ‘on the rise’ and windfall profits ARE possible for a small cross section of you; be WISE with any that do come in. Think ‘practical needs’ first.

Leo (M) 23 July to 23 August Knowing your goals are solid. All eyes will be on your recent accomplishments. Take advantage of this opportunity to blow your own horn a little. Your change in focus will prove that you did in fact learn an important lesson. Teamwork will help accomplish the tasks you require. Some minor bickering IS possible but appears to be more ‘working out the bugs’ especially if conversations and exchanges take place and particularly IF they involve money, Keep vocal tones calm with AND between members. Most of you have it well handed. Don’t let differing opinions change your focus or decisions

Virgo (P) 24 August to - 23 September The fact that even though you do not always fit the normal mould, you definitely have your own style. Aspects of your personality will shine this week. You may have to show your true colors to those who doubt your loyalty. If your heart is true then you will have nothing to worry about. What a wonderful and progressive week ‘over all’ for MOST of you but a small cross section of you MAY and I say “MAY,” hit a pocket of time when illness/injury could ‘put you down off your feet or your game’, with digestive, common cold/flu. Delegate duty out to family if you hit this one and withdraw to conserve energy!

Libra

(R,T) 24 Sept. to 23 Oct.

Your strong ties to your roots which will help you deal with a situation on a different perspective.

You’ll see how one could be misunderstood. Some interesting news from far away may help you to understand recent events. Your research and investigations will find the reasons.

Good news, the end of ‘old problems’ new opportunities, cause for celebration and health/fitness threats ‘vaporizing’ during THIS week are any/all likely for you or members of your family! How wonderful! Enjoy the good times and memorialize them in picture, film or other methods. This can be a rather ‘impressive’ to mile stone week for many among you.

UMA MANTRAVADI

HOUSTON LOCATION: 6200 Savoy Dr., Ste. 414 Houston, TX 77036

Some bright expectations that may turn out not to be enough true information. You may have to look elsewhere for what you really require. Family and friends will invite you to join at gatherings. Take them up on invites and you will be able to find new way to share your ideas. While there may be some spike in ‘struggle’, the days that follow appear to improve steadily, especially after weekend, when financial ‘good news’ of a variety of kinds is VERY likely. Enjoyable gatherings and long, fulfilling talks appear likely. Your smartness is in tiptop shape once again and can be used to avoid hassle more than profit or progress.

Scorpio (N,Y) 24 Oct. to 23 Nov. You are feeling the weight of your many responsibilities. Once you get your routine right, you will have much more flexibility with your time demands. Emotions are very high. You need to try hard to keep your temper under control. Once you understand the truth, cooler heads will prevail. Happy feelings, new beginnings and mile stone event planning is likely this week for a reasonable cross section, especially when it comes to seasonal vacations, weddings, births and special events and in larger gathering/groups. Long range ‘financial commitments/planning’ to ‘set aside’ time, effort AND money for these is also likely.

Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 23. Nov. to 21 Dec. Realizing your immediate plans may not be as simple as you thought. You will need to look a lot deeper to be able to see your future more clearly. You will start to feel better once you begin to be your fun loving self. Even though times have changed, you need to hold onto your past.

Many solutions may pepper your week and strong ‘encouragement energy’ is likely, as you become enthused by the cooperation, progress, improvement, respect or attention given you by other members.

Capricorn

(KH,J) 22 Dec. to 20 Jan.

Discrepancies which will be found within recent events. You will be worried about your future employment. Insist on receiving honest answers. Your future plans may not be envisioned by all. Others may look for fault, but you’ll appreciate the strong aspects that can help the most. There may be consistently ‘two ways to go’ this week in almost ALL your choices or directions. Your stars show favorable focus and ‘foresight’; respect it and use it, especially when it comes to behavior/discipline decisions, progressive directions and financial issues. There will be risk factors this week.

Aquarius (G,S,SH) 21st Jan. to 18th Feb.

Feeling like you have been working far too hard. You need to find ways to change your old routine. Take the time to smell the flowers. You may feel vulnerable to others criticism right now. Push those negative thoughts out of your mind. You will achieve all your desired goals. Many may have a ‘special goal’ important deadline or just a pivotal time surprise them, even if they are NOT planning it or even aware of it and they will NEED family cooperation, support and involvement. Most of these appear to be exciting and reward situations.

Pisces

(D,CH,Z) 19th Feb. to 20th March

Personal health issues which may influence your attitude. Dwell on what you can do, not what you can’t. Strive hard to get past old restrictions. Big expectations may bring unexpected pressure.

You’ll need to keep your composure. Show how well you can work with teammates. You may want to keep an eye on stimulants so you can remain focused and productive. You may have ‘one day after the other’ with a loaded plate and accomplishments are likely to be impressive. You also may be lusting for ‘change’ upgrades, improvements and ‘the end to hassles, demands, shortages and problem situation, people or items’.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

VOICE OF ASIA 22

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES & ORGANIZATIONS OF HOUSTON - call Voice of Asia 713-774-5140 VSNA, Houston Prog: Monthly Mahamane event. Puja, Vachana Sahithya discourses, Aarthi and Prasad Contact: vsnahouston@gmail. com/832-545-1185 (Jyoti Biradar) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VSNA.HOUSTON Website: https://sites.google. com/site/bsusorg/home

Hare Krishna Dham (ISKCON) Prog: Everyday, 7 Aratis and bhoga offerings daily. Sunday Festival: 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Location: 1320 West 34th St, Houston, TX 77018.

Contact:281-433-1635/E-mail harekrishnadham@gmail.com Website: www.iskconhouston. org

International Hindi Association (IHA) Houston Prog: 16th Biennial Hindi National Conference on August 30, 31 and September 1 (Labor Day weekend) at VPSS Haveli.

For registration and more information contact Sangeeta 281 7889750 or Swapan 281 3820348 or visit www.hindi.org

BAPS Prog: Location: 1150 Brand Rd. Stafford, TX. Contact: 281-765-2277 Web:

Community Baitus Samee Mosque Prog: Friday Prayer - 1:30 PM Children’s Classes | Interfaith meeting | Location: 1333 Spears Rd, Houston, TX 77067 Imam - Mohammed Zafarullah Contact : Work: 281-875-3400 | Cell: 713-874-4363 Zafarullah_Hanjra@hotmail. com www.Alislam.org

Ashirwad - A Blessing Temple Prog: Regular prog :Sloka Classes for kids and teens.

Location: Katy, Hwy 249 & Sugar Land.

Contact: 281.995.0930/ 281.808.2159

Vedanta Society of Greater Houston Prog: Vedanta teachings Sundays at 10:30 AM Location: at 14809 Lindita Dr. Houston, TX -77083.

Website: www.vedantahouston. org

Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya Temple Temple Hrs: 9 am to noon and 5 to 9 pm.

Sri Astalaksmi puja: 7 pm.

Sri Laksmi Archana will be performed on request all day.

Location:10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX77498.

Phone: 832.541.0059.

Website: www.saumyakasi.org;

Prog: Location VPSS Vallabh Hall, 11715 Belfort Village Dr. Houston 77031.

Contact:713-530-2900 Website:www.vpsshaveli.org

Shri Satyanarayan Sai Puja Darshan Prog: Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Every Thursday Abhishek Location: 16338 Kensington Dr, Ste 110, Sugar Land 77479.

Phone: 713-933-8821 / 9359.

Shri Radha Krishna Temple

Gurdwara Sahib of SW Houston Prog: Sundays Dewan 10:00 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Langar Location:14811 Lindita Drive, Houston, TX 77083 Phone: 281-498-5200 Website: www.gurdwaraswh. com

Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple Prog: Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra Parayanam: daily 6.30 p.m. Location:10098 Synott Road. Sugar Land, TX 77478 Phone: 281- 498-2344 Website: www.ashtalakshmi.org

Chinmaya Mission

Prog: Location: 17130 McLean Road Pearland, TX 77584 Contact: (281) 489-0358

Prog: Location:10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX77498.

Phone: 832.541.0059.

Website:www.chinmayahouston. org.

Prog: Open all days except Thursdays (by appt). Regular Puja and Prasad. Sunday Service 11:30 AM to 1:30 Location: 2223 Wirtcrest Lane Houston TX 77055.

Arsha Vidya Bharati

ISSO

Barsana Dham Houston Chapter

Prog.:Sanskrit classes and special worship sessions for all ages Location: 2918 Renoir, Sugar Land, TX 77479 Contact: 281-606-5607 or AVB. Houston@gmail.com Web-site: https://sites.google. com/site/avbtexas/classes

Ahmadiyya Muslim

QR

Prog: Darshan daily from 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.; Aarti daily from 7.45 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Location: 10080 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Phone: 281-530-2565 Web:

VPSS Houston

Jain Center of Houston

Prog: Location:3845 West Bellfort, St., Sugar Land, TX 77498 Website: www.babamandir.org

Prog: Location: 3905 Arc St. Houston, TX 77063 Contact: 281-606-JAIN; Email: ecjsh@jain-houston.org Website:www.jain-houston.org

Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Prog: Every Friday Satsangh from 7:30 pm to 9 pm. Bhajans and Devi Puja, Discourses.

Location: 12530 Ann Louise Road, Houston, 77086.

Phone: Contact Vishnu at (832) 309- 7181.

Hindu Temple of The Woodlands

Prog: Location:11625 Beechnut, Houston, TX 77072 Phone: 281-933-8100 Website: www.SRKT.org.

Hindu Worship Society

Sri Meenakshi Temple

Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir

Location: 7601 S. Forest Gate Drive at Woodlands Parkway, Spring, TX 77382.

Contact: info@woodlandshindutemple.org, 832-585-0001 Website: www.woodlandshindutemple.org.

JVB Preksha Meditation Center Prog: Annual Family Camp “Understanding Joy & Sorrow” on March 29 - 31, 2013 (Good Friday Weekend) Bellville, TX. Location: 14102 Schiller Road, Houston TX 77082 Phone: 281.596.9642 Website: www.jvbhouston.org

Patanjali Yogpeeth Center Prog: Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun from 8 am to 9:30 am Location: Arya Samaj @Schiller Road.

Contact: 281-579-9433.

Websites: www.pyptusa.org

NARESH SETLUR, CPA Certified, Quickbooks Proadvisor

Accounting, Tax Returns, Cost Accounting, Peachtree, Sales Tax, Franchise Tax.

Visit our website www.karanika.net

Retail, Manufacturing, Construction, Franchise Accounting

(832) 620.4757 - Email: setlurn@gmail.com

BOOK-KEEPING INCOME TAX Personal and Business Tax Returns, Payroll

Sales Tax, Income Tax Audits and Representations

S. Ram and Associates

Tel: 832-877-9625 Free Consultation asu2020.com

M.D. Associates LLP A full service CPA firm

3 Locations to serve you

Houston 713-774-6533 Spring 281-251-2205 Dallas 214-722-7545

visit us at : www.mdassociatescpas.com

Comprehensive Paperless Bookkeeping LLC Home to all your Accounting & Tax service needs

Contact: Rimple 713-785-3900 Email: contact@abkcpa.com

Automotive MANN AUTOMOTIVE

COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR & BODY WORK. ALL INSURANCE ACCEPTED. ALL DOMESTIC AND IMPORT VEHICLE. FREE ESTIMATE . FREE TOWING WITH APPROVED REPAIR.

15919 KUYKENDAHL RD. HOUSTON, TX 77068

Prog: Sandhya Arati at 6:30 p.m.; Sunday: 9:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.

Location: 13944 Schiller Road.

Contact: 281-597-8100 Website:www.houstondurgabari. org

Prog: Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at two locations Locations: Contact: (North) 832-418-3842 or (South) 281-788-4786.

Website:www.saicenterofhouston.org

Gayatri Pariwar of Houston

Telugu Christian Fellowship

Prog: Sundays Satsang, BalSanskar Shala, from 11am to 1pm.

Location: 5645 Hillcroft, Suite # 307, Houston, TX 77036.

Website: http://www.gayatripariwarhouston.org/ “

Prog; Every third Saturday 6:30 PM. Worship is in English Location: The Triumph Church, 10555 West Airport Boulevard, Stafford, TX 77477.

Contact:713-301-6444 Website:

Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya

Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center

Prog: Location: Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land -TX 77498.

Contact: 281.568.1690 Website: www.saumyakasi.org

Prog: Daily classes in Raja Yoga Meditation To register call or email.

Contact:832-379-8888/ Email: houston@bktexas.com Website: bktexas.com

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple

Bethesda Houston Tamil Church

Prog: Bhajans: Sat.7:00 -8:00 p.m.; Sundays 9:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.Location: 1620 Ormandy Street, Houston, TX 77035 Contact: 713-729-8994

Prog: Sundays Worship Tamil 5:30 pm-7:00 pm. English 10:30am-12:30pm.

Location: 810 Murphy/FM 1092 suite F&G, Stafford, Tx.77477.

Contact: 281-317-7331 Website:bethesdahoustontamilc hurch.org

Govindaji Gaudiya Math

VOICE OF ASIA GROUP

Bakery

To advertise, call:

Phone: 713-774-5140 E-mail: Adsvoa@yahoo.com Restaurants Bombay to Beijing

• BAKERY • CAKE SHOPPE • CAFE

5700A Hillcroft Ave. Houston, TX 77036

14025 Southwest Fwy. Sugarland.TX 77478

713-785-1212 www.houstonhotbreads.com

EGGLESS cakes Available

Construction MAK CONSTRUCTION 281-591-8492 Call 7 Days a Week 24 hrs

Tile, Hardwood, Laminate, Carpet, Roofing, Siding, Gutters, Brick, Block, Stucco, Paint, Sheetrock, Texture, Wallpaper, Patio, Cabinets, Doors, Windows, Fence, Formica, Glass, Power Wash

Electrical Service Superior One Electric

281-242-4242 www.bombaybeijing.com Indian Restaurant

Taste the difference! Cater your next event with us!

Gourmet India - Restaurant & Catering

for home and office parties, Dine in Business Lunches, conferences & parties, On-site dining, corporate lunch packages

Ph: 281-493-5435

India’s Restaurant & Catering

for special parties and corporate events. Preferred Wine list, Authentic vegetarian & non-vegetarian dishes, finest Indian cuisine with chef’s special dishes

Commercial & Residential

Ph: 713-266-0131/ 0805

* Repair/ Remodeling * New Installation * Ceiling Fans * Light Fixtures * Electric Panel * Trouble Shooting * Services Upgrades

Shiva Indian Restaurant & Catering

KHOA TRINH, Electrical Technician Tel: 832-359-5447 Free Estimate TECL# 27099

specializing in North Indian cuisine, Office and Corporate catering.

Roofing 522),1* VEEDONE CONSTRUCTION, LLC. - ROOFING Roofing, Siding, Gutters and Fence WIND & HAIL INSURANCE CLAIMS SPECIALIST

281-919-1920

(281) 701-7760 www.VeeDone.com

Computer Repair & Networking

Medical School

Home & Business, Microsoft & A+ certified, low flat rates, free estimates, pickup & delivery.

Become a Doctor - High School to Medical School

www.PCNetworkGuru.com Call Amit at 832-971-6807

Durga Bari Society

Sathya Sai Baba Centers

Prog: Satsang every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location: India House, 8888 West Belfort 77031 Phone: (713) 855-9818 for details Website: www.jkphouston.org Weekly Radio Program-1460 AM Saturdays 10-11 a.m.

QUICK REFERENCE SERVICES DIRECTORY

Accountants

Prog:Satsang every Sunday evening from 5 - 7 p.m. Vedic heritage classes for kids 5-14.

Location: 16628 Kieth Harrow blvd. Houston, TX 77084 Contact: 281-499-3347/281491-4114.

Starts $45,000 for all 4 years INDIA, Europe, Carib, China etc 209-830-8266; 248-419-0284 EasyMedSchool@yahoo.com www.EasyMedSchool.com 1/2

• 2514 Times Blvd. Rice Village, Ph: 713-523-4753 • 2130 Lone Star Dr. Sugar Land, Ph: 281-494-2981

Visit Us VoiceofAsiaOnline.com Call us today!

713-774-5140