India elections '09: Vote with care

The election's approaching, take note.
Your opinion now matters, please vote.
But be careful, dear readers,
Elect ONLY those leaders --
That know how to rudder the boat.

In support of the Total Sanitation Campaign

A campaign that seeks to provide
Sanitation for all, nationwide,
Has now found a creed
For their drive to succeed --
No toilet yet? Sorry, no bride.

The Total Sanitation Campaign run by the Ministry of Rural Development, aims to provide full sanitation coverage to all the rural areas across India by 2010. That gradually this campaign is making inroads into people's consciousness and making them aware of the need for toilets, hygiene, need for privacy etc., can be seen from this TOI report from Haryana.
...

Neerja Shekhar, director of the Women and Child Development department, Haryana, says it has been four years since Haryana embarked on a massive campaign to create awareness about sanitation with jingles on the radio, advertisements on television,posters and banners. For four years, the campaign sought to convince people. Today, it can be seen to have borne fruit. Much credit goes to the “no toilet, no bride” slogan in rural areas. Shekhar says that “as many as 1.41 million toilets have been built across the state in the recent past. (TOI, 22nd March, 2009).

They also serve, who only ...wear apron & tie!

Yahoo News: 18/03/09: Hiring firm looking for butt naked waiters. Now surely, this calls for a Newsmerick:

In these times of recession, dear Sire,
If you have a butt, others admire,
Wear that apron and tie
(Go ahead, don't be shy)
Be a butt naked waiter on hire!

:D

When in the park, keep pants on

A man was reporting a theft
To the cop, he seemed truly bereft.
"My pants have been stolen,"
He wept, his eyes swollen,
"From the park, someone took it and left!"

"My mistress and I, Sir, I swear
Had gone to the park for fresh air
And I thought it'd be best,
To be somewhat undressed,
So I lay down in my underwear!"

"But as I lay there with my chick,
My pants did a vanishing trick.
Sir, please heed my cries,
Find my pants, otherwise,
My wife will hang me by my dick!"

Yahoo news: Cheating hubby loses pant during park romp!

Holy Cow! What next? Cow chips as snack?

Said Pepsi to Coke, with a hiss,
"These Indians say something's amiss
With our cola formulation;
So this cow-loving nation,
Will now bottle and drink bovine piss!"

Indian Express: The RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), a Hindu nationalist organization in India, has found something to give the popular colas and cold drinks a run for their money: bovine urine. The Sangh's Cow Protection Department is planning to produce a soft drink with this magic ingredient as base, and believes it will sweep the market. Get the detailed story here

On domestic violence

Domestic abuse -- it is hell.
It's violence that we have to quell*.
Help bring to a halt,
This in-home assault -
Just go ahead, ring that door bell!



Here is a message from Breakthrough asking everyone, both men and women, to get involved in their Bell Bajao campaign.

We're writing to call on you to get involved in our campaign, Bell Bajao (Ring the Bell), calling on men and boys to join women in bringing domestic violence to a halt.
As you know, Bell Bajao, has been already reached millions across India and is encouraging unprecedented engagement on the ground. We want YOU to be part of the action to promote women's rights.
Breakthrough is celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, by celebrating all those who are speaking out, through their actions, their beliefs, their music or art. Join the blog action week from March 2 - 8 on http://www.bellbajao.org/blog.php and tell us your stories. Write about those people who support women’s rights either through their passion, their work or in their personal lives. Stories can include photographs, videos and other visual elements to be posted online. Do include a short description of yourself as well (name, age, location, any additional details). You'll be joining some amazing male leaders like Bollywood actor and Bell Bajao ambassador Boman Irani http://www.bellbajao.org/flim_details.php?id=127 . Notable author and former UN Undersecretary General Shashi Tharoor is writing...Fashion designer Sandeep Khosla is talking…Bell Bajao campaign creator Zenobia Pithawalla speaks out…Ad film director Bauddhayan Mukerji frames his views...Copywriter Ryan Mendonca crafts lines...activist Harish Sadani is taking a stand on The Bell Bajao Blog http://www.bellbajao.org/blog.php.
So join Breakthrough in bringing domestic violence to a halt! Bell Bajao !

This is undoubtedly a good initiative and warrants active support. However, in my mind, domestic violence is NOT only about violence against women. It could be violence against men (yes, it happens), children or the elderly.We need to work towards alleviating all forms of family violence and make the home a safe haven for the people living in it. Help STOP all forms domestic violence. RING THE BELL!

*Quell = stamp out