Hi All,

I was wondering how to hold an online Model UN, to provide experience to all the people, rather than only those who can afford to travel.
Do you people have any ideas?
Please send these ideas to me.

Thank you

Regards,
Wajahat

Dear Colorss

Close your eyes for a minute and visualize the most amazing moment of your life...Everyone has got something or the other special moments in life which are very near to them. Lets remember all those special moments today this moment and thank god for giving us this opportunity.

Happy New Year

For Love,
Anand

31st Dec 2008 website launch has been delayed. Now we all can have a look of the website soon in the year 2009. Due to some unavoidable work pressure on the web designing team. It getting delayed.

Thanking you all and be curious to have a look at the new web site soon.

For Love,
Anand

Wishing you all a very happy new year from the entire team of Colorss.

In couple of days 2008 goes down and rises up 2009. Everyone hopes and looks ahead that new year brings lots of joy and happiness.

Best wishes to TIG who gave us the opportunity to reach so many people across.

Happy Holidays and Best wishes.

Love yourself and stay healthy,
For Love
Anand

Counting days

1..


2...


3....

1st Jan 2009 new website of Colorss would be launched.

Yar' Adua calls for abrogation of law sheilding self, govs, deputies
From Collins Olayinka, Florence Oretade and Funmi Awoyale, Abuja
TO ensure the success of the anti-graft crusade, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua yesterday called on the National Assembly to expunge the immunity clause from the nation's constitution.

The immunity clause in the 1999 Constitution shields the president, vice president, state governors and their deputies from prosecution even on alleged corruption while in office. Many citizens, groups and civil society organisations have criticised the clause, which they described as scuttling the nation's efforts at fighting corruption.

Speaking in Abuja at the launch of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) National Anti-Corruption Revolution (ANCOR), President Yar'Adua also urged Nigerians to shun what he described as esoteric approach to the anti-corruption war, calling on all to actively participate in the crusade.

President Yar'Adua spoke as the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola decried the nation's approach to fighting corruption, saying it was the wrong way.

According to him, the entire nation must see the elimination of corruption as "our" individual and collective responsibility, as that is the only assured way of ensuring success of the anti-graft war and ensuring Nigeria realises its full potential.

The President noted that official corruption had become endemic in the country because of the elite who had been placed in positions of authority and trust.

He said: "Corruption is endemic in this country and there is absolutely no way this country can achieve its potential until and unless this evil is confronted promptly by all Nigerians, and one of the steps and measures that we may have to take in order to entrench this fight against corruption is to look at some of our laws.

"I today call for the abrogation of the constitutional provision of

immunity for president, vice president, governors and deputy governors, and I want all Nigerians to join me in this call. The National Assembly is making efforts to review the 1999 Constitution, so this provision for immunity should be

expunged from the Nigerian constitution."

President Yar'Adua who cited the Governor of Illinois in the United States who was arrested for political corruption few days ago while trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, said nobody in Nigeria deserved to be protected by law when looting public funds.

"He was just released yesterday on bail but he was arrested and taken into custody and he is still the governor of a state in the United States, so why should we here, knowing clearly that we have a problem of corruption, official corruption, protect the offices of president and vice president, governors and deputy governors?

"So, I want all Nigerians to join me today to make this call. Let us expunge this provision of immunity from the 1999 Constitution."

The President also called on the Nigerian citizenry to stop cherishing and respecting people in position of authority who suddenly become wealthy, noting that the unnecessary respect being given to the looters was one of the things that encouraged Nigerian elite who found themselves in positions of authority to

become corrupt.

Yar'Adua reminded the EFCC of the need to be ruthless, and totally energetic in pursuing corrupt officials, prosecuting them, sanctioning them and bringing them to justice.

He commended the EFCC and other stakeholders for their timely initiative to launch ANCOR with the aim of widely "mobilising and galvanising our conscience to the evils and debilitating effects of unbridled corruption in our polity."

Governor Fashola called for a national strategic plan of action in a direction that would confront the causes of corruption and eliminate the monster in a gradual manner. According to him, fighting corruption by merely charging alleged corrupt people to courts would not help the country.

The governor, who spoke at a forum organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja, said the mere charging to court of people for corrupt offences could only address the problem on the surface.

"This approach cannot take us to our desired destination in the crusade against corruption. It is tantamount to the use of wrong medicine for an ailment. The ailment will simply continue and may get worse, " he said.

According to him, there is a connection between corruption and economic conditions. For the fight against corruption to produce results, the country must first identify the root causes and tackle them rather than concentrating efforts on prosecution.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that the cloudy circumstances that surround the redeployment of the immediate past Chairman of the EFCC, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, may stall the fight against graft in the country.

In a letter to President Yar'Adua, a copy of which was made available to The Guardian in Abuja yesterday, the Abdulwaheed Omar-led NLC said though as human being, Ribadu may have made some mistakes in the execution of his duties as EFCC boss, he certainly did not deserve the treatment being meted out to him by the government.

Taking the President on memory lane, the NLC stated that the appointment of Ribadu as the EFCC helmsman in 2004 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo had undoubtedly raised the consciousness of Nigerians on the evils of corruption and the need to tame it in all its ramifications.

It added that Obasanjo's declaration of war on corruption, which was generally accepted by most Nigerians, may have been responsible for some of the over-zealousness on the part of Ribadu-led management of the anti-graft agency.

Labour explained: "There is of course no doubt that in the process, Nuhu Ribadu and the EFCC under him might have made mistakes. Some of these mistakes were considered to include his penchant to dispense with due process in his pursuit of suspected criminals, his disregard of court ruling, and his willingness to allow himself and the EFCC to be used as a tool for political witch-hunt. Slowly, but gradually, the perception grew that Ribadu was selective of his anti-corruption targets."

Labour further reiterated that Ribadu went into the anti-corruption crusade with zeal and determination to succeed.

The NLC letter reads in part: "When Malam Nuhu Ribadu was appointed the Chairman of the EFCC, he went about his duty with a single-mindedness of purpose, commitment and dedication to stem the tide of corruption in the country. In those early years, he demonstrated a rare courage and determination to track down corrupt people and practices in the country. He was successful in de-mystifying the criminal elements who took the nation hostage, economically and politically. To his credit, the fear of the EFCC became the beginning of wisdom. There was no more room for the impunity, which reigned before Nuhu Ribadu, and EFCC came into the public arena. No doubt some politicians might have continued to steal, but they had to spend more time thinking and planning about how to hide the proceeds of their crime."

Labour pointed out that during Ribadu's reign, many important corruption cases were prosecuted, including many 419 cases which had given Nigeria a bad image. This renewed the hope of many Nigerians that indeed it was possible to fight corruption and win.

"No doubt, some of these mistakes, indeed excesses, were the result of both personal shortcomings of Ribadu and the institutional weaknesses of the EFCC. These were the weaknesses the former President might have exploited in his political battles," it said.

The statement, which was jointly signed by the Acting President of NLC, Mr. Peters Adeyemi and General Secretary, John Odah, stated that since the recall of Ribadu from the EFCC and the appointment of a new chairman for the agency, Ribadu himself had become a subject of what many Nigerians rightly or wrongly perceive as a backlash by some of the politicians who were at the receiving end of his anti-corruption crusade.

By Theodore Ahamefule Orji


Dr. Theodore Orji, Abia State governor

Right from 1863 when the Irish Reverend gentleman, Henry Townsend, founded the first Nigerian newspaper called IWE IROHIN till date, the media have been in the vanguard of the crusade for the enthronement of a just, liberal and egalitarian society. Indeed, the period between 1926, when the prestigious but now moribund Daily Times was founded, and the mid 30's saw the media at its best. This period was when the agitation for Nigeria's independence assumed a more visible and vibrant dimension.

The media – electronic and print – have remained a focused, viable and reliable tool for social reengineering, political enlightenment, and economic development over the years, contributing robustly to the country's socio-political transformation.

In Europe and America, for instance, the media have been given a more recognizable role and fully integrated into their social systems as adjuncts for change and rearmament. Even in Asia, this role is becoming more significant as they gradually assert themselves more authoritatively.

The beautiful and functional role played by the media, especially the electronic media, in our nation's democratic development has elicited multiplier reactions from even unusual quarters such as the academia, the organised private sector (OPS), and individuals (technocrats, politicians and media personalities).. The result has been greater interest in the way the sector is run; especially, its funding and staffing.

Research has shown that establishing and managing electronic media is no mean task. Apart from their elegance and visibility, they are also quite capital-intensive.

The obstacles encountered by the regional governments in Nigeria, when they were authorised by the British Colonial Administration to establish private broadcasting stations, remain a reference point for those who later took to private broadcasting as a business.

The establishment of the Western Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (WNBC), as the first broadcasting station in Nigeria, marked a milestone in broadcasting. The regionalisation of broadcasting in 1951 was also a precursor to the effort that followed later to popularize broadcasting in Nigeria.

The introduction of television broadcasting also started in the west with the establishment of the Western Nigeria Television Station (WNTV).

With it came a flurry of activities in that sector, culminating in the setting-up of similar broadcasting stations by the other regions in Nigeria.

It must be stated, however, that the western part of Nigeria has always set the tone on how the business of broadcasting should be advanced. This is why the region can boast of top-class broadcast stations that have cast themselves in a unique mould as focused, elitist, and, sometimes, aggressive. The vibrancy of politics in the west of Nigeria is accentuated by the aggressiveness and exclusiveness of its media.

The incursion of private individuals and organisations into ownership of electronic media was stimulated by the liberalisation policy of the Federal Government. Before the policy, it was difficult, if not impracticable, for any individual or private organisation, except the government, to invest in electronic media. This was why it took over a century, since Townsend pioneered newspaper business in Nigeria, for private persons and organisations to own and operate electronic media.

It is important at this juncture, to recall the role played by great statesmen and patriots such as Herbert Macaulay, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and, of late, Chief MKO Abiola in private media ownership. While Herbert Macaulay founded the Nigerian Observer newspaper, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe came back from Pennsylvania, United States in 1934, to establish the Morning Post in the then Gold Coast (now Ghana). Dr Azikiwe later relocated the Morning Post to Nigeria in 1937 and rechristened it the West African Pilot, which played a remarkable role in Nigeria's quest for independence.

Again, it was the West African Pilot that introduced the departmentalisation of newspapers as we have them today. Features, sports, fashion, foreign news and other such pages were introduced by the West African Pilot. It has to be stated, unequivocally though, that Chief Abiola made an impressive foray into private newspaper business in Nigeria with the establishment of the Concord Group of Newspapers that championed the cause of democracy in the country. Painfully, out of the four early pioneers that walked on the face of the earth, it is only Chief Awolowo’s Tribune, founded in November 1949, which has survived till date.

The success story of the Tribune and the extinction of the West African Pilot, the Nigerian Observer and Concord (caused by the demise of its founder) show an interesting milieu in the culture of newspaper ownership. Nevertheless, the founding of The Guardian, Punch, Vanguard, and, of late, others, has opened a new vista in media ownership in Nigeria.

I have made this brief reference in order to draw a correlation between the vision of early private newspaper owners and their counterparts in the electronic media. The truth is that the dogged spirits of the early newspaper proprietors catalyzed the creative endowments of the founders of private broadcast stations in Nigeria. It was not until May 1977 that the Federal Government, through the promulgation of Decree 24, established the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

Before this time, on January 1, 1962, the Federal Government established the Voice of Nigeria as part of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, which is a parastatal agency in the Federal Ministry of Information. After the setting-up of the NTA and its attendant success story the Federal Government on February 28, 1979 established the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). By the decree that established the FRCN, the corporation should engage in radio broadcasting on short wave or powerful Medium Wave for effective simultaneous reception in more than one state of the federation. At present, there is at least one FRCN station in each state capital in Nigeria.

As stated earlier, the Federal Government introduced the liberalisation policy to allow for private ownership of radio and television. This was to complement the existing press freedom at that time. Consequent upon this, the first private radio station in Nigeria – Ray Power – which operated on Frequency Modulated (FM) 100.5, was born. Owned by Daar Communications Limited, Ray Power quickly gained acceptability among radio listeners in Lagos and its environs.

Within a short time of the existence of Ray Power the first privately-owned television station, Africa Independent Television (AIT), was also founded. It is owned by Daar Communications. Worthy of mention is the fact that the two stations were owned by Chief (Dr.) Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, in whose honour we are assembled here.

Some other television stations such as Degue Broadcasting Network (DBN), Channels Television, Muhri International Television (MITV), Clapper Board Television, Minaj, and Silverbird followed suit.

Being the text of a keynote address presented by His Excellency Dr. Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Executive Governor of Abia State on the occasion of the conferment of a media award on him in Abuja on Tuesday, December 2, 2008.

TIG

Let me tell you V6 is rocking... I am sure going to miss the launch party. This is so much fun. You guys define technology, creativity, concept and proper utilization of energies.

I was on V6 and wow its cool.

Very neat and decent job. All the best and a hearty congratulations to the entire TIG staff.

with love
anand

Male sex organs are allegedly disappearing with a simple handshake in the Town of Guidiguidi in the Mayo Danay division in the Far North Region, of Cameroon. Fear and confusion now plague the men in the country after repeated reports of this strange phenomenon.
It all started few weeks ago when three men alleged that their sex organs had disappeared mysteriously, pointing fingers at another gentleman.

The latter was brutally beaten until the Lamido of Guidiguidi intervened. The three men were immediately taken to the Guidiguidi Integrated Health Centre. After a series of tests carried by the Chief Medical Officer, no abnormalities were identified.

In the town of Maga and Puse, some other persons alleged that their sex organs had disappeared but medical examinations did reveal no abnormality.

The most dramatic incident took place on Velley. The incident involved six men who cried out for help after shaking hands with a stranger.

They complained that their sex organs had disappeared strangely. This engendered trouble in the locality.

The crown pounced on the accused, determined to have him pay the price of all the penises that had been snatched away.

The gentleman was almost lynched; thankfully, the Lamido of Yagoua intervened and summoned the victims. He ordered medical tests but the results, once again proofed no abnormality.

One of the six victims explained that he was ripped by a strange sensation when he greeted the accused.

He said he had goose pimples at that moment and felt like his sex organ had shrunk into his stomach.

In spite of these recurrent reports of sexual organs disappearing, modern medicine is yet to explain the phenomenon or else, it remains an unsolved mystery.

The panic-stricken population of the Mayo Danay Division is presently very vigilant; they take nothing for granted, above all no handshake, unless you don't care about your manhood.

from Solomon Tembang Mforgham, AfricaNews reporter in Limbe, Cameroon

Background:
Colorss Foundation works towards the mainstream integration of the marginalized population through psychological, social and professional training and rehabilitation. Through the broad spectrum of its goal, the foundation handles various disability issues involving physical and mental handicap. The organization is based in India, headquartered in Gujarat.

The organization is looking for web content writer who can write for Colorss Foundation’s website. We are looking forward to bring change in perception towards disability.

Position:
Web Content Writer
Volunteer Position,10-15 hours/week.

This opportunity is suitable for someone, who is focusing on writing, Mass Communication and/or journalism. The Web content writer works closely with staff members.

Responsibilities:

a) Writing web content for websites / portals from scratch.
b) Editing and Proof reading content once written.
c) Writing brand support material
d) Strong interest in developmental issues, social change projects and community development.
e) Comfortable working with sensitive issues

Profile / Skills required:

a) Experience working in a communications/ public relations environment, particularly in a university setting
b) Flamboyance for writing with an understanding of social issue.
c) Valuable writing style that is bright, reliable and friendly
d) Ability to write in a multiplicity of formats and styles for multiple audiences.
e) Previous experience with a publishing house is an added advantage.
f) Excellent command of English language and grammar.

Application Procedure:
Please send your resume and brief note about why you want to volunteer for Colorss Foundation to Mr. Anand Koti at emailcolorss@gmail.com.

HYDERABAD: Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday announced hike in pensions for the physically challenged with immediate effect. Those
with 40 per cent or more disability will get a pension of Rs 500 per month.
In case of 60 to 80 per cent disability, the pension will be Rs 600 and in the case of 80 per cent to 100 per cent, the pension will be Rs 700 per month.

The CM said that district medical boards would be set up in each district and based on the certificates issued by them, pensions would be given to the disabled. There are 8,28,058 physically challenged persons in the state.
The total expenditure towards the pensions for the handicapped in an year will be Rs 496.83 crore and per month it would cost Rs 41.40 crore for the state government.

source: 2 Dec 2008, 0008 hrs IST, TNN
Times of India, Hyderabad City

LUCKNOW: A visually challenged news-reader in an electronic channel. One with hearing impairment in a newsroom or a boardroom...
Even
those blessed with the highest degree of optimism, will find it tough to conjure up a scenario which could become a reality within next three years. The dream project of Mayawati government -- a university for the disabled -- slated to take off in July 2009, hopes to open a whole new world to the marginalised section by providing them with the perfect professional launching pad.

The courses offered include graduation, post-graduation, diploma or doctorate in humanities, music, computer, science, information technology, vocational training, science and technology, commerce, management and mass communication, to the disabled.
The segment, as per the charter, shall form 50% of the minimum strength in an academic session, though the number can be as high as the demand. The brochure guarantees a disabled-friendly campus with specialised facilities. While other supportive aids -- wheel-chair, crutches, tricycle, hearing aids, walking sticks, even fabricated limps will also be on the house for candidates.

According to official estimates, 2% of the total population in the state is handicapped. This number works out to be 35 lakh, says deputy director in the department of handicapped welfare, SK Shrivastava. The reserved quota for disabled in the Dr Shakuntala Mishra UP Handicapped University (DSMUPHU) has beneficiaries from four categories of disabilities -- orthopaedic, visual, hearing and mental disabilities, he said. The university, he said, with its unique features is expecting a big draw from not only Indians but students from neighbouring countries as well.

Guidelines issued to the UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam, the body entrusted with the task of constructing the university and hostels in over 71 acres on Mahona road, are most specific. The entire constructed space will be barrier free with handicapped friendly features like ramps, special lifts with audio and visual signals for each floor, special toilets with doors wide enough for a tricycle to pass, lower latches and sinks, and corridors having a running length for parallel rods for support. Even hostels, apart from four hostels exclusively for the physically challenged, have been designed in a similar manner to enable the physically challenged freely visit and interact with their normal counterparts, the officer said.

The first lesson we want for handicapped students here is adaptability and assimilation with the normal segment. This explains why the university provides for admission of normal students as well, even though the first priority is disabled candidates, said Shrivastava.

The state government proposes to rope in experts from National Institute for Orthopaedics Handicapped, Kolkata, National Institute for Mentally Handicapped, Hyderabad, National Institute for Visually Handicapped, Dehradun and National Institute for Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai for coordination, cooperation and expert advice, Shrivastava said. In fact, the university could also have faculty drawn from these institutes, he hinted. This apart, in times to come DSMUPHU also proposes to set up its own Braille press on Mahona road to cater to the visually challenged students, he added.

source:
2 Dec 2008, 0125 hrs IST, Manjari Mishra, TNN
Times of India

It is a wonderful thing to know that words are exactly what they are---words; which come out and then evaporate and go with the breeze. Spoken word, that is, will come out and then fade away. Written words can equally be erased or discarded. People hearing or reading words can use words anyway they choose to, take them to heart and react accordingly, or hear them and no matter how bad they are, make a decision even though difficult, to have total control over their reaction to those words.

Painful words, especially when laced with lies can cut as sharp as a knife and inflict such pain. Painful words have driven people to end their lives, to take another person's live or just to go through life feeling less than what God designed them to be. Painful words can kill a human spirit.
Painful words spoken in a competitive setting as in a debate or campaign are best put aside with a handshake at the end of the exercise and left right there.

Rising up above hurtful words and lies which are meant to cut down is a difficult task which if, and when mastered, is an art that brings great joy and peace. The task starts with learning to know and love who one is. Armed with the knowledge that people are made in the image of God and the knowledge that God is not in the business of making garbage or useless creations, it becomes easier to start learning how to take those fiery arrows of hurtful words, lies and half truths in stride. It may be weighing the heart down, with tears stinging the eyes, but as soon as one remembers that whoever is saying or writing these words is not even in control of the air that goes in and out of them to make those words possible, the impact of the arrows start fading away instantly. It starts making it clear that those words may actually be the outlet for inner turmoil and pressure for the speaker or writer. Looking at it that way puts the hearer in a position to switch from being a victim to being a person who extends pity and compassion to the speaker. Blessed are the merciful---- for they shall obtain mercy and the mercy works wonders, wiping off the pain and replacing it with fulfillment and joy and appreciation of God's gifts many of which are taken for granted.

A person who just received the bad news that they may not live to the end of the year will not mind hearing a few bad painful words if that will change their bleak situation. Putting words in their right place, in the air, helps blow them away and if written words, read and erase off the mind and dwell on blessings all around, counting them; good health, sight, hearing, the ability to walk, children, family, to mention a few. In other words, blessings wipe away the impact of hateful words.

Words are powerful. Words can do so many different things. They can edify. They can diminish. Words can unite. They can disperse. Bad, hurtful words have the tendency to destroy but we as humans with the ability to CHOOSE can choose the way we react to words, which includes rising above bad words, trying to put into consideration the speaker of the words and what drives a person to speak or write hurtful words. The focus becomes the source of the words. The best thing becomes to make the choice to let the speaker of the hurtful words off the hook completely. That gets rid of garbage and baggage which can weigh down a person in an unbelievable manner. Such garbage can hold down a person, preventing progress, preventing happiness, stealing peace and fulfillment.

The best thing to do then becomes to choose to let words be just what they are---Words. In one way, out the other.
This Thanksgiving, I am very thankful for the ability to let words be just words and nothing more. God's word never changes and that makes all the difference in the world. Man's words on the other hand, as powerful as they may be are not carved in stone, will not necessarily have real power, unless we let them.

Chinwe Enemchukwu,
Author of " The power of words,and then choices"

The power is within YOU its you who can change. The moment when you are clear about it, circumstances get eased. Because at this moment the confusing inside you does not. Try to find time for the 'self' talk talk talk talk talk be clear, stop getting carried away with fluttery talks. If these talks move you from within then you are not happy from within. Because you are not stable! You are always on the move changing yourself. Get grounded realize yourself and your potential. Be brave and move ahead.

The power is within YOU and you can make the difference.

For love,
Anand