Oppression

I was looking out for the actual meaning of the word "Oppression". Though it is a very broad term, the main context remains almost the same.

According to Wikipedia, "Oppression is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. It can also be defined as an act or instance of oppressing, the state of being oppressed, and the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, and anxiety."

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the concept of Human Rights in general were designed to limit oppression by giving a clear articulation of what fundamental freedoms any system should allow to all of the people over whom it has power.

When oppression is systematized through coercion, threats of violence, or violence by government agencies or non-government paramilitiaries with a political motive, it is often called Political repression.

Several movements across the globe have arisen that specifically aim to oppose, analyse and counter oppression in general. It might take ages for a movement to defeat oppression. But sooner or later the movement wins..

Note: The photographs are from Indian Administered Kashmir and Palestine. The final photograph (last on) shows an Indian policeman chasing Raashid Wani a cameraman working for an Indian owned media channel Sahara Samay who was severely beaten while covering events in the Srinagar city a few weeks back.

Stone in my Hand

This song is meant to create a discussion about oppression in general .... but definitely is inspired by the problems in Palestine ...

Respect is something you earn

I found another Beetle - the real one

Few months back I spotted an old vintage Beetle on the streets of Hyderabad. It was a Volkswagen masterpiece. The name is a synonym to a species of insects that is one-fifth of all the 1.5 million living species on earth. VW got inspired by this creation and designed a car out of it.

Today while I was at home, I came across a Beetle, this time a live metallic green beetle (Cotinus texana). Guess what?? I clicked. I had a chance of practicing macro with both cameras (Canon EOS 1000D and Fujifilm Finepix S7000). It was a good exercise and the results are below.

All these are clicked on my Canon EOS 1000D and FujiFilm Finepix S7000.

(Specifications on request)

The Game

Football is a game played with arms, legs and shoulders but mostly from the neck up.

Clicked on my Canon EOS 1000D. (Specifications on request)

Location (Gulmarg, Kashmir)

Pari Mahal

There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before.

Death comes to all, but great achievements build a monument which shall endure until the sun grows cold. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Above. Activity around Dal lake

Above. Dusk - shot from Parimahal..

All these are clicked on my Canon EOS 1000D. (Specifications on request)

Location (Pari Mahal, Srinagar)

Freedom Flotilla

EARLY yesterday morning, Israeli commandos attacked the flotilla trying to run the blockade of Gaza and bring 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the 1.5 million inhabitants. At least a dozen people were killed.

In military terms this was not a big operation, but its repercussions are enormous and could be disastrous. The forces of a nation have attacked unarmed vessels on the high seas, in flagrant violation of international law. What happened yesterday was a crime.

 Photograph: Reuters

I tried to dig more to justify this stance termed as a breach of law. Lets have a look at the legality of convoy raid.

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  The UN Charter on the Law of the Sea says only if a vessel is suspected to be transporting weapons, or weapons of mass destruction, can it be boarded in international waters. Otherwise the permission of the ship's flag carrying nation must be sought.
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  The charter allows for naval blockades, but the effect of the blockade on civilians must be proportionate to the effect on the military element for the blockade to be legally enforceable.
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  A ship trying to breach a blockade can be boarded and force may be used to stop it as long as it is "necessary and proportionate".
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  The Israeli Defense Forces say soldiers acted in self-defence.
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  An investigation, either by the UN or by the ship's flag-carrier Turkey, is required to find if the use of force was proportionate to a claim of self defence.

What does this attack mean for the peace process? And what has the Israeli public's response been to the international criticism? Let us see what is in store in the coming days..