Making A Difference

International Slipstream

"So long as people remain on this planet, I think this will remain."Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, on the improbability of ever eliminating terrorism

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International Slipstream
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MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Awkward Peace
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LONDON, UK
Fighting Inequality

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That Cherie is happily married to Tony Blair can’t stop her fighting her husband’s government in court, over what she argues is an unfair deal to Gurkha pensioners of the British army. At issue is an agreement between India, Nepal and Britain that goes back to independence days. It was agreed that Gurkhas in the British army would be paid allowances to match costs of living in Britain, but their pensions would be in tune with what is paid to Gurkha soldiers in India and Nepal, to avoid imbalances among the Gurkhas serving the three armies. Taking up the case filed by 20 ex-Gurkhas, Cherie’s now alleging racial discrimination against the Gurkhas. The ex-soldiers don’t want their pensions to equal those of British soldiers. They only want it to be linked to the cost of living in Nepal rather than to the Indian army. In effect, an upward revision of three to five times.Sanjay Suri

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BALI, INDONESIA
Fighting Over Earth
Ten years ago, Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro worked out broad parameters of ushering in economic development without harming the environment. As world leaders converge on Bali to take stock of their achievements post-Rio, there’s bitter division over who’s guilty of subverting Earth Summit, and ways of putting it back on track. Friends of the Earth International has accused the US, Australia, Canada and oil-rich countries of using negotiations in advance of Johannesburg (Earth Summit II) to "give a free hand" to business engaged in international trade. "This ignores that big business is one of the key players undermining sustainable development today," Friends declared.

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