Daily Archives: January 13, 2015

AHRC mourns the death of the peoples judge

Posted: January 13, 2015 at 4:43 pm

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) joins millions of Asians and others across the globe to mourn the sad demise of Justice V R Krishna Iyer.

Photograph: Wikipedia

Aged 100, Justice Krishna Iyer passed away on 5 December 2014 in a hospital in Kerala, India. He was a member of AHRCs advisory group and was an active participant in AHRCs work in Asia, particularly concerning Sri Lanka, India, and China.

Popularly known as the Chief Justice of the peoples court of India, Justice Krishna Iyer was one of the finest jurists of our times. He retired from the Supreme Court of India after having served the country during some of its most difficult times. Justice Krishna Iyer served at the Supreme Court from 1973 to 1980; this coincided with some of Indias darkest days, i.e. the emergency under the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.

While India and jurists across the globe have benefited from Justice Krishna Iyers legal acumen, perhaps it is the people of the Indian state of Kerala who have most benefited from his legal luminance. Justice Krishna Iyer played a leading role in the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963, a law that permanently redefined Keralas social and political landscape, ending feudalism in the state.

As a jurist, Justice Krishna Iyer played an important role in developing Indias constitutional jurisprudence, particularly in terms of defining the power of the Presidents office. This prevented India from adopting executive presidency at a time when most countries in Asia shifted from a parliamentary form of governance to presidential rule, and the executive powers of presidents led to dictatorships.

As a judge, Justice Krishna Iyer was a peoples judge. He had the wisdom and foresight to ensure that even prisoners were allowed to exercise their fundamental rights, given that it is the states responsibility to protect these rights. Justice Krishna Iyer liberally interpreted the Constitution, expanding the horizon of the fundamental rights, particularly the right to life and freedom of movement, thereby redefining the Indian states responsibility to protect the rights of all citizens.

As a judge, Justice Krishna Iyer played a vital role in saving the Indian Judiciary from political and executive interference; this interference had been so firmly established that many judges who served at the Supreme Court, despite their said integrity, could not diminish. This has made the Indian Judiciary exceptional in Asia, along with three other jurisdictions: Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan.

Justice Krishna Iyer will be missed in the perilous times that lie ahead for India and the region.

The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

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Griffin slams Amal Clooney

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Published January 13, 2015

George Clooney, left, and Amal Clooney arrive at the 72nd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif.(AP)

Kathy Griffin slammed Amal Clooney's Golden Globes gown choice in the first post-Joan Rivers episode of "Fashion Police."

The human rights lawyer and newlywed chose a full-length black Dior gown complete with long, white gloves.

"Yeah, she's annoying," "Fashion Police" newcomer Griffin said. " You heard me! Everybody run in fear! I thought it was weird she had those gloves that remind me of, like, a porn scene, where the guy goes home and theres the naughty dishwasher and she only has the gloves."

Griffin didn't stop there.

"Like, she used those bovine insemination gloves to rake through her hair instead of a brush," she added before warning "nobody's safe, nobody gets a pass," even "the great George Clooney's" wife.

"Fashion Police" co-host Kelly Osbourne agreed with Griffin and said the gloves belonged "on a vet helping a calf be born."

Before Griffin began slamming Hollywood's worst dressed, she took the time to thank her "Fashion Police" predecessor.

"Before I start making more enemies and burning new bridges, I want to thank my good friend," she said of Rivers. "Joan, I know you are watching from heaven, but I am not afraid to bring the hammer down on anyone."

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Margaret Atwood speaker for U of Ls Calgary alumni dinner

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By Kuhl, Nick on January 13, 2015.

Lethbridge Herald

One of the countrys most respected writers will be the featured speaker at the University of Lethbridges 2015 Calgary alumni and friends dinner on March 27.

Margaret Atwood, a well-known poet, novelist, story writer, essayist and environmental activist, will reflect on her career, the landscape in which it took shape and how writing can be a vote of confidence in the future.

Im not that different from other writers. In fact, Im not that different from other people because human beings are by nature storytellers; its just what we do, Atwood said in a release from the U of L. The narrative interest is a human interest; writers are just people that express it publicly.

Atwood is known as an authority in several subject matters, including feminism, environmental activism and futurism. The overlapping of these spheres in her novels, stories, poems, essays, and even tweets, has led to critical acclaim in Canada, the United States and Europe.

She has received numerous literary awards, including the Booker Prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the Governor Generals Award, twice.

To be able to bring a writer as accomplished and respected as Margaret Atwood to the Alumni & Friends Dinner is very exciting, said U of L president Mike Mahon.

Her voice is one that resonates throughout our country and the body of work she has created over the course of her career has established her place as a true Canadian icon.

The Calgary alumni and friends dinner was established in 2010 with the goal of bringing alumni together in fellowship, along with offering attendees a compelling and engaging speaker who reflects the values and goals of the University of Lethbridge.

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Michael Rogers: What Futurists Used To Do – Video

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Michael Rogers: What Futurists Used To Do
"We #39;re all practical futurists now. The future happens so quickly that we need to make plans here and now for what will happen next." These are the words of technology pioneer Michael Rogers,...

By: APB Speakers

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Michael Rogers: What Futurists Used To Do - Video

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Information is Our Fastest Growing Asset–Unlearning is Required

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Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) January 13, 2015

According to Marge Breya, Executive VP and CMO of Informatica, "The fastest-growing asset class in enterprises, governments, and individuals is information. Digital media. Sensor data. Relationships. Doubling every year, its growing faster than Twitter. Faster than cell phones. Faster than the birth, retirement, or death rate." According to futurist Jack Uldrich, in order for people to embrace all the change, unlearning is required.

Information, says Breya, is "increasingly fragmented. Mobile, social, SaaS, and global value chains have accelerated the fragmentation. And the holy grail of consumer, employee, and citizen behavior lives beyond the scope of any single big data clusterno matter how big."

Informatica, based in over 28 countries worldwide, is holding the Informatica Sales Kickoff 2014 | Partner Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada January 11-13th and global Futurist Jack Uldrich will be delivering the keynote, "The Future Demands Unlearning" for the event.

According to Uldrich, "New advances in information technology bring forth exciting discoveries every day. But often lost in this new reality is the fact that organizations must unlearn old, obsolete knowledge and old ways of doing business, before they can seize tomorrows opportunities."

While Uldrich does not purport to be a Zen-Master his teachings do tend to encompass some Eastern philosophies. He often quotes Lao Tzu--"In order to attain knowledge add something every day. In order to attain wisdom, subtract something every day," and one of his latest blog posts is entitled "Seeing What You Can't See." Uldrich says, "Unlearning by it's very nature tends to have some Zen-like qualities."

Hailed by BusinessWeek as Americas Chief Unlearning Officer Uldrich, in his keynote, will explain why unlearning is a critical skill for Informatica. He argues that creativity and action are more powerful and versatile than knowledge, and the application of these things in combination with unlearning will help future-proof any organization.

Following his speech in Las Vegas Uldrich will continue on to speak in Arizona, New York, Florida and Alabama and Utah on such topics as, "The Twelve Trends Transforming Tomorrow," and "The BIg AHA: How to Future-Proof Your Business Against Tomorrow's Transformational Trends, Today."

Parties interested in learning more about him, his books, his daily blog or his speaking availability are encouraged to visit his website. Media wishing to know more about either the event or interviewing Jack as a futurist or trend expert can contact Amy Tomczyk at (651) 343.0660.

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