and Pakistanis inherit cataclysm and Presidency..though latter being more deplorable..

The last two weeks have been deadliest in the recent month with a plane crash costing 152 lives and crew, flood killing more than 1400 people and 2.5 million homeless and rescuers are struggling to reach more than 30,000 people still cut off by the floods, which are the worst in 80 years. Worse is the fear of outbreak of diarrhoea and cholera among the homeless while food is scarce and water supplies have been contaminated by the floods. The things had not fallen down when Karachi went mad killing more than 50 people after an MPA was killed on August 02, 2010.

So a country would expect its leadership especially government to set aside all task and take up humanitarian assistance and rescue/ rehabilitation work at priority.

Correction, its Pakistan! People of Pakistan inherit catastrophe and presidency with latter being more deplorable.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is continuing with his plan, to enjoy family's stately home in the French countryside and to visit Britain to make him understand war on terror and 'beg' despite outrageous remarks made by Prime Minister David Cameron in Bangalore, at a time when the country is struggling to cope with what is being described as its worst floods in 80 years.

Yes his presence in the country would not, in any way, be conducive to rescue and relief efforts. But in such circumstances isn't it common practise that heads of state or government, at least make symbolic gestures of solidarity by putting off pleasure trips. But oh yes, launching political career of Bilawal 'Bhutto' zardari is far more important than the lives of half of population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and millions of displaced people. Besides, we have 'rich precedent' of axing life of millions of people and billions of Rs. from national enchequer to personal accounts in name of earth quake and internally displaced people.

The outburst of anger against such reckless and mind boggling heartless behavior has been overwhelming , be it online blogs,print media and electronic media. The question remain, who is listening? The governments with quacks like dasti, fozia wahab debating non-issue through senseless talk or the Prime minister Gilani who kept addressing public rallies in connection with a coming by-election despite the havoc in country?
Sad state of Affairs of Country and hearts.
Please spread the message of ways of helping the people affected by floods

http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/08/03/pakistan-floods-how-to-help

Help wherever and however you can!

Unsung Heroes - Inspiring

The Unsung Heroes of Microfinance Blog NextBillion.net Development through Enterprise
by Chris Megargee,

Global Partnerships PartnerTrip Coordinator Justiniano Osco drove his dirt bike right into the meeting room where 11 women—members of a communal lending group, or village bank, sat awaiting him. The “room” was an open field in Achocalla, Bolivia. Justiniano is the loan officer who leads the twice-monthly meetings for this village bank, providing trainings, facilitating the loan process and supporting these women who are working to better their lives with the help of microfinance.
Justiniano visits 20 village bank meetings a week, often in remote areas.
I had the opportunity to meet Justiniano—a loan officer with Global Partnerships microfinance partner CRECER—last summer. I was immediately impressed by the respect that Justiniano showed the members of this village bank and the rapport he had with them. He started the meeting off with an icebreaker that involved jumping up and down in place—which led to lots of giggles as the women bounced in their broad skirts, derby hats perched on their heads and long braids flapping at their sides. He then led a participative training on good nutrition, complete with posters of the food pyramid.
Though he has every reason to be proud of his work, Justiniano is soft spoken and humble. An agronomist by training, he has served as a loan officer with CRECER for 11years. He loves his job, in large part because he knows he is helping his own people. Like many microfinance loan officers, Justiniano has a background that is very similar to the clients that he serves. He grew up in a poor, rural community: His parents were small farmers, working a tiny plot of land with a few animals.
“My childhood was very difficult. I didn’t know what shoes were,” he explained. He described how he and his clients “share the same culture, the same traditions, the same language.” (The entire bank meeting was conducted in Aymara, the indigenous language spoken in this region.)
Justiniano’s daily attire is a padded jumpsuit he wears for protection over his clothes as he rides his motorcycle. It’s a must, given that he visits four village bank meetings per day, traveling over rough dirt roads to get to each one.

Justiniano visits 20 meetings every week, with some requiring two-and-a-half-hour ride. His dedication to visiting communities in remote regions is typical of micofinance loan officers and reflects a key difference between microfinance institutions and traditional banks. While banks have an office in the city and require you to go to them for service, microfinance organizations are proactive in their outreach, traveling to where their clients live.

Justiniano is one of hundreds of loan officers with Global Partnerships microfinance partners who make these connections happen. If there are heroes in the world of microfinance, surely Justiniano and the many loan officers like him must be counted among them. The members of the 20 village banks Justiniano visits on his dirt bike each week would surely agree.

"Par tou-e-Noor" - You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

In continuation to my previous post http://zaree.blogspot.com/2010/05/launch-of-par-tou-e-noor.htmlI am sharing details of the project Par tou-e-Noor.

Par tou-e-Noor

Objective:
A pilot project initiated for the purpose of granting interest free loans for micro enterprise and providing professional advice regarding education to the bottom billion i.e. the poorest for sustainable livelihoods.

Par tou-e-Noor shall be operation from the month of July i.e. July 11,2010. I will ensure that the success stories are also uploaded from time to time keeping the privacy of families intact. Following are the details of the products being offered as the first step towards the objective of Par tou-e-Noor.

1. Tiny Ray of Light پرتو ريز

Loan limit: Pk Rs.5,000/- to 15,000/-
Period of Loan : 8 months (Max.)
Frequency of repayment : Bi-monthly/ monthly
Profit Margin : As per mutual agreement between two parties i.e. for purpose of covering the transaction cost only.

The Target segment of this product is the poor who have a little skill and are willing to start a tiny business (within/outside) home. The families refusing to accept charity shall be given priority.


2. Light of Trade نور از تجارت

Loan Limit: Pk Rs.20,000/- to 60,000/-
Period of Repayment : negotiable 18 months (max.)
Frequency of repayment : As per cash flow projected but at least once every month
Profit Margin : As per mutual agreement between two parties in order to cover transaction costs.

Target market: The product is particularly for individuals/ family of existing entrepreneurs not having enough cushion to generate working capital for business expansion. The entrepreneurs engaged in micro enterprise and require capital for making themselves sustainable shall be given preference.
Business type: Embroidery, Handy-craft, stitching/sewing, selling clothes, grocery shops, transportation, Beauty parlors, milk/food business.

The purpose of loan features above is not to enslave the beneficiaries to paper work/ time tables rather it is for purpose of documentation and record. The terms and conditions are negotiable to give hope and divert all efforts for a better future as the name Par tou-e-Noor itself means 'Ray of Light'.

As previously requested in my previous blog post, http://zaree.blogspot.com/2010/05/clarification-regarding-par-tou-e-noor.html
I welcome voluntary, professional help through your mind, heart, skill, time and material from all those who believe in 'we must be the change we all wish to see in the world.'
Email: par.tou.e.noor@gmail.com

Change awaited!!

RICHER THAN YOU THINK? Innovative ideas- must visit website

HOW RICH ARE YOU?

Every year we gaze enviously at the lists of the richest people in world.
Wondering what it would be like to have that sort of cash. But where
would you sit on one of those lists? Here's your chance to find out.

http://www.globalrichlist.com

Just enter your annual income into the box below and hit 'show me the money'

I'm loaded.
It's official.
I'm the 788,211,024 richest person on earth!



How rich are you? >>

RICHER THAN YOU THINK?

How do you feel about that? A bit richer we hope. Richer and ready to give some of your newly found wealth to those who need it most. It not hard - just slip your hand in your pocket and pull out something special. Something that can help redress the balance - and also make you feel uncommonly good. Many peoples lives could be happier if you donated just one hour's salary (approx $5.78 - UK estimate).

All you have to do is make a choice.

$8 could buy you 15 organic apples OR 25 fruit trees for farmers in Honduras to grow and sell fruit at their local market.

$30 could buy you an ER DVD Boxset OR a First Aid kit for a village in Haiti.

$73 could buy you a new mobile phone OR a new mobile health clinic to care for AIDS orphans in Uganda.

$2400 could buy you a second generation High Definition TV OR schooling for an entire generation of school children in an Angolan village.

DID YOU KNOW..?
Three decades ago, the people in well-to-do countries were 30 times better off than those in countries where the poorest 20 percent of the world's people live. By 1998, this gap had widened to 82 times.

Keep you thoughts

However mean your life is, meet it and live it: do not shun it and call it hard names. Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Things do not change, we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.

~Henry David Thoreau