Poor Economics, A radical rethinking of the way to fight global poverty

Poor Economics, Winner of the 2011 Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year With Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee, Authors of Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty Omkar Goswami, Founder and Chairman of Corporate & Economic Research Group (CERG) Advisory Private Limited, and Former Editor of Business India Chaired by Krishan Sree Kumar, CEO of Intellecap DATE- Tuesday, November 8 at 7:00 pm, Registration at 6:30pm VENUE- BSE Ltd., Convention Hall, Phiroze Jeejebhoy Towers, Dalal Street, Mumbai Samachar Marg, Fort, Mumbai RSVP REQUIRED- asiasociety@asiasociety.org.in TICKET PRICE- Asia Society members- free, all others- Rs. 200 Entry for press and students with a valid ID is free In Partnership with cid:image008.jpg@01CC9A42.B2171D00 cid:image009.jpg@01CC9A42.B2171D00 MIT LOGO.JPG In their new book Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty, MIT Professors Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee ask questions like “Why do the poorest people in the Indian state of Maharashtra spend 7 percent of their food budget on sugar?” and “Does having lots of children actually make you poorer?” Meanwhile, poverty continues to cripple India and other developing countries, and debates persist on who constitutes the poor and how they may be helped. How can we hope to alleviate poverty on a large and sustainable scale? How can a better understanding of poverty reshape policies and business models to improve their impact? Join the authors in a discussion with Omkar Goswami, Founder and Chairman of Corporate & Economic Research Group (CERG) Advisory Private Limited, and Krishan Sree Kumar, CEO of Intellecap. Esther Duflo is the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics at MIT. Duflo has received numerous academic honours and prizes including most recently the John Bates Clark Medal (2010) and a MacArthur Fellowship (2009). She has also been featured in Foreign Policys Top 100 Global Thinkers and Fortunes 40 under 40. Abhijit Banerjee is the Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics at MIT. He is a fellow of the AmericanAcademy of Arts and Sciences and the Econometric Society and has been a Guggenheim Fellow. He has also received the inaugural Infosys Prize (2009) in Social Sciences and Economics. Omkar Goswami is the Founder and Chairman of CERG Advisory Private Limited, and serves as in Independent Director at Infosys. He has also been editor of Business India and Chief Economist of Confederation of Indian Industry. He has served on several government committees, including the the Vijay Kelkar Committee on Direct Tax Reforms, and the N.R. Narayana Murthy SEBI Committee on Corporate Governance Reforms. He has been a consultant to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank, among others. Krishan Sree Kumar is the CEO of Intellecap, a social enterprise investment and advisory firm. His experience includes working with development finance institutions, the financial services industry, water and energy utilities, governments undergoing reform, and donor agencies. He has also worked on public sector reform in Africa and Eastern Europe, and poverty reduction strategy papers. The BusinessAsia series highlights new developments and best practices in the corporate and economic world that bolster notions of corporate citizenship, including engaged leadership, innovation, and corporate social responsibility.

Greg Acuna's new novel 'Revolution American Style'

new novel "Revolution American Style" - "A Political Fairy Tale" has just been released in paperback and as eBooks...Kindle & ePub formats. It's a political satire about a Yoga Teacher and a Stripper who accidentally start a Revolution in Los Angeles that spreads across the country and changes the world. In these trying times...here's a cure for the Economic Blues. You can learn more and buy the book at www.RevolutionAmericanStyle.com. On the website you can sample the novel, read documents, character blogs and join the revolution. For the month of November the paperback is only $9.95 ($5.00 off the cover price) and eBooks are half price at just $4.95. You can save even more if you get our combo deal. Revolution American Style Cover What Writers Are Saying: “Revolution American Style is a multimedia, no sacred cows allowed, funny and ferocious satire on politics, media monsters and the American way of life in the age of tweets, blogs, and ‘friends.’ While it’s Greg Acuna’s sharp writing and characters, both weird and wonderful, that pulls you in, it’s his very funny, ‘this close to reality’ story that’ll hold you. Grab this one now!” Matthew Costello, author of “Vacation” “Readers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your ideas about politics and fiction. Greg Acuna’s hilariously revolutionary web-connected novel is a delight to explore and experience. It’s at once a provocative social critique and a zany riff and romp. Revolution American Style is lots and lots of deadly serious fun.” Lee Siegel, author of “Love in a Dead Language” The Revolution is "web-connected" so please... Join the Fan Page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/revolutionamericanstyle Follow the Revolution on Twitter: www.twitter.com/revolutusa

HERCOLUBUS, THE PLANET WHICH COMES TO THE EARTH

HERCOLUBUS, THE PLANET WHICH COMES TO THE EARTH There are some questions about heavenly mechanics, which are unknown to the present science. One of them is that related to Hercolubus approach, a planet whose name comes from the ancient knowledge. The fact of its approach to our solar system is not only a near fact that everybody will be able to see, but it will also result in big upheavals all over the world. As in life’s ups and downs everything returns to its beginning or its end, it already happened that Hercolubus, in its former approach, put a stop to the Atlantis´ civilization. These facts, well known by all that personages who, in the course of the History enjoyed Awake Consciousness, were properly narrated through all the `world-wide Floods´ coming from different religions and cultures. A lot of writers have talked about such cosmic phenomenon throughout the ages. One of them, V.M. Rabolú, was one of those people who enjoyed the Faculties of the Awake Consciousness, which let him investigate about this heavenly body’s approach. We have picked out the next paragraphs from his book, entitled `Hercolubus or Red Planet´: `When Hercolubus comes nearer the earth, and it places itself at the same height as the sun, some mortal epidemics will begin to spread all over the world and doctors or official science will not know what kind of diseases they are and how to cure them. They will remain impotent in the face of these epidemics. ´ `The moment of tragedy and darkness will arrive: shakings, earthquakes, tidal waves. Human beings will become mentally unbalanced because of the lack of sleep and food. And watching this danger, they will throw themselves altogether into the cliff, completely insane. ´ `What I affirm in this book is a very short-term prophecy, because I know for sure the end of this planet, I know it. I am not trying to scare, but warning, because I am anguished for this poor mankind, because the facts will not keep us waiting and there is no time to waste in illusory things. ´ V.M. Rabolú teaches in his book the systems of eliminating psychological defects and astral projection as the only existing way of escaping from the forthcoming cataclysm. He finishes saying: `Dear reader, I am speaking very clearly in order to make you understand the necessity for undertaking a serious work, because the person who is doing this work is removed from danger. This is not for you to theorize or discuss but to experience the real teaching I am offering you in this book, because we do not have any other thing to call on´.

Environmental activities book

This new book consists of 'Activities' that students can do on various environmental topics. Environment ceased to be a sideshow recently, after the country’s apex curriculum setter and the two dominant education boards decided to allocate scores to the subject in the crucial school-leaving examinations. As per the current guidelines, the assessment will not be based on the conventional ‘study-text-books-write-examination’ mode. Grades will depend on how active the examinee has been ‘on the ground’. CSE's Environment Education Unit has always been working towards providing easy-to-understand reading material. Our new publication on this subject is an attempt to lend teachers a helping hand. It unfolds in two sections: Climate Change: how to make sense of it all, & Natural Resources: how to share and care. Here, the key issues selected adhere strictly to curriculum guidelines. However, they are introduced to students not as a paragraph to memorise, but as an activity to do. Each activity sheet begins with a Curriculum Connect, a brief note to teachers that matches suggested assignments to the curriculum stream (sciences, social sciences etc.) and to the class level (primary, mid or senior). Likewise, Gobar Gyan, a succinct backgrounder, that precedes each activity set, explains to students why they are being asked to do the task. We have made a determined effort to make each of these four-page activity sheets self contained. Each activity sheet includes references to external information materials, online linkages and relevant data. Introductory price of the book is Rs 290/- (USD39) Order multiple copies of this activity book as you will need to make copies of the various activities to be given out to students as assignments. For Indian Buyers: Send your payment by DD/Cheque payable AT PAR for the required amount, drawn in favour of Centre for Science and Environment, payable in New Delhi. You can also order your copies online by visiting http://csestore.cse.org.in/books/schoolsandenvironment/activities2011.html For foreign buyers (outside India): http://csestore.cse.org.in/usd/activities2011.html Centre for Science and Environment 41Tughlakabad Institutional Area New Delhi For any further clarification please write at vikas@cseindia.org Regards Vikaas khanna vikas@cseindia.org

Making sense of Ayodhya Verdict:Towards efforts for peaceful solution

Making Sense of Ayodhya Verdict Towards Efforts for Peaceful Solution Editors Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer Prof. Ram Puniyani ayodhya.jpgIn the aftermath of the Ayodhya judgement by the Allahabad High Court, many social commentators, activists, historians, leaders or groups and parties came out with their opinion in various ways. Making Sense of the Ayodhya Issue captures the background of archaeological, historical and political aspects of the issue and lays the foundation of understanding the current debates. Tracing the evolution f the dispute and its political implications, the book goes o n to present the intellectual atmosphere in the country post-judgement and gives a perspective about different facets of the consequences of the verdict. It gives the sample of the verdict by giving the major excerpts of the judgement, the opinions of all the three judges and the editorial opinions from different points of view. It includes the interview of one of the judges, major intellectuals, writers and social activists. It also incorporates the chronology of events related to the dispute. Contents Preface Introduction Section – I (Babri Masjid) 1. Mandir-Masjid Dispute: A Backgrounder Ram Puniyani 2. The Historical Context Haider Abbas Section-II (Legal Dispute) 3. History and nature of Legal Dispute 4. The Judgment Section-III (Media speak) 5. Editorials 6. Interviews · Justice Khan: Another Fall and We May Not Rise Again · Rajinder Sachar: Faith Has No Meaning in Court · Asghar Ali Engineer: Faith Not Law Ruled · Anupam Gupta: Far Removed from Secular Universe · Prakash Karat: A Dangerous Precedent · Zafaryab Jilani: Against Settled Principles · Rajiv Dhavan: Seriously Flawed · Ravi Shankar Prasad: Muslim Should Take the Hint · Giriraj Kishore and Praveen Togadia: We Can Offer Muslim Land Anywhere Else 7. Articles · Dileep Padgaonkar: The muddle path · T R Andhiyarujina: A verdict that legitimises the masjid demolition · Rajendra sachar: All parties must act to face the situation · Asghar Ali Engineer: Triumph of faith or constitutional legality · Mukul Kesavan: The dispute over mosque is an argument about India · Ronojoy Sen: Till the judgement day comes again · Barkha Dutt: No triumphalism · Verghese George: A matter of faith · Hindu: Young Muslim and reflecting on Ayodhya · Vinod Mehta: My own sort of a Hindu · T.K. Rajlakshmi: Forgetting facts · Sunil Khilnani: The Sensex can’t heal the Ayodhya wounds · Sidharth Vardarajan: Force of faith trumps law and reason in Ayodhya case · Praful Bidwai: Justice in Ayodhya · Sitaram Yechury: Not about blind faith · Dileep Padgaonkar: See clergy take off communal blinkers · J Sri Raman: Ayodhya cerdict: Advani’s windfall · A.G. Noorani: Muslim wronged · Prabhat Patnaik: Any retreat to premodernity is dangerous to democracy · Deepankar Bhattacharya: A blow to spirit of modern India · Ram Puniyani: Commit the crime and be rewarded · Shekhar Gupta-The India verdict · Harsh Mander: A battle for the idea of India · Rajni Bakshi: Secular rethink · Mahesh Rangarajan: The judgment tests the idea of India · Khushwant Singh: Let’s no longer bicker over temple or mosque · Sanjay Kaw: The secret witness · Rohini Hensman: Politics, history, religion and law: The Ayodhya verdict · Shahjahan Madampat: A travesty of justice · Sagarika Ghosh: Seize the moment · Anand Teltumde: Retrograde judgement rewards Hindu zealots · Manoj Mitta: The Ayodhya verdict · Jawed Naqwi: The story of lion, the fawn and legend of Ram · K Vidyasagar Reddy: Verdict on Ayodhya and after: Calm before the storm · Subramaniam Swamy: Fundamental issue in Ayodhya · Swapan Dasgupta: Ayodhya is religious not political now · Maulana Wahiduddin Khan: Babri masjid revisited · Ranu Jain: Ayodhya verdict: Implications for Indian Democracy · Yoginder Sikand: Musings of a hardcore agnostic · Rajesh Ramchandran: Verdict is a victory for Sangh Parivar · Sucheta Chaterjee: The mask is off · Avinash Pandey Samar: Ayodhya: Burial of justice · S.G. Vombatkere: Faith, fact and law in Ayodhya Appendix– A Statements of Ayodhya Verdict Appendix- B Chronology of Events Appendix – C Explanatory Notes-References Published by Vitasta Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 2/15, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi: - 110 002. info@vitastapublishing.com Total pages: 246 ISBN 978-93-80828-50-3 Price Indian Rupee symbol.svg 425/- Marketed and Distributed exclusively in India & Sub-Continent by: Times Groups Books (A division of Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited) Times Annexe, Express Building, 9-10 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi:- 110 002.

Few Things left unsaid , book release function july13th 2011 at PVR juhu

Book release photos

Urban issues and Environmental Challenges

Urban Issues And Environment Challenges takes a hard look at a wide spectrum of urban and environment issues, both general and specific. Under the gamut of urban issues it examines the Fallout of Urbanization, Problems of Municipal Governance, Human Resource Development, Legislation, Resource Mobilization, Urban Services, Urban Poor and Citizen Participation. In the section on environment it analyses the issues of Global Warming, Climate Change and the Copenhagen Accord, Disaster Management and Non Conventional Energy.

Some of the contents of the book were published as articles in national journals, as papers presented at national and international seminars and conferences, or as part of project assignments undertaken in India and abroad by the authors individually. Although written over the span of last few years, they have urgent relevance even today, since they depict the growing management and environmental problems confronting the cities and the institutions governing them.