Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Days 3, 4 & 5: The last outpost of human construction at the westernmost limit of India




We now come to the final three days of the trip. Day 3 was all about visiting the India-Pakistan border. While the Wagah border in Amritsar, Punjab is easily accessible to all (even to non-nationals), the India-Pakistan border between Kutch and Pakistan is an extremely sensitive area and the entire area is closed for civilians throughout the year, the only exception being during the Rann Utsav when special permission is granted for the guests for the Rann Utsav to visit the border (and that too after a background check is done for each visitor as soon as they book a tent for the utsav). Even then, only Indian citizens are given permission which meant the foreign tourists had to stay behind for other activities. The bus ride to the border was extremely long with numerous Border Security Force checkpoints along the way. It took us a good four hours to reach the border. As no civilians are allowed within the prohibited area (which is huge), all we saw was miles and miles of desert with not a civilian in sight. The lack of human intrusion has been a boon to the local wildlife. I spotted half a dozen peacocks, two wild camels, one jackal and a fewIndian wild asses. Throughout the journey numerous bunkers, checkpoints etc were seen. Border Security Forces patrolling the area on camels was a common sight. Our mobiles and cameras were confiscated at the first check post itself (at the beginning of India Bridge). I have attached a file photo of the bridge as we were not allowed to take any pictures due to its strategic importance.

We finally reached the frontier. We were taken to a watch tower and shown from where the Pakistani forces invaded India and tried to occupy the Kutch peninsula in 1965. We were shown the area where Indian forces laid mines during the Kargil conflict. These mines have now been removed. We were then taken along the India-Pakistan border road that lies exactly parallel  and a few feet away from the border fencing. This really took a long time as only one bus is allowed at a time to prevent spooking the Pakistani forces watching from their watch towers at the other end and hence a lot of time was lost till all the buses undertook this journey but a worthwhile journey nevertheless. Using our binoculars, we could see the Pakistani forces using their binoculars staring at our bus as we moved along.

We finally headed back and it was late evening when we reached camp. The evening had a cultural program which had one particular fantastic musical number and you can see a file recording of the same on YouTube here.

Day 4

The first stop on Day 4 was Narayan Sarovar which is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus. It is one of the five sacred ponds for the Hindus. At almost the westernmost point of land in India, it can only be reached by traveling over 150kms from Bhuj across the barren scrubland of Kutch. A journey after which the appearance of a vast lake will surprise you. Another salient feature is that the water is sweet in taste where as throughout Kutch all fresh water bodies are extremely salty in taste (its fresh water but high saline content). The lake is associated with a time of drought in the Puranic area, when Narayan (a form of Lord Vishnu) appeared in response to the fervent prayers of sages and touched the land with his toe, creating the lake.

Also, one of the ancient gurus for Kutchi Bhatias and other Gujaratis by the name Vallabha Acharya had given discourses here and the spot where he had given the discourses is considered a holy place to visit by his followers. 

We then proceeded to visit Koteshwar which is an ancient Shiva temple. After traveling over the expanse of desert in western Kutch, you find the Koteshwar Temple, at a place where the immensity of dry land meets the incomprehensible vastness of the sea. The only point that breaks the skyline from the flat brown horizon to the east and the wide blue horizon to the west is the point of the Koteshwar Temple, the last outpost of human construction at the westernmost limit of India. The temple is famous for the fact that the handprints of Ravana can be seen on the Shiva Linga here. To know the full story behind the temple, please visit the Wikipedia link here. The Koteshwar naval checkpost is also located here as just beyond is Sir Creek (visibile by the naked eye from Koteshwar) which has been in the news recently and is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. When I was behind the temple, to my west I was clearly able to see an Air Traffic Control tower but am unable to find any information about it online. I am pretty sure there is an air strip pretty close to the temple. On a clear night, one can even see the glow of light from Karachi, Pakistan, on the northwestern horizon.

We finally visited the Ashapura Mata temple. The goddess is particular prominent in the Kutch region as it was once upon a time one of the patron goddesses of the kings when Kutch was a princely state.

Now everything is extremely far apart in Kutch due to the vastness of the desert. For example, Narayan Sarovar is 151kms west from Bhuj while Mandvi is 71kms south of Bhuj. However, throughout our journey, every place was connected with each other by well tarred 2 lane roads. There was not a single pothole or speed breaker on the way. We literally travelled 50-60kms at a stretch without coming across a single speed breaker or pot hole. The travel time from Bhuj to Mandvi has been cut by more than half thanks to the infrastructure. In the days of it being a princely state, Kutch was an extremely prosperous region thanks to the Mandvi port. Post independence the region became a neglected area but that has drastically changed in the past ten years. Throughout the journey you could now see the desert region brimming with agricultural fields for cotton, mustard and castor. Due credit for the agricultural boom must also be given to help and expertise extended by Israel. In fact Gujarat is the only state/region in the world that has had a constant 10% increase in agricultural output year over year in the past 10 years (though there was limited agriculture to begin with so a % can be deceiving). The downside is the amount of trash has increased. Plastic and garbage is strewn everywhere and these are not even highly populated areas. Its as if the sanitation department does not exist in Kutch. Also, though the distances are huge, as it is December, the weather is extremely pleasant throughout the day and you don't sweat at all even though you are in a desert. At night it gets pretty windy and as you sit in your tent, you feel your tent is going to get blown away any minute.

Once back in camp, we had a star gazing night and this was the highlight of the day. In cities, due to light pollution, one cannot see with the clarity that you can otherwise see in an uninhabited area. Contrary to popular belief, according to the astronomer Narendra Gor, air pollution has little impact on visibility when using a telescope. It is light pollution that is the main culprit. From the desert once can see hundreds of stars in the sky. The entire sky is lit up. The sky gazing was a 2 1/2 hour session and the highlights were that using the telescope we were able to see Jupiter very clearly along with its distinct ring like surface along with four moons of Jupiter (it has 67 moons). We were also able to see the moon with the craters on the moon. The star Rohini was also clearly visible. The astronomer also told great stories about the stars and planets combining them with western and Indian beliefs.

December 17 also happened to be election day in Kutch for the 2012 Gujarat Legislative Assembly and polling was happening everywhere. I have attached a pic of a polling station I came across near the Ashapura Mata temple. People exercising their right of Universal Adult Franchise. The finest hour of the world's largest democracy. It was great to hear that despite being India's largest district, there was a more than 70% voter turnout in Kutch which is a record for the region.

Day 5

This is the last day of the trip. We headed in the morning to a place called Kalo Dungar which is the highest point in Kutch. The panoramic view from here was magnificent. Looking out from the Black Hills, you can understand the tremendous effort that those who undertake the crossing of the Great Rann have to make. The Kalo Dungar is also famous for a 400 year old Dattatreya temple. Legend says that when Dattatreya walked on the earth, he stopped at the Black Hills and found a band of starving jackals. Being a god, he offered them his hand to eat. Because of this, for the last four centuries, even today, the priest at the temple prepares a batch of vegetarian prasad that is fed to the jackals after the afternoon and evening aarti. Everyday, wild jackals come to the temple for this meal (even though it is now vegetarian, something that wild jackals don't really go after).. At other times, though you are at the highest point in Kutch with a 360 degree view of the entire area (this also makes it of strategic importace and hence an army outpost is located at the top), the jackals just cannot be seen. And suddenly and the time of the prasad, they seem to appear from nowhere.

This concludes my trip to captivating Kutch. However, I need to come back one day as there are so many other things to do in Kutch such as visiting the Indus Valley site of Dholavira, Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary, the 1st century AD Siyot Caves, the Vijay Vilas Palace, the Kutch Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary and so much more.

Till we meet again.

To view high-resolution image, click on the image above

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Days 1 & 2: Captivating Kutch - Rann Utsav 2012


To view the high-resolution image, click on the image above
After a hiatus of more than a year, I finally have another adventure. This time I decided to head for the Rann Utsav (means festival of the desert) that takes place in the Kutch region of Gujarat once every year. What is the Rann Utsav? Imagine staying in a tent deep in a desert (Great Rann of Kutch) with the India-Pakistan border at one end and the sun setting over a white desert at the other end. Imagine a three day festive extravaganza in the desert during the moon lit night of the winter amid the awe-inspiring and contrasting landscape of Kutch. That friends is the Rann Utsav.

For the uninitiated, Kutch is my native land. As I landed at Bhuj airport and saw the dummy Indian Air Force aircraft at the air force base (the real aircraft are hidden underground), I tried to remember everything since my last visit in 1999 (after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, my grandparents moved in with us). As I viewed Madhapar village from the air, a tiny hamlet whose existence is unknown to most Indians, its historical significance in modern Indian history came to mind (mentioned in the end so as not to detract from the day's adventures). I began to recollect how once during one of my visits to Kutch, at a time when India-Pakistan tensions were at a high, the air raid siren went off and a blackout was ordered of the entire region. As we landed, the quaint little Bhuj terminal was a welcome sight and I headed to my native village called Mandvi.

My native village Mandvi is the original place for a famous dish known as Dabeli. The main ingredient of the dish is called Dabeli Masala, which is a dry-paste made from dried red-chillies, black-pepper powder, dried coconut, salt, clove, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, turmeric, elachi, badiyan, black-salt and tej-patta and one can taste the original mixture only in Mandvi and a few other places in Kutch. Also, Mandvi is one of the few places where they make a 'Dabeli Plate' which is a dish made only with the masala as the main ingredient. So needless to say, after visiting Mandvi beach (famous for it's windmills which were built with Swedish help and the fact that they withstood the earthquake), I headed for dinner for a dabeli plate (pic attached) and picked up half a kilogram of the masala for home. It was nice to be back staying in our home in Mandvi. Now the traditional houses in Mandvi have a peculiar feature. The houses were not entirely under one roof. The rooms of the house were separated by plenty of open air space and courtyards. Therefore, for added security, each door of the rooms open in a different pattern. For example, while in one room there is a hidden lock under the middle of the door that needs to be released to open the door, in another room a particular slab needs to be pushed to unlock the door. If you don't know the combination, you just cannot open the door (from either side). This helps ensure that even if an unwelcome guest breaks into one room, he is going to have a tough time breaking into another. It was fun to be back and retry the house combinations.

I am a Kutchi Bhatia and it was sad to hear that in our native place, there are only 300 Kutchi Bhatia people now in existence. I visited all our community structures (temples, festival halls, schools) during the course of the day.

The next day, I headed over to Bhuj to catch the bus to the Rann Utsav. The system set up the Gujarat Tourism department was immaculate. Well before I had left for Gujarat, my security pass had arrived in the mail with my tent number assigned and mentioned. Back at Bhuj, our bus left on time and when we reached the venue, check in was done in ten minutes flat which included my luggage being transported for me and ready at my tent before I entered it. For 600 people coming down to the venue at one time, this is an achievement which even the world's finest hotels will face a tough time beating.

The venue is in the middle of nowhere (just south of the white desert). There is a nice video of the white desert on YouTube here. We step out of the tent ad stare right into the desert. I have attached a picture of our camp and our view from our tents. The tent itself is very simple and basic but no complaints. Breakfast was excellent which included the traditional 'Bhavnagar na Marcha' (a chilly from the Bhavnagar area which is huge in size but not at all spicy and can be eaten raw). You will be hard pressed to find this outside Gujarat. Pic attached. We then proceeded to see some traditional Kutch villages. The best sight here was seeing a small hut with a satellite dish outside (pic attached). We then headed to venture into the white desert. As I mentioned earlier, our camp is located a short walk from the entrance to the white desert. We passed through the Border Security Force check post (as soon as the desert ends, you come across the Indo-Pakistan border) and entered the desert to watch the sun set. The reason the Great Rann of Kutch is called the white desert is because in India's summer monsoon, the flat desert of salty clay and mudflats, which average 15 meters above sea level, fill with standing waters. This soon solidifies and the entire desert looks like a flat marble patch. It's completely white and solid. And hence as the moon shines, the entire place lights up as if diamonds are radiating from the ground. You can see a video of the same on YouTube hereIn winter (as in now), the Great Rann of Kutch is a breeding ground for flamingos and pelicans. It is the only place in India where flamingos come to breed and is home to 13 species of lark. Needless to say, as the sun set, it was a beautiful sight as you could watch the entire sun slowly setting in the horizon while the desert slowly started to gleam.

As we headed back, we noticed the convoy of the Chief Election Commissioner of the Republic of India headed towards the white desert. The 2012 Gujarat legislative assembly election is currently underway and Kutch is due for polling on December 17. Even the Election Commissioner of India could not stay away from the captivating beauty of the white desert.

-----

Historical significance of Madhapar

Pakistan's military operation of carrying out pre-emptive strikes on Indian airbases in December 1971 war was code-named 'Chengiz Khan'. But it was thanks to "200 Jhansi ki Ranian" in Madhapar that the Indian armed forces in this sector could measure up to this 'Chengiz Khan'. Bhuj was then a forward area air base on the western border meant only to be used during active war. The attacks began on December 3 and by 9, a total of 136 bombs had been dropped on to the airfield, out of which nearly 64 bombs landed on a single night, i.e., the intervening night of December 8 and 9, reducing the runway to a rubble.

Unnerved by the constant bombing, while the town people, including the entire manual workforce fled Bhuj, about 200 women folk from the village of Madhapar came to Indian Air Force's aid (the village is known for its exceptional masonry skills and hence all the men of the village migrate out of the state to other parts of India, Asia and the middle east while the children, women and elderly stay in the village). "When the people were fleeing, the then district collector N Gopalaswami, who later headed the Election Commission, hopped on to a motorcycle, announcing on a megaphone that people should not panic, but the exodus wouldn't stop," recalls then commanding officer of Bhuj Airbase Wing Commander (retired) Vijay Karnik. 

Karnik was a squadron leader then. A day before the bombing, he had been asked to keep the runway ready to receive a squadron of fighter planes from Punjab. Since Jamnagar had started bombing Karachi port and fuel dumps, Indian military was expecting retaliation on the western borders and wanted to use Bhuj actively. But with this airfield gone, and the labour force abandoning town, the task looked impossible, until his friend, the sarpanch from the affluent Madhapur village called up. "Behnon ko le ke aaun?" (do I get the sisters?) he asked.
Soon 200 women arrived at the airfield. "They brought their own food while we had the construction material ready. After a short briefing on how to protect themselves during an air raid, they started work," Karnik recalled, adding he had managed a combat air patrol to keep the skies safe during the repair work. Karnik's wife, Usha remembers how the brightly attired women sang while they passed on 'taslas' (metal containers) full of stones and concrete. They finished repairs in two days and after another two days of sweeping the airstrip clean, the runway was declared operational which became a turning point in the war.
Three days later, the ceasefire was declared. In December-end, the then prime minister Indira Gandhi arrived in town. Indira made sure she met the women at the Circuit House. She then declared at a public meeting in Jubilee Baug, "Pehle hamare paas ek Jhansi ki Rani thi, aaj hamare paas yeh 200 Jhansi ki ranian hain" (earlier we had one Rani of Jhansi, we have now have 200).
Madhapar village, which was recently in the limelight for the distinction of having Rs 2,000 crore worth of deposits in its local banks, was very affluent even in 1971. Every household had at least one NRI member to send remittances back home.
"The village boasted of a fridge in every house and you could even see Mercedes and other cars in the houses. But, despite the affluence, they had an unusual tradition of making the women do manual labour, often on the roadside, even though they were educated. Sarpanch's own wife and daughter would work on construction sites for at least two hours a day, while the former worked in the farm," recalls Wg Cdr Vijay Karnik.
-----

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

150 Years of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (1860-2010) Commemorative Coin


To view high resolution images, click on the images above.
To commemorate 150 years of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India, a special set of commemorative coins was minted by the Government of India (under the Coinage Act, 1906).

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India (भारत के नियंत्रक-महालेखापरीक्षक) is an authority established by the Constitution of India who audits all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the state governments, including those of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government. The CAG is also the external auditor of government-owned companies. The reports of the CAG are taken into consideration by the Public Accounts Committees, which are special committees in the Parliament of India and the state legislatures. The CAG is also the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, which has over 58,000 employees across the country.

The Comptroller and Auditor General is ranked 9th in the Order of Precedence of the Republic of India and enjoys the same status as a judge of the honorable Supreme Court of India.

The office of CAG has been given utmost importance by the Constitution makers. As per the Constitution of India, a retired Comptroller and Auditor General cannot take up any position or post under the Government of India or any other private body. The removal procedure for the Comptroller and Auditor General is similar to that of removal of a Judge of the honorable Supreme Court of India.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Indigenous People 2012



To view high-resolution images, click on the images above
On 11 October 2012, the United Nations Postal Administration issued 18 commemorative stamps in a mini-sheet format of six stamps each on the theme “Indigenous People”. This is the third in a series of stamps on Indigenous People, which were painted by the artist Stephen Bennett (USA).

The Designs

45-cent mini-sheet 
Top row (from left to right):
The Gods Must Be Crazy Namibia, 2002
Maiko of Kyoto Japan, 2012
Baby on Her Back Tibet, China 2012

Bottom row (from left to right):
Genesis Gir lEthiopia, 2010
Baby Bat Mongolia, 2012
Goggle Girl United Republic of Tanzania, 2001

F.s. 0,85 mini-sheet
Top row (from left to right):
Basha Blunderbuss Boy China, 2012
Turquoise, Coral and Circumambulation Tibet, China, 2012
Bactrian Camel Cowboy Mongolia, 2012

Bottom row (from left to right):
Never Forgot to Play Mexico, 1998
Red Feathers Papua New Guinea, 2011
Haitian Sunshine Girl Haiti, 2010

€ 0,70 mini-sheet
Top row (from left to right):
Daniel the Adventurer Chile (Easter Island), 2000
Penan Girl from Bario Malaysia (Sarawak), 2006
Golden Amber Lhasa Lady Tibet, China 2012

Bottom row (from left to right):
Forbidden City Princess China, 2012
White Paint United Republic of Tanzania, 2003
Grandma Apple Cheeks Mongolia, 2012

Special First Day Cancellations
On 11 October 2012, special first day hand-cancellations for the “Indigenous People” stamps were made available at United Nations Headquarters in New York; the Palais des Nations, Geneva; and the Vienna International Centre. The hand-cancellations can be seen in the scanned FDCs' above.




Stamp Specifications
The stamps, in denominations of 45 cents, F.s. 0,85 and € 0,70, measure 30 mm horizontally by 40 mm vertically, perforation to perforation. Perforation size: 13.5.

The vertical mini-sheets of six stamps have one marginal inscription in the centre of the bottom margin. The marginal inscription consists of the United Nations emblem with the text “United” above the emblem and the text “Nations” below the emblem. One copyright symbol with the year 2012 appears in the lower left margin. The artist’s signature appears in the lower right margin.

Printing
The stamps were printed in offset by the Lowe Martin Group (Canada).

Sheet Size and Format
The sheet size measures 110 mm horizontally by 140 mm vertically.




About the Issue
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. The Declaration is the most comprehensive statement of the rights of indigenous peoples ever developed, giving prominence to collective rights to a degree unprecedented in international human rights law. It emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to live in dignity, to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their self-determined development, in keeping with their needs and aspirations. The adoption of this Declaration is the clearest indication yet that the international community is committing itself to the protection of the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples. 

Indigenous people are the inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to other people and to the environment. Indigenous people have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, the various groups of indigenous people around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.

Estimates point to more than 370 million indigenous people in some 90 countries worldwide. While they are from diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds, they share challenges such as lack of basic health care, limited access to education, loss of control over land, discrimination, forced assimilation, abject poverty, displacement, human rights violations, and economic and social marginalization.

Indigenous people around the world have sought recognition of their identities, their ways of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources; yet throughout history, their rights have been violated. Indigenous peoples are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world today. The international community now recognizes that special measures are required to protect the rights of the world’s indigenous peoples. 

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

World Heritage - Africa








To view high resolution images, click on the images above.
On 5 September 2012, UNPA issued a set of six commemorative stamps on the theme “World Heritage – Africa”.

45 cents United Republic of Tanzania: Kilimanjaro National Park
$1.05 Mali: Old Towns of Djenné
F.s. 0,85 Democratic Republic of the Congo: Virunga National Park
F.s. 1,00 Tunisia: Amphitheatre of El Jem
€ 0,62 Kenya: Kenya Lake System
€ 0,70 Morocco: Medina of Marrakesh
*Copyright for stamp photographs: Age Fotostock and Corbis 


Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural heritage and our natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. For this year’s stamp series, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) has chosen six World Heritage sites in Africa.

Special First Day Cancellations
On 5 September 2012, special first day hand-cancellations for the “World Heritage - Africa” stamps were made available at United Nations Headquarters in New York; the Palais des Nations, Geneva; and the Vienna International Centre. The same can be seen in the scanned FDCs' above.


Stamp Specifications
The stamps, in denominations of 45 cents, $1.05, F.s. 0,85, F.s. 1,00, € 0,62 and € 0,70, measure 50 mm horizontally by 36 mm vertically, perforation to perforation. Perforation: 13.1.

The Desginer
The stamps were designed Rorie Katz (United Nations).

Printing
The stamps were printed in offset by the Lowe-Martin Group (Canada).

About the Issue

45 cents - United Republic of Tanzania: Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park, established in 1973, covers an area of some 75,575 hectares. At 5,895 metres, Kilimanjaro is not only the highest point in Africa, but also one of the largest volcanoes in the world. This volcanic massif stands in splendid isolation above the surrounding plains, with its snowy peak looming over the savannah. The mountain is encircled by mountain forest. Numerous mammals, many of them endangered species, live in the park.

Mount Kilimanjaro has three main volcanic peaks, Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. The mountain has five main vegetation zones from the lowest to the highest point: lower slopes, montane forest, heath and moorland, alpine desert and summit. The whole mountain, including the montane forest belt, is very rich in species, in particular mammals; however, many are critically endangered or near extinction.
Threats to the property include increasing and cumulative stress from sources such as adjacent land use, downstream effects of air and water pollution, invasive species, fire and climate change. Kilimanjaro National Park was designated a World Heritage site in 1987. 

$1.05 - Mali: Old Towns of Djenné 
Djenné, chief town of the Djenné Circle is one of the oldest towns of sub-Saharan Africa. Inhabited since 250 B.C., Djenné became a market centre and an important link in the trans-Saharan gold trade. Its traditional houses, of which nearly 2,000 have survived, are built on hillocks (toguere) as protection from the seasonal floods.

The cultural site “Old Towns of Djenné” is a property comprising four archaeological sites, namely, Djenné-Djeno, Hambarkétolo, Kaniana and Tonomba, along with the old fabric of the present town of Djenné. The property, which covers an area of 48.5 hectares and is divided into ten districts, is an ensemble that over many years has symbolized the typical African city. It is also particularly representative of Islamic architecture in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The property is characterized by the intensive and remarkable use of earth specifically in its architecture. The mosque, which is of great monumental and religious value, is an outstanding example of this. The town is renowned for its civic constructions, with the distinctive style of verticality and buttresses as well as the elegant monumental houses with intricate facades. 

The property “Old Towns of Djenné” still retains the archaeological, historic and religious outstanding universal values which justified its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List (1988).

F.s. 0,85 - Democratic Republic of the Congo: Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park, covering an area of 790,000 hectares, lies in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the border with Uganda and Rwanda. It comprises an outstanding diversity of habitats ranging from swamps and steppes, savannas and lava plains, lowland and forests, to high-altitude glaciers and mountain peaks. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979.

Virunga National Park presents some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Africa. The rugged Ruwenzori mountains with their steep slopes and valleys culminate in snowcapped peaks above 5,000 metres. The Virunga Massif with its densely forested slopes and active volcanoes are areas of exceptional natural beauty. 

The great diversity of habitats harbours an exceptional biodiversity of plants and animals, including endemic as well as rare and globally endangered species, such as the mountain gorilla. It is home to an exceptional variety of wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, antelope, lions and various monkeys. Large numbers of pelicans occur in the lower valleys and some 20,000 hippopotamus, the highest concentration in Africa, live along the shores of the rivers.

F.s. 1,00 - Tunisia: Amphitheatre of El Jem
The Amphitheatre of El Jem, located in a plain in central Tunisia is undoubtedly the most impressive Roman monument in Africa. This third century monument stands 30 meters high, with a diameter of well over 100 metres, almost as large as the Colosseum in Rome. Its size and its capacity, judged to be around 35,000 spectators, make it without a doubt among the largest amphitheatres in the world.

The impressive ruins of this large colosseum, is built entirely of stone blocks, with no foundations and is free-standing. In this respect it is modelled on the Colosseum of Rome. Its facade comprises three levels of arcades of Corinthian or composite style. Inside, the monument has preserved most of the supporting infrastructure for the tiered seating. The wall of the podium, the arena and the underground passages are practically intact. 

This architectural and artistic creation built around 238 A.D. constitutes an important milestone in the comprehension of the history of Roman Africa. The Amphitheatre of El Jem also bears witness to the prosperity of the small city of Thysdrus at the time of the Roman Empire. Although it has been renovated over time, the monument has preserved many of its architectural and architectonic components. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2010.

0,62 - Kenya: Kenya Lake System
The Kenya Lake System in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya is comprised of three interlinked, relatively shallow lakes, namely, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Elementaita. These lakes, which cover an area of over 32,000 hectares, are found on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, where major volcanic events have shaped a distinctive landscape. 

Some of the world’s greatest diversities and concentrations of bird species are recorded within these relatively small lake systems. The property is home to 13 globally threatened bird species and some of the highest bird diversities in the world. It is the single most important foraging site for the lesser flamingo anywhere, and a major nesting and breeding ground for great white pelicans. For most of the year, up to 4 million lesser flamingos move between the three shallow lakes in an outstanding wildlife spectacle. The property also features sizeable mammal populations, including the black rhino, Rothschild’s giraffe, greater kudu, lion, cheetah and wild dog.

Surrounded by hot springs, geysers and the steep escarpment of the Rift Valley with its volcanic outcrops, the natural setting of the lakes provides an exceptional experience of nature. A natural property of outstanding beauty, the Kenya Lake System was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2011.

0,70 - Morocco: Medina of Marrakesh
The Medina of Marrakesh, located in central Morocco is an old Islamic capital originating from the eleventh century. The city owes its original splendour to the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties, which made Marrakesh their capital. 

Founded in 1070–1072 by the Almoravids, Marrakesh remained a political, economic and cultural centre for a long period. Its influence was felt throughout the western Muslim world, from North Africa to Andalusia, and played a decisive role in the development of medieval planning.

Marrakesh has several impressive monuments. The famous Koutoubiya Mosque, with its 77 metre minaret, was built during the twelfth century under the Almohad dynasty. It is a splendid monument of Muslim architecture and is one of the important landmarks of the urban landscape and the symbol of the city. Other monuments are the Kasbah, the Bandiâ Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Saadian Tombs, several great residences and Jamaâ El Fna square, an amazing open-air theatre. 

Marrakesh remains a vibrant city steeped in history, with its maze of narrow streets, houses, central square (Jamaâ El Fna), markets (souks), traditional crafts and trade activities. Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1985, it has retained many of its historic cultural and natural properties that illustrate its outstanding universal value.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Sport for Peace (Summer Games - 2012 London Paralympics)








To view high resolution images, click on the images above.
To commemorate the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games, the United Nations Postal Administration issued stamps on 17 August 2012 featuring six paralympic sports.

Goalball
Played competitively in more than 100 countries, Goalball is one of the most popular Paralympic sports. It was initially developed as a rehabilitation activity for injured soldiers returning from the Second World War. Played by visually impaired athletes using a ball with bells inside, it is among the most exciting team sports on the Paralympic programme.

Goalball is played by two teams of three visually impaired athletes on an indoor court with tactile lines, with goals at either end. The aim is to score by rolling the ball into the opposition’s goal, while the opposition attempts to block the ball with their bodies.

All athletes are visually impaired, and wear eyeshades to allow athletes with varying degrees of vision to compete together. The Goalball arena is silent during play so that players can hear the ball, but spectators are free to cheer when a goal is scored.

Sitting Volleyball
Sitting Volleyball made its debut as a Paralympic medal sport at the Arnhem 1980 Games. A women’s event was added to the Paralympic programme in 2004.

Sitting Volleyball emerged in the Netherlands in the 1950s, a combination of Volleyball and a German game called Sitzball. It really began to increase in popularity during the 1960s, and has since grown into one of the most fast-paced and exciting Paralympic sports. It is now played by athletes in more than 50 countries around the world.

Sitting Volleyball is played by two teams of six on a 10m x 6m indoor court divided by a net. The object of the game is to land the ball in the opposition’s half of the court, with each team allowed three touches of the ball (in addition to a legal block) before it must cross over the net. Matches are the best of five sets, with the first four sets played as the first to score 25 points; if a fifth set is necessary, it is won by the first team to reach 15 points. In all sets, a margin of at least two points is required for victory. 

Athletics
Athletics has been part of the Paralympic programme since the first Games in Rome in 1960, and has produced some of the most iconic images in the history of the Paralympic movement. 

With 1,100 athletes competing for 170 gold medals, Athletics is the largest sport on the Paralympic programme. The field events broadly fall into two categories. The list of throwing events includes Discus, Javelin, Shot Put and Club Throw, while the programme of jumping events includes High Jump, Long Jump and Triple Jump. 

There are track events, in distances from 100m to 5,000m; field events, which include the High Jump and Shot Put; and the Marathon, which is held on the roads. Some athletes compete in wheelchairs or throwing frames, others with prostheses, and others with the guidance of a sighted companion.

Archery
No sport has as great a Paralympic history as Archery. It was featured at the first Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948, the direct precursor to the Paralympic Games, and has been featured on every Paralympic programme since the first Games in Rome in 1960. At the London 2012 Games, 140 athletes will compete in nine different medal events.

The object of the sport is simple: to shoot arrows as close to the centre of a target as possible. Paralympic Archery targets are 122 centimetres in diameter, with the gold ring at the centre (worth a maximum 10 points) measuring just 12.2cm. Archers shoot at the target from a distance of 70 metres.
At the Paralympic Games, the individual competitions will be played in a knockout format. Matches will be played over the best of five sets, with each set consisting of three arrows per archer. The winners of each match will qualify for the next round, until the last two archers go head to head in the gold medal match. 

Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair Basketball was featured at the first Games in Rome 1960, and has remained on the Paralympic programme ever since. The women’s competition was added at the Tel Aviv 1968 Games. The sport was developed by American Second World War veterans as part of their rehabilitation, but its popularity soon spread around the world. It is now played in more than 80 countries.

The rules of Wheelchair Basketball are broadly similar to Basketball. The court is the same size, the basket is at the same height, and the scoring is identical: two points for a regular shot from open play, one point for each successful free throw and three points for a shot from a distance (6.75m from the basket). Players move the ball around the court by passing or dribbling, and are required to throw or bounce the ball after every two pushes of the wheels on their chairs to avoid being penalized for travelling. 

There are 12 players in each team, with no more than five on the court. Every player is assigned a point value based on their functional ability, 1.0 to 4.5. During play, the total on-court point value for each team of five players cannot exceed 14.

Paralympic Table Tennis
Table Tennis has been part of the Paralympic programme since the first Games at Rome in 1960. With 29 medal events and nearly 300 athletes, Table Tennis is one of the largest sports on the Paralympic programme.

The sport is based on the same basic principles as Table Tennis, but it has a very different scoring system. At the Paralympic Games, matches are played over the best of five games, with the first player to 11 points (by a margin of two clear points) winning each game. The programme includes individual and team events for both standing players and wheelchair athletes.

At London 2012, all individual events will begin with a group qualification stage followed by a knockout competition, with athletes progressing through the draw until the finals. The team events will be conducted according to a direct knockout format.
A total of 11 different classifications are used in Table Tennis at the Paralympic Games. Classes 1-5 cover wheelchair athletes, classes 6-10 cover standing athletes, and class 11 covers athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The Artist
Daniel Stolle is a German born illustrator, who lives in Finland. He is working mainly in editorial illustration and has worked together with The New York Times, The Washington Post, DIE ZEIT, Neue Zürcher Zeitung and many more publications.

First day cancellations
On 17 August 2012, first day hand-cancellations for the “Sport for Peace – Paralympic Games 2012 ” stamps were made available at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Palais des Nations, Geneva, and the Vienna International Centre. The hand cancellations can be seen in the scanned FDCs' above.

Stamp specifications
The stamps, in denominations of 45 cents, $1.05, F.s. 1,00, F.s. 1,40, € 0,62 and € 0,70, measure 50 mm horizontally by 35mm vertically, perforation to perforation.

Printing
The stamps and souvenir sheets were printed in offset plus silver foil by Cartor Security Printing (France).

About the Issue
The Olympic movement aspires to contribute to a peaceful future for humankind through the educational value of sport. It brings together athletes from all parts of the world in the greatest of international sports events, the Olympic Games, and it aims to promote the maintenance of peace, mutual understanding and goodwill—goals it shares with the United Nations. 

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will take place in London, England from 27 July to 12 August 2012. London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.

The Paralympic Games are held every four years, following the Olympic Games, and are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The Paralympics first started in 1948 when Dr. Ludwig Guttmann organized a sports competition at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England for Second World War veterans that had spinal injuries. The competition took place between sports clubs and other hospitals on the same day as the Opening Ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games. 

The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy, in 1960 and involved 400 athletes from 23 countries. Originally, only wheelchair athletes were invited to compete. Since that time, the Paralympic Games have grown dramatically. Athletes competing at the Games are divided into the following disability groups; visual impairments, amputees, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries and Les Autres—athletes with physical disabilities that are not included in the categories mentioned above.
The 2012 Paralympic Games will take place between 29 August and 9 September. They will be the biggest Paralympic Games ever featuring 4,200 athletes from 160 countries who will compete in 20 sports.

Sport is a universal language that can be a powerful tool in promoting peace, tolerance and understanding by bringing people together across boundaries, cultures and religions. The 2012 Paralympic Games in London will continue its tradition of promoting the Olympic spirit by featuring exceptional athletes with amazing talents that continue to inspire people around the world.

Friday, June 1, 2012

RIO+20




To view high resolution images, click on the images above.

On 1 June 2012, the United Nations Postal Administration issued three commemorative stamps on the theme "RIO+20".

The UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution agreeing to hold the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012. Also referred to as "Rio+20" or Earth Summit 20, the conference will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 20-22 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg.


Special First Day Cancellations

On 1 June 2012, special first day hand-cancellations for the “Rio+20” stamps were made available at United Nations Headquarters in New York; the Palais des Nations, Geneva; and the Vienna International Centre. The same can be viewed in the scanned FDCs' above.

Stamp Specifications

The stamps, in denominations of $1.05, F.s. 1,40 and € 0,70, were issued in three separate sheets, one for each of the three United Nations Post Offices—New York, Vienna and Geneva. The stamps measure 34mm horizontally by 45mm vertically, perforation to perforation. Perforation:13 

Printing

The stamps were printed in offset by Lowe-Martin Group (Canada). 

Lowe-Martin has won the Gold Award for the Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada. They have also won the Partners in Project Green Award for Leadership in Sustainability manufacturing for 2011. In addition, a portion of Lowe-Martin’s operations offer carbon-neutral printing. Lowe-Martin has been recognized as an industry leader for encouraging investment in greener processes, for sharing ideas and best practices, and for promoting environmental sustainability.

The Artists

Gail Armstrong (U.K) is an experienced and professional illustrator specializing in the craft of paper sculpture. Ms. Armstrong’s paper engineering skills are used to create 3D paper cut images for a wide variety of projects and clients worldwide. She now works with a wide range of international clients and in recent years her work has gained worldwide recognition in the form of several prestigious industry awards. This is Ms. Armstrong’s first stamp design for the United Nations.

Shailesh Khandeparkar (India) is a Freelance Illustrator and Designer, based in Mumbai, India. He is a graduate of the Goa College of Art. Mr. Khandeparkar prefers to work on styles that fall into what he calls an ”Indian-Urban genre”, which is a mix of classical Indian styles of design with modern techniques. His work has been featured in numerous international design magazines and publications and he has won many prestigious awards. This is Mr. Khandeparkar’s first stamp design for the United Nations.

Fei is an illustrator based in China. He is originally from Yunnan, where early on in life he discovered his love for drawing and creating his wonderful dream worlds. He graduated from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute with honours. After moving to Shenzhen, he quickly pursued a career in illustration. Fei loves to work with clients to create different kinds of illustrations with unique styles and themes. This is Fei’s first stamp design for the United Nations.

About the Issue

The objectives of the Conference are to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development; to assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development; and to address new and emerging challenges. 

The Conference will focus on two specific themes: “A green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication” and “an institutional framework for sustainable development”. Sustainable development emphasizes a holistic, equitable and far-sighted approach to decision-making at all levels. The concept of green economy focuses primarily on the intersection between environment and economy. 

Focusing on green economy also ensures that the discussion moves forward from just a low carbon economy. In fact, green economy is characterized by low inputs, low emission, low wastes, higher efficiency in resource uses and better product designs, as well as creating jobs that can lift people out of poverty. 

The first UN Conference on Environment and Development, the Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. For the first time, during this unprecedented UN meeting, governments and leaders from across the globe re-thought economic development and fully recognized the integral and interdepen-dent nature of our home, the Earth. The Summit’s shared message was to ensure a healthy planet by drastically changing our attitudes and behaviours. During this Conference, Agenda 21, a programme of action for sustainable development, was adopted —a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection. 

Twenty years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the UN is again bringing together governments, international institutions and major groups to agree on a range of smart measures that can reduce poverty while promoting decent jobs, clean energy and a more sustainable and fair use of resources. 
Rio+20 is a historic opportunity to revise the enthusiasm and spirit to define pathways to a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for our future.



Google