Beijing to Relax One Child Policy

Posted on February 20, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

Beijing is planning to relax the delay on couples who themselves are only children between their children. Currently, there is a waiting period of four years between children under the One Child Rule. Beijing plans to follow the lead of eleven other provinces and municipalities in eliminating the gap between first and second children for those who are eligible. The Total Fertility Rate in China is 1.8 but in Beijing it is only 1.0, far below the replacement rate of 2.1.

That would mark a first for China. The authorities appear to be anxious that urban couples are less willing to have a baby while their rural cousins take full advantage of policies allowing them a second if the first is a girl and after that they simply ignore the rules if they can get away with it.

sources:

About.Com

Times Online

Read More:

China’s One Child Policy

THE SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF CHINA’S ONE-CHILD POLICY

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Solar Power from Deserts

Posted on February 18, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

One per cent of the surface area of the world’s deserts would be enough to meet our current electricity needs.

This concept has long been promoted by Desertec, a European network of scientists and engineers, which argues that just 1 per cent of the surface area of the world’s deserts could generate as much electricity as the world is now using.Plans to use concentrating solar power plants in the Sahara to generate and export electricity  is talked about for years.But no good progress have been made.

This concept has long been promoted by Desertec, a European network of scientists and engineers, which argues that just 1 per cent of the surface area of the world’s deserts could generate as much electricity as the world is now using.

Now, it looks as though political will might help move things forward

Read More :

ENN

ECOLOGIST

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Israel Slaps Six-month Travel Ban On Palestinian Map Expert

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

Khalil Tafakji - Image; Al Jazeera

Citing “security reasons” — the ubiquitous and unanswerable catch-all phrase against which it is almost impossible to mount any defense — Israel’s Ministry of the Interior has just issued a six-month travel ban on map expert Khalil Tafakji. He heads the Arab Studies Society’s Mapping and GIS Department, which has relocated to Dahiet al-Bariid, just beside Israel’s wall, but with full access to Jerusalem.

Tafakji, like almost all other Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem, is a “permanent resident,” but not a citizen of Israel. He was surprised at the development and said, “They [Israeli authorities] called me and said come to Moskobiyya [the Russian Compound security complex in West Jerusalem] — Room 4. They said ‘This is an order, sign it, you have 14 days to make an objection. It is forbidden for you to travel from today for six months.”

He called it “one of the ongoing Israeli violations against Palestinians in Jerusalem.”

He said  he often lectures in foreign countries about Israeli confiscation of lands the Palestinians claim for a future state.

Israel’s Shin Bet internal intelligence agency recommended the ban because Mr. Tufakji’s departure from Israel might harm state security.

The ban is in effect until August 2.

sources:

GIS  Development

International Middle East Media Centre

The Hindu

UN-Truth

Posted in map making | 1 Comment

Cassini images Saturn’s Moon Mimas

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

NASA’s Saturn-orbiting Cassini spacecraft this month made its closest pass yet of the odd, eyeball-shaped moon Mimas, which bears the scar of a massive, violent impact from its past.

Scientists aren’t sure why the giant impact that caused the crater didn’t cause the moon to break apart. Scientists may have more answers soon. On Saturday, Cassini passed within 5,900 miles of Mimas, taking pictures, temperature readings and measurements to learn more about what’s on its surface.

source

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