Asia

The “Mayors for a Nuclear Power Free Japan” network will be officially launched in Tokyo on April 28, 2012.
This network was initiated by mayors and local municipal leaders attending the Global Conference for a
Nuclear Power Free World held in Yokohama in January 2012.
66 mayors from 34 prefectures throughout Japan have declared their participation in this
network.

Quoting similarities between the anti-Posco (South Korea’s Pohang Iron & Steel Co. Ltd) industrialisation causing land loss scheme and the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) struggles, Mr Abaya Sahoo, chairman of Posco Pratirodh Sangrm Samiti Dhinkia (PPSSD), spoke out to a large local crowd expressing especial thanks to the women.

At the press conference of the International Forum at Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University, 10 March, 2012, Dr. Gordon Edwards, President, “Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility”, gave his address. This followed his keynote address aptly titled: “The Labyrinth of Challenges and Choices”.
http://pressenza.com/npermalink/no-nukes-forum-cracking-the-nuclear-labyrinth

Press release from People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) from Idinthakarai, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India that announces an indefinite hunger strike from May 1, 2012 at Idinthakarai. See: India – Government Power vs People Power:
http://pressenza.com/npermalink/india-government-power-vs-people-power

Media has a role to play in this rise in disproportionately emotional coverage of news and should wake up and cease from inflaming a non-existent fire. In reality, there is no conflict between India and China; no need to point weapons at each other. Arms sales current and potential and other’s outside agencies agendas are fueling negative feelings for their own gain.

Provisional results from 16 April 2012 elections gave former armed forces chief 60 per cent of the ballots counted. Thus, Taur Matan Ruak looks set to replace Jose Ramos-Horta as East Timor’s president. Provisional results give runoff election rival Francisco “Lu Olo” Guterres only a slim chance of winning the largely ceremonial post for his Fretilin Party.

On the anniversary of the nation’s founder’s birth, Kim Jong-un gave his first public speech since taking office. Thousands of military and civilians attended the ceremony in Pyongyang to mark the country’s centenary. This was the North Korean’s new leader first major public speech and he called for a push to “final victory”.

The Green Party of Hong Kong participated in the Third Global Greens Congress in Dakar, Senegal, over the three days at the end of March, 2012. There were three members in the delegation, led by Albert Oung, chairman. The Green Party of Hong Kong has recently been approved to be a full member of the Global Greens Congress.

Kabul– Afghan government should release the approximately 400 women and girls imprisoned for “moral crimes,” Human Rights Watch said in a new report released on 28 March. The United States and other donor countries should press Afghan government under President Hamid Karzai to end the wrongful imprisonment of women and girls who are crime victims rather than criminals.

…”And while she will have little power, the mere fact that she is there means there will be a lot more international attention on parliament itself and the decisions that it makes,” reports Al Jazeera’s Wayne Hay from Yangon on the election results portending success of the National League for Democracy after twenty years on the political backburner.