tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46615451634554730002024-03-14T09:03:16.679+00:00EQUALITY & DIVERSITY OFFICERSIX YEARS WORKING FOR LEICESTER COUNCIL OF FAITHSGeorge M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.comBlogger2057125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-75934039000870899272013-08-30T23:30:00.000+01:002013-09-08T15:15:11.438+01:00THIS WEEK'S VISITORS (2,108)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7e_pVJasYMM/UiyGBroAgnI/AAAAAAAAH4A/8ik2DmZCXdE/s1600/chart300813.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7e_pVJasYMM/UiyGBroAgnI/AAAAAAAAH4A/8ik2DmZCXdE/s400/chart300813.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the top ten countries from which the blog has received visits in the past week.</span><br />
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.32px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">United States 683</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 25.32px;">United Kingdom 492</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Russia 299</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poland 201</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Germany 124</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">France 105</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">India 64</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China 54</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ukraine 52</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Israel 30</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #191919;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #191919;">This week's total: 2,108 (last week: 1,766). These are aggregates of figures from the top ten countries only. Blogger's analytics doesn't show the numbers of pageviews below the tenth-ranking country and they don’t show the cumulative total including those additional countries, which is undoubtedly larger than the number shown above.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The world map at the top of this post is the graphic that I see on the stats page. The darker the green, the more pageviews from that country. I can see different versions of that map for "now" (i.e. in the last two hours), "today", "this week", "this month" and "all time". They're updated each time I look at them.</span></div>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-26676226962520723842013-08-24T07:00:00.000+01:002013-08-24T10:37:59.370+01:00THERE'S MUCH ADO ABOUT JADOO<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Excitement-world-premiere-movie-shot-Belgrave/story-19704645-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6cANWr2ooj0/Uhh-EhOW4GI/AAAAAAAAH3Y/3ryU8VruoKU/s1600/jadoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6cANWr2ooj0/Uhh-EhOW4GI/AAAAAAAAH3Y/3ryU8VruoKU/s400/jadoo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dharmesh Lakhani, owner of Bobby's restaurant, with Madhur Jaffrey and MP Keith Vaz in a scene from Jadoo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>There's much ado about Jadoo</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by David Owen</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Excitement is building ahead of the world premiere in Leicester of a film showcasing the city’s vibrant Indian community and famous cuisine.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stars of the much-anticipated foodie comedy Jadoo, shot on location in Belgrave’s Golden Mile, will walk the red carpet on Tuesday, September 3.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tickets are now on sale for the exclusive screening at Showcase Cinema de Lux, in Highcross.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jadoo, which means “magic” in Hindi, stars Harish Patel, of Run Fatboy Run fame, and Kulvinder Ghir, who appeared in Bend It Like Beckham.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leicester-born writer and director Amit Gupta said: “I’m so happy my home town is hosting the premiere of Jadoo.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It will be a very special evening and I’m so happy that the people of Leicester will have the chance to attend and experience the Jadoo magic.”</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jadoo follows two chef brothers, Raja and Jaqi, who have a nasty fall-out which sees them rip up the family recipe book – one left with the starters and the other the main courses.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Setting up rival restaurants on opposite sides of Belgrave Road, it is left to Raja’s daughter to help them reconcile their differences in time for her wedding feast.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The film includes dozens of cameo and walk-on performances from Belgrave residents.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dharmesh Lakhani, owner of Bobby’s restaurant, plays a judge in a cooking competition alongside Leicester East MP Keith Vaz and actress-chef Madhur Jaffrey.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To see a trailer for the film <a href="http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/jadoo-poster/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; padding-bottom: 1px; text-decoration: none;">CLICK HERE</a></span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-71823083720443405912013-08-16T23:30:00.000+01:002013-08-22T17:32:14.473+01:00THIS WEEK'S VISITORS (1,766)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3kT_9KRbOg/UhY8gzPrMUI/AAAAAAAAH3I/67nutFrzLdg/s1600/chart160813.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3kT_9KRbOg/UhY8gzPrMUI/AAAAAAAAH3I/67nutFrzLdg/s400/chart160813.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the top ten countries from which the blog has received visits in the past week.</span><br />
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.32px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">United States 588</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 25.32px;">United Kingdom 407</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Russia 272</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">France 102</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poland 96</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Germany 87</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ukraine 70</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">India 50</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sweden 48</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China 46</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #191919;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #191919;">This week's total: 1,766 (last week: 2,115). These are aggregates of figures from the top ten countries only. Blogger's analytics doesn't show the numbers of pageviews below the tenth-ranking country and they don’t show the cumulative total including those additional countries, which is undoubtedly larger than the number shown above.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The world map at the top of this post is the graphic that I see on the stats page. The darker the green, the more pageviews from that country. I can see different versions of that map for "now" (i.e. in the last two hours), "today", "this week", "this month" and "all time". They're updated each time I look at them.</span></div>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-44538253364530878552013-08-16T07:17:00.000+01:002013-08-17T07:23:18.043+01:00INDIA'S 67th INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATED<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/India-s-67th-independence-day-celebrated/story-19667280-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6jgNa0M8j-o/Ug8WWhNjw0I/AAAAAAAAH2I/pVv84qFgxWk/s1600/indian_flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6jgNa0M8j-o/Ug8WWhNjw0I/AAAAAAAAH2I/pVv84qFgxWk/s400/indian_flag.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shivani Acharya, 9, of Birstall, celebrates with an Indian flag in Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>India's 67th independence day celebrated</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People gathered at an event last night to mark India's 67th Independence Day.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The celebrations began at 7.30pm at Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre, in Leicester.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The night, which was hosted by the Gujarat Hindu Association, began with a flag-raising ceremony.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr B C Pradhan, consul and head of chancery at the Indian High Commission in Birmingham, was the guest speaker.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth read a short message, as did assistant city mayor Piara Singh Clair.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr Ashworth said: "I firmly believe Leicester and the UK are stronger today because of the Indian community."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After messages had been read out, Bollywood dancers took to the stage.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The night before, hundreds of people celebrated Pakistan Independence Day in the city.</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-58356580832730707592013-08-15T07:07:00.000+01:002013-08-17T07:09:52.375+01:00HUNDREDS CELEBRATE PAKISTAN INDEPENDENCE DAY IN LEICESTER<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Hundreds-celebrate-Pakistan-Independence-Day/story-19659458-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UF_nop9psmw/Ug8S3CgdkaI/AAAAAAAAH18/DiZ3V1ASsAk/s1600/pakist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UF_nop9psmw/Ug8S3CgdkaI/AAAAAAAAH18/DiZ3V1ASsAk/s400/pakist.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Hundreds celebrate Pakistan Independence Day in Leicester</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hundreds of people poured on to the street to celebrate Pakistan Independence Day in Leicester last night.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">St Peters Road, in Highfields, was closed by police from about 10pm as revellers gathered and celebrated by dancing, waving flags and sounding hooters.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The road, which was shut from East Park Road to Melbourne Road, re-opened at about midnight.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inspector Ben Gillard, of Spinney Hills police station, wrote on social networking website Twitter: “Flags and high spirits in the Highfields for Pakistan independence day. All good natured.”</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the road re-opened he added: “Everything good humoured, people polite and friendly. A pleasure to police #credittoLeicester.”</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Celebrations are also expected tonight to mark Indian Independence Day.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Festivities normally begin in the Belgrave Road area during the day and the street is often closed by police during the evening as revellers gather waving flags.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Leicester, the celebrations traditionally involve a street party on Belgrave Road, a party in Cossington Park, and cultural performances at Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre. Thousands of people attend the annual celebrations in the City.</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-10279243737816702102013-08-14T12:30:00.000+01:002013-08-16T09:01:10.047+01:00CREATIVE COFFEE LEICESTER, 14 AUGUST 2013<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eod5lUlL8dc/Ug3bjNE_SuI/AAAAAAAAH0s/B37QHfFkliI/s1600/phoenix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eod5lUlL8dc/Ug3bjNE_SuI/AAAAAAAAH0s/B37QHfFkliI/s400/phoenix.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">At </span><a href="http://phoenix.org.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #073763; text-decoration: none;">Phoenix</span></a><span style="background-color: white;"> this morning, for the
regular fortnightly meeting of </span><a href="http://phoenix.org.uk/index.php?cms_id=254"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #073763; text-decoration: none;">Creative
Coffee Leicester</span></a><span style="background-color: white;">.
It’s a quiet day today (being in the middle of the summer holiday) but there’s
still a mix of old faces and new. More new than old, I’d say, which
is a good thing.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfTNU6kQlcc/UgxyzdXqf8I/AAAAAAAAH0c/kdtyN7vtnNk/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfTNU6kQlcc/UgxyzdXqf8I/AAAAAAAAH0c/kdtyN7vtnNk/s400/003.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Becky Wilson (<a href="http://beckywilsongeek.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #073763; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Social Media Geek</span></a>) is steering
the ship this morning. That's her in the photo above, sandwiched between Harry
and Grace.</span></div>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0Phoenix, 4 Midland Street, Leicester LE1 1TG, UK52.6359487 -1.124490700000023932.5413217 -42.608865700000024 72.7305757 40.359884299999976tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-78468335115503103182013-08-13T07:30:00.000+01:002013-08-13T19:08:26.634+01:00MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO MURDER GURU<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:</span></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Man charged with attempting to murder guru</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Tim Healy</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A 26-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It follows allegations of an assault at the Gurdwara Namdhari Temple in Linden Street, Spinney Hill, Leicester, at approximately 5.25am on Sunday.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The alleged victim was Sri Satguru Uday Singh Ji, worldwide spiritual head of the Namdhari community. He was treated at the Leicester Royal Infirmary for injuries and later discharged.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The accused is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-78214883557087111922013-08-13T07:00:00.000+01:002013-08-13T18:59:30.026+01:00GURU INJURED IN AXE ATTACK<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Guru-injured-axe-attack/story-19649567-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Guru injured in axe attack</b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Alan Thompson</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Worshippers at early morning prayers looked on in horror as a man in the congregation took out an axe and attacked a visiting guru.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About 300 people were at the Gurdwara Namdhari, in Leicester, on Sunday morning when the horrific attack took place on Sri Satguru Uday Singh Ji, spiritual head of the Namdhari community worldwide.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The guru, who had been taking prayers, was hit on the right wrist as he tried to defend himself. The blow broke a bone. As worshippers stared in disbelief, the attacker struck again, cutting open his forehead.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Several members of the congregation then rushed the attacker, pinning him to the floor until police arrived.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The guru's elderly mother, who is accompanying him on his first visit to the UK, was sitting next to him and witnessed the attack.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The guru's wounds were tended by members of the congregation until paramedics arrived and he was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary. He was later discharged.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His programme of activities in the UK, visiting members of the Namdhari community across the country, has been severely curtailed by the attack.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Witness Ranjit Singh Flora, vice-president of the Sikh community in the UK and secretary of the gurdwara, said: "This chap was in the congregation for the prayers, which began at 3.30am and were ending at 5.30am, just before sunrise. He walked in through the doors into the hall. He was wearing a religious outfit like the rest of the congregation and covered himself with a shawl."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He said the man had a strap of cloth across his chest, into which, it emerged, he had put what Mr Singh described as "an axe, about 30 inches long".</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I was sitting right at the front," said Mr Singh. "The programme was about to finish and the hall was full.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"He walked slowly down the walkway, then faster. As he came to the place where you bow down, he quickly took off the shawl and pulled out the axe, jumping on to the stage. He brought the axe down and Guru Ji put up his right arm to defend himself, which was fractured in the attack. He took a second swing at him, splitting his forehead above the left eye, down to the nose. It all happened so fast. There was a lot of blood.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Members of the congregation, which came from all over the country, got up and overpowered him, asking him why he had done it.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Everyone was shocked and shaking. Guru Ji's visit was very important to us. It was his first trip to England.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"He has a scar on his forehead and his right arm is in plaster.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"A chunk of flesh came off when the axe struck and it broke his wrist, but he is quite strong and energetic.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"He came back for morning prayers again this morning and police provided security."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr Singh Flora described the incident at the gurdwara, in Linden Street, Evington, as "very disturbing".</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He said: "We are a peace-loving people. An attack like this is beyond our understanding. We don't know what his motive was."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sri Satguru Uday Singh Ji became the head of the Namdhari sect in December, after the death of the previous leader.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indian news organisation Punjab Newsline reported that since then there had been a "consistent campaign against him", launched by followers of another claimant for the Namdhari gaddi, or throne. It is not yet known whether disquiet over the accession had any link to the attack.</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-92226370680358978252013-08-12T07:00:00.000+01:002013-08-13T19:09:56.169+01:00SPIRITUAL LEADER ATTACKED IN LEICESTER<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Spiritual-leader-attacked-Leicester/story-19647339-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AreLWTAEOTM/UgpvUMJwDVI/AAAAAAAAHzg/JeiiBI2ss0c/s1600/guru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AreLWTAEOTM/UgpvUMJwDVI/AAAAAAAAHzg/JeiiBI2ss0c/s400/guru.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sri Satguru Uday Singh Ji</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Spiritual leader attacked in Leicester</b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A spiritual leader was taken to hospital after being attacked in the early hours of the morning in Leicester.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sri Satguru Uday Singh Ji, the spiritual head of the Namdhari community worldwide, was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary for treatment after the assault.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Police were called to the Gurdwara Namdhari in Linden Street, Leicester, at approximately 5.25am on Sunday August 11 following a report of an assault.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Officers attended the scene where Sri Satguru Uday Singh Ji was found to have been assaulted.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene and remains in police custody.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At this time police believe it was an isolated incident, which was carried out by a single person.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Investigations are ongoing and police would ask anyone who has information about the incident or was in the Linden Street area between 3am and 6am on Sunday August 11 to contact them on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-18825203670557790212013-08-09T23:30:00.000+01:002013-08-22T17:32:50.033+01:00THIS WEEK'S VISITORS (2,115)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G-8X71Q6GWg/UgY_OGgJloI/AAAAAAAAHzA/PkIjOmGNUyQ/s1600/chart100813.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G-8X71Q6GWg/UgY_OGgJloI/AAAAAAAAHzA/PkIjOmGNUyQ/s400/chart100813.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the top ten countries from which the blog has received visits in the past week.</span><br />
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.32px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">United States 1006</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 25.32px;">United Kingdom 311</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poland 153</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">France 145</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Germany 115</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ukraine 93</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China 84</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 25.32px;">Russia 68</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">India 63</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Latvia 58</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #191919;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #191919;">This week's total: 2,115 (last week: 3,366). These are aggregates of figures from the top ten countries only. Blogger's analytics doesn't show the numbers of pageviews below the tenth-ranking country and they don’t show the cumulative total including those additional countries, which is undoubtedly larger than the number shown above.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The world map at the top of this post is the graphic that I see on the stats page. The darker the green, the more pageviews from that country. I can see different versions of that map for "now" (i.e. in the last two hours), "today", "this week", "this month" and "all time". They're updated each time I look at them.</span></div>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-23936358490044602122013-08-07T22:30:00.000+01:002013-08-13T18:21:33.928+01:00PHILOSOPHY IN PUBS, AUGUST 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iFZeEoHneBM/Ugpq3TlgjwI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/HjtueJNZfHE/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iFZeEoHneBM/Ugpq3TlgjwI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/HjtueJNZfHE/s400/074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfbf8; color: #191919;">On the first Wednesday evening of every month, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/269300066435219/" style="color: #073763; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Leicester PIPs</a> (<a href="http://www.philosophyinpubs.org.uk/INDEX/index.asp" style="color: #073763; text-decoration: initial;">Philosophy in Pubs</a>) meets upstairs in </span><a href="http://thecrumblincookie.co.uk/" style="color: #073763; text-decoration: initial;"><span style="background-color: #fcfbf8;">The Crumblin' Cookie</span></a><span style="background-color: #fcfbf8; color: #191919;"> on the High Street.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfbf8; color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fcfbf8; color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Our stimulus tonight is the statement, "The world is what <i>you</i> think of it. So think of it differently and your life will change" (from Paul Arden's <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whatever-You-Think-Opposite/dp/0141025719" target="_blank">Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite</a> (Penguin, 2006). The stimulus is provided - and the session facilitated - by Clare Carr.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfbf8; color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fcfbf8; color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Last month's stimulus was "Can you choose what you believe?". This month's veers at times toward "Can you choose what you think?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfbf8; color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fcfbf8; color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This is the first session of Leicester PIPs I have attended in five months. It's good to be back!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/269300066435219/" style="color: #073763; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Leicester PIPs</a> page on Facebook (and check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheCrumblinCookie" style="color: #073763; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">The Crumblin' Cookie</a> too, while you're there).</span></div>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0The Crumblin' Cookie, 68 High Street, Leicester LE1 5YP, UK52.6352518 -1.137345500000037652.6340408 -1.1398775000000376 52.6364628 -1.1348135000000377tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-72403120671438938692013-08-07T07:30:00.000+01:002013-08-07T18:17:20.016+01:0010,000 TOYS ARE HEADING TO SYRIA<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/10-000-toys-heading-Syria/story-19623654-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4ICT-eX5lU/UgKAq15uSSI/AAAAAAAAHyw/0nOXOZrpQbw/s1600/toys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4ICT-eX5lU/UgKAq15uSSI/AAAAAAAAHyw/0nOXOZrpQbw/s400/toys.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sharen Ravat, centre, at St Philip's Church with the Rev Sonya Brown and Suleman nagdi and some of the toys</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>10,000 toys are heading to Syria</b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Fiona Dryden</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Generous folk have donated more than 10,000 toys for children devastated by the ongoing conflict in Syria.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sharen Ravat, a multi-faith chaplaincy co-ordinator at Leicester College, was so deeply affected by the plight of children in Syria she decided to launch the initiative to help bring some joy to families, many of which have lost members.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to the United Nations, the conflict has led to the worst humanitarian crisis since Rwanda, more than two decades ago.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The drop-in session held at St Philip's Church, in Leicester, on Sunday collected more than 10,000 toys – enough to fill seven van loads.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sharen said: "The toys have been given to the charity Hand in Hand for Syria, which will take them to children in hospitals and refugee camps in Syria.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I pay tribute to the wonderfully generous people, including many children, who donated toys for this vital cause.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"What was particularly heart-warming was that so many of Leicestershire's different faith communities came together.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Collectively, they demonstrated their shared values of compassion and love for children they will never know. I hope that these toys will bring a smile to their faces."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Federation of Muslim Organisations was one of the many faith organisations supporting the campaign.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spokesman Suleman Nagdi said: "We were privileged to be part of this superb charity effort, which focused on children. I pay tribute to Sharen Ravat, who single-handedly had the vision to arrange this appeal."</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fadi Al-Dairi, from Hand in Hand for Syria, said: "The people of Leicestershire will make a lot of children smile."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hand in Hand works in partnership with projects overseas that have been established by members of the local community.</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-69100602531373326422013-08-07T07:00:00.000+01:002013-08-07T18:06:04.535+01:00PLAN FOR TWO-DAY FESTIVAL UNVEILED<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Plan-day-festival-unveiled/story-19623823-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Plan for two-day festival unveiled</b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Dan Martin</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Organised by Leicester City Council, it will be an amalgamation of celebrations already held in the city, as well as a number of new events.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "For the first time, we are bringing together a lot of separate events which will effectively double the size of the celebrations across the city.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"If it proves a success, as I am sure it will, we will look to make it a bigger and even better event last year."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The idea was conceived last year as part of a city council review of festival funding.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year, the budget has been cut from £366,500 to £308,500 and will fall to £288,500 in 2014.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The events making up the City Festival will be mostly free and the mayor hopes it will become an annual event to bolster Leicester's bid to become UK City of Culture in 2017.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Humberstone Gate West and Gallowtree Gate will host the eighth annual Sports Fest on the Sunday, with coaching sessions on offer in basketball, football and boxing.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There will also be live music and dance, including Chinese dragon dancing.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the Sunday, from 11am to 4pm many city streets will be shut so cyclists can take part in the annual Sky Ride.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the same day the market will host Our Leicester Day, a celebration of the city's community groups, clubs and societies.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Bank Holiday Monday, the city's history will be celebrated with the Old Town Festival at Magazine Square, Newark Houses Museum and Leicester Castle. There will be medieval re-enactments, the opening up of historic buildings and a food fair.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leicester Mela, traditionally held in July, has been moved to the Monday and will take place around the Clock Tower with a Bollywood and Bhangra celebration of South Asian culture.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Town Hall Square will host the Journeys Festival over two days. Involving art, drama, music and poetry from refugees, it will tour the East Midlands.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally Orton Square, outside Curve theatre , will host End of Pier Delights on Sunday and Monday. It will be a seaside celebration for youngsters.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.visitleicester.info/cityfestival/</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-28221645762853473852013-08-05T17:30:00.000+01:002013-08-16T11:07:27.526+01:00BBC RADIO LEICESTER, THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: BAHÁ'Í COMMENT ON ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mHIiHhR-MpQ/Ug35emT-WLI/AAAAAAAAH08/hAcXdwl00QY/s1600/radio_leicester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mHIiHhR-MpQ/Ug35emT-WLI/AAAAAAAAH08/hAcXdwl00QY/s400/radio_leicester.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pop into <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioleicester"><span style="color: blue;">BBC Radio
Leicester</span></a> this afternoon to record a Thought for the Day
with Producer, Rebecca Bryers. This one's for broadcast on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0193v0j"><span style="color: blue;">Jonathan
Lampon's breakfast show</span></a>, Wednesday 7 August - and here's how it
sounded on the day:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>JL:</b> It's
time for Thought for the Day, which comes today from George Ballentyne, a local
Bahá'í.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>GMB:</b> Good
morning</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week we learned that over a
million UK workers are on zero hours contracts, a figure four times higher than
previously thought.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
If this way of working fits in with your way of living, it can be a perfectly
good way of staying in gainful employment. But for some other workers, they are
always on standby, without guarantee of any pay for any work in any period. They
must turn up at their place of work if and when required, often at very short
notice, with barely time to make arrangements for dependants.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For some, this can make it difficult to
access the kind of financial services (credit, loans, mortgages and so on) on
which our daily dealings depend.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, one of
the central figures of the Bahá'í Faith, "arts, sciences and all crafts
are (counted as) worship. The man who makes a piece of notepaper to the best of
his ability, conscientiously, concentrating all his forces on perfecting it, is
giving praise to God. Briefly, all effort and exhertion put forth by man from
the fulness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives
and the will to do service to humanity. This is worship: to serve mankind and
to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a Bahá'í, it's my hope that our
society does not forget the dignity and nobility of good, productive work - and
the dignity of the worker - even in these difficult times.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>JL:</b> Thought
for the Day there, which came from George Ballentyne, a local Bahá'í.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I send the text to Becca a couple of
hours before I go in to record it. She feels obliged to ask me to tone it down
a bit - twice. I feel righteously indignant about this issue and have used a
quotation from <a href="http://info.bahai.org/article-1-7-2-1.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Promise of World Peace</span></a> to
illustrate that, but it was all a little too hard-hitting as a Thought for the
Day. I rewrite the piece on the hoof - literally - on the half hour walk from
Christians Aware in Saxby Street down to St Nicholas Place (Well, not all that
literally, since I don’t have hooves and even if I did, it would probably be
quite hard to use them to type on an iPhone). Becca talks me down off my high
horse and helps me deliver something more suited to the format and time slot.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0BBC Radio Leicester, 9 St Nicholas Place, Leicester LE1 5LB, UK52.6347916 -1.138344599999982252.6335806 -1.1408765999999821 52.6360026 -1.1358125999999822tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-62154600781770982052013-08-05T07:30:00.000+01:002013-08-07T17:45:54.878+01:00FESTIVAL OF CHARIOTS ATTRACTS THOUSANDS<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/VIDEO-Festival-Chariots-attracts-thousands/story-19611541-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_tXd43k0HiI/UgJ5sBKPAbI/AAAAAAAAHyg/9MCHXCpb_i8/s1600/rathayatra02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_tXd43k0HiI/UgJ5sBKPAbI/AAAAAAAAHyg/9MCHXCpb_i8/s400/rathayatra02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Festival of Chariots attracts thousands</b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thousands of men, women and children joined in to heave three huge chariots through the city streets yesterday as Lord Krishna was displayed to his devotees.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 16th annual Rathayatra Festival of Chariots, staged by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, saw the parade draw in about 10,000 people from all over the country.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some had travelled from afar afield as India, and dropped to their knees as the effigies of Lord Jagannath (Krishna), his sister Subadhra and older brother Balaram, were slowly pulled past.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The worshipers were in Leicester today to witness the celebration of the 5,000-year-old festival, which included singing and music and culminated in a large feast at Cossington Park.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Devotee Madhava Das, 29, who lives in the city, became a monk eight years ago.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since then he has lived a disciplined lifestyle, visiting other parts of the country to share his beliefs.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He said: “This is the one time of year when those who maybe don’t go to the temple can see the deities, which come out once a year.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s so people can see them - and by pulling at the ropes of the chariot it signifies that they are pulling the Lord into their hearts and lives. The music is essential too.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We chant a mantra to glorify God and to celebrate life and spirituality.”</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The three giant chariots, measuring up to 30ft tall, were taken from the Clock Tower, along Belgrave Gate, over the flyover and finished in Cossington Park, where a feast was waiting.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Live music, dancing and singing - which took place on a large stage - was also on the bill at the post-parade festival.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ben Dowdeswell, 33, and Lee West, also 33, from the Derek Frearson Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu group, who meet at the Peepul Centre, in Orchardson Avenue, entertained the masses with a Chinese lion dance.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ben, from Barwell, said: “This, for me, sums up the great diversity of Leicester - a bunch of white guys dancing around in a Chinese lion costume at a Hare Krishna festival.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I think it’s great, it’s our third year and they keep calling us and getting us back - so we must be doing something right.”</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two weeks ago more than one million people gathered in India for the largest staging of this worldwide festival.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ezrsebet Varga, 46, who had travelled from London to take part in today’s event, said: “This festival has been celebrated for thousands of years, and people come from all over the country.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“In India it’s huge. More than one million people went recently.”</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2010, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) were left with no place of worship after an explosion destroyed the temple in North Evington.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, the group members are hoping to set up a restaurant, heritage room and an informal library at the former HSBC bank, in Granby Street, Leicester.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A planning application for the former bank has been submitted to Leicester City Council.</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-67401538379836675112013-08-03T07:00:00.000+01:002013-08-07T17:54:48.520+01:00WARNING FOR MOTORISTS AHEAD OF FESTIVAL OF CHARIOTS<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Warning-motorists-ahead-Festival-Chariots/story-19611316-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LvnEaOh7GdE/UgJ2MzaPu5I/AAAAAAAAHyQ/8DgZZzSpO3g/s1600/rathayatra01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LvnEaOh7GdE/UgJ2MzaPu5I/AAAAAAAAHyQ/8DgZZzSpO3g/s400/rathayatra01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Warning for motorists ahead of Festival of Chariots</b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Motorists are being warned about possible delays due to the annual Festival of Chariots that takes place in Leicester tomorrow.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Hare Krishna Festival of Chariots, known as Rathayatra, is the second largest festival of its kind in Europe, with 10,000 people expected to attend</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The procession is due to start at the Clock Tower at 11.30am before moving along Haymarket, Belgrave Gate, Belgrave Road, Cossington Street and Rendell Road.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is due to arrive at Cossington Park at about 2.30pm.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As well as delays along these roads, there will also be diversions for some buses. Passengers are advised to check with their bus company for further details.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The festival includes people pulling three huge chariots carrying the Deities of Lord Jagannatha (Krishna), his sister Subhadra, and Lord Balarama from the Clock Tower to Cossington Park, accompanied with music, singing and dancing.</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-82462400208133935122013-08-02T23:30:00.000+01:002013-08-03T08:31:27.598+01:00THIS WEEK'S VISITORS (3,366)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-djaznreiBK4/UfxBKGW67nI/AAAAAAAAHw0/_PjBHtypxHg/s1600/chart020813.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-djaznreiBK4/UfxBKGW67nI/AAAAAAAAHw0/_PjBHtypxHg/s400/chart020813.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the top ten countries from which the blog has received visits in the past week.</span><br />
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.32px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">United States 1176</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indonesia 802</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">United Kingdom 335</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saudi Arabia 298</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">France 219</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Russia 131</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China 118</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 25.32px;">Venezuela 112</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Germany 83</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ukraine 72</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #191919;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #191919;">This week's total: 3,366 (last week: 3,293). These are aggregates of figures from the top ten countries only. Blogger's analytics doesn't show the numbers of pageviews below the tenth-ranking country and they don’t show the cumulative total including those additional countries, which is undoubtedly larger than the number shown above.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The world map at the top of this post is the graphic that I see on the stats page. The darker the green, the more pageviews from that country. I can see different versions of that map for "now" (i.e. in the last two hours), "today", "this week", "this month" and "all time". They're updated each time I look at them.</span></div>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-16926782336231039422013-08-02T17:00:00.000+01:002013-08-03T08:18:39.451+01:00GROOVY GIRL SIGNS UP FOR PEACE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yYoGPaXVIg0/UfxHbK8OIiI/AAAAAAAAHxE/hV-rCXYDCLQ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yYoGPaXVIg0/UfxHbK8OIiI/AAAAAAAAHxE/hV-rCXYDCLQ/s400/001.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A new wooden sculpture, in the style of a Totem Pole, has fetched up in Wigston's <a href="http://www.friendsofpmp.btck.co.uk/" target="_blank">Peace Memorial Park</a>. When Grace sees it on one of our frequent visits to the park, she says, "Oh cool; it's got the Groovy Girl sign on top!" Nice bit of brand appropriation - and there's the groovy girl herself.</span>George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0Peace Memorial Park, Long Street, Wigston, LeicS LE18 2AJ, UK52.584167899846676 -1.106421407934590252.581755899846677 -1.1114639079345903 52.586579899846676 -1.1013789079345901tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-50377326451104060762013-08-02T16:47:00.002+01:002013-08-02T16:47:50.216+01:00JESUS PEOPLE, LOVING PEOPLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tjP3EMSTtqc/UfvRivEOaMI/AAAAAAAAHwM/h0Sgj-MVsSQ/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tjP3EMSTtqc/UfvRivEOaMI/AAAAAAAAHwM/h0Sgj-MVsSQ/s400/032.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A striking sight today, of two Jesus Army minibuses parked in Springfield Road to the side of London Road United Church, within sight of Bishop's Lodge, the residence of the Bishop of Leicester. Makes it sound like a rather sacred spot!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also known as the <a href="http://www.jesus.org.uk/jesus-fellowship-church-leicester" target="_blank">Jesus Fellowship</a>, this organisation has weekly meetings at three separate spots around Leicester. Their motto is "Jesus People, Loving People". Just about all of us could do with a bit more loving in our lives these days.</span></div>
<br />George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0Springfield Road, Leicester LE2 3BE, UK52.6177609 -1.109875999999985752.6153509 -1.1149184999999857 52.6201709 -1.1048334999999856tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-71366562793780330022013-08-02T08:00:00.000+01:002013-08-02T15:47:51.132+01:00DELIGHT AS RIAZ GIVEN HONOUR<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Delight-Riaz-given-honour/story-19604392-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span> </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AlYy3sdCGwA/UfvGT6WJnXI/AAAAAAAAHvM/OZUSN6i4Foo/s1600/DMU-ravat-339SMALL-1024x681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AlYy3sdCGwA/UfvGT6WJnXI/AAAAAAAAHvM/OZUSN6i4Foo/s400/DMU-ravat-339SMALL-1024x681.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Delight as Riaz given honour</b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A charity working to strengthen interfaith relations has congratulated a member of staff who has received a major award from De Montfort University.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The director of St Philip's Centre, The Rev Canon Dr John Hall, expressed delight after Riaz Ravat, deputy director of the centre was honoured as Alumnus of the Year. He accepted the award at a graduation ceremony at Curve.</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-10696763961876212642013-08-02T07:30:00.000+01:002013-08-02T15:38:24.861+01:00CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL: SUNSHINE'S ON ITS WAY, WHATEVER THE WEATHER<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Caribbean-Carnival-Sunshine-s-way-weather/story-19604462-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Caribbean Carnival: sunshine's on its way, whatever the weather</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Yasmin Duffin</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thousands of people will enjoy a sunburst of colour this weekend as Leicester's annual Caribbean Carnival takes place.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Entertainers, floats and bands will take to the streets for the 28th carnival tomorrow.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The parade will leave Victoria Park, in London Road, at 1pm and enter the city centre before returning to the park at 4pm.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Celebrations will be taking place from at the park from midday until 8pm.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Entertainment will be provided by dancers, music and other performers throughout the day.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carnival chairman Dennis Christopher said: "The theme is Colour My World because we want to bring all races and religions together.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The street carnival will be full of beautiful colours.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"People should expect different foods, music, dance – from all cultures.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Visitors can meet old and new friends and just enjoy themselves.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The meaning of carnival, is emancipation of slavery – when slaves were freed, they did their own thing and that's what it's all about."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr Christopher said this was an important year for the carnival because of Leicester's bid to be UK City of Culture in 2017.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He said he hoped the carnival would play a major part in securing the coveted title for Leicester.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The carnival route will see the procession travel from Victoria Park, along London Road, Waterloo Way, Charles Street, Gallowtree Gate, Granby Street, Northampton Street, Waterloo Way and up London Road back to Victoria Park.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The main stage at Victoria Park will feature a variety of local, regional and national artists, ranging from the sound of R 'n' B, reggae, hip-hop and chart pop.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr Christopher said: "There will be all kinds of different music played but the majority will be calypso, steel band and soca – the rest will fit in between.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I'm looking forward to it, I'm just hoping for a safe carnival and I'm keeping my eye on the weather.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"We've already started planning the 2014 carnival."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Police have given carnival goers advice on how to stay safe and crime-free at the event.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chief Superintendent Stuart Prior said: "Last year around 15,000 people attended the event at Victoria Park and no crimes were reported.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"However, as with all events which attract large crowds, there are some simple steps that we urge people to consider to reduce the risk of them becoming a victim of crime."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To prevent the probability of crime, officers have suggested keeping valuables out of sight; keeping belongings with you at all times; keeping bags fastened securely and not to carry too much cash.</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-52997634723269822152013-08-02T07:00:00.000+01:002013-08-02T15:14:07.328+01:00SEX EXPLOITATION TRIAL: THREE MEN PLEAD GUILTY<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article appears in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Sex-exploitation-trial-men-plead-guilty/story-19601253-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An artist's impression of the three men accused of sexually exploiting a 16-year-old schoolgirl</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Sex exploitation trial: three men plead guilty</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trial of three men accused of sexually exploiting a 16-year-old schoolgirl was dramatically stopped today, for guilty pleas to be entered.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aabidali Mubarak Ali (39), Rakib Iacub (20) and Wajid Usman (22), admitted seven of the 22 counts they originally faced.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The prosecution accepted the guilty pleas to the lesser number of offences “in the public interest” and to spare the “vulnerable victim” the ordeal of giving evidence in court.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The girl, now 17, was due to go into the witness box at Leicester Crown Court this afternoon to be cross-examined by three defence advocates.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The prosecution claimed the defendants ignored her young age and paid, or offered to pay her, for sexual activity.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the trial, the court heard the victim had voluntarily sold sexual services to friends to raise money because she wanted to leave home.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She admitted taking cannabis and drinking vodka to excess to “ease my sorrow.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst in that vulnerable state, she met Iacub at a Diwali festival last November, which led to the co-accused and three other men becoming sexually involved with her.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judge Michael Pert QC discharged the jury from further involvement.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ali, of Guthlaxton Street, Highfields, admitted two counts of paying for the sexual services of a child under 18 - at a guest house in Saxby Street, Highfields, and at a flat in Kashmir Road, St Matthews - as well one offence of facilitating child prostitution at the flat, between last November and January.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Iacub, of Maynard Road, Highfields, admitted offering to pay for the sexual services of a child under 18 and facilitating child prostitution, at the guest house.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He also admitted offering to pay the girl for a sexual encounter in a car at Leicester’s Watermead Park.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Usman, an illegal immigrant from Afghanistan, of no fixed address, admitted one count of paying for the sexual services of a child under 18, at a flat attached to the Mogul Durbar, restaurant in East Park Road, Spinney Hills.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Usman stayed at the flat for three or four weeks, whilst informally helping out at the restaurant – which was ransacked by members of the Sikh community, mainly from Derby, who were protesting about the perceived lack of police action in relation to the victim in this case, in January.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A group of 40 to 50 men burst in and attacked innocent members of staff, who had nothing to with the child exploitation allegations, causing customers to flee in terror.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The prosecutor, Matthew Lowe, said today: “Regarding the guilty pleas, the matter has been considered at a very high level within the CPS, the police force and there’s been consultation with the complainant and those who are looking after her interests.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It avoids a damaged and fragile young women giving evidence and being asked questions.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They will be sentenced on August 30, along with three other men, who have already admitted related charges involving the same victim.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are Bharat Modhwadia (25), of Wycombe Road, Humberstone, Leicester, Hamza Imtiazali (25), of Kashmir Road, and Chandresh Mistry (37), of Berridge Lane, Belgrave, Leicester.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Afterwards, head of Leicestershire Police Safeguarding department, Det Superintendent David Sandall, said: “The victim supports the action that’s been taken today.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s a relief for her, and her family, that she won’t have to re-live her ordeal and be cross-examined by three defence barristers</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“She was targeted because of her vulnerability and that’s why she was exploited.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“She’s had a wide range of support, including from her family and the police to prepare her for the trial.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He said although the police were informed about exploitation relating to the girl, before the Moghul Durbar restaurant was ransacked, it was not until after that incident that she actually made “disclosures” about what had happened to her.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He said: “She was supported by third parties and we were victim-led and didn’t pressure her.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Within three days of her telling us we’d made arrests.“</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Det Supt Sandall said the suggestion, by the victim in her tape-recorded police interview, that other Sikh girls may have been exploited was “proactively investigated”.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He said: “People haven’t told us of any other victim, but we would encourage anyone to come forward.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We’ve worked closely with social care, health services and schools as part of this investigation.”</span></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-44779034484364343252013-08-01T20:30:00.000+01:002013-08-03T01:08:03.282+01:00EVERYBODY WAS KUNG FU FIGHTING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pPgbWtHr6X4/UfvI5k2J9BI/AAAAAAAAHvc/iLdbV3Y7dmM/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pPgbWtHr6X4/UfvI5k2J9BI/AAAAAAAAHvc/iLdbV3Y7dmM/s400/029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Diversity comes in many forms. I do like to get a bit of everything on the blog that reflects the varied experience in and around Leicester. I was taken by surprise by an open-air Kung Fu lesson outside the Royal British Legion club in Wigston. And for diversity-upon-diversity, yes, there's a white Rastaman in there. That's not me he's up against - perish the thought. It was a little bit frightening; those cats were fast as lightning!</span><br />
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George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0Royal British Legion Club, Bushloe End, Wigston, Leics LE18 2BA, UK52.5833688 -1.111591099999941452.5809568 -1.1166335999999415 52.5857808 -1.1065485999999414tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-9324014712712551052013-08-01T20:00:00.000+01:002013-08-14T08:16:57.391+01:00KING RICHARD III VISITOR CENTRE BRIEFING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpiOfBfvRrc/UgsfaFgGpPI/AAAAAAAAHzw/sfcKbEOJLsI/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpiOfBfvRrc/UgsfaFgGpPI/AAAAAAAAHzw/sfcKbEOJLsI/s400/007.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">At Leicester's medieval </span><a href="http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council-services/lc/leicester-city-museums/museums/the-guildhall/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; text-decoration: none;">Guildhall</span></a><span style="background-color: white;"> this afternoon (the hottest day of the year so far) for a briefing for "key individuals and organisations" regarding the latest developments </span><span style="background-color: white;">on the King Richard III Visitor Centre and its relation to Leicester's bid to become UK City of Culture 2017.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby leads both parts of the meeting, with contributions from many of the attendees, representing interested parties from city and county.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby & Nisha Popat (Business Development Manager, Leicester City Council)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Early in the meeting we break into small groups for a quick bit of workshopping, in which we consider three questions:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are the opportunities for the city in general in relation to Richard III?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are the opportunities for your organisation in relation to Richard III?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What opportunities could arise for your organisation from the Richard III Visitor Centre?</span></span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's revealed for the first time today that the major themes around which the Richard II visitor experience will be structured are:</span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Death</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dynasty</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Discovery</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since final planning approval is still pending for the Visitor Centre and eveyone is avoiding the temptation to count their chickens before they've hatched, the presentation today is more concept than content. But even that offers an inspiring glimpse of the benefits to come.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's an exhibition of artist's impressions of the Visitor Centre that we can peruse at our leisure before and after the formal presentations. A few of us sneak into the temporary Richard III exhibition in the Cathedral Visitor Centre attached to the Guildhall. This exhibition welcomed its 100,000th visitor this week.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm glad to see Smita Shah here. Smita represents the Jain Centre on Leicester Council of Faiths, Since the Jain Centre is just a stone's throw from the site of the Visitor Centre, she publicly acknowledges that they expect a positive impact on the number and range of visitors they'll expect to receive once the Visitor Centre opens. I hope that the example of the Jain Centre will help other faith communities and organisations in the city feel involved in what has already become a great boon to Leicester - one which can only increase in years to come.</span></span></div>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0The Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, Leicester LE1 5FQ, UK52.6348957 -1.136584099999936452.6342902 -1.1378500999999364 52.6355012 -1.1353180999999364tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661545163455473000.post-4990117056009525832013-08-01T07:30:00.000+01:002013-08-02T16:18:53.655+01:00FIRST PERSON: A FEAST WHICH FOLLOWS A FAST IS NOT IN SPIRIT<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manzoor Moghal has written the First Person column in today's <a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/feast-follows-fast-spirit/story-19596497-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Leicester Mercury</a>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A feast which follows a fast is not in spirit</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The month of Ramadan is once again upon us and Muslims everywhere are fasting. It is obligatory for Muslims to fast during this month, as laid down in the Qu'ran, and they refrain from food, drink and tobacco from dawn to sunset, which at this time of year would be an average of 19 hours a day in Britain.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before the advent of Islam, fasting was also prescribed for other religions but, with the passage of time, their fasting practices became truncated, distorted and were tailored to the convenience of their followers, with the result that the whole concept of fasting in these religions became totally corrupted.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In one of these religions, a whole month designated for fasting allows its people to eat and drink everything except cooked food and a few other items during the fasting period from morning to evening.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In another religion where fasting stretches beyond 30 days, its adherents have to give up one item of their daily favourite food, while allowing them to eat and drink everything else at any time.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In yet another religion, two separate fasting days are extended to 24 hours of total refrain from any eating or drinking, and it has four other days which are somewhat similar to the Islamic way of fasting.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other minor faiths have some variations, but none of these are anywhere near the Muslim way, which has remained in its pristine purity since its inception some 1,400 years ago.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, there is a worrying trend which has recently crept into the Islamic way of fasting and it has begun to undermine both the spirit and the letter of fasting.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The time of breaking the Muslim fast at sunset is called iftar, and Muslims do this generally by eating a couple of dates and drinking tea or a glass of milk or water, followed by the fourth obligatory prayer of the day called maghrib.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After this, they disburse to their homes where they eat a modest meal before they go into the long night prayers at their mosques.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the breaking of the fast time iftar is being turned into feasting by well-heeled Muslims – and it is becoming fashionable practice among many Muslims in some countries, including Britain.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arab Muslims in the Middle East gorge themselves routinely with large quantities of food every evening after breaking their fast, and Muslims in places such as Pakistan have big iftar parties in restaurants, hotels and community centres.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of late, a national Muslim organisation is encouraging Muslims in Britain to organise such iftar parties, inviting non-Muslims to participate in order to socialise and promote better understanding between different faiths.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The month of Ramadan is for fasting and not feasting!</span></blockquote>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manzoor Moghal is an author and social commentator</span></i></blockquote>
George M Ballentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383566077039740939noreply@blogger.com0