THIS WEEK'S VISITORS (2,108)

Here are the top ten countries from which the blog has received visits in the past week.

1. United States 683
2. United Kingdom 492
3. Russia 299
4. Poland 201
5. Germany 124
6. France 105
7. India 64
8. China 54
9. Ukraine 52
10. Israel 30

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.

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.

PILGRIMAGE ARRIVES IN THE CITY

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Pilgrimage arrives in city

Hindus carrying ornate pots known as kumbhs will parade through Leicester tomorrow as part of a worldwide pilgrimage symbolising their commitment to protecting the environment.

The Green Kumbh Yatra is an international initiative in which a sacred metal kumbh has been carried across numerous countries to promote the importance of conservation and biodiversity.

Launched last year at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Hyderabad, India, its journey will finish in South Korea in 2014.

The pot has already visited Nepal and Israel, and is in Britain this month before travelling to the USA.

"Spirituality and religion's role in conservation is as old as time itself," said Kusum Vyas, founder of the Green Kumbh Yatra.

The Green Kumbh Yatra will be at the Shree Sanatan Mandir temple, in Weymouth Street, off Catherine Street, from 11.30am to 1pm.

THIS WEEK'S VISITORS (1,810)

Regular update on the number of pageviews received from different parts of the world in the week just ending.

1. United Kingdom 719
2. United States 534
3. Russia 267
4. France 66
5. Germany 62
6. Ukraine 44
7. India 40
8. Spain 32
9. Israel 25
10. Poland 21

This week's total: 1,810 (last week: 1,681). 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.

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.

THIS WEEK'S VISITORS (1,459)

Regular update on the number of pageviews received from different parts of the world in the week just ending.

1. United States 585
2. United Kingdom 274
3. Russia 179
4. Ukraine 150
5. Poland 83
6. France 54
7. Sweden 44
8. Germany 39
9. India 39
10. Israel 32

This week's total: 1,459 (last week: 1,619). 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.

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.

THIS WEEK'S VISITORS (2,154)

Regular update on the number of pageviews received from different parts of the world in the week just ending.

1. United Kingdom 623
2. United States 532
3. Russia 369
4. France 132
5. Germany 124
6. Spain 126
7. India 99
8. Ukraine 76
9. Poland 50
10. Israel 23

This week's total: 2,154 (last week: 2,402). 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.

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.

PROTEST AT CURVE WAS A DISGRACE

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Protest at Curve was a disgrace

On the evening of November 16, I and some friends went to Curve theatre where a demonstration took place against a performance by a group of Israeli dancers.

The behaviour of the demonstrators was an utter disgrace, bringing disharmony to a city known for harmony.

Their shouts and chants were full of hate and anger. Even if they are right in their opinion that Israel is an apartheid state (a position I reject), how can that be the fault of a group of talented dancers simply seeking to earn a living and use their abilities around the world?

"Shame on you" was shouted at people going into the Curve. Shame on the demonstrators I say!

David Evans, Leicester

CURVE WAS WRONG TO LET DANCERS PERFORM

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Curve was wrong to let dancers perform

As part of the organising group for Friday's demonstration against Israeli dance company, Batsheva, I would like to ask your readers to consider whether they want our flagship cultural institution Curve to be part of an Israeli government-financed marketing initiative?

Batsheva are clearly part of the Brand Israel campaign which aims to put a pretty face on Israel abroad.

The decision of Curve director, Fiona Allan, to invite Batsheva to Leicester is highly questionable.

Many other theatres of similar standing around the UK did not feel the need to join in.

Our protest was part of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign to pressure Israel and raise awareness of the continuing repression of all aspects of Palestinian life, including cultural and artistic life.

What a shame that Curve does not understand that cultural acts are not neutral; that it missed an opportunity to take a stance against the continuing abuse of Palestinian human rights by Israel; that it didn't have the courage to lead by example.

As Batsheva danced on Friday, Israeli bombs were dropping on Gaza, and they are still. Curve had nothing to lose and everything to gain by helping us stop them.

Jane Foxworthy, member of Leicester Palestine Solidarity Campaign