Nat Yogachandra

The world has become a much more unequal place to live and there are no justice and unity. So,this is it…the richest one percent of the world’s population now own more than the rest of us combined, according to a report released by an aid group called Oxfam, last week. This increase in gap between rich and poor has created a world where 62 people own as much wealth as the poorest half of the world’s population, some 3.5 billion people - as the super-rich have grown richer and the poor poorer. The world has become a much more unequal place to live and there are no justice and unity.  Guess what, of the 62 people said to hold as much wealth as the poorest 50 percent, according to Oxfam report, 53 are men and just nine are female, highlighting that women are ill-represented even at the highest levels. It is sad that in the 21st century, a relatively small percentage of humankind has immense wealth, while the majority of the world's population lives in dire poverty and misery. ...

This is Myanmar In 1989, the military government in Burma, officially changed the English translations of many names dating back to Burma's colonial period, including that of the country itself: "Burma" became “Myanmar.” The name Burma has been in use in English since the 18th century. Burmese are very friendly. On Sunday, November 8, 2015 the country will hold it’s general election nationwide participated by candidates nominated from 91 political parties and 310 independents. Highlight of our visit to Burma included a visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda and Abdul Baha village. Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar. It is sacred to Buddhists from all over Asia and it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the present kalpa. Myanmar's military yielded to a civilian government in 2010 and has dramatically reshaped its economy, opening  up various sectors, including energy and infrastructure development, to direct forei...

(Tuesday, March 3, 2015)  This morning the Prime Minister of Israel while giving a speech to US Congress said, " Iran has proven time and again that it cannot be trusted, no matter what it says about permitting verification of the terms of any accord designed to prevent it from getting such weapons." And he continued " The greatest danger facing our world is the marriage of militant Islam with nuclear weapons ." Well, I have no comments to what political leaders have to say.  But one thing for sure, in Iran, education is a crime. Education is a right to every citizen in a country. And is not a crime. But in the case of Islamic Republic of Iran, it is not true. Iran is violating the most basic human rights of its Baha’i citizens; and, when young Baha’is aren’t allowed to study or enroll in a college, it’s a crime. Since 1979, the government of Iran has systematically sought to deprive young members of the non - Muslim religious minorities including the members o...

(As appeared in Ithaca Journal 01/27/2015,  Page B02, New York)   Arab leaders need to focus on defeating extremists by NAT YOGACHANDRA Early this month, hundreds of Boko Haram Islamic militants drove in trucks and armored vehicles, seized the Nigerian town of Baga and killed nearly 2,000 villagers, including women and children. They left bodies scattered everywhere. Amnesty International described this terrible crime as the “deadliest massacre” from Boko Haram, and leaders said they had given up counting the bodies left lying on the streets. While France mourned the recent terror attacks in Paris and global leaders joined the march in a show of unity on the streets of Paris, many around the globe have questioned why this terrible crime against humanity in Nigeria was almost ignored. According to data compiled by the U.N. Council for Foreign Relations, deaths caused by Boko Haram are now comparable with the number of civilians killed by ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the...

Je suis Charlie” or “ Je ne suis Charlie ”  I am Charlie or I am not Charlie If religion is the cause of hate and disunity, it would be best for us not to have a religion at all. Religion has been a major feature in many historical conflicts and even today religion, instead of uniting the whole world has always been at the forefront of disunity and the cause of many terrorist activities around the globe. Muslims are fighting Christians and Jews in Africa and the Middle East, Buddhists are fighting Muslims in Sri Lanka and Myanmar and Hindus are fighting Muslims in India.  And, just last week, Muslims have staged angry protests across the world from Turkey to the Philippines over French magazine Charlie Hebdo' s decision to depict the Prophet Mohammed on its latest front cover. A few days ago, Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram has killed scores of worshipers and burned down four churches in a major attack on Christians in several villages in Nigeria as a result of...

Food wastage is the key reason behind poverty and hunger                                           Solution lies in a profound change of heart and mind How often you all go to buffet meals at restaurants alone or with your family and friends?  We normally look for buffet meals that offer more for our money. We feel the need to indulge in a little bit everything at the buffet table. And for the dishes we like the most, we serve large portions on our plate. The desire to put endless meals on our plate and eat all you can leads to food wastage all over the world.  I am convinced that wastage of food is one of the main causes behind global hunger and poverty. According to a report from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), globally one-third of the food produced is wasted, putting an estimate of the cost to world economy about US$750 billion. I just cannot imagi...

World Economic System  Must be Based on Cooperation I am sure you all will agree with me on one thing. The world seems full of crisis and disasters. From racial standoffs in Europe and the US to sectarian uprisings in the Middle East, our planet is in a mess. The most disturbing thing to me is the rising inequality between rich and poor. The gap that separates rich and poor continues to widen, which indicates that existing economic systems in countries are incapable of restoring a just balance. There is no doubt that economic development in many Asian countries has lifted tens of millions of people out of poverty. But, the gap between rich and poor in Asia is wider than ever. And the number of billionaires in Asia including China is growing faster than in any other region in the world. It is also true in many Western nations including the United States.  I have just spent a few weeks in Thailand meeting some of my old friends. The evidence is truly shocking ...