Last updated May 25.

Lots to see and do this May! Let’s get to it…

As always, we’ll continue to update this post throughout the month. Send your events to info@sapac.org or leave a comment here.

Parag Khanna @ Hotel Sofitel Chicago-Water Tower
Monday, May 2 @ 5:30pm

Khanna, Director of the Global Governance Initiative, and Senior Research Fellow in the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation, addresses “How to Run the Twenty-First Century” for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Young Professionals.

Tickets on Sale for Dalai Lama’s July Visit
Wednesday, May 4

The Theosophical Society in America hosts the Dalai Lama on July 17 and 18 at the UIC Pavilion and Harris Theater as part of its Summer National Gathering.

Meal Hosts for Visiting Pakistani Leaders Needed
Wednesday, May 4 – Sunday, May 8

World Chicago (formerly International Visitors Center of Chicago) is looking for people interested in meeting with visiting Pakistani leaders in government accountability in a professional and/or social capacity for meals in their home. Contact John Baum for more info.

D’Lo @ University of Chicago
Wednesday, May 4 @ 6:00pm

Our favorite queer Tamil Sri L.A.nkan-American, political theatre artist/writer, director, comedian, and music producer performs for the school’s APA Heritage Month celebration.

John & Jane Screening @ Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, May 4 @ 6:30pm

Cinema/Chicago, in collaboration with the Chicago Cultural Center and international and cultural partners throughout the city, hosts free public film screenings at the 8th Annual International Summer Screenings Program. Directed by Ashim Ahluwalia, John & Jane “follows six ambitious young Indians answering calls from American customers in a Mumbai call center.”

Allison Busch @ University of Chicago
Thursday, May 5 @ 4:30pm

Busch, Assistant Professor of Hindi-Urdu Language and Literature at Columbia University, speaks as part of the university’s South Asia Seminar series.

Engaging Youth in Conflict Zones @ Blackstone Hotel
Thursday, May 5 @ 5:30pm

Rye Barcott, Cofounder of Carolina for Kibera, and Ronan Farrow, Special Adviser on Humanitarian and NGO Affairs – Afghanistan and Pakistan for the U.S. Department of State, discuss “the challenges of rebuilding civil society in both active and post-conflict zones and the vital role that programs targeting youth serve in creating long term stability and prosperity” for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Chandrika Marla @ Black Cloud Gallery
Friday, May 6 @ 7pm

New Delhi-born artist Marla shows her work in a group show called “She” at Pilsen’s Black Cloud Gallery. May 6 is the opening reception.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan @ Odeum Center
Saturday, May 7 @ 8:30pm

Vocalist Khan, nephew of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, performs his many beloved songs in suburban Villa Park.

A Jihad for Love Screening @ DePaul University
Monday, May 9 @ 7:00pm

LGBT Change’s “The Faith Project” has partnered this spring with the Queer Intercollegiate Alliance, a network of local LGBTQ university groups, for “Queering the Faith,” a film series exploring the intersection of religion and the LGBTQ community. The last screening is this documentary exploring the lives of LGBT Muslims.

Muslims in Love Screening @ Jane Addams Hull-House Museum ADDED 5/9
Tuesday, May 10 @ 7:00pm

The Sex Positive Documentary Film Series screens this short film about American Muslim young people pursuing love and searching for alternatives to arranged marriages common to traditional Muslim culture.

Operation ASHA Evening of Hope @ Quartino
Wednesday, May 11 @ 6:00pm

The New-Delhi- and Chicago-based organization hosts a benefit to fight tuberculosis worldwide.

“Queering the Faith” Townhall Discussion @ Adler School of Professional Psychology
Wednesday, May 11 @ 7:00pm

LGBT Change, the Queer Intercollegiate Alliance, and Congregation Or Chadash end a two-month film series, “Queering the Faith,” which looks at issues of faith from an LGBT perspective, with a panel discussion featuring

• Parvez Sharma – Director, A Jihad for Love
• Fr. James Halstead – Religious Studies Chair, DePaul University
• Kayla Higgins – Interfaith Organizer, One Chicago One Nation
• Nick Liebman – Program Director, DePaul Hillel

Nile Green @ University of Chicago
Thursday, May 12 @ 4:30pm

Green, Professor of History at UCLA, speaks as part of the university’s South Asia Seminar.

Kalapriya Dancers @ Chicago Children’s Museum ADDED 5/9
Thursday, May 12 @ 6:00pm

Kalapriya student dancers give a free performance as part of Navy Pier’s Passport to the World Festival.

BRIC in 2020 Conference @ University of Chicago ADDED 5/10
Friday, May 13 – Saturday, May 14

The goal of this conference is to bring together experts on Brazil, Russia, India, and China (collectively known as “BRIC”) to discuss social and economic issues facing these emerging economies and how these challenges will affect their political development.

Shehzad Roy, Bushra Ansari, and Aron Kader @ Belvedere Banquets
Friday, May 13 @ 6:30pm

Actress Ansari and comedian Kader join musician and philanthropist Roy for a benefit for Zindagi Trust, his effort to educate underprivileged children in Pakistan.

Huma Bhabha @ Rhona Hoffman Gallery
Through May 14, 2011

The Karachi-born Bhabha’s “sculptures and photo-drawings address universal themes of colonialism, war, displacement, and memories of home. Made from discarded materials such as clay, chicken wire, leaves, Styrofoam, metal chains, paint and wood, the work in this exhibition evokes a sense of suspended creation and decomposition, as if salvaged from wreckage.”

Kalapriya Dancers @ Chicago Children’s Museum ADDED 5/9
Saturday, May 14 @ 1:00pm

Kalapriya student dancers perform as part of Navy Pier’s Passport to the World Festival. $10 admission.

Dr. Dilgeet Singh @ McCormick Place ADDED 5/12
Saturday, May 14 @ 3:30pm

Dr. Singh of the Sinai Urban Health Institute joins several medical experts for a discussion of health care injustice in Chicago at the annual Green Festival Chicago.

Ann Kalayil @ Kluczynski Federal Building ADDED 5/15
Monday, May 16 @ 2:00pm

Kalayil, the newly appointed Great Lakes Regional Administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration, joins Patricia A. Shiu, Director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, for a Midwest Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Leaders’ Roundtable hosted by the DOL. The discussion will include “important steps DOL is taking to improve data collection and outreach, to increase employment and access and to protect the civil rights of nearly 16 million” AAPIs as well as time for Q&A. For more information, please call (312) 353-4591.

Inaugural Fundraiser for Ameya Pawar @ Industrial Ballroom ADDED 5/12
Monday, May 16 @ 6:00pm

The newly elected 47th Ward alderman is feted at a fundraiser for constituent services (specifically, “to either hire additional staff, fund community programs and projects, and/or offset office expenses”).

Meal Hosts for South Asian Leaders Needed
Tuesday, May 17 – Saturday, May 21

World Chicago (formerly International Visitors Center of Chicago) is looking for people interested in meeting with visiting South and Central Asian leaders in HIV awareness and prevention in a professional and/or social capacity for meals in their home. Contact John Baum for more info.

Amisha Patel & Harishi Patel @ Heartland Cafe ADDED 5/12
Tuesday, May 17 @ 7:00pm

Organizer-activists Amisha Patel and Harishi Patel join a host of fellow activists, spoken word artists, and musicians to celebrate the relaunch of Mayoral Tutorial, a website created by Don Washington to keep the public “dangerously informed” of Chicago politics.

Kim Barker @ After-Words ADDED 5/16
Tuesday, May 17 @ 7:00pm

The Chicago Tribune‘s South Asia bureau chief from 2004 to 2009 discusses and signs The Taliban ?Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Holi Discussion @ Loyola University Museum of Art ADDED 5/16
Wednesday, May 18 @ 11:30am

Dr. Yarina Liston of Loyola’s theology department discusses the Hindu religious festival Holi.

Meenakshi Ganguly @ Loyola University Museum of Art ADDED 5/16
Wednesday, May 18 @ 5:30pm

The Delhi Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International and the Chicago Committee of Human Rights Watch present an evening with Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia Director at Human Rights Watch. RSVP to Linda Miller at delhisistercity@spaantech.com or (312) 277-8816.

Meenakshi Ganguly @ The Chicago Club
Thursday, May 19 @ 7:30am

Ganguly, South Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, discusses “Human Rights in India and the Challenge for Global Leadership” for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee and Esther Duflo @ Drake Hotel
Thursday, May 19 @ 12:00pm

Banerjee, Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics, and Duflo, Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics, both Cofounders and Directors of the Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT, discuss “Revolutionizing Development Economies” for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Roy Fischel @ University of Chicago
Thursday, May 19 @ 4:30pm

Fischel, of the U of C’s Department of South Asian Languages & Civilizations, speaks as part of its Theory and Practice in South Asia graduate program.

SAPAC May General Meeting @ Roosevelt University UPDATED 5/18
Thursday, May 19 @ 5:30pm

Join us for a discussion of political developments in the 50th Ward, the DREAM Act, our annual arts showcase Voices of Resistance, and more! We’ll be on the 2nd floor of Roosevelt, 430 S. Michigan.

A Culinary Journey to India @ Hema’s Kitchen on Devon
Thursday, May 19 @ 6:30pm

The West Ridge Chamber of Commerce hosts an introduction to Indian cuisine in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Rummana Hussain and Noreen Ahmed-Ullah @ Pompeii Oakbrook Terrace ADDED 5/11
Thursday, May 19 @ 6:30pm

Muslim Women’s Alliance hosts the two journalists for a discussion of what it takes to succeed in journalism and current challenges facing Muslims in the media.

Subcontinental Drift @ The Joynt ADDED 5/12
Thursday, May 19 @ 7:00pm

The popular free South Asian open mic returns for another evening of professional and amateur performers, this time to benefit Save a Mother, whose mission is to “develop health care solutions for the poor, beginning with reducing maternal mortality.”

After the Flood: Eklavya Prasad’s Photographs of Life in North Bihar, India @ LUMA ADDED 5/16
Friday, May 20 @ 5:30pm

The Loyola University Museum of Art hosts an opening reception for Prasad, who also leads a grassroots campaign, Megh Pyne Abhiyan (Cloud Water Campaign), to supply safe and secure drinking water to the flood-prone areas in North Bihar.

Wedding Album @ North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
Friday, May 20 @ 8:30pm

Vachikam, Chicago South Asian Art Council, and Rasaka Theatre Company present Girish Karnad’s comic play, directed by Lillete Dubey.

Inner-City Muslim Action Network Training @ Catholic Theological Union ADDED 5/12
Saturday, May 21 – Sunday, May 22

IMAN hosts a 2-day training on social justice and community organizing.

Shri K. Mohanan @ Bollywood Rhythms Dance Studio ADDED 5/12
Saturday, May 21 – Sunday, May 22

The Samskriti Foundation hosts a dance-intensive workshop in Bharatanatyam for beginners and advanced-level practitioners, led by Chennai-based lecturer Mohanan.

Dr. Hussein Rashid @ LUMA ADDED 5/16
Saturday, May 21 @ 3:00pm

Academic and activist Rashid discusses “Everyday Art: The Islamic Impact on American Arts” at the Loyola University Museum of Art.

Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers @ Metro ADDED 5/6
Tuesday, May 24 @ 9:00pm

The Brooklyn-based blues/punk/garage rockers open for Man Man at Metro.

Eklavya Prasad & Shweta Singh @ LUMA ADDED 5/16
Wednesday, May 25 @ 5:30pm

Artist Prasad and social work researcher Singh discuss development work and the role of grassroots organizations that focus on women and rural communities in Bihar, India.

Apna Ghar Benefit @ River East Art Center
Wednesday, May 25 @ 6:00pm

Apna Ghar, a comprehensive domestic violence agency providing culturally appropriate, multi-lingual social services, including shelter, to all victims and survivors of domestic violence, primarily in the South Asian and other immigrant communities, hosts its annual Taste for Life benefit featuring a number of Chicago’s most celebrated South Asian chefs.

Sharmistha Gooptu @ University of Chicago
Thursday, May 26 @ 4:30pm

Gooptu, Founding trustee of the South Asia Research Foundation, as part of the university’s South Asia Seminar.

Ameya Pawar @ ICIRR ADDED 5/25
Friday, May 27 @ 12:00pm

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) hosts a lunch discussion with the newly elected 47th Ward alderman.

Ahalya Satkunaratnam @ praxis place ADDED 5/16
Friday, May 27 @ 8:30pm

SAPAC member Satkunaratnam presents two dance works in progress for “bloom #10,” part of a series of informal and improvisatory group shows.

DJ Rekha @ Darkroom
Sunday, May 29 @ 9:00pm

Bhangratheque presents a night of music and dance featuring DJ Rekha, DJ Jimmy Singh, and a special dance performance by Hareepa! Chicago.

Anindita Dutta @ Robert Bills Contemporary
Through May 31, 2011

The West Loop gallery presents Wrest in Peace, a solo exhibition of Dutta’s recent sculptural work, performance documentation, and video installation.

City of Chicago Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Calendar
Through May 31, 2011

Though there aren’t many South-Asian-focused events listed, I encourage you to check out the city’s annual Heritage Month calendar and support our many APA community organizations.

While much of the mainstream media has suffered declining audiences in the past several years, WikiLeaks and Al Jazeera have captured the world’s attention.  The impact these unconventional journalists will ultimately have on global events, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia, is still unknown. I attended the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) forum on South Asians and the Media in Chicago on January 29 to learn more about the state of international press, and to familiarize myself with local (and a couple national) South Asians in the media.  The panel was largely composed of mainstream South Asian journalists, and ethnic media and creative writing were also represented.

The backdrop of the presentation was a slide show of covers of U.S. periodicals with South Asian themes from 1919 onward. This show provides interesting insight into changing views of South Asia over the years.  The most immediately relevant part of the discussion concerned the catalyst role Al Jazeera played in recent events in the Middle East, which was characterized by Aparisim “Bobby” Ghosh, World Editor of Time magazine, as activist journalism.  Referring to unfolding events in Egypt and Tunisia, Ghosh stated, “This is Al Jazeera’s moment.” He drew a sharp contrast between the Western media’s “arms-length,” avowedly nonpartisan view of Middle Eastern revolutions and the passionate advocacy of Al Jazeera.

Some of the other issues covered in the rest of the wide-ranging discussion:

• The importance of collaboration between ethnic and mainstream media.  Alongside the decline in mainstream media, a 2009 New America Media poll reports increasing utilization of ethnic media in recent years, estimating a quarter of the overall U.S. population and four out of five African American, Latino, or Asian adults in the U.S. utilize such press.

• South Asian representation in the media.  There is a need for more South Asians as subjects of stories, more South Asian-themed stories, and more South Asians in visible media roles. Several panelists pointed out that beyond these needs, though, it is also important to have South Asians behind the scenes, and as bystanders or expert witnesses giving thoughts on issues unrelated to the South Asian community.

• Resources for up-and-coming journalists.  Fellowships are available through SAJA and Chicago is the World. Panelists noted that while funding is scarce, demand for online content is high, and a potential point of entry into larger publications.

• Collaboration with community groups.  For organizations seeking publicity for their work, establishing a longitudinal relationship with a journalist can be helpful to spotlight events or issues the group is working on.

In the spirit of SAJA, it’s worth noting that while Mahatma Gandhi is well-known as a lawyer and organizer, he also wrote for and published newspapers for most of his adult life.  He described his prolific writing as essential to shaping his consciousness and overcoming his notorious shyness to successfully communicate his ideas.  In regard to the power of his newspaper in the civil rights struggle in South Africa, he remarked, “Satyagraha would probably have been impossible without Indian Opinion…which therefore was certainly a most useful and potent weapon in our struggle.”

The South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA)

and Columbia College Chicago’s Journalism Department,
Center for Asian Arts and Media,
Community Media Workshop, and
South Asian Philanthropy Project

present

South Asians and the Media: A Town Hall for the Chicago Community

Saturday, January 29, 2011
3:00pm – 5:30pm
Columbia College’s Ferguson Auditorium
600 S. Michigan Ave., First Floor, Room 101

NO CHARGE – free and open to the public!

RSVP by filling in this form at http://bit.ly/sajachicago or e-mail saja@columbia.edu.

Join several prominent journalists from the mainstream and ethnic media outlets for a discussion on how the media covers the South Asian community and how the coverage can be improved. Moderated by  Sree Sreenivasan, SAJA co-founder and Columbia University Journalism professor, speakers include the following veteran journalists:

Chicago’s own:

• Ravi Baichwal, anchor, ABC-7 Chicago
• Rummana Hussain, Chicago Sun-Times
• Ameet Sachdev, reporter, Chicago Tribune
• Mary Anne Mohanraj, author, poet, activist

Visiting from New York City:

• Aparisim “Bobby” Ghosh, World Editor, Time magazine
• S. Mitra Kalita, senior housing writer, Wall Street Journal and author of “My Two Indias: A Journey to the Ends of Opportunity” and “Suburban Sahibs: Three Immigrants and Their Passage from India to America”

This event is intended for non-journalists and journalists alike.  All are welcome. Topics include

• Current state of ethnic and mainstream press
• How South Asians in Chicago are covered today – locally and nationally
• How South Asia is covered today – locally and nationally
• What the community can do to help journalists tell better stories
• How to get your news into the news
• How the media can use information to mobilize communities
• The media’s role in building knowledge and support for philanthropy/nonprofits

Event Schedule

• 3:00 – 3:30 – Arrivals
• 3:30 – 5:00 – Panel discussion and Q & A
• 5:00 – 5:30 –  Networking Reception

Those unable to attend but who have questions they’d like asked at the event may email those questions to saja@columbia.edu (subject line = Chicago town hall).

El: Red line to Harrison. Bus: 1, 3, 4, 6, 10, 14, 26, 28, 145, 146
Map: http://bit.ly/fjwlLx
Parking: Three lots on NE, NW and SE corners of  Wabash and Harrison

On August 25, the Indian government rejected a bid by a London-based company, Vedanta, to develop a bauxite mine in tribal regions of Orissa.  In its rejection, the government acknowledged the environmental catastrophes and cultural destruction that would occur in areas that have been inhabited by Adivasis for generations.

In addition to bauxite (an aluminum-containing rock), this area produces a significant amount of coal, iron, and chromite.  In February 2010, Amnesty International published a detailed report of a yearlong, on-site investigation.  Findings included minimal local involvement in development plans, distribution of misinformation about the project, human rights and legal violations associated with use of the land in this way, and inevitable air and water contamination. The report also noted that local people have yet to benefit from the presence of national and international extractive companies; Orissa is one of the poorest states in the country, with 46% of the population living under the national poverty level (less than US$330 a year).  In fact, the study reported anecdotally that local people have suffered economically as a result of these industries, experiencing decreased employment opportunities, loss of grazing land and farmland, and increased prices due to influx of laborers.

Guest blogger Ravi resides in Chicago and is a co-founder and blogger for Dharma Deen Alliance. He has also written articles for other magazines such as Clamor and Hinduism Today.

When it comes to South Asia we’re given a continual stream of news stories about communalism and sectarian violence or tension between Hindus and Muslims. Mobs in Gujarat attacking each other, violence in Mumbai, and a slew of rhetoric from both sides that seek to inflame tensions. This focus on intolerance from mainstream news sources also further miseducates the public and contributes to increasing divisions.

What if, instead of always providing undeserving exposure to nationalists, terrorists, and hate mongers wrapped in fanaticism, we focused on cooperation between these two communities that are supposedly hostile to each other? What if you read about practitioners who follow the real tenets of Islam and Hinduism by aiding each other and living in peace? Does that sound too far-fetched or hard to imagine?

Read the story of Hindus in Gujarat who helped reconstruct a Sufi shrine? Heard of the Muslims in Kerala who allow their mosque to serve as a temporary mandir to Hindus traveling on pilgrimage? How about the Hindus who helped Muslims break fast by sharing their food after their homes were destroyed in flood-hit Bihar? Maybe you didn’t know that Muslim artists in Kashmir helped renovate a decaying temple or that there are communities where Hindus and Muslims celebrate Eid and Navratri together.

This is where the idea of Dharma Deen Alliance came from: a website that to aims to restore some balance to all the negativity surrounding Hindu-Muslim relations. Why should all the fanatics and people uneducated on their religions’ canon monopolize all the publicity? Dharma Deen is a blog run by both a Muslim and a Hindu seeker. Not only will we present news stories on interfaith unity, we’ll discuss in depth the tenets, concepts, and laws of our respective spiritual paths. And unlike the extremists whose intention is to foster division, we’ll back up our call for harmony by directly quoting our scriptures, our prophets and avatars, and the saints who were steeped in both traditions.

Visit us on the web for weekly posts or subscribe by email to our blog @ www.dharmadeen.com.

Extra: Check out this video on Malerkotla, a shining example of communal harmony.

by Rabya, Sabba, and Aparna

A girl floats her brother across flood waters while salvaging valuables from their flood ravaged home on August 7, 2010 in the village of Bux Seelro near Sukkur, Pakistan. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

“When faced with the tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti and other natural disasters, we showed extraordinary humanity. Let us do so again today. Together, let us stand with the people of Pakistan. Let us act so that this natural disaster does not become a man-made catastrophe. Let us give this our all.” — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

The magnitude of the flooding is affecting more individuals than the tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti, and Hurricane Katrina combined, affecting  more than 20 million people–unprecedented in Pakistan’s history.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO DONATE OR HELP; EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS, WHETHER IT’S $1 OR $100. If you are unable to give a monetary donation, please pass on the information, remember the flood victims in your prayers/thoughts, do your own fundraising (like a flood relief run, jewelry/accessories sale, or bake sale), or do whatever else you can. Below is a list of agencies doing work on the ground for flood relief in Pakistan, and links. Please check their websites for details.

NEWS UPDATES:

Pakistan floods on Twitter

Pakistan floods: Before and after photos

Challenges in distributing flood relief aid

Chapati Mystery – Pakistan Flood 2010

Link TV updates and relief guide

___________________________________________________

RADIO INTERVIEWS:

Asia Pacific Forum interviews with Dr. Ahmed Muktar of Doctors Without Borders in Pakistan and Saadia Toor of Action for a Progressive Pakistan

WBEZ Chicago interview with Navaid Abidi, Human Development Foundation board member, on their flood relief efforts

___________________________________________________

AGENCIES:

Note: Numerous NGOs are doing important work that may benefit Pakistan flood victims. Use due diligence in giving donations to any unknown group.

The Abdul Sattar Edhi Foundation: The Edhi Foundation has a long history of working across Pakistan doing a range of charitable relief work. It has one of the most extensive networks across each of the country’s provinces. Please call the numbers below or send an email for directions on how to donate. Please note that this organization has U.S. status and can receive checks.
42-07 National Street
Corona, New York, 11368 USA
Tel: (718) 639-5120 or (718) 639-5120
Fax:(718) 335-1978
Toll Free# 1-888-899-EDHI or 1-888-899-EDHI
Email: edhi@cyber.net.pk

AmeriCares:  Medicines, medical supplies and equipment, nutritional support, etc.

Direct Relief International:  Mobile health teams and medical supplies, including Pedialyte and antimicrobials.

Helping Hand Foundation: Their Chicago office collected clothes/supplies and shipped out this past weekend.

Human Development Foundation:  Relief/reconstruction, including clean water, supplies, disease prevention, sewage disposal, temporary school facilities.

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders):  Medical care; clean water; supply kits, including mosquito netting, tarps, blankets, hygiene supplies, clothes.

Mercy Corps:  Water supply kits, including tanks, purification tablets, filtration units; food supply kits, including rice, oil, staples; tool kits.

Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation: The Omar Ashgar Khan Development Foundation has offices in Islamabad and Abbotabad and field offices and staff throughout Kyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. They are also providing flood relief.

Account Name: Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation
Account Number: 058512020005422
Bank Name: MCB Bank (0585), Main Branch, Abbotabad, Pakistan
Swift Code: MUCBPKKAMCC

Oxfam International:  Hot food; clean water; boats for search/rescue; installation of tanks and toilets; sanitation kits; hygiene supplies; cash-for-work programs.

Red Crescent:  Emergency services; food packs; bulk rice; tents; other supplies; help with field operations, including shelter, water, sanitation, logistics, other relief.

Relief International:  Distributing “Survival Kits,” including dishes/utensils; water purification tablets; cooking stove; jerrycan; floor mat; mosquito netting; hygiene kits; etc.

Sarhad Rural Support Programme: SRSP is working in the different flood-affected valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including in Shangla, Kohistan, Dir, Swat, and Chitral.

Account Name: Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP)
Account Number: (US Dollar Account) 05-7772777-90
Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank Peshawar Branch
Bank Address: P.O Box # 18, 35 Sharah e Quaid-e-Azam, Peshawar, Pakistan Zip/Post: 25000
Swift Code: SCBL PKKX
Tel Number: +92915275665, +92915275665
Fax Number +92915275367

ShelterBox:  Distributing water carriers; filtration systems; ShelterBoxes, including 10-person partitioned weatherproof tents, insulated ground sheets, thermal blankets, mosquito netting, tool kits, stoves, dishes/utensils, water purification supplies, children’s kits, etc.

Shirkat Gah Women’s Resource Centre: Shirkat Gah – Women’s Resource Centre (SG), Pakistan, is actively engaged in providing and coordinating relief to those affected across Pakistan through its partner community-based organizations in synchronization with all three Shirkat Gah offices in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. Shirkat Gah is also a grantee partner of the Global Fund for Women (a peer/ally of Grassroots International–see below). For further information please contact (any) of the following:

Ms. Humaira Sheikh
humairamshaikh@gmail.com
Mobile: +92-300-846-1142

Ms. Sadia Ahmed
sadia@sgah.org.pk
Phone: +92-42-35836554

Please note: All individuals/organizations transferring funds to SG should intimate them of the details of transfer. You can send your contribution to the following Shirkat Gah accounts:

Shirkat Gah’s Bank Details – USD account (US Dollar account):

Account Title:  Shirkat Gah
Branch Office Lahore Account No: 05-5307597-79
Account Currency: US$
Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Ltd
Bank Address: 27 Ali Block, New Garden Town Lahore, Pakistan
Swift Code: SCBLPKKX

Sindh Labour Relief Committee: A number of progressive labor, women’s, youth, and other groups have formed the Sindh Labour Relief Committee (SLRC) to coordinate relief efforts in areas of Sindh affected by the floods.

Contact persons:

Nasir Mansoor
ntufpak@gmail.com
Phone: 92300-3587211

Abira Ashfaq
abira_a@hotmail.com
Phone: 92314-2003885

You can send checks or money orders to the following New York-based accounts for further credit to Pakistan banks in Karachi and the SLRC account as indicated below.

JP Morgan Chase Bank Ltd, New York
SWIFT Code: CHASUS33

American Express Bank Ltd, New York
SWIFT Code: AEIBUS33

Further credited to: NIB Bank Ltd, Gulshan, Karachi, Pakistan, SWIFT Code: NIBPPKKA

Favoring: Labour Education Foundation, Account Number: 0009-0270652 (with NIB Bank Ltd, Gulshan, Karachi)

Sindh Rural Support Organisation: SRSO is now accepting donations from philanthropic individuals, nonprofit organizations, and corporations to provide relief in flood-affected areas of upper Sindh. You can send your contributions to:

Standard Chartered Bank, New York
to transfer to

JS Bank Ltd. , Karachi, Pakistan
Swift Code: SCBLUS33 (Standard Chartered)
Account number of JS Bank (with Standard Chartered): 3582039975001
Swift Code: JSBLPKKA (JS Bank Ltd)
Number of SRSO Flood Relief Account (with JS Bank): 198068

For more information on relief efforts and how to donate please contact:

Mr. Ghias Muhammad Khan (Coordinator Sindh RSP’s Consortium)
ghiasmkhan@gmail.com

Dr. Ghulam Rasool Samejo
grsamejo@thardeep.org

Sungi Development Foundation:
US$ Account: Sungi Development Foundation
Account Number: 412-2
Branch Code: 0585
Online transfer code: 058512020004122
MCB Star Branch, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Swift Code: MUCBPKKA

The Citizens Foundation: They build schools in Pakistan.

UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees):  Through partner NGOs, distributing tents, sheeting/tarps, cooking sets, buckets, sleeping mats, blankets, etc.

U.S. State Department Texting Program:  Forwards $10 donations to UNHCR for distribution of supplies in two provinces.  Text “SWAT” to 50555.

___________________________________________________

WITHIN PAKISTAN:

Eisaar Trust: SAPAC Core Member Sabba’s friend & her mother are working with them in Lahore.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society: Offices in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Muzaffarabad.

RONAQ-E-QAINAAT: Young doctors are in the process of arranging a series of free medical camps in the flood-affected areas. First Camp is at Nowshera. Contact Ms. Alina Akhyar at alinaakhyar@yahoo.com to email you the Trust’s past activities, bank account details, and other queries. They have reportedly done some pretty impressive work.

Account number: 00400101065364
Account Title: Khadija Nadeem; Askari Bank Chaklala Scheme 3 branch Rawalpindi
Khadija is the founding member and is handling all donations.

The Volunteers/Voice of the Civil Society: VOTCS is a registered (No. DSW 3369-K) welfare organization in Pakistan, operating as a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt nonprofit public charity in North America. They are sending provisions to affected areas with the help of Pakistan Army. For more info call:

Hadia Khan
Phone: +92-3018245999

Sadia Haroon
Phone: +92-3218251122

Irum Farooque
Phone: +92-3002332142.

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Check out this new blog that was posted to the SAPAC listserv: http://dharmadeen.com. It aims to counter the misconception that Hinduism and Islam cannot co-exist.

More on the project, from its founders Azeem and Ravi:

WHAT IS DHARMA DEEN ALLIANCE?

The word “dharma” is Sanskrit and “deen” Arabic.

Both loosely defined mean “righteousness” or “path”–specifically the spiritual path. A true devotee’s goal is following this path–not wasting time on petty issues, not rivalry about which religion is superior, not bothering with extremist ideology, or seeking converts. A devout Hindu must follow dharma, while a devout Muslim must follow deen. Dharma-Deen Alliance is a blog run by two aspirants on their respective paths to Higher Truth, and it will explore scriptural law, proper living, and devotional love.

In addition, Dharma Deen Alliance will counter the misconception that Hinduism and Islam can’t co-exist together. Because of our South Asian backgrounds we’re especially bothered by the consistent focus in the news about violence between Hindus and Muslims. We’ll post news stories ignored by the media documenting unity between both communities. Working and living together peacefully with no quarrel, taking care of each other’s temples and mosques, and celebrating holidays and festivals side by side. And we’ll honor the lives of saints and seekers who worked to reconcile both faiths such as Shirdi Sai Baba, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Ramakrishna, and numerous others.

Read the authors’ purpose statements here:
Azeem: http://dharmadeen.com/about/purpose-statement-by-azeem/
Ravi: http://dharmadeen.com/about/purpose-statement-by-ravi/

Okay, it only was for the sake of designing a flyer for the upcoming Voices of Resistance [1], but nevertheless, today, July 27, 2010, I bought myself the smallest tube available of Fair and Lovely in Chicago, Illinois.

Pulling up onto Artesia, I see Devon ahead of me. It’s literally been years since I walked the streets. A life in California, India, and Sri Lanka has separated us, but it’s still recognizable–a part of my previous Chicago existence. I find the last spot in Daley’s still-new-piss-me-off-disaster-deal-with-the-devil-parking-meter-on-side-streets-money-making-money-taking parking. I dig up some quarters. Holding enough to peruse the store in my hand, I walk up to the paying machine. “No payment necessary!” it says. “This is how King Daley makes us passive,” I think.  I return the prized quarters to the car coffer and pick up my bag, packed with camera. I am prepared to take photos of the whitening agent on the shelves of Devon.

I exit my car with hoodie on. It’s warm and humid today, so I’m wearing a slim tank I received free for volunteering my services at a beer tent in one of the many neighborhood summer festivals of Chicago. But I rather cover my assets with my grey hoodie as I walk these streets. It’s all part of the performance, a follow up on the phone conversation I had with one of the Patel Brothers supermarket employees earlier, after which my roommate commented on the subtle and surprising South Asian accent in my English. “I don’t need any trouble on this mission,” I think, “nor anymore undesired and uninvited looks.” I’m performing good Indian girl, the one that’s not noticed.

I walk a few blocks, noticing the red paan stains on the sidewalks. People are here, ready to purchase and consume. Each restaurant has customers, at least one table full, smiling and conversing. I’m glad that business continues on these northern streets of Chicago. In spite of the parking, in spite of the heat, in spite of many things that come with life in Daley city, Blagojevich state, BP America.

The marker of the Patel Brothers empire is a new Patel Brothers-named juice stand that coincides with the territory of “Ghandi Marg.” Lime-mint drinks. Mango drinks. And young coconut water. Mmm. But I know these versions don’t come close to the tastes of the homeland, so I resist, instead continuing toward the Patel Brothers supermarket. The mission is ahead of me. As I walk the block, I notice a beautiful, dark complected South Asian woman. I want to ask her if I can take her photo.

It’s a desire aroused after an entire afternoon of searching the web/oracle for South Asian faces to include in my promotional piece for Voices of Resistance. That search was frustrating. I was typing in search terms like “South Asian women.” After each entry, I closed my eyes firmly, nervous about finding nasty, exoticizing porn sites on the top of the list. I must say, there were a few of them. The other non-pornographic images felt like random representations of South Asianness and brownness. I needed to find a way that the images would be mine, a result of my own choices. But I didn’t have the nerve to approach her. “I don’t need to attract attention here,” I think. I walk into the supermarket a few short steps away.

Immediately upon entering the market I see the multiple cosmetic items, shampoos, and herbal oils. No Fair and Lovely there. Instead, the whitening agent is in its own area, directly in front of the checkout counters. You know, it’s the area for last-minute-I need-this items. Typically these product spots cater to the stomach with smaller prepackaged savories and sweets, but not here at the Patel Brothers supermarket. This high-profile spot is where the whitening potions are displayed, several shelves full of whitening soaps, scar creams, and plain old make-your-complexion-lighter concoctions. This is the first time I’m standing face to face with this product: Fair and Lovely. I’ve never looked at its box. I’ve never touched it with my hands. It is cheap. The smallest tube is $1.99. But I just want to take a photo of the carton. I mean, I try to vote with my dollar as much as I can—which means I am boycotting all China-made greeting cards and most made-in-China products if I can afford another import. Life practices create change, I believe. But here I am, directly in front of the cash registers, each armed by a two-person team of cashier and bagger.  I can’t see a way of taking these photos stealthily. “I must purchase the item,” I think. “I must offer my cash toward an industry that finds my skin color not lovely, not fair.” It’s a system that equates darkness with sadness, depression, depravity, and ugliness. I will be spending two dollars toward that system. And I feel horrible about it. But I try to chuckle at the absurdity as I approach the cash register with the dollar bills in my hand.

I don’t look at the box too much, just glancing at the peculiarly tiny yet very familiar dark/sad, light/happy faces of the model below the name. It’s a white box with gradients of light rose pink all over. The sweet font of Fair and Lovely in a dark rose and silver is delicate, light, thin, slender, unimposing, yet at the same time, present in its assertion of goodness. A thick band of pink divides the box horizontally with the word “multivitamin” under which is a graphic of a rose-pink capsule which is split to release nourishing drops of oily-pink goodness. The description of the product is “TOTAL FAIRNESS CREAM.” It is in all caps. Under this declaration is, in small font, an arrow that points me to a “Fairness meter” on the side of the box. A meter in which shades of ugly to fair are displayed. I place my hand next to it. “13″ is too light. But the color of my hand falls between “14″ and “18″; I cannot tell which to be exact. There is a “1″–the ultimate fair. And there is a “26.” The meter informs the consumer that “numbers are only for easy identification of skin color.”

I hand the cashier my two dollars–two dollars and eighteen cents to be exact. I give her my cherished quarter from which she gives me seven cents change. The other lady places the box in a thin black plastic bag. “I don’t need a bag,” I inform her. She chuckles as I take the box out of the bag and think of the absurdity of the cream in my hand. I place it in my reusable tote that’s morphed into my summer handbag. Life is full of contradictions.

I completely love the idea of discovering a city when it is most silent–we often forget to listen.

via The Hindu: Life & Style / Metroplus: Sunrise symphony: Some intrepid writers from The Hindu boldly take a morning walk around their fair city.

Lodhi Gardens, New Delhi, India