#national organisation for social empowerment fake

[notearsfoundation1]

Notears Foundation endeavors to convey a public image that confirms to reality and speaks and acts with diligent honesty.With the power of the Almighty , we intend to pursue excellence beyond compliance ,in all aspects of our work – In government ,management ,operations and administration.

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The Press Secretary Office of The Holy See of Hindusim Responds to Matthew Loh, Breaking News Reporter of Insider Inc (Business Insider), Singapore Insider Insider Business

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The Press Secretary Office of The Holy See of Hindusim Responds to Matthew Loh, Breaking News Reporter of Insider Inc (Business Insider), Singapore Insider Insider Business

Dear Matthew Loh,

Thank you for your inquiry about the United States of Kailasa. We appreciate your interest in learning more about the United States of Kailasa - The Ancient Enlightened Hindu Civilisational Nation and are happy to answer your questions. Please find below the answers to the questions that you had asked in your previous email.

Q: Your team claims that Kailasa has not deceived anyone and is "not fake." What does Kailasa claim to be in conventional terms? Is it a sovereign state, or an organisation perhaps?

A: We are a revival of the ancient enlightened Hindu civilizational nation, operating through a group of NGOs in multiple countries across the world. It was established much in the spirit of a country like the Sovereign Order of Malta, a borderless service oriented nation.

Its vision is “Living Enlightenment for all” leading to global peace irrespective of any external differences including gender, race, nationality, color, caste, creed, etc. It is established on the principle of “Oneness” (“Advaita” in Sanskrit).

Q: Your team also claims there have been "instances of Hinduphobia and racism" in the media. Can you identify these instances and explain your reasoning for them?

A: I would respectfully point you to independent reports such as Anti-Hindu Disinformation: A Case Study of Hinduphobia on Social Media from Rutgers University. https://millercenter.rutgers.edu/.../Hinduphobia-NC-Labs...

The Hindu American Foundation has a collection of references to usage of Hinduphobic and anti-Hindu words: https://www.hinduamerican.org/hindu-hate-glossary

Here is another article that shows evidence for how mainstream narratives erase Hindu voices. https://hindupost.in/.../through-the-colonial-lens-how.../

Much of the narrative about the SPH comes from Indian media which has been called out for its corruption and false reporting. https://www.indiatogether.org/.../2146/PCIsc-intro.pdf

Q: Is there any documentary evidence you can provide to show the legitimacy of Kailasa?

A: Kailasa is the revival of the ancient enlightened Hindu civilizational nation with presence in many countries around the world. It was established much in the spirit of a country like the Sovereign Order of Malta, a borderless service oriented nation. We operate in multiple countries, through NGOs around the world where we offer free food, yoga & meditation and self-empowerment classes, apart from religious services.

Q: Nithyananda also says he owns an island off the coast of Ecuador. Can Kailasa prove this claim?

A: SPH has never claimed he owns an island.

Q: Nithyananda has been accused of rape in India. How does he respond to such charges, and why did he move overseas in 2019?A: This case is absolutely false. Many prominent human rights advocates have given independent reports and legal opinions attesting this. Among them is world renowned Queen’s Council from UK Mr. Geoffrey Robertson who says in this report about the persecution: “It arises more generally from the demonisation of their leader and guru by the media and state government officials as a result of false sexual abuse charges first levelled against him in 2010 and pursued in a manner that amounts to an abuse of process.”. He further adds that “... the state of the prosecution evidence in both cases is weak and it is reasonably likely that he will eventually be acquitted. It is particularly concerning that the central government is urging states to encourage police action against him, which smacks of persecution and reprisal for his complaints to the UN.”. Finally, “For the reasons explained above, I consider that the leader of the ASMT and his followers have suffered and most likely are still suffering, persecution on the grounds of religious belief, contrary to Article 18 of the ICCPR”.

The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism was proven innocent by the California (USA) Court on April 4, 2013. The court ruled in favor of the SPH and fined the false victim nearly half a million dollars in fines. This is also recognized by Mr. Robertson, QC stating: “Both A and B’s claims against PN were dismissed in US cases, with costs and, in A’s case, with damages. Further evidence emerged in the US proceedings to show that the allegations were false.”

Mr. Robertson says in his report that “He did not “jump bail” but was out on bail when he left India as he was entitled to do, and has remained abroad in order to seek asylum because he claims a well-founded fear of persecution.” The SPH is not a fugitive but a persecuted individual whose basic rights were denied. The passport authorities did not renew His passport even after the Indian court ordered them to do so. Further, innumerable attempts were made on the life of the SPH. For all these reasons he was moved to a safe place by His disciples and followers.

Q: Nithyananda has been described in the media as a con artist. How does he respond to this?

A: The description is a pejorative and defamatory, used without evidence by some in the media to delegitimize the contribution of the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism (SPH) in preserving and promoting the science of enlightenment as per Hinduism, and his work in gender equality in religion. His teachings in self-empowerment via yoga & meditation has inspired many to spread these teachings in multiple countries.

The SPH Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam was formally initiated, trained, anointed by competent traditional Hindu authorities who have come in established Hindu lineages. He was recognized at a young age as an incarnation as per Hinduism, much like how the Dalai Lama was recognized as an incarnation as per Tibetan Buddhism. His teachings are based on core ancient Hindu scriptures.

We hope that our previous responses have clarified your questions.

Please let us know if you have any further inquiries, and we will be happy to answer them for you.

Thank you

Press Office of the Holy See of Hinduism - contact@kailaasa.org

Apply for FREE E-Citizenship of Kailasa : https://kailaasa.org/e-citizen/

[jcusnetworksba1002july2019]

Social media, the great genocide or modern-day Renaissance?

Weiß, R. (2014). Myanmar buddhist monk holding a sign

23 September 2016 was a day worth mentioning in history books, for better or worse. On that day, Facebook became available for everyone of 13 years old or above with a valid email address (Abram, 2006). A social network for personal branding and community engagement started to be woven since then. As the Internet is a space for empowerment (Lundberg, 2017), in this particular social network, Facebook, who have been actually empowered? The good or the evil?

To answer this question, I suggest that we reflect upon the definition of ‘power’ first. According to Hannah Arendt and Max Weber, power is always particular rather than general. For instance, manipulation and domination are specific kinds of power (Allen, 2003). So what kind of power does Facebook provide its users? On the bright side, Facebook did play a cohesive role of bringing people together to connect and communicate. NGOs and NPOs have been campaigning for charitable causes on their Facebook pages; communities have been raising awareness of social issues and organising events through Facebook posts. In the early stages, it all looked like wine and roses, and the world was living in the frenzy of a new ‘Renaissance’ of social networks. However, over time, Facebook’s empowering influence has been diverted by the competition of new platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. Furthermore, Facebook’s role of empowerment became discredited by the revelation that it has been struggling to manage the leaking of users’ private data and the spread of fake news and hate speech. Since then, the public came to realise that Facebook as a social network can not only empower communities to unite, but also to divide.  

It seems when the authorities or the powerful jump onboard to play the game of social media ‘empowerment’, the power they gain falls into the category of manipulation, and the consequences tend to be more catastrophic, or even worse, genocidal. There is a long list of Facebook’s facilitation with the manipulation of power: It aided Donald Trump’s presidential campaign to collect personal data from millions of Americans. It failed to detect Russia’s attempts to manipulate the 2016 election. Most notably, in March 2018, the United Nations revealed that Facebook has played a “determining role” in the ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya in Myanmar.

In conclusion, we live in a digital age where social networks like Facebook can be used as a tool for both good and evil. It calls for critical thinking and collective wisdom to avoid biased perspectives and battle misleading façades. We have the power to either be a watchdog for social good, or a puppet of manipulative narratives. The responsibility to maintain a safe and sustainable online environment falls upon each and every one of us.

References

Abram, C. (2006, September 26). Welcome to Facebook, everyone. Retrieved from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook/welcome-to-facebook-everyone/2210227130/

Allen, J. (2003). Lost Geographies of Power. USA: Blackwell Publishing.

Lundberg, A. (2017). BA1002: POWER PANOPTICS. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au

Weiß, R. R. (2014, June 23). The spectre of ethnic violence reappears. [Image] Retrieved from Qantara.de: https://en.qantara.de/content/rohingya-muslims-in-myanmar-the-spectre-of-ethnic-violence-reappears

[upshotre]

Fake news on social media threatened 2019 polls –INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has expressed concerns about the scourge of fake news, especially on the social media, saying the trend posed a threat during the just concluded 2019 general elections.  The National Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, said on Thursday that the trend was a serious concern despite the accreditation of 2,131 journalists to cover the 2019 general elections.  Giving the breakdown, he said 1,799 journalists from more than 150 domestic media organisations in Nigeria and 332 journalists from 52 foreign media organisations from the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Australia and Asia, were accredited.  Yakubu, who spoke during a meeting with the media in Abuja to review the 2019 general elections, said the commission would continue to partner the media in the pursuit of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria. At the event, a National Commissioner and Chairman of Planning, Monitoring and Strategic Committee, Dr Mustapha Lecky, expressed concern over what he described “the scourge of social media.”  Lecky called on the mainstream media to reposition by assisting the electoral process and democracy to save the country from the dangerous trend.  Lecky regretted that whereas the new media platforms were supposed to provide avenues and possibilities for participatory citizenship, information and knowledge sharing, inclusion and empowerment, “the reverse is increasingly the case, as people resort the social media as their main source of information.”  “I often wonder how mainstream media are able to stay afloat. This development did not spare our electoral process leading to the 2019 general elections.  “There is no question that responsible journalism is a prerequisite for the success of our electoral process and stable democracy. Mainstream media needs to reposition to help our electoral process and democracy fights off the scourge of social media.”   Stating the objectives of the meeting, Yakubu said it was to re-examine the entire process with a view to consolidating the successes and establishing a template that would address the challenges.  According to him, the live coverage on television, radio, online newspapers and other platforms as well as the subsequent incisive analysis of issues in newspapers are a demonstration by the media that Nigeria comes above all else.   “The purpose of this meeting, therefore, is to discuss all the salient aspects of the process which require improvement.”  The National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chris Isiguzo, called on INEC to establish a working relationship with NUJ in the areas of accreditation.  According to him, the NUJ, through such relationship, would be able to assist INEC solve its challenges of accrediting fake journalists for election coverage.  The acting Executive Secretary of Nigerian Press Council, Dr Victor Egharevba, advised journalists involved in information dissemination to “always consider fairness, accuracy, and objectivity in their reportage of any election events.” Read the full article

[iasshikshalove]

Current Affairs Dated On 06-07-2019

C.A Dated On 06-07-2019 GS-2 National Register of Citizens (NRC) Why in News? UN experts on Wednesday warned that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam could render millions of citizens stateless and create instability in India. A panel of three experts said the exercise has increased hate speech against minorities in social media and built a climate of racial hatred. About NRC: l The National Register of Citizens (NRC) a register containing names of all genuine Indian citizens. The register was first prepared after the 1951 Census of India. Census of India. l The NRC is now being updated in Assam to include the names of those persons (or their descendants) who appear in the NRC, 1951, or in any of the Electoral Rolls up to the midnight of 24th March, 1971 or in any one of the other admissible documents issued up to mid-night of 24th March, 1971, which would prove their presence in Assam or in any part of India on or before 24th March, 1971. Background: l The update process of NRC started in the year 2013, when the Supreme Court of India passed orders for its update. l Since then, the Supreme Court (bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Rohintan Fali Nariman) have been monitoring it continuously. l The entire project is headed by the State Coordinator of National Registration, Assam, Mr Prateek Hajela under the strict monitoring of Supreme Court of India. Purpose of NRC l The purpose of NRC update is to identify Indian citizens from amongst all the residents of Assam thereby leading to identification of illegal migrants residing in Assam, who entered Indian territories after the midnight of 24th March 1971 and to determine the citizenship of the applicants who have applied for inclusion of their names in the updated NRC. C.A Dated On 06-07-2019 Childrens and Substance Use: Why in News? Nearly 26 lakh children in the country are addicted to “sedatives and inhalants,” Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Details: l Alcohol was the most common psychoactive substance used by Indians followed by cannabis and opioids. l Over 16 crore people in the country consume alcohol, around 3.1 crore use Cannabis and about 77 lakh people take opioids. l “More than 5.7 crore alcohol users, 72 lakh cannabis users and about 77 lakh opioid users are addicted and need help. National survey l The findings were part of a national household survey conducted by the Ministry in 2018. l The survey also indicates that around 1.18 crore people between the age group of 10 and 75 are taking sedatives and 77 lakh are using inhalents. l Children and adolescents were found to be using inhalents more than others. l During the survey, over two lakh households were visited in 186 districts of the country and a total of 4,73,569 individuals were interviewed, he added. l The government was also conducting a survey in 10 cities across the country to assess the pattern and profile of substance use among school and college students. The report was expected by November this year. The Baloch Liberation Army : C.A Dated On 06-07-2019 Why in News? The U.S. on July 2 designated the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) as a terror organisation. “The BLA is an armed separatist group that targets security forces and civilians, mainly in ethnic Baloch areas of Pakistan,” said the U.S. State Department in a statement. History: l In the seven decades of the Baloch movement, the BLA has survived the longest. l It is borne out of the tradition of armed militants who were earlier indirectly supported by the Marri, Bugti, Mengal and other clans or sardars. l The Baloch movement was influenced by the Soviet Union and radical Marxist ideology in the past and some of their leaders were trained by Moscow. l The BLA continues to draw from the same revolutionary spirit but has added that to the younger generation of fighters. Who are their leaders? l While it is well-known that several overground Baloch leaders are sympathetic to the organisation, the overground tribal leaders do not flaunt ties with the organisation as it has been banned by Pakistan since 2006. The BLA has maintained a fluid leadership pattern. What’s its ideology? l BLA rebels claim that Pakistan has been exploiting the resources of the Province without giving the due share to the locals and the indigenous Baloch tribes. l In recent years, the BLA has emerged as a movement with a network of supporters in both urban and rural areas of Balochistan, and has created a space for itself away from the traditional hold of the sardars of tribes. l BLA rebels have claimed that they are aiming for both freedom from Pakistan and internal reform of the Baloch society. l They are opposed to the traditional sardar or Kawailey system at home. l As a result of its non-traditional approach, BLA has become more popular among young and educated Balochis. C.A Dated On 06-07-2019 What are India’s ties with Baloch rebels? l It is established that BLA commanders, in the past, had sought medical treatment in India’s hospitals, often under disguise or with fake identity. l In one such case, a militant commander in charge of Khuzdar city was based in Delhi for at least six months in 2017 when he underwent extensive treatment for kidney-related ailments. l Pakistan has blamed India for supporting the Baloch rebels. l It is known that the Baloch sardars like the late Akbar Bugti and Ghaus Bukhsh Bizenjo maintained warm personal ties with various Indian political figures. However, visits by militants are often under assumed identities unlike those by prominent well known leaders. What does the U.S. ban mean? l Pakistan is expected to make it difficult for commanders and module chiefs of the BLA to travel in the region. l The fighters are also likely to find fund-raising more difficult. l In a communication to The Hindu, Baloch rebels, however, have indicated that they are planning to intensify the struggle against Pakistan as they remain “the most popular” militant organisation in Balochistan despite Pakistan military’s crackdown. GS-3 Highlights of the Union Budget: 1. PAN and Aadhaar will become interchangeable. You can use your Aadhaar number to file your I-T Returns soon. 2. ₹5 lakh minimum limit announced for taxpayers. In view of rising income levels, those in the ₹2-5 crore and ₹5 crore-and-above brackets will see increase in effective tax rate by 3% and 7%, respectively. 3. GST rate on electric vehicles proposed to be lowered to 5%. Additional income tax deduction of ₹1.5 lakh on interest on loans taken to purchase electric vehicles. 4. Additional deduction of ₹1.5 lakh on loans up to March 31 2020 for buying affordable houses, giving ₹ 7 lakh benefit to home buyers. C.A Dated On 06-07-2019 5. Proposal to provide Aadhaar cards for NRIs with Indian passports, after their arrival in India, with no waiting period. 6. ₹20 coin coming up. 7. Excise duty on fuel hiked by ₹1. 8. To resolve the angel tax issue, startups will not be subject to any scrutiny in respect to valuation. Funds raised by startups will not require any scrutiny by the I-T department. 9. TDS of 2% on cash withdrawals exceeding ₹1 crore in a year from bank accounts, to discourage business payments in cash. 10.Period of exemption for capital gains arising from sale of house for investment in startups to be extended to March 31, 2021. 11.₹70,000 crore in recapitalisation for public sector banks. 12.₹1.05 lakh crore disinvestment target for the year. 13.TV channel to be launched for promoting startups and to help matchmaking for funds. 14.New national educational policy hopes to transform Indian education into one of the best in the world, with focus on bringing in foreign students. 15.₹50 lakh crores proposed for Railway infrastructure. 16.By 2022, the 75th year of Independence, every single rural family, except those who are unwilling to take the connection, will have electricity and clean cooking facility. 17.Stress on zero-budget farming, which is a form of gardening as a self-sustainable practice, with minimum external intervention. 18.The pension benefit will be extended to 3 crore retail traders under PM Karam Yogi Maan Dhan Scheme. It requires only Aadhaar numbers and bank accounts. 19.₹1 crore worth of loans proposed to MSMEs. 20.Investment by FIIs and FDIs in debt securities in infrastructure debt funds to be allowed. Minimum public shareholding in listed companies can be increased from 25% to 35%. 21.Global Investors Meet to happen in India. Arctic Research: Context: C.A Dated On 06-07-2019 In a couple of months, the German icebreaker RV Polarstern, a hulking ship will set out for the Arctic packed with supplies and scientific equipment for a year-long mission to explore the planet’s frigid far north. About the Mission: l The icebreaker will be the base for scientists from 17 nations studying the impact of climate change on the Arctic and how it could affect the rest of the world. l The mission’s aim to understand global warming means there’s no time for national rivalry, said Rex. l By combining measurements on the ice with data collected from satellites, scientists hope to improve the increasingly sophisticated computer models for weather and climate predictions. “ Financing of the Mission: The mission has received funding from U.S. institutions such as the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and NASA. Background: l The MOSAiC mission, which stands for Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate, comes about 125 years after Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen first managed to seal his wooden expedition ship, Fram, into the ice during a three-year expedition to the North Pole. l Scientists now believe that the cold cap that forms each year is key to regulating weather patterns across the Northern Hemisphere. l Mr. Rex cited the polar vortices that blasted cold air as far as Florida last winter and the early summer heat wave in Europe as prime examples of the impact. l “The dramatic warming of the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. Salt Adulteration: Why in News? C.A Dated On 06-07-2019 Citing a report from U.S.-based West American Analytical Laboratories, Shiv Shankar Gupta, chairman of Godhum Grains and Food Products, accused some salt manufacturers in India of selling food-grade salt that contained high levels of potassium ferrocyanide. This caused a panic, which was aggravated by widespread sharing of the news item on social media. Indeed, potassium ferrocyanide is being used in salt to give it anti-caking properties. But the answer to whether it is toxic is no! Is it really dangerous? l Firstly, while potassium cyanide is a toxic substance and releases the cyanide anion when consumed by a person, potassium ferrocyanide is not. l In potassium ferrocyanide, the cyanide anion is strongly bonded to ferrous ion and hence does not get hydrolysed. l Secondly, there is the factor known as the LD50 value. This is expanded as “Lethal Dose 50%”. l LD50 is the amount of any chemical that can cause death in 50% of the group of animals that it enters by consumption or absorption through the skin. l According to inorganic chemist Dr. Sayam Sengupta of IISER Kolkata, the LD50 value for common salt — sodium chloride — for rats is greater than 3 gram per kilogram body weight of the animal. He points out that for potassium Ferrocyanide, LD 50 value is 3.6 gram per kilogram weight of the animal, when taken orally. l As this indicates, the LD50 value of potassium ferrocyanide is almost the same as common salt. l Thirdly, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prescribed the levels of potassium ferrocyanide that can be used in salt. l The allowed levels of potassium ferrocyanide in salt is 10 mg/kg. whereas the level in the Tata salt was found to be 1.90 mg/kg and that of Sambhar salt was found to be about 4.71 mg/kg, both within allowed levels. Some countries such as the European Union have banned the use of potassium ferrocyanide as anti-caking agent. However, the analysis indicates that there is no reason to fear toxicity due to this chemical being used.

[newssplashy]

According to the minister, fake news is the greatest threat to democracy and security in Nigeria.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday cautioned Nigerians against the spread of fake news, saying the nation could not afford another civil war.

Mohammed gave the warning at a two-day conference in Abuja, organised by Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), with “Democracy and Disinformation” as theme.

According to him, fake news is the greatest threat to democracy and security in Nigeria.

He said that fake news played a role in the civil war in the country and that Nigeria could not afford to fall victim to the same circumstances that led to war.

“The government has been doing its best in educating the public on the dangers of fake news through various avenues.

“The ongoing infrastructure projects across the country like the agriculture empowerment programs, are part of government deliberate effort to stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities.

“Every one of us must verify information sent to them for authenticity before circulation,” he said.

The minister stressed the need for everyone to work together to curb the threat of fake news.

The Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mallam Ishaq Modibo, explained that the regulation of media stations by the commission was to protect lives and property.

Modibo, who was represented by the Director of Policy and Research in the commission, Mr Mujtaba Sada, said that the regulation was necessary in order to protect citizens from the menace of fake news circulation.

He said that journalists had been dragged into taking sides in certain issues.

He said that sanctioning was not to please the commission but to regulate and ensure that media professionals kept to the dictates of the provision for the interest of the country.

Modibo said fake news was even a threat to the media itself, hence the need to fight against it before it destroyed Nigeria’s democracy.

Also, a Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy and Development, Prof. Jubrin Ibrahim, said the importance of the conference was to brainstorm and strategise on how to protect the future of Nigeria.

ALSO READ: Opposition using fake news to de-market Buhari – Lai Mohammed

Ibrahim said that the conference also became imperative so as to protect the nation’s democracy against the threat of fake news.

He said that fake news was like a machinery aimed at distorting Nigeria’s election management and the electoral integrity.

He said that with the effects of social media, including Facebook, which had over 25 million Nigerian followers, and Twitter, made it imperative for the centre to ensure that fake news were tackled.

via NewsSplashy - Latest Nigerian News,Ghana News ,News,Entertainment,Hot Posts,sports In a Splash.

[roselovesanimation]

The Autism Show - 30th June 2017 Manchester - My Notes from Talks - Part 2

13:35 - 14:25 - Victoria Honeybourne, Senior Advisory Teacher, Trainer and Author - Creating Positive Educational Experiences for Autistic Girls

4. Victoria Honeybourne is a teacher in Secondary Schools and has Asperger’s , she sees the difficulties that Autistic children have and recognises them in herself. She has written several books as results of her research and her own experience within mainstream schools as a student and teacher. Traditionally, Autism was a male diagnostic and in the media, males are more wildly portrayed as having Autism. Recent developments show that females too have Autism; it is just harder to recognise. She listed differences between males and females on the spectrum, Girls tend to hide their difficulties by copying and following others (Hurley, 2014). They are more aware of how “they should” act and behave socially from a young age (Goldman, 2013). Girls can be on the edge of a group on the “outside looking in”, so it can seem like they are social but they do feel separate (Hurley, 2014), which can lead to Girls internalising their feelings which then can lead to mental health issues. Girls have similar high interests but the intensity and dominance is different, Boys stand out for having unusual interests, but Girls tend to like things similar to their peers, such as TV shows and musicians. Honeybourne’s special interest when she was aged 11-17 was Coronation Street and it took over her life as she had to watch it whenever it was on to keep to her routine. It was all she wanted to talk about and knew countless facts about it, so on the surface it seemed “normal” but it was “unusual”. Girls use intellect to think about things and hide true feelings, and can seem skilled in social situations as they are using fake personas. Girls are more expressive when it comes to emotions, which leads to them having intense friendships (Atwood, 2007), they may cling or over attach themselves to other females (Lawson, 2005). Difficulties become more prominent after puberty (eg. Reactions to gossip etc)(Hurley, 2014). Central characteristics are the same in Autistic boys and girls, such as the way they process the world around them. Symptoms can be over/under defined, as they can be confused with other things. Girls can feel like they don’t belong in neurotypical groups, as they don’t classify as having special needs, but they can’t relate to boys with special needs either. But everyone is different, it’s all based on the individuals.Having time tables/a schedule and being conscientious can be a positive in school and also a negative. For example, having social times, but wanting to be alone can be considered unacceptable, or wanting to be part of a group or not. Friendships can be complex, such as wanting friends but not wanting to get misunderstood for being different. Group work can cause tricky situations, such as being picked last, when people mess around and trying to negotiate. Rules in school have to make sense and be consistent, and rewards can be difficult as they don’t work for everyone. Communication with staff and peers is so important for Autistic girls, as there can be anxiety about participation in class and misinterpretation of not wanting to do certain tasks and being told what to do in particular ways. Sensory sensitivities can also have effect, such as bright lights, noise, fast pace, smells, taste, constant interactions = chaotic and unmanageable. Girls can feel misunderstood, like their feelings and concerns have been pushed to the side, which can lead to low self esteem from not being able to do certain things, along with anxiety from worrying about not being able to do things others can do. This could be an aspect of Alexithymia (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/alexithymia), as they may not understand their own feelings enough to express themselves freely. As young females with Autism get older, Puberty can cause more issues as they can be at an emotional level behind their peers even into their twenties, due to lack of support/understanding and physical and emotional effects, and Social Media can cause a big impact too, for all students as well, as there is vulnerability, cyberbullying, sexting etc. How can “we” support students on the Autistic spectrum (girls and boys), as they can’t always get one-to-one support, but teachers and teaching assistants can help in other ways. Adapting the environment, and not just the physical one, the way things are taught is done in a way that doesn’t work with every single child, because everyone learns differently. It is best to be specific, remember that tone of voice has an effect. Do not mislabel others feelings, as that can cause confusion, being told “everyone feels like that” is not helpful. Quiet spaces need to remain quiet, schedules and timetables are key to creating routines, as is being specific and explaining more. Children need to be taught coping strategies to help them, as it increases confidence and willingness to try new things, but it is different for each individual, it is trial and error, so we can learn from successes and mistakes. Acceptance and wellbeing is also very important, as we all need to feel good about ourselves, it’s normal and okay to be different, you are valid. You cannot “fix” someone, that’s not what it’s about, be accepting of diversity and differences and celebrate that, there are different ways of thinking and promoting self esteem is key. This talk was useful to me as my main character is a young girl with autism who is in school and I’ll be showing her outside of that but I have to make it realistic and sensitive to the real issues.

14:30 - 15:00 - Lana Grant, Author of From Here to Maternity - Autistic Girls - Strategies for Success

5. Lana Grant was diagnosed as Autistic when she was 38, she had no idea most of her life. Her son is Autistic (diagnosed at 11, now 23), and she always had feelings of being three steps behind everything. As girls are mot as widely recognised as having Autism, she always felt something was wrong with her but was not sure what it was so didn’t verbalise it. “If you’re a boy or a girl, you’re all wired differently, everyone is different, gender doesn’t matter”, as Autism presents itself in different ways, that is why it’s a spectrum. Early diagnosis by a paediatrician is the best way to find out more about a child, but it can take a long time and for girls it isn’t as clear to see until later in life. As it is a diagnosis, some children could think something is wrong with them and parents don’t get the support after diagnosis, they have to find out things for themselves. Autism is not being seen because of “masking”, which Grant says is very common. Girls are commonly diagnosed through the mental health route, as that’s what happened with her. She was so low as she has depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder and blamed herself for her self-esteem issues, but it isn’t her fault and after finding out she is Autistic, it helped her make sense of things and as time has passed she feels happier now. She said her “special interest” was being pregnant, it wasn’t at first but she has 6 children now. She has written a book about being Autistic and pregnant which is to help herself through and other who can relate. She spoke about positive female role models who are Autistic, such as Jessica Jane, who is a Paralympic swimmer and Daryl Hannah who is an actress. She emphasized the fact that we need to hear more Autistic female voices. She made her own private facebook group for Autistic females to find each other and bond, it had 12 members at first and now has over 1000 members and she encourages empowerment and acceptance. Self Esteem is more at risk for Autistic females, she ended the talk with “You’re good enough”. This talk brought up similar points to the previous one, which validated things and helped me understand female perspectives on Autism in girls. ำb�

Rachel Babbidge, Transition Support Service Coordinator at The National Autistic Society - Transition planning for young people on the Autistic spectrum preparing to leave school

6. This talk was about a EHC plan, the transition from schools and what Autistic young people can do next. From the ages of 12-19, Autistic young people are in the category of Special Education Needs (SEN), if they are in Education, but afterwards they can progress into careers, apprenticeships, colleges, residential stays etc, which is a service that the National Autistic Society provide to help and support them and parents. Parents need to think about their own child’s needs and evidence why they choose certain options and work alongside social workers and authorities to make sure each stage goes well. It is all about the planning and organising in advance as there are different approaches and strategies. Timescales can change and anxiety needs to be reduced throughout the process as it’s different for every individual. They have a support service (autism.org.uk/transition).

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C.A Dated On 11-07-2019

C.A Dated On 11-07-2019 GS-2 Witness Protection Scheme What does it aims? Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 provides for protection of witnesses based on the threat assessment and protection measures inter alia include protection/change of identity of witnesses, their relocation, installation of security devices at the residence of witnesses, usage of specially designed Court rooms, etc. Details:  The Scheme provides for three categories of witness as per threat perception: Category 'A': Where the threat extends to life of witness or his family members, during investigation/trial or thereafter. Category 'B': Where the threat extends to safety, reputation or property of the witness or his family members, during the investigation/trial or thereafter. Category 'C': Where the threat is moderate and extends to harassment or intimidation of the witness or his family member's, reputation or property, during the investigation/trial or thereafter.  The Scheme provides for a State Witness Protection Fund for meeting the expenses of the scheme. This fund shall be operated by the Department/Ministry of Home under State/UT Government and shall comprise of the following: i. Budgetary allocation made in the Annual Budget by the State Government; ii. Receipt of amount of costs imposed/ ordered to be deposited by the courts/tribunals in the Witness Protection Fund; iii. Donations/ contributions from Philanthropist/ Charitable Institutions/ Organizations and individuals permitted by the Government. C.A Dated On 11-07-2019 iv. Funds contributed under Corporate Social Responsibility. Background: The Hon‟ble Supreme Court of India in its Judgment dated 05.12.2018 in Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 156 of 2016 has endorsed the Scheme. As per Article 141/142 of the Constitution, the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 endorsed in the said Judgment of the Supreme Court is binding on all Courts within the territory of India and enforceable in all States and Union Territories. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2019 Why in news? The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal to introduce The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019. The Bill will be introduced in the ensuing Session of Parliament. The Bill provides a mechanism for their social, economic and educational empowerment. Impact  The Bill will benefit a large number of transgender persons, mitigate the stigma, discrimination and abuse against this marginalized section and bring them into the mainstream of society.  This will lead to inclusiveness and will make the transgender persons productive members of the society. Background C.A Dated On 11-07-2019  Transgender community is among one of the most marginalized communities in the country because they don‟t fit into the stereotypical categories of gender of „men‟ or „women‟.  Consequently, they face problems ranging from social exclusion to discrimination, lack of education facilities, unemployment, lack of medical facilities. Salient features of the Bill:  The Clauses 21 and 22 of Chapter V aim to reserve 2% of seats in primary, secondary and higher education institutions funded by the government, and in government jobs.  The Clause 24 for Chapter V mandates formation of special employment exchanges for transgender people.  The Chapter VII details the formation of national and state-levels commission for transgender people.  The Chapter VIII details the formation of special transgender rights courts.  The Clause 11 of Chapter II specifies the right of a transgender child to a home and imposes conditions for foster care.  The Chapter IX details the offenses and penalties. The maximum penalty for hate speech against transgender people in 1 year imprisonment with fine The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill Why in News? The Union Cabinet has approved the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that will help adjudicate disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers and river valleys. A version of this bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2017 but subsequently lapsed. Salient features of the Bill:  The Bill seeks to amend the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to streamline the adjudication of inter-state river water disputes.  A key feature of the bill is the constitution of a single tribunal with different Benches, and the setting of strict timelines for adjudication.  There are about a dozen tribunals that now exist to resolve disputes among States on sharing water from rivers common to them. C.A Dated On 11-07-2019  The standalone tribunal so envisaged will have a permanent establishment and permanent office space and infrastructure so as to obviate with the need to set up a separate Tribunal for each water dispute, a time consuming process.  The Bill also proposes a Dispute Resolution Committee set up by the Central Government for amicably resolving inter-State water disputes within 18 months. Any dispute that cannot be settled by negotiations would be referred to the tribunal for its adjudication.  The dispute so referred to the tribunal shall be assigned by the chairperson of the tribunal to a Bench of the tribunal for adjudication. The Bill can also affect the composition of the members of various tribunals, and has a provision to have a technical expert as the head of the tribunal. Currently all tribunals are staffed by members of the judiciary, nominated by the Chief Justice. Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meet Why in News? India has called upon the Commonwealth to speed up the process of readmission of Maldives as a member country. Background:  Maldives withdrew from the Commonwealth during the tenure of previous President Abdullah Yameen in 2016 after the Commonwealth expressed serious concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in the country.  The new government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was elected after a democratic wave that fought the rule of President Yameen. About Commonwealth:  The Commonwealth of Nations, normally known as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 53 member states, nearly all of them former territories of the British Empire.  The chief institutions of the organisation are the Commonwealth Secretariat, which focuses on intergovernmental aspects, and the C.A Dated On 11-07-2019 Commonwealth Foundation, which focuses on non-governmental relations between member states.  The Commonwealth dates back to the first half of the 20th century with the decolonisation of the British Empire through increased self-governance of its territories. It was originally created as the British Commonwealth of Nations through the Balfour Declaration at the 1926 Imperial Conference, and formalised by the United Kingdom through the Statute of Westminster in 1931.  The current Commonwealth of Nations was formally constituted by the London Declaration in 1949, which modernised the community, and established the member states as "free and equal". The human symbol of this free association is the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II, and the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting appointed Charles, Prince of Wales to be her designated successor, although the position is not technically hereditary. The Queen is the head of state of 16 member states, known as the Commonwealth realms, while 32 other members are republics and five others have different monarchs. GS-3 Steps Taken to Stop Terror Financing: Why in News? The Government has taken various steps to combat terror financing in the country, which inter alia, include:- i) Strengthening of the provisions in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 to combat terror financing. ii) A Terror Funding and Fake Currency Cell (TFFC) has been constituted in National Investigation Agency (NIA) to conduct focused investigation of terror funding and fake currency cases. C.A Dated On 11-07-2019 iii) Since Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) network is one of the channels of terror financing in India, FICN Coordination Group (FCORD) is been formed by the MHA to share intelligence/information among security agencies of the states/centre to counter the problem of circulation of fake currency notes. iv) The withdrawal of legal tender status of Specified Bank Notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination led to instant extinguishment of high quality fake Indian currency notes of these denominations. V) Since illegally held cash forms a large chunk of terrorist funding, most of the cash held with the terrorists turned worthless. What is terror financing?  The financing of terrorism involves providing finance or financial support to individual terrorists or non-state actors.  Some countries maintain a list of terrorist organizations and have money laundering laws, which are also used to combat providing finance for those organizations.  The FATF Blacklist (the NCCT list) mechanism was used to coerce countries to bring about change.  A 2008 FATF report on terrorism financing noted the importance of links between financial tools and wider counter-terrorist activity to combat terrorist financing. Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019 Why in News? The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019. It will replace the banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019. The banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019 will replace the Ordinance promulgated on 21st February, 2019, which will otherwise cease to operate after six weeks after reassembly of Parliament. C.A Dated On 11-07-2019 Impact  The Bill will help tackle the menace of illicit deposit taking activities in the country, which at present are exploiting regulatory gaps and lack of strict administrative measures to dupe poor and gullible people of their hard-earned savings. Background  The banning of Unregulated Deposit Scheme Bill, 2018 was considered by the Lok Sabha in its sitting held on 13th February, 2019 and after discussion, the same was passed, as amended through the proposed official amendments, as the banning of Unregulated Deposit Scheme Bill, 2019.  However, before the same could be considered and passed in the Rajya Sabha, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on the same day. About the Bill: The Bill provides for a mechanism to ban unregulated deposit schemes and protect the interests of depositors. It also seeks to amend three laws, including the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992. · Unregulated deposit scheme: A deposit-taking scheme is defined as unregulated if it is not registered with the regulators listed in the Bill. · Competent Authority: The Bill provides for the appointment of one or more government officers, not below the rank of Secretary to the state or central government, as the Competent Authority. The Competent Authority may: (i) provisionally attach the property of the deposit taker, as well as all deposits received, (ii) summon and examine any person it considers necessary for the purpose of obtaining evidence, and (iii) order the production of records and evidence. The Competent Authority will have powers similar to those vested in a civil court. C.A Dated On 11-07-2019 · Designated Courts: The Bill provides for the constitution of one or more Designated Courts in specified areas. This Court will be headed by a judge not below the rank of a district and sessions judge, or additional district and sessions judge. Offences and penalties: The Bill defines three types of offences, and penalties related to them. These offences are: (i) running (advertising, promoting, operating or accepting money for) unregulated deposit schemes, (ii) fraudulently defaulting on regulated deposit schemes, and (iii) wrongfully inducing depositors to invest in unregulated deposit schemes by willingly falsifying facts. Repeated offenders under the Bill will be punishable with imprisonment between five to 10 years, along with a fine ranging from 10 lakh to five crore rupees. C.A Dated On 11-07-2019 Plastic Pollution: Why in News? More than 300 women will join a round-the-world voyage launching in October to highlight the devastating impact of plastic pollution in the oceans and conduct scientific research into the escalating crisis. Why is it needed?  Millions of tonnes of plastic, from food packaging to fishing gear enters the sea each year, leading some marine experts to warn that there could be more plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050. About the voyage:  The two-year all-female voyage comprises scientists, teachers, filmmakers, product designers, photographers and athletes.  It is organised by eXXpedition, a non-profit focusing on marine pollution - will collect samples from some of the planet‟s most important and diverse marine environments to build a picture of the state of the seas.  The 38,000 nautical mile trip will cover the Arctic, the Galapagos Islands, the South Pacific islands and central ocean areas where plastic accumulates because of circulating currents. Need of the hour:  There‟s a misconception that there are islands of plastic out there that you can see, but it‟s more like a soup.  It‟s fine fragments and the solution was to “turn off the tap” on land and stop the plastic entering the sea in the first place.  The research will focus on identifying the types of plastic and finding tailored solutions.  “There‟s not one silver bullet solution. We need to be working from every sector, from every angle. “We need design of new materials, we need policy change, we need education, we need the arts to be shifting mindsets, we need engineers.  The only way we are going to solve it is by all working together. C.A Dated On 11-07-2019