These days many Chinese netizens, who have been wronged are not going to the police. Instead they reach for their mouse and issue an "arrest order" on the Internet to locate the offender and obtain justice.

Virtual world policing began when video clips were posted on the Internet showing a woman mistreating a cat by grinding her high-heeled shoes into the animal's mouth and eyes. The woman's wanton cruelty provoked the wrath of netizens across the nation.

Outraged netizens issued a so-called "arrest order" on the Internet to track her down. In only a matter of days, both the woman and the photographer were located and their personal information --address, ID card number and car plate numbers -- were flashed on the Internet for all to see.

As a result, the woman and the photographer were fired from their jobs even after they acknowledged their fault and apologised.

Ever since that incident occurred in February last year, online "arrest orders" have boomed in China's virtual world.

People post appeals in an attempt to find someone they hate, asking other people to join in to condemn this "bad guy".

If one typed "arrest order" in Chinese into some Chinese search engine sites, it instantly generates more than 50,000 results.

Professor Liu Xin from Beijing-based China University of Political Science and Law said Internet "arrest orders" could be used as a tool to criticise social evils and promote public supervision of social order.

"Online arrest orders can contribute to improving social morality," he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Courtesy : Expressindia.com

IT is not just humans who face a hard time battling the ever-soaring mercury levels in summer. Animals and birds, also part of the urban set-up, too, find it hard to survive in summer, mainly due to lack of drinking water sources.

With the rise in temperature, black kites, pigeons, crows, mynahs, parakeets and langurs found in city’s green spaces, face problems like dehydration and heat stroke.

City-based Animal Help Foundation has already rescued close to 300 birds and langurs this summer, beginning April. Of these, a precious bird currently recovering from dehydration at the Centre is a yellow-footed green pigeon, also known as Hariali, which is a rare sight in the city. The bird was rescued from LD Engineering College campus a few days ago. It is currently recovering at the Foundation’s recovery centre.

“Green pigeon lives on banyan tree, which is hard to find in the city. They are therefore a rare sight here. However, although this bird gets enough fruits to eat, water is sometimes hard to come by in summer, which causes dehydration,’’ said Sohan Mukherjee, a volunteer at the AHF. The bird is currently surviving on fluid injected to it under the skin, like any other birds recovering at the foundation.

“These birds drop down and are unable to fly due to dehydration. Although birds get their required amount of food, they do not get sufficient water in summer season. Even langurs face a similar situation. Lack of sufficient water intake causes loss of strength and stamina in them, so they fall down when taking long jumps. When they are brought here, we give them intravenous fluid supply,’’ says Banerjee.

Fledglings of black kites, however, are the most common prey to summer heat. The AHF itself rescues close to five such kites every day. Their breeding season extending till late winter, these kites are born in summer therefore the newborns are prone to dehydration, so they are often found lying unconscious on the ground.

“They are kept entirely on fluid for at least four days to bring their hydration level to normal. They are then released,’’ Sohan added.

Courtesy : Exrpessindia.com

HERE, HIV positive executives ‘ring’ in sunshine in lives of HIV positive callers. In a ‘first-of-its-kind’ attempt, State will soon extend its toll-free counselling facility to another 16 districts. Set to get connected by June, Gujarat becomes the first state in India, where the telecentre staff comprises 70 per cent HIV positive who guide the demoralised and depressed and offer them care and support.

A venture of Gujarat State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) to reach remotest locations, also has members who look after functioning of three drop-in-centers at Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara as well as executions of six help and support projects by the GSACS.

At the drop-in-centers, three out of five staff members are HIV positive and will be seen in action at Rajkot counselling on anti-retroviral drug center (ARV) doses which help boost immune system.

At present, the telecounselling facility is provided by only five municipal corporations Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Bhavnagar and toll-free line can be accessed within city limits. With state-wide network to be set by June, the counselling for HIV positive people from any city or village counselling will be available at required time.

Currently, the facility is available in four districts including Ahmedabad, Bharuch, Patan and Mehsana.

‘’Telecounselling is an ambitious project by the GSACS with an aim to reach to every HIV positive in the State. The Gujarat is the first state to provide state-wide network with the help of Gujarat Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNPLHA),” said Dr D M Saxena, additional project director, GSACS.

The official believes that when counselling comes from HIV positive itself, it can be very effective as the caller can easily relate with the attendant, which can help build faith.

From just seven members in 2003 to a network of 4,500 people in 24 districts, by coming and working together they have made difference in their lives and continue to do so for others.

State has total of 45 Positive Speakers — HIV positive people who speak in public about their condition and share their experience.

‘’Even in states like UP and Maharashtra, where number of total HIV positive is much higher than Gujarat, the number of Positive Speakers is around 11 to 15,” said Umesh Patel, a founder member of GNPLHA and member of India Network of Positive People Living with HIV/AIDS (INPLHA).

‘’When members of INPLHA approached us in 2003, we were seven people—- five from Surat, one from Rajkot and Kutch. Now, we have a set network in all the districts with total 4,500 registered members,” says Jagdish Patel, one of the founder member from Rajkot.

‘’I was not in position to afford expensive drugs. Another member had an issue on how to disclose his status. The founder members came together and helped each other. Like medicines, care and support are equally important for HIV positive,” says Jagdish Patel, adding, ‘’Through telecounselling, we take the mission to the next level.”

Courtesy : Expressindia.com