Violence
against women takes a dismaying variety of forms, but the worst form which
snatches away the lives of millions of women each year is honor killing.
Each year uncountable women are killed in name of so called honor; they are
burnt, sold, exchanged, and handed out to different tribes for compensation
for a conflict.
Honor killing is a bitter reality that exists.
Women are stoned, bullet shot, beaten until dead, and attacked by axes, by
their brothers, fathers, husband and even cousins.
Honor kiling is a crime from which our eyes are closed, but its time we WOKE
UP and fight against this so called honor which is restored by killing of
mothers, sisters and doughters.
WAKE UP is a global campaign aimed at mobilizing 5,000 changed agents around
the World who will be the strength for these victimes of honor.
WAKE UP invites you to be a part of this Global campaign and be the force
for change!!!
Villagers
suffering from skin diseases
Staff Reporter
According to reports, people, particularly children, living close to the oil
and gas exploration and production fields in Sindh have been affected by skin
diseases caused by the toxic material disposed in the open fields here.
The oil and gas exploration carried out by multinational companies, in Taluka
Johi and districts Dadu, Thatta and Badin, use toxic materials during their
drilling and exploration process. The disease caused by contamination manifests
itself in the form of marks on the feet, fingers, palms, throats and legs. According
to the parents of the afflicted children, the disease has been termed “incurable”
by the local doctors.
Toxic waste can be seen in the fields near the village settlements close to
the main Dadu-Johi road. According to the international environmental standards,
toxic material should be discarded properly, away from any human settlements.
Furthermore, locals say that following the company’s operation, the drinking
water sources of nearby villages has also been contaminated with oil. This has
forced the women of these communities to travel miles in search of water.
According to a survey by the Participatory Development Initiative (PDI), the
villages of Dhani Dino and Mohammed Buksh Panhwar in Johi and Dadu districts
are the most affected. Similar symptoms can be seen in other gas exploration
areas of Taluka Jati, Thatta district.
A PDI spokesman told The News that the oil and gas company in question has established
two health dispensaries in the area. However, they serve no purpose because
of unqualified doctors as well as the unavailability of medicines.
The local people point out that, while these multinational companies are making
millions of dollars, they should provide health and other facilities to the
communities adopted by them for exploitation — as pointed out by the standards
of international Corporate Social Responsibility — instead of polluting
the environment and spreading incurable diseases.
