MediaVigil, Journal of Global Communications and Justice

New Evidence Confirm Star Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines Deceived German Authorities to Dispose of the Toxic Laden SS Norway to India Brussels; New Delhi; 30 June 2006: The NGO Platform on Shipbreaking, a global coalition of human rights and environmental groups working to uphold environmental justice, released a report today revealing new evidence that the third largest cruise operator in the world, Star Cruises Ltd and its subsidiary, Norwegian Cruise Lines, withheld vital information from German authorities, when they sought permission to allow their toxic waste laden vessel, the SS Norway, to depart from the Port of Bremerhaven on 25 May 2005 to Asia. The Report reveals that as early as December 2004, SCL and NCL formed the intent to dispose of the vessel, which they did not disclose to German authorities, and instead claimed that the SS Norway was going to Asia for repairs. The Report entitled, “Star Cruises Ltd and Norwegian Cruise Lines: Deceiving Germany and Violating In...

SC marks Environment Day; Allows import of asbestos-laden ship In an ironical commemoration of the World Environment Day, the Indian Supreme Court on 5th June went against its own 1997 order and subsequent order of 14 th October 2003 prohibiting import of hazardous wastes by permitting SS Blue Lady, a ship containing 1240 MT of toxic asbestos, to enter Indian waters. Indian media failed to take note of the fact that the the court allowed anchoring of the ship on humanitarian grounds and not on legal grounds. The fact is that there is no legal ground for it to be allowed because its a case of illegal traffic of a toxic ship. The ship under tow left Malaysia on May 5, 2005 , after having fraudulently declared to port authorities there that it was destined for repairs in Dubai . The ship has made several attempts to reach scrap yards, including an aborted attempt late last year when the Bangladesh Government prohibited the toxic ship from entering the country on health and en...

June 15 2006: Global Day of Solidarity with Iraq Journalists in the Frontline of the Deadliest Media War in History The International Federation of Journalists, joined by the Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists and the Kurdish Association of Journalists, today launched a global campaign to end the terrifying ordeal of journalists in Iraq where at least 128 media staff have been killed and hundreds more injured or disabled in what has become the deadliest media war in modern history. The General Secretary of the IFJ, Aidan White, speaking to journalists in Dubai, said the campaign was backed by journalists’ groups across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as throughout the IFJ’s international network. “Iraqi journalists are the real heroes of this war,” said White. “Every day they take risks and make sacrifices that must be recognised in the crucial fight for freedom and democracy in Iraq,” he said. On June 15th – Iraq’s National Day of the Press – there will be de...

The subjective reporting in which Rajat Sharmas of India TV indulge in routine manner must be criticised. Last night while reading the news about how Gujarat Government has ensured that the Cinema Halls in Gujarat would not allow the screening of Aamir Khan's forthcoming film Fanaa in the state, Sharma said, Aamir Khan's involvement in the issue was uncalled for. He should have kept himself confined to movies. The reason for Fanaa's boycott being that Aamir Khan had supported the victims of Narmada Dam project who were seeking just rehablitation Aamir Khan-starrer Fanaa is going to be released on May 26. It is no one's case that Khan is activist. Had he been so he would not have been advertising for Coca Cola company, which has robbed the villagers in Kerela and Madhya Pradesh of their ground water but such support to the autocracy of the state is unbecoming of media persons. It is the same mindset of the Indian government which has put on hold the Friday release of ...

Office-bearers of Press Council of India Chairman, Justice Ganendra Narayan Ray Secretary, Mrs Vibha Bhargava 9th Term Members 1 K. Sachidananda Murthy Malayala Manorama, 2/11, INS Building, Rafi Marg, New Delhi-1 Tel. 23715210, 23325565 Resi-22750246 Mobile: 9818987555 Fax No.2371657 2 Vyas Kundan Ramanlal Janambhoomi Newspapers, Janambhoomi Bhawan, Janambhoomi Marg, Fort, Mumbai-400 001. Tel.23524373, Fax 22874097, Mobile-9869005686 3 Jagjit Singh Dardi 593, SST Nagar, Patiala, Punjab. Resi. 844, SST Nagar, Patiala Punjab. Tel. 0175-2370301, 5001774 Fax-0175-2371181 Mobile: 9815592166 4 Uttam Chandra Sharma 224, Civil Lines South, Muzaffarnagar-251 002. (U.P.) Tel. 0131-2403032, 2403058(O) 0131-2421003, 2402810(R ) 09837042840, 09412710840 5 Rajeeva Kumar Arora Gandiva Hindi Daily First Floor, VDA Shopping Complex, Nichi Bagh, Varanasi-221001 Tel. 2412540(O) 2392969(Editorial) 2392979 (Advt.) 6 Hiranmay Karlekar The Pioneer, Link House, 2nd Floor, B.S. Zafar Marg, Ne...

Complaints Procedure If you have a complaint against a newspaper, for any publication which you find objectionable and effects you personally, or non-publication of a material, you should first take it up with the editor or other representative of the publication concerned. If the complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may refer it to the Press Council of India. The complaint must be specific and in writing and should be filed/lodged within two months of the publication of impugned news item in case of dailies and weeklies and four months in all other cases, along with the original/photostat copy of the impugned clipping ( English translation if the matter is in vernacular ). You must state in what manner the publication/non publication of the matter is objectionable within the meaning of the Press Council Act, 1978 and enclose a copy of your letter to the editor, pointing out why you consider the matter objectionable. His reply thereto or published rejoinder, if any, may ...

Union Human Resources Development Minister, Arjun Singh's proposal to increase the reservation quota from 22.5 per cent to 49.5 per cent, with a whopping 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in all centrally funded educational institutions. These institutions include 20-odd central universities and the IITs and IIMs but also six central medical colleges including AIIMS, the National Law School at Bangalore and Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC).