Latest news with #OurState
The Hindu
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress leaders detained in Jammu as police foil street march for J&K Statehood
The top leadership of the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, including the party's national secretary G.A. Mir and its J&K president Tariq Hameed Karra, were detained in Jammu on Sunday (July 20, 2025), as the police foiled the party's street campaign for the restoration of 'full statehood' to J&K. The Congress leaders faced off with the J&K police when they began a protest in Jammu's Gandhi Nagar area under their 'Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq (Our State, Our Rights)' campaign, with a 'Jammu Chalo' march on Sunday, and plans for a 'Delhi Chalo' march to gherao Parliament as well. 'In a blatant display of authority, the police under the control of the BJP and the Lieutenant Governor's administration arrested the party leaders,' a Congress spokesperson said. 'Undermines democracy' The Congress accused the police of 'manhandling' Rajouri MLA Iftkhar Ahmed. 'The J&K police behaviour during the 'Jammu Chalo' march for Statehood restoration is utterly unacceptable. This kind of behaviour directed at an elected representative not only undermines democratic principles but also infringes upon the right to peaceful protest,' the Congress spokesperson said. The party said it was imperative that authorities conduct a thorough investigation immediately, hold those responsible accountable, and reinforce democratic values to restore and maintain public trust in public institutions. 'Such actions cannot be endured in a healthy democracy,' the party spokesperson added. 'Undeclared emergency' The J&K party chief, Mr. Karra, slammed the police action. 'The administration used undemocratic methods to foil our peaceful campaign, which has been going on for the past six months. Today's procession was in favour of our 'Chalo Chalo, Delhi Chalo' campaign. We will not be silenced or stopped,' he said. 'Our party's peaceful call for 'Jammu Chalo' to demand the restoration of statehood for Jammu & Kashmir was met with a massive show of force. Barricades, locked gates, and a protest site turned into a chawni (cantonment). Is this the new normal? An undeclared emergency where submitting a memorandum and protesting for our rights is treated as a crime?' he added. The Congress leaders and workers were heading to the Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum on the restoration of Statehood when the police took action against them. Raising issue in Parliament 'Did Prime Minister Narendra Modi lie on the floor of Parliament about granting statehood for J&K? If not, why has J&K Police arrested JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra ji and other Congress leaders? Why did they seal the PCC Office in Srinagar yesterday & stop our party workers from protesting peacefully for statehood?' Congress leader and MP K.C. Venugopal asked, in a post on X. During the upcoming Parliament session, the INDIA bloc plans to raise the demand for immediate restoration of full statehood to J&K, Mr. Venugopal said. 'This farce cannot go on any longer,' he added. The street protests by the Congress in J&K come days after the Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister demanding the restoration of Statehood to J&K, which was downgraded to a Union Territory and saw its special status scrapped in 2019.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hunters form unlikely alliance amid emerging threats to animals and traditions: 'It's the whole process of making everything right'
Increasing temperatures have resulted in rising sea levels across coastal communities, including the Down East region of North Carolina. Sea-level rise in this region threatens ducks and other migratory birds, The Assembly reported, along with the tradition of hunting them. However, hunters and conservationists alike are taking action to keep the tradition –– and ducks –– alive. The Down East exists along the coast of North Carolina and is defined by its "relationship with water," as Our State described. The region hosts a history of commercial fishing, duck hunting, and duck decoy carving, among other activities. But increasing temperatures and a changing climate jeopardize all of it. According to The Assembly, coastal North Carolina has experienced about 11 inches of sea-level rise since 1950. The sea level in Beaufort –– which rests to the south of the Down East –– is estimated to rise nearly half a meter by 2050 and one meter by 2100, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data shared by Coastwatch. These rising seas are flooding marshes, which over 500 species of migratory birds –– like ducks –– stop at along their routes on the Atlantic Flyway. Some 389 migratory bird species are at risk of extinction due to the effects of warming temperatures, such as sea-level rise, according to the National Audubon Society. While sea-level rise threatens birds, it also hurts the tradition of duck hunting that people in the Down East value. Warming temperatures have shifted migration patterns, The Assembly explained, which results in fewer birds flocking to the region and fewer ducks to hunt. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Chris Yeomans is a longtime duck hunter and Down East resident, and per The Assembly, he appreciates the community that duck hunting creates. The loss of duck hunting means the loss of that community and the region's identity. "It's not just going out and killing ducks," he said. "It's the whole process of making everything right." Hunters and conservationists are attempting to protect ducks and the traditions surrounding them. Duck decoy carving is another tradition in the Down East, and some artists participate in the Federal Duck Stamp contest to conserve ducks and their habitats. The contest, as The Assembly described, brings together "duck hunters, enthusiasts, and artists" to design a stamp, from which 98% of the proceeds support habitat conservation. Other community members support conservation through research. Joel Fodrie, a friend of Yeomans, according to The Assembly, researches seagrasses and salt marshes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and restores these habitats by planting seagrass. Whether through science or art, the Down East community strives to keep its traditions alive. "It's still alive," Yeomans said about duck hunting. "You might say it's being passed down." Meanwhile, reducing the production of planet-warming pollution can help reduce the rate of rising global temperatures that are contributing to sea-level rise. Investing in solar panels, swapping a gas-guzzling car for an EV, and eating more plant-based meals can all make a difference in this endeavor. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sanford, Lee County chosen for affordable housing initiative
The City of Sanford has been selected by the University of North Carolina to participate in the 'Our State, Our Homes' program, an 18-month initiative to improve access to and availability of affordable housing. The initiative is part of UNC's Carolina Across 100 project, which aims to 'enhance the quality of life for all people in the state' through meaningful partnerships. The 'Our State, Our Homes' program will connect the S3 Housing Connect Taskforce and City of Sanford and Lee County staff with UNC's faculty, staff and students from various disciplines to examine affordable housing and develop a plan of action that suits the community's needs and resources. 'This program is provided at no cost to participants,' explained Tradell Adkins, city planner and liaison to S3. 'The only commitment required is our time and effort to determine best practices and identify strategies to address affordable housing needs in Sanford.' Sanford/Lee County was among 14 community teams chosen to participate. The teams — made up of business, civic, education, nonprofit, faith-based and government entities — represent 22 North Carolina counties, each with their own unique challenges. Sanford and Lee County represent Team 9: 'The Heart of the Carolinas,' a name that reflects its 'well-centered' location in the state. 'This program avoids a one-size-fits-all approach,' Adkins said. 'We will have access to real-time local housing data to tailor solutions specific to Sanford and Lee County.' Along with City of Sanford and Lee County staff, Sanford's team includes Lee County Re-Entry Services, Trillium Health Resources and Brick Capital Community Development Corp. The cohort will participate directly in forums and sessions, and then share their training with local organizations to drive implementation. Fore more information about the initiative, go online at
