There is a huge gulf between what Islam preaches and what its followers practice in almost all walks of life. The great faith insists on universal brotherhood and equality of all human beings before God.

Aijaz Zaka Syed

Said Aijaz Z. Syed - a Gulf based commentator and author - in his article published in Arab News under the title "Gulf between perception and reality of Muslims".

The article provides an insight into the thought process of those who are muslims in a true sense. Aijaz cites recent incidents of extremist violence, around the world, like — the Nairobi mall siege, the attack on a church in Pakistan and attack on college students in Nigeria — and emphasises that people behind such acts of violence have nothing to do with Islam. Further, he says that perpetrators of these shameful acts cannot be Muslims because Islam represents and stands for peace — in Arabic it literally means peace — and mercy. There is a huge gulf between what Islam preaches and what its followers practice in almost all walks of life. 

In a news item published in Arab News of September 30, 2013, it has been reported that increasing number of young students between the ages of 15-17 have been found, by their teachers, mocking Islam, spreading illicit ideas and expressing disrespectful views about Islamic laws at schools in Saudi Arabia. Students have been found laughing during prayers. Teachers feel that most of these children have been affected by globalization and are carried away by a desire to imitate what they deem as Western freedom expressing disrespectful views about Islamic laws. In order to curb this kind of illegal behavior, the education ministry of Saudi Arabia has warned students and contemplated penalties for violating the code of behavior including, among others, preventing a guilty student from pursuing studies for one academic year. The ministry has expressed concern about the harmful effect of such behavior on students and the community. The ministry's codes of conduct for students aim to build a generation committed to Islam and the country.

"The great faith insists on universal brotherhood and equality of all human beings before God. It says all human life is sacred and warns taking one innocent life is akin to killing entire humanity. But what does our conduct demonstrate? No matter what we say in our defense or that of Islam, ultimately we are judged by our actions, not by our words. We can go on claiming for all eternity that the Holy Qur’an, the last revealed divine testament according to our belief, preaches universal brotherhood and that this is the first universal charter of human rights. But do we really believe in and practice what we preach? More to the point, what message does this send out to the world? We may go on righteously protesting that this has nothing to do with faith. But like it or not, such reasoning doesn’t cut it. The world judges us by who we are, not by what we claim to be. If we stand for peace and salvation, our lives must attest to it and our actions must show it. It is as simple as that", writes Aijaj in his article.

Gandhi is a real hero of mine

Said President Barack Obama during his interaction with 9th Graders of Wakefield High School, Arlington, Virginia on September 8, 2009.

Today is 'Gandhi Jayanti' - the 144th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) popularly known as ‘Mahatma Gandhi’ or better still as ‘Father of the Nation’. In 2007, the United Nations declared 2nd October as the International Day of Non-Violence, as a mark of respectful tribute to a person who dedicated his life practicing the principles of non-violence, equality or oneness, and truthfulness.

President Barack Obama (White House)

President Barack Obama - also winner of the Nobel Peace prize (2009) - when asked, during his Interaction Meet, by a student of Wakefield High School "If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? The President replied : "Dinner with anyone dead or alive? Well, you know, dead or alive, that's a pretty big list. You know, I think that it might be Gandhi, who is a real hero of mine. Now, it would probably be a really small meal because -- (laughter) -- he didn't eat a lot. But he's somebody who I find a lot of inspiration in. He inspired Dr. King, so if it hadn't been for the non-violent movement in India, you might not have seen the same non-violent movement for civil rights here in the United States. He inspired César Chávez, and he -- and what was interesting was that he ended up doing so much and changing the world just by the power of his ethics, by his ability to change how people saw each other and saw themselves -- and help people who thought they had no power realize that they had power, and then help people who had a lot of power realize that if all they're doing is oppressing people, then that's not a really good exercise of power. So I'm always interested in people who are able to bring about change, not through violence, not through money, but through the force of their personality and their ethical and moral stances. And that's somebody that I'd love to sit down and talk to". (Source : White House Press Office)

Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General

In his message on this occasion, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said : "Today we celebrate the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi and his resonant legacy of non-violence.  Gandhi showed the power of peacefully opposing oppression, injustice and hatred.  His example has inspired many other history-makers such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Václav Havel, Rigoberta Menchú Tum and Nelson Mandela.  Their message to each of us is to champion human dignity, reject intolerance and work for a world where people of all cultures and beliefs live together on the basis of respect and equality". 

He concluded his message by saying : :On this International Day of Non-Violence, I call on global citizens everywhere to be inspired by the courage of people like Mahatma Gandhi. Turn your back to division and hatred; stand up for what is right and just.  Work with your fellow women and men for a world of lasting justice, peace and prosperity for all".

“Non-Violence,” a sculpture by Karl Fredrik Reutersward,
sits permanently outside UN Headquarters in New York

Some links and pictorial illustrations of his personality are given below :

Rabindranth Tagore on Mahatma Gandhi

The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi

by R.K. Prabhu & U.R. Rao 

Neither Saint nor Sinner       

My Mahatmaship

Top world leaders and authors from different fields have said and written volumes about Mahatma Gandhi but his own "An Autobiography" Or "The story of my experiments with truth" provides the deepest insight into his philosophy and thought. 

I have discovered that much of the ancient Chinese wisdom and philosophies have been forgotten. There is a lot of cultural traditionalism but the thoughts of the ancient wise men have been largely forgotten.

Michael Murphy

Said Michael Murphy - a US born professional educator and author residing in Zhengzhou, Henan Province of China - in his blog on October 1, 2013.

Michael shares is philosophical thoughts in his post titled "You Are The Master Of Your Own Fate" and discusses at length the teachings of Lao Tzu, 6th Century B.C. Chinese philosopher. Michael feels that China has forgotten ancient Chinese wisdom and philosophies, and adopted too many Western ways and values that look quite superficial. 

According to Michael, Lao Tzu taught that 'less is more.' According to Lao Tzu, the battle in life is not outside of the man. It happens from within. The success lies in mastering one's own self. The inner control of one's own self is important not the outer control of others. 

Michael has given Lao Tzu's saying which is quite inspiring :

Knowing others is wisdom; Knowing the self is enlightenment. 
Mastering others requires force; Mastering the self needs strength.

Michael goes on narrating his experiences and how he has implemented teachings of ancient philosophers like Lao Tzu by establishing certain principles for himself.

A very thought provoking and inspiring post, indeed. Thank you, Michael, for sharing your noble thoughts.

China consumed about 3.6 billion tons of standard coal equivalent (TCE) in 2012, and accounted for one fifth of the global energy consumption. China's energy consumption, if it increases by 200 million every year, will probably rise to eight or nine billion TCE in the future

The China International Energy Cooperation Report 2012/2013,
released in Beijing outlines China's energy development, current
problems & future international cooperation. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Said : Wu Zongxin, a professor at Tsinghua University, said in his keynote speech at an event organised to launch "The China International Energy Cooperation Report 2012/2013" in Beijing, reported China's national online news service on September 27, 2013. 

The event was jointly hosted by Renmin University of China, the Center for International Energy and Environment Strategy Studies of Renmin University (CIEESS), Energy Outlook Magazine and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

Wu Zongxin feels that China - in order to meet its energy demand and cut carbon emissions - needs to look for international energy cooperation. China has become the largest energy consumer in the world and as a result overtaken the United States as the world's top annual emitter of carbon dioxide. Approximately 70 percent of China's total energy comes from coal based resources. According to Wu, China's dependency of foreign oil has exceeded 55 percent. Natural gas currently only accounts for about five percent of China's primary energy consumption whereas Nuclear power currently accounts for only two percent of China's electricity output. The global average of Natural gas use in energy consumption is almost 24 percent whereas nuclear power accounts for 16 percent. There is mounting pressure on China for switching to clean energy sources in order to reduce carbon emissions and avoid carbon tax.

China's National Energy Administration (NEA) is responsible for formulating and implementing energy development plans and industrial policies; promoting institutional reform in the energy sector; administering energy sectors including coal, oil, natural gas, power (including nuclear power), new and renewable energy etc.

iPhone 5c is selling at a discount in China. China has turned out to be the least interested in Apple's cheaper version of iPhone. iPhone 5S is outselling iPhone 5c by a factor of four to one.

Said : a Chinese website 'caijing' in a report of September 26, 2013.

(Source : Apple)

Apple's 'so-called' cheaper iPhone 5c, is reported to be selling at discounts due to disappointing demand and buyers' craze for the premier model iPhone 5s. Apple has acknowledged that the company will never go for cheap product and will just remain a high-end phone maker. Some analysts have, therefore, started believing that the introduction of 5c model could be the company's deliberate sales strategy to attract potential customers to its 5s model. Appel's gold colored 5s has already become a hit with buyers as it distinctly differentiates them with those who possess old models. Apple might have had the same 'differentiation' theory in mind while introducing 5c plastic model in various colors. The gold-model iPhone 5s is commanding a huge premium particularly in Asian markets and prices are pushed to over 10,000 yuan ($1634) at some re-sellers stores in China amid a mania for the color. Some grey market sellers have claimed they have sold this model for more than INR 1,50000 which comes to more than $2400!

The word 'c' neither stands for cheap nor for color. It might be for 'coequal' because of very narrow price difference and a very carefully thought out marketing strategy.

Caijing report has a very appropriate title "Apple may never have had any intention of selling a budget Smartphone but its iPhone 5c is already on its way to becoming one in China". According to this report China’s largest business-to-consumer retail platform has slashed the price of the 5c from 4488 yuan (or around USD $733) to 3699 Yuan (USD $604). Caijing says that despite all the talk about the iPhone 5C being Apple’s great multi-hued hope, reports so far indicate that the marginally more expensive iPhone 5S is outselling it by a factor of four to one. Similar trend has been reported from the UK, Australia and other global markets.

I checked the price of iPhone 5c on tmall.com, China's largest retail website, only a short while ago. The screen shots are given above along with Apple's official prices. I could find the price reduction in the 16GB model but there was no drop in the 32GB model 5c.

To do good, we must first understand and be understood well. I have a conviction that the Intellectual Property is extremely important. More than a third of jobs in Europe (76 million!) depend, either directly or indirectly, on industries that use intensively the intellectual property rights. And these jobs are quality jobs, the pay is 40% higher than other jobs.

Michel Barnier

Said : Michel Barnier, Member of the EC in charge of Internal Market and Services, in his opening remarks at the release function of the first study on EU's "Intellectual property rights intensive industries" in Brussels, according to a press release from European Commission on September 30, 2013.

"What this study shows us is that the use of intellectual property rights in the economy is ubiquitous: from high-tech industries to manufacturers of sports goods, toys and computer games, all are making intensive use of not just one, but often several types of intellectual property rights,” Michel Barnier added.

The findings of the study are brought out as "Intellectual property rights intensive industries: contribution to economic performance and employment in the European Union Industry-Level Analysis Report, September 2013" under a joint project between the European Patent Office and the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market - the two highest level institutions that are most important for the protection of intellectual property Europe. The report is available here.

The report is aimed at providing the first broad, credible assessment of the combined contribution of industries that make intensive use of the various types of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) to the economies of the EU as a whole and of the individual Member States. The analysis was conducted in autumn 2012 and spring 2013. It only includes the 27 pre‑July 2013 Member States. Thus, Croatia, which became the EU’s 28th Member State on 1 July 2013, was not included.

The study covers a broad range of IP rights – trade marks, patents, designs, copyright and Geographical Indications (GIs) – and considers a variety of economic indicators, in particular Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment, external trade and wages. 

Some of the key findings of the report are :

• IPR-intensive industries contribute 26% of employment and 39% of GDP in the EU.
• IPR‑intensive industries also pay significantly higher wages than other industries, with a wage premium of more than 40%. This is consistent with the fact that the value added per worker is higher in IPR‑intensive industries than elsewhere in the economy. The average weekly wage in IPR‑intensive industries is € 715, compared with € 507 in non‑IPR‑intensive industries – a difference of 41%. This “wage premium” is 31% in design‑intensive industries, 42% in trade mark‑intensive industries, 46% in GI‑intensive industries, 64% in patent‑intensive industries and 69% in copyright‑intensive industries.
• In absolute terms, Germany ranks first for patents, trade marks and designs. The other top spots are occupied by the UK, France, Spain and Italy. There is some variation among the Member States; for example, while Spain is in the top 5 for trade marks and designs, it is only in 11th place for patents. The group of the largest economies is followed by a group of smaller northern European countries, including the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Sweden. The highest placed among the 12 countries that joined the EU in 2004 or 2007 is Poland, which is also the largest of these countries.

In the course of the preparation of this report, useful input was received from the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO), the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) – whose earlier report on US IPR‑intensive industries was the first study of this type.

I believe the greatest threat to Muslims today comes not from the outside world, but from within. The conflict between Sunni and Shia threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions of Muslims. Across the Islamic world, extremists are wrapping their perverse agenda in religious cloth; tearing families, countries and the ummah (ummah - the Muslim community throughout the world) apart.

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak,
Prime Minister of Malaysia. UN Photo/Ryan Brown

Said Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, in his speech at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 28, 2013.

The Malaysian Prime Minister said : "As authoritarian regimes have fallen, and governments have been swept away by political change, extremists have tried to fill the space that remains. Around the world, extremism is taking lives and crushing opportunity. The corrosive influence of extremism cannot be easily countered. But we are not powerless to act. I believe moderation in religion and the political process can stem the loss of life and liberty in the Muslim world". He expressed his anguish at the violent situation prevailing in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Pakistan. He stressed the need to find the vision and the political will to commit to a just solution for Palestine. 

The Prime Minister quoted several verses from Quran to illustrated that Islam was the religion of peace, of moderation, of tolerance. "The Quran not only condemns suicide, unjust war, and retribution by force; it also makes clear the Prophet’s desire for Muslims to live in peace with one another and their neighbours", he added.

He concluded by saying : "Finally, we should continue to focus on building stronger and more prosperous societies, predicated on the rule of law and the practice of democracy. The Arab Spring showed that the Muslim world is crying out for change. Governments must answer that call. We must provide good governance to fight corruption, create jobs to tackle poverty, and deliver sustainable growth that builds a world of opportunity for our citizens. We must create economies in which people can fulfil their own aspirations, not those of extremists. Muslim leaders should speak up and condemn such violence, lest their silence is mistaken for acceptance.