Category: NEWS

A multi-faith coalition of Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish leaders is urging the nation’s largest coffeehouse chains to immediately stop charging extra for plant-based milk alternatives; calling it “unethical” and “unfair”. Coffeehouse chains like Starbucks, Dunkin’, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Caribou, Dutch Bros, Biggby, Peet’s, Human Bean, PJ’s, etc., roughly charge on an average about 70¢ extra per cup when customer opts for plant-based milk-alternatives made of oat, soy, almond, coconut; in place of milk in their drinks. Senior Episcopal priest in Connecticut Father Thomas W. Blake, Greek-Orthodox clergyman in Nevada Father…

Legislative Council of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia, which is a part of NSW Parliament, has turned down requests to have Hindu opening-prayer in an upcoming session. The President of NSW Legislative Council, on taking Chair each day, reads the prayers, which include Lord’s Prayer, a well-known prayer in Christianity. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who wrote to the Council President Matthew Ryan Mason-Cox requesting that he be scheduled to read opening-prayer in an upcoming session of the Council, and received the denial; feels that it is simply a case…

Both the houses of the Victoria Parliament in Australia, Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly, have turned down requests to have Hindu opening-prayer in an upcoming session. On taking the chair at each sitting, Victoria Legislative Council President and Legislative Assembly Speaker read the Lord’s Prayer, a well-known prayer in Christianity. Lord’s Prayer has been read in the Legislative Council since 1857, and in the Legislative Assembly since 1928, reports suggest. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who wrote to then Legislative Council President and Legislative Assembly Speaker requesting that he be…

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has finally confirmed the acceptance of a complaint regarding refusal of Hindu opening-prayer in the Australian Parliament, after rebuffing the issue three times. In an email to distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who spearheaded this issue, AHRC Senior Executive Rachel Holt, wrote that the “Commission confirms acceptance of your complaint(s)”, against Commonwealth of Australia. “Please note that due to a large increase in complaints received and resource constraints, there may be a delay in actioning the complaint(s) of more than 6 months”, she added.…

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) seems to think that the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament’s denial of Hindu opening-prayer request is outside its current areas of work. Responding to distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who had raised this issue, “Correspondence Team” of EHRC wrote: “we cannot help with the issue you have raised as it falls outside the areas of work we are currently focusing on”. Despite boasting of “Promoting and upholding equality and human rights ideals and laws” and self-proclaiming “Our job is to help make Britain fairer”,…

Kochi: The Laity Council of the Catholic Bishops of Conference of India will observe December 18 as National Minority Rights Day and organize Minority Rights observance programmes across the country. These programmes will be organized under the auspices of the 14 Regional Councils of the CBCI and various laity organizations, said Chev. Adv V C Sebastian, Secretary, CBCI Laity Council. It was in 1992 that the United Nations declared December 18 as International Minority Rights Day. On the same day seminars and awareness programs will be organized with a view…

Union Coop affirms that Commemoration Day is an eternal memory that expresses pride in the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs Dubai (UAE): Mr. Abdulla Mohammed Rafea Al Dallal, Managing Director, Union Coop affirmed that ‘Commemoration Day’, also referred to as ‘Martyrs Day’, which is celebrated on November 30 every year, is a source of pride for what the people of the UAE have done to protect the homeland, hoist the flag, maintain stability and peace in the region, and secure the people, by acting as an impenetrable fortress and an…

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) appears to think that the Irish Parliament’s denial of Hindu opening-prayer request does not appear to be covered by its functions. Responding to distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who had raised this issue, “Chloe & The Your Rights Team” of IHREC, wrote in an email: I regret to inform you that it does not appear that the Commission’s functions are of relevance to your situation. Despite boasting “Our purpose is to promote and protect human rights and equality in Ireland and build…