GOPIO NEWS SPECIAL BULLETIN

March 20, 2006


CONTENTS

GOPIO SUPPORTS RATIFICATION OF THE NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

 

URGENT APPEAL FROM GOPIO TO THE NRIs/PIOs LIVING IN THE US

            SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND OUT TO CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS

                GOPIO NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FROM EVERY STATE

           

GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION

 

EDITORIAL BOARD

 

GOPIO SUPPORTS RATIFICATION OF THE NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

 

Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) commends President George W. Bush for his bold decision on signing the proposed Nuclear Agreement with India.  President Bush has rightly referred to it as "historic."  This Nuclear Deal has been hailed worldwide as a step in the right direction by the two great democracies.  The British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the accord could "make a significant contribution to energy security as well as representing a net gain for the non-proliferation regime" while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief Mohammed El Baradei said that the US-India deal would end Delhi's nuclear isolation and spur non-proliferation efforts.  French President Jacques Chirac, who signed a similar deal with India earlier, said the agreement would help fight non-proliferation efforts.

 

"However, there exists some skepticism about the agreement reached by the two leaders in New Delhi but that may be due to lack of full understanding of the deal which by design is equitably beneficial to the US interests," observed Dr. Piyush Agrawal, National Coordinator of GOPIO.   " India deserves to be rewarded for being a responsible nuclear power with an impeccable record of a non-proliferator, " said Agrawal.

 

 Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO International was of the opinion that "the media and the supporters of the deal need to educate the public and the Congress that how this deal is A win-win situation for the US and India as well as the security interest of both countries.

 

Inder Singh, President of GOPIO International said, "The landmark agreement should help India realize its goal of self-sufficiency in energy and also enhance energy security of the two countries."

 

GOPIO plans to conduct briefing sessions and educational forums throughout the USA to enunciate the mutual benefits of the proposed agreement with India and US. " We are also encouraging individuals and organizations to take an active role in supporting the proposed agreement, and meeting with their individual elected US representatives for prompt passage and approval by the Unites States Congress", said Secretary General of GOPIO Ashook Ramsaran.

 

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) is a nonpartisan, non-sectarian global organization engaged in promoting well being of non resident Indians and people of Indian origin, enhancing cooperation and communication between groups of Indians living in different countries and in furthering their cooperation with India.

 

URGENT APPEAL TO NRIs/PIOs LIVING IN THE US FROM GOPIO

 

Re: US-INDIA Civil Nuclear Agreement

 

Dear Friends:

 

If you believe in the future of India and in the economic prosperity of USA, then the increased cooperation between these two countries is vital for the World peace. The recently signed Civil Nuclear Agreement by President Bush & Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi is an important step in that direction. In fact, this cooperative agreement is in the best interest of both countries.

 

And, if so, I urge you to convince your Congressmen and Senators from your area to support this agreement.

 

The House Bill #4974 and the Senate Bill #2429 are about this agreement.

 

The Senate & the House is in recess right now and hence this is the best time for you to contact them in your local area.

 

Dr. Piyush Agrawal, GOPIO National Coordinator in USA has drafted a one-page letter, appended below, for you to review/revise/modify etc. and to get about 200 signatures (hard copies are more effective than the e-mail types). Send letter copies to Washington DC as well as to the local office in your state.

 

We suggest that you take the leadership role, seek a face-to-face meeting, lead a small group of people and present these signed letters to your elected US officials.

 

If there are any questions for which you need answers, please visit the White House Website http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/ for some of the answers.

 

The passage of the nuclear agreement by the US Congress is very critical. It is therefore very important to educate those who have the power to change the old laws to accommodate new realities. If you want to see the outcome the way you want it, now is the time to pursue it boldly. There is no time for inaction and timidity.

 

To find the name of your senators and congressman, visit http://congress.org, type your zip code in the box under Elected Officials and Click: "GO"

 

Thank you for your support.

 

Inder Singh

President, GOPIO

 

 

SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND OUT TO CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS

 

[date]

The Honorable [name]

[address]

Washington, DC Zip Code for Senate is 20510 and for the House is 20515]

 

 

Dear [Senator/Congressman [name]]:

 

As an Indian American, I am writing to you to ask for your support to civil nuclear cooperation between the United States and India.

 

There are two bills, House Bill #4974 and the Senate Bill #2429 pending for consideration and approval by the US Congress. Their passage is essential to the strategic partnership between the United States and India, to which President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have committed.

 

Many Americans are coming to understand that the transformed U.S.-India relationship represents one of the most significant foreign policy developments of the 21st century. The United States and India, the world's oldest and largest democracies, are natural allies. They share a commitment to freedom; the rule of law; open markets; technological innovation; and a vital national interest in combating terrorists and proliferation of terrorist networks.

 

The Government of India has no record of proliferating dual use nuclear technology to other countries. President Bush, in the U.S.-India Joint Statement of July 18, 2005, conveyed his appreciation to the Prime Minister of India regarding India's strong commitment to preventing WMD proliferation.

 

The United States and India are growing ever more important to each other as commercial partners. The growing middle class in India - already as large as the entire U.S. population, at 300 million people - is increasing in importance as a consumer of American goods and services. This means jobs and prosperity in America. But to keep this trend going, India needs to satisfy the mounting energy demands of a burgeoning modern economy. For India to do this with its domestic dirty coal would mean more pollution in India and unnecessary damage to the global environment.

 

Congressman Wilson, during the introduction of HR 4974, said on the House Floor on March 16, 2006 "the scope of this proposal reaches far beyond nuclear issues. Improved strategic relations with India will promote non-proliferation, increase our energy independence, provide environmental protections, strengthen our national security, and create thousands of new jobs for American workers." We believe that this proposal is definitely in our (USA) own interest.

 

I thank you for your consideration and support for the U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

(Your Signatures)

(Print Your Name)

(Print your Address & Telephone Number)

 

 

GOPIO NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FROM EVERY STATE

 

If you like to volunteer in this campaign, contact the GOPIO National Coordinator Dr. Piyush Agrawal (Weston, Florida), Tel: 954-389-4465, E-mail: sudhapca@aol.com or GOPIO President Inder Singh (Tarzana, California), Tel:818-708-3885, Email: E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net or GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran (Fresh Meadows, New York City), Tel: 718-939-8194, E-mail: ramsaran@aol.com

 

GOPIO, LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION

 

GOPIO Individual Life membership is open to all who believe in the mission of GOPIO. The one time fee is $5,000 for Platinum Life Membership, $2,500 for Gold Life Membership and $1,500 Silver Life Membership and half the amount for each category for those from developing countries and India.

 

GOPIO is looking forward to opening chapters in all major cities of the world so as to network people of Indian origin all over the world. If you do not have chapter in your city, please visit GOPIO website (www.gopio.net) and get details of chapter initiation (visit http://www.gopio.net/chapter_initiative.htm). Process involves sending a letter of intent to start a chapter by a committee of five people or more. For more information, contact:

 

To become a Life member of GOPIO, visit http://www.gopio.net/membership_form.htm, print and fill up the form and send it with a check to: GOPIO, P.O. Box 1413, Stamford, CT 06904, USA.

 

EDITORIAL BOARD

 

Chief Editor: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO (Stamford, CT, USA)

Webmaster: Prashant Gupta (Chicago, IL, USA)

Contributors of this issue: Inder Singh (Tarzana, California) and Dr. Piyush Agrawal (Weston, Florida)

 

GOPIO NEWS welcomes NRI/PIO related stories from all over the world. Be a volunteer correspondent or reporter. Contact Dr. Thomas Abraham, Tel: 203-329-8010, E-mail: gopio@optonline.net

V isit GOPIOs Official site at www.gopio.net or www.gopio.com