View from Castillo de San Cristóbal

It is always fun to take photo of people taking a photo.  San Juan.

Innovation can take you there

Innovation can take you there

Pakistan knows the art of keeping the world media limelight focused on her—and for all the wrong reasons.  But Pakistan has a population of over 18 million, with close to a million Pakistanis living outside Pakistan.  Away from the international-media limelight many of these Pakistanis are busy in their own work—work that is benevolent to many.  Meet Dr. Khurshid Qureshi, one such wonderful human being.

Dr. Khurshid Qureshi, a Michigan resident, believes innovation can readily transform economies of third world countries.  Being from Pakistan Qureshi’s particular interest is in the Pakistani economy.  Using DICE (Distinguished Innovations, Collaboration and Entrepreneurship—http://www.diceinnovationportal.com/), his non-profit organization, Qureshi has been arranging exhibitions in the Pakistani universities where students and researchers showcase their most innovative ideas and technologies.  On Sunday, March 10, Dr. Khurshid Qureshi spoke at an OPEN (Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs and Professionals--http://www.opensiliconvalley.org/) sponsored program in Palo Alto.  Talking to the OPEN audience Dr. Qureshi showed photos and newsreels of the DICE events held at the Pakistani universities.  Qureshi asked support of Silicon Valley professionals to continue DICE related activities and expand their scope.

Muhammad, the Messenger of Peace

On Thursday, March 7, around seventy people gathered to listen to Muslim speakers describe their prophet as the best messenger of peace and to convince the audience that Islam allows armed struggle (Jihad) only for self-defense and never as an act of aggression.   According to the organizers the goal of the event was to remove misunderstandings about Islam in the post 9-11 world.  The program “Muhammad, the Messenger of Peace” held at the De Anza College was organized by the Bay Area Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Working with Sharks

Almost twenty years ago when Fouzia Saeed, working at UNDP, Islamabad, was sexually harassed by her supervisor little did her tormentor know that he was awakening a giant.  Fouzia Saeed rose from that position of vulnerability to challenge sexual harassment at her office and later to transform herself into a women’s rights activist; Saeed and her colleagues helped Pakistani legislators make laws that give legal rights to women in fighting cases of sexual harassment. Fouzia Saeed’s recently published book ‘Working with Sharks’ is her personal story of turning around a pesky case of harassment into a potent women’s right movement.

On Tuesday, March 6, Fouzia Saeed spoke at an OPEN (Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs of North America) sponsored program and described her journey from a UNDP worker to a women’s rights activist in Pakistan.

View from Castillo de San Cristóbal

Les Miserables?