The friendly and cooperative relations between China and India during 2012 have been strained recently due to the construction of new hydroelectric plants on a waterway, that is shared by the neighboring countries. China has been planning to build three new hydro power plant projects on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, which converts into the Brahmaputra from where it flows to India. Therefore, India is constantly trying to pressurize the Chinese Government to respect its river rights. A foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbar-ud-din expressed, “India urges China to guarantee that the interests of downstream countries are not damaged by any events in upstream regions.”

While the plans are supposed to be “run-of-the river”, which means that they do not need large storage reservoirs or leads to any key interruption to the flow, any new construction would frighten New Delhi. The 2900 kilometers long water system originates from the Himalayas and after passing through india North Eastern part ends into the river Ganges. On its way from China to India, it supplies water to millions of farmers and local residents. Therefore, India remains anxious about the hazard of its massive northern neighbor, China, diverting or distracting rivers that instigate in Tibet. China began constructing a run-of-the-river dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo in 2010 that is agreed to have six 85-megawatt power-generating parts intended at shortening power deficiencies in Tibet, according to Chinese reports.

There is a need of serious talks between the two governments upon this issue so that the interests of both the states can be fulfilled. The Chinese government claims that it has always shown a positive attitude towards the better development and consumption of cross-border water systems in the past, similarly this new project has been planned with scientific planning and with careful consideration of the interests of both the upstream and the downstream countries and will surely not harm the Indian part of the river.

Moreover, apart from the Indian reaction on the construction of new hydroelectric plants, there have been serious concerns raised from within the Chinese community that the construction of these new plants may be damaging for the Chinese environmental and ecosystem. Scientists have warned that the construction of these new dams could be quite dangerous and may increase the risks of landslides, mudslides and earthquakes in the nearby region. Similarly, the critics of the project fear that it might displace almost 40,000 people destroy almost 20 miles of cultivated land and can also endanger some fish species and other “living fossil” present in the waters.

Due to so many issues with the development plan of the Chinese government, the building of hydroelectric dams must be carefully and scientifically monitored, and it must be made sure that it does not destroy any of the living species in the nearby region, nor does it affect the interests of downstream states including India, to avoid any unnecessary clashes in the future and make the plan a successful one.

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Construction of a controversial mosque in Murfreesboro can continue. Earlier this week a judge said county commissioners did not give proper notice before approving the new Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. But a new court order out today says it does not mean work has to stop on the new mosque.

The suburban mosque first came under fire two years ago, around the same time as the uproar over the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque" in New York City. Opponents tried to draw connections between the Murfreesboro mosque and terrorism, and argued Islam is not a constitutionally protected religion.

The judge threw out that argument, but voided the county’s approval of the mosque under the state’s Open Meetings Act. The order out today (pdf) includes a footnote, saying it does not mean construction has to stop. It says such an order would have to be taken up separately. Meanwhile, the mosque's first phase of construction is set to finish in July.

Nashville Public Radio, 1 June 2012

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A judge in Tennessee ruled Tuesday that the public wasn't properly notified about a meeting where local officials approved the plan for a proposed mosque, meaning construction of the disputed project will be stopped.

The new facility for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro was one of several Muslim projects in the U.S. that hit a swell of conservative opposition around the same time as the controversy over a plan to build a Muslim community center near New York's ground zero.

Chancellor Robert Corlew noted that his ruling doesn't stop the Rutherford County Planning Commission from reconsidering the issue and again approving the site plan in the booming city of about 100,000 people southeast of Nashville.

Saleh Sbenaty, a spokesman for leaders of the mosque, said the ruling was disappointing but his group remains committed to building the Islamic center. They have been worshipping for many years at a smaller site in the community.

The opponents of the mosque have fought for two years to stop construction. During lengthy hearings in 2010, they presented testimony that in effect put Islam on trial. A string of witnesses questioned whether Islam is a legitimate religion and promoted a theory that American Muslims want to replace the Constitution with extremist Islamic law and the mosque was a part of that plot.

The judge dismissed those allegations but held a trial on the narrower claim that the public meeting law was violated because meeting notice wasn't adequate. The meeting notice was published in the Murfreesboro Post, a free weekly newspaper that claims distribution to 45,000 homes in the county of more than 250,000 people.

Associated Press, 29 May 2012

See "Judge rules nearly finished Tennessee mosque doesn't have permit", Reuters, 29 May 2012

Reuters quotes Joe Brandon, attorney for the group opposing the Islamic Center, as saying that if the nearly completed construction did not stop immediately his group would seek a court injunction. Brandon added: "This was a huge victory. This is the first time in the United States that the political entity of Islam has been stopped in its tracks."

See also "CAIR seeks DOJ action after TN judge stops mosque construction", CAIR press release, 29 May 2012

Update:  See "Ruling leaves Islamic Center of Murfreesboro in limbo", Daily News Journal, 29 May 2012

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Over objections of some residents who sought to table the project, the Common Council unanimously approved a mosque on Pheasant Drive intended to serve a growing Waukesha County Muslim community.

Brookfield aldermen unanimously approved plans for a nearly 13,000-square-foot mosque, to the joy of Waukesha County Muslims and chagrin of opponents who sought to table the project Tuesday.

The Common Council voted 14-0 Tuesday to grant a conditional use permit, with aldermen assuring residents the city had "thoroughly vetted" traffic and other site issues before green-lighting construction.

"We're elated," said Mushir Hassan, a Brookfield resident, physician and project leader for the mosque. "We live in a very sophisticated, educated community that understands that they've worked with, lived with, and dealt with Muslims and people of all different faiths and cultures on a regular basis," Hassan said after the meeting.

The Islamic Society Milwaukee West has a fundraiser planned for Friday. Construction would begin in July with opening planned for spring 2013, Hassan said.

Mayor Steve Ponto, who voted in favor of the mosque last week as head of the city's Plan Commission, said Tuesday he believed the city had been transparent and open with its mosque review. "I know that it's a sensitive matter for some residents," Ponto told Patch but added: "I really am confident that we will not have any problems."

Ten residents urged rejection or tabling of the mosque plans, citing concerns ranging from traffic and future expansion to terrorism and use of Sharia or Islamic law to subvert U.S. laws.

Charles Cook of Hartland asked aldermen to write conditions into the development agreement barring Muslims from exercising Sharia law over city rules and regulations. Cook turned to face the audience. "I just want to say thank you for you Muslim people, for coming out and trying to build this mosque. This has helped the Christians to get out of the churches and take back America," Cook said.

Five people urged approval, saying Muslims deserve a place to worship closer to home, just like every other religion enjoys. The city has about three dozen religious facilities. "We have all kinds of temples," Brookfield resident Rafat Arian said. "The Sikhs have their temple, everyone has it. So why can't the Muslims have it, too?"

Brookfield resident Beverly Kuntzsch told aldermen she was concerned about public safety. She said the New York Police Department surveyed 100 mosques nationwide in 2007 and found substantial ties to terrorism and "Jihad." "How will you monitor the literature or the preaching / teaching of violence that's going on in the mosques?" Kuntzsch asked.

Brookfield Patch, 15 May 2012

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