India Post News Service

SAN FRANCISCO: The Consul General of India, San Francisco, and Ambassador B S Prakash kicked off the fall 2007 session of Ohlone College's World Forum series on October 16 at the Epler Gymnasium in Ohlone College, Fremont.Speaking to a crowd of over 250 students and professors in the cavernous gym, Prakash spoke about

"The Changing Global Profile of India and Dynamics of USA-India Relationships", a perspective which also explored current synergies between India and the Silicon Valley. Prakash who has served Indian Embassies in Germany, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Sri Lanka and Uganda and has been a Senior Fellow on US Foreign Policy at the University of Maryland was introduced by President Ohlone College, Douglas Treadway. Speaking about similarities between India and US, ideological and strategic, Prakash said that India and the US are strong economic partners.

There is a growing pattern of social, economic and political relationships which is clearly illustrated in Silicon Valley. India believes strongly in education and technology which is contributing to its growth rate.He said that India hopes to be one of the poles in a multi-polar world.It is situated in a difficult neighborhood, in an area of great turbulence. Relations between India and the US have never been better. Both countries share common values and principles- democracy and diversity- and respect plurality. They are opposed to fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism.

They believe that globalization is inevitable and embrace change as it occurs.When asked if the inexorable growth of the Indian middle class was at the expense of the US middle class, he said that there is not just a job shift but job creation in India and the US.

He also answered questions about Environmental Issues and Minority rights in India.President Treadway and Professor Gary Mishra talked a little about how Ohlone College has a 60% transfer rate to the UC system.

With an approximately 18% Indian population, Ohlone has one of the largest Indian concentrations in the Bay Area. It also has the largest deaf population in the country. They also spoke about the new Newark campus to be opened in January 2008 describing it as 'the first green community college campus in the US'.

The one-building campus will train students for the health, biotech and environmental technology industries. It is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification; sustainable features include a 600 kW photovoltaic solar array that will produce 30% of the building's expected electricity consumption, geothermal heating and cooling, high-efficiency lighting, extensive use of recycled materials, water efficient fixtures, and native plant landscaping.

In addition, a wetland area will be reclaimed and preserved as a "learning laboratory." Future World Forum topics will include Global Warming Solutions and Ohlone College will present practical applications and solutions for the environmental crises.

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