Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 3,500 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 58 trips to carry that many people.

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The Age Old dictum rightly goes “Smoke thrills but kills.” Indeed, smoking is lethal to health both to the puffer and the passive smoker.Youngsters smoke with the urge to follow their peers, relieving themselves from tension as we’re all living in a very stressful world and they also do so to try something thrilling. In their quest to fulfill their urge, the puffers do not realize that they are not only putting their life in danger but also the life of others. Smoking is not only addictive but also self harming.

Speaking of human health, cigarettes and other smoking devices contain tobacco and cause much irreparable loss to lungs, throat and other body parts. It causes cancer and other ailments. The life-span of puffers is much shorter as compared to that of others.

Statistics suggest that smoking kills around 1,14,000 people in the UK each year.

One roll of a cigarette contains more than 4000 chemical compounds and at least 400 toxic substances. When one inhales, a cigarette burns at 700°C at the tip and around 60°C in the core. The heat which is generated breaks down the tobacco to produce various toxins.

Moving on to the environment side, smoke causes pollution because of the harmful toxins emitted in the otherwise clean air. People should quit smoking as soon as possible. It’s high time when they learn self control and lead a better life. There are even techniques of coming out of this through self help programmes, psychiatrists,etc. Incase a person has to smoke, then he must go in for harmless cigarettes which are developed for highly addicted people.

I hope that by reading this small piece, atleast 1 person quits smoking. I would get a real sense of accomplishment then. Let’s become aware and spread awareness. Let us also pledge to never smoke in our lives and to try out best to stop others from doing so.

If not for your sake, then please, for the sake of your mothers, children, wives,etc, quit smoking. Save the lives of others and yourself for a better, healthy and a wonderful life.

Cheers!

Our very own Indian is the largest democracy in the World. Yet, we are lacking in many spheres like those relating to employment, education,health,etc. People are deprived of basic amenities. The population is increasing every day and not enough job opportunities are being created. Hence many of the rural families are having a tough time with more mouths to feed on and less income earning hands.
This picture was taken on a breezy Saturday morning in Bengaluru, the IT capital of our country while I was enjoying myself but this site moved me when I was on a stroll. This was one of the busiest streets in the city and it has clearly shown that the girl despite selling flowers is studying. What moved me was the fact that the girl who should have been at her home or at school was seen selling instead at such a tender age.
This points out to the fact that our society is still not going on fair terms as on one hand the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. On hand there are those who are wasting resources and having a gala time and on the other there are people like the girl shown in the picture who are coping up with difficult times. Studying besides selling flowers shows that she was trying to compensate for the loss of time.
Children of her age should be enjoying their youth by playing and doing what they want to do. But the strong will is clearly visible. Words do not suffice the description of this small scene.There are many others who dont even get a chance to study even! It’s time for our power hungry politicians to wake up and do something for nation building. We all must also wake up and report such incidents as Citizen Journalists so that the deserving people get their rights. Better still, we can go in for charitable causes so that less blessed children can pursue their dreams.

India is our own country.

Let is keep it clean. Let us all pledge for a cleaner and greener India.

Please join the campaign and make sure you throw the waste only in the bins.

Join in by Liking the post, posting your comments or participating in the polls.

Share this with others and act for a noble cause.

Jai Hind

This might seem as trite on a merry occasion like Diwali but this is the bitter truth. I am not delivering a lecture and asking people not to enjoy themselves, they can and have the right to enjoy but I’m requesting them to think just a wee bit about the world too. That was just about donations.

Moving on to celebrations, being an aware student of the environment, I would like to suggest that people to light the minimum number of diyas and the least number of candles if they can’t prevent themselves from not lighting any. The science behind this is that candles, etc are sources of heat and light and due to combustion; the end products released are CO2 and heat. These further results in trapping of these end products in the atmosphere, which finally results in Global Warming – the hot issue throughout the world now. We ought to do just a little bit from our sides and together we can overcome this demon or ‘Ravana’. We will be the present century’s Rama then.

If candles, etc are used in minimum quantities, a lot (good) will happen. And if you think that the Lord will be happy by these actions of candle ceremony and everything else, then probably you’re mistaken. The Lord will be happy only when you do good deeds. Even if you use crackers, then plant a tree the very next day. This is same as getting wounded and then applying the necessary medication. If this is further taken ahead, then this festival of lights will soon be converted to a Festival of Plantation.

I do hope that at least a few people are inspired by my words.
, A festival of lights is celebrated with much joy and fervour across the nation. According to mythology, Lord Rama returned on this day after being in exile for 14 years. At that time, lighting up of diyas marked the triumph of good over evil and family re-unions came to be celebrated.
As time went by, the capacity to spend and need for grandiose among people increased. Diwali is now celebrated with lighting of candles, diyas in homes; exchange of gifts; burning of crackers, among other activities. This is what we now call celebrations. I guess we have simply made this day a holiday and a day for personal delight hardly having any significance.

Generation-Next has tremendous spending power, spending lavishly on SIM cards, i-Phones, movies, the latest technology and what not. It hardly strikes them that there are people dying, who don’t even get a chance to celebrate Diwali. Instead, if they give this money in donations, a huge change will be brought about and their deeds will bring a genuine smile on the faces of children of God.

This might seem as trite on a merry occasion like Diwali but this is the bitter truth. I am not delivering a lecture and asking people not to enjoy themselves, they can and have the right to enjoy but I’m requesting them to think just a wee bit about the world too. That was just about donations.

Moving on to celebrations, being an aware student of the environment, I would like to suggest that people to light the minimum number of diyas and the least number of candles if they can’t prevent themselves from not lighting any. The science behind this is that candles, etc are sources of heat and light and due to combustion; the end products released are CO2 and heat. These further results in trapping of these end products in the atmosphere, which finally results in Global Warming – the hot issue throughout the world now. We ought to do just a little bit from our sides and together we can overcome this demon or ‘Ravana’. We will be the present century’s Rama then.

If candles, etc are used in minimum quantities, a lot (good) will happen. And if you think that the Lord will be happy by these actions of candle ceremony and everything else, then probably you’re mistaken. The Lord will be happy only when you do good deeds. Even if you use crackers, then plant a tree the very next day. This is same as getting wounded and then applying the necessary medication. If this is further taken ahead, then this festival of lights will soon be converted to a Festival of Plantation.
I do hope that at least a few people are inspired by my words.

Great legend-Gandhi Ji

A white clad man with a slight stoop being balanced by a stalk wearing Khadi, round spectacles and a very simple dhoti which could barely cover this body was M.K Gandhi. India’s success can only be bequeathed to the Father of the Nation. Gandhian philosophy still holds true in today’s fast-rack world. He followed very simple principles of life which were truth, honesty and simplicity. He did not have any intrigue principles like any great philosopher or leader; he had very simple goals and perspectives of humbleness and honesty. Such ethics as he said might not bear fruits right at that moment but they pay one later. History has revealed that honesty is the best policy though it many not profit you at that time. By speaking truth and following the golden path of honesty, one gets inner peace and contentment though not any pecuniary gain which is very immaterial. Gandhi Ji had very simply living and very high thinking. Only because of his principles, he was able to set India free from the clasp of the British. One man had the power of many. He was and still ensues to be the epitome of a perfect Indian. He focused on self sufficiency so that no Indian would beg at the mercy of the so called superior white men. He was very proud to be an Indian and allowed banishment of untouchability. Because of Gandhi Ji our society experienced revolution. Burning of foreign cloth and rebellion against the British helped India to gain the present situation. Now he’s been dead as many as 62 years. His presence is felt in every part of the country. Physically he might not be present yet he remains in our hearts and continues to inspire each one of us. What we want is his blessings so that the hatred is completely eliminated and our country resides in tranquility. His thoughts about the environment in those days were also very interesting as he said, “Nature has enough for everybody’s need but not for anybody’s greed.” Seeing the harm we have caused to the Earth, we now realize what he said was absolutely true. Apart from social causes and environment, he supported Indian industries. He was against mass production and wanted it to replace it with production by masses to ensure full employment.

If the great legend was alive today; He would have first cried over the present situation of death and destruction;

Secondly be sad to see the youth disrespecting their own language and customs

and Thirdly would have led India to a better path of success.

Many successful and thought provoking movies have been made on the iron willed man, which are again very inspirational.  So, make the departed soul happy and be proud to be Indians and follow his golden rules if you want to succeed.

Monsoon-Source of Peace

Monsoon basically has come from the Arabic word ‘mawsim’ meaning weather and it refers to the gracious bounty of the generator, operator and destructor in the form of merciful rains. Indian is a land of splendor and serenity. The monsoons instill the place with greenness. Monsoon is the only time when air freshens and dormancy comes to an end. It is a time when mother earth gives us the message of togetherness and hopefulness. Not only the trees regain their lives but also human beings learn purity, patience and selflessness from their mother, Planet Earth. The verdant fresh leaves coming out of the branches instill in us elation. The nature is so splendid that it yolks happiness and forbearance in a cloud of rejoice.
Birds chirrup in their euphoria and humans in their own ways. The farmers who are most dependent on the Indian monsoons and more particularly the rains consider the monsoons to be their Christian Soul driving them out of all wretchedness and melancholy. Just like a Christian Soul drives the stranded passengers out of an isolated isle, similarly the monsoons help everyone particularly the agricultural farmers in our country. For them it is their life redeemer. Rains bring respite to everybody. The scorching heat is given a break and the animal and insect life reverts to square one. We get to know what life in reality is. Monsoon is the only time when we see the hibernated elements coming to life. The rains floods our emotions and the next moment we are on cloud nine. It is an absolute pleasure to watch the water gushing from the hills and the crystal clear and diamond pure rains pouring from their heavier counterparts. It is a delight to watch the birds swinging flawlessly and other creatures slithering or running. A sense of satisfaction enables us to work better as well. Life in the monsoon season cannot just be expressed in words. It is our priceless possession and we must thank our beloved mother for that for because of her we are enjoying all the necessities and opulence of life.
Busy in the hustle-bustle of our lives, we never realize the importance of winsome Earth, which has given us the birth and nurtures us even after death. Unfortunately in the moribund of urban lives we have forgotten about her. She works for us every day and every minute yet we remain thankless and greedily ask for more. Nature is our life and our soul; we should rather thank her in our gratitude.

Less than 1400 left. This is the number of our country’s pride and our national animal. The tigers are fast dwindling in their number. Tiger is not only a majestic animal but it also is a part of the eco system. The census conducted in 2001 and 2002, put the figure of tigers at 3,642. And now less than 1400 are left. Think for yourself. What if the tigers vanish and become extinct like dodo? Wont it be a shame for us?
Tigers are fast decreasing in number because of poaching and illiteracy. They are poached for their pelts and body parts which are highly prized in places like China and Eastern Asia. Dams and other mining projects have also affected their natural habitat due to which they were unable to adapt to the new niche. Illiterate poor poach the tigers for they are superstitious that tiger eyes are beneficial for their health and can cure incurable ailments. While it is not so, such masses refuse to accept the truth and base their selves on science and logic. Infact, traditional Chinese medicines use tiger bones for it is thought to calm fright, cure ulcers, bites, etc.A tiger skin can fetch up to £5,300 while tiger penises – traditionally believed to have near-magical properties – can fetch £14,000 per kilo. In a world where red tapism is a natural phenomena, it is hard to curb such illegal activities. Tigers are decreasing not only because of killing but also because of encroachment of their natural habitats; their forest area. For example, an adult male tiger needs about 80 to 100 square kilometers forest area.
As citizens, we can spread awareness among larger number of people, roar for tigers, contribute/donate for the same and do whatever is possible from our side. Use your networking sites to join such groups instead of wasting time in futile gossips and gaming. Plant more trees. Inform the government if you see something wrong happening. Instead of criticizing and cribbing, we need to implement our innovative ideas. If we can be innovative enough to bring in new gadgets, then we can definitely use our innovative skills to national and noble causes. Write articles on magazines, newspapers and form small organizations. Also comes with them to be a responsible tourist. Shop carefully and don’t use any product which has tiger teeth, nails, etc (perhaps in international shopping this would help). Now the Save Tigers T-shirts are also available, grab them and let the world know how concerned you are. Saving the tiger means saving mankind.
The government needs to have stringent punishments like death sentence for the law- breakers and need to increase the number of Tiger Reserves. The government shouldn’t wake up when the number tolls down to just a two digit number.

Cell phones came as a boon for us but now we are having troubles with the cell phone towers. While few of them have been installed illegally, the legal ones are also not causing any less tribulation. These towers not only cause health hazards to humans but also to innocent animals and birds. The evident example is the decreasing number of house sparrows, which used to perch with their delicate wings on the bright days. The harmful electro magnetic radiations (EMRs) from the towers affect children and women the most adversely affecting their health. These EMRs cause tumour, skin cancer, DNA disorders, death, etc. Studies reveal more than this data. EMR can cause memory loss, headache, allergies, etc. The rays have a frequency of 1900 Mega Hertz which can easily penetrate human bodies. The standards set by the International Commission of Non-Iodised Radiationare not being followed by the mobile tower operators. They tend to provide services to customers but in turn deplete their health. Instead of help, they are rendering hell.
Shimla has recorded 118 towers out of which only 18 are legal. It’s not that the legal ones are not causing any problem. The guidelines say that such towers need to be installed beyond 500 metres (in radius) from the schools and congested areas. The government needs to wake up soon otherwise there would be serious repercussions on the society both health wise and bio-diversity wise. These towers cause electromagnetic Pollution also. Campaigns to save birds are launched but no one thinks about the other activities carried down. Inhabitants definitely can register a PIL and seek the redressal.

The Sealing of towers in Delhi is also a welcome step.

We not be a carborexic who are fanatics but we can do little bit like planting trees, using CFLs, paying E-bills, conserving the energy by switching off lights, etc.  More and more business organisations are opting for green offices and buildings which is a welcome step. Such techniques need to be adopted at individual as well as government level for a greener future. Simple steps can go a long way to shape the future of the coming generations because we have not inherited the Earth from our forefathers but we have borrowed it from our future generations. Everything is up to us only. It is we who can do it. The question arises that If not Earth, where? If not now, when? And if not you, who? We are the writers of our future. The power lies in our hand, so why not act now?
At this time, I am reminded of the 2 lettered 10 words that are very motivational taught to us in schools that, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” So, if it is to be globally, it has to be locally. Think globally to act locally.

Years ago, Coliform was found in human intestines which caused serious implications. Not only this, scientists have proven that Ganga water (in specified regions) is no longer safe to drink. This is all a result of human work. We no longer enjoy crystal clear water gushing down the stream. All we can see are huge masses of dust clouds clinging on to the air. It’s high time when we realize the impact we are having on the environment and on holy waters. Pollution is all we are contributing towards the nature. We need to minimize our impact.
The possible solution is to electrically cremate the deceased who has probably left for heavenly abode. Though religious minded people oppose this pragmatic idea but this is the best way to keep the “MOTHER earth” happy. Electric cremations will reduce the air pollution and creation of new crematorium fields by felling of trees. We talk so high of saving the earth but in reality do such acts and forget about the damage we cause to her. She is always pleading us to protect her from damage and destruction and gives evidence from natural disasters and calamities.
So, wake up! Act now! It’s now or never…… Spread awareness among masses.

In the present scenario, we are having this junk food probably because of lack of time but we must understand that by eating such things we are inviting trouble. We must realize that we have the wealth of health in our own hands and can either make it or break it

The Almighty had given so much to humans that his greed is increasing with the evolution of time. Humans have evolved from Stone Age and Ice Age to the twentieth century and because of this, he has found out several ways of meeting his needs.
Early man started with poaching of animals, invented fire and many staggering things and the present scenario is right in front of us.
Our environment consists of biotic and abiotic components which together work together to form an ecosystem. But human has gone to such an extent that he is ready to do anything and everything to meet his escalating demands due to which the whole ecosystem is disrupted. He is cutting trees ruthlessly without even realizing that he is jeopardizing the lives of so many.
Deforestation, Pollution, Imbalance in nature, Ozone depletion, Decrease in Oxygen level and increase in CO2 level, Change in climatic pattern, GLOBAL WARMING, extinction of birds or animals (like dodo and dinosaur), habitat destruction, etc have all evolved from human’s activities and it is he who is to be blamed. The number of disasters has also increased especially deluge and earthquake because of the carelessness.
It is quite doleful to see small children suffering from asthma and many detrimental respiratory problems. The root cause of all evil is human himself only because his activities are the ones which either make or break (disrupt) the environment and the ecosystem.
The water pollution is mainly caused due to washing of clothes, bathing of cattle and the most important of all- untreated industrial waste. Because of such things, there is biomagnification i.e. there is a concentration of toxic as we go from one trophic level to the next. This salanized water is taken by the plants, which are eaten by humans or animals and become more toxic once they enter the other body (of human or animal) or the insecticides may be washed away from soil along with water and may enter a water body. After entering the water body, fish will consume it and if humans consume that fish, it will become lethal for him.
Air Pollution is the most common topic that everyone talks about. It is because of excessive emissions from vehicles, deforestation, etc.
Apart from these things, noise pollution also has an impact on our environment. Many humans suffer from cardiac arrest in many cases because there is a cacophony of sound all around because of DJs, horns, etc.
There are many solutions for this very problem like afforestation, car pool system, using alternate sources of energy, preventing overuse of pesticides and insecticides, having organic food, indulging ourselves in various campaign/ NGOs, encouraging bicycling which can very much make a difference, using CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), reducing the emissions of CFCs (Chlorofluoro Carbons), minimum usage of pesticides, etc.
When there is loud music/ noise then a person must either move out from the specific area or close his ears so that his health remains his wealth.
There are innumerable ways to protect out delicate ecosystem in order to live a healthy and a serene life. I would like to end with thought provoking lines :
If not earth, where?
If not now, when?
If not you, who?

The consequence is going to be dependence on other countries for natural resources and dearth of electricity. Many cities have been facing problems like power-cuts since long.
As there is always a solution to a problem, therefore in this case it is realizing the importance of natural resources, which can make India a superpower. Instead of extensive usage of non-renewable sources of energy we can have alternatives like solar energy, which is available in ample and wind energy in areas where it is possible. Apart from these, hydro energy can be used in an effective way as Japan uses it. These are eco-friendly techniques which can make world a better place to live in and it’s high time when we ought to take necessary steps before the future of the country goes down the drains.

So, the drug, which is governing our lives and has become out master, is the mobile- the root cause of all evil. We have lost sensitivity towards humans but have gained sensitivity towards mobile phones. We are careful that our phone doesn’t get even a small scratch but don’t care of those who suffer millions of scratches every minute and everyday. I would say that from now onwards, the phone is our breath, our life and our saviour.