Friday, January 8, 2010
India now has the world’s third largest ecological footprint ....
According to the Global Footprint Network and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), India now has the world’s third largest ecological footprint (after the United States and China), and its citizens are using almost twice what the natural resources within the country can sustain. The capacity of nature to sustain Indians has declined sharply by almost half in the past four decades or so. This, despite an explicit commitment made in India’s 1992 National Conservation Strategy and the Policy Statement on Environment and Development, to “ensure sustainable and equitable use of resources for meeting the basic needs of the present and future generations without causing damage to the environment”.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Paa....
Few filmmakers stick their necks out to tell difficult and different stories in these days of mindless entertainers making potloads of money.
PC Sreeram's dazzling cinematography and Illayraja's soothing score help make up for many of the script's flaws, and ultimately contribute to making Paa an easy, enjoyable watch.it is like an experimental movie.
The centerpiece of the action is Amitabh Bachchan. Under that excellent prosthetic make-up, his baritone replaced by a childish squeaky voice, Bachchan becomes Auro.
Vidya Balan delivers her best work since Parineeta.Arundhati Naag is endearingly warm as Auro's feisty grandmum, and Pratik Katare gets his timing spot-on as Auro's best friend Vishnu.
Paa is ultimately an engaging film because of its largely original writing.I think the best scenes in the film is a hilarious telephone conversation between Auro and a classmate of his, in which the latter explains just how frustrated he is with his father.
It is now felt that the film’s theme of age-acceleration by progeria and its muted dramatic depiction through Amitabh’s performance as Auro deserves a global platform.
Paa director R Balki said, “The version for a non-Indian audience will have to be edited very differently but the connectivity with Auro’s character will remain unchanged.”
The theme of progeria is a huge incentive to market the film internationally.Its a fact that the audience abroad would never have seen anything like Paa.
PC Sreeram's dazzling cinematography and Illayraja's soothing score help make up for many of the script's flaws, and ultimately contribute to making Paa an easy, enjoyable watch.it is like an experimental movie.
The centerpiece of the action is Amitabh Bachchan. Under that excellent prosthetic make-up, his baritone replaced by a childish squeaky voice, Bachchan becomes Auro.
Vidya Balan delivers her best work since Parineeta.Arundhati Naag is endearingly warm as Auro's feisty grandmum, and Pratik Katare gets his timing spot-on as Auro's best friend Vishnu.
Paa is ultimately an engaging film because of its largely original writing.I think the best scenes in the film is a hilarious telephone conversation between Auro and a classmate of his, in which the latter explains just how frustrated he is with his father.
It is now felt that the film’s theme of age-acceleration by progeria and its muted dramatic depiction through Amitabh’s performance as Auro deserves a global platform.
Paa director R Balki said, “The version for a non-Indian audience will have to be edited very differently but the connectivity with Auro’s character will remain unchanged.”
The theme of progeria is a huge incentive to market the film internationally.Its a fact that the audience abroad would never have seen anything like Paa.
"I always knew that India has the ability to become the best Test team in the world,''....John Right
John Right,who coached India for five years, has praised their elevation to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings.
He said,"India deserves this ... not only the players and the board but also the fans.
"I always knew that India has the ability to become the best Test team in the world. I'm so pleased for the players, Gary Kirsten, Paddy Upton and the BCCI.They are the best in the world and they truly understand and celebrate their cricketers' success.''
Wright, had a successful five-year stint as India's coach from November 2000 during which India won a historic series against Australia in 2001 at home, won in Pakistan in 2003, and also guided the team to the finals of the 2003 World Cup.
"The ability to bring about a turnaround was always there. The theme was to achieve team achievement as against individual achievements," he said.
The key for India is to have potent fast bowlers. That way Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth are very important for the side. But the best thing about India is that they are not reliant on any one player. A few individuals will soon go away but every young Indian cricketer now knows that the team can be the No.1. That is the turnaround." he added.
He said,"India deserves this ... not only the players and the board but also the fans.
"I always knew that India has the ability to become the best Test team in the world. I'm so pleased for the players, Gary Kirsten, Paddy Upton and the BCCI.They are the best in the world and they truly understand and celebrate their cricketers' success.''
Wright, had a successful five-year stint as India's coach from November 2000 during which India won a historic series against Australia in 2001 at home, won in Pakistan in 2003, and also guided the team to the finals of the 2003 World Cup.
"The ability to bring about a turnaround was always there. The theme was to achieve team achievement as against individual achievements," he said.
The key for India is to have potent fast bowlers. That way Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth are very important for the side. But the best thing about India is that they are not reliant on any one player. A few individuals will soon go away but every young Indian cricketer now knows that the team can be the No.1. That is the turnaround." he added.
India and copenhegan summit
The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in Kyoto in 1997, sets legally binding targets for developed countries to reduce emissions - a major feature of the pact. These amount to cuts of an average 5 per cent below the 1990 levels by 2012.
Prior to the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, but no mandatory limits on emissions were set.it was the real problem behind first earth summit.
The draft proposal prepared by the host nation Denmark for the climate change summit removes the distinction between the developed and the developing countries and will be disastrous for India.G-77 and China formally presented the BASIC draft - mooted by China and supported by Brazil, South Africa and India - at Copenhagen and said it should be the basis of negotiations.
India joined the U.S. and China in announcing voluntary emission intensity cuts a 20-25 per cent target reduction of the country's carbon emission intensity by 2025.
The G-77 held a coordination meeting in the eve of summit to decide their joint plan of action to ensure a fair and equitable outcome from Copenhagen.
India has said it can reduce carbon emission intensity by 20-25% by 2020, it can actually do much better.Even if growth averages a high 8%, better technology and more competition could see a reduction upto 37% in emission intensity with 2005 as the base year.
Prior to the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, but no mandatory limits on emissions were set.it was the real problem behind first earth summit.
The draft proposal prepared by the host nation Denmark for the climate change summit removes the distinction between the developed and the developing countries and will be disastrous for India.G-77 and China formally presented the BASIC draft - mooted by China and supported by Brazil, South Africa and India - at Copenhagen and said it should be the basis of negotiations.
India joined the U.S. and China in announcing voluntary emission intensity cuts a 20-25 per cent target reduction of the country's carbon emission intensity by 2025.
The G-77 held a coordination meeting in the eve of summit to decide their joint plan of action to ensure a fair and equitable outcome from Copenhagen.
India has said it can reduce carbon emission intensity by 20-25% by 2020, it can actually do much better.Even if growth averages a high 8%, better technology and more competition could see a reduction upto 37% in emission intensity with 2005 as the base year.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Sachin Tendulkar: becoming the number one Test team in the world was like a dream come true
The Indian cricket team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the best ever to have represented the country, believes master blaster Sachin Tendulkar.
According to him, Gary Kirsten and Paddy Upton, along with Robin Singh and Venkatesh Prasad, all credit to them for handling the team brilliantly. Also all the players have worked very hard in the last 18 months.right from number 1 to 7, we have a solid batting line-up.
India became the number one team in Test rankings after they beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 24 runs in the third and final Test to clinch the three-match series by a 2-0 margin.
Sachin Tendulkar said that becoming the number one Test team in the world was like a dream come true and that he had been waiting for this moment since the start of his career.
“Fantastic to be at this position. I have been waiting a long time to get to this position . In fact just not me, entire nation,” he said.
He said,This pitch was a brilliant wicket. There was some turn on the first day and I knew one roll would settle it down and it did.”
Tendulkar then took a good humoured dig at Yuvraj Singh for calling him a grandpa. "I have told Yuvraj Singh not to call me Grandpa. I have lots of names for him too and I can expose him there!”
He also laughed off retirement, “No retirement as long as I am enjoying the game."
According to him, Gary Kirsten and Paddy Upton, along with Robin Singh and Venkatesh Prasad, all credit to them for handling the team brilliantly. Also all the players have worked very hard in the last 18 months.right from number 1 to 7, we have a solid batting line-up.
India became the number one team in Test rankings after they beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 24 runs in the third and final Test to clinch the three-match series by a 2-0 margin.
Sachin Tendulkar said that becoming the number one Test team in the world was like a dream come true and that he had been waiting for this moment since the start of his career.
“Fantastic to be at this position. I have been waiting a long time to get to this position . In fact just not me, entire nation,” he said.
He said,This pitch was a brilliant wicket. There was some turn on the first day and I knew one roll would settle it down and it did.”
Tendulkar then took a good humoured dig at Yuvraj Singh for calling him a grandpa. "I have told Yuvraj Singh not to call me Grandpa. I have lots of names for him too and I can expose him there!”
He also laughed off retirement, “No retirement as long as I am enjoying the game."
India food prices rose 17.47 pert cent in the 12 months
According to Reserve Bank of India food prices rose 17.47 pert cent in the 12 months to Nov. 21, after the weakest monsoon since 1972 follow by floods in parts of the country hurt farm output. While food inflation is politically sensitive, it is viewed as largely beyond the scope of interest rate policy.
India reported economic growth of 7.9 pert cent in the quarter through September, its fastest rate in 18 months, beating expectations and adding pressure on the central bank to bring forward a rate rise to moderate mounting inflation.
Subir Gokarn, deputy governor of the RBI, said the exit from easy monetary policy is a "graded" process and economic growth alone will not determine its pace.
RBI has slashed its policy rates several times after October 2008 to help the economy deal with the global financial meltdown. However, in its October 2009 review of the monetary policy, it raised the statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) by 1 percentage point to 25 per cent, which hinted at unwinding of its easy money policy stance. SLR is the proportion of current and time deposits that a bank has to keep with RBI.
India reported economic growth of 7.9 pert cent in the quarter through September, its fastest rate in 18 months, beating expectations and adding pressure on the central bank to bring forward a rate rise to moderate mounting inflation.
Subir Gokarn, deputy governor of the RBI, said the exit from easy monetary policy is a "graded" process and economic growth alone will not determine its pace.
RBI has slashed its policy rates several times after October 2008 to help the economy deal with the global financial meltdown. However, in its October 2009 review of the monetary policy, it raised the statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) by 1 percentage point to 25 per cent, which hinted at unwinding of its easy money policy stance. SLR is the proportion of current and time deposits that a bank has to keep with RBI.
The risk of a multi-billion-dollar debt default by Dubai World will have limited impact on the Indian economy.
''The overall contribution of the region in foreign investment flow is small and no significant impact on portfolio investments can be discerned. Overall the impact on India is not expected to be significant in the long-term," a report from Credit Analysis and Research (CARE) Limited, said.
The risk of a multi-billion-dollar debt default by Dubai World will have limited impact on the Indian economy.
The report said,While the region contributes about 7 per cent of portfolio investments, the crisis may not affect institutional inflows significantly. In fact there could be a re-channelisation of capital flows from the Gulf to more stable emerging economies like India.
The share of the UAE in India's total exports which was just 2.6 per cent in FY 04 has increased to 13.1 per cent in FY 09. In FY 09, the UAE was India's second-largest export destination after China, the report said.
The risk of a multi-billion-dollar debt default by Dubai World will have limited impact on the Indian economy.
The report said,While the region contributes about 7 per cent of portfolio investments, the crisis may not affect institutional inflows significantly. In fact there could be a re-channelisation of capital flows from the Gulf to more stable emerging economies like India.
The share of the UAE in India's total exports which was just 2.6 per cent in FY 04 has increased to 13.1 per cent in FY 09. In FY 09, the UAE was India's second-largest export destination after China, the report said.
News clips....
José Mujica is elected President of Uruguay.
Porfirio Lobo is elected President of Honduras in the first election since the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis.
Namibian incumbent President Hifikepunye Pohamba is reelected along with the ruling SWAPO party after elections last week.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation announces that 25 member countries will contribute a further 7,000 troops to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in addition to 30,000 additional American and 500 British troops previously announced.
Indian activists mark the 25th anniversary of the industrial disaster that took place in Bhopal which led to 3,787 deaths.
In a major policy speech, South African President Jacob Zuma announces the country will treat all HIV positive babies and expand testing.
Porfirio Lobo is elected President of Honduras in the first election since the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis.
Namibian incumbent President Hifikepunye Pohamba is reelected along with the ruling SWAPO party after elections last week.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation announces that 25 member countries will contribute a further 7,000 troops to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in addition to 30,000 additional American and 500 British troops previously announced.
Indian activists mark the 25th anniversary of the industrial disaster that took place in Bhopal which led to 3,787 deaths.
In a major policy speech, South African President Jacob Zuma announces the country will treat all HIV positive babies and expand testing.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
water on the moon
The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) announced in September that the country’s first unmanned lunar mission Chandrayaan-I found evidence of water on the moon within a month after it was launched in October,2008, to make the first such discovery. NASA had also announced in September that it found evidence of water.
The crashing spaceship was launched in June along with an orbiter that is now mapping the lunar surface. LCROSS, short for Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite and pronounced L—Cross, is on a collision course with the moon, attached to an empty 2.2—tonne rocket that helped get the probe off the ground.
The lunar crash kicked up at least 25 gallons (95 liters) and that's only what scientists could see from the plumes of the impact.
The crashing spaceship was launched in June along with an orbiter that is now mapping the lunar surface. LCROSS, short for Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite and pronounced L—Cross, is on a collision course with the moon, attached to an empty 2.2—tonne rocket that helped get the probe off the ground.
The lunar crash kicked up at least 25 gallons (95 liters) and that's only what scientists could see from the plumes of the impact.
Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
If the country’s top research institutes are embedded into university campuses, it will give students a direct experience of cutting-edge research from a very early stage, according to Nobel Prize winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.
It would be a good idea to embed research institutes inside university campuses, and perhaps also integrate research more into universities,”
“I have always felt that for research to improve, students need to be exposed to the very best research at an early stage." he said.
It would be a good idea to embed research institutes inside university campuses, and perhaps also integrate research more into universities,”
“I have always felt that for research to improve, students need to be exposed to the very best research at an early stage." he said.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains runs roughly north-south through western Russia. They are usually considered the natural boundary between Europe and Asia.
The Urals extend 2,498 km from the Kazakh steppes along the northern border of Kazakhstan to the coast of the Arctic ocean.
Its highest peak is Mount Narodnaya.
The Urals have large deposits of gold, platinum, coal, iron, nickel, silver, oil and other minerals.
The Urals extend 2,498 km from the Kazakh steppes along the northern border of Kazakhstan to the coast of the Arctic ocean.
Its highest peak is Mount Narodnaya.
The Urals have large deposits of gold, platinum, coal, iron, nickel, silver, oil and other minerals.
Rising sea levels
By 2050 the number of people living in delta cities is set to increase by as much as 70%, experts suggest, vastly increasing the number of those at risk.
Glaciers: If the world's mountain glaciers and icecaps melt, sea levels will rise by an estimated 0.5m
Thermal expansion: The expansion of warming oceans was the main factor contributing to sea level rise, in the 20th Century, and currently accounts for more than half of the observed rise in sea levels.
Ice sheets: These vast reserves contain billions of tonnes of frozen water - if the largest of them (the East Antarctic Ice Sheet) melts, the global sea level will rise by an estimated 64m.
Rising temperatures have also caused ocean waters to expand - the main cause of sea level rise in the 20th Century.
The weakening of the Gulf Stream coupled with the gravitational effects of being closer to the North Pole mean waters in the northern hemisphere are experiencing the biggest rise.
Glaciers: If the world's mountain glaciers and icecaps melt, sea levels will rise by an estimated 0.5m
Thermal expansion: The expansion of warming oceans was the main factor contributing to sea level rise, in the 20th Century, and currently accounts for more than half of the observed rise in sea levels.
Ice sheets: These vast reserves contain billions of tonnes of frozen water - if the largest of them (the East Antarctic Ice Sheet) melts, the global sea level will rise by an estimated 64m.
Rising temperatures have also caused ocean waters to expand - the main cause of sea level rise in the 20th Century.
The weakening of the Gulf Stream coupled with the gravitational effects of being closer to the North Pole mean waters in the northern hemisphere are experiencing the biggest rise.
Our children and those as yet unborn deserve to live in a world that is healthier, more equitable and which offers a sustainable future .
Monday, November 23, 2009
Jana Gana Mana
Jana Gana Mana is the national anthem of India. Written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
It was first sung at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress on 27 December 1911.
Jana Gana Mana was officially adopted by the Constituent Assembly as the Indian national anthem on January 24, 1950.
Music of the current version of the national anthem was composed by Captain Ram Singh Thakur.
It was first sung at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress on 27 December 1911.
Jana Gana Mana was officially adopted by the Constituent Assembly as the Indian national anthem on January 24, 1950.
Music of the current version of the national anthem was composed by Captain Ram Singh Thakur.
Periyar River
The Periyar River is the longest river in the state of Kerala, with a length of 244 km.
it is known as The lifeline of Kerala.
The Idukki Dam on the Periyar generates a significant proportion of Kerala's electrical power.
It flows north through Periyar National Park into Periyar Lake.
Its largest tributaries are the Muthirapuzha River, the Mullayar River, the Cheruthoni River, the Perinjankutti River and the Edamala River.
it is known as The lifeline of Kerala.
The Idukki Dam on the Periyar generates a significant proportion of Kerala's electrical power.
It flows north through Periyar National Park into Periyar Lake.
Its largest tributaries are the Muthirapuzha River, the Mullayar River, the Cheruthoni River, the Perinjankutti River and the Edamala River.
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