Friday, July 25, 2008

Is Poverty an Excuse to Rape Our Environment?

The G8 summit concluded on an emphatic note, declaring that a breakthrough agreement on climate change had been reached, wherein the members had agreed to cut at least 50 per cent of their current carbon emissions by 2050 and also committed to the principle of mid-term reduction or stabilization targets.

How valid is this agreement? Who makes sure that the targets are met? What happens when the targets are not met?

With these questions swimming through my mind, I decided to dig in. To say that I was shocked would be an understatement. I came across an article from The Financial Times written by David Pilling. The article states that China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa have declined to stand by the agreement and have gone on record saying that “They cannot adopt any measure that will endanger the growth needed to pull hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.”

These countries have dangled the poverty card as a license to continue polluting the environment. To what extent is this justifiable? These are the ones who are right now the culprits, contributing to a major share of carbon emissions. They have also adamantly suggested that the “rich and developed” countries are the ones who should cut down on their emission levels between 80 and 95 per cent from the 1990 levels, whereas they should be given a free license to pollute our environment. Yea…license to rape.

I believe that developing countries have the flexibility to adopt measures to check and cut carbon emissions when compared to the already developed ones. Any measure put in place now will hold good even in the coming future, taking into account the fact that there will be continuous increase in population, which will directly correspond to increased amount of carbon emissions.

Why wait till a country achieves the coveted status of “developed” to implement carbon emission cutting measures? Why not now?

The stance adopted by a few countries calls into question the futility of conducting these meetings. Why cheat our conscience by adopting resolutions which will not be adhered to? Go ahead. Rape our environment. We are more concerned about alleviating poverty.

We can always live with the fact that at this rate of increase in pollution, the day when the environment becomes inhospitable for the existence of our kind is not too far away. But we just cannot live with “POVERTY.”

By Rakesh Reddy R

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

A Small Step for a Healthier India

India’s healthcare sector has been growing rapidly and is estimated to be worth US$40 billion by 2012, according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers in its report, “Healthcare in India: Emerging market report 2007”. The number of patients visiting India for medicare has risen incredibly due to a combination of experienced physicians, lower cost, rising number of super specialty hospitals and world class care provided.

But what do we lack in our healthcare sector?
Though the prospect for healthcare looks great, I feel that we lack in general awareness. I think the pharmaceutical companies see the Indian market as outdated. India has become a dumping ground for banned drugs and also a production unit for banned drugs.

We can see many drugs that have been banned in the US and UK easily available and being prescribed by physicians. Let me quote an example, PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE. I know majority of the people just know the brand name, so I will quote that (Vicks Action 500 is the brand name of a combination medicine that contains paracetamol 500 mg + phenylpropanolamine (PPA) 25 mg + caffeine 32 mg per tablet. Paracetamol is a pain-killer while PPA is a decongestant and D’Cold). On 6 November 2000 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a “Public Health Advisory” statement notifying that it was “taking steps to remove phenylpropanolamine from all drug products and has requested that all drug companies discontinue marketing products containing phenylpropanolamine”. The statement followed advice from the FDA’s Non-prescription Drugs Advisory Committee that there is an association between phenylpropanolamine and haemorrhagic stroke and that phenylpropanolamine was not considered safe. The FDA advised that the risk of haemorrhagic stroke was “very low” but there were significant concerns because of the seriousness of a stroke and the inability to predict who was at risk.

As I am living in India, I know majority of us take this medicine when we have cold and headache. What is worrying is that this drug can be bought off the counter without even a prescription. To add to that the drug is advertised on prime time television without even a mention about the side effects. The medical community is also guilty of prescribing these unsafe medicines. If I quote the medicines that are banned in other countries but are available in India, I will have a long list.

So, I request everyone to check the content of the drug you take and have a general idea about it. Also spread information about the dangerous side effects. Be bold to tell your physician that you had read about the side effects. You might provide the physician with an information that he wasn’t aware of thus saving the lives of many others. If not, you would have at least prompted the physician to be careful and not take advantage of a patient’s ignorance. Your questions might change the fate of many others!!

By Dhanya

Monday, July 21, 2008

The Brave Mehbooba Andyar – Where Is She Now?


The World is moved seeing the condition of poor innocent people of Afghanistan, but Mehbooba Andyar made the World feel proud for her.

I am really very proud of Afghan’s Mehbooba. Andyar, Afghan’s only female athlete’s choice to compete in a head scarf and full-length, body-covering running suit could not spare her from Taliban taunts and threats. Almost all of us would know the way women were treated during Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan. The Afghan middle-distance runner, nonetheless, trekked on and was on the verge of realizing her Olympic dream. I salute her for her fearless Courage. No bravery award will ever try matching her.


I was really worried, when I read the news that Andyar has gone missing from her training site just weeks before the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies. According to a TIME article, Andyar has not contacted any Afghan or international track-and-field authorities since disappearing from a training facility in Formia, Italy, 106 miles (170 km) south of Rome, where she and other international athletes were based in June. Italian police are investigating the disappearance, though there are no signs of foul play. Her bags and passport were also gone from her room, a sign that she may have left on her own.

No scenario is being ruled out, and Andyar did not have any special security detail. One possible explanation is that the 19-year-old may be seeking asylum somewhere in Europe, following repeated threats and humiliation from Muslim extremists, including false rumors that she was a prostitute. Nick Davies, spokesman for the IAAF, the world track-and-field governing body, said there had been no signs that Andyar was having second thoughts about competing in Beijing. "It was quite a surprise to us," Davies told TIME. "We don't know where she is. All we know is that she and her bags are gone."

An Italian Olympic official said Andyar and other athletes who had previously been training in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, had been in Formia the past month to train, and as a base for European track meets. "We were only the hosts," the Italian official said. "They were in transit here."

The other Afghan track athlete expected in Beijing, a male sprinter, as well as an Afghan trainer were also at the Formia facility, and they told authorities they were unaware of Andyar's whereabouts. TIME contacted both the Afghan Olympic Committee and the country's track-and-field association in Kabul, but neither knew where Andyar was. An Afghan Olympic official said the team holds the right to substitute Andyar with another female athlete, though the IOC would have the last word.

Davies says the runner was scheduled to return to Malaysia with the other Asia-based athletes just a few days after she disappeared. Although she could still wind up competing at the Olympics, Davies says that every passing day makes it more likely that Afghanistan will have no women at the Games.

Four years ago in Athens, Robina Muqimyar ran the 100 meters and Friba Rezihi competed in judo, becoming the first Afghan women ever to compete in the Olympics.

I really wish and pray for her safety and that she competes in Beijing Olympics.

Source: http://www.time.com/ Where Is the Afghan Female Runner?
By Sowjanya Shankar

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Warren Buffet – Take a bow


I am motivated and inspired by billionaire investor Warren Edward Buffett’s business ethics. Buffett is an American investor, businessman, and philanthropist (born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska). The only boy in the family, he was the second of three children, and displayed an amazing aptitude for both money and business from a very early age.

He is regarded as one of the world's greatest stock market investors, and is the largest shareholder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. With an estimated net worth around US$62 billion, he was ranked by Forbes as the richest person in the world as of February 11, 2008.

Often called the ‘Oracle of Omaha,’ Buffett is noted for his adherence to the value of investing philosophy and for his personal frugality, despite his immense wealth.

Buffett is also a noted philanthropist. In 2006, he announced a plan to give away his fortune to charity, with 83% of it going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2007, he was listed among Time's 100 Most Influential People in The World. He also serves as a member of the board of trustees at the Grinnell College.

He is the second richest man who has donated US$31 billion to charity. Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:

1. He bought his first share at the age of 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!
2. He bought a small farm at the age of 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.
3. He still lives in the same small three-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha, which he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house, though his house does not have a wall or a fence.
4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security around him.
5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.
6. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis. He has given his CEOs only two rules. Rule number one: Do not lose any of your share holder's money. Rule number two: Do not forget rule number one.
7. He does not socialize with the high-society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch television.
8. Bill Gates, the world's richest man met him for the first time only five years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half an hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for 10 hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.
9. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer at his desk.

His advice for young people: ‘Stay away from credit cards and invest in yourself and
Remember
A. Money doesn't create man but it is man who created money.
B. Live your life as simple as you are.
C. Don't follow what others say, just listen to them, but do what you feel good.
D. Don't go for brand name; just wear those things in which you feel comfortable.
E. Don't waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend on them who really need money.
F. After all it's your life; then why give chance to others to rule your life.’

Visit for more information
http://www.buffettsystem.com/
http://beginnersinvest.about.com/cs/warrenbuffett/a/aawarrenbio.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Buffett

By Prathima