Want FREE Wi-Fi Internet Access?

Are you paying money for your internet access? Why do it when you can get it for FREE. ABSOLUTELY FREE. Google just announced this new TiSP service which can provide free Wi-Fi service at your home for free. Here is how it works. Follow these simple instructions and you can be online in no time. All you need is a toilet and Google TiSP kit. Its a little weird but it works.

For more information visit.
http://www.google.com/tisp/index.html

Are you ready to get that service? ;) Did you order for your TiSP package?

FREEGANISM for all...

Am back with some real good stuff this time..take a few minutes and think about this...
Do you throw away things that have a re-usable value??
How bad is that? Sadly, that is the state of most of the things that could be re-used in our day-to-day activities. We have been gradually introduced to throw away items that have a re-usable value because many corporate organizations plainly survive on that. By throwing away things we can use again, not only do we increase the amount of garbage but also fail to see the true value of the item.
Corporations create new commodities every second and do not care if they are truly useful. They somehow make it sound useful and with the help of advertisements create useless products and manipulate the minds of the consumers into buying them. With bright colors and catchy designs they entice the consumers to spend their hard earned money into things like this which mostly get disposed off after the first time they are ever used.
Think about this and we could do a lot to help save the environment.
Try taking your own bags to the grocery stores instead of accepting the plastic bags from the shop. And even if you do have plastic bags , do not just throw them away...you could use them more than once..they should serve some purpose right?
plastic bottles are another whole issue..and you even have people who campaign that if you use plastic water bottles more than once, you have a risk of getting infected from the plastics...think twice before fully believing anything anybody says...be open and think about the re-usable value of each item you use.
There are a whole bunch of FREEGANS who practice FREEGANISM...
There are a lot of free exchange of items that take place...amongst Freegans..and is it not good to share what you have and do not use?
Check this alternate way of life and see how much you can contribute!!
Reduce unnecessary consumerism which fill Capitalist pockets and exploit you!
HAPPY THINKING AND REALIZING!!!
Related Articles:
http://www.cnn.com/2006
wikipedia
FOOD NOT BOMBS

World Wide PostCard Sharing is..GRR..OWING...

Hey!! I don't know if you guys visited the worldkidsblogspot recently and read about our postcard sharing in New Jersey, USA. We went to this Brownie meeting and met these amazing and creative kids who were so enthusiastic in taking the WORLDWIDE POST CARD SHARING to the next level. Well, we first started this in SIRAGU as you all know and then it went across to Ontario, Canada (we haven't got the post cards from them yet, and we'll keep you posted once we do) and then now it was these kids from the Brownie meeting here in New Jersey, USA.
We cannot even begin to explain the eagerness of the kids and the love that came right across from their hearts, when they joyously accepted the cards from India and started doing their art work in turn for the kids across the world.
Anybody could come into this postcard sharing...and kids especially can come and share any of their creative work in this platform...by this, we cannot imagine how many of them will have friends all over the world by the time they enter their senior grades...
It is a constant learning process for us as children are innocent and so loving by nature and have so much to offer to bring this world together..
PLEASE GO TO WWPCS FOR FURTHER DETAILS...
So, once again we lovingly say...CHILDREN OF THE WORLD, UNITE!!
Related links:
Siragu Documentary

Violation of Body & Soul

Can't believe I was actually reading this about Delhi - The Rape capital of India. It's 2007 and still we haven't really advanced to a state of security and protection for women. Leave alone the moral and psychological battles we need to wage against the phenomenon, but what about Law enforcement and the judicial system. Don't we need stricter laws? Stringent measures to prevent rape? Ok but then again, in spite of all this, we need to do some community outreach, towards a more holistic approach in dealing with rape prevention and its effects.
Just so that we are more informed, here are a couple of links on Rape and Prevention.
Child Rape prevention
Preventing Rape
http://www.indianchild.com/sexual_harassment_india.htm
Rape protective measures

We are not alone in this world. Together we can make it Happen!!!

In this big world we are not left alone to save our Mother Earth. There are so many organizations who are already working on making our world a better place. I came across this interesting website VOICE YOURSELF. This site has so much information about how you can live an organic life by consuming Organic Products, prepare Organic Food, reduce Carbon emission and how to protect our mother Earth from all this chaos.

And some other ways you can reduce pollution and lead a simple and a healthy life. Here are some ways to reduce the usage of Plastic bags and lots of other useful tips.

Its not just enough to just feel bad about how we are polluting the environment and not do anything about it, so here is a list of sites where you can really contribute and make a difference

Previous in our blog we have several posts on pollutions like Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emission, Reduction of air pollution - An Awakening, Alternate means of Transportation to reduce Pollution

Related Items
Inexhaustible Natural Resource - SUN
Phases of Nature!
Natural Consequences - PAYBACK TIME?

Inexhaustible Natural Resource - SUN

Do you think Nature is exhaustible?? Well, you are totally wrong! Nature has always provided us with the best of its resources which we use, enjoy, exploit to the best of our ability.
How about the SUN?
The SUN is an eternal source of energy but most of the time we take things like this for granted. Well, there are many people who realize this and make the best use of its energy. Our forefathers have had so much insight on the natural resources and their uses to the beings on the earth but all we have been doing for the past hundred years is run behind Globalization and Capitalism thus exploiting the natural resources and suffocating the earth as much as we can.
I have seen and heard about solar cookers and solar energy all my life but never gave it much attention. (you know how self-absorbed we can become running behind routines) It was then that I again came across solar cookers in a Forum I recently attended.
Though the concept of solar energy has long come into our system, it has not penetrated enough into the actual-common-man's home.
There are people struggling really hard to make a difference and help a lot of homes all around the world. One such group of people is the SOLAR COOKERS INTERNATIONAL
and they provide all the needed information and it is absolutely free for anybody. Anyone can read the GUIDE TO SOLAR COOKING and learn about Solar cooking.
It doesn't matter even if you live in urban areas, you could always try to solar cook on a beautiful sunny day!

Related Links

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Global Warming on the Loose??

The Chomsky Solution: Nuclear Non-proliferation

Imagine this - You are in the middle of an earthquake with thousands of people running all around, screaming for help. You know a way out and are screaming your lungs out so that someone will hear you out. Everyone knows they are in trouble but want something to happen - magically. But they aren't willing to listen. The outcome - Chaos, chaos and more chaos.

Does this seem hypothetical? Out of your immediate reality? Third-person effect? Well, think again. You are smack in the middle of the world of Nuclear Proliferation(earthquake) and the so-called civilized, developed countries(screaming people). At a time when Nuke non-proliferation is becoming increasingly dangerous with war rhetoric and non-acceptance of diplomatic measures, we have to look at SOLUTIONS. This is specifically related to the US-led war rhetoric and it's unacceptance to agree to international proposals (surprise, surprise). Here's an article by Noam Chomsky, the thinker, media critic and political activist - focusing on the current situation with Iran's nuclear program.
Check out this article: "Solution in Sight"
Image courtesy: Wikipedia

PeaceTreeSpirit Blog by Kids!!

Hey all you wonderful people there!!
Kids from Canada have started a new blog spot called PeaceTreeSpirit
Check it out and read the posts written by young peace visionaries(they have to be called that rightfully)
I was so overwhelmed when I read their posts...Please go to the site and share your thoughts with the kids. They are absolutely amazing!!
They have even completed the Post Card workshop and will be sending their Postcards to Siragu School kids. It will be great when the kids in India get the cards and lots of friends through this.

Preview Clip 2 - Men of Burden

Here's a second Preview clip from "Men of Burden - Pedaling Towards a Horizon". Updates coming up soon.

Men of Burden - Preview clip 1

Watch out for our documentary film's Exclusive Screening in New York City next month. Date/Venue to be announced soon. Till then, here's a preview clip of "Men of Burden - Pedaling Towards a Horizon". Check out the Intro/Trailer HERE.

BLOGGERS' Online strike SUCCESSFUL !!

CHECK THIS ! YAHOO has made the following statement following the bloggers' protest against PLAGIARISM.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20070308/tc_pcworld/129675;_ylt=AsxNXWnRPm3CEyePyY_K13kjtBAF
If this is the case for PLAGIARISM...then think of the PEACE PROTESTS through the blogging community...why don't we write an article on PEACE and start a PEACE CAMPAIGN...???
...and we can get as many people to blog in their site...and someday it will grow BIG enough so all the peace lovers can show the rest of the non peace loving minority that we are a BIG crowd!

Some more MUSIIIIII...CCC !!

Hey guys am back with some International music this time..I know it has been a while...I'll try to be more regular...hmm...
Was browsing through YouTube...and found these...
I've always wanted to listen to music from different countries...
Long Live the Internet!!...and the YouTube community for sharing this with us..

This one is a song from SOMALIA...and it is absolutely soul clenching..
MARYAN MURSAL is simply wonderful....the song is here...

The next one is an ARABIC song...here...

Another song in GREEK...here...

One in RUSSIAN...here...

Will be back with new songs..enjoy these!!!
:)

WHADOYUTHINK?? Question:1

What would happen if everyone in the world were paid equally for any job they did? Would that put Money and equality in place??

Some Answers are below...

Marianne says through DROPPING KNOWLEDGE.

I think if all were paid the same for any profession, job, there would be freedom to do whatever you wanted to do, whatever you were interested in doing. However, it might also stifle seeking a higher potential and a higher reward. As far as making all peoples equal, I don't think that would happen until societal groups cease thinking they are better than another group. The Human Being is very judgmental still.

srena says...If you do a great job, you should get paid more than someone who does a horrible job. If we all get paid the same, what is the incentive to do your best?

iluvrain says...Being paid equally sounds more like socialism/communism. The problem with being paid the same with any job would have its benefits of having no social classes, etc. However, think of how a doctor with a Ph.D. is getting paid as much as a elementary more...

Fire Horse says...Although everyone is the same in that we all have pain and insecurities, we all experience those things differently and are all unique. While people can be treated the same on a broad spectrum (ie not judging others based on race, religion, gender, or socioeconomic background), every individual person is different and more...

V says...Umm....communism? And most people would stop putting forth effort - what the heck, get paid more...

john C says...Equality is not possible by the efforts of humankind, nor would it be desirable. Total equality would be absolute boredom. There would be no competition, thus no contests, no competitive events such as all sports,etc. Equality in all things would mean more...

patdacat1 says...Before proceeding, I think I should point out that an ocean or a mountain range is a geographical (geographic?) boundary so, whether you believe more...

Reading don't suffice!!

Reading, reading and more reading. I was contemplating this mode of activity. Now that the Internet provides an abundance of information, everyday I sit down and read for about 3-4 hours about information from all over the world. I also see to that I read about things of which I have no clue about or things that ‘I DON”T KNOW THAT I DON”T KNOW’!!

Now the main problem comes next. What do I do with this information and how do I take any action that is related to this galore of information that I imbibe from the internet??

Say for eg. I read about the situation of the refugees who fled from Darfur conflict areas to the camps in Chad and their food, health and living conditions and the hopelessness they face. What do I do next?

Does my reading do any help to the situation there? Does the information I read ever push me to take any action unless I want to get myself of the so-called comfort zone and do something about it? Then what is the use of such information on a longer period of time?

My sympathizing and feeling bad for these fellow humans definitely sends my good intentions across but does it really help them if I just sit in some warm cozy room in some other part of the world and not take any action?

But at the same time when I just browse for fun, and cannot use any information for anything worthwhile, what is the actual purpose of this reading? I do not understand the necessity of any such information which I cannot use to make this world a better place. But I still read to understand this huge world of which I am such a tiny piece!

Reading together with taking action in this current situation has become such a pressing issue that it is directly proportional to the contentment I get from living this life!

In this world, sitting back, and just plainly talking and writing and reading about situations alone do not suffice anymore!

There was a period in the life of humans where each and every one could sit back and invent and discover new methods to make this world better in a different way.

But, now is the period where we have to get together and make this world a better place with the sole idea of bringing PEACE to it!

PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, UNITE!!

The Evolution of "Wings of Evolution"

We came to know about Siragu and Suyam, two NPOs in Chennai, India who were doing so much for the street children in Chennai, India. They were in great need of Media attention and donations to improve their school facilities. So we initially created a post to let the world know more about Siragu School in this blog Media Attention Needed: Suyam and Siragu. They did get some publicity but that was not enough.

After talking with Uma and Muthuram for a while we became good friends with them, the founders of Siragu and Suyam. They started Siragu with the objective of providing International quality of Education to first-generation learners, the children of the scheduled tribes, pavement dwellers and mendicants and also children from brick chambers and from various parts of the so-called under-privileged people of this society.

Our main motive is to make Films for Change, after hearing so much about the school, the children and their life, we were so much interested in making a documentary film about the school. We went to Chennai to start our documentary film Siragu Documentary - In Production on Dec 15th, 2006. Wow, what a wonderful experience to be with those children. They are young, energetic and full of energy. They knew so much information about the Trees, Global Issues, Pollutions,.etc.

During our course of filming we met the parents of Siragu students, and Meenakshi , a cute girl who will join Siragu in few months, you can see the picture of her in our post Siragu Documentary Update. We also filmed a unqiue feature in Siragu where the kids talk to trees and make friends with them and you can see some of their alien friends in those pictures. We had so much fun playing with those kids and finally wrapped up the shoot after a week. After coming here we started a new blog for Siragu Montessori School where we posted our experience and it is being updated by Muthuram regularly with the school activities.

Along with this film, we also started a project WorldWide Postcard Sharing this post has a short video, where the kids drew some postcards for the kids around the World. We distributed those to the kids, Peace Tree organization in Ontario, Canada. And they have already finished their postcards and are gonna send it to Siragu Kids. As a result we started this new blog for World Kids Unite, where we put all the postcard images for the kids around the globe to view and comment. We initiated this as an effort to bring the Kids of this World Together and PEACE.

Yeah, forgot to tell you we named this Documentary Film “Wings of Evolution”

Corporate Plagiarism?

When an individual steals content (or anything) from a corporation, he/she is brought down to their knees and made to pay for the 'crime'. But when a corporation does it to an individual, then the issue is swept under the carpet and conveniently forgotten. I for one believe in open sourcing of information, free usage of information by anybody, but when someone(especially a corporation who are the torch-bearers of the concept of copyright violations) crosses a certain line by lifting content from an independent person, saying the original work is theirs, without crediting the content creator, then it should be dealt with seriously, which is exactly what's happening now.
In regard to the story below where the Yahoo India(malayalam) portal has purportedly stolen content from an independent blogger Suryagayathri at Karivepilla,
Check out the reactions from the blogger community who are raising their voices against corporate plagiarism. There is a Protest happening today March 5th, 2007 against this copyright violation where Yahoo India is being asked to either issue an apology or compensate for the use of the independent blogger's content.

Yahoo India launched a beta version of their Malayalam (an Indian Language) portal and what do they do to fill their pages? Lift content just straight from small web magazines and blogs without asking a word or adequately compensating for those. What a shame!
We all like the idea of giants like Yahoo launching multiple Indian language portals. But that doesn’t give Yahoo India the right to lift contents, word by word and put those on their Malayalam portal.
View Suryagayathri's food blog.
They have copied some(6 and counting) of her recipes word by word. The only thing is that they changed the picture. What an easy way to cook up a portal. I can only laugh and sympathize at their confidence that their portal wont be read :). What other reason to copy contents?

For more related links on the issue, visit http://sajithvk.blogspot.com/2007/03/protest-aganist-plagiarisation-of-yahoo.html

Did you know? "Shift Happens"

Informational video on the developments/progress of the world and the human race from http://www.glumbert.com/media/shift
Although it's easy to imagine the 'phenomenon', it's amazing how we cope up with our creations. Know, Imagine and enjoy!

Who is poor?

1. A person with a billion dollar on mars with no food, water , oxygen or

2. A person with no money on earth but with food water and oxygen.

There is no pay, if you post a comment.

Intro/Trailer Revisited: Men of Burden

Though the Trailer/Intro for "Men of Burden - Pedaling Towards a Horizon" has been up on our website Accessible Horizon Films for a while now, we just thought it might be a good idea to revisit it because of some new updates regarding the film (which will be out soon). More clips to follow soon.

Outrage: NYC Pedicab (Cycle Rickshaw) Regulations

NYC against alternative transportation? NYC against reduction of green house gas emissions? NYC council against a better tomorrow?
This is what we call purely outrageous. Can you believe it? NYC council has passed a regulation against the Pedicab (Cycle Rickshaw) industry on its streets owing to 'congestion' and 'safety standards'...whatever that means.
I just got off the phone with the man who pioneered the Pedicab Business and is still fighting the regulations of the NYC council - George Bliss. He needs the support of everyone who's for the pedicab industry. Just remember that there are larger ramifications if we don't fight this right now. Check out this article for more information - NY State Vs. NYC
Also check out Times Up, which is a New York City-based not-for-profit direct-action environmental group that uses events and educational programs to promote a more sustainable, less toxic city.
This is mostly due to the lobbying of the Yellow cabs/Medallion in NYC which are trying to suppress the pedicabs. Check out this video "Inclusively Green" which is an antidote to the video by the yellow cab lobbyists.
Images courtesy: http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/pedicab-rally-in-the-news/

This is especially disheartening because our documentary film "Men of Burden - Pedaling Towards a Horizon" is advocating the cause of Cycle Rickshaws (Pedicabs)
For more information, check out our website www.AccessibleHorizonFilms.com

India's Knowledge Commission

This is an email from one of the members of SAJA(South Asian Journalists Association), Ram Narayanan who is with the US-India Friendship group. Good read for those who want to do something for India, in any of the following ways.

"Dear Friends:
The National Knowledge Commission is a high-level advisory body to the Prime Minister of India, set up with the objective of transforming India into a knowledge society. It covers sectors ranging from education to e-governance in the five principal focus areas of the knowledge paradigm, viz.:

1. Access - Easy Access to Knowledge: Literacy, Language, Translation, Libraries, Networks, Portals
2. Concepts - All Levels and Forms of Education: School, Vocational, Higher, Medical, Legal, Management, Engineering, Open and Distance Education.
3. Creation - Effective Creation of Knowledge: Science and Technology, Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), Innovation, Entrepreneurship
4. Applications - of Knowledge Systems: Traditional Knowledge, Agriculture
5. Services - like e-Governance.

The Commission has set up nine working groups on:
Libraries, Language, Health Information Network, Undergraduate Education, Medical Education, Legal Education, Management Education, Traditional Knowledge, Open and Distance Education
It has organized a number of workshops and surveys on these and related subjects.

The website of the National Knowledge Commission can be seen at http://www.knowledgecommission.gov.in/
The Commission’s Report to the Nation 2006 can be read at http://www.knowledgecommission.gov.in/report2006/default.asp
There are many pieces of information on the website worth reading including:
Report of the Working Group on libraries, as submitted to the National Knowledge Commission... http://www.knowledgecommission.gov.in/downloads/documents/wg_lib.pdf
Expert Report on Knowledge Network prepared by Dr.D P S Seth...
http://www.knowledgecommission.gov.in/downloads/documents/er_nknet.pdf
and
Report of the Working Group on language, as submitted to the National Knowledge Commission....
http://www.knowledgecommission.gov.in/downloads/documents/wg_lang.pdf
More working group reports will be out in due course.

The Commission’s website also has a "Discussion Board" to post comments, although I didn’t see any comments at this time.
All in all, the Commision’s website is worth careful study. For those living here in the US or in India or elsewhere, who possess specialized knowledge and/or have the ability and passion for doing something in and for India, here is an opportunity to start thinking.
To me it appears for successful implementation of the Knowledge Commission’s present and future recommendations, the involvement of government bureaucracy, especially at middle and lower levels, should be minimized (except for funding) and a major share of responsibility fixed on the private sector, including credible, competent and passionate NGOs. Do you agree?

Do you think it would be a good idea to set up a "Fraternal Help Team" (can we coin a better term?) for each of the 21 Focus Areas to offer ideas to the Working Groups and to help implement their recommendations when they come out.
Would you like to be part of one or more "Fraternal Help Team(s)" devoted to each of the following 21 Focus Areas?:

Literacy, Language, Translation, Libraries, Networks, Portals, School Education, Vocational Education, Higher Education, Medical Education, Legal Education, Management Education, Engineering Education, Open and Distance Education, Science and Technology, Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Traditional Knowledge, Agriculture, e-Governance
If you have specialized knowledge in any of the above specific areas, your contribution may be crucial to help India get successfully established on the road to becoming a knowledge superpower.
Do let me have your thoughts on what you CAN AND ARE WILLING TO DO?

Cheers,
Ram Narayanan
US-India Friendship
http://www.usindiafriendship.net/

Do you believe in World without Geographical Boundaries???

Crazy-Art-Funky-Music

A presentation of Accessible Horizon Films
Just a montage of specially painted artwork. Crazy designs made by applying paint on paper and folding paper into two. An expression 'sans' meaning or concept...just plain, simple and crazy!

Principle or Person

Is a human important for another human being or the principles formed by a human being? This is a question that has been articulating in my mind for a long time.

Many people say that Hitler killed hundreds or thousands of people and was responsible for the attempt of Genocide. It is impossible for any single human being to accomplish such a mass killing. It is the principle advocated by him and the people who blindly followed him were responsible for such an act.

Any leadership involves principles and it has to help the humanity to be in harmony. But in many cases a wrong leadership or wrong principles are propagated and it causes an imbalance among the people.

There were many messengers of gods who came on to this earth and preached valuable principles to help the humanity in peace. But now common people are more bothered about the persons who preached rather than the principles they preached. If everyone started thinking and analyzing the principles rather than the person, this world would have been a better place.

If i say i follow Christianity or Islam or Hinduism, i mean to say i am following only one person and his or her principles. If i say i follow humanity it means that i follow the valuable principles what all these religions or their messengers preached.

We are more concerned about "who is the person saying?" rather than "what the person is saying?" Is there any way to see a change in this approach? Yes there is, when every human is open to his/her thinking mind.

Let us be open for the good principles to help all living beings in co-existence and peace.

Smooochhh!!

Here's a list of really funny types of kissers from TwistedDNA. Some of them are crazy and outright hilarious. What type are you? (can you think of others?)
"
The Vacuum Cleaner: Believes kiss is the vacuum seal of love. As soon as an air-tight lip-lock is achieved, he sucks hard enough to collapse her lungs.

The Archeologist: Within a few nano seconds of initial contact, he digs the tongue deep enough to cause a gag reflex.

The Hairdresser: She habitually passes her hand through the guy’s hair messing up his expensive hair-do. Messing the hair is OK for guys, but not for just a kiss.

The Epicurean: Proceeds to the abomination of a kiss with remnants of her lunch firmly implanted between her teeth.

The Unsure: Typically a guy at the end of a date. Not willing to kiss on the cheek and not quite gathering the nerve to kiss on the lips, lands the kiss in the no man’s land between the cheek and the edge of the lips.

The Announcer: Announces the actions before doing them. “I am going to gently nibble on your lips now.” It might be exciting at the beginning but pretty soon it will feel like a scripted TV show and you would want to change the channel.

The Venus De Milo: Just like her phone calls, she likes to take her kisses handsfree. She lets her hands hang by her sides like wet towels. The guy would typically have to pin her to the wall to stop her from falling over.

The Drifters: Where lips keep sliding out of position and the couple having to realign themselves repeatedly. It may also be an indication that one of them is about to die of suffocation.

The Dental Dueler: With his firm conviction that harder you press better the kiss, he applies enough pressure for the lips to give way and teeth to clatter.

The Decibelle: As soon as, or even before, the lips met, the woman begins moaning heavily, making the guy wonder if he is standing on her foot. In such cases if the guy is hoping to score that night, he better find a place in the middle of nowhere.

"

Ask questions about Social Issues here!

Whatever we tread nowadays in the world of the internet, leads us to more and more information and knowledge and it is up to us to utilize this to help make this world a better place.

I recently came across this website which discusses important questions that address the pressing social issues in our present day world.

“Dropping Knowledge is a unique campaign working for social change through the internet. The non-profit initiative encourages open dialogue on the pressing social questions of our time, promoting the worldwide exchange of views, ideas and sustainable solutions.”

You can plunge into any social issue and gain some insight into it and if you want to pose a question, you can!

This led me into knowing about a Human Rights Activist, Founder of the Oakland Institute, Anuradha Mittal. She was responsible for founding THE OAKLAND INSTITIUTE whose mission is to increase public participation and promote fair debate on critical social, economic and environmental issues in both national and international forums.

http://www.oaklandinstitute.org

Under which I found this article she wrote on The True cause of World hunger.

http://www.oaklandinstitute.org/?q=node/view/38

And check this article too, if you are interested...

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/American_Empire/OpenFire_OpenMarkets.html

Here we have post on other pressing issues which we dealt with in the past few months like Air Pollution , CO2 Emission, Nuclear Weapons, and Global Warming

What a Century!

Ok ok, thank you, thank you!
This is our 100th POST. We owe it to the fast growing Technology, and we have tried to reach out to the whole world, but at our own pace.
We have shared and received knowledge and we look forward to doing a lot more in the coming years. Starting on August 23rd, 2006, we've had a wide range of articles and posts which we shared with the world around us. Though we have dealt with a lot of issues like Global Warming, Air Pollution, Nuclear weapons, Social Issues, Peace, Nature, Music, Kids, Current Events, Photography, etc. We still feel that there is a lot more in this world that needs to be explored.
There is a saying in Tamil, “ Katrathu Kaialavu, Kallaathathu Ulagalavu”
It means whatever knowledge gained is just size of the hand and whatever has to be learned is as big as this world!
So, there is a long way to go. And we hope that more people will join us in this journey of unraveling knowledge from this vast universe. Folks, as the world is getting smaller and smaller through technology, make use of this by sharing whatever you feel, know and think. Opinions, thoughts, questions, answers, whatever!
Three cheers to Blogging and the Internet(the one we've taken for granted)!

Freedom Writers: Remove Racism through Education

Last night we were watching this 'film for change' - Freedom Writers, which is based on a true story. This is a movie that was not only well-made but also has been timed so right, because of the current situation the world is in right now.
Essentially, it's about a committed teacher with a noble cause who eliminates the visible and invisible racial borders between the students of her class, by educating them and liberating them from their prejudices. There's another kind of liberation at work here, liberation of the creative unconscious, that is, she makes the students write out their stories, their own true stories onto a diary which serves as the way to freedom, the way out of racism, the way out of the inexplicable hatred that they find themselves in. She finds innovative ways to teach the students about the irrelevance of hatred by enlightening them about the Holocaust and does all this at the cost of her own personal loss.
Primarily, a must-see movie for everyone, but otherwise, a excellent study tool for children especially teenagers all around the world. Although overt racism is now supposedly 'outdated', that is, we have legal regulations and the like, it is still very prevalent in more subtler overtones but nevertheless, filled with the bitterness that every form of discrimination engenders. Sometimes, we feel it in the air like a slow poison entering every cell of our body. I can't even begin to get into the heart of the topic, but the point here is, as we are maturing philosophically, we need to try and take that extra step towards eliminating racism. If we don't know how, education through this movie would be a step in the right direction.
For more information about the real-life teacher on whom the movie was made, check out Erin Gruwell at www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/

Total Nuclear Disarmament: Wishful thinking Vs Realizable Goal

Achieving a world devoid of nuclear weapons is simple.
We just need to track the same steps that we followed. Let’s go back to the first creation of the N-bomb in 1945, the Trinity, developed by the US.
It is a classic case of the US leading by example. Once the US showed the world what it was capable of, the production of Trinity (and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki), it didn’t take too long for every other capable country to produce their own. The then USSR, UK, France and a list of states followed suit.
Simple. You have it, why can’t I? And deterrence has been an important rhetoric ever since and their reason for Nuclear arms.
The world’s countries are now racing towards more and more weapons, advancement in their missile technology and trying to outdo each other in the deadly arms race.
If the world (especially the US) is so particular about Iran and North Korea not getting their hands on the weapons, then they have to practice what they preach. Yes, obvious. But the fact that it is obvious does not mean it needs no reiteration.
Lots of arms regulations and Disarmament agreements – Non-proliferation treaty (NPT), Nuclear Weapons Free Zones (NWFZ), Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Partial Test Ban Treaty etc - have been created to one end. Phase out nuclear weapons from the world.
Why is it so hard to understand?
Let’s come to the solution at hand. All we need to do is start with the US. Let the US once again ‘lead by example’. Let the world follow the ‘leader’ but this time instead of creating the N-bombs, let them start disarming, not just dismantling, but complete disarmament.
That means reduction of Active Warheads from their respective nuclear stockpiles. The US and Russia each have more than 5000 active warheads and the UK, France, China, India and Pakistan together boast hundreds of active warheads. It is so ironic because these are the very same countries that talk about spreading peace and prosperity in the world.
Isn’t that the world (civil society, not Governments) wants and needs?
When the US does this, it will no doubt be a Confidence Building Measure (CBM) for every other nation that is a nuclear state or those aspiring to be one. That is why, the first biggest step should be the US’s.
It might seem outrageous to governments, defense analysts and the ‘decision-makers’ of foreign policy to even think of this possibility. But what is actually outrageous is that they don’t get that it’s what the people of the world want. The collective majority.
Now after the Iraq war, the American public image has been so tarnished that it can only be regained by gaining the world’s confidence. The ‘super-power’ image is not something one should strive for, because there is a negative egotistical stigma attached to the word ‘power’ when it applies to countries. And when we want to create a nuclear weapons free world, we can forgo this very word, idea, and concept of who is the biggest power because that in itself can be a major factor in one’s perception of themselves and others.
If the US wants to be loved and embraced by the world, it has to shed its current unilateral stance and be open to truly multilateral endeavors. If it wants to fight terrorism around the world, it should spend more on humanitarian needs and collaborations than (hundreds of billions) on futile wars. It has to understand that terrorism is a concept not a physical entity that can be crushed by brute force.
By complete disarmament, the US can truly gain the world’s trust. These Confidence-Building Measures are the greatest change that can psychologically make other nuclear states like India and Pakistan disarm completely and even stop nuclear aspiring states like North Korea or Iran.
If the US decides to ‘lead by example’ in this case, it can create waves of positive change and can thereby change the course of the arms imbroglio in the long-term.
Though the first logical steps would be to become signatories of the NPT (188 sovereign states), the CTBT (176 states), the possible Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) and many more it would make more sense to also implement a No-Use Treaty. A Treaty of this sort may seem unachievable and infeasible but this should be in the big picture because we have to see ourselves as a world going towards complete nuclear disarmament and peace. This has to come from within, as the world has to realize the impact of long-term security that can arise. Of course, other aspects to be focused on are the conversion of High Enriched Uranium (HEU) to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU), halting the production of plutonium and other fissile material as would be included in the FMCT.

A HUGE Peace Campaign!

How does a Peace Campaign sound to you all? What if all the Peace lovers of the world came together under one single cause? With the help of the Good Intentions, Internet, websites, blogs and all others with the similar thought process we can try and do a campaign for PEACE. What say? Mentors could be the initiators and the children could be responsible for spreading the word in and around their families and neighborhood.
Recently I came across this website and felt so strong that it is time we started our campaign for the REAL CAMPAIGN??
There were some good concepts in this site which I came across. The horrors of war had been mentioned and at the end a question was posed to the readers as to
"What could have been done to avoid the loss of so many lives ??"

http://www.worldpeacecampaign.co.uk/

You all remember the ONE VOICE MOVEMENT which was posted in this blog earlier?
http://www.onevoicemovement.org/wps/portal

That seems to be the answer!!

But I ask, We better ask ourselves one question and that would be enough.
"What are we willing to do to bring PEACE in this world??"

Library Creation

Recently we were discussing about creating a book through Accessible Horizon Films, sort of a learning tool for the kids at Siragu Montessori School. In fact, we were even thinking of building a library source for them. Although this is in the very basic stages of development, we need ideas on what topics to cover. We suggested comic books like Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle, Archies, etc which are an effective way towards cognitive development in English, the language and its grammar. There is no specific genre of books or topics you can suggest, just that we have to be creative to pick topics/books that can help in overall development of children aged 3-10. So if anyone has any ideas, please feel free to share them with us.
The goal: Create a library of books, resources for Siragu School, so by the end of a year, they will have something to go to, for creative/knowledge acquisition.

Phases of Nature!

As unique as Perceptions...are these phases of Nature!

Funny Math

Reiki - An Alternate Healing Practice

Reiki!!

You have heard this word a lot recently. But what is this about?

This is what a Reiki practicing friend shared with us.You probably learned that everything is basically made of energy. When you look at any atom under a powerful enough microscope, all you see are electrons and protons, other energy particles, and empty space. We are all made of energy, and we all have electro-magnetic fields. That's why MRIs work. Our electro-magnetic fields are similar to a battery's electro-magnetic field. We even have a north and a south pole.
When anything negative happens to you, it interferes with the flow of your energy. If you are frightened or angry or sad, or if you are injured physically in any way, your energy becomes blocked or stagnant in the areas that are affected. Reiki unblocks the energy similarly to how a charged battery can share energy with a dead battery. If your iPod takes two batteries and you only have one dead one and one charged one, you can still run the iPod because the charged battery will share its energy. Receiving Reiki is kind of like sharing the energy of a balanced person only better. The person who has Reiki isn't depleted by sharing Reiki energy. It flows freely and balances the other person's energy. As Reiki removes the energy blockages, the person feels better emotionally and their body is able to heal.

I feel Reiki works on good intentions alone. As long as you intend for peace, love and light, the world around you will get just that. So, even if you learn to do reiki in the right way or not, your good intentions will always go a long way!! Keep them high!!

WITH LOVE, PEACE AND LIGHT!!

For more on Reiki...keep the web flow...:)

Significance of September 21

Did you guys know the significance of September 21. Its the "International Day of Peace". United Nation has declared this as a Peace day. Are we maintaining peace every year on this day? This does not mean we should maintain peace only on the Sep 21. This means we have a target date to work on and we will try to bring peace in the this world before that. And from then everyday will be a Peace Day.

300,000 people participated in the International Day of Peace Vigil in Sri Lanka in 2004.

But out of around 6.1Billion people in this world, don't you think this is quite less. Lets try and make it significantly large this coming year. Sep 21 2007.
Here is a story for the kids and elders.
With Love, Peace and Hope let us work towards a better world.

Did you know? - about Flo-Flo Ship

Lift-on/lift-off or "lo/lo" operations use cranes, roll-on/roll-off or "ro/ro" operations use ramps and float-on/float-off or "flo/flo" operations are the trademark of unique submersible hull ships that transport yachts. Specialized Heavy Lift Ships, also known as Float-on/Float-off (FLO/FLO) or semisubmersible ships, provide the capability to load, transport and offload outsized military cargo independent of port equipment traditionally used for handling large or extremely heavy cargo, such as tug boats, barges, landing craft, floating cranes, and single anchor leg mooring systems. Lifts range from approximately 50 to as much as 45,000 tons.

These ships are designed to take on ballast water in floodable tanks that partially submerges the vessel. Cargo is then floated over the submerged portion of the vessel which then deballasts and surfaces under the cargo. After the vessel is full afloat, the cargo is secured for transport.

There ships are normally used in oil-refineries to carry the huge objects to the sea. They are also used as war ships to carry and as you see here these are the ships which can carry other ships.

To know more about flo/flo, please continue your web flow to Flo-Flo Ships
and in wikipedia flo/flo

The 'Colorist'

While we were in the research phases of our Documentary film, "Men of Burden - Pedaling Towards a Horizon", I came across some wonderful pictures of cycle rickshaws/hand-pulled rickshaws in India. To my surprise, one of the photographs had a Pondicherry rickshaw as the main subject. So, I immediately sent out an email to the man behind the work.
Claude Renault. He prefers to be called a 'colorist'...not a photographer. He gave us permission to use his work for our film for no fee. We couldn't thank him enough, that's why apart from giving him credit I wanted to share his work with everyone. An excellent eye for detail, an emotional connection with the subjects and a colorful rendition of life...these are some key features of his work.
Check them out: http://www.pbase.com/clodreno

In search of Oneness!!

I recently ran a search by just typing "CHILDREN OF THE WORLD, UNITE!!" and found so many sites and blogs which convey the same message. Isn't it wonderful that many souls in this world think alike and are actually doing something about bringing the children together?
Well, check this site and let me know what you think!!
http://united-children.blogspot.com/

World Wide Post Card Painting Workshop!!!

We conducted a workshop wherein we asked around 150 kids between the ages 4-11, to paint whatever they liked, for children in other parts of the World. Similarly, we intend to conduct other workshops in other parts of the world where children from different countries and cultures would express their thoughts through art.

The postcards would then be posted on the Internet for world wide access so that messages are exchanged and shared. The idea behind that was to get them to make friends with kids across the globe, thereby promoting global peace and understanding in the long run. So from the comfort of their homes or classrooms, children can now exchange their cultures and thoughts towards creating a truly universal philosophy.

We hope that this workshop would be a great step ahead for the children of tomorrow’s world. We are positive that with like-minded people, we can transform the world through children and bring about a more peaceful co-existence.

If any of you is interested in doing one in your school or neighborhood with any number of children, please contact us either through this blog comments or mail us at vconverge@gmail.com

Peace Tree in Siragu!!!

Mitra (my filmmaker friend) had asked me if the kids at Siragu would build a Peace Tree if she gave them all the necessary materials and details. I replied to her that the kids at Siragu would love to do anything new and innovative and they are ever ready to take up creative workshops like these, especially where Peace is the issue!

I spoke to Muthuram on Jan 31st 2007 about the kids implementing a Peace Tree at Siragu Montessori School. He welcomed the idea and so I sent him all the materials that Mitra had sent to me.
On the 1st of February 2007, just one day after I had sent them the details, the Siragu kids had implemented the Peace Tree much to our surprise!
This itself is proof that the kids are so enthusiastic about connecting with the kids across the world in a Peaceful manner.We really miss the kids so much and wish that we were there with them when they are doing wonderful things like this!
If this continues, the kids will make friends with others around the world and also influence the adults into Peace activities!The day is not far!
Let us join together with the kids and spread the Peace in our Planet!!!

Significance of 2012!!

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?
DID YOU EVEN HEAR ABOUT THIS BEFORE?
A major paradigm shift is also talked about...are we talking about it without even knowing anything about it?
Or is it just that gut feeling each of us is having about something impending?
We could trust our instincts as far as this is concerned...
and do something about it or just wait for that major event to happen! it is always our choice...but then, what is that purpose of our very existence??
I found the below article during the search...

Source: http://brookenney.com/2012Group.htm
" For those of you who are not familiar with the significance of 2012, here’s a short explanation:
The basis of this event lies in the Mayan calendar, in which time, as we understand it, comes to an end. And a major shift occurs in human consciousness. Will this be the end of the world? Or, is it the beginning of a new world? Some believe that the shift will reveal the 4th dimension (time) or maybe the 5th dimension (unity with the unseen Spirit World/Heaven). My spirit guide, Dew, has told of a time, near the end of time, when inanimate objects will come to life, including stones, and that our animals will speak to us, to prove God’s dominion on earth. And yes, 2012 is his date for all this to occur.

It is our intended goal to help everyone prepare for what could possibly be the greatest event modern man has ever experienced. It’s not intended to make an apocalyptic prediction (we don’t need more of those). It’s just something that has gotten our attention that has potentially significant meaning for all of humanity.

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:

First, we recognize that, to anyone seeing this information for the first time, it probably comes off as being a little like the Y2k scare in 2000 or the Hale Bopp fears in 1996-97. And to be completely honest, no one “knows” anything. All we are looking at are signs. The first sign is that the amazingly accurate Mayan calendar comes to an end on December 21, 2012 (Gregorian calendar). Calendars aren’t supposed to do that. Second, we absolutely know, based on scientific knowledge, that there will be major astrological conjunctions occurring at once on that date. And third, that the sun is going to once again shift its magnetic poles and hammer the earth with massive amounts of energy.

Most of what we’re basing our theories on is spiritual intuition, though, and not ours alone, but those of many associates and prominent “seers” who all believe that we were put here to witness something poignant and transformational. But, we don’t intend to turn you into believers. Do some research yourself. We’ve added links that go into great detail about this subject, including the mechanics of the Mayan calendar. So educate yourself and make up your own mind. To get started, here’s a brief summary of what we have learned so far:

We are in the final “room” of the last “house” of the Mayan calendar. Several predicted events have already occurred that are leading up to some main event. Several independent sources have reported what could be devastating possibilities for the Earth and for us, her inhabitants. (For example, while Diane and I were at Crater National Park a few years ago, the guide told us that his son, who works for the NSA, told him that NASA is tracking an asteroid, scheduled to make close contact with earth in--2012.)

Recent reports of the sun changing its magnetic poles and huge bursts of energy hitting the Earth are to be repeated in--2012. Plus there are the ongoing measurements of Earth’s magnetic fields, which appear to be speeding up. In addition, this date also corresponds to the Hopi prophesy of their “5th World” coming. Tibetans are also pointing to 2012 as being a significant time. And recently we have come upon a Maori legend that speaks of two worlds coming together--in 2012. You’ll find the entire text in the right column.

Scientifically, astronomers have shown that our planet will be in perfect alignment with the center of the Milky Way in December of 2012. On the “Coast-To-Coast AM” radio program, the date comes up repeatedly during interviews mainly revolving around the subject of earth changes; such as increased melting of the poles, magnetic and equatorial shifts and the potential flooding of the coastal regions around the world.

So, 2012 keeps popping up in many ways. Pay attention and see for yourself. This is looking very BIG. (If you hear of anything new in the media about 2012, or if you come from a culture that has a legend regarding 2012, let me know and I will gladly add it to this section.) Let it be said here, that besides the possible devastating events predicted by some, there is also an equal chance that humanity will witness a remarkable event. But will we be prepared? It’s time for humanity to wake up and function from a point of love and hope instead of greed and fear. Because in the end, “the love you take is equal to the love you make”.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Here are some tips from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Climate change website on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions/Global warming.

Making a few small changes in your home and yard can lead to big reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, increase the nation's energy independence and save money. Explore our list of nine simple steps you can take around the house and yard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
1. Change 5 lights
Change a light, and you help change the world. Replace the conventional bulbs in your 5 most frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that have the ENERGY STAR label and you will help the environment while saving money on energy bills. If every household in the U.S. took this one simple action we would prevent more than 1 trillion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Look for ENERGY STAR labeled products
When buying new products, such as appliances for your home, get the features and performance you want AND help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Look for ENERGY STAR-qualified products in more than 40 product categories, including lighting, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment and appliances.
3. Heat and cool smartly
Simple steps like cleaning air filters regularly and having your heating and cooling equipment tuned annually by a licensed contractor can save energy and increase comfort at home, and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When it's time to replace your old equipment, choose a high efficiency model, and make sure it is properly sized and installed.
4. Seal up your home with better insulation and duct-work
Close up any visible cracks and gaps in your house, install adequate insulation, check that ducts are sealed and choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows when replacing old windows. Not sure where the cracks and gaps are? A home energy auditor can also help to identify areas with poor insulation and evaluate the energy efficiency of your home. By taking these steps, you can eliminate drafts, keep your home more comfortable year round, save energy that would otherwise be wasted, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Use green power
Green power is environmentally friendly electricity that is generated from renewable energy sources such as wind and the sun. There are two ways to use green power: you can buy green power or you can modify your house to generate your own green power. Buying green power is easy, it offers a number of environmental and economic benefits over conventional electricity, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, and it helps increase clean energy supply. If you are interested, there are a number of steps you can take to create a greener home Exit EPA Disclaimer, including installing solar panels and researching incentives for renewable energy in your state Exit EPA Disclaimer.
6. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
If there is a recycling program in your community, recycle your newspapers, beverage containers, paper and other goods. Use products in containers that can be recycled and items that can be repaired or reused. In addition, support recycling markets by buying products made from recycled materials. Reducing, reusing, and recycling in your home helps conserve energy and reduces pollution and greenhouse gases from resource extraction, manufacturing, and disposal.
7. Be green in your yard
Use a push mower, which, unlike a gas or electric mower, consumes no fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gases. If you do use a power mower, make sure it is a mulching mower to reduce grass clippings (PDF, 8 pp., 1.59 MB, About PDF). Composting your food and yard waste reduces the amount of garbage that you send to landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. See EPA’s GreenScapes program for tips on how to improve your lawn or garden while also benefiting the environment. Smart Landscaping can save energy, save you money and reduce your household’s greenhouse gas emissions.
8. Use water efficiently
Everyone can save water through simple actions. Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute water to households, and saving water, especially hot water, can lower greenhouse gas emissions. Do not let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth. Do not use your toilet as a waste basket for toiletry items - water is wasted with each flush. And did you know a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day? Repair all toilet and faucet leaks right away. See EPA's WaterSense site for more water saving tips.
9. Spread the Word
Tell family and friends that energy efficiency is good for their homes and good for the environment because it lowers greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Tell 5 people and together we can help our homes help us all.

Wings Of Evolution - World Wide Postcard Sharing

This is a clip from our New Documentary film "Wings of Evolution" on a school for homeless children in India. This clip shows the Postcard painting workshop where children on one part of the globe draw/paint postcards for children in other parts of the globe, thereby promoting peace, diversity and understanding in the long term.

yanni link - About appreciating life!!

This will take you to a different world!!!
Thanks to Yanni and Youtube!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3ork0msQ_o&NR