A strong woman and woman of strength

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape…
But a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything…
But a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her…
But a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future…
But a woman of strength realizes life's mistakes
can also be God's blessings and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman walks sure footedly…
But a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face…
But a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey…
But a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey
that she will become strong.

Nine Keys to Contentment

1. Health to live well.
2. Wealth to support your needs.
3. Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them.
4. Grace to confess your sins and forsake them.
5. Patience to toil until some good is accomplished.
6. Charity to see good in every person.
7. Love to move you to be useful and helpful to others.
8. Faith to know and follow God's will.
9. Hope to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.

 

Things to Remember

Do not despise GodDo not be proud in successDo not despair in failureDo not depend on wealthDo not grumble in difficultiesDo not be lazy  in doing goodDo not pay heed to praiseDo not love moneyDo not tease the least onesDo not forget your friends

Ecology today: A Christian perspective

The Catholic Church honors a great saint, St Francis of Assisi, on Oct 4. Perhaps he is one of the most celebrated saints in the Catholic Church.

St Francis of Assist is known as the patron saint of the animals birds an

environment. He saw the external world as sign of God’s revelation, providence and goodness. He lived in close association with nature, gave up all comforts and embraced a life of poverty.

Looking into today's situation the reality is not the same. If we compare the Creation scenario with today's situation we feel threatened by environmental degradation.  In the beginning when God created the world everything was good.  On the first day He separated light from darkness and named the light day and the darkness night. He saw all that He created was good. But the greed of man tarnished the beauty of nature with concrete jungles, unplanned towns and cities, ushering in an increasing consumer culture.

On the second day God divided the earth and the sky. With smoke and human beings darkened the cloud and made the earth their eternal dwelling, forgetting the Creator by enjoying all kinds of comforts and with utter disregard for fellow beings. 

On the third day God separated the water from the land and created the seas and the land together with plants of all kinds and fruit bearing trees. Today driven by greed sod love for profit, trees are cut down There is soil erosion and flood. Hundreds of species of plants have disappeared from the face of the earth.

On the fourth day God said, "Let there be light in the firmament of the heavens to separate the day from the night; and let there be signs and  season  for days and years, and let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth." Today, there is so much of corruption and fraudulence around that one finds it difficult to see any ray of hope.

On the fifth day God commanded, "Let the water be filled with many kinds of living beings and the air be filled with birds. Today the water and the air are polluted with all kinds of filth from the factories and the waste that is thrown into the water. Animals and birds are killed for human pleasure and luxury goods. The natural habitats are destroyed making hundreds of species of birds and animals extinct for future generations.

On the sixth day God created all kinds of animals wild and tame, large and small. Then God created human beings in His own image and likeness and put them as stewards of all that He had made.

 Today there is disregard for human dignity. Infants are killed in the womb of the mother who is supposed to 1 the protector. Today there is discrimination based on race, caste, color and sex. Human beings fear a hate each other and produce bombs and weapons of mass destruction to dominate, achieve power and position.

On the seventh day God rested. But today weekends are full of activities, chasing fleeting pleasure and comforts.

We like to live in comfortable conditions with good food to eat, a comfortable house to live in and nice clothes to wear, With technological advancement and increase in population, the interdependence between human beings and the environment has taken a reverse turn for the worse. We now feel that environment should adjust to suit our needs.

 If one returns to one's own place after a period of absence specially places with high density of population, one might even lose the sense location. Such is the change that takes place day after day. Modern technology could be used intelligently to modify the environment and reverse the environmental degradation too.

Human beings cannot live without environment and a balanced ecosystem is needed for good health and well being. Modern science and technology seem to popularize the ideology of use and throw culture. Those who do not fit into this category are considered traditional or old-fashioned.

There can be a world without human beings but Human being cannot exist without World. God created the world and made us co- creators in charge of the universe with responsibility of taking care of it.

Jessy Jacob

Pastoral ministry in the digital world

The Church is essentially a missionary. The mission of preaching the Word of God is mandatory for the church. But how is a vital question to be asked by every baptized Christian who is called to be a missionary. Consecrated men and women who have dedicated their life for the cause of the Gospel have a special responsibility for opening the door to new forms of preaching the Gospel respecting the dignity of the human person.  In Indian situation the elderly are more faithful and active in the church activities than the young people. It is a common phenomenon that a handful of young people attend a program organized for the youth. In a parish where there are hundreds of youth, why are there only a handful of them present for the program targeted to them?   Where are the rest?  How can we bring them back to the main stream of the church?

To a certain extent it is true even when we take children into consideration. Parents have great dream for their children. They plan for their education, future career, well being and good fortune even when they are in their mother’s womb itself. Parents dream that their unmet desires are fulfilled at least in their children. It is quite astonishing that children turn out to be very different at times. Today children try to avoid teachers and parents at least in their vocabularies. Anyone who comes across as an obstacle on their way is to be eliminated. It is not learned from school, colleges or parents. Media to a great extent is responsible for such vicarious situations. How can we bring them back?

The media/new technology of communication give information and entertainment. They are excellent means of communication and transmission of messages. Through the new technology we come to know about ourselves others an external world. It helps us to make new and meaningful relationship with people around us. Today we have come to a stage wherein without audio visual aids any seminar or classes are not interesting.  In such situations media can be used as an effective means to put across religious values to youth and children.

Today youth and children are well informed and they know anything under the sun. They are educated and the money power is with them. Anything that is slow, not interesting, and not thrilling are discarded and deleted altogether.  They want a quick fix answer and a shortcut solution to every problem. How to bring them to the lost Value system?

Pastoral ministry in the digital world has the answer to it. St Paul says I became all things to all in order to gain some for Christ. If we follow the missionary strategy of Paul we can say that if we want to gain the media/electronic generation of today we need to use the same. If the new media is put at the service of the gospel it can bring about drastic change. Because we know that when faced with raw realities of life no SMS language and technology will be of any help but a personal God whom one has encountered and experienced in life. St Paul says anyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But when they have not heard how they can believe in him whom they have not heard and how can they hear without someone to preach.

Even while using the Media for the proclamation of the Gospel to the modern generation churchy programs works no more. It has to be put in an intelligible format to yield fruit.   Gospel must be put into the language of the young people. For this we need visionaries and courageous and motivated leaders. When the media is put at the service of the Gospel they are capable of increasing almost indefinitely the area in which the word of God is heard. They enable the Good news to reach millions of people. The church would feel guilty before the Lord if she did not utilize those powerful means that human skill is daily rendering daily perfect. It is through them she proclaims from the house tops. (Evangelii Nuntiadndi No: 45). The world of digital communication with its limitless expressive capacity which captures our eyes and ears conquers the young and the old alike. Comparing to the vast possibility lying ahead and the little that is done with media it makes us to sigh and exclaim like St. Paul woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel through the media.

Sr Jessy Jacob fsp

Brain Drain a Serious Issue

The migration of skilled individuals or technical personnel to other nations is referred as brain drain. On seeing hundreds and thousands of students passing out from the schools year after year one might wonder where will all these be educated and given job. Today even if a student gets ninety percentages of marks he or she is unable to get admission in reasonably good colleges. According to the study India has a smooth flow of education system.

It has become a fashion and prestige for parents to send their children to foreign countries for studies immediately after their elementary studies. The innumerable opportunities of scholarship and incentives boost educational thrust of Indians outside India.

 Indians are smart creative and hard working. Indian IT branch has caused a boom in the world.  People with professional qualification have a chance of job opportunities even in the developed countries. Thus a large group of Indian trained individuals seek job in the developed countries. Asian countries as a whole is a victim of brain drain as western countries pour job opportunities to Asian countries. Human capital flight or large-scale emigration of individuals with technical skills or knowledge normally happens due to conflict, lack of opportunity, political instability, health risks or financial security. One of the benefits of brain drain is that individual brain will get opportunity to nurture talents and gifts in another atmosphere and it can be used worldwide.

We live in a world of quick fix solutions to the problems and fast money. Unemployment is an excuse for brain drain. The employment opportunities within the country seem to be inadequate in comparison with the fast money available. Better life style fame and prestige attributed to the job in foreign countries can be a reason for brain drain. It can be beneficial if the persons send money in foreign currency and go with the hope of returning home back again.  The migration of skilled individuals to other nations makes the country remain without much development. If the skilled labor of Indians put together India can attain desired benefits in the given time and rise to the level of developed countries.

It is a common scene in Metro Politan cities where in elderly stay alone. If you ask they will tell you “my son is in America and my daughter is in Canada, they send Money for us”. Soon their faces fade and they will tell you of the loneliness and unexplainable insecurity feeling of old age. The daily phone call and the abundance of money will not substitute the company of their own children?

In Indian situation for the benefit of the citizens of our country and its growth, it is essential that we make a thorough study of the depletion or loss of intellectual capital flight as migration of talented individuals is a serious matter.

Children and Media.

This was the theme  for the forty first world communications day was Children and media: a challenge to education. This theme invited us and still continues to invite us to the challenge of education. It invites us to ponder upon two topics of importance: namely the formation of children and formation of media. This topic is relevant and right in the technology driven era. Today's generation can rightly be called media generation .This media generation has too many information and too many opportunities. As they are technology driven they seek solution to all their problems in the technology itself.  Many of the parents, at least some, avoid their responsibility of caring them by putting on video games and similar types of media materials, so that they are undisturbed in their daily activities after the heavy schedule of the day.

People, of all walks of life spent their time, energy and money for the media materials. For good or ill media has a great responsibility in educating the children effectively. It is not an isolated phenomenon that children who are exposed to media; internet and other educational programs questioning even the teachers and want to share their knowledge, or else they feel bored and restless.

There are varieties of programs that are available in the television channels for children. Children are glued to the television cartoon channels and other entertainment programs catering their need for entertainment. Most of the advertising companies create and impression that children are an inevitable part of selling of a product.  As vulnerable as they are, they are influenced by what they see and hear. Prioritizing the need and responsibility becomes secondary to them.

Media prompt to change the dress code, way of living, talking and the behavior itself Children look for role models in elders, parents and teachers. Can any parent today courageously say, "Learn from me or imitate me?" Failing to see role models in the-above categories they seek role models in films and televisions. as small as they are, an inclination to imitate the pop stars and film stars is enforced into their minds.

Television the dominant medium today captures the attention of sight and bearing. Children are unable to discern what is good and what is not so good.  Constant watching of poor quality programs makes the children to drift themselves away from the real life. Today reading habit is, on the decreasing end. Children are happy to get even the class room lessons on to the CD, VCD etc. This reduced level of reading decreases the creativity and writing ability in children. Violence disguised in entertainment makes children act out reel into the real life situations. Thus media that can do tremendous amount of good turn out to be harmful in itself

Today even a three year old can manipulate the mouse of a computer .The complex challenge of educationalist (parents elders, and teachers) is to watch the pervasive effect of the media, because media can form the children's behaviour  attitudes and the way they think it-self. The children must be taught to respond to the media appropriately. The primary role of the educationalist is to educate the children to have a right judgement which will enable them to accept or reject the harmful programs.

The media that does much harm to the children can be used to enhance the moral and cultural values in children. Teaching can effectively be done by using different genre and the text in the context creates the desirable effects.

Dowry A Social Evil

Today India is knocked down by many problems like illiteracy, unemployment, cast system terrorism, population growth, female feticide etc… Among the many other problems that surmount the Indian Scenario is Dowry system. Dowry system is rampant in some cultures than in some other cultures for example that Southern side of India has this practice much more impose than in any other parts of India.

This fact is discussed and condemned by many serious minded people. Yet it continues to rule the human mind. Yet Dowry system is practiced faithfully by the people by and large under various lame excuses. The dowry system is responsible to a great extent for child marriage and discrimination against girls. If a girl is married at a tender age, a small amount of dowry will work, but if the girl is educated and qualified, she needs an equal amount of dowry to get a bridegroom of the same status.

Dowry system is faithfully by the people by and large under various lame excuses. Dowry system has deeply rooted in Indian Culture. Unfortunately, the dowry system is still prevalent in India despite the provision in the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961. it says that: "If any person, after the commencement of this Act, gives or takes or abets the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees or the amount of the value of such dowry, whichever is more."

It is a reality that serious minded people decide to say no to dower but the external forces, parental insistence etc…. Yet we lack people who can take independent decision and stand by the decision taken. Following are some of the points that can be adapted to refute the evil practice of dowry system.

1 Start practicing dowry prohibition in your family.

2 Educate the members of your family with the provisions of law – that demanding and accepting or giving dowry is an offence.

3 A woman is an important member of family and is entitled to all the rights and privileges a man enjoys.

4 Educate the members of your family and your neighbors to respect a woman’s rights and privileges.

5 Gather like-minded people who are fighting against this evil and begin to conscientise people on the issue.

 Despite every stigma, dowry continues to be the signature of marriage. According to the dowry marriages make or break.

It is high time each one of us should make sure not to encourage this practice, if we choose to call ourselves educated, aware & moral, and seeking for spirituality. This is just another way contributing to the ill treatment of girls and their subjugation and we should have the policy of zero tolerance in the matter  which will help us solve other problems associated with it automatically. Women should insist on marrying only those men who have the courage of their conviction to say no to dowry. Men who insist on living on the wealth provided by their in-laws are as good as impotent and should be avoided at all cost. Women need real social, political, financial and moral support in their fight against the system. They have to be empowered so that they can take their decisions about their own life by refusing the dowry system.

The evil of dowry cannot be tackled by a few individuals. It requires a combined effort of noble-minded persons to eradicate this noble cause

A life not reflected is not worth living

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider free-ways  but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgement  more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.


We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour  We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out non essential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is God & ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
* Memorize your favourite poem.
* Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
* When you say, "I love you", mean it.
* When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.
* Believe in love at first sight.
* Never laugh at anyone's dreams.
* Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
* In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
* Talk slow, but think quick.
* Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
* Call your Mom and Dad.
* Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
* When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
* Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
* Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
* When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
* Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
* Spend some time alone.
* Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Read more books and watch less TV.
* Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
* Trust in God but lock your car.
* A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
* In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
* Read between the lines.
* Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
* Be gentle with the earth.
* Once a year, go some place you've never been before.
* If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
* Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes the blessing.
* Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
* Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
* Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

                    And most importantly Most importantly Keep God at Heart

Courtesy:  Internet

True Patriotism

Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements?
We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?
We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.
Look at Dr. Sudarshan , he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit.. There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters.
I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.

In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime.. Why are we so NEGATIVE? Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign T.Vs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology.

Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance? I

was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is.. She replied: I want to live in a developed India . For her, you and I will have to build this developed India . You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.

YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke. The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.

YOU say, say and say.. What do YOU do about it?

Take a person on his way to Singapore . Give him a name - 'YOURS'. Give him a face - 'YOURS'. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground links as they are.. You pay $5 (approx. Rs.. 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity… In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai .. YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah.
YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs..650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else.'YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, 'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.' YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand ..
Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo ? Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston ??? We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India ?

In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan
Will the Indian citizen do that here?' He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.
We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop

chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.
We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.
This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public. When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? 'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away.
Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England . When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too….. I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians…..

'ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'

Curtsy: Great thoughts from Abdul Kalam former president of India

Missing Girls

According to government figures three million girl children have been killed in the last decade in India. This information was revealed in the latest report of the ministry of statistics and program implementation. 

Studies have said 500,000 girls a year or 2,000 a day go missing in the country due to female feticide. The Statistics show that in families, where one girl child already exists, the chances of a second girl being born are as low as 54 per cent. 

In the modern family with two female children, the chances of a third girl being born is as low as 20 per cent. The ministry said that there are now 48 fewer girls per 1,000 boys than in 1981. The crimes against girl children also increased substantially in 2011. Report show increase of 43 per cent was registered in kidnapping and abduction. Rape cases are also on the rise  It increased by 30 per cent, trafficking of minor girls recorded an increase of 27 per cent and foeticide reported an increase of 19 per cent over 2010.
 

Sex ratio is very low in Hariyana, Punjab and in Kerala. 

 Courtsy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

World Mental health day

The World Mental health day is celebrated on October 11. World Mental Health Day is celebrated to create public awareness about mental health and related issues. The day invites us to promote open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in prevention, promotion, rehabilitation and treatment services. This year the theme for the day is “Depression: A Global Crisis”.

Depression affects more than 350 million people of all ages, in all communities, and is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. Although there are known effective treatments for depression, access to treatment is a problem in most countries and in some countries fewer than 10% of those who need it receive such treatment. 

On this day I met divorced lady. Looking happy and smart yet what made her to go for divorce? The answer came from the relatives, depression.

Depression is a global problem. It is seen in all people of all walks of life. Parents speak of it of their young children. Thanks to the generous souls who care for such people in the rehabilitation centre and even at home.

Bundles of Notes

When the last sea too is  polluted,

When the last tree is cut down

When all the fresh air exist no more

When the last fish in the sea is lost

We will realise that we cannot eat
Bundles of Notes.

Ten Thousand times stronger killer of CANCER

Though native of Brazil, it is seen  in Kerala and more frequently in Tanzania, Africa. It is called “Mullen chakka” in Malayalam, it is not widely cultivated because the fruit is not very tasty – it has a dominant sour taste. 

The Sour Sop or the fruit from the graviola tree is a miraculous natural cancer cell killer 10,000 times stronger than Chemo.

Why are we not aware of this? Its because some big corporation want to make back their money spent on years of research by trying to make a synthetic version of it for sale.

So, since you know it now you can help a friend in need by letting him know or just drink some sour sop juice yourself as prevention from time to time. The taste is not bad after all. It’s completely natural and definitely has no side effects. If you have the space, plant one in your garden.

The other parts of the tree are also useful.

The next time you have a fruit juice, ask for a sour sop.

How many people died in vain while this billion-dollar drug maker concealed the secret of the miraculous Graviola tree?

This tree is low and is called graviola ! in Brazi l, guanabana in Spanish and has the uninspiring name “soursop” in English. The fruit is very large and the subacid sweet white pulp is eaten out of hand or, more commonly, used to make fruit drinks, sherbets and such.

The principal interest in this plant is because of its strong anti-cancer effects. Although it is effective for a number of medical conditions, it is its anti tumor effect that is of most interest. This plant is a proven cancer remedy for cancers of all types.

Besides being a cancer remedy, graviola is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent for both bacterial and fungal infections, is effective against internal parasites and worms, lowers high blood pressure and is used for depression, stress and nervous disorders.

If there ever was a single example that makes it dramatically clear why the existence of Health Sciences Institute is so vital to Americans, it’s the incredible story behind the Graviola tree..

The truth is stunningly simple: Deep within the Amazon Rainforest grows a tree that could literally revolutionize what you, your doctor, and the rest of the world thinks about cancer treatment and chances of survival. The future has never looked more promising.

Research shows that with extracts from this miraculous tree it now may be possible to:

* Attack cancer safely and effectively with an all-natural therapy that does not cause extreme nausea, weight loss and hair loss

* Protect your immune system and avoid deadly infections

* Feel stronger and healthier throughout the course of the treatment

* Boost your energy and improve your outlook on life

The source of this information is just as stunning: It comes from one of America ‘s largest drug manufacturers, the fruit of over 20 laboratory tests conducted since the 1970's! What those tests revealed was nothing short of mind numbing… Extracts from the tree were shown to:

* Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer..

* The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug!

* What’s more, unlike chemotherapy, the compound extracted from the Graviola tree selectively hunts down and kills only cancer cells.. It does not harm healthy cells!

The amazing anti-cancer properties of the Graviola tree have been extensively researched–so why haven’t you heard anything about it? One of America ‘s biggest billion-dollar drug makers began a search for a cancer cure and their research centered on Graviola, a legendary healing tree from the Amazon Rainforest.

Various parts of the Graviola tree–including the bark, leaves, roots, fruit and fruit-seeds–have been used for centuries by medicine men and native Indians in South America to treat heart disease, asthma, liver problems and arthritis. Going on very little documented scientific evidence, the company poured money and resources into testing the tree’s anti-cancerous properties–and were shocked by the results. Graviola proved itself to be a cancer-killing dynamo.

But that’s where the Graviola story nearly ended.

The company had one huge problem with the Graviola tree–it’s completely natural, and so, under federal law, not patentable. There’s no way to make serious profits from it.

It turns out the drug company invested nearly seven years trying to synthesize two of the Graviola tree’s most powerful anti-cancer ingredients. If they could isolate and produce man-made clones of what makes the Graviola so potent, they’d be able to patent it and make their money back. Alas, they hit a brick wall. The original simply could not be replicated. There was no way the company could protect its profits–or even make back the millions it poured into research.

As the dream of huge profits evaporated, their testing on Graviola came to a screeching halt. Even worse, the company shelved the entire project and chose not to publish the findings of its research!

Luckily, however, there was one scientist from the Graviola research team whose conscience wouldn’t let him see such atrocity committed. Risking his career, he contacted a company that’s dedicated to harvesting medical plants from the Amazon Rainforest and blew the whistle.

Miracle unleashed

When researchers at the Health Sciences Institute were alerted to the news of Graviola, they

began tracking the research done on the cancer-killing tree. Evidence of the astounding effectiveness of Graviola–and its shocking cover-up–came in fast and furious….

….The National Cancer Institute performed the first scientific research in 1976. The results showed that Graviola’s “leaves and stems were found effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells.” Inexplicably, the results were published in an internal report and never released to the public…

….Since 1976, Graviola has proven to be an immensely potent cancer killer in 20 independent laboratory tests, yet no double-blind clinical trials–the typical benchmark mainstream doctors and journals use to judge a treatment’s value–were ever initiated….

….A study published in the Journal of Natural Products, following a recent study conducted at Catholic University of South Korea stated that one chemical in Graviola was found to selectively kill colon cancer cells at “10,000 times the potency of (the commonly used chemotherapy drug) Adriamycin…”

….The most significant part of the Catholic University of South Korea report is that Graviola was shown to selectively target the cancer cells, leaving healthy cells untouched. Unlike chemotherapy, which indiscriminately targets all actively reproducing cells (such as stomach and hair cells), causing the often devastating side effects of nausea and hair loss in cancer patients.

…A study at Purdue University recently found that leaves from the Graviola tree killed cancer cells among six human cell lines and were especially effective against prostate, pancreatic and lung cancers. Seven years of silence broken–it’s finally here!"
"10000 times stronger killer of CANCER than Chemo".. do share it.. can save many lives, fill up hopes and build confidence in the patients...

 Courtesy:  Joseph Parippil 

A singer and a columnist committed suicide

Varsha Bhosle, a singer and a columnist committed suicide on Monday  October 8 th by shooting herself at her residence in Mumbai. In 2008, she was admitted to hospital after an overdose of medicines. Varsha who lent her voice for a couple of Hindi and Marathi films also appeared in some concerts with her mother. Apart from singing, Varsha wrote columns for The Sunday Observer, Gentleman magazine, The Times of India and Rediff.

Varsha completed her schooling from Hill Grange High School on Pedder Road, Mumbai, in 1974. She then studied Political Science at Elphinstone College.

In 2008, it was rumoured that Varsha had attempted suicide, but later on it emerged that she was hospitalised after an overdose of medicines. She used to live with her mother in Mumbai.

Courtesy  HT Syndication 

Health Concerns

Courtesy Internet

104, yet stern and steady.

Mr. Joe Menezes who lives in Bandra, Mumbai, with his son turns 103 today on October 4^th. 103 yet he is steady like an eighty year old and walks like a 90 year old. Having a son and a daughter married and well settled in life is fortunate to see his children and grandchildren and their children. He is a good musician a violinist and singer. Having his military background in job and singing he taught music even on his 100^th birthday.

Our life span is seventy years and eighty for those who are strong says Psalms, one of the books in the holy BIBLE. But can you think of someone who is 103 yet fully in his senses with good memory and an analytical mind? Yes he posses it. Indeed he is a happy man. He is thrilled as he gets phone calls from his grandchildren who are settled in America and other countries. Indeed it is a memorable day for him to celebrate his life and abundance of graces received from above. 

Heavy rains cools the city

On the first of October Mumbai had a heavy shower followed by thunder and lightning. It was seen in whole of Mumbai, Kalyan, Thane Bhivandi and some other places too. The unexpected rain relieved the rising heat in the city.
However the thunder and lightning was a terrible experience for the travellers and those out for various purposes as they feared life. Consequences were found at the air port and in the local railways as they halted for few minutes to restart with the schedules.  In just one hour comparatively, the city saw a heavy shower that outscored a normal monsoon day.  It is unfortunate that people lost their lives in thunder and lightning. The weather department blamed the increase in temperature and humidity during the day for thunder storms in the evening.

Dowry system an evil in the society

India suffers from many social evils and superstitions. One of these great evils of dowry system. Cash and kind to his daughter during her marriage dowry is given. This is wicked, and Al, one or the other and the communities in the departments of the country. With it, greed, women, girl child is ill, treatment, woman – burning against the bias, like many other evils associated with taking bribes, etc., etc., so that one can give the money to marry his daughter. Many young women are committing suicide because their parents can not afford a dowry. In many cases, parents exorbitant interest rates to borrow money to his daughters wedding and kills the entry of many problems the rest of his life.

It is very difficult to find a match for a girl without paying handsome dowry. The relationship soured and there is tension, ill-will and dissension in families. Business and married a girl’s parents as a kind of exploitation. Well educated, and most boys of his father put a large portion of demand in both cash and kind. The rates for boys married and has qualifications in career mode. If the boy to a doctor or engineer, the demand may be anything between 5 to 10 million. If you have a male IAS A. Rates are still much higher. Thus, bridegrooms and girls are bought and sold like commodities on the sacrificial altar of marriage. The heart of a happy marriage and relationships but not married, the more transactions, a simple means of exploitation. Even the most educated and affluent parents, not back off his beggars and do not demand huge dowries.

Dowry system is a great shame for the Indian society is a slur. Evil can be found in any other country as a dowry. Reflects our prejudice against the women. It underlines the fact that women are not treated equally and fairly. After marriage, women are harassed, treated the sick and burned to death if they fail to bring in enough dowry. This woman is no limit to the greed of the law. They are also more and more dowry demands after marriage. In many families it is hell. The country has wicked woman is already a heavy toll of life. And yet there is not the end. People who suffer from double standards and double talk. They speak and preach against the dowry system, but they raise a claim at the time of the marriage of his son.

Equality of men and women in law against dowry system. It is a criminal offence  give and take dowry. But this is a violation of the open. There are thousands of cases every year portion of a few criminals are actually punished. It shows that laws alone are not enough. Besides laws, we need more social awareness and effective social action. We should create a movement and a strong public opinion against the system. Villages and every nook and corner of the country, this movement should be taken. More leaders, social groups, men, women, and evil must be involved in the movement. Social exclusion should be enough for those who practice the dowry system. Women’s organizations such as the people to hold demonstrations against it.

Registration must be married. Young men and women should take oath against evil. Women married to men who refuse to be a demand for dowry. Group and community marriages can help remove the evil. More and more women should be encouraged to take employment and become economically independent. A very low percentage of literacy among girls and women. This rate should be increased. More schools, colleges, and training of women should be opened. There is free education up to university level should be for women. Spread education and literacy among women is a great weapon against dowry can be.

Portion of women and the practice itself should be the next fight. Their rights, privileges, and powers should know. They should stop thinking in terms of the weak sex. They should open rebellion, and the portion of practitioners. They stand on their legs and to fight for their rights. Now there is more awareness among the women than before. But it is only the beginning. They are all kinds of discriminations and unjust men – fighting for dominance. These young men should be frankly rejected the demand for dowry from their parents. But in a situation of one party reduces the demand for dowry. Evil to be fought both in law and society level. Never for a strong campaign and the movement to eradicate the evil.
Dowry system is an evil in the society destroying the very fabrics of the family and even degrading Human dignity 
 http://marybeau38657.blog.com/2012/02/21/the-evils-of-dowry-system/

Foreign goods mania of Indians

Chinese products are flooding the Indian market day by day and in particular in the border areas of our country. The policy of the Indian people is quality items in cheaper rate. Is Indian Population bothered about a little cheaper item available or our Courtiers economic growth? Opting for the product of other countries make our country economically vulnerable.

The Chinese business men have penetrated  the Indian market in a very systematic way with their well-planned and innovative marketing styles. They study the demand patterns and the market trends and work out the lowest price that they can offer to attract a huge section of the consumers while still maintaining a profitable margin. As the Indian market is price-oriented, the home products are slowly losing their share to the competitive Chinese market.  Practically all Chinese products are  are available in India.

Chinese electronic items like torch, radio, DVD players, mosquito bats etc. are flooding the Indian market today.  In the recent times, we saw the outpouring of the Chinese toys  in Indian markets.It was welcomed with open arms by the Indian consumers. Though the painting on the toys and other such items were hazardous to children’s health they prefer Chinese goods as they are cheaper and easily available. More over Indians have a mania for foreign goods. India as an economically growing country has to have check on the foreign goods getting into the market.

A trip to Korea

With seven of my sisters I left for Korea for an international meeting on the 17^th of June 2011. The meeting commenced at Seoul Korea. The participants from China, Papua New Guinea Philippines, India, Korea, Australia, Vietnam and Malaysia were chosen members for this meeting. The 48 members gathered were all of Different languages and culture. The Representatives  could effectively participate in the meeting due to the simultaneous translation offered, over the earphone, from Italian to English and vice versa, Korean and Chinese to English and Italian and vice versa, Korean to English and Italian and vice versa, Chinese to English and Korean and Italian and vice versa.

Korea is a clean, beautiful and a well built Country. People of Korea are very gentle, soft spoken yet assertive. Buddhist presence is predominant in Korea and people have Buddhist tradition. They have adapted Chinese food style  as Korea was part of China for many years.

Indeed it was an enriching experience for me to travel from India to Korea with three hours stopover at Hongkong and to mingle with people of other country.