WISH YOU ALL HAPPY AND PROPEROUS NEW YEAR

LIFE IS BEST FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO LIVE IT, 
LIFE IS DIFFICULT FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO ANALYZE IT, 
LIFE IS WORST FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO CRITICIZE IT, 
OUR ATTITUDE DEFINES LIFE... 
ENJOY YOUR LIFE, 
LAUGH SO HARD THAT EVEN SORROW SMILES AT YOU, 
LIVE LIFE SO WELL THAT EVEN DEATH LOVES TO SEE YOU ALIVE, 
FIGHT SO HARD THAT EVEN FATE ACCEPTS ITS DEFEAT... 

TO HAVE A SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP 
IS SUCH A WONDERFUL THING,
JOY, HAPPINESS AND LAUGHTER 
AREN'T ALL THAT IT WILL BRING.

ALONG WITH IT WILL COME SADNESS, 
SORROW AND PAIN,
BUT HAVING SPECIAL FRIENDS 
CAN MAKE YOU SMILE AGAIN.

SPECIAL FRIENDS WILL HUG AND COMFORT YOU 
IN YOUR HOUR OF NEED,
THEY TAKE YOU BY THE HAND AND GUIDE YOU, 
SOMETIMES TAKE THE LEAD.

SOME PEOPLE WON'T BELIEVE IN YOU;
THEY WON'T ENCOURAGE YOU
TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS,
BUT YOU MUST ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOU,
NO MATTER HOW LONG THE JOURNEY
AHEAD SEEMS.

SOME PEOPLE WILL BE JEALOUS OF YOU;
THEIR WORDS WILL BE SHARP AND UNKIND,
BUT YOU MUST CLOSE YOUR EARS
TO SUCH WORDS,
AND NEVER ALLOW THEM TO CHANGE
YOUR DIRECTION OR YOUR MIND.

I'LL ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOU
AND ENCOURAGE YOU
TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS,
AND I'LL TRY MY BEST TO SHOW YOU
THAT THE ROAD IS NEVER
AS LONG AS IT SEEMS.

I'LL ALWAYS CHEER FOR YOU;
MY WORDS WILL BE WARM AND KIND,
BECAUSE I TRULY TREASURE YOU.
YOU OWN A PART OF MY HEART,
AND YOU'RE ALWAYS ON MY MIND.

 NO SHADOW TO DEPRESS YOU

ONLY JOY TO SURROUND YOU

MANY FRIENDS TO LOVE YOU

GOD HIMSELF TO BLESS YOU

THESE ARE MY WISHES FOR YOU

TODAY, TOMARROW ,

AND EVERY DAY TO YOU

SWEET THINGS ARE EASY 2 BUY,
BUT SWEET PEOPLE ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND.
LIFE ENDS WHEN U STOP DREAMING, HOPE ENDS WHEN U STOP BELIEVING, 
LOVE ENDS WHEN U STOP CARING, 
FRIENDSHIP ENDS WHEN U STOP SHARING.
SO SHARE THIS WITH WHOM EVER U CONSIDER A FRIEND. 
TO LOVE WITHOUT CONDITION... ......... .........
TO TALK WITHOUT INTENTION... ......
TO GIVE WITHOUT REASON...... ...... 
AND TO CARE WITHOUT EXPECTATION. ......IS THE HEART OF A TRUE
FRIEND....... 

A Streetcar Named Disaster

Cars are at the heart of urban traffic problems

In London, a congestion tax on private cars levied in decreasing radials from the town centre makes people think twice before embarking on a journey into town by car. Electric and hybrid vehicles are, however, exempt from this tax. Prohibitive parking rates in Manhattan achieve much the same goal, making it unfeasible to use private cars. In Singapore, the registry of private vehicles takes the form of an auction. With bid amounts sometimes higher than the cost of the car, few can afford the price. 

    Creating a range of disincentives, cities around the world have found ingenious ways to curb the growing menace of the private car. Viewed in the 1950s as a symbol of personal freedom and the good life, the car is now – in the West, at least – symptomatic of all that is wrong with urban life: pollution, overcrowding, congestion and urban blight. 
    India is another story. In Delhi, every day a thousand new vehicles are added to the traffic stream. While this is a matter of some pride amongst those who feel that more cars are a sign of progress, the inability of city roads to accommodate them has produced unmanageable congestion, jams and increasing time periods for travel. Bangalore's urban transport ministry estimates that over Rs 30,000 crore are required to upgrade road infrastructure that includes new flyovers, freeways, freight corridors, terminals etc just to keep up with the present statistics. Mumbai, meanwhile, has found a unique solution to the city's traffic snarls. Local police have created 'silence zones' along the busiest roadways to prevent harassed drivers stuck in traffic jams from honking. 
    Are these sane solutions to the country's mounting urban problems? Shouldn't a restriction on vehicle numbers become essential in these circumstances? Most western cities have consciously developed new routes through town that give residents a better, greener option. In Copenhagen, a free cycle policy allows anyone to pick up a bicycle from any of the innumerable stands dotting the city, after paying a 10-kroner deposit. The deposit is returned at any stand upon the return of the bicycle. Could Park Street in Kolkata, or the old quarters in Ahmedabad or Hyderabad, benefit from a similar scheme? 
    In fact, the case for alternative forms of transport can be strengthened only if simultaneously a serious workable policy on car restriction is proposed. Along the East Coast 
of the US, many communities like Reston and Columbia are designed only for pedestrians. Cars are restricted to lots closer to the highway. Often whole sections of the cityscape are realigned to create a more attractive form of travel. 
    In the university town of Louvain, cycle tracks are designed to be independent of the city roads – aligned instead with the park system, thereby separating polluting cars from non-polluting vehicles and encouraging more people to walk and cycle. On working days it is not unusual to find senior company executives on cycles, gliding past duck ponds and through groves of shady trees to their offices. 
    In India, along with monumental problems and annual shortfalls, the incomplete approach to city planning and design is compounded by the government's inability to take bold initiatives. Beyond elaborate studies and paper projects little gets implemented. 
    Private architects in Ahmedabad have suggested using the Sabarmati riverbank as a secondary transport link within the city. Others in Delhi have prepared plans to use the system of nallahs to create a green link between different city neighbourhoods. A long-standing study to ban cars from the centre of Connaught Circus awaits approval (the lack of political will and opposition from shop owners will, however, never allow such a scheme to pass). A detailed proposal to pedestrianise the road between Humayun's and Safdarjung's tombs, and create a historic walkway that merges Nizamuddin and Lodi Gardens into one complete experience also lies on a shelf. In a city designed and run by the middle class for itself, little else can be expected. 
    With growing car populations and a distressing displacement of the pedestrian, there is a yawning disparity between the space required and the space available in the city. Given the present state of Indian urban growth, obviously too radical a shift in transport planning may not be possible. But if ever there was a need to re-examine new forms of movement in the city for imaginative solutions, it is now. 
    Transport planners know very well that it is possible to link all points in the city through the subway, buses, cycle-rickshaws and pedestrian sidewalks and so make travel less painful, and douse the rage that overcomes every driver when he takes to the street. With the growing legion of car manufacturers and owners, the battle, however, seems already lost. 
    The writer is an architect.

This road leads to nowhere

Poorer states lost out in health drive 10-30% Less Funds Given, Finds CAG Audit

New Delhi: Some of the poor states in the country that were the focus of the big-ticket National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) have actually ended up being discriminated against in the Central allocation as compared to funds released to some of the rich and efficient states that were already high on the basic health parameters. 

    This has been found in a review of NRHM, the UPA government's most ambitious welfare scheme after the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. The NRHM aims to bring the underprivileged under the universal health programme, particularly designed to cater to the rural population. 
    A performance audit conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found that some of the poor states, in fact, got as much as 10% to 30% less. 
    Bihar and Assam, where the health infrastructure was believed to be in a shambles, got the least. While Bihar was allocated nearly Rs 540 crore less in the three years between 2005 and 2008 for which audit was conducted, Assam got Rs 332 crore less than what it should have been allocated, according to the CAG findings. 
    The loss to poor states was at the cost of their rich and efficient counterparts who spent most of their allocated money within the stipulated timeframe and managed to get more funding from the share of the poor states. 
    While implementing NRHM, grants were to be allocated to states according to norms developed on the basis of a composite index incorporating population, disease burden, health indicators, state of public health infrastructure, etc. On these parameters, states like Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, UP, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura should have got more funds than other states. 
    However, the Centre continued to allocate grants among various states mainly on the population-based state factor. The existing formula was not applied equitably across the board during 2005-06 to 2007-08, the CAG observed. In fact, the Centre failed to even formulate a composite index for allocation of grants among the states which was mandatory under the mission. 
    The government's official auditor said this defeated the goal of the mission as the respective state weightages in accordance with which funds were allocated were based on total population and not on rural population. 
    The Union health ministry, however, justified the fund allocation saying lesser grants to some high focus states was due to presence of substantial unspent balances with them. On the other hand, after assessing utilisation of funds in states like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala and Tamil Nadu larger grants were released to them, the ministry said.

85% of industrial zones in INDIA severely polluted

Ankleshwar, Vapi Top Index: Govt Report

New Delhi: Coming just days after the world climate meet in Copenhagen, a government report released on Thursday said that more than 85% of the industrial zones in the country—75 out of 88—are severely polluted. 

    The report, a comprehensive environmental assessment of industrial clusters, said the worst performers on the pollution index are from Gujarat—Ankleshwar and Vapi—long known as having deepseated pollution management issues. Delhi, which is going to host the Commonwealth Games in October next year, and its surroundings have also some of the worst polluting zones in the country, according to the list in the report released by environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday. Ghaziabad takes the third rank in the list while the Najafgarh drain basin, which includes Okhla, Naraina, Anand Parvat and Wazirpur, comes in as the 11th worst. Noida (12) and Faridabad (18) are not too far behind. 
    Jairam said, "Expansion and new industries should be put on hold in the industrial zones that are critical (43 out of the 88) till pollution control actions are put in place. Many of these areas have reached their limits and the situation is not under control at the moment.'' The IIT-Delhi along with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the state pollution control boards prepared the report. It is the first such report prepared by the government using an index that measured land, air and water pollution emerging from these manufacturing hot zones. 
    Ten out of the 88 areas surveyed have reached alarming levels, the minister said, adding that he would want the CPCB and the state pollution control boards to come up with action plans for cleaning up the 43 worst performers. He said he would approach the finance ministry to make provisions in the next Budget to start a clean-up fund for these zones. The action plans, the minister said, would be drawn up with financial and organizational support from the Centre. He pointed out that the assessment—the first step in a more scientific evaluation of the problem which will be conducted biennially—had not taken the public health impact into account. For this, the ministry has commissioned the Public Health Foundation of India to conduct a study connecting the pollution loads to public health dangers.

Snowfall Around The UK

Snowfall Around The UK
By last night about four inches of snow fell in parts of East Anglia, making driving treacherous. In parts of Cambridgeshire high winds caused snowdrifts to form.

About 15cm of snow was predicted to fall in just three hours in Greater London, north Kent, the Thames estuary, Essex, Southend-on- Sea, Medway and Thurrock.

A forecaster for MeteoGroup said there could be a white Christmas. "The chances of falling snow on the big day do appear to be greater than in recent years," said Brendan Jones. "There is the potential for milder air attempting to move northwards by midweek, but this in itself could bring further periods of snow. This battleground between the very cold conditions and milder air heading in from the south-west could still be in place by Christmas Day. The prospect of a white Christmas therefore hangs in the balance."

Overnight temperatures fell below freezing across much of the UK as the Met Office warned there could be further snow across the east of England today.

  

India:Worst Drought in 40 Years Hurts Indian Farmers

Monsoons, though they can be potentially destructive, are welcomed in India to sustain the economy. Farmers rely on the rains to irrigate the land, while much of India's electricity is generated by water power provided by the monsoons rains. 

Officials agree that the weak monsoons, 36 percent below normal in Northwest regions, are already having a negative effect on the overall economy, with prices of basic food items skyrocketing. 

Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already stated that there are enough food reserves to stave off widespread hunger, this does little to reassure farmers who depend on the rain for their livelihood, like Shree Ram Reddy in Srinivaspur, Kolar, Karataka.

The farmers in his district depend on bore wells for irrigation. Sixty percent of the wells have dried up, and all the tanks are empty. "The rain here has been untimely," he said. "When the seeds were sown and we most needed the rains, the rains did not come. But two months later there were rains which caused some losses."

As a result of the weak rain, inflation shot up to 4.8 percent in November, an increase from 1.3 percent in October. Food costs went up by 19 percent, creating major hardship for citizens. What used to cost $1 for dal, a food staple, now costs $2. Prices of other food items, like sugar, have also gone up.

The government is trying to help with a scheme that gives jobs to farmers who have lost their livelihoods, but the uptake so far hasn't been great. 

Reddy's production is down 50 percent, and he and his neighbors are feeling the hurt. "There is a financial crisis as well for the farmers. Overall the situation is very bad."

Alongside this are estimates that India wastes around $50 billion worth of grains every year due to lack of post-harvest infrastructure, like appropriate storage facilities.

Disaster looms unless West steps up emission cuts

Even If Current Pledges Are Honoured, Temp Will Rise 3°C

Copenhagen: Industrialized countries are cheating the world. A confidential document of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat prepared on December 15 shows that, contrary to what the rich nations might claim, even if they fulfil their current pledges to reduce emissions, the world is headed towards 

a 3-degree temperature rise by 2050, not 2 degree Celsius –the tipping point. 
    The document, an authoritative assessment by the UN itself, still kept a secret from the 192 country delegates presently at Copenhagen, says, "Unless the remaining gap (of the emissions required to be reduced) is closed and parties (countries) commit themselves to strong action prior to and after 2020, global emissions will remain on an unsustainable pathway that could lead to concentrations equal to or above 550 ppm (parts per million of carbon dioxide in air) with the related temperature raise around 3 degree Celsius. 
    The United Nation's global group of scientists—IPCC—has long warned that if global temperatures go over 2 degrees above the pre-industrial era, the world would tip over into irreversible natural calamities. 
    The UN secret document shows that the targets rich countries have unofficially claimed they could take are just not enough.

Chinese Fake Eggs in market ????

Fake Egg ???? What r the CHINESE gonna think of NEXT??? Manufacturing fake eggs In China there are fake schools and classes that teach a variety of blatant fraud technology, even eggs can be modulated by chemical materials, but also be able to fry cook, is currently the most popular False course. Step 1 modulation of raw materials Using 7 kinds of chemical materials, see pic below Fake egg was made from calcium carbonate, starch, resin, gelatin, alum and other chemical products. Step 2 egg production Raw egg into the mold to 2 / 3 full, put calcium chloride, colouring die, the egg appears on the film been announced. The 'yolk' is shaped in the round mould. 'Magic water' containing calcium chloride is used. By adding a yellow pigment and become raw egg yolk. Step 3 fake egg shape In the mold into 1 / 3 raw egg white, like the first package, like dumplings into the egg yolk, egg white into another, into the magic water, a shell eggs will come slowly. Naked egg shape to 1 hour to dry after washing with water, at shells ready. Step 4 Sewing lines through the use of eggs, immersed in paraffin wax, calcium carbonate, such as modulation of the eggshell into a solution, repeated several times until the shell a little dry, immersion in cold water pumping line shape, this point, the egg has been put on a false cloak , You're done. Hard shells are formed by soaking in paraffin wax onto the egg, which are then left to dry. Oh yeah The Egg is ready. The artificial egg shell is very fragile and break easily but who cares!! Look so real Many small bubbles is formed during frying the egg but not many people can tell the difference. The egg look exactly the same, and the eggs taste better than real but you are adding to the Statistic of food poisoning person. Why make fake eggs ? Because of money. The cost of fake egg is only 0.55 Yuan/kg, while the true eggs' market price is 5.6 Yuan/kg. Cases of problem foods and food poisoning are widely reported in Mainland China over the last few years. In 2001, there were 185 cases of food poisoning, affecting about 15,715 people and causing 146 deaths. The cases doubled in 2002. In 2003, the number of reported cases was ten times more than that in 2001, and the number of people suffered was as high as 29,660, including 262 deaths Now In Sept 2008 Nearly 53,000 Chinese children sick from contaminated milk; 4 have died

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOCUS recognised for its disaster response and relief efforts in the wake of hurricanes

Ali Velshi and SACC President Mustafa Tameez present the 2009 Outstanding Community Organization Award to FOCUS Board Member Nasir Panjwani. Photo: Shiraz Maherali

At a Gala Dinner on 9 October, the South Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) of Houston, Texas honoured Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) with the 2009 Outstanding Community Organization Award for their disaster response and relief efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, Rita and Ike that affected the Southern United States.

Founded in 1993, the SACC is a non-profit organisation representing South Asian Americans, whose mission is to provide leadership that helps create regional economic prosperity and success for its members.

From left: Ali Velshi (CNN), Shaukat Zakaria (SACC Co-Chair), Mustafa Tameez (SACC President), Dr Amirali Popatia (FOCUS), Nasir Panjwani (FOCUS), Munira Panjwani-Zahid (SACC Co-chair), Nomaan Husain (SACC President-elect). Photo: Shiraz Maherali

Focus Humanitarian Assistance is an international disaster planning, risk management and crisis response agency. Its planning function includes training, stockpiling and expertise in times of crises. During a crisis, whether natural or man-made, it provides emergency relief to all communities in its areas of operation.

"The reason Focus Humanitarian Assistance was chosen for the Outstanding Community Organization Award was because it's doing impressive humanitarian work for the community at large, not only in the US, but globally, " said SACC President Mustafa Tameez.

FOCUS volunteers offer support to the community in Beaumont, Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Photo: Courtesy of FOCUS

Chief Guest and CNN business anchor Ali Velshi presented the award to Dr Amirali Popatia, Vice-Chairman of FOCUS USA, and Nasir Panjwani, FOCUS USA Board member, at the Gala banquet. Velshi, author of Gimme My Money Back: Your Guide to Beating the Financial Crisis, was chosen as the keynote speaker in appreciation of his work as an outstanding media personality in the business world.

In his opening remarks, President Tameez remarked on the dedication of FOCUS volunteers and staff, who in anticipation of Hurricane Ike established a Crisis Response Team and 24-hour hotline to offer information and timely assistance to those affected. Rozmin Velani, one of the volunteers, recounts that "in one of the calls to the hotline, there was a frantic call from a family."

FOCUS volunteers and staff in San Antonio work to sort and distribute clothes to help those affected rebuild their lives. Photo: Courtesy of FOCUS

"This family had an older parent visiting from another state," she continues, "and in the midst of the storm, the parent started experiencing chest pains. With most communication methods overwhelmed and 9-1-1 emergency response unreachable due to the overload of calls, the Hurricane Ike Hotline was crucial." Volunteers on the other end of the phone were able to guide the family through the crisis and get appropriate assistance, which helped save a life.

Throughout the hurricanes that devastated parts of the Southern United States, volunteers assisted in providing food and supplies to over 150 000 displaced people who sought shelter in Houston, while over 250 FOCUS volunteers participated in training by the Red Cross to assist displaced individuals in various shelters. Volunteers also worked with local governments and agencies to ensure that mandatory evacuation orders were adhered to, and that residents were safe and comfortable.

Many families lost their homes and livelihoods following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. FOCUS volunteers and staff in San Antonio, brought smiles to the faces of young children and families by distributing clothes, toys and basic amenities as part of an effort to assist them in rebuilding their lives. Photo: Courtesy of FOCUS

FOCUS collaborated closely with the Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston and the City of Houston in delivering meals, water and ice immediately after the hurricane had passed. In coordination with other volunteer groups, FOCUS volunteers helped to remove debris from ruined homes and ensured that resettlement assistance was available to families in need. Although the hurricanes caused massive devastation, it also left lasting footprints, as people from different walks of life came together with a common goal of assisting others.

The work of FOCUS' dedicated staff and volunteers in the United States and throughout the world has ensured that communities who have been affected by disaster are not only able to cope in the immediate aftermath, but are also better prepared should any future disaster befall them. It is also forging strong relationships with a number of international and local partner agencies and institutions in order to better serve the communities in which they operate. FOCUS continually seeks to be a model, world-class community-based emergency humanitarian assistance organisation, with an emphasis on developing disaster resilient communities.

As an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development (AKDN), FOCUS works alongside the global agencies of the AKDN in regions where longer term development is viable and sustainable after a social crisis. FOCUS and AKDN agencies also collaborate to provide health and livelihood recovery and rehabilitation initiatives for vulnerable groups during protracted crises.

MUMBAI:Mild tremors felt in parts of city

Mumbai: Parts of the city experienced mild tremors originating from anearthquake of slight intensity, measuring 5.0 on the Richter Scale, which shook the Koyna region of Maharashtra on Saturday. This is the second time in the past few months that an earthquake originating from Koyna shook the city. On November 15 (Saturday), similar minor shocks were felt in the city's suburbs from an earthquake originating in Koyna. 

    The quake occurred at 5.21 pm. Though the cause of its occurrence is not yet known, preliminary observations revealed the quake's epicentre was approximately 200 km south-east of Mumbai at 17.2 degrees North latitude and 73.8 degrees East longitude, said officials of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). 
    According to IMD officials, the quake lasted for over 20 seconds and was experienced in Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli, Ratnagiri, Mumbai and Pune. There were no immediate reports of any damage to life or property due to the quake, said. an official. A number of people felt the low-intensity tremors. 
    Panic-stricken residents in parts of Andheri and Bandra (E) came out on the streets. 
    "I was sleeping when I felt my bed shaking. It happened thrice within a few seconds," said Radha Patil, a housewife from Kalanagar in Bandra (E).

Climate change concern rises in India, but declines globally

Mumbai: As delegates from across the world begin negotiations at the Copenhagen climate summit, a survey by The Nielsen Company and Oxford University Institute of Climate Change reveals that while Indians were "very concerned'' about climate change, globally, concern on the topic has declined.      According to the survey conducted in October 2009, concern for climate change in India has increased by 1% in the last two years, with 54% Indian consumers expressing deep concern about climate change.      Globally, 37% consumers said they were very concerned about climate change, this is lower than consumer concerns over climate change in 2007 (41%). The highest level of concern was expressed in Latin America (57%) and Asia Pacific (42%). However, North America lagged behind global regions with only a quarter of respondents saying they were very concerned about climate change.      In India, a vast majority of consumers believe that the main responsibility for solving climate change problems should lie with the government.      In October 2009, 37% Indians said that governments should restrict companies' emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. In encouraging signs for the buildup to a future market for environment-friendly product segments, 28% Indians felt that there should be major government-led initiatives for research into scientific and technological solutions like low-emission cars, green houses and renewable energy.      Nearly three out of every ten Indians was of the opinion that there should be a change to use of more energy-efficient bulbs, fixtures and electrical appliances to combat climate change.      More than a quarter of Indian consumers believe in recycling consumer waste and saving electricity to address issues of climate change and global warming.      Indians also believe that the government should invest in improving public transport systems (23%) and that there should be government incentives (tax breaks or subsidies 22%) to individuals for good, less or non-polluting behaviour.      The findings are part of an annual survey which measures consumer attitudes towards the environment and climate change, trust of information sources and climate change solutions among 27,548 online consumers in 54 countries.      Thirty-five out of the 54 countries surveyed recorded a decline in their concern for climate change, led by Poland (23%) and Canada (22%). Climate Change concern also fell by 18% in Portugal and 17% in Taiwan, Spain and Sweden.      "The global recession and economic woes temporarily knocked the climate change issue off the top line agenda, but as the recession is now beginning to recede, we expect the Copenhagen summit may push this important issue to the forefront again,'' said Jonathan Banks, business insights director Europe, The Nielsen Company.      The Nielsen/Oxford University research shows that concern and awareness for climate change and the environment peaked in 2007 at the time of the Live Earth concerts and the launch of Al Gore's acclaimed documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth'.      The nations most concerned about climate change are Philippines (78%), Indonesia (66%), Thailand and Mexico (62%). "These are countries which have experienced direct effects of climate change through freak weather conditions and natural disasters,'' said Banks.      Concern for climate change in Indonesia and Brazil, the two most concerned countries in 2007, has decreased by 10% and 18% respectively.

‘Climate change to hit 175m kids’

Global Warming-Induced Natural Disasters Will Increase Risk Of Child Deaths: Report New Delhi: A new report suggests that 175 million children will be affected every year by frequent natural disasters caused due to climate change. Painting a grim future, a report by child rights NGO Save the Children said climate change was the biggest global health threat to children that could increase the risk of deaths due to diarrhoea, malnutrition, malaria and other diseases because of reduced community access to clean water, nutritious food and hygienic surroundings.      The report—'Feeling the Heat:Child Survival in a Changing Climate'—links access to basic facilities with climate change. It said 2 million children under 5 years of age die each year in India. Pointing out that this was the highest number anywhere in the world, the report said children were dying from a small number of preventable diseases, such as diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia."Climate change will make these conditions worse, placing children at greater risk, because it will reduce poor communities' access to clean water, reduce their ability to grow nutritious food, increase food prices and allow malaria mosquitoes to spread," the report said. The average number of naturaldisasters has increased from 200 a year to more than 400, and this is predicted to increase by 320% in 20 years. The report said climate changedisasters would also continue to increase malnutrition and certain diseases that often kill children. It estimated that malnutrition, which affects 178 million worldwide and is associated with up to 3.2 million child deaths each year, would affect 25 million more children by 2050. Already, one-third of all malnourished children live in India. Save the Children CEO Thomas Chandy said, "Climate change has put India at risk of not meeting the millennium development goals, and even taking several steps backwards from what has been accomplished to date. Children will be the ones who are hardest hit."  Nature vs Nurture  2 million kids under 5 years die every yr from diarrhoea, malaria, pneumonia  900 million kids will be affected by water shortage in the next generation, 160 million more at risk of malaria  Malnutrition affects 178 million kids worldwide, 1/3rd of whom live in India  Food scarcity, depletion of resources that help grow nutritious food will affect 25 million more by 2050  Natural disasters (at roughly 400 a year) to go up by 320% in 20 yrs  175 million children will be affected every year. Droughts & floods will trigger mass migrations, leading to increased child trafficking, labour      Source: Save the Children

New towers in city will not get water till 2012

Nagpur: The state government has decided not to give water connections to any new tower (seven-storeyed and above),clusters or townships in Mumbai till the Middle Vaitarna water supply project is completed.      The water project, estimated to be at a cost of Rs 1,329 crore, will supply 455 MLD (million litres daily) water to Mumbai by March 2012. This means that builders who start construction now will have to wait for another two-and-a-half years for water connections for their high-rises or colonies.      Announcing this in the legislative assembly on Friday, chief minister Ashok Chavan said towers/highrise apartments and townships required at least 2 lakh litres water daily."We will not issue connections to such builders till the Middle Vaitarna project is completed. In other cases, the civic chief will exercise his discretion to provide water connections to builders based on the demand-supply situation,'' he told the House.  LIQUID PLUG  New projects that are annnounced or get underway from today will get water only after Middle Vaitarna goes on stream in 2012  The severe water crisis in Mumbai could turn into a disastrous situation after July 2010 if we don't conserve water now, says CM Save water to stave off disaster, says CM  Nagpur: Chief minister Ashok Chavan cautioned on Friday that the water crisis could get worse after July 15, 2010, if conservation measures were not adopted with all seriousness now.      Announcing the state government's decision not to provide water connections to proposals for new projects that consume 2 lakh litres daily, he said, "With the burgeoning population in Mumbai, the demand for water will increase in coming years. We need to be prepared for the worst." He pointed out that besides the Middle Vaitarna, two more water projects—the water supply tunnel between Cross Maidan and Malabar Hill and between Maroshi and Ruparel College—were being expedited.      The water crisis issue was raised by 31 MLAs in the House, a majority of them from Mumbai, the discussion going on for over an hour. Chavan said he was ready for a closed-door meeting with all the MLAs from Mumbai after the session. "You should realise that there has been less rainfall during the last monsoon. Also, the rains were delayed by two months,'' he told the MLAs."We receive water in Mumbai from Modak Sagar, Tansa, Tulsi, Vihar, Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa lakes. But in the past three years, there has been a drop in supply by 2 lakh MLD,'' he said. The supply for the city and suburbs has been 3,450 MLD in the past and this has been brought down to 2,900 MLD after the water cut, thereby saving 550 MLD. "This justifies the water cut,'' he said, adding supply has also been cut for swimming pools in housing societies and construction purposes.      "We can overcome this crisis only through long term measures/projects and water conservation. We have two more water supply projects—Gargai (455 MLD) and Pinjal (865 MLD)—whose study has been completed and the projects will commence soon,'' he assured the House.      He said a huge quantity of water was being supplied to the railways, the BEST and the port trust. "For example, so much water is used for cleaning BEST buses which ply across Mumbai. We will henceforth recycle water for such purposes,'' he said, adding that recycled water would be made available by April 1 next year.      "The government will assist the BMC in keeping checks on water thefts, water loss and unscrupulous elements who install illegal booster pumps. We will also replace old and dilapidated pipelines, with work on 300 km of pipelines already completed,'' he told the House. Replying to a question by legislator Jitendra Awhad, the CM agreed to conduct a water audit for Mumbai. "But my appeal to citizens would be to save water and co-operate with the government and the BMC when it comes to water cuts,'' he stated in reference to morchas being taken out on the water issue.      When contacted, minister of state (housing) Sachin Ahir said several builders were waiting for the occupation certificate and water connections for the past three months. "The CM should show some leniency and clear such proposals,'' he stated, adding that a delegation of MLAs would soon meet Chavan in this connection.