POLITICIAN AND PLAGIARISM SCANDALS

GERMAN MINISTER SCHAVAN

QUITS OVER 'PLAGIARISM'

www.bbc.co.uk/ - German Education Minister Annette Schavan has resigned after a university stripped her of her doctorate for plagiarism. Duesseldorf's Heinrich Heine University voted last Tuesday to remove her doctorate following a review. Ms Schavan, a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, insisted she would still fight the university's ruling. In 2011, Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg also quit after allegations he plagiarised his thesis. Johanna Wanka, the culture and science minister of the state of Lower Saxony, has been appointed as Ms Schavan's successor. 
Addressing Mrs Merkel with the words "Dear Angela,", Ms Schavan thanked the chancellor for her friendship. "I think today is the right day to leave my ministerial post and to concentrate on my duties as a member of parliament," the 57-year-old said. She explained that her main priority was to protect her department and the government.

"First the nation, then the party, then myself," she said, citing words used by former state prime minister Erwin Teufel. "When an education minister sues a university, then that comes with strains, for my office, for the ministry, and for the Christian Democrats. I want to avoid just that." The university of Dusseldorf decided to look into Ms Schavan's 1980 doctoral thesis after an anonymous blogger raised questions about it. 
The faculty committee found she had "systematically and intentionally" copied parts of her thesis, Person and Conscience. In a statement declaring the doctorate invalid and withdrawing it from Ms Schavan, the faculty head Bruno Bleckmann said they had "decided by secret ballot, by 12 votes to two, with one abstention". Ms Schavan had been scathing in her criticism of Mr Guttenberg when the scandal of his plagiarism broke. Ms Schavan said she accepted the resignation "with a heavy heart".

German Education Minister Annette Schavan announced her resignation on Saturday, just days after a university moved to strip her of her Ph.D. title in a plagiarism scandal surrounding her doctoral dissertation. "As a doctoral candidate, she systematically and deliberately presented intellectual efforts throughout her entire dissertation that were not her own. She was guilty of "intentional deception through plagiarism," stated the faculty council of the University of Düsseldorf. Schavan is the second member of Merkel's cabinet to step down because of plagiarism allegations. In 2011, Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg stepped down after he was found to have plagiarized large sections of his Ph.D. thesis. This world is full of cheaters who take advantage of the civilization to live “a life of leisure and pleasure” by deceiving other people.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Human life is for only a few days. Still, it contains many troubles. In this very short life one should sincerely worship Lord Hari. The “civilization” you talk about is only a way to cheat the soul. Therefore I say that this “civilization” is only another word for “cheating”. When men walk on the path of truth, they are simple and honest. When men’s actions are a collection of lies, their hearts are full of cunning, their deeds are sins, and their words are empty flattery. That is your “civilization”. True civilization is not like that. In true civilization men are honest and sincere. Nowadays people merely hide the wickedness in their hearts, and that hiding they call “civilization”. The true meaning of “civilization” is “honesty and goodness”. What you call “civilization” is only cheating and wickedness.  Civilization that is sinless is found only among the Vaishnavas.

Śrīla Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thākura : 
Jaiva-dharma (The Universal Religion)
Chapter Nine - Eternal Religion and Modern Science-Civilization
http://www.bvml.org/SBTP/JD/index.html
http://www.exoticindia.es/book/details/jaiva-dharma-universal-religion-IDJ890/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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MEET THE WEEDS THAT MONSANTO CAN'T BEAT

SINCE INTRODUCTION OF ROUNDUP
READY SEEDS HERBICIDE USE SPIKED

Guardian Environment Network - When Monsanto revolutionised agriculture with a line of genetically engineered seeds, the promise was that the technology would lower herbicide use - because farmers would have to spray less. In fact, as Washington State University researcher Chuch Benbrook has shown, just the opposite happened. Sixteen years on, Roundup (Monsanto's tradename for its glyphosate herbicide) has certainly killed lots of weeds. But the ones it has left standing are about as resistant to herbicide as the company's Roundup Ready crops, which are designed to survive repeated applications of the agribusiness giant's own Roundup herbicide. 
"Fight resistant weeds with fall, spring attack," declares a headline in Delta Farm Press, a farming trade magazine serving the Mississippi river delta. In 2005, Italian ryegrass resistant to the commonly used herbicide glyphosate was first identified in the state.

Since then, it has been found in 31 Mississippi counties and is widespread throughout the delta. This glyphosate-resistant weed emerges in the fall and grows throughout winter and early spring. The solution: To combat the plague of resistant Italian ryegrass, Mississippi's cotton farmers must hit their fields with a "residual" herbicide in the fall - meaning one that hangs around in soil long enough to kill ryegrass for a while, and then come back with yet another herbicide in the spring, to make sure the job has been done. 
This multi-poison approach to weed control, apparently, is what passes for "integrated pest management" - purportedly a system of low-pesticide crop protection - these days. "The integrated pest management program we recommend uses fall residual herbicides to help reduce the overall population and numbers," [Mississippi State University extension professor Tom] Eubank said.

Instead of the supposed revolution in agriculture that Monsato's GM seeds were meant to bring, the opposite effect has occurred - a rise in herbicide use. Cotton farmers in Mississippi, where cotton, corn, and soy farmers have been using Roundup Ready seeds for years, are now struggling to contain a new generation of super weeds including Italian ryegrass. Producers should come back in the spring or late winter with an alternative herbicide program that attacks the plant using a different mode of action. In lieu of crop rotation and biodiversity (the non-toxic way to control weeds), it has promoted the so-called "diversified herbicide program". And thus we get a clear look at why, since the introduction of Roundup Ready seeds in the 1990s, herbicide use has spiked. 

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Well, so far in these 20 years of commercialization of GM crops (and we're not talking about the future we are talking about an experiment of twenty years), there are only two traits that have commercialized on a large scale. One is a family of crops called the BT crops in which a toxin is taken from a soil organism and put into the plant. The claim is that it will control one pest called the boll worm. But that pest has become resistant and new pests have been created. In India 13 times more pesticide is being used on cotton compared to what was being used before. The second family is the Round Up resistant crops or the herbicide resistant crops. These herbicide resistant crops were supposed to control weeds. Instead, the US has fifteen million hectares of land overtaken by super weeds that can't be controlled by Round Up. Now they are asking farmers to spray Agent Orange that was sprayed in Vietnam.

Dr. Vandana Shiva
"Why Monsanto Is Fighting Tooth and Nail Against
California's Prop 37?"
by Sonali Kolhatkar and Vandana Shiva
https://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/11/01-4

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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GLOBALIZING TORTURE, REPORT

REPORT GLOBALIZING TORTURE
CIA SECRET DETENTION OPERATIONS

www.eurasiareview.com - Globalizing Torture. CIA Secret Detention and Extraordinary Rendition, Open Society Justice Initiative, New York 2013, pp 212. “Today, more than a decade after September 11, there is no doubt that high-ranking Bush administration officials bear responsibility for authorizing human rights violations associated with secret detention and extraordinary rendition, and the impunity that they have enjoyed to date remains a matter of significant concern. 
But responsibility for these violations does not end with the United States. Secret detention and extraordinary rendition operations, designed to be conducted outside the United States under cover of secrecy, could not have been implemented without the active participation of foreign governments. These governments too must be held accountable.”

This report provides for the first time the number of known victims of secret detention and extraordinary rendition operations and the number of governments that were complicit. 136 individuals were subjected to maltreatment and severe torture. And 54 countries, which equals 28 per cent of the member states of the United Nations, have taken part in this criminal and unlawful undertaking by the US government and the CIA initiated in the course of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 
However, up until now, the full scale and scope of foreign government participation - as well as the number of victims - remains unknown, largely because of the extreme secrecy maintained by the United States and its partner governments. 
Up until now, none of the “Bush warriors” have been brought to justice, not to speak of other heads of states that supported this largest illegal torture program. The list of the countries shows how successful and smoothly the cooperation between democracies and dictatorships can be.

This report, edited by the “Open Society Foundation”, a New York-based human rights organization, gives a severe problem an airing that’s unflattering for democracies and should lead, at the end, to massive indictments of many heads of states before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The author of the article, Dr. Ludwig Watzal who works as a journalist and editor in Bonn, Germany, says this report also shows that torture was not only done by CIA interrogators but also by African and Middle East dictatorships governments, while many Western democracies were very helpful to give active and logistical support for the secret CIA flight around the world to bring “terror suspects” for a “special treatment” to the dictatorial friends. Many times governments maintain a cruel and callous attitude towards human beings by submitting them to torture and great sufferings.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Political prisoners are often tortured by rulers or their military to keep people in line with the particular agenda of the regime. Some leaders have such a mentality that they enjoy keeping their subjects in a miserable condition. Or there is torture and fighting of people for being of a different religion. This type of thing goes on much more than we think, and has been going on for hundreds of years. From time to time we all have to watch as we ship our young men and women off to be killed or maimed in the slaughterhouse of war. As long as there are large numbers of innocent animals being unnecessarily killed and tortured day after day throughout the year, there will never be peace for long, for war will always exist somewhere, in which we will be forced to become involved. ... These reactions affect many millions of people every day around the world, and it is nothing more than the workings of nature as it reflects the consciousness of the people who inhabit this world.

Dr Stephen Knapp (Śrīpad Nandanandana dasa) :
“Karma of the Nation”
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/books_by_stephen_knapp.htm
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/karma_of_the_nation.htm

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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BILLIONS 'ALIEN EARTHS' MAY POPULATE MILKY WAY

4.5 BILLION ‘ALIEN EARTHS’

MAY RESIDE IN MILKY WAY

http://thespacereporter.com - There are a lot of Earth-like planets wandering around the Milky Way galaxy, according to a study published by a team of Harvard University astronomers. According to astronomers, Earth-like planets may litter the cosmos, including our own Milky Way galaxy. The report, led by Harvard University graduate student Courtney Dressin, concludes that upwards of 4.5 billion Earth-like planets may reside within our own galaxy, the highest estimate to date. When matched against the number of stars in the galaxy, the number of planets may exceed 17 billion. 
The study, which was conducted by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics team, estimates that nearly six percent of the 75 billion red dwarf stars within the Milky Way galaxy have Earth-like planets. Among the study’s more interesting conclusions, is the fact that a handful of Earth-like planets may reside within traveling range.

Astronomers say the odds are good that at least one Earth-like planet resides just 13 light-years – 77 trillion miles - away. The age of the stars the planets orbit also indicate that some of the planets may be far older than Earth; one of these target planets could be 12 billion years old, the scientists said. While the study estimate is likely to draw interest, the fact that many of the red dwarf stars do not burn as hot as regular stars, such as our sun, means the planets in question orbit much closer to their star. The resulting difference in orbits could make identifying such planets far more difficult for astronomers. 
The data, collected by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope, is the latest twist in the ever-changing quest to spot the first true Earth-like planet. Astronomers noted that the distance separating Earth-like planets from our own planet Earth remain well outside the capabilities of modern technology.

Billions of Earth-like alien planets likely reside in our Milky Way galaxy, a new study reports. Astronomers have calculated that 6 percent of the galaxy's 75 billion or so red dwarfs - stars smaller and dimmer than the Earth's own sun - probably host habitable, roughly Earth-size planets. That works out to at least 4.5 billion such "alien Earths," the closest of which might be found a mere dozen light-years away, researchers said. "According to our analysis, the closest Earth-like planet is likely within 13 light-years, which is right next door in terms of astronomical distances," said study lead author Courtney Dressing, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). According to Vedic understanding, the entire universe is regarded as an ocean of space in where there are innumerable planets, called dvipas, or islands.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Shrila Prabhupada frequently refers to the idea of planets as globes floating in space. Since this point is quite important, we shall quote a number of his statements at length: "The earth floats in space among many millions of other planets, all of them bearing huge mountains and oceans. It floats because Krishna enters into it, as stated in Bhagavad-gita (gam avishya), just as He enters the atom" (TQK, p. 122) ... Outer space is taken as a great ocean of air, and within that great ocean of air there are many islands, which are the different planets" (KB, pp. 855-56) ... "Just as there are islands in the watery ocean, these planets in the ocean of space are called 'dvipas', or islands in outer space" (CC ML 20.218p). ... In SB 2.7.13p, 1.3.41p, and 3.15.2p it is indicated that the universe contains millions of planets, and that many are not visible to the naked eye.

Dr. Richard L. Thompson - Sripad Sadaputa Dasa :
"Vedic Cosmography and Astronomy"
VCA 3.C. "Planets as Globes in Space"
http://tinyurl.com/ypq3hx
http://openlibrary.org/works/OL15104644W/Vedic_Cosmography_and_Astronomy
http://www.paperbackswap.com/Vedic-Cosmography-Astronomy-Richard-Thompson/book/8120819543/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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BENEATH BURQA, A MANGALSUTRA AND CHOODA

CONFLUENCE OF CULTURES
HINDU AND MUSLIM WOMEN

The Times of India - (New Delhi) As burqa-clad Sumaira walks past the streets of Jama Masjid, there's nothing really striking about her. That's until she flashes the bright red bangles she's wearing - the kind that newly married Hindu women have around their wrists. Young Muslim women in India, and even Pakistan, can be increasingly seen sporting the chooda, mangalsutra and often the sindoor. And they see no taboo in it, taking it as a fashion statement, something that adds to their 'just married' look.
''Wearing a chooda doesn't make me a Hindu or a lesser Muslim," says 21-year-old Sumaira. "See, among Muslims there is nothing that differentiates married women from those who are still single. I have been fascinated with choodas ever since I was a kid. So that was one of the first things I bought after my engagement. In fact, my cousin Saima, too, wore one at her nikah."

It's not only the chooda. The demand for mangalsutras is picking up, and not just in India but also in Pakistan where many of those who ask for it attribute it to the influence of India's enormously popular saas-bahu soaps. "Mangalsutra is a beautiful neckpiece and goes with every suit," Naseema Aziz, a resident of Karachi, explains. "If one is wearing it out of choice, there's nothing wrong in it. In Pakistan everyone knows I am a Muslim. Merely wearing a mangalsutra won't have me confused for a Hindu." 
With the mangalsutra and chooda finding favour among Muslim women, how can the sindoor, that eternal sign of a married Hindu girl, be left behind? But while most Hindu women prefer red sindoor, Muslims tend to go for orange. Interestingly, in parts of Kolkata the two different shades have come to distinguish women from the two communities. In Bihar, however, many Hindu women also use orange sindoor.

This confluence of cultures can these days be witnessed during Muslim weddings too. Some of them come complete with what resembles the Indian Sangeet ceremony which is a musical evening organized before wedding. Rizwana (a Muslim young woman), who works as a nanny in Kolkata, has seen her mother with orange sindoor. She followed suit when she herself got married in 2010. "Hindu women use red and we orange. Don't women in Delhi do the same?" the 24-year-old asked. As regards mangalsutras, jewellers in Delhi confirm this trend. "Many Muslim women, some in burqas, ask for the mangalsutras which have diamond pendants," says Ankit Kohli, owner of Raj Jewellers. If we avoid segregation, we will see that all cultures have beautiful things to contribute to the peaceful unity of the world. 

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

A Hindu wedding is essentially a ceremony of sacred rites and rituals. ... The bridegroom adorns the bride with Mangal Sutra, by putting the auspicious black-beaded ornament around her neck. Panigrahan - holding hands to accept the vows and exchanging the places - is a ritual of sacred vows. The bridegroom applies sindoor, vermillion, in the parting of the bride’s hair as an auspicious symbol of her married status, followed by Shantipath - the peace invocations. ... Hindu scriptures implore upon every man to love and care for his wife, despite any shortcomings. He is forbidden to strike or speak harshly to her or ignore her needs. ... Hindu theology regards the ideal marriage as a spiritual journey, where the man and woman must complement and help one another toward divine realization. The path is often long and arduous; the spiritual awakening comes through many experiences on the physical plane.

Dr. Hiro Badlani:
“Hinduism - Path of the Ancient Wisdom”
Chapter 50: “Hindu Wedding”
“Nuptials for Eternity”  -  http://hinduismpath.com/
http://hinduismpath.com/book-contents/chapter-50/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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McCARTNEY FOODS LAUCHES NEW COMMERCIAL

PAUL McCARTNEY TALKS ABOUT 
LINDA McCARTNEY FOODS AD CAMPAIGN

www.classichitsandoldies.com - In a new Huffington Post blog, Paul McCartney discusses his commitment to vegetarianism and his involvement in the new ad campaign promoting his late wife Linda‘s line of chilled, meat-free meals.  The former Beatle begins the piece by admitting that “growing up in Liverpool, I would have thought of a vegetarian as a wimp.  We could be a prejudiced bunch at times but I’m not sure people would automatically think like that these days.” 
He then notes that he thinks it’s great that there’s “definitely now an overall greater acceptance of being vegetarian,” while pointing out that restaurants and supermarkets are offering more meat-free choices. McCartney goes on to praise his late wife for playing a “massive part” in promoting the vegetarian lifestyle through her Linda McCartney Foods line, which he says “kick-started a revolution of choice in the food industry.”

Discussing the new animated commercial for the brand, which features a new version of McCartney’s 1971 tune “Heart of the Country,” the rock legend says he and his family “wanted to create something really special…that really captured the spirit of Linda and what she loved and what she was all about.” 
The McCartneys collaborated on the project with Passion Pictures, which also worked on the Beatles’ Rock Band game, and Sir Paul also reveals that his son-in-law Simon Aboud - his daughter Mary‘s husband - served as creative director. “I love the animation and the way we are portrayed as different characters, especially the way some of us are given quirky animal personas,” declares McCartney.  “I think [Linda] would have highly approved of this, as it shows her looking after her family and all the animals at the same time.” He adds, “We were also lucky enough to get Elvis Costello to do the voiceover,” pointing out that his fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer “is an old family friend and someone who knew Linda well.”

Last month it was announced the launch of the Linda McCartney Foods new range of chilled meat free foods. The new chilled range of products complements the existing line of frozen foods under the Linda McCartney® brand and is available in the United Kingdom from select retailers. The McCartney family has long been a pioneering name at the heart of shaping the face of a meat free diet and vegetarianism, not only in the United Kingdom but across the world.  Inspired by their mother Linda McCartney , the family has pledged to continue her legacy of driving awareness around the importance of meat reduction. The Meat Free Monday campaign has been pivotal in putting an international spotlight on vegetarianism. We must support large-scale vegetarianism because it is the truly compassionate way of living.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Pure and wholesome vegetarian foods are what is needed for our own refinement, health, strength, and happiness; while other kinds of food cause pain, suffering and disease.  Furthermore, we can see that the process of preparing and eating food is also a part of the Vedic system for making spiritual advancement. As the Vedic literature explains, what we eat is an important factor in the process of purifying ourselves and remaining free from accumulating bad karma. It actually is not so difficult to be vegetarian, and it gives one a much higher taste in eating and in one’s spiritual realizations. The level of our consciousness is also determined not only by what we think and do, but also by the vibrational level of what we put into our bodies as food. The more natural and peaceful the food, the more healthy and peaceful will be our consciousness.

Stephen Knapp (Śrīpad Nandanandana dasa) :
“Vegetarianism: Recommended in Vedic Scripture”
http://www.stephen-knapp.com
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/vegetarianism_recommended_in_Vedic_scripture.htm

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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5 FESTIVALS OF THE HOLY COW

HINDU FESTIVALS

PAY HOMAGE TO COWS

www.boldsky.com - Hindus do not eat beef for religious reasons. This is because cows are holy to Hindus. The pun or sarcastic phrase 'holy cows' has sprung from this religious belief of Hindus. According to Hindu culture, cows are holy because they are milk giving animals. We get our first milk from our mother and that is why cows are equated with mothers. In fact they are also called 'Gau mata' which means 'cow mother'. Many Hindu festivals revere cows. Everything coming from the cow is considered holy, even the cows piss and dung. Some festivals require cow dung to cleanse the atmosphere. Let us take a deeper look at the festivals that require the holy cows to complete them.
1. Pongal: The biggest harvest festival of Tamil Nadu is incomplete without the presence of cows. The third day of Pongal is allocated to cows. Women from every Tamilian family worship the cows and feed them sweet Pongal.

2. Gaijatra: This is a festival dedicated to cows celebrated in Nepal. Numerous cows are marched on the streets of Nepal in the memory of family members who have passed away. 3. Gowardhan Puja: The day before Diwali is the famous Gowardhan puja or the festival of cow dung. On this day, cow dung is the deity to which food (vegetables) and money is offered.  This custom stems from the fact that cow dung is considered holy by the Hindus. 4. Deepali-Tihar: Deepawali or Diwali is a pan-Indian festival that is celebrated with great pomp and show. Our neighbour Nepal also celebrates Deepawali, but they call it Tihar and celebrate it differently. In Nepal, the customary Lakshmi puja for Diwali is incomplete without cows. 
5. Shivaratri: Don't be surprised because we are talking about the cow's male counterpart, the bull. No worship of Lord Shiva is ever complete without paying homage to his pet bull, Nandi. Especially on Shivaratri, women pay their respects to Shiva's bull and then move on to the Lord himself. Do you know any other Hindu festivals that pay homage to cows?.

The presence of the holy cows is essential for many rituals in Hinduism and many Hindu festivals cannot be complete without worshiping cows. Anwesha, the author of the article, mentions that the Nepali festival 'Gaijatra' or 'cow's journey' usually takes place in August or September. Also in Nepal, on the main day of the Deepawali festival, cows are worshiped as the form of Goddess Lakshmi. Women do 'aarti' of the cows and feed them 'prasad'. On the third day of Pongal - called the Mattu Pongal - cows are adorned with kum kum and their horns are painted. As regards Lord Shiva's bull, Anwesha explains that every Shiva temple has an idol of this bull outside the sanctum chamber. The bull, Nandi, is always placed right in front of the Shiva Linga. Besides all the spiritual significances, the protection of the cow and the bull is the basis for a simple and prosperous life.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Bhaktivedanta's alternative vision of how human society ought to live could be summed up with the twin concept of protection of brahmanas and protection of cows. ... he writes: "The bull is the emblem of moral principle, and the cow is the representative of the earth. When the bull and the cow are in a joyful mood, it is to be understood that the people of the world are also in a joyful mood. The reason is that the bull helps production of the grains in the agricultural field, and the cow delivers milk, the miracle of aggregate food values." To protect the cow is more than good economics, it is a matter of principle. In the Vedic tradition she is one of the seven mothers: the real mother, the wife of the spiritual master, the wife of a brahmana, the wife of the king, the nurse, the earth and the cow. All of them should be respected and cared for.

Ranchor Prime (Śripad Ranchor Dasa) :
“Hinduism & Ecology”
Chapter 12: “An Alternative Society”
Friends of Vrindavan (FOV) - WWF
http://www.fov.org.uk/hinduism/hinduism.html
http://www.fov.org.uk/aims/aims.html

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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A SERIOUS WORLD-WIDE PROBLEM

"DEPRESSION", A CONDITION

USUALLY IGNORED TILL IT'S TOO LATE

www.nation.co.ke - An estimated four million people in Kenya suffer depression, according to the Africa Mental Health Foundation (AMHF). This means that one out of every 10 Kenyans is depressed. Over the past few years, cases of suicide and family murders have been common in Kenya. “Just eight out of 100 older people suffer depression, which is a mental disorder,” the research led by professor David Ndetei from the University of Nairobi, found.
“Suicidal symptoms have previously not been clinically recognised, and little attention has been paid to suicide reports, as suicide is still considered a taboo in the Kenyan society. There is a need for clinical practice that routinely enquires about suicidal symptoms in medical wards,” the research report recommends. The World Health Organisation (WHO), indicates that globally, more than 350 million people suffer from depression and that it is responsible for 850,000 deaths every year.

WHO stated in 2012 that it is hard for those suffering from the condition to seek medical attention because of the stigma that is still attached to depression and mental disorders. Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations. It induces a sustained feeling of sadness for more than two weeks and interferes with the ability to function at work, school, and home. 
According to WHO, depression results from a complex interaction of social, psychological, and biological factors. The condition has a relationship with deteriorated physical health. 
“Cardiovascular disease, for example, can cause depression and vice versa,” Prof Ndetei indicated. Circumstances such as economic pressure, unemployment, disaster, and conflicts also increase the risk of the disorder, which is the leading cause of suicide.

Lord Ganapati or Ganesha is known to help human beings in their difficulties and He enables man to achieve the success by providing strength and courage. The author of the article, Apoorva Srivastav, explains the reason why Ganesha is called 'ek danta'. The story says, once his mother Parvati went to take a bath. She told Ganesha to stand on the entrance and not allow anyone to enter inside. Then, Lord Parashuram arrived there and he tried to enter the place where Parvati was taking a bath. But when Ganesha objected to this, Parashuram got angry and attacked Ganesha with his weapon. Ganesha then lost one of his teeth and was named "Ek Danta". Ganesha is considered as the Lord who overcomes all obstacles. 

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

While spiritual practices are the ultimate cure for all depression, the very nature of depression sometimes prevents spiritual seekers from doing the very things that could help them out of the quagmire. For a jaundiced person, candy, the cure for the disease, tastes bitter. But if the patient keeps eating the candy, the jaundice is cured and the candy tastes sweet again. In our diseased material consciousness, chanting Hare Krishna - the cure - may often seem difficult, but as we advance in our spiritual consciousness, the chanting becomes sweeter and more and more enjoyable. … So while we should encourage others to take to the spiritual remedy of chanting, we may need to encourage them to get medical help as well. We should never ignore the symptoms of clinical depression in ourselves or in our family or friends.

Śrīmati Arcana-siddhi devi dasi :
“Dealing with Depression”
Vaisnava Family Resources
http://www.vaisnavafamilyresources.org/articles
http://www.vaisnavafamilyresources.org/content/dealing-depression

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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ORGANIC FARMING MEANS FOOD SECURITY

MORE LAND BEING USED 
FOR ORGANIC FARMING

www.voanews.com - (Africa) More land around the world is being dedicated to organic farming. The Worldwatch Institute says since 1999 there’s been a more than three-fold increase to 37 million hectares. “Organic farming is farming without chemical inputs, like pesticides and fertilizers. Instead of using those inputs it uses a variety of natural techniques, like rotating crops and applying compost to fields – and growing crops that will return nutrients to the soil naturally instead of via chemicals,” said Worldwatch researcher Laura Reynolds, who co-authored a new report on the growth of organic agriculture. 
She said it has a range of public health and environmental benefits. “It delivers fewer pesticides and chemicals to what we eat and to the farmers growing the food. It also delivers a range of economic benefits to farmers growing organically because they found they can get a much higher price if their food is certified organic,” she said.

Last year, Stanford University researchers said that they did not find strong evidence that organic foods are more nutritious or carry fewer health risks than conventional alternatives. “I agree that it won’t change the nutritional content of certain foods, probably cereals,” Reynolds said. “That’s not the entire point of growing organically. If you look at chemicals and toxic elements in the food, there’s definitely a huge difference. So, if you’re getting all of your nutrients, but you’re also eating chemicals, then you sort of want to know the whole story. I found that that report looked at a very small element or organic food,” she explained. 
In order to be certified organic, farmers must keep strict records of how they grow their crops. There’s a lot of red tape or bureaucracy involved and it can be an expensive process. “As more farmers grow organic foods and competition increases, prices should fall,” Reynolds said.

The Worldwatch Institute report says that organic farming is an element of food security and sustainable food production will become more important in developing countries, “as the majority of population growth is concentrated in the world’s poorest countries.” The Oceania region has most of the certified organic agricultural land - more than 12 million hectares spread over Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island nations. Europe is next with 10 million hectares, followed by Latin America with 8.4 million. Asia has about 3 million hectares devoted to organic farming and Africa about 1 million. However, despite the increase in land dedicated to organic farming, the total represents just under one-percent of global agricultural land.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Organic food is grown in a natural way, without chemical fertilizers, without pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or any other poison. And, of course, with original, unaltered, unmodified seeds. Nature provides everything to produce healthy, nutritive fruits, vegetables and grains. ... Plants are perfect as they are. They fulfill a purpose in nature. So there is absolutely no need to do speculative experiments with gene-technique on the seeds, in order to modify the plants. ... The customer has the power to support the production of organic food, restrict the production of genetically engineered food and the use of chemical substances, simply by buying natural, organically grown foodstuff and not accepting altered food. And preferably buying directly from farmers or local stores. We have to educate and inform ourselves about how to support local communities.

Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
"Organic Farming vs Exploitation"
http://conferencias-virtuales.blogspot.com.ar/
http://vrindachats.blogspot.com.ar/
http://asktheswami.blogspot.com.ar/2005/11/organic-farming-vs-exploitation.html

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

VEGETARIANS CUT HEART RISK BY 32%

VEGETARIANISM: REDUCE

RISK OF HEART DISEASE

www.bbc.co.uk - (United Kingdom) Ditching meat and fish in favour of a vegetarian diet can have a dramatic effect on the health of your heart, research suggests. A study of 44,500 people in England and Scotland showed vegetarians were 32% less likely to die or need hospital treatment as a result of heart disease. Differences in cholesterol levels, blood pressure and body weight are thought to be behind the health boost. The findings were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 
Heart disease is a major blight in Western countries. It kills 94,000 people in the UK each year, more than any other disease, and 2.6 million people live with the condition. The heart's own blood supply becomes blocked up by fatty deposits in the arteries that nourish the heart muscle. It can cause angina or even lead to a heart attack if the blood vessels become completely blocked.

Scientists at the University of Oxford analysed data from 15,100 vegetarians and 29,400 people who ate meat and fish. Over the course of 11 years, 169 people in the study died from heart disease and 1,066 needed hospital treatment - and they were more likely to have been meat and fish eaters than vegetarians. 
Dr Francesca Crowe said: "The main message is that diet is an important determinant of heart health. "I'm not advocating that everyone eats a vegetarian diet. The diets are quite different. Vegetarians probably have a lower intake of saturated fat so it makes senses there is a lower risk of heart disease." The results showed the vegetarians had lower blood pressure, lower levels of "bad" cholesterol and were more likely to have a healthy weight. Tracy Parker, from the British Heart Foundation, said: "This research reminds us that we should try to eat a balanced and varied diet - whether this includes meat or not.

A new study has shown that vegetarians have a 32% less chance of being admitted to a hospital or dying from some form of heart disease compared to people who are meat or fish eaters. The new study performed in Britain found that the risk difference is most likely caused by the effects on the level of cholesterol along with blood pressure, and underscores how important the role of an individual’s diet is in preventing heart disease. But be careful, While vegetarians are less likely to die from heart disease, vegetarian meals can contain large amounts of salt and saturated fats. So, even if you are a vegetarian you should consume in moderation foods high in sugar and refined grains and take a balanced and healthy diet.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Heart attack is the most common cause of death in the U.S., killing one person every 45 seconds. ... The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) - a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. - stated in their 1991 literature, "A vegetarian diet has been advocated by everyone from philosophers, such as Plato and Nietzsche, to political leaders, such as Benjamin Franklin and Gandhi, to modern pop icons such as Paul McCartney and Bob Marley. Science is also on the side of vegetarian foods. A multitude of studies have proven the health benefits of a vegetarian diet to be remarkable." PCRM literature lists a host of health benefits of a vegetarian diet, including the following: Preventing cancer, heart disease and lowering blood pressure; preventing and reversing diabetes; preventing and alleviating gallstones, kidney stones, osteoporosis, and asthma.

Hinduism TODAY :
"How to Win an Argument with a Meat Eater"
Magazine Web Edition - July 1993 
http://www.eatveg.com/argument.htm
http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=1044

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/