INDONESIAN TSUNAMI KILLS 113, HUNDREDS MISSING

TSUNAMI HITS INDONESIA ISLANDS
KILLING 113; SCORES MORE MISSING

JAKARTA (AP) - Indonesian authorities scrambled to deal with two deadly disasters on Tuesday after a tsunami and volcanic eruptions struck in separate regions of the vast Indonesian archipelago. In the first, rescue workers and fishermen scoured for survivors through waters west of Sumatra Island after a powerful earthquake and resulting tsunami killed at least 113 people and left hundreds missing, including at least eight foreigners, officials said. Thousands more were homeless. The tsunami, triggered by a 7.7-magnitude undersea quake, slammed into the remote Mentawai Islands late Monday, wreaking havoc in villages in the south of the island chain and, the authorities believe, sweeping scores out to sea.
The tsunami reached as high as 10 feet and advanced as far as 2,000 feet inland, according to officials at the Health Ministry’s crisis center. The scale of the tsunami’s destruction only became clear Tuesday as rescuers and local officials reached the islands, which are separated by a strait from the Sumatran mainland.

“The search really isn’t on land,” said Ade Edward, from the Disaster Management Agency. “We’ve instructed fishermen to help search at sea.” He added: “We don’t think the victims have been swept too far out to sea, so it’s not that difficult a search. So far, we’ve found 15 bodies at sea and a number of survivors. We’re not keeping a toll on how many survivors we find.” Among those missing Tuesday as a result of the tsunami were eight Australian citizens and five Indonesian crew members aboard a tourist boat that was at sea when the tsunami struck. Meanwhile, on the island of Java, to the east, thousands of villagers were fleeing multiple eruptions of Indonesia’s most volatile volcano, Mount Merapi, after it began spewing clouds of hot ash in the early evening Tuesday.


A tsunami that pounded remote islands in western Indonesia following an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra killed at least 113 people and scores more are missing. Reports of damage and injuries are steadily climbing. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake triggered the 10-foot (three-meter) wave that washed hundreds of homes into the rough sea. The spirit of compassion and love for God included the care and attention of the body, mind and soul of those brothers and sisters who are suffering by different calamities. It is necessary to bring them emergency services, but also a lot of encouragement and spiritual inspiration to elevate them from their so painful situations.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

The balance of the body, mind and soul is what is required for real spiritual health. For holistic health it is required that we give health to the body, the mind and the soul. And for this purpose we started Bhaktivedanta Hospital, named after our beloved guru ACBSP (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada), who taught us to be instruments of compassion for the body, mind and soul. ... Bhaktivedanta Hospital has helped with emergency problems. ... During the tsunami some years ago also, Bhaktivedanta Hospital was there to help those people both physically emotionally and spiritually. And what we found is what people appreciated the most was the spiritual encouragement and wisdom they were receiving on how to deal with the losses of loved ones and with the injuries of their bodies. Our spiritual care reaches out not only to the patients but to the relatives and friends of the patients who are so deeply affected by the trauma and tragedies that have come into their lives. And we have found that it had a great help physically and emotionally and spiritually to these people as well.

Śrīla Radhanath Swami Mahārāja :
“Interview with Joshua Greene”
http://radhanathswami.info/
http://www.radhanath-swami.net/

BLAST ATTACK AGAINST FOLLOWERS OF SUFI TRADITION

BOMB KILLED 6, INJURED 16 AT
SUFI SHRINE IN EASTERN PAKISTAN

(Reuters) - A bomb exploded at the gate of a Sufi shrine in Pakistan’s eastern city of Pak Pattan on Monday, killing six people, a city government official said. The explosive was planted on a motorcycle, city police chief Mohammad Kashif told Reuters by telephone. “According to initial reports, two men came on the motorcycle and parked it near the gate just minutes before the blast,” he said, adding 12 people were also wounded in the explosion. At least a 200 people have been reported to be present at the time of the blast. The injured were taken to the District Headquarters hospital in Pakpattan. Ten injured people were said to be in critical condition. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack but Taliban militants have in the past attacked Sufi shrines. Pakistan’s U.S.-backed government faces a stubborn Taliban insurgency. In the past, Taliban claimed responsibility for such attacks but according to police investigations, sectarian groups are often found behind attacks on shrines.

In Karachi, a police official said the Abdullah Shah Ghazi attackers belonged to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a Sunni sectarian outfit that has previously targeted Shias. In recent years it has developed ties with Taliban and al-Qaida and founded sanctuaries in the restive tribal areas. Criticising the government, Pakistan’s leading religious scholar, Mufti Muneebur Rehman, said the government has failed to protect the shrines of Sufis.
Hard-line Taliban militants generally abhor the Sufi strand of Islam and disapprove of visiting shrines, which is popular with many Pakistanis.


The places where Muslims honor the memory of Sufi saints are priority targets of Islamic fundamentalists in Pakistan, where more than 3,700 people have been killed in more than 400 attacks, primarily committed by Taliban allies to Al Qaeda or allied armed groups, who in their limited spiritual vision consider the Sufis Muslims as heretics and sacrilegious. Since everyone has a different body and mind, different types of religions are needed, and each of them called God using different names: Jesus, Allah, Buddha, Yahweh, Krishna, etc. Though there are many different religions in the world - each having their own name for God - God is still one. Only those souls situated on the spiritual platform can experience the oneness in religion.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

Though God may have many different names, He is still one. There isn’t a separate God for Hindus and a separate God for Christians or those following other faiths. ... God guides us based on our capacity to learn. The material world is made up of three distinct modes called “gunas”: goodness, passion, and ignorance. Vedic literature accounts for all these modes by having eighteen different Puranas, which are scriptures relating to ancient Vedic stories. .... We may see many different rituals, and different processes for spiritual advancement, but the best religion is that which teaches us to love God. In this age, Lord Chaitanya inaugurated the sankirtana movement, the congregational chanting of the holy names of God, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” If we commit ourselves to chanting daily and following the process of devotional service, then we will surely see that God is one and that He is in everything and everyone.

Krishna’s Mercy - Jai Shri Krishna :
“God is One” - Written and posted by Keshava, on 8/16/2009
http://www.krishnasmercy.org/dotnetnuke/
http://www.krishnasmercy.org/dotnetnuke/News/Blog/tabid/57/EntryId/135/God-is-One.aspx

HAITIAN CHOLERA OUTBREAK, DEATH TOLL RISES

HEALTH CRISIS: OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA
KILLS MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE IN HAITI

(CNN) - A fast-moving cholera outbreak in Haiti has claimed at least 208 lives, according to a U.N. spokeswoman. The number of Haitians infected with cholera and cholera-like symptoms continued to mount Saturday as panic spread that the deadly disease could reach the quake-battered capital where thousands of people are living in unsanitary camps. Meanwhile, government officials and international aid workers asked people to remain calm but stay vigilant and be sure to wash their hands with soap and stay out of rivers. As of Friday evening, the Haitian government reported that 2,364 Haitians have been hospitalized for cholera throughout the affected Artibonite region in central Haiti, and 208 have died. The death toll was expected to rise. Partners in Health, or PIH, reported that at least 10 cases have been found in Gonaives, a port city in the Artibonite that’s located 34 miles north of St. Marc.

The country’s worst fear is that the disease could reach the 1.5 million people living in about 1,000 unsanitary camps in Port-au-Prince and other cities ravaged by the Jan. 12 earthquake. Health officials still are trying to figure out the cause of the outbreak. The Ministry of Health declared the worst-affected areas were the towns of Drouin, Marchand Dessalines and areas around St. Marc, a port city 55 miles north of the capital. In a matter of hours, mothers had lost children, husbands had lost wives and entire communities were grieving. Meanwhile, the government and the international community have stepped up public awareness campaigns on best sanitation practices and started to deliver bottled water and bars of soap.


Cholera causes vomiting and diarrhea leading to dehydration and death if untreated. It is the worst medical emergency that plagues the poor and devastated Caribbean nation since the earthquake that left 300 people dead and it is also the first cholera epidemic in Haiti in a century. These continual misfortunes remind us of the Vedic prophecies that predict that in this age of Kali, people will be emaciated by hunger and always will be disturbed by fear of drought. People will lack adequate clothing, food and drink. There will be great epidemics and people will be unable to properly rest or bathe themselves.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

The Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.2.6) explains that as Kali-yuga progresses the goal of life will be simply to fill the belly. ... There will be one social disaster after another. In fact, it is also related (Bhag.3.17.5) that natural disturbances, whether it is too much heat, snow, earthquakes, volcanoes, cyclones, tornadoes, or other storms, portend that the demoniac population in the world is increasing. Therefore, when this happens it is merely the acts of nature that reflect the consciousness and collective karma of those who inhabit this planet. ... The Narada Purana (1.41.76-77) also states that in Kali-yuga men will become extremely fearful of hunger and drought, and will always watch the sky for rain. Many other Puranas also support this view of the future. The Kurma Purana (1.30.2) states that there will be continuous fear of hunger, starvation, droughts, epidemics of fatal disease, and countries being destroyed in the age of Kali. The Brahmanda Purana (1.2.31.34) also says that there will be calamities in all the countries and there will be terrific fear of drought.

Stephen Knapp (Śrīpad Nandanandana dasa) :
“The Vedic Prophecies: A New Look into the Future”
“The Eastern Answers to the Mysteries of Life”
http://www.stephenknapp.info/ - http://www.stephen-knapp.com/
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/vedic_prophecies.htm

CROC ON A PLANE CAUSES FATAL CRASH

CROCODILE CAUSES PLANE CRASH IN CONGO
KILLING BRIT PILOT AND 18 OTHERS ABOARD

www.3news.co.nz - Last month, a stowaway crocodile has caused carnage on a flight in the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing passengers and crew. The crash aircraft, a 19-passenger Let L-410 Turbolet, high-wing, twin-engine turboprop, struck an unoccupied house within roughly 100 meters of its destination, the regional airport at Bandundu. The plane crash was caused by a crocodile that had escaped from a large sports bag that a passenger, who planned to sell it, had hidden it. The animal gained its freedom as the plane it was on, a Czech-built Let 410, was flying from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, to Bandundu. A survivor of the crash said the appearance of the crocodile caused passengers to panic and to flee towards the cockpit of the small turbo-prop aircraft, causing it to nosedive out of control.

“The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by the passengers, the plane was then sent off-balance [and went down] despite the desperate efforts of the pilot,” he explained. The plane was off-balance because of the stampede of terrified passengers and crew trying to get away from the crocodile. Evidently, that was enough to doom the flight and the plane smashed into an empty house near its destination airport, killing first officer Wilson, Belgian pilot Danny Philemotte, 62, and 18 of the 19 others aboard. The creature lived through the crash but was later killed with a machete wielded by rescuers sifting through the wreckage. Some sources cite 19 deaths, while others say the number is 20.


The crocodile wasn’t supposed to be on the plane. It had been hidden in a passenger’s bag but got loose and ignited panic onboard; according to the news the survivors of the crash included one passenger and the crocodile, which was then killed by rescuers with a machete. It is very evident that nothing is safe and at any time a disgusting surprise may happen in this material world. We should chant the Holy Names and remember the Supreme Lord constantly because there is always danger of losing this human body at every step of life.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

In this chapter there is another point concerning morality. One may criticize Arjuna for killing Karna while he was pulling his chariot from the mud. However, if we remember from the Adi Parva, Karna was cursed by a brahmana to be killed while his chariot wheel was stuck in the earth. Arjuna was the instrument to fulfill that curse. ... If Lord Krishna requested Arjuna not to show mercy to Karna, then that is the highest morality. Karna surely attained an exalted destination for seeing Lord Krishna and Arjuna at the last moment of his life. Lord Krishna informed Arjuna before the battle: anta-kale ca mam eva, smaran muktva kalevaram, yah prayati sa mad-bhavam, yati nasty atra samsayah, “And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.” (B.G. 8.5) Karna was fortunate to be killed while looking at Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Commentary of “Mahabharata Summation”
to the Fourth Chapter of the Karna Parva,
Entitled: “The Death of Karna”
New Vrindavana Community - June, 1985.
http://philosophy.ru/library/asiatica/indica/itihasa/mahabharata/eng/

U.N. TALKS INCH FORWARD BUT RIFTS REMAIN

“WORLD MUST ACT IMMEDIATELY
TO AVOID MASS EXTINCTION”, U.N.

(Reuters) - The world needs immediate action to stop the rapid loss of animal and plant species and their habitats, the United Nations warned during the major summit on biodiversity. Envoys from nearly 200 countries are meeting in Nagoya, Japan, from Oct 18-29 to set new goals to preserve nature’s riches after they failed to meet a goal for a “significant reduction” in losses of biological diversity by 2010. The 193 members of the U.N.’s Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aimed at trying to avoid man-made mass extinction. Scientists have a growing understanding of the wealth of life on Earth, and the conference argues that our diversity is being threatened. The two-week U.N. meeting faces an uphill battle as it tries to institute sweeping steps to protect and restore ecosystems such as forests, rivers, coral reefs and the oceans that are vital for an ever-growing human population.

The meeting inched on Friday toward agreement, but rich and poor countries remained split over details of a new framework on genetic resources. Issues of funding will be a key problem delegates will need to iron out - both who pays for the program and who reaps the rewards of the world’s biodiversity. The meeting hopes to push governments and businesses into taking more action to protect and restore ecosystems such as forests that clean the air, insects that pollinate crops and coral reefs that nurture valuable fisheries. But negotiations have been plagued by the same mistrust between developed and developing countries that has bogged down U.N. talks on combating climate change, such as how to share the effort and who should pay.


“We need action by governments to protect our oceans and forests and to halt biodiversity loss,” said Greenpeace adviser. However, emerging countries, burdened by problems of unemployment and poverty, are struggling to preserve biodiversity. Despite the importance of what is at stake and the impassioned words, there is no guarantee that countries agree to strong action to curb biodiversity loss by 2020. Delegates from different countries should be educated on the Vedic vision and the ancient principles taught by Hinduism in relation to live in harmony with nature and see the presence of God in all living beings: plants and animals.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

Hinduism has always been environmentally sensitive philosophy. No religion, perhaps, lays as much emphasis on environmental ethics as Hinduism. The Mahabharata, Ramayana, Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas and Smriti contain the earliest messages for preservation of environment and ecological balance. Nature, or Earth, has never been considered a hostile element to be conquered or dominated. In fact, man is forbidden from exploiting nature. He is taught to live in harmony with nature and recognize that divinity prevails in all elements, including plants and animals. The rishis of the past have always had a great respect for nature. Theirs was not a superstitious primitive theology. They perceived that all material manifestations are a shadow of the spiritual. The Bhagavad Gita advises us not to try to change the environment, improve it, or wrestle with it. If it seems hostile at times tolerate it. Ecology is an inherent part of a spiritual world view in Hinduism.

“A Tribute to Hinduism” - ‘Nature Worship’
by Sushama Londhe
Published by Pragun Publications, New Delhi, India
http://www.hinduwisdom.info/
http://atributetohinduism.com/contents.htm
sushama@atributetohinduism.com

TALIBAN VICTIM UNVEILS PROSTHETIC NOSE

DISFIGURED AFGHAN YOUNG WOMAN
UNVEILS TEMPORARY PROSTHETIC NOSE

CNN - Last week, an Afghan teenager who said her nose was cut off by her husband to punish her for running away has stepped out in public for the first time with a temporary prosthetic. The 19-year-old woman, identified only as Aisha, gained worldwide attention when she appeared on the Aug. 9 cover of Time magazine. She made her first public appearance at a gala hosted by the Grossman Burn Foundation in Los Angeles, which is in charge of her reconstructive surgery. Ms. Bibi Aisha, whose controversial cover photograph in Time magazine shocked audiences worldwide in July, travelled to the United States following her contact with Time, and in addition to receiving reconstructive surgery. When she was only 12 years old, Ms. Aisha was said to have been promised in marriage to a Taliban fighter by her father, and when she was 14 she was sent to live with him. She was abused and treated harshly, being “forced to sleep with the animals”.

In addition to that, her husband and his brother were said to have attacked her and cut off her nose and ears as she was held down as punishment for having fled the home. Following the attack, which was said to have occurred “as other Taliban militants watched” ... “I passed out… In the middle of the night it felt like there was cold water in my nose…” which in fact was her own blood. There was “so much of it, [that] I couldn’t even see…”, she had said. While she said that she had been left on the mountainside to die, she survived and managed to reach her grandfather’s home. From there she was taken to a U.S. military medical centre and finally brought to the U.S. She received the Enduring Heart award of the foundation that helped her. Doctors hope for a more “permanent solution” which would mean using bone, tissue and cartilage from Aisha to reconstruct her nose and ears.


Aisha, now 19, told Time her nose and ears were cut off by her violent Taliban husband when she'd tried to escape being abused in her home. In many places, we are witnessing similar barbaric behaviors, and it doesn't matter if this happens in a Taliban, a Christian, a Hindu, a Communist, a Socialist or a Capitalist society. By leaving the path given by God, we are committing many kinds of iniquities. In the glorious days, or before the advent of the age of Kali, the brāhmanas, the cows, the women, the children and the old men were properly given protection. However, in this age of Kali such innocent creatures are not properly protected since our civilization is ruled by different types of asuras without mercy.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

Krishna appears in this world for two purposes, paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam: to protect the innocent, religious devotees of the Lord and to annihilate all the uneducated, uncultured asuras, who unnecessarily bark like dogs and fight among themselves for political power. ... Kamsa has here been described as asabhya, meaning “uncivilized” or “most heinous,” because he killed the many children of his sister. When he heard the prophecy that he would be killed by her eighth son, this uncivilized man, Kamsa, was immediately ready to kill his innocent sister on the occasion of her marriage. An uncivilized man can do anything for the satisfaction of his senses. He can kill children, he can kill cows, he can kill brahmanas, he can kill old men; he has no mercy for anyone. According to the Vedic civilization, cows, women, children, old men and brahmanas should be excused if they are at fault. But asuras, uncivilized men, do not care about that. At the present moment, the killing of cows and the killing of children is going on unrestrictedly, and therefore this civilization is not at all human, and those who are conducting this condemned civilization are uncivilized asuras.

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
“The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam”
Purport in Canto 10, Chapter 3:
“The Birth of Lord Krishna” - Text 21-22.