Ilaxi Patel's Blog: Moms Zone, page 9

Earth Talk : If we lived in underground building, would it be better for environment overall?

Dear EarthTalk: If we lived in underground buildings (and cities), would it be better for the environment overall?     — Marty M., Hoboken, NJ

It’s certainly true that moving more of our infrastructure, let alone work and live space, underground would relieve some of the pressure that our conventional above-ground development and habitation puts on the environment. While building below the surface presents its own set of challenges, underground spaces are less susceptible to external influences and their overall impact (including carbon emissions) tends to be less than the equivalent amount of space above ground. Indeed, given the environmental problems we’re experiencing, moving more below the surface does indeed have the potential to make things safer, healthier and more sustainable for all of us.

In and of themselves, underground buildings have a built-in advantage in regard to energy usage for heating/cooling, given their typically more constant temperature, humidity, heat insulation, shading and airtightness. Furthermore, underground buildings are much less affected by wind, rain, frost, snow, sun radiation or other external conditions. At the same time, the temperature fluctuation range of underground space is small, especially as compared to the “hot-and-cold load” in above-ground buildings. In short, underground buildings use only a fraction of the energy required by conventional buildings to keep the interior environment comfortable, with most of the energy consumption concentrated instead on less power-intensive lighting and ventilation systems.

Beyond being better for the planet in some ways as compared to above-ground buildings, just having some underground buildings in the mix—even below regular cities—could yield vast benefits. “Underground solutions can solve or help improve multiple of the problems that urban developments face: traffic congestion; environmental problems; lack of (green) space; need for protection against disasters; lack of infrastructure for food, energy, water and sanitation,” reports Dutch researcher Wout Broere.

“Placement of infrastructure and other facilities underground presents an opportunity for realizing new functions in urban areas without destroying heritages or negatively impacting the surface environment, and at the same time brings opportunities for long-term improvements in the environmental impact of cities and more efficient use of space and resources,” adds Broere.

Many cities around the world—from Helsinki to Moscow to Montreal to Beijing—are developing underground space to alleviate population and environmental pressures. Helsinki, for instance, has adopted a strategic ‘Underground City Plan’ which calls for the construction of some 200 more underground buildings there to accompany the city’s existing subterranean swimming complex, shopping area, and hockey rink.

Meanwhile, Russian developers are converting a defunct 550-meter-deep mine shaft in Eastern Siberia into an eco-friendly underground city under a huge glass dome. The ambitious project—replete with vertical farms, forests and recreation areas in addition to climate controlled underground offices and housing—promises to eventually accommodate 100,000 residents.

While many of us shudder at the thought of living a subterranean lifestyle, at least making the option available to those who choose it willingly could be a big win for the environment.

EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

CONTACTS: “Urban Underground Space: Solving The Problems of Today’s Cities,” sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii... “Future Cities Live Underground—And That’s Not a Pile of Schist,” thenatureofcities.com/2017/01/22/futu... “Study on the Energy-Saving Design of Underground Building,” scientific.net/AMR.1065-1069.2205.

EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

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Earth Talk: Thousands of new satellites in space to blanket Earth..

Dear EarthTalk : Elon Musk plans to put thousands of new satellites into space to blanket Earth with high speed Internet. What are the environmental implications of this?     — M. C., Atlanta. GA

Putting satellites up into the ionosphere—the layer of our atmosphere extending from 50-600 miles above the surface where a high concentration of ions and free electrons facilitate the reflection of radio waves—isn’t anything new. The Soviets beat us to the punch when they launched the first satellite, Sputnik, in 1957, but these days there are over 9,000 satellites overhead, the majority from U.S. companies and government agencies. But with Elon Musk’s SpaceX poised to launch tens of thousands of new ones in the next few years, many people wonder whether putting all this technology overhead is such a good idea.

One concern is that all this hardware eventually breaks down and shed parts. Peter Greenstreet of the Institute of Physics reports that this so-called “space junk” orbits at some 7.5 kilometers per second—so fast that even the tiniest pieces create a potential hazard for space stations and other man-made or natural objects making the same rounds. Greenstreet adds that space junk falling to Earth’s surface is less of a concern, given that most of it breaks down into tiny pieces due to the heat and friction encountered upon entry to our atmosphere and thus stands little to no chance of hurting any people or property below.

Another environmental issue with satellite proliferation is so-called “sky pollution.” By reflecting the light of the sun, satellites cause streaks of light across the sky where astronomers would prefer darkness for peering into the heavens and where everyday people will be robbed of their own views of a dark sky.

But despite these drawbacks, there are plenty of good reasons to like satellites if you care about the environment. “From the International Space Station (ISS) to hundreds of other observational satellites, remote sensing allows for climate and environmental monitoring,” reports Daisy Gill on Earth.org. “These imaging satellites are an incredible source of data for climate change research, enabling us to see the global changes on the planet that are happening more frequently, and with data freely available for anyone to view and use.”  Examples include tracking changing oceanic temperatures, currents and sea level. 

Satellites are also key to understanding global and local precipitation and flooding patterns, how wildfires start and spread, the distribution of wildlife populations, and other indicators of environmental health. Satellites are also useful as early warning systems for natural disasters and extreme weather events.

If we can figure out ways to clean up space junk, we can use satellites with less guilt. NASA’s e.DeOrbit project is focusing on seeking out and removing satellite debris in the upper reaches of the ionosphere. Meanwhile, the European Space Agency is hard at work on its own “capture mechanisms” to pick up space debris such as nets, harpoons robotic arms and tentacles. Only time will tell if these technologies can help restore the heavens above—or at least the ionosphere—to a more pristine state.

EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

CONTACTS: “Satellites: What Harm Can They Do?” iop.org/activity/groups/subject/env/p... “Outside Looking In: Satellites in the Climate Crisis,” earth.org/outside-looking-in-satellites-in-the-climate-crisis; “Space junk and the environment: It’s a very dark picture indeed,” theconversation.com/space-junk-and-th....

EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

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Earth talk : Is it true that being around a waterfall makes you feel good?

Dear EarthTalk : Is it true that being around a waterfall makes you feel good? – S.B., Lewiston, ME

The notion of waterfalls making you happy is often viewed as an “old wives’ tale,” but there may be some truth to it given the so-called “negative ions” pervasive in such environments. The collision of water molecules with each other causes water to be positively charged and surrounding air to be negatively charged. According to Pierce Howard, Ph.D., author of The Owner’s Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind-Brain Research, it makes sense that waterfalls can make you feel good, given that negative ions hitting our bloodstream can produce biochemical reactions linked to alleviating depression, relieving stress and boosting energy.

“High concentrations of negative ions are essential for high energy and positive mood,” he reports. “Negative ions suppress serotonin levels in much the same way that natural sunlight suppresses melatonin. Hence the invigorating effect of fresh air and sunshine and the correspondingly depressed feelings associated with being closed in and dark.”

“The atmosphere we breathe normally is full of positive and negative ions,” he adds. “Air-conditioning, lack of ventilation, and long dry spells remove negative ions…the best ratios of negative to positive ions are associated with waterfalls and the time before, during and after storms,” says Howard. “The worst are found in windowless rooms and closed, moving vehicles.”

Our love of waterfalls only underscores that people thrive when they are exposed to nature on a regular basis. A 2013 study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology definitively linked exposure to nature directly with improved mental health, comparing the mental health of those who moved from city landscapes to greener, more natural settings with those who relocated in the reverse direction. Researchers found that those who relocated to settings with a higher exposure to nature were noticeably happier during the three-year study period. “[E]nvironmental policies to increase urban green space may have sustainable public health benefits,” they concluded.

In another recent study, researchers sampled the effects of nature on 537 University of Rochester students in both real and imagined situations, and found that individuals who spent time outdoors—or even just imagined themselves in nature—consistently experienced higher energy levels and increased feelings of happiness. Study participants who spent just 20 minutes outdoors a day experienced significant increases in energy levels as well as noticeable mood boosts. Even indoor plants played a role in helping study participants feel more energized.

Another way to look at it would be to consider our sedentary, indoor lifestyle as a drain on our energy reserves and taxing to our mood and general sense of well-being. In the landmark 2005 book Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv coined the term “nature deficit disorder” to explain how our lack of time outdoors has led to behavioral problems in kids and adults alike. Louv’s prescription? Spend more time outdoors (away from screens) interacting with nature and each other.

In case you needed another reason to get off the couch and out into the woods on a waterfall hike, now you have it. You’ll be sharper. You’ll be more productive. You’ll be invigorated. And you’ll be happier.

CONTACTS: The Owner’s Manual for the Brain, amzn.to/3gAlLTm; Last Child in the Woods, amzn.to/3kcRb4b; “Green spaces deliver lasting mental health benefits,” medicalxpress.com/news/2014-01-green-spaces-mental-health-benefits.html.

EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

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SUNDAYS WITH HRIDAAN : Snow white and the seven dwarfs

Hridaan Patel will be reading Snow White and the Seven Dwards this Sunday, 23rd August 2020 at Facebook on his page http://facebook.com/hridaanbinalpatel and featured on Kidsfreesouls, You Tube and Instagram

“Snow White” is a 19th-century German fairy tale that is today known widely across the world. The Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection Grimms’ Fairy Tales and numbered as Tale 53.

In early edi­tions, the queen is Snow White’s birth moth­er and aban­dons her in the woods. In a later telling, the hunts­man is com­mis­sioned to bring back the girl’s lungs and liv­er as proof of her death. A ma­ter­i­al­ist­ic Snow White is de­ceived by the queen with stay-laces, a pois­on­ous comb, then fi­nally a poisoned apple. When a prince takes her glass coffin to his king­dom, a bump in the road dis­lodges the apple from her mouth, the curse is broken, and they marry. The queen is in­vited to their wed­ding and is pun­ished by wear­ing iron shoes and forced to dance un­til she drops dead.

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SUNDAYS WITH HRIDAAN : Three Little Pigs

Hridaan reads along The Three Little Pigs. His All time Favorite- a classic fable that wins kiddie hearts. The Three Little Pigs was first included in The Nursery Rhymes of England (London and New York – 1886), by James Halliwell -Phillipps. The story in its arguably best-known form appeared in English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, first published on June 19, 1890, and credited Halliwell as his source. There are various versions but this one, uses literary ‘ rule of three’ – the third pig’s brick house turns out to be adequate to withstand the wolf.

The moral of the story is:

Hard work pays off and dedication is the key to success.



Laziness has its drawback too.



It also tells one to be practical and not do things in haste.



Life is a struggle so keep aways from bad habits and people.

Hridaan finds this story very amusing and is sure, all kids will love this tale. This is in Association to Ahmedabad Book Club @ahmbookclub on Instagram (Ahmedabad Book Club )

Hridaan Patel is on Facebook at http://facebook.com/hridaanbinaalpatel

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SUNDAYS WITH HRIDAAN : Danny and the Dinosaur

Hridaan Patel reads Danny the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff

This book has sold over six million copies and has been translated into a dozen languages. Danny and the Dinosaur comes in a series and all books are lovely. Danny visits a Museum and discovers dinosaurs there. He pretends the dinosaur is real and can talk and they set out on an adventure-a ride around the town.They see different things as they go by the streets. Some waiting for a bus just hopped on his tail for a ride. And that’s so funny, says Hridaan. Indeed, it is. Even when a lady has Books and the Dino picks her up. The zoo is a bit hit as all want to see Danny and not the caged animals.The best part is the hide and seek game. Its. Fun. The Dinosaur is so big he can’t hide but the kids have a jolly time. Children are adorable and they love the craziest creatures like I said in last post. – the Sharks, Dinosaurs and the Mcqueen Cars. Ask a pre schooler and you will be amazed to see them talking about them, the movies and the danger. If one gets a brand, the other wants the same. This is a concern.

This is where we derive an understanding for parents, Teach kids the values – the value of money and say four words, “I can’t afford it”

As for the story, its just humour, fun and excitement to chase blues away. A moral to be happy, humorous , lively, be friendly and kind. Danny the Dinosaur is just the lovely Book for Dino lovers.

Sundays with Hridaan is in Association to Ahmedabad Book Club and appears on ABC’S INSTAGRAM at ahmbookclub and on Facebook Ahmedabad Book Club

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Lord Sri Krishna

Hare krsna Hare krsna, Hare ram Hare ram

Radhe Krsna radhe Krsna,Krsna Krsna Hare hare……

“Aham sarvasya prabhavo, Mattah sarvam pravartate

Iti matva bhajante mam, Budha bhava samanvitah” 

“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in my devotional service and worship me with all their hearts”

Krishna is the origin of everything in both the material and spiritual worlds. All Vedic Literatures agree that Krishna is the source of Brahma, Shiva and all other demigods. The son of Vasudeva-Devki, Krishna is the Supreme Personality,  Narayana. The Vedic Upanisad says ‘In the beginning of the creation there was only the Supreme Personality Narayana. There was no Brahma, no Shiva, no fire, no moon, stars, sky or sun. From Narayan, Brahma is born and Maha Upanisad it is said that Lord Shiva was born from the forehead of the supreme Lord. Thus the Vedas say that is the Supreme Lord, the Creator of Brahma and Shiva, who is to be worshipped.

Narayanah paro devas, Tasmaj jatas caturmukhah

Tasmad rudro ‘bhavad devah, Sa ca sarva-jnatam gath

“Narayan is the Supreme Personality of godhead and from him Brahma was born, from whom Shiva was born”

Krishna has ever been the perfect ‘Avatar’ whose influence on human lives far exceeds that of any other God incarnate. Krishna is depicted as Govinda, who is the prime cause of all causes, the embodiment of wisdom and selfless action as well as a human liberal and practical philosopher with foresight.  Three great works enumerate Krishna’s Teachings : Bhagwad Gita, Anugita and Udhavagita. Bhagwad Gita, like Bible or Koran, for Hindus, is the sacred Book depicting ‘Mahabharata’. The advice Krishna renders to disheartened Arjuna at Kurukshetra, immortalized the Bhagwad Gita, greatly influenced philosophers and continues to inspire millions of people worldwide. Srimad Bhagwad Gita is full of narrations about the relationship between the Supreme Lord and his devotees. In this narration, transcendental nature of the Supreme Lord and his devotees is fully described. Krishna had always been a defender of the oppressed. He killed Kansa to liberate his victims from cruelty. He befriended the poor, the character of Sudama is legendary whose berries he ate. He came to rescue of Draupadi. As a playmate to cowherds at Vrindavan,  a loving and giving soul. Krishna defined dharma (religion) as anything that brought about the good of the individual and society. Krishna’s conversations with Arjun are on transmigration of soul, means of attaining liberation, descriptions of Karma and effects of austerity. Devotion, meditation and other spiritual disciplines reflect in Bhagwad Gita. Krishna also touches upon the psychic powers of yogic practices. The love of Gopis is divine which says of the greatness and divinity of Krishna. He is said to create an air of romanticism, enchanted gopis and impressed them with his flute playing. Krishna responded by dancing with Gopis in Ras Leela. The mystical passage of Krishna’s life with Gopis and love for Radha is the most marvelous expansion of love expressed in that beautiful play at Vrindavana, which no one can understand yet, become perfectly chaste and pure.

Radha’s love for Krishna personifies the aspiration of the living being to merge with God. Krishna’s flute is a call of the divine and Radha responds to his call as human soul. She expresses unconditional love and surrenders to the Divine. As believed, you take one step towards God, he takes ten steps towards you – Radha took a step towards Krishna and he reciprocated with his divine love. For Radha, Krishna is Ultimate. The Gopis are in love with him and unashamedly want him as their husband or lover without inhibitions or care for the consequences of such defiant social indiscretions. When Krishna plays the flute, the Gopis cease their activity, including caring of their husbands, children or family and run madly hypnotically to the flute sound of Krishna. He multiplies himself into many Krishnas to make each gopi feel that he is exclusively hers. In Dwarka, Krishna made each of his 16000 wives believe that he is her husband alone! Thus shows the real Krishna, the embodiment of love and compassion for whosoever relates with him.  Radha’s love for Krishna is pure and divine. The relationship reflect the divine Vrindaban bliss. It is said Radha had descended in Braj a year earlier than Krishna. She appeared in her divine dignity in the palace of King Vrishbhanu in Barsana and Kirti was her mom. She lived in Barsana and Krishna had moved from Gokul to Nandgaon due to King Kans disturbances. Nandgaon and Barsana was  four miles distance.Later Krishna went to Mathura and Dwarika and back to Gokul where Radha and other Brajbasi also went there. However, most of the Krishna Radha Leela took place near Barsana and Nandgaon.  Radha and Krishna relationship is the embodiment of love, passion and devotion. Radha is recognized as the loveliest of all the cowgirls (gopis). She is the wife of Ayana and the daughter of the cowherd Vrishabhanu and his wife, Kamalavati. Their relationship develops on Krishna’s captivating charm and aura of passion as Radha falls into a state of desire for this God. Radha is the soul; Krishna is the God. Krishna is the shaktiman possessor of energy and Radha is his shakti. She is the female counterpart of the Godhead. She is the personification of the highest love of God, and by her mercy the soul is connected with the service and love of Krishna. Radha’s passion for Krishna symbolizes the soul’s intense longing and willingness for the ultimate unification with God. She was Krishna’s most refreshing energy and power. The example of the gopis is very instructive to persons who are trying to be absorbed in Krishna consciousness. One can very easily associate with Krishna simply by remembering his transcendental pastimes. Everyone has a tendency to love someone. That Krishna should be the object of love is the central point of Krishna consciousness. By constantly chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and remembering the transcendental pastimes of Krishna, one can be fully in Krishna consciousness and thus make his life sublime and fruitful. Radha was one of the greatest devotee of Krishna and unlike other Gopis, showered her love for him eternal making her the favourite of Krishna.

Bhagwad Gita says ‘Living entity is is superior prakrti (nature) Prakrti is always under control, whether inferior or superior. The seventh Chapter of Gita explains ‘The material nature is my inferior prakrti and beyond this another prakrti – jiva bhutam, the living entity’ Thus, Material nature has three qualities  – the mode of goodness, the mode of passion and the mode of ignorance. Above these modes, there is eternal time and by a combination of these modes of nature and under the control and purview of eternal time, there are activities which are called karma. The fruits we suffer or enjoy is the result of karma. Radha became eternal with her perfect love & devotion for Krishna, she became a noble soul merged into him and above all to proclaim her selfless love, Radha is said before Krishna  ‘Radhe Krishna’ meaning, the pure love transcending the devotee to love and merge into Krishna and not the material world. The entire world is deluded by the three attributes Satva (good), Rajas (passionate), Tamas (dark) and leave behind Maya, cannot recognize Krishna and those who worship Krishna are able to overcome it. Four kinds of people who worship god are those who desire earthly gains, those who are suffering, those who seek knowledge and those who possess wisdom. Radha is said to possess the wisdom and she became his soul.

Pure devotee is that who always thinks of Krishna without deviation and without considering the time or place. No impediment. “Wherever you are, O lord, there is Vrindavana’ and so did Radha, became an ardent devotee of Krishna as madhurya bhakta, engaged as a conjugal lover of the supreme Lord.

Gita recommends the form of devotion as Bhakti Yoga, the devotee in five different ways : a) santa bhakta, engaged in devotional service in neutrality b) dasya bhakta, engaged in devotional service as servant c) sakhya bhakta, engaged as friend d) vatsalya bhakta, engaged as a parent and 5- madhurya bhakta, engaged as conjugal lover of the supreme Lord. Radha had been constant transcendental loving service and so, she is said to have become his soul.

Krishna and Radha existed some 5000 years ago and is said that Krishna disappeared on 18th February 3602 (Research sources). Some say, he died under a Kalpavriksha tree in form of Samadhi (meditation) It is said that Krishna descends to this planet once in a day of Brahma, or every 8,600,000,000 years as per Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad of Krishna Consciousness.  Krishna spoke Bhagavad Gita to the sun god some hundreds of millions of years ago and Arjuna was his first disciple who understood the supreme personality of krishna. Krishna is absolute and there is no difference between krishna’s name, krishna’s form, his qualities or pastimes or his affairs with his queens, gopis or radha. This absolute position of Krishna is difficult to understand for any person who is not a devotee of Krishna in the system of parampara and without perfect knowledge of Krishna and Gita , try to banish or kill the krishna concept especially in this Kaliyug. Some mock at the Radha Krishna affair which is total ignorance of their beliefs and misinterpretation, making them see the materialistic world instead of a divine submission to the godhead. Meera is another name that followed later with the popular ‘mero toa giridhar gopal, dusro na koi’ – Though, she could never be a Radha yet, her devotion towards Krishna made her a memorable devotee.   

“Sadhavo hrdayam mahyam, Sadhunam hrdayam tva aham

Mad-anyat te na jananti, Naham tebhyo manag api”

In Srimad Bhagavatam (9.4.68), the Lord says that devotees are always in my heart and I am always in the hearts of devotees. They need not know anything beyond me and I cannot forget them. There is very intimate relationship between me and them. Pure devotees in full knowledge are never out of spiritual touch and therefore they are very much dear to me”

The theme behind Krishna’s life is Karma Yoga, the art of striving for both personal perfection and social efficiency. There is Heaven here on earth and hell too here on earth. It’s in the hands of the humans to lead to the path they sort for. All one need to remember is the the Karma. The very essence of education is “Karma” – our action generates a force of energy that returns us in kind “What we sow, is what we reap” And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our Karma is achieved.  

Like Bhagwad gita says:

“ buddhir jnanam asammohah, ksama satyam damah samah, sukham dukham bhavo bhavo, bhayam cabhayam eva cha. Ahimsa samta tusti, tapodanam yaso yasah, bhavanti bhava bhutanam, matta eva prthag vidhah”

(in short means, the qualities of human beings are all created by the lord Krishna.These qualities of intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of senses, mind, happiness and distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy are all to be on guard.)

Ksama, tolerance and forgiveness, should be practiced; one should be tolerant and excuse the offenses of others. Then there is peace, then there is love and when there is love, Miracles Happen!

Krishna is the avatar of perfect love. The word ‘Krishna’ is derived from akarshana which means attraction. So the name itself signifies that Krishna is the Supreme Truth, the absolute, manifest in human form, to attract the whole world towards him. 

(image courtesy: as appeared in my newspaper article – radhekrishna.org

ALL ABOUT KRISHNA – SHLOKES – GITA REVIEW ETC.

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Ayodhya Revisited by Kishore Kunal

The book, titled Ayodhya Revisited, is an 800-page 2016 publication authored by IPS officer turned religious worker Kishore Kunal. It is a work of monumental research is atreatise on Ayodhyã with utmost authenticity and absolute accuracy. Kunal’s official role in the Ayodhya dispute resolution can be traced back to a central posting in his IPS days. In 1989-90, in the VP Singh-led National Front government, the Ministry of Home Affairs created an Ayodhya cell. The ministry chose Kunal as the officer on special duty to facilitate and coordinate the negotiations between Hindu and Muslim representatives on the Ayodhya issue. The cell continued to work under the prime ministership of Chandra Shekhar in 1990-91.

It is wrong to say that Babar ordered the demolition of the Ram Janambhoomi Temple at Ayodhya. He never visited Ayodhya. The claim of historians that Mir Baqi, then Governor of Awadh, got the Babri Mosque constructed in 1528, is ficticious, says the Book. Thus, it is claimed that the first Mughal Emperor Babar had no role either in the demolition of a temple in Ayodhya or in the construction of the Babri Mosque. It also claims that a temple was indeed present at the disputed site. It is a historical fact that until the British takeover of Avadh administration in 1858, both the Hindus and Muslims used to perform puja and offer namaz. respectively at the site.

It has been shown in this book how an absolutely unfounded rumour in 1855 A.D. that the Hanumangarhi temple was constructed on the site of amosque created cleavage between the two communities and the resultant festering wounds have not healed despite best-efforts by saner elements of both the communities.The book exposes many eminent historians’ hypocrisy and their lack of certitude in writing history and it may be said that their presentation of contrived history on Ayodhya has caused irreparable damage to the cause of harmonizing communal relations in the country.

It is learnt that amid flaring tensions, the Ayodhya case arguments reached a shocking move when senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan who represented the Muslim groups in the case tore this book – Ayodhya Revisited – which had been submitted as part of the arguments before the bench. The book in question, Ayodhya Revisited, was submitted to the 5-judge Constitution bench by senior advocate Vikas Singh to supplement his arguments. Dhavan objected to the submission and tore the pages of the book. The bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi condemning the incident, stated then, that if the behavior continues they would halt the proceedings and walk out.

The book produces significant evidence to prove that there was indeed a Ram Mandir on the Ram Janambhoomi. The book also states that the exact birthplace of Lord Ram was earmarked by a rectangular bed measuring 18 ft. 9 inches in length and 15ft in width, and was located in the inner portion of the disputed shrine. In an Interview, the Author quoted to Rediff, “for the first time I have established that there existed a temple at the disputed site on the basis of original evidence, including slokas on Ayodhya mahatmya of the Rudrayamala,” he said. “I have produced clinching evidence which conclusively prove that there was a temple at the birth place of Lord Ram and there was an idol inside it as it is described in the Rudrayamala,” Kunal added.

India’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hindus on last week (1st August 2020) in a decades-old dispute over a holy site contested by Muslims (Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case) handing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his followers a major victory in their quest to remake the country as Hindu and shift it further from its secular foundation. The Supreme Court of India backed the construction of a Ram temple by a trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in the Hindu holy town. The building of a temple to the Hindu god Ram in the town of Ayodhya is a long-cherished goal of Hindu nationalists and a key objective of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Book on Google : https://books.google.com/books/about/Ayodhya_Revisited.html?id=gKKaDAAAQBAJ

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The Kozicode Dubai Calicut AI Plane Crash

The Dubai Calicut Air India Express flight broke into two pieces at Kozicode Airport after overshooting tabletop runway and dropped 30 ft. Into a valley.

The flight with 191 people on board, IX1344, was part of the Vande Bharat repatriation mission. As per the latest information from state authorities, the search and rescue operation is over and all injured have been shifted to various hospitals, reported ANI. There as no fire reported at the time of landing. There were 174 passengers, 10 infants, 2 pilots and five cabin crew on board the aircraft.

The pilot-in-command Captain Deepak Sathe and his co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar were among those killed onboard the Dubai-Calicut Air India Express aircraft carrying 190 passengers as part of the Vande Bharat Mission. Over 18 passengers met their ill fate as death engulfed them.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), meanwhile, directed its personnel to go into quarantine as a precautionary measure after at least two passengers of the flight tested positive for Covid-19, PTI reported.

For many who wonder whats a Tabletop Runway – It is the one that’s chopping off the plateau or a hill. It creates optical illusion that the runway is stretching along while in reality, the runway gives way to the gorge. In this calicut incident, the AI flight crashed into valley after overshooting tabletop runway.

(The kids News are featured for News in Classroom)

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Earth Talk : Is DEET natural and safe to use

EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Is DEET natural and is it safe to use topically as a mosquito repellent? And which formulations and concentrations are advised?  
– M. Frey, Milwaukee, WI

DEET (short for “diethyltoluamide”) is a synthetic compound invented by the U.S. Army in 1946 that can be applied topically to repel mosquitos, ticks, fleas, chiggers, leeches and other biting insects. Unlike other repellents which actually deter bugs with smells they don’t like—or even kill them on contact—DEET just makes it harder for pests to smell us so they are more likely to leave us alone.

DEET has been available to the general public since the Army “released” it in 1957, and today it remains most people’s repellent of choice, with 90 percent market penetration in the U.S. An estimated one-third of Americans use DEET to protect them from not only mosquito bites but also mosquito-borne illnesses like Eastern Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, the Zika virus and malaria, not to mention tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

DEET is not only effective, it’s also convenient; it is sold in a variety of formulations (liquid, lotion, spray, towelette) ranging in strength from 5-99 percent. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers DEET safe to use topically, and has approved 30 companies to sell some 120 different DEET-based repellents online and in store shelves across the U.S. And with 90 percent market penetration for insect repellents, DEET seems to be here to stay.

That said, many of us are still concerned about the safety of DEET for our health and the environment. According to the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG), exposure to high concentrations of DEET can irritate the eyes and in very rare cases impair the nervous system, with symptoms including seizures, tremors and slurred speech. But despite these risks, EWG acknowledges that DEET is still probably the safest option for preventing insect-borne diseases. 

If you want to use DEET, keep in mind that pediatricians generally recommend not using it on babies up to two months old, but otherwise sticking to concentrations of 10-30 percent for infants and children. The stronger the concentration of the DEET you apply, the longer lasting protection you’ll get from mosquitoes. Consumer Reports found that 99 percent of DEET formulations gave up to 12 hours of protection while lower concentrations (20-34 percent) lasted 3-6 hours.

If you want to avoid DEET altogether, there are several effective alternatives available, including Picaridin and PMD (AKA Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus). Meanwhile, several botanical oils (castor oil, cedar oil, citronella oil, clove oil, geraniol oil, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, soybean oil) are known for repelling insects, but EWG warns most of these are not very effective, won’t last long and could trigger allergic reactions in the user on their own.

To decide what’s best for you and your family given where you live and the risks for insect-borne diseases there, check out the EPA’s “Find the Repellent that is Right for You” search tool which bases its recommendations on your inputs regarding what you are trying to battle, how long you will be outside and potentially exposed, active ingredient preference, and even preferred brand name.

CONTACTS: EPA’s “Find the Repellent that is Right for You,” epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you; EWG’s Guide to Bug Repellents, ewg.org/research/ewgs-guide-bug-repellents; “Is DEET Bad for You (and Your Kids)?” health.clevelandclinic.org/is-deet-bad-for-you-and-your-kids/.

EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

Image credits : Google

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