WHITE NOISE

What is White Noise?

White noise is the noise created when all audible frequencies of sound are combined at the same time and the same density. It is similar in nature to white light, which occurs when all the colors of the spectrum are brought together. White noise incorporates over 20,000 frequencies. Also called white sound, white noise is used primarily as a sleep or relaxation aid.

The actual sound produced by white noise is comparable to rainfall or ocean waves. It is a gentle tone that can be found in nature. Because white noise combines all frequencies of sound ranging from very low tones to high pitches, it is very useful in masking other noises and sounds.

Fans and radio stations with no broadcast are often used as white noise simulators, providing a soothing sound that blocks out other background noises. While these methods do not produce true white noise, their effects are a good example of practical uses for white sound. The main drawback to using this variety of white noise, however, is that the user has no control over the volume or frequencies produced in this manner.

Consumers can also purchase white noise that has been recorded onto a CD, which is less expensive than investing in a white noise machine. In addition to cost effectiveness, CDs allow the user to alter the bass and treble of the noise to mask lower or higher background sounds in any given location.

STOPPING THE SPREAD OF GERMS (FLU)

Stopping the Spread of Germs (FLU)

Illnesses like the flu (influenza) and colds are caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs and usually spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The flu and cold virus is usually prominent during rainy season, and is typically known as "flu season." It is important to know treatment and prevention options, so that one can be prepared.

These are a few tips that can help prevent the spread of germs:

Avoid Touching Your Eyes, Nose, or Mouth-Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs can live for a long time on surfaces like doorknobs, desks, and tables.

Cover Your Mouth and Nose When You Sneeze or Cough: Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Wash your hands every time you cough or sneeze.

Wash Your Hands Often: When available, wash your hands with soap and warm water, then rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces for 15 - 20 seconds. It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.

When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. If using a gel, rub the gel in your hands until they are dry. The alcohol in the gel kills germs that cause colds and the flu.

Stay Home When Sick - Check with a Doctor When NeededWhen you are sick or have flu symptoms, stay home, get plenty of rest, and check with a doctor as needed. Keeping your distance from others may protect them from getting sick. Common symptoms of the flu include:
High Fever
Cough
Headache
Extreme tiredness
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (more common among children than adults)

Practice Other Good Health Habits: Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Practicing healthy habits will help you stay healthy during flu season and all year long.

BLUE ENERGY (OSMOTIC POWER)

BLUE ENERGY (OSMOTIC POWER)

Blue energy, sometimes called ocean energy, is a term for the method of generating electricity through the convergence of both fresh and salt water.


Blue energy extracted by osmosis, also called Salinity gradient power or Osmotic Power is the energy retrieved from the difference in the salt concentration between seawater and river water. Two practical methods for this are Reverse electrodialysis (RED), and Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO).Both processes rely on osmosis with ion specific membranes. The key waste product is brackish water (water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater)

Blue energy is only useful in certain geographical areas. The only way to create blue energy other than in a laboratory is at an estuary, where fresh water river currents and the saline tides of the ocean meet at the river’s mouth. Though the technology of blue energy has been understood for quite sometime, manufacturing the membranes was far too expensive to become a practical energy alternative. Recently, more economical membranes have been developed which will allow blue energy technology to begin being implemented in suitable environments. Currently blue energy is being used successfully in the Netherlands.

The environmental benefits of blue energy are invaluable. Blue energy does not emit greenhouse gases, the use of blue energy where possible will help to reduce global warming and other consequences caused by burning fossil fuels. In addition, blue energy does not take up a lot of space like energy grids do, and ecosystems are not negatively affected as they are with mining and drilling for example.

Words to Move on

Words to Move on

A Man is not finished when he’s defeated
he’s finished when he quits.

No person can be greater
unless he takes genuine joy in the success of those under him.

Excellence is not a Singular act, but a habit
You are what you repeatedly do.

Success is more attitude than aptitude.

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.
The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty

Change is the law of life
& those who look only to the past or present
Are certain to miss future.

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be
Continually fearing you will make one.

There are no secret to success. It is the result
Of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure”
Colin Powell

Everybody sooner or later
Sits down to a banquet of consequences

When you do the same things
The same way all the time,
Don’t expect a different result.

Always do right.
This will gratify some people,
And astonish the rest.

Maintaining open line of communication are a
Fundamental key to organizational excellence.
Take an extra moment to communicate
What you want and why you need it.

An acre of performance
is worth a whole world of promise.

Setting an example is not the main means
of influencing another, it is the only means
Albert Einstein

ASBESTOS EXPOSURE

ASBESTOS EXPOSURE

Asbestos is a silicate mineral, a fibrous, naturallyoccurring material of varying chemical compositions.Asbestos is used in well over 3,000 products includingbuilding materials and goods.

Severe lung disease can be caused by asbestos, such asasbestosis and/or cancer, through the inhalation ofexcess quantities of the fiber. It usually takesseveral years for symptoms of asbestos diseases tobecome apparent.NOTE: It is the Company's policy toavoid working in areas where employees may be exposedto asbestos at levels above the OSHA established PEL.When that is not possible, this section and SafetyProcedure SP-007 should be followed.)

The current allowable level of asbestos (PEL) in theair established by the Occupational Safety and HealthStandards is .2 fibers per cubic centimeter greaterthan 5 microns in length in an 8 hour tirne-weightedaverage. A short term (excursion) limit of 1.0 fiberper cubic centimeter of air (I f/cc) as averaged overthirty (30) minutes has also been established.

Control of the exposure to asbestos can take severalroutes. Substitute another product that will do thesame job; use personal protective equipment such asNIOSH-MESA approved respirators; use adequateventilation equipment before the fibers reach thebreathing zone of the workers; practice goodhousekeeping by removing accumulated and settled dustby HEPA vacuum cleaning; and wet the product toprevent expulsion of the dust into the air that theworkers breathe.

To prevent contamination away from the work place,clothes the workers wear should not be laundered athome. The clothing should be handled at the work placewhere workers are required to change to streetclothing and shower facilities are available.

Any employee that is exposed to asbestos fibers inexcess of the above specified limits will be notifiedin writing of the exposure as soon as practical butnot later than five (5) days of the findings.

Each employee exposed to airborne concentrations ofasbestos fiber in excess of the limits specified abovewill be provided with medical examination relative tothis exposure. The initial medical examination will begiven within 30 days of the initial exposure that willinclude as a minimum a chest roentgenogram, a historyto list symptomatology of respiratory disease, and thepulmonary function test to include forced vitalcapacity (FVC) forced expiratory volume at one second(FEV Sub. 1.0). These employees will also be givenannual medical evaluations thereafter.

Records shall be maintained of all medicalexaminations administered to employees. These recordswill be maintained for at least 30 years.

GANDHI JAYANTI (OCT-2)

“The purpose of education is to bring out the best in you”

Mahatma Gandhiji

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of peace and the Father of the Nation was born on 2nd October 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat. Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated with reverence to mark the occasion of birthday of Mahatma Gandhiji. It is celebrated on October2, every year. The United Nations General Assembly announced on 15 June 2007 that it adopted a resolution which declared that October 2 will be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Gandhiji played a significant role in achieving independence for India from the British Empire with his simplicity and strong will power. He studied law in U.K and practiced law in South Africa. But he left his profession and returned to India to join the Indian freedom struggle. Gandhiji was a preacher of truth and 'Ahimsa'(non-violence).He started the 'Satyagraha' movement for the Indian freedom struggle. He believed in living a simple life and in 'Swadeshi'. He proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of non-violence. Gandhiji is a symbol of peace and truth. On this day, the President and Prime Minister, along with other eminent political leaders, pay homage at Raj Ghat - the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi was not an emperor, not a military general, not a president nor a prime minister. He was neither a pacifist nor a cult guru. Who was Gandhi? If anything, Mohandas K. Gandhi was a constant experimenter. Spirituality, religion, self-reliance, health, education, clothing, drinks, medicine, child care, status of women, no field escaped his search for truth. His thoughts when appeared in the form of talk or article became official words of action with the masses of India. He was a man who did what he said and led an exemplary and a transparent life. Not many people can claim "My life is an open book". There were millions of Indians who treated Gandhi's suggestions as supreme commands and acted upon them (hence the name Mahatma). Born in Gujarat, fluent with Hindi and English, and residing in the minds of millions, Gandhiji was able to unite India like none other. An adamant idealist, courageous fighter, a deep thinker, and a great leader of men and ideas, it was possible for him to do that because he identified himself with struggles and pains of the common Indians. He quickly became the sole voice of the downtrodden and the exploited. They completely believed that Gandhiji understood their difficulties and would provide justice for them. Among Gandhiji's disciples were kings, royals, untouchables, rich, poor, foreigners, and women. When this selfless and pure man became leader of the nation, he gave a clear and unambiguous direction to the Himalayan problems facing India. Most important of them were poverty, religious conflict, exploitation, ignorance and colonization by the British.

BACKPACK SAFETY

BACKPACK SAFETY

Backpacks come in all sizes, colors, fabrics, and shapes and help kids of all ages express their own personal sense of style. And when used properly, they're incredibly handy. However backpacks that are too heavy or are worn incorrectly can cause problems for children/teenagers. Improperly used backpacks may injure muscles and joints. This can lead to severe back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as posture problems.

To help understand how heavy backpacks can affect a kid's body, it helps to understand how the back works. The spine is made of 33 bones called vertebrae, and between the vertebrae are discs that act as natural shock absorbers.

When a heavy weight, such as a backpack filled with books, is incorrectly placed on the shoulders, the weight's force can pull a child backward. To compensate, a child may bend forward at the hips or arch the back, which can cause the spine to compress unnaturally. The heavy weight might cause some kids to develop shoulder, neck, and back pain.

Kids who wear their backpacks over just one shoulder — as many do, because they think it looks better — may end up leaning to one side to offset the extra weight. They might develop lower and upper back pain and strain their shoulders and neck.

Also, backpacks with tight, narrow straps that dig into the shoulders can interfere with circulation and nerves. These types of straps can contribute to tingling, numbness, and weakness in the arms and hands.

Despite their potential problems, backpacks are an excellent tool for kids when used properly.

Look for the following before you buy that trendy new backpack your kid or teen

• Wide, padded shoulder straps – Narrow straps can dig into shoulders. This can cause pain and restrict circulation.
  
  Two shoulder straps – Backpacks with one shoulder strap that runs across the body cannot distribute weight evenly
  
  Padded back – A padded back protects against sharp edges on objects inside the pack and increases comfort.
  
  Waist strap – A waist strap can distribute the weight of a heavy load more evenly
  Lightweight backpack – The backpack itself should not add much weight to the load

To prevent injury when using a backpack, do the following:

Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain
muscles. Wearing a backpack on one shoulder may increase curvature of the spine

Tighten the straps so that the pack is close to the body. The straps should hold the pack
two inches above the waist.

Pack light. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 15 percent of the student's total body weight. (For example, the backpack of a child who weighs 40Kilo Grams shouldn’t weigh more than 4Kg to 6Kg).

Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back.

Bend using both knees, when you bend down. Do not bend over at the waist when wearing or lifting a heavy backpack.

Learn back-strengthening exercises to build up the muscles used to carry a backpack

You may need to adjust backpacks and/or reduce how much you carry if you:

struggle to get the backpack on or off
have back pain
lean forward to carry the backpack

If you have back pain or numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, talk to your doctor.

FUKUOKA MASANOBU

Fukuoka- The Man of "Do-Nothing Farming"

"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops,but the cultivation and perfection of human beings."
Masanobu Fukuoka

Masanobu Fukuoka (Fukuoka Masanobu February 2, 1913 – August 16, 2008) author of The One-Straw Revolution, The Road Back to Nature and The Natural Way Of Farming, was one of the pioneers of no-till grain cultivation/ Do-Nothing Farming. His system is referred to as "natural farming", Fukuoka Farming, or the Fukuoka Method. In India, natural farming is often referred to as "Rishi Kheti."

Masanobu Fukuoka was in a small farming village on the island of Shikoku in Southern Japan. He was educated in microbiology and worked as a soil scientist specializing in plant pathology, but at the age of twenty-five he began to have doubts about the "wonders of modern agriculture science." He eventually quit his job and returned to his family's farm. From that point on he devoted his life to developing a unique small scale organic farming system that does not require weeding, pesticide or fertilizer applications, or tilling.

Fukuoka's agricultural approach is simplicity itself. Instead of planting seeds and transplanting seedlings as in traditional rice cultivation, he broadcasts clay pellets containing seeds on unplowed soil, sufficiently loosened by nature's own undercover agents, the earthworm and other such creatures.

The use of white clover reduces the amount of time the field is flooded for rice to one week. Weeds are allowed to sprout, controlled by nature's checks and balances, including natural predators, which also take care of pests. "Nature, left alone, is in perfect balance," asserts Fukuoka with a confidence that comes from personal experience. Each rice stalk yields 200 to 300 grains, which compares very favorably with the yield of other forms of cultivation; labor is cut to one-fifth.

He also grew vegetables and fruits for market using similar techniques.

In his 60's, Fukuoka sat down to document what he had seen and done. In 1975 his first book "One Straw Revolution" was released and has had a profound impact on agriculture and human consciousness all over the world. "One Straw Revolution" was followed by "The Natural Way of Farming" and then by "The Road Back To Nature."Since 1979, Fukuoka has been touring, giving lectures and sowing the seeds of natural farming all over the world. In 1988 he was given Deshikottan Award, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award. In 1997 he received the Earth Council Award.

To Masanobu Fukuoka, raising food is not necessarily the primary goal of farming.

“Why do you have to develop? If economic growth rises from 5% to 10%, is happiness going to double? What’s wrong with a growth rate of 0%? Isn’t this a rather stable kind of economics? Could there be anything better than living simply and taking it easy?”

- Masanobu Fukuoka
The One-Straw Revolution, 1978

HYDROPOWER

HYDROPOWER

Hydro” means “water” in Latin – so “hydro power” is made from water. Hydro energy is electricity made using water. Sounds weird, right? Especially since it's dangerous to mix the two. The water never comes in contact with the electricity. How it works is, water flowing down a river is used to spin turbines inside a generator. Large rivers with fast flowing water work the best.

Hydropower is clean. It doesn't produce any greenhouse gases or other air pollution. It also doesn't generate any waste products that might need special handling or disposal. Because it's carbon-free energy, hydropower doesn't burn fossil fuel. Like solar and wind energy, electricity from water is renewable. Water from rivers is a natural resource so it doesn't come with some of the problems other energy sources have, such as cost and insufficient amounts. Hydropower converts kinetic energy from falling water into electricity and never uses up more water than nature produces.

Hydropower doesn't cost a lot of money. On average, the cost for hydropower operations and maintenance is only one-third the cost of a nuclear or a fossil fuel powered facility, Another good thing about hydropower is it's flexible and reliable. Hydropower can be turned on almost immediately to meet the fast growing electricity demands. If you have a stream running through your backyard does that mean you could use it to create energy? Possibly. If you live near the ocean you might even be able to use the energy from waves to make electricity in the future.

NATIONAL TEACHERS' DAY- SEPTEMBER-5

NATIONAL TEACHERS' DAY

Teachers have an influencing role in the life of a student. They are like beacons of light guiding us in our life. A teacher moulds us and in the process shapes our future. What we learn from our teachers remains with us throughout our life giving us direction. Teacher's Day is celebrated throughout the world. By celebrating National Teacher's Day we thank our teachers for providing us their invaluable guidance.

Teachers Day will be celebrated at different dates in different countries. UNESCO inaugurated 5 October as World Teachers' Day. Teacher's Day, also called Teachers' Appreciation Day or National Teacher's Day, is celebrated on 5th of September in India. The day 5th of September was selected as it is the birthday of a great teacher and the former President of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. When some of his students and friends approached him and requested him to allow them to celebrate his birthday, he said "instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5th is observed as Teacher's day". From then onwards, 5th of September has been observed as Teachers Day in India. Sir Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888-1975) was one of the most profound philosophers of this century, author and educationalist. In India, September 5 is celebrated as Teacher's Day in his honor

Since time Immemorial, Indians have respected their teachers. Earlier we used to call our teachers 'Guru'. And now it's the modern 'Sir' or 'Madam'. Nonetheless, the role of teachers has remained the same. They were and they are our guides, creating conditions conducive to our overall development. And we will always be thankful for their constructive support. As an expression of our thanks, we celebrate Teacher's Day in India.

On Teacher's day schools students dress up as their teachers and take lectures in classes that are assigned to the teachers they represent. Sometimes teachers sit in their classes as students, reliving again the time when they themselves were students. Thus, both students as well as teachers get to understand each other's position. Also, functions are organized in schools on Teacher's Day. Students present various programs for the entertainment of their teachers. In addition to being the day when the efforts of teachers are recognized, it provides a chance for healthy interaction between students and teachers.

Activities: Thank your teachers in 8 words!

GEOTHERMAL

GEOTHERMAL

What is Geothermal Energy?
The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). So, geothermal energy is heat from within the earth. We can use the steam and hot water produced inside the earth to heat buildings or generate electricity. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source because the water is replenished by rainfall and the heat is continuously produced inside the earth.

Direct use of Geothermal Energy: The direct use of hot water as an energy source has been happening since ancient times. The Romans, Chinese, and Native Americans used hot mineral springs for bathing, cooking and heating. Today, many hot springs are still used for bathing, and many people believe the hot, mineral-rich waters have natural healing powers.

GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS: We also use geothermal energy to make electricity. A geothermal power plant works by tapping into steam or hot water reservoirs underground; the heat is used to drive an electrical generator.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Renewable Energy

What is renewable Energy?
All the energy we use comes from the earth. The electricity we use every day doesn't come directly from the earth, but we make electricity using the earth's resources, like coal or natural gas.

Both coal and natural gas are called “fossil fuels” because they were formed deep under the earth during dinosaur times.

The problem is that fossil fuels can't be replaced - once we use them up, they're gone forever. Another problem is that fossil fuels can cause pollution.


Renewable energy is made from resources that Mother Nature will replace, like wind, water and sunshine. Renewable energy is also called “clean energy” or “green power” because it doesn’t pollute the air or the water.

Why don’t we use renewable energy all the time?
Unlike natural gas and coal, we can’t store up wind and sunshine to use whenever we need to make more electricity. If the wind doesn’t blow or the sun hides behind clouds, there wouldn’t be enough power for everyone.

Another reason we use fossil fuels like coal and natural gas is because they’re cheaper. It costs more money to make electricity from wind, and most people aren’t willing to pay more on their monthly utility bills.

The five renewable sources used most often are:
Geothermal

Biomas- including wood and wood waste, municipal solid waste, landfill and biogas, ethanol, and biodiesel,

Water (Hydropower)

Wind

Solar

Nations with highest per capita income

Nations with highest per capita income:
According to the World Bank categories: Nations with per capita income (PCI) less than $935 are 'low income;' nations with PCI from $936 to $3,705 are 'lower middle income;' those with PCI from $3,706 to $11,455 are 'upper middle income;' and those with PCI from $11,456 or more are 'high income. This has been calculated using the World Bank Atlas method that employs official exchange rates for conversion.

1. Liechtenstein: So the nation with the highest per capita income in the world is Liechtenstein, a small country bordering Switzerland and Austria. Liechtenstein's per capita income is about $80,000 per annum. personal income tax rates in Liechtenstein too are exceedingly low: basic income tax rate is 1.2 per cent on income up to 200,000 Swiss Francs, and maximum is 5 per cent on income over 2 million Swiss Francs a year.
2. Bermuda: Bermuda is tourist's delight, located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Bermuda's per capita income is almost 50 per cent more than that of the United States. The tiny island nation's per capita income stands at just above $78,000. It has the second highest PCI in the world.

3. Norway: Norway's per capita income stands at $76,450, which is the third highest in the world. Norway has a mixed economy consisting of state-owned businesses and a robust free market. It's a high developed and industrialized state. Fishing, petroleum, hydel power, minerals contribute heavily to the nation's GDP.

4. Luxembourg : Luxembourg's per capita income is at $75,880. That makes it the world's fourth highest PCI. Luxembourg is located in Europe and is bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. The nation has highly developed industrial and financial sectors.

5. Qatar : The per capita income of Qataris is $60,000, the fifth highest in the world. Qatar is an Arab emirate located in the Persian Gulf. The nation's economy mainly depends on its huge oil and natural gas reserves. There is no income tax in Qatar.

6. Switzerland : The Swiss enjoy a financially comfortable life, with a per capita income of $59,880. Switzerland ranks sixth in the World Bank's per capita income rankings. Switzerland, a truly capitalist economy, has many giant banks and multinational corporations. It also has highly developed industries in sectors like pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machine parts, electronics, precision instruments, banking, tourism, etc. Dairy farming too is an age old industry in Switzerland. It has very low tax rates

7. Denmark: Denmark's per capita income is at $54,910. According to World Bank rankings, it is the world's seventh highest PCI. Denmark has a highly industrialised economy, with robust agricultural and corporate sectors. Despite being one of the most competitive nations, the nation has a very weak financial regulatory system. Also, its labour laws are very lax and tilted heavily in favour of the employers.

8. Iceland: At $54,100, the per capita income of Iceland is the world's eighth highest. Iceland has a very healthy power sector which helps it be a highly industrialised country.

9-10-11. Cayman Islands: The per capita income of Cayman Islands is more than $48,140 and less than $54,100, as per World Bank figures. It has the 11th highest PCI in the world. It has the 11th highest PCI in the world. At number 9 is Channel Islands and in the 10th spot is Andorra. It is a major financial centre and also one of the world's best known tax havens

12- Ireland : The Irish have a per capita income of $48,140, ranking them twelfth in the world.

13-14 Sweden: Sweden's per capita income is $46,060, making its PCI 14th-highest in the world. San Marino, with a PCI of $45,130 is the 13th-highest. Sweden has a very well developed industry in sectors like engineering, telecom, power, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, etc. The nation's economy is heavily dependent on foreign trade. It also has highly skilled work force.

15- United States of America: America's per capita income is $46,040. It's the 15th-highest in the world. The United States is mostly a capitalist economy, with huge mineral and oil reserves, apart from fantastic infrastructure, skilled work force, and the highest number of the world's largest corporations

132- China: China's per capita income is $2,360. It ranks 132nd in the world. China is the world's second largest economy, with its GDP standing at slightly more than $7 trillion. China, the world's factory, has a highly developed manufacturing sector. It has a huge market which acts as a magnet for big multinationals who pour in billions of dollars into the economy to grab a chunk of the massive Chinese market.

Courtesy: Rediff

SCHOOLBUS SAFETY

To Students:
Get to the school bus stop five minutes early, so you won’t have to run across the road to catch the bus.

When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic. Line up at least five giant steps away from the the roadway to wait for the bus.

Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop.

Never push when getting on or off of the school bus.

Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you.

Be aware – Cross with Care! Wait until the school bus has stopped all traffic before stepping out onto the road.

When the school bus is moving, always stay in your seat. Never put your head, arms or hands out of the window.

Talk quietly; do not distract your school bus driver.

If your school bus crosses railroad tracks, be calm and quiet so that your driver can listen for a train. Always obey your school bus driver’s instructions, so that he or she can make safe decisions.

Never play with the emergency exits. Backpacks, band instruments, or sports equipment may not block the aisle or emergency exits. If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions.

When getting off of the school bus, make sure that all drawstrings and other loose objects are secure so that they don’t get caught on the handrail or the door.

If you leave something on the bus or drop something outside of the bus, never go back for it. The driver may not see you and begin moving the bus.

Stay away from danger zones around the bus. The blind spots where drivers cannot see. Always be sure you can see the driver that means the driver can see you.

Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger.

TO PARENTS:

Have your children put everything they carry in a backpack or school bag so that they won't drop things along the way.

Have them wear bright, contrasting colors so that they will be more easily seen by drivers. Better still, attach a piece of high visibility fluorescent and reflective material to their clothing or backpack.

Make sure they leave home on time so that they can walk to the bus stop and arrive before the bus is due. Running can be dangerous.

Teach your children to secure loose drawstrings and other objects that may get caught in the handrail or door of the school bus as they are exiting.

Warn children that if they drop something near the bus they should never ever pick it up. Instead, they should tell the bus driver and follow the driver's directions. If they bend over to pick up a dropped object, they might not be seen by the driver and could be hurt if the bus pulls away from the stop.

Go to the bus stop with a young child and have older children walk in groups. There's safety in numbers because groups are easier for drivers to see.

If you decide to meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street. Children can get so excited at seeing you after school they might forget safety rules and dash across the street.

IMPORTANT DAYS

July-11

World Population Day


World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. It was inspired by the public interest in Five Billion (500 crore) Day on July 11, 1987, approximately the date on which the world's population reached five billion people.

This year’s World Population Day reaffirms the right of people to plan their families. It encourages activities, events and information that will help make this right real – especially for those who often have the hardest time getting the information and services they need to plan their families, such as marginalized populations and young people. This year’s World Population Day reaffirms the right of people to plan their families. It encourages activities, events and information that will help make this right real – especially for those who often have the hardest time getting the information and services they need to plan their families, such as marginalized populations and young people. When people can plan their families, they can plan their lives. They can plan to beat poverty. They can plan on healthier mothers and children. They can plan to gain equality for women. Plan to support World Population Day this year!

More than 1.5 billion people are between the ages of 10 and 25. This largest-ever generation of adolescents is approaching adulthood in a world their elders could not have imagined. But more than half of young people live in poverty, on less than $2 (Rs.80) per day. Often they lack access to the technology and information. Many also face social inequality, poor schools, gender discrimination, unemployment and inadequate health systems. They deserve better. And investing in them is an investment in the future leaders of families, communities and nations.

UNFPA (United National Fund Population Activitie) promotes and protects the rights of young people. It envisions a world in which girls and boys have optimal opportunities to develop their full potential, to freely express themselves and have their views respected, and to live free of poverty, discrimination and violence. Empower adolescents and youth with skills to achieve their dreams, think critically, and express themselves freely. Promote health, including by giving them access to sexual and reproductive health information, education, commodities and services. Connect young people to livelihood and employment programmes. Uphold the rights of young people, especially girls and marginalized groups, to grow up healthy and safe to receive a fair share of social investments. Encourage young people’s leadership and participation in decisions that affect them, including the development plans of their societies.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

SAFETY

SEVEN COMMON ACCIDENT CAUSES

Consider this statistic: 80 out of every 100 accidentsare the fault of the person involved in the incident.Unsafe Acts cause four times as many accidents &injuries as unsafe conditions.

Accidents occur for many reasons. In most industriespeople tend to look for "things" to blame when anaccident happens, because it's easier than looking for"root causes," such as those listed below. Considerthe underlying accident causes described. Have youbeen guilty of any of these attitudes or behaviors? Ifso, you may have not been injured-but next time youmay not be so lucky.

Taking Shortcuts: Every day we make decisions we hopewill make the job faster and more efficient. But dotime savers ever risk your own safety, or that ofother crew members? Short cuts that reduce your safetyon the job are not shortcuts, but an increased chancefor injury.


Being Over Confident: Confidence is a good thing.Overconfidence is too much of a good thing. "It'llnever happen to me" is an attitude that can lead toimproper procedures, tools, or methods in your work.Any of these can lead to an injury.

Starting a Task with Incomplete Instructions: To dothe job safely and right the first time you needcomplete information. Have you ever seen a worker sentto do a job, having been given only a part of thejob's instructions? Don't be shy about asking forexplanations about work procedures and safetyprecautions. It isn't dumb to ask questions; it's dumbnot to.

Poor Housekeeping: When clients, managers or safetyprofessionals walk through your work site,housekeeping is an accurate indicator of everyone'sattitude about quality, production and safety. Poorhousekeeping creates hazards of all types. A wellmaintained area sets a standard for others to follow.Good housekeeping involves both pride and safety. Ignoring Safety Procedures: Purposely failing toobserve safety procedures can endanger you and yourco-workers. You are being paid to follow the companysafety policies-not to make your own rules. Being"casual" about safety can lead to a casualty!

Mental Distractions from Work: Having a bad day athome and worrying about it at work is a hazardouscombination. Dropping your 'mental' guard can pullyour focus away from safe work procedures. You canalso be distracted when you're busy working and afriend comes by to talk while you are trying to work.Don't become a statistic because you took your eyesoff the machine "just for a minute."

Failure to Pre-Plan the Work: There is a lot of talktoday about Job Hazard Analysis. JHA's are aneffective way to figure out the smartest ways to worksafely and effectively. Being hasty in starting atask, or not thinking through the process can put youin harms way. Instead, Plan Your Work and then WorkYour Plan!

"It is better to be careful 100 times than to getkilled once." (Mark Twain)

BASIC MACHINE SAFETY

BASIC MACHINE SAFETYIt's tough to imagine modern society without machineshard at work all around us. New and improved machineryleads to increased productivity, higher quality, andmore affordable production. But misused machines canbe as harmful as they are helpful. Machines that cutmetal can cut off fingers. Machines that punch throughsteel can punch through flesh. Such injuries can causecareer-ending disabilities as well as severe pain andsuffering.

Be alert to these areas when working around oroperating machinery:

The point of operation: That is where the work of themachine takes place. It's where the pressing, cutting,punching and boring takes place. It's a place where nopart of the body should be. If any part of the body isin the way at the point of operation, the force of themachine can cause a serious injury. The point ofoperation may also produce sparks or fragments thatcan fly toward the operator. Safety glasses areimportant for this type of work.

The power train: That is where energy is transferredthrough moving parts like gears, shafts, belts,cables, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders. No bodyparts should be in these areas either. When working onthis type of machinery, always follow thelockout/tagout procedures and replace all guards whenrepairs are complete. Employees should report anymissing guards to their supervisor before operatingthis equipment.

Workers must control machines carefully. In additionto avoiding the power train and point of operation,employees should always:

Make sure machines are anchored securely to prevent"walking," tipping, excessive vibration or othermovement that could be hazardous.

Never reach blindly into areas that may containenergized parts.

Be sure there is enough lighting to clearly see allpoints of operation.

Keep conductive items -- watches, rings, steel wool,belt buckles -- away from exposed electrical parts.

Never plug or unplug electrical equipment with wethands.

Follow all lockout/tagout procedures. Always wear the proper protective equipment for eachjob.

Material handling equipment: Power lifts, forklifttrucks, etc. are not considered to be productionmachinery, but their points of operation and powertrain can be just as hazardous. Employees must beproperly trained in the operation of this type ofequipment before they are allowed to use it.

Mechanical hazards may come from many different areasand have potential for serious injury. Beware of the danger zones located within your operation and respect the power of machinery.

BizNew:080617

July Launch for India's $100 Billion Industrial Corridor: (IndustrialInfo.com) ANGALORE, INDIA--June 16, 2008--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The government of India is in the process of appointing a team of consultants for participation in the ambitious $100 billion Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project. The DMIC is a trade and business development initiative spread over 436,486 square kilometers and is being built with the upcoming 1,483-kilometer dedicated freight rail corridor between Delhi and Mumbai.



Anil Ambani sets sight on more than 40 % stake in MTN: ONDON: Reliance Communications, the flagship company of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), is keen to acquire more than 40 percent of South African telecom company MTN. Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Communications, is considering buying more than 40 per cent of MTN, Africa's biggest wireless company. The Paper reported if the shareholders agreed, Ambani might end up owning 40-45 per cent of MTN, said one person close to the talks.


Indian origin scientist develops potential hydrogen storage material: Washington: A scientist of Indian origin has led an international research team to demonstrate an atomistic mechanism of hydrogen release in magnesium nanoparticles - a potential hydrogen storage material. The scientist in question is Professor Rajeev Ahuja from Uppsala University in Sweden. It is becoming clear that cars of the future will have to move from using the combination of petrol and a combustion engine in order to combat global warming and potential oil shortages. Storing hydrogen gas in a compact way is, however, still an unsolved problem. Much research effort has been directed at absorbing hydrogen in metal powders, forming so-called metal hydrides. Magnesium may absorb up to 7.7 weight per cent of hydrogen, and has commonly been studied for this purpose, especially since fast loading and unloading of hydrogen can be accomplished by adding catalysts like iron and nickel particles. It has been speculated that the catalysts act as shuttles, helping to transport hydrogen out of the material. With the help of computer simulations of magnesium clusters at the quantum mechanical level, the Uppsala researchers and their colleagues have now been able to show in atomic scale how this happens and why only a small amount of catalysts are necessary to improve the hydrogen release.

Taliban seizes several Afghanistan villages (AP): NATO, Afghan forces redeploy to meet threat near Kandahar: KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Hundreds of Taliban fighters invaded villages just outside Afghanistan's second-largest city Monday, forcing NATO and Afghan troops to rush in and frightened residents to flee. The Taliban assault on the outskirts of Kandahar was the latest display of prowess by the militants despite a record number of U.S. and NATO troops in the country. Click here for more


India’s RIL IND eyeing stake in Jet Airways': MUMBAI: Reliance Industries Ltd is in talks with Jet Airways Ltd to buy a 6-7 percent stake in the private airline, a news daily said, citing a source familiar with the development.




Second Tejas aircraft breaks sound barrier on maiden flight: BANGALORE: The second indigenously developed light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas flew at supersonic speed on its maiden test flight over Bangalore skies on Monday evening. This is the second time a Tejas aircraft has flown at a speed of 1.1 Mach (1,320 km per hour) up to an altitude of 9.5 km in a maiden flight lasting 43 minutes," the state-run Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) said in a statement on late Monday.


India’s Ashok Leyland invests in Germany-based Albonair: Mumbai, June 17: Hinduja flagship company Ashok Leyland on Tuesday said it has made a strategic investment in Germany-based group firm Albonair GmbH for development of vehicle emission treatment systems and products.

'India's GDP to grow at 9.5% in FY 09': Mumbai, June 16: India's real GDP is expected to grow at an impressive 9.5 per cent in FY 09, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) said in its monthly review in Mumbai.

Western players face threat from emerging markets: PARIS: The traditional western business model is likely to face immense challenge from the growth of multinationals from emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC nations), said a report released from Cambridge University’s Institute of Manufacturing by Capgemini.

Japan’s Daiichi may revise open offer price for India’s Ranbaxy: Japanese drug-maker Daiichi-Sankyo, which entered into a binding deal with the Ranbaxy Laboratories [Get Quote] promoters to buy the latter's 34.8 per cent stake at Rs 737 a share, on Monday said it may revise the open offer price in the case of a competitive bid.

Russian 'sheikh' for Indian investment in oil production: Khanty-Mansiisk (Russia): A major oil rich autonomous region of Russia looking to diversify its economy beyond oil production, is keen to welcome Indian investments in high-tech sectors including IT and pharmaceuticals. Governor of Ugra region Alexander Filipenko, a former Soviet Communist Party 'apparatchik', regretted the withering spirit of 'Hindi-Roosi Bhai-Bhai' and has invited Indian businesses to invest in his Siberian 'Emirate', which is keen to divert the flood of petro-dollars for creation of hi-tech industrial potential for economic diversity. In old days we used to have very good relations with India, but unfortunately the spirit of 'Hindi-Roosi Bhai-Bhai' has disappeared. From time to time I see some Indian goods and commodities coming to our region through third parties, but I am yet to see an Indian businessman here," Filipenko said receiving a group of Moscow-based foreign journalists. “For several years now I have been unsuccessfully trying to woo Indian IT-itians, but perhaps they are afraid of Siberian cold. I will arrange valenki (felt boots) and sheepskin coats to keep them warm," he said. (PTI)



Phil Gov’t expects more Chinese, Indian visitors with new visa system: MANILA, Philippines - The government expects more investors and tourists — especially from China and India — visiting the Philippines as it implements a “liberalized" system of granting visas to foreigners. In a statement released on Monday, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said the agency had put in place the PVUA or the pre-arranged visa upon arrival system wherein visas of foreigners traveling to the Philippines would be processed from their countries of origin. According to Libanan, out of some 30 million Chinese tourists, only about 60,000 visit the Philippines yearly. Meanwhile, out of the 10 million Indian tourists, only 15,000 visit the country annually. –


Canada’s University of Alberta and India’sTCS sign global partnership : The University of Alberta has entered into a five-year partnership agreement with Tata Consultancy Services, which is to provide student internship and co-op education placements within Tata Consultancy Services and create research collaboration and exchange between the university and TCS researchers. University of Alberta President Indira Samarasekera calls this partnership truly exceptional for a Canadian university. With this collaboration, the opportunity for international internships and training programs for U of A students will increase as they will now have access to TCS's operations in many business sectors, including engineering services, research and development, and information technology. There will also be prospects for research exchanges between TCS's industry professionals and the U of A's researchers and students.



Now, natural disaster alerts on TV: Bangalore: Indian satellites will alert state agencies and the public about imminent natural disasters through direct-to-home (DTH) television broadcasts, a top space agency official has said. In the next six months, (state-run) Doordarshan will relay warning signals from INSAT transponders in Ku-band on impending disasters through a DTH receiver linked to the national disaster management support system in New Delhi," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G. Madhavan Nair said.


Forgot password? Banks plan to make you pay for it: MUMBAI: If you have a poor memory, your bank might well make you pay for it. Most bank customers assume that if they forget an internet banking or ATM password, their bank will send them a new one. Don’t bet on it. Some banks –—HDFC and ICICI Bank among them — are planning on charging you Rs25 for the retrieval of the password you forgot. Banks also seem to be discouraging customers from visiting branches and dealing in cash. ICICI Bank charges Rs50 per transaction for cash transactions exceeding 12 a quarter.




US investment Bank Lehman Brothers post USD 2.8 bn loss in second quarter: New York, June 16 : US investment bank Lehman Brothers said Monday it suffered a net loss of some $2.8 billion, or $5.14 per share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2008.


Fuel shortage drives people off roads in Britain London, June 17 (IANS) Fuel shortages across Britain have forced people off the roads and left them looking for alternative fuels like vegetable oil as hundreds of petrol pumps have closed down and private stations profiteer by hiking prices.


Newspaper publisher McClatchy axes 1,400 jobs: New York, June 17: McClatchy Co, the No 3 newspaper company in the country, said it is slashing 1,400 jobs in the latest effort to cut costs amid rapidly dwindling advertising revenues. The cuts represent about 10 per cent of the company's work force. McClatchy, which publishes 30 daily newspapers including The Miami Herald and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, also reported a 15.4 per cent decline in advertising revenues in the first five months of the year on Monday.

British retailer rejects Indian clothes made by child labourers ( 11:19:42 Hrs )By Venkata Vemuri: London, June 17 (IANS) Britain's leading clothes retailer Primark has cancelled the contracts of three suppliers in India's Tamil Nadu state for using child labour and has also withdrawn the garments from its shelves.



Indian Army To Train Its Officers For US-Style War In Space: Set to make forays in use of space applications, the Indian Army will take a leaf out of US forces' experience to train its officers in optimising the effective use of space-based resources to meet its operational requirements. Set to make forays in use of space applications, the Indian Army will take a leaf out of US forces' experience to train its officers in optimising the effective use of space-based resources to meet its operational requirements. "The establishment of a Tri-Services Space Command for persistent surveillance and rapid response is required in future and we need to continue with capability development through a synergistic approach between three Services," General Kapoor said. "The Indian Army recognises space as an emerging arena for important military applications and is increasingly being identified as the ultimate military high ground for battle of space dominance," he added. Earlier, Defence Minister A K Antony had announced the setting up of an Integrated Space Cell at the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters to act as a single window for military use and security of space resources, apart from performing the role of interface among Army, Navy and Air Force.

India Govt allots Rs2,500 cr for Agni-V : NEW DELHI :The Union government has sanctioned Rs2,500 crore for developing the country’s most ambitious missile, a nuclear-capable Agni-V with a range of 5,000 kilometres — one step short of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). N-capable missile will have range of 5000km n Shanghai, Beijing will be in striking distance. Sources indicate, as reported earlier by DNA, the government is not willing to consider development of a full-fledged ICBM that has a range of over 8,000 kilometres. Along with Agni V, the DRDO is venturing into a series of new generation missiles, and several of them are going to be joint ventures with foreign partners, on the lines of the BrahMos cruise missile, an Indo-Russian project. Among the key partners for DRDO would be Israelis and some European firms.

Despite Pak protest, Army plans civilian trek to Siachen: NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding Pakistan's vociferous protests, Indian Army will organise a civilian mountaineering and trekking expedition to the forbidding Siachen Glacier for the second year in a row in October-November this year. Both the expeditions are meant to show to the international audience that Indian troops hold both the Siachen and Khatling glacial heights and neither Pakistan nor China were anywhere near the two Glaciers.

Russian envoy urges India to sign n-deal with US: NEW DELHI: "India should sign the nuclear deal (with the US) sooner rather than later," Russia's ambassador to New Delhi Vyacheslav I Trubnikov said here on Tuesday. Speaking on the eve of crucial talks between the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Left parties on the stalled civil nuclear deal between India and the US, the Russian envoy observed that opposition to the deal was "a matter of internal policy rather than external policy".

US negotiating to build new air base in Peru :Lima, June 17 (IANS) The US is negotiating with the Peruvian armed forces to build an air base in the Andean country, EFE said quoting media reports.

Red wine compound may help fight obesity: Washington, June 17 (ANI): A glass of red wine a day not only helps keep the heart healthy, but as it turns out, it can also help battle obesity. Researchers at the University of Ulm in Germany carried out a study to see whether past research of resveratrol protecting laboratory mice from the health problems of obesity, also applied to humans by changing the size or function of fat cells.

Japan's prime minister says G-8 not place to decide carbon targets: TOKYO: The Group of Eight summit next month is not the proper forum for settling the contentious issue of midterm targets on carbon emissions because it is being tackled by the United Nations, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said on Tuesda


US needs to lean on Saudi to pressure Pakistan: It is no secret that the Taliban has been using the Pakistani Frontier Tribal areas, which are inhabited by the same or kindred Pakhtun tribes as their sanctuaries to launch attacks on Afghan territory. The US had been pressing Pervez Musharraf to deploy the Pakistan Army and paramilitary forces in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) region to drive away the Taliban. Though Musharraf deployed 80,000 troops and paramilitary forces they did not succeed in their mission. There were heavy casualties and a significant number were taken prisoners. The Pakistani forces, both the regular army and the paramilitary forces, have been trained to fight India and not counter insurgency operations. The US has perhaps the best-equipped intelligence collection machinery in the world. Their problem is their inability to assess that intelligence in a balanced fashion and formulate policies on such sober assessments. The intelligence assessment is often corrupted by cronyism between the middle-level US establishment and the dictatorial establishments in the countries of concern or by ideological extremism like that of the neo-conservatives. The probability in this case is neither Pakistan nor the US is likely to change its ways.

In the coming months, it is likely there will be more such incidents on the Pakistan-Afghan border with adverse consequences on US-Pakistan relations. The degree of effectiveness of US pressure on Pakistan will also be dependent on Saudi financial support to Pakistan. Owing to high oil prices, Saudi Arabia is flush with money and the US has to control Saudis if it is to succeed in applying pressure on Pakistan. In India we need to assess the consequences