Monday, November 10, 2008

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

Saturday, November 1, 2008

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.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

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.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

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.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

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

Thursday, August 28, 2008

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.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

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!