SWAT VALLEY

Swat valley- the Switzerland of Pakistan is a war zone today. In the wake of the conflict between the Taliban and the Pakistan army, this place is witnessing one of the biggest human exoduses in the history of mankind. The conflict has provoked major humanitarian crisis with the displacement of more than two million civilians. As the United Nations, the Goveernmant of Pakistan , and various nations come together to provide relief and support to the internally displaced people. The present predicament is really ghastly.

This gives a picture of how a war hit zone would be. Bombing and militant attacks have become so comman in apkistan(south asia) and nearby valley that it is just surprising if one doesn’t know about it .

The geographical location of this valley combined with constant wars involving weapons has rendered theis plaace completely devoid of vegetation.

Food crisis and starvation is a every day phenomenon in the war ripped swat valley of Pakistan. The trees and vegetation and natural flora anf faune has been completely torn apart giving us a distinct glimpse of what the world would be if world war III was to happen.

Kudos to the rescue camps and organisations od UN helping the people in this place. Similar is the case with the refugee camps in srilanks, displaced people , displaced population has drailed the cology and economy int these regions.

According to the UN, the number of displaced people is 2 million ! And only about 200000 of them are living in the 22 refugee camps setup by the government in the swat valley.

In my opinion providing aid and constant support to come out of poverty is the only way of putting an end to the rise of terrorist activities. We look after them then they look after themselves instead of becoming terrorist.

CREATIONISM

Creationism IS a religious belief that almighty supernatural form of deity created the universe, the earth and all the life in it. Creationism demeans the evolution theory and embraces genesis chapter 1 and 2. Scientist and the biological explanations of evolution of life fail to accept the fact of divine intervention in creation of life.

With scientific theories gaining prominence in formal education system globally there are more people being convinced with evolution rather than creationism. Still the majority is in favor of creationism.

Creationists have come up with a concept which merges scientific theories and creationist principles to be presented as a scientific fact calling it “intelligent design”. The book “Of Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins” written by Percival Davis and Dean H. Kenyon(1st & 2nd Ed)William A. Dembski and Jonathan Wells(3rd Ed, under the title The Design of Life) published in 1989 gives a vivid picture of the intelligent design.

Scientific society believes that the true motive behind “intelligent design” is inbreeding creationist ideas into logical thinking of science and the modern education system. The latest face of creationism is that religious facts be taught as scientific fact in public school which after undaunted defeated attempt in courtrooms keeps reverting back with different disguises.

Adapting their tactics to the barriers posed by teaching of evolution theory in public schools creationist keep agitating towards their motive.

· “Intelligent design” is described as one such attempt to prove that it is better alternative to baseless evolution theories.

· Misinterpreting evolution theory as a scientific controversy is another such attempt

· Under the pretext of defending academic freedom; advocates of creationism continue with their teaching.

· Also the state legislation is claimed to have the hidden agenda to inject creationistic principles in the curriculum of public schools.

However creationism and intelligent design have been categorized as pseudo science by the scientific society.

The legal prospectus of the proceedings of the creation science versus evolution science can be enumerated as follows:

· The 1910s and 1920s witnessed the student exposition to evolution followed by many teachers being convicted.

· 1958 inspired by sputnik and the stress on science gave birth to Biological Sciences Curriculum Study.

· 1981 demanded for balanced treatment towards creation science and evolution science.

· 1989 saw the attack in the form of “intelligent design” with the publishing of “of pandas and people”

· June2008 governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal signed ‘Louisiana science education action’ leaving room for nothing other than critical thinking.

With the failure of intelligent design, creationist propagation continue to focus on claims of flaws in evolution theory and brandish it with insistence that evolution is dangerous to religion, morality and society. And have kept their preaching dogmatic.

According to Dobzhansky, “nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution” hence even biology has no option but to glorify evolution theory.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

· CREATIONISM is a religious concept which propagates the interference of divine power in creating the biotic and abiotic components of the universe.

· Creationism’s rival evolution theory have been undergoing legal proceedings since a century in trying to enter the modern syste of education

· Creationist Attempts include presenting religious beliefs as scientific facts in the curriculum.

· The most amazing attempt being the “intelligent science” whose Irreducible complexity is giving scientific explanations for religious facts.

· THE most recent of creationist view being : be fair and educate both creationism and evolution theory and also that evolution is harmful to humanity.

PERSONAL VIEWS:

As I ponder over the details of creationism and evolution theory I find that “religion glorifies religion” and “science glorifies scientific theory”.

“To believe is to accept,

To accept is to perceive” thus resting the case as a matter of perception.

Creationist claim “evolution is unproven”,

Evolutionist claim “creationism is unacceptable”

I claim that “desperate are the deceivers” !

It is just for past 5 centuries that we believe that the earth is round and not flat and so did one of the brightest minds of the world, Albert Einstein. The question is how much more are we to explore the mysteries of nature and challenge the faiths. It is infinity beyond infinity.

Bibliography:

· http://www.discovery.org/csc/topQuestions.php#questionsAboutIntelligentDesign

· http://ncseweb.org/creationism

Creationism IS a religious belief that almighty supernatural form of deity created the universe, the earth and all the life in it. Creationism demeans the evolution theory and embraces genesis chapter 1 and 2. Scientist and the biological explanations of evolution of life fail to accept the fact of divine intervention in creation of life.

With scientific theories gaining prominence in formal education system globally there are more people being convinced with evolution rather than creationism. Still the majority is in favor of creationism.

Creationists have come up with a concept which merges scientific theories and creationist principles to be presented as a scientific fact calling it “intelligent design”. The book “Of Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins” written by Percival Davis and Dean H. Kenyon(1st & 2nd Ed)William A. Dembski and Jonathan Wells(3rd Ed, under the title The Design of Life) published in 1989 gives a vivid picture of the intelligent design.

Scientific society believes that the true motive behind “intelligent design” is inbreeding creationist ideas into logical thinking of science and the modern education system. The latest face of creationism is that religious facts be taught as scientific fact in public school which after undaunted defeated attempt in courtrooms keeps reverting back with different disguises.

Adapting their tactics to the barriers posed by teaching of evolution theory in public schools creationist keep agitating towards their motive.

· “Intelligent design” is described as one such attempt to prove that it is better alternative to baseless evolution theories.

· Misinterpreting evolution theory as a scientific controversy is another such attempt

· Under the pretext of defending academic freedom; advocates of creationism continue with their teaching.

· Also the state legislation is claimed to have the hidden agenda to inject creationistic principles in the curriculum of public schools.

However creationism and intelligent design have been categorized as pseudo science by the scientific society.

The legal prospectus of the proceedings of the creation science versus evolution science can be enumerated as follows:

· The 1910s and 1920s witnessed the student exposition to evolution followed by many teachers being convicted.

· 1958 inspired by sputnik and the stress on science gave birth to Biological Sciences Curriculum Study.

· 1981 demanded for balanced treatment towards creation science and evolution science.

· 1989 saw the attack in the form of “intelligent design” with the publishing of “of pandas and people”

· June2008 governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal signed ‘Louisiana science education action’ leaving room for nothing other than critical thinking.

With the failure of intelligent design, creationist propagation continue to focus on claims of flaws in evolution theory and brandish it with insistence that evolution is dangerous to religion, morality and society. And have kept their preaching dogmatic.

According to Dobzhansky, “nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution” hence even biology has no option but to glorify evolution theory.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

· CREATIONISM is a religious concept which propagates the interference of divine power in creating the biotic and abiotic components of the universe.

· Creationism’s rival evolution theory have been undergoing legal proceedings since a century in trying to enter the modern syste of education

· Creationist Attempts include presenting religious beliefs as scientific facts in the curriculum.

· The most amazing attempt being the “intelligent science” whose Irreducible complexity is giving scientific explanations for religious facts.

· THE most recent of creationist view being : be fair and educate both creationism and evolution theory and also that evolution is harmful to humanity.

PERSONAL VIEWS:

As I ponder over the details of creationism and evolution theory I find that “religion glorifies religion” and “science glorifies scientific theory”.

“To believe is to accept,

To accept is to perceive” thus resting the case as a matter of perception.

Creationist claim “evolution is unproven”,

Evolutionist claim “creationism is unacceptable”

I claim that “desperate are the deceivers” !

It is just for past 5 centuries that we believe that the earth is round and not flat and so did one of the brightest minds of the world, Albert Einstein. The question is how much more are we to explore the mysteries of nature and challenge the faiths. It is infinity beyond infinity.

Bibliography:

· http://www.discovery.org/csc/topQuestions.php#questionsAboutIntelligentDesign

· http://ncseweb.org/creationism

G8 to G14

The group of eight or G8 is originally a forum created by france including

Canada-Prime Minister Stephen Harper,

France-President Nicolas Sarkozy,

Germany-Chancellor Angela Merkel,

Italy-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi President of the G8 for 2009,

Japan-Prime Minister Taro Aso,

Russia-President Dmitry Medvedev,

the United Kingdom-Prime Minister Gordon Brown and

the United States-President Barack Obama

in the northern hemisphere in 1975.

Also represented European Union

Commission President José Manuel Barroso

Council President Fredrik Reinfeldt.

The G8 is an informal body unlike the United Nations (UN) or the World Bank which has a structured administrative hierarchy. The G8 operations are run by The G8 finance ministers, G8 foreign ministers and G8 environment ministers. The country holding the presidency hosts the G8 summits. Japan having held the G8 presidency in 2008 passed it to Italy in 2009 and Canada is allotted to hold the presidency in 2010.

The meetings focus on contemporary global and mutual issues. The array of concerned issues cover

health,

law enforcement,

labor,

economic and social development,

energy, environment,

foreign affairs,

justice and interior,

terrorism,

and trade.

Of late France and United Kingdom has sought to expand the group by including the developing nations as well. This means india, china, brazil, Mexico and south Africa have joined the race. This was referred to as outreach five or plus five. Even Egypt is expected to join soon thus making it G14.

The G8 summits are one important aspect where the leaders of the countries are expected to come together and deliberate upon the issues after debating on it. It is supposed to be a three day event, closely monitored by global media.

Majority of the G8 countries have the highest per capita GDA of the world. Also the major stock exchange countries are part of G8. The 2nd and 3rd largest oil producers of the world and then 2nd largest oil reserves country have G* membership. China, considered as 2nd important country when it comes to world issues has been repeatedly asked to join G8. Thus G8 is a very important body to tackle future crisis.

Also, United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Russia put together has 96-99% of the world’s nuclear weapon.

The 11th July, 2009 issue of Times OF India put up an article which read “G8 is dead, long live G14”. The G14 headlines arose with Italian President Silvio Berlusconi. “We saw that G8 is no longer a suitable format to show a global economic way of doing. Instead, a consolidated G14 representing 80% of the world economy could help create a real dialogue. We want to see if the G14 is the best solution for debates which will bring to us unique results.”

IMPORTANT POINTS:

· G8, a body constituting the developed nations of the united states of America, the united kingdom, Russia, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, Germany with a motto to tackle global issues.

· G14, the proposed extension which will add the developing countries of India, brazil, china, Mexico, south Africa and Egypt to the original G8.

· Unlike G20 which includes the major economies of the world, G14 addresses all the welfare issues of humanity.

· The recent economic crisis which made the developed nations of G8 to succumb towards yearning voices of the developing nations coupled with the protest of their protest has produced G14.

Personal opinion:

In this way the rich and the “wanting to become rich” countries have first time joined hands in promoting the global agendum. This is an interesting and crucial moment because when all these countries are given equal footing in dealing with issues of the world the chances of attaining the utopian “free trade” is dream able.

Cheers to mankind !!!

The group of eight or G8 is originally a forum created by france including

Canada-Prime Minister Stephen Harper,

France-President Nicolas Sarkozy,

Germany-Chancellor Angela Merkel,

Italy-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi President of the G8 for 2009,

Japan-Prime Minister Taro Aso,

Russia-President Dmitry Medvedev,

the United Kingdom-Prime Minister Gordon Brown and

the United States-President Barack Obama

in the northern hemisphere in 1975.

Also represented European Union

Commission President José Manuel Barroso

Council President Fredrik Reinfeldt.

The G8 is an informal body unlike the United Nations (UN) or the World Bank which has a structured administrative hierarchy. The G8 operations are run by The G8 finance ministers, G8 foreign ministers and G8 environment ministers. The country holding the presidency hosts the G8 summits. Japan having held the G8 presidency in 2008 passed it to Italy in 2009 and Canada is allotted to hold the presidency in 2010.

The meetings focus on contemporary global and mutual issues. The array of concerned issues cover

health,

law enforcement,

labor,

economic and social development,

energy, environment,

foreign affairs,

justice and interior,

terrorism,

and trade.

Of late France and United Kingdom has sought to expand the group by including the developing nations as well. This means india, china, brazil, Mexico and south Africa have joined the race. This was referred to as outreach five or plus five. Even Egypt is expected to join soon thus making it G14.

The G8 summits are one important aspect where the leaders of the countries are expected to come together and deliberate upon the issues after debating on it. It is supposed to be a three day event, closely monitored by global media.

Majority of the G8 countries have the highest per capita GDA of the world. Also the major stock exchange countries are part of G8. The 2nd and 3rd largest oil producers of the world and then 2nd largest oil reserves country have G* membership. China, considered as 2nd important country when it comes to world issues has been repeatedly asked to join G8. Thus G8 is a very important body to tackle future crisis.

Also, United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Russia put together has 96-99% of the world’s nuclear weapon.

The 11th July, 2009 issue of Times OF India put up an article which read “G8 is dead, long live G14”. The G14 headlines arose with Italian President Silvio Berlusconi. “We saw that G8 is no longer a suitable format to show a global economic way of doing. Instead, a consolidated G14 representing 80% of the world economy could help create a real dialogue. We want to see if the G14 is the best solution for debates which will bring to us unique results.”

IMPORTANT POINTS:

· G8, a body constituting the developed nations of the united states of America, the united kingdom, Russia, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, Germany with a motto to tackle global issues.

· G14, the proposed extension which will add the developing countries of India, brazil, china, Mexico, south Africa and Egypt to the original G8.

· Unlike G20 which includes the major economies of the world, G14 addresses all the welfare issues of humanity.

· The recent economic crisis which made the developed nations of G8 to succumb towards yearning voices of the developing nations coupled with the protest of their protest has produced G14.

Personal opinion:

In this way the rich and the “wanting to become rich” countries have first time joined hands in promoting the global agendum. This is an interesting and crucial moment because when all these countries are given equal footing in dealing with issues of the world the chances of attaining the utopian “free trade” is dream able.

Cheers to mankind !!!

References:

· http://www.g8online.org/

· http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-World-Europe-G8-is-dead-long-live-G14/articleshow/4764431.cms

· http://www.g8italia2009.it/G8/G8-G8_Layout_locale-1199882116809_Home.htm

COMMUNIST CHINA

The term communism refers to common ownership in a classless society abolishing private ownership. In political science this term takes a new meaning because of its amalgamation with Marxism theory. China is one such important communist state. This form of government can be categorized as authoritarian. Vietnam, Cuba, Korea are some of the countries following suit with communism.

China has a rich heritage of one of the oldest and continuous civilizations and cultures aging back to 6 millennia. After continuous reigns of dynasties, the 2000 years of imperialism ended with Qing dynasty. This led to the birth of nationalist party which later became stagnated leading to the civil war of 1949 making way for communist party of china (CCP) led by Mao Zedong. The democratic dictatorship of People’s Republic of China (CCP) made the republic of china (ROC) to retreat towards the islands of Taiwan Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.

The two Chinese entities ruling china presently are:

· People’s Republic of China (PRC), commonly known as China, has control over mainland China and the largely self-governing territories of Hong Kong (since 1997) and Macau (since 1999).

· Republic of China (ROC), commonly known as Taiwan, has control over the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.

The congress has every right to elect the President as well as demand him to resign. Presently Hu Jintao is the President of china and head of state of the people’s republic of china on the recommendation of the Chinese communist party.

But the Chinese citizen don’t seem to really like this kind of government though it has been able to procure a niche position for china in the world because according to one of the Chinese journalist “the communist political structure doesn’t promote free thinking in every direction”(the world is flat”-thomas friedman). For which Deng Xiaoping, leader of the Communist Party of China answered that what matters most to china is the jobs and incomes for the citizens of china and not the ideology.

This is because according to the Chinese politicians reform in Chinese politics can bring instability in the bureaucracy. Moreover they feel it will cause destruction of socialist norms and legal values. In short revamping the political system of china will be one big disaster according to them.

This brings to memory the cruel Tiananmen massacre which marks the upheaval of the Chinese students and intellectuals against the government when the world witnessed the fall of many such communist governments around the world. The protest started with the mourning of the death of pro-market, pro-democracy, and anti-corruption official, Hu Yaobang. The cry was for democratic reform which received a military response from the people’s republic of china government leading to the death of 2500 people and approximately 10000 wounded.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

· Communism, though not a people’s favored form of government has been successful in making china one of the leading economies of the world.

· Communist china with the largest population in the world is emerging as the centerfield for cheap labor and manufacture of low cost – high technology goods.

· With the increasing number of university graduates in china and bright minds being incessantly churned out by them a political switch is a much awaited phenomenon in china. This can be best exemplified by the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989.

· Understanding the political ideology of communist china is very important as the super powers are feeling threatened by the impetus demonstrated by modern china in attracting the major trade wind.

PERSONAL VIEWS:

Despite china being the justest solution to the big companies of the world in terms of cost efficiency and high technology I feel communist ideology may not always be amiable for its success. This is because this kind of ideology makes it difficult to focus on a common goal and shared use of resources and effort.

A communist society can be easily destabilized by internal differences in goals of systems in its hierarchy. Also in its motto to “not to disturb the socialist norms and legal values” of china a communist society becomes weak in its ability to learn and compete with external economies.

In a nutshell, if the entire communist state as a society fails to do well, then the whole system will inevitably crash.

The term communism refers to common ownership in a classless society abolishing private ownership. In political science this term takes a new meaning because of its amalgamation with Marxism theory. China is one such important communist state. This form of government can be categorized as authoritarian. Vietnam, Cuba, Korea are some of the countries following suit with communism.

China has a rich heritage of one of the oldest and continuous civilizations and cultures aging back to 6 millennia. After continuous reigns of dynasties, the 2000 years of imperialism ended with Qing dynasty. This led to the birth of nationalist party which later became stagnated leading to the civil war of 1949 making way for communist party of china (CCP) led by Mao Zedong. The democratic dictatorship of People’s Republic of China (CCP) made the republic of china (ROC) to retreat towards the islands of Taiwan Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.

The two Chinese entities ruling china presently are:

· People’s Republic of China (PRC), commonly known as China, has control over mainland China and the largely self-governing territories of Hong Kong (since 1997) and Macau (since 1999).

· Republic of China (ROC), commonly known as Taiwan, has control over the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.

The congress has every right to elect the President as well as demand him to resign. Presently Hu Jintao is the President of china and head of state of the people’s republic of china on the recommendation of the Chinese communist party.

But the Chinese citizen don’t seem to really like this kind of government though it has been able to procure a niche position for china in the world because according to one of the Chinese journalist “the communist political structure doesn’t promote free thinking in every direction”(the world is flat-thomas friedman). For which Deng Xiaoping, leader of the Communist Party of China answered that what matters most to china is the jobs and incomes for the citizens of china and not the ideology.

This is because according to the Chinese politicians reform in Chinese politics can bring instability in the bureaucracy. Moreover they feel it will cause destruction of socialist norms and legal values. In short revamping the political system of china will be one big disaster according to them.

This brings to memory the cruel Tiananmen massacre which marks the upheaval of the Chinese students and intellectuals against the government when the world witnessed the fall of many such communist governments around the world. The protest started with the mourning of the death of pro-market, pro-democracy, and anti-corruption official, Hu Yaobang. The cry was for democratic reform which received a military response from the people’s republic of china government leading to the death of 2500 people and approximately 10000 wounded.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

· Communism, though not a people’s favored form of government has been successful in making china one of the leading economies of the world.

· Communist china with the largest population in the world is emerging as the centerfield for cheap labor and manufacture of low cost – high technology goods.

· With the increasing number of university graduates in china and bright minds being incessantly churned out by them a political switch is a much awaited phenomenon in china. This can be best exemplified by the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989.

· Understanding the political ideology of communist china is very important as the super powers are feeling threatened by the impetus demonstrated by modern china in attracting the major trade wind.

PERSONAL VIEWS:

Despite china being the justest solution to the big companies of the world in terms of cost efficiency and high technology I feel communist ideology may not always be amiable for its success. This is because this kind of ideology makes it difficult to focus on a common goal and shared use of resources and effort.

A communist society can be easily destabilized by internal differences in goals of systems in its hierarchy. Also in its motto to “not to disturb the socialist norms and legal values” of china a communist society becomes weak in its ability to learn and compete with external economies.

In a nutshell, if the entire communist state as a society fails to do well, then the whole system will inevitably crash.

URANIUM SMUGGLING>>>NUCLEAR SMUGGLING!!!

One of the major threats looming over the nations of the world is the nuclear bomb terror. Every major conflict of the world is followed by nuclear attack threatening. As we all know it will create havoc in the environment coupled with a huge toll of human casualty, this issue certainly needs to be addressed

Uranium, one of the major elements in designing a nuclear bomb has become accessible to the anti-social elements at a leisure walk which is a major concern. The best example was the September 11 terror attack which involved smuggling of uranium cylinders right into the country.

In 2006, 39.655 tones of uranium were mined in

· Canada (25%),

· Australia (19.1%),

· Kazakhstan (13.3%),

· Niger (8.7%),

· Russia (8.6%),

· Namibia (7.8%) research reactors.

The mined uranium undergoes enrichment at various levels. The enrichment of uranium gives this form of highly enriched uranium (HEU) which can be fashioned into a nuclear bomb unlike low enriched uranium (LEU) that cannot be converted into an atomic bomb.

The Hiroshima atomic bombing involved 65kg of highly enriched uranium. More recently America uses HEU to fuel its navy and also in medical field.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, 275 confirmed incidents involving nuclear material and criminal intent occurred globally between January 1993 and December 2006. Four involved plutonium, but 14 involved HEU(highly enriched uranium.

In the move to curtail terrorism raising barriers in the illegal supply chain of uranium should be considered as an important motive.

It has been discovered that the US ports are major uranium smuggling channels. The first generation detectors (Radiation Portal Monitors) and the second generation detectors (advanced spectroscopic portal) erected on the US ports failed to restrict the smuggling of uranium. Abcnews   led an operation to actually check the detectors with depleted uranium which has similar properties as of highly enriched uranium. And they happened to successfully bring the uranium right through the scrutiny without being detected. This continuing saga of NRDC’s uranium slug could prove fatal in unimaginable ways.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

· There is at least more than 100 chronology of uranium smuggling incidents since 1993,raising an alarm towards this issue.[ref: http://ftp.fas.org/irp/cia/product/go_appendixa_032796.html%5D

· Trafficking Uranium which constitutes to a major composition of a nuclear bomb is a fearful issue for humanity and environment.

· Highly enriched uranium(HEU) was part of the major nuclear blasts including 11/9 attack, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, etc

· The US government has not replaced the detectors that could not detect HEU at the ports because that would cost them a lot but the expense of the potential consequences will be certainly heavier and irreparable.

· Hypothetically speaking a terrorist could easily smuggle 15 pounds of highly enriched uranium which is the minimum amount of uranium required to fashion a nuclear bomb across the US ports.

· America should Blend the military stock of HEU into low enriched uranium and use physical security for the reserves of HEU under Russia.

PERSONAL VIEWS:

In my view, I favor the national resources defense council of America which calls for a global ban on commercial use of highly enriched uranium. This is a best solution because then the US ports won’t need the specialized detectors for highly enriched uranium. Moreover this will serve as major roadblock to all the HEU supply chains, be it legal or illegal. The other solution is replacing the production of highly enriched uranium with low enrich uranium at the research reactor level itself completely eliminating the possibility of HEU circulation in any part of the world.

The government instead of wasting millions of dollars in tracing down nuclear weapon usable material should rather try to terminate the production of HEU at the grass root level.

One of the major threats looming over the nations of the world is the nuclear bomb terror. Every major conflict of the world is followed by nuclear attack threatening. As we all know it will create environmental havoc coupled with a huge toll of human casualty, this issue certainly needs to be addressed.

Uranium, one of the major elements in designing a nuclear bomb has become accessible to the anti-social elements at a leisure walk which is a major concern. The best example was the September 11 terror attack which involved smuggling of uranium cylinders right into the country.

In 2006, 39.655 tones of uranium were mined in

· Canada (25%),

· Australia (19.1%),

· Kazakhstan (13.3%),

· Niger (8.7%),

· Russia (8.6%),

· Namibia (7.8%) research reactors.

The mined uranium undergoes enrichment at various levels. The enrichment of uranium gives this form of highly enriched uranium (HEU) which can be fashioned into a nuclear bomb unlike low enriched uranium (LEU) that cannot be converted into an atomic bomb.

The Hiroshima atomic bombing involved 65kg of highly enriched uranium. More recently America uses HEU to fuel its navy and also in medical field.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, 275 confirmed incidents involving nuclear material and criminal intent occurred globally between January 1993 and December 2006. Four involved plutonium, but 14 involved HEU(highly enriched uranium.

In the move to curtail terrorism raising barriers in the illegal supply chain of uranium should be considered as an important motive.

It has been discovered that the US ports are major uranium smuggling channels. The first generation detectors (Radiation Portal Monitors) and the second generation detectors (advanced spectroscopic portal) erected on the US ports failed to restrict the smuggling of uranium. Abcnews   led an operation to actually check the detectors with depleted uranium which has similar properties as of highly enriched uranium. And they happened to successfully bring the uranium right through the scrutiny without being detected. This continuing saga of NRDC’s uranium slug could prove fatal in unimaginable ways.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

· There is at least more than 100 chronology of uranium smuggling incidents since 1993,raising an alarm towards this issue.[ref: http://ftp.fas.org/irp/cia/product/go_appendixa_032796.html%5D

· Trafficking Uranium which constitutes to a major composition of a nuclear bomb is a fearful issue for humanity and environment.

· Highly enriched uranium(HEU) was part of the major nuclear blasts including 11/9 attack, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, etc

· The US government has not replaced the detectors that could not detect HEU at the ports because that would cost them a lot but the expense of the potential consequences will be certainly heavier and irreparable.

· Hypothetically speaking a terrorist could easily smuggle 15 pounds of highly enriched uranium which is the minimum amount of uranium required to fashion a nuclear bomb across the US ports.

· America should Blend the military stock of HEU into low enriched uranium and use physical security for the reserves of HEU under Russia.

PERSONAL VIEWS:

In my view, I favor the national resources defense council of America which calls for a global ban on commercial use of highly enriched uranium. This is a best solution because then the US ports won’t need the specialized detectors for highly enriched uranium. Moreover this will serve as major roadblock to all the HEU supply chains, be it legal or illegal. The other solution is replacing the production of highly enriched uranium with low enrich uranium at the research reactor level itself completely eliminating the possibility of HEU circulation in any part of the world.

The government instead of wasting millions of dollars in tracing down nuclear weapon usable material should rather try to terminate the production of HEU at the grass root level.

PANDEMIC named swine flu

PANDEMIC named swine flu

“It was once said that a black man would be president ‘when pigs fly’,

Indeed 100 days into Obama’s presidency…….. THE SWINE FLU!” twitch!!!

Well I’ll start with the very word “pandemic”, which means Epidemic over a wide geographical area. The first pandemic recorded was pandemic of Athens in 430 BC followed by the pandemic of cholera(19th and 20th century),

influenza(412 BC,18th,19th,20th century),

typhus(15th,17th,19th century),

Smallpox(18th,19th,20th century),

Measles(20th & 21st century),

Tuberculosis(20th century),

Leprosy(20th & 21st century),

Malaria(19th & 20th century),

Yellow fever(18th & 19th century).

But the good aspect is science could attend to all these epidemics with appropriate vaccination medical aid.

The pandemics of this century are

The Viral hemorrhagic fevers,

Antibiotic resistance (superbugs),

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),

Influenza (bird flu),

H5N1 (Avian Flu),

2009 flu pandemic .

The fact is most of the human infectious diseases has its origin in animals. Of yore, epidemiologist believed that pathogens in domestic animal caused these scourge. But we later discovered that the human immune virus (HIV)originated from wild chimps.

So in order to arrest these pathogens in the early stage itself researchers are studying the physiology of these animals and the people (hunters) who come in frequent contact with these animals.

Human infectious disease acquired from animals:

Plague<->rodents

HIV<->chimps

Influenza<->birds, pig

H1N1<->swine

Malaria<->monkey

Measles<->sheep, goat

Small pox<->horse, cow

Tuberculosis<->ruminant

The different phases through which these microbes pass in becoming the exclusive parasite can be commonly categorized as follows.

Stage 1: the agent lives in the animal

Stage 2: gets transmitted to a human through contact

Stage 3: proliferates and spreads

Stage 4: sustains itself in human body

Stage 5: becomes the exclusive parasite and no longer requires animal host

Now the actions that can be procured in case of a pandemic are: if the pathogen of the emerging epidemic has spread beyond control into the mainstream population according to the investigations then sound an alarm.

Protecting the blood supply bank will be one important action during a pandemic. Google.org and skoll foundations have launched Global Viral Forecasting Initiative (GVFI) where in epidemiologists, public health workers, conservation biologist from all over the world come together to identify the agents in their point of origin.

But as we all know if a pandemic gets established in to the population copious amount of money is spent in suspending and controlling it. Hence the ounce of prevention principle will be the best measure.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

· Swine flu is the worldwide outbreak of influenza A virus subtype H1N1. it was caused by the mutation of this virus

· The virus spreads through contact (mouth and nose ), coughing , sneezing

· According to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan the first strain of vaccine will be available September 2009.

The worldwide death toll from swine flu has doubled in the past month, reaching over 700 since the start of the outbreak last spring, the World Health Organization said .

· Mainly has spread across northern America, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Panama, the UK, Spain, Germany, Australia, Italy, and Belgium.

· Best travel advisories is not to travel to infected regions.

· Preventive measures on a large scale include Pork import bans, Pig culls , Surveillance of pig populations.

· Treatment involves Containment and quarantine.

PERSONAL VIEWS:

In my views the 1975 swine flu should have been a backlash to the government officials. This debacle holds essential lessons to be learnt by the government and health officials. Of late India has reported 17 cases of swine flu which is alarming because the number can increase given India’s population. Hence the situation calls for wise decision from the health officials of India. As we all know hygiene is a big issue in India requiring behemoth amount of improvement……… certainly this is a big concern.

“Keeping in view the global scenario, the government is instituting a series of preventive action that includes surveillance at ports and international airports. Surveillance [will be] through the integrated disease surveillance units in the States,” V. M. Katoch, Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research, told reporters after a meeting of the joint monitoring group.

“It was once said that a black man would be president ‘when pigs fly’,

Indeed 100 days into Obama’s presidency…….. THE SWINE FLU!” twitch!!!

Well I’ll start with the very word “pandemic”, which means Epidemic over a wide geographical area. The first pandemic recorded was pandemic of Athens in 430 BC followed by the pandemic of cholera(19th and 20th century),

influenza(412 BC,18th,19th,20th century),

typhus(15th,17th,19th century),

Smallpox(18th,19th,20th century),

Measles(20th & 21st century),

Tuberculosis(20th century),

Leprosy(20th & 21st century),

Malaria(19th & 20th century),

Yellow fever(18th & 19th century).

But the good aspect is science could attend to all these epidemics with appropriate vaccination medical aid.

The pandemics of this century are

The Viral hemorrhagic fevers,

Antibiotic resistance (superbugs),

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),

Influenza (bird flu),

H5N1 (Avian Flu),

2009 flu pandemic .

The fact is most of the human infectious diseases has its origin in animals. Of yore, epidemiologist believed that pathogens in domestic animal caused these scourge. But we later discovered that the human immune virus (HIV)originated from wild chimps.

So in order to arrest these pathogens in the early stage itself researchers are studying the physiology of these animals and the people (hunters) who come in frequent contact with these animals.

Human infectious disease acquired from animals:

Plague<->rodents

HIV<->chimps

Influenza<->birds, pig

H1N1<->swine

Malaria<->monkey

Measles<->sheep, goat

Small pox<->horse, cow

Tuberculosis<->ruminant

The different phases through which these microbes pass in becoming the exclusive parasite can be commonly categorized as follows.

Stage 1: the agent lives in the animal

Stage 2: gets transmitted to a human through contact

Stage 3: proliferates and spreads

Stage 4: sustains itself in human body

Stage 5: becomes the exclusive parasite and no longer requires animal host

Now the actions that can be procured in case of a pandemic are: if the pathogen of the emerging epidemic has spread beyond control into the mainstream population according to the investigations then sound an alarm.

Protecting the blood supply bank will be one important action during a pandemic. Google.org and skoll foundations have launched Global Viral Forecasting Initiative (GVFI) where in epidemiologists, public health workers, conservation biologist from all over the world come together to identify the agents in their point of origin.

But as we all know if a pandemic gets established in to the population copious amount of money is spent in suspending and controlling it. Hence the ounce of prevention principle will be the best measure.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

· Swine flu is the worldwide outbreak of influenza A virus subtype H1N1. it was caused by the mutation of this virus

· The virus spreads through contact (mouth and nose ), coughing , sneezing

· According to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan the first strain of vaccine will be available September 2009.

The worldwide death toll from swine flu has doubled in the past month, reaching over 700 since the start of the outbreak last spring, the World Health Organization said .

· Mainly has spread across northern America, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Panama, the UK, Spain, Germany, Australia, Italy, and Belgium.

· Best travel advisories is not to travel to infected regions.

· Preventive measures on a large scale include Pork import bans, Pig culls , Surveillance of pig populations.

· Treatment involves Containment and quarantine.

PERSONAL VIEWS:

In my views the 1975 swine flu should have been a backlash to the government officials. This debacle holds essential lessons to be learnt by the government and health officials. Of late India has reported 17 cases of swine flu which is alarming because the number can increase given India’s population. Hence the situation calls for wise decision from the health officials of India. As we all know hygiene is a big issue in India requiring behemoth amount of improvement……… certainly this is a big concern.

“Keeping in view the global scenario, the government is instituting a series of preventive action that includes surveillance at ports and international airports. Surveillance [will be] through the integrated disease surveillance units in the States,” V. M. Katoch, Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research, told reporters after a meeting of the joint monitoring group.

ISRAEL ARAB(Palestine) CONFLICT

• THE series of conflict between Arabs and Israel started with religious motives and territorial aspirations instigating the Zionist movement and pan-Arab movement.

• The bitterness between Arab and Israel over the century has presently turned into regional Palestine-Israel conflict.

• So the belligerents until this day have not arrived upon a agreement about their demands.

If traced back to yore, we find that this contravene is as ancient as biblical era when the Israelites started moving towards the promised land of cannan. Muslims claim similar reasons too stating the presence of Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and The Cave of the Patriarchs.

• Consequently after world war-II, Israel won and got its own republic government then the partitioning of borders into territories under Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

• Currently movements called al-Aqsa Intifada(Palestine uprising) has gained momentum and are intensifying causing irreparable casualties.

• There was a lot of inter-migration witnessed in parallel to these conflicts like: two third of Jews who fled Arab land were naturalized or absorbed Israeli citizenship (758,000— 866,000). So also the Palestine refugees absorbed into Israel were granted Israeli citizenship.

• Some interesting aspects by media coverage are Shooting of Muhammad al-Durrah( a boy was shot during Israel – Palestine crossfire) , Photo of Tuvia Grossman ( a photo of Israeli soldier hitting a Palestine in a temple), Battle of Jenin( jenin massacre), Gaza beach blast (quoted as media favoring palestines), 2006 Lebanon War photographs controversies , The Independent’s “Mystery of Israel’s Secret Uranium Bomb”.

There has been a couple of documentary movies related to this conflict namely

1.decryptage by Philippe Bensoussan 2.Pallywood by Richard Landes

3.Peace, Propaganda, and the Promised Land by Sut Jhally and Bathsheba Ratzkoff

according to

Personal  opinion:

• In my opinion the role of super powers specially America and may be the United Nations should be brought into picture.

• I stumbled upon a lovely quote which I would like to mention: “If the Arabs (Moslems) put down their weapons today there would be no more violence. If the Israelis put down their weapons today there would be no more Israel.” –anonymous

• Another amazing fact is that only Israel is the only Jewish country in the world and the combined territories of arab countries is 650 fold greater than Israel still it managed to defend each time and win.

•   Another  stunning  fact  I  would  like  to  put  forth  is

Ralph Galloway, a former head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in Amman, capital of Jordan, in August 1958:

“The Arab states do not want to solve the refugee problem. They want to keep it as open sore, as an affront to the United Nations and as a weapon against Israel. Arab leaders don’t give a damn whether the refugees live or die.”

• So the prerequisite to put an end to this problem is a democratic form of government and not better form of economic condition as assumed because these Arab countries are far from a proper form of legitimate government.

• Another important fact to be considered here is US trade with these middle east countries including both Israel as well as Arab countries.

• Similarly USSR support towards zionology is another point to wonder because it uses arab countries as a proxy for the cold war.

• I pity this middle-east crisis because we see that peace talks is just a superficial stage show by the belligerents as it involves the national interest of powerful nations of the world.

• THE series of conflict between Arabs and Israel started with religious motives and territorial aspirations instigating the Zionist movement and pan-Arab movement.

• The bitterness between Arab and Israel over the century has presently turned into regional Palestine-Israel conflict.

• So the belligerents until this day have not arrived upon a agreement about their demands.

If traced back to yore, we find that this contravene is as ancient as biblical era when the Israelites started moving towards the promised land of cannan. Muslims claim similar reasons too stating the presence of Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and The Cave of the Patriarchs.

• Consequently after world war-II, Israel won and got its own republic government then the partitioning of borders into territories under Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

• Currently movements called al-Aqsa Intifada(Palestine uprising) has gained momentum and are intensifying causing irreparable casualties.

• There was a lot of inter-migration witnessed in parallel to these conflicts like: two third of Jews who fled Arab land were naturalized or absorbed Israeli citizenship (758,000— 866,000). So also the Palestine refugees absorbed into Israel were granted Israeli citizenship.

• Some interesting aspects by media coverage are Shooting of Muhammad al-Durrah( a boy was shot during Israel – Palestine crossfire) , Photo of Tuvia Grossman ( a photo of Israeli soldier hitting a Palestine in a temple), Battle of Jenin( jenin massacre), Gaza beach blast (quoted as media favoring palestines), 2006 Lebanon War photographs controversies , The Independent’s “Mystery of Israel’s Secret Uranium Bomb”.

There has been a couple of documentary movies related to this conflict namely

1.decryptage by Philippe Bensoussan

2.Pallywood by Richard Landes

3.Peace, Propaganda, and the Promised Land by Sut Jhally and Bathsheba Ratzkoff

Personal  opinion:

• In my opinion the role of super powers specially America and may be the United Nations should be brought into picture.

• I stumbled upon a lovely quote which I would like to mention: “If the Arabs (Moslems) put down their weapons today there would be no more violence. If the Israelis put down their weapons today there would be no more Israel.” –anonymous

• Another amazing fact is that only Israel is the only Jewish country in the world and the combined territories of arab countries is 650 fold greater than Israel still it managed to defend each time and win.

•   Another  stunning  fact  I  would  like  to  put  forth  is

Ralph Galloway, a former head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in Amman, capital of Jordan, in August 1958 said:

“The Arab states do not want to solve the refugee problem. They want to keep it as open sore, as an affront to the United Nations and as a weapon against Israel. Arab leaders don’t give a damn whether the refugees live or die.”

• So the prerequisite to put an end to this problem is a democratic form of government and not better form of economic condition as assumed because these Arab countries are far from a proper form of legitimate government.

• Another important fact to be considered here is US trade with these middle east countries including both Israel as well as Arab countries.

• Similarly USSR support towards zionology is another point to wonder because it uses arab countries as a proxy for the cold war.

• I pity this middle-east crisis because we see that peace talks is just a superficial stage show by the belligerents as it involves the national interest of powerful nations of the world.

Wal-Mart and work force

Wal-Mart, the retail giant of the world has the most  satisfied customers in the world , but is it worth all the hype ? The low price tagline that it endorses ……is it a façade and misleading? I declare my pleasure in using this opportunity to brood more over this topic.

The supply chains in Wal-Mart involves proactive use of  IT and internet based technology for demand forecasting, inventory management and procurement. Wal-Mart uses an unusual tactic where the suppliers dominate the manufacturers. Thus the manufacturers are the vassal with the authoritarian supplier. Wal-Mart dictates its rules to its suppliers thus keeping  the costs lower.

The problem area is when President Clinton initiated trading with China. He was quoted once in a letter circulated to house of members saying “china with more than a billion people is home to the largest potential market in the world . If congress make the right decision our companies will be able to sell and distribute products in china made by American workers on American soil without being forced to relocate manufacturing to china …..we will be able to export products without exporting jobs’. thus china conjoined WTO in 2000.

Thus Wal-Mart exports cotton imports clothing, exports hides brings in shoes, exports scrap metal imports machinery , exports waste paper and brings back cardboard boxes with products inside.

As America supplies raw material and brings back finished goods the value of dollar was predicted to fall down by U.S Economist Larry Mishel President of the liberal economic policy institute. And this costs US more  million jobs over the past decade. China with far more workforce than Japan and Korea(asian tigers) put together. This has become and will be a big threat to america.

This is happening because the Chinese government subsidizes production thus enabling more of export. Morever China uses this dumping policy that is produce mammoth amount of products varing from basic household articles to gadgets to LCD Tvs.

OUTLOOK: china’s cheap workforce will act as a magnet and eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs in the U.S companies.this is because china has too much production power too little consumption power.

Wal-Mart, the retail giant of the world has the most  satisfied customers in the world , but is it worth all the hype ? The low price tagline that it endorses ……is it a façade and misleading? I declare my pleasure in using this opportunity to brood more over this topic.

The supply chains in Wal-Mart involves proactive use of  IT and internet based technology for demand forecasting, inventory management and procurement. Wal-Mart uses an unusual tactic where the suppliers dominate the manufacturers. Thus the manufacturers are the vassal with the authoritarian supplier. Wal-Mart dictates its rules to its suppliers thus keeping  the costs lower.

The problem area is when President Clinton initiated trading with China. He was quoted once in a letter circulated to house of members saying “china with more than a billion people is home to the largest potential market in the world . If congress make the right decision our companies will be able to sell and distribute products in china made by American workers on American soil without being forced to relocate manufacturing to china …..we will be able to export products without exporting jobs’. thus china conjoined WTO in 2000.

Thus Wal-Mart exports cotton imports clothing, exports hides brings in shoes, exports scrap metal imports machinery , exports waste paper and brings back cardboard boxes with products inside.

As America supplies raw material and brings back finished goods the value of dollar was predicted to fall down by U.S Economist Larry Mishel President of the liberal economic policy institute. And this costs US more  million jobs over the past decade. China with far more workforce than Japan and Korea(asian tigers) put together. This has become and will be a big threat to america.

This is happening because the Chinese government subsidizes production thus enabling more of export. Morever China uses this dumping policy that is produce mammoth amount of products varing from basic household articles to gadgets to LCD Tvs.

OUTLOOK: china’s cheap workforce will act as a magnet and eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs in the U.S companies.this is because china has too much production power too little consumption power.