Rising up to a peak of 113 degrees, LA experienced the hottest day ever recording since the record keeping began in 1877. Of course this marks a time when Global Warming activists start spreading their theories with more vigor and predict future earthquakes, but for now lets deal with the facts.
Today was indeed the hottest day in LA, but what we do know for sure is that increased temperatures leads to an increase in fire hazards. Already there have been two fires in Southern Pasadena and Ladera Heights that were quickly contained and put out.
Another guaranteed consequence of this heat wave is an increase in energy output. California is expected to utilize 45,000 megawatts of energy by afternoon hours. Energy is not a guaranteed resource and with this type of weather, but often the only incentive for turning the AC off is the electric bill. However, this is a good time to remind Californians that electricity is scarce like every other resource, and ultimately must be conserved. That being said, remember to turn off the lights while leaving a room and open the windows at night.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Flooding in Wisconsin
Today, the Wisconsin River overflowed isolated hundreds of homes, making it a virtual island. Rains started at the end of last week and have continued steadily through today. Out of the 300 residents living in this town, 75 of them elected to stay behind. Most of them comment in a blase overtone. Linda Levaggi could also be seen sketching the rapid waters, claiming that her house was on high grounds but the river had still never been this high.
In place for protection is a 14 mile levee system, including dikes. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are not overly concerned about this flooding but acknowledge that rivers have indeed broken the 20.50 feet record set in 1938.
Flooding, although not common in Southern California, is a real problem in other parts of America and the world. Floods bring epidemics [especially in 3rd world nations] and many refugees. In fact, this is one of the primary concerns of global warming activists - that the increase in temperature would melt icebergs in the Artic and Antartic thus causing a rise in water level and ultimately flooding into metropolitan cities - Southern California, New York, etc.
In place for protection is a 14 mile levee system, including dikes. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are not overly concerned about this flooding but acknowledge that rivers have indeed broken the 20.50 feet record set in 1938.
Flooding, although not common in Southern California, is a real problem in other parts of America and the world. Floods bring epidemics [especially in 3rd world nations] and many refugees. In fact, this is one of the primary concerns of global warming activists - that the increase in temperature would melt icebergs in the Artic and Antartic thus causing a rise in water level and ultimately flooding into metropolitan cities - Southern California, New York, etc.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
India Trip - Polio Vaccination
In India, I was able to observe a Polio Vaccination camp sponsored by the Rotary Club. Poliomyelitis or Polio or Infantile paralysis is viral infectious disease. It affects central nervous system which leads to paralysis.
There is no cure for Polio; however, through passive immunization it can be avoided. There two vaccines available: Salk vaccine developed in 1955 and oral polio vaccine in 1962. This oral polio vaccination is inexpensive and easy to administer. This is the one administered during this camp.
World Health Organization (WHO), United International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and The Rotary Foundation started effort to eradicate Polio from the world. Polio vaccines have reduced worldwide incidence of polio from 350,000 in 1988 to 1652 in 2007. As a result, now only Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and India have a few strains of polio.
Pulse Polio Immunization program covers all children of the ages three years or younger. This vaccination is administered under this program at fixed booths on fixed day. Now government of Bihar has launched free of cost door to door drive twice a week to eradicate polio in each state.
49 cases of polio infection have been reported in Bihar out of reported 236 cases of India in 2009 and remaining 181 in Uttar Pradesh, 4 in Delhi and one each in Rajasthan and Uttrakhand. It is clear that the mission to eradicate polio is well on its way. A large percentage of the credit goes to the Rotary Clubs that put in the effort and man labor to walk to each door and administer the vaccination. It gives me a good feeling knowing that polio, a disease that has caused so much pain and hardship, will once and for all disappear.
There is no cure for Polio; however, through passive immunization it can be avoided. There two vaccines available: Salk vaccine developed in 1955 and oral polio vaccine in 1962. This oral polio vaccination is inexpensive and easy to administer. This is the one administered during this camp.
World Health Organization (WHO), United International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and The Rotary Foundation started effort to eradicate Polio from the world. Polio vaccines have reduced worldwide incidence of polio from 350,000 in 1988 to 1652 in 2007. As a result, now only Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and India have a few strains of polio.
Pulse Polio Immunization program covers all children of the ages three years or younger. This vaccination is administered under this program at fixed booths on fixed day. Now government of Bihar has launched free of cost door to door drive twice a week to eradicate polio in each state.
49 cases of polio infection have been reported in Bihar out of reported 236 cases of India in 2009 and remaining 181 in Uttar Pradesh, 4 in Delhi and one each in Rajasthan and Uttrakhand. It is clear that the mission to eradicate polio is well on its way. A large percentage of the credit goes to the Rotary Clubs that put in the effort and man labor to walk to each door and administer the vaccination. It gives me a good feeling knowing that polio, a disease that has caused so much pain and hardship, will once and for all disappear.
India Trip - Minutes of the meeting held on August 14, 2010 with Mr. S. Siddharth, Secretary to the Chief Minister of Bihar, India
____________________________________________________________________________
The meeting of Ms Aditi Verma with Mr. S. Siddharth, Secretary to the Chief Minister, Bihar, India was held on August 14, 2010 in the official meeting chamber, Patna at the request of Beckman Natural Disaster Aid Club, Irvine, California with regard to flood and drought of Bihar.
Brief introduction was held.
The Secretary mentioned that he had visited the web site www.bhsnda.com and he was glad to know the efforts taken by the club to mitigate the suffering of people on account of natural disaster. The main objective of this meeting was to understand how Bihar is managing flood and drought situation which this state is facing at the interval of almost every two – three year. Most of districts of northern Bihar are flood affected where as southern region of this state are drought affected.
Aditi: What are the short term steps the government takes immediately after a region is pronounced drought affected?
A: There are 6 steps we take immediately. First, we are constructing small check dams to store water where there is even small flow of water. Second, we fix the state run tube well and increase the output of electricity in rural areas to run electric pump as per need of the farmers. Third, we fix the water pumps for the farmers. During the drought season, the water level recedes and the original water pumps are unable to reach the water level. A mechanical solution is required which allows the pumps to stretch even lower and release the water. Fourth, we keep constant vigil/monitoring on canal water and coordinate with neighboring states for timely release of share of water as per agreement. Fifth, contingency plan such as provision of fodder for the cattle/live stock and drinking water is made. Sixth, the government takes measures necessary to provide special healthcare to the drought affected people and live stock.
Aditi: Are there alternate crops which can be implemented at this time?
A: Yes, there are alternate crops that are in our plan. However, right now there is still a chance of rain which is why the steps are not implemented yet. The necessary preparations are almost complete; however, in a month we will make the final decision if action is necessary. We’re keeping our fingers crossed right now.
Aditi: Can our club raise fund for Bihar drought as most of the districts have been declared drought affected?
A: Not right now, wait. More over we don’t accept check; bank draft in favour of Chief Minister Relief Fund may be accepted.
Aditi: What is the long term plan regarding drought and flood?
A: Flood and drought are juxtaposed in Bihar. Floods in Bihar are a result of excessive rains in the Himalayas in Nepal with a mismatched carrying capacity of rivers flowing in Bihar. Interlinking of rivers would help regulate the flood waters to rivers which have higher carrying capacity. A detailed study on interlinking of rivers is in process which envisages mainly construction of Dams , Canal systems and Hydropower projects and we hope linking of the rivers of Bihar will mitigate flood and drought.
Aditi: The interlinking of rivers is an international issue and requires huge budget and many years to complete this giant project, correct? Recently the Kaveri River dispute created problems for India. How will the government respond to other similar problems? Does the government expect those problems?
A: The Rivers in question do originate in Nepal and China; however, these countries may not create a problem because we are only linking the rivers on Indian soil. The changes made in India will not affect the river patterns in China or Nepal. As for the river path in Bangladesh and Pakistan, there is a sharing agreement between these nations. In addition, there is an Indo-Bangladesh Water Treaty regarding the Ganges River. With this agreement we hope to avoid conflict.
With thanks meeting was concluded.
The meeting of Ms Aditi Verma with Mr. S. Siddharth, Secretary to the Chief Minister, Bihar, India was held on August 14, 2010 in the official meeting chamber, Patna at the request of Beckman Natural Disaster Aid Club, Irvine, California with regard to flood and drought of Bihar.
Brief introduction was held.
The Secretary mentioned that he had visited the web site www.bhsnda.com and he was glad to know the efforts taken by the club to mitigate the suffering of people on account of natural disaster. The main objective of this meeting was to understand how Bihar is managing flood and drought situation which this state is facing at the interval of almost every two – three year. Most of districts of northern Bihar are flood affected where as southern region of this state are drought affected.
Aditi: What are the short term steps the government takes immediately after a region is pronounced drought affected?
A: There are 6 steps we take immediately. First, we are constructing small check dams to store water where there is even small flow of water. Second, we fix the state run tube well and increase the output of electricity in rural areas to run electric pump as per need of the farmers. Third, we fix the water pumps for the farmers. During the drought season, the water level recedes and the original water pumps are unable to reach the water level. A mechanical solution is required which allows the pumps to stretch even lower and release the water. Fourth, we keep constant vigil/monitoring on canal water and coordinate with neighboring states for timely release of share of water as per agreement. Fifth, contingency plan such as provision of fodder for the cattle/live stock and drinking water is made. Sixth, the government takes measures necessary to provide special healthcare to the drought affected people and live stock.
Aditi: Are there alternate crops which can be implemented at this time?
A: Yes, there are alternate crops that are in our plan. However, right now there is still a chance of rain which is why the steps are not implemented yet. The necessary preparations are almost complete; however, in a month we will make the final decision if action is necessary. We’re keeping our fingers crossed right now.
Aditi: Can our club raise fund for Bihar drought as most of the districts have been declared drought affected?
A: Not right now, wait. More over we don’t accept check; bank draft in favour of Chief Minister Relief Fund may be accepted.
Aditi: What is the long term plan regarding drought and flood?
A: Flood and drought are juxtaposed in Bihar. Floods in Bihar are a result of excessive rains in the Himalayas in Nepal with a mismatched carrying capacity of rivers flowing in Bihar. Interlinking of rivers would help regulate the flood waters to rivers which have higher carrying capacity. A detailed study on interlinking of rivers is in process which envisages mainly construction of Dams , Canal systems and Hydropower projects and we hope linking of the rivers of Bihar will mitigate flood and drought.
Aditi: The interlinking of rivers is an international issue and requires huge budget and many years to complete this giant project, correct? Recently the Kaveri River dispute created problems for India. How will the government respond to other similar problems? Does the government expect those problems?
A: The Rivers in question do originate in Nepal and China; however, these countries may not create a problem because we are only linking the rivers on Indian soil. The changes made in India will not affect the river patterns in China or Nepal. As for the river path in Bangladesh and Pakistan, there is a sharing agreement between these nations. In addition, there is an Indo-Bangladesh Water Treaty regarding the Ganges River. With this agreement we hope to avoid conflict.
With thanks meeting was concluded.
Inda Trip - SKILL Foundation Overview
SKILL Foundation is a school for underprivileged children. The registration process requires only one thing - a photo. Other than that, the entire education is free. I spent 2 days with the SKILL foundation and learned a lot about their program.
They have something really magical happening in that building. They teach English via a yogic-based practice. These children come straight from the heart of the rampant poverty that has inundated India. The parents of these children, or even these children themselves have the most menial jobs - labor worker, servant, gardener, plumber. In fact, being a plumber is considered to be a lucrative job.
What is unique about this program is the yogic practice, which is now being applied in several countries in Europe as well as in Australia. The reason this method is so helpful is because the children are from a completely different world. To them education is not a priority - their livelihood is. Children from this group struggle to focus and pay attention. They have faced so much hardship from their early childhood, learning how to say cat and dog does not make a difference to them. The yoga practice gives them a focused and adept mind that is able to grasp concepts quicker and with more accuracy.
However, not only are the children taught English, but they are taught how to be good citizens. India, in particular Bihar, has a severe pollution problem. There is trash everywhere. In the SKILL foundation, once a week, the children take up 10 streets nearby and clean the entire area. This gives them a sense of ownership and citizenship. This to me is very significant because the SKILL foundation teaches the students how to be adults.
To the SKILL foundation, education is not about learning algebra and learning the water cycle. It is about finding a job. They are looking to teach the kids the "skills" necessary for life. For many children who do get the rare opportunity to go to school, their education is useless in the job market. Although a well rounded education is essential in America, the situation is different for the poor in India. Their dreams and aspirations are limited because of geography. They do not require the education to fulfill their dreams. They require the knowledge of how to be a plumber or carpenter to have a successful life. What the SKILL Foundation teaches is how to communicate within the job market. Speaking English in India is a sign of prestige. No beggar speaks English. If one speaks English, they are given automatic respect. The SKILL Foundation does not only give the kids an education, they give them something more important - respect.
They have something really magical happening in that building. They teach English via a yogic-based practice. These children come straight from the heart of the rampant poverty that has inundated India. The parents of these children, or even these children themselves have the most menial jobs - labor worker, servant, gardener, plumber. In fact, being a plumber is considered to be a lucrative job.
What is unique about this program is the yogic practice, which is now being applied in several countries in Europe as well as in Australia. The reason this method is so helpful is because the children are from a completely different world. To them education is not a priority - their livelihood is. Children from this group struggle to focus and pay attention. They have faced so much hardship from their early childhood, learning how to say cat and dog does not make a difference to them. The yoga practice gives them a focused and adept mind that is able to grasp concepts quicker and with more accuracy.
However, not only are the children taught English, but they are taught how to be good citizens. India, in particular Bihar, has a severe pollution problem. There is trash everywhere. In the SKILL foundation, once a week, the children take up 10 streets nearby and clean the entire area. This gives them a sense of ownership and citizenship. This to me is very significant because the SKILL foundation teaches the students how to be adults.
To the SKILL foundation, education is not about learning algebra and learning the water cycle. It is about finding a job. They are looking to teach the kids the "skills" necessary for life. For many children who do get the rare opportunity to go to school, their education is useless in the job market. Although a well rounded education is essential in America, the situation is different for the poor in India. Their dreams and aspirations are limited because of geography. They do not require the education to fulfill their dreams. They require the knowledge of how to be a plumber or carpenter to have a successful life. What the SKILL Foundation teaches is how to communicate within the job market. Speaking English in India is a sign of prestige. No beggar speaks English. If one speaks English, they are given automatic respect. The SKILL Foundation does not only give the kids an education, they give them something more important - respect.
Update + Pakistan
Hello readers,
Because of lack of internet connection and other time restraints, I have been unable to update this blog. However, I kept a journal throughout my travels in India which has documented the trip. I will share that journal with you over the next few days.
Thanks,
Aditi Verma
-----------------------------------------
On the other hand, many people are aware of the Pakistan flood. This flood started on 26th July 2010 due to heavy monsoon rainfall in the month of July 2010 in Khyber- Pakhtukhwa, Sindh, Baluchistan, Punjab regions of Pakistan. About one-fifth area of Pakistan was under water at one point. The intensity of rainfall in 24 hours in some of the areas was unprecedented and has caused flash floods which took more than two thousand lives.
The United Nation estimates that more than twenty million people have been injured or become homeless. Ultimately, the total economic impact equals the loss of about $43 billion. The total loss in Pakistan is expected to be more than the combined loss of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 2005 Pak occupied Kashmir earthquake and 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Many countries have started providing relief measure such as financial assistance, food, drinking water, blanket, tent, medicine, life saving drug, dispatch of medical team in response to Pakistan government’s SOS appeal to International donors for help. However, this is not the end. The situation in Pakistan is extremely desperate and only a united effort of all people will have a significant impact in Pakistan.
Because of lack of internet connection and other time restraints, I have been unable to update this blog. However, I kept a journal throughout my travels in India which has documented the trip. I will share that journal with you over the next few days.
Thanks,
Aditi Verma
-----------------------------------------
On the other hand, many people are aware of the Pakistan flood. This flood started on 26th July 2010 due to heavy monsoon rainfall in the month of July 2010 in Khyber- Pakhtukhwa, Sindh, Baluchistan, Punjab regions of Pakistan. About one-fifth area of Pakistan was under water at one point. The intensity of rainfall in 24 hours in some of the areas was unprecedented and has caused flash floods which took more than two thousand lives.
The United Nation estimates that more than twenty million people have been injured or become homeless. Ultimately, the total economic impact equals the loss of about $43 billion. The total loss in Pakistan is expected to be more than the combined loss of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 2005 Pak occupied Kashmir earthquake and 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Many countries have started providing relief measure such as financial assistance, food, drinking water, blanket, tent, medicine, life saving drug, dispatch of medical team in response to Pakistan government’s SOS appeal to International donors for help. However, this is not the end. The situation in Pakistan is extremely desperate and only a united effort of all people will have a significant impact in Pakistan.
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