Month: June 2008
Charity raises hope for physically-challenged
Charity raises hope for physically-challenged
By Riyasbabu (Our staff reporter)KHALEEJ TIMES 25 June 2008
DUBAI – Simon George, 43, a wheelchair-bound man, is seeking support of non-resident Indians (NRIs), in his mission to help people with physical challenges become self-sufficient.
George has been working tirelessly to help people with disabilities in India. Having travelled around the world on a wheelchair, as both his legs are paralysed, he is currently in Dubai to meet the NRIs to seek their assistance.
George, whose was struck by a paralytic attack in his legs in 1986 while he was studying mechanical engineering, started a charity organisation, ‘Prathyasha Foundation’, in 2004, to support people with disabilities.
“Both my legs were paralysed after a medical error. I had high fever and the injection I was given in the hospital affected my spinal cord. I was in bed for six years. It was after a long treatment that I was able to sit in a wheelchair,” he told Khaleej Times. “I lost my confidence. I failed to continue my studies thereafter. But I decided to fight against my disability and do something for others who suffer a similar fate,” recounted George.
He started Prathyasha Foundation in Kochi. “Our aim is to boost the confidence of people with disabilities. We have a training centre for them where we groom them for different jobs. The foundation also distributes computers, tailoring machines and other equipment to them for self employment purposes,” he said.
“Currently, 50 people are getting training at the centre. We want to develop the centre,” he said.
“I am in Dubai to study the rehabilitation activities here. I am very impressed with the facilities provided for people with disabilities here,” he said.
For more details about the foundation log on to http://www.PrathyashaFoundation.org
AMRITA TV Super Dancer Junior Final 3 Winner – Sradha
A few moments with AMRITA TV Super Dancer Junior Final 3 Winner – Shradha Gokul
Greetings to you Shradha. You have been one of the contestants of the recently concluded Super Dancer Junior programme conducted by Amrita TV. Participating in a talent hunt show of this calibre to find out the best amongst children of your age, it gave a feast to all the viewers and the contestants. It is the same interest of the viewers that made me now approach you for a brief and casual talk to find how your progress is after the post-elimination from this show. Feel free to express your thoughts in your own simple way.
1. Shradha, congratulations for participating in the Super Dancer Junior Competition and getting selected to the top 3 level. How did you hear about this programme?
From the promotional advertisements in the AMRITA TV.
2. How did you find the different stages of the competition? Particularly on the challenges thrown to you to perform non-conventional rounds.
It was highly competitive but my teachers and my parents made me feel at ease and supported me. They kept telling me that participating is more important than winning and asked me to do my best.
3. Who is your Guru? Could you please give us an idea how you went about preparing for each round.
My Guru for Cinematic dance is Mrs Sajana Najam who is a popular choreographer and has done several shows for major events. My classical guru is Mr Nanthencode Vinayachandran a highly respectable Guru in Trivandrum.
Sajana teacher was like a friend to me. It was like a second home to me during the period of the competition. I used to stay there and prepare my rounds with total devotion and passion most of the time past midnight. My mom, Sapna and grandparents used to accompany me and encourage me all the time. My dad, Gokul, used to support me over the phone as he was away. I was able to learn and memorize the steps because of all their love, encouragement and support. My mom, grandparents, teacher, her two daughters and umma ( teacher’s mother) use to sit and discuss about the rounds and in a day or two we prepare for yet another exciting round.
4. How was the support given by the Amrita TV channel in terms of co-ordination and arrangements for contestants like you.
They did support, but it was very minimal considering the expenses incurred particularly for Sets and costumes. My parents and grandparents did spend a lot for costumes, transport, sets and training. Amrita use to pay 2000/- per round, whereas each round consists of 4-5 dances , which required upto Rs. 50000. Support was given by the make up team consisting of Sobha aunty, Raju uncle, lovely Aunty and her team.
Good Food was also supplied to us on the day of shoot.
5. How do you rate the grooming sessions before each stage of this competition? Did you all get sufficient notification about each stage and also did you get sufficient guidance about how your performance should be for each one of them?
Most of the contestants did not get necessary guidance, neither could they know much about their future rounds and that was clearly visible in the property round where most of them were not aware of any such round as it was not explained or told in the grooming sessions. We were not at all supported in song selection and this was another area of great stress.
6. How do you rate the other contestants who participated along with you? Did you all get along well?
All the contestants were equally good and nice. The parents were more stressed and appeared angry at many decisions but we 15 contestants were good friends and had a very nice time. Anna is one of my best friends. Whenever we get time, we contact each other and exchange pleasantries. Navaneeth sometimes spends his night at our home, after the Kuttichathan shoot whenever his mom goes to Calicut.
7. Was there any stress on you with regards to the SMS votes / campaign which was a part of the requirement for getting through to the next level in each stage? How did you work on this, especially in your case, being from an ordinary family compared to the other rich contestants.
Yes SMS is something that makes me very unhappy and stressed. It was the sad part of the whole show where I used to feel very depressed and often cried. I never understood why the person who has the money to send more SMS can win !!! Even though my parents did not let me know, I used to feel sad and bad when I saw them running here and there begging votes. The channel people put me in danger zone and Amrita staff used to call my parents asking them to send more SMS to save me and I know that they did spend a lot of money to get me to the safer zone. My parents had to spend very little for my other expenses, while they spend a lot for SMS. It created a lot of stress and spoilt the fun of the show. Thousands of SMS sent by my fans abroad, and in India were not enough for the channel and many thousand SMS sent by our family friends and relatives bounced during the finals. There were thousands of returned messages. My parents did spend a fortune that could have been used for education to send SMS. I have heard people talk about how SMS decided the winner and not the talent and this I think is very unfortunate, sad and unjustified.
8. What do you rate amongst the various stages for this particular competition as the toughest round? What was the reason that made you say this particular round as very challenging.
The toughest round for me was the horror round which I couldn’t do well. I have never known about this kind of dance before. It was really a horror for me. I am also particularly sad that they did not include a classical dance round.
9. Looking back at this competition after elimination, do you feel, the stages set were tough or that you could have performed well in those?In certain rounds I use to feel I could have performed better.
Especially the comedy and the horror round. Stages set was not that tough.
10. How often you give performances? How many hours normally you practise?
I am a classical dancer and I normally practice 2-3 hrs most of the days.
11. Other than dance, are you learning any musical instruments or any other extra-curricular activities?
Other than dance I am learning music. Now I am acting in a children’s teleserial Kuttichathan telecast by Asianet during prime time. I am playing the role of Varsha Menon, nick name ” bubbles”. people also call me Maychathan because of the role I played in a few episodes.
12. I understand you are good at studies. Tell me something about your activities other than those involved with dance.
I am interested in listening to good music. I love to play computer games and listen to stories. My dad has brought me a lot of Disney movies and I love to watch them one by one, whenever I get time.
13. Which grade/school you are attending and what was the reaction from the school, your friends and well wishers when they came to know about your participation in Super Dancer Junior?
I am studying in 6th std . My principal Rev. Fr. Mathew Chackalakal was my die hard supporter. He encouraged me a lot and was always there as a promoter. Friends, teachers and relatives had supported me a lot. My friends respect me and love me more than ever after this program and they often talk about my performances.
14. Did you get any support/recognition from any associations or any other news media channels for your excellent performance in this competition?
Yes, News paper ‘s like Rashtradeepika had recently published a page long feature about me in all Kerala and US editions.
15. Who is your favourite Dancer? And who else do you like to follow closely from this field?
Shobhana and Dr. Padma Subramaniam are my favourties, because both are very innovative, talented and highly creative.
16. What are your future plans? What do you want to become – other than a Dancer?
First choice is to reach greater heights in classical dance and also to choose a profession that will help me help others.
17. Do you get noticed when you travel within Kerala after participation in this show. How do you handle this popularity / recognition/encouragements.
Yes, ofcourse and I will remain ever grateful to Amrita TV for this popularity and good wishes that the show generated. I feel so proud and good when many people walk up to me in public places and tell me that they consider me as their super dancer junior.
Most of the days I get Phone calls from India and abroad. Some of the frequent callers are sri Venu of almanara communications, Dubai, Rajeev chetan and Suraj chettan from Baharain, venu uncle from kannur, shobith chettan from kannur Praveen chetta from kasargode and many more. They were in particular very very supportive. Sri Venu from Dubai has been exceptionally kind and supportive.
18. Tell me anything additional you want to include here
But the greatest achievement is that when I met Mata Amirtanandnamayi. She burst into laughter like a child and told me that “Molu ni ende channelil adichu polikkeyanallo”. I and my grandparents were surprised that she recognized me and this I consider is my greatest reward or prize. My dad always tells me to wish for others more than I wish for myself and I try to put this in daily practice.
Be sure of my prayers and best wishes to all of you. I am very grateful to you all for supporting me and promoting me.
Now let us see some of her excellent performances during this competition.
Shradha’s group dance in super dancer
Chamma Chamma By Sradha
Reng Heynasheela By Shradha
Sunno Tum Dil Man By Sradha
chinna chinna asai
Welcome to Sharjah-Dubai traffic battleground
Welcome to Sharjah-Dubai traffic battleground
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter GULF NEWS
There is no let-up in traffic congestion. And despite all the projects announced, or even completed, the traffic is only getting worse.
Motorists continue to suffer in traffic as it takes at least four hours for a round trip between Sharjah and Dubai during peak hours. Authorities from both emirates insist that motorists use alternative routes but all of them are choked with heavy traffic.
Traffic congestion is getting worse despite all the measures being taken to ensure smooth traffic flow.
The expansion of roads and the new road networks have proved to be insufficient as they fail to keep pace with the rapidly increasing population and the number of vehicles.
Other initiatives taken by authorities including the Salik toll system have not made any difference rather it has led to traffic snarl-ups on Salik-free roads.
Traffic congestion is also taking its toll on people’s health and their performance in the workplace.
According to official statistics, the number of vehicles increased by more than 100 per cent in Dubai during the last four years from 415,242 to 853,827. More than 1.2 million vehicles including those registered in other emirates and neighbouring GCC countries travel on Dubai roads every day.
The average occupancy is just 1.7 person per vehicle in Dubai. Currently, only 6 per cent of the total population uses public transport. School transport constitutes around 18 per cent of peak hour traffic.
Vehicles in Dubai take about 3.2 million trips a day, which is expected to increase to 14.1 million trips a day by 2020.
It has become difficult to get out of Sharjah during morning peak hours and it is equally frustrating to enter Sharjah because of the inadequacy of the road network to cope with the heavy flow.
The traffic situation within Dubai and Sharjah emirates has also worsened. Crossings such as Al Maktoum Bridge and Al Shindagha Tunnel remain choked most of the time.
Gulf News’ photographers monitored all the major roads linking Dubai and Sharjah only to find there is no escape from the traffic congestion.
You Create Your Environment
You Create Your Environment
Monday June 23 2008 10:47 IST ENS
HAVE you ever had a situation where you hear a knock at your door and you close your eyes and ears? I doing so, you are committing a great mistake, for it could be an opportunity.
Opportunities come and knock at your door at least once in a lifetime for everyone. But only few realise that it was an opportunity. Only very few have a dream in their life, and out of those who have dreams, only very few take action, and out of those, again very few have belief in their dreams and confidence in themselves and out of them, only very few are focused and consistently persistent. But they are the people who make history in this world.
Generally most people live with the belief that they never come across any opportunity in life! Though they find some opportunity they believe that either the time is not right or they are not fit to grab the opportunity.
They believe that luck never favours them and blame their destiny for everything. They might blame society, their parents for not putting them in the best schools, their superiors for not providing them the right chances, their family for not providing the right atmosphere at home etc. I have seen people living distressful lives cursing everyone around them, even the Prime Minister and the President of the country.
They believe or try to make themselves believe that all their problems in life are caused by other people and their situations. Why do people think so? Is it because of the education they received at school and college? Is it because of the influence of the family in which they have been brought up?
It is often said that you are the product of your habits and your beliefs. Your habits and your beliefs are the product of your environment. So your environment decides what you are. Now the question is, who decides the environment? Most people believe that they have no influence on the environment, as it is created by others, beginning from the attendant in the office to the President of the country.
There is nothing you can do about it and you are HELPLESS! But we always blame the environment as we believe that it has a high influence on us, though we have no influence over it.
Sajeev Nair msajeev@mindparlour.com Leading entrepreneur with Amway Corporation, Chief Mentor of Mind-Parlour and an International success coach.
Germany is world’s greenest country: Report
Germany is world’s greenest country: Report
London, PTI:
Germany has been named the world’s greenest country in a global energy report, days after the government passed a new round of environmental laws in its effort to meet ambitious carbon dioxide reduction targets.
According to the report by British Petroleum, while global energy consumption, driven by China, America and India, rose by 2.4 per cent in 2007, Germany managed to slash its use by 5.6 per cent in the same year as compared to 2006.
“Issues such as energy security, energy trade and alternative energies (are) at the forefront of the political agenda worldwide.
“Continued weakness in oil supply and increasing demand highlight the challenges we all face in maintaining secure energy supplies,” BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward was quoted by ‘The Daily Telegraph’ as saying.
But while the BP world energy report confirmed that Germany made one of the world’s biggest cuts in nuclear energy last year, with use falling 16 per cent on 2006 levels, it also revealed that oil and gas use was slashed too.
Only coal consumption increased, as Germany’s total energy use fell by 5.6 per cent, according to the report.
It may be mentioned that while passing new environmental laws recently, German Chancellor Angela Merkel described them as “crucial for climate protection” and said they would help the country reduce its 1990 level of emissions by 40 per cent come 2020.
The laws, which target high polluting lorries and make energy saving designs compulsory for homes built after 2009, should allow Germany to shave 35 per cent off 1990 emissions.
The Rex Band
At some point in all of our lives
Jesus became music to our ears….
Taking their name from the King of kings, Jesus, the band fuses together a host of music styles including elements of Indian classical and folk music as well as other popular sounds of the younger generation to evolve its own style of contemporary Christian music
The Band
Over 25 professionals active in various fields with a distinctive talent in music dare to call themselves The Rex Band in honor of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. Experiencing the joy of liberating Christian Music themselves, the band came together with a commitment to take this gift of quality Contemporary Christian Music and it’s message to the new generation.
The Music
With musicians from such varied backgrounds like Indian classical or western classical to rock, pop and rap, the band has evolved a unique style over the past ten years. A rich mix of various streams of music and its trademark fusion tracks. Not surprisingly, The Rex Band has opened up new and ethnic elements in Contemporary Christian Music in India.
The Roots
Evolving out if a life-changing encounter with Jesus through the Jesus Youth movement, the band members are comfortable in using styles of the younger generation to reach out to today’s urbanized youth through music albums, stage shows and encounter programs. The band members get together regularly for practice and to deepen themselves in the Word of God.
The Ministry
Beside the mega 3 hour shows, the band also considers its Retreats for musicians, Music skill development programs for budding talents and life encounter programs as vital elements of its call. The band strongly believes that the music becomes relevant only when its quality and message brings about a genuine change of heart.
The Shows
The typical 3-hour Rex Band show is a mega extravaganza with psychedelic lights and powerful sound including music, presentations, choreography and theater performances by Living Vision, a premier Christian theater initiative. It works in tandem with the band to present the message of Jesus in a powerful and attractive way. Right across India, The Rex Band has performed over 500 shows opening up the hearts of young people to a new life in Christ.
Realizing that quality contemporary Christian music is scarce in the Indian music scenario, the band has endeavored to reach out music lovers through it’s 11 albums in various languages. Roses in Winter, the latest album showcases the trademark sounds of the band from popular music to experimental fusion music.
For more details get in touch with us at:
The Rex Band
The Ark – Jesusyouth National Office,
3A – RDS Retreat, Kacheripady,
Kochi, Kerala, India
Tel: (91) 484 398581
Email: rexband@jesusyouth.org
Intel® Education Initiative
Dear All
Please check the details in the link and its associated sheets for details
Recently a group of school students from Chedda Nagar, Chembur Mumbay lead by their teacher/guide Mrs Sitalakshmy Parameswaran have been sponsored fully by M/s Intel to demonstrate their projects at Atlanta.
This is another opportunity available for our children to exhibit their talents
ClicksandWrites 
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