Wind Energy - what is it and how we can use it

As oil prices continue to explode, alternative energy is getting a close look in the United States. Here is a guide to wind energy in the USA.
One of the worlds fastest growing types of renewable energy sources is wind energy. While most of the Earth is still reliant on different types of fossil fuels (such as oil, natural gas and coal) for their energy supply, many countries are trying to come up with alternative methods of obtaining energy. Much of Europe has begun to build and use wind farms, which are groupings of wind turbines that harness the energy of the wind in order to create energy and electricity. Also involved in using wind energy, USA has started to build their own wind farms.
Wind turbines are the individual components of wind farms, and they are machinery composed of several main parts. The first part is the rotor, also known as the blades or the propeller, and this is the part of the turbine that actually collects the wind energy and converts it into drive energy, which then turns a shaft. This shaft actually creates the energy that is then stored or converted into electricity. Wind farms are groupings of many of these turbines, usually 10 or more.
The wind energy USA had capacity for in the year 2004 was 6,740 MW, with a prediction that the [tag-tec]wind energy[/tag-tec] capabilities of the United States will be increased by 5,000 MW in the next five years. The US Department of Energy has a goal of obtaining 6 percent of the country's electricity needs from wind energy by the year 2020, which is a fair goal judging by the current rate of growth seen in the wind energy industry. California is the state in the US that produces the most wind energy, with 2,096 MW of wind generating capacity per year.
As one MW is enough energy to supply energy to 240 to 300 average US homes, the amount of wind energy USA currently produces is enough to energy 500,000 to 620,000 homes per year. The United States is currently ranked as the third highest wind energy producing country in the world, behind Germany and Spain. The business of wind energy in the US is also monetarily significant - it costs about $1,000 per kilowatt (KW) of installed wind energy capacity. When multiplied by the US's capacity of 6,740 KW, this makes wind energy a $7 billion industry.
Wind energy is a growing energy source in the United States for many reasons. Wind energy is cleaner, cheaper and more renewable than many of the current sources of energy used in this country. Additionally, the capacity for expansion of wind farms and ways to harness wind energy means that as the US's energy needs grow, there will continue to be enough energy to provide for all of our energy needs. Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com - providing information on wind power as an alternative energy platform.

West Kameng District Tourism

The Gonpa, Craft Centre, District Museum,Sport Complex,& Losar Festival (February)are the main attractions.The distance is 102 KM from Bhalukpong.Bus Services and Taxis are available.Accommodation is provided at Circuit House (PWD),Circuit House (Annx),Tourist Lodge (Tourism Department) for Govt. officials at the rate Rs. 50/- day(subject to prior booking & availiblity of accomodation.
Hotel Siphyang Phong is the most primier hotel with 23 rooms with a rate of Rs.650 to Rs.750 per day with bar& restaurant facilities.Hotel Pine Ridge,Hotel Passang,Hotel La,Hotel Dawa,Hotel Yatri Niwas&Hotel Sweet are the other hotels with a rate ranging from Rs.200 to Rs 300.Tour operators registered are Himalayan Holidays, Pine Ridge,Advance Tours and Travel,Seven, Sister Safari & Shambala.Climate is warm in summer cold in winter.
DIRANG
The Altitude of Dirang is 1497m / 4910ft.The Regional Apple Nursery, Kiwi Farm, Angling,Yak Research Centre, Gonpa, Dirang Jong (Fort), Base camp for trekking, Sight Seeing & Hot Water Spring are the main attractions at Dirang. Distance is 45 KM from Bomdila. Bus and Taxis are readily available. Inspection Bungalow (PWD), Tourist Lodge, Anchal Samiti Lodge & Private Lodge in the range of Rs100 +
SANGTI
The sheep breeding farm,Scenic Beauty spots & picnic spots are the main attractions here.Distance is 12 KM from Dirang.Bus & Taxi services are readily available.Accommodation is provided at Inspection Bunglow (Vet.) at the rate of Rs.100.00.Climate is warm in summer cold in winter.
SELA PASS
The altitude is 4114m / 13494 ft. Its famous for high altitude lakes& scenic beauty& is ideal for ice skating during winter. Bangajung Gonpa is the main budhist cultural centre here. Distance is 100KM from Bomdila. Bus services & Taxis are available from Bomdila & Dirang. Accommodation is provided at a Rest House. Weather is cold in summer & snow falls during winter
SANGE
Sange is famous for its scenic beauty and its the base camp for going to Sela Pass. Distance is 80KM from Bomdila. Bus&Taxis services are available from Bomdila & Dirang. Accommodation is provided at Inspection of Bungalow (PWD) at a Rs 100 a day. Tourist Lodge is being constructed by the State Tourism Department and is nearing completion. Climate is warm in summer andcold in winter. Snow falls during winter.
BHALUKPONG
The Altitude is 213m / 699 ft. The Cane House, Angling,Wild Life,View Points River rafting, Burn Rice (Dizling) and picnic spots. Distance is 40 km. from Tezpur. Buses & Taxis readily available from Tezpur & Bomdila are also locally available. Accomodation is available at the Inspection Bungalow (PWD), Inspection Bungalow (IFCD), Hotel Ama Yangri, Hotel Eshwar, Hotel East West, Hotel Seema & at the Staging Hut (RWD) at the rate of Rs.100 a day. Weather is hot in summer cold in winter.
TIPPI
The Orchid center, Waterfall , Distillery , Bottling Plant,Cold Storage, Resin Factory (Nafra Chemicals)& Citronella Factory are the main attractions here. Distance is 4 KM from Bhalukpong. Bus services&Taxis(Rs.50 from Bhaklukpong are available .Accommodation is available at the Forest Rest House at the rate Rs. 100.00.Weather is hot in summer and warm in winter.Foggy weather is for most of the months.

Water Pollution

There are many sources of pollution in our waters. In addition to point sources such as sewage and industrial waste, a great deal of water pollution comes from non-point sources such as agricultural runoff, and stormwater drainage. Common water pollutants include pesticides, lead, arsenic and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The protection of our water sources from these and other pollutants is one of the EPA's most important challenges. Under the Clean Water Act, the Agency regulates discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and sets effluent standards. The EPA also works with state and local authorities to control the pollution from non-point sourcesater Pollutants
There is no such thing as naturally pure water. In nature, all water contains some impurities. As water flows in streams, sits in lakes, and filters through layers of soil and rock in the ground, it dissolves or absorbs the substances that it touches. Some of these substances are harmless. In fact, some people prefer mineral water precisely because minerals give it an appealing taste. However, at certain levels minerals, just like man-made chemicals, are considered contaminants that can make water unpalatable or even unsafe.
Some contaminants come from erosion of natural rock formations. Other contaminants are substances discharged from factories, applied to farmlands, or used by consumers in their homes and yards. Sources of contaminants might be in your neighborhood or might be many miles away. Your local water quality report tells which contaminants are in your drinking water, the levels at which they were found, and the actual or likely source of each contaminant.
Some ground water systems have established wellhead protection programs to prevent substances from contaminating their wells. Similarly, some surface water systems protect the watershed around their reservoir to prevent contamination. Right now, states and water suppliers are working systematically to assess every source of drinking water and to identify potential sources of contaminants. This process will help communities to protect their drinking water supplies from contamination, and a summary of the results will be in future water quality reports.
List of Contaminants & their MCLsMicroorganisms, Disinfectants, Disinfection Byproducts, Inorganic Chemicals, Organic Chemicals, Radionuclides

Volcano classification

One way of classifying volcanoes is by the type of material erupted, which affects the shape of the volcano. If the erupting magma contains a high percentage (65%) of silica the lava is called felsic or acidic or Granitic. Felsic lava tends to be highly viscous (not very fluid) and is pushed up in a blob that solidifies relatively quickly. Viscous lavas tend to form stratovolcanoes. Lassen Peak in California is an example of a stratovolcano formed from felsic lava. This type of volcano has a tendency to explode when erupting, because the viscous lava traps volatiles (gases), and easily plugs. Mount Pelée on the island of Martinique is another example.
If, on the other hand, the magma contains a relatively low percentage of silica, the lava is called mafic or basic or basaltic and will be very fluid as it erupts, capable of flowing for long distances. 'Mafic' is a word referring to the chemical composition of the lava -- it contains higher percentages of magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe), and correspondingly lower percentages of silica. Due to low viscosity, volatiles are able to escape. A good example of a mafic lava flow is the Great flow produced by an eruptive fissure near the geographical center of Iceland roughly 8,000 years ago; it flowed to the sea, a distance of 130 kilometers, and covered an area of 800 square km. The shield volcanoes forming the islands of Hawaii also produce low-viscosity, mafic lavas. Lavas (and rocks) with particularly high proportion of iron and/or magnesium are called 'ultra-mafic'. A third type of lava that eruptsfrom volcanoes is andesitic, this lava has moderate amounts of silica and a moderate temperature.
Shield volcanoes

Toes of a pāhoehoe advance across a road in Kalapana on the east rift zone of Kīlauea Volcano in Hawai‘i.
Hawaii and Iceland are examples of places where volcanoes extrude huge quantities of lava that gradually build a wide mountain with a shield-like profile. Their lava flows are generally very hot and very fluid, contributing to long flows. The largest lava shield on Earth, Mauna Loa, is 9,000 m tall (it sits on the sea floor), 120 km in diameter and forms part of the Island of Hawaii. Olympus Mons is a shield volcano on Mars, and the tallest mountain in the known solar system. Smaller versions of the "lava shield" include the 'lava dome' (tholoid), 'lava cone', and 'lava mound'.
Cinder cones
Volcanic cones or cinder cones result from eruptions that throw out mostly small pieces of cinder that build up around the vent. These can be relatively short-lived eruptions that produce a cone-shaped hill perhaps 30 to 400 m high. Cinder cones may be associated with other types of volcanoes, or occur on their own.
Stratovolcanoes or composite volcanoes
These are tall conical mountains composed of both lava flows and ejected material, being layered alternatively, which form the strata that give rise to the name. Classic examples include Mt. Fuji in Japan and Mount Mayon in the Philippines. Volcanoes on land often take the form of flat cones, as the expulsions build up over the years, or in short-lived volcanic cones, cinder cones.
Supervolcanoes
"Supervolcano" is the popular term for large volcanoes that usually have a large caldera and can potentially produce devastation on a continental scale and cause major global weather pattern changes. Potential candidates include the Yellowstone Caldera in Yellowstone National Park, the Long Valley Caldera near Mammoth Lakes, California, and Lake Toba, but are hard to identify given that there is no formal definition of the term.

Processed tomato export trends

World trade
The production of processed tomato has been predominantly concentrated in the EEC and North America. These accounted for almost 75 per cent of the total production in 1992-93. USA accounts for 42.2 percent and Italy producing about 16 per cent of the world production has processed tomato.
World trade in processed tomatoes are in the form of paste, ketchup/sauce, puree and canned tomato. Italy ranks as the largest exporter of processed tomatoes, making its presence felt on the world market for all the four processed tomato items. In the case of canned tomato, Spain is another important exporter. In case of tomato puree too, Italy enjoys close to a monopoly. On the tomato paste market, while this country is the biggest exporter, Greece comes a close second. The USA does not figure on the list in any of the major items, even though it is a substantially large producer of the same, indicating that this country consumes most of its production of processed tomato items.
The major importers are USA. This is a significant importer of the processed tomato items, although its imports are less than 1% of its own domestic production. Some other consistently large importers are the U.K., France and Germany. The United Kingdom alone imported 304.5 thousand tonnes of processed tomatoes. France imported as much as 175 thousand tonnes of processed tomatoes in the same period, which amounted to 67 per cent of its total domestic production in the year. As in the case of the USA, such a phenomenon reveals a huge domestic market. However, unlike the latter which has been declining over time, the French market has shown stagnation, except in the case of canned tomato which has shown some growth, although very nominally. Germany too, figures as a major and consistent importer, and the market for ketchup and sauce in particular are growing in this country.
India's production
India is not a dominant player in the world market, whether that be in the context of production, imports or export. India's share in world production is only 0.79 per cent. However, the Indian tomato processing industry prides itself on being the largest in Southeast Asia. In fact, the output of the Indian industry is more than twice that of Japan, and considerably greater that Thailand and Taiwan. Another encouraging trends has been that India's production level of processed tomato has risen by 50 per cent.
Domestic producers of this item state that the major institutional customers of tomato paste are restaurants. The manufacturers of ketchup/sauce account for about 80 per cent of the consumption. Tomato juice and puree have not yet established themselves firmly in the middle class food habit, but the demand for ketchup/sauce is slowly growing in this massive segment. So far, processed tomato products for direct consumption have not found favour among the masses due to traditional food habits.

Export competitiveness
Processed tomato is a major trade item in the world, but India does not figure anywhere among the top exporters of any of its many forms. However, India has been exporting processed tomato in the form of tomato paste and ketchup. India does possess moderate export competitiveness on the world market for tomato paste. The domestic market is expanding, and there is also world demand for this product. Tomato paste is another item in which India possesses export competitiveness.

The History of Department Stores

American department stores

"In considering the social effects of the department store, one is inclined to attach the greatest importance to the contributions which they have made to the transformation in the way of life of the greatest strata of the population, a transformation which will remain the one great social fact of these last 100 years." - Hrant Pasdermadjian, The Department Store, Its Origins, Evolution and Economics, 1954

The Big Stores
The three biggest department stores in the mid-1960s, both in sales volume and physical size, were Macy's, Hudson's, and Marshall Field, in that order. Hudson's, shown here, had 25 stories, 16 of them selling floors. Two of its four below-ground floors were basement stores, where 60 departments did up to 25% of the store's business. At its peak in mid-century, Hudson's employed up to 12,000 employees and welcomed 100,000 shoppers a day. It had its own telephone exchange (CApitol), and the nation's third largest switchboard, exceeded only by the Pentagon and the Bell System itself.Restaurant reviewer Duncan Hines loved Hudson's tea rooms. In the 1947 edition of Adventures in Good Eating he wrote: "This splendid department store has devoted the greater part of a floor to the tea rooms. The food is at all times very tempting and the service has that quality of quiet elegance which adds so much to the pleasure of dining. Don’t overlook the dining room on the mezzanine, if you happen to be in a bit of a hurry. Their chicken pie is outstanding."

Marshall Field, the man, was a dry goods wholesaler. He wasn't fond of retailing or of the idea of selling all kinds of merchandise under one roof. Like many other people he thought department stores were low class. Field never became really enthusiastic about his department store, said to be the brainchild of Harry Selfridge, its early manager, and later founder of Selfridge's in London. Selfridge made the store customer-friendly by improving its lighting, opening a tea room, and -- horrifying to Field - installing a few bargain tables here and there.
Nevertheless, Field's remained conservative in many of its practices. For years it curtained its show windows on Sundays, refused to display women's underwear on manikins, and wouldn't let salesclerks wear makeup.
For decades the Marshall Field store wrestled with the John Wanamaker store in Philadelphia for the title of America's most prestigious large-scale, full-service department store.
Although the store did poorly during the Depression, by 1945 its business was booming. It had become an institution. Reeling from the shock of Pearl Harbor, a Chicago woman exclaimed, "Nothing is left any more – except, thank God, Marshall Field’s.

In 1878 a New York Times headline announced "The Great Sixth-Avenue Bazaar; Opening Day at Macy & Co.’s – A Place Where Almost Anything May Be Bought." The special attraction, the article noted, was the "universality of the stock, almost every article of dress and household furniture being for sale there, and at the most reasonable prices." In November of 1902, the store moved to its present site, but it wasn't until 1924, when it doubled its building size, that it began to really grow and to take the lead as a retailing giant. That year it presented its first holiday parade called "Fairyfolk Frolics in Wondertown." By the end of the 1920s, Macy's had become the country's largest department store

Textile

This is a course in computer aided textile design where a student is taught to appreciate and develop her own values and design concepts in traditional and contemporary processes, using hPrinting and weaving, the two options in the Textile Designing Course, provide systematic training in surface designs and fabric structure.

In the final year, students have an option between screen printing and batik as their area of specialization. And in weaving, to learn mixed weaves and coloured effect, fabric analysis and loom mechanism.er resourcefulness and imagination.

A state-of-the-art Computer Centre imparts formal training to students in Computer Aided Textile Design (CAD) which is the need of the hour. There is a dedicated Screen Printing Workshop for students of the Textile Designing Course to explore different facets of this medium. It is equipped with: high speed industrial stirrer, exposing & tracing tables, stretching stands & tables and stainless steel frames of all sizes.

There is an exclusive Batik/Tye & Dye Laboratory for students, which is equipped with: steamer, compressor spray guns and mini lab stirrers for dyeing, block, batik and spray printing work. A specific Spray Room allows students to practice and learn different rendering techniques by spray work. Individual workshop rooms for screen printing and weaving are provided for equipped with nine table looms.

There is a dedicated Screen Printing Workshop for students of the Textile Designing Course to explore different facets of this medium. It is equipped with: high speed industrial stirrer, exposing & tracing tables, stretching stands & tables and stainless steel frames of all sizes

Steelmet industries

Steelmet Industries, a 35 year old organization, is based at Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. It is backed by technocrats who come with a wealth of experience in Cold Drawn Bright Bar production and related techniques.
To align its systems, techniques and practices with those of the modern day customer who has already adopted these quality systems or plans to get certified, Steelmet Industries also is now readying itself for certifications and following quality systems laid down by these standards. We expect to get ourselves certified by the end of next quarter.
Timely deliveries, quality and the adherence to specifications & requirements has helped Steelmet Industries to develop a clientele that includes Arms manufacturers, Defense machinery manufacturers, Automobiles (Cars, Two wheelers, Three wheelers, Auto Rickshaws, Trucks and other heavy vehicles), Textile mills & machinery manufacturers, Earth Moving Machinery manufacturers, OEMs and miscellaneous equipment manufacturers.
Steelmet Industries can now boast of having the most powerful and modern Bright Bar manufacturing equipment in entire Central India outside the Ordinance Factories. Further expansion and modernization is planned and would include putting up a heavy duty Coil drawing machinery and coil straightening / shearing equipment. This would be capable of handling Alloy Steel coils of up to 42mm diameter or 36mm square cross section. Further plans are also afoot to start production of specialized profiles and cross sections. Once the expansion is complete, the production capacity is expected to reach 20000 tons per annum. Current capacity stands at about 12000 TPA.
Cold finished steel bars possess improved mechanical properties, greater dimensional accuracy, better surface integrity and higher machinability. These superior product qualities provide a number of significant design advantages & benefits:
Cold drawing increases the hardness, yield and tensile strength, which can:
Serve to reduce design mass (weight), Eliminate costly heat treating, Allow the use of a less expensive grade, Provide increased fatigue strength and longer service performance, Provide better wear and corrosion resistance, Better resist handling damage, Provide faster annealing response, Provide greater cross-sectional uniformity

VVS Laxman

When we think of VVS Laxman, we always think of the divine gift he was born with. We think of the timing, the grace, the wristy shots. But his elegance cloaks an intense mental strength that is not highlighted often enough.
He has batted at different positions, he has been in and out of the team a bit, and he has batted alongside a pretty good middle order; but because he doesn't look like he is making a lot of effort when batting, we tend to forget that there is a lot of hard work involved in what he does.
Now that he has reached 100 Tests, it's time to celebrate his longevity and what lies behind it. He has had his share of injuries. He has coped with them, played through them, and a lot of it comes down to his mental strength.
Our partnership extends to standing next to each other in the slips. He has been one of the best slippers I have stood with. We spend a lot of time on our slip catching. Both of us have that conscious drive to be good slippers. That we have built a good slip cordon has been a significant factor in our winning more games over the last ten years or so.
Standing in slips we talk about a variety of subjects. He has always been interesting to talk to: he is a wise man, has an infectious laugh, and is one of the most positive persons around. We keep bouncing ideas off each other - whether about the game or other subjects. We both have young children, and sometimes the conversations are about how Samit [my son] is doing and how Sarvajit [Laxman's son] is doing, and which school to send them to and why. That way we manage to switch ourselves on and off in the slips.
In the dressing room, you'll always find Laxman with his Walkman on, lying down, or sleeping somewhere. Even if it's before he has to go in to bat, you see Laxman under a table catching up on sleep. It always boggles my mind that amid the noise and clutter of the dressing room, here is a man, who needs to go in to bat in a short while, sleeping calmly.
Till he walks out to bat, he always gives you anxious moments. He waits until the last minute to get ready. If he is batting overnight, or has come back not out for lunch or tea, you see him padding up once the umpires have started to walk out. "What's happening Lax? Get ready," is the usual cry. But that's until he walks out.
Laxman has a lot of balance in his cricket and in his life. He doesn't get carried away with a lot of success, neither does he let failure bog him down. Sure, like any other player he gets excited when he is doing really well, and disappointed when he is not. But he is different in that he never lets it get to his head. He has the ability to bounce back, which allows him to remain calm through turbulence.

Trends in Spices Exports

The Spices Board may not achieve the export target of Rs. 2,000 crore for the current year. Spices exports have dropped both in terms of quantity and value in the first two months of the current financial year. Exports during April-May ’00 have dropped to 30,820 tonnes, valued at Rs.235.07 crore, from 52,254 tonnes, valued at Rs. 399.38 crore in the corresponding period of last year. Overall exports during ‘99-00 touched about 2.08 lakh tonnes, valued at Rs. 1,861.02 crore against the target of 2.17 lakh tonnes, valued at Rs.1,748 crore. In ‘98-99 exports touched 2.31 lakh tonnes, valued at Rs.1,758.02 crore. This year the Spices Board has fixed the export target at 2,27,750 tonnes, valued at Rs.2,000 crore.
Countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia are dominating the market as far as pepper is concerned. Similarly, China and Nigeria have grabbed a sizeable market for ginger this year. Export of chillies has also come under serious pressure as Pakistan is out with its stock. This is for the first time in the last 4-5 years that Indian exporters are playing second fiddle. Currently Indian exporters are exporting purely on the basis of quality and long standing business relations. Exports of pepper have dropped from 10,897 tonnes, valued at Rs. 204 crore to 4,000 tonnes, valued at Rs.85.60 crore. Similarly, exports of chilli have dropped from 13,667 tonnes, valued at Rs. 55.73 crore to 9,000 tonnes, valued at Rs.30.60 crore.
Exports of turmeric have dropped from 7,968 tonnes, valued at Rs. 24.63 crore to 4,500 tonnes, valued at Rs. 13 crore. Also, ginger exports have dropped from 1,433 tonnes, valued at Rs.4.06 crore to 230 tonnes, valued at Rs 1.71 crore. Exports of seed spices, such as coriander, has dropped from 3,404 tonnes, valued at Rs. 7.95 crore, to 2,500 tonnes, valued at Rs. 6.25 crore. Exports of cuminseed have dropped from 1,691 tonnes, valued at Rs.10.88 crore, to 500 tonnes, valued at Rs.3.06 crore. Similarly celery exports have dropped from 521 tonnes, valued at Rs.1.40 crore to 200 tonnes, valued at Rs. 51 lakh. Fennelseed exports have dropped from 644 tonnes, valued at Rs.2.96 crore, to 250 tonnes, valued at Rs. 1.12 crore and exports of fenugreek dropped from 2,204 tonnes valued at Rs 3.96 crirem to 1,100 tonnes, valued at Rs.2.75 crore.

Silver Exports

The art of metal work arrived in Indonesia in the Bronze Age from Southern Chinese and Southeast Asian areas. Bronze drums, dated from as early as the fifth century BC, have been found throughout the Archipelago Islands, and some of them are believed to have been cast in Bali. Indeed, the most famous of these drums, the massive Moon of Pejeng, still rests in Bali on a temple pavilion in the village of Pejeng. The drums were cast in the lost wax style and in stone molds. Beads of glass, coral, carnelian, shell, silver, gold, and other metals have been found in Bronze age sites as well.You will find many of these items in our current sterling silver jewelry collection. The earliest metal jewelry was primarily copper with some gold. silver and "suwasa", which is one part gold and two parts copper. Metal age graves reveal gold and silver necklaces, hairpins, beads and rings. Initially, raw gold and silver made its way to Indonesia from China, and India but eventually gold and silver were found in Sumatra, Java and Bali which became famous for its jewelry and dagger hilts.
By the time of the birth of Christ, the people of Sumatra, Bali and Java were practicing rice cultivation with irrigation and the use of the buffalo-drawn plow. The accumulation of wealth which ensued encouraged the refinement of many art forms, including what is now known as sterling silver jewelry. By AD 1,000 gold and silverwork in Java had reached a level of artistry as high as that of the bronze caster. The abundance of gold and silver was documented by a Chinese trader who reported in 1225 that Javanese criminals, except for thieves and murderers, were not imprisoned or subjected to corporal punishment but fined in gold or silver.
ABOUT BALI STERLING SILVER JEWELRY
A vibrant culture, unique arts and ceremonies, a friendly people and scenic beauty make Bali an island almost unreal in today's changing world and is therefore the main destination for pleasure tourists to Indonesia.
Bali's vibrant culture, arts and ceremonies, are based on its unique form of Hinduism called "Hindu Darma" and since then developed through the centuries. Though the caste system is observed, it is not as rigid as in India. Religion is the source of traditional customs in family and community life. Its influence is also strongly felt in the arts. The Balinese have managed to preserve their culture despite the overwhelming foreign influences brought by the increasing number of visitors.
Bali's "rajas" and princes were deprived of their kingdoms by the colonial government in the early part of this century, but many of them still own their palaces and are respected as patrons of the arts.
The attraction of Bali is its unique art and culture. It almost seems that every person is an artist in some form, whether it is painting, weaving, carving, basketry, sterling silver jewelry etc., or even in decorations which are done at many shrines in public areas, on roads, paddy fields or in homes. Villagers spend most of their time in these arts which are taught from a very young age.
The soul of the Balinese is in his religion, so it finds its expression in the arts. We offer many of these unique designs in our sterling silver jewelry selection.Four reasons sterling silver jewelry is a better jewelry metal than gold:1.Sterling silver is the most reflective metal; it even outshines gold, 2. Sterling silver enjoys a greater flexibility than gold, moving from casual wear to chic glamour easily, 3.Sterling silver's white color is flattering to all skin tones, 4. It's incredibly affordable.

Welcome to Miracle Asian Imports !
Sterling silver jewelry is a great choice when buying gifts for yourself or as gifts for others, for any occasion.At Miracle Asian Imports we have a great selection of beautiful imported, 925 sterling silver pendants, sterling silver earrings, sterling silver necklaces and sterling silver bracelets available, as well as sterling silver jewelry sets. Browse our selection to find those well crafted, fun designs. The handcrafted style of our sterling silver jewelry has a personal style and feel. Many of the items in our collection have that most recognizable characteristic called antiquing, which darkens the recessed areas of the sculpted sterling silver design. At Miracle Asian Imports, our sterling silver jewelry collection comes in many beautiful styles, from plain, simple yet elegant, to an assortment of vibrantly colored coral, CZ, and gemstone. Discover the various catagories of sterling silver jewelry that we offer so that you may select an item that will be everlasting and affordable. Sterling silver jewelry is perfect for daily wear. It's gleaming white color is durable and suitable for all occasions, casual or formal. When shopping for sterling silver jewelry, browse through our entire collection and select those items that are " just right for you." Please remember that all hand crafted items may vary slightly, as it is impossible to make it identical to another item

Satellite TV Receiver

Today's communication satellites relay a more diverse range of TV programming than ever before. Your choice from among the various satellite receivers now on the market will therefore depend largely on the nature of the satellite TV program services which you desire to view from the comfort of your easy chair. Some satellite TV programs are broadcast in the clear and are therefore considered "free to air" (FTA), while others may be encrypted and only made available to subscribers living within a particular region or individual country.
There also is an important distinction to be made between satellite TV services which are transmitted in an analogue format and those that are digitally compressed. Analogue communication signals are electromagnetic waves of energy which vary in frequency (called frequency modulation, or FM) or intensity (called amplitude modulation, or AM). Digitally compressed TV signals, however, are broadcast in an alternate format consisting of a series of binary digits or "bits" which correspond to the on and off states of computer logic circuitry. Only one manufacturer currently offers a dual-purpose satellite TV receiver which can process both analogue and digital satellite TV signals and its use is restricted to the North American market
Analogue Satellite TV Receivers
The cost of an analogue satellite TV receiver will depend on the number of features which it offers to the consumer. Some low-cost satellite receivers can display TV images which equal or even exceed the picture quality offered by more expensive units. The downside is that the operator will have to remember and execute all of the little adjustments needed to tune into each and every satellite TV broadcast.
In some cases, the receiver may be a stand-alone unit which, by itself, can only receive programs from a single satellite. Most analogue satellite TV receivers these days, however, also feature built-in antenna controllers which can steer a motorized dish from one satellite to any other.
Many of today's high-end satellite TV receivers are actually task-specific computers which contain advanced microprocessors and memory storage circuits. Each receiver comes with factory installed software programs which automatically perform all the various tasks required to receive the available satellites and satellite TV services. For example, many receivers come pre-programmed with the locations and tuning parameters for all of the available satellite TV services stored in a memory circuit.
The receiver's wireless remote control can be regarded as the keyboard, while the TV set serves as a computer screen which can display a variety of menus that the installer uses during the initial installation process and which the TV viewer can also use to customize the IRD to suit his or her specific viewing needs.
All satellite TV receivers are designed to maximize the strength of the incoming satellite signal or "carrier" while at the same time limiting the amount of noise either contributed by external sources or generated by the satellite TV system's internal electronic circuitry. The figure of merit for an analogue satellite TV receiver is defined as a "threshold" point expressed in decibels (dB) at a specific carrier to noise ratio or C/N.
When the receiving system's C/N (which is measured in decibels or dB) falls below this threshold point, impulse noise or sparklies rapidly appear in the TV picture rendering it unviewable. The lower the receiver's threshold rating, the better it will operate under low signal receiving conditions such as when the antenna's diameter is insufficient for receiving a low-powered satellite transmission. Receiver threshold ratings ranging from 6.5 to 10 dB C/N commonly are encountered in the product literature. The problem with relying on this specification as a benchmark for receiver evaluation is that not all manufacturers measure the threshold performance of their products in the same way. The best way to evaluate receiver performance is to have the retailer connect it to a dish with the same diameter as the one that you intend to install at your home and actually see how it performs while receiving several different satellites

Resorts

Sabol Privacies, Ooty is a unique project offering permanent holiday solutions. Sabol Privacies Ooty provides fully furnished villas on a ownership basis. A well thought out and exquisitely designed project it comes along with the added advantage of absolutely free maintenance.
Situated in around 3 acres of land admist the lush greenery of the tranquil Pudumund Lake on the Connemara road, Ooty. Sabol Privacies Ooty villas is just a few minutes drive from St.Stephen’s Church and near the Adyar Villa, far away from the commercial den, yet easily accessible. Infact, one can find leading star hotels like Monarch and Gempark Holiday Inn on the way to Sabol Privacies.
Sabol Privacies Ooty has got major advantages over other concepts. It is a much better option than vacation time shares, as you own the place in totality and you can visit the place whenever you feel like visiting. It also scores over regular hotels because you need not be at the mercy of hotels to book in advance and you don’t have to worry about the reservations, since you can visit your properties at your convenience.
If this sounds unbelievable, then on top of it comes our incredible value added features of Revenue sharing from the leasing out the premises and you no longer need to worry about maintenance.It is free!
OwnershipYou are the rightful owner of your dream villa. The registration is done in the owner’s name. So, you stand to gain from appreciation of the property. It is the wisest investment you can make.
Free Maintenance
It is maintained all round the year, at no extra cost, holidays will no longer mean additional expenses and hidden costs. We take care of your properties everything like your electricity bills, gardening, etc.,

Common Amenities
With a host of common amenities at your disposal, you will be spoilt for a choice! Yet another feather in our cap is our list of common amenities which has been carefully conceptualized. A unique feature of Sabol Privacies Ooty properties, we can boast of High-class facilities. The following are the blocks which houses all the value added facilities.
Lapwing Lounge, Hoatzin Court, Oval Amphi-theatre, Revenue sharing module
Yet another Innovation from Sabol Privacies. The Revenue generated by Sabol Privacies through marketing villas other than your time of stay for daily bookings, corporate leasing, adventure tourism, health tourism, nature camps and hosting of corporate meetings etc., will be shared with the owner of the villas after taking care of the maintenance.

Real Estate

Real estate companies are likely to slash prices to boost demand in reality business. It is to be noted that Union Finance minister, P Chidambaram recently asked industry to slash prices so that the desired targets of industrial growth can be achieved.
Realtors seem to get the message and are expected to decide on price slash within few days. Real estate sector is facing tough situation amid ongoing world economic crisis. Home Buyers have declined in number as banks are offering home loans at high rates, which are not affordable for Indian working and business class.
The ongoing world economic crisis has widely impacted the real estate sector. The largest real estate company in India, DLF has announced various measures to cut costs and reduce unnecessary expenses. DLF would terminate services of some of company's employees and stop working on some of its projects.
Unitech and Parsvnath Developers also retrenched their staff last month in line with cost cutting drive due to global meltdown.
At the ongoing World Economic Forum-India Economic Summit, Arun Nanda, executive director (infrastructure development sector) of Mahindra and Mahindra, said, "Affordable housing market has a huge demand with consumers just sitting on the fence and waiting to get a clearer picture of the ongoing financial crisis.”
The Mahindra group has a wholly-owned subsidiary, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd, operating in the infrastructure.Demolition was off late seen as the only consequence of illegal construction, but the cabinet sub-committee on Sakrama, for the regularization of unauthorized constructions has opted for a more viable option. It has favored relaxing the upper limit of violation, currently 50% and reducing the penalty for irregularization substantially

Rajasthan Forest Level

In the foregoing background the State's Policy from the angle of forestry development are envisaged as under :
Conservation of unique rich heritage, cultural and ethnical traditions of conservation of floral and faunal diversity and genepool reserves through a network of protected areas, such as National Parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere Reserves and Closed Areas.
Conservation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna of the state by undertaking in-situ and ex-situ conservation measures and establishing linkages with the natural habitats of the species for their rehabilitation. Providing proper protection to the wildlife in multiple use areas forming corridors and linking them up with the protected areas for genetic continuity.
Development of research and monitoring facilities for scientific understanding of species and ecosystems, population and habitats for sustainable management of biodiversity resources of the state.
Conservation of unique rich heritage, cultural and ethnical traditions of conservation of floral and faunal diversity and genepool reserves through a network of protected areas, such as National Parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere Reserves and Closed Areas.
Conservation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna of the state by undertaking in-situ and ex-situ conservation measures and establishing linkages with the natural habitats of the species for their rehabilitation. Providing proper protection to the wildlife in multiple use areas forming corridors and linking them up with the protected areas for genetic continuity.
Development of research and monitoring facilities for scientific understanding of species and ecosystems, population and habitats for sustainable management of biodiversity resources of the state. Protection and development of natural forest ecosystems for sustainable production and consumption of goods and services.
Promoting ecodevelopment around protected areas with the involvement of local people and NGOs. Enhancing productivity of forests, public wastelands and optimising production from private degraded lands.
Ecological restoration of all degraded forests, public wastelands (Community/Panchayat) and private degraded lands by using appropriate technology and management inputs based on land capability classes.
Combating desertification by undertaking various measures, such as, in-situ soil and water conservation and water harvesting, sand dune stabilisation and promoting combined production systems, namely, agro-forestry, silvi-pastoral, agri-silvi-pastoral, agri-horticultural systems. Augmenting fuelwood, fodder, timber and non-timber forest products for meeting the demands of local people and the state, with particular focus on fuelwood and fodder

Plastic as Packing Material

Plastic has replaced the traditional material ( paper/cloth etc) as packing and carry bags because of cost and convenience which is possibly a wrong choice of material for such use. Even though plastic bags can preserve food and can be used for growing vegetables in a controlled environment, their method of disposal has creates unprecedented pollution problem.Plastic has many more uses other than Plastic Bags and Packing material. It is used for manufacturing of protective covers and parts for many machines, which should be the preferred utility for plastic
Before the advent of poly-bags, people did shop, buy things, bring eatables from the market, and did the same marketing as is done now. How did they did it? The raw material for the bag was decided by its usage. Cloth bags for lighter items, Gunny bags/Jute bags for voluminous and heavier goods. The cost did not justify use and discard attitude. These bags were washable and reusable lasting for six months to a year.

The hazards plastics pose are numerous. The land gets littered by plastic bag garbage presenting an ugly and unhygienic seen. The "Throw away culture" results in these bags finding their way in to the city drainage system, the resulting blockage cases inconvenience, difficult in maintaining the drainage with increased cost, creates unhygienic environment resulting in health hazard and spreading of water borne diseases. This littering also reduces rate of rain water percolating, resulting in lowering of already low water levels in our cities. The soil fertility deteriorates as the plastic bags form part of manure remain in the soil for years.

It has been observed that the animals eating the bags sometimes die. Plastic goes into the ocean which is already a plastic infested body of water. Fish and other marine species in the water ways, misunderstanding plastic garbage as food items swallow them and die.

Many household utility items like needle, scissors, blades can heart if not handled properly. Children need to be trained in their proper handling. These utility items are not banned. But because of throw away culture and no objection from passer by, the advise on sensible disposal of plastic bags are not heeded by general public forcing the government to consider banning of plastic bags all together.

"Should plastic carry bags and bottles be banned in totality?" - is a heated issue today. Average Indian uses one kilogram (kg) of plastics per year, the world annual average is a alarming 18 kg. But too many do it as our cities have huge population. The country yet to take a serious view of the issue and have a uniform nation-wide law for indiscreet disposals of plastic bags. People should be educated on the proper ways of plastic bag usage and the disposal. The teaching should start right from the primary schools. "Plastic is an eco-friendly material. The real problem is littering", some claim. But there is hardly anybody who agrees with such viewpoint. Thinking rationally, the whole idea of educating people about plastic bags, although very ambitious, and it is as difficult as banning

Human Health Risks from PCBs

Thousands of medical PCB studies have shown that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) cause a wide variety of health effects, often at very low exposure levels. The average American already carries enough PCB in his or her body to meet or exceed the minimum threshold for beginning health problems due to PCBs. In Northeast Wisconsin, we have much higher PCB exposures and greater health risks.

Not all of the 209 kinds of PCB have the same effects. Some have properties like dioxin (one of the world's most toxic man-made compounds), some PCBs act like hormones, and other PCBs are nerve poisons. We have a mixture including all types in the Fox River and Green Bay.
PCBs alter major systems in the body (immune, hormone, nervous, and enzyme systems); therefore, PCBs affect a wide variety of body organs and functions.
Our PCB contamination is a public health crisis which has been ignored far too long.

Now’s the time to be involved in this public participation campaign. We’ve worked over 20 years on this cause and we all need to pitch in for the final push for PCB pollution cleanup, public compensation and restoration of the Fox River and Green Bay. You can help protect public health, fish and wildlife, and prevent this ever happening again.

Ozone Layer

Although ozone (O3) is present in small concentrations throughout the atmosphere, most ozone (about 90%) exists in the stratosphere, in a layer between 10 and 50km above the surface of the earth. This ozone layer performs the essential task of filtering out most of the sun's biologically harmful ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation. Concentrations of ozone in the atmosphere vary naturally according to temperature, weather, latitude and altitude. Furthermore, aerosols and other particles ejected by natural events such as volcanic eruptions can have measurable impacts on ozone levels.
The Ozone Hole
In 1985, scientists identified a thinning of the ozone layer over the Antarctic during the spring months which became known as the "ozone hole". The scientific evidence shows that human-made chemicals are responsible for the creation of the Antarctic ozone hole and are also likely to play a role in global ozone losses. Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) have been used in many products which take advantage of their physical properties (e.g. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have been used as aerosol propellants and refrigerants).
CFCs are broken down by sunlight in the stratosphere, producing halogen (e.g. chlorine) atoms, which subsequently destroy ozone through a complex catalytic cycle. Ozone destruction is greatest at the South pole where very low stratospheric temperatures in winter create polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). Ice crystals formed in PSCs provide a large surface area for chemical reactions, accelerating catalytic cycles. The destruction of ozone also involves sunlight, so the process intensifies during spring time, when the levels of solar radiation at the pole are highest, and PSC's are continually present.
Although ozone levels vary seasonally, stratospheric ozone levels have been observed to be decreasing annually since the 1970s. Mid-latitudes have experienced greater losses than equatorial regions. In 1997 the Antarctic ozone hole covered 24M km2 in October, with an average of 40% ozone depletion and ozone levels in Scandinavia, Greenland and Siberia reached an unprecedented 45% depletion in 1996.
Environmental and Health Effects
The amount of UV reaching the earth's surface has been shown to correlate with the extent of ozone depletion. In 1997 UV-B levels continued to rise at a rate of 2% per annum. Increased UV levels at the earth's surface are damaging to human health, air quality, biological life, and certain materials such as plastics. Human health effects include increases in the incidence of certain types of skin cancers, cataracts and immune deficiency disorders. Increased penetration of UV results in additional production of ground level ozone, which causes respiratory illnesses. Biologically, UV affects terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, altering growth, food chains and biochemical cycles.
In particular, aquatic life occurring just below the surface of the water, where plant species forming the basis of the food chain are most abundant, are adversely affected by elevated levels of UV radiation. The tensile properties of certain plastics can be affected by exposure

Nutrition

Six of the ten leading causes of death in the United States are linked to a poor diet. The New York State Department of Health Division of Nutrition's goal is to improve the health of New Yorkers through prevention, providing nutritious foods and educating people about making smart nutrition choices.
Providing good nutrition for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and preschool children; school-age children in high-risk areas; people in need of emergency food assistance; adults at risk for chronic disease; persons with AIDS; the frail elderly and children up to age 18 and the functionally impaired adults that are in day care are the main focus of the Division of Nutrition.
The Division of Nutrition has many programs in place to help achieve these goals and to reach as many people that qualify for these programs, as possible.
Nutrition Programs
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Eat Well Play Hard (EWPH), Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, Growing Up Healthy Hotline, Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), WIC - Women, Infants, Children
Nutrition-Related Information
Activ8Kids! - Childhood Obesity Prevention Program, Child Nutrition Resources, Eating Disorders, Guidelines for Healthy Meetings, Steps to a Healthier NY, Nutrition Data and Statistics.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program - CACFP is a nutrition education and meal reimbursement program helping providers serve nutritious and safely prepared meals and snacks to children and adults in day care settings.About the New York State Child and Adult Care Food Program, Prospective Sponsors, Participating Day Care Centers, Participating Day Care Homes, Child Nutrition Resources, Nutrition Data and Statistics, Food Recall Alert Information

Motor Manufaturing Industries

Despite news of plant closures and unemployed auto workers, the motor vehicle and parts manufacturing industry continues to be one of the largest employers in the country and a major contributor to our economy’s success. Motor vehicle and parts manufacturing is continually evolving to improve efficiency and provide products that consumers want in a highly competitive market, which at times may mean outdated plants are forced to close. It also means companies and workers must adapt more quickly to changes in demand and production practices so that new technologies can be implemented and work can be done on a number of different vehicles at one time. Teamwork and continual retraining are key components to the success of this industry and the ability of the workforce to adapt.
Motor vehicle and parts manufacturers also have a major influence on other industries in the economy as well. Building motor vehicles requires vast quantities of materials from, and creates many jobs in, industries that manufacture steel, rubber, plastics, glass, and other basic materials. It also spurs employment for automobile and other motor vehicle dealers; automotive repair and maintenance shops; gasoline stations; highway construction companies; and automotive parts, accessories, and tire stores.
Goods and services. The motor vehicles manufactured in this industry include: automobiles, sport-utility vehicles (SUVs), vans and pickup trucks, heavy duty trucks, buses, truck trailers and motor homes. It also includes the manufacturing of the parts that go into these vehicles, such as the engine, seats, brakes, and electrical systems. According to the Federal Reserve, over 11 million motor vehicles were assembled in the U.S. in 2006. Building and assembling the many different parts of a car or truck requires an amazingly complex design, manufacturing, and assembly process.
Industry organization. In 2006, about 9200 establishments manufactured motor vehicles and parts. These ranged from small parts plants with only a few workers to huge assembly plants that employ thousands. By far, the largest sector of this industry is motor vehicle parts manufacturing. It has the most establishments and the most workers. Table 1 shows that about 7 out of 10 establishments in the industry manufactured motor vehicle parts—including electrical and electronic equipment; engines and transmissions; brake systems; seating and interior trim; steering and suspension components; air-conditioners; and motor vehicle stampings, such as fenders, tops, body parts, trim, and molding
The next largest sector, in terms of number of establishments, is motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing. In 2006, nearly one-fourth of establishments were engaged in this type of manufacturing. These establishments specialized in manufacturing truck trailers; motor homes; travel trailers; campers; and car, truck, and bus bodies placed on separately purchased chassis.
Automotive and light truck assembly plants make up the third largest sector. In 2006, about 5 percent of establishments that employ 23 percent of all workers in this industry, were engaged in assembling these smaller motor vehicles. A growing number of these assembly plants are owned by foreign automobile makers, known as “domestic internationals.” These foreign automobile manufacturers open assembly plants in the United States to be closer to their market, avoid changing exchange rates, and save transportation costs.
A typical automotive assembly plant can be divided into three major sections. In the first section, exterior body panels and interior frame are assembled and welded together. This work is mostly performed by robots, but may also require some manual welding. During this stage, the body is attached to a conveyor system that will move it through the entire assembly process. Throughout the entire process, numerous inspections are performed to ensure the quality of the work.

Mines and Minerals

There's turmoil in the world of mining. On the one hand, mining activities are shifting from the developed to the developing and less developed economies while on the other hand fallout of the last two decade's ills are plaguing many a producer: Low ore prices, shrinking mineral exploration, shooting expenditure, and over capacities in extreme cases are all chipping in their bits.
The concern for the environment, increasing awareness of paying back to nature after we plunder, the need and the desire to be good corporate citizens, the concept of being and thinking green are all concerns that are facing the industry today, albeit in different degrees.The result for the above is chaos but will there be a God of Mines who'll create a cosmos from this underbelly of nature? Will recovering ore prices stem the rot and change things for the better? Will Technological expertise provide the way out?
With a view towards addressing the above core concerns and with a view towards meeting the crying need for providing an industrial voice the editorial team of "Steel and Metallurgy", in association with industry watches, academics and analysts have ventured on the path of launching "Mines and Minerals Reporter".
Highlights -
Key industrial issues, Analysis on global trends, Report on events of interest, Studies on major happenings, News items from the perspective of the indian industry, Trying to indegenise news and statistical content so that in a barrier less global order Indian, Entities can keep themselves abreast of the latest trends and profit from the same
What does it contain?
Trends in mining technologies, Processing of minerals and utilizations, Material handling needs & related developments including introduction of new conveyors cleaning systems etc. Overview of various minerals & ores, Mining deposits & explorations, News, Statistics

Led-Future of Light

Negative is the latest addition to the steadily growing stream of stylish timepieces from the famous Japanese watch importer. This new model is described as “one of the most sophisticated designs available from Tokyoflash.
Available in polished silver or polished black, Negative’s LCD screen is always displaying the time, allowing the wearer to read it with a quick glance. What really brings this design to life is its multi color LED light guide. At the touch of a button, the display can be backlit with one of seven user selectable colors, a feature which is most impressive at night.

With the additional style and luxury of a solid stainless steel band, Negative also has an abundance of features, including a vertical or horizontal display option, several alarm functions, 12/24 hour mode and multi-color mode, sending all LED colors into a frenzy when the backlight is activated.
The display presents the time in negative space, the unlit squares on the screen showing digital numbers, highlighted by the bright squares around them. This creates a subtle optical illusion effect, giving the watch a unusual mystique, unlike those using standard digital displays.

Dutch designer Marieke Staps has built a lamp with the LEDs powered by soil. She writes:"Free and environmentally friendly energy forever and ever. The lamp runs on mud. The metabolism of biological life produces enough electricity to keep an LED lamp burning. The mud is enclosed in various cells. These cells contain copper and zinc that conduct the electricity. The more cells there are , the more electricity they generate. This technique offers a wealth of possibilities. The only thing the lamp needs is a splash of water every now and then."

Practical and Valuable Ceiling LED Lights
Ceiling LED lights are used as modern interior lighting to brighten up any room. Whether it is kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, these lights or LED bulbs can change the whole look of a room. They are designed as directional bulbs; which means they can be turned to focus on an object or locale. This way a number of bulbs in all kinds of angles can be used to lighten up an entire area or corridor. It has been discovered that LED bulbs produce a light which is very similar to daylight and therefore these bulbs are very practical and useful.Ceiling LED bulbs can also be easily fitted into a wooden decking. They can be used to decorate the interior of a house. Nowadays people use all kinds of LED lights to gain maximum advantages. They are used as flash lights, architectural and medical lights, portable lights and kitchen lights. Since they produce more brightness than ordinary bulbs and tube lights, they are perfect for reading. Most of the energy consumed by these lights is converted into light and therefore they do not heat up very quickly

Jobs in Media

Hardnews magazine(www.hardnewsmedia.com), which is in its third year of publication, is looking for copy editors/ sub-editors, marketing executives, and a person to manage its website for its office in Delhi. Hardnews is a serious magazine that specializes in politics, foreign affairs and economy. An ideal candidate would be some one who has good understanding of national and international issues and has a good command over the English language.
Marketing executives should have at least 1-3 years of experience with a newspaper/ magazine/ news website. Vastram India, the very first Hindi magazine, covering, fashion & garment industry, ready made business and life style. It is being launched from Lucknow / Varanasi very shortly and is looking for Full Time / Part Time Page Designer / Graphic Artist.
Freshers can also apply. Place of Posting Lucknow, Salary negotiable. Provision of accommodation may be considered. Send your CV with sample work. Candidates around Lucknow or nearby will be preferred.

There is a vacancy for a writer/sub editor at Navneet NewsHouse - it's a popular children's weekly newspaper. Any one interested kindly send in your resume at newshouse [at] navneet [dot] com. If an individual applying has experience of more than a year, he/she will be considered for a senior post.

Brief job profile: Openings available for a PR executive having not only the prerequisite of excellent commuication skills but also an ability to infuse personal knowledge, understanding and skills in-order to yield strategy and messaging in diverse ways. Also have a knack for developing media relations.

Dhvani was launched in March 2008. And since has had great reponse. We have a great team of Freelance Writers.
We also had the opportunity to interview such literary luminaries like Sumana Roy (who described it as a pleasant discovery), Sarayu Srivatsa and Gauri Dange.The ezine is still developing and we are looking for individuals who can contribute fantastically written articles, which are authentic and offer a new perspective.What we are looking for in our writers is excellent writing skills, thorough knowledge of Indian English Literature, with or without a degree in hands. Good knowledge in arts, theatre,good contacts in the same industry films will be a plus. Dhvani was launched in March 2008. And since has had great reponse. We have a great team of Freelance Writers.We also had the opportunity to interview such literary luminaries like Sumana Roy (who described it as a pleasant discovery), Sarayu Srivatsa and Gauri Dange

Casting

A casting may be defined as a "metal object obtained by allowing molten metal to solidify in a mold," the shape of the object being determined by the shape of the mold cavity. Founding, or casting, is the process of forming metal objects by melting metal and pouring it into molds. A foundry is a commercial establishment for founding, or producing castings.

WHAT IS CAST IRON
The term cast iron is a generic one, referring to a family of materials differing widely in their properties. In general, a cast iron is an alloy of iron, carbon up to about 4.0 percent), and silicon which ordinarily is not usefully malleable as cast. GREY-IRON An iron having a chemical composition such that after solidification, a large portion of its carbon is distributed throughout the casting as free or graphic carbon in "flake form". Grey cast iron always presents a grey sooty surface when fractured. Because of a fortunate combination of engineering properties, availability, excellent casting characteristics, and favorable cost, grey irons are produced in tonnages exceeding all other casting. The basic foundry operations of pattern making, moldings, coring, sand conditioning, melting, clearing, etc, have been highly developed because of the tremendous amount of material and work involved in grey-iron-castings production. In fact, it is undoubtedly true that much of the engineering and mechanization which has developed in the foundry industry came through the needs for these improvements in order to meet the production demand of manufacturers for grey-iron castings. The production of grey-iron castings is, in fact such a large industry that twice as much grey iron is annually as all other cast metals combined.
WHAT IS DUCTILE IRON

Nodular Cast Iron is also known as ductile cast iron, or spheroidal graphite cast iron. A specially prepared iron treated in the molten condition with a small percentage of magnesium , cerium, or other agent that will cause of large proportion of its carbon to occur as spheroids of graphite rather than as flakes. Ductility is obtained in the iron as a result of the spherical type of graphite formed. This type of cast iron presents a bright steely surface when fractured. Ductile cast iron was first announced to the foundry industry as a new engineering material at the 1948 annual meeting of the American Foundrymen's Society. This revolutionary material, discovered independently by the British Cast Iron Research Association and the International Nickel Company is also referred to as nodular, or spherical, graphite cast iron. Essentially, ductile cast iron consists of graphite spheroids dispersed in a matrix similar to that of steel. The only significant difference between grey cast iron and ductile cast iron is in the shape of the graphite phase; the matrices can be similar. Ductile iron requires foundry operations which are similar to those for other cast metals. Process control is critical, however, and the development of graphite as spheroids is of principal concern in this material.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DUCTILE IRON & GREY IRON
1. Tensile Strength - While normal grey iron has a tensile strength of 30000 P.S.I, that of ductile iron is 50000 P.S.I, or more.
2. Elongation - While normal grey iron has no elongation at all, the elongation of ductile iron can be from 2% to as high as 18% but the normal elongation is around 7% . Because of this unique property, i.e. ductility, it is called ductile iron.
3. Microstructure - While in normal grey iron, graphite or carbon recipitates as longitudinal flakes whereas in case of ductile iron, the graphite precipitates as spheroids. That is why, ductile iron is also called spheroidal graphite iron. 4. Production of ductile iron is tricky because it needs very low sulphur and also phosphorus which are detrimental in metal and the magnesium treatment is very vigorous. For this, raw material selection , furnace selection, process selection are very important

Insurance agent

Its never been easier to compare insurance quotes from different insurance companies. Using InsuranceAgents.com you are able to find local insurance agents in your area and receive multiple quotes on
Based on our research, the majority of shoppers who use our service discover they are paying more than they should be for their coverage. Sometimes up to 40% more! Auto and home insurance rates are increasing due to the economic crisis and you can find better rates at other companies
Changing deductibles can drastically change the rates companies offer, so your best bet is to compare them, like you can through our site. You may have been denied for health insurance in the past and you can get up to five more quotes through our site Many employers nationwide are dropping healthcare coverage during this economic downturn, so it may be a good time to start shopping for an individual policy National surveys show that the primary reason people are uninsured is the high cost of health insurance coverage.
Economists have found that rising health care costs correlate to drops in health insurance coverage. Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) of the uninsured reported changing their way of life significantly in order to pay medical bills.In a Wall Street Journal-NBC Survey almost 50 percent of the American public say the cost of health care is their number one economic concern. One in four Americans say their family has had a problem paying for medical care during the past year, up 7 percentage points over the past nine years. Nearly 30 percent say someone in their family has delayed medical care in the past year, a new high based on recent polling. Most say the medical condition was at least somewhat serious

Inflation

Inflation, is an economic concept. What the cause of inflation is, is not important to us from the point of view of this article. What is important to us is the effect of inflation! The effect of inflation is the prices of everything going up over the years.
A movie ticket was for a few paise in my dad’s time. Now it is worth Rs.50. My dads first salary for the month was Rs.400 and over he years it has now become Rs.75,000. This is what inflation is, the price of everything goes up. Because the price goes up, the salaries go up.
If you really thing about it, inflation makes the worth of money reduce. What you could buy in my dad’s time for Rs.10, now a days you will not be able to buy for Rs.400 also. The worth of money has reduced! If this is still not clear consider this, when my father was a kid, he used to get 50paise pocket money. He used to use this money to go and watch a movie (At that time you could watch a movie for 50paise!)
Now, just for the sake of understanding assume that my dad decided in his childhood to save 50paise thinking, that one day when he becomes big, he will go for a movie. Many years pass. The year now is 2006. My dad goes to the theater and asks for a ticket. He offers the ticket-booth-guy at the theater 50paise and asks for a ticket. The ticket booth guy says, “I am sorry sir, the ticket is worth Rs.50. You will not be able to even buy a “paan” with the 50paise!!”
The moral of the story is that, the worth of the 50paise reduced dramatically. 50paise could buy a whole lot when my dad was a kid. Now, 50paise can buy nothing. This is inflation. This tells us two important things.
Firstly: Do not keep your money stagnant. If you just save money by putting it your safe it will loose value over time. If you have Rs.1000 in your safe today and you keep it there for 10years or so, it will be worth a lot less after 10 years. If you can buy something for Rs.1000 today, you will probably require Rs.1500 to buy it 10 years from now. So do not keep money locked up in your safe.
Always invest money. If you can’t think where to invest your money, then put it in a bank. Let it grow by gaining interest. But whatever you do, do not just lock your money up in your safe and keep it stagnant. If you do this, you will be loosing money without even knowing it. The more money you keep stagnant the more money you will be loosing. Secondly: When investing, you have to make sure that the rate of return on your investment is higher than the rate of inflation.

Indian Railways Wheeling on fast track

INDIAN Railways today is quite upbeat on closing the fiscal 2006-07 with a massive cash surplus of Rs 20,000 crore (before Dividend). And achieved that without imposing undue burden on the common man. In fact, he has bettered on fiscal 2005-06 that ended with a cash surplus of Rs 14,700 crore. No established financial management theory can explain how it happens. Railways minister Lalu Prasad has his own economics and management theory.
“I have a tremendous sense of pride and gratitude. Pride in the fact that the Railways are poised to create history by generating a cash surplus before Dividend of Rs 20,000 cr as against Rs 14,700 cr in the previous year. This is the same Railway that defaulted on payment of Dividend and whose fund balances dipped to Rs 359 cr in 2001,” he said in his 2007-08 Budget speech and attributed this huge success to his 1.4 million railway family members “who in the face of stiff competition have conquered all odds with an indomitable spirit displaying matchless zeal, vigour and teamwork.”
“By rendering an unprecedented surplus in spite of the reduction in passenger fares, we have disproved the myth that Railways were sinking in to a financial crisis due to social obligations. Our turnaround strategy based on a perfect blend of commercial wisdom and empathy for the people has made the Railways a centre of attraction for the world,” he said.
In the first nine months of the current fiscal year terminating on March 31, 2007 Railways have registered a record-breaking growth. The Passenger earnings have increased by 14 percent and other coaching earnings by 48 percent during April to December 2006. A historic increase of 17 percent was registered in both freight earnings and gross traffic earnings during this nine-month period. Based on the growth registered so far, the revised estimates for Passenger, Other coaching, Freight and Gross Traffic Earnings have been kept at Rs.17,400 crore, Rs 1,726 crore, Rs42,299 and Rs. 63,120 crore, respectively. Gross Traffic Earnings are likely to go up by 16 per cent in comparison with last year and exceed Budget Estimates by 5.5 per cent.”
Cash surplus before Dividend is expected to be Rs.20,063 crore Net Revenue is expected to stand at Rs 14,870 cr. The surplus, after payment of Dividend of Rs.3,579 crore and deferred Dividend of Rs.663 crore, is expected to be Rs. 10,627 crore. Indian Railways is poised to achieve an operating ratio of 78.7 percent during the current fiscal. This is “perhaps the first occasion in the glorious history of 150 years of Indian Railways when our fund balances would reach Rs. 16,000 crores and the Net Revenue to Capital ratio, an historic level, of 20 per cent. Indian Railways’ name would thus be included in the select club of Railways in the world, having an operating ratio of less than 80 per cent”, the Railways minister pointed out in his Budget speech.
The upbeat mood of the Railways is reflected in their targets set for the next financial year (2007-08). The target set for freight loading is 785 million tonne (MT) and freight output 516 billion tonne. Maintaining the double digit growth rate, the Budget Estimates for Freight, Passenger and other Coaching Earnings have been kept at Rs.46,943 crore, Rs 20,075 crore and Rs 2,200 crore, respectively. Gross Traffic Earnings have been projected as Rs 71,218 crore, reflecting an increase of Rs.7,248 crore on the Revised Estimates for the current year.

Welcome to the Office of Human Resources Management

The Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) supports Research, Teaching and Community Service missions of the University by providing efficient and customer-service oriented personnel and payroll services. These services are inclusive of State and Research Foundation payrolls, recruitment, appointments, benefits, employee relations, classification and compensation, HR information processing, time and attendance, training and immigration/visa services. Links to the OHRM organizational units responsible for each of these functional areas are located on the menu on the top left side of this page. Please note that information for all functional areas relating to Research Foundation personnel is contained on the Sponsored Funds Personnel page.
The Employee Relations Office is responsible for administering and ensuring adherence to the provisions of eight separate collective bargaining agreements covering over 3,400 State employees. The office works closely with all levels of University management to provide counsel and guidance regarding the application of the provisions of the Agreements; address issues of employee misconduct and labor matters, both on campus and before external administrative review bodies; conduct workshops and seminars for University managers regarding contract administration and grievance resolution; and, facilitate local labor / management activities. The office serves as the University liaison for labor matters with external constituents such as the Governor's Office of Employee Relations, Department of Civil Service, and SUNY System Administration. You can view the various collective bargaining agreements by going to the Governor's Office of Employee Relations Web site.
At the University at Albany, we are committed to promoting life-long learning among our employees. Through many exciting career development workshops and tuition reimbursement programs, employees at all levels are encouraged to develop the core skills necessary for success and advancement within their chosen fields. The Office of Human Resource Management provides services in the areas outlined below. Contact Lynne Shultis of the Employee Relations Office for assistance.
The Time Records Unit is responsible for processing all leave accrual and usage for University State employees. They are there to assist you with questions concerning accrual rates, and appropriate usage of leave credits. This unit also is responsible for paying overtime, meal allowances, intermittent night pay, holiday pay, and lump sum vacation payments and deferred pay at separation from State service. Workers' compensation, and the Leave Donation Program are also handled by this unit. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is intended to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families. Based on inquiries from employees, there seems to be some basic misunderstandings of how FMLA works. Here are some highlights to help

A Hotel Management Qualification

The hospitality industry has been claimed to be a people-centric industry, where its management success and failure revolves around the management of people, particularly interactions between guests and staff. There is an indicator, which acknowledges the success or failure of such organisations, it is the high level of skills and training of the staff that work in such an industry.

Educational programs for hotel management is not only a career choice but also a fruitful experience. This is evident if one considers the wide range of topics that students are learning in the hospitality programs. Starting from the front office operations, accounting management, food and beverage, marketing, human resources and tourism. Inevitably such a diversity of topics make the learning process for a hotel management diploma or a degree a rewarding experience. Students that are joining such programs will benefit not only of having a qualification hut also of obtaining a wide range of knowledge across different disciplines.

Ambition & values
Often when students are graduating from a hotel management degree or diploma program will say that they will like to become hotel general managers. Their reason is purely on the ambition that they have to succeed as well as of the values that they obtain while they were studying for such qualification. What is critical here is that an educational program needs to build these ambitions of the students from a qualified faculty that they are in a cutting edge of the industry or academia. Students will then look up to their educators and will then build their own careers based on the experiences that they gain while they are studying
A broad range of topics
On a day to day basis in a hotel environment, decisions often need to be made fast. Those decisions can involve anything from purchasing new equipment up to training the staff Hotel managers without any prior knowledge of such topics will often make a mistake or a bad decision that will cost the operation not only in financial terms but most importantly in reputation. How many times we hear stories or cases of things that did not go well and how many times we learn from the hospitality industry that failures occurred because of a lack of knowledge of the market that they were going to invest.

Cultural awareness & knowledge of the global market
In turn, what educational programs for a hotel management qualification do offer are cultural awareness as well as knowledge of the global market. While students are studying for such qualification they obtain knowledge of the hotel markets across the globe, which in turn helps them to seek employment in any part of the world.
A career in the hotel industry
Overall, studying for a hotel management qualification is a rewarding experience not only for the reasons that were mentioned above, but also because it opens the doors to a career in the hotel industry. As the industry grows in terms of its economic importance so do the programs that they do offer education for such a career. What it is important for a successful career in such an industry is that the choice of such program needs to be right. Inevitably, educational programs need to reflect the changes in the global market and they need to be updated regularly so that student will gain an insight of the industry while they are studying.
As a result, a good education program in a hotel management will make students professional managers embodied with the spirit of teamwork, the spirit of solidarity and the spirit of service.

Great Falls

Settled in the heart of Montana, the Big Sky Country, Great Falls is surrounded by spectacular natural wonders and scenery. It is nestled between rich, productive farm land only miles away from the majestic Rocky Mountains to its west and Little Belt Mountains to the east.
Great Falls is the county seat of Cascade County and is the third largest city in Montana. Situated on the Missouri River in central Montana, the City lies approximately 50 miles east of the Continental Divide, 120 miles south of the Canadian border and 180 miles northwest of Billings, the largest city in Montana. The City encompasses an area of over 17 square miles with a population of 56,690 according to the 2000 census report of the United States Census Bureau.
The City is a municipal corporation, organized under the laws of the State of Montana in 1888. The City Charter was adopted June 3, 1986, and became effective July 1, 1986. The City's executive, legislative, and policy-making body is the City Commission. The City Commission composed of a mayor and four commissioners who serve overlapping four-year terms. The mayor is elected at-large for a term of two years.
The rich history of Great Falls began in the year 1882 when the Honorable Paris Gibson first came to the present site of Great Falls. Great Falls was founded two years later and incorporated in 1888. Within a distance of 10 miles the Missouri River drops 512 feet over perpendicular falls and many cascades: Great Falls had the first fire bell in the State of Montana in 1887. Great Falls was the first known community in Montana to elect an African American. In 1894, William M. Morgan was elected to one of two open constable positions. Great Falls had the first woman newspaper editor in Montana. Martha Edgerton Rolfe became editor of the Great Falls Leader in 1895, when her husband died of typhoid fever. Mrs. Rolfe, daughter of the first territorial governor of Montana, was also the first white woman to live in Great Falls arriving in May of 1884

Gold Gym

Gold’s Gym started in Venice California in 1965, and soon became the hotbed for the development of training techniques, equipment and nutritional concepts that formed the foundation for the modern fitness revolution. In 1975, Gold’s Gym received international attention when it was featured in the major motion picture, ‘Pumping Iron’. It was thus effectively established as the ‘Mecca of Bodybuilding’.
Today, Gold’s Gym has over 680 facilities. It is the largest international gym chain in the world recognized for its passion, unique heritage, and experience as the final authority in fitness and lifestyle.
The India chapter of Gold’s Gym started in 2002, when the first Gold’s Gym India branch was set up at Nepean Sea Road, Mumbai. In the next few years this number grew, and today Gold’s Gym has cut out for itself 18 gym facilities in various cities of the country in Mumbai - at Nepean Sea Road, Bandra, Worli, Santacruz, Andheri, Chembur, Mulund and Vashi and outside Mumbai at Chennai, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, Noida, Ludhiana, Kolkata, Jaipur, Jalandhar and outside India in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Promoted by partners Jagdish K Valecha, Rajesh Advani and G. Ramachandran, Gold’s Gym India has slowly and steadily carved its name in the Indian market and built a reputation to reckon with.
Globally, Gold’s Gym is acknowledged for its unrivalled success in providing the finest equipment and fitness knowledge available to help its members achieve their individual potential. It follows a globally proven fitness training module with state-of-the-art infrastructure and delivery methodology and continuous up gradation through training programs. With certified trainers and nutritional counseling, Gold's Gym provides a comprehensive approach to the health and well being of its member. Whether your goal is to burn fat, tone or add muscle, build strength, increase flexibility or improve your cardiovascular health, only Gold's Gym has the atmosphere and experience you need Gold’s Gym also undertakes managing corporate gyms and providing personalized training to hi-network individuals at their residences

Global Warming

Global Warming and the resulting climate change is one of the most serious environmental problems facing the world community. This book is the most comprehensive guide available to the subject. A world-renowned expert, Sir John Houghton explores the scientific basis of global warming and the likely impacts of climate change on human society, before addressing the action that could be taken by governments, by industry and by individuals to mitigate the effects.

WORLD CHANGING: Continued global warming is predicted in the new report, leading to a "huge disruption to agriculture, more floods, heatwaves, desertification and melting glaciers." Droughts will be longer, flooding rains will be rarer but heavier. "Cyclones will hit harder. Violent storms and extreme heatwaves will strike more frequently. Evaporation will suck up scarce inland water. Sea levels will creep up half a meter. Oceans will be so acidic that in some places shells and reefs will dissolve." The increase in hurricane and tropical cyclone strength since 1970 "more likely than not" can be attributed to man-made global warming, the report finds. Australia, currently in the grip of its worst recorded drought, is warned that the Great Barrier Reef will "become 'functionally extinct' because of coral bleaching."

Since 1800 the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by nearly 36 percent. However, this reflects only half of the CO2 that has been emitted during this same time, leaving room for some doubt as to the urgency of global warming. Recent studies show that the "missing" CO2 has been absorbed into the oceans. And now, studies are demonstrating that the increased amount of CO2 in the oceans is threatening ocean life.
The oceans absorbed 48 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted into the air by humans over the last two centuries? At that rate, impacts from global warming could damage the ability for many ocean creatures to survive.
Between 1800 and 1994 the oceans absorbed 118 billion metric tons of carbon - equaling the weight of 118 billion small cars! What happens now? According to the study, the increased carbon can affect the acidity of the oceans, slow the development of coral reefs and shelled sea life - creatures that represent the base of the food chain in the ocean. Such a disruption to the food chain can severely affect the balance of ocean life with potentially catastrophic results.
The surface of the vast ice sheet in Greenland melted more during the summer of 2002 than at any time in the 24 years that conditions have been tracked. Some of the melting is due to accumulation of dark dust that increases absorption of solar energy. A large percentage of the dust comes from coal fired power plant

Food corporation

Royce Food Corporation was established in 1990 with its first factory located inTagum City, Davao del Norte, Philippines
The company started in its production facility with the production of the bananachips and is producing an average of 30 containers a month and exported all ofits production to 32 countries.
Seeing the opportunity of the abundance of coconuts in the area, the companythen expanded and went into the production of other coconut based products.Today, the company produces the following products:
Banana Chips, Desiccated Coconut, Coconut Milk and Coconut Cream, Coconut Water, and Coconut Juice, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, RBD Coconut Oil, Crude Coconut Oil, Coconut Flour, Coconut Fiber and Cocopeat Coconut Charcoal BriquettesRoyce Food Corporation continually expands its entrepreneurial endeavors. Therich harvest from its surrounding soon led the company to focus its vision andenergy on becoming a truly diversified quality food supplier to the Global market
Garments export
Our Company, M. Bilal Husain & Co (MBH) was established in 1963. In the early years, we began tanning leathers for the local and export markets. In 1987 we commenced our manufacture and export of leather garments, under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Imran Husain, a Leather Technologist from the National Leather Sellers College, London and an MBA from the London School of Economics. He nurtured MBH to be one of the biggest and most successful manufacturers and exporters of leather garments in India.
We manufacture fashion and other leather garments, the designs, finishes and colours of which, changes from season to season , according to the buyers. All the dyes and chemicals used in our leathers are as per internationally-accepted norms.
We have contractual tie-ups with some tanneries for our leather requirements. MBH's quality-control starts from the raw skin stage and ends only at the despatch of the consignment. Our leather garment factory is equipped with imported SINGER sewing machines. Our present production capacity is about 10,000 leather garments per month.. All our production is carried out within the factory, under experienced supervision. This contributes to enhancing and maintaining the quality of the product.
We are a 100% export-oriented Company, with an annual turn-over in excess . Over these years, we have won many awards and citations for our export performance. This is our commitment and dedication to our work and to our customers. We are an equal-opportunity employers and do not employ juveniles. Our factory working conditions are approved by the Indian Government.
Overseas Buyers contact us for their requirements. We send them sample cuttings of our finished leathers for their inspection. On approval of the leathers, they send us their paper patterns, sketches and measurement charts. We make our counter-samples and courier it to them ( at cost + Courier charges ) for their inspection and comments. On approval, the orders are placed for execution.A Pro Forma Invoice is faxed to the buyer and the Irrevocable 100% Letter of Credit AT SIGHT, is opened in our favour. On receipt of the L/C the work, on the orders, will commence. Normally, we require a lead time of 30 - 40 days, after the receipt of the L/C, to deliver the first consignment. Within this period, the finished garment leathers will be manufactured, the garments will be tailored, inspected and then shipped. If required, the buyers send their inspectors to check the garments before they are despatched.

New imports standards at centre of FAO meeting debates

The 10th meeting of the FAO Sub-Committee on Fish Trade held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain was marked by “vigorous” debate among the 61 participating countries regarding the increasingly complex challenges of responsibly managing the globe-spanning fish trade sector.
Questions regarding new safety, quality, traceability and eco-labeling standards which are being increasingly imposed on fish imports by many authorities and retailers in the developed world featured prominently in the discussions.according to FAO.
Developing countries in particular noted that complying with such standards involves significant financial and technical burdens, especially since they are not universal but often vary greatly from market to market.
“We heard from all the delegations that ensuring consumer safety and bringing products to market that come from sustainable fisheries is of course extremely important,” explained Jorge Zuzunaga of Peru, who chaired the meeting. “It’s just that, as one delegate put it, a ‘bewildering array’ of different standards are being applied to fish imports, which can create confusion and problems -- especially for countries where production comes from small-scale or artisanal fishers.”
Developing countries rely heavily on fish exports to the developed world. They represent an important source of employment as well as a leading source of foreign exchange -- net earnings from fish trade by developing nations currently run over $20 billion a year.
“The challenge is two-fold,” commented Grimur Valdimarsson, Director of FAO’s Fisheries Industry Division. “First, making sure that import standards are fair and based on good science, and second, helping developing countries with resources and know-how so they can meet them.”
Noting that most of the fish that is consumed worldwide is produced by developing nations, he said that FAO would like to see more importing countries providing such assistance.
According to Valdimarsson, another trend which emerged from the talks is a spreading understanding among fish-exporting countries that more rigorous management is critical in order to ensure the sustainability of fisheries and the future of the fish export sector.
FAO assessments of wild fish stocks show that out of the 600 major commercial species groups monitored by the Organisation, 25 percent are either overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion.
“The countries here agreed that we don’t want to see the number of overexploited or depleted stocks grow,” Valdimarsson said. “If there are fewer fish, that is obviously not good for the people who depend on fishing to earn their living.”
Around 200 million people worldwide earn all or part of their living from the fisheries sector and related industries, according to FAO.
These and other issues will be the subject of follow-up talks on proposed FAO guidelines on responsible fish trade, which the Organisation presented in draft form to the Sub-Committee last week.
Though participating countries endorsed the idea of a voluntary set of guidelines aimed at ensuring that the fish trade does not undermine the responsible management of fisheries resources, they stopped short of adopting them. Instead, they recommended that the guidelines undergo additional work in order to better reflect ongoing changes in the international regimes governing fish trade.

Earthquake

Earthquake is a shaking of the ground caused by the sudden breaking and shifting of large sections of Earth's rocky outer shell. Earthquakes are among the most powerful events on earth, and their results can be terrifying. A severe earthquake may release energy 10,000 times as great as that of the first atomic bomb. Rock movements during an earthquake can make rivers change their course. Earthquakes can trigger landslides that cause great damage and loss of life. Large earthquakes beneath the ocean can create a series of huge, destructive waves called tsunamis (tsoo NAH meez) that flood coasts for many miles.
Earthquakes almost never kill people directly. Instead, many deaths and injuries result from falling objects and the collapse of buildings, bridges, and other structures. Fire resulting from broken gas or power lines is another major danger during a quake. Spills of hazardous chemicals are also a concern during an earthquake.
The force of an earthquake depends on how much rock breaks and how far it shifts. Powerful earthquakes can shake firm ground violently for great distances. During minor earthquakes, the vibration may be no greater than the vibration caused by a passing truck.
On average, a powerful earthquake occurs less than once every two years. At least 40 moderate earthquakes cause damage somewhere in the world each year. Scientists estimate that more than 8,000 minor earthquakes occur each day without causing any damage. Of those, only about 1,100 are strong enough to be felt.
This article discusses Earthquake (How an earthquake begins) (How an earthquake spreads) (Damage by earthquakes) (Where and why earthquakes occur) (Studying earthquakes).
How an earthquake begins
Most earthquakes occur along a fault -- a fracture in Earth's rocky outer shell where sections of rock repeatedly slide past each other. Faults occur in weak areas of Earth's rock. Most faults lie beneath the surface of Earth, but some, like the San Andreas Fault in California, are visible on the surface. Stresses in Earth cause large blocks of rock along a fault to strain, or bend. When the stress on the rock becomes great enough, the rock breaks and snaps into a new position, causing the shaking of an earthquake.
Earthquakes usually begin deep in the ground. The point in Earth where the rocks first break is called the focus, also known as the hypocenter, of the quake. The focus of most earthquakes lies less than 45 miles (72 kilometers) beneath the surface, though the deepest known focuses have been nearly 450 miles (700 kilometers) below the surface. The point on the surface of Earth directly above the focus is known as the epicenter of the quake. The strongest shaking is usually felt near the epicenter.