8 March 2016 – 9 March 2016 — Total/partial Solar Eclipse----DOs-DON'Ts to watch the solar eclipse:

Total solar eclipses occur when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth and casts the darkest part of its shadow (the umbra) on Earth. The darkest point of the eclipse is almost as dark as night.

During a total eclipse of the Sun, the Moon covers the entire disk of the Sun. In partial and annular solar eclipses, the Moon blocks only part of the Sun.

Not Total Everywhere

Eclipses are named after their darkest phase. If a solar eclipse is total at any point on Earth, it is called a total solar eclipse, even though it's seen as a partial eclipse in most parts of the world.

Total Solar Eclipse Infographic.

The Sun's corona, Baily's beads and the diamond ring effect are only visible at the totality (darkest point) of a Total Solar Eclipse.As the Moon moves to cover the entire disc of the Sun, the Sun's corona forms a ring of light like a diamond ring.

The Sun,moon and earth are aligned

• A partial solar eclipse will be seen in India on Wednesday morning with the north-eastern parts of the country expected to see a large fraction of the disc of the Sun, eclipsed by the Moon.
• The total solar eclipse, where the sun will be 100% obscured, will only be visible from parts of Indonesia including Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi, and from locations in the Pacific Ocean.
• Observers in north and east Australia, in South Asia, and in East Asia will be able to see a partial eclipse.
• The total eclipse will begin at 04:49 AM (IST) and its maximum point will take place at 06:30 AM on March 9, 2016 before ending at 10.05 AM.

• The instant of greatest eclipse occurs at 7:27 AM when the eclipse magnitude reaches 1.044 with duration of totality 4 minutes and 14 seconds in a region of Pacific Ocean.
• In Delhi, people can observe the celestial phenomenon at 6:40 AM lasting for about 4 minutes.
• "This is the first solar eclipse of the year and will be the only one visible until year December 26 of 2019 from India," 
• The last time a solar eclipse was visible from parts of northern India was on January 4 of 2011 (Partial Solar Eclipse). The last solar eclipse visible from the entire country occurred on January 15 of 2010 (Annular Solar Eclipse), added Raghunandan.
• As many parts of India are lying just at the edge of the zone of visibility of the partial phases of this eclipse, there will barely be a miniscule bite taken out of the Sun.
• Further, this tiny part of the eclipse happens even as the Sun is rising, further exacerbating any viewing possibility. It is almost as if there is hardly an eclipse, to be seen, as far as most of India is concerned.

The real celestial treat is for India's seven sisters. In all the North Eastern states, the sunrise eclipse will be visible as a partial eclipse from within minutes of sunrise to some little time after sunrise.

5 Phases
There are 5 stages in a total solar sclipse:

Partial eclipse begins (first contact): The Moon's shadow starts becoming visible over the Sun's disc. The sun looks as if a bite has been taken from it.
Total eclipse begins (second contact): Almost the entire disc of the Sun is covered by the Moon. Observers in the path of the Moon's umbra may be able to see Baily's beads and the diamond ring effect.
Maximum eclipse or totality: The Moon completely covers the disc of the Sun. Only the Sun's corona is visible. This is the most dramatic stage of a Total Solar Eclipse. At this time, the Sky goes dark, temperatures fall drastically and birds and animals often go quiet.
Total eclipse ends (third contact): The Moon's shadow starts moving away and the Sun reappears.
Partial eclipse ends (fourth contact): The Moon stops overlapping the Sun's disc. The eclipse ends at this stage.

Special Sights at Totality

Phenomena only visible at the totality.

Certain phenomena can only be seen during a Total Solar Eclipse:

Baily's beads: Seen about 10-15 seconds before and after totality, Baily's beads are little bead-like blobs of light at the edge of the Moon. These happen because the gaps in the mountains and valleys on the Moon's surface allow sunlight to pass through in some places but not others.
Diamond ring: As the Moon moves to cover the entire disc of the Sun, Baily's beads disappear, leaving one last bead a few seconds before totality. At this point in the eclipse, the Sun's corona forms a ring around the Moon. The ring around the Moon and the leftover Baily's bead gives the appearance of a diamond ring.
The Sun's chromosphere: The Sun's atmosphere has 3 layers: the photosphere, the chromosphere and the corona. The chromosphere, which gives out a reddish glow can only be seen for a few seconds right after the diamond ring disappears during a total eclipse of the Sun.
The Sun's corona: Like the chromosphere, the Sun's corona is only visible during a Total Solar Eclipse. It can be seen as a faint ring of rays surrounding the dark Moon during totality.
Shadow bands: About one minute before and after totality, moving wavy lines of alternating light and dark can be seen on plain-colored surfaces. These shadow bands are the result of the light emitted from a thin solar crescent being refracted by the Earth's atmosphere.

Regions seeing, at least, a partial eclipse: South/East Asia, North/West Australia, Pacific, Indian Ocean.

Cities where at least part of the total eclipse is visible
Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia
Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
Ternate, North Maluku, Indonesia
Sofifi, North Maluku, Indonesia

Cities where partial eclipse is visible
Bantam, Cocos Islands
The Settlement, Christmas Island
Jakarta, Jakarta Special Capital Region, Indonesia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Singapore, Singapore
Bangkok, Thailand
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Dili, Timor-Leste
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
General Santos, Philippines
Davao, Philippines
Manila, Philippines
Melekeok, Palau
Hagåtña, Guam
Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Weno, Truk, Micronesia
Palikir, Pohnpei, Micronesia
Wake Island, US Minor Outlying Islands
Midway, US Minor Outlying Islands
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.
When the Eclipse Happens Worldwide
The eclipse starts at one location and ends at another. The times below are actual times (in UTC) when the eclipse occurs.

Event UTC Time
First location to see the partial eclipse begin 8 Mar, 23:19 9 Mar, 02:19
First location to see the full eclipse begin 9 Mar, 00:15 9 Mar, 03:15
Maximum eclipse 9 Mar, 01:59 9 Mar, 04:59
Last location to see the full eclipse end 9 Mar, 03:38 9 Mar, 06:38
Last location to see the partial eclipse end 9 Mar, 04:34 9 Mar, 07:34
* Local times shown do not refer to when the eclipse can be observed from Riyadh. Instead, they indicate the times when the eclipse begins, is at its maximum, and ends, somewhere else on Earth. The corresponding local times are useful if you want to view the eclipse via a live webcam.

DON'TS

• Never watch the eclipse with a naked eye.
• Don't use Binoculars to view the eclipse.
• Don't use Telescope to view the eclipse.
• Don't use any cheap or easily available filters in Telescope or Binoculars to view the sun. Only specifically designed filters should be used with Telescope and Binoculars.
• Don't watch the eclipse using color film.
• Don't watch the eclipse with non-silver black and white film.
• Don't watch the eclipse with medical x-ray films with images on them.
• Don't use smoked glass to view the sun.
• All developed films lack a silver emulsion and therefore it should not be used to view the eclipse.

DOs

• Take the advice of an experienced person or a scientist before planning to view a Total Solar Eclipse
• Only use specifically designed spectacles designed with filters to view the eclipse.
• The safest method of viewing a Total Solar Eclipse is by projection, in which a small opening is used to cast the image of the Sun on a screen beyond the opening.
• It is safe to view the total phase of an eclipse (when the moon completely coves the sun) with naked eye. But one needs to know when to stop and start viewing the total phase. So this is bit risky.

http://www.timeanddate.com

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

SEVENTEEN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS to TRANSFORM OUR WORLD

On September 25th 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years.

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Extreme poverty rates have been cut by more than half since 1990. While this is a remarkable achievement, one in five people in developing regions still live on less than $1.25 a day.
Poverty is more than the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making. Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality.

Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

It is time to rethink how we grow, share and consume our food.If done right, agriculture, forestry and fisheries can provide nutritious food for all and generate decent incomes, while supporting people-centred rural development and protecting the environment.

Right now, our soils, freshwater, oceans, forests and biodiversity are being rapidly degraded. Climate change is putting even more pressure on the resources we depend on, increasing risks associated with disasters such as droughts and floods. Many rural women and men can no longer make ends meet on their land, forcing them to migrate to cities in search of opportunities.

A profound change of the global food and agriculture system is needed if we are to nourish today’s 795 million hungry and the additional 2 billion people expected by 2050.The food and agriculture sector offers key solutions for development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication.

Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development. Significant strides have been made in increasing life expectancy and reducing some of the common killers associated with child and maternal mortality. Major progress has been made on increasing access to clean water and sanitation, reducing malaria, tuberculosis, polio and the spread of HIV/AIDS. However, many more efforts are needed to fully eradicate a wide range of diseases and address many different persistent and emerging health issues.

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning

 Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development. Major progress has been made towards increasing access to education at all levels and increasing enrolment rates in schools particularly for women and girls. Basic literacy skills have improved tremendously, yet bolder efforts are needed to make even greater strides for achieving universal education goals. For example, the world has achieved equality in primary education between girls and boys, but few countries have achieved that target at all levels of education.
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

While the world has achieved progress towards gender equality  and women’s empowerment under the Millennium Development Goals (including equal access to primary education between girls and boys), women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.

Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all

 Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in. There is sufficient fresh water on the planet to achieve this. But due to bad economics or poor infrastructure, every year millions of people, most of them children, die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
Water scarcity, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation negatively impact food security, livelihood choices and educational opportunities for poor families across the world. Drought afflicts some of the world’s poorest countries, worsening hunger and malnutrition.
By 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water.

Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

 Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity the world faces today. Be it for jobs, security, climate change, food production or increasing incomes, access to energy for all is essential.
Sustainable energy is opportunity – it transforms lives, economies and the planet.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is leading a Sustainable Energy for All initiative to ensure universal access to modern energy services, improve efficiency and increase use of renewable sources.

Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all

 Roughly half the world’s population still lives on the equivalent of about US$2 a day. And in too many places, having a job doesn’t guarantee the ability to escape from poverty. This slow and uneven progress requires us to rethink and retool our economic and social policies aimed at eradicating poverty.

Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs that stimulate the economy while not harming the environment. Job opportunities and decent working conditions are also required for the whole working age population.

Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

 Investments in infrastructure – transport, irrigation, energy and information and communication technology – are crucial to achieving sustainable development and empowering communities in many countries. It has long been recognized that growth in productivity and incomes, and improvements in health and education outcomes require investment in infrastructure.
Inclusive and sustainable industrial development is the primary source of income generation, allows for rapid and sustained increases in living standards for all people, and provides the technological solutions to environmentally sound industrialization.

Technological progress is the foundation of efforts to achieve environmental objectives, such as increased resource and energy-efficiency. Without technology and innovation, industrialization will not happen, and without industrialization, development will not happen.

Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

 The international community has made significant strides towards lifting people out of poverty.  The most vulnerable nations – the least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries and the small island developing states – continue to make inroads into poverty reduction.  However, inequality still persists and large disparities remain in access to health and education services and other assets.
To reduce inequality, policies should be universal in principle paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.

Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

 Cities are hubs for ideas, commerce, culture, science, productivity, social development and much more. At their best, cities have enabled people to advance socially and economically.


The challenges cities face can be overcome in ways that allow them to continue to thrive and grow, while improving resource use and reducing pollution and poverty. The future we want includes cities of opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing, transportation and more.

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

 Sustainable consumption and production  aims at “doing more and better with less,” increasing net welfare gains from economic activities by reducing resource use, degradation and pollution along the whole lifecycle, while increasing quality of life. It involves different stakeholders, including business, consumers, policy makers, researchers, scientists, retailers, media, and development cooperation agencies, among others.

Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

 Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow.
People are experiencing the significant impacts of climate change, which include changing weather patterns, rising sea level, and more extreme weather events. The greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are driving climate change and continue to rise. They are now at their highest levels in history. Without action, the world’s average surface temperature is projected to rise over the 21st century and is likely to surpass 3 degrees Celsius this century—with some areas of the world expected to warm even more. The poorest and most vulnerable people are being affected the most.

But climate change is a global challenge that does not respect national borders. Emissions anywhere affect people everywhere. It is an issue that requires solutions that need to be coordinated at the international level and it requires international cooperation to help developing countries move toward a low-carbon economy. To address climate change, countries are working to adopt a global agreement in Paris this December.

Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources

The world’s oceans – their temperature, chemistry, currents and life – drive global systems that make the Earth habitable for humankind.Our rainwater, drinking water, weather, climate, coastlines, much of our food, and even the oxygen in the air we breathe, are all ultimately provided and regulated by the sea. Throughout history, oceans and seas have been vital conduits for trade and transportation.

Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future.

Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

Forests cover 30 per cent of the Earth’s surface and in addition to providing food security and shelter, forests are key to combating climate change, protecting biodiversity and the homes of the indigenous population.  Thirteen million hectares of forests are being lost every year while the persistent degradation of drylands has led to the desertification of 3.6 billion hectares.
Deforestation and desertification – caused by human activities and climate change – pose major challenges to sustainable development and have affected the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the fight against poverty. Efforts are being made to manage forests and combat desertification. 

Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies

Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building

effective, accountable institutions at all levels.

Among the institutions most affected by corruption are the judiciary and police

Corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost some US $1.26 trillion for developing countries per year; this amount of money could be used to lift those who are living on less than $1.25 a day above $1.25 for at least six years

The rate of children leaving primary school in conflict affected countries reached 50 per cent in 2011, which accounts to 28.5 million children, showing the impact of unstable societies on one of the major goals of the post 2015 agenda: education.

The rule of law and development have a significant interrelation and are mutually reinforcing, making it essential for sustainable development at the national and international level.

 Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

A successful sustainable development agenda requires partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society. These inclusive partnerships built upon principles and values, a shared vision, and shared goals that place people and the planet at the centre, are needed at the global, regional, national and local level.
Urgent action is needed to mobilize, redirect and unlock the transformative power of trillions of dollars of private resources to deliver on sustainable development objectives. Long-term investments, including foreign direct investment, are needed in critical sectors, especially in developing countries. National oversight mechanisms such as supreme audit institutions and oversight functions by legislatures should be strengthened.

For the goals to be reached, everyone needs to do their part: governments, the private sector, civil society,every citizen.

http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment

MULTI TASKER-"WEARING BUNCH of DIFFERENT HATS"-Beauty not admired is a SIN. Beauty-the CELEBRATION of LIFE--OOPIRI/BLISS

Anything  which TOUCHES the HEART/SOUL  with KINDNESS/MERCY /EMPATHY   is BEAUTIFUL. Soul is a tiny point of light which is the source of energy that runs the body. It is the soul which is surrounded by our subtle body which is a body of light.

As soul is the main source of energy, it sits right in the top region of the body, i.e. in the Centre of the forehead between our 2 eyes. The tilak or bindi is also  applied there which is the remembrance of the soul.

The soul is indestructible. It can neither be cut by sword, nor be made wet by water, nor be burnt by fire. It is the energy which is detached from the 5 elements of nature.Soul does not die. It just leaves one body and takes another----based on LAW of CONSERVATION  of ENERGY.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"-Beauty is very subjective/Abstract. The importance of beauty&beautiful things is that they give us pleasure-BLISS/OOPIRI. It is part of our nature to respect and admire beauty.

Concept of beauty includes a healthy body, a keen mind, and a good sense of self esteem--feeling good in mind, body, and soul. We paint houses&fill our yards with flowers as we love beautiful things- exactly "it"-makes song, painting or person beautiful. Some hugs-do wonders-magical. Humans need touch and touchis a powerful healer. Research shows again and again that touch can help reduce stress hormones alleviate depression boost the immune system and diminish pain. Many cultures practisedsome form of massage with the aim of easing physical, mental andspiritual ailments.

People want to spend time in PRETTY places&with+ve people-vibrant+ve ENERGY.A store that is attractive will have far more business. An area of town that is considered beautiful is likely to be more respected and treated differently than an area of town considered ugly.  There's a reason downtown areas and parks are filled with green grass, flowering trees, and strict rules on signs and buildings.  

Studies show that humans are partially sex-role reversed species-Great Emphasis on Female Beauty(Fishes,honey bees, butterflies etc).

Everyone is UNIQUE ---we know no two humans on EARTH  have the same fingerprint patterns..

Beauty is a multi-billion dollar industry in the WORLD, and it shapes our eating, exercise, hygenic, shopping, and other habits.Studies have shown, for example, that people who are considered to be good looking make more money than people who are not.

BEAUTY  NOT ADMIRED ---A SIN:

Eg-Who can't admire/adore/enjoy- INFANT SMILES-LANDSCAPES, SCENARIES-Sun rise/sun set—who can't SUPPORT CORRECT THINGS etc

MORE ATTRACTION---STRONG  BONDING-- leads   to—NUCLEAR FUSION—HYDROGEN  BOMB—TREMENDOUS  EXPLOSION—DISASTROUS---UNSTABLE --CHAOS

MORE REPULSION—WEAK BONDING---leads to ---NUCLEAR FISSION—ATOM  BOMB---EXPLOSION---UNSTABLE—CHAOS.

BEAUTY  ADMIRED in a  PERVERTED WAY is A  SIN

Eg-   cases like NIRBHAYA , recent VEENA VANKA- KARIMNAGAR (Dist) ,BLACK MAILING cases etc

Anything which TOUCHES the  HEART with the ATTITUDES of  PORCUPINE STINGS  is  PAINFUL& is  a SIN

BEAUTY—CELEBRATION of LIFE--

Anything  moderate is DEARER—BALANCED/EQUILIBRIUM/STABLE---leads  to  CELEBRATION of LIFE.

From  TINY atom, molecules, matter ------------------- planets, stars, solar system, Galaxies, celestial sphere, BRAHMAND---- forces act at distance

From –non living  things to  living things  due to BONDING/BINDING-BEAUTY&Celebration  of  LIFE

Beauty  plays  a  PIVOTAL ROLE in EVOLUTION Theory-SUCCESSION of GENERATIONS-MILLIONS of VARIETIES of SPECIES ANIMALS&PLANTS-BIO-DIVERSITY- CROSS BREEDING/POLLINATION.

Honey Bees---Butter flies----POLLINATION---FRUITS,CEREALS,VEG,HONEY etc 

Insect and other animal pollinators in many ecosystems worldwide:The value of bee pollination in human nutrition and food for wildlife is immense and difficult to quantify. 60 to 80% of the world’s flowering plant species are animal pollinated, and 35% of crop production  and 60% of crop plant species  depend on animal pollinators. It is commonly said that about one third of human nutrition is due to bee pollination. This includes the majority of fruits, many vegetables (or their seed crop) and secondary effects from legumes such as alfalfa and clover fed to livestock.

OOPIRI-BLISS:

Making someone else happy/brighten someone else day-Showing HUMANITY-CHARITY etc has great impact on own spirits give OOPIRI/BLISS.

Seeing  RIGHT things occurring  in SURROUNDINGS/NATURE

Reaching GOALS gives OXYGEN/OOPIRI

Seeing  CHILDREN –near &dear  ones---reaching GOALS—Games&Sports-BRIGHT CAREER-receiving AWARDS,REWARDS etc  

Watching –Sampling coming out from seed –flowering -Fruits-Seeds  gives RESPIRATION

childhood......the fun days....the carefree joy of this natural beauty , those little sweet lies and cute smile a lovely face glowing like gold, a heart as pure as a diamond.

LOVE is the LANGUAGE of NATURE

Love, warmth and compassion make life beautiful. And love is the language of nature.There is unity and harmony in  Nature like MUSIC.Simplicity is beauty—modest—we should be rotted down to the EARTH. Wisdom, compassion and non-violence are all lessons to be learnt by deliberate means. Music has been given reverence as it brings peace and healing. But sometimes in MUSICAL CONCERTS—BEATS are CREATED to keep AUDIENCE—alert-attentive etc.

Making someone else happy/brighten someone else day has a great impact on own spirit gives OOPIRI/BLISS.

As moms, one of the gifts multi-task, do-it-all, be-it-all, and ‘wear bunch of different HATS" on our heads- like to juggle a million different things at once- can switch those hats so efficiently with good judgments for each area of responsibility-FABULOUS! Mother, sister, counselor, mediator, creative genius,maker of memories, caretaker,domestic goddess, teacher, daughter, student, friend, teacher, story teller,baby sitter,facilitator, entertainer, disciplinarian, therapist, librarian, humorist,researcher, mentor,leader,collaborator,computer-whiz, visionary,team Player,negotiost,task-master, caterer, peacekeeper,CEO of HOME etc.

Whether man or woman, have- unselfish ownership responsibility,absolute accountability to TCB(take care of business)&mindful/meaningful management of  thoughts, actions, attitudes-cosmic balance-equilibrium-own it, account for it, manage it.

Sacred responsibility of life’s journey, then create loving thoughts-draw currents of positive energy&help to invoke positive energy. Person who cultivates  path of peace &love enhances atmosphere around-contributes to an atmosphere of vibrant positive energy-OOPIRI/OXYGEN.

Respect for life can begin with respect for nature. Great saints have found enlightenment close to nature. Buddha under the Bodhi tree, Srikrishna who dances under the Kadamba. All ashrams were situated in forest groves and were centers of learning. Nature contributed to the atmosphere.

We live in a society obsessed with physical beauty-TV, movies, magazines and billboards all display attractive people. Any truly beautiful person  is attractive on outside and inside /being trustworthy/humility/empathy etc.

When a person  is healthy-has an attractive glow -+ve AURA-+ve energy.-CONFIDENT-“appreciate beauty ”  without lust. Purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance- protects the mystery of persons. Modesty exists as an intuition of the spiritual dignity proper to man. It is born with the awakening consciousness of being a subject. Teaching modesty to children and adolescents means awakening in them respect for the human person.

People may feel others   BEAUTIFUL from person’s—smile, bravery, personality, kindness, daring, empathy,confidence,honest tears,unconditional love, optimism, courage, intelligence, wisdom, compassion, humility, passions, attitudes,optimism etc

 “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart;true beauty shines.” Allow the light in heart to shine for yourself &others, and in so doing, entire being will glow with a fire of beauty. Determination and passion is what makes  a beautiful person.

The twinkling smiles, the kind gestures, . Each person has an inner beauty, a unique character and light that makes them who they are- a sense of optimism, hope, and a sense of meaning and purpose life are what influence happiness the most. Caring people help others, not because they expect a reward but because  it is natural for  them to show kindness.

Passions speaks louder than  looks- radiate an attitude of ambition and enthusiasm- striving for success- not sitting back and saying “I can’t do that, why bother?” - don’t  let  fear hold  back, but instead focus on something that will make  happy.

You care about others more than just yourself-shows interest in others and  are not solely self-focused (or self-obsessed). It means that  care about others welfare- show concern and want to help make them feel better.People love this because it shows that you are interested in their welfare unconditionally .

You care about the impact you can have on the world-This makes you beautiful - You are not simply moping and focusing on the negatives, instead you want to be involved in the world.  One of the most beautiful things in life is smiling-releases those endorphins that bring you extra happiness. You smile at others because it is polite and friendly (and you are glad to see them)-shows  that you are a happy and positive person, something that will attract others to you.  

Feminism is not about being like or more powerful than men. The way I see it, it is respecting and valuing  power and  qualities as a woman, and being thus empowered.

Never treat people merely as sex-objects but  appreciate or acknowledge beauty in a  right way --we  can admire the beauty of a sunrise/sunset  even though  we don't want to have sex with it.

Seeing the beauty in other people can really help our empathy for them grow. I think it is a good thing for straight guys to strive to see non-sexual beauty in women.

EXTRA INFORMATION

AESTHETICS AND EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY

Many animal and human traits have been argued to have evolved in order to enhance survival and reproductive success. Evolutionary psychology extends this to psychological traits including aesthetical preferences. Such traits are generally seen as being adaptations to the environment during the Pleistocene era and are not necessarily adaptative in our present environment. Examples include disgust of potentially harmful spoiled foods; pleasure from sex and from eating sweet and fatty foods; and fear of spiders, snakes, and the dark.

All known cultures have some form of art. This universality suggests that art is related to evolutionary adaptations. The strong emotions associated with art suggest the same.

LANDSCAPE AND OTHER VISUAL ARTS PREFERENCES:

An important choice for a mobile organism is selecting a good habitat to live in. Humans are argued to have strong aesthetical preferences for landscapes which were good habitats in the ancestral environment. When young human children from different nations are asked to select which landscape they prefer, from a selection of standardized landscape photographs, there is a strong preference for savannas with trees. The East African savanna is the ancestral environment in which much of human evolution is argued to have taken place. There is also a preference for landscapes with water, with both open and wooded areas, with trees with branches at a suitable height for climbing and taking foods, with features encouraging exploration such as a path or river curving out of view, with seen or implied game animals, and with some clouds. These are all features that are often featured in calendar art and in the design of public parks.

A survey of art preferences in many different nations found that realistic painting was preferred. Favorite features were water, trees as well as other plants, humans (in particular beautiful women, children, and well-known historical figures), and animals (in particular both wild and domestic large animals). Blue, followed by green, was the favorite color. Using the survey, the study authors constructed a painting showing the preferences of each nation. Despite the many different cultures, the paintings all showed a strong similarity to landscape calendar art.

Physical attractiveness: Various evolutionary concerns have been argued to influence what is perceived to be physically attractive.Such evolutionary based preferences are not necessarily static but may vary depending on environmental cues. Substantial evidence from psychology and cross-cultural anthropology supports a general rule of greater emphasis on female physical attractiveness in Homo sapiens. As sensed by Darwin (1871) and clarified by Trivers (1972), generally higher female parental investment is a key determinant of a common pattern of sexual selection in which male animals are more competitive, more eager sexually and more conspicuous in courtship display, ornamentation, and coloration.

Darwin suggested that human females were more attractive, in an absolute sense, because male choice, not female, came to dominate the course of human sexual selection. And throughout that time, males were selecting, perhaps above all, for female beauty. Now in 21^st CENTURY it is REVERSED—IT IS WOMAN’S CHOICE.

EVOLUTIONARY MUSICOLOGY—

Evolutionary musicology is a subfield of biomusicology that grounds the psychological mechanisms of music perception and production in evolutionary theory. It covers vocal communication in non-human animal species, theories of the evolution of human music, and cross-cultural human universals in musical ability and processing. It also includes evolutionary explanations for what is considered aesthetically pleasing or not.

Evolution of emotion--Aesthetics are tied to emotions. There are several explanations regarding the evolution of emotion. One example is the emotion disgust which has been argued to have evolved in order to avoid several harmful actions such as infectious diseases due to contact with spoiled foods, feces, and decaying bodies.

SEXY SON HYPOTHESIS, HANDICAP PRINCIPLE, AND ARTS

A male peacock does its best to court a female, dancing and displaying its extravagant plumage.

The sexy son hypothesis suggests that a female optimal choice among potential mates is a male whose genes will produce male offspring with the best chance of reproductive success by having trait(s) being attractive to other females. Sometimes the trait may have no reproductive benefit in itself, apart from attracting females, because of Fisherman runaway. The peacock's tail may be one example. It has also been seen as an example of the handicap principle.

Fisherian or Fisher's runaway, first proposed by Ronald Fisher in the early 20th century, is a hypothesized genetic sexual selection mechanism for the evolution of exaggerated male ornamentation (a subtype secondary sexual characteristic) observed in numerous species that produce offspring through sexual reproduction; based upon female choice, the preference or attraction of females for ornamented male mates.

Fisherian runaway sought to explain the paradox of male ornamentation but neither the mechanism nor the secondary sexual characteristic or preference is restricted to this system: Fisherian runaway can be applied to include sexually dimorphic phenotypic traits and character structures such as behaviour and structural displays expressed by either sex.

Fisherian runaway has been difficult to demonstrate empirically, despite being theoretically plausible, due in part to the difficulty of detecting the genetic mechanism and the process by which it is initiated.

It has been argued that the ability of the human brain by far exceeds what is needed for survival on the savanna. One explanation could be that the human brain and associated traits (such as artistic ability and creativity) are the equivalent of the peacock's tail for humans. According to this theory superior execution of art was important because it attracted mates.

Positive feedback:

A Preference intensity that is genetically coupled with the degree of ornament expression consequently makes an exaggerated preference advantageous. Females that instinctively choose males with the most exaggerated ornament increase the likelihood that their offspring will express a higher degree of preference intensity (daughters) and ornament exaggeration (sons). Over time this genetic coupling is further reinforced by a positive feedback mechanism that will see more exaggerated sons and choosier daughters being produced with each successive generation; resulting in the runaway selection for the further exaggeration of both the ornament and the preference. Given time, this type of runaway selection facilitates the continued exaggeration at a rate exponentially, until the costs for producing the ornament outweigh the reproductive benefit of possessing it.

The two characteristics affected by such a process, namely [ornamental] development in the male, and sexual preference for such development in the female, must thus advance together, and … will advance with ever increasing speed. It is easy to see that the speed of development will be proportional to the development already attained, which will therefore increase with time exponentially, or in a geometric progression.

Soul is a tiny point of light which is the source on energy that runs the body. The  confusion here could be the spirits that people see. It is the soul which is surrounded by our subtle body which is a body of light.

As soul is the main source of energy, it sits right in the top region of the body, i.e. in the Centre of the forehead between our 2 eyes. The tilak or bindi is also  applied there which is the remembrance of the soul.

There are 3 aspects of the soul, i.e. Mind, Intellect and Resolves (Sanskars). Mind gets many thoughts both negative and positive. Intellect is like a filter which acts as decision  maker. Resolves are imprints which are made basis our karma or repeated actions.

The soul is indestructible. It can neither be cut by sword, nor be made wet by water, nor be burnt by fire. It is the energy which is detached from the 5 elements of nature.Soul does not die. It just leaves one body and takes another----based on LAW of CONSERVATION  of ENERGY.

REAL QUALITIES  OF SOUL—

BLISS-- We all love kids, don’t we? The reason is that they are innocent and pure in thoughts,
don’t hold any grudges and are very expressive and carefree. They are full of bliss.

The sacred responsibility of life’s journey, then create loving thoughts as they draw currents of positive energy, and help to invoke positive energy. The person who cultivates the path of peace and love enhances the atmosphere around, which, in turn, contributes to an atmosphere of vibrant positive energy.

To live with Prakriti to worship the delicate Tulsi plant and the strong Peepal and Banyan trees. Music has been given reverence as it brings peace and healing. Dance through its rasa lifts us into an eternal ananda, linking performer with the Divine.

Wisdom, compassion and non-violence are all lessons to be learnt by deliberate means. Each one of us needs to replace anger with compassion, hatred with understanding and other positive emotions — with a conscious effort.

Respect for life can begin with respect for nature. Great saints have found enlightenment close to nature. Buddha under the Bodhi tree, Srikrishna who dances under the Kadamba. All ashrams were situated in forest groves and were centres of learning. Nature contributed to the atmosphere.

Knowledge-- As we grow and start speaking to the world, we need to gather knowledge as talking on
similar topics creates bonding, expands the mind and creates base for our career.

LOVE-- The next phase of the life is to get settled, earn money and make a family with whom
we can share our joyful moments and whom we can give our wealth to when we die.

Peace-- As we reach 60, its time to retire and that’s when we are in search of peace as we feel
that all the struggle in life should now end and we go to pilgrims.

Purity—It is better to be a child of GOD than the KING  of the whole world. At Pilgrims, we learn that nothing but remembering the supreme father i.e. GOD can give us the real peace. That’s when we accept GOD as our father and only the purity of the thoughts can connect us to him.

Power-- GOD is the ocean of bliss, knowledge, love, joy, peace, purity and power. Now if we can
know his real identity then we can have all these qualities throughout life. In today’s world with so much of uncertainty it is important we know him right  from childhood.

Mentally strong individuals focus on the present moment and on the near future. They understand that the past is out of our control and the far future is about as predictable as the weather this winter.

Mentally strong people avoid giving others the power to make them feel inferior or bad. They understand they are in control of their actions and emotions. They know their strength is in their ability to manage the way they respond.

The comfort zone is a dangerous place, a dark abyss where anyone who remains there for too long loses his or herself entirely. Staying within your comfort zone is giving up on life. Mentally strong people embrace change and they welcome challenge. Their biggest “fear,” if they have one, is not of the unknown, but of becoming complacent and stagnant. An environment of change and even uncertainty can energize a mentally strong person and bring out their best.

Quite often when something stressful hits us, we will reach for a drink or, for those who quit smoking, a cigarette. Others may even hit some harder drugs. Mentally strong people don’t need to numb the pain. They learn to deal with it in more natural ways.

Only the foolish believe themselves to be sufficient in all regards. When it comes to brainstorming, ideas can’t so much be forced as they can be caught. A good idea is a good idea, regardless of whether or not you came up with it. Don’t let your ego get the better of you; if someone has great advice to give, take it.

A mentally strong person is willing to take calculated risks. This is a different thing entirely than jumping headlong into foolish risks. But with mental strength, an individual can weigh the risks and benefits thoroughly, and will fully assess the potential downsides and even the worst-case scenarios before they take action.

They are no strangers to failure. They take a failure as a learning curve. They will take the lesson apart and see what went wrong. Re-evaluate their strategies and try again.

Although working on our weaknesses does have its benefits, it’s more important to focus on banking on our strengths. The most well-rounded person is not the person that gets the furthest in life. Being average in all regards makes you average. However, mastering a certain skill set or trait will allow you to beat the competition with less effort.

Mentally strong people enjoy and even treasure the time they spend alone. They use their downtime to reflect, to plan, and to be productive. Most importantly, they don’t depend on others to shore up their happiness and moods. They can be happy with others, and they can also be happy alone.

They laugh and smile a lot. They have no reason to be grumpy or have a frown. They love life and life is good to them. Even when it’s not, they still smile because they know something good will be just around the corner.

The Trees seeks to redefine established ideas about life in Mumbai. The project carefully intertwines culture, technology, history, and landscape to align with both functional and aesthetic goals. Here people will be able to admire the sweeping panorama of Vikhroli’s mangroves, live work learn play under a canopy of rain-trees all in an environment that offers cutting edge design and sustainability features.

The lifetime of each person is an experience of the soul’s pilgrimage in existence. A whole human being is one who can balance attachment and detachment in living. Every experience in existence can create harmony or disharmony. Values and perception are determined by the values we cherish in life. When we work to take instead of to ‘give’, we are treating life without reverence.

If one believes in the sacred responsibility of life’s journey, then create loving thoughts as they draw currents of positive energy, and help to invoke positive energy. The person who cultivates the path of peace and love enhances the atmosphere around, which, in turn, contributes to an atmosphere of vibrant positive energy.

Wisdom, compassion and non-violence are all lessons to be learnt by deliberate means. Each one of us needs to replace anger with compassion, hatred with understanding and other positive emotions — with a conscious effort.

Respect for life can begin with respect for nature. Great saints have found enlightenment close to nature. Buddha under the Bodhi tree, Srikrishna who dances under the Kadamba. All ashrams were situated in forest groves and were centres of learning. Nature contributed to the atmosphere.

We’ve been taught to live with Prakriti to worship the delicate Tulsi plant and the strong Peepal and Banyan trees. Music has been given reverence as it brings peace and healing. Dance through its rasa lifts us into an eternal ananda, linking performer with the Divine.

International Mother Language Day 21st February 2016-The theme is “Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes.”

International Mother Language Day (IMLD) (Bengali: আন্তর্জাতিক মাতৃভাষা দিবস Antôrjatik Matribhasha Dibôs) is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. First announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999, it was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.

The United Nations' (UN) International Mother Language Day annually celebrates language diversity and variety worldwide on February 21. It also remembers events such as the killing of four students on February 21, 1952, because they campaigned to officially use their mother language, Bengali, in Bangladesh.

UNESCO reiterates its position on the importance of appropriate languages of instruction, usually mother tongues, in early years of schooling: formal and non-formal education must deliver quality education for all learners by taking a multilingual approach, which has great potential for achieving development goal 4 of the Agenda 2030.


In line with Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education of the Agenda 2030, and the Education 2030 Framework for Action, the theme of Mother Language Day (IMLD) 2016 is, "Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes".

The theme of the 2016 International Mother Language Day is “Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes.”

The fight for language diversity has a history, especially in countries such as Bangladesh

Shaheed Minar (Martyr Monument), at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital in Bangladesh,

"Mother languages in a multilingual approach are essential components of quality education, which is itself the foundation for empowering women and men and their societies." -Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General

In Sustainable Development Goal 4, the 2030 Agenda focuses on quality education and lifelong learning for all, to enable every woman and man to acquire skills, knowledge, and values to become everything they wish and participate fully in their societies. This is especially important for girls and women, as well as minorities, indigenous peoples, and rural populations. This is reflected in UNESCO’s Education 2030 Framework for Action, a road-map to implement the 2030 Agenda, encouraging full respect for the use of mother language in teaching and learning, and the promotion and preservation of linguistic diversity.

Multilingualism is essential to drive these objectives forward – it is vital for success across the 2030 Agenda, regarding growth, employment and health, as well as sustainable consumption and production, and climate change.

UNESCO brings the same focus to advancing linguistic diversity on the Internet, through support to relevant local content as well as media and information literacy.  Through the Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems  programme, UNESCO is highlighting the importance of mother and local languages as channels for safeguarding and sharing indigenous cultures and knowledge, which are vast reservoirs of wisdom.

Mother languages in a multilingual approach are essential components of quality education, which is itself the foundation for empowering women and men and their societies. We must recognise and nurture this power, in order to leave no one behind, to craft a more just and sustainable future for all.

What Do People Do?

On International Mother Language Day the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UN agencies participate in events that promote linguistic and cultural diversity. They also encourage people to maintain their knowledge of their mother language while learning and using more than one language. Governments and non-governmental organizations may use the day to announce policies to encourage language learning and support.
The Linguapax Institute, in Barcelona, Spain, aims to preserve and promote linguistic diversity globally. The institute presents the Linguapax Prize on International Mother Language Day each year for those who have made outstanding work in linguistic diversity or multilingual education.

Background

At the partition of India in 1947, the Bengal province was divided according to the predominant religions of the inhabitants. The western part became part of India and the eastern part became a province of Pakistan known as East Bengal and later East Pakistan. However, there was economic, cultural and linInternational Mother Language Day has been being observed since 2000 to promote peace and multilingualism. The date corresponds to the day in 1952 when students from the University of Dhaka, Jagannath University and Dhaka Medical College, demonstrating for the recognition of Bengali as one of the two national languages of East Pakistan, were shot dead by police near the Dhaka High Court in the capital of present-day Bangladesh.

"Mother language" is the calque of a term used in several Romance languages: lengua materna (Spanish), lingua madre (Italian) and langue maternelle (French). A more literal English translation would be "mother tongue", although "native language" is the most comprehensible term in English. In linguistics, "mother language" refers to an ancestral (or proto-language) of a language family.gual friction between East and West Pakistan.

Symbols
The Shaheed Minar (martyr's monument) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, pays homage to the four demonstrators killed in 1952.
In India
The Government of India has decided to promote and digitize content in all its 22 officially recognized languages. As a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital India initiative, digitized content will be made available in 22 scheduled languages which will be extended to other 234 recognized languages of India.

Ref:
http://www.timeanddate.com
http://www.unesco.org

ATTENTION!!!-“the parade of planets”.5 Planets Will Be Aligned in 2016 From Jan. 20 To Feb. 20,

Last seen in January 2005, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus and Mercury will be visible from Earth in a row along the horizon from January 20 until February 20, 2016,appearing in a diagonal line. The best time to view the planets is just before dawn over the month-long period.Visible planets are those that can be seen with the naked eye, as opposed to Uranus, Neptune and former planet Pluto, which require telescopes to be viewed.

This incredible planetary event is the first time the five bright planets have aligned in such a way in more than 10 years – and they will stay stationed in this position until Feb. 20th.

A unique moment in time, which brings us yet another reason to gaze and appreciate the sky, but also brings an interesting intersection of energies. From a spiritual point of view, seeking a lesson in the soul of each planet – allows us to reflect deeper and gaze inward as well.

Mercury is the ruler of communication – take inventory of how you express your emotions with your words, and be mindful if your tone is in alignment with your intention.Take a Trip.

Venus relates to love –  be sure to give love to where ever you may feel lack, and to give lots of gratitude to where there is already love.Get Artistic.

Mars is considered the action planet, so if there’s been something you’ve been wanting to do, but haven’t yet done – get moving, and take the actions necessary to gain momentum. With the other planets being your guide, also remember to be loving in your actions, and to communicate from a place of pure intention.Sweat It Out.
Jupiter is the philosopher, and this is a great time to find the “gold” in your life’s lessons. Give love to the good, give love to the bad, allow all experience to serve as the fuel that burns your fire for desire – and if there is any area of your life that still feels “heavy”, be your own spiritual alchemist and find appreciation for the lesson, and forgive with all of your heart, because the heart is the philosopher’s stone.Start Saving.

Saturn relates to karma, so it is important to consider the timeless words of Bob Marley,  “every little action // there’s a reaction (satisfy my soul).” Perhaps there may be some actions that have occurred lately that brought about an unpleasant reaction. We always reap what we sow, and whatever good we give to the world – we will get back (same principle applies to the bad as well).Saturn is known as "The Great Teacher," and is basically the planet that brings all the others back to Earth.Clean House.

Ref:
http://consciouslifenews.com
http://www.evolveandascend.com

Presidents' Day-15th of February 2016--SIMILARITIES&DIFFERENCES between INDIA&USA

Both President's Day and George Washington's birthday are always celebrated on the third Monday of February.On April 30, 1789, George Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, took his oath of office as the first President of the United States.

During Washington's lifetime, people in Great Britain and America switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar (something most of Europe had done in 1582). As a result of this calendar reform, people born before 1752 were told to add 11 days to their birth dates. Those born between January 1 and March 25, as Washington was, also had to add one year to be in sync with the new calendar. By the time Washington became president in 1789, he celebrated his birthday on February 22 and listed his year of birth as 1732. Upon entering office, Washington was not convinced that he was the right man for the job. He wrote, “My movements to the chair of government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit, who is going to the place of his execution.”

India- USA some similarities

India and the USA are among the two largest countries in the world.  Both countries are in two different continents but still both countries have a few similarities.

Both countries are democracies. They both were British colonies before their independence. Both these nations have population, which are multi-ethnic but even so strong national patriotic pride has been established among its citizens. Both these countries are federations between the states and the center. The capitals of these countries, New Delhi and Washington, are not the main cultural and financial centers of their countries.

In both these countries the religion has strong holds within the country population. The majorities of the populations in these countries are conservative and respect their religion. Most of the Americans are Christians and they often visit their churches. Most of India's citizens are Hindus and they respect their religion's rituals. Both these countries also had some bizarre cults in which the cult leader completely dominated his followers.

In both these countries there was the same form of harsh manner. They had no rights and were treated in a very ill manner and with no respect. They had to sit at a distance from the upper castes. They were not allowed to enter the quarters and temples of the upper castes. They were also barred from entering restaurants, which served the upper castes.

The terms in which these communities are named are always changing. The Afro-Americans were first slaves, then they were coined Negro and Niger, then they were called blacks and now they are referred to as Afro-Americans. The untouchables were called Neech meaning low class, Mahatma Gandhi gave them the title Harijan, meaning children of God, now they are called Dalit meaning oppressed. Both these communities are raising their status through affirmative actions by the government. These affirmative actions have raised some tensions against the oppressed classes.

In both these countries some important political figures were assassinated. In USA, Abraham Lincoln, JF Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King were assassinated. In India, Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandi and Rajiv Gandhi were assassinated. (see Gandhi murders and Indian nationalism).

Both these countries have a big film industry with lots of film stars. Watching movies in both the countries is a very popular pastime. Citizens in both these countries have a lot of admiration for their movie stars and they imitate their film stars fashion. It is a normal feature in these countries when new movies are released that there are large queues to get tickets for the first shows.

Being the largest democratic countries in the world, both United States and India are based on federalism in their political structure. US became a Federal Republic State by promulgating its constitution in the year1789; whereas India became a Socialist, Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic by formally launching its constitution only in the year 1950.Thereby both countries had attained dominion status in which a number of smaller states had got affiliated forming a union with a strong central government that came to be called as Federal Government in the US and Central Government in India. Thus both states became Federal Republics.

While framing the Indian constitution, its drafting committee headed by Dr.Ambedkar, had borrowed many salient features from various constitutions in the world including US but adopted them in the Indian context. Hence, both U.S and India, despite being federal in structure have many similarities and differences between them.

Similarities between US and India:-

1) Written constitution
 2) Bill of Rights and Fundamental Rights
3) Supremacy of the Federal or Union Government
4) Division of Labor and Separation of Powers
5)Powers of Checks and Balances

Differences between the federalisms of US and India:-
1) The Constitution of US is very rigid than the Indian Constitution
2) While US has the Presidential form of Government, India has the Parliamentary form of Government
3) Differences between the legislatures of US and India
4) Differences in the judicial system between US and India



https://www.whitehouse.gov/
http://www.almanac.com
https://general-law.knoji.com