While it is futile convincing anyone to forsake their ideas, the world will be a better place for the future generations, if we adopt a holistic approach.

Saving the environment does not indicate that one should forsake meat alone; it means forsaking greed. Our eco-system is a well-balanced one, with the availability for every being’s needs, but not for every being’s greed! When we break this fragile eco-system thereby exploiting it, we are creating nothing but irreparable damage. If only the world’s builders mend their vandalizing ways, each time trees are cut down to make way for skyscrapers and hotels; if only seafarers are prudent to avoid oil-spillage; if only scientists realize the wreckage the discovery of nuclear weapons can create; if only you and I switch off the engine during a long wait; if only we during an excursion think before dirtying a pristine lake or hill, we would have managed to live a holistic life, safeguarding the world.

The herbivores depend on plants for food, the carnivores depend on herbivores and the dwindling population of either is absolutely dangerous for you and me.

Both developing as well as developed countries can do well to consider the imbalance staring at them and build a bridge to shorten the chasm. If you think population is the core culprit of developing countries, do think about the wastage of land and resources of developed countries! The United States alone has enough to feed the whole world.

Let’s start from home. Check on what is used in surplus and think of ways of curtailing this overuse. Think of ways of being a rolling potato instead of being a couch potato. A car-pool not only reduces pollution, but builds camaraderie too. Enjoy a walk with your companion rather than a drive. Ensure you consume very less electricity. A bored child can be taught the basics of gardening and made to sow seeds and tend to plants.

Find alternatives to substitute chemical pesticides. Sodium bicarbonate is an effective insect repellant when mixed with milk. Neem leaves and neem oil keep mosquitoes and even fungus at bay. Segregate organic and inorganic waste. While the former can be used as plant food, find if you can reuse inorganic waste in innovative ways. A simple man from India, Nek Chand did just that by creating a “Rock Garden” with waste like porcelain cups and saucers, electric bulbs, pens, bangles, et al!!

Make maximum use of the freely available resource such as sunlight, moonlight, the cool breeze, the rains, plants and trees etc. That’s what it means to living with nature harmoniously. Take initiative in learning about and implementing effective techniques like rainwater harvesting, vermiculture, solar homes, green energy products etc.

Say no to plastic and find substitutes for the same. Ask yourself if you certainly need a product, be it food or any product.

          

The trick is in getting them involved in activities that can be enjoyable as well as interesting. You can try any method that can get them involved in going green. Show the benefits of going green in a practical manner. This will have a bigger impact on them than just words. In case you are not able to come up with anything, here are some ways to try your luck with them:

You can start by encouraging them to save energy in every possible way in your house. The best way to do this is to first follow such the habits yourself. Your kids will be inspired to do the same when they see their parents doing anything that can save energy in the house. You can even have a competition in your house where the person who saves the most amount of energy will be rewarded with some catchy prize.

Try to teach them a number of ways to recycle the stuff that is lying waste at your place. You can start with paper; teach them to make paste out of it so that they can make paper bags and other things from it. This will also help them to cut down on the use of plastics at your place. In case there is waste cardboard, teach them a number of tricks so that they can build mini houses from it or models of cars. Give them paint so that they will have a nice time by making everything colorful. Remember only give them paints that are environmental friendly.

Take some time out of your busy schedule and spend it with your kids. Go for a walk in the countryside with them. They will be able to appreciate nature more when they are in close contact with it. Try to tell them more on animals and plants that they find interesting. This will help them to develop more interest in such plants and animals.

You need to tell them why use of plastic is bad for our environment – if you are able to do this then you will be able to prevent them from harming our planet in a major way. Plastic is one of the chief menaces that are creating major environmental problems on our planet.

Remember always be patient with your kids when you are discussing about the environment. It pays to be patient because if you can get them involved in the conservation of the environment, they will do their best in following this cause all their life.

          

Gifting a loved one with something they would cherish is a thing we all love to do. Although the market is flooded with choicest of gifts, any giver would want his gift to be the most unique. In today’s times, where the most exorbitant of gifts seem befitting, it will be a wise and conscious decision to invest one’s time and money in more meaningful and environmentally safer options.

Depending upon your proximity, a bouquet large or small is a very ‘green’ and touching gift. Despite the bouquet having a short shelf life, flowers do usher in cheer, whether they are gifted for anniversaries or to convalescing patients.

FLOWERY GIFTS

Another idea will be to tend to rare herbs or flowering shrubs in your garden and gift a few to someone close, along with instructions how they need to be looked after. Seeds of flowers, herbs are also simple options. An aunt who has a green thumb maintains a beautiful garden, presented me with the best gift I have received in this lifetime- a few hanging pots, moss, packets of seeds, potted rose shrubs, a few potted herbs, garden tools and organic manure, not to mention a gardening book for beginners. And today, I’m a proud owner of a pretty garden!

During Christmas, a lovely Christmas tree along with decorations will be welcome in any household.

A woman once discouraged a beggar without giving him money, but a few flower saplings, and taught him to plant those, sell the produce and earn money. Instead of giving him fish, she taught him to fish!

A letter pad made of recycled paper, along with recycled paper envelopes, make ideal gifts to teenage girls. Greeting cards made of recycled paper may be a bit costlier, but is environmentally better too.  Books made of recycled paper are wonderful options too.

Children using pencils can be given pencils that are made out of recycling wood. Color pencils, and lead pencils will excite small children and they will naturally make a decision to buy only those brands.

When gifting clothes, again pure cotton or woolen or handloom garments, or textile painted in fabric colors will be unique.

Older relatives will love handmade jams, jellies and squashes made from fruits hand picked from your garden. Ripe, juicy fresh, fruits will always be appreciated.

CURIOS THAT MAKE YOU CURIOUS

When you visit Asian and African countries, you will be mesmerized by the bewitching natural items on display. Indian shawls, lacquered bangles, embroidered pouches, table mats, decorative wall hangings, stained glass paintings or table lamps made of stained glass, handloom stoles with designs made from block prints having distinct motifs, metal handicrafts like lamps, brass plates, metal or earthen statues etc make elegant gifts. All of the above come in sizes to suit any budget.

TREASURE UNEARTHED

Curios made of stones make rare gifts too. The much famed marble masterpiece of the Taj Mahal is brought alive in miniature marble monuments and any visitor to India would love to own this miniature marvel to remind them of the romantic time they spent in India.  China porcelain, blue pottery of Rajasthan etc also make beautiful gifts to contain your delicate plants.

CANE AND ABLE GIFTS

Cane furniture or curios made of cane will be cherished by one and all.  Another unique and tasteful gift, especially found in hilly regions, is flowers and foliage preserved and pressed in dainty patterns. You can collect foliage of different shapes and sizes-slender, long, rounded, heart shaped, along with wild flowers, press them to form a different pattern, frame and gift it. You may have to use preservatives, but organic preservatives may be used too.

CORPORATE GIFTS

Appropriate office stationery, that includes papers, diary, letter pads, envelopes, etc made from recycled paper, along with wooden pen holders, cane trash bins to toss in papers, files and even gift wrappers made form recycled papers etc are novel corporate gifts too.

Most shops wrap their goods in plastic carry bags. Better options would be to use eco friendly carry bags made from recycled paper.

BRIDAL GIFTS

One always wonders what to gift to a woman who starts life new.  An ideal gift would be to collect a few chosen relished recipes, pasted in a scarp book, and along with handy hints to remove stains from fabrics, and some home made beauty concoctions. Also include some handy tips to enliven the marriage bonds during trying times. The recipient is sure to use this gift more often, and add her own ideas and experiences to it.

LINGERING NOSTALGIA

Scented candles, in delicate perfumes, Aromatherapy natural oils of Rosemary, Sandal, Lavender, Chamomile, Juniper and Eucalyptus will be cherished and every time the user uses these, they will be reminded of you. Herbal soaps are non-allergic with their woody perfume. Sandalwood products, incense sticks, soaps, perfumes, sandal dust, pens made out of sandalwood, sandal oil, face packs, sachets which contain fragrances that can be placed inside the wardrobes etc. are sandal wood products liked by everyone. Gifting women with a complete array of the above articles make delightful gifts.

Empty jars may be placed in wardrobes for their lingering perfume. Even if the jars are tossed into the trash bin, some day when the familiar scent wafts by, the user would reminisce about the ‘times’ she used the product, the memories of which may just waft by!

SWEEP IT UNDER THE CARPET

Oriental rugs will be treasured by the owner and will make ideal gifts for weddings and house warming ceremonies.

NASCENT GIFTS

Hand-knitted sweaters, booties and bonnets will be ideal for new born babies. Many grandmothers who are adept at knitting, embroidery and appliqué work have busied themselves as soon as they’ve learnt about the impending arrival. Not only your children, but also your grandchildren will treasure these as they cherish these.

FAMILY LEGACY

An ultimate gift for a family member would be to collect rare photographs of vacations; anniversaries etc and make an album along with titles of the time and place. You can paste rare family photographs in a huge frame and this can be hung on the wall.

Hanging a family tree on the wall or given as a gift to a near and dear one will be unique! Sal wood twigs can be used to make frames which encase relatives-grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, nieces, nephews and children along with their spouses. This wall in the house will never go unnoticed, as guests will throng to take a curious peep. That eccentric aunt and grumpy uncle of yours will be happy too, that their picture has found its way into your collection. There, you’ve made someone experience a sense of belongingness!

A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER!

For the beauty conscious, face packs, herbal lipsticks, creams, exfoliating scrubs, seaweed for a spa experience, bath salts, manicure and pedicure creams that are made from purely herbal substances, etc can make thoughtful gifts.

Of all kinds of promising hair oil displayed in the market, I still prefer my mother’s home made hair oil, where she adds rose petals, Aloe Vera gel, hibiscus flowers, herbs etc in coconut or castor oil.

SPICE UP SOMEONE’S LIFE!

People living in tropical areas can select fresh spices from their garden, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, etc, to relatives or friends living far off. Those living in the Middle-east can opt for cashews, avocados, almonds, raisins and other dry fruits. After all nature never goes out of style.

          

I normally find that my friends are not able to use their vacuum cleaners whenever the belt in the vacuum cleaners has to be replaced. They actually wait for the technician to replace it before they use it for cleaning their homes. Sadly at times their wait is a very long one, as technicians have to attend to a large number of calls per day. At times these technicians are not very professional in attending to a particular call because of their careless nature. Are you one of those who simply hate doing any kind of mechanical work? Or are you one of those who have never done any kind of mechanical work at your home? Well the next time you need to replace the belt in your Electrolux (Upright) vacuum cleaner, don’t depend on anyone else or wait till the technician drops by at your place. You too can do this task provided you follow all the instructions given below properly:

You can start the process by unplugging the Electrolux (Upright) vacuum cleaner that is lying at your place. Remember you need to be careful while replacing the belt as any sort of carelessness on your side will cost you, if you break anything.

Place the vacuum cleaner in such a way so that you can easily access the bottom plate. Take out the screws and keep them aside. You can then turn over the vacuum cleaner and place it across flat.

You then need to keep a big screwdriver between the cover and the wheel. This needs to be followed for both the wheels. Use the big screwdriver to pry off the top in a careful manner. Do it in such a way so that it gets released from the bottom housing.

You then need to take out screws that are present at the end of the roller. These screws are used to keep the roller fixed on the vacuum cleaner. Once these screws have been removed, you can easily set the roller free. You can push away the belt pulley so that any kind of rubbish that has accumulated in the roller can be removed. The roller should be able to spin easily after the rubbish has been removed.

You can then take a look at the hose and remove any rubbish stuck in it. Then get a new vacuum belt installed – this can be done by first keeping it on the motor shaft. Then lay the vacuum belt above the roller and fix the roller once again. You will then have to put back the screws so that the roller is properly fixed.

Now that you have set everything properly, you can confirm if everything is alright with the vacuum cleaner by spinning it. You can then reassemble the vacuum cleaner.

There – wasn’t the whole process very simple – now that everything is so clear, don’t wait for anyone to replace the belt in your Electrolux vacuum cleaner the next time you want to get it changed. Not only will you save some valuable time and money, but you will also enjoy yourself while doing such a kind of work.

          

Swine Flu has managed to create a major havoc in all the major cities and countries of the world. No other illness has been able to scare so many people in recent times. In spite of this, hardly anyone seems to know anything that is needed to tackle it in an effective manner. A large number of children too have been infected by Swine Flu. If you are a parent yourself and worried about what you can do to protect your young ones from Swine Flu – you can gain a lot from the info given below. Even if you don’t have kids, the following tips will easily help you to avoid Swine Flu and also guide your family members and close friends in avoiding it.

Wash your hands – although we all like to wash our hands on a regular basis, we forget to do that at times because of our hectic and stressful schedules. But this is a must to avoid getting Swine Flu or any other similar illness. Don’t forget to apply soap and wash the area beyond your wrists while washing your hands – take some time while doing this. You should use paper towels so that you can use them to turn off the tap as well as use them for drying your hands. This is handy as you will not touch any place where there might be some germs – these are the same kind of germs that were also present on your hands before washing them.

Follow etiquette and cover your mouth and nose – whenever you sneeze, you are releasing small globules of liquid. And very often these globules will contain the virus that is responsible for spreading illnesses among human beings. So don’t forget to cover your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing. You can use a tissue that should be discarded after you have used it. In case you use a handkerchief, put it for washing in the washing machine.

Take rest at home when not keeping well – try to take rest at home so that you can totally recover from an illness. Doing this will help you to get stronger and give you a chance to have lots of fluids in your body. But even if after this rest, there is no improvement in your condition then you definitely need to take the help of your personal medical care provider.

Don’t meet in crowded places – although you might like to socialize with other people, avoid meeting friends in crowded public places as viruses are totally active in such places.

Don’t touch your mouth, nose and eyes as much as possible – this tip is very important as germs can easily get into your system when you touch such parts of your body due to the presence of moisture.

Follow a healthy lifestyle – finally try to maintain a proper schedule in your daily life. Sleep well, try to avoid stress and have a proper diet.

All the above tips will help you in avoiding Swine Flu as well as unwanted stress caused due to the fear of contracting Swine Flu.

          

How often have we heard the words “going green” in our lives? Do we actually consider these words to be a part of our popular lingo or is it something that can make a major difference in our lives? If you are one of those who has ignored going green then let me tell you, we all need to make a difference so that the world will be a much better place to live in. And for those who think that going green involves a lot of hard work and sacrifice – I would like to tell you that in fact going green can actually mean a lot of fun.

There is no limit to the number of ways that we can go green – once you show your commitment to making the earth a better place to live in, ideas will keep popping out of your mind. Don’t restrict yourself when you keep getting ideas for going green. In case you are not able to come up with any idea, here are some ways of going green in your life:

Don’t allow the old computers in your office or home to accumulate as junk. Computers once discarded and treated as junk will keep emitting harmful particles regularly on our planet. It makes more sense to donate such computers to anyone who needs them. A lot of children’s centers and social organizations will find them very useful for their daily needs. You will also be able to save some taxes for donating these computers. So you are able to achieve three goals – go green, help the needy and also save some taxes for yourself – isn’t it real fun?

I especially enjoy reusing the plastic spray bottles. Firstly I use them as water guns. This is real fun as my kids use them to spray one anther with water. Of course I allow them to do this only after I have washed such plastic spray bottles in a proper manner. Sometimes I have even used these sprays as plant misters.

There will be a number of plastic jars present in your home. Use them as piggy banks for your kids. Use a bit of imagination and get them colored by your kids. Your kids will not only be able to save money but also enjoy the whole process of coloring their piggy banks.

Anything made of paper can be easily recycled in a variety of ways. Milk cartons are very good for using as planters. You can use cardboard for making cute houses for your children. Cardboard can also be used to make paper dolls.

Make bags from paper and then use them as trash bags. Remember, doing this will help you to avoid use of plastic bags. If you are able to do this, then you are reducing the use of plastic in your life which is a wonderful way to keep our planet free from the ill-effects of plastic.

Thus there is no dearth of ideas if you really want to go green and help in making our planet a better place to live in.

          

Everyone has felt the effects of the recent economic recession. Some of the biggest companies in America closed, or came close. One of the industries to feel the impact of recession was the automobile industry. From bailouts to bankruptcy to completely revamped management teams and business models, the big car companies came crashing down to earth.

GM was no exception. Known for its sluggish decision making, this giant fell hard and required billions of dollars in government aid to remain in business. Now, reports, promises, and an entirely new structure of business offers a glimmer of hope to the company and the Americans who view this icon as a symbol of prosperity within our economic structure.

Although GM faces the largest slump in car sales according to predictions, it is promising to pay off government loans in less time than the mandated payment term of 2015. The company spent 40 days under the supervision of courts, which is less time than most expected. During that time, the changes made to the company should produce the speed, customer care, and streamlined decisions necessary to pull the company up by its bootstraps.

“We recognize that we’ve been given a rare second chance at GM, and we are very grateful for that. And we appreciate the fact that we now have the tools to get the job done,” CEO Fritz Henderson said in a news conference.

Some of the tools come in an eight member executive committee which will replace two senior leadership forums. This alone indicates the company’s seriousness in the matter of improvement. It is estimated that over the coming year 6,150 positions in the salaried employment departments will be cut. Of those destined to be eliminated, 450 positions are with executive jobs.

Based on this and the fact that the government will now own a majority of the company, it is looking as if GM can see the light at the end of the tunnel. If GM stays relevant, produces vehicles a more earth conscious society wants, increases the speed at which decisions are handled, and improves customer care, they may just pull off one of the biggest come backs in corporate history.

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As more focus is placed on the health of America, with obesity leading the way, it comes to mind that there are alternatives to traditional medicine. A rise in interest has given alternative medicine a place alongside Western medicine.

Alternative medicine includes a wide range of therapies from acupuncture to herbal remedies and homeopathic practices. There are even a few healers who claim to have the power of God behind them who do not adhere to any known practices in medicinal healing. One such healer calls himself John of God and practices in Brazil. He is said to be able to heal simply by thinking, touching, or performing atypical surgeries. John of God claims he heals through the spirits of doctors past and does not do the healing himself. His patients are of mixed opinions.

Some think John of God and others like him have a power to heal that is divine in nature and completely on the up and up. Others believe John of God to be heretic who is not what he appears to be and in fact, may be unstable. There is one common belief among the masses, though: they do feel changed by an encounter with John of God.

Acupuncture, an ancient healing method utilizing blunt needles at chakra  points throughout the body, is probably the most widely used and most trusted of the alternative therapies for illness. With a record dating hundreds of years and results that do lessen pain according to patient reports, it may be something to consider when one isn’t feeling up to par.

Basically, there are choices out their for taking care of your body, mind and soul. You just have to make the decisions based on facts and information to find the combination that works for you.

It should be noted that traditional, Westernized medicine should not be abandoned in lieu of the choices available. It may be beneficial though to heal more than the physical body. Alternative medicine is built on the belief that full healing comes from treating the whole individual and not just the physical manifestation of illness in the physical body. Science has already confirmed that prayer does indeed have a positive effect in patients during the healing process, but science has not yet determined that alternative measures should replace traditional methods.

It is my belief that the two could work in conjunction with one another in a manner that does promote healing more thoroughly. I believe we heal better, live longer, and are happier when our spirits as well as our bodies are attended to and our needs met. I think the addition of alternative medicine to a traditional medicine approach for all illnesses could increase the number of positive results seen. However, I do not think that alternative medicine can completely replace traditional methods nor should it. It is another faction of health care and not a separate entity of health care.

Before changing your health care regime, please check with your physician. The information in this article is not meant to replace medical advice, but only to inform. Herbs can interact with medications, so check before adding any herbal remedies to your routines.

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Obama’s aggressive stimulus plan may be failing, or at the very least, hitting a stumbling block. 467,000 were shed from the U.S. economy, giving hints that the average American worker has not seen relief from the recession.

The current rate of unemployment is an at the highest rate seen in the last 26 years, sitting at an unpleasant 9.5. Thursday’s reports show an alarming trend that promises the end of the recession and the loss of jobs to come are not yet at an end.

Alan Ruskin, a strategist at RBS Greenwich Capital. “The employment report can largely be taken at face value, and the face value story is a labor market that is not improving nearly as rapidly as the May data suggested.”

Before depression sets in at the newest reports, it should be noted that June did show an improvement from the starting point of January as more than 600,000 jobs per month were being lost at that time. Also, the jobs lost according to the report are widespread among several industries and not limited to specific job markets. Some of this loss could be the simple fluctuation that occurs naturally within any one industry over a period of time.

In layman’s terms, this translates into the short term goal of Obama’s stimulus plan not being met. While there is still hope and a sense of promise from the data that the long term effect of the stimulus package will be reached, the immediate state of the economy is not showing it. The recession will end based on a simple physics concept: All things end. The ending of one process will spark the beginning of the next. The solution offered by Obama is not one that can be expected to have immediate results the population desires. Instead, it will have a slow but steady increase in success as the economy recovers with each new aspect of the package as it is introduced.

The bottom line: be patient. There will be a brighter economic future, but nothing gets fixed overnight.

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