MOON WATER

The first object in the night sky most of us ever saw, the Moon remains a mystery. Haunted by poets, looked upon by youngsters in love, studied intensely by astronomers for four centuries, examined by geologists for the last 50 years, walked upon by twelve humans, this is Earth's satellite.

And as we look towards the Moon with thoughts of setting up a permanent home there, one new question is paramount: does the Moon have water? Although none has been definitely detected, recent evidence suggests that it's there.

Why should there be water on the Moon? Simply for the same reason that there's water on Earth. A favorite theory is that water, either as water by itself or as its components of hydrogen and oxygen, was deposited on Earth during its early history--mostly during a period of "late heavy bombardment" 3.9 billion years ago--by the impacts of comets and asteroids. Because the Moon shares the same area of space as Earth, it should have received its share of water as well. However, since it has only a tiny fraction of Earth's gravity, most of the Moon's water supply should have evaporated and drifted off into space long ago. Most, but perhaps not all.

In ancient times, observers commonly thought the Moon had abundant water--in fact, the great lava plains like Mare Imbrium were called maria, or seas. But when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon in 1969, they stepped out not into the water of the Sea of Tranquillity, but onto basaltic rock. No one was surprised by that--the idea of lunar maria had been replaced by lava plains decades earlier.

As preparations were underway in the mid 1960s for the Apollo program, questions about water on the Moon were barely on the radar screen. Geologists and astronomers were divided at the time as to whether the lunar surface was a result of volcanic forces from beneath, or cosmic forces from above. Grove Carl Gilbert in 1893 already had the answer. That famous geologist suggested that large asteroidal objects hit the Moon, forming its craters. Ralph Baldwin articulated the same idea in 1949, and Gene Shoemaker revived the idea again around 1960. Shoemaker, almost alone among geologists of his day, saw the Moon as a fertile subject for field geology. He saw the craters on the Moon as logical impact sites that were formed not gradually in eons, but explosively in seconds.

The Apollo flights confirmed that the dominant geological process on the Moon is impact-related. That discovery, in turn, ushered in a new question: Since Earth's water was probably delivered largely by comets and asteroids, could this process have done the same for the Moon? And could some of that water still be there?

In 1994, the SDI-NASA Clementine spacecraft orbited the Moon and mapped its surface. In one experiment, Clementine beamed radio signals into shadowed craters near the Moon's south pole. The reflections, received by antennas on Earth, seemed to come from icy material.

That makes sense. If there is water on the Moon, it's probably hiding in the permanent shadows of deep, cold craters, safe from vaporizing sunlight, frozen solid.

So far so good, but... the Clementine data were not conclusive, and when astronomers tried to find ice in the same craters using the giant Arecibo radar in Puerto Rico, they couldn't. Maybe Clementine was somehow wrong.

In 1998, NASA sent another spacecraft, Lunar Prospector, to check. Using a device called a neutron spectrometer, Lunar Prospector scanned the Moon's surface for hydrogen-rich minerals. Once again, polar craters yielded an intriguing signal: neutron ratios indicated hydrogen. Could it be the "H" in H2O? Many researchers think so.

Lunar Prospector eventually sacrificed itself to the search. When the spacecraft's primary mission was finished, NASA decided to crash Prospector near the Moon's south pole, hoping to liberate a bit of its meager layer of water. Earth's satellite might briefly become a comet as amounts of water vapor were released.





Lunar Prospector crashed, as planned, and several teams of researchers tried to detect that cloud, but without success. Either there was no water, or there was not enough water to be detected by Earth-based telescopes, or the telescopes were not looking in precisely the right place. In any event, no water was found from Prospector's impact.

In 2008, NASA plans to send a new spacecraft to the Moon: the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), bristling with advanced sensors that can sense water in at least four different ways. Scientists are hopeful that LRO can decide the question of Moon water once and for all.

Our interest is not just scientific. If we are indeed to build a base on the Moon, the presence of water already there would offer a tremendous advantage in building and running it. It's been 35 years since we first set foot on the Moon. Now ambitious eyes once again look toward our satellite not just as a place to visit, but as a place to live.


Since man first touched the moon and brought pieces of it back to Earth, scientists have thought that the lunar surface was bone dry. But new observations from three different spacecraft have put this notion to rest with what has been called "unambiguous evidence" of water across the surface of the moon.

The new findings, detailed in the Sept. 25 issue of the journal Science, come in the wake of further evidence of lunar polar water ice by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and just weeks before the planned lunar impact of NASA's LCROSS satellite, which will hit one of the permanently shadowed craters at the moon's south pole in hope of churning up evidence of water ice deposits in the debris field.

The moon remains drier than any desert on Earth, but the water is said to exist on the moon in very small quantities. One ton of the top layer of the lunar surface would hold about 32 ounces of water, researchers said.

"If the water molecules are as mobile as we think they are — even a fraction of them — they provide a mechanism for getting water to those permanently shadowed craters," said planetary geologist Carle Pieters of Brown University in Rhode Island, who led one of the three studies in Science on the lunar find, in a statement. "This opens a whole new avenue [of lunar research], but we have to understand the physics of it to utilize it."

Finding water on the moon would be a boon to possible future lunar bases, acting as a potential source of drinking water and fuel.

Apollo turns up dry

When Apollo astronauts returned from the moon 40 years ago, they brought back several samples of lunar rocks.

The moon rocks were analyzed for signs of water bound to minerals present in the rocks; while trace amounts of water were detected, these were assumed to be contamination from Earth, because the containers the rocks came back in had leaked.

"The isotopes of oxygen that exist on the moon are the same as those that exist on Earth, so it was difficult if not impossible to tell the difference between water from the moon and water from Earth," said Larry Taylor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who is a member of one of the NASA-built instrument teams for India's Chandrayaan-1 satellite and has studied the moon since the Apollo missions.

While scientists continued to suspect that water ice deposits could be found in the coldest spots of south pole craters that never saw sunlight, the consensus became that the rest of the moon was bone dry.

But new observations of the lunar surface made with Chandrayaan-1, NASA's Cassini spacecraft, and NASA's Deep Impact probe, are calling that consensus into question, with multiple detections of the spectral signal of either water or the hydroxyl group (an oxygen and hydrogen chemically bonded).

Three spacecraft

Chandrayaan-1, India's first-ever moon probe, was aimed at mapping the lunar surface and determining its mineral composition (the orbiter's mission ended 14 months prematurely in August after an abrupt malfunction). While the probe was still active, its NASA-built Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) detected wavelengths of light reflected off the surface that indicated the chemical bond between hydrogen and oxygen — the telltale sign of either water or hydroxyl.

Because M3 can only penetrate the top few millimeters of lunar regolith, the newly observed water seems to be at or near the lunar surface. M3's observations also showed that the water signal got stronger toward the polar regions. Pieters is the lead investigator for the M3 instrument on Chandrayaan-1.

Cassini, which passed by the moon in 1999 on its way to Saturn, provides confirmation of this signal with its own slightly stronger detection of the water/hydroxyl signal. The water would have to be absorbed or trapped in the glass and minerals at the lunar surface, wrote Roger Clark of the U.S. Geological Survey in the study detailing Cassini's findings.

The Cassini data shows a global distribution of the water signal, though it also appears stronger near the poles (and low in the lunar maria).

Finally, the Deep Impact spacecraft, as part of its extended EPOXI mission and at the request of the M3 team, made infrared detections of water and hydroxyl as part of a calibration exercise during several close approaches of the Earth-Moon system en route to its planned flyby of comet 103P/Hartley 2 in November 2010.

Deep Impact detected the signal at all latitudes above 10 degrees N, though once again, the poles showed the strongest signals. With its multiple passes, Deep Impact was able to observe the same regions at different times of the lunar day. At noon, when the sun's rays were strongest, the water feature was lowest, while in the morning, the feature was stronger.

"The Deep Impact observations of the Moon not only unequivocally confirm the presence of [water/hydroxyl] on the lunar surface, but also reveal that the entire lunar surface is hydrated during at least some portion of the lunar day," the authors wrote in their study.

The findings of all three spacecraft "provide unambiguous evidence for the presence of hydroxyl or water," said Paul Lucey of the University of Hawaii in an opinion essay accompanying the three studies. Lucey was not involved in any of the missions.

The new data "prompt a critical reexamination of the notion that the moon is dry. It is not," Lucey wrote.

Where the water comes from

Combined, the findings show that not only is the moon hydrated, the process that makes it so is a dynamic one that is driven by the daily changes in solar radiation hitting any given spot on the surface.

The sun might also have something to do with how the water got there.

There are potentially two types of water on the moon: that brought from outside sources, such as water-bearing comets striking the surface, or that that originates on the moon.

This second, endogenic, source is thought to possibly come from the interaction of the solar wind with moon rocks and soils.

The rocks and regolith that make up the lunar surface are about 45 percent oxygen (combined with other elements as mostly silicate minerals). The solar wind — the constant stream of charged particles emitted by the sun — are mostly protons, or positively charged hydrogen atoms.

If the charged hydrogens, which are traveling at one-third the speed of light, hit the lunar surface with enough force, they break apart oxygen bonds in soil materials, Taylor, the M3 team member suspects. Where free oxygen and hydrogen exist, there is a high chance that trace amounts of water will form.

The various study researchers also suggest that the daily dehydration and rehydration of the trace water across the surface could lead to the migration of hydroxyl and hydrogen towards the poles where it can accumulate in the cold traps of the permanently shadowed regions.

Water was first confirmed on Mars by the Phoenix lander last year.

09/09/09: Magical Date Appears After 1455 Years

With the Planet Saturn changing its position from Leo to Virgo on magical date 09/09/09, mercury of curiosity has shot up suddenly. The magical date comprising 9/9/9 has appeared after a long gap of 1455 years.

Astrologers describe it a holy occasion and auspicious day for human being. Such yoga (phenomenon) will bring prosperity for the nation and human being. As the number 9 is believed to be a holy one in the Hindu Mythology, people can start favourable and auspicious work on this day.

According to the sources, several new couples have planned to tie the nuptial knot on 09/09/09 to make their weddings memorable.

As the Saturn is an important and most powerful planet among the all planets, its position and movement have great importance for human being. Changing its position, the Saturn moved to Virgo at 11.58 pm from Leo. It will remain in Virgo for the next three years. Virgo is friendly sun sign of the Saturn.

Though the Saturn's presence in Leo created problems, its present position is sure to give good results. Nine has great significance in the Hindu Mythology and represents number 9.

The current position of Saturn will bring prosperity and happiness for every sun sign.

Let us have a look on its affect on different sun signs:
Aries: Flourishing Business.
Taurus: Development of progeny.
Gemini: Good family life.
Cancer: Monetary gain, benefits for medical professional, Saadhe Saati (a special phase) ended.
Leo: Good health, monetary gains, last Dhhaiya.
Virgo: Starting of second phase, beneficial, rise in fame, wealth. Be moral.
Libra: Shining phase, offer prayers to your favourite Deity, maintain good relations with spouse, be moral.
Scorpion: Possibility of some auspicious works.
Sagittarian: Professional and mental problems will be solved.
Capricorn: Possibility of monetary gain and new job.
Aquarians: Possibility of monetary gain.
Pisces: Mix response, respect in society.

ASTROLOGICAL AFFINITIES

Aries – Mars – House 1
Taurus – Venus – House 2
Gemini – Mercury – House 3
Cancer – Moon – House 4
Leo – Sun – House 5
Virgo – Mercury/Chiron* – House 6
Libra – Venus – House 7
Scorpio – Pluto – House 8
Sagittarius – Jupiter – House 9
Capricorn – Saturn – House 10
Aquarius – Uranus – House 11
Pisces – Neptune – House 12

SOME FACTS ABOUT PLANETS

The solar system in order starting with the Sun to the farthest reaches beyond it, remember to make mental or actual notes on which planets sound like nice places to visit. Disregard details like a climate that would boil, bake, fry, or freeze you, if you could breathe the air long enough to stay more than a minute. This is a metaphorical tour. Anyone can afford it, and it requires no astronaut training.

Sun - It’s the center of our piece of cosmic real estate. All the other planets in our solar system revolve around it. This life-giver stands from an astrological perspective for will, self-awareness, personal power, self-expression, and the drive to make a difference. It governs the child phase of life and creativity itself. The Sun is associated with professions such as teacher, artist, actor and other entertainers. It is a symbol of the masculine principle, father, the ego and leaders. The Sun governs yearly cycles. As an energy, it is concentrated and focalized. Its primary association in the human body is the heart.

Moon - The Sun’s complement, the Moon reflects rather than shines. It governs moods, emotions, sensations, perceptions, and change. Its realm includes feelings, instincts, gut reactions, sensitivity, and protectiveness. The Moon is associated with the feminine principle, mothering, food, digestion, hunger, comfort, and the family. It particularly rules the mother-child relationship and all bonds that nurture. Comforts and habits are its domain, along with the home. The Moon governs monthly cycles. In the human body, its primary associations are the breasts, digestion, and the lymphatic system. As you can imagine, all professions that involve nurture from caretaking to food industries “come from this planet.”

Mercury - A quick moving planet that rules communications, thought, and clever ideas, Mercury governs our brains and nervous systems. On its downside, a Gemini friend (Mercury ruled) once complained how he “beats himself up with his brain.” Too much thinking, like too much accumulation of mercury in the fish we eat, can have negative, even fatal consequences (mercury poisoning). Mercury’s realms are thought, logic, research, and analysis. You might like to live on our metaphorical Mercury if you like facts, news, writing, and learning—and communications devices. If an extraterrestrial landed on Earth from Mercury, he might have numerous cell phones, PDAs, computers and other gadgetry hanging off a tool belt on his spacesuit—or the Planet Mercury equivalent of those gismos. Writers and communicators are associated with Mercury, inventors and those who conduct commerce. Other affiliations: short trips, work, and dexterity. The dead giveaway to a Mercurial person is their love of trivia. They are fact collectors who bore easily. Once boredom sets in, it’s time to find more facts or something else new to entertain and engage them!

Venus - Is there anyone out there who (honestly) wouldn’t want to visit the planet of beauty, love, and harmony? The atmosphere of Venus resonates charm, comfort, romance, and refinements. It’s a place where art, music and luxury thrive. The planet associated with partnership, relationship, and marriage, its realms are cooperation, consideration, balance, fairness, and that most illusive thing of all—happiness. Named for the goddess of love and beauty, Venus is affiliated with our veins and the female sex organs. Like the Moon, Venus represents the feminine. The downside of this planet is an over-the-top love of luxuries, money, and a tendency toward indulgence and not taking things seriously. Diplomats and lovers are Venusian. (Aren’t they one in the same?) Peace, pleasure, and serenity are what people from this planet strive for. You might come from this planet if you have a hard time being alone and simply must be in a relationship at all times, for better or for worse.

Mars - The complement to Venus (Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus), this planet is all about action, desire, impulse and drive—even force of strength. What a mixed bag of masculine energy—courage, decisiveness, competition, energy, and adventure, alongside anger, aggression, violence, the military, explosions, and sharp objects. Mars is male sexuality, and in addition to the male sex organ, Mars rules muscles. Athletes—especially the most beefy (muscular) ones—are from Mars. The atmosphere of Mars contains impatience, ego and a tendency toward selfishness, but the extroverted swashbucklers who inhabit it are go-getters in the spirit of the yang half of yin/yang. Mars energy is outer and accomplishes things in the world. Can’t sit around waiting! People from Mars make good police officers, athletes, and pioneers of every type. Since there isn’t much unmapped physical terrain left on earth, people from Mars find uncharted territories in whatever field interests them and apply their creativity and get-‘er-done excitement to the challenge. Men from Mars aren’t green in the sense of inexperience; rather, they are likely to be innovative leaders.

Jupiter – Unless you’re a complete stick-in-the-mud, I can’t image that you wouldn’t enjoy a stop on the planet associated with enthusiasm, luck, good fortune, optimism, upbeat attitudes, benevolence, outgoing nature, and goodwill. People who come from this planet tend to love travel, especially long journeys. (They love everything foreign.) On their serious side—the one it’s hard at times to imagine these fun-loving folks have—they are passionate about law, religion, and philosophy. They are likely to argue with you on these subjects until their jaws are sore. They tell the truth, often bluntly, and believe staunchly in their convictions. They thrive on higher education. They are also jovial types who love to play games, sports, and are generous, often to a fault. Santa Claus comes from Jupiter, where I suspect the mythical North Pole is really located. Since the job of Santa is already taken, some other professions people from this planet often gravitate toward are spiritual teacher, minister, professor, and teacher. In our bodies, Jupiter is associated with the arteries and liver. Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system, a place where exaggeration and things larger-than-life pervade the atmosphere.

Saturn – A planet many people tend to spurn for its reputation of discipline, self-sacrifice, and responsibility, making friends with Saturn yields a treasure trove of qualities that make life work on Earth. Among its blessings are wisdom, practicality, earthiness, ambition, structure, dependability, and incredible organizational skills. On the downside, there is guilt, fear, pessimism, sadness, and even a tendency toward depression. The darker side of Saturn often comes from difficult father or authority figures in childhood, whether they were within the nuclear family or larger circles of belonging such as government or organized religion. Saturn is Father Time, associated with aging and all things to do with clocks and efficiency. The atmosphere of Saturn contains caution, self-control, and can sometimes dip into too much seriousness, conservatism, and tradition for no other reason than “it has always been done this way.” Saturn rules corporate executives and anyone that tops a hierarchy, as well as politicians. It’s associated in the body with knees, bones, and teeth because Saturn’s best quality is providing structure. If you can imagine a human being without a backbone (hello, jellyfish!), imagine a life without structure. It’s obvious why travel to the resort areas of this planet is a must for successful living.

Chiron – Chiron houses a heroes’ school where teaching, mentoring, and bringing out the best in people is the purpose of the place. Here, you can learn how to give your gifts in order to make all of society tick. There is that one thing only you can do best. On Chiron, you learn how to develop it and contribute it. Most associated with mythical Chiron’s incurable wound, after whom this comet/planetoid (centaur) is named, there is a paradox to discover. In your wounding lies the key to your healing, and it is up to you to learn to make lemonade out of life’s lemons. Chiron’s function is wholemaking and learning to weave together the fragments of ourselves into a not-so-crazy quilt. Chiron teaches the healing in humor, how to overcome sexual shame, and how to get unstuck from chronic wounds. People from Chiron may have an actual physical handicap. Note that word has “handy” in it, reflecting the hidden gift in learning to make lemonade from wounds that can’t be healed on the physical level. Although its atmosphere is the merging of all opposites—light/dark, higher/lower self, opposing astrological energies—one of its specialties is merging anima and animus, male and female. Here women learn to embrace their recessive male characteristics; men learn to integrate their recessive female traits. Issues often up for healing on Chiron are abandonment and a sense of not fitting in. Chironic occupations are hands-on healers, including the practice of medicine—especially herbalism and complementary (“alternative”) medicine— astrologers, and teachers. In the body, Chiron is associated with the hands, thighs, and the corpus collosum of the brain, the bridge between the right and left hemispheres.

Uranus - Call it Planet Free Spirit! Uranus is a place of the unexpected, breakthroughs, and sudden change. It is the opposite archetype from Saturn, which desperately wants things to remain the same. It is known for brainstorms, innovation, originality, and uniqueness. If necessity is the mother of invention, her child is Uranus, known for its revolutionary genius. Inventors, astrologers and reformers come from this planet. Here, insights, intuition, and experiments thrive. The natives are tolerant, independent, and seekers of truth. Science, technology, electricity, and communications are the industries. Often highly unusual in appearance or ideas, Uranians are the visionaries who light the fires of change, without which humanity would stagnate. In the human body, Uranus is associated with the ankles and capillaries.

Neptune - This dreamy place is the destination for inspiration, ideals, intuition, emotions, visions, hunches, and ESP. It’s not just another planet; it’s otherworldly all together. The natives ooze sympathy, compassion, sensitivity, and universal love. While mystics may be meditating on every street corner, you are likely to find plenty of substances abusers and lovers of mind-altering drugs hanging around with them—or they might be one in the same. On the fun side, Neptune is associated with movies and delicious escapism. On the downside, there are illusions, impracticality, confusion, self-pity, neuroses and other mental health challenges. People from Neptune gravitate to careers in psychology, treatment of alcohol or drug abuse, music, poetry, and other arts that translate deep personal and collective feelings—beautifully.

Pluto – Pluto is not for the feint of heart! This distant planet is the tiniest of all the wanderers in our solar system, but as anyone who has studied astrology will tell you, it packs a wallop. It is the planet of deep transformation, permanent change, death and rebirth, and endings and beginnings. On Pluto, you’ll discover your personal relationship to world events. You will meet the inner you, and if you don’t like what you see, “arrangements” will be made for you to transform yourself. If you don’t go willingly, you’ll be introduced to Darth Vader—or Tony Soprano. Pluto demands surrender. Its realm is power. Some of its associations include insurance, taxes, recycling, sexuality, group consciousness and cultural change, energy release, psychic powers, kundalini, and will. Its downside is fanaticism, compulsions, obsessions and power abuse. Pluto’s inhabitants span the very wealthy to the criminal element. One of the most archetypal Plutonian occupations is spy, but like Neptunians, these natives make great psychiatrists or anyone who does deep in-depth transformation with people. In the body, Pluto is associated with the sex organs and bowels. It may be dangerous territory, but everyone wants some of the goodies in this paragraph, especially personal power—the one thing, when achieved in a healthy way, that makes existence on any planet not only bearable but also rich.


.....Deepak....

SWINE FLU

Swine influenza (also called H1N1 flu, swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu) is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. As of 2009, the known SIV strains include influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3.

Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always lead to human influenza, often resulting only in the production of antibodies in the blood. If transmission does cause human influenza, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu infection. The meat of an infected animal poses no risk of infection when properly cooked.

During the mid-20th century, identification of influenza subtypes became possible, allowing accurate diagnosis of transmission to humans. Since then, only 50 such transmissions have been confirmed. These strains of swine flu rarely pass from human to human. Symptoms of zoonotic swine flu in humans are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.

Classification

Of the three genera of influenza viruses that cause human flu, two also cause influenza in pigs, with influenza A being common in pigs and influenza C being rare. Influenza B has not been reported in pigs. Within influenza A and influenza C, the strains found in pigs and humans are largely distinct, although due to reassortment there have been transfers of genes among strains crossing swine, avian, and human species boundaries.

Influenza C

Influenza C viruses infect both humans and pigs, but do not infect birds. Transmission between pigs and humans have occurred in the past. For example, influenza C caused small outbreaks of a mild form of influenza amongst children in Japan and California. Due to its limited host range and the lack of genetic diversity in influenza C, this form of influenza does not cause pandemics in humans.

Influenza A

Swine influenza is known to be caused by influenza A subtypes H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2,[ and H2N3. In pigs, three influenza A virus subtypes (H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2) are the most common strains worldwide. In the United States, the H1N1 subtype was exclusively prevalent among swine populations before 1998; however, since late August 1998, H3N2 subtypes have been isolated from pigs. As of 2004, H3N2 virus isolates in US swine and turkey stocks were triple reassortants, containing genes from human (HA, NA, and PB1), swine (NS, NP, and M), and avian (PB2 and PA) lineages.

Surveillance

Although there is no formal national surveillance system in the United States to determine what viruses are circulating in pigs, there is an informal surveillance network in the United States that is part of a world surveillance network.
Veterinary medical pathologist, Tracey McNamara, set up a national disease surveillance system in zoos because the zoos do active disease surveillance and many of the exotic animals housed there have broad susceptibilities. Many species fall below the radar of any federal agencies (including dogs, cats, pet prairie dogs, zoo animals, and urban wildlife), even though they may be important in the early detection of human disease outbreaks.

History

Swine influenza was first proposed to be a disease related to human influenza during the 1918 flu pandemic, when pigs became sick at the same time as humans. The first identification of an influenza virus as a cause of disease in pigs occurred about ten years later, in 1930. For the following 60 years, swine influenza strains were almost exclusively H1N1. Then, between 1997 and 2002, new strains of three different subtypes and five different genotypes emerged as causes of influenza among pigs in North America. In 1997-1998, H3N2 strains emerged. These strains, which include genes derived by reassortment from human, swine and avian viruses, have become a major cause of swine influenza in North America. Reassortment between H1N1 and H3N2 produced H1N2. In 1999 in Canada, a strain of H4N6 crossed the species barrier from birds to pigs, but was contained on a single farm.

The H1N1 form of swine flu is one of the descendants of the strain that caused the 1918 flu pandemic. As well as persisting in pigs, the descendants of the 1918 virus have also circulated in humans through the 20th century, contributing to the normal seasonal epidemics of influenza. However, direct transmission from pigs to humans is rare, with only 12 cases in the U.S. since 2005. Nevertheless, the retention of influenza strains in pigs after these strains have disappeared from the human population might make pigs a reservoir where influenza viruses could persist, later emerging to reinfect humans once human immunity to these strains has waned.
Swine flu has been reported numerous times as a zoonosis in humans, usually with limited distribution, rarely with a widespread distribution. Outbreaks in swine are common and cause significant economic losses in industry, primarily by causing stunting and extended time to market. For example, this disease costs the British meat industry about £65 million every year.

1918 pandemic in humans

The 1918 flu pandemic in humans was associated with H1N1 and influenza appearing in pigs; this may reflect a zoonosis either from swine to humans, or from humans to swine. Although it is not certain in which direction the virus was transferred, some evidence suggests that, in this case, pigs caught the disease from humans.For instance, swine influenza was only noted as a new disease of pigs in 1918, after the first large outbreaks of influenza amongst people. Although a recent phylogenetic analysis of more recent strains of influenza in humans, birds, and swine suggests that the 1918 outbreak in humans followed a reassortment event within a mammal, the exact origin of the 1918 strain remains elusive. It is estimated that anywhere from 50 to 100 million people were killed worldwide.

Transmission

Transmission between pigs

Influenza is quite common in pigs, with about half of breeding pigs having been exposed to the virus in the US. Antibodies to the virus are also common in pigs in other countries.

The main route of transmission is through direct contact between infected and uninfected animals. These close contacts are particularly common during animal transport. Intensive farming may also increase the risk of transmission, as the pigs are raised in very close proximity to each other. The direct transfer of the virus probably occurs either by pigs touching noses, or through dried mucus. Airborne transmission through the aerosols produced by pigs coughing or sneezing are also an important means of infection. The virus usually spreads quickly through a herd, infecting all the pigs within just a few days. Transmission may also occur through wild animals, such as wild boar, which can spread the disease between farms.

Transmission to humans

People who work with poultry and swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at increased risk of zoonotic infection with influenza virus endemic in these animals, and constitute a population of human hosts in which zoonosis and reassortment can co-occur. Vaccination of these workers against influenza and surveillance for new influenza strains among this population may therefore be an important public health measure. Transmission of influenza from swine to humans who work with swine was documented in a small surveillance study performed in 2004 at the University of Iowa. This study among others forms the basis of a recommendation that people whose jobs involve handling poultry and swine be the focus of increased public health surveillance. Other professions at particular risk of infection are veterinarians and meat processing workers, although the risk of infection for both of these groups is lower than that of farm workers.

Interaction with avian H5N1 in pigs

Pigs are unusual as they can be infected with influenza strains that usually infect three different species: pigs, birds and humans. This makes pigs a host where influenza viruses might exchange genes, producing new and dangerous strains. Avian influenza virus H3N2 is endemic in pigs in China and has been detected in pigs in Vietnam, increasing fears of the emergence of new variant strains. H3N2 evolved from H2N2 by antigenic shift. In August 2004, researchers in China found H5N1 in pigs.
These H5N1 infections may be quite common: in a survey of 10 apparently healthy pigs housed near poultry farms in West Java, where avian flu had broken out, five of the pig samples contained the H5N1 virus. The Indonesian government has since found similar results in the same region. Additional tests of 150 pigs outside the area were negative.

Signs and symptoms

In swine

In pigs influenza infection produces fever, lethargy, sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing and decreased appetite. In some cases the infection can cause abortion. Although mortality is usually low (around 1-4%), the virus can produce weight loss and poor growth, causing economic loss to farmers. Infected pigs can lose up to 12 pounds of body weight over a 3 to 4 week period.

In humans

Direct transmission of a swine flu virus from pigs to humans is occasionally possible (called zoonotic swine flu). In all, 50 cases are known to have occurred since the first report in medical literature in 1958, which have resulted in a total of six deaths. Of these six people, one was pregnant, one had leukemia, one had Hodgkin disease and two were known to be previously healthy. Despite these apparently low numbers of infections, the true rate of infection may be higher, since most cases only cause a very mild disease, and will probably never be reported or diagnosed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in humans the symptoms of the 2009 "swine flu" H1N1 virus are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. The 2009 outbreak has shown an increased percentage of patients reporting diarrhea and vomiting. The 2009 H1N1 virus is not zoonotic swine flu, as it is not transmitted from pigs to humans, but from person to person.

Because these symptoms are not specific to swine flu, a differential diagnosis of probable swine flu requires not only symptoms but also a high likelihood of swine flu due to the person's recent history. For example, during the 2009 swine flu outbreak in the United States, CDC advised physicians to "consider swine influenza infection in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute febrile respiratory illness who have either been in contact with persons with confirmed swine flu, or who were in one of the five U.S. states that have reported swine flu cases or in Mexico during the 7 days preceding their illness onset." A diagnosis of confirmed swine flu requires laboratory testing of a respiratory sample (a simple nose and throat swab).

The most common cause of death is respiratory failure, other causes of death are pneumonia (leading to sepsis), high fever (leading to neurological problems), dehydration (from excessive vomiting and diarrhea) and electrolyte imbalance. Fatalities are more likely in young children and the elderly.

Diagnosis

Different medical kits are available for diagnosis of Swine Flu.

Prevention

Prevention of swine influenza has three components: prevention in swine, prevention of transmission to humans, and prevention of its spread among humans.

Prevention in swine

Methods of preventing the spread of influenza among swine include facility management, herd management, and vaccination (ATCvet code: QI09AA03 Not such vaccine is available so far but a vaccine called Tamy Flu is avlailable.). Because much of the illness and death associated with swine flu involves secondary infection by other pathogens, control strategies that rely on vaccination may be insufficient.
Control of swine influenza by vaccination has become more difficult in recent decades, as the evolution of the virus has resulted in inconsistent responses to traditional vaccines. Standard commercial swine flu vaccines are effective in controlling the infection when the virus strains match enough to have significant cross-protection, and custom (autogenous) vaccines made from the specific viruses isolated are created and used in the more difficult cases. Present vaccination strategies for SIV control and prevention in swine farms typically include the use of one of several bivalent SIV vaccines commercially available in the United States. Of the 97 recent H3N2 isolates examined, only 41 isolates had strong serologic cross-reactions with antiserum to three commercial SIV vaccines. Since the protective ability of influenza vaccines depends primarily on the closeness of the match between the vaccine virus and the epidemic virus, the presence of nonreactive H3N2 SIV variants suggests that current commercial vaccines might not effectively protect pigs from infection with a majority of H3N2 viruses. The United States Department of Agriculture researchers say that while pig vaccination keeps pigs from getting sick, it does not block infection or shedding of the virus.
Facility management includes using disinfectants and ambient temperature to control virus in the environment. The virus is unlikely to survive outside living cells for more than two weeks, except in cold (but above freezing) conditions, and it is readily inactivated by disinfectants. Herd management includes not adding pigs carrying influenza to herds that have not been exposed to the virus. The virus survives in healthy carrier pigs for up to 3 months and can be recovered from them between outbreaks. Carrier pigs are usually responsible for the introduction of SIV into previously uninfected herds and countries, so new animals should be quarantined. After an outbreak, as immunity in exposed pigs wanes, new outbreaks of the same strain can occur.

Prevention in humans

Prevention of pig to human transmission

Swine can be infected by both avian and human influenza strains of influenza, and therefore are hosts where the antigenic shifts can occur that create new influenza strains.

The transmission from swine to human is believed to occur mainly in swine farms where farmers are in close contact with live pigs. Although strains of swine influenza are usually not able to infect humans this may occasionally happen, so farmers and veterinarians are encouraged to use a face mask when dealing with infected animals. The use of vaccines on swine to prevent their infection is a major method of limiting swine to human transmission. Risk factors that may contribute to swine-to-human transmission include smoking and not wearing gloves when working with sick animals.

Prevention of human to human transmission

Influenza spreads between humans through coughing or sneezing and people touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth. Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food. The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days. Diagnosis can be made by sending a specimen, collected during the first five days for analysis.

Recommendations to prevent spread of the virus among humans include using standard infection control against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public. Chance of transmission is also reduced by disinfecting household surfaces, which can be done effectively with a diluted chlorine bleach solution.
Experts agree that hand-washing can help prevent viral infections, including ordinary influenza and the swine flu virus. Influenza can spread in coughs or sneezes, but an increasing body of evidence shows small droplets containing the virus can linger on tabletops, telephones and other surfaces and be transferred via the fingers to the mouth, nose or eyes. Alcohol-based gel or foam hand sanitizers work well to destroy viruses and bacteria. Anyone with flu-like symptoms such as a sudden fever, cough or muscle aches should stay away from work or public transportation and should contact a doctor for advice.

Social distancing is another tactic. It means staying away from other people who might be infected and can include avoiding large gatherings, spreading out a little at work, or perhaps staying home and lying low if an infection is spreading in a community. Public health and other responsible authorities have action plans which may request or require social distancing actions depending on the severity of the outbreak.

Vaccination

Vaccines are available for different kinds of Swine Flu. Although the current trivalent influenza vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against the new 2009 H1N1 strain, vaccines against the new strain are being developed and could be ready as early as June 2009.

Treatment

In Swine

As swine influenza is rarely fatal to pigs, little treatment beyond rest and supportive care is required. Instead veterinary efforts are focused on preventing the spread of the virus throughout the farm, or to other farms. Vaccination and animal management techniques are most important in these efforts. Antibiotics are also used to treat this disease, which although they have no effect against the influenza virus, do help prevent bacterial pneumonia and other secondary infections in influenza-weakened herds.

In humans

If a person becomes sick with swine flu, antiviral drugs can make the illness milder and make the patient feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). Beside antivirals, supportive care at home or in hospital, focuses on controlling fevers, relieving pain and maintaining fluid balance, as well as identifying and treating any secondary infections or other medical problems. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses; however, the majority of people infected with the virus make a full recovery without requiring medical attention or antiviral drugs. The virus isolates in the 2009 outbreak have been found resistant to amantadine and rimantadine.
In the U.S., on April 27, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Emergency Use Authorizations to make available Relenza and Tamiflu antiviral drugs to treat the swine influenza virus in cases for which they are currently unapproved. The agency issued these EUAs to allow treatment of patients younger than the current approval allows and to allow the widespread distribution of the drugs, including by non-licensed volunteers.


Swine flu death in India reaches 21

BUDGET 2009-2010

Just what is the Union Budget?

The Union Budget is the annual report of India as a country. It contains the government of India's revenue and expenditure for the end of a particular fiscal year, which runs from April 1 to March 31.
The Union Budget is the most extensive account of the government's finances, in which revenues from all sources and expenses of all activities undertaken are aggregated. It comprises the revenue budget and the capital budget. It also contains estimates for the next fiscal year.
Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee presented the Union budget 2009-10 in the Lok Sabha today. Here are the highlights:

• Government plans to bring back the economy to the high GDP growth rate of nine per cent at the earliest, Mukherjee said.
• Growth rate in 2008-09 dipped to 6.7% from the average 9% growth in previous three fiscal years, he said.
• Mukherjee intends to make pre-budget consultations with state finance ministers an annual affair.
• Fiscal deficit grew from 2.7% to 6.8% of GDP.
• Total fiscal stimulus during 2008-09 amounts to Rs1,86,000 crore.
• Indian Infrastructure Financial Corporation Limited (IIFCL) to evolve financing mechanism for giving increased support to infrastructure projects.
• Allocations for highways being stepped up by 23%.
• Indian Infrastructure Finance Company Limited will re-finance commercial bank loans upto 60% in critical projects through public-private partnership to the tune of Rs1,00,000 crore, to raise investment in the sector.
• Allocation for urban poor for provision for housing and basic amenities to be raised to Rs3,973 crore in the current year.
• Allocation for Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission increased by 87% to Rs12,887 crore.
• Central assistance for storm-water drainage project increased to Rs500 crore from Rs200 crore in the interim budget.
• Target for agriculture credit raised to Rs3,25,000 crore in 2009-10 from Rs2,87,000 crore.
• Incentives in interest rates to farmers to pay back agriculture loans on time.
• Additional allocation of Rs1,000 crore for accelerated irrigation project.
• Export Credit Guarantee scheme extended till March 2010.
• Allocation for market development assistance scheme enhanced by 148%.
• Extension of interest subvension scheme extended to March 2010 to cover sectors like handicrafts and handlooms.
• Extension of stimulus package for print media by another six months beyond June 30 in view of the economic downturn.
• To return to FRBM target for fiscal discipline at the earliest, says Mukherjee.
• Subsidy regime for fertilisers to change to nutrient-based rather than price-based.
• Expert committee to be set up to advise on viable and sustainable pricing system for imported petroleum products.
• IT returns to be made simpler.
• Banks and insurance firms to remain in the public sector.
• Rs100 crore to be given as one-time grant in aid to expand banks in unbanking areas.
• Aam admi is the focus of all our programmes and schemes, says Mukherjee.
• Government committed to provide Rs100 a day as wages under NREGA.
• Work on National Food Security scheme for providing food at cheaper rates to the poor has begun, says FM.
• An allocation of Rs39,100 crore to be made for NREGA in 2009-10, an increase of 144%.
• NREGA coverage increased from 3.39 crore households in 2007-08 to 4.74 crore households in 2008-09.
• Allocation for flagship Bharat Nirman progamme being raised by 45%.
• For Indira Awas Yojana, allocation to be increased by 63%in 2009-10, to touch Rs8,800 crore.
• Rs2,000 crore for rural housing fund under National Housing Bank.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh corpus to be raised from Rs100 crore to Rs500 crore.
• National Mission for Female Literacy with emphasis on minorities, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes to be launched. Fifty per cent of all rural women to be brought into self-help group programmes.
• Full interest subsidy for students taking courses in approved institutions. Five lakh students to benefit.
• Modernisation of national exployment exchanges to be carried out.
• Action initiated to provide social security to unorganised sector workers.
• Allocation for National Rural Health Mission to be raised by Rs257 crore over and above the outlay in the interim budget.
• Under National Action Plan on climate change, eight national missions are being launched. For one of the missions, National Ganga Project, the government proposes to increase allocation to Rs562 crore.
• First Unique Identification Card to citizens to roll out in 12-18 months. I propose provision of Rs120 crore for the project, says Finance Minister.
• New pension benefits for 12 lakh jawans and junior commissioned officers from July.
• Allocation for Commonwealth Games increased to Rs3,472 crore from Rs2,112 crore.
• I propose to allocate Rs500 crore for rehabilitation of internally displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka, says Mukherjee.
• Rs1,000 crore for rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the recent Cyclone Aila in West Bengal.
• Total budget expenditure for 2009-10 will be Rs10,28,032 crore, crossing the Rs10 lakh crore mark for the first time since independence.
• Plan expenditure, for both the Centre and states, to go up by Rs61,000 crore over the interim budget.
• Fiscal deficit in 2009-10 is proposed at 6.8% of GDP.
• Defence gets Rs1,41,703 crore for 2009-10, a 34% hike from the 2008-09 budgetary allocation of Rs1,05,600 crore.
• To further improve the efficiency of tax system, I propose to set up two authorities for advance ruling, says Mukherjee.
• Effort is to improve tax collection by eliminating distortions in tax system and expanding the base.
• No change in corporate tax.
• Personal income tax exemption limit for senior citizens raised by Rs15,000.
• I propose to raise by Rs10,000 the exemption limit for women on income tax. For all others, Rs10,000 up from Rs1,50,000, says Mukherjee.
• Ten per cent surcharge on personal income tax removed.
• Fringe Benefit Tax abolished.
• Proposal to incentivise business. I propose to start investment-linked tax benefits in areas of agriculture and national grid, says Mukherjee.
• Minimum Alternate Tax on book profits increased to 15% from 10%.
• 100% tax deduction for donations to electoral funds to improve transparency in political funding.
• Income tax incentives on educational loans expanded to cover vocational studies after schooling.
• Small businesses up to Rs40 lakh turnover exempted from filing advance tax returns.
• Presumptive Taxation of 8% on businesses of turnover of up to Rs40 lakh.
• Customs duty of 5% being levied on import of set-top boxes used under Conditional Access System (CAS).
• Manufacturing growth, which was negative during last year till March this year, appears to be barely turning the corner, says Mukherjee.
• Customs duty on gold and silver import increased.
• Customs duty to be reduced on drugs for heart treatment.
• Proposal to restore optional 4% CENVAT on cotton textiles beyond fibre stage.
• Excise duty on fibre for cheaper cloth reduced.
• Excise duty on petrol-driven small trucks reduced to 10%
• Full exemption from excise duty on branded jewellery
• Service tax exempted for exporters on select services
• Service Tax to be extended to lawyers on technical advice
Railway minister Mamata Banerjee played to a full gallery on Friday, with her 2009-10 budget scattering largesse all around. While passenger fares and freight rates have been kept unchanged despite fuel price increases, super-low ticket rates have been announced for youth, madrassa students and unorganised labour. New projects and special trains have been unveiled for most states, with West Bengal being the prime recipient of benevolence.
The Santa Claus act was, however, overshadowed by a few lines at the end of her speech which seemed to debunk the performance credentials of her predecessor, Lalu Prasad. Banerjee said Prasad had set "unrealistically high" freight targets for this year. She also promised a "white paper" on the railways' performance over the last five years -- statements that riled Lalu enough to organise a press conference to denounce her statements. "I am not afraid of any white paper. We have been audited by the comptroller and auditor general, and the railways committee of Parliament. IIM, Ahmedabad, and Harvard have studied the (railways) turnaround," he said.
Though both Banerjee and Lalu subsequently denied any political intent behind her statement, the subtle shift in priorities between her and her predecessor was apparent. In contrast to Lalu Prasad's focus on fare stability and improving the efficiency of the railways, Banerjee announced two strategic shifts.
First, she said, the "old mindset of economic viability should be substituted by social viability." This means, future railways projects may be cleared on social grounds Second, there is a shift in emphasis from bottomline performance to serving the customer with improved passenger amenities.
In keeping with this, Banerjee announced a plan to upgrade 50 railway stations to world class (including Mumbai's Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus), improved facilities for another 375 stations, provision of "Janata khana" keeping local tastes in mind, mobile ticket vending vans, facilities to buy unreserved tickets from 5,000 post offices, improved security in vulnerable stations, air-conditioned double-decker trains for inter-city travel and SMS updates for wait-listed passengers.
Banerjee, who was presenting her third railway budget - the other two happened when she was minister in the NDA government - went one up on Lalu Prasad's muted populism. If Lalu was known for introducing a Garib Rath, AC trains with fares at a 25% discount, Banerjee made her mark by announcing non-stop trains on 12 routes (Duronto), a revision in Tatkal (quick booking) norms, special low-cost trains for youth (Yuva, with tickets priced between Rs 299-399), and `only ladies' suburban trains in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata (Mumbai already has them).
A new concession scheme called Izzat has been announced for people with monthly incomes up to Rs 1,500 in the unorganised sector. For daily travel up to 100 km, they will have to shell out only Rs 25 a month. "I wish to present the gift of travel with dignity to even the poorest of the poor," the minister pointed out.The rail budget made no mention of Lalu's trademark Garib Rath.
According to Railway Board chairman SS Khurana, the ministry is aiming to improve the level of punctuality of trains as well. From the current 75-80% punctuality, this year the goal is raise it to 85%.
Also significant was the announcement of posting a doctor on long-distance trains. "We are exploring the possibility...", Mamata said in her budget speech. Besides, there will be ambulance services for passengers in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar to start with.
Field trials are being conducted for introducing environment-friendly green toilets and vacuum toilets like those used in aircraft. On safety, there are plans for timely track renewals, modernisation of signals, and use of digital ultrasonic flaw detecting machines. Plus, anti-collision devices are being installed in more trains across the country.
The Indian Railways has also chalked out a plan to launch super fast parcel express trains on the Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Chennai and Delhi-Howrah (Kolkata) routes. To prevent wastage of fruit and vegetables, there would be special trains to carry perishable products. Banerjee called the initiative `the second green revolution'.
The dedicated freight corridors on the western and eastern routes have been christened "Diamond Rail Corridors". Pre-feasibility studies on other routes are on. "I visualise an Eastern Industrial Corridor developing alongside the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, similar to the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor," Banerjee said.
The minister also sought to take advantage of the railways' vast property holdings. She said land along the new freight corridor would be put to productive use. To raise funds, the railways will resume the issuance of tax-free bonds.

Highlight of 2009-10 Railway Budget

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday presented the 15th railway budget in the Parliament. The highlights of the Railway budget 2008-09 are as follows:

• 50 Railway stations, including CST Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Howrah, Sealdah, Varanasi, New Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Kanpur, Chennai Central, Thiruvananthapuram Central, Secunderabad, Bangalore, Byappanahalli, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Habibganj, Agra Central, Chandigarh, Kolkata, New Jalpaiguri, Puri and Kochi, will be developed to have world-class facilities.
• Railways to develop multi-functional complexes with shopping malls, food stalls, medicines and variety stores in different parts of the country.
• Railways to introduce 67 new trains across the nation.
• Infotainment services to be provided in major long-distance trains.
• One doctor to be posted on long distance trains.
• 309 stations out of 375 across the nation have been identified for development and special facilities will be provided.
• Unreserved ticketing terminals to be expanded from 5000 to 8000. Automatic ticket vending machines to be increased. Arrangement with Department of Posts for issuance of tickets.
• SMS updates will be made available for passengers to check train status and reservation status.
• Auto-vending machines to be installed in large and medium stations.
• E-ticket cancellation system to be simplified.
• High-capacity air-conditioned double-decker trains to be introduced on select inter-city routes.
• An Integrated Security System is being developed for 130 vulnerable stations to provide security to passengers.
• Seven nursing colleges to be set up on railway land in places including Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.
• Railway medical colleges to be developed along with rail hospitals on public-private partnership.
• ATMs on 200 mid and small sized stations
• New factory in West Bengal for making 500 state-of-the-art coaches annually
• Railways to develop cold storages for farmers to store vegetables and fruits.
• Scheme named Izzat for low-income monthly travel till 100 kilometres.
• Superfast parcel express trains to be started on a pilot basis between Delhi and Chennai and Delhi and Mumbai.
• Priority areas to be railway catering, punctuality, food and sanity of rail bogeys.
• Railways to extend helping hand to physically challenged and elderly people by providing ramps, specially designed bogeys.
• Committed for the downtrodden and development of the country Infotainment services to be provided in major long-distance trains.

धरती बन जाएगी आग का गोला

डायनासोर की राह पर जीव-जंतु!

डायनासोर धरती से अचानक विलुप्त हो गए। जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण होने वाले बदलावों के कारण अन्य जीव-जंतुओं पर भी ऐसा ही खतरा मंडरा रहा है। एक अनुमान के मुताबिक, 2050 तक पृथ्वी के 40 फीसदी जीव-जंतुओं का खात्मा हो जाएगा!

क्या फिर पाषाणकाल में लौटना होगा !

आज पीढी दर पीढी सुविधाभोगी होती जा रही है। स्कूल जाने के लिए भी आप में से कई बाइक की जिद करते हैं। साइकिल चलाना शान के खिलाफ लगता है। वास्तव में, कुल ऊर्जा खपत का पांचवां हिस्सा हम निजी वाहनों के प्रयोग व सरकारी और बसों आदि के संचालन में ही धुआं कर देते हैं!

दूभर हो जाएगा सांस लेना!

जिंदा रहने के लिए सांस लेना जरूरी है, लेकिन हवा में लगातार कार्बन डाई आक्साइड की बढती मात्रा से जलवायु परिवर्तन के भयावह दुष्परिणाम सामने आ सकते हैं। वैज्ञानिकों की मानें, तो आने वाले सौ सालों में वायुमंडल में कार्बन डाई ऑक्साइड की मात्रा मौजूदा स्तर की तीन गुना हो जाएगी। सोचिए! कितना भयावह होगा वह मंजर जब हर कोई ऑक्सीजन मास्क पहने नजर आएगा? जीवनशैली में बदलाव लाकर व ऊर्जा बचत के छोटे-छोटे नुस्खे अपनाकर हर साल करोडों टन कार्बन डाई ऑक्साइड का उत्सर्जन रोक सकते हैं।

गायब हो जाएगी गंगा!

जिस गंगोत्री ग्लेशियर से जीवनदायिनी गंगा नदी निकलती है, वह हर साल 37 मीटर की रफ्तार से सिकुडता जा रहा है। जरा सोचिए, गंगोत्री ग्लेशियर के सिकुडने की रफ्तार यही रही तो गंगा का क्या होगा?

करोडों पर कहर !

हर वर्ष 32.5 करोड लोग जलवायु परिवर्तन के कहर से आने वाली बाढ, सूखा और बीमारियों से गंभीर रूप से प्रभावित होते हैं।

आबादी का बढता बोझ !

साल दर साल बढती आबादी के बोझ से धरती माता कराह रही हैं। आबादी बढने से उसी अनुपात में प्राकृतिक संसाधनों (हवा, पानी, जमीन, पेड-पौधे आदि) का प्रयोग भी बढ रहा है। पिछले पच्चीस साल में दुनिया की आबादी में करीब एक तिहाई बढोतरी हुई है। अगर यही हाल रहा तो खडे होने के लिए जमीन मिलनी मुश्किल हो जाएगी।

बदलना होगा जीने का तरीका!

इन दिनों ज्यादातर लोग आलीशान जीवन जीने के आदी हो चुके हैं। इन्हें शायद नहीं पता है कि इस विलासिता के जरिए वे धरती को कितना नुकसान पहुंचा रहे हैं। जब पृथ्वी ही नहीं रहेगी तो हमारा वजूद किस पर टिकेगा। आपको जानकर हैरत होगी कि दुनिया में कुल खर्च की जाने वाली ऊर्जा का 11 फीसदी हिस्सा केवल घर को गर्म, ठंडा और प्रकाशमय करने केसाथ-साथ घरेलू उपकरणों के प्रयोग में खर्च होता है!

जल समाधि ले लेंगे शहर !

तेजी से पिघलती बर्फ और ग्लेशियरों से समुद्र का जलस्तर बढ रहा है। वैज्ञानिकों के मुताबिक, अगर इसी तरह समुद्र का जल-स्तर बढता रहा, तो वह दिन दूर नहीं जब समुद्र से सटे शहरों और देशों के नामोनिशां मिट जाएंगे। बांग्लादेश, न्यूयार्क सिटी का मैनहट्टन और नीदरलैंड पूरी तरह तबाह हो सकते हैं।

भारत की आर्थिक राजधानी मुंबई के साथ-साथ कोलकाता और मद्रास जैसे शहरों पर भी खतरे

मंडरा रहे हैं!

खत्म हो जाएगा कोयला !

अगर इसी रफ्तार से कोयले का प्रयोग जारी रहा, तो अगले सवा सौ सालों में इसका भंडार समाप्त हो सकता है।

हमारी आने वाली नस्लें इसे केवल संग्रहालयों में देख सकेंगी!

बिन पानी कैसी होगी जिंदगानी !

जीवन के लिए पानी की जरूरत का अहसास प्यास लगने पर ही होता है। कोई विकल्प नहीं है इसका। स्वच्छ जल घट रहा है। 2025 तक विकासशील देशों में पानी की मांग में 50 फीसदी जबकि विकसित देशों में 18 फीसदी की बढोतरी हो जाएगी। वर्तमान में उपलब्ध जल का 70 फीसदी सिंचाई के लिए प्रयोग होता है।

अरबों की बर्बादी

जलवायु परिवर्तन के चलते हर साल 6000 अरब रूपये स्वाहा हो जाते हैं। इतनी बडी रकम का अंदाजा आप इसी बात से लगा सकते हैं, यह हमारे वित्तमंत्री द्वारा पेश किए जाने वाले कुल बजट से थोडा ही कम है!

एक्ट मोर यूज लेस

रोजाना की दिनचर्या में थोडे बदलाव लाकर हम भी कर सकते हैं पर्यावरण संरक्षण में योगदान। आइए जानें, किन-किन उपायों से संभव होगा यह..

चेहरा धोते समय या ब्रश करते समय नल को बंद रख कर बहुमूल्य जल को बचा सकते हैं

बाथरूम में लो फ्लो वाला शावरहेड लगाकर पानी की बचत कर सकते हैं। ऊर्जा बचाने के लिए हीटर में टाइमर का भी प्रयोग किया जा सकता है।

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लंच को अल्युमिनियम-पन्नी और प्लास्टिक आदि में लपेटने की बजाय पुन: उपयोग किए जा सकने वाले डिब्बों में पैक करें।

घर से निकलते समय सारी लाइटें और बिजली के उपकरणों के स्विच अॅाफ करने की आदत डालें। चार्जर को प्लग से निकालकर अलग करें क्योंकि प्लग में लगे रहने से बिना चार्जिग के बिजली खपत होती रहती है। ऊर्जा बचत वायु प्रदूषण कम करने में सहायक होती है।

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छोटी-छोटी दूरी के लिए वाहन न प्रयोग करने की आदत डालें। ऐसा करके न केवल आप पर्यावरण की रक्षा में अपना अहम योगदान करेंगे बल्कि इससे आपकी बचत भी होगी। और पैदल चलने से आपका व्यायाम भी हो जाएगा। इसे कहते हैं, आम के आम गुठलियों के दाम।

लिखने के लिए कागज की जरूरत होने पर पुराने डाक्यूमेंट के दूसरी तरफ लिख सकते हैं।

प्लास्टिक कचरों में वृद्धि करने वाली सामग्रियों का प्रयोग करने से बचें।