Archives November 2012

The history of Sikhism began with the birth in 1469 CE of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Guru of the Sikhs. The initiation (Baptism) ceremony and other traditions of the religion were formalized by 1699 CE. Sikhism is the fifth largest world religion. Among all world, regional, and atheist traditions, Sikhism is the ninth largest religion. Sikhs currently number approximately 25 million across the globe, placing Sikhism below Buddhism and above Judaism in terms of size. Sikhs view men and women as being completely equal. Women are expected to participate in daily and religious life in the same way as men. Barring or discouraging women from any activity or position based on sex is against the principles of Sikhism. In Sikhism, every person is fully responsible for leading a moral life; Sikhs do not believe an intermediary can supplicate on one's behalf to God. Hence, Sikhs have no priestly class. more...

Pesticides are chemicals that are used to destroy pests. In the agricultural industry, pesticides are classified into two categories, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic. A carcinogenic pesticide is a substance or agent producing or inciting cancer. Conversely, a non-carcinogenic pesticide is substance that does not produce or incite cancer. Most agricultural pesticides were registered in the 1950's, with no standard regulations. The most considerable standard prior to the amendments of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was, if a revocation of a pesticide occurred, would it have an impact on the prices or availability of food to the consumer? Today, the 208 pesticides used in the United States are regulated by the FFDCA. Bills such as the Delaney Clause and The Food Quality Protection Act have modified and enforced pesticide regulations. Consumer concerns with the usage of pesticides in the agricultural industry, in regards to health factors, have overwhelmed the U.S. Environmental more...

Pesticides are chemicals that are used to destroy pests. In the agricultural industry, pesticides are classified into two categories, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic. A carcinogenic pesticide is a substance or agent producing or inciting cancer. Conversely, a non-carcinogenic pesticide is substance that does not produce or incite cancer. Most agricultural pesticides were registered in the 1950's, with no standard regulations. The most considerable standard prior to the amendments of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was, if a revocation of a pesticide occurred, would it have an impact on the prices or availability of food to the consumer? Today, the 208 pesticides used in the United States are regulated by the FFDCA. Bills such as the Delaney Clause and The Food Quality Protection Act have modified and enforced pesticide regulations. Consumer concerns with the usage of pesticides in the agricultural industry, in regards to health factors, have overwhelmed the U.S. Environmental more...

Jainism is a religion of purely human origin and is preached by those who have attained perfect knowledge, omniscience and self-control by their own personal efforts and have been liberated from the bonds of worldly existence, the cycle of births and deaths. It is one of the oldest living religions of India. It predates recorded history as per references indicated in Hindu scriptures. It is an original system, quite distinct and Independent from other systems of Indian philosophy. In ancient times Jainism was known by many names such as Saman tradition, the religion of Nirgantha or Jina. Literally Jina means a conqueror that is one that has conquered the worldly passions like desire, hatred, anger, greed and pride by one's own personal efforts. Jina is a human being and not a supernatural being or an incarnation of an almighty God. All human beings have the potential to become a Jina. more...

Introduction For centuries, cultures have regarded diamonds as beautiful, magical, mysterious, and powerful. These precious stones have been sought after, fought over, and worshiped. Diamonds are associated with wealth, achievement, status, and love. The meaning and rarity of diamonds brings about much to consider when making a purchase. The rough gemstones must first be mined and cut. Once cut, diamonds are appraised to determine their value. Some of them undergo treatments to augment their appearance. Diamonds progress through these processes to be transformed into beautiful valuable pieces of personal adornment. Production Mining Diamond is a crystallized form of carbon that grows deep in the earth, under immense pressure and heat. This form of carbon crystal is the hardest natural substance known to humans. Diamonds arc brought to the surface by volcanic eruption. These types of eruptions are referred to as pip6 mines because they resemble pipes in the ground with more...

Hinduism is also known as 'Sanatana Dharma' to Hindus. In Sanskrit, the original language of India, 'Sanatana' means Everlasting and 'Dharma', by a crude translation, means Religion. The Everlasting Religion, Hinduism was founded, exists and flourishes in India. What is Hinduism? Is it a religion or is it a culture? The truth is - it is both a religion and a way of life. India gave to the world the original, oldest and most profound philosophy of life. The brilliant ancestors of present-day Indians explored the Truth behind our existence and gave 5everal philosophies and theories to define the Truth, At the same time, they created a set of rules for 'good living' on this earth. The philosophical concepts that Indians gave to mankind are eternal and constitute no religion by themselves. However, the rules for good or 'Dharmic' living that they laid down constitute the Hindu religion. Sanatana Dharma does not more...

The Potential Effects of a Depleted Ozone Layer and God said, let there be light and there was light and then God saw the light, that it was good. Undoubtedly, light is good. Without light man could not survive. Light is the ultimate cosmic force in this universe allowing man to progress and flourish? In the form of heat, light from the sun warms the Earth. Light, also, is the single most important factor influencing the growth and development of plants. Photosynthesis, a process by which plants incorporate light from the sun, allow plants to botanically grow and survive. Certain forms of light are harmful and thus can be said are 'bad'. A natural umbrella called the ozone layer protects the Earth and its inhabitants by screening out this harmful light. For millions of years ozone has been protecting the earth by absorbing ultraviolet or bad radiation from the sun. more...

Islam is a monotheistic religion that arose in the 7th century based on the religious teachings of Muhammad. Followers of Islam are known as Muslims. Muhammad's teachings are contained in the Koran. Muslims believe that he received these teachings from Allah (the Arabic word for God), via the angel Jibreel. In addition, the religious beliefs and practices of Islam are based on the hadith literature, which Muslims believe clarify and explain the teachings of Muhammad. Since Islam, like Judaism and Christianity, is descended from the religious tradition of the biblical patriarch Abraham, it is classified as an Abrahamic religion. Unlike Judaism and Christianity, Islam has not undergone any period of major reform or reformation. The Western distinction between Church and State is in theory foreign to Islam. Islam includes instructions relating to all aspects of human activity, political, social, financial, legal, military and interpersonal. The meaning of the word Islam more...

Addressing a meeting of MPs, bureaucrats, trade union leaders and chief executives of PSUs, organized by the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) in New Delhi, Mr Pranab Mukharji has emphasized that "all operational decisions of the PSUs should be taken at the board level". Massive investments we required in infrastructure sector like power, communication roads, ports and irrigation, he said adding that "all this investment will have to be made by the public sector" for which functional autonomy is a must. Favouring re-deployment of funds raised through PSU disinvestment in the public sector, Mr. Mukherjee regretted that as much as 40 per cent of the questions in Parliament related to operational matters, whereas according to the rules of business these should be confined to policy matters only. The SCOPE chairman and chief executive of Hindustan Zinc Ltd, Mr.A.C. Wadhawan, said CEOs and employees of PSUs were confused by different more...

The Earth is kept warm by its atmosphere, which acts rather like a woolly coat - without it, the average surface temperature “would be about -18 degrees Centigrade. Heat from the sun passes through the atmosphere, warming it up, and most of it warms the surface of the planet. As the Earth warms up, it emits heat in the form of infra-red radiation - much like a hot pan emits heat even after it's taken away from the cooker. Some of this heat is trapped by the atmosphere, but the rest escapes into space. The so-called "greenhouse gases" make the atmosphere trap more of this radiation, so it gradually warms up more than it should, like a greenhouse (although a greenhouse actually does this by stopping warm air rising and escaping from it). There are some natural greenhouse gases: water vapour, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone. However, over more...