What the world needs?

For many a years, mankind has worked towards making human lives better. Different skills were learnt, different practises incorporated, different lifestyles introduced just towards one objective. Improving Human Lives.

This has led to more professionalism, more skilled attributes and a never ending race against time to achieve this single goal.

But at the end of it, turns out all it needs to take improving Human Lives is a little goodness.

Ever experienced any of these?

1.       The goodness to tend a healing touch to the injured

2.       The goodness to assist senior citizens while crossing the road

3.       The goodness to let pedestrians pass

4.       The goodness in understanding that the city roads are shared resources and are to be used responsibly

5.       The goodness in understanding each life is precious and no matter what it cannot be recreated once lost

In this cut-throat competitive world, where the feeling of ‘being all by ourselves’ has become a standard norm, a little ingredient called ‘Goodness’ can bring about a huge change in making the world a better place.

Remember it’s our legacy and it’s our duty to pass it on to the future generations.

And this can only be done by practising it.

Is technology contributing more to road accidents than road safety?

Across India, new roads built with modern technology, proper signage and safety features have failed to bring down accident rates.

But according to analysts of human behaviour, this is not surprising at all. “The smoother, wider and better a road is, the more accidents there are likely to be -- and this is because of natural human behaviour,” said Biju Dominic, chief executive officer of Final Mile, a consultancy firm that uses behavioural science to solve problems for clients.

Dominic and Final Mile’s co-founder Ram Prasad explained the link between good roads and higher accident rates through the concept of risk compensation: the safer the situation, the greater the tendency of people to take risks.

The theory of risk compensation also holds true for the kind of vehicles being used -- high-end cars with sophisticated features are more likely to have accidents than simpler cars, says Prasad. If a car has an anti-lock braking system, the driver knows he can bring the car to a halt in a microsecond, so his mind automatically compensates and he is likely to apply the brakes later than usual.

So, going by this theory, we are at more risk today than previous years and the risks will be far greater in future as the human mind offsets the security offered by technology. Hence, the only solution that can provide safer roads & security to life is the Human Mind itself and the constraints practised on it while driving, caution being the most important element

The significance of 108

Ever wondered why the number 108 was chosen to save people’s lives? It’s a number which goes way back in history and can be found in mathematics, astronomy, in scriptures and beyond. It’s a number upon which some of the key universe elements which form the pillars of life are based. Some consider 108 a sacred number, some say there isn’t enough proof to determine the significance of 108. Below are a few references to the existence of 108 in history and today.

Sanskrit

Sanskrit alphabet has 54 letters, each has masculine and feminine form called shiva and shakti respectively. 54 times 2 = 108.

Pranayama:

It is said that if one can be so calm in meditation to have only 108 breaths a day that enlightenment will come.

Religions:

Hinduism:  The names of Hindu Deities = 108.

Early Hinduism: The Last part of Vedas called Upanishads are traditionally 108 Upanishads.

Islam: 108 is used to refer to God.

Jain: there are 108 virtues

Buddhaism/Japan: A bell is chimed 108 times to celebrate the New Year.

Astronomy:

The distance between the Earth and Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Sun.

The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth.

The distance between the Earth and Moon is 108 times the diameter of the Moon.

Astrology:

There are 12 constellation and 9 arc segments. 9 times 12 equals 108.

Geography:

River Ganga: The sacred river in India, River Ganga spans a longitude of 12 degrees and a latitude of 9 degrees. 12 times 9 = 108.

Martial Arts:

According to Chinese and Indian Martial Arts, Marma Adi and Ayurveda, there are 108 pressure points in a human body.

So, what could be a better number for emergency medical care than 108, a number deeply engrained in us, to make a difference to human existence and give life a fighting chance once again.

8 Tips to beat the heat this summer

Summers are here and let’s face it, it can be quite punishing in many parts of the country because of the soaring mercury levels. Follow the tips given below to beat the heat this summer:

• Incidences of sunstroke among people living in the plains of northern India are very common. The thumb rule to avoiding sunstroke is to avoid exposure to the sun when it is at its zenith.
•  If you are traveling make sure you drink lots of fluids. Wearing light colored cotton clothes can help you beat the heat and cool baths can keep your body temperature in control.
• Eating watermelon, papaya, mango and banana can cool your system. The abundance of mangoes in summers compensates for any discomfort experienced due to the heat. This king of fruits is the ideal fruit for the summer- but don’t overdo it.
•  Diseases in summer are usually water-borne so, it makes sense to use boiled water during this time. You can also use mineral water, but make sure that that you consume water from well-known brands and that tamper proof bottling techniques are used by the brand you consume.
• As the body loses essential minerals due to sweating these need to be replaced without fail or else the body may experience heat exhaustion and cramps. The ubiquitous ‘nimbu pani’ is the ideal summer drink. Again the water you use to make juices needs to be boiled and cooled.
• Do not use commercially made ice as this is a potential carrier of diseases like jaundice and cholera.
• Food that is not refrigerated in time can cause dysentery, food poisoning and other enteric-related diseases. Food rich in fiber should also be taken in plenty.
• Finally, if you are using air-coolers make sure the water is changed often to avoid breeding of larvae as summer is also the time when mosquitoes and other vectors breed rampantly and spread vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. You can also use insect repellents and cover your body adequately to prevent mosquito bites. Covering your body will also give you the protection against sun burns.