Nisargruna

In order to put an end to the garbage problem which is eating up the garden city, The Bangalore Corporation is setting up 12 Nisargruna biogas plant across the city.
These plants convert biodegradable wastes into methane and other organic matter.
Nisargruna biogas plant is based on the technology developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai.

Since these plants are biphasic, which is aerobic followed by anaerobic more methane can be produced. Methane enriched biogas can be directly used for heating or for generating electricity.

Namma Metro

The "Namma Metro" project is a joint venture between the Centre and the state government, in which the former holds a 25% stake.

The overall cost expected for the Phase II of the 76-km Namma Metro project is about Rs 27,000 crore. About Rs 11,000 crore has been spent on the Phase I of the project, partly financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency and Housing and Urban Development Corporation. Asian Development Bank also approved a loan of $250 million (Rs 1,250 crore) for BMRCL earlier this year for the second phase.

End of Kasab

                                                 Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab

The chapter of the lone surviving gunman of Mumbai attack is finally over.
Sources say Kasab was hanged in Yerwada central prison at about 7:30 am and buried in its premises at 9:30 am today in a top secret operation.
Kasab's plea for clemency was rejected by the President on 5 November 2012.

World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day today(14 November)

and this year the theme is ‘Diabetes education and prevention' 

Here are few basic things which everyone should know about Diabetes in Q & A type.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.

Why is November 14th World Diabetes Day?

November 14th is a significant date in the diabetes calendar as it marks the birthday of the man who co-discovered insulin, Frederick Banting.
Banting discovered insulin in 1922, alongside Charles Best.
World Diabetes Day is internationally recognised and is now an official United Nations Day.

Diabetes and India:
India has become the Diabetes capital having the highest number of diabetic patients in the world(around 51 million people). Currently, up to 11 per cent of India’s urban population and 3 per cent of rural population above the age of 15 have diabetes.

Causes:

Various studies have shown that the high incidence of diabetes in India is mainly because of sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity, obesity, stress and consumption of diets rich in fat, sugar and calories

Types:

The most prevalent is the Type 2 diabetes, which constitutes 95 per cent of the diabetic population in the country. In this, patients are non-insulin dependent and they can control the glucose in their blood by eating measured diet, taking regular exercise and oral medication. Worldwide, millions of people have Type 2 diabetes without even knowing it and if not diagnosed and treated, it can develop serious complications.

Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent), however, is not preventable. In India, the Chennai-based Diabetes Research Centre says that over 50 per cent cases of diabetes in rural India and about 30 per cent in urban areas go undiagnosed. Globally, diabetes affects 246 million people, which is about 6 per cent of the total adult population. It is the fourth leading cause of death by disease and every 10 seconds a person dies from diabetes-related causes in the world. Each year, over three million deaths worldwide are tied directly to diabetes and even greater number die from cardiovascular disease. 

How to prevent?

Modification in lifestyle and proper medication can delay and prevent diabetes in high-risk groups. Eating whole grain carbohydrates and moderate exercise and avoiding excessive weight gain could eliminate over eighty per cent of Type-2 diabetes.

Carbohydrates

Let me give you few basic information regarding carbohydrates.
Like you all know the term carbohydrate refers to a large family of organic compounds essentially made of three elements i.e. carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

Carbohydrates are widely distributed in plant foods. They are present in the form of three types of compounds called sugars, starches and fibers.
Theses three types of compounds can also be classified as available and non-available carbohydrates. Carbohydrates like sugars and starches are digestible in the human digestive tract and hence can be made available to the body for its functioning. These carbohydrates are termed as available carbohydrates.
Cellulose and certain other large carbohydrate molecules that cannot be digested in the human digestive tract are collectively referred to as fibre or non-available carbohydrates.

Malala Day today

                                                               Malala Yusafzai

Malala needs no introduction. Her face speaks it all.
Barely 15, she is the strength of millions of girls across the globe today.
She was shot in the head and neck on 9 October by Taliban gunmen, just because she goes to school and belongs to a place in Pakistan where Taliban has at times banned girls from going to school. Malala came to limelight in early 2009 with her blog for BBC explaining her life under the Taliban rule, and her insatiable thirst to help thousands of girls who were devoid of education in that area. Later a documentary was filmed on her life and the rest is History.

World is celebrating 'Malala Day' today.
Also there are calls for Malala Yusafzai, an icon of girl education today, to be awarded the Noble Peace Prize.

Lets pray for her to get well soon. And wish many more Malalas to emerge, work for girls education and womens rights. Lets join hands together for the noble cause.

Slow Life

Contrary to the present rapid pace of life and urbanization, slow life focuses on a new level of consciousness and appreciating the things around. Slow life movement was started somewhere in mid-eighties all over the world.

Though many would'nt agree with this concept one can't rule it out completely either at some point.
What a concept to relax the restless bodies and souls! And to lead a natural and simple life!
It encourages people to take time to unwind themselves, spend time with friends and family. It's just an effort to stress free the urban lifestyle, to go back to the countryside and lead a more happier life. Money hardly matters to those who believe in slow life so also the time. They doesn't want to stop the clock nor they believe in time management..
'Much relaxed, cool mind = more productivity' for them.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol and its relationship to health and disease is the hot topic of discussion. Hope you might have come across this term in newspapers, magazines, conversations, advertisements, etc.

What is cholesterol then?
It is a fat-like substance present in foods. Its structure is different from fats and oils(triglycerides).
Animal foods like milk, egg, organ meats, ghee, butter, cream are all rich sources of cholesterol.
Plant foods like vegetable oils(mustard oil, groundnut oil, soya oil), nuts and oils do not contain cholesterol.
We have often seen that some manufacturers of vegetable oils try to mislead the general public by claiming that their products do not contain cholesterol. Now you know that this claim has no basis.

Let me brief the role played by cholesterol in the body:

• Cholesterol is the structural component of membranes of body cells.
• The breakdown of cholesterol by the liver produces bile salts. Bile salts are important for the digestion and absorption of fats and some vitamins.
• It is also necessary for the synthesis of many hormones in the body.

However, extra cholesterol over and above the body needs can be harmful.