Elephant killings blamed on Orissa mining

Elephants in Orissa face extinction if they continue to die or be killed at the current rate, according to official and unofficial counts.

Spreading mining activity in the region is blamed for man's conflict with the elephant.

At least 60 elephants have been killed in the past two years, official estimates say - and unofficial reports say 200 elephants died during the same time.

Reports also point out nine elephants died in November.

Iron ore and manganese mining has destroyed the forests where the elephants used to roam freely forcing them into farmers lands.

"It is after all this mining that elephants have started to come here to our fields," said a villager.

The RFO in Keonjhar says, "we are understaffed". "Fifty percent vacancy, there is not enough equipment and roads are bad," he added.

Human casualties

Villagers are also being killed in the man-elephant fight for survival. In the last six years 62 people have died and 75 others were injured.

Over 1500 houses have been destroyed, and 3000 acres of crops damaged, as a result over 4000 families have been affected.

The forest department blames the situation on mining activity in the area.

"We try to do our job but the fact is this increase in mining has really destroyed and disturbed traditional elephant habitats," Suresh Mohanty, the PCCF in Orissa said.

But the minister for mining has denied any responsibility.

"That is not our problem," said Padhmanabhan Behera, the Steel and Mines Minister of Orissa when he was asked about measures taken to deal with the situation.

"That is not our job it is up to the forest department to control any problems with elephants and wildlife," he said.

Chief minister of Orissa Naveen Patnaik has promised to look into the situation, but he is also about to grant two more massive mining contracts in the region, which is likely to mean an even sharper increase in elephant killings.

NDTV website dated 16.11.2006

Tribals against elephant safari zone

Newindpress.com
January 24 2008

PARVATIPURAM: In protest against the proposed ‘Elephant Safari Zone’ in the forests of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts, several tribal action groups and welfare associations, led by CPM leaders, staged a dharna at ITDA Office here on Wednesday.

The agitators also gheroed the AP ST Legislative Committee members, who were here to review the ITDA activities, stating that the project would deprive a large number of tribals of their livelihood.

Taking note of the seriousness of the issue, Legislative Committee chairman and S.Kota MLA K Ravi Babu ensured that the government would go ahead with the project only with the people’s consent and added that the Safari zone was proposed to put a lid on the jumbo menace.

For more on saving elephants please visit "http://elephantsindia.blogspot.com"

Temperature rising...!

During the past 5 days... it was not like winter, and that too at the end of January.

Take a look at the temperature chart of past 5 days... it's rising above 31°C.
Month Hi: 31.8°C (25/1/08)
Month Lo: 19.0°C (20/1/08)

Even the humidity is also on the higher side.

Weather art

Weather is all around us all the time. It can affect our mood and how things around us look. Think how different the view from your window can look on a sunny summer's day and on a cloudy wet winter's day.

Make your own weather symbols

Many of you will have seen weather symbols on TV weather forecasts. Try designing some of your own.

Draw a picture

Paint or draw a picture of your school, garden or other interesting view. Colour the picture in to show the scene in different types of weather. Think about how different colours can be used, bright yellow and oranges for sunny, dark greys for cloudy and blue for wet. Also think about how this makes you feel. Does the sun make you happy, do cloud and rain make you sad? This can create an atmosphere to your painting, and change how people feel when they look at your art.

Weather colouring

Below are some weather pictures for you to print out and colour in. Ask an adult to help you to print it out. You can then colour in your picture.

More info at this site...http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/education/primary/students/art.html

Weather Clock v3.2 - Download

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Weather Alarm Clock replaces the standard Windows system clock and offers a number of enhancements for people who like neat solutions.

Dripping wet ? Caught a cold ? Afraid that you will ?
Dress for Your Weather. A digital thermometer, a weather forecast station, and a dress guide, all in one convenient package. Weather Alarm Clock keeps you updated on the weather at your location, so you always know what to wear. If you go mobile from time to time, Weather Alarm Clock goes mobile with you: just change the location to get the weather for where you are at the moment.

Had enough of being late ? Feel like you are wasting time ? Things are getting out of control ?
Be on Time, Be in Control. The time on your computer will always be precise with Weather Alarm Clock's synch features, but more importantly, you can organize yourself and get things done by setting alarms for certain events, appointments, and tasks. Use the built-in calendar to track appointments or get in synch with your friends and colleagues using the time zones tracking feature.

You can now go to bed without stopping to shut down your computer or you can depend on Weather Alarm Clock to shut down the computer when it's time to go to bed. Customize the look of the clock display and the floating calendar widget using a wide selection of skins.
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Arboviral Encephalitides

Arboviral encephalitides are mosquito-transmitted viral diseases capable of causing encephalitis (brain inflammation). Varieties found in the United States include eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and La Crosse (LAC) encephalitis, and West Nile Virus encephalitis. Encephalitis is a very serious disease that can lead to coma, brain damage and death. Eastern equine encephalitis is particularly deadly, with a 30-35% fatality rate, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, cases are rare -- an average of four a year in the U.S., according to the CDC.

Most viral encephalitis infections either don't produce any symptoms at all or only lead to general flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle ache and malaise. Symptoms of severe encephalitis include high fever, stiff neck or back, sensitivity to light, vomiting and confusion.

West Nile Virus

What Is West Nile Virus?
West Nile virus (WNV) is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall. This fact sheet contains important information that can help you recognize and prevent West Nile virus.

What Can I Do to Prevent WNV?
The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites.

When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient. Follow the directions on the package.

Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.

Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.

Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used.
What Are the Symptoms of WNV?

Serious Symptoms in a Few People. About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
Milder Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.
No Symptoms in Most People. Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.
How Does West Nile Virus Spread?

Infected Mosquitoes. Most often, WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite.

Transfusions, Transplants, and Mother-to-Child. In a very small number of cases, WNV also has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and even during pregnancy from mother to baby.

Not through touching. WNV is not spread through casual contact such as touching or kissing a person with the virus.
How Soon Do Infected People Get Sick?
People typically develop symptoms between 3 and 14 days after they are bitten by the infected mosquito.

How Is WNV Infection Treated?
There is no specific treatment for WNV infection. In cases with milder symptoms, people experience symptoms such as fever and aches that pass on their own, although even healthy people have become sick for several weeks. In more severe cases, people usually need to go to the hospital where they can receive supportive treatment including intravenous fluids, help with breathing and nursing care.

What Should I Do if I Think I Have WNV?
Milder WNV illness improves on its own, and people do not necessarily need to seek medical attention for this infection though they may choose to do so. If you develop symptoms of severe WNV illness, such as unusually severe headaches or confusion, seek medical attention immediately. Severe WNV illness usually requires hospitalization. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are encouraged to talk to their doctor if they develop symptoms that could be WNV.

Slightly warm day

Today it was slightly warm, because the Humidity was high around 80%
During the past 5 days the humidity is rising... take a look

But the min & max temperature was almost the same.
We might get a shower towards the end of this month.

Climatological Information for Chennai

Climatological Information
Month-Mean Temperature oC-Mean Total Rainfall (mm)-Mean Number of Rain Days-
Daily Minimum-Daily Maximum
Jan - 20.6 28.4 16.2 1.0
Feb - 21.2 29.9 3.7 0.3
Mar - 23.1 31.9 3.0 0.2
Apr - 25.9 33.6 13.6 0.7
May - 27.6 36.4 48.9 1.6
Jun - 27.2 36.6 53.7 4.1
Jul - 25.9 34.7 97.8 7.3
Aug - 25.3 33.9 149.7 8.5
Sep - 25.3 33.5 109.1 6.6
Oct - 24.3 31.4 282.7 10.2
Nov - 22.8 29.2 350.3 10.1
Dec - 21.6 28.1 138.2 5.5

Next 2 days for India

Forecast valid upto 1430 hrs IST of 22nd January, 2008

NORTHWEST INDIA

[J & K, H. P., UTTARAKHAND, PUNJAB, HARYANA , DELHI, WEST UP]
· Rain/snowfall is likely at a few places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during next 24 hours and isolated thereafter.

· Isolated rain/thundershowers are also likely over Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh during next 24 hours and mainly dry weather thereafter.

· Fall in minimum temperature by 2-3°C during next 48 hrs.

EAST INDIA

[EAST UP, JHARKHAND, BIHAR, ORISSA,, WEST BENGAL & SIKKIM]
· Isolated rain/thundershowers are likely over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during next 24 hours and mainly dry weather thereafter.

· Mainly dry weather is likely over the rest region.

· Fall in minimum temperature by 3-5°C over East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand during next 48 hrs.

NORTHEAST INDIA

[Arunachal Pradesh, NMM& T, Assam, Meghalaya,]
· Rain/thundershowers are likely at a few places over Arunachal Pradesh and isolated over Assam and Meghalaya.

· Mainly dry weather is likely over the rest region.

SOUTH INDIA

[TN, AP, KERALA,, KARNATAKA, LAKSHADWEEP, ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS]
· Mainly dry weather is likely over the region.

WEST INDIA

[GOA, MAHARASHTRA (OTHER THAN VIDARBHA), GUJARAT, RAJASTHAN]
· Mainly dry weather is likely over the region.

· Fall in minimum temperatures by 2-4°C over Rajasthan .

CENTRAL INDIA

[M.P., CHHATTISGARH, VIDARBHA]
· Mainly dry weather is likely over the region.

· Fall in minimum temperature by 3-4°C over Madhya Pradesh during next 48 hrs