Greens See Red Over A Thousand Hindu Fires In India

FROTH AND BUBBLE

An Indian Hindu woman takes part in an Aswamedh Yagya - (horse sacrifice) - offering in front of Kundas - (holy fire place) - in Kolkata, 15 November 2006. Photo courtesy of Deshakalyan Chowdhury and AFP.

by Staff Writers
Kolkata (AFP) India, Nov 17, 2006
Hindus in eastern India Friday started more than a thousand fires in a mass ancient ritual that organisers said would help "fight diseases", but activists warned of environmental damage. Hundreds of priests chanted verses from Hindu scriptures and tonnes of wood and herbs were poured into more than a thousand pits for the mass "yagna" or a fire ceremony to please gods on the outskirts of eastern Kolkata city.

"The sacred fire and smoke from the burnt wood will strengthen the ozone layer and ward off diseases like malaria and dengue," said Pashupatinath Mishra, secretary of Gayatri Janakalyan Kendra group, which organised the ceremony.

Mishra said more than six tonnes of sandalwood and herbs would be burnt in 1009 pits in three days beginning Friday amid the chanting of sacred verses.

"The smoke will kill mosquitoes and other harmful insects and cure people suffering from dengue and malaria," Mishra said.

Environmentalists said the smoke would further damage the ozone layer and asked the High Court of West Bengal state, of which Kolkata is the capital, to stop the ceremony.

The court, however, said there was no law to prevent such a ceremony.

"Such foolish acts will weaken the ozone layer," said activist Subhas Dutta, who filed the court petition. "The madness must be stopped."

Mosquito-borne malaria and dengue fevers are prevalent during the country's rainy season. An outbreak of dengue has claimed 175 lives this year and nearly 10,000 people were afflicted with the virus.

Source: Agence France-Presse

FROTH AND BUBBLE

Beijingers Told To Stay Indoors As Smog Hangs Over North China

Beijing (AFP) Nov 20, 2006
Beijing residents were warned Monday to stay indoors due to high pollution levels, as a blanket of heavy smog across northern China caused traffic chaos and delayed flights throughout the region. "Under these weather conditions it is better to reduce outdoor activities especially in areas where pollutants are concentrated such as where traffic is heavy," the Beijing environmental protection bureau said on its website.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT Red Cross Says Preparation Can Mitigate The Toll Of Disasters Bad Weather Hampers Aid To Flood-Hit Western Afghanistan Huge Aid Operation Underway As Floods, Crocs Ravage Kenya, Somalia Computer Software Enables Rapid Response To Time-Critical Emergencies	CLIMATE SCIENCE 'Divided' Countries Could Leave Climate Deal In 'Tatters' Seven-Year Stabilization Of Methane May Slow Global Warming Dutch Bask In Warmest Autumn In Three Centuries Central Asian States Launch Program To Reverse Desertification
EARTH OBSERVATION European Space Agency And Google Earth Showcase Our Planet SciSys Wins Software Role For CryoSat-2 Mission Next Generation Imaging Detectors Could Enhance Space Missions SSTL Signs Contract With Federal Republic Of Nigeria For Supply Of EO Satellite	ENERGY TECH Petroleum Targets Unearthed By UH Professor Microorganisms One Part Of The Solution To Energy Problem Carbon Storage Eyed In New US-Australian Climate Change projects Lockheed Martin Awards Lithium Technology With ATLAS V Battery Contract
EPIDEMICS Setting The Stage To Find Drugs Against SARS Pattern Of Human Ebola Outbreaks Linked To Wildlife And Climate UGA Researchers Use Laser, Nanotechnology To Rapidly Detect Viruses 26,000 Russians Contracted HIV Since Start Of Year	FLORA AND FAUNA Looking At Life In Lyon Extraordinary Life Found Around Deep-Sea Gas Seeps Wnt Signaling System Reactivates Dormant Limb Regeneration Program Teeth Tell Ancient Tale
FROTH AND BUBBLE Police Fire Teargas To Break Toxic Waste Demo Beijingers Told To Stay Indoors As Smog Hangs Over North China Greens See Red Over A Thousand Hindu Fires In India Mafia Waste Trafficking Threatens The Environment	ABOUT US Neanderthal Genome Sequencing Yields Surprising Results Dad Inspired 'Jurassic Park,' Son Inspires 'Jurassic Poop' Buffet for Early Human Relatives Two Million Years Ago Unraveling Where Chimp And Human Brains Diverge

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement