Seaweed brings magic to remote islands

Living in a remote island still means limited access to many things.

For poor fishermen in the Aru Islands regency in Maluku, who face this situation year after year, this is a hard fact of life.

Surrounded by sea, their income is very much dependent on weather. Many, who only own small boats, cannot take the risk of confronting the big waves on the open sea.

While fishermen on bigger islands like Java can simply change jobs during rough weather, those living on small and isolated islands do not have much choice. They simply cannot go to other places to search for new jobs.

On Aru, where people have to take a boat for hours to reach the regency’s capital, Dobo, many end up with no significant income to support their families.

This situation encouraged the Sitakena Foundation to introduce a seaweed cultivation program to improve the livelihood of residents on the islands.

Robo Djambumir from Selmona village, which is located south of the Aru Islands and a seven-hour boat trip away from Dobo, was grateful for the program.

He said with the program the residents were now able to earn a living throughout the year without falling into debt.

“There is life now, more life in Selmona, because of seaweed,” he said. “We don’t have difficulty getting food and can finance our children’s education in the city.”

The improvements in the quality of life for Robo and the residents of Selmona village on Aru are also enjoyed by Tahinuddin in Sulaa village on Buton Island in Southeast Sulawesi.

In 2006, Tahinudin, together with seven of his friends who cultivated seaweed, formed a group called Sabar Menanti.

The Coastal Area Development Network (JPKP) is a self-supporting institute on Buton Island that helps the group.

When harvesting seaweed for the first time in 2007, Tahinudin recalled that he got 1.2 tons of dry seaweed.

At that time, the seaweed price in Bau-Bau, the main city on Buton Island, was Rp 4,900 a kilogram (about 50 US cents), meaning he earned more than Rp 5 million from a venture that had a start-up capital of less than Rp 2 million.

“I got Rp 3.5 million profit at that time. From the next harvest, I had 2 tons,” Tahinudin said.

For the second harvest, he got a much better profit with a selling price of Rp 6,200 a kilogram.

One of the network’s members, Asman, contributed to the Sabar Menanti group’s success by helping the members, who diligently took care of their crops, and keeping up their spirits throughout the process.

“Within the group we’re learning together how to best take care of the seaweed. The results have been quite extraordinary. In November 2008, Tahinudin was able to produce 3 tons,” Asman said.

Since January last year, Tahinudin, together with other group members, have started undertaking other business development programs. As well as cultivating seaweed, they now raise seaweed seedlings.

Tahinudin said he saw this program as a promising business opportunity — fully aware that the increasing number of people cultivating seaweed would also raise demand for good seaweed seedlings.

“It takes less time to process seaweed seedlings. The work is done between January and May or throughout the year,” he said. They simply need to adjust the planting time for the seaweed.

The seaweed seedlings cultivated by the Sabar Menanti group in Wantopi village can produce up to 360 clumps. The selling price for one clump is Rp 50,000. So they are able to get an income of around Rp 18 million from a single planting of seedlings.

The task of marketing the seaweed seedlings is carried out in Bau-Bau city and Buton regency.

Through to the cultivation of seaweed for the past three years, the life of Tahinudin and other group members has become more prosperous.

He said, “I can buy motorboats to use at sea and motorcycles to use on land, all because of seaweed.”

Source: unja-paper

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Brain Draining - A Different Perspective

The concept of Brain draining is very ancient though the term was used in the early 1950 by spokesman of the Royal Society of London. The magnitude of brain draining has increased in this present scenario. Immigration of good individuals abroad to serve other nations is attributed as brain drain. This phenomenon can be observed even in the early history. The super power of every age use good individuals of other nations in their interest. Presently almost all under developed countries are at stake because this is going all over, high qualified professionals are migrating to USA, UK, Canada and other countries, but Pakistan is facing this storm rigorously and it's getting violent day by day. The desire of youth to get abroad is growing rapidly and this issue is not yet properly addressed.

One of the reasons of this dilemma is due to the unjust environment surrounding good individuals. Housing problem, security threats, health issues, intense inflation, power failure, bribery are some of the reasons which are driving good individuals abroad and leading them to stay permanently. Considerable number of graduates is leaving for abroad every year and very few came back from higher education.

Going for higher education is another thing, but staying there and serving them is what brain draining is. Even in the life time of Prophet Muhammad (Peace. Be.Upon. Him), there was incident when the Prophet (Peace. Be.Upon. Him) sent Muslims on a special mission to ash-Sham (modern day Syria, Jordan and Palestine). Ash-Sham was ruled by Romans, who were Christians and super power of that time; they were highly skilled in military technology. Muslims were sent for special mission to acquire that technology and to use it for the global implementation of Islam. Another example of acquiring technology was through Persians the second world power of that time, Muslims worked for trench technology through Salman Al farsi (May Allah be please with him) and it was used in the Battle of the Trench(khandak) and played an effective role. The difference between the present scenario of Muslims and the Prophet's Companions' episode is that they do have a vision while our individuals go abroad for self contentment.

Brain draining notion is very ancient, there is one example from the Prophet Muhammad (Peace. Be.Upon. Him) when the battle of Badr was over, some of the prisoners were released on the condition that they should teach 10 Muslims to read and write, this is the excellent example how the state used other people for educational programs. Another example of brain draining is Sultan Mehmed 'the conqueror of Constantinople' when he used a German Orban. Orban was highly skilled in cannon making and arms production that time, he offered his services to Byzantines but Sultan Mehmed very tactfully handled him and offered good reward in return. Sultan provided him a makeshift foundry where he worked and produced the largest cannon of that period called 'the Great Turkish Bombard', which was powerful enough to break the fort of Constantinople and this how Sultan achieved great historical victory. Orban's cannon could carry 1200 lb (544 kg) ball as far as one mile.

Well these are some of the examples how Islam had used non Muslims, it clearly shows us that without vision and motto, one can't stop brain draining, unless and until the problem is not properly diagnosed. There is need for both Vision and healthy environment for good individuals and this can't be done if the State does not make itself responsible, if the state will not take this seriously then there is no use of delivering lengthy speeches in various seminars.

The case is bitterly regrettable, few individuals from youth is somehow feeling this pain in Pakistan. That is the reason seminars are organized, but this issue should be properly addressed by the state and the system that drives mass and the mob. And it should be properly analyzed with this provided historical perspective.

Source: unja-paper

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Seo Services India

India SEO a Professional Internet marketing Firm located in Chandigarh, northern part of India, since 1999 has launched an

outsourcing of organic search marketing services at economical rates to its strategic SEO partners and customers  in UK, US, Canada,Australia, and other Europeans countries with the beginning of 2009.

IndiaBook CEO says “Recent recession in financial market has open a new door of opportunity for the Indian SEO agencies to provided SEO services world wide because of advantage of cost-effective services,increased efficiency, increased productivity, shared risks, reduced operating costs, increased quality, better services and more time to focus on core competencies.”

IndiaBook CEO further says “In these days SEO approach is not only important but crucial in any marketing mix. We cannot depends upon on our in house SEO consulting team, the pace of change has been obviously too fast for any company that is not dedicated to SEO as its core competency. We have also established our position as a major SEO authority in last 9 years. If any body see our portfolio of more than 500 sites, couldn’t possibly doubt our knowledge and expertise in the

subject”

IndiaBook is already into natural search engine positioning service since 1999 and already successfully completed website optimization of more than 500 websites. IndiaBook has more than 50 work station for search engine optimizers and team leader of SEO division has more than 10 year of search service expertise.

India Book SEO company India offers all type of Internet search engine optimization services including competitor analysis, keyword research,on page optimization, link building, directory submission, blog reviews, social book marking, SEO content writing, article writing,article submission and press release distribution services to its outsourcing customers in UK, US, Canada, Australia and Europeans countries.

IndiaBook SEO services India ensures highly qualitative, timely delivered and competitive affordable SEO rates to outsourcing customers because of location advantage in India, low labor cost, high volumes and 9 years of our search marketing expertise. We sign Non-Disclosure Agreements and understand secrecy better because of been already into SEO outsourcing services .We also offer customized SEO solutions even at customer sites to make complete secrecy and work

only at back end. Our global SEO optimization services outsourcing model makes sure we deliver maximum targeted result to you.

Source: unja-paper

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Stress, Type 2 Diabetes and Blood Sugar Levels

Stress is tied to many health conditions including Type 2 diabetes. We are told stress not managed can lead to medical illnesses: it can even contribute to physical illnesses such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Stress is often ignored as a factor in being overweight, prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

Firstly, just what is stress? It is the way your body responds to a demand no matter what kind. It can be caused by either a good or bad experience and at this time your body reacts by releasing chemicals into your bloodstream. Stress usually occurs when the demands being made on a person are greater than their ability to cope.

What is the stress-Type 2 diabetes connection? Stress increases the secretion of insulin and cortisol, your body's main long-acting stress hormone. Both these hormones work together to promote the formation of belly fat or visceral fat... contributing to both overweight and Type 2 diabetes. Stress hormones may also alter blood sugar levels directly.

The connection between stress, Type 2 diabetes and weight loss (or not)! Think about your own eating habits when you are stressed... you are likely to delay or even skip meals. This leads to eating foods or snacks full of sugar as well as beverages loaded with caffeine and sugar. These foods then create a blood sugar roller coaster.

Food behavior is one of the most common responses to stress, frequently leading to ongoing bad eating habits. Stress usually leads to high calorie/kilojoule comfort foods.

It is not unusual to find when people become stressed they increase both drinking and smoking. These often take the place of exercise, so instead of having lower blood sugar levels, your blood sugar levels are increased along with your weight. Time is not found to check bloodsugar levels or to even prepare healthy meals.

What are signs that you are feeling stressed? If you are experiencing any of these symptoms your response to stress is undercutting your ability to cope with them.

Symptoms include:

• feeling overwhelmed
• finding yourself becoming easily angered
• finding yourself being unable to handle your usual workload
• having heart palpitations or a fast heartbeat
• insomnia
• not feeling like your usual self
• having trouble concentrating
• lacking energy
• exhibiting poor judgment
• depression or anxiety

Why Type 2 diabetics should control stress. People with Type 2 diabetes should think of stress as an enemy to be dealt with. As well as the normal stressors Type 2 diabetes adds the stresses of coping with:

• high blood sugar levels
• obesity and
• cardiovascular complications

that limit physical activities.

When you are stressed it's the way you behave; then you are unlikely to exercise, make healthy food choices, check your blood sugar levels, take your medications on time and do anything else necessary for good diabetes care.

Source: unja-paper

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Egg Allergies and Vaccinations

Egg allergies are probably of most concern to parents who have kids that have to be vaccinated. That's because many vaccines are made using chicken eggs. And many people are allergic to or have a reaction to vaccines made with eggs. A reaction can produce redness around the vaccinated area or a rash.

On the other hand, if the child is truly allergic to eggs, a vaccine can possibly create a life threatening situation. An allergic response occurs very quickly and usually in the form of the person immediately experiencing shortness of breath and swelling of the face.

These days, there are many anti-vaccination groups that oppose the idea of vaccinations entirely. Some groups, believe in vaccinations, but don't believe in giving the child a series of vaccinations at the same time. On the opposing side, other parents want their child vaccinated for every possible disease.

Whatever your viewpoint towards vaccinations, it should not be changed by the possibility that your child will be impacted by an egg allergy. The incidences of true egg allergies reaction in response to vaccines is very low. But, if your chid does have an egg allergy, make sure to inform the doctor and he will know what steps to take.

If you believe that you or your child may have an egg allergy but are not sure, you can have an allergy specialist test you. The typical test involves a series of pin sized pricks to the skin testing the skin's various reactions to different substances. The test is normally done on the the person's back or forearm. A positive test for an allergy is usually manifested by the area around the skin prick turning red or expanding. To avoid false positives, you will probably be asked to avoid all products containing egg for the two or three days prior to the test. If the skin prick test indicates an allergy, the allergist may send a blood sample to a lab where it can be checked for IgE antibodies.

Epinephrine is adrenaline medication often used to treat extreme allergic reactions, such as anaphylactic shock. If opens the airways and makes breathing easier. It is also produced naturally by the body in high stress situation where the person may be in "fight or flight" mode. Epinephrine comes in handy and easy to use containers. If you have an extreme case of egg allergy, your doctor may request that you always carry a vial of epinephrine with you in case you ever suffer an attack. If you ever experience difficult breathing following an egg attack, this drug may possibly save your life.

Source: unja-paper

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Why Are Allergies More Prevalent Today Than Ever Before?

 One of the most important questions facing the health professiontoday is, "Why are allergies so much more prevalent now than ever before?" If you're an allergy sufferer, you know how allergies can plague every aspect of your life. Allergies can invoke the common responses like sneezing, coughing and itching, but can often attack in more underhanded ways. Undetected allergies may be responsible for more disease and undetermined conditions than you can shake a stick at.

According to Newsweek magazine, around 11 million Americans suffer from allergies. Allergies in individuals are increasing rapidly due to the globalization of the food market that has brought foods from around the world to the dinner table.

1. More isn't always better. The number of unfamiliar foods and chemicals that we ingest on a daily basis has grown significantly in recent decades.Thousands of new substances have been created since the turn of the century and make their way into the food chain. The body has a hard time dealing with these new substances andallergies are created.

2. Food grown for profit. Fertilizers and pesticides are used in conventional food production. These foods are laced with chemicals. No matter what they tell you or how hard you try to wash them, residual amounts of toxins are consumed on a daily basis. These foods look OK but have little vitamin or mineral content as compared to organic and the immune system doesn't recognize these foods as food anymore and cause an allergic reaction or sensitivity.

Another reason why allergies are more prevalent today are growth hormones and antibiotics added to animal feed. The hormones make the animals grow faster and the antibiotics are added because these animals are raised in such inhumane conditions that without them, they would get sick and cause an epidemic through the herd or flock. These foods become unrecognizable to the immune system and an allergic reaction ensues.

3. Another factor are Gene Modified foods. These foods have been modified at the genetic level. Even if they look the same, the immune system does not recognize it. In the United States, there are no laws that say that these mutant foods need any special labeling. As a matter of fact, it is frowned upon to label these GMO's at all. In Europe, it is a must.

Allergies are the result of profound energy reactions between our bodies and the food we consume. If we understand that everything, including foods, possesses a unique energetic vibration, configuration or footprint, we can assume that when these substances come in contact with our bodies, there is a blending of the energies.

If the blending of these foods are compatible to our body's internal vibration, we consume the food without a reaction. But if our body cannot recognize the substance that creates an inconsistent reaction in the body and often manifests in the form of allergies. Add some 21 century stress and you have lost the ease that the body is supposed to operate under. These foods become unrecognizable to the immune system and causes allergies.

This stress overloads the immune system further and creates more allergic reactions thus causing a downward spiral that weakens the immune system even further thus causing more allergies and on and on.

Source: unja-paper

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How Nicotine Causes Breast Cancer

Nicotine binds to a specific receptor in the body to promote nicotine addiction as well as breast cancer, says a new study. Yuan-Soon Ho of the Taipei Medical University, and colleagues found that human breast cancer cells consistently over-expressed the alpha 9 subunit of the nAChR (nicotinic acetylcholine receptor).

The expression was higher in advanced-stage breast cancer compared with early-stage cancer. They also found that reducing the levels of nAChR inhibited tumour growth in laboratory experiments, whereas increasing its levels or treating more normal breast cells with nicotine promoted the development of cancer characteristics.

The authors say their study was limited by its small sample size, and the fact that it included only Asian patients. Ilona Linnoila of the Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute writes that the study “suggests not only that smoking could be causally related to breast carcinogenesis but also that nicotine could directly contribute to the molecular mechanism of carcinogenesis in addition to indirectly contributing by promoting addiction to smoking


Source: unja-paper

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