suchandra

Keeping away from politics is always the better decision - especially when this decision avoids bomb blasts with hundreds of vicitims. <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="articleheader">Delhi skips Israel birthday party </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="articleauthor">JAYANTH JACOB </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="story" align="left"> New Delhi, May 29: The government seems to have been swayed by the Left in keeping away from the 60th birth anniversary celebrations of Israel, attended by US President George W. Bush. Industrialist Ratan Tata and spiritual leaders from both the Hindu and Muslim communities, however, responded to the invite, sources said. “Israel President Shimon Peres had sent out personal invitations to world leaders and individuals. None from India attended as a government nominee,” said a source. Instead, there will be cricket diplomacy on display with the country that is India’s second biggest source of arms, the sources said. The Left allies of the government have been criticising the Congress-led Centre for its “pro-Israel” tilt in foreign policy that they say undermines India’s traditional sympathy and support for Palestine’s cause. The Left parties, led by the CPM, had flayed India’s bilateral initiatives, including defence co-operation and the Indian Space Research Organisation’s launch of a spy satellite for that country. Sources said Tata, spiritual leaders Swami Avdheshanand Giri, Swami Paramatmananda Saraswati and Muslim community leaders Ahmed Iftikhar Khwaja and Umair Ahmad Ilyasi had attended a conference to discuss the invite.. Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had a problem with dates, the sources said. </td></tr></tbody></table>

Great Vaishnava Acaryas actually teach that all the living entities who are presently transmigrating within this universe came into this universe at the time when this universe was created. This span of time is so huge that it is said that we're eternally conditioned. Coming now to the state of gradually understanding that we are in the material world since time immemorial is so special, that the great Acaryas comment this with, please, in this situation of real spiritual joy, don't ask this question, how did I come here? Symptom and mood of a real Vaishnava, he doesn't ask, how did we fall. Friday, February 2, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Purusottama, Please accept my blessings. I am so glad to receive your letter and I have noted the contents carefully. Krishna is so sublime and transcendental that He cannot be realized by mental speculation or by personal endeavor, education, or material acquisition. He can only be approached and understood clearly by our service attitude, engaging all our senses in His service. The beginning of service is to engage our hearing organs, and receive the transcendental message by aural reception. And whenever we are mature in receiving the transcendental message from books like Bhagavad-gita, and Srimad-Bhagavatam, via media the transparent bona fide Spiritual Master, then we are able to chant or engage our tongue in the service of the Lord, being engaged in the service of the Lord. The material covering of our senses becomes inactive and actual spiritual form of activity becomes manifest. I very much appreciate your development of this spiritual perception, and Krishna has given you a good chance in the matter of your proposed dealings with the U.N. Please immediately finish the job by incorporating our association in the U.N. It is a very good opportunity. Consult Brahmananda and do it immediately. In the future, we will have very great scope for introducing our Krishna Consciousness for leaders amongst all the nations. I think it is a very great opportunity for us, and we should utilize it.

Thanks so much Nalin for making this post with quite interesting aspects how to see vedic knowledge like Bhagavad-gita through modern way of explaining things. When reading, "where everything comes to a stop, time, feelings, needs, desire almost everything and man comes to a unconscious state and physics term this as "Quantum Domain"", my first thought is, Bhagavad-gita, The Perfection of Renunciation, eighteenth chapter, verse 54, where it says, in this state of consciousness stones and gold are of equal value. In other words when using the term "Quantum Domain", this means the divine consciousness where your inner state of spiritual trance causes the dualities of this temporary material world to be changed into transcendental reality of sat-cid-ananda, eternity, knowledge and unending happiness. To actually realize that by engaging in the transcendetal loving service of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna that everything is being changed into Vaikuntha, the spiritual world. One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me. PURPORT To the impersonalist, achieving the brahma-bhūta stage, becoming one with the Absolute, is the last word. But for the personalist, or pure devotee, one has to go still further, to become engaged in pure devotional service. This means that one who is engaged in pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord is already in a state of liberation, called brahma-bhūta, oneness with the Absolute. Without being one with the Supreme, the Absolute, one cannot render service unto Him. In the absolute conception, there is no difference between the served and the servitor; yet the distinction is there, in a higher spiritual sense. In the material concept of life, when one works for sense gratification, there is misery, but in the absolute world, when one is engaged in pure devotional service, there is no misery. The devotee in Kṛṣṇa consciousness has nothing for which to lament or desire. Since God is full, a living entity who is engaged in God's service, in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, becomes also full in himself. He is just like a river cleansed of all dirty water. Because a pure devotee has no thought other than Kṛṣṇa, he is naturally always joyful. He does not lament for any material loss or aspire for gain, because he is full in the service of the Lord. He has no desire for material enjoyment, because he knows that every living entity is a fragmental part and parcel of the Supreme Lord and therefore eternally a servant. He does not see, in the material world, someone as higher and someone as lower; higher and lower positions are ephemeral, and a devotee has nothing to do with ephemeral appearances or disappearances. For him stone and gold are of equal value. This is the brahma-bhūta stage, and this stage is attained very easily by the pure devotee. In that stage of existence, the idea of becoming one with the Supreme Brahman and annihilating one's individuality becomes hellish, the idea of attaining the heavenly kingdom becomes phantasmagoria, and the senses are like serpents' teeth that are broken. As there is no fear of a serpent with broken teeth, there is no fear from the senses when they are automatically controlled. The world is miserable for the materially infected person, but for a devotee the entire world is as good as Vaikuṇṭha, or the spiritual sky. The highest personality in this material universe is no more significant than an ant for a devotee. Such a stage can be achieved by the mercy of Lord Caitanya, who preached pure devotional service in this age.

Since Pandit Tripathi performed elaborate poojas could be that he implanted the bhakti-lata-bija. The Bhakti-Lata-Bija BY SRILA BHAKTIVEDANTA NARAYAN GOSVAMI MAHARAJA FRANCE, Oct 16 (VNN) — Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja Toulouse, France: July 6, 2002 [From July 2 to July 7, three hundred devotees gathered from France, Germany, England, Italy, and America to hear the hari-katha of Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja in Toulouse, France. Every evening he gave class from Caitanya-caritamrta, leading up to the topic of Sri Rupa-siksa, and within that, he discussed the topic of the seed of the bhakti creeper. He specifically requested that his lectures on this subject be published.] [sripad Madhava Maharaja:] Srila Gurudeva has ordered me to explain the verse: brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva guru krsna prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija By the causeless mercy of guru and Krsna, the devotional practitioner can receive the seed of bhakti. [srila Narayana Maharaja:] Who will receive the seed? [Madhava Maharaja:] The sadhaka. [srila Narayana Maharaja:] Why did you say sadhaka? Anyone can receive it. [sripad Madhava Maharaja:] By the combined causeless mercy of Guru and Krsna, any living entity can receive the bhakti-lata-bija. In this verse, "guru krsna" has two meanings: It means "by the combined mercy of Sri Guru and Sri Krsna," and it means that Guru is a manifestation of Krsna. Guru and Krsna are non-different, and this is confirmed in the Caitanya-caritamrta: guru krsna-rupa hana sastrera pramane guru-rupe krsna krpa karena bhakta-gane) ["According to the revealed opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is non-different from Krsna. Lord Krsna, in the form of the spiritual master, delivers His devotees." (Cc Adi 1.45)] By the causeless mercy of asraya-bhagavan (the spiritual master), the living entity can receive the bhakti-lata-bija. This bhakti-lata-bija is the desire to serve Krsna. How will this desire to serve Krsna manifest in the heart? It manifests by hearing hari-katha from the bona fide Guru and bona fide Vaisnavas. If we try to hear Krsna's pastimes with faith from Gurudeva, and also from pure Vaisnavas, the desire to serve will appear in the heart. I'd like to give some examples from the pastimes we have heard from our Gurudeva and from the Vaisnavas: One time, Krsna and His sakhas like Sridama, Madhumangala, and others were wrestling with one another, and eventually Sridama came out the winner - and Krsna was clapping alone. Seeing this, the sakhas asked Him, "Krsna, why are You clapping so much?" He replied, "Because I defeated Sridama in the wrestling match." Meanwhile, Durvasa Rsi, who was sitting and watching the whole scene, couldn't decide whether Krsna was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or just a mundane boy. He watched in amazement as the boys debated with Krsna. Sridama challenged Him, "Krsna Kanhaiya, how can You say that You defeated me? All the sakhas are eyewitnesses; they all saw that You were on the ground on Your back, underneath me. Therefore I am the winner." Krsna replied, "But My nose was pointing up, and he whose nose points down is the loser; so you are the loser!" full article: http://www.vnn.org/europe/EU0210/EU16-7601.html

They could learn from others what culture is

This makes sense, we have to create more camps, the "Intelligent Design movement" is NOT the same thing as "Creationism movement", Mr. Streetprophet explains the truth: Intelligent Design is NOT the same as Creationism by Mister Streetprophet Thu May 29, 2008 at 11:36:13 AM PDT Let's get one thing straight once and for all. Intelligent Design is NOT the same thing as Creationism! To clarify this I'm going to define Creationism. A Creationist is a person who believes that the Book of Genesis is literally true...that the world was created in 7 days(around 4004BC), that Adam was created out of dirt by God's breath and the Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs...LITERALLY!! I am NOT a Creationist. For most of my adult life I was a r to Random Evolution, even during those periods of time when I believed in God. To label all supporters of Intelligent Design as Creationists is like labeling all Random Evolutionists as Atheists. All Atheists must be Random Evolutionists but all Random Evolutionists don't have to be Atheists and similarly all Intelligent Designers don't have to be Creationists! It's perfectly feasible for an intelligent, open-minded person to look at the SCIENTIFIC evidence and come to the conclusion that Random Evolution could not possibly explain what biology and genetics have turned up. Let me give you three examples that seem very convincing to me. One. In order for our brains to perceive what our eyes 'see', there has to be a complex series of chemical reactions. 40 in all and all 40 have to be present or the brain won't 'see' anything. There is no mechanism in Random Evolution (RE) that can explain how all 40 chemical reactions suddenly came into existence at the same time. Since anything less than all 40 being present means no sight, then there's no advantage to only having 1 or 2 or 39 chemical reactions and if there's no advantage then there's no reason why offspring with these chemical reactions should remain in the gene pool to pass their genes on. That's what RE claims is required...only genes that give it's host an advantage are likely to be passed on to the wider gene pool. So how did eyes evolve with that kind of complexity? Two. Apes have 48 chromosomes and Humans have 46. What happened there? Well, it appears that two smaller chromosomes suddenly, for no explicable reason, hooked up with each other like two railroad cars and they've been together ever since. That's what RE says. ID says 'wait a minute, is it really that simple?' When you take a very close look at the surviving gene in Humans, you see that yes there is one part that resembles an Ape gene and another part that resembles another Ape gene but there's also a piece of genetic material in the center, that doesn't correspond to any Ape gene at all. Somehow, two ape genes happened to touch and hook up to a third piece of genetic material, AT THE SAME TIME, IN THE SAME CELL! Chromosomes merging is so rare that as far as we know, it's never happened since so what are the chances that the only time it happend, it happened twice at exactly the same time? Three. Still on the topic of # of chomosomes in apes and humans. Ever wonder why cats and dogs can't interbred? It's because they have different # of chromosomes. Therefore it's virtually certain that an Ape egg can't be fertilized by a human sperm cell and a human egg can't be fertilized by an ape sperm cell. SO...if that's the case, how did the first 46 chromosome child(mutation) of a pair of 48 chromosome ape parents manage to have further offspring if that single 46 chromosome individual was surrounded by 48 chromosome apes? With no other 46 chromosome individuals around to mate with, the first 46 chromosome individual should have died without passing it's genes on to anyone. I have yet to hear or read a logical answer to this question by an Evolutionist expert. Intelligent Design advocates look at scientific facts. Something which Random Evolutionists tend to ingore.

Yesterday a senior Vaishnava phoned me up explaining how he's trying to settle his burial now so that nobody else in future has to bother or pay for it. When he started to get the details from different funeral parlors more and more questions came up, he said. In this particular city they have a graveyard necessity what says that you have to pay additionally to the cremation costs minimum 1400 dollar for a 10 years gravesite within the City graveyard compound. Next, there's an organ donation law - without notarized revocation they can do anything with dead bodies, up to using body parts for medical training. What then is the use paying for a cremation, he asked. But even when you paid for a notarial act who can check what actually happens? The law is that the cremation has to take place within a period of ten days what is in conflict with vedic law where the cremation has to take place in the evening of the same day. Then there has to be an additional insurance in case one dies outside the city limit, covering the transportation costs, since the normal payment only covers the transportation within the city. So far the funeral parlors presented him a cost estimate of 4000-5000 Dollar but he said he is not sure if this can be called a vedic cremation ceremony, any suggestions? So far ISKCON Europe hasn't made any statements concerning Vaishnava funerals. Few years ago a Sankirtan devotee died in a car accident, ISKCON did nothing, he was put in an anonymous pauper's grave by the municipality.

Interesting video about scientific v0erification of vedic knowledge - in case your browser doesn't display video plugin below, it can be viewed here: http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=7678538942425297587&hl=en <embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width: 400px; height: 326px;" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=7678538942425297587&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash">

Scientific Verification of Vedic Knowledge http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=7678538942425297587&hl=en <embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width: 400px; height: 326px;" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=7678538942425297587&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash">

Reuters: Nepal abolishes centuries-old Hindu monarchy Wed May 28, 2008 4:15pm EDT NEWSMAKER: The decline and fall of Nepal's last king 28 May 2008 Related News powered by Sphere <!-- BEGIN:: Broker Center Advert Module --> Featured Broker sponsored link <!-- END:: Broker Center Advert Module --> By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's political parties voted on Wednesday to abolish the Himalayan kingdom's 239-year-old Hindu monarchy, a key demand of Maoists after they ended a decade-long war against the government. Delegates at a special assembly voted 560 to four in favor of abolishing the monarchy. Hours before, suspected royalists threw three small, homemade bombs in Nepal's capital, wounding one person. The government has told unpopular King Gyanendra to vacate his pink pagoda-roofed palace in the capital Kathmandu within a fortnight, or be forced out. He has made few comments on his future plans, except to say he wanted to remain in Nepal. On hearing the result of the vote, thousands of people danced in the streets of Kathmandu, many waving different party flags and chanting "Welcome to a republic". The government declared the next two days a public holiday. "Today is the day when my dreams have been realized and similarly the dreams of the nation have perhaps also been realized," Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said in an address to the assembly. Activists of the royalist militant group Ranabir Sena threw pamphlets at the site of one of Wednesday's blasts, demanding that Nepal remain a Hindu kingdom, police said. Two bombs exploded only meters away from the heavily guarded venue for the assembly while another went off in a city park. All through the day, thousands of Nepalis gathered in the historic parts of Kathmandu and near the site of the assembly, ringed by riot police, to celebrate the end of a monarchy seen by many of its inhabitants as out of touch. Continued... VIDEO

Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Heidi Klum, Seal renew marital vows in Hindu ceremony German supermodel Heidi Klum and her singer husband Seal renewed their marital vows in a Hindu ceremony on their third wedding anniversary. India was the theme of the wedding that was held at Mexico’s Costa Careyes beach early this month. Indian priest Pandit Shailesh Tripathi was especially called from Indian holy city Varanasi to conduct the ceremony. Apart from the ceremony, everything about the function was also Indian. For one, the wedding mandap was decorated in Indian motifs.The bride and groom as well as the guests were reportedly dressed in Indian dresses like banarasi saris, lehenga, sherwanis and kurtas. Heidi Klum was dressed like an Indian bride in lehenga-chunni and wore exquisite jewellery. Seal wore a black sherwani. According to a newspaper report, Pandit Tripathi performed elaborate poojas like Ganesh pujan and Navgarh pujan. Heidi and Seal also did saat phere. Heidi’s parents were also part of rituals like Kanyadaan (giving away of the bride) and Paon Pujai (washing the groom’s feet). Heidi and Seal have known Tripathi since their visit to India last year. The couple was mesmerized by the Vedic mantras that Tripathi chanted in Kashi. Later, he had also conducted a special Ganga Puja (done for married couples) for Heidi and Seal. http://www.blog.lapuntarealty.com/?p=373

Before the Kuruksetra war started Arjuna presented all the arguments possible that violence is against the vedic principle. Only when Lord Krsna explained, no, in this case you have to fight the war started. Looks that Jesuit priest did some research before meeting Prabhupada. Jesuit Priest: All right. And therefore—I’m not being facetious—when you boil those potatoes, you are taking away the life of that potato. Prabhupāda: So what is your philosophy? That you can take any life? Jesuit Priest: But you said, “Thou shall not kill.” Prabhupāda: No, no. Yes. “Thou shall not kill.” That’s all right. Jesuit Priest: But you kill the potato. Prabhupāda: Now, suppose there is potato and there is your child. So would you like to kill your child in preference of potato? Mother: No, no. Jesuit Priest: You’ve not answered my question. Prabhupāda: Why this discrimination? Jesuit Priest: Why you’ve not answered my question? Prabhupāda: Yes, I am answering you, that you are to kill, but you have to discriminate what kind of killing you shall do. Jesuit Priest: Well, I’ve just said that. I gave the example of the chap who comes to you with a revolver. I can maybe protect myself. You said… You’re implying… Prabhupāda: No, no. When somebody comes with a revolver, you defend. That is another thing. But if somebody’s innocent, why you should kill? Jesuit Priest: And I say I shouldn’t. God said, “Thou shalt not kill.” Prabhupāda: Then why you are killing animals? Jesuit Priest: Well, you’re doing it when you eat your potatoes. Prabhupāda: No, the potato is not animal. Jesuit Priest: It’s a vegetable, life. Prabhupāda: No. Jesuit Priest: It starts with a little tiny seed. That’s life. Prabhupāda: No, no, no. Jesuit Priest: It grows. Prabhupāda: Potato is not animal. It is fruit. Jesuit Priest: Is that tree alive? Prabhupāda: It is a fruit. Jesuit Priest: Is that tree alive? Prabhupāda: Yes. Jesuit Priest: Has it got life? Prabhupāda: Yes. Jesuit Priest: Are you doing anything wrong when you cut it down…? Prabhupāda: Yes. Jesuit Priest: …to provide…? Prabhupāda: Yes. Jesuit Priest: …to provide…? Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes, yes. Jesuit Priest: You are doing something wrong? Prabhupāda: We don’t cut down trees unnecessarily. Unnecessarily. Jesuit Priest: No, but, but, uh, but, uh, but, uh… I don’t kill… Prabhupāda: No. But the… I have asked this question to so many people, that “Why you are killing although it is prohibited, ‘Thou shall not kill.’?” They cannot give me any satisfactory answer. Jesuit Priest: Well, I think I’ve given you one. I’m just thinking in a way… Prabhupāda: Innocent animal killing and taking a potato from the tree, you are making equalized. It is not very… Jesuit Priest: Oh, no, I’m not (indistinct) and saying. All I’m saying is if you’re logical and accept different… Prabhupāda: This is logical. Now… Jesuit Priest: …kinds of life. Prabhupāda: I have to live. We agree that we have to live by eating another living entity. Jivo jīvasya jīvanam. But if I eat this grass, taken some grass, and if I eat some animal, do you think they are equal? Jesuit Priest: Yes. Prabhupāda: Equal? Then why don’t you kill your child, own child? Jesuit Priest: Because there’s a, I mean, a… That’s, that’s… Logical. I just tried to show you the difference between… Prabhupāda: Now, we don’t agree that… Jesuit Priest: …vegetative life, sensitive life and rational life. Prabhupāda: … that innocent… That… That’s all right. Revatīnandana: Rational? Animals have got rationality. Jesuit Priest: No they haven’t. Omnia animalia intelectu carent.(?) (Latin) Revatīnandana: Even your… Jesuit Priest: This is bringing out exactly… Revatīnandana: Even your own psychologists will display to you rational life in the monkeys. Jesuit Priest: No, no. Revatīnandana: And so many other animals. Rats. Jesuit Priest: No. Revatīnandana: They make rational decisions. Jesuit Priest: No they don’t. Revatīnandana: Oh? Jesuit Priest: Well, I mean it’s been accepted. … Revatīnandana: Your own psychologists will display that to you. Jesuit Priest: Well, all I can say is it’s been accepted in the teaching of not many western philosophers… Revatīnandana: Not eastern philosophers. Jesuit Priest: But all eastern philosophers… Omnia animalia intellectu carent.(?) (Latin) And now, as Mrs. Christie just said, if you’ve done a bit of study… Prabhupāda: So because, because some animal is not intelligent, you are right to kill? Jesuit Priest: No, no, no. We’re not talking about killing. He, his theme now, that there’s no difference between us and the dog. Prabhupāda: No, no. Yes. Revatīnandana: You’re more intelligent than a dog—to some degree. Prabhupāda: No, if… Jesuit Priest: So in other words, if we are, all of us here… Prabhupāda: Even the animal is not intelligent, you cannot kill. Because your child is also not intelligent, so that does not mean you can kill your child. Jesuit Priest: Oh, but nobody, I’d, nobody’d, nobody’d, master, nobody’d for one second would think about killing a child. Prabhupāda: No, no. That is not a very good reasoning, that because the animal is not intelligent, they may be killed. That is not very good reason. Jesuit Priest: Oh, no, that isn’t the reason. That isn’t the reason why we kill it. We kill the animal because we need it for a means of living. Prabhupāda: No… Jesuit Priest: As food. Prabhupāda: You need it… Just like if you can get nice fruits, grains, milk, why do you need animal? You have to eat. You have to eat and live. Not to kill. Similarly, that if you can get nice foodstuff from food grains, from fruits, from flowers, from vegetables, from milk, why you should kill the animals? Mother: Well, a lot of people now are going over to health foods. Prabhupāda: Eh? Mother: This is thought of by a lot of people. Prabhupāda: Well, lot of people may do anything. Mother: I agree with you. Yes… Prabhupāda: But a reasonable man, a religious man, he should have discrimination, that “If I get my foodstuff from here, why shall I kill a big animal?” Mother: Well, it’s not… I always think it’s not for me to condemn people, whatever they do. All I ask for in life is… I’m not condemning you, but uh… Prabhupāda: No, we are thinking in that way. It is all right that we have to eat some living entity, but a difference… If we can get… Besides that, when you get the grains, it is not actually killing. When you get the fruits, I am getting these fruits from the tree. It is not killing. The fruits are there. I take it. It falls down. I take it. The grains also. It is not killing. Garden Conversation with Mahādeva’s Mother and Jesuit Priest His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda July 25, 1973, London

Finally one of G.W.Bush's closest secretaries quit his job in the White House. PUBLIC AFFAIRS <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="100"></td> <td valign="top" width="10"></td> <td class="auname" valign="top" width="290"> WHAT HAPPENED Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception SCOTT MCCLELLAN</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"></td> <td valign="top"></td> <td valign="top"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> SUMMARY | EXCERPT | AUTHOR TOUR DATES With unprecedented candor, one of George W. Bush's closest aides takes readers behind the scenes of the Bush presidency, and what exactly happened to take it off course Scott McClellan was one of a few Bush loyalists from Texas who became part of his inner circle of trusted advisers, and remained so during one of the most challenging and contentious periods of recent history. Drawn to Bush by his commitment to compassionate conservatism and strong bipartisan leadership, McClellan served the president for more than seven years, and witnessed day-to-day exactly how the presidency veered off course. In this refreshingly clear-eyed book, written with no agenda other than to record his experiences and insights for the benefit of history, McClellan provides unique perspective on what happened and why it happened the way it did, including the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina, Washington's bitter partisanship, and two hotly contested presidential campaigns. He gives readers a candid look into who George W. Bush is and what he believes, and into the personalities, strengths, and liabilities of his top aides. Finally, McClellan looks to the future, exploring the lessons this presidency offers the American people as we prepare to elect a new leader. Scott McClellan served as White House press secretary from 2003 to 2006. before that he served as the principal deputy White House press secretary and as traveling press secretary for the bush-Cheney 2000 campaign. Earlier in his career, Mr. McClellan served as deputy communications director in the Texas governor's office and campaign manager for three successful statewide campaigns. He is now a senior adviser to a global technology firm and communications strategist. Born in Austin, Texas, he now lives near Washington, D.C. <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="400"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="15"></td> <td class="bookbodytext" valign="top">Special retail coop available</td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="15"></td> <td class="bookbodytext" valign="top">National television and radio publicity</td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="15"></td> <td class="bookbodytext" valign="top">Reviews and features</td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="15"></td> <td class="bookbodytext" valign="top">On-line promotion</td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="15"></td> <td class="bookbodytext" valign="top">Author lecture tour</td></tr></tbody></table>

From Subhamoy Das, Your Guide to Hinduism. FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Why Smoking is Sinful Harmful habits like consuming tobacco is considered immoral and sinful in Hinduism. Can religion, in any way, help smokers quit the habit? On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day (May 31), find out what the scriptures say about smoking, and how religion, religious organizations and gurus can help in achieving the WHO dream of a tobacco-free world. Wednesday May 28, 2008 What the scriptures say about smoking "From purity of food follows the purity of the internal organ" ~ Chandogya Upanishad, vii.26.2Harmful habits like consuming tobacco is considered immoral and sinful in Hinduism. It's a proven fact that all tobacco products, when consumed, kill. No religion in the world encourages its followers to indulge in the use of tobacco in any form whatsoever. Can religion help smokers quit the habit? On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, which is celebrated across the world on the 31st of May, it is imperative to find out how religion, religious organizations and gurus can help in achieving the World Health Organization's (WHO) dream of a tobacco-free world. Tobacco & Religion A conference on Tobacco and Religion was held at WHO headquarters, in Geneva, in 1999, where representatives of major religions decided to develop a collaboration between religious organizations and WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative on evidence-based educational programs and investigations of the harmful effects of tobacco on men, women and children. It was also decided to focus future meetings on the ethical and moral aspects of tobacco and tobacco control, and to continue the dialogue and share information with religious organizations at the country level. Swami Amarananda on Smoking Hindus give as much importance to their holy books as to living gurus and saints. Swami Amarananda of the Hindu Centre of Geneva, who represented Hinduism in this meeting urged Hindu religious leaders and associations to come forward to dissuade people from using tobacco. "Tobacco is traditionally seen as a vyasana or an unhealthy dependence. And the goal of spiritual life lies in the cessation of suffering, access to bliss and freedom from the bondage of nature. So a vyasana matches ill with a spiritual life", he said. Swami Sivananda's Views Swami Sivananda of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh says: "The body is a mould prepared by the mind for its activities. There is an intimate connection between the body and the mind. The nature and condition of the body has a vital effect upon the mind and activities. Therefore, the materials or foods that build the body and the mind should be pure, wholesome, nutritious, substantial and bland". Tobacco Didn't Exist in Ancient India The Global Tobacco Control and Law Conference, held in New Delhi in January 2000 revealed new data demonstrating the negative health and economic impact of tobacco use in India and urged for a higher degree of support amongst farmers to shift out of tobacco. Tobacco did not exist in ancient India, but now, according to a survey conducted a few years ago, the sale of bidis or mini hand-rolled cigars can sometimes exceed the country's defence budget. Scriptures on Purity of Food Kalidasa, the greatest of Sanskrit poets said: "The first among all spiritual practices is the care of the body". In Vedanta, the human body, as we see it, is considered the gross body, which food helps to build. Attached to it, is a more powerful subtler body, which is the assimilation of the life force, the nervous system and the organs of cognition. Here's where resides the spirit of pervading power. So the Vedic mantra says, "If food is pure, the mind is in poise. When the mind is in perfect poise, there develops the capacity of retaining subtle truths by the mind". In the Upanishads, the purity of a particular food item has been judged by its effects on the mind. Accordingly, all edibles, including hundreds of leaves have been divided into three categories: exciting, non-exciting, and intermediate. So, we have three kinds of food that a man can eat: Sattwic, Rajasic and Tamasic. These gunas or qualities (Sattwa, Rajas, Tamas), determine a man's taste for a particular ingestible substance. The Gita on the Classification of Food A detailed classification of food can be found in The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter XVII: "That food which increases life, purity, strength, health, joy and cheerfulness, which are savory and oleaginous, substantial and agreeable, are dear to the Sattwic (pure) people. Foods that are bitter, sour, saline, excessively hot, pungent, dry and burning are liked by the Rajasic and result in pain, grief and disease. That, which is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten and impure refuse, is the food liked by the Tamasic. From Sattwa (purity) arises wisdom or knowledge; from Rajas (passion) arises greed; and from Tamas (inertia) arises heedlessness, delusion and ignorance. Bottom Line Above all, one should desist from the pleasure of smoking out of consideration for others, for "doing good to others is an act of merit; harming others is a sinful act". If you believe in this dictum you should abstain from smoking and encourage fellow-smokers to quit this habit. How to Kick the Butt! Successful smoking cessation begins with a plan for quitting. About.com's Quit-Smoking GuideSite will tell you how to prepare to kick the butt in easy steps.

Wonder what they did in New York when their spiritual master, Rabbi Jacob Joseph [RJJ], was rejected. Ok it's a different belief but it would be a comparative study of religion to find out what they did when a physically present spiritual master is not accepted and they even say, what happened in New York was quite tragic..... Failed Experiment: New York's Only Chief Rabbi posted 28 May 2008 "Stevedores at the port of Hoboken were amazed to see some ten thousand bearded Orthodox Jews waiting to greet Rabbi Joseph upon his arrival. Dramin Jones of Congregation Bais HaMidrash HaGadol headed the delegation that had come to greet Rav Joseph. He welcomed him with an offering of bread and salt and then recited the traditional benediction upon seeing a great scholar: "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast imparted of Thy wisdom to those who revere Thee," and added, "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast given us life and sustained us and privileged us to reach this day."" full article

King Bipendra - did he know about the psychology of debt? Well yes, the news media would never mention what realy happened. In 1961 the King of Nepal foolishly signed membership of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development also known as World Bank. They told him in free seminars that he needs to upgrate his country to keep up with modern infrastructure. Thereupon the World Bank sent with free delivery huge containers via Antonov of paper money printed on recycling newspaper in New York and by the end of the year a certificate of indebtedness with a small print mentioning something like accruing interest. Same what one by one happened to all those Asian nations - the Heads of State somewhat didn't figure the level of debt. May be they were allured with false promise - we can never find out. From whom all those rebels like at Bali, Philippines, Malayasia, Sri Lanka etc. etc. are getting the paper money and are put into high tech operation seems a great mystery no one will ever figure out. In early June 2001 King Birendra of Nepal and eight other members of the royal family, including Queen Aiswarya (member of the Rana dynasty), were fatally shot in the royal palace in Kathmandu, allegedly at the hands of Crown Prince Dipendra, who then reportedly attempted suicide. Dipendra initially survived his gunshot wounds in a coma. At least that's what they said on FOXNEWS. His subsequent death officially made his uncle Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah the new regent of Nepal. An official investigation of the massacre confirmed earlier reports that Dipendra had killed his family members in a drunken rage. Dipendra standing in the middle The Maoist insurgency intensified following the massacre, fueled in part by unsubstantiated conspiracy theories surrounding the incident. Prime Minister Koirala, meanwhile, was widely criticized for embarrassing setbacks at the hands of the rebels and for a perceived failure to provide adequate protection for the royal family. His government was also mired in a bribery scandal.

dogs in Hinduism 1 28. May, 2008 by florinorfolk http://florinorfolk.wordpress.com/ It is very interesting reading about the role dogs play in various religions. Here some details about dogs in Hinduism, mainly during the Tihar festival that falls roughly in November every year. A dog after being decorated in Kukur tihar , the “dogs’ Day” in Nepal <dl><dd>During the Nepalese Tihar Festival, on Day Two: On the second day of Tihar, Kukur (Dogs) are adorned with flower garlands, red tika on their forehead, and are offered food, they are the king of the day! On this day, people pray to the Kukur to guard their homes. There are lots of stray Kukur, but on this day, even the most unsightly Kukur will be treated like a king, every dog has a day. Tihar is also about breaking the boundaries only men created, “The Good”, “The Bad”, “The Ugly”! In Hinduism it is believed that Kukur guards the underworld empire.</dd><dd> Shepherd Chature with garland</dd></dl> Dogs have a major religious significance among the Hindu in Nepal and some parts of India. . In Hinduism, it is believed that the dog is a messenger of Yama, the angel of death, and dogs guard the doors of Heaven. Socially, they are believed to the protectors of our homes and lives. So, in order to please the dogs they are going to meet at Heaven’s doors after death, so they would be allowed in Heaven, people mark the 14th day of the lunar cycle in November as Kukur-tihar, as known in Nepali language for the dog’s day. This is a day when the dog is worshipped by applying tika (the holy vermilion dot), incense sticks and garlanded generally with marigold flower. ” A dog plays many roles in our society. We have dogs in our houses as guardian of the house. As the legend also says that there is a dog at yama’s gate guarding the gate to the underworld. The dog is also the steed of the fearful Bhairab, the god of destruction. So on this day a big red tika is put on a dog’s forehead and a beautiful garland around the neck. After worshipping the dog, it is given very delicious meal. This day the saying ‘every dog has his day’ comes true; for even a stray dog is looked upon with respect. We pray to the dog to guard our house as he guards the gate of the underworld and to divert destruction away from our homes. On this day you can see dogs running around with garlands on their neck.” (Festivals of Nepal) So, at least for one day, dogs have a good life in Nepal…

What can be said, it's sad to see that monarchy is globally abolished, it just didn't work in kali-yuga. Now they dump it forever in Nepal. Also see, Nepal’s god-king becomes a common man. Nepal prepares to dump monarchy and declare republic TELEGRAPH By Joe Jackson Last Updated: 4:14PM BST 28/05/2008 Nepal is preparing to abolish its monarchy and declare a republic, with its new Moaist dominated government saying it would give the once revered king 15 days to leave his palace. AP Demonstrators have carried effigys of the king through the streets The Constituent Assembly, elected in April to rewrite Nepal’s constitution, will hold its first meeting today to end the rule of King Gyanendra, the last head of the 239-year-old Shah dynasty – the world’s last Hindu monarchy. “There has been a proposal to give a formal notice to ask the king to vacate Narayanhiti palace within a certain time frame,” spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara said. “He will be asked to leave in between seven to 15 days’ time,” he added, explaining the precise timing of the deadline was still being discussed. The end of King Gyanendra’s rule will be a major victory for the Maoists, who fought a decade-long insurgency that killed more than 13,000 people. More than 10,000 former rebels marched in the capital Kathmandu today carrying hammer and sickle flags and pumping their fists in the air as they shouted “Down with the monarchy!”. Thousands of other people opposed to the unpopular king, who ascended to the throne after a bloody palace massacre in 2001, also poured into the streets around the new assembly building to celebrate his impending departure. “Let’s celebrate the dawn of a republic in a grand manner,” one loudspeaker blared from the top of a taxi, as the crowds chanted slogans including “Thief Gyanendra leave the country.” Security is tight in the capital after a series of bomb blasts, some blamed on pro-royalist groups, over the past few days. No one was killed in the explosions. It has been a dramatic decline for a king once waited upon by thousands of retainers. Many Nepalis revered the monarch in majority-Hindu Nepal as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the god of protection. Now, his portrait has been wiped off bank notes and his name has disappeared from the national anthem. He has even been asked to pay his own electricity bills. King Gyanendra has made few comments on his future plans, other than to say he wanted to remain in Nepal.

50,000 visitors sounds quite awesome. Couple turn their spare bedroom into a Hindu temple - and attract 50,000 visitors DAILYMAIL.CO.UK By Paul Harris Last updated at 6:10 PM on 28th May 2008 Comments (1) Add to My Stories The queue starts half way across the front garden lawn, somewhere between the pot plants and the lilac tree. In through the hallway it snakes, up the stairs to the landing, and then to the little room at the front of the house. People are waiting in the living room, relaxing in the dining room, and drinking tea in the kitchen from a fresh pot that Mrs Sushila Karia and her husband Dhirajlal have just brewed. Everyone talks very quietly and patiently waits their turn. Tourist attraction: Worshippers queue to see the spare bedroom which has been turned into a Hindu temple This is the Hindu temple that Mr and Mrs Karia created in a spare room at their otherwise ordinary home. Not in deepest India, by the way, but in a residential road in the heart of seaside Essex. It has proved so popular that for the last 29 years, the house has attracted worshippers and visitors from all over Britain and across the world - 50,000 of them at the last count, and still arriving by the coachload. On particularly busy days they might wait hours in the queue for the chance to spend ten minutes in private prayer in the 9ft by 6ft spare bedroom, used as a humble study before Mr Karia came up with his brainwave. Welcoming: Sushila and Dhirajlal Karia have allowed 50,000 worshippers into their home Seventeen gods and goddesses central to the Hindu religion are represented in statue form, strategically placed in the room. They were blessed by five priests from India in a 13-day inauguration ceremony that involved carrying the statues to the nearby beach and bathing them in the sea. The blessing is designed to bring the statues alive and make them worthy of prayer. Thus, everything a Hindu pilgrim might want is available here - peace, prayer, friendship and happiness - and of course, Mrs Karia's tea. Since suffering a bout of pneumonia, the 67-year-old part time teacher can no longer cope with preparing food and treats for everyone but guests are welcome to bring their own. The couple created the temple because none was available locally when they moved in the 1970s from North London, where they ran a newsagents. In those days Mr Karia, an electronics engineer from Uganda, and his wife, from India, had to make a 90-mile round trip to the capital to the nearest temple. So instead, they made their own. The original plan was that the couple, their son, daughter, family and friends would worship there. Popular: The shrine has 17 marble statues of gods which were flown over from India Now - three decades later - Britain's most unlikely temple has been visited by Hindus from as far away as Canada and Nepal, as well as by curious tourists from other religions. On Hindi festival days such as Diwali it becomes the central focus for scores of Hindu families, who, like Mr and Mrs Karia, made England their home. 'We couldn't have picked a nicer place to live than England,' Mr Karia, 68, told me yesterday. 'We always ask god to protect the Queen and we say a prayer for the English people because everyone has been so good to us. We've had thousands and thousands of people coming through our door and there has never been any trouble, never been any complaints. Our neighbours are so tolerant. They're lovely people - a godsend.' All visitors are requested to respect the tranquility of the neighbourhood by talking only quietly, and queuing in an orderly fashion. This is England, after all. Unlikely attraction: The house in Essex has attracted 50,000 worshippers If there was any undue disturbance on the day of the inauguration - when 800 people turned up and police were drafted in for crowd control duty - it seems to have been lost in the passage of time. One neighbour said the Karias were 'charming people' and that the temple had 'never been a problem'. These days, a maximum of only 100 visitors at a time is considered practical. On Tuesday a coachload of 78 women turned up from London, some carrying shopping bags or wheeling suitcases. Sometimes it's a couple arriving for a wedding blessing. Yesterday a party arrived unexpectedly, including a pilgrim from Wapping. 'When the weather's nice, people come to the seaside with their families, go to the beach, visit the funfair... and come to the temple. It's different in the snow and rain of course. We don't mind who comes or from what background. We believe that we are all part of each other, part of nature, and we treat everybody the same.' Devoted: Coachloads of worshippers visit the detached home in the Essex seaside town Visitors tend to spend only a short time in the temple itself, sometimes alone, sometimes with a couple of fellow worshippers. In such a small space, four people is about capacity anyway. They kneel or sit on a patterned oatmeal carpet in the burgundy-coloured room, facing the statue-gods and flanked by ceremonial candles. Although the prayers are private, Mr Karia assumes that most people would wish for health and happiness for their families 'and perhaps for a good job'. Despite unspoken pressure from the queuing multitudes behind, a period of meditation is seldom discouraged. So why might someone travel from Manchester, Leicester or India to worship in Coan Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea? 'I never ask people why they come but sometimes they tell me they like it because it is peaceful, more personal. One person told me that here, they make wishes, and the wishes come true. If that is the case, I am delighted.' Now the couple are trying to raise funds to start a community centre and temple elsewhere locally so the spirit of what they began three decades ago can live on. Mr Karia said: 'We are not young any more. We might not be here for long, and the temple would not continue here without us. It would be good if we could leave something behind.'

Yes, let's be fair and honest. There're many devotees who say that present ISKCON is being turned into a new movement with new owners. In that sense you're right, give credit where credit is due. The take-over succeeded. Cambridge University International School In Mayapur <embed src=" " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425">

Surely all true, but not so sure if this makes people to think of Krsna.

Could be that they are gradually finding out that it is the potency of Prabhupada who attracts new devotees and by behaving like priest, "on behalf", Prabhupada's presence is coming through more efficiently. September 22, 1969 London My Dear Bhagavan das, Actually, in every town and city there are many, many devotees of Krishna; now it is our business to go around the world wherever people are congregating and pick up these sincere souls. The world is suffering for want of this knowledge of Krishna Consciousness, and we experience practically that many people will take to this spiritual line simply if we make this information available to them.

All this space stuff seems to be really expensive. A recent broadcast about iss - international space station - made clear that this project is so expensive that only the community of states can pay for this.

Interesting point - an advanced devotee is not doing anything, everything is done by Krsna. Harikesa: So bringing it to a practical platform…......... Prabhupada: Practical means it will be done by Krishna. Your only business is to surrender to Krishna. You cannot do anything. And as soon as you think that “I shall be able to do it,” then you are a rascal. Immediately you are rascal. Harikesa: So only a fully surrendered soul can do everything perfectly. Prabhupada: Hm? Harikesa: A fully surrendered soul is the only one who can do things perfectly. Prabhupada: He cannot do anything, even in his… Everything is to be done by Krishna. But he has to apply his intelligence by Krishna consciousness. Even if he is intelligent, he cannot do anything. Harikesa: Except surrender. Prabhupada: Yes. He can surrender, and Kṛṣṇa will do everything. You have to act very sincerely under the direction of Krishna, and then the war will be successful, as Arjuna did. Harikesa: So imperfect activity is a sign of lack of surrender. Devotional Art: http://www.romapadaswami.com/?q=node/2303 Prabhupada: Yes…avasya raksibe Krishna. Raksisyati iti visvasa-palanam. You work sincerely, devoutly, and have faith that “Krishna will save me from all dangers.” Raksisyati iti visvasa-palanam. “I have surrendered to Krishna sincerely. Now Krishna will give me all protection.” This faith, that is the beginning of devotional life. Faith. Harikesa: So this faith, is this sraddha or nistha? Prabhupada: Sraddha. Beginning, sraddha. Then, when he is advanced, then he becomes fixed up. “Yes, Krishna is protecting me.” Morning Walk Conversation with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda December 3, 1975, Vrndavana

Now, this is mysterious, how can there be no rain in Spain? After all, the Spanish originate from all those nations of the ancient world like Marokko, Lybya, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Greece, Algeria, Jordan, Israel, United Arabs Emirate which are today 100% all deserts. But how can it happen that Spain is also turning into desert? This is a great mystery. Spain's drought a glimpse of our future? The Independent (London), May 24, 2008 Saturday - Barcelona is a dry city. It is dry in a way that two days of showers can do nothing to alleviate. The Catalan capital's weather can change from one day to the next, but its climate, like that of the whole Mediterranean region, is inexorably warming up and drying out. And in the process this most modern of cities is living through a crisis that offers a disturbing glimpse of metropolitan futures everywhere. Its fountains and beach showers are dry, its ornamental lakes and private swimming pools drained and hosepipes banned. Children are now being taught how to save water as part of their school day. This iconic, avant-garde city is in the grip of the worst drought since records began and is bringing the climate crisis that has blighted cities in Australia and throughout the Third World to Europe. A resource that most Europeans have grown up taking for granted now dominates conversation. Nearly half of Catalans say water is the region's main problem, more worrying than terrorism, economic slowdown or even the populists' favourite - immigration. The political battles now breaking out here could be a foretaste of the water wars that scientists and policymakers have warned us will be commonplace in the coming decades. The emergency water-saving measures Barcelona adopted after winter rains failed for a second year running have not been enough. The city has had to set up a "water bridge" and is shipping in water for the first time in the history of this great maritime city. A tanker from Marseilles with 36 million litres of drinking water unloaded its first cargo this week, one of a mini-fleet contracted to bring water from the Rhone every few days for at least the next three months. So humbled was Barcelona when prolonged drought forced it to ship in domestic water from Tarragona, 50 miles south along the Catalan coast, 12 days ago, that city hall almost delayed shipment and considered an upbeat publicity campaign to lift morale and international prestige. The whole country is suffering from its worst drought in 40 years and the shipments from Tarragona prompted an outcry from regions who insist they need it more. For now the clashes are being soothed by intervention from Madrid, and plans to ship water from desalination plants in parched Almeria in Andalusia are shelved until October. But there is little indication of a strategy to deal not just with an immediate emergency but an ongoing crisis. Buying water on an epic scale from France has given the controversy an international aspect as French environmentalists question whether such a scarce natural resource should be sold as a commodity to another country. "It would be a mistake to consider this water bridge between Marseilles and Catalonia as simply an operation of solidarity," said a group of ecologists calling themselves Robin des Bois (Robin Hood). They said the commercial deal struck between private contractors failed to consider the environmental impact on France. The organisation blamed Barcelona's water shortage on "wasted resources and ... lack of foresight by Catalan and Spanish authorities". What Barcelona authorities are fast discovering is that chronic water shortages are not a problem that money alone can solve. Its 5.5 million inhabitants need a lot of the stuff: the 20 million litres/20,000 tonnes/five million gallons of water brought from Tarragona on 13 May were enough for barely 180,000 people and were consumed within minutes of being channelled through the city's taps. Wednesday's shipment from Marseilles was bigger, 36 million litres, but similarly short lived. Barcelona has churned up a whirlpool of controversy over its handling of the water crisis, causing just the spray of negative publicity it hoped to avoid. Even the arrival of rain has only made things worse. Catalonia's regional environment minister, Francesc Baltasar, rushed to announce last week that the hosepipe ban and swimming pool restrictions imposed in February would be lifted. Tarragona - whose wells supply shipped-in water - protested furiously. "Barcelona fills its swimming pools with water from Tarragona," local headlines screamed, and the water authority demanded a halt to pumping Tarragona's water for the Catalan capital. Jose Montilla, Catalonia's regional prime minister, countermanded Mr Baltasar and insisted water-saving measures remain. "Obviously it makes little sense to lift certain measures when, if it stops raining, we'll have to re-impose them in three weeks' time," he said. But Tarragona re-opened the tap only after Mr Montilla visited, and insisted that "this effort of solidarity will supply only our basic needs". Barcelona's daily El Periodico called Mr Baltasar's proposal to end unpopular water-saving measures "irresponsible and demagogic", increasing resentments in regions supplying water to Barcelona. The shipments themselves came under fire. Importing water gives the city a "lamentable, depressing image" and spreads "alarmism", Miguel Angel Fraile, secretary of the Catalan Trade Confederation, said. With reservoirs now filled to 30 per cent, authorities should scrap the plan and ship in water only as a last resort, he said. But reservoirs remain two-thirds empty, half the national average and far lower than usual for May. These are dangerously low in anticipation of another dry summer, raising the ghastly prospect of water rationing - painful for residents and offputting for summer visitors. Extreme short-term measures might have been averted had Barcelona mended leaky old pipes and filtered polluted aquifers, critics grumble. But Barcelona is among Europe's most careful water users, better than Madrid, Milan or Paris, La Vanguardia newspaper argues. Residents adapt their loos to flush less, shower rather than bath and brush their teeth without the tap running, but such individual measures are swamped by industrial usage, and waste in the infrastructure. La Vanguardia urges an immediate public works programme to improve the creaking system. "People are much more aware of the need to save water," says Bridget King, a South African who settled in Barcelona 20 years ago to teach English. "We put a bucket under the shower to catch water before it heats up, and have stopped buying petunias that need a lot of watering. It's a constant topic of conversation and we worry it's a long-term thing. But as a South African I'm appalled to see people wash dishes under the running tap. I was brought up to be very careful with water. And although we feel relieved it's started raining, everyone knows it's only short term and probably not enough." Recent rains have sharpened conflicts, offering a foretaste of water wars to come. Aragon straddles the mighty Ebro river but is a parched desert, cultivable only by sophisticated irrigation systems managed by an Association of Irrigators. This ancient brotherhood agreed to sell the surplus from its irrigation quota, which usually flows back into the Ebro, to Barcelona as a short-term emergency measure. If rains lift reservoirs from their emergency levels, Aragon warns it will halt supplies. But Mr Montilla tweaked Catalona's definition of "emergency" so it didn't rely solely on reservoir levels. Then Spain's Deputy Prime Minister, Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, ordered Aragon to keep the water flowing "because conditions aren't sufficient to guarantee Barcelona's water supplies". Water is now Catalans' principle worry: 43 per cent considered shortage the country's main problem. Authorities promise the crisis will ease when a huge desalination plant comes on stream next year. But they say little about how to tackle the long-term problem of water shortage afflicting the whole Mediterranean region. Catalan winemakers recognise that the change is permanent; some are planting new vineyards further north as traditional terrain becomes hotter and dryer. Other entrepreneurs, including swimming pool manufacturers, have less room for manoeuvre. "The authorities are criminalising us," complained Josep Sadurni, of Catalonia's association of swimming pool manufacturers, which predicts losses of up to Euro 200m (£160m) this year. "Who'll buy a pool if they can't fill it?" Mr Sadurni asked. A striking image of the seriousness of the drought is provided by the emergence of a church from the waters of a drying reservoir. For 40 years, all you could see of the drowned village of Sant Roma was the belltower of its stone church, which peeped from time to time above the surface of the artificial lake in a valley flooded in the 1960s to supply Catalonia with water. This year falling water levels have revealed the 11th-century church in its entirety for the first time, attracting curious onlookers who walk round it on the reservoir's dusty bed. Spain's Socialist government recognises that climate change will intensify water shortages, and favours desalination plants. One such plant, among the biggest in Europe - and 75 per cent EU funded - is being built on the outskirts of Barcelona and will supply 20 per cent of the city's water. But it will not be ready until next year. "It was already very important when it was planned, but now with the urgent drought, it has become indispensable," said Tomas Azurra, the chief engineer at the plant. Ecologists warn that desalination plants are costly in energy use, and damage the environment with high CO2 emissions. But developed European regions can afford them, and they're preferable to diverting water from rivers, which critics say is even more damaging. More than 70 per cent of Spain's water goes on agriculture, much of it wasted on antiquated irrigation systems and the cultivation of thirsty crops unsuitable for arid lands. But few politicians seek confrontation with farmers already struggling to scratch a living. High-density tourist resorts sprinkled with swimming pools, patio showers and golf courses along Spain's desertified southern coast, especially in Murcia where it rarely rains, are also unsustainable, ecologists say. Spain needs to capture more rainwater, says Stephanie Blencker of the Stockholm International Water Institute, as climate change will produce alternating extremes of drought and heavy rain. "Rain is the biggest resource we have, and we can make it available all year round if we have sensible storage opportunities," she said. Since the 1992 Olympics, Barcelona has enjoyed the reputation of being both cutting edge and user friendly. But now, as climate change overwhelms a crumbling infrastructure, proud, autonomous Catalonia has to seek help from outside. May 24, 2008