SourceLONDON, UK, August 17, 2003: Research begun in London in 1958 has just been published in the current edition of the Journal of Consciousness Studies. It is the most thorough scientific study ever made into the subject of astrology, asserts this article. The research faults astrology’s central claim — that human characteristics are moulded by the influence of the Sun,…
SourceUSA, August 21, 2003: America’s Second Harvest, a charity aimed at alleviating hunger, would like to post an article on the Hindu perspective on hunger. They would like people to be able to contact Hindu organizations that are involved with aleviating hunger. If you can assist, please e-mail Swami Saradananda at “source” above. America’s Second Harvest is a network of…
SourceBRAZIL, August 15, 2003: India and Brazil may have more in common than the story of the historical error made by Portuguese explorer Pedros Alvares Cabral, who sailed from Lisbon in 1500 for India but landed in Brazil. Now the two countries, on board the IBSA tri-lateral initiative, may discover a “Shri Ram” connection in their ties. The Amazon rain…
SourceNASIK, INDIA, August 11, 2003: From flyovers (that’s a road overpass in India) to water supply schemes, who would have thought the Maha Kumbh would give a US$93 million boost to Nashik’s economy? After all, many Kumbh Melas have come and gone but none quite brought a change in the city’s fortunes. But this year’s Maha Kumbh is different. With…
SourcePORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS, August 14, 2003: After winning independence from Britain in 1968, the government of this island off the coast of Madagascar, decided to embrace the global economy, creating an export zone with low taxes and relaxed labor laws. Clothing companies set up textile factories on the island, turning Mauritius into a powerhouse. Median household income nearly doubled in…
SourceKAMPALA, UGANDA, August 17, 2003: Thirty-one years ago, Idi Amin started a campaign to remove Asians from this country. He expropriated their homes and businesses. As they trooped to the airport and highways, his soldiers robbed them along the way. Now, with Mr. Amin’s reign of terror long over, there are strong signs of an Asian revival here. Many of…
SourceCOLOMBO, SRI LANKA, August 11, 2003: The Balarajah family from London had an unusual summer holiday this year — three days in a former war zone in northern Sri Lanka. “After so many years we are going back and it’s going to be a surprise for us. I hope it’s not going to be a shock,” says 53-year-old Athithapillai Balarajah,…
SourceKOLKATA, INDIA, August 15, 2003: The imposing Shri Radha Krishna Temple in the heart of upscale Ballygunje has emerged as the prime spiritual destination for the people of the city. The grandiose structure — a classic blend of temple architecture of Orissa and South India — attracts more than 2.5 million devotees a year. Spread over 22,000 sq ft, the…
News ReportsTAMIL NADU, INDIA, August 10, 2003: When those devotees fortunate enough to pilgrimage to Kailash and Manasarovar returned home, they shared their testamonies of the experience at the Siva Temple in Erode. About 1,000 devotees gathered for a special abhishekam (Deity worship) and homan (fire worship) followed by the guest pilgrim speakers. Eighty people from Tamil Nadu, who had…
SourceCOLOMBO, SRI LANKA, August 13, 2003: Buddhist organizations in Sri Lanka have welcomed a Supreme Court decision to prevent proselytizing or religious conversions and to deny legal status to two Christian organizations. A three-judge bench held in two judgements that while the Sri Lankan constitution upheld a citizen’s right to worship and practice his or her religion, it did not…