Petition to save the tiger

The tiger is the largest, most magnificent and exquisitely beautiful big cat in the world. Apart from being the national animal of India, it is also a crucial barometer of the country's ecological health. The tiger is under threat everywhere in India, due to poaching and habitat loss.

Half the world's surviving tigers are in India. In 2002 there were 3700 tigers in the country.However, the latest tiger census figures show that the Indian tiger count is only 1,411. This is truly alarming. Apart from the two well-managed tiger reserves in Corbett Park and Bandipur, the tiger is vanishing.

Kill the tiger and we as a nation of one billion people face the very real threat of famine, drought, because our tiger sanctuaries are also home to our rivers and forests. Remove the tiger from these protected areas and these sanctuaries (and our rivers and forests) will die.

Please sign this online to save the Indian tiger. It will take only a minute of your time. If you are interested, you can do a lot more. But this is the first simple step in saving our environment and ultimately, ourselves. Please send the link below to your friends as well.

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/savetiger/sthome.aspx

New Bangalore airport exposes India's infrastructure challenge

In southern India the much-awaited Bangalore international airport is almost ready, but getting there could prove a nightmare for travellers facing more chaos on clogged roads.

The 630-million-dollar facility is 95 percent complete, and will open for flights as scheduled on March 30, Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) chief executive officer Albert Brunner said.

Brunner has met his deadline to complete the airport, located 36 kilometres (22.5 miles) north of the choked city centre, in three years.

That feat alone is remarkable in a country where such large infrastructure projects routinely run into major delays.

But the government has not delivered on promises to widen access roads or build a dedicated rail link to and from the city -- meaning the commute could take much longer than a short-haul flight.

The railway is still only a proposal on paper, while a four-kilometre road from the nearest highway to the airport is still to be completed. The airport itself has taken over construction of the link in a bid to open it on time.

"It's a pity the government didn't do anything about connectivity to the airport," lamented Marcel Hungerbuehler, chief operations officer at BIAL, a consortium that includes Unique Zurich Airport, Siemens of Germany and Larsen and Toubro of India.

The Bangalore project well illustrates the problems India faces in fixing its creaky infrastructure to match an economy expanding at an annual rate of nine percent.

Growing personal incomes have fuelled a surge in air traffic and car sales, straining aviation and road infrastructure in a country that needs to invest tens of billions of dollars in public works.

Domestic air traffic is forecast to double to 60 million passengers by 2010 from last year, while car sales are projected to reach two million units from 1.4 million in the same period.

"BIAL has done its job," said Kapil Kaul, the India head of the Centre for Asia-Pacific Civil Aviation.

"The other stakeholders, mainly the state government, have almost totally ignored their responsibility of providing logistics.

"I find it shocking that an airport is ready, but there may be no way of getting there."

From Electronic City in south Bangalore -- the hub of India's information technology industry -- it could take a four-hour drive to reach the airport when it opens.

Flying time to the nearby southern city of Chennai is just 40 minutes.

"It will be a nightmare driving to the airport," said N. Reghuraj, the head of the local chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry, who flies out of Bangalore's old airport twice a week.

"The passengers are not happy, the cargo guys are not happy."

India's traffic problem is particularly acute in Bangalore, and seemingly set to worsen. The city of six million people adds 1,000 vehicles to the roads a day and traffic crawls at an average speed of 13 kilometres an hour.

Read more.

Help your paint cans to drain

It's an age-old PITB (Pain in the Buttocks); cleanly pouring paint out of a gallon can. Especially the first slurp. The bad news is thats no perfect way to eliminate this little DIY annoyance. The good news is that you can make it a bit cleaner.

One solution is to use one of those plastic spout-looking things that snap onto the rim of the can. But if you've ever had one of those things let go in mid-pour, you've probably never given it a chance to kiss and make up.

Here's an easier method – after you initially open the can, take a hammer and a nail (a 16d works great) and poke about sixteen holes inside the can's rim. They should be about 3/16" apart centered between the points where the can's handle intersect the can.

When you finish pouring the paint (over the side with the holes), straighten the can quickly to minimize the spill over the side. The paint in the rim will drain back into the can through the holes. You can hasten the process with your paint brush. Now you can quickly get the lid back on and get to work!

(via DIY Life)

Lighting a room with color

Light and color are very closely related: we wouldn't see color without light, and yet light is composed of color. Breaking down the visible spectrum reveals the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Colored light is found naturally when sunlight passes through the many layers of the atmosphere and becomes scattered. There is a beauty and attraction in colored light that cannot be found in pigment or dyes.

Colored light has a celestial quality, as it seems pure, luminous and radiant. As lighting designers, we can harness this power of color. Using color in light, we can direct the viewer's attention and we can enhance an element of a building, room, or object. Mood can be suggested and changed through light, and can enhance or destroy the visual appeal of a space.

Not sure when to use color? Lighting designer Leni Schwendinger of New York City–based Light Projects has created a check list for evaluating potential design opportunities when it comes to employing colored light. The list includes reinforcing identity, enhancing an architectural element, or creating an artistic interpretation.

For Schwendinger, a successful lighting design strengthens the existing color, texture, or shape of the object and/or surface. This approach, she feels, renders the object as “more of what it already is.” However designers choose to use color and light, and in making the decision to employ this element, architects and lighting designers need to ensure that their design and method support the project objectives. Implementing color into a lighting design requires a responsible hand, and, as most lighting designers would agree, should not be introduced just for the sake of color itself.

A CASE IN POINT

Completed in November 2006, one project that explores the use and role of colored lighting as an integral part of the design approach is the Adopt A Room program at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview, in Minneapolis. It is a pilot program focused on creating comfortable surroundings for severely ill children and their families, whereby private and corporate donors can adopt and sponsor the renovation of hospital rooms.

A typical pediatric hospital room environment was evaluated by children and their families, as well as by nurses and doctors, and these participants conceptualized design ideas for the ultimate dream room. Qualities www.archlighting.com deemed most important were a sense of comfort, control of the room, and a connection to the outside world.

In a charrette held by the architectural and interior design teams of Perkins+Will's Minneapolis office, the designers behind the project, a group of children who had been patients were asked how they envisioned light in their dream room. Responses included lava lamps, a sky on the ceiling, and the ability to paint the room with color.

Taking these ideas into consideration, lighting designer Greg Lecker of Minneapolis–based lighting firm LightSpaces, a division of Michaud Cooley Erickson Consulting Engineers, and his team set out to design a space that met the desires of the children while simultaneously addressing the needs of medical professionals.

Read more.

How to tape your room for painting

Before painting any room, you want to ensure that the paint only lands on the wall surfaces you intend to paint. See how to tape room walls and other objects to reduce unwanted splatter.

Why rent when you can buy?

With rents in Mumbai shooting through the roof, more and more people now prefer to buy houses in the distant suburbs rather than seek accommodation on lease. Ameya Bhise finds out how spiralling rents are driving a changing real-estate trend.

Two years ago, 27-year-old Ajay Gupta, an IT professional, came to Mumbai from Uttar Pradesh. With no base in Mumbai, he started looking for a house he could rent. But the steep rents came as a shock to him.

A few basic calculations were all it took for Gupta to change his plans. He realised that buying a house funded by a bank loan would cost him just as much as renting one. “I could buy a flat in a developing locality instead of renting one in a developed one,” says Gupta.

He zeroed in on an under-construction building in Malad. “I chose Malad since it has everything from malls to IT parks. I knew the area would develop," says Gupta.

He took a loan for 40 per cent of the capital value of the flat at 15 per cent interest on the reducing balance method. With this, he clubbed his savings to buy a 580 sq ft 1-BHK flat for Rs 11 lakh. “I stayed with my relatives for a year, while the building was under constructon. That way, I also managed to save some money,” says Gupta.

Today, Gupta pays an equated monthly instalment (EMI) of Rs 5,400, which is far less than the rent in Malad. Besides, he is the proud owner of a house that is worth almost Rs 30 lakh, going by current property prices. “I made a smart decision,” he says. “Had I opted to live on rent, I would have been paying through my nose.”

An increasing number of Mumbaikars are employing Gupta's strategy. With rents skyrocketing, they see buying property in the suburbs as a more viable proposition than living as tenants in someone else’s house.

In places like Malad, Borivali and Mira Road, leasing a house for a year (including broker's commission, security deposit, rent and other miscellaneous charges) works out to nearly as much as buying one with a bank loan.

Read more.

The world's most expensive office markets

London’s West End, Mumbai, the City of London and Moscow are the top four most expensive office markets in the world, according to CB Richard Ellis Research’s semi-annual Global Market Rents survey. The report tracks the world’s most expensive markets as well as markets with the fastest growing rents over the past 12 months.

The top ten most expensive markets list is unchanged over the last six months; however, several cities’ rankings have changed. Mumbai’s Nariman Point, at $189.51 (occupation cost in US$/sq. ft./annum used throughout this release), rose three places to second. At $180.78, Moscow joined the top five, jumping two spots to fourth overall. Tokyo’s Inner Central Five Wards and Outer Central Five Wards fell to fifth and sixth, respectively. Midtown Manhattan is the priciest market in North America, at $100.79, and ranks #12 worldwide.

Singapore led the list of markets with the fastest growing office rents, with occupancy costs increasing 83% during the past year. North America accounted for more than one-third of the top 50 markets with fastest growing rents, including two in the top 10: suburban Los Angeles, with year-over-year rent growth of 45%; and Edmonton, Canada, with 43% rent growth over the last 12 months.

In Europe, the rents grew fastest in Moscow, with a 65% increase, and Oslo, with a 49% increase.

Of the 171 office markets monitored, 85% saw rents rise in the 12 months ended September 30, 2007.

Asia Pacific

Singapore jumped from 24th to 11th most expensive globally, as rents rose to $102.37 over the last 12 months. Occupation costs in Tokyo’s Inner Central Five Wards rose to $178.61, while the Outer Central Five Wards increased to $154.56. Brisbane, Australia joined the top 50 most expensive, coming in at number 47. In terms of rent growth, Mumbai’s Nariman Point posted an increase of 55%.

Europe

At $328.91, London’s West End once again was the world’s most expensive office market. Occupation costs in that market are 82% higher than the City of London, where occupation costs rose to $180.80, the world’s third most expensive. Also notable in the region was Warsaw, where rents jumped 47% in the last year.

Americas

Five North American cities are among the world’s Top 50 most expensive office markets: Midtown Manhattan (12th); Calgary Central Business District (CBD) (34th); Toronto CBD (35th); and newcomers suburban Los Angeles (36th) and Downtown Manhattan (46th). Rio de Janeiro rose to $65.35 (33rd), while São Paulo inched up two spots to 40th at $59.25.

(via C B Richard Ellis.)

An amazing library built around stairs

(via Home Rejuvenation)

What are the favourite colors of women?

Colors that are traditionally considered feminine colors or that appeal most strongly to or are more closely associated with women can be good choices for marketing messages, Web sites, and interior designs targeting women. Color studies done over the years indicate that the favorite colors of women and men do differ. Some of these differences in favorite colors may be attributed to cultural use of color and conditioning.

There are no hard and fast rules about what colors are feminine or masculine or gender-neutral. Because colors come in many tints and shades, someone may love a light powder blue but strongly dislike a deep navy blue so a preference for the color blue doesn't mean that every shade of blue is universally appropriate. However, some generalizations are possible based on various color studies.

Blue

Blue is a favorite color of both men and women of all ages. While men have a stronger preference for blue than women, it's still a top choice. It may be the calming effect of the color blue that makes it a popular color for both men and women.

Green

Mother Nature is green and she's a female. A favored color of both men and women, the color green is cool, restful, and signifies growth, renewal, health, and environment.

Turquoise

According to a 1964 Color and Gender study, women favored blue-green (aka turquoise) more than men. This same study found that "76% of women preferred cool colors." and turquoise is a mix of the two cool colors of blue and green.

Purple

Purple stands out as a feminine color because it is chosen almost exclusively by women as a favorite color and is strongly disliked by men. Traditionally associated with royalty,the color purple is also spirtual, romantic, and mysterious.

Pink

Most people still think of pink as a feminine, delicate color, the color for little girls. Does that mean women prefer pink? Not necessarily.The color pink and women is likely more of a cultural association than a strong preference. However, this cultural association could mean that pink is not the ideal color for targeting men.

Lavender

A more grown-up and cooler version of the pink of baby girls and the lighter side of purple, the color lavender is associated with genteel ladies and can evoke feelings of nostalgia or romance for women. A 1990 study found that between bright and soft colors, women prefer soft colors which could include soft shades of pink, lavender, and other pastels

(via About.com)

India among top three global realty markets

India's booming realty sector has attracted foreign investors and figures in the top three property markets, offering the best opportunity for capital appreciation after the US and China.

In the league of the most preferred property market among foreign investors globally, US has retained its top position, while China was ranked second followed by India, a survey conducted by the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE) said.

China moved to the second place, garnering 21.4 per cent votes and displacing India in the process, which was preferred only by 16.7 per cent of the respondents favouring the country as the most fancied place for real estate investment.

In 2006, China got 14.6 per cent votes while India had 18 per cent and was ranked in the second position.

One of the significant findings that cannot be overlooked is the jump in investors confidence in China. For the second time in three years, China has been voted as the country offering the second best chance for capital appreciation after the US, AFIRE Chief Executive James A Fetgatter said.

Interestingly, the United States, whose economy continues to be bogged down by the subprime crisis and faces the threat of a recession, still managed to retain the the 'most preferred destination' tag for real estate investment.

The annual survey respondents included nearly 200 members of the association and was conducted in the fourth quarter of 2007, after the credit crunch and sub-prime mortgage crisis.

Among those surveyed, 26.2 per cent said America offered the best opportunity for capital appreciation in the real estate sector as compared to 23 per cent recorded in 2006.

(via The Hindu)

DNA 11 is a service that creates an abstract and original piece of artwork from a simple sample of your DNA. Each piece of DNA’s art is unique, as it illustrates your very own DNA make up. Using science and art cleverly combined, DNA11 collect a saliva sample from each client which is then delivered to their certified lab. Here your DNA is extracted, creating a unique fingerprint. After that you’ll just have to choose the size of canvas and the colour combination you wish to use, and create your own DNA Portrait. And remember, if you’ll become famous be sure that a piece of art work with your DNA will worth millions. They do the same with fingerprints.

Women are rocking the real estate world

Real estate and transport were considered two areas where women had no place or role to play. Both these professions were thought of as the untouchable bastions of the male. Many gutsy women, however, have now started making their presence felt in the real estate world.They have made a quiet entry into this field, slowly, but with a lot of promise.

Kajol Makhijani is a very respected name in the rental market of South Delhi. She only deals in accommodations for executives of MNCs and diplomats. "I never thought I would work as a real estate agent till I got married and came to Delhi. Not many people will believe that before my marriage, I was a journalist in Ranchi, working for an English newspaper. As I came here after marriage,I saw my husband's flourishing real estate business. And, I started by helping him in collecting the data of flats and floors available for rentals purpose," says Kajol.

Even though Uma Aggarwal wants to join the real estate world, after a course as an architect from the School of Planning and Architect, Delhi, there was no real plan to start her own real estate firm. So, how did she get down to it? Sitting in her plush Rajdhani Enclave office in East Delhi, Uma says her husband Bharat Aggarwal was a civil engineer. He was doing some construction work here, and she was supporting him,when,all of a sudden,he passed away.Her two sons were not even five years old at the time.

"I did not know what would happen to my kids and me. Then, one day, my father-inlaw asked me to take over my husband's business. Since then we have built over 50 commercial and residential buildings in Delhi and NCR region. Many ambitious projects are in the pipeline," she narrates proudly.

Those who know the world of real estate closely can tell you that this is a very rugged world. Only those with a heart of steel can survive. Gender is not the issue. Kajol says that as an exjournalist , she misses the charm of bylines,sometimes,and then she realizes that now real estate is her calling.

Nutan Kapoor is another lady into real estate business in East Delhi.Says Nutan: " As my husband is a small-time businessman, I though of doing something worthwhile five years ago. After a discussion with my husband, I stated this job out of my home.My active role as a social worker in my area has really helped me in getting established," Nutan says,who now has two employees.

"I feel that my first job is to provide the best of products to our customers.That is my motto in life," says Uma She looks after the designs of all the projects,apart from attending auctions of land by government agencies.

(via Economic Times.)

Mumbai ahead of Paris and New York in office rentals

Mumbai has emerged as the fourth most expensive office location in the world, displacing Paris, Moscow, Singapore, Dubai and even New York. India’s financial capital was quoting a rental of Rs 440 a sq ft in 2007.

According to “Office Space Across the World” —a global report by real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield —Mumbai’s Central Business District (CBD), Nariman Point moved up from 5th position in 2006 to 4th this year. Nariman Point witnessed annual rental growth of 60%, the report said.

The Indian financial markets have been doing exceedingly well over the last few years, and this has lead to the entry of a multitude of foreign investment banks and institutional fund houses. These have typically gravitated to Mumbai, leading to a surge in demand while lack of vacant stock at required locations or new supply continues to plague the market. This has lead to a phenomenal increase in rentals similar to what was witnessed in the early 1990s. C&W’s joint MD (India) Sanjay Dutt, said, “Most micro markets in Mumbai saw an upward trend in rental values largely due to very low vacancy and lack of new supply in these micro markets as projects were delayed. The city saw only approximately 0.45 million square feet of supply in 2007 with it largely being non-IT and essentially absorbed by the banking & financial Institutes, media & insurance.” He added that the growth of Indian economy that led to corporate expansion has also impacted the market. Similarly in Gurgaon, where prime supply has been essentially pre-committed, has also seen a rise rental. “However, high rental values witnessed across the country would not be sustainable beyond 12 months given the significant IT supply planned to enter the market in during 2008” he said. Within Asia Pacific region, India captured three of the top 10 most expensive locations with Mumbai -Nariman Point and Central Mumbai - Worli (Rs 40/ sq ft) on 3rd and 4th position respectively and New Delhi’s Connaught Place (Rs 330 sq ft) at 6th position. The significant rental growth witnessed in India has also placed eight India micro markets in the top ten locations in terms of rental growth, the report said. The highest growth was achieved by Kolkata’s Rashbehari Connector with an increase of 86% followed by Mumbai’s Suburban micro market Powai at 83%. In Mumbai, suburban location such Andheri, Malad and Mumbai – CBD recorded 71% 64% and 60% respectively. Gurgaon in NCR witnessed the highest appreciation in the region at 47% while New Delhi – CBD recording 46%. In the Southern cities, Hyderabad’s CBD (Begumpet/Raj Bhavan Road), emerged as the biggest rental riser with 44%. While other markets within cities like Pune (CBD), Chennai (CBD) and Bangalore (ORR) witnessed increase of 27%, 24% and 26% respectively. (via Economic Times.)

Feng Shui for family harmony

To have a family that is loving and supportive at all times is a blessing. To have a healthy, beautiful and happy environment in which to live with your family is to be blessed twice.

To bring more harmony into your family life, consider implementing some basic feng shui cures that are guaranteed to shift the energy in your home, balance and harmonize it.

• For example, a fountain in the East area of your home will bring benevolent Chi to your family. Be mindful about keeping the water clean at all times.



• Have many happy images of your family throughout the house, especially in the kitchen, living room and the East area of your House.
  
  
• Be mindful about keeping your bedroom, as well as the bedroom of your children in the best possible condition.



• Balance your environment according to the five elements, taking into consideration the element of each family member.



• Lower the level of electromagnetic fields in your home, limit the use of harsh and dangerous chemicals. Opt for having a healthy home.

A harmonious home is a place that can accommodate a variety of activities and a variety of people without losing its healing essence; and creating a place with such power takes time. The beauty, though, of this creation process is that the more love you put into it, the more love you receive back.

Do not delay and start loving your home now, no matter how it looks at the moment. It just needs your help to uncover its healing potential.

(via About.com)

SEZ policy: Is it flawed?

Way back in April 2000, India announced the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) scheme to overcome the shortcomings posed by clearances and taxes and foster economic growth of the impoverished regions. But the SEZ scheme hit a roadblock, getting entangled in one controversy or the other. The policy attracted more criticism than was expected. Human rights groups were up in arms, Nandigram and Singur burned and the repercussions were felt even in Kolkatta. SEZ’s were supposed to offer high-class infrastructure and reduce import duties on raw materials.

But how could a concept borrowed from our brothers in the neighbourhood go so horribly wrong? The concept of SEZ had been hugely successful in China and was one of the driving forces behind the rising Chinese economy. In provinces like Hainan, Hunchun, Guangdong and Fujian, SEZ’s are still operating and continue to provide jobs, knowledge and expertise and still make significant profits. Shenzen proves that under different economic laws, a region can develop better. SEZ’s have not been restricted to these two countries. In fact, long before India thought of SEZ’s, the concept had been tried and tested in countries like Jordan, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, Pakistan and the Philippines. So what really went wrong?

The acquisition of land by the government on behalf of the industries setting up their units in these SEZ’s raised many an eyebrow. First there was some confusion regarding the type of land that could be acquired. Could arable land also be used to develop SEZ’s? The Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 made no mention of the type of land that could be borrowed or grabbed by the government.

Under the present laws, acquisition is limited to non-agricultural land. But the question now is what compensation is to be paid to the families being displaced. The government authorities have always been keen on displacing families but never too keen on rehabilitation of the displaced families. Consider the Narmada Dam project; thousands of families have been displaced but are yet to be rehabilitated; human rights activist Medha Patkar continues to fight for their rights. Thus, the process of land acquisition has become the most controversial one. Farmers raised a big hue and cry when their fertile, arable land, their only source of livelihood, was taken away from them.

The point of conflict arises when the farmers or the villagers refuse to sell their land and defy the government; in such cases, constitutionally the government has no right to force them to sell their land. Also the SEZ policy discourages real estate development but the government has not been able to ensure compliance. It is believed that migration would cause a huge problem and disturb the law and order situation of the state. Even if the locals are provided jobs in the SEZ units, it may not provide fulfilment to the locals. Sectors like IT and pharmaceuticals are not labour-intensive. This is another point highlighted by the protestors.

Read more

What to look for in a bed

A chair that changes colour if you're fat

The ancient Japanese believed that gods lived in all things, whether animate or inanimate. Talking to a wall was not an idle act, but actually a kind of soul-searching. And usually, the wall talked back.

Now the designer of a table and set of chairs says his furniture embodies that philosophy.

The furniture is called fuwa pica, which loosely translated means 'soft and flashy'. It senses people's presence, then gradually changes colour accordingly.

The interactive set, which could be in shops, airports, museums, or bars within a year or two, uses technology to extend people's emotional state into a room that may be devoid of ancient ideas.

"We want modern people like us to remember that there was an interaction between people and furniture," says Ichi Kanaya, assistant professor at Osaka University.

In a typical scenario, a person might walk into a room furnished with fuwa pica. He or she might place a memento or favorite item, let's say a blue vase, on the table and sit on one of the chairs. Gradually the chairs begin to change from white to blue.

Air-cushioned chairs

Kanaya and his team, working out of the university's Mongoose Studio, designed a round table that has a computer and built-in LCD display and four air-cushioned chairs.

The table and chairs are linked to each other via a wireless signal. Colour sensors in the table scan objects placed on top to determine their hue and then the computer sends a signal to the chair to match the colour of the object.

The brightness is controlled by pressure sensors inside the chair. These measure the air pressure and send that information to the table's computer. The higher the pressure, the brighter the colour.

"It's a wonderful demonstration of integrating high-tech into lifestyle experiences," says Jonathan Cagan, professor of engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and co-author of The Design of Things to Come.

"It focuses on the pleasure that people receive from the interaction, not on the technology."

Groaning under the weight

Chair colour is not only dictated by objects placed on the table. A casual sitter will also elicit a response from the 'chair gods'.

"For example, imagine that a heavy person sat on the sofa. The sofa would change its colour from white to red, as if the blood pressure was rising high," says Kanaya.

The thing Kanaya and his team need to be sure of, says Cagan, is that the furniture behaves consistently and seamlessly and that the technology is robust. You don't want to have to reboot your chair.

"As soon as it fails, the experience of the chair fails," says Cagan.

Whether embedded with technology or not, all furniture is breathing and talking, say the researchers.

If you cannot hear it, ancient Japanese philosophy might suggest you need to inspect the silence inside yourself.

(Via Discovery News)

Age of green economics is upon us: UN

N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the world is on the cusp of "the age of green economics" and called on nations to cooperate to fight global warming and promote the transformation.

"With the right financial incentives and a global framework, we can steer economic growth in a low-carbon direction," Ban said in remarks prepared for delivery to a Chicago business group.

Ban, who has made the environment a centerpiece of his year-long leadership of the UN, urged the United States and other countries to partner with the "world's only truly global institution" to combat such scourges as climate change, terrorism and infectious diseases. "No nation, alone, can deal with such problems," Ban said.

"Operating effectively in today's world requires partnership. It requires co-operation, engagement and dialogue -- as well as global rules.

"Three-quarters of Americans in surveys believe the United Nations should play a larger role in the world, he said, and a similar proportion say US foreign policy should be coordinated with the international body.

The United States is the biggest single funder of the United Nations though the body has been an object of frequent criticism, particularly from Republicans, for how it is run and for the perception it impedes US goals.

Ban said global investment in green energy is projected to hit $1.9 trillion by 2020, an indication of an economic shift that will rival the industrial revolution and the technology revolution of the past two centuries.

"We're now on the threshold of another (transformation) -- the age of green economics," Ban said. "Businesspeople in so many parts of the world are demanding clear and consistent policies on climate change -- global policies for a global problem," he said.

(via Economic Times.)

Mumbai slum clearing projects might bolster real estate firms

Urban redevelopment plans for Mumbai, India's largest city, call for moving millions of slum dwellers off some of the country's potentially most valuable land.

Analysts say that relocation projects, in line with plans by the government of Maharashtra state, should benefit two listed companies with a focus on such work: Housing Development & Infrastructure and Akruti City.

An estimated 13 million people live in Mumbai itself -- the wider metropolitan area has a larger number -- and more than half of them are in slums. They say slums occupy about 8% of the land in a city that is almost surrounded by the sea and lacks room for outward expansion.

As India's economy booms and Mumbai becomes a major Asian financial center, property there is increasingly scarce and costly. Property values in south Mumbai, for example, have risen 10% to 40% during the past 12 months, and could rise 5% this year, according to Macquarie Securities.

The "only way to generate land and create space for new commercial expansion of the city, is to clear these slums," says S. Sriniwasan, chief executive of Mumbai-based Kotak Real Estate Fund. That makes the slum-clearance business a potentially hot sector, he says.

Under a program the state government introduced in 1992, development and construction companies can seek permission to clear and rehabilitate slums built, often by people going to Mumbai to seek employment, on private and government land. But projects need the agreement of a majority of the existing residents before they proceed. That can involve complex and lengthy consultations.

In return for the developers providing new homes for the slum dwellers, the government lets companies keep a portion of the cleared land, or gives them rights to develop elsewhere in Mumbai. They also get rights to construct high-rise buildings.

That has made slum clearance a lucrative business, analysts say. For instance, a residential complex recently completed by Akruti City cost 2,500 rupees ($64) a square foot to build, including the resettlement of slum dwellers. The company is now selling the properties for 11,200 rupees a square foot.

So far, 20% to 25% of Mumbai's slum residents have been resettled, according to M.G. Shekar, secretary of the Mumbai-based National Slum Dwellers Federation. The state government is processing applications to clear more slum areas more quickly, which should lead to accelerated activity, according to Suman Memani, a construction and real-estate analyst at Religare Securities in Mumbai.

To be sure, there are risks in slum clearing: Projects have long gestation periods and there are competing political interests. For example, the redevelopment of Dharavi, one of Asia's biggest slums, will see some 65,000 households in an area covering 205 hectares moved to free up land in the heart of Mumbai. But it is also one of the city's most difficult and controversial relocations, partly because of squabbles over the size of replacement housing being offered.

Read more

Abu Dhabi plots hydrogen future

The government of Abu Dhabi has announced a $15bn (£7.5bn) initiative to develop clean energy technologies.

The Gulf state describes the five-year initiative as "the most ambitious sustainability project ever launched by a government".

Components will include the world's largest hydrogen power plant.

The government has also announced plans for a "sustainable city", housing about 50,000 people, that will produce no greenhouse gases and contain no cars.

The $15bn fund, which the state hopes will lead to international joint ventures involving much more money, is being channelled through the Masdar Initiative, a company established to develop and commercialise clean energy technologies.

As global demand for energy continues to expand, and as climate change becomes a real and growing concern, the time has come to look to the future," said Masdar CEO Dr Sultan Al Jaber.

"Our ability to adapt and respond to these realities will ensure that Abu Dhabi's global energy leadership as well as our own growth and development continues."

Technology bridge

The portfolio of technologies eligible for funding under the Masdar Initiative is extensive, but solar energy is likely to be a major beneficiary.

The hydrogen plant, meanwhile, will link the world's currently dominant technology, fossil fuel burning, with two technologies likely to be important in a low-carbon future - carbon sequestration and hydrogen manufacture.

Hydrogen will be manufactured from natural gas by reactions involving steam, producing a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

The CO2 can be pumped underground, either simply to store it away permanently or as a way of extracting more oil from existing wells, using the high-pressure gas to force more of the black gold to the surface.

When hydrogen is burned, it produces no CO2. Eventually hydrogen made this way could be used in vehicles, though in Abu Dhabi it will generate electricity.

"It's important because it shows that you can generate hydrogen without carbon release from fossil fuels," commented Keith Guy, an engineering consultant and professor at the UK's Bath University.

"When you look at how hydrogen could be made economically, the route that many people have been looking at, through electrolysis of water, is incredibly expensive."

The Masdar Sustainable City, another component of the Abu Dhabi government's plans which is being designed with input from the environmental group WWF, is envisaged as a self-contained car-free zone where all energy will come from renewable resources, principally solar panels to generate electricity.

Buildings will be constructed to allow air in but keep the Sun's heat out. Wind towers will ventilate homes and offices using natural convection.

The fund and the Masdar City plans were formally unveiled at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

(via BBC)

Good Feng Shui areas in 2008

After reviewing the challenging feng shui areas for 2008 let's look into the good energy ones and apply basic feng shui advice to harness the potential and use it for best feng shui in your space.

Just as a reminder, the Chinese Feng Shui 2008 New Year starts on February 4th, 2008; it is the feng shui year of the Earth Rat.

East feng shui area is the luckiest feng shui sector in 2008 with the annual star 8. The Wealth Star is present here in 2008. A feng shui aquarium is an excellent feng shui cure, or any water feng shui cure, for example the feng shui use of a mirror. To sum it up, a feng shui water feature in the East will greatly improve your money luck in 2008.

Southeast feng shui area has the 9 star, a Joyful, Happy feng shui star. Work with feng shui crystals, especially amethyst or pyrite (click to see a FREE video on the feng shui use of crystals.) Southeast is a good area to strengthen with feng shui tips for the improvement of your luck in any areas: be it romance, career or money. 9 red items can be a good feng shui addition, be it nine red stones or a favorite picture depicting nine red items, for example nine flowers.

North is the feng shui area that can strengthen the luck if you are looking for a career promotion. 8 hematites can bring good energy to this feng shui area. A small feng shui water feature will work, too, even if it is a small bowl of fresh water. You can also bring the energy of water to this area with colors blue and black, as well as mirrors (see the FREE video on the right feng shui use of mirrors.)

Northeast feng shui area is a good area for study, so let your children spend more time there doing homework or playing. It is a good area for your home office, too.

Center is finally getting a better star, the star of Romance. Strengthen the center with your feng shui for love cures -pink crystals (rose quartz), images of happy couples, etc. A feng shui water feature is good here, too, as well as the vibrations of sound/soothing music.

Southwest feng shui area can still bring some luck if you use a small water cure.

This is about it for the 2008 update on the new feng shui energies. Hope you have a year filled with love and harmony in your family, success and powerful breakthroughs in your professional life, and, most importantly, vibrant health.

Best to you in 2008!

(via About.com)

Why is Mona Lisa the greatest portarit of all time?

The Mona Lisa is widely considered the greatest portrait of all time. It appears in countless advertisements, has inspired poetry, sculpture, forgeries, and theft. But seriously, why? The painting is small, only 30 x 21 inches, the color is somber, the background seems desolate and eerie, and the subject isn't anyone historically significant. So, what is all the brouhaha about? Is it really all about her mystifying gaze and a quirky smile? Well, let's take a closer look.

How to grow a living treehouse

We are enamored with eco-architect Mitchell Joachim’s visionary ideas about how to grow living treehouses from ficus molded around frame structures. Joachim does better justice to his imaginative ecological designs than we are able to do in a mere post, so if you have any interest in living treehouses (and we know you do), check out the video above.

Do buildings have gender?

Are sex and architecture related? Are some buildings "male" and others "female"?

Yes, of course, some architects are male and some are female. But what of the buildings?

Does a Victorian cottage, dolled up in gingerbread, seem "female"? Is a rough-hewn stone castle "male"? How would you describe the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey?

The questions might strike you as a bit absurd, but many serious architecture scholars are looking closely at the relationship between architecture and human anatomy and human sexuality.

This photo tour explores several ways we can think about architecture, sex, and gender.

1. Do buildings have gender?
2. Male Architecture? The Empire State Building
3. Male Architecture? Pei's Johnson Museum
4. Female Architecture? The Singapore Esplanade
5. Bold Female Energy? Sydney Opera House
6. Androgynous Architecture? The Taj Mahal
7. Architects and Gender
8. Buildings Designed For Sex
9. Architecture and Sensuality
10. Neuter Architecture? Bauhaus Design

RBI's decision has spooked real estate cos

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) decision not to cut interest rates has spooked real estate companies facing the brunt of a housing industry slowdown caused by the high cost of mortgage financing. RBI, on Tuesday, decided to keep interest rates unchanged in its third-quarter monetary policy review. Real estate companies were expecting a cut, especially in the backdrop of slowing home sales in major cities in the past few months.

”High interest rates is a serious concern as far as property market is concerned. There was some expectation that the rates would be lowered today. However, the impact will depend upon the region and the demand-supply scenario there. The impact on Mumbai where the supply is limited will be negligible,” Godrej Properties managing director Milind Korde said.

Buyer resistance and a series of interest rates hikes last year put the brakes on home sales last year. Middle-class households put off purchases after seeing prices break all records in most major metros. ET’s report, on Tuesday, cited RBI data to show that home loan sales fell 39% in April-November 2007 while loans to developers eased by a fourth to Rs 12,563 crore.

Read more.