Earth Day 2006

"When I first conceived of Earth Day, a global holiday to celebrate the wonder of life on our planet, I thought long and hard about the day on which it should fall. It must be meaningful. One that might be accepted universally for all of humankind.

When the Vernal Equinox dawned on me, I immediately knew it was right. The Earth tremor that shook our California dwelling at that moment seemed an omen of confirmation. What could be more appropriate than the first moment of Spring, when day and night are equal around the world and hearts and minds can join together with thoughts of harmony and Earth's rejuvenation. Just as a single prayer can be siginificant, how much more so when hundreds, thousands, millions of people throughout the world join in peaceful thoughts and prayers to nurture neighbor and nature." - John McConnell, Founder of Earth Day

Our Earth is beautiful and it is our responsibilty to keep it the way nature balances it.

Unfortunately the toll of human development has been too heavy on our environment resulting in problems, that, if not resolved soon, would surely change the face of the Earth for the worst.

As the world celebrates Earth Day 2006, there has been a growing awareness among the online community through websites and webpages that are celebrating this event.

Google:

Google was one of the first ones to change it's logo to Earth Day theme and provide a direct link to Earth Day searches.

Yahoo:

Yahoo celebrates the Earth Day by putting up an Earth Day quiz, a Question/Answer box, providing information on Hybrid cars and taking pledges from visitors to help slow down climate change.


NRDC:

There's another great link to Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC)'s wesbsite that provides readers with tons of helpful information about environmental issues, global warming, wildlife, green living and solutions to many problems.



Communityschool.Net

A topic of study at the webpage lists down some interesting tips for celebrating the Earth Day.

EARTH DAY TIPS:

- Plant a tree that will shade your house as well as reduce the need for air conditioning.

- Participate in your community's recycling program and recycle all you can.

- Combine short car trips, or use a bicycle or walk instead.

- Improve your home's energy efficiency by adding insulation and caulking, and regularly cleaning heating and air conditioning filters.

- Compost yard trimmings and food waste in a backyard compost bin. Don't bag grass clippings - either leave them on the lawn or compost them.

- When buying paint, cleaners or other chemicals, buy only what you need and use what you buy.

- Practice water conservation - install a low flow shower head or make an Earth Day pledge to take shorter showers.

- Use compact fluorescent lights to conserve up to 75 percent of the energy consumed by incandescent bulbs.

- Purchase durable goods and choose products made with recycled materials and with minimal or recyclable packaging.

- Reduce the amount of unwanted junk mail - have your name removed from mailing lists.

The Nature Conservancy:

The Nature Conservancy's Earth Day 2006 page helps you to share your message of hope explaining how we can preserve our Environment, to send Earth Day e-cards to friends & family and to learn about messages of different celebrities participating in the event.

Some celebrity 'Messages of Hope' from the website:

"We cannot continue to push nature to the brink and then hope that by miracle it will return. We must be vigilant, active defenders of our natural resources and prompt our leaders and fellow citizens to join us as such. We must follow our faiths and common sense, which I believe will guide us into the future on this better path." - Jimmy Carter; former U.S. President

"I hope that the world gains an appreciation for what’s here and does everything it can to protect it. I want for my children and all of their children to enjoy the same wonders I experienced as a boy." - Tom Hanks; Oscar-winning Actor

"My hope for the planet is that the world’s businesspeople, consumers, activists, and politicians will work together to find new ways to create sustainable economic growth.

The good news is that we have the ability to provide for all the people in our world, and to do so in ways that are environmentally sustainable. Our financial and natural resources are abundant and sufficient, if we manage them wisely. We have human ingenuity, through which we create amazing new products, technologies and energy sources. And we have the motivation of wanting to preserve our planet for future generations." - Ken Lewis; Chairman, CEO and President of the Bank of America Corporation

"My hope for our planet is that more adults will spend time with children to teach them to respect and learn from nature These experiences can shape children’s lives in countless positive ways and can imprint their souls with lasting memories. Children need strong, caring, role models that share in their world, no matter how small or insignificant that time may seem. This is my wish for this Earth Day." - Ward Burton; NASCAR driver

EarthDayShirts.com:

Want to wear the cause?; get your own personalized Earth Day 2006 T-shirts for as little as $6 at earthdayshirts.com. Some views of the 2006 line:


StopGlobalWarming.org:

You can also join "THE STOP GLOBAL WARMING VIRTUAL MARCH" to be a part of the collective voice to demand that the governments, corporations & people the world over commit to reduce global warming at Stopglobalwarming.org


Some Important Marchers:

"Global warming and the pollution and burning of fossil fuels that cause it are threats we see here in California and everywhere around the world. These pollutants blanket the globe, trapping heat and creating the "greenhouse" effect - the warming of the earth's atmosphere. All of this impacts California's water supply, public health, agriculture, coastlines, forestry, and much more." - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

"The scientific consensus is clear: human activities are increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, causing our planet to warm. If we don't act soon to reverse this trend, future generations will pay the price. There are cost-effective measures we can take now to begin to address this critical issue, but Congress has been unwilling to lead." - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

"Thousands of climate scientists agree that global warming is not only the most threatening environmental problem, but one of the greatest challenges facing all of humanity." - Leonardo DiCaprio

"Our generation faces the greatest moral and political crisis in human history. Will we take the steps necessary to avert catastrophic global warming or will we doom our children to a new Dark Ages in a world that is biologically and economically impoverished and defined by ever diminishing quality of life." - Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

"The vast majority of the most respected environmental scientists from all over the world have sounded a clear and urgent alarm. Global warming is real, it is happening already and the anticipated consequences are unacceptable. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable." - Al Gore

Eid Milad-un-Nabbi - Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)'s Birthday

I would like to wish all my friends a very happy and blessed Eid Milad-un-Nabbi. May you all be blessed with the best of health, wealth, happiness & peace.

Eid Mubarak!

Muslims, all over the world, celebrated Eid Milad-un-Nabi; Prophet Muhammad(PBUH)'s birthday yesterday. Holy Prophet(PBUH)'s birth anniversary falls on 12 Rabi-ul-Awal of the Islamic lunar calendar year.
For Muslims, Eid Milad-un-Nabi is the regarded as an highly important event and is celebrated as a third Eid.

On this occasion public meetings & processions are held in masjids where religious scholars and prominent figures make speeches on different aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet(PBUH).

The stories of the Prophet’s birth, childhood, youth and adult life, his character, teachings, sufferings, and forgiveness of even his most bitter enemies, his fortitude in the face of general opposition, leadership in battles, bravery, wisdom, preaching and his final triumph through Allah’s mercy over the hearts of people are narrated in detail.

Salutations and songs in his praise are recited. In some countries, streets, mosques and buildings are decorated with colorful buntings and pennants and well illuminated at night. Affluent Muslims generously donate to charity. Feasts are arranged and food is served to guests and the poor.

Muhammad(PBUH); One of the World's Most Influential Persons

“My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels.

Of humble origins, Muhammad founded and promulgated one of the world’s great religions, and became an immensely effective political leader. Today, thirteen centuries after his death, his influence is still powerful and pervasive.

Muhammad was a secular as well as a religious leader. In fact, as the driving force behind the Arab conquests, he may well rank as the most influential political leader of all time.”

Michael Hart, The 100; A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History

Sources:
BBC Religions & Ethics
GEO News

To Georgie, from Sheikh Mo, CEO DP World

Dear Georgie,

I hope this letter finds you, your wife and Condi in the best of health. Allah-wa-Amin. I understand you just returned from your trip to Pakistan and India. I had been waiting for your holiday trip to get over. I did not want to disturb you while you were partying it hard with Mushy and Mani. Aren't they both adorable, esp. Mani. He is just so cute, just like a cuddly puppy. You should not have never frisked him at the airport, he is very harmless. Mushy called me the other day and didn't see too happy with the nuclear deal you just signed with India. Well, its between you and him but I think you should throw few F-16s at him just to keep him quite for now. International politics is not my cup of kehwah but it sure seems as interesting as a good Bollywood movie. That reminds me that they recently made a very good cartoon on an Indian God. I think you should check it out for since you adore cartoons. I am sure you will find it as entertaining as SpongeBob.

Now I must get to the point of sending this letter. Georgie, we all know how much you tried and worked for our American ports deal to get through but it seems the Congress is not in the mood for it. Hence, I am going to back off from this deal and transfer the interests to an American company. Of course, it will be an American company of our choice, perhaps Dick Cheney's Halliburton. Jazakallah, Congress still does not know how we control it through other Dubai-owned companies. Georgie, you don't have to worry about a single thing. I am not going to hold this against you at all. Mashallah, you have been a very good friend of ours and your always welcomed to stay at Burj-al-Arab's Buggs Bunny suite. We know how much you enjoyed it last time. Also, you don't have to worry about you dad's job at Carlyle Group. I have spoken to my cousin and have instructed him not to take any unnecessary steps.

Georgie, I just don't understand how your people could not see us as good people. Just like all American women are not as sexy as Jennifer Lopez, you should tell your people that all Arabs are not linked to terrorism. I have instructed my people to hire some American celebrities to carry out our PR job. Clinton and Madeline Albright have not done a good job at our PR. I think your people pay more attention to Entertainment Tonight, Extra and Hollywood Access than CNN and Fox News. Georgie, I think I am going to ask J-Lo to take care of this issue. She has been very nice and understanding so far, if you know what I mean ;)

However, Georgie, there is one thing that has been bothering me for the past few days and I was not sure how to bring it up with you. Georgie, as you had expressed your interests in working in Dubai after your presidency, I gave your resume to my HR Person. Unfortunately, according to HR, they have a very strict policy of hiring candidates with good educational credentials irrespective of their experience and political status. And your record is not that clear. Georgie, you are like a brother to me but I cannot do much in this area. You know we are trying to run our companies on WTO standards and practise complete accountability, the American way. Even my son is doing his MBA at University of California, San Diego so that he can work for DP World after me. You must understand my position. I hope you can enroll in a Masters program soon after your presidency and then there should not be a problem for you to get a job in Dubai, Inshallah.

Till then, may Allah bestow his blessings upon you and your family.

Fiamaan illaah

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum (Sheikh Mo)
CEO, Dubai Ports World

Post borrowed from Abrar's Murgha of the Day