Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Sri Lankan Government ready for General Election

Elections in Sabaragamuwa & North Central  provinces said the people had endorsed the policy of President Mahinda Rajapaksa by giving his party a majority in both Provincial elections. Campaign manager of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance  Dullas Alahapperuma told the media on Monday that the government is ready for a General election at any time. Mr. Alahapperuma challenged the opposition United National Party and it's leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has been demanding a general election for many months.Mr. Alahapperuma also said that the government would not hesitate to dissolve parliament and call a snap poll.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Sustainable agriculture

Sustainable agriculture Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals. Those goals are environmental stewardship, farm profitability, and prosperous farming communities. These goals have been defined by a variety of disciplines and may be looked at from the vantage point of the farmer or the consumer.

Visit CREA's website. CREA's mission is to restore and protect natural habitats of the Central American Biological Corridor by investing in its natural and human capital.

Sustainable agriculture Approaches in Sri lanka.
organic farming
Forest farming

ONE

ONE is an organization supported by more than 2 million people and growing, from all walks of life all around the world, uniting as one against extreme poverty. Agriculture is a key component of economic growth and poverty reduction, especially in Africa, where more than half the population relies on agriculture for survival.
The Food CrisisThe current rise in food prices has directed global attention towards issues of food security and agricultural productivity. Since 2005, the prices of staple foods have risen by 83% wheat and rice prices have hit 28 and 19 year peaks, respectively. Some of the factors behind the current price boom include population growth, changing diets, increased demand for biofuels, more frequent flooding and drought, trade distortions, and rising energy and transport costs. Global climate negotiations in 2008 offer international leaders a unique opportunity to address the impact that climate change is having on the world’s poor, especially in sub Saharan Africa. Climate change is clearly not a crisis of Africa’s making, yet the consequences of global warming will disproportionately hit Africa’s poor.

IRRI

Philippine's the International Rice Research Institute is the oldest and largest international agricultural research institute in Asia. IRRI was established in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations in cooperation with the Philippine government. IRRI conduct research and provide training and education for those helping rice farmers by disseminating information and proven, sustainable technologies. IRRI developed technologies have helped farmers grow 2.5% more rice each year since 1965, boosting rice production by an impressive 170%, from 199 million tons in 1961 to 540 million tons in 2000.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Olympic Drug Scandals

When Olympic is in the seen Drug Scandals always comes to our mind. There were several scandals of the 2004 Summer Olympics. The most prominent scandals involved banned steroid use and drug testing. In 2004, the Olympics oversaw at least 20 offences, the most for any Olympic Games. This is accredited to tougher tests rather than an increase in doping. Most of the tests, if proven positive, carried a minimum of a 2 year ban from competition for the athletes involved.Additionally, scandals arose involving officiating, among other reasons.
Russian sprinter Anton Galkin was expelled from the Olympic Games after testing positive for the steroid stanozolol. He had been tested after competing in the semifinals of the Men's 400 metres, where he finished in 4th place.
Irish showjumper Cian O'Connor's horse, Waterford Crystal, tested positive for fluphenazine and zuclophenthixol months after receiving a gold medal. The subsequent investigation was hampered by several suspicious events. When O'Connor requested a second test, the horse's B urine sample was stolen enroute to a laboratory. Documents about another horse belonging to O'Conner were stolen in a break-in at the Equestian Federation of Ireland's headquarters. Finally, in the spring of 2005, O'Connor was stripped of his gold medal. His horse's B blood sample, which was not stolen, tested positive for prohibited substances.