Dear friends,

        The anywhere anytime phoning has made cell phones a darling to the whole populace.  A cell phone is a two way radio enlivened by the incoming and outgoing radio signals in a designated frequency.  As the signals propagate in the form of electro-magnetic waves, often a question is posed.  Is the radiation from the darling(!) harmful? There have been conflicting reports- one report says no harm in using cell phones seeing no effect on the users.  Another report says the radiation is harmful enough to induce cancer in the user.  Therefore it cautions against excessive use of cell phones.  The report finding no harm in use of cell phones must have been sponsored by vested lobby of cell phones.

       The Union Health ministry called for a survey to assess the damage by the cell phones.  Recently the Department of Telecommunications also warned the service providers against  display of ads showing kids and elderly people to lure them into using cell phones.

      What if, some one came up with ideas of blocking the radiation from the hand set? Some have already done it.  Recently, Sachin Tendulkar unveiled a cell phone on the principle of blocking the radiation from cell phones using random noise fields.  There are blockers in place working on different principles- some with a built-in-chip in the cell, some with stickers blocking radiation if affixed to the cell.

      I PERSONALLY CAME ACROSS A RADIATION DEVELOPED BY A DOCTOR KNOWN TO ME. I AM STUDYING THE GENUINESSS OF THE CLAIM MADE OF HERBS BLOCK THE RADIATION FROM THE CELL PHONE..  CLINICAL TRIALS HAVE TO BE CONDUCTED TO VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY.

     Take care when using the cell phones- limit their use and keep them away when at rest.

    Posted in your interest. Your celly(not silly!) comments are welcome.

     Kandasamy Mohan. 

'

     In the previous episode, I touched upon the beginnings of a massive-everrescue, relief and reconstruction operation in the after math of
Tsunami 2004 disaster. Now on to more poignant details.


    The under-sea earth quake near sumatra islands of
Indonesia tilted up the ocean floor by several metres producing
displacement energies in the scale of several atomic bombs. A massive
sea surge or Tsunami waves began their journey from the epi centre of
the quake. The waves started at a speed of 800 kms/hour and start with
waves were only few feet high. As it neared the coastal shore line the
speed reduced to 500 kms/hour and the waves gained height upto several
metres -more than palm-tree high as the reduced speed translated into
height of the waves. What the waves dis was to sedn the boats swirling
like match sticks, smashing them against dwellings and buildings on the
shore. The buildings themselves took a hit and lay in shambles. More
than a lakh people were rendered homeless and thousands of lifeless
bodies were strewen around in the entire shore line and on streets
close to the beach.


    Those rendered homeless became REFUGEES IN THEIR OWN
COUNTRY. Several volutary organisations(non governmental organisations-
NGOs) from all parts of India and abroad converged on this small town
distributing relief materials like clothe materials, food plates,
blankets,utensils. Temporary accommodation was set up in marriage
halls, school premises, colleges. I went round the town meeting people
from several voluntary organisations requesting them not to hand over
the relief  materials to the authorities. Instead I asked them to
bring cooking utensils and food materials into the temporary
acommodations and get it cooked there itself and serve it to the
starving brethren. My request was heeded and my brethren poor or rich
came to eat full meals without any hitch or delay of administrative
distribution. I   also sat with them to taste for myself and
test the quality of food they are being served. Outside acommodation, I
also offered some food to select people from food stalls near by. There
was a heart-moving experience a lady travelling all alone with her car
dirver with cooked food for around 200 people  from distant town
ERODE seeing the plight of starving people on TV. Reaching here, she
said," I was so moved by the scenes on TV that I came to offer whatever
I can to feed the starving victims". My own efforts paled in comparison
with the lady"s.

     Army was out on 27 th December 2004, the day
next to the disaster to undertake relief operations. For a change
political activists irrespective of their political affiliations joined
hands in retreiving the bodies lying all around. Sniffer dogs were
pressed into service to scent out the bodies that lay buried in debris.
As there was no space to bury the countless bodies, they were mass
buried in pits dug several metres deep and wide and shoving them in.
Early decomposing chemicals were sprinkled before the pit was closed to
ensure speedy decomposition and avoiding of infections all around.
Velankanni the most famous pilgrimage spot and close to my town was a
scene of such a mass burial.

     Fishermen who take to water as fish were
afraid to venture into sea for months. They lost all boats in their
possession making it imposible to venture out into sea. Several
voluntary organisations stepped in to feed the fishermen and victims
for months providing them with food. Temporary shelters with metal
compartents were set up at various locations and those in temporary
accommodations were shifted to them.

    
Permenant houses were built in thousands by several organisations 
including  TATAs and muti-national  affiliate  volutary
organisations.  The
construction of  houses  are
still  on even after 4 years of the disaster as land for
construction had to be allotted by the Government. Facilities like
mini-desalination plants were set up to  provide purified drinking
water to the tsunami affected.

     Government for its part distributed 2 lakh rupees for each of the deceased victims.

    
Many dignitaries including Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
Bill Clinton and our one and only Abdul Kalam all visited this small
nestling coastal town.

     The
reconstruction phase is still on. And I am moving away from this place
on transfer with memories of the worst-ever disaster which killed more
than 2 lakh people across 12 nations on a single day.

    Join me in offering condolences to the victims.


    Kandasamy Mohan.



   





    

     Using what could be described as a space technology, the Olympics torch was lit atop Mount Everest- What makes it special? The sub-zero temperatures and lack of oxygen at high altitudes make it difficult to burn a flame atop snow-clad mountains. Beijing has been gearing up to host the world's premiere event of sports and atheletics. many 5 star hotels , fly overs and structures have been sprouting to the Olympics in China thanks to meticulous planning for more than 8 years now.

     A olympic torch starts its jouney from Athens the origin of the event- travels through several countries relayed by sports personalities and dignitaries  specially chosen for the pre-olympic run. All ok, as the torch burns all the way through to Beijing enoute several countries, can the torch survive on Himalayas?  Even a benign weather with bright sunshine can turn into a shower of hail-stones any time without notice, with sparse oxygen and freezing temperatures  playing  havoc. 

     The China's Aerospace Science and industry corporation set to work on this.  The rocket motor burning in thin air was taken as a model.  A pressure retaining valve was installed in the olympics torch to enable it to withstand 65 km per hour winds, around 6 cms of rain an hour and temperatures of minus 40 degree C.  the flame's fuel charge has been made propane departing from the practice of practice of propane-butane mix and proplyne-butane mix of earlier olympics-used fuel. Nothing except carbon di oxide and water remain after burning, thus eliminating pollution.

     A climbing team of Tibetans and Chinese set off from the base camp at 3.00 a.m. of thursday morning and six hours later  scaled the the Mount Everest 8848 metres high , telecast live by the state TV lit the torch and held out chinese and olympics flags.  The "One world, one dream"- the olymipcs slogan was heard on the Mount everest summing up the heroic deeds of the climbers displaying a space-technology spin-off.

     Hail, space-technology, hail olympics spirit!

    How about this olympics count down?

    Kandasamy Mohan

Dear friends,

        I hope you would be interested in reading an exciting science fiction written by me. ORIGINally published in SCIENCE TODAY it is now appearing in the science corner of kerala.com. go to the link http://www.kerala.com/science and click on science fiction by mohan sanjeevan to read "I want to Die! _SCIENCE  FICTION

      Welcome to send your comments to saneevan@rediffmail.com 

      kandasamy mohan

Dear friends,

        Many of you may have the experience similar to what I am going to share with you now.  My residential quarters is within an area of around 20 acres, well-protected by a high-rise compound. Barring around 10 blocks of apartment structures, the area is virtually an open space.  With sea nearby a gentle breeze comes in making it a perfect place to live in.  The residents can walk morning or evening and do their exercise bit without ever leaving the residential area.  Thanks to the vast open area, some bushes have managed to survive, making it a safer haven for cats.  Now I am nearing the little joy.

     A mother cat bore three little ones and all them are growing up in the vicinity.  Among the little ones,  a little cat has come to be my favourite.  White coloured with only tiny patches of block, Woo! it is just beautiful.  One day morning it was meawing.  I was standing close by and looked around to see why?  Their mother cat was not around.  Probably it was hungry.  I brought some food from my home and placed  before it.  Casting glances at me, it happily swooped on it to fill up it's belly. 

     That day onwards, it has become a morning ritual to feed the cat.  After some days, the cat comes flying out of nowhere when it sees me approaching at 9 in the morning.  Still some days roll by, the cat sit slooking in the direction I am coming!  After finishing it's breakfaxst, the cat lies down blissfully with it's eyes closed.  I use to place my feet on it pulling it all over it's body gently massaging it.  The whitie cranes it's neck to see who it is and what I am doing, goes back to sleep still more blissfully.  I am so accustomed to it that I can lift the lovely little one in my hands.  Normally, a cat gives a frightening look and runs away.  That is the beauty of a pet.  The only difference being it is growing in ther open and i am not keeping it in my home. 

      Narrating this morning episode also brings me back the memory of a cat during my school days which was in the household itself.  Again a white coloured beautiful creature- a member in our family. During winter days, it snuggles close to me in the bed during night.  Several times it I awoke with a hard hurt meaw sound only to see the lovely one being trampled under my feet.  I went back to sleep after extricating it from my feet and allowing the cat to stay in the bed.  We did not eat for two days when the cat died as every one was fond of it, nearing it,  playfully chasing it, feeding with whatever we eat.  The school day joy has been rediscovered in the mornings. 

      I hope you have liitle joys of yourn own.  This joy ride might have rekindled your memories. 

    Thanks for reading. Forget not to leave your imprint here.

   Kandasamy Mohan

  Write to: saneevan@rediffmail.com

 I  left out  some more of the survey in our residential  area which spawns around 20 acres with plenty of open space nestling inside a high rise protective compound wall  immediately after the initial moments of the tragic episode.  When I  went  to have a look around inside our compound I saw around 5 to 6 boats lying inside gatecrashing into the compound wall and one boat was lying in the midst of the broken comound wall itself. One ground floor resident ran into the first floor of the building with family members to save themselves from the on-coming palm-tree high wall of water.He told me having seen a mammoth of wall of blackish water coming swirling in with boats spinning atop them like sticks! the water wall drew back into the sea just as quickly as it came in.  When he came back downstairs he found all the valuable belongings like TV, washing machine, grinder etc., have all been washed away into the sea.

      Only after this I packed up and left.  When I cam back alone after 4 days from my place  I heard more stories. On the fateful morning of December 26 th 2004, people in the coastal town and surrounding villages were going about their activities as usual- fishermen unloading the boats with the fish, people who have come to purchase fish, villagers standing or walking on the  sea-shore. In the beach, normal morning walkers and joggers numbering about 150 were carrying out their morning ritual.  Normally they leave early.  That day being Sunday most of them remained there relaxing. Suddenly the sea waters were coming in at a height into the land in the sea-shore.  Most of them ignored it.  The second wave came at palm-tree high and sea water was coming at a height into the land in the sea-shore.  Most of them ignored it.  The second wave came at palm-tree high and sea water was coming in and in and in. People on the beach and close to the sea were just washed away by the giant wave and the water body. Many in the residential colonies closed to the sea ignored the first signals as the first relatively harmless wave came in.  Those who were watching were aghast at the sight the water coming as a hige body at palm-tree height and OH God the boats on the sea shore and back waters were flying, coming at full speed. Many acted at the very last minute as the waters swelled neck-high swimming to safety.  Even as the boats were hitting the nearby buildings, torn apart ands coming to rest after travelling several metres, thiose who were still at a distance fled running at full clip, climbed to nearby trees tops, first-floor and second floor of the storyed houses nearby and the unlucky ones were still caught and washed away into the ocean and many drowned in their own places and as the Tsunami was upon them in a trice submerging them. Thick mud accompanying the waters made it impossible to withstand as it clogged and choked their lungs leading to instantaneous death.

      Water reached as far as 1 to 2 kms inland  sending panic waves among the residents.  To make matters worse, the  moving wall of water scythed through the weak thatched huts, and buildings shattering them to pieces.  Boats for their part, crashed  into the houses and colonies to demolish the remaining buildings. The incoming wall of water after smashing the interiors of the houses took all valubale household appliances and belongings including hot cash and jewels back into the ocean as they drew back. More than a lakhs a rendered homeless and became refugees in their own country.  Thousands of bodies were lying strewn around in beaches, roads, and thorny bushes. Electricty poles and transformers were uprooted causing a total electricity black-out.

      What is this Tsunami means? It is a japanese word as japan experienced 70% of the hundreds of tsunamis that struck so far. Tsoo means harbour and namee means wave. Thus tsunami meaning harbour wave.

      How Tsunami took shape on  December 26 th.

00.58 GMT - A massive under sea earthquake registering 8.9 erupted close to the island of Sumatra.

     Indonesia is close to the "ring of fire" the area in the pacific ocean where tectonic plates intersect and volcanoes erupt making it vulnerable to quake assualts.  The Australian and Eurasian plates grind together and generate seismic tremors in the region. At 00.50 GMT(at 0759 local time) , a violent rupture occurred on the sea floor along a fault about 1000 kmsa long.  All along this 1000 km stretch the sea floor was shunted vertically up by about 10 metres. This huge shunting of sea water displaced a massive column of overlying water of about hundreds of cubic kilometres generating a massive sea surge/tsunami wave as energy equivalent to several atom bombs was created at the time. This wave speeded across the indian ocean at jet speed.. The killer waves slammed into areas thousands of kilometres apart. Walls of water, tens of metes high, swept into coastal villages, towns and cities in AS MANY AS 12 COUNTRIES.

      My place was the worst to suffer in Tamil Nadu/India with nearly 10,000 hapless people losing their lives. The world's attention was focussed on this small coastal town being already a tourist destination. Relief and medical teams from all over the globe and India descended on the place to embark on a massive-ever  Rescue,Relief andreconstruction operation.

       All that in the next.

       Kandasamy Mohan

     When Tsunami struck in 2004,  no one seemed to have heard it before. Therefore no one anticipated it when it struck by surprise. I happen to be in a Tsunami struck coastal area and I was here when the Tsunami struck four years back.  On the day before i.e., on December 25 th 2004, I went to a nearby place to attend a function and returned late in the night.  I had earlier sent away my family so I was alone.  The next day was a Sunday morning- a holiday.  At around 9.15 A.M , I had taken bath and was towelling my hair  when I noticed water flowing into the house . The door was locked from inside. Mine is a ground floor house and water sometimes used to seep into my house from the first- floor  house just above me.  I made a mental note to ask the first-floor resident as to why the water was coming into my house telling him to stop the flow.   At that time there were shouts  outside the door.  I looked outside through the peep-hole-people of my residentail complex were running helter-skelter.     Some two feet of water was seen outside.  Still I  thought it might have rained and the rain water has gathered since it used to rain every now and then here.  There was a sound similar to a running grinder motor.  Therefore it was somewhat confusing.  Hurriedly changing into clothes, I came out of the house to enquire what was happening.  At that time, the water level has receded.  A resident of the complex told me that sea level was raising and coming into the area.  Why at all sea should come in was the first question that came to my mind.  Sea was roaring someone told again. Immediately we all climed to the roof-top of the building. The sea and the beach came into  view. Normally the waves would come, touch the shore and retreat.  But that day the waves were still coming at a height and landing into the shore  fillng it with water. Anyone who had a look at it might have been frightened.  If the waves went on like this the entire sea shore would be filled with water and come into the areas beyond.  Our area was on a raising ground and normally water will flow out quickly and will not stagnate.  Also our area is about 150 metres away from the back waters. Sea and sea-shore were still some distance away at around 100 metres.  That totally made quarter mile.  Given the state the sea was in, even the quarter mile distance appeared unsafe. I could sense a spine chilling panic climbing  into me.

      I noticed that the electricity was cut off. Some one told that the transformer was uprooted and electrcity was cut off in the entire vicinity. 

     Meanwhile  someone returned from outside after going into the bazaar. He told that the sea water has flowed into the street and coming behind as he was cycling.  He pedalled at furious speed from geting trapped by the pursuing sea.  The road outside front gate of the complex was filled with boats, fishing nets and debris. I noticed people were coming through the back gate since it was still farther away from sea and relatively safe.  Someone advised not to go out alone.  I was anxious to go out to see what was happening still I was nervous to go out.

      After some time,  I went out through the rear gate.  When I came to the bazaar area I saw many people standing there.  One person told me that he managed to escape since he had come away to the bazaar area.  He was searching for his sons.  He told some 2000 to 3000 people have died.  It seemed unbelievable.  Just half an hour action and so many people have died.

    I returned to the residence only to find people urging every one to get out stating that more of what we had seen will happen again. There was no electricity and it seemed a permanant distruption given the chaos. So deciding to get out, I transferred valuable belongings like computer, TV and books to the second storey house lying vacant with someone's help, packed off and left. Being a full-moon day the sea's Force was feared to be ferocious in the night. I was lucky to get a van even as everyone seemed to have run away. When I reached my place it was late night. I told my people a thing called Tsunami struck as I have already read about it generating palm-tree high waves and wreaking enormous destruction.

     The next day the story was out in the newspapers- Tsunami strikes killing several thousands.

     What unfolded in the aftermath is a story to tell. Since I happened to be a witness I propose to tell you the same in the next part.

Kandasamy Mohan.

LET THE MEMORIES FLOAT                                       

                         Honey!

                         I stay awake

                        in the silent night

                        thinking loud about you

                        Your memories come

                        swirling in >>>

                        carrrying your image

                        into my heart

                        And you stay

                       there through

                       all the lap-tap

                       lap tap

                       round the night

                      when stars keep vigil

                      all the day 

                     when sun patrols the sky

                    When memories float

                     You step out of my heart

                     Oh!

                     Your smile mesmerises me

                     Your fragrance bathes me

                     Your touch caresses me

                     Holding you in my arms

                    and whispering sweet nothings

                    I plant hard kisses

                    on the pillow!

                   as I find my lips

                   in the morning

                  on it

                  Were u there?

                 Was it  a dream?

                 Let the memories

                 Float

                 stirring u up 

                 from my heart   

                 and make it

                happen

                again and again.

               Till u materialised in

               my real world  -

              Relieving my solitude

              and to relive the magical moments

              Kandasamy Mohan 

Dear Friends,

                    I thank all my friends who extended support and participated in the Earth Hour swich-off. I also thank the friend who copied my meesage in her iland. I thank also one friend who found this as a tokenism and wanted to me take up a campaign for making the Government responsible towards environment.

  Kandasamy Mohan

    I am grateful to my dear friend on this iland for bringing to my notice an international event - the Earth Hour 2008 0n March 29th. On this day the international community for environment is asking the households, business establishments, Government bodies, non-govermental organisations and all concerned to switch off their lights and non-essential electrical appliances to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions. It is for one hour between  8 to 9 P.M.  This event is promoted by World Wide Fund for Nature Australia an environmental lobbying group and Sydney Morning Herald.The first-ever earth hour was held in Sydney on March 31st, 2007 between 7.30 to 8.30 P.M by switching off lights. The 2007 Earth Hour is estimated to have cut Sydney's electricty consumption by 2.1 to 10.2% with as many as 2.2 million enthusistic people participating.  Seeing the benefits that accrued The second Earth Hour 2008 was planned as an international event with as many as 27 countries and several cities in these countries ,as on 27 th March, 2008 , participating in observing the day.

     The details are available in the site www.earthhour.org.

     For those who are not in the know about global warming , here is a brief.

    The emissions of chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs) from refrigerators and air-conditioners and carbon di oxide gas emitted by automobiles, houehold and industrial fuel burning and electric bulbs, nitrous oxide(N2O)  emiited during agricultual and industrial activities and methane(CH4) emitted during production and  transportation of coal, natual gas and oil all known as green house gases produce green house effect. The light energy received from the Sun should be radiated back to space to avoid the Earth getting warmed.  These green house gases while letting through the light in visible spectrum retain the invisible infra red rays leading to the warming of the Earth.  This morning also there was a report in newspapers about melting of Ice shelves in antarctica due to global warming as shown by satellite pictures.

     It is high time, we as responsible citizens of the world, rise up to the occassion by whole-hearted participation in the event by switching off lights and non-essential electric appliances between 8 to 9 P.M. on March 29 th, 2008. I am going to observe the day in both letter and spirit

    Let us all do it for the sake of our Mother Earth. Join me in the switch-off.

    Hopefully and Environmentally yours,

    Kandasamy Mohan.

   saneevan@rediffmail.com