World Food Day Indians are hungry amid plenty Editorial, The Tribune Published on October 18, 2011 | | Hunger is not catchy enough to attract eye balls of those who could turn it into a political debate. Though it affects millions, it is not a matter of concern in a democracy of a billion people. Since the political discourse is limited to data and figures, which goes gung-ho with its record bumper crops and overflowing stocks of foodgrains, year after year, the feeble voices of hunger and malnutrition are ignored in this self- congratulatory din. Agricultural imports have quadrupled since the opening of imports, but it has affected rural livelihoods — coupled with rising inflation, it has drastically reduced the quality of food consumed by the rural. In times when the Planning Commission has declared Rs 32 to be good enough to keep an Indian above poverty line while the high growth rate is sustained, it is only ironical that the UN counts India among the seven countries where two-thirds of the world's hungry live. In the much-talked about "The Argumentative Indian," Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen wrote, " About half of all Indian children are chronically under-nourished and more than half of all the adult women are anaemic, more than in Africa. Africa still manages to ensure a higher level of nourishment than India." India is the only country where hunger and malnutrition are not sporadic; they are a constant. We had known it all along, but a country of 7 per cent growth rate has problems digesting the fact. Though the government likes to live in self-denial, as far as the existence of hungry-India is concerned, the fact cannot be ignored that while 10,688 lakh tonnes of foodgrains rot in ill-managed FCI depots, and buffer stocks exceed hundreds of millions of tonnes, millions of Indians go hungry because our PDS (public distribution system) remains incorrigible. There may not be sensational starvation deaths to get media attention, malnutrition is raising a generation which will require more investment on health care in future. The government should pay attention to the modernisation of agriculture to create more avenues of livelihood in the rural areas so that 70 per cent of India's population can go to sleep with a filled stomach. |
From E-Group, Banking-News
--- On Thu, 13/10/11, Reddy Sydney (ZA, Richards Bay) <Sydney.Reddy@mondigroup.co.za> wrote:
From: Reddy Sydney (ZA, Richards Bay) <Sydney.Reddy@mondigroup.co.za>
Subject: [vallalargroups:4358] FW: Regrets of the dying
To: "vallalargroups@googlegroups.com" <vallalargroups@googlegroups.com>
Date: Thursday, 13 October, 2011, 12:42 PM
01 OCTOBER 2011 Regrets of the dying | 
| by Bronnie Ware: Blogger, author, songwriter and singer. | For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.
People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.
2. I wish I didn't work so hard
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.
Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.
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