The total solar eclipse of July 22nd, 2009 is already a much spoken topic. There has been wide spread viewings though in some parts of India, it was not visible due to cloudy situations. Anyhow, Pondicherry Science Forum had a spectacular event organized in collaboration with the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Puducherry.
PSF conducted an awareness programme on 21st of July 2009 at the Beach road for early morning walkers on the beach road. Hundreds of people listened to our activists who spoke about the importance of the programme which is the last total solar eclipse of this century. They were told that PSF would be arranging a multimedia presentation on the beach on 21st July evening and also arrange a mass eclipse viewing programme on 22nd July 2009 from 5.30 am onwards untill the eclipse is completed in Puducherry at 7.17 am.
The evening programme was attended hundreds of the public and a multimedia presentation was given by Ms.A.Hemavathi, Vice President of Pondicherry Science Forum. Reports on this can be seen at http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/22/stories/2009072254080300.htm.
The next day was a great programme. From 5.30 am onwards, people started pouring to the beach due to the huge publicity given by the local press and TV channels to the programme. Two telescopes were arranged for getting an image of the eclipsed sun to a screen as direct viewing of the Sun would damage the eyes. Goggles were also supplied free of charge by the Dept. of S&T and Environment for safe viewing of the eclipse. The young and old - all watched the 66% eclipsed Sun with great curiosity. In a place like India, where there are numerous superstitions related to eclipses, this was a great success.
A report about this programme as appeared in the National daily "the Hindu" is given here. http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/23/stories/2009072353140300.htm
Raghu
for Pondicherry Science Forum.
http://www.psfcerd.org
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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Quaker Oats and non-ethical experiments on children
Quakers Oats company was started in Pennsylvania in 1901 when there were lots of Quakers around, mostly due to the fact that Quakers were known as being honest.
But Quaker Oats isn't exactly honest. Today, it's actually owned by PepsiCo, and in the 1950s, Quaker Oats, Harvard University and MIT researchers conducted experiments on human children using radioactive elements to trace the flow of nutrients through their bodies. The children were invited to be part of a "special science club," but they weren't told they were being fed Quaker Oats laced with radioactive substances. Side effects of radioactive exposure include skin cell mutations and skin cancer.
When parents found out about the experiments, they sued, and Quaker Oats was eventually forced to pay out $1.85 million, but the case wasn't settled until decades later -- 1997, actually. It's all detailed in the book The State Boy's Rebellion by Michael D'Antonio. (http://www.amazon.com/State-Boys-Re...)
Sources:
MIT news: http://tech.mit.edu/V117/N65/bferna...
(Note how arrogant this MIT news story is, implying it was okay to experiment on the children because the levels of radioactivity were so low.)
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker...
But Quaker Oats isn't exactly honest. Today, it's actually owned by PepsiCo, and in the 1950s, Quaker Oats, Harvard University and MIT researchers conducted experiments on human children using radioactive elements to trace the flow of nutrients through their bodies. The children were invited to be part of a "special science club," but they weren't told they were being fed Quaker Oats laced with radioactive substances. Side effects of radioactive exposure include skin cell mutations and skin cancer.
When parents found out about the experiments, they sued, and Quaker Oats was eventually forced to pay out $1.85 million, but the case wasn't settled until decades later -- 1997, actually. It's all detailed in the book The State Boy's Rebellion by Michael D'Antonio. (http://www.amazon.com/State-Boys-Re...)
Sources:
MIT news: http://tech.mit.edu/V117/N65/bferna...
(Note how arrogant this MIT news story is, implying it was okay to experiment on the children because the levels of radioactivity were so low.)
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker...
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"No" to cold and cough medicines for children below 6 years age
The United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued new guidelines advising parents not to prescribe over-the-counter cold and cough medicines to children under the age of six, and placing stricter restrictions on their sale.
"Coughs and colds can be distressing for both you and your child but they will get better by themselves within a few days. Using simple measures to ease symptoms is likely to be most effective," said MHRA Director of Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines June Raine. "Over-the-counter medicines used to treat coughs and colds have been used for many years. However, they came into use when clinical trials were not required to demonstrate that they worked in children. This means they were not specially designed for children."
Although cold and cough medications have been tested in adults, there is no evidence that they work in young children. Potentially dangerous side effects, on the other hand, have been well documented. Therefore parents are advised not to give their young children any product containing antihistamines, antitussives (anti-cough), expectorants or nasal decongestants. Under no circumstances should the drugs be given to a child under the age of two.
"It is not right to assume safety and efficacy based on children being small adults," Raine said. "Children should have access to medicines that are acceptably safe and designed for their use."
In the United Kingdom, all cough and cold products marketed to children under the age of six will be phased out. Products for children between the ages of six and 12 will remain available, but must be purchased directly from a pharmacist.
The MHRA recommends that parents worried about colds and coughs in their younger children use natural remedies such as honey and lemon for a cough and saline drops for nasal congestion. If symptoms do not improve after five days, a doctor should be consulted.
Sources for this story include: www.reuters.com.
"Coughs and colds can be distressing for both you and your child but they will get better by themselves within a few days. Using simple measures to ease symptoms is likely to be most effective," said MHRA Director of Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines June Raine. "Over-the-counter medicines used to treat coughs and colds have been used for many years. However, they came into use when clinical trials were not required to demonstrate that they worked in children. This means they were not specially designed for children."
Although cold and cough medications have been tested in adults, there is no evidence that they work in young children. Potentially dangerous side effects, on the other hand, have been well documented. Therefore parents are advised not to give their young children any product containing antihistamines, antitussives (anti-cough), expectorants or nasal decongestants. Under no circumstances should the drugs be given to a child under the age of two.
"It is not right to assume safety and efficacy based on children being small adults," Raine said. "Children should have access to medicines that are acceptably safe and designed for their use."
In the United Kingdom, all cough and cold products marketed to children under the age of six will be phased out. Products for children between the ages of six and 12 will remain available, but must be purchased directly from a pharmacist.
The MHRA recommends that parents worried about colds and coughs in their younger children use natural remedies such as honey and lemon for a cough and saline drops for nasal congestion. If symptoms do not improve after five days, a doctor should be consulted.
Sources for this story include: www.reuters.com.
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Make Science Programme 2009
Pondicherry Science Forum, in collaboration with the University of Paris, South 11, France is organising the 3rd Edition of the Faites de la science (Make Science Competitions - MSC).
The Faites de la Science programme is a prestigious programme which has been running for 6 successful years in France and for the last two years, the programme was extended to Pondicherry as well as an international edition.
In this programme, students belonging to the government schools of Pondicherry will take up small research projects of about three to four months' duration and shall present their findings before an international Jury of experts who interact with the students through video conferencing. The final exhibition of the projects also happen via Video Conferencing where students from Pondicherry (India) interact with their counterparts from France.
This is the third year for the programme in Pondicherry and the teams have already completed their projects. The projects are currently being videographed and edited into a DVD format which will be sent to France for evaluation in addition to the vide conference mode of interaction.
PSF extends its thanks and greetings to the University of Paris, South 11, France for its continued support of the programme.
The Faites de la Science programme is a prestigious programme which has been running for 6 successful years in France and for the last two years, the programme was extended to Pondicherry as well as an international edition.
In this programme, students belonging to the government schools of Pondicherry will take up small research projects of about three to four months' duration and shall present their findings before an international Jury of experts who interact with the students through video conferencing. The final exhibition of the projects also happen via Video Conferencing where students from Pondicherry (India) interact with their counterparts from France.
This is the third year for the programme in Pondicherry and the teams have already completed their projects. The projects are currently being videographed and edited into a DVD format which will be sent to France for evaluation in addition to the vide conference mode of interaction.
PSF extends its thanks and greetings to the University of Paris, South 11, France for its continued support of the programme.
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