Step to "Quit Smoking"

Quit smoking comfortably and permanently with '10 Steps to Become a Non-smoker'

Would you rather be an ex-smoker that craves cigarettes - or a non-smoker who never gives them a thought?

We think we know the answer - but read on to find out why the '10 Steps to Become a Non-Smoker' hypnosis download pack will enable you to stop smoking for good, and never crave another cigarette.
Most smokers have experienced it more than once. Several weeks down the road to quitting for good, then...

One slip and all that effort wasted

All those good intentions made; cravings resisted; plans laid and for what?
A few weeks off the cigarettes.

And every time, it seems like it's OK to do it. But why?

Because addiction is very clever, that's why, and it works at an unconscious level.

So however strong your conviction is to start with, addiction waits until you are at a 'low' point, and then strikes.

And suddenly you find yourself making up the most incredibly creative reasons for why it's OK to have 'just that one'.

So how can you stay stopped?

There is a profound difference between a smoker that has stopped smoking and a non-smoker. The smoker courageously resists having a cigarette, while the non-smoker couldn't think of anything worse than smoking.

You've probably heard those people who quit smoking 10 years ago and still say "Every time I have a beer I still want a cigarette" - if you are trying to stop smoking that is a terrifying thing to hear!

But it simply means is that they only quit smoking at a conscious level - that is they decided to stop, and stopped. Unconsciously, smoking is still an attractive prospect for them.

If you're going to quit smoking, do the job right


There are a million and one ways to stop smoking... from nicotene patches and chewing gum to tablets, lozenges, inhalers and Zyban the stop smoking drug. In addition, there are plenty of people out there willing to tell you how to stop smoking - quit tips are everywhere.

But they all miss one vital component - the unconscious mind.

If you are going to make the effort to free yourself from the terrible effects of smoking, why not do it right? Use a proper smoking cessation program that will leave you free of the desire to smoke.

Maharashtra NGOs 'failed' in preventing AIDS

Evaluation by National Aids Control Organization (NACO) says that non-government organizations (NGOs) in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra have not been able to meet key parameters to prevent spread of HIV or AIDS. The organization termed the NGOs’ efforts as 'failure'. 

Eight NGOs handling about 13 projects in Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Jalna were found guilty on various counts. The NGOs include Humsafar (Mumbai), Marathwada Gramin Vikas Sanstha, Udaan Trust & Prerna Samajik Sanstha (Aurangabad), Setu Charitable Trust (Jalna), Indian Red Cross Society, Indian Institute of Youth Welfare, and Sarathi Trust (Nagpur). These organizations get annual grants amounting to Rs 2 crore-Rs 3 crore. They were found guilty of wrong or zero maintenance of financial records, fabrication of disease data, inactiveness in spreading awareness, and not carrying out routine checks for STD infections. 

The Humsafar Trust that was handling three projects in Mahim, Mulund, and Mankhurd was found lacking in its efforts to spread awareness and propagate safe sex practices among men having sex with men (MSM group). The report maintained that 10 of 13 projects had failed completely. 

Although NACO has not made any official statement, the organization’s official who accessed the report told The Times of India that NGOs had failed to bring about any behavioural change in their targeted groups. The NGOs failed to ensure that those with high chances of HIV infection went for tests every six months. The source said that many of these NGOs had not visited their project areas in months. 

Indian NGOs received Rs 40,000 crore in foreign grants

Foreign contribution of nearly Rs 40,000 crore has been received by 77,000 NGOs across the country in four years beginning 2005-06.

During financial year 2005-06, altogether 18,650 NGOs received Rs 7,889.12 crore, while 19,462 NGOs received Rs 11,111.12 crore in 2006-07, Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran confirmed in Rajya Sabha today.  Rs 9,723.96 crore was received by 19,247 NGOs in 2007-08 and Rs 10,837.49 crore was received by 20,499 NGOs in 2008-09.

Last week, citing financial irregularities and corruption, the government had barred 42 NGOs from receiving foreign grants while 36 NGOs have been kept under the ‘prior permission’ category. These NGOs will have to seek nod from the authorities before accepting any donation from abroad.

Premature birth causes almost half the child deaths in India

Nearly half of all child deaths in India are caused due to premature births, making it the second leading cause in the country, claims a report by international NGO Save the Children. The number one cause is pneumonia.  

The report, ‘Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth’, informs that India has the highest number of children dying of preterm births – defined as birth within less than 37 weeks of pregnancy. To quote UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who wrote the foreword to the report, “All newborns are vulnerable but preterm babies are acutely so.”  

Of the 27 million babies born in India annually (2010 figure), nearly 3.6 million are born prematurely, of which 303,600 do not survive due to complications. According to the report, India is among the top 10 countries that account for 60 per cent of the world’s preterm births. In terms of preterm birth rates – the number of children born prematurely per 1,000 live births – India ranks 36. The ranking includes 199 countries.  

Save the Children India CEO Thomas Chandy said factors such as early marriage, inadequate nutritional intake by pregnant women, and lack of adequate health interventions are the reasons that contribute to preterm births. Preterm risk factors include a prior history of pre-term birth, underweight, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, infection, maternal age (either under 17 or over 40), genetics, multi-foetal pregnancy (twins, triplets, and higher), and pregnancies spaced too closely.  

The report proposes that India can reduce deaths by 50 per cent through better management of neonatal infections, improved thermal care, feeding support, and scaling up Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). In KMC, the premature baby is put in early, prolonged, and continuous direct skin-to-skin contact with the mother or a family member to provide stable warmth and encourage frequent breastfeeding.  

Worldwide, 15 million babies are born too soon every year and 1.1 million of those babies die shortly after birth, making premature birth the second leading cause of death in children under age 5. As per the report, of the 11 countries with preterm birth rates over 15 per cent, all but two are in sub-Saharan Africa. Preterm births account for 11.1 per cent of the world’s live births, 60 per cent of them in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.   Countries with the greatest numbers of preterm births  

1. India -- 3,519,100  

2. China -- 1,172,300  

3. Nigeria -- 773,600  

4. Pakistan -- 748,100  

5. Indonesia -- 675,700  

6. United States -- 517,400  

7. Bangladesh -- 424,100  

8. Philippines -- 348,900  

9. Democratic Republic of the Congo -- 341,400  

10. Brazil -- 279,300

‘Social change needed to eradicate untouchability’

The book was the Tamil translation of the English work ‘Obamas of America and Dalits of India’ by the same author.

Social change is the need of the hour for eradicating untouchability, which continues to play havoc with the country , said speakers at a function to release the Tamil book titled ‘Amerikkavin Obamakkalum and Indiavin Dalithukalum’ written by senior Left leader and author D.Gnaniah.

The function was brought up by the Tiruchi-based Samooga Sinthanai Uyirpiyakkam in the city on Thursday.

T

he book was the Tamil translation of the English work ‘Obamas of America and Dalits of India’ by the same author.

The book was a comparison of heinous practices of slavery in America and untouchability on the basis of caste system in India.

Untouchability has been plaguing our society for many years. While slavery in America was an offshoot of an exploitative economic order, the caste system in India has social and religious dimensions .

The unrelenting battles launched and sacrifices made by leaders and social reformers like Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Malcolm X, against slavery and racial discrimination for decades together paved way for Obama to become the first black President of the United States.

The caste system and discrimination in the name of caste has taken deep roots in the country and could not be done away with despite leaders like Ambedkar, Periyar, Singaravelar waging a grim battle.

In both the countries, the fight against caste oppression was waged through peaceful, constitutional and democratic means, the book explained.

M.Selvaraj, convener of the Samooga Sinthanai Uyirpiyakkam, who released the book, said that he did not agree with the author that cultural revolution will be able to put an end to caste oppression in Indian society. 

Only a class struggle-an integrated struggle combining political, ideological and economical aspects-will bring about change.

People should have social outlook to check issues like honour killing, Mr.Selvaraj added.

Ravikumar, former MLA and general secretary of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, who received the first copy, said that all right thinking individuals should take along Marx and Ambedkar together while dealing with social issues.

He regretted that Ambedkar has not been accepted in full and there is an urgent need for the Left and Dalits to come together.

Mr.Gnaniah in his acceptance speech regretted that every issue, whether a minor or a major, is viewed in a casteist perspective and this should be done away with.

The government should enact a law preventing marriage within the same caste as this will go a long way in checking this trend, he added.

S.Kamaraj presided over the function.

Bhubaneswar : 19 Odia kids rescued from Tamil Nadu home

BHUBANESWAR: As many as 19 children from Orrisa were rescued from illegal confinement from a children's home in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday night. The development came five days after the rescue of 18 kids from Kanyakumari district in the south Indian state, raising the total number of those saved so far to 37.

A four-member team from Odisha is camping in Tamil Nadu to bring back all the rescued children, director of social welfare (Odisha) Sujata R Karthikeyan said. They will probably arrive in Orrisa either on Thursday or Friday, after all formalities are completed there, she added.


The DSW told TOI on Wednesday that the 19 children could be rescued because of a tip-off from those freed earlier. The government is yet to zero in on the exact cause behind the trafficking and its route.

"The children told our team members that seven more kids were stuck in the home near Coimbatore from where they were shifted to the church in Kanyakumari district. The team alerted the district administration, which raided the home at Mettupalayam and saved 19 children. According to our information, it is being run by one Blessing Trust," Karthikeyan said.

"The 19 children are now in custody of the child welfare committee of Coimbatore. They will join the 18 children rescued earlier at the authorized home Saranalayam near Tirunelveli before being brought to Odisha," the DSW said. The children are mainly from Gajapati and Rayagada districts, she said.

The government is investigating whether these children were purchased or sent by their poor parents on the genuine belief that they will get better upbringing. But in any case, the trafficking is illegal and follow up will be done so that once returned, these children are not trafficked again, the DSW said.