A worldwide research effort by the World Bank in the 1970s and 1980s sought to discover ways to overcome the sustainability barrier to borehole use. It concluded that: Borehole pump parts should be designed to be easily replicable by local industry (as the World Bank sponsored, public domain Afridev pump design is intended to be). Standardisation within a region is desirable, to encourage a reliable supply of spare parts and skilled mechanics. Full capacity and responsibility for borehole maintenance should rest with a committee of users, not outside agencies (a principle referred to as Village Level ...

See also:

Borehole, Borehole - Features, Borehole - Installation, Borehole - Sludger Technique, Borehole - Development, Borehole - Advantages, Borehole - Speed, Borehole - Precision, Borehole - Hygiene, Borehole - Disadvantages, Borehole - Sustainability, Borehole - Borehole Pump types

Read more here: » Borehole: Encyclopedia II - Borehole - Sustainability

Green issues Worldwide green parties (list): Global Greens · Africa · Americas · Asia-Pacific · Europe Global Greens Charter: ecological wisdom · social justice · participatory democracy · nonviolence · sustainability · respect diversity Sustainability is a systemic concept, relating to the continuity of economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects of human society. It is intended to be a means of configuring civilization and human activity so that societ ...

Including:

• Sustainability - Definition
• Sustainability - Sustainability Index
• Sustainability - Concepts and issues
• Sustainability - Implementing Agenda 21
• Sustainability - Types of sustainability
• Sustainability - Development sustainability
• Sustainability - Bibliography

Read more here: » Sustainability: Encyclopedia - Sustainability

The modern concept of environmental sustainability goes back to the post-World War II period, when a utopian view of technology-driven economic growth gave way to a perception that the quality of the environment was linked closely to economic development. Interest grew sharply during the environmental movements of the 1960s, when popular books such as Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962) and The Population Bomb< ...

See also:

Sustainability, Sustainability - Definition, Sustainability - Sustainability Index, Sustainability - Concepts and issues, Sustainability - Implementing Agenda 21, Sustainability - Types of sustainability, Sustainability - Development sustainability, Sustainability - Bibliography

Read more here: » Sustainability: Encyclopedia II - Sustainability - Concepts and issues

The LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) industry is a recently identified grouping of business segments that represents a $540 billion global marketplace consisting of educated consumers who make conscientious purchasing and investing decisions. Paul Ray, the eminent sociologist who coined the term "cultural creatives" for this consumer group, has determined that this category includes one out of every four Americans, and is growing rapidly. Market research guru Paul Ray speaks out on how he found them and why you should care.

Read more here: » Cultural Creatives & LOHAS: Discovering the Cultural Creatives

Animal Rights: God of All Things

All creatures, big and small, are beautiful creations of God. Very often, however, we tend to either ignore the "small" or exploit them for selfish reasons. This is where religion and spirituality can help - to restore to us a holistic perspective so that all of God's creations are given due respect.

Religious thought and spirituality serve a larger purpose only when they find positive expression in action. Theory without implementation is of no use. I fear that the concepts of religion and spirituality are being hijacked by humans for their own selfish purposes, leaving out all the other, equally if not more valid forms of life.

Read more here: » Animal Rights: God of All Things

Some say a critical mass of more conscious individuals can shift our evolution away from wanton destruction toward a positive future for living things on the planet. Bay-area researcher Paul Ray has found that we may be living through a rare population mind-set shift -- something that happens only once or twice a millennium. A growing number of people, according to Ray's research, express concern about ecological sustainability (green issues) and a core group express a commitment to personal and spiritual development in addition. He calls these individuals "Cultural Creatives".

Read more here: » Cultural Creatives: Cultural Creatives Making a Difference for the Future

Islam and Hinduism: The Thousand Names of Vishnu and Allah

Allah is Al-Ahad or The One and Vishnu is called Eka, The One. It's curious but there are striking similarities between the many names of Vishnu and those of Allah.

Read more here: » Islam and Hinduism: The Thousand Names of Vishnu and Allah

Buddhism sees humans neither as a special creation of God, nor does it see them as having been given dominion over 'lesser' species. It says that like all sentient beings, humans also wander in the limited, conditioned realm of samsara, the cycle of rebirths.

It believes that man influences the environment not only through his actions but also through the moral and immoral qualities of his actions - karmic effects catch up with people via their environment.

(See also: Buddhism and Ecology , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Buddhism and Ecology: Man & Environment - A Special Bond  

Ayurveda - the way life could be, should be!

Imagine a culture thousands of years ago, a great civilisation known as Indus. So advanced was the culture, that they had superior architecture, engineering, education and commerce. Above all, it was a spiritual place where all living creatures were respected and the vulnerable were protected, even the animals.

He who regards kindness to humanity as the supreme religion and treats his patients accordingly, succeeds best in achieving the aims of life and obtains the greatest happiness.

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Ayurveda - the way life could be, should be!

Thirty years ago the historian Arnold Toynbee and Daisaku Ikeda, head of the Japanese Buddhist Soka Gokkai International, discussed at length various pertinent issues, trying to discern the future direction that our world must take if it is to survive these "times of the end".
Toynbee remarks, "...The question of mankind's future religion arises because all the current religions have proved unsatisfactory... A future religion that is to bring into being, and to keep in being, a new civilisation will have to be one that will enable mankind to contend with, and to overcome, the evils that are serious present threats to human survival."

Read more here: » Global Oneness: New Global Order and Oneness Principle

Seven cities in India correspond to seven centres or chakras in our body: ÒAyodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, Puri drawaravati chaiva, Saptaide moksha dayikaÓ. The seven cities are companioned  with seven sacred rivers; Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri

The microcosm and the macrocosm are interlinked. Planet earth, home to many organisms, is itself a large organism. It is not just a place for living beings; it is a living organism as a whole. This is what the Gaia theory says. Materialism considers everything as objects. Spirituality, on the other hand, discovers life in everything.

Read more here: » Gaia Theory: Chakras and the Seven Sacred Cities

Ayurveda and Herbal Medicine

Today, you may think in this technologically advanced society, (as I sit by my computer writing this, and you sit by yours reading it) there are a whole range of patented chemical drugs tailored for all ailments, so why use herbal medicines?

Herbs are as effective for healing today as they were in our grandmothers' day, and for thousands of years before that. We may live in a very different world today but the human body hasn't changed, in fact it's often struggling to cope with ifs new modern environment.

Read more here: » Herbal Medicine: Ayurveda and Herbal Medicine

Kundalini Maha Yoga and World Peace

We are in a state of unbalanced development, lacking on the spiritual side. Therefore, to attain what is missing -- peace, harmony and brotherhood -- it is necessary to realize that the entire universe is the creation of God, that all life is one, and that all are children of love. This realization is spiritual; it is not intellectual comprehension of an ideal.

Read more here: » Kundalini Maha Yoga: Kundalini Maha Yoga and World Peace

Oneness: Rise Above Dogma, Realise The Truth

When I pass by the neighbourhood mosque, I bow my head in respect just as I do when I pass by the temple. The mullah's call to the faithful turns me towards prayer and God. I go through the same upsurge of emotions when I visit a church or gurdwara. When I bow my head in humility to Christ and the Guru Granth Sahib, I see in them my beloved Lord Krishna. Similarly, when I hear the Buddhist chant: ''Buddham Sharanam Gachchhami'', it continues to reverberate within me for long after, giving me the same sense of peace I experience when I say my usual prayers.

Read more here: » Oneness: Rise Above Dogma, Realise The Truth

Hardship Throws Up A Million Saviours

When we run for cover as the sky opens up and the rain comes thundering down to the accompaniment of a million kettle-drums; when in the middle of the night, our bed dances across the floor of our room in the arms of a mighty earthquake, we exclaim: "Please, God, help me out of this!" - no matter in what language we've muttered the words, no matter what age we are living in, or where. Then there is one God, the protector of all humanity.

Read more here: » Oneness: Hardship Throws Up A Million Saviours

New Global Order and Oneness Principle

Thirty years ago the historian Arnold Toynbee and Daisaku Ikeda, head of the Japanese Buddhist Soka Gokkai International, discussed at length various pertinent issues, trying to discern the future direction that our world must take if it is to survive these "times of the end".

Toynbee remarks, "...The question of mankind's future religion arises because all the current religions have proved unsatisfactory... A future religion that is to bring into being, and to keep in being, a new civilisation will have to be one that will enable mankind to contend with, and to overcome, the evils that are serious present threats to human survival."

Read more here: » Oneness Principle: New Global Order and Oneness Principle

Relevance of Buddhism In the New Century

In the 20th century great changes took place as a result of experiments and developments in a broad range of human activities, in economics, politics, and science. The past hundred years' experiences have made us appreciate the importance of freedom, and the significant contributions of individual and private enterprise in improving the economy. We also began to recognise the importance of putting a stop to the production and proliferation of weapons of tremendous destructive power.

By The Dalai Lama

Read more here: » Buddhism: Relevance of Buddhism In the New Century

Organic Gardening

What has organic gardening to do with spiritual healing? Allow me a few moments of your time and I shall tell you. A centre such as we are developing will be a place of tranquillity, comfort and revival, both spiritual and physical. I suppose this could be achieved without the benefit of nature on the doorstep but nature itself is a healer, and can offer so much to the troubled spirit. Let us take a stroll through a year in the garden of our healing centre, where visitors will be encouraged to enjoy their surroundings as much, or as little, as they so desire.

Read more here: » Organic Gardening: What has organic gardening to do with spiritual healing?

Enchanting Abode of The Double Devta

Having been born into a secular Hindu family which venerates a Sufi saint, I have always thought I had a special advantage over my friends whose faith in their respective religions would perhaps be more limiting than mine. So, while we commemorate the Urs of our Pir, we also celebrate Diwali and New Year at his shrine. Are we Muslim, Hindu, Sufi or Christian?

Read more here: » Islam and Hinduism: Enchanting Abode of The Double Devta