HPI Requests Sanskrit Help on Macintosh Platform

SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, December 30, 2004: We are looking for someone skilled in typing Sanskrit on a Macintosh platform who could help us with projects from time to time. They would need to use our Devanagari font. Projects tend to be relatively short. If you are interested, please contact “source.”

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Will Fear of the Flu Lead Namaste to Replace the Handshake?

SourceWASHINGTON, D.C., December 25, 2004: (HPI note: This article appeared in the Washington Post. ) The humble handshake — cornerstone of civilized behavior, ancient gesture of greeting among friends and strangers alike — is in trouble. Politicians are avoiding it. Church officials are worrying about it. Business people are wary of it. Shaking hands is slowly being transformed from a…

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Tsunami Relief Efforts: Updated List of Relief Organizations

HPIKAUAI, HAWAII, December 29, 2004: With the help of input from HPI readers, we’ve assembled the following list of organizations in several countries who are involved in the tsunami relief efforts. They include both organizations collecting money for the relief effort and those actually on the ground in India and Sri Lanka doing the work. This is not a complete…

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Amritananda’s Ashram in Kerala Hit by Tsunami

SourceAMRITAPURI, KERALA, INDIA, December 26, 2004: This summary report was issued by the ashram of Mataji Amritananda, “Amma.” There is much more information at their website, “source.” Due to the earthquake in Jakartha, Indonesia tremours occurred in many places in India, and a tsunami was sent towards the Indian coast. Amritapuri has been affected, but no one there was hurt.…

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Tsunami Relief Efforts: How to Help

HPIKAUAI, HAWAII, December 29, 2004: With the help of input from HPI readers, we’ve assembled the following list of organizations in several countries who are involved in the tsunami relief efforts. They include both organizations collecting money for the relief effort and those actually on the ground in India and Sri Lanka doing the work. This is not a complete…

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RSS Deploys 1,000 Volunteers in Tamil Nadu

SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, December 28, 2004: The RSS issued the following press release from “source”: The purpose of the press release is to appraise the public of the relief work organised by the RSS and to appeal for assistance in the form of medicines, clothing, blankets, sarees and more importantly donations for relief and rehabilitation includes housing, boats and fishing nets…

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Sixth Sense Apparently Saves Animals in Sri Lanka

SourceYALA NATIONAL PARK, SRI LANKA, December 29, 2004: Wildlife officials in Sri Lanka expressed surprise Wednesday that they found no evidence of large-scale animal deaths from the weekend’s massive tsunami — indicating that animals may have sensed the wave coming and fled to higher ground. An Associated Press photographer who flew over Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park in an air…

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Fishermen Rescue Hundreds Stranded on Vivekananda Rock Memorial

SourceKANYAKUMARI, INDIA, December 27, 2004: Bravery of fishermen in Kanyakumari helped to save the lives of over 500 people at the Vivekananda rock memorial on Sunday. Undeterred by the menacingly high tides, fishermen put their boats out into the sea and went to rescue the stranded tourists after the deadly Tsunami waves hit India’s southeast coast on Sunday morning. They…

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Christians See Conversion Opportunities in Disaster Relief

SourceVIRGINIA, USA, December 28, 2004: The Christian website, Crosswalk.com, published a long story about Christian relief efforts following the tsunami (“source”). While the Christian charity exhibited by the rapid response of Christian organizations is admirable, the ulterior motives of conversion expressed by some are disturbing: Some excerpts: ….”Doctor Ajith Fernando, who is considered by some to be the “Billy Graham…

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