Source UNITED STATES, July 2011: The url at source (above) is now available on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. And it’s free! You can also search for keywords ‘vegan ingredients’ or ‘vegetarian ingredients’ in the Apple Store. The Guide lists the uses, sources, and definitions of 200 common food ingredients. It also states whether the commercial source of the ingredient…
Religion News Service WASHINGTON, July 2011 (RNS): A group of clergy and lawmakers is trying to overturn a nearly decade-old policy that allows faith-based organizations that receive federal funds to hire and fire employees onthe basis of religion. Critics say President Obama has reneged on a campaign promise to repeal the policy, which was put into place by President Bush…
Source WASHINGTON, Jul 6, 2011 (IPS News): Heat waves clearly can destroy crop harvests. The world saw high heat decimate Russian wheat in 2010. Crop ecologists have found that each one-degree Celsius rise in temperature above the optimum can reduce grain harvests by 10 percent. But the indirect effects of higher temperatures on our food supply are no less serious.…
Source MYANMAR, June 21, 2011 (Sify): In a major boost to its cultural and historic ties with Myanmar, India Tuesday agreed to renovate and restore a 12th century temple in the ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar’s Mandalay region. Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna made the offer to the three-month-old Myanmarese civilian government. The Ananda Pahto, which dominates Bagan’s…
Source TIRUVANNMALAI, INDIA, June 19, 2011 (demotix.com): In a rare ritual, 121 Brahmins recited “Sri Rudram,” a prime section of the Yajur Veda, 11 times a day over 11 consecutive days, concurrently with ‘yagna’ (fire worship) and chanting of all four ancient Vedas. Tiruvannamalai is regarded as especially auspicious for this event, because in the seventh section of the “Sri…
Source UNITED STATES, July 2011: A coalition of major Christian churches including the Vatican launched a rule book on Tuesday for spreading their faith that aims to reduce hostility from Islam and other religions to efforts to convert their followers. The code, entitled “Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct”, comes amid growing tension between small local Christian…
Source NEW YORK, July 6, 2011 (Press Release): HAF announces its third annual NextGen Essay Contest, open to writers ages 14 through 27. As HAF continues its efforts to build a progressive Hindu American voice, it is also working to ensure the voices of future Hindu American leaders are heard. The NextGen Essay Contest was established in 2009 to engage…
Source KATHMANDU, NEPAL, July 2011 (AFP): It must be treasure season. After the fabulous wealth of the Padmanabhaswamy temple, workers renovating a former royal palace in the Nepalese capital have discovered a stash of gold and silver ornaments weighing more than 300 kilograms (661 pounds), the government said Tuesday. Only one of three boxes has been opened so far and…
Source MADURAI, INDIA, June 28, 2011 (hindu.com): For the devotees standing in the winding queues for darshan at the Meenaksi Sundareswarar Temple here, the temple authorities are installing a total of ten 32-inch LCD televisions for their benefit. The devotees will be able to see pictures of the presiding Deity, festival schedules and puja time while they are moving in…
Source PICKERING, ONTARIO, CANADA, June 30, 2011 (News Durham): The Devi Mandir Hindu Temple in Pickering is expanding and a grant from the Ontario government is helping cover the costs. The Satya Sanatan Dharma Cultural Sabha of Canada, also known as Devi Mandir, will receive $422,300 over 18 months. The money will go towards repairs and upgrades of the facility…