'Home ministry to take final call on Afzal Guru's plea'

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday said the final decision on parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's mercy petition rests with the central home ministry. She said the Delhi government has made its position clear on the matter in the file, which was sent back to Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna Wednesday. In its reply, the Delhi government has not opposed Guru's death sentence but expressed concerns of law and order if he is executed. BJP puts up hoardings in Delhi on Afzal Guru case "We have sent the file on mercy petition of Afzal Guru to the lieutenant governor. The final decision rests with the home ministry," Dikshit told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

The file will be sent to the home ministry after getting clearance from Khanna's office. As per the laid down procedure, the president sought the home ministry's views on the mercy petition of Guru in 2005. The procedure on mercy petition also requires the home ministry to seek comments of the state government in whose jurisdiction the crime, for which the death penalty is awarded to the convict, has been committed. Guru, a resident of Sopore in the Kashmir Valley, was found guilty of plotting the Dec 13, 2001, parliament attack and was sentenced to death by a trial court in December 2002.

The Delhi High Court confirmed the death penalty in October 2003. The Supreme Court had also upheld the capital punishment given to Guru for his role in the terror attack. Guru's wife, Tabassum, filed a mercy petition to the president after the apex court's verdict.(IANS)

Islamic Banking – A Guide for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

By: Sheikh GULZAAR

Srinagar :With growth in trade essential for developing countries to emerge from the global economic and financial crisis, the International Trade Centre (ITC) has published two comprehensive business guides for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), How to Access Trade Finance and Islamic Banking. The guides provide advice and best practices to help governments and trade support institutions facilitate access to finance for small exporting firms.

One of the guides, How to Access Trade Finance: A Guide for Exporting SMEs looks at trade finance in general, providing an overview of financing issues from the perspective of small exporters.The second, Islamic Banking: A Guide for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, looks at the special case of Islamic banking, which has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years and offers attractive financing alternatives for small businesses.

“If developing countries are to emerge from the recession, then their SMEs need to be given the tools to boost export business and jump-start stalled economies,” said Patricia R. Francis, ITC’s Executive Director. “These two guides, which are available free online, form part of a package of short-term responses we have prepared to support SMEs in these times of crisis.”

Developed in cooperation with banks, development funds, chambers of commerce, trade promotional organizations and financial associations, the general guide to accessing trade finance is alsodesigned to foster a new partnership between the banking sector and governments to boost SME exports.

The guide is a practical, accessible tool for SMEs and their partners. It provides an overview of financing issues from the perspective of small exporters, offers understanding of which financial instruments are most suitable, which service providers are most relevant, and how to approach them.It also provides examples of shipping documents, letters of credit and loan documentation, and asample business plan.

The guide to Islamic banking examines the implications of the provisions of Islamic law, under which akey tenet is the prohibition of interest. Islamic banks do not make loans; rather they use other models such as sale, lease and partnership-based instruments to make a profit. For some, Islamic banking is attractive because it complies with Islamic law, but there are other aspects that can make it attractive to a wider group, including micro, small and medium-sized companies.

A number of well-known Western banks have opened dedicated Islamic banking operations primarily serving customers from the Middle East, the Gulf region and South Asia, but also clients in Europe, Canada and the United States.

ITC is a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, with a particular focus on Aid for Trade and supporting private sector SMEs in developing countries in their efforts to become more competitive in global markets and thus contribute to economic progress and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. (Writer-South Asia)

NRI doc donates $20 mn to Kerala village: NRI List,Directory,Information released

By: Ed. Sheikh GULZAAR

Srinagar: An Indian-American neurosurgeon, who was born into an “untouchable” caste in a Kerala village of

Chemmanakary, made millions in the US and has now donated some $20 million to establish a neurosurgery hospital, a health clinic and a spa resort in his village.

Kumar Bahuelyan, 81, did not wear his pair of shoes until he went to medical school but earned so much that his lavish life-style included five Mercedes Benzes and one aeroplane. “I was born with nothing, I was educated by people of that village and this is what Iowe to them,” he told the Buffalo News.

Life for him has come full circle, the paper said - from dire poverty in India to the life style of rich in America and back to his native village where he has traded his Mercedes for a bicycle.

“I’m in a state of nirvana, eternal nirvana,” he told the paper. I have nothing else to achieve in life. This was my goal, to help my people. I can die any time, as a happy man.”

Another Indian native, Pearay Ogra, the former chief of infectious diseases at Women and Children’s Hospital and the president of the Bahuleyan Charitable Foundation, said he understands why Bahuleyan donated his fortune. “He grew up in a traditional Hindu culture, with a deep sense of universal giving,” Ogra told the paper. “You can afford it, give it back to the people who brought you up.”

Others too are moved by Bahuleyan’s spirit and energy, the paper said, adding Bill Zimmermann, executive director of a Buffalo sailing school is helping Bahuleyan set up a sailing and boat-building school in Chemmanakary.

The venture is designed to teach sailing and boatbuilding skills to the Indian villagers, provide more jobs and use its profits to help fund medical treatment for the villagers. Once Bahuleyan got hooked on the concept, he started spending 50 hours a week at Zimmerman’s Seven Seas Sailing School, located on the Buffalo ship canal, trying to learn about his latest

venture. “He’s not mesmerising or evangelical, but he seems like a living saint,”Zimmermann said.“He does nothing but imbue a sense of calm anddecency. He brings out the best in you.”

Bahuleyan, who lives in Buffalo with his wife, pathologist Indira Kartha, now spends half the year in the US, the other half in India. In his native land, he oversees his foundation’s work, gets around on a bicycle and still does almost daily surgery. “My dream is to see this all running without my help, so I can pass away peacefully, knowing that I created something and gave something back,”

International Information Resource Centre has been released e-publication of The Directory  of NRI's includes complete contact Informtion of over (1,50,000) NRIs residing all over the world that could be approached for funding and collaboration. Information include Name, Complete Postal Address, including Country and Postal Index Number , Ph/Fax and E.mail Address of (1,50,000+NRI’s Information from the Countries listed below:

USA-31570, UAE-25545, Others-22380, Singapore-16665, India-13384, Oman-6898, UK-6850, Kuwait-5441, Saudi Arabia-5225, Bahrain-4820, Qatar-3693, Hong Kong –1910, Canada-1714, Indonesia-1191, Japan-860, Thailand-756, Germany-552, Zambia-330, Philippines-325, Malaysia-317, Switzerland- 284, Australia-235, Botswana-135, Mauritius- 128, Belgium-122, Muscat-101, South Africa- 86, Taiwan-86, Austria-63, Russia-47, Italy- 40. (Updated of the database since May, 1995 till

28th March., 2008, records 1,50,000. More details can be obtained from: (Mob) 09858986794/e-mail:  iirc@rediffmail.com/

Journalisim Resources, Media Agencies, Oppertunities,Directory List

International Information Resource has been collected the contact information of Satellite TV Channels from all over India and brought out a database on CD-Rom. It contains complete details of hundreds of all India Satellite TV Channels.

Features: Each data Contains Name of the TV Channel , Channel Logo, Complete postal address, Email, Address,website address, phone No, Fax No. etc.

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INDIAN PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH AND THE SIKHS!

By: Habib Yousafzai : Fourty-seven head of states gathered in the capital of the United States of America to participate in the Nuclear Security Summit began on April 12, 2010. India's Chief, Council of Ministers, Manmohan Singh met the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Mr Singh specifically advised his Canadian counterpart Harper to suppress the Sikhs, who are separatists [reflects that he is not a Sikh]. What a strange thing that Manmohan Singh, a Sikh himself, is suggesting the Canadian Prime Minister that the Sikhs are separatists. Does Mr Singh, supposedly a clean and honest person in the eyes of the head of states of our world and the international news media, like to tell his other head of states of the Nuclear Summit, tell that he himself is not a democratically elected Prime Minister of India. Rather, he is a 'selected or hand picked person by a handful and president of the Congress party of his country. He has not been elected by the electorates of any constituency of the Indian parliament. A non-elected and a selected person by his master, Sonia Gandhi, and the opponents of Sonia Gandhi's parliamentarian colleagues, I did not have any choice but to accept the offer of the 'Brahmins-Hindus' parliamentarians, because none of them was capable to become the Chief, Council of Ministers, the New Delhi administration, due to their in-fighting as reflected several times in the 'Brahmins-Hindus' parliament, known as the Lok Sabha or the Lower House of the 'Brahmins-Hindus alleged Indian democracy'. Resultantly, the Indian parliamentarians could not find a democratically elected person by the Indian voters. What a strange functioning of the Indian democracy, the democracy of the 'Brahmins-Hindus', who have been masters for the practice of the shameless apartheid, devious, divisive, criminal and deceitful people. Mr Singh's calling the Sikhs as 'separatists' is quite a strange example of the morally impotent and corrupt parliamentarians, which is not any 'unusual' happening as far as the 'Brahmins-Hindus' law-makers are concerned. Would Mr Singh answers to the Sikh Diaspora and their fellow heads of the international community that the 'unelected' 'Brahmins-Hindus' leadership did not 'robb' the Sikhs of Punjab, the Sikh Nation, the First Secular and Sovereign State of South Asia, from 1799 to 14th March, 1849? The Sikhs have been 'struggling to regain their sovereignty, independence and political power, which was surrendered to no one else but the British Empire on 14th March, 1849. The unelected 'Brahmins-Hindus' politicians, after regaining their independence, made the Sikhs of Punjab a 'Landless Sikh Nation, PUNJAB' on 15th August, 1947. Why Mr Singh is telling his Canadian counterpart that the Sikhs are separatists? This is just because the Sikhs have been made a 'Landless Nation, devoid of their constitutional rights, and they have 'swallowed' the Sikh religion, and made it a 'sect' of the Hindus and their -ism. It should not be overlooked that the 'Hindus are neither a religion nor a culture'; whereas, the Sikhs are the fifth largest religion of the world. Mr Singh should make it clear that he did not lie to the members of the Commission of the United Nations Human Rights, Vienna, Austria, 15-25th August, 1993, that he then Finance Minister of the P V Rao administration said: "I being a Sikh find no abuse of Human Rights of Sikhs much less any minorities in India." His statement was refuted in the strongest possible word by the Sikhs of the Europe and North America, who had been participating and attending the Human Rights Commission. The fact remains that Manmohan Singh, being an unelected member of the Indian parliament, is merely a Chief, Council of Ministers, to serve the 'Brahmins-Hindus' of India. As such, he has been acting as a mouthpiece of his Brahmins-Hindus masters, to please them as well as acting against the 'Facts of the South Asian history' and to brand the Sikhs separatists, like his cabinet colleague, Kamal Nath, who had been visiting Canada in March/April, 2010. Interestingly, the latter has been summoned to appear before a Court of Justice in the United States for 'committing crimes against humanity'. Mr Singh, being the assistant to the then Home Minister in 1984, P V Rao, has also committed crimes against the Sikhs by not telling his role in a brutal military "Operation Bluestar" of June, 1984, in which Indian armed forces had taken a toll of more than 250,000 innocent Sikhs. (Writer-South Asia)

Hazelnut-Corylus cashmiriana available at Chenab Industries,Kashmir

GREETINGS from Chenab Industries I collects rare and vanishing species of plants, herbs and spices. For the past 20 years and devoted myself to developing many varieties of plants that can survive in difficult conditions such as Ginkgo biloba, Podophyllum hexandrum, Hazelnut-Corylus cashmiriana, Celosia Linn, Mucuna pruriens cashmiriana, Hawthorne Crataegus oxyacantha+C monogyna, Hemidesmus indicus, Hyoscyamus niger Linn , Mentha arvensis, Artemisia absinthium Linn, Kashmiri Asparagus racemus, Malva sylvestries Linn, Lavatera cashmeriana Cambess, Polygonum hydropiper Linn, Celosia Linn, Taraxacum officinale,Origanum vulgare Linn, Saffron Corms etc.

Ed. Sheikh Gulzaar

Chenab Industries

Ist Street, Shaheed-e-Azemat Road, Nambalbal, pampore PPR JK 190001

Ph: 01933-223705, 9858986794

e-mail: cikashmir@gmail.com

http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

List of TV Channels in India released

http://mediadirectoryindia.blogspot.com/Indian Media & Entertainment Industry
The Media And Entertainment Industry- Increasingly Globalized…

Srinagar: The Indian media and entertainment (M&E) industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the country. Its various segments—film, television, advertising, print and digital among others—have witnessed tremendous growth in the last few years.

According to a 2009 report jointly published by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and KPMG, the media and entertainment industry in India is likely to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5 per cent per annum over the period between 2009-13 and touch US$ 20.09 billion by 2013.

With a majority of the population below the age of 35, and increasing disposable income in Indian households, the average spend on media and entertainment is likely to grow in India, according to the 2009 edition of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Indian Entertainment and Media (E&M) Outlook, covering the forecast period of 2009–2013.

Television
According to the study by FICCI and KPMG, the television industry, which is currently valued at about US$ 4.63 billion, will expand by 14.5 per cent between 2009 and 2013. According to the above PwC report, the television advertising industry is expected to account for a share of 41.0 per cent of the advertising industry in 2013, up from the present share of 39.0 per cent.

Digital distribution platforms such as direct-to-home (DTH) and Mobile TV are transforming the industry. Mobile TV—where content will stream in on mobile phones—is poised to grow big with the advent of 3G, according to experts. With the DTH industry estimated to grow by almost 100 per cent in the 2009-10 fiscal—from US$ 310.16 million in 2008-09 to an expected US$ 620.25 million in 2009-10—leading DTH firms such as Sun Direct, Bharti Airtel DTH and Big TV have increased their marketing budget by 20-25 per cent in the fiscal year 2010.

The television distribution industry is expected to reach US$ 5.2 billion in 2013 from the estimated size of US$ 3.12 billion in 2008, which translates into a growth of 12.2 per cent on a cumulative basis over the period, according to the 2009 edition of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Indian Entertainment and Media (E&M) Outlook.

Capitalizing on the success of the 3D film Avatar, television manufacturers are gearing up to introduce new 3D TV sets into the market in the second quarter of 2010. Another player to get on the 3D bandwagon, the Indian Premier League, is set to become the first sports body to telecast a match live in 3D.

Music
Industry experts estimate that the current size of the music industry is about US$ 149 million. According to a PwC study, the industry is likely to grow to become a US$ 164.56 million industry by 2012.

With music channels giving less space to music programming to accommodate game shows and reality shows, independent music bands such Workshop Them Clones are increasingly looking to promote their videos by making them available online.

Digital music sales are expected to account for 88 per cent of the total music industry revenue in India by 2009. Though for a long time, cassettes and compact discs (CDs) have accounted for most music sales, future growth is expected to come from non-physical formats such as digital downloads and ringtones, among others

According to the 2009 PwC study, the important driver for the music industry over the coming years, will be digital music, and its share is expected to move from 16 per cent in 2008 to 60 per cent in 2013. Also, within digital music, mobile music is expected to continue to increase its share and maintain dominance.

Radio
The cheapest and oldest form of entertainment, reaching 99 per cent of the population, this segment is likely to see many dynamic changes.

According to the 2009 PwC study, the radio industry is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18 per cent over 2009-13, reaching US$ 391.15 million in 2013 from the present US$ 170.87 million in 2008. That's more than double its present size. In terms of its share of the advertising pie, it is projected that the radio advertising industry will be able to increase its share from 3.8 per cent to 5.2 per cent between 2009 and 2013.

Advertising
The number of brands advertised on television witnessed an 82 per cent increase during 2008 compared to 1999, according to a survey by AdEx India, a division of Tam Media Research.

The television advertising industry is expected to reach US$ 3.12 billion in 2013 from the estimated size of US$ 1.75 billion in 2008, which translates into a growth of 12.2 per cent on a cumulative basis, over the period.

Going forward, digital media advertising (internet, mobile and digital signage) is expected to emerge as the medium of choice for advertisers. According to a FICCI-PwC report, online advertising is expected to touch US$ 212.03 million in 2011.

Digital advertising on newspaper web sites will increase at a 6.8 percent compound annual rate to US$ 8.3 billion in 2013 from US$ 6 billion in 2008, increasing its share of total newspaper advertising to 9.1 per cent from 5.4 per cent in 2008, as per the 2009 PwC report on the Indian media and entertainment industry.

According to a PwC report, Internet advertising is projected to expand by 32 per cent over the next five years to reach US$ 411.74 million in 2013 from US$ 102.94 million in 2008. Also, the share of online advertising is projected to grow from 2.3 per cent in 2008 to 5.5 per cent in 2013. The report estimates the size of the Out of home (OOH) advertising spend to be US$ 308.8 million in 2008. This figure is projected to almost double in 2013 to US$ 514.67 million.

Cinema
The Indian film industry is the largest in the world in terms of number of films produced per year. The FICCI-KPMG study values the Indian film industry at US$ 2.11 billion and projects its growth at 9.1 per cent till 2013.

The opening of the film industry to foreign investment coupled with the granting of industry status to this segment has had a favourable impact, leading to many global production units entering the country.

Meanwhile, non-resident Indian (NRI) filmmakers are looking to India as the country offers a large market and a mainstream arts platform. Filmmaker Sangeeta Datta who is based in London says that the framework of reference has changed for NRI cinema and that NRI filmmakers like herself are now more geared towards ethnic communities and the diaspora which assures them of an audience in India, UK and the US.

Print/Publishing
According to a PwC report, the print industry is projected to grow by 5.6 per cent over the period 2009-13, touching US$ 4.26 billion in 2013 from the present US$ 3.24 billion in 2008. The relative shares of newspaper publishing and magazine publishing are not expected to change significantly and are expected to remain the same at around 87 per cent in favour of newspaper publishing. Magazine publishing is expected to grow at a higher rate of 6.5 per cent as compared with newspaper publishing which is expected to grow at 5.6 per cent over the five year period between.

The government has indicated that it may soon amend the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, so that it keeps pace with the growth of the print media in the country over the years.

Newspaper sales in India, China and Japan which stand at 60 per cent in terms of circulation, are the highest in the world, it has been announced by Timothy Balding, co-chief executive officer of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) at the 62nd World Newspaper Congress in Hyderabad.

A survey carried out by research firm Valuenotes Database, spanning 237 consultants, publishers and service providers reveals that India continues to be a favoured destination for publishing outsourcing.

Theatre
A project billed as India’s answer to Broadway has been inaugurated in Gurgaon. The project called the Kingdom of Dreams, has been conceptualized by the Great Indian Nautanki Company, a joint venture between the Apra Group of Companies and Wizcraft International Entertainment and plans to generate an interest in the genre of musical theatre.

Digital media
According to a FICCI-KPMG study, the Indian animation industry will grow from the current US$ 362 million to US$ 811.2 million by calendar 2013.

Further, with the country turning out to be a hub for graphic industries like animation and design, companies such as Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) are reworking their India strategies to grow their businesses in the computing segment. The move has been triggered by the emergence of high-end games involving real-time 3D rendering.

Tata Teleservices (TTSL) has become the first service provider to offer mobile TV on high speed broadband wireless by launching Photon TV, which allows users to access channels on desktops and laptops.

English news channel, NewsX, has launched a service which will enable mobile phone users to receive live videos on their handset, through a specific mobile URL.

A considerable number of Indian special effects artists and animators are moving up the ranks of established US animation studios such as Walt Disney and DreamWorks Animation SKG and are also creating a niche for themselves in the special effects market as well.

In a move that will strengthen its international presence and expand its offerings to include services such as restoration, 2D-to-3D conversion and post-production services to broadcasters and studios, Reliance MediaWorks (RMW) has acquired the assets of ilab UK Ltd, a film processing facility located in Soho, London.

International Information Resource has been collected the contact information of Satellite TV Channels from all over India and brought out a database on CD-Rom. It contains complete details of hundreds of all Satellite TV Channels of India.

Features: Each data Contains Name of the TV Channel , Channel Logo, Complete postal address, Email, Address,website address, phone No, Fax No. etc.

| Pages: N/A | | Format: Word | | Price Rs: 1550/- US$150

For more details:
International Information Resource Centre
PO Box 667 Srinagar SGR JK 190001
e.m: iirc@rediffmail.com,director.iirc@gmail.com
Cell: 09858986794
Ph: 01933-223705
http://mediadirectoryindia.blogspot.com/

Indian Media and Entertainment Industry :List of TV Channels released:

By: Sheikh GULZAAR

Srinagar : The domestic entertainment industry was estimated at nearly Rs 225.0 billion and provided employment opportunities for nearly 6.0 million people in the year 1999. In terms of foreign exchange earnings, the industry contributed around Rs 4,000.0 million in the year 1999. In the current year, this is likely to increase to around Rs 10,000.0 million. This projected growth is likely to occur on account of the increasing migration of the Indian population across the globe, extensive outsourcing of content such as animation by world leaders in the entertainment industry and the imminent broadband revolution in the industry. However, massive investments are required in the area of telecommunication infrastructure with industry friendly government policies. With the domestic consumer already having access to global entertainment avenues, globalization in this industry will only increase at a far greater pace in the coming years.

Changing lifestyles and increasing disposable income levels has facilitated the increasing penetration levels of the media and entertainment industry. Recent estimates indicate that around 68.0% of total adult population have access to the conventional forms of media. The urban middle class population has grown over the years and currently accounts for over 40.0% of the total population. The southern states have a distinct edge in terms of media penetration. For instance, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have penetration levels of over 80.0% in case of mass media. Similarly, in the case of televisions, penetration levels increased to an estimated 75.0% of all urban households in the country. Satellite channels have been the fastest growing category in this segment.

Product Profiling AND SegmentationIndia is a vast country with numerous official languages and a literary history that can be traced back to the birth of civilization. Over the years, the industry has made tremendous progress in terms of technology and attaining self-sufficiency. With around 10,000 publishers and around 40,000 new titles every year, the domestic market is indeed a large market. In recent times, global authors have started to get their works published by domestic majors. This is likely to give a fillip to the industry in the near term. Simultaneously, domestic authors are gaining popularity across the globe. The low cost of production acts as a major attraction to global publishing houses.

From around Rs 6.0 billion in the year 1998-1999, production levels increased to around Rs 7.0 billion in the year 1999-2000. During the same period, import levels increased from Rs 1.4 billion to around Rs 1.50 billion. Similar to its counterparts in the entertainment industry, domestic publishers are witnessing a rapid inflow of pirated books. Recent estimates peg the level of piracy in the domestic market at around 80.0%.

The Indian Music Industry- Exponential Growth Ahead…The Indian entertainment industry is incomplete without the inclusion of music. Over the years, the importance of music has only increased, especially in case of the movie industry. Of late, movies have gone on to become huge successes largely on the backdrop of good music. While the popularity of film music increased, it also resulted in the growth of other segments such as remix, Indi-pop etc.

Distributors- Enjoying High Bargaining Power…Despite major changes occurring in the industry, reliability on distribution network still persists. Timing is highly crucial in the music industry. New releases have to reach the target audience well on time. Hence, only majors with a wider reach are able to sustain their leadership and generate profits. Furthermore, distribution companies retain a major part of the profits generated in this industry. As a result, several music companies have diversified into setting up of their own retail stores. HMV is a pioneer in this area and has an excellent chain of stores at its disposal. This helps the company to gauge the consumers’ changing perceptions and revamp its product offerings accordingly.

Low Margins- A Major Problem Area…
Estimates peg the cost of producing a cassette at around Rs 35. Purchase of the music rights is the single largest cost component. This is compounded by the incidence of taxes and royalty that account for another Rs 2-Rs 3 per cassette. Furthermore, margins to the traders, manufacturing and transportation charges account for a large chunk of costs.

This tendency to pay rather low prices for Indian music titles is prevalent even in the overseas markets. For instance, while a consumer is willing to pay around US$9-US$11 per cassette for an international music album, he is ready to pay only US$2 for an Indian music album. Such low margins results in music stores only unwilling to retail Indian titles. Consequently, Indian music titles are predominantly found only in Mom and Pop stores in the US.

Generally, in the domestic context, prices are determined mainly by the acquisition price of the music title, the stars involved and the target audience. With music not being on the priority list of a huge chunk of the population, any price hike results in demand shifting to pirated products. Also, there exists a differential pricing policy with regard to classical/ devotional music albums. While the target audience for film music is rather large, the customer base for classical/ devotional music is rather low. Hence, these albums are retailed at higher prices. Also, demand for classical/ devotional music tends to be seasonal in nature. This has a strong bearing on pricing policies.

The Indian Motion Picture IndustryFrom the days of shaky pictures and poor sound quality, the domestic film industry has gone on to become highly sophisticated in terms of infrastructure and product offerings. Furthermore, the domestic film industry is the largest in the world, producing over 800 films per annum, across 52 different languages. The industry generates employment opportunities to nearly 2.5 million people. By the year 2005, this is projected to increase to over 4.0 million. Currently, the industry is witnessing a period of rising pre and post-production costs.

The Changing Television Industry…Since the advent of deregulation in the domestic television industry, the going for Door Darshan has been rather tough. Various private satellite channels have emerged as strong competitors. This is evident from the recent decline in the revenues of Door Darshan. From around Rs 5.7 billion in the year 1996-1997, revenues declined to Rs 3.99 billion in the year 1998-1999. The year 1999-2000 has seen a improvement to Rs 5.0 billion, largely on account of cricket revenues of Rs 1.6 billion.

Simultaneously, revenues for DD Metro have also declined from over Rs 786.0 million in the year 1998-1999 to Rs 460.0 million in the year 1999-2000. Similarly, in terms of coverage and viewership, DD has witnessed an increased in the year 1999-2000.

Around 90.0% of the country’s population had access to DD, while area-wise coverage was estimated at around 75.0%. During the period June 1999-January 2000, viewership of DD’s programs during primetime increased by over 57.0% in the metros and mini-metros. Major reasons for this increased viewing is on account of improvement in the reception quality of signals, presentation of programs and a wider range of programs for viewers.

Satellite Cable Television- A Major Growth Engine…The boom in the satellite cable television segment has been a major cause for the high growth in the entertainment industry. The cable subscriber base has increased from around 0.05 million in the early 90s’ to around 24.0 million in the year 1999-2000. This is further estimated to increase to nearly 48.0 million by the end of the current year. With the rapid proliferation of channels (over 75), and imminent possibilities of the privatization of Door Darshan, growth in this segment is projected to be rather high.

The Coming of Regional Channels…The satellite television and software (content) industries are all set to witness a surge in demand in the coming years. Increasing emergence of regional channels is the major growth driver behind this likely growth. Subsequent to the advent of satellite television in the early ‘90s, regional channels are currently the key focus areas for majors. This is likely to offer a wider range of programs to viewers across the country. Furthermore, factors such as a decline in the pricing of color televisions, technological advancements etc have resulted in a wider audience base. This has resulted in regional advertisers clamoring for a bit of the action. With only around 30% of all households in the country speaking Hindi, this development was inevitable.

While in the past, Door Darshan monopolized the regional landscape with its 14 channels, over 20 regional channels are likely to make their debut this year. While in the South, the current trend is to diversify into news based channels, other markets such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab etc are witnessing their first dose of regional satellite television. This huge demand has even prompted global major News Corp and market leader Zee TV to look at this market.

Emerging Trends and New DevelopmentsSome of the major fast growing segments in the domestic industry include the music, cable and satellite advertising, infrastructure, exports, animation and FM. The domestic music industry was estimated at around Rs 17,000.0 million in the year 1999 and is projected to grow to around Rs 30,000.0 million by the end of the current year. The export segment is also expected to increase from around Rs 4,000.0 million to around Rs 10,000.0 million during the same period. Revenues from the animation segment are also forecasted to increase from Rs 2,200.0 million to nearly Rs 4,400.0 million by the end of the current year.

In order to capitalize on this fast growth ahead, companies are making large-scale investments in terms of infrastructure. For instance, the Modi Family has invested around Rs 1,500.0 million towards the construction of multiplexes that can screen around 16 films simultaneously. At the same time, majors such as Zee Telefilms and Eenadu TV are expanding their horizons to other markets as well.

TheGlobal Media AND Entertainment Industry- A Snapshot…Changing consumer choices, advent of new technologies and rapid globalization has been the growth drivers of this industry. Increasing penetration of the Internet has changed the dynamics of the industry. The US market has witnessed the maximum impact on account of these changes. Reports indicate that entertainment related expenditure is projected to increase from around US$675 per person in the current year to around US$814 by the year 2003.

Despite such increased spending, majors are also witnessing faster increases in costs. With margins coming under pressure, majors are trying to develop new distribution channels to minimize the impact of such cost increases.

Emerging Trends and New DevelopmentsIn the long term some of the major developments likely to have a deep impact on the global media and entertainment industry include,
· Shifting Preference For Internet-Based Content And The Emergence Of Interactive TV
· Proliferation Of Wireless Application Devices
· Large-Scale Migration To E-Tailing
· Development of Sophisticated Telecommunication Technologies
· Faster Globalization
· Growing Popularity of Mega- Theaters, Super Stores Concept etc
· High Degree of Consolidation in the Industry
· Increasing Digitization in the Industry
· Convergence of the Entertainment, Information and Telecommunication Segments and
· Rapid De-regulation in the Industry

Phenomenal growth in the cable and satellite television business has presented new revenue streams for global entertainment majors. Reports indicate that movie majors are projected to witness revenues of around US$ 11.0 billion by the year 2002 on the sale of their content to satellite television networks. This represents an increase from the 1998 level of nearly US$7.0 billion. As a part of the ongoing “Americanization” of the world, companies such as CNN, HBO, Espn etc have started to focus on their regional versions. Consequently, the scenario in the European, Asian and Latin American markets is fast changing.

However, this globalization process is likely to take some time with the respective governments of various countries still protecting their domestic media industry. This is largely on account of the politically sensitive nature of this medium. With the liberalization process gathering momentum across the globe, these companies will be forces to reckon with in the future.

However, Piracy Remains a Key Issue…Piracy remains the single-most important issue across the global entertainment industry. Estimates indicate that the revenues lost on account of piracy in case of the music industry is around 25%. Furthermore, this level is likely to increase to 40% in the near term. Consequently, the music industry could be affected to a larger extent than its counterparts. This is largely on account of the highly fragmented nature of this industry. Smaller players are likely to suffer the most.

In this regard, the major initiative taken by the industry to protect its intellectual capital is the launch of the Secure Digital Music Initiative (Sdmi). The Sdmi comprising of around 150 companies has adopted the first set of standards to prevent the piracy of music. April 2000 was decided as the deadline for the second phase of regulations. The members of this initiative include music distributors, on-line PC communications service providers. PC manufacturers, home electronics appliances manufacturers etc.

The Internet is not perceived to be a threat by certain majors. Sony Music for instance has been aggressive in formulating an e-strategy. The company has forayed into activities including the promotion of digital broadcasting. Also, strategic alliances have been forged with majors such as EMI, Universal Music, Warner and IBM in order to facilitate the download of full-length CDs. IBM and Microsoft are intensely competing to gain a foothold in this emerging area. IBM and Sony Music have formed a partnership to deliver pirate-free songs over the net. Microsoft, on the other hand tied up with Musicmaker.com to enable users to access the latter’s entire product catalog over the net. Other players including AT& T, Matsushita and Seagram are also trying to foray into this segment. Seagram has formed an alliance with Bertelesmann AG, Germany in order to compete in the on-line music retail segment.

However security protection is still in a primitive stage in this area. For instance, when Microsoft launched its Wmdm software, hackers cracked the software code within hours and distributed the same over the net. Despite such initial problems, there exists a huge potential for music software. In the long-term, companies need to develop technologies that facilitate the freer flow of content rather than trying to enforce more stringent regulations that are only difficult to monitor.

Future Outlook…
The Indian entertainment industry is on a high growth path. Domestic majors are finding better earnings potential in the huge overseas markets. At the same time, corporatization is finally starting to emerge in this highly unorganized industry. This is likely to instill a greater discipline in the functioning of the industry and lead to greater consolidation in the future. The domestic consumer will opt for more sophisticated technology in the near future. Consequently, domestic majors will have to redefine their product offerings.

With literacy levels forecasted to increase in the future, the publishing industry will continue to witness growth. Advent of new technologies such as e-book etc will take a longer time to have an impact on the domestic market when compared to the global markets. While piracy levels are declining slowly, better copyright laws and the rapid implementation of the same are imperative to preserve the creative talent in this industry. The government needs to implement the same in order to facilitate the high growth in this industry.

Innternational Information Resource has been collected the contact information of Satellite TV Channels from all over India and brought out a database on CD-Rom. It contains complete details of hundreds of all Satellite TV Channels of India.

Features: Each data Contains Name of the TV Channel , Channel Logo, Complete postal address, Email, Address,website address, phone No, Fax No. etc.
| Pages: N/A | | Format: Word | | Price Rs: 1550/- US$150

For more details:
International Information Resource Centre
PO Box 667 Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Admin. Off: Ist Street, Shaheed-e-Azemat Road, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR JK 192121
e.m: iirc@rediffmail.com,director.iirc@gmail.com
Cell: 09858986794
Ph: 01933-223705
http://mediadirectoryindia.blogspot.com/

Nepal’s floriculture business blooms

KATHMANDU, MAR 29 -A group of floriculture entrepreneurs have set up Floriculture Cooperative Limited to produce flowers collectively with the aim of fulfilling the increasing demand for flowers in the domestic and international markets, reports Kathmandu Post.

"Both demand and production have been increasing every year," said Arun Chettri, president of the Floriculture Association of Nepal. "However, we have not been able to increase quality production despite good demand from the international market."

According to the association, cut flower exports soared 140 percent to Rs. 60 million during the last fiscal year from Rs. 25 million in the previous year. Japan, Kuwait, Qatar, India and a number of European countries are the major importers.

Chettri said that the cooperative would facilitate joint investment and large-scale production. It would target international customers in particular.

"The cooperative will monitor flower cultivation and carry out studies on the possibility of growing flowers in various parts of the country," he added.

Currently, floriculture entrepreneurs produce more than a dozen types of cut flowers in Chitwan, Dhading and Kavre districts. In the Kathmandu Valley, there are nurseries in Godavari, Sankhu, Naikap, Chapagaon, Bunkmate, Jorpati  and Ichangu. According to the association, flower farming is being carried out on 105 hectares of land in 35 districts.

"Seasonal production has been increasing significantly every year, but demand during the production season is low," said Hira Sharma, manager of Flora Incorporated Trade, a wholesaler in the valley. "Summer is the best season for production, but there are few takers presently as it is not the wedding or festival season."

Increased production has also meant that flower imports from India have declined. Earlier, 75 percent of the requirement would be met by imported flowers. Imports now account for only 25 percent of the demand mainly during the Tihar festival.

Chettri said that presently output had exceeded demand as many farmers had turned to growing flowers without first doing a market study. "Around 90 percent of the farmers who are growing flowers do not know the technicalities and the market," said Chettri. "There is a good market inside and outside the country if we can produce flowers that are in demand during the season."

According to the association, Kuwait has emerged as one of the major markets after Japan for Nepali flower producers. Bagmati Flora is planning to open a wholesale outlet in Kuwait with a local partner.

In the next fiscal year, the association plans to carry out a study on potential foreign markets such as Denmark, Holland and the Gulf countries.(Writer-South Asia)

Headley Saga: Mumbai attack was a joint IB-CIA-Mossad-RSS project

Headley Saga: Mumbai attack was a joint IB-CIA-Mossad-RSS project

By Amaresh Misra

28 MarchWith the row over India getting access to David Headley growing acrimonious each day, the CIA's double agent saga seems all set to open up a can of incredible worms.First, the case unmasks the pro-US face of the Indian English media. When the Headley saga first came to light, Vir Sanghavi of the Hindustan Times carried an editorial piece claiming that if 'Headley is CIA, and knew about 26/11, the CIA knew about the attack.' In other words, Sanghavi accepted the 'conspiracy theory'–which in the eyes of the English media was 'peddled' by Aziz Burney and this author during the terrible aftermath of 26/11–that the event was a CIA/Mossad/RSS/ISI plot, reports New Delhi based Milli Gazette.

In November-December 2008, Vir Sanghavi and his cohorts in the English media attacked both Aziz Burney and this author for spelling forth the 'conspiracy theory'. Then after Headley's name surfaced, they changed tune, without of course admitting their debt to Mr. Burney or this author.

The fact of the matter is that in the 2009 Parliamentary elections, the English media was all set to project Lal Krishna Advani as India's next Prime Minister. It was the feverish anti-RSS, anti-Mossad work done by Aziz Burney and this author that went a long way in ensuring the victory of Congress and secular forces.

Now when the CIA hand behind 26/11 is slowly being unraveled, the English media is seeing red. It is again trying to portray Headley merely as a Lashkar operative, severing thus his links with the CIA.

This highlights the second point, that basically Headley and the CIA cannot be de-linked. Thank God the government of India put into place the NIA, a new National Investigative Agency. The NIA was set up, as the IB and other Indian agencies, especially the IB, had not only gone anti-Muslim-they had gone anti-India. This was proved in the case of Azamgarh boys picked up in and around the Batla House encounter on various bomb blasts charges. Most of the boys were products not of madarsas, but modern schools. They were youngsters in their teens; they had made a mark for themselves in professional courses and were holding jobs in the new, professional sector of the economy.

When Shri Digvijay Singh, the General Secretary AICC and the most secular leader of the India, went to Sanjarpur (under the banner of Anti-Communal Front) in Azamgarh to find out the facts for himself, he was shocked to find that Zeeshan, a boy from Azamgarh who on the fateful day of the Batala House encounter was giving his exams, had more than 50 cases slapped over him in more than three states–which meant that his parents could go on fighting cases for more than 100 years and yet Zeeshan would be in jail.

There are dozens and hundreds of Zeeshans from Azamgarh and other districts of UP, Gujarat and Maharashtra languishing in various Indian jails on unsubstantiated charges. This in fact is India's Guantanamo Bay story–that right here in the world's largest democracy the Indian security services like the IB have secret detention and torture centres where innocent Muslim youths are tortured and put to death. The IB today has been infiltrated heavily by RSS, Mossad and CIA. In fact, this one agency is an anti-national agency—it is obstructing the work of NIA and secular Indians like Shri Digvijay Singh. Soon, in India's interest, the IB will have to be closed down. All its communal officers will be hunted down and tried in a court of just law.

The IB knew about Headley—this is proved by the fact that the SIM cards used by the ten 26/11 terrorists were purchased by an Intelligence Bureau (India) (IB) informer. Till date, the investigations into the 26/11 case, which the IB is handling, have been unable to state as to how the ten terrorists got hold of the SIM cards.

The State IB chief of Maharashtra told a very senior Mumbai Police Officer just after 26/11 that he was ‘entirely in the dark about 26/11 investigations as Delhi (meaning the chief IB office) was handling it'. Basic information about 26/11 was not shared with secular Indian officers. The Headley lead would never have come to the fore had the NIA not stepped in.

IB training criminals [read here Charge-sheet against IB]
Now comes the news that the IB has set-up training camps in Gorakhpur, where it trains criminals–and then uses them to kill Muslim under-trials. The name of Chota Rajan is used as a convenient scapegoat. It is in this manner that dozens of accused in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, several other such accused in other cases, Muslim businessmen and men of influence have been eliminated on a systematic basis in Maharashtra. The latest in the long list of victims killed allegedly by IB is Shahid Azmi, the lawyer defending the accused of the 2006 Mumbai train blasts. Shahid had hit upon evidence which proved the innocence of the accused-and that is why he was bumped off, again by criminals with Nepal–Gorakhpur links!

In fact, the state of Maharashtra holds the dubious distinction of almost institutionalizing the extra-judicial killing of Muslim youth and personalities. Headley was in India months and years before the 26/11 attack; he even surveyed Pune where a blast took place as late as February 2010. It beats one’s imagination as to how the IB did not know about Headley and his movements. There can only be two scenarios: that the IB is totally incompetent–or that the IB is heavily infiltrated by CIA and Mossad: the agency knew about 26/11 and did nothing to stop it.

This places the IB at par with Headley, as executioners of 26/11 and mass murderers. There can be no other honest conclusion.

Headley holds the key to the fact that 26/11 was not just a mere Lashkar operation–that it was a joint Mossad-CIA operation, conducted with possible ISI and RSS help.

If the charge-sheet against Raj Kumar Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya, accused in the Malegaon and other blasts, is read, it is clear that there was always some sort of collusion between the RSS and the ISI. The so-called nationalists, the Hindutva forces, took money to the tune of crores of rupees from the ISI! The IB knows about this transaction but is keeping quiet!


The Headley saga has links to Abhinav Bharat and pro-Hindutva terror groups. The pro-Hindutva terror groups are widely believed to be behind the Pune blasts where a combination of RDX and Ammonium Nitrate was used. Right after the visit of Shri Digvijay Singh to Maharashtra in February 2010, the state home secretary spoke of the possibility of the involvement of Hindutva groups in the Pune blasts. Other officers, including the ATS chief Raghuvanshi, purported to be an RSS/opportunist also spoke of this possibility. But then RR Patil, the Maharashtra Home Minister whose role during 26/11 was disastrous and who was removed from his post in the wake of the attack on Mumbai (but who was restored after the 2009 assembly elections), made amazing statements ‘that those who take the name of Hindu organizations in the Pune blasts will be punished'!


How can a Home Minister make such a statement? Now we hear that Rakesh Maria, a notorious anti-Muslim officer, with pro-Israeli links, a man who has killed and tortured innocents, has been made the new ATS chief and Raguvanshi has been promoted! Secular organizations in Maharashtra were demanding that Raghuvanshi be removed and that an honest, secular officer be made the ATS chief so that Hemant Karkare's seminal work in cracking the shell of Hindutva communalism could be promoted!.


But Rakesh Maria is even worse than Raghuvanshi. It seems that the NCP in Maharashtra has taken a clear anti-Congress, anti-national line. RR Patil, who is a third grade, uncouth, thoroughly communal, NCP leader should be removed from his post. The Maharashtra chief minister should act, because if the NIA gets access to Headley, the latter's links with Hindutva organizations–and the whole RSS-Mossad-CIA-ISI-IB nexus–will be exposed. This nexus is working overtime to destabilize the Congress government and undo the commendable work done by the party under the secular leadership of Sonia Gandhi.

 
Amaresh Misra is a famed historian and chief of the Anti-Communal Front of the All India Congress Committee (AICC)

Ginkgo Biloba Hair Growth

Hair loss, these days is everybody's concern. It happened to be a time when baldness was the trait only carried by old men, but now who is not suffering from hair loss, hair thinning and baldness. Men, women of all ages, even the children are complaining of hair loss, but who to blame.

There are several factors that play important role in the loss of hair and the poor quality of hair. Genetics, Androgen hormone, pollution, processed unhealthy diet, poor circulation of scalp, skin diseases of scalp, repeated chemical exposure in form of hair dyes, gels, mousses, shampoos and certain other hair treatments like hair-perming, iron rod curling, straightening etc all contribute to bad hair texture and hair loss.

But we can't stop doing all these things, right? So there should be an option, an alternative to reduce this hair loss. There is!!!!

Many researches have shown that hair loss can be significantly reduced by the use of hot and cold hydrotherapy and with the use of certain herbal remedies, out of which Ginkgo Biloba is of great importance. When DHT attaches to a hair follicle, the follicle begins to stay shorter periods in the growth cycle.

It means that every time a new hair grows it is thinner and more fragile than before, resulting into hair follicle that stops producing hair. In case of poor blood circulation to the scalp the root is already weak, so more exposure to the environmental agents and chemical agents will make it more susceptible to breakage and fall down.

With such a case Ginkgo Biloba emerges as a perfect solution to the hair loss problem.

Ginkgo Biloba has been in use in China for more than 5 centuries, from last 2 decades even Europe is widely using this tree's extracts for various purposes. Ginkgo Biloba possess special property of helping regulate the blood circulation in a body, when the extract is taken.

Certain diseases which are caused by poor circulation are being treated with herbal remedies; most of which include Ginkgo Biloba and Cayenne pepper. Cayenne strengthens the heart giving it the ability to pump blood to the furthest reaches of the body while Ginkgo Biloba increases the blood circulation in the brain and all parts of the head.

Many diseases like thrombosis, Reynaud's phenomenon, hair loss etc which are resultant of poor blood flow are treated successfully with Ginkgo Biloba extracts.   

The use of Ginkgo Biloba will boost the blood flow to the peripheral parts of the body and the fine capillaries, both of which indicates scalp as one of the parts.

The increased circulation will hence bring more oxygen and more nutrients to the scalp, these nutrients are basically essential vitamins A and E along with some other important nutrients which are in our blood after digestion but are not transported to the right place to act, just because of lack of circulation.

So when a hair follicle gets it right amount of oxygen and necessary nutrients it will automatically start hair repair and will promote hair growth. Result will be the hair we all desire to have; shiny, healthy and full of life!!! 

Ginkgo Biloba  leaf and Plants available in Kashmir/India

More details: http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

Ginkgo Improves Circulation and Brain Function

Ginkgo Improves Circulation and Brain Function
by Ken Babal, C.N.

For at least 5000 years, Ginkgo biloba (pronounced as ging-koh bi-lo-bah) has been recommended in Chinese medicine as being good for the heart and lungs, as well as coughs, asthma, and acute allergic inflammations.

Ginkgo is the world’s oldest living tree. Darwin called it a "living fossil." A form of Ginkgo first appeared around 300 million years ago and flourished throughout the time of the dinosaurs. It is a very hardy tree, resistant to pests and pollution, and can live as long as one thousand years. In the U.S., it is often planted as an ornamental tree along freeways because of its durability. In Japan and China, it is a familiar sight around temples.

It is the subject of intense worldwide research and over five million Ginkgo prescriptions a year are written in Europe alone with sales exceeding more than $500 million. In numerous clinical trials involving geriatric patients, remarkable success has been demonstrated using Ginkgo extract to treat cerebral insufficiency (insufficient blood flow to the brain).

The symptoms of cerebral insufficiency include short-term memory loss, dizziness, headache, ringing or buzzing in the ears, lack of alertness and depression. In several studies without a control group, the symptomatic improvement was found to be 60 to 78%. In double blind studies, results were equally impressive with an improvement rate which ranged between 44 and 92%. Participants who took placebos showed a 14 to 44% rate of improvement.

In long-term studies, Ginkgo produced no side effects and there was no decrease in its effect over time. Like nature, however, Ginkgo is slow in acting, taking four to eight weeks before benefits may be noticed. Improvements are gradual, but continue for up to a year or more.

The positive effect of Ginkgo biloba extract in geriatric patients has led many health practitioners to advocate its use in all people over 50. The benefits, however, are not limited to the geriatric group. In healthy young women, reaction time in performing a memory test was significantly improved after administration of Ginkgo extract (Int. J. Clin Pharmacol Res, 1984). Brain waves monitored on an EEG machine one hour after taking a high dose of Gingko biloba show stronger alpha and beta brain wave patterns.

Ginkgo’s ability to improve blood circulation to the brain and extremities makes it useful for many conditions. Hundreds of scientific studies performed over the past 50 years have demonstrated its effectiveness in treating hearing and vision problems, impotence, edema (water retention), varicose veins, leg ulcers, and circulatory diseases such as stroke and intermittent claudication (pain while walking). In animal studies, Ginkgo extract increased the ability of acetylcholine, a brain chemical, to bind to a receptor site. Reduced receptor binding of this neurotransmitter has been reported in Alzheimer’s disease.

Ginkgo biloba has certain active components to which its beneficial properties are attributed. A consistent pharmacological action can be expected when a 50:1 concentration made from the leaf is standardized to contain 24% ginkgo-flavone-glycosides and 6% terpene lactones. The terpene lactones are made up of ginkgolides and bilobalides.

Most research on Ginkgo has focused on the complex molecule Ginkgolide B, the terpine lactones believed to be responsible for many of the plant’s potent healing properties. The principle mechanism for the therapeutic action on Ginkgolide B appears to be its ability to inhibit PAF (platelet activating factor). PAF has been implicated in asthma and other allergic reactions.

Ginkgo extract can play an important role in improving circulation and mental acuity in people of all ages. For young people, this may translate to enhanced learning ability. In the elderly, it can mean a keener perception of life and improved mental functioning.

Ginkgo Biloba—Good for the Brain, and More!

Ginkgo Biloba—Good for the Brain, and More!
by Terry Willard
By now most people know that ginkgo is good for memory. Yes, there have been many studies showing that the use of ginkgo (especially the concentrated extracts) can improve memory recall. But ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) as an herb has many more functions. With a better understanding of how ginkgo works, we call more clearly see the impact it can have on the whole body.

"The brain is one of the hungriest organs of our body. For proper function, it needs to be continuously bathed in oxygen and nutrient-rich blood."

Bioflavonoids have long been considered great antioxidants and specific for protecting the microcirculation in small blood vessels. The bioflavonoids in ginkgo are no exception. They have a strong capability to protect and repair problems in the microcirculation of the capillaries. What makes ginkgo special is that its bioflavonoids have a stronger biological activity than most other bioflavonoids, and seen to have a specific affinity for the capillary beds of the brain.
Brain Function Effects

The brain is one of the hungriest organs of our body. For proper function, it needs to be continuously bathed in oxygen and nutrient-rich blood. Little malfunctions in the circulation of the capillaries can cause memory problems in the brain. By repairing these malfunctions in brain circulation, ginkgo can increase brain function, including memory. Ginkgo also has the capacity to increase the oxygen content of the blood. It has been shown that memory is enhanced by oxygen-rich blood.

When it comes to brain function, ginkgo goes even further. All neural functions in the brain are achieved by neural transmission. Ginkgo both increases the amount of neural transmission and increases the number of receptor sites for neural transmission. Again, this dramatically improves brain functions.
Other Uses

Even though ginkgo is one of the most important herbs for the brain, it is important to understand that its components don't go directly to the brain. The ginkgosides work as herbal antioxidants throughout the body, and enhance the microcirculation of capillary beds throughout the body. This is why Ginkgo is beneficial to all organs that have rich blood supplies, including the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, and spleen, to mention only a few.

Ginkgo has also been shown to be beneficial for headaches, vertigo (dizziness), hearing loss, allergies, and many more common ailments.

Ginkgo Biloba—Discover the amazing circulatory benefits of this ancient herb

Ginkgo Biloba—Discover the amazing circulatory benefits of this ancient herb
by Ken Babal, C.N., Health News

Circulation is comprised of blood and the apparatus which moves it, namely, the heart and some 60,000 miles of tubing. The heart pumps blood through large vessels called arteries which divide and subdivide into a fine network of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. The capillaries permeate every tissue of the body, exchanging nutrients and metabolic end products. The blood returns to the heart through the capillaries which meet to form the larger veins. In this manner, the blood moves in a circle which is why we speak of the "circulatory system" or "blood circulation."

"Ginkgo's ability to improve blood circulation to the brain's extremities makes it useful for many conditions."

Through the circulation of blood, tissues and organs are brought food (sugars, lipids, and protein), oxygen, ions (electrically charged particles), hormones, vitamins, and minerals around the clock. Waste products, such as carbon dioxide, are carried away. The circulatory system also distributes heat where necessary. All this and it plugs its own leaks!

It is not difficult to see the importance of proper blood circulation. Healthy circulation delivers life-giving substances to all glands and organs and is thereby crucial to preventing and overcoming disease.

In most diseases related to aging, decreased blood flow is usually the culprit. An impairment of blood flow to the brain is believed to be a major cause of age-related brain disorders. The brain, although only 5% of the body's weight, receives 20% of the blood supply along with its oxygen, glucose, and many other nutrients.

Major diseases affecting the circulatory system itself are heart disease, cerebral hemorrhage, stroke, arteriosclerosis, and phlebitis. In a single year, diseases of the heart and blood vessels kill more Americans than died in World Wars I and II and the Korean and Vietnam wars combined! Symptoms of impaired circulation may be cold hands and feet, leg or foot cramps, pain or burning sensation in extremities, slow healing of wounds, migraine headaches, ringing in ears, and momentary losses of balance. Cold hands and feet may also be a "nerve problem" and not necessarily due to corroded arteries. This problem can be alleviated by deliberate relaxation. Thyroid and adrenal deficiencies can also affect circulation as they tend to reduce the strength of the heartbeat and the amount of the blood pumped.

"The Ginkgo tree offers great hope for those suffering from circulatory disorders and symptoms of aging."

Improving circulation is a two part program that involves eliminating the obstacles to healthy circulation while including all necessary nutrients through good diet and supplements. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease are smoking, high fat, and a lack of exercise. Dehydration, a lack of water, can also impair circulation by making the blood thicker. Nutrients that play a prominent role in circulation are vitamins C, E, niacin, and fish oils. We must realize, however, that all nutrients are important to every cell in the body, including the cells of the heart and vasculature.

As we become aware of the dangers of taking prescription drugs, especially on a routine basis, more attention is focused on herbs, our natural medicines. The Ginkgo tree offers hope for those suffering from circulatory disorders and symptoms of aging. For at least 5,000 years, Ginkgo biloba (pronounced ging-koh bi-lo-bah) has been recommended in Chinese medicine as being "good for the heart and lungs" and for coughs, asthma, and acute allergic inflammations.

Ginkgo is the world's oldest living tree. Darwin called it a "living fossil." A form of Ginkgo first appeared around 300 million years ago and flourished throughout the time of the dinosaurs. It is a very hardy tree, resistant to pests and pollution. Ginkgo trees may live as long as 1,000 years. In the U.S., it is often planted as an ornamental tree along freeways because of its durability. In Japan and China, it is a familiar sight around temples since Buddhists regard the tree as sacred.

Currently, Ginkgo is the subject of intense research. In numerous clinical trials involving geriatric patients, Ginkgo extract has demonstrated remarkable success in treating cerebral insufficiency (insufficient blood flow to the brain). These symptoms include short-term memory loss, dizziness, headache, ringing or buzzing in the ears, lack of alertness, and depression. In several studies without a control group, the success rate was found to be 60% to 78%. In nine double-blind studies, results were equally impressive, with an improvement rate which ranged between 44% and 92%. Participants who took placebos showed a 14% to 44% rate of improvement.

In long-term studies, Ginkgo produced no side effects and there was no decrease in its effect over time. Like nature, however, Ginkgo is slow in acting, taking four to eight weeks before benefits may be noticed. Improvements are gradual but continue up to a year or more.

The positive effect of Ginkgo biloba extract in geriatric patients has led many health practitioners to advocate its use in all persons over 50. The benefits, however, are not limited to the geriatric group. In healthy young women, reaction time in performing a memory test was significantly improved after administration of Ginkgo extract (Int. J. Clin. Pharmacol. Res., 1984). Monitoring brain waves on an EEG machine one hour after taking a high dose of Ginkgo shows both alpha and beta brain wave patterns are stronger.

Ginkgo's ability to improve blood circulation to the brain's extremities makes it useful for many conditions. Hundreds of scientific studies performed over the past fifty years have demonstrated its effectiveness in treating hearing and vision problems, impotence, edema (water retention), varicose veins, leg ulcers, and circulatory diseases such as stroke and intermittent claudication (pain while walking). In animal studies, ginkgo extract increased the ability of acetylcholine, a brain chemical to bind to a receptor site.

The principle mechanism for the therapeutic action of Ginkgo-lide ß appears to be its ability to inhibit PAF (platelet activating factor). PAF has been implicated in asthma and other allergic reactions.

Ginkgo extract can play an important role in improving circulation and mental acuity in people of all ages. For young people, this translates to enhanced learning ability. In the elderly, it means a keen perception of life.

This article is reprinted from a previous issue of Healthwatch with permission. We felt it deserved further consideration.