“The extraordinary overlap between human and chimpanzee genomes does not result in an equal overlap between human and chimpanzee thoughts, sensations, perceptions, and emotions; there are considerable similarities but also considerable differences between human and nonhuman primate brains. “From Monkey Brain to Human Brain” uses the latest findings in cognitive psychology, comparative biology, and neuroscience to look at the complex patterns of convergence and divergence in primate cortical organization and function.” This is the essence of the work published by ‘Stanislas Dehaene’ who I had the chance to listen to yesterday thanks to the internet. He also published earlier another book: The number sense: how the mind creates Mathematics.

“But how then did the brain leap from this basic number ability to trigonometry, calculus, and beyond? Dehaene shows that it was the invention of symbolic systems of numerals that started us on the climb to higher mathematics, and in a marvelous chapter he traces the history of numbers, from early times when people indicated a number by pointing to a part of their body (even today, in many societies in New Guinea, the word for six is” wrist”), to early abstract numbers such as Roman numerals (chosen for the ease with which they could be carved into wooden sticks), to modern numbers. On our way, we also discover many fascinating facts: for example, because Chinese names for numbers are so short, Chinese people can remember up to nine or ten digits at a time–English-speaking people can only remember seven. Dehaene also explores the unique abilities of idiot savants and mathematical geniuses, asking what might explain their special mathematical talent.” I rejoice now because I have arguments to my belief and accepted general saying in my younger days that Chinese are better in maths. No, it is not a racist statement,the differentiation is cultural from educational methods. I understand and accept that my statement is a general statement and may be statically valid with large variances.

Cancer seems to be nibbling away the health of a number of people close to me. Last Saturday, my dear friend, a co-founder of Toastmasters in Mauritius told me that his wife Suzanne has relapsed in her illness; they are rushing to Singapore for help. My wife mahjong’s mate’s husband is suffering from cancer. A second degree cousin Nicole married to my university mate is undergoing treatment for cancer in Singapore. Nicole & Maurice being away in Singapore keep a blog to log in their experience. A friend broke the news to me yesterday: Philippe Chan Tin, a primary school mate may be dying soon of this dreadful and painful cancer. Is it because of my age period that the occurrence is getting closer to my entourage? Or is it the style of living the cause? Is it the polluting environment we are living in? What ever it may be, it is worthwhile taking advices to run away from this disease. Prevention should be the name of the game. I take this opportunity to salute the wonderful work done by a group of volunteers to alleviate the pains of Cancer suffers in setting up a palliative care center which operates at couvent de Belle rose.

There is a hoax email circulating the internet. As is the case very often all is not hoax, all is not true. I do believe that a more healthy living style should help. Nicole is undergoing an alternative cancer treatment in conjunction with the traditional chemotherapy.

What ever may be the case, when faced with an incurable disease, anybody would attempt any available cure. For us who are apparently free from cancer what should we do to save us from catching the evil?

See the official sites JHU

The hoax mail

*** Cancer Up-date ***

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY (TRY THE KEY WORD) AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHN HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY.

Cancer Update from John Hopkins

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime.

3. When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage , like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells , tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size .

However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells . Sugar substitutes like Nutrasweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts.

Table salt has a chemical

added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg’s aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork.

Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day.

Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water- best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become purified and leads to more toxic build-up.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body’s own killer cells to destroy cancer cells.

Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

(PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT) CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL, U. S)

This is the title and theme carried on BBC TV for the month of October. The past Sunday, I decided to stay late in bed in the morning. I woke up late and watched immediately a film on the hard work and determination of three Egyptian ladies. And I was moved.This film, Egypt: We are watching you, prolonged my getting off my bed, after all it was Sunday. To see the back drop of Egypt in the film aroused also in me the sweet memories of my trip to his lovely country 10 years ago.

I enjoyed most of all, the determination of these ladies to fight of the pest of corruption of the system in place in Egypt. Their might, persistence and conviction to achieve their goals got them to their resources and intelligences unthought of. They coupled their resolution, persuasion skills with the internet technology available to attain their target: fight off corruption for democracy. “There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.” We are watching you. Indeed! Truth and transparency are real tools to democracy. I wish that such transparency in the ruling of public affairs could apply to Mauritius. Hats off to the return of people power! I encourage you to watch the film.

Directors Biography
Sherief Elkatsha was born in the USA, but raised in Cairo, Egypt. A graduate of Boston University, with a BA in Film Production, he has worked on numerous television productions, from music videos with Wyclef Jean and the The Roots, to Discovery Channel’s Eco-Challenge. His documentary Butts Out, which follows smokers and their difficult and comical struggles to quit, won the Best Documentary Award at the 2006 New England Film and Video Festival. In 2006 he was selected for the Berlinale Talent Campus.

Leila Menjou was born in Cairo and obtained a degree in directing from the Cairo Film School. She has worked on numerous movies, including the acclaimed Mothers of the Desert, which opened at IDFA and won first prize at the Timbuktu Film Festival.

Film Context
In 2005, Mubarak announced that Egypt would hold multi-party presidential elections in Egypt. The elections were given strong support by the U.S. government. The vote was marked by violence and fraud; it was boycotted by large parts of the opposition because they believed it was run unfairly. The voter turnout was remarkably low – according to the Carnegie Endowment it was a mere 23 percent. Regardless, the U.S. Government described it as a “victory”. Mubarak won a fifth term in office and very little was done to address the unfair aspects of the elections. In response to indifference about government and democracy three Egyptian women formed Shayfeen to educate the people about democracy.

Political History
Egypt was under monarchic rule until 1952 when Gamal Abdel Nasser came to power. Nasser was president from 1954 until he died of a heart attack in 1970. Nasser was a proponent of Pan-Arab nationalism, socialism and the non-alliance movement. He is famous for leading Egypt into the Six Day War with Israel in 1967, which Egypt lost.
In 1970 Anwar Sadat came to power. Sadat is most famous for signing the first peace agreement between Israel and an Arab country. The peace agreement was signed in 1979 and is believed to have been the reason for his assassination in 1981. Since then Mubarak has been in power.

Mubarak has been liberalising Egypt’s economy with the help of his current economically liberal cabinet, who have made big plans for far-reaching reforms. However, despite these efforts, unemployment and low standards of living are still prevalent.

Mubarak maintains friendly relations with the West, especially America. Egypt is the third largest recipient of aid from the United States, following Iraq and Israel. Meanwhile, Mubarak has resumed relations with the rest of the Middle East after a long isolation due to the signing of the peace treaty with Israel, which was perceived by many as a betrayal of the Arab people. Egypt currently plays a large role in the Middle East both as a regional media powerhouse and as an influential mediator in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The Political Scene
Egypt has a semi-presidential system where the president is both the head of state and the head of government. Mubarak is the leader of the National Democratic Party, which has been the dominant party in power since its formation in 1978. In recent years the Muslim Brothers have gained significant power in Egypt. The Muslim Brothers are the largest and most powerful Sunni-Muslim organization in the world and are present in several Arab countries. The group promotes the idea of an Islamic state ruled in accordance with the Quran and Sharia law. However, since the 2005 elections, Mubarak has made it more difficult for political opponents to gain influence.

World Relevance
In 2005 civil liberties in Egypt were extended to the public but since then partially revoked. For years civil society has come under pressure from the largely undemocratic state, the rise of religious groups and the vast influence of foreign patrons that have different interests in the political direction of Egypt. Egypt: We See You shows the struggling voice of civil society as it is in Egypt and many other societies across the world.

Looking Ahead
In recent years Egypt has seen a rise in protests, mainly organized by students, intellectuals and political activists. However, with Mubarak only about halfway through his fifth term, some worry that there is relatively little chance of democratic change in Egypt. Islamic groups are gaining popularity and the Egyptian population is becoming more sceptical of the extensive aid they are receiving primarily from the United States. So how will Egypt’s political climate change in the coming years? Only time will tell.

 

The weekly reflection has always been in French since I started my blog. The daily (almost) blogs were in English. It is true that being a Mauritian at heart and through my up bring I have been through, I would readily write in English but in matters of religion I have a preference for French as most of my religious instructions were in French as well as my weekly mass is in the same language . I opt to make a change this week since recently I have been writing quite a fair bit in French so that my English readers would have the opportunity of reading my spiritual reflection.

 

Patience and perseverance are the two words that I retained in today’s readings. Yesterday itself whilst preparing to go to mass at St Pierre, I was pressed to move quicker for fear of being late for mass when I was busy correcting my blog. I exploded almost unconsciously in a bout of anger for being pushed for time! Needless to say that when I heard the readings at mass, I was moved to see how fast, the Lord had an answer for me.

 “Be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.” The Second letter to Timothy had two lessons for me today.

 First, my health condition seems to be improving only very very slowly. The progression is so imperceptible that I often feel discourage and would give up the efforts to do my daily toll of exercises. What is the use of such large efforts and pains to gain such a minute result? Shall I give up? And yet the Lord is calling for my patience and perseverance.

 Second, of late I feel that I have out bursts of anger more frequently that before. Such behavior, on hind sight reflection, causes discomfort and stress to my immediate environment. I have work to do on myself to redress the situation. I do have the tools of ‘Anger Management’ which I was endowed with, earlier in my NLP courses. As NIKE’ slogan goes JUST DO IT.

I pray the Lord to give me more patience and perseverance to face my daily challenges.  Lord of justice, purveyor of all that I need, I implore you to increase my faith and give more strength to overcome my shortcomings.  Lord! Hear my prayer!

Je suis heureux de lire que l’expertise mauricienne en matière de taille de diamant trouve place au soleil au Canada. Cette expertise trouve sa genèse dans la création de la première entreprise LSP (Lagesse Sussens Poncini) implantée à Floréal dans les années 70. La taille de diamants est ensuite reprise par Monsieur Denton avec MauriDen qui nous arrivait de l’Afrique du sud. Par aillieurs, le fils Sebatien Denton est un nomine pour l’entrepreneur de l’annee 2007. Je suis heureux d’avoir été un observateur curieux dès le départ de cette industrie à Maurice. En effet, par intérêt, et par ma fonction dans le domaine du transport aérien, je pensais à l’époque que la taille des diamants, et la fabrication des objets de valeur, convenait à l’île Maurice, où le bas coût de main-d’œuvre, couplé avec l’impact du coût de transport minimisé par le volume restreint transporté était idéale. L’occasion me fut presentée à cette époque d’évoquer avec les experts d’Air France Cargo sur le sujet pour ma thèse de fin d’étude à l’université et j’ai eu le plaisir de me rendre compte de la portée d’une telle activité en Israël. Plus tard, avec l’oncle Charlie, j’ai également suivi avec grand intérêt une aventure similaire dans la taille des pierres précieuses, importées de Tanzanie. MauriGem n’a pas malheureusement pas fait long feu pour manque d’approvisionnement régulier.
Comme les nombreux fils ou filles du sol qui pendant des années ont aidé à l’industrie sucrière en Afrique, aujourd’hui nos compatriotes aident à la transformation des pierres brutes en produits finis à l’étranger. Au Botswana, en Australie, au Congo et autres pays miniers, on pourrait bien trouver des débouchés pour nos artisans. Les pays producteurs voulant garder le plus- value dans le pays d’origine. Nos artisans d’une source d’apprentissage de Floréal se trouvent ainsi disséminer dans le monde : Inde, Thaïlande, Canada, Australie et Brésil.
Non, ce n’est pas une perte pour notre mère patrie Ile Maurice. J’ai vu et revu de nombreux mauriciens aidant financerement la partie de la famille restée au pays, et plus tard, au crépuscule de leur vie rentrent au bercail pour un climat plus clément et une retraite bien méritée.
C’est le cas de nos ‘infirmiers’ en Angleterre des années 60-70, nos artisans sucriers depuis plus de six décennies. Pourquoi pas nos immigrants de maintenant ?

Dans l’étude de prospective Ci’Num 2007 des experts des grandes sociétés, J’ai noté au scénario 2, Toronto est mentionné parmi les premières villes
« 100% durables ». Je suis heureux que mon fils, ait choisi d’élire domicile à Toronto. Je sais fort bien que les scénarios ne se déroulent dans le futur, que très rarement comme prévu, cependant le jeux des scénarios permet d’anticiper le futur et de s’y préparer. Des tous les différents scénarios Je préfère le scénario 2 parce qu’il couvre les éléments de l’écologie mondiale et les percées technologiques de la science. Le scénario est également optimisme. Les autres scenarios méritent également d’être lus et étudies pour une meilleure perspective.J’en recommande a tous surtout les entrepreneurs.

Mes notes extraites du Ci’Num 2007Scenario 2 qui est titré, l’Imperalisme.

Les Jeux Olympiques de Beijing ont envoyé une véritable une onde de choc à travers le monde. Les visiteurs et les téléspectateurs, qui s’attendaient à rencontrer

un pays post-communiste en voie de développement, découvrirent des villes gigantesques, propres, modernes et sûres, des installations de pointe, une organisation parfaite, des produits des grandes marques internationales vendus dans d’immenses centres commerciaux, des marques chinoises proposant des produits de haute technologie et des athlètes (peut-être dopés, mais impossible de le prouver) capables de gagner des médailles dans presque toutes les disciplines…

Le nouveau superpouvoir affirmait fièrement sa puissance. Il profita même de la dynamique de l’événement pour annoncer l’abandon de sa «politique

de l’enfant unique», afin de stimuler sa croissance à long terme et d’éviter un vieillissement trop rapide de sa population.Ce succès a suscité plus de crainte que d’amour vis-à-vis de la Chine. Les gens se montraient certes impressionnés, mais aussi frappés de voir qu’il ne restait à peu près rien de l’ancien Beijing. La mort de deux marathoniens fut attribuée à l’air vicié de la capitale, et les touristes et les journalistes qui avaient profité du voyage pour visiter l’intérieur du pays rapportèrent des cas de pollution encore plus graves. L’étouffement des contestations sociales avant et durant les Jeux, qui put être dévoilé malgré tous les efforts de la police pour censurer l’internet, a révolté l’opinion publique mondiale.

• Reveil

Les négociations de Kyoto II échouent en dépit des efforts américains.

• Tensions

Le baril de pétrole atteint 200$, mais les pays post-industriels en souffrent moins que les autres.Au contraire, ils en profitent pour investir dans les énergies nouvelles, tout en faisant pression sur les autres économies…

Les grandes métropoles modernes prospèrent et innovent. Les transports intelligents et de nouvelles formes de relations réelles/virtuelles voient le jour.

Le coût de l’énergie, les problèmes climatiques pèsent de plus en plus sur les économies émergentes. La tension monte dans le monde.

• Les grandes métropoles modernes prospèrent et innovent. Les transports intelligents et de nouvelles formes de relations réelles/virtuelles voient le jour.Le coût de l’énergie, les problèmes climatiques pèsent de plus en plus sur les économies émergentes. La tension monte dans le monde.

Toronto et Stuttgart sont les premières villes « 100% durables.

• Epreuve de force

L’accord «Kyoto IIB» impose aux pays en développement un échange : l’accès aux dernières technologies environnementales contre une croissance plus lente, l’ouverture des marchés, la dérégulation, la coopération policière et le contrôle de l’émigration.

• Réorganisation

La science et la technologie réalisent d’importants progrès, sous le contrôle étroit de la Défense et des multinationales des pays riches. Ces derniers recréent de larges sphères d’influence, sources de matières premières et de produits manufacturés.

• Brèches