Indian Minister Helps Launch ISKCON Book on Oil Crisis

Andhra Pradesh [India] Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said today that, with the oil crisis deepening, the time had come to explore alternative energy sources.

Mr. Reddy released a book entitled "Oil: Final Countdown to a Global Crisis and its Solutions" by ISKCON member Sahadeva Dasa at an impressive function. He said the problem was of even more concern for oil importing countries such as India.

The Chief Minister appreciated the author for coming out at an appropriate time with a book that not only deals with the current and foreseeable oil crisis, but suggests solutions.

Sahadeva noted that the price of crude oil, source of 4000 different types of petroleum products, had shot up from US$70 to US$148 per barrel in the last 11 months and was predicted to reach the US$200 dollar mark soon. Since the start of 2006, the average world price of rice has risen by 217 percent, wheat by 136 percent, maize by 134 percent and soybeans by 107 per cent.

"This dramatic price increase threatens to choke the very lifeline of civilization", Sahadeva added, "During the last 150 years of industrial civilization, human society has used resources that nature has taken millions of years to build up."

He observed and suggested various vedic paradigms of harmonious living to solve this problem.

For more information please see : www.OilCrisisSolutions.com

(Sahadeva Dasa is temple president of ISKCON Secunderbad, Andhra Pradesh India)

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Extreme Beliefs Tuesday, September 23 at 5pm | 4c

When Tamara speaks to her congregation about redemption, she talks from experience. The pastor and mother of two was once a member of one of the most notorious street gangs known as the Crips. After a slew of crimes and fights, Tamara found herself in prison for assault with a deadly weapon. It's here she found God and turned her life completely around. Now Tamara helps others whose shoes she once walked in.

Shani has a long list of things she's passionate about, and at the top of it are animals. A few years ago, after educating herself on the harsh realities of animal cruelty, Shani became a vegan. But she didn't stop there. She's also banned all animal products from her life and is an active member of Peta. Shani has even gotten into politics, petitioning for a ban on extreme farming. Her family of meat eaters doesn't share in her beliefs, but the challenge to change their minds only fuels her fire.

Sara's religion comes with a long list of do's and don'ts. As a Hare Krishna, she must live by the Four Regulative Principles of Religion, which include no meat eating and no sex before marriage. She even quit her job at a famous coffee chain when they started selling sandwiches with meat. During her frequent pilgrimages to India, Sara will wake at wake at 4 am and chant for hours. While this may seem extreme to some, for Sara it's completely fulfilling, yet she is looking forward to finding a husband (a Hare Krishna, of course) and experiencing all the joys of matrimony.

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ISKCON to Promote "Jai Sri Krishna" Show on New TV Station

MUMBAI, INDIA (IT) — Colors to advertise new TV channel and the show Jai Sri Krishna in both McDonalds and ISKCON temples.

Colors, the new entrant in the Hindi general entertainment GEC) space, has a launch marketing and promotion budget of Rs 350-450 million, sources in the industry say. The plan includes a high profile coverage in top 90 cities and towns, spread across the Hindi speaking markets.

“I can't comment on how much we are spending, but it is the biggest marketing campaign ever in Indian television industry,” avers Colors marketing head Rameet Arora.

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ISKCON Devotee Wins UK Recycling Award

UK charity ‘Food For All’ was presented with the first prize trophy at this year’s Novelis Community Recycling Project awards. The ceremony took place in central London and was attended by groups from all over the country who are pro-active in recycling.

Novelis, the largest recycler of aluminium drink cans in Europe, praised the charity's collection and distribution of fresh food from supermarkets which would otherwise be thrown away.

Parasuram Dasa, director of Food for All, said: “The food business wastes so much. Millions of tons of good food are wasted every year in the UK and end up in land-fills. “Often tons of packaged food is thrown away for relatively minor reasons. For example, over-produced products and items with incorrect packaging.”

Food for All has been working with Sainsburys in Watford and Camden, as well as smaller businesses.

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Paris City Officials Support 2008 Ratha Yatra Festival

Lord Jagannath blessed the city of Paris with His Ratha Yatra festival for the eighteenth year on July 6th, 2008.

A dense maze of government beauraucracy in previous years encouraged devotees to personally approach police officers and city officials six months in advance for permission this year.

“The personal contact with them was warm and encouraging,” says organizer Srinath Dasa. “We got nice letters from various officers, and received the exact spots we wanted. Even better, representatives from two Mairies (town halls) attended the inauguration ceremony and spoke very appreciatively.”

Other special guest speakers included Indian ambassador His Excellency Mr Ranjan Methai, Mr Prakash Hinduja from Geneva, and GBC for France Param Gati Swami.

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UK Janmastami Festival Expects Record Crowds

Spritual food is the theme for this year’s annual Janmashtami festival at Bhaktivedanta Manor later this month.

The manor off Hilfield Lane in Aldenham, which boasts extensive grounds, will play host to the largest Krishna festival outside India when it stages the event on August 24 and 25.

There will be food demonstrations and tasting tents for different cuisines celebrating vegetarianism and environmentalism plus live stage shows, colourful costumes and meditation.

A flowered walkway will also be opened through the spiritual gardens and around the lake to allow visitors to journey through the life and pastimes of the Hindu god Krishna.

On August 25 the manor will also be celebrating the birthday of the founding guru of the Hare Krishna movement, A. C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

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Festival of the Chariots Lights Up Leicester

Once again the Hindu festival of Rathayatra was celebrated in style by Leicester revelers, but with more chariots than before. Listen to find out what the festival is all about...

The annual Ratha Yatra chariot festival was bigger and better than in previous years with three sumptuously decorated chariots being wheeled from Leicester's Clocktower to Cossington Park in Belgrave.

The festival has taken place in Leicester for 14 years, but this year was the first time the event has taken to the streets with three chariots.

Leicester is now the second city in Europe to host this festival on such a scale.

Listen: Festival of Chariots

The Lord Mayor, Manjula Sood and other Councillors and Community Leaders attended the spectacular religious festival.

Listen to find out what the festival is all about...

Hindus believe that 5,000 years ago when Lord Krishna was on this planet he rode chariot from his palace in Dwarka in the west of India to his home in the north, Vrindavanthe.

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ISKCON Devotee to be Featured on Primetime Reality Show

Detroit, Michigan (USA) - ISKCON devotee Saraswati Richardson will be one of three women featured on "The Secret Lives of Women," a reality television show on the Women's Entertainment cable network. The episode with Saraswati, entitled "Extreme Beliefs," will air on On August 19, 2008 at 10pm EST.

The episode, which explores seemingly ordinary women who dedicate their lives to beliefs outside of the mainstream, also features a former gang member who is now a Christian pastor, and an animal rights advocate.

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