Thanks for looking in on my zaadz spot. I'll be sharing my thoughts on life and the universe here along with tips I've picked up along the way from ayurveda, self-help psychology etc etc

A handy little something I picked up from Anthony Robbins...

Putting your body in an upright and positive posture affects your mind and your mood. Here's how it works.

At any given time, our physiology dictates our psychology. Think about the ways in which your body conveys a bad/sad mood: your feet drag, your head hangs, your shoulders hunch forward, and your breathing becomes shallower.

On the other hand, raising your shoulders and head, focusing on expanding your diaphragm so you can breathe more deeply, looking ahead or up rather than down—you can shrug off stress, and lift your mood.

Our body really does mirror our thoughts and vice versa, this is a great way to remember to keep ourselves in a positive frame and stop the rot of negative thinking setting in and affecting our health as well as our moods.

The winter months are a challenge to our health but need not be a threat. Here are some easy ways to give your immune system a boost and help protect yourself from viruses and bacterial infections.


  -   Get good rest. Avoid burning the midnight oil and instead snuggle down with some essential oils such as lavender, which has antiviral and antibacterial properties.

  -   Get outside every day. Even if it's only for a few minutes, step outside and take some deep breaths, have a good stretch and go for a brisk walk if you can.

  -   Eat fresh foods high in natural energy and vitamin C. Soups and stews that are warming, nourishing and easy to digest are ideal for the winter months. Now is not the time for cold foods and drinks. Think warm, fresh and comforting and you will be on the right track for improved immunity.



Positive Thinking and Natural Support

Our immunity can be compromised by stress and negative emotions. Finding ways to relax and enjoy the winter months can go along way to helping us keep fit and healthy. Simple pleasures like essential oils and a supportive diet can help chase away tension and lift your spirits.

The key is to go with the flow of the season, to adjust with it and adopt some self-supportive habits. Try warm baths with aromatic oils and candles; hearty home cooked meals and snuggling down for an early night with an uplifting read.



Aromatherapy Tip: Take Thyme Out
Thyme essential oil is antiviral and antibacterial. Use a few drops in an oil burner or add to your bath for an immunity boosting, muscle soothing soak. Thyme oil can irritate sensitive skin, so mix it with some oil (such as grape seed or almond) or milk, before adding to your bath under hot running water.

Note: Do not use if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure.


Super-Foods for Boosting Immunity:

Ginger
Ginger is one of the best natural remedies for relief from colds and flu, it has anti-viral compounds, and it can help sooth coughs and reduce pain too.

Apples
Apples are known to be high in vitamin C; they also contain antiviral and antibacterial compounds. In the winter months they are delicious served baked or stewed with cloves.

Liquorice
Liquorice tea is a warming and soothing drink revered for it's healing abilities in soothing sore throats and coughs. Look out for Liquorice Egyptian Spice by Yogi Tea in your local supermarket or health store.



Winter Warmer Recipe:

Put two cups of good quality cloudy apple juice in a saucepan
add ½ teaspoon of grated fresh ginger
¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder (or a whole cinnamon stick)
and a pinch of clove powder (or 3 whole cloves)
simmer for 5 minutes, then strain and serve

This vitamin C rich drink is quick and easy to prepare and contains a blend of soothing and supportive ingredients that combine to lift your spirits and boost your immune system.

The Kazak government is appalled by Borat's portrayal of their nation, but it may be that he's  opening our eyes to an administration that is truly ignorant in it's treatment of human beings.

Yesterday in Kazakhstan women and babies were forced out onto the streets when riot police arrived with bulldozers and sledgehammers and began destroying their homes.

Why? Because President Nazarbayev’s government, which often boasts of its claimed religious tolerance, is choosing freezing winter conditions to destroy the homes of a peaceful Hare Krishna community due to some supposed issues over building permission.


By the evening they had destroyed 11 buildings and damaged many others, those that weren't destroyed were left without electricity or heat by riot police who destroyed the power lines, thus rendering the entire community homeless.

The police have threatened to return today and destroy more properties and possibly the temple building where the devotees of Lord Krishna conduct their daily prayers.

Members of the community trying to photograph the damage had their cameras smashed or confiscated, the equipment of some human rights representatives was also destoryed. One Human rights representative declared this to be the worst thing that she has ever seen.


"I have no words to describe what I have seen," Ninel Fokina, head of the Almaty Helsinki Committee. "They have no right to move people out of their homes in winter."

It is currently snowing in Almaty, with the temperature being 6 degrees Centigrade (42 degrees Fahrenheit), and expected to drop to minus 3 degrees Centigrade (26 degrees Fahrenheit) tonight.

Oslo's Forum 18 News reported today that: "The state Commission was set up with the proclaimed aim of resolving the state's long-running dispute with the Hare Krishna community. Devotees are increasing sceptical that the Commission was anything more than a device to deflect any criticism of state religious intolerance."

"It is snowing in Kazakhstan and these folks are losing their homes," Govinda Swami, a leading member of the community who is a US citizen, told Forum 18 from Delhi on 21 November. "They entered one home where there was woman with infant and started destroying her home. We have been regularly told that the work of the commission is not finished and still they have attacked in this way." He said that it is "not a coincidence" that on 20 November his Kazakh visa expired "and on 21st they attacked". He expressed disappointment at what he regarded as the Commission and the President's bad faith.

He said that when his colleague Rati Manjari managed to get through to Mukhashev he put down the phone. He said community members had contacted other officials in the Religious Affairs Committee "who had no idea what was going on".

The moves against the Hare Krishna came during President Nazarbayev's visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and on the same day that he was meeting British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "The President will be seeking Mr Blair's support for Kazakhstan's bid to be the first Central Asian chairman-in-office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2009," the Kazakhstan Embassy in London declared in its announcement of the visit.

President Nazarbayev was greeted by Hindu protesters who brought this grievous transgression of human rights to the attention of Tony Blair and hope to draw sufficient world attention to the matter and urge that this persecution be stopped immediately.

I would appreciate your support in registering a complaint over this violation of human rights - please e-mail, phone, or write to your local embassy and let them know that the free thinking people of this world do not appreciate such bullying and destructive acts.

I know that visitors to zaadz are not sheep or lemmings - so please speak up and help stop others being left homeless in the snow.

The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
33 Thurloe Square
London
SW7 2SD

Tel. +44 (0)207 5814646
Fax. +44 (0)207 5848481
e-mail: london@kazakhstan-embassy.org.uk



Embassy of Kazakhstan to the USA & Canada
1401 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202 232 5488

e-mail: kazakh.embusa@verizon.net

It was upsetting enough when I heard the news that Kazakhstan officials where tearing down the homes of innocent people and turning them out into the snow, but when I saw video footage this morning of this heartless act my sadness and outrage reached new proportions.

The 2 minute video shows an older lady physically pulled out of her home and a pleading woman with her baby in her arms as bulldozers moved in to destroy their home. Unbelievable! Intolerable and inhumane.

 The damning evidence: watch video
   

Dear Zaadsters please speak up and help stop others being left homeless in the snow. We are here because we believe in making a difference in the world, today that difference requires that we express our outrage at the persecution of innocent people. Your voice counts - please contact your local embassy now and lodge your complaint.



The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
33 Thurloe Square
London
SW7 2SD

Tel. +44 (0)207 5814646
Fax. +44 (0)207 5848481

e-mail: london@kazakhstan-embassy.org.uk

Embassy of Kazakhstan to the USA & Canada
1401 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202 232 5488

e-mail: kazakh.embusa@verizon.net

We all want to be happy, peaceful, but as the Christmas season approaches and the Christmas cards start going out proclaiming peace and joy on earth one of the biggest slaughter operations in the UK swings into action and ups its death toll.

How can we be happy and peaceful when our very existence is centred on the slaughter of innocent animals. Christmas time means cruel, fearful, painful death for millions of turkeys. Families sit around their corpses on Christmas day and toast each other for "health and happiness".

But we cannot be peaceful and happy when our actions cause fear and death to any living creature. There are plenty of other things we can eat without causing  suffering. We can make a difference by how we live, and what we eat, a difference to ourselves, our health, our consciousness and the animals we spare from suffering for the sake of our stomach.

22 million turkeys are killed each year in licensed plants with an estimated 10 million being killed at Christmas (based on consumption figures, DEFRA, 23/10/2001).

UK's VIVA! Has a compassionate Christmas section on their website packed with recipes and tips for a cruelty-free Christmas.

Many of us at Zaadz are already living the compassionate life - even so, we can use this info to encourage our families and friends to think about having a compassionate Christmas and New Year.