An ion generator to keep us safe, from Coronavirus and unhealthy air.

Many readers ask, 'How can one keep safe in this atmosphere?'

I am not an expert, but I have friends who are. So here is what my research revealed.

The best way to reduce a fatality is to prevent infection. Since infection takes place where the virus is present, there are few precautions one can take to limit exposure to the virus. 

1. Avoid environments where groups of people particularly strangers converge, like places of worship, entertainment, study, play, etc.
2. Avoid environments where strangers transit, like airports, trains, restaurants etc.
3. Minimise physical contact in general.

Most of us already know this. However there is something we can do to keep our selves safe, remain healthy in our homes, offices, waiting rooms, hospital wards, classrooms etc. That is live, work and play in an environment that is rich in negative ions and also boost our immunity. 

**What are negative ions?**

Ions are electrically charged atoms or molecules because they have gained or lost electrons. Negative ions are molecules that have  gained one or more additional electrons.

Negative ions are abundant in nature, and in the air. They are released into the environment in many ways, which include,

* Ultra Violet rays of sunlight, 

* Negative ions are abundant  near waterbodies where water particles collides with objects and other water particles as is the case of waterfalls, rivers, streams and beaches, 

* During thunderstorms from lightening and rain,

* Plants and trees also emit a large quantum of negative ions. 

This is why we feel so refreshed when we go outdoors to these places and experience these situations. We breathe in the abundance of negative ions, and also they permeate through our skin. It is like inhaling ions harmless to our bodies but deadly for enemies of our bodies. I shall explain shortly. 

My friend, the brilliant scientist and prolific innovator and mentor,  Dr. Rajendra Jagdale is one of the 'go to person' for any doubts I have about science, technology, and life.  

Dr. Jagdale is Director General & CEO of Pune based Science and Technology Park (STP). To verify what I had learnt, I discussed the Coronavirus crisis with him to discover,'How to create a safe environment for people to live and work in?'

Dr. Jaagdale informed me that several years ago, with support of  their parent organisation Govt of India's Ministry of Science and Technology,  STP had supported the design, and development of a world class performing negative ion generator  which they called 'Scitech Airon Air Purifier' which provided a very high quality indoor environment, which is 99.7% free of viruses, germs, fungi and allergens. 

Manifold more effective than other air purifiers, this technology was developed and rigorously tested by STP post the SARS and MERS epidemics of past. 

The product is bit clunky. But it is meant to be functional, not glitzy and there is a strong demand for the Scitech Airon Air Purifier.

What exactly is the Scitech Airon Air Purifier developed by STP?

This compact equipment produces 100 million negative ions per second that saturate the room or hall where installed with negative ions. 

The negative ions destroy germs, virus and dust particles in the air, on objects, walls and floor present in an indoor environment, like an office, home, waiting rooms, hospital wards, etc. It also removes foul odours. The Scitech Airon Air Purifier offers protection not only from viruses and germs, it also minimises the possibility of asthma and bronchitics, and other breathing disorders. The inhaling and permitting of negative ions produces health benefits for 20 to 30 days, even after leaving the ion atmosphere. 

Negative ion generation is not a new technology but it has been perfected by STP and designed to be medically effective and economically viable. 

The superiority of the Scitech Airon Air Purifier  over other available ion generators is, it does not produce harmful Ozone, a by-product when using negative ion generators.

Scientists and medical experts have already begun installing them in various places particularly in isolation wards in hospitals and other quarantine locations. This prevents transmission of virus to otherwise healthy people and health workers from infected persons present in the same shared space.

How do negative ions in the environment make us healthier and safer?

The nervous system of the human body is also an electrical system which enables us to think and feel. All the 37.2 trillion cells in our body use ions to function.

Each resting cell is negatively charged on the inside and positive on the outside. Thus allowing current to flow, across cells and in the whole body. The nature of our modern mainly urban indoor living and working environment exposes us to very high levels of positive electrical charge such as in dust and smoke particles, bacteria, fungi and viruses, etc.  This huge excess of positive ions disturbs the functioning of the human body and makes us unhealthy and even ill.

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This information, is simply too valuable to the public excuse any delay from my side in sharing with my readers. To learn more or purchase the product just click on the link Scitech Airon Air Purifier.

STP is a non profit autonomous government organisation functioning as a part of Govt of India's Ministry of Science and Technology, which promotes, research, innovation and works ceaselessly to make our world a better place.

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Interesting Links

Ions, inactivate and eliminate 99.9% of viruses where installed - Sharp Corporation, Japan

How the human body uses electricity?

Will Coronavirus COVID-19, kill me?  - Guru Wonder

How likely are you (yes, you) to die from the Covid-19 virus?

Fear does not stop death - Guru Wonder

India fights Coronavirus - Guru Wonder

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - World Health Organisation

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) - World Health Organisation

Negative Air Ions and Their Effects on Human Health and Air Quality Improvement -  Shu-Ye Jiang, Ali Ma, and Srinivasan Ramachandran

Air ioniser -Wikipedia

Will COVID-19 Coronavirus kill me?

Readers asked an important question, what were the chances of survival, were someone  contracted COVID-19 Coronavirus.

No one really knows, but here are some facts.
The factors that lead to higher chances of fatality are 
Age, pre-existing health issues with Cancer, Cardio vascular disease, diabetes, place of residence and work, government policies and their ability to enforce them. 

Age factor
World Health Organisation (WHO) reported a global ‘snapshot’ death rate of 3.4 percent. 
China has the most experience and The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention  (CCDC) reported an  age wise death rate of patients 

80s  -  14.8%  
70s  -     8%
60s  -   3.6% 
50s  -    1.3% 
49 and below 0.5%

WHO reports for other countries are
Italy     7% (the epicentre of the pandemic in Europe)
Spain  3.1%


CCDC study also shows the following fatality rates for people with these **pre-existing medical conditions**.
10.5%  - people with cardiovascular diseases 
7.3%    - for those with diabetes. 
6.0%    - sufferers of chronic respiratory disease and hypertension
5.6%    - for cancer patients was 5.6 percent. 

If you fall into any of those categories, it might be time to start ‘socially distancing’ yourself to be on the safe side.


Gender factor
Males are 60% more likely to die from infections than females.

In summary
The chances of acquiring the infection depends on how governments and societies respond and how seriously they take it. If people follow the advice of some Muslim clerics like Ayatollah Tabrizian who advise applying essential oils to the anus as a cure or some people like Hindu Mahasabha leader Swami Chakrapani Maharaj suggests drinking cow urine as a prevention measure, we could expect big trouble.
Thankfully many countries like India are secular democracies and these suggestions are not followed by the mainstream. However Iran a theological state is obliged to follow the Ayatollah.
Is it any wonder that Islamic Republic of Iran is the hotbed of Coronavirus infections.

We humans are very resilient creatures. Just live life normally, some people may get infected all healthy people with some care will survive and humanity will emerge somewhat stronger  and ready for the next global crisis which awaits us beyond the horizon. 

Coronavirus COVID-19 is not the end of life, its just a beginning of a new chapter

The illustration used in this article was, created at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the Virion, when viewed electron microscopically. 

A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Making of an ideal Indian village - Panavadi

In Pune, India there exists a unique organisation, Science and Technology Park (STP) whose mission is to blend science, technology, with human expertise and commitment to innovative and build a better world. In 2016 Dr. Rajendra Jagdale the head of STP received some troubling news.

Knowing the commitment and capabilities of Dr. Jagdale, an associate pleaded with him to help the people of his village where life had become unliveable and the future looked bleak. The village faced too many problems, the most serious being a lack of water, even drinking water.

Unable to ignore any call for assistance, Dr. Jagdale and a  small team from STP set off for Panavadi, near Saswad located just behind the famous Maratha forts of Vajragad and Purandar, just an hour drive from Pune city.

Nestled in a formerly beautiful valley, it had now turned dry and empty of all its youth and energy, Panavadi was struggling to survive without any water.  Drinking water was being supplied by government organised water tankers to keep the population  alive. 
What will people do by merely remaining alive, to live a life that seemed unworthy of living?

A brilliant scientist with a great heart, Dr. Jagdale, and his team studied the area and came up with an emergency plan while simultaneously drawing up a vision for the village. Not only to get Panavadi up and thriving, they would work with blending the skills, knowledge and experience of  various individual, groups and experts with the skills, knowledge and needs of the local population to make it an Ideal village. 

They would endeavour to demonstrate that a community committed to prosperity and well being could do so with minimal demands on government resources and funds.

An ideal village could mean different things to each individual. An ideal village could be defined as one which  meets the United Nations Sustainable development goals.

The first thing was to ensure supply of adequate water for drinking but to restore agriculture and cattle rearing. 

A survey revealed that the valley had good rainfall, but all the water simply flowed away. Many decades ago, the village had a large check dam, but it had silted over and now incapable of  storing any water. 

A local contractor offered his construction machinery at no cost provided STP would arrange the diesel fuel. Some friends of Panvadi, Sakal Social Foundation with generous support of philanthropist Mr. Pratap Pawar and support from District administration  pitched in and provided resources and the funds for the diesel. 

Existing government program for road building was expedited so access to Panavadi became easier. 

Water is life.
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Paddy and cultivation of other crops began in earnest. Cattle rearing is picking up and the village now produces and sells 900 litres of milk each day.

Now the village is witnessing a reverse migration. The village has begun to flourish as the youth return, to make a life and a living in the village, looking after their children and aged parents and tend to their farms and their cattle.

The population has crept back to 700 and is estimated to reach 1000 by end of next year.

Simultaneously STP has improved homes by providing smoke free forced draft wood and biomass pallet based cooking stoves, to reduce a leading cause of health  problems afflicting women and children. Solar lamps provide illumination and ultrafiltration water treatment units ensure clean drinking water. Community cattle sheds are being established and  the local schools are being modernised, 

On October 2nd of this year a Gram Sabha  was held and the villagers voted for and pledged their support and commitment for a total transformation. 
This includes 
* The redesign and redevelopment of the village, residential areas, amenities and roads. 
* Become completely organic and practice chemical free farming. 
* Make the village self sufficient in energy
* Productively manage all their own waste.  
* Set up their own bazar, 
* Set up and operate an appropriate village industrial park, 
* Develop agro tourism, aqua recreation, adventure and nature study centres.
* Enhance the quality of education

Currently 38 individuals in the village have a standard of living considered below the poverty line. A notable pledge was made, to raise the standard of living of  these fellow villagers within next one year.  

There is a misconception that rural, means poor, dirty and backward. If we go about it the right way, villages can be centres of high economic prosperity, while offering a good quality of life to residents and visitors. 

Economic prosperity is best when local talent is developed to harness local resources to create products and services to efficiently meet the needs of markets. Naturally agriculture is key but plans have been drawn up to introduce energy production, manufacturing and services to achieve progress and prosperity.

Efforts are afoot to achieve the goals of enhancing the income levels of villagers by providing avenues other than agriculture. These include organic cultivation and supply of vegetables and fruits to nearby towns and Pune city. Orchards to rejuvenate the hill slopes and preserve further erosion of top soil. Assembly and testing of electronic products etc.

A new initiative of Eco tourism is being led by a volunteer Arvind Patole, (contact no: 91-940 496 5611) will start in December 2019.  
Nature lovers can visit Panavadi and enjoy nature walks trek, observe and study the diverse and rich population of birds and animals, and to experience the beauty of a pristine valley reborn. 
Visitors get to enjoy simple typical healthy, tasty and hygienic Maharashtrian village food. Its an opportunity to connect with and soak in the beauty of nature. Mountain cycling and boating are being introduced early next year. 

Here are some of the major objectives set out for achievement at Panavadi to transform it into an ideal village

At the pace of progress, its only a matter of a short time that one will see Panavadi become a role model of rural development. An example of how various stakeholders in society using their intelligence, knowledge and skills working together with beneficiaries, can transform our world in an economically, environmentally, socially and culturally sustainable way.

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Committed to a better world, I serve as a volunteer for this project and a contact point for many initiatives.
If you wish to know more, participate in or contribute resources, your time, skills, knowledge, experience, donate or contribute in any manner please contact me. 
Email :   Gurvinder Singh 
Mobile: +91 - 957 951 0353 for WhatsApp & SMS communication.

The best things in life, are free.

Hello Mr. Hornbill 

Our home overlooks a designated forest, but over the years it had been neglected and abused and greatly denuded. It was a very sad state of affairs.

Then concerned people and groups began to work together. Over past decade there has been a very good effort by citizen groups, environmentalists and the government forest department

When people collaborate and sincerely work together towards a goal, results have to come. 

Surprisingly, when we share our labours and energies for achieving something better, fatigue rarely occurs. Purpose fills our mind and body with inexplicable joy  and a kinship with others. 

In pursuit of comforts, we modern beings live in cocoons, mostly disconnected from nature. Is it any wonder that to just spot a Hornbill perched at the edge of our balcony, it should cause the heart to skip a beat? 

The inexplicable joyful emotion and the contemplation that follows can be a spiritual experience, that is not easy to describe.

The growth in the forest and green cover has had many benefits, for us residents and visitors to the vicinity they, 

• There is much less dust in the air and in our homes.
• The air feels fresher and more rejuvenating. The climate has become better, the weather cooler, even in summer. One rarely needs to turn on the air conditioning even in summer. Saving energy and money.
• Where there is respect and worship for nature no policing and enforcement is necessary. People have almost completely stopped throwing garbage onto the forest land so the environment looks and feels healthier. 
• The ground water levels have risen. The bore wells that we had drilled in our our housing society as a standby to overcome water shortages in summer now rarely run dry. 
• The noise levels are much lower as the forest absorbs noise and vibrations. 
• When we are respectful and welcoming, guests will flock to our home and enrich our lives. Butterflies and bees are more common. Sparrows, Mynas, Peacocks, Sunbirds, Parrots, Robins, along with many Squirrels are regular visitors all year long.
• The ambience, the chirping of birds and the fluttering of butterflies makes one feel in harmony with existence.

Its true, the best things in life are free.

The forest behind our home BEFORE  conservation efforts

The forest behind our home AFTER conservation efforts

The forest behind our home AFTER conservation efforts

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Thanks to my friend: Arvind Patole  for providing the image of the Great Indian Hornbill

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Look up at the stars and not down at your feet.

Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. 

Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. 

Be curious. 

~ Stephen Hawking

How to Propagate Succulents

My latest obsession is the pretty succulent. They are beautiful plants and come in so many varieties and great colours. They are very hardy and need little watering (once every two weeks or once a month depending on your climate and environment) so they make a very good plant for indoors and anyone who doesn’t have a green thumb. 

The great thing about these guys is you can actually grow heaps of succulents from the one plant. It’s called propagating and I’ll run you through just how to do it!

Step One:

Choose the succulent. Head to your local garden nursery or local market to pick one. 

Once you’ve got your little friend home. Start by carefully removing the lower leaves. Pull off as many as you would like to propagate. Most people usually remove all the leaves from the lower level. That way you have a few if any don’t make it. Hold the leaf firmly and wiggle it until you can feel it pull away.  Make sure you get the whole leaf and don’t tear it otherwise it won’t grow a new plant.

 Step Two:

 Your leaves should look something like this If you have correctly pulled them off in one piece.

Step Three: 

Now we wait. This step is the most important!! The leaves need to dry out & callous over before we plant them or else they will  absorb too much moisture,rot and die. This usually takes a few days to a week. 

Step Four:

Once you feel the ends have dried over, place them in a pot or tray ontop of well drained succulent & cactus soil mixture (you can buy this in a bag from your local hardware/ garden nursery I got mine from Bunnings). Some people dip the ends of the leaves in a plant cutting mixture (contains stimulating root hormones). This speeds up the growth process. You can try this but not essential.

Leave them inside where they can get indirect sunlight. After a few weeks you will notice roots shooting out the ends of the leaves. Then very small succulents will begin to form. Lightly water once you see these. During the process if the soil is dry add water to keep the area moist. Remember too much water is not good. Succulents aren’t big fans. 

Step Five:

Congratulations you've successfully growth succulents! Once they get to this size (see image below)  or even like the above image. You can carefully remove the new succulents and plant them in their very own pot (remember to use a succulent cactus soil mixture) and watch them blossom! Pretty cool hey! 

Now you can start getting creative and making gorgeous features out of your succulents. Mix them with other plants just like this. 

Happy Gardening! x 

http://kaerriie.tumblr.com/post/165872484339/how-to-propagate-succulents

To believe in tomorrow

To plant a garden, 
          is to believe in tomorrow.

 ~ Audrey Hepburn