by PTV (People’s Television)

The end of the long August holiday weekend, the last long weekend until Christmas, saw people in Montserrat back at work on Tuesday.

Sunday, August 1, was Emancipation day.  Worshipers in Montserrat’s churches   again gave thanks, as they have been inclined to do for the past one hundred and seventy-six years, that they are no longer enslaved,  and  regarded as sub human creatures by the people whom they served and enriched.

In terms of celebration, emancipation from slavery   served once again, however peripherally,  as the inspiration for Cudjoe Head Day in the village where, according to oral history,  the head of a runaway slave was displayed as a warning and reminder to any others who may have considered following his example.

Additionally, in terms of constitutional advancement, emancipation day found the people of Montserrat thinking more than ever before about the deeper meaning of freedom from slavery.

Being the time of a soul searching constitutional debate, progress since the reading of the emancipation act on August 1, 1834 has become for many, a haunting preoccupation.

And faced with the irrefutable truth that Montserrat style colonialism is a direct derivative and close cousin of its administrative precursor, Government finds itself bending over backwards to interpret the draft revised constitution as an act of further liberation.

The controversy this has sparked is unfortunate.  But at this time of heightened reflection, there is no indication that it is about to end, because there are many who remain fully persuaded that, in a way of speaking, the draft revised constitution is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to modernize colonialism- the much despised administrative system   whose emergence in Montserrat and elsewhere can be directly traced to slavery.

But Chief Minister Meade, having indicated his support for the draft revised constitution in its current form, has set  about convincing the people of Montserrat that ratification of an essentially unchanged colonial power structure, represents a positive step towards self determination for Montserrat.

It has been revealed however, that the need for economic aid and Montserrat’s cash strapped condition are the real reasons why Montserrat’s official line has been to support a document which, in all likelihood,  would not be countenanced by any government in normal times.

Government’s support for the draft constitution order of May 2010 is evidently based on the perception that to do otherwise would adversely affect the flow from Britain of badly needed financial assistance. Constitutional Experts are, however, indicating a major problem with this perception; neither has Britain been comfortable with the assertion that this is the indeed the case.

It is Britain’s position that it is willing and ready to grant independence to Montserrat as soon as a majority of the island’s people express a desire to move in that direction.

Admittedly, independence is a direction that Montserrat is fearful of in its present state of need, and Chief minister Meade pointed this out in a recent discussion with journalists.

In effect then, as many people see it, simply stated, Montserrat has no real alternative but to accept its colonial status. This unfortunate situation, to the extent that it is true, is considered by some experts to be the same as having no choice at all.  And to the extent that independence is equated to freedom, they contend that an individual or community that is not free,  cannot choose not to be free.

Squarely facing this dilemma, a group of journalists have indicated to  Chief minister Meade that he has no choice at this time but to take Britain at its word and promptly enquire into how much and what forms of assistance may be available to establish Montserrat  as an independent country, similar in administrative style and stature to its OECS partners.

The problem with this, to the extent that one exists, is that full independence, having being unsold by successive administrations  as being unrealistic, has left the impression that  the colonial status quo, slightly modified, is indeed  Montserrat’s only constitutional option.

But this is not playing well in CARICOM where leaders have repeatedly and consistently called on Britain to decolonize its Caribbean Colonies. And, Montserrat as the only member of CARICOM and OECS that is governed under a colonial constitution, finds itself constantly struggling to juggle its two allegiances.

It is for this reason that on Emancipation day 2010 – it was the meaning of   freedom itself that came under scrutiny among a wide cross-section of Montserratians.  In addition, it is the length and nature of the remaining journey to this illusive state of being that is now, at this pivotal moment, mostly on the minds of many thinking people, as they strive to interpret the pros and cons of the questionable draft revised constitution.

by Man from Baker Hill

Some say that it might be as much as two hundred million dollars that Montserratians lent to the struggling or defunct insurance giants CLICO and British American. Others say that even if the amount of money is only 50 million dollars, the Chief Minister should talk; he must tell the people which statutory authority or department lent money to the insurance companies.  He must talk to the people because they need to be assured that their money at government savings bank and their pensions at the social security are not compromised.

But I… I say let’s talk openly.

We have to talk about this CLICO BRITISH AMERICAN INSURANCE MONTSERRAT PEOPLE MONEY matter, sooner rather than later.

It is no secret that our government has been begging, almost demanding, Montserratians living abroad to invest in the redevelopment of Montserrat; but it won’t be long before these ‘diasporaseans’ ask why should they. Yes, they will ask why should they, when ‘on the rock’ Montserratians lent 50 to 200 million dollars to insurance companies to help develop the neighboring islands.

Of course we need to talk. We need to talk seriously about MONEY, SAVINGS, PENSIONS and INVESTMENTS. We need to talk about our attitude towards RISK.
We need to talk about how these insurance companies got their hooks into our bankbooks to the tune of 100 million dollars.

Talk! The realities of disasters drilled into us the need to place much emphasis on savings and pensions; and now it seems as if the institutions that should protect our money have compromised our efforts.

Money is the fuel that keeps society going. Believe me, there will be no peace and security in this land if savers and pensioners do not know what happened to their money.  Montserrat will self-destruct, so talk!

I said let’s talk; so let me start a conversation.

Insurance business and banking business are very different. They are authorized to carry on different categories of business on Montserrat. In our neck of the woods, I do not think that insurance companies are authorized to transact banking business; neither are banks authorized to sell insurance products.

So what product CLICO BRITISH AMERICAN INSURANCE offered? Did they trick government institutions to withdraw 50 million dollars from the banks and lend to the insurers.

Surely, we need to talk. Did the insurers promised fixed deposits? Fixed deposits are banking instruments. And what did the insurer gave in exchange for our money, was it a pension instrument?  Are Insurance companies authorized to transact fixed deposits? Let’s Talk!

We can talk a little about our attitude towards risk, and the opportunities on Montserrat for sharing risk.  Talk about the Montserrat experience in local risk taking ventures.

Talk about The Montserrat Building Society, The Bank of Montserrat Limited, and used to be The Shamrock Cinema. These are the names of three very successful local companies. If one were to examine the ownership structure of these companies, it would be seen that sharing risk is very worthwhile and profitable; it would also be seen that Montserratians share risks too.

We must begin to talk the big picture. The future of and for Montserrat glares at risk sharing opportunities. We must talk about how to share risk and share profits.

The sand mining and industry comes to forefront immediately.  An integrated sand mining industry, fully utilizing independent truckers and equipment owners, is an excellent business in which to invest. So talk about a Montserrat Sands company offering shares to everybody. This is the cheapest form of borrowing. We had 100 million dollars to lend ourselves!  Surely we can still find a few millions here and there.

We can also talk about fishing and meat processing as another business in which to invest our money. This is an industry that can utilize fishermen, farmers, meat cutters, refrigeration mechanics and butchers. We can revolutionize fishing and farming and become exporters of ground beef and lamb. Talk about the sheep pen at Barzey River and the wanton and wasteful slaughtering of cattle in the unsafe zone.

We need to talk about Taxation. I am sure many Montserratians think about taxation before and after prayers everyday. I am also sure you have heard the CM on ZJB warning hell fire and courthouse if you fail to pay your taxes. Taxation is second only to Godliness, in every successful nation.  Lets Talk!

Certainly, we should talk about 100 million dollars and our attitude towards investment in ourselves. We must never demand that others invest in us for us, even if they are diasporaneans.

And finally, were the insurers authorized to sell fixed deposits?
Were the transactions legal?

Come on let’s talk!

Let’s talk everyday, because we may never recover from those 100 MILLIAN DALARS that CLICO BRITISH AMERICAN INSURANCE baa ree fan awe.

.

by Shirley Osborne

Since we’re on the subject, let’s discuss constitutions, shall we? Let’s talk about two constitutions in particular – the Constitution of Montserrat, and the Montserratian constitution. If I have to explain the difference, we have a bigger problem than I, at the moment, perceive, great though I think our problem already is.

The Constitution of Montserrat is one that we need to peruse and ponder and discuss and talk about and mull over and consider and contemplate and deliberate and even brood over until we are sure that every school child knows its most salient points by heart, and until we are absolutely certain that we, as a people, can live with it and, moreover, thrive under it, even if we can’t actually find it possible to rejoice over it.

The Montserratian constitution, however, that other unspoken “body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed,” the one that has elected officials even consider it acceptable to make assertions to the effect that the Government is doing Montserratians a favour by allowing discussion of the Constitution, is the constitution that worries me most.

The Montserratian constitution that has elected officials even imagine it acceptable that they give themselves permission to be absent from this debate, that allows them to entirely dismiss the notion that there might befall them any consequences of substance ensuing from such obvious displays of indifference, worries me much.

The Montserratian constitution which has taught Montserratians to be timid and fearful, to be resigned and defeatist, to be subjects and followers, to go along to get along, to not cause trouble, to never rock the boat, has worried me my entire life.

The Montserratian constitution which teaches that not-Montserratian is better, is killing me still.

The Montserratian constitution which teaches our children that “I” always matters more than “we,” that indeed, there is no “us” but only “I” and “they”, has resulted in a political history that is the bane of my Montserratian existence.

Allow me to explain.

For decades now, Montserrat has been run by a succession of men, whose primary motivations have, too often, been personal and individual rather than public and national. There have been some very nice gentlemen in the group, some very skilled and gifted individuals, some losers, some well-intentioned, some inept, some scum of the earth, and one or two who have been all these things at different times in different places.

Some of these men have worked very hard to do what they could for Montserrat, and some have even succeeded in moving Montserrat along aways, but without exception, they all failed to build momentum, because the motivation was always too much along the lines of what “I” could do, rather than a consideration of what “together, WE, could accomplish.”

This “I” factor has been the undoing of several really good men, and women, individuals who chose to leave the fight solely to protect their “I”, to keep themselves safe, to minimize the risks to their personals. It has rendered our country stagnant.

For too many of our elected officials, and civil servants, and business people, and private citizens, the motto of their existence is the very typical, Montserratian, “Me rarder dead before me tek any help fan e!” because they see only themselves, because they think only in terms of personal glory, never shared accomplishment. They are short-sighted, to say the very least. They are small thinkers. Their goal is personal aggrandisement, never national development.  And Montserrat has suffered for decades, and continues to suffer still.

A couple of instances come to mind.

In January, I complained about the ferry. People are still complaining about the ferry. That fiasco there was, to me, the epitome of absurd. Sublime, comes to mind. Montserrat needed a boat. There is a Montserratian man who is acknowledged throughout the Caribbean as being quite an expert on things “boat”. Simple, one would think. A no-brainer. But, of course, the politicians would, evidently, rather have Montserratians swim to Montserrat than go talk to a perceived “rival” in the grand old Montserratian power-politics game. The boat-man would probably have grinned in satisfaction and told the entire world that, “They had to come to me,” but what the hell would it have mattered as long as, in the end, Montserratians had got ourselves a good, damn ferry.

I can identify at least twelve, a whole dozen, Montserratians who are experts in some field of aeronautics and aeroplanes. They fly aeroplanes, they design aeroplanes, they build them, fly them, repair them, schedule them, direct them in the air. Yet, not one of these particular Montserratians was or is being consulted, formally or informally, on the matter of “flying to and from Montserrat” and so we go from one debacle to another mess because, like children learning to walk, Montserratian politicians continue to always want to “do it myself.” No opportunities for shared glory are being accommodated or made available in this Montserratian power and posterity game.

The evidence suggests that the same approach is being taken with this Constitution of Montserrat that is coming at us. This is the same and it is different. The evidence suggests that our elected officials are either too short-sighted to see, too ignorant to know, or too uncommitted to learn how to make this really good for national development. And, I don’t quite know, whether this is an indication of laziness or ignorance, or a tendency to despotism on the part of our elected officials, but any of these is worrisome and Montserratians should be very afraid.

Much of the rest of the world got the memo about the potential for prosperity and successful development that lives in the game of inclusion, of shared competencies and tasks, within the division of labour, in picking other people’s brains, and so on. That envelope never got to Montserrat, it seems. It was probably being brought over on the ferry.

So, we continue to hobble along, a group of people intelligent enough to be conscious that weak government can only result in a poor Constitution, but unable, because of our weak constitution, to get outside of ourselves to ensure that we have strong government and get a good Constitution. We dance around the issues, we twiddle, we murmur in our homes and keep silent in public, because we, like the people we elect to lead us, are more concerned with our “I” and are unwilling or unable to grab the power and use the potential of the “we.” Like them, we live only for the “I.” We choose not to allow ourselves to be inconvenienced for the “we.”

The problem is that, when we refuse to build up the “we”, we inevitably fail to develop the “I”.

Look around, my people. Look around.

Through the eyes of German visitors

The Volcano after a Partial Dome Collapse

On February 11, Soufriere Hills exhibited what was said to be the largest event over the last four (4) years, some residents determining that it is the biggest they have experienced. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) Director, Dr. Cole had reiterated the scientists’ difficulty in telling what the next action of the volcano would be although they had sensed, according to him from their monitoring that some activity was likely to take place within few days. He said they had advised closing Zone B entirely that day.

Some German visitors were happy to be in Montserrat at  the same time and shared this video about their experience on this unique Caribbean Island.

An Actual Dome Collapse

To watch the video click on the link below.  Just Remember it a German Video.

A Personal German Documentary of a visit to Montserrat

by Shirley Osborne

Whereas it is my understanding that the Constitution is the highest law of the land,
Whereas it is also my wish that Montserrat be a democratic society,
Whereas I admit to reservations about the democratic-ness of the United Kingdom, and
Whereas I fully subscribe to the notion of “the Rule of Law”
I hereby request clarification.

Indeed, I crave clarification.

Did I misunderstand what I was taught? Did my teachers misunderstand and therefore have rendered me now, mis-taught?

Here’s my concern.
My understanding of democracy is that it is grounded in, inter alia, the rule of law. In papers published by the University of Iowa Center for International Finance and Development, The Rule of Law is addressed in the following manner:
“it can be understood as a legal-political regime under which the law restrains the government by promoting certain liberties and creating order and predictability regarding how a country functions. In the most basic sense, the rule of law is a system that attempts to protect the rights of citizens from arbitrary and abusive use of government power.”
I like this definition. But, who knows, the University of Iowa might be wrong, too.

There is a book entitled, The Morality of Law, by Lon Fuller, which discusses eight (8) elements of law that, it is commonly believed, must be true of societies aspiring to democracy and the rule of law. He believes that “the law must avoid contradiction.” I wrote last week about the first important contradiction I noticed in the new proposed Constitution for Montserrat, so I will let this point just stand for the moment.

However, another condition that the Morality of Law believes must also be true of the laws of the society, and the very first one that Fuller identifies, is that “Laws must exist and those laws should be obeyed by all, including government officials.” Is the Governor of Montserrat not a government official? Royal Majesty is not government?

I ask the questions because I read in the proposed Constitution, the document that aspires to be the formal statement of highest law of my Montserrat that,

(3)  “Subject to this Constitution and any law by which any functions are conferred on the Governor, the Governor shall perform all his or her functions (including functions which are expressed by this Constitution to be exercisable in his or her discretion or in his or her judgement) according to such instructions, if any, as may be given to him or her by Her Majesty; but the question whether or not the Governor has in any matter complied with any such instructions shall not be enquired into by any court.”

And, moreover, in the section entitled “The Exercise of Governor’s Functions”,

(4) “Where the Governor is by this Constitution or any other law directed to exercise any function in accordance with the advice of, or after consultation with, any person or authority, the question whether he or she has so exercised that function shall not be enquired into by any court.”

I am partly culturally British, I suppose, so let me first say this – “I beg your pardon?”
But, I think that Americans, those ex-British subversives, are infinitely better at exclamations and expletives, so let me say also this – “ARE YOU FREEKING KIDDING ME??!!” “SHALL NOT BE ENQUIRED INTO BY ANY COURT??!! NO £&@£%£@ WAY!!”

The compliance, or failures to comply, of the Governor, “shall not be enquired into by any court.”

Let me see if I got this right. The governor of Montserrat is not bound by the Rule of Law or the Laws of Montserrat. The Governor of Montserrat, who is not Montserratian, is above the law of Montserrat.  Above the Constitution of Montserrat. Why? Because the Governor of Montserrat is, “of the Crown”? Or, because after all, this is the Constitution of only Montserrat?

But, No!? It’s not just the Governor. Her Majesty is also above the law. Her Majesty cannot be “enquired into.” And that makes perfect sense since Great Britain is, among other things, a monarchical society. Monarchy is not democratic.  Monarchy is even anti-democratic. Majesty and Royalty are not elements of democratic societies and this is one example of royalty empowered and promulgated by ill-begotten gains, to wit, invasion, imperialism, oppression, slavery, colonialism, and now, apparently neo-colonialism. The antithesis of a democracy, if ever there was one.

But, I’m smart. I get it. Britain is not a democracy, so it follows that Montserrat is also not a democracy. And, apparently, not going to be one, either, if certain people have their way.

Man! What was I thinking? There I went again, expecting too much for my little island.
Just who do I think we are?

Let’s think about this for a moment shall we?

The proposed Constitution stipulates that there are actions or failures to act, on the part of the Governor that cannot be enquired into by any court, that are outside of the jurisdiction of any court. So, the Governor is above the law. Not bound by the Constitution, as all citizens of Montserrat are.

The Governor, however, is not a citizen of Montserrat. The Governor of the people is not one of the people. Does that matter? But Montserrat shall have a Governor, and there is a special class of privileged being that gets that honour, and which class has no Montserratian members. Does that matter?

The Constitution does not say that the Governor shall not be Montserratian. The Governor could be Montserratian since Montserratians are not expressly excluded, but the clear implication here, it seems obvious to me, is that the Governor really, “shall be not Montserratian.” I get this partly because the Constitution does bother to state quite clearly that the Deputy Governor “shall be Montserratian.” The British are magnanimous. Very gracious of them to be so generous and sensitive and democratic, I’m sure.

So, the Montserratian Deputy Governor is appointed by the not-Montserratian Governor of Montserrat only with the prior approval of the (not-Montserratian) Secretary of State, and acts only “under the authority” and “at the discretion” of the not-Montserratian Governor of Montserrat and, one assumes, the person or office by whose pleasure the governor holds office.

It boggles my mind. The people of Montserrat can deputise or “act” Governor. Just not “be” Governor. In this day and age!

In this day and age, some still believe that we are not smart enough, good enough, or something else enough to “Governor” ourselves. Not that the Governor-ing of Montserrat is such a demanding job! And, with all due respect, it’s not as if the Crown or who for it, ever sends its bright sparks “to governor” little, insignificant, not-democratic Montserrat. And, in any case, I know lots of Montserratian sparks who are significantly brighter than any that have ever come from the “Crown”, and I don’t know about anybody else, but if I have to have a governor at all, especially one whose actions cannot be enquired into by any court, I want that person to be the brightest available spark. And I want, even more especially, that person to be “wan oo awee.” Famoolay.

I know some very bright and capable and trustworthy Montserratians by whom I would be governored. Not necessarily gladly, I would have to clarify, but only because the idea of being governed in this way irks me at my core. However, since, evidently, I have no choice but to be governed, I will accept to be, but with conditions.

I want a Montserratian Governor of Montserrat.

Staying at a Hotel?

– What to do with the Key Card
Always take a small magnet on your holiday; they come in handy at the end of it.
Ever wonder what is on your magnetic key card?

Answer:
a.  Customer’s name
B.  Customer’s partial home address
c.  Hotel room number
d.  Check-in date and out dates
e. Customer’s credit card number and expiration date!

When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense.

Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee reissues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest’s information is electronically ‘overwritten’ on the card and the previous guest’s information is erased in the overwriting process.

But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!

The bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them into the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (it’s illegal) and you’ll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader.

For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip!

If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the card.

Information courtesy of: Metropolitan Police Service.

peeled banana

He said the expression “going bananas” is from the effects of bananas on the brain.  Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
< BR> Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!”

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe…polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

Please do NOT turn on A/C as soon as you enter the car

Many people are in their cars first thing in the morning and the last thing at night, 7 days a week.   As I read this, it makes me feel guilty and ill.

Open the  windows after you enter your car and turn ON the AC after a couple of minutes:

Here’s why:

According to a research, the experts say: the car dashboard, sofa, air freshener emit Benzene, a Cancer causing toxin (carcinogen – take time to observe the smell of heated plastic in your car).

In addition to causing cancer, Benzene poisons your bones, causes anaemia and reduces white blood cells.

Prolonged exposure will cause Leukaemia, increasing the risk of cancer.

Can also cause miscarriage.

Acceptable Benzene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. Ft.

A car parked indoors with windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene.

If parked outdoors under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level.
People who get into the car, keeping windows closed will inevitably inhale, in quick succession, excessive amounts of the toxin.

Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidney and liver.. What’s worse, it is extremely difficult for your body to expel this toxic stuff.

So friends, please open the windows and door of your car – give time for interior to air out -dispel the20deadly stuff – before you enter.

Guess its not too late to make some changes!

You may have heard this before! Pay attention.

When a thief forces you to take money from the ATM, do not argue or resist. You might not know what he or she might do to you.
What you should do is to punch your PIN in the reverse mode.

i.e. If your PIN # is 1254, you punch 4521.The moment you punch in the reverse mode, the money will come out, but will be stuck into the machine half way out and it will alert the Police (security) without the notice of the thief. Every ATM has it; it is specially made to signify danger and help. Not everyone is aware of this.

Forward this to all your loved ones, friends and those you care about.

Check with your bank (Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Montserrat, Ltd.) and see if your bank has that security feature.

Verified with BNS. Spread the word.

Published on June 16th, 2010

Written by Dr. Al Sears

Your cell phone cooks your head in the same way your microwave heats up leftover meatloaf.

In fact, there’s new research that shows just how much your head is being cooked.

One study from German researchers found:

Using your cell phone for just 4 minutes heats up the side of your head by as much as 7 degrees.1

If the numbers are right, it’s scary. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Many other doctors and researchers have concerns, too.

Author, lecturer, and electronics engineer, L. Lloyd Morgan, hit the nail on the head when he said:

“Exposure to cell phone radiation is the largest human health experiment ever undertaken, without informed consent, and has some 4 billion participants enrolled.”2

But there is good news…

Thanks to a new breakthrough, you can eliminate this “heat wave” coming from your phone.

And it’s convenient. You don’t even see it. It’s as thin as a piece of tape, and you stick it to your cell phone’s battery.

You don’t need clumsy headsets or earpieces. And you don’t have to hold your phone away from your body.

This invention allows you to use your phone as you normally do, with no bulky attachments or silly contraptions.

And it works.

Let me explain…

Take the Worry Out of Your Technology

This nearly invisible new breakthrough neutralizes the waves that come out of your cell phone.

It doesn’t try to block them, weaken them, or deflect them.

It simply turns them into natural waves… waves that don’t cook your head.

By sending out small pulses of energy, it changes the wave pattern your cell phone sends out, neutralizing the heating effect.

But of course, it doesn’t interfere with your cell phone reception. Like I said, you don’t even notice this is happening.

What’s the secret?

Natural electro-magnetic fields of energy.

Natural electro-magnetic energy is all around us. In fact, your body uses electro-magnetic energy for communication every moment.

But here’s the thing: Cell phone waves are NOT natural.

Cell phone waves have a fixed, repeating pattern. And that fixed, focused beam of power is what heats up your head.

This remarkable shield converts fixed energy waves into natural, harmless energy.

And, there’s a mountain of evidence that it really works…

Would You Cook Your Head in a Microwave?

Remember I said using a cell phone is like slowly cooking your head in a microwave? Let me show you the evidence…

Look at Graph 1 below. It shows you how much your head heats up when you talk on a cell phone…

Graph 1: With no protection, the temperature around your head rises by as much as 3.9 degrees Celsius (over 7 degrees Fahrenheit).

Look at the middle three lines in Graph 1.

On the second line from the left, you can see that almost 30% of the people had an increase in their head temperature between 1 and 2 degrees.

On the third line – the highest one in the middle – you can see that over 36% of the people had their heads heat up between 2 and 3 degrees.

And on the fourth line, which is the most disturbing, 21% of the people had their heads heat up by 3 to 4 degrees.

And we’re talking about Celsius degrees.

In Fahrenheit, that’s over 7 degrees!

If you’re using a cell phone, you’re slowly cooking your head. There’s no doubt about it.

Now look at Graph 2…

Graph 2: With the new technology, over 94% of people experienced no heating up effect.

The tall line on the left is the people who used this remarkable new shield to neutralize their cell phone waves.

As you can see, for almost 95% of the people who used this new technology, their heads did NOT heat up. Not even a small increase.

Now let’s look at this from another angle.

The pictures below were taken with infrared cameras to show how the person’s head heated up when using a cell phone.

The Heating Up Effect:
Photo 1: No cell phone
Photo 2: Heating up effect after using unprotected cell phone
Photo 3: Using cell phone with new technology: no heating up effect

The picture on the left is the person not exposed to anything. The heat measured around his face is 81.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

The picture in the middle is the person after just 4 minutes on a cell phone. The heat around his face is now at 88.7 degrees, an increase of 7.2 degrees.

The picture on the right is the same person after 4 minutes on a cell phone, BUT using the shield. His recorded temperature is 81.5 degrees… the same temperature before he used the cell phone.

The evidence is clear: When he didn’t use the shield, his head was heated by cell phone use.

Then, when he used the shield, there was NO CHANGE in temperature, even though he used his phone.

The Bio-Shield Works on ALL Your Electronic Devices

Here’s something else you should know: This invention, which I call the Bio-Shield, works on all your other electronic devices, like your computers, wi-fi, gaming systems, even your refrigerator and hair dryer.

All of these gadgets send out fixed, electro-magnetic waves, similar to your cell phone.

You may not feel the effect of these other devices as dramatically as your cell phone, but it’s something you might want to consider.

The waves that come from these devices create their own issues… it’s a fact of our modern world we shouldn’t ignore.

Before this breakthrough, I didn’t have a good solution for the heating up effect from cell phones. I just tried to use mine as little as was practical.

The so-called “solutions” that were available did not seem to be effective. And they were just too clumsy and inconvenient.

I strongly believe this is the best way to use your cell phone and other electronic devices.

It takes the worry out of your technology.

And it’s so simple and easy to use. You don’t even notice it.

Get your Bio-Shield by clicking HERE…

To Your Good Health,

Everyone in My Family Has the Bio-Shield

But after I read these studies, I immediately had this new Bio-Shield sent to my office.

I was so impressed by it, I talked to the manufacturer and had a batch made for my family and office staff.

That’s why I’m writing you today. I want you to have this too.

Read full article here: http://www.alsearsmd.com/bio-shield-would-you-put-your-head-in-a-microwave/