Mumbai 7/11

Yesterday the people of Mumbai remembered the 188 lives lost, the injured, over 800 in total and the families who have had their lives changed due to the seven-coordinated bomb blasts on the urban train network on the 11th July 2006. Commuters placed red and white flowers and burned incense sticks at suburban railway stations that were targeted in the, attacks at the peak of the evening rush hour. More than 6 million ride the crowded rail network into the city every day

This was not the first serious blast in Mumbai.
Mar 12, 1993: A series of 13 bomb explosions left more than 257 dead with 1,400 others injured.
Dec 2, 2002: Two persons were killed and 31 injured in a powerful explosion in a bus outside the crowded Ghatkopar railway station. The blast ripped through the bus damaging its rear portion. Banned SIMI was suspected to be behind the blasts with the police arresting more than six persons in this case.
Dec 6, 2002: 25 people were injured in a bomb blast at McDonalds fast food restaurant at Mumbai Central Railway Station. The bomb was planted in the air conditioner duct. It was suspected to be a crude bomb.
Jan 27, 2003: At least 30 people were injured when a bomb planted on a bicycle went off throwing splinters of sharp nails outside Vile Parle railway station (this is our rail stop). The explosion occurred near a shopping complex in the evening hours.
Mar 13, 2003: A powerful bomb blast shattered a bogie of a local train at Mulund railway station in the peak hours killing 11 people and injuring more than 65. This was the most powerful serial explosion. Aug 25, 2003: 46 dead in twin blasts suspected to be carried out by two terrorist groups.

The news of the moment is full of the stories of global warming and cooling, causes and impacts, religious and political unrest, worldwide poverty, social and economic hardship, armed conflicts, refugees, the ongoing people trade, and the simmering epidemic of HIV to name a few...

Grouping all the news together is the Internet with a staggering amount of facts and figures for those with the time and focus to select the article of worth to read and either read on or move on. The speed at which the news moves makes it difficult at times to have a full understanding on the story.
With the loss of life continuing daily around the world at the hand of man, I am drawn to a line in Eckhardt Tolle’s book “The New Earth”. He reminds us that “by the end of the 20th century the number of people who died a violent death at the hand of fellow humans would rise to more than 100 million.” This is a staggering figure but not staggering enough as conflict continues.

Significant Ongoing Armed Conflicts, 2006
Main warring parties and the year it begun
Middle East
U.S. and UK vs. Iraq: 2003
Israel vs. Palestinians: 1948
Asia
Afghanistan: U.S., UK, and Coalition Forces vs. al-Qaeda and Taliban: 2001
India vs. Kashmiri separatist groups/Pakistan: 1948
India vs. Assam insurgents (various) : 1979
Indonesia vs. Christians and Muslims in Molucca Islands: 1977
Indonesia vs. Papua (Irian Jaya) separatists: 1969
Nepal vs. Maoist rebels: 1995
Philippines vs. Mindanaoan separatists: 1971
Sri Lanka vs. Tamil Eelan: 1978
Africa
Algeria vs. Armed Islamic Group (GIA): 1991
Côte d'Ivoire vs. rebels: 2002
Democratic Republic of Congo and allies vs. Rwanda, Uganda, and indigenous rebels: 1997
Somalia vs. rival clans and Islamist groups: 1991
Sudan vs. Darfur rebel groups: 2003
Uganda vs. Lord's Resistance Army (LRA): 1986
Europe
Russia vs. Chechen separatists: 1994
Latin America
Colombia vs. National Liberation Army: 1978
Colombia vs. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia: 1978
Colombia vs. Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia : 1990

It’s been said again and again, this planet is the only home we have. Although the above paints a dismal picture of humanity we must remember that there are people trying to make a difference in some way, either individually or collectively. The difference is made from an action as simple as choosing to turn off that electrical appliance which makes life so much easier, to being on the front line treating those, who, at times have lost everything, including hope. To this end we support charities and Aid groups of which there are many whose endeavors are amazing and go largely unrecognized. We know there is much more to do on a personal level.


Whether we are here as an act of a chosen God or higher being or a mystical Big Bang and evolution, the fact is that we are here. Each day, we, the people of the human race have to count ourselves so very lucky to be here for such a short time. The creation of life, aptly referred to as the Miracle of Life is not guaranteed. That we can look in the mirror and identify with the grown person looking back is amazing considering life starts at a microscopic size.

Imagine in this flattened world, if each person, each member of the human race gave thanks for each day and remembered no matter how diverse, we are we all brothers and sisters, on this Earth together.
Maybe we should rename the planet from Earth to Home and see what happens..?

Take a minute and ponder these facts…
Each day the sun doesn’t really rise, yes it’s beautiful imagery but it’s not a curtain call in a stage play, act 1, scene 1. The fact is that the earth is a rotating at 1669.8 km/h at the equator, revolving about the sun at 107278.87 km/h once every 365.24 days, and gravity keeps our feet on the ground, how amazing!. The maximum speed of a Boeing 747-100- is only 967km/h to put it in perspective.

Taking an even broader view of our species, we humans may be highly evolved (some would dispute it) but essentially we are one of approximately 5,400 of mammals.
We’re special because we make it so.

This earth... (home) on which we tread is an amazing place.
It’s up to us what we do with it and on it until such time Nature takes it back….
And it will… Remember the Dinosaurs