Category Archives: World Opinion

Myanmar moves to jump start coffee cultivation

Coffee News, World Opinion

Demand for coffee is booming in an increasingly caffeinated world, and although Myanmar is capable of producing international-quality product it has neglected the crop for years. But agricultural ministry officials are hoping to develop a coordinated strategy to ramp up production and connect cultivators with world markets.

A barista competes in the Myanmar Latte Art Competition in Yangon in June. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing / The Myanmar Times
A barista competes in the Myanmar Latte Art Competition in Yangon in June. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing / The Myanmar Times

Myanmar has been growing coffee for years but in relatively small amounts. An itinerant Scotsman brought a strain of arabica to the Mandalay hill town Pyin Oo Lwin in the 1930s, and it is still grown today, U Myint Swe, director of the coffee crop branch under the ministry’s agriculture department, told The Myanmar Times.

But the agricultural sector’s overwhelming focus has been on an industrial approach to growing crops like rice and beans for domestic consumption and export, said U Tin Htut from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation.

“Coffee was previously a neglected crop,” he said during a ministry research workshop on coffee growing in Myanmar on September 28. But U Tin Htut is hoping that ministry workshops can help produce a strategy to boost coffee production and tap into a strong global market.

The annual growth rate in global coffee consumption has averaged 2 percent since 2011, and the world consumed the equivalent of 152.2 million 60kg bags in 2015, according to the intergovernmental International Coffee Organisation.

US demand is higher than ever, and two shipments of coffee beans to the US in August represented Myanmar’s first commercial-scale exports to that country in over 15 years, according to Reuters. The US recently announced it was lifting almost all remaining sanctions against Myanmar, and would reinstate generalised system of preferences (GSP) benefits on November 13.

Myanmar is well placed to take advantage of the global thirst and improving economic relations with the US. At a US coffee expo in June 2015, Myanmar-produced strains of arabica and catimor coffees were deemed world-standard in a quality test – receiving higher marks than most other coffees shown at the event, U Myint Swe said.

“The strains have also been tested in Germany, and they also sent a report saying the quality was world- standard,” he added.

Local firms have taken advantage of Myanmar’s climate and regional demand. Yangon-based firm Coffee Genius, owned by Ko Ngwe Tun, has exported its Shan highlands coffee to Singapore and also enjoyed high marks from the Specialty Coffee Association of America.

But although Myanmar’s local industry can produce exceptional quality, it also faces production and marketing problems that have made it hard to reach international markets, U Myint Swe said.

Strains like the arabica have been grown for over 80 years, but a lack of finance has seen little in the way of progress.

“Crop yields have decreased steadily, although the quality has not,” U Myint Swe said. The useful life of a coffee plant, depending on growing conditions, is 20 to 30 years. “In other countries, once a coffee plant reaches 30 years old it is cut down and new ones planted,” he said. “But in our country we don’t cut them down, we make existing plants produce new shoots and branches.”

Although the international market is booming – driven mainly by rising consumption in developed economies – Myanmar’s local market for coffee is poor and cultivators are producing less in response, U Zaw Tun Myint, director general of the Agriculture Department, told The Myanmar Times.

The ministry wants to see coffee planted and grown according to international-standard practice, but in order to get cultivators onside the ministry has to improve the market, he added.

“We need to cooperate with the department and expand the market for growers,” he said. “Right now profits [in the local market] are low, so growers lower inputs, which lowers quality, which lowers prices and pushes profits down further. We need to reverse this vicious cycle.”

The acreage given to coffee plantations in Myanmar is shrinking and is now less than 50,000 acres – down from over 60,000 acres at the peak of production many years ago, he said.

U Tin Htut from the agriculture department’s coffee branch said collaboration between agricultural experts, exporters and planters is crucial to remedy the slump in production. He is helping work on a strategy paper for coffee development in Myanmar.

“Now is the time to really perform,” he said. Myanmar has the human resources and skills, but needs to improve the agricultural system in order to catch up with regional competitors, he added.

The coffee strategy should include targets for the next 10 years, and cover market research, finance, technical assistance, farmer training and which strains should be planted more widely, he said. The plan will be sent to a parliamentary economic committee, which includes the vice president and officials from the finance and commerce ministries, he said.

U Myint Swe said the plan will take around six months to draw up, and should involve assistance from experts from the agriculture department, USAID, the Myanmar Coffee Planting Association and other coffee experts.

But industry interest bodes well. At the ministry workshop on coffee growing last month over 40 members of the Coffee Planting Association and the private sector attended the meeting, joined by over 100 experts and officials from government departments, U Zaw Myint Tun said.

“It was the first big meeting on coffee in the last five years,” he said. “It’s a very encouraging situation. We held meetings in the past, but there wasn’t as much freedom as there is now.”

Translation by Win Thaw Tar and Khine Thazin Han

source: http://www.mmtimes.com / Myanmar Times / Home> Business / by Htoo Thant / Wednesday – October 05th, 2016

This lab uses coffee grounds to extract lead and other toxins from water

Coffee News, Science & Technology, World Opinion
This coffee-infused bioelastic foam can filter lead from water. Photo by Chavan et al., ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2016
This coffee-infused bioelastic foam can filter lead from water. Photo by Chavan et al., ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2016

Tune in tonight on PBS NewsHour where Miles O’Brien will look at the hazards and history of lead as part of his Leading Edge series.

Needless to say, humans have a coffee obsession.

Last year, global coffee consumption weighed in at 10 million tons — or one and half Great Pyramids worth of beans ground into caffeinated oblivion. Now, a lab at the Italian Institute of Technology wants to put those discarded grounds to good use.

The team has engineered a coffee grounds-infused foam that removes hazardous metals, like lead, from water. Though still in its prototype phase, this foam might be able to clear the worst levels of lead contamination found in places like Flint, Michigan, within a few hours.

“The proposed method is cheaper [than current large-scale filtration systems], since it uses principally costless waste,” said IIT physicist Despina Fragouli who led the project. “and more sustainable compared to other systems, where synthetic materials are used.”

The idea isn’t entirely new. Scientists have known for years that coffee contains chemical groups — called carboxylates — that stick to metals. Early attempts at this water remediation concept tried smashing the coffee grounds into a fine powder, which was then mixed into lead-tainted water. The toxic metals bind the powder, and together, they are filtered out of the water. But this procedure is a bit redundant — you need a filter for a filter.

Fragouli and her colleagues simplified this process by chemically infusing the coffee powder onto a elastic foam. The final spongy foam is 60 to 70 percent coffee by weight.

Left panel: Bioelastic foam with the spent coffee powder indicated by the yellow circles and the inset. Right panel: Pure elastic foam without coffee powder. Photo by Chavan et al., ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2016
Left panel: Bioelastic foam with the spent coffee powder indicated by the
yellow circles and the inset. Right panel: Pure elastic foam without coffee powder. Photo by Chavan et al., ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2016

“Both the coffee and the heavy metal ions are entrapped in the foam,” Fragouli said of her findings published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. “Therefore, no additional procedures are required for the removal of the [coffee] adsorbents and the pollutants from the water.”

So, a water official would simply pull the foam from the water to take out the metal toxins. The rate of removal depends on how much lead is in the water. If Fragouli’s team started with water containing nine parts per million of lead — 360 times higher than most common amount found during the Flint water crisis — the foam could remove a third of the contamination in 30 minutes.

Though promising, Fragouli said more research is needed to determine if the foam can obtain lead and mercury levels appropriate for drinking, especially with gunky water flowing through real-world pipes. So far, the sole field test occurred with wastewater from the IIT’s chemistry department, which contained a mixture of metal ions.

“The results show that the metal ions of interest can be effectively removed,” Fragouli said.

source: http://www.pbs.org / PBS Newshour / Home> The Run Down> Science / by Nsikan Akpan / September 28th, 2016

International Coffee Day celebrated in Kodagu

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), World Opinion

Madikeri :

International Coffee Day was celebrated in Kodagu by giving piping hot coffee to tourists at Dubare elephant camp.

Representatives of 77 nations are members of the International Coffee Association and the Coffee Day is celebrated worldwide to promote coffee sales on par with prouction.

Woman folk took the lead in coffee awareness programme. Kodagu deputy commissioner R V D’souza inaugurated the coffee show. He said Kodagu produces the best quality coffee while stressing the need for better marketing.

Madikeri DFO Edukondalu opined that such awareness campaigns will help increase coffee consumption.

Senior scientist from Appangala Research Station Dr. Ankegowda said coffee is a healthy drink and many researches have proved it.

Convener of the women team of coffee awareness campaign Chitra Subbaiah announced that more and more awareness campaigns will be conducted in coming days. She appealed to the tourism department to provide Kodagu coffee to tourists who visit the district.

Several coffee products were exhibited during the coffee festival. In Madikeri also several organizations served coffee to tourists at Raja Seat.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City News> Mysore / TNN / October 03rd, 2016

Street plays, brewing demo to mark ‘International Coffee Day’ on Oct 1

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News, World Opinion

Bengaluru :

Coffee Board of India will mark ‘International Coffee Day’ on October 1 by organising CAFFEST in partnership with coffee growers, industry stakeholders and consumers.

The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) declared October 1 as ‘International Coffee Day’ in 2015. “This year we will be celebrating the second International Coffee Day at the Coffee Board headquarters in Bengaluru,” said the Coffee Board’s Finance Director.

The day presenets an opportunity to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events organised across the world.

As part of CAFFEST, the Coffee Board is planning to provide a platform to showcase the best Indian coffees wherein young coffee entrepreneurs and Self Help Groups (SHGs) will showcase their products. A brewing demonstration will also be organised for the benefit of the pubic to educate them on the positive aspects of coffee drinking.

On the occasion, a street play and a skit on the theme coffee will be enacted by the well-known TV/stage artist from Prathibha Art Foundation, Bengaluru, in two sessions – at 11 am and 4 pm. A poster designing competition on the theme of coffee will also be organised.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Economy> Agri Business / by Anil Urs / Bengaluru – September 28th, 2016

Sharjah: Multitalented Ganesh Rai to be honoured with ‘Global Man Award’

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion

Dubai :

Multitalented former president of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah, B K Ganesh Rai is being bestowed with the ‘Global Man Award 2015’ for his contributions to Kannada language, literature, art, folk and social service both globally and in India and is the only one chosen from the UAE for this award. The award will be presented to him during the 12th Vishwa Kannada Samskruthi Sammelana and 13th anniversary of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah celebrations to be held on November 19 and 20 at Al Boom Tourist Village, Sharjah, UAE.

Ganesh Rai is the name that flashes in the minds of every Kannadiga specially in the UAE when it comes to matters of creativity. Multitalented, one can call him “Sakala Kala Vallaban”, be it different forms of painting, from miniatures to wall size, various forms of sculptures, from paper pulp to plaster or parry’s, large stage settings, tableaux, palatial sets, photography, videography, brochures, digital banners, souvenirs, models… you name it and you will find the skills in this great man, Ganesh Rai. He will simply smile and says yes without any hesitation, as for him work is worship and so he does it with ease. He is a good speaker too, a recepient of “Karnataka State Best Teacher Award” in the year 1993.

Hailing from Madikeri, Coorg, Ganesh Rai was born to Thulasiamma and Krishnappa Rai who themselves sound ‘Krishna Tulasi’, close to the Lords. Madikeri has gifted to the world this unique personality called Ganesh Rai who always keep saying “Elladaru iru, yenthadaru iru, yendendhigu nee Kannada vaagiru. (Live wherever you want to, be whatever you want to be, but remain a Kannadiga forever).”

Professor of art, B K Ganesh Rai needs no introduction in this part of the world. He is a person who rises above boundaries of colour, caste, creed, religion and language. Be it a request for art, stage setting, designing, printing, executing brochures, logos, invitations, souvenirs, sculpture, decorating stage from any corner of people, any corner of UAE, at any point of time, you will find only one person who creates with a smile and executes in spite of his busy schedule. ‘Sirigannadam Gelge, Sirigannadam Baalge’ – he never forgets to say that when completing his speech in any of the respected podiums he addresses.

Ganesh Rai’s Work – Service without Boundaries

* Turnkey project management for almost all social organisations without linguistic barriers
* Conceptualization, designing, printing and distribution of invitations
* Creation of giant size banners, stage backdrops, stage settings, cut-outs, posters etc.
* Creative journalism writing to various web media flashing timely news around the world
* Publication of high profile visit reports of specially invited artistes and guests from India
* Master of ceremony (MC) par excellence with easy flow of language and literature
* Conceptualization of ‘Certificate of Honour’ for dignitaries, high profile guests, artistes etc.
* Concept, design and execution of various souvenirs to almost all the existing Associations in UAE
* Creating sculptures especially Ganesha idol every year, Narayan Guru idol and many more
* Paintings of deities, brush arts, pencil art, charcoal art and various naturalistic creations
* Assumed and discharged active role as president of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah in 2004
* Conducted first blood donation camp for Karnataka Sangha Sharjah in association with MOH
* Attends all blood donation camps organised by various associations and spreads awareness
by creating banners, role-ups and notices for blood donation camps and providing media news
* Compiled, created and released brochure of all Karnataka-based organisations’ blood donations. Brochure released by M K Lokesh, Ambassador of India
* Record of Indian blood donors presented to governments of India, UAE and Karnataka
* Helping the unfortunate deceased Indians in formalities of sending the mortal remains to India
* Enlightening and spreading the essence of Kannada as a soldier of Karnataka to Kannadigas
* Attained appreciations and accolades from almost all Karnataka based associations, and from Tamil, Malayalam and other Indian associations
* Won accolades from NMC Group where he is serving as creative art director
* Supported people of Bangladesh during the flood and natural disasters and helped those affected by the calamities.

Rai, a BCom graduate of Government College, Madikeri, a fine arts diploma holder of Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Art6s, an art master certificate holder from Kalanikethan School of Arts, Mysore and Mahalasa School of Arts, Mangaluru, is very well supported by his charming wife Manjula Rai, beautiful daughter Aishwarya Rai and handsome son Monish Rai.

Below are some of the creations for which he has been applauded:

Rai’s creations in India

Sculpture / Statues: Created Pushpanjali, Elephants, Lion and Carving Designs in the year 1974 at Govt Junior College Madikeri – Courtesy P P Ayyanna, principal, and unveiled by Field Marshal K M Cariappa

Ganapathy Statues: From 1979 onwards he has created more than 350 statues (2ft – 12 ft) for Karnataka Electricity Board Madikeri 1979-1995, Archana Ganapathy Festival, Virajpet, Angala Parameshwari Temple, Virajpet, Sri Rama Mandir Dechoor Madikeri, Hindu Yuva Shakti New Extn, G T Circle, Madikeri.

Paper Pulp Statues: Created paper moulding statues 8ft-12ft of different styles at Madikeri Dasara Festival, Gonikoppal Dasara Festival, viz, Ganapathy, Natya Ganapathy, Durga Parameshwari, Lakshmi, Saraswaty, Cauvery, Subramanya, Veera Hanumaan, Soorya Bhagavan with Seven Horses, Shanmuka Tarakasura vadhe, Vishnu Bhagavan, Narada, Thumbura, Shiva Linga, Lions, Tigers, Swamy Ayyappa, Maha Kali and many more. Also at Kanchi Kamakshi Temple Gouli street Madikeri, Kote Mariyamma Temple new Extn. Madikeri, Dechoor Sri Rama Mandir Madikeri, Kote Ganapathy Temple Madikeri, Kundurumotte Chamundeshwari Temple Madikeri Uma Maheshwari Temple Gonikoppal, Sree Hanuman Garadi, Beltangadi, South Canara, Bhuvaneshwari Statue – Kannada Rajyotsava celebration – Virajpet etc.

Concrete Moulding Statues: Created 9 ft Cauvery Statue both front and back faced double dimension in front of Cauvery Kalakshetra Madikeri, St Michael Statue (9 ft) at St Michael’s Church Madikeri, St Mary Statue at Kedamalloor Church – Virajpet, Nandi Basava – Arameri Kalancheri Mata statues, Raghavendra Swamy Statue at Raghavendra Temple – Mantralaya, AP, Karu Mariyamma / Nandi / Shiva Linga statues at Karu Mariyamma Temple Madikeri, Swamy Vivekananda 12 ft statue at Cauvery Krupa Madikeri and Prabhavali at Ganapathy Temple Virajpet

Wax Statues: Created Ganapathy, Lakshmi, Sarswathy, Cauvery statues at Madikeri.

Oil Colour/Water Colour Paintings: Created Birth Place of Cauvery oil color canvas painting for Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Board, Chennai. Also created Field Marshal K M Cariappa lifesize oil colour painting, Gopala Krishna Gokale lifesize oil colour painting for Govt Junior College Auditorium Madikeri, Coorg landscape paintings in oil colour for Public Library Virajpet, Jayaprakash Narayan oil colour portrait for A B Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India, Omkareshwara Temple by night oil colour painting for Lalitha Kala Academy Bengaluru and many painting collections in Delhi, USA, Australia, France, Dubai etc.

Besides, he has participated in a number of art exhibitions in several places right from 1977.

Souvenir Cover Page Design and Logos

Created souvenir pages for 54th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, Madikeri, Madikeri Kodava Samaj Amruta Mahotsava (80 Years), Karnataka Police Centenary Celebration, St Anne’s Church 200 years Celebration, Kodagu Dist Honey & Wax Co-op Society Virajpet.

Created logos for Kodagu District Co-op Central Bank, Kodava Sahitya Academy, Kodagu Zilla Parishat, 54th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, Taranga Virajpet, St Anne’s High School Virajpet, Many more commercial company

He was responsible for multi-coloured picture, offset printing at Shivakasi which was the first time a multi-coloured picture was published in Kodagu (1980)

Birth Place of River Cauvery – Released by Field Marshal K M Cariappa.
Tala Cauvery – Poster released by A Ramaswamy, former deputy commissioner, Kodagu
Tala Cauvery – Triveni Sangama, Theerta Kundike – Picture cards released by M K Poovaiah
Tala Cauvery – Raja Seat Madikeri, Abbi Falls Madikeri – Greetings cards released by R Gundu Rao, the then chief minister of Karnataka
Cauvery – Amar Chitra Katha (pictorial book) Kannada, English, Kodava language released by M C Nanaiah, the then law minister of Karnataka government.
Aishwaraiswara Kubera Lakshmi, Framing picture – Released by Shekar Shetty of Arab Udupi Group of Hotels UAE

Organisations Served

President –Kodagu Kala Parishat / Kodagu Art Masters Association
Secretary –Bharat Scouts and Guides Taluk Association
Secretary –Kodagu District Bunts Association
Founder Member – ‘Taranga’ Cultural Association Virajpet
Technical Advisor – Field Marshal K M Cariappa Statue Committee, Madikeri

Rai’s activities in United Arab Emirates from 1996 onwards

Served as creative art director at Mirrage Advertising, Winning Communivations, Modern Graphics and now currently serving as creative director in Gulf Public Relations Advertising – Signage Division, NMC Group

Public Service

President – Karnataka Sangaha Sharjah 2004 – 2006
Entertainment Secretary – Karnataka Sangha Dubai 2000-2002
Art Director – UAE Tulu Koota Dubai, Sangama Kalavidaru UAE
Organising Committee Member – UAE Bunts -2000-2001
Blood Donation Camp, 2006 – Karnataka Sangha Sharjah and Gulf Medical College Hospital, Ajman and Ministry of Health, Sharjah

Art works created in UAE: Digital banners created with the concept of Karnataka art and culture and Indian traditional art for Karnataka Sangha Dubai, UAE Tulu Koota, Karnataka Sangha Sharjah, UAE Bunts, Mogaveers UAE, Billawas Dubai & Northers Emirates, Billawas Dubai, Gulf Billawa Sangha, Daiji Rang Mandir, Symphony Music Institute – Ajman/Sharjah, Sangama Kalavidaru UAE, Nama Tuluveru UAE, Vishwakarma Seva Samiti UAE, Devaadiga Sangha UAE.

Logos created in UAE for Karnataka Sangah Sharjah, UAE Tulu Koota (decennial), UAE Bunts, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, Al Ain Kannada Sangha, Dhvani Pratistana UAE (silver jubilee), Mogaveers UAE, Sangama Kalavidaru UAE, Gulf Kannadiga Forum, Devadiga Sangha UAE, UAE Tamil Sangam, Mangalore Konkans (20 years), Daiijiword website, Kannadadhvani website

Stage settings and gateway creations in UAE with the concept of Karnataka art and culture and Indian traditional art for Karnataka Sangah Dubai – Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore setting in 2001, Mysore Palace setting in 2002 (Karnatakotsava – Vishnuvardhan Kannada cine star), UAE Tulu Koota – Tulunadu setting.

Tableaux, gateways and souvenirs designed

* UAE Bunts Souvenir Cover page design – 1999
* Karnataka Sangha Dubai Souvenir – “Gaana Vaibhava”2001 , “Chandana” 2010
* Karnataka Sangha Sharjah – “Saadhane” – 2006
* Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha “Rajata Rashmi” – 2006
* Mangalore Konkans Dubai 2003 – 2010
* Billawas Dubai & Northern Emirates “Suvarna Kedage”- 2007
* UAE Tulukoota – “Sangama” 2000
* St Mary’s Church Dubai – 2005
* St Francis Assisi Jebal Ali – 2007
* St Michael’s Church Sharjah
* SMC Malayalee Catholics
* Tamil Sangam Ras Al Khaimah
* SMC Fr Daniel’s Hon Souvenir
* Dhvani Pratistaana UAE – “Kannada Naadu Nudi Rakshane” Cover
* Karnataka Sangha Sharjah -” Suvarna Karnataka Picture Card”

Besides, he has written and conceptualised a book titled ‘Footprints – A fascinating journey’ to Padmashri Dr B R Shetty.

Awards

Honoured at Govt Junior College Madikeri 1974 at Field Marshal K M Cariappa unveiling ceremony of sculptured art work, Main Gate GJC Madikeri
Karnataka State Best Teacher Award – 1993 by Karnataka Teachers Benefit Fund Bangalore
Karnataka Rajyotsava District Award -1987 by R Gundu Rao, the then chief minister of Karnataka
Gold Medal -1987 at Lakshadeepotsava Dharmasthala by Dr Veerendra Heggade
State Level Honouring – 1993 – at Gokrananatheshwara Temple Mangaluru, by Sri Pejawar Swamiji
Dr Shivaram Karanth Shilpa Kala Rathna Award – 1983 at Karnataka Electricity Board – Madikeri, by K A Somanna, state commissioner, Bharat Scouts – Karnataka
Kala Praveena Award – 1984 Ganapathy Utsava Samiti Gandhi Nagara Virajpet by Sri Shanthamalla Swamiji, Arameri Mata
Kala Kirana Award – 1990 at Angala Parameshwari Temple Virajpet, by M K Poovaiah, president, town muncipal council, Virajpet
Honoured at 100 years Karnataka Police Celebration – 1984 by P S Ramanujam, DIG Mysore
Honoured at Lalitha Kala Academy, Bangalore -1991 by P R Thippeswamy, president, Lalitha Kala Academy Bangalore
Honoured at Madikeri Dasara – Navaratri festival by M C Nanaiah, the then law minister Karnataka
Honourred at Sarva Dharma Sammelana – Arameri Math, by Shiva Kumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math,Tumakuru and Shantha Malla Swamiji Kalncheri Arameri Math
Honoured at Madikeri Dasara Utasav Temples by Kanchi Kaamkshi Temple, Kote Mariyamma Temple
Honoured by Kodagu Bunts Association 1993 at Rotary Hall Madikeri
Honoured at Vishwa Bunts Convention -1993 at Art Exhibition – Chitra Kala Parishat Bangalore by Dr Shivarama Karanth and Jeevaraj Alva, the then minister of Kannada and culture, Karnataka

Awards in UAE

Was honoured with ‘Mayura Award’ by Karnataka Sangha Sharjah in 2009
Received ‘Prathiba Puraskar Award’ at Vishwa Kannada Cultural Convention in 2009
Honoured at Nama Tuluveru ‘Tuluvere Parba 2012’
Honoured at Kuvempu Utsava 2012 at Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha
Honoured at UAE Bunts Satyanarayana Pooja by Dr. B.R. Shetty in 2015
Honoured at UAE Tulukoota Silver Jubilee Celebration in 2015
Honoured at Devadigas Dubai Celebration in 2015
Honoured at Ramakshatriya Sangha in 2015
Honoured by Shri. Veerendra Hegde at Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sanga Rajyotsava Celebration 2015

Other than the above there are innumerable events Ganesh Rai has contributed selflessly to in one or the other way which was noticed and appreciated by the concerned on various occasions.

In my view, Ganesh Rai should be considered as a great asset to the Kannadigas in the UAE and India as well, for his contribution so far. With his sheer enthusiasm and commitment towards Kannada and Tulu language, he is promoting community spirit from so many years in this part of the world. He deserves all accolades and appreciation from the government of Karnataka which should recognize his service towards Kannada/Tulu language, art, folk and literature packed with a unique blend of artistry, social awareness, commitment of service to humanity and honour him soon.

Wishing him more success in his future endeavor.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Shodhan Prasad / Dubai – November 19th, 2015

Team Coorg wins Independence Day Trophy

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Nri's / Pio's, Sports, World Opinion

TeamCoorgKF22aug2016

Muscat :

Team Coorg Muscat and Friends of Naqvi Group under the patronage of Embassy of India and in coordination with Oman Hockey Association organised the 70th Independence Day commemoration Hockey Festival at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex recently. It was the tenth year in a row the event was held.

The Ambassador of India H E Indra Mani Pandey was the chief guest who distributed the prizes to all participants.

It was a great jubilation and historic moment for the organisers as president of FIH Leonardo Negre, CEO of AHF Dato Sree Tayyab Ikram sent their best wishes for the success of the hockey festival.

Dr Omar Zawawi, a great supporter for hockey had offered to sponsor the event and Waleed Associates were the main sponsors. Pramod Karajgikar attended on behalf of Waleed Associates. The Hockey Festival started with the national anthem of India and Oman presented by the Indian School Seeb choir.

The Indian School Muscat exhibited a parade and a march past.

The Independence Day trophy was won by Team Coorg Muscat for the second year in a row by defeating UTSC Muscat in a thrilling match by 3-2.

The Ambassador XI won the second time as they were the winners in 2015 of the Ambassador Cup.

The Ambassador XI won the 2016 cup by defeating Indian School Seeb in a tie breaker.

The 70th Independence Day Hockey Festival organisers expressed their sincere thanks and gratitude to participating teams from Oman and UAE.

In this connection the contribution by Bellu Kuttapa, Mohammed Raffe, Javis Ahmed and Liju Hassan is noteworthy.

The chairman of the organising committee S A S Naqvi along with Bellu Kuttapa expressed their gratitude to the sponsors and the Embassy of India.

source : http://www.muscatdaily.com / MuscatDaily.com / Home / August 21st, 2016

WSF World Doubles: Saurav Ghosal and Dipika Pallikal settle for silver in mixed doubles

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

This is the first time that India clinched three medals from this event.

The Indian players on the podium during the mixed doubles medal ceremony (image courtesy: WSF World Doubles Twitter)
The Indian players on the podium during the mixed doubles medal ceremony (image courtesy: WSF World Doubles Twitter)

India finished a historic campaign at the WSF World International Doubles at Marrara, Darwin in Australia on Thursday with three medals for the first time in the history of the championships. The second-seeded mixed doubles pair of Saurav Ghosal and Dipika Pallikal had to settle for silver in the summit clash where they lost to the third seeds Paul Coll and Joelle King of New Zealand, 8-11, 8-11 in 34 minutes.

Besides that, the second Indian mixed doubles pair of Harinderpal Sandhu and Joshna Chinappa as well as the top-seeded women’s doubles team of Chinappa and Pallikal both captured the bronze after losing their respective semi-finals.

Pallikal and Ghosal had prevailed over the Kiwi mixed doubles pair in a tight match a day earlier in their final group assignment and were thus considered the favourites. But King and Coll put up a determined show that took the game out of the Indians’ hands.

By constantly varying their pace and returns, they never allowed the Indians to build a rhythm. The Kiwi pair’s dropshots and their strategy of keeping the ball in the middle paid rich dividends.

The Indians had more chances in the second game which was neck and neck. But Coll and King applied just the right amount of pressure in the end, to seal the win in straight games.

The performance of all the Indian players at the World Doubles earned praise from the national coach Cyrus Poncha who called it a ‘fabulous show’.“Whichever way one viewed it, this has been a fabulous show overall by the Indians.

Returning with three medals is something to be proud of and the players surely need a pat on their backs for this,” said Poncha, who was with the squad in Darwin.

The Indians will now be turning their attention to the season’s first World Series event – the Hong Kong Open that starts on August 23.

source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / SportsKeeda / Homepage> Squash> News / by Sudeshna Banerjee @Sudsports / August 18th, 2016

Flying Squirrel perks a plan to serve artisan coffee

Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), World Opinion

Bengaluru-based firm plans to take its product from online to roastery-cum-cafés

Flying Squirrel core team: (clockwise from top right) Sreeram G, Tej Thammaiah, Laeeq Ali, Ravi D’Abreo and Ashish D’Abreo
Flying Squirrel core team: (clockwise from top right) Sreeram G, Tej Thammaiah, Laeeq Ali, Ravi D’Abreo and Ashish D’Abreo

Mumbai :

Artisan roasted gourmet coffee might not grab you attention. But when it is named Flying Squirrel it does stir up some interest, especially when one shares a cup with Ashish D’Abreo, hardcore filter coffee drinker and founder of Flying Squirrel, who is more than happy to spill the beans on the growing coffee market.

A Creative Director with Origami, an advertising firm in Bengaluru, for 15 years, Ashish noticed how the coffee being served to the clients in the firm repeatedly came in for high accolades. Personally, Ashish dreamt of having different variants of filter coffee every day of the week. He decided to team up with his college friend Tej Thammaiah.

“Tej is a third-generation coffee farmer and owns a coffee estate (Nellikad Estate) at Pollibetta in Coorg; so a no-brainer. Since college days, we used to have his coffee in our house every morning. Some three years ago, we thought: ‘Why not bring this coffee in the open, why not have a lot more people experience the joy of a personalised and creatively cultivated brand of coffee,” says D’Abreo.

And so started the research and development process on Tej’s coffee estate, “to develop the beans and experiment with the growing and the drying processes, so as to arrive at certain points we were proud of,” says D’Abreo. The two-year-long R&D process netted six different variants of coffee, but “there was no one in the mail-order coffee business at that time to take this ahead.”

Working with an advertising firm helped, given its expertise in branding, design, digital marketing and advertising. Three other partners in the advertising firm, “who saw value in the idea” pitched in.

Since one of the most frequent visitors on the coffee estate was the Malabar flying squirrel, the team decided naming the company Flying Squirrel.

“Our coffee was launched two-and-a-half years ago. We partnered with logisitics company GoJavas, (which shut operations last week), at the outset, due to which we managed deliveries across India from day one 1,” reminisces D’Abreo.

He went on to add that initially, roasting of the coffee beans would be done only once a week. “We now do it thrice a week, given the jump in orders. Depending on customer orders, we collate and roast the beans either in medium roast, dark roast, or fine grind. Each pack is customised.”

Shelf life
The company does not have any huge machinery. “We roast the coffee 15 minutes before sealing each pack,” says D’Abreo, who believes in the dictum that exclusivity of freshly ground coffee goes to waste when coffee products are stored in shelves for an extended period of time.

“Not many people know, but coffee is a perishable product. Filter coffee, especially, should be consumed within a month of roasting. There is no harsh taste, no aroma, no flavour left afterwards, and the notes have all but vanished. We set out to solve this problem. We have hardly any retail shelf life.”

Flying Squirrel is currently available online. Its “exclusive personalised roasting” ensures a better coffee experience for avid filter coffee drinkers, affirms D’Abreo, who quit his post at Origami three months ago, to devote himself full-time to the coffee business.

The next chapter is to get into the cafe business. “We would like to bring this experience to a coffee drinker at the ground level, apart from online sales. So we decided to start a roastery, do the roasting in-house and run a roastery-cum-café.”

The first of such cafés has opened shop at Koramangala in Bengaluru. The plan is to have multiple such cafés in Bengaluru and Goa. Most of the coffee beans are sourced from Thammaiah’s estate.

Back from Antarctica, IAS officer has climate change lessons for Kodagu

Amazing Feats, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nature, Records, All, World Opinion

Maiden feat

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Charulata Somal is the first IAS officer to have gone on an expedition to the Antarctica. The 2012-batch officer from Karnataka cadre has just returned from the icy continent.

After getting a first-hand account of the impact of climate change during her 15-day expedition, the Chief Executive Officer of Kodagu Zilla Panchayat wants to use her experience to combat climate change in the district. Speaking to Deccan Herald, the 28-year-old officer said her aim was to improve Kodagu.

Somal was among 140 people from 30 countries who went on the expedition. There were 17 Indians in the team, including Somal. This was the largest contingent from the country, she said.

The team included engineers, educationists, scholars, members of non-government organisations, film makers, photographers and artists.
“We were chosen from among 7,000 applicants across the globe. I am proud to be the first IAS officer to have taken an expedition to the Antarctica,” she said, her face beaming with joy. The expedition was held from March 13 to 26, 2016.

The participants were selected at an expedition organised by the 2041 Foundation of Robert Swan, the first man to have walked the North and South Poles.

He made a 900-mile journey to South Pole, the longest unassisted march in history, from 1984 to 1987. The foundation has been organising expeditions since 2003-04.

A BA graduate in Economics (Honours), Somal said the subject helped her understand how energy resources were being exploited and how they could be conserved.

“We started the expedition by a ship named Endeavour from Ushuaia in Argentina and touched the Antarctic West Peninsula. Every day we landed at a different place. We had ice classroom sessions, where participants are made to sit on the ice. Apart from travelling by ship, we trekked for three to four hours, walked for 30 km with 80-100 kg luggage in -10 degrees Celsius. At times, the temperature was as low as -35 degrees Celsius. We experienced chilly winds blowing at a speed of 45 miles per hour, snow, sunshine and even rain at freezing temperatures,” she recollected.

After returning from the expedition, Somal made a presentation at the Karnataka IAS Officers’ Association to her colleagues and senior officials. She is also preparing to submit a report to the state government about the way of life in the Antarctica and the knowledge she acquired there.

“As an official, we have certain limitations. But in my personal capacity, I am conducting awareness camps for schoolchildren on how to save the last wilderness on earth, the impact of climate change on natural resources and how Cauvery basin, which is the prime source of water for Bengaluru and other areas, can be saved,” she said.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> City / by Bosky Khanna, Bengaluru / DHNS – August 13th, 2016

Kodagu Stars at Rio Olympics

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

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Out of 10 sportspersons from Karnataka, seven are from Kodagu… Yet…!

Mysuru, Aug. 6- The 31st Summer Olympics Games, which began at Rio de Janerio this morning (IST), will have Kodava pride at stake with seven sportspersons from Kodagu out of the total 10 sportspersons from State participating in the Rio Games.

Having known as the smallest district in Karantaka, Kodagu has contributed immensely to the field of sports, be it field hockey, badminton or cricket.

A home for hockey, Kodagu will see its ace hockey players V.R. Raghunath, S.V. Sunil, Nikkin Thimmaiah and S.K. Uthappa representing the country in the Field Hockey. This Olympics will be special for Kodagu as S.V. Sunil also named as the vice-captain of the team. Till date, including Rio Olympics, a total of 10 hockey players from Kodagu have represented the country in Olympics. This is also the first that four hockey players from Kodagu will a part of the hockey team competing in Olympics. Meanwhile, ace shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa will compete in women’s doubles badminton along with her partner Jwala Gutta. M.R. Poovamma, who rose to fame in athletics, will compete in 4×400 mts relay along with her follow athletes. But, all eyes will be on Lawn Tennis player Rohan Bopanna, who will be partnering legendary Leander Paes in the men’s doubles event.

All of the seven sportspersons from Kodagu have the ability to win gold medals for our country.

With India sending its highest contingent to Olympics this year, we hope the sportspersons from Kodagu bring laurels to the country and Kodava land.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / August 06th, 2016