The terror attacks are still too fresh in our minds to go partying till the wee hours. But there are still a few worthy ways to usher the New Year. Read on

The human chain in protest against Mumbai blasts is finding acceptance all over the world and everyone who has witnessed the grotesque scenes on television or simply heard it from someone, know that the people have declared a battle against terrorism. It is sad that it has come at a time when we are about to usher 2009. With most people calling off New Year celebrations there isn't much one can look forward to. All the same, there are groups, and non-government organisations that have decided to keep the spirit alive in some way or the other. We check out on some of these organisations and people associated with these to know how they would like to move from the old to the new year.

Offers Gaurav Gaur, lecturer with the Department of Social Work, Panjab University, "Every single soul of the country is troubled with the problem of terrorism and the Mumbai blasts have triggered off a movement, which has a great support from people across all age groups." According to Gaurav, no one is interested in partying as the incident is still too fresh in everyone's mind. "Yet another terror we are facing is AIDS and I want the country to overpower it and throw it out." This New Year, Gaurav will be providing CDs called Savdhaan to various schools and colleges to promote HIV testing. "Well, we have burned enough candles and now it's time to act. Personally, we need to prepare a healthy generation that can fight. If we fall prey to AIDS how will we be able to face other external attacks," opines Gaurav.

And Payal Sodhi, founder trustee PFA, Chandigarh has a very interesting offer to make. According to Payal, intolerance in increasing in this world tremendously. "When we walk on the road, we don't want any other creature to walk and we kick that creature. It is time to have compassion, which is not just for the animals but for human beings as well." Also, Payal feels that people who are intolerant towards animals are the same towards human beings too. "Most serial killers begin by killing animals and then they kill human beings. What we need is to stop this violence. People are lighting candles for those who laid down their lives for us. I would also light a candle for an animal which got killed because someone wanted to have it for breakfast or for some occasion," she says.

The voluntary organisation plans to launch a new scheme around January 6, 2009, wherein they would introduce family workshops in schools so that the kids can sensitise their parents. "As an animal welfare organisation, we are against violence of any kind, be it towards animals, tree or human beings."

The message is clear. We are not ready for any kind of violence. We have to learn from our mistakes and don't let those carry on. This New Year celebrations are low-key keeping in mind that those lessons shouldn't be forgotten. The pledge for solidarity is on. Pramod Sharma of Yuvsatta, plans to organise a cycle rally to promote a clean and green city. "A nation of healthy minds and body is what we need so that we can face any kind of attack."

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Some celeb made it to Santa’s nice list and some to the naughty list. Read on to know more...

Mount Carmel's new thematic curriculum kit has all that a child wants and parents desire

A for apple…B for bat…C for…. Now, before getting any wrong ideas, this was just to take you back to your school days. Those blissful, euphoric and heavenly years. Only two regrets - homework and heavy bags. For a while, just think if they were simply not there.

Unbelievable, far fetched, impossible? But true. If folks at Mount Carmel School-47 are to be believed, that's already happening on their premises. The school has introduced Thematic Curriculum as part of their education programme. Already aware of the best effects, we probe further!

So what is it all about? Sanjay Bhatnagar, the designer of the curriculum, says, "It is a method of teaching and syllabi based on world curriculum. The system is already being followed in the entire European countries." Perhaps an example would make it clear. He elucidates, "The entire syllabus is divided into themes. For example if the current theme is water then it would revolve activities, sports related to water, exercises on rain, clouds, umbrellas etc." Madhvi Bhatnagar, co-designer, adds, "There could be ten themes for the complete year. For example the month of October has Nature as the theme. Then Maths, EVS and other subjects will be based on that theme." With net result, no bags, no homework and lot of activities. It took the whole team, with inputs from teachers, four years to develop the syllabus till Class I. "Right now I am working on Class II and we plan to introduce it up till class V," says Sanjay. The effort's in sync with the CBSE's recent guideline of no school bag before sixth grade. An educationist with four years of experience in designing audiovisual curriculum, Sanjay feels our education system is flawed in a lot of ways. He says, "Change is the law of nature. Our education pattern has remained the same for a century now. At the age of three, we are making a child write six pages. This is insanity." Does he feel the system will be readily accepted and especially by the believers in traditional education methods? He says, "When the parents will see better results, they will accept the change."

However, Annie Charles, vice-principal, Mount Carmel, already has a point to make, "We introduced the system this session and gave an orientation to parents, and everybody's happy. It's going on very well and everyone's very happy." Don't know the intricacies, but we bet students lead the happiness index!

manpriya@tribunemail.com

The English communication workshop at British Library on Saturday left the kids hooked, asking for more

Who wants to be an elephant? Who wants to be mice? And, who wants to be a butler?" says the voice. Meanwhile, a shy little girl gets up, raises her hand. She wants the butler's part. Sshhh…It's a workshop on English communication skills and the kids are engrossed to the core. The teachers are involved and the visitors are kept at bay.

The workshop was based on the concept; communication becomes an altogether fruitful experience through extensive use of poetry and drama. As Suprita Gill, the trainer, says, "The classes are called speech and drama, and I use drama and poetry as a medium. When the kids enact it out, it boosts their confidence,” she says, while asking the kids to get ready for their respective roles.

Having done a course in English speech and drama from The Institute of Creative Learning, London, Suprita is in the profession for over six years now. No wonder, teaching kids has become a passion with her. As she says, "It's wonderful to interact with kids. You forget your worries and get to learn a lot as well." Coming back to the concept, is speech and drama an alternative method of teaching? She says, "It can be extended even to other subjects. If the kids are being taught history, they can asked to enact the role of various characters once the chapter is over." Thus they can retain much more. But she does feel the difference in the teaching methodology at the schools here? Says Suprita, "The classrooms there are not so guided and structured. But, I don't blame the schools. With so many children and a tough curriculum, it's not possible to practice this." Meanwhile, the children have decided what they want to be, taken their positions and raring to play the part. We leave it at that.

Say goodbye to the myths of 2008 and rediscover your health and attitude

Every season brings a new weight-loss trend and we're bombarded daily with diet and exercise tips, from folk wisdom to the latest medical research, which often seem contradictory or incomplete. While some throw up their hands in despair, others decide they might as well sit on the couch and eat whatever they like and keep getting fatter. But the good news is that we are not powerless. We needn't let our lack of knowledge about nutrition and fitness prevail over our common sense and our desire to live healthy, happy lives. We need to rethink about dropping those extra kilos. For starters, we must stop falling for the myths.

As much as we all might like the idea of a ‘magic formula,’ most experts agree that healthy, sustainable weight loss doesn't come from extreme measures or single-faceted diets. Any weight-loss misconceptions or misinformation could be a real danger to your weight-management success. Fortunately, rooting out these wrong-headed notions isn't as daunting as it might seem.

Here are some myths that prevailed in 2008 and hopefully the facts provided will help you make informed and empowered weight-management decisions.

Myth: A calorie is a calorie.

Fact: All calories are not created equal.

It is true that if you take in more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. But it's also true that the nutritional quality of those calories plays a big role in how many calories your body burns. So, if you're simply counting calories without looking at the nutritional value of what you're eating, you're asking for trouble.

Simply counting calories will not lead to body fat loss. Knowing that the heat liberated from a particular food, whether it is fat, protein, or carbohydrate is determined by its particular molecular structure, and that this structure determines its thermogenic effect. The higher the thermogenic effect of any particular food, the higher your metabolic rate. To make the most of the calories you ingest, emphasise on foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, olive oil, whole grains, herbs and spices.

Myth: To lose weight, go on a diet.

Fact: To lose weight, choose to eat healthy.

Many weight-loss diets call for a dramatic reduction in daily caloric intake, which tends to deprive the body of the very nutrients it needs to effectively release and process unwanted fat. Eating too little or skipping meals has another extreme downside: It puts the body in a "fat-conservation" mode. When you take in fewer calories than are necessary to fuel your resting metabolic rate your body simply compensates by reducing your metabolic rate, which in turn leads to weight gain. So don't diet instead eat healthy and sensibly.

Myth: Eating fat will make you fat.

Fact: Good fats are your friend.

One of the keys to losing weight is to understand the differences between bad and good fats. Your body needs not only the much-touted omega-3 fats, but also some plant-based omega-6s and a certain amount of the much-maligned saturated fat, in order to nourish your brain, heart, nerves, hormones and cell structures.

While eating an excessive amount of any kind of fat will compromise bodily function and lead to weight gain, eating a moderate amount of the good fats found in whole foods not only helps our bodies stay healthy and vibrant, it also delivers the benefit of controlling blood-sugar levels and appetite. Most nutrition experts suggest taking in between 15 and 25 percent of your daily calories as fat.

Myth: Weight loss is about changing your body.

Fact: Weight loss is about changing your life and your attitude.

Losing weight isn't simply about any one diet or exercise regimen — it's about transforming the way you live. True weight loss starts with the mind. If you don't have psychological health, you simply won't have the drive to lose weight or to keep it off. For many people, achieving a healthy weight is only possible once certain mental and emotional issues have been addressed. Many of you overeat or avoid exercise for reasons you don't entirely understand - or that you feel powerless to control.

Maybe you make poor choices when you are stressed out, sad, ashamed or angry. Maybe you make unconscious choices when you are tired, distracted or numbed out. Whatever the reason, the excess weight you carry on the outside is sometimes the symptom of an unresolved problem on the inside.

It's also worth noting that stress alone can create a biochemical profile that works against weight loss. When you experience stress, whether or not you are in immediate physical danger, our physiological "fight-or-flight" survival responses kick in - and they set off a series of chemical reactions in our bodies that encourage weight retention.

So, building self-awareness and self-acceptance, regularly incorporating healthy stress-management techniques, or simply talking things through with trusted friends or loved ones could be as central to weight loss as hitting the treadmill.

It is also important to remember that no single weight-loss approach is right for everyone. Every body, and every life, is different. And so, in the end, there are no hard-and-fast "rules" - only principles, evidence and guidelines that each of us must explore and refine until we find the mix that's right for us.

kalrasachin@hotmail.com

'Harry Potter' star Emma Watson has revealed that she's "waiting for her knight in shining armour." The 18-year-old, who was cast as Hermione Granger at the age of nine, rubbished her links with several suitors, saying she was still single.

"I've been linked with so many guys that I'm beginning to sound like a wanton woman," the Mirror quoted her as saying.

"Relationships are complicated enough without reading that you're breaking up or getting back together or cheating on one another every five minutes. Guys are either intimidated by me or they make fun of me. When I'm older I'd love to be married. Success is meaningless without someone to love. But he'll have to be intelligent, interesting and able to hold a conversation. There aren't a lot of gentlemen out there, unfortunately. But I'm waiting for my knight in shining armour." she added.

The French-born British actress had recently been voted into the Top 100 sexiest girls in a men's magazine. — ANI

The death of actor Heath Ledger has topped a poll of the most important showbiz events of 2008.

The 29-year-old actor, who died early this year, will be best remembered for his role of the 'Joker' in the last Batman flick The Dark Knight, a website reported.

The star's death from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in January this year came first in a survey of US newspaper and broadcast editors. — PTI