Grameen shakti and the solar revolution

Grameen Shakti is a renewable energy resources company based out of Bangladesh. They are a part of the Grameen family of companies, which has been working for decades to alleviate the burdens of poverty in developing countries. The Grameen Bank, one of their founding companies, has become world-renowned for their charitable work and for helping to establish groundbreaking programs focused on the needs of people.

In recent years, the Grameen Bank has financed and supported a number of projects aimed at removing social and financial barriers and creating opportunities for those less fortunate. Grameen Telecom is one such example. The central aim of this company is to provide collateral-free loans to rural villagers for use in establishing local communications networks. This model has become known as the Village Phone.

They have now committed significant resources to sustainable energy development. The cornerstone of this effort is the Photovoltaic Program. In Bangladesh, only 30% of the population is receiving energy from the electrical power grid. In this developing nation, the infrastructure to provide energy to every household simply doesn't exist. In an effort to address this problem, Grameen Shakti has financed the installation of thousands of solar energy systems in rural communities.

This has created immense opportunities for people in rural villages. Children now have the ability to pursue their studies long after the sun has gone down. Businesses now have the ability to operate beyond their traditional work hours, thus increasing productivity and sales. A world of opportunity has opened up for an entire generation of rural villagers. As a consequence, they are no longer rural villagers. They are now members of our global village.

One of the most amazing consequences of this program has been the level of technological engagement that has occurred among the youth in Bangladesh. For young people in rural communities, the future is bright. Due to the advancement in technological knowledge and understanding, the demand for skilled workers has increased at a phenomenal pace. To address this concern, Grameen Shakti has also established training programs that educate young people in the principles of electronics and engineering.

It is both exciting and encouraging to witness the immediate and tangible effects of an enlightened business model that measures its true profitability by its social impact. It is an idea that is completely foreign to the western capitalist mindset, and one that serves as a shining example of the power of an idea. Western corporations take heed; there are lessons to be learned in rural Bangladesh.

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Copy Like A Professional

Anyone who has burned CDs in the past has had to

have encountered this problem - your CD doesn't

want to play in certain CD players. You've probably

tried switching to a different brand of disks,

switching the writing speed of your CD burning

software, and yet nothing seems to work.

Most professional CDs that are purchased from a

retail outlet such as Circuit City or Best Buy

works in any type of CD player, which probably makes

you wonder what they are doing that your not. All

of us wonder this, especially when out duplicated

CDs don't want to play back like they should.

Much to the contrary, it's because the music

industry burns their CDs differently. Instead

of simply duplicating CDs, the music industry

chooses to replicate CDs. Even though the

terminology may seem synonymous, the process is

actually totally different.

CD replication is used for the mass production of

CDs, which is normally more than 500. Instead

of writing the data to a CD using a laser as

with duplication, CD replication uses a glass

master to stamp (or press) the data onto the

disc. This helps to eliminate almost all of the

issues associated with playability that are

encountered when burning CDs at home. CD

replication is a far superior process of burning

CDs.

Important to note, is the superior quality of

CDs that are pressed using replication doesn't

come cheap. Even when using independant CD

duplication companies such as Absolute Disc or

Oasis, there is still going to be a very high

cost associated with the replication of disks.

For your next project, try having your CDs

replicated rather than duplicated. This will

ensure your project is very high quality, even

though you'll need to order more than 500 CDs

to recive this process.

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Buying a new car at anytime

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There are many things that you must consider when buying a new car. Most will have to do with the car itself such as what model to buy, the options you want to add, and the price of the car. However, there is one thing that it always pays to check out first, and that is, who are you buying the car from.

Dealers

Perhaps more important than the car you buy, is who you buy it from, what character they have and how they do business and treat customers. No matter what kind of car you are buying, it is possible that something will go wrong and you will need to call the dealer to fix the problem for you. If the dealer is honest and puts pride into satisfying his customers, you will have your problem solved quickly and you'll be on the road, enjoying your new car in no time. If, on the other hand, he is only interested in getting paid and wants nothing more to do with you, then you could have a serious problem on your hands.

Be Aware

If you are calling a number of dealers to find out about the availability of a particular model, use the opportunity while on the phone to try and get a feel for the dealer. Ask yourself the question, 'is this someone I want to do business with?' If not, simply call another dealer.

If the sales person is in anyway impatient or pushy, perhaps you should be thinking about going elsewhere. If you are not completely comfortable in the environment then there is a higher chance that you are going to buy a car you don't want, you're not going to have a proper chance to weigh up all the advantages and disadvantages, and you are going to be reluctant to deal with the seller again if you have a problem.

However, if the dealer is relaxed and open, listens to your thoughts and needs and tries to help you find the car you want, there is a much better chance that you are going to leave with a car you actually want, and are not going to be pushed into making a rash purchase.

All purchases involve a personal relationship of some type between buyer and seller and there must be an element of trust if the transaction is to be wholly satisfactory. So when you're thinking of the car you want, the financing, the insurance and all the other things that go with buying a new car, add to your list the salesperson and make sure you are dealing with someone you trust and are comfortable with.

How to find honeymoon phuket island thailand

The best course of action to take sometimes isn't clear until you've listed and considered your alternatives. The following paragraphs should help clue you in to what the experts think is significant.

I have long dreamt of visiting the Phi Phi Islands . I first read about these beautiful remote islands off the coast of Phuket about 10 years ago and then, like everybody else, I was spellbound with the stunning scenery shown in the movie, The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. After seeing the film for a second time, I decided that Phi Phi would be my honeymoon destination one day.

You can imagine my sense of anticipation when I finally arrived there with my bride a few weeks ago. Most tourists arrive by sea from Phuket or Krabi, but we decided to fly there from Phuket Airport using a new seaplane service, Blue Water Air. As we came down to land, I looked out at the splendid sight below - soaring cliffs and dense forests bordering golden stretches of sand. We boarded a speedboat and a few minutes later we arrived at the delightful little village at Ton Sai Bay.

Although it is commonly referred to as Phi Phi “island”, pronounced Pee-Pee, there are actually two islands. The bigger of the two, Phi Phi Don, is where everybody stays, as the smaller Phi Phi Lei is uninhabited. The big attraction on Phi Phi Lei is Maya Bay and its beautiful beach, where the movie was shot. On Phi Phi Don there are some superb resorts dotted around the coastline, but most accommodation is in Ton Sai village. The settlement is perched on a stretch of sand between two steep hills, with the sea bordering either side.

My first surprise on arriving was to find that there are no motorcars on the island. Porters use hand-carts to transport luggage from the pier to your hotel room and the speediest form of transport is the bicycle. Small, winding lanes run between the hotels and bungalows, packed with little stores offering everything from 24-hour Internet services and diving packages to pizzas and pancakes.

After booking into our hotel, the Phi Phi Island Cabana, we set off for a swim in Loh Dalum Bay, only a few metres away. It was surprisingly shallow and we waded out with the occasional sea kayak or Thai fisherman for company. As the sun set we lay back in the water and looked at the lights of the waterfront cafes and bars twinkling under the palm trees. We were in heaven!

Later that night we celebrated our first night on Phi Phi with cocktails at the Jungle Bar, a fabulous beachside bar lit by flame torches. We met some young Scandinavian backpackers and they advised us to head down the beach to an Italian restaurant, Ciao Bella, for “the best pizza in Thailand ”. My wife opted for prawns from the fresh seafood on display, but I ordered a pizza, which lived up to its reputation. Later I chatted with the Italian owner, who told me that he has lived on Phi Phi for more than 10 years. His family live in Phuket during the week, but he prefers the simple life in his beachfront bungalow.

Early the next morning we hired a speedboat and set off to see Maya Bay, the cove where most of the film was made. Surprisingly, it has remained unspoilt despite the crowds which visit every day. Get there early – or just before sunset – and you should have at least part of the beach to yourself. When the first ferryload of daytrippers arrived, we went snorkelling on the other side of the island. I have snorkelled before, but this was really special. It felt like I was drifting above a marine wonderworld, with brightly-coloured fish swarming around me. My wife was nervous at first, but later we struggled to get her out of the water! We then did a trip around the island, stopping off in quiet little bays for a swim.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

When we finally returned to the pier, I was ready to head for a late afternoon nap, but my wife had a different idea. “What about a Thai massage?” she asked. We headed off to one of the little massage shops and, for the next 90 minutes, I drifted off into a blissful half-sleep.

That night I was all set for another night of drinking and dining with my toes in the sand, but my wife decided she wanted to go somewhere “elegant”. “Darling, we're on an island, miles from anywhere,” I pleaded. “Don't be silly, we'll find somewhere special here”, was her retort. And we did. That night we dined at an excellent little French restaurant, named Le Grand Bleu, situated in an alley close to the jetty.

Fortified by a bottle of wine, we then headed for the stretch of lively bars that are mostly frequented by backpackers. Those we liked best were Apache, a loud, massive bar consisting of a series of terraces clinging to a steep hillside, and Carlitos, a small bar which featured an amazing “fire show”, where dancers twirled and juggled flaming batons. The star of the show told us he had set up classes to teach his skills to locals, so get ready for a host of fire-dancing stars emanating from Phi Phi!

The next day we chartered a longtail boat and spent the day on Bamboo Island about 30 minutes away. We relaxed in the shade of the casuarinas and palms fringing the beach and read novels bought from a second-hand book store before we left the village. We intended to take a scuba diving course, but the urge to do as little as possible increased the longer we stayed on the island. There was always something new to discover in the village, my favourites being a reggae bar tucked away up the hill and a bakery where the TV seemed to show movies all day to an appreciative backpacker audience.

Most of the time I was happy to prop myself up at one of the little bars along the seafront chatting to whoever dropped in, while my wife was content to lie and suntan in a deckchair on the beach only metres away. One afternoon we managed to rouse ourselves enough to undertake the rather strenuous walk up the nearby mountain to the “viewpoint” – a spot where you can take in the full splendour of the bays below. It was magnificent and worth the tiring hike.

Our five-day holiday on Phi Phi seemed far too short. As we prepared to board the boat to the seaplane's floating jetty, I insisted we take off our shoes and wade out into the bay for one last time. With my dream of visiting the island fulfilled, I am now looking forward to heading back for a second honeymoon. It can't come soon enough.

Those who only know one or two facts about phuket can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you're learning here. http://www. phuket-cannacia. com

How to use your blog to market your business

Have you just started blogging? Or have you been blogging for a while? As you may already know, a blog is an excellent tool to let the world know about your business or your product, to connect with potential customers and promote your expertise. But how can you maximize your blog's impact? Here are five tips to do just that:

- Blog Consistently. Many business owners get excited about blogging, post 3-6 times, and then promptly forget about the blog. I have seen many blogs that were started a year or two ago, have a grand total of five posts, and haven't been updated since sometime last year.

To get the desired effect (search engine and human traffic), you need to update your blog on a regular basis. Search engines love new content and keep coming back to index it. Potential customers also like new content; it's what keeps them coming back to read your blog.

- Use Your Blog For Branding. Your blog is an extension of your business, so make your blog have a look and feel that mirrors that of your business web site.

If your blog is hosted on the same domain as your web site, you should match the look and feel of your web site exactly. This will be more difficult to achieve if a third party provider hosts your blog. However, you should still aim to present the same brand image.

- Use Search Engine Optimization To Optimize Each Blog Post. The purpose of your blog is to get people who are in your target market to read your posts and enter your sphere of influence. Traffic from search engines does not cost any money, and it is a great way to get potential customers to your blog.

Treat each one of your blog posts as a separate file to be optimized for search engines. Use a keyword research tool to find phrases that are related to the main subject of the post, and weave them into the content of the post.

- Have A Special Offer On Your Blog. Do you offer a free special report? Do you offer a mini course as a bonus for new newsletter subscribers? Add the offer to your blog. This will transform people from casual surfers who just happened to find your blog to newsletter subscribers.

- Share Information About Your Events, Products and Seminars. You might think that everyone has already heard about your upcoming teleclass on life and work balance or your e-book about achieving financial success. Not so! The person reading your blog might be hearing about you for the very first time, so they have no idea about your teleseminars or products unless you specifically tell them.

Avoid overselling, as it will dramatically reduce the number of your blog readers. Do, however, let your blog readers know about your seminars and products. If you don't tell them, nobody will.

A blog is an excellent tool to generate additional web site traffic, get new newsletter subscribers and sell more products. Use your blog to introduce potential customers to your business.

Fishing vacation

Going on a fishing vacation can bring relaxation to you and your family. Not only will you be able to enjoy nature and spend time with those you love, you will also be able to get a free meal. There are a number of different vacations that you can participate in. While some vacations can last a weekend, others can come in the form of extended tours that can last for days or weeks. There are a large number of remote areas around the world where you can fish in an environment that is serene and comfortable. When you are planning a fishing vacation, you will first want to decide what type of fishing you're interested in.

Fishing can basically be divided into two types, and this is saltwater or freshwater. You will also want to decide what type of fish you're interested in. There are many species of fish, and you may want salmon, trout, or mackerel. To get the the right fish, you will need to make sure you choose a location that contains the fish you're interested in. Another thing you will want to look at is your budget. The options will range from local lakes or ponds to luxury hotels where you can fish while staying at a resort. Your vacation can be simple, or it can be complex. The choice is up to you. Some people are independent and will want to travel alone, while others will want to use a travel agent.

Fishing vacations can be taken during any season of the year. Depending on where you travel during the winter, you may be required to cut a hole in the ice if you wish to fish. If you plan your vacation carefully, you can have the same experience that is achieved by expert fishermen. One thing that you will need to acquire is a fishing license. All the other equipment can be rented, and this is generally a much cheaper option to use instead of purchasing it directly from the manufacturer. Some of the equipment you will need for your trip is a reel, rod, and a boat. A life jacket and first aid kit should be purchased as well.

Fishing vacations are excellent for families. They can give you time to spend together that won't be distracted by the many things you will have to deal with on standard vacations. You don't have to be a master fisherman to enjoy your vacation. There have been cases were novices were much more successful than seasoned professionals. Even if you don't like fish, or are a vegetarian, you can still practice catch and release methods for handling fish.

While there are many packaged fishing tours available in the United States, they can also be found in foreign countries. With the number of available options, some people mave have a hard time deciding where they want to fish. One of the best advantages of taking an organized tour is that everything you need is readily available. Depending on how far you want to travel from home, you may need to take a plane, and carrying around the necessary equipment will be difficult. At the same time, those who are independent may not want to be stuck in organized tours, and will enjoy planning the entire trip themselves.

Blogging-for-profit-begins-with-a-long-term-plan-466

Blogging for Profit Begins With a Long Term Plan

Many people dream of blogging for profit, and this goal

is not far beyond the reach of someone with average

intelligence, a willingness to work hard, and a basic

grasp of blogging technology. However, very few

people manage to reap the profits they want from their

blog. Most people who attempt to make money with

their blogs do not succeed for two reasons. Often,

bloggers have unrealistic expectations of how fast their

readership will grow and how much money they will

make, and when these expectations are not met the

disappointment can crush the desire to continue

blogging. The other trap that many bloggers fall into

has to do with lack of planning. If you want to turn a

profit as a blogger, the key to success is to make a

realistic plan and stick with it.

To succeed at blogging for profit, the main thing that

you will need is a large readership. The higher your

traffic, the more advertisers will agree to pay you.

However, cultivating the regular visitors that you will

need in order to make a profit isnt easy. As more and

more blogs appear each day, having a great idea or a

wonderful writing style is no longer enough to get

attention. You need to be able to market your blog

effectively.

Too many bloggers spend all of their time writing posts

and almost no time marketing their project. To be

certain, updating as often as you can is a great way to

keep your blog high on blogrolls and high in blog

search engines like technorati, and once your readers

know that you update frequently they will return to your

site on a regular basis. However, it does not matter how

often you update if nobody is reading your page, so dont

skimp on the time that you spend drawing visitors to

your site. To make your dreams of blogging for profit a

reality, try decreasing your number of posts and using

some of that time to draw new visitors by setting up

link exchanges with other bloggers, making contacts in

the blog community, and following other established

modes of winning traffic.

Of course, even if you are a marketing genius or have a

really great idea for a blog, success is not going to

happen overnight. Building the kind of readership that

blogging for profit requires takes time, and in all

likelihood it will be at least several months before you

are able to turn much of a profit. Try to stay committed

to your blogging project during this initial rough period.

To stay motivated, set goals for how often you will

update and how many readers you want to attract, and

then reward yourself for sticking with your plan.

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