Environmental Chemistry

This course is designed to develop a working level knowledge of: (1) chemistry fundamentals; and (2) the basic principles and concepts of environmental chemistry. The participant will also acquire a familiarity level knowledge of: (1) geochemistry; (2) atmospheric chemistry; (3) environmental microbiology; and, (4) water treatment. Prerequisite for this course is one year of college level chemistry. Based upon the book Environmental Chemistry, by Professor Stanley Manahan, this course has been tailored to the needs of Environmental Restoration and Environmental Management career professionals by including case studies and applications from actual restoration sites. Satisfactorily completing this course will earn a total of 3 credits, in 3 modular segments, from Northern Arizona University and may be used toward degree programs in chemistry, waste management science or environmental engineering.

What happens to the chemicals in an industrial cleaner after you pour it into the sink? When you see black smoke pouring out of the chimney at an industrial complex, what impact is it having on the atmosphere? These are the types of questions environmental chemists seek to answer.

The fate of chemicals in the environment and their effects are matters of increasing concern to specialists in environmental management. "Fate" involves studying where chemicals show up in streams, rivers, and air. Such pollution contains molecules that have not been removed in water treatment plants, caught by the filters in industrial smokestacks, disposed of properly, or successfully sealed in containers.

As concerns about geochemistry and the natural environment increase, environmental chemists also study the processes that affect chemicals in the environment. Gases emitted by a pine forest may create a mist when mixed with car exhaust, for example. In other instances, the environment may have effects on chemicals that can be toxic. Environmental chemists examine the ways both chemicals and the environment are changed by interacting.

Manage Our Environment

Until about 20 years ago, those studying environmental contamination focused almost exclusively on the fate and effects of chemicals because the technology to measure the damage did not exist. As the technology for measuring leakage from landfills was developed, for example, industry recognized the potential for chemicals to negatively impact the environment—and the attendant social, political, and economic ramifications. As a result of these new data, chemists were able to help design pollution abatement systems that minimize the unwanted elements escaping into the environment. They also applied their knowledge to develop remediation systems to clean up contaminated areas.

As industry takes an increasingly proactive approach to environmental management, chemistry’s role should continue to grow. For many chemical companies, this may involve redeveloping a chemical product to come up with functional groups or compounds that are more compatible with the environment. For example, one major corporation has used catalysts to develop a new production process for methylisocyanate, a highly flammable and hazardous material that is dangerous to transport. The new production process allows the chemical to be manufactured at the site where it is used, avoiding the risks of shipping and storing.

As waste disposal has become increasingly expensive, industry also has grown more interested in finding ways to solve waste problems. Many solutions involve making industrial processes more efficient, which cuts costs. In addition, environmental chemists study the effects of chemicals other than pollutants on the environment.

Work In a Broad-Based Discipline

Because our environment is so complex, environmental chemists always underscore the interdisciplinary nature of their field. Environmental chemists must be able to understand and use the terminology of a range of other disciplines, including biology, geology, ecology, sedimentology, mineralogy, genetics, soil and water chemistry, math, and engineering. They may be involved in analytical testing, new product development in the lab, fieldwork with users of chemicals, and safety and regulatory issues. Many opportunities exist to move into different areas of expertise, often outside the lab. Many chemists return to school to study public policy, law, or business—applying their chemistry know-how in new ways. For example, knowledge of chemical processes is often vital for an individual who works in a corporation’s regulatory affairs department and must ensure compliance with government regulations.

Environmental management is becoming a popular career track. Students who hold degrees in environmental sciences are finding jobs throughout the chemical industry, often working alongside geologists, biologists, and chemists.

Most environmental chemists emphasize that a solid foundation in chemistry is important to this work. Chemistry students interested in applying their training to an environmentally oriented job are encouraged to take courses in environmental studies. Potential employers look favorably on this as an indication of interest and ability to think in an interdisciplinary manner.

Work Description

“Environmental chemist” is a general term. In fact, most chemists in the field would probably describe themselves more specifically by the work they do. This work may focus on collecting and analyzing samples, developing remediation programs, changing production processes to yield a more environmentally friendly product, providing expert advice on safety and emergency response, or dealing with government regulations and compliance issues.

Working Conditions

Work is often done in an indoor lab environment. However, when studying chemicals in the environment, a riverbed or stream may become the lab. Some companies have sophisticated indoor ecosystems in which they test their products. Others collect data outdoors and miles away from their own production sites.

Places of Employment

The chemical industry employs a huge number of environmental chemists to ensure that a given company is in compliance with government regulations. Government agencies such as the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Defense and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hire chemists for environmental work. In addition, waste management companies and consulting firms employ such chemists to do consulting or remediation work. Colleges and universities are hiring more environmental chemists as they establish programs in environmental chemistry.

Personal Characteristics

Because environmental chemistry is so interdisciplinary, it requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills along with the ability to express ideas efficiently to a nonscientific audience. The importance of the latter becomes apparent when chemists deal with regulations or with a company’s sales and marketing staff. As the field of environmental management expands globally, chemists who speak other languages may experience additional success.

Education and Training

Environmental chemists come from various backgrounds, and there is no one path into the field. However, your college or university may have an ACS-Approved Chemistry Program with an Option in Environmental Chemistry, which is a good starting point. Experienced professionals emphasize the competitive advantage of obtaining advanced degrees. However, because the field is growing so rapidly, opportunities exist for individuals with an associate’s degree. Also, students are encouraged to take courses outside the traditional chemistry curriculum, such as advanced math and engineering courses.

Companies often hire graduates from schools with well-established programs. Employers also look for candidates who demonstrate the ability to broaden their skills and think in an interdisciplinary manner. Course work in subjects such as biology, geology, hydrology, or toxicology would be indications of such abilities.

Job Outlook

Because of increased government regulations, job opportunities for environmental chemists continue to grow. Despite downsizing, companies are placing greater emphasis on compliance and environmental processes. Opportunities exist for chemists to move into various areas of expertise outside a traditional job in the lab. For those also studying law, business, or public policy, opportunities can be found in the regulatory area as well as in health and safety.

The field is expanding to include nontraditional employers. Opportunities are expected to grow in contract labs and consulting, because businesses are increasingly outsourcing this work

Life Of A Lion

Lions are one of the largest predators in savanna regions, reaching a length of 8 to 9 feet depending on gender and weighing as much as 400 lbs., with females usually being 50 to 100 lbs. lighter. In the wild, lions live an average of 12 years, with females living slightly longer. Out on the plains they can reach speeds of 30 mph when hunting and leap up to 12 feet.

Both gender and climate conditions affect the life cycles of lions. Since both male and female lions live on the hot savanna regions, where desert merges into jungle, they live their lives based on the heat. To conserve energy most lions relax or nap during the hottest parts of the day, seeking seclusion in trees or by water sources. These long periods of rest are followed by bursts of coordinated activity, when the lions gather and hunt nearby herbivores such as zebra. Lions can see in low-light conditions and usually hunt in the evening or at night when conditions are cooler and prey are less aware.

Both gender and climate conditions affect the life cycles of lions. Since both male and female lions live on the hot savanna regions, where desert merges into jungle, they live their lives based on the heat. To conserve energy most lions relax or nap during the hottest parts of the day, seeking seclusion in trees or by water sources. These long periods of rest are followed by bursts of coordinated activity, when the lions gather and hunt nearby herbivores such as zebra. Lions can see in low-light conditions and usually hunt in the evening or at night when conditions are cooler and prey are less aware.

lions, upon reaching maturity, choose whether or not to remain with their current pride. Older females already present will harass them, forcing them into minor fights and making life uncomfortable for the young lions. If the females stand up to such treatment and stay in the pride, they are eventually accepted and become part of a leading male's harem. If they cannot stand the harassment they leave the pride as well and become nomads. These females wander until they are accepted by another pride (a rare occurrence) or become part of a new pride under a nomad male lion.

Once settled down in a secure pride position, lions live the rest of their lives in a predictable cycle. Females provide the backbone of hunting expeditions, using their speed and agility to trap prey while the male lions, when they participate, use their strength and weight to bring larger animals down. Older lions eventually succumb to disease, are killed by a rival or are ousted from the pride in one of the turnovers.

The king of the jungle, forest

Lions have captured our imaginations for centuries. Stars of movies and characters in books, lions are the top of the African food chain. The Swahili word for lion, simba, also means "king," "strong," and "aggressive." The word lion has similar meaning in our vocabulary. If you call someone lionhearted, you’re describing a courageous and brave person. If you lionize someone, you treat that person with great interest or importance.

Lions lying around

A lion’s life is filled with sleeping, napping, and resting. Over the course of 24 hours, lions have short bursts of intense activity, followed by long bouts of lying around that total up to 21 hours! Lions are good climbers and often rest in trees, perhaps to catch a cool breeze or to get away from flies. Researchers have often noticed lions lying around in crazy poses, on their backs with their feet in the air or legs spread wide open!

All for one and one for all

Living in a pride makes life easier. Hunting as a group means there is a better chance the lions will have food when they need it, and it is less likely that they will get injured while hunting. Lion researchers have noticed that some activities are “contagious” in prides. One lion will yawn, or groom itself, or roar, setting off a wave of yawning, grooming, or roaring! Lions and lionesses play different roles in the life of the pride.

A king’s life

While it may look like the lionesses do all the work in the pride, the males play an important role. While they do eat more than the lionesses and bring in far less food (they hunt less than 10 percent of the time), males patrol, mark, and guard the pride’s territory. Males also guard the cubs while the lionesses are hunting, and they make sure the cubs get enough food.

When new males try to join a pride, they have to fight the males already there. The lion’s thick mane protects his neck against raking claws during fights with other males for membership in the pride. The new males are either driven off, or succeed in pushing out the existing males.

Best Horror Movies In Bollywood

A lady wearing a white saree, carrying a candle, with open hair, singing gumnaam hai koi and walking around the streets is what horror was in bollywood long time ago. Now the definition of horror has changed completely. There are major production houses who are specialists in making horror movies. Ramsay brothers were famous for both their famous horror movies and serials. Now this fort has been taken over by Ram Gopal Verma. He is an exceptional director and works miracles with horror movies. His movies like Darna Mana Hai and Bhoot have been major block busters and have won many awards too.

While the Ramsay movies and other lower budget movie makers' movies are filled with a lot of blood shed and creatures without hands and heads. Their movies normally don't have very big stars and there is a lot of skin show to increase the viewer ship of the movie. Now day's horror movies are made with a lot of class. There are very good scripts that are written with multiple plots. A major star cast of famous and good actors are signed for these movies. Since these kind of movies don't have much scope for song and dance sequences, special songs are shot only for the promotion of the film. Ramu was the first one to introduce this concept and this has changed the careers of many actresses. Sameera Reddy performed in one of the movies like this and it was instant fame for her.

Ever Top Bollywood Horror Films You Must Watch

• Bhoot- starring Ajay Devgan and Urmila Matondkar.
• 20 Saal Baad- starring Dimple Kapadia, Vinod Mehra, Meenakshi Sheshadiri and Mithun Chakraborthy.
• Mahal- starring Madhubala and Ashok Kumar.
• Jaani Dushman- starring Reena Roy, Jeetendra, Rekha and Sunil Dutt.
• Kudrat- starring Hema Malini, Rajesh Khanna and Raaj Kumar.
• Raat- starring Revathi Menon and Om Puri.
• Saaya- starring John Abraham and Tara Sharma.
• Kaal- starring Ajay Devgan, Lara Dutta, Vivek Oberoi, Esha Deol and John Abraham.
• Naina- starring Urmila Matondkar and Anuj Sawhney.
• Gehrayee- starring Anant Naag and Padmini Kolhapuri.

Top Bollywood Horror Films in 2009 You Must Watch it

• 13B- Starring Madhavan, Neetu Chandra, Saranya, Poonam Dhillon
• Agyaat
• Raaz - The Mystery Continues Starring Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut, Adhyayan Suman
• Orphan
• Maa
• Aasma - The Sky Is The Limit Starring Hrishitaa Bhatt, Seema Biswas, Nauheed Cyrusi

It is difficult to do justice to horror films in Bollywood with the lack of documentation and material available on the subject. Therefore, this article has been written almost entirely on the basis of memory. As a result there will be certain oversights but the idea is to pay some kind of homage to a genre that has managed to maintain its niche in India's massive film industry.

The earliest 'horror' films in Indian cinema revolved around themes of reincarnation and rebirth. Basically they were the typical old-fashioned ghost story. The attempt was not to scare as much as to give the love story a new dimension. The most famous is probably Kamaal (Pakeezah) Amrohi's debut film, Mahal. Starring Madhubala and Ashok Kumar the film is a complicated ghost story, which sees Ashok Kumar moving into an abandoned mansion with a tragic history. It is also immortalised by Madhubala's beauty and Lata Mangeshkar's first major hit song 'Ayega Aanewala'. Atmospherically photographed in the German expressionist style appropriately by the German cameraman Joseph Wirsching the film is heralded as an all time classic.

The 1980s saw a qualitative change in the type of horror films being made by Bollywood. With VCRs making Hollywood horror films more accessible to Indian audiences, more and more filmmakers began 'remaking' famous horror films. In 1980 Padmini Kohlapure played the possessed child a la Linda Blair in the unnerving Gehrayee. Probably the best of the Exorcist inspired films, Gehrayee has a number of eerie sequences and an uncomfortable atmosphere. In a similar vein, Reena Roy and Feroz Khan starred in Jaadu Tona as the tormented guardians of Baby Pinky who is possessed by a spirit from a nearby Peepal tree. 1980 also saw Rajesh Khanna, super star of the 1970s, take on the role of a serial killer in the unsettling and original Red Rose. We learn that Rajesh Khanna's character was beaten by his mother as a child and then went through a number of unsavoury relationships with women leaving him disturbed and unhinged. In a much more radical move than the Shahrukhs and Sunjay Dutts of today, Khanna broke with his lover boy screen image and portrayed the disturbed woman hater who lured young women to his house, murdered them and buried them in his garden. Director Baharatirajaa tackled this unsavoury topic in a surprisingly direct manner but his slasher film was seen as anti women and triggered protests by feminists in Bombay and Delhi.

The Ramsays had succeeded in defining the Bollywood B movie genre. Their films relay a commitment to cinema - a delight in making films and deservedly they built up a committed audience. Starting from their initial horror success Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche in 1972 the Ramsay Brothers came into their own in the late 70s with films such as Darwaza and Guest House - the latter famously starring a chopped hand. The 80s remained their most prolific period and brought such hits as Sannata (1980), Dahshat (1980), Purana Mandir (1984), Haveli (1985), Saamri (1985), Veerana (1985), Tahkhana (1986), Dak Bangla (1987), Purani Haveli (1989), Shaitani Ilaaka (1990). Most of the themes revolved around evil spirits and deformed creatures terrorising villages. The most popular targets were thinly clad women and in between the horror there was a liberal sprinkling of sex and as much nudity as could be passed by the censors. It was a successful formula and one that was rarely deviated from.

Bollywood Comedy Movies

Comedy in bollywood is quite popular. Almost all the movies have some scenes depicting comedies. The actors or actresses try to give laugh to the viewers by making funny faces, dialogue deliveries, etc. Comedians like Johnywalker, Mahmood, Jagdeep and Tuntun were famous in old movies.

These actors played only secondary roles in movies and their roles were also very limited in duration. Very few comedy movies were made in past.

Today, Bollywood has changed. In 2007-2008, majority of hit movies were comedy movies. And the comedians of these movies are not comedians at all, but they are actors from mainline movies like Pares Rawal, Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Arsad Warsi, Boman Irani to name a few.
Mehmood is the first thought that will emerge when you think of comedy in bollywood. Comedy has been a vital part of any movie and a lot of movies have been made only on comedy. Star like Ashok Kumar was a natural comedian. In the past the entire movie would be a comedy and there were directors like Hrishikesh Mukherjee who were specialists in these kinds of movies. Then slowly comedy began taking a back seat and today comedy is only a part of the movie. At this time comedians like Johnny Lever, Asrani and Kadar Khan have made a mark for themselves.

During the 80s and early 90s it was the time for stars like Govinda who made a fortune by doing only comedy movies. Now directors like Deepak Tijori tried their hands at comedy and made a remake of a Tamil film but that too bombed at the box office. Director Priya Darshan is the only one who is churning out comedy after comedy and that too all hits. The audience loves Shah Rukh for his comedy in movies like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge and Pardes. Salman Khan too did good to his sinking career with comedy film Maine Pyar Kyon Kiya.

Top 2009 Comedy Movies.

• Aage Se Right Starring Shreyas Talpade, Shiv Pandit, Mahi Gill, Kay Kay Menon, Shruti Seth
• Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Upen Patel...
• All The Best: Fun Begins Starring Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Fardeen Khan, Bipasha Basu
• Barah Aana Starring Naseeruddin Shah, Tannishtha Chatterjee
• Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge Starring Kunal Khemu, Paresh Rawal, Soha Ali Khan, Sonu Sood
• Dulha Mil Gaya Starring Ruk ruk Khan, Sushmita Sen, Fardeen Khan
• Do Knot Disturb starring Govinda, Ritesh Deshmukh, Lara Dutta
• Daddy Cool Starring Suniel Shetty, Aftab Shivdasani, Aarti Chabria
• Ek Se Bure Do Starring Arshad Warsi, Rajpal Yadav, Govind Namdeo, Yashpal Sharma, Virendra Saxena
• Ishq starring Juhi Chawla, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgan and Kajol.
  
• Padosan starring Mehmood, Ashok Kumar and Asha Parekh.
  
• Seetha aur Geetha starring Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra and Hema Malini.
  
• Chupke Chupke starring Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore and Jaya Bachchan.
  
• Main Khiladi Tu Anari starring Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Raagesshwari and Shakti Kapoor.
  
• Hum Apke Hain Kaun starring Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Renuka Shahne and Monish Behl.
  
• Andaz Apna Apna starring Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karishma Kapoor, Shakti Kapoor and Paresh Rawal.
  
• Hera Pheri starring Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Tabu and PAresh Rawal.
  
• Hum Hain Rahi Pyar ke starring Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla, Kunal Khemu, Navneet Nishan.
  
• Satte pe Satta starring Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Amjad Khan, Sachin and Shakti Kapoor.

Bollywood comedy movie actors

With the growing demand of Bollywood comedy movies more number of production houses are showing keen interest in producing films of this particular genre. Bollywood comedy movies have time to time featured some of the most outstanding actors. Actors in the likes of Mahmood, Kesto Mukherjee, Asit Sen had won the heart of millions by delivering some of the greatest comedy performances. Films that were released in the recent decade also featured a number of fabulous comedy actors. Actors like Paresh Rawal, Johnny Lever, Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Yashpal Yadav have delivered great performances in various Bollywood comedy movies.

Lead male actors in Bollywood comedy movies

It is not only the character artists who have made a significant presence in the Bollywood film industry as comedians, but the leading male actors have also done bit of comedy roles. And, few of them have proved to be quite successful. Lead actors like Govinda, Akshaye Kumar, Suneil Shetty have delivered a number of path breaking roles in many comedy movies. Even the three Khans, Salman Khan, Sharukh Khan and Aamir Khan have tried out their luck in comedy flicks. The comedy flicks featuring these stars were quite successful at the box office.

Lead female actors in Bollywood comedy movies

Some of the lead female actors of the Bollywood film industry also featured in various comedy films. Sridevi a notable female actor from South India made a significant presence in Bollywood by delivering excellent performances. Leading female stars such as Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Rani Mukherjee and Sushmita Sen were brilliant in their comedy roles.

Bollywood comedy movie directors

Eying the huge potential of the comedy films, several directors have now decided to make such flicks. Directors, like Satish Kaushik, David Dhawan, Abbas Mastan are some of the most popular directors in Bollywood. Priyadarshan is also one of the most renowned directors who has carved a niche for himself by making a number of hilarious movies.

Popular Bollywood comedy movies

Films like Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Coolie No. 1, Anadi No. 1, Hero No. 1, Aunty No. 1 have drawn a great number of audiences to the theater halls. Comedy films, like Hera Pheri, Koi Mil Gaya, Dhamaal, Garam Masala, Partner went on to become huge hits at the box office.


This review is not about 5 best Hindi comedy movies. It is difficult to choose, cos there are quite a few that can tickle that funny bone in you & make you roll in laughter.

1. Padosan: This is a true laugh riot. Its the love story of a simpleton & a bit slow boy (Sunil Dutt) & the quick witted, sophisticated girl (Saira Banu). Superbly supported by Mehmood as the South Indian teacher of the girl and Kishore Kumar the music n love guru for the guy. I cannot imagine this film without these 2 suporting actors.

2. Chupke Chupke (the old one): This one is a typical Hrishikesh Mukherjee film. Very light hearted, easy-to-identify with characters and very good acting by the entire cast. I dont think I have tired of watching this movie whenever I have got the opportunity to do so.

3. Golmaal (the old one): starring Amol Palekar & Utpal Dutt, this one is very endearing. It proves the saying that all is fair in love & war where the hero wants to win the girl at any cost!

4. Khubsoorat: This one starring Rekha in the lead role, was like a breath of fresh air. It was a pleasure to see Shashikala, who normally is the bad one in a lot of films, do a good "bahu" role. Very sweet movie.

5. Bombay to Goa: This is among the first few films that Amitabh Bachchan acted in. His heroine is Aruna Irani. The film is about a girl who wants to make it big in the film industry but is blissfully ignorant of the "big bad world". She accidentally sees a murder and flees. The whole film revolves around what she goes through & how the hero saves her from the clutches of the villain.

Top 10 Comedy Movies Videos

Bollywood Superhits Films Of 2000-2009

Well, it has been a crazy, fun-filled and definitely memorable first ten years of the 21st century that has seen its fine share of flops, could-have-beens, should-have-beens, hits, super hits and super duber hits in Bollywood. Let me assure you this list is solely here to celebrate the
super duber hits of the last ten years as an honest account of all of the flops and misses produced from 2000-2009 could comprise several books and might somewhere down the line be a topic for a future post. That aside, without further ado, let's jump right into the super-duber Bollywood hits of the first decade of the 21st century - each of which was up for Filmfare consideration, one of which was actually nominated for an Oscar and all of which will end up one day on the list of the best Hindi films ever made!

Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

The movie stars Amisha Patel, Anupam Kher, and Hrithik Roshan in a dual role in 2000. This movie was Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel's debut and made Hrithik into an overnight superstar in Bollywood. The film was a fan favorite, with numerous crowd-pleasing songs and dance numbers.

Lagaan
The movie is set in the Victorian period of the British Raj and revolves around the peasants from a barren village who are oppressed by high taxes imposed by the British. When the peasants attempt to persuade the officers to reduce the taxes, the officers put forth a proposition to the peasants. One senior officer offers them to cancel their taxes for three years if their village team beats them at cricket. After accepting this proposition, the villagers face the arduous task of learning the game and playing for a result that will change their village's destiny. The film received critical acclaim and awards at various international film festivals, as well as many Indian film awards. Released on June 15, 2001 it became one of the biggest hits of the summer while its DVD sales is the highest ever for a Bollywood movie.

Devdas

is a 2002 Hindi film based on the Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay novella Devdas. This is the third Bollywood (Hindi) version and the first colour film version of the story in Hindi. The film is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and stars Shahrukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, and Aishwarya Rai in the leading roles. At the time of its release, Devdas was the most expensive Bollywood film ever produced, with a reported budget of Rs 50 crores. The film was released in six alternative language versions: English, French, German, Mandarin, Thai, and Punjabi. Shahrukh Khan's performance as the rebellious alcoholic Devdas is often considered one of his best performances, and won him a Filmfare Award. The song Dola re Dola became a hit with its unique dance duet between Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit. The video had significant airplay on MTV Asia. The film won ten Filmfare Awards, including Best Film, and received a BAFTA nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. It was also India's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.

Koi Mil Gaya

is a 2003 Bollywood science fiction film, directed by Rakesh Roshan (who also has a cameo role), starring Hrithik Roshan, Rekha and Preity Zinta. It was released on August 8, 2003. The film is the first part of the Koi... Mil Gaya series and appears to be an adaptation of Satyajit Ray's 1967 Bangla science fiction story The Alien. Koi... Mil Gaya itself is said to have inspired an Indonesian television series Si Yoyo, which also features a miraculous alien visitor.The film was screened at the Jerusalem Film Festival and the Denmark NatFilm Festival. Rakesh Roshan has produced a sequel to the film entitled Krrish, the second part of the Koi... Mil Gaya series, which opened worldwide on June 23, 2006 and also became a success.

Veer Zaara

is a 2004 Indian Hindi film directed by Yash Chopra. The movie stars Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji in the leading roles, with Kirron Kher, Divya Dutta and Anupam Kher in supporting roles. Veteran actors Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini make special appearances in the film. The dialogues were written by Aditya Chopra.Set against the backdrop of conflict between India and Pakistan, this star-crossed romance follows the unfortunate love story of an Indian Air Force officer, Veer Pratap Singh, and a Pakistani woman, Zaara Haayat Khan, who are separated for about twenty years. The story deepens with the arrival of Saamiya Siddiqui, a Pakistani lawyer, who finds Veer in prison, and upon listening to their story, tries to bring the lovers together.Highly anticipated pre-release, the film eventually became the top-grossing Bollywood film of the year at both the Indian and the international box office, earning over Rs. 750 million worldwide, in addition to being showcased at numerous prominent film festivals around the world. The music of the film, based on old compositions by the late Madan Mohan with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, was also successful. Upon its theatrical release, Veer-Zaara received mostly positive reviews from critics. The film won several awards in major Indian film award ceremonies, including the Most Popular Film award at the National Film Awards and the Best Movie award at the annual Filmfare Awards, among others.

Dhoom2

is the second installment in the Dhoom series. It is a 2006 Bollywood film directed by Sanjay Gadhvi. It stars Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra and Bipasha Basu. The movie is a sequel to the 2004 hit, Dhoom. The film was released on November 24, 2006. This movie has been dubbed into Telugu and Tamil; those versions were released on the same day as the Hindi version. The film is Gadhvi's fourth directorial venture after Tere Liye (2000), Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002), and Dhoom (2004), and his third with Yash Raj Films. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by Pritam and lyrics were penned by Sameer. The film was shot partially in-studio, in India, and also on location in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Durban, South Africa. It was the first Bollywood movie to be filmed in Rio de Janeiro.

No Entry

is a Hindi comedy film released in 2005. It was directed by Anees Bazmee and produced by Boney Kapoor. The films stars Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, Lara Dutta, Celina Jaitley, Esha Deol & Bipasha Basu. Sameera Reddy makes a special appearance. This film is loosely based on the Tamil film titled Charlie Chaplin.

Om Shanti Om

is a 2007 Bollywood film directed and choreographed by Farah Khan. It stars Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles as the protagonists while Shreyas Talpade, Arjun Rampal, and Kirron Kher feature in supporting roles. Arjun Rampal is the antagonist in the movie. More than forty two well-known Bollywood stars appear in the course of the film, including thirty of them (not including the stars of the film) in one song alone.

Ghajiniis a 2008 Bollywood film directed by A. R. Murugadoss and produced under Geetha Arts. It is a remake of the 2005 Tamil film of the same name, which was alsby Murugadoss. The plot of Ghajini is inspired by the Hollywood film Memento, written and directed by Christopher Nolan. It stars Aamir Khan and Asin Thottumkal in the lead roles while Jiah Khan, Pradeep Rawat and Mirza Fraz Hussain essay supporting roles. Aamir Khan spent a year at the gym, continuously training with his personal trainer for the role.The movie is an action-thriller, with strong romantic elements, that explores the life of a rich businessman who suffers from anterograde amnesia following a violent encounter in which his love interest, actress Kalpana, was killed. He tries to avenge the killing with the aid of Polaroid Instant camera photographs and permanent tattoos on his body. The character of Aamir Khan will also feature in a 3-D video game titled Ghajini The Game, which is based on the movie.

Delhi-6

is a Hindi film by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra; starring Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Om Puri, Waheeda Rahman, Rishi Kapoor, Atul Kulkarni,Deepak Dobriyal and Divya Dutta.The movie is reportedly based on Mehra's growing up years in Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi.It is Mehra's third movie after Aks and Rang De Basanti. The movie released on February 20, 2009 to a strong box office collection but faced generally mixed reception from critics.


2000 – 2009

1. Aamir khan(Ghajini, Rang de basanti, Fanaa, Lagaan, dil chahta hai(Semi hit), Taare zameen pe, 3 idiots)
2. Shahrukh khan(Chak de india, mohabbatein, rab ne bana di jodi, om shanti om, veer zaara, Devdas, kal ho na ho, Don, K3G, Main hoon na)
3. Akshay kumar ( Phir hera pheri, welcome, Namaste london, khakee, singh is king, Bhul bhulaiya, hera pheri, Awaara pagal deewana, Heyy babby, Waqt)
4. Amitabh bachchan (Baghbaan, khakee, mohabatein, kabhi khushi kabhi gham, cheeni kum, waqt, black, bunty aur bubbly, sarkar, sarkar raj, bhootnath, ek rishta, kaante, ankhen, veer zaara, kabhi alvida na kahna) *
5. Hritik roshan (Kaho na pyaar hai, dhoom 2, krishh, jodha akbar, koi mil gaya)

Top 10 Superhits Movies Video

Companies Interview Questions

One of the last questions the interviewer will ask you is "Do you have any questions?" If you reply with a simple "No" you are telling the interviewer that you aren't really interested in the job or the company. You should always prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer before going to the interview.

Below are some possible questions you might want to ask during a job interview. Avoid asking about salary, vacation time, employee benefits, etc. until you have asked a number of other questions that demonstrate your interest in working for the company. You will impress the interviewer if you ask questions that indicate you've done some research beforehand, such as "I read in the Wall Street Journal last week that your company is planning to expand its retail operations in the region. Could you give me more details about the company's plans for expansion?"

Being interviewed you get a chance to prove yourself. That is why it is necessary to be well prepared. Preparation increases your chances of being selected.

Be confident and positive
One of the best ways to get confidence before a job interview is to formulate answers to the common questions and practice many times before interview.

Different types of questions
There are different types of interview questions that you can expect at the time of interview. However, becoming familiar with various types of categories will help you to understand what the interviewer is looking for. Different types of questions are: Behavioral questions, Hypothetical questions and Stress questions.

Behavioral questions determine if you have desired skills for the job. Hypothetical questions require handling different types of situations. Stress questions are designed to test your sense of humor.

1. Why have you applied for this job?

Think carefully and mention the positive aspects that have attracted you to joining the company. Tell them about your relevant qualifications and experiences you have already possessed for this job. You can also explain that how this position and company suit your needs and expectations.You could say:
?I am looking for a role that helps utilizing my skills, work experience and knowledge to make a difference. ?

2. Can you talk through your resume?
Use this opportunity to give your professional experience in detail. Grab the chance and present the employer list of your achievements, greatest talents and accomplishments. Remember never say negative about your past companies or bosses.

3. Where would you like to see yourself five years down the line?
In this question the interviewer is looking to see that how dedicated you are to the job and the company. Even if you really do not know where would you be in five years, never say, I don't know. You could say: ?I exactly don't know but I hope that the skills and experience gained will help the company reach its goals. ?

4. What are your strengths?
This is your chance to sell yourself. Stress on skills and experience that are relevant to the post. Tell them your ability to work under pressure, inquisitiveness to learn new things, quick learning ability and good interpersonal skills.
Give examples to prove you to be meticulous, cooperative and result oriented.

5. What is your weakness?
This is a very popular question. Be confident while answering this question and turn your weakness into your strength. Pick a weakness that is harmless to your job. For example emotional nature, never want to be a loser, highly ambitious, etc.

6. What do you look for in a job?
You can frame your answer like:
I am looking for opportunities that helps me to grow as a professional and enables me to serve the organization.

7. Cite an example when you have had to take initiative?
This is an opportunity to prove that you have quick learning abilities, make the best impression in all conditions and work effectively with staff members for achieving goals.

8. How do you get along with your colleagues?
In this question the interviewer wants to know your compatibility with your co-workers. Stress on points that show you are able to build strong working relationships and strong teams to meet goals.

9. How would your coworkers describe you?
This is a chance to use encouraging and praising words to describe you. Use words like a good team leader, excellent communication skills, truthful, decisive and sensible.

10. How reliable you were?
The interviewer wants to know that how you work on deadlines and how you come up with new ideas in a limited time to solve a specific problem.

11. What are your salary requirements?
Be careful to answer this question you should know market value of the job you have applied. You could also say that you are expecting a salary based on your job responsibilities, work experience, skills and market value. But if you have a specific salary package in your mind go for it.

12. Why do you want to work for this company?
Stress the positive aspects of the target company. It is always good to research the company in depth before interview. Talk about company turnover, products, policies, services, etc.

13. What do you know about this company?
You would be surprised at the number of candidates who turn up for interviews with very less or no information about the company. It is important that you should gather information about the company.Collect all information on company's share, turnover, etc.

14. Have you been interviewing for other jobs?
Say yes but also add: ?I have given first choice to your company.?

15. What has been your greatest professional achievement so far?
Use this question as an opportunity to explain your most rewarding achievement.
Talk about substantial contribution, team achievement, unique expertise, etc.

16. How do you prioritize various activities?
Often you might be in a position to decide on which activity to accomplish first. Respond this question by saying how you set priorities between urgent and important.

17. What motivates you to give your best?
This is not the time to say money, even if it is. You could be motivated by recognition for a good job done.

18. What do you think of your boss?
Tell them about your boss good points. If you do not like your boss even though don't say negative, find something good to say.

19. What is your code of conduct?
You must be aware of the sense of rightness, fairness and goodness that are defined within the company. Instead of defining guidelines for conduct, you should define yourself as an all rounder candidate who loves to work and enjoys the challenges.

20. When would you start work?
No hard and fast rule in your answer. Ask for 1 or 2 weeks grace period before starting your new job so that you would start your work without any hurdles.

21. Can you tell me something about yourself?
It is the most common question. Be prepared to answer this question in about two minutes. Stress on the relevant facts about your education, career, work experience, skills and personal and professional life. Don't forget to answer briefly and honestly.

22. Why do you think this job is good for you?
This is your chance to prove yourself. Tell about additional experiences and qualifications you have possessed which are relevant to the job.
You can also say: ?I would like a role that gives me an opportunity to serve the company, the society and above all, my nation.?

23. Do you have any questions for me?
Don't forget to ask a question because it shows that you are interested in this job. You may ask anything about company and job you are applying for.

24. Why do you want to leave your current job?
Be very careful to answer this tricky question. Don't mention anything negative about your current company or employer and not to sound angry or rude.
For example instead of saying ?I do get more challenges in my current job? respond, ?I am keen to get more challenges and chances to prove myself?.

25. What experience do you have?
Tell them your experience related to the company's concerns. Try to give examples to describe your job responsibilities. If you do not have relevant experience, you can mention about your training programs, skills and show them how customer service experience can be applied to management positions.

Final Telephone interview

Many companies have started short listing candidates by conducting starting rounds of interview by telephone. It is always best to be prepared for a telephonic interview. The most important step is to make sure that your phone is in proper order. Be confident and positive whatever you say on phone. Do not show any sign of nervousness. Try not to speak quickly or sound uninterested on the phone. If possible, keep some important notes ready about your strengths, achievements, work experience and future plans. Always remember to end the telephonic interview with appropriate compliments.

Best Bollywood Music Of 2009

The year 2009 in Bollywood saw some good movies but very few managed to set the cash registers ringing at box office. The first hit of the year was the edgy Dev D, Anurag Kashyap’s modern version of Sarat Chandra’s classic love tale ‘Devdas’. But after that box office couldn’t warm up to better collections and, to make things worse, there was a producer’s strike for many months of the first half of 2009.

Yet, most of the films that released afterward tanked or managed just average business. Worst was the debacle of big-budget movies like Kambakkht Ishq, Kurbaan, Blue and London Dreams. In the year when more than 90 per cent of the films were declared flops, silver linings came in the form of Wanted, New York and Love Aaj Kal among others.

New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS) Bollywood churns out hundreds of films and many more songs year after year since music is an integral part of Indian cinema. The year gone by had chartbusters like “Emosanal attyachaar” and “Masakalli” that thoroughly entertained listeners.

IANS has picked 10 best songs of 2009 from various genres that created waves in the music industry and remained audiences’ favourite once released. The list shows that Pritam Chakraborty and A.R. Rahman rule the chart.

“Emosanal attyachaar“: Bollywood music got a boost in the very beginning of 2009 with hit, energetic and instantly likable number “Emosanal Attyachaar”. Crooned by Bony Chakravarthy, the song from “Dev D” that echoed the music of marriage bands, was composed by Amit Trivedi. The quirky number became a favourite of the younger generation and stood out among other songs released during that period.

“Masakalli“: This expressive number from the film “Delhi-6″, sung by Mohit Chauhan, bowled people over. An A.R. Rahman composition, it’s a free flowing, addictive, fun song. “Masakalli” is still being played on music channels and radio and it’s expected to stay with music buffs for some time to come owing to its mirthful mood.

“Hai junoon“: The song from “New York” caught the attention of young listeners for its hip and foot-tapping music. Sung by KK in his signature style and composed by Pritam Chakraborty, it topped the charts.

“Aahun aahun“: One of the biggest hits of the year was from the film “Love Aaj Kal”. It has an electrifying start with the strumming of the guitar and is an amalgamation of a hit Punjabi pop song by singer Jazzy B and Pritam Chakraborty’s composition. Sung by Neeraj Shridhar, “Aahun aahun” keeps juggling between the two genres and sets the mood.

“Dhan te nan“: Composed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the song from “Kaminey” is edgy and energetic. Sukhwinder Singh and Vishal Dadlani go behind the mike for the track and while Sukhwinder gives it a rustic flavour, Vishal adds the rock touch to the song. “Dhan te nan” has a certain magic that is intriguing and holds the interest of the listener till the very end - the reason why it topped the music charts.

“Hadippa“: Mika Singh and Sunidhi Chauhan teamed up to sing “Hadippa” that spells loads of energy. It’s foot-tapping composition made it a hit dance number. The song from the film “Dil Bole Hadippa” was composed by Pritam Chakraborty and it sort of reinvented Punjabi folk. It’s perfect to play at any celebration.

“Chiggy Wiggy“: Bollywood showcased its international connect with the song “Chiggy wiggy” from not-so-hit film “Blue” as it was sung by international pop star Kylie Minogue with ample support from Sonu Niigaam. The first part of the song is in English and thus completely western, but Sonu enters with the dhol and brings in the Hindi flavour. This one is also Rahman’s composition and went on to register itself among the hits of the year.

“Tera hone laga hoon“: Pakistani Singer Atif Aslam yet again proved his prowess with the song in the recently released film “Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani”. One of the most romantic songs of the year, the duet also had Alisha Chinoi behind the mike. It’s a beautiful, soothing love ballad that pulls on your heartstrings. Once again a Pritam’s composition.

“Paisa Paisa“: The track from “De Dana Dan” has a Punjabi touch. The catchy number is again from Pritam’s stable and is a huge hit at the DJ consoles.

“Aal Izz Well“: Last but not the least is “Aal Izz Well” from forthcoming “3 Idiots” — the track has raw energy and youthful spunk. It’s a fun campus song that is filled with whistles in the background. Sung by Sonu Niigaam, Swanand Kirkire and Shaan and composed by Shantanu Moitra, it was lapped up by music lovers as soon as it came out.


Top 10 Video Songs

Earthquake

Introduction

The ASEAN region is located at the intersection of three major tectonic plates namely Eurasian, Indo-Australian and the Pacific plates, and one minor plate, Philippine plate. This condition generates thousands of earthquake every year most of which are potentially destructive. In recent years, several big earthquakes occurred in some parts of ASEAN countries which caused considerable damage to buildings and other structures, landslides in mountainous regions, ground subsidence and ground rupture. These big earthquakes have also caused major fatalities. What makes an earthquake more devastating is the fact that it may generate tsunami with up to 10 meter high waves which add to the extent of the damage, especially in areas along the coast.

To monitor earthquake activities, and to help mitigate the effects of earthquake disasters, most countries in ASEAN have established their National Seismological Centres (NSCs). While NSCs in some countries are quite modern, others are still in the process of upgrading. Ideally each of the upgraded NSC should have a real time monitoring system and other facilities for rapid dissemination of earthquake information.

ASEAN member countries have been striving to improve the capabilities of NSCs in their respective countries to enable NSCs to conduct various activities and research programme addressing earthquake prediction and monitoring, proper land use planning, seismic hazard and risk assessment with different levels of techniques and degrees of depth. These are all aimed at mitigating the risks of earthquakes to mankind. These efforts are, however, hampered by common problems relating to trained personnel and adequate seismic facilities. One way of overcoming these problems is to establish a regional seismic information center where the services and facilities already available could be shared by all ASEAN member countries.


Whether occurring naturally or caused by man, earthquakes most often manifest themselves by a shaking of the ground. Most earthquakes are tectonic and occur when the frictional stress of gliding plate boundaries exceeds a certain value and causes a failure at a fault line, which results in a violent displacement of the Earth’s crust.

At this point, elastic strain energy is released and elastic waves are radiated, leading to an earthquake. Induced earthquakes may happen for a variety of reasons, including extraction of minerals from Earth and the collapse of large buildings.

An earthquake is a series of vibrations on the earth's surface caused by the generation of elastic (seismic) waves due to sudden rupture within the earth during release of accumulated strain energy.

Faulting may be considered as an immediate cause of an earthquake. Due to constant movement of plates, deformation is caused which results to generations of strain energy.

Indian plate is moving in north-north-east direction and colliding with Eurasian plate along the Himalayas.

One of the most frightening and destructive phenomena of nature is a severe earthquake and its terrible aftereffects.

Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently, and without warning at any time of the day or night. If an earthquake occurs in a populated area, it may cause many deaths and injuries and extensive property damage.

Although there are no guarantees of safety during an earthquake, identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can save lives and significantly reduce injuries and property damage.

The mission of the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) is to determine rapidly the location and size of all destructive earthquakes worldwide and to immediately disseminate this information to concerned national and international agencies, scientists, and the general public. The NEIC/WDC for Seismology compiles and maintains an extensive, global seismic database on earthquake parameters and their effects that serves as a solid foundation for basic and applied earth science research. Please visit the World Data Center web site to learn more about the WDC system.

Environmental Of Kangaroo

Whilst the sustainability of pastoral activities in much of the Australian arid rangelands is under constant investigation, the fact remains that they are currently supporting a large population of kangaroos which, if uncontrolled, would seriously threaten the economic viability of the pastoral industry and the environmental sustainability of huge tracks of land (Caughley 1998). These are extremely fragile areas which can support a limited number of grazing animals. Allowing the grazing pressure from all animals to increase is one of the most serious environmental hazards in the rangelands. The kangaroo Management Plan is the only tool currently available to exercise control over the kangaroo contribution to grazing pressure.

Furthermore, the kangaroo population represents a resource. There is extensive ethical debate concerning the morality of utilising wildlife as a resource. This debate however, rarely examines the moral imperative for nations to utilise their resources to the best effect in supplying the world with the food and commodities it needs.

Over the past 40 years a significant industry has developed which utilises the kangaroo resource. Initially its focus was largely on pest control for the pastoral industries. However over the last decade there has been a growing realisation that the kangaroo industry has significant economic and environmental benefits.


There are 48 species of macropods (kangaroos) in Australia. Of these only 4 can be commercially harvested. In addition 2 species of wallaby are harvested in Tasmania.

Over 99% of the commercial kangaroo harvest occurs in the arid grazing rangelands. The populations of kangaroos in these areas are estimated every year in each State by well developed aerial survey techniques. It must be understood that these are sparsely timbered, if at all, savannah type ecosystems. Hence it is possible to fly over them and count the large animals such as kangaroos seen. Using either low flying fixed wing aircraft or helicopters, flying at heights of 2-300 meters the National Parks Authorities count the numbers of kangaroos seen over fixed transects. Thirty years of such monitoring have allowed them to develop sophisticated and accurate techniques of extrapolating out to total population numbers (Grigg and Pople 2001). Kangaroos are one of only a very few species (including humans) who have an annual census of their populations.


Kangaroos who consume less water and energy than sheep can reduce environmental impact of farming, a recent Australian survey has found.

According to University of Sydney, the study that tracked and recorded Kangaroos energy requirements concluded that kangaroos consumed only about 13 per cent as much water as sheep and has vital implications for grazing practices.

Adam Munn, a lecturer in Sydney's faculty of veterinary science, spent five weeks on the study, 'The Australian report said in Melbourne.

He hoped his research will encourage greater uses for kangaroos. "With climate change, most rangelands are going to need to look at diverse options for land management for sustainability," he says.

Knowing the reduced impact of kangaroos on the environment gives graziers these options. "You could use kangaroos for eco-tourism without the environmental impact once thought, or increase the use of kangaroo for human and pet food consumption."

Kangaroos

The kangaroo is one of Australia’s most iconic animals, and most species are endemic to Australia. There are over 60 different species of kangaroo and their close relatives, with all kangaroos belonging to the super family Macropodoidea (or macropods, meaning ‘great-footed’). The super family is divided into the Macropodidae and the Potoroidae families.

The Macropodidae (macropod) family includes kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, pademelons, tree-kangaroos and forest wallabies. Species in the macropod family vary greatly in size and weight, ranging from 0.5 kilograms to 90 kilograms. The Potoroinae (potoroid) family of kangaroos includes the potoroo, bettong and rat-kangaroo, which live only in Australia.

Kangaroos of different types live in all areas of Australia, from cold-climate areas and desert plains, to tropical rainforests and beaches.

Life and habitat

Kangaroos are herbivorous, eating a range of plants and, in some cases, fungi. Most are nocturnal but some are active in the early morning and late afternoon. Different kangaroo species live in a variety of habitats. Potoroids, for example, make nests while tree-kangaroos live above ground in trees. Larger species of kangaroo tend to shelter under trees or in caves and rock clefts.

Kangaroos of all sizes have one thing in common: powerful back legs with long feet. Most kangaroos live on the ground and are distinguished from other animals by the way they hop on their strong back legs. A kangaroo’s tail is used to balance while hopping and as a fifth limb when moving slowly.

All female kangaroos have front-opening pouches that contain four teats. This is where the ‘joey’, or young kangaroo, is raised until it can survive outside the pouch.

Most kangaroos have no set breeding cycle and are able to breed all year round. Because they are such prolific breeders, a kangaroo population can increase fourfold in five years if it has continuous access to plentiful food and water.

Kangaroo management and use

Kangaroos have long been important to the survival of Australia’s Indigenous peoples, who have hunted kangaroos for tens of thousands of years for both the meat and the skins. When Europeans arrived in Australia in the late eighteenth century, they too hunted kangaroos for survival.

Kangaroos continue to be used as a resource, but only under strict government controls. All Australian states and territories have legislation to protect kangaroos. Only the four most abundant species of kangaroo and small numbers of two common wallaby species can be commercially harvested for export, and then only by licensed hunters in accordance with an approved management plan. These species are the Red kangaroo, Eastern grey kangaroo, Western grey kangaroo, Common Wallaroo (Euro), Bennetts wallaby and Pademelon (a type of wallaby).

Kangaroo harvesting and the environment

The Australian rangeland environment is fragile and easily degraded. Kangaroos have evolved as part of the Australian ecosystem and, with their soft feet, cause no environmental degradation at natural population levels. However, kangaroo populations have increased dramatically since European settlement in these areas due to the introduction of European farming methods and, for this reason, carefully controlled harvesting is required.

Kangaroo harvesting is carried out under the strict environmental controls provided by the Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The commercial harvesting of widespread and abundant kangaroo species contributes to the sustainability of the Australian environment.

The four species of kangaroo that are commercially harvested have very large populations. None is threatened or endangered. The Red kangaroo, Eastern grey kangaroo and Western grey kangaroo are the most abundant species and make up over 90 per cent of the commercial harvest. Their combined population size has fluctuated between 15 and 50 million animals over the past 25 years in the harvested areas, depending on seasonal conditions.

The harvesting of kangaroos is permitted on a quota basis that is reviewed annually and independent of market demand. Quotas are set on the basis of population size and trends, and long-term climate predictions. Conservation of the species remains the foremost consideration. This approach ensures that the harvesting of kangaroos is managed in an ecologically sustainable way.

Kangaroo furs, skins and leather

Kangaroo skins and furs are exported to a large number of markets in Europe, the USA and Asia.

Kangaroo skins are exported in different stages of treatment: salted, pickled (semi-processed) and tanned. Like all kangaroo exports, these products are strictly sourced from only the six most abundant species outlined above.

Some kangaroo skins are traded as furs, while others are sold for the leather.

Although pickled skins generate the most export earnings of all kangaroo skins and furs, there is a growing export trade in finished kangaroo leather. Kangaroo skin is renowned for being very strong, yet light in weight. It is ideal for use in the manufacture of high-quality leather goods, including footwear. Because of kangaroo leather’s high tensile strength, it is also suitable for the manufacture of sporting footwear.

While only a limited number of kangaroos of certain species may be harvested, a full range of high-quality kangaroo products is available for international markets.

Wild Life Experience

A juvenile is the first to come into view in the dense, misty forest. He swings from a vine with one arm, his feet swaying back and forth. He twists and turns, grabbing leaves and shoving them in his mouth.

A female with a baby walks by. The baby is traveling piggyback style, his wide eyes looking with curiosity at the tourists who’ve just arrived to observe them. The mother, meanwhile, shows only mild interest. There’s no sound except for the crunching of the foliage beneath her feet, the occasional bird chirping and the juvenile munching contentedly in the branches above.

Moments like these are ordinary for the 700 or so mountain gorillas left in the wild. But for tourists trekking to see them in Rwanda’s Virunga National Park and other sites, the ordinary becomes magical.


A juvenile is the first to come into view in the dense, misty forest. He swings from a vine with one arm, his feet swaying back and forth. He twists and turns, grabbing leaves and shoving them in his mouth.

A female with a baby walks by. The baby is traveling piggyback style, his wide eyes looking with curiosity at the tourists who’ve just arrived to observe them. The mother, meanwhile, shows only mild interest. There’s no sound except for the crunching of the foliage beneath her feet, the occasional bird chirping and the juvenile munching contentedly in the branches above.

Moments like these are ordinary for the 700 or so mountain gorillas left in the wild. But for tourists trekking to see them in Rwanda’s Virunga National Park and other sites, the ordinary becomes magical.

“Seeing mountain gorillas is described as the most profound wildlife experience on the planet,” says Phil Ward, a mountain gorilla tour planning expert in Rwanda who is helping WWF plan its March 2010 trek.

Protecting the gorillas is a top priority for many in central Africa – and for WWF as well. Tourism dollars generated from trekking permits go to the surrounding communities, helping to create such infrastructure such schools, clinics and roads. To ensure that the gorillas are minimally disturbed, just a small group of tourists are permitted into Virunga National Park daily.

Getting to the elusive primates isn’t always easy. You could trek along steep and rugged terrain for as little as 15 minutes or as many as three hours or more before spotting gorillas. But for many, being in such close proximity to these gentle giants, and realizing just how closely their behavior and interactions mirror our own, is the experience of a lifetime.

“I feel like one of the most privileged people in the safari world,” says Ward, who has completed more than 120 treks in Rwanda and throughout central Africa.

Big Five

Buffalo

Buffalo are extremely large, ox-like animals. Standing approximately 65 inches at the shoulder, adult males have a mass of up to 1760 pounds and females weigh up to 1650 pounds. To support the large body, the legs are very heavy. Front hooves are larger than the hind because of the extra mass they carry in the huge head and thick neck. Both sexes carry horns, which in the males can grow to 1.5m. Buffalo varies considerably in size, with some of the forest populations half the size of those from the plains and Savannah.

Elephant

The African Elephant is the largest living land mammal, one of the most impressive animals on earth. The Elephant's muscular trunk serves as a nose, hand, extra foot, signaling device and a tool for gathering food, siphoning water, dusting, digging and a variety of other functions. The long trunk permits the elephant to reach as high as 23 feet. It is capable of powerful twisting and coiling movements used for tearing down trees or fighting.

The trunk of the African elephant has two finger-like structures at its tip. The tusks, another remarkable feature, are greatly elongated incisors (elephants have no canine teeth). Tusks grow for most of an elephant's lifetime and are an indicator of age. They are "right or left tusked" using the favoured tusk as a tool, shortening it from constant wear.

Leopard

The most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores, the leopard is also the shrewdest. Pound for pound, it is the strongest climber of the larger cats and is capable of killing prey far larger than itself.

The coloring of the leopard varies from white to bright golden brown, spotted with black spots and rosettes. The rosettes consist of groups of 5 to 6 spots arranged in a tight ring.

The tail is longer than half the body length measured from head to tail. This fierce animal has small round ears and long whiskers growing from dark spots on the upper lip. The size of the leopard varies considerably. The leopard differs from the cheetah in having shorter legs, and rosette-like spots and is without the cheetah’s black "tear" marks from eye to mouth.

Lion

Lions are the second largest members of the feline family in the world. Lion are tan in colour and have a slightly white under-body, with a tuft of black hair at the end of their tails.

Most cat species live a fundamentally solitary existence, but the lion is an exception. It has developed a social system based on teamwork and a division of labour within the pride, and an extended but closed family unit centres around a group of related females. The average pride consists of about 15 individuals, including five to 10 females with their young and two or three territorial males that are usually brothers or pride mates.

Rhinoceros

The rhinoceros is a large, primitive looking mammal that in fact dates from the Miocene era millions of years ago. In recent decades rhinos have been relentlessly hunted to the point of near extinction. Since 1970 the world rhino population has declined by 90 percent, with five species remaining in the world today, all of which are endangered.

The white or square-lipped rhino is one of two rhino species in Africa. It in turn occurs as two subspecies, the southern and the northern. The southern dwindled almost to extinction in the early 20th century, but was protected on farms and reserves, enabling it to increase enough to be reintroduced. The northern white rhino has recovered in Democratic Republic of Congo from about 15 in 1984 to about 30 in the late 1990s. This population has been threatened by political conflict and instability.

Northern Experience Wildlife Tours offer exclusive, guided, birdwatching, wildlife and photography tours based in Northumberland, the North Pennines and the Scottish Borders.

With spectacular wildlife including Black Grouse and Spring Gentians in the North Pennines, Goshawk and Ospreys at Kielder, Roe Deer, Otters, Roseate Terns and Red Squirrels around Druridge Bay and southeast Northumberland, Grey Seals, waders and wildfowl around Lindisfarne, Peregrines, grouse and Wild Goats in the Cheviot Hills and skuas, shearwaters, Minke Whale and White-beaked Dolphin in the North Sea, Northumberland and the Borders has something for everyone. Whether you are young or old, new to birdwatching and wildlife, or already experienced, we will improve your chances of finding these beautiful creatures.

Improve your birdwatching skills, take a Prestige Tour, let us organise your group birdwatching visit to Northumberland, buy birdwatching or wildlife tour Gift Vouchers to celebrate a special occasion; all expertly led by the friendly, enthusiastic wildlife guide described by North East Life magazine as 'The Northeast's number one wildlife detective and otter-poo expert'.