LIFE Voices

Inspiration Channel: every Monday LIVE broadcast at 21:00 h CET

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:39:00 +0000

On this Channel you can find inspiring videos and recitations of texts and poems by spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007) as well as music performances - live or recorded. 24 h a day an Online program is available. Just click on the "ON-DEMAND" button and the clip starts playing. You can also choose your favourite clip, click on it and it starts streaming right away. For German speaking viewers there is a live broadcast every evening at 21:00 h CET (Central European Time).

Inspiring News from around the World

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:51:00 +0000

I created a new Blog called "Inspiring News from around the world", which is replacing this one. Here is the URL:

http://inspiringnews.wordpress.com/

Many thanks for visting my site and enjoy my new one with at least one new post every day!

Martin Vosseler crosses the US by foot

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:04:00 +0000

To draw the attention to the alarming energy crises 59-year old Swiss doctor Martin Vosseler crossed the US from January 1 to the end of July 2008. He started in Los Angeles and finished his "Sunwalk" after 5200 km in New York City. Here is an excerpt of his noble visions: "WE are responsible for the present threat. WE have heated up the atmosphere. WE have poisoned the biosphere with dangerous chemicals and radioactivity. We have polluted the rivers, lakes, and the sea. We have exploited the soil and made it unfertile. WE are also able to return to the natural life cycles. WE can also create life conditions that enable the planet to be healed. All solutions are ready. We just have to implement them: Together, Together with the Sun. Now."

President Mandela turns 90

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:07:00 +0000

Nelson Mandela, the man credited with ending apartheid in South Africa, has marked his 90th birthday by calling for the rich to do more for the poor. "If you are poor, you are not likely to live long," he said at his village house in Eastern Cape province for a birthday interview. He isexpected to spend the day at home with his family. His predecessor as president, FW de Klerk, described him as one of the greatest figures of the last century.

Mr Mandela was jailed for 27 years for his part in the ANC campaign against white minority rule but went on to become the country's first black president in 1994. Since stepping down in 1999, he has become South Africa's highest-profile ambassador, campaigning against HIV/Aids and helping to secure his country's right to host the 2010 football World Cup. In 2004, at the age of 85, Mr Mandela retired from public life to spend more time with his family and friends and engage in "quiet reflection". Today, he appeared before reporters to say: "There are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those riches with those not so fortunate who have not been able to conquer poverty".

Mandela met many luminarities among them
spritual teacher and peace advocate Sri Chinmoy in 1998

Volcanos on Hawaii and Sicily again active

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:48:00 +0000

As the BBC reports today, lava is continuing to flow from the world's most active volcano, Hawaii's Mount Kilauea. The flow is so large that the heat image was picked up by satellite and reported to the US Geological Survey. You can watch a video of the volano on the BBC site, where also a video of a current erruption of Mount Aetna in Sicily can be viewed. For all who are fascinated by volcanos like me watch my LIFE Voices interview with Swiss expert Peter Diethelm on srichinmoy.tv.

Interview with Erich von Däniken

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:55:00 +0000

Author Erich von Däniken is certainly one of the most famous and also most controversial authors of our time. He has not only written 29 books in 32 languages with a total circulation of 63 million, but he also traveled the world all over, explored many unknown isssues and gave uncounted talks in universities, congress forums and many TV programs in Europe as well as abroad. With this exclusive interview I would like to present some aspects of this colourful personality. I could touch on themes like his biggest discoveries, his opinions on UFO and crop circles as well as his vision of the year 2012 and his latest book and film projects. This is episode 16 of the interview series called LIFE Voices, published on the 13th of each month by kedarvideo, Switzerland. You can download the Quicktime file on vimeo to enjoy it in full H.264 quality!

Japanese drum performance on vimeo

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:29:00 +0000

In July 2004 I visited Barcelona to attend a huge environmental exhibition and discussion FORUM together with the Parliament of the World's Religions. Among many cultural events the "Shumei Taiko Ensemble" gave an outstandig live performance for school children in their courtyard. I got the permission to film this event. Watch this powerful performance and revive the atmosphere of this Japanese drum group that practices music and meditation as part of their daily spiritual training... and download the Quicktime file on vimeo to enjoy it in full H.264 quality!

Interview with Sister Madonna

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:51:00 +0000

LIFE Voices Episode 15:
Running triathlons with the age of 78

I had the privilege to meet and interview an extraordinary woman in New York. Sister Madonna is a 78 old catholic nun from Spokane, Washington, who was not only dedicating her life to her religious life but also made history in the running scene. At 52 she ran her first race, soon after she completed a marathon in less than 3 1/2 hours. Since then she has participated in 20 Hawaiian Ironman races and 300 Triathlons throughout the world. At 78 she is by far the fastest in her age category. The whole interview lasted for almost one hour and it was amazing and fascinating to hear her stories and learn about her experiences. It has never been so hard for me to edit an interview because each sentence expresses a feeling and reveals her passion for God as well as for the triathlon world. Therefore I tried to condense the highlights into this 13-minute version illustrated with video footage from HBO as well as from members of our Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. This video is also available in HD quality on srichinmoy.tv (Quicktime), on vimeo (Flash) and on Miro. I also did a longer version of over 40 minutes for those interested in the subject matter. This version is only available on srichinmoy.tv.

WHO wants total ban on tobacco advertising

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 31 May 2008 12:40:00 +0000

Yesterday, the WHO urged governments to protect the world’s 1.8 billion young people by imposing a ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. The WHO's call to action comes on the eve of World No Tobacco Day, 31 May. This year’s campaign focuses on the multi-billion dollar efforts of tobacco companies to attract young people to its addictive products through sophisticated marketing. Recent studies prove that the more young people are exposed to tobacco advertising, the more likely they are to start smoking. Despite this, only 5% of the world’s population is covered by comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

"In order to survive, the tobacco industry needs to replace those who quit or die with new young consumers," said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan. "It does this by creating a complex 'tobacco marketing net' that ensnares millions of young people worldwide, with potentially devastating health consequences."

"A ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is a powerful tool we can use to protect the world’s youth," the Director-General added.

Since most people start smoking before the age of 18, and almost a quarter of those before the age of 10, tobacco companies market their products wherever youth can be easily accessed – in the movies, on the Internet, in fashion magazines and at music and sports venues. In a WHO study of 13 to 15-year-olds in schools worldwide, more than 55% of students reported seeing advertisements for cigarettes on billboards in the previous month, while 20% owned an item with logo of a cigarette brand on it.

But it is the developing world, home to more than 80% of the world’s youth, which is most aggressively targeted by tobacco companies. Young women and girls are particularly at risk, with tobacco companies seeking to weaken cultural opposition to their products in countries where women have traditionally not used tobacco.

"The tobacco industry employs predatory marketing strategies to get young people hooked to their addictive drug," said Dr Douglas Bettcher, Director of WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative. "But comprehensive advertising bans do work, reducing tobacco consumption by up to 16% in countries that have already taken this legislative step."

"Half measures are not enough," added Dr Bettcher. "When one form of advertising is banned, the tobacco industry simply shifts its vast resources to another channel. We urge governments to impose a complete ban to break the tobacco marketing net," he said.

Happening in Schaffhausen, Switzerland

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:45:00 +0000

Today Swiss artist Beat Toniolo presented a 600 square-metre half-transparent banner of Switzerland depicting the flags of each participating country at the forthcoming UEFA Euro 2008 European Football Championships. It was floating on the water near the Rheinfall in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Later in the evening there were several literature readings and music performances, all happening on boats. (Photo: Nirmala Misani)

Exclusive Interview with Triathlete Olivier Bernhard

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:24:00 +0000

40-year-old Swiss triathlete Olivier Bernhard is 2x world champion, 5x Ironman winner, 7x Powerman Zofingen champion and 13x number one triathlete in Switzerland. After all his sports successes he took on another challenge and started coaching - first athletes and later also managers and whole boards of companies. We were able to interview Olivier in Eastern Switzerland where he participated in the World Harmony Run together with Tegla Loroupe in the spring of 2008. He tells us about the secrets of his sports career and about his main goal in coaching: “Do it with passion”. This is Episode 14 of the LIFE Voices interview series, published on the 13th of each month.
This video is also available in HD quality (Quicktime) on srichinmoy.tv, on vimeo (Flash) and on Miro.

Karen Armstrong wishes an International Charter for Compassion

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:01:00 +0000

Religious thinker Karen Armstrong from Great Britain recently spoke on the TED forum and would like to assemble an International Council on Compassion, where religious leaders can work together for peace. She has written more than 20 books on faith and the major religions, studying what Islam, Judaism and Christianity have in common, and how our faiths shaped world history and drive current events. A former nun, Armstrong has written two books about this experience: Through the Narrow Gate, about her seven years in the convent, and The Spiral Staircase, about her subsequent spiritual awakening, when she developed her iconoclastic take on the major monotheistic religions - and on the strains of fundamentalism common to all. She is a powerful voice for ecumenical understanding.

If you are interested to watch the talk here or get involved in the project, visit the TED website.

Interview with Tegla Loroupe

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:35:00 +0000

Tegla Loroupe is one of the most gifted marathon runners. She is not only active in sports but also makes big steps towards peace with her Peace Races in Kenya, and as UN Ambassador for Sports. She recently worked together with Kofi Annan for a peaceful solution in the Kenyan Government. I had the privilege to meet and interview her in Switzerland where she ran a half-marathon and participated in the World Harmony Run. In this interview Tegla also speaks about her relationship with Sri Chinmoy whom she met several times and admires a lot. This video is also available in HD quality on srichinmoy.tv (Quicktime), on vimeo (Flash) and on Miro.

Building a castle like in the 13th century

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:39:00 +0000

In the heart of Puisaye, in Yonne, Burgundy (France) a team of fifty people have taken on an extraordinary feat : to build a castle using the very same techniques and materials used in the Middle Ages. The materials needed for the construction of the castle - wood, stone, earth, sand and clay - are all to be found here, in this abandoned quarry. Before the gaze of thousands of carpenters, blacksmiths, tile makers, basket makers, rope makers, carters and their horses are working together to complete the castle. Work on the site began in 1997 and is scheduled to take 25 years to complete. Guédelon offers a unique opportunity to witness the different stages of a castle's construction; each phase being of interest in its own right. Let yourself be transported from the present day, back to the sights and sounds of a 13th century construction site. Guédelon offers something for everyone : academics, historians, teachers, students and families. More informations: www.guedelon.fr.

Photos HD - a new Blog for photo enthusiasts

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:53:00 +0000

If you have a big screen and love good photography then contribute your pictures to the newly created blog "Photos HD". The required picture length should be 2000 pixels and the size not more than 300 KB. If you are interesting in having your pictures represented please send a comment to this blog or the photos hd blog and we will give you more information where to send your picture file. Your name and link to your blog or website will be included. All this is on a non-profit base - just for the enjoyment of large size, inspiring and creative shots!

Mandu Trummer: Playing the harp for 24 hours

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:40:00 +0000

Austrian musician and harp lover Mandu Trummer established a new record: he soulfully played for 24 hours on his harp. This was one of the many records realized over the last weekend during the Impossibility Challenger Games in Dachau (near Munich), Germany (see full report below).

A Mecca of World Records in Germany

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:58:00 +0000

Today, 21 participants from 10 countries surmounted the barrier of Impossibility at the 14th “Impossibility Challenger” - World Record Games in Dachau near Munich. Four Guinness World Records, 13 world records and 11 personal records have been set.

Ashrita Furman (53) of New York who has set the most Guinness Records in the world covered one mile on stilts in 7 min 13 sec and therewith broke the old Guinness World Record in this discipline (7:53 min).The 29-year old Jewgenij Kuschnow from Vienna set a new world record with his strong legs. He did the splits between the roofs of 2 standing cars for 36 sec. Ranjit Pal (45) will enter with the most rope skips in one minute in the Guinness Book of World Records. He did more than 4 rope skips in one second - a total of 255 in 1 min. “Pushup with the martial arts stick Gun“ is the name of the record Petr Vaculin (28) from Czech Republic set. He is the only person in the world who kept his body in horizontal position for 1 min 49 sec with the legs at the wall and the hands at the vertically adjusted stick at a height of 1.4 m. He also set 2 world records by jumping 87 times per minute and 127 times in 2 min over the martial arts chain „Bian“ only with the help of his gluteal muscles seated on ground.

Juggling many people can do. But Kostyantyn Chernomorchenko (44) from the Ukraine did it with 3 balls while running backwards and that for 6 kms in 54 min 50 sec - a new world record. Juggling with 2 motor saws and a 1 kg ball did the Slovakian Milan Roskopf 35 times– a world record. The passion of Peter Koppen (60) from Munich is the construction of paper microships. 200,000 microships he built over the years. In the world record time of 25 min he created 11 microships of one paper with the size of a stamp. Stefan Cojocnean (36) from Romania set an endurance world record. The former Romanian Kickbox Champion kicked and punched a box bag and a thaibox bag for 17 hours only with 5 minutes break per hour and a 15 min break each 5 h. A new entry in the Guinness bible is also sure for Rainer Schroeder (47) from Altenburg near Leipzig in Germany. He bended with his teeth a 12/13 chrome-vanadium-wrench clamped in a vice until it broke in 14.30 seconds. He even used his teeth to pull a 7 t van for 28,15 m in 1 min – a world record. Ralf Laue (39) from Leipzig set 2 Guinness World Records.

The masculine part of the Walter family from Zurich set an impressing personal record. Father Ruedi (63) and his sons Albert (33) and Sandro (31) teared up each a thick telephone directory at the same time. Albert Walter, Swiss Champion in bench press 2004, set also a personal record by bending 77 carpenter nails with a diameter of 7.5 mm in 18 min. und 13 sec. with his bare hands. Father Ruedi amazed with a senior world record. He teared up a 944 page telephone directory. Mandu Trummer (48) from Austria played like an angel the harp for 24 hours. With 3 h 6 min and 5 sec non-stop laughing World Laughter Master Belachew Girma from Äthiopia improved his own world record.

The 14th Impossibility Challenger was organized by the Sri Chinmoy Centres, meditation centres which are named after its founder, the late spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy. To foster inner peace and the harmonious living together the Sri Chinmoy Centres offer the possiblity to learn meditation for free in over 350 cities worldwide. Indian born Sri Chinmoy initiated the Impossibility Challenger in 1982 to inspire people to experience the joy which comes into existence when one competes only with oneself to increase one's own capacities and inspires therewith others.

Impossibility Challenger Founder Sri Chinmoy (right) at one of the the first competitions in Zurich.

Rome: Running for International Friendship

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:45:00 +0000

The World Harmony Run took a running start from FAO Headquarters in Rome today at a ceremony at which Africa's first New York marathon winner and UNICEF Ambassador Tegla Loroupe and FAO Goodwill Ambassador Gina Lollobrigida and other celebrities participated. Founded two decades ago by the spiritual leader and peace activist Sri Chinmoy to promote world peace, the World Harmony Run is now the world's longest global trelay. The run is a non-profit event organized entirely by volunteers involving in particular children and students.

"For FAO, the twinning together of sports and development is a long standing tradition. Our own international Run For Food Race marks the World Food Day we celebrate every year. Last year, 10,000 people took part in Cuba alone while in Rome, the 2008 Run for Food will take place on Sunday, 19 October 2008. Sports events such as this are an excellent way to help raise awareness", said FAO Deputy Director-General, James Butler who hosted the Opening Ceremony.

Over a period of seven months, relay teams will carry the World Harmony Run torch through 100 countries, covering over 24 000 kms and 49 countries in Europe alone but involving North Africa, Australia and the United States "in a bid to demonstrate that the world is one family for which peace and harmony are essential to its survival", said event organizer, Stefano Cenni. After the opening at FAO where the torch was lit runners proceeded to Rome's Colosseum where 400 children formed the word “Harmony” and to the Campidoglio, where a team of 100 runners from Europe was received officially in front of the city hall in Rome. From there runners will cover 100 to 150 kms a day in teams of 10 to 12 volunteers stopping at towns and villages throughout Europe to arrive at Prague the final destination by October 6, 2008. In parallel, similar events will take place in other regions with the aim of involving as many people as possible in this global event.

To find out more about the World Harmony Run and the progress of the running teams visit www.worldharmonyrun.org

What is Earth Hour 2008?

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:51:00 +0000

"Earth Hour 2008" is an initiative to save energy on a global scale and to take action as a world-wide community, in cooperation with WWF. On March 29, 2008 at 8 pm local time turn off your lights and participate in this most needed action. To get inspired watch this video:

March 22: Today is World Water Day

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:16:00 +0000

Many people only speak about actions in regard to the growing problems of having enough water on this planet. One group of people took action. It is the crew of the Rhein-Valley Hospital in Kasambara-Nakuru in Kenya. They built two water stations, one on the hospital ground on 2000 m and another further up the mountain on 2700 m. These stations allow half a million Kenyas to regularly get their fresh drinking water. The above picture was taken today, when thousands of refugees came to the hospital ground to get their twice weekly food packages and fill up their water tanks.

An inspiring speach by Barack Obama

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:56:00 +0000

Today, Barack Obama spoke on "A More Perfect Union" in Philadelphia. The whole transcription can be read here.

"Temple of Good Will" in Brasilia

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:02:00 +0000

"The Temple of Good Will" (TGW) welcomes pilgrims from all over the world as an interfaith center for love, understanding, meditation, religion and spirituality. The building in the form of a pyramid contains a walk-path and has a huge crystal on the top. You walk on the black stone plates in spiral form towards the centre where you can meditate and feel the energy of the crystal on top of you. On the way out of the centre you walk on the light colored stones, signifying the transformation from darkness to light that happened in the center. The TGW is a very special power place, situated in the suburbs of Brasilia, capital of Brazil. This video is also available in HD quality on vimeo (Flash).

LIVE Voices 12: Exploring the World

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 07:06:00 +0000

For the last 30 years Bruno Baumann has been a passionate explorer of today's world. He has traveled all over the world to discover new places, to experience the secrets of nature, especially in Tibet and its holy Mount Kailash. He is widely known for his TV reportages, books, posters and slide-shows. Bruno Baumann tells us about his many projects, his relationship with Buddhism and his plan for an extensive journey on the ancient silk-road leading to Shanghai in 2010, where the next World Exhibition will take place. He also shares with us some of his personal video material. Enjoy this colourful encounter! This is Episode 12 of "LIVE Voices - The Extraordinary in Everyday Life", a monthly video podcast with inspiring interviews, also available online in HD quality on srichinmoy.tv (Quicktime) and vimeo (Flash).

World Harmony Run visits Tunisia

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:17:00 +0000

The World Harmony Run team met in Tunis on March 7th. A surprise was awaiting them at the airport. Bechir Elloumi, the secretary general of the Tunisian Athletic Federation welcomed each of them warmly. He took special care of them, making sure they had everything they needed before they started the run in the south of Tunisia the following day. The Federation generously sponsored their whole stay in the country. On March 8th, after picking the last member of the team at the airport, the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team was ready to leave with two new members runners, Moez Baklouti, president of the Tunisian association for sport management and driver Achraf Mensi. In Gabes, they had the pleasure to meet Ezzedine Bechraoui, vice director of the minister regional office of sport, who help organised the passage of the run in the Gabes area. During the day, they visited the tomb of Saint Sidi Boulbaba, who was a companion of the prophet Mahomet and was sent from Mecca to Gabes to spread the message of islam. The torch runners also stopped in Matmata, a troglodyte village in the area. The European World Harmony Run starts in Rome, Italy on March 27, 2008; the final ceremony is scheduled to be held in Prague on October 6, 2008.

Medical-Buddha-Mandala created in Zurich

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:25:00 +0000

Two Buddhist monks created this beautiful Medical-Buddha-Mandala during the esoteric fair "Lebenskraft" that took place from March 6-9, 2008 in the Kongresshaus Zurich. After three days of hard work, the colored sand mandala was dismantled after a short ceremony and thrown into the water of the Lake Zurich. While the original is now floating to all corners of the world, a picture of the mandala remains to give us joy and some insight into the spiritual discipline and deep devotation of the Buddhist monks. Click on the above picture to get a large-size view.