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Virendra Sharma, MP for Southall and Ealing said of late, ‘It's very important that young people are made aware of the short and long term effects of smoking. It is vital that organisations work together to get the message across to young people and I'm pleased to support the Royal National Institute of Blind (RNIB) and the College to help them raise awareness.’

With the aim of encouraging students to help make avoidable sight loss a thing of the past, the RNIB's UK - wide Future Vision tour reaches West London.

Students from Ealing Hammersmith and West London College's Southall campus will enter a virtual ageing booth to see what they could look when they get older and learn how they can reduce their risk of becoming blind later in life.

RNIB warns saying there are 1.8 million people with sight loss in the UK fifty per cent of whom having lost their sight unnecessarily. If caught early, sight loss for many people is avoidable. To minimise the risk of acquiring serious sight disease later in life, the key is not to smoke and have regular eye tests.

Eye Health Manager at RNIB, Barbara McLaughlan said: ‘Our focus is on younger people because we want to show them, in a very tangible way, how their lifestyle choices may affect their risk of developing eye disease in later life. RNIB's Future Vision tour shows our commitment to making avoidable sight loss a thing of the past.’

RNIB is inviting 16 to 25 year old students from the college to enter its 'Future Vision' virtual ageing photo booth that simulates how they might look when they reach 70.

Based on what the students say about their current lifestyle choices, they can learn about avoiding risk factors linked to eye disease. On leaving the booth, they can take away a simulated photograph of themselves, age 70, along with eye health information. They can also download their picture from www.fvision.org.uk. The booth that was designed by Hartnell Creative Communication Ltd will be visiting a further eight UK college venues including other major shopping centres.

Speaking about the event, Student Union member Prablin Arura said, 'We didn't know that smoking could affect your eyesight we knew about cancer and heart disease though. I think it's good that our College and the RNIB are working together to get the message across to young people before it's too late. I don't smoke but I know a lot of people my age and younger do so. I'm glad this event is happening on campus.'

'India Empire' NRI Awards

16 Overseas Indians commended

The 'India Empire' monthly magazine held an NRI Awards Night at Hotel Ramada Plaza, New Delhi, on January 10, 2010. The NRI Awards 2010 theme read: 'In recognition of Excellence, Purpose and Achievement in the Overseas Indian Community.' Sixteen distinguished Overseas Indians from 11 countries received the awards. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Dr Lenny Saith, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in Trinidad and Tobago. He also acts as Prime Minister of his country in the absence of the substantive holder of the post.

The chief guest on the occasion was Mr Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, responsible for framing policies for over 25 million members of the Indian Diaspora. Mr Ravi hailed the success, vision and enterprising spirit of the Indian Diaspora in general and the awardees in particular. He said the awards presented by the magazine would inspire the diaspora world over. He encouraged the diaspora to be a part of India's growth story, indicating that areas such as infrastructure, rural development, healthcare and education were important for growth and urged the diaspora to be partners in these areas. Mr Ravi also presented the awards.

Mrs Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi, was also present. She welcomed the diaspora to the forthcoming Commonwealth Games and said that it was important that the diaspora took back good memories of Delhi, the capital city of the largest democracy in the world. She said that every effort had been made to make Delhi one of the greenest capital cities in the world.

The international print magazine writes on NRI, People of Indian Origin (PIOs) and related issues. The magazine completed five years in September 2009. The publication believes that it is the right time that the Indian diaspora is recognised by way of awards through a free, frank and fearless medium, independent of the Government.

Mr Sayantan Chakravarty, the magazine's Editor and Publisher, announced that the objective of the NRI Awards was to recognise the wealth of Indian talent overseas, to make the awards world class, institutionalise them, to ensure that the awards functions are held every year in India on January 10, and also other parts of the world. 'As India engages with its diaspora, it is important that those outstanding men and women who make a difference to India's image overseas are recognised,' Mr Chakravarty noted. 'Four of our awardees have also received the Government's Pravasi Samman Awards in 2008 and 2010,' he added. The criteria to choose awardees for the NRI Awards would be merit and reputation. The magazine received nominations from world over on its website. Nominations for the next awards will be open on line on www.indiaempire.com from January 15, 2010. The final selection will be vetted by top NRI associations in different countries and the Indian media. Any person who qualifies as a Non-Resident Indian or a Person of Indian Origin and / or is an Overseas Citizen of India is eligible to be nominated for the awards.

The Awardees List:
Ms Nishma Gosrani from the U.K. (Most Promising Overseas Indian Female), Mr Jean Regis Ramsamy from ReUnion Islands (Most Promising Overseas Indian Male), Mr Logie Naidoo from South Africa (Community Service in African Region), Mr Mahyendrah Utchanah from Mauritius (Community Service from Africa and Indian Ocean Region), Judge Ajit Swaran Singh from New Zealand (Community Services in Asia Pacific Region), Mr Krishnamurthy Kumar from the U.A.E. (Community Services in the GCC), Mr Harmohan Walia from Australia (Community Service), Professor Joseph Adaikalam from Malaysia (Business Leadership in South Asia and Far East Region), Dr Rami Ranger from the U.K. (Business Leadership in U.K. and Europe), H.E. Mookhesswur Choonee from Mauritius (Cultural Leadership), H.E. Pundit Maniedeo Persad from Trinidad and Tobago (Excellence in Diplomacy), Mrs Leela Gujadhur Sarup from Mauritius (Academic Leadership), Dr Samir Shah from USA (Excellence in Software and IT), Dr Mani Bhaumik from USA (Excellence in Sciences), Dr Ruby Dhalla from Canada (Political Leadership), Dr Lenny Saith from Trinidad and Tobago (Lifetime Achievement).

Nominations for the INDIA EMPIRE NRI AWARDS 2011 will be opened up on www.indiaempire.com from January 15, 2010. Details of citations will be made available on request.

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