[quote=BBCNEWS]
Officials in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) have taken extraordinary measures to protect US President Barack Obama ahead of his visit.
In their effort to provide maximum security in the run-up to his visit on Friday, they have removed coconuts which may fall on his head from trees.
All coconuts around the city's Gandhi museum have now been cut down, an official told the BBC.
Every year in India people are injured or even killed by falling coconuts.
'Why take a chance?'
Mani Bhavan, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his freedom struggle against the British, is among five places the US president is visiting apart from a school, college and hotels attacked by Islamic militants in 2008.
"We told the authorities to remove the dry coconuts from trees near the building. Why take a chance?" Mani Bhavan's executive secretary, Meghshyam Ajgaonkar, told the BBC.
Mahatma Gandhi has been cited by the president as an inspiration to him - he has a portrait of the independence leader in his senate office.
President Obama once famously said that he would like to have had dinner with Mr Gandhi.
Heavy security arrangements and preparations are going on in the city which also celebrates the religious festival of lights, Diwali, during the president's visit.
Mani Bhavan is a two-storey building in south Mumbai, housing a museum, a research centre and a room where Mahatma Gandhi stayed. Today it is a tourist attraction.
Mr Ajgaonkar said the building was ready to receive the president and had been recently painted and renovated.
It will be closed on 5 and 6 November for security reasons.
Last week American security officers inspected Mani Bhavan and its surroundings along with other places the president is likely to visit.
[/quote]
Source:
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11684382[/url]
Poor coconuts
I don't think Gandhi had coconuts in mind when he said "Why take a chance?".
A little bit extreme?
I bet they were more concerned over the throwing of coconuts.
what if the president just wore a helmet
Removing cocnuts? That's completely nuts!
[QUOTE=Tuvok;25836058]what if the president just wore a helmet[/QUOTE]
I would guess that the downward force would still snap his neck or something like that.
And it looks stupid. Yeah it's for safety, but politicians worry about stuff like that.
Coconuts ain't got shit on durian.
[IMG]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/107/313708133_57fe202d48.jpg[/IMG]
[URL="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/107/313708133_57fe202d48.jpg"][/URL]
Oh, I thought he had an allergy or something.
I've been told that in Hawaii you have a bigger chance of dying by a coconut, than being attacked by a shark
[QUOTE=Glitch360;25836270]I've been told that in Hawaii you have a bigger chance of dying by a coconut, than being attacked by a shark[/QUOTE]
More people die worldwide from falling vending machines, than from sharks.
They must be going co-co
never can be too safe
[QUOTE=Tuvok;25836058]what if the president just wore a helmet[/QUOTE]
Yeah he'd be showing how strong America is when you see a picture of him wearing a helmet walking around in India.
Quick Somebody plant some coconut trees at the white house!
Bush could have dodged them.
[QUOTE=DasMatze;25837437]Bush could have dodged them.[/QUOTE]
He's got the experience.
[QUOTE=Glitch360;25836270]I've been told that in Hawaii you have a bigger chance of dying by a coconut, than being attacked by a shark[/QUOTE]
you do
Its more common than people think
[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;25836393]More people die worldwide from falling vending machines, than from sharks.[/QUOTE]
That makes sense. I use a vending machine everyday, whereas I haven't been to the seaside in over a year
[QUOTE=Glitch360;25836270]I've been told that in Hawaii you have a bigger chance of dying by a coconut, than being attacked by a shark[/QUOTE]
Vending machines don't mistake you for their food and bite your leg off.