Spirituality is everything to do with the Spirit, the Soul, the Atman or what in reality is the life energy within us. Why is that important? Because that is everything! If there is no life energy within us, then we are dead, then there is nothing. The only thing that truly exists is this life energy which is us, but which we don’t realize. We think that we are the body, we are the mind, when in reality we are the Spirit. Therefore, Spirituality is the study of the Spirit. It is being conscious of who we truly are. If we do not follow a life that is Spiritual or rather being that life energy, that Soul or the Atman, then we are living a life of illusion.

There is a growing body of evidence indicating that spiritual practices are associated with better health and wellbeing for many reasons, including:

1. Contemplative practice is good for you.
   Contemplative practices are activities that guide you to direct your attention to a specific focus—often an inward-looking reflection or concentration on a specific sensation or concept. Many spiritual traditions have a long history of using contemplative practices to increase compassion, empathy, and attention, as well as quiet the mind.
2. A spiritual community can improve your life.
   Many spiritual traditions encourage participation in a community. Spiritual fellowship, such as attending church or a meditation group, can be sources of social support which may provide a sense of belonging, security, and community. Strong relationships have been proven to increase wellbeing and bolster life expectancy, which is perhaps why one study found a strong association between church attendance and improved health, mood, and wellbeing
3. Spiritual strength can help you overcome hardships.
   Having a strong spiritual outlook may help you find meaning in life’s difficult circumstances.
   The spiritual practice of recognizing the interconnectedness of all life can also help buffer the pain that comes with difficult. If we can compassionately remind ourselves in moments of falling down that failure is part of the shared human experience, then that moment becomes one of togetherness rather than isolation. When our troubled, painful experiences are framed by the recognition that countless others have undergone similar hardships, the blow is softened.
4. Spiritual people make healthier choices.
   Adhering to a particular spiritual tradition may bring an indirect health benefit because many traditions have rules about treating the body with kindness and avoiding unhealthy behaviors. Research shows that perhaps because of these tenets, people who practice a religion or faith tradition are less likely to smoke or drink, commit a crime, or become involved in violent activity, and they are more likely to engage in preventative habits like wearing seatbelts and taking vitamins.
5. Spirituality may help you live longer.
   An exhaustive review that compared spirituality and religiousness to other health interventions found that people with a strong spiritual life had an 18% reduction in mortality. Giancarlo Lucchetti, lead author of the study, calculates that the life-lengthening benefits of spirituality can be compared to eating a high amount of fruits and vegetables or taking blood pressure medication. Although some researchers have suggested that the extent of spirituality’s benefit on health is exaggerated, most researchers agree there is a positive relationship between religious and spiritual practices and better health outcomes.
6. Forgiveness is good medicine.
   Letting go of blame and negative feelings after a hurtful incident is a practice that is reflected by a number of spiritual traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism. Modern science shows the health benefits of forgiveness are numerous: better immune function, longer lifespan, lowered blood pressure, improved cardiovascular health, and fewer feelings of anger or hurt.

The world today is driven by technology. Anything
you need is just a touch away. People are being
spoon fed by applications that help us tap and order
when it comes to food. Some of the famous mobile
apps for ordering food in India includes Zomato,
Swiggy, Uber eats and lot more. It’s no doubt that
these apps are really helpful and mobile technology
has gifted us a lot but like every coin has two sides
this technology also has some disadvantages.
What fuels digital food ordering ? Is it just
convenience, low cost or is it complete laziness?
These apps have not only has increased reliance on
outside food but also has significantly changed the
way people eat. Ordering food by tapping your
screen literally equals to no energy wasted and one
ends up ordering more than they can consume. It
somehow killed the mobility of people.
According to the statistics reports, the revenue of
online these apps is expected to grow at a rate of
9.3% annually. Currently their revenue is USD
94,385M in 2019. It is noticed that social skills of
people have been badly affected. It promotes
unhealthy lifestyle. It results in high intake of
calories which develops obesity in teenagers. These
apps manipulate us with false claims of healthy
eating. This terrible cycle continues to loop and we
are caught in a web spun by these apps and thus
there is no way out.

A good news for the buyers!! Ministry of Consumer Affairs has notified that most provisions of The Consumer Protection Act 2019, will come into force from July 20, 2020. The bill was introduced by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 30, 2019, and later cleared by the Rajya Sabha on August 6, 2019. The bill received assent from President Ram Nath Kovind on August 9. The act will replace the three decade old consumer law in the country. Though the decision related to the provisions of e-commerce as well as the constitution of an apex Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) at the national level is yet to be taken in action by the central government.

KEY FEATURES OF THE BILL:

• Consumer rights: (i) Right to Protection: the buyer has the right to be protected from the false marketing of goods and services which can be harmful to his life and property. (ii) Right to Information: the consumer has right to get the full information about the quality, quantity, purity, standard and price of goods or services. (iii) Right to Selection: this right ensures that the consumer has the right to access varieties of goods and services. (iv) Right to complain: the consumer has all the right to complain against the unfair trade practices by the seller, manufacturer or the trader. He can complain against them in district commission or state commission or the national commission, depends upon the pecuniary jurisdiction of the commissions.
• Pecuniary Jurisdiction: The pecuniary jurisdiction has been increased in the new act compared to the older one.

District Commission: Rupees One Crore

State Commission: Rupees One Crore to Ten Crore

National Commission: Above Rupees ten Crore

• E-Filing of Complaints: The consumer can now file complaints electronically. Hearing and examining of the parties can also be done through video-conferencing.
• Prohibition and penalty for a misleading advertisement: The act mentions a strict punishment in case of false and misleading advertisement. Under the act the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) will have the power to suo-moto take cognizance in case of misleading advertisement. For the interest of consumers, imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees can be imposed. And for every subsequent offence, imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to fifty lakh rupees can be imposed.

5. Other Offences and Penalties:

Whoever, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, manufactures for sale or stores or sells or distributes or imports any product containing an adulterant shall be punished, if such act—

(a) Does not result in any injury to the consumer, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees;

(b) Causing injury not amounting to grievous hurt to the consumer, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and with fine which may extend to three lakh rupees;

(c) causing injury resulting in grievous hurt to the consumer, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees; and

(d) Results in the death of a consumer, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life and with fine which shall not be less than ten lakh rupees. The act also mentions that, manufacturer, seller or traders license can be suspended for 2 years and in subsequent conviction, can be cancelled.

Captain America- otherwise known as Chris Evans and other Avenger’s cast, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, and Tom Holland took time to pay tribute to a real-life hero.

That hero is a six-year-old Bridger Walker of Cheyenne, Wyoming. His heroic deed went viral after his Aunt Nikki Walker shared the story on Instagram and tagged the Avengers stars, who Bridger idolises.

Bridger came between a dog and his sister and sustained several bites on his cheek and head before he got himself and his sister out of danger, with his injuries requiring two hours of surgery and some 90 stitches.

The Walker siblings had gone over to a neighbor’s house and one of their dogs came at Bridger’s sister. Bridger jumped in between in order to save his little sister. He later told his parents, “if someone had to die, I thought it should be me.”

Moved by his heroic deed Hemsworth, Evans, Ruffalo, Holland, and Jeremy Renner sent him warm wishes and inducted him as part of the Avengers. Evans even sent him Captain America’s costume and the shield along with an encouraging video message.

His aunt as been updating social media about Bridger’s progress and the number of celebrities that have reached out to Bridger to praise him. Another post by Nikki Walker shows Bridger dressed in Spider-Man costume and chatting on video call with Tom Holland who plays the superhero on screen.

While Bridger is unable to fully smile due to his injuries, the little boy has been very happy with all the love and adulation that has come his way. Many offered financial assistance to his parents who have appealed them to donate to certain charities instead.

You have probably heard the terms climate change and global warming used interchangeably. That’s because both describe changes in earth’s climate. While global warming focuses on the rising average temperature of the planet, climate change usually refers to the shifts in things like precipitation, wind patterns, and temperatures over a given period. Measured changes in climate could last a few years, decades, or even millions of years. Climate change creates hunger, whether through too little water (drought) or too much (flooding), and its effect contribute to the cycle of poverty in several other ways including disproportionately. One World Bank estimates that climate change has the power to push more than 100 million people into poverty over the next decade.

Climate change has occurred for as long as the earth has existed. It happens anytime earth’s climate patterns change and remain in place for a measurable amount of time. This has notably manifested itself in natural cycles of cooling and warming. Before human causes started to shift the global climate, five main factors interacted with one another as climate changes occurred. These five factors include:

1. Atmosphere (air)
2. Biosphere (living things)
3. Cryosphere (ice and permafrost)
4. Hydrosphere (water)
5. Lithosphere (earth’s crust and upper mantle)

Causes of Climate Change

The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society. A few ways humans are accelerating climate change include the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation: these activities create greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap the sun’s energy contributing to global warming.

Its Impact

The long term impact of climate change could be absolutely devastating to the planet and everyone and everything living on it. If the world continues on its current trajectory, then we will likely continue to see increasing effects on everyday life.

Health

There are many ways in which climate change could impact people’s health. Depending on age, location, and economic status. Climate change-related health risks may include:

• Heat-related illness
• Injuries and fatalities from severe weather
• Asthma & cardiovascular disease from air pollution
• Respiratory problems from increased allergens
• Diseases from poor water quality
• Water & food supply insecurities

Negative Impact on Ecosystems

Ecosystems are interconnected webs of living organisms that help support all kinds of plant and biological life. Climate change is already changing seasonal weather patterns and disrupting food distribution for plants and animals throughout the world, potentially causing mass extinction events. Some studies estimate that nearly 30% of plant and animal species are at risk of extinction if global temperatures continue to rise.

Water And Food Resources

Climate change could have a significant impact on food and water supplies. Severe weather and increased temperatures will continue to limit crop productivity and increase the demand for water. With food demand expected to increase by nearly 70% by 2050, the problem will likely only get worse.

Sea Levels Rising

Rising sea levels could have far-reaching effects on coastal cities and habitats. Increasing ocean temperatures and melting ice sheets have steadily contributed to the rise of sea levels on a global scale. At current rates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimate sea levels to rise by at least 8 inches by 2100, potentially causing increased flooding and decrease in ocean and wetland habitats.

Solutions For Climate Change

While the effects of climate change can seem bleak, there is still hope. By taking immediate action to curb climate change, we may never see the worst consequences. Below are some practical ways you can battle climate change, including:

• Purchase Renewable Energy Certificate for your home power needs
• Make your home energy efficient
• Reduce food waste
• Recycle
• Stop using fossil fuels
• Stop deforestation

Whether you celebrate today with a happy face, a pair of raised hands, or mere heart-eyes, July 17 marks World Emoji Day.

Well, thinking of messages without emojis is extremely difficult for each one of us today. Emojis make conversations interesting and help us express ourselves the best way. They shapes our feelings and moods in a virtual space. You may be crying, dancing, eating, cooking, or rolling on the floor laughing, there is emoji for every occasion.

As we get busier with no time to type long messages, emojis, animated stickers are becoming the future form of messaging. Who knows, there could be a day soon when we chat only via emojis and no texts.

World Emoji Day is a global event observed to enhance the power of emojis for enhancing our everyday conversations. These digital icons have added more meaning to our conversations. Unlike before, emojis are not only limited to faces; now they also include animals, flowers, planets, alphabets, clothes, activities and the list goes on.

Also, we now have emojis that are gender neutral or the ones that spread across the skin tone spectrum; such an effort makes virtual communication inclusive and accessible by all. There’s a pool emoticons to choose from and each one of them has their own unique meaning.

Do you know that a Japanese engineer created emojis in 1998.

Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2015 was the ‘tears of joy emoji’. It was the first time in history the dictionary used a pictograph as its infamous ‘Word of the Year’. It was chosen because it was the most used emoji globally in 2015.

Emojipedia’s Jeremy Burge launched World Emoji Day on July 17, 2004.

July 17 is not a random date. It was chosen because it is the day that featured on the emoji calendar on the apple keyboard. If you are an iPhone user, you can notice this on your smartphone.

To celebrate World Emoji Day, Apple is previewing a selection of new emoji that will be available this fall with a free software update for iPhone.

The mass communication is the study of mass media. Mass media include newspapers, magazines, television, movies, radio etc. The mass media transmits information to a large number of people simultaneously.

The mass media has several functions. It can be used to highlight issues, create awareness, entertain people, analyze political progress, and is also known to create new social norms. The mass media can influence people’s actions in both good and bad ways. They are therefore responsible for exercising care and monitoring while disseminating information.

For example, in the case of the assassination of Aarushi (Noida) that shocked the country last year, some media outlets went so far as to dismiss their traditional roles and take on the roles of investigative organizations. Things have gotten to the point where some angry members of the public are demanding state laws from the media by slandering the parents of a dead daughter.

In this case, initially, the media, with the help of unconfirmed facts and false information, were able to temporarily influence public opinion which led them to believe that the parents were the ones who were killed. This is widely reported in the media. At the same time, in the case of Jessica Lall and Nitish Katara, the media played a major role in getting the suspect to write. The implication of this is that most media outlets can play an important role in society as long as they are responsible and not discriminated against.

In recent times, the media has become increasingly effective in addressing issues. Reporting dates just gone. In its place there are newly focused media looking for active participants in solving the burning issues of the day. The ‘Times of India’ is an excellent example.

Its ‘lead India’ campaign to identify Indians with leadership credentials to lead the country and his recent ‘Teach India’ campaign to include everyone in his quest to promote literacy among flawless segments are commendable. This is a very big media. Today the media has become a forum for ordinary men to voice their concerns in a way that will be heard by those who are important.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, US President Roosevelt used social media as a radio to strengthen the morale of the American people. In Germany, however, Hitler used mass media to obtain permission to become his oppressive Nazi regime. So big media can be a tool for achieving good and bad intentions