Day: September 12, 2020

Marine Oil Spills: Paving the Way to Destruction of The Oceans and Marine Life

Time and again, news and tabloid have reported occurrences of oil spill accidents across the globe. The most recent confirmed oil spill would be the MV Wakashio oil spill. This disaster shaped up at a gradual pace but it started from the offshore of Pointe d’Esny, south of Mauritius, after Wakashio (a Japanese bulk carrier) ran aground on a coral reef in the Indian Ocean on 25th July, approximately at 16:00 UTC. Estimation is that, about 1000 tonnes of oil was discharged into the ocean. The incident has been termed as the worst environment disaster in Mauritius.

India also had faced such disaster in the recent past. In 2017. The Ennore oil spill took place outside the Kamarajar Port in Ennore, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The incident took place on 28 January 2017, due to the collision between an outbound empty tanker BW Maple and  An inbound loaded oil tanker Dawn Kanchipuram, at 04:00 local time.The spillage quantity is estimated to be 251 tonnes.

Needless to say, these accidents cost us humans in many ways. Some, which we don’t even realise now. So, what is the extent of damage and carnage caused by these incidents? Let’s find out.

What makes up the pollutant ?

The pollutant which causes all these environmental mayhem is crude oil. Also, known as  liquid petroleum. The constituent chemical composition includes hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and also other organic compounds. It is a leading base source of numerous types of fuels and is formed due to compression of large quantities of dead organisms (mostly zooplankton and algae) under sedimentary rocks accompanied by  intense heat and pressure conditions over a very large period of time.

Crude oil, especially the lighter grades (has lower density)  are preferred as they contain a good balance of hydrogen and carbon. Due to their density, they tend to float over the saline water. 

The slowly building adverse effects on the environment that are now being recognized and associated with fuel consumption. This includes global warming and ocean acidification due to CO2. On the other hand, short-term oil spill causes immediate and visible effects on the environment too. 

What does it cost the environment?

The intensity of damage of oil spills, be it crude or refined oil, is more severe in oceans than on land. The layer of oil can spread up to hundreds of nautical miles and therefore forms a thin layer over the water surface.  The nature of the adverse effects depends on the amount of oil spilled, type of oil,speed of the discharge of oil in the ocean, location of the spill, with respect to geographic and marine conditions, the oceanic circulation pattern and the local climatic conditions, and so on. 

The immediate effects on marine biodiversity includes chemical toxicity, interference with physiological processes of the animals, loss of organisms from a community etc. In fishes, it leads to starvation (due to pollution of food sources), impaired respiration and reproduction, habitat destruction and toxicity due to oil ingestion.Also, certain species have sensitive reactions to the chemical composition of oil. All these build up to a high mortality rate in fishes and larvae. Also, deformities might arise in present and/or subsequent generations.

Birds are affected as they on consumption, these pollutants harm their lungs, liver and kidney. Also, due to oil trapped in their feathers, they cannot effectively fly or float, due to compression of the feathers. The feathers also provide insulation to the birds and in such cases, the feathers cannot effectively protect the under skin. Sea birds, which come in contact with water, have water residuals attached to their skin and might die due to hypothermia. 

Animals like whales, dolphins, otters and sea turtles are also not immune to the oil spill adversity. They encounter physiological complexities.like tissue damage of various organs, low immunity, ingestion and inhalation of oil causing respiratory inflammation, ulcers, gastrointestinal irritation etc. 

Several other classes of animals and the plant kingdom too are affected and suffer from various short and long term effects. Coral reefs, in particular, are very hard hit due to this pollutant. As for contact with large quantities of oil can damage and impede the growth, development and reproduction of the corals reefs. The oil cover also destroys the thriving ecosystem surrounding the reefs. 

What’s done to reign in and restore the damage?

Cleaning up the oil spill can be difficult, as the methods and effectiveness vary with different factors like type of oil spilled, temperature of the water, and types of marine landforms involved. Also, some techniques themselves have adverse effects on the environment (eg. controlled burning). Other methods involve: Bioremediation, Dredging, Skimming, Solidifying etc. Also, in some courses of actions,’wait and watch’ approach is the best solution. 

As the saying goes around, ‘Prevention is better than cure’. Hence, the focus should be on preventing such disastrous accidents rather than speedy clearance procedures. For now where we stand, any damage, even be it a small one, to the environment might hit us worse than we can think of.

Reference websites:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_spill#:~:text=An%20oil%20spill%20is%20the,may%20also%20occur%20on%20land.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Ennore_oil_spill

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Wakashio_oil_spill

MUMBAI – A SENSATIONAL CITY

I will always cherish my visit to Mumbai, the city of dreams, and a city after my heart. Known for beautiful places and some UNESCO heritage sites like Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves, Juhu Beach, Marine Drive, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Galleries, Victoria and Art Deco buildings and Colaba Causeway, the iconic Crawford Market, Amazing Street food, and a lot more. The people of Mumbai are termed as “Mumbaikar”. Mumbai surrounded by the Arabian Sea was first known as Bombay which is located in a peninsular on the Western coast of Maharashtra state. Mumbai has tropical humidity, from March to May the weather is hot and dry, from June to November Mumbai has heavy rains, and from December to February, the temperature is cool.

Mumbai is the financial capital of India, making it one of the expensive cities in Asia. I think Mumbai is the best place to restart your life in India but you’ll have to work on your budget. For fitness freaks in the dawn to enjoying the nightlife, Marine Drive is the best place you will see in Mumbai. The soothing sound of waves helps you to unwind, well you can enjoy the beauty of the sea, but not relax as the emotion-struck couples engaged in PDA will make you gag, and believe me, it’s not at all romantic as you see in Bollywood films and speaking about movies. Mumbai is the base of the Bollywood industry with the largest producer of films, making Mumbai India’s largest entertainment capital, and who knows you may spot an actor in a diner or club. Acting and Drama hold special interest for Mumbaikars and one famous place is NCPA (National Center Of Performing Arts). People here are helpful and friendly and makes sure that you feel comfortable. Shopping buffs will love this place from Colaba Causeway to Bandra Linking road to Crawford Market for the street shopping. Each building has a history behind it, Be it Gateway of India or the Taj Hotel. Street food is one popular sensation of Mumbai. Mouthwatering Vada pav, Pani puri Falooda, Pav Bhaji, Ragda puri, Missal Pav, Snow Cones (Gola), Sev puri, to Chines food, and the list goes on. To budget-friendly eateries to posh Restaurants and Bars, Mumbai has it all. Some 5 Star hotels such as Trident, The Oberoi, Taj Mahal Hotel are just so classy.

Well, there are a lot more facts to know about, like Mumbai has a Coastline of about 150 Kilometers, Dharavi in Mumbai is the biggest slum in Asia, The famous network of Dabbawalas (lunchbox delivery system) that is only seen Mumbai, first bus service in India was started in Mumbai, etc. Even though Mumbai is a beautiful place, there are a lot of disadvantages too. The dense population has been causing a lot of damage to the environment like Land pollution, Air pollution, Water Pollution, Deforestation leading to drastic climate change. With proper care, awareness, and solution, we can restore its natural beauty. Mumbai will always remain my forever favorite. Even though there are problems within the city, I would say heaven is where your heart is.

Animals too have a right to live

It is fascinating how diff. people takes this issue in diverse ways. As time passes by, it’s getting more contradicting since everyone has their own feelings towards animals. There are most of us those who believe that animals more or less like human beings with feelings and emotions. They too are able to feel physical and emotional pain and they does have RIGHT TO LIVE AS A HUMAN DOES HAVE.

Nature has created all of us Animals, plants or rather Microbes and we are nobody to interfere in it’s creation, we are none to destroy its beings. It is the correct time for us to understand that all animals have right to existence, all animals have right to live.

If we can’t understand its importance today then it would be very late as it is a high time now. We are destroying nature by our even small deeds. So, at last but not the least- Human society it is a high time now, if you couldn’t understand that every Animal have right to existence then the day is not so far for all species of animals to get extinct.Animal behaviorists increasingly find that nonhuman animals possess complex social lives and share many human emotions, while molecular biologists have discovered stunning commonalities between humans and other animals on the genetic level.In this beautiful world, animals have as much right to live as human beings. In totality, the entire earth is a common property of all of us. It is our world and it is their world. Should humans have rights? Most of you would say yes. People often ask if animals should have rights, and quite simply, the answer is “Yes!” Animals surely deserve to live their lives free from suffering and exploitation. Just because we are at the top of the food chain, does that give us the right to take animal rights away? A life is a life and it should be valued, no matter what you are.

Animals cannot speak for themselves and for that reason we need to protect them. Protecting them is something we should take pride in, it is our responsibility. Animal rights is the belief that animals have an intrinsic value separate from any value they have to humans and are worthy of moral consideration. They have the right to be free of oppression, confinement, use and abuse by humans. By respecting animal rights and having consideration for animal welfare, we also support ecological balance.Physical abuse, communication wounds and neglect are often cases we see at the LSPCA.  The current transport of live animals, roadside sale of live animals and slaughter procedures all contribute to animal abuse and cruelty in Malawi.  Donkeys for instance suffer from wounds inflicted by whipping the animals as they do not respond well to being attached to a cart with a yoke.  A donkey’s strength lies in its chest and therefore needs to pull a cart in a harness as opposed to what’s happening in Malawi, where donkeys are pulling a cart by being attached through a yoke meant for oxen, who have their strength in their necks!  Often animlas are expoited for breeding or culling with no regard to their wellbeing from birth to death.  Responsible pet ownership is needed to protect dogs from having multiple litters, which in effect will control the dog population.  Most dogs roam and live a fairly miserable life, with little care and do not die a natural death in Malawi.  Dogs are being killed on the road in large numbers every day!  This is not the fault of the dog, but that of the owner.  Often people are oblivious of the cruelty they inflict on animals and it is our task to ensure our fellow Malawians open their eyes and ears to the plight of animals and the daily abuse and suffering they endure under our hands.

Street animals all over the world are in a very bad plight. They live virtually wherever cities exist and the local human population allows, especially in the developing and the former second world. Street dogs may be stray dogs, pets that have strayed from or are allowed freedom by their owners, or may be feral animals that have never been owned. Compared to the rest of the world, street animals and especially stray dogs of Nepal are in a very pitiful condition. Approximately 26,000 stray dogs live on the streets of the Kathmandu city. Most of these dogs live in a miserable condition and most of them do not die a natural death. Nepal is one of the few Asian countries without proper animal welfare legislation. Most urban stray dogs are discarded pets which have become sick, pregnant or developed aggressive behavior, or the offspring of such animals. Outbreaks of rabies are often traced to unvaccinated street dogs, one of the most common carriers of the painful and deadly disease. There are dozens of hit and run cases by speeding vehicles leaving stray animals wounded and severely injured. The plight of stray animals is devastating.

In the course of controlling the population of stray dogs, the government had started the campaign of killing them. However, the program was later discarded after it gathered massive criticism. Despite the efforts of both the government and private sectors, the number of stray dogs is yet to go down as expected. While the reasons for this tragedy are multi-faceted, they are not complicated. In addition, the problems that cause animals to become homeless and end up in the streets are preventable, with the solutions in all of our hands. If the government agents can provide proper management, the situation can improve greatly. Many dogs would have their conditions improved if they had obtained vaccination and other medical treatments timely. Proper spaying and neutering of these animals would stop further growth of animals in the streets. This would solve the problem largely.

Healthy Life is must

Hello everyone this is intern of HARYALI organisation .This article is designed to give tips to readers about how they can improve or augment actions in their life to have a healthy lifestyle; it is not meant to be all inclusive but will include major components that are considered to be parts of a lifestyle that lead to good health. In addition to the tips about what people should do for healthy living, the article will mention some of the tips about avoiding actions (the don’ts) that lead to unhealthy living.

Physical fitness is not the sole basis of being healthy, being healthy means being mentally and emotionally fit. Being healthy should be part of your overall lifestyle. Living a healthy lifestyle can help prevent chronic diseases and long-term illnesses. Feeling good about yourself and taking care of your health are important for your self-esteem and self-image. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by doing what is right for your body.

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”Happiness is a broad term that describes the experience of positive emotions, such as joy, contentment and satisfaction.Emerging research shows that being happier doesn’t just make you feel better — it actually brings a host of potential health benefits.”Healthy living” to most people means both physical and mental health are in balance or functioning well together in a person. In many instances, physical and mental health are closely linked, so that a change (good or bad) in one directly affects the other. All humans have to eat food for growth and maintenance of a healthy body, but we humans have different nutrition requirements as infants, children (kids), teenagers, young adults, adults, and seniors. For example, infants may require feeding every 4 hours until they gradually age and begin to take in more solid foods. Eventually they develop into the more normal pattern of eating three times per day as young kids

.Physical activity and exercise is a major contributor to a healthy lifestyle; people are made to use their bodies, and disuse leads to unhealthy living. Unhealthy living may manifest itself in obesity, weakness, lack of endurance, and overall poor health that may foster disease development.Healthy living involves more than physical health, it also includes emotional or mental health. The following are some ways people can support their mental health and well-being.Tobacco use is the most important preventable illness and cause of death in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Tobacco use was estimated to be the cause of 443,000 deaths in 2010 in the U.S.High-risk sexual behavior can lead to the acquisition of sexually transmitted illnesses . In order to have a sound mental and emotional state, you must surround yourself with positive energy. Yes, not all problems can be avoided. But it helps to face such obstacles with an optimist outlook. Surround yourself with encouraging friends and people that will provide you with constructive criticism every once in a while to help you improve.

So be a happy and healthy life so that you have the best moments in your life as you know life is short so live it happily and joyfully.

THANK U

The Celebrity Crushes We All Had


Everyone has had that one celebrity who makes their heart beat faster and whose photo can instantly bring a smile to your face. Even when we leave our teenage years behind, we keep up with these celebrities and cherish them in our hearts. For my father, it is Madhubala and my mom’s most recent celebrity crush is surely Chris Evans. 

While talking to my friends, I realised that our celebrity crushes were not that different. The origin of my friendship with half of my closest friends was due to our mutual love for One Direction, we jammed to their songs, bought their merchandise and cried together when they broke up. And this experience gave me some friends I’ll have for my entire life. Thus, celebrity crushes are important. 

There are some celebrities who were loved by all those born between 1999 and 2003. The ones who top the list are:

• Shah Rukh Khan

Nobody can win a heart as fast as Shah Rukh Khan. He is the King of Bollywood and one of the most charismatic actors of all time. From his success story to all the roles he has played, he is the absolute favourite of one and all. Growing up watching Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghum, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Mohabbatein, Kal Ho Na Ho and so many more iconic movies taught us all some life lessons and had us drooling over SRK.

• Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik started his career as a member of one of the most famous boybands, One Direction (1D). As part-Asian, he has a major fan-following from India and was the hearth-rob of all teenagers a few years ago. Apart from being a great singer, he is sweeter than strawberries with his fans who are extremely loyal to him. Even when he left One Direction, his fans didn’t leave him. 

• Robert Pattinson

Reading and watching the Twilight series, written by Stephanie Mayor, was one of my favourite past times. The primary reason why I sat through all 4 movies was Robert Pattinson, playing the role of Edward Cullen and the secondary was Taylor Lautner. Losing myself in the fantasy land of vampires and werewolves was how I spent my breaks in school and at home. 

• Zac Efron

The most famous teenage movie, High School Musical was watched by basically every school-goer in the late 2000s. That’s where our journey of love for Zac Efron began. The sequels of High School Musical were loved by all. All of us have supported and admired him from his first movie to the most recent ones, like Baywatch and The Greatest Showman. We have a special connection with him because it felt like we grew up with him. 

• Hrithik Roshan

His dance moves and amazing chemistry with all his co-stars always leave us wanting more. The diversity of the roles he has played in the past 20 years is astonishing. Watching his movies, from Koi Mil Gaya and Dhoom2 to Jodhaa Akbar, in theatres and then gushing all about them with our friends brightened our childhoods. 

Every year, if not every month, we find a new celebrity and fall head over heels for them. But the most impactful are the ones we love in our teenage life. Let’s revisit these memories and cherish them for life. 

Best vacation places in India

India is the best example for the proverb unity in diversity. India has vast number of religions, speaks vast number of languages. Every state is different from its religion, language, culture, food, etc. So, every Indian will have a desire to make a trip to different states and explore everything there. Now, let us see some of the best amo g the best vacation places in India.

Alleppey

Alleppey is located in Kerala. Kerala has the highest literacy rate in India. Kerala has different nicknames-God’s Own Country, Spice garden of India, Land of Coconuts, land of Trees, etc. Kerala is the beautiful state and the Alleppey of Kerala is the most beautiful. It is the highly recommended vacation place in India. One thing that can be assured for sure is no one will be disappointed by Alleppey.

Coorg

Coorg is located in Karnataka. Karnataka must be the favourite for everyone. The state is full of greenery. Irrespective of the season, the state will always be raining. We can have more fun in Coorg. The places we can visit there are – Abbi falls, Madikeri, Omkareshwara Temple and list continues like this. The Madikeri Hill Station in Coorg, Karnataka is known as the Kashmir of South India. If you plan for a trip then Coorg is recommended to be first in your list.

Dharamshala

Dharamshala, city in Himachal Pradesh, is the simple and peaceful city. It will be the best vacation place for peace and nature lovers. There are several places in the city to explore. Some of them are -Tsuglagkhang Complex, Masrur, McLeod Ganj, Kareri Lake, etc. There are lot more adventures can be done in Dharamshala especially in Kareri lake.

Nainital

A trip without being visited Nainital won’t be a complete trip for sure. Nainital is located in Uttrakhand. It is the most loveable place for everyone. Moreover, it is the famous hill station in Uttrakhand. There are several places that Nainital serves you to explore and enjoy. Naini Lake, Nainital ropeway, Naini Devi, etc. We can enjoy boating in Naini Lake.

Manali

Manali is one of the coldest places of India. There are some states in India in which summer is unbearable. Manali would be the best vacation place for those tests. It is a peaceful city. There are several activities can be done and enjoy in Manali, River Rafting, Paragliding, Hadimba Devi Temple, Skiing, Trekking, etc. So, Manali is best for adventures. It would be the best vacation place to visit with friends.

Shimla

shimla is a cold place, located in Himachal Pradesh. There shall mostly be no limit to explain the beauty of Shimla. Shimla is famous Hill station in Himachal Pradesh. There are several places to visit in Shimla – The Ridge, Jakhoo Hill, Mall Road, Kalka–Shimla Railway, Christ Church, etc.

Darjeeling

Darjeeling is such a beautiful city about which introduction can’t be done with small words. It is the famous and popular Hill stations of India. The climate in Darjeeling will be almost same in all seasons. We will love visiting Darjeeling any time. The best places to be visited in Darjeeling are Tiger Hill, Batasia Loop, Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park, Himalayan Railway Station, Nightingale Park, Tinchuley, Chowrasta and so on.

This list will go on like this. Some of the places in India can’t be explained in words. So explore India.

India is a rich in religions country. The beauty of this country is enormous. The unity among Indians can’t be explained in words. There is a lotto explore and enjoy in India.

Contemporary International Relations

International relations have been a subject of fascination for most of us, the subject brings us into the different kinds of relations countries shared across the world. But have we ever stopped to think, why we should learn about international relations? Not really. International relations is a vast subjects, its main focus is on the relations shared between the different countries.

Its primary focus is to maintain peace and prosperity across the world. In international relations, peace is indivisible. The core objective of International Relation is to minimize the causes of war and create conditions for peace. We all are human beings, it is in the nature of human beings to share different and radical perspectives on the same thing, but what we should all focus is the need to eradicate a condition that can be a threat to our peace and prosperity.

An important objective introduced in the International Relations is the ‘Logic of Deterrence’. This logic was put into act during the cold war time. The time after World War II saw a lot of changes in the international system. There was an existence of two super powers, US and USSR.  There was tension between these countries and it has led to many proxy wars in other countries. But US and USSR never waged a war against each other, this was due to the logic of deterrence, both of the countries know that they have enough weapons to harm each other, and that there will no winner left standing. It could result in a lot of deaths without having a purpose and so they avoided a civil war at any cost, but it never stopped them from involving with other countries.

 The League of Nations was replaced by United Nations after 1945. This was because it couldn’t prevent the second world II. The UN was established with the motive of preventing any more world wars and in spreading conditions of peace and tranquility. The UN had five main members – US, USSR, France, UK and China. They were known as the big five and are the permanent members of the UN, while the others members of UN are temporary.  The landscape of International Relations has changed across the times, from the disintegration of Soviet Union to globalization paved its way.

Contemporary shape of the international relations has been a collective result of the following three factors. Firstly, with the disintegration of the soviet union, there was only one super power, it was the US. Times after was the US Hegemony, other countries and states were afraid of US. Countries who were not even part of the both the alliances were also very careful to keep themselves out of the way of US.

Second reason was the widespread ideology of liberalism. With communism out of the match, liberalism was seen as a better ideology across the world. Now countries were close to each other for economic reasons rather than political or cultural reasons. One of the example is the Look East Policy by the countries of South East Asia. Sometimes countries are forced into being slaves, not as colonies but in a new term called as neo-colonialism.

And finally, with an increase in the connections across the countries, it has put into effect a set of undesirable changes. Some countries had problems of their own and soon that become problems of other nations too, like terrorism, environmental issues etc. Globalization has set into motion a chain irreversible change. As globalization has set in, it gave a lot of opportunities as well as challenges too. It has become so much important to study about these in our day to day lives.

What Exactly is Adrenaline??

Ever heard of the term ‘adrenaline pumped through my veins’ in the stories and novels?What does this ‘adrenaline’ mean? What exactly does this fluid do? Well, carry on!

  • What Is Adrenaline

Basically, adrenaline is a hormone which is secreted by your body from the adrenal glands. What is a hormone?  Simply explaining a hormone is a ‘regulatory substance’ made by any living being and is taken towards the blood or other fluids to balance out specific cells or many tissues ‘into action.Where are the adrenal glands situated?The adrenal glands are situated just above our kidneys. The hormone pumps through our veins, when  we are anxious, filled with fear,  nervous, or in major danger. Adrenaline is our body’s response to danger. Adrenaline does not have any addictive property. Adrenaline is a condition when our body has to do something in which we feel strong emotions like excitement , fear, anxiety, nervousness and when you face some difficult and life threatening emotions.  Which means that this hormone helps us to react to these emotions  in a better and quicker way.The chemical formula of adrenaline is C9H13NO3.This hormone contains something called adrenergic receptors. The adrenal gland not only secretes adrenaline,but also many hormones like aldosterone(steroid- regulation of salt and water which effects blood pressure hormone),cortisole (stress hormone)and noradrenaline( with adrenaline, these both incrwase the blood pressure and the heart rate). The glands are actually controlled  by another gland named the pituitary gland. You might have heard in dramas when surgeons shout to give a dose of Epinepherine. Yes, that’s right, it’s only the an other name of adrenaline itself. Adrenaline is a hormone. It is released when we are only granted with two options, either fight, or run.

Photo By Leon Macapagal

  • Why are they secreted?

What is the reason of the secretion of this hormone though? So the initial reason for adrenaline rush is,Suppose you are facing a wild animal, let it be a tiger. What possible options do you have? 1. Either run so hard that, keeping in mind to not leave any trails.  2. Tackle the tiger.

This situation is called fight or flee situation. Adrenaline triggers this response. When the fluid pumps through your brain, the reaction makes the following changes in your body. Your body sweats up as well, just one of the things adrenaline rush does:

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto 

i) Makes or triggers the blood vessel’s contraction and sort of  makes it so that the blood vessels redirect themselves towards the muscle region. 

ii) The blood vessels also reorientation itself towards the lungs and heart

iii) Naturally, this results in an increased heart rate.

iv) What is the purpose of our heart? To circulate blood, right? So when adrenaline pump increases your heart rate, it will also double your blood flow.

v)When adrenaline is released, the body’s pain sensory receptors also get decreased.

vi) Makes it so that, your awareness level increases.

vii) Your pupils get dilated and you have a better sense of vision

viii) Improves your memory.

Photo by Wojtek Pacześ from Pexels

Adrenaline makes us survive through life threatening situations, where we are supposed to make rapid and immediate decision and even that decision should be utterly perfect.

The adrenaline rush uses sugar, kind of like a fuel to run the body with these functions. But keep in mind, this only happens till there is the effect of adrenaline in your body. Research says that the effect can stay upto about 1 hour

  • How does one experiences adrenalinal rush?

Your brain is classified into three parts. a) The thinking brain. b) The emotional brain. c)The action brain. Brain is a very interesting concept to study. Unfortunately though, for now we are only interested in the emotional brain .( aww, don’t worry, I’ll work up to let you know more about our brain in the future articles!) The emotional brain is known as amygdala. It is the only reason why you feel various emotions like guilt, happiness etc. ( Me: I hate you, amygdala for wrecking my thinking with all these complex emotions!!

Amygdala: Great! The feelings are mutual.

Me: Come here you little peice of- )

Anyways, the when you are in one of the strong emotions (with reference to the second paragraph of the article) ,the signals are sent to the amygdala, and amygdala transfers these signals to another part of the brain, called the hypothalamus ( commanding system or the action brain – communicates through the nervous system) signals the adrenal glands, making these glands release the hormones(adrenaline) into our blood flow. Many other changes occur in the body due to adrenaline.These ‘bodily changes’ make the movements of our body faster. According to a site, this process happens very fast.

  • How is Adrenaline used as a medication

Epinephrine or adrenalin is another term for adrenaline. Epinephrine is injected into your body. The supplement works similar to the natural process. It is contained in a liquid form. The liquid is initially, to be injected into the muscles. The injection is used for allergic reaction, slow heart rate. Epinephrine is strictly to be injected as per needs. Any more or any less is extremely dangerous. Do not use Epinephrine is you do not have proper knowledge about it (seriously, don’t). But if Epinephrine is dangerous, as a medication, is our  (constant) natural adrenaline rush dangerous? No…..right?

Excessive adrenaline rush is not good for your health.  Therefore we are always advised to not take a lot of load on our heads at once. This results in complex emotions, adrenaline rushes and the process occurs. Thankfully though, our body is very smart. As fast as the adrenaline is secreted, it is also naturally deaminated by our body. But really, hold on right there,go somewhere where you can get fresh air, and BREATHE!  You’ve done a great work until now! 

Fact- The detailed understanding of these hormones is really complex. Infact, it has its own branch of science- Endocrinology

FREELANCING (PROS & CONS)

Nobody likes the taunt of boss, getting suited up eveyday, handling workloads and facing the office politics. So is there any other option ? Yes, freelancing flexible working hours, probably working from the comfort of home, no extra workload, being your own boss, no formals on weekdays, no hectic schedule these are all benefits which come along with freelancing. So the next question hits in mind is what does it take to be a freelancer? A HIGH DEMAND SKILL that’s all. Bring on your laptop or desktop and start earning. ?..well that’s not that easy getting success as a freelancer requires a degree of patience, hard work and perseverance now these words are easy to read but following them is very tough.

As a freelancer you are not going to get projects and contracts from day 11.as a beginner you will not have a strong network of potential clients who will give you business on a regular basis. Well many businesses hire freelancer according to their need and requirements. So what are the skills that can make you a freelancer? Checkout below.

  1. Web&andriod development
  2. Graphics designing
  3. Digital marketing
  4. Customer support service
  5. Data entry
  6. Accounting
  7. Virtual assistant
  8. Legal advising
  9. Content and copywriting

and other skills which are required by any business can be useful in freelance career. Many freelancers master more than one skills.

ADVANTAGES

  1. Flexible working hours
  2. Being your own boss
  3. No extra workload
  4. Freedom
  5. Personal life balance
  6. No office politics

DISADVANTAGES

  1. Lack of stability
  2. Deadlines
  3. Marketing yourself
  4. No professional life
  5. No weekly offs
  6. No job allowanes

Women Empowerment – SERIOUSLY?

You speak too much,does not suit you as a woman. Oh! the length of your skirt,way too small.You being too frank with men,let me judge you first. You are so ambitious, doesen’t meet my MALE EGO. Come back early,it is not SAFE or maybe because you are a WOMAN. Bla!Bla!Bla! And oh, this society talks about WOMEN EMPOWERMENT. Where a woman can still not make her own choices, Where she still does not get the same oppurtunity as men for education.Where a woman is objectified. Her body is objectified. Where a woman can not say NO! Where her place is still in the kitchen . And they will empower her ? HUMOROUS.

This male dominated society is still not okay with women reaching heights. I don’t say all of them ,but a majority of them. A husband can still not digest the fact that his wife is earning more. Or the education of a boy still remains Important for most of the societies. The safety level is still 0 . I don’t blame the fathers who are still afraid to send their daughters alone for a night out. Because, they are just being protective. Their heart gets frightened and this is all because of the increase in women assault,molestation and rape news that we daily hear and read. From a 6 month infant to a 96 year old lady .NOBODY IS SAFE. And no laws are able to provide Women the amount of safety they need.

A society in which Domestic Violence is at it’s worst . Especially ,during the pandemic where the cases of domestic violence has risen at 10 year high during the lockdown. Women are brutally beaten by their husbands and bruised. Some raise their voices but other just swallow their anger and rage,because they are helpless on their part. There are times when a woman is employed and assaulted by the boss. Even in the film industry,where the word “CASTING COUCH” is very famous.

There is no more of dowry system,is just a myth. There are still a lot of families where dowry still exists. Love marraige is still a myth for a girl to do or for that sake live in relationships. They worship goddess Lakshmi,but they forget to respect their mothers, wives,their daughters, their female friends or colleagues.

Men tend to forget there is no society without a woman. A house is called a “HOME” when a woman makes it one. Respect women .

The new syllabus will be taught from 2022 : PM

“Marksheet has become ‘Prestige Sheet’, New Education Policy will get children out of the race of marks.”

Amid preparations for implementation of the National Education Policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 11th September, 2020 made it clear that from the year 2022, the students will be studying from the curriculum being prepared under the new education policy. Referring to the current problems of the education system, the PM said that a big problem is that instead of learning based education in our country, the education system with marks and marksheets dominates. The truth is that the marksheet has now become the mental pressure sheet and the family’s prestige sheet, that is, it has become a question of prestige. In a virtual address to the two-day conference of teachers associated with school education in the 21st century, the Prime Minister said that removing children from the stress of education is one of the main objectives of the National Education Policy. He said that the exam should be done in such a way that students do not have to be unnecessarily pressurized. At the same time, efforts should also be made not to evaluate the students from one examination only, but to have different aspects of their development. This is the reason why the National Education Policy has proposed a report card covering all aspects of students in place of marksheet, which will include the student’s specific ability, capability, attitude, talent, skill, overall efficiency etc. “When we celebrate the completion of 75 years of independence, students will move towards a new future with a new curriculum.” This course will be visionary, futuristic and scientific. At the same time, the PM also replied to those who questioned the language and said that here we need to understand that language is the medium of education. Finally, the Government has taken a great step for taking forward the country’s education system.

Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told- Why we had to bring a new education policy

During this time, the PM also explained the reason behind the National Education Policy. He said that every region of the world has changed in the last three decades, every system has changed. There is hardly any aspect of life in these three decades that is the same as before. But what had not changed was our education system. It was running on the old pattern. Changing the old education system was as important as changing a spoiled black board.

A punished victim : Medusa

Since the days of early Western civilization, when myths were forged in fire and stone, society has been fascinated with the ancient Greek imagination. Tales of gods, Titans, and giants fill children’s fairy tales, while a variety of mythological monsters have captivated viewers on the big screen. No female character, however, is perhaps as popular as Medusa, the monster who could turn men to stone with a single glance.

Some versions of the story claim that Medusa went from being a beautiful woman into the famous monster, whose eyes sparkled with light that, when you looked at them, they turned you into stone. It was all due to Athena’s anger; she was a warrior goddess with the gifts of strategy, wisdom, and ability.

Medusa’s beauty dazzled Poseidon, who then seduced her. But when he saw that his interest was not reciprocated, the god of the sea attacked her and raped her inside a temple devoted to Athena, which awakened her anger. After that offense, Athena punished Medusa and turned her into a heartless monster, with snakes instead of hair, and gave her the curse of turning into stone whoever looked at her.

Medusa was exiled and sent to live in the hyperborean lands, where she discovered that she was pregnant after Poseidon’s attack. This situation fueled Athena’s anger, who immediately asked for Medusa to be killed.

Perseus, son of Zeus and the mortal Danae, was in charge of making Athena’s order come true. Wearing a pair of winged sandals given to him by Hermes and a bright shield, he waited for Medusa to fall asleep. With the help of his winged sandals, he hovered over Medusa and cut off her head. When Medusa was decapitated, the giant Crisaor and the winged horse Pegasus came out of her neck; they were the offspring that resulted from Poseidon’s rape.

Unlike other figures of Greek mythology, most of us know Medusa—even if we can’t recall the details of her myth. A quick character sketch might well include snakes, deadly eyes, and a taste for destruction.

The patriarchal tendency to punish the victim of rape rather than the perpetrator has, as we can see in the myth of Medusa, ancient origins.

One of the messages in the myth, the real story of Medusa, is her powerlessness as a woman. In neither her rape or its consequences does she have any agency. She has no choice but to submit to the hand of fate.

Medusa is silent in the myth.

She’s blamed for the sexual violence dispensed to her. There is no mention of her suffering, no discourse on her trauma. This reflects the true experience of many women forced to submit to sexual violence. Many women report feelings of self-hatred and self-blame after the experience of rape, and that they cannot, dare not, speak out against their aggressors.

What’s clear from the changing faces of Medusa is that there is no universal truth to her myth. Beautiful victim, monstrous villain, powerful deity—she’s all of those things, and more besides. Perhaps it’s that mercurial nature that makes her an endless source of fascination. She is, in a sense, a site for our collective projections of both fear and desire: simultaneously a symbol of women’s rage and a figure sexualized by the very patriarchal forces she is seeking vengeance against.

Fashion Forecasting…

Fashion trends are influenced by several factors including political, economical, social and technological. There are aristocratic fashions, film-style fashions, peasant class fashions and a kind of fashion known as maverick fashion. Naturally, fashion is related to dress and manners. Fashion changes with winds of time very fast. This can be seen from vast difference between how people used to dress before and now. In earlier days, it used to be very different in metros and small towns due to the growth of social media, online shopping facilities, mall culture etc. We have adopted fashion in each step of our life. It is our nature to adopt new and beautiful things because old things have lost their importance. Just like this, we adopt new fashion with the change of time.

WGSN (World Global Style Network) is a trend forecasting company. Its trend forecasting service includes what’s new and next in apparel, beauty, colour, marketing, retail and wearables.

https://www.wgsn.com/en/

Fashion Forecasting

This is the important part of fashion scenario because when any new garment is designed by the designer and worn, it will not create fashion by itself. It needs the media to spread fashion and this media which spread fashion and gets the fame and name to the designers is Fashion Forecasting. Fashion Forecasting is done through many communicating media such as cinema, fashion shows, press, magazines, newspapers and window display.

It includes following

•Gather cultural and social insights

Fashion Forecasting relies on a wealth of social and cultural information to make to make predictions about where consumer tastes will head. To cover all the bases, fashion forecasters often bring together groups of professionals from various backgrounds for brainstorming sessions.

•Market surveys and consumer research

By asking consumers directly what they would buy, how much they would pay and where they look to find fashion direction, forecasters can better gauge the marketplace for fashion buyers.

•Track social media and internet action Forecasters spend a considerable amount of time tracking what’s being looked at online and who’s doing the looking.

•Fast fashion to satisfy consumer desires

Fashion shows and the latest trends are widely available yo the public via multiple mass media platforms. That’s why consumers demand the latest runway designs immediately after viewing them.

In response to this desire for instant gratification, fashion manufacturers have developed a strategy called ‘fast fashion’. Fashion Forecasting is done where crowd is formed on such occasion, so that it can create fashion.

Thank you for reading. Have a nice day!

A temporary peace

After a long period of worsening tensions on the contested Himalayan border, the countries India and China have surprised everyone by announcing that their troops are to quickly extricate.

A marathon meeting between Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow has been followed by this announcement. It came despite the regular eloquence between the nuclear-armed neighbors, that had suggested increasing bitterness.

Earlier, in this week, China’s state-run Global Times had said Chinese troops would “quickly deal a heavy blow to Indian troops, and they will be all annihilated” if Delhi provoked a war.

India also had upped the ante, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saying “there should be no doubt” about the country’s resolve to protect its territorial integrity.

The statements reflected the reality on the ground : a hostile face-off between troops.

In June they fought a deadly clash in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley with clubs and stones leaving 20 soldiers dead. Both countries still have a huge development in the region where they have overlapping territorial claims ; and overcoming their differences will not be easy.

‘Ice breaker’ envoy

Many observers, including Michael Kugelman, deputy director at the Wilson Center think-tank, believe that both countries were ready for a confrontation, but they also realised that a war even a limited one , was not an option.

It would have been catastrophic for both countries and the wider region. The economic stakes were too high to risk a war,” he said.

The fact that Mr Jaishankar served as ambassador in Beijing for many years and is known to share good relations with Chinese diplomats appears to have helped.

It did break the ice, Mr Kugelman says, adding that personal relations often play a role in crucial diplomatic negotiations.

India-China border dispute explained in 400 words
Rivals race to build along a disputed frontier
China and India face off on the roof of the world
Weather, an unlikely factor, may have also played a role. The higher ridges of the Galwan Valley become inhospitable in winters.

Lieutenant General (retired) Vinod Bhatia, who served in the Indian army, says troops are used to operating in harsh conditions, but “given a chance, both armies would want to avoid that”.

Reports also suggest that Indian troops recently occupied some ridges overlooking Chinese posts. Neither country has officially confirmed the reports.

“India may have used this advantage as a bargaining chip,” Lt-Gen Bhatia adds.

Both countries also have many other crises to deal with. India’s Covid-19 caseload continues to rise at an alarming rate and its economy is suffering. Any armed confrontation would affect the country’s ability to overcome these issues.

China, meanwhile, has tensions with the US and a host of other countries to deal with, as well as global condemnation of its controversial security law in Hong Kong.

How soon could peace be restored?

Yun Sun, director of the China Programme at the Stimson Center think-tank in Washington, says the joint declaration lacks details.

Firstly, it doesn’t mention the Line of Actual Control (LAC) – the de facto boundary separating the countries.

“Several points along the LAC are contentious where troops are still stationed, so there is no clarity on the resolution of these issues,” she says.
De-escalation takes time, says Lt-Gen Bhatia, and it will take longer in the current scenario.

“The area is too big and it will take time for commanders to come to an understanding. The military-level talks will happen when tensions are still high and emotions are raw,” he says.

Both countries want to maintain the status quo. And that is tricky, says Ms Yun, because the two sides define the status quo differently.

“Chinese troops have gone deep into the territory India claims, and there is no clarity if they will vacate those positions.”

What caused the escalation will also determine how quickly disengagement can happen. A major factor cited as a source of tension is a new road that connects Indian army stations in the region to a forward air base.

But Ms Yun believes the road can’t be the only source because its construction took 20 years and “it wasn’t a secret”.
She believes many factors, including India’s controversial decision to revoke a law that gave special status to the region and Washington’s improving relations with Delhi, played a role.

“Beijing felt punishing India will give a warning to Delhi and Washington at the same time. But what they did not calculate was that India will refuse to back down,” she says.

China has been in diplomatic confrontation with a number of countries since US officials accused it of not controlling the coronavirus outbreak effectively
So, they became more aggressive, she says, adding that this was reflected in the statements of Beijing officials in recent days. Aggression has been a key factor in China’s foreign policy – particularly in recent months. And Chinese state media often remind the country’s neighbours of its superior military might.

This happened during the stand-off with India as well – but only in the past few days.

Officials in Delhi and Beijing were largely restrained in their comments in June and July, even after the Galwan clash that left the Indian soldiers dead.

Mr Kugleman says this was because they didn’t want to undo PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s efforts in improving relations. The two have met 18 times since Mr Modi came to power in 2014.

“But it all came undone in recent days, and now it will be interesting to see how China and India sell the announcement to their people,” he says.

Ms Yun says China will find it tricky to reverse the rhetoric because “it can’t come across as weak or bullied by India”.

Resolving these core issues, including unsettled disputes going back decades, along the LAC that stretches for 3,440km (2,100 miles), will not be resolved in a few days.

“So, it’s a good start,” Mr Kugleman says. “Talks are better than no talks, but we just have to be cautiously optimistic.”

Communist China & Democratic India: Both are Now Equally Powerful

This is wonderful news that “China and India have pledged to enhance mutual trust to ensure peace along their disputed borders in their first formal agreement since June, with Beijing saying the two nations were not a threat to each other. The pledge came as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met for the first time since their border stand-off turned deadly in June, leaving 20 Indian soldiers dead and an unknown number of casualties on the Chinese side” (South China Morning Post, 11/9/2020). Also as per news item, “the two foreign ministers agreed that the stand-off was “not in the interest of either side,” according to a joint statement released following their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Moscow”.

No rational person in the world desires war as war causes mass destruction, loss of human lives etc. Anyway China is unpredictable as 1962 incident no Indians can forget. Pt. Nehru’s hands of friendship they repaid through war by killing many Indian soldiers. I feel China is dominated by Han (more than 90 percent) and not like Indian society which is totally pluralistic society. I feel so much diversity, as observed in India, in no country can be seen. Anyway, communist leaders of China never tolerate any criticism which many Chinese persons told me when I visited China. Against the back drop, Indian society is different, more liberal and fully democratic. For instance, Indian Communist leader, Late Jyoti   Basu immediately after the 1962 war, proclaimed publicly at a rally “China cannot be the aggressor” which cannot be from a leader.  Jyoti Basu was the son of a physician, and enjoyed an affluent childhood. He studied in Calcutta (now Kolkata), at St. Xavier’s School and Presidency College, before moving to London in 1935 to complete his law education. His only son is a big businessman. 

   Now the leaders of China should understand by their imperialist attitude many countries are against them “the United States Department of Commerce blacklisted 24 Chinese state-owned companies, including five CCCC dredging subsidiaries, for their roles in helping the Communist Party “militarise” outposts in the contested South China Sea” ( South China Morning Post, 31/8/2020).

The horrible behaviour of Chinese leaders towards Muslims of Uyghurs /Uigurs is known to all in the world. It is pertinent to mention that the Uyghurs are native to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwest China. They are one of China’s 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities. According to the website, http://www.wbur.org/ uighur-muslims-china-human-rights/15 July 2020, “The Trump administration imposed sanctions on three senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party over the alleged treatment of Uighurs, a Muslim ethnic minority”. “The U.S. State Department estimates at least 1 million Uighurs have been detained and forced to work in internment camps. There are also allegations that detained Uighurs are being forced to make products that U.S. consumers are buying, including 13 tons of human hair for weaves and wigs that were seized earlier this month”.

In present days we have been observing different Communist China, presently international community blaming China because of COVID-19, economy of China is in recession stage, unemployment has been scaling up etc. To justify the same, few lines from the newspaper, South China Morning Post (SCMP, 20/2/2020) are presented here,  “Coronavirus costs keep mounting for manufacturers, who are facing huge losses in sales and struggling to ramp up production. If such losses take place then there will be negative effect in the economy and poor Multiplier Effect meaning more unemployment, less purchasing power of the people, and finally a sort of “Vicious Circle of Poverty” qualitatively may operate”. 

Hope good sense will prevail among the leaders of China. And they will follow the theory of Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai.

Dr Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad