Category: World

Flood

Flood is a type of natural hazard, affecting humans and natural habitats, or even killing them. A flood can also cause severe damage to homes, factories, places in public, etc. Initially, the trees in the forest should not be cut down unethically because they can cause many human disasters, which include flooding. A flood occurs; therefore, it is not possible to absorb the rainwater in the plant root, so water flows directly.

Secondly, in our properties, in the desert field and along the side of the road, we can plant any plants so that the plant root can quickly suck up the water. It provides other incentives, such as reducing air contamination and embracing the ‘Go Green’ Global Warming and Climate Change Policy on our Planet. The last thing is that we should not throw waste anywhere to disturb the flow of the river. In Jakarta, for example, people want to dump the trash somewhere as in the canal, and also in the drainage, resulting in flooding every year. In many other places, such as Situ Gintung and Wasior, the other flood is because people like to throw waste anywhere. By doing that, we can minimize disasters and contribute to defending our environment. So, we have to keep our environment clean.

Flood is one of the most dangerous natural disasters. It happens when excessive water is collected in any area. It usually happens due to heavy rainfall. India is highly prone to flood. There are many regions in the country that face this natural disaster because of the overflowing of rivers. Moreover, it also happens because of the melting of snow. Another reason for floods is when the dam breaks down. If we look at the coastal areas, the hurricanes and tsunamis are held responsible for causing floods. In this essay on flood, we will see the prevention and after-affect of flood.

In other words, whatever the cause may be, it is equally dangerous. It has a lot of harmful consequences. Flood damages the living conditions and it takes a lot of time to recover from this disaster. Therefore, the consequences of floods must be known and steps must be taken to prevent it.

After-effects of Flood

Floods interrupt with the day to day functioning of the affected area. The severe floods sometimes cause mass destruction. A lot of people and animals lose their lives due to floods. Several others are injured. Floods also bring a rise in diseases. The stagnant water attracts mosquitoes causing malaria, dengue, and more illnesses.

Furthermore, people face power cuts due to the danger of electrocution. They also have to face expensive pricing. As the supply of food and goods gets limited, the prices naturally grow higher. This creates a big problem for the common man.

Most importantly, the whole country faces economic loss. The resources needed to rescue people and tackle this disaster demands a hefty amount. Plus, the citizens lose their houses and cars which they worked all their lives for.

Subsequently, floods also hamper the environment. It causes soil erosion and this degrades the quality of the soil. We lose out on fertile soil. Similarly, floods also damage flora and fauna. They damage crops and displace trees. Thus, the measure should be taken to avoid these grave consequences.

Ways to Prevent flood

The government and citizens must work together to formulate ways to prevent floods. Proper awareness must be spread about the steps to take when floods occur. Warning systems must be set up so people get sufficient time to save themselves. In addition, areas that are more likely to have floods must have tall buildings above the flood level.

Further, there should be an efficient system for storing excessive water due to rain. This will prevent the overflowing of water. One of the most important steps is to strengthen the drainage system. This can avoid water logging which will prevent floods.

Other than that, dams must be constructed strongly. The use of cheap materials causes dams to break. The government must ensure there is a quality building of dams to prevent floods.

In short, we cannot prevent natural causes like rain and the melting of glaciers. However, we can stop the manmade causes like breaking of dams, poor drainage system, installing warning systems and more. We should take inspiration from countries like Singapore that never experience floods despite having heavy rainfall for most time of the year.

Photo by hitesh choudhary on Pexels.com

Some Healthy Vegetables

Everyone wants to live a healthy life & to live like that you have to know the ways for being healthy .Food takes a great role in this case .As you know vegetables are very nutritious & it keeps us healthy .Some vegetables have much nutrition value than other vegetables .Come & take a look at them .

Spinach

1.SPINACH : Spinach is a greeny & leafy vegetable .It’s origin is Persia .

Scientific Name — Spinacia  oleracea is its scientific name .

This vegetable is very nutritious & it often is eaten as salads or juice .It can be eaten in both ways, raw & cooked .

Spinach salad

Nutrients — 100 gm of raw spinach contain 3.6 gm Carbohydrates ,2.9 gm Proteins ,2.2 gm Dietary  Fibers ,0.4 gm sugars (as the form of Glucose & Fructose) ,0.4 gm Fat ,0.18 mg Vitamin B2 ,0.73 mg Vitamin B3 ,0.19 mg Vitamin B6 , 99 mg Calcium ,2.7 mg Iron ,79 mg Magnesium ,79 mg sodium , 558 mg potassium , 49 mg phosphorus .  It also contains Folate ,Vitamin E ,vitamin K , Vitamin A ,Vitamin B1 ,Vitamin B2 ,Zinc , Manganese ,zeaxanthin, lutein  etc. Spinach Also contains 91.4 mg water . It gives away 97 kilo joule energy .

Benefits — 1)It prevents ageing effect by preventing the free radicals from oxidation  of our body cells . 2)The carotenoids in spinach improves our retina, that’s why it is good for our eye health . 3)Vitamin K  which is present in spinach , helps in  blood clotting . 4) The nitrates of spinach keep the marginal level of blood pressure and prevent heart diseases . 5)Some research shows that spinach also fights against cancer .

Bell peppers

2.BELL PEPPER : It Is a very crunchy and tasty vegetable and full of Nutrition . It comes with various colours like green red yellow orange and also in purple . 

4 Common Color of Bell Pepper

Scientific Name —  Capsicum  annuum  is its biological species name .

some other colors of Bell peppers

It Is eaten in a cooked manner but it also can be eaten raw in salad .

Bell pepper salad
Bell pepper recipe

Nutrients —  red ,yellow, green, purple, orange And other various colored bell peppers have the same nutrients .100 gram bell pepper have 6 gram carbohydrate , 42 grams sugar ,1 gram protein ,2.1 g Fibers , 0.3 gram fat ,0.05 mg Vitamin B1, 0.48 mg vitamin B3 , 80 mg Vitamin C , 0.2 mg Vitamin B6 , 10 mg calcium,10 mg magnesium , 20 mg phosphorus , Free mg zinc ,0.3 mg iron ,175 mg Potassium etc. It also contains some amounts of vitamin B2 , Folate , phosphorus , Vitamin K ,Vitamin B9 , vitamin E ,many antioxidants(zeaxanthin, lutein) .Yellow and Orange wallpaper contains carotenoids & many other nutrients . It contains 92% water .It gives us 84 kilo joule energy.  Benefits — 1) zeaxanthin, lutein ,Vitamin A, Vitamin K , Vitamin C  work as antioxidants for our body . 2) Bell peppers help to prevent anemia Due to the presence of Vitamin C & iron . 3) The continents of bell peppers are good for our eye health . 4)Bell peppers help in metabolism by raising up the body temperature and kick out the toxins from our body . 5)Bell peppers are also good for our respiratory system like lungs & other parts .

Sea weed

3.SEA WEEDS : Seaweeds are produced from algae (green algae or Chlorophyta ,Brown algae or Phaeophyceae ,Red algae or Rhodophyta etc) which are found in the sea . It is eaten cooked in salad & soup .Various types of seaweeds are available based on from which algae it is produced .

Dried sea weed

Nutrients — Seaweeds are a very good source of vitamins and minerals . It contains proteins, iron , and copper carbohydrate fibre in high amounts . It has very low calories . As for vitamins riboflavin , vitamin A ,Vitamin C ,vitamin E, vitamin K and many essential amino acids are present in Seaweeds .It also has many antioxidants . various seaweed units contain various amounts of nutrients ,carbohydrates ,fibers ,polyunsaturated fatty acids etc.

Sea weed recipe

Benefits —  1) sea weeds are very good for our gut health . 2) It is a diet vegetable which helps to to lose weight . 3) It controls the blood sugar level in our blood . 4) It also helps to prevent heart diseases and protect our cardiovascular system . 5)Seaweed also has a very important role in our body’s thyroid function .

Brussels sprouts

4.BRUSSELS SPROUTS : It is a green vegetable & it looks like a small ball of cabbage .

Vegetable Brussels Sprouts

Scientific Name — Brassica oleracea  is its species name . 

It can’t be eaten raw . 

Nutrients — 100 grams of brussel sprout contains 8.9 gram carbohydrate ,3.8 gm dietary fibers ,3.48 gram of protein , 0.1 mg of Vitamin B1, 0.7 mg of vitamin B3 , 0.3 mg of Vitamin B5 , 0.2 mg of Vitamin B6 , 85 mg of Vitamin C , 19 mg of choline , 42 mg calcium , 1 mg iron , 23 mg magnesium ,25 mg sodium ,389 mg potassium , 69 mg phosphorus 7 many other  nutrients and antioxidants .It gives 179 KJ energy & contain 86 gm water .

Cooked Brussels sprouts

Benefits — 1) Brussels sprouts fight against cancer & prevent it in our body . 2)It also helped by working on the reduction of inflammation in our body . 3) Brussel sprouts maintain the blood sugar level in our blood  and it is good for diabetes patients . 4) It helps to lose weight so it is a very good diet vegetable . 5) Brussels sprouts are good for blood clotting to lose more blood .

Another Key to Success : Consistency

 

We all know, what maintaining consistency can do when it comes to bringing change or achieving something. Maintaining consistency for some time in any work or process can do wonders for you. 

But, What does it mean to be consistent? 

When we say an individual is consistent, it means, that individual is clear on what he/she wants to achieve and is taking crucial steps to achieve his/her goals. The level of consistency we maintain reflects our values and standards. Being consistent means doing things that are required today to achieve a better tomorrow. Consistency is simply about doing things on repetition over a while to achieve desired results. 

Then, Why many of us fail to maintain consistency? 

Well, there are numerous reasons why many of us fail to maintain consistency. Mentioned below are some of them:-

★ Lack of patience.

★ The desire for instant gratification.

★ Lack of clarity and focus.

★ Not having supporting habits or triggers.

★ Having a “all or nothing” mindset.

Anthony Jay Robbins (an American author, coach, speaker, and philanthropist) said, “It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently.”

Why consistency is important? 

Knowing a few reasons will help you to give more attention to it. Mentioned below are five reasons why consistency is important:-

I) It will create accountability.

II) It will help you to stand out or be noticed. 

III) It develops discipline and self-control.

IV) It builds a higher level of trust.

V) It can help you fast-track your improvement or development in any area.

Ways to Develop Consistency

Although every individual has their their way of developing consistency. Mentioned below are some general ways to develop consistency:

I) Create a schedule or plan to stay on track.

II) Start with small steps.

III) Give yourself a break when you get off track.

IV) Start with small steps.

There are very low chances of achieving what we want without a proper strategy and consistency. In short, hard work and smart work together with consistency and the right attitude are the keys to success. 

Gender inequality

Gender inequality is the social process by which Mens, LGBTQ community and womens are not treated equally.

Gender equality is a human fight not a female fight.

Due to patriarchy many girls are hold back from striving for their dreams, receiving a quality education, medical facilities and overall awareness for their well being.

Everyday girls and boys see gender inequality in their homes, community, in textbooks, in media and among the adult.

Society assume an unequal responsibility for household work with mothers bearing the brunt of caregiving.

In schools, many girls receive less support than boys to pursue the studies they choose.

Rashida khatun says I realised the harm I would be causing myself if I agreed to get married. She in is enrolled in UNICEF supported program that provides out of school girls with basic numeracy, literacy and life skills.

Whenever we talk about gender inequality we always seems to focus on women but have anyone ever thought that what it’s like for men or LGBTQ community.

Gender equality, historically has been predominantly a women’s movement for women but I think the impact of gender inequality and how its affecting man hasn’t really been addressed.

– Emma Watson

  • Generally we see in our families that boys told to pursue maths in higher studies and girls were told to pursue Biology so that the male became engineer for female can be a doctor.
  • Whenever a boy wants to be a cook, singer, dancer he is being discouraged by society or his parent by saying that these are for girls.
  • It’s a perception in our patriarchal society that boys do not cry that the crime is only for girls.
    • Mens are stronger than women and they will never bow in front of anyone
    • That’s why mens will never admit their faults because they are meant to be dominant in this patriarchal society.
  • When a girl wanted to be an officer then she is being discouraged by the family by saying that this is the job for Boys.
  • The perception of our societies that the household works are made for womens .
  • If people see a girl with short hair, the peoples in society tends to point at her and think of her as a freak.
  • If a girl is not interested in cooking but she still has to do it and she is pressurized by the family and Society by saying that you have to go to someone’s home and you have to do it because it is made for you.

Let’s talk about LGBTQ community. It is is the second of three issues focused on social inequalities.

  • LGBTQ community faces gender inequality in their everyday life.
  • They face inequalities in employment, education, health, survival and political empowerment.
  • It is not the only way by which they faces social inequalities.
  • Lgbtq people faces housing discrimination and workplace discrimination.
  • They faces basic human right such as – marriage and family adoption.
  • They have been discarded from their homes at their birth. The only reason of this is that they are not a male or female.
  • Peoples doesn’t behave properly with them.

Is this what we called Gender Equality??

We blame society for gender inequalities and for everything but why we forget that society is because of us. we are the part of society and to change this society we have to change our own mentality.

Space Travel – Worth It??

With the rapid increase in technology and science, we are just inch away from low earth orbit tourism. In the matter of few years we will be able to tour not the whole world but the space too. People will have the opportunity to see the beautiful curvature of Earth. SpaceX, Axiom space and Boeing , are some of the projects , that are focusing on making space tourism possible in early 2022. All these developments seems so surreal and out of fantasy. Who would not like to see the Earth from up above??

Billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson has already successfully toured the space in their own built spacecraft,this year. With this, they have created the history in the era of space travel. Richard Branson’s company Virgin Galactic is also offering tourism tickets and so far 600 tickets have been sold. The list of people flying next year includes big celebrities like Tom Hunks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga.It is worth to know that the cost to travel is around $250000. Thus , only 0.1% of the richest shall have the privilege to travel.

Idea of travelling space is very fascinating but the cost ( not just the price) is equally disturbing. The amount of environmental damage ot will do is unfathomable.The amount of heat generates while launching these rockets is so large that it creates a pool of ozone layer on ground, which is dangerously harmful for every living being. Virgin Galactic spacecraft produces 12kg of CO2 each mile which is 60 times greater than normal flight, also the Nitrous Oxide released from these rockets are depleting the Ozone layer in atmosphere.While only the richest will be able to afford space tourism, the rest will have to bear its negative effects. So is it worth it??

After his space tour, Jeff Bezos said, “You can’t imagine how thin the atmosphere is when you see it from above”, this is very ironic. He also hinted on moving all the polluting industries into space. All these ideas are fantastic and appreciable but it is also true that execution of such ideas will take more than 10 to 20 years and by then space tourism will be on full swing.

Many climate activists are criticizing these three billionaire ( Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Richard Branson ) for their space race. Every climate activists are working so hard to reduce pollution and in this scenario inclusion of space tourism seems not so good idea for them.

Where To Invest Money?

Image result for where to invest money

Investing money has become very popular and more common nowadays since it sustains our future. There are innumerous ways through which we can invest money

Image result for where to invest money

Stock Market

Stock market is one of the most blooming field for investing money nowadays. You buy a number of shares of a company at a particular price at that time and if the company profits, the price of the shares rise and you can sell them and earn profit. There are risks involved in it since the company might go in loss. Therefore it becomes risky especially when you invest hefty amount.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies are one of the newest forms of investing money. They are digital currencies that allow people to send and receive funds without using a third party. Although there are more than 2,000 different cryptocurrencies in existence, Bitcoin is the most well-known, and carries the largest value. Their values can change in a similar way the stock market works.

Gold

It is an older form of an investment which purely depends on the supply demand. Therefore if the demand is more, its price will go up whereas if there is less demand the prices fall. Therefore it is wise to invest in gold only when the prices steeps down.

Real Estate

This type of investment requires hefty amount of money which involves buying properties at lesser rates and when the housing market shoots up, sell at higher rates. It is one of the most safest long term investment.

Mutual Funds

A mutual fund is a type of investment vehicle consisting of a portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities. Liquidity is high and tenor is open ended. You invest an amount into the mutual fund, and the fund will buy and sell stocks on your behalf. You’ll pay an annual fee for this.

Fixed Deposit

It is a traditional and safest form of investment that provides a relatively higher rate of interest as compared to savings account. It is very beneficial during long term investments.

A Memorable Spooky Experience.

Image Source- google.

Ok, i will narrate my experience you can decide whether it was paranormal or not. Sorry some of you may find it lengthy. I am a big believer of paranormal, and may be this is the reason that i have had a couple of paranormal experiences.

Who Knocks?’ ‘I who was beautiful Beyond all dreams to restore, I from the roots of the dark thorn am hither And knock on the door.’

Lines from Walter De La Mare’s The Ghost haunt my memory as I take a walk back to the past. People usually refer to the past as dead and buried. Is it really so?

It was a cold night in Deogarh, Jharkhand. I was in Class V then. We were supposed to go to a party at a friend’s house about one-and-a-half kilometres away. My mother was working in the local school. Mum and Dad were supposed to reach the house of Barry Uncle, our host while I was to be accompanied by our caretaker, Ramu.

It was a moonlit night. Deogarh is surrounded by lovely hills and trees. The silhouette of trees in the moonlight is one combination I love. Ramu had an upset stomach after eating thirty-seven pakoras the day before. So I was going alone but I did not feel lonely. The moon was travelling with me. I could see it moving across the branches as I walked. The gentle laughter of a lady suddenly pierced the charming silence of the night air.

Image Source- google.

A girl in bright red appeared suddenly, ‘Why do you keep looking up to your left while you walk?

I was looking at the moon,’ I answered, rather embarrassed at having my romance with the moon noticed.

The girl asked, You are going to the party, right?”

“How do you know?

“It is a small place. People know each other. I will give you company.”

“So kind of you.

So we talked, laughed and joked for the next twenty minutes. 1 noticed her carefully. Red blouse, red and white skirt, light make up, bright red shoes. A small red bag. The lipstick was a bit too bright. She had amazing grace in the way she walked. Her lively but gentle laughter had the freshness of a mountain spring. We were discussing hobbies. She said she liked collecting old photographs. Why old?’ I asked.

She looked at me queerly and answered, ‘Old photographs have lots of hidden and forgotten stories.

“All right, I said.

Barry Uncle’s house was decorated beautifully. Music and lights welcomed us. Suddenly, the girl stopped smiling. She turned around. ‘What is wrong?’ I asked her.

I prefer the moonlight. I will not go in,’ she said and started walking away.

At least take this jacket,’ I offered her. She was my height and I knew about chivalry. She gave me a mysterious smile, wore the jacket, and walked into the darkness.

In the party, I grooved to the music for some time. I needed to have a wash. While moving towards the washroom, I suddenly came across a photograph of Barry Uncle with the stranger I had just met. “That’s my niece, Mary. She died two years ago in a tragic accident,’ Barry Uncle said, with a note of sadness in his voice. She is buried in the graveyard behind St Michael’s Church,’ he added.

This is indeed an experience that I would not dare to forget……………….

Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon is a vast region that spans eight rapidly developing countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, an overseas territory of France.
The landscape contains:

  • One in ten known species on Earth
  • 1.4 billion acres of dense forests, half of the planet’s remaining tropical forests
  • 4,100 miles of winding rivers
  • 2.6 million square miles in the Amazon basin, about 40% of South America

There is a clear link between the health of the Amazon and the health of the planet. The rain forests, which contain 90-140 billion tons of carbon, help stabilize the local and global climate. Deforestation may release significant amounts of this carbon, which could have catastrophic consequences around the world.

The Amazon contains millions of species, most of them still undescribed, and some of the world’s most unusual wildlife. It is one of Earth’s last refuges for jaguars, harpy eagles, and pink river dolphins, and home to thousands of birds and butterflies. Tree-dwelling species include southern two-toed sloths, pygmy marmosets, saddleback and emperor tamarins, and Goeldi’s monkeys.

Macaw

The diversity of the region is staggering:

  • 40,000 plant species
  • 2,400 freshwater fish species
  • more than 370 types of reptiles
THREATS

Transportation and energy infrastructure are essential for national and regional development, but when they are poorly planned, negative impacts can exceed short-term benefits. For example, building new roads exposes previously inaccessible areas of forest to illegal and unsustainable logging. 

WWF works to promote best practices and decrease environmental damage from:

  • gold mining
  • oil exploration
  • illegal logging
  • overharvesting of fish and other aquatic species

There is high demand for the natural resources found in the Amazon, but weak law enforcement to safeguard them. In addition, inefficient extraction processes lead to the destruction of nature and wildlife. For example, some mining activities contribute to soil erosion and water contamination.

In recent times, warmer temperatures and less rainfall have produced droughts of historic proportions. The Amazon suffered its worst droughts of the last 100 years in 2005 and 2010. Long dry spells wither crops, decimate fisheries and lead to forest fires. This can result in significant shifts in the makeup of ecosystems and a loss of species. 

Snake Island

Ilha da Queimada Grande, also known as Snake Island, is an island off the coast of Brazil in the Atlantic Ocean. It is administered as part of the municipality of Itanhaém in the State of São Paulo. The island is small in size, only 43 hectares (106 acres), and has a temperate climate. The island’s terrain varies considerably, ranging from bare rock to rainforest.

The island is the only home of the critically endangered, venomous golden lancehead (pit viper), which has a diet of birds. The snakes became trapped on the island when rising sea levels covered up the land that connected it to the mainland. The resulting selection pressure allowed the snakes to adapt to their new environment, increasing rapidly in population and rendering the island dangerous to public visitation.

Queimada Grande is closed to the public in order to protect both people and the snake population. Access is only available to the Brazilian Navy and selected researchers assessed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, the Brazilian federal conservation unit.

The lancehead genus of snakes is responsible for 90 percent of Brazilian snakebite-related fatalities. The golden lanceheads that occupy Snake Island grow to well over half a meter long, and they possess a powerful fast-acting venom that melts the flesh around their bites. The potent venom of this species evolved due to the need for the snake to quickly incapacitate and kill seabirds that land on the island’s trees before they are able to fly away.

Because there are so many snakes on one island — by some estimates one snake to every square meter — there is competition for resources. On an island ecosystem occupied by hundreds of competitors, the deadly venom of the golden lancehead maximizes its potential to feed and survive. Golden lanceheads are so dangerous that, with the exception of some scientific outfits, the Brazilian Navy has expressly forbidden anyone from landing on the island.

The island was previously thought to have a population of about 430,000 snakes, but recent estimates are much lower. The first systematic study of the population of the golden lancehead found the number to be 2000 to 4000, concentrated almost entirely in the rainforest area of the island.

Poverty

Poverty! Poverty is lack of food, Poverty is lack of shelter, Poverty is being sick and can not afford medicines, Poverty is knowing how to read but can’t afford going to School, Poverty is being unemployed. And Poverty is lack of representation and freedom.Poverty has so many faces, and can describe in different ways. Most often, poverty is a situation people want to escape.

We have to take the step to reduce poverty so that many more may have enough food to eat, adequate shelter to cover their head, access to education and health.Overpopulation and underdevelopment in the country is the main cause for poverty. The birth rate in India is very high and the former has taken the measure of the ‘one child policy’ to change the situation, but the latter has not made any effort yet.

Underdevelopment is another reason, the country do not have enough economic growth to support their growing populations.Poverty in India can eradicate with some effective programmes, just need a joint effort from everyone not only from the government. Government of India should make effective policies aiming to develop rural areas through the key components like primary education, population control policies, family welfare, job creation and many more.

We can define poverty as the condition where the basic needs of a family, like food, shelter, clothing, and education are not fulfilled. It can lead to other problems like poor literacy, unemployment, malnutrition, etc. A poor person is not able to get education due to lack of money and therefore remains unemployed. An unemployed person is not able to buy enough & nutritious food for his family and their health decline. A weak person lacks the energy required for the job. A jobless person remains poor only. Thus we can say that poverty is the root cause of other problems.

How Poverty is Measured?

For measuring poverty United nations have devised two measures of poverty – Absolute & relative poverty.  Absolute poverty is used to measure poverty in developing countries like India. Relative poverty is used to measure poverty in developed countries like the USA. In absolute poverty, a line based on the minimum level of income has been created & is called a poverty line.  If per day income of a family is below this level, then it is poor or below the poverty line. If per day income of a family is above this level, then it is non-poor or above the poverty line. In India, the new poverty line is  Rs 32 in rural areas and Rs 47 in urban areas.

Causes of Poverty

According to the Noble prize winner South African leader, Nelson Mandela – “Poverty is not natural, it is manmade”. The above statement is true as the causes of poverty are generally man-made. There are various causes of poverty but the most important is population. Rising population is putting the burden on the resources & budget of countries. Governments are finding difficult to provide food, shelter & employment to the rising population.

The other causes are- lack of education, war, natural disaster, lack of employment, lack of infrastructure, political instability, etc. For instance- lack of employment opportunities makes a person jobless & he is not able to earn enough to fulfill the basic necessities of his family & becomes poor. Lack of education compels a person for less paying jobs & it makes him poorer. Lack of infrastructure means there are no industries, banks, etc. in a country resulting in lack of employment opportunities. Natural disasters like flood, earthquake also contribute to poverty.

In some countries, especially African countries like Somalia, a long period of civil war has made poverty widespread. This is because all the resources & money is being spent in war instead of public welfare. Countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. are prone to natural disasters like cyclone, etc. These disasters occur every year causing poverty to rise.

Ill Effects of Poverty

Poverty affects the life of a poor family. A poor person is not able to take proper food & nutrition &his capacity to work reduces. Reduced capacity to work further reduces his income, making him poorer. Children from poor family never get proper schooling & proper nutrition. They have to work to support their family & this destroys their childhood. Some of them may also involve in crimes like theft, murder, robbery, etc. A poor person remains uneducated & is forced to live under unhygienic conditions in slums. There are no proper sanitation & drinking water facility in slums & he falls ill often &  his health deteriorates. A poor person generally dies an early death. So, all social evils are related to poverty.

Government Schemes to Remove Poverty

The government of India also took several measures to eradicate poverty from India. Some of them are – creating employment opportunities, controlling population, etc. In India, about 60% of the population is still dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. Government has taken certain measures to promote agriculture in India. The government constructed certain dams & canals in our country to provide easy availability of water for irrigation. Government has also taken steps for the cheap availability of seeds & farming equipment to promote agriculture. Government is also promoting farming of cash crops like cotton, instead of food crops. In cities, the government is promoting industrialization to create more jobs. Government has also opened  ‘Ration shops’. Other measures include providing free & compulsory education for children up to 14 years of age, scholarship to deserving students from a poor background, providing subsidized houses to poor people, etc.

Poverty is a social evil, we can also contribute to control it. For example- we can simply donate old clothes to poor people, we can also sponsor the education of a poor child or we can utilize our free time by teaching poor students. Remember before wasting food, somebody is still sleeping hungry.

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A Space Dream

Yesterday when I lay asleep, a magical force lifted me from my bed and I found myself floating towards the skies rapidly. I saw the pale blue sphere that I was leaving behind. Earth never looked so magical before. I took a spin around the moon and marveled at the craters. I passed through the rings of Saturn and played hopscotch on the red soil of Mars. I made a snowman on the icy surface of Neptune. I saw the Milky Way from afar and was awestruck by the vast expanse of our Universe. I rode on the meteors that went whooshing by and saw pulsars and quasars. I almost got sucked into a black hole but pull myself away in time.I danced on the glowing surface of Venus and visited mercury.I took a spin around the sun without a single hair singed.After witnessing all the beautiful sight,I started feeling homesick. I slowly drifted back to the pale blue planet that we call home.Full of memories from the visit,I hoped to take another trip soon.Soon I was laid back on my bed and I drifted back into sleep.

Time Management

Time management is the course of marshalling everyday routine to harness the maximum time available. Time management is a method to work smarter rather than harder to get more out of your time and resources. Everyone has the same amount of time – 24 hours a day; the key is to allocate appropriate time to your activities based on their importance.

It is up to one to utilize it whatever way one wants. One may waste it on insignificant things or use it productively; the decision is theirs. However, if one wants to get the maximum out of their time, one has to esteem time management. Time management can be very merely done through simple methodologies.

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Students should make a priority-based schedule regarding their studies and assignments. Time to different subjects must be allotted based on the individual difficulties faced by the students in that particular subject.

For example, if a student is good at physics and not so good in Biology; then he/she should award biology with a little extra time than physics. Even the time one likes to spend on TV or other activities must be included in the schedule to keep one in full control of their available time.

In today’s scenario people are so busy in their lives that they are not getting time for themselves. Due to which time management has become the need of the hour. Time management is playing a vital role in mankind. Time management creates discipline or vice versa. If you want to be successful in life then you need to manage your time. As a result, various billionaires teach about time management.

The Meaning of Time ManagementIn our daily life, we have got only twenty-four hours in a day. Therefore we cannot do everything in one day. This creates limitations in our everyday work. In order to manage work, social life and sleep, division of time is important. In a particular way division of time is the need. This will help the person to complete all his tasks. You should write your tasks in a schedule.Designing has to be in a way that each task gets enough time. Your work should have the highest priority. The second priority should sleep. And the last but not the least your social life. Your social life includes family and friends.In order to live a happy and peaceful life socializing is important. Too much workload can make a person ill. So, give your mind a little rest. Spending time with family can help you with this. Moreover, the main purpose to work is to fulfill the needs of the family. Since the fulfillment of needs is important. Which makes a person happy.

Importance of Time Management for StudentsThough adults are working, the students are not spared with work. The students today have many studies to do. Because of this, they are not getting time to enjoy their childhood. Time management for students has become a crucial need. Education has become vast. Therefore proper scheduling of time is important.

A good student knows the importance of studies. But he should also know time never comes back. Thus a student should take out time for personal development too. Since personal development is important for their proper growth. Moreover, personality development is also important for a student. They should at least take out one hour for sports. Sports teach student teamwork. Since it is enjoyable it lessens the stress of the day.The daily routine is School or college, and then coaching. This leaves with no time of self-studies. Self-study is an important aspect of education. The student should not neglect this. As the day ends, they get too tired. Due to which there is no energy left. This degrades the performance of the student.There is a difference between a topper and an average student. That difference is proper time management. A topper student schedules his time. While an average student does not do that. And because he never manages time, he gets no time for self-study. Which in turn leaves him behind.

Mass Media

The present age is the age of information & Communication Technology. And mass media is the powerful and the most effective instrument of spreading or sharing information. With the advancement of digital technology, mass media have become a powerful and quick means of communication, broadcasting news and views, disseminating ideas and massages, and making information available anywhere in the world. The means of communicating news and views is termed as mass media. Mass media is classified into two categories print media and electronic media. Print media include newspapers, magazines, journals, and other printed materials. Electronic media includes radio, internet, television, satellite channels, cinema, etc.

In today’s world, mass media embraces internet, cell phones, electronic mail, computers, pagers and satellites. All these new additions function as transmitting information from a single source to multiple receivers.In other words, they are interactive and work on the person to person formula. Thus, it revolves around the masses i.e. the people. It is true that radio, television, press and cinema are in the spotlight when we talk about mass media.Nonetheless, the role of pamphlets, books, magazines, posters, billboards, and more also have equal importance if not less. Moreover, the reach of these tools extends to a huge amount of masses living all over the country.Television, cinema, radio and press are comparatively expensive forms of media which private financial institutions or the Government runs. These tools centre on the idea of mass production and mass distribution.Therefore, newspapers, television and radio cater to the needs of the mass audience and accommodates their taste. As a result, it will not always be refined or sophisticated. In other words, it displays popular culture.

The Function of Mass MediaThe main function of mass media is to reach out to the masses and provide them with information. In addition to that, it also operates to analyze and observe our surroundings and provide information in the form of news accordingly.As a result, the masses get constantly updated about not just their own surroundings but also around the world. This way mass media spreads and interprets information. For instance, weather forecasts equip people and farmers to plan ahead.Similarly, fishermen get updates about the tidal activities from the news. In addition to this, mass media also strives to keep the fabric of our social heritage intact which showcasing our customs, myths and civilization.Another major product of mass media is advertising. This way people learn about the goods and services in the market. It also spreads social awareness. For instance, anti-smoking campaign, women empowerment, green earth clean earth and more.Most importantly, with the numerous mediums available in multiple languages, the masses get entertainment in their own language easily. Millions of people get to access a cheap source of relaxation and pass their time. In fact, it also helps to transport momentarily from our ordinary lives to a dream world. Thus, it remains the undisputed leader in reaching out to the masses.Conclusion of Essay on Mass MediaAll in all, while it is an effective tool, we must also keep a check on its consumption. In other words, it has the power to create and destroy. Nonetheless, it is a medium which can bring about a change in the masses. Thus, everyone must utilize and consume it properly.

What is celebrated today? 24 July 2021

National Cousins Day, Drive-Thru, Pioneer Day.

Cousin: a child of one’s uncle or aunt.

HIstory:

The history of it’s origin is quite unknown. Well, one can theorize that whoever coined this day had special bonds with their cousins.

“Cousins are people that are ready-made friends, you have laughs with them and remember good times from a young age, you have fights with them but you always know you love each other, they are a better thing than brothers and sisters and friends cause there all pieced together as one.”

– Courtney Cox

Significance:

This day is celebrated to cherish our bonds with distant to our cousin brother and sisters. When we visit our aunt or uncle’s place, we reunite with our partners in crime. We play games, create some nice nuisance for our elders, talk about our friends and foes, plan an escape to moon, pull an all-nighters, and enjoy heartily.

Be it younger or an grown up group of cousins, we have a lot to learn from each other. Soon, nostalgia about our past mistakes and fun hits us.

What to do today?

  • Get in touch with a long lost cousin.
  • Play a game of charades, ludo, scrabble or any another game available. Don’t let Covid stop you from enjoying a reunion with them. There are few online multiplayers to enjoy.
  • Share a memory you are most attached to.
  • Make plans to visit places you guys always wished to go.
  • Have a friendly competition.
  • Share your books and favorite movies.
  • Have a go and beat each other at video games or outdoor ones.
  • Share your gratitude for their existence and the love you received.

FACTS:

  1. All European Jews Are Distant Cousins.  The global population of Ashkenazi Jews, a Jewish community from Central and Eastern Europe make up a huge amount of present Jews.
  2. Research published in 2014 says close friends are likely to be fourth cousins because they might share quite lot of genetic material.
  3. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are third Cousins. Yes, you heard it right, the most famous married cousin couple Elizabeth and Philip are both descendants of the U.K.’s Queen Victoria.
  4. It is true that marrying your cousin can cause the baby to have birth defects.

Few other days celebrated today:

  • Pioneer Day
    • Pioneer is a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area.
    • Pioneer Day has been created in order to commemorate the day the very first group of Mormon pioneers came to Salt Lake Valley.
    • It is an official state holiday in Utah
  • Drive-thru Day
    • Drive-thru is a type of take-out service provided by a business that allows customers to purchase products without leaving their cars.
    • A day to celebrate the way drive-thru made getting food easier.
  • Tell an old joke Day
    • “Knock-knock” jokes still gets attention to this day. Well, go and annoy someone with some good old jokes and use today as a good excuse.

REF:

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/2021/07/24/

Control of Air pollution

National air quality monitoring programme

  • Central pollution control board is executing a nationwide program of ambient air quality monitoring known as National air quality monitoring programme.
  • National Ambient Air Quality standards prescribed specific standards for residential, ruler, Industrialand other sensitive areas.
  • N. A. M. P, four air pollutants – Sulphur Dioxide, oxides of Nitrogen, suspended particulate matter and respirable suspended particulate matter (pm10) have been identified for regular monitoring at all the locations.
  • Network consists of 683 operating stations covering 300 cities and town in 28 states and 9 union territories of country.
  • Annual average- Annual arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year taken twice a week 24 hour at uniform interval.
  • The level of air quality necessary with an adequate margin of safety to protect the public health vegetation and its property.

Air quality index

  • Air quality index is tool for effective dissemination of air quality information to people.
  • There are six categories namely – good, satisfactory, moderately, polluted, poor, very poor and severe.
  • The propose 82 I will consider 8 pollutants PM 10, PM 2.5 NO2, SO2 Co, O3, NH3 and Pb.

Control of air pollution

  • Control measures
    1. Technological
    2. Legal
    3. Economic

Technological approach

  • Adapting Lifestyle that uses less energy and pollutes less or using energy sources that produce less amount of pollutant as by-product.
  • Remove pollutant generating stuff from energy sources
    • example- Remove sulphur from coal before burning it.
  • Reduce the energy used without changing the way of life
    • Use more energy efficient car and replace existing bulb with CFL bulb and LED bulb.
  • Check the generation of pollutant their burned
    • Catalytic converter, electrostatic precipitator, scrubber, Bag house collection of particulate emission, cyclone separator etc.
    • Encouraging mass transportation.
Electrostatic precipitator
Scrubber
Catalytic converter

    Legal approach

    • After Stockholm conference, 1972 the Government of India under article 253 of the Constitution of India in enacted the Air Act, 1981 for the prevention control and abatement of air pollution.
    • To empower the central and state pollution control board. Air Amendment Act, 1987( for prevention and control of pollution) was enacted but this was not strong enough to play precautionary role.
    • After Bhopal disaster of Environment protection Act was passed in 1986 this act has punitive power to restrict any activity that would harm the environment.
    • To regulate vehicles pollution, the central motor vehicle act of 1939 was amended in 1989.
    • As per the current requirement all the transport vehicles must carry a fitness certificate which is to be renewed each year after the first two year of new vehicle registration.
    • National fuel policy announced on October 6, 2003 , a phased program for implementing the emission standards in India by 2010.

    Economic approach

    • Cost consideration of air pollution involves 2 factor:-
      1. Cost of controlling the air pollution
      2. Cost of not controlling the air pollution
    • Determination of cost of first in straight forward but that of second is difficult and can be subjective to some extent.
    • Direct air pollution control in India
      • Fuel wood and Biomass burning
      • Transport

    Control

    • Using low sulphur coal.
    • Use Proper air pollution control devices in industry
    • Individual efforts to control air pollution
      • Inform to Road Transport office and PCB about the vehicle polluting the environment
      • Regular engine tune up replacement of old more polluting vehicles
      • Shifting to less polluting fuels
      • Using mass transportation
      • Do not use CFC containing sprays for freshners that deplete the ozone layer.
      • Planting more trees
      • Say no to fire crackers in Diwali and other occasions.