Generate awareness to protect environment

Enormous stress has been laid on natural resources since last few decades due to ignorance and carelessness. Due to this stress, a number of environmental problems have emerged on global, national and regional levels. These problems are to be solved by the people on all the different levels through individual and joint efforts. For this, all the different problems concerning natural resources like water, soil, air, forests and others; and their causes are to be understood properly by every one including common people. Those who already understand environment, its manifestations, causes of stress etc. can device programmes for conservation and implement those programmes involving common people. For common people, some sort of stimulation towards conservation of natural resources is necessary which can be done by creating awareness.

The dictionary meaning of awareness – knows or realizing something or knowing and realizing that something exists and that are important. In the context of environment, awareness means; knowing about environment, realizing different types of environmental problems caused by human activities and feeling those problems with a deep sense of responsibility. The public awareness can be generated through different types of programmes. What is a public awareness programme? Well, a programme formulated and designed to make the public know about general processes of environment, its different resources, need and ways of conservation of those resources etc., is known as Public Awareness Programme.

   

The environmental problems are numerous and these problems vary from place to place on global, national and regional levels. Public Awareness Programmes are designed and conducted to develop proper insights into the basic environmental concepts and issues listed below.

·         The Biosphere and its components like plants, animals, and microorganisms,

·         Physical resources like water, air, soil etc.

·         Energy, its resources and availability,

·         Human activities causing stress on environment,

·         Nature, extent and impact of human activities and all possible measures to avert the bad impacts of these activities.

Institutions, Organisations and Individuals Concerned With   Public Awareness Programmes

The Public Awareness Programmes concerning conservation of resources like water, soil, air, forests, wild animals and others, are being carried on by governments, non- government organizations, local bodies, corporations, educational institutions, village Panchayats etc.Some of these are being mentioned here for you-

·         International Organizations like WWF (World Wide Fund for nature), Green Peace, PETA (People for Ethical Treatment to Animals) etc. are running campaigns for the awareness regarding conservation of nature and natural resources.

·         Indian Organizations like: the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi; Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi, Govt. of India; Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad; Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai; Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun; Zoo Outreach, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu; several government agencies and non- govt. organizations are running different types of Awareness and Conservation Programmes in most effective ways.

·         Film Producers like Jacques Cousteau and David Attenborough have made documentaries on several endangered species of animals so as to stimulate sense of conservation among masses. Zoo 2000, Expedition to the Animal Kingdom, Earth Watch etc. are names of some programmes designed to generate awareness. Besides these, some Television Channels work round the clock for generating awareness regarding everything related to the conservation of environment.

·         A number of books and magazines are being brought out by different organizations for the creation of awareness about the conservation of natural resources. Down to Earth (published by the Society for Environmental Communications, New Delhi), Journal of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Hornbill (published by BNHS- Mumbai), and Sanctuary (602, Maker Chamber, Nariman Point, Mumbai) - are names of some important magazines in this regards. The “Silent Spring” – the book authored by Rachel Carson, is a world famous book on the Pesticide Poisoning.

·         The Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi (India); has been running various types of programmes for the popularization of science and conservation of environment across the country. The Vigyan Rail is its latest effort to generate awareness about science and environment.

·         The Central Pollution Control Board ( Ministry of Environment and Forest, Govt. of India), Vigyan Prasar ( Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India), National Council of Science and Technology Communications (Ministry  of Science and Technology, govt. of India), WWF-India etc. organizations are catalyzing different programmes run by other organizations and functioning of various Eco- clubs, Nature clubs etc. in different schools of India for the generation of awareness and development of students  as environmentally conscious citizens of the world.

Key Words: awareness, Jacques Cousteau and David Attenborough,silent spring, Hornbill, Vigyan Prasar

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…Watch a Robin in your area.”

Have you ever traveled in a bullock cart? No, I guess. But I have.

Long ago when I was just in my High School, I had to attend my uncle’s marriage party and elders of the family sent me in a bullock cart. My grand father and one of my uncles except the cart driver were also with him. We had started very early in the morning. As early, as it was almost night. The east was not even slightly red by that time.

One the way I heard repeated call of a bird. So sweet and inspiring as it was that I have not forgotten it even now. I had no knowledge of birds at that time. But the call of the bird still echoes in my mind-even after thirty five long years!

A few months back while I was on my way through cropped fields to a river I was blessed to see that bird. It was a social ceremony after the death of my father and I had to collect water and throw away one small but most important thing of my mother who had passed away many years back but that thing was kept safely as my father was alive. Now, let me complete the story without going into details of that event.

Yes, as I was moving towards the river bank the bird came in my way again and again as if it was trying to stop me. It was producing the same sound that had been in my mind.” So it is a robin.” - I was confirmed in my mind. I identified the bird but was not familiar with its sound.  I studied a lot, searched on internet went through many books and came to know the behaviour of robin and all about it through study and observation.

Robin in India is called as oriental Robin or Magpie- Robin. In taxonomy it is called as Copsychus saulari. It is a trim deep blue coloured bird with white stripes at both wings. It has a locked tail which goes up and down as it sings.

Robin is one of the familiar birds about Indian villages and it is found in cultivated areas and open woodlands. It is very conspicuous during the breeding season when the male sings from poles or trees in very early morning and sometimes in late afternoon. Its song is punctuated by upward jerks of its tail. When the female robin lays eggs after compiling the construction of nest in a bush, the male bird guards the nest like a soldier. In early mornings when sound can move fastest through air and can reach to long distances, the male bird sings loudly. It announces and warns all possible intruders not to dare to pass through that area. Now I guess the bird was trying to stop me, while I was on my way to the river side as it might have constructed the nest in a nearby bush where the female bird was incubating its eggs. Try to watch a robin in your area.

Key Words : Robin, cropped fields, blue, river, eggs

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Where have all those sparrows gone?

Just some years back, House Sparrows were the most common birds among all the terrestrial bird-species in India. But the chirpy sounds made by these small birds are rarely heard today. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) included sparrows in the Red Data List of threatened species in the year 2002 along with other animals like Snow Leopard, Tiger, and Red Panda.

About 15 to 20 years back, sparrows were regarded as dominant bird species. Farmers used to accuse them for eating away grains from their crop plants like paddy and wheat. They were loud, noisy, naughty and even disturbing at some times. They formed a par of our lives as we had to protect our grains drying in the sun. They used to move through our open kitchens and verandahs without any fear. Every little corner or crevice of our house or thatch roof could be adorned with not so well shaped grassy- wooly nests of sparrows. Most often we used to see sparrows fighting fiercely among themselves over minor things and falling down wing to wing on the ground to attract a cruel cat or a dog, but cleverly flying up and chasing away the enemy. Every morning and evening used to be full of the chirping sounds of these birds. But now a single sparrow is hard to be seen or heard in many parts of our country. Where have all those sparrows gone?

Image 1

The reducing or vanishing trend in population of sparrows is being experienced now the world over. The population of sparrows has fallen by over 90% in Britain during the last 15 years. About 2 lakh sparrows have disappeared from Paris within a decade and more than 60% of sparrows have already disappeared from the land of Jharkhand state. In Uttar Pradesh, Warblers are fast replacing most of the house sparrows. The population of sparrows in the recent past has been reduced gradually across their home ranges. A survey by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) New Delhi reveals that Andhra Pradesh has lost 80% of its sparrow population. What are possible causes for the decline of the number of sparrows from different Indian states and outside the country?

Modern styles of house –building, predation by different animals, depletion of food resources, large scale use of pesticides in agriculture and horticulture, pollutions, and electro smog etc have been considered as major causes of depletion of population of sparrows. Changes in the styles of building construction are other serious causes of reduction in the population of these birds. Modern day tiled houses have no holes or crevices. This condition leads to serious problems before nesting by these birds. Under such types of conditions our birds are forced to construct nests in vulnerable positions which ultimately lead to serious hazards and destructions. Forced nesting of birds makes them vulnerable to predator animals like crows and cats.

Image 2

Changing life-styles of human beings have replaced the vegetable gardens by ornamental plants that do not support insects that are liked by birds for their food. Grains, seeds of grasses and insects are major parts of food items of sparrows. They preferably eat insects found on crop plants. But now, grains and insects both remain contaminated with poisonous pesticides and growth of seed producing grasses is hampered by the system of mono-agriculture.

Eating insecticide-contaminated insects or insects with thin coating of insecticides on their bodies causes thinning of egg-shells of birds. Such eggs do not produce young ones. On the other hand, eating pesticide laced seeds kills most of the birds. Some researchers are of the opinion that some strange diseases may be the potential cause behind reduction in the population of sparrows, but the fact has not been proved by now.

In urban localities fumes and gases released through the automobile exhausts cause serious atmospheric pollution that produces serious threats against the lives of small birds. High pitched sounds of crackers that are used during victorious hours after cricket matches and political events and during different festivals like Deepawali etc cause heart attacks and nervous failure in small birds like sparrows. Such types of sounds can directly kill most of the insects that form proteinaceous food for these birds.

Mobile Communication Base Stations are causing serious electro-magnetic radiations. It has been reported by scientists that pulsating waves of 900 MHz for analog and 1800MHz for the digital transmission damages nervous systems of small birds, bees and even of human beings. These radiations have been proved to affect reproduction, circulatory systems, and central nervous systems of birds and to cause Micro-wave Syndrome.

Since our sparrows form an important link of the natural systems, contain valuable gene-pool, add beauty to our surroundings, and have rights to live like we have … they must be protected. Hence it is our sacred duty to extend our best efforts to protection of our natural environment, and hence to protection of our sparrows and all the other living beings. How can we contribute to the protection of sparrows? We can try to organise a programme to generate awareness about the protection of sparrows- Frame a project, organise a lecture session, prepare and distribute handouts, organise a poster exhibition on the theme of importance of sparrows in eco-system; construct feeding-posts, bird-baths and even artificial nests in some corners of your back yards or in your school if there is sufficient place. 

Key Words : sparrow, IUCN, Red Data List, electromagnetic radiation, mobile communication

Photo credit : Image 1- commonswikepedia.org, Image 2: Flyingwritingsuperhero.blogspot.in

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Sleep disorders in smokers

It is well known but rather less understood statutory warning that smoking is injurious to health, and that it may cause cancer. In spite of complete awareness of the fact, many persons and even some doctors don’t decide to get rid of it.

Cigarette smoking is a root cause of emphysema and cancer. However, it is the root cause of many other diseases and ailments as well.

Researchers have reported that cigarette smokers remain unable to enjoy full and sound sleep at nights. If they sleep, they experience disturbed or incomplete sleep leading to complete restlessness through out the whole day.

New researches have revealed that 17% cigarette smokers can enjoy less than 6 hours of sleep at nights. There are 28% smokers who cannot enjoy sound sleep even for a short period. It is important that relationship between smoking and sleeping has been established for the first time through this research only.

Researchers report that so far cigarette smoking was known to cause cancer, lung diseases etc. only, but now that the fact is known to all that it can reduce sleep hours or interfere with sleep etc. cigarette smokers have sufficient reasons for getting rid from cigarette smoking.

Obesity, diabetes and heart diseases are associated with sleep disorders. Even mental sickness and depression are also caused through this habit. It has been reported that nicotine contained in tobacco of cigarette is the only reason behind sleep disorder in smokers.

Key Words: smoking, sleep disorders, cigarette, nicotine

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Genes to control beauty and smartness

Each one of us wants to be looked smart and beautiful. While smartness is linked with energy and muscular compactness, beauty is linked to love and something which inspires emotions. Beauty is aesthetically pleasing and sometimes enjoyable. There are beauties of actions too. Like beauty of movement. Different mudras in katthak, kathakali, odyssey and other forms of dances show divine beauties through movements.

Beauty is both internal and external and so is the smartness. These attributes of persons remain linked with or are rather expressions of something that lies in blood, inside cells, on chromosomes in the nuclei of cells.

In spite of all those universality of nature or creating, each one of us wants to be looked smart and beautiful. Markets are flooded with thousands of chemical preparations, and now a number of so called herbal and ayurvedic preparations that claim to enhance beauty, fairness and glow. And most of them are performing well on the counters.

Researches in biology report that out beauties and smartnesses are determined by genes, the physical units coded with merits and attributes for the whole body. A new research in life science tells us that there are five genes that control beauties and smartnesses and they are alone responsible for the determination of our facial beauty and muscular compactness.

Scientists, before reaching to some conclusions, performed experiments with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of faces and then compared with different DNA molecules. They came to wonderful results.

After comparing GAX- DNA they came to know that individuals having such types of DNA have flattened noses. Scientists have reported that initial researches have encouraging results. It is on this basis that facial architecture of persons can be found or guessed out on the basis of these works. They are of the opinion that portrait of a person can easily be drawn if his DNA make- up is known properly. This research is important not alone for medical science; rather it is important for investigations about criminals as well.

According to an article on healthfriend.com entitled -Genetics and Science behind Beautiful People and Physical Attraction -“One main feature that is indicative of healthy genetics is the symmetry of the face. Recognition of beauty fosters better mate selection and healthier breeding. Beautiful people usually associate with other beautiful people. Beautiful people prefer date people who are a little more attractive than themselves. Beautiful people and less beautiful people judge beauty in the same way, although less beautiful people often consider other factors as equally important. People consider facial characteristics similar to their parents to be more attractive. Members of a family or relations judge facial characteristics as implying personality traits in the same way. Studies find couples often resemble each other in facial characteristics. Attractive people are viewed as honest and helpful while unattractive people are viewed as rude and unfair. Women find a man more attractive in experiments when other women are pictured smiling at him. Females find extremely masculine faces more attractive during their fertile periods. Studies find less attractive men are more faithful and loving than handsome men. Women looking for a mate like small eyes, a big nose and a large jaw. Attractive people earn more salary and get more promotions than average looking people. Males in experiments prefer facial ratios similar to a woman of 24.8 years old. The ideal figure of a woman is a waist to hip ratio of 0.67 to 0.80.”

Key Words: beauty, smartness, cosmetic, MRI, gene

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Hair- going, going, gone …

Baldness is emerging as one of the biggest health rather cosmetic problem across the world. It is observed more in gents than in ladies.

Scientists are of the opinion that secretion of testosterone, a male hormone is more responsible for hair loss in men. Shortage in the level of testosterone in blood is considered to be responsible to cause negative developments in cells located in the roots of hair.

Baldness

Scientific researches have proved that depression, disease, infections, chemotherapy and genetic diseases are root causes of hair loss in men and women. Some chemicals like shampoos, soaps, and hair conditioners and heat drying of hair can cause baldness.

For treatment of the problem of baldness, it is sure that males have to protect their hair cells from the bad impact of reduced level of testosterone in their blood. Phenesteroids are used for this action. Phenesteroids help up to greater extent in solving the problem of baldness.

An over the counter lotion minoxidil helps hair to some extent. It protects hair for longer durations without any side effect. However, surgical implants are the lost option for keeping the crop of hair on ones head.

Key Words: hair loss, baldness, testosterone, Phenesteroids

Image - courtesy Flickr

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...Thus ended the Jal Satyagraha

After the Madhya Pradesh Government decided to accept demands of oustees of the Omkareshwar Dam Project and to constitute a ministerial committee to look into their grievances, Jal Satyagraha was called off on September 10^th, 2012.

For over two weeks, dam affected people of the Omkareshwar project (Khandwa) and of the Indira Sagar project (Harda) had been offering jal satyagraha by standing in neck deep water, demanding proper rehabilitation, compensation and a reduction in the level of dam waters.

The Satyagraha was called off when on the seventeenth day of the protest, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chawhan announced that the government agreed to two major demands- one, to reduce the water level of the dam to 189 m and to provide land for land compensation to all those who had lost their land. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, after holding a direct talk with the affected farmers reportedly told them that compliance with the order given by the Grievances Redressal Authority about giving land for land surrendering 50% compensation would be ensured within 90 days.

A high level committee to hear problems of the Omkareshwar dam was to be formed. It is important to take a reminder that 51 oustees stood in waist to neck deep water for the lost 16 days for their demands. They broke their Jal Satyagraha after acceptance by the minister.

The high level committee formed by the government to hear the problem of Jal Satyagrahis would comprise Commerce and Industries Minister Kailash Vijaivargiya, ST and SC welfare minister Kunwar Vijai Shah, Minister for State for Narmada Valley Development, Rajnis Vaish, and Indore Divisional Commissioner.

The NBA leader Alok Agrawal has reportedly told the public that the site of Jal Satyagraha would be commemorated as Bhoo Adhikar Sthal (Land Rights Memorial) and would be a centre for future struggles.

Key Words: Jal Satyagraha, land, Madhya Pradesh, dam,

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The Man behind Operation Flood in India

The National Dairy Development Board in 1969 designed a Dairy Development Programme to lay the foundation for a viable self supportive national dairy industry. The programme was aimed to link rural milk production to urban milk marketing system. In July 1970, this programme was launched as Operation Flood with technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

Operation Flood has been a programme which made India the largest producer of milk in the world. This programme was a revolutionary progress in milk production and hence it started to be called as the “White Revolution”. Who was there behind this revolution? Well, the main architect of this successful project was Dr. Verghese Kurien who later came to be called as the “Father of White Revolution”.

Dr. Verghese Kurien became a legend in his life time for building a cooperative movement that transformed the lives of poor farmers while making India self reliant in milk production. He was born on November 26, 1921 in Kuzhikod in Kerala, India. He studied at Madras University for a Bachelor of Science in 1940.In 1943 he took Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering (Hons.) from there only. He further graduated from TISCO Jamshedpur in 1946.He took Master in Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1948. He went for specialized training in dairying at National Dairy Research Institute, Bangalore. In his life time he received 17 doctorates from Universities in India and abroad. He remained Chancellor of University of Allahabad since April 17, 2006 and passed away on Sunday, 9^th September 2012 at the age of 90 in Nadiad due to serious health problems associated with his old age.

Besides remaining chancellor of the University of Allahabad, he had several other posts at the time of his death. He was a member of the Board of Trustees in the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Memorial Trust, New Delhi since 1986.He was a member of Advisory Committee of South Asian Network of Fermented Foods (SANFOODS) since 2004. Dr. Kurien was the founder chairman of the National Dairy Development Board from 1965 to 1998.He was chairman of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. Anand from1983 to 2006. Further, he was the chairman of National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Limited since 1986 to 1993, 1995 to 2000, 2003 to 2006.He also remained chairman of the Board of Governors, Institute of Rural Management, Anand since 1979 to 2006.

Key Words: Operation Flood, White Revolution, V.Kurien, Anand

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Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act to be amended soon in India

The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India is in a mood to propose for an amendment in the Juvenile Justice Act. Accordingly, a note has been prepared for the Union Cabinet of India to include a new section on corporal punishment as per reports. The corporal punishment has been defined as such punishments commensurate with the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for hurt and grievous hurt offences. The proposed amendment has been reported to be put up for the approval of the union cabinet shortly.

A Jail term of up to one year or fine or both has been proposed by the ministry in case a child is hurt and emotionally distressed. The offender could be imprisoned for up to three years for every subsequent offence. The ministry in the note has suggested “ a maximum imprisonment of up to seven years in case anyone is found guilty of repeatedly using any punishment in which physical force is used with the intension of causing some degree of pain or discomfort to the child.

“In case the punishment has caused the child grievous hurt or severe mental trauma, the offender could be liable for rigorous imprisonment of five years or fine. Repeated offence could invite jail term for a maximum of up to seven years or fine. The caretaker or school-teacher or staff at child home or orphanage would be dismissed fro service on second conviction” as per the note.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development conducted a “study on child abuse” in 2007. The study revealed that almost 65% of children in India suffer corporal punishment either from their parents, school- teachers, or from caretakers despite it being banned by many state governments including Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal and Gujarat.

The National Commission for the protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) reportedly carried out a survey in 2011 in seven states in India. It found that 99% of students interviewed were punished by their teachers. Hence, the commission is reported to be in a serious mood to support the initiative of the ministry to bring about a total ban and introduction of legal action against child offenders. It is suggested that the legal action should be complimented with awareness programmes for care givers like teachers, parents, and staff at Children’s Homes, ashrams, hostels etc. so as to enable them use non-violent methods of dealing with a child.

Here is a news report by IBN Live India which tells about a NCPCR Survey conducted by it during 2009-10 quoted directly from the website

New Delhi: Over 80 per cent of students in schools across the country are humiliated by teachers who tell them that they are not capable of learning, a study conducted by national child rights body has said.

Even the "cruel practice" of giving electric shocks finds a mention in the yet-to-be released study on the practice of corporal punishment brought out by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

According to the survey conducted in 2009-10 academic year, only nine out of 6,632 students in seven states who were surveyed denied that they received any kind of punishment in schools.

NCPCR defines corporal punishment as physical punishment, mental harassment and discrimination of children causing both physical and mental harassment.

The survey was conducted to study the scale and magnitude of corporal punishment in the everyday school experiences of India's children, types of violent punishment prevailing in Indian schools and analyse by age the prevalence of different types of punishments among school children.

"99.86 per cent of children reported experiencing one or the other kind of punishment. As many as 81.2 per cent of children were subject to outward rejection by being told that they are not capable of learning," it said.

Getting beaten by a cane, being slapped on the cheeks, being hit on the back and ears and getting boxed are the other four major punishments, it said.

"These four punishments do not lag behind much in terms of their occurrence. Out of the total, 75 per cent reported that they had been hit by a cane and 69 per cent had been slapped on their cheeks," the survey said.

A senior NCPCR official said they will be coming up with 'Guidelines for Eliminating Corporal Punishment in Schools' on Monday.

The guidelines include measures for affirmative action in schools towards positive development and positive engagement with children.

It will also discuss creating an environment conducive to learning and for mechanisms and processes to give children a voice and engage in the process of creating a positive environment as well as for accountability and multi-sectoral responsibility.

Key Words: offense, child abuse, Juvenile Justice, NCPCR

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Poultry Farming- a livelihood option

Poultry farming has become a viable livelihood option for the villages of Kanchanpura in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan state of India. A public service institution Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation identified poultry farming as a most profitable livelihood option for the villages about 5 years back.

The work was started initially by half-a-dozen young men who went to Ajmer to learn technique of poultry farming. Increasing cost of agriculture had led the youth of the area to neglect farming and to opt for daily wage jobs.

It is important to note that Lupin Foundation has been working for the development of Bharatpur district for several decades. It functions as a social responsibility wing of Lupin, a pharmaceutical company.

Key Words :poultry, youth,farming

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