The World Around Me

August 13, 2008

Why Must Small Children Carry Heavy School Bags

We all believe & know that children are the future. Thus the children should be groomed and educated properly. Indians are unto the mark when it comes to educating their children. Everyone wants their children to go to the best schools they can afford and have the best of education. Each and every one of Indian parents want their child to be the topper. To achieve this they pressurize their child right from the preschool stage . Schools on their part put pressure on these children so that they can boast to have the best result records to show to the world and advertise it for their gains.

Today many children face psychological problems. Few of the parents come to know about the problem of their child in the form of a disturbed child or angry child but mostly problems of a child goes unnoticed. Apart from this an Indian child is also facing a severe problem of physical burden in the form of carrying heavy school bags every day of their life. By rule a child can only carry 10 to 15 percent of his\her body weight. But it seems that they carry much more then that in the form of their school bags everyday to their schools.  In a recent article written in The Times Of India it was stated that most of the school students carried around 30 percent of their body weight in these school bags everyday.

If a child is regularly forced to bear such burden they will have many kinds of problems. The child will be facing problems like backache, headache, ligament tear. Heavy bags tend to put pressure on discs between vertebrae which causes back-pain. Constant load on spine among with a bad standing posture can cause lower back-pain is what the doctor says. How can you expect a child to stand in a correct posture when he or she is carrying such a burden every day of his or her schooling life. In the article of The Times Of India, orthopaedic surgeons Dr Tejal Patel and Dr Dinesh Agarwal have stated that repeated load on the neck, or cervical area can lead to headache and giddiness. Many doctors all over the world have stated that carrying heavy burden in the form of school bags can turn these children into humpbacks.

Child should carry only 3.5 kg. in class 1 & 2. In class 7 & 8 a child should carry about 9kg. weight at most. According to the rule at any given time child should be carrying only 10 to 15 percent of his or her body weight. After these facts came to my knowledge I was very disturbed. In our country there is a law against child labor. I think the law of against child labor has been around for quite a while but the schools are making the child carry very heavy school bags everyday. Isn’t this a sophisticated kind of child labor. The big question is why are the parents allowing it. I think they want to make a winner out of their children at any cost [ even at the cost their child becoming a humpback].

There are many articles being written in Newspapers in an effort to bring this problem to light. Many doctors also trying to make the parents realize what problems their child are facing. But the big question is do we all [ parents, teachers, institutes,schools and citizens ] as a society care to acknowledge this problem and try to rectify it. We should thank The Times Of India, The Hindu and other news papers who try to bring such an important problem to the knowledge of our sleepy society. I hope these newspapers do a regular follow up of these problems of the problems of our children until they are rectified.

Links:

The Times Of India : Ahmedabad

The Times Of India

The New Zealand Hearald

The Hindu

July 6, 2008

Tiger Will Again Roam in Sariska

Filed under: Wildlife, animals, endangered, national park — Jaideepsinh @ 7:35 am
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Tiger released at Sariska.

Sariska was once a place where people from all over came to see the magnificent beast. At one time Sariska had many Tigers. But sadly due to poaching the tigers vanished from Sariska. According to the reports of 2005 there was not a single big cat [tiger] left in Sariska. I was happy to hear that the tiger will once again roam in the Sariska sanctuary.

Tigress released at Sariska.

Tigress released at Sariska.

In fact on Saurday 28th. June, the first phase of re-establishing the tigers in Sariska was implemented successfully. From among the three male tigers which had been selected, a young male Tiger had been tranquilized, caged and then transported to Sariska. Sanctuary area from Ranthambor Sanctuary by airlifting the cage. The operation was successfully completed by afternoon and the male tiger was roaming in Sariska after a long time. According to the news the tiger has adopted well to the new environment and it has also made its first kill. As is well known tigers are very territorial and so during the initial period the tiger will be kept in an 2 hector enclosure which will be very much alike the original place. When the tiger has completely settled and adopted to the new environment it will be released in the wild. The tiger has been radio collared through which it will be monitored 24 hours. In fact on Friday 4th. July a female tigress was also brought to Sariska and successfully released in another enclosure near the first one. The tigress was selected as a mate for the male tiger and the pair will be released in the wild after a few weeks. Let’s hope and pray that the project for breeding and re-establishing tigers in Sariska Sanctuary is a complete success.

Original Stories:

The Times of India - First Male Tiger released.
The Times of India - Tigress released .

March 23, 2008

SAVE THE GANGES RIVER DOLPHINS

ganges_river_dolphin_114116_125619 Most of us know about River Ganga or Ganges. It is one of the biggest river of India

and considered to be the holiest of rivers. Most of us from India have visited and taken a dip in the holy waters of river

Ganges. But do we know that Ganges is the home to fresh water Dolphin. Few of us know that Fresh Water Dolphins

[ Platanista gangetica ] live in Ganges have been there for ages.

The Ganges River Dolphin or Susu as locally known are found in the Ganges, Bhramaputra , and some other

rivers in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. They are also know as blind Dolphins as they do not have lens in their eyes.

According to the Hindu mythology as we all know the River Ganges came down from the heaven and from that time the

River Dolphins have been a part of the Ganges. The river Dolphin was revered and considered to be a very sacred fish

even in the third century BC. during the time of Emperor Ashoka. It was one of the worlds first protected species, as it

was protected under a special status given by Emperor Ashoka. Today the River Dolphin is an endangered species, there

are many reasons to the reduction of its population. The construction of many barrages and dams is one of the reasons as

it has divided and restricted the colony of dolphins. The main reason is pollution. We all know that river Ganges is

polluted but do little about it. Fishing is another reason for the decrease in dolphin’s population. As the river dolphin is

blind it cannot see the nets and get easily tangled into them. Their habitat is degrading and so are they.

Map image

The River dolphins have a chance in form of “Dr Sandeep Behera “The Dolphin

Man”. Dr Sandeep Behera is the Freshwater Programme Coordinator for WWF-

India. He is know among the local villagers as the Dolphin Man. Dr. Sandeep has

worked tirelessly for the last 13 years to try an save the Ganges River Dolphins. In

particular his work has been focused on the 164 km. stretch of river between Bijnor

and Narora. This area is about 200 km. from New Delhi. He has been able to persuade the local government to put an

ban on commercial fishing and sand mining among the river banks. Due to his involvement and research we now know

that as like canaries sent down mines to warn of toxic gases the dolphins in our rivers can also warn of polluted water. A

major threat to the Ganges river dolphin has been the extensive damming of rivers for irrigation and electricity

generation, which isolates populations and prevents seasonal migration. Other threats include chemical pollution, boat

traffic, hunting and human disturbance. This species has also been hunted at times for oil, fish bait and food by local

people.

Well, now we know that such a beautiful species is in danger we should help in whatever way we can to

make things better and try to save them form getting extinct. It is sad to know that the river dolphin which we in India

considered to be a heavenly being and had revered it is near extinction. It is already protected under the wild life act. But

unless we the people of India will not co-operate and help there is a limit to which the Government or WWF can do. Stop

commercial fishing, stop using soaps and other things while taking a dip at Ganges, stop using the river as a dustbin and if

we want to do more the WWF and The Dolphin Man are there to guide us.

Links:

* Swimming blindly down the Ganges
*Ganges River dolphin
*Conserving the Ganges River Dolphin and improving livelihoods
* The Red List of Threatened Species

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March 9, 2008

SAVE THE TIGERS – The Last Stand

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India has been home to Tigers for a very long time. If one has seen a Tiger they are just awed by the beauty, power

and aura of the magnificent beast. Tigers were found all over India and still as many as 16 States of India are home to the

Tigers. The latest census report released on 12th. February, 2008 by the Government of India reports that there are

only 1411 tigers left. The population of the Tiger has been reduced by nearly 50% and that too in a period of 6 to 7 years.

It is time that emergency and drastic steps are taken to save the pride of jungle and pride of India from becoming extinct.

tiger_population2008_image

[ The above picture shows the tiger population of India 2008 with figures, as on Panda.org. click on the image. ]

The causes of the fast decrease in the Tiger population are well known both by the government and common people.

The increasing pressure on Tiger habitats due to agriculture, industrialization and degradation and fragmentation of natural

habitats, forests and natural grasslands are one of the main reasons for the decrease of Tiger population and for that

matter all wildlife in India. The immediate effect of this is lack of natural food and habitat causes the wild animals to come

out of the forest area. This tends to increase the conflicts between the humans and animals. The other reason for the

population decrease is Poaching, which has been on rise recently. There is a slogan I have been hearing for quit some

time, ” If the buying stops, the selling will stop”. I think the rich people who are the only one who can afford buying the

skins for their fancies are probably deaf, as they cannot seem to hear the slogan.

The poaching problem should be dealt with strictly by the Government of India and the concerned State Governments.

The Forest Department of India is severely understaffed and they do not have the modern weapons and technology to protect

the Forest areas. The laws for the animal protection should be revised. The poachers should be shot dead on sight. How can a

forest guard armed with a stick [danda] or an outdated rifle fight the heavily armed poachers to protect the animals. It is time

the Government of India acts urgently.

The people of India should also join hands to save the Tiger. NDTV India has started a campaign to save the Tigers,

please help the cause by signing the petition, please go to the link below to sign the petition online and help the Tiger.

NDTV India : Save The Tiger

Other links for more information on Tiger Saving projects are:

* WWF

* The WILDLIFE PROTECTION SOCIETY OF INDIA (WPSI)

PLEASE IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPATHY GO TO THE ABOVE LINKS AND HELP SAVE THE TIGER.

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March 1, 2008

INCIDENT WHICH DEFIS NATURE : ANIMAL Vs. HUMAN

Filed under: Conflict, Elephants, Wildlife, animals, endangered, giants, national park — Jaideepsinh @ 1:55 pm

  

        

Map image

In a shocking incident which took place in the Garo hills of Meghalaya, a man was killed and devoured by

 a wild elephant. As per the report a man who came in the way of the herd was killed and devoured by the

elephant.

          The incident had taken place nearly a month ago and the same was confirmed by the Principal Chief

 Conservator of forests of Meghalaya, VK Nautiyal, who had been to Delhi for a conference of top forest

officials in the country. He said that it was not normal for an elephant to eat a man. And had added that it

was unlikely that the animal would develop a taste for blood or turn into a carnivore.

          Elephants are strictly herbivores and usually eat grass. There have been many incidents where-in

conflicts between human and elephants have taken place in which elephants have known to rampage,

 trample or batter humans to death. There have also been many incidents where elephants have entered

 farms and destroy huts and crops but there has never been an recorded incident of an elephant eating

a human being.

          This is surely an incident which defies nature.

DNA = Daily News & Analysis

October 23, 2007

Twist of Fate

Everyday we hear stories and reports about the wild animals being killed by the poachers. Sometimes its elephants, sometimes its tigers and rhinos being poached and killed by human poachers. But a report shows that their was a twist of fate at Kaziranga National Park in India, where a notorious poacher was killed by a female rhino. This news came to light after the range officer after hearing rumors did some thorough investigations.

A notorious poacher named Gaonbura Rongfar was killed by a female rhino. The poacher among with another person had entered the park at night for poaching of the endangered animal. But there was a twist of fate and the enraged adult female rhino who was there among with her calf, killed Gaonbura Rongfar.  The other poacher managed to escape with his life. The person who had escaped managed to give the news of Gaonbura Rongfar to his family through a local person. But the news of Gaonbura Rongfar’s death was kept secret by his family due to the circumstance of the death. It was only after the through investigation of the range officer and questioning of the family did they confessed the truth. Gaonbura had connections with several killings of endangered animals, he had been arrested in 2003 but as usual due to lack of evidence he was allowed to go free.

Why can’t people stop this madness of killing animals. The heading for the original article at the link below is very true, “The Hunter becomes the Hunted”. Although the mother rhino killed the poacher in self defense, I think it is the silent justice of God’s will.

Click here to read the original report.

October 13, 2007

Navratri is here & People in millions coming for darsan of Goddess Maa Ashapura

The temple of Goddess Ashapura is situated in the village of ”Matanamadh”, in Lakpath taluka of Kutch district in the State of Gujarat in India. According to the Gujarati calendar it is now the time of the nine day festival known as “Navratri” or “Navratra” which in english means nine nights. This navratri festval is dedicated to Mataji or Goddess [ Goddess Amba ]. During this navratri festival dance known as “Garba” take place for nine nights in which both men and women take part to dance to the tunes of traditional music and songs dedicated to the Goddess. During this nine days navratra festival many religious activities take place and people bring small earthen pots to their home and light diva and do puja of Goddess at sunrise and sunset and at night do “Ras-Garba” dance to show devotion the Goddess.

During this nine days people also show their devotion to ‘Mataji” or Goddess by visiting various famous shrine of Goddess’s. It is during this nine day navratra festival that the road going towards the ancient and revered shrine of Goddess Ashapura in Matanamadh comes to life. 2,00,000/3,00,000 people start walking towards the temple. People walk a distance of 350 KM. to show their devotion towards the Goddess. They go on foot from their cities and villages on food, walking for days. They cover on an average about 50 km per day. Starting at a distance of about 200 KM. from the Shrine of Goddess Ashapura, camps are set up on the roads at every 50 km or so by the volunteers to cater all the needs of devotees who come walking by, like food, sleeping tents, tea & snacks. and provide doctors and warm water for massaging tired Padyatri [ people travelling on foot ]. Devotees claim that lots of miracles happen. There have been reported incidents which claim the a person had come to Goddess Ashapura for darshan in wheel-chair and after the darsan of Goddess he was completely cured. He came for the darsan of Goddess Ashapura next year in Navratra walking all the way to shrine. To know more about the Holy ancient shrine of Goddess Ashapura click the link below.

Click here to go to website of Goddess Ashapura.

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August 14, 2007

Nokia Recalls Faulty Battery

Filed under: Battery, Faulty, Nokia, Overheating, Replcement — Jaideepsinh @ 4:55 pm
Tags: , , ,

In an advisory release on its website Nokia has stated that its battery BL-5C which have been used between 2005 – 2006 are faulty. Out of the total production of 300 million batteries, 4.5 million batteres manufactured by Matsushita Battery Industrial Co. Ltd. of Japan have the problem of overheating and some burst when overcharged. Over 100 incidents have been stated world-wide regarding BL-5C batteries.

     Nokia and Matsushita will be replacing these battery if the customer wishes to do so. If our mobile has a BL-5C battery we can check whether it needs to be replaced or not by checking it at the Nokia advisory page. It can be checked by entering the battery identification number. It is a 26 character id. number and can be found just above the ‘Made in Japan’. Lets hope our battery identification number is not in the advisory list of the 4.5 million batteries. And if by chance it is in the advisory list, lets hope it gets replaced soon. You can find all the details at Nokia Website.

August 9, 2007

Ban of Elephants in Mumbai

Indian elephantThe government has put a ban on allowing domesticated or pet elephants to be walked around the streets of Mumbai. This was win situation for the animal rights activists who had been raising voice against the cruelty and abuse to the elephants. And I agree that it was very abusive towards the beautiful giants to make them walk the busy roads of Mumbai city. The Mahouts or the elephant owners use these poor giants for begging for them. They are used in marriages where they are used to carry Grooms and seen as status symbols. They are used in ceremonies during festivals. Rest of the time they have to walk down the busy mumbai streets full of traffic and pollution begging from mumbaites. Some offer money and some fruits which is collected by the elephants by their trunks and handed over to its mahavat or owner who is sitting on the back of the animal. It is a shame to see these gentle and beautiful giants turned into beggers by their mahavats making them collect money and fruits offered by people for them while themselves sitting on there back shamelessely. The elephants do not even get proper food even though they are the sole bread-earners for the entire mahavat family. The ban was a most necessary and welcome move. But still the same abuse and cruelty is going on everywhere in India. But anyway its a good begining.

This news was reported on MNBC and Zee News

August 6, 2007

Nokia E90 defective

The new Nokia E90 is in the market. It is a good business phone. But I am afraid the quality of this premium product from Nokia is not so good. The Back cover near the speaker creaks and makes you feel that its loose. There is a hissing and static disturbance in background which makes the call quality terrible. And when you write about your problem to nokia care, firstly they do not accept it as manufacturing defect and simply advise us to take the instrument to nokia service centre and that the cover is not covered under warranty and we will have to bare the expences for the repair of the fault. It makes us feel that they are trying to tell us that the cover was loosened by our fault. And we all now know that this “back cover creeking” is being faced by people widely. So why does not Nokia accept the there is a manufacturing problem in their Premium product E90. Below is a copy I received in reply to my complain e-mail to Nokia Care.

[ Thank you for e-mailing Nokia Care.
This e-mail is in reference to your concern regarding Nokia E90. As we are not in a position to physically access your phone to detect the cause for concern, we request you to take your phone to a Nokia Care Centre. Our technicians will assist you in the best possible way. For location of a Care Centre nearest to you, kindly access the following web link:
http://www.nokia.co.in/nokia/0,,96076,00.html
We recommend you take along the proof of purchase while visiting the Nokia Care Centre. You may kindly note that concern with panel is not covered under warranty. As such, you will have to bear the service charges.
Before submitting your phone at a Nokia Care Centre, you may kindly take a backup of the phone contacts data to the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card. If the phone supports memory card, take a back up of contacts, messages, images, clips, etc. on to the memory card or on to the PC. Back up can be taken, provided the phone is in “Power ON” condition. The technicians at the Nokia Care Centre and Nokia India would not be responsible for the loss of data during the repair process. ]

You can see photo blog here: http://incobra.vox.com/library/post/e90-the-new-nokia-communicator-on-the-streets.html
Addition:
There is also a hissing sound while making and receiving calls. It starts with occational hissing in the background while the call is ongoing. It becomes presistant after  few days and the hissing is present in every call we make or receive. And after sometime it becomes like loud static disturbance which makes the call useless as we cannot hear the other party and the party on the other side cannot hear us. It is confirmed by some techs. at nokia service centre as microphone problem. Some pieces are repaired and some replaced. But still Nokia has not openly accepted both problems [ creaky back cover and Hissing and static disturbance ]. And both of these problems with E90 are spread widely in all geographic areas around the world. I think if they are ready to accept a small and cheap part problem such a battery [BL-5C] and recall it, Why not accept the problems faced by its Premium product users of E90 business phone world over and replace the faulty lot. In fact Nokia in India has stopped supply of E90 and sources say they will be put in market only when the new lot in which these problems will have been ractified come from the company. So what about the poor dedicated customers who with faith bought the E90 as soon as they hit the market?

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