Role And Importance Of Travel

·         Travel is exploring the things, the places, the culture and heritage at different places, the customs. It is a refreshment activity, for entertainment. It gives joy, immense pleasure, it takes you to another world. Many of them have a habit of traveling to different places. 

·         It is like going from place to place, from country to country. It refers to activities like journeys, typically a lengthy one, one geographic location to another. It can be by foot, motor-car, train, airplane, ship etc.,

·         Health, happiness and pleasure: It gives us joy, amusement feeling, gaining health and even broadens of mind. One sees the beauty of nature, the rivers, streams, mountain falls, green trees and deserts and many more.

·         Good part of education: It educates travelers. More than reading about anything, by seeing it directly we get to know more about it and it reminds us all over time without books and stays forever in mind. We can recall it easily from memories. It makes subjects of study clear and interesting for students.

·         Opportunity to meet new people: It brings into contact with different people and their ways of life and culture. Their religious customs, manners, heritage etc. 

·         Promotes to develop national unity: one can overcome narrowness, prejudices and superstitions. The curiosity to travel from one place to another makes feel like people do not remain confined to a place.

·         We can learn new languages, their local words and usages. One can get to know about business opportunities.

·         Now-a-days individuals are limiting their boundaries to confined surroundings. It is important that they know what is happening around them not only economically and intellectually but also politically. 

·         Travelling helps in exchanging of ideas with other, makes cheerful and pleasant companions, teaches adaptability. People who travel deal with all comforts of life, to live with and accept the differences. It gives adventurous excitement.

Importance Of Volunteering As Part Of Curriculum And Its Benefits

 1.     WHAT IS VOLUNTEERING?

Volunteering means to carry out a duty or a job without expecting repayment or remuneration. It is volunteering with one’s own free consent in a way out to help others. Volunteering can be individual or can be formed as grouping together for a common cause. It is just coming forward, enlisting, signing up in some activity, or a way step forward, advancing oneself in presenting without expecting and monetary assistance. It gives an individual immense pleasure in volunteering a service. 

2.                 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO VOLUNTEER?

a.     Volunteering work in real time for social impact to contribute best part to achieve goals. 

b.        Volunteer community service across the world gathers emerging youth leaders who work for common social activities to bring a social change in society through service orientation. In real time how volunteers take action in remote local communities can be monitored and tracked. 

c.       It helps an individual to take initiatives through advocacy skills, leadership training and gives empowerment for youth specially.

d.  It broadens skills, develop new interests, involvement in the community.  entrepreneurial responsibilities, to develop communication more efficient manner, contribute towards society, capacity building nature etc. 

e.   One can get introduced to others during the volunteering, Personal orientation induction to society

f.         Supplementing or gaining experience with guided experimental learning curriculum, it helps build our confidence, transferable skills, self-awareness and cultural intelligence

g.      Especially for school and college students, some are introvert and extrovert nature. Volunteering programs can be good for introvert students, they can slowly erase their fear of speaking publicly and freely express their ideas and move comfortably. For extrovert students it can be best podium to share their views and notions. 

h.      It also gives placement assurance in companies. Adds a weightage to our academic. Though it is not paid, gaining experience and putting forth those experience gives fruitful results. 

3.                 BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING

a.          When one volunteers to help out someone such as a friend, teacher or parent, one is immediately seen as selfless and helpful. 

b.    When you help a teacher to clean the classroom or get involved in cleanliness campaign at the school or other community projects, your standing would be elevated. 

c.        Teachers and adults would look at a young person who volunteers his or her time for certain activity as mature, responsible and deserving of respect.

d.   In addition, volunteering with an organization such as orphanages, community centers and other non-profit organizations, one can interact with society at large. 

e.      Through volunteering time, effort and skills one would learn more than what money can buy. You can learn to be bold, assertive, independent as well express your opinions and gain communication and interpersonal skills.

f.      It allows one to become more mature at a relatively younger age. When you are exposed to volunteering at young age be it at the home front, school or their organization, you would learn the importance of responsibility in carrying out your duties to the best of your ability. Embarking on volunteer activities would enable one to learn survival skills such as ability to express ideas, hardworking and diligence.

g.     It exposes one to many interesting ideas and issues. Not only enhancing general knowledge, but how to deal with problems, challenges as well dealing with different types of personalities.

h.    Getting involved in donations, charity drives, Crowdfunding sources makes us involve in Corporate Social Responsibility, Independent and stand on ourselves.

 

Can Video Gaming Help Solve Real Life Problems?

 After being generalized as addictive and having predominantly negative side-effects, the opinion on video gaming has matured over time. Over the past decades, experts and people in general have acknowledged certain positive aspects linked with the space. As an activity associated with the younger demographics, it has become an established tool for habit building, problem solving and cognitive - skill development. With this outlook in mind one can argue that video gaming contributes to increased awareness and sensitivity. Thus, they can enable change via fostering characteristics like being spontaneous, reflexive and alert from a young age.  

Although this stands true, it is massively dependent on the nature the industry functions on, the responsibility the creators uphold and the intent behind the games. These games are on one hand, reinforcing the present stereotypes and on the other breaching the barriers of the current entrenched ideologies. Holding the power of instant gratification and enhanced interaction a video game today can shape ideas and define mindsets. If the industry limits itself to the propagation of ideas like violence and aggression, then we will have lost its currently untapped potential.

As famous saying reads that we can take the horse to the river but can't force water down its throat. This is a huge obstacle in realizing the objectives of textbook based education. In this context, video gaming has an opportunity to crack through the seeps and enable real life action. If these games can drive people to roam around roads to collect Pokémon’s, then I believe we can also motivate them to plant a tree, save water and take to the streets to solve real life problems, through the same medium.

If we can study and identify what makes video games so addictive and appealing, and apply them in real life settings, it can be an expressway to success. Video games instill in people a hunger to achieve time based tangible goals and become go- getters, which is key to solve real life problems. Stress issues are huge concerns today, the role of video gaming as a stress buster can help today’s minds focus on and crack the real problems.

Are Children Under 10 now Growing Up in a Different World Than College-Age Students Did? How is it Different, and What Does That Mean for Them?

A toddler who hasn't even learned to walk properly won't eat his/her supper without the ‘benign’ presence of a smartphone. Smartphones are the new baits that probably have replaced the candies and are an easy to go solution for parents to tackle their kid's tantrums. These kids are growing up in a technologically advanced world. They have experienced restrictions, masks, sanitizers, lockdown, and so on thanks to the pandemic. I can't recollect a single day in my childhood when I didn't go to play outside despite, however, the weather might have been. 

 

Nevertheless, they are provided with more opportunities in terms of skills they can avail themselves of any course online.  Ed-tech giants publicizing 5-year-olds learning to code have become a common sight.  When we, “Gen Z” were in that phase we never had much internet exposure be it in terms of exploring the web or social media in fact as I recollect the internet itself was a luxury. We grew up playing games like Snake Xenzia, sudoku, etc. on the classic Nokia keypad phones. 

 

However, I believe social media and internet exposure to these kids is more of a bane than a boon.  Parents should track the kid's activity on their phones as kids till attaining a certain age are naive and lack the maturity to single-handedly get exposed to everything available on the internet. Hence it becomes our responsibility to make sure they see good things. Video games involve a lot of violence, including fighting & killing. It results in kids as small as my 7-year-old cousin expressing aggressive behavior over losing a mere game at such a tender age.

 

Certainly, they are portraying adulthood traits and behavior inappropriate for their age due to unregulated exposure to apps that aren't designed for tweens. I wonder what kind of teens they would be, definitely astute than us. 

The Most Shocking Modern Technology Inventions The Majority Of People Still Aren't Aware Of

It is not surprising that modern technology has significantly revolutionized human lives. It has eased the burden of the slave but simultaneously made us its slave. Our reliance on modern equipment has increased excessively in the past decades. Through this piece of writing, we explore some of such appalling inventions of modern time.  

An intelligent umbrella which not only lets you know when it's raining but can also notify you if you've accidentally wandered off without it. This umbrella also can share data with other smart umbrellas for cloud sourcing data to ensure it's accurate.

A Skill-Building Robot- it is designed to help boost the social and emotional skills of 5- to 10-year-old. Such robot is for children to find a compassionate pal who encourages reading/ drawing and sends them on missions meant to spur engagement with adults, siblings, and peers, such as better communication and talking about feelings. 

Brain-Box AI- Built for the Climate, the AI system uses data like weather forecasts to predict a building’s thermal conditions, then adjusts its cooling/ heating output accordingly. The technology now controls temperatures for more than 40 million sq. ft. of building space. It can help in reduce carbon footprints by as much as 20% to 40%.

The P&P Waste Paper Processor is a device that recycles paper into pencils by rolling and compressing paper around a piece of pencil lead with a small amount of adhesive. That’s incredible …isn’t it?

Bluetooth Masks is an N95 mask wired for sound. The past year has compelled us all to cover our faces. Users can use its Bluetooth function to make calls, request a song from their music library, or issue commands to voice assistants like Alexa. 

These were a few interesting items that we found fascinating. The list of such inventions and upcoming technology seems endless. Some of these would have looked utterly alien in the past but now they seem completely practical. 

Alas, I would like to highlight on the need to incorporate environment friendly technology. We as humans should strive to create a world with more compassion, cooperation and commitment towards saving earth and humanity. 

From Homeschooling to Successful Careers; An Overview With Relevant Examples

Growing technological advancement along with the global coronavirus pandemic have disrupted the functioning of schools. About a billion children all over the world are forced to do homeschooling, schools closing and reopening became the new normal in the past two years. After the second wave subsided children went back to schools with masks and shorter duration classes, but the rising omicron cases have locked them into homes once again. 

Though the concept of homeschooling isn't entirely new, there have been famous people who were homeschooled due to some reasons but these non-conventional students experienced extraordinary success in their lives.  For Example, we all know Thomas Edison the American inventor we all know him by his invention of the light bulb apart from that he also contributed to the modern age of electricity, phonograph, carbon button transmitter, and so on. At an early age, he developed hearing problems along with his imaginative and inquisitive wit he was considered unfit for school. Thus, his mother who was a teacher took him out and taught him at home. He took various jobs like selling newspapers, operating telegraphs, etc., and eventually experimenting in his home-based Edison laboratory gifted the world with remarkable innovations. 

Not only Edison but many famous presidents of the US like Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, etc. were homeschooled. Famous writer Agatha Christie was homeschooled till the age of 11.

There are numerous examples in today's world too, those who are not ready for that rote, rigorous formal education system opts the home education where they can learn according to their own talents and capabilities and can focus on better on Co scholastic areas. As 21st century needs skills which I feel is lagging in students especially in the overall education system be it at the school level or higher education. Even if there is a growing trend that students preparing for competitive exams after 12th grade don't attend school classes and take coaching and tuitions. This is more or less homeschooling.  Thus, it's a wake-up call for our curriculum officials to make the formal education system more accommodative of 21st century needs. 

E-Learning As A Revolutionizing Agent In The Current Educational System

The sudden Covid-19 outbreak poses a threat to humanity. The pandemic has disrupted the normal life of people globally. It has not only brought changes in economic, political activities but also a massive change can be seen in the education system. Due to the outbreak of the pandemic, governments all over the world have announced nationwide lockdown in their respective countries to control the spreading of the virus.

In such a situation our advanced technology has been solving the problem of teaching and the learning process. The recent development in Technology has made e-learning possible. What is E-learning? “E-learning also referred to as online learning, is the acquisition of knowledge which takes place through electronic technologies and media” (Abernathy, 2020).

A big thanks to the recent technology for it provided the students and teachers a new way of academic continuation through online-classes. E-learning has the potential to revolutionise the learning and teaching process. It has altered the communication process between academicians. There is no doubt that e-learning has brought tremendous alteration in the educational system but the consequences of such a learning can be viewed from two different perspective regarding its pros and cons and whether or not it has really revolutionized the education system.

FOR (in favor of e-learning)

E-learning has totally brought a break from the traditional way of academic learning. The entire world has now adapted to this new dimension of learning due to its advantageous changes. E-learning has provided for new opportunities to personalised-learnings. Students and teachers need not be physically present for classes or any academic meeting. The platforms like Google meet and Zoom are main tools where such academic interaction occurs.

The traditional mode of learning demands high costs input not just for universities but also for the students and teachers who have to travel from far off places to their respective colleges and universities. That is not the case in E-learning, where individuals can save time and money because of work from home and even universities put lesser input as compared to the physical mode of classroom learning. E-learning has also introduced us to an eco-friendly way of learning. Lack of traffic and lack of physical learning has resulted into less paper production as most of the materials are provided in a pdf or a word document format. On the other hand, students in physical mode of learning consumes high rate of paper and high transportation which contributed to more waste and increased air pollution.

Another change brought by E-learning is that it provided a better support for the differently abled students who could not give their 100% in the Traditional classroom learning. Such an opportunity is the result of three modes of learning styles under E-learning – Auditory learning, visual learning and kinesthetic learning.  

This system of education favored ‘Online Based Examination’ (OBE) which is much better than the physical mode of examination because students can sit for exams in the comfort of their own houses. E-learning enable re-scheduling the time of person’s task whereas in a physical mode of learning there is a strict routine and time schedule for classes as well as for meetings. The objective of providing a quality education (which is also the Sustainable Development 4^th goal) during this pandemic is fulfilled by the E-learning process.

Various technicians, thinkers and advocates earlier vision a digital learning society which seems to be turning into reality today. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, people could hardly imagine a life where the entire world could be engaged into a lifestyle where digital learning would dominate and become a primary mode of learning. So, a massive change can be seen in our education system through the e-learning which truly is a revolutionizing agent in the current education system.

 

AGAINST

Opponents of the e-learning process claim that the changes resulting out of such a process has more of negative consequences and is therefore not suitable for the current educational system. Many oppose the statement that online learning provides quality education to all sections of population. E-learning process has resulted in inequality through digital provide. It hasn’t solved the problem of the poor in getting more educational accessibility. Instead, E-learning has resulted into widening the gap between the rich and the poor due to the limited access to internet. In such cases the only option left for the students is to use public Wifi.

There is also limited interaction in an online-teaching whereas in the physical mode of classroom learning students interact face to face with the teachers and are more active. This is the reason why many students speak out how the urge to study is lost. OBE mode is another reason why cheating among the students is increasing as there are no teachers to monitor and messaging platforms like WhatsApp became the main application for notes sharing.

Trying to bring the college/school life at home is not that easy when it comes to time management. Household chores and other home activities might be a hindrance or disturbances for students while studying and attending online classes.  Apart from this there are other negative sides of e-learning and is not suitable for providing quality education.

Also, E-learning cannot be called a revolutionizing agent because even though there are changes taking place in our education system, the changes are minor and cannot be called as a revolutionary change because even before the pandemic digital learning existed and even when the pandemic gets over it is more likely that many countries will go back to the traditional method of teaching and learning process. The changes are minor changes and hence temporary.

Keeping in view both the perspective, the pros and cons of e-learning are both equally important for bettering our education system. Even the society we live is highly dynamic and so is our education sector. Some may welcome the changes in the system while others may find it difficulty in accepting the changes.

However, looking at the current situation e-learning seems to be the only way of taking forward our academic learnings. The fact that e-learning has given our education a new dimension cannot be denied. Whether the changes are revolutionary changes or not are still a highly discussed topic in today’s time. The answer to which lies in the time when the world gets back to normalcy.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abernathy, Donna J. 2020. “Online learning is not the next big thing; it is the now big thing”.

Boulton, H. “Managing e-learning: what are the real implications for schools?” The Electronic Journal of e-learning Volume 6 Issue 1, pp. 11-18, www.ejel.org

 

 

The Great Barrier & The Reef

According to the internet, we have lost over half the population of the Great Barrier Reef. It has suffered five mass bleaching events that are caused by rise in ocean temperatures. As the name suggests, there has been a great barrier hindering the survival of the reefs. What is the barrier? It is believed that the greatest barrier to its existence is climate change. However, a group of self-proclaimed scientists have done a joint research and concluded that human beings are to blame. The results showed that a variety of illnesses possessed by a number of human beings is the cause. However, we shall only discuss two common ones. The list of the diseases can be found in Research Window.

The first illness is Blamegame Syndrome; this is quite prevalent among policy makers, although ordinary citizens have been reported to show signs too. The major symptoms involve failure to provide solutions and blaming others for mistakes that have occurred. One study has showed that fossil fuel industries have been diagnosed with The Blamegame Syndrome, at this rate things are proving difficult as we know they do contribute a great share to its destruction.

The other most prevalent disease is the Renege Syndrome, the major symptom is failure to do something that you have promised. Studies have shown that decision makers are more likely to set good policies but very unlikely to follow them. With the rate at which decision makers are spitting sweet policies and promises at various conventions we are very much likely to get cavities. What’s even sad is that they have written humongous books only for it to be kept on shelves to accumulate dust.

It has been concluded that for as long as man continues to have those diseases, then we shall witness the death of the Great Barrier Reef and eventually our own extinction if we continue destroying life on planet.

Scientists have provided two major solutions to the illnesses one is taking drugs and the other is exile of the infected to Mars. On the bright side none of the illnesses is contagious and if you’re diagnosed it is recommended you take SRAS otherwise known as  Scientific Research Articles two times a day till the symptoms disappear or do some serious reflections (it is recommended to be taken simultaneously with SRAS) . To avoid generic ones, it is advised to shop them from your local library or university. 

Exile of the infected to Mars has caused a heated discussion and we recently received communications from The Undertaker, the President of Mars, he/she stated, “It’s rather preposterous that human being know more about Mars than they do their home. We wish to convey that we have forgone the invasion of the Earth as it’s almost a dead planet and of no benefit to us. We will appreciate if human stay out of our planet and learn to fix their problems.”

Researchers are hoping that man can learn a thing or two from the speech by The Undertaker. Researchers have also proved that Unicorns and Fairies exists on Mars but have failed to save the Great Barrier Reef.

Sustainability in Action: Seafood Industry

Oceans all over the world have acted as the primary source of livelihood for over three billion people. In fact, fish continues to be one of the most traded food commodities worldwide. However, “Is the fishing industry really as sustainable as they portray themselves to be?”

Did you know that 70.8% of the earth’s surface is covered by water? With four major oceans, holding about 96.5% of all the earth's water. These marine biomes encompass a wide variety of marine species, not to mention, they also diversified into different zones giving the necessary support required for the proliferation of marine life. Moreover, oceans play a leading role in global systems, making Earth habitable for humankind. 

For the past decades, oceans all over the world have acted as the primary source of livelihood for over three billion people. In fact, fish continues to be one of the most globally traded food products. However, as fishing industries partake in the cycle of production and consumption, many continue to question, “Is the fishing industry really as sustainable as they portray themselves to be?” 

The global fish production may have been able to supply 156 million tons of seafood for human consumption, but at what cost. At the current time, demand for seafood and advances in technology have led to fishing practices that caused marine populations around the world to decline at a rate that may soon result in a collapse of the world’s fisheries. It is undeniable that aside from the skyrocketing consumption, a continuous deterioration of coastal waters owing to pollution, overfishing, and climate change are the other challenges faced by the fishing industry. Due to this realization, many have switched to more sustainable methods of fishing but with it comes new economic challenges. 

To begin, seafood production comprises two methods, specifically, wild fish catch and aquaculture. Wild fish catch, as its name pertains to, is the harvesting of already existing populations of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals. On the other hand, aquaculture is the purposeful cultivation and subsequent harvesting of both freshwater and marine animals. Although both types of methods have its benefits, it does not come without downsides of its own.

First, fishes caught in the wild are less likely to contract diseases because they live in their natural environment. Secondly, less treatment and monitoring are performed in their habitat, leaving them free to thrive. Third, since fishes continue to hunt for their next meal, they have a more diverse diet. Unfortunately, wild-caught fishes have their disadvantages. 

First, there are several species of wild fish that are depleting in number and even close to extinction due to overfishing. Secondly, there are a number of fishing sectors that utilize destructive fishing methods which allow ships to make a big catch in such a short period of time. Examples of these harmful fishing techniques include dynamite fishing and bottom trawling which is extremely destructive as it alters the seafloor, destroying entire habitats as the ship tows the trawl. Every year bottom trawling destroys an average of 81.5 tons of deep-sea corals and sponge ecosystems that may take as long as a millennium to develop. 

On the other hand, farm-raised fishes are raised in a controlled environment. Their homes are man-made tanks above the ground or pens that are placed in large bodies of water. The first advantage of fish farming is that it allows for cheaper access to fish. Secondly, aquacultures have proven to be capable of meeting the rising demands of the population. 

However, the emergence of aquacultures can also serve as breeding grounds for unsustainable practices which will eventually bring about adverse impacts on the state of the marine environment. First, it is more probable for farm-raised fish to have higher contamination which in turn, can harm consumers. Secondly, farmed fishes are more prone to diseases due to unhygienic farming conditions. Third, high antibiotic use in farm-raised fish is common, which, unfortunately, are passed along to consumers. Fourth, fish farms can pose a threat to the condition of natural habitats of native fishes through the pollution of local waters.

In conclusion, both farm-raised and wild-caught fishes have their gains and losses. The nutrition quality of seafood largely depends on what the fish eats. Wild-caught fishes have a varied diet; thus, offering a wider variety of nutrients. In contrast, farm-raised fishes may eat the same diet, day after day. However, it all depends on the fish farm as the diet could consist of the farms’ fortified feed resulting in higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. 

Moreover, aquaculture seafood is not immediately guaranteed to be sustainable since some practices include the overfishing of wild fish to feed to the farmed fish. That is why choosing whether to support farm-raised fishes or wild-caught fishes, will still mainly depend on the fishing practices and methods of the fishery in raising and catching seafood.

In relation to the Sustainable Development Goals, responsible fishing practices are a key feature to building a sustainable ocean economy. Marine biodiversity is truly critical to the health of the people and our planet; thus, marine protected areas need to be effectively managed and well-resourced with stringent quality control procedures. 

Supplementary environmental legislations must also be implemented since in an absence of adequate regulations and laws, environment conservation cannot be fully realized. This will not only help reduce overfishing and marine pollution, both of which threaten the contribution of the sector but also encourage the fisheries to adhere to sustainable practices when raising and harvesting their fish. Doing so will ensure a food secure future and a stable source of livelihood for all.

Bibliography:

Destructive Fishing. Accessed June 25, 2021. https://marine conservation.org/media/shining_sea/theme_fishing.htm.

“FAO.org.” Fishery commodities classification | Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP) | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 25, 2021. http://www.fao.org/cwp-on-fishery-statistics/handbook/socio-economic-data/fishery-commodities-classification/en/.

 Fisheries, NOAA. “Global Aquaculture.” NOAA, June 8, 2021. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/aquaculture/global-aquaculture.

 Manyi-Loh, Christy, Sampson Mamphweli, Edson Meyer, and Anthony Okoh. “Antibiotic Use in Agriculture and Its Consequential Resistance in Environmental Sources: Potential Public Health Implications.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). MDPI, March 30, 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6017557/.

“Take Action for the Sustainable Development Goals – United Nations Sustainable Development.” United Nations. United Nations. Accessed June 25, 2021. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/.

The distribution of water on, in, and above the Earth. Accessed June 25, 2021. https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/distribution-water-and-above-earth#:~:text=About%2071%20percent%20of%20the,in%20you%20and%20your%20dog.

“The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020.” www.fao.org. Accessed June 25, 2021. http://www.fao.org/state-of-fisheries-aquaculture.

“Wild Caught vs. Farm-Raised Fish: Which Is Better?: Eco Caters.” Best Catering in San Diego, Los Angeles, & DC | Eco Caters, July 31, 2019. https://www.ecocaters.com/blog/wild-caught-vs-farm-raised-fish-which-is-better/.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) & Marine Security Problems

 The Small Island Developing States or SIDS is a distinct group comprising of 38 UN member states and 20 non-UN Members of the United Nations regional commissions. These regions are currently at risk in terms of social, economic and environmental domains. 

The SIDS are located in the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. The regions are rich sources for wildlife and flora diversity but at the same time face adverse aftereffects due to constant degradation in the environment. Keeping in view their environment and development, the United Nations in 1992 recognized their special case at the Conference held in Rio de Janeiro.

Having proximity and easy access to the massive water bodies around them works both ways - in and against their favor. Although there is a large scale production and investment in marine resources, the states are steadily losing their sole source of economic advantage due to climate change-induced biodiversity loss and hence exposure to global environmental challenges. The trading channels facilitating import-export between these states and the rest of the world turn out to be highly expensive and cost-ineffective. Mainly because of their remoteness and seclusion from the thriving international markets, the states ought to suffer huge economic losses especially during times of natural calamities when their sole breadwinner, that is, the produce from the ocean is at stake. The ocean covers up at least 28 times the landmass in these regions giving them a tag of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).

But with technological augmentation and deeper marine exploration for natural resources, the already fragile oceans’ ecosystem has been deteriorating over time. Hurricanes and storms following worsening climate change have threatened residents' livelihood - “Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate turned the 2017 tropical cyclone season into one of the deadliest and most devastating of all time, destroying communications, energy and transport infrastructure, homes, health facilities and schools.” Biodiversity holds utmost importance in the economical and spiritual lives of the communities residing on the landlocked islands as a rich source of revenue and food, but their heavy dependence on the marine resources and international traffic, a high growth rate of population, less resilience to calamities and lack of strong communication networks are pushing these regions to a declining phase of economic sustainability.

These biodiversity hotspots being disconnected from the mainstream media and the world are also susceptible to illegal activities and threats ranging from ‘traditional armed conflict to transnational crime and piracy, illicit exploitation of natural resources, climate change and climate-related natural disasters, and uneven development.’

These regions, unfortunately, act as a budding spot for illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons and even people that creates unwanted hindrances for the residents as well. The oceans become a breeding spot for possible transnational crime including robbery, terrorism etc and piracy with limited power status and capabilities of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). The area also caters to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) exploitation of the marine ecosystem raising a genuine concern for livelihood and economy. With an increase in the levels of greenhouse gases, effects of global warming are rampant in almost all the nations, but SIDS being in close proximity to oceans face the threat of impending disasters due to the melting of icebergs eventually leading to a rise in the sea level.

The regions may have been given unique status but there is a lack of international exposure and networking, limited resources and geographical boundaries and lack of financial independence. Despite the enforcement of counter-terrorism measures or non-proliferation obligations, their limited resources continue to drain evasively.

Ṭherefore, there is an ample number of threats to the peace and security of the residents and with the rise in illegal marine exploration the abundant natural resources are also on the verge of being endangered. Being small nations with limited capabilities and power dynamics, the SIDS truly require the attention of the multilateral institutions to emancipate them from financial and political restrictions and instead work in harmony to safeguard the international interests as well as the well-being of residents paving the way to termination of terrorism and other illicit operations that threaten the very sustenance of the landlocked islands and flourish as independent, futuristic flagbearers of maritime imports and exports.

 

References

1. July 2015 monthly forecast about ‘Security Challenges for Small Island Developing States.’
2. About SIDS-UN-OHRLLS (unohrlls.org)
3.  Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. (https://www.un.org/ohrlls/content/about-small-island-developing-states)
4. United Nation’s resolutions on SIDS (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/sids/about-unesco-sids/resolutions-on-sids/)

 

 

Humankind, Technology Augmentation and Everything In Between

“While the future is unknowable, the winds always blow in the direction of human progress.”     - Barack Obama

Today if you ask a layman about the first time when technology was introduced to humankind, they certainly won’t be able to put a finger on the exact date. But as soon as you hit the search engines online, an immediate response flashes, “Two million years ago- the stone age”.

It is fascinating to see that humanity has evolved so much, right from the pre-historic stone age to today’s highly advanced AI. In terms of agility, spontaneity and adaptability, our creations have also come a long way. 

Technology, a viable and crucial source in today’s era, has exceeded humane expectations and capabilities. Automation has completely taken over ancient human efforts, paving the way to a highly progressive state of affairs. In recent years, technological advancement has created a permanent place that has now turned into more of a ‘need’ to function in day-to-day lives.

The basic aim of the technology innovation was to reduce humane efforts through the use of science and create a superficial humane aid that carries out all the hardcore & strenuous jobs. Now, while the trepidation about this whole scenario was just among the workforce, its introduction and special abilities excited the capitalists. Right from the first water-powered machine to be ever made in the 4th century, to speculations regarding the term ‘supercomputers’ in the 1920s leading to the US creation of the world’s first supercomputer (CDC 6600) in 1964, it is safe to say the endless efforts were worthwhile.

Since then, humanity has never looked back. Every day we come across new inventions in the science and technology field, another tech or an AI is introduced to further lessen the human efforts. Technology and its rapid upgradation in all the sectors of the economy have undoubtedly made working more efficient and less burdensome. We are surrounded by unwaveringly surrounded by technology and artificial intelligence. The device you are reading this on? A highly advanced tech- The refrigerator to store all your perishables? Constantly evolving electronic device-a tech, the Fitbit showing your heartbeat and stamina level? A newly formed AI.  In 1937, the American sociologist Read Bain wrote that "technology includes all tools, machines, utensils, weapons, instruments, housing, clothing, communicating and transporting devices and the skills by which we produce and use them." Amazing, isn’t it? If one would have travelled back in time to convey humanity’s advancement in future, the early men might have considered them lunatic!

There’s so much more to the technological sphere than that meets our eyes. In the current fast-paced world where the clock is ticking too fast, having an AI by your side saves a huge proportion of your time. All your requirements are one click away. With the introduction of AI like Alexa and Siri, one can easily operate and surf the internet just through voice modulation. Needless to say, technology helps us communicate better with more mobility options. The entire world evolved from sending handwritten letters to sending direct messages via social media platforms. Thanks to the ever-engaging innovations by technology enthusiasts, our society is slowly heading towards a cashless and purely online based system. Technology has positively impacted millions across the globe and helped them in specializing in their domains, learning through lived experiences, getting insights into new skills and research programs. More or less, it has enabled the masses to look beyond the realms of reality and build something totally new. Technology has given wings to innovations and new hope for the sustainable survival of humankind.

Recently, the British Navy was seen testing newly formed jetpacks in the sea of their operation which confirms the fact that the future technology will encompass all human limitations and evolve to an entirely new level.

 “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.”-Christian Lous Lange, Historian

The advantages of technology augmentation may be incomparable to its cons but even a child knows that too much of something is dangerous. All the significant technological developments to date have left humankind awestruck with a hope for further explorations. This greed of ‘wanting more’ over the generations have had a bad influence on the young, developing minds. The feeling of achieving greater heights and exploring the unexplored has taken a serious toll on health and has made every need insatiable. Taking an instance of - “MARS Mission’. 

It has recently popped up in news articles that NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is planning to send a crew to Mars exploration mission by the year 2030. At first, the mere possibility of humankind travelling beyond light years seems unreal but as we come to terms with the sheer advanced mechanized era we exist in, the question of expanding humane boundaries comes into play. Even with extremely augmented AI and robotics, nations worldwide have failed to discover the depths of our oceans. According to the National Ocean Service, it’s a shockingly small percentage. Just 5 per cent of Earth’s oceans have been explored and charted – especially the ocean below the surface. The rest remains mostly undiscovered and unseen by humans. At this point, humankind has explored more portion of space than the big blue bodies back at home.^[1]

Another great disadvantage of technology is certainly the sense of dependency it creates. Artificial Intelligence created personal assistants like aforementioned Alexa and Siri might be playing you the best of music tracks but their use in front of children encourages the notion of ‘silver spoon’ wherein the kids learn from a very young age that calling out to Alexa will get them a faster response than their parents. With an upcoming generation of spoon-fed individuals, technology surely puts their potentiality at grave risk. Students no longer put in hours of hard work to complete an assignment but rather are flag-bearers of the “Google generation”-with hours of screen time damaging their eye muscles and making them less productive. The level of dependency on these technological gadgets is very unbelievable and highlights a darker side to the advancement.

Apart from this, another major issue in the technology industry is very often data breaches, that is, stealing of high-security information through hacking with mal intentions. Hackers don’t belong to a particular nation, they are omnipresent, just like our data. The cases of leaked credentials, sensitive and personal information through big companies have formed the news lately. The latest one being the Facebook data breach, leaking out the personal data of around 553 million users! Mere imagination of your phone numbers, addresses reaching people with bad intentions or ending up on the dark web sends chills to the core. Although there have been several innovations to curb the breaches and strengthen the competency of software programs, the technology remains ever uncertain. 

In this contemporary world where most of the jobs have been replaced with highly competent and dynamic AI, the value of human efforts is somewhat looked down upon. A machine may be faster than an average human but it can never supersede the core values and ethics. Moreover, it lacks emotions and the ability to feel, which differentiates it from a living, breathing soul.

Therefore, technology may bring you the utmost convenience and comfort but one must not forget the devastating effects it carries along with itself. To ensure a safe and sustainable future for humankind where humanity works alongside the growing modernization is what every leader should envision. After all, as said by Clive James- “It is only when they go wrong that machines remind you how powerful they are.”, it is in the benefactor of humankind to eradicate complete dependency upon the technology and instead evolve in terms of skills and become an irreplaceable resource. 

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^[1] An extract from “How much of the Oceans have we explored?”

  Link- https://www.worldwideboat.com/news/miscellaneous/ocean-vs-space

Moral Science Classes Should be Made Compulsory In Schools

Through our scientific and technological genius, we've made of this world a neighborhood. And now through our moral and ethical commitment we must make of it a brotherhood. We must all learn to live together as brothers — or we will all perish together as fools

FOR THE MOTION

In today’s rat race values are eroding fast. There is a total decadence in social and moral values. Children go to school daily thinking how to scale heights they will reach; how rich education can make them. In today’s cut throat competition even the parents instruct their wards that they should top in the class.

Childhood is a very impressionable age. The mind is like soft wax, so whatever one is taught at a tender age it leaves a deep impression. Therefore, moral science must be made a compulsory subject in school curriculum. It is also a science of human soul, it’s a mirror of one’s involved mind, one’s ethics. Moral science inculcate values in mankind and value education is very vital from childhood.

Moreover, children spend so much of their precious time in schools. Therefore, schools should shoulder the responsibility of imparting moral values to them. In order to make them self-reliant, confident and responsible citizens, they need to be imparted with value-based education, which only Moral Science can do. After all today’s child is tomorrow’s citizen.

Moral science is not a religion-based subject. Rather it eliminates fanaticism, supervision and violence. It preaches “Love all Serve all.” this value is lacking in today’s generation. It helps a child to pay heed to his home science and not to be laid away by worldly show. However, theoretical knowledge is not enough. Teachers should make their life exemplary to their students. The lives of great patriots and spiritual leaders must be brought to the forefront. Only moral science can stem the tide of rapid value erosion and motivate the students towards a healthy life. As a child is then trained emotionally, mentally and physically how to be a responsible citizen or a good son or a daughter. They can resist wrong peer pressure, intolerance and through right conduct lead forward their Nation. 

Furthermore, moral science helps a person to become a better human being. One becomes more understanding, patient, pious, decent and wise. One learns to do things without any selfish motives. Pleasure is derived in doing things for others as one feel that he or she is doing it for good. The end result is that the world can become better and happier place to live in. Peace and containment can be found.

Therefore, there can be no doubt about the fact that no other subject taught in school is as important as moral science. Let the light of spirituality shine through the eyes of the little ones.

AGAINST THE MOTION

I would rather emphasize the point that knowledge is big power and this power comes through learning not nearly moral science but all other subjects even more seriously and intensively like Geography would unfold the mysteries of different regions on the globe. The study of applied science like Math, Chemistry, Physics, Biology will unravel the past potentialities that can enrich our lives and resolve many mysteries about the atom and element, land and sky, stars and planets. Where is not much effort is required to learn ethics and morality, much mental labour is involved in learning subjects dealing with different branches of learning. Moral science teaches us about moral good and bad which can be learnt spontaneously and instinctively by watching the behavior of the elders we come across daily.

The great advancement in technology in conquering time and space has been possible because much more emphasis is being laid on the study of science. Now environmental study is being given more importance and it is made compulsory subject at all levels of school education. The global warming is threateningly increasing, poising unimaginable danger to our hard gained advancement in civilization more and more stress is being laid on protecting the environment and saving the fast-depleting resources for our coming generation.

Men’s march to higher and higher ladder of civilization will remain unhampered only if he gives himself a breast with the changing scenario and cokes with it on the strength of knowledge which and powers him to fight against any eventuality.

The harmonious development of a student’s personality can be possible with equal emphasis on the study of all subjects and not just becoming an island in to himself by simply meditating on God, life and death. Let such things be special subjects of religion and metaphysics to be taken up only by those exclusively interested in this particular branch. The more we learn about other subjects, the richer will be our knowledge.