GLOBAL WARMING: Melting ICE is the HOT topic

Global warming is a new age word which makes for heated political debates and various organisations squander to come forth to take pledges to eradicate this dreadful environmental problem. The entire drama, more like a circus, has very little trickle down effect amidst both the classes and the masses. Those who understand it dismiss it as if some social-activists are trying to garner self-acclaim and recognition. It is those individuals from the educated section of society, who seem to suffer from the passing-the-buck syndrome. ‘Some one else who required it will take care of it’ seems to be the new mantra with the socially vibrant genre of people. And that forms just the upper half of the social pyramid, with the peak comprising of body corporate.

This brings me to another new age words that seems to be making rounds: CSR-Corporate Social Responsibility, albeit most companies forget that the responsibility that they need to take up does not limit itself to a short term goal.

Let us understand the implications of CSR mishandling with a small statistical interpretation. In the year 1990 the Montreal Protocol was revised and all the original signatories agreed to come up with a mechanism to eliminate CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) in totality by the year 2000. Although there was a deadline to replace aerosol sprays especially while producing hair sprays, deodorants, room fresheners and perfumes by the year 1979, the aerosols are merely diluted, and this is not too effective to save the ozone from depleting. It merely reduces the pace with which the ozone layer can diminish. In the year 1995 alone the French perfume industry saw the launch of around one hundred new brands of perfumes. Moreover The Global Cosmetic Industry reports for 2006 for the US alone shows that Fragrance industry stood out at the third position in the 2006 cosmetics and toiletries market, showing strong growth, with an increase of 7% to reach $30.7 billion USD.

Looking at the larger picture the reason for this boost in business is demand in the market for such products. Thus what is expected out of the youth today is to mere change their habits. Simple things like using a roll-on perfume instead of sprays, or get your car serviced every month to reduce emission levels would suffice a beginning. It is high time that the negatives of the society be used constructively.

Those who are a part of the lower strata of the same social cycle can never understand why do those whose seem to be educated use these words. In many ways they are like little children who emulate by action of the elders and can understand the most complicated of things if explained in a simple and lucid manner. This demonstration effect wherein the poor imitate the rich can be used constructively to emulate positive activities. Thus cultivating clean habit not only is healthy for you but the environment on the whole. You are not required to join a cult to begin safe guarding the environment. If you decide to take care of yourself, the nature can take its own well being more seriously.

A NEW FACE OF COMMUNICATION.

A NEW FACE OF COMMUNICATION.

The first time I saw a cell hone was probably in 2001, when I was in my 12th standard, when my brother pestered my mom for it when he was in his FYBE. It was a Nokia 3310, and the both of us went bonkers exploring it! Apart from the ring tones, picture messages and the funny SMS’es, his concern was which service provider to pick from? My first cell phone was into my palms when I started working. As a trainee I was getting paid peanuts, and so I had to settle for something less than the contemporary. It was a Sagem MYx1. It could hold only 45 messages, and could neither have ring tones or picture messages. But it was special; it was the most expensive thing I bought my self. It was my independence and moreover no one could figure out how to unlock the keypad, it was also in my total private haven!!

But that is a story of May 2005.A full year, and an expired cell phone warranty later; our concerns have drastically taken a u-turn! I set out on an epic journey with a trusted aid into the unexplored world of wireless communication. It never crossed my mind to check out any models of cell phones because of the fact that I was oblivious to existence of so many models! GPRS, GSM, CDMA, TDMS, UMTS, cam Quality, Blue tooth, infra red ports, real player, media player, fm radio, java enabled games, battery life, mega pixels, zoom levels, video recording time; the humanity!!! It was indeed a maze of uncharted territory wondrous electronic gadgetry! I remember standing in front of the glass casing and wondering, which one can I afford? While my friend exclaimed with total glee and absolute precision, the features and facets of each model in great detail!! He went on to tell me how does GSM differ from CDMA, and where the infrared port is, he also told me which one he wants to buy for him self. Men and their machines!! So any way, the one that I picked was a Sony Ericssion k750i. Even though the Walkman phone ‘w- series’ craze was at its peak, I could seriously not stand the orange tinge. In the end I seconded his opinion as it came to me with most features belonging to the league of a high-ended NOKIA handsets, in an affordable package. Sony Ericssion, is truly, the poor man’s Nokia!!

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: Let’s Empower Her

The word empowerment by itself gives out a strong emotion. To empower means to give authority, and in the current era where selfishness prevails over common sense, it is easy to see why such a powerful word is been used around every now and then. It is this precise reason that gives those discriminated a penchant need to fight to be empowered!

Women in urbane India are vigorously seeking empowerment in reality, but they are enlightened and are most certainly vying ferociously for their independence. Depending on the socio-economic situation a woman finds herself into, the empowerment and help she desires takes drastic turns.

In the lower socially strata, it is not unusual to find women battered black and blue! They are a soft target of unfulfilled whims and broken fancies of their husbands, brothers, or fathers. Talk about undue influence! The higher you climb this social ladder, you would be amazed to realise the levels of secrecy, and behind how many closed doors various forms of abuses are carried out!! From verbal abuse to battery, from molestation, sodomy to rape, and from emotional abuse to dissociation, every such incident has a very adverse effect on the self esteem and self-determination of women.

The most flawed provision by far is creating minority quotas for women. In a country which is torn by rift of groupism since independence, it is really not in the interest of the larger public that such reservations be made in urbane India. Women elude enough charisma, grit and determination to achieve what they desire. The only exception with reason of security is the ladies compartment in trains.

Although the government is trying to create an environment for nurturing the rights of women, at many instances it tends to become too generalised in nature. The laws and provision, albeit progressive, are often neglected to be implemented in the most obvious conditions. What I wish on this women’s’ day is to have laws that are so needed by the land in question.

In rural and tribal India, women need representation of their views, they are in minority and their rights have to be protected. They need to be sheltered from exploitation, physical and mental abuse as a priority. In urban India on the other hand, women don’t need representation, but they want equality, and freedom from verbal, sexual and emotional abuse more than ever before.

Women today have become all the more reformative, world over, and it is no longer her femininity that counts, but the modern ‘Lady’ has learnt to put her name above her gender.