Current challenges for our environment

Our environment is made up of physical, biological and human elements. These three are different facets related with one another. But human environment has begun to impinge and burden the physical and biological environment.

With help of some NGOs and government support, few people now have been aware of the seriousness of the matter. It is not efficient solve environmental problems on a national level but is a global matter.

Main problems:

Global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, energy and water deficits are all problems that challenge humanity and its progress. However, the aggravation of these problems can be prevented through education, awareness and action. Industrial Art is a field of knowledge that encompasses innovations and advancements for technological progress and environmental welfare.

Save Envioronment

Gradual global climatic warming (Batter Known as Global warming):

Global warming is a process in which Earth’s average temperature increases due to the emission of various greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, aerosols. This is a pressing issue, both environmental and political in nature. Global warming can result in loss of arable land, loss of snow cover, increased sea level, depleted ozone and inhabitability.

Ozone depletion:

It is a thinning of the ozone layer, the blanket of ozone gas that shields us from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It results fromchlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals used in refrigerator and freezer coils, aerosols, as well as automobile and commercial air conditioners, being released into the atmosphere. It is a global problem; the depletion of the ozone layer is the worst over the polar region.

Acid rain:

It is a broad term used to describe several ways that acids fall out of the atmosphere. A more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts: wet and dry. Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles.

Water deficits:

This problem is created by water unavailability of water. Earth has limited source of fresh water. In India major parts/cities are suffer from crisis of water.

Author

Megha Gupta

MSC-Biochemistry

Children: Are we caring enough?

We are past matters in observing rituals and ignoring their basic purpose. Our important days are many, like: Ghandhi Jayanti, Children’s days, Teachers’ days, Human Right day and so on. Before the flashing blindness of camera lights camera on eyes the so-called VIPs accompanied by their cronies can be seen with brooms to clean the street or spinning the wheel on Ghandiji’s birthday year after year, and the poor “great soul”- the Mahatma is forgotten for rest of the year. The same kind of hypocrisy characterizes the celebration of Children’s day on 14^th November (Birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru), when people can be seen sitting with orphans, - participating in various special feasts to mark the day. These anniversaries have thus become grand spectacles for playing to the galleries.

Are we caring enough for our children - the millions who are citizens of tomorrow? The answer is a big ‘NO’. We commit worst crime against humanity when we don’t allow children sometimes even to be born- just because they carry the stigma of being girls. And this crime of selective abortion of female fetuses is frequently committed by educated “middle class” in all parts of our country. Why…only parents of those who got rid of them on the sly with the connivance of doctors know the mystery. The poor girls have no choice - they are “nipped in bud” in urban India. The sex ratio has consistently declined across the country - 945 girls per 1000 boys in 1991 to 927 girls per 1000 boys in 2001. Life is worse for tribal area when no medical facilities are available. The rates of child mortality are the highest in rural India, where malnourished children are easy victims of all types of diseases. Life, when it becomes a hell in villages, poor have to trek to nearby urban centers or undertake train-journeys to the cities – for survival through a proper medical care.

But then sheer compulsions of survival dictate the quality or life - most of poor families have to send their children to work. Poverty and lack of awareness about the need of education among the parents have created the greatest evil – that of child-labor. India accounts for greatest number of child-laborers in the world - more than 20 million.

To eradicate the evil of child-labor elementary education is the key solution. We should appreciate government “mid-day meal” schemes to attract more children to schools. There are few NGOs working for child-laborers. They are taking initiatives for educations - arranging night schools or night crèches for younger ones. But the children who have attained an age of majority could be seen wasting their time – just hanging out. They struggle for living – some as shoe-shiner boys and others are rag pickers. These juveniles could be seen everywhere - on railway stations, bus stands, or on every road-crossings – just everywhere.

Among the child-beggars we face everyday and everywhere, it is hard to find out which one is genuine and which one is not – there are intestate-gangs operating across country who maim or blind children - making them object of more pity, in order to earn an extra rupee or two.

We have to save these children who have lost a power to smile – or are even afraid to smile. But instead, what are we doing for them? Are we caring-enough for our children, or just waiting for another November-14.

Hitesh

Matrican

Save Electricity - as much as you can!

1) Always turn-off lights and all electric and electronics equipments when you leave a room.

2) USE CFL-blubs instead of traditional light-bulbs.

3) Use natural lights as much as possible.

4) Use cooler or fan instead of AC.

5) Never keep fridge-doors open unnecessarily.

6) Unplug your mobile-chargers while not charging these.

7) Do not keep your TV / PC any other equipment in stand-by mode - as they do consume electricity while waiting for next signal to switch them on.

8 ) India is a blessed country - try going solar for as many equipments as you can!

Dreams Unlimited..!!!

Thousands of dreams we think of everyday - isn’t it? Then we also tend to stop and think, “Do dreams really come true?” Our answer - Yes, it does happen for many but it might not happen for few. Yes, everyone cannot be Frieda Pinto and get instant success. Some strive hard to achieve it, and some get it in a hard way like Oprah Winfrey did.

Where do we count ourselves? 90-95 times out of 100 times we crib and complain to that why he did put us on the other-side of success. Unsatisfied, stressed…with no meaning in life, we wander…we wander finding ourselves helpless and failed, cursing our lives!

But, hardly a few of us think whether they really have gone through the bitter truths of life - what we call a FAILURE in all respects and the toughest STRUGGLEs of life, are they really so?

Of course not, because God has given almost everything to most of us to lead a happy, contented life. Some are LUCKY like me and you - who are reading this blog, and some are UNLUCKY for whom I am writing this blog.

Unlucky they are, because their inabilities - in terms of physical or mental disability, poverty, illiteracy, inequality etc., which falter them on their ROAD TO SUCCESS on every single ride they take. Its rightly said that “tough time never lasts but tough people do….!!!” This kind of life does make them tough but it also does de-motivates them and pulls them down. Each time they try to move their face forward in direction of betterment, their so called inabilities slap them straight on their faces.

Do they regret and leave at that moment? No, not all of them - some perish and some flourish. How is that possible??

Of course, with people like YOU (who are not so unlucky)! And of course, with the DETERMINATION and HARDWORK these people put in, this is possible. All this happens because of GOD’s GRACE, he wants us to help each other and walk together towards success.

Every one at some point in life does want to do something for the society; for our own people but it doesn’t happen either because we can’t afford to do it, or more often we don’t know how to go about it.

“Even when you have nothing, you still have yourself, and that’s the most important thing.”

‘Matrica Foundation’ is that RAY OF LIGHT which helps in transforming these UNLUCKY people into LUCKY CHARMS. I found this foundation as a small way by which we can make a small but huge difference to someone’s life…just by helping these people surpass a few troubles, helping them to smoothen their somewhat bumpy road towards success. If at least once in your life there came a thought of making a difference to the society or towards the environment, please join it and contribute in whatever way you can. Let’s help them to realise their ‘LIMITED DREAMS’……..

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~William James

Written

Sharmila Kamat

MBA-HR

Sylvester Peter - with a nobel goal: dignity for slum children

Education for all

His goal dignity for slum children

Ref: Times Of India, 9th Aug, 2009

It is not very often that you come across stories of selfless persons devotin their entire life for some nobel cause - today’s (9th Aug, 2009) Times of India had one such article on Sylvester Peter. The whole article has been reproduced below:

A visit to this nondescript slum cluster in Vikaspuri throws up many surprises. The first ones to greet you are 70-odd streetchildren who come rushing with their arms stretched out. They say ‘hello, how are you?’ much as a ritual and don’t let you settle down till you’ve shaken hands with each of them. These English-speaking slum kids are the proud products of Angel Academy — a one-room shanty located in a dim-lit corner of this cluster — run by their beloved ‘bhaiya’ — Sylvester Peter.

Sylvester has been grooming, training and teaching slum children in this makeshift academy for nearly a decade. He’s no less than a boon for these underprivileged children, many of whom were ragpickers, petty thieves, housemaids and even drug addicts. Now, they go to school, dress up well, do not abuse, and ‘take bath every day’ — a criterion they now deem essential for being a part of Angels.
Sylvester, a holistic trainer by profession, trains children aged between 3 and 20 years. He meets them sharp at 5am every day for soccer and yoga practice. The children go to school and the academy starts again in the evening when Sylvester returns from work. His dedication, professional training and tireless attitude have instilled dreams in these children. Unmindful of their parents’ reluctance and sketchy backgrounds, these kids now aspire to become teachers, engineers and even ‘Zinedine Zidane’.
Sylvester says, ‘‘Many of them, including girls, have the potential to become national-level soccer players. They play really well and I would make sure they rise and shine.’’ As a routine set by their mentor, the students have to wake up at 4am daily. ‘‘Each senior student has been given the charge of a set of slums. The older students go to the slums allotted to them to wake up the younger children at 4 every morning,’’ he says ‘‘Students selfevaluate their work,’’ Sylvester says, adding that he makes sure his students learn English so they can be eligible for the corporate world later in life. ‘‘I don’t guarantee to make them doctors or engineers. But they will definitely become good citizens,’’ Sylvester says proudly.
The students agree. Sandeep, who has been with Sylvester for 16 years, says, ‘‘Bhaiya nahi hote toh main faltu ghumta rehta. (Had he not been around, I would have roamed about aimlessly).’’ Sandeep has now resumed studies and plans to become a professional photographer. Twelve-year-old Taqbir, who was a drug-addict earlier, says, ‘‘My classmates in school are jealous because I have bhaiya who taught me English.’’
The 36-year-old has been working for the betterment of such children since he was 13. Though Sylvester’s three siblings studied in a convent, his parents preferred to put him in a Tamil government school.There he came across the plight of his classmates, a majority of whom came from poor families. Soon, helping them out became his way of life. Friends may call him mad, his marriage may not have worked, but his passion for these children has hardly dipped. He manages the academy singlehandedly giving up all heearns. ‘‘Some NGOs and spiritual gurus offered help in the past but they always have strings attached. Political workers also came to meet me during elections but my children chose to turn them away,’’ Sylvester recalls.
He has provided the children with soccer kits, books, pencils and a computer. The immense love his disciples have for him shows. However, the rigid attitude of parents often acts as an obstacle, besides the lurking fear of demolition of the slums. But Sylvester has vowed to keep the show going. ‘‘I am working towards moving out of the slums to a proper academy. I’m trying to form a trust and will do it on my own if nobody comes forward to help.’’