WATER SCARCITY- -A GLOBAL RISK

     
                                WATER  SCARCITY----A GLOBAL  RISK   


From the last 10 days there was a continuous down pour in the city.Roads became lakes causing traffic jams everywhere,,making it difficult for the people to go to schools and offices.People were house arrested and in some places water entered into the houses and  cellars .Everything in their houses was submerged in water and the vehicles in the parking areas also submerged in water.

As I was witnessing this disaster helplessly, I was reminded of a situation a few days before when there was terrible water scarcity and every household had to buy water.What is this paradox. This is the consequence of  poor water management.There is no proper rain water harvesting to absorb rain water in to the ground.Construction of houses indiscriminately on the lakes by closing them.and no awareness on water conservation are responsible for this situation.
Water scarcity is ranked by World Economic forum as the world's "top global risk".I feel that now every one of us should do our best starting from home to provide our future generations clean drinking water.There are twin problems related to water, water scarcity and water pollution.
It is irony that one part of the world uses fresh water even for flushing in the toilets whereas another section of people do not have access to clean drinking water.
Global food sector uses 70% of the world's fresh water and the remaining 30% is used for drinking and industrial purposes. For producing one kilo of rice 3500 liters of water is required.As per UNESCO records 85% of the world's population lives in the driest half of the planet.783 million people do not have access to clean water and 2.5 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation..6 to 8 million people die annually due to water related diseases.This is a very pathetic situation.These are inter related problems.Lack of clean and adequate water lead to poor sanitation leading to diseases and deaths.
Demand for food is predicted to increase by 50% by 2030 and by 70% by 2050.There will be 60% increase in demand for energy from hydro power.Increasing agricultural activity will substantially increase both water and energy consumption.,leading to increasing competition for water.
This may lead to water conflicts.Attempts are being made to avoid water disputes.Water is not confined to political borders.There are 276 trans boundary river basins in the world.Over 90 international agreements were drawn up to share water basins on the African continent.Such agreements prove that trans boundary waters proved to be a source of cooperation rather than conflict.
But unfortunately with in the country[India] water conflicts are increasing.Between the states like Karnataka and Tamilnadu .Maharashtra and Andhra pradesh and tTelangana and Andhra Pradesh we are witnessing that people are the victims in the water disputes.
Another issue is waste water treatment.90% of the waste water in the developing countries flows untreated in to the rivers,lakes and coastal zones.It proves dangerous to health.food securityand access to clean drinking and bathing water.To solve this problem,a machine "omniprocessor"invented by Peter Janicki,to treat sewage water is ideal.Sewer sludge is put in to Omni processor.where it is boiled in a large tube.The water vapor escapes from the waste and goes in to a cleaning system inside the machine.With in minutes it is filtered and clean water is supplied.The left over waste is turned in to steam ,which powers the machine.That way energy is also saved.
I feel that at the individual level also we should conserve water to avoid future risk of water scarcity
 and the resulting conflicts.I suggest a few ways to conserve water at the individual level
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or when washing hands until you need a rinse.Fix your leaking taps and faucets.Re-use the water used for washing vegetables etc.in the kitchen by watering the plants.Don't run the washing machine or dish washer until they are full.While hand washing the dishes turn the tap off until they are scrubbed and ready for a rinse.Stop over flow of over head water tank.

I hope at least few people agree with me and be cautious in water consumption.

DISEASE --------- PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT.

The most common problem every one is facing today is illness,mental or physical.Some time or other we all fall sick any time in our life.As the saying goes "prevention is better than cure", if we focus on few things ,we can prevent many diseases.With the advancement of science and technology,there is also an increase in health related issues.Excessive use of chemicals,indiscriminate use of drugs,Air and water pollution,lack of sanitation,improper management of garbage,unhealthy and unhygienic life styles,stressful jobs , overcrowded cities and towns,lack of awareness about natural remedies for sickness,malnutrition and the list is endless,if we see the reasons for health problems.

Whatever may be the reason ,keeping good health is our utmost priority today.If we observe our life styles to day,as we are adopting more and more technology in our day to day life ,we are moving farther and farther from our mother nature.Though it is not possible to totally avoid  modern life style,we can follow Nature's laws to some extent.Human body has an excellent inbuilt mechanism to repair itself.It has an excellent immune system.It will do its best in fighting diseases.If its immune system weakens it sends signals in various ways asking us to awaken and recognize the need for controlling the situation.But very often in our busy life we ignore or fail to recognize the signals.For example cold and fever when immunity is less,diarrhea when there is problem in digestion or food poisoning, headache for migraine or stress or lack of  rest or food  etc.Mostly we can identify the reason if we keenly observe the signals the body is sending.Many minor ailments can be cured if we follow small home remedies. See the birds, they get up with Sun rise and go home by Sun set.Finish eating before Sun set.See the dogs,if they are sick they starve and select some grass and eat to overcome the sickness.These little beings follow Nature's laws  in their life style to manage their health.But we immediately start using chemical drugs,if we have a small health problem.If we have fever ,we control immediately with some drug,for a minor head ache or cold we use tablet.It may give relief temporarily, but frequent use of drugs may lead to other side effects.

In olden days people used to fast for one or two days if there is fever.Sufficient rest to digestive system and other internal organs may some extent help controlling the problem.Body mostly repairs it self if there is proper sleep and rest.There are so many natural and herbal home remedies to control many health issues.But in the present busy life style we are ignoring these harmless,side effect free natural medicines.Not only natural herbal medicines, proper exercise and disciplined life style also necessary for keeping good health.In another blog which I am starting shortly,I discuss simple and easy to follow home remedies for certain small health problems.For example Taking lime juice mixed with water and honey in the morning on empty stomach  boosts immunity and controls cold.

However if there are major health problems ,one should immediately go for medical aid and consult a doctor.But with preventive care we can overcome many health problems.Proper food rich in vitamins and proteins ,proper exercise and rest.proper life style,cleanliness and carrying no tensions are the main things for which we should give utmost priority in keeping good health.

POPULATION ------A POINT FOR CONCERN.

        

           The earth comprises of different species of population.Humans are the most developed and intelligent form of population on earth.This is also the most harming species on the Earth.People around the world already reached 7 billion figure which is alarming.The projections show that ,it is going to cross 10 billion by 2050,,if the present rate of growth continues, which is a point of concern for every one.

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 The  projected population is like this
                     


 The accelerating growth in population,,known as population explosion is a hindrance to the development and it is a burden on the society.The reasons for population explosion are-

1.  Increasing life expectancy or declining rate of mortality.
2.  increasing rate of births.
3.  lack of education
4.  poverty and ignorance.
5.  declining infant deaths.
6.  A faith that children are gift of God.
7.  Advanced Medical science.[like vaccines for controlling many diseases]
8. Lack of awareness about the consequences of over population.  
9. Lack of canvassing on the birth control measures.

      Whatever may be the reason the present growth rate in population is leading to too many problems and it is a threat to the future generations also.Limited resources are being shared by too many people.Hence declining standard of living and poverty are the serious problems today.Cities are over crowded everywhere causing pollution,lack of sanitation,scarcity of water and food and increasing crime.
There is fast depletion of resources,minerals and pure water.People are responsible for making the earth no more livable.We are not giving our future generation,the same pure natural resources as we got from ancestors.We are not giving the same quality of life as we got.Technologically we may be advanced now.But where is the pure drinking water?We are adding minerals and drinking artificially treated water.Where is the pollution free air?We are conditioning the air to protect us.Where are the naturally grown grains and vegetables?We are using chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase the yield to feed too many mouths.We are even manufacturing seeds in the laboratories.Every thing is made artificial and polluted now.
Malthus, a great economist,profounder of Malthusian theory of population explosion,stated that population increases at geometric proportion where as food supply increases at arithmetic proportion
That means if population growth is 2, 4, 8,16 , the food supply increases as 1,2.3.4,and so on.If proper measures are not taken to to control population, Nature it self applies certain checks in the form of floods,famines,earthquakes etc. to control excess population..This is what we are  witnessing today.
It is very serious problem today which every one should think of and take proper action irrespective of his/her race,religion,country or nationality.That is the only way to give the gift of quality life to our children.Otherwise people have to wage wars for food,water and even land and air..So let us be conscious about this.

MONEY AND THE MANKIND

           
                                                       Money and The mankind.

     Ever since I started the blog I wanted to share my thoughts on many issues.But there was a mismatch between my thoughts and my free time.It was very long ,since I blogged last time.Today I would like to take up the topic "Money", the most important part of every one's life.Money is defined by an economist as "Money is a necessary evil".  A very apt description of money.Money is a miracle maker.
Money is the most powerful tool of modern age.Money is the dictator of mankind.Money is the solution for 90% of the problems,that humans face.Money is the elixir of life.Ever since Money was invented,it had undergone many shapes and forms,but its purpose remained the same.It is a measure of value and a medium of exchange.Different countries and cultures used different material for making Money
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Human life is so intertwined with money that ,it is the basic necessity of life .There is no food,shelter or clothing without Money.The very survival of  people or countries is depending on Money.That money ,which is invented by man is now ruling his life.That's why it is a necessary evil.Now it has become the very purpose of life.Life comes to standstill without money.Not a single day will pass without Money.people around the world toil day and night only to earn Money.There are various ways to earn Money.Some people earn through employment and some others through business.Somebody earns honestly and some one else illegally.Some one exploits  others and somebody is exploited in this process.Someone is lucky enough to make a lot Money with minimum effort whereas somebody is  unfortunate to earn  to fulfill his barest necessities.Some one doesn't know what to do with his unlimited Money while some one else is badly in need of Money.Why these imbalances?Is there any mechanism to match the affluent with the needy,so that the needy gets financial support from a generous rich?Such support should not be free.The needy should repay it when he overcomes the problem or by doing some service to others,Unfortunately we don't have such organised system  to bring these people together.Many of the problems can be solved many suicides can be stopped if we put it in to practice.No one in this world should be given any thing free of cost. That leads to laziness.The one who gets Monetary help ,should be made to repay it later if he can,if not he should be made to render some service whatever and wherever possible.
 Of course some philanthropic organisations are doing their best to help needy.But identifying the true and genuine needy is the real task in  this process. But there is always a way where there is a will.
 Money gives mental stability and physical health.Philosophers say to renounce the worldly things.Yes of course,even after renouncing the materialistic things,doesn't any one need Money for buying food ,shelter and clothing?Where from he gets without earning/ So ,to me work is worship.One should not be greedy or fraudulent  in earning Money. One should be truthful and honest in earning.he will be definitely blessed by Goddess of wealth.