NATURE’S ROLE IN GLOBAL WARMING

‘ The world is burning..’ goes the lyrics  of a song by the famous ‘POETS OF THE FALL’ , different reason of course but what brings home the fact after i hear the words is the consequence of rising temperatures, the mounting levels of carbon dioxide … the increasing methane clouding the atmosphere. Global warming is indeed a huge problem that has been affecting the earth for quite a while now. The drastic changes in the weather making so many places uninhabitable, air getting more polluted with every second, aerosol cans, littering, smoke and cars all factors are leading to dire situations causing the ‘world to burn’ and definitely not making it a better place to live in.

However, if this acts as some  form of a respite for all the environment freaks, humans are not the only ones adding up to the ‘warming’. The idea that man made pollution is responsible for global warming is not supported by the historical fact that the period known as the Halocene Maximum approximately 7500-4000 years before present- the time before the industrial revolution or aerosols or smoke fumes or factory wastes is considered to be the hottest period in the human history.  Another interesting fact is that earth is not the only planet to be experiencing climate change in our solar system. Infact, astronomers have announced that Pluto has been experiencing global warming too. NASA  been recording  massive climatic changes on Saturn and also on Neptune’s largest moon Triton whose surface once made up of frozen nitrogen is now turning into gas. Also the satellites that measure the temperature of sunlight have been recording an increase in the sun’s temperature meaning that the sun is warming up.

One of the natural causes of global warming is the regular climate change cycles, which occur over a period of around forty thousand years. Since the creation of earth, it has been experiencing alternate cycles of cooling and warming which continue even today. But this definitely doesn’t mean that the global warming skeptics are correct in suggesting to the world not to worry about it.

Methane gas that contributes the maximum in global warming is released from many areas of the globe, from animals like cattle as well. Also the wetlands and the tundra geography contribute to the condition that release this gas in the atmosphere and traps it causing the global temperature to rise. Large volcanic eruptions can throw so much dust in the sky that the dust acts as a shield to solar radiation and causes a cooling trend in the atmosphere

Also the changes in the earth’s solar radiation levels can have some impact on the earth’s climate. Increased activity can cause short-term warming cycles on earth. A NASA funded study in 2003 found that, “Changes in the solar cycle -- and solar output -- are known to cause short-term climate change on Earth.” Another significant cause can be the wobbly shape of the earth. As the earth spins, it does not achieve perfect rotation. It wobbles slightly, thereby alternatively exposing the northern and southern latitudes to more or less solar radiation. The wobble in the earth’s rotation has been causing changes in temperature of the atmosphere for many millions of years

 Now that we understand the natural causes, its important to understand the human causes as well and prevent them if complicate eradication seems to be an an uphill task. While the alternative warming and cooling cycles, change in the solar activity and rotation of the earth are natural events that have been occurring for a millennia, the scientific consensus clearly says that humans are a part of the problem. Immediate action to combat these effects is the call of the day. We cannot afford to wait as the well being of us and our children is at stake. It’s up to each of us to take responsibility for our actions. And yes!!! Don’t despair.. you have much more power than you think. If you can create a ripple, it has the potential to become a wave…

" Why go green and not pink , blue or yellow "


When I was a kid , like any other small 8 year old girl my favourite colour was pink and anything & everything to do with it used to attract me , somewhere it still does !
 But , as I grew up and looked around everyone was like
"Think green , Act green , Go green " ; 
This ongoing norm created a storm of questions in me , like whats this go green ? why only the colour green and not pink or any other colour for that matter ? The answer is extremely basic as to why the colour green is for our environment that is , Green is common in nature , as many plants are green because of a complex chemical known as chlorophyll which is involved in photosynthesis. 
Animals typically use the colour green as camoulage, blending in with chlorophyll green of the surrounding environment. Most animals like reptiles , amphibians & birds are green . But is this enough of a reason to choose the colour green and not PINK or any other  colour . Certainly not , The colour green's superiority is showcased in more than just one way in this world . 


- The colour green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to human eye than most colours.


- Oxygen exchange is better in the presence of the colour green.


- It has both a warming and cooling effect , just like our mother nature.


- Green denotes balance , harmony and stability. 


Psychologically , the colour green has a soothing effect , it helps alleviate depression , nervousness and anxiety . It offers a sense of renewal and self control ; Green is life , abundant in nature , signifies growth and renewal . This colour is pure and not formed out of any mixture of other colours ,it is a basic & prime colour and showcases its individualism by being a prime colour .


From a religious point of view , the colour green in many religions is associated with resurrection & regeneration . In Iran , Green is considered as a sacred colour and green jade stones in China represent beauty & virtue.
"Green is the prime colour of the world , and that from which its loveliness arises".


As a girl my favourite colour is still pink but , the colour green has proved its superiority in significance to the environment in competition to the other colours and now within me all what storms up is


"THINK GREEN , ACT GREEN , GO GREEN " :D


Ruhi Sharma

Effects of Online Media on economic and social life

      Until recently, business corporations dismissed most online communities as merely a platform for gaming and entertainment. However, with the youth market becoming more and more viable by the day, this segregation of potential costumers online represents a great way for business organizations to reach out in the cheapest possible manner.

      The biggest advantage of going online is that you can reach out to a large audience base without spending loads on television ads or banner campaigns. The beauty of online interaction lies in its simplicity, cost effectiveness and quickness. A newsletter to a selected group of customers can often lead to better results than widespread media campaign for the basic reason that you are reaching out to a selected group of people who have a high probability of being your customers at some point of time or the other. Besides proper service online often leads to a growth in business as most people who buy online are likely to review it in a social website or community. With a wide range of social networking and communities to choose from, going online can save the company much needed time and resources in finding out it's potential customers.

      The 1st Online Media Conference of the northern region is being held on the 7^th of august 2010 at the P.H.D Chamber, Sector 31-A, Chandigarh. The conference is centred around Online Media, with sessions on what is online media and how it can be distinguished from social media; How online media can be used for online marketing; And what are the legal constraints and opportunities in using online media.

      The highlight of the conference is an open forum discussion on how online media is taking over other forms of media, which will be presided over by four renowned personalities from electronic media, print media, radio and online media, i.e Jyoti Kamal (Chief of Bureau at Network18) , Ramesh Vinayak (Resident Editor, Northern Region, Hindustan Times) , Sandeep Tyagi (Creative Head, 94.3 MyFM) and Mayank Dhingra (Social Media Consultant).

To know more about the conference you can log on to http://www.omc.emagzin.com

WHY "SAVE WATER"? = WHY "LIVE"?

       Submitted by: Karan Saggi


"Go water the plants outside"

"But it's raining"

"So what? Take an umbrella and go"

           You may have heard the joke before. It's funny, no doubt, but the sense of humor indirectly shades a truth: We waste water. If not, we tend to waste water on unnecessary things. The man is foolish enough not to realize that there is no need to water the plants when it's already raining. .It's not exceptional to see someone utilize water in a similar sense. When was the last time you turned off your tap while brushing, just to save those few seconds of needless water flow; or when did you make that slight effort to turn off the shower while applying soap? You know the answer and that is the truth.

A day without water? Not possible. A day without wastage of water? Not possible till date I guess. We already know how much water is important to us. After all, we all are 70% each. I hope we soon understand why we need to save water. The answer, in the simplest form, is because water gives life. Less water means less life and no water, obviously, means no life. Rather than researching whether Mars has those "incredible" traces of water, I'd prefer to stay here and save those "depleting" huge traces of water on Earth.

It only takes a little imagination to come up with water(life)-saving tips. For instance, park your car on your lawn and then wash it; the water is used up by plants. Or don't use your toilet as a trash-can for tissues because each flush uses up to 9 liters of clean water. Or water the plants with the fortune of swimming pool water you don't know what to do with. Or while doing the dishes, turn down the pressure to the flow of tap water; the dishes may come out cleaner.

When a guest visits our house, we offer them water. Someone who is unfortunately out of water may offer him soda. Wait, that's made of water again. So maybe the host has some supply of water. But I really wish my child or grandchild doesn't have to ask his guest, "How much water do you want?"

India and world after Copenhagen

     submitted by: Angadbir Singh

I read this pearl of wisdom somewhere "AS ONE WE ARE A DROP, AS TOGETHER, WE ARE AN OCEAN"
So hence each one of us has to stand up to face this issue gripping the society. Climate change may seem rhetoric but it is the need of the hour.
“We need to stand up, it is not about me or he but WE!”
With more than 6 billion people and ever increasing numbers; the resources are swiftly vanishing- it is just a matter of time if things go on like this. Tropical forests are being cut down for economic reasons and for construction due to increasing population. The main method for clearing land is burning, which releases a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere. Thus the damage of deforestation is 45 billion dollars but what about the air we breathe, such large scale destruction of trees jeopardizes the quality of the very air we breathe.
“Nature has enough for man’s need but not enough for man’s greed.”-Mahatma Gandhi
This was rightly said as until now every step of man till date on this planet of ours-The Earth, has been stringing on both sides of a coin. With the rushing expanse of technology we had harmed our own environment for which we are repenting but-the time is now;
When we can choose a path, a path for a greener environment and earth.
The millions of people in countries like India who depends on melt water from mountain glaciers for irrigation; drinking and hydropower could be left scorched. Sometime in the next decade, the polar ice will be thin enough to float. Once that happens and the ocean intrudes, a chain reaction of collapse would follow. Paddy fields in Punjab continue to sweat methane and suck water table dry, while the SEZS have taken their giant carbon footprints everywhere. SO WE Need TO ADOPT NATURE AND DEVELOPMENT-BOTH.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL-WAKE UP!
Since India is still in the early stages of development trajectory, it is better equipped to demonstrate a low carbon lifestyle, which other societies could emulate.
After all, it is not carbon we want, but development. It is not coal we want, but electricity. It is not oil we want, but transport.

"Kindly-use-a-dustbin"

   submitted by: Karan Saggi

"Don't throw that mess on the floor!" yells a mother to her 8 year old son. But when the same kid throws a plastic bag on the street, she doesn't say a word. Why should anybody admonish him now? The street is public property. Of course it is beautiful this time of the year with the blooming spring trees, but ostensibly, everyone has a right to use it as a trashcan. We tend to "use" things that we are responsible for, while "take advantage of" what others take care of. It’s nothing personal; it’s the way God made us. The same God also gave us the Earth. So by "taking advantage of " what Earth has gifted us, we are misusing something that belongs to us. For the more sophisticated readers, replace "taking advantage of" in the previous line to "polluting". In other words, by throwing that plastic on the street, the kid is trashing his own property. There, maybe now his mother will scream at him again.
A sense of ownership is what it takes for us to look after something. It is high time to realize that earth's natural resources are our own. We are responsible for any harm our activities bring to nature. I may go on and on and showcase all my knowledge on pollution but I know you already learnt about it, and about all the other nature degradation theories in school. So what is stopping us from making an effort to preserve nature when we know what's going wrong? Maybe we're just too busy with our office work or have family problems or are busy learning Latin. I call any excuse we make a NIMBY syndrome. "NIMBY" Syndrome or "Not-In-My-Back-Yard-Syndrome" is a common human disorder whose symptoms are selfishness, a tendency to trash others' territories and sometimes simply having an anti-plantation nausea. Patients generally get fever when their own place is messy but feel better when the same mess is dumped in someone else's region. If you have ever thrown any plastic anywhere except in the actual dustbin or done anything that invites malaria, you might have caught the disease. The cure? "Plant-a-tree" or "Use-the-dustbin" pills are available everywhere. If they are too bitter, homeopathy offers the "Please-plant-a-tree" and "Kindly-use-a-dustbin" medicines.
It is time we abolish our tradition of trashing the neighborhood and start preserving all that is there Earth has given us. But first, we need to stop pressing the snooze button and wake up to the alarming calls of pollution, or if it's too late, Nature will wake us up in its own unpleasant way.

30*C : The Future Winters?

submitted by: Karan Saggi

Ever wondered why summers are getting longer than winters? Why each year we face even hotter summers? Why snow falls as late as in february rather than during christmas? These trivial signs of Climate Change all lead us to one answer- Global Warming. Global Warming is a phenomenon which basically leads to a rise in the temperature of earth`s atmosphere, disturbing all life-forms on earth.

Global warming has innumerable causes, most of which are due to our activities. Mainly, they are deforestation and uncontrolled emission of carbon dioxide. Global warming started long ago and is happening everyday because of us. It may be by superficial activities like use of perfumes or by an epochal period like that of the industrial revolution. The scientific explanation of Global Warming says that gases like carbon dioxide and methane ( called the `greenhouse gases`) have the ability to trap solar heat near earth`s surface. When these gases are present in the atmosphere in excess, which they are today, they do not reflect the trapped heat back into space and thereby increase the temperature of our planet. Even the tiny dust particles in air have this ability to trap heat!

It is said that a storm is preceded by an ominous silence. If Global warming is the storm, then today is the its silent phase. Global warming is inimical to all living forms on earth. We may not be affected by it today but studies have shown that since 1970, temperatures have gone up at nearly three times the average for the 20th century! The on-going effects of climate change include melting of ice caps and increase in sea levels. It means that by 2100, sea levels are likely to rise between 7 to 23 inches and a monstrous flood only requires 4 inches rise in water levels.

It is our call to prevent climate change and save our planet. It is in our hands to change our attitude towards our earth. We shouldn't contribute to spoil the climate of our planet neither do we have the right to do so. So the next time you travel, prefer a CNG vehicle or the next time you buy a deodorant, prefer the one with no CFC (usually mentioned at the back of the bottle). Or the next time your car is at a stop at the traffic light, turn off the engine. It is every individual`s responsibility to preserve planet earth. As it is said, "We didn't inherit the earth from our fathers, but we have borrowed it from our children."