Variety and variability are inherent in life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic, species and ecosystem across the globe. May 22 is celebrated as International Day for Biodiversity and has the aim of saving the lives of living organisms and biodiversity. Every year it is celebrated with a specific theme, and for the year 2020 it is “Our Solutions are in Nature”. The decade 2011–2020 has been designated as the UN Decade on Biodiversity. It is said that human beings are the most intelligent creature on this earth and possess the discerning power. Ironically the reason for earth’s biodiversity being in grave danger are the human beings.
If we must sustain the path of development, we must learn to live in harmony with nature. If not, do we have the right to call ourselves the most intelligent creature on the earth?
National Technology Day is celebrated to commemorate the quest for scientific inquiry, technological creativity and translating them into meeting the needs of the society. The successful conduct of “Smiling Buddha” (May 1974), “Shakti” and making India part of the elite club of countries with nuclear capability in May 1998. The month May that year, has also seen the first indigenous two-seater aircraft Hansa-3, developed by the NAL (a CSIR lab) being flown in Bangalore and DRDO completing the final test-fire of the “Trishul” missile, leading to its induction into the services. The celebrations highlight the importance of science & technology in daily life and encourage the younger generation to consider pursuing science as a career option. At a time when the country is struggling to cope up with the corona, celebrations like these are reassuring to the people that we could do in the past and can and will do it now. Let us celebrate and look through the prism of these successes with hope to conquer the COVID pandemic.
Continuing with the fascination with the moon, this time it is about “Super Flower Moon”. This is one of the four Super Moons of the year 2020, and the last Supermoon of the year. It is called Super Flower Moon due to the flowers spring forth in abundance this month. These names of Full Moons were used by Algonquin tribes of Native Americans to estimate the seasons that we still follow today. Unfortunately, Moon lovers in India won’t be able to enjoy the spectacular view as it embraces the sky and reach full glory at 4.15 pm. The day coincides with Buddha Purnima and be inspired by the beauty of the moon and the teachings of “Buddha”.
A few days back many of us woke up to the news of the demise of legendary Gene Deitch, the creator of characters like “Tom & Jerry”. The one and only, Gene Deitch, Oscar-winning illustrator and animator who entertained the world with his illustrations and animation. Animated cartoons are an embodiment of a fantasy world which can be remembered repeatedly at any time and place. Having recently started “ToonLogs” to use the medium of cartoons and blogs for science communication, this “ToonLogs” is for paying tribute to Gene Deitch, one of the great communicators through the medium of cartoons.
Environmental challenges of larger dimensions continue to haunt the wold. it is our inability to balance the requirement and renewable equilibrium limits of mother earth. The Intelligence of the humans is reflected in the ability to commission space odysseys, travel to far off planets. In the hurry to conquer things, moved away from keeping balance and equilibrium. Humanity found wanting in taking steps to protect mother earth. Can we hope that the world would learn to live within its limits? Let’s promote harmony with nature and the Earth. Earth Day 2020 is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. Celebrations will include activities such as the Great Global Clean Up, Citizen Science, Advocacy, Education, and Art.
In the journey of mankind, human beings always looked to progress and make this world a better place. It has been recognised that we should traverse back in time and recognise the extraordinary ability our ancestors possessed. World Heritage is mankind’s priceless possession and it becomes our responsibility to preserve these assets to the generations to come. This year the World Heritage Day is being celebrated as the one with ‘Shared Cultures, Shared Heritage, Shared Responsibility’
When the world welcomed 2020, being very special if not for anything for its symmetry, it did not realize what is in store in the year ahead. At a time when all our thoughts are cluttered around the Corona virus, making us believe as if we are all going through a period where everything has stopped, It is an appropriate time to distract from this. Moon has always fascinated humankind, for mothers inspiring to sing a lullaby when feeding the child (recall the lullaby in Telugu “Chanda Mama Raave, Jabilli Raave, Kondekki Raave, Koti poolu theve…”), for the aspiring lover reminding the beauty of the sweetheart or for the sheer beauty of it. No matter how 2020 started, in the month of April this year, the moon is going to come closest to Earth. People are also calling it “Super Pink Moon”, but why? Is it going to change its colour to look pink? Let’s know.
Pandemics like COVID-19 are great equalizers. it does not differentiate rich and poor, nor religion, colour and creed. Time to put our differences, prejudices, personal preferences behind and be together to fight: to save the humanity, reduce the pain and minimize the losses. Ultimately when we win our fight against this threatening virus, Does the world learn from this challenge and internalize and become a better place to live?
