June 13 is International Albinism Awareness Day and is an annual UN observance day. Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited difference present at birth. It is characterised by a lack of pigment (melanin) in the hair, skin, and eyes. Generally, both parents must carry the gene for it to be passed on, even if they do not have Albinism. Albinism affects all and occurs in all places worldwide, regardless of origin, civilisation, or culture. Those with Albinism are generally as healthy, and development is happening as ordinary. Lack of pigment (melanin) makes the person vulnerable to the sun and intense light. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Albinism. Living with diversity is the challenge humanity faces. Looking for what it should be based on the belief systems and what one is used to leads to discrimination. The skin colour, physical appearance is genetically inherited, and many of the deficiencies are genetically transmitted. The irony is that the parents who transferred the genes themselves cannot accept the children without prejudice. Humankind always searched for progress and enlightenment. Discrimination faced by people with conditions like Albinism is a reminder that it is a long way to go before anything close to realisation and enlightenment happens. It is time to “Strength Beyond All Odds”. Bringing awareness is the first step in strengthening. Governments, societies must take stern measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination.
One of the happiest moments in a couple’s life is the confirmation that they will become parents. The mother’s pain to give birth to the child and the parents’ dedicated efforts in bringing them up are enormous. But what happened to all of us? Millions of children are languishing as child labourers, working in very harsh environments, struggling to meet their bare minimum daily requirements. Where did it go wrong? In 2002 a resolution was passed to observe June 12 as World Day Against Child Labour Day. It aimed at bringing the attention of the world to uproot child labour from societies. An ILO estimates that 160 million child labourers (42% of them are girls) globally, many of them engaged in hazardous work. Africa, Asia, and the Pacific regions have the largest share of child labour (9 out of 10) globally. Low income, poverty, lack of resources forces the families in taking the children to take up works. Instead of going to school and learning life skills, young children lament and toil for long hours of work in the most challenging conditions. Child labour robs children of their right to an innocent childhood. Should not it cause anger? If you have anger in you, then it is time to act. Do your bit to stop it.
In the entire solar system, perhaps the Earth is the only planet where life exists and contain large amounts of water. 70% of the Earth is covered by water, and oceans constitute ~97% of water available on Earth. Over three billion people rely on the ocean for their livelihood. The ocean contains 50-80 per cent of all life on Earth. June 8 is being observed every year as World Oceans Day. It reminds everyone of the significant roles the oceans have in everyday life, the impact of human actions on the ocean, and measures to be taken for sustainable management of the world’s oceans. In the race of development, all countries compete to get ahead of each other, and one major calamity is the overexploiting the natural resources. Exploiting ocean resources is no exception. The societies which will promote sustainable development would win the race. The treasures of the deep sea are helping humanity on the health front too. Compounds found here have given us new cancer treatments. Scientists believe that new antibiotics for fighting against superbugs can be developed from what we find in the deep sea. Prof Shailesh Nayak, a reputed researcher in this domain and Director of NIAS, opines that oceans have a lot to offer for sustainable development and explains the importance of nurturing the “Blue economy” (to know more access Let’s Talk Blue Economy). If we do not take care of the ocean, how it would survive? Let us raise awareness so that we live in a world with sustainable development. For sustainable development, we need to take care of Earth, Ocean and everything that lives on this planet.
World Food Safety Day observed on 7 June 2021. It aims to draw attention to the need to prevent and manage foodborne risks, ensuring food security and sustainable development. After air and water, food is the third most essential thing for sustaining life. People often take for granted that the food we consume is safe. The health of people, animals, plants, the environment, and the economy is interconnected. Realising and ensuring balanced growth is the need of the times. Almost 1 in 10 people in the world fall ill after eating contaminated food. More than 4,00,000 people lose their lives every year. Children under five years of age carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden, accosting for >30% of deaths every year. The WTO estimates that if the total quantity of food produced is divided among all the people on earth, there would be enough food to feed everyone. Unfortunately, still, there is poverty and hunger. It is essential to ensure the food is made available to the country’s citizens, and equally important is that it is safe.
Our ancestors said, Panchabhuta is the origin and lifeline for human beings to survive. It must be realised, valued, and respected. Nature has been sending us a message by conveying its anger seen in the fur, be it natural disasters like cyclones, hurricanes, the bushfires. Every year on June 5, the world celebrates World Environment Day to remind people not to take nature for granted. This year it would see the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Every three seconds, the world loses enough forest to cover a football pitch, and over the last century, we have destroyed half of our wetlands and as much as 50 per cent of our coral reefs. With the COVID pandemic forcing people to be confined indoors, nature is getting a breathing place. It also poses a problem of a different kind in the form of the need for the safe disposal of medical waste like disinfectants, masks, gloves, and untreated waste. If we contemplate, it all started with our quest for enhancing the quality of life. The Industrial Revolution and the resulting demand for workforce led to migration. Towns have become cities and evolved into megacities. With the explosion of population, uneven distribution of people has resulted in problems of different nature. “To come in terms to coexist and respect the diversity and right to live” is the call we must give to humanity. The world belongs to every creature, and the sooner we realise, the better placed we all would be.
World Bicycle Day is observed on 3 June 2021. “We are not blocking traffic. We are traffic.” A cycle advocacy slogan says. Every one of us recalls the thrill of riding the bicycle for the first time. The joy, pride, and sense of achievement of cycling is something you cherish forever. When you go riding your bicycle, you get the opportunity to be aware of the environment. A bicycle is a simple, affordable, reliable means of transportation. It is fuel-saving, environment-friendly and a symbol of sustainable transportation. There are several health benefits of cycling. Vehicles for human transport with two wheels and require balancing by the rider dates back to the early 19th century. The term bicycle was coined in France in the 1860s. Closer to what resembles today’s bicycles first appeared in 1886. The Netherlands can be named the cycling nation. The Dutch have a unique culture for bicycling, with ~99% of them using bicycles for transportation. China has the maximum number of bicycles globally, followed by the USA, and there are more than 30 lakhs in India. Despite being cost-effective and means to replace a sedentary lifestyle, cycling has become one of the most dangerous vehicles, putting its riders at significant risk. In developing countries, cycling remains a poor person’s mode of transport. With no dedicated lanes for cyclers, treading their path on busy and crowded roads becomes a challenge. Cyclists are amongst the most vulnerable among the road users next to pedestrians. As Albert Einstein said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving”. Let us get back to bicycling, relive the excitement of childhood, become healthier and help mother earth reduce pollution.
World No Tobacco Day, observed on May 31 every year. The origin of Tobacco is traced back to the US, from where it was introduced to Europe and became popular and a major commercial crop. Any form of consuming Tobacco, be it Cigarettes, Beedi, chewing Tobacco, snuff and Gutka, impact health and wellbeing. Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for almost two-thirds of lung cancer deaths globally. More alarming is the fact that many people who have never smoked die due to passive secondary smoking. Globally, 60,000 children die before five due to respiratory infections resulting from passive smoking. Tobacco smoke is a dangerous form of indoor air pollution as it contains many chemicals, many of them known to cause cancer. Technologies like AI are being used for making advocacy to quitting smoking. “Meet Florence”, WHO’s digital health worker to help you quit Tobacco. In recognition of his efforts leading to national legislation that bans E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in India, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Health and Family Welfare Minister, has been given WHO Director-General Special award. Commercial reasons are driving the continued cultivation of Tobacco. While observations of days like “World No Tobacco Day” are good to bring awareness about the ill effects of its use and provide support systems for people to quit smoking, there is an urgent need to introspect. Is it not the greed of human beings for worldly comforts and become rich that is impacting the health of many? COVID pandemic taught another lesson, and smokers are ~50% higher risk of developing severe disease and death. Quitting is the best thing smokers can do. Today can be that Day 1. A fresh opportunity to determine and lead a healthier life. Quit Tobacco to be a winner.
Variety and variability are inherent in life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic, species and ecosystem across the globe. A UN estimate puts that human actions have significantly altered three-quarters of the land-based environment and about 66% of the marine environment. One million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. In Biodiversity, each species, no matter how big or small, plays a vital role in the ecosystem. Biodiversity plays a significant role in reducing soil erosion, controlling the climate, and purifying the air we breathe and water. The novel solutions researchers are coming out with to find a cure to COVID is another example of the resilience of nature to provide solutions to the problems created by very human beings. May 22 is celebrated as International Day for Biodiversity and aims to save living organisms and Biodiversity lives. It is said that human beings are the most intelligent creature on this Earth and possess discerning power. Ironically, the reason for Earth’s Biodiversity being in grave danger are human beings. There is a glimmer of hope, and the forest cover has seen an increase in India. It is estimated that this has led to neutralising greenhouse gases to the extent of 11%. 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 Earth? Timing is ticking…
One of the boons our Ancient Indian Knowledge Systems gave to this world is Yoga and Meditation. Societies are exploring ways to internalise the practices of Yoga and Meditation. India should be at the forefront to benefit from what our ancestors practised and passed on to us. When the world is going through a crisis, to cope with the COVID pandemic, calming down internally to gain strength is essential. Meditation goes a long way in getting that strength. Meditation and yoga have been sought after by people across the world for stress management. On 21st May 2021World Meditation Day is observed. Ancient Indian scriptures of Vedas and Upanishads have the written evidence of meditation. Though it aims to ensure one living comfortably, modern lifestyles and the pursuit of worldly comforts took people away from it. It made people more outward thinking and made Contemplation that much difficult. Information overload, technologies and gadgets are becoming more and more sophisticated, making that much difficult to lead meaningful and straightforward lifestyles. Practising meditation helps to live in the present and guiding one to remain focused. It is available to everyone at any time, and all one need is time and inclination.
Bees are amongst the most hard-working creatures on the planet, have benefited people, plants, and the environment. They are out “Pollinator Heroes”. Every third spoonful of food you consume has Bee’s contribution, no not that you add honey in it. They cause pollination. Adequate pollination increases agricultural production, improves their quality, and enhances plants’ resistance to pests. Humans vow a lot to the Bees, as we do not pay for the pollination. To raise awareness about the importance of pollinators and enhance the way to aid their survival, and acknowledge their contribution to sustainable development, World Bee Day is being observed every year on 20 May from 2018. The practice of Human beekeeping (or apiculture) is there for millennia. There is a mention of Bees in Vedas. Ancient Egypt and Greece have depictions of bees housing. The folklore says that there is a tradition in England of telling bees (Telling the Bees) about important events in the household. Bees are under threat. The extinction rates are alarming and impacted by humans. Changing the farming practices, land-use, mono-cropping reducing the pesticides and the dangers of climate change impact the survival of bees and, therefore, the quality of food humans consume. Let us “Bee engaged” and Build Back Better for Bees.
