Safety and health at work is a culture that organisations and people must build continuously. The mindset the safety norms are to avoid penalisation by the safety inspectors must change. 28 April is observed as “World Day for Safety and Health at Work”. Handling the COVID pandemic has led governments, employers, workers, and the general population to face unprecedented challenges and has impacted the world of work. COVID pandemic crisis has also brought to the fore the importance of investing in Public Health Systems and governance and the need to strategising to build resilient occupational safety and health to face crises now and in the future. The ILO estimates that more than 2.3 million people succumb to work-related accidents every year, with over 6000 deaths every day. An estimate puts the loss at 4 per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product each year. All of us come to work to earn a living. If a safe and healthy environment at workplaces is not provided or ensured, what is the purpose of one coming to work? Philosophically speaking, if one departs from the world, it is the family whom one leaves behind who has to bear the brunt. If you love your family, take all the necessary care. Play your role, either as a worker, supervisor or managing the workplace. The way forward is: Finding Value in the work you do, Create, and maintain boundaries, Pause, reflect, and communicate.
These are times when everyone’s thoughts are cluttered around the COVID pandemic. Times like thinking about the moon can be a pleasant distraction. Moon has always fascinated humankind, for mothers inspiring to sing a lullaby when feeding the child, for the aspiring lover reminding the beauty of the sweetheart or its sheer beauty. Full Moons occur when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth to the sun, resulting in the lunar surface being fully illuminated. A supermoon appears when it is at its closest point to earth and brightest. This year, it will be nearest when it passes through the local meridian on April 26 (nearer at 356,907 km!). The Pink Moon is usually about 7 per cent bigger and 15 per cent brighter than the regular Full Moon. This change is too small for naked eyes, and the differences are indistinguishable. But then why are they saying super pink moon? Would it be pink coloured? No. It got its name after the pink colour of early springtime blooms of wildflower, ‘moss pink’ native to eastern North America (Phlox subulata), commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox. Whether it is pink or not, it is always a joy to watch the moon when it is in full bloom. We have to say we are lucky when we can see a full moon and enjoy its joy because the pollution making it difficult to enjoy it, and more importantly, humankind becoming busy with gadgets and busy capturing for posterity and missing being in the present.
People across societies work hard all through their lives to earn a living and acquire things like a house, automobiles, and other properties (tangible and physical) to enhance the quality of life. One’s intellectual ability is reflected in these creations, and hence they are often referred to as intellectual properties. How does one protect them? World Intellectual property day is all about protecting the same. World Intellectual Property Day is observed every year on 26 April. 26 April was chosen as the date for World Intellectual Property Day because it coincides with the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970. Wikipedia traced back the modern concept of intellectual property to England in the 17th century, and since the late 20th century, it has become more prevalent in the world’s legal systems. The intangible nature of intellectual property makes the protection difficult. Interestingly even when many people use them without the intellectual good without it being depleted. If one makes a copy of a work, the enjoyment of the same does not diminish enjoyment of the original. There are critics of the IP regime too. It is argued that “stronger patents do little or nothing to encourage innovation”. It is essential to be creative, and sharing leads to enhanced reach, recognition, and appreciation. Though appreciation cannot be measured in monetary returns, it is a tonic to enhance creativity. The public good is the most essential aspect of all creativity as all the efforts is focused on improving the quality of lives.
Many of us have special memories of the books that have inspired us, transported us to new worlds and take us back to the important moments in our own lives. Reading books is one of the ways to look after your mind and body. Books are our best friends, guiders, and philosophers. World Book and Copyright Day is a UNESCO observation day that started in 1995 to pay tribute to the great literary figures. April 23 was chosen as it marked the death and birth anniversary of many prominent authors. It is believed that printing patterns on silk originated in China around 200 AD and was transferred to paper by the 7th century. India has a long tradition of writing. Talapatra: The act of writing(Tala) on dried leaves (Patra). One of the oldest surviving palm leaf manuscripts of a complete treatise is a Sanskrit Shaivism text from the 9th-century, discovered in Nepal, now preserved at the Cambridge University Library. When one talks about books and writing, one needs to relate to Intellectual property (IP) (copyright, patents and trademarks). Audio Books (the spoken book) created in the 1930s provided the visually impaired people with a medium to enjoy books. The first recordings of spoken books were through vinyl records. The popularity and ease of access of e-books on a mobile phone make one wonder whether is it the end of books in print form? The habit of reading is dwindling. Concentration spans are reducing as we progress in time. Restriction in the number of letters one can use on social media handles like “Twitter” making people invent newer abbreviated forms of writing, one cannot stop wondering whether writing would remain in the pages of history. Hope not!
Humanity found ways of creating newer problems for themselves while finding solutions to the problems they are facing. Be it movements like “end plastic pollution” or special efforts are needed to protect endangered species from extinction. But the question is protecting from whom? Mother earth is suffering and urging a call for action, and is int it is the time for each of us to do our bit in order to restore the planet and focus on rebuilding the world’s ecosystems? Environmental challenges of larger dimensions continue to haunt the world. Making things worse, governments are going back on promises made, leaving the Paris accord in peril. The history of celebrating world earth day dates back to 1970 when a large number of Americans gathered, and the seeds were sown for raising awareness of the responsibility of humans to protect mother earth. We need to help it to continue to protect us. Humans’ intelligence is reflected in the ability to commission space odysseys, travel to far off planets, flying a helicopter on Mars or whatnot? In a hurry to conquer things, moved away from realising what is required, that is, keeping balance and equilibrium. Humanity found wanting in taking steps to protect mother earth. Restore Our Earth, it is ours, and we have the responsibility. Only when we survive, our responsibility to the families and communities we live in can be fulfilled. Let us promote harmony with nature and the Earth. Can we hope that the world would learn to live within its limits?
As Oscar Wilde said, an artist looks at things not as they appear to be but as they really are. Greatness in art is giving a unique perspective. Each of us is an artist because to appreciate the works of art, one needs the innate capability of being artistic. Artists have that skill of looking at things with a different perspective and giving form to them, be it a painting, poetry, or reciting it. Art comes in various forms. Some of them are Architecture, Painting, Sculpting, Music, Literature, and Dance. In recent times, cinema has become an effective form of expression. With the advent of the internet and computer technologies, a platform of expression through visual arts has started dominating. The tools are becoming available, but still, the artistic instinct is what makes one stand out. It is necessary to reinforce the links between artistic creations and society, encourage greater awareness of the diversity of creative expressions, and highlight artists’ contribution to sustainable development. We all are gifted with some form of art and creativity. There is a need to explore. Thinking about art would not result in the creation of art. Being in congruence with nature and enjoy the artistic mastery of mother nature is the need of the hour. Ensuring inclusive and sustainable development is the goal set by societies. In times of crisis, we need culture and artists more than ever. without art, the earth is only eh.
World Chagas Disease Day is a new addition to the UN observance days. For the first time, the global community observed the day on April 14 in 2020. “The Silent and Silenced Disease” is referred to as when one talks about Chagas disease (also called American trypanosomiasis). The disease progresses slowly and often asymptomatic. It is a poor person’s disease who has neither a political voice nor access to health care. Chagas disease is mainly affecting people from Latin America and is endemic in Latin American Countries. On this date (April 14) in 1909, the first patient, a girl from Brazil, was diagnosed with this disease by Dr Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas. The disease is named after him. Raising awareness about this neglected tropical disease is essential. Fortunately, Chagas disease is not (yet) a problem in India. The emergence of pandemics like COVID leads us to think about what we eat and the consequences of overexploiting the resources. Belief and dispensation of humankind that as if they are the only inhabitants of this planet, is leading imbalance. Isn’t it time to introspect and adopt sustainable lifestyles? Observation of days like “World Chagas Disease Day” is an opportunity to raise awareness about neglected tropical diseases.
Sky’s and gazing at the stars have always fascinated human beings. Starting with the launching of the first human-made satellite Sputnik, space flight of Yuri Gagarin, Alexei Leonov’s spacewalk, Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon and humans shuttling to the international space station, the journey has been of achievements and demonstration of human’s capability. The Day of the first space flight by Yuri Gagarin is celebrated as International Day of Human Space Flight. India had a rich tradition of astronomy and dated back to the 1st millennium of BC. Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Varahamira, Mahendra Suri, Nilakantha Somayahi to name a few. Made pioneering contributions and displayed an understanding of the space. India, too is set to strengthen its foothold in human spaceflight with the ISROs Gaganyaan mission under the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme and flying Vyom Mitra’s (humanoid robots). Advances in space applications contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Be it in weather forecasting, optimising crop production, use of natural resources. Recall the words of wisdom of Yuri Gagarin. Orbiting Earth in the spaceship, I saw how beautiful our planet is. People, let us preserve and increase this beauty, not destroy it! So relevant today. In a hurry to achieve progress and in the name of enhancing the quality of life, humans are in a hurry to destroy the very planet on which it is inhabiting. While celebrating the 60 years of humans going into space, what is demonstrated years ago is an assurance that if humans come together, it has sufficient capabilities to find solutions to the problems haunting humanity.
April 10 every year is celebrated as World Homeopathy Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of the German physician Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann. “Similia Similibus Curentur” (Like cures Like) is the basis of homoeopathy. It is one of the trusted medical systems in India. H of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy). Our country is one of the biggest homoeopathic drug manufacturer and trader globally. Allopathic doctors are struggling to find a cure for COVID, homoeopathy, with its rich and consistent history of addressing viral infections, should be considered seriously as a therapeutic option. The response of each individual is different to different medicines and treatments. Now people are talking about personalized medication, and research is focused on achieving this. Homoeopathic treatment is based on personalized medication. Wikipedia refers to Homeopathy as a pseudoscientific system of alternative medicine. The word alternative needs to be inquired! Would we say English and alternate languages! Isn’t it ironic to say that you measure one system of medicine in terms of what is established for another system? Wellbeing is essential, and all the progress of science and technology is to enhance the quality of life. Providing affordable and holistic health care is the challenge the societies are struggling to achieve. Pandemics like COVID and the struggle to contain are challenges the world is trying to cope up with. World Homeopathy Day is a reminder that let all the possibilities be explored and adopted.
It is health that is real wealth, said Mahatma Gandhi. How true it is! The struggle the world is going through to cope with handling the COVID pandemic is a reflection. At this juncture, everyone realises how important being healthy is? The world celebrates World Health Day this year, almost a year after the pandemic struck. Not knowing when we get back to the old situation, doubts lingering in the minds whether we would ever get back to what used to be the normal situation. It is essential to look at health holistically. It is imperative to be prepared for all kinds of uncertainties during these constantly evolving times. COVID-19 has also highlighted how some people are more equal than others. Health is central to human happiness and wellbeing. Health is not just about physical wellbeing but also about the mental and social aspects. A person is said to be healthy if one possesses all these three. It also contributes to economic progress, as healthy populations live longer and are more productive. The governments have to come together, pool the resources, and focus on finding solutions to those diseases yet to find the cure. Establish the processes to implement vaccines, drugs where solutions are available effectively. Lifestyle changes, reverting to using ancient knowledge systems, going to ancient times is the way forward.
