My Science School

         Have you ever thought what a wonder the soil is? The upper layer of the earth, soil is a mixture of organic and inorganic matter, which sustains and fosters all life on Earth. The whole of plant life exists on the soil as they take water and necessary nutrients from it. Therefore, all animals and other organisms have no existence without soil. We observe the World Soil Day on December 5.

         Do you know that soil is a finite natural resource? It is non-renewable too. Therefore, if it is polluted beyond its natural redeeming ability, soil cannot be reclaimed. It is a fact that there is a steady worldwide increase in the degradation of soil resources due to inappropriate management practices and population pressure. Therefore, the observance of the World Soil Day aims to raise awareness regarding the importance of soil quality for food security, healthy ecosystems and human well-being.

         What we can do to contribute to the well-being of our planet is by not throwing plastic, nondegradable and toxic materials on the soil, thus polluting it.

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          There is hardly any home without a television. Television has become such an integral part of our life as it takes care of many of the chief aspects of our life such as entertainment, information and health. Before the advent of the Internet, people depended heavily on television for news, education and entertainment. On November 21, the World Television Day, we recognize and acknowledge the importance of television in our life.

        Television plays an important role in the building of a society. Much of an individual’s leisure time is spent in front of TV. It provides the viewer with various programmes ranging from news presentations, discussion platforms, interviews, films and serial shows to school and college lessons. Therefore, it has the unique ability to fashion people’s views and opinions. However, television, popularly known as the ‘idiot box’, has its disadvantages too.

        The World Television Day, therefore, should make us more responsible and committed towards our society.

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         The hopes and dreams for a new and better world lie with children; and there- fore, they are the future of humanity. Established in 1954 by the United Nations, the Universal Children's Day is celebrated on November 20th each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare.

        One of the most celebrated international document for the rights of children is the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It advocates giving children the means necessary for their normal material and spiritual development. Hunger, illness, backwardness, delinquency and abandonment of children should be eliminated. The document says that children must be the first to receive relief in times of distress. There should be provisions to protect children against every form of exploitation. The Declaration was adopted in 1924 and still remains the chief pillar of support for the rights of children.

         The Universal Children’s Day reminds us that our education systems, social structures and institutions should primarily cater to the growth and development of children.

         One of the inconveniences many people in countries like India face is the lack of toilets. The Indian government has undertaken an important step that ensures toilets in every house-hold across the country as part of a nation-wide campaign called Swachh Bharat Mission. Having basic toilet facilities is an individual’s right as hygienic and clean surroundings will help him stay healthy. The World Toilet Day is celebrated on November 19.

          Statistics indicate that around 4.5 billion people live without a safe toilet and 892 million people still, practice open defecation. Human waste can spread dangerous diseases. Defecating in the open, in fact, can expose people to various diseases that can threaten their life. The impact of such exposure on this scale has a devastating effect upon public health, living and working conditions, nutrition, education and economic productivity across the world. Therefore, toilets save lives.

         The World Toilet Day is a reminder that everyone should follow certain practices of personal hygiene. We are aiming to ensure that everyone has a safe toilet and that no-one practices open defecation by 2030.

         November 14 is the World Diabetes Day. A condition that impairs the human body’s ability to process blood sugar, diabetes occurs because our body is unable to produce enough insulin to meet its needs.

        The prevalence of diabetes is increasing so rapidly across the globe. It is estimated that around 422 million people have been living with diabetes in 2016. The number was only 108 million in 1980. The disease comes with many associated risk factors, such as obesity. Diabetes is considered a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, strokes and lower limb amputation. Doctors say that a healthy diet, physical activity and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. There are several drugs available today, which can cure the disease and its consequences.

       The World Diabetes Day is an opportunity to encourage countries to develop national policies for the prevention, treatment and care of the disease.

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           We all know that most of the international days we have dealt with so far are declared by the United Nations, an intergovernmental organization. Therefore, it is only befitting that we have a day to celebrate the UN itself, on October 24.

            The UN Day is celebrated on the anniversary of its entry into force in 1945 by adopting the UN Charter. The founding document was ratified by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council. The five permanent members were France, the Republic of China, the Soviet Union, the UK and the US. The purpose of founding such an international body was to maintain international peace and security and become a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.

              The UN has declared peacekeeping, security among nations, human rights, economic development and humanitarian assistance as its objectives.

              The UN has been of great help to the nations and communities in the world. As an organization that has considerable influence over nations, there is much more the organization can offer today than ever before.

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         One of the most persistent evils that world a face today is poverty. In 2012, there were about 1.2 billion poor people in the world, according to statistics. Although people say that poverty is a relative notion, it is generally understood as the scarcity of a certain amount of material possession or money to live a respectable life. On October 17, we observe the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

        We often mistake poverty to be a solely an economic problem. However, the phenomenon has many dimensions that include lack of both income and the basic capabilities to live in dignity. It is a matter of great shame that so many people still continue to live in abject poverty while certain parts of the world enjoy unprecedented levels of economic development, technological means and financial resources.

         It is true that poverty often coincides with human rights violations. If we all have wide-open eyes, an empathetic heart and love for humanity, we all can contribute in our own little way in eradicating poverty from the face of the Earth.

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          The most essential element to being healthy and fit is a nutritious diet. While we have our favourite snack or dessert, we have our staple food that we eat routinely and that keeps us healthy. on October 16, when the world observes the World Food Day, we should not only thank the thousand hands that prepare our food and bring it to our table, but also bear in mind the thousands of faceless people who go hungry without even a day’s meal.

         One of the greatest tasks the world faces today is addressing the challenge of feeding a rapidly growing population. Nations have to invest in sustainable food systems and rural development. They have their task cut out in protecting the global climate and tackling some of the root causes of migration and displacement. The UN is resolved to end hunger world over and evolve a climate-compatible agriculture and food systems that deliver without harming nature.

          World Food Day reminds each of us of our responsibility to keep our neighbours free of hunger. While the likelihood of a child dying before age five has been nearly cut in half, with about 17,000 children saved every day over the past 20 years, there are still millions, who need our intervention to keep the fire in their body burning.

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          The International Day of the Girl Child falls on October 11, highlighting the needs and challenges girls face today. There are many societies where the girl child is regarded inauspicious and unwelcome. In many parts of India, the girl child is considered a burden due to the evil practice of dowry.

          The day reminds us that between boys and girls there is nothing that makes one superior to the other. An educated and skilled girl is as equipped and qualified as an educated and skilled boy. Therefore, women should be provided all opportunities that man get. The UN reports that millions of girls are either denied jobs or are employed in jobs that earn them low or no pay. Many of them face bias, abuse and exploitation at work. Nations should be able to expand existing learning opportunities for girls, chart new pathways for them and rethink how to prepare them for a successful transition into the world of work.

          The UN has marked the beginning of a year-long programme to draw attention to the most pressing needs and opportunities for girls to attain skills for employability under the theme, ‘With her: A Skilled Girl-force’.

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         In Indian tradition, the teacher is considered equal to God. Along with mother and father, the teacher plays an important role in the development of the child. World over, teachers are given special importance for their contribution to the well-being and edification of society. The World Teachers’ Day is held annually on October 5.

        Teachers play an important part in students’ education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions. One of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN recognizes teachers as key to the achievement of the Education 2030 agenda and recommends ways to counter challenges to ideal teacher-student relationship. The right to education presupposes the right to qualified teachers. Therefore, it is important for nations to raise the standards of teachers by providing them with programmes that will improve their quality.

        The world needs more teachers today. Statistics suggest that around 69 million teachers have to be recruited to reach the 2030 education goal of universal primary and secondary education. The World Teachers’ Day also serves as an invitation to young men and women to choose the noble profession of teaching.

          There is hardly anyone who has not heard of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji, with his toothless smile, captivated the world with a distinct political philosophy: Non-Violence. Gandhi was instrumental in guiding India to political freedom in 1947. Following Gandhi’s model, many leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. have adopted non-violence as their philosophy. On October 2, the day Gandhi was born, the world observes the International Day of Non-Violence.

          Many nations have ceased to believe in peaceful negotiations to settle international and civil disputes. The army and the police have turned to be instruments of violence in many places. Gandhi himself did not believe in the necessity of an army at all. The UN wants to reaffirm the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence through the observance of the day. According to the UN General Assembly resolution, the day is an occasion to disseminate the message of non-violence through public awareness.

          The International Day of Non-Violence is an opportunity to remember the words of the great man: “Non-violence is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of Man”.

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          After food and clothing, what Man needs most is shelter. A home is a dream for many. Some people save every penny they earn to build a home. Home is the symbol of safety, comfort and support. The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to meditate on the state of our homes, towns and cities. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the basic right of all people for adequate shelter.

           The theme of the World Habitat Day of 2018 was regarding Municipal Solid Waste Management. One of the chief concerns of town dwellers is how to dispose garbage. There was a concerted effort to raise awareness regarding promoting innovative solutions to municipal solid waste management, facilitating policy dialogues and forming partnerships among communities for mobilizing resources to address the municipal solid waste challenges.

          The World Habitat Day reminds us that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our homes, cities and towns

          Do you love travelling? Francis Bacon, the renowned English essayist, opined that travelling to distant places is not only entertaining, but also educative and reformative. Touring new places will expand our mindscape and broaden our vision. The world celebrates World Tourism Day on September 27.

          In the last sixty years or so, tourism has experienced exponential growth world over. It has turned into one of the fastest growing and most important economic activities in the world, benefiting destinations and communities worldwide. The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts that this sector will continue its growth at an average of 3 per cent annually until 2030. This growth is expected despite the many challenges the growth of tourism faces, such as the global economic crisis, natural disasters and pandemic diseases.

              There are so many beautiful, strange and astonishing places in the world. There are diverse cultures, communities and life styles. Travelling and visiting these places will turn men richer in experiences and wiser in relationships.

 

           Do you know what our world is in dire need of, today? It is peace. Our world has been splintered into factions because of race, caste, creed, ethnicity and nationality. Intermittent wars and incessant civil strife have torn nations and communities apart. The International Day of Peace, observed on September 21, envisages a world community built on the foundations of lasting peace.

         The basis of peaceful society is the economic and social development for all people whose rights are protected. This is why the UN member states adopted in 2015 the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that cover a broad range of issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, environment and social justice. Without protecting justice and equality in a society, a peaceful society cannot exist. A peaceful society can promote a sustainable environment and the sustainable environment can foster peace, in turn.

        The International Peace Day’s theme for 2018 was ‘the right to peace’. The world also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document in the history of human rights, last year.

 

          In modern societies, people are increasingly losing faith in the rule of kings, nobles or autocrats. In an egalitarian and just society, people are their own rulers; and therefore, democracy is the rule of the people. Do you know Abraham Lincoln’s famous definition of democracy? The International Day of Democracy envisages governments of the people, by the people and for the people. This day falls on September 15.

          The purpose of celebrating such a day is to look for ways to encourage democracy and seek answers to the challenges it faces. Democracy must make nations ready to tackle economic and political inequalities, bring the young and the marginalized into the political system and make nations more innovative and responsive to emerging challenges such as migration and climate change. The rulers and governments should be made aware of the values of freedom, and respect for human rights as essential elements of democracy.

         The international Day of Democracy tells the world that the relevance and significance of democracy can be upheld only through the protection and effective realization of human rights.