My Science School

            A healthy body houses a healthy mind, people say. There are innumerable diseases that await us at our doorstep every day; and thanks to modern medical science, we keep most of them at bay.

            Some diseases, however, have managed to stay untamed and have taken the lives of millions of people. Tuberculosis is one such malady that has claimed millions of lives so far.

            We observe World TB Day on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic.

            Medical interventions have helped considerably in containing the disease in many parts of the world. However, TB continues to be the top infectious killer worldwide, claiming over 4,500 lives a day. A new version of the disease called ‘multidrug- resistant TB’ is a major threat to the ongoing efforts.

            World TB Day is aimed at building a commitment to end TB, not only at the political level with Heads of State and Ministers of Health, but also at the grass root level. Therefore, everyone should be brought to awareness programmes and incorporated into the fight against this deadly disease.

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            Our Earth is not what it used to be a few hundred years ago. Natural change along with massive human intervention, has led our planet to an environmental crisis. As a result, we face a wide range of hazards today, such as tropical cyclone storm surges, heavy rains, heat waves, droughts and many more. Therefore, in order to spread awareness, the World Meteorological Day is held on March 23.

           Climate change is no longer about mere themes of science fiction novels and films; we face it in our everyday life. The weather is turning extreme in some regions. Sea levels are rising and acidification of the oceans is taking place at a fast pace. Life seems more and more vulnerable as urbanization is spreading. Therefore, the message of the day is to be weather-ready, climate-smart and water-wise!

            World Meteorological Day is an occasion to set our priorities right and take initiatives to protect the lives, livelihoods and property of people from risks related to weather, and climate and water.

            One of the ways of readying people for imminent dangers is by installing early warning systems and implementing various disaster-risk-reduction measures.

            If nations do not start executing policy level decisions regarding climate change, our planet will soon become inhospitable to life.

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            Can we survive without water? An essential building block of life, water is much more than a vital commodity for quenching our thirst or protecting health. It is an indispensable material for the economic, social and human development of a nation.

           It is imperative to hold an International Water Day when there are about 663 million people who live without safe water supplies. World Water Day is observed on March 22.

            Although more than 70 percent of the earth’s surface is covered with water, clean drinking water is not as abundant. Water-related crises are erupting every day as environmental damage and climate change are happening rapidly. The world is looking forward to overcome the water challenges of the 21st century.

            Communities in general and individuals in particular have to partake actively in water conservation initiatives. We have to explore nature-based solutions, such as planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains and restoring wetlands as they will rebalance the water cycle and improve human health and livelihoods.

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          Forests are the lungs of the earth. Without them, life on Earth is impossible. Therefore, when we celebrate the International Day of Forests on March 21, we are providing a platform to raise awareness of the importance of all types of woodlands and trees, and celebrate the ways in which they sustain and protect us.

        Forests are an indispensable part of our life. They store carbon, which helps reduce the impacts of climate change in and around urban spaces. They also help improve the local climate. During these times of soaring heat, placing trees in certain strategically significant areas can cool the air by up to 8 degrees Celsius. Thus, trees, in fact, can replace air-conditioners. They are effective air-filters too, as they sieve out harmful pollutants in the air.

          Forests can filter and regulate water too. They help increase the quality of groundwater supplies. Flooding is to a certain extent prevented by trees. Forests can provide us with fresh fruits and nuts, provide habitats for animal diversity, and boost tourism.

          Thus, they encourage an active and healthy lifestyle, improve mental health, prevent disease and provide a place for people to socialize and commune with nature.

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          Poetry is often said to be the food for the human soul. A medium for the deep thoughts and feelings of mind, poetry has a universal appeal. Poetry has the unique ability to record the creative spirit of the human soul; and therefore, we have a dedicated day for celebrating poetry. World Poetry Day falls on March 21.

          Why, do you think, we celebrate the 16th century poet Shakespeare even today? It is because the poems and plays written by him living in a distant land and in an alien cultural background still have a universal value to which people across the globe can relate. Poetry has the distinct ability to affirm humanity by revealing through choicest words that the angst and agony of individuals are the same across regions.

          World Poetry Day attempts to support poets and poetry from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. It also offers an opportunity to return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, to promote the teaching of poetry, to restore a dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and to support small publishers.

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           Racism is one of the evils that the world is facing even today. For hundreds of years, men and women have been held slaves because of the colour of their skin.

           In the slavery that existed in the Americas and Europe, black men and women were not even considered human beings. This evil practice was legally banned after incessant interventions by great men like Abraham Lincoln, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. However, racial discrimination exists in various forms even today.

           March 21 is recognized as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Human dignity is the foundation stone for human rights. Every individual is entitled to human rights without discrimination. Governments across the globe have recognized the importance of the rights to equality and non-discrimination.

          The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

          Most societies are afflicted by racism, xenophobia and intolerance. Minorities are discriminated against, and migrants are treated with hatred and cruelty. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is a reminder to all of us that we should all stand up against racial prejudice.

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          Have you heard the story of a king who ordered a hunt for the shirt of the happiest man in his kingdom? When his servants finally found the happiest man, he had no shirt! Beyond all his cares and longings, Man ultimately wants to be happy. In acknowledgement of this great truth, March 20 is recognized as the International Day of Happiness.

          What is the purpose of the International Day of Happiness? Of course, it is a day to be happy! However, it is also an occasion to recognize the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world. There are millions of people in the world devoid of happiness due to several factors. A UN resolution in 2015 has sought to end poverty, reduce inequality, and protect our planet, the three key points that lead to the well-being and happiness of people.

               Being happy is everyman’s right. Controlling the factors that lead to the loss of happiness of people all over is not only the responsibility governments but also of every individual.

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          The world has to undergo an urgent change when it comes to its attitude towards women. Women are often sidelined and ignored when it comes to playing bigger roles in society. In certain communities, girl children are still unwelcome.

          International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, is an attempt to raise awareness regarding the equality between genders and the importance of providing an opportunity for women in society. International Women’s Day is a call for change and an occasion to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played extraordinary roles in the history of their countries and communities.

          In its Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN has set some important targets for empowering women. It aims to provide all girls and boys free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education.

           Providing access to quality early childhood development, ending all forms of discrimination against women, eliminating all forms of violence against them and putting an end to practices, such as child marriage, are some of the key targets of this agenda.

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                                                                           We are not the only beings in the world, and we are not the lords and masters of the other living organisms around us as well.

              All the animals and plants on our planet have a worth within themselves and they contribute to the ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic aspects of social well-being and sustainable development. Therefore, it is apt to celebrate World Wildlife Day on March 3.

              The theme of the Wildlife Day in 2018 was ‘Big Cats: Predators under threat’. The world’s beautiful, big feline predators are facing various kinds of threats from human activities. Many measures are being taken to arrest their declining population.

             World Wildlife Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the many exquisite and diverse forms of wild animals and plants. Such a day can help raise awareness about the multitude of benefits that conservation of the wild provides to people. However, the day also reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and human-induced reduction of species, which have wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impact.

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          Language is a complex system of codes used for communication between human beings. How many languages do you know? There are persons who can handle many languages with ease. However, for all of them, their favourite language must be their mother tongue! On February 21, we celebrate the International Mother Language Day.

          Language is not merely a set of codes for communication. Every language carries a baggage of complex implications of culture, identity, education and development. They have the ability to preserve and develop our culture and heritage. Due to various political circumstances, certain languages assume more importance than others. For example, the English language is studied around the world because of British colonialism. However, there are innumerable languages in the world that need protection. Studies say that at least 43 per cent of the estimated 6000 languages spoken in the world are endangered and are on the brink of extinction.

          All efforts to preserve mother tongues will result in awareness of and respect for diverse traditions throughout the world and will promote solidarity.

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          All societies seek equality. The idea that all human beings are equal is based on the concept of social justice. For peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among societies and nations, the principle of social justice is an important element. February 20 is celebrated as the World Day of Social Justice.

          The core of social justice is in promoting human dignity. People face inequality in many ways. Economic inequality, gender inequality, racial and caste inequality and inequality in terms of opportunity are some of the ways society is divided. The principles of social justice promote equality on all counts and advocate removing barriers that split society in terms of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, nationality and disability.

          The UN has constituted an international body called the International Labour Organization for ensuring employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work. Taking care of the interests of the migrants ranging up to 258 million across the world is another task of the UN.

          Equality is an ideal state and often an impossible dream; however, if states do not strive incessantly towards it, societies will fall apart and disintegrate.

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          Long before the Internet or television was popular, the radio ruled the world! People at home eagerly waited in front of radios for their favourite programme and young people in streets were seen with their ears glued to the machine listening to music! Even today, the radio is considered the mass medium reaching the widest audience in the world. In honour of the radio, we hold February 13 as the World Radio Day.

          Radio is considered a powerful communication tool at a very low cost. The main advantage of the radio is that it is suitable for communities in remote areas. It is also an affordable medium for vulnerable people such as the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor. It also offers a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. Radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and in disaster relief too.

          An amazing quality of radio is that it has managed to adapt to the changes and challenges of the 21st century. A ubiquitous medium, radio finds a place in homes, workplaces and automobiles.

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          Most societies in the world are patriarchal, meaning that men hold all the power, and women are excluded from the power structure. Traditionally, women have played second fiddle to men in various socio-political and cultural scenarios. While men were the rulers of the land, holders of important jobs and breadwinners for the family, women were mostly confined to the four walls of the home, taking care of children and doing household chores. Many attempts and interventions have been made for bringing about equality between both sexes in the society. February 11 is dedicated to gender equality and celebrated as the International Day for Women and Girls in Science.

           Science is one area where men have been dominating for long. A study conducted in 14 countries indicates that the probability of female students of graduating with a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or Doctor’s degree in science-related field is 18 per cent, 8 per cent and 2 per cent respectively. The study also indicates that in the case of men it is 37 per cent, 18 per cent and 6 per cent. Nations today believe that gender neutrality in science is essential for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The United Nations declared the International Day solely with the view of ensuring gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in science and technology.

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          Cancer is probably the most dreaded disease in the world today. Statistics claim that about one in six deaths among humans is caused by cancer and that there is hardly any family untouched by the lethal fangs of this deadly disease.

          World Cancer Day, celebrated on February 4, intends to reassure the world that cancer is no longer a death warrant. There is a concerted effort world over to contain the illness, to improve the chances of survival and to enhance quality of life of people living with cancer.

          There is much more the world can do than it is doing now. Dr. Etienne Krug, WHO Director for the Department for Management of Non-communicable Diseases, thinks that nations across the globe should act upon the causes of the disease and prevent them from occurring in the first place.

          Countries should strengthen their health system responses and ensure earlier diagnosis and better access to affordable treatment by qualified personnel, thereby saving millions of lives. One of the best ways of prevention is early detection of the disease.

          The year 2018 was an important year for cancer control as the UN encouraged nations to implement the blueprint of prevention and control of cancer at the Third High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases.

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          The world would have been a happier place if certain events had not happened in history. Between 1941 and 1945, when nations were engaged in World War II, Nazi Germany systematically murdered six million Jews in Europe. One of the most heinous genocides in human history, the Holocaust is a sad testimony to the depths of Man’s cruelty and brutality could reach! The world commemorates January 27 as the International Day of Remembrance in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.

           The United Nations devised an outreach programme called the United Nations Outreach Programme to tell the world about the need to prevent other instances of such cruelty. The initiative was designed to encourage developing educational curricula on the subject of the Holocaust to mobilize the civil society for education. Many programmes were launched to recall the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to warn people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice.

          A number of activities, including special events, film screenings, discussion papers from leading academics, information materials, partnerships with intergovernmental organizations and many other initiatives were undertaken to encourage awareness about fascism, and the concentration of power in individuals.