How do you show kindness to animals?

Everyone wants to be treated with care and kindness. The same goes for animals. How can you be kind to animals? The first and foremost is-Do no harm them. But do not stop there. Here is a list of things you can do to help animals.

Do not support animal cruelty: Among the biggest threats to animals around the world are hunting and poaching for trading of animal parts. Leather bags and belts, certain perfumes, cosmetics, paint brushes and some artefacts contain animal skin, fat, tusk horn, hair, or gland. If there are no markets for these items, there will be no animal products. You can help by not purchasing such products.

Do not support animal entertainment: Caging animals and making them dance, paint, and do tricks to entertain humans often involve cruelty. Animals are removed from their natural habitat and their freedom of movement is curtailed. Don't you think supporting such entertainment also makes us guilty of cruelty?

Small acts of kindness: You can show your love for animals by feeding them. You can feed stray dogs, keep water for squirrels, and install feeders for birds. But ensure you continue this food and water supply.

Educate yourself: Learn about animals. Be aware of their needs. The more you know the better. Because you will be well-equipped to become an agent of change.

Be kind to Nature: When you protect Nature, it in turn protects all creatures on Earth. Making simple lifestyle changes will go a long way in building a better planet for all life. Conserve water and electricity, cycle more, consume less, plant a tree, and give up single-use plastic.

Picture Credit : Google

How do you say no when you feel uncomfortable?

We live with and meet different types of people every day. They could be in our age group or much older. They could be family, friends relatives, neighbours, etc. Some of these people can make us feel happy and comfortable, while some may not. The discomfort could be because they are mean to us or tease us. In some cases, some people may be nice to us but increasingly find excuses to be with us alone. When alone, they may touch us in inappropriate places, including our private parts, which can be painful. They may also ask us to touch their private parts and/or make us watch inappropriate photographs or videos. All of these can make us feel uncomfortable, helpless, scared, and angry. Sometimes such an incident may happen once and be caused by a stranger. Sometimes, it can be caused repeatedly by someone we know well- a cousin, a neighbour a friend. We may like them because they are kind, bring us gifts, and tell us funny jokes. Our parents may trust some of them enough to leave us alone with them. Not everyone behaves this way, but there are people who may do this to us, and this is simply wrong. They may use their kindness to make us do whatever they want. And they may even threaten us with serious consequences into keeping their behaviour a secret. But this need not be a secret and need not happen at all.

REMEMBER

  • Your body is yours alone. You have the right to say no when anyone makes you feel uncomfortable. For instance, if a person hugs or kisses you whenever you meet, but it makes you uncomfortable, tell the person no. Inform your parents too.
  • Even when elders are around, if a person finds ways to touch you secretly and inappropriately, say no. move from the place and find a safer place. Don't forget that whatever happened was NEVER your fault. And don't ever let anyone convince you otherwise. And what happened does not change how much all the people who matter to you love you.
  • A touch is unsafe if you feel nervous, scared, uncomfortable, or it hurts you. If at any point anybody makes you feel uncomfortable, remember you have the right to tell the other person that.
  • Always talk to a trusted elder; it could be your parents or teachers, and explain to them what happened.

IT'S NEVER OKAY FOR ANYONE TO

  • Touch your private parts
  • Touch their private parts in front of you
  • Ask you to touch their private parts
  • Ask you to take your clothes off or take videos or photos of you
  • Show you videos or photos of people without any clothes

Picture Credit : Google

Are LGBT rights human rights?

What about a world where all of us looked, talked, and behaved exactly like each other? Unimaginably boring! What makes our world wonderful is the sheer variety in cultures, languages, cuisine, art, rituals, customs, traditions, and even gender. Gender, you ask? What variety? There are just two genders, right? No. There are more. Gender goes beyond the biological sex assigned to a person at birth, and so it is not just the binary of male and female. It is what one identifies with (or not), and it has a lot to do with emotions too.

You may have come across the term LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender; new letters are getting added increasingly for further inclusivity). Further, there are people who want to be defined by none of these genders or by more than one.

Among the people mentioned here, you may have come across transpeople or read about how they are achievers in several fields. If you are wondering why you do not get to see many LGBT people, it is because they are often ignored, teased, or abused for who they are that they choose to not reveal their identity to everyone. Such discrimination arises in society in the name of religion, culture, tradition, etc., or because their own country refuses to acknowledge them. This is unfair to the community, because as young people it may be difficult for them to come out and be themselves, and later as adults, it denies them a chance at fulfilment and happiness.

Comfortingly, things are changing. While discrimination and violence against the community continues, it is also finding acceptance and support across the world. Pride Parade and Pride Month are celebrated the world over, where people from the community and allies take part to celebrate the community.

If you feel you belong to the LGBT community, it is important to understand that you are as valuable as everyone else and that you deserve a life of equality and dignity. Find support groups, stand up for yourself, and be proud of who you are. If you do not belong to the LGBT community, you can be an ally, a person who supports the LGBT community. Be a friend, talk to them, support them, and find out how all you can help them. Even something as basic as finding out which pronouns they use - he, she, they - and following it is a right step towards inclusivity. Remember that while discrimination divides us, inclusivity gives all of us the chance to live together peacefully.

Picture Credit : Google

Why adolescence is a period of transition between childhood and adulthood?

Adolescence is the period when children gradually enter adulthood. It is usually marked by dramatic physical, emotional, and psychological changes. The process of rapid physical changes in adolescence is called puberty, and it begins at different ages in different people. Adolescence is when a lot happens - the development of a sudden attraction to other people, the sprouting of armpit and pubic hair, increased sweating, weight gain, stretch marks, a changing voice, acne, the onset of menstruation, etc., leading one to be conscious of one's body and behaviour. Around this time, academic pressures too start increasing gradually. It is also the period when friends and peers become so important that ganging up against younger or vulnerable children is seen as "cool" while the pull of social media, gadgets, smoking, alcohol, drugs, and pornography grows intense. When elders, especially parents, who have your best interests in mind, try to discipline you or give you advice, you start finding them annoying. The bodily changes, the unnamed attractions, the urge to experiment with "unmentionables", and the resultant conflict could cause anxiety, struggle, confusion, and anger. Sounds scary enough to not want to grow up, right? Not really! It is important to realise that bodily changes are part of a natural cycle to prepare you for adulthood. Embracing a healthy lifestyle, picking up a hobby, and widening your interests help you keep yourself both physically and emotionally calm. And never forget that your looks do not define you. What is important is to be comfortable in your body and know that you have the liberty to be yourself. With such a positive attitude you can even help those around you appreciate themselves and be secure in their own bodies.

Adolescence is also the phase that gives you a peek into adulthood and helps you acquaint yourself well with what lies ahead. Studies have shown that the temperament you show as an adolescent could impact your personality as an adult. This is also the time when you have the chance to prepare yourself to be a responsible adult. And that would mean dividing time carefully between academics and interests that will keep you happy and peaceful even as you learn to keep off anything that can cause physical and emotional harm to yourself and the people you love.

If you think any of your habits border on addiction, and are beginning to affect your studies, health, and relationships, or if you're feeling dejected and having negative thoughts about life, talk to trusted elders and seek the help of counsellors.

Picture Credit : Google

What is bullying?

At school and at home, most of you may have friends you spend time with. However, you or someone you know may have experienced bullying. Bullying is "when someone does hurtful things on purpose to another person", repeatedly. This could be written or verbal such as name-calling, teasing, put-downs, etc., or spreading rumours, refusing to share things, excluding someone from group activity, etc. All these can happen in person or virtually. Bullying also includes physically harming someone by hitting, pushing them, and/or destroying their things such as toys, notebooks, gifts, etc.

When someone bullies you, you may feel helpless, lonely, and sad. Do not show you are scared because that encourages the bully. Try to be calm, and leave the place as soon as possible. It is important to immediately report the incident to trusted elders such as your teachers, parents, or an older sibling. Explain to them exactly what happened and how you feel about it. Remember that you are never responsible for someone bullying you. Bullies harm others for various reasons - because they are unhappy with themselves, they just need attention, they (wrongly) feel superior about themselves (they are usually older children), or even because they think what they are doing is fun and are not aware of the hurt their action is causing. But you can put an end to bullying. When you see someone being bullied, gather all your friends and confront the bully. Never laugh at someone being bullied. Invariably, a bully alone is a bully scared. Once the bully leaves, take into your group the person who was bullied as a show of comfort and support. Again, do not forget to report it to elders. If you are sure you can handle it along with a couple of trusted friends, you may try talking to the bully gently about the unacceptable behaviour and see if you have any common interests. Who knows, the bully perhaps was looking for a friend! Staying together, avoiding places where you can find yourself alone with the bully, confronting the bully as a group, refusing to encourage a bully, not spreading rumours, never laughing at or excluding someone being bullied, being kind to those bullied, and reporting the incidents to trusted elders are ways to eliminate bullying. You can do this even if the bully is not alone but works as a gang.

If you have been doing hurtful things to others, it is likely that you are a bully yourself. Open up about your behaviour to an elder, and with their help and / or through the help of counsellors, you will get a chance to understand yourself better, become a nicer person, and find true friends and happiness in life.

Picture Credit : Google

What type of punishment is corporal punishment?

Those familiar with books like "Oliver Twist' will have read how common it was for children to be punished by being caned or spanked. It was believed that if the rod was spared, then the child would become spoiled.

Corporal punishment is a form of punishment like slapping, pinching, spanking, caning, etc. which causes physical pain. It also includes actions like confining a child in a room, denying the use of the washroom and withholding food or water. Children often suffer corporal punishment at the hands of their caregivers such as parents and teachers.

Now it is understood that such corporal punishment does little to discipline a child. It may have a temporary effect in producing the desired behaviour, but in the long term, it leaves deep emotional scars. It causes negative feelings of humiliation, confusion and anger, and destroys the child's confidence. It discourages the child from attending school and increases the dropout rate. Positive reinforcement yields better results in producing good behaviour. It is more effective if a child is praised for good behaviour rather than constantly being criticised for his mistakes.

In 1979, Sweden became the first country to ban corporal punishment. Corporal punishment has been banned in 59 countries as of February 2020. In India, physically assaulting a child is punishable with a jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to five lakh rupees under the Right to Education Act (2009).

Picture Credit : Google

Why is child labour not a good thing?

Child labour refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their access to education and is physically or mentally harmful to them.

The main cause of child labour is poverty. Some poor families sell off their children to work as slaves to pay off a debt that they have incurred. Known as bonded labourers, these children work for long hours in miserable conditions for years in the carpet, leather and other kinds of industries. Many become sick or deformed. Children doing hazardous jobs in fireworks and matchsticks factories and in coal mines face the risk of injury and even death.

In India, the law prohibits the employment of children below age 14 in dangerous workplaces like construction sites, factories, garages, etc. Government officials have to rescue and rehabilitate such children and punish their employers. Sadly, law enforcement in our country is weak and a lot more needs to be done.

Education plays a crucial role in breaking the cycle of poverty and child labour. It equips children with skills that will help them find better-paid work in adulthood. With higher income, they can look after themselves and their families well.

Do you know? Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO founded by Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi, has rescued over 90,000 child labourers. Satyarthi also founded GoodWeave, an international scheme that certifies rugs as child labour-free.

Picture Credit : Google

What is a stammer person?

As American President Abraham Lincoln famously said, 'Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. What better way to ensure a strong and stable democracy than to make your vote count! Because your voice matters.

Stammerers stumble over words and can often only speak with superhuman effort, especially if the attention is focused on them.

If you ask a stammerer his or her name, it might take him or her several attempts to say, 'R............Rahul' or 'Sh...sh...sh....Sheila', for example. In the meantime, Rahul or Sheila would have turned red with embarrassment and you may have lost interest.

Unfortunately, movies and television often have characters with a stammer to provide the audience with a few laughs. In reality, stammerers go through agonies and the more you mock them, the more difficult it is for them to overcome it.

Not just someone with a stammer, you might have come across people who are blind, deaf, spastic or autistic. Every person with a special need wants you to be sensitive to their situation. They don't want your pity. All they desire is to be accepted as one among you.

So the next time you come across a special person, show understanding and compassion, not impatience or indifference.

Picture Credit : Google

What age do you get the right to vote?

You may not always agree with your family members on small issues like what movie to watch together or what food to order in a restaurant. Every person may have an opinion and voting can be a way of arriving at a decision.

In a democracy, voting is an important tool that gives citizens a chance to voice their opinion and participate in the system of governance.

Our constitution has given every person above the age of 18 the right to vote. It is not just the right but also the responsibility of a good citizen to vote during elections so that he/she can have a say in choosing the right leaders to run the government and make laws for the welfare of the people.

Voting allows us to hold the elected representatives or members of the government accountable. If we are not satisfied with their work or do not agree with their views, we can change the government by voting them out in the next elections.

Picture Credit : Google

Does every child have the right to education?

"One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world," declared 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai at the United Nations headquarters in 2013. Education is the building block of a progressive and enlightened nation.

Every child has the right to go to school, regardless of how rich or poor he or she is, his or her family background or where he or she lives. Every child deserves to learn in a safe environment with friendly teachers who do not discriminate on the basis of gender, caste, class or religion.

Why is education important? It is a means of empowering oneself and developing one's personality to its full potential. For the economically and socially disadvantaged communities, it offers an opportunity to get out of poverty. Above all, an educated person becomes aware of all his rights.

The UN has laid out a guideline of 4As for governments to fulfil the child's right to education. It proposes that governments make education available, accessible, acceptable and adaptable. Education must be provided free in schools that have trained teachers and proper infrastructure. Schooling must be accessible to children of all backgrounds. The study material should be relevant and culturally acceptable. At the same time, it should adapt to the changing needs of society.

The Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009 made education a fundamental right for every child in India. It provides for free and compulsory education up to Class VIII for children aged between 6-14 years. As of 2018, there are over a million government schools in India. The Indian schooling system is one of the largest in the world, catering to over 250 million students.

Picture Credit : Google