What is the truth behind India's honey? How pure is the honey made by your favourite brand? Are you eating nature's wonder food or are the companies selling you cheap and unhealthy sugar? To find these answers let us look at the latest report by the Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment or CSE. CSE has earlier exposed pesticides in colas and packaged drinking water, antibiotics in honey, GMO's in packaged food, and excess salts and trans fat in junk foods...
Schools can play a key role in meeting India's 2022 renewable energy target. Here are a few learnings from the solar initiative of Centre for Science and Environment. Once upon a time humans depended on the labour of animals and other humans to meet their daily energy requirements. From transport to agriculture, humans made use of natural resources like wind, water and gravity for their energy needs.
The cultivation of rice has occupied the pride of place in Kerala’s agriculture. Unending lush green paddy fields are a sight for sore eyes. But Paddy cultivation is declining in Kerala at an alarming rate. In the past 30 years, the state lost more than 70 per cent of its paddy fields. Rice producing districts like Wayanad once had 160 varieties of paddy. 55 of these varieties are now extinct. But there are people in the state who are trying to preserve this paddy biodiversity.
Carrying water by trains could be an emergency measure. Chennai has a strong tradition of water harvesting. But the problem is that most of these structures are either defunct or poorly maintained. Chennai which had 19 major lakes covering an area of 1130 hectares. But these waterbodies have been heavily encroached upon reducing their spread to just about 645 hectares. Its time that we understand the importance of water harvesting.
Sunlight, readily available for 250 to 300 days in most parts of India, can help schools operate better. India has set a target of 227 GW of installed capacity from renewable energy by 2022. Of this, nearly 144 GW would be sourced from solar energy, while 67 GW would come from wind energy. Although wind, solar, biogas and water are all renewable energy sources for power, solar energy is considered to be the most affordable alternative to polluting fossil-fuel based power-plants. Easy installation and electricity generation also make solar energy the best bet among renewables...
Just step into your house and look around. All our appliances from our refrigerator to air-conditioner to smartphones, everything would become useless in a world without electricity. This is why electricity is considered one the most valuable commodities in the world.
Tribal people are often potrayed as underdeveloped. But history actually shows something else. For the past few months, an uneasy calm is prevailing over the lives of Huaoranis—an Ecuadorian tribe living in the deep and dark forests of Amazon. Recently, they spot some outsiders in the forest. Not only that, the other day they saw a big bird with a deafening sound hovering over their village. This big bird was in fact a helicopter, which for us is as familiar as birds flying in the vast, blue sky. But for the Huaoranis, it only meant one thing...
World Health Organization has issued a strong warning about the effects of air pollution on children. On October 29, 2018, it released a report called Air Pollution and Child Health. It states that in 2016, 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air. What is worse is that 93% of the world's children under the age of 15 (1.8 billion) are exposed to high levels of PM 2.5 which are superfine air pollutants. Worst are those living in developing countries where 98 per cent of all children are exposed to very unhealthy air.
Water storage vessels like bottles, drums and pots should be cleaned and kept covered... Use mosquito nets. Don't wear clothes that expose your hands and legs and use a mosquito repellent cream.
Sattu is a powder made by grinding a mixture of roasted pulses, mainly chickpeas and cereals. It is rich in protein and leaves one satiated for a long time. Apart from the laddu, a refreshing summer drink is made out of sattu, which helps us in bearing high temperatures and keeps our stomach healthy. It is also ideal for people suffering from peptic ulcer and can also fight diabetes.
Monsoons are here and as the rain pours tip tap, wouldn't it be nice to read a book or watch a favourite show while munching something fresh and tasty? Here is a corn salad recipe that is quick to make and is full of nutrients. Corn is a rich source of calories and is a staple among many populations. The calorie content of corn is 342 per 100 grams, which is among the highest in cereals. Calories are important for healthy metabolism. Corn is a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, and several minerals. Its high fibre content helps in the prevention of digestive ailments such as constipation.
It is said that when the British Governer General Warren Hastings brought the water hyacinth to India in the 18th century, thinking it was a flower, he couldn't have imagined that was actually a deadly weed.