Nature & Recycling

 

 

 

 

Why is Recycling Important

The importance of recycling can be observed in multiple ways. If you are wondering in your mind as to “why I should recycle” then here are some causes which should convince you to do so.

Recycling Saves Energy

When new products are manufactured from the raw material obtained from recycled products, it saves a lot of energy which is consumed for the production. When new products are manufactured from ‘virgin materials’, the amount of energy consumed is much higher. Besides, the energy required to acquire and transport the ‘virgin’ raw materials from their origins or natural sources is also saved. Add to that the energy which is required to clean and protect the environment from the pollutant waste products, especially those which are non-biodegradable (plastic) and fill up the landfill areas.
Recycling Saves Environmental Conditions and Reduces Pollution
Recycling helps in preventing global climate change to a great extent. By minimizing the energy spent on industrial production, recycling also helps in reducing greenhouse gas emission. Some of the major fossil fuels used in most industries include coal, diesel, gasoline etc. All these emit harmful gases such as methane, sulfur dioxide, carbon-dioxide to the environment. The processing of fresh raw material also creates toxic materials which pollute the environment. By reducing the energy used, recycling also minimizes the amount of fuel usage which in turn reduces the amount of harmful pollutants in the environment.

Recycling Saves Natural Resources

we know that recycling involves the processing and usage of the core elements of an old product for the production of new products. This helps in saving our natural resources to a great extent. For example, once an old newspaper is recycled we do not need to use the resource of another tree to produce new paper products. This way, proper recycling can help us preserve our natural resources for our future generations and maintain the balance of the nature.

Economic Benefits

Similar to energy and natural resource, recycling also helps in saving a lot of expense, demanded for the production of new products from ‘virgin’ materials. These expenses include the entire production cycle starting from acquiring the raw materials, transferring them from their origin to production places, processing and manufacturing costs.
Recycling process creates employment opportunities for a lot of people, involved in the various stages of the process. This in turn contributes to the economic development of the state or country.
Recycling Saves Space for Waste Disposal
Most of the landfill sites are filled up with a lot of waste products that could have been recycled effectively. Some of these waste materials belong to non-biodegradable category which takes a long time to decompose. Recycling enables proper usage of these waste products and saves space for landfills. The pace with which landfills are getting filled up, soon we might run short of landfills unless we start following recycling at our own home and spread the word to others.

 

When you recycle, you are helping to save our planet from unwanted pollution in the air and unnecessary trash on the ground. Recycling simply means reusing and not creating more of the same toxins and garbage over and over again. Making good choices that won’t harm living things as well as Mother Nature. A good example of recycling and reusing what you all ready own is “bartering materials”. One way is to give your unwanted clothes to a friend and they give you their unwanted clothes. You both receive items that are “new to you” without throwing the old clothes in the trash, which would create more clutter on our planet, in a landfill somewhere. Another simple way of recycling is not placing your unwanted cardboard boxes in the trash. Check with friends to see if they need them for storage or an upcoming move. Here are some great “green moving tips” that can keep our planet clean

World Culture

What is Culture?

 

Culture is growing up in a specific group, community, of people around you. It’s the way that things are accepted in society, it’s your behavior and a part of growing up.  A culture is a way of life that is based on beliefs and values, such as art, food, dance, rituals, religion, etc. that is shared by a group of people. It’s a way of life that has been passed down from one person to the next.  The language, the art, food, customs, traditions, festivities, is all bonds that you share with someone, whether you’re Italian, Indian, Greek, and so forth. Each culture has different characteristics, and I think that’s what makes it so interesting. Culture is important because it reminds us where we are from. It gives us our identity and can shape a person’s personality and attitude towards life.  Culture acts as a guide for people. It validates proper behavior and discourages taboos. Cultures helps us define our religious beliefs, personal values (think education career, sexuality), morals, food, clothing and even our style. Cultures are different b/c what defines different groups of people vary.

Why is it important to study world cultures?

Because look around you there are so many cultures and races, you need to understand how each of us lives so that you won’t go asking yourself, why this person dresses like this or why does that person eat that or why do they need to dance the rain dance etc,..  Study is important but not as important as immersing yourself in them, you cannot ever fully understand another culture but you will not ever get close without being involved somehow.

What is the Importance of culture?

Culture refers to the pattern of human activity and the symbols, which give
significance to this activity. Culture is represented through the art, literature, costumes, customs and traditions of a community. Different cultures exist in different parts of the world.
The natural environment greatly affects the lifestyle of the people of that region, thus shaping their culture. The diversity in the cultures around the world is also a result of the mindsets of people inhabiting different regions of the world. Why is culture important? Let us try to find out. The cultural values of a community give it an identity of its own. A community gains a character and a personality of its own, because of the culture of its people. Culture is shared by the members of a community. It is learned and passed from the older generations to the newer
ones. For an effective transfer of culture from one generation to another, it has to be translated into symbols. Language, art and religion serve as the symbolic means of transfer of cultural values between generations. Culture is a bond that ties the people of a region or community together. It is that one common bond, which brings the people of a community together. The customs and traditions that the people of a community follow, the festivals they celebrate, the kind of clothing they wear, the food they eat, and most importantly, the cultural values they adhere to, bind them together. Culture is seen as a system of social control, wherein people shape their standards and behavior. The cultural values form the founding principles of one’s life. They influence one’s principles and philosophies of life. They influence one’s way of living and thus impact social life. The importance of culture lies in the fact that it is a link between people and their value systems.

Spanish, French, German, Italian…….

Ask an American adult about whether she speaks a language other than English, and you’re likely to get an answer something like this: “I took French in school, but I can’t speak it.”

The pressure to teach students to communicate in a second language has drastically changed the methods of instruction in the best language programs.

But lots of students still aren’t getting this kind of language instruction. In most states, language class is an elective not required for graduation. Language teachers are in short supply nationwide. Language programs are in continual danger of being cut in financially strapped districts concerned about students’ test scores in reading, math or science – the subjects required to be tested under the No Child Left Behind law.

Historically, language classes were taken only by college-bound students, and many took the minimum of two years that colleges required. They learned to conjugate verbs in Spanish, French or German, and most graduated from high school with just enough knowledge to pass written tests but not enough to carry on a conversation.

“We have to think completely differently”. “It’s proficiency, rather than just ‘seat time.'”

I believe that American students should be required to learn a second language. Learning a second language will enable American students an opportunity to better understand other cultures and languages this will result in our generation being better world citizens and continue our role as a global leader.

Ninety-six percent of the world’s population lives outside of the United States. Countries that border our nation speak a language other than English; by learning a second language we will more effectively communicate with our neighbors.

Employees of this new era must have the skills and ability to communicate fluently in several languages in order to find suitable employment. Major U.S. companies; such as airlines, technology, commerce and international banking hire workers that are multi-lingual because they have the ability to communicate with customers and understand various cultures.

Learning a second language will also enhance our knowledge of the English language since the root of much of our own language is derived from Latin and French. Furthermore, by learning a second language, opportunities to travel and appreciate other cultures will be abundant.

As students we must challenge ourselves and learn languages that may not be spoken at home or in our community. We must continue to keep pace with the rising demands of this global economy and learn to appreciate the many cultures that exist outside of the United States.

With this nation commonly referred to as the “mixing pot,” it is important that all students learn a second language. Whether or not one is fluent in the chosen second language is not as important as the student having the ability to communicate with other Americans as well as citizens of other countries. Not only would learning another language help communication problems, but it would also increase the respect Americans receive from other nations. The more we know about their world, the better off we will be.

Hence, being bilingual can open countless doors of opportunity in the years to come.

A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips

THE “fact” that junk food is cheaper than real food has become a reflexive part of how we explain why so many Americans are overweight, particularly those with lower incomes. I frequently read confident statements like, “when a bag of chips is cheaper than a head of broccoli …” or “it’s more affordable to feed a family of four at McDonald’s than to cook a healthy meal for them at home.”  This is just plain wrong. In fact it isn’t cheaper to eat highly processed food: a typical order for a family of four — for example, two Big Macs, a cheeseburger, six chicken McNuggets, two medium and two small fries, and two medium and two small sodas — costs, at the McDonald’s a hundred steps from where I write, about $28. (Judicious ordering of “Happy Meals” can reduce that to about $23 — and you get a few apple slices in addition to the fries!) 

In general, despite extensive government subsidies, hyper processed food remains more expensive than food cooked at home. You can serve a roasted chicken with vegetables along with a simple salad and milk for about $14, and feed four or even six people. If that’s too much money, substitute a meal of rice and canned beans with bacon, green peppers and onions; it’s easily enough for four people and costs about $9. (Omitting the bacon, using dried beans, which are also lower in sodium, or substituting carrots for the peppers reduces the price further, of course.)

Another argument runs that junk food is cheaper when measured by the calorie, and that this makes fast food essential for the poor because they need cheap calories. But given that half of the people in this country (and a higher percentage of poor people) consume too many calories rather than too few, measuring food’s value by the calorie makes as much sense as measuring a drink’s value by its alcohol content. (Why not drink 95 percent neutral grain spirit, the cheapest way to get drunk?)

Besides, that argument, even if we all needed to gain weight, is not always true. A meal of real food cooked at home can easily contain more calories, most of them of the “healthy” variety. (Olive oil accounts for many of the calories in the roast chicken meal, for example.)In comparing prices of real food and junk food, I used supermarket ingredients, not the pricier organic or local food that many people would consider ideal. But food choices are not black and white; the alternative to fast food is not necessarily organic food, any more than the alternative to soda is Bordeaux (wine).

The alternative to soda is water, and the alternative to junk food is not grass-fed beef and greens from a trendy farmers’ market, but anything other than junk food: rice, grains, pasta, beans, fresh vegetables, canned vegetables, frozen vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, bread, peanut butter, a thousand other things cooked at home — in almost every case a far superior alternative.

 

 

Gender & Class War

Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn Spears, Lindsey Lohan, we are all very familiar with their stories. Once famous child stars who grew up to have a bright future in various media industries, and then their dark decent from fame and fortune to in most cases a drug addict mess. This story is not uncommon among media stars especially those who grew up in the environment since they were children. Both men and women have fallen victim to the darker side of fame. But I have noticed a double standard among these individuals.

 

You see whenever a female who was once a child star is caught in a drug or sex scandal people immediately start pointing fingers at one person in particular…their mother. Many say that the mothers of these women forced their children to engage in activities that endangered their children physically or mentally for the sole purpose of monetary gain. And though this may be true the same might not be said if a male is caught in the same position.

 

A great example of this is the once “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. From a young age Michael was involved in professional music, originally a member of the family band “The Jackson Five” and eventually going off on a solo career, and the person that was guiding him with a very firm hand was his father Joseph Jackson. His tight hold on Michael, though successful and produced one of the greatest singers and dancers of all time caused significant emotional and mental damage to Michael essentially robbing him of his childhood. This many believe had a dramatic effect on Michael as an adult, yet very few put the blame on his father’s shoulders, rather putting it all on the shoulders of Michael himself.

 

Though the situation Michael faced is incredibly similar to the situation many of the female stars faced, we react completely differently. This double standard in a way says that we believe that men should be held responsible for their actions independent of what factors may have lead to the situation they find themselves in and they deserve no sympathy. Whereas women deserve all the sympathy because they aren’t strong enough to deal with emotional trauma as a child.  

Are we equal?

 No.

Women are still judged much more harshly than men, we still have a lot harder time obtaining employment because of our gender and the fact that we may at some point have kids.

Gender matters because men and women are different, no matter what feminists say there are some things men can do that women can’t and vice versa.

Do Class still matter?

Yes it does. A white, male, of the higher middle to upper class will be of higher value then a woman or minority of same race or class. And, the same goes within each of those categories.

Class matters because different people deserve a different amount of respect, e.g. rich people deserve more respect than the poor ghetto family with ten illegitimate children. Because the rich family have worked hard (or have done something right in their past) to get the success they have.

Race and Ethnicity Vs. United states

There is only one race, the human race. The differences that emerged resulting in variations of skin color, cultural development, religious creation, increased ability to understand their environment, the development of language, writing, and survival skills largely resulted because of the specialization required for survival.  Race is usually used to classify animals, flora, etc.   But socially speaking, race is used to divide and classify various groups of people. Race has a more geographical and physical-connotation.  Humans all belong to the same race.  Ethnicity is different from race. Ethnicity factors in geographic locations (of various groups), language, history, physical appearance, religion, style of dress, etc. Ethnicity is more socially based than race.  The words race and ethnicity are interchangeably used, but the word race as in “the African race”, etc. have been used for centuries.  I always pondered on this question “Why are race and ethnicity important to United States society?” after asking some of my friends and family members I came to a conclusion that different races and ethnic backgrounds hold American society together. The United States government has collected statistics on race and ethnicity. The data has been used to study changes in the social, demographic, health, and in economic characteristics of various groups that are in American population. Federal data collections, through censuses, surveys, and administrative records, have provided an historical record of the Nation’s population diversity and its changing social attitudes and in policy concerns. They are also important because race and ethnicity have been used extensively in civil rights monitoring and enforcement covering areas such as employment, voting rights, housing and mortgage lending, health care services, and in educational opportunities.

            I guess it seems to be important to every society so I think it must be a human trait to put people in groups of “us and them”. It’s not very kind nor is it productive. I think that it may stand out here in the U.S. more than any other places because America is one of the most ethnically/culturally/racially diverse countries in the world. There is also a “mainstream culture” that has its roots in history and background so knowing the history can help someone understand how it got this way. America also, supposedly have freedom of religion but people get upset when any religion’s members get violent and lots of insecure and angry people swarm in to spread hatred and foster misunderstanding among people. Although most Americans are understanding and kind to a degree.  Also, Americans are usually not well traveled and know little of what’s going on in the world. There’s a lot of close mindedness mixed with extreme open-mindedness. They are mostly trying to meet in the middle, but that causes problems too. Like I said, I think these problems are more of a human reaction to the cultural mixing pot.  The only additional comment I’d make is that ethnic groups have a history of fraught relations in the US. African Americans were brought to the US as slaves. This created a whole set of social and economic relations and beliefs which have affected race relations, long after slavery was abolished.

My childhood in India

So, basically I am from Kerala, India.

It is also known as the “Gods own country”.  I have lived quite sizable part of my early life in India.  I was born in Alappuzha (literally meaning the land between sea and network of rivers flowing into it), Kerala. To be very honest, I am very proud of the place I came from because it is considered the most beautiful state in all over India.

I actually have a double identity.  My family is from Hyderabad, India. So I am a Telugu girl who grew up in Kerala and then moved back to Hyderabad when I was 12.

Green forests, palm tress, coconut trees are really abundant in Kerala.  In short, it is a tropical paradise.  I have travelled more in boats than in cars or buses in Kerala.  One of the most memorable things of my childhood in Kerala was renting a houseboat with my family.  It was quite expensive but worth every Rupee (Indian Currency).  Wandering between the coconut palm trees, sleeping on the water in the night under the stars was an amazing experience anyone can ever have. I don’t think I can ever have such an amazing experience again by doing anything else in this whole entire world.

I have also been to the Vivekananda rock memorial in kanyakumari near Kerala which is in the southernmost tip of India from where you can experience viewing three different seas at the same time in 3 different directions. The Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

After moving to Hyderabad, I was very nostalgic about Kerala for a very long time as I have to deal with all the traffic, pollution and travelling in cars and buses instead of boats in Hyderabad as it is a metropolitan city.  As the time went by I got used to everything in Hyderabad but till todays date I always prefer Kerala over Hyderabad.

One of the festivals I used to enjoy the most is Diwali which is the festival of lights.  It is a huge celebration in all over India.

The most special part of this festival is in the night where you get to decorate your houses with lights and burn fireworks.

Another but most memorable event of my life was my visit to the magnificent Taj Mahal which ranks as one of the wonders of the world.

What made the experience more memorable is my realization that it is a massive architectural wonder adorned with Italian marble and laced with hand carved semiprecious stone flowers which I actually thought was just a monument covered in white paint with painted flowers when I was younger.

The last summer I have spent in India before moving to America was the most enjoyable time in my life.  My friends and I travelled to Northern India and had the time of our life in the Himalayan Mountains.  That was the very first time I have ever encountered the snow.  It was very hard for us to leave from that place when the time had arrived  to return back to Hyderabad and it was extremely hard for me since I was leaving the whole entire country.  Anyway, to sum up, Indian culture and values have a huge impact on me and are the most important aspects of my life which I can never forget.