World Consumer Rights Day
Context :
World Consumer Rights Day is observed on 15 March. The consumer movement marks 15 March with World Consumer Rights Day every year. The day aims to raise global awareness about consumer rights and needs.
Aim :
The day aims to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, and to protest against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights.
Theme for 2020 :
Each year, World Consumer Rights Day adopts a theme to highlight. This year the theme promoted is “The Sustainable Consumer”.
We urgently need drastic action to address the global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. The decade of the 2020s is our last chance to limit global warming to 1.5 degree C since pre-industrial times, in line with the Paris Agreement and to reverse the current trend of wide-scale biodiversity loss.
When we look at our global consumption in numbers, we are given a stark reminder of the task ahead. Around the world, nearly one million plastic bottles are sold every minute, and five trillion pieces of plastic are floating in our oceans. We buy over 80 billion new clothing items a year, and consume 3.9 billion tonnes of food – one-third of which is lost or wasted.
In order to protect the planet and provide fair social conditions for current and future generations, we need to think about the way we produce and consume goods and services. The aim of sustainable consumption is to increase resource efficiency and fair trade while helping to alleviate poverty and enable everyone to enjoy a good quality of life with access to food, water, energy, medicine and more.
The consumer movement will highlight the lifestyle changes consumers can make to play their part, and what governments and businesses need to do to make sustainability the easy choice for consumers.
Background :
World Consumer Rights Day was inspired by President John F Kennedy, who sent a special message to the US Congress on 15th March 1962, in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. He was the first world leader to do so. The consumer movement first marked that date in 1983 and now uses the day every year to mobilise action on important issues and campaigns.
source : consumer international
Avian flu: Culling of birds begins in Kerela
Context :
On March 14, 2020, the Kerala Government ordered poultry culling. Parappanagadi has been identified as the Epicenter of bird flu. The Government of Kerala is to cull poultry within one-kilometer radius.
Highlights :
- A few hundreds of birds were culled methodically as per the bird flu management protocol within the first four hours .
- The district administration has suspended the licences of poultry shops within 10 km area.
- Sale or transport of poultry or any other pet bird is banned in the region for the next three months.
- A special cleaning drive will begin for three days after the culling.
Avian flu (Bird flu) :
Avian influenza refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Avian flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with avian flu viruses have occurred.
poultry culling :
Poultry Culling is the process by which unwanted chicks or male embryo are disposed. This is done in industrial egg production. Culling do not involve anaesthetics. Culling is done using carbon dioxide, cervical dislocation and maceration.
Poultry in India :
India exports 4,49,527 metric tonnes of poultry products. The major export destination of Indian Poultry are Russia, Maldives, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Oman. According to APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Product Export Development Authority), eggs and broilers are increasing at the rate of 8% to 10% .
India was positioned 17th in global poultry production in 2019. Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are the major Poultry producing states in the country. Today India is the fifth largest producer of eggs and eighteenth largest producer of broilers.
SAARC Video Conference , India proposes COVID-19 Emergency Funds
Context :
On March 15, 2020, SAARC leaders participated in a video conference to frame a strategy in order to fight Corona Virus. PM Modi attended the video conference on behalf on India.
PM Modi proposes SAARC emergency fund to fight COVID-19, offers to contribute $10 million.
Key Points :
- India proposed creation of Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Also, India is to set up disease surveillance portal in order to trace the virus carriers in better way.
- Afghanistan suggested to create a common platform for tele-medicine suggestions.
- Sri Lanka proposed to set up ministerial level group. Other countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives agreed on joint cooperation to fight against the disease. Bangladesh suggested for a creation of health ministerial group.
- Pakistan raised Kashmir issue at the conference demanding to life restricting in Jammu and Kashmir region to deal with the threat.
India’s measures :
- India is fighting Corona Virus with the strategy, “Prepare, don’t panic”. India had started screening people entering India in mid-January.
- Gradually India imposed travel restrictions and then travel ban.
- This has helped India to contain the disease spread and keep the numbers lowest to around 100.
About SAARC :
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia. Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. … SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.
SAARC provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. It aims to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life through accelerated economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region.
ARCI developed a cost-effective solar receiver tube technology for heat applications
Context :
Scientists from the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad developed a cost-effective solar receiver tube technology for industrial process heat applications.
Highlights :
- Solar receiver tube technology is used in Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST).
- The receiver tube technology absorbs solar radiation and converts it into heat for the targeted applications, especially in industries. It also exhibits high corrosion resistance suitable for Indian weather conditions.
- It provides a viable solution to meet the demands on industrial process heat (≤250°C) of a majority of industrial processes.
- The receiver tube achieved around 93% absorptance and around 14% emittance along with good thermal stability and high corrosion resistance. The absorber coating has been successfully validated for heat gain and heat loss studies in a testing facility established at ARCI.
- The government has also signed MoU with M/s. Greenera Energy India Private Limited for technology transfer. It plans to mass-produce the solar receiver tube for wider market absorption.
World Sleep Day
Context :
World Sleep Day is observed on 13 March. The day focuses on the issues related to sleep, sleep medicine, education about sleep. The day raises awareness about the social effects that sleep deprivation can have on everyday life.
World Sleep Day :
World Sleep Day aims to help those who have sleep problems, educate people all over about the importance of sleep, and change the way people view and experience sleep by giving people valuable resources to help them in their daily lives.
History :
World Sleep day was organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of World Sleep Society. According to the American Sleep Association, over 50 to 70 million people have a sleeping disorder, over 25 million have sleep apnoea, and the most commonly reported sleep problem is insomnia. The Society sought to encourage the development and exchange of information for world-wide and regional standards of practice for sleep medicine.