For the last 30 years, this naxalite-turned-teacher has been teaching poor kids for free
Subhash Chandra Kundu was a part of active politics and the Naxalite movement between 1968 and 1971. However, he soon realized that armed movement was not the correct path and instead decided to bring about change by spreading science education among the poor. More than 30 years later, the man is revered by all and sundry in Basirhat area of West Bengal. He is akin to a demi-god and more of a parent than the...
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This new technique could melt plastic waste into fuel for hydrogen cars
Researchers at the Swansea University have developed an incredible technique that transforms plastic trash into hydrogen which can be used as a fuel for cars. The process is cheaper than recycling as it uses all kinds of plastic, and the waste need not even be cleaned first. Dr. Moritz Kuehnel of the University’s chemistry department explains how light-absorbing material are added to the plastic, before it is...
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A silver lining to the Kerala floods : Mud deposits from the floods turns soil fertile
Kerala just witnessed massive destruction in the wake of recent floods brought by torrential monsoon rains. While the natural calamity displaced thousands, destroyed property worth hundreds of crores and washed away various crops and spices the state is famous for producing, it also brought a sliver of hope for the farmers of the region, who are hopeful that the mud deposits that have been brought in by the...
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California all set to say good-bye to fishing nets blamed for killing several marine animals
Drift gillnets are used by commercial fishers to capture fish like sharks and swordfish, but often a number of marine species that are not meant to be caught get entangled in these ‘curtains of death’ that can stretch a mile long and suspend 100 feet underwater. Now the California State Assembly has unanimously approved a bill to phase out the use of this controversial fishing gear in the state by...
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These two teenagers from Bali aim to push the government to ban plastic bags
It is now well known that Bali has a serious plastic pollution problem. The once pristine island with crystal clear water and white sand beaches is suffering from the plastic pollution menace and it is not just limited to the tourist season. Thankfully, two teenagers from the island have been working for years to find a solution to this problem. In 2013, Melati and Isabel Wijsen launched their flagship...
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Scotland becomes world’s first country to give free sanitary products to students
Under a commendable new scheme by the Scottish government, all the students in the country would have access to free feminine hygiene products. The $6.6 million initiative will benefit roughly 400,000 students across all of the country’s schools, universities, and colleges. Recent surveys showed that one in four responding pupils have had trouble accessing sanitary products, while one in five participants have...
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The reason why UNICEF called Kerala relief camps ‘exemplary’
Recently, a team from UNICEF visited relief camps in the state of Kerala that witnessed massive devastation after being hit by severe floods and went back quite impressed by the facilities provided there. One of the members of the team, Banku Bihari Sarkar, said: “Today I visited this camp, this is one of the best relief camps that I have ever seen in my 20 years of professional career… This is worth documenting...
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#KeralaFloods : The Unsung Heroes (Part-2)
It is said that turbulent time often brings out the best in people. Kerala floods showed us how people cut across barriers of caste and religion and came together to help those affected by this severe calamity. Yesterday, we shared the story of Mr. Sujith Koshy who is selflessly serving the poor and needy in remote areas of Kerala and helping them cope with this tragedy. Today, we are sharing the story of...
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#KeralaFloods : The Unsung Heroes (Part-1)
When adversity strikes humankind, people from all walks of life – irrespective of their caste, creed and color – come together to fight it. This was witnessed recently when severe floods ravaged the south Indian state of Kerala. Among overwhelming feelings of loss and despair, heartwarming stories of hope, inspiration and human will-power shone through. ...
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Kroger to soon replace single-use plastic bags with greener alternatives
Kroger is America’s largest supermarket chain with 2,800 stores operating across the country apart from its subsidiary stores Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, and Ralphs. Therefore, the company’s announcement to phase out single-use plastic bags by 2025 is great news for the environment. Their QFC stores in the Pacific Northwest will be the first to eliminate single-use bags by their 2019 deadline,...
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