1. YOUNG CHRONICLE June 6th , 2011
THE YOUNG CHRONICLE
WILL THE WORLD MELT DOWN?
WHY IS THIS HEAT CAUSING A
Rambo and Pranks did a bit of investigation and PROBLEM?
found that the Earth was getting warmer. They then Just like Pranks,
learnt that the Earth was once very very very cold, in many of us might
an era called the ice age. Then it started warming up not think of the
and with the process of evolution, man evolved. heat as a problem.
Evolution as a process is not that fool proof and More heat means
scientists are still studying how man came about, but more Air
we are not going to discuss that here. Well, with Conditioners
man’s activities and the progress of industries, the (ACs). And an increase in Sale for more ACs would
Earth has started heating up at a faster rate, it is reduce their prices so they would become quite
getting polluted, and plundered. affordable too. After all, most developed countries have
built in Air Conditioning and heating systems in houses.
WHAT IS ACTUALLY So can India, what’s the big deal?
HAPPENING TO THE EARTH
AND WHY? Well, here
http://globalwarming2009.blogsp comes the
ot.com/ Well, answer. More
ACs means
Rambo found out that the Earth’s global average air more power
temperature near its surface rose by 0.56-0.92 C consumption,
(0.98-1.62 F) degrees during the last 100 years. And and this would
when he went through the Intergovernmental Panel worsen the
on Climate Change’s website, he found that that this Green House
increase is very likely due to the increase in Effect causing Glaciers and Icecaps in the North and
greenhouse gas concentrations. The Green House South Pole to melt. This melt down could have severe
effect warms the earth’s surface and lower repercussions. The sea level could rise causing floods in
atmosphere. Let’s learn about it briefly. areas close to the sea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B
A greenhouse is a glass or plastic structure otanical_Garden_V.L._Komarov_Bota Extreme
which allows solar radiation to enter the nical_Institute.jpg climatic changes
structure but tends to trap most of the heat after would be
the plants absorb most of it and heat the experienced.
atmosphere inside. Much of the heat is retained inside the greenhouse this way. Greenhouses Like extreme
are predominantly built in cold areas to grow plants. winter and
summer;
Now, the Earth doesn’t have a glass or a plastic covering around it. But certain gasses in the extreme or very
atmosphere act as such a cover. The most important of these are water vapor, Nitrous Oxide scanty rainfall
carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone. too… just like
certain parts of India experience each year.
HOW DO WE REDUCE THE GREEN HOUSE EFFECT?
Additionally, there could be frequent and intense
weather events, such as more intense hurricanes,
tornados, tsunamis, thunderstorms, blizzards, etc.,
though it is
difficult to
connect
specific events
to global
warming. If
you notice,
most parts of
the world are
experiencing
some or the
Plant Trees Limit Waste Energy other form of weather related hazards already.
Trees absorb Carbon Dioxide for Most products we use (like Electricity is commonly
Global warming also changes agricultural yields
Photosynthesis and hence, we should magazines, boxes, food produced by burning because of erratic rainfall and temperatures. It causes
ensure that less trees are cut, and if products, toys etc) require coal, which results in the extinction of Species and increases the incidence of
we do cut them, we should ensure energy for production and releasing Carbon Dioxide disease.
than an equal number are grown. disposal. Hence we should in the air. Therefore we
consume judiciously so that must switch off lights
only the amount required is
The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other
when we are not using
produced, and not much is greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels
them; and encourage the
wasted. use of solar heaters and
like coal, land clearing, agriculture, and other human
cookers when possible. activities are the major causes of global warming.
2. YOUNG CHRONICLE June 6th, 2011
So What Can Be Done About This Huge Problem?
Just yesterday, Rambo was telling Pranks about last November when he and his friends got drenched in the heavy rain! While he
went on and on about how much fun they had, he did not realize that rains in November in a country like India are an odd
phenomenon. It was only when Pranks pointed out that unusual changes like this, and others like unbearable temperatures in
summers, floods in some places and draughts in others are all a result of global warming did a bell ring in Rambo’s head. So he
read his encyclopedia and found out the following ways in which we can all save Planet Earth:
The 3R’s that form the basis of saving the environment are Reduce, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Reuse and Recycle. ‘Reduce’ means to buy less and use less. Little
actions like turning off the lights when not in use and opting for
public transport go a long way in reducing your energy
consumption. ‘Reuse’ means that elements of the discarded item
are used again, rather than directly being dumped into the waste
bin. ‘Recycle’ is the utilisation of waste materials into something
new. Instaed of throwing away unwanted materials, they can be
brought to use again in some other form. Plastic and glass bottles,
baterries, cars, furniture and even some mobile phones can be
recycled. So the next time before you toss something into the The Sun is the largest source of renewable energy and
dump basket, think if it can be put to some better use! Or if you are abundantly available everywhere. This big yellow ball
in the market and need to discard a paper plate, put it in the Green that shines over us can be used to generate energy in
bin, not the Blue one. different forms. Solar power is being used today for
many activities like cooking, lighting, water heating,
etc. An innovative example is solar energy vehicles
that, instead of using scarce fuel, run on energy of the
Solar Power sun. Newer methods of tapping the energy of the sun
are being developed everyday because it is one of the
oldest, most reliable and abundant sources of energy.
Wind energy
Strong‐blowing winds are not only useful for flying kites but are also a
great source of energy. Wind turbines convert fast blowing wind into
energy that can be used for producing electricity, grinding grain,
pumping water, etc. Energy produced by this method is clean and saves
the earth from pollution.
2
Rainwater Harvesting Rainwater harvesting stores water when it rains. This accumulated water
is then used for different purposes like drinking, irrigation, washing, etc.
Many schools, villages and colonies in cities are adopting rainwater
harvesting. You must check with your teachers and parents, and
convince them to put a rainwater harvesting system in your
school/colony.
When Rambo was walking back from the market yesterday night, there Pollution check
were so many cars on the road emitting smoke and dust particles that he
could feel the unpleasantness in his breath. Our cars discharge particles
in the air which are harmful not only for human beings but the
atmosphere as well. This is why it is compulsory for all vehicles to get a
pollution check done every couple of months. This is a sort of
examination makes sure that your car is not emitting particles that will
add up to the pollution level. Make sure you ask dad about when he got
a pollution check done for your car and accompany him to the petrol
pump next time to see how it works?
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3. YOUNG CHRONICLE MAY, 2011
FROM NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TO POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
DICTATORS OF THE WORLD
We all know that the world has millions of people, and these people live in different countries.
Different countries have different leaders who govern the country and protect its people. Just like
there are Acha Bachas and there are Ganda Bachas, the world has both good and bad leaders. Good
leaders respect the citizens’ freedom and are fair. Bad leaders, on the other hand, challenge these very
fundamentals and believe themselves to be the ruler whom everyone must obey.
The world has seen many of these bad leaders, all of whom have a record of killing millions of people,
disrespecting human rights and exercising extreme tyranny. Let’s have a look at the worst dictators in
the history of the world:
Adolf Hitler
Perhaps the most famous dictator in history is Adolf Hitler who reigned over Germany from 1933‐1945.
That seems to be a long time ago, but truth is that he was a brutal and cruel leader whom the world
can never forget. The man with a signature Charlie Chaplin‐like moustache and exceptional oratory
skills ordered barbarities that shocked the whole world. Historians and leaders blame Hitler for being
the cause behind the Second World War and carrying out the genocide of more than 6 million Jews,
referred to as ‘The Holocaust.’ Ultimately, faced with loss of power and imminent defeat in the War,
Hitler committed suicide, bringing to end a war that ruined the whole world.
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein was dictator of Iraq from 1979 until 2003. He entered politics while he was still a
university student and went on to establish autocratic rule over Iraqi people, curbing their freedom,
sovereignty and human rights. He invaded Kuwait and Iran which caused a lot of a lot of death and
destruction. Hussein imprisoned, tortured, maimed and killed a countless number of people.
Ultimately, a U.S.‐led coalition attacked Iraq in 2003 claiming that the Saddam regime was harboring
weapons of mass destruction which was a threat to world security. Saddam disappeared from public
view, only to be captured, tried and hung to death in 2006.
Idi Amin
Idi Amin presided over the African nation of Uganda from 1971‐1979. The 6‐foot 4‐inch tall dictator, who
was a former boxer, was at first welcomed by the people when he seized power. However, very soon
he changed colours and began harassing his countrymen. He misused his power to kill people of ethnic
minorities, capture property of Asians and Europeans illegally, and murder as many as half a million
people. He is believed to be a man‐eater. Amin titled himself as "His Excellency, President for Life,
Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and
Uganda in Particular". This power‐hungry ruler ruined the ‘Pearl of Africa’, as Uganda is called, and
made life darker for its people.
3
Hosni Mubarak
If you are an Acha Bacha and read newspapers regularly, you must have read the name ‘Hosni
Mubarak’ all over the papers recently. He ruled over Egypt from 1981‐2011. Due to his oppressive and
defective governance, t he people in this country of Pyramids were unhappy with the police, lack of
free and fair elections and freedom of speech, corruption within the government, inflation and high
unemployment rates. So they organized demonstrations, marches, acts of civil disobedience, and
labour strikes to demand Mubarak’s removal. The protests were particularly loud in Cairo (Egypt’s
capital) and the port city of Alexandria. Tahrir Square became an iconic landmark where thousands of
people challenged the dominating dictator, and ultimately caused his fall.
Muhammad Gadaffi
Muhammad Gadaffi gained authority in Libya in 1969 after overthrowing King Idris. He started
exploiting the citizens by crushing voices of dissent and heavily controlling the media. The Libyan
dictator is known to be violent by nature and has inflicted many crimes on humanity. In February 2011,
the people of Libya raised their voices in protest against Gadaffi and asked him to step down.
However, he refused to surrender before internal and international pressure. For now, the country is in
a state of civil war where its leader has declared war on his own people and the end is nowhere in
sight.
What is common between all these dictators is the strong urge to be powerful and that they can go
any end to achieve this power. Another thing that is also common to their rule, and perhaps most
important, is that sooner or later people stand up for their rights, overthrow the dictator and regain
their freedom.
And in the end, it’s all that matters.
4. YOUNG CHRONICLE June 6th, 2011
Poem of the Week
THE BRAIN TRAIN Caughing and Sneezing
Basic stuff you the men go by,
The cause of smoke
can do to save the No trees near by
environment.
Now is the time
• Turn
off the Men and women take a
lights, vow
fans, Grow more trees
TV
and other electrical
And say
appliances when
not required.
• Curtail the use of Air Conditioners and refrigerators
emit a dangerous chemical called
‘chlorofluorocarbons’ (CFC) which are depleting the
ozone layer (the belt which protects the Earth from
the harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun.)
• Make sure the taps are not
running when not in use.
Make sure your cars and bikes
•
undergo the pollution check
and do not emit dangerous particles.
• Trees are life-givers that emit oxygen and absorb
carbon dioxide. Every Acha Bacha must plant as
many of these green coolers as possible in their school
and colony.
Use paper wisely and judiciously.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTS •
• Every single day, 70 million tons of carbon
• Using public transport like buses and metros is
dioxide is released into our world’s atmosphere.
always more advisable than bringing your own
• 20 million tons of ice is lost per day in the glaciers
vehicle on the road.
of Greenland.
• To produce each week's Sunday newspapers, 500,000 trees
4 • Smart kids always ride a
must be cut down.
bicycle. It causes zero
• Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean
pollution.
kill as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures every year!
• Up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be
• Travel in Car Pools.
recycled.
• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV
for three hours.
• Use cloth bags instead of plastic
WHY ARE SOME SOURCES OF ENERGY MORE HARMFUL FOR THE ENVIROMENT THAN bags
OTHERS? when
The harmful sources of energy are called non renewable resources. Non renewable means,
substances which cannot get replenished themselves. Which means, once they are gone, they are
gone.
Examples of these resources would be Coal and Petrol. These two fuels are
very important to run vehicles and machinery, but they are present under
the earth’s surface in limited quantities and will get over soon if not used
judiciously. Moreover, the usage of these resources causes emission of
Carbon Dioxide and Pollution. These resources are unlike Solar and other
renewable sources of energy, which are present in abundance and cause no
pollution.
Email us your solutions at admin@achabacha.co.in and win Acha Bacha and Achi Bachi Badges. All the Best!!
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