Thursday, November 27, 2008
THE NUMBERS GAME IN TALAQ GOING WHICH WAY?
THE NUMBERS GAME IN TALAQ GOING WHICH WAY?
THE CONTRIBUTION OF MUSLIM WOMEN IS A PHENOMENON,A STUDY CLEARLY PORTRAYSTHE LONG STANDING CULT OF A HUMAN PARADIGM WHERE RELIGIOUS NORMS HAVEBINDED OFTEN BLINDFOLDEDLY THE EXISTENCE OF LIFE.WHO CAN FORGET NURJEHAN,EMPEROR JEHANGIRS REDOUBTABLE QUEEN,AND THE REAL POWER BEHIND THESCENE OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE?IN LATER YEARS BHOPAL WITNESSED WOMEN FROMTHREE GENERATIONS REIGN IN SUCCESSION,A RARE PHENOMENON .MUSLIM WOMENDOMINATE THE SEVA ORGANIZATION IN LUCKNOW SPECIALISING IN THE EXQUISITECHIKAN EMBROIDERY ON GAUZY CLOTHES,AND QUARUNISSA IS FAMOUS FOR REVIVINGTHE MAGNIFICIANT ZARDOSI EMBROIDERY IN GOLD THREAD,SILKS AND JEWELS OFMUGHAL TIMES,WHICH CREATED FABRIC AND GARMENTS LIKE TAPESTRY,ON HANDEMBROIDERED BROCADE.THERE ARE MANY PROMINENT MUSLIM WOMEN WHO HAVE BEENVERY ACTIVE IN VARIOUS FIELDS LIKE BEGUM AKHTAR AND ROSHANARABEGUM.QURRATULAIN HYDER,THE FAMOUS NOVELIST AND POET HAD AN EARLYGROUNDWORK IN JOURNALISM FROM HER MOTHER,ZAZAR SAJJAD HYDER,WHO EDITED ACHILDRENS MAGAZINE AND WAS HERSELF A NOVELIST WITH FAR RANGING VIEWS ONWOMENS ROLE AND WOMENS RIGHTS.WHILE THE LIST IS ENDLESS UNDENIABLY MUSLIMWOMEN IN INDIA,HAVE CONTRIBUTED AT EVERY LEVEL OF SOCIETY TOWARDS THEDEVELOPMENT OF FEMINA AND THE NATION IN GENERAL.AMIDST SUCH HIGH YIELDINGDEVOTION AND DEDICATION THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN THORN CAST FROM TIMEIMMORABLIA WHERE STRICT RELIGIOUS LAWS HAVE DEPLORED THEIR BASIC RIGHTS TOFREEDOM AND VENT OF ENERGY.SUCH CULMINATING FACTORS HAVE BEEN OFTENOPPRESSIVE TO SUCH EXTENT AS TO EAT UPON THE BASIC INGREDIENTS OF THEIRLIVES AND ACTIONS.THE CAMPAIGN FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OPPOSING THEFUNDAMENTALIST MISINTREPRETATIONS OF SHARIAT BEING THEIR MOST RECENTENDEAVOUR.ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO SHAH BANO,HAD SOUGHT LEGAL RECOURSE FOR SUPPORT FROMHER HUSBAND,FOLLOWING THE ANNULMENT OF 43 YEARS OF MARRIAGE.THE SUPREMECOURT HOWEVER TURNED DOWN HER HUSBAND PLEATHAT HAVE BEEN BOUND BY ISLAMICLAW ALONE.THE COURT RULED THAT A HUSBAND MUST ASSIST HIS WIFE FINANCIALLYEVEN AFTER A DIVORCE IF SHE HAD NO MEANS.BUT THE COMMUNITY PROTESTSDILUTED THE ISSUE FOLLOWING VIGOROUS DISCUSSIONS IN THE HOUSES OFPARLIAMENT.IN COURSE OF TIME THIS RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE ABSORBANCE OFMUSLIM WOMEN BEING DELETED FROM CLAIMING MAINTENANCE BEYOND “ADDAT” OR THETHREE MENSTRUAL CYCLES.TALAQ-I-BIDAH IS A INNOVATIVE FORM OF DIVORCE OFTENA PURIFIED VERSION WHERE THE MAN PRONOUNCES “I DIVORCE YOU ,I DIVORCEYOU,I DIVORCE YOU”.THE HANAFIS THOUGH BELIEVE THAT THOUGH THIS FORM OFDIVORCE IS SINFUL AND INNOVATIVE THIS FORM IS NOT VALID AND DIVORCE WILLTAKE PLACE.ACCORDING TO THE DIALECT PRONOUNCEMENT OF SUCH STANCE SEPARATESTHE MAN TO SUCH EXTENT WHERE HE CAN NEITHER NIKAH WITH HER NOR CAN CLAIMHER AT ANY POINT OF TIME BUT CAN DO SO ONLY AFTER A SECOND MARRIAGE BY THEWOMAN AND HER DEPARTURE FROM THE SAME.NEGLIGENCE OF SUCH DIALECTS WOULDPRONOUNCE THE RELATION AS HARAM.THE ALL INDIA MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW BOARD(AIMPLB),THE APEX LEGISLATIVE BODY FOR RELIGIOUS AND PERSONAL ISSUES OFMUSLIMS,HAVE PRONOUNCED SEVERAL LAWS WITH LESS SUCCESSS PERTAINING TOWOMENS RIGHTS.REFORMISTS QUESTION AS TO HOW REPITITIVE UTTERANCE OF ASIMPLE WORD CAN CHANGE A MARRIAGE?ACCORDING TO MAULANA UMAR AHMAD USMANITHIS IS NOT ONLY TO POSITION OF HANIFA BUT ALSO IMAM MALIK THAT THIS FORMOF DIVORCE IS QUITE VALID.HIS STAND CLEARLY PORTRAYS THE BELIEVE OF THEMAN TAKING BACK THE WOMAN WITHIN THE IDDAH PERIOD OR GOING FOR NIKAH IFTHE IDDAH PERIOD IS NOT OVER,WHICH IS BASED ON A RECONSTRUCTING MODULE OFTHE QUARANIC POSITION.THE ITHNA ASHARIS(12 SHIAS) AND IMAMIYAS BELIEVETHAT IF THREE DIVORCE TAKE PLACE,AND IF ONE IS OCCLUDED LET ALONE THREE BEGRANTED WISHES.ACCORDING TO ULAMA OF LATER PERIOD,SHEIKH SHALTUT BELIEVESIN THE THOUGHTS THAT ONLY ONE DIVORCE TALAQI RAJI WILL TAKE PLACE AND THEHUSBAND WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE BACK THE WOMAN BY SAYING SO OR BYHAVING SEXUAL CONTACT WITH HER.IN QURAN NIKAH IS DESCRIBED AS MISAQANGALIZA,WHERE A STRONG BOND IS CREATED WHICH CANNOT BE DISSOLVED WITHOUTPROPER REASONS.EARLY ARABIC VERSES PRONOUNCED DIVORCE THOUSAND TIMES ANDKEPT THE SWORD HANGING ON THE HEAD OF THE WOMAN FOR LONG WHICH WAS HIGHLYDEPLORED BY QUARANIC INJUNCTIONS WHICH CLAIMED THREE INSTANCES OF PURITYWHERE ONLY ONE TIME OF PRONOUNCEMENT OF TALAQ FREES THE WOMAN FROM MARITALBOND AND SHE BECOMES FREE TO CHOOSE HER FUTURE AFTER COMPLETING THE PERIODOF IDDAH.WHY TALAQ THREE TIMES?WHATS THE MORALITY?THE QUESTION BEWILDERSSTILL………IN DARKNESS.MUHAMMAD HAYKAL PROCLAIMS THAT WHEN ARABS CONQUEREDSYRIA,EGYPT,IRAQ THEY BROUGHT MANY WOMEN FROM MEDINA AND MECCA WHOCAPTIVATED THEM WITH THEIR MYSTIC BEAUTIES.BUT THE WOMEN WANTED THE MEN TOGRANT IRRECONCIABLE DIVORCE TO THEIR FORMER WIVES TO WHICH THE MEN GRANTEDTHREE FORMS OF TALAQ AS IF FOR THE GOODNESS OF TIMES.SUCH WAS THEOPPRESSIVE FEATURES OF A MALE DOMINATED CULT WHICH MANY BELIEVES HAVETRASCENDED THE BELIEFS AND THOUGHTS OF QUARANIC INJUNCTIONS.THE SUBSEQUENTINJUNCTION PROCLAIMED AIMPLBS LIKE BOARDS PRONOUNCE FIVE GROUNDS FOIRDIVORCE:CRUELTY,DESERTION FOR TWO YEARS,REFUSAL TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE FORONE YEAR,SEPARATION FOR ONE YEAR.WHILE THESE ARE VALID GROUNDS FORDIVORCE,THE COMMUNITY MEASURES INVALID THE TRIPLE FORM OF TALAQ AND WANTSGREATER FOCUS ON WOMEN DEVELOPMENT AND CRITICAL ISSUES PERTAINING TOSOCIETY REFORMS.EVEN THE PROPHET TERMED IT AS “A HATRED SITUATION BUTPERMISSIBLE” WHERE VARIOUS NOTIONS PROCLAIM THE ISLAMIC VERSES DENYINGEQUAL RIGHTS TO MEN AND WOMEN AND CONSIDERING WOMEN ONLY TO BE OBJECTS OFDESIRE.QUARANIC VERSES OF SUPPORT FOR POLYGAMISM IS HIGHLY DEBATABLE WHEREMANY GO AGAINST SUCH NOTIONS BUT ARE VALID FOR FEW ON GROUNDS OFMORAL,PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DEMANDS OF HUMAN LIVES.THE VERSEPROCLAIMS “AND IF YOU FEAR THAT YOU CANNOT ACT EQUATABLY TOWARDSORPHANS,THEN MARRY SUCH WOMEN AS SEEM GOOD TO YOU,TWO THREE AND FOUR,BUTIF YOU THINK YOU CANNOT DO JUSTICE TO THEM THEN MARRY ONLYONE”(4:3).BETWEEN THE SILVER LINING OF THOUGHTS THERE HOPES DWELL WHERETHE RIGHT TO FREEDOM BREATHES AWE OF WOMENS DESIRE TO EQUAL RIGHTS OFEXPRESSION RATHER THAN BEING CONSIDERED UNHOLY OBJECTS OF DESIRE.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF MUSLIM WOMEN IS A PHENOMENON,A STUDY CLEARLY PORTRAYSTHE LONG STANDING CULT OF A HUMAN PARADIGM WHERE RELIGIOUS NORMS HAVEBINDED OFTEN BLINDFOLDEDLY THE EXISTENCE OF LIFE.WHO CAN FORGET NURJEHAN,EMPEROR JEHANGIRS REDOUBTABLE QUEEN,AND THE REAL POWER BEHIND THESCENE OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE?IN LATER YEARS BHOPAL WITNESSED WOMEN FROMTHREE GENERATIONS REIGN IN SUCCESSION,A RARE PHENOMENON .MUSLIM WOMENDOMINATE THE SEVA ORGANIZATION IN LUCKNOW SPECIALISING IN THE EXQUISITECHIKAN EMBROIDERY ON GAUZY CLOTHES,AND QUARUNISSA IS FAMOUS FOR REVIVINGTHE MAGNIFICIANT ZARDOSI EMBROIDERY IN GOLD THREAD,SILKS AND JEWELS OFMUGHAL TIMES,WHICH CREATED FABRIC AND GARMENTS LIKE TAPESTRY,ON HANDEMBROIDERED BROCADE.THERE ARE MANY PROMINENT MUSLIM WOMEN WHO HAVE BEENVERY ACTIVE IN VARIOUS FIELDS LIKE BEGUM AKHTAR AND ROSHANARABEGUM.QURRATULAIN HYDER,THE FAMOUS NOVELIST AND POET HAD AN EARLYGROUNDWORK IN JOURNALISM FROM HER MOTHER,ZAZAR SAJJAD HYDER,WHO EDITED ACHILDRENS MAGAZINE AND WAS HERSELF A NOVELIST WITH FAR RANGING VIEWS ONWOMENS ROLE AND WOMENS RIGHTS.WHILE THE LIST IS ENDLESS UNDENIABLY MUSLIMWOMEN IN INDIA,HAVE CONTRIBUTED AT EVERY LEVEL OF SOCIETY TOWARDS THEDEVELOPMENT OF FEMINA AND THE NATION IN GENERAL.AMIDST SUCH HIGH YIELDINGDEVOTION AND DEDICATION THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN THORN CAST FROM TIMEIMMORABLIA WHERE STRICT RELIGIOUS LAWS HAVE DEPLORED THEIR BASIC RIGHTS TOFREEDOM AND VENT OF ENERGY.SUCH CULMINATING FACTORS HAVE BEEN OFTENOPPRESSIVE TO SUCH EXTENT AS TO EAT UPON THE BASIC INGREDIENTS OF THEIRLIVES AND ACTIONS.THE CAMPAIGN FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OPPOSING THEFUNDAMENTALIST MISINTREPRETATIONS OF SHARIAT BEING THEIR MOST RECENTENDEAVOUR.ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO SHAH BANO,HAD SOUGHT LEGAL RECOURSE FOR SUPPORT FROMHER HUSBAND,FOLLOWING THE ANNULMENT OF 43 YEARS OF MARRIAGE.THE SUPREMECOURT HOWEVER TURNED DOWN HER HUSBAND PLEATHAT HAVE BEEN BOUND BY ISLAMICLAW ALONE.THE COURT RULED THAT A HUSBAND MUST ASSIST HIS WIFE FINANCIALLYEVEN AFTER A DIVORCE IF SHE HAD NO MEANS.BUT THE COMMUNITY PROTESTSDILUTED THE ISSUE FOLLOWING VIGOROUS DISCUSSIONS IN THE HOUSES OFPARLIAMENT.IN COURSE OF TIME THIS RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE ABSORBANCE OFMUSLIM WOMEN BEING DELETED FROM CLAIMING MAINTENANCE BEYOND “ADDAT” OR THETHREE MENSTRUAL CYCLES.TALAQ-I-BIDAH IS A INNOVATIVE FORM OF DIVORCE OFTENA PURIFIED VERSION WHERE THE MAN PRONOUNCES “I DIVORCE YOU ,I DIVORCEYOU,I DIVORCE YOU”.THE HANAFIS THOUGH BELIEVE THAT THOUGH THIS FORM OFDIVORCE IS SINFUL AND INNOVATIVE THIS FORM IS NOT VALID AND DIVORCE WILLTAKE PLACE.ACCORDING TO THE DIALECT PRONOUNCEMENT OF SUCH STANCE SEPARATESTHE MAN TO SUCH EXTENT WHERE HE CAN NEITHER NIKAH WITH HER NOR CAN CLAIMHER AT ANY POINT OF TIME BUT CAN DO SO ONLY AFTER A SECOND MARRIAGE BY THEWOMAN AND HER DEPARTURE FROM THE SAME.NEGLIGENCE OF SUCH DIALECTS WOULDPRONOUNCE THE RELATION AS HARAM.THE ALL INDIA MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW BOARD(AIMPLB),THE APEX LEGISLATIVE BODY FOR RELIGIOUS AND PERSONAL ISSUES OFMUSLIMS,HAVE PRONOUNCED SEVERAL LAWS WITH LESS SUCCESSS PERTAINING TOWOMENS RIGHTS.REFORMISTS QUESTION AS TO HOW REPITITIVE UTTERANCE OF ASIMPLE WORD CAN CHANGE A MARRIAGE?ACCORDING TO MAULANA UMAR AHMAD USMANITHIS IS NOT ONLY TO POSITION OF HANIFA BUT ALSO IMAM MALIK THAT THIS FORMOF DIVORCE IS QUITE VALID.HIS STAND CLEARLY PORTRAYS THE BELIEVE OF THEMAN TAKING BACK THE WOMAN WITHIN THE IDDAH PERIOD OR GOING FOR NIKAH IFTHE IDDAH PERIOD IS NOT OVER,WHICH IS BASED ON A RECONSTRUCTING MODULE OFTHE QUARANIC POSITION.THE ITHNA ASHARIS(12 SHIAS) AND IMAMIYAS BELIEVETHAT IF THREE DIVORCE TAKE PLACE,AND IF ONE IS OCCLUDED LET ALONE THREE BEGRANTED WISHES.ACCORDING TO ULAMA OF LATER PERIOD,SHEIKH SHALTUT BELIEVESIN THE THOUGHTS THAT ONLY ONE DIVORCE TALAQI RAJI WILL TAKE PLACE AND THEHUSBAND WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE BACK THE WOMAN BY SAYING SO OR BYHAVING SEXUAL CONTACT WITH HER.IN QURAN NIKAH IS DESCRIBED AS MISAQANGALIZA,WHERE A STRONG BOND IS CREATED WHICH CANNOT BE DISSOLVED WITHOUTPROPER REASONS.EARLY ARABIC VERSES PRONOUNCED DIVORCE THOUSAND TIMES ANDKEPT THE SWORD HANGING ON THE HEAD OF THE WOMAN FOR LONG WHICH WAS HIGHLYDEPLORED BY QUARANIC INJUNCTIONS WHICH CLAIMED THREE INSTANCES OF PURITYWHERE ONLY ONE TIME OF PRONOUNCEMENT OF TALAQ FREES THE WOMAN FROM MARITALBOND AND SHE BECOMES FREE TO CHOOSE HER FUTURE AFTER COMPLETING THE PERIODOF IDDAH.WHY TALAQ THREE TIMES?WHATS THE MORALITY?THE QUESTION BEWILDERSSTILL………IN DARKNESS.MUHAMMAD HAYKAL PROCLAIMS THAT WHEN ARABS CONQUEREDSYRIA,EGYPT,IRAQ THEY BROUGHT MANY WOMEN FROM MEDINA AND MECCA WHOCAPTIVATED THEM WITH THEIR MYSTIC BEAUTIES.BUT THE WOMEN WANTED THE MEN TOGRANT IRRECONCIABLE DIVORCE TO THEIR FORMER WIVES TO WHICH THE MEN GRANTEDTHREE FORMS OF TALAQ AS IF FOR THE GOODNESS OF TIMES.SUCH WAS THEOPPRESSIVE FEATURES OF A MALE DOMINATED CULT WHICH MANY BELIEVES HAVETRASCENDED THE BELIEFS AND THOUGHTS OF QUARANIC INJUNCTIONS.THE SUBSEQUENTINJUNCTION PROCLAIMED AIMPLBS LIKE BOARDS PRONOUNCE FIVE GROUNDS FOIRDIVORCE:CRUELTY,DESERTION FOR TWO YEARS,REFUSAL TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE FORONE YEAR,SEPARATION FOR ONE YEAR.WHILE THESE ARE VALID GROUNDS FORDIVORCE,THE COMMUNITY MEASURES INVALID THE TRIPLE FORM OF TALAQ AND WANTSGREATER FOCUS ON WOMEN DEVELOPMENT AND CRITICAL ISSUES PERTAINING TOSOCIETY REFORMS.EVEN THE PROPHET TERMED IT AS “A HATRED SITUATION BUTPERMISSIBLE” WHERE VARIOUS NOTIONS PROCLAIM THE ISLAMIC VERSES DENYINGEQUAL RIGHTS TO MEN AND WOMEN AND CONSIDERING WOMEN ONLY TO BE OBJECTS OFDESIRE.QUARANIC VERSES OF SUPPORT FOR POLYGAMISM IS HIGHLY DEBATABLE WHEREMANY GO AGAINST SUCH NOTIONS BUT ARE VALID FOR FEW ON GROUNDS OFMORAL,PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DEMANDS OF HUMAN LIVES.THE VERSEPROCLAIMS “AND IF YOU FEAR THAT YOU CANNOT ACT EQUATABLY TOWARDSORPHANS,THEN MARRY SUCH WOMEN AS SEEM GOOD TO YOU,TWO THREE AND FOUR,BUTIF YOU THINK YOU CANNOT DO JUSTICE TO THEM THEN MARRY ONLYONE”(4:3).BETWEEN THE SILVER LINING OF THOUGHTS THERE HOPES DWELL WHERETHE RIGHT TO FREEDOM BREATHES AWE OF WOMENS DESIRE TO EQUAL RIGHTS OFEXPRESSION RATHER THAN BEING CONSIDERED UNHOLY OBJECTS OF DESIRE.
CAN IT MAKE IT TO HEADLINES?
Justifying the causes of news: “barefooted nun” or “queen of hearts”
The causes of news and its making has from time and again haunted the
chambers of thoughts were glamour and glitz has been dominant over blurred
shades of life. The architectural parameters of newsworthiness in this
respect is not truly championed where true emotions takes a back seat to
power domes of existence. In this respect media holds a big question where
the occupation of Princess Diana and mother Teresa in the facets of
tabloids have questioned the ethical concerns of today’s media world. On
the occasion of the death anniversary of two power ladies; one a bare
footed nun traversing the global parameters for the causes of society and
its upheaval and on the other side a Mercedes borne princess whose deaths
are distanced by only three days have distanced itself by long miles on
the issue of tabloid occupation. As the charming princess holds the
headlines with subsequent dedication of numerous pages and broadcast to
the causes of the tragic incident, the sacred nun holds the caption or
footnote often bewildered and lost among the pages of tabloid. Why such
distance in occupation? Has the media lost relevance?
Thinking on par with media one surely cannot forget the newsworthy
appearances of lady Diana who was the hot cake of media domains and
paparazzi delight; where the frenzy media has portrayed time and again the
credibility of Diana as a news item even to the extent of its paralyzed
notion holding the thin red foil responsible for queens rusty death. On
the other hand mother Teresa though a global phenomenon holding the
torchlight of society devoid of glamour might not have caught the medias
crazy eyes. Still the justification of footnote to a sacred cause is a
deplorable issue where the ethics of journalism instruments fail
repeatedly.
Their deaths, three days apart, evoked comparisons between the two.
Both were women.
Both were Christians.
Both worked among the poor and the needy.
Both were world travelers and received international honors.
But indeed the loss of the queen was a shock at a time when British
tabloid was restructuring the history of a charming face where the death
parameters sounded truly tragic .the tragic incident sent shock waves
around the world with Diana’s easy to recognize face of magnetic
influence. Such a cause truly champions the newsworthiness. In this
respect an old saying,
“When a dog bites a man its not news but when a man bites a dog its news.”
Such a coronation is justified by the cause that glamour and catchy items
surely interests the reader where princess Diana proved her capacity
several times whereas mother Teresa sacrifice of her soul for the causes
of society may not be very news friendly but the tragic value of her death
should have been portrayed in a much valued sense. Making headlines with
shine can be viewed in many ways where “the saint” would have fitted a
better bill.
A discerning look at the lives of these two "SAINTS" reveals more
contrasts than similarities, as noted here below.
One was young, tall and beautiful.
The other was old, short and homely
One kept herself in good shape physically.
The other took no special care of her body.
One was royalty.
The other was a commoner.
One was a princess.
The other was a nun.
One was rich.
The other possessed nothing that she could call her own.
One led the fashion parade for the world.
The other wore a simple blue and white cotton sari.
One left her palace for occasional excursions among the less-privileged.
The other was always in their midst.
One returned each night to the lap of luxury.
The other lived among the destitute and the dying.
One stored up treasures on earth.
The other stored up treasure in heaven.
One was of the world.
The other was in the world, but not of it.
One dabbled in astrology and 'New Age'.
The other devoted time to prayer.
One had a nominal Christian faith.
The other lived a life of faith in God.
One broke up a family.
The other built up a community.
One tried to take her own life.
The other gave her life for others.
One fed the gossip columns with her questionable life-style.
The other was admired for her righteous lifestyle.
Let's be honest with ourselves.
One was known as having committed adultery.
The other had opted for life-long celibacy.
One's husband [Charles] was a spokesman for anti-Christian New Age
philosophies.
The other's spouse [Jesus Christ, the Bearer of the Water of Life] ushered
in the true New Age of man.
One died with her lover in a high-speed car chase after a night of wining
and dining, while her sons and their father were in another country.
The other died surrounded by her family, a sharing and caring community.
One's last words were reported to be "Leave me alone."
The other's were "I love you, my Jesus."
Missions and visions may be different but some thin redline uniting the
causes would have lifted the relevance of media portray. Media not only
portrayed todays emptiness of spiritual wisdom and purity but also
deplored its sacred image as the voices of the society. The values of
human existence got a backseat with teresa’s occupation of caption space.
In that respect a living princess would have deplored the same with a more
vibrant response.
Jesus said: 'By their fruit you shall know them' (Mt 7:16).So, judging by
their fruit, which one was the true saint and which one the counterfeit?
Last but not the least headline writing took a historic blunder on its
stride with dianas occupation and denial of the same honor for “the
saint”.
The causes of news and its making has from time and again haunted the
chambers of thoughts were glamour and glitz has been dominant over blurred
shades of life. The architectural parameters of newsworthiness in this
respect is not truly championed where true emotions takes a back seat to
power domes of existence. In this respect media holds a big question where
the occupation of Princess Diana and mother Teresa in the facets of
tabloids have questioned the ethical concerns of today’s media world. On
the occasion of the death anniversary of two power ladies; one a bare
footed nun traversing the global parameters for the causes of society and
its upheaval and on the other side a Mercedes borne princess whose deaths
are distanced by only three days have distanced itself by long miles on
the issue of tabloid occupation. As the charming princess holds the
headlines with subsequent dedication of numerous pages and broadcast to
the causes of the tragic incident, the sacred nun holds the caption or
footnote often bewildered and lost among the pages of tabloid. Why such
distance in occupation? Has the media lost relevance?
Thinking on par with media one surely cannot forget the newsworthy
appearances of lady Diana who was the hot cake of media domains and
paparazzi delight; where the frenzy media has portrayed time and again the
credibility of Diana as a news item even to the extent of its paralyzed
notion holding the thin red foil responsible for queens rusty death. On
the other hand mother Teresa though a global phenomenon holding the
torchlight of society devoid of glamour might not have caught the medias
crazy eyes. Still the justification of footnote to a sacred cause is a
deplorable issue where the ethics of journalism instruments fail
repeatedly.
Their deaths, three days apart, evoked comparisons between the two.
Both were women.
Both were Christians.
Both worked among the poor and the needy.
Both were world travelers and received international honors.
But indeed the loss of the queen was a shock at a time when British
tabloid was restructuring the history of a charming face where the death
parameters sounded truly tragic .the tragic incident sent shock waves
around the world with Diana’s easy to recognize face of magnetic
influence. Such a cause truly champions the newsworthiness. In this
respect an old saying,
“When a dog bites a man its not news but when a man bites a dog its news.”
Such a coronation is justified by the cause that glamour and catchy items
surely interests the reader where princess Diana proved her capacity
several times whereas mother Teresa sacrifice of her soul for the causes
of society may not be very news friendly but the tragic value of her death
should have been portrayed in a much valued sense. Making headlines with
shine can be viewed in many ways where “the saint” would have fitted a
better bill.
A discerning look at the lives of these two "SAINTS" reveals more
contrasts than similarities, as noted here below.
One was young, tall and beautiful.
The other was old, short and homely
One kept herself in good shape physically.
The other took no special care of her body.
One was royalty.
The other was a commoner.
One was a princess.
The other was a nun.
One was rich.
The other possessed nothing that she could call her own.
One led the fashion parade for the world.
The other wore a simple blue and white cotton sari.
One left her palace for occasional excursions among the less-privileged.
The other was always in their midst.
One returned each night to the lap of luxury.
The other lived among the destitute and the dying.
One stored up treasures on earth.
The other stored up treasure in heaven.
One was of the world.
The other was in the world, but not of it.
One dabbled in astrology and 'New Age'.
The other devoted time to prayer.
One had a nominal Christian faith.
The other lived a life of faith in God.
One broke up a family.
The other built up a community.
One tried to take her own life.
The other gave her life for others.
One fed the gossip columns with her questionable life-style.
The other was admired for her righteous lifestyle.
Let's be honest with ourselves.
One was known as having committed adultery.
The other had opted for life-long celibacy.
One's husband [Charles] was a spokesman for anti-Christian New Age
philosophies.
The other's spouse [Jesus Christ, the Bearer of the Water of Life] ushered
in the true New Age of man.
One died with her lover in a high-speed car chase after a night of wining
and dining, while her sons and their father were in another country.
The other died surrounded by her family, a sharing and caring community.
One's last words were reported to be "Leave me alone."
The other's were "I love you, my Jesus."
Missions and visions may be different but some thin redline uniting the
causes would have lifted the relevance of media portray. Media not only
portrayed todays emptiness of spiritual wisdom and purity but also
deplored its sacred image as the voices of the society. The values of
human existence got a backseat with teresa’s occupation of caption space.
In that respect a living princess would have deplored the same with a more
vibrant response.
Jesus said: 'By their fruit you shall know them' (Mt 7:16).So, judging by
their fruit, which one was the true saint and which one the counterfeit?
Last but not the least headline writing took a historic blunder on its
stride with dianas occupation and denial of the same honor for “the
saint”.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND YOU
ARE WE CONVERSANT WITH CLIMATE CHANGE?
DREAM BASIC –UNFOLD MAGIC-SAVE EARTH.
Climate change is a problem related to changes in the concentration of the
greenhouse gases (watervapour, co2,ch4,n2o,cfcs)which trap infrared
radiation from the earth’s surface and thus cause the greenhouse effect.
This effect is a natural phenomenon, which helps maintain a stable
temperature and climate on earth. Changes in solar cycle of 11 years,
changes in earths orbit and its variations, aerosols and human factors,
abrupt change in land use, atmospheric aerosols lead to climate change.
The IPCC was established to provide the decision-makers and others
interested in climate change with an objective source of information about
climate change. The IPCC does not conduct any research nor does it monitor
climate related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a
comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest
scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide
relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change,
its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and
mitigation.
Climate change is a very complex issue: policymakers need an objective
source of information about the causes of climate change, its potential
environmental and socio-economic consequences and the adaptation and
mitigation options to respond to it. This is why WMO and UNEP established
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988.
According to the “Principles Governing IPCC Work”, published at the 25th
Session in Mauritius in April 2006, the IPCC's role is:
1)To assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the
scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to
understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate
change.
2)To monitor the potential impacts of such human induced climate change.
3)To highlight the options available to adapt to such climate change and
the means to mitigate against such changes.
4)The issuing of major reports, including Assessment Reports, Special
Reports and Methodology Reports.
Despite the global community having agreed to combating
anthropogenic climate change through universal acceptance of the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as far back as in 1992,
global GHG emissions continue to increase, with a substantial jump of 70%
between 1970 and 2004. Within a long-term perspective the atmospheric
concentrations of CO2 and CH4 in 2005 exceeded by far the natural range over
the last 650,000 years. The last time the polar regions were significantly
warmer
than present for an extended period (about 125,000 years ago), reductions in
polar ice volume led to 4 to 6 metres of sea level rise.
Transport is important as well, with the following currently available
options listed:
More fuel efficient vehicles; hybrid vehicles; cleaner diesel vehicles;
biofuels; modal shifts from road
transport to rail and public transport systems; non-motorised transport
(cycling, walking); land-use and
transport planning. The effect of mitigation options may be counteracted
by growth in the sector.
Market forces alone, including rising fuel costs, are therefore not
expected to lead to significant
emission reductions.
The waste sector can also positively contribute to GHG mitigation at low
cost and promote sustainable
development.
In order to stabilize the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere,
emissions would need to peak.
This assessment, of the likely changes to the hydrological cycle from
global warming, is largely derived from published studies
of the use of General Circulation Models (GCMs) coupled with smaller,
catchment scale, hydrologic models.
GCMs are based on physical laws represented by mathematical equations that
are solved on a three-dimensional grid over the
globe. The solutions are obtained using high-powered supercomputers.
Generally speaking, the greater the power of the
supercomputer the finer the grid and/or the more complex the model that
can be integrated forward in time to provide an
estimate of the climate when greenhouse gas concentrations (for example)
are increased according to some pre-specified
scenario.
There are a number of major drawbacks in using these models.
The first relates to scenarios.
Any projection of future climate change is based on scenarios. These
scenarios are idealisations of the rates at which
greenhouse gases will be emitted in the future and there are, of course,
widely varying estimates of just what these emission
rates will be.
Secondly, when studying the impacts of changes in the hydrological cycle
there is a scale mismatch between the GCMs, that
might only have a grid point every 200 km or so, and the catchment scale
hydrologic models, where the entire catchment might
fit within three, or less, grid points of the GCM.
Thirdly, there is a temporal scale issue. Generally, GCMs provide monthly
mean data, whereas catchment scale models
require hydrologic data (rainfall or streamflow) on daily or hourly time
scales.
Nevertheless, the TAR WGII report summarises the trends in precipitation
due to global warming, as assessed from published
reports of combined GCM/hydrologic model studies. According to these,
there is likely to be:
(1) an increase in annual precipitation in high- and mid-latitudes and
most equatorial regions; a general decrease of annual precipitation in the
sub-tropics;
(2) small changes in annual precipitation, even by 2080, when compared
with natural multi-decadal variability;
(3) increased frequency of heavy rainfall events as the world warms;
(4) a smaller proportion of precipitation may fall as snow (decreasing
snow pack), thereby increasing winter runoff,
but diminishing spring (snow-pack melt) run-off commensurately.
�� Aviation Traffic: Passenger traffic has grown since 1960
at nearly 9% per year, 2.4 times the average Gross
Domestic Product over the same time period. Global passenger air travel is
projected to grow by about 5% per
year between 1990 and 2015, where-as total aviation fuel use (passenger,
freight and military) is projected to
increase by about 3% per year, the difference being due largely to
improved aircraft efficiency. The
assessment developed a number of long-term (1990 – 2050) emissions
scenarios for both subsonic and
supersonic aircraft, including a reference scenario which used mid-range
assumptions for each of the key
determinants, using a range of assumptions for economic and traffic growth
and fuel burn, which is dependent
upon rates of change in technology and air traffic management.
AVIATION CREATING HAVOC IN CLIMATE CHANGE:
1) Aircraft Emissions: Aircraft emit gases and particles directly into the
upper troposphere and lower
stratosphere where they have an impact on atmospheric composition. These
gases and particles alter the
concentration of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, ozone, water
vapor and methane, trigger the
formation of condensation trails (otherwise known as contrails), and may
increase cirrus cloudiness – all of
which contribute to climate change.
2) Radiative Forcing: The major contributors from aircraft emissions to
the radiative forcing, which is a measure
of a change in climate, are carbon dioxide, ozone, methane (negative
effect) and contrails, with minor
contributions from water vapor, sulfate aerosols (negative effect) and
soot. The contribution from cirrus
clouds is projected to be positive and could be quite significant, but our
current lack of scientific
understanding precludes a quantitative assessment of its contribution.
While the contributions from carbon
dioxide, ozone, methane (opposite sign) and contrails are comparable in
magnitude, the uncertainties
associated with ozone, methane and contrails are much larger than those
associated with carbon dioxide.
Current Impact of Aviation Emissions on Climate: The best estimate of the
radiative forcing in 1992 by
aircraft is 0.05 Wm-2 (0.01 to 0.1 Wm-2) or about 3.5% of the total
radiative forcing by all human activities.
These estimates of forcing combine the effects of changes in all
greenhouse gas concentrations, aerosols and
line-shaped contrails, but do not include possible changes in cirrus.
From the above discussions it is quite clear that apart from natural
inflictions of elements inducing climate change human induced factors
primarily globalization, cross binding parameters of technological shifts
have facilitated the rapid change in the climate where global warming is a
serious concern. Its not only the duty henceforth of any international
institution to monitor the progress but its human element which is basic
and should be proactive in stopping the menace of climate rollover. Proper
awareness programmes, good governance, civic senses, and a responsibility
for a good earth is all we require to fight the terror of environmental
disaster. It can be well said that research alone is insufficient, so is
monetory funding and latest technologies; the real magic is in our
hands……..lets unfold the magic and breathe and dream a healthier EARTH.
DREAM BASIC –UNFOLD MAGIC-SAVE EARTH.
Climate change is a problem related to changes in the concentration of the
greenhouse gases (watervapour, co2,ch4,n2o,cfcs)which trap infrared
radiation from the earth’s surface and thus cause the greenhouse effect.
This effect is a natural phenomenon, which helps maintain a stable
temperature and climate on earth. Changes in solar cycle of 11 years,
changes in earths orbit and its variations, aerosols and human factors,
abrupt change in land use, atmospheric aerosols lead to climate change.
The IPCC was established to provide the decision-makers and others
interested in climate change with an objective source of information about
climate change. The IPCC does not conduct any research nor does it monitor
climate related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a
comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest
scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide
relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change,
its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and
mitigation.
Climate change is a very complex issue: policymakers need an objective
source of information about the causes of climate change, its potential
environmental and socio-economic consequences and the adaptation and
mitigation options to respond to it. This is why WMO and UNEP established
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988.
According to the “Principles Governing IPCC Work”, published at the 25th
Session in Mauritius in April 2006, the IPCC's role is:
1)To assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the
scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to
understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate
change.
2)To monitor the potential impacts of such human induced climate change.
3)To highlight the options available to adapt to such climate change and
the means to mitigate against such changes.
4)The issuing of major reports, including Assessment Reports, Special
Reports and Methodology Reports.
Despite the global community having agreed to combating
anthropogenic climate change through universal acceptance of the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as far back as in 1992,
global GHG emissions continue to increase, with a substantial jump of 70%
between 1970 and 2004. Within a long-term perspective the atmospheric
concentrations of CO2 and CH4 in 2005 exceeded by far the natural range over
the last 650,000 years. The last time the polar regions were significantly
warmer
than present for an extended period (about 125,000 years ago), reductions in
polar ice volume led to 4 to 6 metres of sea level rise.
Transport is important as well, with the following currently available
options listed:
More fuel efficient vehicles; hybrid vehicles; cleaner diesel vehicles;
biofuels; modal shifts from road
transport to rail and public transport systems; non-motorised transport
(cycling, walking); land-use and
transport planning. The effect of mitigation options may be counteracted
by growth in the sector.
Market forces alone, including rising fuel costs, are therefore not
expected to lead to significant
emission reductions.
The waste sector can also positively contribute to GHG mitigation at low
cost and promote sustainable
development.
In order to stabilize the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere,
emissions would need to peak.
This assessment, of the likely changes to the hydrological cycle from
global warming, is largely derived from published studies
of the use of General Circulation Models (GCMs) coupled with smaller,
catchment scale, hydrologic models.
GCMs are based on physical laws represented by mathematical equations that
are solved on a three-dimensional grid over the
globe. The solutions are obtained using high-powered supercomputers.
Generally speaking, the greater the power of the
supercomputer the finer the grid and/or the more complex the model that
can be integrated forward in time to provide an
estimate of the climate when greenhouse gas concentrations (for example)
are increased according to some pre-specified
scenario.
There are a number of major drawbacks in using these models.
The first relates to scenarios.
Any projection of future climate change is based on scenarios. These
scenarios are idealisations of the rates at which
greenhouse gases will be emitted in the future and there are, of course,
widely varying estimates of just what these emission
rates will be.
Secondly, when studying the impacts of changes in the hydrological cycle
there is a scale mismatch between the GCMs, that
might only have a grid point every 200 km or so, and the catchment scale
hydrologic models, where the entire catchment might
fit within three, or less, grid points of the GCM.
Thirdly, there is a temporal scale issue. Generally, GCMs provide monthly
mean data, whereas catchment scale models
require hydrologic data (rainfall or streamflow) on daily or hourly time
scales.
Nevertheless, the TAR WGII report summarises the trends in precipitation
due to global warming, as assessed from published
reports of combined GCM/hydrologic model studies. According to these,
there is likely to be:
(1) an increase in annual precipitation in high- and mid-latitudes and
most equatorial regions; a general decrease of annual precipitation in the
sub-tropics;
(2) small changes in annual precipitation, even by 2080, when compared
with natural multi-decadal variability;
(3) increased frequency of heavy rainfall events as the world warms;
(4) a smaller proportion of precipitation may fall as snow (decreasing
snow pack), thereby increasing winter runoff,
but diminishing spring (snow-pack melt) run-off commensurately.
�� Aviation Traffic: Passenger traffic has grown since 1960
at nearly 9% per year, 2.4 times the average Gross
Domestic Product over the same time period. Global passenger air travel is
projected to grow by about 5% per
year between 1990 and 2015, where-as total aviation fuel use (passenger,
freight and military) is projected to
increase by about 3% per year, the difference being due largely to
improved aircraft efficiency. The
assessment developed a number of long-term (1990 – 2050) emissions
scenarios for both subsonic and
supersonic aircraft, including a reference scenario which used mid-range
assumptions for each of the key
determinants, using a range of assumptions for economic and traffic growth
and fuel burn, which is dependent
upon rates of change in technology and air traffic management.
AVIATION CREATING HAVOC IN CLIMATE CHANGE:
1) Aircraft Emissions: Aircraft emit gases and particles directly into the
upper troposphere and lower
stratosphere where they have an impact on atmospheric composition. These
gases and particles alter the
concentration of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, ozone, water
vapor and methane, trigger the
formation of condensation trails (otherwise known as contrails), and may
increase cirrus cloudiness – all of
which contribute to climate change.
2) Radiative Forcing: The major contributors from aircraft emissions to
the radiative forcing, which is a measure
of a change in climate, are carbon dioxide, ozone, methane (negative
effect) and contrails, with minor
contributions from water vapor, sulfate aerosols (negative effect) and
soot. The contribution from cirrus
clouds is projected to be positive and could be quite significant, but our
current lack of scientific
understanding precludes a quantitative assessment of its contribution.
While the contributions from carbon
dioxide, ozone, methane (opposite sign) and contrails are comparable in
magnitude, the uncertainties
associated with ozone, methane and contrails are much larger than those
associated with carbon dioxide.
Current Impact of Aviation Emissions on Climate: The best estimate of the
radiative forcing in 1992 by
aircraft is 0.05 Wm-2 (0.01 to 0.1 Wm-2) or about 3.5% of the total
radiative forcing by all human activities.
These estimates of forcing combine the effects of changes in all
greenhouse gas concentrations, aerosols and
line-shaped contrails, but do not include possible changes in cirrus.
From the above discussions it is quite clear that apart from natural
inflictions of elements inducing climate change human induced factors
primarily globalization, cross binding parameters of technological shifts
have facilitated the rapid change in the climate where global warming is a
serious concern. Its not only the duty henceforth of any international
institution to monitor the progress but its human element which is basic
and should be proactive in stopping the menace of climate rollover. Proper
awareness programmes, good governance, civic senses, and a responsibility
for a good earth is all we require to fight the terror of environmental
disaster. It can be well said that research alone is insufficient, so is
monetory funding and latest technologies; the real magic is in our
hands……..lets unfold the magic and breathe and dream a healthier EARTH.
DRUG ABUSE AND SPORTS
Drug abuse is serious concern in today’s sporting scenario where to some
the “boost” of drugs claims upheaval but destroys the very ethics of
sporting spirit. From a long time the use of drugs by sportsperson have
bewildered the retrospect of sporting arena. Such is the realization of
drug abuse that mere banning fell short of its abolition. From legends to
arts men of sports most have succumbed to the use of drugs irrespective of
the effects of its contamination.”Drug abuse” a word often misquoted has
since mystified and lost in the soul of the powerhouses of sports. Drug
abuse among athletes is a problem as old as time. In certain instances, it
may not even be the fault of the athlete, especially if the athlete
prefers to self-medicate himself for minor illnesses. As some of these
substances are readily available in the market, athletes are more prone to
mishandling these drugs. Drug abuse has been reported since the Greeks
started the Olympics in 776BC. It was then reported that certain
substances were ingested by competitors in attempts to gain some ground
against fellow competitors.
However, it was not until the early 19th century that the problem of drug
abuse became a great menace to the sport.
There were incidents where death ensued following drug abuse. In the late
19th century, it was reported that French athletes drank a concoction of
cocoa leaves and wine in order to reduce the sensation of fatigue and
hunger. As a result, they were able to withstand strenuous forms of
exercise and physical activity.
POSSIBLE RISK OF DRUG ABUSE :
Impaired judgement.
Increase reaction time.
Impaired muscular coordination.
Impaired balance.
Impaired performance of complex activities.
Decreased strength and flexibility.
Decreased accleration and accuracy.
Sport has been promoted as an alternative to drug abuse, especially among
the young. Ironically, instead, drug abuse has been perversely associated
with success and glory in sport. The patriotic slogan that "what counts is
not the winning but taking part" seems to have lost its vitality.
Drug-taking has corrupted the ideal of sports. The pressure of winning
will make athletes do almost anything to find the extra bit that could
make the difference. Many techniques are introduced and employed by
athletes in order to gain that extra mileage in their respective fields.
These methods are used to increase the effects of drugs and to avoid
detection during drug tests.
Another form of doping is blood doping , either by blood transfusion or
use of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO). Doping is considered unethical
by most international sports organizations and especially the
International Olympic Committee.
Social commitment and sports excellence must go hand in hand and not
undermine one another. The emphasis should be on educating and motivating
athletes, not to abuse drugs. It would be more encouraging if sport
organizations are more consistent and logical their decision-making.
Otherwise sports will be reduced to a contest between drugs, money and
politics.
The number and variety of drugs use by athletes are rather alarming.
Substances used as ergogenic aids are meant to primarily increase size,
endurance and strength of the athletes. Some of the substances that have
been identified and associated with drug abuse in sport are listed below:
1) Amphetamine.
2) Darbepoetin.
3) Dhea
4) Diuretics.
5) Ephedrine
6) Human growth hormone.
7) Insulin.
8) Methamphetamine.
9) Modafinil.
10)Norandrosterone.
11)Nandrolone.
13)Testosterone.
The use of anabolic steroids is banned by all major sporting bodies,
including the WTA, ITF, International Olympic Committee, FIFA, UEFA, all
major professional golf tours, the National Hockey League, Major League
Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the European Athletic
Association and the National Football League.
The World Weightlifting Championships of 1954 featured the first
unconfirmed attempt at doping. Testosterone injections by Soviet Athletes
resulted in the Soviets winning the gold medal in most weight classes and
breaking several world records.
Since time and again the penetration of drugs has been influenced and
traversed a long journey haunting the corridors of sporting
fraternity.
The Anti-Doping Convention of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg was
opened for signature on 16 December 1989 as the first multilateral legal
standard in this field. It has been signed by 48 states including the
Council of Europe non-member states Australia, Belarus, Canada and
Tunisia. The Convention is open for signature by other non-European
states. It does not claim to create a universal model of anti-doping, but
sets a certain number of common standards and regulations requiring
Parties to adopt legislative, financial, technical, educational and other
measures.
Though many conventions and charter bodies have been created
the “boost” of drugs claims upheaval but destroys the very ethics of
sporting spirit. From a long time the use of drugs by sportsperson have
bewildered the retrospect of sporting arena. Such is the realization of
drug abuse that mere banning fell short of its abolition. From legends to
arts men of sports most have succumbed to the use of drugs irrespective of
the effects of its contamination.”Drug abuse” a word often misquoted has
since mystified and lost in the soul of the powerhouses of sports. Drug
abuse among athletes is a problem as old as time. In certain instances, it
may not even be the fault of the athlete, especially if the athlete
prefers to self-medicate himself for minor illnesses. As some of these
substances are readily available in the market, athletes are more prone to
mishandling these drugs. Drug abuse has been reported since the Greeks
started the Olympics in 776BC. It was then reported that certain
substances were ingested by competitors in attempts to gain some ground
against fellow competitors.
However, it was not until the early 19th century that the problem of drug
abuse became a great menace to the sport.
There were incidents where death ensued following drug abuse. In the late
19th century, it was reported that French athletes drank a concoction of
cocoa leaves and wine in order to reduce the sensation of fatigue and
hunger. As a result, they were able to withstand strenuous forms of
exercise and physical activity.
POSSIBLE RISK OF DRUG ABUSE :
Impaired judgement.
Increase reaction time.
Impaired muscular coordination.
Impaired balance.
Impaired performance of complex activities.
Decreased strength and flexibility.
Decreased accleration and accuracy.
Sport has been promoted as an alternative to drug abuse, especially among
the young. Ironically, instead, drug abuse has been perversely associated
with success and glory in sport. The patriotic slogan that "what counts is
not the winning but taking part" seems to have lost its vitality.
Drug-taking has corrupted the ideal of sports. The pressure of winning
will make athletes do almost anything to find the extra bit that could
make the difference. Many techniques are introduced and employed by
athletes in order to gain that extra mileage in their respective fields.
These methods are used to increase the effects of drugs and to avoid
detection during drug tests.
Another form of doping is blood doping , either by blood transfusion or
use of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO). Doping is considered unethical
by most international sports organizations and especially the
International Olympic Committee.
Social commitment and sports excellence must go hand in hand and not
undermine one another. The emphasis should be on educating and motivating
athletes, not to abuse drugs. It would be more encouraging if sport
organizations are more consistent and logical their decision-making.
Otherwise sports will be reduced to a contest between drugs, money and
politics.
The number and variety of drugs use by athletes are rather alarming.
Substances used as ergogenic aids are meant to primarily increase size,
endurance and strength of the athletes. Some of the substances that have
been identified and associated with drug abuse in sport are listed below:
1) Amphetamine.
2) Darbepoetin.
3) Dhea
4) Diuretics.
5) Ephedrine
6) Human growth hormone.
7) Insulin.
8) Methamphetamine.
9) Modafinil.
10)Norandrosterone.
11)Nandrolone.
13)Testosterone.
The use of anabolic steroids is banned by all major sporting bodies,
including the WTA, ITF, International Olympic Committee, FIFA, UEFA, all
major professional golf tours, the National Hockey League, Major League
Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the European Athletic
Association and the National Football League.
The World Weightlifting Championships of 1954 featured the first
unconfirmed attempt at doping. Testosterone injections by Soviet Athletes
resulted in the Soviets winning the gold medal in most weight classes and
breaking several world records.
Since time and again the penetration of drugs has been influenced and
traversed a long journey haunting the corridors of sporting
fraternity.
The Anti-Doping Convention of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg was
opened for signature on 16 December 1989 as the first multilateral legal
standard in this field. It has been signed by 48 states including the
Council of Europe non-member states Australia, Belarus, Canada and
Tunisia. The Convention is open for signature by other non-European
states. It does not claim to create a universal model of anti-doping, but
sets a certain number of common standards and regulations requiring
Parties to adopt legislative, financial, technical, educational and other
measures.
Though many conventions and charter bodies have been created
Monday, November 10, 2008
TECHNOPHOBIA
TECHNOPHOBIA- A DISEASE IN DISGUISE
The incumbent technological advancement has created a phenomenal shift in the way human lives has been transformed. From robotic science to computers use of modern day electronic gadgets has lifted the way one looks at life. The word technophobia basically means fear of technology or technological devices. The way professional world has developed, use of modern day technologies has closely linked human race to devices making one closer to virtual world and lifting the soul from practical domains.
For many of us life, without computers is unimaginable! The first thing that almost 90% of the knowledge workforce does when it gets to work is turn on the computer and check the email! Those are the lucky ones! Many others, live with pagers, beepers, and wireless devices 24-hours a day. If life without computers were unimaginable, life without microchips would be, simply speaking, miserable. Our remote car keys help us to open car doors from a distance; our microwaves are programmed to pop the perfect popcorn; music is no longer just turning on the radio; telephone manuals read like instructions for a nuclear reactor; VCRs and DVD players are humiliating experiences as highly intelligent individuals learn how to play a tape or a DVD; the list is endless.
In such a confused situation human lives are transformed into phases seldom undiscovered. In such trespassing phases technophobia penetrates the very basis of survival. Recent studies have pinpointed on the use of excessive gadgetries on the result of technophobia which culminates into a fearsome disease paralyzing the existence of human physiology. Corporate world has witnessed such phenomenon in a larger scale where technophobia has penetrated the human resource cycle.
Take for example, the printing press, the automobile, flying, highways, and medicine. Progress in these fields gave men and women to adjust their mindsets to a new and evolving world. In other words, growth and change in these domains has, to a large extent, gone through what we call the human life cycle: birth, infancy, adolescence, and maturity. In technology, however, the change for many individuals has been from birth to maturity. And just when they think they have a grasp on it, the world of technology handles another baby to them, only that this one has four legs and six eyes! Hence it is no surprise that individuals are overwhelmed with technology. An early example of technophobia in fiction and popular culture is Mary shelley’s frankenstein. Such disturbances have been closely studied by MNCs who have given technophobia a major concern for the health of its workforce. In Microsoft test of two studies of communication: an ethnographic study of communication primarily in homes, cars, and public places, and a survey of communication in a large corporation were performed. A clear pattern emerged. To a greater degree than expected in the ethnographic study, people were familiar with a broad range of communication tools. Awareness and a lack of anxiety was the norm even for tools that a person rarely or had not yet used. As a result, people frequently shifted to the tool that was most appropriate for a task at hand. The resulting behaviors conflict with popular press images and have implications for the designers of communication tools.
Question arises to why should one care about technophobia?
Technophobia is a serious disease in disguise penetrating rapidly in the world of gadgets. it not only creates psychological imbalances but shifts human nature from reality .Psychological studies have pointed on the inflictions of technophobia more on people adapting slow to change than fast adaptations of technology. Higher usage of technology has inversely affected its friendliness where fear of adaptation to latest innovations have paralyzed human advancement.
What are some symptoms of technophobia?
1) Fear of computers and related technologies
2) Resistance to automating processes
3) Unwillingness to change from one system to another or one software to another.
4) Highly critical of any technology changes or implementations
5) Passive resistance to new technology initiatives
6) Unwilling to attend training classes
7) Slow to learn new technologies
8) Providing excuses for not attending training sessions
9) Relentlessly arguing the lack of need for technologies
10) Pleading "the old way is the best way!"
11) Convincing colleagues that "I have made it this far without technology. Why now?"
Technophobia has been also studied positively in education sectors where latest usage of technology has paralyzed the motion of educational deliveries. In such a scenario a Harvard study has revealed a (+) mode of educational awareness to the extent of beta variation to be an ultimatum in releasing shock waves of brain.
Last but not the least technophobia is a disease in disguise, it is not shameful, it rocks the corporate enigma more. Proper awareness programmes , brown bag lunches, seminars on technophobia, sustained support to technophobic may shift the imbalance to a more phylogenic module of technology.
The incumbent technological advancement has created a phenomenal shift in the way human lives has been transformed. From robotic science to computers use of modern day electronic gadgets has lifted the way one looks at life. The word technophobia basically means fear of technology or technological devices. The way professional world has developed, use of modern day technologies has closely linked human race to devices making one closer to virtual world and lifting the soul from practical domains.
For many of us life, without computers is unimaginable! The first thing that almost 90% of the knowledge workforce does when it gets to work is turn on the computer and check the email! Those are the lucky ones! Many others, live with pagers, beepers, and wireless devices 24-hours a day. If life without computers were unimaginable, life without microchips would be, simply speaking, miserable. Our remote car keys help us to open car doors from a distance; our microwaves are programmed to pop the perfect popcorn; music is no longer just turning on the radio; telephone manuals read like instructions for a nuclear reactor; VCRs and DVD players are humiliating experiences as highly intelligent individuals learn how to play a tape or a DVD; the list is endless.
In such a confused situation human lives are transformed into phases seldom undiscovered. In such trespassing phases technophobia penetrates the very basis of survival. Recent studies have pinpointed on the use of excessive gadgetries on the result of technophobia which culminates into a fearsome disease paralyzing the existence of human physiology. Corporate world has witnessed such phenomenon in a larger scale where technophobia has penetrated the human resource cycle.
Take for example, the printing press, the automobile, flying, highways, and medicine. Progress in these fields gave men and women to adjust their mindsets to a new and evolving world. In other words, growth and change in these domains has, to a large extent, gone through what we call the human life cycle: birth, infancy, adolescence, and maturity. In technology, however, the change for many individuals has been from birth to maturity. And just when they think they have a grasp on it, the world of technology handles another baby to them, only that this one has four legs and six eyes! Hence it is no surprise that individuals are overwhelmed with technology. An early example of technophobia in fiction and popular culture is Mary shelley’s frankenstein. Such disturbances have been closely studied by MNCs who have given technophobia a major concern for the health of its workforce. In Microsoft test of two studies of communication: an ethnographic study of communication primarily in homes, cars, and public places, and a survey of communication in a large corporation were performed. A clear pattern emerged. To a greater degree than expected in the ethnographic study, people were familiar with a broad range of communication tools. Awareness and a lack of anxiety was the norm even for tools that a person rarely or had not yet used. As a result, people frequently shifted to the tool that was most appropriate for a task at hand. The resulting behaviors conflict with popular press images and have implications for the designers of communication tools.
Question arises to why should one care about technophobia?
Technophobia is a serious disease in disguise penetrating rapidly in the world of gadgets. it not only creates psychological imbalances but shifts human nature from reality .Psychological studies have pointed on the inflictions of technophobia more on people adapting slow to change than fast adaptations of technology. Higher usage of technology has inversely affected its friendliness where fear of adaptation to latest innovations have paralyzed human advancement.
What are some symptoms of technophobia?
1) Fear of computers and related technologies
2) Resistance to automating processes
3) Unwillingness to change from one system to another or one software to another.
4) Highly critical of any technology changes or implementations
5) Passive resistance to new technology initiatives
6) Unwilling to attend training classes
7) Slow to learn new technologies
8) Providing excuses for not attending training sessions
9) Relentlessly arguing the lack of need for technologies
10) Pleading "the old way is the best way!"
11) Convincing colleagues that "I have made it this far without technology. Why now?"
Technophobia has been also studied positively in education sectors where latest usage of technology has paralyzed the motion of educational deliveries. In such a scenario a Harvard study has revealed a (+) mode of educational awareness to the extent of beta variation to be an ultimatum in releasing shock waves of brain.
Last but not the least technophobia is a disease in disguise, it is not shameful, it rocks the corporate enigma more. Proper awareness programmes , brown bag lunches, seminars on technophobia, sustained support to technophobic may shift the imbalance to a more phylogenic module of technology.
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