Racism

 Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to physical appearance and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another.^[1][2][3][4] It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against other people because they are of a different race or ethnicity.^[2][3] Modern variants of racism are often based in social perceptions of biological differences between peoples. These views can take the form of social actions, practices or beliefs, or political systems in which different races are ranked as inherently superior or inferior to each other, based on presumed shared inheritable traits, abilities, or qualities.^[2][3][5]

In terms of political systems (e.g., apartheid) that support the expression of prejudice or aversion in discriminatory practices or laws, racist ideology may include associated social aspects such as nativism, xenophobia, otherness, segregation, hierarchical ranking, and supremacism.

While the concepts of race and ethnicity are considered to be separate in contemporary social science, the two terms have a long history of equivalence in popular usage and older social science literature. "Ethnicity" is often used in a sense close to one traditionally attributed to "race": the division of human groups based on qualities assumed to be essential or innate to the group (e.g. shared ancestry or shared behavior). Therefore, racism and racial discrimination are often used to describe discrimination on an ethnic or cultural basis, independent of whether these differences are described as racial. According to a United Nations convention on racial discrimination, there is no distinction between the terms "racial" and "ethnic" discrimination. The UN Convention further concludes that superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous. The Convention also declared that there is no justification for racial discrimination, anywhere, in theory or in practice.^[6]

Racism is a relatively modern concept, arising in the European age of imperialism, the subsequent growth of capitalism, and especially the Atlantic slave trade,^[1] of which it was a major driving force.^[7] It was also a major force behind racial segregation especially in the United States in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and South Africa under apartheid; 19th and 20th century racism in Western culture is particularly well documented and constitutes a reference point in studies and discourses about racism.^[8] Racism has played a role in genocides such as the Holocaust, the Armenian genocide, and genocide of Serbs, and colonial projects including the European colonization of the Americas, Africa, and Asia as well as the Soviet deportations of indigenous minorities.^[9] Indigenous peoples have been—and are—often subject to racist attitudes.

Are Hazardous Wastes really Hazardous ?

Management of Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste is the kind of used materials that can be harmful to the health of both humans and animals, and also harmful to the environment. These wastes are in various forms including liquids, solids, sludge or gases. They are as a result of industrial activities that involve chemical productions and manufacturing. When the hazardous wastes are stored, transported or disposed wrongly they contaminate the underground water supplies as well as the surface. The people whose homes are built near an abandoned disposal site have a greater exposure to this danger.

Governments have a responsibility of regulating the management of hazardous wastes in order to rectify the current problems and keep future problems at bay.

Types Of Hazardous Wastes

The hazardous wastes are classified according to their properties which could either be physical, chemical or biological. The properties generate the various types of wastes which include:

Infectious Waste: Most of the Infectious waste comes from the hospitals or research centers. They can include needles, bandages and other disposable materials from such institutions.

Toxic waste: This is capable of causing sudden illness or even death. Many years of exposure to the toxic wastes can cause cancer while the mutagenic waste can affect the biological structure of both humans and animals.

Corrosive waste: This has a high alkaline and acid content. There is a chemical reaction that occurs which harms solid materials if they get into contact with the corrosive waste.

Reactive Waste: When exposed to water or air, the reactive waste can explode. The waste can burn in extremely low temperature and therefore has a high chance of causing fires.

Radioactive Waste: These type of wastes produce ionizing energy which is harmful to living things. Before the radioactive wastes decay completely, they can remain active within the environment for many years. There should therefore be proper handling and disposal of these wastes.

Are Hazardous Wastes really Hazardous ?

How To Transport Hazardous Waste

The transportation of hazardous wastes is usually from the site of origin to the designated disposal location. Due to the levels of potential threat to the public and to the environment, proper transportation is necessary. This is to eliminate chances of accidental spillage and dumping at random areas; thus the labelling and tracking. There are two main ways of transporting waste which include use of vehicles or the rail.

The vehicles are popular for transportation of waste due to their ease of access to industries and other collection points. The truck tanks are made of aluminum or steel and have a huge capacity. The rail use is expensive due to the required side facilities. It is therefore appropriate for very bulky waste shipments.

Ways of Disposing Hazardous Wastes

Recycling of the wastes can not be a complete solution to the disposal of the hazardous waste. Some of the waste will need to be treated, stored or disposed.

During treatment the waste can be incinerated to detoxify and destroy some types of organic waste. This is done using thermal equipments which are specifically designed for burning liquid, solid or sludge forms of waste. Incineration is known to cause air pollution. Another form of treatment is the biological one. It is common in farms where the waste is mixed with soil. Bacteria or microbes can be used to hasten the metabolic process. There is also the physical treatment which involves filtration, sedimentation, flotation or evaporation.

The waste that is not treated or which does not get destroyed by incineration or any other chemical process disposal on land is an option. The waste piles must be properly protected from erosion and wind. When the pile is no longer manageable, it should be land filled. An open pit or holding ponds are good for waste that is not flowing.

Can We Really Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ?

Reducing and Reusing Basics

When we think about our carbon footprint that we create on planet earth, do we realize how big that footprint is? We have all the control over whether we leave a huge imprint on the planet or a small toe print. We must reduce overall what we are using if we are going to have a place for our children to play safely in the future. Every time we throw away a plastic bottle for no reason or an aluminium can, we are causing more damage than is necessary when we could reuse most of our raw materials. We are simply adding to landfills that are already overcrowded and in need of dire help.

Prevention, Reutilization & Recycling

Logically, of course in terms of effectiveness, the best way to get rid of waste products is to not create garbage to begin with. This may seem futile to say we cannot go without creating any waste but we can certainly reduce our waste and reuse and recycle it.

Whenever an entrepreneur makes something new, it costs many valuable resources to create this merchandise. It doesn’t matter if it’s a computer, a cell phone, a bedspread, a pillow or clothing.  The energy that is necessary as well as the raw materials that are needed to create the merchandise are taken directly from our planet. Is not disrupted by mining and taking materials from the land by various means.

Afterwards it must be created and then taken to where it will be sold. This creates a lot of waste along the way. In order to effectively run a company your best bet is to reduce resources and reuse whatever you can. This is the best way that a company can protect the environment and make the most profit it is much cheaper to reuse something then to extract it from the earth when it is already created. This helps to save our natural resources and company funds. It also significantly helps our environment as it Is much easier to use a product that is already created and change it for your needs then take it from the earth again. Recycling just makes sense on a practical level

There are many huge benefits and reusing resources and recycling. We get rid of pollution when we are harvesting raw materials, we also save a good amount of energy and greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are thought to cause climate change which causes our oceans to rise significantly and affects Antarctica and are their continents and the cities that are near the water with the rising tides and rising heat. We have to start thinking about the future children of the world and their generations and make sure they can sustain themselves before we destroy the planet. If we can we should do use every product that we can to the fullest possible usage that it can gain.

There are practices in place to make recycling easier but some people still want to just toss things in the garbage. It is as simple as separating your recyclable materials from your garbage materials. Some materials are even paid for if you save them so it is worthwhile. Getting into the habit of practicing good recycling makes our planet a better place to live.

Is Racism Still With Us?

Racism nowadays has captured the public's eye in India. Most of the Human Rights Activists have raised voice against this. Many of the media channels are too supporting the cause.

But there is a trend in India- "Equality = Minority Appeasement". Though the darks are not a minority but still the pseudo-liberals to impress others have come forward not to raise voice against discrimination but this time they have targeted "Fairness Cream Ads". They call fairness creams and celebrities endorsing them 'RACIST'.

According to me fighting against racism doesn't mean to make such silly campaigns.

Why don't they target the posh clubs and hotels who do not allow servants or maids? There are a lot more incidents in which people from north-east India were victims of discrimination being different. I think this should be their priority to highlight not such a foolish campaign.

Looking beautiful and bright is not a sin. The ones who want to use the product will use, but that does not mean you brand them racist.

Is Racism Still With Us?

We all are different in some or the other way. Our skin is different, our color is different, our hair is different so instead of pretending that we all are the same and secretly feeling that we are different why can't we just acknowledge our differences and live together. This will help us to be on the same page.

I feel that when we continuously point out the different people and sympathize them they feel more isolated than the radical discrimination they're facing.

All these people need is equality, not special attention or commiseration.

In conclusion, we need to find a solution not an opportunity to impress others in the name of empowerment.

World's Cheapest Medicine?

Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humour lightens your burden, inspires hope, connects you to others and keeps you grounded, focused and alert. With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships and supporting both physical and emotional health.

A good hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance power against diseases. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases.

Laughter makes you feel good. The good feeling, that you get when you laugh, remains with you even after you stop laughing. Laughter helps you keep a positive worldview in difficult times, a laugh or even a smile can make you feel better. One cannot feel anxious, angry or sad when laughing. It reduces stress and increases energy and enables one to stay focused and accomplished more. Humour enables to see the situation in a more realistic and less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance which can help avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed.

World's Cheapest Medicine?

Humour and playful communication strengthing our relationships by infusing positive feelings and fostering emotional connections. When we laugh with one another, a positive bond is created. This bond acts as a strong defense against stress, disagreements, and disappointments. Shared laughter is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships free and active. All emotional sharing builds strong and lasting bonds, but sharing laughter also adds joy, vitality, and resilience. Humour is a powerful and effective way to heal resentments and disagreements. Laughter unites people during the difficult time. Thus incorporating more humor into your daily interactions can improve the quality of your relationships, your connection with co-workers, family members, and friends.