Thoughts & Talks Archives - Disasters News

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

African Nations Commit to Clean Cooking Solutions at Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Thoughts & Talks

At the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, held in Tanzania on 27-28 January 2025, 12 African countries took bold steps to provide clean cooking solutions to combat the health, environmental, and economic challenges posed by traditional cooking methods. This initiative aims to address the annual deaths of 600,000 women and children caused by harmful cooking practices and aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Tanzania Leads the Way Tanzanian President Suluhu Hassan, who serves as the global Clean Cooking Ambassador, praised the commitment of the 12 participating governments and emphasized that many others would join in the future. The summit’s focus was to drive momentum toward the 2030 goal of ensuring universal access to cl...

Feb12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Economic Survey Flags Climate Finance Gap, Stresses Urgent Adaptation Needs

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks

The Economic Survey 2024-25, released on January 31, highlights India's urgent need for climate adaptation measures while criticizing the lack of international climate finance. The report warns that reliance on domestic resources could hinder development goals. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is formulating a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to align with sustainable development and climate resilience strategies. Meanwhile, the Initial Adaptation Communication (IAC) submitted to the UNFCCC outlines India’s vulnerability assessment and adaptation efforts across key sectors. In agriculture, India is focusing on climate-resilient crops, groundwater conservation, and soil health. Urban adaptation measures include improved water management under AMRUT, verti...

Jan292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

SA Hosts Global Forum to Propel Circular Economy and Sustainable Waste Management

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks

South Africa took center stage in advancing environmental sustainability by hosting the 7th Global Forum of Cities for Circular Economy (GFCCE) workshop. The event, organized by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment, convened in Johannesburg to champion sustainable waste management practices across Africa. The two-day forum welcomed participants from 18 African nations, including Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe, focusing on enhancing South-South cooperation. With urbanization and environmental degradation posing challenges to the continent, the workshop aimed to build the capacity of officials and foster the adoption of circular economy principles. Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and t...

Jan212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke: One Can Turn Deadly

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks

As global temperatures rise heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke are becoming more common. While they may seem similar at first, the difference between these two conditions could mean life or death, experts warn. Heat exhaustion occurs when the body struggles to cool down, typically due to prolonged exposure to heat or intense physical activity. The core temperature rises, but remains under 40°C. Symptoms include weakness, nausea, intense thirst, and dizziness, but the individual’s mental clarity remains unaffected. Heat stroke, on the other hand, is far more severe and classified as a medical emergency. When the body’s core temperature surpasses 40°C, the results can be catastrophic, with symptoms such as confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness. With...

Jan152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mining Impact on Rivers Flood Risks in Dynamic Channels

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Thoughts & Talks

Rivers are often subjected to human interventions such as structural confinement and aggregate mining, which significantly alter their natural flow and topography. A recent study conducted on the gravel-bed Bislak River in the Philippines sheds light on how these activities influence river morphology, hydraulics, and flood risks. Using repeat, system-scale, high-resolution topographic surveys, researchers examined annual morphological changes in the Bislak River. They coupled this data with two-dimensional hydraulic modeling to simulate the impacts on flood risk. The findings highlight a complex interplay between human actions, sediment dynamics, and river hydraulics. Key Findings Sediment Dynamics and Topography Aggregate mining was found to export sediment from the river, lea...

Jan142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Dr. V. Narayanan Takes Charge as ISRO Chief, Secretary of Space Department

Breaking News, Space, Thoughts & Talks

On January 14, 2025, Dr. V. Narayanan, a distinguished scientist and pioneer in India’s space propulsion systems, assumed charge as Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman of the Space Commission, and Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). His extensive contributions to India’s space programs have positioned him as a key figure in the country’s advancements in space technology and exploration. Dr. Narayanan’s career at ISRO spans four decades, beginning in 1984. Prior to his new role, he served as the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), where he led the development of cutting-edge propulsion systems, including liquid, semi-cryogenic, and cryogenic technologies for launch vehicles, as well as chemical and electric propulsion systems for satellite...

Dec272024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

China Approves Construction of World’s Largest Dam on Brahmaputra, Sparking Concerns in India and Bangladesh

Breaking News, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks

China has greenlit the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, near the Indian border, raising geopolitical and environmental concerns in downstream nations India and Bangladesh. With an estimated cost of $137 billion, the project will surpass all other infrastructure projects globally, including China’s Three Gorges Dam. The hydropower project, part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, will be built along the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra. Located at a massive gorge where the river takes a U-turn into Arunachal Pradesh, the dam will exploit a vertical drop of 2,000 meters over a 50 km stretch to generate more than 300 billion kWh of electricity annually, enough to power over 300 million people. ...

Dec262024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Does Yoga Really Hold the Secret to Longevity? A Closer Look

Breaking News, Environment, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks

Yoga with its centuries-old roots is widely praised for its health benefits. But could it also be the secret to a long life? Centenarian Daisy Taylor of Chelmsford, England, believes so. On her 105th birthday, Taylor credited her enduring physical and mental health to yoga, optimism, and cherishing life's simple joys. Remarkably, Taylor still practices yoga, though now more often from a chair than a mat. Her story echoes those of other notable yoga practitioners, like B.K.S. Iyengar, who lived to 95 despite severe childhood illnesses, and Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, the founder of vinyasa yoga, who reached 100. These anecdotes suggest a connection between yoga and longevity but what does science say? Yoga’s Role in Ageing and Longevity Physical and Mental Health Benefits Yoga ha...

Dec262024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Honoring 20 Years: World Tsunami Awareness Day Commemorates the 2004 Indian Ocean Tragedy

Breaking News, Disasters, Thoughts & Talks

This year’s World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) takes on profound significance as it marks the 20th anniversary of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Observances aim to honor the lives lost, highlight critical lessons learned, and celebrate advancements in tsunami preparedness, especially through initiatives like the #GetToHighGround campaign, which empowers children and youth with life-saving knowledge. On the morning of December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck along the Indian Ocean subduction zone, triggering one of the deadliest tsunamis in modern history. The massive waves obliterated 800 km of Aceh Province's coastline in Indonesia, penetrating as far as 6 km inland. The disaster radiated destruction across the Indian Ocean, from Indonesia and India’s Andaman an...

Dec262024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

What Do Insects Do All Winter?

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments, Thoughts & Talks

As winter envelops forests in snow and icy temperatures the familiar buzz of insects disappears. Yet, contrary to appearances, insects don’t vanish they hibernate, hidden in the bark of trees, buried in the soil, or nestled under the insulating blanket of snow. This incredible survival strategy, known as diapause, allows these cold-blooded creatures to endure months of freezing conditions. Not all insects hibernate instinctively. While some species naturally enter diapause every year, others rely on environmental cues, particularly day length, to prepare for winter. For example, the speckled wood butterfly senses shorter days during its larval stage, triggering it to gain weight and transition into a hibernating pupa. This timing is crucial misjudging winter’s arrival could result in...