Climate change

Climate change is a reality that almost everyone knows about though there are a few deniers. Protecting the earth's environment needs more than just planting trees. From forest conservation to wildlife preservation, using renewable energy sources to creating me efficient technology based upon sustainable practices are just few of the things that can be done to protect the environment. From the legislative point, more stringent laws protecting the natural environment as well as levying harsher penalties for causing pollution and environmental degradation should be enacted and imposed. Environmental protection needs to be taken from grassroots levels and governments should invest in creating awareness about the same. Protecting the natural flora and fauna requires both strict laws as well as an insight to create mass movements so that every individual feels responsible for them and acts as a guardian of the environment. Fighting the coal industry alone is not sufficient if proper alternate employment is not provided to those who are solely dependent on it for their livelihood. Mining should be done diligently and coal usage slowly phased out to more sustainable energy sources. The earth has enough for everyone's needs and everyone should act to protect it.

Protecting them physically and digitally

I was recently reading an article about how the photos and videos of abuse are available online and how various tech companies even with all the tools available do little or nothing to remove them. It is greatly disturbing to know that the victims of abuse have to live in fear of being recognised and have to suffer repeat trauma every time they come across the pictures of their abuse.
It seems all the more important in today's world to protect young children from predators of all sorts. Not only is it important that children are protected from strangers in real, physical world, it is equally important that their pictures and videos are protected from strangers in the digital world. A few steps that parents and guardians should take to protect their children from abuse and its repercussions are:
- not sending them anywhere without a chaperon and being well aware of their whereabouts at all times.
- developing an open communication channel with children and have mutual trust with them.
- not uploading their pictures or videos online as sharing them in the digital world can lead them being landing in wrong hands.
- be aware of who their friends are and also their parents.
- making them aware of the various dangers that they may face.
Protecting children is very important as in many cases they don't have their own voice in the face of abuse. The incidents of abuse can leave a lasting mark and it is very important that it is not allowed to happen at all.

Broken journeys, wounded love

A child who loses his parents is called an orphan. A person who loses his/her spouse is a widow or widower. A person who loses their child is called? Nothing. Because they are nothing. The most painful of pains. The loss of a child is loss of dreams, a loss of hopes. The grief that comes in waves and settles down. Of the 25% women who suffer miscarriages. Of those who have stillbirth or of those who lose their infants or young ones. There is nothing to console them. The balloons that fly away and mingle with the clouds. Maybe they go the children lost. Lives full of questions and doubts. Grief that is mingled with a strange emptiness, a strange hollowness. Yet there is peace. The peace that is the end. Is there a place where broken dreams are cherished? Is there a place where lost hopes are kindled? Is there a place where broken journeys are resumed. From the place of no return, hopes and dreams and answers are requested. The love that is wounded and is always with the child that is lost. That love is mixed with grief and that grief is mixed with peace. May everyone with a wounded heart find peace. Hope someday, answers may be found. Hope that someday, families may be reunited.

Maternity benefits

Motherhood takes a toll on a woman's life and it affects her ability to move or work. For a working mother, it is important that she receives some leave after having a baby without worrying about her job security. Maternity benefits vary from country to country ranging from zero days to upto two years. Some benefits that are provided by law are:
(1) Paid leave for a specific period of time, which varies from country to country.
(2) Non-discrimination due to the fact that she has a child. Her position at work cannot be adversely altered due to her maternity nor can she be denied promotion as a result of the same.
(3) Job security. A woman cannot be fired during her maternity leave nor can her maternity be used adversely against her.
(4) Creches and child benefits to help her transition back to work. They may include child care services at the workplace and a provision to take nursing breaks.
(5) Option to take leave at the loss of pay but with security to return back to work.
(6) Child benefits and welfare schemes. Some countries provide financial aid to eligible mothers in order to bear the expenses of a new baby. Also provisions for baby milk or food maybe available to eligible mothers.
Maternity benefits are essential in order to ensure that a woman continues to work after having her baby. They provide her with a financial support and also allow her to rest after a life changing event.

More than a thing

It is a strange world with strange people. On one hand there are strides been made to get equal rights to everyone while on the other, it is no big deal to discriminate. From denying accessibility to the disabled to refusing families to adopt, discriminations are everywhere, hidden from plain sight. In some cases, it may be difficult to decide which party to support but on others it would be crystal clear.
Human Rights are not things or the ability to get things or services. Rights are the necessities to lead a respectable life. Basic human rights not just for the privileged. They are for each and every individual by virtue of being born as a human. They came as a result of struggle of hundreds and thousands of people over the decades and centuries. They are not to be held at the whims and fancies of the few. Rather they should be cherished and protected for every single small man. Denying those rights should not be an option for anyone. Also making a mockery of the equality rights should not be allowed.
It is a strange world with strange people. On one hand there are protections for every walking creature while on the other, survival may be difficult for the poor man. It is a truly strange world.

The perfect house

The perfect house. An ideal place where everything seems magical. We run around looking for a perfect place to live. Everybody has different concepts of how and what they want in their house. Number of rooms, garage, garden, location, everything is a criteria when buying a house but these do not make a house home. The truth is that the perfect house doesn't require any of these physical features to make it a perfect abode. An ideal house is the one which is full of memories, often the very first childhood memories. It is a place where a child first identities that it is his home. It can have broken staircase or small rooms or not enough space for anything. It can be old or messy or airy. Nothing matters. It is a place which is home in the mind of a child who grows up looking for it. It is a place of emotions whether or not it has any physical wealth or not. It is a place of dreams and hopes and aspirations. A place like none other. Because it is not a physical place but the feelings and memories linked with it.

Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression is a common problem which is sadly ignored in a number of communities. Even though it is not talked much, it is very common and can span days to months in a woman's life. Low self esteem arising from physical changes to hormonal changes, not having support while taking care of the baby, lacking someone to talk to or simply being overwhelmed by the work and responsibility can play the culprit. It is important that the family and friends pay attention to the needs of the new mother, help her cope with the changes in her life and where necessary provide her with counselling or medical support to overcome her feelings.