Water conservation

While the majority of the earth's surface is covered by water, only 3% of it is usable. Pollution of the usable resources is a major problem for the environment as it not only damages the water quality, it also puts marine life at danger. Further, the pollution of water bodies leads to the pollutants traveling up in the food chain and poisoning at various levels. Conserving water is thus an important aspect of preserving the environment. Some of the steps to conserve water at basic level are as follows:
> Using motion sensors or timed water taps to reduce water wastage.
> Using sanitisers.
> Using organic cleaning agents so that water can be treated in situ and diverted for watering gardens, crops, etc
> Changing mindsets and creating awareness about water conservation.
> Rainwater harvesting.
At a larger level, it is important to treat the industrial and factory wastes before releasing the water in water bodies. A more conscious approach for treatment in situ is important to prevent the large scale pollution of rivers and lakes. Preventing oil spills in ocean bodies is also important. Levying hefty fines for polluting water bodies will also act as  deterrent.
Taking steps at various levels is important for preventing water pollution and thus, saving the aquatic life and protecting the environment.

Zero waste

With the rising levels of pollution leading to climate change and extinction of species, it is important that steps are being taken to protect the environment. Protecting the environment means reducing pollution levels which can be attained by reducing the emission of greenhouse gasses and limiting wastes. The various steps towards reducing the amount of waste released in the environment are:

> Reduce and ultimately phase out single use plastics such as straws, bottles, disposable plates, cutlery.

> Minimise the amount of plastics in packaging of food items and other goods.

> Reduce the potion size in restaurants and cafeteria to cut down on food wastage.

> Use incentives like price cut for bringing own cups or plates to cafeterias, etc.

> Using organic plates, bowls, made of leaves, where needed, that are biodegradable.

> Create apps that tell about location of recycling bins, compost facilities especially in college campuses and shopping malls as well as beaches and tourist spots.

> Creating awareness about recycling, using social media as well as other platforms.

> Have plenty of dishwashing sinks on campuses to encourage the reusing of utensils.

> Reducing the amount of paper that is used for communications.

> Recycling garments into other useful items to prevent their being dumped into garbage holes.

By working towards reducing the amount of waste generated, one can have a positive impact towards curbing the pollution levels and helping the environment.

Sustainable development

The Earth is a unique planet in the sense that it supports life but at the same time it is effected by the activities of the living creatures. All animal and plant species are dependent on the environment for their survival, they cannot sustain in conditions that are too harsh for them. Man is different from other animals as he is capable of changing the environment according to his needs. Anthropogenic factors have changed the face of the earth and have lead to climate change which may be irreversible. Developments in the fields of industry and energy have had a far reaching effect and today, the world is facing global warming, rising sea levels, high levels of pollution and an overall climate change.
The concept of sustainable development means development that does not harm the environment but rather preserves it. The key elements of sustainable development are reducing the carbon footprint by minimising the use of fossil fuels and protecting the green belts and reducing pollution levels. Banning or reducing the use of plastics, building 'green' homes and offices, increasing the green cover, banning coal, using wind and solar energy are some of the key areas where sustainable development is active. Another aspect is the legal one, where the polluter is made to pay for the environmental damage that he has caused. He is levied hefty penalties to ensure that he is an example for others as well.
The concept of sustainable development is based on the principles that we are not the owners of this planet but rather the trustees for the future generations to come. It aims at protecting the natural climate for the future generations instead of consuming all the natural resources and harming the planet. Sustainable growth aims at advancing in science and tech7while at the same time being conscious of the well being of the planet that supports life.

Mental health

A healthy individual is one who is sound in all dimensions whether physical or mental. Mental health is something even more important than a person's physical well-being as it governs a person's overall personality. While the physical issues affect only one's body, mental issues can manifest from small obsessions to growing into depression, addictions or even suicidal tendencies. However, the main issue with mental well being comes with the fact that it is invisible to everyone except the individual himself and many a times, even he might be unaware of any underlying issues that he might be suffering from. Often, a person suffering from depression or other mental issues may avoid seeking out treatment. Loneliness can play a big role in elevating mental issues. Being surrounded by people who do not notice any mood changes or dismiss them can actually increase the chances of depression. Bullying at school or workplace or inability to cope with the workload can also take a toll on a person's well being. A good, healthy home atmosphere as well as a positive work attitude can play a big role in combating mental health issues. Mental issues are silent killers that attack from inside not giving the individual any recourse unless they are carefully monitored. It is important for institutes to make it mandatory to have counsellors present on campus and have mandatory sessions with all students or employees. Developing a good home environment and being open to each others problems and being supportive of them is what would go a long way in ensuring a positive outcome.

Loyalty as seen in Shakespeare's Hamlet

Introduction

The Tragedy of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark is the longest play written by William Shakespeare. The tragic account runs strongly with the concept of loyalty between characters leading to both positive and negative impacts. While loyalty is a virtue much desired, in Hamlet, loyalty towards wrong ‘relationships’ led to much suffering and tragedy.

Loyalty to family

The central theme of the play revolves around avenging the fathers’ death. We see that Hamlet’s[1]loyalty to his father[2]leads him to feign madness in order to determine the truth about the murder of his father[3]and to seek revenge for it. He doesn’t shy away from showing disdain[4]for his mother’s hasty second marriage though he urges her to not sleep with Claudius. Ophelia, meanwhile, forsook her love for the sake of her father that ultimately led to her madness and untimely death. Similarly, Laertes blinded by his devotion to his sister and father and desirous of revenge, ended up being easily manipulated by Claudius[5]which gave way to the final sword fight and his death. Overall, the devotedness towards their respective fathers paved way to the tragic end of all three.

Loyalty to the Crown

Following behind loyalty towards family, loyalty towards the Crown or Claudius came with its own dire consequences. On one hand, we see Rosencrantz and Guildenstern[6]betraying their friend, Hamlet to spy for Claudius and consequently ending up being executed[7], at the same time, Polonius’s inability to be ‘true to his own self’[8]that made him spy on Hamlet for Claudius led him to be killed by accident[9]. We see that blindly following the royal command without searching for the true nature or intention led to their destruction and also the downfall in the play.

Loyalty to friend

While we see that loyalty resulted in much suffering, not every instance of loyalty was marked with doom. Horatio and Hamlet remained friends and faithful[10]to each other highlighting the only positive consequence of loyalty. Horatio advising Hamlet to be cautious while following the ghost[11]and later on to avoid fighting with Laertes were full of brotherly love and care. Finally, in the end, he even desired himself to be sacrificed for his friend which is a shining example of true friendship and brotherhood.

Conclusion

Even though loyalty plays a central role in the story, it is also the reason for heartbreak, death and tragedy. On its own, it is not a virtue. It is the combination with the right reason and the right person, that is highlighted as a virtue, otherwise it is a doom for all.

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[1]Hamlet is the central figure of the play who judges the character of people based upon their loyalty towards him and his father, the deceased King Hamlet.

[2]The feeling of vengeance is mirrored in Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway, who tries to avenge his father’s death by an attempted invasion of Denmark. Denmark, under King Hamlet, had defeated Norway resulting in the death of her king but did not pass under Denmark and had rather remained under the charge of Fortinbras’s uncle, thereby making an invasion of Denmark by Norway imminent.

[3]While Hamlet decides to feign madness and plan a revenge on his uncle, he is also secretly unsure about the veracity of the ghost’s words and wants to confirm them. He was able to ascertain the guilt of Claudius using the play, ‘The Murder of Gonzago’.

[4]Hamlet complains that his mother remarried even before the sullenness of eyes had gone and the food for the funeral became the wedding feast. Gertrude’s marriage also made him doubt the female gender at large with him saying ‘Frailty, thy name is woman…’

[5]Claudius conspires with Laertes to use a poisoned sword during the duel so that Hamlet is killed. Laertes dies when the swords exchange hands and Hamlet attacks him with his own poisoned sword.

[6]The betrayal of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern was in sharp contrast to the devotedness of Horatio. While Hamlet initially welcomes them as his friends, upon discovering their true intentions and their treachery, he grows weary of them and pretends to be even madder.

[7]Hamlet manages to replace Claudius’s letter purporting to get him executed in England by a forgery that gets the two messengers executed.

[8]While Polonius advised his son Laertes to be ‘true to thine self’, he himself failed to practice what he preached.

[9]Polonius is killed by Hamlet in the closet scene where he was spying on the conversation between Hamlet and Gertrude and Hamlet mistakes him for Claudius. Upon discovering the true identity of the eavesdropper, Hamlet expresses his disgust for same, calling him a foolish knave.

[10]A similar example of faithfulness can be seen in the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio in ‘The Merchant of Venice’, where both friends are willing to risk everything for each other.

[11]Horatio asks Hamlet to be cautious stating that ‘what if the ghost leads him towards the flood’. He shows his utmost concern for his friend’s safety. Hamlet also trusts him completely and reveals his true intentions as well as the fact that his madness is fake only to Horatio.

A woman's worth

In the last couple of days, we have been bombarded with articles on destiny and also how the prior marital status of Ms Markle did not matter and she got married to a prince. On some points, these articles are aimed at giving hope to those women who have left behind unhappy relationships but they overall come out to mean that a woman's worth is determined by the man who decides to marry her.
A woman's worth is not determined by who she marries, rather it is determined by what life choices she makes. Her qualifications, her talents, the stand she takes on various social issues as well as in her own personal life are the determining factors. A woman is worth more than her wedding ring. She is an equal partner in a marriage. Her opinions and her preferences are equally important. She has equal rights and equal responsibilities in a relationship. It is not a fairytale where she is a damsel in distress needing knight to rescue her. She is the creator of her own destiny. So just demeaning her by saying that she got a 'good' husband irrespective of her past status is not the right approach. The right way to address is by saying she found an equal partner who acknowledged her worth. Because a woman is worth much more than her marital status.

Bullying

Ikea did an experiment with plants in a school where it asked school children to praise one plant and bully the other with both the plants being kept in identical conditions. At the end of the experiment, the praised plant was healthy while the bullied one was wilted. Though exactly how the words had an effect on the plant growth is uncertain, the experiment helped raised awareness about the effects of bullying on the well being of an individual. Whether its a child or an adult, nobody is immune from the effects of bullying on their mental well being which then translates into their academic or professional work. Bullying can have serious effect on the mental health of children with many growing up with low self esteem or failed careers and relationships and even ending up with mental ailments or even suicide. Raising awareness about bullying is very important especially in young children who learn by imitation. It's important to teach them to stand up against bullying and protect whoever is the victim. Raising awareness will not only help the victims but will also help the child who stands up in support.