Category Archives: News to use

Useful news for all to advance knowledge of the world and how it works

Air pollution from palm oil deforestation is a human rights issue affecting everyone in Asia – Palm Oil Detectives

  • Indonesian and Malaysian laws since the 1997 haze event have not prevented local burning.
  • And penalising foreign companies for their actions in Indonesia and Malaysia has been hampered by cronyism and corruption, lack of awareness and education, weaknesses in the institutional framework and lack of political will.
  • Also, the penalties are too low to deter further pollution.
  • In recent years Indonesia’s environment ministry has brought more land- and forest-fire cases to court. Civil laws holding businesses accountable for the fires they cause have had some effect, according to a ministry report.

 

WHO Bulletin on Palm Oil: Air Pollution and Health

The ministry filed 21 cases between January 2015 and September 2020, and of these 10 were successful and 11 are still pending. Businesses have been ordered to pay compensation and restoration costs totalling almost US$1.38 billion.

Source: Air pollution from palm oil deforestation is a human rights issue affecting everyone in Asia – Palm Oil Detectives

To All the Ladies in the House! | From Behind the Pen

Yesterday, the celebration of Women’s History Month began. While I try to shed light on the accomplishments/achievements of women from many cultures throughout the year, instead of just celebrating people or cultures for a specified calendar-assigned timeframe, I must give a nod to women around the world who are making some great achievements throughout all sectors of society, no matter how great or small.

Oh and by the way, our mission has not changed. The 2024 National Women’s History Theme is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” Here’s a little musical serenade to ALL of you fabulous women around the world, as we continue to do what we have always done!

Image Credit: Chelsi Peter

Source: To All the Ladies in the House! | From Behind the Pen

अतिरिक्त / Extra  – Kaushal Kishore

 

मेरी भूख होती थी

केवल दो रोटियों की,

लेकिन मेरी माँ परोसती थी

हमेशा तीन रोटियाँ,

मुझे अधिक स्वादिष्ट लगता था 

वह अतिरिक्त रोटी खाना,

क्योंकि उसमें समाहित होता था

मां के अतिरिक्त स्नेह का सार…

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

My appetite was 

only for two rotis, 

but my mother always 

served three rotis, 

I found the extra roti 

more delicious to eat, 

coz it contained the essence 

of her extra affection…

*

–Kaushal Kishore 

Source: अतिरिक्त / Extra  – Kaushal Kishore