What is Killing Mother Earth?
All this talk about green living and being ecologically considerate is no longer a stranger to us. Everywhere we go, people are telling us to live a greener life with No Plastic Bag Day, Earth Hour and recycling bags. So, the big question now is: How did we even get ourselves here? How did we land ourselves in a situation where awareness to our depleting earth is necessary?
On this World Earth Day, let us remind ourselves what exactly is killing Mother Earth and how we are involved in the slow but sure deterioration of what we call our home.
1. Rising global temperature
The weather has been a little chaotic these days, don’t you think? With winter extended into spring and raining when it is supposed to be humid, it has slowly become unpredictable and out of its usual order. Not only is the weather a mess, it is also increasingly hotter than normal which is causing the rise of the temperature of the sea and the melting of glaciers. The cause of this is prior to many reasons like the higher amount of air-conditioning usage, increased release of carbon gases and logging – all the general necessities in developing a modern environment. In addition to the rise of temperature, many marine creatures are affected by it and dying from even the slightest, most minute change in water temperature like the magnificent coral reefs and the colourful fishes. Our ecology runs in a balance and if one falls, it all boils down to the survivor of the fittest and most adaptable.
What we can do to help: Switch air-conditioning off when not in use or minimize usage with a timer. Another thing we can practice is knowing what we want before opening the fridge.
2. Air pollution
Another crucial environmental issue is air pollution and some countries are facing some of the worst pollution in recorded history like Beijing, China. Not only does air pollution pose some respiratory health threats to us, it also poses a threat to Mother Earth as the release of carbon gases is one of the main contributors to global warming. How can we help reduce air pollution? Well, there is little we can do about it as some of the factors are beyond us and inevitable in the development of an established country but there is one thing we can all make a collaborative effort to do: car pooling. The increase of cars on the road is not only causing us a stressful journey of traffic, it is also terribly bad for the quality of our air.
What we can do to help: Car-pool! Let’s make a conscious effort to pick up our friends on the way because hey, it is a great time for bonding too!
3. Logging and cutting down of trees
Do you remember going to the zoo and enjoying the sights and sounds of tigers, monkeys and exotic birds? Don’t you just want to share this luxury with your kids and show them what amazing creatures live among us? I most definitely do; but, the problem is that we are not sure how long we can keep their natural habitat in tact if we keep exploiting their lands for our benefit. It is a selfish act for us to continuously develop multi-story buildings and residential areas for our own investment. Sure, it is not wrong but is it necessary? Has it ever occurred to you that the boon is also our bane? With less trees our land is barren and exposed to more sunlight and many disasters like landslide can occur; plus, our air is not naturally circulated hence, air pollution. Besides the building of infrastructure, we are all aware that paper comes from trees and again, this is another inevitable fact of our modern society that we simply cannot eradicate but learn to curb it.
What we can do to help: As for logging, it is beyond our control to have a say in it but we sure can recycle our paper! Besides recycling, we can also minimize the usage through using soft copy via our electronic devices.
It is not fiction that our world is dying, the reality is among us and we are a part of it whether we care or not; so, let’s make a collaborative effort to conserve our earth before the creatures of the earth only becomes a picture book to our future generations. Let’s be wise with our decisions and remember that a little goes a very, very long way!
Image: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ by http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingsinger/ Flying Singer
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Step Up Your Health With Zumba Fitness-Party
Let’s admit it; every woman would love to stay in shape but we all know that exercising can become quite a chore. We jog, we skip, we crunch – it all can get quite monotonous at some point unless your determination is as solid as your dream abs.
Here’s some good news for all you ladies out there: there is always an alternative! Created by Grammy award winning producers, Zumba is a Latin-inspired fitness-party that is an amazing way to keep fit and stay healthy while having a ball.
So, what exactly are the benefits of Zumba?
Burns lots of calories
Like every workout, all we want is to burn some calories but with Zumba, you are guaranteed a huge amount of calorie burn with all the dancing you are going to do. The best part is that you won’t feel like you are exerting a lot of energy from all the fun you are having just dancing to the beat!
Totally tones your body
If you are looking for a workout that doesn’t only focus on a single part of your body, then Zumba is definitely for you. Because it is ultimately dancing, you are required to use of your entire body; hence, a total body toning!
Highly addictive
Zumba is said to be highly addictive and with its upbeat tempo and fun atmosphere, it really keeps you begging for more! With an exercise that you are certain you will enjoy, it’s no longer a dreaded regime – it’s a party!
Suitable for All Ages
If you feel like you are too old to dance, Zumba doesn’t think so! It is suitable for all ages as the dances are nothing too vigorous. They even have a program for kids called Zumbatonic for children aged 4-12 years old. Sounds like a great family activity right there!
Improves Your Body Awareness
Like all form of dance, it helps you realize that you can move more than one part of your body at the same time – it’s all about coordination. With Zumba, it will allow you to be more aware of the movement of your body and learn to use every part of it.
Increases Happiness
They say that exercising helps in the release of dopamine and serotonin, which is indeed a fact. However, given the fact that dancing and socializing is bundled into this package, you are bound to not only meet new people and gain new experiences but you will most definitely release all your stress with each step.
With such a tantalizing fitness-party around, it is difficult to refuse. So, no more excuses, ladies! In conjunction with World Health Day, let’s get your sports attire on and let’s Zumba our way to a fitter and healthier you!
Image: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ by http://www.flickr.com/photos/anujraj/ Anujraj
5 Ways to Learn Self-Defense
5 Ways to Learn Self-Defense
We are currently living in an era where danger lurks even when the sun is high and bright – every stranger that looms in the corner poses a threat to us and the worst part is that it is not enough to just be careful. It is crucial that you keep your guard up and be very aware and realistic of every possible situation because someday, you might just be the “other people” we all refer to when bad things happen.
Here are 5 ways you can defend yourself, just in case:
1. Fight them!
Albeit being the more conventional and probably slightly more time consuming method than just running away, learning martial arts be it Muay Thai, kick-boxing or Taekwondo will greatly help in keeping you calm and confident in a given situation as well as building your defense mechanism and body reflex. You can now be a little less paranoid about walking around alone!
2. Spray them!
Pepper spray, pepper spray, pepper spray! Our moms have always told us to carry them with us at ALL times and it’s for a good reason. In case of emergency and lack of physical strength or agility, just whip out your pepper spray and spray like there’s no tomorrow. Then run.
3. Watch them!
You may not know who is after you or if anybody is after you at all but there is no harm to keep a watch out for anybody who looks seemingly suspicious. Always be alert about your surroundings especially in quiet car parks. Just keep looking around and behind you and walk really quickly. No predator likes a knowing prey!
4. Escape them!
It might sound pretty paranoid to be thinking of a potential contingency plan and knowing your escape routes if any malevolence should fall on you but do know that it will be highly resourceful if you prepared one. Just in case such a situation should happen, you know roughly what to do and where to run to – it will also help you think better and see things a little clearer. So, be prepared!
5. Kick them!
You know what I’m talking about and you know where I’m talking about. If all else fails, just kick them, run as fast as you can and call for help. Your life is more valuable than anything else so if you must, drop whatever you’re carrying and hold on to dear life.
It is no longer a safe society to live in and although it is rather inappropriate to jump to conclusions that everyone has an intention to harm you but it is an inevitable truth that anything could happen to you. So, don’t let your guards down and remember to stay very alert. Take care!
Image: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/ by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/ laradanielle
What is Tuberculosis?
What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
Tuberculosis is a relatively fatal disease that has garnered very little attention over the years and many people are still unaware of what it really is and just how lethal it can become if untreated. In conjunction with World Tuberculosis Day, let’s look into Tuberculosis and get to know it a little better:
1. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease
Caused by a strain of bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, TB commonly attacks the pulmonary regions such as the lungs but it could also infect other areas of the body as well. This disease is considered contagious – transmitted through droplets from an infected person’s cough. However, direct contact with said person’s saliva such as from sharing a drink or even kissing will not transmit the disease – it has to come from the lungs or throat.
2. Chronic coughing is a sign of TB
Like many diseases which involve the lungs, coughing profusely for a long period of time is a good indicator that something is amiss in your lungs. For TB, it usually includes blood-tinged sputum as well as weight loss and fever in the ball of symptoms. They may all sound like regular illness that can be treated with over-the-counter medicine, but let’s not take things for granted!
3. Tuberculosis is fatal if gone untreated
It is known to be one of the world’s top infectious diseases that occur primarily on the low to middle-income countries. Prior to the fact that its symptoms seem somewhat unsuspecting, people tend to brush it off. It is important to take heed when your cough is ongoing for at least 3 weeks before it is too late!
4. Higher risks for low immunity
It is only logical that if your immune system is not in mint condition, diseases attack your body a lot easier. In this context, if you had TB before, it is important to be aware of your body as it can reoccur if you are not careful or was not treated properly previously. On top of that, regular alcohol consumption as well as drugs can weaken your immunity and many health problems may arise along with TB. So, do value your body while it is still healthy.
5. Tuberculosis is preventable and curable
Early diagnosis and early treatment is always the way to go with any form of diseases and TB is no exception. One way for early prevention is to take the BCG Vaccine in your teens and if you do have TB, medication will be necessary for at least 2 months because the mycobacteria are not only slow to grow but also slow to die. Nevertheless, this is no dead end!
I hope everyone is a little more aware that TB should be taken more seriously and I hope this raises an awareness of what it is all about and why you should take precautions. Your health is your wealth and your body isn’t going anywhere; so, take good care of it – eat healthy, stay healthy!
Image: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ by http://www.flickr.com/photos/microbeworld/ Microbe World
Appreciating Women: 4 Reasons Why We Need Them
Women – said to be one of the most complicated creatures on the face of the earth and men just cannot seem to understand us most of the time. They have their occasional hormonal days of bouts of anger and their days of uncontrollable tears yet the world cannot continue spinning if they have been eradicated. Women play such a vital role in our lives yet sometimes can be overlooked.
Let’s remind ourselves why they are important to us with these 4 main reasons:
1. The gift of life
Of course, the most important role of a woman is indeed childbirth. Without the womb of our mothers, there will be no you and I. Think about it, when you feel a discomfort in your abdominal region, the pain can sometimes be so painful that we see our life flash before us – now multiply that by 100 and we get childbirth. It amazes me how they go through this immense amount of pain just to bring new life to this world. Not forgetting the sacrifices of a svelte body, eating habits and lifestyle post-pregnancy. And yet, they will tell you it is all worth it. Bravo!
2. The gift of emotions
For the most part, women is usually said to be the more sensitive of the sexes and bring forth the emotional aspect in a relationship. Although it may not seem like it is necessary for their incessant paranoia and constant worrying, take a step back and look at it this way: it is an outlet of expression not just of their caring nature but also a way of protection. Without them looking out for us and showing us love in a softer manner, our lives will probably not be as balanced. So before we jump to the conclusion that they are overreacting, let’s remember that women tend to think a lot further and it’s not for bad intentions.
3. The gift of intuition
You know what they say about a women’s intuition being right all the time? Sometimes, I do believe it is true. Women tend to have a stronger sense of other people’s emotion and somehow they just know it when something is wrong. Like our mothers, they always know just what to say and do when we are at our most vulnerable state. They will always be listening to us and tapping into our emotional system when we need it most and give detailed explanations and advices. They are the more empathetic gender of the lot and somehow, it is in their nature to listen and understand the emotional rollercoaster that all humans are bound to face. And that is the beauty of women.
4. The gift of balance
Women and men are said to be from Mars and Venus – both from completely different worlds and are placed together to live in harmony. Without women, our lives are probably going to be oddly lop-sided and we are going to find it difficult to strike a balance between logic and emotion. Women help us realize that it is okay to delve into our emotional state once in a while and be at peace with it while men help us to think with our heads. It is a necessary balance in our lives and women contribute a huge part in keeping our lives in check.
In accordance to Women’s Day, this goes out to all the women out there. These are a women’s strength and it’s time we take it into account and appreciate what it has done in our lives for the better. Cheers!
Image: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ by Kneel Center, Cornell University http://www.flickr.com/photos/kheelcenter/