Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Space Exploration

Hi all,
I am back at home for the extended weekend and it feels great. Before i carry on, a happy Ugadi to one and all!

I always wanted to discuss this topic…space exploration(SE).Is it really necessary?. So i thought it would be good if i could raise this topic in this space and elicit views of the Wiproites.

The case FOR SE is pretty simple and straight forward. SE(unfortunately) represents a country’s prowess in scientific advancement. It has, over the years, come to indicate a country’s clout in the international arena. Moreover, proponents of SE, claim that many aerospace technologies are spin offs from the research time and money spent on SE.

The case AGAINST SE is as follows. We all know how much countries around the world spend on SE. The expenses of preparing the basic infrastructure for SE is humongous to say the least. Then there is the cost of the space vehicle and not to mention to the high tech gadgetry inside it that transmits back data to the ground centre, the fat pay cheques for the scientist and technical staff working there.
The other thing about SE is that it tends to be impractical. We all know that other than the earth there is no planet that is hospitable for human existence. No planet has the right set of “ingriedients” for humans to reside in it. So what the probes we sent to mars managed to find water in it. Mars’s atmosphere still doesnt have the right composition for humans to live in. Then how about the soil..who is going to make it cultivatible.

Last but not least, the planet that we are all living in can accomodate all of us. I read somewhere that we can fit into a texas in groups(read families) of 4 with a dwelling and a garden for each group. So there is enough space for everyone and there can be(with proper policies) enough food and opportunities for each and everyone of us.

I have intentionally not stated my position in detail here so that it will not influence you people. I hope to have a debate on this issue. Waiting for your comments and replies

Monday, March 16, 2009

Catch 22 Situation

Hi bloggers,

Is child labour really being tackled in our country…is there a concious effort to eradicate that scourge from this land…i doubt it…let me narrate my experiences….

I am currently staying in a paying guest accomodation just opposite to Electronic City phase 2. There is a popular hotel in the main road(i don’t wish to name this hotel…ppl from blore must have at least seen it, if not gone into it) which employs child labour in the form of cleaners. I was appalled at this sight and one of my friends even asked the boy how old he was and the reply was a big big lie….”i am 18“….we only could laught it away…but that incident lingered in my mind long enough for me to write about it today…

One of my friend justified the boy working there saying that if he didnt work there, probably he would die of hunger…then what about schooling i asked and as u would have guessed all i got was giggles…the boy was too poor to go to school or even if he could afford it there were some other compelling domestic reasons to abandon school and start working at this rather tender age.

This is not the only place where i have witnessed child labour…and i am sure there have been other places you would have bore witness to the same…why is it that even after 6 decades of independence, we are not able to put our kids into schools….why is that we tend to turn a blind eye to work places that employ children…why is our noon meal scheme not working…what happened to the free textbooks schemes, free uniform and the list goes on and on….

I am sure as an individual i cant make much of a change…may be i could stop frequenting that hotel…and if a number of us decide to do the same then the boy will probably get fired as a result of the hotel closing[bcos the place is surviving bcos of ppl like me…:(]…a perfect catch 22 situation….