We all keep hearing that the world is drowning in plastic. Some of us know that it stands true even in the literal sense where our air, land and water are severely polluted and contaminated with macro, micro and nano-plastics.
On 26 May 2023, the news was abuzz with a one of a kind weather forecast which predicted that Paris would be showered with about 50 kilograms of microplastics starting the following Monda
The acronym ‘GPT’, popularised by ChatGPT, is a widely used term nowadays in the context of an ‘ask me anything’ invitation - an AI algorithm which can clear bar exams, write your resumes, create music, do your homework, etc. But there is another GPT which you ought to know, as terrestrial beings wading your daily lives through a sea of plastic (literally and metaphorically). GPT stands for Global Plastics Treaty, a historic endeavour which aims to create an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
The Indian Environmental Protection Act, 1986, states that the term ‘environment’ includes water, air and land and the inter-relationship which exists among and between water, air and land, and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property. The word ‘inter-relationship’ plays a key role in our understanding of the environment.
In light of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives’ (GAIA) Zero Waste Month observed in January, Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG) in collaboration with Justice Basheer Ahmed Syed (JBAS) College, Chennai conducted an event ‘Zero Waste Beginnings’. The event was aimed at college students, to help build an awareness of zero waste lifestyles and understand the overwhelming menace of solid waste, especially plastic waste.
The results of CAG's 2022 plastic brand audit are in! Find out who all have received the dubious distinction of making it to the Top 10! The brand audit is a citizen-science initiative anchored by #BreakFreeFromPlastic where plastic waste is gathered and audited to reveal those brands and manufacturers whose plastic packaging we found the most of.
COP27 was a much-awaited climate summit as vulnerable developing countries and low-and middle-income countries were expecting definitive action to be taken in light of the growing visible impacts of climate change. Up until this year, COPs had a reputation of unkept promises and ambitions. But after the devastating impacts of climate change in the form of extreme weather events, the planet was awaiting real action by world leaders. COP27 was nicknamed the ‘implementation COP’ since the promises and expectations of yesteryear’s COPs were pending action.
‘Pop culture’ otherwise known as popular culture refers to the mainstream cultural elements of people’s lives at a given point in time. It is often driven by the West and can include any popular and ‘in vogue’ music, fashion, art, television and movies, food habits, physical wellness and even relationships. Pop culture can also be called consumer culture since it reflects people’s and society’s lifestyle choices as a consumer and is often associated with trends of mass consumption.
Social contract theory suggests that people enter into an unwritten contract with the ruler (government) to be protected and served with the basic necessities of life in exchange for which the peoples acknowledge and recognize the legitimacy of the ruler’s sovereign authority. Be it a monarchy, democracy, or any other form of government, the most fundamental duty of the State is to fulfil its people’s basic needs to lead a life with dignity and protect them against injustice.
