Biology with Atta Ul Ahsan

Lotus Roots (کنول کے پھول کی جڑیں)

English Name: Lotus Root
Scientific Name: Nelumbo nucifera

Regional Names in Pakistan:

Pashto: برسنڈے

Punjabi/Saraiki/Sindhi: بھی / بھے

کنول کی جڑوں کے فوائد اور استعمالات

کنول کی جڑیں، جو قدرتی غذائیت سے بھرپور ہوتی ہیں، پاکستان کے مختلف خطوں میں کھانے، صحت اور روایتی ادویات میں استعمال کی جاتی ہیں۔

استعمالات:

سبزیوں کے سالن میں کنول کی جڑ کو آلو اور بھنڈی کے ساتھ پکایا جاتا ہے۔

اچار بنانے کے لیے یہ جڑ مقبول ہے، خاص طور پر پنجاب اور سندھ میں۔

سوپ اور اسٹر فرائی میں کنول کی جڑ غذائیت اور ذائقہ بڑھاتی ہے۔

طبی فوائد:

1. نظامِ انہضام کے لیے مفید: فائبر کی موجودگی قبض اور دیگر ہاضمے کے مسائل دور کرنے میں مدد دیتی ہے۔

2. بلڈ پریشر میں کمی: اس میں موجود پوٹاشیئم دل اور بلڈ پریشر کو بہتر رکھنے میں معاون ہے۔

3. مدافعتی نظام کی بہتری: وٹامن سی قوتِ مدافعت کو مضبوط کرتا ہے۔

4. خون کی صفائی: یہ جڑ جسم سے زہریلے مادوں کو خارج کرنے میں مددگار ہے۔

5. وزن کم کرنے میں مددگار: کم کیلوریز اور زیادہ فائبر کی بدولت وزن کم کرنے کے لیے بہترین غذا ہے۔

خوبصورتی کے لیے استعمال:

اینٹی آکسیڈنٹس سے بھرپور ہونے کی وجہ سے جلد کو جوان اور بالوں کو صحت مند رکھتی ہے۔

کنول کی جڑیں صحت کے لیے قدرت کا انمول تحفہ ہیں۔ اسے اپنے کھانوں کا حصہ بنائیں اور صحت مند زندگی کا لطف اٹھائیں!

#صحت #فطرت

Developing countries and emerging economies, minus China, would need around $2.4 trillion annually by 2030 to invest in climate change and nature.

(Independent Expert Group on Climate Finance)

According to the Intergovern­mental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, some 3.6 billion people, almost half the global population, are highly vulnerable to climate change.

1. Resting Membrane Potential (Nerve Cells): -70 millivolts (mV) to -90 mV

2. Action Potential (Nerve and Muscle Cells): +30 mV during action potential

3. Electrocardiogram (Heart): 1 millivolt (mV) range

4. Electrical Sensitivity of the Body: The human body is sensitive to external voltages and electrical currents. Small amounts of external current (in the milliampere range) can be detected and cause discomfort or muscle contractions. Higher voltages can cause harm or even be fatal

The Global Food System: Challenges and Solutions

The global food system is facing significant challenges , with climate change and non-climate stressors putting pressure on its ability to sustain the growing population and support livelihoods. Currently, around _821 million people suffer from undernourishment_ , _151 million children under five are stunted_ , _613 million women and girls aged 15 to 49 have iron deficiency_ , and _2 billion adults are overweight or obese_ .

The food system directly employs _1.23 billion people worldwide_ , with _over 3.83 billion people relying on it for their livelihoods_ . However, the system is far from meeting the " *triple challenge* " of ensuring _food security_ and _nutrition_ , _supporting livelihood_ s, and doing so in an environmentally sustainable way.

*Nuclear techniques* can help understand climate change and explore solutions. The *nitrogen-15* isotopic technique can determine the origin of _nitrous oxide_ and strategies to minimize its emission. Analyzing *carbon-13* signatures in soils alongside fallout radionuclides can identify sources of _land degradation_ in agricultural landscapes, enabling the management of soil erosion and the assessment of crop residues' contribution to soil fertility and resilience.

To *transform the global food system* , we need to repurpose the _$700 billion in annual support_ to implement environmentally friendly policies, incentivize climate-smart agriculture, and promote the use of data and digital technology. Partnerships, programs, and capacities that span the entire food system, from production to consumption, are essential to overcome the challenges and make the system more sustainable.

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va8zkl5KbYMUYPlv5G0O/147

*Current Air Pollution Levels in Pakistan:*

As of today, February 18, 2024, the average PM2.5 concentration in Pakistan is 5.8 times above the WHO's recommended limit. This puts the overall air quality in the "unhealthy" category.
Peshawar: Currently experiencing the worst air quality with an AQI of 174 ("unhealthy").
Karachi: Not far behind with an AQI of 160 ("unhealthy").
Islamabad: Sitting at an AQI of 275 ("very unhealthy").
Lahore: Recording an AQI of 146 ("unhealthy for sensitive groups").

*Air pollution levels in Pakistan in the last 25 years?*

The overall picture is mixed, with some improvements and concerning setbacks:
Nationally: There are signs of slight improvement in average PM2.5 levels between 2018 and 2019, dropping from 74.27 μg/m³ to 65.81 μg/m³. However, this still places Pakistan second in the world for air pollution, well within the "unhealthy" category.

City-specific: Some cities like Lahore and Faisalabad have shown encouraging reductions in PM2.5 levels. Lahore, for example, saw a significant drop from 133.2 μg/m³ in 2017 to 89.5 μg/m³ in 2019. However, other major cities like Karachi experienced worsening air quality during the same period.

*How many people have been estimated to die annually from PM2.5 in Pakistan?*
State of Global Air 2019: This report estimated nearly 64,000 deaths attributable to ambient PM2.5 exposure in Pakistan for the year 2017.
Global Alliance on Health and Pollution: They estimate 128,000 annual deaths linked to air pollution-related illnesses, which likely includes both PM2.5 and other pollutants.
World Bank report, "Cleaning Pakistan's Air": This report focuses on urban air pollution and cites more than 20,000 premature deaths among adults attributed to PM2.5 exposure each year.

Despite the increase in the absolute number of voters, the turnout dipped from 52.1 percent in 2018 to 47.6 percent in 2024, primarily due to an increase in the number of registered voters from 106 million in 2018 to 128.6 million in 2024 following a record addition of 22.6 million between the two elections.
FAFEN

What is a Minority Government?

A minority government arises in a parliamentary system when the governing party or coalition doesn't hold a majority of seats in the legislature. This means they lack the power to pass legislation on their own and require support from other parties or independent members.

Key point: No single party has enough votes to guarantee control.

This can happen in two ways:
A. Hung Parliament: No single party gets a majority of seats in an election.

B. Minority Coalition: Two or more smaller parties form a government despite not having a combined majority.

Key Characteristics:
1. Negotiation & compromise: Minority governments need to negotiate and compromise with other parties to pass legislation, leading to potential for more consensus-driven policies.
2. Instability & uncertainty: Their dependence on other parties makes them inherently less stable and prone to early elections if support is withdrawn.
3. Focus on moderate policies: To garner broader support, minority governments often focus on moderate policies appealing to various groups.

Examples of Minority Governments:

Global:
1. Canada: The current Liberal government is a minority, relying on support from the New Democratic Party.
2. Spain: The current Socialist Party government is in a minority, requiring support from other left-wing parties.
3. Denmark: The current Social Democratic government is in a minority, relying on support from the Red-Green Alliance and other parties.

Historical:
1. Sweden: The Social Democrats governed as a minority for 32 years between 1982 and 2014.
2. India: The Bharatiya Janata Party formed a minority government in 1996, leading to early elections.
3. United Kingdom: The Labour Party governed as a minority for the first two years of Tony Blair's premiership (1997-2001).

The 1960s weren't just about bell-bottoms and flower power; they were also a pivotal decade for environmental awareness and activism. Following points highlight this shift:

1. Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" (1962): This groundbreaking book exposed the devastating effects of pesticides like DDT on bird populations and the wider ecosystem. It sparked a public outcry against harmful chemicals and laid the groundwork for the modern environmental movement.

2. The Cuyahoga River Fire (1969): This iconic event, where an oil slick on the heavily polluted Cuyahoga River caught fire, became a powerful symbol of industrial waste and environmental degradation. It served as a wake-up call for stricter environmental regulations and sparked the Clean Water Act of 1972.

3. The "Man and His Environment" Conference (1969): This international conference, held just months before the Cuyahoga River fire, brought together scientists, policymakers, and activists from around the world to discuss pressing environmental issues. It marked a growing global recognition of the need for collaborative action on environmental protection.

4. "The Tragedy of the Commons" by Garrett Hardin (1968): This influential essay highlighted the dangers of "commons" resources, like air and water, being left unregulated. It warned that individual self-interest could lead to the overuse and depletion of these shared resources, ultimately harming everyone.

These events, along with many others throughout the 1960s, contributed to a surge in environmental consciousness and activism. People began to demand cleaner air and water, protection of endangered species, and more responsible use of natural resources. The decade saw the rise of influential environmental groups like Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, and the beginnings of major environmental legislation like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Clean Air Act.

The 1960s may not have solved all our environmental problems, but they marked a turning point in how we understood our relationship with the planet. The seeds of awareness sown then continue to influence our environmental policies and actions today.

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Time, once wasted, cannot be recycled—it's an irreplaceable resource.