Information Overload

Who killed them? Is the information we are getting from media overloaded or negative impact on society? 

                 Source: EEnadu

• I do agree that we are going through the difficult and dangerous phase of the pandemic. It is important for everyone to take the utmost personal care (physical, mental health). And the information about the virus which causes the pandemic is very critical. 
• The information includes the structure of the virus, how it is contagious, symptoms, what are the safety measures need to follow without getting affected by this virus and so on. 
• It's been almost 4 months since the first case recorded in India but still, people don't know how to wear the mask, how to use the sanitizers, what is physical distancing, what is quarantine or isolation and surprisingly most of the people spending half of the day in front of the news channels, social media and newspapers. 
• If the media would have been doing a fine job certainly this won't be the situation in India right now.
• I know getting to know the statistics of the cases is important, the details of the hospitals being actively treating patients are important, the status of research which is undergoing to develop the vaccine is important and like this, the list of critical information goes on.

What we are getting 24/7 working media or newspaper?

• If we take the referenced article as a case study (though many people attempting suicides in fear of this deadly pandemic). The older couple from Hyderabad were gone through the news that affected people are mistreating or no hospital is admitting them. Clearly, they are misinterpreted or they have got misinformation or the information which create a negative impact on people mindset. 
• The information available online or media has both positive and negative consequences. And they are telecasting or publishing the same information to all the audience in a generalised way. I agree it is fine in regular days but right now we are in a dangerous situation apart from the virus.
• This virus not only affecting human health but also affecting the people to become inhuman or cruel. This kind of can let them harm others or themselves.
• In this situation, the media should work on the information which will give hope and has a positive impact on people of all ages. Even there are many ways of conveying the information even it is sensitive or bad news.
• In-depth details of the murder, rape or any crime which includes how one was tortured, how they were screamed and many more sensitive points may not be a necessity to discuss or publish. 

Suggestions

• Media should mind that the situation has been changed due to the lockdown and they have the audience of all ages starting from 0 years apart from their regular viewers. So they have to regulate or filter the information so that everyone can take it as information but not as an overload to their minds.
• They can interview recovered patients to give others the hope to recover (rather the political or Bollywood bullshit and useless debates).
• They can telecast or publish programs which will enhance audience mental/physical health especially students and elder people.
• They can telecast student-related, technological related or art-related programs over a longer period than the actual news.
• You're invited to add suggestions in the comments section

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A blog by Gnanasekhar Varma

Research Scholar

Photographer (Nature, Bird)

Follow me using the below link for more updates/Photography

https://www.instagram.com/gnanasekhar_varma/?hl=en

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - June 15

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (Photo Courtesy: Google Images)

What it is?

The UN (United Nations) designated World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed every year on June 15. 

Why it is for?

The purpose of any dedicated day is to remind/aware us about the most neglected and important matter that influence our lives and lifestyle. It may be the environment day/mothers day/ocean day and many. Likewise, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is the most important day designated to understand how elders are being abused, understanding human rights for older people.

What is Abuse? According to the definition from the dictionary, Abuse is something "to the use of something in a way that is wrong or harmful"

Agewell foundation

We may not aware that there are seven forms of abuse that elders may face. These are,

•  Physical abuse
•  Sexual abuse
•  Emotional or psychological abuse,
•  Neglect
•  Abandonment
•  Financial abuse
•  Self-neglect 

It is not surprising that the majority of the elders who have faced abuse at the hands of their own children and grandchildren and their family members, just because they are no longer deemed ‘useful’ or keeping them alive just to benefits from the government (Pensions).

Everyone should remember "oldage is theirs today and yours tomorrow". With the present technology, we are capable of going to the moon and other planets. But birth, disease, old-age and death are inevitable and one can not skip them in their lifetime. And we should remember that children in home good at mimic people around them because it is the learning process for them. If you ignore/abuse elders at home, next is your turn.

Older people face particular difficulties in the following key areas:

• Physical & Mental Health 
• Community Care
• Social Care 
• Housing 
• Transport 
• Employment 
• Income 
• Education And Leisure 
• Safety & Security 
• Utilities & Consumer Protection 
• Access to information and Decision-Making

Human Rights of Older People:

What are rights?

• Right to life shall be protected by law. 
• Right not to be subjected to inhuman treatment “No-one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. 
• Right to liberty “Everyone has the right to liberty and personal security.

Civil rights and obligations:

• The right to respect at home, within family and in private life
• The right to freedom of thought and conscience.
• The right not to be discriminated against age 
• The right to property - everyone is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions 
• The right to education

Report from the Times journalist" it has been seen that the main abusers are their own children... there is a law (Maintenance and Welfare of Senior Citizens Act, 2007) under which if children do not look after parents they can be jailed". So there is a legal tool that can be used by the elderly if the rights are violated. But they don't because their rights are taken away by their dear ones (personal observation).

What I am pointing here?

Certainly, there are many things which comes under the above stated 7 abuse types that we may not aware of. Because they seem little things for us but not for them.

Let's take the most general scenario: The Lockdown due to Corona Pandemic, most of us are staying/working from home. We may become an extra load for our parents. Because they are loving us and wanted to make our favourite dishes and recipes. In another way, people in-home may ask them to prepare their favourite recipes (earlier used to order online). I believe this comes under elder abuse.

Working official 8hrs in a day from home will not stop us helping parents/grandparents in daily household activities. Helping parents/grandparents in daily household activities or cooking will help to enrich our bond with them.

Image Source: Eenadu

We are in the age group of the '20s or '30s so definitely we are with our parents or grandparents who are aged around 50s or 60s who have completed all of their responsibilities (personal and professional). Still, it is not their job of looking after grandchildren/great-grandchildren unless it's their free will to do. We should learn how to balance work and family.

Note: Please note that this blog is not intended to offend anyone personally. And feedback will be appreciated.

Reference:

1. AGEWELL RESEARCH & ADVOCACY CENTRE (For Needs & Rights of Older people)
2. https://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/events/events/2020/06/2020-world-elder-abuse-awareness-day-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-abuse-and-neglect-of-older-people

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A blog by Gnanasekhar Varma

Research Scholar

Photographer (Nature, Bird)

Follow me using the below link for more updates/Photography

https://www.instagram.com/gnanasekhar_varma/?hl=en

World Environment Day 2020

World Environment Day 2020

    Photo Source: Gnanasekhar Varma

    Instagram: gnanasekhar_varma

What is Environment?

The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates. 

Why we are celebrating (Every Year)?

World Environment Day is held each year on June 5. The purpose is to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. 

Why are we celebrating every year? We celebrate our birthdays every year; it is a process of appreciation of our accomplishments (or responsibilities) and hoping for the betterment in further. It is similar to that; we should celebrate a dedicated day for some particular persons, things, system because statistics say that there are: 360,000 births per day. 151,600 people die (now it is more because of the Covid19 pandemic). I am sure that this day is new for many kids and elders who may have forgotten.    

What do we want?

All the species in the world wants to live in an excellent environment, and the environment includes all the living and non-living things (land, air, water, human, animals, etc.). We the human also wants to live in a friendly and pure environment. Still, the pure/pleasant environment is possible only if we respect other fellow fellows in the same environment. As a family, the family will be happier and prosperous only if all the family members are collectively loving and supportive.

But these days it is nearly impossible to live together as a family, and the reasons are many that we know already. We can not even survive as a family (of say 10) in the same home then. How can we expect to live peacefully with other fellows in an environment with 8.7 million diverse species (living and non-living)? We can not.

I will tell you the case study of breaking the law: Now the population has increased rapidly, and we lost most natural habitats. So usually, we will plan a family trip to leftover natural habitats popular with names national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. If not possible, any nearby forest sites. So, we need food, shelter to survive there. So we will pack everything mostly in single-use plastic bags because while return we want to come with less luggage if we have toddlers, single-use diapers (most observed wastage by me). So finally, our trip ends successfully, but the place we visited is no longer a natural habitat because we don't have common sense, gratitude, and this goes on we are searching for the fresh one again. I am not mentioning the consequences of plastic here because we have a better idea. There are many cases like these includes industries and their wastage, projects, etc.

   Photo source: Google Images

Why are we are running behind?

Whatever the knowledge we are getting is mainly through education and our government included environmental studies, tours to nearby natural habitats(with care) in the academics start from the schools. But I can say from my personal experience; it is the most neglected subject I ever had gone through. We are interested in competitive studies rather than studies which uplift our healthy lifestyle, which gives personality, at least common sense.

Kids become adults, citizens, and senior citizens. If they don't learn things in their studies or from elders, they can not learn forever. If we don't know how to preserve our environment, we will be a burden to nature, and it will eliminate us, but mind it, nature's curse is not selective. It will kill all (we are experiencing now).

What do we need to do?

Nothing new; we have to wait for the following environment day. Getting to know our faults solves 60% of the problem. 
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A blog by Gnanasekhar Kamparaju

Visual Storyteller, Photographer (Nature, Bird), Research Scholar
https://www.instagram.com/gnanasekhar_varma/?hl=en

Forcing a child to talk on the phone, is it good or bad ?

Well....socialising in the society, family and relatives are important and it is essential to acquire knowledge and to know about trends. But it depends on your child age and mental condition. If he is less than 5 years old, there is no use in scolding or forcing him to take calls from other family members. Of course, their grandma, grandpa or whoever are loving the child and feels happy to see them talking. 

But just think in the view of the child if he is 2 or 3 years old....his perception is limited he doesn't care about others who are not around him at that instant. Sometimes even they can't remember the things and persons. But they can remember the people who are very close or other kids of same age group with whom they used to play like mother or neighbours kids. But speaking on phone calls depends on his current mood also, if the people on the other side are good at singing, storytelling, and so on they may get attention. Usually, for regular talk like...."hey kid, see here I am your uncle, speak to me! do a flip for me! do something crazy" simply they will ignore. One thing we have to understand is 2year old kids do not have any business with people living far from him unless they get fun from them. 

Then what we should do?

• There is nothing wrong in showing funny photos, videos recordings of your relatives and letting them to familiar their face, names gradually. 
• Ask your relatives to play game, music or stories with toys (if it is video call) they will get attention.
• Wait for the right moment when your kid is in a good mood to speak to others. Or show them funny phone conversation of kids with others in youtube or any.
• Other best way is making our relatives or grandparents happy by sending your child funny video recordings, photos, audios (you may have plenty of them in your mobile). 
• Ask them to visit home frequently and play with him.
• If you're worried about your relatives or their grandparents. Smoothly educate them by describing the above-mentioned things. 

What we should not do?

• This is important to note every parent. As mentioned earlier 2year old kid doesn't have any business with people who are far from him and also shouting with big voice or scolding them for not taking calls (especially kids who are under age) comes under child harassment and child-abusing. Because they are not in s stage to understand the reason behind your anger. Simply it will create a gap between you and your child.
• Do not hesitate to educate your elders (even your parents). Because there is always a generation gap between us and our parents. And they give will educate us to know things through us which they did not learn at that time.