One is hearing and reading about weather part of it for more than a decade. In some parts of planet it is directly being felt ,in others it may generate considerable heat due to some other pressures, such as, unexpected volcanic eruptions.
2) Average temperature of earth is likely to get an addition of more than 1.5 degree celcius above pre- industrial levels by 2030.It has already risen by .5 to 1 degree celcius. In some parts, however, one also experiences overall Cooling alebit ,for a short period.
According to latest input of Inter Govermental Panel on Climate Change, warming of surface of earth happens when Carbon Dioxide traps solar radiation in the atmosphere. In common parlance, this process is also known as Greenhouse Effect. It is caused by:
a)Burning of Fossil fuels,such as,Coal,Oil,Wood and Natural Gas.
Alternatives already being tried are Solar power of which Germany is the leader and India too is fast catching up,and oft repeated,several New & Renewable Sources of Energy,
b) High Emission levels in many sectors and countries,
c) Alarming rate of Deforestation,
d) Growing consumption of fertilizers containing nitrogen and
e) Indiscriminate release of Fluorinated Gas from Refrigerators, Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps.
3) No doubt earth’s temperature has risen @ .5 degree celcius per year but more worries may emerge in future. It is not only news or earlier prediction about melting of Himalayan Glaciers that is of concern ,it is melting of Ice Shelves and Ice Bergs lately in Antarctica as well .
Recent studies and findings indicate that Ice Bergs are not only found floating but these have begun cracking and falling as well. Resultantly in some parts of Antarctica ,there is addition of minus 38 degree of temperature .Undoubtedly, this could be considered Very Warm from existing parameters of the Continent.
March Heat Felt By Indians on Weather and Consumption Fronts
4) Back home, Northern India and most of NCR is already experiencing an early Heat Wave, with rise in maximum temperature by five degrees in one week from 35 degree celcius to 40 degrees and Minimum one hovering between 18 and 20 degree celcius.
5 ) Imagine this is happening despite the region recording its wettest winter in several decades,as per the finding of Delhi based Centre For Enviroment & Science.Five month period from 1st October 2021 to 22nd February 2022 was studied for this purpose.
Further ,as we are aware, Delhi recorded in all 217 mm of rainfall in 2021 Winter, nearly double of 114 mm in 2020 winter ,74 mm in 2019-20 and 86 mm in 2018 -19. Surprisingly ,however, Delhi also had 192 Good Air days but mostly had Air Quality Index in Very Poor and Severe categories during just concluded tough and severe winter. If situation like this continues for a Week to ten days, SEVERE HEAT WAVE ALERTS will Have To Be Issued as per the India Meteorological Department.
“Warming Up” Of Indian Consumer
6) Less said about Heat & warmth of average Indian consumer would be better.
For nearly 107 days during the Code of Conduct period of Assembly Election process in five states recently, no rise in prlces of POL products ,LPG ,PNG or CNG was announced. Now POL prices are being increased almost on a daily basis for twelve days. As a result, medicine and edible oil prices, food inflation and unemployment have also shot up beyond unthinkable limits.
7) A kind of laisse faire situation was prevailing in the market, ever since election results were announced on 10th March, but formal take over of new Governments was yet to take place.So fixed income earners are on tenterhooks.
Consumer’s Woes Across The Borders
8) Crossing nation’s boundaries,one is hearing of extreme heat on consumer front in Pakistan and Sri Lanka also apart from gradually being forgotten Afghanistan. While in Pakistan it may be attributable to present political uncertainty, in Sri Lanka both price rise coupled with scarcities of essential commodities are probably due to gradual exploitation and subjugation to the Chinese. Citizen led protests against ongoing economic crisis and short supply of Electricity have taken place outside the President’s residence for the first time in the history of the Island nation.
9) While the Chinese have compelled Lankans to toe their line subsequent to their failure in fulfilling certain agreed to conditions, India’s announcement of $ 1,000 Crore aid, is essentially aimed to bale out the Island nation from the current economic mess. But ethnic factor and interest inherent herein, should not be Ruled out.
10) As petty shopkeepers are ruling the roost, prior to dictating the terms, Should such a situation be allowed to continue ? We ,as vigilant consumers Need To Ask Ourself.
HEAT GENERATED BY ARMS
11) So to say, not always in demand Arms Bazar gets a chance to warm up mainly in war kind situation. It is undoubtedly getting heated up owing to year long tension and build up involving Russia and Ukraine. Subsequent to sizable loss of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan,USA and NATO allies have decided to play safe by promising and actually providing latest arms to Army under stress from a ” big” brother.However, when it comes to committing any manpower support, they simply back out.
Principal arms manufacturers,viz, USA(37% share),Russia( 20%), Israel, Germany, France and China come in this “league”. Incidentally and ironically, these are the same countries that talk of peace,human rights and what not ? They also ask, expect and cajole others for their own advantages.
12) A noted T.V. channel has, therefore, rightly opined that U.S.A., despite losing on many fronts, including recent embarrassment in Afghanistan, does not have any regrets.Rather,its a huge profit situation as interest of their arms and aviation industry has to be kept alive.
About the Author : Dr. Aaloc Srivastav, Ex CS , Sikkim is a Senior Retd Bureaucrat and passionate about writing on his favourite subjects . The views shared by the author are his personal.
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