Current Affairs Secondary School Level

Outline: Defining the term ‘Alcoholism.’ Cause of lcoholism. Theories of alcoholism – psychological and socio- cultural. Preventive measures. Defining alcoholism defers from culture to culture. However, alcoholism can be defined as an excessive consumption of alcohol, which in turn leads to    personal and social dis- functioning. Various health organizations all over the world have defined the dependency of alcohol as a physical dependency that leads to an increase ratio of consumption. A person who is severely dependent on alcohol is both psychologically and physiologically dependent and is suffering from the alcohol dependency syndrome. Unemployment among men is an important cause of alcoholism. Men may also drink to reduce exhaustion caused from their occupation. One may also use alcohol as a kind of aid to cope up with anxiety and tensions. Gradually, he may become alcoholic. Ignorance is another major factor that leads to alcoholism. Generally, there is a belief that consumption of alcohol provides vigour and vitality. Most men involved in heavy laborious jobs are always under the impression that alcohol supplies their physicality with which they can copy up with their laborious work. Individual's low level of tolerance and frustration, emotional immaturity, high level of anxiety and inherent nervous failings contribute to make him a drunkard. According to some scholars, the most likely reason for a person to drink lies in the psychological area. Unfavourable home environment, low family status and anti-social behaviour of elders can result to alcoholism in later stages of life. Addiction to alcohol can be considered as a partial suicide. However, there are certain physiological characteristics that appears common in a majority of alcoholises. They include low self-esteem, sense of isolation, guilt, over-dependency and incapability to express anger freely. Those who become alcoholic discover that consuming alcohol helps them to adjust successfully in their life. Individual's inability to face and struggle through unpleasant experiences compels him to use alcohol to escape from the reality. Consumption of alcohol and getting addicted to it can be prevented. Educating and spreading awareness among the young generation and the adults about the dangers of alcohol is the first step. Alcohol is the most accepted beverage in informal and formal occasions. Promoting non-alcoholic drinks can have comprehensive benefits Recreational activities can help youngsters to keep themselves away from alcohol not only by keeping physically busy but also by channelizing their mind into healthy hobbies. 

We live in a fast world...and have no time .. .not even to fulfill our basic need .. .Food. This is where fast food steps in. Fast food is any food that is quick, convenient, and usually inexpensive and typically refers to food sold in a restaurant and /or served to the customer in a packaged form for take away. It's cheap, convenient and often indulgently delicious. These foods are often sky-high in calories, saturated fat and sodium that can make us fatter, clog our arteries and send our blood pressure soaring. Not only does it feed and fill us quickly; there are scientific indications that it could end up killing us just as fast. Although fast-food restaurants are often viewed as a representation of modem technology, the concept of "ready-cooked food to go" is as old as cities themselves; unique variations are historical in various cultures. Ancient Romans had bread-and-olive stands; East Asian cultures feature noodles' shops. Flat-bread and falafel are ubiquitous in the Middle East. Popular Indian fast food delicacies include samosa, vada-pav, bhelpuri, papri chat and panipuri. In modem times, fast food has acquired a new face. Shops lined with colourful pictures of burgers, pizzas, fries, hotdogs and the likes pull one and all. One of the largest influences on children, teenagers and even adults is the eating of cookies, candy, chocolate, soft drinks, snack cakes, potato chips and so on. The marketing of these products has created a nutrition nightmare. It can't be any coincidence that ever since the popularity of fast food chains like Burger King, McDonalds and Wendy's gained that the average teenager is 9 to 18 kg heavier than they were 40 years ago. Obesity, today, has assumed epidemic proportions in the world. It's an epidemic that has grown side by side with the fast food industry. Various reasons can be attributed to the growth of this menace. If advertising has been vigorous, it is also because an average family was ready to fall prey to it. With both parents working, there has been lesser time to cook and sit down to a home meal. It makes sense to grab a quick bite outside and save time. Children, teenagers and professionals too find it hard to resist the temptation or fad that the marketing of these products has created. Yet, we need to wake up to the damage already caused. Forty years of fast food eating has finally caught up with us. The hypertension, sugar related problems, heart diseases, high cholesterol and obesity related problems have taken a toll on the health of mankind.. we have to find a way out and there is every reason to believe that there is a way out. Advertisements will never go away from television but if we make it "once in-a-while treat" instead of something regular, maybe that would help. If we would just take time to be more aware of what we eat and work at improving our eating habits, it will make a difference more...

The month of June came to an end without a drop of rain. There was an acute shortage of water. Crowds of people formed queues near public taps anxiously waiting to fill their pots with precious water. It was a hopeful sign when one day we saw the gathering clouds becoming darker and darker. Suddenly there was a gust accompanied by rain. The rain pelted down so vigorously that soon the drains were full and over-flowing. The low-lying areas were flooded, confining several families in their homes. In the streets one witnessed another sight. Pedestrians ran helter-skelter for safety and shelter. Those who anticipated rain were well armed with umbrellas and rain coats. As the rain poured, traffic slowed down and at certain places it almost came to a stand- still. Life in the city was disorganized, several trains were held up as the track lay under water, and almost all public vehicles ceased plying. In these conditions the plight of the people going to offices, students to schools and colleges, and businessmen to their working places, was pitiable. It was very difficult for them to reach their destinations. In spite of the gloom cast by the grey sky, there were some scenes of merriment. School-going children hailed the day with shouts of joy. It turned out to be a holiday, and scores of children were seen romping and wading knee-deep in puddles of water, playing at ducks and drakes, or splashing water at one another. There were some amusing scenes which sent the bystanders into roars of laughter. Some umbrellas were blown off, while others had their covering turned inside out. Someone sprawled on the slippery ground or tumbled in the miry pool. When the rain ceased after an incessant downpour of two or three days, the air was clean and the sky looked clear, temperature dropped, relieving the city of the sweltering heat which caused so much discomfort to the people.

Dussera! The most wonderful festival of all. When I think of it my heart fills with joy. It is celebrated in the memory of Lord Ram's victory over the evil Ravana. That is why it is also called 'Vijayadashmi’. On this day the good triumphed over the evil. This fact is symbolised in the burning of the effigies of Ravana and other demons on this day. Dussera is celebrated in October. This is the season of autumn when the weather is wonderful.  Everything in nature is bright and clean. The heat and the dust have been washed away by the rains. The cold winter is still away. In this beautiful period when it is neither hot nor cold, we celebrate our Dussera. The celebrations start about ten days before Vijayadashmi day. Different localities have their Ramlila shows for all these days. The whole 'Ramayana' is depicted on the stage for all these days. Amateur and professional teams participate in these shows. People assemble in thousands to see the Ramlila. There is great excitement all round. The actual performance is usually over- dramatic, exaggerated and informal, but it gives great joy to the people. In some cities processions are taken out. The city is marked into different zones. A day is allotted to each zone. The roads and streets are lighted and decorated. Loud-speakers are fitted at important points. Music is played. A procession of tableaux depicting different scenes from the Ramayana, other mythological or historical periods, is taken out. It is headed by a highly adornred elephant. On this elephant sit children made to look as Ram, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman. The people standing on both sides of the road have their Darshan', bow to them and throw flowers at them. Seeing the procession .is a marvellous experience. People wait patiently for hours to witness the procession. For children all this plus the different things sold there make it like a fair. They seem to move in a wonderland. There is something exciting for everybody. At home prayers are offered. Wonderful dishes are prepared. Children and ladies are showered with gifts. Parents are in a very liberal mood and grant all the wishes of the children. Celebration of Dussera festival is something which I always await eagerly.

In India we celebrate many festivals. Quite a few festivals are celebrated as per change in the seasons. Let us begin with the moth of January. The Makar Sankranti/Lohri festival is celebrated as a farewell to the winters. People burn cozy fires and eat delicious winter foods like Til-gud. In March we celebrate Holi. This is festival of colours. It is celebrated to welcome spring. On April 13th people in Punjab celebrate Baisakhi, the harvest festival. During this time the farmers cut their harvest and offer it to God. The dances like bhangra and giddha are also enjoyed. In August we celebrate 'Naryali Poomima'. In this festival fisher folks pray to the sea god so that they may have a safe ferry during the monsoon. Thus in India there are many festivals related to the seasons. These festivals are celebrated with vigour and vitality.

Children who participate in youth sports benefit in many ways. While some benefits are immediate and short term, others are not easily visible but will last a lifetime. The very first immediate benefit is that children learn the sport and become proficient in it. Children learn to socialize with not just their teammates but also their peers and adults. They gain self confidence, there is an increase in self esteem and the overall health and fitness of the child improves. They learn to take losses in their stride and victories give them a sense of achievement which serves to boost their self esteem. Team sports teach the youth how to be a part of the whole and how each one's contribution is vital to the overall performance of the team. They learn not just how to cooperate but also how to put aside their personal goals for the good of the team. They develop agility, endurance and strength. The important thing they learn is discipline which will stand them in good stead in later life. They learn to deal with a lot of emotions like anger, joy, disappointment and regret. You learn at a very young age that competition is really about the survival of the fittest. Exercise becomes a way of life and these athletes transform into adults devoted to fitness and health. Youth participation in sports is necessary because they are our future and it is important that we invest in our future.

Outline: Meaning and causes of teenage pregnancy. Socioeconomic factors. Childhood environment and studies. Teenage pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy in a young woman who has not reached her 20th birthday irrespective she is married. Such pregnancy is also among unmarried minors who become pregnant unintentionally. There are many causes of teenage pregnancy. In the Indian subcontinent, early marriage and pregnancy is more common in traditional rural societies compared to urban areas. In some societies, early marriages and traditional gender roles are central reasons in the rate of teenage pregnancy. For example, in some African countries, early pregnancy is often seen as a blessing. People living in this part of the world believe that pregnancy is the proof of the young woman's fertility. The lack of education on safe sex is another cause of teenage pregnancy. Many teenagers are not taught about methods of birth control. They are unaware of how to deal with peers who pressure them for sex before - they are ready. Large number of teenagers are not aware of the fact of sexuality. Some teens are persuaded to indulge in sex with their boyfriends, Unfortunately, they are not taught to deal with this pressure or to Say no. Teenage pregnancy has been defined predominantly within the research field and among social agencies as a social problem. Poverty has always accompanied the increasing rates of teenage pregnancy. Economically poor countries such as Bangladesh and Niger have far more teenage mothers compared to economically rich countries such as Germany, Japan and Switzerland. Women exposed to domestic violence and family abuses in childhood are more likely to become pregnant as teenagers. Thus, the risk of becoming pregnant as a teenager increases with the number of hostile childhood experiences. A study conducted showed that boys who were rose in homes with a maltreated mother, or who experienced physical violence directly, were significantly more likely to impregnate a girl. Studies | have also found that girls whose fathers left the family early in their lives had the highest rates of early adolescent pregnancy. On the other hand, girls whose fathers left them at a later age had a lower rate of early sexual activity. Lowest rates are found in girls whose fathers were present throughout their childhood. Many health educators have argued that comprehensive education related to safe sex would reduce the number of teenage pregnancies. However, challengers argue that such education may encourage more and earlier sexual activity leading to teenage pregnancy.

Alternate therapy means healing practices that differ from modern medicine as it is practiced in developed countries. Atypical definition would be "every available approach to healing that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine". Richard Dawkins, Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford, defines alternative medicine as a "...set of practices which cannot be tested, refuse to be tested, or consistently fail tests. If a healing technique is demonstrated to have curative properties in properly controlled trials, it ceases to be alternative. It simply.... becomes medicine." Alternate therapies may be based on unscientific belief systems or philosophies incorporating spiritual, metaphysical or religious underpinnings, untested practices, pro-modern medical traditions, or newly developed approaches to healing; but today, many people utilize mainstream medicine in conjunction with alternate therapy for diagnosis and healing as they believe alternate therapy to have health-enhancing measures; but no side-effects. In developing nations, access to essential medicines is severely restricted by lack of resources and poverty. Traditional remedies, often closely resembling or forming the basis for alternative remedies, may shape primary health care or be integrated into the health care system. The use of alternative medicine in developed countries also appears to be increasing. The basic philosophies of alternative therapy include: •   Prevention is the key to good health. •    Body has the ability to heal itself. •   Learning and healing go hand in hand. Alternative medicine practitioners see themselves as teachers and guides: individual himself does the healing. •   Holistic care. The focus is on treating you as a whole person. The Alternate therapies available can be placed in broad categories as follows: (1)   Healing systems - They are complete sets of theories and practices that center on a philosophy or lifestyle, such as the power of nature or the presence of energy in your body. Examples include: Ayurveda - originated in India more than 5,000 years ago, emphasizes a unique cure per individual circumstances and incorporates treatments including yoga, meditation, massage, diet and herbs. Homeopathy - uses minute doses of a substance that causes symptoms to stimulate the body's self-healing response. Naturopathy - focuses on noninvasive treatments to help your body do its own healing including massage, acupuncture, herbal remedies, exercise and lifestyle counselling. Ancient medicines- treatments include Chinese, Asian, Pacific Islander, American-Indian and Tibetan practices. (2)   Mind-body connections- techniques strengthening the communication and harmony between individual's mind and body for him to stay healthy. Examples: Meditation, Yoga, Biofeedback, Prayer, Hypnosis Relaxation and art therapies, like poetry, music and dance. (3) Dietary supplements and herbal remedies – they use ingredients found in nature. Examples: herbs like ginseng, ginkgo and Echinacea or dietary supplements like selenium, glucosamine sulfate and SAM-e. (4) Manipulation and touch These methods use human touch to move or manipulate a specific part of your body, including: Chiropractic and spinal manipulation, Massage, Osteopathy, craniosacral therapy and acupressure (5) Energy therapies They believe that an invisible energy force flows through the body, and when this energy flow is blocked or unbalanced more...

When the holy month of Ramzan comes, Idd is not gar behind. The word W brings to my mind visions of fine clothes and wonderful dishes fairs, fun and joy. The long days of Ramzan pass away easily with the eager wait for the coming Idd. Ramzan is a very important month for the Muslims. People try to lead a very pious life. They do not take anything, not even water, during the day. Smoking and drinking and entertainment etc. are given up. People try to have noble thoughts. 'Koran’ is read, prayers are offered and charity is practiced. The belief is, that a man shall earn as much 'good' as possible and free himself of base things and thoughts. This severe life of self denial comes to an end after a month. Ramzan is over. There is an eager wait for sighting the moon. When the moon is sighted, Idd begins. The world is full of the joyous cries of 'Idd Mubarak; Hectic activities start the next morning. People get up full of excitement. They bathe and get dressed in their best clothes. Alms are distributed. The poor and the needy are given things with open hearts. The beggar and the Mendicant, the needy family or the religious man — all share the charity of the people. In return the givers receive innumerable blessings Then comes something noble, grand and unique. Muslims all over the world, old and young, assemble in different mosques, and offers 'Namaz’ It is an impressive sight. The solemnity, the religious intensity and the deep faith make the whole thing very moving. After the prayer people embrace one another with. the words 'Idd Mubarak'. Now starts the fun part of Idd. The elders take the children to Idd fairs or the gaily decorated markets. They can have any toys, eat any of the delicacies in the market. Presents and gifts are also purchased for women folk at home The home is a changed place that day. It is cleaned and white-washed^ and decorated. The atmosphere is of joy and excitement. Wonderful dishes like Mussalam and Briyani and Mutayyan, with the inevitable Sevayyans are prepared, with loving care. Eating them with all the loved ones is great fun. Evenings are spent in visiting one another exchanging greetings. One starts wishing that every day in life should be Idd!

The season after winter is spring. In winter season, all the leaves wither. The trees become bare because of the cold. But, as spring arrives, there is beauty everywhere. The buds on twigs begin to bloom. New green leaves begin to grow. Flowers begin to blossom. Birds start to build their nest. Insects like honeybees and butterflies are seen fluttering. Flowers bloom in abundance. The entire land is a riot of colours. Roses, lily, daisy, pansy, marigold, and many more are in their best beauty,   Spring makes all happy. There is a bloom all around. The festival of Holi is also celebrated during spring. I enjoy filling my vase with the spring blossoms.