Current Affairs Secondary School Level

Religion is an important part of our culture and also forms the fabric of our existence, hence, it should be an important part of our education as well. It is impossible to separate our personality and our      spirituality. Our spirituality is what makes us who we are and governs our choices as well. Our faith as a  nation shapes our laws and is the seed of so much controversy: abortion, gay marriages, stem-cell research, etc. History is rife with examples of the wrongs committed in the name of God. Yet religion it is that has provided us with succor as a nation and we probably need to study the history of religion and learn in detail of the lives of its leaders to progress as a civilization. Learning about different religions will encourage harmony and give us a better understanding of each other. Schools should educate us about all religions without bias and the facts of religious history should be presented in an objective and factual way so as to promote unbiased thinking. This will definitely result in a generation of tolerant, open-minded, critical thinking people who will be slow to anger and slow to vicious outbursts in the name of religion.

Outline: Defining terrorism. Describing various kinds of terrorism like Biological, Religious, etc. Terrorism is the methodical use of fright especially through the means of strong-arming. Most common definition of terrorism includes only those acts that are planned to create panic among the people. Other definitions include acts of unlawful violence and warfare. Terrorism has existed in the world for quite a long time. Terrorism involves unexpected and sudden violence. A person who practices terrorism is known as a terrorist. Terrorism is a criminal activity and is planned well in advance. For example, the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Kenya (1998) was planned since 5 years. The term “terrorism” brings strong negative impact in our mind. Terrorist groups have smaller number of members. They attract the attention of the people and their governments by carrying out bloody activities. They believe in gaining power and influence by their immoral, evil and sinful acts. Terrorist attacks often target to maximize fear and distress among the masses by using explosives. All over the world, there is a great concern about terrorist attacks involving weapons of mass destruction. Terrorist groups usually systematically plan their attacks. Participants and agents are trained for executing their horror. They raise money from supporters or through organized criminal activities. They communicate through modern technology. Scholars and security authorities have defined various kinds of terrorism. Their types differ according to what kind of attack is made by the attacker and by what ways tried to defend. Some types of terrorism include hijacking, assassination, bombing and suicidal attacks to state their demands. Biological terrorism is another form. Such terrorism includes release of toxic biological agents to harm and terrorize civilians. Religious terrorism is a type of terrorism performed on religious grounds with the hope to either spread or enforce a system of belief, viewpoint or opinion. Religious terrorism does not necessarily define a specific religious view point, but it usually involves view or understanding of that belief system's teachings. Very often, the victims of terrorism are targeted not because they are threats, but because they are specific symbols that tie into a specific view of the world, the terrorists possess. Their suffering accomplishes the terrorists' goals of instilling fear and conveying their message out to the world.

For decades, electronic warfare has been a separate subject from computer security, even though they have some common technologies (such as cryptography). This is starting to change as elements of the two disciplines fuse to form the new subject of information warfare. The military's embrace of information warfare as a slogan over the last years of the twentieth century has established its importance—even if its concepts, theory, and doctrine are still underdeveloped. There are other reasons why knowledge of electronic warfare is important to the security professional. Many technologies originally developed for the warrior have been adapted for commercial use, and there are many instructive parallels. In addition, the struggle for control of the electromagnetic spectrum has consumed so many clever people and so many tens of billions of dollars that we find deception strategies and tactics of a unique depth and subtlety. It is the one area of electronic security to have experienced a lengthy period of co evolution of attack and defense involving capable motivated opponents. Electronic warfare is also our main teacher when it comes to service denial attacks, a topic that computer security people have largely ignored, but that is now center stage thanks to distributed denial-of-service attacks on commercial Web sites. As I develop this discussion I'll try to draw out the parallels. Military communications were dominated by physical dispatch until about 1860, then by the telegraph until 1915, and then by the telephone until recently. Nowadays a typical command and control structure is made up of various tactical and strategic radio networks that support data, voice, and images, and operate over point-to-point links and broadcast. Without situational awareness and the means to direct forces, the commander is likely to be ineffective. But the need to secure communications is much more pervasive than one might at first realize, and the threats are much more diverse. One obvious type of traffic is the communications between fixed sites such as army headquarters and the political leadership. The main threat here is that the cipher security might be penetrated, and the orders, situation reports and so on compromised. This might result from cryptanalysis or—more likely—equipment sabotage, subversion of personnel, or theft of key material. The insertion of deceptive messages may also be a threat in some circumstances. But cipher security will often include protection against traffic analysis (such as by link encryption) as well as of the transmitted message confidentiality and authenticity. The secondary threat is that the link might be disrupted, such as by destruction of cables or relay stations. There are more stringent requirements for communications with covert assets such as agents in the field. Here, in addition to cipher security issues, location security is important. The agent will have to take steps to minimize the risk of being caught as a result of communications monitoring. If she sends messages using a medium that the enemy can monitor, such as the public telephone network or radio, then much of her effort may go into frustrating traffic more...

I sauntered out of the park whistling. I looked around for our minibus but couldn't see it in the parking lot. I turned my head and looked around for my family. I couldn't see them anywhere. My heart started to beat faster as I glanced at the parking lot again and again. I ran back inside through the gates. They weren't there either. I yelled out for them but there was no reply. My family was on a holiday, fourteen of us and we were visiting a wildlife safari park in the Gir forest of Gujarat. Everybody had been getting ready to leave and I had slipped off to go to the toilet. When I came back, they had all gone. Suddenly a wave of fear and loneliness gripped me sending a chill down my spine. I seemed to be stuck to the ground where I stood. I wanted to yell for help but my voice failed me. Helpless, I just squatted where I was, buried my head between my knees and cried softly. A few minutes later realising that I wasn't solving any problem, I stopped crying, stood up again and looked around feverishly. My palms were wet with cold sweat. I just couldn't believe it that my family had left me behind. They had actually forgotten to take me! My knees felt like jelly. A few minutes later I felt I got the whiff of a lion somewhere close by. I was beginning to imagine things. I looked around again. My head throbbed. As I looked at the lengthening shadows I realised with a start that the park was closing. Perhaps the man at the gate knew something. Just then I saw our minibus careening towards me, with practically all the thirteen heads squeezed out of the windows waving madly at me. Relief washed over me like a wave and in a flash I was my brave old self again. "We were driving down the highway when we realised you were not with us,” explained Dad apologetically “we turned round immediately. We were quite shocked I can tell you.” “It's all right Dad, I was quite happy to get some more time here and I loved it and besides I knew you would come back for me anyway.” I said as I got into the minibus keeping a straight face.

India has broadly five seasons - Summer, Rains, Autumn, Winter and Spring. Each one has its own beauty and advantages. Summer brings relief to the people through vacations. They can visit places. The chilly winter is over. People can bathe and swim, sleep in the open air, travel without heavy bedding and go to hill stations. The rainy season, with its sparkling rain-drops, quenches the thirst of the earth and its people. There is greenery all round. Autumn, with its mild weather, clean atmosphere and festivals of Pooja and Dussera, is people's favourite. The Winter season, when people sit at home, lazily warming themselves, can be very good. People can get dressed in colourful clothes. They can participate in winter sports and games. A man feels very active. After these seasons comes the king of the seasons — Spring. It is my favourite season. March and April are the loveliest of months. Winter is over. -The harsh summer has yet to come. In between is this wonderful season when life starts once again after winter-sleep. Flowers bloom everywhere. Their intoxicating fragrance is in the whole atmosphere. Their variety of colours makes the world very beautiful. Yellow mustard-flowers bloom in -their millions in the fields. It is a marvellous experience to stand* at a high place and look around on blooming mustard-fields for miles and miles. We also get to see the ripening ears of corn in the fields. A sea of gold appears to be before our eyes. Holi, the cheerful festival, is celebrated in this season. People throw colored water and powder on one another. There is a bonfire on the previous evening. After that people visit one another. It is such a wonderful festival of joy and colour. Spring has always been celebrated in the literature of different writers. Poets have sung praises in its honour in noble poems. The sense of happiness in this season affects everybody. I also am at my best in this season. I love the spring season !

The first shower brings a smile to all faces. The much awaited monsoon season begins by mid-June and goes on till October. Often the arrival of monsoon is signaled by dark clouds, at times accompanied by thunder and lightening. Rains bring happiness all over. Children are the one who enjoy the most. They play in the water; make paper boats and go for walk with their raincoats on. When it pours heavily the schools are generally shut for a day or two. Besides children, even farmers are happy during this season. They can plough the fields and sow seeds. They can expect a good harvest. The land looks clean and lush green. The birds and animals are happy and gay. The fresh fragrance of wet mud fills the air. We all enjoy the monsoon.

My earliest memory of my mother is when my brother died. She was heart broken. I overheard people say that she would succumb to her grief. However, she had us, me and my sister, and she had to move on. Despite the lump in her throat and the stone on her chest she went on cooking, cleaning and working. It took her a really long time to get her smile back but it never was quite the same. That was the first thing I learnt from my mother. No matter what life dishes out to you, don't stop living, eventually things will get better. Twice a month on Sundays, Mom would volunteer at the Home for the Aged. She would bathe the old people, change their diapers, feed them and sit for hours talking to them. She took me with her. She always made sure to bake a sponge cake for them. Mom brought smiles to their faces. She organized plays and little tea parties for them. They looked forward to her visits and they even named the Sundays she visited as 'Theresa Sundays'. She taught me to appreciate what I had and share with those that were less fortunate. Dad called Mom his little Queen. Dad was as demanding as he was loving but Mom never complained. She loved him unconditionally. This is the other thing I learnt from her- to love unconditionally. I'm blessed God chose her to be my mother and to have learnt so many wonderful things from her.

Outline: Initial breakage of the syndrome and their full forms. Multiplication of virus in human body and its ill effects. How is HIV transmitted? Treatments to control HIV. In the year 1981, a unique and newly recognized syndrome known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) broke out in America. HIV which stands for Human Immune Deficiency Virus causes AIDS. HIV infects human cells and uses the energy and nutrients provided by the eel Is to grow and reproduce. The body's immune system breaks down in this disease. The body is unable to fight against infections and other sicknesses due to damaged immune system. When a person is infected with HIV, the virus enters the body and multiplies largely in the white blood cells. These cells normally protect and help us in resisting various diseases. As the virus grows, it damages or kills these cells. This weakens the immune system and leaves the individual defenseless against various infections and illnesses. These infections and illnesses can range from pneumonia to cancer. AIDS has killed more than twenty-five million people worldwide, including more than six lakh people in America. Due to this disease millions of children have became orphan. HIV is not an easy virus to pass from one person to another. It is not transmitted through food or air i.e. while sneezing or coughing. Even mosquitoes, fleas and other insects do not transmit HIV. There has never been a case where a person was infected by a household member, relative, co-worker, or friend through daily contact such as sharing eating utensils, using same bathroom facilities or through hugging. Sweat, urine, tears, vomit, do contain HIV but have not been reported to transmit the disease. A person who has HIV carries the virus in certain body fluids, including blood, semen or breast milk. The virus can be transmitted only if such HIV-infected fluids enter the bloodstream of another person. Some of the ways by which HIV is transmitted in person's body are sharing needles or syringes with someone who is HIV infected. Infection caused during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding transmits the virus in the child. For many years, there were no effective treatments for AIDS. Today, number of drugs are available to treat HIV infection. Vaccines for HIV would offer drastic reduce in new HIV infections around the world. Every year, 18th May is observed as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD). Scientists and health workers have been among the many people involved worldwide in the effort to find a vaccine for HIV.

Early man was a food gatherer, depending on nature for all his needs. He gradually moved on to being a food grower with the discovery of agriculture, and settled down in one place, learning to live in a group. This was the beginning of civilization as we know it today. Early knowledge of agriculture was an accumulation of experiences that were passed on from father to son. Some of these have been preserved as religious commandments and some in the ancient inscriptions. There is evidence to show that as early as 2000 BC the Egyptian civilization followed particular dates for sowing and reaping. Some Greek and Roman classics give instructions on how to get a higher yield. The development of agriculture made it apparent that more food could be extracted from a given area of land by encouraging useful and hardy plant and animal species, and discouraging others. At the turn of the 19th century, a movement began in central Europe to train farmers in specific farming skills. A truly scientific approach was begun by Justine von Liebig of Darmstadt who in his classic work introduced the systematic development of agriculture science. From the 19th century onwards plant production became a scientific discipline. In the early 20th century, the legendary work of Gregor Mendel laid the foundation of modem day genetics. His work explained the basics of inheritance in terms of the factor we today call genes. Apart from selection and hybridization, new and innovative techniques such as genetic engineering that aid plant breeders have been developed in the recent past. One example of this is Bt Cotton. With advances in human and plant biology, more intricate details about the cell - the basic unit of life were illuminated. The possibility of raising whole plants from various plant tissues, commonly know as tissue culture, has thrown open the doors for expedited evolution both in terms of generation of genetic variability and multiplication of elite plant types. The knowledge of the wonder molecule DNA has also opened a new area of plant breeding research. These new technologies have been collectively referred to as biotechnology. It is a collective effort for plant breeding in the future and will compliment man's crusade for more and better food. In India, the Green Revolution saw the rapid progress of agriculture and the application of different methods to enhance production. Bio-fertilizers have been proven to be more environmentally friendly fertilizers that do not cause harm to life. Bioremediation methods have been used to clear oil spills using bacteria. Biotechnology is short for biological technology. Technology is the ability to better utilize our surroundings. Biotechnology applies the same principles to living organisms as do other technologies. Biotechnology can be defined as the application of our knowledge and understanding of biology to meet practical needs. It is as old as the growing of crops. Today's biotechnology is largely identified with applications in medicine and agriculture based on our knowledge of the genetic code of life. Fermentation, used in more...

Among the familiar persons that visit any given locality, on a regular basis is the postman. He wears a khaki uniform with a cap of the same colour and is seen trudging along carrying a bag full of letters and parcels. With a pack of letters in his hand, he is seen moving around from door to door. He is a very simple, unassuming and a humble person but all the same he is a very important member of our society. Very few people realise the significance of his role. He brings news from our relatives and friends. Even though we are well into the e-mail era, yet with the vast majority of the population still ignorant of it, the postman holds his importance very firmly in society. He is still and will be for a long time to come a vital link between us and all our near and dear ones. The job of a postman is a tough and strenuous one. Come scorching heat, rain, hail, snow or mist, he has to trod along his beaten track daily. It is not often that people greet him with gladness and make him feel welcome. He is taken for granted by most, for that matter, even it appears the government, for whom he works. This becomes evident from the meagre pay packet he receives after doing such a useful public service. His emoluments are so downgrading that he can hardly make ends meet. He has to lead an austere life. It is felt that the postman's lot is very miserable in these days of rising prices. It is about time that the government pay heed to his plight and give him a fair deal.