#NGO Committee on Ageing

[worldelderabuseawarenessday]

Combating violence, abuse and neglect of older persons during conflict situations.

Welcome remarks

- Amal Abou Rafeh, Chief of the Programme on Ageing Section, UN DESA

Opening remarks - Luciano Hernan Escobar, Minister Plenipotentiary, Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations

Moderator

Rio Hada, Chief of the Equality, Development and Rule of Law Section, OHCHR New York Office

Tribute to Elizabeth Podnieks, Founder of WEAAD by Yongjie Yon

Panel members

Nataša Todorović, Elder Abuse Prevention Expert at Red Cross of Serbia, and President of the Gerontological Society of Serbia

Yongjie Yon, Technical Officer, Ageing and Health, Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, WHO Regional office for Europe

Claudia Mahler, United Nations Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Older Persons

Junior Safari Runiga, Conseiller Chargé d’Études à la Commission Nationale des Droits de l'Homme "CNDH-RDC"

Laura Mills, Age and Disability Researcher, Crisis Response, Amnesty International

Dorcas Shambi Mwandembo - Intervention on crisis in Kenya, Intern at INPEA

Closing

Susan Somers, President, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse

[humansolidarityday]

Intergenerational Solidarity and Poverty Reduction.

Address the value of Solidarity and the intergenerational approaches as a tool for Social Development.

Press Conference: ''Intergenerational Solidarity and Poverty Reduction'' organized by the The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) on the International Human Solidarity Day 2010, to be observed on 20 December.

Participants include His Excellency Mr. Ghazi Jomaa Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations; Ms. Jessica Frank, Chairperson, NGO Committee on Aging to the United Nations; and Mr. Donald Lee, Chief of the Social Perspective on Development Branch (DESA/DSPD) who will serve as moderator.

[qnewsau]

ACON appoints Michael Woodhouse as new CEO

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/acon-appoints-michael-woodhouse-as-new-ceo/

ACON appoints Michael Woodhouse as new CEO

NSW’s leading LGBTQIA+ community health organisation ACON announced the appointment of Michael Woodhouse as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on Wednesday.

Outgoing ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill announced his decision to exit the role after 18 years with ACON in February this year and will remain as acting CEO until the end of August.

The ACON board have now named Woodhouse as his successor following a transparent and merit-based selection process.

​Woodhouse brings two decades of experience in health and human services in the government and NGO sectors to the role and has held a range of executive leadership roles in hospitals, ageing and disability support services and social policy.

“As an organisation with a 39-year history in HIV and sexuality and gender diverse health in New South Wales, it was important to the Board we appoint a candidate with a strong record in community health, and with the broad range of skills necessary to steer the organisation, as we mark a new chapter in serving our communities,” ACON President Dr Justin Koonin said.

“With more than 20 years’ experience in public health and human services, along with his deep community heritage and strong commitment to ACON’s values of inclusion, equity and excellence, Michael is extremely well positioned to meet the challenges and build on the successes and opportunities of the organisation.

“We look forward to welcoming Michael to the team when he commences in September.”

Woodhouse welcomes the role

Woodhouse is joining ACON from The Benevolent Society, where he held the role of Executive Director, Disability, Ageing & Carers, leading a team of over five hundred staff providing ageing, carer support and disability services across multiple states.

Woodhouse has previously served as the General Manager of Fairfield Hospital, led ageing and disability services for the Northern Territory Government and held a number of senior policy and reform roles in the New South Wales government.

He has also served as chief of staff to a federal minister.

Woodhouse also worked at ACON from 1998 to 2001 in a number of roles including as Director of Community Health.

​Woodhouse has also been active in many LGBTQIA+ community organisations over the past 20 years including serving as co-chair of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and chair of the nomination committee at Sydney WorldPride as well as chairing a number of Mardi Gras AGMs.

He is currently also a member of the audit and risk committee for national peak LGBTQIA+ community health organisation Health Equity Matters (formerly known as the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, or AFAO).

​Woodhouse said he is excited to take on the CEO role and that he is looking forward to working with ACON staff, clients, stakeholders and community members in improving the health and wellbeing of sexuality and gender diverse people and their families. ​ “Many years ago, ACON taught me about the powerful ways people’s health can be improved when organisations are truly led by the needs and experience of their communities. I am excited to have the chance to lead an organisation that has achieved so much into its next stage,” Woodhouse says.

“What I enjoy most in my career is working with clients, communities and staff to find ways to improve health and wellbeing. ACON has led this kind of work for decades. I am grateful to the ACON Board for the opportunity to rejoin the organisation and continue that legacy.”

Outgoing CEO speaks

Outgoing CEO Nicolas Parkhill, who is stepping down after 15 years as CEO, said ACON was in good hands with Woodhouse at the helm.

“I congratulate Michael on his appointment and I acknowledge his strong health and human services experience that he brings to ACON,” Mr Parkhill said.

“I wish him and everyone at ACON all the very best in the future.”

Dr Koonin thanked Mr Parkhill for his service to ACON and our communities.

“On behalf of ACON, we thank Nicolas for his unwavering passion and commitment to improving health outcomes for people living with HIV and LGBTQ+ people. The communities ACON serves are stronger and more resilient thanks to his tireless efforts,” Dr Koonin said.

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[professionalutilities1]

What CSR-related activities are allowed according to the Companies Act, 2013?

To regulate non-profit organizations' CSR activities and ensure that the use of CSR funds actually raises our country's standard of living, the CSR committee has compiled an exhaustive list of tasks that can be carried out with the assistance of CSR funds provided by corporate companies. The following CSR measures are permissible for trusts and NGOs in compliance with the Company Act 2013. -National heritage protection Cultural Affairs, Art, and Heritage -Establishing Public Libraries. -Handicraft and traditional arts establishment and promotion. -Actions to support military soldiers, war widows, and their families. -Training to promote rural athletics, nationally recognized sports, paralympic sports, and Olympic sports. -Funds or donations to technological innovations incubators within universities that are approved by the central government -Eliminate hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. -Promotion of sanitation and healthcare -Access to safe drinking water. -Inspiring education for young women, seniors, and individuals with impairments -Projects for improving livelihoods -Empowering women and promoting gender equality -The creation of hostels and residences for orphans and women -Establishment of aged homes, childcare centers, and similar amenities for elders. -Actions to reduce inequities experienced by economically and socially backward groups -Ensuring environmental sustainability and ecological balance. -Protecting animals and plants (Animal Welfare and Agroforestry) -Conservation of natural resources -Maintaining soil quality as well as air and water quality

[nyroo]

Child Labor in Philippines

Child labour is any labour that prevents a child from receiving a full time formal education.

Helping around the house or working in a local shop on weekends or for a few hours after school during the week is not child labour. In fact, this kind of work can be good for a young person- it helps them learn valuable life skills and knowledge. However, if this work prevents a child from receiving a full time formal education and when it contravenes existing laws on the minimum age and condition for employment, it leads to child labour.

Child labour is work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.

In the Philippines, there are 2.1 million child labourers aged 5 to 17 years old based on the 2011 Survey on Children of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) . About 95 per cent of them are in hazardous work. Sixty-nine per cent of these are aged 15 to 17 years old, beyond the minimum allowable age for work but still exposed to hazardous work.

Children work in farms and plantations, in dangerous mines, on streets, in factories, and in private homes as child domestic workers. Agriculture remains to be the sector where most child labourers can be found at 58 percent.Nearly 1 in 10 children are subjected to child labour worldwide, with some forced into hazardous work through trafficking. Economic hardship exacts a toll on millions of families worldwide – and in some places, it comes at the price of a child's safety.

The Philippines has ratified the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182 . It has adopted the Philippine Program Against Child Labor (PPACL) as the official national programme on the elimination of child labour. This is a convergence of the efforts of the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) , chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) working together with the government, the private sector, workers and employers organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs) and international development institutions towards the prevention, protection and removal from hazardous and exploitative work of child labour victims and, as may be appropriate, healing and reintegrating them.

As a Filipino we believe that the ‘school is the best place to work’ campaign believe that child labour of any type of work which is harmful to a child’s development including affecting full-time quality education.

https://childlabor.nyro.com

[ramirezd4nna]

WATER CONSERVATION IN INDIA CIVILIZATION

Water conservation in India is a timeless pursuit, steeped in the country's historical tapestry, deeply interwoven with its cultural fabric, and intricately linked to its very survival. The essence of water transcends the physical realm, evoking a sense of the soulful and eternal. From its celestial origins high in the heavens, it embarks on a poetic journey, cascading down majestic mountains, meandering through lush fields, nourishing civilizations in its wake, and ultimately merging with the boundless sea, only to commence its timeless odyssey anew. This intrinsic connection between water and India's heritage underscores the enduring significance of water conservation in this ancient and vibrant nation.

Indian religious ceremonies often involve water in some kind of ritual around the village well, pond or river. It is also a common practice to make daily offerings of water to the deity of the village temple from the village pond.

Ages ago, people of India practiced rainwater harvesting traditions and water conservation as not merely a solution to solve water scarcity, but as ‘punya’, a religious vow. In Rajasthan, constructing a pond is still considered as ‘Punya’ and people try to contribute or volunteer as much as they can. They believe that a contribution towards building a pond is as good as earning blessings for 2-3 generations, which actually indicates the wisdom of offering water resources to the future generations and securing their future.

The Indian subcontinent's civilization has thrived for thousands of years, thanks to the careful management of its water resources. Here's a comprehensive exploration of water conservation in the Indian civilization:

Historical Context:

Ancient Wisdom: India's rich heritage boasts a profound understanding of the importance of water conservation. Ancient texts, such as the Vedas, spoke of the sacredness of water and emphasized its preservation. This wisdom is encapsulated in the saying, "Jal Hi Jivan Hai" (Water is life).

Traditional Water Harvesting: Indian civilization is famous for its traditional water harvesting techniques. These included the construction of stepwells, johads (small earthen dams), and talabs (ponds) that captured rainwater during the monsoon season. These structures not only provided water for agriculture but also served as communal gathering places and spiritual centers.

Stepwells: Stepwells, like the Rani ki Vav in Gujarat, are architectural marvels that exemplify the ingenious use of groundwater. These structures facilitated year-round access to water, especially during arid seasons.

Irrigation Systems: Ancient India had an elaborate network of canals and aqueducts for the efficient distribution of water for agricultural purposes. The Mauryan and Gupta Empires are known for their advanced irrigation systems.

Traditional Water Management:

Community-Based Systems: Many Indian villages historically had community-led water management systems. These committees regulated water distribution, preventing overuse and disputes.

The Role of Rivers: India's major rivers, like the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati, have always played a central role in Indian life. They've been essential for agriculture, transportation, and spirituality.

Modern Challenges and Solutions:

Over-Extraction of Groundwater: Rapid urbanization and agricultural demands have led to the over-extraction of groundwater. This crisis necessitates sustainable practices such as rainwater harvesting, watershed management, and recharging aquifers.

Water Pollution: Contamination of water sources from industrial and domestic waste is a pressing issue. The government and NGOs are working on water purification and ensuring safe drinking water.

Climate Change: India's vulnerability to climate change means that water resources are increasingly erratic. Prolonged droughts and uncertain rainfall patterns necessitate innovative solutions.

Government Initiatives:

National Water Mission: Part of India's National Action Plan on Climate Change, this mission focuses on water conservation and sustainable management.

Jal Jeevan Mission: A government initiative aimed at providing safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households.

Public Awareness and Education:

Public awareness campaigns, like "Jal Shakti Abhiyan," promote water conservation, water harvesting, and efficient water use.

Educational programs emphasize the importance of water conservation from a young age.

Innovative Technologies:

India is exploring technologies like drip irrigation, efficient water crops, and wastewater treatment and recycling to optimize water usage.

In conclusion, water conservation in India is a multi-faceted endeavor, deeply rooted in its civilization's history and culture. While facing challenges, modern India is combining traditional wisdom with innovative solutions to ensure a sustainable and secure water future. As water scarcity becomes an increasingly global concern, India's long standing expertise in water management offers valuable insights and inspiration for the rest of the world.

[highplanes456]

Rural Agricultural Well Being And Safety Funding & Opportunities

Whether it’s on a smartphone or a desktop, M-PESA organisations have everything they need to handle their funds and stock with M-PESA. Through our portal, organisations can monitor gross sales & expenditure, make funds, ship invoices, order stock, access credit, handle subscriptions, set recurring payments, drive customer loyalty and far more funds held. Typically used for paying salaries, NGO/government disbursements and petty money funds. M-PESA validates the recipients name and cellphone quantity to make sure payments go where they’re meant. M-PESA also makes it straightforward for organisations to manage and pay utility bills and taxes.

He additionally sits on the National Technical Committee (under the Principal Secretary State Department of Livestock Office) which is growing the livestock master plan to actively champion meat business modernization and shopper safety assurance by way of business bodies. Prof. Aggrey Ambali is at present coordinating the process of creating a high-level African Union panel on harnessing emerging technologies for Africa’s growth. He obtained a PhD diploma in Population Genetics from Dalhousie University, Canada, Masters of Science in Aquaculture from Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from University of Malawi. He serves on several committees including the Technical Advisory Committee of the Biosafety Program of ICGEB, Chair of the Management Committee of the African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE), member of the Advisory Panel of the Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BecA), and so forth. Before becoming a member of AATF, Josephine worked with the International Medical Corps – Kenya, a non-profit aid and improvement organisation dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering by way of health care coaching.

As these sort of property age, repairs can become extra frequent or significantly more expensive. When contemplating whether or not to make repairs, farm managers will weigh whether costs outweigh an asset’s manufacturing value. The main danger concern to lenders is nonpayment by a farm as a end result of restricted cash. A lender will method lowering their considerations in a method similar to that of a farmer, by pursuing threat management options. The greatest type of danger management for a mortgage is for the lender to secure an curiosity in your farm’s collateral.

(9) "Rural area" means an space which is predominately rural in character, being one which the board defines and declares to be a rural area. (7) "Eligible agricultural enterprise" means an agricultural enterprise having its principal place of business on this state. So possibly your clients are already diversifying by geography, as properly they should. Different macroeconomic elements held funds drive Dallas-Fort Worth than drive Minneapolis-St. If they’re already diversifying by asset class, though, perhaps they want to be tuning their portfolios a little more finely. While there’s only one 30 Rockefeller Center, one acre of wheat in Kansas isn’t that much completely different from one acre of wheat in Nebraska.

And whereas our web site doesn’t function every firm or monetary product available in the marketplace, we’re proud that the steering we provide, the data we provide and the tools we create are goal, impartial, simple — and free. Equity financing means exchanging a portion of the possession of the enterprise for a monetary funding in the business. The possession stake resulting from an equity investment permits the investor to share within the company’s income. Equity entails a everlasting investment in an organization and is not repaid by the company at a later date.

When the pandemic hit, Smithfield increased pork exports to China even as the United States skilled widespread meat shortages because of supply chain disruptions and Smithfield closed some of its crops as a result of poor working conditions. This series of events prompted Congress to take a look at how to prevent Chinese possession in U.S. agriculture, although different ag funds held international entities, like Brazilian-owned JBS, management similarly giant portions of U.S. meals provide chains. Traditionally, debtors receive patronage refunds and/or dividends, which further reduces the price of borrowing for our customers. The Farm Credit Council is the nationwide trade association representing the institutions of the Farm Credit System earlier than Congress, the Executive Branch and others.

[gdgoenkasignatureschool]

HOW DO THE BEST SCHOOLS IN GURGAON INVOLVE STUDENTS IN COMMUNITY

The best schools in Gurgaon understand the importance of community service and social initiatives in fostering empathy, compassion, and a sense of social responsibility in students. Here are some ways in which these schools involve students in community service and encourage social initiatives:

Service-Learning Programs: The schools integrate service-learning into their curriculum, where students engage in community service projects that are directly related to their academic studies. This approach allows students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations while making a positive impact on the community.

Community Partnerships: The schools establish partnerships with local organizations, NGOs, and community groups to provide students with meaningful service opportunities. These partnerships enable students to collaborate with established community initiatives and gain a deeper understanding of the social issues they aim to address.

Volunteering Activities: The schools organize volunteering activities such as visits to orphanages, old age homes, and NGOs. Students actively participate in these activities, contributing their time and efforts to support and engage with individuals in need.

Social Awareness Campaigns: The schools organize social awareness campaigns on various issues such as environmental conservation, gender equality, poverty alleviation, and more. Students actively participate in planning and executing these campaigns, spreading awareness and advocating for positive change.

Fundraising Events: The schools organize fundraising events and initiatives to support charitable causes. Students actively participate in organizing and promoting these events, demonstrating their commitment to making a difference in society.

Social Clubs and Committees: The schools establish social clubs and committees where students can actively engage in planning and implementing social initiatives. These clubs provide a platform for students to collaborate, brainstorm ideas, and take leadership roles in addressing social issues.

Community Service Hours: The schools may require students to complete a certain number of community service hours as part of their curriculum. This encourages students to actively seek out service opportunities and engage in meaningful projects.

Social Entrepreneurship Programs: Some schools may offer social entrepreneurship programs where students develop innovative solutions to address social challenges. These programs encourage students to think creatively and implement sustainable projects that benefit the community.

Celebrating Social Impact: The schools recognize and celebrate the social impact created by students through various means such as awards, certificates, and assemblies. This reinforces the importance of community service and encourages more students to get involved.

By involving students in community service and social initiatives, the best schools in Gurgaon instill in them a sense of empathy, social responsibility, and the understanding that they have the power to make a positive difference in the world around them. These experiences not only contribute to the students’ personal growth but also cultivate a commitment to service that extends beyond their school years.

[mykagiannereyes]

Malnutrition in Plaridel Bulacan falls under 120 cases

In the Philippines, malnutrition is a widespread issue. 95 children die every day as a result of poverty. The country is one of the top 10 countries in the world for having the most undernourished children, according to the World Bank, ranking sixth among East Asian and Pacific countries with the highest frequency of stunting.

Approximately thirty percent of Filipino children under the age of five struggle with stunted growth.The Department of Health (DOH) has taken notice of persistent malnutrition in the Philippines. The details by the department's chief health officer, Maria S. Vergeire said on a facebook live stream that,"12.3% of infants between 0 and 23 months are underweight, and 7.2% are wasted.   

According to figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority, almost 11 million children between the ages of 0 and 4 made up 10.2% of the population as of the 2020 census.

Poverty is one of the common problems of our country which brings children to hunger. When the pandemic struck, malnutrition became severe, and every impoverished Filipino family's way of life and health was damaged.

The Municipality of Plaridel Bulacan is also fighting against malnutrition. According to Ms. Anna Victoria Bambo, a  Municipal Nutrition Action Officer, OIC. Plaridel had 374 malnutrition, however, by March 2023, the number of cases had dropped to just 120. She added the solutions needed to address malnutrition in the community.

“Malaki ang naging epekto ng pandemya lalo na noong year 2021, we had 374 pero ngayon 120 na lang so malaki na din yung reduction kasi may mga program kami like feeding program, school feeding. “

“Unang una kasama ko yung mga kasamahan ko and then yung mga volunteer namin, yung mga LLM, mother leader tulong tulong kami and then the MMC (Municipal Commission Committee). Ang una naming ginawa ay nagkaroon kami ng profiling of malnourished children so lahat ng mga malnourished meron kaming form at lahat ay rinerefer namin sa RHU para malapatan sila ng kailangan nila, kung may health problem ba sila. Kami din ay nagbibigay ng mga supplemental feeding and yung mga RUSF, (mga pagkain ng mga malnourished). “

”Meron na kaming ongoing medical check up kay Doctor Abelia, may school feeding, may special supervised neighborhood play ng DSWD and bukod pa din doon yung feeding ng mga sponsor ng mga NGO at sponsor ng barangay kaya nagkaka tuwang-tuwang kami. “

Barangay Poblacion in Plaridel, Bulacan, has 2 remaining cases of malnutrition based on the official, Mr Spike Capulong, Councilor of Poblacion, Finance Committee. As explained by him, malnutrition is also one of the basic problems of the barangay. 

“Yung mga motherleader natin nag fi-feeding sila, para mabawasan mga malnourished natin rito. Actually, konti nalang malnourished natin dito sa Poblacion eh, dati meron sigurong bente o trenta, ngayon ay dalawang bata nalang. “

[govolunteering03]

The top five ways you can assist street children in India are as follows

As a result of widespread migration from the hinterlands, the population of street children in urban areas is steadily growing. Additionally, India's urban population is growing rapidly, placing more at-risk children in slums. Notwithstanding living in ghettos, 27.4% of kids between the ages of 7 and 18 need admittance to framework. For instance, only 17% of Indian schools have bases in the United States. By raising awareness and intervening, only NGOs and aid workers can affect real change.

1. Changes that need to be made to give these kids a chance at a better life:

Despite the fact that Activities with Street children are taught to only communicate with beggars and therefore anticipate a rude refusal, you can give them a kind voice by asking them their name, background, and other specifics. Nonetheless, rather than giving them food or cash, give online to coordinated youngster government assistance crusades like those run by Save the Kids, India's most respectable NGO for kid freedoms. It is feasible to utilize their own data to acquaint them with a magnanimous non-benefit association that plans to furnish them with sustenance, wellbeing, and recuperating.

2. Report the child to the local Kid Government 

Assistance Board of trustees or the police if the child appears troubled. Depending on how well you know the child, you can inquire about how their parents or guardians are treating them. As soon as the child discloses any signs of abuse, such as violence, drug addiction, or malnutrition, or if he mentions abuse, you should contact the appropriate authorities. These include the local Early Childcare Programs Committee and the police.

3. Home to an especially enormous number of street and ghetto kids

Your time is the most important gift you can give these kids — after cash — and you can chip in at the middle for road kids. Save the Children operates centers in Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai to provide these children with education, relaxation, psychosocial support, and counseling. Save the Children's "Ride to School" program in Mumbai, for example, uses a Flexible Learning Community (MLC) to give India's underprivileged children the experience of a great school environment, complete with seats, slate, a library, games, and a television with blu-ray players. This is a tempting proposition for persuading them to leave the streets.

4. Donating 

Donating to a charity and fundraising for non-governmental Child Care Assistance Program is the most straightforward and time-saving method of support. Giving a youngster a superior future can be pretty much as straightforward as buying some espresso or watching the following film. Furthermore, you can pursue and take part in a NGO's different gathering pledges through virtual entertainment or face to face at booths, shopping centers, and other public areas.

5. Campaign for Non-Governmental Organizations

 The voices of everyday people who truly care about children and the needs they face are the strongest. Through web-based diversion, as well as by interfacing with people in your association, you can drive attention to NGO campaigns, their goals, etc.

You can enquiry us for :- 

Work with Women

Volunteers for Orphanages

Volunteer English Teaching Program

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the number of urban street children increases the incidence of crimes like kidnapping and human trafficking. It is exacerbated by educational disruptions and a lack of parental care. The presence of Indian and international NGOs that work with local authorities to prevent these children from becoming dependent on substances or victims of abuse and exploitation is essential in this circumstance.

[worldelderabuseawarenessday]

Understand and End Financial Abuse of Older People: A Human Rights Issue.

Event entitled "Understand and End Financial Abuse of Older People: A Human Rights Issue" on the occasion of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2017 (15 June), organized by the Group of Friends of Older Persons, in collaboration with the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, the NGO Committee on Ageing in New York, the Focal Point on Ageing of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

[uprightkidsortho]

Schoolbags and back pain in children: Weight of the world on their shoulders

A lot has been said about the heavy school bag – but none of it has lifted a kilo from the monstrous load our children carry every day.

For a weeklong backpacking trip in the Himalayas – which requires at least a month’s preparation and specialized clothing and equipment for roughing it out in the wilderness – one is asked to carry a rucksack that weighs no more than 10 kgs. Most domestic fights keep the hand baggage limit at 7 kg. But, somehow, it is okay for a 12-year-old to carry on his or her back, a bag that weighs 11 kgs – just for a day’s study at the survey of the kind of bags children carry to and from school, daily.

In 1993, the Yash Pal Committee identified the problem of heavy school bags and recommended that textbooks be treated as school property and allotted locker space at the institute. It continued to recommend that a separate timetable be prepared for homework and classwork, so that these books don’t need to be carried home every day.

BM’s test run proved that even 24 years on, schoolchildren continued to carry heavy load on their backs, some exceeding 11 kgs.

Paediatric Orthopedecian in Bangalore Dr. Jayanth S Sampath expresses that according to international guidelines children should not carry more than 10 per cent of their body weight on their shoulders. By that measure, the above-mentioned Class 8 student shouldn’t have carried more than 5.6 kg. Ideally. We also found a girl studying in Class 6, and weighing about 30 kgs, carrying a bag that weighed 8 kgs — way above what was good for her.

Mirror spoke with VP Niranjanaradhya on this issue. He was part of a committee set up by the Department of State Educational Research and Training to suggest the right bag weight for students. The committee, which had experts, officials and representatives from NGOs, had conducted a survey in 24 Bengaluru schools spanning across boards before giving out a detailed report.

“Children end up becoming victims of the urban rat race. It’s not only a physical burden, but also affects them psychologically. The mental burden comes from the curriculum that needs to be toned down. This is an indication that there should be a standard conclusion drawn by the state or Centre,” says Niranjanaradhya.

He says it’s time to draw a standard for these things — what a student of each class should carry and what they need to learn. “Knowledge and information has been misconstrued by many people. We are continuously dumping information onto the child,” he adds. “We have also submitted a report to the state government on this issue. The state has never called us, nor are they bothered about it.”

In July 2015, the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of School Education and Literacy, sent out an order to the Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education department (a copy is with BM). The central government had suggested to lighten this burden by prompting- provisions may be made to keep the textbooks largely at the school and Daily time-table may be framed in such a way that all subjects are not taught every day.

According to the panel report, students carry school bags that are 20-30 per cent heavier than what is safe. “Because of this, around 60 per cent of the students below the age of 10 suffer from orthopedic as well as stress-induced ailments,” he said. Shashi Kumar, general secretary, the associated managements of private unaided English- medium schools in Karnataka (KAMS), said: “Such weights are unscientific and abnormal for children.”

Vani Manjunath, a principal, too believes that there should be concerned efforts from all parties to ensure children don’t carry such heavy bags. “There are schools that want students to bring all the books, every day. Even parents do not object to this.”

Parents, however, claim they have little option — the timetables are such. Kamal Nair, a parent, said: “School timetable is such that they have to take all textbooks every day.”

Even CBSE had issued a notification in April 2016, aimed at restricting the number of textbooks carried by students to school every day. But despite all the lip-service, the fact of the matter remains heavy on slight shoulders.

A WEIGHTY ISSUE: BM’s random check on school bags across the city proved that children carry a load that’s way beyond what’s acceptable. Experts say, constant weight on the shoulders can cause a stoop, damage lungs, and affect their growing bones and muscles. And that’s just the physical part of it

No Bags Day

There are many schools in the city that declare a day in a week as ‘No Bags Day’. When BM was doing the test drive, Janak Academy on Bannerghatta Road had declared every Tuesdays as ‘No Bags Day’. The idea was to help students feel more positive.

Mousumi Banerjee, principal of the school, said: “We see children happier on this day. This is more like encouraging children for peer learning and it’s a day for them to learn all the lessons, practically.”

About the heavy bags, she said: “We ensure students carry what is required. We have structured the time table in such a way that students are not burdened. I feel, parents should join hands with the school management to make this an effective practice among children.”

Pediatric orthopedics in the city say they see several cases of back pain in children aged below 16 years. Best Pediatric Orthopedic surgeon in Bangalore | Dr Jayanth S Sampath at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, told BM: “The loads our schoolchildren carry are similar to what soldiers carry in their backpacks. If this trend continues, children will develop chronic back pain and a hunch. We should not be burdening the growing bones of a child’s spine with such abnormal loads.”

Paediatric Orthopedecian in Bangalore added: “A 7-year-old boy had come to me complaining of back pain. This was rare a few years ago but we are seeing such cases several times a week. These days, kids lack Vitamin D and have poor muscle strength due to lack of activities and sports. This increases the risk of developing back problems. We know from previous research that children with back pain are at a greater risk of having chronic backache as adults. Heavy school bags is a public health issue and schools should seriously address this by taking necessary action.”

Newer ideas such as a semester curriculum in schools, and combining subjects in a single text book will certainly help. “Engage your children in moderate-intensity sports such as swimming or field sports. Discourage poor postures when using portable electronic devices. Check your child’s weight and BMI regularly,” Best Pediatric Orthopedic surgeon in Bangalore | Dr Jayanth S Sampath said.

For more information visit- https://www.uprightkidsortho.com/blog/weight-of-the-world-on-their-shoulders/

Website -  https://www.uprightkidsortho.com/

[humansolidarityday]

Address the value of solidarity and intergenerational approaches as a tool for social development.

A press briefing was held on to address the value of solidarity and intergenerational approaches as a tool for social development.

The main presenter was His Excellency, Mr. Ghazi Jomaa, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Tunisia to the United Nations, to speak from a State perspective. He was joined by Ms. Jessica Frank, Chairperson of the NGO Committee on Ageing to the United Nations and a youth practitioner, who spoke on the application of intergenerational solidarity in projects and programmes.

International Human Solidarity Day 2010

[ham236]

Entry 2

From September 27 to 28, the NGO parallel forum at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15 for short) was held in Kunming, Yunnan. More than 400 representatives from more than 30 countries participated in the forum online and offline, sharing their cutting-edge views, cases and actions around global biodiversity issues.

The forum released the list of "100+cases of biodiversity", among which 19 cases including "Ant Forest" of Ant Group, "Earth Artificial Intelligence" of Microsoft (China) Co., Ltd., "Penguins Love the Earth" of Tencent, and "Renniaofei Project" of Beijing Entrepreneur Environmental Protection Foundation were selected as "Global Special Recommended Cases". The global collection of "100+Cases of Biodiversity" was guided by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Office of the COP15 Preparatory Committee, and hosted by the China Environmental Protection Foundation and the Taohuayuan Ecological Protection Foundation. A total of 258 cases were reported by 196 units from 26 countries on seven continents. A total of 108 cases were evaluated as "100+Global Typical Cases of Biodiversity", of which 19 cases were evaluated as "100+Global Special Recommended Cases of Biodiversity".

Note: Publicity of selected cases in the global solicitation of "100+cases of biodiversity" (partial)

Liu Ning, the COP15 negotiator of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Executive Deputy Director of the Executive Committee Office, said that the selection of "100+biodiversity cases" presented typical practices worldwide, providing an example of action for global NGOs to implement the global biodiversity framework after 2020.

Yang Fangyi, the project director of IUCN China Office, believes that it is a particularly good signal for enterprises to participate in the declaration of cases. Two thirds of China's public welfare donations come from enterprises, which have established a long-term funding mechanism. Many Internet enterprises and biodiversity conservation are internalized into their own business models and businesses, which is very different from before.

Taking Ant Forest as an example, in 2016, Alipay "Ant Forest" was launched on Alipay platform. By transforming users' low-carbon behaviors such as walking, subway travel and online ticket buying into quantifiable "green energy", Alipay exchanged a certain amount of energy for a real tree, and then planted these saplings in areas with serious desertification to complete the landing of public welfare projects. According to statistics, more than 280 million users are planting trees in the ant forest, which has become the world's largest all age personal low-carbon account platform. As of September 26, 2020, more than 223 million trees have been planted in the "ant forest", with a planting area of more than 3.06 million mu, and the future total ecosystem output value can reach 11.18 billion yuan.

Netizens' low-carbon behaviors, such as green travel, paper reduction and plastic reduction, energy conservation and consumption reduction, and recycling, can be counted as "green energy" through carbon emission reduction methodology. When they accumulate to a certain extent, they can apply for planting a real tree in a desertification area, or "claim" a one square meter conservation area in an area where biodiversity needs to be protected urgently. After that, enterprises will donate money to public welfare institutions, which are responsible for planting and maintenance, and forest and grass departments and ecological environment departments will guide and supervise the implementation of a series of public welfare projects for ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation throughout China.

It is understood that as one of the important themes of the COP15 NGO Parallel Forum, the release and discussion of the "100+Cases of Global Biodiversity" gathered successful experiences from all walks of life in biodiversity conservation, and will also contribute to the COP15 official meeting opened on October 11 and the "Kunming Declaration" issued at that time.

Ant forest has explored a feasible and effective way for [Internet plus public welfare]. More importantly, we let the general public see the real picture of the Internet public welfare changing the environment. Users can also plant real trees in the real world through their own efforts, and make some contributions to greening the world. The correct value orientation inspires users' positive feedback and action. At the same time, users gain a sense of achievement due to their contributions to environmental protection.

It has to be said that Ant Forest is a win-win product.

Zu Wang, the product manager of Ant Forest, once said that technology is the greatest public welfare in this era. And I agree it very much.

Some users said that what wakes them up every morning is not a dream, but an ant forest. A girl wrote a paper for Ant Forest; A little fat man lost 70 kg because he saved energy; Someone's child was born on the same day as the tree. He said that he must go to see the tree in the future and tell the child about the tree. Of course, more users left messages on the Internet saying that after planting trees, they felt "finally the world is a little different because of my existence." Others said that this tree is "the first thing that I have given my living qualification for the first time in more than 20 years of life".

[webnewsify1]

WebNewsify : Two more minor victims lodge POCSO case against arrested K'taka Lingayat seer

WebNewsify : Based on police sources, an FIR has been booked in Nazarbad police station of Mysuru metropolis following the path by the Youngster Welfare Committee (CWC).The 2 new victims, aged 12 and 14, had approached the CWC in Mysuru on Thursday and have submitted their criticism in opposition to the accused seer. The arrested seer is presently in judicial custody until October 21.The ladies had been staying on the Akkamahadevi hostel run by the Chitradurga mutt. That they had approached the Odanaadi NGO and later the matter was introduced earlier than the CWC.The Odanaadi NGO Mysuru was instrumental in lodging of case in opposition to accused seer by two minor victims of sexual assault earlier. The native court docket had rejected the bail petition by the accused for 5 instances and likewise denied any particular therapy to him within the prision.The arrested Lingayat seer is accused of sexually exploiting the minor ladies learning at hostels run by the mutt over 20 years. Read the full article

[bizarrequazar]

05-23 (CST) QuelleVous Twitter Space Notes

This was the second in a series of live discussions covering events relating to 813, with this one focused on CAPA. QuelleVous did the bulk of the talking, accompanied by followerno65 and Bluebird. This is an informal fan discussion and should not be taken as an official source. [Recording] 

QuelleVous has also posted her own prep notes for this space [here].

Notes on the previous space giving a review of the events leading up to and including 813 can be found [here]. Please let me know if I’ve made any mistakes (especially with names) or missed anything significant.

Background about CAPA

Registered as a grade 1 non-government organization registered under the MCT. This does not make them an official government agency, every NGO in China has to be registered under a government agency. The MCT has a very light hold on them.

“Grade 1″ has some prestige to it but doesn’t mean much, just that papers are turned in directly to the government rather than another association

Started out as an academic thinktank sort of scenario, then just for stage performers, now for pretty much everything. “Their power creeped and expanded” to what other associations weren’t already handling

Changed to their current name in 2010 with the coming to power of their current president (Zhu Kuning), who started as a secretariat 

Executives within CAPA are chosen by election from members, they can be from other provinces. Roles cannot be held for two consecutive terms. Cannot be over the age of 70 and must be of sound mind

There aren’t really individual members, only companies / universities that are a part of it; anyone employed under those are a part of CAPA

Since 1995, they were in charge of issuing entertainment manager licenses to individuals

Members have to pay a fee every 5 years (set by CAPA, not by 5 years from when you register). The fees vary depending on your role in CAPA. It is not clear how much these fees actually are, sources vary

17 sub-committees including livestreaming, entertainment management self-disciplinary committee, dance committee

They own LLCs, such as consulting and tech firms. (Water armies are considered a type of tech firm, it’s not known if this is applicable here) LLCs can earn money without it factoring into CAPA’s official earnings.

Offer courses that give a certaificate at the end, but these certificates don’t seem to have any practical use. Fees are required to enroll, some of then tens of thousands of dollars

NGOs are not obligated to publish their financial records, they are only given a public grade. CAPA hasen’t gotten great grades, but have always passed. (Two years ago they barely passed, this year passed.)

Very close relationship with MCT, official(s) from which always show us at CAPA’s events.

Not a lot of transparency with NGOs in China, though this seems to be changing due to some orgs taking advantage of it. They’re not obligated to publish their tax forms. Very little info about CAPAs finances can be found.

CAPA are no longer allowed to register licenses but sells study material for licenses, and are still taking membership fees

Hold a lot of banquets: payment fee to get in, meant for managers to rub elbows 

NRTA has nothing to do with CAPA (CAPA would like you to think they do.) CAPA reports to MCT, MCT reports into MCA. NRTA also reports into MCA. 

Timeline

(This went very fast, I probably missed some things)

2017: CAPA established a livestreaming sub-committee, 23 people incluidng academics and companies. Secratariat Qi Tao, ex-VP of Six Rooms, was the spokesperson of the committee for a long time. 

October 2020: Livestreaming manager sub-committee established, 23 people, MCNs (talent companies for influencers)

March 2021: New perfomance regulations “in conjuction with the moral standards of the MCT”, aka the boycott lists

May 15-18 2021: annual CAPA livestreaming industry meeting in Shanghai. Two members of MCT attended, as well as Qi Tao. 

June 2021: Pang Yen gave an interview about the rules established in March, saying they are not retroactive.

July 19: Issued statement against Kris Wu allegations, saying not to trust internet rumors and wait for investigations

August 13: President and Xie Yihua edited their Baidu pages, Tang Lawyer gave a warning about Zhang Zhehan’s potential boycott

August 15: Issued statement calling for Zhang Zhehan’s boycott

August 31: Zhu Kening issued statement about the cancellation of livestreams and concerts, said a thorough investigation had been done and their moral committee had been consulted, and that they had consulted with a member of an MCT perfomance sub-committee (academics, not government officials)

Sept 12: Issued statement that they were working with social media platforms to clean up the industry

Sept 29: Douyin hosted an event with 70 companies saying that they and CAPA would abide by the standards set in March

Nov 23: Issued 9th boycott list by livestreaming sub-committee, 85 online influencers, 3 actors (Kris Wu, Zheng Shuang, Zhang Zhehan). Shared by 55 news bodies. This is what brought Zhang Zhehan’s name back into the news cycle.

Dec 1: Issued a statement that the boycott is voluntary and should only be taken by members between members

Dec 13: MCT released new rules regarding entertainment managers, MCT would take on manager licenscing responsibilities

CAPA went quiet for a while

April 14: Audit announcement. Indepedent accounting firms will be thoroughly looking at their finances and operations. It’s not known if it will affect Zhang Zhehan’s case. Not known exactly what this audit will entail, a report will be released at the end of the year. 

April 18: CAPA announced setting up a mediation center to handle conflicts

May 13: MCT released more amendments: abolishing performance industry groups from issuing entertainer licenses, all manager licenses and guidelines will fall under the MCT, industry groups should act under their charter and protect the rights of their members. CAPA’s charter does not say anything about punishing their members, mediation, or procedural justice.

Rumor that CAPA is planning to release a new charter soon, likely will include the procedure of their boycott lists and a streamlining of membership costs

Sus Things

11 companies under livestreaming sub-committee, 9 of which have been cited by the CAC as hosting sexually explicit content (especially Six Rooms something like 11 times.) Pay-for-skin soft pornography, basically.

Some Weibo bloggers accused these platforms of using their image without permission in ads. 

Some of these take 50-60% of your livestream earnings.

Six Rooms’ parent company lost 150mil RMB on the stock market the same week as the 9th boycott list; one of the companies with stock in them has right wing Japanese imperialist ties

CAPA’s president has no perfomance experience, started out as a chemical engineer. Used to work low in the MCT.

Secratariat Pang Yen has been accused of taking bribes and having dinners with “pretty boys” to take people off the boycott lists

Li Xuezheng talked about a friend going for a dinner with a CAPA executive who said “We can’t get you famous, but we can crush you like a bug”

CAPA listed the Communist Youth League as a group their moral committee consulted 

Youth League is another grade 1 NGO, a lot of leaders used to come from it but this was restructured in 2016 due to lingeage favouritism, budget was cut by more than half. Current faction in political power doesn’t like them, basically.

Lots of antis have ties to them

Posted an awful article about Zhang Zhehan in August)

The League’s official posting online became more sensationalized after 2016, more Buzzfeed-ish

Central body and provincial sub-groups

Feed a lot of people into government jobs but not governmental themselves

Case where a journalist involved with CAPA was found to have interviewed himself as an official source. Another official was found to have posted sexually explicity and xenophobic content. Many followed antis. Many wiped their Weibos after Nov 23rd. Sophie also seems to have ties to CAPA, Xie Yihua can be tied to it six different ways with a less than 3 degree separation

First boycott list said it would only last 24 months, this phrase then disappeared on later lists. Appeal period of 30 days which had to be done in person (during COVID nonetheless), shorted to 10 days on 9th list. The appeals against CAPA go to CAPA themselves (obvious conflict of interest)

After Li Xuezheng was muted, all these passersby who got a platform talking about justice are now no longer talking about CAPA. Very questionable in terms of motive.

Being able to own LLCs created huge concerns for conflict of interest.

Managment test prices and difficulty seem to vary depending on where you are.

The original boycott statement made it sound mandatory and like they had authority over doing so (they only clarified on Dec 1 that they are not mandatory.)

Misc. Discussion

The government always takes a part in public companies but is not omniscient. Social media has been mostly self-regulating, but the government has started to take a more active approach to content moderation. The degree is not known.

About CAPA’s upcoming mediation committee: “First mediation centre set up in the country for performers mediation. Will rely on media academics and lawyers to help mediate in a just and effective manner for matters concerning perfomance, management, and related matters. According to sources, this has the okay from the leaders of CAPA to mediate these conflicts. Also this centre can help aid CAPA members, executive members, and related agencies in consultation on civil conflicts to help aid against lawsuits.” Also want to mediate copyright and IP conflicts. 

Zhang Zhehan’s case has really put a light on what is likely the situation with many other NGOs.

Question of why the platform boycott is still ongoing despite CAPA saying that it’s not mandatory:

Platforms are likely afraid of admitting that they’ve made a mistake and may be liable for it.

The guess is that the government will force platforms to abide by their rulings and there will be a press release once the case has reached that point. This could potentially affect others on the lists as well depending on what the exact situation of the lawsuit is.

What has happened to Zhang Zhehan could happen to anyone. It’s very much pushing the boundaries of what CAPA can do, and it will be very frightening if they are able to get away with it. Who’s to say it won’t become something they market under the table?

The fact that Zhang Zhehan’s case came up in test study materials last year may in part be CAPA’s doing, as they have some ties in publishing.

CAPA is very likely involved in the recent shift in target (ie. what Xie Yihua’s been doing)

The news about Zhang Zhehan has very much shifted from justice to celebrity gossip. 

He’s being talked about like he’s already back. 

So far news about the Xie Yihua situation is mostly contained to the fandom

The recent efforts are character assassination, trying to attack him from different angles, trying to distract the public with a persona since most of the general public don’t know much about him outside of his role in Word of Honor and 813