World Water Day (March 22) is a timely reminder that we need to look after the sources of fresh water.
Though around 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, around 2.5% is fresh water, which living beings can use. Fresh water, which does not contain salts, is what we require for our drinking and other needs. Apart from rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands, freshwater is also found in glaciers and in underground aquifers.
Now think about this: 69% of the fresh water that is available to us is actually stored in ice. Can you see how little is actually available to us? This is why it is so important that we conserve our fresh water resources and also use it carefully in our daily lives.
This is what World Water Day (March 22) is all about. Founded by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the first World Water Day was celebrated in 1993. The aim is not only to talk about the importance of fresh water but also the sustainable management of resources. What does sustainable management mean? It refers to ensuring that careful usage of a resource so that future generations will continue to have access to it.
In the case of fresh water, sustainable management involves: Avoiding overuse; Preventing pollution of water sources; and Conserving water. For 2023, the theme is Accelerating Change. This means moving fast to tackle the water crisis. Remember, water is required not just for drinking but also for sanitation purposes. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 is “Ensure access to water and sanitation for all”.
This is a call not just to governments, policy makers, corporates and others to take action. This is as much about you as an individual. What can you do? How can you influence you family, your community, your school and others to make changes to the way they use water on a daily basis? Here are some ideas.
Remember, life is interdependent. Humans cannot live in isolation. So, the actions we take now will impact not just our lives but that of all living beings. Ensure that what you do allows life to flourish on this planet. After all, it’s the only home we have.
On World Sparrow Day, everyone talks of nesting boxes. But how did this idea come into being?
Birds have been building intricate nests far before humans even came to this Earth. Actually, humans took shelter in caves and under cliff overhangs, where birds like swallows, martins, and swifts built nests using mud, saliva, feathers and other materials. So how did humans start building nest boxes? Check out this slider to find out.
This week, we celebrate four different aspects of Nature: Frogs, Sparrows, Forests and Water. Here is a crossword based on these themes.
Today is World Frog Day and World Sparrow Day. Tomorrow is International Day of the Forest. On March 22 is World Water Day. Now here is an activity for you that covers all these.
These scrambled words spell the name of a sport. Use the pictorial clues and unscramble them to find the name.
All these sports are muddled up. Use the picture clue to decipher them.
A clever mouse outwits wild animals in the forest with a tale of a fearful monster. What’s the name of the monster?
What is the name of the book that tells the story of a clever little mouse outwitting the creatures of the deep dark wood?
Now, try and find 15 words containing the letters from the book’s name. Use the clues given below.
Clues:
1. A piece of symbolic cloth or material that represents a country or organisation.
2. A voice that is rough and low in pitch.
3. To beat someone with a whip or stick as a punishment.
4. Main ingredient in a cake.
5. A sport in which use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes.
6. A quantity of bread that is shaped and baked in one piece.
7. To roll or fold up something neatly.
8. A cold-blooded amphibian with smooth skin and long hind legs adapted for jumping.
9. A number.
10. A gap.
11. The entrails and internal organs of an animal used as food.
12. Trivial or foolish talk.
13. Offensive to the senses.
14. Sparing or economical as regards money or food.
15. The plants of a particular region, habitat.
There is a reason why forests do not accumulate any waste at all. Read on to learn more…
Forests are abundant in biodiverity that generate significant amounts of waste. Ever wondered what happens to the waste in the forest? Check out the image slider to learn more.
In his birth month, meet the man whose books are fun, whacky and have the most outlandish characters!
“I write books for children and enjoy making up words and eccentric characters. I made up the word ‘nerd’. Funny, eh?”
Read through these slides to learn more about the famous author!
Even if cooking is not your forte, you can try your hand at these puzzles.
Whether you like to cook or just want to know what’s in your plate, this quiz will tell you more. Go on, try your hand at it.
On February 16, 1923, one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time was made when Howard Carter and his team entered the tomb of King Tutankhamen. What did they find?
This year marks the centenary of the opening of King Tutankhamen’s tomb, a discovery that allowed scholars to understand ancient Egypt better. Read on to know more about this momentous occasion.
Six questions to up your GK quotient…
Time to give your grey cells some exercise. Get, set, go.