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Antarctica: The Meltdown

If you are concerned about the environment and the ill effect of pollution on it, then small but important news might have drawn your attention one year back on 26^th March 2008… news about Antarctica. The news read that a giant ice shelf from the coastal area of the frozen continent has collapsed into the sea. This information is derived from the satellite images of that region. The giant portion of ice has melted down all of a sudden. Such a kind of collapse is generally termed as a runaway collapse by the scientists. The scientists have also deduced that the collapse of this giant ice shelf, which amounts to nearly 160 square miles, is because of global warming.

Though an unpopulated continent unlike Asia, Africa and Australia; Antarctica has always been a matter of grave concern for the environmentalists as well as to the scientists. This sudden meltdown of that giant ice shelf has raised many brows and has given birth to a number of questions regarding issues relating to environment. The environmental issues include global warming, green house effect and decaying of ozone layer. These are grave issues that require immediate attention both from the scientists and environmentalists. And we the general people too cannot sit still waiting for the scientists to take effective measures.

Satellite imagery from the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder reveals that a 13,680 square kilometer (5,282 square mile) ice shelf has begun to collapse because of rapid climate change in a fast-warming region of Antarctica.

Looking back in time I can still remember the thoughts of horror that cropped up in my mind reading the news. Most of you people might also have the same reaction. It is not just a news that is to be read and to be forgotten afterwards. We need to give this matter prime importance. If such grave environmental problems continue in the long run, life on earth may not stand a chance. A day may come when there will be nothing called ‘land’ in this huge planet owing to the meltdown of the giant ice shelves in Antarctica. Are we going to gift such a horrible future to our generations to come? Or are we going to pull up our socks to save our green planet… it’s time for us to think and act accordingly.

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Posted in Environment, News, Reviews | 3 Comments »

Tata Nano: The Pocket-Friendly Car

After the launch of Tata Nano by Tata Motors on Monday (23.03.09) everyone seems to be talking about the hottest little cutie in the world of cars. Tata Nano is declared as the people’s car by Tata Motors, the leading car manufacturer of India. For its base model, the car promises to stick to the Rs. 100,000 price tag. Thus it is an extremely affordable car that is sure to find a huge fan following in the car market of Asian subcontinent.

The other day, I was talking with some of my friends about this hottest new car from Tata Motors. Most of them were very happy with this peoples’ car. To them it is the most cost effective and budget friendly car that they can afford easily. Affordability and cost effectiveness is the USP of Nano. The small car is designed to cater to the middle income group of India, who can now materialize their four wheeler dream by investing just one lakh rupees. It is indeed a dream come true for many.

Some thoughtful minds who are concerned about the environment are raising their brows in this issue. According to them such pocket friendly cars will have a huge sell. As a result a lot of petrol will be consumed. This will ultimately yield a higher level of pollution. A rise in pollution can lead to dangerous consequences like global warming and green house effect.

Some also think that though the peoples’ car falls within the budget of the middle income group of India it ultimately raises the cost of living. Buying the car is a onetime investment but the petrol consumption may add a recurring expenditure in one’s budget. The running and maintenance cost should not be ignored too. However, all these are mere assumptions and actually it may not affect the human lives and environment as badly as it is feared.

Most of the people who belong to the middle income group in India are happy at the arrival of the car. The small car with a small price tag has stroke the right chord in the heart of the nation. Bookings for Tata Nano will begin from the month of April and delivery of these cars will start from mid-July this year. The entire nation seems to be waiting for the day when the hot little cutie by the Tata Motors will set the Indian roads on fire.

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