03 November 2023

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

 1 – “Meri Maati, Mera Desh” Initiative: GS II – Government Policies and Interventions

Context:

• Special trains are planned by Railways as part of “Meri Maati, Mera Desh.”

Important information:

• To get volunteers bringing mitti (dirt) from State capitals and other significant stations around the nation to New Delhi, the Indian Railways would run special trains.
• The programme is a component of the “My Soil, My Country” (Meri Maati Mera Desh) campaign.
• The Ministry of Culture is organising the campaign in honour of the bravehearts, or Veers and Veeranganas, who have given their lives in defence of their nation.
• A little over 20,000 volunteers carrying kalash (urns) filled with soil will travel to Delhi to take part in activities leading up to the annual Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• To honour those who had given their lives for the country, volunteers would gather soil samples from each home.
• If there was no soil available, individuals could donate a grain of rice.
• The “Amrit Vatika,” a unique garden being developed in Delhi along with a memorial dedicated to “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” will employ the dirt that is gathered.
• Special “Amrit Kalash Yatri” trains would be run by the Ministry of Railways to make it easier for the volunteers to travel around.

Source The Hindu

2 – Dhordo on the list of the World Tourism Organisation of the United Nations: GS I – Indian Culture

Context:

• The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) listed Dhordo, Gujarat, as one of its best villages.

Important information:

• A United Nations organisation that promotes responsible travel is the UNWTO.
• These settlements were picked because of their ability to attract more tourists without detracting from the main attractions.
• The award honours rural locations that are embracing tourism as a catalyst for growth and the creation of new employment and revenue opportunities while maintaining and advancing locally owned goods and values.
• Villages that are dedicated to innovation and sustainability in all spheres—economic, social, and environmental—are also honoured by this project.
• Furthermore, it acknowledges the need of advancing tourism in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The list included 32 villages from all across the world.
• The locations are arranged alphabetically by nation rather than in any particular order.
• Every nation was permitted to submit a maximum of three villages for evaluation; however, only Spain was able to have all three of its villages qualify.
• The “Best Tourism Villages” programme strives to reduce waste and emissions, promote sustainable tourism, and accomplish the following goals:
• stop the rural population decline
• promote gender parity
• inventiveness
• infrastructure, capital, and
• lessen the disparity in regional income and growth.

Source The Hindu

3 – The effects of dust from construction: GS III – Environmental Conservation related issues

Context:

• Massive infrastructure projects have covered Mumbai city in dust at a volume and sweep never seen before.

Important information:

• There have been record lows of airborne particulate matter, or PM2.5 and PM10, which combined constitute a deadly combination of airborne pollutants that can be swallowed. PM2.5 is a term for small particles with a diameter of 2.5 millimetres or less.

What makes it up:

• Particulate matter made up of a combination of liquid and solid components, such as cement, sand, stone, wood, chemicals, and even metal, is released by construction dust.
• The usage of cement causes the respiratory tract to become irritated by chemical irritants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Research has also revealed that heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and chromium may be present in cement manufacture. Inhaling these metals can cause serious health issues like cancer, renal damage, and neurological diseases.

Effect:

• All building involves handling cement, which produces PM2.5 and PM10 that can enter the respiratory system profoundly.
• While PM10 typically deposits on the bigger airways of the upper area of the lung, the tiny PM2.5 can penetrate deeper into the lung and embed.
• Inhaling these particles can aggravate pre-existing illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cause lung irritation and inflammation, leading to symptoms such as persistent wheezing and coughing.
• Prolonged exposure might aggravate respiratory conditions by causing coughing, dyspnea, and irritation of the throat.
• Long-term (months to years) exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with decreased lung function growth in children and early death, especially in those with chronic heart or lung disorders.

Inhalation of PM 10:

• Long-term PM10 exposure has less defined consequences, yet some research indicates a connection between respiratory disorders and long-term PM10 exposure.

Impacts on artisans in construction:

• The negative consequences of airborne particles from building activities are especially dangerous for construction workers.
• Extended exposure to dust from construction sites can lead to work-related illnesses including silicosis, a crippling lung disease.
• Workers’ risk of developing lung and heart conditions is increased by fine dust particles that can enter the bloodstream.

Path ahead:

Appropriate equipment:

• To preserve workers’ health and reduce air pollution, the construction sector must implement sufficient workplace safety measures, such as dust management and appropriate personal protective equipment.

Being Aware:

• Given the substantial health effects of construction dust, experts advocate for increased awareness, mindfulness, and caution when handling waste and during construction activities.

Governmental actions:

• In addition to strictly enforcing the rules, municipal organisations must also take action to recycle waste materials and debris from building sites and to repurpose recycled rubbish on construction sites.
• The municipal corporation must make sure that it creates a robust policy for mitigating and controlling dust.

Division of Wase:

• Construction and demolition projects produce a lot of garbage, which needs to be disposed of properly.
• Sorting this material and then moving it to the recycling facilities is an important step.
• Once more, construction projects can make use of this repurposed garbage.

Source The Hindu

4 – About Ajinomoto: GS III – Environmental Conservation related issues

Context:

• Even while MSG has generated some debate over the years, it’s crucial to realise that most people consider it harmless when ingested in moderation.

About Ajinomoto:

• Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a common food ingredient used to improve food flavour, is marketed under the brand name Ajinomoto.
• It is an umami-inducing substance that has a mild flavouring potential.
• MSG is a flavour enhancer that gives food the umami flavour, which is frequently characterised as savoury, meaty, or brothy.

Why does cuisine employ it?

• MSG is mostly used to improve food’s umami, or savoury, flavour.
• Because it can enhance the flavour and appeal of food, it is frequently employed in a wide variety of cuisines.
• Ajinomoto is a common ingredient in fast food, restaurant cuisine, and processed goods.

Worries:

• Some people report that after eating foods containing MSG, they get symptoms like headaches, perspiration, and chest pain.
• This phenomenon is occasionally denoted as Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.
• Certain people can be more vulnerable to the effects of MSG due to underlying medical issues or sensitivity to large amounts of the spice.
• For those who already have high blood pressure or are at risk of developing heart disease, excessive sodium consumption should be avoided as it can cause hypertension and other cardiovascular issues.

How can one monitor their usage of MSG?

• It is critical to understand where the MSG in your food comes from.
• Glutamate can be found in naturally occurring foods including tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and mushrooms, which can be included in a balanced diet.
• Eating a diet high in whole, unprocessed foods is generally seen to be healthier than consuming a diet high in highly processed foods, which frequently have MSG added for flavour.
• By itself, ajinomoto has no nutritional value.
• It is not a source of nutrients; rather, it is only an artificial flavour enhancer.
• Consuming too many of these additives can reduce the amount of more nutrient-dense whole meals.
• If you use MSG or ajinomoto little in your cuisine, it’s acceptable.

Source The Hindu

5 – Saint Porphyrius Church: GS I – International Issues

Context:

• The ancient Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza, which is owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, sustained significant damage as a result of an Israeli bombing on a nearby structure.

Important information:

• The church was first dedicated in approximately 425 CE and is situated in Gaza’s Old City’s Zaytun Quarter.
• The northeastern corner of the church is home to the tomb of the saint Porphyrius, after whom it was named.
• Saint Porphyrius, who was born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 347 CE, served as the bishop of Gaza from 395 until his passing in 420 CE.
• His only known work is Mark the Deacon’s colourful hagiography Vita Porphyrii.
• According to legend, the saint destroyed all of Gaza’s temples and converted the resistant pagan city to Christianity.
• In 402 CE, after being consecrated as a bishop, Porphyrius received an edict from Roman Emperor Arcadius ordering the destruction of the pagan temples.
• The church was turned into a mosque following the Islamic conquest of the Levant in the first part of the seventh century CE.
• It remained a mosque for five centuries until the Crusaders seized it and had it renovated in the twelfth century.
• The latest significant updates were carried out in 1856.
• The Great Mosque in Gaza, which was once the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, shares a lot of architectural similarities with the Church.
• It is currently one of Gaza’s three churches, along with the Gaza Baptist Church and Holy Family Catholic Church on Zeitoun Street.

Source The Hindu