DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS
1 – Ocean Tuna Commission of India: GS II – International Issues:
Context:
- Organised by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, the Working Party on Data Collection and Statistics (WPDCS19) of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) has convened in Mumbai.
- Large pelagic animals including billfish, sharks, and rays, as well as tunas, are highly valuable economically; in 2018, tunas alone were projected to have contributed US$41 billion to global trade.
About tuna:
- A group of saltwater fish from the Thunnini tribe are referred to as tuna. These fish are well-known for their broad distribution in warm waters, tremendous swimming prowess, and sleek bodies.
- The meat of tuna is highly prized in the world’s fishing industry and is frequently utilised in many different cuisines, particularly sushi and sashimi. Skipjack, yellowfin, and Atlantic bluefin tuna are a few species of tuna that are well-known.
Source – The Hindu
2 – Worldwide agrifood systems: GS III – Agriculture related issues:
Economic Repercussions:
- These consequences of unsustainable agrifood systems show up as increased poverty, damage to the environment, and health-related effects including malnutrition and poor eating habits in middle-income nations like India, where they account for close to 11% of GDP.
- Unsustainable Practices: The report calls for a change in agrifood systems and connects rising prices to “unsustainable business-as-usual activities and practices.”
Monocropping and Intensive Chemical Farming:
- As seen by India’s Green Revolution, the mainstreaming of monocropping and chemical-intensive farming techniques harmed the environment and jeopardised nutritional requirements.
Deregulatory and Privatisation:
- Indian farmers are now more indebted than ever due to the privatisation and deregulation of agricultural inputs, as well as an emphasis on the purchase of rice and wheat.
Impact of Global Trade:
- Global trade ties have historically impacted local food security and farmers’ income in the Global South’s food production systems.
Suggestions:
Transition from Local to Global Systems:
- The paper highlights a structural change in value chains from local to global, arguing that local initiatives like crop diversification are crucial.
Solutions for Crop Diversification:
- Using diversified multi-cropping systems based on agroecology principles can help restore damaged land, strengthen the health of the soil, and increase biodiversity.
- For instance, “akkadi saalu” is intercropping with a mix of trees, shrubs, oilseeds, legumes, and pulses, as well as cattle.
Financial Simulation:
- Both now and in the future, farm earnings can be increased by switching to more diverse farming methods.
Methodical Change:
- A methodical approach should be used to shift from high-input monoculture to diversified cropping, enabling farmers to make modest adjustments and resolving issues with seeds, market accessibility, and manpower.
Working Together and Growing Up:
- Collaboration between organisations, decision-makers, and social groups is necessary to scale up these methods in order to support farmers financially and ease the transition.
- Formerly, the FAO has recommended in the Status of Women in Agri-food Systems:
- More access to and authority over land, cattle, water, seeds, technology, and finances is required for women.
- removing discrimination through interactions with boys and men.
Several Indian best practices are as follows:
- Women in Tamil Nadu who worked in the fishing industry had more expansive social networks and were better able to adjust to the demands of the changing seasons.
- The MGNREG Programmes require that women who participate in the programmes provide early childhood care facilities.
- Women in northern India are now able to speak in front of males and assume public responsibilities thanks to the work of participative village committees that address issues related to nutrition, health, and water access. These committees have also helped to modify discriminatory practices.
An agrifood system: what is it?
- The complete food production, processing, distribution, and consumption chain is included in an agrifood system. It encompasses food production, supply chains, and the socioeconomic aspects that affect dietary decisions. Its goal is to guarantee that everyone has equal and sustainable access to a healthy diet.
Source – The Hindu
3 – Dangers to Ethics in Climate Engineering: GS III – Science and Technology related issues:
Climate engineering: what is it?
- Geoengineering, another name for climate engineering, is the intentional alteration of Earth’s natural systems to lessen the effects of climate change. It involves methods such as Solar Radiation Modification (introducing aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight and thereby lower Earth’s surface temperature) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (constructing massive infrastructure to absorb and store carbon emissions from industrial processes) to change carbon levels and sunlight reflection.
Concerns about Ethics in Climate Engineering:
Undermining Policies Related to Climate Change:
- Possibility of climate engineering taking funds away from essential measures to reduce emissions and adapt to them.
Economic Disparities:
- These technologies’ high development and implementation costs have the potential to worsen economic inequality throughout the world.
Slick slope:
- Because it affects biodiversity and the ecology, it may speed up implementation without any ethical foundation.
Danger of Morality:
- It might provide polluters a justification for continuing to utilise fossil fuels.
Geopolitical or Military Use:
- In order to prevent geoengineering tools from being used for geopolitical or military objectives, global governance initiatives must be reinforced.
Uncertainties and Knowledge Gaps:
- A lack of thorough knowledge and possible domino effects put people, the ocean, temperature, and biodiversity at danger.
Challenges with Dependency and Phase-out:
- The development of a reliance on these technologies influences climate action by posing concerns about the best time and method for their phase-out.
Impact across borders:
- The possible transboundary effects of a country’s climate engineering initiatives must be taken into account.
Advice:
- Legal Regulation: In order to stop harm, states should pass laws governing climate engineering.
- Ethical study Standards: International law-compliant ethical standards must be followed in scientific study.
- Countries must evaluate and take into account the transboundary effects of their climate engineering choices.
- Effective global control of climate engineering necessitates transparent and conscientious engagement among nations.
- Inclusive Decision-Making: When developing climate engineering policy, marginalised people affected by climate disruption should be given careful consideration and participation.
Way Forward:
- In order to be compliant with ethical frameworks and the obligations made in the Paris Agreement, the ethical implications of climate engineering must be discussed in the present intergovernmental talks taking place during COP28.
Source – The Hindu
4 – Fast Track Special Courts: GS II – Judiciary related issues:
Context:
- The Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC), which aim to expedite justice in cases of sexual assaults, will remain open for a further three years, until March 31, 2026, according to approval from the Union Cabinet.
- The FTSC was established in 2019 as a centrally supported programme with the goal of expeditiously resolving rape cases and those covered by the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
- Overseeing the scheme’s execution, the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, has established 761 fast-track courts in 30 states and union territories.
- With an emphasis on ensuring that victims of sexual assaults receive swift justice, these courts have resolved over 1,95,000 cases.
Source – The Hindu
