Biography 280: Travel after the class.

 My college was in Downtown Toronto. There are so many places that can be visited there. I thought that after my class, when it finishes a little early, I would visit one place. This way, I will be able to visit many places during my Diploma. I have visited two beautiful places after my class. One is the first post office in Toronto. Another one is the Museum of Illusion. Both are very recommended to everyone. 

You don't need a ticket to visit the post office. It has a museum inside with ancient post office equipment. You will love to write letters with feathers and ink.

However, you will need to pay a fee to visit the Museum of Illusion. It is around $50 or less. You can take your kids to both places.

Then, the college started putting pressure on our studies and assignments. I became very tired. So, after class, I had to go back home to study. My travel stopped after class.

Get prepared

 When I was studying at university, one of our young teachers said that wherever she went, she succeeded because she was always well prepared before going there.

I didn't understand that much back then. Now I think that was a great suggestion. When you are well prepared, you can handle any situation better than anyone else. Even if anything surprises you, you can still manage it because you have already learned to manage other conditions.

So, before you go anywhere, always make good preparations. Even for your future, get prepared.

Anthropocene: The Human Epoch

 

In this video, they have brought up some issues related to global warming. Such as Heavy metal mines and extraction factories in Norilsk, which created the most polluted city in Russia; the Marble mine in Carrara, Italy; the Desert in Chile, which produces lethal batteries; and the Largest open pit mine in Germany. Techno fossils, a big landfill in Dandora, Kenya, a big tunnel in Switzerland for trains, growing plants in a World War 2 bunker in London, UK, Oil refineries in Houston, Texas, and the coral reef of Indonesia, etc.

They addressed these issues to say what is the main point of all global crises, which is responsible for warming the earth. That is TRADE. Which refers to money. Because of this problem, if we somehow stop one problem in one place, another place starts to do the same for profit. Only if we can stop the trade system, things will start changing. I mean, we can say everyone will get whatever they need. Equality will be maintained. No work will give you money. People will work for each other to help. Then no one will be able to do anything harmful to all. The world will be like one country.

If we consider it, this could be a good or the only solution. But it can’t be easy. If there is no country or profit-making work, people may wonder, What’s the point of work? I will get all I need.

Poor people may feel interested, but people who have power won’t like to lose their power, property, or luxurious life. As they have the power, they won’t let this happen. The decision-makers only follow power, which is their profit. So, it is very difficult to even think, that this is a possible solution.

Any good changes can only be made if we can show people the profit. Otherwise, awareness. Again, we are talking about billions of dollars in profit. So, awareness is very difficult to grow. But we need to bring proof, and the loss that all will suffer. We must create awareness for the next generation and keep trying.

Whenever we want to stop something, we must bring solid proof of loss and bring some points of profit if they stop it. This may bring some interest to the general public to be aware of climate-harming work.

If we can’t stop Trade, we shouldn’t stop trying to find other solutions. Keep trying to stop all causes and raise awareness among the general, corporate, and young people. If we can’t solve a problem, at least we can try to minimize it.

Biography 279: Nobody wants to go against the crowd

 In Bangladesh, people think they are right. Whatever they think is right is right. And everyone is wrong who is not like that. Then, they have the right to force people to do whatever they feel is right.

 People do not tolerate others' opinions or views. They form gangs and then force individuals or small groups to follow their thoughts.

They make that happen in the name of religion, tradition, sensitive thoughts, modernization, to achieve success, etc.

Let me give you a simple example. A person thinks that eating fruit right after a meal is not good. Then they found someone who is doing so. The first person will tell their surroundings that we don't eat fruit after the meal. It's not good. Who does that? Only that shameful person is doing that. That person isn't good. See how that person looks and how they wear dresses, all bad. Everybody around them will start thinking, correct! What a shameful person. One of the crowd will say See how that person walks, not good. Everybody will say right! We agree. Then one will say, when that person touches a fruit, I will take it from their hand and ask them to leave. All will think, what a great idea! That person has to do what we believe is right. Why do they try to be something else? We can't let that happen!

Nobody from that crowd will ever say, "It's okay. It's their choice. Let them be what they want to be." No way. Nobody wants to make the crowd go against them. They will keep supporting and bringing new ideas to make life miserable for that other kind of person.

Does willpower help you to achieve everything?

 Willpower. If you have willpower, you can achieve everything.

Is it?

If your health doesn't support you, things change totally differently. Yes, you might achieve it with your willpower, but it's challenging. In most cases, you might have to keep trying till your death.

I am not discouraging anyone. Life isn't always fair. Just try to be prepared for whatever comes next. You just have to move on. At least you have to have willpower to keep trying.

May Allah bless us.

Conflict and Its Aftermath

 Eric Hobsbawm (2002) states, “The 20th century was the most murderous in recorded history.” We understand how it happened. The two deadliest world wars occurred in the 20^th Century. The holocaust happened during the war. Almost the whole world was involved in these wars.

World War II, when Germany and Russia fought each other. Russia has one of the greatest weapons, which is its weather. In any war, they always wait for the Winter. Because different countries' soldiers were unfamiliar with Russia’s harsh winter, most were unprepared for it. Russian soldiers took that opportunity to win the war. This happened with Russia and Germany’s fight, too. Many German soldiers who got into Russia while fighting lost their lives. Some could fly and escape. But mostly couldn’t. Their dead bodies remain on the soil, eaten by the crows.

The Aftermath is now, when one German soldier comes and is looking for his friends, a current Russian responsible person helps them like a brother. They put aside the conflicts that happened long ago. They support each other with history. In that Russian area, they built a memorial for the German soldiers. Still, when they dug, they found the bones of German soldiers. The Russian historians are keeping all records. This is humanity. No matter how hard they fought in history. Now, they understand the cruelty of the war. And trying to keep the peace between the countries. 

Currently, Russia and Ukraine have been fighting with each other for years. Russia invaded Ukraine. The cities and the people of Ukraine are suffering terrible violence and disaster. Many people leave the country as refugees. Canada has taken hundreds of refugees from Ukraine. Other people are living in the subway, which is an underground train station, and soldiers are fighting with Russia. 

Roots:  These two countries were the roots of the USSR. Ukraine is a very resourceful country. Not only minerals, but they are also very rich in agriculture. They have a vibrant culture. Russia didn’t want to lose this resourceful area. And Ukraine didn’t want to stay under Russia like a colony. So that Russians will benefit from Ukraine’s resources and don’t give any power to that population. That’s why Ukraine wanted to join the EU, a group of European countries and North America. North America is Russia’s main opposite party in power. So, Russia tried to capture Ukraine with their army. The war started. 

The potential aftermath: Russia is using their latest model weapons, and EU countries are also giving new weapons to Ukraine to win the war. None of these are suitable for humans or the environment. So, both humans and the environment may suffer for a decade from this war.

The children are facing trouble in education. Though Ukraine has established schools in subway stations, they are not enough to educate children naturally.

Both countries may face financial trouble because of this long war. They primarily invest money in war, not in developing society and economic activities.

Because of the war, people from both countries hate each other. In the long run, hate-related crime may start. 

The world used to have resources from both countries, especially from Ukraine. Because of the war, supplies were interrupted, and in many countries, this created inflation. This may continue for years.

Biography 278: I didn't sit on the rickshaw puller's seat.

 We four sisters used to go to Shishu Academy and Bulbul Lalitokola Academy (Bafa) every week. We had to go to both the Shishu Academy in the morning and Bafa in the afternoon on Friday. And every Wednesday afternoon to Shishu Academy and every Thursday afternoon to Bafa.

In the beginning, my mom used to take us all. After 1 or 2 years, our older sister used to take us. She used to learn to play guitar. I first learned Dancing and then singing. My younger sister learned dancing, art, and singing. Our youngest sister learned dancing and singing.

We used to ride in a rickshaw together. Just to let you know, my home wasn't very near the Shishu Academy. On those days, rickshaws were wider. But still, they weren't good enough for five people. My mom used to sit. Then two sisters could sit beside her, one could sit on my mom's lap, and the rest had to stand up.

We used to fight over who would sit in the seat. One day, they didn't let me sit on the seat. I was complaining about that. Our rickshaw puller couldn't hear it anymore. He said, "You can sit on my seat." My mom said, "See how generous he is. Now sit on that seat." I didn't.

How do people drink black coffee?

 I never thought that I would be able to drink black coffee. I always took coffee with cream and sugar. I used to ask people how you guys drink black coffee. I had decided that if I had to give up sugar, I would stop drinking coffee.

But now I am trying. I drank half a spoonful of instant coffee and hot water in a cup. First, I felt terrible. Then, slowly, I finished it. Still, I don't like it. How do people drink black coffee?

The market can destroy natural resources

 Market Externalities:

Market Externalities mean decision-making problems, like what should be left in the market and what should be provided outside the market. These are specific positive and negative consequences in the market. For example, without regulation, the market can destroy natural resources. To keep up with the people’s demands, people can exploit natural resources for excessive production and services. Another way of Market Externalities could be the death of people who were sick and disabled, who couldn’t buy food from the market. This situation happens because of the unequal distribution of wealth.

To solve this problem, society can act by adding an extra tax on cigarettes for ruining health. They can also provide essential food to all for free.

Coffee:

Finding an adult who doesn’t drink coffee in Canada won't be easy. So, there are a vast number of coffee consumers in the country, and different brands of coffee are available here. Because of the vast number of coffee consumers, we can be united and fix the problems of the market externalities.

First, we need to create awareness among the general coffee consumers so that everyone can be united and pressure the corporations to fix all kinds of problems in different layers of production and selling. All problems can not be solved in one day. Everyone must be patient and fix them one after another.

For example, we must create awareness of the poor people who are involved in the development process of coffee bins. We may share pictures and videos on social media or get help from any non-profit organization that helps these people or works with environmental justice. So that all information can be accessed through the news media and other channels. We must make our voice heard for the poor farmers. And send messages to the corporations that are directly involved in this process. We have to offer them a company that will take responsibility for caring for poor farmers without increasing coffee pricing. We will all buy coffee from that company. We must keep our word if any company takes the initiative, so those farmers can be safe from harmful plasticizers attacking their lungs.

If we start seeing success, then we can focus on other issues. For example, farmers are now producing excessive amounts of coffee to meet the demand and profit. This way, they cut most trees in the forest to cultivate coffee beans. So, many problems, like soil erosion, started. We must come to a solution to this problem so that the farmers won’t face the problems and there will be fewer environmental problems, such as using indigenous ways of cultivation. In this way, they cultivate different crops at the same time. One tree protects another. Or any other scientific way. We must give that information to the farmers through governments and corporations, which will be very helpful for the environment and the whole world. Birds will increase, and the farmers will see fewer pest attacks.

Apart from environmental issues, we must also consider the social and political issues as consumers. We know that corporations will only show interest in fixing problems if they see some benefits. So, we must bring benefits for them too. They need to get some government rules and regulations too, so they have no choice but to take good initiative in the whole process. The government will take policies to help reduce market externalities when they find that their vote bank will like this and give votes to them. Which means we will have to create somewhat win-win situations.

In the end, we can say that the coffee we consume is made through different processes in different countries. In between, corporate companies also change. So, it is tough to fix any problems because everyone will push the reason for problems to the other group. As it is developing in different countries, the government policy differs in different countries.

Biography 277: Caring for my hair.

When I was in Saudi Arabia, my mom used to wash my hair with Sunsilk Shampoo. She said everybody liked my silky black straight hair. They used to ask, Do all Bangladeshi have beautiful hair?

After returning to Bangladesh, my mom often applied coconut oil to my hair and braided it with a ribbon. She said, and I believe that too, because of her effort, I had some good quality hair.

Then I tried to take care of my hair. But I never had the time and energy to do so. With time, now much of my hair has become white. I'm glad I still have some hair. The way I lose hair, the head is supposed to be empty by this time.