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Is Social Media hitting mental health hard?

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What do you do first thing in the morning when you get up? That’s right, check your phone. Seeing your messages and notifications and skimming through your newsfeed and Whatsapp statuses of friends is the first and foremost job to be done. Relieving your bladder, brushing your teeth, or having breakfast can wait. First, you need to see what’s going on in your colleague’s life, what the latest celeb gossip is, and who replied what on who’s status.

Social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube, etc. are being much used by a mighty chunk of the public in Pakistan. According to the Global Digital Report 2018, 35 million people are active users of social media, which means a hefty 18 percent. From these, 32 million are active via their mobile phones. And, not a surprise, the most used social media website is Facebook, as 92.06 percent of our population is engrossed in its usage.

Let us take a look at some cases, and we’ll decide how social media affects our mental well-being

Shanila is obsessed with taking selfies and posting them on her Instagram. Whether it’s during a university lecture, traveling, shopping, or just sitting at home, a pout and a touch on the screen make her day. Then she spends the rest of the day reading the comments and replying to her ever-growing list of followers. Recently, she got a new haircut and spent several hours in front of the mirror to make sure her winged eyeliner and highlighter were perfect. Shanila is obsessed with her looks and concerned if she receives a negative comment on her appearance from a stranger.

Farooq has earned a lot ever since he learned to write useful articles and joined freelancing pages and groups on Facebook. He draws a satisfactory amount every month and helps his parents financially for the education of his younger siblings. Farooq is also very good at drawing. He has made a page on which he regularly posts and receives positive feedback from people all over the world. He feels pleasure and pride in himself for using his capabilities to the fullest.

Bisma is scrolling her Twitter, which is oozing with gossip regarding the latest celebrity night event and all its happenings. The lavish dresses, the chic hairstyles, and accessories, topped with the luxurious atmosphere portrayed in the pictures, have her drooling over them. She wishes to buy similar dresses, even though she went just the other day to the market to get new clothes. 

According to the Global Digital Report 2018, 35 million people are active users of social media, which means a hefty 18 percent.
According to the Global Digital Report 2018, 35 million people are active users of social media, which means a hefty 18 percent.

Aniqa is a food lover and can’t stop thinking about the Harry-Potter themed restaurant which some of her class fellows recently visited. They all uploaded pictures on their Whatsapp statuses, and, seeing the ambiance and mouthwatering food, Aniqa has been pestering her family ever since to take her to the restaurant too.

Jamal recently learned how to hack accounts. He now spends his day cyber-bullying and messaging random people. Having control of other people’s lives and messages gives him inner Satisfaction, and believes a little bit of fooling around will not do harm in the long-run. Also, he can google pretty much anything. He loves sending inappropriate pictures and messages to girls and then imagining the shocked expressions on their faces.

Usman has enrolled in three online courses at the moment. They are for free and offer him interaction with students from foreign countries as well. He loves joining in the group discussions and learning new things about other cultures. Usman feels as though his friends from Turkey, Portugal, China, Iran, and other countries are all sitting in one room and talking, exchanging knowledge and culture and language.

Razia feels relaxed after all three of her sons abroad for education chat with her on Skype every morning. They share their worries and concerns with her, and she also talks her heart out. They laugh and share pictures with her. The rest of the day also passes with exchanges of photographs and messages and emojis.

What do we conclude?

The first and foremost question is, to how many of the above people can we relate our personal lives too? The narcissistic Shanila, who may have chances of developing OCD, or the studious Usman, who has a healthy mind? I’m pretty sure everyone can relate to Bisma and Aniqa. Many people these days create accounts for the mere stalking of their family, friends, and famous people.

Social media has become such a large and engaging facility, and we cannot just say that it is only good or only bad for us. 

Does Social media give Satisfaction?

Gaining knowledge, chatting with your loved ones, sharing information, watching and reading relaxing videos, having your talent appreciated, and earning are all sources of bliss. And of course, something that boosts our morale, confidence, and happiness is beneficial for our mental health.

Another aspect in which social media offers Satisfaction is the wide variety of interactive apps specifically designed for stress relief and mental relaxation. The assurance that whatever we require or whoever we need is just a few presses away keeps us mentally relaxed.

Does Social media bring Stress?

Advancement in technology can be dangerous. With new apps and features coming into the market every passing day, we never know what catastrophe we might face in the future. Also, obsessive use, competition, greed, and a lazy lifestyle all stem up to a confused and dismantled thought process and affect our mental health negatively.

What do the researchers say?

According to the article ‘The effects of social networks on Pakistani students’(Khalid, J Inform Tech Softw Eng 2017, 7:3), it is concluded that excessive Internet use has a significant negative impact on psychological health rather than a positive one.

Social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube, etc. are being much used by a mighty chunk of the public in Pakistan.
Social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube, etc. are being much used by a mighty chunk of the public in Pakistan.

Using social media can cause depression in five ways. Firstly, we have cyber-bullying, which includes vulgar comments and inappropriate messages. Then we have peer pressure and competition. Seeing other people’s happy posts and comparing our lives with others leads to degraded self-esteem. Thirdly, even though social media was created to connect us virtually, it has made us feel more disconnected than ever.

According to a study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, if you spend over two hours a day on social media, your chances of feeling socially isolated are twice as high. Through social media, teens can also regularly monitor what’s going on socially, which contributes to the rise in adolescent FOMO (fear of missing out).

Fourthly, and undeniably, social media has become an addiction. A study in the UK found that two-thirds of people now have trouble relaxing when they can’t access their social media accounts. Social media have shown to activate the same brain areas as addictive drugs such as cocaine. It proves that social media has become more of a necessity than a pass time.

Lastly, youngsters and teenagers unsupervised can search almost anything on the Internet, leading to exposure of emotionally heavy information at a psychologically vulnerable age. Approximately 50mn people in Pakistan suffer from common mental disorders (according to Dr. Ayesha Mian, Department of Psychiatry at Aga Khan University). However, the stigma against this topic is still prevalent in our society.

Only 2.4% of Pakistan’s annual expenditure is allocated towards health, and even out of that, a mere 2% is set aside for mental health.

Quite the opposite to the above data, a recent study carried out by Mesfin awoke Bekalu, research scientist at Lee Kum Sheung Centre for Health and Happiness at Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health discusses that as long as we are mindful users, routine use and connection with friends is not a problem, but beneficial. This conclusion was published recently on 6th January 2020.

According to an article published by paintedbrain.org, there are several ways social media can benefit our mental health. “Concerns about the negative impacts of social media have dominated public debate. However, recent studies show clear health benefits to being online and connected.” – Joanne Egan, Women’s Health.

Firstly, social isolation can be relieved by connecting with others and offering anonymity so that people with mental illnesses can express themselves without revealing their identities, and without the danger of stigma.

Secondly, social media can be a source of motivation for us. People who share their healthy lifestyles, experiences, and tips are always light in other people’s newsfeeds. Social support groups and programs can create positive reinforcement and promote the desire to pursue a positive attitude towards life.

Thirdly, mental health professionals can benefit by reaching to the public and engaging them in an active online community. The facility of being live in chats has increased the impact of this benefit. Also, by creating an event on Facebook, etc., people can show their interest and get a chance to make new friends and extend their participation in the community.

Fourthly, existing relationships are strengthened by daily chat and videos. Connection with friends and family members relives Stress and relaxes the mind. Lastly, one can always keep oneself busy by learning new skills and thus fighting depression.

Conclusion

Maintaining balance is the basic principle of life, and it applies here as well. Just like a knife can either be used to cook a delicious meal and feed someone, it can also be used to hurt someone physically. Social media itself is not harmful; its mode and purpose of use make it good or bad.

Bearing this in perspective, we should aim to use social media for spreading positive vibes rather than making it a source of stress and worries. 

Link to similar posts: A talk with Dr. Ali Jawaid on Dementia & early life Trauma development

Child abuse and mental health; the road towards a healthier childhood

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Another year started, all through the long nights of respite I stared in the pale light of the fading day and dark skies, wandering of the fact that of winters and its barren evenings has nothing to do with the crimes that scare my homeland. The jagged blade of sexual violence against women and children is puncturing the thin evil of prosperity that covers us, draping us in the cunning silence.

According to the statistics summed up by an NGO, SAHIL has been working since 1996 on child protection against abuse, the rate of child sexual abduction carries on with 7 children per day. The report consisting of some cruel facts indicates that during the last six months, a total of 1304 children have been reported in the categories of rape and abduction for sexual purposes. Out of these 1304 children abused, 529 were boys, and 729 were girls, mainly reported in rural and urban parts of Punjab. The statistics show the lowest rate in Baluchistan and KPK provinces; the fact is that the majority of people in these areas are fearful of reporting their child abuse, either by close relatives or in the neighborhoods because of the so-called societal norms. Most of the cases reported in police stations or highlighted by media or social media were those in which children were abducted and assassinated by the culprits. Either way, sexual abuse is a crime, and it can have a more significant impact on the child’s physical and mental well-being.

Since our experiences in childhood play a vital role in shaping our health, ways of thinking, and behaviors throughout life. When a child is abducted, it may leave scars; in some cases, mostly girls, they spent their entire life being wounded and vulnerable. Child abuse may have a wide range of effects in adulthood, including post-traumatic disorder. The moment when a child went through abduction, he/she got shocked with intense and distressing feelings, and if they would not deal properly, it may lead to post-traumatic disorder (PTD). Some of the complicated factors that contribute to PTD are the severity of the trauma, how close was the person who abused child, and how long abuse lasted? If the child shares abuse with parents, mostly they dismiss him/her at all, and this forced silence may have far longer and a wide range of effects in his/her adulthood and relationships.

If the abuser was in close contact or association with a child, the abduction may impair his belief that the world could be a safer place, and he may have a hard time trusting others in the future. When the child would not get the necessary support of parents or loved ones, he/she started blaming himself that further lowers his self-esteem.

Child abuse is a crime and it can have a more significant impact on the child's physical and mental well-being.
Child abuse is a crime and it can have a more significant impact on the child’s physical and mental well-being

In her book, “The rescued soul: the writing journey for the healing of incest and family betrayal, Christina Enevolson wrote that “the fear of abandonment forced me to comply as a child, but I am not forced to comply anymore. The key people in my life did reject me for telling the truth about my abuse, but I am not alone even with the consequences for telling the truth is rejection from everyone I know, it is not the same death threat that it was when I was a child.”

A majority of adults who have had experienced abuse in their childhood, have difficulty in controlling their anger or frustration, and they used to dissociate themselves from painful events as a coping mechanism to protect themselves, over time it may lead to further risky behaviors like self-harm without an intention of suicide.

Though experiencing child abuse does not necessarily mean that the victim will develop a mental illness, it is subjected to the cases where a child would not open up for a serial abuse or his loved ones, especially parents, dismiss him at all. At times, it is noted that people gone through sexual abduction in childhood have a higher risk of depression, anxiety, dissociative, bipolar, or borderline personality disorder, mostly addicted to drugs and alcohol.

In Pakistan, even though 7 children are being abducted or raped each day, by their close relatives, in the neighborhood or by the teachers in the Schools and Madarasa, speaking out against sexual violence is still a taboo. Parents are neglected for their child’s physical and mental well-being and, in most cases, cut off supporting children. This isolation makes it even harder for the victim to heal and feel batter in adulthood and even after marriage.

Parents should be aware of the problems of their children and assure them to fix it. They should keep in mind that child abuse has been associated with many adverse physical, psychological, and behavioral problems. We can never allow shame, guilt, or fear to over-rule their entire life and happiness. A journey towards healing kick-starts within us, it is never too late to speak out!

Link to similar posts: Take the risk or lose the chance

A talk with Dr. Ali Jawaid on Dementia & early life Trauma development

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Dr. Ali Jawaid, a Swiss-Pakistani Neuro-scientist, is one of the many overseas Pakistanis taking the world by storm. His recent research work explains how early life trauma affects development not only in the immediately affected individuals but can also be passed on through generations. Dr. Ali Jawaid, as a child, survived peripheral autoimmune nephropathy by being treated with an experimental drug, which is now the standard of treatment for that disease. Being fascinated by this, he began exploring how the brain and nerves work at a very early age.

Below are some excerpts of his recent conversation with our EIC, Saadeqa khan.

Tell us about your childhood?

I was born the youngest in a family where education and respect were highly emphasized. My father had 3 master degrees, and all my siblings took prestigious career paths; from arts to literature to surgery to engineering to business management. As my father worked in civil service, he had a lot of transfers and relocations both within and outside Pakistan. Growing up like that makes you quite adaptable but also you end up losing friends a bit too frequently. Like every other kid, I played cricket- in all forms, on the street, on the ground, on the computer, and even the ‘copy cricket’ version, which all the 90s kids would know about. I also wrote for a children’s magazine and was this cheerful over-confident kid who loved talking more with adults than other children his age. 

What motivated you to pursue an offbeat career as a Neuroscientist?

I survived a neurological illness as a child and in fact, was given an experimental treatment at that time. Somehow, this was very fascinating for me and I used to ask a lot of questions to doctors and nurses about the brain and nerves. This was practically my introduction to Neuroscience at the age of 10. The pursuit of Neuroscience leads me to choose medical studies. After my graduation from Aga Khan University, I went for clinical and research work in Neurology to the US. Seeing a lack of effective treatments for most neuropsychiatric disorders, even in a country like the US, was the biggest motivation for me to get more and more involved in mechanistic neuroscience research, so that the risk and inheritance of these diseases could be studied. I think, in the end, it was the combination of curiosity and compassion that lead me to this career. 

Tell us about your recent research work?

I am currently involved in a huge multi-centric study where we check how losing parents early in life affect the brain and body of children, which of such negative effects persist till adulthood, and what kind of damage can they do to the germ cells so that the effects will be even transmitted to the next generation. At the same time, we are trying to identify if any factors, for example, foster care or certain supplements like cod liver oil can lessen the harmful effects of trauma in children or their transmission. Besides this project, I am involved in studies on patients with dementia where we are trying to target some toxic proteins which cause the neurons to die with dementia illnesses. I am also leading research efforts to improve the cognitive deficits that people with dementia encounter. 

Dr. Ali Jawaid
Dr. Ali Jawaid, as a child, survived peripheral autoimmune nephropathy by being treated with an experimental drug, which is now the standard of treatment for that disease

What is epigenetic Trauma? 

Epigenetic trauma is a concept that the effects of traumatic experiences leave biological traces on germ cells and thus have effects that can be inherited. Notable examples are how children and even grandchildren of holocaust survivors have increased depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems. We are studying it now at the molecular level to find out how are the effects of trauma communicated to the germ-line. 

How does Trauma affect a child’s development? 

Unfortunately, the effects of early life trauma can be quite negative. Our work, as well as, of others has shown that trauma in early life can lead to neurological, psychological, and metabolic disturbances that persist into adulthood. However, strong support, and enriching environment, and certain supplements could mitigate the long-term negative sequelae of trauma. It is important that such interventions are started early.   

Tell me a situation where are you being a Neuroscientist has clearly benefited your daily life?

I think in many ways. The biggest application of neuroscience for me has been in teaching, where I focus on my neuroscience knowledge to enhance learning in students. This means adding a context to teaching, with conceptual reinforcement and relying more on critical thinking than just memory. 

Mental health is still considered a taboo subject in Pakistan. What do you think is the best way to make aware of our layman about mental health importance?

You are absolutely right. We live in a culture where dementia is considered a normal part of aging, where depression is hidden, where anxiety is considered a weakness of character. In colleges and universities, we see students using pills and recreational drugs because they do not have proper mental health support. I strongly believe that mental health should be taught as an integral subject, and parents and teachers should be given guidance about healthy interaction styles and how to help young people cope with struggles.

The other important change is that prominent people in the media need to increase mental health awareness. Famous actor, Usman Mukhtar, who also happens to be a good friend of mine, is doing a remarkable service in this regard. I strongly believe that others should follow. For example, Momina Mustehsan, who herself is a biomedical engineer could be an ideal person to take the lead in talking about mental health and neuroscience in the country. 

What can the general public do to decrease the risk of dementia?

It is a very important question. There are different types of dementia. Some types of dementia are due to high cholesterol levels and damage to blood vessels. For this kind of dementia, a healthy lifestyle and diet-control have a very important role. Some other types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are related to brain injury, stressful lifestyle. However, some factors are common to all dementia types. Half an hour exercise per day, increasing anti-oxidant foods such as blueberries, dark chocolate, beetroots, beans, supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids, staying stress-free, keeping your brain busy during old age, all can have a protective effect.  A very good board game to keep the brain busy in old age is chess, snakes, and ladders. 

What do you believe is your best asset?

I think my biggest asset is that I was raised with strong values about honesty and integrity. That has served me the most in my professional ethics. I would not call the other things as assets but rather skills I acquired or learned, for example, analytical skills and strong communication. I am, by no means, a gifted savant. I have had struggles during my career as well but I just kept on being perseverant. 

Epigenetics is an emerging field of science, but people here in Pakistan are not aware of it in depth. Do you have some plans for making aware of our layman about the importance of epigenetics?

That is a very interesting question. One hand, indeed, there is a lack of knowledge about scientific disciplines, such as epigenetics. However, on the other, epigenetics is, in fact, just the interaction of the environment with the genes and people in Pakistan believe a lot in the importance of environmental influences, such as diet on health. So, we need to speak the language, which people can understand. Start with the prevalent beliefs and then add simple scientific reasoning. I think main-stream media can play a huge role in this. It is very unfortunate that there is not even a single program promoting science in Pakistan, not even a YouTube channel. 

What are your plans for the youth who are willing to pursue a career as a scientist?

I have always tried to focus on the rich scientific potential of Pakistan and want the youth to explore this ‘gold-mine of research’. We have a population, which is genetically very similar (due to cousin marriages) and yet have ethnic diversities, we have Macedonian-origin people living in Kalash where average life span is 15 years longer than in Pakistan or Macedonia, we have herbs with potential therapeutic properties in dementia, we have Hafiz-e-Quran children who have memory sharp enough to remember hundreds of thousands of words.

These are just one of the many research avenues that can be explored in Pakistan. I wish that one day our universities start conducting research centralized on these topics and provide students the opportunities to present this work around the globe. Last year July 26th was one the most satisfying days of my life, when Science, one of the world’s best scientific journals, published a feature about my work with the SOS children’s village in Pakistan. 

Do you envision serving Pakistan in a larger capacity?

I definitely would be willing to help in research capacity-building and curricular development in the field of science and technology. The future of this world is in science, and we need to start investing in it now. Irrespective of any political affiliation, if any government asks me to work in an advisory capacity, I will be more than willing.  

Also read: Promoting psychological well-being, an enlightening note from Zuafishan Qureshi

Katherine Johnson dies, a mathematician who broke barriers at NASA

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Wielding little more than a pencil, a slide rule and one of the finest mathematical minds in the U.S, Katherine Johnson, died at 101 on Monday, 24th February, in Newport News, Va. She calculated the accurate trajectories that would let Apollo 11 land on the moon in 1969 and, after Neil Armstrong’s historic moonwalk, let it returns to Earth.

Katherine Johnson

Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson was an African-American mathematician who was well known for her services she offered for multiple U.S space missions, including Apollo 11, pronounced as “human-computer.” She worked at NASA over three decades, and her pioneering calculations charts many flight paths and helped astronauts to go to the moon when America and Russia were indulged in a space war and NASA was facing considerable hurdles in defeating Russia. Katherine’s calculations not only established NASA’s credibility, but she equally fought for the rights of black women in early 1950, when they were neglected and discouraged in America in every sphere of life.

As a child, Katherine’s sharpness in mathematics was evident as she was great in calculations and playing with numbers. She earned a degree in mathematics with high honors and started working for NACA, NASA’s predecessor, where she worked with other black women in the West Computers division. She contributed to her male counterparts in analyzing flight test data and later provided necessary derivation for different space missions trajectories.

Katherine’s aptitude and inclination toward numbers naturally led her to embark on a career in mathematical research. These days, this field was dominated by white American men. Still, with her hard work, dedication, and devotion to her work, she proved that nothing is impossible for women if they are provided with opportunities.

In 1952, she got informed about some vacancies offered by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), NASA’s predecessor. Though, it was announced that NACA IS accepting applications for the posts of mathematicians, irrespective of race, caste, color, and gender, for their Guidance and Navigation Department. As per the announcement, Katherine and the number of other black women incouraged and applied. Katherine was among many others who have had received a formal job offer in 1953. Later found that the working environment at Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, West Virginia, was purely biased, and they were not even allowed to drink, eat or share the bathroom with her white male counterparts.

In such a worst working environment, Katherine accepted all challenges and worked on the same post from 1953 to 1958. From West Area Computers section, later, she transferred to the Guidance and Control Division, which was mostly plagued by racist laws. The federal workplace segregation laws were never allowed African-American women to work, eat, and use restrooms that were different from their peers. The stations where they worked were labeled ‘Colored Computers.’ Katherine not only fought for her own due rights but equally motivated other black women who were working in a different department of Langley Aeronautical Laboratory.
She was keen on plotting the navigator charts for astronauts in situations where electric systems failed. Later, when NASA adopted the new technology, astronaut John Glenn, asked Katherine to calculate his mission’s orbit around the Earth. He wholeheartedly accepted he could never make an orbit until Johnson verified his trajectory calculations.

With the advent of digital computers, she kick-started her work directly with machines and rightly estimated the trajectory for the Apollo 11 flight that successfully landed on the moon’s surface.

In 1970, she also contributed to the Apollo 13 moon mission. At the moment when the mission was officially aborted, she made calculations that primarily focused on a backup plan, her provided navigation charts ensured the crew to safely back to the Earth.
The last project she worked for was the Space Shuttle Program, the Earth Resources Satellite, and a mission on Mars. Later she got retired from Nasa in 1986. Her life and efforts were picturized in the movie “Hidden Figures”, released in January 2017 and got three Oscar awards nominations.

Busting Myths about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Mental disorders are one of the most misunderstood and ill-perceived human diseases. They are considered taboo, and anyone who reaches out to psychologists or psychiatrists is stereotyped as “crazy, stupid, foolish or cracked.” The most misconstrue among mental disorders is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD. While our general understanding of OCD symptoms comes from TV characters such as Sheldon Cooper in Big Bang Theory or Monica Geller from 90s sitcom Friends, these stereotypical depictions of people having OCD symptoms may not be entirely genuine. We need to bust different myths about OCD and sift facts from fiction and should try to answer some basic questions such as: are OCD depression related? Are OCD thoughts irrational?, are OCD brains different than usual? Or can OCD be treated or cured?

What is OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common mental disease has affecting 1-2% of the population around the globe. According to WHO, it is one of the “ten most disabling illnesses.”
A person with OCD has a vicious cycle of recurring thoughts, which become an obsession, and s a consequence, he is forced reacting in a different than normal behavioral patterns to resolve those obsessions, which become compulsions. The obsessions are so intense that people with OCD face difficulty in social relationships due to their continuous constraints.

MYTH: We’re all ‘a little OCD’

There is no “little bit” in OCD: This is a complex disorder commonly starts developing in childhood or early teenage. People with OCD have problems to carry out daily chores and face difficulties in social relationships due to this disorder.

MYTH: It’s about being obsessively tidy or clean

This myth is just another stereotypical perception due to the wrong portrayal in media and films. In reality, OCD is more complicated than just being a germophobe. People with OCD have extreme recurring thoughts, which are usually negative. These continuous intrusive thoughts, along with prolonged feelings of fear, doubt, and paranoia, compel the people with this mental disorder to carry out repetitive actions to satisfy their psychological urges. Therefore, such people experience a wide range of obsessions such as the need for order, perfection, symmetry or arrangement, fear of dirt, germs, doubts about their safety or suspicions about others around them, blasphemous thoughts, or fear of violent thinking or aggressive actions. These thoughts or obsessions (as they are called in psychology) are challenging to control. They cannot be rationalized, and people suffering from this disease find it challenging to overcome them.

This myth is just another stereotypical perception due to the wrong portrayal in media and films

MYTH: People with OCD wash their hands non-stop

Not always right, although people with OCD have repetitive, obsessive thoughts which compel them to often repeat their actions, which can be irritating to others. Yet washing hands, again and again, is not always that compulsion. While this obsession with germophobia is common in many people, yet there are numerous other compulsions as well. Constantly checking door locks, excessive cleaning, or order are other common obsessions. These obsessions force the people to miss out on the fun activities in social gatherings and make such people irritating and obnoxious.

MYTH: They need to be more relaxed

It’s easier said than done. People having OCD are unable to cope up with the anxiety of not fulfilling their obsessions. The obsessive thoughts are compelling, and they preoccupy the mind of patients. They cannot free their minds from these obsessions, which ultimately force them to satisfy their urges. These obsessive thoughts cannot be “just turned off” by being relaxed. People living with this condition have described as being “imprisoned” by their own minds due to these obsessions.

Myth: People with OCD are just uptight, weird, neurotic, or quirky

Yes, it is true that generally, people suffering from OCD have a quirky and intolerable attitude. But it is far from being only quirky. Cycles of repeated obsessive thoughts lead to compulsive behavior. The compulsive behavior is just a short term relief from the obsessive thoughts which stop momentarily only to come back again. These obsessions do not limit the person to just being quirky or obnoxious. One patient with OCD described “life as a living hell.”

“When the alarm went off in the morning, I would start to cry because I knew my day would be filled with horrible thoughts, panic attacks, and hours and hours of rituals. ‘The simple thought of having to leave the house would send me into a panic attack as I was so worried one of my loved ones would die because of my actions.’

Myth: People with OCD don’t realize they’re acting irrationally

Patients of OCD are not always unaware of their illness and resulting in irrational thoughts and behavior. Generally, they are aware that their thoughts and actions are absurd and ridiculous. This is the biggest frustration for these people as they are conscious of their irrational thoughts but cannot do anything to stop their compulsive behavior.

Myth: OCD is funny

This is often taken lightly, and people make fun of such patients. But this is not just a joke for the laughter; it is a severe illness that hinders the social engagement of OCD patients and causes frustration in around 1-2% of people suffering from this disease. They have to cope with constant anxiety, fear, and depression. They are unable to take part in social activities, often lose jobs, or face problems in social relationships. If left untreated, it can be dangerous as more than 60% of people with OCD have had suicidal thoughts at one point, and around 25% reported having attempted suicides.

Obsessive compulsive disorder hinders the social engagement of patients and causes frustration
OCD hinders the social engagement of patients and causes frustration

Myth: Stress causes OCD

While stress stimulates obsessive thoughts and exacerbates compulsive thoughts, it is not the only root cause of OCD. This illness is complex and has other underlying objects, as well.

Myth: OCD is rooted in your childhood

Psychologists say that while genetics plays a vital role in the development of OCD in people whose closed ones have had this problem, the development of this disease doesn’t need to be dependent on childhood experiences.

Myth: OCD is rare in kids

It can strike a child as young as four years old. There is no age limit for this disease. At least one in every two hundred kinds and teenagers has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is the same percentage as that of diabetes in kids. While diabetes is not considered rare in kids, OCD is thought of as a rare disease in kids, which is not valid.

Myth: OCD is a woman’s disease

While it is generally considered to be more common in women, it can strike anyone regardless of gender, age, race, or economic background. The rate of OCD is the same for men, women, and kids of every age, race, and gender.

Myth: Tests can confirm OCD

While it cannot be detected by blood or other tests such as those to detect cancer, diabetes, etc. it can be diagnosed with few different methods. Your doctor can carry out physical tests and examinations to rule out other diseases. Three symptoms are generally looked for diagnosing OCD: whether you have obsessions, whether you show compulsive behavior, and if you do have these two conditions whether these obsessions and compulsions are getting in the way of your healthy lifestyle or not.

MYTH: OCD isn’t treatable

This is a complex and severe disorder, if left untreated, it can be dangerous for the person with OCD and people around them. Several treatments and therapies are available, which can treat obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior through a combination of behavioral therapy and medications.
It cannot be cured entirely, but it could control with the appropriate expert’s treatment.

Also read: Psychotic disorders in youth

Gallery: Visit to the Pakistan Museum of Natural History

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Pakistan Museum of Natural History is located in Islamabad and was established in 1976 as a public tourist spot. As this month is all about wildlife, so our team decided to visit this place to portray the conditions of wildlife in Pakistan. The museum displays magnificent reserves of the wildlife, housing almost 1.4 million specimens, revealing and depicting the diverse wildlife treasure of Pakistan.

Pakistan Museum of National History
Pakistan Museum of Natural History

The museum has four major divisions and six main galleries, displaying a huge variety of wildlife, rocks and minerals, and prehistoric beasts. We took a detailed visit of the museum and got to know interesting things about wildlife.

A picture containing indoor, wall, wooden, floor

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Entomology Section
A picture containing indoor, table

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A picture containing wall, indoor, photo

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Collection of Butterflies
Collection of Eggs.
blue whale in history musuem
A juvenile Blue Whale

Model of Blue Whale

The blue whale is also known as Rhincodon typus is a slow-moving, rare and largest known mammal in the world. It belongs to the class Chondrichthyes and has been declared as vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN due to an alarming reduction in its population. This fish has a close resemblance with a shark that is about 40 ft long and weighs about 16 tones. The specimen has been collected from the Gharobari, Pakistan on 6th February 2012, brought under the supervision of PMNH and preserved there.

A statue of an elephant

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Baluchitherium, an extinct land mammal.

Baluchitherium

Baluchitherium or Rhino is the largest land mammal inhabiting about 30 million years ago. The Baluchitherium means “beast of the Balochistan” (Baluchi àBalochistan, thoriumà Beast). It was discovered in the Bugti Hills of Balochistan. Its average height is about 18 ft and weighs about 20 tons.

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Elephant’s Skeleton

Skeleton of Elephant

The skeleton of elephant and various other species’ skeletons have been displayed in the Pakistan Museum of Natural History. Some of the fossils and skeletons are as old as 650 million years.

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Trophy heads
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Trophy heads section

Some of the trophy heads are the courtesy of the Pakistan Zoological Survey. And some have been donated by the members of the public.

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A cat that is standing in a room

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Display of the birds.

Display of Birds of Pakistan.

A huge collection of birds has been displayed in the bio gallery along with their habitat, eco-regions, and alpine heights described briefly.

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The Animals Display.

Collection of animals

The bio gallery also displays a huge collection of animals found all over Pakistan. The habitat and eco-regions of the animals have been shortly described.

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Gavial

Gavial

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), also known as the gavial, belongs to the family Gavialidae. This species is native to the northern part of the Indus River in Pakistan. Males reach up to 6m in size with an average weight of around 160kg. From a conservation point of view, it is listed on “CITES Appendix I” which means it is illegal to carry out its trade and has been declared as “Critically Endangered” species by the IUCN. The gavial has almost become extinct from Pakistan largely due to growing and uncontrolled anthropogenic pressures including depletion of fish resources.

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Collected specimens placed in drawers.
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Preserved specimen of parrots

Many specimens are preserved in drawers that are used by researchers for projects.

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Preserved Reptiles

The museum is full of exciting and informative displays of wildlife. Don’t forget to visit the museum if you are in Islamabad.

Also Read: An Exclusive Tour of the Pakistan Museum of Natural History

Identification of soybean dust as an epidemic asthma agent in Kemari

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The situation is getting worst in Karachi’s Kemari where a mysterious gas leakage caused panic and source of this toxic gas leak is still unclear on Tuesday as officials from the Sindh health department confirmed the death toll had risen to at least 14, two days after residents from adjoining areas rushed to hospitals complaining of breathing difficulties.

According to officials the origin of the outbreak in Kemari is known, however prominent scientist and President of Prime Ministers’ Science and Tech task force, Dr. Atta ur Rehman, spoke out about the situation and stated that these deaths are caused by Soya Bean aerosol particle or Soya bean dust that released in air during docking and offloading from the ancho-style ships at the Karachi port.

Although, a team of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence (NBCD) under Pakistan Navy was engaged in chemical analysis of the unidentified gas and samples are sent to SUPARCO and Karachi University and the situation will hopefully get clear within one or two days.

Kemari is a seaside municipality in Karachi
Kemari is a seaside municipality in Karachi

According to Dr. Atta ur Rehman, such Soya bean Allergy cases had been recorded in 1987, and it mostly attacked asthma patients who are elderly, less immune, smokers, and weak.

From 1981 to 1987, 26 outbreaks of asthma have occurred in the city of Barcelona, Spain, affecting a total of 687 subjects and causing 1155 emergency room admissions. Assays of urban aerosols collected with high-volume samplers between October 1986 and May 1989 have indicated that soybean dust originating from harbor activities (and not traffic or industrial pollution) is the causal agent for these epidemics. Soybean particulates in the filters have been

Characterized by the composition of the alcohol fraction, namely, campesterol, stigmasterol, /3-sitosterol, n-triacontanol-l-01, and n-dotriacontane-l-01, constituting a series of aerosol components correlated with the epidemiologic data. This result has also been confirmed by the immunochemical assay of specific soybean allergens. The concentration of these sterols in the air corresponds to a 24 hour average level of soybean dust in the order of 25 pglm’ on epidemic days. These results suggest the advisability of monitoring soybean dust in air particulates of populated areas surrounding soybean storage or processing plants. The techniques presented here afford a simple way for the recognition of soybean dust in aerosols containing high concentrations of organic pollutants of traffic or industrial origin.

Dr. Atta ur Rehman spoke out about the situation and stated that these deaths are caused by Soya Bean aerosol particle
Dr. Atta ur Rehman spoke out about the situation and stated that these deaths are caused by Soya Bean aerosol particle

The asthma outbreaks identified in Barcelona were characterized for their clinical severity.a-so the increased concentration of nitrogen oxide was initially suspected as the asthma inducer, but later epidemiologic data demonstrated that the outbreak was a point-source epidemic. Further epidemiologic studies led to the conclusion that these outbreaks of asthma were caused by the inhalation of soybean dust released during the unloading of soybeans at the city harbor.

The results of many studies conducted in Barcelona during 1987 to 1989 indicated above strongly suggest that the occurrence of asthma outbreaks in Barcelona was related to rises in the airborne concentration of compounds that must reflect the presence of the allergens in the aerosols of the city.

A similar situation has been observed in Karachi’s Kemari area where earlier officials suspected that air contains a higher amount of Nitrogen oxide or hydrogen Sulphide, but these claims were later rejected.

Despite improved medical care, asthma mortality has not been significantly reduced worldwide.  Whether or not this is due to changes in the background frequency of the diseases or to the appearance of new etiologic factors in the community is not clear. The prevalence of asthma in developed countries has been attributed to environmental factors associated with the urban way of life: traffic fumes, industrial and domestic pollution, tobacco smoke, natural allergens, etc. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, so the need of the hour is a healthy lifestyle and a clean and safe working environment.

Also Read: CAPTURING NATURE THROUGH A LENS

CAPTURING NATURE THROUGH A LENS

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I know our everyday camera roll is littered with memes, food pictures, selfies, and the sort. Take a break from all these typical photo collections and enjoy as we take you down a roller coaster of breath-taking shots of wildlife and nature by various amazing photographers!

1. Kathrin Swoboda

A neurologist and geneticist in Massachusetts by profession, this lady has the command over her camera. Capturing wildlife is her hobby and she’s amazing at it. One particular picture of hers caught special attention. This perfectly timed photo shows a singing Blackbird creating vortex rings with his breath.

The immaculate way with which the photographer captures the minute details of wildlife and nature does indeed uplift her position to the top of the list!

The immaculate way with which she captures the minute details of wildlife does indeed uplift her position to the top of the list!

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She has pages both on Instagram and Facebook and one cannot just get enough of her beautiful shots.

2.Christian Spencer

“In beauty I walk.”

This man has taken wildlife photography to the next level. He is a professional photographer and filmmaker based in Australia and his pictures of hummingbirds have won awards.

A Rainbow of Light Diffracts Through Hummingbird Wings in Photographs by Christian Spencer.

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The celestial snaps are indeed very magical and divine. If you search for Christian’s work online, you will find a well-fitted title and description of each of his collections. This one is called ‘The Sun King.’

3.NIGEL KITELEY

“I am an amateur photographer based in Oxfordshire. From a very early age I was interested in nature, living in a small village and being surrounded by sprawling fields and woodlands I spent most of my childhood watching wildlife, and in particular birds.

After leaving school I became interested in photography and I coupled this with another passion of mine, motorsport. As the years went by I was drawn back to nature and began photographing birds. In more recent years I’ve become interested in macro photography with butterflies being my preferred subjects.

I love the fact that I can get up close and personal with these amazing creatures and wandering around meadows during the Summer months takes me right back to my childhood. My passion for photographing butterflies has taken me to some beautiful places including the French Alps and Spain, and I hope to visit more European countries in pursuit of new species to photograph in the future.”

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for more of Nigel’s work, follow him on Instagram. He has captured one of Nature’s most delicate and colorful beauties with such love and care that to not include him in this list would have been cruel.

4. Chantele Melzer

Chantelle Melzer is a photographic artist who specializes in emotive images of the natural world. Her work covers a broad spectrum as she combines her background as an art enthusiast and her degree in Natural Sciences with her passion for photography, creating vivid images full of life and color, as well as monochromatic fine-art portraits of wildlife.

Born and raised in the heart of Zululand, Chantelle has demonstrated a life-long passion for the wilderness. It is this passion that constantly drives her to seek out ways to contribute towards the preservation of wildlife and their natural habitats.

Chantelle hopes that the stories shared through her images will capture the hearts and minds of people all over the world, to create awareness and to inspire them to contribute towards those organizations that are genuinely fighting hard to protect rhinos, as well as many other species who call the wilderness their home.

“There is something incredibly special about African wildlife, especially elephants – they give us a greater sense of being, silent voices that touch our souls and speak into our hearts! I cannot imagine a world without them! I DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT THEM!” – Chantelle Melzer.

Capturing birds and butterflies is amazing, but going into the heart of the jungle to capture the wild and its inhabitants is another level altogether. Here are a few of Chantele’s highly awesome works:

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Chantele makes sure to capture the animals amidst all their glory and grandeur. Looking at her pictures makes one feel as though there is nothing beyond the beauty and splendor engraved in the expressions of these wild beasts. Chantele has expertise in other kinds of photography too and this is just a tiny glimpse of her portfolio. To view her dazzling pieces, follow her on social media and visit her blog.

5. Matthew Smith

This guy will make sure you never forget the world in the waters. He is a wildlife oceanographer and photographer. His work seems to be of another world and sends shivers down one’s spine, especially his work on jellyfish. His series ‘half over, half under’ looks at aquatic life.

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The list for amazing wildlife photographers is an endless one, and it is to be assumed that absorbing the profound beauty of the above captures is enough for one article. But just to keep you searching for more of nature every day, who likes polar bears? Capturing these white beauties amidst their icy homeland has been successfully done by talented Daisy Gillardini. Search her on social media to find out how she loves roaming the unique and rarely visited wildlife communities of this planet.

What about Mark Hancox and his expertise with the lens in the world of wildlife? Or Monique Elizabeth Adams, who, despite being an amateur artist, captures amazingly unique pictures of animals just like her name. and who could forget Ruan Minnaar, with his amazing skills to capture the colorful beauty of birds in such a captivating way?

Make it a hobby to search for a wildlife page a day while surfing the internet. It will bring you closer to Nature and teach you how to appreciate it more.

Also Read: These flowers in your yard can save bumblebees

How Climate Change is Endangering the Iconic Wildlife Species

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Is Climate emergency -2019 word of the year- necessary for the survival of humans only or is it a dire need of the whole ecosystem? It is an important question you must ask yourself right now because climate change sees no boundaries, no flags. This catastrophic situation has not only taken a toll on humans but is also an alarming threat to our wildlife. Most of our species have become vulnerable, and some are at the risk of extinction- this is what we humans are risking at the expense of climate change. Polar bears are starving-, carb shells are dissolving and coral reefs are dying – all this is the aftermath of the changing climate. It’s not only the Australian wildfire that has dealt them with cruelty, but climate change also has its direct fare share in making them go extinct.

Before diving into how climate change is affecting wildlife, we should understand the phenomenon that led our planet to face this emergency.

 Climate change poses a serious threat to our wildlife
Climate change poses a serious threat to our wildlife

Global Warming

One of the significant reasons for climate change is global warming. According to the special report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change on Global Warming highlights climate impacts at the current ~1°C global warming as well as the risks of reaching a 1.5°C and the irreversible losses that would take place at 2°C or more warming.

Human activities are greatly responsible for the global warming our planet is facing today. The burning of fossil fuels releases a great amount of carbon dioxide that collects in the atmosphere, absorbs all the sunlight that increase Earth’s temperature. Deforestation is another powerful reason for the increased temperature of the planet. Forests are the homes to many animal species and are carbon sinks, they absorb the carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere and are an essential means of keeping global warming to 1.5°C.

Sea Ice is melting

Melting ice sheets is one of the significant reasons for climate change. Over the last decade, we have seen an increase by 5°C in the average air temperature, which has declined the Arctic sea ice by more than 30 percent, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.  The Antarctic lost about 286 billion tons of ice per year, while Antarctica lost about 127 billion tons of ice per year during 1993-2016.

 Both the North and south pole play an important role in regulating the planet’s climate by reflecting the sun’s energy and effectively counter the effects of global warming. It also affects the polar species life cycle to a great extent.

Sea levels are Rising

Shrinking ice sheets, melting glaciers and expansion of water that heats up, all these factors add to the increase in sea level. Recent data shows that the sea level has risen to 8 inches in the last decade and continues to accelerate every year by .13 inches (3.2mm). Rising sea levels harm wildlife as it causes wetland flooding, erosion, and loss of habitat for fish, birds, invertebrates and other coastal wildlife.

Oceans are acidifying

Oceans are ‘carbon reservoir’ for all the carbon dioxide humans pour into the atmosphere using fossil fuels, preventing it from accumulating in the upper atmosphere. But this increased carbon dioxide concentration is changing the PH of oceans which has reportedly been decreased by 0.1 units since 1750 and is projected to drop another 0.5 units by 2100, making the ocean more acidic for the marine life to exist, which is a real loss to the wildlife.

How does climate change affect wildlife?

Climate change has bestowed wildlife with a ‘struggle for existence’. Animals are enforced to change their feeding and breeding pattern to adapt to the changes. They also experience habitat loss and at times they have to migrate to the places with the more favorable climate conditions to survive. Survival is now left in the fate of only those species who can mobilize and fight for the battle of the fittest, otherwise, they may go extinct.

Here are just a few examples of how climate change is endangering the magnificent species of our ecosystem.

African Cheetah

Spotted cat, the world’s fastest animal is losing its ability to reproduce. As a result of warmer temperature, male cheetahs have developed abnormal coil in their sperms that affects their breeding. Moreover, the big cat’s prey populations i-e Thomson’s gazelles are declining rapidly due to climate change. As a result, it preys on other herbivores that don’t have high protein content like gazelles; hence impeding the cheetah’s population.

African cheetahs are on the brink of extinction
African cheetahs are on the brink of extinction

Panda Bear

Giant panda bears, considered as the national treasure in China, lives in the mountains of southwest China and rely on the bamboos of the temperate forest for its food and shelter. But climate change is causing a major drought of bamboos, leaving starving pandas struggling for their food and habitat.

A panda bear walking across a grass covered field

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Panda’s staple diet may be lost to climate change

Green turtle

Green turtles are reptile with extreme sensitivity for temperature change. The sand where the eggs are laid decides the sex of baby turtle. Cooler temperature produces males and warmer temperatures produce females.

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Climate change affects the turtle sex ratio.

An increase in temperature due to global warming results in more females as compared to males and hence it disturbs the natural gender ratio. This disturbance is of extreme concern as without males, there will be no reproduction and we can lose our majestic species due to this climate change.

Coral Reef

Coral reefs have a narrow temperature range and become stressed in warm water resulting in coral bleaching. During coral bleaching, corals lose their color and their built-in food source and eventually die. The world has seen three major coral bleaching events in 1998, 2010 and 2014-2017. In the latest event, Scientists recorded the killing of two-thirds of the corals in the northern part of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Increased temperature is a great threat to this precious species-as at the warming of 2°C nearly all coral reefs will be lost.

A changing climate for coral reefs. Credit: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Polar Bear

Polar bear, the high energy beast, is the most evident or absolute image of how climate change is affecting wildlife. Polar bears rely on sea ice for their hunting, mating and traveling. Melting ice off the Arctic due to climate change is posing a great threat to polar bears, heavily because of less ice for bears to hunt seals on; making them a vulnerable species.

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Polar bears across the Arctic face shorter sea ice season. Credit: NASA

Asian Elephant

The biggest concern for these gentle giants in this climate emergency is their dire need to drink a lot of freshwater every day which influences their reproduction and migration. But this increased temperature makes it difficult for an elephant to get the required amount of water, threatening its survival.

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Climate change makes it difficult for the giant gentles to get the required amount of water.

Adélie penguin

The littlest and the most widespread species of penguins rely on krill as their main food source.  Melting of Arctic ice sheets resulted in a decline in the krill population that lives under the Ice sheet where they breed and feed. Hence, these excellent predators must migrate in search of food which negatively affects their breeding pattern. Due to climate change, Adélie populations have fallen by more than 65% in the past 25 years.

Climate change may shrink the Adelie penguin range by the end of the century.

Time to Act!

Climate change is a real thing and is filtering out the unfavorable species making it a less diverse ecosystem with the survival of the fittest only. Our natural world is on the verge of collapse, our iconic species are at the risk of extinction, our biodiversity is at stake and there is a dire to need to tell the world that we are not doing it right. It’s the stage of now or never for us.

Ash Sanders, a member of the environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion, said in a statement:

“If we want to stop climate catastrophe, we have to tell the truth, we have ten years to transform our consumer behavior, our economy, and our culture to preserve life on earth”

We have not lost the battle yet, there is still hope, we can save our valuable species significantly through our conscious act and a better lifestyle. For this, we must transit to a fossil-fuel-free world. We need to stop cutting down forests, safeguard and protect the connectivity of habitats and enhance the potential of the forests left, making it a corridor for wildlife. Evaluate the vulnerability of species and plan adaptive management practices accordingly.

For the catastrophic situation humanity is facing, we need everyone to come on the board politicians, workers, students, teachers — scientists and take responsibility. Collaboration is the key to success, we cannot deal with the situation single-handedly but through collective effort, if we want an effective outcome and make the world a better place to live for all the species. But we have to make a conscious effort before it’s too late!

As the 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg said in a speech given at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland earlier this year

“I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. I want you to act. I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if the house is on fire because it is.”

Also Read: Australian wildfires: An apocalypse for wildlife

A note from the Editor on Scientia Pakistan’s 1st Anniversary

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Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower, whereas creativity could be a pass time or hobby, but the best creativity is a result of a lot of hard work, dedication, and inspiration. One and a half years ago, when I kick-started the planning of digital science, mainly an Astronomy magazine, I got an overwhelming response from science communities and astronomers societies. Still, the project got delayed multiple times due to the inconsistent attitude of our youth and Astronomers societies.

Finally, in February 2019, on the eve of Valentine’s Day, we launched Scientia Pakistan magazine, thematically based on “love for science.” A much-needed initiative in Pakistan and for one year I, along with my team, mostly University students, tried our best to provide equal opportunities to all the skilled science writers and to those who are willing to pursue an off-beat career in science journalism.

At times our stories caught the attention of international media and science communities like SETI Institute, Gulf News, and Khaleej Times, but we have had a hard time to convince our own media in Pakistan that science could be a genre in mainstream media. At its best, science writing is an emerging field of journalism worldwide that needs more than a desire to become a science writer. At present, we have been communication obstacles in Pakistan, the eroding truths in media, and misinformation in social media, as we have witnessed in ongoing Wuhan-virus-outbreak.

The situation is equally alarming as we may have such epidemic outbreaks or sort of natural disaster anytime in our country as well. We need skilled and super-intended science journalists and more science magazines as well as a science channel that broadcasts science news with all their authenticity.

We are striving for our dream of the first Pakistani science channel, and we believe that an idea never turns as reality so quickly, it takes sweat, determination, and a lot of hard work, and we have trust in our instinct and pursuit.

On the 1st anniversary, we are launching our special edition“Year in Review” in PDF format with a hope that “as long as there is hope, there is joy in living. I want to say a humble thank you to Yawar Hussain, Maham Maqsood, Abdullah Khan, Aniqa Mazhar, Mubaris Bashir, and other team members who volunteered their precious time and energy to this magazine.

Enjoy your deal!

Saadeqa Khan CEO/EIC Scientia Pakistan