ENVIRONMENTAL & FOOD SECURITY ANALYSIS OF CAMBODIA IN PERSPECTIVE OF POPULATION DYNAMICS

 1. Introduction

Cambodia has used the huge natural base asset to enjoy in building up the entire economic breakthrough but at the same time deteriorated the said resources at a greater rate of utilization. This reflects the lack of sustainability of the resources available in the state as compared to the levels of its population. Lack of proper management of the natural resources often results in the compromising of the long period economic threshold as well as conquering the poverty epidemic ("Global forest resources," 2010).

The states rural development is not as proportional comparing the public goods to the state of livelihoods as there is a decreased access and low quality that affects the poor population dearly. The people surviving below the poverty line are more prone to the frustrations of inadequacy of ownership of assets, life opportunities and are left to compromise with the changing and ever fluctuating climatic conditions of the state of Cambodia.

2. Overview of Current Challenges and Opportunities

The environment and climate change has come to be a priority concern of the government of Cambodia in the recent past, and it has been incorporated in the development schemes of the state's affairs. The studies and observations regarding the current situation showed that the government is committing itself in improving. He is addressing matters pertaining the environment and its conservation, demographic study and governance, human rights and the entire public education (Cambodia - European Community 2007; PSDA 2013).

The understanding of the environmental helps in shaping up an organism's life in the ecology. The parameters for coping in unstable areas are at stake because the survival rate depends on striving to survive as a result of improper provision of all what it takes to be an outstanding conqueror in the long run.

2.1 Environmental Concerns and Biodiversity

The most outstanding environment related security issues trending around the state of Cambodia includes the destruction and deterioration of the entire ecosystems, breakdown of the food supply chains, access to water supply, inadequate land use and poor government policies. Moreover, the issues are pertaining to the safeguarding of all the natural resources such as lack of the ability to utilize natural based products from the ecosystems and the outputs generated from the ecosystems such as forests and fisheries. There exist irresolvable disputes and high interests over resources that are scarce with the given high and rising population in the state of Cambodia. Lack of natural capital, pollution effects and the existence of conflicts over resources will be remained a newsmaker for the current situation.It may continue until proper guidelines on the empowerment of the unemployed and safeguarding of the natural resources are concerned (Dasgupta, Uwe, Craig & David, 2003. "Global forest resources," 2010).

3.0 Population Dynamics

The study of the interaction of mankind population change over a given period is known as population dynamics. It is a study that incapacitates all factors revolving around the human life including, age, birth and death rates, immigration and number of immigrants (Solbu, Engen & Diserud , 2013). Population dynamics is linked with social, economic and environment parameters that are integral for sustainable development. Figure 1 shows a graphical presentation of these parameters and their association with population dynamics. In this context, the human population trends are alarming in the state of Cambodia as they are increasing with a rapid growth rate and the available resources within the environment are constant. The entire population is of importance to the environment on both the positive and negative impacts that will be felt and seen later. The rising population in the Cambodia state is un-proportionally increasing the demands of the natural resources such as land adequacy, water availability and energy sourcing and supply.

                       

Figure1: Links between population dynamic and Sustainable development parameters

Source adopted: PSDA,2013

Population dynamics exists in the context of persistent inequalities and a major influencing factor in the development process. This also incorporates the balance of growth and associated effects that would be seen in the coming years by the future generation.

3.1 Environmental Concerns & Population Dynamics

Key environmental issues related to population dynamics in the state includes land degradation, loss of biodiversity ecosystem, deforestation, scarcity and pollution of water, natural hazards as well as disaster and change in the climatic conditions. These environmental problems have effects on the vulnerability and poverty issues, economic development and public health (Cambodia - European Community 2007; Solbu, Engen & Diserud, 2013)..

4. Population Dynamics and Biodiversity

Implications and degradation of loss of biodiversity and services offered by the ecosystem are currently being felt on the ground by the residents. It is endowed with various natural resources, regimes of hydrology, and this diversified ecosystem provides resources and source of livelihood to the major part of the entire population. There lies a fishing viability in the course of rivers and lakes in the country, and the population of the country is dependent on it. Due to this increase in population, there is a decreased levels of productivity of the fisheries industry in regards of illegal and overfishing as well as the downgrading of the critical forest covers and exhaustion of the wetlands (Cambodia - European Community 2007). The fishery sector is not only on the lead for over-exploitation of the resources in Cambodia. There is a substantial lack of proper management with regards to matters of food security, the rights of humans and the basic social, economic needs which have a significant role to play in the country.

5. Population Dynamics and Pollution Effects on Environment

The forests cover of the land of Cambodia serves as a major source of many lives and ecosystem opportunities that entail climate control and regulation, water and air purification (Yusuf & Francisco, 2009). The forests are also in charge in the regulation of water flow to river basins such as the Mekong basins in the land of Cambodia. The rate of forest clearing and deforestation is still high as the total forest cover has decreased by over 15 % annually. Loss of forest cover downgrades the flexibility of the entire ecosystem to calamities as droughts, diseases and increased effects of climate change (Yusuf & Francisco, 2009). The accelerating factors to the decline in the forests cover in Cambodia is attributed to rising population and the need of resources such as sources of energy, shelters and settlement as well as infrastructural development. The increase in demographic pressure is in course as the residents are in need of more land for cultivation and pursuing their agricultural expansion. The poor planning and management of the current land allocation, as well as land grabbing by corrupt persons and officials in the departments of forestry and conservation, are also cause of concern. The state has a record of being one of the worst in the rates of deforestation (Dasgupta et al. 2003: PSDA 2013).

Deposition of silt, use of manure and fertilizer and practice of good agricultural practices are the surviving tactics of the Cambodia agricultural ventures. This is because the land of Cambodia is of low nutritional composition and fertility for crops to thrive. Low quantity and quality production of food crops have been attributed to the infertility of the soil (Yusuf & Francisco, 2009). Demographics or population dynamics has a direct and indirect cause to this issue at stake. For instance, land degradation is hugely influenced by soil erosion that is caused by deforestation and clearing of the soil cover thus leaching off all the soil constituents to the water- ways. This poses a huge problem to the entire population as the low yield in productivity raises the concern of food security, health of the entire population and adverse effects on land and water pollution (Yusuf & Francisco, 2009).

Pollution of water bodies is much attributed to the growing and high level of the population of residents. A good example is the Tonle Sap great lake where human settlement took course long ago, and they are now reclaiming parts of the shores to add more structures. This poses a huge risk to the entire population and the aquatic life such as fish. With increasing demand for processed products for the entire population, Cambodia has experienced an increased number of the industrial establishment which has had a great impact on the state’s economic (ADB, 2007: PSDA 2013).  On the contrary, there is inadequate control over the wastes produced by the manufacturers and processors. Most of the waste eventually discharged into the water bodies, and it poses a risk to the aquatic life. Discharge of waste water into water bodies is against the conduct of good business practice. In addition, lack of management and corruption of heads of such departments should be revoked off their working permits as they are helping in no way either man or the animal life in the water (Cambodia - European Community, 2007).

As the population scales to higher levels, there is the lack of income generating activities and this leads the people of Cambodia on the move to seek other applicable alternatives elsewhere that can facilitate them to acquire sustainability. This has brought about seasonal migration to and fro the neighboring countries for specific periods of time (ADB, 2007; PSDA 2013).

The environmental concerns in the country downgrade the value and access of the available resources and in the long run generates other health problems where the most affected are the poor persons. This increases the vulnerability and complications in the economic development and the fights against poverty. The present number of persons living below the poverty line is approximately 35%. (ADB, 2007: PSDA 2013). Even though, the standards of living have improved in the recent past but there is a continued widened gap between the rich and the poor. In Cambodia, because of the high population, poverty is not only inclined to the rural areas but also in the urban (Biddulph, 2012; Wingqvist, 2009). Urban poverty is on the rise with the increasing urban population. Agriculture, forests and fisheries in Cambodia serve as an income generating activity as well as assurances and provision of food security during the hard time. The poor Cambodians depend entirely on forestry, agricultural and fishery products for their daily living (Cambodia - European Community 2007).

5.1 Population Dynamics and Natural Calamities

Increased frequency of floods, rise in the level of sea water and widespread of common vector-borne illnesses is an impact of the changes in climate in the state of Cambodia. The major population makes all things impractical and impossible in combating various issues as fighting against diseases and protection against natural calamities like floods and drought. The institutions set aside by the government to fight against such risks, and natural forces remain limited and ineffective in their ability (Biddulph, 2012). The fishing communities of Cambodia are more vulnerable to the effects and impacts of the climatic changes. This is due to low possibilities of other income generating sources as there is no land available. In the case of availability, the high prices may not suit the demand by the poor as compared to the rich (Biddulph, 2012; Wingqvist, 2009).

In addressing the impacts and effects that come up with the population dynamics in ways that protect both the rights of mankind and at the same time protecting the natural environmental resources, various frameworks and formulation have to be set to address this issues. This demands to include involvement of all stakeholders in addressing and monitoring mechanisms to look into inequalities existing in Cambodia (ADB, 2007; PSDA 2013).

Securing resources to do planning and the utilization of the available data of the entire population will help a lot in the forms of allocation of resources by the government, foreign aids and other forms of dissemination that requires the availability of data at hand.

6. Conclusion

Population dynamics refers to the interaction of change in population change over a given period and is dependent on various factors including age, birth and death rates and so forth. Sustainability of a country's population is based on the available resources. Proper control and mitigation strategy regarding the planning and allocation of resources especially among a growing population becomes hectic for everyone. However for effective conservation and maintaining of the country's heritage, strict laws and regulations should be enforced to guard and protect it. The protection of forests and water bodies is also a significant advantage for the future generation.

 

 

7. References

ADB, (2007). Country strategy and program midterm review. Cambodia 2005–2009,1-44.

Biddulph., R.  2012.  REDD and Poverty in Cambodia, Focali Report No  2012:03,

Gothenburg, Retrieved September 21,2014 from http://www.focali.se/filer/ Focali%20report%20nr.2012.03-%20REDD%20and%20 Poverty%20in%20Cambodia_final.pdf

Cambodia - European Community (2007).Strategy Paper for the period 2007- 2013,Retreived September 21,2014 from http://eeas.europa.eu/cambodia/csp/07_13_en.pdf.

Dasgupta, S, Uwe, D, Craig M, and David W, 2003. The poverty and environment news in Cambodia and Lao people’s democratic, World Bank policy research working paper, 2003, Retrieved September 21, 2014 from: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/01/2128867/povertyenvironment-nexus-cambodia-lao-peoples-democratic-republic

Forestry Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2010).Global forest resources assessment 2010: Country report, Cambodia (FRA2010/034 ). Retrieved from website: http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/al470E/al470E.pdf

PSDA (2013.) Population Dynamics, Reproductive Health and Sustainable Development: Critical Links and Opportunities Forrest-2015, Retrieved September 21, 2014 from http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/getWSDoc.php?id=2753

Solbu,E.B. Engen,S. & Diserud O.H.(2013). Changing environments causing time delays in population dynamics, Mathematical Biosciences, 244, 213–223 

Wingqvist,G.O.(2009). Cambodia Environmental and Climate Change Policy Brief, Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg.

Yusuf,A.A. &  Francisco,H.A.(2009). Climate change vulnerability mapping for south East Asia. Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) Retrieved September 21,2014 from http://www.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/12324196651Mapping_Report.pdf

 

How to Conduct Free Online Classes

Introduction of Tech Tools:

1. Easyclass (https://www.easyclass.com/) Learning Management System
Easyclass is a platform that allows educators to create online classes whereby they can store the course materials online; manage assignments, quizzes, and exams; monitor due dates; grade results and provide students with feedback all in one place.

2. Zoom Classroom (https://zoom.us/) Video Conferencing, collaborations, virtual classrooms
Increase student participation and learning retention with virtual and hybrid classrooms and micro-learning.

3. Microsoft Teams (https://teams.microsoft.com/start)
Microsoft Teams is a hub for teamwork in Office 365. Keep all your team's chats, meetings, files, and apps together in one place.

4. Hypersay (a platform for live interactive presentations)
Go beyond slides with live quizzes, live subtitles, automated feedback and many more. It is free for maximum of 20 participants per session.
https://hypersay.com/live-presentations/

5. Nearpod (Students Engagement Platform) https://nearpod.com/
Interactive Lessons that can be remotely led by the teacher.

6. Google Form (For online Quiz/Test)
Use google form for assessment purpose and take online quizzes. It also has features like randomization, result declaration, grading and item analysis. https://www.google.com/forms/about/

7. Google Classroom (Teaching and Learning Platform)
An online teaching and learning platform. Teacher can make online classroom, upload teaching material and conduct online quizzes.
https://classroom.google.com

8. Edmodo (Learning Management System)
Share class announcements, learning materials, and make learning accessible anywhere
https://www.edmodo.com/

9. Mentimeter (Interactive Learning Platform)
Make your audience feel involved by enabling them to contribute to presentations with their smartphones and show the results live.
https://www.mentimeter.com/

10. Brainpop (Educational tool)
BrainPOP makes rigorous learning experiences, make interactive presentations, videos to engage all students in teaching and learning process.
https://www.brainpop.com/

11. Flipgrid (Video creation)
Flipgrid empowers every voice from grade 1 to PhD classrooms across 190 countries.
https://info.flipgrid.com/

12. Edufow (Education)
Make learning and teaching more effective with active participation and student collaboration
https://www.eduflow.com/

13. Video Ask by Typeform (https://www.videoask.com/)
Interactive Video Chat for remote face to face interactions

14. Google Hangouts Meet (Video Conferencing)
Stay connected with teachers and students for teaching and learning and official academic work.
https://meet.google.com/_meet…

15. Youtube Videos (Uploaded Videos)
You can make your classroom channel and upload your lecture videos.

16. Screen Recorders
There are numerous screen recoding videos like ScreenHunter, Camtasia screen recorder, windows screen recorder, etc. Using these tools, teacher can make tutorial videos.


Stay Connected through technology!
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How Geothermal Energy Works

Geothermal energy is a very interesting energy source that has garnered a lot of attentions today because of the immense need to global dependence on fossil fuel and the resultant negative consequences. As the name implies geothermal energy is simply energy that is contained in intense heat which continuously flows deep within the earth. Studies show that deep in the energy contained deep within the earth crust, some 10000 meters down the surface of the earth, is 50,000 greater than all the oils and natural gases in the world put together. Such tremendous amount of energy can be interestingly utilized and tapped to supply the energy requirements of the world.

Interestingly, geothermal energy is already being tapped in many regions of the world especially in the United States of America. The United States make use of geothermal facilities to provide up to 68 billion KWh electricity which is enough to serve more than 6 million household per annum. Most of the U.S geothermal facilities are located in California.

Capturing Geothermal Energy

The techniques involved in capturing geothermal energy are very interesting. Basically geothermal energy is obtained from naturally occurring hydrothermal convections. This technique involves allowing cooler water to seep into to the Earth’s crust. The water is heated up by the intensive heat taking place in the core and then it rises to the surface. The heat can then be tapped when it rise to the surface and used to drive steam engine or used as desired. Once the heat is captured, it can be used in various ways to generate electricity. How it is used depends on a number of variables which will be discussed shortly.

-          Dry Steam: One of the ways of capturing and using geothermal power is known as dry steam. In this process, the steam captured from the core is directed directly to the turbine where it is condensed into water in a condenser. This is a relatively simple design and a very easy process of capturing and using the energy. The energy tapped can be used to drive the turbine and the water directed back to the core to continue the cycle.

-          In the second process, the hot water obtained from the earth’s core can be depressurized. The process of depressurizing the hot water can also be referred to as flashing. When depressurized, the hot water becomes steam and this can be used in driving the turbine for generating electricity and the resultant warm water can then be channeled back to the core to continue the process.

-          Thirdly, we have the Binary cycle system which is commonly used but is actually the most complicated of the three. The binary cycle system involves the passing of the hot water obtained from the geothermal reservoir through a heat exchanger. Here in the heat exchanger, the hot water heats up a liquid, in most cases isobutane can be chosen as the choice liquid. The major property to consider when choosing the liquid is its low boiling point. The liquid should be easily converted into steam which is then used to drive the turbine and generate electricity.

INCOME INEQUALITY IN THE U.S

Income inequality in the U.S has been on the increase over the years based on numerous factors and indicators. Surprisingly, most U.S citizens do not actually know the extent of the inequality in their society or perhaps they highly underestimate it. Fitz was right in asserting that if the poor really know how rich the rich are, there would be riots in the streets. Even President Obama said that economic inequality is the defining challenge of our time. The question is: does this apparent income inequality existing in the U.S pose a problem? And what are the problems posed?

A Measure of the U.S Income Inequality

Income inequality is measured by the Gini Coefficient which is a measure of the dispersion between zero and one representing perfect equality and inequality, respectively. There has been an increase in the distribution of income in the United States. The Gini index of income dispersion for U.S households reached as high as 0.44 in 2009, and it keeps rising. 

What exactly is the extent of this inequality? According to Fitz, the average American believes that the wealthiest fifth own 59% of the wealth and that the lowest 40% owns 9%. However, in reality, the wealthiest 20% has more than 84% of the wealth and the lowest 40% totals for 0.3% of the wealth. He also cited a recent survey in which median Americans were asked to estimate how much CEOs and workers earn and should earn. They estimated a CEO-to-worker pay ratio of 30:1 that should be ideally 7:1 but unlikely, it is 354:1, respectively. This shows that we do not actually know our level of existing income inequality.

Income inequality has widened since the 1970s following a reduction in economic growth. The Census family income data reveals that the period of shared prosperity ended in the 1970s and from this time onwards income inequality sets in. Income inequality dramatically increased from 1979 to 2007 before the Great Recession and financial crisis with the net income of the top 1% quadrupling. A peak in the average level of after-tax income of the top 1% was achieved in 2007 and has remained lower than that over the years but the percentage increase during 1979-2013 which is five times higher than the middle 60% and four times higher than the bottom fifth. Moreover, out of the $153.2 trillion world personal wealth recorded by Allianz’s new Global Wealth Report 2015 and the U.S alone has $63.5 trillion total private wealth. In fact, the U.S has the 4^th highest income Gini Coefficient of 0.4 after Turkey, Chile, and Mexico.

Problem of Income Inequality in the U.S

Republicans argue that income inequality is necessary in the United States for economic growth, but evidence has shown that America does not actually need inequality to achieve economic growth. As a matter of fact, income inequality has impeded economic growth over the years in America. Many economists and recognized world leaders have cited income inequality as the greatest existing problem of America. Interestingly, most Americans do not even recognize income inequality as a problem because perhaps they do not know the extent of the inequality in the system and how it affects them.

Due to income inequality, the top rich people have enough money to lavish and save. The middle class and low-income earners do not have enough money to live and are burdened by debt and in fact, they cannot build up wealth. Resultantly, a kind of self-perpetuating cycle is created in the system between the rich and the poor. Moreover, the wealthy have wealth stocked up for 10 to 15 generations and even more whereas the poor barely have enough to feed upon. The result is because of the poor working for the rich in order to earn a living. According to Fitz, the U.S is now the most unequal of all Western nations and the level of income inequality in the United States has considerably hampered social mobility.

CNBC reported a survey by Harvard Business School which pointed out that America would have better leverage to compete globally if it fixes its worsening wealth gap than boosting the overall economic growth. According to the report, the growing inequality in the U.S has posed increasing threat to American companies and largely limited their leverage to compete on the world stage. This income inequality can be easily addressed, and higher taxes on income and wealth would be the most effective way to address income inequality.

Work Cited

Fitz, Nicholas. "Economic Inequality: It’s Far Worse than You Think". Scientific American. N.p., 2015. Web. 23 Oct. 2016. < https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/economic-inequality-it-s-far-worse-than-you-think/>

BIOGRAPHY OF BILL McDERMOTT-"ARE LEADERS BORN OR MADE”

Bill McDermott, co-CEO, SAP, comes from an utterly modest background. By the age of 16Bill was an entrepreneur, and it shows the spark he had in him. Starting his career as an employee of a restaurant with a job profile of clearing away dishes, setting tables and assisting servers, and next assignment as an assistant in a grocery shop, he had the meteoric rise to the coveted position of co-CEO of SAP by dint of seer business acumen. He was born on 18^th August 1961 in New York, United States,

Early Life and Education

Bill McDermott had a humble beginning so far as his early days are concerned. He lived with his parents in Amityville in close proximity of Great South Bay, and the area boasted of several canals that used to flood houses including that of McDermott. He had to wade through water to attend the interview for a job with Xerox.

McDermott is an MBA in Business Management which he obtained from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management under Northwestern University. He also underwent Executive Development Program successfully from Wharton School under the University of Pennsylvania, and it was from Dowling College that he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

The Spark

The career of Bill McDermott has had a meteoric rise from a helper in an Italian restaurant at 16 years of age to an entrepreneur as an owner of a deli where he first exhibited his business acumen and insight into business planning. He managed to hoodwink competitors at this tender age with a deft understanding of consumer behavior. He took into account the needs of the different segment of society such as blue-collar job holders, kids, workers, and the likes. He did not use the age-old cliché of asking customers what else he wanted, and substituted it with what else he could get for them. It shows his deep understanding of consumer psyche at that young age.

He took the first big jump in his career when he joined Xerox in 1983 as a professional in the sales department, and by the age of 37, he became the youngest president as well as a corporate officer of the company. Later, by 2002, he was in SAP and creating history for himself and that of the company.

He believed in himself, and took criticisms of others in the right perspective and ignored them. He took risks that paid rich dividends. He showed early signs of entrepreneurship when he risked $7000 to purchase the deli which he ran successfully. He took recourse to good services to succeed and believed in building business niche by niche. He intended to look at, and do, things differently. That is why; he rose to occupy the coveted position of Co-Chief Executive Officer, Member of Global Managing Board, and Member of the Executive Board, President of Global Field Operations, and Chief Executive Officer of Global Field Operations of SAP AG. He is actively associated with 25 board members across three different establishments in eight industries of various kinds. At an age of 51 years, his total compensation for the fiscal year 2012 has been estimated as €8,856,800.

William R. McDermott, popularly known as Bill, has been SAP as Co-Chief Executive Officer with effect from 7^th February 2010, Chief Executive Officer and Member of Executive Board of SAP Ag since July 2008. He has been serving as Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Executive Officer and President of SAP America Inc which is a SAP Labs LLC unit subsidiary till July 2008. He also donned the post of Corporate Officer of SAP from April 2007.  He manages strategic business activities of SAP in America and Canada. He provides direction to over 5000 employees with respect to the needs of consumers. He has won many awards and accolades and widely held in high esteem for getting the best out of employees in terms of performance. During his first year with SAP, he led the organization to the constant increase in market share for all four quarters and increases in revenue generation. He was responsible for the customer as well as employee satisfaction.

After his stint with Xerox for seventeen long years where he started his career in sales division and became its Corporate Officer and Divisional President, Bill was associated with Siebel Systems as Executive President and promoted worldwide sales and looked after field operations and global sales between 2001 and 2002. He served as President of Gartner Inc from the year 2000 to 2001. Since March 2004, he has been a serving director, PAETEC Holding Corp and that of PAETEC communications since 2004. An independent Director of Ansys Inc. with effect from July 2007, he has been serving as Director of ‘Under Armour’ from August 2005. He also performs as a Board of Director for welfare-to-work Partnership based in the U.S., and promoting career opportunities. Bill is a member of the Enterprise Software Roundtable, Business Roundtable, KIIP School National Advisory Board, and the Advisory Board for Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Recipient of the nation’s highest award for performance in business Baldrige Award, he was voted to the Dowling College Board of Trustees, and was also accorded the status of Alumnus by Dowling College for 2003 which is presented annually by the President of the U.S. for outstanding achievements in the fields of strategic planning, leadership, information and analysis, customer and market focus, business results and process management.

Other Interests

Bill McDermott is widely acknowledged as an active civic leader and espouser of social responsibilities in businesses. As early as 2005, he has been an elected member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a federation boasting three million companies and organizations as its members which makes it the world’s largest business federation. He was also elected to the Chamber Foundation Board. He was acknowledged as one among ten Most Influential People in Finance of Treasury and Risk Management in June 2005. He has declared as the winner of the Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2005 Awards in Applied Technology constituted by Ernst & Young. He has been a charter member of the advisory council for the Hands on Network Organization, a conglomeration of voluntary organizations in China, the Philippines, and America which is engaged in the development of entrepreneurial strategies to narrowing the gap between community needs and resources.

                 

WASTE AND SLUDGE MANAGEMENT: HEALTH SCENARIO IN SOUTH ASIA- A CASE STUDY OF NEPAL

Health in a country is normally determined by the number of indicators showing the major health concerns of individuals. The major indicators include life expectancy, infant mortality, maternal mortality and the child mortality of age under 5. The government and non-government organizations (NGOs level) have developed plans after analyzing these basic indicators and the remedial measure in order to ensure good health service and improve the quality of living in Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Health is one of the significant basic issues in Nepal. Health in Nepal is affected by three major factors: the high rate of poverty, illiteracy, and lack of proper sanitation (waste management). In a survey conducted during period 2000-2013 that indicated that the life expectancy rate is low with a maximum of about 55 years; even the women' life expectancy is much lower than men that are alarming. It clearly shows that health care for men is given more priority than women. The highest risk group for poor health is of children having aged less than five years, and this again includes a higher rate of girls and other is females of maturity age. The mortality rate of female is higher than male by 24%.

Waste and Sludge Management

Nepal is, unfortunately, one of the least developed countries of the world, and 60 percent of their population lives below the poverty line along with a high level of illiteracy. The health and education are correlated. Health care measures, preventive health measures, control of communicable diseases and healthy nutritional programs all depend on the education level of people. They would better understand the importance of health and life through proper education. The control of these chronic diseases is also dependent on the availability of safe and pure drinking water, proper sanitation, sludge and waste management facilities. Many of the diseases are infectious, so it is important to design preventive measure by the proper development of the sewerage system, waste and sludge disposal that would result in a hygienic environment in Nepal. It is mentioned in a report that about 37% of the Nepal population (34% rural and 66% urban) have access to safe and clean drinking water and 6% have access to proper sanitation facilities.

In addition, the abundant use of septic tanks in urban areas and waste dumping give rise to sludge management problem. That generated sludge without treatment has become one of the most significant challenges in the context of waste management, in Nepal. The untreated disposals of sewage sludge generate significant amounts of greenhouse gases as well as posing health and other environmental problems. People of Nepal due to lack of education and proper understanding of how to dump their waste and sludge The waste includes kitchen and human solid waste, used water from kitchen and garbage. There is no proper sludge dumping mechanism and is thrown in a large big ground making the soil infertile. The sludge creates an ideal environment for nourishment of bacteria and virus. The standard practices of sludge disposal need to be exercised including composting and incineration. Composted sludge can be used for soil conditioner as green fertilizers in gardens and vegetation.

Proper waste bins are needed to be installed at least one in every group of 10 houses. It will help them to throw solid waste in those bins that can be then either burnt or dumped off by Government bodies or private bodies. A common practice is Nepal is to use human and animal excreta as a fertilizer in fields. They think this practice makes the soil fertile, but they do not know about associated serious diseases. That is again due to lack of education. Proper training mechanism must be ensured to educate rural people how to manage waste. There is no proper inflowing water for homes through proper pipelines. People are forced to drink this water and women also wash clothes on those streams, cleaning of their livestock is also done there along with bathing practice. Using same impure water for drinking is linked with many stomach and skin diseases.

The use of human waste as an agricultural fertilizer is common in Nepal. Many health risks are associated with this practice. Burning eyes, lung diseases, and skin rashes have been found in farmers and residents who use human waste as fertilizer. The geographic distribution of Nepal is another major obstacle in transporting proper health services to each and every part of the country. More than eighty percent of the populace lives in urban areas especially hilly areas that rely only on agriculture. Although there are many problems for the people living on hilly areas but the most serious concerns are due to lack of proper sanitation and waste management. That is the major causes of many health issues among the people living in these places. People normally cook insides of their wooden homes using natural resources for fire as animal waste. Due to the congested and less airy architecture of homes and the burning of animal waste that generates dangerous smoke is the cause of lung diseases among many villagers.

However, there are few NGOs active in designing plans to introduce techniques in rural areas that could improve the quality of living. Such techniques include the architecture change of home so that it becomes airier. Consequently, smoke could not be retained inside home, proper sewerage mechanism to discharge waste water in an efficient way, implement waste and sludge management plans and to highlight the importance of hygiene by designing techniques for sludge disposal. It is not the responsibility of the private sector alone. The government of Nepal must also play its role and support such efforts of NGOs to improve the living quality of the people 

SOLAR DESALINATION PLANT: EVERYWHERE AND ANYWHERE

Solar desalination plant, California, Source: Cole Mellino, EcoWatch

Solar desalination plant and technique is simply to convert any salty water to usable water by solar energy. The seawater and solar available for desalination which can be used for drinking or agriculture or for industrial uses where saltiest water cannot be used. The Great Aristotle told this method during 4 BC, by heating and evaporating the non-potable sale water and vapor collected as potable water. Alexander the Great used the same technique during the voyage in ships during 200 AD.

Around the world, 125 countries are adopting solar desalination technology for drinking water and agricultural uses.

Middle East                                   53.5 %

North America                              17 %

Asian Countries                           10.7 %

Europe                                          10.1 %

Central and South America        02 %

Australia                                       0.5 %

Methods of Solar Desalination

The direct method, a distilling mechanism connected with a solar collector and in a simple cycle method, the salt water converted to usable water.

The second method, an array of solar collector consisting of photovoltaic and or fluid based thermal collectors and conventional separate desalination plant. The reverse osmosis [RO] and photovoltaic panels system available for commercial use from the year 2009 onwards. In the second method, water is cheaper when the production is increased. An average of 200 Liters water can filter in one square meter Photovoltaic panel processor in a day.  This method largely used for agriculture in arid countries and acute shortage of drinking groundwater countries. Around the world, 750 million people are not drinking or not using clean water at this stage. This may go up 1.9 billion in next 8 to 10 years.

Top Countries Using Solar Desalination

The top four countries using Solar Desalination drinking water around the world:

Largest Solar Powered Desalination Plant, Saudi Arabia, 

1.    Saudi Arabia – is the largest desalination water producer in the world and leader in this process for a long time. In Al Khafiji, the largest solar photovoltaic plant installed and working successfully in the Desert Nation. By 2019, Saudi Arabia wants to convert all its plant run by solar energy. In other words, shift towards solar desalination.

2.    Israel – the desert land is the pioneer in water conservation technology. The 80 to 85 % of the wastewater recycled in Israel. The country is planning to use recycled water minimum 55% for agriculture purpose. By installing, processing, and selling their solar desalination technology, 300 more companies earn nearly $ 2.5 Billion per annum.

3.    California – is one of the largest user and 17 plants installed in California. One of the largest independent water producers is WaterFX in California, making several initiatives and kind of researches to supply good water. California uses the water for agri-business and for commercial uses.

4.    South Asia – South India one of largest solar plant installed and produces 37 million cubic meters of water per annum in one plant, and the second plant produces 100 million liters of seawater. This is to mainly to take care of drinking and for commercial uses.

The initial cost is one of the worrying factors in these solar desalination processes. At the cost of USD 1.5 to 2.0 per cubic meter of water produced. The cost varies depending upon the technology used and output made. Israel’s Hadera plant make at a cost of USD 0.65 to 0.50.

Like Mobile towers, internet connection, the Solar Desalination Plants are inevitable in any country. Just planting one tree, one person, and one year will solve this problem. Green the earth and Green your life.