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One In Five Migratory Species Are Threatened With Extinction

Every year billions of animals migrate across continents and national borders to feed and breed. Migratory species play an essential role in maintaining the world’s ecosystems, and provide vital benefits, by pollinating plants, transporting key nutrients, preying on pests, and helping to store carbon.

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The United Nations (“UN”) has published a report titled State of the World’s Migratory Species (“Report”), the first ever report on migrating animals. The Report was launched at the UN wildlife conservation conference in Samarkand. Uzbekistan. The Report focuses on 1,889 species covered by the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (“Convention”) and on more than 3,000 migratory species not covered by the Convention.

The Report states that more than one in five migratory species listed under the Convention are threatened with extinction. This means they are facing the possibility of complete disappearance. While some migratory species listed under the Convention are improving, 44% are showing population decline.

The Alarming Numbers: 

According to the Report:

40% of the 158 mammals listed under the Convention are threatened across the globe.

97% of the fish species (like sharks, sturgeons, and rays) listed under the Convention, are threatened with extinction.

3/4 species are affected by habitat loss.

399 species out of the 3,000 migratory species not covered by the Convention are threatened or near threatened with extinction.

The extinction risk is growing for migratory species globally including the species not listed under Convention. The Report has stated that human activities like hunting, fishing, noise pollution, light pollution, use of pesticides, destruction of habitat especially for agriculture are some of the most important causes for this threat. Construction of roads, railways and fences also disrupt migration routes. Another big reason for the threat to the migratory animals is climate change caused by humans.

Some Good News

Only 14 species listed under the Convention have recorded an improvement in conservation status. These include blue and humpback whales, white-tailed sea eagle and the black-faced spoonbill!

Way Forward

The Report states that things can be changed if countries work together. The Report has made the following recommendations:

  • Countries should work towards meeting their commitments to tackle climate change,
  • Increase actions to identify, protect, connect, and effectively manage important sites for migratory species;
  • Reducing plastic, light, and noise pollution;
  • Reducing the use of pesticides;
  • Tackle illegal hunting and fishing;
  • Take more efforts to restore the ecosystem, and
  • Find more key sites and routes that migratory species use.

Word Check 

At certain times of the year, many mammals, fishes, birds, and other animals move from one place to another. This is called migration. Migration is an important part of the life cycle of animals.

Can you name some migratory animals?

Also can you think of more reasons why animals migrate?

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The Iconic Journey Of The Olympic Torch

What Is the Olympic Flame?

Before every edition of the Olympic Games, a flame is kindled by rays of the sun during a ceremony held in the ancient ruins of Olympia, Greece under the authority of the International Olympic Committee. This flame is known as the Olympic Flame. The Olympic Flame is usually lit at Olympia a few months before the opening of the Olympic Games. Starting the ceremony at Olympia celebrates the link between the Ancient Olympic Games and the Modern Olympic Games.

From Olympia, the flame is usually carried for a number of weeks until it reaches the host city, mainly on foot by runners, but also using other forms of transport.

For the Paris Olympics, the ceremonial lighting ceremony is scheduled on April 16 in Olympia, Greece. Over 11 days, 600 torchbearers in Greece will carry the flame 500 km across 41 municipalities.

The torch is passed from one torchbearer to the next until it reaches the cauldron at the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium. The flame announces the Olympic Games and spreads a message of peace of peace and friendship between the people. The Torch relay ends at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Olympia was where the Ancient Olympic Games were held.

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The Arrival Of The Flame In France

For the Paris Olympics, the flame will travel from Greece to France by boat. The Olympic flame arriving in the host country symbolises the advent of the spirit of the Games. Before lighting the cauldron at the opening ceremony, the flame is carried by a multitude of torchbearers throughout the host country and into the host city.

For the Paris Olympics, the flame will arrive in Marseille in France on May 8. The flame will arrive from Athens, Greece, after travelling by sea on board the full-rigged ship Belem.

The flame will then travel across various French territories for 68 days. 10,000 torchbearers will carry the flame across the 64 territories of France until July 26, when the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony is scheduled to take place on the River Seine.

When And Where Did The Tradition Of The Olympic Torch Relay Begin?

The Olympic Flame first became a tradition of the Modern Olympic Games, when an Olympic Flame was lit and remained burning at the entrance to the Olympic stadium throughout the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games.

However, the Olympic Torch Relay was started for the first time at the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games. The torch relay has opened the Olympic ceremonies ever since.

Let The Games Begin

The Torch relay ends at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The final runner (or sometimes runners) enters the stadium and lights the cauldron with the Olympic Flame. The Games can then begin!

The Paralympic Flame And Torch Relay

Shortly after the Olympic Flame is extinguished during the closing ceremony for the Olympic Games, the Flame for the Paralympic Games is lit in Stoke Mandeville (in England). Stoke Mandeville is the historic birthplace of Paralympic sport. For the Paris Paralympic Games, the flame after being lit in Stoke Mandeville will cross the sea like its Olympic twin. However, this time the flame will travel via the Channel Tunnel, marking the start of a legendary relay.

From August 25 to August 28, 2024, around 1,000 forerunners will carry the Paralympic Flame to around 50 cities throughout France.

Fun Facts

The current Summer and Winter Olympics torches that carry the Olympic Flame and are designed to withstand wind and rain. They are also uniquely designed to include special elements of the host country and spirit of the Games.

When two torches meet and one already-lit torch lights the flame of the other it’s called a “Kiss“.

Sometimes the Olympic torch can go out. Although, it’s really rare that this happens due to a malfunctioning burner or extreme wind. Just in case, there’s always a “mother flame” carried in specially designed miner’s lanterns that they can use to relight the torch.

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Bharat Ratna 2024: India’s Highest Civilian Honor Award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that former prime ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, and scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan will be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India. PV. Narasimha Rao was the Indian prime minister from 1991 to 1996 and is known to be the man who started the economic liberalisation of India. Chaudhary Charan Singh, a well known champion of workers and farmers’ rights, briefly served as the Indian prime minister in 1979. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, a renowned scientist, is known as the architect of India’s green revolution. 

Usually, three Bharat Ratna awards are given in a year. However, this year, the government has named five people for Bharat Ratna, including veteran leader LK. Advani and former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur. This is the highest number of Bharat Ratna awards given in a single year.

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Word Check

Economic liberalisation means the process of easing the rules and regulations with respect to trade policies by the government of a country. This is done in many ways like by removing trade restrictions and permitting more foreign investment in certain sectors, based on specific conditions.

The Green Revolution introduced new methods and technology for growing, harvesting, and processing crops in India in the 1960s. This led to an increase in agricultural production in India and greatly reduced food shortages.

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India Shines At 66th Annual Grammy Awards

India’s Big Win At The Grammy Awards

Indian musicians Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain’s fusion band ‘Shakti’ has won the prestigious Grammy award for ‘Best Global Music Album’, for their latest album ‘This Moment’. The album ‘This Moment’ features eight songs crafted by musical prodigies like John McLaughlin (guitar, guitar synth), Zakir Hussain (tabla), Shankar Mahadevan (vocalist), Selvaganesh Vinayakram (percussionist) and Ganesh Rajagopalan (violinist).

The album ‘This Moment’ was created during the Covid-19 pandemic by exchanging audio files over the internet and discussing them through a WhatsApp group!

Zakir Hussain picked the Grammy award for the ‘Best Global Music Performance’ for his contribution to the track ‘Pashto’ alongside Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia. He also won the award for ‘Best Contemporary Instrumental Album’ for ‘As We Speak’.

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All About The Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards, sometimes just called the Grammys, are a massive awards show for the music industry. The Grammy Awards are annually presented in the US by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (“NARAS”).

To be eligible for a Grammy from NARAS, the recording or music video must be released in the US between October 1 of the previous year and midnight September 30 of the given Grammy year.

The awards cover lots of different kinds of music, from pop to rap and hip-hop. This year was the 66th Grammy Awards, and it had 94 different categories in total.

Did You Know?

Grammy is short for gramophone, an old-fashioned kind of music player.

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Historic Consecration Ceremony : Everything You Need To Know About Ayodhya Ram Mandir

The consecration ceremony or the “Pran Pratishtha” of the infant Lord Ram idol on January 22 at the newly and partially built Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is a historic moment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the consecration ceremony. The event was also telecasted live in many cities across India. The temple opened for devotees from January 23.

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The Ram Temple is considered as one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus, as Ayodhya is considered the birthplace of Lord Ram.

What is Pran Prathistha?

Pran Pratishtha is a Hindu ceremony where the divine presence is invited into a temple’s idol. This ceremony turns a building into a temple and makes it a place of worship.

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra is a trust set up for the construction and management of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by the Government of India in February 2020. This trust organised Prana Pratishtha ceremony.

Facts About the Construction of the Ram Temple | Ayodhya Ram Mandir

The three storey Ram Temple is being constructed in the traditional Nagara style architecture. It is one of the two main styles of Hindu temple architecture. Nagara style originated in the 5th century in northern India.

The Ram Temple has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,800 crore and the temple complex is built on an overall area of around 71 acres approximately. The Ram Mandir has a length (east-west) of 360 feet, a width of 235 feet, and a height of 161 feet.

Pink sandstone from Mirzapur and the hills of Bansi Paharpur area in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan has been used for construction of the main structure of the temple.

The main temple is constructed on 2.67 acres of land with 392 pillars. The temple also has 46 teakwood doorways. 42 of these doors will be coated with 100 kg gold. 

There are five Mandaps or halls – Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthna Mandap, and Kirtan Mandaps. 

The main entrance of the temple is on the eastern side, and devotees will have to climb 32 stairs through the Singh Dwar.

For protection against ground moisture, a twenty one feet high plenty has been constructed using granite.

It is reported that no iron or steel has been used for the construction of the temple. 

Ramps and lifts have been constructed for the elderly and physically challenged devotees. 

The construction of Ram Temple is being done using traditional and indigenous technology, with emphasis on conservation of water and environment.

70% of the 70 acre temple complex has been left green. 

The temple has been built to endure the strongest earthquakes and most intense flooding.

The Ram Mandir has been constructed by Larsen & Toubro. The construction project has been managed by Tata Consulting Engineers Limited. 

The foundation stone for the Ram Mandir was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, 2020.

Architects of the Temple 

Ram Temple has been designed by famous architect Chandrakant Sompura. He comes from a famous family of temple architects, Who are known for crafting more than 100 temples worldwide, including the Somnath Temple. He was helped and supported by his sons Ashish and Nikhil.

Facts About The Idol of Infant Lord Ram 

The Ram Lalla or the infant Lord Ram idol depicts Lord Ram as a 5-year-old child. The infant Lord Ram idol is 51 inches tall and weighs around 150-200 kg.

The idol has been adorned in yellow dhoti made of Banarsi fabric, with a red patka embellished in pure gold zari.  

The idol has been sculpted from Krishna Shila stone. The stone is black in appearance and is called Krishna Shila due to its identical colour as that of Lord Krishna. The stone was excavated from Gujjegowdanapura village in Mysuru.

The idol was created by sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who is from Mysuru, Karnataka. 

Here are some Fun facts about Ram Temple in Ayodhya:

  • The pillars and walls showcase intricately sculpted depictions of Hindu deities, gods and goddesses.
  • The four corners of the “parkota” i.e. the rectangular compound wall will be dedicated to Sun God, Goddess Bhagwati, Lord Ganesh and Lord Shiva.
  • The temple complex will also include seven shrines dedicated to sages maharishi Valmiki, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Agastya and Nishad Raj, Shabari, and Ahilya. They were all associated with Lord Ram’s life.  
  • The foundation of the Ram Temple was constructed using the holy soil of 2,587 regions like Jhansi, Golden Temple, Chittorgarh and Yamunotri and many more. 
  • It is reported that Thailand has sent soil for the consecration ceremony. This is symbolic of Lord Ram’s legacy transcending international boundaries. 
  • Special bricks known as “Ram Shilas” have been used for the construction of the temple. These bricks are inscribed with the words “Shri Ram” on them. This is inspired from the mythic rocks of the Ram Setu from the epic Ramayan.
  • A time capsule has been buried 2,000 feet below the ground under the temple. This time capsule includes a copper plate inscribed with relevant information about the temple, Lord Ram, and Ayodhya, preserving the temple’s identity for future generations!
  • The final construction of the Ram Mandir will be completed by December 2024. 

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